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SC opens one of the Emir visits Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition largest tree nurseries

SACHIN KUMAR With turf spanning an area of 425,000 square metre, THE PENINSULA the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) Tree Nursery will also produce more than 1.2 million DOHA: The Minister of Munic- square metre of landscape grass per year, making it ipality and Environment, H E the biggest landscape turf farm in the world. Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, inaugurated the Supreme Committee for using recycled water. example of how the State is Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) Tree “This is a very important achieving self-sufficiency across Nursery, yesterday. The project for green areas around various sectors and industries, nursery, which is one of the all the stadiums that we are as it will provide all the turf region’s largest tree and turf going to build. We consider this required for tournament sta- nurseries, is growing the turf project as very important diums and their surrounding required for the 2022 FIFA investment for the world cup precincts,” said Hassan AI World Cup stadiums and trees and Qatar as well. The size of Thawadi, Secretary General, SC. that will fill the green spaces this nursery is sufficient for what “In addition, the SC Tree Nursery surrounding them. we will need for the world cup,” promotes environmental sus- With turf spanning an area said Al Rumaihi talking to tainability by growing trees that of 425,000 square metre, the reporters after inaugurating the have been recycled from dif- Tree Nursery will also produce Nursery. ferent parts of the country. It is more than 1.2 million square The 60 different types of also introducing new types of metre of landscape grass per trees and shrubs, originating trees to the ecological landscape year, making it the biggest land- from Qatar, Thailand and Spain, in Qatar, thereby contributing scape turf farm in the world. make it one of the largest and to biological diversity. As such, Spread over an area of more most diverse such nurseries in it supports the realisation of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday visited the 15th Doha Jewellery and Watches than 880,000 square metre, and the region. Environmental Development Exhibition, at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The Emir toured the pavilions and saw the located in Umm Salal “The inauguration of the SC pillar of the Qatar National Muhammad, the Nursery houses Tree Nursery is another example Vision 2030, focused on pre- latest designs of Qatari and global companies in the manufacturing of jewellery, watches and over 16,000 trees and 679,000 of how the State of Qatar is serving and protecting the envi- precious gemstones. Emir also visited the pavilion of female Qatari jewellery designers to support shrubs. This grass will be har- delivering on its promise to ronment to ensure a cleaner and encourage Qatari talents in this field. →SEE ALSO PAGE 2 vested two or three times per ensure that the 2022 FIFA World future for the next generation,” year. The trees and turf in the Cup leaves a lasting environ- he added. nursery, which is first of its kind mental legacy for the country. President of the Public in the region, will be grown This project is also a great Works Authority (Ashghal), Dr Eng Saad Ahmed AI Mohannadi; Minister of Education stresses Chairman of the Technical Delivery Office at the SC, rights of children and family Eng Hilal AI Kuwari; Nasser AI QNA Khater, Assistant tainable development and inter- Qatar has also met, through all Secretary General DOHA: Minister of Education national charters. its governmental and non-gov- for Tournament and Higher Education H E Dr The Minister was speaking ernmental bodies, the needs of Affairs at the SC; Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed at the 5th Islamic Conference of children with special needs in Eng Yasir AI Jamal, Al Hammadi said that the State Ministers Responsible for the categories of gifted and dis- Assistant Secretary of Qatar, in its National Vision Childhood, organised in Rabat, abled persons, and established General for Tech- 2030 and its strategies, has taken Morocco, by the Islamic Educa- institutions and centers spe- nical Delivery at the into account the measures which tional, Scientific and Cultural cialized in the protection of the SC; Sports Facility ensure the rights of the family and Organization (ISESCO) under the child rights. Management Exec- children, and issued legislation theme “Towards a Safe The Minister said that the utive Director at the and laws guaranteeing the rights Childhood”. efforts of Qatar to protect SC, Eng Ghanim AI of children and protecting them The Minister of Education children and their rights are not Kuwari, and Project , such as family law, e-crimes law and Higher Education said that limited to those who reside in it. Manager Eng and other laws, to ensure child the State of Qatar has continued Rather, many initiatives led by Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi Yasser AI Mulla support and protection. its commitment to citizens and H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser (centre), with Hassan Al Thawadi (second left), Secretary-General, Supreme were present The Minister pointed out residents alike by providing have been launched to assist Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi during the event. that the vision of the State of health care as well as quality refugee and immigrant children (second right), President of the Public Works Authority, and other dignitaries Qatar is derived from Islamic education for the early stages of in many countries. inaugurating SC’s Tree Nursery, at Umm Salal Muhammad, yesterday. →CONTINUED ON teachings, the Constitution of basic education and all the nec- PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA PAGE 3 the country, the goals of sus- essary equipment and facilities. →CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Qatar condemns massacres High demand for green fodder in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta SANAULLAH ATAULLAH to the private sector to days,” said Mostafa adding company is using a modern THE PENINSULA encourage them to partic- that under the project the system of irrigation that DOHA: The State of Qatar expressed its especially the Security Council, to fulfill ipate in food security company has 38 farms helps reduce the con- strong denouncement and condemnation its responsibilities to maintain peace and DOHA: To ensure the projects by investing in spread over an area of 240 sumption of water about 25 of the massacres and intensive aerial security, and to implement its declared supply of green fodder in green fodder production. hectors arable land. percent,” said Mostafa bombardments carried out by the forces cease-fire resolutions throughout Syria, local market, the Minister “The project is adding Speaking on the prices The Minister of of the Syrian regime forces in the and to take the necessary measures to of Economy and about 2,000 tonnes of of fodder, Mostafa said that Economy and Commerce besieged Eastern City of Al Ghouta, which stop these crimes and protect the Syrian Commerce, H E Sheikh green fodder to the existing the company offers its accompanied by Al Qamra led to hundreds of deaths and injuries of people and their future generations Ahmed bin Jassim bin supply to the market in 30 products at wholesale rates Holding Chairman, Hamad innocent civilians, most of whom were through transitional justice, and bringing Mohamed Al Thani, paid to 45 days,” Dr Hossam therefore it is competitive Saleh Al Qamra and a women and children. war criminals to international justice.” an inspection visit to a Eldin Mostafa, CEO of Al and lower compared to number of company officials Qatar stressed in the statement made by “Qatar affirms that solution for the project which produces Qamra Holding told The other places. during the visit, learned the Official Spokesperson of the Foreign Min- current humanitarian catastrophe in green fodder by using Peninsula. He said that the He said that the stock of about the progress of the istry H E Lulwa Al Khater that “Eastern Syria will only be through a political treated water in Umm company harvested first previous harvest was com- project and production Ghouta is one of the De-escalation Zones, solution that takes into account the prin- Ghuwailina, Salwa Road. crop of green fodder on pletely sold out and now methods. The products of the and these operations could hinder interna- ciples of the Geneva Accord 1 and other The project, imple- January 15 this year and buyers can place their project were offered for sale tional efforts to reaching a political solution.” related international resolutions, which mented by First Agriculture, second crop about 2,000 orders in advance for new in the local market in mid- In this context, the Spokesperson ensures that the desires and ambitions a subsidiary of Al Qamra tonnes is ready to harvest. stock as the company is January on scheduled time. added that State of Qatar “renews its call of the Syrian people are achieved trans- Holding, is one of the three “We will start har- going to start harvesting for the international community, parently,” Al Khater added. projects that were awarded vesting within a couple of within a couple days. “The →CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 02 HOME FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 Emir visits Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday visited the 15th Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, which is taking place at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The Emir toured the pavilions of the exhibition and saw the latest designs of Qatari and global companies in the manufacturing of jewellery, watches and precious gemstones. In addition, the Emir toured the pavilion of female Qatari jewellery designers to support and encourage Qatari talents in this field.

Designers and experts Designers discuss latest trends in watches, jewellery discussed the latest trends and preferences of THE PENINSULA personalities, including Hueb, Nsouli ‘history and traditions in Haute Horology’ Exhibitions at QTA said: “Since its consumers, each acting as Jewellery, H Moser and Cie and (H. Moser & Cie.), as well as ‘Arab Design inception 15 years ago, DJWE has made inspiration for jewellery DOHA: The first Watches and Jewellery Falamank by Tarfa Itani. The event and Jewellery’ (Falamank by Tarfa Itani). great strides, growing and expanding designers in the region and Forum of The Doha Jewellery and allowed attendees to share their passion Bader Abdullah Al Darwish, edition after edition. Throughout the years, Watches Exhibition 2018 (DJWE 2018), and encourage knowledge-sharing from Chairman and Managing Director of exhibitors have witnessed the remarkable the industry’s future road yesterday, focused on the roles played emerging and established international Fifty One East, sponsor of the event, said: development in Qatar’s exhibition facil- map. by designers and shed light on the and local designers, and enthusiasts “We are proud to collaborate with this ities, as well as the increase in exhibitor jewellery and gemstone industry from alike, as well as offered behind the prestigious exhibition and share our numbers and participating brands, with sionals and aficionados alike”. local and international perspectives. scenes access to the luxurious world of wide range of expertise through a range new and enticing activities being intro- The Doha Jewellery & Watches Exh- More than 100 participants attended jewellery and watches. of industry experts and participants. As duced each edition to make DJWE more bition, which has become an interna- the forum, in addition to VIPs and inter- Designers and experts discussed the a partner who has invested in DJWE than just an exhibition.” tional and global event in this sector, is national experts hosting the sessions, latest trends and preferences of con- since its inauguration, we look forward Al Obaidli added, “Hosting the devoted to supporting emerging who shared their expertise with the cap- sumers, each acting as inspiration for jew- to a prosperous cooperation with DJWE, Forum during this edition is marks a designers of jewellery and watches by tivated audience. ellery designers in the region and the as we look to create attractive pro- new stage of growth in the exhibition’s providing a dedicated pavilion and space The Forum, held at the Shangri-la industry’s future road map. The forum grammes and events, that are designed history. DJWE will take a leading at the exhibition for emerging and estab- Hotel as part of this year’s new DJWE included a variety of sessions covering to enrich audiences and to ultimately position as a center for exchange of lished designers, to showcase their col- 2018 activities, featured sessions created ‘jewellery for the design-savvy’ (Hueb), attract more specialists and visitors.” experiences and visions in the jewellery lections to potential buyers, industry by acclaimed industry brands and ‘Bridal Jewellery’ (Nsouli Jewellery), the Ahmed Al Obaidli, Director of and watch industry, attracting profes- enthusiasts and experts. Qumra to host over 150 international film experts

QNA programme focuses on 34 projects to see remarkable participation delegates who will also participate nated director, Bennett Miller. Sundance Film Institute, The from 25 countries at various stages from the world’s leading film in the programme, she said adding There is a strong represen- Royal Film Commission Jordan, DOHA: Qumra 2018, presented of development. The sessions are industry professionals that gen- that international delegates come tation of film festivals, film con- and Venice Biennale, among by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), presented in two strands: tutorials, erously contribute to the growth from countries ranging from sultants, film institutes, film other industry leaders. will be held from March 9 to 14, workshops, consultations and of the film industry in Qatar and Argentina to Singapore, Sweden funds, distributors and sales The Qumra 2018 industry hosting more than 150 interna- one-on-one meetings for projects the region. This is an incredible to South Africa and the UK to the agents such as: Locarno Film events include workshops and tional film industry experts who still in development; and a series opportunity for emerging film- US. Festival, Venice Film Festival/ meetings for first- and second- will mentor 34 Qumra projects, of works-in-progress screenings makers to not only have the This year’s Qumra Masters are: Final Cut, Hot Docs, IDFA, FID time filmmakers with interna- mostly helmed by first- and and feedback sessions for projects guidance of legendary names in Venice Golden Lion winning Marseille, Busan International tional film industry experts in second-time filmmakers. in post-production. Qumra covers cinema nurture their projects, Russian director and writer Film Festival, Malmo Arab Film bespoke mentorship labs; the The 2018 Qumra industry the script-to-screen journey and but also to gain access to inter- Andrey Zvyagintsev; Cannes Festival, CNC Aide aux Cinemas Qumra Masterclasses, led by delegates includes represen- beyond, and with the inclusion of national industry experts who Palme d’Or winning Thai film- du Monde, Eurimages Fund, Lux- acclaimed filmmakers; Qumra tation from more than 15 leading VoD and online platforms, film- will help them navigate the full maker and visual artist Api- embourg Film Fund, Medien- Screenings of feature films pre- international film festivals, and makers can look beyond conven- life cycle of their projects.” chatpong Weerasethakul; the only board Berlin-Brandenburg, Doc sented by the Qumra Masters and executives from some of the tional platforms to take their Qatar-based organisations documentary director to win the and Film International, Memento recipients of funding from the world’s leading film production projects to a wider audience. include teams from beIN SPORTS, Berlinale Golden Bear Italian International, MAMI Mumbai Institute, followed by question- companies, sales and distribution Chief Executive Officer of Qatar TV, Al Jazeera Media director Gianfranco Rosi; Oscar Film Festival, Seville Interna- and-answer sessions; and the companies, and cultural and the Doha Film Institute Fatma Al Network along with over 120 winning British costume designer tional, The Match Factory, Qumra Talks, which are panel- funding agencies. Remaihi said: “In the fourth Qatar-based film, production, Sandy Powell, Order of the British Metropolis Art Cinema, Tribeca style discussions that cover a The Qumra industry edition of Qumra, we continue media and entertainment Empire (OBE), and Oscar nomi- Film Institute, Torino Film Lab, broad range of topics. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 HOME 03 Supreme Committee releases progress video

QNA work, overseen by Ashghal, con- declared the stadium ready for tinue apace. the World Cup. It was a spine- DOHA: The Supreme The main achievement tingling moment one that made Committee for Delivery and for the SC in 2017 was the all our hard work so worth- Legacy (SC) has released a new launch of Khalifa Interna- while.” Al Thawadi said he video which charts the signifi- tional Stadium. In May last looked forward to reaching cant progress made over the last year it became the first 2022 more milestones in 2018 and 12 months. FIFA World Cup tournament beyond. ‘Journey to Amazing 2017’ venue to open when it “We’ll soon be launching the highlights the progress made hosted the Emir Cup final design for Lusail Stadium, which across proposed stadium sites between Al Rayyan and Al will host the opening match and and documents the strides made Sadd. final in 2022,” he added. in relation to all the SC’s legacy SC’s Secretary-General “We’re also looking for- programs, including Challenge Hassan Al Thawadi, highlighted ward to continued progress 22, Community Engagement, the opening of Khalifa Interna- at all our stadium sites.” Al PM meets Secretary-General of Council of Arab Interior Ministers Generation Amazing and tional Stadium as a defining Thawadi continued: “Our Workers’ Welfare. moment, one which brought the legacy programs also con- Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, met yesterday The film also focuses on the 2022 FIFA World Cup project to tinue to grow across Qatar, with Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers Dr Mohammed bin Ali Koman, on progress made by key 2022 FIFA life the region and the world. We the occasion of his visit to Qatar. The Secretary-General briefed the Prime Minister and Interior World Cup stakeholders. Doha “Nobody will ever forget the have some incredible projects Minister on the most important issues on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Council of Metro is now 70 percent com- launch of Khalifa Stadium,” said planned in 2018 and I look Arab Interior Ministers which will be held in People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria next month. plete, while projects to enhance Al Thawadi. “The atmosphere forward to more memorable The meeting also reviewed efforts to enhance security cooperation between Arab countries and both Hamad International Air- was electric when H H the Emir moments on our journey to ways to activate coordination in various security aspects to meet the challenges in the region. port and Qatar’s highways net- cut the ribbon and officially amazing.”

Minister of Economy and Commerce visits fodder farm Tree Nursery, among largest in region, opens Continued from page 1 Minister thanked the officials The Minister also listened of the project, which will help Continued from page 1 to a detailed explanation of in increasing the supply of “We are delighted to be opening one of the modern irrigation high-quality green fodder in the largest tree and turf nurseries in the methods and systems, which the local market at competi- region, which is growing the turf required use treated water and reduce tive prices. for the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums and water consumption while Al Qamra Holding the trees that will fill the green spaces sur- having positive effects on the Chairman said that First rounding them. The turf being grown at the environment and reducing the Agriculture executed the nursery is unique in that it has been devel- temperature, that help ease project in record time using oped in Qatar specifically to withstand both the maintenance and reduce state-of-the-art technology the country’s climate year-round and the production cost. in order to get the maximum rigours of a tournament as competitive as The Minister also learned yield from the cultivated the FIFA World Cup,” said Eng Yasser AI about the modern techniques area and help in reaching Mulla. “Another unique aspect of the project Minister of Economy and Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, used in agriculture to produce self-sufficiency of green is that its irrigation system uses recycled with other officials at a fodder farm in Umm Ghuwailina high-quality green fodder. The fodder. water fed from the nearby Doha North Sewage Treatment Works Plant, helping ensure that this is a sustainable project in every aspect,” he added. After the tournament, the facility will Minister of Education stresses rights of children and family continue to benefit the community by trans- Continued from page 1 forming into a public park, further contrib- and the expansion of the governmental uting to the SC’s efforts to ensure the 2022 kindergartens project in terms of FIFA World CupTM leaves a lasting envi- The Minister of Education and number and type, including the opening ronmental and social legacy for Qatar. Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed of kindergartens for children with dis- bin Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi said abilities. Meanwhile, the Ministry also that one such initiative was “Educate worked to develop urgent remedial a Child”, which provided education for plans to protect children affected by the about seven million children of the unjust siege on the State of Qatar and Qatar climbs to world, he said pointing to the joint formed specialised committees to ensure efforts of governmental and non-gov- all their rights to education and to over- 29th globally ernmental bodies in providing finan- come the consequences of the siege. cial and in-kind assistance as well as Dr Al Hammadi praised ISESCO’s on Corruption education, especially for children in establishment of a conference at the conflict, disaster and civil war areas. ministerial level for an important seg- Perception Index The Ministry of Education and ment of the society, namely, children, Higher Education was also keen to pro- as they are of great importance in the QNA mote and protect the child rights and to building and development of nations. make that a priority in its development He expressed the hope that the con- DOHA: The State of Qatar climbed two plans. Dr Al Hammadi said pointing to ference will lay the foundation stone for places to rank 29th out of 180 countries in issuing the policy guidelines of behav- the protection of children who are is sub- the 2017 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), ioural evaluation of students in schools, jected to violence, killing and numerous which is issued annually by Transparency establishment student councils, promo- violations, stressing the need to guar- International’s. tion of the concept of physical and psy- antee a safe childhood that provides Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdul The State of Qatar secured the advanced chological health and safety of children them with the life they deserve. Wahed Ali Al Hammadi during the conference. ranking after tolling 63 points, the Admin- istrative Control and Transparency Authority said in a statement. The authority pointed out that the ranking, which comes within many other Qatar Duty Free sponsors Qatar international indicators, confirms the suc- cess of the State of Qatar in maintaining Masters golf tournament its leadership and progress in several areas despite all the surrounding conditions. THE PENINSULA reputation as a host of major The authority affirmed that the global sporting events. The announcement of the results of this indi- DOHA: Qatar Duty Free (QDF) Commercial Bank Qatar Mas- cator grabbed the attention of many coun- announced yesterday that it is ters is just one of many exciting tries and investors as well as development the Official Duty Free Partner sports events that take place in and human rights organisations around the of the annual Commercial Bank Qatar annually as part of the world, especially as it relies on a number of Qatar Masters, taking place country’s 2030 vision. It is an sub-indicators from prestigious interna- from February 22-25, at the honour to welcome some of the tional organisations such as the World Bank, Doha Golf Club. world’s best golfers to compete the World Economic Forum, the Bertels- The Commercial Bank Qatar in an event hosted in Qatar. I mann Foundation and the Economist Intel- Masters is a four-day long tour- wish the players the best of ligence Unit. nament and part of the European luck, and we look forward to the The authority pointed out that the results tour, which has been taking place success of this year’s of this year showed the progress of Qatar since 1998. The tournament fea- tournament”. in the index, making it rank second in the tures an exciting competition As one of the main sponsors light of the decline of most of the countries among the most elite golfers in of the event, QDF is hosting an that occupied advanced positions last year. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi during the meeting the world, who will compete for engaging pavilion with exciting The results also revealed the negative with ambassadors. the top trophy and a prize fund activities, including a mini golf impact of developments in the region and of $1,750,000. Professional course and a photobooth with factors of political instability and conflicts, golfers competing in this year’s an Instagram photo competi- which led to the decline of many Middle Al Muraikhi updates Ambassadors on Gulf crisis event include Darren Clarke of tion, where the owner of the East countries. Northern Ireland and Paul most liked photo will receive an CPI measures the perceived level of cor- QNA accredited to the State of Qatar. Lawrie of Scotland. iPhone X. ruption in the public sector, drawing on 13 During the meeting, the two senior diplo- Head of Qatar Duty Free, Qatar Duty Free is also the data sources based on expert assessment DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs mats updated the ambassadors on the devel- Thabet Musleh, said: “We are official sponsor of the ‘Hole in and business views. H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi and Foreign opments of the Gulf Crisis. The State of delighted to once again sponsor One’ competition on the 3rd hole, The index is based on a scale from zero Ministry’s Secretary-General H E Ahmed bin Qatar’s relations with the sisterly and friendly one of the world’s most pres- where the winner will receive a to 100, with zero being the highest degree Hassan Al Hammadi met here yesterday with countries and matters of mutual interest have tigious golf tournaments and credit amount of $155,000 to be of perception of corruption, while 100 sisterly and friendly countries’ ambassadors also been discussed. help enhance Qatar’s used at Qatar Duty Free stores. means the lowest degree. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 UN pleads for truce to halt catastrophe REUTERS More than 300 people after planes dropped bombs have been killed in from high altitude. Searches AMMAN: Warplanes pounded the rural Eastern were underway for bodies amid the last rebel enclave near the the rubble in the town of Saqba Syrian capital for a fifth straight Ghouta district on the and elsewhere, said rescuers. day yesterday, as the United outskirts of Damascus De Mistura said he hoped the Nations pleaded for a truce to since Sunday night, Security Council would agree to halt one of the fiercest air and many hundreds a resolution calling for a cease- assaults of the seven-year civil fire in eastern Ghouta, but and prevent a “massacre”. have been wounded, acknowledged it would be diffi- More than 300 people have according to human cult: “I hope it will. But it’s uphill. been killed in the rural Eastern rights monitors and But I hope it will. It is very Ghouta district on the outskirts aid agencies who say urgent,” he said as he arrived at of Damascus since Sunday night, the United Nations in Geneva. and many hundreds have been Russian and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s wounded, according to human planes have struck veto-wielding ally Russia says a rights monitors and aid agencies ceasefire would be hard to Syrian rescuers work at site of Syrian government bombardments in Douma, in the besieged Eastern hospitals and other Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus yesterday. who say Russian and Syrian civilian targets. achieve. Moscow and Damascus planes have struck hospitals and say their assault on eastern Ghouta other civilian targets. is necessary to defeat fighters who jets of the kind involved in and a strip in the southwest, it is one regime and Russia are only tar- In the north, where Turkey have been firing mortars on the bombing yesterday morning are of just a handful of areas left where geting civilians?” Khaled Shadid, launched an offensive in the past has drawn in neighbours and government-held capital. Russian, as Moscow’s warplanes large numbers of people remain in a resident of Douma told Reu- month against a Kurdish militia, world powers. “Those who support the ter- typically fly higher than those of territory controlled by fighters ters by telephone as sounds of the Kurds said pro-government International attention is now rorists are responsible” for the sit- the Syrian air force. seeking to overthrow Assad. The explosions could be heard. fighters were now deploying to the focused on the humanitarian uation in Eastern Ghouta, Kremlin Damascus and Moscow deny president has vowed to regain con- Basema Abdullah, a widow front lines to help repel the Turkish plight in the Eastern Ghouta, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a targeting civilian areas and trol of every inch of Syria. who was huddled in a basement advance. Government forces also where 400,000 people have been conference call with reporters. accuse rebels of holding civilians Residents and opposition fig- with her four children in Douma entered a part of Aleppo controlled under siege for years and where “Neither Russia, nor Syria, nor Iran as human shields. Western ures say the Syrian government and said: “We are in desperate need by the Kurdish YPG militia, a wit- government bombardment esca- are in that category of states, as powers have also accused Russia its allies are deliberately harming for your prayers,” before the ness and a monitor group said, lated sharply on Sunday, causing they are waging an absolute war of aiding the bombardment. civilians in a “scorched earth policy” connection was cut off. although the YPG denied this. mass civilian casualties. against terrorists in Syria.” Aid The opposition-held Eastern to force rebels to surrender. Rescue workers said at least The Kurdish YPG — allies with “There is a need for avoiding workers and residents say Syrian Ghouta region, home to 400,000 “They want to break our will 40 people were killed during the United States in other parts of the massacre, because we will army helicopters have been drop- people, has been under siege by and turn Ghouta into another Wednesday’s heavy bombing of Syria — have sought assistance in be judged by history,” U N Syria ping “barrel bombs” — oil drums government forces since 2013. Aleppo but this is their dream,” Kafr Batna, Saqba, Zamalka and recent days from the Russian- envoy Staffan de Mistura said. packed with explosives and After government gains in recent said Yusef Dughmi, a resident in Arbin and other towns in the backed government to resist the Residents of Douma, the big- shrapnel — on marketplaces and years it is the final rebel bastion the devastated eastern Ghouta opposition enclave. In the town Turkish offensive, an example of gest town in the district, medical centres. near the capital. town of Arbin overnight. of Haza, the bombing targeted a the unexpected alliances wrought described plumes of black smoke Residents and insurgents in Along with Idlib province and “Why is the regime targeting field hospital and a bakery, res- during a multi-sided conflict that billowing from residential areas Eastern Ghouta say high-altitude part of Aleppo province in the north us we are civilians and the cuers said.

Boko Haram attack: Seven Somali children abused in crackdown, say families dead in Chad, REUTERS detained by Somali authorities. 12 and 13 were arrested on their kids were taken into the under- after months of pressure. Cameroon The detentions violate a 2014 way to school last year, along with ground cell where they were tor- “In a justice system that MOGADISHU: Somali children agreement by the government 17 other teenagers. Both boys were tured.” HRW cited U N figures remains heavily reliant on forced suspected of links to insurgency to treat child detainees sepa- jailed for eight years, he said. saying Somali security forces confessions, children are not AFP are being held in adult jails rately and work with the United “There are many problems arrested 386 children in 2016 spared,” the report said, adding where they are vulnerable to Nations to rehabilitate them, the in Somalia. Children are seized during operations targeting Al that children were “threatened YAOUNDÉ: Nigeria’s Boko abuse, and tried in military HRW report said. and arrested if accidentally they Shabaab. Many were released and on occasion beaten, at times Haram jihadists have killed courts, Somali families said, Government ministers for jus- are passing near a blast scene,” after their parents paid bribes or in ways that amount to torture”. five civilians and two soldiers backing up allegations in a tice and human rights did not he said, showing pictures of the clan elders intervened, but those Fahmo Mantan Warsame told in fresh attacks in Cameroon human rights report. respond to requests for comment. two boys on his mobile phone. whose families lacked money or Reuters her 17-year-old son was and Chad, local sources said Human Rights Watch (HRW) The chairman of Somalia’s mili- “The 17 teenagers were influence were kept. arrested three years ago and sen- yesterday. said on Wednesday Al Shabaab mil- tary courts, Liban Ali Yarow, said released when they were Authorities have handed over tenced to 10 years in jail for being “A group of Boko Haram itants had forcibly recruited thou- he did not speak to the media. brought to Mogadishu because 250 children to the United Nations a member of Al Shabaab and that fighters made an incursion sands of children — some as young Clan elder Ugas Mohamed they were from rich families. We for rehabilitation since 2015, the she had paid a total of $3,700 to during (Tuesday) night in as nine — and hundreds have been Wali, said his two nephews aged had no money and so the two report said, but that was often various officials to try to free him. Assigashia,” a source close to administrative authorities in the northern Cameroon border area said, asking not be named. ‘Some’ missing Nigerian “The attackers killed five people and wounded five more.” The raid was con- schoolgirls rescued firmed along with the casu- alty toll by an official in the Cameroon security services. AFP were recovered, and said more Assigashia is a border details would be released in due town which gives direct DAMATURU, NIGERIA: The course. access to Nigeria and has seen families of dozens of girls A federal government del- many Boko Haram incursions missing for several days after a egation including Nigeria’s in the past. Boko Haram attack on their defence and foreign ministers The Nigerian militants are school in northeast Nigeria was due in Dapchi yesterday. blamed for killing another yesterday faced an anxious wait Inuwa Mohammed, whose civilian in the town in for their return after confirma- 16-year-old daughter, Falmata, January. tion some had been rescued. was missing, said he had “mixed In Chad, meanwhile, two Police said on Wednesday feelings of hope and trepida- Chadian soldiers, including a that 111 girls from the state-run tion” about the girls’ return. captain, were killed in a Boko boarding school in Dapchi, “We don’t know how many Haram ambush on Yobe state, were unaccounted of our girls have been found Wednesday, a senior military for following an attack by the and no parent is sure that his official said yesterday. jihadists on Monday night. daughter is among them,” he The attack took place in The disappearance sparked said. the west of the country in the African migrants protest outside Israeli prison fears of a repeat of the 2014 “We are just waiting for Lake Chad region near the mass kidnapping of more than the girls to be brought for Nigerian frontier as the troops African migrants protest outside the Saharonim Prison, an Israeli detention facility for African asylum 200 girls from a similar school physical identification to be were returning from a border seekers near Holot, where at least nine others have been incarcerated as part of Israel’s new policy in Chibok, in neighbouring carried out by parents... There patrol. of prison or deportation for migrants, in Israel’s southern Negev desert yesterday. Borno state. have been wild guesses as to But Abdullahi Bego, their number. spokesman for Yobe state gov- “We will wait until we see ernor Ibrahim Gaidam, said late them.” Abubakar Shehu said he, on Wednesday that “some of too, did not want to celebrate 26 Congolese refugees die of diarrhoea the girls... have been rescued by prematurely. “I haven’t slept gallant officers and men of the throughout last night. I have Nigerian Army from the terror- been tense since I heard,” he REUTERS in from eastern Congo, where She said the condition had UNHCR says that so far this ists who abducted them”. said. resurgent ethnic and inter-com- already killed 26 refugees from year, more than 42,000 have He added: “The rescued “I am just praying that my KAMPALA: Twenty-six refugees munal violence has uprooted February 15 to 19, while 424 already arrived, bringing the total girls are now in the custody of niece is among those rescued.” from the Democratic Republic hundreds of thousands. cases were being treated. The number of Congolese refugees in the Nigerian Army.” — ‘Mixed - Broken-down vehicle - A stu- of Congo have died in a camp in Duniya Aslam Khan, spokes- diarrhoea “has been brought Uganda to a quarter of a million. feelings’ — Bego’s statement dent who escaped Monday’s Uganda from acute diarrhoea, woman for the UNHCR in from across the border,” she Prospects of fresh aid for ref- was the first confirmation the attack said some of her class- and hundreds more cases have Uganda, said health workers said, referring to eastern Congo. ugees in Uganda have been girls were abducted. Initially, mates had jumped over a been registered, an official from from the World Health Organi- More than 4.4 million people dimmed after allegations that the students were reported to perimeter wall at the sound of the United Nations refugee sation, U N children’s fund have been displaced in Congo, in officials had likely inflated num- have fled with their teachers at gunfire, and got into vehicles agency UNHCR said yesterday. Unicef and Medecins Sans Fron- part aggravated by a political crisis bers to steal relief funds. Other the sound of gunfire. parked nearby. The East African country’s tieres had identified “acute sparked by President Joseph Kabi- charges include bribery, logis- Bego did not specify the cir- It was thought the vehicles refugee population has risen watery diarrhoea” in camps in la’s refusal to step down at the end tics fraud and trafficking of ref- cumstances in which the girls were then taken by the sharply recently as people flood western Uganda. of his mandate in 2016. ugee girls. were rescued nor how many militants. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 ISLAM 05

How can we regain our lost dignity and glory? How to get closer to God There is no other way than to come back to the true concept of MANSOOR ALAM follow the laws of nature or take pre- cautionary measures. But how, we may God given in the Quran hat does “getting closer to God” ask, does the law of requital operate in and demonstrated by mean? Obviously, it does not the human world? Why do cheaters get our Prophet (PBUH) Wmean getting closer to God away if not caught by man-made laws? physically, as that would be contrary to Why do liars seem to flourish? Why do and the Sahaaba, his the Quranic concept of God — God is not people who manipulate the system using companions. situated in a particular place in space. loopholes get further in life than the God says: “I am closer to you than your honest? Why do the rich and the pow- jugular vein” (50:16); and again, “Wher- erful thrive while exploiting the poor and development, human beings can develop ever you are, I am there” (2:115, 7:7). Get- the weak? Why are murder, torture, and and reflect God-like attributes in their ting closer to God therefore means: rape of innocent human beings allowed own characters. Emulating in our own characters, as far to go on in many parts of the world? Why If human beings are able to create a as possible, the attributes of the perfect does God not do anything to stop it? Why society in which individuals become col- Self, which is God. The more we emu- does God’s law of requital not punish oured with God’s attributes, then the late these attributes the closer we get to the perpetrators of these crimes imme- speed of the law of requital is increased. God. But, emulation of these attributes diately as it punishes those who violate In other words, if human actions become must occur within society, not alone. He has prescribed Mercy for Himself. servants (Prophets and true believers) who the physical laws of nature? In answer synchronized with God’s law of requital Concepts of God that teach personal sal- (6:12). It is Our duty to help the believers implement His plans in the human world to these questions, some religious then its speed is accelerated (Saree-ul- vation through individual meditation or (6:54, 7:156). According to the Quran, this by using the Quran as the Constitution of scholars teach the poor and the subju- ‘Hisaab): “If you help God then He will prayer are non-Quranic. Quranic sal- participation between God and believers God on earth. This brings us to another gated to be patient, to accept their des- help you.” (47:7). “And fulfil your Cove- vation can only be possible by restruc- occurs through a contract. In Islam, important aspect of the concept of God, tiny, to look for reward in the Hereafter. nant with Me then I shall fulfil My Cov- turing the present political and economic Believers must enter into a contract with i.e. God’s laws are not only unchangeable On the other hand, some people turn to enant.” (2:40) systems so that they reflect the universal Allah by selling their lives and property but they are universal. mysticism, wrongly thinking they can By synchronizing their wills with the and permanent attributes of God given to Him in return for Jannah (9:111). get closer to God by renouncing the Will of God, human beings start coop- in the Quran. For example, since God is Therefore, in this way, they become Universality of God’s Law material world (57:27). According to this erating with Allah in accordance with universally merciful, forgiving, fair and helpers of Allah for carrying out His mis- In the physical world, we readily thinking, the best way to cure a head- the contract (9:111) mentioned earlier. just, so should be the social order oper- sion in this world (61:14), while Allah accept the universality of God’s laws. ache—forever—is to get rid of the head. Allah then helps the believers (Momi- ating on behalf of God. Just as God pro- makes it His duty to help them. Since For example, an experiment to liberate This concept of God teaches escapism neen) through Angels (Malaika or forces vides sustenance and nourishment to Jannah encompasses both this world as hydrogen and oxygen from water will from the real problems of the real world. of Allah): Those who say that our Lord all, so should the economic system well as the Hereafter, believers pray and produce the same result under the same Can it be said, then, that God’s law (Nourisher and Sustainer) is Allah and established on His behalf. Just as God must strive for a good life on earth as conditions no matter where that exper- of requital is not working in the human then (on this promise) become steadfast guarantees universal human rights and well as in the Hereafter (2:201). iment is conducted. We owe our health world? Are people who commit crimes (in their action) then Angels descend on freedoms, so should the political system Another example of Allah’s self- and welfare, and even our life to the uni- and who are not punished immediately, them. (41:30) established in His name. Those who imposed limitations in spite of unlimited versality of these laws. as in the physical world, getting away? It is the descending of the Angels on establish such a system and direct their power is that Allah does not force anyone The same applies to another set of Is there no higher law before which they the believers then that speeds up the law daily affairs by it, will gradually start to accept His message. He has given com- God’s laws now safely preserved in the are accountable here in this world? Let of requital in the human world. So, if the reflecting the attributes of God in their plete freedom of choice to human beings Quran. It does not matter if we believe us be assured, the law of requital is rich and the powerful, on an individual, own characters, i.e. they will take on the to accept or reject it (18:29). He could make in them or not. These laws have their working—incessantly and unremittingly, familial, or national level, are getting “color” of the attributes of Allah in their every human being a believer but He does own objective existence and they work right here in this world. We might be away with the exploitation of the poor own characters. They will boldly pro- not (32:13, 10:99). inexorably in the human world just as deceived into thinking it is not, because and the weak, then it only means one claim, “We take our colour from Allah, the laws of nature work in the physical the time scale for this law is different thing: that the law of requital does not and who is better than Allah at col- The God is not a dictator world. The God of the Quran is the Nour- than the physical laws of nature. It is as have the support of the believers and ouring” (2:138). This is what “sibgha- There is no doubt that God has com- isher and Cherisher of all the worlds if one were keeping time on a clock from that is why Angels are not descending tullah” or “the colour of Allah” means in plete control over His creation (5:120, (Rabbil ‘Alameen) and the Nourisher and which the seconds and minutes indica- on them to speed up the outcome. But this famous Quranic verse: 9:116, 23:88). He can do anything (2:117, Cherisher of all humankind (Rabbin- tors were removed and one is fooled into that does not mean that God’s law of Under such a system therefore, 6:73, 14:27, 19:35, 36:82). No one can Naas). He is the Sovereign (Malikin- thinking the clock is not running. This requital is not working. It is working, people—individually, as well as, collec- question Him (21:23). But does He use Naas) and God of all humankind is because one day in God’s calendar but it is moving, like the hour hand on tively—will start getting closer to the one His powers arbitrarily like a dictator or (Ilaahin-Naas). may be equivalent to one thousand (32:5) the clock, with its own speed. true God since they will have the same a king? Or does He follow some standard Therefore, in this concept of God, or even fifty thousand years of our time (Remember! One day in God’s calendar objective standard of Asmaaul ‘Husnaa, or pattern? There is a set pattern there is no place for discrimination on this planet (70:4). may be equivalent to one thousand or the most balanced attributes of God, as according to which God produces results. based on gender, race, ethnicity, lan- Another distinction between the even fifty thousand years in our time.) their common goal: (7:180) – AND GOD’S The result of our actions is produced guage, economic opportunities, polit- laws of nature in the physical world and As an example, when our Prophet [alone] are the attributes of perfection according to the law related to God’s per- ical power, or social status. The Quranic the law of requital in the human world (PBUH) and Sahaaba (R) synchronized [Asad]. This is bound to lead to universal manent attribute for that particular action God is equidistant from every human is that the law of requital operates on their wills with the Will of Allah, the brotherhood and unity of humankind, as set forth in the Quran. In the Quranic being. Only those people who synchro- the “self” not on the body. This law either results of their efforts occurred very fast. the ultimate objective of the Quran concept of God, people do not have to indi- nize their wills with the will of God get strengthens or weakens the “self” History bears testimony to the fact that (2:213). In this system, individuals vidually please him but have to follow His their “colour” from Him. In turn, those depending on whether or not our actions they changed, in a very short time, the colored with the color of Allah’s laws, which have been clearly outlined in who get coloured by God reflect uni- violate it. In this way, our own actions system which was based on exploita- attributes work and struggle together in His book, The Quran. The God of the versal God-like attributes and become determine our destiny here as well as in tion of the weak and enslavement of the a synergistic fashion, helping each other, Quran does not bend towards anyone. He members of one family. In this way, the Hereafter. Although God’s law of masses by tribal leaders, kings, capitalists, being driven only by the conviction of has permanent and objective attributes there is no contradiction in their inner requital is working in the human world, and priests with a system based on fair- this one common goal – closeness to and is the fountainhead of unchangeable and outer lives. With this concept of God, it appears extremely slow to us and its ness, justice and respect for universal God. This common goal requires that laws called Kalimathullah (6:34, 6:115, there is no push and pull, no effort impact is not on the body but on the soul human rights and freedom. Who could we understand clearly some other facets 10:64, 18:27), Sunnathullah (17:77, 33:62, through prayers and rituals to bend God or “self”. The question then becomes: imagine that the two superpowers of the of our relationship to God as well. 35:43, 48:23), and Khalqullah (30:30) by in anyone’s favor. This leads to yet Can this law be speeded up? day i.e., the Byzantine and Persian empires The main characteristics of the “self” the Quran. Therefore, the result of our another aspect of God’s objective laws would crumble at the hands of the then are: uniqueness, independence and actions depends on whether or not the pertaining to humans: whether or not Speeding up the Law of Requital “lowly” Arabs in just a few years? This freedom. When I say, “‘I’ am free,” it really action was performed according to His one believes in this concept of God, As we know, the Universe and eve- was due to the human input into the law implies that my “self” is unique, it is free and law. If the result is different from expected, every human action produces a reac- rything within it operates according to of requital thus accelerating its momentum not dependent on any other “self”, and it has then one has to change one’s actions. One tion based on God’s law of requital. a fixed pattern called the laws of nature. and resulting in fast output. the freedom of choice and action. God, being should not keep on doing the same thing Laws of nature cannot be speeded up. The Quran is God’s Constitution. the perfect “Self”, is completely unique while trying to please God by prayers and God’s Law of Requital For instance, no matter how impatient, Quran’s God is not a dictator. He does not (Allahu A‘had); He is absolutely free and is sacrifices to persuade God to change His Although human beings have been a farmer must wait for a fixed amount act in an arbitrary manner. Our Prophet not dependent (Allahus Samad); He beget- laws. One has to align oneself with His given complete freedom to choose any of time before his crop matures for har- (PBUH) was not dictator or a king? teth not, nor was begotten; and there is none laws, not vice versa. action, this freedom is ended once the vesting. While this is true everywhere Remember ‘Aisha’s (R) saying that the like unto Him (112:1-4). Khalifa Umar (may Allah be pleased choice is made. Human beings do not in the physical world, the same is not Prophet (PBUH) was a walking Quran. Therefore, in this life, human beings with him) once said that his aim was to have the freedom or authority to change the case in the human world. There must be something wrong in our must strive to move closer to God by stop the people’s prayers from reaching the result after the action has been per- Is it possible to speed up the law of concept of God which has made us turn developing these latent characteristics God. This intrigued the people. He formed. This is called the law of requital. requital operating in the human world away from the true God that our Prophet of the “self”. To facilitate this develop- explained that people normally pray to The following verses in the Quran clearly so violators can face the consequences (PBUH) and Sahaaba (R) lived and died ment, the “self” needs some limitations, God when they are facing some problems. state the consequences of human of their actions in real time as in the for. While they had dignity and power, which must be self-imposed rather than His duty as Khalifa was to solve their prob- actions: 2:21, 2:179, 2:183, 2:185, 2:189, physical world? The Quran declares it we are humiliated and live at the mercy externally imposed. In fact, external lems so they would not have to pray to 3:123, 3:129, 3:199, 5:35, 7:69, and 7:157. is possible. How can this be done? We of others. How can we regain our lost dig- imposition destroys the “self”. God says God for their solution. If they needed to It is our daily experience that if we have seen that God’s attributes come into nity and glory? There is no other way than in the Quran that although He has abso- pray to God, then that would, in effect, be violate the physical laws of nature we effect in a particular situation in accord- to come back to the true concept of God lute power and control over His crea- a complaint against him to God. Interest- suffer the consequences right away. For ance with a fixed pattern or law. We given in the Quran and demonstrated by tion, He too has put some limitations on ingly, this means that the system, imple- example, fire burns, floods drown, have also seen that human beings have our Prophet (PBUH) and the Sahaaba (R). Himself, for example, to be merciful and mented according to the Quran, is sup- gravity pulls, lightning strikes, and tor- been endowed, in latent form, with the Let us proclaim and act upon the verse: to help the believers: Say (O Prophet): posed to fulfil God’s promises to human nadoes tear things in their path. Each same attributes as God, but within We take our coloir from Allah, and who “To whom belongs all that is in the beings. God does not directly help human one of these forces of nature causes human limitation. With a Quranic-based is better than Allah at coloring (2:138). heavens and the earth?” Say: “To Allah.” beings. He helps them through his physical injury or death if we do not program of education, training, and www.islamicity.org Prophet’s generosity, tolerance and friendliness

“By the grace of Allah, you He would joke with his com- (PBUH)” (Al Tirmathi) up, and so did Sa’id ibn Ubadah, he would say to a younger brother “The Messenger of Allah are gentle towards the people; if panions, sit and talk with them, Usamah ibn Zayd narrated: Mu’ath ibn Jabal, Ubay ibn Ka’ab , of mine, ‘O abu-Umayr! What did (PBUH.) said: ‘Cleanliness is half you had been stern and harsh- play with their children and sit “The daughter of the Prophet Zayd ibn Thabit and some other the Nughayr (a kind of bird) do?’ of faith, and (saying) ‘Praise be to hearted, they would have dis- them on his knee. He would (PBUH) sent a messenger to him men. When he arrived, the child “ (Al Bukhari) God’ fills the scale, and (saying) persed from round about you” respond to the call of the free requesting him to come as her was brought to Allah’s Apostle Abu Dawood narrated that the ‘Glory be to God’ and ‘Praise be to The noble Quran (3:159) man or the slave, or the young child was dying. However, the (PBUH), his chest heaving. On that Messenger of Allah would say: “Let God’ fill up what is between the girl or the poor. He would visit Prophet (PBUH) returned the mes- the eyes of the Prophet (PBUH) none of you transmit to me [evil heavens and the earth, and prayer ven with all of his concerns the sick on the opposite end of senger and told him to convey his began shedding tears. Sa’d said, news] about my companions, for is a light, and charity is proof of and obligations, Prophet the city and he would attend greeting to her and say: “Whatever “O Allah’s Apostle! What is this?” I like to meet with you with a pure one’s faith, and patience is a EMuhammad (peace be their funerals. He would accept Allah takes is for Him and what- He replied, “It is mercy which heart” brightness, and the Quran is a upon him) never became the people’s apologies and their ever He gives is for Him. Every- Allah has lodged in the hearts of Ibn Masood narrated that proof for or against you. All men unmindful of his people. He had excuses, and he was the most thing with Him has a limited fixed His slaves, and Allah is merciful Prophet (PBUH) said to a group he go out early in the morning and a special place in his heart for humble among them. term (in this world) and so she only to those of His slaves who are sent to teach and advise: sell themselves, some setting each one of them and he was Abdullah ibn Al-Haritha nar- should be patient and hope for merciful (to others).” (Al Bukhari) “Be lenient and do not make themselves free and others known among them for his soft- rated: “I have never seen anyone Allah’s reward.” She again sent for Ibn Malik narrated that “the [this religion] difficult. Bring glad destroying themselves.’ “ (Narrated spokenness, his generosity, his who smiled more continuously him, swearing that he should Prophet (PBUH) used to mix with tidings and do not repel” by Muslim) tolerance, and his friendliness. than the Messenger of Allah come. The Prophet (PBUH) stood us (the children) to the extent that AbuMalik Al Ash’ari said: http://islam101.net 06 ASIA FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 Bank scam: India confiscates jeweller’s Rolls-Royce, Porsche

REUTERS In what has been dubbed the biggest MUMBAI: An Indian financial fraud in India’s banking history, police crime-fighting agency said on have so far arrested a dozen people — Thursday it has seized a Rolls- Royce Ghost, a Porsche six from the bank and six more from Panamera and some half a Modi and Choksi’s companies — as they dozen more luxury vehicles belonging to billionaire jeweller continue the probe. Nirav Modi and his firms, in a probe into an alleged $1.8 billion fraud against state-run Punjab National Bank. In a Twitter post yesterday, Earlier yesterday, PNB had Modi, his companies, and the ED detailed the seizures of stepped up its controls on the other firms with links to his the cars from Modi and his com- use of global interbank pay- uncle Mehul Choksi, are at the panies. It also said it had frozen ments network SWIFT in the heart of the alleged fraud that shares and mutual funds worth aftermath of the fraud. involved illegally issued letters Rs78m held by Modi and Separately, yesterday, Bangalore International Film Festival of undertaking (LOUs) from the Rs867.2m by Choksi. responding to clarifications Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan (second right), with Bollywood Director Rakeysh Omprakash second-largest Indian state- Modi, who police say left sought by the stock exchange, Mehra (second left), Karnataka Minister Roshan Baig (right) and Kannada Cinema Director Rajendra run lender that were used to India with his family in January, PNB in a regulatory filing said get loans from overseas before the bank filed a police it had followed all “lawful ave- Singh Babu, unveiling the programme schedule during the inauguration of the 10th Edition of branches of other, mostly complaint triggering an inquiry, nues available” to recover its Bangalore International Film Festival 2018, in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, yesterday. Indian banks. has not publicly commented on dues. In what has been dubbed the the case yet. The bank reiterated that it biggest fraud in India’s banking However, in a letter to PNB, had enough assets and capital history, police have so far a copy of which was seen by to meet any liabilities from the arrested a dozen people — six Reuters, Modi had said that his fraud. Bangladesh High Court accepts from the bank and six more companies owed the bank less In a note issued late on from Modi and Choksi’s compa- than Rs50bn, well below the Wednesday, Goldman Sachs nies — as they continue the amount alleged by the bank. trimmed its earnings estimates appeal by Khaleda in graft case probe. He also said PNB had jeop- for the top three Indian state- A lawyer for Modi has ardized its prospects of recov- run banks, including PNB, AP Ahmed, a lawyer and close aide Zia could be barred from run- denied his client was involved ering the sums owed by going saying recent capital injections of Zia, said. ning in December elections, with in any fraud. Choksi has not public with its allegations. announced by the government DHAKA: Bangladesh’s High Court Zia, currently the country’s the country’s chief election offi- commented but his firm, Gitan- PNB responded to Modi’s would dilute earnings. yesterday accepted an appeal by opposition leader, was con- cial saying a final decision will jali Gems , has also denied letter yesterday. It cut PNB’s earnings esti- former Prime Minister Khaleda victed on February 8 of misusing depend on higher courts. involvement in the alleged In its letter of reply, seen by mate by nearly 30 percent for Zia of her five-year prison power in embezzling about Bangladesh law says anyone fraud. Reuters, the bank said the LoUs the current fiscal year ending sentence in a corruption case. $250,000 in donations meant imprisoned for more than two The Enforcement Directo- in question were illegally March 31, saying it expected a A panel of two judges heard for an orphanage trust estab- years cannot run for office for the rate (ED), an Indian agency obtained by Modi’s firms and it larger earnings slide in PNB’s arguments from both sides in a lished when she first became next five years. The trial court also focused on foreign exchange was compelled by law to report case due to the fraud-related packed courtroom and asked prime minister in 1991. Defense sentenced Zia’s son, Tarique and money laundering offences, it to law enforcement agencies, liability. authorities to submit case records lawyers say the verdict was Rahman, and four others to 10 has been conducting separate as they were potential violations PNB shares fell 2.3 percent to it within 15 days. The court politically motivated and influ- years in prison for involvement searches at homes and offices of money laundering laws and on Thursday. The stock has lost stayed a decision to fine Zia enced by the government of in the case. Zia faces more than of Modi. the Foreign Exchange Manage- more than a quarter of its $250,000 in the verdict and set Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 30 other charges, ranging from As of last Saturday, it had ment Act. market value since disclosing Sunday to hear her petition for bail. But the judge in the verdict corruption to sedition. Bangla- seized jewellery, gold, dia- It urged Modi to respond the $1.8 billion fraud on Feb. 14. “Yes, the court will hear her said the defense had doctored desh politics are deeply fractious, monds, precious metals and with a “concrete and imple- Gitanjali Gems fell almost 5 bail petition on Sunday, and we documents submitted to the with Hasina and Zia ruling the stones that it said were worth mentable” repayment plan on percent, its maximum daily are hopeful that she will get a court in an effort to save Zia. country alternately since 1991, Rs56.74bn ($872.5m). outstanding dues. limit, to all-time lows. bail order that day,” Moudud Her conviction means that when democracy was restored.

Delhi gives Trudeau list of suspected Sikh separatists Surgeons remove heaviest brain tumour

REUTERS the movement for an inde- community and Indian leaders was assassinated by her Sikh MUMBAI: Indian pendent Sikh homeland called say there are some fringe groups bodyguards at her home in surgeons who NEW DELHI: India has handed Khalistan. there that are still sympathetic Delhi. The Sikh insurgency removed a Canada a list of nine people who An aide to Punjab Chief Min- to the cause of Khalistan. Sikh petered out in the 1990s. massive brain are suspected of trying to revive ister Amarinder Singh said the militants began agitating for a The government in Punjab tumour in a mara- a Sikh separatist movement in list of suspects was handed to the separate homeland in India in has urged Canada to act against thon seven-hour the Indian state of Punjab, a state Canadian side during the the 1970s. any fringe Sikh elements trying procedure said official said yesterday. meeting with Trudeau. India’s then prime minister, to radicalise young people, yesterday they Canadian Prime Minister “The information has been Indira Gandhi, sent the military Thukral said. Trudeau cited a believe it could be Justin Trudeau is visiting India shared with them. These are part into the Golden Temple, the separatist movement in the Cana- the heaviest ever and on Wednesday he travelled of ongoing investigations,” holiest shrine for Sikhs, to flush dian province of Quebec and told recorded. Neuro- to Punjab where he told state Singh’s media adviser, Raveen out separatists there at the his hosts he had dealt with such surgeon Trimurti leaders his country would not Thukral, said. Canada is home height of the revolt in 1984. threats and was fully aware of the Nadkarni said the support anyone trying to reignite to an influential Sikh A few months later, Gandhi dangers of violence, Thukral said. operation took seven hours to complete and the patient required 11 units of blood. Santlal Pal (pictured), a 31-year-old shopkeeper, had been carrying around a tumour weighing nearly two kilos before the Japan wins WTO surgery on February 14. “It was an extremely daunting and complex surgery,” said Nadkarni, head of neurosurgery at Mum- dispute over bai’s BYL Nair hospital. “After the patient regained conscious- South Korea ness, we researched and concluded this was the world’s heav- iest tumour to be reported so far.” The 1.87kg brain tumour REUTERS had affected his vision and caused constant headaches. “It was a rare operation and the patient has survived. Before the sur- TOKYO: The World Trade gery, he had minimal vision, which may improve now,” Nad- Organization yesterday- karni said. largely upheld a Japanese complaint against South Rapper held for insulting Islam in video Korea’s import bans and additional testing require- KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said a popular ethnic ments imposed on Japanese Chinese rapper was detained yesterday over complaints that seafood because of the 2011 his latest music video featuring dancers wearing dog masks Fukushima nuclear disaster. and performing “obscene” moves insulted Islam and could hurt In a ruling that can be racial harmony. It was the second time in two years that Wee appealed by either side, a Meng Chee, popularly known as Namewee, has been investi- Residents walk along a street covered in mud after an avalanche of mud and rocks struck Pasirpanjang WTO dispute panel said that gated over his music videos. Police said in a statement that Wee in Brebes district, Central Java, yesterday. South Korea’s measures were was detained after they received four public complaints that initially justified but that his video marking the Chinese year of the dog had “insulted keeping them in place vio- Islam and could negatively impact racial unity and harmony.” 5 dead in Java landslide; 18 missing lated the WTO’s sanitary and In the video entitled “Like a Dog,” Wee sits on a chair in a phyto-sanitary (SPS) public square in the government administrative capital of Putra- BREBES, INDONESIA: Five hospitalized with injuries. He to stand up and screamed loudly agreement. jaya with dancers wearing dog masks around him. A green people are dead and 18 missing said 18 others are missing based for help before I fell again,” said “Japan welcomes the pan- domed building in the background led some people to specu- after a landslide yesterday on on reports from residents. Watirah, who goes by a single el’s decision and hopes that late it was filmed in front of a mosque, leading to criticism, but the Indonesian island of Java Survivors described a name. “I felt my body was so South Korea will sincerely and Wee later said it was the prime minister’s office. engulfed farmers working in sudden roar as the side of a hill weak I couldn’t stand up, but swiftly take corrective action,” The song includes the sounds of dog barks from various their rice paddies. collapsed and swept trees and three people came to save me,” Japan’s Fisheries Agency and countries. In an apparent reference to government corruption, Hundreds of rescuers everything else in its path she said. Her husband, Minarto, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wee sings that dogs in Malaysia go “mari mari, wang wang,” including soldiers and villagers toward the terraced rice fields who was working in a nearby in a statement. which in the Malay language means “come come, money used their bare hands and farm below. field, also narrowly survived. Japan, which has been in money.” Dogs are considered unclean by Muslims, who account tools to search for victims buried “The hill above us looked Sutopo said the search and talks with other countries for 60 percent of Malaysia’s 32 million people. Several minis- beneath tonnes of mud and soil. like it was spinning down,” said rescue team was having diffi- such as China and Taiwan ters have called for Wee to be arrested. He has defended the National Disaster Mitigation Watirah, a 53-year-old farmer culty finding victims because of that also have trade restric- video as a form of entertainment and said he has no intention Agency spokesman Sutopo from Pasir Panjang village, who the unstable muddy conditions tions in place, plans to step of disrespecting any race or religion. In one of his earliest videos, Purwo Nugroho said 14 people with other villagers tried to and width of the landslide. up talks with them in light of he mocked the national anthem and was criticised for racial from the affected hamlet in Cen- outrun the sliding earth. “Heavy equipment cannot be the WTO ruling, a govern- slurs. tral Java’s Brebes district were “I tried to keep going, tried used,” he said. ment official said. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 ASIA 07 Pakistan PM: Ruling against Sharif hinders democracy

BLOOMBERG Sharif told reporters opposition party that has pushed in Islamabad the court a relentless anti-corruption cam- ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime paign against Sharif, said the Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was seeking “revenge” Supreme Court provided said a court order that barred and was attempting justice. former premier Nawaz Sharif to disqualify him for That Sharif continued to head from leading the ruling party and life. However, Imran his party after being disqualified placed the timing of Senate elec- as prime minister was tions into question hinders Khan, the leader of “degrading,” Khan, a former democracy and relived past the second-largest cricket star widely seen as the “dictatorial decisions.” opposition party biggest challenger to the ruling The Senate ballot will go that has pushed party, said in comments tweeted ahead as scheduled on March 3 by his Movement for Justice party. after the Supreme Court nulli- a relentless anti- Nonetheless, the ruling will fied decisions made by Sharif in corruption campaign impact the economy and investor his capacity as president of the against Sharif, said confidence, Abbasi said, taking a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, further “toll” on a country that has including candidate tickets in his the Supreme Court already suffered considerable name, Abbasi said in an inter- provided justice. political turmoil in the past year. view. However, the Election PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Commission yesterday turned Haq said the party had started the down the party’s re-submission denied any wrong doing. process to re-elect a president, of Senate candidates, saying they “Such decisions never have without giving potential candi- would be take part in the poll as strengthened democracy,” dates. Shehbaz Sharif, the chief independent contestants. Abbasi, a Sharif loyalist who was minister of Punjab and younger The ruling was the latest picked by the ruling party as a brother of Nawaz, is the most legal decision to go against replacement premier in August, likely candidate for the party, Sharif. He was barred from office said in Islamabad. “The court has Supporters of ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shout slogans against the Supreme Court verdict which is held together by the last July by the top court fol- made a decision and we accept outside an accountability court where Sharif arrived to face corruption charges in Islamabad yesterday. Sharif family, said Shailesh Kumar, lowing a corruption probe into it. The masses themselves will Asia director at Eurasia Group. his family’s finances, but was respond to this verdict in the “Local markets could face head- then re-elected by his party as election or even before. The interview this month, Abbasi army — he was previously active members of the military’s winds due to heightened volatility PML-N president in October. party has issued its stance that conceded there had been ten- removed from power in a 1999 intelligence arms. in the short run, at least until there Despite the graft charges against Nawaz Sharif is our leader.” sions in the past year with the coup and sent with some of his Sharif told reporters yes- is greater clarity with the status of him, across Pakistan’s cities Abbasi’s comments on “dic- armed forces, which he said family into exile in Saudi Arabia. terday in Islamabad the court the party and the Senate elec- Sharif’s face dominates his par- tatorial decisions” will resonate eased once Sharif was disquali- The six-man Supreme Court- was seeking “revenge” and was tions,” Kumar said. “Longer term ty’s campaign posters ahead of in a nation that has been ruled fied as prime minister. mandated investigative team attempting to disqualify him for though, this development is national elections due in five for almost half of its 70-year his- Sharif is seen to have an acri- that brought about Sharif’s latest life. However, Imran Khan, the unlikely to destabilise the country, months. He has consistently tory by the military. In an earlier monious relationship with the downfall also included two leader of the second-largest its security, or social cohesion.”

Eight dead in Pakistan spends over $2bn on war against terror Taliban police INTERNEWS to 2017-18, while Rs32.351m was to the army in 2014-15 and Rs12bn years. The finance ministry said procurement of equipment and post attack incurred on payment of internal to air force in 2015-16 and 2016- the US had pledged $132m under payment of compensation to the ISLAMABAD: The Senate was security allowance over the past 17. Another Rs1bn was spent on international narcotics control heirs of terror victims. Another AP informed yesterday that the 10 years. Another Rs16bn was management of people displaced and law enforcement for con- Rs31bn was given to Punjab and government of Pakistan had spent spent on security-related expenses due to Zarb-i-Azb in 2014-15. trolling terrorism in Pakistan, but Sindh Rangers, Balochistan and KABUL: Taliban fighters Rs297.25bn (about $2bn) on the of the army from 2014-15 to An amount of Rs11.202bn was released $111m during the last 10 KP Frontier Corps and others attacked a police security post war against terrorism over the last 2016-17. spent under the Prime Minister’s years. The finance ministry pro- under the Public Sector Develop- in Afghanistan’s central 10 years, while it received from An amount of Rs4bn was assistance package on defence vided Rs45bn to the Fata secre- ment Programme. Ghazni province, killing eight the United States a small fraction incurred on the military operation services from 2008-09 to 2017- tariat for return, rehabilitation The Senate adopted the report local policemen, while four of around Rs12bn out of this hefty in Swat in 2009-10 and Rs9.327bn 18. An amount of Rs0.191bn was and housing subsidy for tempo- of a special committee on inves- intelligence officials died in amount during the same period. on Rah-i-Haq and Rah-i-Nijat disbursed in 2015-16 from the rarily displaced persons of the tigation into alleged sale of Paki- an ambush by insurgents in The finance ministry said spe- operations during the same prime minister’s assistance tribal areas. stan International Airlines’ Airbus the north, Afghan officials cial allocation made to the army period. package for the APS attack It also provided Rs67.58bn to 310 to a German firm and the cir- said yesterday. over and above the normal budget Pakistan received only Rs12bn martyrs. Sindh and Punjab Rangers, Balo- cumstances under which the air- In northern Parwan prov- during the period stood at from US during this period An amount of Rs19bn was chistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa line’s former CEO, a German ince, the attackers sprayed Rs152.925bn. An amount of According to details, Rs27bn was spent on fencing and lighting of Frontier Corps, KP Frontier Con- national, was allowed to leave the the intelligence officials’ Rs33.434bn was spent on the spe- spent on the Zarb-i-Azb opera- the country’s border with stabulary, Pakistan Coast Guards country despite his name being vehicle with automatic cial security division from 2014-15 tion of which Rs15bn was released Afghanistan over the past two and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts for on the ECL. gunfire. Arif Noori, spokesman for the Ghazni provincial gov- ernor, said the attack on the Duterte: News police there happened the Philippine rebels reject terror tag but open to talks previous night. site Rappler He said the insurgents AP that President Rodrigo Duterte Philippines and its armed wing and earth different from the attacked from four sides using linked to would fail like past leaders to as terrorist groups. It cited NPA,” Padilla said, referring to heavy weapons, including MANILA: Communist guerrillas defeat the New People’s Army deadly attacks and violence the brutal Islamic militant group artillery, killing eight US spies said yesterday a Philippine rebels so he’s resorting to “fake committed by the insurgents, blacklisted by the US and Phil- policemen and wounding a government court petition to have news” to undermine the Maoist including bloody internal purges ippine governments. ninth during a two-hour REUTERS them designated as terrorists is a guerrillas, who have managed of suspected military spies, in “Labeling the revolutionary attack. desperate attempt to alienate to wage an insurgency for nearly seeking the designation. movement as such is a big crazy Government reinforce- MANILA: Philippine President them from the people, but insisted half a century with what he said Padilla rejected the assertion act.” He said rebels attack gov- ment reached the area too Rodrigo Duterte stood by his they are still open to talks to was the people’s support. that the New People’s Army was ernment forces who raid or infil- late to stop the attack, Noori decision to ban domestic news peacefully settle one of Asia’s The Department of Justice similar to extremist groups noto- trate guerrilla zones but the said. Zabihullah Mujahid, outlet Rappler from his events, longest-raging insurgencies. asked a Manila court on rious for beheadings and other guerrillas do not assault inno- spokesman for the Taliban, accusing it of trying to under- Regional rebel commander Wednesday to formally desig- atrocities. cent civilians or ransack their claimed responsibility for the mine his government, prob- Jaime Padilla said by telephone nate the Communist Party of the “The Abu Sayyaf is heaven properties like the Abu Sayyaf. attack in a statement. ably with the backing of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). “That is the history of the American CIA and they look HK harbour gets attraction with sculpture park after political dissenters and eventually they will choose a AFP become a part of,” said Willis candidate they can order Thomas, perched inside a large around,” Duterte told HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s metal speech bubble. reporters. harbourfront is known for glis- The work, “Ernest and Ruth”, He said the online news tening skyscrapers and the sight is one of two of his sculptures in platform, which has a reputa- of containerships navigating busy the project, which was organised tion for its investigative shipping lanes — but a new art by the nonprofit Hong Kong Arts reporting and its tough ques- project has added a giant Centre in collaboration with local tioning, might be CIA-spon- pumpkin, a map of the stars and partners. sored and it “takes every a pair of disembodied legs to the On the harbourfront, chance to undermine” his gov- famous skyline. intrigued visitors had already ernment. It was not the first The Harbour Arts Sculpture begun taking pictures of them- time the firebrand leader has Park, which officially opened yes- selves with Kusama’s oversized said the CIA could be involved terday, is a collection of works by pumpkin sculpture yester- in Rappler. 19 local and international artists dayafternoon, while children Duterte has made no including Britain’s Antony played among the other works secret of his grudge against the Gormley and Tracey Emin, dotted on the grass. United States, which has Japan’s Yayoi Kusama, as well as Hong Kong artist Kacey expressed concern over his Jenny Holzer and Hank Willis Wong, whose angular golden art- ferocious drugs war, in which Thomas from the United States. work “Asteroids & Comets” is a thousands of people have The series of installations aims to constellation of three-dimen- been killed in shootouts with increase public access to art in a sional star maps, said younger police or unidentified gunmen. city known more for its exclusive visitors were the quickest to Rappler, in a news story about high-end galleries and lucrative engage with the art. Duterte’s remarks, reiterated auctions. “This morning some children Visitors look at Japanese artist Yahoo Kusama’s ‘Pumpkin: Big, 2008’ at the Harbour Arts Sculpture its position that it was 100 per- “I think public art is a unique they saw the work and just Park in Hong Kong, yesterday. cent owned by people from place to make a statement and I charged right in and started the Philippines and was not in wanted to make a work that jumping up and down inside tions,” he said approvingly. burnishing its artistic credentials Basel, Asia’s largest art fair, since any way controlled by the CIA. people could inhabit and basically without reading any of the cap- Hong Kong is increasingly and has hosted the annual Art 2013. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 If not now, when should ESTABLISHED IN 1996 Europe recognise Palestine? CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected] ANDERS PERSSON ACTING MANAGING EDITOR AL JAZEERA MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] NCE again, European states are said to be on their way to recognise Palestine. Some Oreports talk about a big wave, others are more modest. Much seems to depend on whether France will take the lead, but President Emmanuel Macron EDITORIAL said last month that France won’t recognise Palestine at this point, which probably means that there will be no big wave, at least not in the foreseeable future. Slovenia is, in any case, expected Diplomatic victory to be the second EU member to recognise Palestine since Sweden did in and do regarding the conflict. There atar has always been deft in handling 2014, even if the Slovenian president were, for example, no Israeli officials international diplomacy and has always recently said the time was not ripe. who dared to challenge Russia’s maintained very good relations with Cyprus and Malta have previously Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail international community. recognised Palestine, but that was before Bogdanov when he, in 2015 (just the What other European Q Qatar’s diplomacy received a further they joined the EU. A number of central day after Wallstrom spoke about the countries can learn from boost when it resumed diplomatic relations European member states have also radicalising power of the Israeli- Sweden’s experience of with Chad this week. Chad had severed relations with recognised Palestine, when they were Palestinian conflict in relation to the recognising Palestine is Doha in August soon after the start of illegal blockade part of the Soviet Union. Some of these Paris terror attacks), said that Hamas by the Arab quartet. states (the Visegrad four, with the Czech and Hezbollah were not terrorist to not wait for the EU, The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Republic, in particular) have today groups, even calling the latter a to be fact-based in all H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani emerged as Israel’s closest allies in “legitimate sociopolitical” force in the statements regarding the met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Europe. Iceland, Albania, Serbia, Middle East. conflict, prepare for the Integration and International Cooperation of the Montenegro, Ukraine and the Vatican Nothing of what Wallstrom has said Republic of Chad Cherif Mahamat Zene in Doha on have also recognised Palestine, but they in relation to either extrajudicial Israeli counter-attacks and, Tuesday and signed a Memorandum of Understanding are not members of the EU. killings (also previously expressed by if possible, do it together to resume the diplomatic relations between the State Israel initially feared that the Swedish the EU during the second intifada), or with other states to reduce of Qatar and the Republic of Chad. recognition would unleash similar the radicalising power of the Israeli- This move by both countries was hailed by all as recognition and punitive actions against Palestinian conflict is by any means the possibility for Israel to victory of diplomacy. Both countries would return their its occupation of the Palestinian anti-Semitic, and not really single them out for special ambassadors with immediate effect. “Diplomatic territories. It didn’t happen, but the controversial, either, for well-informed negative treatment. Relations to be resumed with immediate exchange of Swedish recognition did create a certain analysts. For example, Israel’s largest ambassadors. A victory for both countries’ diplomacy; momentum for the Palestinians, judicial scandal in modern times, the one that is based on the principles of dialogue and asparliaments in a number of key EU so-called Bus 300 affair from 1984, has the EU, to be fact-based in all statements common interests that bring peace and prosperity to member states (the UK, France, Ireland, been widely categorised by regarding the conflict, prepare for the both nations,” Lolwah Al Khater, Qatar’s foreign Spain,Portugal, Belgium and Italy) international observers as a case of Israeli counter-attacks and, if possible, ministry spokesperson, wrote on Twitter. adopted resolutions supporting extrajudicial killing. The same is true do it together with other states to reduce The Cabinet also Palestinian statehood and calling for their for the largest whistle-blowing scandal the possibility for Israel to single them welcomed the signing of the governments to in Israel, the Anat Kamm case from out for special negative treatment. MoU to resume the rela-tions recognise 2008, where it was revealed that the Wallstrom’s real problem was not about saying that “this positive Palestine. Israeli military had killed Palestinians the facts in her statements, but that she development in the relations Israel in direct contravention of the Israeli stood almost alone in the West in her The French envoy between the two countries responded Supreme Court’s rulings. Last year, critique against some of Israel’s policies, warned that comes in the interests of the A big part of the ferociously to Israeli soldier Elor Azaria was found which made her an easy target for Israeli two peoples and in the inter- Sweden’s guilty of what Amnesty International counter-attacks, but also for some the Gulf crisis Palestinians’ historic has dangerous est of developing bilateral recognition of called the “extrajudicial killing” of unexpected praise. One of Israel’s cooperation and misfortunes is that, Palestine, a Hebron resident Abdel-Fattah Al leading print journalists, Nahum Barnea consequences strengthening the two coun- while they have a response which Sharif. of Ynet, wrote, for example, that Sweden to everybody, tries’ directions towards peace worthy cause and went far Wallstrom was on safe ground even struggled against the Israeli right-wing and stability in the region.” beyond using its when it came to the radicalising power government in a way that the domestic undermines the much legitimacy, they collective image The international three standard of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for left-wing opposition did not. community has been do not have much replies to Islamic terrorism. Two months after A big, known unknown is where the of the Gulf and staunchly supporting Kuwait power to leverage unappreciated she brought this up in relation to the Trump administration stands on obstruct the Emir’s efforts to end the other countries European 2015 Paris terror attacks, the leader of European recognition of Palestine, if it, security, political illegal siege on Qatar. This is critique, which the cell that carried out the attacks, indeed, has any position at all. Israel’s evident from the fact that themselves. were Abdelhamid Abaaoud, said in his diplomatic power and deterrence are, to and commercial French Envoy for the Gulf formulated by so-called martyr video that “With a significant extent, based on having the cooperation, and Countries Bertrand its legendary Allah’s help we will be the ones who support of the world’s only superpower. even the return Besancenot recently noted in Foreign Minister Abba Eban already in liberate Palestine.” Before that, “the If Trump takes an active position against of international an interview with a the early 1970s: that the critique was ill- Palestine question” had been a central recognition of Palestine, it will make it newspaper that the French timed; that the critique was theme in Osama bin Laden’s speeches, harder for European countries to follow investment to the President Emmanuel Macron counterproductive; and that European and likewise in his successor’s, Ayman Sweden. If he rudely threatens them, it is region. has given special attention to countries should stop dictating the Al Zawahiri’s, for over two decades. unlikely that they will follow through. resolving the Gulf crisis conditions for peace if they wanted to be The tragic and paradoxical reality is Palestine is simply not that important to through serious participation relevant in the peace process. that, as the Palestinian Authority most of them. A big part of the in the international mediation network in order to end In retrospect, the harsh response progressed towards statehood, from Palestinians’ historic misfortunes is that, the unjust siege on Qatar. from the Israeli government seems to the mid-1990s to the early 2010s, while they have a worthy cause and The French envoy warned that the Gulf crisis has have been part of a deliberate strategy to Europe became less and less ready to much legitimacy, they do not have much dangerous consequences to everybody, undermines deter other European states from recognise a Palestinian state, even if power to leverage other countries the collective image of the Gulf and obstruct the following Sweden, which, up until now, the EU, together with the UN, the themselves. security, political and commercial cooperation, and has been very successful. When I have World Bank and IMF declared in 2011 If the Palestinian state-building project even the return of international investment to the done interviews with Israeli officials at that the PA performed above the fails, as it has been doing since Palestinian region. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in threshold for what was expected of a Prime Minister Salam Fayyad resigned in The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Jerusalem, they have openly admitted state. A European Commission official 2013, it will move the conflict out of the had urged at the Munich Security Conference “for all that Sweden was indeed “singled out for told my colleague Dimitris Bouris of two-state solution paradigm and into an nations of the region to forget the past and agree on special treatment”, without elaborating the University of Amsterdam in 2010 uncertain future.The big fear today among basic security, principles and rules of governance to further. A key component in this that “Palestine is already better mainstream European policymakers, allow for peace and prosperity.” strategy, whose contours remain equipped in state-building than 70 academics, intellectuals and others is of It is time that dialogue, without compromising the unknown, seems to have been to percent of existing countries.” course not that a Palestinian state will be sovereignty, is given a chance to restore stability in the deliberately pick diplomatic fights with The EU had, in its Berlin established too early, but that it will not be region. Sweden by misinterpreting or Declaration from 1999, expressed its established at all. exaggerating Sweden’s Foreign Minister “readiness to consider the recognition Foreign Minister Wallstrom pointed Margot Wallstrom’s statements — of a Palestinian State in due course”. A to this after Sweden’s recognition, when something she believes Israel did decade later, in 2010, the EU’s she said:”Some will state this decision deliberately. commitment to recognise Palestine comes too soon. I am afraid, rather, that QUOTE OF THE DAY In the wake of November 2015 terror was downgraded to “when it is too late.” She followed this up with attacks in Paris, Wallstrom identified the appropriate”. When PA President what some consider to be among the best It is simply Israeli-Palestinian conflict as one of the Mahmoud Abbas demanded EU Jewish quotes of wisdom: “If not now, preposterous to factors explaining why “there are so recognition for a Palestinian state when?” Finally, the foreign minister claim that these many people who have become during his recent visit to Brussels, EU added that she hoped that the radicalised”. In December of the same diplomats told the press that recognition would be a “positive attacks on civilians year, she called for Israel to end recognition “is up to national injection into the dynamics of the Middle (in Syria) have “extrajudicial killings” of Palestinians. In governments to make, not for the EU as East peace process”, and that other states anything to do with response, Israel swiftly declared her a whole”. Other EU diplomats, in some would follow. Now for the first time, it fighting terrorism. persona non grata. contradiction, said that EU recognition seems that others will indeed follow. It is Any fair observer can compare could only “come as part of a peace not a day too early that they do. Israel’s response to what Swedish settlement”. Nikki Haley officials say and do regarding the Israeli- What other European countries can The writer is a postdoctorate researcher US Ambassador to the Palestinian conflict with Israel’s learn from Sweden’s experience of at the Centre for European Politics at the United Nations response to what Russian officials say recognising Palestine is to not wait for University of Copenhagen. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 OPINION 09 Bangladesh hopes Myanmar will ensure safety of Rohingya

ANGLADESH Myanmar forces launched a when they fled to Bangladesh,” immediately” go back to their government is crackdown on the minority Siddiki said. home. ”This problem is having sensitive to the Muslim community, according Repatriation agreement a huge ramification for our security concerns of to the Amnesty International. In November last year, society, environment and B tourism industry because that More than 750,000 the returning Rohingya At least 9,000 Rohingya Dhaka and Yangon signed a refugees under a repatriation were killed in Rakhine state repatriation agreement for the part of the country is the refugees, mostly SORWAR ALAM deal with Myanmar, said from August 25 to September Rohingya people, which was biggest source of our tourism children and women, ANATOLIA Bangladesh’s envoy to Ankara 24, according to Doctors harshly criticised by industry.” on Monday. Without Borders. international community as He said the repatriation of have fled Myanmar Speaking to Anadolu In a report published on well as the rights groups due to 750,000 refugees would be since August 25, 2017 Agency, M Allama Siddiki said Dec. 12, 2017, the global lack of mechanism for started in the initial stage and if when Myanmar forces Bangladesh expects from humanitarian organization observing the vulnerable the process goes smoothly, all launched a crackdown Myanmar government to said the deaths of 71.7 percent people after their return to Rohingya refugees in ensure the security and safety or 6,700 Rohingya were Myanmar. Bangladesh would be returned on the minority of Rohingya Muslims after caused by violence. They As part of the agreement, in next stages. Muslim community, their return from the refugee include 730 children below the Bangladesh side handed over ‘Long and hard bargain’ according to the The Rohingya, camps in southeastern age of 5. to Myanmar authorities the ”This is a very long and Amnesty International. described by the Bangladeshi district of Cox’s The UN has documented first list of 8,000 Rohingya hard bargain which UN as the world’s Bazar. mass gang rapes, killings— Muslims on February 16 for Bangladesh is having with The Rohingya, described by including of infants and young their scrutiny and repatriation. Myanmar on Rohingya issue. He thanked Turkey for its most persecuted the UN as the world’s most children—brutal beatings and Calling oppression of Myanmar is our second moral and material support to people, have faced persecuted people, have faced disappearances committed by Rohingya “a very unfortunate neighbor. We don’t want-long the Bangladesh government on heightened fears of heightened fears of attack security personnel. In a report, and a tragic development”, term vicious relationship with Rohingya issue. attack since dozens since dozens were killed in UN investigators said such Siddiki said Bangladesh was the country. Because it is not Bangladesh envoy also communal violence in 2012. violations may have “greatly affected by the arrival part of our foreign policy,” the voiced his satisfaction on were killed in More than 750,000 constituted crimes against of the world’s most persecuted envoy said. current level of relations communal violence refugees, mostly children and humanity. ”Due to their Rohingya population” in the Responding to a criticism between the two brotherly in 2012. women, have fled Myanmar security concerns, we had not country. that the UN needs to be countries. He informed that a since August 25, 2017 when push them back to Myanmar Siddiki expected that the involved in the process, Siddiki Joint Economic Commission physical implementation of the said: “Actually, the UN starting (JEC) meeting between repatriation process would from the topmost leadership of Bangladesh and Turkey is due start “soon” and Rohingya the world body is involved in to be held in April in Ankara. could return to their home in this process.” ”In JEC meeting we are also Myanmar in a “safe He added Myanmar expecting to organise an environment and condition”. government should accept and investors forum. I am very ”However, the sense of cooperate to implement the happy, we have many things to security must be there. We Kofi Annan report, which do,” he added. Siddiki noted understand that... That’s why suggests Yangon to allow UN that both countries have the government of Bangladesh observers to enter the Rakhine enough potential to double the is moving in a gradual manner state and to allow Rohingya to current trade volume. so that the secured return their lands. ”Current trade volume environment is created with ”We expect the Myanmar between the two counties is the help and cooperation of the authorities will allow UN around $1.2 billion. But this is Myanmar authorities on that monitors on the other side of not enough, we can take this side of the border.” the border when the process of level to even much higher, even He reiterated Bangladesh repatriation begins. That’s part to $3 billion, if the business government’s view that of the Kofi Annan report and communities on the two sides Rohingya refugees “must and recommendation.” work with more interest.”

OUTH Africa’s Zuma is ties of tribalism. These have proved, till Orban argues that the university must out” was the Washington now, more persuasive than conform to rules regulating other Post’s headline last week. considerations of the increasing evidence universities: the European Union sees the “S“Will things actually get of Zuma’s looting of state resources. application of the rules as an attempt to better?” The question signifies more than Whether Cyril Ramaphosa, who had shut down the university. Both Poland D-RING ROAD journalistic skepticism. It points to a shift been Mandela’s choice as his successor, and Hungary, along with other Central POST BOX: 3488 in the liberal worldview. can bring clean(er) government to the European states as Slovakia and the DOHA - QATAR Over more than a quarter of a people and a culture of accountability to Czech Republic, have refused to take an century, that view –triumphant as, in the ruling African National Congress is EU-mandated quota of refugees; all [email protected] 1991, both Soviet communism and South the reason for the Washington Post’s reject the right of Brussels to dictate their African apartheid were swept away — question mark. policies. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE has been knocked hard. Interventions in Everywhere, below the over-facile The dilemma the EU now faces is TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Iraq and Libya, undertaken in part on the assumptions of radical, even acute. It can criticize and threaten, but FAX: +974 4455 7758 liberal grounds of a “responsibility to revolutionary, change in the eighties and doing more – cutting off funds, for protect” a population from its murderous nineties lay harsh facts. One is that the example, or taking legal action against MANAGING EDITOR leaders, are now viewed as having exercise of democracy is a hard-won, the states – would be represented as TEL: 4462 7505 produced more chaos than liberation. long-haul phenomenon. A central tenet – overruling elected governments. It is a The struggle to keep the Taliban at bay in that those in power are themselves trial of strength between nation states DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Afghanistan is increasingly regarded subject to the greater power of laws – is and a supra-national institution which is TEL: 4455 7769 through a similar prism; the American hardest won of all, and hardest to police, not a state; though the EU is very large, journalist Steve Coll wrote last month since power will usually seek to grow. with a population of 511 million, and the LOCAL NEWS SECTION that US war aims are “riddled with In Europe, the collapse of the countries relatively small, the nation TEL: 4455 7743 JOHN LLOYD contradictions and illusions.” Communist bloc meant a joyously- state, where the government keeps the REUTERS There was no larger figure in the celebrated “return to Europe” of the loyalty of the majority, still retains the BUSINESS NEWS SECTION optimistic canon than Nelson Mandela. Central European and Baltic states which advantage. TEL: 4462 7535 After 27 years of imprisonment, he had been part of the Soviet world. The The liberal victory of 1991 and after European Union saw itself as the medium was not illusory; freedom from both SPORT NEWS SECTION through which these countries would communist and apartheid rule was and TEL: 4455 7745 ease themselves into the exercise of remains real freedom. Even in Russia, the How democracy’s democratic norms. In part, that has ability to criticize, organise, publish and ONLINE SECTION happened: the EU insisted on institutional travel, though constrained, is much TEL: 4462 7501 and legal change which reflected norms greater than it was in Soviet times. But [email protected] spread dashed dreams of equality, minority rights and freedoms the liberal view failed to recognize the of speech and the press. underlying conservatism and fear on the PUBLIC RELATIONS But change, supported and carried part of peoples whose experience had TEL: 4455 7613 of liberalism out by the liberal parties which were been that power had to be placated and [email protected] often the first beneficiaries of the post- obeyed, not made accountable. communist era, did not capture the Ironically, in communist societies which ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT support of the majority. Institutional were constantly commanded to show TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 emerged to both broker the end of reform was not popular acceptance. In solidarity, the best way to survive was to FAX: 4455 7870 institutionalised servile status for South Poland and in Hungary, authoritarian pursue individual strategies of self- [email protected] Africa’s black majority and to make the rulers promote policies hostile to ideas of defense, or self-advancement by evading case for his country’s central role in a liberal morality and multi-cultural authority. CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT larger liberation. In a speech to the mixing. Democracy demands mutual TEL: 4455 7857 Organisation of African Unity in June Culture is now decreed to be recognition and acceptance of difference, [email protected] 1994, he claimed that “Africa cries out for patriotic. Poland’s ruling Law and Justice submission not to party or authority but a new birth.” Party has forced a patriotic agenda on a to law. None of that is innate; it has to be SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION But in South Africa, the material new museum, in the port city of Gdansk, recognised, learned, and internalised. TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 conditions for freedom were stillborn. which has commemorated the savage The Post’s question will take some FAX: 44557819 Democracy Mandela’s successor to the presidency, Nazi wartime occupation of the country time to answer. My bet is that [email protected] demands mutual Thabo Mbeki, ended his term in office by relating it to the experiences Ramaphosa will reduce corruption, having done little to raise the living elsewhere, in Central Europe and in the increase growth (if world conditions are recognition standards of the majority. Corruption Soviet Union. For the governing party favorable) and try to reform woeful All thoughts and views and acceptance became more evident in his time; under this lacks, as the Law and Justice MP Jan education and health systems. He may, in expressed in these of difference, Jacob Zuma, who followed him, it Zaryn said, “features characteristic of part, succeed. His task, however, is not became the governing principle of one Poles” such as “loving freedom, just to reduce the plundering of the columns are those of the submission whom the country’s Daily Maverick has Catholicism, patriotism and especially economy and to improve the lives of the writers, not of the not to party or called “the most disastrous of post- being proud of their history.” The majority; it is also, by so doing, to give newspaper. authority but to apartheid presidents.” museum will undergo changes in the citizens a sense of what democratic The harsh fact of a brutalised society direction of more evident patriotism. government can do if run half decently. If law. None of that was that the overwhelming majority saw In Hungary, the cultural battle he fails in that, liberal hopes for the All correspondence is innate; it has democracy not as a vehicle for the focuses on the Central European world retreat some more. regarding Views and exercise of considered choice but as one University, funded by the liberal Opinion pages should be to be recognised, of exclusion and oppression. It has meant philanthropist George Soros and seen by The author is co-founded the Reuters learned, and that a newly enfranchised electorate was the ruling Fidesz Party as a cosmopolitan Institute for the Study of Journalism at the send to editor-in-chief internalised. wooed more by the spectacle of power institution at odds with Hungarian University of Oxford, where he is senior office or mailed to the and — especially in Zuma’s case — the national values. Prime Minister Viktor research fellow. [email protected] 10 EUROPE FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 UK, Scotland progress on deal after Brexit REUTERS The Scottish and Welsh governments have sought assurances that the powers currently EDINBURGH: Scotland said progress was being made devolved to them in areas such as fishing, towards a deal to ensure that all farming and the environment will return to devolved powers transfer back them rather than to London when Britain to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after Brexit. leaves the EU in March 2019. The Scottish and Welsh gov- ernments have accused the engage with constructively.” The veto on Brexit legislation, Westminster-based British gov- government said the changes it ignoring them would stretch ernment of staging a power grab had made would mean that the already tense relations with with its European Union (With- vast majority of powers would London, and could feed public drawal) Bill, which will largely automatically flow from the EU appetite for Scottish “copy and paste” EU legislation to the devolved administrations. independence. into British law. However the Scottish and Welsh Russell said the British gov- French PM greets schoolchildren They have sought assur- governments are seeking legal ernment needed to take more ances that the powers currently protection for their current steps to safeguard devolution French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (right) and Pecquencourt’s Mayor Joel Pierrache greet devolved to them in areas such powers. and that Scotland would con- schoolchildren during a visit of the town of Pecquencourt, northern France, yesterday. as fishing, farming and the envi- “Progress is being made and tinue to argue for Britain to ronment will return to them we will continue to talk. I will remain part of the EU’s single rather than to London when continue to fight for the best market and customs union. That Britain leaves the EU in March deal for Scotland,” said Scot- possibility is something Prime 2019. “We have worked closely land’s Brexit minister Michael Minister Theresa May’s govern- Slovenia sacks Army chief over failed Nato tests with the devolved administra- Russell after the meeting. ment in London has ruled out. tions to find a way forward that The British parliament must “We are not opposed to UK- respects the role of the devolved seek consent from the Scottish wide frameworks, when they AP deputy, Alan Geder, to the post. planning, operation, logistics governments and ensures we and Welsh assemblies when leg- are in Scotland’s interest, but The decision comes after a support, communication, and are able to protect our vital UK islating on policy areas that devolved powers can only be LJUBLJANA: Slovenia’s govern- battlegroup failed in all but one administration. internal market,” David Lid- overlap with their devolved changed with the agreement of ment has sacked the Army chief of five areas in a Nato combat Prime Minister Miro Cerar ington, Britain’s cabinet office powers. But both have declined the Scottish parliament,” said of staff after the military’s poor readiness assessment at a says the government has allo- minister, said in a statement. to give their consent to the with- Russell. performance at a Nato combat training facility near the south- cated funds for army prepared- “The proposal that we have drawal bill because they say it “Failing that commitment readiness test. western town of Postojna. ness “so we were surprised put on the table is a consider- fails to respect the devolution from the UK government, we The government yesterday The official STA news when we received the report.” able offer that I hope the agreement made 20 years ago. will be unable to recommend replaced Maj. Gen. Andrej agency says an 800-strong bat- Osterman was appointed in devolved administrations will While they do not have a consent to this legislation.” Osterman, appointing his tlegroup was tested last week in 2014.

UK annual net British lecturers go on strike over pension changes migration falls

REUTERS end the defined benefit element of pen- LONDON: Net migration to sions, which the union says would leave the UK dropped 29,000 LONDON: Lecturers at universities a typical lecturer 10,000 pounds a year annually to reach 244,000, across Britain began a strike yesterday worse off. the Office of National Statis- in a row over changes to pensions, the Universities UK, the body com- tics (ONS) said. The new first of a series of walkouts their union prising executive heads of universities, figures show that 334,000 said would affect more than one million said the cost of future pensions had risen people emigrated to the students. by a third in the last three years and that country from across the globe The strike was the first planned over the Universities Superannuation Scheme in the year ending in the next month which the University and had a deficit of £6.1bn. “This industrial September 2017. College Union (UCU) said would hit action is targeted at students,” a Uni- Net migration from EU more than 60 institutions, including the versities UK spokesman said. “It will be countries fell to 90,000 — elite Oxford and Cambridge Universi- young people and the next generation under 100,000 for the first ties, and lead to the loss of 575,000 of students who will also suffer if their time — amid the backdrop of hours of teaching. education deteriorates because Brexit uncertainties. The fig- Tens of thousands of students, who employers are forced to make cuts to ures released yesterday make pay up to £9,250 ($12,900) a year for pay more into pensions.” Sam Gyimah, up the second set of data their courses, have signed petitions the government minister responsible revealed since the Brexit ref- demanding compensation if their studies for universities, called on both sides in erendum in June 2016. are disrupted. “The universities’ refusal the dispute to return to talks. Net migration is still well to negotiate with us has caused this mess “I am deeply concerned about the over 100,000 a year — a gov- and they owe it to students to start nego- impact this strike will have on students ernment target for annual net tiating properly,” said UCU general sec- who deserve to receive the education migration. “Looking at the A banner supporting lecturer strikes is displayed outside the University College of retary Sally Hunt. that they are paying for,” he said in a underlying numbers, we can London, yesterday. UCU members are angry at plans to statement. see that EU net migration has fallen, as fewer EU citizens are arriving, especially those coming to look for work in the Sweden sees UK, and the number leaving Slovakia rejects treaty has risen. It has now returned likely Russian to the level seen in 2012,” said poll meddling combating violence ONS statistician Nicola White. REUTERS against women Navalny held STOCKHOLM: Russia could REUTERS feelings of people in some states,” over protest try to influence the outcome Fico, a Social Democrat, said. of national elections in BRATISLAVA: Slovakia will not The European convention MOSCOW: Russian opposi- Sweden in September if ratify a European treaty designed “needlessly questions natural dif- tion leader Alexei Navalny authorities in Moscow feel to combat violence against ferences between men and said he was briefly detained their strategic interests are women, Prime Minister Robert women and calls them stereo- for organising illegal protests threatened, the Swedish Fico said bowing to opposition types” while pursuing the fine as Russia prepares to hold security service said from junior coalition partner and goal of eliminating violence presidential polls next month. yesterday. religious groups. against women, he said. Navalny, who has been The service’s head of Two weeks ago, Bulgaria, A junior coalition Slovak barred from challenging counter-intelligence, which now holds the EU’s National Party (SNS) said yes- President Vladimir Putin in Daniel Stenling, cited rotating presidency, has also terday it would go as far as the election, now faces a membership of Nato — rejected the treaty, highlighting demand that Slovakia withdraws court hearing and up to 30 which Sweden has debated resistance in the more socially its signature from the document. days in prison after being for- joining — and security conservative countries of the The critics dispute the treaty’s mally charged over an unau- around the Baltic Sea as former eastern bloc to the liberal definition of ‘gender’ as “social thorised January 28 protest two important issues for values of wealthier western roles, behaviours, activities and when he urged supporters to Russia. “Russian espionage Europe. Slovakia’s government characteristics that a particular boycott the upcoming vote. is still the biggest threat to signed the 81-article document society considers appropriate for Writing on Twitter, the Sweden,” he told an annual in 2011 and parliamentary rati- women and men”. prominent Kremlin critic said: press briefing. fication would have been the The Roman Catholic Church “I came out of the dentist’s “We see that Russia has next step. said the document may lead to and what do you know — the an intention to influence indi- In all, more than 40 countries discrimination of religious second operative (police) reg- vidual issues that are of stra- have signed. But Fico said that freedom in the country of 5.4 Alert in Brussels iment, ‘you’re detained’.” tegic importance. If these though Slovakia would adopt million people, where 62 percent The 41-year-old later issues become central in the into law all measures aimed at identify as Roman Catholics and Police officers take security measures following reports of a wrote that he was taken to a election campaign, we can combating violence against 6 percent as Protestants, possible one or several armed man hiding in an apartment, in police station where he was expect attempts at Russian women, it would not ratify the according to a 2011 census, the Brussels, Belgium yesterday. The police sealed off several streets charged with repeatedly influence.” Stenling declined treaty, which he said was a con- latest available. in suburban Brussels after reports of armed men and a murder, breaking rules on holding to say if his force had already troversial document that could EU members Bulgaria, Hun- but there were no indications of terrorism, officials said. Armed protests. seen evidence of such violate the constitution and lead gary, the Czech Republic, Britain, officers blocked traffic while a helicopter hovered over the scene In a statement, city police attempts. to the introduction of same- Croatia, Greece and Ireland have of the incident in the Forest district. Local mayor Marc-Jean said Navalny had been told to Russia has repeatedly gender marriage. not signed treaty yet and neither Ghyssels told broadcaster RTBF that police were called because come to the police station to denied meddling in elections “We can not pass measures have Council of Europe mem- of the “presence of armed people in a building.” read the case materials but in the West. that would clash with beliefs and bers Azerbaijan and Russia. had not done so. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 AMERICAS 11 US President suggests arming teachers AFP Chicago police WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump suggested arming confiscate 1,000 teachers to deter mass shootings Trump also promised as he faced broken voices, tears “very strong” illegal guns since and demands for action at a background checks meeting with survivors of the gun on gun owners beginning of year rampage that killed 17 people at a Florida high school. during the poignant AFP Trump also promised “very “listening session”, strong” background checks on in which he heard CHICAGO: Nearly 1,000 illegal gun owners during the poignant first-hand accounts guns have been confiscated from “listening session”, in which he the streets of Chicago so far this heard first-hand accounts from from bereaved year, authorities in the bereaved parents and friends, parents and friends. Midwestern US city said. and schoolchildren who nar- The 1,000th firearm was rowly escaped with their own obviously for people who are taken from a repeat criminal lives. As he sat with these people, very adept at handling a gun,” who ran from police during a Trump was photographed Trump added. The televised traffic stop overnight, police chief holding a piece of paper with White House meeting came as Eddie Johnson said. “That con- notes suggesting questions or students staged street protests tinues our average of seizing an other things to say to them. across the country to demand illegal gun out of the hands of an As seen on the photographs, stricter gun laws following the offender for nearly every hour these included “What would you murder of 14 teens and three of the year,” said Johnson, an US President Donald Trump speaks next Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Carson Abt, most want me to know about teachers at Marjory Stoneman advocate of stricter gun laws. as the President hosts a listening session with high school students and teachers to discuss school your experience?” and “I hear Douglas High School in Parkland, Once a model of tough gun you.” Social media lit up with Florida. safety at the White House in Washington. regulations, the nation’s third criticism of Trump’s apparent Holding signs reading “Never largest city has seen some of its need for help in sounding com- Again” and “Be The Adults, Do was there “because my daughter who don’t have a voice to speak One student pressed Repub- laws struck down by courts and passionate to people who are Something,” teenaged survivors has no voice. She was murdered anymore.” “Let’s never let this lican Senator Marco Rubio to is grappling with an influx of suffering. of last Wednesday’s shooting ral- last week.” “We protect airports. happen again. Please,” he told reject future campaign funding illegal weapons from neigh- Trump’s proposal to arm lied outside Florida state Capitol We protect concerts, stadiums, the president, later adding: “I from the National Rifle Associa- boring states. educators received a cool in Tallahassee. “No longer can I embassies,” Pollack said, his don’t understand why I can still tion, a staunch opponent of gun Chicago experienced an response, too, from a teacher walk the halls I walked millions voice seething with rage. “I can’t go in a store and buy a weapon control measures. alarming spike in gun crimes and who survived the shooting as of times before without fear and get on a plane with a bottle of of war.” Urgent calls for action Trump — who received murders -- peaking at more than well as the local sheriff at a town sadness,” Stoneman Douglas stu- water. But we leave some animal following the 2012 Sandy Hook strong backing from the NRA 750 murders in 2016. The city has hall meeting in Florida. dent Florence Yared told a crowd to walk into a school.” Justin massacre, which left 20 children during his White House run — since invested in more officers and “A gun-free zone, to a maniac that included thousands of Gruber, a 15-year-old Stoneman and six teachers dead in Con- has shown a new-found willing- new law enforcement methods to — because they are all cowards supporters. Douglas student, said “there necticut, failed to break the ness to take at least some steps reduce the violence. — a gun-free zone is ‘Let’s go in The White House meeting needs to be significant change in national deadlock on gun con- on gun control following the More than 60 percent of and let’s attack,” Trump said. was attended by Stoneman this country because this has to trol. Students are planning a Parkland shooting. But his sug- newly-acquired guns used to “If you had a teacher who Douglas students, their parents never happen again. march on Washington on March gestion of arming teachers drew commit crimes in Chicago come was adept at firearms, they could and also the parents of victims “People should be able to feel 24, with sister rallies planned scorn at the town hall meeting. from other states, especially Wis- very well end the attack very of the Columbine, Sandy Hook that when they go to school they across the country. Scott Israel, the local sheriff, consin and Indiana, according to quickly,” Trump said, suggesting and other shootings. can be safe,” Gruber said. And students and teachers announced that “deputies who a 2015 study by the University of that 20 percent of a school’s Andrew Pollack, whose Samuel Zeif, who lost a close who survived the shooting chal- are qualified and trained will be Chicago. While the city still has teachers could be trained to carry 18-year-old daughter Meadow friend at Stoneman Douglas last lenged politicians over their carrying rifles on school a ban on assault weapons, a court concealed weapons. was among the Stoneman Wednesday, said it was impor- positions on gun control at a grounds,” but also pushed back ruling struck down its ban on “This would only be Douglas victims, told Trump he tant to “be strong for the fallen town hall meeting in Florida. against arming teachers. handguns.

Kin of black man Over $500,000 raised slain by police receives $3.5m for 13 siblings held settlement captive in California

REUTERS REUTERS was receiving donations sent by express mail for the children, WASHINGTON: The city of LOS ANGELES: Thirteen such as clothing and books, said Washington will pay $3.5m siblings in Southern California Nicole Orr, a senior director at to settle a wrongful death who authorities say were the foundation. “It is all about lawsuit brought by the family beaten, shackled and abused by this community wanting to of an unarmed black man their parents can count on more show these kids love,” Orr said. who was shot to death by than $500,000 in donations Donations have come from as police in 2016, officials said. that local groups have raised for far away as Germany and Aus- The shooting death of their care. tralia and continue to arrive, Terrence Sterling, a 31-year- The parents of the siblings, she said. old motorcyclist who rammed David Turpin, 57, and his wife The foundation has raised a squad car after a high-speed Louise, 49, were charged with nearly $370,000, Orr said. The chase, triggered demonstra- multiple counts of torture, child Corona Chamber of Commerce, tions in the U.S. capital amid abuse and false imprisonment which is also located in River- anger over police killings of last month. They are scheduled side County, has collected African-Americans across the to appear at a court hearing on another $180,000 for the foun- United States. Friday in Riverside, about 97km dation, said Linda Richards, Angel Oropeza, member of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), talks to the media “In the tragic death of east of Los Angeles. who handles member services during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela. Terrence Sterling, a family The fundraising drive for for the chamber. lost a beloved son and the 13 siblings began with an The funds will be used to brother, and thus we have a outpouring of donations from provide medical and dental duty to bring some sense of Venezuelan oppn says will not contest local residents, organizers say, care, educational assistance closure to his family,” Mayor after police raided the family’s and other services for the sib- Muriel Bowser said. April 22 elections without guarantees home on January 14 and dis- lings, Orr said. The foundation The lawyer for the Ster- closed that some of the adult will continue to accept dona- ling family, Hassan Murphy AFP with the presidential poll. widespread food and medicine children were so malnourished tions indefinitely, she said. of Baltimore, said by phone “We are going to the elec- shortages. Leading opponents they appeared to be minors. David and Louise Turpin that family members were CARACAS: Venezuela’s oppo- tions come rain, shine or light- have been barred from standing The family lived in the sub- are accused of keeping their 13 pleased that the District of sition announced that it would ning, with or without the MUD,” in the election. urban Riverside County com- children in filthy and fetid con- Columbia “stepped up, took not participate in April 22 pres- said Maduro, adding that he Ironically, according to Felix munity of Perris, where some ditions, chaining some to their this so seriously, and came idential elections without would also propose bringing Seijas, head of polling firm Del- neighbours reported they had beds and using starvation as a strong with compensation for guarantees that it would be forward the legislative vote -- phos, “Maduro is probably at his seen only a few of the 13 sib- weapon to control them. the family.” free and fair. normally scheduled for 2020 -- weakest moment, but he’s lings, who police say ranged in Each parent faces 94 years Prosecutors declined last It said doing so would lend to “renew” the opposition-dom- drawing strength from the age from 2 to 29. to life in prison if convicted on year to file charges against the “an appearance of legitimacy” inated parliament. weakness, mistakes, and the Soon after the police raid, more than two dozen charges. officer involved in the shooting, to fraudulent polls designed to The opposition has accused lack of unity and coherence of the Riverside University Health David and Louise Turpin Brian Trainer, who failed to hand a second six-year term to the leftist president of engi- the opposition, which is what System Foundation, which is each pleaded not guilty to the turn on his body camera before unpopular President Nicolas neering a second term for him- gives him oxygen.” - Opposition leading the fundraising campaign, charges last month. the incident. A police review Maduro. “Do not count on the self by bringing forward the seeking guarantees - Still, the board found the shooting Democratic Unity Roundtable presidential election from MUD appeared to leave the door unjustified and recommended (MUD), or the people, to endorse December. “This premature and ajar in the hope of international he be fired. Trainer has what until now is only a fraud- unconditional event...is just a pressure for change. Mexico homicides rise in January requested a hearing that will ulent and illegitimate simula- government show to pretend a Among the opposition’s be held in April. tion of the presidential election,” legitimacy that it does not have, main demands is that the elec- AFP Sterling, a resident of Fort opposition coordinator Angel in the midst of the agony and tion takes place in the “second Washington, Maryland, was Oropeza told a conference to suffering of Venezuelans,” half of 2018,” that it be held MEXICO City: Mexico’s homicide rate surged in January — almost speeding and running red announce the result of weeks of Oropeza said. under the auspices of a “bal- 14 percent worse than the same month a year earlier — data lights on a motorcycle before opposition deliberations. Without a rival in sight, anced” National Electoral published showed. There were 2,156 homicides across the country Trainer and another officer Maduro retorted that the Maduro seems certain to win Council, and in the presence of in January 2018 or 13.7 percent more than in January 2017, the blocked him by pulling their elections would go ahead in re-election despite opinion independent international Interior Ministry reported. The Pacific coast states of Colima and cruiser into an intersection. April “with or without” the polls showing a 75 percent observers to monitor the polls. Guerrero had the worst murder rates — 7.37 and 5.63 per 100,000 Trainer shot Sterling as opposition coalition, and said he unpopularity rating among “We challenge the Maduro gov- residents. Also among the states with deepening violent crime the officer began to get out of was also seeking to bring for- Venezuelans angered by a ernment to be measured against problems was Baja California Sur, in the northwest. Mexico had a the squad car and the biker ward legislative elections by worsening political and eco- the people in real elections,” the grim 2017 with a record 25,339 intentional homicides, the highest rammed his door. nearly two years to coincide nomic crisis, causing MUD statement said. number since the national registries began in 1997. 12 AMERICAS FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018

Trailing rivals, Haiti, Salvador immigrants sue Trump Mexico ruling AP Committee for Civil Rights and international aid to recover from or value my contributions,” Juan party candidate Economic Justice, which filed the the earthquake, and homes, Carlos Vidal, a restaurant owner BOSTON: Haitian and Salva- complaint. schools and hospitals there have from El Salvador who has two US doran immigrants sued President Temporary protected status been rebuilt. citizen children, said through a says he can win Donald Trump yesterday, provides safe havens for people The lawsuit filed The lawsuit calls the admin- translator. arguing that the Republican from countries experiencing in federal court in istration’s stated reasons for Their lawsuit points to AFP administration’s decision to end armed conflicts, natural disas- Boston seeks to block ending the protections “nothing reports that Trump questioned special protections shielding ters and other challenges. The the administration but a thin pretextual smoke why the US would want to admit MEXICO CITY: Jose Antonio them from deportation was program has been continuously screen for a racially discrimina- more people from Haiti, used a Meade, the presidential candi- racially motivated. extended for Haitians since a from terminating tory immigration agenda.” A vulgarity to describe countries date trying to keep Mexico’s The lawsuit filed in federal 2010 earthquake. Protections for temporary protected Homeland Security spokeswoman in Africa and said he would like deeply unpopular ruling party court in Boston seeks to block the El Salvadorans have been in status for thousands said the agency doesn’t comment to see more immigrants from in power, insisted that he can administration from terminating place since earthquakes devas- of immigrants from on pending litigation. countries like Norway. still win the July 1 election temporary protected status for tated the country in 2001. The complaint was filed on It also cites separate reports despite trailing in the polls. thousands of immigrants from In January, Homeland Secu- Haiti and El Salvador. behalf of Centro Presente, a Mas- that Trump said Haitians who Meade, a well-respected Haiti and El Salvador. It claims rity Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen sachusetts-based Latin American received visas to enter the U.S. former finance and foreign Trump’s move to rescind the said it was the program for Sal- expected later this year for Hon- immigrant organization, and last year “all have AIDS” and minister, is struggling under program was rooted in animus vadoran immigrants, giving them duran immigrants. eight people who have been comments he made about immi- the baggage of the Institutional against immigrants of color, until September 9, 2019, to leave The Department of Home- living in the US under the pro- gration during the campaign, Revolutionary Party (PRI), citing comments he made on the the US or face deportation. land Security has said that con- gram. The end of the protections including that Mexican immi- which is so disliked in Mexico campaign trial and in office. Months earlier, the adminis- ditions in Haiti have improved impacts more than 200,000 Sal- grants were “bringing crime” and these days that it tapped a non- “Today we are drawing a line tration terminated the protec- significantly and the country is vadorans and 90,000 Haitians were “rapists”. The NAACP and party member as its presiden- in the sand and saying that gov- tion for Haitians, requiring them now able to “safely receive tra- in the US, according to the com- the NAACP Legal Defence and tial candidate for the first time ernmental policy cannot be to leave or adjust their legal ditional levels of returned citi- plaint. “I feel attacked. I feel dis- Educational Fund filed a similar in its 89-year history. based in bias and discrimina- status by July 22, 2019, and for zens.” The Trump administra- criminated because I know that I lawsuit in Maryland challenging After nearly six years of tion,” said Oren Sellstrom, liti- Nicaraguans, giving them until tion said last month that El contribute to the nation’s economy the termination of the protec- corruption scandals and bru- gation director of the Lawyers’ January 5, 2019. A decision is Salvador has received significant and the president doesn’t respect tions for Haitian immigrants. tally violent crime under President Enrique Pena Nieto, most voters appear to be looking for change -- either a radical one, in the form of White House denies being fiery leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (widely weak on Russia, says known as AMLO), or a more moderate one, in the form of conservative Ricardo Anaya. more sanctions to come Recent polls give Lopez Obrador just over 30 percent AFP about whether the administra- of the vote, with Anaya in the tion is dragging its feet. Several 20s and Meade in the teens. WASHINGTON: The White members of Trump’s campaign That scenario would House is weighing additional have been charged or admitted make AMLO the winner in sanctions against Russia, senior to lying to the FBI about their Mexico’s first-past-the-post administration officials said, contacts with Kremlin-related election system -- a prospect pushing back against allega- officials who are accused of that makes the business tions that Donald Trump has trying to sway the 2016 vote in world and the political estab- been a soft touch on Moscow. Trump’s favour. lishment nervous. Officials said a “task force” US officials on Wednesday has been set up to address admitted no specific sanctions Haiti suspends potential meddling in the 2018 had been introduced yet, but congressional elections and said that was because the Oxfam operations work is under way to introduce administration was doing its The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a PAZ Earth Observation satellite is launched from Vandenberg more sanctions in response to due diligence, rather than an AFP Air Force Base (AFB) as seen from Ventura, California, yesterday. Moscow’s 2016 campaign. attempt to slow-walk the Highlighting one potentially process. The first official also PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti far-reaching step, a senior stressed the need to avoid leaks yesterday suspended the administration official said they that could tip off potential sanc- SpaceX lobs Spanish satellite into orbit operations of British charity have already warned govern- tion targets, allowing them to Oxfam pending the outcome ments around the world that move money out of bank AFP satellite operator, was sent into the ability to catch one of the of its investigation into alle- they could face sanctions for accounts or take other miti- a low-earth orbit vertically cir- rocket nose cone’s two falling gations that its staff sexually “significant transactions” with gating steps. WASHINGTON: Elon Musk’s cling the north and south poles, fairings on a small ship mounted exploited Haitians after a the Russian military. “We are doing an awful lot SpaceX sent a Spanish military giving it a constant sunlit view with a massive trampoline like devastating 2010 earthquake. That includes Nato ally of work, we are taking this very satellite into orbit yesterday in of the earth’s surface below. those set up as safety nets under The country’s ministry of Turkey, which has publicly seriously, it is a national secu- a hitch-less liftoff from Cali- The launch took place a day circus aerialists. planning and foreign aid said announced the purchase of a rity issue,” the official said, fornia, extending the private later than planned; liftoff was The faring descended with Oxfam GB had made a Russian S-400 air defence mis- answering criticism. space company’s record of scrubbed on Wednesday due to a guided para-foil to slow its “serious error” by failing to sile system, which is seen as a “I would hope you would successful launches. high winds in the upper atmos- speed and carry it toward the inform Haitian authorities of challenge to US air superiority. just give us a little bit of an SpaceX, which proved the phere. Besides the Paz satellite, ship. The catch failed, however, the actions by their staff at the A second official said that “a indulgence to do some of these utility of its massive Falcon Heavy the rocket carried two prototype with the faring landing in the sea time they occurred. couple of big countries” were things behind the scenes and rocket earlier this month, put up satellites, dubbed Tintin A and just a few hundred meters away A government statement reconsidering their purchases be able to reveal them when we the Paz imaging satellite and two Tintin B. The two were to help from the vessel, Musk said. said the charity was sus- as a result of the global diplo- can.” “We would like to get after of the company’s own test test Musk’s plan to place thou- The faring was intact, how- pended for two months matic “demarche.” Those type these guys and we would like internet communications satel- sands of low-cost satellites in ever, he said on Twitter, and pending an internal Haitian of third country sanctions were to catch them in the act and not lites on a smaller Falcon 9 rocket. orbit to provide global broad- in the future they “should be investigation into the matter. part of a package of measures enable them to change course... “Successful deployment of band internet service, including able catch it with slightly Oxfam formally apolo- passed by Congress approved so that we have a harder time PAZ satellite to low-Earth orbit to poorly served low-income bigger chutes to slow down gized to the Haitian govern- last July, that were opposed by detecting them.” confirmed,” SpaceX said about countries. descent.” Catching the farings, ment on Monday for its han- the White House. One example given was nine minutes after liftoff at In yesterday’s launch, like retrieving the boosters, dling of the scandal . The Haiti Trump’s vocal opposition to the shuttering of the Russian 6:17am (1417 GMT) from Space-X did not attempt to land could generate significant sav- scandal has opened the the package — which entered consulate in San Francisco, Vandenberg Air Force Base on the first stage of the rocket on a ings for Space-X by allowing charity to greater scrutiny, into law earlier this year — and which was ordered closed late the central California coast. The sea-anchored barge as it had the company to recycle equip- leading to 26 new cases of his regular praise of Vladimir last year, taking Moscow by Paz satellite, from the Spanish with the February 6 Falcon ment. The nose cone alone misconduct, most involving Putin has raised questions surprise. government-controlled Hisdesat Heavy launch. Instead it tested costs about $6 m. its international operations.

US plans to execute three in one day

AFP killed his mother and brother, Tuesday that Hamm’s execution and wounded his father in 2003. will go ahead, on condition that WASHINGTON: Brent The gunman also shot Bart in the he is injected in his legs or feet Whitaker, a Texas man who arm, to provide a cover story for -- instead of his arms or hands, hired a gunman to kill his entire the family slaying. as would usually be the case. family, was waiting yesterday Police had originally Finally, Florida is scheduled for a last-minute reprieve after assumed the shooting had been to execute Eric Branch, handed a his father — whom he tried to a botched robbery, although the death sentence for murdering a murder — pleaded for his son’s fact that only Bart Whitaker’s student in 1993. His lawyers have life. Whitaker, 38, was one of cell phone had been taken launched final appeals based on three men awaiting execution raised suspicions. Bart returned the fact Branch was only 21 years in three different US states. to live with his wounded father old — and therefore, they say, The decision on whether to for seven months before the cognitively comparable to a juve- stay the execution, which was truth emerged that it was the nile — at the time of his convic- planned for 0000 GMT, rested son who hired the gunman. tion, nor was he sentenced to with the state’s Republican gov- Meanwhile, in Alabama, death by a unanimous jury. ernor, Greg Abbott, after the Doyle Hamm is facing execution Since US executions Texas Pardons and Parole Board after spending three decades on resumed in 1977, there have made a rare recommendation death row. He was condemned been 13 instances of three exe- for clemency on Tuesday. to death in 1987 for the murder of cutions on the same day — most Kent Whitaker, the con- a motel employee during an recently on January 7, 2010, demned prisoner’s father, has armed robbery. Hamm is already according to the Death Penalty US-Mexico border fence been moving heaven and earth dying of cranial and lymphatic Information Center. for years to try to get mercy for cancer, and his lawyers fear exe- In recent times, the highest US Border Patrol agents question undocumented immigrant families at the US-Mexico border fence his last surviving family cution by lethal injection would number of executions in a single while taking them into custody near McAllen, Texas. A group of men, women and children from member, whom he forgave from be torture, as he no longer has day occurred on December 9, Central America were picked up after crossing the Rio Grande into Texas, seeking political asylum his hospital bed. suitable veins. 1999, when Oklahoma, Indiana, in the United States. Whitaker was sentenced to However, after a bitter legal Texas and Virginia all executed death for hiring the hitman who battle, a court finally ruled on a prisoner. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 CLASSIFIEDS 13

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CROSSWORD NOVO Pearl Qatar ROYAL PLAZA VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER Black Panther (2D/Action) 10:00, 10:15am, 12:45, 1:00, 2:30, 3:30, 3:45, Welcome To New York (2D/Hindi) 2:30 & 7:00pm 6:15, 6:30, 8:15, 9:00, 9:15, 11:45pm & 12:00midnight Hey Jude (2D/Malayalam) 2:30 & 9:00pm Game Night (2D/Action) 10:00, 11:00am, 12:00noon, 1:00, 2:00, Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly And Simon 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 8:15, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00pm 3:30 & 5:00pm Aadhi (2D/Malayalam) 5:00pm & 12:00midnight Wolf Warrior 2 10:00am, 2:30, 7:00 & 11:30pm Mom And Dad (2D/Horror) 12:30, 5:00 & 9:30pm War Commanders China Salesman (Action) 5:00 & 9:30pm Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly And Simon Black Panther (2D/Action) 6:30pm Game Night (2D/Action) 7:45pm 10:00, 11:45am, 1:30, 3:15 & 5:00pm Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2D/Drama) 9:15pm War Commanders China Salesman (2D/Action) 6:45, 9:00 & 11:15pm Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2D/Hindi) 11:15pm Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 10:00am, 2:45, 7:30pm Wolf Warrior 2 (2D/Action) 11:30pm & 12:15am Den of Thieves (2D/Action) 12:15, 5:00 & 9:45pm Winchester 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm Okdat Al Kawja 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnight ASIAN TOWN Black Panther (3D IMAX/Action) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm Hey Jude (Malayalam) 12:00noon, 2:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30, 8:30,

MALL 9:30, 11:30, 12:30 & 02:00am Welcome To New York (Hindi) 1:00 & 6:00pm Welcome To New York (2D/Hindi) 2:15 & 9:15pm Aadhi (Malayalam) 1:00, 3:00, 4:00, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30pm Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2D/Hindi) 4:30 & 11:30pm & 01:00am Awe (Telugu) 12:30pm Aadhi (Malayalam) 2:15pm Hey Jude (2D/Malayalam) 4:45 & 11:30pm Black Panther (2D/Action) 5:00 & 9:00pm Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2D/Drama) 7:30pm AL KHOR Mom And Dad (2D/Horror) 9:45pm Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures Hey Jude (Malayalam) 11:15am, 2:15, 5:15, 8:15 & 11:15pm of Nelly And Simon (2D/Animation) 2:00 & 3:30pm Black Panther (Action) 11:30am, 5:30 & 11:30pm Game Night (2D/Action) 7:30pm War Commanders China Salesman Aadhi (Malayalam) 2:30 & 8:30pm (Action) 7:00pm Wolf Warrior 2 (2D/Action) 11:30pm Mom And Dad (Horror) 1:15, 5:30 & 9:45pm LANDMARK Game Night (Action) 11:00am, 3:15, 7:30 & 11:45pm

Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly And Simon 2:30, 4:00 & ROXY 5:30pm Game Night (2D/Action) 2:30 & 7:00pm Aadhi (2D/Malayalam) 2:15pm Hey Jude (2D/Malayalam) 5:00, 7:00 & Mission Kathmandu: Adventures of Nelly And Simon 10:30am, 8:45pm Black Panther (2D/Action) 4:30 & 11:30pm 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30pm Welcome To New York (2D/Hindi) 7:30 & 11:30pm Welcome To New York (Hindi) 4:10, 7:30 & 9:30pm War Commanders China Salesman (Action) 9:30pm Hey Jude (Malayalam) 10:30am, 1:30, 4:30, 9:30pm & 12:30am Mom And Dad (2D/Horror) 10:00pm Wolf Warrior 2 (2D/Action) 11:15pm War Commanders 10:30am, 5:50, 8:10 & 10:30pm Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (Hindi) 10:30am, 1:20, 6:40 & 11:30pm Yestserday’s answer FLIK Mirqab Black Panther (Action) 12:50, 3:10, 8:30 & 11:20pm Black Panther (Action) 2D 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 9:30pm & 12:15am 3D 3:00, 5:40, 8:20 & 11:00pm Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice. Early Man (2D/Animation) 2:20, 5:20, 6:30pm Ferdinand (2D/Animation) 1:35 & 4:15pm Game Night (2D/Comedy) 2:20, 4:25, 6:30, 7:15, 8:35, 9:20 & 10:40pm Hey Jude (2D/Comedy) 3:00, 6:15, 9:15pm & 12:15am GAME NIGHT Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 2:00 & 4:30pm Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 4:20pm Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly And Simon 1:40 & 3:30pm Mom & Dad (2D/Horror) 8:45 & 11:35pm Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2D/Drama) 7:00 & 11:25pm War Commanders China Salesman (2D/Action) 9:20 & 10:35pm Wolf Warrior 2 (2D/Action) 10:35am, 7:05 & 10:00pm

A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves trying to solve a murder mystery.

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PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04.46 am New study finds SHOROOK 06.03 am female protagonists ZUHR 11.47 am MAGHRIB 05.34 pm ASR 03.05 pm ISHA 07.04 pm down in 2017 films WEATHER TODAY AP NEW YORK: 2017 may have been the year of “Wonder Woman,” but a new study finds that female protagonists were down 5 percent in the year’s 100 top-grossing films. The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University released its annual “It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World” yesterday. It found that females comprised 24 percent of protagonists last year, down from 29 percent in 2016 despite high-profile releases like “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Beauty and the Beast” — 2017’s top two films at the box office. Researchers determined that while 32 percent of films featured 10 or more female characters in speaking roles, 79 percent had 10 or more male characters. “In an awards season when talk about women and gender has been top of mind, we need to separate hyper- bole from reality,” said Martha Lauzen, executive director of the San Diego State center. “The numbers do not yet Turkey’s classroom cat reflect claims of a tectonic or massive shift in the film ‘Tombi’ who became known in Turkey as the classroom cat in a primary school in Izmir province, is industry.” However, black female characters increased seen with students during a lesson yesterday. Students look after Tombi at the school while he is from 14 percent to 16 percent, and Latinas went from 3 being a good company to them. percent to 7 percent. Asian females increased from 6 percent to 7 percent. 19oC 26oC Superagers’ brains offer clues Seychelles preserves Minimum Maximum swathes of marine Foggy at places at first, partly cloudy with chance of scattered rain at places. for sharp memory in old age territory in

AP These elite elders are “more with a men’s group he debt-for-nature deal

HIGH TIDE 09:15 – 23:45 LOW TIDE 03:45 – 16:15 than just an oddity or a rarity,” co-founded. COURTESY: Qatar Meteorology Department WASHINGTON: It’s pretty said neuroscientist Molly Wag- “Absolutely that’s a critical REUTERS extraordinary for people in their ster of the National Institute on factor about keeping your wits 80s and 90s to keep the same Aging, which helps fund the about you,” exclaimed Gurolnick, VICTORIA: The island nation of Seychelles desig- sharp memory as someone research. “There’s the potential fresh off his monthly gin game. nated some of its fragile coastal areas for protection several decades younger, and for learning an enormous amount Rogalski’s superagers tend to from commercial fishing, oil exploration and devel- now scientists are peeking into and applying it to the rest of us, be extroverts and report strong opment this week in return for a novel deal relieving the brains of these “superagers” and even to those who may be on social networks, but otherwise it of part of its sovereign debt. to uncover their secret. a trajectory for some type of neu- they come from all walks of life, The Indian Ocean island, rich in underwater reefs The work is the flip side of the rodegenerative disease.” making it hard to find a common and postcard-perfect beaches, defaulted on its debt disappointing hunt for new drugs What does it take to be a trait for brain health. Some went in 2008 and clawed its way back to prosperity with to fight or prevent Alzheimer’s superager? A youthful brain in the to college, some didn’t. Some have assistance from the International Monetary Fund. disease. Instead, “Why don’t we body of someone 80 or older. high IQs, some are average. She’s Since then, government officials have been searching figure out what it is we might Rogalski’s team has given a bat- studied people who’ve experi- for ways to preserve their environment without need to do to maximise our tery of tests to more than 1,000 enced enormous trauma, endangering financial stability. So the finance min- memory?” said neuroscientist people who thought they’d including a Holocaust survivor; istry was intrigued when US-based conservation Emily Rogalski, who leads the qualify, and only about 5 percent fitness buffs and smokers; teeto- group The Nature Conservancy approached it SuperAging study at Chicago’s pass. The key memory challenge: talers and those who tout a recently with a debt-for-nature financial proposal, Northwestern University. Listen to 15 unrelated words, and nightly martini. the first in the world aimed at protecting a marine Parts of the brain shrink with a half-hour later recall at least But deep in their brains is area. The deep-pocketed conservation group offered age, one of the reasons why most nine. That’s the norm for 50-year- where she’s finding compelling to buy up nearly $22m of Seychelles’ outstanding people experience a gradual olds, but the average 80-year-old hints that somehow, superagers are $406m sovereign debt in return for the country des- slowing of at least some types of recalls five. Some superagers more resilient against the ravages ignating a third of its marine area as “protected”. The memory late in life, even if they remember them all. “It doesn’t of time. Early on, brain scans East African island nation of fewer than 100,000 avoid diseases like Alzheimer’s. mean you’re any smarter,” showed that a superager’s cortex people mainly relies on tourism and fishing for rev- But it turns out that super- stressed superager William “Bill” — an outer brain layer critical for enue, but in recent years oil and gas companies have agers’ brains aren’t shrinking Gurolnick, who turns 87 next memory and other key functions been exploring its turquoise waters, home to dug- nearly as fast as their peers’. And month and joined the study two — is much thicker than normal for ongs, turtle and tuna. autopsies of the first superagers years ago. their age. It looks more like the On Wednesday, Seychelles gave details on the to die during the study show they Nor can he credit protective cortex of healthy 50- and 60-year- first 210,000 sqkm area to be conserved, limiting harbour a lot more of a special genes: Gurolnick’s father devel- olds. It’s not clear if they were born activities like fishing, oil exploration and large-scale kind of nerve cell in a deep brain oped Alzheimer’s in his 50s. He that way. But Rogalski’s team found development in the most fragile habitats, while region that’s important for atten- thinks his own stellar memory is another possible explanation: A allowing them under certain conditions in the rest tion, Rogalski told a recent bolstered by keeping busy. He superager’s cortex doesn’t shrink of the area. meeting of the American Associ- bikes, and plays tennis and water as fast. Over 18 months, average The remaining 200,000 square km area, which ation for the Advancement of volleyball. He stays social through 80-somethings experienced more will have different restrictions, will be announced Science. regular lunches and meetings than twice the rate of loss. later. The Seychelles deal builds on 20 years’ worth of similar debt-for-nature swaps that have preserved vast tracts of tropical forests in Latin America and the Caribbean. But it’s the first time the financing technique has Pakistani men assert their right to be groomed been used to secure a marine environment, said Rob Weary, the head of NatureVest, which funds the AFP Western enter- Humayun Khan, 49, says he is group’s conservation deals. tainment have fine with spending more money to “There’s not been one example of a country ISLAMABAD: Nails are buffed, long driven look good and his wife is supportive defaulting on a debt-for-nature swap,” he said. blackheads scrubbed and coffee fashion trends for of the new passion. “I... get my nails Weary said the Seychelles deal -- which will also sipped to the sound of clipping scis- conscientious done, get my haircut, get my facial help fund climate-change projects -- could pave the sors inside the “Men’s” salon in Paki- groomers. and I am done for the day and after way for other, larger deals where conservationists stan’s capital Islamabad, where a But times are two weeks I come again,” he says. buy a country’s sovereign debt in return for policy growing number of male patrons are changing fast in “If I don’t look good, my wife changes designed to help the environment. set on revamping their style. the rapidly devel- wouldn’t like me,” he laughs. With an annual operating budget of $650 mil- Deeply conservative Pakistan oping South Asian Stylist Ghulfam Ghori says Paki- lion per year, The Nature Conservancy’s funds dwarf has strict notions of masculinity nation, with stani men are also now more con- many other, better-known charities such as Oxfam where men are often expected to be social media set- cerned with skincare, opting for or the World Wildlife Foundation. “Never before has austere and flamboyant styling is to ting and wrecking blackhead removal, acne treatments there been so much funds available to support be avoided. But savvy entrepreneurs trends in urban and even the occasional brush with marine-based economic activities, the conservation in urban centres have latched on to A male hairdresser blow-drying a customer’s hair at a centres at the makeup before major events like of coastal and marine biodiversity and adaptation a new metrosexual trend: male men’s salon in Islamabad. speed of a swipe. weddings. to climate change,” said Vice-President Vincent beauty salons. According to “Men are very conscious about Meriton when announcing the project. While women in urban Pakistan Lebanese salon their skin now... and consider it have long enjoyed access to the care for a visit — a far cry from the 200 owner Michael Kanaan, who has essential to get facials. Previously it of beauticians and stylists, expen- rupees spent at traditional barber been based in Pakistan for more than was not common, but now the trend sive facials and mani-pedis for men shops. “Men have equal right to be a decade, rising wages and greater is increasing among men to get are becoming more common as dis- groomed and times have changed. exposure to global culture is fanning themselves groomed,” says Ghori. posable incomes in the nation’s It’s no more just getting your the burgeoning demand. But it’s not just the salons that swelling middle class grow — per haircut,” says Haider. “The Pakistan male is becoming are cashing in on Pakistani men’s capita income jumped by 6.4 per- “Senior citizens, bureaucrats, more metrosexual. It is all due to the blossoming cosmopolitan cent in 2017. they don’t feel ashamed of saying internet and the age of satellites and predilections. A vibrant social media culture that I need a facial, massage, my nails and TVs,” says Kanaan. Zafar Bakhtawari, chairman of has also fuelled the desire to be need to be done, please suggest what Economist Minhajul Haque the D. Watson Group, one of Paki- selfie-ready at any time, with influ- should I get,” he adds. agrees, saying Pakistani men are also stan’s biggest pharmacy chains, encers like Adnan Malik and Osman In rural Pakistan, men have tra- subjected to a new slew of online explains:”I can say there is a revo- Khalid Butt attracting hundreds of ditionally taken their fashion tips advertising campaigns that have lution coming up in Pakistan in the thousands of followers online with from Islam, with the Holy Quran reinforced the trend. male psyche that they are becoming their fashion-conscious posts. specifying the length of beard and “There is this whole lot of clever very much conscious about their A man handing a box of nursery-grown coral to At Tauseeq Haider’s “Men’s” moustache along with hygiene marketing of male beauty products beauty, about their face, about their a diver off the coast of Praslin, in the Seychelles salon, customers usually fork out a guidelines. which is spurring demand,” he hair, about their dress and it’s a great islands, where coral is being reintroduced. minimum of 1,400 rupees ($12.60) And in the cities, Bollywood and explains. revolution.” BUSINESS Friday 23 February 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19

Trans-Pacific deal to QSE FTSE100 DOW BRENT Strong euro top Turnbull-Trump 9,096.36 7,252.39 24,974.71 $62.60 shakes German talks -22.65 PTS -29.18 PTS +176.39 PTS +0.92 business morale 0.25% 0.40% 0.71% Dow & Brent before going to press

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REUTERS A stronger dollar pushes up the bill for countries paying for LONDON: Oil prices fell imports in other currencies, yesterday, dragged lower by a Brent crude futures potentially curbing demand. firmer dollar that offset support The American Petroleum from a surprise decline in US were down 11 cents at Institute on Wednesday reported crude inventories. $65.31 per barrel by an unexpected drop in US crude Brent crude futures were 1218 GMT, while West oil inventories by 907,000 bar- down 11 cents at $65.31 per Texas Intermediate rels to 420.3 million barrels for barrel by 1218 GMT, while West the week to February 16. Kuwait International Airport expansion (WTI) futures eased Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures “Improved pipeline infra- Nihat Ozdemir (centre), Chairman of Turkish conglomerate Limak Holding AS, poses with Kuwait eased 24 cents to $61.44 a barrel. 24 cents to $61.44 a structure to the Gulf coast and Finance House bank Chairman Hamad Al Marzouk (left) and National Bank of Kuwait Chairman Nasser The dollar rose to a one- barrel. the decreased supply via Tran- Musaed Al Sayer, during a signing ceremony for a syndicated credit agreement partly financing the week high against a basket of sCanada’s Keystone pipeline, construction, completion, furnishing, and maintenance of Kuwait International Airport’s second major currencies yesterday, after sent inventories tumbling,” Innes passenger terminal in the capital Kuwait City. minutes of the Federal Reserve’s markets strategist Jasper Lawler said. January meeting showed poli- said. The correlation between But analysts said oil markets cymakers were more confident moves in the oil price and the were still generally well sup- of the need to keep raising dollar has strengthened in the ported due to rising demand for interest rates. last couple of weeks, as inves- crude and production restraint With the strengthening tors increasingly sell other assets led by the Organization of the QSE’s benchmark index gained dollar, the oil price has lost to buy the US currency on expec- Petroleum Exporting Countries nearly 10 percent since hitting a tations of a faster pace of rate (Opec) and Russia. multi-year high above $70 in rises. “Opec production curbs have 68.65 points last week January. “The firming dollar con- stabilised the market. Adherence “Given the market’s tinues to thwart investor senti- to (the) agreement has been rel- THE PENINSULA end of previous week. total number of transactions. whipsaw reaction we could add ment despite the bullish inven- atively good,” Daniel Hynes, Banking and Financial Industries sector accounted for another key takeaway, that tory data,” said Stephen Innes, senior commodity strategist at DOHA: Qatar Stock Exchange’s Services sector led traded value 27.15 percent. Real Estate sector recent heightened market vol- head of trading for Asia-Pacific ANZ bank, said in a report (QSE) benchmark index gained last week with 44.86 percent of accounted for 18.05 percent atility could be here to stay,” LCG at futures brokerage OANDA. yesterday. 68.65 points, or 0.76 percent, the total traded value. Indus- and Consumer Goods and Serv- last week when the bourse tries sector accounted for 22.25 ices sector accounted for 7.81 closed yesterday at 9,096.36 percent. Real Estate sector percent. points. accounted for 12.79 percent and Out of the 45 companies Trading value during last Consumer Goods and Services listed on the QSE, 18 ended last EU parliament urges increase to bloc’s budget week decreased by 2.05 per- sector accounted for 11.23 per- week higher, while 23 fell and cent to reach QR792.68m com- cent. Banking and Financial four remained unchanged, AFP committee and the European Parliament is pared to QR 809.27m in the Services sector led traded reports QNA. sending out on the eve of the informal summit of prevous week. volume last week with 47.17 When compared on daily BRUSSELS: The European Parliament urged heads of state and government,” budget com- Trading volume decreased percent of the total traded basis, the QSE index dropped national leaders meeting today to significantly mittee chairman Jean Arthuis told a press by 9.02 percent to reach 32.92 volume. Industries sector 22.65 points, or 0.25 percent boost contributions to the bloc’s post-2020 multi- conference. million shares, as against 36.18 accounted for 23.41 percent. yesterday compared to year budget to plug a Brexit hole and meet new MEPs said their call was based on input from million shares, while the Real Estate sector accounted for Wednesday’s closing at 9,119.01 demands. other key parliament committees even if a full number of transactions fell by 17.75 percent and Consumer points. The volume of shares EU leaders should work to increase contri- vote by the elected body must still be held. 6.58 percent, to reach 13,489 Goods and Services sector traded decreased to 5.69 mil- butions from one percent of gross domestic Isabelle Thomas, a French MEP who is helping transactions as compared to accounted for 4.77 percent. lion from 6.91 million on product in the 2014-2020 budget to 1.3 percent steer the proposal through parliament, said the 14,439 transactions. Banking and Financial Wednesday and the value of in the next one, the parliament’s budget com- budget committee wants the increase to 1.3 per- Market cap rose by 1.23 per- Services sector led traded shares decreased to QR135.54m mittee said yesterday. cent of GDP to “respond to Brexit and new cent to reach QR487.36bn as number of transactions last from QR167.75m on “It’s a very strong message that the budget priorities.” compared to QR481.42bn at the week with 34.12 percent of the Wednesday. US unemployment claims drop to near 45-year low

REUTERS workers reflecting, in all likeli- up wage growth, which could It also said claims-taking pro- growth this month. hood, the difficulty of replacing help to lift inflation toward the cedures in Puerto Rico and the Payrolls increased by WASHINGTON: The number of them,” said John Ryding (pic- Federal Reserve 2 percent Virgin Islands had still not 200,000 jobs in January. Strong Americans filing for unemploy- tured), chief economist at RDQ target. returned to normal, months employment gains in February ment benefits fell to a near Economics in New York. Minutes of the US central after the territories were would seal the case for an 45-year low last week, pointing Economists polled by Reu- bank’s January 30-31 policy slammed by Hurricanes Irma interest rate increase next to strong job growth in February, ters had forecast claims meeting published on and Maria. month. The Fed has forecast which should continue to unchanged at 230,000 in the Wednesday showed policy- The four-week moving three rate increases this year. underpin the economy. latest week. It was the 155th makers upbeat in their assess- average of initial claims, con- Most economists, however, Initial claims for state unem- straight week that claims ment of the economy and a sidered a better measure of expect four rate hikes in the ployment benefits dropped remained below the 300,000 number “judged that the con- labor market trends as it irons wake of strong inflation read- 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted threshold, which is associated tinued tightening in labor mar- out week-to-week volatility, fell ings in January. 222,000 for the week ended with a strong labor market. That kets was likely to translate into 2,250 to 226,000 last week. Yesterday’s claims report February 17, the Labor Depart- is the longest such stretch since faster wage increases at some The claims data covered the also showed the number of ment said yesterday. Claims fell Presidents Day holiday. While 1970, when the labor market point.” survey period for the nonfarm people receiving benefits after to 216,000 in mid-January, that probably distorted last was much smaller. US financial markets were payrolls component of Febru- an initial week of aid declined which was the lowest level since week’s data, the underlying The labor market is near full little moved by the claims data. ary’s employment report. 73,000 to 1.88 million in the January 1973. trend in claims was consistent employment, with the jobless The Labor Department said The four-week average of week ended February 10. The Claims for six states, with a robust labor market. rate at a 17-year low of 4.1 per- claims for California, Hawaii, claims dropped 17,500 between four-week moving average of including California, were esti- “Firms are extraordinarily cent. Tightening labor market Maine, Virginia, West Virginia the January and February survey the so-called continuing claims mated because of Monday’s unwilling to part company with conditions are starting to push and Wyoming were estimated. weeks, suggesting solid job fell 16,250 to 1.93 million. 18 BUSINESS FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 Trans-Pacific deal to top Turnbull-Trump talks REUTERS insistence of US negotiators. The revised deal is expected to SYDNEY: China’s rising power be signed on March 8. and a resurgent Trans-Pacific As an incentive, Turnbull trade pact will be at the top of will also propose spending an the agenda when Australian unspecified amount of Austral- Prime Minister Malcolm Turn- ia’s pension pool to fund bull (pictured) and US Trump’s $1.5trillion infrastruc- President Donald Trump meet ture plan, the official said. in Washington this week, an The White House wants to Australian official said yester- use $200bn in federal funding day. to try to encourage infrastruc- The meeting comes as both ture improvements over 10 seek to repair a relationship years by relying on state and Economic & Business Forum in Turkey damaged last year by a row local governments and the pri- over asylum seekers in which vate sector. Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci (centre) poses for a family photo with the participants Trump lambasted Turnbull over Turnbull and executives during the opening ceremony of Turkey - Ecowas Economic and Business Forum in Istanbul, a resettlement arrangement from several Australian pension yesterday. that he labelled a ‘dumb’ deal. protecting US jobs. Turnbull is funds will address a meeting of Washington will honour the still keen to promote the pact, US governors tomorrow. deal to take up to 1,250 asylum- the official said, even though it Regional security is also set to seekers held in Australian is likely to receive a lukewarm dominate talks, with a partic- detention centres on remote reception from Trump. ular focus on China, the Pacific islands, so Trump and The remaining 11 members Australian official said. Prosecutors raid homes of two former Turnbull will now seek to find published an amended agree- Trump, a harsh critic of Chi- common ground on China and ment on Wednesday that na’s trade policies, named US Audi board members in diesel probe the Trans-Pacific trade pact, suspends or changes more than Pacific Commander Admiral which aims to cut barriers in 20 provisions from the original Harry Harris, known for his the Bavarian capital said in a members of the Audi board are some of the region’s fastest- pact, many of which had been hawkish views on Beijing’s mil- AFP statement. in prosecutors’ sights, the inves- growing economies. inserted into the ‘TPP 12’ at the itary expansion, earlier this It is the first time that former tigators said. “The prime minister is trav- month as the next US ambas- FRANKFURT AM MAIN: members of the high-end VW Audi declined to comment elling with a large delegation sador to Australia. German prosecutors said yester- subsidiary’s board have been on the raids. The cars with the of business leaders and he is Australia’s approach to day they had raided the homes targeted in the ‘dieselgate’ emis- four-ring logo have figured very keen to talk trade oppor- China, easily its largest trading of three people including two sions cheating scandal. prominently in the diesel scan- tunities, while China will Turnbull & executives partner, has typically been former board members at luxury German business weekly dal since Volkswagen admitted obviously be an important ele- more circumspect. carmaker Audi, the third search WirtschaftsWoche reported the in 2015 to manipulating exhaust ment of the talks,” said the from several However, Sino-Australia this year related to diesel emis- two executives were former control software in 11 million Australian government official, Australian pension relations soured in December sions cheating at the engineering chief Ulrich Hack- vehicles worldwide, allowing who declined to be identified funds will address when Turnbull said his govern- Volkswagen subsidiary. enberg, who quit Audi in 2015, cars to spew up to 40 times as because he is not authorised to a meeting of US ment would introduce new “There is suspicion that the and former technical develop- many harmful emissions on the talk to the media. laws to clamp down on accused were partly responsi- ment director Stefan Knirsch, road as in regulatory tests. Trump threw the original governors tomorrow improper interference by Bei- ble for at least a significant who left in 2016. The German investigation 12-member Trans-Pacific Part- with regional security jing in Australian politics. proportion of vehicles intro- Most of the people previ- focuses on some 210,000 vehi- nership into limbo last year also set to dominate China denies the claim, and duced into circulation with ously targeted in the probe had cles sold on European and when he withdrew the United talks. lodged an official complaint manipulative exhaust manage- been engineers involved in American markets from 2009 States to concentrate on against the allegation. ment software,” prosecutors in motor development. No current onwards. Higher fossil Fosun snaps up French fashion label Lanvin US tax reform fuel subsidies pushed Barclays AFP products manufactured in France and Italy.” likely with rise of Lanvin’s artistic director Olivier Lapidus into red in 2017 PARIS: Chinese conglomerate Fosun -- who replaced designer Bouchra Jarrar in green energy snapped up the ailing French fashion label July after only 10 months at the helm -- said LONDON: British banking Lanvin yesterday and promised to revive its in November that he was helping to prepare giant Barclays said yesterday fortunes. a major shift for the brand, which was that losses related to the sale BLOOMBERG Lanvin, the oldest French luxury house founded in 1889. of its African business, litiga- still in existence, has been in turmoil since Before Fosun took a controlling stake, tion costs and a one-off LONDON: Fossil-fuel subsi- the shock sacking of popular designer Alber Madame Wang held 75 percent of the com- negative impact from the US dies may actually rise in Elbaz two years ago. pany, with the rest of the shares owned by tax reforms pushed it into the Europe because of the switch It sank into the red to the tune of ¤18.3m German businessman Ralph Batel. red in 2017. to green energy. ($21.2m) in 2016, its first loss for a decade. Fosun has gone a huge foreign buying Barclays said that it European Union govern- Its previous owner, the Taiwanese media spree since 2013, splashing out $13bn (¤11m) posted a net loss of £1.922bn ments will have to pay out magnate Shaw-Lan Wang, who had prom- on a eclectic range of companies from enter- ($2.7bn, ¤2.2bn) last year increased compensation for ised a fresh cash injection, remains a tainment to tourism and banking, according compared with profit of closing coal-fired plants, shareholder, Fosun said in a statement. to analyst platform Dealogic. £1.623bn a year earlier. according to a report by “Not all brands can go through more than It also has major stakes in the ‘Cirque du It said the loss resulted Bloomberg New Energy a century and still shine like Lanvin,” said Soleil’ performance group, British travel from £1.2bn in litigation costs, Finance. Fosun International’s chairman Guo confident that Fosun can bring great incre- agent Thomas Cook, the jeweller Faberge a loss of £2.5bn related to the Several countries are also Guangchang (pictured), who is often called mental value to Lanvin,” the statement and the Indian pharmaceutical company, sale of Barclays Africa Group rolling out programs that pay China’s Warren Buffett after the American added. Gland Pharma. Limited (BAGL) and a one-off power plants to guarantee investor and darling of the markets. Fosun, which already owns the French Guo, who Forbes magazine estimates is net tax charge of £0.9bn due electricity supplies, mecha- “This globally renowned brand and its holiday company Club Med and a string of China’s 16th richest man, caused consterna- to the remeasurement of US nisms that often favor rich history has tremendous growth poten- mid-market fashion brands including the tion in 2015 when disappeared for few days deferred tax assets in the fourth fossil-fuel generation. tial,” he added. German label Tom Tailor, said it was “abso- only for the group to say later that he had quarter of 2017. Pre-tax profit Renewables subsidies “As China becomes the main growth lutely committed to Lanvin’s high luxury ‘been helping the judicial authorities with rose by 10 percent to £3.5bn still vastly outweigh fossil- driver of the global luxury market, we are positioning and its exceptional quality of their inquiries’. last year, Barclays said. fuels in the bloc though with the former receiving ¤61bn ($75bn) in costs from govern- ments in 2016 compared with ¤4.9bn of support for UK growth faltered in 2017 amid Brexit constraints coal, oil and natural gas, BNEF said. AP imported goods, notably food and union for a period after Brexit. Though Although total subsidies energy. The increase in inflation has the impact of the falling pound is set to have risen, so has their value LONDON: The British economy did not eaten into their wages, reducing their diminish over the year, Brexit is still the for money. Every ¤1m of grow as strongly as initially thought purchasing power. biggest cloud over the economic hori- subsidy in 2016 backed 10.3 during 2017 as consumers and businesses In a statement accompanying yes- zon this year. gigawatt-hours of total sub- were held back by factors directly related terday’s downgrade, agency statistician “The effect of the uncertainty around sidized renewable power to Brexit. Darren Morgan noted that a number of future trading relationships is having an generation compared with The Office for National Statistics said consumer-facing industries slowed ‘as impact on the demand side of the econ- 7.4 gigawatt-hours three yesterday that the British economy price rises led to household budgets omy,” Carney told lawmakers years earlier. expanded by a quarterly rate of 0.4 per- being squeezed’. Wednesday. “I don’t think that’s contro- Governments are still cent, down from the initial estimate of That squeeze on household incomes versial, it’s pretty clear. We have moved looking to limit the 7 percent 0.5 percent. The downgrade was largely is due to end this year, according to Bank from the top of the pack to the increase in green energy due to lower than anticipated industrial of England Governor Mark Carney (pic- bottom.” subsidies since 2013. Portu- production. tured), as wage rises are forecast to start The pound remained under pressure gal and Denmark have laid The downgrade reduced overall 2017 to outstrip inflation. Currently, wages after yesterday’s downgrade, trading 0.2 out plans to phase out finan- growth to a five-year low of 1.7 percent are growing about 2.5 percent on aver- percent lower at $1.3885 as traders mull cial assistance completely from the previously forecast 1.8 percent, age against price increases of about 3 whether it may ease the pressure on the once existing contracts end. and means Britain is one of the slowest- percent. Bank of England to increase interest rates Britain has effectively growing Group of Seven economies. Meanwhile, businesses have taken a again as soon as May amid above-target ruled out subsidies until Before the June 2016 vote to leave the more cautious approach on investment inflation. 2025. “The good news is that European Union, it had for years been as they seek clarity over the post-Brexit her country retreat in an attempt to forge Last November, the bank raised its governments are now getting one of the fastest-growing. economic landscape. Business invest- a consensus over the way ahead. main interest rate by a quarter point to more bang for their buck as Though Brexit isn’t officially due to ment during the fourth quarter was flat Discussions over the trading relation- 0.5 percent, its first increase in a renewable technologies have take place until March 2019, the vote to when compared to the year before, a sign ship between the government and the decade. got cheaper,” BNEF’s Victo- leave the European Union has clearly hit of the impact of Brexit uncertainty. EU are due to resume soon, and many “All told, then, the latest GDP data ria Cuming said. consumers and businesses. With little more than a year to go to businesses, particularly in the finance suggest that the economy remains in a “And we expect total The former have been constrained Brexit, executives will be hoping for some sector, are hoping that a transition deal fragile state and does not need to be renewables support will start by the sharp rise in inflation that was clarity to emerge over the coming days. will be agreed on shortly whereby Brit- cooled with another rate rise as soon as to fall in most EU countries due to the fall in the pound following the Yesterday, Prime Minister Theresa ain will remain in the tariff-free May,” said Samuel Tombs, chief UK econ- in the next decade or so.” referendum, which raised the cost of May hosted some of her top minister at European single market and customs omist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 BUSINESS 19 Strong euro shakes German business morale REUTERS at its second-highest level since Klaus Wohlrabe said. He said causing concerns for chief suggested that German economic 1991. some exporters were more con- executives. growth was nearing its peak, but BERLIN: German business confi- “This signals economic cerned now about the stronger “The Ifo business climate should remain strong. dence fell more than expected in growth of 0.7 percent in the first The drop in the euro exchange rate which makes index is a clear dampener,” he “Weaker expectations could February while remaining at a quarter,” Fuest said. In the final German products more expan- said. reflect a number of factors, not high level, a survey showed three months of 2017, the German headline sive for clients outside the bloc. VP Bank chief economist least the relatively strong euro, yesterday, suggesting that economy expanded by 0.6 per- figure was mainly Wohlrabe added that the fall Thomas Gitzel said another signs of slowing demand from Europe’s biggest economy is set cent on the quarter. caused by managers in the business sentiment index factor could have been that some China and the drop in German for solid growth despite a This upbeat growth outlook did not mark the beginning of a exporters are worried about the equity prices earlier this month,” stronger euro clouding the was also mirrored in the finance scaling back their fundamental shift. rising threat of protectionism Brown added. outlook of exporters. ministry’s monthly report business expectations “I would not yet speak of a since US President Donald The Bundesbank sees the The Munich-based Ifo eco- released earlier yesterday which for the next 6 months, change in the underlying trend, Trump could impose tariffs on German economy expanding by nomic institute said its business said recent data was pointing to with the respective the German economy is still steel and aluminium imports by a calendar-adjusted 2.5 percent climate index, based on a a continuation of the economic doing very well, but some of the April. this year which would be the monthly survey of some 7,000 upswing at the beginning of the sub-index falling to a steam has been let off,” Wohl- A sector breakdown of the Ifo strongest pace since 2011. How- firms, fell to a 5-month low of year. 10-month low. rabe said. He added that the coa- figures showed the main drag ever, the central bank predicts 115.4 from 117.6 in January. In another sign of the overall lition deal reached by Chancellor came from manufacturing, growth to slow to 1.7 percent in The February reading under- robust state of the eurozone headline figure was mainly Angela Merkel’s conservatives where the mood among man- 2019. shot expectations in a Reuters economy, French industry caused by managers scaling back and the centre-left Social Dem- agers had hit a record high in the The Ifo figures chimed with consensus forecast of analysts morale in February edged down their business expectations for ocrats had not been a cause for previous month. Business senti- other sentiment surveys released who had forecast a dip to 117.0. only slightly from a more than the next six months, with the jubilation among managers. ment also deteriorated in whole- earlier this week that showed Ifo Chief Clemens Fuest said 17-year high reached in the pre- respective sub-index falling to a Thomas Altmann from fund saling, construction and retailing. growth in Germany’s private companies were less satisfied vious month, data showed 10-month low. manager QC Partners pointed to Stephen Brown from sector slowed in February while with their current business situ- yesterday. “The export euphoria is flat- the stronger euro and the pros- London-based Capital Eco- investor sentiment also ation, but the indicator still was The drop in the German tening out a bit,” Ifo economist pect of rising interest rates as nomics said the Ifo index deteriorated.

Iran warns N-agreement under threat if banks cannot do business freely

AFP claims it is not reaping the are a violation of the deal, of the rewards despite complying with letter and the text of the deal. LONDON: Iran’s top nuclear the deal. “We have now a destructive negotiator for its 2015 deal with The JCPOA was struck atmosphere.” Tehran would not international powers warned between Iran and Britain, China, accept any changes to the deal, yesterday that the agreement France, Germany, Russia and the including attempts to tie it to was under threat unless foreign US, then led by Barack Obama. Iran’s ballistic missile pro- businesses and banks were able But Trump called it the ‘worst gramme, he said. to trade freely in the country. deal ever’ and has demanded Much of the criticism of the Deputy foreign minister that European partners ‘fix the deal revolves around its so-called Abbas Araghchi told London’s terrible flaws’ or he would re- ‘sunset’ clauses, which detail Chatham House that US Presi- impose sanctions, although he when the various restrictions dent Donald Trump’s hostility has so far issued ‘waivers’ imposed on Iran’s nuclear pro- towards the Joint Comprehen- upholding the deal. gramme expire. sive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was “It is like poison for the busi- Araghchi denied that Iran creating a ‘destructive atmos- ness community,” said Araghchi. would be able to build nuclear phere’ that meant businesses “I don’t think the deal can weapons after these provisions were afraid of dealing with Iran. survive in this way. Even if the expire in 10-15 years time and “As far as Iran is concerned, waivers are extended, if compa- insisted that Iran would not con- JCPOA is not a successful story,” nies and banks are not working sider making the restrictions he said. with Iran, we cannot remain in permanent. First Apple store in Vienna “Iran is not benefiting from a deal that there is no benefit for If the deal did collapse, he sanction lifting in full.” Under the us.” He accused Trump’s admin- warned the world would face A general view of Austria’s first Apple store, which opens tomorrow, during a media preview in JCPOA, sanctions were lifted in istration of violating JCPOA “on “another nuclear crisis that Vienna, Austria, yesterday. return for a commitment not to a daily basis almost.” “All these would be very difficult to be pursue a nuclear bomb, but Iran statements by President Trump resolved.”

Latvian bank ABLV Walmart to launch online home shopping experience Ford names Lincoln seeks €480m loan as chief to replace AP options including modern, tra- Amazon as it expands deeper to reopen its doors ditional and bohemian. It will into the home arena. Target has N American head NEW YORK: Bohemian or tradi- offer design tips that will help also been stepping up its offer- REUTERS tional? Walmart is launching a shoppers pull items together. ings in home furnishings, both DETROIT: A veteran execu- new online home shopping “With this launch, we’re online and in the store. tive who has led Ford’s RIGA: One of Latvia’s largest experience in the coming weeks making it faster, easier and more Two years ago, it started Lincoln luxury brand will now banks has asked for a ¤480m that will let shoppers discover inspiring for customers to dis- offering vignettes in the home head American operations, loan from the country’s central items based on their style. cover the best of our assortment area of its physical stores to replacing an executive who bank as part of efforts to The move, announced yes- no matter their personal style,” inspire shoppers to buy. was ousted this week over reopen for business after being terday, is the first glimpse of the said Anthony Soohoo (pictured), Walmart’s latest online allegations of inappropriate forced to halt all payments in company’s broader campaign to senior vice president and gen- strategy comes as it hit a snag in behaviour. the face of money laundering redesign its site with a focus on eral manager of home for Wal- its e-commerce business for the Kumar Galhotra, 52, will accusations. fashion and home furnishings. mart’s e-commerce division. critical fiscal fourth quarter, after replace Raj Nair starting The request for credit from The overhauled website will be The move comes as Wal- enjoying a surging e-commerce March 1, the company said the Baltic state’s central bank launched later this year and will mart, with its eye on Amazon. only from Amazon but home business over the past few quar- yesterday. Ford Motor Co said comes amid frantic efforts by mirror how people shop for dif- com, has been working to ramp shopping sites like Wayfair. ters that helped lift its stock. in a printed release that Gal- ABLV’s management to keep ferent items. up its e-commerce business, Amazon has been growing Its US e-commerce business hotra will lead all aspects of the bank afloat after US While some purchases like which still accounts for less than its home offerings. It sells its own rose 23 percent for the fiscal the North American business, authorities singled it out for groceries are transactional, 4 percent of its total sales. It’s exclusive brands of furniture, fourth quarter, a dramatic slow- the company’s primary money laundering and moved others like fashion and home overhauled its shipping strategy sheets and other home goods. down from the 50 percent source of revenue and profits. to block it from doing financial furnishings require more dis- and expanded the number of It signed a deal with Ethan growth in the previous quarter. Galhotra has been with deals in dollars. covery. Later this spring, Wal- items online to 75 million. Allen last year to sell its sofas, Shares fell 10.2 percent on Ford for 29 years in a number The ECB has imposed a mart is rolling out its new Lord In home furnishings, it dou- lamps and rugs, and Amazon Tuesday to post its biggest of senior engineering and moratorium stopping savers & Taylor dedicated page as part bled the number of products shoppers can ask Ethan Allen single-day percentage drop in product strategy positions. He withdrawing their funds or of its partnership with the online from a year ago and experts for design advice. 30 years. has led the Lincoln brand making payments. department store chain’s parent introduced a new Scandinavian Boston-based Wayfair is the Walmart says it expects its since 2014. ABLV has denied any such company Hudson’s Bay. collection of furniture for largest online-only furniture e-commerce business to ramp Ford announced wrongdoing. Walmart’s home shopping children. retailer and has a seemingly infi- up this year and sees e-com- Wednesday that Nair was An ABLV spokesman said site will include curated collec- But Walmart faces stiff com- nite range of products, but it’s merce rising 40 percent this leaving the company more than 1,000 customers tions and nine shop-by-style petition in the home arena not facing more pressure from year, the same pace as last year. immediately. had pledged to keep ¤420m ($515.93m) in long term deposits at the bank. “We’re speaking about the sum of up to ¤480m,” Arturs Eglitis (pic- Algerian consumers & firms feel pinch of import bans tured), a spokesman for the bank told journalists, referring REUTERS at risk. Algeria’s non-energy sector ital Algiers with his wife and six- percent from the previous year. The Association of Algerian to Emergency Liquidity Assist- remains undeveloped, meaning year-old daughter. China, which has boosted its Ceramicists published an open ance that may be granted by ALGIERS: Mansour and Nassima most goods consumed by its 40 Ardis, which opened its doors economic presence across North letter to Prime Minister Ahmed the central bank. used to buy Swiss chocolate for million-strong people are shipped in 2012 and is the largest mall in Africa, is Algeria’s main supplier, Ouyahia, urging him to ease limits their daughter. But in the past few from abroad. Oil and gas account the country, attracts flocks of con- followed by France and Italy. on the import of the two main days it has disappeared from the for 60 percent of the state budget. sumers every day because of the Despite past promises to sup- materials used in the industry. shelves as Algeria’s government At the start of this year, wide range of local and imported port economic diversification, Domestic ceramics production implements a ban on imports of authorities banned the import of consumer goods. That range has local firms have struggled, ham- falls short of demand, with prod- hundreds of products in an effort 851 products including foodstuffs now been reduced, though Walid pered by bureaucracy and insuf- ucts imported mainly from Spain to cut the trade deficit. and some raw materials in a bid Allouni, the mall’s store manager, ficient foreign investment that and China filling the gap. The restrictions will to address a gaping trade deficit played down the change. In the deprived them of much-needed The situation, it warned, could encourage domestic production, that widened as energy earnings past two years Algeria imposed a technology. The restrictions may ‘cripple the sector’. Shortages of shielding it from foreign compe- almosty halved since mid-2014. licensing system to reduce its only add to pressure on some raw materials risk spreading to tition, officials say. But local firms “Several products have disap- imports bill, but that measure fell firms, with managers voicing con- other sectors unless the govern- including drinks producers and peared. We’re talking about luxury short of expectations. The value cern about a possible collapse of ment finds alternatives to the potters say shortages of raw mate- products,” said Mansour, as he of purchases from abroad stood their business because of declining import suspension, businessmen rials are putting their businesses browsed the Ardis mall in the cap- at $45.95bn in 2017, down just 2.4 stocks of raw materials. say. 20 BUSINESS FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018

QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE

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

QE Index 9,096.36 0.25 % 22-02-2018 Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low Currency Buying Selling QE Total Return Index 15,432.84 0.24 % Index 9,096.36 All Ordinaries 6057.7 10.4 0.17 6256.5 5887.3 US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index - Price 2,369.26 0.54 % Change 22.65 UK QR 5.0228 QR 5.0932 Cac 40 Index/D 5277.62 -24.55 -0.46 5567.03 5051.21 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,678.34 0.07 % % 0.25 Euro QR 4.4464 QR 4.5093 YTD% 6.27 QE All Share Index 2,553.77 0.07 % Dj Indu Average 24797.78 -166.97 -0.67 26616.71 20379.55 CA$ QR 2.8448 QR 2.9001 Volume 5,693,837 Hang Seng Inde/D 30965.68 -466.21 -1.48 33484.08 29129.26 Swiss Fr QR 3.8593 QR 3.9130 QE All Share Banks & Value (QAR) 135,541,608.15 Yen QR 0.03361 QR 0.03426 Financial Services 2,880.38 0.25 % Trades 2,270 Iseq Overall/D 6734.35 -56.99 -0.84 7257.41 6570.87 QE All Share Industrials 2,814.65 0.26 % Aus$ QR 2.8230 QR 2.8785 Up 18 | Down 24 | Unchanged 0 Kse 100 Inx/D 43528.51 608.73 1.42 45494.52 40169.62 Ind Re QR 0.0555 QR 0.0566 QE All Share Transportation 1,935.23 0.38 % 21-02-2018 S&P 500 Index/D 2701.33 -14.93-0.549653 2872.87 2532.69 QE All Share Real Estate 1,819.82 0.00 % Index 9,119.01 Pak Re QR 0.0325 QR 0.0333 QE All Share Insurance 3,332.68 1.26 % Change 20.37 Peso QR 0.0693 QR 0.0706 % 0.22 SL Re QR 0.0233 QR 0.0237 QE All Share Telecoms 1,048.80 0.21 % GOLD AND SILVER QE All Share Consumer YTD% 6.99 Taka QR 0.0432 QR 0.0441 Volume 6,916,152 Nep Re QR 0.0347 QR 0.0354 Goods & Services 5,405.51 0.07 % GOLD QR155.26 per gramme Value (QAR) 167,759,240.30 SA Rand QR 0.3087 QR 0.3148 Trades 2,671 SILVER QR1.933 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 604 -3.05 2226 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 248 0.05 13495 Indusind-A/D 1625 29.7 23797 Nagreeka Ex-T/D 37.1 -0.5 312 Aban Offs-A/D 168.15 -0.4 173715 Dhampur Sugar-/D 194.2 -3 47014 J.B.Chemical-B/D 301.8 -0.3 14626 Nahar Spg.-B/D 104.9 0.8 2220 LONDON Acc Ltd-A/D 1634.2 -11.9 5975 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2121.3 -47.5 47331 Jagson Phar-B/D 31.85 0.35 1119 Nation Alum -A/D 65.2 -1.25 831837 3I Group/D 929.4 -0.8 442094 Aegis Logis-A/D 251.9 -4.4 6279 E I H-B/D 169.35 -2.7 19735 Jamnaauto-B/D 76.4 -0.95 188024 Navneet Edu-B/D 128 -4 8531 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2651 -6 119384 Alembic-B/D 60.7 0.1 72122 E.I.D Parry-A/D 311 -2.4 5869 Jbf Indu-B/D 155.75 -4.5 3914 Neuland Lab-B/D 698.65 -4.6 567 Barclays/D 211.9 9.8 49571209 Alfred Herb-Xt/D 1022 -2 255 Eicher Motor-A/D 26830 -549.35 1316 Jct Ltd-X/D 3.28 -0.1 477050 Nrb Bearings-B/D 158.65 1.85 13339 Bp/D 470.05 -2.15 8346307 Alkyl Amines-B/D 614.75 -1.2 391 Electrosteel-B/D 31.3 -0.15 58375 Jenson&Nich.-T/D 4.13 -0.21 13900 O N G C-A/D 186.2 -3.9 446360 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4249.5 -200.5 2700279 Alok Indus-T/D 3.12 0.01 347061 Emco-B/D 17.8 0.35 7770 Jindal Drill-B/D 156.2 -5.55 6453 Ocl India-B/D 1263.3 -40.95 416 Bt Group/D 232.8 0.3 4583977 Apollo Tyre-A/D 263 1.3 71332 Escorts-A/D 870.6 13.35 124978 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 151.25 -1.85 149272 Oil Country-B/D 42.5 -0.85 562 Centrica/D 137.7 5.5 22607250 Asahi I Glass-/D 341.5 3.9 1004966 Eveready Indu-/D 381.6 -0.25 1287 Jmc Projects-B/D 560 -7.55 2070 Onward Tech-B/D 93.5 -2.6 8597 Gkn/D 419.2 -3.1 2673805 Ashok Leyland-/D 132.3 -0.05 1188455 F D C-B/D 285 -0.25 10693 Kabra Extr-B/D 126.5 1 3438 Orchid Pharm-M/D 16.1 0.05 28753 Hsbc Holdings/D 729.4 -17.9 6866005 Bajaj Hold-A/D 2729.75 24.5 2752 Federal Bank-A/D 89.9 -2 404898 Kajaria Cer-A/D 580.1 -4.35 10049 Orient Hotel-B/D 52.2 0.5 10451 Kingfisher/D 355 -5.6 2981041 Ballarpur In-B/D 13.4 0.1 419986 Ferro Alloys-X/D 9.99 -0.52 872699 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 290 -0.1 1192 Orient.Carb.-B/D 1175.5 -21.95 1228 Land Secs./D 926.5 -6.6 836073 Banaras Bead-T/D 68.15 3.15 11315 Finolex-A/D 624.85 -0.8 3712 Kalpat Power-B/D 454.85 1.05 5098 Orient.Carb.-B/D 1175.5 -21.95 1228 Legal & Genera/D 259.9 -0.7 5995787 Bata India-A/D 699.65 -5.6 9962 Forbes-B/D 3315.2 -35.5 777 Kalyani Stel-B/D 313.15 -3.25 4143 Pacific Indu-X/D 155 5 218 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 69.13 -0.59 59666546 Bayer Crop-A/D 3801 -13.2 211 Gail-A/D 465.95 0.2 312498 Kanoria Chem-B/D 77.6 0.25 5412 Patspin India-/D 22.65 0.75 2291 Marks & Sp./D 296.4 -2.2 738674 Beml Ltd-A/D 1189.8 -16.6 24830 Gammon India-T/D 4.85 -0.21 420142 Kg Denim-X/D 59.5 -0.5 767 Punjab Chem.-X/D 434 8.35 5726 Bhansali Eng-B/D 160.85 -3.3 92661 Garden P -B/D 38.3 -0.2 6023 Kilburnengg-X/D 83.25 -1.15 8947 Radico Khait-A/D 329.9 -1.7 77356 Next/D 4943 -40 78902 Bharat Ele-A/D 146.45 -4.45 350428 Godfrey Phil-A/D 868.5 8.65 5747 Kinetic Eng-Xt/D 78 0 3226 Rallis India-A/D 225.8 -1.35 34591 Pearson/D 703.8 2.4 683732 Bharat Heavy-A/D 91.25 -0.4 598681 Goodricke-X/D 384.4 -7.8 5742 Kopran-B/D 69.8 -0.75 28759 Rallis India-A/D 225.8 -1.35 34591 Prudential/D 1844 -9 514998 Bharatgears-B/D 191 -0.25 1888 Goodyear I -B/D 1192 13.8 13090 Lakshmi Elec-X/D 622 4.05 344 Reliance Indus/D 470.65 -7.7 64555 Rank Group/D 225.5 3 2775 Bhartiya Int-B/D 416.5 -3.45 1123 Hcl Infosys-A/D 62.35 0.9 930655 Lakshmi Mach-A/D 6026 14.4 531 Ruchi Soya-B/D 16.95 -0.35 253006 Rentokil Initi/D 292.6 -2.8 1089118 Bom.Burmah-X/D 1525.2 -2.95 10051 Him.Fut.Comm-A/D 27.8 -0.45 764250 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 48.35 -1.65 15566 Salora Inber-T/D 45.9 -0.95 928 Rolls Royce Pl/D 835 -8.8 488005 Bombay Dyeing-/D 276.95 -3.2 351133 Himat Seide-X/D 353 -0.9 5267 Lgb Broth-B/D 1060 14.7 280 Saur.Cem-X/D 79.4 0.1 12520 Rsa Insrance G/D 633.4 20.4 7902551 Camph.& All-X/D 1035 34.6 1471 Hind Motors-T/D 9.25 -0.12 34708 Lloyd Metal-X/D 16.45 -0.55 50714 Savita Oil-B/D 1475 48.45 476 Sainsbury(J)/D 254.8 -0.5 1757828 Canfin Homes-A/D 516.85 -1.6 52371 Hind Org Chem-/D 23.55 0.1 32302 Lumax Ind-B/D 2249 62.25 405 Sterling Tool-/D 374.9 0.35 930 Schroders/D 3439 -41 72053 Castrol India-/D 188.45 -5.15 89222 Hind Unilever-/D 1325.15 -5.25 326354 Lupin-A/D 801.3 -11.6 72877 Tanfac Indu-Xt/D 108.7 4.65 18964 Severn Trent/D 1709.5 -5 333350 Century Enka-B/D 335.5 -9.1 6037 Hind.Petrol-A/D 384.05 -2.8 118276 Lyka Labs-B/D 55.6 -0.95 22929 Tanfac Indu-Xt/D 108.7 4.65 18964 Smith&Nephew/D 1266.5 -5.5 959387 Century Text-A/D 1151.4 -21.1 37850 Hindalco-A/D 240.05 -0.6 613137 Mafatlal Ind-X/D 300 6.6 6986 Thirumalai-B/D 1966.4 -43.75 6598 Smiths Group/D 1586 -16.5 127040 Chambal Fert-A/D 155 -2.35 23529 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1817.75 -6.35 1182059 Mah.Seamless-B/D 466.95 -2.45 1488 Til Ltd.-B/D 509.85 -14.35 969 Standrd Chart /D 829.7 -1.7 811426 Chola Invest-A/D 1375.25 -2.9 11851 Idbi-A/D 74 3.65 3494237 Maha Scooter-B/D 2389.9 18.3 249 Timexgroup-T/D 52.5 0.3 8261 Tate & Lyle/D 554.8 -1.4 1099715 Cipla-A/D 587 -9.85 289847 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 1370.1 6.7 5000 Mangalam Cem-B/D 334.55 -2.35 5270 Tinplate-B/D 228.8 -3 106584 Tesco/D 207.4 0.1 8863882 City Union Bk-/D 170 -2.25 14451 Ifci Ltd-A/D 22.7 0.1 591253 Maral Overs-B/D 35.95 -0.65 14888 Ucal Fuel-B/D 262.35 4.15 29393 Unilever/D 3726.5 -4 994439 Colgate-A/D 1045.1 -34.15 21955 India Cement-A/D 154.9 -3 437477 Mastek-B/D 492.1 -2.65 36739 Ucal Fuel-B/D 262.35 4.15 29393 United Util Gr/D 665 2.8 366289 Container Cor-/D 1334.25 25.65 5701 India Glycol-B/D 495.4 -15.25 50606 Max Financial-/D 495.2 -3.2 6995 Ultramarine-X/D 337.5 1.3 5682 Vodafone Group/D 201.1 -1.3 15827501 Dai-X/D 462 -20.3 1519 Indian Hotel-A/D 132 -0.4 80860 Mrpl-A/D 116 -2.45 87809 Unitech P -B/D 6.94 -0.26 5545891 Whitbread/D 3941 6 94551 Dcm Financia-B/D 2.79 -0.13 1807 Indo-A/D 100.95 1.6 86056 Nagreeka Ex-T/D 37.1 -0.5 312 Univcable-B/D 149.2 -1.65 1260 FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 21 They’re going to challenge me in areas where I’ve been getting out. I’m prepared TODAY’S FIXTURES for what they bring and I’ve just got to make sure I’m in the right mental state Australian batsman 4.50pm Al Arabi vs Al Kharaitiyat at Al Arabi Stadium and I play each ball on its merit. David Warner 7.00pm Umm Salal vs Al Sailiya at Al Gharafa Stadium

Australian sprinter fails doping test

AFP

SYDNEY: Australian sprinter Jessica Peris, the daughter of Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris, has tested positive to a banned substance, drug agency ASADA said yesterday, rocking her Commonwealth Games hopes. Peris, who shot into contention for the Games in April with several personal bests over 100m and 200m this year, was sub- ject to an out-of-competition test in October where ASADA collected both blood and urine samples. “Her ‘A’ urine sample tested positive for three prohibited metabolites listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohib- Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One drivers Finland’s Valtteri Bottas (left) and Britain’s Lewis Hamilton (right) pose for a photograph with Team Principal ited List,” the Australian Sports Anti- and Executive Director, Toto Wolff alongside the new 2018 season Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+ Formula One car during its launch at Silverstone Motor Doping Authority said. Racing Circuit in England yesterday. “Due to the nature of the prohibited metabolites detected in the initial urine screen, an additional scientific analysis was required before the positive test could be Mercedes and Hamilton hope to declared and the athlete notified. “As a result of the type of substance detected, the athlete was subject to a man- datory provisional suspension from all competition, in accordance with the World start season with new deal done Anti-Doping Code and the Athletics Aus- tralia Anti-Doping Policy.” REUTERS “I’m not feeling under any pres- “In the whole six years that I’ve Peris, 27, claimed there were “substan- sure of any other drivers being there been here, I’ve not spoken to another tial flaws” in the drug test which came back SILVERSTONE: Four-time Formula and (team boss) Toto (Wolff) and Mer- team once,” he said. positive and forced her withdrawal from One world champion Lewis Hamilton cedes have no reason to feel that I’m “I know the team have been con- last week’s selection trials for the Common- and Mercedes hope to have a new talking to anybody else.” Hopefully we’ll have tacted by other drivers in the past, and wealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast. long-term deal wrapped up before the Wolff told reporters separately that something done probably still do today, and that’s inev- “I did not take any performance- season starts in Australia next month, he had spoken to Hamilton regularly (regarding a new long- itable. But we always made it clear at enhancing substance. I now believe that both parties said yesterday. by phone and through messaging and term deal) before the the beginning if that I was to engage there are substantial flaws in the way in Speaking at the launch of the hoped to have the deal done within “a and look at my options, I would inform which my urine tests were conducted in champions’ new W09 car at a damp few weeks” and “the sooner the beginning of the season, them. respect of my urine sample to ASADA on and cold Silverstone circuit, Hamilton better”. before the start of the first “I’ve not needed to,” he added. 18 October,” she said. indicated the signing could come in a “He (Hamilton) has been with the race: Lewis Hamilton Hamilton has won three of his titles In response to her claims about the matter of weeks. team six years so we are talking about with Mercedes, missing out narrowly integrity of the test, ASADA chief execu- “Hopefully we’ll have something extending that to a very long time with to now-retired team mate Nico Ros- tive David Sharpe said he was “confident done before the beginning of the the same driver in the same team,” said he expected the talks to be berg in 2016. in the testing process and welcomed any season, before the start of the first the Austrian. straightforward. He is now the most successful oversight”. race,” the 33-year-old Briton, whose The season starts in Australia on He explained on Thursday that he British driver of all time and Peris’s mother, Nova, was the first current contract expires at the end of March 25. had not been away over the winter and favourite to become only the third indigenous Australian to win an Olympic the year, told reporters. Hamilton has been conducting his preferred to discuss the detail in five times champion after seven gold medal, in field hockey at Atlanta in “But again, we’re just in no rush. own negotiations with the team and person. But he said there was no doubt times title holder Michael Schu- 1996. She then won gold in the 200m and There’s no reason to rush anything, said last November, after winning his about his commitment and that of the macher and the late Argentine Juan 4x100m relay at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur there’s no panic. fourth championship in Mexico, that team. Manuel Fangio. Commonwealth Games. Warner expects a Man City’s Walker eager to smarter attack from South Africa beat ‘bitter rivals’ Arsenal REUTERS winning the league twice with REUTERS Tottenham but the club fal- LONDON: Manchester City tered and defender said his SYDNEY: Australia batsman David Warner says he expects South Afri- defender Kyle Walker’s love decision to leave Mauricio ca’s bowlers will be smarter against him than they have been in the for former club Tottenham Pochettino’s team to join City past when his touring side play four Tests against the Proteas in March. Hotspur will motivate him was partly due to the lack of The 31-year-old opener was named man of the series when Aus- against Arsenal in the League silverware. tralia last toured South Africa in 2014, having driven the visitors to a Cup final on Sunday, the “For me, I want to win 2-1 victory with 543 runs at 90.50. He aims to contribute with big 27-year-old has said. stuff,” Walker said. scores again but warned it will not be a straightforward task against The England international “I hate losing, and to be a world class Proteas bowling attack. was involved in the north with Tottenham for the “I’ve really got to embrace it again and still stay hungry for those London derby on numerous number of years I was and not runs” Warner, who led Australia’s Twenty 20 outfit to a tri-series win occasions as he played 229 pick up anything was disap- on Wednesday, told reporters. matches for Tottenham in pointing. We were very close “It’s a couple of years on (from when South Africa toured Australia eight years at the club before for two seasons, with in 2016). They’re going to be smarter and work out where to bowl to me sealing a move to Premier Leicester City and Chelsea, but fromm thethhe seriesseries thatthat theythhey did at home. League rivals City in August. we just fell short and I don’t “They’re“They’re ggoingoing ttoo challenge me in Walker has featured in all want that to happen here at areasaareeas wherewhere I’ve beebbeen getting out. I’m of the City’s League Cup fix- City.” preparedprrepared forfor whatwhaat ttheyh bring and I’ve tures so far and is eager to Walker is now on the justjuust gotgot to make suresus I’m in the right renew his rivalry against verge of winning two trophies mentalmmental statestate andd I play each ball on Arsenal but has warned his in a single season as City are itss merimerit.”t.” team mates to be cautious of favourites to win the cup final WarnerWarner expecexpectstts a stirring contest Arsene Wenger’s strength- and hold a commanding againstaagainst SouthSouth Africa’sAfrric fearsome pace ened squad. 16-point lead atop the league bowlersbowlers VernonVeern Philander, “Spurs is a club which table. KagisoKagiso RabadaRaaba and Morne belongs to my heart and to get Walker, who believes he Morkel.Morkel. one over on their bitter rivals, has become wiser at City, pre- TheThe trioo tormentedt India’s and mine for a long time, viously lost at the League Cup batsmenbatsmen onn fast and bouncy would be a fantastic feeling. final as Tottenham were pitchespitches earlierearllie this year to seal But it’s a game of football and beaten by Chelsea in 2015 and a 2-12-1 hhomeome TestTe series win, with anything can happen in 90 the defender is keen to avoid PhilanderPhilander andannd Rabada claiming minutes,” Walker told Sky a repeat. 1515 wwicketsickets each,eaac while Morkel Sports. “Losing to Chelsea with chippedchipped in withwi 13. “They’ve made some Spurs in the League Cup in SouthSouth Africa take on excellent signings in January 2015 was horrible... It’d be AAustraliaustrallia at Kingsmead, which we need to be careful emotional if we win. I’ll prob- DuDurbanrbaan in first of four of, and we need to just say: ably have a minute to myself Test matchesmam starting on ‘Let the best team win’.” before I go and find my David Warner Manchester City’s Kyle Walker MarchMarcch 1. Walker came close to family...,” Walker said. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018

Jockey Theo Bachelot celebrates winning Al Zubara Trophy on day one of the three-day Emir’s Sword Festival at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. RIGHT: An official belonging to the Reda camp receives the trophy from QREC General Manager Nasser Sherida Al Kaabi. BELOW RIGHT: Female riders pose for a group photograph. Reda in dramatic win as Emir’s Sword Festival kicks off at QREC

RIZWAN REHMAT Results on day one THE PENINSULA Read under as position, horse, trainer and jockey: DOHA: Julian Smart-trained Reda yester- PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE day produced an incredible gallop to the Distance: 1400 finish as Theo Bachelot clinched the Al Total Prize Money: $30,000 Zubara Trophy on day one of the three- Race Time: 01:32.29 day Emir’s Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC). 1 Al Mouzdaher, Hossin Mohammad Ashour, Faleh Bughanaim Reda, who trailed for most part of the 2 Anwaar, Mohammed Kasim, JP Guillambert 2000m turf race, managed a late flourish 3 Diese, Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, Jean Baptiste Hamel to go past early leader Aaley Al Magam who was ridden by J P Guillambert. LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP Owned by H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Distance: 2000 Khalifa Al Thani, Reda exhibited great lung Total Prize Money: $30,000 power to clinch the issue in a time of 2:15.77 to see such a fast run from Receding about pipped Khor Al Adaid for win in the Race Time: 02:07.80 in the 9-rider field of the feature event of Waves. I hope we can have some more 16-rider field. Ridden by Lukasek, Haddaj the day. wins.” Dukhan clocked a time of 1:48.17 in the 1 Sarmad Bu Thaila, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, O.Peslier Majeed, ridden by O Peslier, edged In race six, Al Rayyan battled its way 1600m race. With Janacek in the saddle, 2 Al Jamaaheer, Mubarak Al Khayareen, Harry Bentley Damas for the second spot. Majeed fin- to a timely win by edging Burrishoole Khod Al Adaid finished second while Marc 3 Abu Samrah, Jassim Mohammed Ghazali, JP Guillambert ished 1.25 furlongs behind Reda as Damas, Abbey to the top spot. It was jockey Lerne guided Al Eshrah to the third spot. ridden by Jean Baptiste Hamel, had to set- Lukasek’s second win of the evening as Al Lukasek won $11,700. PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP tle for the third spot. Rayyan completed the victory in a time In race two, Sarmad Bu Thaila, ridden Distance: 1600 “He got ready for this big race. He is a 1:37.78. by Peslier, coasted to a narrow win in the Total Prize Money: $30,000 fast horse. He likes big challenges,” pop- Guided by Harry Bentley, Burrishoole 2000m turf race. Trained by Mohammed Race Time: 01:48.17 ular trainer Smart said after watching Abbey was second while Vaclav Janacek Khaled, Sarmad Bu Thaila clocked a time Bachelot grab the top prize of $85,500. saw his ride Ard San Aer complete the top of 2:07.80 to claim the top prize of $17,100. 1 Haddaj Dukhan, Mansoor Mesfer Al-Hajri, Tomas Lukasek In the penultimate race of the 8-event three in the 1600m turf race. Al Rayyan Al Jamaaheer, with Harry Bentley in 2 Khor Al Adaid, Ahmed Mohamad Kobeissi, Vaclav Janacek card yesterday, veteran jockey Guillam- and Ard San Aer were trained by Hadi the saddle, secured the second spot only 3 Al Eshrah, Mohammed Salim Ashour, Marc Lerne bert produced his second win of the day Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani. 1.50 furlongs behind. when he guided Receding Waves to a spec- In race five, Izghawa raced to a hard- Bentley won $6,600. Abu Samrah, rid- THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4) tacular win in the 1200m contest. fought win over British entry Broadway den by Guillambert, finished in third spot Distance: 2000 After a fast start, Receding Waves Icon while Catch A Wave settled for the worth $3,300. Total Prize Money: $30,000 retained its speed to corner glory in a time third place in the 1200m contest. In race one, Al Mouzdaher sailed to win Race Time: 02:05.73 of 1:09.25 and finished ahead of Poet’s Song Guided by Bachelot, Izghawa clinched in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate with and Black Beach. Poet’s Song, who finished the issue in a time 1:11.91. Broadway Icon, jockey Bughanaim in the saddle. 1 Rich History, Hamad Ahmed Al Malki, JP Guillambert 1.25 furlongs behind, was ridden by Tomas ridden by Marvin Suerland, secured the Al Mouzdaher clinched the 1400m turf 2 Alizoom, Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, Faleh Bughanaim Lukasek while Black Beach had Gerald second prize while Pierantonio Convertino race in a time of 1:32.29 as Bughanaim won 3 More Than A Dream, Hamad Ahmed Al Malki, J Baptiste Hamel Avranche in the saddle. guided Catch A Wave to the third place out the top prize of $17,100. Guillambert, who picked up the top of 16 entries. Anwaar finished 2.25 furlongs behind THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) prize of $17,100, was thrilled with his sec- In race four, Rich History produced a to claim the second spot as Guillambert Distance: 1200 ond win of the day. well-timed dash to the finish to claim the picked up $6,600. Diese, ridden by Jean Total Prize Money: $30,000 “This was an easy race since you had top honours in the 2000m race at QREC. Baptiste Hamel, ended the 16-rider field Race Time: 01:11.91 to have a great start which we did. My Ridden by Guillambert, Rich History in third place which was worth $3,300. father always said the shortest way is the emerged a winner in a time of 2:05.73. Today the action continues with 8 1 Izghawa, Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki, Theo Bachelot quickest way. We remained inside Guillambert picked up the winning more races on what will be day two of the 2 Broadway Icon, Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki, Marvin Suerland throughout after a good start. It is a very bonus of $17,100. Alizoom, ridden by Faleh Emir’s Sword Festival. The feature event 3 Catch A Wave, Deborah Amanda, Pierantonio Convertino pleasing performance,” Guillambert said Bughanaim, sealed the second spot less today will be the Irish Thoroughbred Mar- yesterday. than a furlong behind the winner. keting Cup that offers a total prize bag of THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) “That was the plan - to start fast and More Than A Dream, that had Jean $200,000. Distance: 1600 retain the speed,” he added. Baptiste Hamel in the saddle, clinched the The top prize in the 1600m feature race Total Prize Money: $30,000 Owner Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari third place out of 16 riders. is $114,000 while the second-placed rider Race Time: 01:37.78 said: “It was a big day for us. I am so happy In race three, Haddaj Dukhan just will go home richer by $44,000. 1 Al Rayyan, Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani, Tomas Lukasek Jockey Theo Bachelot celebrates with Reda 2 Burrishoole Abbey, Mohammed Kasim, Harry Bentley trainer Julian Smart and team members 3 Ard San Aer, Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani, Vaclav Janacek after winning Al Zubara Trophy. THOROUGHBREDS (Class 2) Distance: 1200 Total Prize Money: $30,000 Race Time: 01:09.25

1 Receding Waves, Mohammed Kasim, JP Guillambert 2 Poet’s Song, Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani, Tomas Lukasek 3 Black Beach, Jassim Mohammed Ghazali, Gerald Avranche

AL ZUBARA TROPHY Distance: 2000 Total Prize Money: $150000 Race Time: 02:15.77

1 Reda, Julian Smart, Theo Bachelot 2 Majeed, Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, O.Peslier 3 Damas, Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, J Baptiste Hamel FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 23 Al Rumaihi captures major honours with flawless double

THE PENINSULA EMIR’S SWORD FESTIVAL: RESULTS

DOHA: Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi Comp. (1) Table C, Art. 239, 110/120 cm, Prize Money QR30,000 enjoyed a perfect day in which he Rank Horse Rider Faults Time Prize Money captured top honours in the feature 1 Va Va Voom Jassim Mohammed Al Kuwari 0 59.7 secs. QR7,500 event of 2018 Emir’s Sword Festival 2 Ferrari PH Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi 0 60.14 secs. QR6,000 that kicked off yesterday. 3 Casanova SCH In Shaallah Saad Hameed 0 60.58 secs. QR4,500 At Qatar Equestrian Federation’s 4 Michael Jackson Mohammed Al Ghazali 0 60.82 secs. QR,000 (QEF) Outdoor Arena, Al Rumaihi 5 Dusty Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi 4 61.72 secs. QR2,100 guided his favourite gelding Vivaldi K in a flawless routine to lead the Comp. (2) Table C, Art. 239, 125/135 cm, Prize Money QR50,000 14-rider field and won both first and 1 Jessico 4 Saeed Nasser Al Qadi 0 60.02 secs. QR12,500 second places in the final event of the 2 Alegro 84 Mohammed Khalid Al Qashouti 0 62.2 secs. QR10,000 day. 3 Fiji Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi 0 66.52 secs. QR7,500 The 33-year-old Qatari rider won top prize worth QR17,500. Vivaldi K 4 Gerlin VD Waterkant Cyrine Cherif 0 66.93 secs. QR5,000 clocked a time of 66.19 seconds in the 5 Apple Bee Mohammed Said Haidan 4 66.94 secs. QR3,500 140/150 cm event. Al Rumaihi did not stop there and went on to secure the Comp. (3) Table C, Art. 239, 140/150 cm, Prize Money QR70,000 second place of the same event, this 1 Vivaldi K Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi 0 66.19 secs. QR17,500 time astride Bolandro who completed 2 Bolandro Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi 0 67.38 secs. QR14,000 the same task in 67.38 seconds. That 3 Cantaro 32 Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi 0 70.95 secs. QR10,500 got Al Rumaihi richer by another 4 Zorro Z Salman Mohammed Al Emadi 0 71.23 secs. QR7,000 Qatari rider Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi guides Vivaldi K over an obstacle QR14,000. 5 Quel Homme Nasser Al Ghazali 0 71.26 secs. QR4,900 during the feature event of the opening day of 2018 Emir’s Sword Festival at Cantaro 32, with Salmeen Sultan Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) Outdoor Arena yesterday. Al Suwaidi in the saddle also made no mistake during the competition, managed a third-best finish in a time won QR6,000. Casanova SCH, rid- but spent 70.95 seconds to complete of 66.52 seconds. Al Emadi won QR den by Saad Hameed, secured the the round and settled in for the third 7,500. third spot. Casanova SCH posted a place and won QR10,500 in prize Cyrine Cherif (Gerlin VD Water- time of 60.58 seconds as Hameed money. kant, 66.93 seconds, QR 5,000) and bagged QR4,500. Zorro Z, ridden by Salman Mohammed Said Haidan (Apple Bee, Mohammed Al Ghazali (Michael Mohammed Al Emadi was placed 66.94 seconds, QR 3,500) completed Jackson, 60.82 seconds, QR 3,000) fourth after clocking a time of 71.23 the top five. and Khalid Abdulla Al Khaldi (Dusty, seconds to finish fourth as Quel Qatari rider Jassim Mohammed 61.72 seconds, 4 faults, QR 2,100) Homme, with Nasser Al Ghazali wrap- Al Kuwari kicked off the proceedings completed the top five. ping up the top five. at the Outdoor Arena of QEF by win- The three-day 2018 Emir’s Sword In the Medium Tour battle yester- ning the 110/120cm class by guiding Festival continues at QEF’s Outdoor day, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi produced Va Va Voom to an easy win in the Arena with four competitions today. a flawless routine with Jessico 4 to Small Tour. Va Va Voom clocked a The first two competitions start grab the top prize of QR 12,500. Jes- time of 59.70 seconds to grab the top with a couple of Future Riders events. sico 4 clocked a time of 60.02 prize of QR 7,500. The first Future Rider event starts at seconds. Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi fin- 2:00pm and the second at 2:45pm. Mohammed Khalid Al Qashouti, ished in second spot when Ferrari PH The Small Tour event will commence astride Alegro 84, finished in second produced the second-best time of at 3:30pm while Medium Tour com- spot in a time of 62.20 seconds. Al 60.14 seconds in the 28-rider field. petition will begin at 6:00pm, Qatari rider Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi poses for a photograph with Qatar Qashouti won QR 10,000. Khalid Al Al Shaqab-owned Ferrari PH organisers. The day’s feature event Equestrian Federation (QEF) President Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah Emadi entered the event with Fiji and also remained flawless as Al Qadi the Big Tour will start at 8:00pm. during the presentation ceremony.

World Schools Handball: Qatar off to a flying start A Qatari player shoots to score during THE PENINSULA their opening fixture of the 24th ISF World Schools Handball Championships against DOHA: Qatar started off with brilliant 39-12 win Morocco at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah against Morocco in the opening match of Group Stadium in Al Sadd yesterday. A as the 24th ISF World Schools Handball Cham- pionships kicked off at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Stadium in Al Sadd yesterday. A glittering opening ceremony marked the inauguration of the prestigious nine-day event which ends at the same venue on February 28. A total of 18 countries are taking part in the boy’s section while 19 girls teams will be seen in action in the tournament which will be played on a league-cum-knock out basis. Today, hosts Qatar will meet Poland at the same venue while Austria plays Denmark in the same group. QSL Round 18: Umm Salal eye place among top four

CHINTHANA WASALA of the match. Every coach wants strongest side around. They have QNB STARS LEAGUE THE PENINSULA to win. Umm Salal are coming players of great calibre. Espe- from a defeat, but they are able cially their professional Round 18 fixtures DOHA: All eyes will be on Al to make a strong comeback any- players. Gharafa Stadium where Umm time. We know their strengths “Against Al Sailiya, our tar- TODAY Salal take on Al Sailiya in a bid and weaknesses and we will try get is victory as that will put us Al Arabi vs Al Kharaitiyat to make it to the top-four in the to win,” he said. in a more comfortable position At Al Arabi Stadium (4.50pm) standings as round 18 of the QNB Umm Salal have won six and where we will be two points Umm Salal vs Al Sailiya Stars League (QSL) kicks off drawn same number of matches ahead of them in the standings. At Al Gharafa Stadium (7.00pm) today. but suffered five losses along the Al Sailiya attack will be Al Sailiya are currently occu- way. spearheaded by their top scorer TOMORROW pying the fourth spot with 25 In their last game, Umm Salal Wagner Ribeiro (11 goals) while Al Duhail vs Al Khor points, having won seven out of suffered a big loss against a Temurkhuja Abdukholikov At Al Duhail Stadium (4.50pm) 17 matches they have played so strong Al Sadd outfit led by Bar- (seven), Nadir Belhadj, Valentin Al Markhiya vs Al Gharafa far, and lost six games. They also celona legend Xavi Hernandez Lazar and midfielder Majdi Sid- At Al Arabi Stadium (7.00pm) managed to draw games and are where they conceded five goals diq who makes it to the team just one point ahead of Umm but failed to score any. following a one-match suspen- Salal, who are placed fifth. However, Al Sailiya did well sion will be looking to penetrate SATURDAY Al Sailiya assistant coach to hold strong Al Rayyan 2-2 in the Umm Salal defence. Striker Al Sadd vs Al Ahli Amin Fariha admitted that Umm their last game. Yannick Sagbo (eight goals) leads At Al Sadd Stadium (4.50pm) Qatar SC vs Al Rayyan Salal won’t be an easy opponent Umm Salal coach Talal El Umm Salal’s charge, supported Umm Salal and Al Sailiya players in action during their previous At Qatar SC Stadium (7.00pm) to take on. Karkouri stays positive ahead of by Adel Rhaili, Mahmoud Mawas, QNB Stars League encounter in this file photo. “It’s a difficult game. We today’s match despite the out- Rami Fayez, Ismail Ibrahim and don’t have many games left in come of their previous game. others. this season’s league competition. “Yes. We are coming off a big Al Gharafa are breathing it will be a different story with and badly need points if they are both are coming off defeats. So we have to win this match. defeat at the hands of Al Duhail. down the duo’s neck with their both teams fighting to stay alive to stay off the relegation While Al Arabi lost 1-5 to Al Sadd, For that, we have to be on top of We were not focusing fully on bid to break into the top four, so in the QSL. Al Arabi and Al threat. Al Kharaitiyat suffered a 0-2 our game against Umm Salal,” the ball. We were not concen- both teams will hope to settle for Kharaitiyat will open the pro- Al Arabi are 11th with 12 defeat at the hands of Al Gharafa. Fariha said during a pre-match trating fully on the game either. nothing less than a victory. ceedings today and both teams points and Al Kharaitiyat one The teams had played out a press conference held on the eve But then, Al Duhail are the The other match of the day are in the bottom of the table position above on 13 points, and 1-1 draw in the first phase. SPORT Friday 23 February 2018

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Hamilton hopes to Reda in dramatic Al Rumaihi captures sstart season with new win as Emir’s Sword major honours on deal done Festival kicks off opening day Three share Qatar Masters lead ARMSTRONG VAS year in Morocco started with was lying tied-38th. THE PENINSULA eight straight pars, and then Meanwhile, things did not made seven birdies in his last 10 pan out too well for SSP Chawra- DOHA: Eddie Pepperell fired a holes, including a chip-in for sia, who defends his Hero Indian seven-under 65 to be part of a birdie on the last. Open title in just over two weeks three-way tie for the lead after “I hit every green apart from from now. Chawrasia shot one- the opening round of the the last one. I hit a lot of fairways, over 73 and was lying way down Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. I had a lot of chances for birdie,” at tied-105th spot and in danger At the Doha Golf Club yes- said Edoardo, the older brother of missing the cut. terday, Pepperell mixed eight of US PGA Tour star Francesco. Other notable scores with birdies with a sole bogey on a day “Last week in Oman, I had a local relevance came from the of low scoring at Doha GC, to join decent week, I had a bad first MENA Golf Tour player Josh Gregory Havret and Aaron Rai round and then three very good White (England), who gained at the top of the leaderboard. rounds. It’s been the case for the entry to the tournament by win- Edoardo Molinari birdied last few weeks so my focus this ning the Qatar Open, as he shot seven of his final 10 holes to sit week was to try and get a good an impressive 5 under par 67, in the group on six under, with start.” Meanwhile, two-time win- Ahmed Baig (Pakistan), winner last year’s winner Jeunghun ner Paul Lawrie is off and of the Amateur Division at the Wang kicking off his title defence running again at his happiest Qatar Open, shot 74, Shergo Al with an opening-round 68. hunting ground. Kaabi (Jordan) shot 73, Ahmed The leading trio are one shot “Nice to get off to a decent Marjan (Morocco) shot 74 while clear of Italian Edoardo Molinari, start,” wrote Lawrie on Twitter, Qatari amateurs Ali Saleh Al Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, German the champion in both 1999 and Kaabi and Ali Al Shahrani shot Marcel Schneider and England’s 2012, who opened with a four- 76 and 78 respectively. Shubhankar Sharma of India plans Oliver Fisher. under 68. The second round tees off his next move on the greens at the Pepperell missed his first two Meanwhile promising this morning (Friday) with the cuts of the season but made the Qatar Masters golf tournament Indian Shubhankar Sharma first tee time of 6.30 am with the weekend in Malaysia and Oman at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. overcame a double bogey to last starters teeing off at 12.30 pm and – with a little help from a post a three-under 69 in the with play expected to finish at new coach – was glad to be mak- opening round. around 5 pm. ing further progress. The 21-year-old, who is on Entrance to the 2018 Com- “I’ve made some changes this to trust it,” he said. “It’s been room doing some drills last night. and I just feel like my game has top of both the European and mercial Bank Qatar Masters is week with personnel so I’ve been pretty nice on the range, “I’m looking forward to the been hitting ceilings a bit. I want Asian Tour Order of Merit lists free with families encouraged to working on a couple of new although yesterday it was a bit weekend but even more so mov- to break through that.” by virtue of two wins in less than attend with plenty of Kids Zone things and I surprised myself out of a grind, a bit of a struggle in ing forward to the rest of the Molinari, a three-time cham- two months, had five birdies activities in the Tournament there with how well I managed the afternoon so I was in my season. I want to push forward pion on the tour including last against one double bogey and Village. Italian Olympic champion Cainero wins gold in Qatar

ARMSTRONG VAS Cainero took the first place to finishing on the podium,” she THE PENINSULA while compatriot Bacosi, gold said while talking to reporters medal winner at the Rio Games here yesterday. DOHA: Olympic champions took the bronze as the Italians The four-time Olympian Chiara Cainero and Diana continued their domination in praised the facilities at Losail. Bacosi continued the Italian Doha. “It is always a nice experi- domination at the Qatar Open On Monday, at the same ence to start the season in Qatar. Shotgun Championship by event Italian men made a clean The facilities are excellent. The winning the first and third place sweep by making it 1-2-3 in Losail Shooting Range is same at the Losail Shooting Range. Double Trap On the concluding as any Olympic Shooting ranges France’s Lucie Anastassiou, day of the nine-day champion- you will find in any part of the however, upset the best of the ship hosted by Qatar Shooting world. It is one of the best. We plans of the two Italians to have and Archery Association (QSSA) love to compete here and the a repeat of the 1-2 Rio Olympic 39-year-old Cainero overcame weather here is fantastic as it is Games Skeet podium finish in the stiff challenge of Anastas- winter in Italy at this time of the Qatar. siou to collect the $7,000 cash year,” who has been a regular Yesterday, the 25-year-old prize. at the shot gun event. from La Rochelle stood between The 34-year-old Bacosi “I first took part in an event Cainero and Bacosi to clinch the pushed the 2016 Qatar winner, in 2006, that is many years back silver medal in Doha. Amber Hill of England to the and I was very young,” she At the 2016 Olympic Games fourth spot. recalled. in the Brazilian city, the Italians Cainero was delighted to Meanwhile in the men’s sec- made the first two places their finish on the podium along with tion, 26-year-old Jakub own and they gave enough indi- Bacosi. Tomacek of Czech Republic cations in Qatar that they meant “It was difficult because of topped in the Skeet event fol- business but Anastassiou proved the wind but I am happy I fea- lowed by Jesper Hansen of to be a stumbling block in the end. tured in the final along with Denmark. 2008 Olympic Games Beijing Olympic Games win- another Olympic champion and bronze medal winner Anthony ner and Rio silver medal winner teammate (Bacosi) we are used Terras of France finished third.

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Italian Olympic champions Chiara Cainero (centre) and Diana Bacosi (right) are seen along with France’s Lucie Anastassiou during the victory ceremony at the Losail Shooting Range during the Qatar Open Shotgun Championship.