BUSINESS | 13 SPORT | 20

UDC records Murtagh rips net profit of through England QR238m in as Ireland take first half charge

Thursday 25 July 2019 | 22 Dhul-Qa'da 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 7963 | 2 Riyals

PM receives Pakistani counterpart Qatar fully out Congratulations to @ BorisJohnson on his appointment as the UK’s of blockade’s Prime Minister. We look forward to continued cooperation to strengthen the historical relations between economic #Qatar & #UK in all fields. Boris Johnson takes impact: QCB over as PM of UK QNA/LONDON SATISH KANADY “The trade and THE PENINSULA current account Boris Johnson officially took Qatari economy has fully come surpluses and fiscal over as the Prime Minister of out of the initial adverse impacts balance improved the United Kingdom yesterday, from the unjust economic continuously. Capital after meeting with Queen Eliz- blockade. This is reflected in the abeth II at Buckingham Palace. normalisation of capital flows, flows normalised The Queen met Johnson and comfortable liquidity position of despite the ongoing “requested him to form a new the banking system, official economic blockade, administration”, the royal family foreign exchange reserves said. “Mr Johnson accepted Her returning close to the pre- getting more Majesty’s offer and kissed hands blockade level and a healthy diversified and from upon his appointment as prime growth in bank credit to private minister and First Lord of the relatively stable Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday sector and a reasonable growth Treasury,” it said. Speaking outside sources. There has with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and his accompanying in the non-hydrocarbon sector, Downing Street, Boris Johnson said delegation, during his short visit to the country. H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister hosted Qatar Central Bank (QCB) been a significant he wanted to “change the country a dinner banquet in honour of Pakistan Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation. revealed yesterday. rebuilding of foreign for the better”. `P11 “The trade and current exchanges reserves." account surpluses and fiscal balance improved continuously. assessment of financial sector’s Capital flows normalised despite risks and vulnerabilities, under- Sidra begins offering full pediatric emergency services the ongoing economic blockade, scored Qatar’s ability to with- getting more diversified and stand any unforeseen distur- THE PENINSULA major motor vehicle accidents or child will be assessed by the first back into the family and from relatively stable sources. bances and maintain financial DOHA pedestrian head injuries. responder team from Qatar community. There has been a significant stability going forward. Sidra Medicine’s Trauma Ambulance Service who will now The activation of trauma rebuilding of foreign exchanges QCB Governor H E Sheikh Sidra Medicine, a member of Program is now part of a com- bring the majority of major trauma program marks months of pre- reserves and improvement in Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani com- Qatar Foundation, has announced prehensive Qatar Trauma patients children aged 14 years paredness and simulation liquidity positions in the banking mented: “In the middle of weak- the launch of its pediatric trauma System lead by Hamad General and below, to Sidra Medicine. training across all services in the system. ening global economy, Qatari program marking the full ramp Hospital. By joining the system, Young trauma patients hospital. These improvements, com- economy showed a resilient up of the hospital’s pediatric Sidra Medicine will be the main brought to Sidra Medicine by air Dr Guy Brisseau, General and bined with economic diversifi- performance during the review emergency services. pediatric trauma center and care or land ambulance are immedi- Thoracic Surgeon at Sidra Med- cation policies implemented in year. Although real GDP growth The opening of the trauma of the majority of major trauma ately evaluated and stabilised by icine who oversaw the prepar- the recent years, have reduced was somewhat slower than the program means that Sidra Med- patients (age of 14 and below) in a multidisciplinary trauma team edness of the Trauma Program domestic vulnerabilities”, QCB preceding year, other macroeco- icine is equipped and capable of the country. of physicians, nurses and allied said: “The launch of trauma is a said in its 10th Financial Stability nomic indicators including fiscal providing care for all traumatized Parents or caregivers should health professionals. truly integrated program at Sidra Report (FSR) released position, current account children. These may include severe continue to call 999, for a child The patient will be given Medicine where different multi- yesterday. balance and stock market and life threatening injuries or ill- requiring life-saving treatment or comprehensive multidisciplinary disciplinary services and teams The document, an annual improved in 2018. `P3 nesses including but not limited to immediate medical attention. The care from arrival to integration have come together. `P3 UDC signs pact with QNB, Commercial Bank

QR1.25bn credit ceiling for distinguished and iconic project will Gewan Island development have a very positive impact on the local economy by creating another attractive The project spans around destination for residents, visitors and investors”. 400,000sqm Gewan Island, UDC’s latest real estate project next to The Pearl-Qatar THE PENINSULA Island, will span 400,000sqm. DOHA Once completed, the Island will accommodate 3,500 residents and United Development Company (UDC), 3,000 daily visitors and will be home to a leading Qatari shareholding company 712 units, including 639 apartments, 41 and the master developer of The Pearl- waterfront villas (out of which 20 villas Qatar and Gewan Island, has signed an are standalone villas), 26 beach-front agreement with QNB and the villas, 6 island villas, in addition to Commercial Bank to finance the devel- 11,000 sqm of retail space and a number opment of Gewan Island project with a of multiuse buildings. credit ceiling of QR1.25bn. The Island, which derives its name The signing of the agreement comes from the full-round, pink-tinted and within the framework of UDC’s devel- perfectly shaped pearl from Qatar’s opment plans for Gewan Island, the marine heritage, will support a mix firm’s latest major real estate investment of property types, catering for dif- project. ferent accommodation and Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, UDC investment needs. President and Chief Executive Officer The Island will offer its residents a and Member of the Board; Abdullah comprehensive living space merging Mubarak Al Khalifa, Acting Group Chief Dignitaries and officials from United Development Company, QNB and Commercial Bank after the agreement signing entertainment and retail outlets with Executive Officer of QNB, and Joseph ceremony. smart technologies. Abraham, Group Chief Executive Officer It is expected to attract a warm, wel- of the Commercial Bank, co-signed the UDC’s expansion plans and developing successful model of a strategic alliance long-term projects to the highest of coming and youthful community agreement during a ceremony held at its operations base through investments within the framework of developing and standards that position Qatar as an seeking an urbane and vibrant the Oyster Building at The Pearl-Qatar, in real estate development projects. In strengthening the national economy. We international real estate destination. We lifestyle. in the presence of representatives from addition, the agreement falls in line with hope that this agreement will support value our relationship built with UDC The Island will include a golf course, all parties. UDC’s efforts to provide superior real UDC’s objectives in financing its over the years and are delighted to col- an air-conditioned outdoor Crystal Al Othman highlighted that the total estate products in the local market and expansion plans in the field of real estate laborate with QNB to provide solutions Walkway which acts like the Island’s investment value in Gewan Island to meet the needs of investors and res- development as well as QNB’s directions for our clients. Being one of the lead spine, green parks and which will attract amounts to approximately QR3bn. idents alike”. that aim at fully supporting the local banks for financing Gewan Island new brands to Doha. Al Othman added: “The agreement Al Khalifa said: “We are proud to be tourism and country image”. reflects our strong commitment to the The Island will also be home to with QNB and the Commercial Bank lays part of such a distinguished partnership Joseph Abraham on the other hand, economic development of the State of entertainment facilities, a sports club solid foundations in terms of supporting with UDC. This agreement represents a said: “UDC is a premier developer of Qatar, and we are confident this and a mosque. `P5 02 HOME THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 03. 31 AM Prime Minister meets Pakistani counterpart SHOROOK 04. 57 AM

ZUHR 11. 40 AM MAGHRIB 06. 25 PM ASR 03.02 PM ISHA 07. 55 PM

WEATHER TODAY

I was pleased to meet His Excellency Mr. Imran Khan @ImranKhanPTI, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of #Pakistan. During his short visit to #Doha, we emphasised the deep historical and strategic relations between our two countries and peoples.

QNA/DOHA Qatar condemns The Prime Minister and Interior Minister Mogadishu blast H E Sheikh Abdullah bin QNA/DOHA Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday with Qatar expressed its strong the Prime Minister of the condemnation and denunciation Islamic Republic of of the explosion that targeted the Pakistan, Imran Khan, and Municipality of Mogadishu his accompanying dele- building, causing deaths and o o gation, during his short injuries. The Ministry of Foreign 33 C 39 C visit to the country. H E Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm the Prime Minister and stance on rejecting violence and Minimum Maximum Interior Minister hosted a terrorism, regardless of motives Misty to foggy at places by early morning, dinner banquet in honour and reasons. It expressed condo- becomes relatively hot daytime with some of the Pakistani Prime lences to the victims’ families, the clouds, humid by night. Minister and his accom- government and the people of

HIGH TIDE 21:07 LOW TIDE 05:06 –16:24 panying delegation. Somalia, wishing a speedy recovery. Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department Somalia rights groups term allegations against Qatar ‘unreasonable, ridiculous’

THE PENINSULA fragile peace and stability. “NAHRS considers the claim take ensuing Gulf conflict to playing in bringing Somalis and peace-building work,” DOHA NAHRS in a statement said that terror attack in Bossasso, Somali regions and make together to spread peace, recon- NAHRS said. that following an article pub- which targeted UAE investments, Somalia a battlefield, coupled by ciliation and coexistence. The statement further said: The National Alliance for Human lished by New York Times news- was conspired, funded or horrific suffering and human “Qatar has a strong record of “Through its example and its Rights Organizations in Somalia paper about terrorist attack in organised by representatives rights violations of Somali assisting Somalis in need, and organising function, Qatar is (NAHRS) — an umbrella of 28 Bossasso, Puntland, Somali acting on behalf of State of Qatar, people. It is a naked attempt to Qatari organizations are actively moreover galvanising other human rights organisations nation are being puzzled by indi- is completely unreasonable and inflame bloodstained conflicts responding to humanitarian nations to participate in coordi- operating in the regions of viduals with ill-behaved political ridiculous; and does not merit to among Somalis and drive a crises and developmental needs nated action for inclusive eco- Somalia — yesterday cautioned agenda who have been busy be given any credibility,” the wedge between politicians.” of Somalia. Qatar has also played nomic development, including the Somali people to be vigilant playing blame game to settle statement said. NAHRS said that the people a leading role through its gen- through vital international about fresh attempts by external scores with their political It added: “This claim is an of Somalia strongly appreciate erous funding for the implemen- pledging conferences for powers in subverting Somalia’s opponents. unalloyed effort to essentially the peculiar role Qatar has been tation of infrastructure projects Somalia.” THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 HOME 03

Zakat Fund spends Al Hammadi meets Moroccan Ambassador, OFFICIAL NEWS and Charge d’Affaires of Republic of Chad Qatar condemns over QR33.5m on bombing in Pakistan DOHA: The State of Qatar tuition fees project expressed yesterday its strong condemnation and QNA new academic year 2019-2020 denunciation of the bomb- DOHA beginning of September. ing attack that took place in The documents required to a market on the outskirts of The assistance provided by the open the file of assistance include Quetta city, southwestern Department of Zakat Fund of the a valid residence permit, a salary Pakistan, killing two people Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic certificate for the student’s and wounding others. Affairs to the families entitled to guardian from the employer, a In a statement, the Ministry tuition fees during the academic bank account statement, a stock of Foreign Affairs reiterated year ending 2018/2019 amounted exchange account, a certificate the State of Qatar’s firm to over QR33.5m, benefiting from the Traffic Department for stance on rejecting violence 3,406 students. owned cars, a lease agreement, and terrorism, regardless of The fund explained that these a Kahramaa invoice, a certificate the motives and reasons. amounts are paid only to eligible of indebtedness if any, Qatar The statement expressed families who have students Credit Bureau disclosure, as well the condolences of the enrolled in various levels of edu- as other documents relating to State of Qatar to the vic- cation within the state and in study, fees and medical docu- tims, the government and accordance with the rules and ments for people with the people of Pakistan, wishing the wounded a regulations of Sharia. disabilities. The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, speedy recovery. QNA Head of Zakat Banking The head of the Zakat received on Tuesday a copy of the credentials of Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Department, Faiz Moazzi Al Banking Department pointed out State of Qatar, Mohamed Setri. H E the Secretary General wished the new Ambassador success in his Shammari, said that the fund’s that it is not possible to assist uni- duties, assuring him to get all support for the promotion of bilateral relations to a closer cooperation Minister of Foreign management has an office for the versity students who are eligible in various fields. H E the Secretary-General also met yesterday with the Charge d’Affaires of the project. He pointed out that these and resident in Qatar who are Affairs sends Embassy of the Republic of Chad to Qatar, Bakri Ali Bakri. During the meeting, bilateral relations aids are disbursed according to educated abroad, since the reg- between the two countries were reviewed, as well as topics of mutual interest. message to the fees approved by the Ministry ulations governing the work of of Education and Higher Edu- the Zakat Fund are concerned Croatian counterpart cation, and not exceeding only with providing assistance to QR12,000 for primary students, eligible families within Qatar Summer camp activities by Ministries lauded ZAGREB: Deputy Prime QR15,000 for middle school stu- only. The Family Assistance Minister and Minister of For- dents, QR18,000 for secondary Office in the Zakat Fund receives THE PENINSULA sports clubs. Al Nuaimi high- host of different summer camp eign and European Affairs of students and QR20,000 for the applications throughout the DOHA lighted the ministry’s events taking place there. The the Republic of Croatia, Mar- students at university, without a school year to allow eligible fam- commitment to students with camp focused on technology and ija Pejcinovic Buric, received maximum limit for students in ilies to receive assistance, espe- The Undersecretary of the special needs, who had their science programmes that a written message from special needs centers. cially with the timing of the Ministry of Education and Higher own summer camp programme. included robotics and 3d printing Deputy Prime Minister and Al Shammari said that the school year in some schools in Education Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh He called on parents to benefit among other activities. A total of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zakat Fund Administration the country. The Committee hold Al Nuaimi praised the summer from these programmes, saying 14 centers are hosting summer H E Sheikh Mohamed bin receives applications for family periodic meetings twice a week camp activities organised by the they should be well-prepared for camp events across Qatar. Stu- Abdulrahman Al Thani, assistance in tuition fees for stu- to consider the files submitted Ministry of Education and Higher children for all ages in mind. dents aged 6 to 18 participate in pertaining to the bilateral dents enrolled in private schools and the approval of the aid to the Education and the Ministry of Al Nuaimi was visiting Al the camp which began July 13 to relations and ways to boost and universities in Qatar for the beneficiaries. Culture and Sports at various Gharafa Sports Club to see the August 8. and develop them. The message was handed over by Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Croatia, Nasser Stage set for Marshmello’s concert tonight bin Hamad Al Khalifa, dur- ing a meeting with Head of RAYNALD C RIVERA Hundreds of electronic Anne-Marie, Khalid, Bastille, diverse entertainment offerings the Division for Global and THE PENINSULA music fans are James Arthur and Lil Peep among under the ongoing Summer in UN Political Issues at the expected to have a others. Qatar programme. Croatian Ministry of For- The stage is all set for tonight’s In partnership with Qatar Among the other upcoming eign and European Affairs, much awaited concert of blast for this one night National Tourism Council shows are the Blue Man show Tihomir Lulic. QNA renowned American electronic only epic show where (QNTC), the concert is produced from August 14 to 17, Doha music producer and DJ Marsh- the masked performer by The Social Studio and follows Comedy Festival featuring Omid mello at the Qatar National will be playing his the breakthrough success of the Djalili, Nemr and Hamad Al Convention Center (QNCC) Exhi- show by another electronic Amari on August 15, the eighth MADLSA launches bition Hall 9. smash hits. music artiste The Chainsmokers South Indian International Music Hundreds of electronic music who rocked the 5,000 crowd at Awards on August 15 and 16 and occupational heat fans are expected to have a blast the Doha Exhibition and Con- Arabic music icon Kadim Al stress study for this one night only epic show billion times with the music vention Center during the Shop Saher’s concert on August 16 and where the masked performer video of his single “Alone” raking Qatar festival last year. 17. QNA /DOHA will be playing his smash hits. in more than 1.3 billion views General Admission tickets Running until August 16, An award winning music since it was uploaded three years priced QR275 and Premium Summer in Qatar features a The Ministry of Administrative producer and performer, Marsh- ago. tickets priced QR550 are still on plethora of indoor and outdoor Development, Labor and Social mello is best known for the songs Included in Forbes’ ranking sale at https://tickets.virgin- events and activities such as Affairs (MADLSA) has launched Marshmello “Silence,” “FRIENDS,” “Happier” of the world’s highest paid DJs, megastore.me/qa and at Virgin summer camps and sports tour- a study on measuring the and “Wolves” which have all Marshmello has already collab- Megastores branches in Villaggio naments, live concerts, and impact of occupational heat reached platinum status in a Billboard Hot 100. orated with famous singers and Mall, Doha Festival City, Mall of family shows in addition to stress on productivity in various number of countries and have His YouTube videos have musicians around the world with Qatar and Landmark mall. shopping, hospitality and sites in the State of Qatar. been included in the Top 30 of been watched more than 6.1 the likes of Selena Gomez, The concert is one of QNTC’s inbound travel promotions. The study is being con- ducted in cooperation with International Labor Organi- Qatar fully out of blockade’s economic impact: QCB ‘Classification of recruitment zation (ILO), Supreme Com- mittee for Delivery and Legacy FROM PAGE 1 previous year, 2018 witnessed a from diversified source. Almost offices a temporary mechanism (SC) and will look to place a “With normalisation of rebound of private sector credit all the deposit from the block- strategic framework that helps capital flows and strengthening demand. Liquidity improved ading countries have gone out subject to specific criteria’ companies evaluate the occu- of macroeconomic conditions, supported by benign fiscal of the system thereby reducing pational heat stress risks as well Qatar economy has fully come position and current account the volatility risk. Capitalisation QNA to identify employers with as the appropriate way of alle- out of the initial adverse impacts balance. Improvements in stock levels strengthened significantly, DOHA offices they can deal with. viating it. from the economic blockade.” market also boosted the oper- while NPL ratios are quite low Offices that did not regularly The two-months study will In 2018, Qatar continued to ating environment of the and are adequately provisioned. The Ministry of Administrative send their monthly data to the be carried out by the University remain competitive in terms banking sector. Rebound in non- Moreover, banking sector prof- Development, Labor and Social ministry before the classification of Thessaly’s FAME Laboratory global competitiveness index resident deposits as well as fund itability indicators also remained Affairs said that the classification were excluded for at least six in Greece. It will focus espe- (GCI) of World Economic Forum. flow from foreign financial insti- stable. Stress tests conducted by of recruitment offices from tier months. The ministry said in a cially on the planning and con- According to revised GCI, Qatar tutions indicated confidence of Qatar Central Bank also showed 1 to 3 is a temporary mechanism statement that there are several struction sectors, in addition to ranked 30 out of 140 Advanced investors in Qatari economy. improved resiliency of the sector that is based on specific criteria factors for the evaluation cri- a number of sites related to the Economies (AEs) and emerging Improvements in domestic towards plausible vulnerabilities. and the data provided. teria: the number of employed World Cup 2022. The SC’s market and developing econ- liquidity eased primary liquidity, Overall, the banking sector The ministry added that workers, the number of coun- projects undertook a number omies (EMDEs), rising by 2 posi- which remained in surplus remained sound and in good offices can modify their classi- tries from which applications of techniques to tackle occupa- tions from 2017. Among the mode, with lower requirement stead during 2018. fication or join the classification are submitted, the ratio of to the tional heat stress, most prom- emerging economics, Qatar’s of REPO by banks for short-term Taking advantage of gov- list as soon as they communicate number of applicants, the rate inently the cooling technology position was one of the highest. liquidity management. ernment push for the SME sector with the Ministry and work to of ratification of contracts to the that is used in all of its sites. Banking sector in Qatar The FSR noted Qatar’s development, banks are also request the amendment and number of applicants, the Assistant Undersecretary showed a resilient performance banking sector re-established focusing on credit to SME sector, provide the required data. absence of violations of the labor for Labor Affairs at MADLSA, in 2018. Though banking sector the funding structure with especially for agriculture, live- This classification, which law and the number of approved Mohamed Hassan Al Obaidli, assets grew lower than the healthier maturity structure and stock and fisheries. will be issued periodically, aims foreign recruitment offices. said that the protection of labor from the risks they face is the state’s moral duty. Sidra offers full pediatric emergency services He added that the rise in summer temperatures in the FROM PAGE 1 patients for both major and GCC is one of the risks that the minor cases. With the launch of state focused on placing the “We are immensely proud of our trauma services, we are now appropriate policies to address. the work our teams and partners in a position to provide the best He stressed that the study they have achieved to ensure that care for children suffering from are about to undertake will be crucial emergency and trauma significant traumatic injuries.” one of the most valuable in services are available for all Patients seen in the Chil- terms of providing insight to the children in Qatar.” dren’s Emergency Department necessary measures that need Professor Khalid Al Ansari, for emergency or trauma care to be taken to protect workers. Chair of the Department of at Sidra Medicine are not The director of ILO Project Emergency Medicine at Sidra charged. Office for Qatar said that there Medicine and Chair of Qatar’s Their consultation and is no clear consensus on the Pediatric Emergency Services treatment charges are covered best methods of addressing said: “Our CED is well prepared under the Government of Qatar’s occupational heat stress. He Sidra Medicine team with air ambulance. to receive multi-system trauma national healthcare system. welcomed the study. 04 HOME THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 Five Qatari teams to participate in Salalah basketball tournament

THE PENINSULA Qatar Basketball Federation commercial basketball leagues DOHA (QBF) and two Filipino teams in the Philippines and in their that qualified in the community respective colleges. A total of five teams, including 3x3 league hosted by QBF. The players for Alijarah teams from the Qatar premier It will be the first time that Team are Ronnie Cajayon, league and the Filipino teams from the Filipino com- Jay-Ar David, Richard Raagas community, will be competing munity in Doha will be repre- and Oliver Roxas. While the in the GCC Community 3x3 senting Qatar in the GCC bas- QSports Team will feature Rey- basketball competition to be ketball competition for the naldo Solomon, Andrew Salud, held as part of the activities for communities. QBF will provide Michael Aliparo and Denver the Salalah Tourism Festival the teams roundtrip flight Rote. 2019 in Oman on August 2 and tickets, full board hotel accom- Alijarah Driving Company 3. The tournament will be modation, entry visa and and QSports Company will organised by the Oman allowances. sponsor the Qatar delegation. Basketball Federation in part- The two Filipino teams The Salalah Tourism Festival nership with the Oman Zafar consist of eight players working 2019 kicked off on July 11 and Municipality. in Doha and actively playing in will be running for 43 days. It The event will see Al Shamal the Filipino community here. features a number of activities Qatar, Pakistan discuss military ties Club and Al Arabi Club from The players are working from and events including cultural, The Amiri Guard Commander, Maj. Gen. Hazza bin Khalil Al Shahwani (right), met yesterday with Qatar Premier League in action. different companies and have entertainment, artistic and Defence Attache at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Qatar, Commodore Saqib Ilyas, Also included is a team from also played in sports. on the occasion of assuming his duties in the country. During the meeting, they discussed aspects of cooperation in the military field and means of enhancing and developing them. SJC to provide registration services at Al Rayan Center QNA will contribute to the speedy other services. SJC provides its DOHA completion of transactions and services to the public in several the achievement of the Council’s centres including Al Rayyan, The Supreme Judicial Council objectives in developing the Oniza, Al Daayen, Al Hilal and Al (SJC) will provide registration judicial system and achieving Wakrah. The Council also works services, open applications, and rapid justice. to expand its services and bring apply for applications at the Al Al Rayyan Center provides them closer to the public, in the Rayan Services Center of the authentication services of the framework developing proce- Ministry of Administrative Supreme Judicial Council during dures and transactions to meet FROM LEFT: Aya Kassab, Deputy Manager of QSports; Ali Saeed Al Malki, Secretary-General of Qatar Development, Labor and Social the morning period only, the strategy of developing the Basketball Federation, and Ali Abdulrahman, General Manager of Alijarah Driving Academy, speaking Affairs. including the certificate of judicial system to coincide with to the media in Doha on the details of Qatari teams’ participation in the GCC Community 3x3 basketball The addition of registration support, the confirmation of the launch of many electronic competition to be held in Salalah on August 2 and 3. services to the centre, which will marriage or non-marriage, the services through the portal of the be available during the evening, inheritance of the heirs, and Council. Ooredoo gives extra channels with Zee Family Package

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Ooredoo announced yesterday that it has doubled the number of channels on the Zee Family Package, Marathi HD, Zee Yuva, Zee Bangla, Zee Bangla meaning customers now get a greater choice for Cinema, Zee Telugu and Zee Kannada. the same price. Manar Khalifa Al Muraikhi, Director PR and The Zee Family Package — a popular pro- Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, said: gramme package from the Indian subcontinent — “We’re delighted to be offering our Ooredoo tv now includes 17 channels instead of the previous customers a greater choice of entertainment at no nine, with no change to the monthly subscription extra cost so they can access their favourite pro- so the Zee Family package will continue to be grammes from home, and we’re sure the new The officials of Supreme Judicial Council at Al Rayan Services Center after the opening of new services available at a price of just QR35 per month. New channels on the Zee Family Package will be at the centre. channels include WION, Zee Talkies HD, Zee extremely popular.” Al Shaqab shows beauty of most prized Arabian horses FAZEENA SALEEM horses at the Qatar National Al Shaqab also a group of attendees visited Al THE PENINSULA Library. ensures the horses Shaqab, which stands as an “The horse breed that orig- are physically strong enduring tribute to the Arabian Public can get a closer look at the inated in the Arabian Gulf has to carry their riders to horse and the tradition of eques- beauty of around a thousand of been an important part of Qatari trian excellence that has co- most prized Arabian horses and life for many centuries. Vision, faraway places – just evolved with this breed in Qatar. learn more about their place in foresight and a passion to pre- as they did in the past. Al Shaqab’s breeding phi- Qatar’s heritage at Al Shaqab for serve and perpetuate the Arabian losophy is to preserve the free. horse in Qatar led Father Amir Arabian breed and to produce Al Shaqab, a member of H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Championship Arabian Horse horses that are beautiful, athletic, Qatar Foundation, ensures pro- Al Thani, to establish Al Shaqab Show in Paris, are from the Al and have great moral character motion and appreciation of the in 1992,” Al Marri said. Shaqab. and kindness. With state-of-the- Arabian breed, hosts the Royal “Within an amazingly short “The horses in the Al Shaqab art facilities, Al Shaqab also Stable and cultural legacy period of time, Al Shaqab bred are the really lucky ones, they get ensures the horses are physically handed over from generation to three World Champion stallions, the best care at a most luxuries strong to carry their riders to another, according to Fahad Al Gazal Al Shaqab, Al Adeed Al place,” said Al Marri. faraway places – just as they did Marri, Protocol and International Shaqab and Marwan Al Shaqab. His lecture highlighted the in the past. Visitors to Al Shaqab Relations Coordinator at Al Today, champion offspring of welfare of Arabian horses and get a guided session through the Shaqab. He delivered a lecture these stallions enhance the ped- how they are cared for, in compound and an orientation of on ‘The History of Horses in igrees of Arabian horses in Qatar keeping the Qatar National equestrian discipline, facilities, Fahad Al Marri, Protocol and International Relations Coordinator Qatar’ yesterday by taking and worldwide,” he added. Library’s July focus on animals, horse shows, breeding centre at Al Shaqab, with an Arabian horse during a media tour to Al audience on an informative Fourteen of the 17 horses in their future and their interactions and a photo session with the Shaqab, yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA journey into the world of Arabian Qatar which have won the World with humans. After the lecture, Arabian horses. GoMosafer offers an exceptional concept of travel during Eid Al-Adha holidays THE PENINSULA travel experience suiting their capitals such as Paris, This is in addition to tourist DOHA budget but rather provides a fab- Amsterdam, London or Rome, visa facilitations to destinations, ulous vacation to their favourite all in one tour, paying compar- including Kazakhstan, Ukraine, The first award winning travel destinations, leaving behind a atively less and enjoying a great Bulgaria, South Korea and even agency for the ‘Best Digital signature design of each traveller European adventure. to Iran. The company is able to Transformation of the Year with GoMosafer. If you wish to GoMosafer has always provide integrated tourism 2018’, GoMosafer has developed spend a short summer holiday sought to provide complete cus- services to customers and meet terms of quality and preferred destination, at prices a unique and exceptional in Europe, GoMosafer has a tomer advise and support, to their satisfaction. competitiveness. much cheaper than direct air- concept of tourism, combined unique flexible and customisable respond to all their enquiries and The company provides a The company also developed fares. For example, if you want with luxury, to meet the needs package matching your travel to offer the best of it’s services, complete package of tourism and the concept of ‘transit’ travel for to travel to India or the Philip- of businessmen/women, leisure habits. by a set of trained travel profes- travel services, through agree- travellers, by offering options of pines, you can spend a night or and adventure. The company offers tailor- sionals, who provides infor- ments and partnerships with the spending one or more days in a two in Bangkok or Colombo, The concept offers to it’s made flights at competitive mation on tourism destinations best suppliers, that enhance the four-star hotel,while travelling making your trip more com- clients not only a customised prices, visiting several European upon consultations. outstanding performance in to their home country or the fortable and enjoyable. THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 HOME 05

Tickets on sale for UDC signs agreement 8th South Indian International for Gewan Island Movie Awards development project THE PENINSULA/DOHA Tickets are now on sale for the Once completed, the Gewan Island, UDC’s latest real estate eighth annual South Indian project next to The Pearl-Qatar Island, will accommodate 3,500 International Movie Awards residents and 3,000 daily visitors and will be home to 712 units, (SIIMA) to be held in Qatar for including 639 apartments, 41 waterfront villas, 26 beachfront the first time, organisers have villas, 6 island villas, in addition to 11,000 sqm of retail space announced. and a number of multiuse buildings. The prestigious awards show, which is part of Summer in Qatar, will take place on FROM PAGE 1 developer of The Pearl-Qatar and August 15 and 16 and will see a The Island’s design incorporates a Gewan Islands, is a leading Qatari public galaxy of South Indian stars number of sustainability features to shareholding company with a mission attend the two-day event. reduce the use of vehicles and encourage to identify and invest in long-term SIIMA is the most viewed walking and biking through dedicated projects contributing to Qatar’s growth awards show in the industry, pedestrian and cycling networks in and providing good shareholder value. with awards across four lan- addition to roads connecting the Island UDC activities cover a multitude guages namely Telugu, Tamil, to the public transportation network. of vital investment sectors including Kannada and Malayalam. Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman (centre), UDC President and Chief Executive Officer & Member The Island is also designed to real estate development, property Taking place during the of the Board; Abdullah Mubarak Al Khalifa (left), Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of reduce urban heat by incorporating management, infrastructure and util- India-Qatar Year of Culture, the QNB; and Joseph Abraham, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Bank, during green roofs, shading, and reflective sur- ities, maritime and hospitality related show will see 100 awards in 50 the agreement signing ceremony held at The Pearl-Qatar. faces, where applicable.UDC, the master businesses. categories handed out at the event. P Kumaran, India’s Ambassador to Qatar, will attend the festivities, which will com- Ashghal to partially open mence on India’s Independence Day. South Indian cinema, less well known as its northern coun- new bridge on Sabah Al terpart, is far more prolific, and accounts for about 50 percent of annual domestic box office col- Ahmad Corridor tomorrow lections. SIIMA, which is held outside India, aims to introduce THE PENINSULA operated by 2020, which will reduce a broader audience to South DOHA traffic in the area and journey time by 60 Indian cinema, continuing to percent. The bridge will have four lanes build upon the ever-widening The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has in each direction to accommodate over popularity of Indian cinema. announced a partial opening of a new 16,000 vehicles per hour. On this occasion, Managed by ONE FM 89.6, bridge in Al Luqta to traffic at the length Project Engineer Ali Ibrahim said that the SIIMA will be held at the Lusail of 850 metres as a part of Sabah Al Ahmad opening of the new bridge is the first key Indoor Arena, which has a Corridor from tomorrow in coordination milestone of the construction works north capacity of 8000 people. with General Directorate of Traffic. of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, stressing the Tickets range in price from Ashghal has said that two lanes traffic importance of the bridge in improving QR50 to QR3000, and are from Al Luqta towards Al Rayyan will be traffic flow. “The opening of the bridge available at aynatickets.com. available for the public open tomorrow will provide a free traffic flow to serve the Summer in Qatar includes (Friday), while two lanes in the opposite areas of Al Gharrafa, Al Luqta, Al Rayyan quarter of 2020, the road capacity will reach with the completion of the new Corridor a plethora of entertainment direction will be opened to traffic from Al and Al Waab, especially that the bridge facil- about 24,000 vehicles per hour which will in 2021 with a length of 25 kilometers and shows, music concerts and Rayyan towards Al Luqta on August 2. The itates an easy access to Al Rayyan Road and improve the traffic in the area by connecting a total works of 37 kilometers, the road comedy performances by top new opening will reduce traffic congestion Khalifa Avenue,” said Ibrahim. Al Gharrafa, Al Luqta, Al Waab, Al Rayyan will have the first Cable-Stayed Bridge in international artists, including in the area, providing free traffic flow to Ashghal is currently changing the old and vital facilities such as businesses, Qatar as well as the largest intersection, summer camps for children and road users from Al Gharrafa and Al Luqta roundabout connecting Makkah Street and schools, and hospitals. longest bridge, deepest and longest bi- youth, thrilling experiences and heading for Al Waab and Al Rayyan, espe- Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor into two levels Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor is the first directional tunnel. The Corridor provides sporting tournaments in cially with the current traffic diversion interchange. The new junction will include in Qatar to be called the ‘Corridor’ instead easy access to some of Doha Metro sta- addition to exciting travel, hos- and a direct link between those areas. one new bridge and signalized junction of a road due to its great importance and tions such as the Economic Zone, Al Waab pitality and retail promotions The new bridge will have been fully under the bridge. On completion by the first specifications of its unique construction, and Old Rayyan. running until August 16. 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019

Khamenei aide : No talks with US Iran open to UK under any circumstances tanker swap amid REUTERS GENEVA/DUBAI hopes for ‘progress’

The top military adviser to AFP “We don’t want Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayat- TEHRAN tensions with some ollah Ali Khamenei said European countries,” yesterday that Tehran would Iran hinted yesterday it is open not negotiate with the United to a tanker swap with Britain as the Iran’s President States under any circum- owners of a UK-flagged ship seized Hassan Rouhani stances, an apparent hardening by the Islamic republic expressed said in comments to of its position as the Gulf tanker hopes for “positive progress” after a cabinet meeting crisis escalates. speaking to its crew. posted on his The tough remarks by The seizure of the Stena government’s website. Khamenei’s aide, Hossein Impero has been seen as a tit-for- Dehghan, a senior commander tat move after British authorities of Iran’s elite Revolutionary detained an Iranian tanker off of 18 Indians, three Russians, a Guards whose views are seen Gibraltar this month on suspicion Latvian and a Filipino. Akram Zwahreh sitting on top of the rubble of his house during a tour for Fatah Movement to the as reflecting those of Khamenei, it was shipping oil to Syria in “Stena Bulk can confirm that site of demolished buildings in the West Bank, adjacent to the area of Sur Baher in East Jerusalem, appeared to take a firm line in breach of EU sanctions. we have had direct communi- response to Western proposals “We don’t want tensions with cation with the crew of the Stena yesterday. The Palestinian leaders expressed outrage at the demolitions in the Sur Baher area, which to beef up security in the Strait some European countries,” Iran’s Impero since late yesterday straddles the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. of Hormuz in the wake of the President Hassan Rouhani said in (Tuesday),” the Swedish shipping seizure of the ship. comments to a cabinet meeting company said in a statement. Dehghan said Iran would posted on his government’s It said “everyone was safe Jordan King backs Palestinian take action if the status of the website. In a clear reference to the with good cooperation with the strait were altered, and that no tense standoff with the British, Iranian personnel onboard”. country would be allowed to Rouhani said if they were to “We do of course appreciate state ahead of Kushner visit ship oil through it unless all “cease the incorrect acts that they this step... and that this is a first countries can. have done, including that of sign that we will soon see more AP/AMMAN promote the Trump administra- Jabalia town in the northern His remarks were reported Gibraltar, Iran’s response would positive progress from the tion’s economic peace plan for Gaza Strip yesterday. by Al Jazeera television which be” appropriate to their actions. Iranian authorities,” said its chief Jordan’s king is standing by a two- the Palestinians. He outlined the According to eyewitnesses, did not supply direct quotes of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary executive, Erik Hanell. state solution to the Israeli-Pales- plan’s ambitious investment and 8 Israeli military vehicles moved an interview with him. He Guard Corps seized the Stena Iran’s high-seas standoff tinian conflict ahead of a meeting development goals at a con- into dozens of meters in agricul- singled out the United Arab Impero on Friday, surrounding it with Britain comes amid rising in Amman with White House’s ference in Bahrain last month. tural land near the eastern Emirates for criticism, saying it with attack boats before troops hostilities between the Islamic Mideast adviser Jared Kushner. The US under President border of Jabalia town, from the had become a base for attacks rappelled onto its deck from a hel- republic and UK ally the United King Abdullah II met yes- Donald Trump has refused to Abu Safiya military settlement, on Iran, and repeated earlier icopter. The oil tanker and its 23 States. The arch-enemies have terday with Palestinian Pres- endorse a two-state solution as behind the eastern border of the Iranian threats to attack all US crew have since been impounded been locked in a battle of nerves ident Mahmoud Abbas and part of Trump’s undisclosed town. The witnesses confirmed targets in the region in the at the southern port of Bandar since President Donald Trump restated his position that the cre- “Deal of the Century” and has that the incursion accompanied event of war. Abbas for allegedly breaking withdrew the US from a ation of a Palestinian state with slashed aid and support for the by the razing and laying of earth Dehghan’s remarks appear “international maritime rules”. landmark 2015 deal aimed at east Jerusalem as its capital is the Palestinians. mounds amid the firing of inter- to shift the Iranian position on The owners of the vessel limiting Iran’s nuclear pro- only way to end the conflict. Meanwhile, Israeli military mittent and smoke bombs to talks with the United States. In said yesterday they had finally gramme and began reimposing Kushner will be returning to vehicles penetrated into Pales- cover the incursion into the tar- the past Tehran has said talks been able to speak to the crew sanctions. the Middle East this week to tinian agricultural land east of geted area. are possible although Wash- ington must lift all sanctions first and return to the nuclear deal it abandoned last year. Northwest Syria bombing The Trump administration says the purpose of its sanctions leaves 18 civilians dead is to force Iran to the negoti- ating table, and it is open to AFP/BEIRUT regime air strikes and artillery talks, but Iran must make the fire in other parts of the bastion first move. Bombardment by the Syrian of some three million people, the Earlier yesterday, Iran’s regime and its Russian ally killed Britain-based monitor said. pragmatist president, Hassan 18 civilians including five The Syrian regime and its Rouhani, who has drawn fire children in northwest Syria Russian ally have stepped up from hardline clerical leaders yesterday, a monitor said, in the their deadly bombardment of for reaching the nuclear pact latest violence to hit the oppo- Idlib province and adjacent areas with world powers in 2015, said sition bastion. in Aleppo and Hama provinces Iran was ready for “just nego- Among these, 10 civilians since late April. The spike in vio- tiations” but not if they mean including three children, all from lence since late April has killed surrender. the same family, were killed in around 720 civilians, according Britain has called for a Russian air strikes near the town to the Observatory, which relies European-led naval mission to of Khan Sheikhun in Idlib on sources inside Syria for its ensure safe shipping through province, the Britain-based information. More than 330,000 the world’s most important oil Syrian Observatory for Human people have fled violence in the A Syrian man carries kids as search and rescue works are being carried out at the site after airstrikes artery after Iran seized the Rights said. Eight others including area over the past three months, of Russia and Assad Regime over Arihah district of Idlib, Syria, yesterday. Stena Impero last week. two children lost their lives in the United Nations says. Turkey slams US proposal for Syrian safe zone

AP/ANKARA of a safe zone along the Turkey-Syrian Since 2016, Turkey has launched border. “The United States must come two cross-border offensives against Turkey yesterday slammed a new US with proposals that are satisfactory IS and the Kurdish fighters. It has proposal for a so-called “safe zone” to us or are close to our proposals,” recently been sending reinforcements in northern Syria, saying it was “not Cavusoglu said, adding that Turkey’s to its border area, signaling a possible satisfactory” and warning that Ankara patience “has run out.” new offensive. Cavusoglu, speaking may launch a new offensive to secure Turkey views Kurdish fighters to reporters at a joint news conference its border if an agreement isn’t who have battled the Islamic State with visiting Nicaraguan counterpart, reached soon. group alongside U.S. forces as ter- Denis Moncada, said the US dele- According to Foreign Minister rorists, allied with a Kurdish insur- gation had offered new proposals on Mevlut Cavusoglu, US envoy James gency within Turkey. Ankara wants the safe zone, including possible joint Jeffrey and other US officials held the safe zone established east of the patrols and “who would be in it and talks with Turkish officials in Ankara Euphrates River to keep the Kurdish who would enter.” He did not about Syria, including the setting up fighters away from the border region. elaborate.

Sudanese forces Six dead in blast at mayor’s partially withdraw offices in Mogadishu from Yemen ANATOLIA/SANA’A AFP entered a hall where the officials were MOGADISHU meeting and detonated the blast inside. Some Sudanese forces have Earlier United Nations special envoy partially withdrawn from areas Six people were killed and the mayor of James Swan had met with the mayor, they were deployed in Yemen, Mogadishu was among six wounded in Abdirahman Omar Osman, at the head- according to a military source. a bomb attack targeting the mayoral quarters of the Banadir district, which Col. Waddah Al Dabeesh, a offices in the Somali capital, the encompasses Mogadishu, according to the spokesman for the Yemeni government said yesterday. mission’s Twitter account. However UN army, said that the Sudanese “Six people, including two district sources said he had left by the time of the forces participating in the West commissioners and three directors, were explosion. “The blast was very heavy, Coast military front, withdrew killed in the terrorist attack this and I saw people, fleeing some with from three areas they were afternoon, six others have been shrapnel wounds outside the Banadir deployed in, without giving any wounded among them the mayor of administration headquarters,” said names.He explained that some Mogadishu and other district commis- witness Mohamud Shariif, referring to Yemeni army forces were rede- sioners who are now being treated by the regional government offices. ployed in these areas to replace the medical team,” Information Minister Mogadishu is regularly hit by attacks the Sudanese forces. Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareye told by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab The withdrawal of the reporters. Islamist group, which has fought for Sudanese forces came after an The Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab more than a decade to topple the Somali earlier and partial withdrawal group claimed responsibility for the government. The city was on Monday of the United Arab Emirates attack. A security source, who asked not struck by a car bomb which left 17 dead (UAE) forces from the same to be named, said a suicide bomber had and more than two dozen wounded. areas. THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 ASIA 07

Congress seeks India won’t accept PM’s reply on any mediation on Trump’s claim IANS Kashmir: Rajnath NEW DELHI IANS Defence Minister said There was uproar in the Lok NEW DELHI accepting anybody’s Sabha yesterday for a second consecutive day over US Pres- India’s Defence Minister Rajnath mediation on Kashmir ident Donald Trump’s claim Singh declared yesterday that issue would violate that Prime Minister Narendra there is “no question of the 1972 Shimla Modi had asked him to mediate accepting anybody’s mediation Agreement. on the Kashmir dispute on the Kashmir issue” . between India and Pakistan. Rajnath Singh told the Lok When the Question Hour Sabha that External Affairs Min- he said, these would cover the started, Congress floor leader ister S Jaishankar’s assertion that Pakistan administered Kashmir Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Modi did not ask US President as well. raised the issue. “After Trump’s Donald Trump to mediate on Earlier, there was uproar for statement, everyone is dis- Kashir should be taken as most a second straight day over cussing in the whole country authentic because he was Trump’s claim that Modi had about what the Prime Minister present when the two leaders asked him to mediate on the said on the issue. But the Prime met in Japan. Kashmir dispute between India Minister is not saying anything. Responding to the opposi- and Pakistan. We want to know what conver- People carry their belongings as they walk through flood waters after the Pahumara river overflowed, tion’s insistence that the Prime As soon as the Question sation took place between the in Pathsala, in Barpeta district of Assam, yesterday. Minister should speak, Singh Hour started, Congress floor Prime Minister and Trump.” maintained that “there was no leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Amid the noise, the Speaker talk on Kashmir”. said: “It is an issue which is very continued the Question Hour. “It is true that talks between much related to the Prime Min- Opposition members then came Assam floods death toll rises to 75 the US President and our Prime ister himself.” After Speaker Om near the Speaker’s podium Minister took place but there Birla interrupted him, there was shouting “Prime Minister hai IANS there was a slight improvement officials said. “There are a total was no talk on the Kashmir sloganeering by Congress MPs hai”. GUWAHATI in the flood situation in the last of 826 relief camps operational issue. against the government and The Parliamentary Affairs two days, incessant rainfall has with 2,00,525 inmates and 107 “I also want to clarify that Modi. Minister urged the opposition At least six persons died in flood- led to swelling of the rivers par- Relief distribution centres,” they there is no question of accepting Parliamentary Affairs Min- to let the Question Hour end. related incidents in Assam in the ticularly in the western Assam said. The Central Water Com- anybody’s mediation on ister Pralhad Joshi said: “If our “The matter can be raised last 24 hours, taking the death districts inundating more mission (CWC) said that the Kashmir issue,” he said, adding Foreign Minister has clarified the after that. Our Defence Minister toll to 75 even as 34,82,170 villages. Brahmaputra river is flowing that this would violate the 1972 position, why is there a will speak on the issue.” But the people continued to be affected A total of 2,933 villages in above the danger level at Shimla Agreement. problem?” In an attempt to end agitating Congress members by the deluge in 20 districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Udalguri, Neamatighat (Jorhat) and Dhubri This was also a question of the din, Birla allowed Chow- continued to shout slogans. the state till yesterday evening. Darrang, Baksa, Barpeta, while the Jia Bharali river is the nation’s pride, he said. “We dhury to speak. On Tuesday, The Congress on Tuesday Officials of the Assam State Nalbari, Chirang, Bongaigaon, flowing above the danger mark can accept everything. We can Jaishankar categorically rejected too sought Prime Minister’s Disaster Management Authority Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South at Sonitpur. Similarly the compromise on anything but we Trump’s statement and clarified clarification following which (ASDMA) said that 2,933 villages Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Puthimari river is flowing above cannot compromise at the cost in both Houses of Parliament External Affairs Minister S Jais- in 20 districts remained inun- Kamrup (M), Morigaon, Nagaon, the danger level in Kamrup. of our nation’s pride.” If there that Modi made no such request hankar categorically rejected dated by the floods. Golaghat, Jorhat and Cachar are Manas and Beki rivers are also were to be talks with Pakistan, to the US President. Trump’s statement. Officials said that although still under water, the ASDMA flowing above the danger level. Lightning Congress lures away Karnataka BJP storm leaves says awaiting 39 dead in 2 BJP members in MP Shah’s nod to IANS challenged the Opposition to try stake claim eastern India BHOPAL and buy out the ruling party leg- islators in this state. Responding IANS AP/PATNA Two BJP MLAs yesterday cross- to Bhargava’s boast: “We can BENGALURU voted in favour of the ruling bring down the government the Lightning has killed at least 39 Congress to help pass a Bill on moment the No 1 and 2 leaders It has been a testing time for people during thunderstorms prevention of mob lynching in give a go ahead”, he retorted: Karnataka’s BJP state President and heavy rains lashing eastern the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. “Your No 1 and 2 have the BS Yeddyurappa, who is India where thousands of The House was adjourned sine wisdom not to give you the go awaiting for party President people are stranded on high die after the bill was passed. ahead.” Amit Shah’s call to stake claim ground, an official said Embarrassed Leader of While discussing a calling to power in the state. A file photo of Mahanadi coal fields, near Talcher town in the yesterday. Opposition, Gopal Bhargava said attention motion on Medicity “I am waiting for our party’s eastern state of Odisha, India. Disaster Management he will discuss the issue later. brought by Congress members Parliamentary Board decision official Amod Kumar Sharan Yesterday’s developments bring Rajyvardhan Singh Dattigaon, that Shah will convey for our said the deaths occurred on to an end the speculation over Kunal Chaudhary and Vinay next course of action,” Yeddy- Tuesday, raising the overall One dead, 3 feared trapped the survival of Kamal Nath gov- Saxena, Kamal Nath said that the urappa told reporters yes- death toll in Bihar state to 123 ernment, especially in the wake BJP has been making such terday, a day after the from lightning and flooding in Odisha coal mine of developments in Karnataka. claims right from the day his 14-month-old JD-S-Congress since the monsoon season The two BJP legislators — government took office. “Let me coalition government fell. started in June. As rain stopped IANS at Bharatpur open cast project Sharad Kol of Beohari and make it clear the Opposition’s “If our high command in some areas yesterday, heli- BHUBANESWAR in Talcher Coalfields of MCL,” Narayan Tripathi of Maihar — claims are bogus and our MLAs permits, we will hold the legis- copters dropped food packets said an MCL statement. are reportedly joining the Con- are not for sale.” Amid thumping lative party meeting to elect the for the villagers. A coal miner has been killed and It said labourers working in gress. Tripathi, who has been of desks by the ruling coalition leader in the presence of central Last Sunday, 33 people three are feared trapped after a the night shift at Bharatpur open elected from Maihar several members, he said that this gov- observer and party’s state in- were killed by lightning in the dump slide at an open cast mine cast mine came under a dump times, is a known party-hopper ernment is here for five years charge Muralidhar Rao,” he northern state of Uttar Pradesh. of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. slide due to a strata failure. The and has been in the Samajwadi and Madhya Pradesh will create added. They were mostly farmers (MCL) in Odisha’s Talcher, said accident occurred between 11pm Party and the Congress earlier. history by setting up new bench- The 75-year-old leader of working in fields. an official yesterday. and 11:30pm on Tuesday when Kol has also been in the Con- marks of development bringing the politically dominant Lin- Millions of people have At least nine have been a portion of earth broke loose gress earlier. A triumphant Con- prosperity to every class. gayat community and the BJP’s been hit by floods, their homes injured in the incident. trapping 13 workers and gress later expressed hope there Kamal Nath said that he had first Chief Minister in south and crops devastated by surging “Body of a missing coal machinery at work, it said. While will more arrivals from the BJP. maintained certain probity in his India has headed the state waters. South Asia’s monsoon miner was recovered while the one body has been recovered, “Some more BJP MLAs are in political life and tried to set an thrice — first in November 2007 rains, which hit the region from rescue operation was underway the rescue operation was touch with (Chief Minister) example. He said no one has for a week after the Janata Dal- June to September, are crucial to search for remaining three underway with the help of MCL’s Kamal Nath. Let us wait and raised questions or made any Secular (JD-S) withdrew for the rain-fed crops planted workers trapped in debris fol- mines rescue team to search for watch,” said a party leader. allegations in his 45 years of support to his party, from May during the season lowing strata collapse last night the three missing workers. Kamal Nath had earlier political life. 2008 to July 2011 and for three days in May 2018. “If all goes well, we will meet the Governor (Vajubhai Chandrayaan-2 to reach Vala) at Raj Bhavan to stake claim and seek consent to take oath and form the government,” Moon by August 20: ISRO he said. The BJP has 105 legis- lators and support of 2 Inde- IANS and rover ‘Pragyan’. pendents, which will be a CHENNAI The Indian space agency said the majority if the 225-member major activities include earth bound Assembly’s strength is reduced India’s second Moon spacecraft Chan- manoeuvres, the trans-lunar insertion, to 210 - with action against 15 drayaan-2 put into earth orbit on July 22, lunar-bound manoeuvres, the lander’s rebel Congress and JD-S law- is scheduled to reach the Moon by August separation from Chandrayaan-2 and its makers who resigned and face 20, the Indian space agency said yesterday. touchdown on the moon’s South Pole. disqualification, as the new The Indian Space Research Organi- The ISRO said the trans-lunar insertion halfway mark will be 106. sation (ISRO) said that the first-earth of Chandrayaan-2 is scheduled on August As Assembly Speaker K.R. bound orbit raising manoeuvre for Chan- 14, which will send the spacecraft to moon, Ramesh Kumar is yet to accept dryaan-2 was successfully performed yes- which it will reach by August 20. or reject the resignations of the terday afternoon by firing the onboard The lander Vikram will land on the rebels or disqualify them, the motors for 57 seconds. moon on September 7. BJP will be able to win the trust The new orbit is 230x45,163 km. The Originally the GSLV-Mk III rocket car- vote if they stay away from the second orbit raising manoeuvre is rying Chandrayaan-2 was supposed to fly House. scheduled on July 26, at 1.09 am, it added. on July 15. Owing to a serious technical In the floor test on Tuesday, On July 22, the Chandrayaan-2 was glitch, the flight was postponed to July 22. the JD-S-Congress coalition injected into an elliptical orbit by India’s As a result, there are changes in the failed to win the confidence heavy-lift rocket Geosynchronous Sat- mission schedule. Teej festival motion by 6 votes as they could ellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III in a As per the July 15 flight schedule, muster only 99 against 105 of textbook style. Chandrayaan-2’s earth bound phase was Schoolgirls perform a Punjabi dance called ‘Giddha’ to celebrate the Teej festival the BJP in a house of 204, Chandrayaan-2 comprises three seg- 17 days and it is 23 days as per the new on the occasion of the Sawan (rain month), in Amritsar, yesterday. excluding the Speaker and in ments — the Orbiter, the lander ‘Vikram’ schedule. the absence of 20 legislators. 08 VIEWS THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 Wadi Hummus: Another Israeli ESTABLISHED IN 1996 celebration of ethnic cleansing CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected] YARA HAWARI AL JAZEERA ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] n the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli armed forces began their biggest demolition DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Ipush since 1967 in Wadi Hummus, MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI in the Palestinian Sur Baher neigh- [email protected] bourhood southeast of Jerusalem. Pal- estinians and international activists attempted to resist the demolitions, for which they were greeted with brute force, with dozens reporting injuries from tear-gassing and beatings from The demolition of a Palestinian building by Israeli forces in the village of Sur Baher. Israeli forces. EDITORIAL Since the demolitions began, videos have emerged on social media The residents of Wadi Hummus clear and simple message from Israel showing Israeli soldiers and police had submitted an appeal prior to the to the international community and revelling in the demolitions. One par- demolition to the Israeli Supreme the PA: Oslo is dead. Indeed, far from Guaranteeing rights of workers ticular video shows a masked soldier Court which was, rather expectantly, being a security concern, the demoli- counting down from 10 before rejected. Israel wants to demolish a tions in Sur Baher are actually part of a atar is always committed to protecting the rights of pressing a demolition button and total of 13 apartment buildings, dis- grand and continuous plan to rid Jeru- expatriate workers. In another move to provide more blowing up a Palestinian building in placing thousands of Palestinian salem of its indigenous Palestinian Qprotection to workers and ensure their safe and smooth the background. An Israeli border residents. inhabitants in favour of Jewish Israelis. entry into Qatar, the Visa Support Services Department policeman standing next to him pats The claim is that the buildings Dubbed by many as geodemographic of the Ministry of Interior has launched a new service which him on the back, smiling and laughing, present a security risk to Israel’s so- engineering, this is obviously ethnic allows Qatari citizens, residents and companies to authorise before the two turn around and pose called “security barrier”, also known cleansing. manpower agencies to complete the recruitment procedures for a picture in front of the smoke and as the apartheid wall, 85 percent of This is not the first time such of domestic workers through Qatar Visa Centers abroad. rubble. The masked soldier turns to which runs through the Palestinian heinous images and videos of Israeli Major Abdullah Al Muhannadi, Director of Visa Support the border policeman and says “kol occupied territories cutting and authorities or soldiers have appeared. Services Department at the General Directorate of Passports, hakavod”, literally meaning all the dividing Palestinian land and commu- In 2014, during the “Protective Edge” during an event which was organised in collaboration with respect in Hebrew but in this case nities. The pretext of this demolition military assault on Gaza wherein more the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social translating to “good job”. In the back- places other Palestinian villages and than 2,000 Palestinians were killed, Affairs and attended by representatives of manpower com- ground, you can hear the jeers and towns — such as Al-Ram, Tulkarem groups of Israelis would gather on a panies and agencies, said the service aims to guarantee the adulation from other soldiers. and Qalqilliya that are in the vicinity of nearby hill and watch the bombard- rights of applicants and ensure the ratification of their con- Various human rights organisa- the apartheid wall — at risk. ments. Carrying snacks and drinks, tracts by the competent authority in the State of Qatar, in tions released statements, including This demolition, however, also sets they would cheer and take selfies addition to reducing the effort and time on both the applicant Amnesty Inter- a precedent for the destruction of against a backdrop of smoke. Videos and the expatriate. The service will begin by the mid of August national whose property under supposed Palestinian have also been taken of Israeli sol- 2019. Deputy Director Authority (PA) control. Sur Baher is diers, often by their fellow soldiers, Mohammed Ali Al Meer, Director of Labour Inspection for the Middle unusual as its lands were divided cheering as they shoot young Pales- Department of the Ministry of Administrative Development, East and North across Areas A, B and C after the Oslo tinian men. Labour and Social Affairs said that The claim is that Africa Saleh Accords in the early 1990s, yet the What this demonstrates is that the Ministry is working on the clas- the buildings Hijazi called the wall, built a decade later in the early Israel is a place where the ethnic sification of recruitment agencies present a security demolitions 2000s, was erected around the village cleansing of Palestinians is not only operating in the country and eval- risk to Israel’s “flagrant vio- so that it fell on the Jerusalem side. state policy, it’s a celebrated policy. Move to authorise uating them according to specific lation of inter- While Areas A and B are supposed to Meanwhile, the reaffirmation of com- professional standards to ensure so-called “security national law be under PA control, because the wall mitments to the two-state solution and manpower agencies the best recruitment mechanism. barrier”, also and part of a was built around the village, it has no the Oslo framework by the interna- to complete “This service facilitates the known as the systematic presence in the area and offers no tional community, which is continu- the recruitment recruitment of domestic workers apartheid wall, 85 pattern”. services to the residences there. ously nullified by Israel, only serve to procedures of whereas employment contract will A United Yet many residents are still obliged prop up an illusion. This is an illusion be signed through Qatar Visa percent of which Nations’ to apply for building permits from the that Israel is still willing to grant Pales- domestic workers Centre in their own country thus runs through statement high- PA if their property falls within Area A tinians rights and partial sovereignty. through Qatar Visa protecting the workers’ rights”, Al the Palestinian lighted the fact or B, meaning that they fall under PA The reality is, however, Israel’s only Centers abroad Meer said. The Ministry also added that some of the jurisdiction. Indeed, the PA President, intention is to continue its project of important data in the labour con- occupied territories residents losing Mahmoud Abbas, has confirmed that ethnic cleansing and to render the Pal- reflects Qatar’s tract which is in the interest of the cutting and dividing their homes are they would be compensating all fam- estinian struggle for freedom to nought. keenness to ensure expatriate worker, such as data Palestinian land. refugees facing ilies who lost homes in this demolition This recognition of reality is what the the protection and of the employer, the name of the displacement spree. The cruel irony is that the Israeli Palestinians so desperately need from safety of expatriate employer, and other important yet again — a authorities will be billing the residents the international community in this data. common Palestinian story. Meanwhile, for the demolition costs, making this time of historic vulnerability. workers. It must be mentioned that QVC a European Union statement said that an entirely profitable endeavour for recently inaugurated a visa center it “expect[s] the Israeli authorities to Israel. The author is the Palestine Policy in Kathmandu in the Republic of immediately halt the ongoing Moreover, the destruction of Fellow of Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Nepal, as part of the ‘Qatar Visa Centers Program’, which was demolitions”. property in Areas A and B sends a very Policy Network. launched last year targeting eight labour-exporting countries. Nepal is the fifth country where a Visa Center was opened after Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India — which have proved to be a great success in providing premium, simplified and more advanced services. Just say no to the new NAFTA The centers provide facilities for those who have initial approval for entry visas to Qatar where they can complete the JEFFREY J SCHOTT growth. Rejecting it now apply these provisions in mention the cost of registration of their biometrics, medical examinations and the BLOOMBERG can lead to a better deal trade relations with the US Trump’s threats to raise signing of contracts electronically through a unified channel, with Mexico and Canada. The administration’s tariffs on Mexico unilat- and thus saving time and effort. Qatar Visa Centers comply with resident Donald The main flaw is that claim that the USMCA will erally over immigration international standards that ensure greater transparency, trace- Trump claims he the USMCA imposes costly boost economic activity is issues. Overall, the USMCA ability, as well as the ability to track and improve procedures. has “tremendous regulatory mandates that based on a study by the would increase uncertainty The Centers will enable both the employer and the expatriate Democrat support” would disrupt North United States International for traders and investors P Trade Commission, which alike and have a negative worker to perform their role accurately through an integrated in the House for the accord American trade and recruitment system. This step clearly reflects Qatar’s keenness he signed last year with investment, particularly in estimated the pact would impact on growth. to ensure the protection and safety of expatriate workers. Mexico and Canada to the auto sector. It also increase US growth by 0.3 The costly regulatory By providing simplified services, Qatar is ensuring best replace the North American restricts bidding on gov- percent of GDP per year. mandates imposed by the practices as these centers abroad will enable the completion Free Trade Agreement. He ernment contracts and But in fact the study says USMCA are in the form of of recruitment procedures through one channel within a shorter threatens to withdraw from includes a “sunset” clause that on balance the market requirements that high period of time. NAFTA if Congress doesn’t that requires review of the access provisions of the percentages of goods must quickly pass his new trade agreement every six years accord would restrict trade be made in North America deal. and provides for its pos- and cause US growth to in order to get US trade House Speaker Nancy sible termination in 16 decline by 0.12 percent. preferences. The adminis- Pelosi wants the deal, now years. These conditions will The positive overall tration claims these “rules called the United States- constrain investment and result touted by American of origin” would yield new QUOTE OF THE DAY Mexico-Canada agreement, growth. officials is based on a sep- investment in US pro- improved before Congress Some supporters of the arate estimation that duction and increase the We are going to votes on it, with stronger deal say it provides new USMCA rules in areas like nation’s auto sector jobs by fulfill the repeated labor and environmental rules that will benefit the intellectual property and 7.6 percent. promises of protections, among other US But those “new” rules digital trade will reduce But the trade com- Parliament to the changes, even though some aren’t new. Rather they uncertainty and encourage mission study refutes that Democrats are willing to mirror provisions affecting investment and growth. claim. It estimates that these people and come support the deal as is. labor, the environment and But those gains result from very rules would increase US out of the EU on Pelosi’s instinct is right: e-commerce from the Mexico and Canada’s par- and Mexican production October 31, “no Congress should call the revised Trans-Pacific Part- ticipation in the revised costs. In the US, the rules president’s bluff and just nership that have been TPP; US firms already get would reduce output and ifs or buts”. say no to the USMCA. Com- carried out by Mexico and those benefits without the increase imports from pared with current policies, Canada since that accord USMCA. outside North America, Boris Johnson the new accord would went into effect on Moreover, the commis- while raising the average New British restrict trade and December 30, 2018. Trump sion’s study failed to price of vehicles, factors that Prime Minister investment, impose costs withdrew from the TPP, account for the greater would cut auto sales. Simply on consumers, and but Canada and Mexico uncertainty caused by the put, USMCA auto rules would undercut US economic remained in it, and already sunset clause, not to hurt auto firms and workers. THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 ASIA 09 Imran: US visit aimed to dispel misunderstanding about Pakistan INTERNEWS PM Imran says WASHINGTON Taliban may Prime Minister Imran Khan has soon release said that his first official visit to Pakistan is now trying the United States was aimed at its best to get Taliban two hostages dispelling misunderstanding to get on the table to about Pakistan. start this dialogue and AP Imran was addressing the WASHINGTON members of the US Congress so far, we have done during his visit to the Capitol pretty well.” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Hill, according to Pakistan Khan has said militants may Embassy in Washington soon release two Western yesterday. while the US expected it to ‘do hostages as negotiations on a The prime minister said that more’. peace deal for Afghanistan over the years there has existed PM Imran said that it was make progress with his coun- a lot of misunderstanding about very important that he met US try’s help. the country. President Donald Trump and Imran, who concluded his “Pakistan is not understood Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, three-day visit to the US yes- here, specifically in the last 15 adding that it was crucial to terday, has repeatedly said the years, when this war on terror build mutual trust in order to men, an American and Aus- was being fought in Afghanistan fully comprehend things. tralian, could be freed from the and the borders of Pakistan,” he The premier stated that Taliban-linked militants who told those in attendance. Pakistan is diligently playing its have held them for nearly three In his address, the PM part in the Afghan peace years. expressed hope that following process and on the subject he “We will be giving you good his departure from the US, has the support of the army and news about the two hostages,” people would have a better nation. Imran told President Donald US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (left) and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan make brief statements understanding of the dynamics “Pakistan is now trying its Trump in their meeting on to reporters before a meeting at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. of Pakistan-US ties. best to get Taliban to get on the Monday at the White House. PM Imran shed light on the table to start this dialogue and The prime minister did not losses faced by Pakistan in so far, we have done pretty mention them by name at the fighting the war on terror for the well,” said the prime minister, Pakistan Army chief meets Pompeo White House but in a later sake of US, saying that the ally although cautioning that it will interview said he was referring lost 70,000 people and billions not be an easy process. INTERNEWS According to the army’s the DG ISPR quoted the COAS as to an American and an Aus- of rupees. Earlier upon the prime min- WASHINGTON spokesperson, during the saying: “Pakistan attaches great tralian kidnapped by the He said that the previous ister’s arrival, he was given a meeting the two leaders dis- importance to restoring a robust Taliban. governments failed to tell the warm welcome by host US Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff cussed regional security issues bilateral relationship based on “Pakistan is playing its ground realities to the US in this House of Representatives General Qamar Bajwa visited the and Afghan peace process. mutual respect, trust and shared part,” he told Fox News with regard. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other US State Department and met The importance of an values.” Brett Baier. “And I think we’re “There were 40 different Congress members. with Secretary of State Mike Afghan-led process and Afghan- The COAS also met the top very close. We hope to give militant groups operating within The prime minister later left Pompeo, said Director General controlled solution were noted US military leadership during his some good news in the next 48 Pakistan.” the US yesterday to return home Inter-Services Public Relations during the meeting, according visit to Pentagon. Upon his hours.” The prime minister said that upon successful completion of (ISPR), Major General Asif to the ISPR. arrival, the army chief was given In its ongoing negotiations Pakistan fought for its survival his three-day official visit. Ghafoor. In another tweet yesterday, a 21-gun salute. with the Taliban, the US has been pressing for the release of American Kevin King, 62, and Australian Timothy John No IS link to Sri Lanka Easter attacks, claims investigator Weeks, 50, of Sydney. It’s unknown where King grew up AFP no direct link to the foreign jihadi deadly events in Sri Lanka. was known to have used in its known to have travelled to India in the United States, but the FBI COLOMBO group. NTJ leader Zahran Hashim attacks. to meet with fellow extremists said he speaks both English and “They followed the IS ide- had made a video with his fellow Sri Lanka was tipped off of there, according to the Sri Thai. The men, both English Sri Lanka’s Easter attacks that ology, but our investigations suicide bombers pledging alle- an impending attack by Indian Lankan military. teachers at the American Uni- killed 258 people were carried have not shown any link giance to IS leader Abu Bakr Al- authorities based on information They have said that the NTJ versity of Kabul, were abducted out by local extremists who drew between them,” Seneviratne told Bagdadi. The video was released from a suspect in their custody. may have received foreign in August 2016 as they returned inspiration from but were not a parliamentary panel probing by the IS two days later. Sri Lanka’s police chief Pujith expertise in assembling the to the campus in the Afghan linked to the Islamic State group, security and intelligence lapses Within five days of the Jayasundara and the top defence explosives. capital. The following January, a top investigator said yesterday. leading to the April 21 bombings. attack, police raided the location ministry bureaucrat Hemasiri Another investigator, Shani the Taliban released a video in Ravi Seneviratne, the head He noted that remnants of where the NTJ recorded the Fernando are currently facing Abeysekara, told the same par- which the two professors asked of the Criminal Investigations the local group identified as video and recovered the IS flag criminal charges over their liamentary panel yesterday that Trump, who was then pres- Department, said the suicide National Thowheeth Jama’ath they used as a backdrop. alleged negligence to prevent an the CID had found 105kg of ident-elect, to offer to exchange bombers who targeted three (NTJ) had persuaded IS to claim The NTJ had also used the attack. explosives from a NTJ hideout prisoners with the militants for churches and three hotels had the attack two days after the same type of explosives that IS Several NTJ operatives were earlier this year. their release. Croatian Pakistan summons Indian soldier dies in diplomat over LoC firing Taliban attack ANATOLIA ceasefire violations by India are in Kabul ISLAMABAD a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a stra- AFP Pakistan yesterday summoned tegic miscalculation.” KABUL India’s Deputy High Commis- On July 22, Indian Defence sioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to Ministry’s spokesman said in a A Croatian soldier was killed lodge a protest against what it statement Pakistan army and two others seriously called a recent “unprovoked resorted to “unprovoked wounded in Kabul yesterday ceasefire violations” by Indian ceasefire violation” on the LoC when a Taliban suicide attacker forces in Kashmir. in which one Indian Army hit their vehicle, officials said. In a statement, Pakistan’s soldier was killed. Croatia has about 100 Foreign Office’s spokesman said “Own troops responded troops deployed in Afghanistan a 12-year-old boy and a woman strongly and inflicted heavy as part of NATO’s US-led Res- were killed, while four others damage to Pakistan Army posts olute Support mission, where were injured on July 22 and 23 and casualties to Pakistan sol- coalition soldiers are helping along the Line of Control (LoC) diers, details of damage is yet to train and advise local partners. — a de facto border that divides be ascertained,” said the According to a statement disputed Kashmir valley statement. from the Croatian defence min- between Pakistan and India. The Indian army identified istry, the soldier died “due to “The Indian forces along the slain soldier as Arif Shafi Alam serious injuries”. Croatian Line of Control and the Working Khan Patha. “The Nation will Defence Minister Damir Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh boundary are continuously tar- always remain indebted to him Krsticevic said a suicide bomber geting civilian populated areas for the supreme sacrifice and Rohingya people walk with relief materials collected from a distribution point at Kutupalong refugee was thought to have targeted with heavy weapons,” the devotion to duty,” the statement camp in Ukhia, Bangladesh, yesterday. the troops’ armoured vehicle in statement said, adding: “The said. the attack yesterday morning. He described the two other soldiers’ wounds as serious but not life-threatening. Family wants jailed and ill Sri Lanka blocks UN meeting with judges Croatian General Kresimir Tuskan said the troops had Nawaz be shifted to hospital AFP overseeing cases concerning 40,000 Tamil civilians in the been working as part of a COLOMBO military excesses during the final months of the island’s British-led special operations AP Maryam is deputy president former strongman’s tenure 37-year war against Tamil sep- advisory group. LAHORE, PAKISTAN of her father’s Pakistan Muslim Sri Lanka’s parliament has amounted to foreign aratists that ended in May 2009. The Taliban, who often League-Nawaz party, which is blocked a visiting UN human interference. Rajapaksa’s administration exaggerate or misrepresent The family of Pakistan’s now in opposition in rights expert from meeting with Parliament speaker Karu resisted global pressure to claims, said one of their “mar- imprisoned former Prime parliament. judges hearing war crimes Jayasuriya said yesterday that examine allegations of major tyrdom” attackers had killed or Minister Nawaz Sharif is Sharif, who was prime min- cases, citing fears of foreign he had “intervened and stopped human rights violations during wounded a “large number” of appealing that he be moved to ister three times, is now in interference in the judicial the meeting”. his tenure. His successor Pres- CIA officers by detonating a car hospital. prison for corruption. system. “I thank the opposition for ident Maithripala Sirisena came packed with explosives. Sharif’s daughter, Maryam He and his family members Clement Voule, an envoy of bringing this to my notice, I to power on a pledge to inves- Kabul police spokesman Nawaz, said yesterday that phy- have been embroiled in several the United Nations Human have taken timely action,” tigate wartime atrocities, but Ferdaws Faramarz said no sicians who examined her father trials on corruption charges Rights Council, travelled to the Jayasuriya added. has refused calls for an inter- Afghan police or civilians were in his prison cell have recom- after the Supreme Court dis- South Asian nation to discuss Sri Lanka faced interna- national probe. wounded. Afghan interior min- mended hospitalisation, saying qualified him from office in July civil rights protections in Sri tional censure for its human UN expert Voule has so far istry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi his life was at risk. 2017. Lanka. rights record under Rajapakse, met Chief Justice Jayantha said the blast had come from a She said she would hold Maryam was released on But opposition leader who was toppled in January Jayasuriya in the presence of car bomb. Violence in Kabul authorities responsible if some- bail after her own corruption Mahinda Rajapaksa told par- 2015 elections. foreign ministry officials. He is and across Afghanistan has thing happens to her father in sentence was suspended liament on Tuesday that Voule’s Forces under his command due to leave Sri Lanka on flared up in recent weeks. prison. recently. plans to meet with senior judges were accused of killing up to Friday. 10 ASIA THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 China hints its Four dead in rebel attack on troops could be used Thai army base

AFP to quell HK protests PATTANI, THAILAND AFP The Chinese army has Four people were killed in a BEIJING maintained a garrison late-night attack by Muslim insurgents on a military outpost China issued a stark reminder in Hong Kong but its in Thailand’s violence-wracked yesterday that its army could be troops generally keep south, authorities said deployed in Hong Kong if city a low profile and are yesterday, as dramatic footage authorities requested support in rarely seen in uniform emerged showing security maintaining “public order” after forces diving for cover from a weeks of sometimes violent in public. hail of gunfire and a grenade protests. blast. Hong Kong has been plunged close attention” to the situation The attack comes as anger into its worst crisis in recent in Hong Kong. snowballs over the case of a history after millions of demon- Asked how his ministry Muslim rebel suspect who was strators took to the streets — and would handle the situation in the left in a critical condition after sporadic violent confrontations city, Wu pointedly noted that spending several hours in a between police and pockets of there are “clear stipulations” in notorious army interrogation hardcore protesters. Article 14 of Hong Kong’s gar- Fans holding an anti-extradition bill banner during a friendly match between Manchester City Football unit. The demonstrations were rison law — without Club and Kitchee, in Hong Kong, yesterday. The 15-year conflict in the triggered by a controversial bill elaborating. Malay-Muslim majority ‘Deep which would have allowed According to the article, the garrison in Hong Kong since the “The actions of some radical to Beijing — including the van- South’ has left over 7,000 extraditions to mainland China city’s authorities may ask, “when former British colony was demonstrators challenged the dalised liaison’s office. In early people dead, but garners little but have evolved into a call for necessary”, the central gov- returned to China in 1997, but its authority of the central gov- July, an army-linked newspaper global attention. wider democratic reforms. ernment for assistance from the troops generally keep a low ernment and touched upon the in China ran photos of a military Rebels seeking autonomy Beijing has labelled the pro- garrison “in the maintenance of profile and are rarely seen in bottom line of the ‘One country, drill — by then a week old — by for the culturally distinct region tests as “extreme illegal vio- public order and in disaster uniform in public. two systems’ principle,” Wu said. its garrison in Hong Kong. have been fighting the Bud- lence”, but has left it to the city’s relief”. The rare public reminder “This is absolutely intol- The Chinese military also dhist-majority Thai state, which semi-autonomous government This was the first time Beijing comes days after anti-gov- erable.” The Hong Kong gov- received official ownership of a colonised the area over a to deal with the situation. has publicly referred to the pos- ernment protesters vandalised ernment on Tuesday dismissed piece of prime Hong Kong water- century ago. Chinese Defence Ministry sibility of deploying the People’s the walls of the Chinese repre- online “rumours” that the front land in May, which will Late on Tuesday militants spokesman Wu Qian said at a Liberation Army (PLA) to deal sentative’s office in Hong Kong Chinese army has been deployed allow its warships to berth in the struck the remote base in news conference in Beijing that with the unrest in Hong Kong. and defaced the national emblem to guard key administrative city’s famed Victoria Harbour in Pattani province, throwing gre- the ministry has been “paying The PLA has maintained a — an act that left Beijing fuming. offices linked future. nades and laying down nearly an hour of automatic fire, an army spokesman said. “Four people were killed Russia, S Korea in conflicting claims over airspace issue including an army sergeant- major, two defence volunteers REUTERS according to South Korea and “Russia has conveyed its Interfax reported. that after the attache admitted a and a villager,” said Colonel MOSCOW/SEOUL Japan, which both scrambled deep regret over the incident and The incident comes at a del- possible mistake and expressed Thanawee Suwannarat. fighter jets in response. said its defence ministry would icate time for a region that has regret, which was taken as Mos- Russia’s embassy in Seoul South Korean warplanes immediately launch an investi- for years been overshadowed by cow’s official position, Russia yesterday said that Moscow had fired flares and hundreds of gation and take all necessary hostility between the United “altered” its account by sending North Korea holds not apologised for an alleged warning shots near the Russian steps,” Yoon said. States and North Korea and has a document stating that it did not airspace violation the previous aircraft, and the incident trig- “The officer said such a sit- recently seen a flare-up in violate any airspace. crew of Russian day, after South Korea said that gered a round of diplomatic pro- uation would have never tension between South Korea Russia also accused South fishing vessel a Russian attache had expressed tests by countries in the region. occurred if it followed the ini- and Japan. Korean fighter jets of threatening “deep regret” and blamed An unidentified Russian mil- tially planned route.” Hours later, Russia’s public statements on the safety of Russian aircraft by AFP malfunctioning equipment. itary attache in Seoul told South Russia’s embassy in Seoul said the issue have not mentioned interfering with their flight and MOSCOW A Russian military aircraft Korean officials on Tuesday that there had been no apology. any technical problems, nor has failing to communicate, Yoon entered airspace near a group of the plane appeared to have “The Russian side did not Russia announced any investi- said. North Korea is holding a islets claimed by both South “entered an unplanned area due make an official apology,” the gation or acknowledged a vio- Seoul’s defence ministry said Russian fishing ship with a crew Korea and Japan on Tuesday, to a device malfunction”, said embassy in Seoul said, adding it lation of South Korean Russia was “distorting the truth” of 15 Russians and two South during a long-range joint air Yoon Do-han, South Korea’s had noted many inaccuracies in airspace. and it had evidence to support Koreans since detaining it last patrol with Chinese jets, presidential press secretary. the comments by South Korea, Yoon said in a later briefing its claim. week, the Russian embassy in Pyongyang said yesterday. North Korean border Russian oppn guards took control of the ship 13 dead, many missing in belonging to the Russian North- figure Navalny Eastern Fishing Company on landslide in China province July 17. arrested again “According to the North AFP Rescue workers in helmets Korean foreign ministry, the AP BEIJING with torches were seen strug- ship was detained for ‘violating MOSCOW gling through the sludge as rules of entry and stay’” in Thirteen people have died and ambulances waited nearby. North Korea, the embassy said Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most 35 are missing after heavy rains About 560 rescuers were still on its Facebook page. prominent opposition figure, triggered a landslide in China’s combing through the scene Russian embassy officials has been detained by police and southwestern Guizhou province, searching for survivors, the met the Russian captain and a charged with unlawfully organ- state broadcaster CCTV said statement said. deputy who were staying at a ising a public gathering. yesterday. Chinese president Xi Jinping hotel in the North Korean city Navalny has called for dem- Rescuers have also freed 11 has called for a “careful investi- of Wonsan, together with the onstrators to protest Saturday survivors since a mudslide gation” into flood and disaster two South Korean sailors, it outside the mayor’s office buried 21 houses in a village in management to reduce further said. The rest of the crew is still Rescuers gather at the site of a landslide in Liupanshui in China’s against the rejection of several Shuicheng county on Tuesday damage, the ministry said. on the ship in the port of southwestern Guizhou province, yesterday. opposition candidates from the night, the Ministry of Emergency The government has ear- Wonsan. ballot for this fall’s Moscow city Management said in a statement marked 30 million yuan ($4.35 “All the crew members are council elections. on the Twitter-like Weibo million) for disaster relief efforts suffered heavy flooding in 2019. About 2.2 million people in in good health,” it said, adding In a short video on social platform. in the province, China’s official A separate landslip at a con- Guizhou have been affected by that “the clarification of what media, Navalny said he was Video of the landslide aired Xinhua news agency reported. struction site at a village in floods and strong winds in the happened” was underway. seized by police outside his by CCTV showed the side of a Landslides are a frequent Hezhang County in Guizhou on first half of the year, and natural South Korea’s unification min- home on Wednesday morning collapsed hill covered in thick danger in rural and mountainous Tuesday killed one person and disasters have cost the local istry said the ship named Xiang as he went out for a run and mud, and excavators digging parts of China, particularly after six others are missing, the county economy 3.1bn yuan ($450m), Hai Lin 8 left the South Korean to buy flowers for his wife’s through the debris. heavy rain, and the country has government said. Xinhua said. port of Sokcho on July 16. birthday. His lawyer Olga Mikhailova told the Interfax news agency that Navalny Former Kosovo PM refuses had been charged with organ- Refueling problems cause flight izing an unauthorised gathering. to answer court’s questions Conviction could carry a delays at Schiphol Airport penalty of 30 days in jail and a AP role in the KLA and other issues, fine of up to 300,000 rubles AP THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS “but nothing concrete.” ($4,600). THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS The court, which is part of After the candidates for city Kosovo’s former prime minister the Kosovo judicial system, is council were rejected on the Passengers flying out of Amster- refused to answer questions put declining comment on the ques- grounds of invalid signatures dam’s Schiphol Airport faced to him yesterday by prosecutors tioning of Haradinaj as it is part on their nominating positions, delays yesterday caused by at a court investigating alleged of an ongoing investigation. protesters held an unsanctioned problems refuelling planes at the war crimes by separatist fighters It was a brief return to The demonstration outside the city busy European airport. from the Kosovo Liberation Hague for Haradinaj, who was election commission. The airport said in a Army two decades ago. twice acquitted of charges Russia’s Investigative Com- statement that a company that Ramush Haradinaj said he linked to Kosovo’s fight for inde- mittee on Wednesday said it supplies fuel to planes at the had fulfilled his obligation to the pendence by a United Nations was opening a criminal case airport has “a fault in their court by attending the meeting war crimes tribunal in the Dutch over that demonstration, system. That means that planes and does not expect to be city. although potential charges cannot be refuelled right now, indicted. Haradinaj resigned as prime were not specified. which is causing delays.” “I came today as a suspect, minister a week ago ahead of his The head of the voters’ The airport says the in order to commit my legal questioning at the court, which rights committee of the Presi- company, Aircraft Fuel Supply, obligation based on an invitation is looking into crimes against dential Human Rights Council, is seeking a solution “but as yet A file photo of Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam. from the Specialist Prosecutor’s ethnic Serbs allegedly com- Ilya Shablinsky, was quoted by it is unclear about how long this Office of the Kosovo Specialist mitted during and after Kosovo’s Interfax as saying the move was will take.” Two hours later, with Chambers,” he said. “I followed 1998-99 war. “complete nonsense ... This many passengers stranded on resolved. “We regret any incon- busy summer vacation period in my legal counsel’s advice not to “I have not wanted to bring whole chain of actions by the planes or at departure gates, the venience for travellers and air- the Netherlands and on a day respond to the questions.” the head of the government, the authorities means that real airport said it still did not know lines,” the airport said. that saw a heat wave set a record He said prosecutors asked state here,” he said of his competition is not allowed.” when the problem would be The delays came during the high temperature. him in general terms about his decision to step down. THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 EUROPE 11 Johnson brings in new team for Brexit challenge

AFP British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed LONDON Sajid Javid as Finance Minister; Dominic Raab as Foreign Minister; and Priti Patel as Interior New Prime Minister Boris Minister. Johnson sacked most of Britain’s cabinet yesterday as he took office vowing to get a new any further to negotiate and we Minister. divorce deal with the European are forced to come out with Johnson’s supporters hail his Union or leave without one by no-deal”. wit and optimism, and say his October 31. His first cabinet appointment unconventional approach can The former London mayor was Sajid Javid, the son of Paki- rescue Britain from its current has pledged to break the political stani immigrants who has been limbo. deadlock that has left Britain in moved from the interior ministry But he has only a wafer-thin crisis and forced his predecessor to become Finance Minister. working majority in parliament, Theresa May to delay Brexit He replaces Philip and is a divisive figure among the twice. Hammond, who quit hours wider public. But he faces opposition from earlier after repeatedly con- As a figurehead of the 2016 within his own Conservative demning Johnson’s “no deal” EU referendum, he was criticised party and across parliament to threats and warning of the dire for populist rhetoric and exag- his threat of a “no deal” exit, economic consequences if they gerated claims. while EU leaders warn they will are enacted. Rivals now accuse him of not renegotiate the divorce He is one of several Conserv- having no real plan for Brexit, agreement they struck with May. ative MPs who say they could and of underestimating the Queen Elizabeth II speaking to the new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Buckingham Palace, Within hours of taking office, bring down the government to implications of a disorderly in London, yesterday. Johnson signalled his new stop Britain crashing out of the divorce. approach by sacking around a European Union. European Council president dozen ministers, while several Brexit hardliner Dominic Donald Tusk was quick to con- prime minister in a meeting yes- to call an election. Dominic Cummings, a combative others announced their Raab, who like Johnson quit gratulate Johnson, but added terday with Queen Elizabeth II. Johnson has indicated he character who helped lead the resignations. May’s government over her pointedly: “I look forward to His ascent is the culmination does not want a vote before he victorious “Vote Leave” cam- “We are going to fulfil the strategy, was named Foreign meeting you to discuss — in of a lifelong ambition for the pol- can deliver Brexit. paign in the year 2016. repeated promises of parliament Minister to replace Jeremy Hunt. detail — our cooperation.” itician who, with his jokes and The new Johnson gov- In a short speech before ten- to the people and come out of The forceful Raab — a black Irish Prime Minister Leo Var- absurd anecdotes, has enjoyed ernment will also be seeking to dering her resignation to the the EU on October 31, no ifs or belt in karate and a hardline adkar, whose country would be celebrity status in Britain for repair ties with Washington, after queen earlier, May wished buts,” he declared outside Brexit supporter — will be hardest hit by a “no deal” Brexit, decades. a rift caused by the leak of dip- Johnson “every good fortune”. Downing Street. plunged straight into a diplo- was more blunt. But his election with fewer lomatic cables criticising the A heckler shouted “Stop Watched on by his 31-year- matic stand-off with Iran, less “Any suggestion that there than 100,000 votes from Con- White House. Brexit” as she stood with her old girlfriend Carrie Symonds, than a week after Tehran seized can be a whole new deal and servative party members leaves President Donald Trump husband Philip by her side, to the 55-year-old leader said “the a UK-flagged tanker in the Gulf. negotiated in weeks or months him vulnerable to charges that was one of the first to congrat- which she retorted: “I think not.” doubters, the doomsters, the Priti Patel, another fierce is totally not in the real world,” he has no mandate to govern. ulate Johnson on his victory Johnson’s appointment was gloomsters are going to get it Brexiteer who had to resign from he said. A YouGov survey yesterday saying he would be “great” and also disrupted by climate pro- wrong again”. government in 2017 after holding Johnson was on Tuesday found his approval rating was describing him as “Britain testers, who briefly stopped his But he added that Britain unofficial meetings with top chosen to be leader of the gov- just 31 percent among the public, Trump”. convoy heading to Buckingham would “prepare for the remote Israeli officials during a holiday erning Conservative party by its and opposition Labour leader Johnson had already named Palace for his meeting with the possibility that Brussels refuses there, was named as Interior members, and was confirmed Jeremy Corbyn challenged him as a top adviser queen.

French coastguards Germany must boost military spending: Defence Minister rescue 11 migrants BLOOMBERG goal of spending 2% of economic that target by the middle of the AKK, as she is known, is traction. She fumbled with over- headed for Britain BERLIN output in the longer term. next decade, especially with the betting that the defence ministry tures to the party’s right wing “If the military is to show the junior coalition partner, the job will boost her bid to succeed and saw a slide in the polls. As of AFP Germany’s new defence minister capabilities that we demand and Social Democrats, resisting Merkel, who said late last year May, Merkel had grown more CALAIS said the country must boost expect of it, then the defence increases. she wouldn’t run for the coun- determined to stay in office amid defence spending and overhaul budget has to continue to rise,” Indeed, the SPD’s interim try’s top job again. But it’s a high- doubts that AKK was up to the French coastguards yesterday its military equipment, risking a Kramp-Karrenbauer said after parliamentary caucus leader, risk gamble, as the position has job, according to party officials rescued 11 migrants, including fresh conflict in Chancellor she was sworn in by a special Rolf Muetzenich, was quick to killed many a politician’s ambi- close to the chancellor. a woman and two children, Angela Merkel’s teetering meeting of the lower house of rebuff Kramp-Karrenbauer, tions and in government circles Merkel last year conceded after their rigid-hulled coalition government. parliament. “I know that it’s not saying the $5bn German defence is known as a career cemetery. that Germany won’t meet the 2% inflatable boat hit trouble Annegret Kramp-Karren- going to be easy to continue the budget is a “huge amount of An exception was Ursula von goal by 2024, but retained the heading for Britain in the bauer, Merkel’s heir-apparent as efforts of recent years.” money” and comparing the Nato der Leyen, who just became the benchmark as a longer-term English Channel, authorities leader of the Christian Demo- Calls for increased military goal to a false idol, or “golden European Union’s top executive, target. While outlays are due to said. cratic Union, said after her spending will please US Pres- calf.” even though she scored low increase by 6 billion euros to 45 The migrants themselves swearing-in that she’ll insist on ident Donald Trump, who has “The Bundestag has the say marks domestically on the job. billion euros in 2020, that is only signalled to emergency services “reliable and continuous bluntly demanded that Germany over the budget, no alliance or Since replacing Merkel as the 1.37% of GDP, little changed from they were in distress off Calais increases,” and that Germany meet the 2% benchmark. But international organisation can head of the Christian Democratic this year, raising doubts about and the coastguard mobilised will achieve a Nato-endorsed Merkel’s government has ditched assume that,” Muetzenich said. Union, AKK has struggled to gain the 1.5% aim for 2024. a rescue vessel backed by a hel- icopter, the local maritime authorities said in a statement. Brussels-London The migrants were safely Man to try flying across returned to the port of Dunkirk trains disrupted and handed over to border by cable failure Channel on flyboard police. Migrants in northern France AP stretch of water. He expects his are increasingly willing to take AFP SAINT INGLEVERT average speed to be about 140kph. greater risks to reach Britain BRUSSELS The wind in the Channel, due to hardline policing and The man who wowed the crowd especially gusts, presents a major increased security at ports in Train services between in Paris on Bastille Day, whirling challenge, he said, adding that the area. Brussels, Paris and London over France’s leaders on his he bends into gusts but is desta- French authorities strongly were disrupted by a failure on flyboard, was undertaking final bilised when the wind quickly warn against such attempts, an overhead power line checks yesterday for his biggest dies. noting that the Channel is one yesterday, delaying hundreds challenge yet: Soaring across the What began as a “simple of the busiest shipping lanes in of passengers during a record English Channel. dream” has taken form, with the world. heatwave. Franky Zapata said that it’s last-minute changes, including The first months of this year According to network all systems go but conceded it’s only one chance to refuel, from saw a spike in Channel operator Infrabel, a Eurostar “not an easy challenge.” a boat on the British side. crossings by Afghan, Iranian, train bound for London tore Zapata, 40, plans to takeoff French maritime authorities Iraqi and African migrants down part of the cable support today, anchored to his flyboard said the refuelling operation was trying to reach England, just outside the Belgian — a small flying platform he dangerous, even though Zapata prompting stepped-up patrols capital, blocking the high invented — from Sangatte, in nixed his initial plan to refuel the by British and French police. speed line. France’s Pas de Calais region to power-pack he wears during his Franky Zapata taking off for a test flight on his jet-powered hoverboard The French boss of a A Thalys service to Paris the Dover area in southeast flight from a flying platform. or “Flyboard” in Saint Inglevert, northern France, yesterday. second-hand boat firm was behind the Eurostar was also England. “We’ve created a new way sentenced to prison in May for halted, and 300 passengers had He said he’s confident but he to fly. ... You’re like a bird. It’s aviation fan since his youth and colorblindness. selling dozens of vessels to to be transferred to another didn’t want to make projections your body that flies,” he said. wanted to become a helicopter Asked if he was crazy, he migrants who used them to train to return to Brussels and about his arrival across the 36km Zapata said he was an pilot but was prevented by his said, “No. On the contrary!” cross the Channel. await a replacement. The 600 passengers on the Eurostar were given water and eventually taken back to Three Romanian men sentenced for hacking US servers Brussels, the Belga news agency said. AP Attorney Byung J Pak of Atlanta extradited last year and all account numbers, PINs and 3,465 and Dumitrescu had 3,278. According to Eurostar, two ATLANTA said in a news release. pleaded guilty earlier this year Social Security numbers. Those numbers alone put the London-Brussels trains and two “We are warning cyber- to charges of wire fraud con- Prosecutors said the com- losses at more than $21m, the Brussels-London trains were Three men who hacked US criminals no matter where they spiracy, computer fraud and promised servers made thou- statement said. cancelled yesterday. Thalys computers from Romania have reside, that this office and our abuse, and aggravated identity sands of calls and text messages Dumitrescu was sentenced reports long delays on its Paris been sentenced to prison for a law-enforcement partners are theft, according to prosecutors’ to victims across the US in var- to seven years, three months in services. fraud scheme totalling more than committed to finding you, extra- statement. iants of phishing called “vishing” prison. Costea was sentenced Belgium is sweltering under $21m, federal prosecutors in diting you to this district, and It said they hacked computer for voice calls and “smishing” for June 11 to eight years and two a western European heatwave Georgia said. prosecuting you,” Pak said. servers, installing bulk e-mailing texts. months, and Draghici, was sen- and outside temperatures hit an Sentences ranged from four A restitution hearing is and interactive voice response Prosecutors said that when tenced on June 12 to four years all-time high yesterday, but it years and three months to eight scheduled August 30 for Teodor software that tricked people into they were arrested in Romania, and three months in prison. is not clear if the rail incident years and two months for the Laurentiu Costea, 43, Robert thinking they were dealing with Costea possessed 36,050 fraud- Each sentence will be fol- was heat related. men, who all are from Ploiesti Codrut Dumitrescu, 41, and their own banks so they would ulently obtained financial lowed by three years of super- (ploy-ESH-tee), Romania, US, Cosmin Draghici, 30. They were provide information such as account numbers, Draghici had vised release. 12 AMERICAS THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019

2 Mexican officials, Mueller: Russia two pilots dead in helicopter crash report did not AP MEXICO CITY

Two Mexican officials and two exonerate Trump pilots are dead in a helicopter crash in the western state of Michoacan. AFP Democrats The governor of Michoacan WASHINGTON nevertheless hoped said the dead include the sta- Mueller would make tae’s top police official and a Robert Mueller said yesterday he clear to the public government health programme did not exonerate Donald Trump administrator. in his two-year Russian why he did not bring Governor Silvano Aureoles meddling investigation but also charges despite said that “everything indicates told lawmakers he will not say evidence outlined in that weather conditions caused if the president committed a the 448-page report. the aircraft to crash,” adding, crime, as he launched into a “There are no survivors.” marathon day of congressional But he said investigations testimony. would be carried out on the Three months after releasing “stay within the text” of his cause of the crash in a rural part the final report on his probe into report, and was visibly uncom- Customers gather inside of a coffee shop to watch a broadcast of former Special Counsel Robert of the state. the 2016 election, much of the fortable once the question period Mueller testifying at a hearing in the Brooklyn borough of New York, yesterday. Mexico has been experi- American public remains unclear began. encing heavy seasonal rains. about the former special coun- “Based on Justice leaves office. the investigation was a politically specific crime. Michoacan has been the sel’s findings on whether Trump Department policy and prin- As the questioning volleyed charged witch hunt that found Mueller ruled in the end that scene of fighting between drug criminally obstructed justice and ciples of fairness, we decided we back and forth from Democratic nothing of substance. there was not enough evidence cartels and armed vigilantes, whether his campaign colluded would not make a determination to Republican committee “NO COLLUSION, NO to recommend charges of but there was no immediate with Russians. as to whether the president com- members, the tension mounted OBSTRUCTION!” Trump tweeted criminal conspiracy, the main indication of any foul play in the With Trump declaring he mitted a crime. That was our and ebbed. Mueller offered many again on Tuesday. legal charge he could make use accident. was “exonerated” in the probe decision then and it remains our one-word answers and Democrats nevertheless of. and Democrats saying the report decision today,” Mueller said in repeatedly referred lawmakers hoped Mueller would make clear The veteran prosecutor and supplied ample evidence for his opening remarks. back to the report. to the public why he did not former FBI director also laid out Four arrested for impeachment, the notoriously But when asked at the start Trump insisted this week he bring charges despite evidence in detail 10 instances when taciturn Mueller answered ques- of the hearing before the House would not watch the nationally- outlined in the 448-page report Trump allegedly tried to obstruct hacking minister’s tions for the first time in front of Judiciary Committee if his report televised testimony but half an — and potentially offer explana- the investigation. phone in Brazil two separate, Democrat-run completely cleared the president hour before it was to start, he let tions of Trump’s conduct that But he said he was prevented committees in the House of of wrongdoing, Mueller said “no.” loose with an angry Twitter tirade, would damage him in the run-up from recommending charges AFP/BRASÍLIA Representatives. “The president was not complaining among other things to the 2020 election. against Trump because Justice Mueller — who made a few exculpated for the acts he about the fact Mueller will testify Mueller’s report documents Department rules prohibited him Brazilian federal police arrested public remarks at a press con- allegedly committed,” Mueller with a top aide sitting next to him. extensive contacts between the from lodging criminal charges four people over the hacking of ference on May but did not take said, adding that it was “true” The cryptic legalese used in Trump campaign and Russians, against a sitting president. He mobile phones belonging to questions and has resisted testi- that Trump could be prosecuted Mueller’s report allowed the including attempts to cooperate reiterated that position in yes- Justice Minister Sergio Moro fying — reiterated that he would for obstruction of justice after he president and his allies to claim or collude, neither of which is a terday’s testimony. and prosecutors involved in a massive corruption probe. The arrests come after an investigative website last month New US asylum border rule clears initial legal hurdle began publishing excerpts from leaked Telegram messages that show Moro, the powerful judge REUTERS Court for the District of Columbia immigration judges to deny more after fleeing violence and poverty would keep fighting. “We had behind the so-called Car Wash WASHINGTON only ruled on a temporary asylum claims. in countries such as Guatemala, hoped to obtain immediate relief inquiry, had conspired to keep restraining order and the lawsuit “DHS’s new Asylum Rule Honduras and El Salvador. from the potentially drastic con- jailed leftist icon Luiz Inacio The Trump administration against the substance of the rule stands in DC Court ruling! A The rule would require them sequences of this rule, which we Lula da Silva out of the 2018 yesterday turned back an initial will go forward. major victory for @realDon- to first pursue safe haven in a firmly believe violates US law and presidential race that he was legal challenge to a new rule that Moreover, a separate but aldTrump’s efforts to stop the third country through which they the Constitution,” said Mitchell widely expected to win. bars almost all immigrants from similar lawsuit is also seeking a crisis at our Southern border,” had travelled on their way to US. Reich, one of the attorneys rep- In a statement, police did not applying for asylum at the temporary restraining order Ken Cuccinelli, acting director The judge’s decision was in resenting the coalition. identify the suspects arrested in US-Mexican border when a against the asylum rule and was of US Citizenship and Immi- response to a lawsuit filed by the The suit is similar to an the operation dubbed Spoofing federal judge in Washington due to be heard in a federal court gration Services, said on Twitter. Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights action led by the American Civil that involved raids in three cities rejected a request to block it. in California later. Increasing numbers of Coalition. Liberties Union that challenged across Sao Paulo state. But the new rule still faces The rule, which went into Central American migrants, many The advocacy group issued a the Trump administration rule Moro has denied any other challenges, as Judge effect on July 16, will remain in of them families with children, statement saying it was disap- in the US District Court for the wrongdoing and refused to Timothy Kelly in US District force for now, enabling have been arriving at the border pointed by the ruling but that it Northern District of California. resign over the scandal. Colombia could Parent pleads guilty in spend $1bn on new Air Force college bribery scheme planes: Sources AP check to the USC “Galen Center,” BOSTON a campus sports arena, to have REUTERS/BOGOTA his son designated as a recruit A California entrepreneur for the volleyball team. His son Colombia is examining pleaded guilty yesterday to was formally accepted in March proposals from the US, Spain paying $250,000 to get his son 2018. and Sweden as it look to replace into the University of Southern The consultant, Rick Singer, its ageing military aircraft, the California as a fake volleyball then made monthly payments South American country’s Air recruit. of $20,000 to USC’s then-senior Force said. Jeffrey Bizzack, of Solana associate athletic director, Replacing around 20 Israeli Beach, California, was the 51st Donna Heinel, for her help Kfir fighter jets, which person to be charged in a getting Bizzack’s son and other Colombia bought three decades sweeping scheme that involved children of prominent parents ago, could cost more than $1bn, rigging test scores and bribing into the school. air force sources, who were not coaches to get students into elite Heinel has pleaded not authorised to speak publicly, schools including Georgetown, guilty in the case. Singer pleaded said. Stanford and Yale universities. guilty in March and helped build “Different countries, Bizzack is the 23rd defendant to the case against parents and including Spain, Sweden and plead guilty, while the others are others accused in the scheme. the US, have made formal pro- Newly appointed US Defense Secretary, Mark Esper arrives for his first day at the Pentagon, in fighting their charges. When asked by a federal posals to Colombia to replace Washington, DC, yesterday. Bizzack, 59, entered the plea judge about the prosecution’s the squadron,” the Air Force to conspiracy to commit mail account yesterday, Bizzack said said in a statement. fraud and honest services mail it was accurate to the best of his “Planes like the Saab Esper aims to ensure safe passage in Gulf fraud in Boston’s federal court. knowledge. Bizzack described Gripen, Eurofighter and F-16 As part of a plea deal with himself as an entrepreneur who are being evaluated, a process AP Mark Esper, who was sworn can — by air and by sea — to Bizzack, prosecutors are recom- has worked in the tech and which will allow the (air force) WASHINGTON in as defence secretary on ensure secure navigation in the mending nine months in prison, surfing industries. He said little to present recommendations Tuesday, told reporters that this Gulf and through the Strait of a $75,000 fine and other resti- else as the judge formally for decision-making at the The Trump administration’s arrangement wouldn’t mean Hormuz. tution to be decided during accepted his guilty plea. moment that the government new Pentagon chief said he having an American warship Esper says he’ll receive sentencing. He was released following determines.” aims to ensure a US naval escorting every US commercial briefings on the Gulf situation, Authorities said Bizzack the hearing and is scheduled to Despite budget limitations, presence in the Gulf that would ship. and Iran’s recent actions there, gave a total of $200,000 to a be sentenced on Ocober 30. The President Ivan Duque has said he deter Iran from threatening to As Esper puts it, “to the during a visit next week to sham charity run by the admis- maximum he could face is 20 is in favour of modernising the stop or seize any American degree that the risk demands it,” Central Command headquarters sions consultant at the centre of years in prison and a fine of country’s military equipment. commercial ship. the US military will do what it in Florida. the scheme and sent a $50,000 $250,000. Peru court weighs releasing jailed opposition leader Fujimori AFP case linked to Brazilian detention for up to three years. said the 44-year-old politician’s organisation in order to raise while a fourth, Alan Garcia, com- LIMA construction giant Odebrecht. Fujimori is accused of lawyer Giuliana Loza. funding for her 2011 campaign. mitted suicide in April after police Fujimori, the daughter of accepting $1.2m in illicit party “We’ve never lost faith ... The Brazilian company has arrived at his house to arrest him Peru’s Supreme Court began a disgraced and jailed former pres- funding from Odebrecht for her faith that this terrible nightmare admitted paying at least $29m for money laundering. hearing yesterday to decide ident Alberto Fujimori, was 2011 presidential campaign. will end.” Prosecutors have in bribes to Peruvian officials Now that Fujimori’s hearing whether to free opposition leader herself incarcerated on October “Today we’re asking for accused a total of 11 people since 2004. has begun, the Supreme Court has Keiko Fujimori from pre-trial 31 last year when she was justice. We have only one aim: linked to Fujimori’s Popular Three former presidents are three weeks to come to a decision detention related to a corruption ordered to be held in pre-trial for Keiko Fujimori to be freed,” Force party of running a criminal being investigated over Odebrecht on whether to release her. BUSINESS THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 13 PAGE | 14 PAGE | 16 Mena sees deal Alibaba is opening value spike in to US merchants first half of for the first 2019 time

UDC records net profit of QR238m in H1

THE PENINSULA residential leasing occupancy rates at and road safety measurements and DOHA The Pearl-Qatar remained steady in traffic services across The the first half of 2019 compared to the Pearl-Qatar. United Development Company (UDC), same period in 2018”, the President and “We look forward to a promising a leading Qatari public shareholding CEO said. future, as we continue to invest in the company and the master developer of UDC added two prestigious acco- development of sustainable projects The Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Islands lades to its list of honors at the “Arabian that will reward the shareholders over reported a net profit of QR238m on Property Awards 2019-2020”. These the long term,” Al Othman said. revenues of QR912m for the first half include the ‘Best Mixed-Use Devel- UDC, the master developer of The of 2019. The net profit attributable to opment Award’ for The Pearl-Qatar and Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Islands, is a the equity shareholders was QR225m the ‘Commercial High-Rise Devel- leading Qatari public shareholding and basic earnings per share stood at opment Award’ for UDC Tower. In this company with a mission to identify and QR0.063. context, UDC will pursue its efforts to invest in long-term projects contrib- Turki bin Mohammed Al Khater, enhance The Pearl-Qatar’s position as uting to Qatar’s growth and providing UDC Chairman said: “UDC managed to a local and regional business and good shareholder value. Established in build on its stable financial results in tourism destination that features 1999, the company was first listed on the first half of 2019 and is actively pur- annual events and festivals and a the Qatar Exchange in June 2003. It has suing development projects across The growing number of retail outlets and a shared capital of QR3.5bn and total Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Islands”. Turki bin Mohammed Al Khater, Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, brands. assets of approximately QR18bn as at “With the launch of the sale of 10 Chairman, UDC President & CEO, UDC UDC continued to provide the nec- 30 June, 2019. UDC activities cover a tower land plots in Floresta Gardens essary public services to the Island’s multitude of vital investment sectors and the fourth sales phase of Al Muta- The Pearl-Qatar will attract new business was again evident in 2019”. residents and visitors, ratifying a new including real estate development, hidah Towers, UDC is well-positioned investors to the Island and enable UDC “Our business model has proved its Memorandum of Understanding in property management, infrastructure to sustain its positive results, as we to sustain its diversified revenue success during challenging times in the June, 2019 with the Ministry of Interior and utilities, maritime, and hospitality gear up to launch the construction stream, the Chairman said. regional real estate sector. The to promote, ensure and provide traffic related businesses. works for United School International Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, UDC and the Floresta Gardens and Giardino President and Chief Executive Officer Village gated residential and Member of the Board said: “UDC compounds”. is committed to pursue its devel- Al Khater added: “Through offerings opment activities mainly evidenced that serve the community needs of The by the development of Gewan Islands Pearl-Qatar, UDC will further bolster project with an investment value of the island’s position as an attractive approximately QR3 billion. According destination for families and business to the development plans, the award professionals alike. In this regard, UDC of the marine works to “UrbaCon has named “Orbital Education”, a Trading & Contracting Company” and leading British educational group and “Promar Marine Contracting the recipient of several international Company” and securing the financing awards, as the operator of “United arrangement with “Qatar National School International” in Giardino Bank” and “The Commercial Bank” for Village precinct and tasked “Al Darwish the development of Gewan Island, with Engineering Company” to undertake a credit ceiling of QR1.250 billion, have the construction works for the devel- been concluded”. opment of the School, in addition to Al Othman said first half of 2019 awarding “Ramaco Trading & Con- marked the achievement of several tracting Company” the design and con- milestones for UDC, both in terms of struction works of Floresta Gardens sales and leasing. UDC’s success in posi- Gated Compound”. tioning The Pearl-Qatar as an attractive UDC’s excellent customer service destination for those seeking a lively and rich portfolio of projects across community to live, work, and do An aerial view of The Pearl-Qatar. $1trn worth family Banking sector assets grew business assets to 5.6% to QR1.38trn in 2018: QCB change hands in 10 years SATISH KANADY geographical risk by well credit in the last quarter, THE PENINSULA diversifying the regions from appears to have triggered the THE PENINSULA in 2016), with 28 percent of them which they sourced the decline in deposit towards the DOHA even experiencing double-digit Banking sector in Qatar has deposits. The maturity end of the year. growth. Lower oil prices have fully recouped from the initial structure of the funded liability On the SME sector’s access A massive transfer of assets is impacted growth but the outlook glitches caused by the also improved where as banks to finance, the QCB document under way in the Middle East, as is optimistic and ambitious, with percent who expect this globally. economic blockade by the could mobilise more long- noted development of SME relatively young businesses in the 82 percent of them expecting to In the list of top five challenges neighboring countries. Strong term maturity funds in 2018 sector received a boost after first or second generation undergo grow in the next two years. facing family businesses over the macroeconomic environment, thereby reducing the volatility the economic blockade. The a generational change. According However, 78 percent of the next two years, the economic supported by marginal but risk to a greater extent. public private partnership to the 2019 Middle East Family respondents said they are con- environment is followed by the stable real economic output, The banking sector assets (PPP) initiatives by the gov- Business Survey released by the cerned by the economic need to access the right skills (66 higher capital account surplus, averaged around QR1.38 ernment with an aim to PwC recently, an estimated $1 environment. percent), the need to innovate (63 benign inflation, improved trillion in 2018, recording a achieve economic diversifi- trillion in family business assets is Total turnover of respondents percent), the impact of regulations fiscal balance, partial recovery substantial growth of around cation provided the required expected to change hands over the topped $10bn and represented a (63 percent) and succession in oil prices etc., ensured the 5.6 percent though the pace of momentum for the devel- next 10 years with wealth being broad range of sectors including planning (53 percent). required encouraging oper- growth slowed over previous opment of the sector. QDB was mostly held by large families. food and drink, manufacturing, In the study, Mideast family ating environment for the year. The moderation of entrusted with the responsi- It is estimated that more than construction, education, and businesses were also called to banking sector, noted by Qatar growth in assets is attributed bility of developing and sup- half of family businesses in the health. Half of these businesses operate in a new norm with Central Bank’s 10th Fiscal to the decline in credit porting SMEs in the non- GCC are in the midst of transi- work in multiple sectors and mul- increased challenges. These Stability Report released demanded by the public sector hydrocarbon sector. tioning from the second to third tiple countries, compared with a include changing market yesterday. entities. QDB offered all kinds of generation. With a GDP contri- quarter that does the same dynamics calling for new business The QCB’s annual doc- Along with the moderation possible support under a wide bution of 60 percent and a work- globally. models, digitalisation which is dis- ument said demonstration of in the size of the balance sheet, range of products and force contribution of 80 percent, Further, leaders surveyed said rupting whole industries and resilience to the economic banking sector’s credit and services, to establish and Mideast family businesses play a that attracting and retaining the requiring new related skillsets, blockade by the banking deposits also grew at a slower promote such businesses, particularly significant role in the best talent was amongst their top and millennials changing the way sector facilitated it to regain pace. Average credit during which include provide easy region’s economy. The study also priorities over the next two years, companies do business. Trust in the confidence of the interna- the year grew by 4.6 percent access to financing. ‘Single predicted that family businesses with 94 percent citing this goal. institutions and technology is also tional investors. The year 2018 while average deposit grew by window’ initiative, which need double-digit growth each Sixty-six percent of those sur- more important than ever. also witnessed major credit 3.4 percent in 2018. In the first allows investors quick access year to preserve wealth from one veyed in the Middle East said they Adnan Zaidi (pictured), PwC rating agencies upgrading the quarter of 2018, asset grew to all the needful facilities to generation to the next. are taking significant steps to Partner and Middle East Entrepre- banking sector outlook from comfortably well, however, own a factory within 72 hours Citing the latest figures, the improve digital capabilities in the neurial & Private Business Leader, negative to stable. Non-Res- the pace of growth slowed in played a significant role as the survey also revealed that growth next two years, a bit higher than said: “Family business leaders ident deposits, which experi- the rest of the months. This potential investors receive the amongst Middle Eastern family the 57 percent globally. More than need to professionalise their enced withdrawal pressure in slow pace of growth in assets licenses and other facilities businesses over the last 12 a third of Middle Eastern family business, establish better cor- 2017, rebounded in 2018. is reflected by the lower such as land plots and months decreased compared to businesses expect to change their porate governance and organise Banking sector consid- growth in credit during the last financing through QDB very 2016. Still, 53 percent of those sur- business models over the next two a succession plan to ensure a erably reduced their nine months of 2018. Lower quickly. veyed saw growth (vs.74 percent years, 34 percent compared to 20 smooth generational transition. 14 BUSINESS THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019

Clyde & Co MARKETWATCH QNB leads the way in advises Orbital Education on international QSE FTSE100 DOW CRUDE contactless payments 10,549.75 7,501.46 27,253.87 $55.75 school in Qatar +38.50 PTS −55.40 PTS −95.32 PTS -1.02 0.37% 0.73% 0.35% Dow & Brent before going to press technology THE PENINSULA/DOHA Global law firm Clyde & Co has THE PENINSULA advised Orbital Education on its DOHA joint venture agreement with Huawei’s sustainability United Development Co. (UDC) QNB Group, the largest financial for the founding and operation report highlights its institution in the Middle East and of United School International, Africa, launched the full-fledged a British-style international commitments to UN goals contactless cards on its credit, school on the Pearl development debit and prepaid products port- in Doha (Qatar). THE PENINSULA folio, while it has been actively With an opening planned for DOHA deploying Point of Sale (POS) 2021, the school will be the first terminals that can process both to be built on the Pearl and will Huawei recently published its contact and contactless transac- have capacity to accommodate 2018 Sustainability Report, tions. 2,500 students. Orbital Edu- highlighting its efforts in The move comes within the The QNB Headquarters cation is the owner and operator achieving the UN’s Sustainable Group’s strategy to enhance its of a growing group of interna- Development Goals (SDGs), by sustainable development initi- leadership in the development of The move comes alternative payment solutions tional British schools across four building a sustainable and more atives. Liang added, “Energy innovative digital banking solu- within the Group’s and continue its dominance as continents with schools in inclusive ecosystem with its efficiency has become a major tions and to fully digitize its the market leader in banking Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, industry partners and executing consideration for future com- financial transactions. strategy to enhance innovation. China and Ecuador. its own sustainability strategies. munications networks. We have With their latest add-on on its leadership in Heba Al Tamimi, General Clyde & Co’s corporate team Published 11 consecutive times, to use less energy to transmit contactless payment capability it the development of Manager QNB Group, Retail supported Orbital Education on the 2018 report explains more data, and reduce the opens the door to imagination Banking, said: ‘QNB is the fore all legal aspects of the deal, Huawei’s four strategies for overall energy consumption of and creativity allowing card- innovative digital runner in introducing new including drafting and negoti- sustainability: digital inclusion, power systems. holders to transact safely using banking solutions and payment technologies that are ating the key transactional doc- security and trustworthiness, ICT technologies can help.” Chip enabled wearables at any to fully digitize its safe, secure and most importantly uments, as well as dealing with environmental protection, and Liang went on to say that terminal that are Near Field Com- financial transactions. convenient for our customers. We the intellectual property rights. a healthy and harmonious Huawei has made many inno- munication (NFC) terminal in continue to invest and innovate Lee Keane, Corporate ecosystem. vations in the course of its 5G Qatar or overseas. Whether the in technology to ensure that our Partner at Clyde & Co in Doha, At the launch event for the research, product development, cardholder chooses a watch that are less than QR 100 by customers’ demands and commented: “We were delighted report, Liang Hua, Chairman of and engineering. The company payment accessory, a fitness – simply tapping it on the POS and changing lifestyle needs are met. to work with Orbital on the HUAWEI, said, “Huawei has has managed to reduce the wristband or a keychain, the QNB gives QNB customers the conven- She added ‘QNB is aligned with expansion of its presence in been creating value for its cus- power consumption per 5G site contactless smart chip will fit per- ience of paying without having the Qatar Government’s vision Qatar, which shows that global tomers through innovation. We to 20 percent less than the fectly into any lifestyle and allow to pull out a card, memorizing a becoming a cashless society by education providers are con- are doing everything we can to industry average. This has been the customer to experience PIN code or fumbling for cash. further advancing electronic pay- tinuing to invest in the Middle bridge the digital divide and made possible by the new seamless tap and pay Moreover, with these new ments in the market. The intro- East as demand for top class meet the world’s needs for con- Huawei chipsets, system transactions. wearable payment products, duction of QNB’s wearable teaching and educational facil- nectivity,” Liang continued, “We software, professional services, QNB is replacing its entire QNB’s customers can enjoy payment products and leverage ities remains robust.” want to make digital services and advanced hardware and cards suite in its Qatar operation greater convenience and speed. the contactless transactions is Kevin McNeany, Executive more affordable and equally heat dissipation technologies. and becoming fully contactless The innovative technology shares another testament to the vision Chairman of Orbital Education, accessible to all, and to do our These innovative technologies enabled is supported by the state- the same level of protection and where cardholders can use their says: “United School International part in contributing to social have made the company’s 5G of-the-art instant card issuance security as a regular chip and PIN cards for payments instead of will enhance Orbital’s presence and economic development.” more energy-efficient. With the capabilities that QNB has strate- transaction. using cash exclusively’. in Doha and provide another Liang also explained that envi- right solutions in place, Hua- gically invested in. With about 30 QNB was the first Bank in QNB Group’s presence model or developing quality ronmental protection is also a wei’s 5G will be a green locations in Qatar, that has this Qatar to introduce seamless con- through its subsidiaries and asso- schools in the region. The school key component of Huawei’s technology. capability; QNB expects a smooth tactless payment services way ciate companies extends to more will cater for children from 3 to and easy experience for cus- back in 2012. Since then, QNB has than 31 countries across three 18 years of age, addressing the tomers to get their cards replaced. been working on several fronts continents providing a compre- growing demand for education The NFC technology allows within the cards and payment hensive range of advanced based on the English National cur- Doha Bank achieves customers to make transactions services to leverage the products and services. riculum in Qatar.” profit growth of 10.2%

THE PENINSULA Investcorp adds Prof Frederick Ma DOHA

Doha Bank reported a net profit for of QR519m for the first half of to International Advisory Board 2019, as compared to QR 471m for the same period in 2018 showing an increase of 10.2 percent. THE PENINSULA of Investcorp, said: “We are always looking The bank’s total assets increased by QR11.6bn, registering a DOHA to the future, and seeking relevant counsel growth of 13.1 percent, from QR89.2bn as at 30 June 2018 to to bring innovative ideas to our business is QR100.8bn as at 30 June 2019. Net loans and advances increased Investcorp, a leading global provider and essential. Professor Ma joins at an important to QR60.9bn as at 30 June 2019 from QR58bn for the same period manager of alternative investment products, time for the firm as it continues to become last year, registering a growth of 5.1 percent. yesterday announced that Prof Frederick Ma more diversified by geography, asset class Customer deposits showed a year on year increase of 7.2 percent Si-Hang (pictured), the former Chairman of and investor type, particularly in Asia where from QR51.9bn to QR55.6bn as at 30 June 2019 which is evidence of MTR Corporation, has been appointed to its we see tremendous growth opportunities. the strong liquidity position of the Bank. The bank’s total financial International Advisory Board. Professor Ma’s unrivalled expertise in investment portfolio increased by QR5.5bn, showing a significant growth Professor Ma – who is based in Hong both the private and public sector will be of 27.7 percent as compared to the same period of the last year. Kong - has a wealth of experience in the invaluable to Investcorp as we move forward Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of banking and financial services sectors. He with our growth strategy of reaching $50bn the Board of Directors of Doha Bank commented that the achieved previously held senior positions at various in AuM over the medium term. We look profit of QR519m for this half year as against QR471m of last year global banks including JP Morgan Chase and forward to welcoming Professor Ma to his same period is due to robust growth on investment income and the Royal Bank of Canada, as well as roles first International Advisory Board meeting control on operating expenses, while kept the focus on strength- in public institutions including the Hong Kong later this year.” ening the provisions. Sheikh Fahad expressed his satisfaction with Government Secretary for Financial Services Commenting on the appointment, Pro- the growth of the interest income by 5.5 percent as compared to the and the Treasury and assumed the post of fessor Frederick Ma Si-Hang, said: “I am hon- same period last year. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Schools Council in 2011. Most recently he was oured to be joining Investcorp’s International Sheikh Abdul Rehman bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al-Thani, Man- Development in 2007. appointed as the Council Chairman of The Advisory Board at such an exciting time in aging Director of Doha Bank said “The total shareholder’s equity Professor Ma has also contributed to Education University of Hong Kong in 2017. the Firm’s history. The company has already stood at QR13.3bn as at 30 June 2019 from QR12.5bn for the same higher education with his appointment to Currently, Professor Ma is an Inde- made great strides in expanding its presence period last year, registering a growth of 5.7 percent. The bank con- Honorary Professor of the School of Eco- pendent Non-Executive Director of FWD in Asia, and l look forward to being part of tinued to strengthen its key capitalisation ratios, where the total nomics and Finance at the University of Hong Group, a director of Husky Energy Inc. and the business as it continues to evolve into a capital adequacy ratio of the bank increased to 17.4 percent as at Kong as well as being made Permanent Hon- a director of New Frontier Corporation. larger, more diversified, alternative 30 June 2019 from 16.6 percent as compared to the same period orable President of Hong Kong Special Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman investment firm.” last year. Mena sees deal value spike in first half of 2019 THE PENINSULA Matthew Benson (pictured), to 93 percent on average across a deal value of US$4.3b, which with 96 deals amounting to DOHA MENA Transaction Advisory all executives in the study, glo- included Uber’s $3.1bn acquisition $5.5bn in H1 2018. In addition, Services Leader, EY, said: “Mena bally, while 82 percent share a of Careem Networks. Mena witnessed 65 outbound The value of announced deals corporates are finding innovative similar sentiment about their Anil Menon, MENA M&A and M&A deals amounting to $21.0bn with disclosed value in the Mena ways to raise capital and have domestic economy here in the Equity Capital Markets Leader, EY, compared with 77 deals region increased by 220.8 percent stepped up the frequency of their Mena region. Looking ahead, we said: “Mena executives are rela- amounting to $18.2bn in H1 2018. to $115.5bn in H1 2019, up from portfolio reviews. The EY Capital expect Mena companies to con- tively more optimistic about the Strategic investments by sov- $36.0bn in H1 2018, according to Confidence Barometer (CCB) tinue to reshape their portfolios improving economic prospects ereign wealth funds and state- the EY H1 MENA M&A report. report indicates that 61percent of to remain resilient to potential while still keeping an eye on owned enterprises drove the However, deal volume witnessed Mena executives say their com- headwinds on the horizon, even evolving geopolitical risks. The EY Mena outbound activity. a decrease of 10.7 percent, with panies are reviewing their port- as they actively pursue their CCB report found that Mena exec- A key highlight of H1 2019 compared with 69 deals recorded 216 announced deals in H1 2019, folios every quarter or more fre- ambitious growth objectives.” utives are proactively pursuing was Uber’s acquisition of Careem at a value of $12.3bn in H1 2018. down from 242 deals recorded in quently – more often than global In H1 2019, the chemicals strategic options to strengthen Networks for $3.1bn, the largest The oil and gas sector was the H1 2018. executives. With more frequent sector had the highest deal value competitive advantage and accel- technology sector transaction to top target sector for inbound In H1 2019, state-owned portfolio reviews, several non- with $69.3bn, followed by the oil erate growth in an era where tech- date in the Middle East, as home- activity, accounting for $10.8bn. entities were involved in 55 deals core businesses are set aside for and gas sector with $14.2bn. The nology continues to disrupt tradi- grown technology start-ups find “The large sums of inbound M&A (25 percent of total deals) divestment thereby fueling deal provider care sector recorded tional business models.” themselves being pursued by reinforces the Mena investment amounting to $104.5bn, 90 activity. $10.3bn, the banking and capital H1 2019 saw an increase in global players. H1 2019 witnessed thesis. We continue to believe that percent of the total deal value, “A further 87 percent of Mena markets sector recorded $5.1bn domestic M&A activity in terms a fall in inbound M&A deal these are good times for strategic including mega deals involving executives believe the global in deal value, followed by the of deal value, with 111 deals volume in the Mena region, with acquisitions in Mena,” Anil Saudi Aramco, ADNOC and ADIA. economy is improving, compared technology sector, which logged amounting to $79.3bn, compared 40 deals amounting to $15.1bn added. THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 BUSINESS 15

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 30 June 2019

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT ON REVIEW OF CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL OF FINANCIAL POSITION STATEMENTS As at 30 June 2019 To the Board of Directors United Development Company Q.P.S.C. 30 June 31 December Introduction 2019 2018 We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial (Reviewed) (Audited) position of United Development Company Q.P.S.C. (the “Company”) as at 30 June 2019, the condensed consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive QR’000 QR’000 income, changes in equity and cash flows for the six-month period then ended, and the notes to the interim financial statements (“the condensed consolidated interim financial ASSETS statements”). The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and presentation Non-Current Assets of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on these Property, plant and equipment 2,985,711 3,026,216 condensed consolidated interim financial statements based on our review. Investment properties 9,414,597 9,434,550 Scope of review We conducted our review in accordance with the International Standard on Review Right-of-use assets 5,788 - Engagements 2410 Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Intangible assets 558 586 Independent Auditor of the Entity. A review of interim financial statements consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, Investment in associates 48,267 43,441 and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in Investment securities 61,749 60,581 scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and consequently, does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware Accounts and other receivables 331,215 378,815 of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion. Deferred costs 130,937 133,438 Conclusion Total Non-Current Assets 12,978,822 13,077,627 Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at and for Current Assets the six months period ended 30 June 2019 are not prepared, in all material respects, in Inventories 1,060,434 1,142,539 accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. Work in progress 550,566 403,975 Accounts and other receivables 2,284,646 2,252,860 24 July 2019 Gopal Balasubramaniam Deferred costs 16,952 16,673 Doha KPMG State of Qatar Qatar Auditors Registry Number 251 Cash and bank balances 1,221,115 1,441,122 Licensed by QFMA: External Auditor’s License No. 120153 Total Current Assets 5,133,713 5,257,169

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR Total Assets 18,112,535 18,334,796 LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME EQUITY AND LIABILITIES For the six-month period ended 30 June 2019 Equity Six-month period ended 30 June Share capital 3,540,862 3,540,862 2019 2018 Legal reserve 1,709,919 1,687,457 (Reviewed) (Reviewed) Other reserves 1,212,049 1,212,049 QR’000 QR’000 Retained earnings 4,262,907 4,414,833 Equity attributable to equity holders Revenue 912,225 888,572 10,725,737 10,855,201 Cost of revenue (496,660) (443,918) of the Parent Non-controlling interest 304,182 290,911 Gross profit 415,565 444,654 Total Equity 11,029,919 11,146,112

Dividend income 1,356 2,374 Liabilities Other operating income 29,940 71,157 Gain on sale of investment securities - 10,172 Non-Current Liabilities Fair value gain/(loss) on investment securities 1,168 (29,979) Interest bearing loans and borrowings 2,350,326 2,534,700 Impairment loss on trade and other receivables (1,194) (1,761) Accounts and other payables 140,992 130,042 General and administrative expenses (135,675) (130,089) Sales and marketing expenses (21,702) (22,166) Retention payable 32,201 23,004 Deferred revenue 656,634 662,623 Operating profit 289,458 344,362 Employees’ end-of-service benefits 45,461 36,704 Finance income 21,762 19,765 Lease liability 4,825 - Finance costs (81,511) (88,976) Total Non-Current Liabilities 3,230,439 3,387,073 Net finance cost (59,749) (69,211)

Current Liabilities Net share of results of associates 8,184 4,108 Net profit for the period 237,893 279,259 Interest bearing loans and borrowings 1,262,037 1,249,904 Accounts and other payables 2,418,716 2,354,650 Net profit for the period attributable to: Equity holders of the Parent 224,622 260,432 Retentions payable 108,444 140,025 Non-controlling interests 13,271 18,827 Deferred revenue 62,087 57,032 237,893 279,259 Lease liability 893 -

Other comprehensive income - - Total Current Liabilities 3,852,177 3,801,611 Total comprehensive income for the period 237,893 279,259 Total Liabilities 7,082,616 7,188,684

Total comprehensive income attributable to: Total Equity and Liabilities 18,112,535 18,334,796 Equity holders of the Parent 224,622 260,432 Non-controlling interests 13,271 18,827 237,893 279,259 These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and signed on their behalf on 24 July 2019 by: Earnings per share attributable to owners of the Parent Basic and diluted earnings per share (QR) 0.063 0.074 Ibrahim Jassim Al-Othman Abdulrahman Abdullah Al-Abdulghani Vice Chairman of the Board 16 BUSINESS THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019

US slaps $5bn fine, Alibaba is opening up to US curbs on Facebook merchants for the first time in privacy probe AFP BLOOMBERG com just as a decelerating home WASHINGTON HONG KONG economy depresses the top line. The online retailer is expected US regulators yesterday slapped a record Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is to soon post its slowest quar- $5bn fine on Facebook for privacy viola- opening its oldest online terly revenue growth in three tions in a settlement requiring the platform to US merchants, years. world’s biggest social network to “submit promising to help American Unlike its better-known to new restrictions and a modified businesses at a time US-Chinese consumer bazaars Taobao and corporate structure.” The Federal Trade tensions are darkening the Tmall, Alibaba.com was origi- Commission said the penalty was the outlook for global trade. nally envisioned as a way to largest ever imposed on any company The Chinese e-commerce match foreign firms with for violating consumers’ privacy and one giant opened up Alibaba.com to Chinese wholesalers of every- of the largest penalties ever assessed by US sellers for the first time, thing from watches and shoes the US government for any violation. allowing them to peddle to The Chinese to raw textiles. Operating under “Despite repeated promises to its bil- buyers around the world who e-commerce giant the motto “global trade starts lions of users worldwide that they could seek merchandise to stock here,” Alibaba.com now con- control how their personal information shelves or materials to make opened up Alibaba. nects about 150,000 mostly is shared, Facebook undermined con- products. Alibaba says it now com to US sellers for Chinese sellers. It had some sumers’ choices,” FTC Chairman Joe wants American producers to the first time, allowing 650,000 registered US-based Simons said. hawk their wares as well, even- them to peddle to companies as of 2017. Those “The magnitude of the $5bn penalty tually helping them tap a vast American businesses previously and sweeping conduct relief are unprec- Chinese market. Fruit and veg- buyers around the could only buy, not sell, via edented in the history of the FTC. The etable wholesaler Robinson world who seek Alibaba.com. relief is designed not only to punish Fresh and Office Depot Inc. will merchandise to stock It’s the Chinese giant’s future violations but, more importantly, be among the first US names to oldest business but now to change Facebook’s entire privacy join Alibaba.com. shelves or materials to accounts for just a sliver of culture to decrease the likelihood of con- Two years after billionaire make products. revenue, mostly through mem- tinued violations.” The agreement estab- founder Jack Ma promised bership fees, marketing and lishes an independent privacy com- Donald Trump he would help shipping assistance. mittee within Facebook’s board of create a million American jobs, Alibaba still gets the vast directors, “removing unfettered control Alibaba is opening up its for American agricultural majority of its revenue at home, by Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg wholesale platform to US sellers produce and consumer but has taken steps to court over decisions affecting user privacy,” who want to tap a multi-trillion products. “Anything you put on international markets in recent the FTC statement said. dollar global procurement or in your body.” years. It acquired Lazada to Two commissioners of the five- market. The initiative could Alibaba will send staff to spearhead a foray into member FTC dissented in the settlement, generate new income and also promote the service to busi- Southeast Asia. It’s also saying the penalty was insufficient. goodwill for Alibaba in the US, nesses and local chambers of tweaking its main businesses: “The proposed settlement does little particularly as Washington and commerce, and plans a Sep- in June, it set up an English-lan- to change the business model or prac- Beijing spar over trade. The tember promotional event to guage portal on Tmall for the tices that led to the recidivism,” FTC threat of rising tariffs is now drum up awareness, Caplan first time to entice more mer- commissioner Rohit Chopra said. encouraging businesses to added. chants from around the world “The settlement imposes no mean- source their merchandise and “The success of this program to sell to Chinese consumers. ingful changes to the company’s components locally, said John will depend on whether Alibaba But like rival JD.com Inc., structure or financial incentives, which Caplan, president of Alibaba’s can recruit a strong number of Alibaba is trying to grab a bigger led to these violations. Nor does it North American business-to- successful sellers,” said Jillian slice of so-called cross-border include any restrictions on the com- business effort. Ryan (pictured), principal e-commerce, particularly as pany’s mass surveillance or advertising US business owners analyst at researcher eMarketer. affluent consumers in the tactics.” Facebook lawyer Colin Stretch “increasingly want to find “It will ultimately determine world’s No. 2 economy buy said the agreement “will require a fun- domestic producers because of whether Alibaba will be able go more goods from abroad. That damental shift in the way we approach trade concerns and this toe-to-toe with Amazon in the market is expected to reach 3.6 our work and it will place additional platform will allow them to do B2B commodity market.” trillion yuan ($523bn) by 2020, responsibility on people building our that,” he told Bloomberg News. The Chinese Internet pow- according to AliResearch, a unit products at every level of the He anticipates strong demand erhouse is opening up Alibaba. of Alibaba. company.”

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Everyone is doing his best to achieve our ambition in the new CYCLING WATERSPORT QNB Stars League season. We seek Al Khor Coach TOUR DE FRANCE FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS to be in the top positions despite Omar Najhi Stage 18 Gwangju, South Korea

the expected strong competition. ACTION Embrun to Valloire (Swimming and Water polo) TODAY’S Vettel looks to rebound as bad Sri Lanka’s Kulasekara memories haunt at home event announces REUTERS HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY retirement Sebastian Vettel will be battling his demons as well as his Formula One rivals when the Ferrari driver returns CHINTHANA WASALA to Hockenheim this weekend for his THE PENINSULA home German Grand Prix. Last year’s race at the 4.5km Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara circuit, just half an hour away from yesterday announced that he will retire from inter- Vettel’s home town Heppenheim, is national cricket with immediate effect. where it all began to go wrong for During a press conference held at the Colts the four-time world champion. Cricket Club in Colombo, Kulasekara, 37, has said The German was poised to that he is grateful to his former team-mate Lasith extend his championship lead over Malinga for making a request to Sri Lanka Cricket, Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton, who asking for one more chance to play together had started 14th, with an easy win in during the upcoming ODI series against front of his home fans from pole Bangladesh. position when a sudden shower However, Kulasekara, the former No.1 ODI- washed away his hopes. ranked bowler, will finish as Sri Lanka’s fifth- Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel’s crew members attending to his car during a pit stop in this file photo. Vettel crashed out as Hamilton highest ODI wicket-taker with 199 wickets in 184 came through to win and seize a lead matches, failed to make it to the 16-member squad he would never give up. GERMAN GRAND PRIX which SLC announced yesterday. It was the most high-profile of        “I also made a request to the SLC, asking them several mistakes that undid the Ger-     N   )  Statistics for Sunday’s German Formula One to give me the opportunity to play one more Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the 11th race of man’s championship bid last year match, but there was no positive response from          the 21-round season: and surely the most painful.  that end,” Kulasekara said yesterday. The errors have continued this $  %   “I don’t have any regrets with regard to my #  GERMANY season, most recently in Britain retirement. I gave my best for the team during my    The race faces an uncertain future, with  where he ran into the back of Max Hockenheim out of contract after Sunday’s period and I’m happy for that,” he added.   & Verstappen’s Red Bull. Grand Prix. The veteran paceman who was known for his Vettel now risks being upstaged  ability to swing the ball both ways, made his ODI  by younger team mate Charles ! "#       debut in 2003 against England and posted his best   Sunday will be the 64th German Grand Prix since Leclerc, who has already had more  ODI figures of 5 for 22 against Australia at the        1950, and 37th at Hockenheim. The Nuerburgring podiums, poles and fastest laps this  has hosted the race 26 times (1951-2013), and Gabba in January 2013.  season and is only three points adrift.  !  ! Avus (1959) once. He also played 21 Tests, claiming 48 wickets, “We have got to make up for last  and took 66 scalps in 58 T20Is.  year, especially myself and I look   His retirement comes a day after Malinga  Hamilton won last year for Mercedes. Ferrari forward to racing in Hockenheim,”  have not won the German Grand Prix since Fernando announced his decision to retire from ODIs after  said Vettel, 32 of a race that marks  '&     Alonso in 2012. the first match against Bangladesh which will be the season’s halfway stage. “The   played tomorrow. atmosphere is always phenomenal #"#       Germany has two current drivers -- Vettel “I played with Malinga for more than 10 years. and the crowd is great.”    and Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg -- and is home He is an outstanding player. Friday’s match is his Ferrari last won at Hockenheim to champions Mercedes. last ODI. I request evereveryone to in 2012 with Spaniard Fernando     comecome to R PremadasaPremadasa Stadium Alonso.                   Vettel has never won at Hockenheim, the as an honour for malmalinga who     circuit closest to his home town of Heppenheim. Vettel, who got his first taste of     has donedone so muchmuch for the Formula One at the track watching       His 2013 German GP win was at the Nuerburgring. countrycountry over the years.ye I will boyhood idol Michael Schumacher   !"#$%&' Hamilton is the only current driver to have won also be thertheree to wwish him (  '   drive around in his Benetton on a wet at Hockenheim. bestbest of luck,”luck,” KulasekaraKul Friday of practice, has never won said.said. there. team were dealt their only defeat of  Michael Schumacher and Hamilton have both Sri Lanka’s SportsSpo Min- His sole German Grand Prix the season so far in the heat of won the German Grand Prix four times. isterister Harin FernanFernandodo revealed triumph in 2013 came at the Austria. Six of 11 races since Hockenheim was redesigned yesterdayyesterday in a presspre con- in 2002 have been won from pole. Only twice has Nurburgring. We have got to make Red Bull, who appear to have ferenceference that there will be a Hamilton, meanwhile, has won edged ahead of Ferrari over the last the winner started off the front row (Fernando felicitationfelicitation cerceremonye for the German race four times with up for last year, few races, won in Austria with Ver- Alonso from third in 2005 and Hamilton from NuwaNuwann KuKulasekarala at three of those wins scored at especially myself and I stappen and could win the battle to 14th in 2018). thethe endend of the third Hockenheim. be best of the rest. andand ffinalin ODI look forward to racing RACE WINS On a high after chalking up a “We’re on a good run with the againstagain the  Hamilton has 80 victories from 239 races and record sixth win two weeks ago in in Hockenheim. The car and improving every weekend,” touringt o u is closing the gap to Schumacher’s record 91. his home race at Silverstone, the atmosphere is always said the Dutchman. “So I can’t wait Bangla-Ba Mercedes driver is favourite to race phenomenal and the to get started again.” He has also won 58 of the 110 races in the V6 deshis.d to a fifth German win. crowd is great: Vettel Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, the  turbo hybrid era that started in 2014. Victory for the five times only German driver on the grid apart Vettel, third on the all-time list, has 52. champion and current leader, 39 from Vettel, will also hope for a good points clear of team mate Valtteri livery to mark the occasion, Mer- showing in a race whose future  Ferrari have won 235 races since 1950, McLaren Bottas, would go down well on a cedes are nevertheless wary. remains uncertain. 182, Williams 114, Mercedes 96 and Red Bull 60. weekend when Mercedes are cel- “The weather forecast predicts Formula One and circuit pro- ebrating 125 years of motorsport high temperatures, which were moters struck a deal to keep the race  Hamilton has won seven out of 10 races so Sri Lankan fast and their 200th Formula One extremely challenging for us in on the calendar this season, with far this season and has a 39-point lead in the start. Austria, so we must stay vigilant,” Mercedes-Benz as title sponsor, but championship over team-mate Valtteri Bottas. bowler Nuwan Running their cars in a special said principal Toto Wolff, whose no new deal has been signed. Kulasekara

QSL teams continue to train in Europe ahead of new season Al Sadd players pose for a photograph during their overseas training camp in Olot, Spain, yesterday. The team will return to Doha after the conclusion of the camp on July 29 as the Qatar Stars League teams prepare for the new season which kicks off on August 21. TOP RIGHT: Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari trains during the pre-season camp. PICTURES: @ALSADDSC

Umm Salal players pose for a photograph during a pre- season training session in The Netherlands, yesterday. Umm Salal will face Doha giants Al Rayyan in the opening round of the QNB Stars League on August 23 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. BOTTOM LEFT: Al Gharafa players taking part in a pre-season training camp in The Netherlands. Al Gharafa will meet Al Shahaniya in their opening fixture of the new QSL season on August 22 at the Al janoub Stadium. 2022 The QSL officials on Wednesday announced that the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and the new Al Janoub Stadium - will be used for the first five rounds of the regular football season. PICTURES: @UMMSALALSC AND @ALGHARAFACLUB THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 SPORT 19

I have never seen an Olympic city as prepared as Tokyo, says IOC President Bach Tokyo marks one year till 2020 Olympics

AFP Tokyo 2020 President TOKYO Yoshiro Mori said Bach praised the speed of the city’s prepara- Tokyo promised a high-tech tions as “an Olympic record”. Olympics complete with robots Half of the new permanent as it marked a year to go until the venues have been completed, 2020 Games yesterday, hoping and organisers say construction to leave behind some bumps in of the rest is on track. the road including an ongoing The design of the Olympic corruption investigation. medals was also unveiled yes- Organisers have battled eve- terday, and residents in the rything from fears over deadly capital were trying out Olympic heat to persistent questions sports at a special year-to-go about the cost of the Games and event. how Tokyo won its bid. Twelve-year-old Yukimasa But as the one-year Nakahara queued from 5:30 am countdown began, they touted with his mother for the chance speedy progress on venue con- to pitch baseballs. struction and pledged a historic “I’m looking forward to the Games. Olympics... We’ve won tickets for “I can truly say I have never a baseball game for the bronze seen an Olympic city as prepared medal,” he said with a big smile. as Tokyo, with one year to go While cooler weather this before the Olympic games,” said summer has assuaged fears International Olympic Com- raised by a deadly heatwave last mittee chief Thomas Bach at a year, organisers say they have a ceremony yesterday. raft of safety measures planned International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach shakes hands with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the ‘One “All the elements that make in case temperatures soar. Year to Go’ ceremony celebrating one year out from the start of the Games at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. a truly outstanding Olympic Tactics from misting towers Games are in place,” he added, to flower beds -- which don’t predicting “an amazing expe- radiate heat, and which organ- But government and busi- housed workers battling to over the cost of the Games, French investigators examine rience” for athletes. isers say also have a “psycho- nesses are hoping to dazzle vis- remove radioactive waste after despite organisers slashing more payments made before Tokyo Officials pointed to “unprec- logical” cooling effect -- will be itors with everything from driv- the 2011 tsunami. than $4bn. was awarded the 2020 Games. edented” ticket sales and appli- tested this week at a beach vol- erless airport transport to robot It will pass through other The last version of the But the clouds appear to have cations by 200,000 people for leyball event. greeters and mascots. areas of north-east Japan dev- budget, released in December done little to dull enthusiasm for just 80,000 volunteer positions With the countdown under The organisers have even astated by the disaster, with 2018 stood at $12.1bn, unchanged the Games, at least in Japan. as evidence of building way, organisers have also been teamed up with two Japanese authorities hoping to demon- from 2017. Organisers say more than 7.5 excitement for the Games. stepping up efforts to promote astronauts who will send mes- strate the region’s recovery. Organisers have also faced a million residents registered for “The six years since Tokyo the Games as a showcase for sages of support from the Inter- Organisers also want the series of embarrassing side- a lottery to buy tickets during a was picked have zipped by, but Japan’s high-tech know-how. national Space Station to those Games to be the “most sus- shows, including the resignation first round in July. I’m glad that preparations have Japan’s reputation as an carrying the Olympic torch tainable ever” and are making of Japan’s Olympics minister in Demand was so high that the gone very smoothly,” Japan’s industrial innovator has flagged through the country. everything from medals to April after a string of gaffes. registration period was extended Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, since the last time it hosted the The torch relay, featuring a podiums from recycled That came just a month after and organisers will hold a before the symbolic handing-out Games, in Tokyo in 1964, when rose-gold cherry blossom- materials. the head of Japan’s Olympic follow-up in August for those of invitations to national Olympic it wowed the world with bullet shaped torch, will start from a But it hasn’t all been smooth Committee Tsunekazu Takeda who were unsuccessful the first committees. trains. sports centre in Fukushima that sailing, with persistent questions said he would step down as time around. Officials unveil gold, silver, bronze medals AP hot,” Yoshiro Mori, the president of the TOKYO organizing committee, said. “It’s quite dif- ferent from what we experienced last With exactly one year to go until the Tokyo year.” Olympics open, organizers marked the day Mori said Japanese Emperor Naruhito by unveiling the gold, silver, and bronze had accepted a role “as honorary patron” medals that will symbolize the 2020 of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Games. He will be expected to announce the Thousands of politicians, sponsors, and opening of both the Olympics and fans jammed a massive exhibition hall in Paralympics. central Tokyo yesterday, piling on Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike was speeches, musical interludes, and dancing asked a few days ago to justify spending performances to celebrate the one-year billions on the Olympics. Organizers have mark. been under pressure to cut costs, and they Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe say they have cut billions by using existing made a cameo appearance to welcome venues. Tokyo is building eight new the guests. And IOC President Thomas venues, but using 35 “temporary” or older Bach repeated what he has said often in venues. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals are pictured during the ‘One Year to Go’ ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. various places around the Koike described the world. The medals, Olympics and Paralympics as Despite all the talk and which are 85 an “accelerator” to get things theatrics, the center stage millimetre in done, though research shows belonged to the medals by Jap- that the Olympic deadlines diameter, feature Russia eye Tokyo 2020 after anese designer Junichi drive up costs. And Tokyo is Kawanishi. the Olympic famous for building things - Kawanishi wrote that the symbol and with or without the Olympics. series of doping troubles medals are to “resemble rough are made from “I’d like the legacy of the stones that have been polished 2020 Games to be something and which now shine with light recycled metals, more intangible, a new way AP Russia was formally readmitted and brilliance.” collected from of thinking for people and for MOSCOW by the International Olympic Com- The front side carries the 6.21 million society,” she said. mittee after the Pyeongchang Tokyo Olympic emblem, with electronic devices Koike described the Par- Russia will become a force in the Games and restrictions on its roster the Greek goddess of victory alympics, which open Aug 25, medals table at next year’s Tokyo will be relaxed next year compared on the back. donated across 2020, as a “springboard” to Olympics despite its current doping to the last Summer Olympics. Bach, a fencing gold med- Japan. make the city more accessible problems, the country’s sports minister Dozens of Russians have passed allist in the 1976 Olympics, to people with disabilities. said yesterday. vetting from the IAAF and are now conducted a mock fencing duel A group of anti-Olympic Russia won just 19 gold medals at allowed to compete internationally earlier in the day with a junior high student activists, many from outside Japan, have the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in track. - another chance to draw attention to the held small protests and other events in its lowest count since Soviet days. Russia will only be able to send one-year milestone. The Games will be recent days under the Japanese title It was fourth in the medals table one male and one female weight- held July 24-Aug 9, 2020. “Hangorin no Kai” - which translates behind the United States, Britain and lifter to Tokyo under new rules Tokyo is spending about $20bn to roughly to No Olympics. They oppose China. restricting quotas for countries with prepare the city to host the games, though Olympic spending, which they say cuts into “We’re not thinking about lawsuits a history of doping in that sport. exact Olympic spending is disputed and budgets for local housing and environ- or arguments. We’re preparing China, India and Iran are among difficult to track. mental issues. calmly,” Sports Minister Pavel 16 other countries hit by the weight- Five of the eight new venues are They also call for more money to Kolobkov said. lifting rule change. already finished, and the centerpiece, the rebuild Fukushima prefecture located “In most sports, even in sports “Roughly speaking, we under- $1.25bn National Stadium, is to open by northeast of Tokyo. Organisers say Fuku- where we didn’t have great results a stand we’ve already formed a pool This photo shows young Japanese karate the end of the year. shima is a main focus of the Olympics, while back, we will be competing for of athletes who can compete for competitor Mahiro Takano training Ticket demand by Japanese residents locating baseball, softball and soccer medals.” (Olympic) medals. I can say that in Nagaoka. Takano has done much appears to be a least 10 times above supply games there to persuade the world the area Russia was allowed to field only we’ll be competitive in 20 sports,” to boost the profile of the Japanese - maybe more - with demand also surging is safe. one athlete in track and field and none Kolobkov said. martial art, set to make its Olympic abroad. A recent law banning unauthorised “For us, the Olympics are a disaster,” in weightlifting because of measures “So we’re expecting a very debut next year. ticket resales in Japan is sure to be tested Misako Ichimura, a spokeswoman for the imposed in the wake of doping cases. interesting year of qualification for because of glaring loopholes. anti-Olympic group, said yesterday. She Two years later at the Winter the Olympics, and I’m sure the Organisers are also preparing for said the billions spent on the Olympics Olympics in Pyeongchang, Russia’s Olympics will please our fans with and surfing, generally don’t play to Tokyo’s typically hot summer weather, should be used instead in to rebuild Fuku- team was officially barred for past good results.” Russia’s traditional strengths. though this summer has been wet and cool. shima, which was devastated by a 2011 doping offenses, and a diminished The five new sports on the Olympic However, officials say they are Traffic and subway congestion is also a earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown team of “Olympic Athletes from program for Tokyo, including skate- drawing up plans to help more young concern, as is earthquake preparedness. of three nuclear reactors. “The Olympics Russia” competed instead. boarding, baseball Russians to train for those events. “This year Tokyo is chilly rather than is scary entertainment for us,” she added. THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019 20

PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Vettel looks to IOC Chief impressed rebound as bad as Tokyo marks memories haunt one year till at home event 2020 Olympics Al Janoub Stadium boasts of major ICT innovations THE PENINSULA DOHA Al Bayt Stadium nearing completion Al Janoub Stadium, the latest This picture posted on @roadto2022 Twitter handle shows FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 an aerial view of the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The 60,000 venue, launched during the 2019 capacity stadium which takes the shape of a giant tent, will Amir Cup final, is one of the most host matches through to the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 technologically advanced arenas FIFA World Cup and is nearing completion. of its type in the world. The state-of-the-art stadium, located in Al Wakrah, hosted Al Duhail and Al Sadd in May during the Amir Cup final. The 40,000-capacity venue, designed by legendary architect Zaha Hadid, boasts state-of-the- art information technology and This May 16 file photo shows a general view of the communications (ICT) features A lJanoub Stadium during the 2019 Amir Cup final. for the benefit of fans, players, officials and media. Here are five key ICT inno- 5G CONNECTIVITY systems, with no additional infrastructure deployment for vations at the stadium. Al Janoub Stadium is one of overlay sound systems deployed. on-the-field specific needs of the This photograph posted on @roadto2022 Twitter the first stadiums in the world to Integration between light and global sports industry. handle shows an aerial view of newly constructed WI-FI SERVICES be equipped with 5G mobile sound systems provided full syn- practice pitches which will benefit the World Cup INTEGRATED SAFETY More than 1,000 Wi-Fi communications signals that chronisation in real-time to teams during the Qatar 2022 tournament. access points are deployed cover the entire spectator area. produce stadium hype effects, AND SECURITY SYSTEMS across the stadium to enable During the final, signal speeds in without the need for any More than 1,200 CCTV high-density connectivity for excess of 1GB were recorded. The pre-programming. cameras are deployed within the fans and the operations indoor building solutions pro- stadium and its vicinity to team. vided full strength mobile signals SPORTS IN A BOX support surveillance operations. During the Amir Cup final, across the stadium, transferring Innovative Sports in a Box 40 high megapixel cameras pro- the peak bandwidth con- more than 6TB of data during the infrastructure deployed to run vided full coverage of the entire sumption reached 2GB and final. the applications, servers and spectator area during the final. served more than 8,500 devices LIGHT AND SOUND security infrastructure for the The stadium Spectator simultaneously – more than Smart LED lights within the stadium with full redundancy. Access Control System is twice the overall wireless asso- stadium were programmed for Sports in a Box is a tech- equipped with 83 turnstiles with ciations recorded in similar sta- light show effects during the nology concept being piloted by a total system capacity of 63,900 diums around the world. opening ceremony. Qatar’s Aspire Zone Foundation passages per hour. The peak pas- More than 2.2TB of data was The entire event fully utilised in partnership with DELL Tech- sages per hour recorded during transferred over the Wi-Fi the stadium sound system, which nologies to introduce compact, the final was 20,000 – 31% of system during the final. consists of 42 loudspeaker scalable and portable ICT the total system capacity. Teen Milak smashes Magical Murtagh puts Ireland on top Phelps record; Peaty REUTERS lowest home total since scoring 77 final, at the wicket an England fightback SCOREBOARD LONDON against Australia in 1997. was expected. It never materialised. ENGLAND, 1st Innings seals triple-double Murtagh, the London-born 37-year- Root (2) was squared up by Adair R. Burns c Wilson b Murtagh ...... 6 Ireland enjoyed a fairytale opening day old Middlesex stalwart, took lethal and was struck on both pads and not J. Roy c Stirling b Murtagh ...... 5 REUTERS J. Denly lbw b Adair ...... 23 GWANGJU in their first ever test match against advantage of his local knowledge on a even a hopeful review could spare him. J. Root lbw b Adair ...... 2 England as they bowled out the hosts green-tinged Lord’s wicket and some Murtagh then bowled a wafting J. Bairstow b Murtagh ...... 0 for 85 before building a healthy lead at bog-standard England batting. Bairstow through the gate for a duck and M. Ali c Wilson b Murtagh ...... 0 Hungarian teenager Kristof Milak shattered sweltering Lord’s on Wednesday. When Stuart Broad walked out to bat two balls later Chris Woakes (0) was lbw C. Woakes lbw b Murtagh ...... 0 Michael Phelps’ 10-year-old world record in the The euphoria of 10 days ago after with the hosts on 43 for seven, England to a ball that nipped back off the seam. S. Curran c McCollum b Rankin ...... 18 200 metres butterfly yesterday while Adam Peaty England’s nerve-jangling World Cup had lost six wickets for seven runs. Moeen Ali then edged Murtagh S. Broad c Wilson b Rankin ...... 3 sewed up a third straight breaststroke double O. Stone b Adair ...... 19 final win over New Zealand, turned to White-ball specialist Roy, superb through to Wilson as the 37-year-old J. LeLeachach nnotot oout ...... 1 with victory in the 50 metres at the World Cham- stunned disbelief as Ireland bowler Tim throughoutut thethee WorldWorldo Cup,Cup, hadhad a let-offlet-off sealedsealedd hishis ffive-wicketive-iveve wickwic et haulhaul.. ExtrasExtras (lb5,(lb5, nb2,n w1) ...... 8 pionships. Murtagh caused mayhem. when Markk AdairAddair hadhaadd himh plumpplumbblbb lblbwbw CurranCurranna a attemptedttemtteemmptedptep d aac counter-attackcountou eer-attacack TTotalotal (all(all out,ou 23.4 overs, 127 mins) ...... 85 Budapest-born Milak won gold in a time of He took five for 13 from nine overs off a no balball.ala ll.. BBututti i innMunMn MuMMurtagh’srtagtagagh’shs butbuutt thehhe carnagecarncara agage concontcocontinuedinued ass BroBBroadad FallFa of wwiwickets:ck 1-8, 2-36, 3-36, 4-42, 5-42, 6-42, 1:50.73, lopping 0.78 seconds off Phelps’ 1:51.51 as England capitulated in 127 manic second oververer RRoyRoy (5)(5( ) edgedededgeedgeddgeedtodtd to (3)(3)3 edgededgeedgdgedBod BBoBoydydyd Rankin,Rankinkikiin,n o oncence anan 7-47-43,4343,4 8-58,8-58, 9-67,9 10-85 set in Rome in 2009. Bowling:Bowowwwling: MurtaghMu 9-2-13-5; Adair 7.4-1-32-3 (1nb, 1w); minutes, surviving only 23.4 overs -- Stirling whohoho tooktotooooook a llowlooww sliplipip EnglandEnEEnglnglngglland player,playplaplayyer,er, behibebbehind.hindnd.d ThompsonTThomTh mmpson 4-1-30-04-1 (1nb); Rankin 3-1-5-2 “It’s a tremendous honour to set such a great their shortest completed innings ever catch. Joee DenlyDenenlynlllyy lookedloloooookedkdk d Samam CurCCurranurruurrrrrananwn waswaass snaffleds naffnafflelededd forffoor 1818 IRELAND,IRRELAANDA D, 1st1s Innings record,” he said. “Until 14 I was a backstroker in terms of balls faced. assured foror 2323,33, butbbut inntn thethehe ata sshorthohorhortortrt legleegg offooffff RankinRanRRaannkinki tot leave leaveaeaveeavee EnglandEEngglanlandandd W.W. PPoPorterfieldorterrfield c Leach b Curran ...... 14 and later I focused on the butterfly. But earlier I Ireland, playing only their third test 10th overr teteststst rrookieookikiie onon 667-9.797-97-9.. OlOOllOllylly SStStonetoneono strustrstruckckktk tthreehrhreereeeee bboubobound-ounndd- J. MMcMcCollumcCCollum b Curran ...... 19 only did 100 metres because I wasn’t strong match, passed England’s total before tea Adair shapedpepeded a ballballal intontotoo ariesararierieessin in aann ovoververvveer as EnglandEnglEngEn anandndd AA. BalbirnieBBallbirnnie b Stone ...... 55 enough.” thanks to a free-flowing partnership his pads foroorr anan lbw.lbwbw.w. surpassedsursusurpurrppaasasssssseses d ththeee7 7777 rrunrunsuns PP. StirlingSttirrling lbw b Broad ...... 36 At 19, Milak is the youngest winner of the 200 KK. O’BrienOO’’BBrienn notno out ...... 28 between Paul Stirling and Andy Burnsr n s ththetheyheheyheyey sscoscoredredr agagaagaiagainstgaig nstnst GG. WiWWilsonilsonlsl c RRoot b Stone ...... 0 butterfly since Phelps triumphed as an 18-year- Balbirnie. scratched aroundara ouounoundndnd WestWWeeseststt IndiesIndIndiiesiees inin SS. TThThompsonoommmpsson b Broad ...... 0 old in 2003, the second of the American great’s A flurry of wickets threatened to for six bbubututut JanuaryJanuJaJananunuuaryararyy butbu hhee M.MMA AdairAAddaair b CuCurran ...... 3 five world titles in the event. undo their good work as Ireland playededd waswwa bbowbowledowlwlleedd AA. McBrineMMccBBrine b Broad ...... 11 Peaty shattered a record of his own on slumped from 132-2 to 149-7. loosely at a forfoor 1199 a assAsAds AdAAdairairaiir TT. MMuMurtaghurrttaghh c BBurns b Stone ...... 16 Sunday, becoming the first swimmer to go under BB. RankinRaannkinn b MoeenM Ali ...... 7 Yet Kevin O’Brien hung around for fulll wrappedwrawrapwrapp pedpep ExtrasExExtxtrtraras (b10,(b10, lb6, w2) ...... 18 57 seconds in the 100 breaststroke semi-finals 28 not out and Murtagh (16) clobbered Murtagh thingsthithingsg up. up. TToTotTotaltaal (all(all out,ou 58.2 overs, 279 mins) ...... 207 and while he could not repeat the feat in the 50 some useful late runs as Ireland were delivery FallFFalall of wickets:wick 1-32, 2-45, 3-132, 4-138, 5-138, he was still streets ahead of his rivals. The Briton all out for 207, a 122-run innings lead. and 6-141,66-11441, 7-149,7-149, 8-174, 9-195, 10-207 posted 26.06, the third fastest 50 of all time and England skipper Joe Root won the edged Bowling:BBoowwling:: BroadBro 19-5-60-3; Woakes 10-2-34-0; Stone 0.6 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Bra- 12-3-29-3;1122--33-29-3; CurranCu 10-3-28-3 (2w); Leach 3-0-26-0; Ali toss and elected to bat, handing test deb- behind too 4.2-1-14-144.22-2-1-14-1 zilian Felipe Lima. utant Jason Roy and Rory Burns the Gary Wilson.on. ENGLAND,EENNGLAND, 2nd2 Innings Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has been a chance to lay down a marker for the With RootRooRo t J.J. LeachLeach notno out ...... 0 lightning rod for controversy at the champion- looming Ashes series. and JonnyJonnJ y R. BurnsBur not out ...... 0 ships but his bid for glory in the 800 freestyle Instead, a spot-on Ireland attack Bairstow, twtwooofo of thethhee TotalTotaT (0 wkts, 1 over, 5 mins) ...... 0 fizzled out as he trailed home in sixth. ruthlessly exposed the cracks in Eng- four Englandandnd playersplayyersers to Sun is swimming under a cloud in Gwangju Tim Murtagh celebrates after taking his five-for. Bowling:Bo Murtagh 1-1-0-0 land’s batting as the hosts posted their have playededd init thethhe WorldWorld Cupup with a doping case against him set to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September. His presence has upset fans and fellow ath- letes alike, with two swimmers, Australian Mack Trentin wins 17th stage as Alaphilippe retains yellow Horton and Briton Duncan Scott, showing their displeasure in the most public way possible. TOUR DE FRANCE: STAGE 17 REUTERS It was another good day for Mitchelton- Horton refused to share the podium after GAP, FRANCE Scott following on from Simon Yates’ two picking up silver behind Sun in the 400 while stage wins and Daryl Impey’s victory on Stage winners (Top 5): 1. Matteo Trentin 200 bronze medallist Scott refused to shake his European champion Matteo Trentin won stage nine, which goes some way to make (ITA) Mitchelton - Scott 4:21:36,2. Kasper Asgreen hand at the medals ceremony, a move that trig- the 17th stage of the Tour de France, a hilly up for Adam Yates’s failure to contest for (DEN) Deceuninck - Quick-Step +37, 3. Greg Van gered a furious response from the Chinese 200-km ride from the Pont du Gard the overall victory. Avermaet (BEL) CCC Team +41, 4. Bauke Mollema swimmer. yesterday as his Mitchelton-Scott team cele- The Briton stunningly dropped out of (NED) Trek - Segafredo +41, 5. Dylan Teuns (BEL) There was double freestyle delight for Italy brated their fourth victory in this year’s race. contention in the first high mountain stage, Bahrain - Merida +41 with Federica Pellegrini winning the women’s The Italian jumped away from a but the Australian outfit have since then Overall leaders (Top 5): 1. Julian Alaphilippe 200 world title for a fourth time and Gregorio reduced group of breakaway riders at the bounced back with individual wins. (FRA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 69:39:16, 2. Geraint Paltrinieri taking gold in the men’s 800. foot of the last climb and powered clear in Today’s 18th stage is a 208-km Thomas (GBR) Team INEOS +1:35, 3. Steven Kruijswijk World record holder Pellegrini, who won her the descent to claim his third stage victory mountain trek between Embrun and Val- (NED) Team Jumbo - Visma +1:47, 4. Thibaut Pinot first 200 title a decade ago, hunted down Aus- on the Tour after previous wins in 2013 and loire featuring three climbs above 2,000 (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +1:50, 5. Egan Bernal (COL) tralian teen Ariarne Titmus over the closing 50 2014. metres. Matteo Trentin Team INEOS +2:02 to claim gold in 1:54.22.