BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 12 Federer storms into INDEX Melbourne DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-5, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 QIC’s gross written REGION 6 BUSINESS 1–12, 18-20 premium jumps 19% semis 19,938.79 11,057.83 53.15 ARAB WORLD 7-9 CLASSIFIED 13-17 +138.94 +107.49 +0.40 INTERNATIONAL 10–25 SPORTS 1–12 to QR9.9bn in 2016 +0.70% +0.98% +0.76% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10344 January 25, 2017 Rabia II 27, 1438 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Slovenia beat Qatar 3-way bid to In brief boost Syria ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Iraqi forces take full control of east Mosul Iraqi forces have taken full control truce after of the eastern side of Mosul, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced yesterday, around three months after the launch of an off ensive to drive Islamic State militants out of the city. “This is a major achievement for the Astana talks Iraqi forces,” al-Abadi told a press conference in Baghdad. “I call upon AFP A ceasefi re brokered by Russia and these heroes to quickly liberate the Astana, Kazakhstan rebel-backer Turkey has been in place rest of Nineveh province, especially since late December but both rebels the western side of (Tigris) river.” “We and Damascus have complained of re- have proved that Daesh is shrinking ussia, Iran and Turkey agreed peated violations. and disappearing,” he said, using an yesterday to bolster a fragile The rebels — who insisted they Qatar’s pivot Youssef Ali jumps to shoot on goal during their quarter-final match against Slovenia in the 25th IHF Men’s World Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Rtruce in Syria but rebels and Da- would use the Astana talks to push Da- Championship 2017 yesterday at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris. Slovenia won 32-30 to enter the semi-finals. Islamic State militants took control mascus made no progress towards a mascus to respect the truce — refused of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, in broader settlement to end the war after direct talks with the regime on Monday mid-2014. Page 8 two days of talks. because of its continued bombardment The three main sponsors of the ne- and attacks on a fl ashpoint outside the gotiations in Astana announced the Syrian capital Damascus. AMERICA | Politics creation of “a trilateral mechanism to Regime negotiator Bashar al-Jaa- Trump revives blocked observe and ensure full compliance fari said after the end of the talks that with the ceasefi re” in place since late the meeting “succeeded in achieving Israeli settlement action oil pipeline projects December. the goal of consolidating the cessa- US President Donald Trump Moscow, Tehran and Ankara — all tion of hostilities for a fixed period yesterday revived two oil pipeline key players in the confl ict — also agreed paving the way for dialogue between projects blocked by his predecessor armed rebel groups should take part Syrians.” an obstacle to peace: UN on environmental grounds, signalling in a new round of peace talks set to be But he insisted that operations his determination to undo Barack hosted by the United Nations in Geneva will continue against key flashpoint Obama’s legacy. Trump gave a next month. Wadi Barada, an area 15km (10 miles) Agencies referring to Israel’s announcement on External Action Service (EEAS) said conditional go-ahead to the Keystone “There is no military solution to northwest of Damascus, where rebels United Nations/Brussels settlements. Israel’s plans fl ew in the face of inter- XL pipeline — which would carry the Syrian confl ict and it can only be have demanded the regime stops at- “There is a need for the two parties national objections, saying they “fur- oil from Canadian tar sands to US solved through a political process,” tacks. to engage in a bona fi de negotiation to ther seriously undermine the pros- refineries on the Gulf Coast — and said the fi nal statement by Russia, Iran There were few details about the he United Nations yesterday reach the goal of two states, Israel and pects for a viable two-state solution”. an equally controversial pipeline and Turkey. proposed ceasefi re monitoring mecha- denounced recent Israeli ini- Palestine, two states for two people,” “It is regrettable that Israel is pro- crossing in North Dakota. Both Russia — the driving force behind nism and it was unclear what impact it Ttiatives to accelerate settlement he said. ceeding with this policy, despite the had been put on hold by president the meeting — has become the major will have on the ground. construction in occupied Palestinian The United Nations considers the continuous serious international con- Barack Obama’s administration on powerbroker in Syria after changing The Kremlin’s envoy at the talks Al- territory, stressing that “unilateral ac- settlements to be illegal and an obstacle cern and objections, which have been environmental grounds. the tide on the ground with its military exander Lavrentiev said it will involve tions” are an obstacle to peace based to peace, as it reaffi rmed in a recent UN constantly raised at all levels,” the support for leader Bashar al-Assad. experts from Russia, Turkey and Iran on a two-state solution. Security Council resolution which the EEAS said in a statement. But while the Kremlin has succeed- meeting in Astana. “For the secretary general there is United States under former US president On Sunday, just days after US Pres- BRITAIN | Referendum ed in sidelining the West with its new The rebels had earlier opposed Iran’s no plan B for the two states solution,” Barack Obama’s administration declined ident Donald Trump’s inauguration, Court: parliament must drive to play peacemaker, there were involvement in monitoring the cease- UN chief Antonio Guterres’s spokes- to veto, for the fi rst time since 1979. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signs Moscow will struggle to trans- fi re as it sees Tehran and the militias man Stephane Dujarric said. Israel yesterday announced the gave the green light for the construc- approve start of Brexit form military gains into wider progress it controls as a main source of the vio- “In this respect any unilateral deci- construction of 2,500 settler homes in tion of 566 settlement homes in East The British government must towards peace. lence. sion that can be an obstacle to the two the occupied West Bank, the biggest Jerusalem, a predominantly Palestin- win parliament’s approval before The latest diplomatic initiative to Neither they nor the regime — which state goal is of grave concern for the initiative of its kind in years. ian sector of the city illegally occupied starting talks to leave the EU, the end the bloodshed in Syria that has was opposed to Turkey’s role — signed secretary general,” he said. Meanwhile, the European Union’s by Israel. Supreme Court ruled yesterday, in cost 310,000 lives comes one month the fi nal declaration. Dujarric said the UN’s position on diplomatic service said yesterday Is- The announcement refl ects the a landmark judgment and setback after regime forces, aided by Russia and UN Syria envoy Staff an de Mistura settlement construction in the West rael’s plan for 2,500 more settlement Israeli government’s clear determi- for Prime Minister Theresa May. Iran, dealt a crushing blow to the rebels said his organisation was ready to assist Bank and East Jerusalem “has not homes in the occupied West Bank se- nation to take advantage of the new The legal case has revived divisions by retaking full control of the country’s in developing the mechanism and “en- changed.” riously undermines the prospects for situation created by Trump’s election, within British society after last second city Aleppo. sure that it helps strengthen the quality “We would include that in the cat- peace with the Palestinians. after eight years of tense relations with June’s referendum which saw 52% The meeting was expected to see the of the ceasefi re.” egory of unilateral actions,” he said, In a statement, the European Union the Obama administration. Page 7 vote to leave the European Union fi rst face-to-face negotiations between As a further reminder that the con- after a bitter campaign that split the the regime and the battered armed op- fl ict is far from over in Syria fi ghting country. Page 17 position since Syria’s confl ict erupted continued to rage yesterday with ma- Cool conditions to continue in 2011, but the defi ant rebels refused jor militant groups not covered by the and mediators were forced to shuttle truce. Cool conditions will continue to prevail between the two sides. Rebels were battling former Al Qae- MEC recalls iPhone 6S 2015 in the country today, the Qatar Met Rebel negotiator Mohamed Alloush da affi liate Fateh al-Sham Front in the department has said. Strong winds and said the “intransigence of Iran and the country’s north, a monitoring group high seas in off shore areas in the early regime” was responsible for “no nota- said. he Ministry of Economy and 6S is aff ected by entering the se- hours have also been forecast. ble progress” in the negotiations. As the talks were ending, Russia’s Commerce (MEC), in co-op- rial number at the link www.apple. Northwesterly winds will blow at Alloush did say that Russia now ap- defence ministry said its warplanes Teration with Ali Bin Ali Tech- com/ae/support/iphone6s-unex- 18-28 knots in off shore areas before pears more willing to push Assad’s had bombed the Islamic State militant nology Solutions, has announced epctedshutdown/ or connecting decreasing to 5-15 knots by the regime harder to ensure peace, and group in Syria’s Deir Ezzor region.