Volume 24 | Number 7968 | 2 RiyalsTuesday 30 July 2019 | 27 Dhul-Qa'da 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa

BUSINESS | 15 SPORT | 24

Mexican star Hector Moreno joins Al Gharafa

Ooredoo net profit up 22%;

revenue at QR14.5bn

Deputy Amir receives Chinese envoyDeputy Amir meets Sudanese Ambassador

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani met at the Amiri Diwan yesterday with the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan, Fathur-Rahman Ali Mohamed, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. The Deputy Amir wished the Ambassador success in the tasks entrusted to him in the future, and the relations between the two countries further development. For his part, the Ambassador expressed his thanks and appreciation to H H the Amir and H H the Deputy Amir as well as to the State’s officials for the cooperation he received during his term of office.

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani received at the Amiri Diwan yesterday the credentials of the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, Zhou Jian. The Deputy Amir welcomed the envoy and wished him success in his missions and the relations between the State of Qatar and China further progress and prosperity.

HIA recognised as second-best international airport in worldTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Hamad International Airport (HIA) has achieved second place in the prestigious 2019 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. First receiving this award in 2017, HIA continues to position itself as a leading global aviation hub, with redefined airport experiences for trav-

ellers from around the world. The Travel + Leisure World’s

Best Awards evaluate airports based upon the direct feedback of their readers who vote for their favourite airport across the globe, upon criteria such as access, check-in, security, res-taurants, shopping, and design.

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at HIA stated: “We are very proud to

be recognised by our loyal pas-sengers for the seamless airport experience offered by HIA. To be named the World’s Second-Best Airport is a great achievement and testament to HIA’s high interna-tional standards. While this is a great recognition, we never rest on our achievements, and con-stantly evolve to deliver a true unique experience for our pas-sengers.” �P4

Qatar Petroleum signspact to enter explorationblocks in GuyanaQNA DOHA

Qatar Petroleum (QP) has entered into an agreement with Total for a share of exploration and production rights in two blocks offshore Guyana in Latin America.

Under the agreement, which is subject to customary regu-latory approvals by the gov-ernment of Guyana, Qatar Petroleum will hold 40% of Tota’s existing 25% participating interest in the Orinduik block. The other partners in this block are Tullow Oil (the Operator) with a 60% participating interest and EcoAtlantic with a 15% interest.

Also under the agreement, Qatar Petroleum will hold 40% of Total’s existing 25% partici-pating interest in the neigh-boring Kanuku block. The other partners in this block are Repsol (the Operator) with a 37.5% par-ticipating interest and Tullow Oil with a 37.5% interest.

Commenting on the agreement, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President & CEO of Qatar Petroleum, H E Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said: “We are pleased to expand our global exploration footprint into Guyana together with our val-uable, long-term partner, Total, in these offshore blocks in this prospective basin.”

H E Al Kaabi added: “We hope that the exploration efforts

are successful. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and the gov-ernment of Guyana for their col-laboration in this effort, and we look forward to working together in these blocks.”

Three exploration wells are planned in these blocks this year: two on the Orinduik block, including the Jethro well which is currently being drilled, and one on the Kanuku block.

The Orinduik block is located 120km offshore Guyana and has a total area of about 1,800 square kilometers, with water depths ranging from 70 to 1,400 meters. The Kanuku block is located 100 km offshore Guyana and has a total area of about 5,200 square kilometers, with water depths ranging from 70 to 800 meters.

Qatar Petroleum is an inte-grated national oil corporation responsible for the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar and beyond. Qatar Petroleums activities encompass the entire spectrum of the oil and gas value chain locally, regionally, and internationally, and include the exploration, production, processing, marketing and sales of oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGL), gas to liquids (GTL) products, refined products, pet-rochemicals, fertilizers, steel and aluminum.

Qatar submits its rejoinders in two cases on appeal before ICJQNA THE HAGUE

The State of Qatar yesterday submitted its Rejoinders in two cases on appeal before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), responding to arguments made by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The ICJ is considering the jurisdiction of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding the resumption of the Council’s decision over the complaint Qatar submitted to the Council to consider the cases arise from the Joint Appellants’ sudden imposition on 5 June

2017 of far-reaching prohibitions on all Qatar-registered aircraft from flying to or from the Joint Appellants’ airports and from overflying their national air-spaces and Flight Information Regions (FIR).

On October 20, 2017, Qatar filed two Applications instituting proceedings before the Council of the International Civil

Aviation Organization (“ICAO”) - a United Nations specialized agency - one under Article 84 of the 1944 Convention on Inter-national Civil Aviation (“Chicago Convention”) against Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and one under Article II, Section 2 of the 1944 Interna-tional Air Services Transit Agreement (“IASTA”) against

Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt. In its two Applications, Qatar detailed the Joint Appellants’ violations of the Chicago Con-vention and the IASTA, and requested the ICAO Council to adjudge and declare the aviation prohibitions unlawful.

On 19 March 2018, the Joint Appellants raised preliminary objections to the Council’s

jurisdiction to hear Qatar’s claims in both cases. After an exchange of written arguments and oral hearings, the ICAO Council issued, on 29 June 2018, decisions dismissing the Joint Appellants’ preliminary objec-tions in both cases. In other words, the Council agreed with Qatar that it has jurisdiction over Qatar’s claims. �P4

QNA/LONDON

The Amiri Air Force participated in the 70th anniversary celebra-tions of the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organi-zation (Nato), which was held at the Fairford Air Base in the United Kingdom, under the motto “Air and Space: Inspiring the next generation air forces”.

The ceremony, which was held on the sidelines of events at the end of the Royal Airshow, was attended by about 245 air-craft and fighter jets from Nato member states and friendly and allied countries including Qatar.

The Amiri Air Force partici-pated with its strategic transport aircraft, which evoked consid-erable interest among the visitors. The ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials of the Nato, senior commanders officers representatives of participating countries, and a number of senior representatives of defense and air defence companies. The Amiri Air Force had participated in the Royal Airshow with stra-tegic transport aircraft C17/Globe Master and C-130/J-30 Super Her-cules, and the participating Qatari peace-keeping aircraft won the first position of the best aircraft.

The Airshow was held in the context of the Royal Navy Inter-national Air Day (RNAS), in which the participating coun-tries presented their air capa-bilities and live airshows by air-craft and fighter jets.

Amiri Air Force participates in Nato anniversary celebrations

The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards evaluate airports based upon the direct feedback of their readers who vote for their favourite airport across the globe.

HIA’s unique shopping and dining offering spread across 40,000 square metres of combined retail, food and beverage options which are also continuously expanding.

First receiving this award in 2017, Hamad International Airport (HIA) continues to position itself as a leading global avaiation hub, with redefined airport experiences for travellers from around the world.

02 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019HOME

03TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 HOME

HIGH TIDE 01:14 – 15:58 LOW TIDE 08:39 –23:26

Misty at some places by early morning,

becomes hot daytime with sight dust at

times, some clouds.

WEATHER TODAY

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Minimum Maximum33oC 44oC

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HMC urges people with type 2 diabetes to participate in research studyFAZEENA SALEEM THE PENINSULA

The Qatar Metabolic Institute at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has encouraged indi-viduals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to participate in a research study.

The study aims to improve the management of diabetes through an exercise programme

to improve fitness level without the use of medication, according to a social media campaign run by HMC.

HMC is looking for indi-viduals with newly diagnosed diabetes type 2, (less than five years), aged between 18 and 60, not on insulin or injectable and oral anti diabetic drugs, on diet, life style treatment or oral med-ication for diabetes and

residents of Qatar, the video message says.

“The study includes lab tests, body composition by DEXA and body fat mapping by MRI at Qatar BioBank, as well as physical fitness tests and other tests for your pancreas function and glucose metabolism,” said HMC in its official Instagram account.

“After these tests, you will

join a supervised exercise program at the Qatar Rehabili-tation Institute for 10 weeks after which the tests will be repeated to check your body’s response,” it added.

Individuals interested in taking part program and meet the criteria can contact on 4025 4991; mobile and WhatsApp on 5524 7753.

Diabetes is one of the most

pressing health conditions in Qatar. It is estimated that at least 17 percent of the adult Qatari population have diabetes and this number is expected to rise unless wide scale steps are taken to change behaviour and address the risk factors associated with diabetes. if the diabetes is not dealt with by the most optimal approach and expected that by 2045 the number of people

suffering from diabetes in Qatar will have double. To mention, HMC through the Academic Health System (AHS) is also set to begin the region’s largest dia-betes research project, the Qatar Diabetes Prevention Programme (QDPP). The five-year pro-gramme is funded by Qatar Foundation’s Qatar National Research Fund and co-funded by HMC.

First residential unit launched for rent in Msheireb Downtown DohaTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Msheireb Properties, Qatar’s national real estate developer and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation, has officially announced the launch of its first residential unit for rent in Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar’s newest destination for leisure, living and business.

Wadi 1 residential tower is located in Sikkat Wadi Msheireb, the centre of Msheireb Downtown Doha and the longest pedestrian street there. The tower is also a walking distance from many of Doha’s landmarks, such as the

famous Souq Waqif,Grand Hamad Street, and Alwadi Hotel Doha MGallery. Moreover, the neigh-bourhood features the soon to open Galleria Mall, home to Qatar’s first digitally smart Monoprix, and Juniverse; the first city in space theme park in the world.

Wadi 1 Residential Tower offers its residents exclusive amenities such as access to two pools, a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym, in addition to a club-house and private terraces. It also has a 24 hours security desk, a private lift that travels to the parking and storage rooms at the basement level, a dedicated

bicycle parking on the ground floor, and a tram station.

The building has 72 spacious, semi furnished 1 to 4-bedroom apartments, featuring bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and closets, in addition to full-height windows and generous balconies, with spectacular views of Doha’s Corniche and the iconic West Bay skyline. The residential tower is also an example of modern SMART living. Wadi 1 apartments are equipped with the latest smart home technologies, including home automation with touch-screen displays, a high-speed fiber network, simultaneous use of

telecom providers, energy con-sumption monitoring, full HD video and audio integration, and modern IP telephony and video intercom system.

Commenting on this mile-stone, Ali Al Kuwari, Acting CEO of Msheireb Properties, said: “We are proud to officially announce the launch of Wadi 1, our first res-idential unit in Msheireb Downtown Doha. This is a major

achievement in line with our goals to redefine the way people live in Qatar, offering them smart and sustainable living solutions. We look forward to welcoming the first residents of the all-new Msheireb Downtown Doha, the smartest and most sustainable fully built city district in the world.”

Wadi 1 was recently awarded Best Sustainable Residential Devel-opment at The Arabian Property

Awards 2019-2020 in London. The residential tower achieved 58 LEED points (60 for LEED Gold) during the Design Preliminary Review. The overall potable water savings for the building is 41.9%, and Water recovery from air con-ditioning condensate of 2,600 cubic meters, reducing the required non-potable water from the development treatment plant and municipality.

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani received at the Amiri Diwan office yesterday morning the credentials of the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Abdul Hakim Dalili; Ambassador of Australia, Jonathan James Coulter Muir; and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mohamed Setri. H H the Deputy Amir welcomed the new Ambassadors and wished them success in their missions and the relations between the State of Qatar and their countries further progress and prosperity. For their part, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors conveyed the greetings of leaders of their countries to H H the Amir and H H the Deputy Amir and their best wishes for the Qatari people of further progress and prosperity. Their Excellencies the Ambassadors received earlier an official reception ceremony at the Amiri Diwan.

Deputy Amir receives credentials of new ambassadors

Prime Minister meets Ambassador of Sudan

The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday with the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan, Fathur-Rahman Ali Mohamed, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister wished the Ambassador success in the tasks entrusted to him in the future, and the relations between the two countries further development and prosperity. For his part, the Ambassador expressed his thanks and appreciation to H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister and to State’s officials for the cooperation he received during his term of office.

Australian expertise can help build Qatar’s agricultural sector: EnvoyTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Ambassador of Australia to Qatar, Jonathan Muir, has said that his focus over the next few years is on growing the already strong economic relationship between Qatar and Australia.

In a statement issued by the Embassy of Australia on Jonathan Muir taking up the position of Australian Ambas-sador to Qatar, the Ambassador said: “Our two-way trade was around QR4.5bn in 2018 and the Qatar Investment Authority is a valued source of foreign direct investment in Australia — but there is plenty of room for growth.”

Ambassador Muir presented his credentials to Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday.

Ambassador Muir said: “Qatar Airways now operates daily flights to five Australian cities, providing excellent oppor-tunities to develop deeper trade, investment, and people-to-people links. I am proud of the reputation Australia enjoys in Qatar as a supplier of high-quality meat and livestock. I look forward to finding opportunities to grow our agricultural trade further.”

“In particular, Australian expertise in dryland farming can help build Qatar’s agricultural sector and food security. I also see strong opportunity for col-laboration in science and tech-nology research. Several thousand Australians live in Qatar – working in diverse fields such as health, education, con-struction and oil and gas – con-tributing to Qatar’s dynamic

economy,” the Australian Ambassador said.

He said that he is excited to arrive as Qatar gets ready for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when it will welcome the world – including many Australians. “I wish Qatar well in its prepara-tions, which are already well advanced.”

“I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received in Qatar. My family and I are looking forward to calling Qatar home.”

Ambassador Muir is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Director, People Smuggling and Human Trafficking Taskforce. Ambas-sador Muir previously served overseas at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. He is married and has three children.

04 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019HOME

Message to Ghana

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has received a written message from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways of advancing them. The message was handed over by the Ambassador of Qatar to Ghana, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Humaid, during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political and Economic Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Charles Owiredu, in Accra.

Amiri Air Force attends 70th anniversary celebrations of Nato

The Amiri Air Force participated in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), which was held at the Fairford Air Base in the United Kingdom, under the motto “Air and Space: Inspiring the next generation air forces”.

EPR and AWMPC join hands to raise awareness on wood, paper recyclingRAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA

Two major recycling companies in Qatar have joined hands to share best practices and raise public awareness on the crucial importance of recycling.

Elite Paper Recycling (EPR), a pioneering Qatari SME, and Al Waad Manufacturing Packaging Company (AWMPC), a wood recy-cling company, yesterday signed an MoU for future partnerships.

“We complement each other in the market because we are both under the same umbrella which is recycling. They recycle wood and we recycle paper which reduce the problems we are facing in the landfills and con-tribute to making a better envi-ronment,” EPR Chairman Abdulla Al Suwaidi said at the signing cer-emony held at EPR Head Office yesterday.

On a monthly basis, EPR recycles more than 3,000 tonnes of wastepaper and the company has over 100 trucks which collect

wastepaper 24/7, said Al Suwaidi.EPR has partnered with more

than 250 schools, 700 private and public entities in Qatar. It exports 80 percent of its products across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Under the MoU the two com-panies will be sharing ideas and ways on recycling and collecting waste as well as organize school visits and activities for children to

EPR Chairman, Abdulla Al Suwaidi (right), and AWMPC CEO, Antonio Rostirolla, at the MoU signing ceremony at EPR headquarters yesterday.

Qatar submits its rejoinders in two cases on appeal before ICJ

FROM PAGE 1

On 4 July 2018, the Joint Appellants appealed both of the Council’s decisions on juris-diction to the ICJ. Subsequently, the Joint Appellants filed their Memorials, Qatar filed its Counter-Memorials, the Joint Appellants filed their Replies, and today Qatar filed its Rejoinders. After today’s sub-mission, it will be followed by oral hearings that will take place by the end of 2019. Qatar will further demonstrate that the Joint Appellant’s arguments are unpersuasive. Following the oral hearings, the Court will delib-erate and issue a final decision on whether the ICAO Council

has a jurisdiction over Qatar’s claims or not.

The State of Qatar is for-mally represented before the ICJ by Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Dean of the College of Law at Qatar University. Dr Al-Khulaifi stated: “Today’s Rejoinders mark the end of the written submissions before the Court in the ICAO cases. Qatar has successfully demonstrated that the grounds of appeal invoked by the Joint Appellants are baseless. We look forward to further presenting our argu-ments in the upcoming oral hearings and to receiving the Court’s judgment so that the ICAO Council can examine the cases on the merits.”

HIA recognised as second-best international airport in world

FROM PAGE 1

Jacqui Gifford, Editor-in-Chief at Travel and Leisure, added, “For 24 years, our readers have been voting in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. This annual franchise is a global col-lection of the top hotels, islands, cities, cruise lines, airlines, and more,” says Gifford. “Brands and properties from all over the world—from Peru to Japan, India to Italy, and right here at home in the United States—are recognized by our audience because they deliver on exceptional experi-ences, rooted in a sense of place.”

HIA has achieved significant milestones within the criteria for which it has been voted as the second best international airport. Passengers have been given autonomy for the check-in process through the airport’s Smart Airport Program which has introduced self-check-in and bag

drop kiosks which are biometric enabled. This also makes the check-in process faster, which vastly improves customer expe-rience and allows more pas-sengers to be managed without physical expansion of the check-in facilities.

Within the security criterion, HIA has increased its security capacity for screening in its transfer areas and reduced queuing time, as part of its com-mitment to providing a seamless transfer experience for pas-sengers and maintaining high standards of security. The airport has also further improved cus-tomer service in the transfer security areas, allowing at least 95 per cent of its transfer pas-sengers to queue for under five minutes, which is an industry-leading achievement

HIA’s unique shopping and dining offering spread across 40,000 square meters of

combined retail, food and bev-erage options are also continu-ously expanding.

HIA competed with some of Skytrax’s top 10 airports: Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) and Zurich Airport, achieving the second position, thanks to its exceptional state-of-the-art facilities.

In addition to sustaining a seamless passenger journey and advancing its technology, HIA is expanding its terminal to strengthen its ability to scale and compete with leading airports while increasing connectivity for airlines and passengers. The expansion will include retail, dining, first and business lounges in the North Node, hoping to meet the demands of the increasing number of passengers and enhance the comfort and quality of the airport experience. teach them to recycle and take

care of the environment, said Al Suwaidi.

AWMPC will act as silver sponsor for EPR’s Eco-Dome project to be launched in October. The project is aimed at teaching children how crucial recycling is in an immersive way using Virtual Reality, he added.

“We will share collection ideas and sponsor the project to be launched in October but this will not stop there; we will have more things to do in the future. We have to train the new gener-ation because they are the ones who are going to drive the world in the future,” said AWMPC CEO Antonio Rostirolla.

“AWMPC is a very young company but we have a very clear vision on the direction our company wants to take which has led AWMPC to venture into wood recycling.

AWMPC joins Qatar’s mission in recycling construction and industrial wood waste to meet the requirement of the fast-rising urban development of the country,” said Rostirolla.

He stressed that recycling is a necessity in today’s society as the amount of waste is constantly growing and resources are becoming depleted. “Wood waste is the second-largest component of construction and demolition debris after concrete. Hence, the concept of recycling wood moti-vated AWMPC to manufacture wood pallet blocks by recycling waste wooden materials,” he said.

“We recycle 720 cubic meters per month of wood waste, which is equivalent to an average of 240 trees which amounts to 2880 trees saved per year,” he added.

05TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 HOME

Lulu Hypermarket opens 10th store at Al Hilal

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Lulu Hypermarket, the leading retailer in Qatar opened its 10th store at Al Hilal yesterday.

R e a f f i r m i n g L u l u ’ s threshold in the retail arena, the newly opened hypermarket with a vast built up area of 110,000 square feet with ample car park facility including basement parking is expected to become the favourite shopping destination for the communities living in and around Al Hilal East and West, Al Asiri, Nuaija, New Salata, M a h m o u r a , T h u m a m a , Mumtaza and Doha at large.

Ideally located in the heart of the city with easy access and proximity to the express highway, the new retail store offers an array of features for the discerning customers including conducive shopping environment, highly compet-itive prices and congenial cus-tomer service including mobile charging facility.

The new outlet is tailored to meet the needs of modern day shopping with world class inte-riors and well-planned retail

floor layout that are focused on customer convenience. The management told that the store has a good tenant mix con-sisting of KFC, Pizza Hut, Kakori House, Wellcare Pharmacy, Doha Beauty Centre, Plaza Holandi and ATM services.

The new venture will live up to the same brand identity that Lulu has committed to since day one, highlighting quality products and a world-class shopping experience. The new hypermarket showcases all cat-egories of merchandise starting from fresh food section con-sisting of a wide assortment of fruits & vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, bakery, hot and cold ready-to eat food, salad bar, chilled & dairy products, frozen food, roastery, grocery food and non-food, specialty imported foods, health & beauty, household, home appliances, garments, footwear, toys, luggage, stationery, linen, elec-tronics, mobiles, IT and accessories.

A remarkable feature to be noted is that the new store has given emphasis to the specialty food. An exclusive area for highlighting Vegan food is

ear-marked, making the first hypermarket of its kind in Qatar. In addition, Lulu stores have increased their area for fruits & vegetables and plant-based products. The ready meal section also will carry many a meat-free and dairy-free meals for the customers to relish.

Organic and ‘Free from worry’ food ranges that offer extensive line of gluten-free, lactose free, dairy free, yeast free, wheat free, organic, fat free, nut free, soy free, salt free, GM free, egg free, free range, no sugar, reduced sugar, no additives, no preservatives, no hydrogenated fat and other

specialty food imported from around the world are made available on shelves.

An official said: “Lulu Hypermarkets have always been in the forefront to exper-iment innovations when it comes to consumer’s choice and health. We have been increasing our range of organic, vegan, free from and other spe-cialty areas over a period with a view to have even more choices of vegetables and plant-based options in our store. We are now working with fantastic exclusive world-class brands to ensure that our shoppers really have healthy selection of food to choose from, at an affordable price. These new options are part of increasingly making available healthy and sus-tainable products in Lulu stores”.

The new hypermarket has kicked off with inaugural offers and special promos in all cate-gories at wallet-friendly prices that are exclusive for the new store’s clientele. The man-agement said that shoppers will have exciting exclusive offers every week that are tailor-made for the new store.

Well-known for its wide product range and outstanding customer service, the newly launched store will certainly be the ultimate one-stop shop for daily essentials and unique

product offerings for a multi-ethnic clientele. Understanding customers’ needs and providing them with quality products at fairest prices have always remained the secret behind the success of Lulu Hypermarkets.

Lulu’s winning formula of value for money and quality shopping will be a matter of delight for shoppers who cherish the pleasurable shopping expe-rience and the economy it offers.

The various sections of the newly-opened store of Lulu Hypermarket, the leading retailer in Qatar, in Al Hilal, yesterday.

Lulu introduces scheme to borrow shopping bags as a move to cut plastic wasteTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Lulu Hypermarket has become the first in the region to allow customers to borrow shopping bags in an effort to cut down on plastic waste.

The scheme allows shoppers, who have for-gotten a shopping bag or purchased more than expected, to borrow a bag rather than purchase one. The innovative scheme is one more strategy by Lulu Hypermarket to cut down the use of single use plastic bags.

Lulu Hypermarket will be introducing shopping bags made of sustainably sourced paper and home compostable bags made from potato starch. This is in addition to the use of bio-degra-dable plastic bags that are already making a positive impact in reducing the use of plastic. We will be introducing the ‘refill’ option in some selected categories soon. Lulu wants to offer a range of options to its shoppers to help them reduce plastic waste rather than imposing any one solution to its customers.

Ideally located in the heart of the city with easy access and proximity to the express highway, the new retail store offers an array of features for the discerning customers including conducive shopping environment, highly competitive prices and congenial customer service including mobile charging facility.

Shoppers winbig in second‘Summer in Qatar’ drawTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Summer in Qatar passes its midway point, with the second of the three raffle draws held on Friday at Doha Festival City. Nine individuals won QR400,000.

Winning QR20,000 each were voucher numbers 296137, 178137, 270633, 175906 and 176489. Two winners receiving QR50,000 each were voucher numbers 173099 and 037256 while the two winners of QR100,000 each were voucher numbers 178847 and 099531.

Shoppers can enter the remaining raffle draw for a chance to win cash or the grand prize of a McLaren sports car. For every QR200 spent, at par-ticipating malls, shoppers can potentially cash out at Summer in Qatar’s remaining raffle draw. Participating malls include Doha Festival City, Mall of Qatar, Lagoona Mall, Landmark Mall, Gulf Mall, Tawar Mall, Al Khor Mall, Hyatt Plaza, The Mall, and Al Mirqab Mall.

The third and final draw will take place at Mall of Qatar on August 16. Summer in Qatar offers a range of exciting indoor and outdoor experiences, along with entertainment pro-grammes as well as special pro-motions on inbound travel, hos-pitality and shopping.

Three DFI-backed films selected for Locarno Film FestivalTHE PENINSULA/DOHA

Three films supported by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) have been selected to key sections of the 72nd edition of the prestigious Locarno Film Festival, which takes place from August 7 to 17 in Locarno, Switzerland.

DFI’s latest co-financed project, “To the Ends of the Earth” by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, will screen as the closing night gala at the Fes-tival. The celebrated Japanese director, screenwriter, and author was nominated for the Golden Leopard award – the top prize at Locarno – in 2013 for his sci-fi drama “Real”. DFI grant recipients “South Terminal” by Rabah

Ameur-Zaïmeche and “143 Sahara Street” by Hassen Ferhani will also screen at the leading event and represent important voices in film-making from the Arab world.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of DFI, said: “This is another strong achievement for the Institute, that underlines our mandate to support high quality films from talents from the region and the world. It is exciting to see these films mark their premieres at an important festival like Locarno, widely regarded as a key platform to discover new and inter-esting filmmakers and compelling content that offer fresh perspec-tives.” “I am especially proud that celebrated auteur Kiyoshi

Kurosawa’s new film will have its international premiere at the event. To the Ends of the Earth presents fascinating perspectives on life that reflect human hopes, aspirations and challenges. The selection of the film to the festival’s highly coveted closing slot shows just how much excitement there is around the film in industry circles.”

“To the Ends of the Earth” (Japan, Uzbekistan, Qatar), written and directed by Kurosawa, is a journey of enlightenment that follows an inward-looking and cautious TV host, Yoko, as she follows the ancient Silk Road through Uzbekistan with her team in their search to capture a leg-endary fish. The film’s cast features

both Japanese and Uzbek actors including Ryo Kase, Shôta Sometani, Adiz Radjabov and, and Tokio Emoto, with the lead role of Yoko played by former J-pop singer Atsuko Maeda. A Qumra 2019 Master, Kurosawa is a world-renowned film director, writer, film critic, and professor at Tokyo Uni-versity of the Arts. A Cannes veteran, Kurosawa’s previous films, Tokyo Sonata and Journey to the Shore won the Jury Prize and Best Director award in the Un Certain Regard segment respectively.

“South Terminal” (France, Qatar) tells the story of a doctor who is plunged into the chaos of a civil war, striving to do his duty against all the odds until one day

his life turns upside down. Halfway between a war chronicle and a political thriller, “South Terminal” is Ameur-Zaïmeche’s sixth feature film. Born in Algeria and raised in France, Ameur-Zaïmeche was nominated for Locarno Film Fes-tival’s Golden Leopard award for “Smugglers’ Songs” in 2011.

“143 Sahara Street” (Algeria, France, Qatar) tells the quiet story of Malika, a woman who runs a small restaurant in the middle of the Algerian desert. There she wel-comes truckers, wanderers, and dreamers for cigarettes, coffee, and eggs. Algerian-born Ferhani directed his first film in 2006, and is regarded as one of Algeria’s most exciting young filmmakers.

Woqod and Al Meera sign MoU tomanage Woqod’s Sidra outletsTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Fuel Company (Woqod) and Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Al Meera) have signed a memorandum of under-standing (MoU) entering into an agreement to operate and manage current and prospective Woqod’s Sidra Convenience Stores, currently aggregating 65 C-stores’ outlets.

Both parties have agreed to exert their best endeavors to execute the definitive operating and management agreement incorporating the detailed terms and conditions within six month

period. On this occasion, Saad Rashid Mohammed Al Muhannadi, Woqod Chief Exec-utive Officer & Managing Director indicated that the agreement conforms to Woqod’s strategy for outsourcing non-core business activities through contracting with specialized and/or professional entities/third parties in accordance with the best practice.

Additionally, he stressed that the agreement poses a strong alliance between two publicly listed shareholding Qatari com-panies responsible to consolidate the State of Qatar’s public policy towards localization of the

services in order to boost the country’s economy.

On his part Youssef Ali A Y Al-Obaidan, Al Meera Chief Executive Officer, explained that the agreement avails a favorable opportunity for Al Meera to further consolidate its activities and services through the addition of Sidra C-Stores.

As part of Al Meera’s ambi-tious expansion strategy, and with a view to provide out-standing services to consumers, this collaboration will enable Al Meera to offer consumers more diverse product range, at com-petitive prices. Managing Sidra stores marked an important

milestone towards building a strong alliance with Woqod and will allow both Qatari companies

to reach and serve many com-munities across the State of Qatar.

The officials of Woqod and Al Meera exchanging documents after the signing of the MoU.

06 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019HOME

On Peru National Day, Envoy hails growing ties with QatarIRFAN BUKHARI THE PENINSULA

The Ambassador of Peru to Qatar, Jose Benzaquen, has said that Peruvian expatriates working in Qatar are living in very safe and comfortable condi-tions.

Addressing a group of Peruvian expatriates gathered at the Embassy of Peru to celebrate the National Day of Peru on Sunday (July 28), Ambassador Benzaquen appreciated the hos-pitality of Qatar, further saying that ties between both the coun-tries were strengthening with the

passage of time.The Peru National Day

reception which was held at the Embassy was attended by a number of Peruvian profes-sionals working in Qatar partic-ularly Qatar Airways.

Talking to The Peninsula, the Ambassador said that Peru and Qatar shared same ambitions

regarding development. “The Peruvian community

here is serving Qatar and most of the expatriates are profes-sionals. Today, they are gathered here to celebrate the National Day of Peru. They are thankful to the government of Qatar for providing them with an opportunity to work here.”

He said that all members of the Peruvian community living in Qatar were happy and com-fortable. “They will continue with the same spirit for the progress of both the countries,” he added.

On bilateral ties, Ambas-sador Benzaquen said that they covered all fields. “Along other areas like business and trade, we are expanding our relations and cooperation in the area of sports.”

He said that two Peruvian athletes who had recently won gold in marathon would take part in IAAF World Athletics

Championships, Doha 2019 to be held in September this year.

The Ambassador said that like Qatar, Peru had a priority focus on health, education, and sports. “Peru’s economy is growing rapidly opening new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.”

Praising Qatar’s role in international diplomacy, the Peruvian Ambassador said that his job as a diplomat in Qatar was like a challenge. “Qatar has a great place not only in regional system but also international affairs.” A Peruvian expatriate, Cecilia Castro, who is living in

Qatar for the last sixteen years termed her experience of residing and working in Qatar as excellent. Castro who works as a tour guide and event manger said that Qatar was a great country for expatriates with a lot of opportunities to excel. “Qatar is also a great place to start a business,” she said, adding that Peruvian com-munity was excited for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.

According to her, Peru and Qatar could expand bilateral cooperation in various fields including tourism, energy, sports, and agriculture.

The Ambassador says Peru and Qatar are expanding relations and cooperation in sports, along with business and trade. Two Peruvian athletes will take part in IAAF World Athletics Championships, Doha 2019.

ExxonMobil Qatar offers internships to students in JulyTHE PENINSULA DOHA

ExxonMobil Qatar has welcomed this month interns to its summer internship programme that has been running since 2006.

The programme provides students from local universities, such as Qatar University and Texas A&M University at Qatar, with insight into Qatar’s energy industry, and highlight how the company is supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030 through its national strategy.

More than 170 local students have interned at ExxonMobil Qatar to date under the pro-gramme, shadowing the com-pany’s professionals and experts as they go about their day to day work responsibilities.

Expanding opportunities for young people to learn is a stra-tegic priority for ExxonMobil Qatar.

The company places a lot of emphasis on education, partic-ularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

(STEM). This is because STEM education is becoming increas-ingly recognised as a key driver of opportunity, and these sub-jects help develop and prepare students for a workforce where success results not just from what one knows, but what one is able to do with that knowledge.

Abdulla Al Sulaiti spent a few weeks working with ExxonMo-bil’s Upstream Oil and Gas team. “Interning at ExxonMobil Qatar was an insightful and con-structive experience. I hope to retain the skills I obtained from working as an intern and use them in other aspects of my aca-demic life,” said Al Sulaiti.

One intern was based at Exx-onMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ), where the centre’s team helps train and prepare students and up-and-coming scientists to become future leaders in mul-tiple applied research projects.

In addition, three high school students from Al-Maha Academy, English Modern School, and Qatar Academy also took part in a job shadowing programme at

EMRQ this summer. In addition to working

closely with expert scientists and researchers, students are famil-iarised with how the centre con-ducts research in areas of common interest to Qatar and ExxonMobil, including environ-mental management, water reuse, LNG process safety and modern geology.

“Our internship programme

has always been very special to us. We have welcomed interns each summer for almost a decade and we’re excited to have our 2019 interns work closely with us this month,” said Dr Mohamad Al Sulaiti, Research Director for ExxonMobil Research Qatar.

“The programme exemplifies our commitment to supporting Qatar’s efforts to advance

education, and provides students with the opportunity to leverage the experience of our talented scientists and researchers to benefit both personal and pro-fessional growth.

“We’re confident that our bright interns will choose career paths that will allow them to make a tangible and positive impact on their local com-munity,” he added.

During internships, the students shadow the company’s professionals and experts as they go about their day-to-day work responsibilities.

The Business Park Propertiesoffer summerstaycationTHE PENINSULA DOHA

It’s the season of extreme heat but there’s no stopping the resi-dents from enjoying the luxu-rious experience that Doha has to offer. Adding excitement to the summer experience, Crowne Plaza Doha - The Business Park & Holiday Inn Doha - The Business Park recently launched their Summer Staycation campaign.

This weekend staycation programme is aimed at targeting local tourists and offering an irresistible package that features their favourite inclusions for a relaxing holiday without the hassle of travelling too far.

This also aims to promote the various outlets of both prop-erties. For Holiday Inn, you can enjoy an overnight stay for two persons worth QR500. Package includes your choice between Stock Burger Co. Doha’s Weekend Combo for two or Sirocco Italian Restaurant’s Pasta Mania for two. For fam-ilies with kids, they can get an extra room by just adding QR150 and kids under 12 years old eat for free. On top of that, they also get free access to pool & gym during their stay.

Guests can also enjoy a weekend overnight stay at Crowne Plaza for QR600. This includes a choice of any of the following outlet specials: Dinner for two in any of Aramede Res-taurant’s Theme Nights, Rodizio Brazilian Churrascaria’s unlimited meat buffet for two or Arguelina Lounge’s BBQ Nights for two. During their stay, the guests may also take advantage of 25 percent dis-count on Spa treatments. This staycation offer is available every weekend (Friday and Sat-urday) until September 30, 2019.

Bruno Hivon, General Manager of the clustered prop-erties, said: This is a win-win for our valued patrons. They can enjoy both our hotel amenities and dine with a wide array of food choices at their preferred restaurants without breaking the bank.

Qatar Charity participates in talk on Zakat in GenevaTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Charity (QC) participated in a panel discussion on ‘The Humanitarian Potential of Zakat and Islamic Philanthropy” in Annual Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) consulta-tions. The United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) held the panel discussion in Geneva, Swit-zerland.

Ahmed Saad Al Rumaihi, Head of International Partner-ships at Qatar Charity, partici-pated in the panel discussion and briefed the participants about Qatar Charity and its operations globally and the different aspects of humanitarian assistance projects for refugees and its impact on their lives.

Participants at the meeting were briefed on innovative

projects like WRS projects and cash assistance programme using IRIS technology.

They were also informed that these projects have tackled the

issue of misuse of funds and ensured transparency in the dis-tribution of cash, maintaining dignity of beneficiaries while receiving assistance.

Al Rumaihi was then asked about the partnership with UNHCR and how to tackle the issue of donors’ trust, in which he reflected on the joint

campaign (4H) between Qatar Charity and UNHCR during Ramadan.

Qatar Charity (QC) and the UNHCR have launched the QC4HCR initiative to join efforts and cooperate to achieve their common humanitarian goals.

The campaign primarily aims at protecting displaced persons and refugees and the provision of a decent life for them in their countries or countries of asylum.

Responding to a question on how the trust of beneficiaries has been built while using social media platforms, Al Rumaihi said: “QC has a specialised department, which manages social media accounts like Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc”.

Our team works to spread the word to the public to increase the numbers potential donors, he said.

Ahmed Saad Al Rumaihi (second left), Head of International Partnerships at Qatar Charity, speaking during the panel discussion in Geneva, Switzerland.

Texas A&M at Qatar Future Engineers STEMcamp focuses on robotics, energy sustainabilityTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Texas A&M University at Qatar hosted 35 high school students from around Qatar for the 10-day Future Engineers STEM programme designed to foster and encourage students’ passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This year’s Future Engineers programme, ‘RoboChallenge: Engi-neering Energy Sustainability,’ led high school students rising into grades 10, 11 and 12 through a focused engineering project.

The theme was selected based on the challenges engineers face in the real world, according to Dr Mohamed Gharib, who led the pro-gramme alongside STEM experts Benjamin Cieslinski and Tala

Katbeh. “Future Engineers is intended to let participants learn an introduction to renewable energy, the fundamentals of robotics, 3D CAD design and basic programming,” Gharib said. “The students came in expecting lots of hands-on work and lots of fun! This programme equips students with the necessary STEM tools and inspires them to release their imaginations to develop real a d v a n c e s i n r o b o t i c s engineering.”

Gharib said the students par-ticipating in this programme learned several different things, from renewable energy sources to robotics to mechanical designs, programming and radio-controlled systems.

The students competed in teams to design, build, programme

and test their robots. In the final stage of the camp, students pre-sented their designs to a panel of robotics experts.

Majid ElKhalifa, a participant, said, “Despite having some expe-rience in the field of robotics, I learned a vast amount of knowledge about the topic, espe-cially regarding motors and the dif-ferent types of brackets that hold the robot together.”

In addition to technical knowledge and skills, Future Engi-neers also taught participants the importance of teamwork and the value of collaboration, said Habiba Abdelhafez, who said her team overcame several technical chal-lenges while building the robot by working as a team “and taking into consideration other people’s opinions.”

High School students taking part in activities during the Future Engineers STEM camp at Texas A&M University at Qatar. Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd. (Oxy Qatar) sponsored the programme.

07TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

UK rules out swapping seized tankers with Iran AFP & REUTERS LONDON/TEHRAN

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday rejected the idea of swapping seized oil tankers with Iran in a bid to ease escalating Gulf tensions.

“There is no quid pro quo,” Raab told BBC radio. “This is not about some kind of barter. This is about international law and the rules of the international legal system being upheld. That is what we will insist on.”

Raab said that the two sei-zures of ships were not equiv-alent. “Grace 1 was intercepted because it was in breach of sanc-tions and heading with oil for Syria and that was the intelli-gence,” he said, referring to the Iranian ship seized by Britain.

“We were absolutely lawful entitled to detain it in the way we did. The Stena Impero was unlawfully detained. This is not about some kind of barter. This is about the international law and the rules of the international legal system being upheld and that is what we will insist on.”

Iran has said it did not capture the Stena Impero in retaliation for the Grace 1 seizure.

Iranian commandos seized the Stena Impero near the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important waterway for oil

shipments, on July 19. That was two weeks after British forces captured an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar accused of vio-lating sanctions on Syria.

“If the Iranians want to come of the dark and be accepted as a responsible member of the inten-tional community they need to adhere to rules-based system of the international community,” Dominic Raab told Sky News. “You cannot go about detaining unlaw-fully foreign vessels.”

Tehran is angered by renewed sanctions imposed by the United States and what it sees as the failure of Britain and European powers to protect it from the fallout of Washington’s withdrawal from a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. Under the 2015

deal, international sanctions on Iran were relaxed in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme.

Britain last week started sending a warship to accompany all British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a change in policy announced on Thursday after the government previously said it did not have resources to do so.

The Defence Ministry said on Sunday that a second warship, the HMS Duncan, had arrived in the Gulf to support the passage of British-flagged ships through the strait, joining the HMS Mon-trose. Raab made his comments as Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards published footage pur-portedly showing the Guards warning off a British warship during the seizure of the Stena Impero.

The video, published by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, contains footage of the capture of the tanker, showing Guards abseiling onto the deck from a helicopter, with the audio recording superimposed.

Press TV, Iran’s state-run English language news channel, identified the British warship mentioned in the exchange as the Montrose. “You are required not to interfere in these issues,” the Guards’ navy representative says.

Iran: US rejected offer for more robust nuclear inspectionsAFP/TEHRAN

Iran said yesterday the US had rejected an offer from Tehran for more robust nuclear inspec-tions in exchange for lifting sanctions because Washington is “not seeking dialogue”.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal agreed to by Tehran, Iran must ratify a document, known as the additional protocol, prescribing more intrusive inspections of its nuclear programme eight years after the deal was adopted.

“If the US is really seeking an agreement... Iran can make the additional protocol into law (in 2019) and (the US) at the same time bring a plan to the Congress and lift all illegal sanc-tions,” said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

“But as we predicted it was rejected by them, because we

knew that they are not for talks or an agreement that would yield a proper result,” he told a news conference.

According to Mousavi, the proposal was made by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a visit this month in New York to dismiss the idea of “Iran being against talks... (while) America is for dialogue”.

Tehran and Washington have been at loggerheads ever since President Donald Trump uni-laterally withdrew the US form the nuclear deal last year and reim-posed biting sanctions on Iran. Iran announced in May it would no longer respect some deal limits set on its nuclear programme in retal-iation for US sanctions and threatened to go even further if the deal’s remaining parties do not help it circumvent them, especially to sell its oil.

Five Haftar’s commanders killed near TripoliANATOLIA/TRIPOLI

Five commanders aligned with East Libya-based Khalifa Haftar have been killed in clashes around Tripoli, according to Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

A statement issued by GNA forces did not give any further details and there was no comment from Haftar’s forces on the claim. Since early April, forces loyal to Haftar have been launching a campaign to capture Tripoli from GNA forces.

Clashes between the two sides since then have left more than 1,000 people dead and about 5,500 wounded, according to the World Health Organi-zation (WHO). Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody Nato-backed uprising after four decades in power.

Assad forces recover two villagesREUTERS BEIRUT

Government forces have recovered two villages from rebel fighters in northwestern Syria after days of bombardment, sources on both sides said yesterday.

Rebel fighters captured the villages of al-Jabin and Tel Melah in northern Hama province in early June during a counter attack against government forces that have been waging a Russian-backed offensive in the area since late April.

A rebel commander in the area said opposition fighters had withdrawn from al-Jabin after heavy bombardment.

The Syrian state news agency Sana said the army had established full control over both villages and was con-tinuing operations against

“terrorist organisations” in the northern Hama and southern Idlib areas.

The pro-Damascus al-Watan newspaper earlier reported the Syrian army had advanced in the area as Syrian and Russian warplanes targeted militant positions and after several days of pre-paratory fire.

More than 400 civilians have been confirmed killed in the escalation of violence in northwestern Syria over the last three months and more than 440,000 displaced, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said last week.

Ongoing shelling and air strikes included the use of “indiscriminate weapons, such as barrel bombs”, it said. The use of these weapons, which are dropped from helicopters,

by the Syrian army has been widely recorded in the eight-year conflict.

The targeted area is part of the last major foothold of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, who has vowed to take back “every inch” of Syria. However, his side has failed to make signif-icant gains during the latest campaign.

The Idlib area of the northwest is dominated by Tahrir al-Sham, the jihadists formerly known as the Nusra Front. It is proscribed as a ter-rorist group by the U.N. Security Council. Groups backed by Turkey also have a presence in the area.

The Syrian government has described its operations as a response to militant viola-t i o n s o f c e a s e f i r e agreements.

Tyres are set ablaze by Sudanese protesters during a rally in the capital Khartoum to condemn the massacre of five demonstrators including four high school students at a rally in a central town of Al Obeida, yesterday.

Four schoolchildren shot dead at Sudan protestREUTERS KHARTOUM

At least four schoolchildren and one adult were shot dead when security forces broke up a student protest in the Sudanese city of Al Obeid yesterday, campaigners said.

Gunfire rang out as teen-agers rallied against fuel and bread shortages in the capital of North Kordofan state, residents said, at a time of heightened tension between opposition campaigners and Sudan’s mil-itary rulers.

The Forces of Freedom and Change coalition of opposition groups accused military and par-amilitary forces of opening fire on the high school pupils and called for nationwide protests in response. There was no imme-diate statement from Sudan’s ruling military council.

The governor of North Kordofan, General Al Sadiq Al Tayeb Abdallah, said that three high school students and two other citizens died when “infil-trators” diverted a peaceful demonstration from its course and attacked a bank branch and tried to attack another, state news agency Suna reported.

He did not say how the victims died but added that a committee was set up to inves-tigate. A building belonging to the Bank of Khartoum was set on fire during the unrest in Al Obeid, 400km southwest of the capital Khartoum, residents said.

Videos circulating on social media purported to show pupils protesting outside Al Obeid’s main hospital against the killings and injuries.

Hundreds of teenagers in uniform chanted “blood for

blood, we will not accept blood money” in the footage. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the videos.

A member of a professional body of pharmacists linked to the opposition captured a video and photographs that he said showed a corpse and several wounded young men inside Al Obeid Teaching Hospital.

Opposition activists, unions and professional groups launched nationwide protests against mounting economic hardship in December last year.

The military ended the 30-year rule of President Omar Al Bashir in April as protests per-sisted. But activists kept up their demonstrations, pressing for the military to speed up the move to civilian rule and calling for justice for people killed during a raid on a sit-in protest in Khartoum in June.

REUTERS/DUBAI

Kuwait’s budget deficit narrowed to KD3.3bn ($11bn) in the fiscal year that ended in March, helped by higher than expected oil prices, the finance ministry said yesterday.

The oil-rich Gulf state had registered a KD4.8bn deficit in the previous fiscal year, 2017-18. State revenue was KD20.5bn in the year to March 31, 2019, compared to the KD15bn that

had been projected. That was more than the 16 billion dinars of revenue generated in 2017-18.

An average Kuwaiti crude oil price of $68.62 a barrel during 2018-19 was 37% higher than the $50 a barrel anticipated in the budget.

Oil revenue increased 29% year-on-year to KD18.4bn and non-oil revenue rose 24% year-on-year to KD2.1bn. Kuwait has projected a KD7.7bn deficit and spending of KD22.5bn for the current fiscal year.

Kuwait’s budget deficit narrows on higher oil prices

“There is no quid pro quo,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told BBC radio. “This is not about some kind of barter. This is about international law and the rules of the international legal system being upheld. That is what we will insist on.”

Over the past seven decades, Israel’s ruthless policies of land confiscation, illegal settlement and dispossession, coupled with rampant discrim-ination, have inflicted immense misery among the Palestinians, depriving them of their basic rights. TripAdvisor has also played a role in this ongoing abuse.

JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI

08 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019VIEWS

Illegal Israeli settlements and TripAdvisor’s corporate hypocrisy

On June 20, World Refugee Day, TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer published an op-ed urging businesses

to help address the global refugee crisis and pledging to donate millions of dollars to humanitarian organisa-tions “to support and help refugees rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures”.

This is, of course, a commendable initiative, if only it did not contradict in spirit other practices of the company. While TripAdvisor has decided to help refugees in certain parts of the world, elsewhere — namely in the occupied Palestinian territories - it is contrib-uting to the suffering of the local pop-ulation, which itself is the source of one of the world’s largest refugee communities.

Over the past seven decades, Israel’s ruthless policies of land confis-cation, illegal settlement and dispos-session, coupled with rampant dis-crimination, have inflicted immense misery among the Palestinians, depriving them of their basic rights. TripAdvisor has also played a role in this ongoing abuse.

In January 2019, Amnesty Interna-tional released a report called Desti-nation Occupation which exposed how the world’s leading digital tourism companies — Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor — con-tribute to and profit from the mainte-nance, development and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. Such activ-ities amount to war crimes under

international law.

TripAdvisor is the second-most visited website (after Google) by foreign tourists arriving in Israel, with over a quarter (more than 800,000 people) saying that they con-sulted the site for attractions, tours, restau-rants, cafes, hotels or rental apartments before arrival.

In our cam-paigning, we have asked Kaufer to stop listing or pro-moting

properties, activities and attractions located in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. TripAdvisor responded by claiming that “[t]he listing of a property or business on TripAdvisor does not rep-resent our endorsement of that estab-lishment”. Yet the company does make a profit from listings including those in illegal Israeli settlements.

TripAdvisor and other businesses try to defend their position by claiming that the issue of illegal Israeli settle-ments is too political, so they cannot take a stance on it. We understand that businesses don’t have the mandate to resolve political questions, but they do have a responsibility to ensure that they do not cause harm or contribute to human rights abuses.

The human rights impact of tourism and other business operations in Palestine is perhaps difficult for the reader to envision, but it is very real for the people living under Israeli occupation. For example, we found that TripAdvisor has prominently fea-tured, and acted as a booking agent for the City of David, a popular tourist attraction located in Silwan, a Pales-tinian neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem. The site is managed by an organisation called the Elad Foun-dation, which is backed by the Israeli government and works to help Israeli settlers move into the area.

Silwan is home to about 33,000 Palestinians. Several hundred settlers now live there, as well in heavily pro-tected settlement compounds. Israel has been moving its citizens into the neighbourhood since the 1980s. This has resulted in numerous human rights violations, including the forced eviction and displacement of Pales-tinian residents.

In the past 10 years, at least 233 Palestinians have been displaced from Silwan. Most recently, on July 10, Israeli police and security forces evicted a Palestinian family of five, including four children, from their home in the neighbourhood.

By actively encouraging users to visit the City of David and take guided tours of the site, TripAdvisor has boosted Elad’s business and profited from every booking made through its site.

If TripAdvisor had conducted even a basic risk assessment of its business activity in or with Israeli settlements, it would have found that such listings are contributing to sustaining an illegal situation that is inherently dis-criminatory and abusive of the human rights of Palestinians. It is astonishing that a multibillion-dollar company (which claims to be the world’s most visited travel site, with more than 450 million unique visitors a month) has either not done such due diligence on its operations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, or has done so but decided to continue its activities regardless.

Other digital tourism companies have also sent mixed messages on human rights. In April 2019, Airbnb announced that it would be reversing a previous decision to remove listings in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank following a class-action lawsuit by Israeli lawyers. The company stated that it would donate the profits from these listings to “non-profit organizations dedicated to humanitarian aid that serve people in different parts of the world”.

Airbnb, like TripAdvisor, cannot continue to ignore its business with illegal Israeli settlements which goes against basic tenants of international human rights law, while trying to demonstrate concern for people in need through a corporate responsi-bility programme.

No amount of donations will erase the wrong they are doing in the occupied Palestinian territories and indeed, no amount of short-term profit should be worth contributing to war crimes.

The author is Amnesty International’s Israel/Palestine campaigner.

LAITH ABU ZEYAD AL JAZEERA

QUOTE OF THE DAY

There is no recession We’re doing well

economically, and the economic and

social situation in our country is getting better and better.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Mexican President

Regulations on global IT giants urged as alarm rises over oligopoly concerns

The headwinds against the US infor-mation technology giants that have

internet market dominance have apparently further intensified.

The US Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether major IT companies have conducted practices that violate antitrust laws. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also moving in step with the department.

Google LLC, Apple Inc., Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., collectively dubbed GAFA, are the companies the authorities have in mind. This indicates a wariness over the four companies becoming too powerful.

The investigation is not just limited to cases in which the IT giants bully subcon-tractors using their stronger position.

These companies have

acquired technology-savvy startups one after another before the firms become their rivals. Indeed, Facebook bought image-sharing service Instagram while Google acquired video website YouTube.

The Justice Department believes following such a strategy could hinder future competition and techno-logical innovation. Japanese and European authorities have similar concerns.

In addition to the massive amounts of customer infor-mation the IT giants usually handle, their accumulation of the information moves them closer to becoming oligopolies.

Besides, if they expand their businesses through acquisitions, their dominance will strengthen even more. Efforts should be made to develop a fair market envi-ronment through measures including stricter screenings of acquisitions.

The threat of these IT

giants has been perceived increasingly because their services have spread rapidly and their social impact has grown.

During the 2016 US presi-dential election, fake news spread through social media. Furthermore, it has been revealed that an organization deeply connected to Russia had placed numerous political advertisements on Facebook and Google.

Public distrust in data protection is also growing. The FTC has fined Facebook $5 billion (about 540 billion yen) for privacy violations on the data of up to 87 million users.

The US Congress has launched a bipartisan inves-tigation, including a series of hearings, into the IT giants. Even the idea of breaking up the four companies has emerged.

Deep discussions are called for on how to have regulations and oversight that are in line with the times.

Many countries have been frustrated by the IT giants, claiming that they make huge profits but do not pay sufficient taxes.

In France, a bill has been passed to introduce a digital services tax targeting IT com-panies of a certain business size that are engaged in online transactions. A 3% tax will be imposed on the sales of these companies earned in France.

It takes time to reach agreement on international taxation rules. France’s attempt can perhaps be said to be a move of raising a question over the situ-ation in which regulatory systems have not caught up with the rise of the IT giants.

Japan must also accel-erate efforts to establish new regulations including the establishment of laws after relevant entities, with the Fair Trade Commission cen-trally involved, work out details of the issue.

CHAIRMANSHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

editorinchief@pen.com.qa

ACTING MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED

m.salim@pen.com.qa

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED OSMAN ALI

osman@pen.com.qa

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

EDITORIAL

Expanding exploration footprint

Qatar Petroleum is expanding global exploration foot-print. As part of its strategy to expand overseas through strategic investments, Qatar Petroleum (QP) yesterday said that it has entered into an agreement

with Total for a share of exploration and production rights in two blocks offshore Guyana in Latin America.

Three exploration wells are planned in these blocks this year — two on the Orinduik block, including the Jethro well which is currently being drilled, and one on the Kanuku block.

Minister of State for Energy Affairs, and President & CEO of Qatar Petroleum, H E Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said: “We are pleased to expand our global exploration footprint into Guyana together with our valuable, long-term partner, Total, in these offshore blocks in this prospective basin. We hope that the exploration efforts are successful. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and the gov-ernment of Guyana for their collaboration in this effort, and we look forward to working together in these blocks.”

Qatar Petroleum last week strengthened its presence in Africa when it entered into an agreement with Eni and Total

to acquire a 25 percent partici-pating interest (13.75 percent from Eni and 11.25 percent from Total) in blocks L11A, L11B and L12 located offshore Kenya. The three offshore block (L11A, L11B and L12) are situated in what is considered to be a frontier and largely unexplored area in the Lamu basin east of Kenya. The blocks have a total area of approximately 15,000 square kilometers, with water depths ranging from about 1000 meters to 3,000 meters.

In April, QP won exploration rights in five offshore blocks in the North Argentina, and Malvinas West basins in Argentina. QP won the explo-

ration rights for blocks MLO-113, MLO-117, and MLO-118 in the Malvinas West basin. QP also won the exploration rights for blocks CAN-107 and CAN-109 in the North Argentina basin. The exploration blocks offered during the public tender included 38 shallow, deep and ultra-deep water offshore blocks in the Austral, North Argentina, and Malvinas West basins. QP participated in the bid round as a non-operating partner.

In March, Qatar Petroleum entered into an agreement to acquire a stake in exploration of 12 offshore blocks along the coast of Morocco and another similar agreement for a stake in a block in Mozambique.

QP is an integrated national oil corporation responsible for the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar and beyond. Its activities include the exploration, production, processing, marketing and sales of oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids, gas to liquids products, refined products, petrochemicals, fertilizers, steel and aluminum.

Qatar Petroleum is committed to contributing to building a better future by meeting economic needs, preserving the environment and natural resources for future generations.

Qatar Petroleum is committed to contributing to building a better future by meeting economic needs, preserving the environment and natural resources for future generations.

A file photo of Palestinians watching a house destroyed by Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem’s neighbourhood of Silwan.

Before resigning, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar presided over the proceedings that included the BJP’s Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa moving and winning the confidence motion by voice vote, approving the finance bill for the state budget for fiscal 2019-20 and its appropriation estimates.

09TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 ASIA

Yediyurappa wins floor test; Speaker quitsIANS BENGALURU

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa yesterday won the floor test in the Assembly by voice vote.

“Yediyurappa has won the confidence motion he moved by voice vote with more yes than nos. As there is no demand for division of votes by the oppo-sition leader (Siddaramaiah), I declare the motion passed, proving majority support in the House,” Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar declared in the House.

Meanwhile, the Speaker resigned immediately after the house adopted the confidence m o t i o n m o v e d b y Yediyurappa.

Earlier, Yediyurappa moved the one-line motion minutes after the House began the day-long special session at 11.05 a.m.

“I move the motion, seeking support of all the members from both sides in the House and

appeal for unanimous vote in favour of it,” said Yediyurappa in Kannada after the Speaker permitted him to seek the trust vote without debate.

The one-line motion was put to voice vote after Congress leader Siddaramaiah and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy spoke against it and slammed the ruling BJP for coming to power through horse-trading and poaching of their rebel legislators.

With the effective House strength reduced to 208 from 225 after 17 rebel legislators of the coalition Congress and JD-S

were disqualified by the Speaker on July 25 and July 28, the BJP had the support of 106 members, including one Independent H. Nagesh from Mulbagal assembly segment, about 95 km east of Bengaluru.

In contrast, the coalition allies had only 100 members, including 66 from the Congress and 34 from JD-S against the 105 halfway mark for a simple majority. True to his style of functioning, which has rubbed off many a lawmaker in the treasury and Opposition benches, Karnataka Assembly’s multi-faceted Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar

resigned yesterday, a day after he disqualified 14 more rebel legislators of the Congress-JD-S coalition allies for reportedly violating the anti-defection law.

“I am resigning from this august post as Speaker for per-sonal reasons. I thank all the members for cooperating with me during my 14-month tenure in this chair,” Kumar told the leg-islators in Kannada and left the House in a huff, as he had a flight to catch in the afternoon.

“As I am racing against time to reach Hyderabad for the last rites of veteran Congress leader Jaipal Reddy, who passed away on Sunday, I seek your per-mission to leave,” Kumar told the members and exited in a hurry after handing over the baton to Deputy Speaker Krishna Reddy of the Janata Dal-Secular.

Before resigning, the 70-year-old veteran Congress lawmaker from Srinivaspur assembly segment, about 90km

east of Bengaluru, presided over the proceedings that included the BJP’s Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa moving and winning the confidence motion by voice vote, approving the finance bill for the state budget for fiscal 2019-20 and its appro-priation estimates.

Though Kumar has been in the limelight throughout this month for his tough conduct inside and outside the Assembly during the political crisis that gripped the southern state, his decision to disqualify 17 rebel legislators made him contro-versial, as the battle for one-upmanship is being fought in the Supreme Court.

The rebels and the BJP criti-cised Kumar alike for not only delaying in accepting or rejecting their resignation despite a directive from the apex court with a rider that he could do as per the law, but also slighting them for not conducting as the people’s representative.

Rahul insists on non-family Congress president as chorus for Priyanka growsIANS NEW DELHI

Amid the unease in the Congress against the current drift, Rahul Gandhi has remained firm on not having a member of the party’s first family as the working president despite growing voices in support of Pri-yanka Gandhi to take over.

As the joust between an adamant old guard and a defiant young turks club plays out, the Congress remains headless and rudderless, exposed by its inherent contradictions.

The old guard is firmly behind Priyanka Gandhi’s ele-vation despite a section of young leaders backing Rahul Gandhi’s plan. Even as Rahul opposes a family member at the helm, her Sonbhadra show has won her many admirers both in the party and outside. The cabal around Sonia Gandhi is insistent that they have a winner on their hands after Priyanka’s inter-vention in UP. This remains unacceptable to Rahul.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Thiru-vananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor were among the leaders who supported Priyanka Gandhi.

Amarinder Singh said that Priyanka Gandhi would be a perfect choice, but the decision rests on the Congress Working Committee.

“Priyanka is an excellent choice for the next President who will enjoy all-round support. Agree with Shashi Tharoor that her natural charisma would gal-vanise the workers and voters alike. Hope the CWC decides on it soon,” he said.

Priyanka Gandhi has been active in taking on the BJP gov-ernment in Uttar Pradesh. She has been firing a salvo a day against the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

According to many leaders, the delay in appointing a working president is hurting the party which is rudderless at the moment. The lack of leadership has raised doubts in the minds of people and the Congress lost a crucial southern state of Kar-nataka because of no clear guidance from the high command to the state unit.

But those backing the move of not having a Gandhi family member as the working pres-ident, are of the view that the party should back Rahul Gan-dhi’s stand. This camp sees Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and Madhya Pradesh leader Jyotiaditya Scindia as the best choice to steer the party in the current cir-cumstances. A compromise might see Kharge as working president with two veeps Pilot and Scindia. But Rahul refuses to accept this too.

The name of Karnataka strong man Mallikarjun Kharge has also gained ground because he is well versed in Hindi and can take all the sections along, said sources.

The CWC is now expected to meet next week to end the lead-ership crisis. The meeting could not take place earlier as Rahul Gandhi was in the US.

After his return, several Con-gress leaders made a fresh appeal to him to consider his decision, but he conveyed that he was firm on his decision.

Solidarity rally for Unnao victimIndian social activists use their mobile light as they take part in a solidarity rally in front of India Gate monument for the Unnao victim, in New Delhi, yesterday. An Indian teenager who accused a senior politician of molestation is fighting for her life after being critically injured in a crash on Sunday that killed two relatives, raising suspicions of foul play.

Cow strolls in IIT-B classroom; panel set up to probeIANS MUMBAI

A video of a stray cow entering a lecture hall at the IIT-Bombay campus has gone viral, embar-rassing the authorities at the country’s premier institute of learning, here yesterday.

When contacted, an IIT-B spokesperson said it was not clear from the undated video when or where the incident occurred. The institute would enquire about it before com-menting, he said.

Stunned by the sharp reac-tions the incident evoked on social media, the IIT-B yesterday

said it had set up a committee “to look into the human versus animal conflict issue on the campus”. The committee will consult Br ihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), non-government organisations (NGOs) and animal experts before taking remedial steps.

Students in a first-floor lecture hall were surprised and amused to see a bewildered white cow with dark spots and medium horns gallivanting into the classroom, entering from one side and walking out of the door on the other.

Some students, who were taking a test, got up and tried to

shoo away the cow, but she took her own time to leave, without creating any fuss.

According to students, the incident happened last Saturday when it was raining heavily in Mumbai. The cow might have entered the building for shelter, but unwittingly strayed inside the lecture hall, they felt.

Last fortnight, a student was injured when a couple of stray bulls attacked him on the campus. The BMC did come, but removed only two bulls from outside the IIT-B gate. The incident triggered a storm on the social media. “I am a cow and I am here to teach you

moooooo-ology”, said one. A medico said, “Cow entering IIT-B without clearing JEE Advanced??” Another one added: “The cow cleared in through GATE only. Fare Enough. What’s the problem here?”

The 550-acre lush green IIT-B campus, bordering the Powai Lake, is known to harbour a variety of creatures, including snakes, monkeys, langurs, and a variety of birds and insects.

Besides the stray cattle, a leopard had recently taken refuge from rain in the com-pound of one of the buildings. There are a few crocodiles in the adjoining Powai Lake, but offi-cials shrug it off as ‘no great deal’.

Feeding rescued rhino calvesEmployees of the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) feeding rhino calves, rescued in floodwaters, at Kaziranga National park in Assam, yesterday. Wildlife officers are racing against time to rescue animals caught in floodwaters from torrential monsoon rains in India’s famed Kaziranga National Park as the death toll rose to 215.

Jaipal Reddy’s last rites held with full state honours

IANS/HYDERABAD

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy was cremated here yes-terdaywith full state honours.

Relatives, friends and leaders of Congress and other parties bid adieu to Jaipal Reddy, who died on Sunday fol-lowing brief illness. He was 77.

The funeral was performed near PV Ghat on Necklace Road abutting Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city.

Jaipal Reddy’s elder son Arvind Reddy lit the funeral pyre amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests while Tel-angana Police offered a gun salute.

India’s wild tiger population jumps to almost 3,000: CensusAFP NEW DELHI

India’s wild tiger population has increased by more than 30 percent in the last four years, according to a new census released yesterday, raising hopes for the survival of the endangered species.

In what Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed as a “historic achievement,” the census found 2,967 tigers in the wild across the country, up from 2,226 four years ago. “We reaffirm our commitment towards protecting the tiger,” Modi said in Delhi at the release of the census.

“Some 15 years ago, there was serious concern about the decline in the population of tigers. It was a big chal-lenge for us but with determination, we have achieved our goals.”

The massive surveys are conducted every four years, with the latest census, titled All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018, spanning 15 months and using 26,000 camera traps that took almost 350,000 images across known tiger

habitats, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in announcing its release.

Images that showed the big cats were analysed using computer pro-grammes to individually identify each creature. Wildlife and forestry officials also scoured 380,000 square kilometres of terrain. In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But that fell to a record low of 3,200 glo-bally in 2010.

That year, India and 12 other coun-tries with tiger populations signed an agreement to double their big cat numbers by 2022. Population numbers in the nation have risen steadily since falling to a record low of 1,411 in 2006.

But they are yet to return to the tally of 2002 when some 3,700 tigers were estimated to be alive in the country. It is believed some 40,000 tigers lived in India at the time of independence from Britain in 1947. Wildlife experts lauded the government effort and said the rise in numbers heralded a new chapter in the conservation of big cats in India.

Chandrayaan-2 orbit successfully raised third timeIANS/CHENNAI

The third orbit raising activity for Chan-drayaan-2 spacecraft has been performed successfully at 3.12pm yesterday.

The Indian Space Research Organ-isation (ISRO) said the orbit of the Chan-drayaan-2 was raised to 276 x 71,792 km by firing the onboard motors for 989 seconds. All spacecraft parameters are normal, it said. The fourth orbit raising manoeuvre is scheduled between 2 to 3pm on August 2.

The spacecraft comprises three seg-ments - the Orbiter (weighing 2,379kg, eight payloads), the lander ‘Vikram’ (1,471kg, four payloads) and rover ‘Pragyan’ (27 kg, two payloads). The ISRO said the trans-lunar insertion of Chandrayaan-2, which will send it to the moon, is scheduled on August 14.

After that, the Chandrayaan-2 is scheduled to reach moon by August 20 and the lander Vikram will land on the Earth’s sole satellite on September 7.

Modi to feature on Discovery ChannelIANS NEW DELHI

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will appear in an episode of Man vs Wild, the popular tel-evision programme on Dis-covery Channel, on August 12.

The programme, aimed at creating awareness about animal conservation and envi-ronmental change, will be aired at 9pm. The programme can be seen by viewers in 180 coun-tries. Adventurer and television presenter Edward Michael Grylls, popularly known as Bear Grylls, will appear in the pro-gramme along with Modi.

“People across 180 coun-tries will get to see the unknown side of PM @narendramodi as he ventures into Indian wil-derness to create awareness about animal conservation & environmental change. Catch Man Vs Wild with PM Modi @DiscoveryIN on August 12 @9 pm,” Grylls tweeted. Grylls also posted a short video of the promos of the programme.

10 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019ASIA

PM Imran likely to visit Kabul to push peace processANATOLIA ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to visit Kabul in coming weeks to push for the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan, according to his close aide.

“The Prime Minister is planning to visit Kabul, however no date and schedule have been finalised yet,” the aide told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the matter.

However, he refused to share more details about the likely visit of Imran, who last week returned from his first official visit to Washington.

Imran, after meeting with US President Donald Trump, said his country would do everything within its power to facilitate the ongoing peace process.

“I want to assure President Trump that Pakistan will do eve-rything within its power to facil-itate the Afghan peace process. The world owes it to the long-suffering Afghan people to bring about peace after 4 decades of conflict,” Imran tweeted last week. On Thursday, the Paki-stani Foreign Ministry said Islamabad has facilitated direct talks between the US and Afghan Taliban. “We are noting progress with keen interest and hope that

the recent intra-Afghan talks would lead to a more compre-hensive and all-inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue,” Mohammad Faisal, spokesman for the min-istry, told reporters during his weekly briefing.

Analysts believe Imran’s expected visit would be a part of his promise which he made with President Trump to con-tinue his country’s positive role in Afghan peace process.

“Last week Imran Khan was announced to play more effective role in Afghan peace (process) after his meeting with President Trump, so this visit may be a part of that initiative,” Fakhar Kakakheil, Islamabad-based political analyst, said.

If he visits Kabul, it will also help further improve bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he added.

Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained frosty in recent decades with both accusing each other of pat-ronising militants. However, the recent visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan had improved the ties between the two neighbours.

Pakistan to extend formal invitation to Afghan TalibanINTERNEWS ISLAMABAD

Pakistan will soon extend a formal invitation to the repre-sentatives of the Afghan Taliban to visit Islamabad as part of a latest diplomatic push to convince the insurgents for a permanent ceasefire and intra-Afghan dialogue, officials said.

The Taliban spokesperson has already indicated that the group’s representatives would be willing to travel to Islamabad if given a formal invitation.

The US, according to offi-cials and diplomatic sources, requested Pakistan to use its “good offices” to persuade the Taliban for a permanent ceasefire and intra-Afghan dialogue.

Officials said that the gov-ernment is in the process of extending a formal invitation to the Taliban’s political office in Doha to visit Islamabad to meet the prime minister. However, no one from the gov-ernment officially commented on the development given the sensitivities attached to the move.

It is believed that Pakistan would send an invitation to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy head of Taliban and Sher Abbas Stanekazai, who is currently leading negotiations with the US interlocutors led by Zalmay Khalilzad.

Civil society members pray for Pakistani soldiers, who were martyred in attacks by militants, during a candle light vigil in Islamabad, yesterday. Ten Pakistani soldiers were martyred by militants on July 27 in two separate incidents in the country’s northwestern and southwestern provinces.

Tribute to martyrs

Bangladesh struggles to contain dengue outbreakAFP DHAKA

Bangladesh is in the grip of the country’s worst-ever dengue fever outbreak, officials said yesterday, with hospitals over-flowing and social media flooded with pleas for blood donors.

Eight people have died and there have been 13,637 cases of the disease so far this year, with nearly 1,100 people — most of them children — diagnosed in the last 24 hours, according to official figures.

“This number is the highest since we started keeping record on dengue patients nearly two

decades ago,” senior health min-istry official Ayesha Akter said.

Local media reported that the number of victims could be much higher and the Amader Shomoy newspaper said at least 30 people had died of dengue this year.

The capital Dhaka is the worst-hit, with the city launching a fumigation drive to kill the Aedes mosquito, which is capable of spreading devastating diseases like dengue, Zika and chikungunya.

Dengue, which causes flu-like symptoms, can be deadly if it develops into a haemorrhagic fever. There is no vaccine or any

specific medicine to treat dengue, according to the World Health Organisation.

An AFP correspondent visited major hospitals in Dhaka and saw patients lying on floors and in corridors as they waited for treatment.

The country’s largest hospital — Dhaka Medical College Hos-pital (DMCH) — has treated some 1,858 dengue patients this month, according to director general AKM Nasir Uddin.

“We have opened a special corner for dengue patients,” he told AFP.

Doctors have been working overtime to cope with the large

volume of patients.“Our facilities are over-

stretched and overwhelmed. We are struggling to cope,” a medical officer at Dhaka’s Mitford Hos-pital said.

There have been reports of blood banks struggling to meet the needs of seriously ill patients, with appeals for blood launched on social media sites such as Facebook.

One mother said she was worried about her sick daughter, aged four.

“Doctors have done all they could do. All I am doing now is calling Allah for help,” Nasima Khatun said.

Damaged buildings are seen after Sunday’s attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday.

20 dead as violence mars start of Afghan election seasonAFP KABUL

Deadly violence marred the start of Afghanistan’s election season on Sunday, after President Ashraf Ghani insisted “peace is coming” to the war-torn nation.

At least 20 people were killed and 50 others wounded on Sunday in an attack targeting the Kabul office of Ghani’s running mate, Amrullah Saleh.

The violence came on the first day of campaigning for the upcoming presidential elections, serving as a grim reminder of Afghanistan’s woeful security sit-uation and the sort of mayhem and murder that have beset pre-

vious polls.The attack began around

4:40pm (1210 GMT), when a huge blast struck near the office of Green Trend, a youth and reform-focused civil society organisation Saleh heads. He escaped without serious injury, his office said.

The Interior Ministry said the assault began when a suicide bomber detonated an explo-sives-packed car at the entrance to the building, then three attackers ran inside.

After about six hours the siege ended with all attackers killed and the rescue of about 150 people who had been trapped in the building, according to the

interior ministry, which also pro-vided the toll of 20 dead and 50 wounded.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Earlier on Sunday, a buoyant Ghani kicked off his campaign by insisting “peace is coming,” after nearly 18 years of conflict, and that pivotal talks with the Taliban would take place.

He is hoping to fend off chal-lenges from 17 other candidates to score a second term at twice-postponed presidential elections now slated for September 28.

On Saturday, Ghani’s peace minister, Abdul Salam Rahimi, said direct talks would take place with the Taliban within two

weeks as part of a larger, US-led push for peace.

Such a development could be crucial, as the Taliban — who now control or influence about half of Afghanistan — have so far refused to speak to Ghani’s gov-ernment. War aside, the country faces a host of major issues ahead of the election, including rocketing crime, a lacklustre economy, soaring unem-ployment, and crumbling infra-structure. Voters are despondent about the prospects of a fair election. Many worry about a repeat of violent attacks on pre-vious polling stations by the Taliban and other insurgent groups trying to undermine

Afghanistan’s fragile democracy.Ghani insisted this year’s

vote would be “clean”, but dis-trust is rife.

In Kabul, security forces fanned out across the city as leading candidates held rallies.

Ghani’s top rival is Abdullah Abdullah, who currently serves as the president’s chief executive under an awkward power-sharing arrangement brokered by the US after the 2014 election.

“It is our national and reli-gious duty to take advantage of any opportunities for peace,” Abdullah told a campaign rally.The elections were postponed twice this year and further delays could lead to more distrust.

Afghan presidential candidates fear for safety after attackAFP KABUL

Candidates jockeying to become Afghanistan’s next president lashed out at the incumbent Ashraf Ghani yesterday after deadly violence cast a shadow over the first official day of campaigning.

The violence on Sunday served as a grim reminder of Afghanistan’s woeful security sit-uation and the sort of mayhem and murder that have beset pre-vious polls.

“The government has not paid attention to the candidates’ security,” said Qadir Shah, the spokesman for Hanif Atmar, one

of the top contenders looking to stop Ghani securing a second term at September 28 elections.

Shah said he and 12 other candidates had delayed plans to launch their campaigns, pri-marily over security concerns but also because they see Ghani as using his office for an unfair advantage. Mohammad Hakim Torsan, considered a long-shot candidate, said his supporters worry about a repeat of the kind of violence that marred previous polls, when insurgents launched frequent attacks.

“Most of the candidates are worried about the security. The government must provide security,” Torsan said.

Pakistan summons Indian envoy over ceasefire violationsINTERNEWS ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for South Asia and SAARC, Dr Mohammad Faisal yesterday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to condemn the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

Dr Faisal urged the Indian

side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and launch an investigation into the most recent and past incidents of violations.

He also stressed that Indian forces should respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

On Sunday, one civilian was martyred and four others injured in ceasefire violations by Indian forces.

PM says rule of law solution to Pakistan’s problemsINTERNEWS/ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday said the solution to Pakistan’s problems was the rule of law.

“Look at the situation in Pakistan today, those in power who became prime minister and president, they are not trying to prove their innocence in court,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said while addressing a ceremony at the President House in connection with Minorities Day.

The prime minister added that when answers are sought from those who put the country in Rs24,000bn debt they allege political vengeance.

Giving the example of the State of Madinah, Prime Min-ister said all problems of Pakistan could be solved if the country followed this model. He added that rule of law and rights of minorities were central to the State of Madinah. “Our ideal is to move towards the State of Medinah. There is no rule of law in our country. If there is rule of law most of your problems will be resolved,” he said.

Imran seeks report over Irfan Siddiqui’s arrestINTERNEWS ISLAMABAD

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan has sought a report over Irfan Siddiqui’s arrest.

In a tweet, she said decision will be taken in light of the facts, and the responsible will be punished.

Awan said the Prime Min-ister has expressed displeasure over the incident.

She said Irfan Siddiqui, a former aide former prime min-ister Nawaz Sharif, had to suffer due to the lacunas in the system which the Prime Minister is determined to remove.

Awan said the PML-N leaders overplayed the incident to get political oxygen from it.

Siddiqui was arrested by Islamabad Police for allegedly violating tenancy law on Friday and was later released on bail.

INTERNEWS ISLAMABAD

The Supreme Court of Pakistan yesterday ordered the formation of a larger bench to determine the exact length for a life sentence.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, took notice of the issue while hearing a petition to reduce a convict’s life sen-tence into half.

Haroonul Rashid was sen-tenced to life imprisonment 12 times in 12 different cases of murder. He has been in jail since 1997 and has served a 22-year sentence, Rashid’s lawyer told the court, adding that the court had allowed for the 12 sentences to be served concurrently.

“When we don’t know how long a person is going to live, how can we halve a life sen-tence,” the chief justice asked.

The date and schedule of Pakistan Premier’s visit to Kabul have not been finalised yet.

Pakistan SC to determine span of life term

11TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 ASIA / EUROPE

Beijing backs HK leader Carrie Lam as protests rageREUTERS BEIJING/HONG KONG

China reiterated yesterday its support for Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, and its police, and called on Hong Kong people to oppose violence following another weekend of clashes between protesters and police in the city.

Hong Kong bore the scars yesterday of its eighth straight weekend of violent protests, with hard hats, umbrellas and water bottles littering some central streets.

Huge crowds have taken to the streets to protest against a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be sent to China to face trial in Communist Party-controlled courts.

The protests have at times paralysed parts of the financial district, shut government offices and disrupted business opera-tions across the city. Officials have also warned about the

impact of the unrest on Hong Kong’s economy.

Beijing has stood by the city’s leader Lam, and the Chinese government’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, which has cabinet-level authority over the former British colony, reiterated that support at a news con-ference in Beijing.

“The central government firmly supports Carrie Lam leading the Hong Kong govern-ment’s administration according to law, firmly supports the Hong Kong police strictly enforcing rule of law,” Yang Guang, a spokesman for the office, told the news conference.

“We especially appreciate and empathise with Hong Kong

police forces and their families for the huge pressure they are bearing,” he said.

The most important thing was for Hong Kong to handle the unrest according to the law, Yang said, blaming “irresponsible people” in the West for stirring up trouble in a bid to “contain China’s development”.

Such efforts would fail, he said.

The briefing was the first held by the office specifically to address the Hong Kong protests.

Yang, asked under what con-ditions the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could intervene, referred, as other officials have done, to Hong Kong’s mini con-stitution, known as the Basic Law, which states that the Hong Kong government can ask the PLA garrison in the city to help maintain order.

Yang said Hong Kong’s gov-ernment and society needed to find more effective ways to help young people address concerns over housing, employment and

other issues, although officials did not announce any specific measures to address the unrest.

The protests are the most serious political crisis in Hong Kong since it returned to China 22 years ago. They also pose the greatest popular challenge to

Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that promised wide-ranging freedoms denied to citizens in mainland China.

Yang Guang of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council attending a news conference in Beijing, yesterday.

Japan’s Abe unlikely to meet S Korea’s Moon at UN in SeptREUTERS TOKYO

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is unlikely to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the United Nations General Assembly in September, the Sankei newspaper said yesterday, the latest sign of strained ties between the US allies.

Abe will not hold talks with Moon unless Seoul takes con-structive steps over World War-Two era forced labour and other issues, the paper said.

He will also forgo meeting Moon at an October meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in November, the paper added.

The leaders did not meet during June’s Group of 20 summit in Japan’s western city of Osaka.

Separately, Korean Air Lines said it would suspend flights

between the South Korean city of Busan and Sapporo in northern Japan from September 3 because of falling demand amid the worsening diplomatic dispute that has spurred boycotts of Japanese goods and services.

Relations between the Asian neighbours are arguably at their lowest ebb since they normalised ties in 1965. A South Korean court ruled last year that Jap-anese companies had to pay compensation to South Koreans forced to work in Japanese fac-tories during Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

Japan tightened restrictions on exports to South Korea of key high-tech materials in making memory chips and display panels, accusing its neighbour of inadequate management of sensitive items.

But the curbs were also seen as retaliation against last year’s ruling by the South Korean Supreme Court.

Japan says the court’s

decisions violate international law because compensation was settled under the 1965 treaty.

In Tokyo’s latest effort to bolster its position on the issue, a Japanese foreign ministry official unveiled a document yesterday that describes exchanges between Japanese and South Korean negotiators in the run-up to the 1965 treaty.

The document has a South Korean negotiator say in a 1961 meeting that it is natural to demand compensation for psy-chological and physical pain arising from forced labour.

“The South Korean Supreme Court decision says such matters as wages were solved by the treaty, but that the right to claim for reparation for psychological damage is outside the realm of the treaty,” the official said.

“But, compensation for psy-chological and physical pain was clearly asked for during the negotiations (towards the con-clusion of the treaty).”

The Chinese national flag flies at half-mast in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square yesterday, in memory of China’s former premier Li Peng, who died on July 22 at the age of 90.

China mourns Li Peng

China holds military drills in waters near TaiwanAFP BEIJING

China is holding military exer-cises in the East China Sea and the South China Sea near Taiwan this week, days after a defence white paper said Beijing would not rule out retaking the island by force.

The China Maritime Safety Administration issued notices on Sunday and yesterday warning against entering broad swaths of

airspace and waters off the coast of eastern Zhejiang and southern Guangdong provinces due to “military activity”.

The announcements said drills in the East China sea were scheduled to run through Thursday and the ones in the South China Sea would end Friday. But it did not offer details on the scale of the exercises or which military units were involved.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part

of its territory awaiting unifi-cation, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

The defence white paper published last week stressed Bei-jing’s willingness to use force to thwart any move towards the s e l f - r u l e d i s l a n d ’ s independence.

The drills also come days after the US Navy’s USS Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, conducted a routine

transit through the narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Relations between Beijing and Taipei have plummeted since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Beijing has cut official com-munications, ramped up military exercises and ratcheted up eco-nomic pressure on the island.

Putin opponent Navalny ‘poisoned’: LawyerAFP MOSCOW

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was “poisoned” by an unidentified toxic substance but doctors have sent him back to jail despite his condition, his lawyer and personal physician said yesterday.

President Vladimir Putin’s top opponent was rushed to hos-pital on Sunday a day after almost 1,400 people were arrested at an unauthorised protest, in the largest police crackdown on dissent in recent years.

Navalny was hospitalised following what was described as an acute allergic reaction, but his supporters later said they believed he had been exposed to poison.

“It is indeed poisoning by some unknown chemical sub-stance,” his lawyer Olga M i k h a i l o v a t o l d

reporters yesterday outside Mos-cow’s hospital No 64, which treated Navalny. Navalny on Sunday had swollen eyelids, dis-charge in the eye and a rash on his upper body, his personal

physician Anastasia Vasilyeva said. She told reporters that both she and the 43-year-old poli-tician believe the reaction could have been a response to “some chemical agent”.

A file photo of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny addressing supporters during a rally in Moscow on May 5, 2018.

Germany extradites Bosnian man linked to Paris attacks to BelgiumAFP BERLIN

Germany yesterday extradited to Belgium a Bosnian man wanted in connection with the 2015 attacks in Paris, prose-cutors said.

The unnamed 39-year-old suspected of having procured weapons for the attackers “was extradited this morning,” Naumburg prosecution service spokesman Klaus Tewes told AFP.

The synchronised shooting and suicide attacks by Islamic State gunmen in Paris on the Bataclan concert hall, national stadium and several cafes killed a total of 130 people.

German authorities had last month announced the man’s arrest on the night of June 19-20 on a European arrest warrant issued by the Belgian authorities.

He was accused “of abetting a terrorist organisation linked to the terror attacks, including on the Bataclan concert hall, on November 13, 2015 in Paris”.

The German authorities said then that he had been targeted in a separate investigation against two Bosnian citizens on suspicion of violating military weapons control laws.

The Islamic State group, which then controlled vast ter-ritory across Syria and Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attacks in the French capital, which were allegedly coordi-nated from Brussels.

IS also claimed responsi-bility for the suicide bombings that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds of others in the Belgian capital in March 2016.

The same Brussels cell is believed to have helped organise and carry out both terror attacks.

South Korea sends back 3 North Korean fishermenAFP SEOUL

Seoul sent three North Koreans who crossed the maritime border in a fishing boat back home yesterday after they said they wanted to return, the Unification ministry said.

“All of the three crew members, as well as the wooden vessel, will be returned to the North,” the ministry told reporters in Seoul.

The boat and three crew had set off, a ministry official said.

The vessel had a white towel tied to its mast when it crossed the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, into South Korean waters late Saturday.

Thinking the towel might be a sign the crew wanted to defect, South Korean author-ities took the boat to a military port for investigation.

But when questioned the crew said they had crossed the border by mistake and wanted to go home, the ministry said.

The incident comes after a North Korean fishing boat crossed the intensely monitored border undetected in June and sailed into a South Korean port before it was identified.

‘Cyber dissident’ given 12-year jail term in ChinaAFP BEIJING

China’s first “cyber-dissident”, whose website reported on sensitive topics including human rights, was sentenced to 12 years in prison yesterday for leaking state secrets, a court said.

Huang Qi ran a website called “64 Tianwang” — named after the June 4, 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protesters.

Huang was guilty of “leaking national state secrets and providing state secrets to foreign entities”, the statement by the Mianyang Intermediate People’s Court said, adding that Huang will be deprived of political rights for four years.

His website, which reported on local corruption, human rights violations, and other topics rarely seen in ordinary Chinese media, is blocked on the mainland.

The site was awarded a Reporters Without Borders prize in November 2016. A few weeks later, Huang was detained in his hometown of Chengdu, according to Amnesty International.

Serbia’s leader praises Putin for boosting its militaryAP BELGRADE, SERBIA

Serbia’s leader yesterday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for boosting the Balkan nation’s military with battle tanks and armoured vehicles, amid Western fears that the arms build-up could threaten fragile peace in the region.

President Aleksandar Vucic inspected the delivery of 10 recently arrived Russian armoured patrol vehicles at a Serbian military base, part of the promised supply of 30 sec-ondhand T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles.

The vehicles have been delivered despite neighbouring Romania’s refusal to let them transit via the Danube River because of international sanc-tions in place against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. Romania is a NATO member while Serbia claims military neutrality despite close ties with Moscow. Media reports say Russia flew the 10 armoured vehicles to Serbia last week on its transport planes using Hun-garian airspace.

“The most important thing for us is that we managed to transport the vehicles to Serbia,” Vucic said. “How and which way they came, that is our business.”

China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said some people in the West were stirring up the unrest in Hong Kong ‘to contain China’s development’.

12 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019EUROPE

EU court warns Belgium over nuclear stationsAFP BRUSSELS

Belgium should have carried out environmental impact studies before prolonging the opera-tional life of two nuclear reactors, Europe’s top court ruled yesterday.

The European Court of Justice, responding to a case brought by two environmental pressure groups, found the Belgian government in breach of EU law.

Belgium must now conduct environmental assessments and

demonstrate that there is a “genuine and serious threat” of power cuts if the plants are closed.

And, as the Doel 1 and Doel 2 reactors are on a site close to the Dutch border, the Nether-lands must be involved in a “transboundary assessment procedure”.

The Belgian constitutional court will now decide the fate of the power stations, taking into account the legal interpretation of the ECJ.

The Belgian parliament decided in 2003 to phase out the

use of nuclear energy and to retire its ageing reactors, amid concern from its neighbours.

Doel 1 and 2 were to have shut in 2015 after reaching 40 years in age, but lawmakers decided to prolong their life by ten years to prevent power shortages.

Some 700 million euros were spent refurbishing and modernising the site on the Escaut river never Antwerp to ensure it met safety standards.

But officials did not undertake the same major envi-ronmental impact assessment

that they would have carried out if they had been opening a new plant.

Green campaigners brought a case and yesterday the ECJ ruled that, under EU law, the Belgian authorities and operator Electrabel should have carried out the study.

They conceded, however, that such a study could still be conducted now to retroactively regularise the project even after the modernisation is complete.

Belgium currently has seven reactors, four at the Doel power station and three in Tihange.

US teen claims he knifed cop in self-defenceAP ROME

An Italian judge said one of the two American teenagers jailed in Rome for the slaying of a police officer has stated he stabbed the plain-clothes officer because he feared he was being strangled, according to an order released yesterday.

Judge Chiara Gallo wrote in an order upholding the jailing of the two California residents that Finnegan Lee Elder told authorities he knifed Carabinieri officer Mario Cerciello Rega after he felt pressure on his neck.

But the judge said in her Saturday order that the 19-year-old didn’t have any marks on his neck indicating strangulation.

Gallo said the young man’s friend and travel companion, 18-year-old Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, told investigators that Elder informed him back at their hotel he had used a knife and then washed it.

The officer was stabbed 11 times and died shortly after on Friday in the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. The judge concluded the two Americans had a “total absence of self-control” and were highly dangerous.

Investigators allege Elder knifed the policeman during a struggle after Cerciello Rega and his partner, both plainclothes officers, identified themselves as police. The officers were following up on a report of a drug deal that allegedly involved the teens.

Authorities contend Natale-Hjorth

repeatedly punched the other officer, who was not seriously hurt.

Police said Saturday that both Americans confessed to their roles in Cerciello Rega’s death. Under Italian law, anyone who par-ticipated in a slaying can face murder charges.

Yesterday, Cerciello Rega, 35, was hailed as a hero at his funeral in his hometown near Naples. The funeral was held in the same church in Somma Vesuviana where he was married six weeks ago.

Italy’s military chaplain, Archbishop Santo Marciano, said in his eulogy that Cer-ciello Rega lived and died to safeguard others’ lives. Cerciello was popular for warmly greeting residents of the neighbourhood in Rome. He spent off-duty hours as a volunteer

dishing out hot meals to the homeless in Rome’s main station.

Italian police, meanwhile, are investigating both Natale-Hjorth’s illegal blindfolding before his interrogation after Friday’s slaying and who leaked the photo of him blindfolded.

Italian newspapers on Sunday published a photo of Natale-Hjorth with what appears to be a scarf covering his eyes and with his arms handcuffed behind his back as he sat in a chair at a police station. Police and pros-ecutors are conducting separate investiga-tions of the blindfolding.

The officer who put the blindfold on com-mitted a “mistake” but did so to prevent Natale-Hjorth from seeing documents related to the investigation, an Italian police com-mander said.

A man reading an Italian newspaper with the last news about the death of Carabinieri officer Mario Cerciello Rega, in Italy, yesterday.

New British PM waits for EU to move on Brexit

AFP LONDON

New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is waiting for EU leaders to agree to renegotiate their Brexit deal before he meets them, his spokeswoman said yesterday, as the government stepped up “no deal” planning.

“He obviously wants to meet EU leaders and negotiate but not to be sat down and told that the EU cannot possibly reopen the withdrawal agreement,” the spokeswoman said.

Johnson, who took office last week, wants to change the exit terms struck by his predecessor Theresa May but insists he will leave the European Union without any agreement at all if necessary on October 31.

Brussels says it will not reopen the text.

In phone calls last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron both invited Johnson to visit, but he has yet to announce any foreign travel ahead of G7 summit in August.

“The withdrawal agreement has been rejected by parliament a number of times now and clearly it’s not going to pass in its current form,” the spokes-woman said. “It needs to change if there’s going to be a deal.”

May was forced to resign after failing three times to get the Brexit deal through the House of Commons, in the process delaying Britain’s EU exit twice.

Opposition among MPs is focused on the “backstop” arrangement intended to keep open the border between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Brussels said this is vital for peace in Northern Ireland, which was once plagued by vio-lence. But critics said it risks keeping Britain tied to EU rules long after Brexit and erecting trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

“The backstop has to be abolished,” Johnson’s spokes-woman said.

“He remains confident that the EU will stop claiming that the withdrawal agreement cannot be changed, but until that happens we must assume there will be a ‘no deal’ Brexit on October 31.

“The government’s central focus is preparing for that.”

A multi-million pound (dollar) advertising blitz is planned to alert businesses and ordinary people on what to do to prepare for “no deal”.

Johnson, who played a leading role in the Brexit cam-paign in the 2016 EU refer-endum, has also set up three new cabinet sub-committees to focus on the task.

A colleague from 2016, former environment minister Michael Gove, will chair a daily committee meeting on “no deal” planning.

Johnson will chair a com-mittee on Brexit strategy twice a week, as well as another on economy and trade, which will meet regularly.

North Macedoniafinds 79 migrantshiding in a truckAP SKOPJE

Police in North Macedonia said they have detained and plan to deport back to neighbouring Greece 79 migrants found hidden in a truck near the two countries’ border.

A police statement said the migrants were discovered by a joint border patrol of officers from North Macedonia and Hungary on Sunday on a road near the southern border town of Gevgelija.

The truck driver was arrested and the migrants were transferred to a shelter centre in Gevgelija ahead of their deportation.

Johnson wants to change the exit terms struck by his predecessor Theresa May but insists he will leave the European Union without any agreement at all if necessary on October 31.

Boy dies after being pushed onto train tracks in GermanyAP FRANKFURT

An 8-year-old boy was run over by a train and killed at Frankfurt’s main station yesterday after a man pushed him and his mother onto the tracks, German police said.

The mother and then the boy were pushed onto the tracks as a high-speed ICE train was pulling into the station, one of Germany’s busiest. The mother was able to escape but the boy was hit and run over by the train and suffered fatal injuries.

The suspect then apparently tried unsuccess-fully to push another person onto the track, police said.

The 40-year-old suspect fled the scene with passers-by in pursuit and was arrested near the station. He was being questioned and there was no immediate information on his possible motive.

Police spokeswoman Isabell Neumann said

there appeared to be no connection between the suspect and the victims.

The boy’s mother was taken to a hospital and also was being questioned. There was no imme-diate information on her injuries.

Police said that the suspect is an Eritrean citizen but did not immediately release further information.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer issued a statement condemning “this appalling act in the strongest terms” and cautioning against drawing conclusions before more is known.

Seehofer said that in view of “several serious crimes” recently, he would interrupt his vacation and meet the heads of security authorities today.

He didn’t specify what he was referring to, but yesterdays incident followed a case earlier this month in which a 34-year-old woman was pushed in front of a train and killed in Voerde in northern Germany. The suspect in that case, a German-born Serb, is in custody.

Police and medical helpers standing next to an ICE speed train after a man pushed a child in front of the moving train, at Frankfurt’s main station, yesterday.

NGO files lawsuit over lead risks from Notre-Dame blazeAFP PARIS

A French environmental group said yesterday that it had filed a lawsuit accusing officials of failing to move quickly to contain the risks of lead contam-ination after the fire that ravaged the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris last April.

Hundreds of tonnes of lead in the church’s roof and steeple melted during the blaze, releasing toxic particles that settled on streets and buildings in sur-rounding neighbourhoods.

Authorities have insisted that any contamination poses no danger, following a media report last week alleging that they had covered up lead pollution levels in local schools.

But last Thursday, city offi-cials indefinitely shut two schools near the gothic

landmark after tests revealed high levels of lead pollution on a shared playground.

Cleanup work at Notre-Dame was also halted after the top government official in the Paris region acknowledged that anti-contamination measures were insufficient.

“The relevent authorities... neglected to assist residents, vis-itors and workers, allowing them to be exposed to the toxic fallout,” the Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) NGO said in its lawsuit.

It accuses health agencies, government officials and the city of Paris of “deliberately putting people in danger” by not imme-diately taking measures to limit exposure to contamination.

Lead pollution can cause neurological defects for humans, especially children, as well as nervous system and kidney problems.

Britain hit record high of 38.7C last week: OfficialAFP/LONDON

Temperatures in Britain reached a record high of 38.7 degrees Celsius on July 25, the Met Office national weather service said yesterday, confirming a preliminary reading.

“The reading at Cambridge Botanic Garden has been quality controlled and is offi-cially the highest temperature on record in the UK,” the Met office said in a tweet.

The previous record was 38.5C recorded in Faversham in Kent in southeast England in 2003.

“The UK joins Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in breaking national temper-ature records,” the Met Office said.

Court overturns Romania’s penal code reformsAFP BUCHAREST

Controversial changes to Romania’s criminal code were struck down yesterday by the country’s Constitutional Court, as prosecutors linked some changes to two murders that have outraged the country.

The nine judges “decided unanimously that the pro-posals are unconstitutional as a whole”, according to a court press release.

The amendments, which were passed by MPs in April, would have curbed the statute of limitations and abolished the offences of negligence in the workplace, among other measures.

“The changes had one goal and one goal only: to protect the criminals to the detriment of the victims, to develop a set of procedures meant to weaken the state,” charged

President Klaus Iohannis, who hails from the centre-right and has often been at loggerheads with the ruling left-wing Social Democrats (PSD).

Iohannis had challenged the amendments before the Constitutional Court along with two opposition parties.

Regarded as one of the EU’s most graft-ridden members, Romania has repeatedly clashed with Brussels over a series of judicial reforms proposed by the PSD which the EU Com-mission believes would hamper the critical fight against corruption.

Brussels has threatened action against Romania if it doesn’t address concerns regarding the rule of law.

Referring to those changes already undertaken by the government, President Iohannis called upon par-liament to undo “toxic changes

already performed on laws which have proved to be real dangers to citizen’s safety”.

On Sunday, a prosecutors association warned that the changes would have benefited a suspect who has confessed to kidnapping and killing two teenage girls in a case that has shocked the country and sparked street protests.

Authorities came under fire after it was disclosed that one of the girls, aged 15, made three calls to emergency services to report her own kid-napping but that the police failed to react in time.

The “Initiative for Justice” association argued that under the criminal code amend-ments, if the suspect were con-victed he could not have received a full life prison term, and would have been released on probation after serving half or even just a third of his sentence.

13TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 AMERICAS

Trump signs 9/11 victim compensation fund billAP WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump yesterday signed a bill ensuring that a victims’ compensation fund helping those impacted by the September 11, 2001 attacks never runs out of money, ending years of legislative gridlock as the number of first responders dying of Ground Zero-related illnesses mounted.

Appearing in the Rose Garden with more than 60 first responders from the 2001 ter-rorist attacks, Trump signed into law an extension of the fund through 2092, essentially making it permanent.

“You inspire all of humanity,” Trump said of the “true American warriors” who rushed to assist victims that day and searched for remains for months after.

The president said that the nation has a “sacred obligation” to care for the responders and their families.

The $7.4bn fund had been rapidly depleting , and adminis-trators recently cut benefit

payments by up to 70%. The bill passed Congress on a bipartisan basis but only after delays by some Republicans exposed the legislative branch to brutal crit-icism from activists, including the comedian Jon Stewart.

Dozens of first responders, many gravely ill, would repeatedly travel to Washington to lobby lawmakers to extend the funding every time it needed to be re-authorised. Though their ranks shrunk, as emergency workers died of cancers and other diseases linked to the toxic fumes from the World Trade Center rubble, the fate of the funding had never been perma-nently guaranteed.

NYPD detective Luis Alvarez appeared gaunt and ill when he testified before Congress last

month, urging lawmakers to pass the measure to help his fellow first responders even if it was too late for him.

“You made me come down here the day before my 69th round of chemo and I’m going to make sure that you never forget to take care of the 9/11 first responders,” Alvarez said.

He died two weeks later .More than 40,000 people

have applied to the fund, which covers illnesses potentially related to being at the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon or Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after the attacks. Stewart, who made the cause a personal passion project, tore into the lawmakers’ inaction when he testified alongside Alvarez, cre-ating a moment that was fre-quently replayed on cable news.

“Hundreds died in an instant. Thousands more poured in to continue to fight for their brothers and sisters,” Stewart said before the committee. “They did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility. Eighteen years later, do yours.”

A pair of Republican sen-ators, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah, voted against the measure this month, pre-venting its adoption from being unanimous. Both cited the need to eliminate unnecessary spending and offset the measure with budget cuts.

Trump did not dwell on that division when he signed the bill.

The bill-signing prompted a

round of applause from first responders in the Rose Garden as well as Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who was mayor of New York City during the attacks.

Trump, whose real estate holdings that day included some 20 buildings in Manhattan, played up his own personal con-nection to the World Trade Center site.

“I was down there also, but I’m not considering myself a first responder,” the president said.

But a number of the presi-dent’s recollections about his own personal experiences that day cannot be verified, including his claims that he sent construction crew to help clear the site, and that he had “hun-dreds” of friends die at Ground Zero.

US President Donald Trump displays the “Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act” during a signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday.

US intelligence chief to leave office on August 15AFP WASHINGTON

US intelligence chief Dan Coats will leave office next month, President Donald Trump announced, after a tenure in which he was regularly at odds with the president.

The departure of Coats —who has, however, sought to avoid direct confrontation with Trump during his time as Director of National Intelli-gence — is the latest high-profile exit from the mercurial president’s turnover-plagued administration.

Trump tweeted that Coats will leave on August 15, saying he plans to nominate Represent-ative John Ratcliffe of Texas, who serves on the House intelligence, judiciary and homeland security committees, to replace him.

“A former US Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves,” Trump wrote, also thanking Coats “for his great service to our Country.”

If Ratcliffe’s nomination is approved, Trump will get an intelligence chief who is more in synch with his views.

In Congress, he has been a staunch defender of Trump and

has criticised two of the presi-dent’s nemeses, former FBI chief James Comey and special counsel Robert Mueller.

Ratcliffe has also said he has “seen no evidence” that Russian election meddling helped bring Trump to office, has backed the president’s assertion that court-approved surveillance of his campaign amounted to spying, and has supported his hawkish policy on Iran.

The choice of Ratcliffe was hailed by various Republicans —including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who tweeted that he “will bring strength and

accountability in his new role” — but drew criticism from other quarters.

“Our Director of National Intelligence should be above partisan politics, speak truth to power, and resist Trump’s abuses of authority. John Ratcliffe doesn’t fit that bill,” Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren tweeted.

Coats has not seen eye-to-eye with Trump on a range of issues while serving as the official who oversees and coor-dinates the CIA, NSA and other US espionage bodies.

He backed the US intelligence

community’s conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election that brought Trump to office — something the president was long loath to acknowledge.

The intelligence chief also disagreed with Trump’s decision to hold two hours of closed-door talks with Russian President Vladmir Putin in Helsinki in July 2018 with no one else present but interpreters.

Trump’s attempts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal via talks with Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong-Un was another point of disagreement.

Gunman, 3 others dead in California shootingREUTERS SACRAMENTO

A gunman killed at least three people at a California food festival late on Sunday before being shot dead by police, and police were hunting for a second person they believed was involved in the killing.

Some 15 people were wounded during the mass shooting at the three-day Gilroy Garlic Festival in northern Cal-ifornia, some of them hurt in the crush of bystanders trying to flee, police said.

Police reached the scene within a minute of the first shots ringing out at 5:45pm and officers shot and killed the gunman moments later, according to Scot Smithee, who heads the Gilroy Police Department.

A second person, “was involved in some way, we just don’t know in what way,” Smithee said. “We have no idea of a motive.”

Smithee said the gunman had cut through a fence to get into the annual Garlic Festival in Gilroy, 48km southeast of the city of San Jose.

Footage uploaded to social media appeared to show festival attendees scattering in fear and confusion as loud popping sounds could be heard in the background.

Aerial footage showed the festival grounds apparently deserted but with many emer-gency and police vehicles on sur-rounding streets and police in bullet-proof gear.

“It’s just incredibly sad and disheartening that at an event tha t does so much good for the community had to suffer from a tragedy like this,” Smithee said.

Security forces are deployed after a mass shooting at the Garlic Festival, in Gilroy, California, yesterday.

Kamala Harris unveils ‘medicare for all’ planAP WASHINGTON

Kamala Harris is filling in the details of how she would move 330 million Americans onto a single government health insurance system, her fullest statements on an issue that’s getting top billing in the Demo-cratic presidential primary.

Harris is a supporter of Vermont Sen Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” legislation, but she still envisions a role for the private system — just as long as it takes its lead from the gov-ernment. Medicare for All would replace the Affordable Care Act with a single-payer health plan for all Americans.

Harris is splitting with Sanders, a rival for the 2020 Democratic nomination, in slowing the transition to a single-payer system to 10 years instead of the four he has pro-posed. And Harris is, for the first time, addressing how she would pay for a sweeping health care overhaul that Sanders has esti-mated could cost as much as $40 trillion over one decade.

In a Medium post published yesterday, she said her focus was on finding a way to lower health care costs.

“Right now, the American health care system is a patchwork of plans, providers and costs that have left people frustrated, powerless and insurance companies in charge,” Harris said in the post. “And the bottom line is that health care just costs too much.”

Harris has repeatedly been forced to clarify her stance on Medicare for All. During the first set of presidential debates she appeared to suggest that she supported abolishing private insurance, later clarifying that she does not. And prior to releasing her own health care plan, she was criticized for saying that she opposes a middle-class tax hike to pay for Medicare for All without making clear how she would pay for it.

Harris is releasing her plan days before Democrats meet in Detroit for the second set of presidential debates.

Harris will appear on stage with former vice-president Joe Biden, the most high-profile candidate in the sprawling field to opposed Medicare for All in favour of a so-called “public option” that would allow people to decide between a gov-ernment-financed plan or a private one.

Brazil prison riot leaves 52 dead

AFP RIO DE JANEIRO

At least 52 inmates were killed in a prison riot in northern Brazil yesterday as rival gang factions fought each other, an official said.

Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the second major eruption of violence to rock the country’s severely overpopu-lated and deadly prison system in as many months.

Fighting broke out in the Altamira Regional Recovery Center at around 7:00am (1000 GMT), an official from the Para state government’s penitentiary department said.

Two guards were taken hostage during the clashes that ended at around midday. They were eventually freed.

US teenager wins$3m in FortnitetournamentAP NEW YORK

All those hours playing video games have paid off for a 16-year-old.

Kyle Giersdorf, of Potts-grove, Pennsylvania, racked up the most points and won $3m as the first Fortnite World Cup solo champion. The compe-tition took place on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Giersdorf said “words can’t explain it.” He goes by the name “Bugha” when competing.

Some 40 million players competed for a chance to play in the finals, which was nar-rowed down to 100 contestants from 30 countries.

The tournament offered $30m in cash prizes. In second place, 24-year-old Harrison Chang, of the United States, won $1.8m. The duo competition was won by 17-year-old David Wang, of Austria, and 16-year-old Emil Pedersen, of Norway. They’ll split the $3m prize.

President Donald Trump said that the nation has a “sacred obligation” to care for the responders and their families.

Colombia, Venezuela clash over refuge for former rebel leadersAFP BOGOTA

Colombian President Ivan Duque accused his Venezuelan coun-terpart Nicolas Maduro yesterday of committing an act of “fool-ishness” by offering refuge to two of his country’s former left-wing guerrilla leaders.

Maduro angered Duque on

when he said that missing Colombian former FARC rebels Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich were “welcome” in Venezuela and that he considered them “leaders of peace.”

Bogota has long accused Caracas of harbouring guerrillas and drug-traffickers, a charge the Venezuelan authorities deny.

M a r q u e z , w h o s e

whereabouts are unknown, was the chief negotiator for the Rev-olutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the historic December 2016 peace accord that ended a half century of armed conflict with the com-munist rebels.

Santrich disappeared earlier this month after failing to show up in court to testify about an

alleged attempt to sell cocaine.The Colombian Supreme

Court has issued an arrest warrant for Santrich and the government has offered an almost $1m reward for infor-mation that leads to his capture.

The country hopes to extradite him to the United States where he is wanted for drug trafficking.

“Once again he (Maduro) has committed an act of stupidity by continuing to protect terrorism,” Duque, who is on a state visit to China, said in a presidential statement.

Both Marquez and Santrich, whose real name is Seuxis Paucias Hernandez, were due to take up seats in parliament in July 2018.

Duque, who took office last August, was elected on a promise to modify the peace accord, which he considers too lenient to ex-fighters guilty of serious crimes.

Caracas broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia in Feb-ruary over Duque’s support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

14 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019CLASSIFIEDS

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TOWERSBEVERLY HILLS TOWER (WEST BAY): Fully furnished 1 ����������� ������������� ����������������������������������� ������� ����� �� ��������� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (��������*������+������������*����,���� ������������������������������� ��������-�� *�+� ���� ��������-�� ��������� *����� ���������� ����� ������ ��..��� ���*�� ����+� ����� .��� ���� ��������� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ ���*� ������ �������+�������������� ���������� ��������� 3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("� ��44)� 567829� :::2� ;887 � � ::<:� ;2=>� � :::2� =?;<� � ??;;� 0>72� � ::<7� ;0;8� ��� "%�'4)� �����+�������@��������������

REGENCY RESIDENCE (WEST BAY): �3���+�.���������0����������)�0�%����A����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������� �����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��������-�� *�+� ������������-�����������*��������������������������B�������������+�� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ (������+�� �����������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2�;887� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �::<7�;2?0� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)������+�������@������������������ REGENCY RESIDENCE (WEST BAY): Fully furnished 1 bedroom ��� ��������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ��� �� ��������� � ����������� � ��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *������+��� ��������-�� *�+� ���� ��������-�� ��������� *����� ���������������������B�������������+����!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�(������+�������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2�;887� ::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)������+�������@�������������������

REGENCY RESIDENCE (WEST BAY):��3���+�.���������0����������)�0�%����A����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������� �����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��������-�� *�+� ������������-�����������*��������������������������B�������������+�� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ (������+�� �����������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2� ;887� � :::0� ?=2;� � ::<7� :7:?� � ::<7� ;2?0� ��� "%�'4)������+�������@�������������������

BEVERLY HILLS TOWER (WEST BAY): 3���+� .��������� >��������� �� � � ����������� � ��� >� ���������� ������ �����������A�� ����� � � ������� ��������� ������� �� ������� ����� �������� �� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+����������� �*� ��� ,��� ����� ��������� ������� ������ ����������������-�� *�+� ���� ��������-�� ��������� *����� ���� ����������� ������ ��..��� ���*�� ����+� ������ .��� ���� �� ���������!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� (������+�� ����������� 4������������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2;887 �::<7�;2?0� �??;;�2?>?� :::=�08>2����"%�'4)������+�������@�������������������

REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL): (���� .��������� ������������� ��*��C� ����� ������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� /����D���+� (�������� *����� �+��� ����� ��� ����� �� ���E�� *�+���� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02�??20 � ::<8� <=7>� � � ::<7� <070� � ??;;� =>07� � >>07� 2>0=� ���"%�'4)������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL):� (���� .��������� ������������� ��*��C� ����� ������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� /����D���+� (�������� *����� �+��� ����� ��� ����� �� ���E�� *�+���� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02�??20 � ::<8� <=7>� � � ::<7� <070� � ??;;� =>07� � >>07� 2>0=� ���"%�'4)������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL): (����.���������������������*������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� /���� D���+� (��������*����� �+��� ����� ��� ����� �� ���E�� *�+� ��� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 � ::<8� <=7>�� � ::<7� <070� � ??;;� =>07� � >>07� 2>0=� ��� "%�'4)� �����@������������������ ����+�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL):�(����.���������������������*������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� /���� D���+� (��������*����� �+��� ����� ��� ����� �� ���E�� *�+� ��� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 � ::<8� <=7>�� � ::<7� <070� � ??;;� =>07� � >>07� 2>0=� ��� "%�'4)� �����@������������������ ����+�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): 3���+�.���������(�������+*������������ ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..��� ���������� ���E�� *�+� ���� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ G��*� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�5678298;02�??20 �::<8�<=7>�� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������(�������+*������������ ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..��� ���������� ���E�� *�+� ���� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ G��*� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*����������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): 3���+�.���������(�������+*������������ ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..��� ���������� ���E�� *�+� ���� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ G��*� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)� 567829�::<8�<=7>� � �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)����*����������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������(�������+*������������ ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..��� ���������� ���E�� *�+� ���� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ G��*� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("�

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REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL): 3���+�.���������=�D����������������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..��� ���������� ���E�� *�+� ���� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ G��*� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 1 bedroom ��� ��������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��� �������� ���E��*�+� ���� ��!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02�������G��*��������������+��������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 � ::<8� <=7>� � ::<7� <070� � :::2� =?;<� � ::<:� ;2=>� ��� "%�'4)� � ���*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 1 bedroom ��� ��������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��� �������� ���E��*�+� ���� ��!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02�������G��*��������������+��������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 � ::<8� <=7>� � ::<7� <070� � :::2� =?;<� � :::0� ?=2;� ��� "%�'4)� � ���*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������=�D����������������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..��� ���������� ���E�� *�+� ���� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ G��*� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): 3���+�.���������=���������6��.H��������������������������������������������������������� ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��� �������� ���E��*�+� ���� ��!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02��������������+��������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�::<8�<=7>� �::<7�<070� �??;;�0>72� �??;;�0>:?����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�������������������

REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL): 3���+�.���������0������������ ��������� ������ �������� � ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��� �������� ���E��*�+� ���� ��!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02��������������+��������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7�<070� �??;;�0>72� �??;;�0>:?����"%�'4)����*����������@�������������������

UMM BAB TOWER (WESTBAY):� 3���+� .��������� 0� ���������0� %����A�� �������� ����� ������� ��������� ������ ����������������� ������� �� ������� ���� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� '��������������� *����� .���+� �I��**��� �+��� �����+�� ��������E��*�+������� �� �������� *������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>072>0=� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �::<7�;2?0����"%�'4)������+�������@�������������������

VIVA BAHRIYA TOWER 4 (THE PEARL-QATAR):� (����3��������� !���� #��� ��� #����� D������� �*�������� �����!��� %����� 3���� �� 3���� ,��� ������ (*����� ����� �������������� ��������� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (��������������J+���K��-����+�������L������D������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�6782�::<=�<80<����"%�'4)���@������������������

UMM BAB TOWER (WESTBAY): 3���+� .��������� >� ��������6� ���A� ����� � � M�����)� >� %����A�� �������� ����� �������������������������������������������������������������!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� '������ ��������� *����� .���+� �I��**��� �+��������+�� ��������E�� *�+������� �� �������� *������� 3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� >>072>0= � ??;;�2?>?� � :::=� 08>2� ::<7� <070� ��� "%�'4)� �����+�������@�������������������

COMPOUNDVILLA DESTE 2 (AL WAAB):�(���� .���������>�������������)�%����-�� �������� � � ������� ��������� ������ ��������������� �������� ������� �� ������� ���� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+���������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02����������������� �� �������+�� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0=8=>� �:::=�08>2� ::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)�����������@������������������ VILLA DESTE 2 (AL WAAB):�(���� .���������>�������������)�%����-�� �������� � � ������� ��������� ������ ��������������� �������� ������� �� ������� ���� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+���������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02����������������� �� �������+�� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0=8=>� �:::=�08>2� ::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)�����������@�������������������

BEVERLY HILLS GARDEN 10 (Al WAAB):� (���� .��������� 2�������������)� >���������������� �������� �����+� ������ ��������� ������� ���� �������� � � �*���� ��A��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�(�������� *����� D�������� ��������-�� *�+� ���� J+����������!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0�=8=>� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �::<7�;0;8���"%�'4)�����������@�������������������

AIN KHALID GATE:� 3���+� .��������� 2� �������� ����� ����� 0�%����-���������������������������������������������������������������A�������������+�������0������������������������� �������� � � ����������� ��A��� ���+��� ��� �� *��������������� *����� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� ��������������� B������� ������� J+��� ������� B������� ���� ����������� ������ �������� ������� ������� ������� �I���� ���������I������*��������������+����*��������+����������������������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02��������������+��������������

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OFFICE COMMERCIAL BUILDING:� ���������� !.H��� (*���� �D��������J������6�0�3�������==2��������(������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� ::<7� ;0;8� � 222<� :===� �2;2=�;80:����"%�'4)���������@������������������

BUSINESSPAGE | 19 PAGE | 20

GCC organisations need stronger resilience

strategies in place: Booz Allen Hamilton

Takeaway.com lands $10bn Just Eat deal in food delivery race

GC

str

15TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019

Private sector credit demand in foreign currency jumps 34.6%SATISH KANADY THE PENINSULA

Qatar banks’ credit grew by 3.2 percent as at the end December 2018. Public sector’s credit requirement was reduced by 6.7 percent in 2018, compared to the previous year. In contrast, private sector triumphed well recording a significant growth of 13 percent. The year witnessed a significant 34.6 percent jump in demand from private sector in foreign currency credit, Qatar Central bank (QCB) data showed.

Initiates taken by government to push the private sector including the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy, drive on the SME sector development, policies targeted towards attaining

self-sufficiency, etc are the possible reasons cited for the momentum for overall private sector credit growth.

Government, which holds a consid-erable share (19.3 percent) of bank credit in 2017, reduced its domestic borrowing in 2018 by around 13.5 percent. This con-siderable reduction in credit off take con-tributed to the decline public sector credit demand. Banking sector has continued to reduce its exposure to the non-resi-dents. According to credit extended to non-residents decline by around 11 percent in 2018.

The QDB data showed demand for foreign currency credit moderated since September 2017 and it continued until the last quarter of 2018. In Q4, foreign currency credit started an uptrend

contributed by both public sector entities and private sector. The demand for foreign currency credit from private sector was more pronounce from the second quarter of 2018 onwards.

Higher demand in foreign currency credit towards the end of the year resulted in a year-end growth of 8.4 percent. Public sector credit in foreign currency increased by 5.7 percent while demand for foreign currency from private sector increased exponentially by around 34.6 percent.

On the other hand, demand for local currency from public sector ebbed after the first quarter of 2018. At the same time, local currency credit demand from private sector has shown a liner uptrend in 2018. Consequently, public sector

credit in local currency declined by around 13 percent and private sector credit in local currency increased by 9 percent by the end of December 2018. Credit demand in foreign currency pro-vided a major push for the growth in overall credit.

Among public sector, only the credit demand from government institutions recorded positive growth, while demand from semi government institutions and Sovereign declined considerably. Within private sector, credit demand from ‘General Trade” and “Services” sector grew significantly high. At the same time, credit demand from “Contractors” weakened.

Government push in the development of SME sector is expected to have resulted in higher growth in credit to both “General

Trade” and “Services” sector. The eco-nomic diversification drive which resulted in progress in service sector, including hospitality, education, medical services etc, might have contributed to the higher growth in services sector credit.

Credit demand from real estate sector was lackluster. Subdued growth in real estate prices as well as decline in rental prices in the last couple of years might have contributed to the lower growth in credit demand. Demand for credit for real state sector grew in first quarter of 2018 and remained more or less stable in absolute values in the remaining part of the year. Credit demand from con-sumption improved marginally though it was at subdued level as compared to the overall growth in private sector.

Vodafone Qatar reports 60% growth in first half net profitTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Making a huge turnaround in its net profit, Vodafone Qatar reported strong financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2019. The first half results posted solid growth across all key indi-cators. The Company’s half-yearly net profit increased by 60 percent to QR78m, mainly driven by higher EBITDA.

Total revenue increased by 1 percent to QR1.06bn compared to the same period of last year, driven by growth in Postpaid sub-scribers and higher home broadband.

EBITDA for the period stood at QR358m representing an improvement of 26.2 percent year-on-year due to the higher revenue, continued effective cost management and the application of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 16.

Consequently, EBITDA margin improved by 6.7 percentage points to reach 33.7 percent in H1 2019.

Excluding the one-off pro-vision release benefit in H1 2018, underlying net profit more than doubled with a growth of 125 percent.

Vodafone Qatar is now serving nearly 1.8m customers due to solid growth within the

Postpaid segment led by Vodafone Qatar’s innovative products and exciting plans.

Commenting on the results, Vodafone Qatar’s Chairman, Abdulla Nasser Al Misnad, said, “Vodafone Qatar has delivered a strong financial performance over the past six months driven by our sixth consecutive quarter of net profit and quarterly year-on-year

total revenue growth. This is a clear indication that our strategy to turnaround the profitability of the company and to generate sus-tainable topline growth is working. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the coun-try’s authorities, our shareholders and valued customers for their consistent support to help drive these positive results.” �P19

Abdulla Nasser Al Misnad, Chairman, Vodafone Qatar

Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani, CEO, Vodafone Qatar

Rashid Al Naimi, Managing Director, Vodafone Qatar

Ooredoo net profit up 22%; revenue at QR14.5bn THE PENINSULA DOHA

Ooredoo Group’s net profit attributable to the shareholders reached QR841m for the first half of 2019 (H1, 19), up by 22 percent compared to the same period last year. The year-on-year increase was partially aided by a favourable FX envi-ronment and offset by a negative IFRS16 impact on net profit.

The Group’s first half revenue stood at QR14.5bn, a decline of 4 percent com-pared to the same period last year, impacted by an industry wide shift from voice services to data services, as well as macroeconomic and currency weakness in some of our markets. Increased monetization of data business, with significant data growth coming from consumer and enterprise cus-tomers saw data revenue increase to 52 percent of Group revenue. Revenue from data contributed QR7.5bn, Ooredoo announced yesterday.

Commenting on the results, Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo, said: “We are making excellent progress with our digital strategy, whilst effectively man-aging our costs and overheads to support the growth of our business and long-term shareholder value generation.

“Ooredoo Group reported a solid set

of results for the first half of the year with revenue of QR14.5bn and a 22 percent increase in net profit despite the pressure in the operating environment in our markets and industry challenges associated with the decline in voice revenues.

“We remain focused on providing reliable connectivity and innovative products to our customers and are proud to be at the forefront of the global 5G revolution. In our home market in Qatar, we now have around 100 live 5G sites as we prepare our network to cater to the future needs of our customers. We are proud to play our role in facilitating a tremendous opportunity that 5G will bring to people and business and have

now launched a commercial 5G network in Kuwait as well.”

Also commenting on the results, Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo, said: “During the period we invested further into our networks while at the same time improving the profitability of the company.

Indosat Ooredoo, our second biggest market in terms of contribution to rev-enues, continues to turn around its business delivering robust growth across the board. This was underpinned by our strategic refresh designed to create a more loyal customer base with lower churn rates, following the implemen-tation of regulation for SIM card regis-tration. As a result Indosat Ooredoo

reversed the trend and started to add new customers again.

In Oman, we grew our customer base by 5 percent as we launched exciting new features through our AI powered chatbot, whilst in Myanmar our customer base surged 19 percent despite increased competition from a fourth telecommunications operator. In Kuwait we launched 5G and we sub-stantially grew our EBITDA supported by careful execution of our cost optimi-sation initiatives and enhanced opera-tional efficiency. In Algeria, our data traffic more than doubled year on year, as we extended our 4G coverage to 58 percent of the population.

Looking ahead we remain opti-mistic about the opportunities available to Ooredoo Group, as the tel-ecommunications industry transitions towards a more digital model. We believe that we have made the right investments and strategy to ensure long term value for our shareholders, customers and countries we operate in.” The Group customer base stood at 115million and increased sequentially by 2.7 million as Indosat Ooredoo reversed its trend and attracted new customers.

Ooredoo continued to lead in 5G adoption. At the 2019 Emir Cup final, Ooredoo Qatar showcased its 5G capa-bilities, achieving data speeds of up to

1.2 Gbps on 5G handsets and delivered more than 6 TB of mobile traffic during the event. Whilst Ooredoo Kuwait launched 5G commercially with a host of new 5G internet plans.

Network expansion and improve-ments remain a key driver of growth, Ooredoo Qatar maintained its fibre rollout programme which now covers 423 thousand homes in Qatar and Ooredoo Algeria extended its 4G network to cover 58 percent of the pop-ulation, more than doubling the year on year data usage. Ooredoo Oman extended its 4G Supernet network to 25 new areas. �P19

Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo

Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo

Ooredoo Group reported a solid set of results for the first half of the year with revenue of QR14.5bn and a 22 percent increase in net profit despite the pressure in the operating environment in our markets and industry challenges associated with the decline in voice revenues.’’

THE PENINSULA DOHA

S&P Global Ratings has reaf-firmed its ‘A’ issuer credit and financial strength ratings on Qatar Insurance Co (QIC) and its guaranteed subsidiaries, namely, Qatar Reinsurance Company Limited (Qatar Re based in Bermuda), QIC Europe Ltd, QLM Life & Medical Insurance, and Kuwait Qatar Insurance Co. The report reaffirms the outlook of Qatar Insurance Company & its rated subsidiaries as Stable.

QIC Group benefits from ‘AAA’ level risk-based capital adequacy despite rapid growth and various acquisitions over recent years. The report stresses that QIC can maintain its ‘AAA’ level risk-based capital, and its strong business position.

The rating reflects the strength of QIC’s strong business and financial position, its well diversified business portfolio by geography and product,

diversified investment portfolio and an excellent operating per-formance Khalifa A Al Subaey (pictured), Group President and Chief Executive Officer of QIC Group, said: ‘We are encouraged by S&P’s affirmation of our strong financial strength rating. The rating agency recognizes the successful establishment of our global QIC footprint and its expected continued positive effect on our financial per-formance going forward. The Group continued to maintain its credit rating from Standard & Poor’s (S & P) Level A’.

S&P reaffirms QIC rating oulook as stable

16 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019BUSINESS

17TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 BUSINESS

18 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019BUSINESS

Promoting Thailand tourism

10,602.92 +29.74 PTS0.78%

QSE FTSE100 DOW CRUDE

7,690.19 +141.20 PTS1.87%

27,219.83 +27.38 PTS0.10% Dow & Brent before going to press

$56.09 -0.11

MARKETWATCH

19TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 BUSINESS

GCC organisations need stronger resilience strategies in place: Booz Allen HamiltonTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Organisations in the GCC must make resilience an integral part of their threat mitigation strategy across the private sector and government services, to ensure that essential functions are restored after disruptive events, a report by Booz Allen Hamilton, has revealed.

GCC organisations are already spending approximately $3.5m per year on identifying and restraining data security breaches, far ahead of the global average of $2.1m. Despite such enormous spends, GCC organi-sations take longer than their European counterparts to contain a breach, with the average reported time in the GCC standing at 260 days, compared to just 138 days in Europe.

To reduce this gap, GCC gov-ernments are equipping organi-sations in the region with the nec-essary tools to build resilience across industries. Jay Townsend, Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton Mena, said: “Investing in robust threat mitigation strategies and resilience response could reduce organisations’ exposure to threats that result in untoward incidents. GCC governments have recog-nised this and, over the past decade, have begun to implement systems and programs to help navigate uncertainty and enhance preparedness and response capabilities. But, they need to take this a step further and make it part of the strategic corporate and national agenda.”

The report outlines a “resil-ience equation” that protects organisations against potential shocks, focuses on being proactive, helps to explore options for dealing with surprises and changes, and defines resil-ience objectives and guiding

principles. The “resilience equation” comprises Risk Man-agement (RM), Continuity Man-agement (CM) and Testing & Exercises (T&E). Together they provide a holistic view for organ-isations to thrive and grow through changes, disruptions, and unknown events.

According to the report, organisations must consider an RM program to identify and assess risks across the entire organisation and to help with the implementation of risk man-agement strategies. A sustainable risk management program covers eight focus areas, including Governance, Organi-sation and Decision Process, Strategy and Policy, Risk Appetite & Tolerance, Processes & Tools, Culture and Communication, Performance Monitoring, and Business Intelligence.

Meanwhile, a CM system is capable of absorbing disruption and provides backups and

fail-safes, including mechanisms for rapid response designed to restore operating capacity. It covers key areas such as Emer-gency Management Plan, Crisis Management Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan, and IT Disaster Recovery Plan.

The report also said that T&E plans and procedures are capable of revealing weaknesses and gaps as well as improve organisational coordination, clarify roles and responsibilities, and create a unique learning environment. The best way to prepare for the unforeseen is by assessing stra-tegic options and tactical plans through testing and exercises, Booz Allen Hamilton added. It also said that T&E unlock ben-efits associated with building pre-paredness, increasing resilience and sustaining performance.

Rosa Donno, Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton Mena, said: “GCC organisations are already on the right track to building resilience, but they need to be more aware of their future threats and current weaknesses, so that they can take informed strategic and tactical decisions that can be applied across the full spectrum of sectors and indus-tries region-wide, in order to prepare for risks and respond effectively to internal and external events.”

Jay Townsend, Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton Mena

Rosa Donno, Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton Mena

GCC organisations are already spending approximately $3.5m per year on identifying and restraining data security breaches, far ahead of the global average of $2.1m.

Barwa Bank announces July draw winners of Thara’aTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Barwa Bank, Qatar’s most inno-vative Shariah compliant bank, announced the names of the most recent round of draw winners for Thara’a, its Shariah compliant savings account, at the Bank’s headquarters.

As the draw results showed, Alia Mikaty and Salman Mohammed Al Mahmoud each won a cash prize of QR50,000. Also, a cash prize worth QR25,000 was awarded to Eisa Abdollah Amani and Alia Sultan Ali H N Al Naama.

The draw was conducted under the supervision of a rep-resentative of the qualitative license and market control department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).

On a monthly basis, there are 42 winners per draw for the cash prize of QR5,000 each, as well as 2 winners per draw for the cash prize of QR10,000. Additionally, quarterly there are 2 winners per draw for the cash prize of QR25,000 each, 2 winners per draw for the cash prize of QR50,000 each, and yearly there is 1 winner of the grand prize of QR1,000,000. Rewarding 365 winners in total with cash prizes up to QR3,290,000.

Coupled with cash prizes and a reward scheme, Thara’a is a product full of value-added benefits and services. Thara’a offers account holders access to Barwa Bank’s innovative banking channels, with benefits including unlimited with-drawals and deposits, as well as free fund transfers across their accounts and through all Barwa Bank channels.

Customers may learn about the many benefits of Thara’a savings account by visiting Barwa Bank’s website.

FROM PAGE 15The launch of new

digital initiatives continues to support customer acqui-sition and loyalty. Ooredoo Qatar launched ‘Ooredoo Sports’ - a conversational AI (artificial intelligence) platform that brings a new level of engagement to sports fans. Ooredoo Oman launched new features in its app through its AI powered Chatbot.

Ooredoo continues to be a data leader in its markets with 4G networks now available in 8 of Ooredoo’s 10 markets, while 5G is available in Qatar and Kuwait.

Ooredoo Qatar con-tinued to hold a strong lead-ership position at the end of the first half of 2019, with both fixed line and mobile networks ranking among the fastest globally. Reported revenue was slightly lower at QR3.7bn (H1 ‘18: QR3.9bn), due to a fall in handset sales while EBITDA increased to QR2.1bn (H1 ‘18: QR2bn). C u s t o m e r n u m b e r s remained stable at 3.3million.

EBITDA margin showed a healthy improvement year-on-year, rising to 57 percent (H1 ’18: 51 percent).

EBTIDA improvements were driven by a successful and ongoing cost optimization program and a more favo-rable product mix and IFRS 16 impact.

Ooredoo Qatar lev-eraged its strong sporting heritage to extend its 5G leadership position during the period, conducting 5G trials with a ‘Virtual Stadium’ at Mall of Qatar and deploying a 5G-connected ambulance for the final of the Amir Cup in May. The company now has around 100 live 5G sites. Ooredoo Qatar launched Ooredoo Sports, an innovative con-versational Artificial Intelli-gence (AI) platform for sports fans that leverages AI and Augmented Reality t e c h n o l o g i e s , a n d announced a two-year sponsorship of Qatar’s national football team.

The company deployed a diverse range of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions during the period and enabled the digital transfor-mation of several leading organisations through part-nerships and the launch of a new portfolio of business internet services offering enhanced speeds, security and additional value.

Vodafone Qatar reports 60% growth in first half net profit

FROM PAGE 15

Rashid Fahad Al Naimi, Vodafone Qatar Managing Director added, “To help support the continuation of the current growth trajectory of the company, we will continue to make strategic capital invest-ments in both our radio and fixed access networks and allocate a significant portion of our CAPEX towards our 5G network rollout.

I expect that these invest-ments will yield positive results for our shareholders and valued customers alike over the upcoming quarters.”

Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim Al Thani, CEO, Vodafone

Qatar, commented: “We are proud to be the first operator in the country to make 5G products and services commercially available to our customers. We are well prepared to take advantage of the enormous growth opportunities that 5G will deliver. Beyond our investments in 5G technology, we are delighted that our fibre roll-out is ahead of schedule and now available in many areas across the country. ‘GigaHome’, Vodafone Qatar’s recently launched home broadband solution, powered by our GigaNet network including fibre and 5G, is a key driver of our

strategy to grow within the res-idential segment.

Furthermore, and an important aspect of our growth comes from our suite of expanding enterprise solutions including the Internet of Things, Cloud Services and Big Data. This expanding port-folio of advanced services and solutions will enable enterprises, of all sizes, throughout Qatar to meet their needs to optimise, automate and innovate in a digital world. We are very pleased with the progress we have made to date with regard to the execution of our Digital 2023 strategy and our vision to be people’s first choice in telecom and digital services.”

Ooredoo net profit up 22%; revenue at QR14.5bn

Just Real Estate collaborates with Al AsmakhTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Just Real Estate (JRE), the leading property service provider in Qatar, is on promoting the Para-mount Residences in collabo-ration with Al Asmakh Real Estate. Developed by Al Asmakh, a leading luxury lifestyle hospi-tality management company in Qatar, Paramount Residences is Qatar’s first Hollywood-inspired residential tower at The Pearl-Qatar, which is set to redefine the meaning of residential luxury in the country.

Paramount Residences com-prises of 196 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury resi-dences, including four elite duplex units, with signature ele-ments of Paramount Hotel & Resorts featured throughout, including a California-inspired environment from the bold yet subtly designed lobby to luxu-rious residences artistically designed down to the ultimate details of back painted glass décor, opulently retro faucets, and handcrafted, exquisitely fin-ished wardrobe interiors.

The sleek, minimal finish in the kitchens is designed to be seamless and stylish when it’s the backdrop to an intimate soiree – yet effortlessly func-tional and practical. With a res-idents’ Private Movie-Screening Room, Pool with Cabanas, state of the art Wellness & Fitness Center and Kids’ Studio Club, residents can indulge in this exclusive lifestyle. Properties are freehold and open to all for ownership.

On the recent addition, Nasser Al Ansari JRE Chairman, said, “Paramount Residences, is a jewel set immaculately in the crown of The Pearl-Qatar, offering investors a connection to the perfect creative part-nership – Qatar’s most dazzling and sought-after location, starring alongside the relentless attention to detail and fabu-lously-designed interiors that characterize the Paramount brand. Drawing on Paramount Pictures’ history, ‘Paramount Residences Doha the Pearl’ will embody the authentic California lifestyle and the inspirational world of Hollywood glamour.”

He added, “This project is the first of its kind in The Pearl-Qatar, inspired by the golden age of Hollywood glamour, encom-passing the iconic style of the legendary Paramount Pictures and embracing a visceral, sensory experience throughout, this spectacular development will redefine the meaning of res-idential luxury in Qatar. This project is a major release, shaped by a team of uniquely creative minds and developed by Al Asmakh Real Estate. Pur-chasers of properties at Para-mount Residences Doha the Pearl will enjoy extraordinary views of the island’s beautiful beachfront, experience eclectic food and beverage offerings and partake in destination enter-tainment components.”

Doha’s most elegant and sought-after location, The Pearl-Qatar offers its audience a taste of Californian lifestyle away from the city crowd.

The Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Isra Stapanaseth (left) speaks to media persons as Deputy Governor for Policy and Planning, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Charun Ohnmee looks on during a press conference to promote Thailand tourism, in Amritsar, India, yesterday.

Milaha net profit up 6% in H1 of 2019QNA / DOHA

Qatar Navigation (Milaha) yesterday announced its financial results for the first half of 2019, showing net profit of QR316m for the six months ended June 30, 2019, up by 6 percent from QR297m for the same period in 2018.

Earnings per share increased to QR0.28 for the six months ended June 30, 2019, up from QR0.26 for the same period in 2018. The company reported operating revenues of QR1.26bn for the six months ended June 30, 2019, up from QR1.25bn for the same period in 2018, and oper-ating profit of QR230m for the six months ended June 30, 2019, down from QR258m for the same period in 2018.

Milaha Maritime & Logistics’ revenue decreased by QR14m with net profit remaining flat at QR65m against the same period in 2018. Stronger performance in our port business offset declines in our logistics and shipyard units.

Milaha Gas & Petrochem’s revenue decreased by QR5m, with net profit increasing by QR181m, driven by a reduction in vessel impairments compared to 2018, as well as improvements in market shipping rates in the sectors in which we operate.

Milaha Offshore’s revenue increased by QR99m, however the bottom line decreased by QR95m. Despite strong operating performance and increase in operating profit, the segment’s results declined due to vessel impairments. Milaha Capital’s revenue decreased by QR49m and net profit by QR62m, as a result of lower dividends and held for trading portfolio income.

20 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019BUSINESS

Takeaway.com strikes $10bn deal in food delivery raceREUTERS LONDON/AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam-based Takeaway.com has agreed to buy Just Eat in an £8.2bn ($10.1bn) deal to create the world’s largest online food delivery firm outside China in a race to rule the $100bn market.

A combined Takeaway and Just Eat would rival Uber Eats and would have leadership posi-tions in many of the world’s largest food-delivery markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada.

Scale is all-important as food delivery apps scramble to offer consumers the biggest choice. Most players, though not Just Eat, are still loss-making as they spend heavily on marketing and acquisitions.

Just Eat, founded in Denmark in 2000, is principally an online marketplace that connects res-taurants and customers, although it has more recently begun offering its own delivery service, like Uber Eats and Amazon-backed Deliveroo.

The agreement with Takeaway, a driver of sector consolidation, represents a victory for US activist investor Cat Rock, which has holdings in both companies and has been pushing Just Eat to merge with a rival.

“The proposed transaction is excellent news for Just Eat shareholders,” Cat Rock Founder and Managing Partner Alex Captain, said in a statement. “We support the Board’s work in evaluating and consummating a transaction that maximizes long-term shareholder value over the coming weeks.” Based on 2018 order value, the combined company would narrowly overtake Uber Eats, with orders

worth $8.1bn versus its US rival’s $7.9bn. Uber Eats declined to comment on the planned deal, which has been agreed in principle.

Under British takeover rules, Takeaway.com has until August 24 to announce a firm intention to make an offer or to announce that it will not make an offer. The deal would then have to be approved by the companies’ boards and shareholders.

Investors in London-listed Just Eat will receive 0.09744 Takeaway.com shares for each share, implying a value of 731 pence per Just Eat share, a 15 percent premium to their closing price on Friday, the two com-panies said yesterday.

Shares in Just Eat, which made a pretax profit of £102m in 2018, rose 26 percent to 800 pence, indicating expectations of a higher competing bid, while Takeaway’s were up 2.6 percent at 1339 GMT.

“It’s a fair price in that you get a large share of Takeaway.com and you share the benefits as shareholders,” said Philip Webster (pictured), fund manager at BMO Global Asset Management, which owns stakes in both Just Eat and Takeaway.

Webster added that the value for Takeaway shareholders potentially could be in splitting up Just Eat. “At 730 pence, if you look at any valuation on Brazil or Canada (...) you get the UK business for a very, very dis-counted price,” he said.

Takeaway, which bought the German activities of Delivery Hero for €930m this year, says it is the leading food deliverer in continental Europe, Israel and Vietnam.

It argues that online food ordering will be highly profitable for just one player in each country.

Investec analysts said there was limited geographical overlap between the two, with the exception of Switzerland.

“(This) means the oppor-tunity revolves around lever-aging technology spend and administrative costs, in our view, and the sharing of best practice” Investec said. “This is pre-sumably not insignificant, but less attractive than if they over-lapped.” Analysts do not expect the latest deal to face anti-trust hurdles, although Britain’s com-petition regulator is considering a full investigation into Amazon’s plan to lead a $575m fundraising in rival Deliveroo, announced in May.

Just Eat, which originally focused on independent takeaway restaurants that offered pick-up or delivery services, charges a fee to join its platform and earns a com-mission on each order.

The agreement with Takeaway, a driver of sector consolidation, represents a victory for US activist investor Cat Rock, which has holdings in both companies and has been pushing Just Eat to merge with a rival.

LSE surges on $27bn Refinitiv takeover talksAFP LONDON

London Stock Exchange shares soared yesterday after confirming talks over a vast $27bn takeover of US financial data provider Refinitiv, potentially placing it in direct competition with Bloomberg.

The mooted takeover, which is worth the equivalent of ¤24bn and marks a major switch in strategy under LSE CEO banker David Schwimmer, sent shares spiking to a record peak.

“London Stock Exchange Group plc... confirms that it is in discussions with a consortium including certain investment funds affiliated with Blackstone as well as Thomson Reuters about a possible acquisition of Refinitiv Holdings Ltd,” it said in a statement.

The deal, which remains subject to regulatory approvals, would be financed by the issuing of new shares.

The LSE had already announced the news on Saturday in response to a Financial Times newspaper report.

Refinitiv, which serves in excess of 40,000 institutions in more than 190 countries, was formerly the financial and risk business of Thomson Reuters.

The data provider is now joint-owned by Canadian media group Thomson Reuters and private equity firm Blackstone - which is the majority shareholder.

In late morning Monday trade, LSE shares stood at 6,502 pence, up 14.63 percent on the FTSE 100 index, which in turn rose 1.2 percent in value.

“The London Stock Exchange share price has risen to a record high after announcing it is in talks to buy data ana-lytics company Refinitiv for the sum of $27 billion,” noted CMC Markets UK analyst Michael Hewson.

“This merger -- if it gets the green light from regulators in the US and Europe -- would make the combined business a market leader in data and information, putting it on a par with Bloomberg.”

If the deal goes ahead, Refinitiv’s current shareholders would keep about 37 percent of the enlarged group.

CROSSWORD

Super-assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin’s guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head - he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM

Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

Axel 2: Adventures of The Space Kid (2D/Animation) 2:15pm; Arjun Patiala (Hindi) 9:30pm; Sachin (2D/Malayalam) 2:30pm; The Lion King (2D/Drama) 3:45, 5:00, 7:30 & 9:30pm; Judgemental Hai Kya (2D/Hindi) 11:30pm;Dear Comrade (2D/Telugu) 2:00, 5:15 & 11:00pm; Toy Story 4 (2D/Animation) 5:45pm; Luca (2D/Malayalam) 2:30 & 8:15pm; Blue Elephant 2 (2D/Arabic) 7:15pm; Kadaram Kondon (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm

Axel 2: Adventures of The Space Kid (2D/Animation) 2:15pm; Sathyam Paranja Vishwasikkuvu (2D/Malayalam) 2:15pm; Dear Comrade(Telugu) 2:00pm; The Lion King (2D/Drama) 2:15, 5:00, 6:45 & 9:00pm; Judgemental Hai Kya (2D/Hindi) 4:30 & 11:30pm; Sachin (2D/Malayalam) 4:00pm; Spider-Man: Far From Home 6:30pm; AI (2D/Tamil) 9:30pmLuca (2D/Malayalam) 8:45 & 11:30pm; Blue Elephant 2 (2D/Arabic) 7:15pm; Kadaram Kondon (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm

The Lion King (2D/Drama) 10:45am, 1:15, 3:45, 6:15, 8:45 & 11:15pm; iSmart Shankar (2D/Telugu) 4:15pm;Kadaram Kondon (2D/Tamil) 11:15am, 1:45, 7:00, 9:30pm & 12:00midnight; Pathinettam Padi (2D/Malayalam) 11:45am, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm; Sathyam Paranja Vishwasikkuvu (2D/Malayalam) 2:15pm

MALL

LANDMARK

AL KHOR

AI (2D/Tamil) 7:30pm; Luca (2D/Malayalam) 8:15, 11:00pm; Sathyam Paranja Vishwasikkuvu (2D/Malayalam) 5:45pm; Dear Comrade (2D/Telugu) 4:45pm; Judgemental Hai Kya (2D/Hindi) 6:00pm;Pathinettam Padi (2D/Malayalam) 9:30pm;

ASIAN TOWN

FLIK Mirqab Mall

ROXY

Aladdin (2D/Comedy) 12:50, 3:25 & 5:05pm;Anna (2D/Action) 11:00am, 1:20, 3:05, 5:20, 8:20 & 10;35pm; Annabelle Comes Home (2D) 12:20am; Crawl (2D/Horror) 11:00am & 11:45pm; Finding Steve McQueen (2D/Drama) 11:10am, 3:00 & 6:55pm;John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum (2D) 11:50pm;Kadaram Kondon (2D/Tamil) 9:50, 10:45pm & 12:00am; The Lion King (2D/Drama) 10:20, 11:00, 11:55am, 12:45, 1:25, 2:20, 3:10, 3:50, 4:45; 6:10, 7:10, 7:35, 8:40, 9:35, 10:00, 10:25, 11:05pm & 12:00midnight; 3D 5:35 & 8:00pm; Luca (2D/Malayalam) 5:20, 5:55 & 10:50pm; Lying And Stealing (2D/Drama) 10:50am, 12:55, 3:00, 4:30, 9:00 & 11:00pm; Spider-Man: Far From Home 10:55am, 12:00noon, 1:30, 4:05, 6:40 & 9:15pm; Toy Story 4 (2D/Animation) 10:00, 11:10am, 1:15, 2:30 & 3:20pm; The Blue Elephant 2 6:30 & 8:20pm

The Blue Elephant 2 3:00, 5:30, 8:10 & 10:50pmDear Comrade (2D/Telugu) 1:00, 6:40 & 10:00pm; Judgemental Hai Kya(2D/Hindi)12:30, 3:00 & 4:10pm; Luca (2D/Malayalam) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 & 10:00pm; Spider-Man: Far From Home 12:30 & 10:30pm; The Extractors 1:00pm;The Lion King (2D/Drama) 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 5:40, 8:00, 10:30 & 10:50pm;

Judgemental Hai Kya (2D/Hindi) 2:15 & 11:30pm;Axel 2: Adventures of The Space Kid (2D/Animation) 2:30pm; Luca (2D/Malayalam) 2:45 & 11:15pm; Sachin (2D/Malayalam) 4:30pm; Arjun Patiala (Hindi) 5:30pm; The Lion King (2D/Drama) 4:15, 6:30 & 8:45pm; Lying And Stealing (2D/Drama) 7:00pm; Rivers Run Red (2D/Thriller) 7:30pm; Spider-Man: Far From Home 9:15pm; Blue Elephant 2 (2D/Arabic) 9:00pm; Dear Comrade 11:00pm

ROYAL PLAZA

REUTERS HOCKENHEIM

Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton is planning to get plenty of rest over the next few days as he seeks to shake off the sickness that laid him low in Sunday’s German Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver, who has little time to recover before the next race in Hungary this weekend, left no doubt that Hockenheim had been an ordeal.

“(I) never felt this sick and this has been the hardest race weekend of my life,” the Briton said in a social media post after a chaotic grand prix.

“I’ve cancelled everything I have for the next few days so I’m going home probably just to sleep the next few days and try and get over this bug,” the jet-setting champion told reporters on Sunday evening.

Hamilton had complained of a sore throat on Saturday, revealing after taking pole position that Mercedes had put French reserve Esteban Ocon on standby in case the five-times champion felt too unwell to drive.

While he led the early stages of a mentally-taxing rain-hit race, his afternoon unravelled with a smashed front wing, a penalty for a pit-lane offence and a wild spin.

He took the chequered flag in 11th place, which stood as his worst finish since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, until penalties for Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raik-konen and Antonio Giovinazzi moved him up two places.

“It was probably the worst day I’ve had in the office for a long, long time,” he said of a race won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who will also be a strong contender for victory in Hungary.

Hamilton said his condition was “not really improving massively” but hoped he would be back to as close to full fitness as possible for Budapest, the last race before the August break.

Hamilton leads team mate Valtteri

Bottas, who failed to finish on Sunday, by 41 points after winning seven of 11 races so far.

Hamilton, who has a diverse range of interests outside Formula One including music and fashion, has often been criticised for his globe-trotting lifestyle but has never allowed that to get in the way of his on-track performance.

Two titles and 11 wins shy of Michael Schumacher’s all-time record tally, the Briton’s error-riddled display on Sunday was uncharacteristic for a driver considered one of the sport’s all-time greats.

“I’m only human,” said Hamilton. “It was a mistake and mistakes happen.”

SPORT21TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019

I know how much the dressing room atmosphere, the trust is essential in

succeeding in international cricket so if that was not there, then whatever

success we have achieved, would not have been possible, we would not have been at

the position we are in world cricket.

Virat KohliIndian Cricket captain

ATP & WTA Citi Openin Washington DC, USA

ATP Tournamentin Los Cabos, Mexico

ATP Generali Openin Kitzbuhel, Austria

WTA Mubadala Silicon ValleyClassic in California, USA

TENNIS TENNIS

TO

DA

Y’S

AC

TIO

N

US to showcase strong team at Doha Worlds

Colombia’s Egan Bernal (centre) celebrates his overall leader’s yellow jersey as he poses with second-placed British cyclist Geraint Thomas (second left) and third-placed Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk on the podium at the end of the 21st and last stage of the 106th Tour de France, in Paris, on Sunday.

Youthful champion Bernal lifts Colombian cycling to new heightsAFP ZIPAQUIRÁ, COLOMBIA

Egan Bernal grew up at altitude and won the Tour de France on the highest slopes, but he learned to ride in the foggy forests around his home town.

Bernal was born in Bogota and grew up 42 kilometres north in Zipaquira, a mining and agricultural town, which sits at an elevation of 2,650 metres in a valley surrounded by mountains.

His father was a watchman and his mother graded cut flowers for export.

On Sunday, 22-year-old Bernal became Colombia’s first Tour de France winner and the youngest of any nation-ality since 1909.

As a child, Bernal took up cross-country biking and trained in the nearby woods under the guidance of Fabio Rod-riguez, a Zipaquira native who had ridden in the Spanish Vuelta.

Young cyclists can hear the roar of a chainsaw and see other youngsters earn their living by cutting down huge trees and carrying them on their shoulders to trucks.

Bernal dedicated his victory to Pablo Mazuera Zambrano, “my first manager.”

Mazuera told AFP that financial pressure almost persuaded the youngster to give up, despite a silver in the world junior cross-country championships in Norway in 2014 and a bronze in 2015 in Andorra.

After the finish of the penultimate stage on Saturday, Bernal thanked Mazuera.

Bernal was recruited by Italian Gianni Savio who needed a climber for his Androni team. After two promising years, Sky swooped and bought his con-tract for 250,000 euros.

In June, Bernal won the Tour of Switzerland but insisted the victory did not change his role at Ineos behind 2018 Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas.

“Geraint will be our leader and my job is to help him,” Bernal said.

Former boss Savio praised Bernal’s attitude.

In the 1980s, Colombian Fabio Parra finished as high as third in the Tour and compatriot Luis Herrera won the 1987 Vuelta.

In recent years, Nairo Quintana, winner of the 2014 Giro and the 2016 Vuelta, and Rigoberto Uran have fin-ished on the Paris podium. But while Herrera, Santiago Botero, Mauricio Soler and Quintana all won the polka-dot King of the Mountains jersey, no Colombian had finished first overall in the Tour.

At just 22 years old Bernal has changed that.

His victory also marks a changing of the guard at Ineos.

As Sky, they won six of the last seven Tours with Bradley Wiggins (2012), Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Thomas (2018). All are British and all were over 28 when they won their first Tour.

Last year Bernal was the loyal domestique to Froome and Thomas, always the last man pulling the Sky leaders up the steepest slopes.

After Bernal finished 15th overall, team boss Dave Brailsford called the Colombian “the man of the match.”

On this year’s Tour, the three Alpine stages originally offered six climbs over 2,000 metres peaking at 2,770 metres on the Col d’Iseran on Friday, where Bernal took the overall lead.

On Thursday, Bernal chased stage-winner Quintana up the 2,642m Galibier.

“When Bernal made the attack, he was able to take advantage of the altitude,” Quintana said. “We live at 2,700 meters.”

Bernal has shown he can fight back. His Tour seemed lost after an unusually poor time trial in Pau when he dropped 1minute 36seconds to Julian Alaphilippe.

“It was the worst day of my career”, Bernal said.

Sunday, however, was the best.

gREUTERS DES MOINES, IOWA

The United States, loaded with talented hurdlers and top men’s sprinters, will head to Septem-ber’s world athletics champion-ships with another powerhouse team.

The Americans, with a number of impressive perform-ances in their national champi-onships, showed they could again top 30 medals in the global meeting.

None was bigger than Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad’s stunning 400 metres hurdles world record.

“It’s a strong team,” BBC analyst and former double record holder Michael Johnson told Reuters before Muhammad smashed Russian Yuliya Pechonkina’s 16-year-old record by more than a tenth of a second with her run of 52.20 seconds.

“The men’s side certainly looks much, much better (than the women). There are some really good women who are outside the U.S.,” said the former world 200 and 400 metres record holder who still has the American marks in both events.

The Americans will be sending eight men who currently

have yearly leading perform-ances, and could claim sprint titles in the 100, 200 and 400 metres, win the 110m hurdles and possibly the 400m hurdles and add gold medals in pole vault, triple jump, shot put and both relays.

Johnson was impressed with all three sprint leaders - Christian Coleman (100m), Noah Lyles (200m) and Michael Norman (400m).

Reigning world champion Justin Gatlin also could be a factor, Johnson said.

His gold medal pick in the 200 is Lyles.

In the 400, US champion Fred Kerley and Norman, the year’s fastest, appear headed for a Doha showdown, Johnson said.

Gold could also be on offer for American high hurdlers Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts. Holloway won the US collegiate title and runner-up Roberts gained revenge in the US Championships.

Rai Benjamin also has gold medal ambitions in the 400m hurdles.

The Americans could also reap gold in the pole vault where Sam Kendricks soared 6.06 metres at the championships for a national record.

O l y m p i c champion Christian Taylor and silver medallist Will Claye in the triple jump and shot put gold medallist Ryan Crouser are other strong candidates for gold.

The US w o m e n could sweep the 400m hurdles and take more than one medal in the 100m hurdles with world record holder Keni Har-rison, Nia Ali and Olympic champion Brianna McNeal.

Muhammad said on Sunday the 400m hurdles record also will be at stake on Doha with teenager Sydney McLaughlin, Ashley Spencer and world champion Kori Carter all in the chase.

World 3,000m steeplechase champion Emma Coburn, pole vaulter Sandi Morris and hammer thrower DeAnna Price also should be in the hunt for top podium spots along with world champion long jumper Brittney Reese.

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Bernal, 22, is Colombia’s

first Tour de France winner

and the youngest of any

nationality since 1909.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton

steers the car after a

crash during the German

Formula One Grand Prix on

Sunday.

Hamilton seeks recovery after Hockenheim disappointment

REUTERS HOCKENHEIM

The German Grand Prix looks likely to

drop off next year’s Formula One

calendar, despite having served up a

thriller for the second straight year on

Sunday.

The race, hosted by the Hock-

enheim circuit which had a deal to host

it every alternate year, was already out

of contract after last season’s event.

A last minute deal kept it on the

2019 calendar with Mercedes-Benz,

parent company of the dominant Mer-

cedes Formula One team, stepping in

as title-sponsor but there has been no

word on a fresh agreement.

Germany used to have two races

on the calendar at the height of Schu-

macher’s success, which boosted the

sport’s popularity to new levels in the

seven-time champion’s homeland, with

the Nuerburgring hosting the European

Grand Prix.

Germany likely to drop off F1 calendar

Dalilah Muhammad waves to the crowd after setting the world record in the 400 metres hurdles during the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday.

TENTATIVE US TEAM FOR DOHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN100m-Christian Coleman, Mike Rodgers, Christopher

Belcher, Justin Gatlin (WC).

200m-Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, Rodney Rowe.

400m-Fred Kerley, Michael Norman, Nathan Strother.

800m-Donavan Brazier, Clayton Murphy, Bryce Hoppel.

1,500m-Craig Engels, Matthew Centrowitz, Ben

Blankenship.

3,000m steeplechase-Hillary Bor, Stanley

Kebenei, Andy Bayer.

5,000m-Paul Chelimo, Hassan

Mead, Drew Hunter.

10,000m-Lopez Lomong,

Shadrack Kipchirchir, Leonard

Korir.

110m hurdles-Daniel Roberts,

Grant Holloway, Devon Allen.

400m hurdles- Rai Benjamin,

TJ Holmes, Amere Lattin.

4x100m, 4x400m relay

pool: To be announced.

Marathon-Elkanah Kibet,

Andrew Epperson, Jonas

Hampton.

High jump-Jeron Robinson,

Shelby McEwen.

Pole vault-Sam Kendricks (WC), Cole Walsh,

KC Lightfoot, Zach Bradford.

Long jump-Will Claye, Trumaine Jefferson,

Jeff Henderson.

Triple jump-Donald Scott, Will Claye,

Omar Craddock, Christian Taylor (WC)

Shot put-Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs, Darrell Hill.

Discus throw- Sam Mattis, Brian Williams, Mason Finley.

Hammer throw-Conor McCullough, Rudy Winkler,

Daniel Haugh.

Decathlon-Devon Williams, Solomon Simmons

WOMEN100m-Teahna Daniels, English Gardner, Morolake

Akinosun, Tori Bowie (WC)

200m-Dezerea Bryant, Brittany Brown, Angie Annelus.

400m-Shakima Wimbley, Kendall Ellis, Wadeline

Jonathas, Phyllis Francis (WC).

800m-Ajee Wilson, Hanna Green, Raevyn Rogers.

1,500m-Shelby Houlihan, Jenny Simpson, Nikki Hiltz.

3,000m steeplechase-Emma Coburn (WC), Courtney

Frerichs, Colleen Quigley, Allie Ostrander.

5,000m-Karissa Schweizer, Elinor Purrier, Rachel Schneider.

10,000m-Molly Huddle, Emily Sisson, (Marielle Hall

awaiting IAAF technical representative pproval).

100m hurdles-Keni Harrison, Nia Ali, Brianna McNeal.

400m hurdles-Dalilah Muhammad, Sydney McLaughlin,

Ashley Spencer, Kori Carter (WC).

4x100m, 4x400m relay pool: To be announced.

20km walk-Maria Michta-Coffey.

50km walk-Katie Burnett.

Marathon-Roberta Groner, Carrie Dimoff, Kelsey Bruce.

High jump-Vashti Cunningham, Inika McPherson.

Pole vault-Sandi Morris, Katie Nageotte, Jenn Suhr.

Long jump-Brittney Reese (WC), Jasmine Todd, Sha’Keela

Saunders, Tori Bowie.

Triple jump-Keturah Orji, Tori Franklin.Shot put-Chase

Ealey, Michelle Carter, Maggie Ewen.

Discus throw-Valarie Allman, Kelsey Card, Laulauga

Tausaga.

Hammer throw-DeAnna Price, Gwen Berry, Brooke

Andersen.

Javelin throw-Ariana Ince, Kara Winger.

Heptathlon-Erica Bougard, Kendell Williams

22 TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019SPORT

Talk of rift with Rohit ‘baffling’: KohliREUTERS MUMBAI

Indian captain Virat Kohli (pictured, far right) yesterday quashed reports of a rift with senior batsman Rohit Sharma (pictured, right), calling the rumours “baffling” and “ridic-ulous” before the team’s departure for a tour of the West Indies.

Since India’s exit in the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup this month, reports of a crack in relations between Kohli and his limited-overs deputy Rohit have dominated local media.

“Even I have heard a lot of things in the last few days. You obviously get to hear these things from outside,” Kohli told reporters at a city hotel.

“If the team environment was not good, then the way we have been playing in the last two-three years, that would not have been possible.

“I know how much the dressing room atmosphere, the trust is essential in succeeding in international cricket so if that was not there, then whatever success we have achieved, would not have been possible, we would not have been at the position we are

in world cricket,” he said.

Kohli’s men sit atop the world test rankings while they are second behind World C h a m p i o n s England in the 50-over format.

Rohit scored five centuries in the World Cup in England to top the batting charts with 648 runs and Kohli, who is the top-ranked batsman in both Tests and ODIs, said he only had respect for the 32-year-old.

“In my opinion it is baffling to be honest. It is abso-lutely ridiculous to read such stuff that comes out there,” he added.

“We are feeding off lies, we are overlooking facts. We are turning a blind eye to all the good things that have happened and creating fantasies and scenarios in our head and we want to accept that it is the truth.

“And I have seen this for too

long now. Bringing personal lives into the picture, it is disrespectful after a moment.”

India will play three T20s, three ODIs and two Tests against the West Indies with the series also marking the start of the World Test Championship for both teams. The long-awaited Test championship, involving the

nine top-ranked Test nations competing in a league till April 2021, has been designed to give more meaning to Test cricket.

The revamped Future Tours Programme (FTP) will see teams play three home-and-away series over a two-year cycle. The top two teams will then progress to a June 2021 final.

“It’s a great thing, we all have been looking forward to it. I feel it will give context to all the cricket we would play. It’s a great thing for Test cricket at the moment,” Kohli added.

“Test cricket really needed a boost... It was important to have an incentive attached to test cricket in a way which the Test

championship presents. I’m glad that people have thought about test to keep it relevant with the test championship.

“I think for the pure joy of playing cricket and executing your skills as a cricketer test cricket is the most important format. For me nothing comes above Test cricket.”

England’s James Anderson is seen during a nets session at Edgbaston, Birmingham, yesterday.

World Test Championship begins with Ashes series

AFP LONDON

The opening day of the Ashes series between England and Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday also marks the start of the International Cricket Coun-cil’s new World Test Champi-onship.

The aim is to give individual Test series greater context and spark a worldwide revival of interest in the five-day game

What is it? The top nine nations will compete in a total of 72 Tests across a two-year period, with the aim of deter-mining the best Test team in the world. The teams involved will be Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The two teams who top the points table over that period will then play each other in a one-off World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June 2021, before a new cycle starts.

Format Each team will play three series at home and three away, consisting of two, three, four or five Tests.

There will be 120 points available per series shared out equally over the number of matches -- so a five-Test series has 24 points per match available to the winner and a three-match campaign 40. If the match is drawn, points are awarded on a 3:1 points ratio -- so in a Test where 60 points are

available for a win, a draw will see both sides take 20.

Matches involving Afghan-istan, Ireland and Zimbabwe will still have Test status but the results will not be counted in the World Test Championship.

Reaction “Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport,” said Eng-land’s leading Test wicket-taker, James Anderson, in an ICC statement.

“It is the very essence of cricket and the majority of players want to strive to play the purist form of the game. The ICC World Test Championship is another brilliant initiative for the sport, adding context and rele-vance to every Test series. Every Test matters, but even more so now.”

Australia captain Tim Paine said: “If the World Test Cham-pionship helps to ensure that all countries make Tests a high pri-ority then that has to be good news for the game in general and the continuing health of the format in particular.”

India skipper Virat Kohli said: “We are awaiting the ICC World Test Championship with great enthusiasm as it adds context to the longest format of the game.

“Test cricket is very chal-lenging and coming out on top in the traditional form is always highly satisfying. The Indian team has done really well in recent years and will be fancying i ts chances in the championship.”

Anderson could hold key to England hopes, says McGrathAFP LONDON

Australia great Glenn McGrath believes the form of England spearhead James Anderson could determine the course of the Ashes.

Australia hold the urn but head into Thursday’s opening Test at Edgbaston looking for their first series win in England since 2001.

Anderson, 37 today, has been battling to overcome a calf injury but McGrath believes he could have a huge impact on the five-Test series if he stays fit.

“On home soil with the Dukes ball, he’s the best in the world bowling in those conditions,” McGrath told The Sun in an interview. “He is a big player and if he has a big series for England, Australia will find it tough. If Australia bat well and can get on top of him, that’ll make a massive impact on their chances.”

The 49-year-old McGrath, working with online trading broker ThinkMarkets to encourage more young people to get into sport, added: “But Jimmy is on his way to 600 Test wickets, which is absolutely incredible.”

Anderson is now just 25 wickets shy of becoming the first fast bowler to take 600 in Tests, having sur-passed former paceman McGrath’s haul of 563 against India last September.

“Jimmy’s got the record now and it won’t be beaten,” said McGrath. “For a fast bowler to beat whatever record he sets, they are going to have to play 150 Tests-plus.”

This season’s Ashes is being played with last year’s Dukes ball, which has a bigger seam than the one now in use for the 2019 English domestic season.

While that should benefit both Anderson and new-ball partner Stuart Broad, six-time Ashes winner McGrath thinks the 2018 Dukes will aid Australia’s attack as well.

Ben Stokes proud to be England Test vice-captain once againAFP LONDON

Ben Stokes has revealed the pride he felt after being rein-stated as England’s Test vice-captain ahead of the Ashes series starting this week.

Stokes was stripped of the role in 2017 following a late-night brawl in Bristol but was restored as Joe Root’s deputy ahead of the five-Test series against Australia, which begins in Birmingham on Thursday.

Jos Buttler had been acting as Root’s right-hand man but was happy to pass the baton back after England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director of men’s cricket Ashley Giles and chief executive Tom Harrison recommended Stokes’s restoration.

Speaking on a weekend visit to his old club in Cumbria, the 28-year-old said: “I love having that responsibility and it is something that I thoroughly enjoy doing. I take pride in being vice-captain. Being part of that think-tank is pretty cool.

“I am very good friends with Joe as well, off the field, and as much as I can do to help him through his career, not just as a captain but as a player as well, I am really looking forward to that challenge.

“I think it would have been just as exciting anyway. Playing in an Ashes series is always special and they don’t come around that often but being named vice-captain again was very good words to hear when I got the call.”

Stokes missed the last series against Australia in 2017/18 after he was stood down by the ECB following events in Bristol.

He will start the Ashes cam-paign buoyed by his Man-of-the-Match performance in the World Cup final but is now switching focus.

“Everything is sort of on the Ashes now,” he said.

“We have had that time to let everything sink in and reflect on that amazing seven weeks we have had in the World Cup, but the World Cup was half of the journey that we wanted to achieve this summer and the other half is winning the Ashes. Everything has been focused on what we are going to do to beat the Australians. Five Test matches against Australia isn’t easy.”

Australia’s David Warner during nets at Edgbaston in Birmingham, yesterday.

ASHES ITINERARY First Test: August 1-5 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Second Test: August 14-18 at Lord’s, London

Third Test: August 22-26 at Headingley, Leeds

Fourth Test: September 4-8 at Old Trafford,

ManchesterFifth Test: September

12-16 at The Oval, London

In my opinion it is baffling to be honest. It is absolutely ridiculous to read such stuff that comes out there: Virat Kohli

23TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 SPORT

Angola, Togo given tough tasks at African draw for Qatar 2022AFP JOHANNESBURG

Former World Cup qualifiers Angola and Togo were given difficult first hurdles to clear when the African preliminary draw for Qatar 2022 tournament was made in Cairo yesterday.

Angola were paired with the Gambia and Togo face the Comoros between September 2 and 10 in two of 14 two-leg ties involving the lower ranked countries.

Since qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany at the expense of hot favourites Nigeria, Angola have made little impact in qualifying competitions for the global showpiece.

A Gambian team coached by Belgian Tom Saintfiet impressed in mid-year friendlies, winning away to 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Guinea and Morocco.

Togo, who also made their only appearance at the World Cup

in 2006, thanks in a big way to the goals of Emmanuel Adebayor, have not come close to repeating that feat.

African football heavyweights Ghana, Cameroon and Morocco all failed to win in the southern Africa island state of the Comoros in recent years.

The preliminary draw included six of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and two, Burundi and Tanzania, were paired.

Aggregate winners join the 26 countries given byes, based on the July world rankings, in the six-round group phase from next March.

The 10 section winners advance to playoffs, which will decide the five qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia represented Africa at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and none of them made it past the first round.

Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photograph with the MARCA Legend Award at the Reina Victoria Theater in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. The MARCA is awarded by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca to the best sport professionals in history.

AFRICAN PRELIMINARY DRAW FOR QATAR 2022 WORLD CUP

Ethiopia vs Lesotho

Somalia vs Zimbabwe

Eritrea vs Namibia

Burundi vs Tanzania

Djibouti vs Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Botswana vs Malawi

Gambia vs Angola

Liberia vs Sierra Leone

Mauritius vs Mozambique

Sao Tome e Principe vs Guinea-Bissau

South Sudan vs Equatorial Guinea

Comoros vs Togo

Chad vs Sudan

Seychelles vs Rwanda

First, second legs will take place on Sept 2-10

Byes: Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria,

Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic

Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina

Faso, South Africa, Guinea, Cape Verde,

Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Gabon, Congo

Brazzaville, Madagascar, Niger, Libya,

Mauritania, Kenya, Central African Republic

South Korean soccer fans to sue over Ronaldo benchingAFP SEOUL

More than 2,000 South Korean soccer fans will sue a sports agency after superstar Cristiano Ronaldo stayed on the bench when his Juventus side played a friendly in Seoul last week, a law firm said yesterday.

The star Portuguese striker did not play a single second of the match against a K-league all-star team, ignoring appeals from the sell-out 65,000 crowd at the World Cup Stadium to lace up his boots.

With frustration mounting some even chanted the name of his great Argentine rival Lionel Messi.

When the game was first announced, organisers said the contract with Juventus obliged Ronaldo to play for at least 45 minutes, prompting many fans to splash out, according to Seoul law firm Myungan.

Tickets - priced from 30,000 won ($25) to 400,000 won ($338) -- sold out in just

two and a half hours when they were released on July 3.

“So far, more than 2,000 fans have contacted us to pursue the suit,” Myungan attorney Kim Hun-ki said.

“We plan to officially file the suit on their behalf sometime next week, if the agency does not offer a con-crete plan to compensate the ticket holders before then.”

The Italian team’s flight from Nanjing in China was delayed, so that they landed only five hours before the scheduled start, delaying kick-off by an hour.

Robin Zhang, CEO of The Festa, the Korean agency which arranged the game, told local broadcaster SBS in tears that she had complained to Juventus vice chairman Pavel Nedved during the match.

Ronaldo has been sub-jected to a backlash on social media.

“He betrayed the 60,000 audience and belittled us,” a Korean who attended the game posted on Instagram. “I’m no longer a Ronaldo fan.”

Jiangsu end Bale transfer rumours with Santini signing

REUTERS HONG KONG

Chinese Super League (CSL) side

Jiangsu Suning have signed Croatian

striker Ivan Santini whose arrival is

expected to bring to an end the

club’s pursuit of Real Madrid’s

Gareth Bale.

The signing of Santini from

Anderlecht, which was announced

by Jiangsu on their social media

outlets on Monday morning,

alongside the recruitment of Bra-

zilian defender Miranda from Inter

Milan late last week means the club

now have five foreign players on

their books.

Jiangsu had been expected to

sign Bale before the closure of the

Chinese Super League’s transfer

window tomorrow with claims the

Wales international would be paid

around £1m ($1.24m) a week to

become the latest big name arrival

in Chinese football.

But reports on Sunday said

Bale’s proposed move to Jiangsu

had collapsed after Real’s board

refused to approve his departure,

with the Chinese club wanting to

acquire the 30-year-old on a free

transfer.

Aussie De Minaur dominates Fritz to lift Atlanta ATP titleAFP WASHINGTON

Australia’s Alex de Minaur captured his second ATP title in dominant style on Sunday, dropping just 10 points on serve in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) triumph over Taylor Fritz in a battle of rising stars in Atlanta.

Third-seeded De Minaur, 20, became just the third player to win an ATP title without facing a break point since the tour began keeping stats in 1991.

German Tommy Haas did it in Memphis in 2007 and American John Isner managed the feat in Newport in 2017.

More importantly, de Minaur cemented his return from the groin injury that side-lined him for nearly two months after he claimed his maiden victory at Sydney in January.

“This one is really special to me,” said de Minaur, who improved to 15-4 on hard courts this season with the US Open looming in August.

“I felt like I really needed this. To start the year with a bang and then be slowed down

by injuries... you expect your level to be right there once you come back, but you have to slowly grind your way back.

“I’ve been playing great tennis and felt like if I could keep it all together, the good results will come. This is a week that will really help me out.”

De Minaur, the youngest ever to hoist the Atlanta trophy, lost just seven first-serve points

in his four matches of the week -- holding in 42 service games.

His near-flawless serve again on Sunday heaped all the pressure on Fritz and the American was broken in the seventh game of the opening set with a double-fault on break point.

De Minaur broke again to pocket the first set when Fritz’s drop shot effort failed to clear the net.

Neither player faced a break point in the second, and de Minaur was on the defensive early in the tie-breaker with a double fault on the first point.

He won the next three points, however, to seize control, gave himself match point with a service winner and let out a shout of satisfaction after a backhand volley winner sealed the triumph.

Alex De Minaur of Australia returns the ball to Taylor Fritz during the BB&T Atlanta Open final at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday.

Teen ‘Coco’ reaches Citi Open main draw in WashingtonREUTERS WASHINGTON

Cori “Coco” Gauff on Sunday made it through to the main draw of the Citi Open in Washington, needing barely an hour to win her final qualifier.

She will play 84th-ranked Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan in the first round in what will be Gauff’s third tournament appearance in the main draw.

Gauff, 15, last month became the youngest woman in the pro-fessional era to make the Wim-bledon main draw.

She beat Venus Williams before losing in the fourth round to eventual champion Simona Halep.

Gauff had to get through two rounds of qualifying this weekend and she was barely troubled in either, beating American Maegan Manasse and then Japan’s Hiroko Kuwata in straight sets.

“These two matches I feel like will prep me for my first round, espe-cially because I’ve never been to this tournament before,” Gauff said.

“I was glad that I was able to get a feel of how it is, the site, playing those two qualifying matches.

“The weather is similar to home (in Florida), so I felt like I’ve

been practising at home.

I’ll be happy playing on any

court.”

main draw ashington,to win her

h-rankedstan in thebe Gauff’s

earance in

h becamen the pro-the Wim-

Williamsfourth

ampion

hrough ng thisbarely atingasse okos.es I or-

The weather is similar to home (in Florida), so I felt like I’ve

been practising at home.

I’ll be happy playingon any

court.”

American Teenager Coco Gauff

CAF Deputy General-Secretary in-charge of Football and Development and ex-Ghana defender Anthony Baffoe picks Angola during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers preliminary round’s draw held in Cairo, yesterday.

Tiger’s US PGA event gets status boost

AFP LOS ANGELES

Tiger Woods’ US PGA tournament will have a higher purse and greater prestige as well as invitational status and a new name for next year, organizers announced yesterday.

The Genesis Invitational, hosted by Woods at Riviera Country Club next Feb-ruary 13-16, will have an invite-only field of 120 players competing for a $9.3m purse, a boost of $1.9m from this year’s event.

The winner will take home $1.674m as well as a three-year PGA TOUR exemption, one year longer than the standard winner’s exemption for tour events.

Tiger’s event exemption matches those of the Memorial, a key US Open tuneup event hosted by Jack Nicklaus, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in March.

Reigning Masters champion Woods, 43, has won 15 major titles, three shy of the record 18 captured by Nicklaus.

His victory this year at Augusta National snapped a major win drought dating to the 2008 US Open.

Woods has 81 career US PGA titles, one shy of the all-time record set by Sam Snead.

The Riviera tournament remains a benefit event for Woods’ charity work through his TGR Foundation.

Tour puts a World Championship between final two majorsAP PONTE VEDRA BEACH

The World Golf Championships event in Tennessee is changing dates and will be played between the final two majors next year.

That was part of the 2019-20 schedule the PGA Tour released yes-terday, which features only four empty weeks from the Sept. 12 start at The Greenbrier to the Aug. 30 end at the Tour Championship.

Unlike 2016, the tour will not stage an event the same week the men compete in the Olympics from July 30 to Aug. 2.

The FedEx St. Jude Invitational, this year held the week after the British Open, moves to July 2-5.

That’s two weeks after the US Open, two weeks before the British Open.

The 3M Open next year goes a week after the British Open, while the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit moves up a month to late May.

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22US to showcase

strong team at World Championships

in Doha

Talk of rift with Rohit ‘baffling’, says Indian captain Kohli

24TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019

These pictures posted on @roadto2022 Twitter handle show an aerial view of the under-construction Lusail Stadium, the largest of the eight ultra-modern venues which will host matches during the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. The 80,000-capacity venue will host the opening and final matches of the showpiece event.

India Davis Cup team set to tour PakistanAFP NEW DELHI

Indian tennis team will travel to Pakistan for their Davis Cup tie, the country’s governing body chief confirmed yesterday, despite strained relations between the nations.

Sporting ties between the two nuclear-armed countries, which have fought three wars since gaining independence from the British in 1947, are frozen.

But the All India Tennis Association (AITA) said the government had no issues with the players crossing the border for the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie to be held on Sep-tember 14 and 15.

“Yes, they are set to tour Pakistan,” AITA president Praveen Mahajan told AFP. “We informed the gov-ernment about it and they were OK with it.

“We did not require a clearance from them because it is an international event but we do not do anything without asking the government.”

India cut bilateral cricket ties with its neighbour after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with authorities blaming Pakistani militants.

Some Indian fans and ex-players called for the team to boycott its recent cricket World Cup match against Pakistan. After India’s victory, a top minister described the triumph as “another strike” on enemy territory.

An Indian team last toured Pakistan in 1964 for the Davis Cup, where they defeated the hosts 4-0.

Pakistan lost 3-2 when they toured Mumbai in 2006.

Until a few years ago, Pakistan was forced to host its home Davis Cup ties at neutral venues as teams refused to travel to the South Asian nation over security concerns.

But Mahajan said India has not demanded any “special security” arrange-ments for the upcoming tie to be played at the grass courts of the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad.

India are likely to announce their touring squad in the first week of August.

Gazwan seals Group 1 honours as Qatari horses dazzle at NewburyTHE PENINSULA NEWBURY

Qatari-owned horses dazzled the crowds, scoring three victories, including two black type ones, at Newbury on Sunday.

Back on European soil after a successful winter in Doha, H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned Gazwan (Amer) easily won the Shadwell Dubai Interna-tional Stakes (Gr1 PA).

H E Sherida Al Kaabi’s Shabih Alreeh (Jaafer Asf) led the field, fol-lowed by Jaldi Karo (Jehol de Car-donne) while Al Shaqab Racing’s Melabi (Dahess) and Gazwan trav-elled at the rear. Once Gazwan was pulled out and asked to accelerate by his jockey, Olivier Peslier, he flew away to win the 2000-metre contest. Melabi took second pace in front of Mehdaaf Athbah (Amer). Gazwan, with this victory under his belt, has provided his trainer, Julian Smart, with a fifth success in the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes in eleven years.

“He’s a superstar. What more can I say about him! He’s run with the best, he’s beaten the best, he’s 8 years old and he’s still going! The plan is to go perhaps to the Prix Dragon – Qatar Cup (Gr1 PA) if I think he needs it, and then the big one. He’s not a horse that need a lot of racing. He’s going to have a bit of downtime now, and then we’ll see,” commented Julian Smart.

Meanwhile, Methgal (TM Fred Texas), also owned by H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, landed the Diar International Stakes (Gr3 PA) less than two hour earlier at the same racecourse.

Seventh on his debut in Chan-tilly at the end of June in the Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes (Gr1 PA), the Julian Smart-trained colt stepped back down in distance and left no chance to his rivals, winning the 1400-metre run by just over six lengths.

The race was led by Munhamer (Monsieur Al Maury). Methgal had to negotiate his way through a wall of horses before showing an impressive turn of foot, which only Al Shaqab Racing’s Traynah (Dahor de Brugère) was able to follow to take second place.

“We were very disappointed after his race in Chantilly”, said Julian Smart, “He just wasn’t ready. He really improved a lot since that race. He is only a 3yo and works with horses like Ebraz (Amer) and Gazwan (Amer), so I knew his level. I knew he would run well today, but like he did… I am really happy!”

Al Shaqab Racing’s Kair Al Cham won the UAE Embassy in London International Stakes earlier on the day. Jean-Bernard Eyquem steered the Thomas Fourcy-saddled four-year-old colt to win the 2000-metre race for pure Arabians.

Lusail Stadium - Qatar’s 80,000-seat World Cup venue rising at a rapid pace

Jockey Olivier Peslier and H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Gazwan on their way to win the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1/PA) at the Newbury Racecourse, yesterday. TOP RIGHT: Peslier and Gazwan’s team members celebrate with the trophy.

Methgal (TM Fred Texas), owned by H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, on its way to win the Diar International Stakes (Gr3 PA).

Mexican star Moreno joins Al GharafaTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Al Gharafa yesterday unveiled their latest signing Mexican interna-tional Hector Moreno during a press conference in Doha.

The 31-year-old moved to Qatar from Spanish club Real Sociedad after completing just one season.

Moreno, who has more than 100 appear-ances for Mexico, is playing for the national team since 2007.

Moreno managed to start in the semi-final and final of Mexico’s successful

quest to win the CONCAF Gold Cup recently after overcoming an injury earlier in the tournament and remains the only left-footed central defender playing at a high level in the national team pool.

He was the most expe-rienced centre-back at Sociedad and his services will hugely benefit the Qatari football giants who are currently coached by former Fulham FC tac-tician Slavisa Jokanovic who joined the club earlier in June.

At the Doha club, Moreno will join a host of international stars, including Dutchman

Wesley Sneijder, Iranian Mehdi Tarmi, Portuguese Diogo Amado, recently signed Algerian star Sofiane Hanni and Slovak Vladimir Weiss.

Last season, Al Gharafa finished in 8th spot winning only seven matches from 22 rounds.

In a stunning run of dominance, Al Gharafa produced three back-to-back QSL titles from 2007 to 2010. The seven-time league winners haven’t won a trophy since that season.

Al Gharafa will meet Al Shahaniya in their first match of the season on August 22.

Mexican international Hector Moreno holding his Al Gharafa jersey with a club official during a press conference yesterday.