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WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 • 26 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6667 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar to host Emir watches Qatar ExxonMobil Open match regional human rights meeting

dialogue on roles, best practices and Some 220 overseas expectations of various stakehold- ers in protecting human rights in the delegates, 15 Arab region. foreign ministers to The conference will come up with recommendations at three levels: for participate in meet to the regional office of the HCHR, for start on January 13 governments and civil society organ- isations, said the official. Media committee will be estab- lished from the local newspapers By Mohammed Osman including The Peninsula to coordi- The Peninsula nate with the media section at the NHRC to cover the event, said an offi- cial from the media section. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open tennis tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis and The conference is to highlight Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. The Emir watched the match between Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych and Ukraine’s S Stakhovsky. DOHA: The Regional Conference on appropriate approaches of the UN Berdych won the match, qualifying for the second round of the tournament. → See also page 29 the Role of the Office of the High Com- human rights system, particularly missioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) the role of OHCHR to promote and in Promoting and Protecting Human protect rights in the current context Rights in the Arab Region will kick of the Arab region; assess the state off here on January 13. of cooperation between Arab coun- Some 220 foreign delegates will tries and the UN human rights system Kuwait recalls envoy from Iran 36 migrants take part in the two-day event and and share lessons learnt and support they will include 15 foreign minis- efforts of the UN regional office to ters, including GCC ministers, said a strengthen human rights in the region. drown off Qatar National Human Rights Com- According to a press release as diplomatic feud festers mittee (NHRC) official here yesterday issued by NHRC, the conference at a press conference. also intends to discuss and create a Turkey The conference will be held under common understanding of thematic Agencies Riyadh on Saturday. In a press state- derail efforts to resolve conflicts from the patronage of Prime Minister and rights priorities in the region including ment, Al Zayani said the meeting, to Syria to Yemen. The Security Coun- Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdul- freedom of expression, association, be chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister cil joined those calls late on Monday, ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities yes- lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. human rights education, responses Adel Al Jubeir, will discuss the recent issuing a statement urging all sides terday found the bodies of at least The conference will bring together to regional basic human rights issues RIYADH: The diplomatic crisis sur- attacks on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran to “take steps to reduce tensions in 36 migrants, including several chil- around 190 representatives of inter- amid war and conflicts. rounding Saudi Arabia and Iran and its consulate in Mashhad. the region”. dren, washed up on beaches and national and regional organisations, There will be several work papers widened yesterday as Kuwait recalled Tensions between Saudi Arabia The statement by the 15-member floating off its western coast after human rights institutions, civil soci- presented at all the sessions and work- its ambassador to Tehran and Bahrain and Iran have erupted this week into council condemned “in the strongest their boats sank while crossing the ety groups as well as human rights shops. Papers will address issues such severed air links in the face of grow- a full-blown diplomatic crisis, spark- terms” the attacks which saw pro- Aegean Sea to EU member Greece. and legal committees of Arab par- as Arab countries’ cooperation with ing international concern. ing widespread worries of regional testers firebomb the Saudi Embassy The tragedies, the deadliest so liaments and Advisory Council, GCC UN human right organisations, rati- Joining Riyadh and its Sunni Arab instability. Iran lashed out again at in Tehran and its consulate in Iran’s far reported in the Aegean in 2016, secretary General and the Organi- fication of core human right treaties. allies in taking diplomatic action, Saudi Arabia for the execution yester- second-biggest city Mashhad. come as the EU seeks to push Turkey zation of Islamic Conference States. In addition to Arab countries’ engage- Kuwait said it was withdrawing its day, with President Hassan Rowhani But the council made no mention to halt the flow of migrants across The senior NHRC official address- ment with the UN human rights envoy over a weekend attack on the accusing Riyadh of seeking to “cover of the event that set off the crisis — its borders in exchange for finan- ing the press meet didn’t wish to be mechanisms including Treaty Bodies Saudi Embassy in Tehran. its crime” by severing ties. Saudi Arabia’s execution on Saturday cial help. named. and special procedures and imple- Kuwait’s move came after the UN “One does not respond to criti- of Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, a cleric and A spokesman for the Turkish The High Commissioner for mentations of the Universal Periodic Security Council strongly condemned cism by cutting off heads,” Rowhani activist whose death sparked wide- coastguard told AFP that the bod- Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad, Review recommendations. the attack, carried out by protesters said, referring to the usual Saudi prac- spread protests among Shias. ies of 36 migrants had been found, will take part in opening the con- In addition to QNHRC, OHCHR, angry over Saudi Arabia’s execution tice of carrying out executions with Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties including 29 recovered by the Turk- ference, his first official visit to Qatar, Arab League and Arab Network for of a prominent Shia cleric. beheading by the sword. with Tehran in protest at the attacks ish gendarmerie and seven by the along with the Secretary-General of National Human Rights Institu- GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdul Washington and other Western on Sunday and has severed air links coastguard. the UN. The conference will not focus tions are partners of the conference Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani said yester- powers have called for calm amid with Iran. It was not immediately clear on certain countries or groups and which will be organised in Arabic day that the bloc’s foreign ministers fears the dispute could raise sectar- how many boats had sunk in the will serve as a forum for an interactive and English. will hold an emergency meeting in ian tensions across the Middle East and → See also page 6 high seasonal winds although the Dogan news agency said at least two separate incidents were involved. Two dozen migrants seeking to reach the Greek island of Les- Snow-covered destruction Obama weeps while bos set out before dawn aboard a rubber boat but it capsized in bad weather and high seas, the Dogan reported. The bodies were found pushing gun control either washed up on the beach near the resort of Ayvalik or in the sea nearby, Dogan said. Eight more Reuters migrants had been rescued.

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Power consumption Obama yesterday described new steps his administration will take to tighten peaked on Sept 1 gun rules and urged Americans to vote for candidates who do more to prevent gun violence, wiping back tears as he DOHA: The highest daily electricity remembered children who died in a mass consumption in Qatar last year was shooting. recorded on September 1 at 7,270 As Obama delivered a powerful mega watt (MW), with eight percent address in the White House, surrounded increase compared to the previous by family members of people killed in US President Barack Obama sheds a year, according to data released by shootings, his voice rose to a yell as he tear while speaking on gun violence the Qatar General Electricity and said the constitutional rights of Ameri- in the White House yesterday. Water Corporation (Kahramaa). cans to bear arms needed to be balanced The highest consumption by the right to worship, gather peacefully recorded in 2014 was on Septem- and live their lives. day,” he said, after being introduced by ber 7 at 6,740MW. Obama has often said his toughest time Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son was September witnesses the high- in office was grappling with the Decem- killed in the shooting. “My hope earnestly est demand for electricity with a ber 2012 massacre of 20 children and six has been that it would change the coun- combination of high temperature adults at an elementary school in New- try.” After that tragedy, the Democratic and return of Qatari and expatri- town, Connecticut. president failed to persuade Congress to ate families to the country after the Boys walk past damaged buildings covered with snow in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret “Every time I think about those kids, toughen US gun laws. summer holidays. Al Numan town in Idlib province of Syria yesterday. it gets me mad,” Obama said, tears rolling down his cheek. “That changed me, that → See also page 18 → Continued on page 4 02 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 HOME

Deputy Emir chairs second meeting of Qatar University Board of Trustees

First Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening Centre opens on Jan 17 DOHA: Minister of Pub- lic Health H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani will inau- gurate the first Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening Centre on January 17 at Al Wakrah Health Centre. The state-of-the-art facility will open to imple- ment the new initiative ‘Screen for Life’ that pro- motes awareness and early detection of breast and bowel cancer to save lives. With the high inci- dence in the country, the campaign by the Primary Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar University (QU), chaired the second meeting of the board for the Health Care Corporation academic year 2015-2016 at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The meeting discussed the agenda, including a report on the projects being implemented by QU in various fields (PHCC) encourages peo- during the academic year. It also addressed the development of QU’s organisational structure and its strategic plans and projects for 2017-2022. The meeting took decisions, ple with no symptoms to including the approval of the creation of a College of Health Sciences at QU. screen for the disease. It targets women aged 45 or above with no symp- toms to screen for breast cancer through mammog- raphy and calls on men and women aged 50 or QRCS to begin projects at Gaza public hospitals above with no symptoms to undergo bowel cancer screening. A mobile unit will be staff training and remuneration, del- launched in March, which The 12-month project egation of an orthopaedic consultant, will visit health centres procurement of general and specialist to screen patients. The in cooperation with surgical equipment and supply of joint Breast and Bowel Can- the Palestinian replacement prostheses for one year. cer Screening Centre in The project will help improve the Leabaib will open in March Ministry of Health will advanced orthopaedic surgical serv- and Rawdat Al Khail in cost QR2,909,740 to ices in the complex, minimise the need December. for patient referrals abroad, reduce provide quality health the rate of permanent disabilities services to patients resulting from orthopaedic injuries, and receive hundreds of patients and 30 QU female elderly every year. The project also aims to enhance students attend The Peninsula gastroscopy services by procuring a gastroscope, colonoscope and duo- two charitable denoscope for Nasser Hospital and medical consumables for gastroscopy activities DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society for Nasser Hospital and European Gaza (QRCS) has signed a memorandum of Hospital. These provisions will cost understanding (MoU) with Palestine’s $200,000, benefiting about 15,000 The Peninsula Ministry of Health to implement new patients with gastrointestinal problems medical projects at several public hos- a year who visit surgical and internal pitals in Gaza. medicine departments of both hospi- The 12-month project at a cost of tals and nearby health facilities. DOHA: Thirty female students from $800,000 (QR2,909,740) aims to pro- Indirect beneficiaries include 100 Qatar University College of Law vide quality health services to patients. medical interns of the hospital and 60 recently participated in two chari- The MoU was signed by Saleh bin Palestinian Board internal medicine table and humanitarian activities as Ali Al Mohannadi, QRCS Secretary- doctors and surgeons. Qatar Red Crescent Society volunteers check medical equipment at a hospital in Gaza. part of an initiative of the college’s General, and Dr Ashraf Abo Mahadi, The ministry will assess the needs, Externship Programme, in conjunc- Director-General for International determine specifications and estimated tion with the Female Law Student Operation at the ministry. costs, make quantity lists, invite and licensing from authorities and facili- and improve surgical and diagnostic equipped and staffed. “The projects are Club and the Human Rights Club. The QRCS office in Gaza will estab- award tenders, develop training plans, tate the work of QRCS and follow-up services, enhance performance and in line with the Health Sector Strategic The selected projects — the lish a new joint replacement unit in and select the training provider and committees. Al Mohannadi said, “The reduce patient referrals abroad.” He Goals 2013-2017 adopted by Pales- American Women’s Association the Al Shefaa medical Complex, at a trainees in coordination with QRCS. endeavour is in response to the urgent stressed the importance of supporting tinian healthcare care providers and of Qatar (AWAQ) Heart Pillow cost of $600,000. It involves medical The ministry will also secure needs of public hospitals to introduce Gaza hospitals, which are inadequately decisionmakers.” Project and the Hamad Children’s Hospital Dolls Project — support breast cancer survivors at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) at Hamad Ooredoo unveils Qatar’s first Medical Corporation (HMC), and Sudan Vice-President meets attorney-general children recovering from or prepar- ing to undergo surgical operations dedicated Inland Sea App at the Children’s Hospital. QNA interest. The meeting was attended by and military officers , lawyers, uni- The students were involved Qatari Ambassador Rashid bin Abdul- versity professors, legal experts and in sewing over 30 heart-shaped The Peninsula dune names have been translated onto rahman Al Nuaimi. intellectuals. Dr Al Marri also spoke pillows and 85 drainage bags for a digital map, and will offer visitors KHARTOUM: Sudan’s First Vice Dr. Al Marri also delivered a lecture about theories on the separation of NCCCR breast cancer survivors and cultural insight into the area. President Gen. Bakri Hassan Saleh at the Ministry of Justice and talked powers and how Qatar adopts this more than 45 dolls for children at Anyone with a smartphone can yesterday met Qatari Attorney-Gen- about the independence of Public principle and means to strengthen the hospital. DOHA: Ooredoo has launched a download the app at https://itunes. eral Dr. Ali bin Fetais Al Marri who Prosecution, reviewing Qatar’s expe- itself through the Permanent Con- They also presented female can- dedicated Inland Sea application to apple.com/qa/app/ooredoo-inland- is on a visit to the country. rience in the field. It was attended by stitution and subsequent new laws, cer patients with toiletries such as help easily navigate people through sea/id1061454154?mt=8 for iOS users, They discussed issues of common Al Nuaimi, along with judges, police including Law No. 10 of 2002. shampoos, conditioners, lotions and desert dunes to safe spots and tour- and https://play.google.com/store/ soaps. ist attractions. apps/details?id=qa.ooredoo.android. By engaging students in volun- The first Qatar desert navigation inlandsea for android. teer activities, we are strengthening app will provide users with informa- This is the latest in desert activa- their ties with the wider community tion such as geography and terrain, tions for the company. To ensure all Ashghal to implement alternative route for and encouraging them to enhance camping sites, emergency numbers people are safe in the desert, Ooredoo their teamwork, organisational, and Supernet signal towers so that distributed a specially-commissioned communication and leadership desert visitors can stay connected. hard copy of the Inland Sea Desert part of Al Kassarat Street in Industrial Area capabilities that will serve them The app will also offer user’s sat- Map and Guide, which includes infor- in their future personal and pro- ellite navigation through the desert mation such as emergency numbers, The Peninsula fessional endeavours, said Dean to the Inland Sea using Ooredoo’s tips on desert survival and locations Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Supernet, offering peace of mind for to visit. Khulaifi of the college. families and friends visiting the area. The company enhanced its nation- “This shows the college’s com- Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Direc- wide Ooredoo Supernet across the DOHA: The Public Works Authority mitment to provide students with tor, Community and Public Relations, desert, launching ‘Operation Desert’ — Ashghal — has announced that an practical skills-based opportunities Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Ooredoo con- to upgrade and install new network alternative route of 600 metres will and encourage their engagement tinues to provide our full support for towers at popular desert sites and be put in place on a section of Al Kas- in and sense of responsibility to the people’s desert adventures, as part of camping spots, including rolling out sarat Street in the Industrial Area Zone community in which they live in our wider engagement with the cul- 4G+ towers. 91 (as shown in the map). line with the culture of community ture and traditions of Qatar. To ensure families stay safe in The new route will have the same service and volunteerism at QU.” “Wherever people travel to, they the desert, the Ooredoo Inland Sea number of lanes. Externship Programme Direc- can be sure of a great connection to App also has a direct contact but- The traffic change starts tomorrow tor Dr Melissa Joy Deehring said: our Supernet, and now be safe in the ton to ‘Fazat Mawater’ - a team of for six months. It is required to carry “These activities are part of out- knowledge that thanks to our app, trained professional desert drivers, out construction of the connection of reach projects in which the college finding your way home or to a ded- who volunteer to rescue people from new expressway from Interchange encourages its students to give back icated medical area near the Inland in situations such as marooned cars, No. 30 to Interchange No. 31a, a vital to the community and be role mod- Sea has never been easier.” trapped wheels or being lost. part of the West Corridor Expressway. els for the young ones following in In another first, the app will pro- For details on Ooredoo’s Super- Ashghal will install signs to advise their footsteps. The students’ enthu- vide visitors with the dune names as net, visit www.ooredoo.qa or follow motorists of the diversion. It urged siasm was remarkable and inspiring, they exist in Qatari lore. This is the the company on social media @ road users to abide by speed limits and we plan to expand the initia- first time the spoken Arabic traditional OoredooQatar. and follow road signs for safety. tive to all female students at QU.” HOME WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 03 QU to utilise date palm waste to make products

More valuable than people think’, the embedded in our cultural history, is The Centre for project is led by Qatar Petrochemical found to be exhibiting strong potential Company (Qapco) Polymer Chair Prof as a sustainable green reinforcement Advanced Materials Igor Krupa at QU, and includes Postdoc- material. will extract toral Researcher Dr Patrik Soboliciak, “This research activity embodies and Research Assistant Aisha Tanvir. QU’s continued commitment to actively nanocellulose from “Qatar is home to more than tackle local challenges and research palm waste for 600,000 palm trees, which results in solutions for real-world problems and large amounts of palm waste being is in line with Qatar’s stated ambitions use in a variety of generated every year. towards building a knowledge-based applications “This waste is usually incinerated economy,” he added. which not only results in loss of a val- Nanocellulose extracted from date uable resource, but incineration is also palm waste exhibits mechanical prop- environmentally unfriendly. erties akin to Kevlar, a lightweight The Peninsula “To overcome the issue, the centre material used to manufacture high- is focusing on extracting nanocellulose strength products, Prof Krupa said. from palm waste. This cellulose can “Similar mechanical properties then be used in a variety of applications and being an environment-friendly Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Patrik Soboliciak, Research Assistant Aisha Tanvir, and Qapco Polymer Chair at DOHA: Qatar University Centre for such as reinforcement of polymers, material makes nanocellulose a supe- QU Prof Igor Krupa at a lab. Advanced Materials (QU-CAM) has water purification, paper manufac- rior alternative to Kevlar and other undertaken a research project to utilise ture and more,” said CAM Director Prof fossil fuel-based materials,” he said. date palm waste to produce sustain- Mariam Al Maadeed. Dr Soboliciak said cellulose can be The cellulose nanofibers have the ability cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. promising candidates for use in pro- able, value-added products. “It is fitting that date palm, which extracted from palm waste by employ- to replace common inorganic fibers for “The transparent nature of cellu- tective eyewear, windows, or displays,” Entitled ‘Renewable palm waste: is indigenous to Qatar and deeply ing chemical or mechanical processes. material reinforcement in the medical, lose nanocrystals also makes them he added. Better price hopes slow property market Awareness helped document details of diabetes patients The Peninsula transactions were so low for the Ministry of Justice, were worth a fear among real estate investors second week in a row last month, little over QR270.56m. and they may be waiting for bet- the analyst said: “Maybe, there is Qatar News Agency said that, ter opportunities to buy and sell. a brief recession”. as usual, the deals included plots of “When an investor feels that a The Peninsula assess risks of developing cardiovascular DOHA: Real estate owners are Not wanting his name in print, land, houses and buildings in differ- particular piece of real estate may disease among patients with diabetics. holding on to their properties and the analyst, who is a well-known ent municipalities, including Doha, not be worth putting his money in, These sessions also found that some reluctant to offer them for sale hop- property evaluator, told this news- Umm Salal, Al Khor/Al Dhakhira, he wouldn’t, obviously, part with nurses were not trained to identify the ing that the prices may jump further. paper that presently demand and Al Rayyan, Al Daayen, Al Wakrah cash,” said the analyst. DOHA: Increased awareness encourages risk factors. Then orientations were con- This has led to a sudden slow- supply were not so much as to keep and Al Shamal. Al Khor and Al Dha- Owners may, thus, actually be medical staff at health centres to identify ducted and posters displayed to create down in the country’s buoyant real the market vibrant like before. khira are one municipality. waiting for an opportune time to and document details of diabetes patients awareness. estate market, a market analyst said Property deals in the week from According to the analyst, offload their prized belongings, and with the risk of developing cardio-vascu- World Health Organisation’s cardi- yesterday. December 27 to 31, 2015, accord- although the economic situation that may be causing a slowdown lar disease, according to a study. ovascular disease risk prediction charts Asked why weekly real estate ing to Real Estate Registry of the in Qatar is good, there may be some in the real estate market, he said. Patients in Qatar with type 2 diabetes were used in the study. have an increased prevalence of abnor- The study also suggests that raising malities contributing to their high risk of awareness and conducting training ses- cardiovascular disease. sions among physicians and nurses will The study. ‘Improving Documenta- encourage to document details of diabetes tion of Cardiov-Vascular Disease Risk in patients with risk of developing cardio- QR4.4m pearls, diamonds seized at HIA Records of Diabetes Patients attending vascular disease. Non-Communicable Disease’ at the West The study was presented at the recent Bay Health Centre has found a significant ‘Primary Health Care Corporation Scien- increase in documenting details about tific Day 2015.’ such patients, following awareness pro- There were 303,700 cases of diabetes grammes among nurses and physicians. in Qatar in 2014. A study estimates that It was conducted between September the number of new cases of type 1 diabe- 2014 and January 2015 and the documented tes would increase by 25 percent in five number of patients with risk of developing years from 2015 until 2020. cardio-vascular diseases has increased Another study in 2011 by research- from seven percent to an average of 59 ers in Qatar found that the prevalence of percent. gestational diabetes is 19 percent among The study was conducted by Dr Qatari women and 14 percent among non- Mohamed Salem, Dr Amal Ala and Dr Qatari women, and these rates are expected Zeaikha Bashwar as a collaboration to go up. between the Family Medicine Depart- The impact of this continued rise will ment, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal not be restricted to the lives of patients University in Egypt and the Primary Health and their families, but will mean a 30 per- Care Corporation. cent increase in the cost of health services Physicians and nurses were trained to by 2020.

Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi (centre), General Director, General Administration of Customs, with the inspector and another official.

The Peninsula The authority said in a state- under his clothes. The packets con- importance of constant efforts to ment that the traveller had two bags tained seven diamond rings, three prevent any smuggler trying to harm and was asked to enter the country pearl necklaces and 43 pieces of nat- to society. with one and transfer the other on ural pearls, together worth about Ajab Mansour Al Qahtani, Direc- DOHA: The General Authority of a transit trip. QR4.4m ($1.2m). tor of Customs, HIA, said everyday Customs recently caught a travel- During proceedings, an Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi, the Customs Department conducts ler who tried to smuggle 53 pieces inspector became suspicious and General Director of the General several busts involving drugs, jew- of pearls and diamonds weighing transferred the traveller to a spe- Administration of Customs, hon- ellery and undeclared cash. The about 1kg into the country through cialised inspector, who found small oured the inspector who caught traveller was referred to security Hamad International Airport (HIA). packets wrapped around his waste the traveller. He also stressed the authorities for legal action. Ooredoo’s Cloud Clinik service growing fast

The Peninsula industry-changing abilities the service has, Medical Records and Practice Management solu- Ooredoo held a business event for clinics in the tion for medical and dental centres in Qatar and country in December and has seen a wide range delivers a superior web experience to help doc- of institutions adopt the cloud-based solution tors optimise their efficiency and profitability. DOHA: Ooredoo has announced that its Cloud- since the event. Its key features include patient registration, Clinik service, launched early last year, has As the leading ICT solutions provider, Oore- e-prescription, appointment tracking via SMS become the fastest growing Electronic Med- doo is committed to the success of businesses and email, insurance claims generation, and ical Records (EMR) system for primary care in the country and CloudClinik is hosted in one customisable templates and order-sets. clinics in Qatar. of the company’s high-tech Qatar Data Centres. To get started with CloudClinik, businesses Built in consultation with renowned medical The solution is user friendly, doesn’t require IT need a web-browser, desktop, laptop/tablet/ specialists, CloudClinik takes care of every- expertise and no software installation is required. smartphone, high speed Internet connection, thing from walk-in or online patient registration Designed to manage its patients’ clinical infor- and a scanner to access tools. to appointment tracking and insurance claim mation in an efficient way, Cloud Clinik offers For details of plans, pricing and offers avail- generation, all while ensuring iron-clad secu- a robust set of solutions for doctors, clinics and able for businesses, customers can set a meeting rity of patient data. healthcare facilities. with their account managers or ring the busi- To ensure that businesses understand the CloudClinik is the first cloud-based Electronic ness team on 8008000. 04 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 HOME / MIDDLE EAST

QU launches advanced disaster recovery data centre

The Peninsula management silos, and enhancing QU’s overall flexibility to scale and react to controlled and unforeseen circumstances. “We are delighted to strategically collaborate with Cisco on this DOHA: Qatar University (QU) yesterday launched trailblazing project at QU, which is all about one of the Middle East’s most advanced disas- automation, simplification and showing what ter recovery (DR) data centres. next generation data centres are capable of,” Using technology from F5 Networks and said Garth Braithwaite, Regional Director - Mid- Cisco, QU is one of the first education institu- dle East and Turkey, F5 Networks. tions in the region to run a software-defined “Today, it is more important for organisations (SDN) DR data centre that is centralised, rap- to deploy and deliver applications with speed, idly configurable and scalable. The project reliability and security that is capable of meeting will also serve as a learning resource for SDN pressing operational challenges such as secu- research and ICT student development. “It is rity, cloud enablement and mobility,” he said. an important achievement for QU to become Mohammad Hammoudi, General Manager, the first academic institution in the Middle East Cisco Qatar, said, “The combination of Cisco to deploy an SDNDR data centre,” said Trevor ACI and F5 Networks technology is transforma- Moore, CIO, QU. tive for the centre, enabling rapid provisioning, ”The project highlights how our IT devel- orchestration and scaling of critical network opment strategy is evolving to provide QU staff and application delivery services — while main- and students with the best possible state-of- taining or improving performance, security Clouds seen over Doha Golf Club yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula the art and risk-free network services. It also and reliability. stands as a best practice example and contri- “As more and more devices and things become bution to Qatar’s ambitions for transforming connected, the need to increase ICT expertise Doha into a smart city,” he added. is accelerating in Qatar and globally. The cen- Weather bureau forecasts a chilly night Benefits of the new centre include cutting tre will facilitate this vital learning experience time-to-market for newly deployed services, and enable students to advance their IT skills,” reducing risk by removing touch points and he added. The Peninsula as well with the weather bureau the day will be hotter (23 degrees). between 23 degrees (day) and forecasting the minimum temper- Abu Samra on Qatar-Saudi 12 degrees (night). ature between 11 and 17 degrees Arabia border, and Al Khor in The wind will be north- Celsius in the country. the north will witness the cold- westerly, inland and offshore, Environmental violation DOHA: There were high winds Day temperatures will range est night so far as the mercury moving at between five and 15 yesterday and the weather was between 20 and 23 degrees. level will fall to 11 degrees. knots (inland) and up to 22 knots cold, particularly at night. In Doha, mercury levels will In Messaieed and Al Wak- offshore. The seas will be high, The night will be chilly today drop to 14 degrees today, while rah, the temperature will vary the bureau said. Call for cervical cancer tests

for tests, said QCS. on the sidelines to provide an children, using contraceptive Qatar Cancer All women are at risk of cer- opportunity to those women pills, abnormal vaginal bleed- vical cancer. It occurs most often who underwent early detection ing, pelvic pain and pain during Society begins in women over 30. Cervical can- tests for cervical cancer to par- intercourse, among others, said Al month-long cer occurs when abnormal cells ticipate and win prizes. Naimi. To prevent cervical cancer, on the cervix grow out of control. The winners will be given one can go for an early detection campaign to create The cervix is the lower, nar- three pieces of gold and three test, quit smoking, take healthy awareness row end of the uterus. The cervix diamond rings sponsored by food, maintain a healthy lifestyle connects the vagina (birth canal) Damas and Malabar jewellery and do regular physical exercises. to the upper part of the uterus. shops. The campaign entitled ‘Inti The best time for taking early- The human papillomavirus Gaddaha … Ifhasi’ (You Can … Get detection tests for cervical cancer By Sanaullah Ataullah (HPV) is the main cause of cer- The Tests) is being waged as part is 10th to 14th day from the begin- vical cancer. HPV is a common of the international awareness ning of monthly course, said Dana The Peninsula virus passed from one person to month for cervical cancer (which Al Mansur. another during sex. is January), said Maryam Hamad First screening of cervical At least half of sexually active Al Naimi, Director-General, QCS. cancer is suggested after three DOHA: Qatar Cancer Society people will have HPV at some Cervical cancer is the sec- years of marriage. Then after (QCS) has launched a month-long point in their lives, but a few ond most outspreading cancer all each two years until the age of 65. drive to create awareness about women get cervical cancer. over the world. The campaign will A woman could stop going for cervical cancer among women. To encourage women to go focus on key prevention meas- tests if tests conducted in the past The campaign aims to for early detection tests for cer- ures, and early detection tests five years have been negative. encourage women, especially vical cancer, QCS will organise for the disease to prevent it, said Tests could be taken in Qatar those over 30, to visit the nearest a programme on January 25 at Al Naimi. Routine checkups can at a primary health care centre, health centre for early detection Grand Hayat hotel. prevent 90 percent cases of cer- Women Fitness Clinic. tests for free. A team of health specialists vical cancer. The symptoms of cervical The Ministry of Environment has referred a vehicle and its driver to public prosecution The purpose of the drive is will be available to answer ques- Main reasons for cervical cancer are visible only at an for action as it discharged sewage in an undesignated place in Al Mazroua, the also to help remove fear and shy- tions from the audience related cancer are smoking, cervicitis advanced age, so regular early ministry said on its official Twitter account. ness among target segments of to cervical cancer. (inflammation of cervix), hered- detection tests are important even women and convince them to go A draw will also be held ity, giving birth to three or more if there is no symptoms. Less outages last summer Sport Day celebrations

Continued from page 1 performance levels. During last The Peninsula and Tariq ibn Ziyad Secondary School, year, Kahramaa provided 8,694 Abdullah Bin Ali Al Musnad Prepara- Despite an increase in new electricity connections to tory School and Al Wakrah Secondary demand, Kahramaa’s elec- individual and corporate cus- School have been selected for boys. tricity distribution network tomers in the country. These DOHA: The Supreme Education Coun- The SEC has asked all Independent witnessed less disruptions include about 1,000 new cil (SEC) has selected four schools as schools to provide transportation to last summer compared to the buildings related to various venues for National Sport Day cele- students who want to participate. previous years, said a report projects at Al Kheesa, Raw- brations on February 9. Events from 8am to noon yesterday. This has been attrib- dat Al Hamama, Al Thumaid, Shaima Girls Independent Second- will include competitions and uted to an improvement in Al Wukair, among other places. ary School has been selected for girls entertainment. 25 Iraqis die thwarting IS attacks

AFP wounded. They are from the army, spokesman Colonel Steve War- within hours,” Atallah said, using CTS (the counter-terrorism service), ren wrote on social media. an Arab acronym for IS. “They used police and tribal fighters,” Mab- The jihadists appeared to make 20 suicide car bombs for Sakrana BAGHDAD: At least 25 Iraqi fight- rouk Hamid said. an offensive on Haditha — one — this is why they were able to take ers have been killed repelling a “Haditha was targeted on Sun- of the most coveted prizes for the it,” he said. Hamid also confirmed major three-day offensive by the day by a massive offensive involving group in Iraq — their priority after that IS fighters were inside the vil- Islamic State (IS) group in the west- over 40 vehicles, all armoured and losing control of the provincial cap- lage, east of Haditha. ern region of Haditha, security some explosives-laden. They were ital of Ramadi a week ago. The dam north of the city of sources said yesterday. destroyed by coalition and Iraqi Senior military command- Haditha is the country’s second “We have given 25 martyrs in 72 air strikes,” he said. ers said when the security forces largest after the Mosul dam. hours,” a tribal commander, Sheikh The mayor and the commander launched their offensive on cen- Sources said families were Abdallah Atallah, said by phone said IS had lost very large numbers tral Ramadi late last month that IS trapped in a district north of Bar- from Haditha, that includes a key of fighters in their failed assault. had redeployed some of its assets wana called Al Shay, which IS dam and has held off IS since 2014. The US-led coalition con- further west in Anbar. fighters were able to seize. “It was one of the biggest offen- firmed it provided support to the During their latest offensive “The area is only about 2sqkm. sives we have seen. It came from Iraqi forces defending Haditha, a on Haditha and the neighbouring All the rest of the city and the main three directions,” he said, adding strategic area where Sunni tribal towns of Barwana and Haqlaniyah, checkpoints are controlled by us,” that dozens were also wounded. fighters opposed to IS have resisted further south along the Euphrates, said Atallah, from the Jughaifi clan The mayor of Haditha, located previous waves of attacks. IS was able to seize a village called which has spearheaded tribal in Anbar province about 200km “There have been several IS Sakrana, sources said. resistance to IS in the Haditha area. northwest of Baghdad, confirmed attacks near Haditha. None has “Daesh controls the village of “Several families, including the casualty toll. “We have more been successful” thanks to stronger Sakrana... but are surrounded by children, are besieged there,” he than 20 martyrs and over 50 aerial support, US-led coalition our forces and we should clear it said.

06 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 GULF / MIDDLE EAST Turkey offers help to Top south Yemen calm Saudi-Iran tensions officials survive bombing region to show common sense and only further escalate problems in a We expect all take steps aimed at easing the ten- “powder keg” region. Aden: Three senior south sions in the region,” Davutoglu “Enough is enough. We need our Yemeni officials survived countries in the told his ruling party in a speech peace in the region,” he said. a car bombing that tar- region to show in Ankara. Turkey’s relations with fellow geted their convoy in the “As Turkey, we are ready to mainly Sunni Muslim power Saudi port city of Aden yester- common sense and make any effort to solve the prob- Arabia have warmed considerably day and killed one of their take steps aimed at lems between the two countries,” he in recent months. Relations had been guards, security sources said, without specifying what this damaged by Saudi’s role in the 2013 said. Eight other guards easing the tensions could entail. ousting of Egyptian president Moham- were wounded when in the region, says The crisis began at the weekend med Mursi, a close ally of Ankara. the bomb-laden vehicle when Saudi Arabia executed promi- In December, President Recep exploded in the Inmaa, Turkish Premier nent Shiite cleric and activist Sheikh Tayyip Erdogan visited Riyadh for where authorities have Davutoglu Nimr al-Nimr as well as 46 other con- talks with King Salman as well as been arresting militants, victs, prompting a furious reaction key decision-makers crown prince the sources said. Medics from Tehran. Mohammed bin Nayef and deputy confirmed the toll. Iranian protesters then ransacked crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. AFP the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Riyadh, Turkey and Saudi Arabia share the Bahrain and Sudan severed relations same vision over the conflict in Syria Turkish army kills with Tehran while Kuwait recalled its where they believe only the ousting of ANKARA: Prime Minister Ahmet Dav- ambassador. President Bashar Al Assad can bring 14 Kurd militants utoglu yesterday said Turkey was ready Davutoglu said Turkey strongly an end to almost five years of civil war. to do everything it could to help calm condemned attacks against embassies. As Turkish ties with Riyadh have DIYARBAKIR: Turkish flaring tensions between Saudi Ara- “Whatever the reason, such attacks warmed, Ankara’s relations with security forces have killed bia and Iran, after Ankara expressed are unacceptable,” he said. Tehran have grown more tense, nota- at least 14 militants in the mainly Kurdish southeast, A policeman fires tear gas during clashes after a protest against the alarm over the consequences of the Turkish Deputy Prime Minis- bly over Iran’s role in Syria —where dispute between two key Muslim pow- ter Numan Kurtulmus said late on the Islamic republic supports Assad’s the military said yester- execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr by Saudi authorities, ers for the region. Monday that the hostility between regime — and over its burgeoning rela- day, as an army campaign in Sitra, south of Manama, Bahrain, yesterday. “We expect all countries in the the two major Muslim powers would tions with Russia. to quell fighting that has spread to the streets of cities entered a third week. A member of the “vil- lage guard”, a Kurdish Israel returns bodies of 3 Palestinian activists militia fighting alongside government forces, was killed on Tuesday dur- ing clashes with Kurdistan AFP Ishak Badran and Ahmed Quneibi, At the same time, 139 Pales- attackers from east Jerusalem, how- after stabbing an Israeli. Workers Party (PKK) fight- both from Kafr Aqeb in east Jerusa- tinians have been killed by Israeli ever, and security forces still have at At yesterday’s joint funeral, the ers in the district of Sur lem, were buried at noon, while the forces. least 11 others of Palestinians from the mosque in Kafr Aqeb was packed with in Diyarbakir, the regional JERUSALEM: Israel has returned the body of Mohammad Said was laid to Israel had been holding the bod- area, three of them under 18, accord- hundreds of mourners, with the two capital, the General Staff bodies of three Palestinians killed car- rest in a separate ceremony nearby. ies of dozens of attackers, but in recent ing to Addameer. coffins wrapped in the flag of the Islam- said on its website. rying out attacks, their families said The three men were among doz- days has released all bar one from the On October 10, 16-year-old Badran ist movement Hizbul Tahrir. The PKK members yesterday, in the first such handover ens of Palestinian activits carrying occupied West Bank, according to Pal- stabbed two ultra-Orthodox Jews in After the funeral Palestinian flags were killed in Sur and the in east Jerusalem in three months out attacks against Israeli occupation estinian rights group Addameer. Jerusalem before being shot dead, while and those of the Islamist Hamas move- towns of Cizre and Silopi of violence. forces since October 1. These were the first bodies of Quneibi was shot dead on October 30 ment were waved. on Monday, the military said. Those areas have been under round-the- clock curfews since last Stinking city month. Call to release Gaza journalist

Gaza City: Journal- ists and a rights group called on Hamas yester- day to release a reporter detained by the Islamist movement in Gaza. Security services in the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave arrested 44-year- old Ayman Al Aloul, who works with the local Arab Now news agency, on Sunday night from his house in Gaza City and confiscated his private computer, according to a statement from the Pal- estinian Centre for Human Rights. Aloul was detained in custody for 48 hours pending a decision of the prosecutor, a security Cars drive past rubbish piled up next to a highway bridge at the source said. eastern entrance to the Lebanese capital Beirut, yesterday.

Turkey frees Turkish civil servants to have translator after time off for Friday prayers four months

AFP AFP In power since 2002, the AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accused by critics of imposing a DIYARBAKIR: The authorities in creeping Islamisation on the country southeast Turkey yesterday freed ANKARA: The Islamic-rooted gov- and eroding the secular values laid an Iraqi translator working for US- ernment of Turkey will give civil by modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa based news site Vice News after servants time off work to attend the Kemal Ataturk. more than four months in deten- weekly Friday prayers in mosques, Over the past two years, the gov- tion but he still faces trial, judicial Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Dav- ernment has lifted bans on women sources said. utoglu said yesterday. and girls wearing headscarves in Mohammed Ismael Rasool “We are working on a regulation schools and civil service, moves was detained on August 27 in that will allow the Friday lunch breaks denounced by opponents as under- the centre of the majority Kurd- to be used in a way that will not hinder mining the basis of Turkey’s secular ish city of Diyarbakir along with the freedom of worship,” Davutoglu state. two British reporters from Vice told lawmakers of the ruling Justice It also limited alcohol sales and News, Jake Hanrahan and Philip and Development Party (AKP). made efforts to ban mixed-sex dorms Pendlebury. “After that, every Friday will be a at state universities. The three were remanded in (religious) celebration” he said. The past decade has seen a sub- custody on terror charges but the Friday mosque prayers are oblig- stantial increase in the number of two British journalists were released atory for devout Muslim males. mosques built in Turkey. on September 3 and deported. But unlike several other mainly According to a report issued by Rasool was held for a total of Muslim countries in the Middle East, Turkey’s top religious body Diyanet 131 days without any date for a trial officially Turkey uses the stand- last year, the number of mosques in being fixed, adding to concerns over ard Monday-Friday working week Turkey rose by estimated 11 between press freedom in Turkey. employed in the West. 2004 and 2014. GULF / MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 07 Iran unveils second underground missile site

Reuters Iran under a breakthrough nuclear will respond to the Emad tests with weapon and accept other restrictions are so full that they do not know how State television shows agreement. fresh sanctions against Iranian indi- on its nuclear programme. to store their new missiles. Tasnim news agency and state tel- viduals and businesses linked to the But President Hassan Rowhani Meanwhile, the UN special envoy Emad precission- evision video said the underground programme. ordered his defence minister last week for Syria said yesterday that Saudi Ara- guided missiles in DUBAI: Iran unveiled a new under- facility, situated in mountains and Iran’s boasting about its missile to expand the missile programme. bia is determined that tensions with ground missile depot yesterday with run by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, capabilities are a challenge for US Pres- The Iranian missiles under Iran should not derail international store which the state television showing Emad preci- was inaugurated by the speaker of ident Barack Obama’s administration as development boast much improved talks on Syria, another round of which US says can take a sion-guided missiles in store which the parliament, Ali Larijani. Release of the United States and European Union accuracy over the current generation, is scheduled to take place in Geneva United States says can take a nuclear one-minute video followed footage plan to dismantle nearly all interna- which experts say is likely to improve this month. nuclear warhead warhead and violate a 2010 UN Secu- of another underground missile depot tional sanctions against Tehran under their effectiveness with conventional There is concern that the rift and violate a 2010 rity Council resolution. last October. the nuclear deal reached in July. warheads. between Riyadh and Tehran, both of The defiant move to publicise Iran’s The United States says the Emad, Iran has abided by the main terms The Revolutionary Guards’ sec- which have attended previous talks UN Security Council missile programme seemed certain which Iran tested in October, would of the nuclear deal, which require it ond-in-command, Brigadier General on Syria and which support opposing resolution. to irk the United States as it plans be capable of carrying a nuclear war- to give up material that world powers Hossein Salami, said last Friday that sides in the war, could set back diplo- to dismantle nearly all sanctions on head and US officials say Washington feared could be used to make an atomic Iran’s depots and underground facilities matic efforts to bring peace.

Unifil member checks Israeli shell Khomeini’s grandson could be excluded from Iran elections

AFP the media and through the official clerics, but February’s vote will see 88 website of the Council” of the test, he members elected to eight-year terms. said on state television. Incumbents in the Assembly and A source close to Khomeini, who candidates who have previously passed TEHRAN: The grandson of Ayatol- has never previously run for pub- the theology exams are not required lah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of lic office but is close to the reformist to take the test again. the Islamic Republic of Iran, could former president Mohammad Khatami, Those who had not taken religious be excluded from upcoming elections told the official Irna news agency he studies were not invited to the exam because he did not attend a qualifi- had not received any “invitation or and were automatically excluded, cation exam yesterday. text message” to go to the exam. as the Assembly is entirely made Hassan Khomeini, 43, was not “At the time of examination, he up of clerics. February’s elections to among 400 candidates for the Assem- was giving a lecture” on theology, the the Assembly are seen as vital as its bly of Experts who took the theology source said. According to Rahpeyk, 540 new members may be in post when, test in the city of Qom, one hour’s drive of 800 candidates who originally reg- given Khamenei’s age, his successor is south of the capital Tehran. istered for the Assembly election were appointed. Interest in the parliamen- The exam was organised by the invited to take the test — including 12 tary polls is also high, with a record Guardian Council, a powerful com- women — but only 400 showed up. 12,000 candidates registered. Both mittee that vets candidates for the The Assembly is responsible the Assembly and the Council are cur- Assembly, a clerical group that will for monitoring the actions of Iran’s rently dominated by conservatives. pick the country’s next supreme leader, supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khame- The February ballot is crucial for and for parliament. Elections to both nei. Khamenei, now 76, took over from President Hassan Rowhani, who has will take place on February 26. the elder Khomeini, Iran’s first supreme faced vocal opposition from the cur- “If someone does not participate leader, who died in 1989. rent chamber, including on a nuclear A member of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) inspects the remains of a shell that in the examination to test his level of Though considered highly unlikely, deal with world powers. was launched on Monday from Israel to Al Wazzani town in Lebanon. Hezbollah set off a bomb targeting theological knowledge, he will not have the Assembly has the power to dis- A less hostile group of lawmak- Israeli forces at the Lebanese border in an apparent response to the killing in Syria last month of a the requirements to be a candidate,” miss a supreme leader. It would also ers could give him a greater chance of said Siamak Rahpeyk, a Guardian have the task of picking a successor passing at least limited social reforms, prominent commander, triggering Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon. Council member. should Khamenei die. which he championed in his success- “We informed the candidates via The Assembly currently has 86 ful 2013 election campaign. 08 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES China lands plane on South China Sea island

up tensions with other claimants and further “freedom of navigation” patrols Foreign ministry spokeswoman the South China Sea. there were no immediate plans for an China’s increasing with the United States in one of the within 12 nautical miles of the islands Hua Chunying said at the weekend that Even if China stopped short of ADIZ in the South China Sea. world’s most volatile areas. built by China. the test flight was intended to check formally declaring an Air Defence Iden- However, regional military offi- military presence in China has confirmed that a test China has been building runways on whether the runway met civilian avi- tification Zone, known as an ADIZ, cials say they are logging increased the disputed sea may flight by a civilian plane landed on an the artificial islands for over a year, and ation standards and fell “completely Beijing’s need to protect its new air- warnings to aircraft from Chinese radio artificial island built in the Spratlys, the plane’s landing was not a surprise. within China’s sovereignty”. strips and other facilities could see it operators, including some from ground lead to a Beijing- the first time Beijing has used a run- The runway at the Fiery Cross Reef Asked about McCain’s remarks on effectively operating one. stations on Fiery Cross reef. controlled air defence way in the area. is 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) long and Tuesday, she said: “We hope the U.S. Work is well underway to complete China claims most of the South Vietnam said the plane landed is one of three China was construct- can take an objective and fair attitude, a range of port, storage and personnel China Sea, through which more than zone, say analysts on January 2 and launched a formal ing on artificial islands built up from and not make statements that con- facilities on the new islands, U.S. and $5 trillion of world trade ships every diplomatic protest, while Philippines seven reefs and atolls in the Spratlys fuse the situation and are harmful to regional officials have said. Fiery Cross year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles archipelago. regional peace and stability,” she said. is also expected to house advanced Philippines and Taiwan have rival Jose said Manila was planning to do The runways would be long enough However, military landings on the early warning radars and military claims. Reuters the same. Both have claims to the area to handle long-range bombers and islands were now “inevitable”, said communications facilities, they said. The United States has no claim in that overlap with China. transport craft as well as China’s best Leszek Buszynski, a visiting fellow at “As these facilities become oper- the South China Sea, but has been highly “That’s the fear, that China will be jet fighters, giving them a presence deep the Australian National University’s ational, Chinese warnings to both critical of China’s assertiveness and says able take control of the South China into the maritime heart of Southeast Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. military and civilian aircraft will it will protect freedom of navigation. BEIJING: China’s first landing of a plane Sea and it will affect the freedom of Asia that they have lacked until now. “The next step will be, once they’ve become routine,” Storey said. “These In Washington, McCain said that on one of its new island runways in the navigation and freedom of overflight,” Chinese officials have repeatedly tested it with several flights, they will events are a precursor to an ADIZ, or the lack of US action after a navy patrol South China Sea shows Beijing’s facil- Jose told reporters. stressed that the new islands would be bring down some of their fighter air an undeclared but de facto ADIZ, and near the islands in October was allow- ities in the disputed region are being In Washington, State Department mostly for civilian use, such as coast power - SU-27s and SU-33’s - and they one has to expect tensions to rise.” ing China to continue to “pursue its completed on schedule and military spokesman John Kirby said China’s guard activity and fishing research. will station them there permanently. China sparked condemnation from territorial ambitions” in the region. flights will inevitably follow, foreign landing of the plane “raises tensions The airfield on Fiery Cross Reef will That’s what they’re likely to do.” the United States and Japan in late 2013 US officials remain committed to officials and analysts said. and threatens regional stability.” serve to “significantly” cut travel time Ian Storey, a South China Sea when it declared an ADIZ over the East carry out further “freedom of naviga- China’s increasing military Senator John McCain, the chairman between the Spratly islands and main- expert at Singapore’s ISEAS Yusof China Sea, covering uninhabited islands tion” patrols near the disputed islands, presence in the disputed sea could of the influential U.S. Senate Armed land China, the official Xinhua news Ishak Institute, said he expected ten- disputed with Tokyo. but are still debating the timing of effectively lead to a Beijing-controlled Services Committee, criticised the agency reported, citing a top engineer sions to worsen as China used its new Hua, the Chinese foreign ministry another patrol, said one US defence air defence zone, they said, ratcheting Obama administration for delaying from the transport ministry. facilities to project power deeper into spokeswoman, said on Monday that official.

Guinea PM Religious event in the Philippines Hoverboard sparks names women to key posts house fire in Australia in new govt

AFP consumer watchdog said it had two AFP safety concerns with the products— fires that have occurred overseas from the faulty design of some hoverboard SYDNEY: An Australian family home chargers and user injuries by falls. CONAKRY: Guinea’s prime minister was gutted when a hoverboard caught Hollywood star Russell Crowe officially formed his new cabinet fire as it was charging, officials said was recently blocked from taking on Monday, handing key roles to yesterday. a hoverboard on a Virgin Australia women as the poverty-stricken Authorities said the hoverboard— flight, while several other airlines country looks to kickstart an eco- a Christmas gift—was plugged into do not allow them. The girl’s father, nomic recovery and improve the the wall in a young girl’s bedroom in Ash Ibraheim, said he had made sure lives of young people. Melbourne when it ignited. the hoverboards he bought three of The formation of the govern- The family were able to escape his four daughters for Christmas met ment comes shortly after President after a smoke alarm alerted them to Australian standards. Alpha Conde was sworn in for a new the danger but the house was severely “We heard there were a lot of five-year term following controver- damaged. Hoverboards—in reality imported versions that weren’t com- sial elections marred by opposition self-balancing electric scooters— plying, so we wanted to make sure we claims of vote rigging and fraud. have surged in popularity and are got the right thing,” he told the Aus- “The new government is marked now selling in Australia for as little tralian Broadcasting Corporation. by the appointment of 16 new minis- as Aus$200 (US$150). He said he was grateful that the ters, all of whom have been selected But concerns have arisen about fire, which was sparked about 10 min- for their expertise... and recognised the hazard they pose for street or side- utes after the board had been plugged for their competence and interna- walk traffic, safety issues for riders, in to charge, did not start when the tional experience,” a presidential and reports that some poorly designed girls were sleeping. “By the time the statement said. chargers can lead to fires. fire brigade came the whole house Among the fresh faces in Prime In December the Australian was on fire,” he said. Minister Mamady Youla’s cabinet are 44-year-old Malado Kaba, the new minister of economy and finance Filipino government workers repair a pavement in front of the Quiapo church in Manila, Philippines, who has “spent most of her pro- yesterday, during preparations for the upcoming Black Nazarene procession. The procession is fessional career at the European expected to draw thousands of barefooted Catholic devotees to Manila on January 9, prompting Ready for smart talk Commission in the field of devel- police to prepare public safety and security measures. opment”, the statement said. Joining her are newly-named foreign minister Makale Camara, who was previously the minister of agriculture when Guinea was under military rule, and Abdou- Beijing plans to beat smog by 2030 laye Magassouba who will take the strategically-important position of minister of mines and geology. IANS on hazardous pollutants, the annual capital since November. Youla himself has worked for average reading in Beijing of PM2.5- “PM2.5 pollution is still the prom- both private sector firms and the airborne particulate matter with a inent problem in Beijing and requires government, as well as the country’s diametre less than 2.5 microns that strengthened efforts,” said Fang Li, central bank. His appointment was BEIJING: China’s capital Beijing can penetrate the lungs and harm deputy director of the bureau. welcomed by Guinea’s main oppo- reached its annual target for reduc- health-fell to 80.6 micrograms per There was a clear reduction in the sition leader, who has said he is a ing hazardous pollutants in 2015 and cubic metre in 2015, the China Daily three other major airborne pollutants— “brilliant chap who is very com- is drafting a long-term plan to improve quoted the report as saying. sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and petent, especially in economics”. air quality to a clean level by 2030, The annual reading was a reduction PM10. The annual average reading Despite being rich in miner- the media reported yesterday. of 6.2 percent year-on-year, surpass- for sulfur dioxide, for example, was als, majority of Guinea’s population In 2015, the capital saw 186 days ing the annual goal of a five percent lowered to 13.5 micrograms per cubic lives in poverty and survives on with air quality that was better than reduction. However, the reading was metre in 2015, much better than the less than one euro ($1.08) per day, the national safety standard, 14 days still above the national safety stand- national safety standard of 60, the according to the UN. Guinea’s consti- more than the number in 2014, said the ard of 75 micrograms per cubic meter. report said. tutional court in November formally annual report on air pollution control Despite the goal’s achievement, However, the municipal govern- confirmed Conde’s re-election, dis- from the Beijing Environmental Pro- some residents have called for a bigger ment has issued two red alerts, the missing opposition claims of vote tection Bureau on Monday. improvement, especially since expe- highest emergency response, to con- rigging and fraud. Additionally, from the detailed data riencing spells of severe smog in the trol the worsening conditions. Violence in Thailand’s south hits historic low

AFP both insurgents and security forces. areas that have prevented militants from easily But the violence hit a record low last year, with mounting attacks,” said Srisompob. 674 incidents compared to around 1,000 each year After seizing power in a coup in 2014, Thai- since the conflict began, according to Deep South land’s military junta vowed to bring stability to the BANGKOK: Violence in Thailand’s insurgency-torn Watch which monitors the violence. region and reopen the peace process that had stalled south has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade The number of deaths dropped to 246, down from under the former government. It has since sought due to tighter security and fewer rebel attacks on 341 in 2014 and an annual average of 550 throughout exploratory talks with representatives of the shad- civilians, conflict analysts said yesterday. the conflict, the centre said. Most of the casualties owy militant network. But the talks have wobbled Militants in the Muslim-majority southern- were Muslims, who make up a majority of the deep without the participation of a key insurgent group, most provinces bordering Malaysia have launched south’s 1.8 million people in contrast to the rest of and a formal peace process is still far off. near-daily bomb attacks and shootings since 2004, Buddhist-dominated Thailand. “It’s not easy to solve the problem in the south,” targeting mostly troops or police but also teach- The director of Deep South Watch, Srisompob junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha told reporters. “We ers and other civilians seen as instruments of the Jitpiromsri, said the decline in fatalities was a result can’t order something today and have everything Thai state. of a loose agreement by the insurgents to minimise be done by tomorrow.” Rights groups say peace is The winner of the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant Pia Alonzo The insurgents are seeking greater autonomy civilian targets, following peace talks first pursued unlikely while a tight security net remains over the Wurtzbach from the Philippines, poses during an interview from Thailand, which annexed the region more by the Thai government in 2013. region. The area for the past decade has been gov- with Reuters in New York, yesterday. than a century ago. In total, more than 6,500 peo- “Secondly, authorities have stepped up defence erned under emergency laws that grant sweeping ple—mostly civilians—have died at the hands of measures, such as checkpoints and searches in city powers to the state. ASIA / AFRICA WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 09

Missing HK bookseller Spewing up ash is British citizen: UK

staking out her apartment. Hong Kong Hong Kong and Central governments police confirmed in a statement that make official statements. He did not Four other associates the missing persons report had been respond to a question on whether the of the publisher that cancelled, but said they would con- booksellers had been detained by Chi- specialises in selling tinue investigating. nese authorities. Neither Lee nor his wife could be Britain handed the global financial and publishing reached by Reuters on their mobile hub back to China under an agree- gossipy political phone numbers. ment that its core liberties and way Britain confirmed yetserday that of life - including freedom of speech books on China’s Lee was a British passport holder. An and an independent judiciary - con- Communist Party embassy spokesman in Beijing added tinue for 50 years. in a statement that Britain was “deeply In a handwritten note dated Jan- leaders have been concerned” by reports of disappear- uary 3 and purportedly written and unaccounted for ances and detentions. signed by Lee, photos of which were “We encourage the Hong Kong SAR widely circulated on social and local since late last year (special administrative region) gov- media but couldn’t be verified by Reu- ernment to honour its commitment to ters, Lee wrote that he had travelled protecting the freedom of the press, back to China in order to assist with Reuters and we hope the Chinese authorities an unspecified “investigation”. will continue to make every effort to An officer at the Public Security ensure that the environment in which Bureau in Shenzhen, just over the the media and publishers operate in border from Hong Kong in China’s HONG KONG: A publisher of books the Hong Kong SAR supports full and Guangdong province, told Reuters critical of China’s leaders who went frank reporting,” the statement said. he’d been instructed by his supervi- missing in Hong Kong last week has British Foreign Secretary Philip sors to say he wasn’t aware of the case. travelled to China voluntarily, his wife Hammond, visiting Beijing, said he The Guangdong provincial Public said yesterday, as Britain reminded had raised Lee’s case with his Chi- Security Bureau said it wasn’t aware its former colony of its commitment nese counterpart, Wang Yi. of the situation and referred inquir- to press freedom. “Our view is that the Basic Law, the ies to the Guangdong propaganda Four other associates of the pub- Joint Declaration, the principle of one department. lisher that specialises in selling and country, two systems means that in a “I don’t know anything about this,” publishing gossipy political books question of any breach of Hong Kong said Deng Hong, a deputy director of on China’s Communist Party lead- laws, the question must be settled in Guangdong’s Information Office when ers have been unaccounted for since Hong Kong by the Hong Kong judicial contacted by Reuters. The office gave late last year. system,” Hammond told reporters. no immediate response to faxed ques- The disappearances and China’s The Basic law is Hong Kong’s mini- tions seeking further details on Lee’s continued silence have stoked fears constitution. The 1984 Joint Declaration whereabouts or his involvement in of mainland Chinese authorities using provided for the handover of power any investigations. shadowy tactics that erode the “one in Hong Kong from Britain to China. Several trenchant editorials by country, two systems” formula under “We would hope that wherever Lee China’s state media fuelled public con- which Hong Kong has been governed is, if he is charged with any offences, cern in Hong Kong that China might since its return to China in 1997. those offences would be tried in Hong be tightening its grip on the city. Hong Lee Bo, 65, a shareholder of Cause- Kong.” Asked whether China would Kong leader Leung Chun-ying said it way Bay Books, went missing last week, recognise the British passport, Wang would be “unacceptable” and uncon- amid mounting speculation he may said: “On the specific case you men- stitutional if Chinese agents were found have been taken by Chinese agents. tioned, based on the Basic Law of Hong to have been involved. His wife, Sophie Choi, however, with- Kong and China’s nationality law, this China’s state-run Global Times drew a missing persons report for her person in question is first and fore- wrote that many of the books pub- A man rides his motorcycle as Mount Soputan spews ash into the air during an eruption near Silian husband on Monday. most a Chinese citizen.” lished by Lee’s firm had “maliciously “He went voluntarily so that’s Wang said that it was “not neces- fabricated content” that stoked polit- village, Southeast Minahasa district in Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia, yesterday. Mount Soputan is one why ... I cancelled the report,” Chao sary to make groundless speculation” ical rumours in mainland China and of the most active volcanoes in North Sulawesi and last erupted in March 2015. said in brief comments to reporters before the individual, his family, the caused an “evil influence”.

Balloon dance Burundi govt says will not join peace talks

Reuters The government refused to join last October due to “her mistakes”. for the opposition UPRONA party, said the talks due to the inclusion of “those Kaneza was not immediately avail- they had not received an invitation for who are supporting violence”, Joseph able to comment. the talks today, and accused the gov- Bangurambona, the permanent sec- “The dialogue will resume on con- ernment of railroading. NAIROBI: Burundi’s government will retary in Burundi’s foreign affairs dition that the mediators iron out the “This is a government strategy to not take part in peace talks with the ministry, said. irregularities and set another agreed- drag on this dialogue while people opposition scheduled for today because “No dialogue tomorrow, neither on upon date,” Bangurambona said. are continuously being killed. That it holds some of the participants respon- January 16 as many may think, because Uganda, whose President Yoweri is why we ask an urgent deployment sible for recent months of violence, a there has been no consensus on that Museveni is mediating in the Burundi of troops,” Sibomana said. senior official said. date,” Bangurambona said yesterday. crisis, confirmed: “The Burundi peace Two people were injured in a gre- The talks in neighbouring Tanza- He said the government was par- negotiations will not resume tomor- nade attack in the capital Bujumbura nia were announced last month as part ticularly opposed to the inclusion of row and at this moment we can’t tell on Monday, the latest in the conflict. of regional efforts to resolve a crisis Carine Kaneza, representing Burun- when they will.” Police said they were investigating. triggered by President Pierre Nku- dian women, adding the government Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for The UN estimates 400 people have runziza’s decision to run for a third did not recognise her role or the organ- the Ugandan military, added: “What is already been killed. More than 220,000 term in office - a move opponents said isation she represents. going on is that all the parties involved people have fled Burundi since April, broke the constitution. He said Kaneza was fired from are still making consultations; talks and Rwanda, which has similar eth- International monitors say they fear her job as secretary at the Burun- of this nature are never easy.” nic faultlines, says more than 73,000 Burundi could be headed for civil war. dian embassy to the United States Thacien Sibomana, the spokesman Burundians are now on its soil. Congo to free 2,000 Japan to send plutonium cache to prisoners this month US under nuclear deal: Report Reuters

AFP from countries citing environmental and security concerns. A Japanese official confirmed the amount Australian artiste Jaimi Luthrmann performs in a giant balloon KINSHASA: Democratic Republic of Congo of plutonium to be sent to the US and said that prep- as part of her performance in the Blanc De Blanc Circus at the will release about 2,000 prisoners this month arations for the shipment are under way. Sydney Opera House yesterday. International dancers, jugglers, in a bid to calm political tension at the start of TOKYO: Japan will send a huge cache of plutonium “But we can’t comment on further details, includ- mime artistes and acrobats will perform in this adults only an election year and reduce overcrowding in — enough to produce 50 nuclear bombs — to the ing the departure date and route, for security reasons,” premiere at Sydney’s famous Opera House tomorrow. jails, the justice minister said yesterday. United States as part of a deal to return the mate- the official in the nuclear technology section at the Human rights groups welcomed the rial that was used for research, reports and officials education ministry said yesterday. announcement but criticised the government said yesterday. The material has been stored at the Nuclear Sci- for ignoring scores of prisoners they say have The plutonium stockpile, provided by the US, ence Research Institute northeast of Tokyo, he added. been detained for accusing President Joseph Britain and France decades ago, has caused some Japan relies heavily on nuclear technology for its Kabila of trying to stay in power after his man- disquiet given that Japan has said it has the ability to energy needs. In 2006, then foreign minister Taro Boy bitten by shark date ends in December. Kabila became president produce a nuclear weapon even if it chooses not to. Aso sparked panic in neighbouring countries by in 2001, won disputed elections in 2006 and Some 331kg of the highly fissionable material saying Japan, a scientific superpower with numer- 2011 and has yet to outline his political future. will be sent by ship to a nuclear facility in South ous Nobel prizes to its credit, had the know-how to Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe said about Carolina by the end of March, Kyodo News reported produce nuclear arms but opts not to. AFP 1,200 low-level offenders who have served at Monday in a dispatch from Washington that cited Japan is the only country to ever have been least one-quarter of their sentences and received unnamed Japanese government sources. attacked with nuclear weapons, and under a 1967 approval from the prison director and prosecu- The shipment, which comes ahead of a nuclear policy it refuses to produce, possess or allow nuclear tor-general would be freed in the coming weeks. security summit in Washington in March, is meant to weapons on its soil. SYDNEY: An 11-year-old boy was mauled by a shark in the waters of Aus- About 800 additional prisoners are to be underscore both countries’ commitment to nuclear But in 2010 Tokyo admitted to previous secret tralia’s Great Barrier Reef yesterday, officials said, the second attack in the released following pardons granted last week non-proliferation and is part of a deal they made agreements with the United States to allow American area in four days. The boy was “wading in knee-high water” on the edge of by Kabila to all prisoners over 70 and who have in 2014. warships to carry nuclear weapons across Japa- a beach on Heron Island, some 460km north of Queensland state’s capital not committed serious crimes and to mem- It will be one of Japan’s most significant over- nese territory and to take the arms to US bases on Brisbane, when he was bitten by a black-tip reef shark on his lower right bers of a separatist religious movement. Congo, seas movements of plutonium since it transported Okinawa island in an emergency. US atomic bombs leg, according to Queensland Ambulance. “The child was removed from Africa’s leading copper producer, has not had a one tonne from France in 1993 to be used in nuclear obliterated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and the water by his father and presented to the medical centre (on the island), peaceful transition of power since independ- reactor experiments. Nagasaki in the closing days of World War II, kill- where he was treated by a registered nurse,” paramedic Brad Lawson said. ence in 1960. That shipment triggered an outcry at the time ing more than 210,000 people. 10 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL US gun control Iowa a free-for-all among ARACK Obama came out all guns blazing at the gun lobby yesterday. He delivered a powerful speech in the White House that made not only the US but the entire world listen. A tear- some GOP candidates stained president made an emotional, last-ditch call in the final year of his office for gun control to keep guns out of Bwrong hands and make America safe for all Americans. He wiped tears By Philip Rucker from 20 to 35 percent of the sitting there forever without a As in New Hampshire, and Robert Costa as he remembered children who died in mass shooting as he outlined electorate. candidate of their own.” Christie’s favourability ratings The Washington Post “There’s a lot to be won out David Axelrod, a here have improved in recent new steps his administration would take to tighten gun laws. His voice here,” said David Kochel, Bush’s Democratic strategist who months, while his Iowa shivered as he said the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms chief strategist and a veteran helped run President Obama’s campaign has quietly built an needed to be balanced by the rights of others – the right to worship, Iowa operative. “It’s probably 2008 and 2012 campaigns, organisation on the ground. gather peacefully and live their lives. Obama laid out executive action he hris Christie is the the most undecided bloc of has been closely watching the Christie sees an opportunity is taking to require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers consummate New voters that you could find. It GOP scene in Iowa. He said the to spring a surprise on the to undergo background checks. Hampshire candidate, shows up in every poll, and I establishment free-for-all here, pundit class by gobbling up all the way down to his think they’re coming largely out as well as in New Hampshire, mainstream caucus votes. He Obama has been pleading passionately for stricter gun control but silverC lapel pin in the outline of of this lane. People wait, they is particularly threatening to is eyeing places such as Cedar has been thwarted by the powerful gun lobby and Republicans. The the Granite State. kick the tyres, they see who Rubio. Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque Democratic president failed to persuade Congress to toughen the laws Yet this week the New Jersey comes, they go to town halls, “If he gets dumped into and Des Moines — eastern and blamed lawmakers for being in the thrall of the powerful National governor was in a relative and they make up their minds fourth or fifth place in both of and central Iowa cities where Rifle wilderness, caravaning along late.” these states, maybe he lives to Republicans are more business- Association. But his dream will be fulfilled one day because he the slushy roads of eastern Iowa The moderates have another fight another day, but I can’t minded and less hardline has given the issue an urgency and and sporting a different pin on motivation: to somehow slow think that’s helpful,” Axelrod conservative than in the his suit jacket: the Iowa state Texas Senator Ted Cruz and said. “He’s right now the evangelical strongholds further seriousness that Americans cannot flag. Donald Trump, who have flavour of choice among the west or in rural areas. ignore. “In Dr King’s words, we need to “I want your vote,” Christie dominated the polls here conventional thinkers, but he’s “We’re under no illusions A tearful Obama feel the fierce urgency of now, because told a hundred Iowans bundled for weeks. Many Republican got to do reasonably well.” about how difficult Iowa is, has made a people are dying,” a visibly emotional up inside a coffee shop here last leaders worry that if the two Stuart Stevens, who served but we certainly feel like we powerful new push president said. “Our inalienable right Tuesday morning. “I’m not here win big on caucus night, they as Romney’s chief strategist can compete and improve,” to life and liberty and the pursuit of could be hard to stop elsewhere. in 2012, cautioned that the said Mike DuHaime, Christie’s A wild card could be Rubio, jockeying to finish in the top strategist. to tighten gun happiness, those rights were stripped who has some crossover appeal tier in Iowa might not matter as Bush is perceived to have rules in the US. from college kids in Blacksburg and The voters the and is trying to position himself much as some of the campaigns the most seasoned organisation. Santa Barbara and from high schoolers establishment candidates to take a run at Trump and may think. Many GOP figures here are loyal at Columbine, and from first graders Cruz. The Florida senator has “My theory is that unless to his family, having worked on in Newtown,” he added. Obama has are going after in Iowa, four offices in the state and you actually win a state, it the campaigns of his father and often said his toughest time in office including business traversed it this week with his doesn’t really help you much. I brother, both former presidents, was grappling with the December 2012 massacre of 20 children and six wife, four kids and latest high- don’t buy that second or third going back to 1980. Bush’s super people and farmers, profile backer, Republican Trey helps you. I don’t think anyone PAC, Right to Rise, has invested adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. “Every time I are described by the Gowdy, R-SC. cares,” Stevens said. substantially here, blanketing think about those kids, it gets me mad,” Obama said. “I hope to earn your support Of the establishment the state with television Any changes to gun rules in America are fraught with huge political campaigns as motivated in the caucuses,” Rubio said last contenders, Rubio has been advertisements for several risks. The US Constitution’s 2nd Amendment gives Americans the right to more by economic Tuesday at a town hall meeting performing the strongest, months. So far, at least, these have arms, a right that is fiercely defended. interests and perceived in Waterloo. But, he added, “I running third behind Cruz efforts have not paid dividends. The gun lobby reaction to Obama’s speech was as expected. Chris know you have a lot of choices.” and Trump with 12 percent in His campaign announced last electability against The voters the the Real Clear Politics average Wednesday it had cancelled Cox, executive director for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Democratic frontrunner establishment candidates are of recent state polls. Bush is its advertising plans in Iowa, Legislative Action, said in a statement that American people did not need going after in Iowa, including at 4.8 percent, and Christie is a sign of its difficulty raising “more emotional, condescending lectures that are completely devoid of Hillary Clinton than by business people and farmers, at 2.3 percent. Ohio Gov John money, but is growing its staff facts” and vowed to fight o protect Americans’ constitutional rights to conservative ideology. are described by the campaigns Kasich, another establishment in the state to 20. Bush’s allied bear arms. Republicans too blasted the president and their White House as motivated more by economic candidate, is at 1.5 percent, super PAC will continue airing hopefuls pledged to immediately repeal the orders if they are elected in interests and perceived though he has had a more ads. Although Bush increasingly November. electability against Democratic limited presence in Iowa. has focused his campaign time frontrunner Hillary Clinton Craig Robinson, the founder in New Hampshire, he plans to But this is a battle that will continue for years and it’s unlikely that just to get a Fox News show or a than by conservative ideology. and editor of IowaRepublican. make a three-day swing across Obama’s dream will be fulfilled before many more lives are lost. book deal or something else. I They also make up the political com and a former state Iowa beginning January 11. want to be president.” base of Terry Branstad, the GOP operative, said of the Bush is chasing voters such While New Hampshire state’s even-tempered and long- establishment dynamic: “It’s the as Steve Schwemm, 66, a retired remains the hub of activity serving Republican governor. most interesting race in Iowa, teacher who is a Republican for Christie and other The Branstad coalition to be quite honest. I don’t think but resists the hardline establishment-favoured has forcefully reasserted Rubio has put enough distance conservatism of candidates Quote of the day Republican candidates, itself in local politics the past between himself and the such as Cruz. Schwemm said including former Florida few years but is splintered Christies and Jebs of the world. he is open to supporting Bush, governor Jeb Bush and Senator in the presidential race as That leaves the door cracked but doubts he has a chance Marco Rubio, Fla, Iowa the governor has stayed open.” at winning the nomination, We want to clarify why the has suddenly emerged as a firmly on the sidelines. Many This explains why so at the moment he is more (EU) Commissioners are not playground of opportunity, figures in Branstad’s orbit, Christie spent two full days intrigued by Rubio and Christie. where an intense and stealthier such as his 2014 reelection campaigning in Iowa this Taking his seat at the using the official channels of battle among them is getting campaign senior staff, some week. (He planned a third, Waterloo Center for the Arts communication with the Polish underway. top fundraisers and daughter- though scratched his events to watch Rubio campaign, None of the establishment in-law Adrianne, are working last Monday after a snowstorm Schwemm said, “I think he’s government, but (instead) give candidates expects to win Iowa, for Christie, while some others, caused his flight to be very electable. He’s a great weekend interviews to the but associates of Christie, Bush including Kochel, are helping cancelled; he instead drove four debater, and in this day and age, and Rubio see an opportunity Bush. hours from Chicago O’Hare that’s a skill you have to have. I German press. for a victory of momentum — Douglas E Gross, an International Airport.) think he’s young, dynamic and and positive media coverage unaffiliated Iowa Republican In January, Christie said, he energetic.” — for whoever can capture the leader, said that unlike in 2012, intends to “evenly split” his time Then again, he said, “I like Witold Waszczykowski most mainstream Republican when mainstream Republicans here and in New Hampshire. the straightforwardness of Polish Foreign Minister support. That faction, which united behind Mitt Romney That would represent a change Chris Christie. I really do.” the campaigns see as up for and nearly helped him win, from what has been a New Schwemm was undecided, grabs, is estimated at anywhere this cycle they “have been Hampshire-heavy schedule. with the caucuses 34 days away.

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 11 Mainstream Muslims love peace

These extremist groups all have seemingly no proper knowledge of, nor regard for Islamic morality, in which the protection of peaceful civilian human rights is one of the most important principles, including the freedom to choose their religion and way of life. In a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 85 percent or more of the population said they did not have a favourable view of IS, in each of 11 nations with a significant number of Muslims, including the Palestinian territories, indicating the lack of Islamic support for the actions of IS. An important point to notice is: Who are the main victims of all such attacks on Western soil? They are firstly members of the public, often a very multicultural public, By Laura Ball including Muslims. Then, after each attack, The Peninsula some irresponsible commentators and media outlets arouse suspicion of all Muslims living in those countries, or Muslim refugees fleeing war and trying to enter those countries. This gives rise to many Islamophobic, verbal and roups sometimes claiming physical, hate-filled attacks on innocent affiliation to each other, and Muslims who are peacefully going about behaving in the same violent, their daily business. The fear of terrorism is destructive and unreasonable spreading suspicion and in the worst cases way, against mostly civilians, insidiously turning people into the violent Ginclude Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Al Shabaab enemy they fear and hate! It is potentially a and Boko Haram. Common people are prone very divisive force. This is exactly the stated to be frightened by acts of unprovoked agenda of IS, as many better educated people terrorism against peaceful populations, which have realised. are now taking place and being attempted Daily news reports show that Turkish Muslims prepare to pray inside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. in many countries across the world, mostly Islamophobia is at an all-time high in in Muslim majority nations. Not only is not America and Europe, stimulated by one knowing the truth about our ‘new’ enemies or two attacks on their people, claimed to disconcertingly confusing, but it adds to the have been committed by those affiliated to Hussein had long aspired towards Arab giving them visas, housing, education and anxiety of many people. IS, as well as inflammatory statements by unity, at least. These ambitions may have health services, and allowing them to work, A UN report from September 2014 gives politicians to be such as Donald Trump and seemed dangerous to some. This is clearly a as well as funding emergency refugee camps Ben Carson. At least ten Muslim families and continuation of the colonial policy of ‘divide in other countries. individuals have recently been refused visas and rule’— ie keeping the population arguing Clearly the vast majority of the global, to travel to America for reasons that are not with each other, and thereby stay in power more than 1.5 billion, mainstream Muslim made clear, or their visas have been revoked. and control over them, in this case steadily community are not the enemy of the American The fear of terrorism is spreading A mysterious case was just reported from ripping the previous Islamic empire into and European people. Nor are they the main suspicion and in the worst cases Australia, where a non-religious Syrian born shreds, while extracting resources. threat to world stability, justice and peace, So many questions woman had her visa revoked. Reasons are Most people fighting against the extremist and Islam is not the problem. Muslims are now need to be insidiously turning people into the not given, even when the issue is pursued. terrorist groups, verbally and physically, are largely the victims of most of the world’s violent enemy they fear and hate! It is Most cruel of all is that the people whose Muslims, including thousands of Muslim violence. So many questions now need to answered, the potentially a very divisive force. This countries are then bombed and effectively scholars from around the world, on TV, radio, be answered, the main one being — who are main one being — collectively punished for the terrorist social media, and in the press. Authoritative the real enemy and what motivates them? is exactly the stated agenda of IS, as incidents in the West, are those already Islamic organisations, individuals and Who are those that radicalise, brainwash who are the real many better educated people have being terrorised, oppressed, attacked and institutions, truly representing all types of and train IS and others; that allow them enemy and what slaughtered by the Taliban, Al Qaeda and IS, Muslims worldwide, that have condemned IS freedom to use Twitter and other websites motivates them? realised. Al Shabaab and Boko Haram groups in their as un-Islamic include: Al Azhar in Egypt, the to groom and recruit new fighters; that give midst. These are Muslim majority countries, highest authority in Saudi Arabia, Turkey’s top them medical support, funds and supplies, Who are those often at the heart of the historically great cleric, the Arab League, Council for American and buy their stolen oil? Who has an interest in that radicalise, Islamic civilisation, which are increasingly Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic dividing and weakening, as well as destroying a clear indication of those affected:“At least reduced to rubble, chaos, instability and Society of North America (ISNA) both with the Muslims and all evidence of their great brainwash and train 24,015” Iraqi civilians, the vast majority of sectarianism, depopulating them and very large membership in North America; civilisation and culture? Who profits from IS and others; that whom were Muslim, had been killed or debilitating them, and setting back their Muslim Council of Britain — an umbrella continuous and expanding wars? Who is injured by IS in the first eight months of former path of affluence and development, group of hundreds of UK organisations of interested in their lands and resources? And allow them freedom 2014. The authors of the report warned that Iraq and Libya being previously two of those Muslims; 100 Sunni and Shia UK Imams; finally — whose power and hegemony feels to use Twitter and their numbers were likely too low, and did most wealthy and developed, partly due to Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC), threatened by the unity of the Muslims? not include deaths from related causes, such their oil reserves. and a group of thousands of Indian scholars. It is vital and urgent that these questions other websites to as lack of food, medicine and clean water The result of all the turmoil is that Muslim It is obviously not in the interests of the are answered, before many countries and groom and recruit for refugees fleeing violence, or trapped in majority countries are likely to end up to be mainstream Muslim community to encourage innocent people become entangled in a new fighters; that IS-held areas. Some Christians and others pressured into being divided even further acts or organisations spreading fear and highly destructive and widespread Third were among those killed (a few in a highly into smaller nation states, against the will terror. World War — that will still not get to the give them medical publicised way), and many of the Muslims of most practising Muslims who want to be Thirty-four Muslim nations of the Gulf, root of the problem. support, funds and were ‘Shia’, however most of the attacks were a cohesive worldwide community, while Middle East, Africa and Turkey and the Far pretty indiscriminate, and harsh punishments retaining their own cultures where these East are now allies in attempts to defeat IS, supplies, and buy are meted out to anyone in the area invaded do not contradict Islam. It is interesting to and Gulf states are in fact the main countries their stolen oil? who is not doing exactly what the terror note that Muammar Gaddafi wanted to form taking in hundreds of thousands of refugees Luzita Ball is a writer and editor group commands. a union of African countries, and Saddam from Iraq and Syria over the last decade, with a Masters in Urban Regeneration. How Iran killed Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr

on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, and affairs. A country which is leading the the Consulate in the religious city of war against the Houthis’ terror, and an Mashhad, which is frequently visited established Islamic alliance to fight ter- by many Saudis and other nationalities. rorism, whether it is Sunni or Shia terror, In a provocative and highly publi- never bows to Iran’s threats or its inter- cised act, Iran named one of the roads ference in its local affairs. in Mashhad city in Al Nimr’s name. The There is no difference between Nimr, assaults on the embassy made Saudi who announced his pledge of allegiance Arabia cut its diplomatic ties with Iran to the Guardian of the Islamic Jurists and ask the Irani ambassador and dip- in Iran, and those who supported the lomats to leave the country within 48 Caliphate of Abu Baker Al Baghdadi, the hours. Iran’s reaction not only violated leader of IS. Anyone who announces international law, but it also galvanised a pledge to Tehran or Al Raka has mobs of Basij and Pasdaran and their announced his loyalty and obedience supporters, in an open abhorrent move to the Caliphate and the Guardians of that was similar tothose of the lawless the Islamic Revolution in Iran. There- By Dr Saad bin Tefla Al Ajmi administration of Iran. fore if asked to blast mosques in Kuwait Iran’s support for what the Houthis or to fight the people of Syria or to put Smoke comes out from the windows after protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy building have been doing in Yemen is the best bombs in Bahrain or any security check in the Iranian capital Tehran. evidence of Iran’swillingness to violate point, it will not hesitate to implement n principle I am not here to express the law. Perhaps it also contributed to the orders. happiness for the death of anybody, the death of Al Nimr through its verbal This is the reality: Nimr Al Namr in Saudi Arabia. He is like tens of Shia citizens, but should deal with an iron- Ieven if he is Nimr Baqir Al Nimr or escalation and threats made to the Saudi was Hasan Mishaima of Iran in Bah- political outfits planted by Iran in Arab fist with those who express loyalties Faris Al Shuwail, Al Qaeda’s theoretician. Kingdom about what it would do if Saudi rain and Abdul Malik Al Houthi is Hasan countries. Iran funds them, provides to any outsiders, whether they to the What is needed here is to understand Arabia killed him, forgetting that Al Nimr Nasrallah in Yemen. Al Battat, Al Amiri weapons, and teaches them the ide- ‘Caliphate’ of Sunnis or the Guardian the reasons why they have been killed, is a Saudi national. Iran wrongly pre- and Al Muhandis and others in Iraq and ology of the Guardian of the Islamic of Shias. along with another 45 people, in accord- dicted the thinking of decision makers several personalities in Kuwait, includ- Jurists in a bid to exploit them to cre- Some good advice was given by ance with the Saudi law, three days ago. in Saudi Arabia, which has been lead- ing a Kuwaiti Parliament member, ate sectarian violence. When Arab Shia Kuwaiti thinker Khalil Ali Haydar to I am not going to talk here about the ing a war against the Houthis and their announced their loyalty to the Guard- reject the Guardian of the Islamic Jurists Arab Shias in his articles, in which one law, which was implemented strictly allies in Yemen for many months. ian of the Islamic Jurists in Tehran. I they meet with carrots and sticks. But question was raised — who are more without differentiating between Sun- Saudi Arabia did not have the option think they are all singing from the same the Saudi resistance intensifies day- important to Arab Shias: Saudi Arabia or nis and Shias. of delaying the execution, or changing song sheet. Daesh/ ISIL/ISIS, Hizbollah, by-day. Perhaps getting rid of Nimr by Iran? His latest article addressed Arab The death of Al Nimr created Shia the punishment into a prison sentence Ansarallah, Asa’ibAhl Al Haq, Al Faid- Iran, and before this the Houthis, will Shias in general and Kuwaitis in partic- political reactions, triggered by Iran because, if this happened, it would be ila and Al Qaeda etc all use religious be a lessons to those who think that Iran ular and is available on: http://alwatan. and those spinning in its orbit in Iraq, seen by Iran and its supporters as sub- slogans, but there is no difference in can rescue and protect them. kuwait.tt. Syria, Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. mission to their threats. Thus Iran killed behaviour between the supporters of Arab Shi’as have no safe haven any- These reactions included acts violating its strongman in Saudi Arabia, polit- the Guardian of the Islamic Jurists and where except in their own countries. Arab international law, as well as principles of ically before killing him physically, those paid allegiance to Al Baghdadi. countries should provide Shia nation- The writer is an academician international relations, such as assaults through its blatant interference in Saudi Nimr was the ‘Trojan horse’ of Iran als a decent life and equality like other and media expert. 12 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 PAKISTAN Pakistan seeks closer military ties with Sri Lanka

Sharif said he was also keen to expand trade with Sri Lanka and was eager to invest in its sugar and cement industries.

AFP & IANS

COLOMBO: Pakistan’s Prime Minis- ter Nawaz Sharif called yesterday for closer military cooperation with Sri Lanka on an official visit to the island. Pakistan was a key supplier of arms and aircraft for Sri Lanka’s military in their battle against separatist Tamil Tiger rebels during the civil war that ended in May 2009. In talks with President Maithri- pala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sharif also expressed a desire for more naval exchanges. “I conveyed our desire for more Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (left) shakes hands with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil frequent port calls, participation in mil- itary exercises and defence seminars Wickremesinghe in Colombo yesterday. and training of military personnel,” Pakistan’s leader said in a statement fol- several other countries, including the in the fields of health, education, trade, between our two countries”. lowing an official welcoming ceremony. United States and China. Sharif said science and technology, tourism, and He said Pakistan was keen to fol- Sharif held talks with Wickremes- he was also keen to expand trade with gems and jewellery were signed dur- low its goal of increasing bilateral trade inghe soon after his arrival on Monday Sri Lanka and was eager to invest in ing delegation-level talks between the volume with Sri Lanka to $1bn. Both and is due to fly back today after visit- its sugar and cement industries. two countries, Dawn online reported. the countries will jointly work to curb ing the Buddhist pilgrim city of Kandy. Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed eight Sirisena warmly received Sharif money laundering, he said. Sirisena for Sri Lanka sends its military offic- memoranda of understanding (MoU) and his wife Kulsoom Nawaz. Sharif his part said political disturbances in Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif walks next to Sri Lankan ers for higher training to both Pakistan on the sidelines of Sharif’s visit. The said his visit to Sri lanka “is a testi- Pakistan were being eliminated under President Maithripala Sirisena at a bilateral ceremony in Colombo. and its arch-rival India as well as to MoUs and agreements for cooperation mony to strong bonds of friendship Sharif’s leadership. Man reunites with father after 4 decades

Internews the 1971 war which in one December “Just like that, I was told my land separation, Sani said, when the first “Next I had to travel to Wagah Bomb explodes night drew a searing line through the and my family were no longer mine,” letter arrived from relatives across the Border where I had to fulfil other for- very heart of families in Ghanche dis- said Gafoor. “I had lost everything but LoC, re-establishing ties which the malities.” Once in Pakistan, Islamabad near Indian trict of Gilgit-Baltistan. hoped for a reunion one day. Perhaps arbitrary nature of war almost severed. was the next destination where he had ISLAMABAD: Abdul Gafoor couldn’t Ibrahim Sani was hardly six-years- God kept me alive for this very moment.” Gafoor’s relatives who could read to spend two weeks to complete visa consulate in believe his eyes; Was the bearded man old when India and Pakistan went to As time passed by, Gafoor mar- and write used to translate the letter formalities which included an appli- approaching him really his son Ibra- war over what was then East Pakistan. ried another woman and they had a into Balti so the father could read about cation for the extension of his visa for Jalalabad him Sani, his son whom he last met As the war rapidly escalated, the daughter and a son. While one fam- his family living across the border. another three months. more than four decades ago. Indian army crossed the Line of Con- ily took root across the border, Sani, The correspondence continued till “Let me tell you again — I was lucky “Oh my child, is it really you?” said trol (LoC) and occupied Chulunkha, the child, grew up listening to stories telephone service was established in the enough to get a PIA ticket immediately Jalalabad: A small bomb Gafoor as he held Sani tightly in his Tyakshi, Thang and Turtuk of Chor- about Gafoor, conjuring and resurrect- region in the early 2000s. At present which took me to Skardu.” exploded near the Indian arms. The father and son met at Skardu bat village in Ghanche district on the ing a father he did not know. cellular service is the source of com- Sani is now with his father and other consulate in the eastern airport in the week of December 28 Pakistani side. “I don’t remember when all of this munication between the two ends but relatives in Skardu. He is hopeful his Afghan city of Jalalabad after 44 long years. The morning came and people who happened,” said Sani, who is now 52. holding a plastic device connecting visa will be extended for another three yesterday, authorities said. Journalist Musa Chulunkha who used to live in Pakistan were suddenly “My mother kept me telling stories of crackling voices is hardly a substi- months. But Sani lacks peace of mind. The blast, which hap- witnessed the rare reunion said the a part of an area controlled by another war and my father till her death some tute for meeting your own flesh and He says that he does not know when pened the morning after scene made many teary-eyed at the nation. years back,” Sani said over the tele- blood in person. he can set foot on what was once his a gun and bomb siege airport where Sani had landed from Gafoor and his family used to live phone from Skardu town. The journey between the two ends own homeland. near the Indian consulate Islamabad after a long journey from in Tyakshi, Chorbat close to Ladakh. “This (reunion) is my second birth. which once took only a few hours “Will I ever be able to see my father in a northern Afghan city, India last Tuesday. But it was his luck of the draw; When I’m so thankful to God for making this on foot stretched to weeks of ardu- again? What will happen to my father was some 200 metres “How lucky am I to see my son Indian forces took over Chorbat, Gafoor, happen. Our father had been the cen- ous travel requiring proof of a life in once I go back to Tyakshi?” said Sani. from the consulate in again after such a long time. I can’t then 38, was in Skardu. tre of our family’s conversations in all paperwork. Sani had to first visit the “Isn’t it possible for both govern- Jalalabad, an Indian dip- believe my eyes. God had perhaps kept He had left his wife, a daughter those long years.” Sani said, “We would Pakistani embassy in Delhi, a five- ments to just open the traditional route lomatic source there said. me alive for this very day,” said Gafoor and son behind in search of a job. His just think of him and try and imagine day trip. between the two ends of our worlds to The source said no one before emotions took hold of him and wife and children, however, woke up what he liked to eat and how ecstatic “The embassy gave me a one month let the relatives meet each other once had been injured. Vikas he started weeping. to find Tyakshi was Indian-control- he would be to see us again.” visa for Pakistan,” said the man who in a while?” Sani stops to think but fails Swarup, a spokesman for Gafoor and his son are victims of led territory. It was after nine long years of sounded fatigued just talking about it. to answer his own question. India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said the Jalala- bad consulate “was not the target”. The area also houses the consulates for Pakistani Taliban publish Attacked Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif Pakistan and Iran. Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for Nangarhar first annual report province’s governor, said authorities were unsure what the target was but AFP claims, but there is no evidence a police convoy had been to support these claims which are passing at the time. “The often inflated,” said Pakistani ana- explosives were placed in lyst Rahimullah Yousafzai. a garbage can,” he added. ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Tal- “They have realised that this kind iban has released its first annual of report is necessary to show people US service report, claiming it killed hundreds that they are still active and potent,” of people in 2015, with analysts sug- Yousafzai said. He suggested the TTP member killed gesting its “inflated” figures illustrate had issued the annual report because the jihadists’ struggle to demonstrate “people are saying that their cam- in Helmand their capability as security improves. paign has weakened”. The report, written in Urdu, is a Amir Rana, the director of the Kabul: One US serv- detailed list of attacks carried out on independent Pakistan Institute of ice member was killed security forces, police and politicians Peace Studies (PIPS), said despite the and two wounded in an in several Pakistani cities and the setbacks the TTP remained opera- operation near Marjah in northwestern tribal areas between tional in Pakistan. “Its real operational Afghanistan’s Helmand January 3 and December 26. strengths are its affiliates and support province, a Nato defence Released on December 29, it says networks, which still exist inside Paki- official said yesterday. that in 2015 the Pakistani Tehreek- stan and ... will take time to break,” “We are deeply saddened e-Taliban (TTP) carried out 73 target Rana said. He predicted that the drop by this loss,” said Brig- killings, 12 ambush attacks, 10 raids, in extremist-linked violence would adier General Wilson A 19 IED (Improvised Explosive Device) continue, however. Shoffner, the spokesman blasts, five suicide attacks, 17 missile In its own annual report for 2015, for the Natox mission in attacks and shot down two helicop- PIPS said that “terrorism declined Afghanistan, adding “our ters, and claims it killed some 686 by 48 percent, but TTP remained a heartfelt sympathies go people in 2015. major factor of instability in 2015”. out to the families and A view of a damaged Indian Consulate building after suspected militant attack in Mazar-i-Sharif, Claims by the TTP are often exag- Pakistan’s northwest tribal areas bor- friends of those involved”. Afghanistan, yesterday. Three attackers and one Afghan security force member were killed in the gerated. In the report, for example, it dering Afghanistan suffered the most A US defence official claims that it killed 247 people in an in 2015 with 268 deaths, followed by siege on Monday. Sayed Kamal Sadat, the police chief of Balkh province, of which Mazar-i-Sharif is said that it was a special attack on Peshawar’s Badaber air- 257 in Balochistan, 251 in Sindh, 206 the capital, confirmed that the standoff had ended and all the assailants were killed. No group has operations mission and force base in September. The official in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 83 in Pun- claimed responsibility for the attack. The Indian ambassador to Afghanistan tweeted that all consulate Afghan soldiers were also death toll was 29. jab and four in Islamabad, the PIPS staff were safe. wounded. “This report mostly carries big report said, for a total of 1,069 deaths. INDIA WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 13 Police ignored crucial information before attack

and made the high security defence charges against him, including the SP was abducted facility and its vital assets vulnerable. killing of the taxi driver. The union home ministry, top “It was only after the SP’s mobile by terrorists on police sources said, has sought a report phone was put on surveillance that December 31 and from the Punjab director general police the police officers realised that it was he informed officers (DGP) on the incident related to the used to make calls to Pakistan. It was SP’s abduction and the delay in taking then that they really got alerted and about the terrorists action on the information regarding sounded others. Crucial time had on January 1 the terrorists. been lost by that time and the ter- “Not only were some senior offic- rorists walked into the air base,” the morning but it was ers not ready to hear the SP’s version source said. taken lightly but even tried to fix him in a case. They The SP has been questioned in this threatened to involve his name in the case by the NIA, other central agen- murder of Innova taxi driver Ikagar cies and Punjab Police. Singh who was killed by the same ter- The National Investigation Agency rorists,” the police source said. (NIA) has registered three FIRs in the IANS Under fire and suspicion by his own matter. These relate to the abduction senior officers about the entire inci- of the SP and others, the killing of dent, Salwinder said yesterday: “My the taxi driver and the attack on the information was 100 percent truth. Pathankot AFS. PATHANKOT: Punjab Police offi- There is no doubt about it. After unty- The police officer was abducted cials took their own senior officer’s ing myself, I went to a nearby village with his friend Rajesh Verma and version on the presence of Pakistani Golpur Simbli and told them who I cook Madan Gopal by the Pakistani terrorists in the area lightly and slept was. I called up my officers and gave terrorists in his Mahindra XUV multi- over the information on the impend- the information. My information pre- utility vehicle. ing terrorist strike on the Pathankot vented a major incident. They could His car was stopped around 11.30 air base, sources said. have done a big damage to the pub- pm. on Thursday (December 31). The Sources in the Punjab Police con- lic if I had not informed.” attack took place early Saturday (Jan- firmed that an internal probe was Salwinder said that he even called uary 2). The Punjab Police and security being conducted to ascertain the role up the Gurdaspur Senior Superintend- agencies did nothing till the terror- of some senior officers who took Gur- ent of Police Gurpreet Singh Toor early ists entered the Pathankot Air Force daspur’s Superintendent of Police (around 3.30am.) on January 1 who Station (AFS). (under transfer) Salwinder Singh’s told him to inform the police control “Only I know what has happened version and information regarding room instead. with me. I have got a new life. The the terrorists “lightly and casually” According to sources, the control truth has come out. Only I and god despite he being a crucial witness to room could be reached by the SP only know how I returned,” Salwinder said. the presence of the terrorists. around 11am (on January 1). Salwinder claimed that the ter- Salwinder Singh said that after “I informed senior officers imme- rorists came back in his Mahindra “untying” himself, he called up his diately. I don’t know why the delay XUV car, which had a blue beacon officers and gave the information about took place,” Salwinder said. Police on top, to find him, where he, along his kidnapping and the terrorists. sources said that one senior Punjab with his cook Madan Gopal, had been The officers did not react to the Police officer, who came later to the dumped near a drain in a forest area crucial information for hours, giving spot (Akalgarh) where the SP’s car was on Thursday night. Defence Minister enough time for the terrorists to make found, even made fun of Salwinder and the heads of Army, Navy and Air their way to the Pathankot Air Force Singh saying that he had gone to meet Force visited the spot yesterday. The Station (AFS) and carry out the attack his woman friend in Kalanaur (in Gur- minister also informed that the sit- that left seven security personnel dead daspur district). They levelled other uation is under control. Indian police personnel stand alert near the airforce base in Pathankot yesterday. Parrikar admits ‘security lapses’ lead to terror attack India urges Pakistan to IANS of one of the terrorists still had a sui- cide vest, with a grenade sticking out. “I am very much clear that they (our act after AF officers) should not take any risk,” he PATHANKOT: Defence Minister Mano- said, recalling how a National Security har Parrikar admitted yesterday that Guard (NSG) officer lost his life ear- base attack “security lapses” led to the terrorist lier while trying to reportedly shift a attack on the IAF base here that left similar body. seven security personnel and six ter- Parrikar admitted that the entire NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minis- rorists dead. operation “is a very difficult” one. “It ter Narendra Modi yesterday urged Parrikar also told the media after is tedious. This has been done without his Pakistani counterpart to take visiting the base that combing oper- compromising any assets... Not just the “firm and immediate action” against ations were still going on but “this is strategic assets but even a building.” those behind an attack on an Indian only for safety purposes” and that no He said barring one building where air force base that left seven sol- more terrorists were believed hidden the terrorists took shelter, no other diers dead. in the huge complex. building was even damaged because Modi’s office said New Delhi Some gaps led to security lapses, the security personnel managed to had given Islamabad “specific and leading to the pre-dawn terror attack corner the raiders in a corner of the actionable information” on the on Saturday, the minister said. He did sprawling base. audacious attack, which came just not elaborate. “What is worrying is He said the terrorists had AK-47 days after a landmark visit to Paki- how they (terrorists) entered the base,” rifles, pistols, Swiss knives, commando stan by the Indian premier raised he added. knives besides 40-50 kg of bullets. hopes of improved relations. Parrikar visited the Pathankot They also had improvised mortars. Security officials suspect the Indian Air Force base in Punjab on “They had high quality explosives.” gunmen—five of whom were killed Tuesday along with the chiefs of the The minister said the NIA had —belonged to the Pakistan-based army and air force. The head of the started investigation into the attack. Jaish—e—Mohammed, the group National Investigation Agency (NIA), He said it would find out “who sent that staged a 2001 attack on the which is probing the audacious terrorist them”. “They have got initial leads, Indian parliament which brought strike, also visited the base separately. where they have come from, how they the two countries to the brink of war. “Combing operations are (still) have come.” He added that combing In a statement, Modi’s office said going on,” Parrikar said. “This is only operations will continue till the force Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar (right) addressing a press conference yesterday at the Pathankot Air Base. for safety purposes.” He said the body confirms that all terrorists are killed. Sharif had telephoned him to dis- cuss the attack on the Pathankot base in the northern state of Pun- jab near the border with Pakistan. Modi “strongly emphasised the Chief Minister need for Pakistan to take firm and NSG commando cremated in Kerala immediate action against the organ- remains critical isations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot ter- NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir rorist attack,” said the statement. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad IANS complaint from the Daily and reve- “Specific and actionable infor- Sayeed continued to be in critical lation that there was nobody of that mation in this regard has been but stable condition yesterday, a name employed with them, police provided to Pakistan.” It said Sharif week after being admitted to the probed and arrested this person,” said had given assurances that his gov- AIIMS following fever and respi- KERALA: NSG commando Lt.Col. the official requesting anonymity. ernment would take “prompt and ratory problems. E K Niranjan, who was killed in the Hours after the last rites of NSG decisive action”. “He (Mufti) continues to be on counter-offensive against terrorists officer Lt. Col. E K Niranjan, who The dawn raid on the base respiratory support but his con- at the Pathankot air base on Sunday, was killed in the operation against triggered a 14-hour gunbattle on dition is stable now. He continues was cremated in Kerala yesterday. terrorists at the Pathankot air base, Saturday, with fighting continuing to be on essential medication and At his Elumbulsherry village in Pal- Kerala’s labour department renamed Sunday. The attack was claimed supportive therapy. akkad district, people stayed awake the industrial training institute (ITI) in Monday by the United Jihad Coun- His condition continues to be through the night after his body was his hometown in his honour. Labour cil, an umbrella group for jihadist warranting close monitoring by the brought here on Monday evening. Minister Shibu Baby John, in a press outfits fighting in Indian-controlled team of experts at AIIMS,” the hos- In the meantime, a man has been release issued here, said the ITI in Kashmir. The Congress on Tuesday pital said in a statement. arrested here for making an insulting Elumbulsherry village, from where urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi The 79-year-old leader, who is Facebook post about NSG commando Niranjan hails, will now be known to consult opposition parties on the in the Intensive Care Unit of the All Lt. Col. E K Niranjan, who was killed as Lt. Col. Niranjan Memorial Gov- terror attack on the Pathankot Air India Institute of Medical Sciences in the counter-offensive against ter- ernment ITI. Force Base in Punjab in which seven (AIIMS), was flown to the institute rorists at the Pathankot air base on Hundreds of people made a bee security personnel have been killed. on December 24, last year following Sunday. Anwar Sadiq, 24, was arrested line to his ancestral home to have one “We urge Prime Minister Naren- complaints of severe fever, respira- yesterday from his home in Malap- last glimpse of the brave warrior who dra Modi to take the nation into tory problems and neck pain. puram district. “He had created a laid down his life defending his coun- confidence and consult the lead- Mufti, a patient of acute diabetes, Facebook profile with a fake name try. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy ership of the principal opposition has been undergoing routine check- and claimed he was a journalist with on late Monday arrived at the Elum- Army personnel carry the coffin of Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar parties on this matter,” said Con- up every month at the institute. the Madhyamam Daily. Following a bulsherry village and paid homage of National Security Guard Bomb Disposal Squad personnel, yesterday. gress spokesperson Anand Sharma. 14 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 INDIA Quake toll reaches eight and normal life affected

Gaikhangam Gangmei said. Even as in other districts of Manipur were All educational all educational institutes in the north- received though there was no report institutes in the eastern state were closed for a week, of any casualty. Monday’s temblor at offices too declared a holiday for two 4.35 a.m. on Monday had its epicen- northeastern state days. Most shops and business estab- tre in Tamenglong district. were closed for a lishments were also closed. It also jolted Assam, Arunachal A shortage of essential commod- Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizo- week, offices too ities and other consumables were ram and Tripura, besides Myanmar declared a holiday reported since the main marketing and Bhutan. complex in the state capital was shut. Meanwhile, angered over the dam- for two days Vehicles and pedestrians were age caused to the women’s market in barred from crossing the damaged Imphal, hundreds of women vendors Minuthong bridge over the Imphal on Monday allegedly beat up Subhas river that connects the eastern and Chandra, superintending engineer of IANS western parts of state capital Imphal. the Manipur Public Works Depart- Rapid response teams of the health ment (Building Circle). department fanned out in the inte- Chandra was deputed to supervise rior rural and mountainous areas of the construction of a modern market- IMPHAL: Normal life continued to Manipur to provide medical relief to ing complex by Simplex Infrastructure be affected in Manipur as the death the affected. Company in place of traditional sheds toll in the 6.7 magnitude earthquake Though 35 members of the National for women vendors. Chandra visited rose to eight in the state. Disaster Response Force teams are the spot and assessed the damage. “Three people each died in Imphal working in Tamenglong district, no Pillors, buildings etc were collapsed. East and Imphal west districts while report of recovery of any dead body The women vendors said they had two deaths were reported in Senap- was received so far. lodged complaints about cracks and ati district. The government will pay Over 100 houses and shops were leaks in the complex even before they Rs.5 lakh each to the next of kin of damaged in the hill district. Reports shifted there but the state government those killed,” Deputy Chief Minister of damage to several school buildings turned a deaf ear. A woman receives medical attention following the 6.7 earthquake, at a hospital in Imphal, yesterday. Arun Jaitley tells court Kejriwal defamed him with malicious statements

IANS was held in-camera for security rea- filed by a third party.” and others professional these state- important decisions were put up for am a beneficiary of the same is per se sons. According to court sources, Jaitley Jaitley requested the court to ini- ments are false to their knowledge. approval before the board”. false and defamatory to the knowledge told the court that Kejriwal and the five tiate proceedings against Kejriwal, “During my entire tenure I have not “The accounts of DDCA were always of all accused persons named by me NEW DELHI: Accusing Delhi Chief people had given “false” and “defama- Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay received directly or indirectly a sin- duly audited and were subsequently in the complaint.” He told court that Minister Arvind Kejriwal of making tory” statements against him, harming Singh, Raghav Chadha and Deepak gle rupee from DDCA on any account all approved by the annual general statement made by accused that he false statements against him, Finance his reputation. Bajpayee for defaming him. whatsoever (sic.),” said Jaitley. meeting of DDCA. and his family had a pecuniary inter- Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday recorded “The statements are made by “The six accused named in the He told court that during his tenure These accounts were submitted est in this company was per se false his statement in a court here in con- accused with a malicious intention complaint by me have between the as President, Delhi and District Cricket before the taxation authorities and and defamatory. nection with a criminal defamation in order to lower my reputation among period December 15 and December 20, Association (DDCA), a cricket stadium balance sheets along with the annual The court also recorded the state- case he has filed. my friends, supporters and in eyes of the 2015, made/published in close coop- was built at Ferozshah Kotla that was report were filed with the registrar of ment of chairman and editor-in-chief of Jaitley has filed a complaint against right thinking members of the public eration and co-ordination with each supervised by a committee formed by the companies,” said Jaitley. India TV Rajat Sharma. Jaitley headed Kejriwal and five other Aam Aadmi at large,” said Jaitley while recording other and with a common intention executive committee of association. “The false imputation made by the DDCA for 13 years till 2013. He has Party (AAP) leaders. his statement. and knowledge a series of statements He was not a member of the com- accused persons in the tweets/state- been accused of corruption by Delhi’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate San- He said: “The statements were made which are ex facie false and defama- mittee charged with the construction ment and in the press conference and ruling AAP. Kejriwal has demanded that jay Khanagwal recorded the statement with the intention to deflect attention tory and towards me and my members and renovations of the stadium. Facebook and Twitter posts individu- Jaitley must resign from the government of Jaitley as the complainant witness in from a CBI investigation against a par- of my family,” said Jaitley. Jaitley added that “in the capacity ally and collectively that money has or be removed as finance minister to the case, who appeared before the court ticular civil servant who was working He added since the accused are in of president of DDCA, I used to chair been siphoned out in the construction enable an independent probe into the amidst tight security. The proceeding with Kejriwal, in relation to a complaint public life and are educated journalist the board meetings where only the of the stadium and the innuendo that I DDCA affairs.

Sikh devotees pray SC stays ban of heavy diesel vehicle sale Former chief justice IANS report after ascertaining the views of the Environment Pollution Control S H Kapadia diead Authority (EPCA). “Whatever mate- rial you want us to look into, give it Mumbai: Top legal luminary NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court to Salve,” Chief Justice Thakur told and former Supreme Court yesterday declined to relax its Decem- Singhvi as he sought to make some chief justice Sarosh Homi ber 2015 order prohibiting the sale and suggestions. The court said this after Kapadia passed away late registration in Delhi of diesel vehi- Singhvi referred to a report by the IIT on Monday, a family member cles with engine capacity of 2000cc Kanpur which said only a fraction of said. or above, saying that for now the ban air pollution was being contributed He was 68 and is survived will continue. by diesel vehicles. The court was told by his wife Shahnaz, a son and “This order (banning the regis- that IIT Kanpur says that diesel vehi- a daughter. The funeral will tration of diesel vehicles with engine cles were contributing only 2 percent be held as per Parsi traditions capacity of 2000 cc or above includ- of the PMT. at the Doongerwadi Tower of ing SUV) will stay for now,” said the “Are you seeking the alteration Silence later on Tuesday after- apex court bench comprising Chief of December 16, 2015 order or do noon. Kapadia, who rose from Justice T.S. Thakur, Justice A.K. Sikri you want it to be deleted,” the court the ranks to become the 38th and Justice R. Banumathi, while order- asked Singhvi and senior counsel C.A. chief justice of India, served ing that no commercial vehicle not Sundram, appearing for the Auto- between May 2010 and Sep- bound for Delhi would enter the cap- mobile Manufacturers Association tember 2012. He was earlier ital city. while refusing for now to modify its the chief justice of the Uttara- Refusing to soften its clampdown earlier order. khand High Court. on the registration of diesel vehicles The court said that if the evidences with engine capacity of 2000cc or are correct, a person buying a diesel above, the court asked senior coun- vehicle was buying a polluting device. sel Abhishek Manu Singhvi to pass Automobile manufacturers Mahi- Tourism map for over whatever material they had ndra & Mahindra, Mercedes and Sikh devotees pray in Gurudwara on the occasion of the 350th birth anniversary of the Sikh Guru in support of their contention for Toyota had on Monday moved the Himalayas soon Gobind Singh, yesterday. relaxing the order to amicus curiae apex court seeking the modification Harish Salve who would submit a of its December 16 order. Kolkata: A map of the Indian Himalayas complete with trek- king routes will be available soon for tourists, the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said here yesterday. Taking students’ issue seriously says US consul general IATO president Subhash Goyal said the tourism minis- try was developing a map of IANS states as well who are involved in this were told that universities they selected loss to students and their parents. check the authenticity of all documents ranges in the Indian part of and sent back that is why it is being are under scrutiny. According to the minister, the con- here before issuing visas so that stu- the Himalayas as part of its looked at centrally by the ambassador The incidents have led to concern sul general, while acknowledging that dents don’t suffer after landing in the US. ‘Incredible Himalayas’ cam- HYDERABAD: The US consul gen- and ministry of external affairs,” he among students and their families in this happened in some cases, assured The minister also brought to the consul paign to lure domestic and eral in Hyderabad yesterday said they said. The consul general was replying the two states. Meanwhile, the Telan- that they were trying to rectify it. The general’s notice some media reports international tourists during were taking seriously the issue related to a query on the sidelines of an event. gana government on Tuesday conveyed minister noted that in some cases such about the ill treatment meted out to the lean summer season. to students being sent back to India. “We are limited in what we can say its concern over the issue to the US incidents were happening because of some students by the US authorities. “Eight states will benefit, Terming it a “very serious issue”, right now. We are looking very hard at consulate. problems with the students’ documents. The consul general, however, denied from Kashmir to West Bengal, Michael Mullins said the US ambas- this both here and in New Delhi and Information Technology Minister Some students were using fake cer- that any student was handcuffed. from mountain tourism. We sador in India Richard Verma was in Washington,” he added. About 100 K. Tarakarama Rao met Michael Mull- tificates and documents. The minister said he was also writ- expect that tourism to moun- working on it. students from both the Telugu states ins at the consulate. The minister later Tarakarama Rao, who is the son ing to External Affairs Minister Sushma tain states will grow by 20 to “It is a big concern obviously for stu- have been sent back over the last few told reporters that it was not proper of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Swaraj to take up the students’ issue 30 percent through such ini- dents, their parents, their families, and weeks after they landed in the US. to send back students, who obtained Rao, said the government would deal with the US homeland security officials. tiatives,” Goyal told the media governments of Telangana and And- They complained that the US visas and are trying to legitimately firmly with those involved in making Hyderabad was the biggest embarka- here at the ‘Travel India 2016’ hra Pradesh although it’s not just two authorities did not give any reason enter the US. He said this was causing fake documents. tion point in the world for students meet. Officials work hard to states, there are students from other for their action but in some cases they severe hardships and huge financial He suggested that the consulate going to the US. make this a reality. EUROPE WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 15 Polls inevitable in Catalonia

elections will be called automatically, “Short-term the disagreement is a Both parties strongly oppose a acting regional head Artur Mas told a positive as it delays any independence Catalan split from Spain and reject Catalan parties have news conference yesterday. The most plans, and potentially pushes for new the holding of a referendum to decide time till January 11 to likely date would be March 6, he said. elections,” said Alberto Gallo, head of the matter. name new candidate. Meanwhile, Mas said yesterday global macro credit research at RBS. The protracted efforts to choose a he would not convene new elections The prospect of new elections in Catalan leader have, however, damp- Most likely date for in the wealthy northeastern Spanish Catalonia, which would be the fourth ened a separatist movement that at its regional election region until Monday, leaving the door in less than six years, also increases peak drew one million people onto the open for the rebel far-left party CUP the likelihood of a second national streets of Barcelona, and has high- is March 6. Atur to support his candidature. election this year. lighted divisions between supporters. Mars says will not “There’s time until Sunday for the Rajoy’s centre-right People’s Party, On Sunday, a minority party in the swearing-in of the regional head. I’m which had ruled Spain for the past four regional coalition, CUP, said it would call election until not going to sign the electoral decree years, took the most seats but failed to not support the business-friendly Mas Monday. until the eleventh,” he said in a speech. win a majority in the 350-seat parlia- in his bid for another term due to deep The Failure to form a Catalan gov- ment in the national election as voters political differences over such issues as ernment mirrors a political stalemate angered by austerity measures and an independent Catalonia’s member- Mayor of Cologne Henriette Reker (left) at a press conference Reuters gripping Spain following an inconclusive corruption scandals deserted it. ship of Nato and the European Union. national election on December 20, and The oppositon Socialists, who have Junts pel Si (Together for Yes), which yesterday. increases the likelihood all Spaniards alternated in power with the PP since pulled together the centre-right CDC will return to the ballot box this year. the restoration of democracy in the party and leftist ERC party to present MADRID: Spain’s acting Prime Minis- “I sincerely don’t know what could 1970s, also lost supporters in droves. a united pro-independence front for ter Mariano Rajoy said yesterday that possibly happen in the next five days, Two new parties, the left-wing Podemos September’s election, said it would Germans shaken a new regional election in Catalonia but I believe that the best that could and the liberal Cuiadadanos, emerged stand by Mas, in power since 2010, was inevitable after its pro-independ- happen is that Mas drops his independ- to change the political landscape. as their candidate. ence bloc fractured over who would ence drive and, as that doesn’t seem The possibilities for resolving the A senior official of the CDC said on be the new government’s leader. possible, there’s no alternative to elec- national stalemate are a coalition gov- Monday the CUP had acted as an “ally by mass attacks Catalonia has been unable to form tions,” Rajoy said in a radio interview. ernment or a new election. of the Spanish state” in rejecting Mas. a government since an election in Sep- Bond markets reacted positively But the receding threat of a strong The leader of the ERC also said on tember due to disagreements between to the bloc’s division, with Catalonia’s Catalan government seeking a split Monday, without referring directly to the pro-independence parties who five-year bond yield falling to a three- from Spain reduces pressure on the Mas, that no one should resign. on women together gained a majority. week low yesterday, a few basis points PP and the Socialists to form a grand “There should be no talk of resign- If a new candidate is not cho- away from is lowest level in around coalition to stand up to a separatist ing, we must keep negotiating until the sen before January 11, new regional five months. Catalan administration. end,” Oriol Junqueras said. Reuters must be held to account,” said Justice Minister Heiko Maas, a Social Dem- ocrat, in a tweet. The right-wing Alternative for BERLIN: About 90 women have Germany (AfD), which has gained Snow in Germany reported being robbed, threatened in polls in part at Merkel’s expense or assaulted at the New Year’s cele- thanks to a campaign against refu- brations outside Cologne’s cathedral gees, said she should close the border. by young, mostly drunk, men, police Merkel yesterday urged people said yesterday. Police and witnesses to respect strangers. have said about 1,000 men, split into “We .. respect everyone, even if groups, attacked women in the square. we don’t know them,” she said. “That Some witnesses said the men were of is the case not only for Germans, but North African appearance, stirring for everyone.” strong emotions in Germany where There are almost daily attacks on Chancellor Angela Merkel has wel- refugee shelters. “Events like that in comed people fleeing war zones in Cologne foster xenophobia,” Roland the Middle East and Africa. Schaefer, head of Germany’s asso- While politicians urged people ciation of towns and localities, told not to place refugees under blanket reporters. Integration commissioner suspicion, the incident, described by Aydan Ozoguz warned against refu- Cologne police as a “new dimension gees and foreigners being put under of crime”, fuelled calls from right- “blanket suspicion”. wing groups to halt admissions of After a crisis meeting, Cologne migrants. Germany took in just over mayor Reker said the perpetrators a million last year, far more than any had acted “absolutely unacceptably” other European country. and women must continue to join cel- Witnesses and women who ebrations but with more protection. reported being attacked described Some politicians have suggested the men as looking as if they were installing more security cameras and from “the Arab or North African increasing police numbers at tradi- region”, said police chief Wolfgang tional carnival celebrations next Albers, who added that they were month when the city closes down for mostly between 18 and 35 years old. five days of drunken street parades Cologne mayor Henriette Reker and parties. said there was no reason to believe Reker was stabbed in the neck and that people involved in the attacks seriously hurt in October, just a day A car makes its way along a country road during heavy snowfall near Sehnde, Germany, yesterday morning. Snow and freezing rain have were refugees. before she was elected mayor. Police caused significant disruptions to traffic. “We will not accept the disgusting said that attack appeared to be moti- attacks on women. All perpetrators vated by her support for refugees. EU probes UK Poland invites EU official for talks amid concern over new laws aid to convert

coal power plant AFP Since winning an election in Octo- in the EU’s largest eastern member, The “courtesy talk” with the EU interviews to the German press.” ber, the Law and Justice (PiS) party, until recently a poster child for post- representative would be aimed at Waszczykowski said he hoped the to biomass which advocates conservative Cath- communist transformation. clarifying media speculation, Polish meeting with the EU official would take olic values and euroscepticism, has Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski place on Friday. A spokesman for the WARSAW: Poland has invited the Euro- moved to put public media under gov- the EU commissioner responsible for told private broadcaster TVN24, and European Commission’s representa- BRUSSELS: The EU launched an pean Commission’s representative in ernment control and to change the the digital economy and society, told “strange, unclear statements of some tive in Poland said the invitation had investigation yesterday into whether Warsaw to the foreign ministry to dis- makeup of the constitutional court. Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine European Commissioners, who, based been received and would be accepted. British government aid to con- cuss European Union concern over The European Commission said Sonntagszeitung that Warsaw should on press reports ... start to judge Poland.” Separately, the Council of Europe, vert the giant Drax power station laws proposed by the new government it would hold a “political debate” on be put under the EU’s rule of law super- “We want to clarify why the Commis- a 47-nation human rights group that from coal to more environmen- that increase its control over Poland’s the rule of law in Poland on January vision. This is a three-step procedure sioners are not using the official channels works with the European Union, on tally friendly biomass breaches top court and state-owned media, the 13, amid growing concern the gov- that could end in suspending Poland’s of communication with the Polish gov- Tuesday called on the Polish president the bloc’s state aid rules. The mas- Polish foreign minister said yesterday. ernment is undermining democracy voting rights within the 28-nation bloc. ernment, but (instead) give weekend not sign into law the new media bill. sive Drax complex in northeastern England was opened in the 1970s based on coal, belching out huge amounts of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. EU to host talks with Black ice in Netherlands The European Commission said it “fully supports member state efforts to increase the use of renewable energy and pursue Sweden & Denmark EU energy and climate objectives.” “At the same time, EU state aid rules make sure that the cost AFP pressure,” European Commission of such support for consumers is spokesman Margaritis Schinas said. limited and does not give certain The talks will involve Swedish operators an unfair advantage over BRUSSELS: The EU said it will host migration minister Morgan Johans- competitors,” it said in a statement. emergency talks today with Den- son, Danish immigration minister The investigation will examine mark, Sweden and Germany about Inger Stoejberg and Ole Schroder, whether public funds “are lim- new migrant border checks that have a German interior ministry official. ited to what is necessary” and do sparked fresh concerns about Europe’s Brussels is studying the legality of not distort the market for biomass Schengen passport-free zone. the actions, including new Swedish fuels, it added. EU Migration Commissioner Dim- measures requiring travellers between The Drax group said that the itris Avramopoulos called the meeting Denmark and Sweden to show their Commission announcement was in Brussels after Denmark implemented ID cards for the first time since the late “in line with expectations” as it spot checks on its border with Ger- 1950s, when a Nordic agreement on proceeded with the conversion of many, and Sweden imposed its own passport-free travel came into force. a third generator to biomass fuels. controls on travellers from Denmark. Stockholm and Copenhagen both “Drax welcomes the opportunity “The goal of this meeting is to informed the EU about the new meas- Children skate on a street in Assen, The Netherlands, yesterday. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological to work with the EU to complete improve coordination between the ures they adopted in response to a huge Institute has given code red weather warning for the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe the state aid clearance process,” concerned countries to ensure bet- movement of refugees and migrants , because of black ice. it said. ter management of the migratory mainly from Syria, over the past year. 16 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 EUROPE

Pentagon says Religious authorities speak to media US not a threat to Russia

“They have no reason to consider us a threat,” Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. Russia’s “We are not looking for conflict with Russia,” he added. characterisation Russia’s characterisation reflects reflects worsening worsening relations between Moscow and Washington, as the two powers relations between remain opposed on Ukraine and the Moscow and civil war in Syria. Washington, as the “We have our differences ... but it’s fundamentally wrong to look at two powers remain the United States as a threat to Rus- opposed on Ukraine sia,” Davis added. Still, the United States has pre- and civil war viously used similar language to in Syria. describe Moscow. Delegates from various religious authorities in France address the media at the Elysee Palace, yesterday, after a ceremony of the presidential General Joseph Dunford, the top New Year’s wishes to the religious authorities. officer in the US military, said in July 2015 that Russia posed the biggest AFP threat to American national security. The Pentagon said the new Russian document does not change Dunford’s WASHINGTON: Russia has no rea- assessment. Drop in migrants in Sweden from Denmark son to consider the United States a Speaking in Stuttgart, Germany threat to its national security, the Pen- on Monday, Dunford said he hoped tagon said on Monday after Moscow to eventually meet with his Rus- AFP per day since December 29. since Monday required all the travel- regardless of whether it is a Danish published a report highlighting Wash- sian counterpart, General Valery “One can say that it’s a sharp drop. lers to show photo identification when network behind this or individual ington and Nato for the first time. Gerasimov. But it’s only been one day (since the entering from Denmark, the main entry initiatives,” coast guard spokesman Russia’s new national secu- “When you are in a period of dif- STOCKHOLM: The number of migrants controls were introduced), and we point for migrants hoping to start a Mattias Lindholm said. rity document, signed by President ficulty, having a military-to-military, arriving in Sweden from Denmark can’t exclude that refugees will find new life in Sweden. Sweden has yet to officially register Vladimir Putin on New Year’s Eve, professional relationship ... can, one, dropped sharply on the first day that other ways of entering Sweden,” police The Swedish coast guard said it any migrants arriving on clandestine names as threats both the United help you better understand what you Sweden imposed systematic ID checks spokeswoman Ewa-Gun Westford said. was prepared for the possibility that boats across the Baltic. States and the expansion of the Nato are dealing with, and, two, mitigate the on travellers, police said yesterday. Sweden —which has taken in more migrants may now try to clandestinely An inflatable dinghy discovered alliance, according to the Pentagon’s risk of miscalculation,” Dunford said. Police in the southern Swedish asylum seekers per capita than any cross the Oresund strait that divides in early December on the shores of official news channel. Dunford is chairman of the Joint region of Skane said they had reg- other EU nation —recently said it could Denmark and Sweden. the southern town of Skillinge raised The previous document, from Chiefs of Staff and serves as the top istered just 48 migrants arriving in no longer cope with the unregulated “We have to be prepared for the suspicions of such a crossing, but bor- 2009, does not mention the United military advisor for the president and Sweden on Monday. Excluding New flow of arrivals. fact that people may seek other routes der police said it was “very unlikely” States or Nato. defense secretary. Year’s Day, there had been at least 200 In a bid to stem the influx, it has than the (Oresund) bridge or ferries, the boat had been used to such ends.

Briton suspected of Court orders Russia to pay damages to opposition activist being masked man in IS video: BBC AFP inauguration that alleged electoral vio- subsequently died down. Frumkin’s case is one of several essential part of their obligation to lations. The Strasbourg court ruled that It was not clear whether Russia lodged in Strasbourg in connection ensure the peaceful conduct of the “the measures taken against (Frum- intends to pay the damages awarded with the protest. assembly,” the ruling said. MOSCOW: The European Court of kin) were grossly disproportionate to to Frumkin or comply with another Yesterday’s ruling follows a pre- Frumkin had been sent to prison AFP Human Rights has ordered Russia to the aim pursued”. previous ruling over the protest. The vious one in September that ordered for obstructing traffic and disobeying pay for damages to an opposition activ- The case of the Bolotnaya protestors Justice Ministry was not available for Russia to pay €7,000 in damages to police orders to stop. His explanation ist arrested at a 2012 Moscow protest has become a cause celebre in Russia, comment. three other protestors for human rights — that he had simply not been quick LONDON: Investigations into the that marked the high-point of dem- where Putin’s critics see harsh punish- At the Bolotnaya protest, about breaches. enough to leave the venue in the gen- identity of an English-speaking man onstrations over the re-election of ments meted out to several protestors 400 people were arrested and doz- In its latest ruling, the Strasbourg eral confusion - had not been contested who featured in an Islamic State President Vladimir Putin. as symbolic of repressive treatment ens hurt in clashes between protestors court said the authorities responsi- or ruled out, the court said. (IS) group video are focusing on a In a ruling published on its website of dissent. and police, which each side accused ble had failed to communicate a In a sign of Russia’s irritation Briton, Siddhartha Dhar, the BBC yesterday, the court ordered Russia to Putin, who keeps a tight rein the other of provoking. change of policing plans to the pro- against frequent Strasbourg rulings reported yesterday. pay €25,000 in damages and €7,000 on media, remains by far the most Several protestors subsequently test’s organisers. against the country, Putin signed a law Dhar was born a Hindu and in legal costs to Yevgeniy Frumkin. popular politician in Russia and received multi-year prison sentences “The authorities had not complied in December that empowered Rus- ran a business renting out bouncy He had been imprisoned for 15 appears likely to stand again for re- for their alleged part in organising the with even the minimum requirements sia’s Constitutional Court to decide castles in northeast London before days over a demonstration on Bol- election in 2018. The 2012 protests, violence, including Sergei Udaltsov, a in their duty to communicate with the whether Strasbourg rulings should be converting to Islam and becoming otnaya Square on the eve of Putin’s focused in Moscow and St Petersburg, well-known opposition leader. assembly leaders, which had been an implemented. radicalised, the broadcaster said. It cited an unnamed official source as saying that Dhar was the main suspect, although Brit- ain’s intelligence services never In natural habitat UK ministers free to campaign comment on the record about their investigations. A spokesman for Prime Minis- ter David Cameron said yesterday on either side in EU vote that “work is underway to examine the content and the individuals in that video”, but that it was unlikely the authorities would publicly con- AFP the middle of this year is the most firm the man’s identity at any stage. likely date. On Sunday, IS released a video The prime minister hinted last featuring a masked fighter, carrying LONDON: British Prime Minister David month that he would hold the refer- a gun and speaking with a British Cameron (pictured) will allow his gov- endum in 2016 after securing a deal accent, which showed the killing of ernment ministers to campaign for on his “Brexit” reform demands. five “spies” it said had worked with or against Britain remaining in the Cameron said after an EU sum- the international coalition fighting European Union ahead of an in-out mit in Brussels that his government IS jihadists in Iraq and Syria. referendum, the BBC reported yes- aimed to achieve a breakthrough at It also features a young boy terday. the next summit in February and then wearing camouflage clothing and Cameron has vowed to campaign encourage British voters to support black headband, saying “We are in favour of staying in the bloc if he membership terms, the BBC reported. continued membership. going to go kill the kuffar (non- secures reforms to Britain’s relation- He is expected to confirm the news “I believe that 2016 will be the believers) over there”. ship with the EU before the vote. in an official statement to members year we achieve something really The boy was identified by his But some eurosceptics on the right of parliament. vital, fundamentally changing the grandfather as the son of a Brit- of his Conservative Party — includ- Cameron’s official spokeswoman UK’s relationship with the EU and ish woman who travelled to Syria ing some ministers —are set to defy did not deny the report but called it finally addressing the concerns of in 2012. him and back a “Brexit”. “speculation” at a regular briefing the British people about our mem- The grandfather accused IS of In order to avoid a damaging clash with journalists. bership,” he said. using the boy, who is reported to be and forced sackings, Cameron is to The referendum must be held by “Then it will be for the British peo- four-years old, as a “shield”. allow ministers to campaign for either the end of 2017, but Cameron has not ple to decide whether we will remain Prime Minister David Cameron side once a deal is reached on Britain’s yet set a date. Analysts suggest that or leave.” has described the video as “desper- ate stuff” designed to deflect from recent losses by IS. In November, the US military said it was “reasonably certain” that Russia’s chief of military intelligence dies a drone strike in Syria had killed Mohammed Emwazi, an IS fighter from London known as “Jihadi John” AFP Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) a true patriot.” who had featured in a string of exe- since 2011, landed on the US and EU Sergun died on Sunday, the defence cution videos. sanctions lists over Russia’s annexation ministry said without disclosing the Other British media quoted the MOSCOW: The head of Russia’s secre- of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014. cause of his death. His successor has mother and sister of Dhar, 32, report- tive military intelligence service, Igor President Vladimir Putin said in a yet to be announced. edly a member of banned group A blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is pictured yesterday in a garden Sergun, has died of unspecified causes statement that Sergun was “a true officer, The EU said the Sergun was al-Muhajiroun, as saying they were in Sieversdorf. Germany. at age 58, the Kremlin said. an experienced and competent com- “responsible for the activity of GRU not certain whether the man in the Igor Sergun, who headed Russia’s mander, a person of great courage and officers in eastern Ukraine.” video was him. AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 17 Bill Clinton bats for Hillary on campaign trail

Bill addressed a rally at a community college in the city of Nashua, paying tribute to Hillary’s determination to make America a fairer, safer country for the poor and struggling middle classes.

AFP

NEW YORK: Bill Clinton stepped into the limelight, making his first solo cam- paign appearance in wife Hillary’s 2016 bid for the White House, calling her the most qualified US presidential candi- Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Iowa State Historical Museum in Des Moines, date in decades. The 69-year-old former president Iowa, late on Monday. Clinton is touring the state by bus prior to the Iowa Caucus. RIGHT: Former US president went to New Hampshire in support of Bill Clinton speaks at Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. Bill Clinton spent the day campaigning the former secretary of state, senator for his wife. and first lady who leads national polls for the Democrats ahead of the state’s temperament to do what needs to be borders look more like nets than walls, “The worst thing Hillary could do in environmental and health care pol- controversy by incorporating footage of voting contest next month. done,” he said. and no one is in total control, she under- is have her husband campaign for her. icy would be reversed if the country migrants fleeing Morocco into a Span- Popular among party faithful, New Hampshire hosts the nation’s stands what it takes to keep our country Just watch,” he tweeted to his 5.5 mil- elects a Republican president. ish enclave with a voice over talking Clinton is nonetheless still tainted by first presidential primary on February 9. as safe as possible,” he added. lion followers on Sunday. “It’s kind of scary,” he said in refer- about the Mexico-US border. allegations of infidelity and sexual Calling himself a “happy grandfa- But Trump, the real estate tycoon Republicans in Congress tried but ence to the campaign, urging supporters The 30-second ad was broadcast impropriety that his wife’s Republi- ther,” a relaxed Clinton said he thought who has led Republican polls for failed in 1998 to remove Bill Clinton to take the candidates seriously. He later yesterday, costing $2m a week ahead of can rival, Donald Trump, has sought Hillary was “the most amazing per- months, has blasted Bill Clinton’s from the White House for alleged addressed another campaign event in the first-in-the-nation voting contests to exploit by calling him “fair game”. son” when they met and fell in love, 45 “terrible record” with women — an perjury and obstruction during an Exeter, New Hampshire. in Iowa and New Hampshire. On Monday, he addressed a rally years ago at Yale Law School. apparent allusion to his past alleged investigation into an alleged affair. According to Real Clear Politics, It spotlights his call for a ban on at a community college in the city of She could have won any job but marital infidelities. On Sunday, Hillary Clinton was Clinton trails her party rival, Bernie Muslims entering the United States, Nashua, paying tribute to Hillary’s wanted only to provide legal aid to He stepped up his personal attacks heckled by a Republican state repre- Sanders, by 44.7 to 49 percent of the pledge to crush the so-called Islamic determination to make America a the poor, said her husband, dressed on the Clintons on Monday, criticising sentative in New Hampshire about her Democrat vote in the state. On Mon- State extremist group and promise to fairer, safer country for the poor and in an open-necked shirt, dark pullo- Hillary for calling him sexist. husband’s alleged scandals. “You are day, she was in Iowa, hundreds of miles end illegal immigration from Mexico. struggling middle classes. ver and blazer, wearing a Hillary pin “How can she do that when she’s very rude,” she snapped back before apart from her husband. “I think I can be But a fact-checking website gave “I do not believe in my lifetime any- on his lapel. “Everything she touched, got one of the great women abusers addressing another audience member. the president America and Iowa needs, the ad a “Pants on Fire” rating, saying body has run for this job in a moment she made better,” he said, calling her of all time sitting in her house, wait- Her husband did not mention with your help,” she told supporters. it uses footage, not from the Mexico- of great importance who is better qual- a “change maker.” ing for her to come home for dinner,” Trump during his 30-minute speech Trump on Monday unveiled his first US border, but from Melilla, a small ified by knowledge, experience and “In an uncertain world, where he told CNN. in Nashua, but warned that key gains TV ad of the campaign, fanning fresh Spanish enclave.

US takes 121 immigrants into Drug gang suspected in custody for Mexico mayor’s slaying deportation

Commissioner Alberto Capella told Reuters Radio Formula that Mota’s murder Nearly 100 mayors could be linked to the killing of a per- and more than 1,000 son whose dismembered body was municipal workers found on a highway on December 31 WASHINGTON: US authorities and to three other cases. took 121 people into custody over have been attacked Two suspects, including the cell’s the weekend, primarily in Texas, in Mexico in the past leader, were killed in a shootout with Georgia and North Carolina, as police just minutes after Mota’s killing immigration authorities moved to decade, mainly by while three others, including a 17-year- deport families who entered the organised crime old boy and a 32-year-old woman, United States illegally after May were detained, authorities said. 2014, officials said. groups. Ramirez said the assassins burst The so-called removals of adults into Mota’s home and killed her in and children followed an increased front of her family, and her father rate of deportation of single adults to AFP then “courageously ran after them” Central America since the summer after them. Authorities are seeking of 2014, the Department of Home- to arrest more suspects. land Security said. Los Rojos (The Reds) and their “This should come as no sur- CUERNAVACA, MEXICO: The Mexi- archrivals, the Guerreros Unidos prise. I have said publicly for months can drug cartel known as Los Rojos is (United Warriors), have sought to A group of Venezuelan opposition deputies arrive at the parliament in Caracas yesterday. that individuals who constitute suspected of being behind the murder “generate terror through kidnap- enforcement priorities, including of a mayor who was gunned down a ping or control of certain areas” in families and unaccompanied chil- day after taking office, authorities said. Morelos, Capella said. dren, will be removed,” Homeland The killing of Gisela Mota, 33, The Guerreros Unidos became Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said. Venezuela oppn to take over has shocked the nation, putting a notorious as the prime suspects in American officials are keen to spotlight on the violence plaguing the presumed killing of 43 students avoid a repeat of the surge in unac- the central state of Morelos and the who disappeared in the neighbour- companied children entering the dangers mayors have faced across ing state of Guerrero in 2014. United States in 2014, when tens Congress for the first time Mexico. Ramirez ordered state police of thousands of minors traveling The left-of-centre former member to place 15 municipalities, includ- without adults flooded across the of Congress was shot in her house on ing Temixco and the neighbouring southern US border illegally. Reuters by the opposition coalition to be the The session is expected to begin Saturday, barely 24 hours after taking state capital, Cuernavaca, under the US authorities have cracked National Assembly’s next speaker, in the early afternoon, with the prin- her oath of office in Temixco, about unified command following Mota’s down on convicted criminals liv- said of Maduro’s ruling Socialist Party. cipal item on the agenda being the 90km south of Mexico City. murder. Ramirez has clashed with ing illegally in the United States in Ramos said the legislature’s micro- election of the assembly’s speaker. Nearly 100 mayors and more than the new mayor of Cuernavaca, former the past year. CARACAS: Venezuela’s opposition will phones have been sabotaged and The Supreme Court in late 1,000 municipal workers have been football star Cuauhtemoc Blanco, over The White House would not take control of Congress for the first television equipment removed from December granted injunctions that attacked in Mexico in the past decade, the police scheme and their conflict comment on Monday on specifics time in 16 years, setting up a power Congress to impede a live broadcast blocked four deputies - three from mainly by organised crime groups, re-ignited on Monday. of the weekend apprehensions by struggle with President Nicolas Maduro of the change of leadership. the opposition and one allied with according to the Association of Local Ramirez said that when he met immigration authorities. amid a worsening economic crisis. Opposition leaders accuse the gov- the government - from taking office Authorities of Mexico. with Blanco over the issue, the sports “The enforcement priorities The Democratic Unity coali- ernment of undermining the incoming after losing Socialist Party candidates “The lines of investigation indi- legend was “rude” to him. laid out by the administration are tion won a two-thirds majority in assembly with last-minute appoint- filed legal challenges to the results. cate that the criminal group Los Rojos “There are people behind Cuauht- concentrating our efforts to deport December’s legislative election by ments of Supreme Court justices and by The court did not describe the was responsible for the murder of emoc Blanco who want to take felons, not families, and to prioritize capitalising on anger over a shrink- changing a central bank law to elim- underlying arguments against the Gisela Mota,” Governor Graco Ram- advantage of his inexperience so that the case of recent border crossers,” ing economy, soaring prices and inate congressional control over the election of the deputies, all of whom irez wrote on Twitter. criminal groups can settle in #Cuer- White House spokesman Josh Ear- chronic product shortages reminis- bank’s leadership. Maduro has rec- are from the rural and sparsely popu- He told local radio that Mota was navaca,” he wrote on Twitter. nest said at a news briefing. cent of Soviet-bloc economies. ognised the results of the election, lated southwestern state of Amazonas. killed by a Rojos cell because she was Blanco strongly denied that peo- The apprehensions targeted The coalition plans to swear in but has dismissed the new assembly Disputing all the results in that state “against letting them having a pres- ple close to him were connected to adults and children who crossed all of its 112 elected deputies but the as “right-wing” and “bourgeois,” and required the Socialist Party to contest ence” and she backed the installation gangs and reiterated his rejection of the southern border illegally after Supreme Court has ruled that three of accuses the opposition of preparing the seat won by its own candidate. of a “unified command” between the the unified command, which he says May 1, 2014, DHS said. They had them cannot take office because their to privatize state-run companies and Opposition lawyers say the ruling state and municipal police in her city has failed to curb crime. been ordered removed by an immi- election victories face legal challenges. roll back Chavez-era social programs. is “incoherent”. But former Supreme of 100,000 people. The 42-year-old mayor warned gration court and exhausted legal The opposition dubbed the ruling Government allies and opposition Court justice Luis Martinez warned Ramirez, who like Mota is a Ramirez that he would be respon- remedies and asylum claims, it said. a “judicial coup” meant to strip it of its sympathizers have planned marches that swearing in the blocked depu- member of the leftist Democratic Rev- sible for any attack against him. “If Most families will be taken to two-thirds majority in the National to downtown Caracas for Tuesday, a ties could allow the Socialist Party to olution Party, said that Mota’s murder something happens to me, to the family residential centers before Assembly. “They have to get used to scenario that has in the past has led to argue that Congress has been illegally was a “clear threat” by the gang for people behind me and to my fam- being put on flights to their home the fact that they’re a minority,” leg- street violence as protesters clash with constituted and thus its decisions are mayors to reject the police reform. ily, it’s on you,” Blanco told a news countries. islator Henry Ramos, who was tapped one another or with security forces. null and void. Morelos State Security conference. 18 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS Republicans slam gun control steps Tweets too short? Twitter mulling 10,000 characters

Jeb Bush warned that AFP already allows 10,000 characters in Obama was “trying a commercial product called Direct to do an end-run” on Messages, so the technology is no longer a barrier. the US Constitution WASHINGTON: Twitter’s 140 charac- The company is testing a version despite an increased ter limit on tweets has long frustrated that would still only display 140 char- and challenged its most verbose users. acters in a message, but carry much terrorism threat Now the company could offer more, and a reader would have to a solution, according to tech news click on the tweet to see the rest. The website re/code: the 10,000 charac- move is a part of Twitter’s efforts to ter tweet, which could be available expand its user base and advertising AFP as soon as March. sales and other sources of income. Re/code reported yesterday that Twitter continued to lose money Twitter has been studying how to allow over the first three quarters of last year. users to say more, after restricting In October it reported a third quarter WASHINGTON: US President Barack them to 140 characters for 10 years. loss of $132 million, on a disappoint- Obama’s critics yesterday savaged his That limit was based on the ing 11 percent year-on-year increase gun control steps as an unlawful assault capacity of the original messaging in regular users to 320 million. on Americans’ constitutional rights, software used, and though frus- Twitter itself had no comment on with Republican White House hope- trating for many, unleashed a tidal the report Tuesday, but users were fuls pledging to immediately repeal the wave of ultra-concise commentary not entirely enthusiastic about the orders if they are elected in November. across the web. possible new limit. Obama, wiping away tears as he Now every day more than 300 “140 characters is not NEARLY pleaded for citizens and lawmakers to million regular Twitter users send enough to express my outrage that be more resolute in tackling gun vio- hundreds of millions of messages Twitter is raising the character limit to lence, announced measures to tighten — news reports, personal updates, 10,000,” tweeted writer Brian Phillips federal background checks for gun advertisements, political pitches, in 111 characters. “Twitter really going sales, require those in the business of photos and videos and, most often, hard after those stubborn 300 million US President Barack Obama (centre) greets people affected by gun violence after delivering remarks at selling guns to be licensed or face crim- just witty and innocuous comments. people who don’t hate it yet,” quipped inal prosecution, and expand mental an event held to announce executive actions to reduce gun violence, in the East Room of the White House Re/code says the company Rusty Foster in just 87 characters. health treatment. in Washington, DC, USA, yesterday. Republicans, in the heat of a presi- dential campaign, immediately balked, executive orders on day one of my Former business executive Carly “No matter what President Obama with White House candidate Jeb Bush administration.” Fiorina slammed Obama’s move as says, his word does not trump the Sec- warning that Obama was “trying to Republican hopeful Marco Rubio “lawless unconstitutional overreach,” ond Amendment,” House Speaker Paul do an end-run” on the US Constitution pledged the same, while long-shot while retired neurosurgeon Ben Car- Ryan said in a tweet as Obama unveiled despite an increased terrorism threat. candidate Mike Huckabee offered a son warned the president was merely his executive actions. “Rather than taking guns out of stinging rebuke to Obama, linking the “advancing his political agenda.” Several Democrats spoke out in the hands of law-abiding citizens as gun control fight to another hot-but- Obama, in his White House address, support of Obama’s plans, including Obama and (Hillary) Clinton would like ton battle in America’s culture wars: said there was no “slippery slope” the three candidates running for their to do, we should focus on keeping guns abortion. towards eroding gun owners’ rights party’s presidential nomination. out of the hands of the terrorists who “You say if we can save one life and confiscating guns. Frontrunner Clinton took to Twitter want to kill innocent Americans,” Bush we should,” Huckabee tweeted to But critics including the top Repub- to thank Obama “for taking a crucial wrote in Iowa’s Gazette newspaper. the president. “Well, apply 5th & 14th lican in Congress accused him of step forward on gun violence. Our next “When I am president of the United amendments to the unborn & save intimidation that undermines Amer- president has to build on that progress— States, I will repeal Obama’s anti-gun 4,000 lives a day.” ican’s right gun rights. not rip it away”. US militiamen dig in for fourth day at Oregon reserve

AFP President Barack Obama. It was unclear Sheriff Ward said the protesters’ others kept watch from a lookout tower. whether their surrender to authorities ultimate goal was “to overthrow the Schools in the area have been closed would end the siege in neighbouring county and federal government in for the week. Oregon. hopes to spark a movement across Online, public opinion was sharply BURNS: A band of anti-government Police demanded that the remain- the United States.” split on what was quickly dubbed the militiamen occupying a federal wild- ing protestors vacate the reserve. The Hammonds have set them- #Oregonstandoff, with many brand- life reserve in rural Oregon dug in for “The Hammonds have turned them- selves apart from the armed movement, ing the takeover an act of domestic a fourth day yesterday, despite the selves in. It is time for you to leave our and from Bundy in particular. terrorism, while others saw an act ranchers they claimed to be defending community,” Harney County Sheriff The father and son have both of resistance against government denouncing their actions and turning David Ward told reporters. already served several months in oppression. themselves in to the law. “Go home, be with your own fam- jail for arson, but a judge in October A Gallup poll released last month The loose-knit band of farmers, ilies and end this peacefully,” he said, ordered them back to prison to serve showed a majority of Americans view ranchers and survivalists began the denouncing the fact that “a peace- the remainder of their sentences after “big government” as the biggest threat siege in protest at the jailing of Dwight ful protest” had become “armed and they lost an appeal. to the nation in the future, when asked Hammond, 73, and his son Steven, 46, unlawful.” The Hammonds were convicted to choose between that, big labor and convicted of arson for setting fire to The protest is led by 40-year-old after starting what they said was a con- big business. federal land. Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven trolled fire on their ranch in Harney The theme has been embraced by They have insisted their action is Bundy, who was at the center of a pre- County. The fire spread and consumed the Republican party’s contenders for Ammon Bundy (second left), leader of a group of armed anti-government peaceful, but are armed and warned vious armed standoff with government 139 acres (56 hectares) of federal land. the 2016 presidential nomination, who they will defend themselves if the protesters, arrives to speak to the media as other members look on at authorities in 2014, that time over graz- Witnesses at their trial said that so far have been relatively silent on the authorities use force to dislodge them. the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon. ing rights on public lands. Steven Hammond had illegally slaugh- siege — with the notable exception of “I’m not here to die. I’m here to defend Bundy told reporters he was fight- tered deer on federal property during Ted Cruz, who urged the protesters to my freedoms and my liberties,” their ing for freedom for the Hammonds, a hunting expedition and then handed stand down peaceably. leader Ammon Bundy told Fox News. imprisonment. So far, the FBI and local from the occupation of the reserve. claiming they were being harassed out matches in order to “light up the “Every one of us has a constitu- Up to a hundred protesters — styling police have held off intervening to try On Monday, they turned themselves for refusing to sell their Oregon ranch whole country on fire,” according to a tional right to protest, to speak our themselves “citizens for constitutional remove them, in the hope of resolving in to begin serving their sentences at to the government. Justice Department statement. minds,” Cruz told reporters in Iowa. freedom” — are believed to be holed the standoff peacefully. a federal prison in California, while Beyond the Hammonds’ case, Bundy So far, there has been no vis- “But we don’t have a constitutional up at the snowy visitor’s center for the The rancher father and son complaining their five-year terms and his brother Ryan are demanding ible police presence at the reserve, right to use force and violence and to Malheur Wildlife Refuge, which they whose case triggered the protest were “far too long” and announcing the federal government relinquish con- where several armed men in vehi- threaten force and violence against took over to protest the Hammonds’ have firmly distanced themselves they would seek rare clemency from trol of the Malheur reserve. cles are guarding the entrance while others.”

US towns at risk as levees fail Powerball jackpot rises to $450m amid rare winter floods

AFP Much of central and southern Illinois, however, is “pool table flat,” Buan said, so the runoff took a lot longer to reach the Illinois River, which is not set to crest until later this week. “It’s extraordinarily unusual,” Buan said. CHICAGO: Rare winter flooding continued to wreak havoc “We’re not expecting to do flood forecasting at Christ- in the US states of Illinois and Missouri as waterlogged mas and New Year’s. We’re looking for how much snow levees strained to hold back frigid river waters that have is accumulating, how fast the ice is building.” The upper claimed the lives of 25 people. Mississippi has never been this high in December since set- Hundreds of homes and businesses have been swal- tlers first began recording its levels in the 1870s, Buan said. lowed by the muddy waters and more could be lost in the Communities as far south as Louisiana are bracing coming days, forecasters warned. themselves as the floodwaters make their way slowly down- “Levees that hold the water in the Illinois River valley river. But since the Mississippi widens as it approaches the are saturated and some of them are failing,” Steve Buan, a Gulf of Mexico, Buan said it should not be as devastating hydrologist with the National Weather Service, told AFP. as what Illinois and Missouri are experiencing. The trouble started over Christmas when a huge storm “There’s some concern that ... with the spring rains, dumped as much as 10 inches of rain along the Mississippi when they inevitably come, we’re going to see a return River valley, which was already saturated from heavy to flooding because we have such a high river to start rains earlier in the month. Missouri’s rivers rose faster — with,” Buan said. some breaking records by more than four feet — as the Officials in Illinois said they are carefully monitor- water rushed down hills and mountains. ing the stressed levee system in hopes that they will be A customer fills out a play slip for the multi-state Powerball lottery jackpot at a convenience store The floodwaters have crested in most areas of the able to withstand the floods. “The water will still be fairly state now, though dozens of roads remain swamped and high for several days if not weeks to come,” said Patti in Decatur, Georgia, USA, yesterday. The jackpot is now estimated at $450m, for a single annualised hundreds of people are still waiting to see what remains Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Emergency winner for the next drawing today. of the possessions in their inundated homes. Management Agency.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 14o C Maximum: 23o C

FAJR 04.59 am ZUHR 11.40 am MAGHRIB 05.01 pm HIGH TIDE 03:30 - 12:45 Hazy to misty at places at first becomes hot SHOROOK 06.21 am ASR 02.39 pm ISHA 06.31 pm LOW TIDE 09:30 - 20:15 during the day with some clouds and humid with hazy by night.

20 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

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CLOCK-WISE FROM LEFT: Twenty-eight- year-old amateur motorcycle rider and physiotherapist Wided El Ali Saklaoui of Tunisa; Camelia Mentak, a Moroccan cross- biker and stylist on her cross-motorbike at an off-road course in Marrakesh; Egyptian biker Dina Wassef on her Harley Davidson motorbike in Cairo; Egyptian biker and engineer Yara Shalaby rides in the desert on the outskirts of Cairo; Malika Oumoulid, a Moroccan member of the female police motorbike brigade, waits in the traffic in the Western city of Marrakesh and Bahraini Anne Al Zayani, biker and head of Public Relations at the American Mission Hospital, poses next to her motorbike in Manama.

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

Mosque at Souq Waqif Al Wakra.

Photo by Abdul Basit

Tiniest Green technologies can chameleons have fastest save airlines $250bn: Nasa tongues IANS surface of an airplane’s vertical tail fin showed that future aircraft could safely be designed with smaller tails, reducing weight and drag. AFP This technology was tested using Boeing’s WASHINGTON: New green-related technolo- ecoDemonstrator 757 flying laboratory. gies developed and refined by Nasa’s aeronautics Also flown was a test of surface coatings researchers during the past six years can help designed to minimize drag caused by bug res- WASHINGTON: The tiniest commercial airlines save more than $250bn. idue building up on the wing’s leading edge. chameleons on Earth lash out These new technologies, developed under the Nasa developed a new process for stitching their tongues with amazing purview of Nasa’s Environmentally Responsi- together large sections of lightweight composite speed, going from zero to ble Aviation (ERA) project, could cut airline fuel materials to create damage-tolerant structures 60 miles (97km) per hour in use in half, pollution by 75 percent and noise to that could be used in building uniquely shaped one hundredth of a second, nearly one-eighth of future aircraft that researchers said Monday. today’s levels, the US weighed as much All in the name of snag- space agency said in as 20 percent less ging a cricket to eat, the a statement. than a similar all- thumb-sized Rhampho- “If these tech- metal aircraft. leon spinosus “produced a nologies start Nasa also Fireworks light up the sky behind ice sculptures on the opening day of the Harbin peak acceleration 264 times finding their way worked with Gen- International Ice and Snow Festival in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, greater than the acceleration into the airline eral Electric to China, yesterday. due to gravity,” said the jour- fleet, our compu- refine the design nal Scientific Reports. ter models show the of the compressor The total power output of economic impact stage of a turbine the chameleon’s tongue was could amount to engine to improve Sub-zero swimming and frozen 14,040 watts per kilogramme. $255bn in oper- its aerodynamic That is the most power- ational savings efficiency and, palaces as Chinese ice festival opens ful acceleration “produced between 2025 and after testing, real- per kilogram of muscle mass 2050,” said Jaiwon ised that future by any reptile, bird, or mam- Shin, Nasa’s associate administrator for aero- engines employing this technology could save AFP official Xinhua news agency. Though tempera- mal and is the second most nautics research. 2.5 percent in fuel burn. tures remained a biting -14 degrees Celsius (seven powerful among any kind of Created in 2009 and completed in 2015, The US space agency also worked with Pratt degrees Fahrenheit) even at noon, a number vertebrate,” it said. ERA’s mission was to explore and document & Whitney on an improved design for a jet engine of festivalgoers took part in an ice-swimming Brown University biol- the feasibility, benefits and technical risk of combustor, the chamber in which fuel is burned, HARBIN, CHINA: Brave swimmers plunged competition, diving bare-chested and head- ogist Christopher Anderson inventive vehicle concepts and enabling tech- in an attempt to reduce the amount of nitrogen into freezing waters while other visitors gazed first into freezing pools of water cut into the ice. said he conducted the study nologies that would reduce aviationÂ’s impact oxides produced. at frozen palaces ahead of the opening cere- Those not inclined to take the plunge admired because the tongue power on the environment. While the goal was to reduce generated pol- mony for China’s spectacular Harbin Ice and a vast expanse of ice block Chinese palaces, Rus- of the smallest chameleon Project researchers focused on eight major lution by 75 percent, tests of the new design Snow Festival yesterday. sian churches and European colonnades, with species had never been meas- integrated technology demonstrations falling showed reductions closer to 80 percent. The annual festival in the capital of the north- vendors selling gleaming rows of candied fruit. ured. “Smaller species have into three categories — airframe technology, New design tools have been developed to eastern province of Heilongjiang is expected to Visitors sledded and snapped selfies on the higher performance than propulsion technology and vehicle systems aid engineers in reducing noise from deployed draw more than one million visitors to admire eve of the park’s opening ceremony, the translu- larger species,” said Ander- integration. wing flaps and landing gear during takeoffs castles and cathedrals sculpted out of ice and cent pagodas around them glowing in surreally son, a postdoctoral research By the time ERA officially concluded its six- and landings. lit up at night in ethereal colours. neon pinks, blues and greens. associate in the Department year run, Nasa had invested more than $400m, Information from a successful wind-tun- This year’s display is the largest in the fes- Chinese and Dutch designers worked with of Ecology and Evolutionary with $250m more in kind resources invested nel campaign, combined with baseline flight tival’s decades-long history, filling a park the more than 10,000 workers over three months Biology. by industry partners who were involved in ERA tests, were joined together for the first time to size of more than 100 sports fields and using a to build the winter wonderland, according to from the start. create computer-based simulations that could record amount of ice and snow, according to the Xinhua. Tiny embedded nozzles blowing air over the help mature future designs, the agency added. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 25 QE 9,959.67 -82.03 PTS PAGE | 23 Fiat Chrysler DOW 17,081.62 -67.32PTS Mary Barra named sales up but FTSE100 6,137.24 +43.81 PTS GM chair in new first ooutdone by Nissan. BRENT $36.52 -1.9% for a woman.

WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 • 26 Rabia I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatari stock index dips below 10,000-mark again

remained weak yesterday due to con- Telecoms lost ground by 33.6 per- Entire sector indices, barring transportation, cern about volatile oil prices and the cent for the year as both stocks in the outlook for the global economy. sector, Ooredoo & Vodafone Qatar entered red under selling pressure. In an interview on Monday, a top severely underperformed, declining market watcher told The Peninsula by over 39 percent and 22 percent that long-term oil price impact is crit- respectively. ical for Qatari stock valuation. Heavy-weight sectoral indices The Peninsula decreased 1.8 percent and CBQ was Meanwhile, a research note issued such as Industrials and Banking & down 2.2 percent. Doha Bank declined by KAMCO Research noted the Qatari Financial Services further dragged 0.5 percent and Al Meera closed 0.3 bourse, which was the best perform- down the index declining by over 21 percent lower. ing market in 2014, saw contrasting percent and 12 percent respectively. DOHA: Qatari stocks declined below Industries Major IQ ended 0.9 per- trends in 2015, ending the year as the The Consumer Goods & Services the 10,000 mark second time in two cent lower and Qatar Fuel went down third worst performing market in the index also closed lower by over 13 weeks yesterday shedding 0.82 per- 0.4 percent. Barwa Real Estate dropped region, plunging by 15.1 percent to percent for the year of 2015. Secto- cent or 82.03 points to settle at 9,959, 2 percent and Ezdan Real Estate was close at 10,429.36 points. The year ral indices that closed in the green for after Monday’s 2.64 percent plunge. The 1.3 percent. Qatar Electricity & Water 2015 saw 9 out of the 43 listed com- 2015 were led by the Transportation entire sector indices, barring trans- gained 0.5 percent and Qatar Insur- panies ending the year higher, while sector which gained by 4.9 percent for portation, entered red under retailers’ ance increased 0.4 percent. 34 lost ground. the year, followed by the Real Estate selling pressure. Vodafone, the most heavily traded Telecoms and heavy-weight sec- sector which went up by 3.9 percent Banking stocks were the main stock, fell 0.66 percent. Nationals were toral indices dragged Qatar Exchange and the Insurance index which moved drag. QNB fell 1.2 percent, Al Rayan net buyers. Most Gulf stock markets (QE) down in 2015. higher by 1.9 percent. 22 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Ample opportunities available for growth: Sheikh Faisal

the continuing development of desig- moving forward,” Sheikh Faisal told nated economic zones and the ongoing OBG. “We also have a strong pipeline Qatar’s ongoing metropolitan expansion of Doha and comprising several additional projects infrastructure other cities, are all driving a positive that are currently at an early stage of projects and new city investment environment,” he said. development.” Other initiatives include OBG’s wide-ranging interview the $100m phase two redevelopment developments offer with Sheikh Faisal took place against a of the City Centre Mall. plenty of potential changing economic backdrop which will Sheikh Faisal remains upbeat about see Qatar’s private sector encouraged the impact on local businesses of low for growth. to play a bigger part in the country’s oil prices, although he sees the national development and a shift away from drive to broaden Qatar’s economic government support. base as timely, given the global chal- A major player in Qatar and abroad, lenges facing oil-producing countries. The Peninsula Al Faisal Holding has interests in a broad “Qatar has not been much affected by range of business activities, includ- the drop in oil prices and the economy ing hospitality, real estate, commerce has continued to grow as expected,” he and industry. said. “The government is nevertheless DOHA: A growing population looking The current year has brought solid keen to continue diversifying revenue for a wider range of goods and services operational growth across Al Faisal streams as the economy grows, and is creating “ample business opportu- Holding’s business divisions, Sheikh the private sector is a major compo- nities” for Qatari entrepreneurs across Faisal said, with the company’s hospital- nent of that process. So, in the years to the board, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim ity segment, led by Al Rayyan Tourism come, I’m positive that the perform- Al Thani, Chairman of industry giant Investment Company (ARTIC), deliver- ance of the private sector will have Al Faisal Holding has said. ing a particularly strong performance. a bigger influence on the economy’s Sheikh Faisal told the global pub- Sheikh Faisal, also, told OBG that overall performance.” Oxford Business Group Qatar officials with Sheikh Faisal. lishing, research and consultancy firm ARTIC had acquired three hotels this The business leader is keen to see Oxford Business Group (OBG) that “vir- year: the St Regis Washington DC, the more local firms follow in the foot- tually all sectors of the economy” were Manhattan at Times Square, New York, steps of Aamal Company and list on ripe for private sector investment, with and the Aleph in Rome. the Qatar Exchange, particularly fam- explained, ensuring the continuation that the valuable role they play has would call on all business leaders in Qatar’s ongoing infrastructure projects Two key local projects are also ily outfits. of locally-grown businesses from one been recognised at the highest level. Qatar to utilise the variety of opportu- and new city developments offering nearing completion. “The Shangri- Listing not only supports Qatar’s generation to the next. “Our government has undertaken nities arising from the diversification plenty of potential for growth. La Hotel Doha and the Rotana Hotel development, but will also guaran- He regards family firms as a “key several initiatives in recent years aimed of the economy and to take advantage “Significant initiatives, including the City Centre are both expected to be tee the future of family businesses by component of a healthy economy that at supporting and strengthening the of the country’s healthy investment expected opening of the new seaport, operational soon, with other projects encouraging corporate governance, he complements the public sector”, adding role of private businesses,” he said. “I environment.” QIB wins Best Call Centre Award Oman fund and others plan Ford to expand $260m mining venture self-driving test The Peninsula quality of call answering, standards banking products and services, help- of communication, and the knowledge ing to drive continual improvement. It car fleet to 30 and performance of the Centre’s staff. has become a strategic tool enabling DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Response times, employee knowledge banks to dramatically improve their Reuters Three other state bodies, the Oman LAS VEGAS: Ford Motor Co Qatar’s leading Islamic Bank, has and post-call customer satisfaction service provision. Investment Fund, Oman Oil Co, and said yesterday it plans to tri- been awarded the Best Contact Centre were all measured as part of the “Winning this prestigious award Oman National Investments Develop- ple to 30 the size of its fleet in Qatar 2015 from Ethos Integrated assessment. two years in a row is a reflection of MUSCAT: Oman’s biggest sovereign ment Co, will combine with the SGRF of self-driving test cars as Solutions for its best-in-class cus- Part of its Customer Experience the continuous commitment to satisfy wealth fund, the State General Reserve to take a total 60 percent stake in part of an effort to accelerate tomer service. Benchmarking Index, Ethos estab- our customers” said D Anand, QIB’s Fund (SGRF), plans to cooperate with MDO. “Forty percent of the company autonomous vehicle devel- The year 2015 marked the second lished the award in the UAE in 2005, Personal Banking General Manager. other state and private investors to will be offered to the public. The IPO opment. year in a row that QIB has received expanding it to cover other GCC coun- “We are dedicated to meeting our establish a venture to buy into the min- (initial public offer) is expected by the In an announcement this prestigious award, given for out- tries in 2014, during which QIB became customers’ needs and to continuously ing industry, officials said yesterday. end of quarter two,” Murshidi said. coinciding with the Con- standing customer experience. The the first Qatar recipient. improving the service we provide to The venture, Mining Develop- He said MDO would be a partial sumer Electronics Show in award is conferred based on four key The Benchmarking Index is the them. Our Call Centre is an essential ment Oman (MDO), will have OR100m investor in mining projects, seeking Las Vegas, Ford said it will criteria: reliability, responsiveness, most extensive benchmarking study point of contact for our valued custom- ($260m) of capital and establish vehi- partners locally, regionally, and inter- begin using a new, lower assurance and empathy. for banks in the GCC. It provides the ers, and is a core part of our ongoing cles for its investments in various nationally, but did not elaborate on cost LiDAR sensor made by QIB’s Call Centre again ranked retail banking industry with a meth- efforts to put our customers first in locations, the SGRF’s executive pres- where the projects would be located California-based Velodyne. outstandingly on measures such as odology for benchmarking retail everything we do” he concluded. ident Abdulsalam Al Murshidi said. or give other details. The high cost of such sensors, which act as the eyes of a self-driving car, is one of the main technical obstacles to widespread commercialisa- VW faces $90bn in fines as US sues for environmental violations tion of self-driving vehicles, industry executives say. Ford said it will be the first automaker to use Velo- Reuters Sachs analysts wrote in a note, main- Although US authorities sued Toyota concern among German politicians dyne’s new solid state “hybrid taining their “sell” recommendation on for up to $58bn for environmental vio- that a multi-billion-dollar fine could Ultra PUCK Auto” sensor. The the stock. The civil lawsuit, announced lations around the turn of the century, endanger jobs at the country’s biggest device replaces the spinning on Monday, reflects the growing number they agreed a settlement that cost the carmaker. “Of course, the news from scanners mounted on the WASHINGTON/FRANKFURT: The US of allegations against VW since the Japanese carmaker about $34m. the United States is worrying to those rooftops of some test vehi- Justice Department has sued Volkswa- German company admitted in Sep- During December, VW’s shares who are concerned about securing cles. Ford said two of these gen for up to $90bn for allegedly tember to installing devices to cheat had been recovering as the carmaker jobs in the German automotive indus- sensors could replace four violating environmental laws — five emissions tests in several 2.0 litre die- announced incrementally positive news try,” said Hubertus Heil, deputy head current LiDAR sensors. times regulators’ initial estimate and a sel vehicle models. VW could face fines such as simple fixes for about 8.5 million of the Social Democrats (SPD) in the The Ultra PUCKs are small reminder of the carmaker’s problems of as much as $37,500 per vehicle for affected cars in Europe. The lawsuit, German lower house of parliament. enough to mount on a side- nearly four months after its emissions each of four violations of the law, based filed on behalf of the US Environmental The SPD is part of Chancellor Angela view mirror, Ford said. scandal broke. on the complaint, which says illegal Protection Agency (EPA), accuses VW Merkel’s governing coalition. Ford said it will add 20 Although such US lawsuits are devices to impair emission control sys- of four counts of violating the US Clean Heil said he still hoped “dramatic hybrid Ford Fusion sedans to typically settled at a fraction of the tems were installed in nearly 600,000 Air Act, including tampering with the consequences” could be avoided by its existing 10-vehicle self- theoretical maximum penalty, ana- vehicles in the United States. emissions control system and failing to clearing up the scandal swiftly and driving car fleet, and test lysts said the size of the claim meant In September, US regulators ini- report violations. The lawsuit is being comprehensively. Germany has largely them on roads in Califor- Volkswagen (VW) could face a larger tially said Europe’s biggest carmaker filed in the Eastern District of Michi- rallied around VW since the scandal nia, Arizona and Michigan. bill than previously anticipated. could face fines in excess of $18bn. gan and then transferred to northern was uncovered by the EPA in a bid to The logo of Volkswagen at “The announcement serves as a The lawsuit had been expected, California, where class-action law- try to limit the damage to a company reminder/reality check of VW’s still and analysts believe any fine will be suits against VW are pending. that employs some 270,000 people Northern Virginia dealer in unresolved emissions issues,” Goldman far below the theoretical maximum. Meanwhile, the lawsuit has sparked in Germany. Woodbridge. Alfardan Automobiles official transporter for tennis open

The Peninsula for the second year running as well as relationship with prestigious sporting the return of Spanish champion Rafael sponsorships, and we are proud to have Nadal – both stars will experience the continued our partnership with the sheer driving pleasure of the brand’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open for the ninth DOHA: For the ninth consecutive year, BMW 7 Series and BMW 5 Series mod- consecutive year, as we continue sup- Alfardan Automobiles has partnered els throughout the tournament. porting Qatar in its goal to become a with the Qatar Tennis Federation to The on-going partnership between major hub in the region for global sport- sponsor the first ATP World Tour tour- Alfardan Automobiles and the Qatar ing events.” nament for 2016 – the Qatar ExxonMobil Tennis Federation was confirmed in Tennis enthusiasts can watch their Open. the presence of Ihab Allam, General favourite players compete on the court- The six-day tournamnet started on Manager at Alfardan Automobiles and whileenjoying a display of BMW cars off Monday, with the official BMW Group Karim Alami, Board Member and Tour- court, including the recentley launched importer in Qatar providing a fleet of nament Director. all-new BMW 7 Series, the BMW 4 Series 50 luxurious BMW vehicles including “Consistently, we anticipate being Gran Coupe, and the popular BMW X5. the BMW 7 Series and the BMW 5 Series a piece of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open Under the direction of the Qatar to cater for the transportation needs competition as it showcases the absolute Olympic Committee, the Qatar Exx- of all players and officials in its role as best in quality, accuracy and execu- onMobil Open has become one of the the tournament’s Official Car. tion, values that the BMW brand relates most exciting and prestigious tourna- Tennis fans have been flocking to to superbly” ments on the ATP Tour circuit. the Khalifa International Tennis and Commenting on the partner- Now in its 24th edition, the star Squash Complex to see the current ship Ihab Allam, General Manager at studded event is expected to have 32 World Number One, Novak Djokovic, Alfardan Automobiles said: “We have players in the singles competition and Officials at the event to announce partnership. playing at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open dependably prided ourselves on our 16 doubles teams. BUSINESS WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 23

Plastics industry Questions and uncertainties in GCC to grow by over 3% annually to mark 2016 oil markets: QNB till 2020: GPCA

The Peninsula some of the losses incurred in the sec- estimated to have slowed sharply to highlighted by some Mixture of demand ond half of 2014, rising from $49 per 1.3m barrels per day (b/d) in Q4 2015, analysts as a factor barrel (/b) in mid-January to $68/b in down from 2.2m b/d in Q3. In addition, behind the recent DOHA: Plastic production in the and supply factors early May. Subsequently, the recovery the International Energy Agency revised decline in oil prices. Arabian Gulf will grow at a steady rather than fully evaporated with oil prices falling down its estimate for global demand These analysts point 3.2 percent till the end of the dec- to $43/b by the end of August. in Q4 2015 by 200k b/d. Almost all of out that bets made ade, spurred by a sustained roll- out speculation behind A period of stabilisation ensued in this revision is due to North and South by hedge funds on a of strategic projects, according to a the latest episode of the following two months as oil traded America, where Canada and the US further decline in oil study by the Gulf Petrochemicals in the $45-55 range. Since early Novem- seem to be experiencing record-break- prices are at a near and Chemicals Association (GPCA). oil price decline. ber, however, oil prices resumed their ing warm weather for this time of the record high. However, “No matter the country or eco- decline and they are currently trad- year. This has reduced their demand for we see little evidence nomic cycle, the growth of plastic ing around mid-30s. heating energy, leading to the decline supporting this claim for two reasons. a “momentum” strategy in which a production in the GCC is a unique The latest price decline can be in oil prices. First, hedge funds make bets on decline in prices lead them to bet on success story in the Arabian Gulf’s The Peninsula attributed to a mixture of demand “While demand forces were the financial paper (like futures contracts further declines in the future. continuing journey towards eco- and supply factors. And while some dominant driver of the recent decline and options) and rarely, if ever, take It appears that a mixture of demand nomic diversification,” said Dr analysts have highlighted the role of in oil prices, supply factors also played physical delivery of the commodity. and supply factors rather than specu- Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary speculators in the recent price drop, a role as they were responsible for 31 Therefore, they do not impact the real lation were behind the latest episode General, GPCA. “This is no doubt a DOHA: While demand forces were the we see little evidence supporting this percent of the fall. This was partly due demand of oil and, as a result, do not of oil price decline. Ruling out spec- testament to the long- term vision dominant driver of the recent decline claim, QNB analysts said in its “eco- to Opec’s decision to maintain its pro- impact its price. ulative forces in influencing oil prices of the leadership who have invested in oil prices, supply factors also played nomic commentary”. duction at current levels in its meeting Second, while hedge funds posi- does not mean that the market is any in this sector, as well as a testament a role as they were responsible for 31 Oil prices fell by 26.2 percent from on 4 December, which led to a 1.9 per- tions are correlated with oil prices, less complex. Multiple factors could of plastics as a viable investment percent of the fall. This was partly due $51/b in early November to $37.3/b on cent decline in prices on the day. In movements in oil prices tend to precede drive supply and demand and some, opportunity.” to Opec’s decision to maintain its pro- 31 December, 2015. Demand factors addition, potentially earlier-than- changes in hedge funds positions, not such as weather or geopolitics, are As per statistics from the GCC duction at current levels, QNB noted are the main reason behind the fall expected lifting of sanctions on Iran the other way round. This suggests that rather hard to predict. Oil markets Plastics Industry Indicators 2015 yesterday. as they were responsible for 69 per- also contributed to the decline,” QNB speculative positions do not drive oil had a memorable year in 2015 and report, the GCC plastic produc- Oil prices had an eventful year in cent of the decline. analysts noted. prices but instead are driven by prices. they enter 2016 full of questions and tion capacity has tripled in the 2015. They began the year by recovering Annual growth in oil demand is The role of speculation was This means that hedge funds follow uncertainty. last 10 years, reaching 26.2 mil- lion tonnes in 2015, earning $32bn in revenues. During the 2005- 2015 period, annual production has risen 11.7 percent, and clustered around The First Investor gets prominent projects in Saudi Arabia. Mary Barra named GM chair Like Saudi Arabia, develop- ment strategies that benefit plastic production have also been imple- in new first for a woman IAIR Awards recognition mented elsewhere in the GCC. In 2015, expansions in Qatar have increased the country’s regional The Peninsula the Middle East in the global econ- market share. Qatar now holds 8 AFP omy growth. percent of the GCC’s plastic portfolio. Commenting on the recognition, Plastics capacity will continue to Youssef Al Obaidan, Acting CEO of TFI, grow over the next five years, pre- DOHA: The First Investor (TFI), the said: “This year’s CEO Summit theme dicts the GPCA. Growth in Oman NEW YORK: General Motors Chief investment banking division of the comes in light of a crucial transition is projected to be the strongest in Executive Mary Barra (pictured) was Barwa Bank Group, was recognised for the investment banking industry the region, at 17.7 percent per year. named chair of the automaker, smash- at the IAIR Awards 2015 for its legal where disciplines, business models Saudi Arabia is expected to see a ing yet another gender ceiling in the expertise and excellence. and best practices are being continu- 3.2 percent rise per year till 2020, US auto industry. The GM board of At the awards’ 19th edition, The ously reshaped and redefined.” a figure that is slightly lower than directors unanimously elected Barra First Investor walked away with the “Financial institutions no longer the 4.9 percent growth in the last to its helm, and she will remain CEO, Legal Team of the Year - Investment work in departmental siloes and, this decade. the largest US automaker announced. Banking accolade, owing to its cross- translates into a dire need to contin- “With regional producers expe- Barra, 54, will succeed Tim Solso, over role in driving all core areas of uously evolve the cross-functional riencing diminishing revenues and who will continue to serve as the Barwa Bank Group’s business for- capacity of each pillar discipline cheap raw materials available to board’s lead independent director. ward, as well as to its service and underpinning their growth and strat- our competitors, we are certainly in “At a time of unprecedented indus- support excellence vis-à-vis clients, egy forward,” he said. the midst of a challenging business try change, the board concluded it is regulators and shareholders. “Our legal team has proactively environment. Due to the inherent in the best interests of the company The First Investor team ranked led efforts on this front, constantly and versatility of plastics, an export ori- to combine the roles of chair and CEO among a select group of top tier insti- strategically expanding the scope of ented commodity, as well as strong in order to drive the most efficient that she was not also made chair, as Under Barra’s management, GM tutions and individuals in the regional its services to anticipate risks, trends demand from developing econo- execution of our plan and vision for had been customary for her male has made large strides in raising its corporate, legal, forex and banking and dynamics that would play into mies, plastics will continue to see a the future,” Solso said in a statement. predecessors. operating margins in North Amer- fields. our business in the future. With this respectable growth rate in the near “With GM consistently delivering In the month after becoming CEO, ica, to 11 percent in the third quarter The award ceremony capped the accolade from the IAIR Awards, it future,” said Dr Al Sadoun. on its targets and on track to generate Barra was handling a recall of 2.6 mil- of 2015, an strong performance in the IAIR’s 7th CEO Summit, a knowledge is being duly recognised for both its The GCC Plastics Industry Indi- significant value for its sharehold- lion cars for defective ignition switches auto industry. exchange platform between top CEOs, internal and external legal, regula- cators 2015 report will be released ers, this is the right time for Mary to that grew into a massive scandal as it “I am honoured to serve as chair executives and companies. Held this tory, reputational and transactional at the upcoming GPCA Plasticon, assume this role.” emerged the company knew about the of the board of directors,” Barra said year under the theme “Leadership: expertise but, also, for the integrity a dedicated conference for plas- Barra, a General Motors career deadly defects nearly a decade earlier. in the statement. “With the support of Skills and Visions for Growth”, the and transparency it has committed tics converters. The report will veteran, became chief executive on An independent GM compensa- our board, we will continue to drive summit gave way to a slew of discus- to as guiding values for its role,” Al include insights relevant to the January 15, 2014, the first female Chief tion fund has accepted claims for 124 shareholder value by improving our sions and debates around the skills Obaidan said The next global CEO region’s plastics industry, includ- Executive Officer of any major auto- deaths and more than 250 injuries core business and leading in the trans- and challenges for top-ranking com- Summit & Awards will be held on ing detailed figures on capacity, maker. At the time, feminists criticized related to the problem. formation of personal mobility.” pany leaders, as well as the role of March 11, 2016 in Hong Kong. product growth and employment. No IMF programme needed for Nigeria

needed,” she told reporters in Abuja. Lagarde was speaking after meet- ing President Muhammadu Buhari on a four-day visit that will also see her hold talks with the central bank gover- nor and visit neighbouring Cameroon. Nigeria, Africa’s number one oil producer, has seen revenues dive over the last year because of the fall in global crude prices, causing a cash crunch that has forced it to tighten spending. Participants at the function. The naira currency has also slumped and GDP growth stalled to under 3.0 percent, while inflation is nudging 10 percent. AFP Lagarde described the talks as Doha Bank announces winners of Al Dana Savings Scheme “excellent” and said they touched on “the challenges ahead stemming from the oil price reduction” and the need The Peninsula Draw for customers maintaining a min- brand new iPhone 6 smartphone each. winner and 43 other winners of valua- ABUJA: Africa’s biggest economy to find different revenue sources. imum balance of QR250,000. Dr R Seetharaman, Doha Bank ble cash prizes ranging from QR5,000 Nigeria, battling a revenue shortfall They also discussed “the neces- Two Al Dana customers — A A M Group CEO, said: “Al Dana monthly to QR100,000.” caused by the global oil shock, does sity to apply fiscal discipline and the Al Saadi and S H Ali — won QR50,000 draw continues to shower exciting Doha Bank’s Al Dana savings not need assistance from the Inter- need to respond to the population’s DOHA: Doha Bank yesterday each, with another two customers rewards on customers, demonstrating account offers customers a wide range national Monetary Fund, the group’s needs, improving the competitive- announced the winners of its ‘Al Dana receiving QR25,000 each while the just why it is regarded as the lead- of banking benefits including a free head said yesterday. ness of Nigeria and focusing on the Savings Scheme’ for the 11th draw held QR1,000,000 grand cash prize went ing savings programme of its kind in VISA international debit card and “Let me be very clear: I’m not here short-term fiscal situation”. at the Bank’s City Centre branch in the to H V Valappil. Qatar. The enlarged prize pool that Online, SMS, Mobile and new Apple nor is my team here to negotiate a Buhari has made reviving the flag- presence of representative from the The prize deluge didn’t stop there as we introduced for our 2015 campaign Watch banking services. loan with conditionalities, we’re not ging economy one of his key priorities Consumer Protection Department. the 11thdraw threw up plenty of other has ensured there are more Al Dana In addition, customers can man- programming negotiations,” said IMF alongside cutting endemic corruption Al Dana 2015 campaign has seen winners, with five Al Dana custom- winners.” age their utility bill payments through managing director Christine Lagarde and government waste, and improv- a greater number of customers than ers receiving QR10,000 each and 12 He added: “Join us for the 11th their Al Dana account and transfer (pictured). “Frankly, given the deter- ing transparency and accountability. ever before walking away with life- customers receiving QR5,000 each. ‘Al Dana Green Run’ on January 16, funds across multiple accounts and to mination and resilience displayed by Lagarde said they were “very changing prizes. A further 20 lucky winners – 2016 at Aspire Zone and witness the third parties, as well as send money the presidency and his team, I don’t see ambitious goals that need to be deliv- A S Al Kuwari was named the win- including 10 new account holders and last live draw for the Al Dana 2015 overseas at the most competitive why an IMF programme is going to be ered upon”. ner of the QR100,000 Monthly Premium 10 Al Dana Young Savers –received a scheme, which will crown one QR1m exchange rates. 24 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Saudi Aramco raises oil Tiger Air shares prices for Asian refiners jump as Singapore Air

diesel rose from $15.93 per barrel on raises offer The profit that refiners in Asia make from November 30 to $17.66 per barrel on December 31, data compiled by Singapore: Tiger Airways turning crude into gasoline and diesel rose Bloomberg show. Holdings Ltd jumped 9.8 Saudi Arabia, the largest producer percent after its biggest from $15.93 per barrel on November 30 to A Saudi Aramco worker smiling at the oil giant’s facility. in Organization of Petroleum Exporting shareholder Singapore Air- $17.66 per barrel on December 31 Countries (Opec), won’t limit production lines Ltd raised a buyout and will seek to supply any demand offer for stakeholders fol- from the market, Ali Al Naimi, the coun- their market share instead of cutting discounts for all crudes but Arab Light lowing a call by a lobby try’s oil minister, said December 30 output in an effort to support prices. unchanged for buyers in the Mediterra- group for Southeast Asia’s Bloomberg for Arab Light crude sold to Asia by on state television. Brent dropped from more than $100 nean region. Middle Eastern producers largest carrier to sweeten 60 cents a barrel to 80 cents below The country pumped 10.25 million a barrel in July 2014 to trade at about are competing increasingly with car- its bid. the regional benchmark, it said in an barrels daily last month, according $37 yesterday amid a global glut. goes from Latin America, North Africa Tiger Air rose 9.8 per- e-mailed statement. to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Saudi Aramco reduced the premium and Russia for buyers in Asia, its larg- cent to S$0.45, matching DUBAI: Saudi Arabia, the world’s The company, known as Saudi Opec decided last month to set aside for Arab Extra Light crude to the US by est market. the revised offer price, as largest crude exporter, raised pric- Aramco, was expected to narrow the any formal target for production. The 50 cents a barrel to $2.35 a barrel more Producers in the Persian Gulf region of 9am in Singapore trad- ing for all February oil sales to Asia discount for Arab Light to Asia by 55 group has exceeded its previous tar- than the benchmark and kept price dif- sell mostly under long-term contracts ing. Singapore Air was amid higher refining margins in the cents a barrel, according to the median get of 30 million barrels a day since ferentials for all other grades to the US to refiners. Most of the Gulf’s state oil unchanged at S$10.99. region. It kept levels unchanged for estimate in a Bloomberg survey of six May 2014, data compiled by Bloomberg unchanged from January. companies price their crude at a pre- Singapore Air is offer- most grades sold to the US. refiners and traders. show. Brent crude tumbled 35 percent The company widened discounts mium or discount to a benchmark. For ing Tiger Air stockholders State-owned Saudi Arabian Oil The profit that refiners in Asia make last year as Saudi Arabia and other for sales of all grades of crude to North- Asia the benchmark is the average of 45 Singapore cents, ris- Co increased its official selling price from turning crude into gasoline and members of Opec chose to protect west Europe for February, while keeping Oman and Dubai oil grades. ing from its initial proposal of 41 cents, the company said in a statement to the stock exchange on Monday. The offer, which Singapore GM to invest $500m in Air said it doesn’t intend Eurozone inflation lingers to revise further, has been extended to January 22 from January 8. Singapore Lyft to set out self-driving Air is seeking to delist Tiger Air after it made losses near zero despite ECB boost because of over-expansion car partnership in a competitive market that has caused other airlines to AFP target of near or just below 2 percent Analysts warned that oil prices be privatised or collapse. and signals that successive waves were again on a downward track and The Securities Inves- Reuters dashboard screens. of ECB action to jolt prices higher in could push eurozone inflation into neg- tors Association Singapore, Toyota and Ford, two of the world’s Europe are so far ineffective. ative territory down the road. which campaigns on behalf biggest automakers, invited rival car BRUSSELS: Eurozone inflation “The failure of Eurozone inflation “With the oil price languishing of minority shareholders, companies to join them to counter the remained lower than expected in to pick up in December is good news below $40, headline inflation looks last year asked Singapore SAN FRANCISCO: General Motors push by Apple, Alphabet, Tesla Motors December, official data said yester- for consumers’ purchasing power, but set to remain low in the months ahead. Air’s board to consider Inc said it will invest $500m in Lyft Inc and others into self-driving cars, day, adding pressure on the European it will maintain ECB concern that pro- Unless oil prices rise, headline infla- improving the Tiger Air Inc and laid out plans to develop an or what the industry calls autono- Central Bank to once again ramp up its longed very low inflation could lead tion might even briefly dip below zero offer, noting that the parent on-demand network of self-driving mous vehicles. efforts to boost the economy in Europe. to a renewed weakening in inflation again in the Summer,” said econo- paid 56.5 cents a share to cars with the ride-sharing service. Major automakers are trying to ECB president Mario Draghi dis- expectations,” said Howard Archer, mist Teunis Brosens of ING Bank in raise its stake in 2014. The biggest single Detroit-Silicon prevent Silicon Valley from dominat- appointed markets last month with Chief European Economist for IHS Glo- the Netherlands. Central bankers of “It is an encourag- Valley crossover deal to date comes as ing the future of self-driving cars and a limited bid to revive the struggling bal Insight. Inflation in December was the 19-member eurozone are eager to ing move by SIA and this, automakers work out how to respond ride-sharing, and are also investing eurozone given near-zero inflation lev- again dragged down by energy prices, fight falling prices because they can together with the deadline to the rush of technology companies as a way to see whether Lyft and Uber els across the 19 countries that share led by oil, but this drop slowed sharply be poisonous for the economy, creat- extension, would prompt such as Apple, Alphabet and Uber - are on the way to making money, said the euro. The EU’s Eurostat statistics to 5.9 percent annually instead of 7.3 ing a vicious circle of falling demand minority shareholders to Lyft’s biggest rival - to control cars Matthew Stover, automotive analyst agency said inflation was unchanged percent the previous month, the data and fewer jobs. Draghi in December reconsider their positions,” of the future and likely reshape the with Susquehanna Financial Group. in December at a moribund 0.2 per- showed. Core inflation, which strips announced an interest rate cut that David Gerald, president global auto industry. “The only way to understand the cent, lower than analysts’ forecast of out fluctuating energy prices as well as was less than investors had expected of the Securities Investors The No 1 US automaker’s invest- implications and viability of this busi- 0.3 percent inflation for the period. alcohol and tobacco, remained stable and held back from expanding the size Association Singapore, said ment accounts for half of Lyft’s latest ness model (Lyft and Uber) is to become This is well below the ECB’s official at 0.9 percent from November. of its bond-buying stimulus. by phone. $1bn fundraising round. It is one of an investor,” said Stover. GM’s biggest investments in another Last month, Ford Chief Executive company and the largest single cash Mark Fields said the No 2 US automaker China seeks injection to date by a traditional auto- would explore the ride-hailing busi- maker into a young technology firm. ness with a fleet of specially designed IEX CEO at Amsterdam stock exchange information The two companies said the part- Transit vans at its Dearborn, Michi- nership was based on the shared view gan campus. from Microsoft that self-driving cars will first reach GM CEO Mary Barra last fall said consumers as part of a ride-sharing that while Apple and Google- now Shanghai: The Chinese service, rather than vehicles owned called Alphabet - are pushing to dom- government has asked US by drivers. inate dashboard displays with their technology giant Micro- “We think our business and per- software, automakers still control “the soft to clarify “major issues” sonal mobility will change more in platform” of the vehicle itself. regarding a monopoly the next five years than the last 50,” GM’s Ammann, who will join Lyft’s case, officials said yester- GM President Dan Ammann said in board as a part of the deal, said both day, confirming that it was an interview with Reuters. companies had a “really common view still pursuing a probe which The partnership will tap into GM’s of the future.” emerged in 2014. work on driverless cars and Lyft’s Lyft President John Zimmer said The State Adminis- software that matches drivers and the “culture and vision are very alike” tration for Industry and passengers and calculates routes, to in both GM and Lyft. Commerce (SAIC), one of create a network of cars that would The deal heralds a wave of alli- the government bodies operate themselves and be availa- ances of varying forms between which enforces the coun- ble on demand. automakers and Silicon Valley com- try’s anti-monopoly law, The two companies did not set out panies as both try to capture new first said in July of that a timeline to get the on-demand net- business as transportation evolves, year that it had built a case work up and running, but said they said Xavier Mosquet, the US auto prac- against Microsoft over its would immediately offer Lyft drivers tice leader at Boston Consulting Group Windows operating system short-term rentals of GM cars. in Detroit. and the Office suite of pro- The announcement came as Toy- “In the next 10 to 20 years, (trans- IEX Group CEO Peter van Sommeren (left) opens the Amsterdam stock exchange with a gong in Amsterdam, grammes, after it raided ota Motor Corp and Ford Motor Co said portation) will be one of the biggest The Netherlands, yesterday. IEX is the first equity trading venue owned exclusively by a consortium of buy-side the US tech giant’s offices they would adopt the same software areas for electronic and software investors, including mutual funds, hedge funds, and family offices. in China. to link smartphone apps to vehicle investments,” Orange and Bouygues confirm initial talks over telecom unit

Bloomberg France from four to three. Orange has Nuno Matias, an analyst at Haitong As it is interested in opportuni- struggled to sustain domestic sales Bank, in a research note yesterday. ties that would enable it to bolster its and earnings growth since Internet- French carriers tried unsuccess- long-term presence in the telecoms service provider Iliad SA entered the fully to go from four to three through a sector, Bouygues announces that pre- PARIS: Orange SA is in talks to acquire market in 2012. variety of scenarios over the past few liminary discussions have started with Bouygues SA’s telecommunications For Bouygues, the increased com- years. In June, Bouygues rejected a bid Orange to look at the possible options,” unit in a €10bn ($10.8bn) transaction petition wiped out the profit of its for its phone unit by Numericable- SFR, Bouygues said in a separate statement. that would boost profits in the French telecommunication unit, which had the mobile-phone and cable company Orange’s plans reflect a wave of mobile-phone market by reducing been a cash cow for the construction controlled by Patrick Drahi, that val- consolidation that has swept Europe’s competition. company. ued the business at at least €10bn. telecommunications industry, as well “These discussions are not lim- Bouygues Telecom may be val- Chief Executive Officer Mar- as prompted phone and media com- ited by any particular calendar and ued at about €10bn, Vincent Maulay, tin Bouygues and the board quickly panies to seek alliances. hold no commitment to any particu- an analyst at Oddo Securities, esti- decided against starting talks, saying British phone company BT Group lar predefined outcome,” Orange said mated last month. a deal posed a risk to jobs and would Plc last year agreed to buy the UK’s in a statement yesterday, confirm- In the deal, Bouygues would get a face antitrust hurdles. largest wireless carrier EE, which is ing a report last month by Bloomberg stake of about 15 percent in Orange and Orange rose 0.9 percent to €15.340 half owned by Orange, for about $19bn. News that the companies were in early €2bn in cash, Le Journal du Diman- at 11:30am in Paris. Bouygues gained 0.1 In France, billionaire Drahi discussions. che reported Sunday, without citing percent to €37.20. Numericable- SFR acquired SFR to create Numerica- A combination of Orange and sources. Spokesmen for the two com- rose 12 percent to €37.29, the biggest ble-SFR, and bid for NextRadioTV to Bouygues Telecom would cut the panies declined to comment on possible “Consolidation in the French tel- would increase the odds for a health- advance in more than six months, and take over one of the country’s biggest number of wireless providers in terms of a transaction. ecom market would be welcome as it ier competitive environment,” said Iliad climbed 2.7 percent to €227.05. “ news channels. BUSINESS WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 25 Slowdown in China hits personal tech spending

of market research Steve Koenig said out by large-screen smartphones and CTA forecast that as the premier Consumer Electron- portable computers such as the Len- $950bn will be spent ics Show prepared to get under way ovo Yoga, which are designed with in Las Vegas. screens that can be removed and used globally on consumer Koenig cautioned that technology as touch-controled tablets. electronics this year spending comparisons were “chal- Smartphone shipments were lenged” by a very strong dollar and predicted to cool a bit this year, grow- in a two percent drop prices dropping on market mainstays ing about eight percent to 1.4 billion from the $969bn such as smartphones and tablets. “We devices. Smartphone adoption is being really see the global economy start- pushed by progressively lower prices, spent last year ing to get back on track as we wrestle which is especially important in mar- with a range of issues,” Koenig said. kets such as China, Africa, and the “I think the biggest thing we are Middle East where high-end hand- starting to come to grips with is the nor- sets are out of reach for many people. AFP malisation of the slowdown in China.” Meanwhile, the overall category Smartphones and tablet computers of wearable computers that includes were expected to account for 46 per- smart watches should continue its cent of the money spent this year on “meteoric rise” and there will be “no LAS VEGAS : Spending on personal consumer electronics, but new cate- shortage”of wearable computing tech gadgets is taking a hit from the gories such as “wearables,” drones and gadgets on the CES show floor that economic slowdown in China and the virtual reality gear should be mak- officially opens today, according to strong US dollar, researchers from ing their presence felt in the market, Koenig. Emerging markets were seen Mael Donnard displays the Parrot Disco prototype drone during a press event for CES 2016 at the Mandalay the Consumer Technology Associa- according to Koenig. as continuing to be central to growth tion said Monday. When mobile computers such as in the consumer electronics market, Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest consumer technology trade show, The CTA forecast that $950bn will laptops are included with smartphones with India becoming a driving force runs from January 6 to 9 and is expected to feature 3,600 exhibitors showing latest products and services. be spent globally on consumer elec- and tablets,the share of sales in the as China shifts to lower, steady growth tronics this year in a two percent drop year was predicted to be 58 percent or after a long run of booming expansion. from the $969bn spent last year, while some $551bn. “Over half a trillion US “Even a small slowdown in China companies are going to start looking was expected to be 50 inches, meas- robots, 3D printers, and virtual real- the number of actual units shipped dollars,” Koenig said of the forecast. can have really big knock-down effects increasingly to India as the new place ured diagonally, or more and feature ity, along with smart cars and homes will see little change. “I give you technology’s triumvirate: around the world,” Koenig said of the for double-digit growth year over year.” ultra high-definition 4K resolution. were expected to grab attention and “We are seeing pretty flat demand laptops, smartphones and tablets.” chilling effect it has had on other LCD televisions remain “the king of Televisions were likely, once again, momentum. “Make no mistake, inno- while we wait for new innovations to He wondered aloud regarding the regions, especially those where export- screens” with sizes trending up. One to be stars on show floor at CES, but vation is really reshaping the global reach consumers,” CTA senior director potential for tablets to be squeezed ing commodities is important. “Most in every five televisions sold this year new talent in the form of drones, technology industry,” Koenig said. Fiat Chrysler sales up but outdone by Nissan Some Yahoo investors want to sell Internet business Bloomberg utility vehicles, including its premium Infiniti brand, rose 44 percent. Sales of its Rogue compact SUV rose 78 percent, and the Murano mid-size utility vehicle jumped 62 percent. REUTERS challenge the tax-free status, which NEW YORK: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s The biggest US and Asian automakers are all could leave shareholders with a big December US sales rose 13 percent on the back of expected to report gains of at least 10 percent. tax bill anyway. The IRS helped to kill gains for Jeep sport utility vehicles, as carmak- Industrywide sales are expected to exceed an off a previous Yahoo plan to spinoff its ers report monthly results expected to topple 18 million sales rate for a record fourth straight CALIFORNIA: Several major Yahoo stake in Chinese ecommerce giant Ali- the annual American sales record set 15 years month, helping make 2015 the best year ever Inc shareholders are so concerned baba Group Holding Ltd by declining ago. Nissan Motor Co did better than expected. for automakers, according to analyst estimates the company’s core Internet business to issue a ruling endorsing its tax- Fiat Chrysler sales reached 217,527 cars and compiled by Bloomberg. Fiat Chrysler projected could fall in value that they want it free nature. light trucks in December, for a 69th straight an 18.3 million pace, including medium and sold as soon as possible. That would have left Yahoo vul- monthly gain, the company said in a statement heavy-duty trucks, which typically account The shareholders said they would nerable to an IRS challenge to the yesterday. While a record total for the month, for at least 200,000 sales. prefer that than wait for Yahoo to go status at a later date. The pressure that increase fell short of the 19 percent average “We’re seeing all sorts of records fall,” said through with its plan to seek a tax- on Yahoo’s management and board of 10 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomb- Jeff Schuster, an analyst for LMC Automotive in free spin-off of the operation, which has increased since November, when erg. Jeep deliveries increased 42 percent from Southfield, Michigan. “And not only are we in includes Yahoo’s sports and news sites Starboard Value LP, which owned a year earlier to 89,654, led by the Cherokee record territory, it’s a much healthier industry as well as its popular email service. 0.75 percent of Yahoo as of Sept. 30, and Grand Cherokee. than it was back in 2000” when the previous Reuters reviewed a letter sent to making it the company’s 23rd larg- Americans’ renewed love of pickups and record was set at 17.4 million US car and truck the Yahoo board by one major share- est shareholder, called for the sale of SUVs, spurred by low gasoline prices, cheap sales. For the industry, 2015 record results would holder and spoke to people with the company’s main business instead credit, rising discounts and a strengthening labor mark a sixth straight year of growing US sales, knowledge of the views of others of the Alibaba spinoff. market, boosted demand for Jeep’s growing the longest streak since World War II. The surge with significant stakes. Yahoo in December abandoned lineup. In 2015, the brand debuted the Jeep Ren- is owed in part to buyers who were soothed by The investors argue that it would plans to spin off the Alibaba stake and egade in the US, one of five new vehicles in the job and wage growth, falling gasoline prices be better to take an additional tax hit announced it would instead spinoff subcompact SUV segment. Full-year Jeep sales and carmakers who upgraded their lineups now rather than owning shares in a its other assets, including its stake rose 25 percent to 865,028. and used discounts and cut- rate financing to spin-off that may have lost signifi- in Yahoo Japan, into a new com- Fiat Chrysler was expected to lead among draw shoppers to showrooms. cant value later. Yahoo’s stock has pany. Now, that new strategy is also those that report December sales Tuesday, but “The economy is just so much better now,” fallen 36 percent over the last year, being questioned. Canyon Capital it was outdone by Nissan, which reported a 19 said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at AutoTrader. making investors nervous about the Advisors, wrote to the Yahoo board percent jump that beat the 16 percent average com. “Low gas prices put more money back risk of a further big decline. twice in December and demanded estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. into the household budget, you’ve had cheap Some are also concerned that that it explore an immediate sale of Nissan achieved its best-ever December in and widely available credit and the automak- the Internal Revenue Service may the company. Chairman, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Carlos the US by riding the wave of light-truck demand ers are putting out very compelling products, Ghosn, speaks during a press conference at company as gasoline prices hover around $2 a gallon. The with a ton more in safety features, technology headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil company’s sales of trucks, minivans and sports and far better fuel economy.” Lotte to explore Malaysian Air limits baggage allowance more than AFP aviation analysts puzzled. In a state- baggage allowance,” it said. “Passen- ment on its website, the carrier said gers who wish to check in their luggage $500m Malaysia “unseasonably strong headwinds” were will be able to do so, however their limiting the amount of baggage its baggage will only arrive later.” unit IPO KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines flights could handle. The airline advised economy pas- yesterday announced immediate “This longer flight path consumes sengers only to carry 7kg of hand restrictions on check-in luggage for more jet fuel and for safety reasons, luggage and first-class and business- KUALA LUMPUR: Lotte Chemi- some Europe-bound flights, citing Malaysia Airlines has had to impose class customers to limit themselves A view of a Yahoo logo in front of a building in Rolle, Geneva. cal Corp, the South Korean plastics strong headwinds, a move that left temporary limitation on checked-in to 14kg of hand luggage. manufacturer, is exploring an ini- tial public offering of its Malaysian petrochemicals arm that could raise more than $500m, people with knowledge of the matter said. Indonesia mulls relaxing metal concentrate export rules The unit Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Sdn. could sell shares in Kuala Lumpur as soon as the sec- ond half of this year, the people said, Bloomberg law with parliament, he said on including producers in the Phil- companies that produce cop- 2014 ban, Indonesia was the permits to finance construc- asking not to be identified as the Monday. “2017 is the deadline ippines and Australia. per concentrates in the country. world’s biggest shipper of mined tion of the project, according information is private. for processed-metal exports, “Indonesia has had to come Unless the law is revised, exports nickel, which is used to make to Riza Pratama, a spokesman. Malaysia has hosted only one but can we meet the targets for to grips with the present reality of concentrates from Indone- stainless steel, as well as China’s There was no immediate IPO of more than $500m in the past JAKARTA: Indonesia may smelter construction by 2017? It of the resource sector environ- sia will also be prohibited from largest supplier of bauxite, an reply from Newmont to a request two years, the $885m share sale relax rules on the export of must be reviewed,” Said said in ment,” Gavin Wendt, founding January 2017. ore needed to make alumina, for comment. The slumping from power producer Malakoff Corp. metal concentrates following his office in Jakarta. “We must be director at MineLife Pty Ltd in “It was almost inevitable the feedstock for aluminum. nickel price has hurt produc- in April 2015, according to data com- the collapse in metals prices, realistic to ensure a conducive Sydney, said by e- mail. that the 2017 deadline for the Nickel plunged 42 percent ers in Indonesia. Global metal piled by Bloomberg. First-time share while keeping a ban on raw ore investment climate,” he said. “The key here is Indonesia’s export of metal concentrates, on the London Metal Exchange demand is expected to remian sales in the country raised $1.28bn shipments, according to Energy Southeast Asia’s largest authorities are realistic about would have to be pushed out,” last year, while aluminum sank subdued in 2016 due to slow- last year, compared to $1.25 bn in and Mineral Resources Minis- economy banned overseas sales current challenges and are keen said Bill Sullivan, a lawyer spe- 19 percent. The low metal prices down in China. 2014, the data show. ter Sudirman Said. of raw ores including nickel and to appease foreign investors, cializing in mining at Christian are a challenge for the country’s Tsingshan Bintangdelapan Lotte Chemical hasn’t yet The policy on concentrate bauxite in 2014, while permitting whilst maintaining their longer- Teo & Partners in Jakarta. goal of promoting processing, Group, a Chinese-Indonesian decided whether to proceed with shipments, due to be halted from the continued export of semi- term economic goals,” he added. “The more interesting issue according to Said, who said venture that built a smelter a listing of the Malaysian unit, 2017 to push mining compa- processed concentrates for a The curbs were intended to is whether, having pushed out the government would provide after the ban on ore exports, and details such as the fundrais- nies to build smelters, should be further three years. spur investment in processing the deadline for the export of incentives to aid development. has said it is making a loss of ing amount haven’t been set, the examined to provide maximum Since the ban on ore ship- across the archipelago, ena- metal concentrates, the govern- PT Freeport Indonesia, $2,000 on every ton. Plans for people said. A Kuala Lumpur-based value for the domestic econ- ments went into effect in January bling Indonesia to produce ment will also reconsider the Freeport’s local unit, is building new smelters will be put on hold spokesman for Lotte Chemical Titan omy, Said said in an interview. 2014, base metals have plunged higher- value commodities. existing export ban on unproc- an additional smelter as agreed, if rates stay where they are now, didn’t respond to phone calls and The government will soon on the slowdown in China, Freeport-McMoRan Inc and essed metal minerals, notably and the company hopes that the according to Chief Executive an e-mail seeking comment. discuss changes to the mining while rival shippers emerged, Newmont Mining Corp are bauxite and nickel.” Before the government will still give export Alexander Barus. 26 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 9,959.67 0.82 % QE Total Return Index 15,480.87 0.82 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,668.84 0.88 % QE All Share Index 2,656.55 0.87 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,673.66 1.31 % QE All Share Industrials 3,041.31 0.53 % QE All Share Transportation 2,383.92 0.39 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,206.33 1.15 % QE All Share Insurance 3,987.73 0.54 % QE All Share Telecoms 944.03 0.18 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 5,785.5 0.68 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 05-01-2016 Today 04-01-2016 Previous day Index 9,959.67 10,041.70 Change 82.03 272.04 % 0.82 2.64 YTD% 4.5 3.72 Volume 3,481,577 3,053,196 Value (QAR) 129,196,314.02 108,819,714.93 Trades 2,783 2,317 Up 12 | Down 26 | Unchanged 01

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year low All Ordinaries 5239.249 -83.537 -1.57 5379.6 5316.5 Cac 40 Index/D 4499.39 -23.06 -0.51 4586.11 4490.3 Dj Indu Average 17148.94 -276.09 -1.58 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 21188.72 -138.4 -0.65 21794.84 21227.61 Iseq Overall/D 6731.14 26.23 0.39 6791.68 6668.15 Karachi 100 In/D 32983.47 -25.66 -0.08 33304.4 32828.36 Nikkei 225 Index 18374 -76.98 -0.42 18951.12 18394.43 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1867.01

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.3113 QR 5.3854 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 3.8933 QR 3.9482 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.5904 QR 2.6410 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.6233 QR 3.6770 Yen QR 0.0304 QR 0.0310 A C C-A/D 1345 5.25 11846 Essar Oil-T/D 259.7 1.15 101644 Kalyani Stel-T/D 185.2 17.2 307703 Tanfac Indust-/D 39.5 -0.2 14255 Aus$ QR 2.5880 QR 2.6400 Aarti Drugs-B/D 590 0.35 6080 Eveready Indu-/D 310.5 8.15 34989 Kanoria Chem-B/D 78 1.15 46431 Thirumalai-B/D 214.4 0.2 7322 Aban Offs-A/D 230.45 0.15 339752 F D C-B/D 227.8 0.75 21857 Kg Denim-B/D 61.55 3.6 34306 Til Ltd.-T/D 487.5 -2.75 9736 Ind Re QR 0.0542 QR 0.0553 Ador Welding-B/D 317 2.7 5767 Federal Bank-A/D 55.8 0 265843 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 83.15 0.15 6153 Timexgroup-T/D 37.25 2 105101 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Aegis Logis-B/D 109.5 3.75 38142 Ferro Alloys-B/D 7 0.22 183647 Kinetic Eng-B/D 117.6 -1 8661 Tinplate-B/D 73.1 1.7 114210 Peso QR 0.0769 QR 0.0784 Alembic-B/D 50.15 3.2 423997 Finolex-A/D 303 0.65 3572 Kopran-B/D 76.5 3.15 315907 Ucal Fuel-B/D 137.5 3.1 18101 Alkyl Amines-B/D 353.8 6.3 1857 Forbes-B/D 1770 30.5 4435 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 432.4 17.6 10105 Ucal Fuel-B/D 137.5 3.1 18101 SL Re QR 0.0250 QR 0.0255 Alok Indus-A/D 6.64 0.38 2867557 Gail-A/D 372.85 12.95 95647 Lakshmi Mach-A/D 3703.45 -22.35 1174 Ultramarine-B/D 122.4 4.3 37802 Taka QR 0.0459 QR 0.0470 Apollo Tyre-A/D 157.2 1.65 107200 Galada Power-B/D 19 1.05 9052 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 58.1 -0.9 2764 Unitech P -A/D 6.85 0.19 5178655 Nep Re QR 0.0339 QR 0.0345 Asahi I Glass-/D 164.75 2.65 4700 Gammon India-T/D 19.15 -0.1 139398 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.08 1.51 89826 Univcable-T/D 86.75 4.1 15986 Ashok Leyland-/D 93.1 1.15 915314 Gangotri Tex-T/D 1.99 0.09 4745 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 9.39 1.39 770554 Uppergsugar-T/D 76.25 -0.8 6572 SA Rand QR 0.2309 QR 0.2354 Ballarpur In-B/D 20.85 0.85 971840 Garden P -B/D 31.5 1.2 105816 Lumax Ind-B/D 468.2 2.4 6411 Banaras Bead-B/D 48.9 0.15 1676 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1391.05 33.75 65408 Lupin-A/D 1782.7 -15.1 43121 LONDON Bata India-A/D 500.75 -8.4 209311 Goodricke-B/D 209.4 1.2 45032 Lyka Labs-T/D 125.8 -0.7 83906 GOLD AND SILVER Beml Ltd-A/D 1270.95 -7.65 18107 Goodyear I -B/D 565 1 6217 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 355 1.4 9950 Bh Electronic-/D 1365 -10.65 30008 Hcl Infosys-B/D 59.7 0.8 533584 Mah.Seamless-B/D 171 1.9 5320 3I Group/D 467.7 2.1 380039 GOLD QR126.8968 per gram Bhansali Eng-T/D 24.75 -0.3 172219 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 23.7 1.8 10190570 Maha Scooter-B/D 1381.25 -22.75 1492 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3220 -56 253789 SILVER QR1.6478 per gram Bharat Bijle-B/D 848.25 3.25 6025 Himat Seide-B/D 218.95 7.9 125907 Mangalam Cem-B/D 196 -0.4 3465 Barclays/D 214.738 0.55 7697250 Bharatgears-B/D 94.55 2.9 7874 Hind Motors-T/D 8.3 0.83 536708 Maral Overs-B/D 36.55 0.8 15869 Bg Group/D 986 9.1 1153558 Bhartiya Int-B/D 536 4.75 10789 Hind Org Chem-/D 20.55 -1.2 422948 Mastek-B/D 192.8 -0.9 72745 Bp/D 347.2 -0.35 7365450 Bhel-A/D 166.45 1.35 294282 Hind Unilever-/D 847.8 -9.35 56415 Max India L-A/D 516.6 0.25 10072 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3656 -29.5 545633 Bhuwalka Stl-X/D 7.5 0.02 4784 Hind.Petrol-A/D 856.8 2.7 43972 Mrpl-A/D 66.3 -0.1 108467 Bt Group/D 462.15 2.25 3328119 Bom.Burmah-B/D 491.85 8.75 8016 Hindalco-A/D 82.8 1.95 1544249 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 40.75 3.8 8800 Centrica/D 213.3194 1.2 2646398 Bombay Dyeing-/D 65.45 0.65 378274 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1209.1 -7.25 38479 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 40.75 3.8 8800 Gkn/D 292.6 -2 1136387 Oil prices drop as weak Camph.& All-B/D 613.5 -11 6077 I F C I-A/D 29.25 2 4141618 Nahar Spg.-B/D 135.3 8.2 78839 Hsbc Holdings/D 520.6 0.2 6921878 Canfin Homes-B/D 1078 4.55 2481 Idbi-A/D 84.2 -0.65 769753 Nation Alum -A/D 38.85 0.05 267313 Imperial Tobac/D 3500.5 -32 522931 Caprihans-Xc/D 95.2 3.2 17217 Ifb Agro-B/D 483.4 16.2 8084 Navneet Edu-B/D 96.65 2.45 14267 Kingfisher/D 320.3 -1.6 863501 China data and stronger Castrol India-/D 446.8 5.4 24137 India Cement-A/D 101.55 5.6 896822 Nepc India-T/D 2.22 0.1 27935 Land Secs Grou/D 1173 7 473447 Century Enka-B/D 199.6 1.9 14696 India Glycol-B/D 103.9 1.4 18495 Nrb Bearings-B/D 140 5.3 3228 Legal & Genera/D 257.3 -1.8 4247087 dollar drag Century Text-A/D 597.55 8.05 155035 Indian Card-B/D 302.5 9.3 20607 O N G C-A/D 241.8 3.5 1093236 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 71.44 0.07 40478834 Chambal Fert-B/D 64.15 1.9 123704 Indian Hotel-A/D 118.55 -0.85 127674 Oil Country-B/D 31.95 0.4 8521 Marks & Sp./D 434 -1.3 4238197 Chowgule St-T/D 21.7 -0.1 22002 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1067 -4.8 5131 Onward Tech-B/D 117.3 14.6 50558 Next/D 6849.863 -345 1256765 REUTERS Cimmco-B/D 87.1 2.1 6302 Indusind-A/D 933.6 -0.85 26557 Orchid Pharm-B/D 63.15 1.45 451413 Pearson/D 728 7.5 690275 Cipla-A/D 641.15 -4.4 63759 J.B.Chemical-B/D 278.95 -2.5 35021 Orient Hotel-T/D 29.35 -0.9 111492 Prudential/D 1460.5 3 1533134 City Union Bk-/D 90.75 -1.05 14462 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 62.35 2.95 1505 Orient.Carb.-T/D 582 2.5 3257 Rentokil Initi/D 156.8 -0.5 410604 Colgate-A/D 972.9 -1.15 18077 Jagson Phar-B/D 60.85 7.5 413027 Orient.Carb.-T/D 582 2.5 3257 Rolls Royce Pl/D 563.5 3 1636314 Container Cor-/D 1312.15 -35.95 46131 Jamnaauto-B/D 143.4 5.3 593552 Oudh Sugar-B/D 37.9 -0.2 20837 Rsa Insrance G/D 410.7 0.7 967530 LONDON: Oil prices fell yesterday on concerns about Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 467 -0.2 3160 Jbf Indu-B/D 228.2 0 64215 Patspin India-/D 13.38 0.63 35324 Sainsbury(J)/D 252.687 -2.6 1177851 the pace of economic growth in China and a stronger Dcm Financia-T/D 1.2 0.05 40976 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.44 0.01 229566 Punjab Chem.-B/D 185.3 6.9 29716 Schroders/D 2871 6 61677 US dollar, handing back some of the gains triggered by Dcm Shram Ind-/D 96.4 0.5 3938 Jct Ltd-B/D 10.52 0.07 3669070 Radico Khait-B/D 115.3 0.45 47965 Severn Trent/D 2152.25 2 130012 an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Dhampur Sugar-/D 71.4 -0.45 76992 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 13.43 0.27 117112 Rallis India-A/D 176.1 0.65 22654 Smith&Nephew/D 1167 -2 726702 Global benchmark Brent crude prices were down Dr. Reddy-A/D 3066.65 9.7 23337 Jik Indust-T/D 0.94 0.04 1200 Rallis India-A/D 176.1 0.65 22654 Smiths Group/D 919.8065 -2.5 703589 61 cents at $36.61 a barrel at 1503 GMT. US West Texas E I H-B/D 130.75 0.35 50745 Jindal Drill-B/D 133.8 0.1 1204 Reliance Indus/D 521 -1.5 227797 Standrd Chart /D 532.3 -9.4 3109163 Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped 40 cents to $36.36. E.I.D Parry-A/D 197.15 -5.4 58726 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 115.8 2.7 360363 Ruchi Soya-B/D 30.5 0.5 301888 Tate & Lyle/D 584.93 -1 253087 Eicher Motor-A/D 17169.5 -336.75 4391 Jmc Projects-T/D 262.3 5.4 8938 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 519 -5.65 1100 Tesco/D 144.95 2.7 14255958 “It is the Chinese stock market sell-off and the strong- Electrosteel-B/D 23.9 1.15 380035 Kabra Extr-B/D 109 5.4 13349 Salora Inter-B/D 63 5.1 1452 Unilever/D 2808 -13 515063 dollar that are pressuring oil,” said Tamas Varga, oil Emco-B/D 34.1 1.25 103579 Kajaria Cer-A/D 962 -23.4 2920 Saur.Cem-B/D 74.45 4.35 1384934 United Util Gr/D 944 11 789972 analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates. Escorts Fin-B/D 4.3 0.14 301539 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 155 5.1 5739 Sterling Tool-/D 513 -8.25 3266 Vodafone Group/D 219 3 21420685 Chinese stock markets fell again on Tuesday after a Escorts-A/D 169.8 4.3 311388 Kalpat Power-B/D 252.7 0.05 9225 Tanfac Indust-/D 39.5 -0.2 14255 Whitbread/D 4317.5 22 158781 7 percent dive on Monday, rattling markets worldwide and prompting action from the central bank and stock market regulator. Concerns about the economy in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, were wors- ened by news that national rail freight vol- Global benchmark Jitters continue in Emerging Markets umes logged their biggest Brent crude prices ever annual were down 61 cents decline in 2015. Bloomberg market, but otherwise, I can’t see since August on Monday. The yuan “Last year at $36.61 a barrel at anything to merit specific buy- The MSCI Emerging Markets Index of advanced from a five-year low. we talked 1503 GMT. US West ing,” said Tony Hann, the head of Chinese government funds about supply emerging equities at Blackfriars stocks swung between gains and losses, purchased local stocks on Tues- and demand Texas Intermediate MANILA: China’s efforts to sta- Asset Management Ltd in Lon- after falling the most in four months on day, said the people familiar with even surprised (WTI) crude slipped bilize share prices after Monday’s don, who avoids energy stocks Monday. the matter, who asked not to be on the upside. rout did little to boost emerging in favor of consumer-oriented identified because the buying But with this 40 cents to $36.36 markets. assets. “Markets look a little over- wasn’t publicly disclosed. The news flow The MSCI Emerging Markets sold after yesterday, which might China Securities Regulatory Com- from China, Index of stocks swung between be encouraging some short-term beyond this week’s expiration date, the MSCI World Index. The Ibovespa mission asked exchanges verbally demand fears gains and losses, after falling the traders, but there are no new pos- according to people familiar with climbed 0.5 in Sao Paulo. The Bra- to tell listed companies that the have come back,” said Frank Klumpp, oil analyst at most in four months on Monday. itive drivers.” the matter. zilian equity measure rose for the six-month sales ban on major stock- Stuttgart-based Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg. A gauge of 20 developing-nation The worst-ever start to a year The MSCI Emerging Markets first time since December 23 as holders will remain valid beyond The US dollar hit a one-month high against a basket currencies declined for a third for Chinese stocks sparked a sell- Index was little changed at 767.92 bargain hunters buoyed a stock January 8, the people said. of currencies, weighing on oil prices as it made hold- day. China’s CSI 300 Index, which off in Asia, Europe and the U.S. on as of 11:04 am in New York after market that slumped to a six-year The Chinese regulator also ing dollar-denominated commodities more expensive. includes mainland equities known Monday after weak factory data swinging from a decline of 0.3 per- low on Monday. suggested it’s open to tweaking The oil market largely shrugged off rising political as A shares, rose as state-backed spurred concern that the coun- cent to a 0.5 percent gain. A rebound In China, the CSI 300 climbed the circuit breakers. The cen- tensions in the Middle East. On Tuesday Kuwait recalled funds were said to intervene after try’s economic slowdown will curb in Brazil helped buoy the develop- 0.3 percent after dropping as much tral bank conducted the biggest its ambassador to Iran after attacks on Saudi missions by a 7 percent plunge Monday trig- global growth. ing-nation benchmark. as 2.7 percent at the open. The reverse-repurchase operations Iranian protesters, state news agency KUNA reported. gered a trading halt under a new The country’s state- controlled The gauge traded at 10.8 times Shanghai Composite Index slipped since September, adding funds Analysts said that as long as the conflict did not affect circuit-breaker mechanism. funds bought equities and the secu- the average projected 12-month 0.3 percent, while the Hang Seng to the financial system after oil production in the region it would not have a conse- “The Chinese authorities have rities regulator signaled a selling earnings of its members, com- China Enterprises Index fell 1 per- money-market rates climbed to quence for oil prices. stepped in to stabilize the A-share ban on major investors will remain pared with a multiple of 15.4 for cent, extending its steepest decline an eight-month high. BUSINESS VIEWS WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 27

Netflix’s agenda: Too much momentum Spend money now, to make money later is hazard for US stocks

By Lucas Shaw ago. This year, net income Bloomberg will be $137m, the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. From there, Wall Street projects it could climb etflix Inc, which deliv- to $535m in 2017 and sur- ered the best return of pass $1bn by 2018 — if the Nany stock in the S&P expansion works as planned. 500 last year, has ambitious Spending is definitely on the plans for this year so it can rise; the company will devote produce something new next eight times what CBS Corp’s year: serious profits. Showtime will on enter- Investors have been tainment content this year, fine with very little of those according to data from the because Chief Executive research firm MoffettNathan- Officer Reed Hastings has son LLC. Netflix was the top said things would change performer in the Standard after the company com- & Poor’s 500 Index last year, pleted its global expansion. gaining 134 percent, com- That’s supposed to happen in pared with the benchmark’s 2016, with the introduction loss of 0.7 percent. On Mon- of the online video service to day, Netflix fell 3.9 percent to more than 100 new markets, close at $109.96 in New York including China, India and amid a global rout in the mar- Indonesia. At the same time, kets and a downgrade from Netflix will spend about $5bn Robert W Baird & Co. “Inter- on programming, more than national subscriber growth twice as much as HBO’s esti- is what’s holding the valua- mated budget, and double its tion up,” said Laura Martin, an production of original series. analyst with Needham & Co If all goes as planned, Wall who recommends buying the Street expects net income stock. The trick, she said, will could soar to more than be to keep adding custom- A view of a board showing the Dow Jones industrial average at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), in New York. $500m in 2017. ers at a steady enough clip to The popularity of the foot all the bills. home-grown content Most of the Netflix budget — Netflix builds its can’t-get- has in the past gone to buy- By Joseph Ciolli other strategies not working,” said Jim Paulsen, it-anywhere-else pitches ing older movies and shows, Bloomberg the Minneapolis-based chief investment strat- around shows like “Making a but the original-versus- egist at Wells Capital Management Inc, which Murderer” and “Jessica Jones” imports balance is starting oversees $351bn. “It’s a characteristic you — will be key to Hastings to shift. Netflix is at its most often get at the end of a market cycle.” making good on the prof- efficient when its money is t may seem strange that in a stock market Momentum worked in 2015 because a lot its pledge. Netflix has to lure devoted to its own series, that went nowhere, investment strate- of companies that had big years in 2014, from enough new customers to films, stand-up comedy gies premised on buying shares based Avago Technologies Ltd to Electronic Arts Inc pay for it all, and record the shows and more, Chief Con- on their momentum just posted the best and Monster Beverage Corp, did well again. After gaining an average kind of gains that’ll persuade tent Officer Ted Sarandos year since 2007. But they did — and The top industries in the S&P 500 — con- doubters the CEO’s vision for said at an investor conference Ithat’s not great news for bulls. sumer staples and discretionary, healthcare of 18 percent over the the first worldwide online TV in December. The service will Momentum stocks, defined as the ones and technology — also were among the mar- last three years, the network can pan out. in 2016 debut its first talk showing the biggest gains in the last six to ket leaders in the second half of 2014. They “A lot of challenges await show, a movie starring Brad 12 months, kept rallying in 2015, returning gained an average of 5.4 percent in 2015. S&P 500 fell 0.7 percent them, one of which is the Pitt, reboots of bygone hits 32 percent, according to data compiled by At the same time, few market laggards in 2015. That result, amount of money they’ve “Full House” and “Degrassi” Evercore ISI and Bloomberg. That beat the made up ground. Energy providers and raw- earmarked for content pro- and the first offerings in next-best quantitative category, high earn- materials producers, among biggest losers buoyed by gains in a duction. It’s startling,” said French and Italian. It also has ings and sales growth, by 10 percentage from July to December 2014, have all stayed handful of megacaps, Paul Verna, an analyst with exclusive rights to releases points. Rallies in companies from Amazon. down, falling at least 10 percent in 2015. eMarketer Inc. The interna- from Walt Disney Co starting com Inc to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc The success of the stick-with-your- masks weaker tional rollout this year is “a this year. New programs will and industries such as biotech and software winners blueprint in 2015 represents one performance beneath huge potential windfall — but join blockbusters including kept the engine humming even as the Stand- transformation in a bull market that also saw the surface. it’s a gamble.” “House of Cards” and “Orange ard & Poor’s 500 Index its first 10 percent correction in four years Hastings may reveal Is the New Black.” barely budged. in August and the biggest burst of volatility details during the Interna- To cover the costs, Net- While investors were since the European debt crisis. Momentum tional Consumer Electronics flix will have to not only happy for anything that strategies lost money in US stocks in the four Show in Las Vegas, where attract more customers but worked in the seventh years from 2009 to 2012, according to ISI. The equal-weight gauge’s outperform- he’s scheduled to give a key- keep raising prices, said year of a bull market, Now they’re thriving in part because they ance disappeared in the final 12 months of note speech on Wednesday. Anthony DiClemente, an not everyone views this provide a successful stock-picking technique the five-year rally that ended in October Netflix is already in more than analyst with Nomura Secu- as a reason for optimism. in a market where locating winners is get- 2007. Similarly, it beat the S&P 500 by 90 60 countries after launching rities International Inc, who Past instances when ting harder. As usually happens when gains percentage points for the first 5 1/2 years in Japan, Australia and South- recommends buying the momentum stocks won flatten, far fewer stocks in the S&P 500 rose of the share advance that began in 2009 ern Europe last year. It hasn’t stock. Netflix increased Energy providers have occurred closer to during 2015 compared with 2014: 44 percent before its advantage dwindled. confirmed subscriber num- them up for new custom- and raw-materials the end of rallies than versus 75 percent. “Narrowness of participation is certainly bers but projected in October ers in the US and Europe the beginning, signalling Other measures of market breadth a bad sign,” said Paulsen. “Momentum has that it would add about 6 last year. Global subscrib- producers, among indiscriminate buying at diminished, too. After gaining an average worked well, but a smaller and smaller million domestically and 11 ers could grow to 150 biggest losers from a time when more tradi- of 18 percent over the last three years, the number of stocks are momentum plays.” million outside the US in 2015, million by 2020, according July to December tional share drivers such S&P 500 fell 0.7 percent in 2015. That result, Starved of alternatives, investors have reaching 74.3 million total. to DiClemente’s forecasts, as earnings growth are buoyed by gains in a handful of megacaps, piled into exchange-traded funds track- Profits, though, have with revenue growing at an 2014, have all stayed starting to wane. masks weaker performance beneath the sur- ing momentum strategies in 2015. Since been relatively slim since it annual rate of 24 percent to down, falling at least “More and more face. A version of the benchmark gauge that the first one was introduced more than went public almost 14 years almost $20bn. funds were driven into strips out market-value biases slid 4.1 per- a decade ago, the category’s assets have 10 percent in 2015. a shrinking group of cent in 2015, the most compared with the grown to almost $5bn, data compiled by momentum stocks with normal S&P 500 in eight years. Bloomberg show. 1980s boom years living on in Korea’s media stocks

By Heejin Kim growth for the past decades are having dif- exports account for about 50 percent of gross 2015 as it signed a contract with Beijing-based Bloomberg ficulties from getting out of the doldrums, we domestic product, has slowed amid a slump in Huayi Brothers Media Corp to co-produce six found the media content industry emerging global demand. Inflation near 1 percent over films over three years. Chorokbaem Media Co as a promising sector for the next generation,” the past year shows domestic consumption jumped 55 percent as a holding company for said Chang Lee, head of the Equity Research remains stagnant. The Kospi index of shares China’s DMG Entertainment became its biggest hile Korean steel mills and ship Center at NH Investment and Securities. “We rose 2.4 percent in 2015 to 1,961.31, falling short shareholder in November 2015. Chorokbaem, yards struggled to stay in busi- are neighbouring with China, a major con- of forecasts it would end the year above 2,000 the maker of “The Producers” drama starring ness in 2015, the nation’s media tent importer, and both countries signed a points. While the government declared vic- My Love actor Kim Soo- hyun, said in a filing companies were busy emulat- free trade agreement recently.” tory over the deadly Middle Ease Respiratory on December 29, 2015 that it will work with Wing the boom years of the 1980s — literally. Middle-aged viewers feel nostalgia for the Syndrome virus in July 2015, the stock market DMG to co-produce a drama. Shares of CJ E&M, which owns cable TV heydays of Korean economy, particularly in the suffered further declines during Shanghai’s NH Investment’s Lee said valuations of Asia’s fourth-largest channel tvN, doubled in 2015 as it capped a 80s and early 90s, said Kim Ye Eun, analyst at stock market crash over the summer. such stocks are heavily affected by the suc- year of hits with a weekly drama called “Reply LIG Investment & Securities. CJ E&M drew an Chinese producers lack the creativity and cess or failure of their productions in the economy, where exports 1988.” The show depicting the lives of high audience of 13 million for a nostalgic movie experience to make a high-quality dramas short-term. CJ E&M and Showbox have price account for about 50 school students during a year of 11.9 percent “Ode To My Father,” which describes a man like “My Love from the Star,” a Korean series to estimated earnings ratios of about 30, while percent of gross domestic economic growth and the Seoul Olympics born after the 1950-53 Korean War who had aired last year about the romance between Chorokbaem is making losses. “Unlike CJ E&M, struck a chord with households in an economy to support his family by working as a laborer an actress and an alien, said Hyun Choi, Head which is a subsidiary of the chaebol CJ Corp, product, has slowed amid reeling from 11 months of slumping exports. in a German coal mine and participating in the of Equity in Baring Asset Management Korea most Korean media stocks are small-sized a slump in global demand. The “Korean Wave” of popular culture Vietnam War. Confectionery makers, apparel Ltd. The show was so popular in China that it companies,” said Lee. “Even if they forge a that spans drama, K- Pop music, fashion and brands and even brewery companies rode the helped spur sales of everything from Korean partnership with Chinese companies and suc- Inflation near 1 percent cosmetics boosted a range of stocks last year trend with retro-themed chocolates, jackets, tours to Amorepacific Corp’s cosmetics. ceed in their productions, uncertainties still over the past year shows as companies around Asia sought co-produc- and beers. “People buy items that remind them “Chinese filmmakers are attempting to remain among some investors over whether tions or product tie-ins. Shares in Showbox of past memories, and stores and supermar- build up partnerships with Korean companies the success would effectively lead to profit- domestic consumption Corp. and Chorokbaem Media Co. jumped kets are marketing those products,” Kim said. as they can provide Korean directors as well ability or not.” remains stagnant. more than 50 percent in 2015 on production “The nostalgia for the past is the biggest fac- as creative ideas,” Choi said. “China is still at CJ E&M has released a series of films with tie-ups with companies from China. tor for their consumption.” an early stage of film and drama production.” Chinese companies, including “A Wedding Invi- “While the industries that led Korea’s Asia’s fourth-largest economy, where Showbox Corp stock jumped 58 percent in tation” produced with China Film Group Corp. 28 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

Faraday’s futuristic concept sight sees car as rolling smartphone Why oil markets are

yawning as Mideast “We’re forward- thinking company powers rattle sabers focused on the future mobility, but we Bloomberg remains oversupplied, Macquarie also share a passion Group Ltd. analysts including for driving and Vikas Dwivedi said in a note. performance”, says LONDON/DUBAI: At almost any The events “may severely limit other time, an escalating diplo- the possibility of peace in sur- Nick Sampson, senior matic conflict between Opec rounding countries, but do not vice president of members Iran and Saudi Arabia directly threaten crude oil pro- would mean a spike in oil prices. duction,” the bank said. research and product That the rally this time The world is awash in oil after development for couldn’t be sustained shows Opec members led by Saudi Ara- just how abnormal things are bia committed to a strategy of Faraday.” in the oil market. Brent crude is increasing market share by pres- little changed this week as a glo- suring high-cost producers, rather bal supply glut and the slowest than cutting output to support Chinese growth in a generation prices. This policy has resulted Bloomberg trumped mounting strife between in record oil inventory levels that the nations on either side of the will probably keep growing for world’s busiest waterway for oil most of the year, the International tankers. Energy Agency said last month. “When oil supplies were tight, This provides a cushion against ALK about a flight of fancy. we’ve seen bigger reactions to any unexpected turmoil. Faraday Future Inc., the geopolitical tensions,” Tushar Brent, the global benchmark, electric vehicle startup Tarun Bansal, a senior oil analyst dropped 0.2 percent on Monday, backed by Chinese Inter- in Singapore at industry consult- erasing a gain of as much as 4.6 net billionaire Jia Yueting, ant FGE, said by phone Monday. percent. Futures for February set- Tshowed a concept car that would prob- “Now the price rise has actually tlement fell another 0.2 percent ably struggle to gain mass acceptance been quite muted because the to $37.16 a barrel at 11:47 a.m. on even if produced. world is in a surplus situation.” the London-based ICE Futures For starters, the FFZero1 concept There was little more than a Europe exchange Tuesday. car, shown Monday for the first time in blip in crude futures when Saudi Saudi Arabia and Iran are the Las Vegas before the Consumer Elec- Arabia severed diplomatic ties largest and fifth-biggest produc- tronics Show this week, has but one with Iran, as investors focused ers in Opec, respectively. seat. The car’s space-age style white instead on record stockpiles and Last month, Opec effectively cockpit was inspired by NASA research rising supply. As Kuwait and the abandoned any limits on output and has oxygen and water fed to the United Arab Emirates lined up and boosted production, accord- driver’s helmet. If Faraday built this and performance,” said Nick Sampson, steering wheel of the FFZero1 so the that houses the battery, with an elec- to support Riyadh, the inter- ing to a Bloomberg survey. The car, it would have the equivalent of senior vice president of research and driver can access anything he needs tric motor at each wheel. This allows nal divisions that prevented group would need to reach a con- 1,000 horsepower, not exactly what product development for Faraday. “On on the Internet. Since the concept is Faraday to easily change the size and the Organization of Petro- sensus before making any change one drives to pick up the kids. our platform, electric vehicles will not designed with autonomous driving in shape to make a one-seat hot rod like leum Exporting Countries from of policy that could reduce the While this won’t be the electric- only deliver on sustainability, but will mind, Faraday wants to give drivers the FFZero1 or more mundane vehi- making production cuts even glut. drive car they build in 2017 to reach be seamlessly connected and exhila- images, data and anything else they cles like a sedan or sport utility vehicle. as prices plunged to an 11-year While Iran is set to boost to the masses, it is supposed to signal rating to drive.” want from the Web. Faraday will be able to build several low appeared more entrenched oil production as sanctions on its that Faraday takes a futuristic view Sampson said the first car Faraday That would yield Faraday another different models at the same factory, than ever. nuclear program are lifted this and designs cars packed with con- produces will definitely be a premium- source of revenue. The company is the company said. Saudi Arabia gave Iran’s year, it has called on other Opec nectivity and technology that are just priced car and could be a sedan or a backed by Jia, who is the founder of This isn’t the first time a company ambassador 48 hours to leave members to cut output. as much a part of the sales pitch as sport utility vehicle. Leshi Internet Information & Technol- has toyed with a skateboard concept. after protesters set its embassy Kuwait said it backed “all style and transportation. The com- The black-and-silver race car that ogy, or Letv, which sells Internet-based Before its bankruptcy, General Motors in Tehran on fire. It was the worst measures adopted by Saudi pany didn’t elaborate on the production Faraday showed is purely a concept that movies and entertainment content and Corp. had its Autonomy concept, a large clash between the nations since Arabia to maintain its security car that will first roll off the assem- shows the kind of styling that future services. Faraday said the partnership skateboard that housed the hydro- the 1980s. and stability,” according to an bly line of its $1 billion factory north models will wear, said Faraday chief with Letv will enable the automaker to gen tanks and fuel-cell system for The impact of the tensions is unnamed Foreign Ministry official of Las Vegas in 2017. designer Richard Kim. “It’s a serious sell Internet content to drivers. its futuristic models. That one never limited because the oil market cited by the KUNA news agency. “We’re a forward-thinking com- statement and it showcases what Far- Faraday promises a breakthrough made it past the auto show circuit as pany focused on the future of mobility, aday Future is about,” Kim said. in automaking as well. The FFZero1 cash-strapped GM went into bank- but we also share a passion for driving A smartphone is embedded into the is built on a large skateboard chassis ruptcy in 2009.

China could once again “spook” global financial Capital markets in 2016. Global spillovers from China’s Maurice Obstfeld, IMF slowdown have been “much larger than we could Economic Counsellor and Comment have anticipated,” affecting the global economy. Director of Research

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk Nevsky to shut its Blackrock@blackrock DealB%k $1.5bn hedge fund China likely to remain NAME IN THE MARKET: DEALMAKING-TOP SECTORS source of volatility, but Bloomberg officer, said in a statement. weak manufacturing Historically, when a bank, Nevsky Capital joins hedge- data doesn’t mean a fund firms such as billionaire hard landing like JPMorgan Chase, Michael Platt’s BlueCrest made a loan to a private LONDON : Nevsky Capital’s Capital Management, Doug World Bank@WorldBank $1.5bn hedge fund is shutting Hirsch’s Seneca Capital, and equity firm planning a big down and returning money Scott Bommer’s SAB Capital If 100 of all cities went acquisition, the bank would to investors as the emergence Management in returning money low-carbon, GHG emis- of computer-driven trading to clients. sions would drop 10% hire an outside law firm to strategies and index funds A total of 257 funds were a year scrutinize the loan diminish money-making liquidated in the third quarter, opportunities. up from 200 in the previous three The London-based firm months, according to Hedge Fund managed by Martin Taylor and Research Inc. That brought the IIF@IIF Nick Barnes makes bets on number of closures for the first FT Alphaville rising and falling share prices nine months to 674, compared in developed and emerging with 661 during a year earlier. It’s not just the Fed: markets. The fund returned 18.1 Taylor started the current Domestic growth is percent in 2013 before losing 1.4 version of the fund in 2011 and weighing on foreign percent the following year. In the aimed to manage no more than investment to EMs China’s new circuit breaker: first 11 months of 2015, the fund $800 million after deciding to ‘don’t write about Chinese was up 0.9 percent, according step away from the “intensity” of to data compiled by Bloomberg. running the original $3.3bn hedge stocks before markets close Dealogic@Dealogic “We have come regretfully to fund that was started in 2000. The because they can be relied the conclusion that the current fund returned 14.6 percent in 2012. Tech startups face algorithmically driven market Nevsky expects to liquidate the fresh pressure on val- upon to immediately move environment is one which is portfolio and move into cash by uations via @WSJ @ and make you look like a jerk’ increasingly incompatible the end of January. The fund’s 18.4 Dealogic #Tech #IPOs with our fundamental, research percent annual gain since 2000 is orientated, investment process,” nearly 10 times more than returns Taylor, the firm’s chief investment generated by average peers . www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 30 PAGE | 33 Loeb extends Zidane handed Dakar baptism of fire Rally lead by Madrid

WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 • 26 Rabia I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Feisty Marchencko topples Ferrer in Doha

break Ferrer twice to complete the first QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN 2016 Beats defending upset of the 2016 season, On match point, a confident March- TODAY’S ORDER OF PLAY champion on enko produced a flourishing forehand CENTRE COURT start 3:30 pm day two of the to take the match. “I was confident in the match [7] J Chardy (FRA) vs P Mathieu (FRA) Qatar ExxonMobil because the coach had firm belief in Not Before 5:00 pm me,” Marchencko said. “I served well Open [1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs F Verdasco (ESP) or [WC] M Jaziri too. It is a fantastic way to start the (TUN) season. It is really important to stay calm and focused after this win. I have R Haase (NED) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP) to recover well from a game that had [3] T Berdych (CZE) vs D Dzumhur (BIH) By Rizwan Rehmat such long rallies,” Marchenko said. COURT 1 start 3:30 pm The Peninsula Earlier, Last year’s losing finalist Berdych won the points that mattered T Gabashvili (RUS) vs I Marchenko (UKR) to beat Stakhovsky in straight sets. R Berankis (LTU) vs A Kuznetsov (RUS) Berdych won 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour 17 [Q] K Edmund (GBR) vs D Muñoz de la Nava (ESP) DOHA: Unseeded Illy Marchenko of minutes to make a resounding start to Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns to Ukraine yesterday scripted the first his new season on what was day two COURT 2 start 3:30 pm major upset of the new season when Pablo Carreno Busta. Nadal bt of the six-day tournament. P Andujar (ESP) vs [8] L Mayer (ARG) busta 6-7, 6-3, 6-1. he beat defending champion David “I just wanted to get on the court S Bolelli (ITA) / S Stakhovsky (UKR) vs [3] F Lopez (ESP) Ferrer of Spain in three sets on day and play matches which I did,” Ber- / M Lopez (ESP) two of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. dych, the third seed in Doha, said. “I After Suitable Rest Ranked number 94 in the world, am glad to be back and I am happy to tennis journeyman Marchenko played have won the first match,” he added. [1] J Rojer (NED) / H Tecau (ROU) or J Erlich (ISR) / C Fleming (GBR) vs T Gabashvili (RUS) / A Ramos-Vinolas fearless tennis from the baseline to beat “I have some time off after my (ESP) Ferrer - the fourth seed - 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 in last match in London (in November). two hours and 27 minutes on the Cen- I needed a break which I got. Later I COURT 3 start 4:00 pm tre Court at Khalifa Tennis Complex. played some IPTL and then prepared [4] P Petzschner (GER) / A Peya (AUT) vs D Marrero It was Marchenko’s first win over for this event. I was busy and I am feel- (ESP) / A Seppi (ITA) Ferrer on the ATP Tour. Before yes- ing healthy now,” Berdych said. After Suitable Rest - J Chardy (FRA) / P Mathieu (FRA) terday’s clash, Marchenko had never Illy Marchenko of Ukraine returns to David Ferrer of Spain in their Qatar ExxonMobil Open match played at With his win yesterday, Berdych vs [2] J Murray (GBR) / B Soares (BRA) taken a set off a top-10 player. the Khalifa Tennis Complex yesterday. In a major upset, Marchencko beat the defending champion, Ferrer kept his hold on Stakhovsky who has Men’s Singles Results In a late match on Centre Court yes- 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. Picture by Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula gone seven matches without a win over terday, second seed and 2014 champion his Czech opponent. Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) bt 6-Andreas Seppi (Italy) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 Rafael Nadal of Spain overcame a set’s Berdych broke Stakhosvky in game deficit to beat compatriot Pablo Car- two of the first set but the Ukrainian Illya Marchenko (Ukraine) bt 4-David Ferrer (Spain) reno Busta 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 in two hours. Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, on this performance. at 5-all. responded back immediately by break- 6-7(8) 6-3, 6-2 In other matches yesterday, third 4-6, 7-6 in 2 hours 45 minutes on court Marchenko takes on Russia’s At 8-all, a rattled Marchenko ing the Czech in game three. Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) bt Albert Ramos (Spain) seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech number 2. Gabashvili in the second round of the smashed a return long before firing Both players held serve until game 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7) Republic beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of The day clearly belonged to six-day event. a wayward return on the next serve 12 when Berdych broke Stakhovsky for 8-Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) bt Benjamin Becker Ukraine 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour 17 minutes 28-year-old Marchencko who is yet Marchenko overcame a shocker by Ferrer who took the first set on his the second time in the first set. (Germany) 6-1, 6-2 while eight seed Leonardo Mayer of to win a title on the ATP Tour. in the first set when he wasted a 5-1 third set point. The first set lasted 67 After a similar pattern in the sec- Teymuraz Gabashvili (Russia) bt Simone Bolelli (Italy) Argentina crushed German qualifier “It is a fantastic start for me,” March- advantage in the tie-breaker. Ferrer, minutes while the tie-breaker went ond set Berdych claimed victory as 4-6, 6-4 ,6-1 Benjamin Becker 6-1, 6-2 in 64 minutes. enko said after the three-set battle. “I clearly looking the part in terms of on for 15 minutes. a wayward Stakhosvky was broken Pablo Andujar (Spain) bt Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-4, 0-6, Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili beat prepared really well. Now I will have to fitness, fought back by pushing March- In the second set, Marchenko hit in game 10. 6-4 Italy’s Simone Bolelli 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in 1 get ready for the next match,” he added. enko back on the baseline. the ground running, breaking Ferrer When asked about his top moment hour 58 minutes while Spain’s Pablo “Earlier I was not even close to win- A couple of long returns and in games two and eight before clos- in 2015, Berdych said: “The two big 3-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) bt Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 7-5, 6-4 Andujar downed Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi ning a set (against a top-10 player) and unforced error by Marchencko helped ing the set with an ace. The second set moments were when I got married 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in 1 hour 59 minutes. today it was a fantastic match. It is a Ferrer close the gap at 4-5 followed by lasted 35 minutes. In the third set, the and on the court when I beat Rafa in Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt Pablo Carreno Busta (Spain) France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu beat big day for me and I am really happy an unforced error that tied the score well-built Ukrainian returned well to Melbourne.” 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 Djokovic looking to maintain successful run throughout 2016

Q. We saw you come to the net many Q. What is the biggest challenge for Djokovic: Honestly, the match went very successful, as a matter of fact, the most suc- times in the first match. Is that something 2016? quick (on Monday). We didn’t have many cessful season of my life in 2015, and then Boris has been stressing you to do more Djokovic: I think the biggest challenge exchanges, not many (long) rallies. I thought obviously had decisions to make whether of in the off-season? is to be consistent with my success through- I have done well staying in the match on each or not I want to participate in IPTL or Abu Novak Djokovic: Not much. Obviously out the year, to try and stay healthy and point, not really allowing myself to get dis- Dhabi exhibition events where I can get more I know Boris was a more natural, volley/ try to maintain the high level of perform- tracted or to allow him to start maneuvering matches, more competitive play, But I decided net player than I am. We do try to work ance. That’s what I try to focus my mind on. and playing the way he (Brown) wants. I to skip that and come straight to Doha. on certain transitions in the game when If I start thinking too much about certain was getting a lot of returns back in play. I To rest, recuperate, and get myself here I have a short ball to come in and be at tournaments, it can present a kind of a dis- thought (my) return was well. early and to get in the right state of mind, I the net, but not necessarily to come at the traction so you try not to do that. I try to stay My serve was very efficient. And of course would say, to be fresh mentally, because last net all times. in the present and work my way through. there were a few shots that I missed, but year not only physically was very demand- I’m a baseline player. That’s my core of That’s really working on my game, train- all in all, it was a straight-sets win, a com- ing but also emotionally, mentally. my game. But when I do have an oppor- ing myself to be strong and to play confident fortable win. That’s what I take from the Playing at the high level, playing so many tunity I try to use it and come to the net. tennis. And as a consequence to that, the performance. high quality matches against top 10 players So partly, yes, it has been an influence to results will be positive, I’m hoping, obviously. Q. What’s the importance of participat- - it takes a heavy toll, It’s tiring. be more aggressive but not as much as he Q. Obviously it was a strong perform- ing in ExxonMobil Qatar 2016, especially I value recuperation and recovery as Novak Djokovic used to do. I’m not diving and playing so ance against Dustin Brown. Any areas that it comes at the beginning of the season? much as I value training. That’s why I came well in the net so well as he did. that you can improve? Djokovic: I have had a very long, very in early, that’s why I had a good rest. Following success in Abu Dhabi, Nadal focused on Qatar

Q. What’s going through your mind? What are your this year but anything can happen. This is the sport. Last lose the condition and I played in IPTL. For me it was great, hopes in 2016. year I played a great set here in the first round but I lost. because it was a great week of practice and at the same Rafael Nadal: The fact is this is an Olympic year. When But I was playing good, no? And (despite not) having an time and competing a little bit too. (After IPTL) I was back the Olympics arrive, I will try to be ready for it but for the easy year, I managed it well because I finished in high in Spain and I had João Sousa come to Mallorca for prac- moment, that’s the normal ATP calendar. I am focused on it position in rankings. I finished playing well. This year is tice. We practiced very hard, and then I started in Abu for sure. The motivation to play Olympics will be amazing, another year. It’s true I’m not coming back from injuries Dhabi playing well again. but for the moment, I am focused on Qatar now. I played and I feel that I worked a lot to be ready for the beginning Q. Along with Roger, you’re one of the most popu- well in Abu Dhabi last week. I am practicing well. We start of this one. But I have said before: anything can happen. lar players on the tour. Does fan support motivate you, these two days with that wind, but I feel ready for the new Q. You have been training very hard during the off- encourage you, or put more pressure on you? season. But the expectations are normal ones, positive season. Can you talk a little bit about your training? Nadal: All support is very welcome. I get that support ones, because I feel that I finished the past season play- Nadal: I have been training as much as we believe we from the fans around the world. I still feel this and that’s ing well and I feel that I am playing well again. We’ll see. needed and that’s it. We worked hard. We worked harder very important. That’s always important when you feel Q. If you compare the first week of this year to the first than usual because the physical condition allows me to the fans behind you are supporting you. It gives you great week of last year, what is the difference in your mood? do it and that’s important for me. I feel that I worked well. energy. So I just feel great with that, and I just (want to) Rafael Nadal Nadal: Well, it is obvious that I feel more confidant Didn’t stop much this year. That helps too when you don’t thank everybody around the world for that. 30 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Loeb extends Dakar Rally lead

Last year’s winner Al Attiyah makes up for lost ground after a delay on Monday

Agencies

TERMAS DE RÍO HONDO, Argen- tina : Sebastien Loeb extended his Dakar Rally lead by claiming a sec- ond consecutive stage win on the run from Termas de Rio Hondo to Jujuy yesterday. The stage was again shortened due to heavy rain, with the timed French Sebastien Loeb (right) and Stephane Pterhansel celebrate their first and second place after the Novak Jokovic (second right) poses for a picture with Qatar Tennis section beginning after what should have been checkpoint one, reducing second stage of the Rally Dakar 2016, between Villa Carlos Paz and Termas de Rio Hondo locality, Argentina, Federation (QTF) President Nasser Al Khelaifi at the annual gala it from 195 miles to 120, and the truck yesterday. Bottom: Mini driver Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar looks on after getting out of his car. dinner on Monday night. Rafael Nadal, (second left) David Ferrer section abandoned when part of the (left) and Tomas Berdych were also present along withExxonMobil course collapsed. to sixth positions. On Monday, Loeb and ATP Tour officials. The other QTF officials present were Yousif Loeb repeated his Monday feat of DAKAR RALLY won his first Dakar Rally stage, the Mohamed Al Obadily, Secretary General, Tariq Darwish Zainal, setting the pace through every timing 387km run between Villa Carlos Paz Assistant Secretary General, Khaled Ghanim AL Khelaifi, QTF Board split, and he now leads the event by and Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina. Member and Mohammad Al Subaei, QTF Board Member, along with just over five minutes from the Toy- The Spaniard’s performance yes- At the wheel of a Peugeot the Karim Alami, the Tournament Director. ota of Giniel de Villiers. terday moved him back into the overall 41-year-old Frenchman took 3 hours What had been a Peugeot one- top 10. 45mins and 46sec to complete the sec- two was interrupted by Loeb’s Dakar Last year’s winner Nasser Al Atti- ond stage, which had been shortened legend team-mate Stephane Peter- yah also made up ground after a delay due to a section being badly effected hansel coming through only sixth on Monday. by heavy overnight rain. Aspetar provides quickest, almost three minutes Having dropped back to ninth “It was tricky out there and I’m slower than the nine-time World overall due to a puncture on stage happy we came through okay. I’m a Rally champion. two, he was just two seconds behind little surprised to have clocked the medical services for That allowed de Villiers to split Sainz in third on this stage and best time of the day,” said Loeb. the leading 2008 DKRs, though he is moved up to fifth place, 47s behind “We got lucky on a muddy sec- only 12 seconds in front of Peterhansel. his X-raid Mini team-mate Mikko tion where several others ran into Carlos Sainz was Loeb’s closest Hirvonen. trouble. The car is good, up to the job, Qatar Open 2016 challenger on stage pace, 1m23s adrift, While Loeb has pulled five min- especially on these narrow wind- as he began a recovery drive follow- utes clear up front, the pack behind ing roads. ing the engine problem that left him remains close, with 1m40s covering “We’ll be first out tomorrow (Tues- The Peninsula stranded for more than 10 minutes de Villiers, Peterhansel, Hirvonen, Al- day) and that’ll make things easier on stage two. Attiyah and Leroy Poulter in second for us.”

DOHA: Aspetar, the world’s lead- ing specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, is provid- Don’t compare me with Guardiola: Zidane ing comprehensive medical support and services for the 2016 Qatar Exx- onMobil Open. Taking place in Doha from Janu- Reuters has been at Bayern Munich since 2013. of tension within the squad. “I’ve got Speaking at his pre-match news ary 4 to 9, the championship features “You shouldn’t make comparisons good feelings, but a coach is never fully conference ahead of Wednesday’s many of the world’s best-known ten- with me and Guardiola,” Zidane said. prepared, especially a coach who has League Cup semi-final first leg against nis stars. As a preferred destination “He has achieved incredible things.” never managed at this level before,” Manchester City, Martinez said he for many international events and spectators and championship staff. MADRID: Real Madrid manager Benitez was sacked after seven he said. could trim his squad this month, but elite stars, Aspetar is providing com- Agreements have been signed with Zinedine Zidane does not want to be months as coach with Real third in “I feel kind of prepared. I have moti- denied that he would welcome bids prehensive medical services during other partners to provide unique compared with former Barcelona coach La Liga, four points behind leaders vation and hope. All that will help me.” for Mirallas. the championship to enable players to medical services throughout the Pep Guardiola despite the similari- Atletico Madrid. “I have clear targets Around 6,000 fans watched Zidane “I expect Kevin to have a major compete at their maximum potential. championship. ties in their routes to the hot seats at and I’m going to do everything I can take first-team training yesterday influence in the second half of the sea- Highly qualified Aspetar med- Aspetar will provide medical serv- Spain’s two biggest clubs. to reach those targets,” Zidane said. and his first game as manager will son,” the Spaniard said. ical staff will be appointed on site ices for the 2016 Qatar ExxonMobil Zidane, a former Real player, took Real, record 10-times European be against Deportivo La Coruna at the “Kevin signed a new contract in throughout the tournament. These Open throughout all the stages of the over as coach on Monday following champions, were criticised for their Bernabeu on Saturday. the summer. He had a really strong include three sports medicine competition. The hospital’s staff have the dismissal of Rafa Benitez and, like style of play under Benitez and a 4-0 Meanwhile, Everton manager Rob- pre-season. We allow football to make experts,physiotherapists, massage already provided support during the Guardiola when he became manager home defeat by arch-rivals Barcelona erto Martinez says Kevin Mirallas is decisions. We’ve got really good attack- therapists and podiatrists, as well training and warm up stages, and at the Nou Camp in 2008, has no top- in November was the low point of the still a part of his plans and the club are ing options and Kevin was unfortunate. as a specialist support team and a will continue to do so to the finals. level experience in the job. Spaniard’s unhappy reign. not open to selling the midfielder in “He started the first game against number of ambulances. Many of the biggest names in sport “Guardiola is a fantastic coach “Good football has always been January, despite him playing only a bit- Watford and from there he had a little In addition to providing medical are taking part in the 2016 Qatar Exx- and what he is doing is very impres- important at this place and I am going part role in the first half of the season. injury, he got a three-game suspen- staff, Aspetar has also set up mobile onMobil Open including current World sive,” Zidane told a news conference to continue that,” Zidane said. The Belgian has made only two sion, but the way he’s been working clinics in three locations at the event No. 1 Novak Djokovic, World No. 5 yesterday. “It has to be offensive football, starts in 10 Premier League appear- in the last few weeks earned him a to provide integrated medical services Rafael Nadal, World No. 6 Tomas Ber- “Guardiola is Guardiola. I will do balanced and nothing else,” the ances so far this campaign. start against Newcastle and he did including consultancy and medical dych, titleholder David Ferrer and my best. I will not compare myself 43-year-old added. The 28-year-old has been linked really well.”Martinez said he intended care. Aspetar will also provide on- Fernando Verdasco. with anyone. I never did it as a player “The target always is to win the with a move away in the transfer win- to keep faith with understudy goal- call services for acute and chronic Aspetar has been the official and and I won’t do it now.” Champions League and I will try to dow as he seeks more first-team action keeper Joel Robles, who has played in injuries throughout the Qatar Exx- exclusive medical provider for the Guardiola, a former Barca mid- make that possible.” ahead of the European Champion- the cup games for Everton this sea- onMobil Open. Qatar ExxonMobil Open since 2011 fielder, enjoyed a trophy-laden four Zidane, who played for Real for five ship finals in France, with French son, and that defender Phil Jagielka Maximizing support to the ath- as part of a long term partnership years as coach, winning 14 titles includ- years and helped France win the 1998 side Monaco interested in signing the was likely to return from injury in the letes, Aspetar will also provide agreement signed with the Qatar Ten- ing the Champions League twice. He World Cup, played down suggestions winger, according to media reports. FA Cup tie. medical services to officials, VIPs, nis Federation. Aysha, Hanadi clinch gold in pistol events at Losail

The Peninsula

DOHA: Aysha Al Suwaidi claimed the gold medal in the women’s 10m Rifle event while Hanadi Salem took the gold in the 10m Pistol event at the Qatar Cup which kicked off at Losail Shooting Complex on Monday. The competitions is organised by Qatar Shooting and Archery Association. Bahiya Al Hamad finished sec- ond 10m Rifle while Mahbouba Akhlaqi settled in third place. In 10m Pistol Event, Nasra Mohammad and Mozah Al Suwaidi clinched the second and third places respectively. Besides the Pistol and Rifle events, shooters will vie for top places in Shotgun events. The championship concludes on Jan- uary 18. The event will serve as a good preparation for the Asian Shooting Championship to be hel- din New Delhi from January 25 to The podium winners at the Qatar Cup pose for a picture with Competition February 6. The India champion- in-Charge Fatima Salem Al Jassiman (right) at Lusail Shooting Complex on ship will serve as a qualification The podium winners at the Qatar Cup pose for a picture on Monday. Monday. event for the Rio Olympic Games. SPORT WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 31 New Zealand seal series 3-1 after Guptill’s heroics

CRICKET Lankan skipper SRI LANKA VS NEW ZEALAND Mathews (95) led the resistance but SCOREBOARD a quick collapse of NEW ZEALAND Pranav Dhanawade. The 15-year-old schoolboy from Mumbai, last three wickets India smashed 1,009 not out off 323 balls as he erased the M Guptill c Perera b Kulasekara 102 117-year-old previous record for the highest individual score ensured victory T Latham c Chandimal b Pradeep 0 in cricket. for Kiwis. K Williamson c Chandimal b Dilshan 61 R Taylor c Siriwardana b Kulasekara 61 H Nicholls c Dilshan b Kulasekara 2 L Ronchi (not out) 37 Schoolboy scores Agencies M Santner (not out) 21 Extras (LB-5, W-5) 10 record 1,000 runs Total (for 5 wkts in 50 overs) 294 MOUNT MAUNGANUI: New Zealand Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-125, 3-206, 4-215, sealed the one-day series against Sri 5-262. AFP the Press Trust of India. Lanka yesterday with Martin Gup- Bowling: Pradeep 10-1-69-1 (w2); Cha- Dhanawade’s innings occurred till’s century spearheading a 36-run meera 9-0-41-0 (w1); Perera 6-0-45-0; during the Bhandari Cup school victory in the fifth and final One Day Kulasekara 10-0-53-3 (w2); Dilshan 10-0- MUMBAI: A schoolboy from Mum- tournament, which is officially rec- International at Mount Maunganui. 49-1; Siriwardana 5-0-32-0. bai, India made history yesterday ognised by the Mumbai Cricket Matt Henry’s five-wicket bag SRI LANKA

when he sensationally became the Association. The teenager, who also helped ensure the hosts took a 3-1

D Gunathilaka c Sodhi b Henry 15 first ever batsman in any class of plays wicket-keeper, surpassed series win to go with their 2-0 Test cricket to score 1,000 runs in a Collins’ score on Monday, finishing domination last month. T Dilshan c Ronchi b Boult 5 single innings. the day on 652, before crossing the New Zealand posted 294 for 5 bat- L Thirimanne b Henry 2 Fifteen-year-old Pranav 1,000 mark after lunch yesterday. ting first at the popular beach-side D Chandimal c Williamson b Boult 50 Dhanawade smashed his way to “I have always been a big-hit- resort venue with Guptill making 102, A Mathews c Nicholls b Henry 95 1,009 not out off 323 balls as he ter. When I started I never thought before Sri Lanka were all out for 258 T Perera c Taylor b Milne 15 obliterated a 117-year-old record for about breaking the record,” Dhana- with 17 balls remaining. the highest number of runs scored wade told the Hindustan Times Sri Lanka captain Angelo Math- M Siriwardana c Nicholls b Santner 39 in one innings. after his opening-day knock. ews, with a brave knock of 95, had C Kapugedera c Milne b Henry 10 Dhanawade, the son of a taxi “The focus was never that. I just set the scene for a cliff-hanger fin- N Kulasekara c Santner b Boult 15 driver, soared past Arthur Col- played my natural game, which is ish when he led his side to 223 for 5 D Chameera c Nicholls b Henry 0 lins’ previous record total of 628 in to attack from the word go. before the tail folded in six overs for N Pradeep (not out) 0 England in 1899, during an inter- “After reaching 300, my coach the addition of only 35 runs. school tournament in the western Harish Sharma told me to play on. The last three wickets fell for six Extras (LB-1, W-11) 12 Indian city. I did not know of the world record, runs in the space of 10 deliveries. Total (all out in 47.1 overs) 258 “Congrats #PranavDhana- but we had the Indian record in Along with Mathews, Dinesh Chan- Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-15, 3-33, 4-126, wade on being the first ever to mind,” he added, referring to the dimal and Milinda Siriwardana played 5-161, 6-223, 7-237, 8-252, 9-253. score 1,000 runs in an innings. previous highest national total their part in keeping Sri Lanka in with Bowling: Boult 8.1-0-43-3 (w2), Henry Well done and work hard. You need of 546. a chance for most of the their innings. 10-1-40-5 (w4), Milne 9-0-54-1 (w5), to scale new peaks!” Indian batting Ayaz Memon, a leading Indian Mathews and Chandimal produced Santner 9-1-54-1, Sodhi 9-0-55-0, Wil- legend Sachin Tendulkar posted cricket expert, said it would be a a 93-run stand for the fourth wicket liamson 2-0-11-0. on Twitter. phenomenal feat for any cricketer before Trent Boult, making his first Dhanawade’s epic knock to score four digits at any level of appearance in the series, dismissed included 129 fours and 59 sixes the game. Chandimal for 50. and came at a phenomenal strike “It’s just incredible. Scoring After Thisara Perera (15) made a Any loose ball was despatched rate of 312.38. It ended when his KC 1,000 runs in less than two days brief appearance at the crease Siri- towards the boundary with a Guptill Gandhi High School team declared at this speed is a great achieve- wardana and Mathews cracked 62 off four bringing up their century part- on 1,465 at the ground in Thane, ment,” Memon said. 40 to have Sri Lanka at 223 for 5 with nership in 115 balls. northern Mumbai. But translating this accom- nine overs and five wickets to get the But a lapse in timing by William- Their opponents, Arya plishment from club to international remaining 72 runs. son on 61 led to his undoing when he Gurukul, had been bowled out level will be a big challenge for the But when Siriwardana fell to gloved an attempt to sweep a leg-side earlier for just 31, according to teenager, he said. Mitchell Santner for 39, New Zea- delivery from Tillakaratne Dilshan New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill pulls the ball towards the land rammed home their advantage. and wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal At the start of the day Guptill snared the catch. boundary during the fifth One Day International against Sri Lanka at capped a remarkable home season Ross Taylor put on 81 for the third the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui yesterday. with his 10th ODI century, reaching 102 wicket with Guptill who was caught by in 109 deliveries to go with his 79, 93 Thisara Perera off Nuwan Kulasekara. Gayle fined for ‘out not out, 30 and 27 earlier in the series. Taylor brought up his half-cen- for two and had Danushka Gunathilaka Boult took three for 43. When Mathews won the toss and tury with a six to mid-wicket before caught for 15 as Sri Lanka slumped to Sri Lanka will meet New Zealand put New Zealand into bat he had an also falling to Kulasekara. 33 for 3 after nine overs before Math- tomorrow at the same venue in their immediate result with Tom Latham Sri Lanka in reply were on the back ews put some respectability into their first Twenty20 encounter and then of line’ TV chat-up out in the first over without scoring. foot in the third over when Dilshan, innings. Henry, who was only required will travel to Auckland where they But Guptill and Kane Williamson marking his 300th ODI, was removed by New Zealand for three of the five will play the second Twenty20 on then established New Zealand’s dom- by Boult for five. matches, finished with five for 50 to January 10 to conclude their month- AFP inance with 122 for the second wicket. Henry bowled Lahiru Thirimanne give him 13 wickets in the series, while long tour.

SYDNEY: The Melbourne Renegades fined star opener Chris Gayle (pic- Rain washes out Aussies’ hopes for a clean-sweep tured) US$7,000 yesterday after an attempt to flirt with a female presenter on live TV which cricket authorities condemned as “completely out of line”. AFP batted in all the Test matches. The way Ten Network reporter Mel (Rajendra) Chandrika has looked. He McLaughlin found herself being asked hasn’t gone on to a big score but the out for a drink during an interview way he looked early on. with the burly West Indian after he SYDNEY: Rain appears to have scut- “Even the captain (Holder) when blasted 41 runs off 15 balls in Aus- tled Australia’s hopes of sweeping their he batted in the second Test on the last tralia’s Big Bash League (BBL) late series 3-0 over the West Indies after day you can see there’s a lot there to Monday. a third-day wash-out in the third and work with.” Live on air, Gayle - who later open a threat of sanctions, the Ren- final Test yesterday. But Simmons, who has had his insisted he was just joking - said egades quickly announced a fine. The entire day was lost through brushes with the West Indies cricket he was happy to be interviewed by Club CEO Stuart Coventry said the rain, with the tourists on 248 for seven board, believes for the Caribbean team McLaughlin “just to see your eyes for money would be donated to the Jane in their first innings and a total of 86.2 to progress in Tests it will need all its the first time. Nice, so hopefully we McGrath foundation, named after leg- overs bowled in the first three days at best players from the three formats of can win this game and we can have endary fast bowler Glenn’s late wife the Sydney Cricket Ground. the game. While the Test team struggles, a drink after,” he said. who died of breast cancer. The only chance of a result seems Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Darren “Don’t blush baby,” the Jamaican Coventry offered a formal apology to be some creative declarations from Sammy and Andre Russell are in Aus- added, prompting the unimpressed “for the offence caused” to McLaugh- rival captains Steve Smith and Jason tralia but playing in the Twenty20 Big McLaughlin to shake her head and lin and fans. Holder, but Windies coach Phil Sim- Bash League. reply, “I’m not blushing.” “Sorry,” “We think this is a one-off sce- mons said the weather would have “I still have the feeling that it will added Gayle, breaking into a big laugh. nario,” he said, describing the the final say. always be good to get the best play- Cricket Australia and Big Bash exchange as “a cultural indiffer- “I think we need to see how much ers from the West Indies playing all League officials did not see the ence... done in jest”. play we get tomorrow first,” Simmons formats of the game,” he said. funny side of what Gayle later said The opener was even more told reporters. “If we can get that, then we will was meant as a joke. Cricket Aus- apologetic on Tuesday morning, “One side is telling me there is have an organisation that is moving tralia chief James Sutherland offered but tried to brush it off as a joke showers again in the morning and now forward. That is my hope now, at the support for McLaughlin, saying that blown out of proportion. I’ve just heard there may be showers end of the day we might have a solu- no one should have to face such com- “There wasn’t anything meant in the afternoon too so we’ve just got tion but we still might have players ments which were “completely out to be disrespectful or offensive to to see what happens tomorrow then Security personnel stand guard as rain delays play on the third day of that might not think they can play Test of line” and “inappropriate for the Mel,” Gayle told reporters. we go from there.” the third cricket Test match between Australia and the West Indies in cricket, or might not really want to workplace”. “If she felt that way, I’m really With no action to speak about on Sydney yesterday. play Test cricket anymore. So when He said Gayle was not in a “night- sorry for that. There wasn’t any the field, Simmons was asked if there we get to that solution between the club” and his behaviour was “not cool”. harm meant in that particular was a light at the end of the tunnel for parties that are involved then we can “I think that anyone who sees way... It was a simple joke. The his beleaguered team after two heavy and our batting seems to be thinking of the tunnel) with the players and I see where that takes us.” humour in that is misunderstand- game was going on. Entertainment, Test defeats in Hobart and Melbourne. about it more and fighting a little bit think you can mention (Kraigg and Further rain is forecast on Wednes- ing and somewhat delusional about things get out of proportion, but “I think we have seen in the last harder to not give the Aussies wick- Carlos Brathwaite) because they have day. If play is possible the West Indies the situation,” Sutherland added. these things happen... We have to three days of cricket (including Mel- ets,” he said. got runs. will resume with Denesh Ramdin on With the governing body leaving move on. Simple.” bourne) we’ve had, we’ve improved “There is a lot of light (at the end “The way how (Darren) Bravo has 30 and Kemar Roach yet to score. 32 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Holders PSG to Amla, Bavuma bat SA to safety face Toulouse in French Cup SCOREBOARD Amla scores double PARIS: Holders Paris Saint- England (I innings): 629-6 decl Germain will play Toulouse in century while South Africa (I innings): one of four all-Ligue 1 ties in Bavuma hits maiden D Elgar c Compton b Stokes 44 the French Cup last 32 follow- S van Zyl (run out-Compton) 4 ing Monday’s draw. ton as hosts declare With a record 17 top flight H Amla b Broad 201 first innings after sides still in the competition A de Villiers c Anderson b Finn 88 at this stage, there had to be at making 627-7 F du Plessis c Stokes b Anderson 86 least one clash between Ligue T Bavuma (not out) 102 1 teams. Q de Kock c Anderson b Broad 5 A trip to Montpellier is on hand for record 10-time win- C Morris c Root b Finn 69 AFP ners Marseille. PSG have can K Rabada (not out) 2 count nine cups in their trophy Extras (B-4, LB-9, W-13) 26 cabinet but only claimed their CAPE TOWN: Hashim Amla hit a dou- Total (for 7 wkts decl) 627 first cup success six years after ble century and Temba Bavuma made Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-85, 3-268, 4-439, Marseille’s ninth. a maiden hundred as South Africa bat- 5-439, 6-449, 7-616. Angers host 2013 winners ted their way to safety on the fourth Bordeaux while Guingamp, Bowling: Anderson 35-12-77-1; Broad day of the second Test against Eng- who lifted the trophy in 2014, land at Newlands yesterday. 34-8-94-2 (2w); Ali 52-14-155-0; Finn travel to Gazelec Ajaccio in the South Africa made 627 for seven 39-5-132-2 (2w); Root 20-4-54-0 (3w); other top flight encounters. Five before declaring two runs short of Eng- Stokes 28-4-100-1 (4w); Hales 3-1-2-0. fourth division teams are still in land’s first-innings total of 629 for six England (II innings): the competition with Trelissac, declared. A Cook (batting) 8 Mantes and Concarneau fac- England openers Alastair Cook and A Hales (batting) 5 ing Ligue 1 teams Lille, Nantes Alex Hales negotiated a tricky six overs, and Troyes respectively. Extras (NB-3) 3 reaching 16 for no wicket at the close. South African batsman Temba Bavuma celebrates after scoring a century during day 4 of the second Test The matches will be played Total (for no loss) 16 They will go into the last day with an against England at the Newlands Stadium yesterday in Cape Town. on January 19-20.

overall lead of 18 runs. Bowling: Morkel 3-2-4-0 (1nb); Rabada Amla made 201 and Bavuma 102 3-0-12-0 (2nb). not out in a South African innings DRAW which lasted for 211 overs and more after lunch. Bavuma and new cap Chris CRICKET: ENGLAND’S TOUR OF assistance. Their cause was not helped and pad and Du Plessis followed four Trelissac vs Lille; Sarre-Union vs than two days. Morris came together with their side SOUTH AFRICA by a rash of missed chances, with nine balls later, caught in the gully off Ander- Niort; Bastia vs Sochaux; Saint-Malo The innings featured three part- still 180 runs behind with five wickets catches going down in first South Afri- son. Quinton de Kock made only five vs Mont-de-Marsan; Concarneau vs nerships of more than 150. remaining and England still hoping to can innings. before pulling a short ball from Broad Troyes; Chambly vs Lyon; Rennes Amla was involved in the first two secure a good first innings lead. raced to 50 off 52 balls with 11 fours. Amla benefited from four dropped to backward square leg. vs Bourg-en-Bresse; Saint-Etienne big stands, 183 for the third wicket with But the pair played fearless cricket He was made to work harder for or missed catches, while De Villiers, Amla, who made his fourth Test vs AC Ajaccio; Paris SG vs Tou- AB de Villiers (88) and 171 for the fourth and added 167 runs, a South African his second fifty, which he reached off Du Plessis, Bavuma and Morris (two) double century, batted for 707 min- louse; Evian/Thonon vs Monaco; with Faf du Plessis (86). seventh wicket partnership record 140 deliveries with a thick edge off Ste- all gave chances. utes, faced 477 balls and hit 27 fours. Angers vs Bordeaux; Granville vs But there was still some alarm against England. ven Finn which went to the boundary Stuart Broad and James Anderson With a draw almost assured, Eng- Sarreguemines; Mantes vs Nantes; for South Africa when three wick- Bavuma, the first black African for his 16th four. struck three times with the third new land look set to take a 1-0 lead into the Boulogne-sur-Mer vs Lorient ; Mar- ets, including those of Amla and Du batsman to play Test cricket for South England’s bowlers toiled with mini- ball in a rare period of ascendancy for third Test of the four-match series in seille vs Montpellier; Gazelec Ajaccio Plessis, fell to the third new ball soon Africa, struck the ball cleanly as he mal reward on a pitch which offered no the bowlers. Amla was bowled off bat Johannesburg next week. vs Guingamp Adidas wants Sporting-reject stylish game Boateng returns Martinez eyes end to trophy drought from United to AC Milan BERLIN: German sportswear AFP extra day’s rest ahead of the first leg giant Adidas would like to see on Merseyside. Manchester United playing more AFP But despite failing to win at Good- attractive football, their CEO LIVERPOOL: It is more than 20 years ison Park since November, Baines is Herbert Hainer told German since Everton last won a trophy and hoping to make home advantage count daily Suddeutsche Zeitung in an MILAN: Kevin-Prince Boateng has Roberto Martinez says more silverware ahead of the return leg at Eastlands interview published on Monday. returned to AC Milan on a six-month is long overdue as his side prepare for on January 27. The interview could put deal following an unhappy spell at yesterday’s League Cup semi-final first “It’s a great place to play in games more pressure on under-fire Schalke 04 and an aborted move leg against Manchester City. like that and it’s one to look forward Manchester United manager to Sporting Lisbon, the Serie A club The FA Cup in 1995 was the last to. It’s a really exciting game for us to Dutchman Luis van Gaal, whose announced yesterday. addition to the trophy cabinet at Good- be involved in,” Baines said. charges have been widely German-born Ghanaian inter- ison Park, which during the 1980s had “It’s a busy time for us and so we accused of being boring this national Boateng played his last also been home to two league titles have to do everything right on the pitch season. match for Milan in August 2013 and a further FA Cup success in 1984. as well, in terms of recovery and prep- In July 2014 Adidas signed but has been training with the club That was also the year Everton lost aration to make sure we leave no stone a ten-year kit sponsorship deal for several months after failing to in the final of the League Cup, going unturned and give it everything in order with the English Premier League secure a deal at Sporting, having down 1-0 to Liverpool in a replay. to try and make it to the final.” club worth £750m ($1.1bn). quit Schalke under a cloud last May. Only once before, seven years pre- City head to Goodison lifted by their “The business side of things A statement by the seven-times viously, had Everton reached the final first away win in the Premier League is going very well,” Hainer told European champions said: “AC Milan of the League Cup, but now they are since September as they look to reach the newspaper in reference to announce that Kevin Prince Boat- just two legs of a semi-final against the final at Wembley on February 28 massive shirt sales. eng has signed a contract with Milan City away from going back to Wembley Manuel Pellegrini’s side are still “But the current style of play until 30 June, 2016.” to face either Liverpool or Stoke City. chasing a possible quadruple in the is not exactly what we wanted Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, Martinez’s side have reached the League Cup, Champions League, Pre- to see,” he added. meanwhile, said: “Boateng came last four of the competition for the mier League and FA Cup, with their The sportswear company here to train and has done really first time since 2008 and the Ever- campaign in the latter competition also has kit deals with Real well. He has character and can be ton manager is determined to end the due to start at Norwich on Saturday. Madrid and Bayern Munich. useful because he’s a versatile player. trophy drought. But, despite the hectic schedule Winners of the Champions “It’s only right he was given a “I think we are on the right track lying in wait, Brazilian midfielder Fern- League in 2008 and 1999 and contract until June.” in having a team that excites us,” Mar- andinho, who has started all but two its predecessor the European Milan did not say whether Boat- tinez said. of City’s games this season, insists he Cup in 1968, United invested eng’s contract would be extended “I truly believe we are not far away doesn’t need a rest. heavily in the last close sea- after the summer, but the short-term from bringing glory into our football “My body works best when I’m son bringing Anthony Martial, deal has only added to the intrigue club. playing all the time, so when I work Memphis Depay and Bastian surrounding Boateng’s return to “That’s something we want more Everton’s Spanish manager Roberto Martinez throws the ball during the more and I play more, I feel better,” Schweinsteiger into their squad. the club for whom he has played than anything, to be able to give our English Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison he said. a total of 100 matches across all fans a taste of becoming a winning Park in Liverpool, on Sunday. “My target is to win the Premier competitions. team once again.” League, the cup competitions and see Ex-manager After the midfielder quit Schalke Everton are currently 11th in the how far we can go in Europe. at the end of last season, the 28-year- Premier League after drawing 1-1 at squad in the shape of England defend- City, who won the League Cup “I can rest at the end of the sea- Ramsey returns old was set for a move to Sporting home to Tottenham on Sunday. ers John Stones and Leighton Baines, and the Premier League in 2014, will son and enjoy time with my family. Lisbon only to be rejected by the That position does not perhaps Ross Barkley in midfield and 18-goal start as favourites and, having won at That’s when I’ll recharge my batter- to QPR as Portuguese giants. reflect the talent Martinez has in his top scorer Romelu Lukaku in attack. Watford on Saturday, will have had an ies, not before.” technical director

LONDON: Chris Ramsey has been appointed technical direc- Ethics watchdog recommends nine-year ban for Valcke tor at Queens Park Rangers just two months after the English Championship (second tier) club sacked him as manager. Reuters a statement. The allegations against prosecutors for offences including cor- Valcke has already implied that he The 53-year-old will be Valcke stem from former Israeli soc- ruption, fraud and money laundering. would stand down following Febru- responsible for a variety of roles cer player Benny Alon telling a news He had been placed on leave by ary’s election for Blatter’s replacement. relating to coaching and player ZURICH: FIFA’s ethics watchdog conference in September in Zurich that FIFA less than a month earlier. Valcke joined FIFA in 2003 as development, QPR said yester- has recommended a nine-year ban he agreed in 2013 to pay cash to Val- Borbely completed his investiga- marketing director but was fired in day. The club sacked Ramsey on for Secretary-General Jerome Valcke cke to secure plum World Cup tickets tion on the day that Valcke’s suspension December 2006 for his part in botched November 4 after a 1-0 defeat (pictured) over accusations of corrup- in Brazil in 2014. was due to expire and requested that sponsorship negotiations with credit by Derby County a day earlier tion over the sale of World Cup tickets, He said the plan was to then sell it be extended for a further 45 days card firms MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc. that left them 13th in the table. one of dozens of allegations involv- the tickets to fans at a markup and pending a final decision in the case, Eight months later, he was re-hired “Whilst we were disap- ing officials at soccer’s crisis-plagued split the proceeds with Valcke. Alon the committee statement said. as secretary general and oversaw the pointed things didn’t work out governing body. said the deal fell through and he never His report, which alleged that Val- preparations for both the 2010 World with Chris at first team level Cornel Borbely, chief investigator paid the soccer official. cke had violated seven articles of the Cup in South Africa and the 2014 tour- earlier in the season, we were for FIFA’s independent ethics com- Valcke, FIFA’s second-ranking offi- FIFA code of ethics, including ones nament in Brazil. Blatter and UEFA boss determined to retain his serv- mittee, requested that Valcke be fined cial after banned president Sepp Blatter, 90 days on October 8 - a move almost on loyalty and conflicts of interest, Michel Platini, the two most power- ices at QPR,” the club’s director 100,000 Swiss francs after completing has called the allegations against him overlooked amid the then suspension has been handed to FIFA’s chief eth- ful men in world soccer, were banned of football, Les Ferdinand, said. an investigation into the French- “fabricated and outrageous”. of Blatter and the charging of 41 peo- ics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, who for eight years in December for eth- man’s conduct, the watchdog said in Valcke had been suspended for ple, including top FIFA officials, by US will decide on sanctions. ics violations. Both deny wrongdoing. SPORT WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 33 Zidane handed baptism of fire by Madrid

a season in charge of Barca’s B team Five facts about Spanish giants look to become the most successful coach in the club’s history. Zinedine Zidane for inspiration rather Moreover, unlike Benitez, Zidane than experience is at least sure to have the respect of Madrid: Five facts about Zinedine Zidane, who Madrid’s star-studded dressing room, was appointed as head coach of Real Madrid in appointing the who constantly clashed with the former to replace the sacked Rafael Benitez: Frenchman as coach Liverpool and Chelsea manager. Raised in a tough Marseille suburb, Zidane Zidane doesn’t just have the kudos rose to prominence with Bordeaux, winning of being a former Ballon d’Or winner, the Ligue 1 player of the year title in 1996 but he was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant AFP as Madrid won their long-awaited 10th before big-money moves to Italian giants Champions League crown in 2014. Juventus (1996) and a world-record 150 bil- “We have the best club in the world, lion lire (about $80 million) transfer to Real the best fans and what we have to do Madrid in 2001. MADRID: In a time of crisis, Real now, and what I will try my best to do, ‘Zizou’ assumed global superstar status after Madrid have looked for inspiration is ensure the team wins at the end of rather than experience as club leg- the season,” said the normally ice- the 1998 World Cup, where he bounced back end Zinedine Zidane was handed his cool Zidane, who admitted to feeling from a red card in a group match against Saudi first senior managerial role as the more emotional than the day he joined Arabia to score two headed goals as France club’s coach. Madrid for a then world-record fee beat favourites Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Zidane replaces Rafael Benitez, from Juventus in 2001. Stade de France. who was sacked on Monday after just “It is an important day for me and In his first season at Madrid, Zidane wrote seven months and 25 games in charge. like all coaches I am a bit emotional, The Frenchman is loved at the more emotion that when I signed as himself into club folklore with a stunning Santiago Bernabeu thanks to his five a player, but that is normal and from match-winning volley in the 2002 Champions stellar years to end his playing career tomorrow I will put my heart into doing League final against Bayer Leverkusen in in the Spanish capital, most memora- all I can for this club.” Glasgow. A year later, after helping Real win La Liga, he was named FIFA world player of the bly scoring a stunning winning goal It will take more than heart for Real Madrid’s new French coach Zinedine Zidane uses a whistle during his first training session as coach of year for an unprecedented third time, a feat in the 2002 Champions League final. Zidane to arrest a year-long slump that Real Madrid at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, yesterday. Yet, his coaching experience is lim- has seen Madrid burn through two only subsequently matched by Cristiano Ron- ited to a season-and-a-half in charge Champions League winning coaches, aldo and Lionel Messi. of Madrid’s feeder team Castilla where see eternal rivals Barcelona win the he failed to secure promotion from treble and become embarrassed in doesn’t accept failure on any level.” favourites to see off Roma in the last “As president it is an honour to have His career ended in infamy at the 2006 World Spanish football’s third tier last season. numerous off-field scandals. Despite being thrown out of the 16 of the Champions League. you at my side because I know for you Cup when, after having scored an audacious However, Madrid hope to recre- “The best man for the job,” said Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible Blind faith that Zidane can rec- the word impossible doesn’t exist,” he chipped penalty off the crossbar after just ate the magic formula enjoyed by Pep Zidane’s ex-Madrid teammate David player last month, there is still plenty reate his playing success as a coach said after naming his 11th new coach seven minutes of the final in Berlin, he head- Guardiola and Barcelona during his Beckham on Instagram. of time for Madrid to turn their sea- is all club president Florentino Perez in 12 years at the club. butted Italy’s Marco Materazzi in extra time glorious 14-trophy haul with the Cat- “A man that has been the best at son around. has left with his credit running low as Should Zidane’s managerial stock and received a red card. France went on to lose alans between 2008 and 2012. a game we all love, taking over a club They trail La Liga leaders Atletico Barca have dominated in Spain over slump as quickly as it has risen, then it 5-3 on penalties. Zidane claimed that no-non- Like Zidane, Guardiola was a club that myself and many more people love. Madrid by just four points with over the past decade despite Perez’s lavish may finally be Perez and not the coach sense defender Materazzi had insulted his sis- legend as a player who graduated from Someone with drive, passion and also half the season to play and are strong spending on transfer fees. who takes the fall. ter and that the Frenchman would “rather die than apologise”.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ap- pointed Zidane as an adviser in 2009 and the Frenchman cheered at first Real Madrid training session club’s sporting director in 2011. In 2013-14 he was assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti as the club won the Champions League. Soon after, Perez appointed him coach to the club’s B AFP coach on Monday evening, replacing on his new adventure. He gave players team, Real Madrid Castilla, despite lacking the the unpopular Rafael Benitez. instructions, applauded good moves necessary coaching badges. Zidane has since His appointment has brought back and drew cries of “hurray” from sup- obtained them. a strong dose of optimism at Madrid porters when he kicked the ball to start MADRID: Depressed by a disappointing after a year-long slump that has seen a training exercise. 2015, smiles had returned to the faces them burn through two Champions “Zidane will need an iron fist,” of Real Madrid fans yesterday as they League-winning coaches, see eternal warned Loreto Coppel, a 25-year-old cheered their idol Zinedine Zidane dur- rivals Barcelona win the treble and suf- student in criminology who came to the ing his first training session as coach. fer from off-field scandals. training centre wearing a Real scarf. On the eve of Epiphany, an impor- “Zidane rhymes with dreams,” said With players like Cristiano Ronaldo, tant holiday in Spain where people Pablo Alonso, a 37-year-old supporter Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, James dressed up as the three kings parade who came with his son, also called Pablo. Rodriguez and Isco, Zidane is going to in the streets and children receive their “Football is dreams, magic, and have to juggle strong egos and get the long-awaited gifts, the atmosphere was players like Zidane have that. “I have best from a team of superstars. easy-going and festive at the Alfredo high hopes. Maybe not for La Liga, but But she added that she wanted her Di Stefano stadium at the club’s train- at least to qualify for the final of the idol to come back. ing ground in Madrid. Champions League,” he added, prom- “He managed ok with Castilla but Babies in their push-chairs, children, ising to take his son to Milan if Madrid this is the first team, and that’s big. He teenagers, young and not so young... reach the final. may have needed a little more prac- It is normal practice for Spanish All of a sudden, the kingmaker tice (as coach),” said Coppel. clubs to open up their training sessions himself appeared -- sporting a grey “But the team needed change and to the public at this time of year and tracksuit and fluorescent boots, Zidane the arrival of Zidane will be very pos- thousands flocked to see the French walked onto the pitch to warm applause. itive, he has huge passion.” footballing legend take training for the Deeply concentrated, the Frenchman And that passion was on evidence Real Madrid’s new French head coach Zinedine Zidane watches his first time. chatted with David Bettoni, who was on the pitch on Tuesday, with Zidane players during his first training session at Valdebebas Sport Complex, A decade after the end of his playing his deputy when he coached Madrid’s continuously following the ball with his outside Madrid, Spain, yesterday. career at Madrid, Zidane was appointed feeder team Castilla and now joins him eyes under Madrid’s winter sun. I want to coach in England, admits Guardiola Rooney named England

Agencies has returned to AC Milan on a six- Player of the Year month deal following an unhappy spell at Schalke 04 and an aborted move to Sporting Lisbon, the Serie A Agencies following the winter break yesterday. BERLIN: Bayern Munich coach Pep club announced yesterday. A club spokesman said the Gabon Guardiola has admitted he wants to German-born Ghanaian interna- international was absent “for per- manage in the English Premier League tional Boateng played his last match for LONDON: Manchester United striker sonal reasons” although reports have in his first press conference since Milan in August 2013 but has been train- Wayne Rooney has been voted Eng- linked the 26-year-old with Premier announcing he will leave the Bun- ing with the club for several months land’s Player of the Year for the fourth League clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and desliga giants at the end of the season. after failing to secure a deal at Sport- time after breaking his country’s scor- Manchester United. “I want to coach in England,” said ing, having quit Schalke under a cloud ing record, the Football Association “We all hope he’ll (Aubameyang) the Spaniard yesterday, before adding last May. announced yesterday. stay,” said teammate Matthias Gin- that he “has no new club yet”. A statement by the seven-times The 30-year-old took his Eng- ter after the first training session in Guardiola’s departure at the end European champions said: “AC Milan land tally to 51 goals, breaking Bobby January for a Dortmund side who are of his third season in Bavaria and his announce that Kevin Prince Boateng Charlton’s longstanding record of second in the Bundesliga, eight points replacement by Italian Carlo Ance- has signed a contract with Milan until 49, and top-scored with seven goals behind leaders Bayern Munich. lotti were announced by the club on 30 June, 2016.” as Roy Hodgson’s side qualified for “He’s very important, on the pitch December 20. Milan’s offer of a six-month con- Euro 2016 with a perfect record of and off, for what he contributes to The former Barcelona coach has tract has only added to the intrigue 10 wins. the group atmosphere.” Aubam- since been linked with Chelsea after surrounding Boateng’s return to Rooney, England’s captain, eyang has had his best start to a Jose Mourinho was sacked, and also the club for whom he has played received 37 percent of the votes in season since arriving from Saint- with Manchester City whose own a total of 100 matches across all a poll of England Supporters Club Etienne in 2013, scoring 18 goals in Head coach of FC Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola, speaks during a press manager Manuel Pellegrini is under competitions. members. 17 Bundesliga games and 27 in all contract until 2017. conference in Muenchen, Germany, yesterday. After the midfielder quit Schalke at He previously won the award competitions. “I have this possibility to go to the end of last season, the 28-year-old in 2008, 2009 and 2014. Stoke City Ginter expressed the same hope England. It’s the right time,” said the was set for a move to Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has regarding midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, Spaniard, who turns 45 later this month. winter training camp in Qatar start- Cup under Jupp Heynckes, soon became only to be rejected by the Portuguese produced some impressive perform- reportedly a target for Serie A giants “I’m still young and I need new ing today. Guardiola quit Barcelona in almost unbeatable at home. This sea- giants. ances this season, was elected the Juventus. challenges. 2012 despite being the most success- son, Bayern have lost only two of 26 Officially, Boateng failed to secure Under-21s Player of the Year. “We would be delighted if they “I haven’t had offers yet, I can’t ful coach in the club’s history during games and in the last two years swept a deal because of a disagreement over Rooney and Butland, 22, will be stayed as long as possible with us. I say anything more for the moment.” his four-year reign. five trophies, but the most desired, the the players’ image rights. However a presented with their awards prior to hope they will extend their contracts.” “I hope that (Karl-Heinz) Rum- In January 2013 he signed a three- European Cup, has so far eluded Guar- spokesman for Sporting later claimed England’s friendly against Germany Aubameyang is under contract menigge (Bayern chairman) and the year deal, worth a reported 22 million diola in his time in Germany. Boateng had “failed the club’s med- in Berlin on March 26. with Dortmund until 2020 and Gün- staff understand my decision, I’d be euros ($24m), to coach Bayern from “Carlo is the perfect coach for this ical tests because of a problem with Meanwhile, Bundesliga leading dogan until 2017. sorry if they were disappointed by my July that year. team,” said Guardiola of his successor. his knee”. AC Milan, who host Bolo- scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubam- Dortmund leave on Thursday for a choice,” he continued, adding that he Bayern, already a dominant force “I’m sure that all will go well for gna at the San Siro today, sit in sixth eyang has fuelled speculation he is winter training camp in Dubai, before would discuss the subject “for the first having won the treble in 2013 of Cham- him and for Bayern.” place in Serie A at eight points behind set to leave Borussia Dortmund after returning to league action at Borussia time” with his players during their pions League, Bundesliga and German Meanwhile, Kevin Prince-Boateng leaders Inter Milan. missing the club’s return to training Moenchengladbach on January 23. 34 WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Pacquiao ‘to retire’ after Bradley fight in April

concentrate on my political career. My I am retiring from fight with Timothy Bradley will be my BOXING: IN PERSON last,” Pacquiao said in an interview in boxing to concentrate his mansion late Monday. on my political career, The 37-year-old member of parlia- consistent and I expect it to improve says legendary boxer ment dismissed reports that he would once the campaign starts,” he said. not step away from the sport without a The former fish vendor is adored by rematch with American Mayweather, who the Filipino masses who are inspired by himself retired after beating Pacquiao. his rags-to-riches life story. “I did not say anything like that. Aside from politics, Pacquiao has AFP Nobody interviewed me about that. I parlayed his ring legend status to a will retire after my April 9 fight,” said career in movies, television and prod- the legendary boxer. uct endorsements. Pacquiao lost by unanimous deci- He is also a pastor in a born-again GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Filipino box- sion to his brash arch-rival Mayweather, Christian group and credits his renewed ing champion Manny Pacquiao said he whom he fought with a torn rotator cuff faith for transforming him to a devoted would end his legendary career after that later required surgery. family man from a hard-partying fighting Timothy Bradley in April to con- He has won 57 fights, including 38 womaniser. centrate on his political career, dousing knockouts, lost six and had two draws in In a recent television interview, Pac- hopes for a rematch with Floyd May- a professional career spanning more than quiao said he “prayed to God for guidance” weather. 20 years after being raised in poverty. before deciding to concentrate on politics. The winner of an unprecedented Pacquiao is ranked seventh in the Pacquiao, however, has been criti- eight world titles, who has flirted with race for 12 seats in the nationally-elected cised for putting his boxing training before the idea of running for president, said senate. He currently represents the south- his duties in parliament. Last year, he he was confident of winning a senate ern province of Sarangani in parliament. attended just four of the 70 legislative seat in the May elections. The senate is a traditional spring- sessions. Pacquiao is facing American wel- board for future presential campaigns. In one of the rare times he took the terweight Bradley for the third time on Three of the last Philippines presidents, floor in parliament in 2011, he argued April 9, after losing to his biggest rival including the incumbent Benigno Aquino, against a bill that would provide free con- Mayweather in the sport’s richest fight were senators before they were elected doms for the poor, citing his Christian Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (centre) celebrating his victory over Chris Algieri of the US (not in May last year. to the country’s highest office. beliefs. The bill was eventually signed pictured) after their world welterweight championship boxing bout at the Cotai Arena in Macau in this “I am retiring from boxing to “My survey rankings have been into law. November 23, 2014 file picture.

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL Men’s Singles Venus, Ivanovic suffer shock defeats in Auckland Round 1 Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) bt Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 6-2 7-5 Lucas Pouille (France) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) 4-6 6-3 7-5 AFP champion Kasatkina. seven straight games. Ivan Dodig (Croatia) bt Oliver Anderson (Australia) 6-3 6-2 TENNIS: WTA AUCKLAND CLASSIC Broady, who only learned Monday When the Dane appeared to be in Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) bt Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) 6-0 6-3 she was in the main draw after coming command going into the second set, 8-Dominic Thiem (Austria) bt James Duckworth (Australia) 3-6 6-4 6-3 WELLINGTON: The top two seeds through the qualifying tournament, fired Kovinic fought back to break her serv- 6-David Goffin (Belgium) bt Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 6-4 6-4 Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic were down 14 aces to overpower Ivanovic ice twice before Wozniacki regained shock first round losers in the WTA the second round but with an uncon- 7-5, 6-4, winning the second set and control. Viktor Troicki (Serbia) bt Steve Johnson (US) 7-6(3) 6-1 Auckland Classic yesterday. vincing display against the world match on a service break. “It wasn’t a great start for me,” Woz- Women’s singles Williams, 35, the tournament top number 57 Danka Kovinic. Tournament third-seed Wozni- niacki said. Round 2 seed and defending champion, was Williams made an uncharacteristic acki, who was beaten by Williams in Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 8-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) bt Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-1 6-7(3) 6-4 beaten in three sets by 18-year-old Rus- 73 unforced errors against Kasatkina the final last year, moved into the sec- French Open champion was shown Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) bt Alize Cornet (France) 6-2 1-6 6-4 sian Daria Kasatkina, while Ivanovic and after battling to take the first set ond round with a straight sets win over an early exit after a marathon three 8-Roberta Vinci (Italy) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-1 6-1 went down in straight sets to British 7-6 in a tiebreak she dropped the next Montenegro’s Kovinic. setter against Austria’s Tamira Paszek. Round 1 qualifier Naomi Broady. two 3-6, 3-6. However, the win was not as Schiavone made 28 unforced errors Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) bt Margarita Gasparyan (Russia) 6-4 2-6 6-3 On a day when the big names strug- In the third set, Williams opened comfortable as the 6-4, 6-4 scoreline and served 12 double faults before going gled, another former world number one up a 3-1 lead before losing five straight indicated with Wozniacki down four down 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. WTA SHENZHEN OPEN Caroline Wozniacki made it through to games to former French Open junior games in the first set before reeling off Women’s singles Round 1 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x1) bt Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 6-4, 6-3 Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 6-3, 6-3 Vania King (USA) bt Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 7-5, 6-4 Dolgopolov puts Ukraine on track for Hopman final Wang Qiang (CHN) bt Johanna Konta (GBR x5) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Eugenie Bouchard (CAN x6) bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 Nicole Gibbs (USA) bt Tereza Smitkova (CZE) 6-0, 6-2 AFP he was hopeful the winning streak Anett Kontaveit (EST) bt Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) would continue. Zheng Saisai (CHN) bt Petra Kvitova (CZE x2) 6-2, 0-0 rtd “It was a tight match and I was PERTH: Alexandr Dolgopolov put really happy to be the winner in two,” AUCKLAND CLASSIC Ukraine within reach of their second he said. Women’s singles Hopman Cup final with an impressive “We are doing our best and we’ve Round 1 singles win yesterday in the mixed had some great matches, hopefully we Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) bt Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 7-6(2) 7-6(3) teams event in Perth. can get through.” Naomi Broady (Britain) bt 2-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 7-5 6-4 In Ukraine’s first appearance at Pliskova was plagued by errors the event since 1995, world number during the women’s match and was Darya Kasatkina (Russia) bt 1-Venus Williams (US) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 36 Dolgopolov gave his country two always under pressure, with Svitolina Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) bt Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US) 3-6 6-4 6-3 wins from as many ties with his victory winning 7-5, 6-2. 3-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Danka Kovinic (Montenegro) 6-4 6-4 over the Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely. It was Svitolina’s first win in five Tamira Paszek (Austria) bt Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3 After the 19th-ranked Elina Svi- matches against the rangy Czech and 7-Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) bt Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) 6-2 6-4 tolina upset world number 11 Karolina the Ukrainian was thrilled with the Christina McHale (US) bt Misaki Doi (Japan) 6-2 6-4 Pliskova in straight sets in the wom- result, which gave her two wins from en’s singles, Dolgopolov clinched the as many singles outings in Perth. Julia Goerges (Germany) bt Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) 6-0 6-3 tie when he beat Vesely in similar fash- Elina Svitolina of Ukraine hits a return against Karolina Pliskova of the “I was playing really well and it is HOPMAN CUP ion 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). Czech Republic during their fifth session women’s singles match on extremely tough to play against her,” Round Robin In the dead mixed doubles rub- day three of the Hopman Cup in Perth yesterday. he said. “I needed to be focused from Group A ber, the Czechs kept their final hopes the first to last point. Ukraine bt Czech Republic 2-1 alive with a 6-3, 6-1 win. In Ukraine’s last appearance at the Having already beaten the USA their group, Dolgopolov and Svitolina reach the final. Dolgopolov, who beat Hopman Cup, siblings Andrei Medvedev Women’s singles: Elina Svitolina (UKR) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 7-5, 6-2 on Monday, the result puts Ukraine in simply need to beat one of the two American Jack Sock in a singles match and Natalia Medvedeva were beaten Men’s singles: Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) bt Jiri Vesely (CZE) 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) pole position to reach Saturday’s final. home teams, Australia Gold, in their on Monday, said it was a tough match in the final by Germany’s Boris Becker Mixed doubles: Pliskova/Vesely (CZE) bt Svitolina/Dolgopolov (UKR) 6-3, 6-1 As the only unbeaten team in last round-robin match Thursday to against the 41st-ranked Vesely, and and Anke Huber.

Kvitova makes Serena insists she will make Australian Open early exit at WTA Shenzhen Open AFP the fitness of the defending Austral- “I’ve been training really hard dur- for Australia,” she said. “I only think ian Open champion. ing the off-season and really pushing positive and I know I’ll be okay.” Ear- BEIJING: Double Wimbledon Williams had already missed the myself beyond the limits, I just think lier in the day, Alexandr Dolgopolov winner Petra Kvitova went out PERTH: The Australian Open prepa- United States’ opening Hopman Cup tie a day off or two will make a world of put Ukraine within reach of their sec- of the WTA Shenzhen Open in rations of Serena Williams (pictured) on Monday due to inflammation of her difference.” ond Hopman Cup final. the first round yesterday, retir- suffered a potentially significant blow left knee and was keen to gain some Williams said her 2015 campaign, In Ukraine’s first appearance at the ing hurt in a shock exit for the when she was forced to retire with a valuable match practice against Wolfe. which saw the 34-year-old on target event since being runners-up in 1995, world number six. The second knee injury during the United States’ However, she appeared extremely for a calendar Grand Slam until she world number 36 Dolgopolov gave his seed was broken twice as she 3-0 Hopman Cup loss to Australia Gold restricted in her movements, partic- was beaten by Italian Roberta Vinci country two wins from as many ties lost the first set 6-2 against Chi- yesterday. ularly on her left side. in the US Open final in early Septem- with his victory over the Czech Repub- na’s Zheng Saisai -- ranked 72 The world number one retired due The ailment appeared to cast sig- ber, had taken a heavy physical toll. lic’s Jiri Vesely. in the world -- in 41 minutes, to soreness in her left knee during her nificant doubt over her title defence in She barely played after the US After the 19th-ranked Elina Svi- and dropped out before a point singles match against Jarmila Wolfe Melbourne, where she will aim for a Open, although she returned in the tolina upset world number 11 Karolina was played in the second set. (nee Gajdosova) when trailing 7-5, 2-1. seventh singles title later this month. International Premier Tennis League Pliskova in straight sets in the wom- It was Kvitova’s second Veteran Lleyton Hewitt then Williams admitted she retired in Manila last month. en’s singles, Dolgopolov clinched the consecutive first-round exit secured the tie for Australia Gold with because she was being hampered by Williams’ coach Patrick Moura- tie when he beat Vesely in similar fash- in China, after she went out a 7-5, 6-4 win over Jack Sock, and it the knee and could not move around toglou conceded Williams’ knees were ion 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). at the first hurdle in October. became a clean sweep for the home the court as she wanted. “I just have some inflammation troubling her in November. In the dead mixed doubles rubber, Another unseeded home player side when the mixed doubles was a However, the 21-times Grand Slam that’s been going away very slowly,” However, Williams said she the Czechs kept their final hopes alive also dumped out a higher- walkover due to Williams’ absence. singles champion was confident it was she explained. remained confident of another suc- with a 6-3, 6-1 win. ranked player at the $500,000 The result meant the US bowed out only a minor problem and even refused “It’s still there, it’s going away, but cessful Australian Open campaign. Having already beaten the USA WTA Shenzhen tournament of contention in the tournament. But to rule herself out of Thursday’s Hop- just needs a little more time. A little “Speed is my strength so I defi- on Monday, the result puts Ukraine in yesterday. of more concern to their camp was man Cup tie against the Czech Republic. rest, a little treatment. nitely think I will be able to get it right pole position to reach Saturday’s final. SPORT WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 35 NBA: Curry helps Warriors get back on track

Warriors’ icon scores 30 points in 31 minutes in 111-101 win over Hornets

AFP

LOS ANGELES: Stephen Curry secured his dominance over his hometown team on Monday as the Golden State War- riors stretched their home winning streak to 35 straight with a 111-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Curry, who averages more points against Charlotte than any other NBA team, scored 30 points in 31 minutes of playing time after having his pre- vious performance cut short because of a recurring left calf injury. The Warriors used an explosive Jeremy Lin (centre) of the Charlotte Hornets drives on Brandon Rush (left) and Andrew Bogut of the Golden third quarter to pull away from the Hornets with the help of Klay Thomp- State Warriors during their NBA game at Oracle Arena on Monday in Oakland, California. son who nailed two clutch baskets to spark an 18-4 surge that put them in command for good. Kyrie Irving scored a season-high points for the Raptors, who twice ral- “I was in a good flow and making NBA: WARRIORS BEAT 25 points and all five Cleveland start- lied from big deficits. Forward Chris shots. I tried to be aggressive and stay HORNETS ers finished in double figures as the Bosh scored 31 points and grabbed 11 confident,” Thompson said. Cavaliers crushed the Toronto Rap- rebounds, and guard Dwyane Wade Draymond Green posted his sev- tors 122-100. added 27 points to lead the Miami Heat enth triple-double of the season with Irving added eight assists and six to a 103-100 overtime win against the 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists quarter after an 11-4 run to begin the rebounds, and forward LeBron James Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines for the Warriors, who have struggled second half. Thompson answered with had 20 points and seven assists while Arena. to close out games recently. 16- and 28-footers, the latter a three- sitting out the fourth quarter. Indiana lost despite getting 32 Golden State’s home win streak now pointer. He finished with 30 points, a “He’s much better than an all-star,” points from forward Paul George, while stands at 35, including 17 this season majority of which came on six-of-11 James said of Irving. Miami won its third straight. as they moved a step closer to Chica- shooting from beyond the arc as the “If he continues to play the way go’s record 44-game win streak from game turned into a long-distance he’s been playing but also continues to 1995-96. They have the fifth longest shooting contest which played into the progress with his game over the years, NBA RESULTS home win streak in NBA history. Warriors’ hands. Centre Marreese Spei- he can do something that’s very spe- Cleveland 122 Toronto 100 Curry went to Charlotte Christian ghts recorded a season-high with 15 cial around this league. Philadelphia 109 Minnesota 99 high school and his father Dell Curry points and forward Harrison Barnes, “I’m not going to put too much pres- Boston 103 Brooklyn 94 works as a colour commentator on the playing for the first time since suffer- sure on him right now, but I know what Detroit 115 Orlando 89 Hornets’ broadcasts. ing an ankle injury on November 27, he can become in this league and tonight Reigning league MVP Curry, who tallied eight points in 18 minutes. Point he showed it.” Miami 103 Indiana 100 appeared unlikely to play earlier in guard Kemba Walker and backup guard JR Smith made a season-high eight San Antonio 123 Milwaukee 98 the day, sank 12-of-21. Jeremy Lamb had 22 points apiece for three-pointers, accounting for all of his Sacramento 116 Oklahoma City 104 Seeking to avoid getting swept in the the Hornets, who were playing with- 24 points in front of a crowd of 20,500 Houston 93 Utah 91 two-game season series for the second out starting centre Al Jefferson (knee at Quicken Loans Arena. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a basket Memphis 91 Portland 78 year in a row, the Hornets clung within injury) and shooting guard Nicolas Guard Kyle Lowry had 23 points and against the Charlotte Hornets in Oakland, California on Monday. 66-65 in the fourth minute of the third Batum (toe). 10 assists, and DeMar DeRozan had 19 Golden State 111 Charlotte 101 Iginla scores 600th goal NFL: San Diego Chargers, Rams Giants’ coach of career as Colorado win Tom Coughlin and Raiders seek move to LA steps down Agencies AFP ICE HOCKEY: NHL ROUND-UP Reuters

NEW YORK: With a flick of the wrist and a fortunate bounce off a skate, period, then scored successive goals, LOS ANGELES: The San Diego Charg- NEW YORK: Black Monday, the Jarome Iginla joined an exclusive NHL including the overtime winner. ers, St Louis Rams and Oakland often bloody day for axing coaches club of scorers on Monday. Ottawa snapped a three-game Raiders have submitted applications to following the NFL’s regular season The Avalanche right winger scored losing streak and improved their road relocate their franchises to Los Ange- finale, passed quietly this year as his 600th career goal to become the record to 9-10-2. The Senators (19- les, the National Football League said Tom Coughlin’s exit from the New 19th player to reach the milestone 15-6) are among seven teams in the late on Monday. York Giants was the only new open- as Colorado beat the Los Angeles hunt for the last four playoff spots in The NFL released a statement con- ing in the coaching carousel. Kings 4-1. the Eastern Conference. firming that they have received formal The departure of Coughlin, 69, Iginla got the milestone at 13:02 The Blues (23-14-5) lost a third petitions from each of the three teams after 12 years and two Super Bowl of the third period when his shot to consecutive game. indicating they are ready to pay the wins was technically a resignation the front of the net bounced off Kings Red Wings 1, Devils 0 $550m relocation fee for the team as he issued a statement to say it defenseman Jake Muzzin and past Goaltender Petr Mrazek stopped that wins approval through a vote of was in the best interests of the club goaltender Jhonas Enroth to give Colo- 22 shots as the Detroit Red Wings the owners. for him to “step down” but it was rado a three-goal lead. blanked the New Jersey Devils 1-0 “Three teams -- the Oakland Raid- widely believed the coach was keen He was mobbed by his team mates at Prudential Center on Monday. ers, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego to continue. in the corner and got a standing ova- The 23-year-old had to be at his Chargers -- each submitted applica- The Giants, coming off their tion from the Pepsi Center crowd. best in the first period as the Dev- tions to our office today to relocate third consecutive losing season and Iginla, who has 11 goals this sea- ils poured 12 shots on net. His best their franchises to the Los Angeles fourth in a row without a playoff son, had gone scoreless in three games save came eight minutes into the third area beginning with the 2016 sea- berth, join the Cleveland Browns, since getting his 599th against the period when he denied right winger son,” the league said in a statement. San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 27. Kyle Palmieri at the last moment with “Each team submitted the appro- Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Ten- Oilers 1, Hurricanes 0 a poke check. Rookie left winger Dylan priate documentation in support of its nessee Titans as teams shopping Oilers defenseman Andrej Sek- Larkin scored the game’s lone goal application as required by the NFL for a new head coach. era scored the overtime winner on a in the first period. Policy and Procedures for Proposed The Browns and Niners wielded rebound from his own scoring chance, Meanwhile, the Arizona Coyotes Franchise Relocations.” the ax on Sunday, while the Eagles, giving Edmonton the win. assigned forward Craig Cunningham It said the applications would be Dolphins and Titans finished the Sekera took a wrist shot on Hurri- to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. reviewed by league staff and three season with interim coaches who canes goalie Cam Ward, then streaked Cunningham, 25, has one assist league committees meeting in New are longshots to remain at the helm. in to tuck the second chance between and averaged 9:58 of ice time in nine York on Wednesday and Thursday. The Indianapolis Colts appeared the netminder’s pads. games with the Coyotes in the ongo- Next week’s league meeting in ready to enter the fray as they had Goalie Cam Talbot made 29 saves ing season. He has 16 points (eight Houston will also take up the appli- Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree (left) celebrates with scheduled a news conference for for his first shutout as an Oiler. goals, eight assists) and 14 penalty cations, the statement added, noting running back Latavius Murray after a touchdown against the Kansas Monday to make an announce- Coyotes 3, Canucks 2 minutes in 21 games with Springfield. that three quarters of NFL clubs -- 24 City Chiefs in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. ment about beleaguered head coach Right winger Shane Doan scored The Boston Bruins assigned out of 32 -- must approve of a franchise Chuck Pagano. two goals to lead Arizona to victory forward David Pastrnak to the Prov- relocation before it can go forward. But over an hour after the over Vancouver. idence Bruins of the AHL. The Chargers said the biggest rea- no certain, actionable solution to the Airport, and there is a joint stadium expected start of the press con- Centre Laurent Dauphin also Pastrnak, 19, has appeared in son for wanting to move was a lack of stadium problem. We are sad to have plan in the south central suburb of ference, the Colts called it off for scored for Arizona (19-16-4). Right 10 games with Boston this season, a suitable state-of-the-art stadium. reached this point.” Carson for the Chargers and Raiders. Monday leaving an air of suspense winger Tobias Rieder had two assists. recording two goals, two assists and “Today, the San Diego Chargers The Chargers have pledged to Meanwhile, The San Diego Charg- about the top of a coaching staff The Coyotes are 6-2-3 in their past eight penalty minutes. submitted to the National Football respect the League owners’ final deci- ers will bring back head coach Mike that will try to turn around an 11 games. Centre Bo Horvat, on the League the team’s application to relo- sion. The Rams issued a brief statement McCoy and general manager Tom Tel- 8-8 season that left them outside power play, and left winger Daniel cate to Los Angeles,” the Chargers said indicating they had informed the NFL esco for 2016 despite a 4-12 record the play-offs. The Giants job is an Sedin scored for Vancouver (15-16-9). NHL RESULTS in a statement. of their relocation proposal, effective this season. alluring National Football League The Canucks have scored two goals or Detroit 1 New Jersey 0 “We have tried for more than 14 for the 2016 NFL League Year. “We are disappointed with the destination as the critical quarter- fewer in nine of their past 11 games. Ottawa 3 St Louis 2 years, through nine separate proposals All three teams have plans to outcome as our expectations have back position is already well staffed. Senators 3, Blues 2 Colorado 4 Los Angeles 1 and seven different mayors, to create develop a stadium in south Los Angeles. not been met,” team president John Manning, who turned 35 on Sun- After his team fell behind 2-0, Edmonton 1 Carolina 0 a world-class stadium experience for Rams owner Stan Kroenke plans Spanos said in a letter on the team’s day, is coming off a year in which right winger Bobby Ryan assisted on fans in San Diego. to build a stadium site in Inglewood website. “I have the utmost confidence he threw 35 touchdowns and just Ottawa’s first tally late in the second Arizona 3 Vancouver 2 “Despite these efforts, there is still near the Los Angeles International in our leadership.” 14 interceptions. WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2016 36 Stage set for 30th edition of Qatar Umm Salal to resume Open Amateur Golf Championship training on January 11

First tee-off will be Doha: Umm Salal have confirmed that they will held tomorrow as a commence their train- total of 126 golfers ing on January 11 after a break due to upcoming vie for honours during AFC Under-23 tourna- the three-day event ment which will be held in Doha from January 12 to 30. The resumption of The Peninsula training sessions will be preceded by medi- cal examinations for the players at Aspetar on DOHA: Golfers from more than 33 January 10. countries will feature at this week’s Professional players Qatar Open Amateur Championship, Yannick Sagbo and the Qatar Golf Association (QGA) officials Brazilian defender Wel- said yesterday. inton will join the team’s The three-day event will be the training sessions on Jan- first major event ahead of this month’s uary 12 after getting Qatar Masters, Fahad Nasser Al Naimi, permission for two days General Secretary, QGA said. extra leave from team “We have a list of 11 Qatari golfers management. who will take part in the three-day The medical staff event that will start on January 7,” Al will be also working on Naimi said. the rehabilitation and “Around 47 golfers will fly in for recovery of injured play- the event that will see its 30th edi- ers Nasser Khalfan and tion,” he added. Adel Alawi. They are cur- “Seventy nine golfers are actually rently in fifth place in the Doha-based players,” Al Naimi said. QSL standings, and will “A total 126 golfers will take part in face leaders Al Rayyan in the event hoping to win a berth at the round 16. General Secretary of Qatar Golf Association (QGA) Fahad Nasser Al Naimi (third from left) addressing the media at a press conference on Qatar Qatar Masters,” he added. Open Amateur Championship, held at the QGA yesterday. (From left) Executive Assistant Manager of InterContinental Doha, Cyril Mouawad, QGA “The winner of the event will get Sailiya to a direct entry into the main field of Board member Shaheen Al Kuwari, QGA Assistant Secretary General Mohamed Al Mohannadi, Executive Director Mohammed Faisal Al Naim and Qatar Masters,” Al Naimi said. Regional General Manager at InterContinental Doha, Andreas Pfister are also seen in the picture. Photo by: Kammutty VP conduct “The top two Qatari players will also get an entry into the Qatar Mas- training camp ter,” he said. the event include Qatar Armed Forces, Manager of InterContinental Doha, the support that QGA appreciates.” Committee. Their invaluable support Individual stroke play is the for- Qatar Olympic Committee, InterCon- said: “We are delighted to be part of “We are committed to extend- is appreciated in every sense of the in Doha mat of play to be adopted at Doha Golf tinental Doha, Al Muftah Rent-A-Car this fantastic event.” ing our assistance in staging another word. I give my thanks to InterConti- Course, the venue of the tournament. and Doha Golf Club. “Golf has a rich history in this coun- fine event. The location of our hotel nental Doha and Al Muftah Rent-A-Car Doha: Al Sailiya has The top 60 from 127 golfers will The draw ceremony will be held try where sports is an important part suits DGA and we look forward to the also. They have been supporting our announced it will con- play the final on January 9, Al Naimi today. First tee-off will be held tomor- of the lives of those living in Qatar.” event,” he added. events for many years.’ vene a training camp informed. row at 6:50am. The prize distribution He added: “We have been a part- Al Naimi said: “I take this oppor- The 2016 Qatar Masters, a Euro- from January 12 to pre- Prizes will be handed to the top ceremony will take place on January ner for long, some 10 years now. Our tunity to thank our sponsors Qatar pean Tour event, will be played at the pare for the remainder 10 golfers, officials said. Sponsors of 9 at 2:30pm. Andreas Pfister, General services are well respected. We provide Armed Forces and the Qatar Olympic end of the month. of the QSL season. The team has shelved plans for a training camp in Abu Dhabi, opting to Issiar Dia to join focus their preparations in Doha. Al Kharaitiyat: AFC Under-23 Championship tickets go on sale The Peregrines have wasted no time in the Aman January transfer win- dow so far securing the services of promis- The Peninsula ing Al Rayyan midfielder Hamad Al-Obeidi on loan for the rest of the season. DOHA: Al Kharaitiyat team man- The QSL is taking a ager has confirmed that striker three week break for the Issiar Dia will return to Al Kharaiti- The Peninsula AFC U23 Championships, yat replacing midfielder Anwar Diba. which will take place in Dia is no stranger to Al Kharaitiyat, Doha. The break in com- having played for them on loan dur- petition is an ideal time ing the 2014/2015 season. DOHA: Tickets are now available for for Sailiya to improve In an exclusive interview with the AFC U23 Championship, Qatar at their fitness ahead of a the QSL website, the former defender Landmark and Villagio Mall, as prep- challenging second half said: “We are waiting on the rele- arations ramp up for Asia’s second of the season. vant transfer documents from his biggest men’s national team cham- previous club to sign Dia. We will pionship starting on January 12. El Jaish be looking for an instant impact The launch of the event was from him when the league returns.” attended by members of the local injured trio Aman also praised the other organizing committee, along with professional players, namely the Najim the desert fox, who was recently looking to fierce striker Yahya Kebe, Hassan announced as the official mascot for Abdel Fattah and the tough defender the tournament. recover Domingos. Speaking at the launch of the ticket Aman also made clear that Issiar booth Khalifa Al Haroon, Marketing Doha: Second placed El Dia will be the only professional and Communications director of the Jaish has confirmed their player to join the team during the LOC said, “Launching at Landmark training plans during the winter transfer window and none of mall is a big step in the preparations three week stoppage of the remaining professionals will be for the AFC U23 Championship. The QSL action. replaced, adding that the team is in booth will ensure that fans have the The soldiers are cur- need for three more local players. best opportunity to get tickets to watch rently hoping that the Commenting on the recent some of the best footballing talent in injured trio of Wesam results, he said: “We were not satis- Asia.” Rizik, Abdurahman Abu- fied with the results at the beginning The tournament will be played in bakar and Brazilian of the season, nevertheless the per- Doha and it will feature the 16 top U23 defender Lucas Mendes formance has changed as well as sides from Asia, including hosts Qatar can regain fitness during the results, and we are satisfied and defending champions Iraq. the break. Najim, the official Mascot of the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Championship, with some of his with the current performances of The top three teams from the The team’s medical the team.” tournament will secure qualifica- fans. The tournament which is also Asia’s second biggest men’s national team championship, kicks off on staff will be working on Speaking about whether he is tion for the 2016 Olympic Games in January 12. completing the rehabil- worried about the team during the Rio de Janeiro. The opening match of itation and recovery of coming period, he said: “I have huge the Championship on January 12 will the injured trio to make confidence in the players and I am see Syria take on Iran at the Jassim fans and to attract families in order TICKET CATEGORIES AND PRICES them available for the aware of their potential. The results Bin Hamad stadium. to ensure a lively and festive atmos- training sessions which will improve in the second part of The hosts Qatar will kick-off their phere in the stadia. Tickets for all the Category Opening Match Group Stage Q/f S/f Final start on January 11. the season, I am sure of this. campaign against China PR on the same matches are available online from the Jaish head coach Turky praised the work of Bos- day, at 19.30 local time, at the Abdul- Qatar Football Association website: VIP QR100 QR50 QR50 QR50 QR100 Sabri Lamouchi granted nian head coach Ammar Osim, lah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha. The www.qfa.qa. CAT 1 QR50 QR30 QR30 QR30 QR50 his players a six-day stressing the break as important final will be played on the January 30, Whilst fans can also buy tickets rest following their 2-1 for the side: “We consider the cur- also at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. from both Landmark and Villagio malls CAT 2 QR30 QR10 QR10 QR10 QR30 victory over a spirited Al rent break as a huge opportunity to The affordable ticketing structure from 4pm to 10pm daily, furthermore Children Free Free Free Free Free Sailiya side in round 15 work with the team on all aspects has been designed to make the tour- fans will be able to buy tickets on match of the QSL. and enhance the positive sides.” nament accessible to the local football days at the tournament venues. Disabled Free Free Free Free Free