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Qatargas, Shell and Al Attiyah targets UASC to push LNG yet another title as marine fuel at Sealine Rally

MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 • 11 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6770 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Emir condoles with Oil output freeze talks to resume in June Japan Emperor over quake victims

Minister of Energy QNA & Agencies and Industry H E Dr Mohammed DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent bin Saleh Al a cable of condolences to Emperor Sada said more Akihito of Japan for the victims of the earthquake which struck the time needed for country, wishing the injured a consultations quick recovery. The Emir also sent among Opec and a cable of condolences to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. non-Opec members. Emir condoles with By Satish Kanady Ecuador President The Peninsula

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday DOHA: High-stake talks in Doha sent a cable of condolences and between Opec and non-Opec oil sympathy to Ecuador’s President producers on an agreement to Rafael Correa for the victims of freeze output yesterday ran into the earthquake that hit the coun- last-minute confusion and con- try and left many people killed Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met the ministers participating in the Opec meeting, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Prime Minister and cluded without an output cap deal. and injured, wishing the injured Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani was present. The parties would meet again in a quick recovery. June for further talks. Minister of Energy and Indus- try H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh non-Opec countries, including Rus- said it will not agree to restrict out- help ease the supply glut that has seen levels until October 1 to gauge its effect Optimism over Al Sada, also current president of sia, were expected to meet and strike put because sanctions against its oil prices sink from levels as high as $115 on prices. The freeze, first suggested in Opec, said “Opec needed more a possible deal to freeze oil output at industry were only lifted in January, in mid-2014. “If there is no freeze, that February by big producers like Saudi time for consultations to reach an January levels until October 2016. as part of the deal curbing its nuclear would directly affect North American Arabia and Russia, is intended to limit Yemen talks output freeze deal. The run-up to the meeting saw programme. Iran’s oil minister did not production going forward, perhaps global supply and bolster prices. “Oil producers concluded after months of disagreements about the attend the talks. According interna- something Saudis might like to see,” Russia’s Oil Minister Alexander KUWAIT: Yemen’s warring parties six hours of negotiations that they impact any freeze would have on indi- tional news agencies, Tehran sent only Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Desh- Novak told Reuters that his country are sending conciliatory signals needed more time. The general vidual Opec members. a representative to Doha. pande told Reuters. was not closing the door on a global ahead of UN-backed talks, to end conclusion was that we need more The position of Iran — now ram- Failure to reach a global deal — The development will revive oil deal to freeze output levels although a year-old conflict. time to consult among Opec and ping up production after Western the first in 15 years between Opec and industry fears that major producers he was disappointed that no decision “We are ready for a political non-Opec producers,” he said fol- sanctions were lifted as part of the non-Opec nations — would signal the are embarking again on a battle for had been taken. Novak said he had transition which excludes no one ... lowing the meeting. nuclear deal it signed with world pow- resumption of a battle for market share market share, especially after Riyadh travelled to Doha, expecting all sides The world looks to Kuwait talks as Nigerian Oil Minister ers — had proven a sticking point, with between key producers and likely halt threatened to raise output steeply if no to sign the deal instead of debating it. a landmark of peace for Yemenis,” Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said at diplomats and officials at the talks tell- a recent recovery in prices. freeze deal was reached. Asked whether Russia would freeze Foreign Minister Abdel Malek Al the end of the meeting that the ing Al Jazeera that Saudi Arabia was Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 Ahead of the meeting, delegates output levels, he said the government Mekhlafi, from the Saudi-backed parties would meet again in June insisting Tehran should sign up any a barrel, up 60 percent from January had circulated a draft accord that was not meant to regulate the output government based in Aden, told for further talks. Some 18 Opec and agreement. Tehran has repeatedly lows, on optimism that a deal would called for freezing output at January of private producers. state news agency Saba.

Hollande meets Syrian refugee kids 9 Guantanamo Smart Clinic at Al Wakrah Yemenis arrive in Saudi Health Centre gives hope to diabetics QNA & Agencies

RIYADH: The Custodian of the By Fazeena Saleem for diabetes. Of them, 123 patients Two Holy Mosques King Salman The Peninsula were identified as pre-diabetic and bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi 20 diagnosed with the disease. Arabia approved the request The clinic’s implementation was of Yemeni President Abdrabuh accomplished in cooperation with Mansur Hadi to received nine DOHA: Qatar’s efforts to fight dia- Primary Health Care Corporation Yemeni detainees from US Guan- betes has got a major boost with the (PHCC) and Hamad Medical Cor- tanamo prison. launch of an innovative diabetes poration (HMC) and followed a 2013 The detainees’ relatives liv- clinic at Al Wakrah Health Centre. WISH report and recommendation ing Saudi Arabia, have submitted The pilot project comes as a on Accountable Care. requests to Saudi authorities to local outcome of World Innovation “The overall aim of the project receive them in view of the cir- Summit for Health (WISH), a global was achieved successfully and its cumstances in fraternal Yemen, a initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF). results will be reviewed over the security spokesman of the Saudi Known as Smart Clinic, it is coming months regularly. Ministry of Interior said yesterday. designed to improve the health and “Once completed, the pro- French President Francois Hollande (second right) and Jack Lang (right), President, Arab World The Yemenis arrived last well-being of people through the gramme will be taken to other Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) and former culture minister, meet young Syrian refugees at the evening, he said, adding their rel- delivery of high-quality, efficient health centres, maybe, next year. informal Dalhamiyeh Syrian refugee camp near the city of Zahle in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley yesterday. atives had been contacted and care for those who suffer from, or However, at present, it is open only arrangements to facilitate meeting are at risk of, developing diabe- to the nationals,” said Dr Mariam them made, Saudi Press Agency tes, officials told a press conference Ali Abdulmalik, Managing Direc- (SPA) reports. The nine will be put yesterday. tor, PHCC. under applicable regulations of the At present the programme is “The programme aims at early kingdom, including programmes open only to the nationals. Using a detection of diabetics and risk for advising and care, he said. combination of data analytics and factors associated with diabetes. 235 die in Ecuador earthquake The US transferred the men a risk-based screening, it identi- Patients registered at Al Wakrah from its military prison at Guan- fies those with known diabetes risk Hospital are invited for screening tanamo, including an inmate who factors and invites these high-risk at the clinic,” she added. Reuters off the Pacific coast and was felt cannot be recovered, and that’s what had been on a hunger strike since patients to the Smart Clinic for vol- The final report of the Smart around the Andean nation of 16 hurts the most.” Visiting the quake 2007, under a long-sought deal untary screening. Clinic, along with other research million people, causing panic as far zone, Vice- President Jorge Glas said between Washington and Riyadh, The clinic, which opened last projects, will be presented at 2016 away as the highland capital Quito over 1,500 people were injured. US officials said. January, offers integrated care WISH Summit to be held on Novem- MANTA: At least 235 died in Ecua- and collapsing buildings and roads Coastal areas nearest the epi- The transfer just days before for those in need, through a spe- ber 29 and 30 in Doha. dor’s biggest earthquake in decades in a swath of western towns. center were worst affected, especially President Barack Obama’s visit to cialised team that includes a The evidence-based research yesterday as rescuers using tractors President Rafael Correa rushed Pedernales, a rustic tourist spot Saudi Arabia for a summit of Gulf physician, nurse, health educator will highlight and put forth pol- and bare hands hunted desperately home from a trip to Italy to supervise with beaches and palm trees, which Arab allies, marked the latest step and a dietician. icy recommendations on seven key for survivors in shattered coastal the emergency. “The immediate pri- appeared largely flattened. in his final push to close the con- By the end of last month, more topics. towns. ority is to rescue people in the rubble. troversial detention centre at the than 3,000 people had been invited The 7.8 magnitude quake struck Everything can be rebuilt, but lives → See also page 19 US naval base in Cuba. for screening and nearly 1,000 tested → Continued on page 2 02 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 HOME

Emir meets Commander of US Central Command Ministry for display of patients’ bill of rights

private healthcare facilities to strictly suggested medicines and the alter- comply with the patients rights char- natives in comprehensible language. The ministry asks all ter. Any failure to comply with the Patients can bring a third person healthcare facilities directives will be considered a viola- (s) with him during check-up, treat- tion of the law regulating the private ment and discussion of their cases to prominently health sector and will invite action. with doctors. display the charter on The Department will start Patients also have the right to their premises. inspections from July 1 and the erring privacy and respect for their bodies facilities will face action beginning during check-ups. that date, said the circular. The As per the charter, the patient has Department will also investigate the right to get detailed information The Peninsula based on complaints filed by patients about health services and health and information from other reliable insurance. sources. It is their duty to cooperate with The patients’ bill of rights also the healthcare providers in the DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health identifies the patients’ relation- payment of fees through health insur- has asked all healthcare facilities ship with healthcare providers and ance or in cash. in the country to prominently dis- practitioners. The patient must stick to appoint- play the patients’ bill of rights issued The charter gives patients the ments given by healthcare providers. by the ministry recently, in their right to complain if they are not sat- If they cannot report as scheduled premises. isfied with the services they receive. they should inform in advance and Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met the Commander of the US Central Command, General The document which identi- The complaint should be first made to will be given a new appointment. Joseph Leonard Votel, and his delegation at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. They discussed cooperation fies the rights and responsibilities of the manager of the healthcare facil- Patients must be held responsi- between the two countries, means of bolstering them and regional and international issues of common patients must be displayed in Ara- ity concerned and then to the Qatar ble if they refuse a medical advice concern. bic and English in all patient waiting Council for Healthcare Practitioners or change the medication plan with- areas at the facilities and other sec- (QCHP) if it is not addressed within out consulting the doctor concerned. tions, said a circular issued by the the period specified in the charter. Patients must update healthcare Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Patients have the right to get providers on their condition and pro- Department at the ministry. accurate information about med- vide details about the history of the Al Kawari to address peace forum in Tunisia The ministry has also asked all ical diagnosis of their cases, the disease.

QNA Ministry, in cooperation with Islamic contribution to global efforts to pro- Educational, Scientific and Cultural mote peace, dialogue and security Organisation (ISESCO) and Arab in the Middle East and North Africa WISH continues to create practical solutions League Educational, Cultural and region and the Sahel and sub-Saha- TUNIS: H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Scientific Organisation (ALECSO). ran Africa and enhance the Tunisian Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser to the Dr Al Kawari will deliver a speech experience in peaceful dialogue and Emiri Diwan and Qatar’s candidate during the first session, to be chaired democratic reform. for the post of the Unesco director- by Malta’s President Marie Louise The symposium agenda also general, yesterday arrived in the Coleiro Preca. Dr Al Kawari will chair includes regional cooperation to Tunisian city of Sousse to take part in a session on the concluding day of the establish peace in the Euro-Med- an international symposium on pro- symposium, on challenges to peace iterranean area, the Sahel and moting peace and dialogue, which in the region, including violence, Sub-Saharan Africa; democratisa- begins today. terrorism, migration, illegal drug- tion and political dialogue; and the The two-day symposium is trafficking and arms-smuggling. Tunisian experience in promoting organised by the Tunisian Education The symposium is part of peace and dialogue.

FROM LEFT: Dr Victor Dzau, President, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and Chair, WISH, Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, President, Community Development, Qatar Foundation, Professor Lord Ara Darzi, Executive Chair, the WISH Board, Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, Managing Director, Primary Health Care Corporation; and Dr Mark B McClellan, Director, Engelberg Centre for Health Care, and Chair, WISH, at the WISH Midterm press conference at Four Seasons Doha yesterday. Pic: Kammutty / The Peninsula

Continued from page 1

The topics include accountable care; autism; behavioural insights; cardiovascular disease; economic benefits of investing in health; healthy populations; and precision medicine. Professor Lord Ara Darzi, Exec- utive Chair, WISH, said, “The WISH Midterm Summit is an opportunity for us to convene our global commu- nity around healthcare issues that really matter. “It’s a prelude to our summit in November. This year we are focus- ing on topics that resonate around the world — and in Qatar — as we continue to create evidence-based research that offers policymakers practical solutions designed to cre- Health education is an important part of a patient’s visit to the Smart ate change,” he added. Clinic. Environment Intersection opens to traffic

The Peninsula to traffic after being converted from May-end. The opening of the inter- a roundabout to a signal-controlled section is part of works under Al intersection. Khafji Street Development Project. The remaining sidewalk pave- This is the third phase of the DOHA: The Environment Intersec- ment works are in progress and project which included converting the tion on Al Khafji Street has opened expected to be completed by Environment Roundabout to a sig- nal-controlled intersection and the expansion of Al Khafji Street from three to four lanes. The first and sec- ond phases of the project have been completed, and included converting Al Hazm and Jelaiha roundabouts to signal-controlled intersections. The development project is part of vital projects implemented by Ash- ghal to improve and enhance the network of roads and expressways and traffic safety across the country. Road enhancement works include converting roundabouts to signal- controlled intersections, installing Intelligent Transportation Systems, Motorists pass through the newly-built signal-controlled intersection street lighting and pedestrians’ paths, on Al Khafji Street. among others. HOME MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 03

Condolence cables sent to Japan QRCS trains relief workers for Syria and Ecuador

subsidiary of the Swiss Geneva Call. QNA Instructed by four specialist Eighteen trainees lecturers, the course gave useful attend the information on IHL, the Interna- tional Human Rights Law, and their DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh second course link with the teachings of Islamic Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yes- on International Law. terday sent a cable of condolences It also involved documenta- to Emperor Akihito of Japan on the Humanitarian Law ries and presentations to enhance victims of the earthquake which and Shariah in Turkey learning. In the end, certificates of struck the country, wishing the and will train 180 participation and course material injured a quick recovery. He also were shared with the participants. sent a cable of condolences to Jap- beneficiaries. In view of the significant issues anese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. discussed in the course, the par- Prime Minister and Interior ticipants came up with a set of Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin recommendations, including (1) the Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a The Peninsula call for a military code of ethics to similar cable of condolences to his outline the major principles, norms, Japanese counterpart Abe. and provisions of IHL from an Islamic The Deputy Emir also sent a perspective, (2) the importance of cable of condolences and sym- DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society continuing to hold such courses on Qatar Red Crescent Society officials with some of the trainees. pathy to Ecuadorian President (QRCS) has organised a second course IHL and Islamic tenets related to Rafael Correa on the victims of to build the capacity of relief workers armed conflict. the earthquake that hit the coun- involved in Syria in the field of human From the feedback of the partic- by QRCS and Afaq Academy to pro- aid, medicines, blankets, tarpaulins, installing water networks and heat- try and left many people killed rights, in the International Humani- ipants, it was obvious that there is mote IHL and Islamic Law knowledge ambulances, rehabilitation of camps ers at camps. It is also involved in and injured, wishing the injured tarian Law (IHL) and Shariah. a need for similar course to be held among the relief workers in Syria. hit by fire or snow. humanitarian diplomacy and advo- a quick recovery. The course was attended by via videoconferencing to inform the The two-day course was attended QRCS also supports the needy with cacy (organising and participating Prime Minister and Interior 18 trainees, with some further 180 military in Syria about the values by 20 trainees from QRCS and Syrian development projects such as build- in conferences and events to raise Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin beneficiaries who will receive the and rules of armed conflict, as well NGOs working in Gaziantep, Turkey. ing clay houses, establishing and awareness among the international Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a information of the course through as issuing publications that urge These course are part of QRCS’s operating health centres, providing community about the serious human- similar cable to President Correa, the participants themselves. belligerents to observe the ethics of efforts to support the Syrian people fuel for Civil Defence vehicles, open- itarian conditions of Syrians in their wishing those injured in the earth- The four-day course was held at warriors in Islam. in their protracted calamity in terms ing humanitarian corridors, securing country and in neighbouring Lebanon, quake a quick recovery. the headquarters of Afaq Academy, a This is the second course co-held of relief including food/non-food water tankers in neighbourhoods, Jordan, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. 11kg of marijuana seized at HIA

The Peninsula of marijuana were found hidden inside the packets of dried pepper. The General Authority of Cus- toms transferred the case and the DOHA: Customs officials seized a traveller to concerned authorities for huge amount of marijuana from an legal action. Asian traveller at Hamad Interna- Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi, tional Airport. Chairman of the Authority, honoured A customs inspector on duty the inspector, whose alertness foiled became suspicious of a bag brought the smuggling and stressed constant in by the traveller. efforts to protect the country. When he and other officials The Authority said it is pro- inspected the bag, they found it was viding its staff at all ports with full of dried pepper. continuous training to enhance their The marijuana was found hidden in dried pepper bags. Customs officials with the inspector who discovered the drug. On further inspection, some 11kg professionalism. 04 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 HOME Ooredoo Video Clips Boston marks QA’s new service mobile portal launched The Qatari National The Peninsula Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo Video Clips is Flag raised at the our latest entertainment service, and ‘Gallery of Flags’ one we believe will be extremely popular with smartphone users across the country. at Boston Logan DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday launched its Using our Supernet network people can International newest service — the Ooredoo Video Clips enjoy unlimited access to over 3.6 million mobile portal — as the company expands minutes of content.” Airport. its entertainment offerings for Qatar’s This is the latest entertainment serv- growing online population. ice launched by Ooredoo as the company Ooredoo Video Clips, which has been works to provide the best in entertainment designed to enable Qatar’s smartphone from around the world for Qatar. The Peninsula users to watch videos online and on-the- Ooredoo Video Clips is brought to cus- go, offers subscribers the ability to access tomers via a partnership between Ooredoo unlimited video clips on a daily basis. and Vuclip, the leading premium video- Once subscribed, customers will be on-demand service for emerging markets. BOSTON: Boston’s Logan Inter- able to watch as many videos as they like Other entertainment content includes national Airport marked Qatar on their mobiles, which includes more Ooredoo tv, Qatar’s new next-generation Airways’ new route to the city than 1.7 million videos with genres such entertainment service, one-stop-shop with an exclusive flag-raising cer- sport, action, Bollywood, Pinoy, shows, for apps, gaming, movies, streaming and emony in honour of QA’s recently and more. Subscriptions cost QR2 a day much more. launched daily, non-stop service. on a recurring daily subscription to the Delivered in 4K definition and pow- The ceremony included the catalogue of over 25 languages. ered by Android and Huawei, Ooredoo playing of the Qatari and the US To subscribe, customers can send the offer the most technologically advanced tv national anthems. Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways, speaking at the ceremony. keyword ‘SUB1’ to 92202, and the keyword subscription service in the region to keep Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief ‘UNSUB’ to 92202 to unsubscribe. you entertained. For details, customers can Executive, QA, travelled to Bos- Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Direc- visit an Ooredoo Shop or log onto Oore- ton and led a delegation from the Major William N Christian- artefacts of the two cities was held. borders, and we are honoured by tor, Community and Public Relations, doo.qa for details. airline. He was met by Thomas P son, Director of Aviation Security, The final moment of the ceremony Boston Logan International Air- Glynn, CEO, Massport, and Edward Massport, and Pat Moscaritolo, was the raising of the Qatar flag. port’s incredible hospitality and Freni, Director of Aviation, Mass- President and CEO, Greater Bos- “We are pleased to welcome are proud to raise the flag of Qatar, port, with a red carpet welcome, ton Convention & Visitors Bureau QA to Boston Logan. With its our home, as we celebrate a new Chevrolet Aveo 2015 models recalled followed by a flag-raising cere- (GBCVB), joined the official del- award-winning service and mod- era of opportunity and coopera- mony in the departures zone. egation for the playing of both ern fleet, QA offers New England tion between Boston and Doha.” The ‘Gallery of Flags’ is unique countries’ national anthems and new opportunities for travel and QA launched the service to The Peninsula The ministry said the recall is part of its to Boston Logan International Air- the flag-raising ceremony. ways to connect to the global econ- Boston on March 16. ongoing efforts to protect consumers and port in that it marks the countries Glynn hailed QA as an innova- omy,” said Freni. The destination is the airline’s ensure dealers follow up on vehicle defects of all carriers that fly from the tive leader in the aviation industry, “The airline also provides a ninth in the US and one of three US and repairs. It urged customers to report international terminal E. and the airline was acknowledged new way for people from around routes operating with the state-of- DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and any violations to its Consumer Protection Thirty-three countries have for its dedication and passion in the globe to come to Boston and the-art Airbus A350, for which QA Commerce, in collaboration with Jaidah and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department their flags raised and QA is the its service commitment to its appreciate all the city has to offer.” was the global launch customer, Automotive, dealer of Chevrolet vehicles through the Call Center: 16001; email: info@ latest to receive the official wel- passengers. Al Baker said: “Global avia- and has eight such aircraft in its in Qatar, has announced the recall of Chev- mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @MEC_Qatar; Insta- come, with Qatar’s flag on display. An official exchange of cultural tion has the power to transcend fleet. rolet Aveo 2015 models to check the parking gram: MEC_Qatar; and the ministry’s mobile brake bracket underbody. app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Lulu Exchange Company relocates outlet in Al Khor

The Peninsula

DOHA:Lulu Exchange Company, the lead- ing worldwide remittance and foreign exchange services provider in Qatar, has relocated its Al Khor branch to a more con- veniently accessible site at Al Khor Mall. The new branch was inaugurated by Adeeb Ahamed, Director of the company, in the presence of other dignitaries and company officials. The company has over the years emerged as a preferred exchange house, providing fast and reliable money transfer worldwide and foreign exchange services to a cross-section of society, powered by a huge network, reputed partners and high standards of customer care. The relocation is part of the com- pany’s strategy to reinforce its growing presence in local markets while reach- Adeeb Ahamed, Director of the company, and other officials inaugurate the relocated branch ing out to its wide range of customers and at Al Khor Mall.

providing easy and con- technological proficiency venient access to its wide to provide smoother, range of services. faster and more reliable On the sidelines, services to its customers. Ahamed told the media, It is dedicated to “We are pleased to move incorporating innovation to this new location. in all its areas of func- We have a significant tion. Services like instant number of customers credit to designated bank based around the area accounts in select coun- and our branch now is sit- tries is a testimony to its uated in a location that is commitment to promote easily reachable. This innovation that delights relocation is in line with customers. our continued efforts to The company has bring convenience to our been successful in esteemed customers.” delivering the best of The company has service excellence to its banking arrangements customers, earning their with top banks around complete satisfaction and the world and has tied up trust, which has allowed it with the best financial to become the most pre- institutions backed with ferred exchange house.

Consumer protection law in sign language released

The Peninsula

DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has released a sign language version of the consumer pro- tection law to raise consumer awareness among the hearing and speech impaired. It has launched the service in collaboration with Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of people with disabil- ities. The law is available in a video distributed to the public and authorities concerned in a CD format. The content is also available on the ministry’s social media platforms. The one-hour video on YouTube includes sign language and voice in Arabic. The YouTube copy of the law is accessible at the minister’s website on MEC_Qatar. HOME MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 05 EU urged to help in Kalbelia performances at Katara tonight release of two

Qataris in Iraq On popular demand, the Indian embassy, in QNA cooperation with Katara and ICC, is holding two more performances at BRUSSELS: Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Head of Qatar’s Mission to the European Union, called 7pm and 8pm. on the Europeans to exert their utmost efforts to help release the two Qatari nationals kidnapped in Iraq and who entered the Iraqi territory with a permit from Iraq’s Interior Ministry in coordi- The Peninsula nation with the Iraqi Embassy in Doha. Speaking at the annual meeting of the GCC- EU committee of political dialogue experts in Brussels, Sheikh Ali called on the European Com- DOHA: Two public performances of a munity to intervene rapidly to urge the Iraqi spectacular performance of Kalbelia, a tra- government take measures to ensure the safety ditional folk dancing and singing from the of the rest of Qatari detainees and secure their State of Rajasthan in India, will be staged release as soon as possible. today at 7pm and 8pm at Katara Amphi- He affirmed that the Qatar rejected such theatre. Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora with other officials and Kalbelia troupe. terrorist acts, which constitute a breach of the The performances are being held as part international law and a violation of human rights, of the celebrations marking the 125th Birth calling on the European side to cooperate with anniversary of Late Bharat Ratna Dr B R World-renowned artistes performed the India. The artistes were led by Supki. demand, the embassy, in cooperation with the Qatari authorities in this regard due to the Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Consti- folk dance yesterday at Katara Drama Thea- The programme was organised by the Katara and ICC, is organising two more pub- close relations between the two sides. tution, and the third edition of ‘A Passage to tre. The artistes are sponsored by the Indian Indian embassy, in cooperation with Katara lic performances, an embassy statement The Qatari diplomat renewed Qatar’s keen- India’ Community Festival in Doha. Council of Cultural Relations, government of and the Indian Cultural Centre. On popular said, adding all are cordially invited. ness to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with the Geneva Confer- ence I. He noted that the Qatar did not hesitate a moment to provide all necessary assistance for Syrian refugees to ease their suffering after five Msheireb Properties to attend Heritage Day events years and allotted for this purpose more than $ 1.2 billion since the crisis broke out in 2011. He referred to Qatar initiative, entitled Edu- The Peninsula different aspects of Qatar’s cul- incorporated in the project that has development, we are underlining cate A Child, which allowed over 600 000 Syrian ture and raise awareness of its helped create a template for future the sustainability features of our children to return to schools, saying by the end glorious past. generations. development that positions it as of the year 2016 the number will increase to one The event aims to promote Engineer Abdulla Hassan a model for urban regeneration.” million kids in addition to 100 scholarships for DOHA: Msheireb Properties, a awareness on Msheireb Downtown Al Mehshadi (pictured), CEO, He added: “The sustainability Syrian refugees to enrol in Sorbonne Univer- subsidiary of Qatar Foundation Doha, the world’s first sustainable Msheireb Properties, said: “The features that we have integrated sity in France, allocated 2.300.000 million for for Education, Science and Com- downtown regeneration project, Heritage Day, organised by Qatar in Msheireb Downtown Doha education in refugee areas in partnership with munity Development (QF), will located in the heart of the capital, Foundation, is a compelling plat- are a testament to the forward Unicef and allocated two schools for Syrian chil- showcase the integral link of its and its commitment to preserv- form to celebrate the cultural looking vision of our ancestors. dren and preparing for a third one as the Syrian flagship development, Msheireb ing Qatari architecture and culture heritage and rich history of our Much before the advent of mod- community in Qatar estimated at 54.000 Syr- Downtown Doha (MDD), with through pioneering initiatives and nation. ern technology, they devised ian refugees. He confirmed Qatar’s rejection of traditional Qatari culture, archi- sustainable innovations. “At the event, we are putting measures to make the buildings all forms of violence and extremism as well as tecture and sustainable living at An array of colourful activ- the spotlight on how Qatari culture environment-friendly. its explicit condemnation of terrorist acts, wher- the Heritage Day celebration to be ities will be held as part of the and architecture have served as “We are paying tribute to ever they are, and the State’s commitment at all organised by Qatar Foundation on event, and visitors will be pro- the inspiration and guiding force of them through Msheireb Down- levels to combat such criminal acts within the April 18 and 19, 2016. vided insights on how traditional Msheireb Downtown Doha. Apart town Doha, which also includes international mechanisms, especially that ter- Heritage Day is a celebration Qatari architecture and styles from celebrating how our archi- the restoration of heritage build- held for the public including stu- rorism has become a global serious phenomenon of the nation’s rich history and tra- influenced the project, and learn tectural traditions have strong ings as part of Msheireb Museums.” dents during the Heritage Day which requires all efforts to curb it. ditions and aims to explore the about key sustainability features influence in modern project Edutainment activities will be celebrations. 06 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 HOME RAF set to provide e-education in Syria

through electronic methods. Plans conference held here yesterday. Organisation has are afoot to distribute I-pads and RAF has signed a cooperation other supporting equipment to the and partnership agreement with a signed a cooperation targeted students. Saudi organization “Rowaq”, an Arab and partnership Most refugee camps are already platform for online education. The having strong Wi-Fi internet services initiative entitled “Sanadiyan”, is agreement. connected directly to the satellite. named after a big shade tree found A comprehensive curriculum is everywhere in Syria. being prepared that will be accred- Dr Ayed bin Dabssan Al Qahtani, By Sanaullah Ataullah ited with educational institutions Chairman, Board of Trustees, and The Peninsula and varsities inside Syria and those General Director, RAF, and Raid Al in abroad especially countries host- Emadi of Rowaq have signed the ing refugees. agreement. Ayed Al Qahtani (second right), Raed Al Emadi (second left) signing the MoU at the headquarters of Sheikh Several Arab universities nota- “Thousands of boys and girls liv- DOHA: Sheikh Thani bin Abdul- bly a Sudanese varsity showed ing in refugee camps in Turkey will Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) in Doha yesterday. With them are, Ali bin lah Foundation for Humanitarian their readiness to accept the stu- benefit from the distance education Youssef Al Kuwari (left) and Salem Mohammed Al Qahtani. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula Services (RAF) is all set to provide dents enrolled in the programme. program of phase-I,” said Dr Ayed Al e-education to thousands of Syr- Examinations will be held at nearby Qahtani. college drop outs to continue their internally displaced and those shel- The e-education program will pro- ian students who dropped out from educational facilities run by the gov- “Later the initiative will be taken education and obtain a recognized tering in refugee camps set up in vide an accredited curriculum to the schools and colleges due to political ernment of the hosting countries. to the camps and cities built by RAF certificate, said Al Qahtani. neighbouring countries and Europe,” beneficiaries to resume their studies. unrest in the country. Separate examination centres will to accommodate internally displaced “As per the latest figure released by said Raid Al Emadi. Many Arabic varsities are ready to par- Initially three centres will be set be also made if needed. people in Syria,” he added. the United Nations, more than 12 mil- Some 47 percent of the affected, ticipate in the initiative and allow the up in Turkey to enrol the students Details about the initiative were The e-education will provide lion people were forced to leave their about six millions are young in the age students to get admissions including and provide them distance education given by the RAF officials in a press opportunities to the school and homes in war-torn Syria including of learning and they need education. Al Zaim Al Azhari University in Sudan.

Clean-up on wheels QU College of Arts and Sciences highlights progress in research

Al Rayyan Municipality last month conducted 112 inspection drives and caught 20 violations. It has also destroyed 77kg foodstuff unfit for human consumption. Meanwhile, the Public Hygiene Section at Al Daayen Municipality in February and March removed 35 abandoned vehicles from residential streets. The section also disposed of 30 waste containers weighing 9,000 tonnes.

Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) officials.

The Peninsula 2015-2016 and outlined its progress, University in the Biological and Envi- growth, and plans recently. ronmental Sciences, in addition to The meeting was opened by one Certificate Program offered by QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al the Arabic for Non Native Speakers DOHA: Qatar University College Derham, and CAS dean Dr Eiman Center (ANNS) adding that 412 stu- of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) has Mustafawi highlighted the achieve- dents graduated from CAS last year. progressed significantly in areas of ments and plans of the college. CAS has thus far expanded its research and academic performances CAS has 14 Undergraduate local and international connections of students, according to senior offi- Degrees, seven Graduate Degrees through signing 16 MoUs with many cials. including a dual PhD degree in Gulf local and international institutions. QU-CAS held its advisory board Studies with Durham University, According to last year’s research meeting for the academic year and a dual PhD degree with Korea annual report out of 209 journal articles, 173 were pub- lished in indexed journals, noting that Ara- bic journals are generally non-indexed. She also noted that CAS faculty received 33 research grants valued at QR47,305,095, an increase of 28.5 percent. Dr Eiman indicated that the three new CAS research centres (Gulf Studies Center, Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, and Center for Sustainable Development) have become critical in forging interdisciplinary synergies between faculty in the various Arts and Sci- ence departments. She also presented some highlights from last year’s performance against CAS 2013-2016 strategic plan and highlighted the college has achieved or exceeded the target. However, the per- centage of graduates from undergraduate pro- grams who received offer for employment within 6 months of their graduation reached only 50 percent which is an issue that the college needs to work on in the future. QU-CAS aims at pre- paring well-rounded, creative and competent graduates through inter- disciplinary enquiry, which equips them with imagina- tive and critical thinking skills to be effective mem- bers of society. MIDDLE EAST MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 07 Syria oppn threatens South Sudan gunmen kill 140 in Ethiopia AFP “attacked near Gambella and killed live across the border in Ethiopia. close to 140 people. They also The western Ethiopian region abducted some of them,” Ethiopian of Gambella, which borders South ADDIS ABABA: Armed men from foreign ministry spokesman Tewolde Sudan, is also home to some 272,000 South Sudan have killed around 140 Muluteg said. The Murle, a tribe from South Sudanese refugees who have to quit peace talks people and kidnapped a number of South Sudan based in the eastern fled the civil war that erupted in their others in a cross-border raid into Jonglei region, often stage raids to country in December 2013. Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government steal cattle. They attacked the Nuer Ethiopia has been heavily northern city of Aleppo, but renewed embattled leader’s departure, call- said yesterday. tribe, one of the two main ethnic involved in the South Sudan peace The opposition clashes there in the past 24 hours ing his fate “a red line”. The peace Ethnic Murle gunmen on Friday groups in South Sudan, but who also process. have seriously strained the truce, plan outlined by UN envoy Staffan de High Negotiations the Observatory said. Mistura and backed by world pow- Committee said the At least six civilians were killed ers envisions a political transition, Brotherhood indirect negotiations and eight wounded in regime air a new constitution, and presidential strikes on rebel-held eastern parts and parliamentary elections by Sep- office raided could collapse if of the city on Saturday. And a bar- tember 2017. rage of rockets and sniper fire by But Syria’s government hosted Syria’s regime refuses opposition groups onto government- its own regularly-scheduled parlia- in Jordan due to compromise controlled western districts killed 16 mentary elections last week, which to ‘mix up’ on political and civilians, including 10 children and Assad’s ruling Baath party easily two women. won. As expected, the Baath party humanitarian issues. “There’s a clear escalation. This and its allies won a majority of the AP was the bloodiest incident in Aleppo 250 parliamentary seats in a vote and its province” since the cease- that only took place in government- fire began, Observatory head Rami held parts of the country. The election AMMAN: Jordanian secu- Abdel Rahman said. “This escalation was denounced by the opposition as rity forces mistakenly AFP directly threatens the truce.” a “farce”. raided the headquarters The HNC has questioned the In Geneva yesterday, the head of the kingdom’s larg- regime’s commitment to a political of the HNC delegation called for est Muslim Brotherhood solution to Syria’s five-year war, par- renewed attacks on regime forces, group yesterday after con- BEIRUT: Fighting in Aleppo killed at ticularly in the wake of the renewed despite the shaky truce. “Don’t trust fusing it with the offices of least 22 civilians as the opposition violence in Aleppo. the regime and don’t wait for their an outlawed organisation, delegation threatened yesterday to “The humanitarian situation is pity,” Mohammed Alloush, a leading the government said. quit Syria peace talks in Geneva if continually deteriorating, the issue political figure in the Jaish al-Islam Police raided the there is no progress on a political of the detainees has not seen any (Army of Islam) rebel group, wrote Islamic Action Front transition. progress, the ceasefire has almost on Twitter. offices after they “mixed The opposition High Negotiations collapsed, and now there is an attack “Strike them at their necks (kill up” the IAF headquarters Committee said the indirect negotia- on Aleppo from three sides,” Bashar them). Strike them everywhere,” he with those of a nearby, tions could collapse if Syria’s regime said in Switzerland. said. A fellow opposition figure said unregistered branch of the refuses to compromise on political “Given these factors, we are Alloush’s hawkish statement did not Islamist group, according and humanitarian issues. reviewing everything, and we will represent the HNC’s position. to government spokesman “We might suspend (our partici- continue our meetings today (Sun- Brokered by Russia and the Mohammad Al Momani. pation in) the talks if things carry on day) so that tomorrow we can decide United States, the ceasefire agree- He confirmed that the IAF this way, and then there will be no what to do.” A second member of the ment to cease hostilities excludes the was registered. prospect for any political solution,” HNC delegation, speaking anony- fight against the Islamic State group The government HNC member Abdulhakim Bashar mously, said the talks were nearly or Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria. The should “apologise for this said. The Syrian Observatory for at “an impasse”. truce had largely held across parts action which touched the Human Rights said the number of “The negotiations have nearly of Syria since late February, despite Islamic Action Front,” IAF civilians killed in flashpoint Aleppo reached an impasse with the intran- frequent accusations of breaches on spokesman Murad Adai- city was one of the highest single tolls sigent regime’s refusal to negotiate both sides. leh said. The Brotherhood since a fragile truce came into force the fate of (President Bashar Al) Assad But recent violence has sparked in Jordan split in 2015 over on February 27. in the Geneva talks,” the member concerns the ceasefire may peter out, its ties with the mother Nearly all warring parties in Syria said. Assad’s fate has remained the partly because rebels are involved movement in Egypt. The — the regime, rebels, jihadists, and main sticking point in peace talks, in the battles too. IS jihadists have IAF severed its relation- Kurds — have carved out zones of with Syria’s opposition clinging onto seized fresh territory from rebel ship with the Egyptian control in war-torn Aleppo province. its call for his ouster since the con- groups in Syria’s north, threatening Muslim Brotherhood, but The truce has seen violence drop flict broke out in 2011. the key opposition town of Azaz, just affiliates that did not have across parts of Syria, including the But the regime has rejected the 8km south of the Turkish border. been outlawed by Jordan. 08 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 MIDDLE EAST

Suicide attack UN back in Libya claims four Yemeni soldiers as unity govt near Aden airport asserts itself AFP ADEN: Four Yemeni soldiers were killed yesterday in a suicide attack on a checkpoint near the interna- ministries from today, in the latest tional airport in second city Aden, step to assert its authority over the home to a growing jihadist pres- UN-backed conflict-torn country. ence, a security official said. Government of “More than six ministries are “A suicide bomber driving a ready, of which three will be handed bomb-laden vehicle blew him- National Accord over administratively tomorrow,” he self up on Sunday upon arrival at (GNA) to run said. a checkpoint near Aden airport,” The deputy premier said the GNA the official said. ministries of social would begin running the ministries “Four soldiers were killed affairs, youth and of social affairs, youth and sports, and two others were wounded,” and housing and public works from he added, without blaming any sports, and housing today, regardless of the results of the group for the attack. and public works. vote of confidence. Yemen has been rocked by “The legislative authorities must more than a year of fighting quickly give the GNA its legitimacy Pro-government forces sit on a heavily armoured vehicle in Sana’a yesterday. between Iran-backed rebels and through the House of Represent- pro-government forces, supported AFP atives in order for it to serve the by a Saudi-led coalition. Libyan people,” Maiteeq said. Jihadists have exploited the This, he said, would “endorse the unrest, with Al Qaeda and the GNA in order to save the Libyan peo- Yemen rivals hint at reconciliation Islamic State group strengthening TRIPOLI: The United Nations said ple from all the problems”. their presence in the south, includ- its staff had returned to Tripoli and The legislature’s endorsement ing in Aden which is serving as the Libya’s unity government vowed would be a key step for the unity Reuters “We are ready for a political tran- the government side. government’s temporary capital. further steps to assert its author- government of prime minister-desig- sition which excludes no one ... The Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab Both groups have claimed ity yesterday, on the eve of a crucial nate Fayez Al Sarraj, which has been world now looks to the Kuwait con- allies joined the war on March 26 of several attacks against army and confidence vote. working to assert its authority in the KUWAIT: Yemen’s warring par- sultations as a landmark of peace for last year to back Yemen’s government government installations in the UN envoy Martin Kobler said his war-torn nation. ties are sending conciliatory signals Yemenis, and we will give everything after it was pushed into exile by the port city. staff were back after leaving amid Libya has had two rival admin- ahead of UN-backed talks starting we can to alleviate the suffering of Houthis. On Friday, a car bomb violence in mid-2014, three years istrations since mid-2014 when a today, in a rare sign of mutual will- the people,” Foreign Minister Abdel UN talks in June and December exploded in the port city near a after Libya descended into chaos militia alliance took over Tripoli, set- ingness to end a year-old conflict that Malek Al Mekhlafi, from the Saudi- failed to end the war that has killed building housing the foreign min- following the Nato-backed upris- ting up its own authority and forcing has caused one of the world’s worst backed government now based in about 6,200 people, about half of istry, without causing casualties, ing that killed dictator Muammar the recognised parliament to flee to humanitarian crises. Aden, told state news agency Saba. them civilians. The war has allowed security sources said. Gaddafi. the remote east, where it is based A deal may help defuse tensions Mohammed Abdul Salam, Al Qaeda fighters to seize territory IS claimed responsibility for Their arrival comes a day before in Tobruk. between Iran and Saudi Arabia, who spokesman for the Houthi movement and opened a path for Islamic State that attack and also for a sui- the recognised parliament votes Sarraj’s government was formed are allied to opposing sides in Yemen. which controls the capital Sana’a and militants to gain a foothold. cide bombing on Tuesday in on the UN-backed Government of under a UN-backed power-sharing Air strikes and heavy combat which Gulf Arab states say is allied A partial naval blockade imposed Aden targeting army recruits that National Accord (GNA), supported deal agreed in December and sup- persist in many parts of the coun- to Iran, appeared conciliatory in an by the Arab coalition has caused food killed five. by the international community in a ported by some lawmakers from try, while armed forces who could interview with Kuwaiti newspaper shortages and prices for necessities Forces loyal to President bid to end years of chaos in the North both sides. yet play a spoiling role loom through- Al-Rai on Saturday. to skyrocket in the Arabian Peninsu- Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi have African nation. The unity cabinet has been out Yemen’s tangled political scene. “There should be a consensus la’s poorest country. launched operations against “The UN staff will be in Tripoli steadily winning support from Police said they foiled two car authority during a definite transi- An unprecedented calm achieved jihadists in recent weeks, backed five days a week... I am not visiting local officials and state institutions, bomb attacks in the southern port of tional phase to decide every political between the two main antagonists by the firepower of the Arab Tripoli any more, I am working out though the head of the Tripoli-based Aden yesterday. In one case a police- dispute,” he was quoted as saying. beginning in March suggests that coalition. of Tripoli,” Kobler said at a joint news administration, Khalifa Ghweil, has man died when a car exploded after “Iran does not have any role in our exhaustion over costs and casual- Late Saturday, five Al Qaeda conference with Ahmed Maiteeq, refused to recognise its authority. police opened fire on it rushing at a sovereign decisions and we are not ties may be mounting. The Houthis suspects were killed in coalition deputy head of a UN-backed unity Kobler visited Tripoli shortly checkpoint at high speed. tools in anyone’s hands.” agreed with Saudi Arabia to reduce air strikes on two vehicles carry- government. after Sarraj’s government arrived But the recent rhetoric of the In a further sign of goodwill, he attacks on the country in exchange ing jihadists in Jaar, a town in the Maiteeq, meanwhile, said the in the capital under naval escort on main combatants has been unusu- said on his Facebook page that his for a halt to Saudi-led air strikes on southern province of Abyan, secu- GNA would take control of three March 30. ally mild. group had received 30 prisoners from Sana’a. rity officials said.

Protesters Iran parades in Baghdad Hollande in Egypt as rights question looms much awaited S-300 missile demand AFP rights to “better education and bet- ter housing”. reforms Hollande said respecting human AFP CAIRO: French President Francois rights was not an obstacle to fight- Hollande sealed several economic ing jihadists, who have conducted AFP deals with his Egyptian counter- large scale attacks in both France TEHRAN: Iran used its annual part Abdel Fattah Al Sisi in Cairo and Egypt. Army Day parade yesterday to yesterday during a visit dogged by “Human rights are not a con- showcase parts of a long-awaited BAGHDAD: Several hundred dem- allegations of rights abuses in the straint but also a way to fight against air defence system ordered from onstrators took part in a renewed North African country. terrorism,” he said. Russia, a move likely to irk critics sit-in in central Baghdad yester- Hollande had touched down in On the eve of Hollande’s visit, of the arms deal. day to call for reforms, following Cairo to a lavish welcome, pulling rights groups including Amnesty The S-300 system has been another that lasted for two weeks up at the historic Al-Qubbah palace International had criticised what on order since 2007 but Russia last month. flanked by a cavalry guard and to a they called France’s “deafening postponed the sale three years The protesters began gather- 21-gun salute. silence” on allegations of abuses in later after the UN Security Coun- ing at Baghdad’s Tahrir Square He and Sisi later oversaw the Egypt. cil passed a resolution relating to on Saturday following the failure signing of several memorandums of When a reporter brought up the Iran’s nuclear programme. of a parliamentary session aimed understanding, including a ¤1.2bn case of Italian student Giulio Regeni, A deal between Iran and six at selecting a replacement for the deal to expand the metro line in whose body was found bearing tor- world powers over its nuclear Speaker. Cairo. ture marks in Cairo in February, activities which lifted sanctions in Iraq has been hit by weeks Later at a news conference, both Sisi said there was a plot by an “evil January removed the barriers to of political turmoil surrounding leaders veered into the question of force”. delivery but the fully operational Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi’s rights abuses under Sisi, who activ- “Let me say we are being con- system is still awaited. efforts to replace the cabinet of ists accuse of crushing dissent. fronted by an evil force that is trying According to pictures pub- party-affiliated ministers with a Turning to Hollande, Sisi said the to shake Egypt, and give a false lished by the semi-official ISNA government of technocrats. French president had brought up the impression of what is happening in news agency, S-300 missile tubes “Our sit-in aims to end the issue during their meeting. Egypt,” he said. and the radar equipment were political quotas,” said Mohammed “The region we live in, President Italian officials have voiced shown during the military parade Khayoun, one of the participants Hollande, is very turbulent,” said Sisi. suspicion that the PhD student was held in southern Tehran. in the demonstration, referring to He added that “European cri- killed by security services, and Rome Iran insists the system is nec- French President Francois Hollande (centre) visits the informal senior government positions being teria” of human rights should not has recalled its ambassador from essary to defend itself from threats shared out among parties. Dalhamiyeh Syrian refugee camp near the city of Zahle in Lebanon’s be applied to struggling countries Cairo to protest the pace of Egypt’s of attack, including possible bomb- Imad Shaeet, another partic- Bekaa Valley yesterday. such as Egypt, and should include investigation into his death. ing of its nuclear facilities. ipant, said that: “Our demands are for reform aimed at securing our future and the future of our children.” Security forces closed streets around the sit-in site, caus- Netanyahu vows Golan Heights will remain Israel’s ‘forever’ ing major traffic jams in the area. Powerful Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr organised a two-week sit-in in March outside Baghdad’s AFP withdraw from the Golan Heights.” The premier also plans to meet Hezbollah could establish a front negotiations in Switzerland between heavily-fortified Green Zone, Israeli media have reported that President Vladimir Putin in Russia, a against it along the Syrian border Assad’s regime and the opposition. where the government is head- Netanyahu planned the cabinet meet- key backer of Syria’s President Bashar and that militants linked to Al Qaeda Brokered by Russia and the United quartered, but called it off after ing as a statement amid fears Israel Al Assad, on Thursday. “The time has and the Islamic State group could also States, the ceasefire deal does not Abadi presented a new cabinet JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Ben- could come under pressure to return come for the international community pose a threat. It is also concerned include the fight against IS or Al Qae- lineup to parliament. jamin Netanyahu vowed yesterday the Golan — which it seized from to recognise reality, especially two about the presence of its arch-enemy da’s local Syrian affiliate. The truce The premier has faced sig- that the Israeli-annexed Golan Syria in 1967 — as part of a future basic facts,” Netanyahu said. Iran in Syria, with Tehran supporting had largely held across parts of Syria nificant opposition to his cabinet Heights would “forever” remain in his peace deal for its war-torn neighbour. “One, whatever is beyond the the Assad regime. since late February, despite frequent reform efforts from powerful polit- country’s hands as his cabinet held its Urging the international com- border, the boundary itself will not Israel seized 1,200 square kilome- accusations that both sides were com- ical parties that rely on control of first meeting in the territory. munity to recognise Israel’s claim change. Two, after 50 years, the time tres of the Golan Heights from Syria mitting breaches. ministries for patronage and funds. “The Golan Heights will remain on the territory, Netanyahu said he has come for the international com- in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later But recent violence around Both the UN and Washington in the hands of Israel forever,” Netan- told US Secretary of State John Kerry munity to finally recognise that the annexed it in a move never recog- Aleppo has sparked concerns that have warned that the political yahu said at the start of the cabinet in a conversation on Saturday night Golan Heights will remain under Isra- nised by the international community. the ceasefire may not last, partly wrangling could undermine Iraq’s meeting, in comments broadcast that it was doubtful Syria can return el’s sovereignty permanently.” Netanyahu’s comments come amid a because rebels are involved in the fight against the Islamic State. on public radio. “Israel will never to what it was. Israel fears Lebanese Shia militia fragile ceasefire in Syria and indirect battles there too. ASIA / PHILIPPINES MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 09 Presidential candidate invites falk for ‘joke’

ministering in a prison in Davao in Aquino, who under the consti- the southern Philippines, was phys- tution cannot seek a second term, His rivals, women’s ically attacked and killed during a is supporting another candidate, his groups and riot by inmates in 1989. Duterte was former interior secretary Mar Roxas the city mayor at the time. who trails Duterte in opinion surveys. commentators on “They attacked all of the women... Rival presidential candidate social media quickly There was this Australian lay min- Vice President Jejomar Binay called ister... when they took them out... Duterte’s remarks “simply revolting”. denounced his I saw her face and I thought. I was “You are a crazy maniac who remarks. mad she was attacked but she was doesn’t respect women and doesn’t so beautiful. deserve to be president,” Binay told I thought, the mayor should have Duterte in a statement. been first,” Duterte is shown telling Another candidate Senator Grace AFP a crowd of laughing supporters at a Poe, who is just behind Duterte in campaign rally. the surveys, called his comment Duterte, who boasts of the “distasteful and unacceptable, and extra-judicial killings of suspects by reflects his disrespect for women”. MANILA: Leading Philippine pres- vigilantes during his time in Davao, is One Filipino remarked on Twitter: idential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, the preferred candidate in the run-up “I broke down after watching Duterte whose campaign promises a ruth- to the May 9 election. It was accord- on Aussie issue. I can’t fathom how less war on crime, was angrily ing to the latest opinion survey on his followers can laugh at it.” condemned yesterday after a video April 3. Women’s group Gabriela attacked surfaced of him joking about a mur- His rivals, women’s groups and Duterte’s remarks, saying abuse dered Australian. commentators on social media was not a joke “nor something to be Duterte, who promises mass quickly denounced his remarks. trivialised in a joke”, especially by killings of suspected criminals if President Benigno Aquino’s someone seeking the presidency. elected next month, appears in a spokesman Herminio Coloma said Many Filipinos have embraced video uploaded on YouTube making the comments show “his lack of fit- Duterte for his vulgarity-laced Davao City Mayor and Presidential Candidate Rodrigo Duterte speaks to reporters during his campaign sortie the joke about the female Australian ness for the presidency” and his “utter speeches. People divided over the missionary. The missionary, who was lack of respect for women”. row in support and against him. in Lingayen, Pangasinan, north of Manila. Remains of Vietnam war Aussie soldiers to be sent back Jakarta and Manila

AFP homecoming of their family member Vietnam Veterans Association of they’re reinterred and the local vet- plan joint sea patrols will be a very moving and emotional Australia president Ken Foster said eran community within Australia will time, and their right to privacy, grief the families and the veterans commu- be able to visit those graves whenever and reflection has been central in the nity had been asking for the bodies to they want.” SYDNEY: Australian soldiers killed government’s planning,” said Austral- be reinterred for some time. Australian soldiers killed in World Anatolia consent from parliament,” Panjaitan in the Vietnam War and buried in ia’s Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan “It was the family members who Wars I and II and the Korean War added. Malaysia and Singapore will be Tehan in a statement. started putting pressure and raising were buried near to where they fell In late March, 10 Indonesian brought home in June with a full mil- For families who decided not all sorts of questions about, ‘Is there but around the time of the Vietnam sailors were seized off Tawi-Tawi, itary ceremony, it was announced to take up the offer, their relatives’ some way we can have these veterans engagement this policy changed and TUBAN: Indonesia’s vice president with their captors -- believed to be yesterday. graves will be maintained in perpetu- brought home?’,” he told the Austral- bodies were usually brought home. announced yesterday plans to estab- the Abu Sayyaf -- later demand- Thirty-five soldiers who died in ity as is the standard for all Australian ian Broadcasting Corporation. Almost 60,000 Australian mili- lish military cooperation and joint ing a ransom of 50 million pesos ($1 the conflict lie in Malaysia’s Terendak war dead in cemeteries around the Foster added that the move would tary personnel fought alongside the patrols with the Philippines and million). Cemetery, which sits inside a large, world, the government said. enable not just family but those who US in Vietnam, with 521 losing their Malaysia, following a spate of kid- In early April, Filipino gunmen operational military base, and one Royal Australian Air Force planes fought alongside the fallen to pay lives. Of these, all but the 36 in Malay- nappings by armed groups operating selected four men from a Malaysian other in Kranji War Cemetery in Sin- will fly the remains back to a mili- their respects. “A lot of the veterans sia and Singapore were returned in the seas between the archipela- boat’s crew and kidnapped them off gapore. In May last year, then prime tary base outside Sydney on June 2 would not be in the situation where home. Australia became one of the goes. the Malaysian state of Sabah, whose minister Tony Abbott offered repatri- where they will be received in a for- they could go to Malaysia and visit first Western countries to establish The proposal comes after uni- eastern coast is located just around ation to the families and more than 30 mal ceremony, followed by a private the graves,” he said. “Now the fam- diplomatic ties with Hanoi in 1973, dentified gunmen abducted four 50 nautical miles from Sitangkai of them have accepted the offer. “The memorial service for their families. ilies will have the choice of where and has become good partner. Indonesians from a tugboat off the island in Tawi-Tawi. southern Philippine island prov- Indonesia’s military chief said ince of Tawi-Tawi -- where the Abu Sunday that the armed forces would Sayyaf militant group and affiliated coordinate with their Philippine and China launches kidnap-for-ransom gangs operate. Malaysian counterparts to reach an Philippine poll campaign “The traffic should be main- agreement about joint patrolling in upgraded drills for tained by the joint patrol between the piracy-prone region, where ves- Indonesia, Malaysia and the Phil- sels such as oil tankers have been ippines,” kompas.com quoted Jusuf hijacked. South China Sea Kalla as saying. “If Indonesia and the Philippines He added that the plan had been undertake an MoU [memorandum of Reuters presented to President Joko Widodo understanding] to conduct coordi- and received his approval. nated patrols, the trade route should Meanwhile, the coordinat- be secure. BEIJING: China’s South China ing minister for political, legal and But it is not safe now because it Sea fleets have conducted train- security affairs said that Widodo is beyond our territory,” detik.com ing drills with upgraded methods had requested him to “explore joint quoted Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo as that resemble actual combat con- security cooperation with Malaysia saying. ditions to increase the fleets’ and the Philippines”, according to “As army commander, I have combat effectiveness, according national news agency Antara. prepared troops for decisive action to an article published yesterday. Luhut Binsar Panjaitan under- at sea, on land, or in the woods. We Begun on April 7, the drills lined that the government is still are ready,” he underlined. “We have include new methods such as working to identify the kidnappers, deployed two warships, Badau and training within an electromagnetic who authorities believe had eco- Slamet Riyadi, to the border area.” environment. Previously, the fleets nomic motives rather than political. Kidnap-for-ransom gangs fre- have also conducted all-weather “We’re not sure yet if [the kid- quently operate in the Philippines’ drills, beyond visibility range nappers are] pure Abu Sayyaf or its Zamboanga Peninsula and the prov- training and low-altitude, high- factions,” he said. inces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. speed exercises to hammer their Referring to Jakarta’s offers to They are known to hand over pilots into shape, the article said. assist the Philippines in tracking their captives to the Abu Sayyaf and in order for the navy and air those responsible, the minister said negotiate for a ransom that, if paid, force to stick close to the demands Indonesia’s military had not received is shared with the group. Philippine presidential candidate Miriam Santiago and running mate vice-presidential candidate of real combat and accelerate its permission to enter the territory of The kidnappers use isolated sea- Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos wave to supporters during an election campaign for the May 9 election, transformative production model its neighbor. lanes and coastal areas to grab their in the mountain resort of Baguio City in northern Philippines, yesterday. for fighting strength,” division “The Philippine constitution victims, who are then held captive commander Tian Junqing said. does not allow for it, there must be in isolated villages in the peninsula. US to join quake relief efforts in Japan; toll rises to 41

AP balls for dinner. were believed to have been buried. cleared by yesterday morning. US Forces, Japan said it was get- A few stretchers were on hand in case About 80,000 homes in ting ready to provide aerial support anyone was found alive. Minamiaso Kumamoto prefecture still didn’t for Japan’s relief efforts. The US has is in a mountainous area southwest have electricity Sunday, the Minis- MINAMIASO: Eleven people major Air Force, Navy and Marine of 1,592-meter-high (5,223-foot-high) try of Economy, Trade and Industry remained missing yesterday in bases in Japan, and stations about Mount Aso, the largest active volcano said. Japanese media reported earlier southern Japan from two powerful 50,000 troops in the country. in Japan. Aerial footage from Japanese that an estimated 400,000 house- earthquakes that killed 41 people, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo TV showed teams of rescuers going holds were without running water. the US military announced it was pre- Abe said, “We are extremely grate- through small clusters of destroyed More than 1,000 buildings were paring to join relief efforts and Toyota ful, and we would like to coordinate buildings. Earthquakes on succes- damaged in the two earthquakes, said it would suspend nearly all of its quickly and have the emergency relief sive nights struck Kumamoto city including at least 90 that were vehicle production in Japan. be transported in as soon as possible.” and the surrounding region late last destroyed. Many residents were still Thousands of rescue workers Shiori Yatabe, an official at the week. Nine people died in the first recovering from the shock of the fanned out in often mountainous ter- Kumamoto prefecture crisis manage- earthquake, and 32 in the second. destruction, while struggling to bring rain to search for the missing. Rescue ment department, said 11 people were Kumamoto, a city of 740,000, is on their lives, and spirit, together. helicopters could be seen going into missing. She didn’t have a break- the southwestern island of Kyushu. “Without water and electricity, and out of the area, much of which down, but Japanese media reported The hardest-hit town appears to we can’t do anything. Without the has been cut off by landslides and that eight were in Minamiaso village. be Mashiki, on the eastern border TV on, we can’t even get information road and bridge damage. About 100 troops, police and of Kumamoto city, where 20 peo- about disaster relief operations,” said With 180,000 people seeking other rescue workers searched ple died. Overnight rainfall did not Megumi Kudo, 51, standing in a line A rescue dog takes part in search operation for missing residents in shelter, some evacuees said that food for those missing in Minamiaso, appear to cause any more landslides, for water outside a community center Minamiaso, yesterday. distribution was a meager two rice shoveling dirt in areas where they as had been feared, and the skies had in Aso city. 10 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected] French President Francois Hollande meets with a Syrian refugee family, who will soon be moving to France, at the UNHCR headquarters in Zahle in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley yesterday.

EDITORIAL Not a souring dream President Hadi, Bahah and the

ith Donald Trump battering away at the value element in the American political system, unfortunate state of Yemen one is tempted to believe that the erosion of Wnorms in US polity is nearing completion. But his choice. new PM Ahmed Obeid bin Daghrto of Prime Minister, wishing both of it would be an error to fall for such a simple From this point in time, disa- form a new government to address them success in their tasks. generalisation, given the strength of the complex electoral greement has occurred between the the problems that the former gov- He should have followed the system envisaged by the Founding Fathers of the US constitution. two men. The reasons for this, in my ernment failed to solve? footsteps of the famous General, The document is revered across the world — among political opinion, could include the fact that President Hadi was supposed to Khalid bin Walid, who was dis- Bahah is an ambitious young man thanks his Vice and the PM Bahah missed by the then Caliph Umar scientists and politicians alike. University departments from with an eloquent tongue- good at for their efforts and remove them bin Al Khattab during Al Yarmuk Washington to Wellington swear by the charter that has become speaking and managing dialogue, politely in a way that befits the posi- War, replacing him with Abi Oba- a guiding principle of many a nation that obtained freedom in benefiting from his experience as tion of presidency. The president ida bin Al Jarrah as Commander the 20th century. a diplomat. should be aware that he himself is of the Muslim Army. Khalid wel- The tragedy of Trump is the tragedy of the Republican Party, The weakness of President Hadi actually one of the top failures since comed the decision of the Caliph which is grappling with an unprecedented crisis as its varied is that he became President because the day Houthis began to move from and announced that he will keep he was Vice President to Ali Abdul- Sa’ada city to Amran through Dam- affiliated to the Army and work constituencies pull different ways. The Grand Old Party has Dr Mohammad lah Saleh and replaced him when maj. He himself was the one who as a solider even if it was under been virtually hijacked by Trump’s divisive agenda — from Saleh Al Misfer the President was removed. Hadi asked the National Military to stay the wife of the new commander the outlandish idea of a wall along is afraid for his position and that neutral without getting involved Ibn Al Jarrah. the Mexico border to the travesty of is why he began to discourage his in tribal disputes, and this helped I wish he could have met each courting China, a historical US rival. Vice,Bahah, creating obstacles for the Houthis to gain control of the of them separately to brief them Attributions The Republican crisis has swaddled emeni President Abdrabuh him, and doubt about him. capital Sanaa and march to the about his experience with Pres- of Trump’s the nation — intensifying the finger- Mansur Hadi has repeated The first leak about the failure of South, until they controlled the ident Hadi and the problems he during his private gath- Bahah to run state affairs properly whole country. faced while he was running the naivete to pointing at what many nations call a erings and meetings that came from a former minister, now The President is the General government under the leadership compromise on values social, economic Yhis former vice, and prime min- in his eighties, and close to Pres- Commander of the armed forces, of Hadi. I believe that appointing an eroding and political. But the GOP doesn’t ister Khaled Bahah were not his ident Hadi. I talk about this in an but he failed to play his role, and Lieutenant General, Ali Mohsin US political represent America and America doesn’t choices for the two positions. Bahah article dated 21 August 2015 under remained passive until the Houthis Al Ahmar as Vice President was system defies represent the party of figures like was nominated for the position of the title “Wisdom and political gos- kept him under home arrest. the best decision. He is the best Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. PM according to the agreement of siping are Yemeni’s”. I warned about President Hadi knows that the candidate and the most suitable reason. National Partnership and Peace, the sicknesses of the Yemeni polit- Yemeni Government has no budget man for this position at this time. The US is an idea that has signed in September 2014, and the ical administration- the problem or income and that it only just had The President, and the Alliance emerged out of a social, economic President has nothing to do with of political gossiping and under- enough to ensure the salaries of the Forces, especially Saudi Arabia, and historic context. The Declaration that. In April 2015 Bahah also mining of the role of the Yemeni government’s employees, in this should give this gentleman all of Independence signed in 1776 states: “…we hold these truths selected the Vice President, and leadership, because these will make state of civil war. What role could possible financial support and to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are according to Hadi he also was not the state weak in the eyes of the the President have played to help military power to achieve its goal. endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that Arab coalition whose backbone the country avoid this war? What Suppressing the renegades from among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is the GCC states. did he do to get financial resources the regime and restoring law The gap between the Presi- for the budget of the government? and order, and peace and sta- to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, If vice president Bahah had dent and his Vice was widening The fact is that any Prime Min- bility throughout Yemen are on deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” day after day until the moment ister assigned by President Hadi the top priorities. So, the repudiation of American political fairness is not a remained in power he might of Bahah’s impeachment came, will fail to do his tasks properly We do not have any doubt crisis the nation is passing through, but a reassertion of an idea have been asked to remove when the President took action because the President is assigning about the abilities of the new PM, in which imperfections lend a semblance of reality. Americans the President of Yemen later and assigned him a role only as him a job, without giving him the Ahmad bin Daghar his political proved yesterday that there is more to life than the brand of jobless consultant for the Pres- right to form the cabinet or provid- skills and experience and patri- idential Office. ing him with the required sources otism. His predecessor Khalid politics that Trump propagates. Americans are generally happy in order to handover heavy No doubt President Hadi of money to run the government. Bahah was no less than him in with their home and work life, but are overwhelmingly angry weapons and clear Yemeni committed political mistakes Even if I respect Khalid Bahah his capabilities and talents, and with the federal government, an AP-GfK poll has found. cities from the rebels,to against his Vice and PM Bahah and appreciate his political and both originated from Hazarmout. About 78 percent Americans are dissatisfied or angry with put an end to the armed in his speech to the Yemeni peo- administrative capabilities,I would So what is the new thing that made Washington. However, 84 percent respondents are enthusiastic ple and the Arab Alliance. In his say without hesitation the truth- the President dismiss Bahah? or satisfied with their personal relationships, and 77 percent are conflict. However, now that speech he mentioned that the that he also committed mistakes in The street talk in Yemen says happy with their career. America, like most healthy democracies, he has assigned Ali Muhsin government had failed to per- issuing his statement clearly oppos- that President Hadi secured his form its duties,and he sacked ing the decision to dismiss him. I future by dismissing Bahah from has an inbuilt system of checks and balances in its constitution. in Bahah’s position, then the PM Bahah, but he kept the wish he had issued two statements- the position of Vice President and So does the Republican system. GOP leaders, most of whom they will not demand that he other cabinet members without one congratulating the Lieutenant PM. The Houthis and Saleh were have turned against Trump, are likely to throw him out at the change. The question is why the General, Ali Muhsin who replaced expected to demand the removal Republican convention. And US polity would never let another submits the President Office PM was removed and all other him in the position of Vice Presi- of the President and that he hando- Trump raise his head again. position to his Vice. ministers remained in their posi- dent, and the other congratulating ver the office to his Vice Bahah tions? Why did he not ask the Ahmad bin Daghar in the position in the forthcoming talks sched- uled to be held in Kuwait. If Vice President Bahahhad Yemeni President Abdrabbuh remained in power he might Quote of the day Mansur Hadi (right) and former have been asked to remove vice president, and prime minister the President of Yemen later in Khaled Bahah. order to handover heavy weap- If the fighting persists near ons and clear Yemeni cities from schools, playgrounds, homes the rebels,to put an end to the armed conflict. However, now and clinics, and parties continue that he has assigned Ali Muhsin in to use explosive weapons in Bahah’s position, then they will not those areas... these appalling demand that he submits the Pres- ident Office position to his Vice. numbers of children killed and I pray for the success of both maimed will continue. gentlemen Ali Mohsin Al Ahmar and Ahmad Obaid bin Daghr in their jobs and that he saves them Danielle Bell from the changing moods of the Afghanistan UN mission Director presidency. Oh Allah everything is in your hands.

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 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 11 Every drop is precious

the average 80mm per year. Commenta- tors from the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute at Qatar University have rightly said that this type of sudden del- uge needs to be prepared for, by setting up rain gardens of plants and trees placed in strategic locations to absorb run off, and channels leading to reservoirs underground to capture and look after this precious fresh water, at least for the irrigation needs of each local area. By Luzita Ball This run-off could be purified by fil- tration through tanks of sand, activated charcoal and clay particles, which can get rid of any oil pollution and produce odour- rovidentially I was doing a course less and tasteless, transparent water. Some on Global Information Systems research into this method has been taking in the Ministry of Municipalities place at the Environmental Science Center, and Urban Planning in November at Qatar University, to deal with sea water P2015 when thunderstorms and widespread polluted by the oil industry. flooding struck Qatar, after hitting Oman Bioremediation, using plants such as hard. The Autumn rains had come which, reeds, and root-dwelling microbes to purify as mentioned in Psalm 84 of the Bible, have water, can be combined with filtration to been creating pools in rocky Arabia for treat run-off water, especially on farms thousands of years. I did comment on the and landscaping areas, as well as water lack of drains. extracted from construction projects which Indeed still there was nowhere for all penetrate the groundwater, now only 2m the rain to go, except to collect in depres- below the surface in some places. Some sions and on low lying roads. Drainage plants such as mangroves and other salt was not on the minds of most civil engi- water tolerant plants often reduce the salin- neers when constructing Qatar’s roads and ity of the sea water, secreting salt from their walkways in the baking sun, which at the leaves. Perhaps these can be used to rec- peak of summer steams us in high humid- tify the slightly saline well water. ity at 58 degrees Celsius. The only solution These techniques can be applied to the now was an organised task force of tank- recycling of collected grey water from sinks, and architects should make this water sep- drink regularly. started investing in solar and wind pow- ers sent to suck up all the water and then baths, showers and washing machines, so aration a priority. All that is needed are One waste product of desalination is ered reverse osmosis to desalinate water pump it out somewhere where it would that the water can be used in irrigation. One two separate plumbing systems, includ- hyper-saline water which is usually pumped on a large scale at a farm owned by Ali not block or drown the traffic or other- way that water recycling is currently done ing a tank for grey water in each building back into the sea, making it more salty and Hussain Ali Al Sada in Qatar. wise annoy Qatar’s residents. in Qatar is to collect all the grey and black or part of a large building. Retrofitting to bad for marine ecosystems and hence the Qatar has an abundance of wind and Puddles of water lay in some places (sewage) waste water from many areas into do this only works where drainage pipes fishing and tourism industries. Another is sun, and enough need and money to invest in evaporating in the sun for weeks, allowing a central location in the new Doha North are accessible. Efforts to do this should be carbon dioxide which contributes to climate new technology. Solar desalination, another birds to bathe and drink, and resourceful Sewage treatment Works (DNSTW), 25km part of architectural and planning sustain- change. The increasing salinity of under- good idea, simply uses the free heat of the plants to take advantage. Since November north of Doha. Here it is treated to purify it ability standards and guidelines, such as ground water reserves is another problem sun to evaporate the water component of God has blessed us with more rain than from all organic matter and nitrogen, ini- GSAS and QSAS. that need to be solved. Unless these issues sea water in ‘stills’, and leave behind the usual in the year- at least 7 rainy days, tially fine screening using step screens and What would be most helpful in Qatar are tackled, the future development of Qatar valuable salts useful to industry, the clever sometimes raining the whole day long, vortexes to remove grit;various stages of is to have all tanks for normal clean water is unsustainable and under threat. Water bit being the way it condenses the evap- often very heavily-definitely more than membranes like sieves;then settling and and grey water placed under the build- resources have to be managed carefully orated water and catches it, and collects sedimentation; and microbial digestion,and ings to keep the water cool, rather than to meet the demands of food production, it. This process can take place on land or finally disinfection using ultra violet light on the roof, as is normal here in Qatar. landscaping, industry, and domestic use. on a large ship, or even in floating green- until it becomes ‘Treated Sewage Effluent’ Currently our water is cold in winter, requir- Tap water seems abundant but after houses. Solar technology has become ever (TSE). This transparent and odourless water ing heating with a boiler, but very hot in rain storms my garden hose pipe usu- more efficient and solar desalination pro- One waste product of desalination is then piped out to landscaping areas, both the summer, when many people in Qatar ally has no water, meaning that so many duces zero liquid discharge. is hyper-saline water which is existing and under construction, and each therefore have no access to cold water for people are cleaning the muddy water off The Sahara Project, belonging to a Nor- area is given a ration. cooling showers or washing, unless they their cars that there is not enough left for wegian company but sited in Qatar, utilizes usually pumped back into the sea, Currently this TSE is rarely used for store it indoors in buckets. our area. This is an indication that it is solar desalinated water to water its green- making it more salty and bad for food production, and not in all areas due Despite the heavy rains, Qatar sorely hard to meet the high demands of Qatar’s house plants. The evaporation is used to marine ecosystems and hence the to health and safety concerns, although I needs to replenish its aquifers and under- residents of 460 to 600 litres per day on cool the greenhouses, as well as steam have heard of at least one farm produc- ground water ways, as well water has average. Kahramaa have been conducting driven, electricity generating turbines, not fishing and tourism industries. ing healthy food by using it. More research become increasingly saline due to over a huge publicity campaign about conser- wasting any resource. The Qatar National Another is carbon dioxide which needs to be done on it. There have been pumping from wells, and salt water is seep- vation of water to reduce consumption, Development Plan (2011-2016) recognises suggestions to pump some of this under- ing in. Some farmers realised only too late, and have started fining people for exces- that solar powered desalination has great contributes to climate change. The ground to improve groundwater salinity after now a third of farmland since 1990 sive and unnecessary use of water, as well potential, and more companies should take increasing salinity of underground and levels, as only about 1% of reserves became too salty to grow most food crops. as electricity. The tap water usage could an interest in this probably high yielding water reserves is another problem are recharged each year, and rocks fur- So now use of well water is restricted, and be reduced by charging everyone a small investment opportunity. ther purify the water. Also it seems quite some farms such as Sulaiteen,Al-Nakheel amount per litre, and promoting grey water I recommend that Qatar’s government that need to be solved. Unless likely that TSE water will be used in new and RozaHassad desalinate, and recycle and run off collection and recycling within ministries, with the cooperation and invest- these issues are tackled, the technologies that pump water around build- their well water, including that used to each property if possible. ment of private companies with expertise ings for example in the new Lusail City to cool their greenhouses and poly tunnels. A process used in desalination, from abroad, use of all the available tech- future development of Qatar is cool them, thereby minimising the need Due to the aquifer depletion, desal- being researched by faculty members niques, to make the most of every drop unsustainable and under threat. for air conditioning and reducing energy ination of sea water is how most of the of Qatar University College of Engineer- of fresh water, and desalinate sea water Water resources have to be managed costs and as a result the carbon footprint tap water in Qatar is obtained. Using a lot ing, is ‘Reverse Osmosis’. It uses applied more sustainably. This will help Qatar to of Qatar. of energy from gas, the salt is removed pressure (requiring energy) and a sem- improve its air, water, and soil quality, help carefully to meet the demands Grey water (soapy water) is however from the sea water, and then some useful ipermeable membrane to remove ions, local ecosystems, reduce its carbon foot- of food production, landscaping, rarely separated from black water (sew- minerals and a small amount of chlorine molecules, and larger particles from drink- print, and become more water and food industry, and domestic use. age), even in the buildings meeting some are added to the water for our health and ing water. The Monsson Group, a leading secure, and therefore more resilient in the of the highest sustainability standards. safety. Qatar’s tap water has been reported company in Europe in the development of future, ensuring that Qatar can continue New building design by civil engineers to be of very high quality and healthy to renewable energy projects, have recently to develop and grow as it dreams of. Terrorism is America’s biggest challenge in Africa

first three months of 2016, terrorists and Central Africa - rape, kidnapping, opportunities in neighboring Kenya. attack is expanding and the vulnerabil- attacked innocent civilians in 262 sepa- murder, and other mass atrocities. The US military is providing active ity of Africans and their governments rate incidents around the world. Thirty When Boko Haram kidnapped 276 assistance to the government of Somalia is becoming more acute. percent of those attacks occurred in schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria in as it battles these two terror Levia- Meanwhile, American policy pro- Africa - in 15 different countries. There 2014, the world responded with out- thans, but the capabilities of the Somali fessionals - from the working levels at should be no doubt that terrorism - in rage. But despite military assistance, government are notoriously limited. the Pentagon, State Department, and the form of Al Qaeda or Boko Haram or including from the United States (not Until recently, President Barack Obama the US Agency for International Devel- the Islamic State - is the number one to mention a vigorous Twitter cam- touted the success of American efforts opment - work diligently to fight back. challenge for US foreign policy on the paign) most of the girls have not been against terror in Somalia and Yemen, But for the most part, the bad guys continent. Hundreds of Africans have returned. It has been more than two but now Yemen is consumed by civil have the upper hand. In 2003, Presi- been killed this calendar year. Three years since the girls were taken from war and the legitimate government dent Bush saw that the scourge of HIV/ By Lester Munson of the many attacks were larger than their families. has been pushed out of the capital. AIDS was ravaging the African conti- The Washington Post the Islamic State attacks in Belgium Villagers in Chad and Cameroon - Over 6,000 Islamic State fight- nent and responded - backed by strong that killed 32 people in March. two nations that have joined the fight ers are in Libya. Terror attacks there bipartisan support - with a generous, The Global Terrorism Database at against Boko Haram - are now wary have targeted Christians in grisly mass aggressive, and effective global health here is much good news to report the University of Maryland system- of a new terror tactic: Girls who had beheadings. Despite recent progress aid program. That historic effort - with from Africa. Over the past gener- atically ranks all nations around the been kidnapped by Boko Haram com- on the political front, Libya remains the support of the current administra- Tation, poverty rates went down, world by level of terrorism. Last year, ing to their villages as suicide bombers. in a catastrophically vulnerable posi- tion - stopped the virus, saved millions Hundreds of Africans literacy rates went up, life expectancy African nations held 10 of the top 20 Although there have been some recent tion, torn by ethnic and tribal divisions of lives, and arguably prevented soci- have been killed this increased, and childhood malnutrition positions. This same index ranked Boko gains by the four-nation coalition fight- and without substantial outside assist- etal collapse in several nations. shrank. The battle against HIV/AIDS, Haram, which operates in at least four ing the terrorist group, Boko Haram’s ance. Since the 2011 intervention to kill The next president will need to calendar year. Three particularly acute in Africa, is being African nations - Chad, Niger, Nigeria, evolving tactics and affiliation with the Muammar Qaddafi and the subsequent address terrorism across the con- of the many attacks won. Many African nations are experi- and Cameroon - as the world’s dead- Islamic State make it a major threat catastrophe in Benghazi, US policy tinent in a similar fashion. The war were larger than the encing rapid growth and are excellent liest terrorist group for 2015. to Africa’s largest nation. in Libya has been modest, tentative, on terrorism may not end for years investment prospects. Nevertheless, Boko Haram is only 14 years old, but Somalia is home to two global confusing and ultimately ineffective. or decades, but strong steps and bold Islamic State attacks danger looms on the horizon, as Africa has already demonstrated an amaz- terror networks. The longtime local Terrorism is on the rise in Africa. leadership will be required very soon in Belgium that killed now plays host to the most dynamic ing ability to evolve and grow. Now terrorist group, al Shabab, is affili- The numbers of attacks and terrorists to ensure that this latest and most ter- battles in the global war between ter- affiliated with the Islamic State, Boko ated with al-Qaida, while the Islamic are increasing. The horrific nature of rible threat does not overwhelm the 32 people in March. rorists and civilisation. Haram uses all manner of violence to State is beginning its own operations the attacks is growing and evolving. The otherwise good news coming from The numbers are shocking. In the terrorize civilian populations in West in Somalia, no doubt with an eye on number of African nations subject to the world’s fastest-growing continent.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 ASIA / AFRICA North Korea in Third man held final stages of over Ivory Coast attack in Mali BAMAKO: Authorities in fifth N-test Mali have arrested a third man believed to be linked to last month’s deadly Al Qaeda attack on a beach suggested the regime might carry resort in neighbouring out a fifth nuclear test as a display Ivory Coast, military offi- North Korea is of defiance and strength just before cials said yesterday. gearing up for a rare the congress opens. Gunmen shot swim- A successful test might also go mers and sunbathers and much-hyped some way to erasing the embar- before storming hotels in ruling party congress rassing failure on Friday of a the town of Grand Bas- medium-range ballistic missile test sam, killing 19 people early next month, meant to mark the birthday of the 40km from the commer- at which leader Kim nation’s founder Kim Il-Sung. cial capital, Abidjan, on Pyongyang has claimed a series March 13. One source Jong-Un is expected of achievements in recent months, said Alou Doumbia was to take credit for including miniaturising a nuclear arrested on Saturday pushing the country’s warhead to fit on a missile, devel- in the Malian capital of oping a warhead that can withstand Bamako and suspected of nuclear weapons atmospheric re-entry, and building driving the gunmen from a solid-fuel missile engine. Mali to Ivory Coast. programme to new A student activist walks and carries his belongings outside the prison after he was released by the new The UN Security Council heights. responded with its toughest sanc- government’s general amnesty in Yangon, Myanmar, yesterday. tions to date, angering the North. It 11 dead as bus has since made repeated threats of attacks targeting Seoul and Wash- overturns in Agencies ington. North Korea appears set to carry out a fifth ever nuclear test in Myanmar pardons 83 prisoners South Africa the near future, according to South Korean officials Sunday. JOHANNESBURG: At least SEOUL: A surge in activity at North A significant spike in activity AFP said 83 people would be freed but it first wave of prisoner releases ear- 11 people were killed and Korea’s atomic test site suggests detected at the country’s Punggye-ri did not specify how many on the list lier this month, when authorities 59 more injured when a preparations for a fifth nuclear test complex can be viewed as “a con- were political prisoners. dropped charges against nearly 200 bus transporting African are in their final stages, possibly vincing sign” that another nuclear The president’s statement, his political activists ahead of the New National Congress (ANC) before a key political event in early test is likely before early May, based YANGON: Myanmar President Htin first major political act since tak- Year holiday. supporters from an elec- May, South Korean media reported, on the conclusion of Seoul govern- Kyaw pardoned dozens of political ing office, said the amnesty was Among those pardoned Sun- tion rally in Port Elizabeth yesterday. ment sources cited by local news prisoners on the country’s tradi- intended to “make people feel happy day were five journalists handed overturned yesterday, The frequency of vehicle, work- agency Yonhap. tional New Year yesterday, according and peaceful, and (promote) national 10-year sentences in 2014 over a South African emergency force and equipment movements at Evidence backing the claim to a watchdog group, as his fledgling reconciliation during the New Year”. report accusing the military of pro- services said. the Punggye-ri site have “increased includes increased movement of civilian-led administration seeks to Myanmar’s nearly two-week new ducing chemical weapons -- which The bus rolled off two to threefold,” since last month, vehicles and personnel around one cast off the shackles of nearly half a year holiday, a Buddhist celebration the government denied. the N1 highway between Yonhap news agency said, citing of the complex’s tunnels. The fore- century of military rule. known as Thingyan, falls in mid April The journalists’ sentence, which Ventersburg and Wins- multiple government sources. cast, however, is also supported by a The new government, which is and sees most offices close while was later reduced to seven years, was burg in the Free State, Officials believe the trucks seen general expectation that Pyongyang steered by veteran democracy activ- people line the streets to douse each slammed by rights groups as “outra- trapping passengers moving in and out of the complex are is planning another major provoca- ist Aung San Suu Kyi, has vowed to other with water to wash off the past geously harsh”. Though the former underneath the vehicle, likely carrying nuclear technicians. tion to make a political statement prioritise freeing the scores of polit- year’s sins. Suu Kyi’s ruling National quasi-civilian government that took ER24 paramedics said in “If they are signs of nuclear test ahead of next month’s Workers’ ical prisoners jailed by the country’s League for Democracy (NLD), which over from the junta in 2011 unleashed a statement. The cause of preparations, it seems the prepara- Party congress -- the first of its kind former military leaders. took power last month after sweeping a wave of economic and political the accident, after which tions are in the final stages,” Yonhap in nearly four decades. “According to our documents, 63 historic November polls, is stacked reforms, it also threw scores of polit- 21 passengers were in a quoted one government source as One of North Korea’s most recent political prisoners are released from with ex-political prisoners once jailed ical activists behind bars. critical condition, is not saying. North Korea is gearing up for statements attempted to justify its various prisons by the amnesty of the for their democracy activism under “We have been looking forward yet known, ER24 said. a rare and much-hyped ruling party nuclear development, which has also president,” said the Assistance Asso- the former military regime. to hearing good news from this new President Jacob Zuma congress early next month, at which involved multiple missile launches ciation for Political Prisoners (AAPP), The army’s routine jailing of dis- government,” Yarzar Oo, one of the launched the ANC’s man- leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to and an apparent warhead break- though it was not immediately clear sidents was one of many repressive journalists from Unity Weekly News, ifesto in Port Elizabeth on take credit for pushing the country’s through in recent weeks. The United how many would be permitted to policies that garnered support for the told AFP by phone after his release Saturday ahead of local nuclear weapons programme to new States does have nearly 30,000 mil- leave their cells today. A presidential party’s long democracy struggle. Suu from Pakokku Prison in Magway elections in August. heights. Numerous analysts have itary personnel stationed in South. pardon published yesterday morning Kyi’s new government oversaw its region.

A new beginning UN proposes three options for Burundi’s ‘precarious’ situation

AFP degree of physical protection to the of mass atrocities, similar to those population” but that the mission that convulsed neighboring Rwanda would take months to prepare and in 1994. Burundi has been in turmoil present logistical challenges. since President Pierre Nkurunziza UNITED NATIONS: Calling the A second option, he said, would announced plans in April last year to situation in Burundi “alarmingly pre- be to send 228 UN police officers to run for a third term, which he went carious,” UN chief Ban Ki-moon is work with human rights officials and on to win. proposing three options for a new UN possibly with African Union monitors Violence has left more than 400 police mission there, ranging from a to provide early warning, but it would dead and driven more than 250,000 full force of 3,000 officers to a light not offer any protection to civilians. people across the border. dispatch of 20 to 50. The secretary-general said the Diplomats said the proposed The options were detailed in a council could also decide to send a force of 228 police officers appeared report to the Security Council, two group of 20 to 50 officers who would to be the best option, but it remained weeks after the council agreed to assess the Burundi police force and unclear if Bujumbura would accept send a police force to the African “help bring about concrete and meas- that many officers. country to help quell a year of vio- urable improvements in the respect The government has told the Burmese people pray on a platform at the Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, yesterday. Myanmar lence there. for human rights and rule of law.” United Nations that it was ready to celebrates the New Year of the Burmese calendar by going to pagodas, donating food, freeing birds In the report, Ban said dispatch- The council is under pressure receive some 20 unarmed police or fish and paying their respects to the elderly. ing a force of up to 3,000 was “the to take action in Burundi where the experts, but would oppose any “large” only option that could provide some descent into violence has raised fears UN police presence. Nepal’s female climbers blaze trails for their gender

AFP in the mountains,” the 31-year-old said. “These female climbers are cer- After her parents died, leaving her Generations of men from Nepal’s famed tainly breaking tradition, which takes orphaned at 15, she worked on trekking Sherpa community have climbed the some courage.” In the year since Nepal’s expeditions to earn money. In 2004, she Himalayas, while their wives and daugh- massive earthquake, which triggered ava- signed up for a local mountaineering KATHMANDU: When a deadly ava- ters have traditionally kept the home fires lanches and landslides that killed almost course, where she was one of only two lanche hit Mount Everest a year ago, burning. But in a sign of changing times, a 9,000 people, they have also led rescue women in a class of dozens of men. But Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita, one of string of Sherpa women are now breaking and relief efforts. her toughest test came when the 7.8-mag- the few Nepali women with expertise records themselves, not only on 8,848- “Everyone told me to stay behind, they nitude quake ripped through her country in climbing the world’s highest peaks, metre (29,029-foot) high Everest but other said Everest base camp is gone, but I had on April 25. Sherpa Akita lost a friend in headed straight there to help. dangerous peaks. to go,” said Sherpa Akita, who was in a the subsequent Everest avalanche. She A gifted mountaineer who had sum- Some are now planning new summits nearby village when the disaster hit. spent the next few months raising funds mited Everest by the age of 22, she is part during Nepal’s spring climbing season, Raised in the Himalayan town of and travelling to remote villages to deliver of a new generation of Sherpa women which started this month. Lukla, known as the gateway to Everest, emergency supplies and help run medi- who are climbing peaks that have tradi- “Sherpa men train their sons to climb, she had long wanted to climb the moun- cal camps. National Geographic magazine tionally only been scaled by their men. not their daughters, they are expected to tain, inspired by the late Pasang Lhamu named her 2016’s “Adventurer of the Year” “People think mountaineering is a man’s stay home,” mountaineering expert Eliz- Sherpa -- the first Nepali woman to sum- for her efforts, the first Nepali woman to Nepalese mountaineer Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita prepares job, but I think we need more women abeth Hawley said. mit the peak in 1993. win the accolade. her equipment in Kathmandu. PAKISTAN MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 13 Remittance of Heavy fighting continues in Kunduz NRIs slowing Reuters AFGHANISTAN: Afghan forces fought back a renewed series of attacks on Kunduz, killing dozens of Taliban fighters, officials said yesterday as down: Report insurgent forces stepped up their bid to retake the northern city that they captured briefly last year. from Saudi Arabia and the UAE were The attack on Kunduz, involving 11.7pc and 11.6pc, respectively, a sig- hundreds of insurgent fighters, has In the fourth quarter nificant deceleration from 17.5pc intensified just days after the Taliban of 2015, year- and 42.0pc in the first quarter. Also, announced the start of their annual depreciation of major sending coun- spring offensive, aimed at driving out on-year growth try currencies like euro, Canadian the Western-backed government in remittances from dollar and the Australian dollar vis- Kabul. à-vis US dollar may be playing a role, The Taliban’s brief capture of Kun- Saudi Arabia and the the report says. duz last year underlined both their UAE were 11.7pc and According to the report, the growing strength and the lack of read- 11.6pc, respectively, growth rate of remittances to iness of Afghan security forces fighting developing countries continues to largely on their own since the NATO- a significant slow down largely due to economic led international coalition ended its deceleration from weaknesses in the major remittance- combat operation in 2014. sending countries particularly weak Attacks overnight appeared aimed 17.5pc and 42.0pc in oil prices and currencies in many at cutting off Chardara district on the the first quarter remittance-source countries. southwest outskirts of the city, which A major downside risk to this insurgents used as a base in last year’s forecast is the potential for a decline attack, with several checkpoints tar- in outward remittances from Gulf geted, Kunduz police chief Qasim Internews Cooperation Council countries due Jangalbagh said. to continuing weakness in the price “They wanted to cut the road of oil. Also, the continued widening which connects the district to Kunduz of black market premia and impo- city to stop us sending reinforce- ISLAMABAD: The World Bank sition of capital controls could limit ments,” he said. In addition, he said says that the growth of remittances formal remittance inflows in some a major attack was driven back at – money being sent home by non- countries. Charkh Ab, to the east of Kunduz, as Afghan soldier stands guard as fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban continues in resident Pakistanis – slowed down Remittances to India, the Taliban forces sought to stretch the by 3.9pc in 2015. The growth of region’s largest economy and the city’s defences. Kunduz province, yesterday. remittances in 2015 slowed from world’s largest remittance recipient, Casualty estimates provided by 16.7pc to 12.8pc for Pakistan followed decreased by 2.1pc in 2015, whereas Afghan officials varied slightly, with by 8pc in 2014 to 2.5pc for Bangla- remittances to Nepal rose dramati- Kunduz police saying 49 Taliban fight- said six dead and 107 wounded had highlighted in the United Nations’ security forces before Taliban fight- desh and from 9.6pc to -0.5pc for cally in response to the earthquake, ers had been killed and another 61 been brought to city hospitals over latest report on civilian casualties, ers seized the city centre at the end of Sri Lanka, says the latest edition by 20.9pc in 2015 versus 3.2pc in wounded, while the defence ministry the past three days, which have which pointed to a sharp rise in the September, holding it for two weeks of ‘Migration and Development - 2014. The average cost of sending said 38 were killed and 13 wounded been put under heavy strain by the number of children killed or injured before pulling out. However, officials Trends and Outlook’ published last $200 to regional countries in the over the past 24 hours. destruction of the hospital run by aid as a consequence of combat in built- have made a major effort this year to week. fourth quarter of 2015 was 5.4pc, A police spokesman said four group Medecins Sans Frontieres in up areas. reassure residents that there would The report says in the fourth down from 5.9pc recorded in the members of the security forces were a US air strike last year. The heavy The fall of Kunduz last year fol- be no repeat of last year’s demor- quarter of 2015, year-on-year fourth quarter of 2014 and the low- killed and 11 wounded. Kunduz pub- fighting around Afghanistan’s fifth- lowed months of attacks that began alizing collapse, which prompted growth remittances to Pakistan est rate among developing regions. lic health director Saad Mukhtar biggest city underlines the concern in the spring. The attacks weakened thousands to flee to city. Pakistan rallies for gender equality in line with UN guidelines

Internews Fiza Farhan, who is a member of the as well as rural women workforce,” if ever, paid the minimum wage of rural areas. In urban metropolis also, Though some multinationals first-ever High-Level Panel of the UN Fiza says. Rs12,000 set by the government. women are facing the same issues have agreed to sign the CEO state- Secretary-General on Women’s Eco- The Punjab chief minister has “Such women are not integrated though not on the same scale as of ment of Support, an undertaking by nomic Empowerment, has accepted already formed a committee ensur- as formal labour force and often get rural areas. business leaders to express support LAHORE: The United Nations aims the task. ing fast-track implementation. “We one-third of the minimum wages, “To ensure gender equality in for advancing gender equality, still to ensure gender equality across the She has managed to form a com- are hopeful that some framework will this has made Pakistan the second multinationals and local businesses, it is a long journey ahead for truly world by 2030 in a bid to achieve sus- mittee in Punjab province to work be shaped soon,” she says. worst country in gender equalisa- they need to attain a certain per- implementing the UN vision in Paki- tainable development goals. on legislation to ensure the gender For Fiza, the key target is the tion,” Fiza says. Gender equality ratio centage of women participation in stan towards Planet 50-50. Citing the Its ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It equality in the rural and urban eco- informal labour force, which in any in Pakistan currently stands at 76:24 low, middle as well as at high-level example of Norway, Fiza said there Up for Gender Equality’ asks govern- nomic settings. “I am trying to engage case is contributing to Pakistan’s (men: women). The UN representative decision-making levels, and it is a were some countries in the world that ments to make national commitments multiple departments of the Punjab economy but is not paid as deserved. believes the ratio can easily go up to challenge,” she says. “My aim is to have already achieved or are close to to address the challenges holding government to establish a women In rural areas, women work along 40 per cent if rural women working in implement UN global compact prin- gender equality. Pakistan’s ground women and girls back from reach- empowerment council, which will with men in the fields, factories and the informal sector are documented. cipals in the corporate sector in realities are somewhat different than ing their full potential. In Pakistan, guide and protect the rights of urban other work spaces, but they are rarely, But the issue is not limited to Pakistan.” the developed nations.

Over 80,000 Leisure time Sale of GM corn seeds in AJK get stopped until new order voter cards Internews and departments concerned. The move sparked criticism as the sci- Internews entists and farmers asked how the government could give the approval ISLAMABAD: As pressure mounts without undertaking a large-scale from agricultural scientists and open-field trial of the technology in MUZAFFARABAD: More than farmers, the Pakistan government Pakistan. They called it a violation 80,000 residents of Pakistan- has stopped the commercial sale of the national bio-safety laws and administered Kashmir (AJK) of genetically modified (GM) corn the international standard operat- have obtained new computerised seeds, in an about-turn after its ing procedures. Experts argue that national identity cards (CNIC). earlier permission to certain multi- no authority can approve the com- It will allow them to cast ballots national companies to market their mercial sale of GM corn seeds or any for the first time in the forthcoming seeds, but without meeting the basic other GM crop without a large-scale general elections of 2016. criteria. open-field trial and Pakistan has Sources said that the delimi- A federal secretary, who was part become a unique case where such tations of 41 constituencies have of a recent meeting held at the Minis- approval has been given. been completed. try of Climate Change, says that the The scientists insist that instead Any objection and complaint Pakistani children play on a tree in Islamabad, yesterday. stakeholders present in the huddle of big field trials involving the farm- in this regard can be submitted in decided that the green signal for ers, small-scale tests in confined the office of Election Commission commercial sale of GM corn seeds areas were conducted in certain secretary till April 25. would be taken back until a new government institutions and univer- The sources added that the decision in order to appease the sci- sities, which is entirely insufficient complaints against the delimita- entists and farmers can be reached. for meeting the standards for win- tions of Muzaffarabad, Neelum and “The meeting participants ning a licence for commercialisation Hattian Bala constituencies would Afghan refugees outpace those returning: UN agreed to look into the matter again of any technology. be heard on April 27 while objec- and consider all aspects including Monsanto official Aamir Mirza tions against Mirpur, Bhimber and implications for the agriculture sec- said the company had neither been Kotli districts would be addressed Reuters on track to match 2014, which saw fled to Europe in 2015, according to tor,” a senior official said. Already, invited to the last meeting nor had on April 28. the lowest number of returnees since UNHCR figures, and untold others the Ministry of Climate Change had it been officially informed about The sources further said that the start of a voluntary repatriation sought sanctuary in Pakistan, Iran, awarded licences to different com- the decision. “It may be their inter- National Database and Registra- process in 2001. and within Afghanistan itself, Okoth- panies including prominent names nal meeting and we have not got any tion Authority-verified electoral KABUL: The slow trickle of Afghan “It is much lower than we would Obbo said. like Monsanto and DuPont/Pioneer. information,” he said. Mirza believes lists would be considered final as refugees returning home is at historic have expected,” said UN Assistant “The Afghan refugee crisis is not The government allowed the that the promotion of biotechnology per the agreement signed by the lows, dwarfed by the hundreds of High Comissioner for Operations impacting only Europe,” he said, use of two varieties of GM corn will not only provide immediate ben- law department on behalf of AJK thousands being displaced by ongo- George Okoth-Obbo, who visited noting that already in 2016, 80,000 seeds namely Insect Protection and efits for the Pakistani farmers, but government with the UAthority. ing fighting and economic problems, Kabul on Sunday as part of a regional Afghans have been forced from their Herbicide Tolerant. However, the it will also send strong signals that Public expressed pleasure over according to United Nations officials. trip. About 2.4 million Afghan refu- homes, joining more than a million ministry kept the matter secret and the country is welcoming invest- the move and are waiting to cast So far this year about 2,200 ref- gees remain in foreign countries. others currently internally displaced even minutes of a relevant meeting ments in research into cutting-edge votes for the first time. ugees have returned to Afghanistan, More than 200,000 Afghans within the country. were not provided to the ministries technologies. 14 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 INDIA

Three militants Curfew imposed surrender in Tripura in Gujarat town AGARTALA: Three tribal guer- rillas who fled from their Bangladeshi hideout surrendered to the Tripura Police, officials said after violence here yesterday. Ganaram Reang, Dana- sai Reang and Salendra Reang, belonging to the National Lib- the Patel-dominated Varachha area. eration Front of Tripura (NLFT), Asserting that trouble-makers surrendered in Kanchanpur in More than 1,000 would not be spared, Bhatia said: northern Tripura on Saturday agitators from the “This city belongs to all and those night, a police official said. creating mischief will be dealt with They told the police they Patel community in strictly.” Chief Minister Anandiben recently fled from the NLFT camps Mehsana and over Patel said after a government pro- at Sapchari in Chittagong Hill gramme in south Gujarat’s Valsad Tracts in southeast Bangladesh. 500 in Surat were town: “Our government is for the According to them, more NLFT taken into preventive people and not for agitators.” cadres from Bangladesh were Speaking to Gujarati TV chan- likely to surrender, the official custody as large nels, state BJP president Vijay Rupani added. Twelve NLFT rebels with a crowds gathered asked the people as well as the police huge quantity of arms and ammu- near the district jails. to exercise retraint. nition surrendered to the Tripura The agitators attacked the camp Police chief K. Nagaraj on April 11. office of Minister of State for Home They also escaped from the same Kashmiri villagers gather during the funeral of suspected militant Bilal Ahmed Bhat in the village of Rajnikant Patel. An FCI godown and NLFT den in Bangladesh. a state government building were set Karimabad in Pulwama district, south of Srinagar. Police officials said the three IANS on fire in Mehsana. militants had fled along with the The Patel mobs also torched a previous 12 ultras but could not Sub Divisional Magistrate’s vehicle surrender together, as they had and a state transport bus. No shutdown in Srinagar entered Tripura through differ- AHMEDABAD: Curfew was imposed Two buses of Ahmedabad ent routes. and the Border Security Force (BSF) Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) was deployed in Mehsana town in were attacked with stones in Pati- IANS Separatist leaders have also not visit there as the chief minister to Gujarat yesterday after pro-reserva- dar-domiated Ghatlodia area of called for any shutdown or protests announce a special package for the Kidnapped baby tion Patidars (Patels) turned violent, Ahmedabad. A group of Patels yesterday. border district. leading to arson and clashes with blocked the Bhavnagar-Talaja high- Parts of Srinagar city, including The chief minister told relatives of rescued and three police. way in Saurashtra region. SRINAGAR: Authorities yesterday old city areas, remained under cur- the victims that anybody found guilty Authorities suspended Internet About 200 state transport buses said there would be no restrictions in few-like restrictions during the last of having violated the SOP (standard held in Delhi services and mobile phone applica- were diverted from sensitive routes Srinagar city as the situation limped four days following killings of five operating procedure) during crowd tions till today morning in Mehsana as a precaution and drivers were back to normal here. civilians in firing by the security control in recent incidents will have and other north Gujarat towns after instructed to take the buses to the District Magistrate of Srinagar forces in Handwara, Drugmulla and to face the law. NEW DELHI: A four-month-old the violence to prevent the spread of nearest police stations. Farooq Ahmad Lone said there would Natnusa areas of Kupwara district. “I have spoken to the top officers girl child, allegedly abducted by incendiary information. In Ahmedabad city also, some be no restrictions in any area of Sri- Authorities have still not revoked of the army and told them civilian her maternal uncle, has been res- Similar action is likely to be buses run by AMTS were diverted nagar city on Sunday. the suspension of mobile Internet killings are not acceptable. Those cued and three people arrested in taken in Ahmedabad and certain cit- from Patel-dominated pockets while However, as a precautionary services which have remained sus- found guilty of using excessive force this connection, a Delhi Police offi- ies of Saurashtra region, informed civic authorities were holding a measure, restrictions will continue in pended in Kashmir valley for the last against protesting civilians will be cial said yesterday. sources said. meeting to decide on discontinuing Handwara and Kupwara towns yes- five days. punished,” she assured them. “We rescued the infant, Heena, Police and paramilitary forces several routes in the city. Police burst terday to maintain law and order, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief She also ordered ex gratia relief from Loni in Ghaziabad district of were deployed in all north Gujarat over two dozen tear gas shells and authorities said. Minister Mehbooba Mufti met the and other compensations to the next Uttar Pradesh within six hours of towns, besides Ahmedabad and used water cannons as well as rub- Despite restrictions in parts of family members of killed youth dur- of kin of those who lost lives in Kup- her kidnapping, before she could be Surat, which are known strongholds ber bullets to disperse the crowds. Srinagar city on Saturday, there was ing her visit to Kupwara district on wara district due to firing by security sacrificed for witchcraft,” Khajuri of the pro-quota Patels. Sardar Patel Group (SPG) con- a perceptible improvement in the Saturday. forces. Khas Assistant Commissioner of More than 1,000 agitators from vener Lalji Patel sustained head situation over the last three days as Mufti met them at Kupwara Dak Meanwhile, the police late Satur- Police Narendra Chawla said. the Patel community in Mehsana and injuries as his supporters pelted skeletal transport operated and some Banglow where she chaired a secu- day produced the minor girl allegedly On April 14, the girl’s father over 500 in Surat were taken into policemen with stones. shops had opened for locals to buy rity meeting attended by Deputy molested by a soldier in Handwara Shan Mohammad complained that preventive custody as large crowds Gujarat TV channels reported essentials in civil lines and outskirts Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Chief on Tuesday before the chief judicial his brother-in-law Asif had kid- gathered near the district jails in police as saying that Patel was of the city. Secretary B R Sharma and police magistrate (CJM) under directions of napped his daughter. Asif admitted both places in defiance of prohib- hurt in the stone-throwing and not District magistrate Kupwara chief K Rajendra Kumar. the state high court. to his crime during questioning. itory orders. lathicharge. Kumar Rajiv Rajan said restrictions Mufti condoled the bereaved The girl made a statement before He said he handed over the baby Surat Police Commissioner Ash- Patel along with his support- would remain in force in Kupwara families and regretted that she had the magistrate about the incident girl to Mohammad Dilshad and ish Bhatia told local TV channels that ers was also taken into preventive and Handwara towns yesterday to come to Kupwara for offering con- that triggered widespread violence Mohammad Illyas after taking most of those detained were from custody. because of tension in the district. dolences while she had planned to in Handwara town on Tuesday. Rs40,000 from them.

New water plan likely in Ambedkar’s NPCIL to get nuclear liability policy soon: Official name: Uma Bharti IANS is the coverage will be reinstated to accidents that might occur during that provided the capacity to insure the According to the senior NPCIL the original level on payment of same policy year. risks of up to around Rs1,000 crore, official, equipment suppliers were NEW DELHI: In continued effort premium after a claimable nuclear According to the NPCIL official if with the balance Rs500 crore being concerned about the availability of to highlight B R Ambedkar’s legacy, accident. such a situation occurs, then the pol- obtained from the British Nuclear the policy - as they can also be asked the union water resources minis- CHENNAI: India’s atomic power While the official declined to icy coverage will get automatically Insurance Pool. The losses or prof- to pay the damages to the public - try is all set to announce launch company, Nuclear Power Corpora- comment on the premium to be paid reinstated to Rs.1,500 crore on pay- its in the pool would be shared by the when the company approached them of a programme in the name of tion of India Ltd (NPCIL) is confident to get the policy to cover public lia- ment of premium. insurers in the ratio of their agreed for supplies for the Haryana project, the country’s famous constitu- of getting the public liability insur- bility up to Rs.1,500 crore per year, “The policy complies with all the risk capacity. where the NPCIL is planning to set up tion-maker. ance policy in 10-15 days time, said per accident industry sources had provisions of the Civil Liability for Foreign nuclear plant suppliers two 700 MW units first and later add Union Water Resources Minis- a senior official. earlier said that it will be around Nuclear Damage Act (CLND) giving were reluctant to sell to India, citing two more units of similar size there. ter Uma Bharti said here yesterday Once the policy is received, then Rs70 crore. the necessary comfort to the suppli- the provisions of the Civil Liability According to NPCIL official, insur- a formal announcement about the the company can go ahead in full The proposed policy would cover ers,” he said, adding that the premium for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND), 2010 ers do not provide insurance cover for new water programme would be steam to start its project in Haryana, the liability towards public as a conse- will be paid to the insurers soon as that provides the right of recourse by the equipments in the “hot zone” or made at the meeting of all water said the official, said on the condition quence of any nuclear accident in the the terms and conditions have now NPCIL against the vendors under cer- the reactor zone. commissions tomorrow. of anonymity. plants covered under the policy and been finalised. tain circumstances for compensation Insurance Regulatory and Devel- She said while the Centre was “The negotiations as to the risk also the right of recourse of NPCIL The central government had in case of an accident. opment Authority of India (IRDAI) keeping an eye on the drought and coverage conditions with the insurers against equipment suppliers. announced in June 2015 the setting The insurance pool was formed former member K K Srinivasan said drought-like situation in various parts are over and issues have been sorted The insurance coverage will be for up of the Rs1,500 crore India Nuclear as a risk transfer mode for the sup- that this was because Indian insur- of the country, her ministry has asked out. We are confident of getting the all the NPCIL’s plants — like a floater Insurance Pool to be managed by pliers and also NPCIL. ance companies have not had the states to file reports on their water policy in 10-15 days time,” the offi- cover. When a nuclear accident hap- national reinsurer GIC Re. All the 21 operating nuclear power chance to acquire any significant deficiency and updated water data. cial said. pens and the Rs1,500 crore cover The GIC Re, four government- plants in India owned and operated expertise or capacity for covering “All states have been asked He categorically said the policy is exhausted, then there will not be owned general insurers and also by NPCIL are expected to come under property risks in the ‘hot zone’ of to file report on water shortage. would be on reinstatement basis - that any insurance cover for subsequent some private general insurers, have the public liability insurance cover. nuclear power plants. We will then examine the issues involved and prepare a roadmap. The states have to draw out their priorities to improve the situa- tion,” she said on the sidelines of a Dusty game Delhi traffic: CII wants function on the Ganga River Basin Management and Studies. Uma Bharti said the Centre has been tackling the problem of last digit rationing drought well. As a part of 125th birth anni- versary celebrations of B R Ambedkar, the Central Water IANS number 2 can’t ply on the 2nd, 12th and Commission is organising a 22nd, the chamber said. national seminar on Tuesday on “We suggest ‘last digit ration- multi-purpose development of ing’ should be done for every digit water resources and present chal- NEW DELHI: The Delhi government covering all vehicles — cars, two- lenges to highlight his contribution must opt for the concept of “last-digit wheelers, taxis which include large in water sector. rationing” for automobiles rather numbers of diesel SUVs and com- Officials from the Centrfal than the odd-even policy currently mercial vehicles, other than vehicles Water Commission, experts from on for a more robust and lasting on CNG, buses, ambulances, fire bri- water resources sector such as impact on pollution, the Confed- gade and police vehicles.” Mihir Shah, former Planning Com- eration of Indian Industry has said. CII said a study by it showed that mission member, and experts from The “last digit automobile if a vehicle runs for 10km daily for the Indian Council of Social Sci- rationing” of vehicles means the 365 days, then it will emit 9.4 lakh ence Research and Centre for the registration plates of vehicles ending grammes of carbon-dioxide. If all reg- Study of Regional Development of with number 1 will not be allowed istered vehicles in Delhi run for 10km A boy waits for a brief dust storm to pass while playing cricket on a hot day in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the Jawaharlal Nehru University to ply on the roads on the 1st, 11th, for 365 days, then they will emit 1.28 are expected to attend the seminar. yesterday. 21st and 31st of a month. Those with million tonnes into the environment. INDIA MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 15

Campaign to Nearly 80% turnout in West Bengal polls promote use of bicycles two hours earlier than elsewhere at 4pm. Allegations of false There were many people in queue NEW DELHI: An awareness voting in the presence when the scheduled time of polling campaign to promote the use of ended in the other 45 constituencies bicycles among city dwellers was of presiding officer at 6p.m. launched here yesterday. in English Bazar and “Polling percentage at 5pm in The initiative — See Your Lung Alipurduar was 82.07, Jalpaiguri campaign — will involve volun- three people were recorded 77.69, Darjeeling 74.00, teers pedalling across Delhi on arrested after clashes North Dinajpur 78.90, South Dina- bicycles and sharing information in Bolpur. jpur 82.72, Malda 79.60 and Birbhum with the people about the dam- 82.89,” said the official. age caused to human health due He said reserve polling officer to vehicular pollution. Gopi Chakraborti — on duty in Ali- “This is a must as the people purduar district — died after a stroke. do not know how they are risk- IANS There was an initial poll boy- ing their and others’ lives by using cott in seven booths of Malda over motor vehicles, especially when a developmental issues. “However, cycle can do the work. The idea is polling started after the sector to connect people with the gov- KOLKATA: Nearly 80 percent of officer persuaded the people to lift ernment’s initiatives to bring about 1.22 crore voters exercised the boycott.” down the toxic pollution levels their right to franchise across 56 There were allegations of false in Delhi and make them under- constituencies in the second phase of voting in the presence of the pre- stand the importance of clean and elections to the West Bengal assembly siding officer in a booth in Malda’s fresh air for health and fitness,” yesterday, amid allegations of spo- English Bazar. Following a complaint said Vijay Kannan, founder of the radic violence and voter intimidation. lodged by the Communist Party of campaign. “At 5pm, the overall polling per- India-Marxist (CPI-M), the officer Kannan is the founder of centage was 79.70 percent,” an was removed. Clean Air India Movement Election Commission official said. At Dumrut in Birbhum’s Bolpur (CLAIM), launched during the first Long queues of voters were seen constituency, three people were phase of the even-odd scheme in outside most polling booths despite arrested following a clash between January. the sweltering heat and humidity, as Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Under the initiative, free car voting commenced at 7am. Janata Party workers V oters queue up to cast their ballots in the second phase of state assembly elections at a polling station pool service was offered in the There are about 1.22 crore reg- In the district’s Rampurhat, a sec- in Siliguri, West Bengal, yesterday. national capital to help around istered voters, and 383 candidates, tion of residents reportedly boycotted 10,000 people reach their including 33 women. Balloting took polls citing failure of the state gov- Meanwhile, despite the Election the EC for his controversial remarks constituencies, then allies Trinamool destinations. place at 13,645 polling stations. ernment to provide basic electricity Commission’s constant surveil- against opposition leaders, Mondal and the Congress had won 18 seats Five of the constituencies are services. lance, the Trinamool’s Birbhum is under constant surveillance till each, the Left Front 15, Gorkha Jan- in Alipurduar district, seven in Jal- In Nanoor, Trinamool activists chief and strongman Anubrata the end of the poll process with his mukti Morcha 3 and independents Man arrested for paiguri, nine in North Dinajpur, six allegedly assaulted a polling agent Mondal courted fresh controversy movements being video-graphed in won on 2 seats. each in Darjeeling and South Dina- of the CPI-M. as he cast his vote after entering a the presence of central security forces This time, the Trinamool is con- killing wife jpur and 12 in Malda districts. The BJP’s star candidate Locket booth sporting the party symbol on and a local magistrate. testing 55 seats, the BJP 53, the The only south Bengal district Chatterjee, contesting from May- his kurta. As many as 2,909 polling stations Congress 23, Left Front 34, and the NEW DELHI: A 40-year-old cook going to the polls in this phase is ureshwar, said the civic police were While the EC has sought a report were earmarked as vulnerable and GJM 3. has been arrested on charges of Birbhum. Of its 11 constituencies, spotted with central forces inside a about the incident, Mondal put the special arrangements made for them In Darjeeling district’s Siliguri, strangulating his wife and then seven — Dubrajpur, Suri, Nalhati, booth in the constituency. onus of his “inadvertent” act of dis- by the poll panel, which also identi- former Indian football captain and chopping her body into several Rampurhat, Sainthia, Hansan and A clash reportedly broke out playing the party symbol in the booth fied 3,827 people as trouble-mongers Trinamool nominee Baichung Bhutia parts, a police official said yes- Murarai — have been classified as between Trinamool and CPI-M work- on the presiding officer, but refused and over 16,000 as vulnerable voters is pitted against former state minis- terday. affected by Left-wing extremism ers outside a booth in Malda, in which to say sorry. in the 56 constituencies. ter and CPI-M heavyweight Asok The incident is attributed to an and polling in these areas ended two people were injured. Besides being issued notice by In the 2011 assembly polls in these Bhattacharya. extra-marital affair, as Gulbuddin had allegedly also married another woman in Assam. He wanted to shift there after getting rid of his first wife. Modi slams Mamata “Gulbuddin on Thursday night murdered his wife Phullu Begum, 36, at his Aya Nagar home for rant against EC in south Delhi. He was arrested on Saturday,” said a senior police official. According to police, Gulbuddin KRISHNANAGAR/KOLK- “The issue was not handed over admitted to having committed the ATA: Ridiculing West Bengal Chief to the Rajya Sabha ethics committee crime and revealed that he stran- Minister Mamata Banerjee for her to save those involved in the Narada gulated his wife and then cut her rant against the Election Commis- scam. body with a saw in the bathroom sion (EC), Prime Minister Narendra “All these people are the same,” of the first floor of his house. Their Modi yesterday accused her of mis- said the prime minister. 16-year-old daughter was asleep using the state machinery. Earlier, in Krishnanagar of Nadia on the ground floor. On his third round of election- district, Modi said the Trinamool was “He wanted to sell his Delhi eering for the state assembly polls, on the brink of defeat in the polls. property which Phullu Begum Modi alleged a nexus between the “On the brink of defeat, the Tri- resisted. Thus, he planned to get Left, the Congress and the Trina- namool has lost its senses. Mamata rid of her,” said police. mool Congress in parliament to and her party have accepted defeat After killing her, he stuffed save “leaders of Didi’s (elder sister, and that is why she is not fighting the body parts in different sacks as Banerjee is affectionately called) with political parties, but rather with and dumped them at a secluded party seen accepting money” in the the EC,” Modi said. spot. footage released by the Narada news “Polls will come and go, but if The body parts were recov- portal. these institutions are destroyed, the ered in a decomposed state after “In Bengal, the Left and the country will not be able to be run. Gulbuddin led a police team to the Congress are in alliance. In Kerala, The EC gave notice to you and it spot. they are taking on each other. But in was your responsibility to put forth The matter came to light when Delhi, the Congress and the Left are your stand, your views but instead his daughter enquired about her together. The happenings in parlia- you are saying, you will see the EC mother. ment over the past two years prove after May 19 (day of counting),” he After getting no proper reply this,” Modi said in Kolkata. said. from her father, she lodged a miss- He said the Narada issue was Modi said: “The country runs ing complaint at Fatehpur Beri handed to the Lok Sabha ethics com- on laws and rules and if you want police station. mittee as the BJP had majority there. disobey them, then clarify before Police have sent the body parts “But that did not happen in the the people whether you have faith for postmortem. A case of murder Rajya Sabha, because we are not in in democracy or not, whether you has been registered at Fatehpur Supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party raise their hands as they attend an election campaign rally being majority there. Didi, Left and the have faith in the country’s consti- Beri police station and the accused addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata yesterday. Congress call the shots there.” tution or nor not.” has been arrested. Priyanka demands Kerala polls: How top 10 politicos stack up apology from TOI IANS Pinarayi Vijayan and state party sec- the opposition Left Democratic Front Equally challenging is what’s retary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. (LDF). in store for Vijayan, who last year From the Bharatiya Janata Party Should the LDF come to power, stepped down as the CPI-M state sec- IANS prejudice to any rights and con- (BJP), which hopes this time to open which is likely given Kerala’s electoral retary after close to two decades of tentions of my client and nothing THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The its account in the Kerala assembly, history, this battle-hardened veteran running the party. contained herein should be consid- upcoming assembly elections in Ker- there are state party president Kum- might seek at least a year in office. This could well be his last chance ered an admission of any fact or a ala will be of crucial significance for manem Rajasekheran, former union If the LDF fails to make it to of getting power. NEW DELHI: Congress President waiver of any of the rights and rem- 10 top political leaders, not all run- minister O Rajagopal and former state office, it’s anyone’s guess as to what For Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka edies of my client,” said a letter from ning for office, and are likely to be the party president and convenor of the Achuthanandan’s place in Kerala’s Sangh (RSS) strongman Rajasekheran, Gandhi Vadra yesterday served a lawyer Aman Panwar addressed to swansong of a few. elections V Muraleedharan. politics is going to be. it was a surprise selection to the top legal notice to leading daily Times Editor-in-Chief Jaideep Bose, among The 10 include three each from The joker in the pack is Velapally On the other hand, Chandy is post in the party. If the ‘lotus’ blooms of India demanding an “unqualified others. the Congress, CPI-M and the BJP, each Natesan, the popular Ezhava leader almost certain to be in the chief min- in Kerala, he is in line for more glory apology” for its report on her official It said the journalist “appears of which leads a larger political front. and supremo of the recently formed isterial seat again if the Congress-led and if it does not happen, his post accommodation. to have completely lost sight of the From the Congress, there are Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) United Democratic Front upsets Ker- itself could be in for a change. “My client calls upon your incontrovertible facts in her eager- Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, state which is part of the BJP-led National ala’s electoral history and regains For Natesan, who until the 2014 esteemed publication to tender an ness to publish a sensational but party president V M Sudheeran and Democratic Alliance (NDA). power. Lok Sabha polls maintained equidis- unqualified apology and publish the false and defamatory story in a hasty Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala While seven of the 10 leaders are And if that does not happen, it tance from all political formations, it contents of this letter in its entirety fashion”. — for whom the May 16 vote would contesting the election, Sudheeran, could be the last hurrah for this 72 could be rise to be a significant force with the same prominence and dis- ”The entire tone, tenor and phra- be a defining moment. Balakrishnan and Natesan are not. year old; he could well sign off in style in the state’s politics. play as you have done to the patently seology of your news article are From the Communist Party Achuthanandan, who at 92 is at by completing his golden jubilee as a Alternatively, the counting of false and malicious captioned news misleading and are laden with pre- of India-Marxist (CPI-M), there the very fag end of his career, con- legislator, as no one seems to believe votes would determine if Natesan’s article. meditated fatal misstatements or are former chief minister V S tinues to be a crowd puller and a he won’t get elected to the 14th Ker- presence helped either of the tradi- “This letter is being sent without inaccuracies,” it claimed. Achuthanandan, politburo member much sought after campaigner for ala assembly. tional UDF/LDF fronts. 16 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 EUROPE / UK France finalising N-plant deal in UK Belgium names new transport minister about the financial viability of the about the risks involved. refugees head to its shores and would £18bn (€23.2bn, $25.5bn) Hinkley Hinkley Point will be one of the lose its negotiating power in talks to French Economy Point project, which will use largely world’s most expensive nuclear power protect its ailing steel industry from Minister Emmanuel untested technology. plants and will produce seven per- Chinese competition. AFP EDF, which is 84-percent owned cent of Britain’s energy needs by 2025. “You are a great country and ... Macron said, his by the French government, is strug- Doubts over the project are linked your future as a great country is not government backed gling with a debt of more than €37bn to the Evolutionary Power Reactor outside the EU, it’s to be part of the and trade unions have called for the (EPR) technology that will be used. club and to transform the EU with the BRUSSELS: The Belgian government Hinkley Point project to be delayed. There are no working versions, and other great countries,” he said. yesterday appointed a new transport project, saying it was In an interview with BBC televi- other EPR plants under construction “For sure you will have con- minister in a reshuffle sparked by important for France sion, Macron confirmed government’s are running behind schedule and over sequences because otherwise it allegations of lax security at Brus- commitment to the project, financed budget. doesn’t make sense to have a Euro- sels airport, one of two targets hit by and for the nuclear in part by China General Nuclear Asked if the project would come pean Union,” he said, adding if Britain suicide bombers last month. sector. Power Corporation (CGN). to fruition, Macron said: “That’s left, other countries might follow suit. The new minister is Francois “We back Hinkley Point project, my view and that’s our perspective He repeated a warning from Bellot (pictured), 62, who replaces it’s very important for France, it’s very because I think it’s very important for French officials and Prime Minister Jacqueline Galant, whose resignation important for the nuclear sector and our commitment to nuclear energy.” David Cameron that thousands of on Friday made her the first politi- Agencies EDF,” Macron said. “Now we have to Referring to the EU referen- refugees could flock to Britain from cal casualty of the attacks. finalise the work, and especially the dum, Macron said Britain will face France if the country left, a sugges- Bellot will meet King Philippe technical and industrial work, very consequences if it votes to leave the tion those wanting to leave the EU say today to take his oath of office, the left the Gare du Nord railway station closely with EDF, with the British gov- European Union. Britain will vote in is little more than scaremongering. Belgian royal palace said in a state- and teamed up in central Brussels LONDON: French Economy Minister ernment, to be in a situation to sign in a referendum on June 23. Those sup- Several foreign leaders have ment issued to media yesterday. with around 1,000 marchers who Emmanuel Macron repeated his gov- the coming weeks or month.” porting a British exit say the country called on Britain to vote to stay in Galant quit in a blaze of anger, started off from Molenbeek, the ernment’s commitment yesterday to He had previously said that EDF could easily renegotiate trade deals the bloc, with US President Barack blaming “well-orchestrated the- rundown Brussels district that has plans by state-owned company EDF would take a final decision at the with the European Union and reclaim Obama expected to back Cameron’s atrics” and a “media crusade” by gained an unwelcome reputation as to build a controversial next-gener- beginning of May. This week, he told its status in the world. campaign to remain. With Britons political enemies for forcing her out. a jihadi haven. ation nuclear plant in Britain, saying French trade unions that no decision But Macron said that Britain evenly divided just over two months The media had reported that the The rally—“A march against ter- the deal was being finalised. had yet been taken because of con- could struggle to regain access to the before the vote, campaigning has European Union (EU) had repeatedly ror and hatred”—was organised by Questions have been raised cerns within the energy company EU’s single market, might see more become increasingly bitter. warned of security flaws at Zaven- civil groups, who had hoped for a tem airport. A top ministerial official turnout of 15,000. also quit, accusing her of incompe- “When our fellow citizens, tence and “Gestapo-like” behaviour. defenceless civilians, are cut down in UK police bail one Bellot, like Galant, is a francoph- a cowardly attack, all citizens should Painting Paris Red one liberal—one of the many streams stand up to express their disgust and in Belgian politics, whose landscape solidarity,” said Hassan Bousetta, a of five linked to is fractured along linguistic as well local councillor in the city of Liege, as political lines. who helped organise the march. Paris and The country has had a string of “It is a moment of reflexion, a ministers over the past half dozen message of compassion for the vic- Brussels attacks years. The present coalition gov- tims and a moment when citizens ernment took office in October 2014 come together.” after nearly five months of haggling Bearing a banner marked, in Reuters following elections. French and Flemish, “#alltogether A low-profile lawmaker in the against hatred and terror,” the national parliament and mayor main group of marchers was led of the town of Rochefort, in the by families of the victims, followed LONDON: British police bailed one French-speaking region of Wal- by representatives from various of five people arrested last week lonia, Bellot is a civil engineer by religious communities. A dozen on suspicion of preparing acts of training and specialist in railway members of an association for inter- terrorism, West Midlands Police transport, according to his Reform religious dialogue carried a banner in central England said yesterday. Movement party. In a first response marked “Together in peace,” adorned British police arrested five to his appointment, Bellot prom- with drawings of doves. A Muslim people last week as part of an ised to restore “serenity, calm and group carried a placard reading, investigation which a security trust,” with the top priority of bring- “Love is my religion and my faith.” source said was linked to the ing operations at Zaventem back to A fire truck, its beacons flashing, attacks in Paris and Brussels. Four normal. symbolised the role of emergency were arrested in Birmingham, cen- Separately, around 7,000 people services after the attack, fire serv- tral England, and one at London’s in Brussels marched against jihadist ice spokesman Pierre Meyes said. Gatwick Airport. violence yesterday, nearly a month In the group that left Molenbeek, West Midlands Police said four after suicide blasts on Europe’s insti- a group of children chanted, “Daesh, People participate in the “Colour Run 2016” in Paris yesterday. The Colour Run is a 5km paint race people, three men and one woman, tutional capital left 32 dead and off you go, Brussels isn’t for you!”, were being questioned after secur- without winners nor prizes, while runners are showered with coloured powder at stations along the run. several hundred injured, police said. referring to the Islamic State jihad- ing warrants of further detention, A group of around 6,000 people ist group. while a 59-year-old man had been bailed “with strict conditions”. “The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no Healthcare in risk to the public at any time and Violence crowds in on France’s protests there is no information to suggest an attack in the UK was being Germany ‘losing planned,” said Assistant Chief Con- AFP evening, small groups of hooded security forces and damage shop In the Place de la Republique, the stable Marcus Beale, who leads youths have moved in, apparently windows, especially banks, nearby”. participants sit and debate everything billion euros a on counter terrorism for the West determined to clash with police. “I want to remind the organisers from the cause of migrants to envi- Midlands. More than 400 people have been of these gatherings of their responsi- ronmental issues and the tax evasion year to fraud’ British media have reported PARIS: The “Up All Night” protests arrested since the demonstrations bilities and ask them to stick to their highlighted in the Panama Papers. that Belgian Mohamed Abrini, that are sweeping France are increas- began. In the latest flare-up, 21 peo- commitment to stop at 1am and to When emotions run high, some suspected of involvement in the ingly being marred by violence and ple were detained after setting fire ensure that the participants disperse protesters are prepared to take “direct Islamic State attacks in Brussels, police have warned the organisers not to wooden pallets and pelting police at that time,” Cadot said. action”. Valentine, a 25-year-old stu- AFP had travelled to Birmingham last to let their peaceful cause be hijacked with objects on the Place de la Repub- Many demonstrations in France dent, said: “If someone makes a direct year and taken photos of a soccer by troublemakers. lique early on Saturday. Several police descend into violent clashes between proposal to take action and no-one stadium.Abrini, who investigators The “Nuit Debout” demonstra- officers were hurt. demonstrators known as “casseurs”— objects to it, people get up and do BERLIN: Germany’s healthcare say has confessed to depositing a tions began in March in opposition Paris police chief Michel Cadot literally “breakers”—and riot police. something about it. system is losing as much as a bil- bomb at Brussels airport, is also to the government’s proposed labour said the violence “just cannot be The “Nuit Debout” movement— “We’re not going to wait for per- lion euros a year to scammers, wanted in connection with the reforms, but the movement has now accepted” and blamed the organ- the translation of the name also has mission, this comes from the heart.” some of whom are linked to the Paris attacks. embraced a range of grievances and isers “for a lack of control which is a sense of rising up against power— She said, for example, she would Russian mafia, according to a Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the begun to take on a revolutionary feel. allowing these incidents to happen”. officially condemns such violence. happily join a group of activists in rip- media report. suspected planner of the Paris In recent days, after up to 3,000 He said while the protests were “It’s a pacifist, citizens’ movement ping down metal barriers erected to One scam involves health attacks killed by French police late predominantly young demonstra- well-ordered early in the evening, aimed at opening up a new debate,” prevent migrants from setting up a workers who charge for 24-hour last year, is also reported by local tors have occupied the giant Place de after midnight “small, violent groups... said a demonstrator in Paris last camp in the Stalingrad area of north- care but check on their patients media to have visited Birmingham. la Republique square in Paris each try either to march, or to attack week. east Paris. two or three times a day, said the Welt am Sonntag weekly. In some cases patients’ family members are complicit in the fraud, taking a cut of the sum siphoned off the health- Scotland minister wants Demanding political freedom care system. The report, produced jointly with broadcaster Bayerischer new vote if forced out of EU Rundfunk, said the fraud involved mainly patients requiring intense care, of whom there are an esti- Reuters “Or if there is a significant and mated 19,000 in Germany. material change in the circum- Care for such patients costs stances that prevailed in 2014, such insurers around €22,000 as Scotland being taken out of the ($25,000) a month, of which one LONDON: Scotland should have EU against our will,” Sturgeon, who fifth is believed to be lost to fraud. right to hold a new referendum on leads Scotland’s devolved govern- “The healthcare invoice fraud independence if the country is taken ment, said in a statement. by Russian care providers is a out of the European Union “against Scots voted 55-45 percent nationwide phenomenon that our will”, the leader of the Scottish against independence in a referen- affects places where there are National Party (SNP) said yesterday. dum in 2014, but Sturgeon’s party groups that are closed off by lan- Facing a British referendum on then won a sweeping victory in a guage barriers,” said the report, whether to stay in the European Union British election in May, taking all quoting an internal dossier com- on June 23, Nicola Sturgeon used her but three of Scotland’s 59 seats in piled by Germany’s federal police. party’s manifesto before election for the Westminster parliament. “In some cases, Russian-Eura- Scottish parliament next month to The party is expected to be sian organised crime is known to make it clear that she wanted another returned to power in the May election have invested in home care serv- independence vote in Scotland. in Scotland. Scottish nationalists have ices,” said the police document. There should be such a refer- told Prime Minister David Cameron “Municipal social assistance endum, she said, “if there is clear that he cannot rule out giving Scot- agencies and health and nursing and sustained evidence that inde- land another independence vote and People hold a banner during a demonstration called by armed Basque separatist group ETA under care insurers, and therefore the pendence has become the preferred a situation in which Scots voted to stay the slogan “In the direction of amnesty, Basque prisoners and refugees home”, marking international general public, are suffering con- option of a majority of the Scottish in the EU but a majority of all Britons day of political prisoners in Bilbao, Spain, yesterday. siderable damage,” said police in people”. voted to leave could be a trigger. a statement. EUROPE MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 17

Most Germans Fresh protest against Macedonian president oppose Merkel

at Ivanov’s decision to halt probes into on prosecution more than 50 public figures, including People demand top politicians embroiled in a wire- of comedian resignation of tapping scandal. The early elections, originally President Gjorge agreed for April 24 and then post- Reuters Ivanov. poned in February to June 5, are part of a EU-brokered agreement to solve the country’s seething political feud. BERLIN: Two thirds of Germans Zoran Zaev, leader of main oppo- oppose Chancellor Angela Mer- AFP sition SDSM, said he will boycott the kel’s decision to allow prosecutors vote, claiming that conditions for a to pursue a case against a German free and fair vote are not in place. comedian who mocked Turkey’s There were no reports of major President Tayyip Erdogan, a poll SKOPJE: Thousands of Macedonian incidents as protest got underway in published yesterday showed. opposition supporters took to the the capital Skopje, which Zaev joined. Merkel announced her deci- streets calling President Gjorge Ivanov Macedonia’s political crisis began sion after Erdogan demanded that to resign and for legislative elections last year when the SDSM accused Germany press charges against Jan scheduled for June to be postponed. then-prime minister Nikola Gruevski Boehmermann after he recited a “The people have come out on of wiretapping around 20,000 people, crude satirical poem about the the streets again to send a message including politicians and journalists, Turkish leader on German pub- to President Ivanov.” said Pavle Bogo- and said the recordings revealed lic broadcaster ZDF on March 31. jevski, one of the protesters in Skopje. high-level corruption. The govern- A section of the German crim- “He must resign... and parliament ment denied the accusations and, in inal code prohibits insults against must meet to cancel the June 5 elec- response, filed charges against Zaev, foreign leaders but leaves it to the tions,” he added. accusing him of “spying” and attempt- government to decide whether The date was officially set on ing to “destabilise” the country. to authorise prosecutors to pur- Friday despite the angry anti-gov- Gruevski, who was prime minis- sue such cases. This put Merkel in People stage a protest demanding resignation of President Gjorge Ivanov over his decision to block judicial ernment rallies that have been ter since 2006, resigned in January an awkward position as she has proceedings against top politicians embroiled in a wire tapping scandal, in Skopje, Macedonia. taking place each evening in protest to pave the way for early elections. been the driving force behind a European Union deal with Tur- key to stem the flow of refugees into Europe. The survey by pollster Emnid Ultra-nationalist resurgence likely Russia rejects US criticism for the Bild am Sonntag newspa- per found that 66 percent of those questioned opposed Merkel’s deci- of new Baltic encounter sion to allow prosecutors to pursue to complicate Serbia’s EU path the case. Only 22 percent said she was right, with 12 percent unde- cided. Emnid polled 500 people Reuters course and fight any concessions he is His goal is to secure enough Reuters manoeuvres”, flying within 50 feet on Friday afternoon. forced to make during Serbia’s nego- members of parliament—one third or of a US RC-135 aircraft, US European Merkel’s decision had already tiations to join the bloc, which began 84 legislators—to block any attempt Command spokesman Danny Her- divided her ruling coalition and in December. Opinion polls suggest to change Serbia’s constitution if Bel- nandez said. The US had protested prompted accusations that she JAGODINA: Ultra-nationalists are set Vucic’s Progressive Party is on track grade comes under pressure during MOSCOW: Russian military rejected to Moscow, he said. “The unprofes- failed to protect free speech. to return to Serbia’s parliament in an to retain its parliamentary majority, the EU negotiations to remove a con- criticism by US European Command sional actions of a single pilot have The chancellor is scheduled to April 24 election after an absence of but Seselj’s Radicals— who failed to stitutional reference to Kosovo being yesterday that a Russian jet had made potential to unnecessarily escalate travel to Turkey and her centre-left several years, boosted by growing win any seats in elections in 2012 and part of Serbia. aggressive manoeuvres near a US tensions between countries,” he said. Social Democrat (SPD) coalition discontent with Prime Minister Ale- 2014 -- could become the third-larg- A sharp 2014 recession sent Ser- reconnaissance plane over Baltic Sea. Russia dismissed the report as partners, who had wanted the ksandar Vucic’s pro-European Union est group in parliament. bia’s budget deficit soaring, forcing Under President Vladimir Putin, “running counter to reality”, saying Turkish request to be rejected, stance and austerity policies. Seselj, whose war crimes acquit- the government to seek a €1.2bn Russia’s military has been beefed up its air defences had had to scramble urged her to champion freedom They include firebrand Radical tal is being appealed by prosecutors, ($1.35bn) loan from the IMF, which by increased spending and ambitious a fighter jet after detecting a high- of opinion and of the media on Party leader Vojislav Seselj, whose gives voice to the grievances many demanded public spending and rearmament, while Moscow, which speed unidentified target over the the trip. popularity in Serbia was boosted by Serbs feel over Nato’s 1999 bombing subsidy cuts, tax hikes and the pri- accuses Nato of expanding towards Baltic Sea heading for its borders. “Without these basic liberties, his acquittal last month of crimes of Serbia over Kosovo conflict. when vatisation of inefficient state firms Russia’s borders, tries to pursue a After making “visual contact” democracy is not conceivable - the against humanity by the UN war Seselj was deputy prime minister. as a condition. EU membership will more assertive foreign policy. with Russian Su-27, the American Turkish government must rec- crimes tribunal in The Hague. “The EU is made up of Nato coun- also require economic restructuring. The incident occurred on Thurs- plane changed its course away from ognise that too,” SPD Secretary Polls indicate Seselj’s Radicals tries. They bombed us, they took Analysts say austerity measures day as a Russian Su-27 fighter Russia’s borders, defence ministry General Katarina Barley told the and the right-wing Dveri grouping, Kosovo away from us,” he told cheer- and an unemployment rate of 18 “performed erratic and aggressive spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Bild am Sonntag . which hold pro-Russian and anti- ing supporters last week in Jagodina, percent have pushed voters towards Nato views and demand an end to a central town where unemployment the rightist parties. Until two years integration with the EU, will get over runs at 30 percent. Seselj, 61, was a ago, Suzana Arsic, a kindergarten the threshold needed to get into par- mentor to Vucic until 2008 when his teacher from Jagodina, voted for pro- 7 die in Tenerife liament and together could win about protege broke with the Radicals. EU Democratic Party, but now she is Italians go to polls in 25-30 seats in the 250-seat assembly. Seselj, who has been battling changing sides. “I’m going to vote for building collapse While the ultra-nationalists are colon cancer for several years, the Radicals this time. I didn’t like unlikely to challenge the prime min- remains a fierce advocate of the what I saw—plants were shut down, drilling referendum ister’s strong hold on power, they will “Greater Serbia” ideology that fuelled people lost their jobs they couldn’t MADRID: Seven people died when use the platform to attack his pro-EU bloodshed in the 1990s Yugoslav wars. manage,” she said. a four-storey building collapsed on the popular Canary Island resort of Tenerife, the police said. Reuters number of regional assemblies, most The victims were four women of them run by Renzi’s own centre- and three men who had yet to be left Democratic Party, which object formally identified, police said in to drilling platforms because of wor- a statement. No nationalities were ROME: Italy went to the polls yester- ries about the environment, as well given for the victims. day in a referendum on offshore oil as the impact on tourist industries. Earlier, local officials had and gas drilling rights, a vote which Italy imports around 90 percent given a toll of five dead before Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said of its energy needs and successive firefighters and rescue workers he hoped people would not take part governments have looked to boost recovered two more bodies from in. For the ballot to be valid, more domestic production to reduce the devastated scene of the build- than 50 percent of the Italian elec- dependence on foreign suppliers ing collapse, which left the street torate must vote but Renzi has urged such as Russia’s Gazprom. There are strewn with debris. Residents in people to stay away, saying that the 69 exploration concessions in Italian four adjacent buildings have been referendum is unnecessary and waters, most of them gas, the indus- evacuated as a precaution. might end up hurting the economy. try ministry says. Of these, 44 fall “The occupants of the four It would be a blow to Renzi if within the 20km range, most of them buildings and the one that was substantial numbers turn out, sug- run by Italy’s Eni. If the referendum affected have been re-housed in gesting voters were ready to snub succeeds, these 44 fields will be shut hotels and in a municipal camping him just weeks before major local when their concessions expire, even ground,” the statement said. elections. But opinion polls have if they are still workable. It was still unclear why the indicated that a quorum will not be “This not a political referen- building collapsed. Three people, reached. dum, but concerns 11,000 workers, including an Italian man who suf- The referendum focuses on their future and Italy’s energy supply fered a broken arm, were rescued whether Italy should stop renew- chain,” Renzi told reporters. from the rubble, with two requir- ing offshore drilling licenses within Environmental watchdog Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj (in red shirt) arrives for his pre-election rally in Jagodina, Serbia. ing hospital treatment. 20km of the coast. New drilling con- Legambiente said domestic oil and cessions are no longer being handed gas production is minimal and that a out, but the government says old continued focus on fossil fuels takes agreements should be kept in play. Italy further away from its renewable Spanish bullfighters lock horns in paternity suit The ballot was proposed by a energy and carbon targets.

AFP father remains elusive,” the 47-year- Diaz says he does not want to napkin indicated with 99.9 percent old told the magazine. make any claims on Benitez’s estate certainty that he is Benitez’s son, “The straw that broke the camel’s and just wants to claim a lineage that and the paternity suit was accepted back was the day when he was asked he is proud of. Benitez, whose fame in December by a court, which will CORDOVA: Legendary Spanish bull- about me during a television interview. in the bullring lifted him out of pov- rule on the case on April 28. fighter Manuel Benitez, “El Cordobes”, Benitez turned away from the camera erty, has five children with his wife Osuna said both bullfighters is locked in a legal battle with another as if I were the devil. My children asked Martina Fraysse, whom he divorced had separately taken DNA tests and popular matador who openly uses the me ‘Why doesn’t your father want to earlier this year. results are due next week. Beni- same nickname and has for years talk about you?’,” he said. The two men bear a striking tez, whose fame transcended Spain claimed to be his son. Diaz says Benitez, 79, who revolu- resemblance which Spain’s eager gos- at height of his career in the 1960s, The scandal broke in February tionised the conservative bullfighting sip press like to highlight regularly. now avoids the media. His rise from when Manuel Diaz told Hola! mag- world in the 1960s with his acro- To file a paternity suit, Diaz an illiterate youth who was caught by azine he had filed a paternity suit batic style, had a brief affair with his needed evidence to backup his claim police stealing chickens to top mata- against his supposed father in city of mother when she worked as a maid in so he turned to a detective who seized dor was narrated in the best-selling Cordoba after trying in vain to form Madrid.But when she became preg- a napkin used by the senior matador book Or I’ll Dress You in Mourning: People cast their votes during a referendum on off-shore oil and a relationship with him. nant, Benitez did not want to have at a restaurant to wipe his lips, Diaz’s The Extraordinary Story of El Cordo- “I thought that being a matador I anything to do with the child, accord- lawyer Fernando Osuna said. bes. His good looks also helped him gas drilling rights in the Italian waters, at a polling station, in Rome, would be able to reach him, but my ing to the younger “El Cordobes”. Diaz said DNA analysis of the secure a number of film roles. Italy, yesterday. 18 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 AMERICAS

Hillary supporter Sanders Israel Clooney flays ‘obscene’ sums of criticism splits money in politics Jewish US vote Reuters WASHINGTON: Actor and direc- tor George Clooney, a supporter He criticised Democratic front- of Hillary Clinton’s presidential runner Hillary Clinton for not saying bid, broke ranks over campaign Democratic that she would do more to promote financing to condemn the candidate Bernie Palestinian rights when she addressed “obscene” sums of money in US the powerful right-wing Ameri- politics and praised Clinton’s chief Sanders had said, can Israel Public Affairs Committee political rival in the process. Israeli Prime Minister (AIPAC) lobby in Washington in March. Clooney made the remarks Benjamin Netanyahu “If we are ever going to bring in an interview with NBC News’ peace to that region, which has seen “Meet The Press” the day after “is not right all of the so much hatred and so much war, we he and his wife, Amal, hosted a time. are going to have to treat the Pal- fundraiser on Democratic Party estinian people with respect and hopeful Clinton’s behalf Friday dignity,” Sanders said. night with a price tag of up to Sanders, who is the only Jewish $353,400 per couple. AFP presidential hopeful this year, has “We had some protesters last lived in Israel. night when we pulled up in San Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders listens to fellow panelist during a discussion at the First Unitarian In other countries the remarks Francisco and they’re right to pro- would have been considered run Congregational Society in the Brooklyn borough of New York. test. They’re absolutely right. It is NEW YORK: When Bernie Sand- of the mill, said Daniel Sieradski, an obscene amount of money,” ers called Israel’s response in the national organiser of the group views on Israel.” He said Jewish Amer- She founded and runs Uprise, a Sanders has “at least opened up Clooney said in excerpts. 2014 Gaza war disproportionate and “Jews for Bernie” which has 8,000 icans make up 20 percent of the New non-profit focused on human rights the discourse so the conversation can Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s rival urged America to be more balanced supporters on Facebook. York electorate. The majority of them issues in the Middle East. Goldtzvik shift in the Democratic Party, and in the race has pounced on her on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “But because the discourse in are Democrats, meaning that air-tight has lived in Israel, is married to an that’s a big deal,” said Sieradski. over the big-ticket event and for he smashed a presidential campaign American Jewish politics has been support for Israel has long been con- Israeli, and describes Sanders as “a Polls show that Sanders trails accepting large sums of money taboo.His remarks at the Democratic pulled so far to the right in the last sidered a campaign must. breath of fresh air.” Clinton 40-60 percent among Jewish for her campaign. “The Sanders debate ahead of New York’s deci- couple of decades, Bernie is being But Sanders’ words reflect chang- “I’m under 30. People in my cohort Democrats in New York City, and 13 campaign when they talk about it sive primary tomorrow amounted made to sound like some anti-Israel ing attitudes among Jewish voters, were not willing to accept (that) there points behind his opponent on a state- is absolutely right. It’s ridiculous to unprecedented criticism of Israel extremist.” During the last contested particularly Millennials who grew up is only one way to support Israel, so I wide average. that we should have this kind of and promotion of Palestinian rights Democratic New York primary in seeing Israel as a strong state and for do think that he represents the views Documentary filmmaker Gaylen money in politics. I agree com- from a canvassing US presidential 1992, it might have been political whom the horrors of the Holocaust are of many, many Jews and a growing Ross is voting for Clinton and believes pletely,” Clooney said. candidate. suicide, The New York Times wrote. more removed. number of Jews.” she is the candidate best able to nego- The Sanders campaign sent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Sieradski disagreed. “I don’t Democrat Sharon Goldtzvik According to a Pew Research tiate a two-state solution. “Frankly if out an email to supporters asking Netanyahu “is not right all of the think it’s political suicide,” he said. said she was “really excited” to see Centre poll, 35 percent of Democrats that’s the kind of language that he them to help reach their fund- time,” said the Vermont senator. “We “But it definitely didn’t help him a presidential candidate bring up the thought Israel had gone too far in its comes to a negotiating table with he raising goals by chipping in $3.53 cannot continue to be one-sided.” among people who have hard-line issue of Palestinian dignity. response during the 2014 Gaza. is already 10 steps behind,” she said. apiece, instead. Avi Lerner flays Five more children attempt suicide in Canada

Reuters taking their lives in the community of a lower life expectancy than other parliament whose electoral dis- Obama over piracy 2,000, though he declined to go into Canadians. Health Minister Jane trict includes Attawapiskat, said the specific numbers. Those incidents are Philpott has said the suicide rates attempts are the result of growing in addition to the dozen or so teenag- among aboriginal youth were at least despair in the area due to neglect by AFP sources, the company has no incen- TORONTO: Five children tried to ers who attempted suicide last week. 10 times higher than for the general the federal government. tive stop it without being forced. commit suicides in a Canadian abo- The attempts came after Attawap- population of young people. “We have to get away from our Google, which was not imme- riginal community, its chief said, iskat declared a state of emergency Regional and federal govern- government attitude that they can diately available for comment, following other attempted suicides on last Saturday, in response to 11 of ments sent healthcare workers to the sit and wait and wait,” he said in an LOS ANGELES: Movie mogul Avi modified its algorithms in 2014 to after he had declared a state of emer- its members attempting suicide in one community in response to the state interview. Lerner branded US President Barack damage the search engine ranking gency over repeated such incidents. weekend and 28 trying to do so in of emergency. Attawapiskat has declared five Obama “a coward”, berating him for of piracy websites, but many studio Chief Bruce Shisheesh of the Atta- March. Shisheesh declined to go into Canadian legislators held a spe- states of emergency since 2006. It not taking on Google over piracy. executives believe the tech giant has wapiskat First Nation in the province the details of the cases, citing privacy. cial parliamentary session on Tuesday previously sounded the alarm over The 68-year-old American- not gone far enough. of Ontario confirmed the news. Canada’s 1.4 million aboriginals night to address the suicide attempts. flooding and sewage issues, poor Israeli producer told AFP that the Hollywood lobbied intensively in He said “a few” people tried have higher levels of poverty and Charlie Angus, a member of drinking water and a housing crisis. White House’s failure to force the 2012 for the creation of two pieces of search engine giant to improve its legislation—the Protect Intellectual anti-piracy measures was costing Property Act and the Stop Online Hollywood millions of dollars a year. Piracy Act—which would hold non- Chicago union “It’s a major problem and it’s US websites to the same standards Driver’s licence claim could put something that I don’t know if as those in the United States. anyone can stop, because the gov- But Google and other big players hints at possible ernment, the president, Congress are in Silicon Valley resisted action they all scared of Google,” said Lerner, claimed would stifle development of the brakes on immigration case teachers’ strike who was behind a string of block- the Internet and pave the way for US busters including the Expendables authorities to shut down websites, movies and London Has Fallen. including foreign sites, without due AP The veteran financier said at process. Reuters a gala Beverly Hills dinner in his US congressional leaders put honour that piracy had cost his pro- the legislation on hold following a CHICAGO: The Chicago Teachers duction companies Nu Image and wave of protests led by Google and Union said the countdown toward Millennium Films $250m on action Wikipedia denouncing the bills as a AUSTIN: One of the pivotal issues a possible strike had begun after sequel The Expendables 3. threat to Internet freedom, and the in the closely watched battle over it rejected the recommendation of “The government, the presi- bills were never signed into law. President Barack Obama’s executive a neutral arbitrator that it accept dent, is such a coward. He’s scared “We have to protect our intellec- action on immigration to be argued a contract offer from the nation’s of Google so we are losing millions,” tual property or why are we doing before the US Supreme Court today is third-largest school system. he said. this? Why be creative? Why put your the rather banal subject of the money The union said the earliest a “They should tell Google to stop blood and sweat and tears into writ- Texas pays for driver’s licences. strike could begin is May 16, about piracy. They should make a law that ing a movie only to have it stolen?” To bring the case and have legal a month before the last day of anyone helping piracy—and not said Heidi Jo Markel, the founder of standing, the state of Texas must school on June 21. The union also helping to stop piracy—should go to Eclectic Pictures who has worked show that it has been hurt in some could strike in September, when jail or get penalised or whatever.” with Lerner on several films. way. In its filing, Texas argues that it school resumes. . A near perfect copy of The The producer, who was also at would take a hefty financial hit for “The clock has started,” CTU Expendables 3 leaked onto file-shar- the dinner hosted by social services processing driver’s licences for immi- President Karen Lewis said reject- ing sites in July 2014, three weeks agency Aviva Family and Children’s grants in the country illegally whose ing arbitrator’s recommendation. before its theatrical release date. Services at the Beverly Hills Hotel, deportation would be deferred under A file photo of activists gathered outside the US Supreme Court a “We have no choice but to prepare It was downloaded around called on the United States to emu- Obama’s executive action. month before the court, to protest the case against immigrants to ourselves for a possible strike.” 100,000 times within hours and late Britain, which she described as The Texas attorney general’s be heard today. The union staged a one-day Nu Image said more than 10 million much tougher on piracy. office said Obama’s action “would walkout on April 1 to protest what copies were made before its release. “The UK has got so good about cause a spike in driver’s license appli- far exceed what the state pays annu- Beardall, executive director of the it says are proposals that would cut Lerner believes that since a punishing people for theft and we cations, thus making those licences ally for all its driver’s license services. Equal Justice Centre in Texas, which compensation for teachers and to portion of Google’s advertising rev- just sort of look the other way. We’ve much more costly to issue.” “It is kind of dry, legal stuff, but provides legal help for low-income highlight a state budget stalemate enue is coming from piracy-related got to change that,” she said. But the numbers cited by Texas it is of great consequence,” said Bill families and immigrants. that has hurt education and social service funding. The threat of a strike followed release of a report from an inde- pendent “fact finder” who looked at the positions of both sides and Tourists spending more money in Las Vegas: Report concluded that the union should take the system’s offer, which had already been rejected by the AP showed average spending in most properties throughout the year. “Our visitors are comfortable 61 percent. In 2014, 65 percent of vis- union’s expanded bargaining com- expense categories increased in 2015, Kevin Bagger, executive director spending more,” Bagger said. itors took in a show. mittee. It would have required including lodging, food, local trans- of the tourism board’s research centre, The largest jump in spending was The cost of lodging also saw an teachers to contribute the full portation, shows and sightseeing. The said he interprets the latest numbers for shows. On an average trip, tour- increase, with visitors reporting nine percent of each paycheck to LAS VEGAS: Tourists are spending length of the stays inched up, to an as a sign that visitors are choosing ists spent $61.95 to see some type of spending $102.64 per night, up nearly their pensions. It also would have more money on their trips to Sin City, average of 4.4 days for the record 42.3 to spend more for a quality experi- performance, including lounge acts, 19 percent from the year before. The curbed some automatic pay rises. according to a new report by the Las million visitors last year. In 2014, Las ence, as opposed to the costs of such headliners or comedians. It amounted figure did not include rooms bought Chicago Public Schools is in Vegas tourism board. Vegas trips lasted 4.2 days. expenses going up overall. Nearly all to a 30 percent increase from the through a vacation package or com- dire financial shape, prompt- The Las Vegas Convention and The data is based on information survey participants reported being $47.56 they spent in 2014, although plimentary offering from the hotels. ing Illinois Republican Governor Visitors Authority issued its visi- volunteered by a total of 3,600 ran- either “very” or “somewhat” satis- the overall percentage of visitors who The price of vacation packages went Bruce Rauner to say it should file tor profile study this month, which dom tourists polled at various hotel fied with their trip. attended such a show went down to up by about 5 percent to $857.43. for bankruptcy. AMERICAS MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 1917 Survivors pulled out from rubble in Ecuador

Ecuador’s ally, Venezuela, pledged the epicentre, two people were killed humanitarian aid while neighbour- in the collapse of town market. “On In Pedernales, a town ing Colombia, where the quake was Monday, water flooded the town. There near the quake’s also felt, said it stands ready to help wasn’t a house that wasn’t submerged. in any way possible. The European The water was up to our chests,” Nelly epicentre, dozens of Union, Spain, Peru and Mexico have said. Then on Saturday, the market frightened residents also pledged help, Glas said. The gov- came down “like a house of cards.” ernment is drawing on $600m in Too fearful to stay indoors, she slept in the streets. emergency funding from multilateral had spent the night in the streets. Now banks to rebuild, Correa said. she found herself standing outside the The US Geological Survey origi- flattened market, hugging herself to nally put the quake at a magnitude of keep warm as she tearfully recounted Agencies 7.4 then raised it to 7.8. It had a depth the town’s double misfortune. of 19km. More than 135 aftershocks A short distance away a firefighter followed, one as strong as mag- picked through the market ruin, look- nitude-5.6, and authorities urged ing for a way to retrieve the body of a PEDERNALES/ ABDON CALDERON residents to brace for even stronger man pinned under the mound of rub- ECUADOR: Rescuers pulled survi- ones in coming days. ble and twisted steel. “They’ve already vors from rubble yesterday after the David Rothery, a professor of taken the body of one poor little man strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador geosciences at The Open University out of there,” she said. in decades flattened buildings and northeast of London said the quake When the earthquake struck, buckled highways along its Pacific was about six times as strong as the Nelly said she rushed into the streets coast. Officials said the quake had most powerful of two deadly earth- and saw that the market had col- killed at least 235 people and injured quakes across the Pacific, in the lapsed. “How can I not cry.” “There 1,557 more. southernmost of Japan’s four main was a person trapped who screamed Vice President Jorge Glas reported islands. for help, but then the screaming the death toll at a somber news con- stopped. Oh, it was terrible.” Fire- ference, while President Rafael Correa Two calamities fighters said when they arrived, the flew back from Rome to deal with the In Abdon Calderon, first came building had already been flattened. crisis. Glas said there were deaths in the flood and then the “long, long” “Two shakes and everything came the cities of Manta, Portoviejo and earthquake, a shaking so hard the down, all at once. We’ve found two Guayaquil — all several hundred kil- A collapsed home after an earthquake in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, yesterday. two-story, covered market came victims so far,” said Alberto Santana, ometers from the centre of the quake, down in a heap in this small town. one of the firefighters on the scene. which struck shortly after nightfall Dazed residents had begun the week One of the victims was 51-year- on Saturday. Glas said the country had already homes were reduced to rubble along “We hear screaming all through in flood waters up to their chests, and old Francisco Mendoza, known by his In Pedernales, a town of 40,000 deployed 10,000 armed forces. In the quake’s path, while in Guayaquil a the night,” said Quito as he decried the ended it on Saturday evening with a nickname Pancho, who had a stand near the quake’s epicentre, dozens addition, 4,600 national police were shopping centre’s roof fell down and a slow response by emergency workers. devastating 7.8-magnitude quake. outside the market on weekends. of frightened residents slept in the sent to towns near the epicentre. collapsed highway overpass crushed a “There are humans trapped below the “It’s only been a week and nature has His father, 73-year-old Colon streets while men equipped with lit- Would-be rescuers scrambled car. In Manta, the airport closed after terrace. Babies. We need rescuers. But punished us so badly,” said Nelly, a Mendoza, said his son had just gone tle more than car headlights tried to through the ruins in the provincial the control tower collapsed, injuring nobody has arrived so far.” 73-year-old. inside the market to use the bathroom rescue survivors who could be heard capital Portoviejo, digging with their an air traffic control worker and a In the capital, Quito, terrified peo- In Abdon Calderon, 180km south of when the quake struck. trapped under the rubble. hands to find survivors. As officials set security guard. ple fled into the streets as the quake “We’re trying to do the most we up shelters and field hospitals, resi- Alberto Reynas, 58, was fishing shook buildings. One resident shot a can, but there’s almost nothing we can dents said they felt like their entire off the coast of Pedernales when giant video of his lamps and hanging house- do,” said Pedernales Mayor Gabriel town had been flattened. waves violently rocked his boat. “It felt plants swinging wildly for more than Alcivar. More than 3,000 packages of the same on sea as it did on land,” he half a minute as the building rocked Alcivar pleaded for authorities food and nearly 8,000 sleeping kits said. But he was shaken again when back and forth. to send earth-moving machines and were being delivered. “Compatriots: he returned to land to find the facade Among those killed was the driver rescue workers to help find people in Unity, strength and prayer,” Glas told of his two-story home had fallen into of a car crushed by an overpass that the rubble. He said looting had bro- a throng of residents gathered in the the street. He was unable to commu- buckled in Guayaquil, the country’s ken out amid the chaos but authorities streets of Manta as he instructed them nicate with members of his family and most populous city. Two Canadians were too busy trying to save lives to on how to look for survivors. “We spent the night sleeping outdoors with were also among the dead. Hydroe- re-establish order. need to be quiet so we can hear. We neighbours, keeping a close watch lectric dams and oil pipelines in the “This wasn’t just a house that col- can’t use heavy machinery because it against thieves. “It’s pure sadness. OPEC-member nation were shut down lapsed. It was an entire town,” he said. can be tragic for the injured.” Everything is destroyed,” he said. as a precautionary measure but there Correa declared a national emer- Luis Quito said he spent the were no reports of damage to them. gency and urged Ecuadoreans to stay Social Media entire night delivering water to Towns near the epicentre were strong. “Everything can be rebuilt, but On social media, Ecuadorians cel- guests trapped under the rubble of evacuated as a precautionary what can’t be rebuilt are human lives, ebrated a video of a baby girl pulled the four-story hotel owned by his measure in case of hazardous tsu- and that’s the most painful,” he said from beneath a collapsed home in father-in-law, the Hotel Chimborazo. nami waves, but several hours later Patients and relatives wait outside the Colombia Clinic in Cali, Colombia in a telephone call to state TV before Manta. Shanty towns and cheaply- He said his father-in-law was miss- authorities said it was safe for coastal after being preventively evacuated following a powerful earthquake departing Rome for Manta. constructed brick and concrete ing and feared dead. residents to return to their homes. that hit Ecuador. Trial begins today for ex-reserve who fatally shot man Impeachment debate

AP running from deputies during an ille- contributed to Harris’ death, such “This is a patently absurd begins in Brazil gal gun sales sting last April. Video of as the methamphetamine that was defence,” Smolen said. “Anyone who the killing was captured on deputies’ found in his system or his cardiac has seen the video knows that Harris body cameras. . health. would not have died on April 2, 2015, AFP Minutes later they were scuffling, TULSA, OKLA: Lawyers for an Okla- After deputies caught up to Har- Another expert for the defence were it not for the gunshot.” with one group briefly unfurling a homa reserve sheriff’s deputy who ris and were restraining him on the intends to tell jurors how stress Harris’ death led to big changes banner behind the speaker, reading killed an unarmed suspect lying ground, Bates can be heard yelling could have affected Bates’ cognitive involving the sheriff’s office, including “Out with Cunha!” face-down on the ground and being “Taser!” before firing a single gunshot decision-making and performance, a grand jury investigation of alleged BRASÍLIA: Brazilian lawmakers Latest estimates in major restrained are expected to argue that that struck Harris near his armpit, among other theories. wrongdoing at the agency, the indict- fought and shouted at the open- Brazilian newspapers were that pro- the victim’s drug use and health could killing him. Bates later said he thought One of Bates’ attorneys, Clark ment and resignation of the longtime ing of a session yesterday to decide impeachment deputies in the house have contributed to his death. he was drawing his stun gun instead Brewster, defended the decision to sheriff, Stanley Glanz, and the sus- whether President Dilma Rousseff would succeed. They need 342 of the Robert Bates, a 74-year-old insur- of his handgun. call experts, saying jurors deserve to pension of 120-member reserve should face impeachment, in a polit- 513 votes, or two thirds of the house. ance executive who moonlighted as If convicted of second-degree consider all possible evidence. Pros- deputy corps. An outside consult- ical showdown watched by millions But Jose Guimaraes, a sen- a reserve Tulsa County sheriff’s dep- manslaughter, Bates could be sen- ecutors declined to comment. ant hired to review sheriff’s office around the deeply divided Latin ior member of Rousseff’s Workers’ uty in his spare time, is due to stand tenced to up to four years in prison. Dan Smolen, an attorney for the determined that it suffered from a American powerhouse. Party, said the opposition was “far trial today on a second-degree man- Bates’ attorneys plan to call Harris family, disputed any theory “system-wide failure of supervi- Months of rancorous debate that from 342.” The whole procedure was slaughter charge in the shooting death expert witnesses who will sug- suggesting anything other than being sion” and had been in a “perceptible have seen Rousseff’s ruling coalition being aired live on television to the of Eric Harris, who was killed after gest that other factors could have shot contributed to Harris’ death. decline” for more than a decade. collapse and prompted huge street country of 204 million and also on demonstrations came to a head in screens erected in city squares. the capital Brasilia where the lower Pro-impeachment deputy Anto- house of Congress was to vote on nio Imbassahy, from the PSDB party, Guatemalan whether to authorise an impeach- told lawmakers they would “choose Cuban leader Castro proposes ment trial. Tension boiled over as the country that we want from now ex-president soon as the house speaker, Edu- on” and that Brazil needed “moral ardo Cunha, who is a fierce Rousseff reconstruction.” retirement for politicians at 70 linked to new opponent, opened the session. But Afonso Florence, from Work- Rival deputies alternately ers’ Party, urged a “democratic shouted “There will be no coup!” conscience” and attacked impeach- graft case or “Impeachment now!,” as well as ment leaders like Cunha as corrupt. Reuters Before the congress, the current singing the national anthem and a Demonstrators for and against Rous- party leadership faced some discon- GUATEMALA CITY: Former Gua- patriotic song regularly sung at foot- seff took to the streets across Brazil tent among younger members critical temalan president Otto Perez, who ball games. under the eye of riot police. of the slow delivery on promised eco- is in jail awaiting trial on corrup- HAVANA: Future top leaders of nomic reforms in the past five years tion allegations, now also faces Cuba’s Communist party should retire and a lack of transparency. charges of accepting millions of at 70 to let in younger blood, Pres- Fidel Castro, whose 90th birth- dollars in bribes from a Spanish ident Raul Castro (pictured) said, day is in August, retired in 2008 port company. suggesting older members of the after serious illness and his younger Perez, who took office in 2012 party hoping for promotion to top brother took over, introducing a limit and forced out after mass pro- table could play with their grand- of two five-year terms for leaders. tests last year, used his position children instead. That limit has yet to be tested. as president “to facilitate negotia- Cuba’s current leaders include The proposed new rules would tions where he would obtain direct several septagenarian or octoge- government nearly 60 years ago. affect new entrants into the leader- financial benefit in detriment to narian veterans of Fidel Castro’s His comments during a speech at ship and must be approved by the the interest of the nation,” said 1959 revolution. There is a growing the inauguration of Communist Par- party over the course of the four-day prosecutor general Thelma Aldana. urgency for them to make succes- ty’s twice-per-decade congress were congress. Castro said there should Perez is accused of heading a sion plans to keep the party alive met with silence, perhaps because then be a constitutional amendment “criminal network” that helped a once they are gone. some members were disappointed and a referendum to codify this and Barcelona firm win a 25-year con- Raul Castro, 84 has planned with the idea. other reforms. tract to operate a new container retirement from government in two “So serious! What silence is Castro proposed that 60 years be terminal in Puerto Quetzal. years time the country is likely to caused by this subject. Don’t think fixed as the age limit for entering the Perez and former vice pres- be led by somebody with a differ- that just because you can’t be in the party’s central committee and up to ident Roxana Baldetti are in jail ent surname for the first time since leadership of the country you can’t 70 years as the maximum age to per- awaiting trial for allegedly head- People supporting impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff take his brother overthrew a pro-US do anything,” Castro said. form duties in the party leadership. ing a vast tax fraud network. part in a vigil in front of the National Congress in Brasilia.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 24o C Maximum: 34o C

FAJR 03.50 am ZUHR 11.33 am MAGHRIB 06.00 pm HIGH TIDE 02:15 - 15:45 Strong wind and high seas. Slight dust. SHOROOK 05.09 am ASR 03.03 pm ISHA 07.30 pm LOW TIDE 09:30 - 20:45

20 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Scientists develop April Spring Friendship Art Festival e-skin to monitor www.thepeninsulaqatar.com body’s oxygen level MOST READ QNA Doha oil meeting faces 1 last-minute delays

Oil ministers heading to see Qatari TOKYO: Scientists have developed an 2 Emir as freeze talks delayed ultra-thin electronic "skin" that can meas- ure oxygen levels when stuck to the body. Ecuador earthquake a concern The goal is to develop such "skin" to 3 at Doha oil meeting monitor oxygen levels in organs during surgery, researchers in Japan said, accord- ing to the BBC. Tests on volunteers found the "skin" TWEET OF THE DAY provided stable measurements of oxygen concentration in blood. The device contains micro-electronic components that light up in red, blue and green on the surface of the body. Scientists at the University of Tokyo are working on ways to display numbers Spain's Ballet Inquietudes members perform during the closing ceremony of the April Spring Friendship and letters on the skin for health moni- Art Festival at East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, North Korea, yesterday. This festival toring purposes. celebrated its 30th edition with artists from Spain, Russia, Italia, Peru and Cuba. Wearable electronics are a future growth area in research, with interest in medical applications such as contact lenses that monitor glucose levels, or smart glasses. The latest findings are revealed in Science Advances. Banksy exhibition hits Munich art scene "The device unobtrusively meas- ures the oxygen concentration of blood when laminated on a finger," said Reuters the Galerie Kronsbein features about buildings displaying ironic as well lead researcher Tomoyuki Yokota and 40 of his works, including “Choose as provocative social commentary, colleagues. Your Weapon” of a boy in a hooded which Munich gallery owner Dirk "Ultimately, flexible organic optical top with artist Keith Haring’s bark- G Kronsbein said were captivat- sensors may be directly laminated on MUNICH: A collection of Banksy ing dog, as well as “Rude Copper”, of ing. Banksy first emerged in Bristol organs to monitor the blood oxygen level works is on display in Munich, show- a third finger-wielding policeman. as part of an underground group of during and after surgery," he added. This casing a variety of pieces by the The elusive artist, who has kept street artists, gaining fame in the find has provided added energy to the well-known - and unknown - graffiti his real name and identity secret, 1990s. His works have since become medical science. artist. “Banksy - King of Urban Art” at is known for stencilled works on highly sought after by art collectors. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 23 QE 10,189.22 -48.95 PTS PAGE | 25 DOW 17,897.46 -28.97 PTS HHealthy dividend yield Iran to participate FTSE100 6,343.75 -21.35 PTS mmakes Qatari market in India’s refinery compelling: QIF BRENT $43.10 +$0.56 sector

MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 • 11 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatargas, Shell and UASC to push LNG as marine fuel

Companies, Michiel Kool. sustainability and developing LNG The partners will explore the as a marine fuel. As part of our new- An agreement was development of new markets for LNG building programme, UASC has signed to explore the to be used as propulsion fuel within received 13 of 17 new vessels over the Middle East Region and the con- the past sixteen months; seven 15,000 development of LNG version of UASC’s existing vessels TEU vessels and six 18,800 TEU ultra- as marine fuel in the providing the opportunity to use a large container vessels. We are due to cleaner fuel. The MoU envisages LNG take delivery of a further four 15,000 Middle East region. supplies for this pioneering initiative TEU vessels in the coming months. to be made available from Qatargas 4, These ships are the greenest in the a joint venture between Qatar Petro- world and uniquely LNG-ready, leum and Shell Gas B.V., with United meaning once the infrastructure is The Peninsula Arab Shipping Company Line poten- ready globally, with a quick and cost- tially using the fuel for its recently efficient retrofit, they can run on LNG built container ships. and become even more eco- friendly”. Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Chair- Michiel Kool, MD and Chairman of DOHA: Qatargas, United Arab Ship- man of Qatargas Board of Directors, Qatar Shell Companies said: “Shell is ping Company (UASC) and Shell said: “LNG as a marine fuel is gaining delighted to work in partnership with signed a Memorandum of Under- momentum in the deep sea transpor- Qatargas and UASC to create new standing (MoU) to explore the tation industry as the best alternative market development opportunities for development of LNG as a marine fuel to meeting increasing environmental the use of LNG as a marine fuel in the in the Middle East region. standards.” Middle East region from its Qatargas This is the second such agreement Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, 4 venture. Shell has been a pioneer in signed by Qatargas and Shell in as Qatargas CEO, said: “Qatargas is this area with our investments in LNG many months and establishes another pleased to be a partner with Shell and Qatargas CEO Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani (fifth left), United Arab Shipping Company CEO Jorn Hinge (fourth for transport infrastructure in Europe core partnership within the ship- UASC in this second MOU for LNG as left), and Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies, Michiel Kool (sixth left) along with and the US, and we look forward to ping industry. The MoU was signed a Marine Fuel. LNG as a transporta- other officials after the signing ceremony. now deploying our expertise to cre- at a ceremony attended by Qatargas tion fuel is growing and we with our ate a regional hub in the Middle East Chief Executive Officer, Khalid bin partners believe we have the peo- in collaboration with two very strong Khalifa Al Thani, UASC Chief Execu- ple, tools and resources to make it a how the shipping industry evolves international efforts to reduce green- Jorn Hinge, UASC Group CEO, said: global partners based in the region, tive Officer, Jorn Hinge and Managing reality. Through this effort we know over the next generation. We see this house emissions and create a cleaner “UASC, with Shell and Qatar Gas, is Qatargas and United Arab Shipping Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell we can make a significant impact on as our opportunity to support the environment for future generations. fully committed to environmental Company”.

Rotana to open two more hotels in Qatar by 2018

By Sachin Kumar The Peninsula

DOHA: To reinforce its presence in Qatar, Rotana is planning to open two more hotels in Doha by 2018. Addition of two hotels will increase its total room keys count to 2,000 from 1,229 currently. “All of our brands will be available in Qatar by 2020. We are growing very Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (second left), Founder and Chairman of Aamal Company, Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Thani (centre), quickly in Qatar. Six years ago we had no Vice Chairman of the Board, Sheikh Turki bin Faisal Al Thani (second right), Tarek M El Sayed (left) Managing Director of the ompanyC hotels in Qatar and today we opened our and Bader A Al Fehani during the Annual General Assembly Meeting at Shangri-La Hotel, yesterday. Pic: Kammutty V P/The Peninsula fourth hotel here,” Omer Kaddouri (pic- tured), President and CEO of Rotana told are becoming stronger in other regions The Peninsula, talking on the sidelines of apart from our key markets,” he added. opening ceremony of company’s new The company will soon open hotels in City Center to provide 7,000 sqm additional space hotel. Turkey, Congo, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The company yesterday announced “Rotana is working hard to be a major the opening of Centro Capital Doha- its player in the global tourism sector, espe- fourth hotel in Doha. cially with several hotels being launched By Mohammad Shoeb create more retail space, and at the same time developing industrial manufacturing facilities, “With the opening of Centro Capital in the past year. Going forward, we have The Peninsula the existing facility, which is now over 15 years a sector which has contributed about 23 per- Doha, our inventory in Doha has increased extensive expansion plans in Africa and old, will also be renovated and upgraded to cent to the Groups combined profits in the last to more than 1,229 rooms, with plans to Europe and we have recently successfully maintain a very high quality of standards.” financial year ended December 31, 2015. open two additional brands — the Plaza opened our first hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. Currently the company is working on the Aamal Group yesterday held its General Rayhaan Doha and Downtown Arjaan During the course of this year, we will DOHA: The second phase of City Center’s façade of the building, and also creating some Assembly Meeting (AGM) which was presided Doha. These are scheduled to open in 2017 launch hotels in Turkey, in Kinshasa, Congo, expansion and redevelopment project, which retail space on the façade for coffee shops with over by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, and 2018 respectively and will increase Saudi Arabia and Amman” said Nasser Al is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, outdoor seating arrangements, including the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Sharehold- Rotana keys in Doha to nearly 2000,” Kad- Nowais, Chairman of Rotana Hotel Man- will have up to 7,000 sq metres (sqm) of addi- adjustments that are inside the mall. ers of the Company ratified all the items on its douri said. agement Corporation. tional retails space for lease, a top official of The new space being created will give the agenda during the Ordinary and Extra-ordinary The company has also plans to expand “With the current launch, the total Aamal, the parent company of the Qatar’s most mall a lively ambience, especially at the back meetings. Aamal earlier reported about 35 per- its footprints in GCC and other regions. number of hotels managed by Rotana has happening shopping centre said yesterday. areas, which have been redesigned. The refur- cent growth in its annual revenues for 2015 to “We plan to open 100 hotels by gone up to 101 hotels, where 56 of them “The ongoing expansion and redevelop- bished mall, with more leasable space, will have about QR2.88bn compared to about QR2.14bn in 2020 across different markets and by are fully operating and 45 are under con- ment works will be completed in different additional popular retail brands, restaurants and 2014, which, when combined with an expansion that time we should have about another struction. Rotana Hotel Management stages, which will end by 2018. The expansion eateries. Strategically located at the hub of West in the underlying margin, has led to an almost 100 hotels in our pipeline. These hotels Corporation currently employs around of the mall will have about 5,000 to 7,000sqm Bay, Qatar’s Central Business District (CBD), the 50 percent rise in net profit, excluding fair value will be across the board. They will be 14,000 employees, and this number will of additional retail space to the Qatar’s oldest shopping centre remains busy throughout the gains on investment properties. all our five brands and in the region and reach 29,000 once work on all under-con- and largest shopping facility,” Sheikh Mohamed week compared to other malls in the country, The company also reported 4.1 percent beyond the region. We are now starting struction hotels are completed,” said Al bin Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Vice Chairman which receives more footfalls on weekends. increase in earnings per share (EPS) to QR0.95 to open hotels across Africa, India and Nowais. of Aamal told The Peninsula on the sidelines of In addition to its real estate business, Aamal for the last financial year ended December 31, we are working very hard to sign hotels the Company’s AGM. Company, one of the GCC’s fastest growing 2015 compared to QR0.92 reported during the in Europe as well,” said Kaddouri. “So we → See also page 22 Sheikh Mohamed added: “The project will diversified companies, is giving more focus on previous year. 22 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS Rotana opens Centro Capital Doha hotel in Bin Mahmoud

Ibrahim Abdullah Al Malki, Chair- Officials said Centro Capital Doha Company’s fourth man of Al Malki group, addressing will feature amenities customised to the official opening ceremony of the the business traveller’s needs, includ- hotel in Doha offers hotel. “Thanks to the government’s as ing two meeting rooms, a gymnasium 229 rooms and well as Qatar Tourism Authority’s tire- and a swimming pool. less efforts, Qatar has become a major “Rotana has been a long-standing studios. player on the regional and global tour- player in Qatar’s hospitality sector and ism map. This has been achieved by the launch of our fourth property in hosting global events and providing town Centro Capital Doha reaffirms the right climate for tourism through this position,” said Nasser Al Nowais, By Sachin Kumar the facilities that have been created, Chairman of Rotana Hotel Manage- The Peninsula which has led to the evolvement of ment Corporation. “Rotana is working the tourism industry in the past five hard to be a major player in the global years,” he said. tourism sector, especially with sev- FROM LEFT: President and CEO of Rotana, Omer Kaddouri, Chairman Nasser Al Nowais, Ali Ibrahim Al Malki, Officials said some of the special eral hotels being launched in the past DOHA: Rotana, a major hotel man- features include the design as well as year,” he added. Chairman of Al Malki Group and General Manager of Centro Capital Doha, Luca Medda during the opening agement company, yesterday functionality of each piece of furni- “We are delighted to witness of the hotel. Pic: Qassim R/The Peninsula announced the opening of its new ture, innovatively styled bathrooms, opening of Centro Capital Doha which hotel ‘Centro Capital Doha’ in Bin and strategic placement of room light- marks the debut of the Centro brand services that cater to the new gener- we are witnessing the birth of Centro needs of all guests including, ‘c.taste’, Mahmoud. Offering 229 rooms and ing and controls including the latest in Qatar. The hotel is characterised ation of traveller requirements, with in Qatar, the lifestyle affordable hotel an all-day dining restaurant offering studios, the budget hotel is compa- technology and in-room entertain- by distinct accommodation in a mod- high quality, reasonable prices and brand that is young and fresh in its buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner ny’s fourth hotel in Doha. ment options. ern environment designed primarily competitiveness,” he said. approach, original in its presentation, c.mondo, a bar designed to provide a “Opening of Centro Capital Doha “The demand for hotel rooms, for business travellers who seek chic Luca Medda, General Manager of and dynamic in its offerings coincid- number of informal zones for busi- is the second collaboration between especially in the four star hotels accommodation at affordable prices,” Centro Capital Doha said,“There is a ing with the rapid growth of the Qatari ness gatherings and entertainment, Al Malki group and Rotana following category which deliver luxury at said Omer Kaddouri, President and high demand in the local hospitality hospitality industry, and the market’s and ‘c.deli’, an innovative 24-hour take- Sedra Residences at the Pearl Qatar. affordable prices has therefore risen CEO of Rotana. “Centro Capital Doha market for affordable accommoda- need for modern, stylish and afford- away dining concept that allows guests to This reflects the mutual efforts for in the past five years. In line with this, is an additional milestone that will be tion that offers comfort and quality able business hotels.” enjoy great food and drinks in addition to the two groups in supporting the we are witnessing the launch of the added to our portfolio. We are here service which is exactly the concep- The hotel will offer several din- the purchase of any items they may need local hospitality industry,” said Ali first Centro brand in town,” he added. today to witness a new era of hotel tualisation of the Centro brand. Today ing options are available to suit the during their stay for their convenience. Petrochemical producers urged to focus on supply chain efficiencies

The Peninsula in May. Regional chemical output in “At 9.5 per cent per year, this pro- style logistics industry that includes is set to open this year, and port con- well within the remit of the region’s plastics, fertilizers and other prod- duction growth is second only to China, road, shipping and port facilities, with struction continues in Kuwait. petrochemical companies: petro- ucts are chiefly destined for overseas with more and more diversified prod- further expansion plans in railways in However, there are some serious chemical producers should also up markets. In 2015, 80 per cent, or 70.6 ucts being produced in the GCC. As the near future,” he added. challenges the region has to over- their investment in training and edu- DOHA: With the GCC tripling its million tonnes, of petrochemicals were capacity expansions continue, and an New and improved port infra- come including current economic cation of their workshop and partner production capacity between the 2004- exported abroad. estimated 40 additional products are structure in the region includes conditions, port congestion, com- with regional universities and colleges 2015 period, petrochemical producers “In just over a decade, the introduced from GCC petrochemical Qatar’s New Port Project (NPP), Yanbu plicated customs procedures, under to bridge the current gap between in the region must focus on supply chain GCC’s petrochemical industry has producers till 2020, the supply chain Port in Saudi Arabia and Jebel Ali Port invested infrastructure and stalled academia and industry said Dr Al efficiencies in order to retain export expanded its capacity from 38 mil- will have to adjust. We can already see and Khalifa Port in the UAE. Port free trade agreement negotiations Sadoun. To support regional play- market share, said the Gulf Petrochemi- lion tons in 2004, to 142.1 million the direct impact of product expan- expansions are expected to continue with the major economic blocks like ers in this endeavor, the GCC is set to cals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), tons in 2015,” said Dr Abdulwahab sion on the supply chain, resulting in into 2016, as the new $7bn mega-port the European Union. host its 8th Supply Chain Conference ahead of the Supply Chain Conference Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA. the emergence of business- to- business near Qatar’s Mesaieed Industrial Zone “Improving logistics facilities are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Participants at the security services event held at The St Regis Doha. Ooredoo and Fortinet organise security services event for companies

The Peninsula protect data and prevent breaches. most comprehensive and cost-effec- Solutions included Fortinet’s tive way to protect Qatar’s businesses Advanced Threat Protection, which is against all of the threats associated designed to combat advanced attacks with business email. DOHA: Ooredoo and Fortinet, the from the network’s core to the end Ooredoo currently offers some global leader in high-performance user’s device. In addition, experts of the most advanced security solu- cyber security solutions, hosted a demonstrated the FortiGate Platform, tions in the region and is investing special event for companies from which combines the most advanced in growing its security portfolio as some of Qatar’s key industries threat intelligence from FortiGuard part of its vision to become the lead- recently, to showcase their portfolio Labs and the FortiOS Operating Sys- ing integrated ICT provider in Qatar. of security services and products. tem to provide consistently top-rated The company currently offers a The event, which took place at security, deeper visibility, and supe- host of next generation security services The St Regis Doha, included a series rior performance. designed to protect Qatar’s businesses of presentations on the range of cyber- Ooredoo also used the event as including; Out of Country Disaster threats facing companies today, and an opportunity to demonstrate its Recovery, Cloud Security, Cloud Email the solutions and services that can Cloud Email Security Service, the Security Solutions, and more.

Ecuador’s Esmeraldas refinery still down

Reuters killed at least 235 people, the state operations,” the company said in a oil company said. statement. Petroecuador said it would assess “The impact of the quake caused when to restart operations during four of the 10 storage tanks to over- QUITO: Ecuador’s 110,000 bar- the day after verifying that no infra- flow and so a cleanup and recovery rel-per-day Esmeraldas refinery structure was damaged by the 7.8 has begun.” remained down yesterday as a pre- magnitude quake which struck off Other installations were work- cautionary measure though will the country’s Pacific coast on Saturday. ing normally, it added, and state likely soon restart after a major “In the course of the day, tech- officials said crude production was earthquake in the OPEC nation that nicians will determine the start of unaffected. BUSINESS MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 23

Economic reforms to push CAPITAL TALK India’s growth: QNB report Healthy dividend yield makes Qatari market Nick Wilson Chairman of Qatar Key reforms include Investment Fund unifying goods compelling: QIF and services taxes, restarting stalled ick Wilson is the Chair- through increased supply and investment projects man of the LSE-listed Performance of Mar- demand of securities. For inves- NQatar Investment kets since end of June 2014 tors, margin trading would allow and restructuring the Fund (QIF). QIF’s pri- them to take long-term position banking system. mary objective is to achieve long P What are the fund’s plans for in the market and borrow funds term capital growth by investing re-positioning in terms of sec- to take additional positions. As a in Qatari equities. Nick has over tor allocations? Do you have any leverage mechanism, margin trad- thirty-five years’ experience in plans to increase allocations? If ing would increase liquidity in the hedge funds, derivatives and global so, to which sectors? market and which in turn would The Peninsula asset management. In addition, he “QIF plans to continue to focus add to the depth of the market and sits on the boards of a number of on companies with high growth support in price discovery. The other public companies, including potential, mainly driven by diver- move will provide additional rev- RAB Special Situations Company sification efforts by the government enue stream for brokers in line with DOHA: QNB expects real GDP Limited and Epic Special Oppor- and strong infrastructure pipe- international practices. “ growth of India to accelerate from tunities Plc, the owner of Whittard line ahead of FIFA 2022. Another 7.2 percent in 2016-17 to 7.3 percent in of Chelsea. key focus for us is on sectors with P Saudi has said it is going to 2017-18 and 7.5 percent in 2018-19 as Nick shares his thoughts to typically strong balance sheets, double the size of its market by domestic reforms are implemented, public sector allowances; higher rise due to higher excise duties, an Satish Kanady on the questions sustainable cash flows and stable adding more companies. How is said the bank in its ‘India Economic power tariffs; and an increase in the increase in the services tax rate and how the fund stands out from com- dividend yield for example, bank- it going to influence Qatar’s mar- Insight 2016’ report released yester- services tax rate. proceeds from telecommunications petition and why Qatari stocks? ing, transport, consumer industries ket performance? day. Other factors should keep infla- auctions and privatisations. and utilities. “Capital markets in the GCC Key reforms include unifying tion low over the medium term. A Growth in the banking asset is P What is QIF’s Long-term out- region are in nascent stages and goods and services taxes, restart- normalisation of harvests should expected to slow to 9 percent in 2016- look for Qatari equities? P Most GCC fund managers are we are seeing many initiatives ing stalled investment projects and lower food inflation; oil prices should 17 before picking up to 10 percent in “We remain positive on the lukewarm on equities and are are being taken by authorities restructuring the banking system. remain moderate; and a new infla- 2017-18 and 11 percent in 2018-19 as Qatari equities and believe that the positive on bonds, according to across the region to develop and Reforms and higher foreign own- tion target of 4 percent state banks’ balance sheets are cleaned recent sell-off in the market means a recent Reuters survey. What’s improve their markets. “Saudi Ara- ership limits should encourage the Fiscal consolidation is planned to up and the sector is recapitalised. that valuations are attractive, pro- your view on this? bia recently announced that it plans participation of foreign and private continue with the deficit narrowing In 2016-17, the Reserve Bank of viding an entry point for investors. “Certainly the recent eco- to almost double the size of its stock investors, said the report. from an estimated 6.6 percent of GDP India is expected to press banks to The QE index is currently trading nomic slowdown and volatility in market via a series of IPOs and by Inflation is expected to rise to in 2015/16 to 5.2 percent in 2018/19 address non performing loans, which at a 2016E PE of 11.6x (as at 6 April oil prices have caused many GCC making it easier for foreigners to 5.2 percent this year, then moder- Expenditure is expected to fall could be a drag on growth and prof- 2016) vs. its 10-year historical aver- fund managers turn bullish towards invest. As part of this, Saudi is look- ate thereafter on lower food prices. slightly as lower current spending itability. The government plans to age of 12.63x, a discount of 8.2%. fixed income and bearish on equi- ing to attract privately owned firms A number of temporary factors are (mainly due to subsidy cuts on food) inject $10.4bn into state-owned In addition, healthy dividend ties. However, any further recovery to list and also privatize some of the expected to raise inflation in 2016- offsets higher spending on infra- banks over the next four years, front- yield makes the valuation of the in oil prices following the upcom- companies currently owned by the 17. Higher rent inflation due to higher structure investment. Revenue should loaded to 2016-17. Qatari market compelling in com- ing OPEC meeting in Doha (17 April) government. parison to its peers in the GCC. With and any revival in demand for oil “As far as Qatar’s market is con- strong infrastructure pipeline over from global economies would be cerned, we have seen the exchange the next few years -over $200 a huge positive for the GCC equity is constantly working on increasing billion will be spent before the markets.” market participation by introducing 2022 FIFA World Cup - on-going various new practices such mar- diversification efforts, and strong P Do you think oil prices will gin trading, increasing the foreign macro-economic fundamentals continue to weigh on Qatari ownership limit, making listings the Qatari market stands out as equities? easier by adopting a single party an attractive prospect for investors. “Qatar is in a better position to window system to name a few. Consider also, short-term cat- withstand the low oil price envi- “In addition, the upgrade to alysts such as upcoming upgrade ronment compared to its neighbors Secondary Emerging Market is also of Qatar market by FTSE Russell in the region, due to its stronger fis- expected attract passive inflows in to a secondary emerging market. cal position, greater diversification the Qatari stock market along with According to research we have seen of revenues, a large cushion of for- the expected launch of SME index by Arqaam Capital the upgrade is eign assets and low public debt in Qatar Exchange. expected to trigger passive inflows levels coupled with stable LNG rev- These measures mean that of about $850 million. Don’t for- enues with good long-term contract Qatar is not likely to feel a signifi- get that recent increases in foreign visibility.” cant impact from the growth of the ownership limits by Qatari compa- Saudi market. In facts funds track- The workshop held at the Aspire Park. nies should also keep investment P Your thoughts on Qatar intro- ing emerging market indexes will flow elevated. ducing margin trading? Has it not be ploughing funds into Saudi really started working? Arabia which currently holds fron- P A review of Qatari market per- “As you will know, the Qatar tier market status. Overall, it’s Bedaya organises workshop formance in Q1, 2016 Exchange has proposed the intro- positive for the GCC region, as these “Qatari market was down just duction of margin trading facilities developments will increase mar- 0.5% in Q1 2016, despite falling 9.1% for 20 highly capitalized and liquid ket participants and attract many on ‘Marketing for startups’ in January, the stock market rallied, companies listed on the exchange. foreign investors who may like to posting gains of 4.3% in February This aims to help enhance market diversify their investments.” and 4.9% in March. Of the GCC liquidity and would provide new The Peninsula restaurant at Aspire Park, the workshop of building the brand name and cor- markets, the Qatar Stock Exchange avenues of funding channels for P Any tips, advice for investors? garnered good response from entrepre- porate identity, defining marketing gained the most during March. By investors. “Qatari companies have a neurs who were keen on understanding plans, in addition to practical steps contrast, peer such as Saudi Ara- “Once operational, this will proven track record of creating some of the best practices in market- needed to build a distinctive trade bia, Kuwait and Bahrain, fell 10.0%, allow investors to borrow money long–term value for investors. DOHA: The Bedaya Center for Entre- ing. The main objective of holding such mark and the use of social network 6.9% and 7.0% respectively. from brokers to purchase more Focus on companies with high preneurship and Career Development workshops is to support and help develop platforms in the best effective way. The telecom sector led the mar- stocks than an investor would be growth potential and favor stable (Bedaya Center), a joint initiative by the skills of Qatari startups that are look- Reem Al Sowaidi, General Man- ket in Q1, rising 19.9% along with able to buy normally, providing dividend yielding companies over Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and ing forward to start their own businesses ager of Bedaya Center, said: “At a double-digit gain in the insur- leverage to increase profit. We the cyclical ones.” Silatech recently hosted a workshop or evolving and developing their exist- Bedaya Center, we strive to help and ance sector. Consumer goods and feel that the Qatar Exchange and titled “Marketing for Startups” in col- ing ones. Experts from various fields support local startups by develop- services also posted a healthy dou- Qatar Financial Markets Author- P How do you look at Qatari laboration with a group of leading also shared their success stories with ing their skills and talents. This is ble-digit rise during the quarter. ity are making progress in the right stocks in terms of valuation? Qatari entrepreneurs. the attendees. done through monthly workshops “And this outperformance is not direction to develop the capital “Qatari stocks offer one the This initiative is part of Bedaya During the workshop Khalifa Al conducted by experts from differ- just something we have seen in the market. However, we are cautious highest dividend yields in the GCC Center’s monthly ‘Second Sunday Net- Haroon “Mr. Q” founder of ‘I Love ent fields and sectors tackling diverse last quarter; in fact from June 2014 that it may take some time to reap region. Perhaps more interestingly, working’ event where many young Qatar’, Saleh Alayan Founder of Sugar topics, which help entrepreneurs and to March 2016, the Qatar equity the benefits from the initiatives. “ the QE index is currently trading at entrepreneurs and business profes- and Spice and Jafar Hamza founder startups to refine their basic skills market posted the second best per- a 2016E PE of 11.6x (6 April 2016) sionals gathered to gain guidance, of Boxobia addressed the attendees. and expand their business.” “This formance in the GCC region (after P How is margin trading going to vs. its 10-year historical average training and support. This month’s They offered insights into several best workshop highlighted Bedaya’s con- Abu Dhabi) and outperformed the drive volumes? of 12.63x, a discount of 8.2%, still workshop focused on the importance marketing practices that could help tinuous endeavour to provide all the MSCI emerging market index by “Margin trading will help in providing attractive valuations for of marketing and aimed at giving the promote their businesses. needed tools, knowledge, advice 10.7%.” driving overall market volumes investors. attendees a better understanding of The speakers also touched upon and expertise to help entrepreneurs how to market and promote their busi- several other factors such as modern and startups to market and promote nesses and the best processes to do it. marketing approaches and its impact themselves and their business,” she Held at the “Sugar and Spice” on the projects’ success, importance added. QFBA partners with CEO Institute to offer certification programme

The Peninsula QFBA is the exclusive partner precious networking and business leaders and we are confident this is for ‘individuals who are not satis- topics are specified annually for for ‘The CEO Institute’ to offer the development opportunities as they program will provide them with the fied with sitting still’. each region to deliver outcomes pioneering executive training pro- learn and grow together. necessary learning tools and expe- “It invites members to present, directly relevant to the local busi- gramme in Qatar. After attending 15 full-day meet- riences to enhance their skills and discuss and problem-solve real ness environment,” said Esme DOHA: The Qatar Finance and Busi- The Future CEO programme is ings, eligible Future CEO Members influence their career paths. This is world challenges and opportunities, Alfred, The CEO Institute’s Glo- ness Academy (QFBA) has added a blended model of facilitated and will be awarded Provisional Certifi- a one-of-a-kind opportunity for those in achieving optimal outcomes for bal Manager - Certification and to its multitude of offerings the experiential learning in a supportive cation as a Certified CEO, conferred aspiring to hold leading positions in their businesses and their careers”, Licensing. acclaimed ‘Future CEO’ programme, peer-to-peer environment. by The CEO Institute, in its capacity their industry. QFBA’s actions con- said Dr Gilbert. According to Alfred, certification an Elite International Certification The programme focuses on as the first global certification body tribute majorly towards achieving One of the key aspects that ‘lends credibility and support towards for senior managers and corpora- real, everyday issues faced by expe- for chief executives. the country’s national 2030 vision attracted QFBA to the Future CEO career progression, locally as well as tions eager to invest in leadership rienced executives as they work to Reckoning that the Academy’s with particular emphasis on human programme is its adaptability to meet internationally’. development. develop their firms, their careers and adoption of the Future CEO pro- development to sustain a prosperous the specific needs of local business “Having an independent entity The initiative is part of its mis- their own sense of ability and worth, gramme will raise the bar for chief society.” leaders. verify your credentials as a CEO-in- sion to empower professionals with all under the guidance of a chair- executive capacities in Qatar. According to Dr David Gilbert, “Besides the Curriculum Frame- waiting, and being able to use the advanced skills and knowledge for man-facilitator with both professorial Dr Abdul Aziz Al Horr, CEO at Associate Professor at Melbourne’s work prescribing 15 key subject post-nominal CCEO (prov), provides career growth through cutting-edge credentials and business experience. QFBA, said: “We’re proud to be con- RMIT University and a Future CEO areas that Chairmen use to develop Future CEO members with a valuable training programmes. In the process, members enjoy tributing positively to future business Chairman since 2012, the programme focused meeting agendas, five core point of difference”, she noted.

BUSINESS MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 25 Iran to participate in India’s refinery sector

Afghanistan’s trade with India”. trade and commercial interaction New Delhi issued a “When the agreement comes into with the Eurasian region. force, it will significantly enhance uti- Sushma Swaraj and Zarif also statement that it will lisation of Chabahar port, contribute reviewed the progress made in the sign an agreement to economic growth of Afghanistan, and International North South Trans- facilitate better regional connectivity, port Corridor. A team of experts from to invest in the Gulf including between India and connec- India’s IRCON will visit Iran for dis- nation’s Chabahar tions to Afghanistan and Central Asia. cussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan The agreement will be a strategic bul- railway link, according to Swarup. port to boost trade wark for greater flow of people and “On trade and investment, the with Afghanistan. goods among the three countries as two sides agreed that with the lift- well as in the region,” it stated. ing of sanctions, the potential for The statement also said it has expanding these ties was immense,” been decided that the agreement he said. “They agreed that pend- would be signed at a high level at ing agreements such as Preferential IANS an early opportunity after complet- Trade Agreement, Double Taxation ing necessary internal procedures Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral in the three countries. This is sig- Investment Treaty should be con- nificant given that Sushma Swaraj’s cluded on a priority basis.” NEW DELHI: Iran yesterday said it visit to Iran comes after Prime Min- India and Iran also expressed will be happy to partner India in the ister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi satisfaction on the release of fish- refinery sector as New Delhi issued a Arabia, India’s biggest oil supplier, ermen and sailors from each other’s statement that it will sign an agree- earlier this month amidst specula- jails. Given the India-initiated Compre- ment to invest in the Gulf nation’s tion that it might impact New Delhi’s hensive Convention on International Chabahar port to boost trade with traditional ties with Tehran and the Terrorism (CCIT), “both sides took note Afghanistan. deteriorating ties between the Gulf of the good cooperation between the “Both sides discussed the energy rivals, especially after the execu- National Security Council structures of partnership between India and Iran,” tion of a Shia cleric by Riyadh’s the two countries and agreed to inten- external affairs ministry spokesman Sunni rulers in January this year. sify this engagement”, Swarup said. Vikas Swarup informed the media. The Indian minister’s visit to Iran Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in Tehran, yesterday.. “In terms of cultural cooperation, “Iran said it would be happy to par- also comes in the wake of the lifting given the civilisational links between ticipate in the refinery sector in India,” of UN-sponsored sanctions on the India and Iran, both sides agreed to he said. Gulf nation for it nuclear programme. “The Indian side welcomed the communicated their gas pricing for- Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, promote and strengthen the exist- An external affairs ministry state- Swarup said yesterday that on Iranian decision to keep the Farzad mula and expressed their desire for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as its ing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by ment issued soon after said that a the Farzad B gas field, both sides took B field outside the auction basket. Indian investment in the Chaba- founding members. Kazakhstan also observing Weeks of Iran and India in draft agreement on the Chabahar port note of the constructive discussions The concerned companies have been har SEZ (special economic zone),” joined this arrangement later. Acces- each other’s country, publication of in Iran envisioned “trilateral cooper- held during the recent visit to Iran by directed to complete their contrac- the spokesman stated. Iran also said sion to the agreement would enable manuscripts, organising conferences ation for providing alternative access Minister of State for Petroleum Dhar- tual negotiations in a time bound that it fully supported India’s desire India to utilise this existing trans- and events related to language, liter- to seas to Afghanistan, inter alia for mendra Pradhan. manner. The Iranian side had earlier to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The port and transit corridor to facilitate ature and religion,” he said.

Al Rajhi Q1 net profit rises 33%, Omani oil majors in talks on loans worth combined $4.35bn beats forecasts Reuters finance in the wake of lower oil prices. the terms of an existing $1.85bn information is not public. The continua- according to the latest official data. Petroleum Development Oman loan originally signed in September tion of the lower oil prices environment Minister of Oil and Gas Moham- (PDO), majority-owned by Oman but 2014, primarily aimed at increasing is stretching state finances in Gulf coun- mad bin Hamad Al Rumhy told Reuters with stakes held by Royal Dutch Shell, the length of the facility, according tries, with Oman in particular feeling reporters in February that PDO will DUBAI:Two major Omani state- Total and Partex Oil and Gas, is seek- to one of the two sources, plus two the squeeze as it lacks the huge fiscal in future borrow abroad if it needs owned oil companies are in ing a $2.5bn loan to fund its projects, further sources. reserves of some of its neighbours. to finance projects rather than ask negotiations regarding loan facilities two sources aware of the matter said. Oman Oil declined to comment, In the year to November 2015, for more funds from its shareholders. DUBAI: Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi worth a combined $4.35bn, sources Meanwhile, state energy invest- while PDO didn’t respond to a request Oman’s budget deficit was 4.07bn Oman Oil is already speaking with Arabia’s second-largest lender by aware of the matter said yesterday, ment firm Oman Oil Company has for comment. The sources spoke rials ($10.57bn), compared with a banks about raising a $1bn loan for its assets, reported a 32.8 percent rise as the duo turn to bank markets for contacted banks about amending on condition of anonymity as the 233.4m rial surplus a year earlier, exploration and production subsidiary. in first-quarter net profit on Sun- day, beating analyst forecasts as it cut wage costs and fee income increased. The bank made a profit of Basra exploration NBK reports Q1 profit slide SR2.02bn ($538.7m) in the three months to March 31, up from on lower investment income SR1.52bn in the same period a year earlier, it said in a bourse statement. Six analysts surveyed by Reu- Reuters excluded from calculations, its net profit ters had on average forecast the would have grown 6.7 percent year on bank’s quarterly profit would be year, it said in a separate emailed SR1.84bn. statement. Net interest income and Al Rajhi said its profit rise was DUBAI: National Bank of Kuwait , net income from Islamic financing mainly due to higher fee income the Gulf Arab state’s largest commer- and fees both increased during the and increased financing and cial lender, reported a 18.2 percent fall in latest quarter, the bank noted in the investment income. first-quarter net profit, it said in a state- bourse filing. Total operating expenses also ment yesterday, as it failed to repeat a At the end of the first quarter, fell by 11.9 percent because of a one-off gain from an asset sale. NBK’s total assets were 24.67 bil- reduced wage bill and lower gen- The bank made a net profit of lion dinars, up 5.8 percent from the eral costs, it said. KD78.9m ($261.6m) in the three same time a year ago. Quarterly operating income months to Mar. 31, compared to Like several other Gulf banks, rose 8 percent versus the cor- KD96.5m a year earlier, it said NBK has sought to bolster its cap- responding period of 2015 to in the bourse filing. One analyst ital. In March, the bank said the SR3.7bn, while profit from spe- polled by Reuters forecast NBK board of directors had agreed to cial commissions increased 4.5 would make a quarterly net profit raise the bank’s capital by 6.5 per- percent over the same timeframe of KD79.5m. cent through a rights issue involving to SR2.57bn. The bank blamed the decrease issuing 343.96 million shares at 0.4 Loans and advances at the in net profit on lower investment dinars per share. end of March stood at 216.4 bil- A worker checks the valve of an oil pipe at Al Sheiba oil refinery in the southern Iraq city of Basra, income. The bank’s profit in the first The bank said the move was lion riyals, up 5.5 percent on the quarter of 2015 had been inflated by aimed at maintaining a healthy cap- yesterday. Iraq achieved a milestone in its efforts to discover oilfields, that will lead to rising production same point of 2015, while depos- a KD25m gain it booked on the sale italisation ratio after the launch in from a newly developed exploration block in Basra. its dipped 1.4 percent to SR264.8bn of a stake in International Bank of Kuwait of Basel III capital rules, as over the same period. Qatar. If the impact of the stake sale was well as funding future growth.

Non-oil sector in Bahrain Hutchison’s UK mobile deal to face EU veto grows by 3.9% in 2015

Bloomberg Hutchison is focusing on whether it could win comment. Telefonica didn’t immediately of this approach. Mobile virtual network QNA approval for a bid to merge its Italian oper- respond to a request for comment. O2 operators lack the clout of network own- ations with VimpelCom Ltd., another deal declined to comment ahead of a formal EU ers to effectively compete, one of the EU’s that would reduce the number of mobile- decision. top merger officials said last week. The EU LONDON: CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s phone operators from four to three. The EU The European Commission declined to blocked the Danish deal because it didn’t see MANAMA: Bahrain’s non-oil growth reached $14.5bn bid for Telefonica SA’s U.K. mobile- opened an in-depth probe into that trans- comment, saying its investigation is ongoing. “a commitment to a fourth network oper- 3.9% in 2015 according to the latest Bahrain Eco- phone business has failed to win over action last month. It has a May 19 deadline to make a decision, ator, which we thought necessary,” Carles nomic Quarterly (BEQ) issued by the Economic European Union antitrust regulators who Hong Kong-based Hutchison is already but could issue a ruling as soon as the end Esteva Mosso said. Development Board (EDB), whilst overall GDP are expected within weeks to formally block preparing to challenge any EU move to of April. Hutchison has never tried to seriously growth for the year was 2.9%. the deal creating Britain’s biggest operator. block the U.K. deal in court, a process Britain’s antitrust watchdog last week allay concerns from the EU and UK regu- Despite the broader regional economic chal- The European Commission wasn’t con- that can take years, the Sunday Telegraph urged the EU to halt the merger of Three lators over network sharing arrangements lenges, growth remained positive across all the vinced that Hutchison’s offers to sell space reported. and O2, saying it risked “long-term dam- which, as the deal currently stands, would non-oil sectors, added the economic report car- on its network to so-called virtual opera- An EU ban may halt a wave of consoli- age to mobile-phone markets.” Only a sale see it with a foot in both camps by work- ried by Bahrain News Agency. The oil sector share tors would create enough rivalry to prevent dation in the European telecommunications of mobile network infrastructure to a new ing with rivals Vodafone Group Plc and BT of real GDP fell to only 19.7%s. The total value of potential price increases, according to two industry after regulators cleared mergers in network operator — almost unstitching the Group Plc. Withdrawing from either deal isn’t the non-oil goods export stood at approximately people familiar with the negotiations. The Germany, Austria and Ireland. It would be the deal — would allay their concerns. a solution because one of the networks would $17.5bn in 2015, whilst since 2010, the value of EU, backed by UK antitrust and telecom first merger to be blocked since Margrethe There’s “no taker” for such a solution, be left out in the cold, without the kind of non-oil goods traded internationally has grown agencies, is holding out for Hutchison’s Three Vestager became competition commissioner Hutchison said last week. It argues that its coverage its rivals could offer. by around 19%. The total value of projects ten- and Telefonica’s O2 to offer to sell part of in 2014, though opposition to a Danish mobile other efforts to boost phone networks go Telefonica, Spain’s largest phone com- dered reached $3.8bn by the end of March 2016, their network infrastructure to a new rival, deal forced the companies to ditch the pro- beyond what’s been offered in previous deals pany, is relying on the deal to cut its ¤49.9bn with the pick-up particularly evident in projects the people said. posal last year. and would stoke competition in the U.K. ($56.3bn) debt load as it strives to maintain relating to the GCC Development Fund, in areas Barring a last-minute breakthrough, Hutchison declined to immediately Regulators are increasingly skeptical its credit rating. such as housing and the utilities sector. 26 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,189.22 0.48 % QE Total Return Index 16,485.48 0.48 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,023.02 0.77 % QE All Share Index 2,847.36 0.38 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,747.26 0.04 % QE All Share Industrials 3,146.4 0.64 % QE All Share Transportation 2,529.07 0.22 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,526.8 0.91 % QE All Share Insurance 4,463.52 0.19 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,165.65 0.42 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,707.67 0.49 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 17-04-2016 Today 14-04-2016 Previous day Index 10,189.22 10,238.17 Change 48.95 7.70 % 0.48 0.08 YTD% 2.3 1.83 Volume 4,962,897 9,160,965 Value (QAR) 156,117,499.04 406,371,755.19 Trades 3,309 5,689 Up 09 | Down 26 | Unchanged 03

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5127.194 73.539 1.46 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4456.56 110.65 2.55 4586.11 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 17721.25 164.84 0.94 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 21158.71 654.27 3.19 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6268.59 95.43 1.55 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 33646.1 29.2 0.09 34154.7 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16381.22 452.43 2.84 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.1520 QR 5.2250 Euro QR 4.0714 QR 4.1538 CA$ QR 2.7256 QR 2.8769 Swiss Fr QR 3.7583 QR 3.8200 Saudi Arabia leads Gulf stocks drop Yen QR 0.0330 QR 0.0336 Aus$ QR 2.7801 QR 2.8506 Bloomberg plant owned by one of its units. The blaze investment company based in the emirate, election in 2014. The demonstrations fol- Ind Re QR 0.0539 QR 0.0551 killed 12 and injured 11, al-Sharq newspa- surged 9.7 percent after five days declin- lowed the transfer of sovereignty of two Pak Re QR 0.0350 QR 0.0348 per reported, citing unidentified people. ing, pushing the share’s 14-day RSI to 71. Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Protesters Peso QR 0.0775 QR 0.800 Banque Saudi Fransi declined 3.3 per- Abu Dhabi’s gauge posted the long- called for a second round of demonstra- SL Re QR 0.0258 QR 0.0252 RIYADH: Saudi Arabian stocks led declines cent, even after the bank reported a 2.7 est winning streak in more than a month tions on April 25. across most Gulf Arab equity markets as percent increase in first-quarter profit, as trading volumes jumped to 46 percent The protests were “of small magnitude, Taka QR 0.0468 QR 0.0467 investors await the outcome of a gather- beating analysts’ estimates. National Bank above the 20-day average. More than half hence the lack of reaction in the market,” said Nep Re QR 0.0339 QR 0.0345 ing of major oil producing nations in Doha. of Abu Dhabi PJSC’s brokerage unit cut the of those shares, 95 million, were in Dana Mohamed Radwan, the head of equities at SA Rand QR 0.2455 QR 0.2504 The Tadawul All Share Index dropped lender to hold from accumulate. Gas PJSC, which advanced 3.6 percent. The Cairo-based Pharos Holding. “But we have 1.5 percent, the most in two weeks. Dubai’s Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. shares have gained 12 percent this month to be cautious going forward, because if we DFM General Index lost 0.7 percent as the climbed 1.9 percent, the most in a month, as the company said it’s receiving pay- see escalation, stocks will likely respond.” GOLD AND SILVER Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, which tracks after reporting a narrower than expected ments in Iraq and after reports its partner Israel’s TA-25 Index rose for a third the largest and most liquid shares across loss in the first quarter. About 53 million and main shareholders are in talks to start day, gaining 1 percent to 1,489.18 at the GOLD QR145.8040 per gramme the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, shares traded, or almost three-times the receiving gas from Iran. close in Tel Aviv, the highest since Jan. 13. SILVER QR1.8846 per gramme retreated 0.8 percent. Abu Dhabi’s ADX three-month average. Kuwait’s SE Price Index added 0.3 The country’s gas explorers helped drive General Index extended gains a seventh The retreat came even as Deputy percent, even as about 40 percent of oil the advance, with Delek Drilling rising day, adding 0.5 percent. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman workers in the country went on strike, 6.4 percent. The company and Avner Oil “Investors are apprehensive about said Saudi Arabia will this month announce CNBC Arabia reported, citing the head of Exploration set up a panel to examine a taking new positions before the results its comprehensive plan to prepare for the the country’s oil workers union. Kuwait’s potential merger. Avner gained 2.4 percent. of the meeting,” said Nabil Farhat, an Abu post-oil era. The plan to transform Saudi crude production tumbled by 60 percent “The possible merger will help save Jobs, development Dhabi-based partner at Al Fajr Securities. Aramco from an oil company into an and its refineries scaled back operations. costs and is expected to lead to more “We might see a spike in prices in either energy and industrial conglomerate, as Oman’s MSM 30 Index fell 0.4 percent, efficient operations,” Steven Shein, a Tel direction depending on the results of the well as the future of the Public Investment Qatar’s QE Index lost 0.5 percent and Bah- Aviv-based trader at Psagot Investment key to W Sahara meeting.” Fund, will be part of the vision, he said. rain’s BB All Share Index was little changed. House Ltd., said by phone. Brent crude, a benchmark for half the About 328 million shares traded in the Egypt’s EGX 30 Index advanced 0.7 The country’s Central Bureau of Sta- world’s oil, has dropped three days in the kingdom, 18 percent above the 20-day percent. EFG-Hermes Holding, the coun- tistics on Friday said consumer prices dispute: Experts lead up to the meeting, and closed last intraday average. try’s biggest investment bank, was the dropped for a 19th month, declining 0.7 week at $43.10 per barrel. Dubai’s benchmark measure has largest contributor to the gains with a 2.5 percent from a year earlier. Israel’s bench- Saudi stocks were led lower by Jabal gained 12 percent this year, sending its percent increase. mark government bonds due 2025 climbed Anatolia Omar Development Co., which slid 2.8 per- relative-strength index to 71 on Thursday, Police fired tear gas to disperse several 0.35 agora, the most in almost two weeks, cent. Saudi Basic Industries Corp., one of above the level of 70 that signals to some thousand Egyptians who took to the streets to 100.97 agorot on the shekel on Sunday. the world’s biggest petrochemicals man- analysts a security may be overbought. of Cairo on Friday in the first major pro- The yield fell three basis points to 1.77 ufacturers, fell 1.2 percent after a fire at a It closed at 67. Shuaa Capital PSC, an test since President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s percent. RABAT: Creating jobs for young people, luring foreign investment and providing economic development is key to resolving the longstanding dispute over the Currently hardly Malaysia sticks with target as global risks mount Western Sahara region, according any foreign to two Moroccan researchers. investment in Agencies for some time, Malaysia’s diversi- more modest than had been With steady growth, low inflation repeatedly denied wrongdoing. “Job creation Western Sahara, fied economy that focuses on more earlier anticipated,” Zeti said. and an improving fiscal position, Zeti had become increasingly and the estab- consumption-led industries than Uncertainty in world financial “the currency would be stronger critical about the affairs of 1MDB, lishment of local as the region exports, and reduced dependence markets, if it continues, “makes if it was reflecting our fundamen- whose advisory board is chaired administrative remained hostage WASHINGTON: Malaysia will on energy revenues means “we it a challenge for businesses” and tals,” she said. by Najib. The central bank had systems — along meet its economic expansion tar- are affected but to a much lesser they’ll “stay on the sidelines” Bank Negara left the bench- at least twice proposed crimi- with attracting to a decades-long get this year even as risks to global extent than we would have been” instead of investing, while house- mark interest rate unchanged at nal proceedings against 1MDB, new investment political dispute. growth mount and greater vola- in the past, she said. holds may delay consumption, 3.25 percent at Zeti’s last sched- something the attorney general with a view to tility may persist in capital flows, Global finance ministers and all of which would contribute to uled monetary policy decision in dismissed as it concluded there developing the central bank Governor Zeti Akhtar central bankers pledged to step slower growth, she said. March as accelerating inflation was no wrongdoing. region economi- Aziz said. up their efforts to support growth, “Having heightened volatility reduced scope for a cut in bor- The government hasn’t cally — could provide a solution to the ongoing dispute,” Price pressures are “quite as chances rise of a broader slow- for long periods of time is not con- rowing costs. announced who will replace Zeti Mustafa Al Naimi, a Moroccan researcher in Western contained” due to lower fuel and down and risks including refugee ducive to growth,” she said. The central bank ordered lend- when she steps down from the Sahara Affairs, said. commodity costs and slightly slower crises and a potential U.K. exit The ringgit has risen about 10 ers to set aside less cash as reserves central bank at the end of this Al Naimi noted that there was currently hardly any demand, Zeti said in an interview from the European Union threaten percent this year to become the from February as policy makers month after 16 years at the helm. foreign investment in Western Sahara, as the region in Washington. Until there is more the world economy. Downside second best-performing currency sought to add more money in the A governance committee under remained hostage to a decades-long political dispute clarity to the growth and infla- risks to the world economic out- in Asia, rebounding from a 17-year financial system amid weaken- the auspices of Bank Negara between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisa- tion outlook, the current monetary look have increased since October, low. Global funds poured 6.1 bil- ing growth. The move to cut the Malaysia has the responsibility rio Front. stance remains accommodative raising the possibility of a more lion ringgit ($1.6bn) into Malaysian statutory reserve ratio has had an of vetting internal and external The best solution to the long-simmering crisis, he and supportive, she said. generalized slowdown and a sud- equities in March, after outflows impact, Zeti said. candidates before Najib’s govern- said, was to empower the region’s local inhabitants to Zeti, who leaves her position at den pull-back of capital flows, the of 19.5bn ringgit in 2015. “There is potential to do more,” ment picks one to be endorsed build administrative systems that would allow them to the end of the month when her term International Monetary Fund’s top Concerns about the weaker she said. “But right now it has sta- by the king. run their own affairs. is up, has helped to curb inflation policy advisory committee said world economic outlook, antici- bilized liquidity conditions in our The governance committee, According to Al Naimi, misguided economic devel- and keep monetary policy steady to Saturday. pation of further normalization of financial markets.” tasked to vet candidates, has sub- opment programs — including support for a small local support domestic demand. Prime Malaysia remains “vulnera- US monetary policy by the Federal Investors periodically dumped mitted the recommendation on her notable class — constituted an obstacle to the region’s Minister Najib Razak is counting ble” to a reversal of capital flows Reserve, and fuel price adjust- Malaysia’s stocks, bonds and successor and it’s now up to the economic development. on consumers to support growth, though buffers such as a highly- ments are among external factors currency last year, in part as alle- government to decide, Zeti said Regarding the future of Moroccan investment in finding ways to put more money developed bond market and strong weighing on Malaysia’s currency, gations of financial irregularities last month. Western Sahara, he said that Morocco’s autonomy into their pockets as he faces con- financial intermediaries have according to Zeti. at a state investment company “The person should have the proposals for the region failed to address several out- straints in increasing government helped to achieve adjustments in “Right now, it doesn’t reflect 1Malaysia Development Bhd. hurt best credentials for this current standing economic problems. spending. the exchange rate and in reserves, our fundamentals,” she said, add- sentiment and reports of hun- environment,” she said on Saturday, He went on to note that UN Secretary-General Ban “We have a high degree of con- she said. The “prediction is greater ing that the nation has a current dreds of millions of dollars that when asked if she’d prefer an inter- Ki-moon might soon propose a new political solution, fidence” on the 2016 growth target volatility. That will continue,” she account surplus, relatively low appeared in Najib’s accounts in nal or external candidate to replace but was quick to add that this was unlikely to exceed of 4 percent to 4.5 percent, Zeti said. said. foreign indebtedness and a high 2013 sparked political tensions. her. “We’re all waiting with bated Morocco’s own autonomy proposals. While fuel prices may remain lower The global recovery “is much level of foreign exchange reserves. The premier and 1MDB have breath for the announcement.” BUSINESS MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 27

Money talks for wary venture funds focus Poland feels the pain on tech start-ups of its love for coal

By Mia Shanley payments firm Klarna, which Reuters support merchants and competes with the likes of Paypal has shown this is possible. It turned a profit ech start-ups aimed at in only its second year. businesses rather than con- Dave McClure, founder of a Tsumers are winning more venture capital seed fund and funding from increasingly wary startup accelerator called 500 venture capital investors who Startups in Silicon Valley, said that want to see a return on their cash while 60 percent of his invest- sooner rather than later. ments are in consumer-oriented This shift has enabled Sound- companies, probably a bigger track Your Brand, which plans a proportion of B2B start-ups are U.S. launch this year, to secure $11 having greater success. million to back its tailor-made “For a lot of consumer start- music playlists for companies ups, it’s not always obvious how with deep pockets like Starbucks you are going to monetise and and McDonald’s. there is a lot of competition for Investors are buying into the eyeballs,” he said. “For a lot of Spotify-backed Swedish compa- B2Bs, as long as you are able to ny’s theory that piping the right get the initial customer in place music into such food outlets or there is a lot of potential for mak- retail stores will encourage cof- ing money and continuing that fee drinkers or shoppers to linger business.” longer and spend more. Messaging software firm Soundtrack Your Brand says Slack, which is just three years businesses pay about five times old, already has almost one mil- what consumers pay for their lion paid users and customers tunes, which strikes a chord including Samsung Electronics with investors seeking more sta- Co Ltd and the U.S. State Depart- ble earnings. ment. This month, Slack raised A train passes by the site where a Nazi gold train is believed to be hidden, in the city of Walbrzych, Poland, on August 28, 2015. “There is a trend away from $200 million, giving it a $3.8 bil- consumer unicorns and valua- lion valuation. tions,” Andreas Liffgarden, the Jonathan Userovici, an ana- company’s chairman and co- lyst at Idinvest Partners in Paris, founder, told Reuters. is betting other B2Bs will grab By Agnieszka Barteczko and Barbara which could be questioned by the European time is required to extract coal and cool “I can feel it when we’re out venture capital money more Lewis Reuters Commission if it looks like illegal state aid. the shafts to make working conditions fundraising. Investors want real easily than B2Cs this year as To pass muster, there needs to be a con- bearable. Despite lower costs compared steady cash flow and proven busi- investors seek out recurring vincing business plan showing the miner will with Poland, the Chinese government has ness models,” he added. revenue-generators. or generations, the region of Silesia start to make profits. The government also said it is shifting to cleaner fuel. Michal This shift reflects a combi- Human resources is attracting has been at the heart of Poland’s wants KW’s creditors - including the Polish Wilczynski, a former chief geologist in nation of market volatility, high particular interest and Zenefits, love affair with coal as a source of unit of Spain’s Banco Santander BZ WBK and Poland and former deputy environment valuations and growing fears of whose software automates things pride and heroism. France’s BGZ BNP Paribas to convert their minister, said trying to rescue Kompania another tech bubble which have like stock options and vacations, Election to Poland’s top job debt into KW shares. Weglowa was futile. led venture capitalists to reassess raised more than $500 million Fhas depended on maintaining coal’s special “The talks are held on the highest level,” “It’s too late to rescue it. Poland’s coal risk and back more business-to- in the biggest U.S. B2B fund- national status and Prime Minister Beata a government source said, adding that the mines will not be effective, no matter how business (B2B) start-ups over ing round last year, according to Szydlo, a coal miner’s daughter from Silesia, banks’ final decision is expected early in deep the cost cuts are, because of geology,” those aimed at consumers. PitchBook data. It ran into regula- swept to office in October on a promise she the coming week. This was confirmed by Wilczynski said. Venture capital funds are also tory troubles this year, a reminder would ring-fence the industry’s 100,000 jobs. another person. BZ WBK and BGZ BNP Pari- “Rejecting the global trends would take seeking a clearer way to cash in that there are still risks involved It is a pledge she is now under almost as bas declined to comment. Together, BZ WBK us back to the Communist era with an iso- their investments. Tech.eu, which in B2B investments. much pressure to break as to keep. and BNP Paribas hold 150 million zlotys of lated economy.” analyses tech data, said B2B made And while B2B investments The energy ministry has said the nation’s KW’s debt. Any exposure coal is considered Last year Poland’s three biggest min- up 60 percent of all European are considered more predictable biggest mining firm, headquartered in Silesia, financial risk and the European Union is con- ing firms, including Kompania Weglowa, exits last year. than the hits-driven consumer risks running out of cash at the end of the sidering “carbon stress-testing” its financial KHW and the listed JSW as well as three “Investors are shunning non business, the allure of consumer month. It is a familiar cry, and in the past, firms. The trade unions at KW accept cost- state-run power producers, which burn money-making companies. Mon- start-ups remains. funds somehow appeared. This time, how- cutting in principle, but refuse to agree to the mines’ coal booked a net loss of almost etisation has become a really big In the past decade, the big- ever, they may not. wage cuts or layoffs. 10bn zlotys ($2.6bn). deal,” said Tim He, a partner at gest consumer successes have Coal miners became heroes in Silesia “Cuts in wages would be an act of self- That might be manageable, but for all venture capital firm Northzone. produced far bigger returns than when nine of them were shot dead in 1981 in destruction,” Boguslaw Hutek, the head of the collateral damage. The market capi- Funds invested in B2B start- B2B firms. an anti-communist protest against martial KW’s biggest trade union, said. talisation of Poland’s biggest power group, ups rose by 40 percent to $11.9 That means not everyone is law. Now they are being asked to accept cuts “Now young people are thinking in a the state-run PGE fell by over a third, or billion year-on-year to the end abandoning the consumer. in salaries that are among different way from the older generation. If more than 11 billion zlotys in 2015, mostly of March, figures from venture Sweden’s Kinnevik, a major the highest in Poland they don’t get decent earnings, they will go because politicians involved it in helping capital database PitchBook show. investor in Europe’s biggest dedi- because of the dangers elsewhere.” to bail out Kompania Weglowa (KW). And although funding for cated online fashion firm Zalando, of the job. Mining’s financial woes mean Silesian Even Polish firms that have sought to business-to-consumer (B2C) is keen to keep its money in B2C Energy ministry students are already switching to classes in move away from coal were sucked in. start-ups remains larger, invest- investments. It just invested $65 officials supervising Kom- solar and wind energy and away from the Among Poland’s utilities, Energa has ment in this area fell 9 percent to million in Betterment which pania Weglowa (KW), the mining studies that traditionally guaran- the biggest portfolio of renewables; its $24 billion over the same period. offers users automated invest- European Union’s biggest teed a job for life. Poland’s pits have clocked shares fell by more than 10 percent, or Philipp Leutiger, a partner ment advice. The energy ministry coal mining company, say up losses of billions of zlotys as world coal more than 500 million zlotys, when it at management consulting firm McClure at 500 Startups is it cannot pay salaries in prices sunk to record lows. It is not the only announced it would invest in KW on Roland Berger, describes B2B as keeping a foot in both camps: “I has said the nation’s May if trade unions’ reject country affected: Peabody, the world’s larg- March 16. Two sources, one official and “very hot” with investors hunting don’t think we feel any less opti- biggest mining firm, a plan to cut the compa- est privately owned coal producer, declared one from the industry, said the ministry for capex-light business models mistic around consumers. I think ny’s costs, more than half bankruptcy this month after a debt-fuelled has also been trying to convince Poland’s with the potential to be profita- we feel more optimistic about headquartered in of which go on staff. The expansion into Australia. refiner PKN Orlen to get involved in KW. ble at a very early stage. potential for B2B now that it’s Silesia, risks running plan is a condition for Part of Poland’s problem is the depth of The low price of coal on international One of Europe’s most highly starting to globalise and grow out of cash at the end other state-run compa- the seams - up to 1,200 metres compared to markets compounds the problem. Poland valued tech start-ups, Swedish and have a greater reach.” nies to inject 1.5 billion 465 metres on average in China, the world’s lost almost 30 zlotys on every tonne of of the month. zlotys ($394.36 million) biggest coal producer and consumer. Deeper coal its mines produced last year, accord- at the start of May, a deal pits are more costly because more energy and ing to industry figures. Three big airlines just trashed your cheap fares

By Justin Bachman allowing ticketing engines to piece together assess a $200 change fee for each ticket. on this topic,” Baker said. Bloomberg these nonrefundable fares—typically the These changes show the carriers’ effort Beyond the ability to squeeze more dol- least expensive—when a trip involves sev- to limit the reach of their lowest fares, which lars from corporate road warriors, the airline eral cities. The multicity pricing tweaks have they’re using as a shield against further pricing changes also speak to the broader irline executives hate few things whacked mostly business travelers, who often market-share losses to Spirit and Frontier. demise of fare rules in recent years, as the more than supercheap ticket prices, hit several destinations on their work circuits. Spokesmen for American and United said low-cost entrants disrupted traditional Awhich they often dub “junk fares” These types of trips, when bundled together, travelers were assembling these bargain- shibboleths: No longer is a Saturday-night and “trash fares.” could cost hundreds of dollars more than they basement fares for trips in ways the carriers stay mandated, a round trip is frequently Yet the industry has been awash in these did before the airlines decided to drop the had not intended. American spokesman more expensive than purchasing two one- deals for more than a year, as Spirit Airlines hammer. Joshua Freed said the pricing changes affect ways, and a fare to fly tomorrow can be just Inc. and Frontier Airlines Inc. expanded Airlines “are trying to divide the world only “a numerically small number of trave- as cheap as one bought three weeks before This spring, the Big aggressively, and Southwest Airlines Co. between business and nonbusiness flyers,” lers” given that most itineraries are simple the travel. Three decided cheap no began flying nationwide from Dallas. Some said George Ferguson, a Bloomberg Intelli- round trips or one-way flights. “This is not The math of low fares is perhaps best examples: $41 from Dallas to New York City; gence airline analyst. “The average Joe really your sort of average mom-and-pop round trip illustrated at American, the world’s largest longer paid. Instead, they $34 from Las Vegas to San Francisco; $40 won’t care if his firm loses an extra couple from Chicago to Orlando and back,” he said. airline and the one most vocal about defend- began restricting the from Nashville to Orlando. hundred bucks.” On Wednesday, United retreated some- ing its market share against the upstarts. The bargains aren’t pricing mistakes, nor For example, a May 9-13 trip priced what and altered pricing rules to allow for Spirit now serves 25 destinations from bargains: No longer are have they been hard for consumers to find Thursday on American from Los Angeles to more of its fare classes to be used on multi- Dallas-Fort Worth International, American’s they allowing ticketing on off-peak travel days such as Tuesdays, San Francisco to Chicago and back to LA was city trips. “We’ve heard from our customers,” largest hub, and Frontier has expanded to Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The industry’s $1,264.70, compared with $453 if all three United spokesman Jonathan Guerin said. overlap 11 percent of American’s domestic engines to piece together Big Three airlines, American Airlines Group flights were ticketed separately, according “We’re definitely listening to them.” capacity, up from 1 percent before American these nonrefundable Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., and United Conti- to FareCompare.com, a Dallas-based fare Delta has declined to discuss the issue, merged with US Airways. American Airlines fares—typically the least nental Holdings Inc., have matched such fares tracking firm. including with a JPMorgan Chase & Co. ana- President Scott Kirby, for example, has said to varying degrees. Of course, the expensive downside of try- lyst, Jamie Baker, who asked executives on several occasions that 87 percent of Amer- expensive—when a trip This spring, the Big Three decided ing to save money with separate tickets comes Thursday whether the changes might poten- ican’s customers have flown the airline only involves several cities. cheap no longer paid. Instead, they began if you need to change your plans, which many tially boost passenger revenues. “High-quality once in the past 12 months, a testament to restricting the bargains: No longer are they business travelers often do: The Big Three industrial transports don’t duck and weave travelers’ price sensitivity. 28 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Swiss watchmakers await Japan gets little G-20 support for possible market recovery as clock ticks yen intervention

By Silke Koltrowitz Reuters By Toru Fujioka “No one suffers from Bloomberg an appreciation of the yen except Japan,” said Hiromichi n two small Swiss towns, Shirakawa, chief Japan econo- watchmakers are trying to apan has won little sympathy mist at Credit Suisse Group AG strike a balance as delicate as from its Group of 20 coun- in Tokyo. “Almost all nations are the mechanisms in their pre- Jterparts for the pain being struggling with a weak growth cision-engineered watches caused by a stronger yen, sign- and they have little tolerance I- squeezing suppliers to cope with aling opposition to shielding the with Japan after allowing the an industry crisis while preserving country’s fragile economy via yen to weaken in the past three the skills that drove past successes. intervention to curb the curren- years.” La Chaux-de-Fonds, home to just cy’s strength. The International Monetary 39,000 people, and even smaller During a G-20 meeting Fund has cut its global growth neighbour Le Locle have been at in Washington on Thursday forecast to 3.2 percent this year the heart of the Swiss watchmaking and Friday, Japanese Finance from 3.4 percent, highlighting industry since the 19th century. Minister Taro Aso said he the lack of momentum in the But after the boom years ear- re-confirmed with his coun- world economy and why there lier this century, life has got much terparts, including U.S. Treasury is such little scope for any nation harder. Demand for traditional lux- Secretary Jack Lew, that dis- to poach demand from abroad ury watches has been hammered by orderly currency movements by cheapening the value of its a Chinese government crackdown on aren’t desirable. But within 24 currency. bribery, a drop in tourist shoppers to hours, Lew had bluntly said The IMF has halved its fore- Europe and, at lower price points, the that Japan needs to focus on cast for Japanese growth this rise of smartwatches. domestic demand and called year to 0.5 percent and fore- Top manufacturers such as foreign-exchange market moves cast the economy would shrink Swatch Group, Richemont and LVMH “orderly”—a clear warning that 0.1 percent in 2017. have responded by demanding price watch industry. The actual figure was than century-old factory buildings material, said business was grim. the U.S. doesn’t view yen inter- IMF Managing Director cuts from suppliers and taking more higher including temporary contracts are part of the UNESCO world herit- “We expect sales to fall 30-40 vention as warranted. Christine Lagarde on Thursday production in-house. That has hit not being renewed and staff attrition, age site stretching over the two towns. percent this year and started work- “There’s a broad consensus said that currency intervention hard in La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le he added. La Chaux-de-Fonds had a Manufacturers such as Zenith have ing shorter hours in March,” said that we should avert as a glo- was only appropriate to avoid Locle, home to a network of indus- jobless rate of 8.1 percent in January, been cutting prices in a bid to boost company owner Raymond Leiten- bal financial system any kind of “very disruptive volatility.” try subcontractors. one of the highest in Switzerland. The demand, which has hurt suppliers. berg, adding he hoped to break even competitive devaluation cycle,” The Japanese currency has “Some brands asked us to lower watch industry accounts for the lion’s But Metalem’s Marietta said cus- this year. said Mexican Finance Minis- advanced despite a surprise prices by 15 percent,” said Alain Mari- share of its 11,000 industrial jobs. tomers including Zenith, Chopard and But he was confident that exper- ter Luis Videgaray. “So I don’t Jan. 29 introduction of negative etta, co-owner of Le Locle-based But the big brands are wary of IWC were making an effort to give tise and innovation would see the think that it is likely that would interest rates by the Bank of watch dial maker Metalem which pushing too hard, as they still rely work to subcontractors. business through, having invested be a possibility in Japan or any Japan, which other G-20 nations employs around 250 people. heavily on suppliers’ know-how, often “Even the big groups will always 600,000 Swiss francs in a new laser other place,” he told Bloomberg initially viewed as a potential “That was not justified, but we handed down to each new generation keep part of the production with machine to be able to offer more in Washington. source of yen weakness. did lower prices a bit and are taking in small family-owned businesses. external suppliers because we are decorations for Horlyne’s flagship G-20 finance chiefs on Fri- “Developments in foreign- a hit on our margin,” he said, adding Despite the job losses, Matile said their safety valve,” he said, noting top watch component called ‘oscillat- day reiterated a pledge to refrain exchange markets have impacts he expected sales to fall 10 percent he knew of no company that had gone manufacturers would be even more ing weights’. from weakening their curren- on a economy and prices so we this year, in line with 2015, and staff out of business in the industry. exposed to swings in demand if they “The Swiss watch industry is very cies to gain a trade edge over will closely monitor them,” BOJ would likely have to work short hours “We are definitely all in the same brought more production in-house. dynamic when it comes to research, it rivals, while stating that “disor- Governor Haruhiko Kuroda told in the second half. boat. We wouldn’t exist without this Horlyne, which employs around is not resting on its laurels. The crisis derly movements” in exchange reporters in Washington Friday. Francois Matile, secretary gen- network of industry contractors and 30 people in La Chaux-de-Fonds and is fuelling creativity,” said Leitenberg. rates can be harmful. The yen “We won’t hesitate to consider eral of the watch industry employers’ subcontractors,” said Aldo Magada, still uses the traditional decorative “We have reached a bottom, has risen about 11 percent this additional action if judged nec- association, said about 1,000 jobs chief executive of high-end brand technique of engine-turning in which things have to improve, we just don’t year against the dollar. essary for our price target.” had been lost in about a year from Zenith, owned by LVMH, but head- a precise, intricate pattern is mechan- know when. We have to hold out until the more than 59,000 in the Swiss quartered in Le Locle where its more ically engraved into an underlying they do.”

No single country can tackle George Osborne, Capital international tax evasion alone- and British Chancellor of the Britain should never fool itself into Exchequer Comment thinking that it can do this by itself.

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IMFLive @IMFLive HEARD ON THE STREET Lagarde at #FiscalFo- rum : transparency and simplicity of tax sys- tems is key Biotech’s recent troubles have made valuations Standard & Poor’s @ more reasonable, setting standardpoors the stage for improved S&P observes posi- performance. tive credit trends for #USstate #housing finance agencies www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 30 PAGE | 34 DominantD o Rosberg Sri Lanka’s Herath eextends winning quits shortest streak in China forms of cricket

MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 • 11 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Al Attiyah targets yet another title

SEALINE CROSS-COUNTRY 2016 Sealine The world’s leading RALLY Cross-Country Rally off-road drivers and leading starters riders to compete Cars Dhabi two weeks ago, to go for the 201 Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/ in Qatar’s flagship win and keep up the good work in the Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota off-road motor sport championship. We made a small test Hilux Overdrive event on Saturday afternoon to make sure 202 Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo everything was in order,” he added. Gottschalk (DEU) Mini All4 The world’s leading off-road driv- Racing ers and riders have come together 203 Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Kon- By Armstrong Vas through the organisational efforts stantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 The Peninsula of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Racing Federation (QMMF) to tackle approx- 204 Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek imately 1,633 competitive kilometres Czachor (POL) Toyota Hilux in a complex and demanding route Overdrive DOHA: Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Atti- of around 2,452km. A huge organi- 205 Ricardo Porém (POR)/Manuel yah is confident of picking up his sational and logistical effort has been Porém (POR) Mini All4 Racing fourth victory in the car category in put in place to make the event pos- 206 Jutta Kleinschmidt (DEU)/Tina five years at the Sealine Cross-Coun- sible, with events sanctioned by the Thörner (SWE) X-raid CBRA try Rally which gets underway from FIA and FIM running in tandem over The top drivers, riders and officials taking part in the Sealine Cross-Country Rally pose for a picture along with 207 Yuriy Sazonov (KAZ)/Dmytro the ancient northerly military fort at the five days. Tsyro (UKR) Hummer H3 III Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President Abdulrahman Al Mannai during the pre-event press Al-Zubara. The ace Qatari driver said the 208 Khaled Al-Feraihi (SAU)/Abdul- conference at Losail International Circuit yesterday. The event begins at Al-Zubara fort from today. Today’s first stage of the Qatar’s some of the top drivers who are vet- haleem Al-Busaidi (OMN) flagship off-road motor sport event erans of the Dakar Rally are here and Picture by: Abdul Basit Nissan Patrol precedes five days of punishing action predicted a close contest. 209 Aron Domzala (POL)/Szymon Gos- across the length and breadth of the His fiercest challenge this year in Qatar.” “Nothing has changed, of me if the top three seeds hit trouble will podarczyk (POL) Polaris RZR 1000 deserts of Qatar. comes on two fronts, but from one “I have a good experience and will shifting from a Mini to a Toyota,” he be the likes of Al Attiyah’s Toyota Bikes “I will work very hard to win team: Vladimir Vasilyev is a former do my best to win. I hope to enjoy and said when asked about his change of team-mate Marek Dabrowski, Por- 2 Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM this race. I have a lot of experience. winner of the FIA World Cup and to win the race,” he added. vehicle from an earlier Mini to the tugal’s Ricardo Porém in a third X-raid 450 Rally I won the first race in Abu Dhabi and the Russian and his Saudi Arabian Al Attiyah agreed with the view current Toyota. Mini and the former Dakar winning 4 Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husq- I am now leading the champion- team-mate Yazeed Al-Rajhi will be expressed by most of the leading driv- “I got an offer to drive in a Toy- German lady Jutta Kleinschmidt in varna 450 Rally ship,” said Al Attiyah, the two time looking for a first Sealine success in ers that the Sealine Rally route is a ota and I accepted it, and now I an X-raid development two-wheel 5 Toby Price (AUS) KTM 450 Rally Darkar Rally winner while speaking their X-raid Mini All4 Racings; the car tricky issue. showed that we can win in a Toy- drive Buggy. 7 Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) to journalists on the eve of the six- in which Al-Attiyah used to win the “Navigation is difficult but it is ota, we won first race, I hope to win Flying the flag for the host KTM 450 day championship. event in 2014 and 2015 ok. We need to work together, driver here. If I get a good offer from Toy- nation in the main T1 category are 8 Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) “I suppose the strategy is like Abu “It will be not be easy for every- and co-driver and to make sure to at ota I will continue and if I do not get the likes of Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah’s Husqvarna 450 Rally body,” he said in response to another least not to get lost. I think the QMMF the offer of what I need (from Toy- brother Khalifa in a third Overdrive 10 Laia Sanz (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Timetable of Events question. and the people who drew up the route ota), I think the Mini also want to Toyota. Mohammed Al Harqan in a Today Questioned as to who will pose did a good job. The route book is very offer and want me to drive, offer- Nissan Patrol and Mohammed Al 11 Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha WR450 09.35hrs Start of stage 1 for motor- a challenge to his ambitions of win- good.” ing me a good contract. So, I will Mannai in a powerful Chevrolet 17 Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) cycles at Al-Zubara ning yet another race in a home event, The 45-year old, a bronze medal wait and see what is good for me Buggy. Yamaha YZF 11.05hrs Al Attiyah said: “We need to respect winner in shooting at the London and my country.” Sheikh Hamed bin Eid Al Thani, Start of stage 1 for cars at 22 Jakub Piatek (POL) 450 Rally Al-Zubara all the drivers, you know. And it will Games in 2012, who will compete in The rally has attracted a provi- the 1993 FIA Middle East rally cham- Quads 12.55hrs Stage finish motorcycles, not be fair to pin point any particu- a Toyota at the Sealine Rally said the sional 40 starters in the car category pion, will now run in the national approx. lar driver. The entry looks very good. decision to compete whether in a Mini and drivers from virtually every cor- category at the rear of the field 100 Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 13.40hrs Stage finish cars, approx. Most of the drivers were competing in or a Toyota at the Dakar Rally remains ner of the planet. with Emirati co-driver Arif Yousef 106 Ignacio Casale (CHI) Yamaha Abu Dhabi and Dakar and they are in a limbo for the moment. Hoping to step on to the podium Mohammed. Raptor 700 SE Qatar to host GCC girls handball championship

The Peninsula

DOHA: The inaugural edition of the GCC girls handball championship will begin on April 22. The championship will conclude on April 28. The event is organised by the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee (QWSC) in coordination with the Qatar Olympic Commit- tee (QOC) and the Qatar Handball Association. Besides hosts Qatar, Bahrain and UAE Qatar’s handball player Hannah are taking part in the championship. Al Bader, during a ceremony Meanwhile, the fourth held at Qatar Women’s Sports chapter of the Advanced Committee Hall in this April 15, Sport Management Course 2015 file picture. (ASMC) organised by the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) under the supervision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) y concluded at the QOA headquarters. The course brought together 33 trainees (male and female) representing all the sport organisations in Qatar, beside students from Qatar University along with trainees from the GCC nations. During the three-day course, the course key lecturer Dr. Nicolas Scelles, a PhD holder in the sport economy gave a com- prehensive presentation on number of vital topics related to the sport organisation management, including financial manage- ment, financial planning and the budget. Dr Ali Al Bekeri, the QOA Assistant Dean for Academic and student affairs confirmed that the trainees have positively ben- efited from the topics after they jointly discussed them with the lecturer . 30 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 SPORT Dominant Rosberg extends winning streak in China

The German claims his third win of the season while Mercedes team-mate Hamilton finishes seventh after starting last

Reuters

SHANGHAI: Nico Rosberg (pictured) Min-jee Lee of Australia claimed a dominant win in an action- plays a tee shot on the packed Formula One Chinese Grand fifth hole during the Prix yesterday to extend his champi- final round of the LPGA onship lead over Mercedes team-mate LOTTE Championship Lewis Hamilton, who battled up to sev- defend himself after the race when at Ko Olina Golf Club enth with some feisty driving after an angry Vettel blamed him for the col- in Kapolei, Hawaii on starting last. lision between the Ferraris. Hamilton, Saturday. Rosberg crossed the line a mam- who had started from dead last after moth 37.7 seconds ahead of German failing to set a time in Saturday’s quali- compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who fying session due to an engine problem, recovered after colliding with his finished seventh, running into further Lee rallies to capture Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen trouble at the start when he lost his at the first corner, to claim his third front wing in a first-corner collision. win from three races this season. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo finished The German now leads Hamil- fourth. The Australian rocketed off the Lotte Championship ton by 36 points in the standings and line from second on the grid and shot is firmly in control of the champion- past Rosberg into an early lead. ship with 18 rounds of a record 21-race But an early puncture and subse- season remaining. He certainly has quent safety car cost him any chance AFP history on his side with the winner of of a podium place. LPGA TOUR: LOTTE the first three races of the season hav- “As soon as I got on the straight, CHAMPIONSHIP ing gone on to win the title each time. basically I could feel the car start to “Well, it’s too early to make any wobble and then I looked in the mir- LOS ANGELES: Australian teen- summaries,” Rosberg told reporters. ror and the tyre went,” Ricciardo said. ager Min-Jee Lee saved her best for followed it with two birdies.” “It’s three races now and they’ve “With the safety car, that put us last Saturday by fashioning a 10-shot Lee became the fifth player to gone really well for me but it’s the even further back so that was like a improvement in the fourth round to win twice before her 20th birthday, longest season in F1 history with 21 double whammy which felt like get- claim her second career LPGA Tour joining Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, races. ting punched in the stomach by a victory. Marlene Hagge and Sandra Haynie. Yesterday’s win was the 17th of heavyweight.” The 19-year-old from Perth She also finished in the top 10 Rosberg’s career and extended his Raikkonen, who came off worse closed with a bogey free eight- (tied for ninth) at last year’s Wom- streak of race victories to six, dat- in the first-corner collision with Vet- under par 64, just 24 hours after en’s British Open. ing back to last November’s Mexican tel, was sixth ahead of Felipe Massa of shooting a two-over 74 at the Lotte The red-hot Chun could have Grand Prix. Williams. Max Verstappen was eighth Championship. finished in a tie at the top but missed Only three other drivers have ever ahead of Toro Rosso team mate Carlos She finished at 16-under 272 a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18. put together a run of six or more wins Sainz while Valtteri Bottas rounded out to beat South Korea’s Chun In-Gee “It had a chance to go in but it in a row. Vettel managed nine with the top 10 for Williams. and American Katie Burnett by one was a very tricky green,” Chun said. Red Bull in 2013 and Michael Schu- The early safety car led to a chop- stroke at the Kapolei, Hawaii golf The defending US Women’s Open macher seven with Ferrari in 2004. ping and changing of the order with course. Burnett was the lone Amer- champion Chun had six birdies en The other was Italian Alberto Ascari some drivers choosing to pit even as ican golfer in the top six. route to a 67 as she finished run- German Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG in the 1950s. others stayed out. That put a mix of tyre Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, 21, ner-up in just her second start after GP in action during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Daniil Kvyat finished third to strategies into play, producing a close finished in sole possession of fourth a freak collision with a suitcase that Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China yesterday. The score Red Bull their first podium battle for position behind the leader at 14-under after firing a 68 on Sat- sidelined her for a month. German claimed his third win from three races this season. finish since September’s Singapore with plenty of exciting racing through urday. Jan Su-Yeon of South Korea Chun was riding the escalator at Grand Prix but the Russian had to the field. rounded out the top five at 13 under Singapore’s Changi Airport when she after posting a final-round 71. was struck by the hard cased suitcase Lee chipped in for eagle on the that got away from the father of fel- par-five 13th hole and had six bird- low South Korean Jang Ha-Na. She sat Vettel hits out ies during a seven-hole run that out with an injured back but tied for Hamilton hopes ‘dark cloud’ over launched her up the leaderboard. second two weeks ago in her return. She rolled in a birdie putt on the The 26-year-old Burnett was una- at ‘torpedo’ par-four 17th hole and saved par with ble to hold on to the lead and finished an up and down from off the green with a 70. Her undoing was a three- his F1 season passes soon at No. 18 to claim her second North putt bogey on the par-three 16th hole Daniil Kvyat American win to go with a victory at and missed birdie putts on 17 and 18. the 2015 Kingsmill Championship. Ko, the top-ranked women’s Reuters “I eagled the 13th hole and that player in the world, closed with a AP was kind of the turning point,” 69 to tie for 23rd at five-under, her Lewis Hamilton signs Lee said. I made that eagle then worst finish this year. SHANGHAI: Sebastian Vettel and autographs for fans Daniil Kvyat engaged in a verbal as he arrives at the spat after yesterday’s Chinese For- SHANGHAI: Defending F1 cham- Shanghai International mula One Chinese Grand Prix as pion Lewis Hamilton feels he has a Circuit in Shanghai, the four-time champion blamed “dark cloud” over him after his early- China yesterday. Donald regains lead the Russian for pushing him into season struggles continued with a a collision with team-mate Kimi disappointing seventh-place finish Raikkonen. at the Chinese Grand Prix yester- The two Ferraris came day, but the Mercedes driver is trying AFP together at the first corner in the to stay positive with a long season PGA TOUR: RBC HERITAGE race after German Vettel was ahead of him. forced to go wide by Kvyat who After dominating Formula One Kevin’s way,” Day said. “I know that steamed up the inside in his Red for much of the past two seasons, LOS ANGELES: Former world he really wants to win a tournament. Bull. Hamilton has now failed to win in six number one Luke Donald will try He’s had two second-place finishes Raikkonen and Vettel, starting straight races — his longest drought to end his run of near-misses at the already this year. And my bad play, third and fourth, suffered damage since 2013. His seventh-place fin- RBC Heritage when he takes a one- I just felt like it may have affected in the incident and had to pit for ish in Shanghai is also his worst shot lead into final round which was him.” new front wings, which put paid to performance in a race that he’s com- to be held yesterday. Indeed Chappell carded a their chances of challenging Mer- pleted since the Brazilian Grand Prix Donald carded a two-under par four-over 75 that included two dou- cedes pole-sitter Nico Rosberg for at the end of 2013. 69 over Harbour Town Golf Links ble-bogeys on the back nine to fall the win. Hamilton’s troubles have come worse perhaps now because it’s obvi- power unit, relegating him to the last in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on five shots off the pace. “You came like a torpedo,” Vet- as his teammate, Nico Rosberg, has ously just gone one negative after the row for the race. Saturday to lead Americans Jason He’ll have work to do with Don- tel, who finished second over half a surged to the top, winning the past other,” Hamilton said. “But, of course, Another collision in the first lap Kokrak and Charley Hoffman by ald and his closest pursuers setting minute behind Rosberg, told third- six races to take a 36-point lead over there’s a long, long way to go. A lot’s Sunday damaged the front wing of one stroke. their sights on what has proved an placed Kvyat before the podium Hamilton in the drivers’ standings going to happen. It’s just that I have his car and led to the first of five pit Seven players are within three elusive title. ceremony. this season — 75 to 39. no more jokers available, really.” stops for the British driver. shots of the lead, but that doesn’t Donald has five top-three fin- “I was racing,” the 21-year- It’s a large deficit to make up, but Hamilton’s season hasn’t lacked “Definitely never felt the dark include current world number one ishes without a victory at Harbour old responded before Vettel, who not as daunting as Hamilton initially for drama. At the Australian Grand cloud I’ve had over me right now,” Jason Day. The overnight co-leader Town. Hoffman let a 54-hole lead also called Kvyat a “madman” and thought. Prix, he got off to a poor start and Hamilton said. “Of course, it’s a try- opened with a bogey and things went get away in 2013. Donald’s clos- described his move as “suicidal” “I thought it was 50 points,” he finished runner-up to Rosberg. Then, ing time. For sure, lots of different downhill from there. In a round that est calls at Harbour Town came over the radio during the race, cut said with a laugh after the race. at the Bahrain Grand Prix, there was emotions and thoughts are going included a double-bogey at the third, in 2011 -- when Brandt Snedeker him off. Hamilton also trailed Rosberg by another poor start and a collision through my mind. As you see the he made six of his eight bogeys on forced a playoff with a final-round “Not racing,” Vettel said. “If I 29 points midway through the 2014 with Valtteri Bottas at the first corner season start the wrong way, you see the back nine en route to a 79 that 64 and won it with a birdie at the keep going the same line, we crash. season and was able to win six of that left him with a damaged gear- a championship which your goals left him tied for 40th. third extra hole -- and in 2014, when Vettel’s point of view did not the final seven races to capture the box and a third-place finish. and your eyes are focused on move Day said that when he knew he Matt Kuchar chipped in from a bun- find many backers, however, championship. He said it might be This week in Shanghai, Hamilton further away from you as you’re had shot himself out of contention, ker to win. with former driver turned televi- harder to do the same this year, but picked up a five-place grid penalty approaching it. he concentrated on not distracting Hoffman has also endured Her- sion pundit Martin Brundle saying hopefully not impossible. for making an early gearbox change, “But this is a part of motor rac- playing partner Kevin Chappell, who itage disappointment. He led by two Kvyat was well within his rights to “It doesn’t feel any nicer than it then failed to set a time in qualify- ing. ... If we fail this weekend, we’ll is seeking a first PGA Tour title. through three rounds in 2013, but attempt the move. did back then. If anything, it feels ing after a separate problem with his get up and try harder the next time.” “I really wanted to stay out of shot a final-round 77. SPORT MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 31 Phelps claims 200m medley win in Mesa

to see him and Phelps renew their rivalry, but paid off with Lochte’s MESA PRO SWIM Grant Hackett Legendary Olympian victory in the 200m back in 2:01.04. posts fastest time this Colombian Omar Pinzon was year so far as Lochte second in the 200m back in 2:01.65. Aussie Hackett Katie Ledecky cruised to victory scratches final in the 800m freestyle in 8:13.20. freestyle in 48.00 -- tying him with ‘questioned by Ledecky didn’t threaten the world France’s Florent Manaudou for record of 8:06.68 that she set in Aus- fourth-fastest in the world this year. tin in January, but her time was the For US swimmers, the meet- police over mid-air second-fastest in the world this year ing was part of the build-up to the AFP and saw her touch half a pool length Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, incident’ in front of runner-up Lotte Friis of in June. Phelps after his win in 200m Denmark (8:27.85). butterfly said he was not happy with AFP American Maya DiRado com- the victory. LOS ANGELES: Michael Phelps led pleted an impressive double, winning “Not happy,” he said after the win. wire-to-wire in winning the 200m the women’s 200m medley in 2:11.09 Phelps was in control at the 100m SYDNEY: Olympic swimming individual medley at the Mesa Pro and returning less than half an hour mark, but Pace Clark closed strong to great Grant Hackett has hit the Swim on Saturday, his time of 1min later to win the 200m backstroke in finish second in 1:58.71 and Jonathan headlines for the wrong reasons 57.90 the third-fastest in the world 2:08.61. Gomez was third in 1:58.79. again, after he was reportedly this year. Both races featured strong fields, Phelps said the wind, with gusts questioned by Australian police Phelps, and 18-time Olympic gold with world record-holder Katinka up to 30 mph (48 km/h) were a over a mid-air incident yesterday. medallist aiming for one last burst Hosszu of Hungary finishing fifth challenge. Dual Olympic champion of Olympic glory at Rio de Janeiro in in the medley and two-time Olym- “That wind, oh my gosh,” Phelps Grant Hackett, 35, missed out on August, posted his fastest time in the pic gold medallist Kirsty Coventry of said. the chance to compete in Rio this event so far in 2016 to insert himself Zimbabwe finishing second in the “I felt like I was moving back- year when he failed to qualify for in the upper reaches of the rankings backstroke in 2:10.04. wards with about 15 meters to go the 200 metres freestyle final at led by the 1:55.07 of Japan’s Kosuke World record holder Missy Frank- going into that wall (at 150 meters).” the recent Australian Swimming Michael Phelps warms up before competing Hagino. lin wasn’t in the 200m back, tweeting Reigning Olympic 100m freestyle Championships. in the finals of the men’s 200m individual World record-holder Ryan Lochte apologetically that she was feel- champion Nathan Adrian said it was Numerous Australian media medley at the Skyline Aquatic Center on scratched the 200m medley final to ing unwell and resting on “coach’s howling so loudly in his ears he was reported that the four-time world Saturday in Mesa, Arizona. focus on the 200m backstroke. orders”. London Olympic gold med- afraid he wouldn’t hear the start of champion was returning from That robbed fans of a chance allist Nathan Adrian won the 100m the 50m free. Adelaide where the competition was held when the incident on a Virgin Australia flight took place. The airline confirmed an inci- dent on a Adelaide-Melbourne flight took place Sunday morning Le Clos focused on Phelps, Rio schedule blurry but did not name Hackett, citing privacy reasons. “The matter is now in the hands of Australian Fed- Reuters both the swimmer, who turned 24 eral Police,” said a Virgin last week, and coach Graham Hill spokeswoman. keeping outsiders guessing. “Our of respect of the privacy But he did send out a strong sig- of our passengers and our cabin DURBAN: South Africa’s Olympic nal to his American rival Phelps, crew it would be inappropriate to swimming champion Chad le Clos 18-times Olympic champion, with provide any further details.” remains undecided on the intensity a time of 1 minute 55.04 seconds in The Australian Federal Police of his Rio de Janeiro Games schedule the 200m fly and 51.82 seconds in confirmed they were called to a ahead of a much-anticipated show- the 100m. Melbourne airport arrival gate, down with idol and rival Michael “I’m just happy to get another adding that “a 35-year-old man Phelps in Brazil. time under way,” he told reporters was spoken to however at this time Le Clos stunned the American after winning the 100m butterfly no charges have been laid.” with victory in the 200 metre but- race. “Enquiries in relation to this terfly at the London 2012 Games “I’m exactly two seconds off the matter are continuing,” federal and this week booked a spot in world record but that is my goal,” he police added in a statement. five different events in Brazil after added. Broadcaster Ray Hadley said securing required qualifying times Le Clos, who also won silver in on 2GB radio the alleged incident at the South African swimming the 100m butterfly in London, has involved a passenger in front of championship. set his sights on becoming the most Hackett who had reclined his seat. Whether he features in all of decorated African male Olympian, “Grant Hackett took exception them, though, is unclear. topping the three gold and one sil- to the reclining of the seat. There Le Clos said last year he planned ver medal of Ethiopian long-distance was some sort of altercation,” Had- to take on Phelps in the 100m and runner Kenenisa Bekele. ley added. 200m butterfly and freestyle races “I’ll be in the best shape of my “There’s allegations from peo- at the Aug. 5-21 Games in Rio but life for Rio and gold is on my mind,” ple on board the flight that Hackett has since scrapped the 100m free- he said previously. assaulted the man in front of him.” style, failing to enter the event at the “The butterfly races are on my Hackett’s life spiralled after he national championships in Durban, mind and Michael Phelps’s butter- previously retired from top-level South Africa. fly world records (100m and 200m) swimming in 2008, undergoing South Africa’s Chad Le Clos celebrates after winning a gold medal on the final day of the two-day FINA airweave Le Clos’ schedule for Rio is the have been on my mind since I won rehab in 2014 after seeking help subject of some conjecture with gold in London.” Swimming World Cup 2015 (50m) at the Hamad Aquatic Center in Doha, in this November 3, 2014 file photo. for an addiction to sleeping pills. Sturm shocked by failed drugs test Warrington reigns supreme

AFP have an absolutely clear conscious. “I’ll be getting a lawyer, I haven’t worked for 26 years for this. “I’ll fight like a lion, like I do in the BERLIN: World Super Middleweight ring. I don’t have a bad conscious, it champion Felix Sturm said on Sat- just really annoys me. urday he was shocked to have tested “I will make a complete listing of positive for an anabolic steroid after everything I took in the twelve weeks his win over Russia’s Fedor Chudinov before the fight. There will be nothing last February. on it which could explain the findings. The 37-year-old German was “I have taken the same German found to have the steroid Hydro-XY products for the last eight to ten Stanozolol in his A sample follow- years,” he added, ruling out any fit- ing his majority decision rematch ness supplements he could have taken win over Chudinov in Oberhausen as the cause. on February 20 for the WBA super Stanozolol is the same steroid middleweight belt. Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson took His victory saw him become the when he was stripped of his 1988 first German to be a world champion Olympic gold medal as he tested pos- five times having also held the WBA itive after winning the men’s 100m and WBO middleweight titles. final. “At first I was shocked,” Sturm Sturm says it would make no said, having learnt of his failed test via sense for him to take a steroid. email from the World Boxing Associ- “I have had muscles since I was 14. ation on Friday night. A file picture dated 9 May 2015 of German boxer Felix Sturm reacting What good would it do me? I have a “This is all very strange, espe- after a WBA Super-Middleweight title bout in Frankfurt, Germany. body which is already well trained,” cially as it has taken eight weeks to he insisted. be informed of the result. Sturm lives in hope he will be British boxer Josh Warrington celebrates after winning the “Also, the Association of German vindicated. International Boxing Federation World Featherweight title professional boxers (BDB), who hosted positive result, which could spell an five defeats, the last of which came “There have been many cases fight against Japan’s Hisashi Amagasa in Leeds on Saturday. the bout, were not informed, only my end to his career. to Chudinov last May in the original where the B sample has refuted the Warrington topped all three judges’ scorecards by margins of trainer and I.” “I’ll definitely have the B sample bout. “I have had my blood and urine first test. So I am not worried,” he 117-111, 118-111 and 121-107, with the latter score especially tough He now faces a two-year ban, opened,” said Sturm having won 40 tested hundreds of times. said. on the gutsy Amagasa, boxing outside of Japan for the first time. providing the B sample shows a of his fights, 18 by knock-out with “Nothing has ever been found. I “I didn’t do it, 1000 percent.” 32 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 SPORT Nadal ends four-year Monaco wait

TENNIS: MONTE CARLO Spaniard pulls level MASTERS with ATP leader Djokovic on 28 again,” Nadal said. “I had a tough season last years. trophies at the but I’ve had better preparation this Masters 1000 level year, even with a tough start to the season. “I hope this week will help me a lot,” the Spaniard said as he prepared AFP to move onto his home clay of Bar- celona next week. “I’m very happy to win a tough match. “The defence in the first two sets MONTE CARLO, Principality of was just unbelievable. In the third I Monaco: Rafael Nadal needed nearly told myself I had to hit my forehand three hours to defeat Gael Monfils 7-5, harder. I went for winners, but at 5-7, 6-0 yesterday and win a record times it was tough to find the right ninth title at the Monte Carlo Masters. feeling. The Spaniard claimed his first tro- “This is a great victory for me and phy in the Principality since 2012 as a very emotional one. he played in his 100th final and tenth “It’s just amazing to win here in Monte Carlo. again. This is an event I love so much, The win pulled Nadal level with I’ve been struggling in the past and I ATP leader Novak Djokovic on 28 tro- came here and am able to play well. phies at the Masters 1000 level. “This victory means a lot to me. I Nadal won eight consecutive titles hope it helps my season with confi- before losing the 2013 final to Djok- dence for the next few tournaments. ovic and, after struggling for fitness I’ve been able to play well for two in recent years, he demonstrated his events in a row - return to form by overwhelming the Indian Wells and here - and I’m home favourite in the third set to win very happy about that.” his 28th Masters title. Nadal now owns 68 titles and will FROM LEFT: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Monte Carlo winner Rafael Nadal of Spain, Elisabeth Anne de Massy and Winning a first Masters honour carry on in the run-up to the French second placed Gael Monfils of France pose during the awarding ceremony following the final of the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament since Madrid in May, 2014, Nadal Open with renewed confidence; Mon- in Monaco yesterday. Nadal defeated Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 to win a record ninth title at the Monte Carlo Masters. improved to 12-2 over Monfils fils can take small consolation after The pair were plagued by winning his first-ever set against unforced errors in the tight contest, Nadal on clay. struggle alive as he won the set for Monfils said. “I try to play better and But the third was all Nadal as the 2005-2012. His last finals appear- with the winner striking 36 while The opening set took almost an one apiece. develop better tennis. I even try also Spanish fifth seed swept to a love ance here was in 2013 when he lost Monfils made more than 50. hour and a quarter and set the stage “I ‘m feeling good. I’m not try- to feel better. Today,it was a beauti- finish to win his eighth clay match to Novak Djokovic. The match was also riddled with for the second, which at one point ing to assess the tournaments here ful final. It was a high level of tennis,” against the Frenchman without a Nadal’s specialist record on his 34 break points, with Nadal con- featured three consecutive breaks of and there. I just want to continue the said Monfils. defeat. favoured clay is all but untoucha- verting on eight of 21 while Monfils serve out to 4-4. work I’m doing, which is good work. “In two weeks I’m hoping to be Nadal improved his superla- ble, with the 14-time Grand Slam managed five of 13. Monfils moved into winning posi- I’m trying to improve my intensity in better. In three weeks, too, and be tive tournament record to 58-4 after winner standing 48-8 in clay “It’s great to win a Masters title tion with a break for 6-5 and kept the the tournaments match after match,” better for the French Open.” winning eight straight titles from finals. Czechs face France in FedCup final

AFP played. teamed up with Maldenovic in the Fed Cup “The key was the depth of our concluding doubles against Bertens semi-final Results team today. It gave me more oppor- and Richel Hogenkamp to clinch the tunities to make the doubles team. It tie 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. At Lucerne, Switzerland PARIS: Karolina Pliskova and is a great feeling for the camp. The Dutch number 1 Bertens’s open- Czech Republic 3 Switzerland 2; Lucie Hradecka secured the Czech sprit is there, everybody wants to ing success was her 15th in FedCup Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt Timea Republic a fifth Fed Cup final win the cup.” singles and put the Dutch in sight Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-4, 6-2; Viktor- appearance in six years with vic- Swiss skipper Heinz Guenthardt of a Fed Cup final for the first time ija Golubic (SUI) bt Karolina Pliskova tory in the deciding doubles against said: “I am very proud of my team. in 19 years. (CZE) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Lucie Hradecka/ Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt Viktorija Switzerland yesterday. We left everything out on the cen- Garcia then answered the pres- Golubic/Martina Hingis (SUI) 6-2, 6-2 Waiting for the defending tre court and I don’t think there is sure of the home fans at the Arena champions in the November 12-13 any question or any doubt in any- Loire in the west of France in fine On Saturday final will be France, who edged the one’s mind that we did that. style. Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Timea Netherlands in their semi-final in “You can’t ask of a team any- The French No.2 made amends Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-0, 6-2; Viktor- Trelaze. thing more than that.” after losing Saturday’s singles to ija Golubic (SUI) bt Karolina Pliskova The semi-final in Lucerne, level France, all square with the Bertens, the 22-year-old seeing off (CZE) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at 1-1 overnight, went down to the Dutch at 1-1 after Saturday’s sin- Rus and then returning to help win At Trelaze wire after Pliskova’s comfortable gles, progressed in similar fashion the doubles to give France a shot France 3 Netherlands 2; Kiki Bertens win over Timea Bacsinszky before to the Czechs to make their first at a third FedCup crown and first (NED) bt Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) a stunning 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) 6-1 come- final since 2005. in 16 years. 7-5, 6-4; Caroline Garcia (FRA) bt back win from Viktorija Golubic Skippered by Amelie Mauresmo “There was lost of frustration Arantxa Rus (NED 6-3, 6-4; Caro- against Barbora Strycova. the French went into the tie on clay- (after Saturday) but then it was as line Garcia/Kristina Maldenovic (FRA) But Switzerland’s dream of court against surprise semi-finalists if an energy rose up, a desire to gain bt Kiki Bertens/Richel Hogenkamp (NED) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 making their first final since 1998 the Netherlands as clear favourites. my revenge,” said Garcia. was ended when Pliskova and But the Dutch took a 2-1 lead She added: “The fact that Ame- On Saturday Hradecka despatched Golubic and courtesy of Kiki Bertens’s 7-5, 6-4 lie had confidence in me gave me Martina Hingis 6-2, 6-2 to take the win over Kristina Mladenovic in a lift.” Kiki Bertens (NED) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-4, 6-2; Kristina Mladenovic France’s Fed Cup captain Amelie Mauresmo (left) celebrates with France’s tie 3-2. Sunday’s opening match. Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis (FRA) bt Richel Hogenkamp (NED) players Kristina Mladenovic (centre) and Caroline Garcia after France won Czech captain Petr Pala paid Caroline Garcia defeated said: “It’s difficult to get so close to 6-2, 6-4 the Fed Cup semi-final double match against the Netherlands in Trelaze, tribute to his team. Arantxa Rus 6-3, 6-4 to get the your goal and then lose, it’s hard to northwestern France, yesterday. “It was sensational the way they hosts back level, and then Garcia take.” Teenager Pulisic on target in Dortmund victory

Agencies much tonight.”“Obviously, we were squandered a two-goal lead and a nine months, meaning Marchisio will disappointed (after the Liverpool chance to close on the Champions be ruled out for the rest of the season Dortmund’s midfielder defeat),” said the US international. League spots, slumping to a 3-2 loss and would miss this summer’s show- Christian Pulisic celebrates “But our coach told us we have to against Cologne, who scored three piece in France. scoring a goal during the BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund eased keep going and not hang our heads. times in the second half to move up It is a significant blow to the past nine-man Hamburg SV 3-0 to It did us a lot of good.” to 10th on 37. Mainz are sixth on 45, German Bundesliga match Azzurri ahead of Euro 2016, where keep their slim Bundesliga title hopes Hamburg had keeper Rene Adler level with seventh-placed Schalke 04. against Hamburg SV in Italy will be looking to make amends alive yesterday as they moved seven sent off for bringing down a charging Meanwhile, Italy midfielder Clau- Dortmund, western Germany, for two consecutive first-round exits points behind leaders Bayern Munich Shinji Kagawa after the break. dio Marchisio will miss Euro 2016 yesterday. from the past two editions of the with four games remaining. Hamburg played the final 13 min- after his club Juventus confirmed he World Cup. American teenager Christian Puli- utes with nine men after Alvin Ekdal has ruptured the anterior cruciate lig- In a picture taken at his home, sic became the fourth youngest player also left the field injured with no sub- ament in his left knee. Marchisio cut a gloomy figure in an to score in the Bundesliga when the stitutions available. Juventus star Marchisio was Instagram post: “Just got back home. 17-year-old drilled in from a tight Dortmund’s numerical advan- stretchered off 15 minutes into the The news from the MRI only makes angle in the 38th minute. tage meant the hosts only needed champions’ 4-0 victory over Palermo me feel bad, but these are the risks of Adrian Ramos added another to play possession football as Ham- in Turin after a challenge that left him our profession. goal six minutes later, shaking off burg sought to limit the damage. But rolling on the turf in pain. “I have the strength and the deter- two defenders to fire in as Dortmund Colombian Ramos struck again with Juve’s victory took their Serie A mination to come back strong and as looked to recover from their last-gasp his eighth goal of the campaign in the lead over Napoli to nine points with soon as possible.” Juventus are aiming Europa League quarter-final elimina- 86th minute. five games remaining, but the shine for a fifth consecutive league title, a tion by Liverpool last Thursday. The win lifted Dortmund, who of that achievement was tempered by feat they last achieved in 1935. “I can’t describe it, can’t put it into have already secured a Champi- the setback to Marchisio. contributions to the Italy team -- do official website. Marchisio added: “In the mean- words,” a beaming Pulisic told report- ons League spot, to 71 points, seven Subjected to an MRI scan imme- not want to hear. “In the coming days the player will time, I still feel the joy of this great ers, after also earning praise from US adrift of Bayern, 3-0 conquerors of diately after the game, the Italian “The scan confirmed suspicions of undergo an operation.” victory that takes us closer to our national team coach Juergen Klins- Schalke 04. champions released a statement a ruptured anterior crucial ligament in A return to competitive action fol- objective. Well done lads, never give mann. “I don’t think I’ll be sleeping European hopefuls Mainz 05 that Italy’s fans -- given Marchisio’s the left knee,” Juventus said on their lowing an ACL rupture can take six to up!” SPORT MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 33

Golden State ’s victory Horford to the rescue as clouded by Curry injury

Agencies Both players received techni- cal fouls. The Warriors responded Hawks edge out Celtics like champs, getting two 3-point- ers from Curry in a 14-6 burst that NEW YORK: The Golden State broke the game open at 25-10 in the Warriors built a big early lead and 10th minute. overcame an injury to point guard With Curry single-handedly out- Atlanta escape with a Stephen Curry to thump the Hou- scoring the Rockets, the Warriors led ston Rockets 104-78 in the opener of 33-15 at quarter’s end, having limited 102-101 victory over the Western Conference first-round Houston to 6-of-20 shooting from Boston in Game 1 of series in Oakland, California on Sat- the field. urday. Holding Houston star James Eastern Conference Curry, the league’s leading Harden to four points on 2-for-9 scorer, had 24 points, including 16 shooting from the floor, the Warri- in the first quarter, before twisting ors went on to build a 60-33 halftime his right ankle in the second quar- advantage, but not before getting a ter of the Warriors’ 40th win in 42 scare from Curry. Agencies home dates this season. Attempting to deny Harden on a The league’s reigning Most Valu- drive to the hoop, Curry turned his able Player went to the locker room right ankle in the final two minutes for examination just before halftime of the half in what appeared to be a NEW YORK: The Atlanta Hawks were and returned to play the first 2:47 of minor incident. melting down, their 19-point lead over the third quarter before Golden State He missed the final 1:07 of the the Boston Celtics long gone. Al Hor- coach Steve Kerr abruptly called a half, having already burned the ford wasn’t going down like that, timeout and took his star out of the Rockets for 24 points on 8-of-13 though. game. shooting from the floor, including 5 Horford scored 24 points, grabbed By that point, Golden State had of 7 from 3-point range. 11 rebounds and made multiple hus- built a commanding 65-39 lead. Game Two will be played in tle plays down the stretch, allowing In a rematch of last year’s West- Oakland today. Curry’s participa- Atlanta to escape with a 102-101 win ern Conference finals, the Warriors tion appears to be in doubt, based on Saturday in Game 1 of an Eastern hounded Houston into 2-of-13 shoot- on Kerr’s post-game comments. Conference play-offs series that is ing from the field to begin the game “I would just say Steph is ques- expected to be tight. and frustrated the Rockets to the tionable, so we’ll see how he After trailing by as many as 19 in point that point guard Patrick Bev- responds the next couple of days the first, Boston’s Avery Bradley and erley scuffled briefly with Curry just and we’ll go from there,” Kerr said Marcus Smart sparked a second- 5:29 into the game. after the match. half rally. It was the second straight improbable comeback for the Celtics, Atlanta Hawks centre Al Horford (left) moves the ball against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley during who stormed back from 26 down in a win over the Miami Heat in the final the second half in game one of the first round of the NBA play-offs at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday. game of the regular season. Boston nearly did it again Saturday. Isaiah Thomas scored 19 points, the game, 80-80 with 7:30 to play. Jae the Hawks would have handled the and Bradley scored 18 points, before Crowder followed with a go-ahead Wizards, they would have earned the suffering a lower leg injury midway 3-pointer that gave the Celtics their NBA PLAY-OFFS SERIES third seed and been on the opposite through the fourth quarter. He had first lead of the game with 6:50 to side of the bracket from Cleveland. to be helped off the floor and taken play. That misstep in DC cost Atlanta a back to the locker room. Bradley did Jeff Teague made three of four spot on the opposite of the bracket not return. free throws in the 15 seconds to will be played in Atlanta tomorrow. from LeBron James and company, Smart hit a pair of 3-pointers in secure the win for the Hawks. Boston and Atlanta ended the reg- which looks even better with Indi- the fourth quarter, the second tying Horford came up huge for Atlanta, ular season in opposite fashions. The ana knocking off No. 2-seed Toronto though. He had an assist to Kent Hawks lost Wednesday at Washington in Game of 1 of their series. Bazemore, while sitting on the floor to a Wizards team without John Wall. But if the Hawks were deflated, RESULTS and then hustled down an offensive On the same night, the Celtics came they certainly didn’t show it Game 1 Eastern Conference rebound off his own miss that led to from 26 down to beat the Heat. They opener of a series expected to be tight. two free throws in the final minutes. nearly did again Saturday. They dominated the first half on both In Toronto Bazemore had a big game with Boston opened the third quar- ends of the floor. Offensively, they Indiana 100 Toronto 90 23 points and eight rebounds, while ter with an 11-3 run that forced an were aggressive attacking the rim, (Indiana lead series 1-0) Teague finished with 20 points and early Atlanta timeout. Thomas’ sec- outscoring Boston 26-8 in the paint. In Atlanta 12 assists. ond 3-pointer of the quarter trimmed The Celtics shot 23.1 percent Atlanta 102 Boston 101 After scoring 34 points in the first the deficit to six, 62-56. Smart fin- from the floor including 2 of 16 on (Atlanta leads series 1-0) half and trailing by as many as 19, ished with 15 points. 3-pointers. Boston scored 31 points in third quar- Neither team is expected to be The Hawks 51-34 at halftime and Western Conference Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) and Houston ter to get back into the game. able to challenge the Cavaliers in appeared to be in command. They In Oakland, California The Celtics scored 34 in the entire the next round, which makes the weren’t, but thanks to Horford and Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) collide during the first quarter in Golden State 104 Houston 78 first half. Atlanta led by seven, 72-65, Hawks’ loss to an undermanned Wiz- Teague, they had enough to survive game one of the first round of the NBA play-offs at Oracle Arena in (Golden State lead series 1-0) entering the fourth quarter. Game 2 ards squad all the more egregious. If a Game 1 thriller. Oakland on Saturday .

BASEBALL RESULTS Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Nationals pummel Phillies 8-1 Seattle 3 NY Yankees 2 Harper watches his two Minnesota 6 LA Angels 4 RBI home run during Cincinnati 9 St Louis 8 the sixth inning of Agencies RBIs, extending his dominance at Citi- but pitched only five innings. Hern- Chicago Cubs 6 Colorado 2 MLB game against the zens Bank Park to 12 hits in his last 20 andez (1-1) needed four strikeouts to Philadelphia Phillies at-bats in five games. match Johnson’s mark of 2,162 from Oakland 5 Kansas City 3 at Citizens Bank Park Cubs 6, Rockies 2 1989 to 1998 and did so by getting Didi Boston 4 Toronto 2 in Philadelphia on NEW YORK: Bryce Harper said after Jake Arrieta returned to form in his Gregorius to end the fifth with two on. Cleveland 7 NY Mets 5 Saturday. Friday’s game that he was having a lot first Wrigley Field outing since a 2015 It also was Hernandez’s final pitch of fun. The Washington outfielder has play-off loss, striking out eight and because his pitch count was at 106 due Tampa Bay 7 C White Sox 2 certainly been making Philadelphia a allowing just five hits as the Chicago to a career-high tying six walks. Pittsburgh 5 Milwaukee 0 fun place to play for the Nationals as Cubs thrashed the Colorado Rockies. Twins 6, Angels 4 Washington drubbed the Phillies, 8-1. Arrieta, who went 22-6 in a 2015 Oswaldo Arcia and Byung Ho Park Washington 8 Philadelphia 1 After driving in a run in the first National League Cy Young season, hit back-to-back home runs in the bot- Atlanta 6 Miami 4 inning with a sacrifice fly, Harper improved to 3-0 as he worked eight tom of the eighth inning to break a tie Detroit 5 Houston 3 clubbed a two-run homer -- his sec- shutout innings and walked just one. game to lift Minnesota over Los Ange- ond home run in as many nights -- off Mariners 3, Yankees 2 les. The Twins have won back-to-back Texas 8 Baltimore 4 Phillies starter Aaron Nola to extend Felix Hernandez matched Hall of games after starting the season 0-9. San Diego 5 Arizona 3 Washington’s lead to 7-0. Famer Randy Johnson for the most The Angels have lost two straight San Francisco 4 LA Dodgers 3 Harper went 2-for-3 with three strikeouts in Seattle franchise history following a four-game winning streak. Holtby makes 41 saves as Capitals defeat Flyers again

Reuters Philadelphia power plays – includ- and fourth assists for the Capitals. momentum, and that’s huge.” The ing a 5 on 3 – and scored both times Holtby was again aided by team- Capitals picked up a power-play they had the man-advantage. mates willing to sacrifice their bodies chance midway through the period “Usually you don’t see that many as the Capitals blocked 25 shots. and, with the Flyers’ Nick Shultz play- NEW YORK: The Philadelphia Fly- penalties in the play-offs,” Holtby said. The Flyers were without sec- ing without a stick, Carlson fired from ers have done a decent job against the The PKs there, we don’t get rattled if ond-line centre Sean Couturier the point through a screen and past top-seeded Washington Capitals at they call something against us. We’re (upper-body injury), who is out for Mason at 14:09. even strength thus far. ready to perform.” the series after a hard check from Ovechkin registered another Special teams are another matter. The Capitals have scored on 3 of Ovechkin in Game 1. bone-crushing hit. In Game 1, he put Braden Holtby made 41 saves, 8 power-play tries, while the Flyers After putting 19 shots on Holtby Couturier out of action with a clean Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two are scoreless in seven power-play in all of Game 1, the Flyers matched hit along the boards and on Saturday assists, and the Capitals defeated the chances. that total in the first period on Satur- night sent Brayden Schenn over the Flyers 4-1 on Saturday night, taking a “I thought our power play was day night, though also with nothing boards and into the Flyers’ bench with 2-0 lead in their opening-round play- pretty good tonight,” to show for it. first-period check. off series. Play resumes Monday night in Holtby made several point-blank Washington regained the two- Jason Chimera scored a fluke goal Philadelphia. stops during a Flyers 5-on-3 advan- goal lead when Ovechkin scored his Goalie Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals gets a drink in the from centre ice and John Carlson and Jakub Voracek pulled the Flyers to tage late in the period. “Couple huge first goal of the series, one-timing a Alex Ovechkin scored power-play within 2-1 in the second period and saves, couple big blocks, guys work- cross-ice feed from Backstrom past third period against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Two of the Eastern goals. Steve Mason had 19 saves. ing their tails off,” Carlson said. Mason from the left circle with 2:39 Conference quarter-finals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup play-offs The Capitals killed off all three Marcus Johansson had his third “We kill that off and get left in the period. at Verizon Center in Washington, DC yesterday. 34 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Afghan coach I nzamam quits Sri Lanka’s Herath quits and set to take Pakistan job shortest forms of cricket Reuters

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket cap- World Twenty20 trophy, tain Inzamam-ul-Haq (pictured) is set to including taking five for three This file photograph be appointed as the country’s chief selec- The 38-year-old in the semi-final against New tor after he was released from his role as taken on March 25, left-arm Zealand, the third best fig- Afghanistan’s head coach. 2016, shows Sri ures by a bowler in T20 The 46-year-old Inzamam guided off-spinner with Lanka’s Rangana internationals. Afghanistan to the Super 10 stage of the impressive But Sri Lanka failed to Herath as he bowls recent World Twenty20 in India, during bowling figures, reach the semis in the just in the nets during which they defeated eventual champions finished 2016 edition of the a practice session West Indies. He had a contract with the says he wants to tournament after a lacklustre on the eve of their Afghan board (ACB) until the end of the year. focus on Tests campaign. World T20 cricket ACB Chief Shafiq Stanikzai said he He has 74 wickets from 71 tournament match had received a request from his Pakistan Pakistan exited the World Twenty20 ODIs, but will be remembered against England in Cricket Board counterpart Shaharyar Khan after losing three of their four games in the more fondly for his impact in New Delhi. Herath to release the former batting great from his Super 10 stage prompting head coach Waqar Agencies T20 internationals. Herath yesterday announced contract. Younis to resign. played a key role in Sri Lan- his retirement from “Today Shaharyar Khan called me and Inzamam played 378 one-day interna- ka’s victorious 2014 World T20 the two shortest asked a favour to release Inzamam-ul-Haq tionals and 120 tests for Pakistan and also campaign, delivering the side’s forms of the game, as they are keen to hire him,” Stanikzai told served as the team’s batting consultant for COLOMBO: Sri Lankan vet- spell of that tournament. saying he wanted reporters. a brief period in 2012. eran bowler Rangana Herath His 5 wickets for 3 runs in to concentrate on yesterday announced his a virtual quarter-final against his passion for Test retirement from the two New Zealand is arguably the cricket. shortest forms of cricket, say- best-ever T20 bowling per- ing he wanted to focus on Test formance. He was also effective SLC warns Malinga matches. in the semi-final and final of “Every cricketer has to stop that tournament, and had also at the right time,” Herath said been incisive in the 2012 World in a statement issued through T20 semi-final, against Paki- AFP travelling to Mumbai to be with his IPL Sri Lanka Cricket. stan, where he claimed 3 for 25. team,” the spokeswoman for SLC president “I feel it’s time to make Overall, he has 18 T20I wickets Thilanga Sumathipala said. room for fresh talent to be from 17 matches. “But in order to play, he must get a NOC groomed with the 2019 World His retirement will leave COLOMBO: Sri Lanka cricket authorities (no objection certificate) from SLC.” Cup in view.” the likes of Jeffrey Vandersay yesterday warned injured fast bowler Lasith “Malinga has not informed Sri Lanka The 38-year-old left-arm and Sachithra Senanayake Malinga against playing in the lucrative Cricket of his travel to India nor his inten- off spinner said Test cricket vying to become the team’s Indian Premier League without clearance tion to play in the IPL,” she said. was his “personal passion,” on first-choice short-format spin- from them. After Wednesday’s fitness assessment, which he wanted to concen- ner. Herath himself will shift Malinga, suffering a knee injury that “the board will decide what course of action trate for the remainder of his focus to the three-Test series forced him out of the World Twenty20, is in should be taken”. playing career. in England, in May and June, India where he has signed with the Mumbai The paceman has a long history of injury Herath has suffered from for which preparation begins Indians, although the veteran did not play problems and gave up Test cricket in 2010, knee injuries in recent years on Monday. in the franchise’s first two outings. saying he was unable to withstand the rig- and has largely only played “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said Malinga our of five-day matches. But Malinga is the limited-overs cricket at the Mr. Herath nothing but the best needed its clearance to play in any IPL IPL’s all-time highest wicket taker. And the major tournaments. as he continues to play cricket matches and must return to Colombo for 32-year-old is considered an invaluable Herath was one of the in his chosen discipline, and in a fitness assessment on Wednesday before member of the Sri Lankan team, with team- stand-outs for Sri Lanka in all future endeavours,” a board any IPL appearances. mate Thisara Perera describing him during 2014 when they lifted the release said yesterday. “We have no problem with Malinga the World T20 as irreplaceable. De Kock heroics help Daredevils Vijay, Vohra steer Punjab to win thrash Royal Challengers Agencies

MOHALI: Openers Murali Vijay IANS and Manan Vohra produced excel- lent batting performances as Kings XI Punjab posted their first win of BANGALORE: Riding on opener Quin- the season, outclassing Rising Pune ton De Kock’s heroics, Delhi Daredevils Supergiants by six wickets in their (DD) yesterday defeated the Royal Chal- Indian Premier League (IPL) match lengers Bangalore (RCB) in the group at the Punjab Cricket Association stage match of the Indian Premier Stadium yesterday. League (IPL) at the Chinnaswami Sta- This was the first win for Punjab dium in Bangalore. this season. They suffered a poor start Leading the run chase for the vis- as they were beaten comprehensively itors, De Kock hit a superbly-crafted in both their earlier matches. century (108 of 51 balls), first century Needing 154 runs for a win in in IPL 9, with 15 fours and three sixes front of their home crowd, Vijay and to guide his team to win the match by Vohra saw Punjab off to an excellent seven wickets in 19.1 overs. start with a couple of half-centuries The South African southpaw was a each. beauty to watch and a virtuoso in action Vijay was the top scorer for Punjab with his boundaries zooming all over with 53 runs off 49 deliveries, hitting the ground, especially his masterclass five boundaries and two sixes. off-side shots. Vohra was in equally good form From an asking rate of 87 runs in at the other end, smashing 51 runs 48 balls after 12 overs, the going got so off 31 balls with seven well-stroked easy that DD only needed 21 runs in 26 boundaries. Kings XI Punjab’s Murali Vijay goes for a six during their IPL T20 balls by the 17th over and just one run Leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin off the final six balls. brought Pune back into the game cricket match against Rising Pune Supergiants at The Punjab Cricket Delhi Daredevils batsman Karun Nair, unbeaten at 54 off 42 when he removed Shaun Marsh, Vijay Association Stadium in Mohali yesterday. balls with six fours and one six, stood Quinton De Kock raises his and David Miller in quick succes- by De Kock to see the victory in the bat after scoring 100 runs, sion. But Glenn Maxwell plundered 20th over. during their IPL T20 match 32 runs off just 14 deliveries to seal SCOREBOARD against Royal Challengers Though DD started off their chase the issue for Punjab. The star Austral- RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS KINGS XI PUNJAB of 192 runs shakily, losing Shreyas Iyer Bangalore at the M. ian batsman fittingly hit the winning (0) and Sanju Samson (9) early, the win Chinnaswamy Stadium in runs when he smashed Thisara Per- A M Rahane b S Sharma 9 M Vijay c Dhoni b M Ashwin 53 was comprehensive and facile. Bangalore yesterday. era for a boundary. F du Plessis c&b Sharma 67 M Vohra lbw A Sharma 51 David Wiese took a spectacular Murugan Ashwin ended with fig- K P Pietersen c Vohra b Abbott 15 S E Marsh b M Ashwin 4 catch to get rid of Iyer in the first over ures of 3/36. SCOREBOARD N L T C Perera c Sharma b S Sharma 8 D A Miller c Pietersen b M Ashwin 7 off S. Aravind, but from then on there Earlier, opener Faf du Plesis bat- S P D Smith c Miller b Sharma 38 G J Maxwell (not out) 32 was no looking back for DD, with De ted through the innings to post a ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE DELHI DAREDEVILS M S Dhoni c Maxwell b Sharma 1 W P Saha (not out) 4

Kock and Nair in action. gritty half-century as Pune reached

C H Gayle c Duminy b Khan 0 Q de Kock c Jadhav b Watson 108 I K Pathan (run out) 2 Extras (W-2) 2 Nair reached his half century in the 152/7.The South African right-hander 17th over off 37 balls with six fours and a V Kohli c Iyer b M Shami 79 S S Iyer c Wiese b Aravind 0 scored 67 runs and was involved in R Ashwin (not out) 1 Total (for 4 wkts in 18.4 overs) 153 sixer. Shane Watson emerged the most A B de Villiers c M Shami b Brathwaite 55 S V Samson c Chahal b Watson 9 two crucial partnerships with Kevin Extras (LB-8, W-3) 11 Did not bat: A R Patel, M M Sharma, K J Ab- successful bowler for RCB, claiming two S R Watson c Morris b M Shami 33 K K Nair (not out) 54 Pietersen and Steven Smith before Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) 152 bott, P Sahu, Sandeep Sharma. wickets for 25 runs in his quota of four falling in the final over of the innings. S N Khan (run out) 1 J P Duminy (not out) 7 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-65, 3-76, 4-139, Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-103, 3-112, 4-119. overs while Sreenath Aravind was the His 53-ball innings was studded with

only other bowler 1/32 to claim a wicket. K M Jadhav (not out) 9 Extras (LB-3, W-10, NB-1) 14 eight hits to the fence. 5-149, 6-149, 7-152. Bowling: I Sharma 3-0-26-0; Ankit Sharma Earlier, after winning the toss, DD D Wiese (not out) 5 Total (for 3 wkts in 19.1 overs) 192 For Punjab, medium-pacer Mohit Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-0-23-2 (1w); K J 4-0-27-1 (2w); R Ashwin 4-0-27-0; M Ashwin captain Zaheer Khan chose to filed first Extras (LB-8, W-1) 9 Did not bat: C R Brathwaite, C H Morris, P Sharma bagged three crucial wickets Abbott 4-0-38-1 (1w); A R Patel 3-0-26-0; P 4-0-36-3; I K Pathan 1-0-7-0; N L T C Perera 2.4-0-30-0. and put the home team to bat. Total (for 5 wkts in 20 overs) 191 Negi, Z Khan, A Mishra, Mohammed Shami. for figures of 3/23. His fellow pacer Sahu 4-0-31-0 (1w); M M Sharma 4-0-23-3; G J Maxwell 1-0-3-0. Player-of-the-Match: M Vohra (KXIP). Captain Virat Kohli, with a fighting Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-107, 3-170, 4-172, Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-50, 3-184. Sandeep Sharma was also very eco- 79 off 48 balls, was the chief architect nomical, returning 2/23 in his four 5-177. Bowling: S Aravind 3-0-32-1 (2w); Parvez of RCB’s 191/5 in 20 overs. overs. Rasool 3-0-28-0; S R Watson 4-0-25-2 (1w); Y DD points tally rose to four with Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-50-1; C H Morris 4-0- Pune’s other opener Ajinkya 35 deliveries. After Pietersen and runs off 26 balls before a clever the latest victory, two wins in three 29-0; Mohammed Shami 4-0-34-2 (1w); P S Chahal 2.1-0-23-0 (1w); D Wiese 4-0-49-0 Rahane fell for 9, plating the ball Thisara Perera went back in quick change of pace from Mohit Sharma matches, while Royal Challengers con- Negi 3-0-26-0; A Mishra 3-0-26-0; C R (1nb, 2w); H V Patel 3-0-32-0. into the stumps off a delivery from succession, Smith and du Plesis bol- forced him to mistime an attempted tinue with points with a win and a loss Brathwaite 2-0-18-1. Player-of-the-Match: Q de Kock (DD). Sharma. Then Pietersen and du Ple- stered the innings with a 63-run big hit and David Miller pulled off a after two matches. sis shared 55 runs between them off partnership. Smith contributed 38 relatively easy catch. SPORT MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 35 Torres on target as Atletico join Barca atop La Liga

AFP away from an equaliser on the half hour mark when he smashed a long-range shot against the post. MADRID: Fernando Torres All of Torres’s goals in his struck his fourth goal in last four outings have come Leonardo Ulloa scores the second goal for Leicester through a penalty spot as many games as Atletico from Koke assists and that in their Barclays Premier League match against West Ham United at the King Madrid moved level with Bar- combination worked a treat Power Stadium in Leicester, United kingdom yesterday. celona at the top of La Liga once more for Diego Sime- with a routine 3-0 win over one’s men when the former Granada yesterday. Liverpool and Chelsea striker Koke ensured Atletico latched onto an inch-perfect would have no hangover from pass before lifting the ball their efforts in dispatching over the onrushing Andres Barca from the Champi- Fernandez. Ulloa late show keeps Foxes ons League in midweek as Simeone then with- he swept home the opener drew top-scorer Antoine on 15 minutes before teeing Griezmann and Koke with up Torres to dink home just Wednesday’s difficult trip to before the hour mark. Athletic Bilbao in mind. Substitute Angel Correa Correa was one of those in front as Arsenal stumble rounded off the scoring with introduced and the Argen- a cool finish seven minutes tine international showed from time. great composure to slot home Victory takes Atletico the third from Saul Niguez’s with six minutes left, Andy Carroll equal- points with four matches remaining if at the end of the season guaranteed back a point clear of third- flick-on. ised from the penalty spot after Foxes they win away to Stoke City on Monday. Champions League football next term. placed Real Madrid and level Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao Liverpool moves to captain Wes Morgan needlessly bundled “The sending off changed our match,” “I don’t know how it works mathe- with Barca on 76 points with moved to within six points of within two points of over Winston Reid in the box. Leicester manager Ranieri told Sky matically but we are too disappointed to the Catalans aiming to halt an Villarreal in the fight for the the top six after 2-1 win Two minutes later Aaron Cresswell Sports, with the Italian refusing to com- think about the league, we have to think alarming dip in form later at fourth Champions League gave visitors West Ham the lead at the ment on Moss’s performance. about the Champions League and fight home to Valencia. place with a hard-fought 1-0 against Bournemouth King Power Stadium when he bent a sub- “I judge my players not the referee, to be in the Champions League,” Arsenal Atletico were met by a win at Malaga thanks to Raul lime shot into the top corner. the referee is not my matter. manager Wenger told the BBC. euphoric full house at the Garcia’s second-half header. Leicester then thought they should “Our performance was fantastic, this Yesterday’s other Premier League Vicente Calderon just four Villarreal lost 2-1 at Rayo have been awarded a penalty when is our soul, we play every match with this, match saw Liverpool move to within days after dumping Barca Vallecano in a result with AFP defender Robert Huth was grabbed round blood, heart and soul, it was magnifi- two points of the top six after a 2-1 win out the Champions League at huge ramifications at the bot- the neck inside the Hammers’ box. cent,” he added. away to Bournemouth. Fresh from their the quarter-final stage for the tom of the table. But Moss was unmoved and it seemed Arsenal’s bid to play in the Champi- Europa League quarter-final win over second time in three seasons. Miku’s brilliant header the Foxes’ best chance of an equaliser ons League for a 19th consecutive season manager Jurgen Klopp’s former club And Koke almost got the handed the Madrid side all LONDON: Leonardo Ulloa’s penalty in had disappeared. suffered a setback after they were held to Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool scored hosts off to the perfect start three points after Adrian the fifth-minute of stoppage-time res- Claudio Ranieri’s men, however, kept a 1-1 draw by London rivals Crystal Pal- twice towards the end of the first half at when he flashed a shot inches Lopez had cancelled out Javi cued a point for 10-man Premier League battling and in the 95th-minute of the ace yesterday. Dean Court through Roberto Firmino and over from Juanfran’s cut-back Guerra’s early opener for leaders Leicester City in a dramatic 2-2 match Moss, in what seemed a far less Alexis Sanchez headed the Gunners England striker Daniel Sturridge. in the first minute. Rayo. draw at home to West Ham United yester- clear-cut case than the Huth incident, in front on the stroke of half-time but FA Joshua King pulled a goal back in However, the Spanish Victory moves Rayo five day that left the Foxes eight points clear pointed to the spot following Carroll’s Cup semi-finalists Palace equalised nine stoppage-time at the end of the match international was deadly points clear of the relegation at the top. challenge on Jeffrey Schlupp. minutes before the final whistle at the but it was too late for the Cherries, accurate with his next zone with just five games England striker Jamie Vardy, who had Ulloa held his nerve with a well- Emirates Stadium when Yannick Bolasie’s who nevertheless remain on course to chance as he rifled home his remaining. given Leicester the lead with his 22nd struck penalty and a frenetic match shot from the edge of the box somehow avoid relegation. Klopp fielded a much- fifth goal of the season after Sevilla will almost cer- league goal of the season, was contro- ended all square at 2-2, with Leicester evaded Petr Cech at the Arsenal goal- changed side, with Danny Ward in goal Torres’s initial effort had been tainly have to win a third versially sent off by Jonathan Moss for still in pole position to be crowned cham- keeper’s near post. instead of Simon Mignolet, and after- blocked. consecutive Europa League to what the referee ruled a deliberate dive pions of England for the first time in the The draw meant Arsene Wenger’s wards the Reds boss said: “They’ve never Atletico’s rock-solid make it back into the Cham- in the box early in the second half as the Midlands club’s 132-year history. side failed to regain third place from played together. defence was rarely troubled pions League as they were forward tried to claim a penalty. However, second-placed Tottenham Manchester City and were only four “Danny Ward was brilliant. Let the as they held out for a 30th held 1-1 at home to Depor- It looked as if 10-man Leicester Hotspur, chasing a first English title since points in front of fifth-placed Manches- self-confidence grow of goalkeepers, clean sheet of the season, but tivo la Coruna to stay 11 points would cling on for all three points until, 1961, will cut Leicester’s lead to just five ter United, with just the top four clubs they’re normal human beings.” Ruben Rochina was inches behind Villarreal.

Qatar Show Jumping Championship Asian Snooker Championship in Doha

Mohammed Jassim Al Ghazali astride Caresse MG, receives his trophy after winning the 115cm Time Trial event of the Qatar Show Jumping Championship, organised by Qatar Equestrian Federation at Al Rayyan courts on Saturday. Al Ghazali clocked 55.25 seconds to win the event while Saieed Hamad Al Rashidi managed to finish second ahead of third placed Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi. BELOW: Mohammed Jassim Al Ghazali steers Caresse M G over an obstacle during the event. Mohammad Asif of Pakistan in action during his game on the second day of the Asian snooker championship at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Academy yesterday. More than 55 players from 20 countries take part in the seven-day championship under 12 groups in the preliminary rounds. The final will be played on April 23 at 11.00am and will be a best of 11 frames affair and the champion will bag a prize money of $3,500 and the runner-up $1,750. The losing semi-finalists will collect $500 each. BELOW: Qatar’s Abdullmohsen Khamis in action during his game. Pictures by Abdul Basith/The Peninsula 36 MONDAY 18 APRIL 2016 Qatar’s top clubs eye Emir Cup glory

Qatargas League champions Muaither face Al Shahaniya as Al Markhiya square off with Al Shamal on the opening day

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatargas League title champi- ons Muaither will take on Al Shahaniya as the Emir Cup, the most popular foot- ball tournament in the country, kicks off Al Muaither coach Pierre Phillipe during a press conference on the eve of the opening day of the Emir Cup held at today at the Al Arabi Stadium. The opening day of the eagerly- Al Sadd Sports Club yesterday. CENTRE: Al Markhiya coach Ayman Mansoor during a press conference. RIGHT: Al awaited tournament will also see Al Shahaniya coach Miguel Lotina gestures during another press conference of the day. Pics: Baher Amin/The Peninsula Markhiya squaring off with Al Shamal at the same venue. battling for the coveted Emir Cup trophy. five stages will be beamed live on TV. despite playing very well and i hope the A total of Qatar’s top 18 clubs are The tournament which is played over Muaither, who were promoted to Qatar game turns out better for us.” Stars League (QSL), finished Qatargas The Serbian when asked about his League with 44 points last month. team’s chances against the big boys said: Al Shahaniya finished second with “The first step for us is to concentrate on 38 points. Muaither will be hoping their our game. We will concentrate on that high-scoring striker Mahmood Alzaatar when we meet them. For now Markhiya who scored 20 goals in Qatargas League is our target and we have studied them shows good form. Ahmed Mubarak will as no game is easy in football.” be key for Al Shahaniya. Mubarak scored “ We had eight days to prepare for 6 goals for his team. this game and we have been working Al Markhiya coach Ayman Mansoor hard for this. Everything we have worked whose team will face Al Shamal on the on we hope to implement in the game,” opening day of the tournament was he added. excited ahead of the match. The second round of the 44th Emir “We are happy to participate in Cup will commence days just after the this competition. Right now the players end of the Qatar Cup to be held later this are a bit down on confidence because month. The final of the five-stage event we ended the league in third position will be held on May 20. The top four despite targeting first place,” he told a sides in QSL get a bye for the latter stages press conference yesterday at the Al of the event. Sadd Sports Club. “We will be playing against Al Shamal and we hope to play well and give our best, so we can achieve some- TODAY’S FIXTURES thing special for our team. At the end of Muaither vs Al Shahaniya 5:15pm the day its football, may the best team Al Markhiya vs Al Shamal 8pm win.” Al Sadd captain Raul (centre) and his team-mates lift the trophy after Al Shamal’s head coach Dragan Both matches will be played at Al Arabi winning the Emir Cup final match against Al Sailiya at Khalifa International Cvetkovic said: “ We have already played Stadium Stadium in Doha, in this May 2014 file photo. Markhiya, but we lost against them Al Sadd superstar Xavi to meet fans Rugby: Upbeat Qatar at new interactive store concept look for more success The Peninsula ASIA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Peninsula DOHA: After their brilliant victory against Iran, Qatar national team is Robbie Guale through a hole as he looking to wrap-up the Asia Rugby crossed out over for Qatar’s third try DOHA: Adidas global football superstar Xavi Hernadez will make a special Championship with another victory. (18-0). Qatar continued to run the visit to the adidas store at Landmark Mall next week to meet adidas football On Saturday, the national team ball at will with clever play exploit- fans and celebrate the opening the new flagship Home Court store in Doha. produced an exceptional display of ing the fickle Iranian defense. Loose Regarded world-wide as a footballing genius, the former Spanish national rugby, overcoming a very physical head and big man Tom Nolan was team sensation who is currently playing in Qatar for professional club Al Sadd, Iranian team 35-12 in the opening next to score (23-0). Paul Beard was will make a star in-store appearance with adidas on Wednesday. match of the Tri-Series at the Aspire off radar with his boots missing 4 Fans simply need to go and enjoy the all new adidas interactive concept warm up and purpose built rugby from 5 in the first half. store at Landmark Mall to get the chance of a lifetime and meet one of the track. With less than 30 seconds greatest footballers of all time. Xavi will sign autographs and pose for pictures “We are happy that we won this remaining before the break centre with fans on a first come basis, with the first thirty fans given the exclusive opening match against a tough oppo- and fast man Mehdi Ardekani took opportunity to meet their footballing hero. sition. I believe the win will further an intercept and could not be chased The Al Sadd captain is expected in store from 7.30pm to celebrate the boost the confidence of the players down as he scored the visiting team’s launch the HomeCourt store in Qatar, with those seeking to meet the star and ensure that they go all out to win first points. The try was converted by encouraged to be down early to avoid missing out. the tournament. Pressure is of us his counterpart Reza Bayat to lock For fans of adidas and Xavi it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend now and has shifted to Lebanon.” the scores 23-7 at half time. time with a player who’s skill has seen him decorated with eight La Liga titles, Qatar Rugby Federation President After the break Iran’s substitute three UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, three Copa del Reys, Yousef Al Kuwari said. Sadegh Pakdaman gave the bench six Spanish Supercups, and two FIFA Club World Cups over a 17-year playing Al Kuwari said, “Next Tuesday something to scream about as he career. While at a National level with Spain he won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 will be very interesting to watch. At raced away to score the first points of as well as the UEFA European Championships in 2008 and 2012. least now we have a few days rest the half (23-12). Trailing by 11 points With its new, interactive store concept HomeCourt adidas turns retail into a Qatar with the concept developed in line with adidas’ love of sport, celebrat- before our final and most impor- the visitors looked like they would place where consumers can feel the energy of the game, the thrill of the event ing the brand’s proud and authentic sports heritage and giving consumers the tant match”. stage a comeback but Qatar’s Kin- and the frenzy of the fans. The latest store will be the first store of its kind in best possible in-store experience. Qatar was relentless in attack sella dashed such hopes by crossing driving the ball through the for- over for his second try (28-12). wards claiming 70 percentage of With ten minutes remaining on possession. the clock, captain Tom Featherstone Save the Dream launches new programme The home team never looked in whose playing his 9th cap for Qatar danger as they took control of the burst into attack forcing his huge match early in the first half when frame over the line and beside the centre Mathew Uffindall trampled posts. Beard was able to convert the The Peninsula Launched at a start-studded Speaking about the new pro- able to work together to share their his way over the line. try – final score Qatar 35 Iran 12. event in Milan during Save the Dream gramme, Mohammed Hanzab, experiences to help combat many of The conversion was unsuccess- Playing his first national cap Week, the new programme will aim President of the ICSS and Founder the growing challenges now facing ful however, Paul Beard made up for in the XV’s rising Qatari rugby star to establish a global family of the of Save the Dream said: “This new young people in the world today and it by kicking a penalty goal a short winger Rakan Mutawaa said: “What DOHA: Save the Dream, the global affiliated sport clubs, academies and Community Affiliation Programme at the same time receive a range of time later to extend the lead 8-0. an amazing feeling it is to be playing initiative that aims to promote and associations across different sports. is an important initiative for Save the benefits through their association The energy and enthusiasm was in front of a home crowd and your protect the values and integrity of These clubs will commit to Dream which will aim to reach out with a leading international founda- evident in both teams but the power friends. I am so proud to play for my sport in young people, has launched spreading the core values of sport and make a real difference to lives tion like Save the Dream,” he added. of Qatar’s forward pack was unde- country.” a new Community Affiliation Pro- within their communities, promote of young people, as well local clubs, During the launch of the new niably crushing as it sent lock Huw “The amount of players in 15’s gramme for clubs, academies and sport and its educational role at the communities and broader society. Affiliation programme, Piacenza Kinsella over for the first of his two is increased and as such you have sports clubs to help raise awareness grass-roots level as well as condemn- ““By utilising Save the Dream’s Calcio 1919 was also announced as tries (13- 0). specialised players with specialised and promote the values of sport to ing discrimination and other breaches global network, affiliated clubs and the first Italian club to sign up the Some quick passing and smart positions. In 15’s you can focus on young people. to the purity of sport. associations around the world will be initiative. play up the middle put scrumhalf your task.”