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Yellen warns of Barshim to lead domestic and Qatar’s gold quest global risks in Doha

THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 • 2 Jumada I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6703 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Emir meets Qatar signs European several pacts delegation By Sanaullah Ataullah with Pakistan The Peninsula DOHA: The European Union (EU) is seeking to strengthen relations agreements yesterday in the pres- with Qatar in trade and investment ence of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim and further cooperation in deal- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Pakistani ing with regional issues like Syria bin Hamad Al Thani and Premier. and Yemen. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the accompa- A visiting delegation from the nying delegation were welcomed on European Parliament’s Foreign Nawaz Sharif discussed arrival at the Hamad International Affairs Committee yesterday met a number of regional and Airport by Prime Minister and Inte- with Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin international issues rior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, the Speaker of Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. the Advisory Council (Majlis Shura) The Emir and the Pakistani Premier H E Mohammed bin Mubarak AI held official talks at Emiri Diwan during Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Emiri Diwan Khulaifi and other Members of the The Peninsula which they reviewed bilateral relations yesterday. Council and H E Sheikh Abdulla and means of enhancing them. bin Saoud AI Thani, Governor of Talks dealt with the promotion of Qatar National Bank. investment opportunities and broad- issues of mutual concern, particu- They included an agreement Understanding (MoU) for cooperation The seven-member delega- DOHA: Qatar accorded a warm wel- ening bilateral cooperation in energy, larly the latest developments in the for cooperation to import Liquefied in radio and television sector and an tion, led by Andrej Plenkovic, come to Pakistani Prime Minister economy and military fields, Qatar Middle East. Following the talks, Natural Gas (LNG) between Qatar MoU for cooperation in health sector. Vice-Chair of the Committee Nawaz Sharif who arrived here yes- News Agency reported. the Emir and the Pakistani Prime Petroleum (QP) and the Ministry of (Hungary) comprised of Arnaud terday on a two-day official visit. The two leaders also discussed a Minister witnessed the signing of Petroleum and Natural Resources →Continued on page 3 Danjean (France), Tokia Satf Both countries signed a slew of number of regional and international several bilateral agreements. of Pakistan, a Memorandum of →See also page 21 (France), Afzal Khan (UK), Pier Antonio Panzeri (Italy), Mark Demesmaeker (Belgium) and Jozo Rados (Hungary). The delegation is accompanied by EU Ambassa- dor Kulach. Draft law makes Arabic mandatory in public institutions During their meetings with Qatari officials, the delegation dis- The Peninsula that forces all ministries and other public insti- The draft law states that ministries, official and advertisements. Universities and insti- cussed the security situation in the tutions to use Arabic as the official language. institutions, public educational institutions in tutions of higher education, overseen by the region, particularly in Syria, Iraq, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E all levels of education and municipalities must government, are also required to teach Arabic Yemen, Libya, Egypt and relations DOHA: The State Cabinet yesterday approved Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani use Arabic in all documents, contracts, corre- language in all science and knowledge streams. with Iran. a draft law on preservation of Arabic language chaired the Cabinet’s regular weekly meeting. spondence, labels, programmes, publications → Continued on page 2 → Continued on page 3

Razed home Trump and Sanders win big in primary

MANCHESTER: Republican Don- ald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders coasted to victory on a wave of voter anger in the New Hampshire presidential nominat- ing contest. With 100 percent of the total votes counted on Wednesday in the Republican race in New Hamp- shire, Trump led the crowded field with 35.3 percent of the votes against his closest rival Ohio Gov- ernor John Kasich at 15.8 percent. On the Democratic side, Sand- ers overwhelmingly defeated former Secretary of State Hil- An elderly Palestinian woman stands near the rubble of her house lary Clinton by 60.4 percent to 38 after it was demolished by Israeli authorities in the West Bank percent. village of Jeftlek, near Jericho, yesterday. → See also page 18 Qatar Airways among world’s 500 most powerful brands

The Peninsula company is widely recognised as hospitality and dedication to provid- conducting highly extensive analysis ing our passengers with outstanding of the world’s most successful busi- service.” nesses to produce a definitive list of Qatar Airways is the fourth Mid- DOH: Qatar Airways has been valuable brands. dle Eastern company and the ninth ranked as one of the world’s most “Qatar Airways is one of the airline to earn a spot in the 2016 Glo- valuable brands for the first time, world’s fastest growing airlines, oper- bal 500 list. Since its relaunch in 1997, becoming the only Qatari company ating the youngest fleet in the skies, Qatar’s national airline has created to be represented in the 2016 top 500 awarded ‘Airline of the Year’ on three a strong global brand identity reso- global brand ranking. occasions as well as ‘Best Middle East nating with award-winning service, Brand Finance, a world-leading Airline’ nine times by Skytrax,” Qatar offering the best experience in the air independent brand valuation con- Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar with the world’s best business and sultancy, listed Qatar Airways as one Al Baker said. “Our position as one economy class and the most innova- of the most powerful global brand in of the world’s most valuable airline tive on-board entertainment system the annual ranking. The UK-based brands is testament to our renowned with Oryx One. 02 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME

Emir ratifies Cabinet Emir meets EU Parliament delegation decision on lease extension

QNA

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday rat- ified Cabinet Decision No. 6 of 2016 on the extension of leases of premises and parts leased for non-residential purposes, governed by Law No. 4 of 2008 on property leasing. The law takes effect on February 14 for one year from February 15 unless the lease pro- vides for a longer period or the lessee does not intend to renew the lease, provided that the lessee is occupying the leased premises. The decision is effective from February 15 and will be published in the official gazette. Emir issues two decrees

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday issued Decree No. 12 of 2016 ratifying an agreement between the Qatar and Japan on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on Income and the annexed protocol signed in Tokyo last February 20. The Emir also issued Decree No. 13 of 2016 ratifying a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the legal field between the Ministry of Justice and the Croatian Ministry of Justice signed in Doha last April 14. The agreement and the MoU will have the force of law in accordance with Article 68 of the Constitution. The decrees take immediate effect and will be published in the Official Gazette. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Andrej Plenkovic and members at Emir endorses agreements the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Talks dealt with topics of mutual concern and latest regional developments. Advisory Council Speaker Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi was present.

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a docu- ment, endorsing the ratification of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights’ amendment protocol, endorsed in Geneva on December 6, 2005. The Emir issued a document, endorsing a draft agreement in the field of legal cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and Cabinet reviews study on postal sector the Romanian Ministry of Justice, signed in Bucharest last Octo- ber 21. The Emir issued a document, endorsing a draft agreement on waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special Continued from page 1 and service passports between Qatar and Cuba, signed in Havana reasonable prices. establishment of a database for all establishing a permanent commit- last November 23. The Emir issued a document, endorsing the rat- The Cabinet also reviewed the owners of heavy transport including tee to manage Abu Samra port. ification of a unified agreement on investment of Arab capital in The Cabinet reviewed a study pre- first quarterly report of the commit- individuals, companies and com- The weekly Cabinet session also Arab countries (amended). The Emir issued a document, endorsing pared for the development of postal tee organizing heavy transport on mercial institutions, registration of approved a draft air services agree- a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of combating crime sector. their actions during period spanning transportation and heavy machin- ment between Qatar and the Kyrgyz between Qatar and Bulgaria, signed in Doha last May 17. This comes as part of the devel- from January to March 2015. ery and equipment owned by citizens, Republic. The Emir issued a document, endorsing an agreement between opment of Qatar Postal Services The committee has been assigned and development of a unified model It approved a draft memorandum Qatar and Indonesia on waiving visa requirements for holders of Company (Q-Post) in order to open to examine all matters related to for contracts to hire heavy transport of cooperation between the Ministry diplomatic, service and special passports, signed in Doha last the sector for private investment, heavy transport, in particular to study equipment. of Transport and Communications September 14. The Emir issued a document, endorsing an MoU on encourage competition and provide ways to organise heavy transport and The Cabinet also approved a of Qatar and the International Mari- consumer protection, economic oversight and combating commer- universal postal services to indi- propose practical and appropriate proposal by the Ministry of Interior time Organization (IMO) on the State’s cial fraud between Qatar and Algeria, signed in Doha on November viduals and business sectors across mechanisms. to amend certain provisions of the involvement in the review plan of the 23, 2014. the country with high quality and The committee has recommended Cabinet Resolution No. (3) of 2003 member states of the Organisation. HOME THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 03 Academic research agreement signed EU sees Qatar as an

Continued from page 1 important partner Another MoU on academic research and cooperative activities Continued from page 1 between was also signed. and peaceful long- term solution Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah within the series of international bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minis- The need for further diplomatic involvements such as the interna- ter and Interior Minister H E Sheikh dialogue between the EU and Qatar tional support group for Syria which Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al regarding the shared commitment will have its next meeting in Munich Thani and a number of ministers and to peace and stability in the region the end of this week. senior officials attended the signing was emphasised during the meeting. He said there are fruitful eco- ceremony. “We appreciated the open and nomic and trade cooperation and Members of the official delegation substantive discussion that we held in investments and energy existing accompanying the Pakistani Prime with the Emir and Shura Members. between Qatar and many members Minister were also present. The Emir The EU sees Qatar as an impor- of EU. yesterday held a luncheon banquet tant partner and a prominent actor “We are very pleased to learn the in honour of Nawaz Sharif and the which has positioned itself on the ambition of Qatar in its 2030 project accompanying delegation. international scene and is contrib- (Qatar National Vision 2030) which Qatar Liquefied Gas Company uting to peace and stability in the has an objective reduce the depend- Limited (2) (Qatargas 2) signed a long- Middle East and Africa,” said Plenk- ency on hydrocarbon and more term agreement to supply Pakistan ovic, addressing a press conference dynamic social-economic diver- State Oil Company Limited (PSO) at the Intercontinental Hotel later sification of income and work on with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). yesterday. economic output,” said Plenkovic. The Sales and Purchase Agreement “We are ready to intensify the “We are also very pleased to (SPA) was signed by Saad Sherida Al parliamentary cooperation and learn from the Governor of the Qatar Kaabi, Qatar Petroleum President exchanges with the Shura in the Central Bank (QCB) the important and CEO, and Chairman of Qatar- framework of the relevant EP bod- aspects of the monetary policy and gas Board of Directors, and Sheikh ies as well as through the new Joint data regarding GDP. All of these Imran ul Haque, Managing Director Parliamentary Committee of the aspects showed the very solid eco- and Chief Executive Officer of PSO. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif witness the signing Consultative Councils of the Gulf nomic and financial position of Under the terms of the agreement, of one of the agreements. Cooperation Council (GCC).” Qatar,” he added. Qatargas 2 will supply 3.75 million “We are very pleased to learn Actions have been taken regard- tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG to that our positions converged on a ing the legislative and regulatory PSO for a period of 15 years with the in March 2016. Al Kaabi described milestone in Qatar’s standing as a the first direct long term agreement number of foreign policy priorities framework governing the foreign first cargo expected to be delivered the agreement as “a very important reliable energy supplier as it marks between the two companies.” and the fight against terrorism is workers that are involved in major high on the agenda of both EU and infrastructure projects. Qatar,” he added. “We were assured that they are He said the EU is committed working on standards on human PM attends PAF to try to find a solution to the Syr- rights that are expected to be in ian crisis. The first is a diplomatic accordance with international military air parade approach and search for political standards,” said Plenkovic.

DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khal- ifa Al Thani and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday attended a military air parade by Pakistan Air Force aircraft at the Old Airport. They were also briefed on JF-17 fighters and the Super Mush- shak, their characteristics and Jozo Radoš (left), ALDE HR, Andrej Plenković, Vice Chair of the advantages. Then a military air parade for Committee EPP HR and other officials during European Parliament Pakistani planes manufactured by Foreign Affairs Committee’s press conference at Inter-Continental China took place. Doha hotel yesterday. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula 04 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME QC continues relief projects for displaced Yemenis

grammes of dried milk, five litres of relieve the needy that the philanthro- The QR500,000 oil, a pack of legumes (24 cans), 1kg of pists in Qatar should contribute to by tea, 2,400 blankets and 2,400 dresses sending urgent aids to the Yemenis”. projects financed by for children. Abdul Kareem Shiban, Member the waqf of Jassim The project covered Al Qahirah, of the House of Representatives in Al Mudhaffar, Salh, and Mashra’a Taiz, said, “Such projects’ impacts do Darwish benefit Wa Hadnan districts in Taiz; Maj- not include filling empty stomachs 7,000 displaced and zar district in Ma’rib; Al Baydaa, As only. Rather, they help build society Sawma’ah, Mukayras, Az Zahir, Dhi and reconnect its members despite cyclone-hit people Na’im and As Sawadiah districts in the threat of breaking apart most of Al Baydaa. Yemeni cities face. Thousands of families lost their “We thank all those responsible houses and sources of income and for the waqf of Jassim Darwish, gov- The Peninsula were forced to leave homes. ernment and people. In Yemen, the Mohammed Al Ka’bi, Relief Direc- number of needy people is increasing; tor, QC, said: “Some 600 families they need more humanitarian atten- benefited from the food supplies and tion, especially that the list of their DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) continues blankets, and 2,400 children from needs is growing.” to implement relief projects for the the clothes. About 7,000 people were QC hosted a preparatory work- affected and displaced 7,000 people made happy because of the aid. QC shop organised by the charity and Some of the beneficiaries at one of the aid distribution centres in Yemen. in Al Baydaa, Ma’rib, and Taiz areas of contributed to the alleviation of their 12 humanitarian organisations, for Yemen at a cost of QR500,000. suffering and reinforced their psycho- the preparation of the Conference The project was financed by the logical and food stability. I encourage of Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen: the deteriorating situation of the Yem- the first humanitarian organisation in Socotra Island, Hadramawt, Al waqf (mortmain property) of Jassim all Qatari philanthropists and good Challenges and Prospects of the enis and their increasing suffering. to reach the cyclone-affected peo- Mahrah and Shabwah which bene- Darwish. It included distributing 600 doers in Qatar to aid their brothers Humanitarian Response. The Megh and Chapala cyclones ple and has implemented two relief fited 500 families and the other was food parcels, each containing 50kg of and sisters in Yemen. It is out of broth- The initiators met for consultation, hit Socotra Island and many coastal projects for them — the first was for the Megh-affected and benefited wheat, 10kg of sugar, 10kg of rice, 900 erly duty and Islamic commitment to coordination and cooperation to face cities in the south of Yemen. QC was implemented for the Chapala-affected 9,150 people. CRA grants ‘Tour of Qatar 2016’ approvals for 518 licences and radio equipment

The Peninsula of Qatar’, and CRA played a sup- channels for the organiser, and spectrum-management/ porting role in line with its national 26 types of radio equipment and spectrum-licensing/guidelines mandate which includes foster- 17 spot frequency channels for CRA is the communications ing a thriving communications broadcasters. regulator, established by the Emiri DOHA: The Communications sector for Qatar and managing Approvals were granted within Decree No. 42 in 2014. Regulatory Authority (CRA) has scarce resources such as the radio a short time to meet the needs of It regulates the communica- facilitated radio communication spectrum. the event and CRA extended full tions and information technology requirements of the international ‘Tour of Qatar 2016’ is a high- support for the timely release of sector, postal services and access cycling event ‘Tour of Qatar 2016’ profile competition and significant imported equipment shipped to to digital media. with temporary licensing and preparation and planning was Qatar. CRA uses its powers mandated approvals for the import and use required to service an event of this For the benefit of organis- by the Emiri decree to protect con- of radio equipment. scale. CRA played its part to con- ers of big events that require use sumer rights, ensure competition, CRA manages licences and tribute to the success of the event of radio communication devices manage the resolution of disputes, services relating to the import and met challenges in a profes- and temporary spectrum fre- and manage the electromagnetic Part of Al Luqta Street Westbound to be and operation of telecommunica- sional manner, granting necessary quencies, CRA has made available spectrum. tions equipment, including radio approvals quickly and efficiently. relevant forms and guidelines on In all its activities, CRA devices, wireless cameras and CRA received a large number its website at the links below: seeks to ensure the provision of closed for 22 months from tomorrow broadcast equipment. of applications for approvals and Forms: http://www.cra.gov.qa/ advanced, innovative and reliable Clear, high quality and inter- licensing of radio equipment en/regulatory/spectrum-man- information and communication ference-free radio communication related to the event. agement/spectrum-licensing/ technology and postal services The Peninsula and Al Terhab Street, as shown in the map. is essential to the success of elite It approved 439 types of radio spectrum-forms Guidelines: http:// across Qatar. For more information Traffic on the opposite side of Al Luqta cycling competitions such as ‘our equipment and 36 frequency www.cra.gov.qa/en/regulatory/ please visit: http://cra.gov.qa/en Street (from Bani Hajer to Doha eastbound) will not be affected. DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ash- The closure is required to facilitate ghal) will implement a temporary closure works of Dukhan Road (East Contract), on part of Al Luqta Street in the direction as part of the Dukhan Road East project HBKU hosts Graduate Open House from Doha to Dukhan (Westbound), for which includes construction of a 11km 1,700 metres between Qatar National Con- road with four lanes in each direction, vention Centre and the Eastern U-turn on upgrading service roads, including Bani Hajer detour, as shown in the map. seven multi-level interchanges, and The Peninsula at graduate level and covered top- only to talk about what we teach in Cybersecurity; and Data The closure to be implemented in landscaping. ics such as food safety and outbreak our programmes but also to show Science and Engineering. coordination with the Traffic Department, Ashghal will install signs advising investigation, how basic science can how we teach. Students also heard starts tomorrow and lasts 22 months. motorists of the closure and has urged be used to combat the spread of dis- “Being offered the chance to give about graduate pro- Traffic on the closed section will be road users to abide by speed limits and DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- ease, design and innovation’s role in a sample lecture has allowed us to grammes, including diverted to Gharrafat Al Rayyan Street signs for safety. versity (HBKU), a member of Qatar sustainability, the role of translation give a brief insight into the classroom Sustainable Energy, Foundation for Education Science in the modern world, constitutional experience and a taste of what it’s like Biological and Bio- and Community Development (QF), law, and how computing changed to be a graduate student at HBKU. I medical Science, Law, held a Graduate Open House for pro- our lives. hope the audience enjoyed what they Public Health, Audiovis- spective students on Monday at HBKU In his lecture, Dr Imed Gallouzi, heard and that some were inspired ual Translation, Public Student Centre. Professor of Life Sciences, HBKU, to pursue advanced studies with us.” Policy in Islam, Islamic Attendees heard about the focused on how HBKU’s Biological The event offered attendees the Finance, and Urban university’s multidisciplinary and Biomedical Sciences Programme chance to be among the first to hear Design and Architec- programmes, and were offered provides knowledge and a weapon about four programmes HBKU hopes ture in Islamic Societies. opportunity to enjoy sample lec- against disease in Qatar and beyond. to launch in the future: A PhD in The breadth of subjects tures given by HBKU professors. The “The events are important Computer Science and Engineering; is targeted to match the lectures matched subjects offered because they give us the chance not and MS degrees in Bioengineering; educational, social and economic goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. With HBKU’s main 2016 admissions deadline approaching, the admis- sions team offered advice and guidance to those interested in joining the university’s expanding student population. Dr Khaled Ben Letaief, Provost, HBKU, said: “In a relatively short period of time, we have attracted many world- class faculty to share knowledge with our growing student body. By offering sample lectures at Graduate Open House, we wanted to give attend- ees a small glimpse of the work being done by our professors in educating tomorrow’s leaders. “We are looking for students who want to broaden intellectual depth by seeking solu- tion to challenges that lie at the crossroads of tra- ditional disciplines. Our programmes are designed to give students knowl- edge and skills needed to have a meaningful impact on their communities.” HOME THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 05 QRCS begins relief project in Aleppo

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has launched an urgent relief project costing $1m (QR365,000) responding to the displacement wave in northern Aleppo countryside in Syria. The Syrian conflict is alarmingly escalating, making life there impossible and pushing thou- sands of civilians towards Bab Al Salam border Dr. Khalid Al Jaber (left), President, Katara Cultural Forum, and Khalid crossing on the Turkey-Syria borders. Abdulrahim Al Sayed, General Supervisor of the Prize, at the event. Since day one, QRCS prepared an emergency intervention plan to contribute medical and relief aid, deploying its medics and field teams to meet the 1,004 entries received for Katara vital needs of the displaced families on the ground. Accordingly, a full-fledged mobile emergency clinic was set up in southern Aleppo countryside. Festival for Arabic Novel Working 24/7 to provide medications and pri- macy health care, the clinic is moving around the locations of the poorest IDPs to cover as many ben- The Peninsula money, prize committee will offer eficiaries as possible. printing and marketing opportuni- The clinic’s first mission was in Bab Al Salama, ties for unpublished novels, printing where the doctors, nurses, and medics treated 15 QRCS volunteers distribute winter aid. and marketing for published novels children, five older people with chronic diseases, DOHA: Cultural Village Foundation- once translated into other languages, and five routine cases. Katara has received 1,004 entries for and printing and marketing for select At the same time, QRCS personnel distributed the second edition of Katara Festival studies submitted. winter aid at the Al Nour Camp to 200 families These provisions will help protect the vul- flow of Syrians towards the northern part of the for Arabic Novel, organizers revealed Khalid Abdulrahim Al Sayed, from Kashta’ar and Al Bab towns. A total of 600 nerable families against the cold, give them some country will steadily pressure the IDP camps, yesterday. General Supervisor of the Prize, mattresses and 1,200 blankets were distributed, relief, and reduce the deaths caused by bad weather which are inadequate to receive more newcomers, The festival will be held from said the entries comprise 234 novels with each family receiving three mattresses and conditions. as thousands of civilians are flowing from across October 10 to 13 to allow ample published last year, 732 unpublished six blankets. The United Nations warned that the excessive Aleppo Governorate. time for the jury to carry out its novels and 38 research studies, add- work effectively, officials announced ing of the total submissions, 277 were at a press conference yesterday at by women. Katara. Dr Al Jaber said Katara is contin- Dr. Khalid Al Jaber, President, uously collaborating with the Arab Qatar University college hosts medicine seminar Katara Cultural Forum, stressed League Educational, Cultural and that this edition of Katara Arab Scientific Organization (ALECSO) Novel Prize is distinguished for the to further strengthen the festival. huge number of participants and the These efforts stem from the growing The Peninsula and researchers in the fields of public health research, and conducts medicine, epidemiology, methodology diverse range of entries including significance of the Arabic novel in medicine and healthcare. It was an multidisciplinary research addressing and statistics, international health, published and unpublished novels, addition to Katara’s efforts to support opportunity for attendees -- especially the complete healthcare chain — health promotion, health services as well as research studies. Arabic novels and Arab novelists in health practitioners and academics from prevention and primary care to research, orthopaedic surgery, This year’s festival has managed promoting their work within Qatar, DOHA: As part of its Medicine -- to gain insight into the medical aftercare and rehabilitation. Seminar rehabilitation, social medicine and to attract novelists and research- the Middle East and beyond. Seminars series, the College of research scene in The Netherlands attendees learned about the two axes ethics. ers from every country in the Arab In particular, ALECSO is working Medicine at Qatar University in general, and within Maastricht of the Institute’s research which are He also touched on the Institute’s World, from Oman to Morocco. closely with the jury of this edition (CMED-QU) hosted a seminar University in particular. discipline-oriented and research focus on societal relevance, as well as A new category has been added of the festival. recently by Professor Maurice Professor Zeegers provided theme-oriented. its attraction for top scientists from to the festival. The additional prize The inaugural edition of the fes- Zeegers, Director of the CAPHRI information on the CAPHRI Research Professor Zeegers provided details around the world. will be awarded to submissions tival has been fruitful as five of the School for Public Health and Institute, Maastricht University’s about the Institute’s research faculty The forum was moderated by QU related to research, evaluation, unpublished novels from the fes- Primary Care at Maastricht largest research institute which body and the various academic and VP for Medical Education and CMED and novel critique to encourage tival’s 2015 edition now published University Medical Center. focuses on health care innovation and research areas which include family dean Dr Egon Toft. researchers to advance and refine whilst a number of published sub- The seminar came as part the historical accuracy of Ara- missions have since been translated of an MoU signed between QU bic novels. A total prize money of into English and French, among and Maastricht University that $75,000 will be given to the win- other languages. The two novels established medical education and ners of the new category. The top which won the best prize for a novel research collaboration, and staff five unpublished submissions from which will be turned into drama are and student exchanges. this category will each be awarded now in production and on their way It was open to interested $15,000. In addition to the prize to becoming films. students, academics, practitioners Quality Group International opens fully automatic food packing unit

Quality Group International Chairman Shamsudheen Olakara opening the unit in the presence of officials.

The Peninsula ‘’Quality Group is going to import finish product conveying, among high quality food products to Qatar others. It has advantages of high and will distribute in the brand name accurate weighing and high effi- Q-fine to ensure quality products for ciency. The machine with 14 head can DOHA: Quality Group International, customers in a reasonable price,” pack 50 to 60 bags of 5kg each in a the leading business group in Qatar, he said. The high-tech machine minute. Barcode, date and country inaugurated their fully automatic imported from Taiwan is a rare of production, expiry date and other food packing unit in Doha Industrial model in the Gulf. The packing unit details related to products will be Area Retail Food Distribution Centre. equipped with high technology multi- printed by the machine. Shamsudheen Olakara, Chair- head and incline conveyor is the most High accuracy with less man- man of the Group, switched on the latest model in the country. power is a salient feature of this most machine in the presence of senior The system will finish all proc- advanced multi-head weigher pack- officials from different departments esses automatically like feeding, aging machinery, Quality Group said of the company. weighing, bag filling, sealing and in a statement yesterday. 06 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME QA to display three of its latest aircraft in Singapore

“The three aircraft demonstrate our technologically advanced and fast- growing young fleet.”

The Peninsula FROM LEFT: The A350, for which Qatar Airways was the global launch customer, superjumbo A380 and Qatar Executive’s newly acquired Gulfstream G650ER will be displayed at the Singapore Airshow.

DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) will showcase three state-of-the-art air- Executive, said: “QA is delighted to be award-winning hospitality to guests, can easily sleep on board. technologically advanced and highly world’s largest and most luxurious craft from its fast-growing fleet at participating again in an increased media and trade partners. The A350, flying thrice-daily from sophisticated in the world. With 517 Business Class lounges. the Singapore Airshow from Febru- capacity. The three aircraft demon- Gulfstream G650ER is the first of Doha to Singapore, features custom- passenger seats in First, Business and With HIA conveniently located ary 16 to 18. The airline will display strate our technologically advanced 30 latest-generation Gulfstream air- ised interior settings, with its Business Economy classes over two decks, it within an eight-hour flight for more the A350, for which it was the global and fast-growing young fleet. We craft ordered by Qatar Executive, and Class cabin comprising 36 seats in a is the largest passenger plane in the than two-thirds of the world’s popu- launch customer, superjumbo A380 have just celebrated our first anni- is capable of flying non-stop from the 1-2-1 configuration and its Economy world. QA flies six A380s to London, lation, it is fast becoming a transit hub and Qatar Executive’s newly acquired versary of A350 operations, and we Middle East to North America or from Class cabin in a 3-3-3 configuration, Paris and Bangkok from Doha. of choice for many travellers. Gulfstream G650ER – the industry’s are embarking on another milestone destinations in Asia to Africa — far- allowing it to seat 247 passengers. Passengers on these new-gener- QA is one of the fastest growing most advanced business jet appear- with the world’s newest civilian air- ther and faster than any other jet of its QA started flying the world’s ation aircraft will transit through one airlines operating one of the young- ing in Asia. craft, the Gulfstream G650ER, which kind – and is suited for those whose latest-technology aircraft from Sin- of the world’s newest and most tech- est fleets in the world. Now in its 19th Held biennially since 2008, the visitors will have the opportunity of travel needs include flying halfway gapore in May 2015, making it the first nologically advanced hubs – Hamad year of operations, the airline oper- airshow is regarded as Asia’s largest seeing up close at the airshow.” around the globe. country in Asia to be served with the International Airport (HIA) – where ates a modern fleet of 176 aircraft to and finest event. To be held at Changi QA debuted at the airshow 2014 Highly sought-after for its phe- A350. It operates regular commercial their seamless travel experience over 150 key business and leisure des- Exhibition Centre, the airshow will by exhibiting the Boeing 787 Dream- nomenal range, industry-leading A350 service to Frankfurt, Munich, continues. tinations across six continents. QA have over 1,000 companies from liner to hundreds of visitors. This year, cabin technology and unparalleled and Philadelphia — the first airline to Besides more than 70 luxury retail won Airline of the Year, Best Business more than 50 countries, with main- QA’s participation extends beyond cabin comfort, G650ER has a two- operate the A350 to three continents. brands and 30 food and beverage out- Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in stay events such as the exhibition and the static aircraft display, as the cabin configuration that seats up to Also on display will be the airline’s lets operating 24 hours, the airport the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax aerobatic and static display. airline has introduced a bespoke vis- 13 passengers – seats convert into bespoke twin-deck A380 ‘super- boosts a 100-room hotel, a wellbe- Awards. This is the third time it won Akbar Al Baker, QA Group Chief itors chalet to receive and extend its fully-flat beds, so that seven guests jumbo’ aircraft – one of the most ing and fitness centre and one of the Airline of the Year. Qatar Airways awarded for in-flight entertainment innovation

The Peninsula Centre as part of the In-flight IFEC Pavilion Workshop. movies, 1,100 episodes of TV programmes, 500 audio Marvel Cinematic Universe collection on board. Passen- Akbar Al Baker, QA Group Chief Executive, said: “The channels and 50 games, refreshed each month. gers can select from a wide range of Bollywood movies award recognises the creativity and innovation QA con- Oryx One offers a huge variety of the latest audio and and from over 200 hours of Arabic content originating tinually applies to delivering the highest standard of on video content and star-studded world cinema in over 30 from Qatar, Gulf (Khaleeji) and the Middle East. Passen- DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) was recognised for Middle board entertainment and connectivity for our passengers. languages, including Oscar-winning, Hollywood pre- gers flying on QA flights served by its B787, A350, A380 and East Content Innovation at the third annual In-flight work- “From the latest premieres to classic movies and pop- mieres, Arabic hits, Bollywood blockbusters, modern A319 and select A330 and A320 aircraft can also access shop and awards held in partnership with F&E Aerospace, ular TV to special-interest programmes, QA has compiled favourites, classics and much more. on board Wi-Fi. QA passengers on all connected aircraft organiser of Aircraft Interiors Middle East. The award a state-of-the-art entertainment library unrivalled for its A dedicated family channel offers younger passengers will enjoy free Wi-Fi for the first 15 minutes courtesy of a recognises the outstanding quality of QA’s on board enter- wide range of content in multiple languages. Oryx One with a wide choice of latest movies and TV content suitable global partnership with Ooredoo. A simple-to-use portal tainment platform Oryx One. QA was commended for enthrals our passengers, giving them a rich and exten- for their age. The Oryx One library on board includes full makes it easy for passengers to log on and connect, and offering a wide selection of content to suit its global pas- sive selection, with the best entertainment experience to box sets of movies and TV series such as the Best of Bond then browse the Internet or post on their social media sengers’ needs, including movies and TV series tailored enhance their journey around the world with QA.” collection; Harry Potter; The Lord of the Rings trilogy; The channels directly from the comfort of their seats, reaf- to the Middle East market. The award was presented at a Oryx One provides its passengers with over 2,000 Dark Knight Trilogy; Blindspot; Constantine; Forever; and firming QA’s commitment to provide a superior on board ceremony on February 4 February at Dubai World Trade channels of entertainment, including 60 blockbuster Gotham. QA was also the first airline to feature the entire service. Continued use is offered from $5 to $20.

Qatar ‘to continue efforts to promote Winter Career Camp participants awarded certificates global social development’

The Peninsula QNA delivered by Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Rep- resentative of Qatar to the United Nations, before the 54th session of the commis- DOHA: Qatar Career Fair (QCF) of Qatar Foun- NEW YORK: Qatar has assured to sion on ‘Rethinking and Strengthening dation’s (QF) second ‘Winter Career Camp’ continue efforts to promote social Social Development in the Contempo- featured stimulating career-oriented workshops development in the world through its rary World’. tailored to help students discover their talents. membership on the UN Commission for Ambassador Sheikha Ali said in They included a team-building session to Social Development or working with the statement that Qatar has paid spe- encourage participants to work together and partners in the international commu- cial importance to social development an ‘I Paint My Future’ workshop, which helped nity to push the development process to as represented in Qatar National Vision students visualise their professional future. ensure a decent life for all. 2030, in which social structure is one of A ceremony was held to award certificates This came in Qatar’s statement its basic pillars. to the participants. Abdulla A. Al Mansoori, Director, QCF, said, “Today we are celebrating the students that took part in this year’s camp. Through the programme they have acquired skills and knowledge that will enable them to make a more informed decision about their future. “The camp is part of year-round integrated programmes and initiatives organised by QCF to prepare young men and women profession- Participants share feedback on activities at the camp. ally. We urge Qatari youth to participate in these programmes and activities to be better pre- pared to tackle challenges posed by the local were given the opportunity to experience uni- member of Hamad Medical Corporation, toured labour market and bolster the growth of their versity life and tour facilities. Wafaa Mohamed the simulation station at Qatar Aeronautical country,” he added. Al Mansoori, a student at the Modern Eng- College, and explored Al Rayyan TV studios. Participants also visited Texas A&M Uni- lish School, said, “Before I took part in the Abdul Rahman Emad, a student at the Cam- versity at Qatar and Northwestern University camp, I knew I wanted to study mechanical bridge School, said, “The camp encouraged me in Qatar to learn more about academic pro- engineering.” to think about my future, which, I think, is to grammes and admission requirements. They Students also visited Rumailah Hospital, a become a doctor.” UCQ’s annual International Day festival on Saturday

The Peninsula community. “Our campus in Qatar has been who will care for patients from across the world exceptionally diverse with respect to those who during their careers. International Day com- learn and teach since our first International plements formal training UCQ provides and Day three years ago, which brought together reflects a holistic approach to education. DOHA: The University of Calgary in Qatar’s community members from a large and always “This year is the fourth time I am par- (UCQ) annual International Day festival will be expanding group of nations,” said Dr Kim ticipating in International Day. It gives me a held on Saturday, featuring 22 countries. Critchley, Dean and CEO, UCQ. “Qatar attracts chance to find out more about my peers, while The event is open to the public and will host talent from all corners of the globe, providing meeting students and teachers I have not come students, faculty and staff. Entering its fourth students with an education that equips them to across before,” said Sara Al Qahtani, a fourth- year, the tradition aims to enrich students’ positively contribute to society. We are proud to year nursing student at UCQ. “It also gives us learning experience by inviting members of be part of this process, having seen the impact an opportunity to introduce the wider com- UCQ and the wider community to learn about our graduates have had on the country’s evolv- munity to what we do at UCQ, and how nursing each other and the world. ing healthcare sector.” relates to Qatar’s development goals.” The event will be attended by guests, includ- Events like this not only expose members UCQ welcomes the local community to ing Adrian Norfolk, Canadian Ambassador of the UCQ community to unique perspectives, attend International Day from 12.30pm to to Qatar, who welcomed the opportunity to but also point to similarities between cultures. 5.30pm at its campus on Furousiya Street near engage with members of UCQ’s international Such exchange is crucial for nursing students, Al Rayyan Racing and Equestrian Club. HOME THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 07

GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTITIES MARK NATIONAL SPORT DAY 2016

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) celebrated the National Sport Day with activities at Al Sailiya Sports Club, with the participation of its employees and their families. Abdulla bin Saeed Al Edah, Chairman of the club, and Bassel Gamal, QIB Group CEO, attended. The event echoed the bank’s commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle, reflecting the importance Qatar gives to sports and healthy nutrition as pillars of public health for citizens and residents.

Ezdan Holding Group organised sporting events and activities to mark the National Sport Day in Ezdan Village, Ezdan Mall and Ezdan Hotels. A large number of employees of the Group and its subsidiaries, Ezdan tenants, mall visitors and hotel guests took part. All subsidiaries of the Group, including Ezdan Real Estate Company, Ezdan Malls and Ezdan Hotels participated in sporting activities to raise awareness of their staff, dwellers and visitors about the importance of adopting a sporty and healthy lifestyle, highlighting benefits of practicing Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall celebrated National Sport Day by holding activities and volleyball, badminton and other games for itsemployees to sports, including preventing diseases and ensuring well-being. A embody Qatar’s vision to move towards a society with conscious minds and sound bodies. Feroz Moideen, General Manager of the mall, said: health awareness booth was held to measure blood pressure, blood “As a society-aware mall, it is our duty to contribute to Qatar’s vision by educating our staff and their families about the importance of adopting sugar and body weight and offer health, medical tips and guidance. a healthy lifestyle. We will continue our efforts to promote an active lifestyle among our team at Hyatt Plaza as well as our customers.” Landmark Group celebrates Sport Day

Mowasalat, which has about 7310 employee, including drivers Gulf Drilling International Ltd participated in National and support, administration and management staff, organised Sport Day celebrations at the main hall of Ali Bin Hamad Al National Sport Day activities in Karwa City to highlight the spirit Attiyah Arena Mubarak Awaida Al Hajri, CEO and Managing of sportsmanship, camaraderie, friendship and unity and motivate Director, and a large group of GDI managers and staff employees to participate and display their sport skills and pay took part. The Peninsula and outdoor games like football, basket- attention to fitness and health. ball, volleyball, cricket, softball, table tennis, carrom, chess and bowling alley. DOHA: Landmark Group celebrated the A core committee conducts Landmark National Sport Day with fun-filled activ- Olympics making sure their colleagues Katara Hospitality hosts Sport Day activities ities for its employees and customers. To enjoy the opportunity away from routine celebrate National Sport Day, the Group work environment with their friends. The conducts Landmark Olympics every year Group promotes the importance of sports to support sporting activities and highlight among its customers. There was no limit the importance of healthy living among its to excitement and fun among employees, employees. their children and customers who took part All employees participated in indoor various programmes.

The Peninsula

DOHA: Employees of Katara Hospitality, the leading global hotel devel- oper, owner and operator in Qatar, marked National Sport Day with an activ- ity-filled programme at Simaisma, a Murwab Resort. Employees of Katara Hospitality and Murwab Hotel Group, together with their families, enjoyed competitive sporting games. Activities included departmental relay races, basketball , football ,ten- nis, badminton, cricket and yoga. They also participated in family-friendly games and activities designed to encourage people of all ages to raise their fitness levels through physical exercise. The winners among the participants pool were awarded med- als and trophies for efforts in the exercise-based competitions. 08 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 GULF / MIDDLE EAST Syria rebels want US to act ahead of peace talks

said Russia was “stringing Kerry along” in order to provide diplomatic World powers come cover for Moscow’s real goal — to together in Munich help President Bashar Al Assad win on the battlefield instead of compro- today mising at the negotiating table. “It’s clear to everyone now that Russia really doesn’t want a negoti- ated solution but for Assad to win,” said the diplomatic source, speaking Reuters on condition of anonymity. A senior adviser to Assad, Bouthaina Shaaban, said in Damas- cus on Tuesday that there would be LONDON/ONCUPINAR: Rebel no let-up in the army advance, which groups urged US President Barack aimed to recapture the city of Aleppo Obama to do more to stop Russian from rebels and secure Syria’s bor- bombing raids in Syria as pressure der with Turkey. mounted on Washington ahead of a Asked how soon a ceasefire new round of peace talks this week. could be put in place, a Russian World powers are meeting in diplomat who declined to be iden- Germany today to try to revive the tified said: “Maybe March, I think so.” first effort in two years to negotiate The Washington Post said Moscow an end to the war after it faltered in had sent a letter to Washington this the starting blocks last week. week proposing to stop its bombing But with Moscow backing a on March 1, allowing it to continue Syrian government push for all-out for another three weeks. military victory against Western- Custodian of the Two Holy backed rebels, Western officials and Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz opposition delegates hold out little Al Saud of Saudi Arabia plans to visit hope. Opposition spokesman Salim Moscow in mid-March, Russia’s RIA Al Muslat said Obama could stop the news agency said, a meeting that Russian attacks, although he did not would bring together the main spon- spell out how. sors of the opposing sides. “If he is willing to save our chil- Riyadh said on Tuesday it was dren it is really the time now to say willing to commit special forces ‘no’ to these strikes in Syria,” he said. to Syria should a US-led coalition US Secretary of State John Kerry deploy ground troops against Islamic is pushing for a ceasefire and more State. A man drives his motorbike past damaged buildings yesterday in Harasta, east of the Syrian capital Damascus. humanitarian aid access ahead of a Saudi-backed rebels said they meeting of the International Syria would go to Munich but would only Support Group in Munich. go to UN peace talks in Geneva far fallen on deaf ears for fear they eye of our friends, whether European de Mistura has set a target date of Feb- — have reversed opposition gains on Moscow said Kerry and Rus- later this month if Russia stopped could fall into the hands of Islamic or American.” Opposition coordina- ruary 25 to reconvene talks between the ground and encircled rebels inside sian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov bombarding their positions and State. tor Riad Hijab said the Russian and the Syrian government and opposi- Aleppo, a strategic prize now divided agreed yesterday on the need for a humanitarian aid reached civilians “If we had these, this would solve Iranian intervention in Syria was tion in Geneva. between government and opposition ceasefire in Syria and the provision in the areas they control. the problem of Syria,” he said. “We bolstering the extremist threat in the But in less than two weeks, the control. of humanitarian aid to blockaded Muslat reiterated calls for more really guarantee that they do not go Middle East, but the rebels would not offensive by Syrian forces, Hezbollah The latest fighting around Aleppo areas. military support, notably anti-air- anywhere — that they will be in the give up. and Shia militias directed by Iran — has killed about 500 people on all But one UN diplomatic source craft missiles, a demand that has so hands of the moderates under the United Nations Syria envoy Staffan all backed by Russian bombing raids sides, a monitoring group said.

Sudan summons US ambassador UAE appoints minister of happiness Risk to Mosul dam over UN sanctions AFP in a series of tweets. minister of international coopera- Ohoud Al Roumi, who had tion and development, was handed hits anti-IS drive draft resolution served as director of the council the new post of state minister for DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates of ministers’ office, was appointed tolerance. The cabinet has eight (UAE) yesterday named women to “minister of state for happiness”. new ministers, including five new AFP wave would still be several metres Reuters the newly created posts of state min- “Happiness is not just a wish in women, with an average age of 38, high when it reaches Baghdad. isters for happiness and tolerance, our country. There will be plans, WAM state news agency said. A US assessment published Mon- and a 22-year-old female for youth projects, programmes and indices. Last year UAE rulers sought to day on the Iraqi parliament’s website KHARTOUM: Sudan’s foreign affairs. It will be part of the job of all minis- widen the country’s nascent dem- BAGHDAD: The risk of Iraq’s larg- said Mosul Dam was “at a signfi- ministry summoned the US charge The UAE Vice-President and tries,” tweeted Sheikh Mohammed, ocratic credentials with about a est dam collapsing and unleashing cantly higher risk of failure than d’affairs in Khartoum yesterday Prime Minister H H Sheikh Moham- who is also the Ruler of Dubai. quarter of its one million citizens a huge wave onto Mosul is affecting originally understood.” over Washington’s sponsorship of med bin Rashid Al Maktoum named Shamma Al Mazroui, 22, was given the right to vote. plans to retake the city from jihad- High-level contacts have taken a draft UN Security Council reso- eight women as he revealed his lat- appointed state minister for youth, Eighty-seven of the 330 candi- ists, an adviser to the premier’s office place between the US administra- lution extending sanctions related est cabinet line-up of 29 ministers while Lubna Al Qassimi, a veteran dates were women. said. tion and Baghdad, with Washington to the Darfur conflict and add- The army is deploying thousands pushing for repair work to be under- ing restrictions on gold mining, of soldiers to a northern base in taken urgently. Since the dam’s Sudan’s main source of income. preparation for operations to recap- completion in 1984, Iraq has sought A 2005 United Nations Secu- ture the city, the largest urban centre to shore up the foundation by inject- rity Council resolution placed in the Islamic State group’s self-pro- ing mortar-like grout into cavities a travel ban and asset freeze on Standing tall claimed caliphate. that develop under the structure. those “impeding the peace proc- Concern has grown that a failure Regular minor seismic activity ess” in Darfur and established the of the unstable dam, which is about in the area is now seen as a poten- UN panel of experts mandated to 40km northwest of the city, could tial threat. There are also fears that monitor the arms embargo on wipe out much of Mosul and flood IS could weaponise the dam. Darfur. large parts of Baghdad. “If the attack on Mosul goes well, The US draft extending the res- The Americans “frequently refer there is a nightmare scenario that olution included “unfair clauses” to Katrina” and say a collapse of the Daesh (an Arabic acronym for IS) on gold mining in Sudan, the for- Mosul Dam would be “a thousand could itself strike the dam as they eign ministry said in a statement. times worse”, the adviser to the withdraw from Mosul,” the adviser Gold has been the main source office of Prime Minister Haider Al said. of income in Sudan since it became Abadi told reporters. He said the US-led coalition, an oil importer when South Sudan Hurricane Katrina ravaged the whose primary role in retaking seceded in 2011. The new nation US city of New Orleans in 2005, kill- Mosul would be to carry out air took with it three-quarters of ing nearly 2,000 people and leading strikes, is concerned that a major Sudan’s oil output, the main source to a wave of violence and looting bombing campaign could have an of foreign currency used to support that completely overwhelmed the impact on the dam. the Sudanese pound and to pay for authorities. “They are worried about it, they food and other imports. “If the dam bursts, the centre of are thinking carefully about what “The draft resolution contra- Mosul goes under water by about a kind of munitions they use in the dicts the general spirit of bilateral 40-50 foot wave (12 to 15 metres),” Mosul operation,” he said. relations between the two coun- the adviser said, speaking on con- Colonel Steve Warren, the tries, especially in light of the US dition of anonymity. spokesman for the international envoy’s recent visit to Sudan and “It just disappears, so 500,000 anti-IS operation, said the dam was the meeting of the foreign minister people (are) killed within a few far enough from Mosul for strikes not with President (Barack) Obama in Posters with the portrait of Lebanese former prime minister Rafik Hariri ahead of a rally to mark the hours”. to be a threat to its integrity. Addis Ababa and with US Secretary 11th anniversary of his assassination at Sidon (Saida), southern Beirut, yesterday. He said another dam in Samarra, Another concern as Iraq begins of State John Kerry,” the statement hundreds of miles downstream, deploying troops southeast of the said. Fighting in Darfur escalated would also burst. It is estimated the city is a mounting economic crisis. in January when an unidentified group attacked a village, displac- ing large numbers of residents to a nearby town where they held pro- tests that led to the closure of local Netanyahu’s wife abused household staff: Israeli court business and schools. The recent bout of fighting has displaced 37,000 people, the UN says. The Sudanese army said Reuters Allegations of mistreatment lev- about Sara Netanyahu’s alleged abu- husband, now in his fourth term as wife. In one instance, he said, she had it defeated one of the main rebel elled by Meni Naftali, a former chief sive behaviour towards them at the Israel’s leader. called him at 3am to chide him for groups in the Jebel Marra region caretaker at the Jerusalem home, Jerusalem reidence was credible. An earlier case, in 2010, in which buying milk packaged in a plastic bag where the recent fighting is con- were dismissed by the Prime Minis- Sara Netanyahu has elicited a a housekeeper accused her of being rather than in a carton. centrated and now controls the JERUSALEM: Benjamin Netanya- ter’s Office as “evil, skewed gossip” multitude of headlines in the past abusive, was settled out of court. A Testimony by several other former area and has opened main roads. hu’s wife Sara insulted and raged at when the civil lawsuit was filed in over what family spokesmen have spokesman at the prime minister’s employees also pointed to “abusive The Darfur conflict erupted household staff, creating an abusive 2014. decried as an undeserved reputa- office declined immediate comment employment conditions at the prime in 2003 when mostly non-Arab working environment at the Israeli But the court, in its 40-page deci- tion for imperiousness, and it seemed on the labour court’s verdict. minister’s residence as a result of Mrs tribes took up arms against the prime minister’s official residence, a sion, said testimony by Naftali and unlikely the latest case could cause Naftali said he had been subjected Netanyahu’s behaviour and her atti- government. labour court ruled yesterday. other former household employees significant political damage to her to repeated scoldings by Netanyahu’s tude”, the court said. ASIA / PHILIPPINES THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 09 Japan slaps new sanctions on North Korea

operations at the estate since it opened in 2004 South Korea suspends as a symbol of cross-border reconciliation. The South Korean and Japanese moves came operations at a jointly run a day after Abe and South Korean President Park industrial park in North Geun-Hye spoke on the phone. The two leaders also held separate tele- Korea phone talks with US President Barack Obama to discuss strong action against North Korea in response to recent nuclear and missile tests, including a UN Security Council resolution that would bring new sanctions. AFP The latest Japanese measures include pro- hibiting North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports and a total entry ban on North Korean nationals into Japan. TOKYO: Japan announced fresh sanctions “All North Korean ships, including those for against North Korea yesterday for its latest humanitarian purposes, shall be banned from rocket launch, including a total ban on ship- coming to Japanese ports,” the statement said. ping from the country and barring Pyongyang’s “Third-country ships that visited North nationals from entering. Korea shall be also banned from entering,” it Japan’s announcement comes after the UN added. The measures also toughen financial Security Council strongly condemned Sunday’s reporting requirements for people transport- rocket launch and agreed to move quickly to ing cash to North Korea, the statement added. impose new sanctions of its own. The measures bring back and add to some “We have decided to take firm sanction sanctions that Japan eased in 2014, such as steps,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the travel ban, after Pyongyang agreed to re- told reporters of the latest move, which adds investigate issues related to Japanese nationals to measures Japan already has in place over kidnapped by North Korean agents decades ago. past North Korean nuclear and missile tests. “We strongly urge North Korea to take posi- The announcement came as South Korea tive steps toward a comprehensive resolution of also decided to suspend all operations at a various concerns, such as abductions, nuclear jointly run Kaesong industrial park in North and missiles, under a policy of dialogue-and- People wave flags as members of the operation team of Kwangmyongsong-4 long range rocket arrive in Pyongyang yesterday. Korea to punish Pyongyang. pressure and action-for-action,” the Japanese It was the first time Seoul had suspended government statement said. Australia worries North Korea army chief executed over lower life in regime purge: South’s media expectancy of aborigines AFP The report came at a time of terror still persists,” the source was highly elevated tensions on the quoted as saying. AFP divided Korean peninsula following The National Intelligence Service the North’s recent nuclear test and (NIS) in Seoul declined to comment SEOUL: North Korea’s army chief long-range rocket launch. on the report. SYDNEY: Australia is failing to of staff has been executed, South Ri was often seen accompanying In May last year the NIS said Kim close an “unacceptably wide” gap Korean media reported yesterday, Kim Jong-Un on inspection tours, but had his defence chief, Hyon Yong- in life expectancy between aborig- in what would amount to the latest his name was conspicuously missing Chol, executed — reportedly with inal and non-indigenous people, in a series of purges and executions of from state media reports of a recent the use of an anti-aircraft gun. officials admitted yesterday, high- top officials by leader Kim Jong-Un. major party meeting and celebrations Hyon’s fate was never confirmed lighting the devastating impact of Ri Yong-Gil, Chief of the Korean over Sunday’s rocket launch. by Pyongyang but he has never been drugs and alcohol on the country’s People’s Army (KPA) General Staff “The execution... suggests that seen or heard of since. Some analysts original inhabitants. was executed earlier this month for Kim Jong-Un still feels insecure have suggested he was purged and Aborigines have lived on the forming a political faction and cor- about his grip on the country’s pow- imprisoned. vast island continent for at least ruption, Yonhap news agency said, erful military,” Yonhap quoted the Reports of purges, executions and 40,000 years and number just File picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (right) with Ri Yong-Gil, citing a source familiar with North source as saying. disappearances have been common 670,000 out of a total popula- Korean affairs. “It shows that Kim’s reign of since Kim took over power. Chief of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Staff. tion of 23 million. They have long had significantly lower education, employment and life expectancy compared to non-indigenous communities. In a bid to tackle the stark Fukushima plant chief says clean-up won’t stop easily differences, the government intro- duced an annual “Closing the Gap” report in 2009, the latest edition AFP Radiation spread over a wide area in securing power to cool fuel in the engineers, are still battling daily to No 3 reactor, where radiation levels of which was released yesterday. and forced tens of thousands of people reactors that triggered meltdowns and control the meltdown-hit reactors as are still extremely high. Prime Minister Malcolm Turn- from their homes — many of whom subsequent hydrogen explosions that their decommissioning process is still About 1,000 huge tanks for storing bull hailed progress towards will likely never return — in the worst spewed radiation over the area and in the initial stage. contaminated cooling water occupy achieving some of its targets, TOKYO: The chief of Japan’s shut- nuclear accident since Chernobyl in forced residents to flee. Some progress has been made as large parts of the site some 230 kilo- including a goal to halve the gap in tered Fukushima nuclear power plant 1986. “But we will not fall into simi- massive wreckage, including over- metres (142 miles) northeast of Tokyo. child mortality by 2018, improve- warned yesterday that the biggest risk Now with the fifth anniversary of lar confusion like before,” Ono said, turned vehicles, were removed and And more tanks will be needed ments in narrowing the divide in the crippled facility faces is another the disaster approaching next month, explaining that energy levels at the workers are no longer required to as massive amounts of groundwater reading and numeracy, and an major earthquake and tsunami — Tepco opened up the facility to jour- plant are much lower than those wear full-face masks in many areas flows into the reactors everyday and increase in the proportion of stu- though insisted the chaos of nearly nalists yesterday to provide an update after the accident, while the com- of the site. mixes with the cooling water. dents completing high school. five years ago won’t be repeated. on the clean-up process, which is pany has carried out disaster drills to In a newly built rest station Ono, the plant chief, says the reac- But noting that the life expect- On March 11, 2011, a magnitude expected to take decades. prepare. inside the facility, workers can have tors are now stable but need to be kept ancy gap remained unacceptable, 9.0 undersea earthquake off Japan’s “If a major earthquake hits and He also said the firm had built hot meals and check their radiation cool to prevent them running out of he admitted there was an enor- northeastern coast sparked a massive then a tsunami comes again, that temporary coastal barriers that exposure levels through state-of-art control again. mous task ahead, with “real and tsunami that swamped cooling sys- would be the most tense moment for can block waves of up to 15 metres whole-body counters. Tepco estimates that it is likely to difficult challenges... particularly tems and triggered reactor meltdowns us,” Akira Ono, head of the plant, told (50 feet), matching levels of the 2011 But the scar of the catastrophe take up to four decades to completely in isolated communities”. at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, run reporters when asked what would be tsunami. is still visible in other areas as steel clean up the site, but some experts “The life expectancy gap is still by operator Tokyo Electric Power the greatest risk to the plant. Some 8,000 workers, rang- frames gnarled by the hydrogen warn the unprecedented decommis- around 10 years, an unacceptably (Tepco). Tepco has been blamed for a delay ing from nuclear experts to civil explosions can be seen at the plant’s sioning may be delayed further. wide gap, and this target is not on track,” he told parliament. Life expectancy for non- indigenous males was 79.7 years compared to 69.1 for Aborigines in Man’s detention in son’s Spiritual season begins 2010-12, according to official data released in 2013. For women, it was 83.1 for the non-indigenous population, in murder case extended contrast to 73.7 for Aboriginal peo- ple, with a small reduction in the gap of 0.8 years for men and 0.1 AFP He will next appear in court on years for women between 2005- March 23. 07 and 2010-12. State prosecutors asked for six Turnbull said that while indig- weeks for a forensics team to pre- enous people made up only around SINGAPORE: A Belgian financial pare a report and defence lawyer three percent of the nation’s popu- executive accused of murdering his Ramesh Tiwary agreed. lation, they represented 27 percent five-year-old son in Singapore will A psychiatric assessment has of the prison population, with the remain in detention for another six been completed, the lawyer said. adult incarceration rate rising. weeks as state prosecutors await The Belgian was arrested before He said drug and alcohol abuse a forensics report, a district court dawn on October 6 after arriving at was a key problem. heard yesterday. a police station with self-inflicted “We must be honest about the Philippe Graffart, 42, has been wounds. He was charged the next catastrophe and violence cre- charged with the murder of his day. According to local media, Graf- ated by drug and alcohol misuse son Keryan at an upmarket con- fart’s son was found strangled in his and confront and respond to the dominium in October. The offence bedroom with hand-shaped bruises cries for help, particularly from is punishable by death through around his neck. women and children,” he said in an hanging. Graffart and his ex-wife were address to parliament in Canberra. Graffart, wearing a white T-shirt believed to be fighting over the boy’s Turnbull stressed that work- and looking haggard, was connected custody at the time. ing with indigenous communities to a district court from prison via Tiwary said Graffart is currently Roman Catholics light candles as Philippines marked Ash Wednesday, the official beginning of the across the country to develop local video link during a brief pre-trial remanded at Changi Prison but was Christian Lenten season in Manila yesterday. policies and solutions was key to mention of his case yesterday. unsure when a trial would start. bridging the gap. 10 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Ambiguity on Syria New Hampshire turns

rench Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius’s remark questioning the commitment of the US to resolving the races into long slogs crisis in Syria has shone light on an issue our region has been concerned about. That a French foreign minister vanished with her crushing defeat doubts raised by his rivals over his an advantage. has been very forthright and critical of the US policy is an in New Hampshire. readiness to be President. Money will not be an imped- Facknowledgement of the seriousness of the problem. “I don’t think that Even before the final ballots Bush, once the prohibitive iment for Trump, the New York the end of Mr Obama’s mandate will push him to act as much as his were cast there was finger- point- favorite, was going to continue no businessman, or Cruz, whose cam- ing in her campaign. The former matter the result. He became a more paign has raised more than that of minister declares [publicly],” Fabius said, referring to the US secretary president has made no secret in effective candidate in New Hamp- any rival and has enlisted wealthy of state, John Kerry. “There are words, but actions are different and conversations with associates of shire than he had been earlier in the backers to fund a robust Super Pac. obviously the Iranians and Russians feel that,” he said, adding the his unhappiness with the cam- race, but his loss to Kasich suggests Bush and Rubio, once close ambiguity in US policy was contributing to the Syrian crisis. The fact paign. It’s going to be a rough that it’s too little, too late. political allies and now increas- that Fabius spoke his mind before bowing out as finance minister after couple of weeks in Clintonland. While Trump and Cruz are the ingly bitter rivals, have the a career spanning more than three decades is an indication of his Among Republicans, three front-runners, much of the party resources but they need some sort establishment candidates can pro- establishment remains determined of a victory before a crucial pri- desperation and angst at the inaction of the West when Syria continues ceed to the next round. Ohio Gov to find a mainstream alternative. mary in their home state of Florida to be the worst humanitarian tragedy of our times. John Kasich scored an impressive At a breakfast in New Hampshire on March 15. That’s the first win- Syria is sliding inexorably to a point of no-return. The realities on second-place finish, preserving on Monday, John Sununu, a former ner-take-all contest, and right the ground have changed with the entry of Russian forces. The rebels By Albert Hunt a candidacy that had faltered in governor and White House chief of now Trump and Cruz may be the are struggling to hold on to their hard-won gains and are likely to lose if Bloomberg early polls. Jeb Bush, the former staff, warned that the party faces strongest contenders for the state’s there is no substantial support from Florida governor and son and peril if it nominates the New York 99 delegates. its allies abroad. On Syria, Vladimir brother of presidents, finished back businessman. “If Trump is the Kasich, by contrast, needs elivering a rous- in the pack but has the money and nominee,” Sununu said, “Republi- money to stay competitive until Putin has been more decisive and ing rejection of the incentive to continue. Florida Sen. can contested Senate seats all lose.” the contest turns to the Midwest in clear-headed than Barack Obama. established lead- Marco Rubio trailed badly after a Former Sen. Judd Gregg, another Michigan on March 8 and his home The US president has been driven ership of the two strong showing in the February 1 ex-governor, suggested that Cruz state of Ohio the following week. Outgoing French more by a determination not to political parties, New Iowa caucuses. would be even worse. The scenario Ohio also has a winner- take- intervene as his term is coming DHampshire voters produced a pres- The Iowa winner, Sen. Ted for a Trump triumph is straightfor- all contest, for 66 delegates. The foreign minister’s to an end while Putin has been idential primary result that almost Cruz of Texas, finished ahead of ward. If the polls hold and he wins Kasich camp says it had pledges assures protracted battles for both some mainstream candidates. A South Carolina in 10 days, and then contingent on success in New criticism of US determined and focused. Obama’s nominations. tea party favorite reviled by lead- scores victories on March 1, when Hampshire. policy on Syria is legacy will be tarnished by his Bernie Sanders, the Demo- ers of his own party, he had less 624 delegates, or almost a fourth New Jersey Gov Chris Christie just and warranted. record on Syria. He has let Syrians cratic socialist from Vermont, at stake in more moderate New of the total are selected, he would seems finished. He wounded Rubio and the people of our region scored a huge victory over Hil- Hampshire and now moves to be hard to stop. with attacks in last weekend’s down by refusing to honour his lary Clinton on the Democratic friendlier terrain in the South. Cruz, with a much stronger debate but didn’t help himself, commitments and failing to lead side. Billionaire outsider Donald Trump gathered more than campaign team, might be posi- finishing a dismal sixth in a state from the front to find a solution to Trump, a onetime Democrat with 30 percent of the New Hampshire tioned to win more delegates than where he had staked his campaign. no political experience, decisively Republican vote to far outdistance anyone on March 1, also known as On the Democratic side, the the crisis through the overthrow of won the Republican race. the field. Kasich got the strong the “SEC primary” after the college Clinton campaign was prepared President Bashar Al Assad. Clinton, the former secretary of Granite State showing he needed football conference in Southern to lose New Hampshire but not in Options are narrowing on Syria with the collapse of the State and spouse of President Bill to give his financially- strapped states where most of the prima- a rout. There is considerable inter- UN-sponsored talks in Geneva. The Syrian regime is not keen on Clinton, remains the nomination campaign a boost, but still faces ries are held that day. All 12 of nal dissent over what’s gone wrong talks due to the advances it has made on the ground with the support favorite. She has been weakened, a tough slog. that Tuesday’s contests allot del- and what to do. When it comes to of Russia. The siege of Aleppo has further emboldened Assad and however, a fact underscored by a The biggest loser was Rubio, egates proportionally, meaning personnel, the Clintons tend to add two-and-a-half page memo down- who after a third-place finish in that a candidate can win dele- layers rather than replace people, weakened the opposition. An offensive by forces loyal to Assad, playing the importance of the first Iowa was emerging as the main- gates without doing especially well and informed sources say cam- supported by Russian air strikes, against western-backed rebels has four presidential contests that she stream alternative to Trump and in the voting. Careful targeting in paign chief Robby Mook seems caused hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee rebel-held parts of released after conceding defeat Cruz. That momentum came to a Texas and Georgia, which together safe. Aleppo which is the country’s Syria’s largest city. Tuesday night. Any hope of wrap- screeching halt in New Hampshire account for over a third of the del- Current US efforts will not help change the direction of the war in ping up the nomination quickly when he choked in a debate last egates to be chosen that day, could The writer is a Bloomberg rebels’ favour. In an attempt to prevent a collapse of diplomatic efforts to focus on the general election weekend, seemingly confirming give the right-wing Texas senator columnist. to end the five-year-old war, Kerry is now pushing for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid access before a meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Munich this week. Haiti avoids crisis at the last minute, but what happens next?

The Washington Post commission to review October’s botched elec- roaming the streets, clashing with protesters tions. It was those elections that yielded weeks who had been insisting on Martelly’s departure. of escalating protests and violence, culminating Martelly s to be commended for leaving Quote of the day n Haiti, it has too often been the case that in the cancellation of a scheduled presidential office in accord with the constitution; his failure what can go wrong does go wrong. That’s runoff vote last month. So far, so good. The prob- to do so would almost certainly have triggered Iwhy it’s such a relief that Haitian leaders, lem is how to go forward with a new presidential a bloodbath. He also agreed to allow a mem- with a critical assist from the Organization of runoff election, which the deal specifies should ber of an opposition party to be selected as the It is true there is serious American States, were able to agree on an 11th- take place by April, with so many potential dis- interim president, the New York Times reported. competition. It is true there are hour deal, just before President Michel Martelly putes left unresolved. However, Martelly is also suspected as the was to leave office Sunday with no successor in Already, a handful of the fall’s presidential force manipulating those gunmen in the street, issues with the (Palestinian) place, to avert a power vacuum. also-rans - there were 54 candidates - have a suspicion made credible by the corrupt cronies negotiations and the lack of It’s also why there remains cause for con- dismissed the process as illegitimate on the with whom he surrounded himself as president. cern, and the pressing need for international grounds that most members of parliament were And it was Martelly’s heavy-handed attempt developments. vigilance, as the impoverished Caribbean elected in the same flawed first-round elections to hand-pick a successor, a formerly obscure nation embarks on what is likely to be a volatile that resulted in the cancellation of the runoff last banana exporter named Jovenel Moise, that interregnum under the auspices of a caretaker month. Beyond the immediate selection of the helped taint October’s election results. government. interim president, or of a new prime minister, it The last time Haiti was saddled with an Under the agreement struck Saturday, on the is all too easy to imagine bitter disputes arising interim government, after President Jean-Ber- Bo Schack eve of the expiration of Martelly’s term, Prime should the commission reviewing the elections trand Aristide’s ouster in 2004, it took two years Gaza director of the UN body Minister Evans Paul will remain in office until order that the results be revised or scrapped. to organize and execute elections. That cannot Haiti’s parliament selects a new president. That’s Such disputes would be particularly dan- be allowed to happen again. Haiti wants and for Refugees expected to take place in the next few days. Once gerous in the current climate, in which armed deserves a democratically elected new govern- it does, the accord calls for a new prime minister men in the uniform of the Haitian army, an insti- ment on the prompt timetable set by the new to be chosen by consensus and for a verification tution that was abolished in 1995, have been agreement.

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 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 11 Syria: Five years more of the same?

be killed, and hundreds of thousands more will be displaced. Men, women and chil- dren will lose their future in this mess engulfing Syria today. A good number of Arab analysts blame the big powers, namely the United States and Russia, both of whom have an inter- est in letting this bloody conflict go on. This is either done by being the passive partner, like the United states and the West in general, paying lip service by condemning the brutality committed by forces defending the regime, and shed- ding crocodile tears about their victims, or being active like the Russians- using their military hardware to shell and By Dr Mohammed Al Rumaihi destroy town and villages,killing thou- sands of people, just to keep Assad’s regime in power. Some of the observers think that there is a tacit agreement between he collapse of the negotiations the two power known by small number between representatives of the of officials in both camps. Although this Assad regime of Syria, and the kind of thinking belongs to the old theory representatives of the resistance of “conspiracy” no more, it is backed up Tgroups and freedom fighters last week by what we are witnessing on the ground. in Geneva was inevitable. The two par- The key solution in Syria is not col- ties are far from coming to a common lecting money from donor states to elevate ground. In fact it is impossible to either the appalling state of Syrian refuges all reach an accord, taking into considera- over the region and beyond. They will tion the facts on the ground, or for this keep coming so long as the conflict has kind of negotiation to bear fruit. Assad’s not been resolved. Neither is it to let the regime think that all opposition to his parties fight it out to last man and bullet. regime are no more than ‘Terrorists’ paid This is a recipe for disaster in the region by foreign powers,and that the people of as a whole. Syria adore his regime, acknowledging However on the other hand it looks as its ‘sacrifice’ to look after their wellbeing, though the two big powers USA and Rus- prosperity and general interest as they sia, are ‘biting each other’s fingers’, and no see fit,and who ever thinks the opposite is one is willing to let go! The reasons they either labelled with ‘Disloyal’ or “Traitor”. are ‘biting the fingers’ goes beyond the Men and women in the negotiation Middle East. It is the old rivalry between team of the government of Assad, can- the two in so many places, based on solic- A man holds a placard during a demonstration outside not step one inch away from what they iting influence, advancing interests, and the United Nations Offices in Geneva recently. have been told by Damascus. If anyone maintaining national pride. dares to differ, even in words, Assad will The Russians see the Syrian theatre as well. They think that they are gaining and the opposition to negotiate with the It seems that the in fact have them punished severely, as an opportunity to win points, and to ground, politically and strategically from regime, and on other hand it hints that regional powers, based on previous experiences with show their new power, which was lost a traditional US sphere of influence, Assad could be around in power for a Arabs and Turks, those officials, who it is feared could with the collapse of Soviet Union. They and that they are continuing to fight the while. Meanwhile it commits itself to the will have to step in The collapse of become “kings greater than the king”. are coming to the fore again. Because of ‘Terrorists’,to prevent them reaching their deal reached by the powers concerned This was apparent from the statements the collapse of the Soviet Union empire, back yard. It fears the spreading influence in Vienna, which stated that a ‘transition and take whatever the negotiations of the Chief Negotiator of the regime Russia lost a great deal of influence world- of a number of Islamic societies, either in its government with full authority’ should between who came to Geneva- Bashar Al-Jaa- wide, and they think it is high time to gain own back year or in their neighbourhood. be in place in Syria soon, and a cease- measures are fari. His public statement revealed a back some of what has been lost. So it is in their national interests to be fire should be in place as soon as the talks necessary to meet representatives tone of arrogance. As he was sending Washington, on other hand, has the in Syria. and negotiations start. of the Assad messages to his boss in Damascus,he Afghan\ Iraq syndrome. It has suffered this Both political arguments, and deeds The Russians on the same day as the challenge regime of emphasised a number of times that the kind of syndrome since its involvement on the ground, are paying little attention to the negotiations declared that they will ahead, by thinking “other party” should adhere to what in a lengthy regional war, in which its the human tragedy. The calamity affecting continue bombing until ‘Terror has been of ‘the second Syria, and the Damascus was dictating. Furthermore, soldiers were killed in a foreign land. War Syrian refugees has not been seen since defeated’.It seems that the regional powers, representatives he did not stop short of describing the sounds negative to the American public the Second World War, although hundreds Arabs and Turks, will have to step in and alternative’, which United Nations Special Envoy, Mr. De opinion, and they have a lot of excuses of conflicts have occurred on our planet take whatever measures are necessary is to ‘pull out of the Matura, as ‘siding with the opposition’ to give for being aloof. Two of these are since then. The number of refugees, and to meet the challenge ahead, by thinking resistance and that he could face the fate of Al- that the Middle East is like ‘shifting sand’ the suffering is the greatest in the last of ‘the second alternative’, which is to the thorn with groups and Ibrahimi, the last UN envoy! (both borders and allegiances’, and that 70 years! ‘pullout the thorn with their own hands’, their own hands’, The gulf between the two parties is the outcomes of the Iraqi experience show To add humiliation to injury, the otherwise we all face another five years freedom wide open. If they were left alone with that this strategy should not be tried again. American policy on this issue has a dual or more of chaos in the region! otherwise we all fighters last the very unable team of UN representa- The other excuse for passivity is to stance, obvious to any observer. The face another five tives-an unwilling great power, to come to let Russia be humiliated in the Syrian statements coming from Washington week in Geneva solution, nothing would come from these theatre, as fighting a guerilla war never referring to the Syrian predicament years or more of was inevitable. worthless meetings. The people of Syria ends with triumph! have conflicting messages. On the one The writer is an academic and researcher chaos in the region! will go on suffering, thousands more will The Russians have their own reasons hand America urges the resistance forces in GCC affairs. Obama weighs looser rules for Iranian travellers

authority to ensure the law would to be made before exercise of the ask dual-national Iranians to disclose Iranians. Senators Richard Durbin, Jeff intact was bad enough. Weakening them not impede “the legitimate business waiver authority,” the memo states. when they left Iran during their online Flake and Cory Booker have introduced further for amorphous political goals, interests of Iran.” “The national security waiver can application. legislation that seeks to remove dual as the State Department suggested, Congress objected to that at the be exercised by category, not just Those in Congress who negotiated nationals from the list of those who would undermine the spirit of the law time, but didn’t know then that the individuals.” the law consider the State and Homeland would now need visas. and poison any future negotiations. State Department was also pressing The memo then lays out detailed Security Departments’ implementation “The Visa Waiver Program should to exempt all dual- nationality Iranians rationales and legal arguments for to be a violation of it. Michael McCaul, be reformed, but singling people out who are outside of Iran, in the hope of exempting eight categories of people chairman of the House Homeland because of their national origin is The writer is a Bloomberg View column- encouraging political change inside from the new visa rules. When the Security Committee, told me that the fundamentally at odds with American ist writing about national security and that country. Homeland Security Department administration is abusing the national values and invites discrimination foreign affairs. In January, the State Department announced its implementation plan on security waivers that Congress provided. against American citizens who are prepared a policy memo, which I Jan. 21, five of these categories were “The president has decided he is dual nationals,” Durbin said last month. obtained, that argues for exemptions included for exemptions: anyone who going to break this law -- and he plans The ambassadors of all 28 European to the law far beyond what Kerry had visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on to do so, in part, to accommodate the Union states have also publicly called promised the Iranian government behalf of an international organisation, world’s leading state sponsor of terror, for a revision of the law, which they say By Josh Rogin and that have nothing to do with the non- governmental organisation, or as a Iran,” McCaul told me in a statement. could impact hundreds of thousands Bloomberg nuclear agreement between Iran and journalist, and those who visited Iran or “I believe this decision could have of Europeans who left Iran but under the West. Iraq for “legitimate business purposes.” serious consequences for our security Iranian law still hold Iranian citizenship For example, State argued internally The law as written provides and -- perhaps more importantly -- A State Department official told me The executive and that all dual- nationality Iranians who exemptions only for official government far-reaching consequences for our that State and Homeland Security legislative branches he Obama administration’s were born outside of Iran or emigrated travel and military service. According democracy.” are still working to ensure that one successful collaboration from Iran after the 1979 Islamic to e-mails provided to me between In late January, McCaul joined with the new amendments to the Visa must work together Twith Congress on keeping revolution should be exempted from administration officials and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Waiver Program are appropriately to devise common- terrorists out of the United States is the law. Congressional staffers, the White and House Foreign Affairs Committee implemented. The Homeland Security unraveling, as Republicans allege that “The United States has a national House signed off on those being the Chairman Ed Royce in a letter to the Department declined to comment. sense measures to the administration is giving Iran special security interest in Iran moderating only two exemptions after extensive president demanding all memos, e-mails Administration sources told me that combat the rising treatment and as the State Department politically over time,” the memo states. negotiations. and other correspondence related to the they are operating within the law. They threat of terrorists pushes to loosen restrictions for dual- “Penalising those who were born outside The State Department memo shows decision to expand the exemptions for the also say that all travelers entering the nationality Iranians to visit the United Iran runs counter to this objective that after the compromise, the State new visa restrictions for Iran and Iraq. US through the Visa Waiver Program trying to enter States. because it alienates a group that largely Department tried again to expand the The lawmakers gave the administration undergo extensive vetting and that no the United States. As soon as President Barack support the US goal of encouraging scope and the scale of the exemptions a February 12 deadline. final decisions about exemptions for Obama signed the law last December, Iran to moderate politically.” for Iranians all over the world. The Wednesday on Capitol Hill, McCaul dual-national Iranians have been made. Weakening those removing visa waiver privileges for The memo says that the secretary State Department was not definitive will lead a hearing with testimony from The executive and legislative measures to keep foreign citizens who have visited Iran of homeland security can use national on exactly how the Homeland Security two top Homeland Security officials branches must work together to devise Obama’s nuclear and other Middle Eastern nations, the security waivers at his sole discretion Department was supposed to determine who are charged with implementing common-sense measures to combat the Iranians objected and Secretary of State and urges him to use them liberally. which dual- national Iranians met the the program. There are some in rising threat of terrorists trying to enter deal intact was bad John Kerry assured Tehran that the “There are no findings of facts exemption criteria. For example, the Congress who support expanding the the United States. Weakening those enough. administration would use its executive or other determinations required memo says Homeland Security could visa exemptions for all dual-national measures to keep Obama’s nuclear deal

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 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA China confirms first incidence of Zika virus

early detection, Xinhua said. The Health authorities say dengue season runs during the hot summer months of June to August, pathogen unlikely to studies show. spread fast because There is a risk Zika could be spread locally if it was introduced of winter to Hong Kong, the statement said, because Aedes Albopictus mosqui- toes, which transmit the virus, live there. But no cases of the virus in Hong Kong have been reported, it Reuters said. The infected man had been quarantined at a hospital in his hometown since February 6, Xinhua BEIJING/HONG KONG: China has said, adding that he was recovering, confirmed its first case of the Zika with normal body temperature and virus in a man who had recently a fading rash. travelled to South America, the offi- Hong Kong Secretary for Food cial Xinhua news agency said. and Health Ko Wing-man told The virus, which is causing reporters the department was seek- international alarm after spreading ing details of the man’s travel history through much of the Americas, was from the mainland authorities detected in a 34-year-old man from because he had transited through Ganxian county in the eastern prov- the city. People gather to watch the cremation of former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala along the banks of the Bagmati at Pashupatinath Temple in ince of Jiangxi, Xinhua said, citing The risk of contracting the virus China’s National Health and Family through human contact was low, so Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. Planning Commission. the bureau was not worried about Chinese health authorities the spread of the illness in Hong downplayed the risk of the mos- Kong, Ko said, but he added the quito-borne virus spreading because authorities were monitoring the sit- Thousands gather at former Nepal PM’s cremation of the winter cold, Xinhua added. uation closely. Hong Kong’s Department of Mainland health authorities Health said in a statement that the could not be immediately reached man, who had travelled through the for comment. Reuters authors hoped, would take the Hima- Nepal, home to 28 million peo- of the Bagmati. Koirala, head of the city on his return to China, worked in Zika has spread quickly in South layan country closer to stability and ple, has been in turmoil since the new centrist Nepali Congress party, the Dongguan, a bustling manufactur- and Central America and the Carib- peace after years of conflict and the constitution was adopted in Septem- biggest opposition group in parlia- ing city in the neighbouring southern bean, with Brazil the worst affected abolition of a 239-year-old monarchy. ber as some ethnic groups launched ment, spent years in India and had province of Guangdong. country. KATHMANDU: Thousands of His death could make the grant- often deadly protests against the close ties with Indian leaders. Hong Kong’s Port Health Office The World Health Organization mourners attended the state funeral ing of greater rights to ethnic minority charter saying it failed to give them Indian Foreign Minister Sushma has stepped up inspections at the declared an international health of former Nepali Prime Minister groups under the constitution less a greater role in government. Swaraj flew in and paid homage to airport in response and reinforced emergency on February 1 over the Sushil Koirala yesterday who was likely as he favoured a more concili- The leader, who quit as prime the leader on Tuesday. training for boundary control virus, citing concern over a pos- cremated with Hindu rites by the atory approach on the issues. minister in October, died of a respi- Thousands of people, many car- inspectors, the statement added. sible link with a rise in cases of side of a sacred river in the capital, It may also end the Koirala ratory illness on Tuesday. rying flowers, marched in a funeral Health officials in Guangdong microcephaly, a birth defect char- Kathmandu. dynasty that controlled the Nepali “We have lost a simple and honest procession around the capital with urged people to guard against the acterised by an abnormally small Koirala, 78, was a major con- Congress party for most of the past leader at a time when many politi- Koirala’s body mounted on a truck illness during dengue season, and head that can result in developmen- tributor in the drafting of Nepal’s six decades and produced four prime cians are selfish and corrupt,” said festooned with scores of marigold vowed to step up efforts to ensure tal problems. first democratic constitution that, its ministers. mourner Ramesh Dahal on the banks garlands. Taiwan builder Thai police arrest Iranian leader of fake passport ring of collapsed AFP microchipped travel documents, Nat- buidling thorn said. “He himself used six different questioned passports — three from Brazil, and BANGKOK: Thai police have broken one each from Peru, Portugal and up a major fake passport ring led by New Zealand,” the officer added. AFP an Iranian known as “The Doctor” “The Doctor” was wanted by which sent hundreds of passports security agencies in several foreign to Middle Eastern customers try- countries, especially in the EU and TAINAN: Taiwan prosecutors ing to enter Europe, authorities said Japan, according to a police press yesterday questioned the devel- yesterday. release. Five Pakistani middlemen oper of an apartment complex The kingdom has long been a were also arrested in raids in and that collapsed during an earth- hub for a forged document industry around Bangkok for assisting the for- quake as prosecutors detailed serving human traffickers and other gery ring, which sold the passports for flaws in the construction of the criminals. up to 80,000 baht ($2,300). building where nearly 100 peo- Five years of investigation cul- Some of the nearly 200 travel ple remain trapped. minated in Monday’s arrest of the documents found in a Monday raid on The prosecutors in the alleged Iranian mastermind Hamid Jafary’s home were completely forged, southern city of Tainan Reza Jafary who had learnt his skill while others had been stolen from launched an investigation into from his late father, police said. tourists and doctored, police said. Saturday’s disaster after pho- The 48-year-old had for many The raid also uncovered a laser tos showed cans and foam had years been crafting sophisticated engraving machine, rolls of ribbon, been used to fill parts of the forgeries from his home in Chacho- thin leather for passport covers as complex’s concrete framework. engsao province east of Bangkok, they well as metal plates and stamps from The district court, which said. “He (Jafary) produced passports various countries. earlier ordered the developer’s for people from countries including Thousands of passports are arrest, said some reinforc- Iran, Syria and Afghanistan who were reported missing annually in Thai- ing bars in the concrete of the escaping wars and wanted to enter land, where forged documents of 16-storey structure were too Europe,” according to immigration every variety can be purchased on thin or too short. police commander Lieutenant Gen- Fake passports displayed at the immigration bureau in Bangkok yesterday after Thai police broke up a major the streets. The flourishing market has The court took developer eral Nathathorn Prousoontorn. racket by an Iranian known as “The Doctor”. helped establish Thailand as a hub for Lin Ming-hui, and two other “The Doctor” confessed to the human traffickers and smugglers. people connected with the crime and could face a decade in jail Two Uighur men awaiting trial for development, into formal cus- if convicted, he added. guaranteed his top-quality counter- or delivered to clients in Thailand by people fleeing to Europe during the planting a deadly bomb in Bangkok tody late Tuesday on charges of Clients emailed the Iranian forger feits would not be detected by border middlemen, who ensured that Jafary current migrant crisis. last August have also been accused by professional negligence result- their photos and specified the country officials. never met customers directly. Jafary’s fake passports were the police of running a crime group that ing in death. for which they wanted a passport, the The forged documents were then It was not immediately clear if “best quality in the market”, although helped illegal migrants obtain coun- So far 43 people are dead commander said, adding that Jafary sent via private courier companies “The Doctor” provided passports to he was unable to copy the latest terfeit documents. and 95 are still missing in the building, the only highrise in Tainan to crumble completely when the quake struck. “The suspects are being South Africa President Zuma’s ties with Indian family in spotlight questioned further today, but as it is under way, details are not likely to be made public,” Tainan court spokeswoman AFP The Guptas, an Indian family that battleground in opposition efforts to ties to the family. The president’s son The radical leftist Economic Free- Kuo Jen-shiow said. Prosecutors moved to the country in the 1990s, oust Zuma from power. Duduzane is a director of the Gupta’s dom Fighters (EFF) opposition party were not immediately available are alleged to exert a magnetic pull The family has built a string of Sahara Computers, while Zuma’s third has put the Guptas at the centre of for comment. JOHANNESBURG: Political scandals, over President Jacob Zuma, and their South African companies controlled wife Bongi Ngema was also a Gupta its campaign against Zuma ahead The city government said it huge economic deals and even extrav- influence has increasingly become the by brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh with employee. of municipal elections. “We cannot would seek a court injunction agant wedding party controversies target of government’s fiercest critics. interests in computers, mining, media “The Guptas are smart and allow a situation where South Africa next Monday to stop the devel- — an immigrant family that is one of To outsiders they may seem an and engineering. shrewd business people,” political is colonised by a family,” EFF leader oper disposing of his assets South Africa’s wealthiest is accused industrious immigrant family that Zuma ferociously defends his analyst Prince Mashele said. Julius Malema raged, as he blamed while facing lawsuits. by critics of wielding immense power has made it big in their adopted coun- friendship with the Guptas, and “There appears to be a Gupta hand the Guptas for many of South Afri- behind the scenes. try, but now their reputation is a key many of his ministers have various in every business sector.” ca’s problems. PAKISTAN THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 13

Six kids die Court to hear in fireball as car and LPG bid to reclaim tanker collide jewel from UK AFP

LAHORE: Six schoolchildren were among at least 10 people Tower of London along with other killed when a fireball erupted as The Lahore High precious ornaments that comprise a tanker carrying liquefied petro- Britain’s crown jewels. leum gas (LPG) collided with a Court will today The Lahore High Court will car in eastern Pakistan yesterday, hold a preliminary today hold a preliminary hearing engulfing surrounding vehicles, hearing into the into the case following a petition officials said. by Iqbal Geoffrey, a 76-year- The accident, which also case asking Britain’s old Anglo-Pakistani lawyer and injured at least 17, happened on Queen Elizabeth II to abstract painter, whose work has a busy highway in the district of appeared in the Tate Modern and Sheikhupura in Pakistan’s most return the Kohinoor who has been seeking the return populous Punjab province. diamond more than of the diamond since 1958. “According to initial informa- “The Kohinoor rightly belonged tion, a car was making a U-turn 150 years after it was to Punjab province and was forci- and struck the tanker,” senior local taken from Lahore by bly taken by the British from the police official Latif Gujjar said. local ruler and should be returned He added that two cars, colonial forces to Pakistan,” he said, adding his case two rickshaws that were carry- was fixed for today after he over- ing children to school, and two come initial objections. motorbikes had been destroyed His petition added: “Grabbing and the bodies of the dead were People stand at the site of an accident in Manawala area of Sheikhupura district of Punjab province in and snatching it was a private, badly charred. AFP & Agencies illegal act which is justified by no “The loss of life was mainly Pakistan yesterday. law or ethics. A wrong is a wrong. caused by the tanker fire,” he It does not become righteous or added. Local rescue official two women. Heavy fog that descends Pakistan also has an appalling More than 4,600 people were right by passage of time or even Muhammad Azam confirmed upon central and northern Pakistan record of fatal traffic accidents due to killed in road traffic accidents in 2013, LAHORE: A Pakistani court set to acquiescence.” the incident and number of cas- in winter is a leading cause of road poor roads, badly maintained vehicles the last year the government released hear a petition today asking Brit- India, Pakistan’s main rival, has ualties, adding the dead included accidents. and reckless driving. official data. ain’s Queen Elizabeth II to return also long claimed the diamond. Last the Kohinoor diamond more than November a group of Indian busi- 150 years after it was taken from nessmen and a Bollywood actress Lahore by colonial forces. said they would mount a legal bid The 105.6 carat stone, which in an English court and in the Inter- Proposal to cut down federal ministries has also been claimed by a group of national Court of Justice. After its Indian businessmen in a separate presentation to Queen Victoria, the court case, adorns a crown that was Koh-i-Noor was eventually crafted Internews to continue with some of the many autonomous Pinpointing increase in investment as the key last worn in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth into the crown of Queen Elizabeth organisations that exist.” to job creation and economic activity, the report the Queen Mother at the coronation the Queen Mother, for the corona- Additionally, the report states that the gov- proposes a doable growth strategy for immediate of her daughter. tion of George VI in 1937. ernment can also rationalise debt-servicing implementation. An expansionary monetary pol- Originating in the Golconda Pressed on the issue of the Koh- LAHORE: With the country’s debt piling up each expenditure by locking in the present reduced icy would lead the economy out of the morass of mines of central-southern India, it i-Noor during visits to India in 2010 quarter, the Institute for Policy Reforms (IPR) has markup for debt. the past eight years. passed through the hands of con- and again three years ago, Britain’s identified Pakistan’s huge expenses as the main The report also addresses one of the economies IPR’s growth strategy centres on three key quering Mughal princes, Iranian Prime Minister David Cameron reason behind an unstable economy. In its latest most crucial aspects: loss making public sector areas - export increase, industrial revival and pub- warriors, Afghan rulers and Punjabi said that returning the stone was report, IPR has recommended to cut down the enterprises (PSEs). It advises the government to lic investment. Maharajas before being surrendered out of the question. “If you say yes number of federal ministries in an attempt to lower revisit the way PSEs are managed and suggests Despite stagnant exports, the currency has by a young Sikh prince to Britain fol- to one you suddenly find the Brit- expenditure. separating them from the administrative control remained overvalued. lowing the conquest of Punjab in ish Museum would be empty,” the For greater fiscal management, the report sug- of their respective ministry. The high value of the rupee came at a most 1849. Literally translated as “Moun- prime minister said during an Indian gests transferring several functions to provinces The document recognises improvement in inopportune time of slowdown in world trade. In tain of Light”, the Kohinoor was recut TV interview. “I think I am afraid to and getting rid of ministries at the centre. economic stability under the IMF programme. fact, this was when many developing countries from its original 189 carats in 1852. say, to disappoint all your viewers, it “Government may also take up zero-based However, it states that the government must now lowered the value of their currencies and this has It is currently on display in the is going to have to stay put.” budgeting through which it can decide whether focus on growth, while ensuring robust stability. placed Pakistani exporters at a disadvantage.

Jerusalem Mufti attends conference Parliamentary Afghan police officer killed panel to craft after firing on Nato troops policy on AFP The assailant later died after Afghan ties succumbing to injuries at a local hospital. “The interior ministry has Internews KABUL: An Afghan police officer ordered Kabul police to investigate was killed during a clash with Nato the incident,” the ministry’s state- forces in the capital Kabul, the coun- ment added. try’s interior ministry said yesterday. So-called “green-on-blue” ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary The incident erupted on Tuesday attacks, when Afghan soldiers or panel shall formulate policy rec- when the police officer opened fire police turn their guns on interna- ommendations for the government on a Nato delegation at the entrance tional troops or colleagues, have on how Pakistan should pursue of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Com- been a major problem during NATO’s relations with Afghanistan, partic- merce and Industries, the ministry long years fighting alongside local ularly the reconciliation process. said in statement. forces. As a part of formulating rec- The shooter was wounded when The attacks have bred fierce mis- ommendations, the National Nato soldiers returned fire, accord- trust between Afghan and foreign Assembly Standing Committee ing to Nato spokesman Michael troops even though the number of on Foreign Affairs invited a panel Lawhorn. No Nato forces were such incidents has declined in recent of experts on Wednesday for a injured during the incident. years. detailed briefing on Pakistan- Afghanistan relations and to find a way forward. Headed by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmed Hussain addresses the Paigham-e-Islam conference in MNA Awaid Ahmed Leghari, the Queen Maxima visits Pakistan Islamabad yesterday. Over 5,000 clerics and scholars attended the conference, voicing concern over panel includes former Pakistan the rise of terrorism. Ambassador to Kabul Ayaz Wazir, security expert Brig (retd) Assad Munir and journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai. Giving his perspective, ex-ambassador Wazir said Paki- stan’s policy on Afghanistan should 12,000 literacy centres planned be based on current ground realities. “We must accept Afghani- stan as a sovereign country,” he said, adding that Pakistan should Internews “The NCHD in collaboration for promotion of literacy and non- implement the Afghan transit trade with the Annual Status of Educa- formal education aims to build agreement. Security specialist Munir tion Report has been active in 143 capacity, material and research pointed out the general perception districts to enhance the school enrol- development, examination and that Pakistan is responsible for the ISLAMABAD: The National Commis- ment rate, prevent dropout rate and assessment/certification and equiva- destruction of Afghanistan. “Paki- sion for Human Development (NCHD) check absenteeism of schoolchil- lency and maintaining data bank for stan has to change this perception has planned to set up 12,000 new lit- dren. The Unicef is to be part of the literacy,” she said. by its actions.” eracy centres in the Pakistan’s less project,” she said. The NCHD chairperson said the Journalist Yousafzai cau- developed and remote areas. RazinaAlam said a train- commission would continue per- tioned the government over the According to NCHD Chairperson ing institute for literacy and suading the relevant authorities role Pakistan was playing to bring RazinaAlam Khan, PC-1 of the project non-formal education would be for allocation of necessary funds to the Afghan Taliban to the negoti- was approved recently. established in Islamabad, while continue the ball rolling in a posi- ating table. “There are differences Queen Maxima of The Netherlands (centre) is accompanied by She told reporters here on literacy centres would be estab- tive manner. within the Afghan government on Marvi Memon (left), the head of the Benazir Income Support Wednesday that the Senate Commit- lished in seminaries. She said that the NCHD was a peace talks.” While Afghan Pres- Programme (BISP), which delivers government support to tee on Education had observed that She added that special courses not-for-profit organisation with the ident Ashraf Ghani is in favour women through digital accounts, as she visits a BISP office in the non-formal education and adult had been arranged for taxi drivers, mission to transform lives by improv- of talks with the Taliban, Chief Rawalpindi yesterday. The Dutch royal is on an official visit to literacy programme should reach the gardeners and labourers with spe- ing access to basic education and Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah Pakistan as the UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate for remotest, most backward and poor- cial literacy courses. healthcare in the country’s poorest has little interest in such efforts, Inclusive Finance for Development 2016. est of the poorer. “The National Training Institute communities. he added. 14 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 INDIA

US and India plan Full bloom at Mughal Gardens joint patrols in South China Sea

Delhi on condition of anonymity. The official gave no details on Neither India nor the scale of the proposed patrols. the US has claims There was no immediate comment to the South China from China, which is on a week-long holiday for Chinese New Year. Sea, but both said China accused Washington they backed freedom this month of seeking maritime hegemony in the name of free- of navigation and dom of navigation after a US Navy overflight in the destroyer sailed within 12 nauti- cal miles of a disputed island in the waterway Paracel chain of the South China Sea in late January. The US Navy conducted a similar exercise in October near one of Chi- Reuters na’s artificial islands in the Spratlys. Neither India nor the United States has claims to the South China Sea, but both said they backed free- NEW DELHI: The United States and dom of navigation and overflight in India have held talks about conduct- the waterway when US President ing joint naval patrols that a US Barack Obama visited New Delhi defence official said could include in January 2015. Obama and Modi the disputed South China Sea, a also agreed at the time to “identify move that would likely anger Beijing, specific areas for expanding mari- Tulip flowers in full bloom at the Mughal Gardens of the Presidential Palace in New Delhi yesterday. The gardens covering an area of 15 which claims most of the waterway. time cooperation”. acres and have around 160 species of flowers will open for public viewing from February 12 until March 19. Washington wants its regional More than $5 trillion in world allies and other Asian nations to take trade moves through the South China a more united stance against China Sea each year. Vietnam, Malaysia, over the South China Sea, where Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan tensions have spiked in the wake also claim parts of the waterway. of Beijing’s construction of seven In December, the issue of joint Nation prays for ‘critical’ Siachen soldier man-made islands in the Spratly patrols came up when Indian archipelago. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar India and the United States have visited the US Pacific Command in ramped up military ties in recent Hawaii, a government source said. IANS “He continues to remain Many offered to donate body whose survival is being seen as a years, holding naval exercises in the “It was a broad discussion, it was extremely critical with evidence of organs to help Koppad survive. miracle, include top critical care Indian Ocean that last year involved about the potential for joint patrols,” oxygen deprivation to the brain on CT In Uttar Pradesh, a housewife specialists, head of the department the Japanese navy. said the source, who declined to be scan. There is evidence of pneumonia from Lakhimpur Kheri, 167 km from of medicine, senior nephrologists and But the Indian navy has never identified because of the sensitivity NEW DELHI: Lance Naik Hanuman- in both lungs,” a medical bulletin said. Lucknow, contacted a local news neurologists from the army hospital carried out joint patrols with another of the matter. India has a long-run- thappa Koppad, battling for life after “His multi-organ dysfunction channel and sought to know how she as well as the All India Institute of country and a naval spokesman said ning land border dispute with China being buried under ice for six days state continues unabated. His con- can contact the hospital to donate a Medical Sciences. there was no change in the govern- and has been careful not to antag- in the Siachen glacier, was in critical dition has deteriorated despite kidney to Koppad. Asked how he survived the hos- ment’s policy of only joining an onise its more powerful neighbour, condition yesterday, doctors said, as aggressive therapy and supportive A former sailor, S S Raju, also tile weather for six long days, a doctor international military effort under instead focusing on building eco- millions across the country prayed care.” expressed willingness to donate any from the army hospital said they have the United Nations flag. nomic ties. But it has stepped up for his recovery. Koppad is on ventilator in the ICU organ of his body to save “fellow no account of what exactly happened. He pointed to India’s refusal to be its naval presence far beyond the More than a day after the sol- at the hospital, where he was admit- brother” Koppad. “Only when Lance Naik Koppad part of anti-piracy missions involv- Indian Ocean, deploying a ship to dier was admitted here, the Army ted on Tuesday. Bollywood celebrities including gains consciousness, will we be able ing dozens of countries in the Gulf the South China Sea almost con- Research and Referral Hospital said An earlier bulletin said the soldier Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, to get an account of how he managed of Aden and instead carrying out its stantly, an Indian navy commander in the evening that his condition had “continues to battle the odds”. Shatrughan Sinha, Anupam Kher, to survive,” the doctor said. own operations there since 2008. said, noting this wasn’t the practice worsened “despite aggressive ther- “... his medical condition remains Shekhar Kapur and Sunny Deol as Koppad and the other soldiers The US defence official said the a few years ago. apy and supportive care”. very critical... The medical team ... is well as cricketer Sachin Tendular said were hit by the avalanche at an alti- two sides had discussed joint patrols, The commander added that the Koppad was found from under 35 treating him with best expertise and they were praying for his recovery. tude of around 20,500 feet. adding that both were hopeful of largest number of Indian navalship feet of ice at an avalanche-hit army resources available in the world.” A special prayer was conducted He was found miraculously alive launching them within the year. visits in the South China Sea region post in the Siachen glacier in Jammu Family members, including wife on Tuesday evening at Ganga Ghat in just when the rescuers were begin- The patrols would likely be in the was to Vietnam, a country rapidly and Kashmir—six days after he and Mahadevi and two-year-old daughter Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The famed ning to lose hope. The soldier was Indian Ocean where the Indian navy building military muscle for poten- nine other soldiers were buried. The Netra, were in the hospital campus, Dabbawallas in Mumbai offered found conscious but drowsy and is a major player as well as the South tial conflict with China over the bodies of the other nine have been praying for his recovery—like millions prayers for the soldier. disoriented. He was also severely China Sea, the official said in New waterway. found. all over the country. Doctors treating the soldier, dehydrated and in shock.

Tusker goes berserk in Siliguri HC to ensure sanitation Delhi CM office raid: CBI allowed workers receive salaries to retain papers

IANS the court that even till date, some IANS of the employees have not received their salaries. Petitioners also told the court that despite getting sala- NEW DELHI: The Delhi High NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court ries, many sanitation workers are Court yesterday set aside a trial yesterday said that it would ensure still on strike. court order directing the CBI to that all the sanitation workers The court made it clear that if sal- release the documents seized receive salaries and asked the civic aries have been released by the civic during the raid at the office of bodies to provide it a list of those yet bodies and sanitation workers are not Rajendra Kumar, principal sec- to get their pay. reporting to duty, it will decide on retary to Chief Minister Arvind A division bench of Chief Justice declaring the strike “illegal”. Kejriwal, on December 15, 2015. G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said Civic agencies told the court that Justice P S Teji said that the it would hear the matter on Monday salaries have been released on Feb- Central Bureau of Investigation and till then salaries must be paid to ruary 8 and will be available in their (CBI) will retain the documents sanitation workers. It also said that bank accounts by February 10 or 11, seized by it during the raid. in future also, the civic bodies and as the process takes time. “The claim of the CBI to retain Delhi government have to ensure Employees of Delhi’s three main the documents for the purpose of that sanitation workers’ salaries civic bodies have been protesting investigation is justifiable. Accord- should not be held back. over the non-payment of salaries for ingly, the impugned order dated “We want to ensure salaries are the past few months, directing their January 20, 2016 is hereby set paid to everyone. We are happy that ire at both the Delhi and the cen- aside and the investigating officer A wild elephant damages a house as it goes on a rampage in a village in Siliguri, West Bengal yesterday. most of them get back to the work,” tral governments. However, after the is at liberty to retain the docu- The elephant damaged around 100 structures, villagers said. No injuries were reported. it added. During the hearing, some court’s intervention, unions agreed ments during the pendency of the of unions of sanitation workers told to call off the strike. investigation,” said the court. The court’s order came on a CBI plea challenging a trial court’s Janu- ary 20 order directing the probe agency to release the documents. The high court said that in the Decision on odd-even vehicle curbs formula today trial court’s order, “error has been committed and jurisdiction has been exceeded in accepting the IANS had got an overwhelming response being prepared today (Wednesday),” “We have plans to induct 1,000 an interactive session with their driv- claim of the return of the docu- to the scheme in the feedback. Rai said in the tweet earlier. new cluster buses and another ers at the Ramlila ground here on ments, selected by the respondent “Out of the 9,000 email sugges- The Delhi government imple- 1,000 air-conditioned buses to the February 17, where the chief minis- no.1 (government), mentioned in tions, we have shortlisted the best 20. mented the scheme on a trial basis Delhi Transport Corporation fleet by ter will distribute subsidy cheques of para 8 of the application as it over- NEW DELHI: The Delhi govern- I will discuss them with Chief Min- from January 1-15, under which October. We are also in a process of Rs15,000 each to registered e-rick- shadows the investigation”. ment is likely to take a decision on the ister Arvind Kejriwal tomorrow. He odd-numbered four-wheelers were running 1,000 premium buses by pri- shaw operators . Justice Teji said: “...neither justi- future of the odd-even vehicle restric- will announce the final schedule of allowed to ply on odd dates and even- vate operators,” said the minister. Transport department officials fiable nor desirable as the relevancy tion formula today amid indications the re-launch at a press conference,” numbered vehicles on even dates. He said premium buses will have said that 4,600 e-rickshaw operators is to be examined by the investigat- that it would be re-implemented in Rai said yesterday. Rai said the Delhi government had slightly higher fares with comforta- have already registered themselves ing officer and not by the court and the national capital. “The Delhi government will take big plans to revamp the public trans- ble seating. with the Delhi government and many the same tantamounts to interfer- Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai a decision over the future of the odd- port. It will add 3,000 buses in phases Rai said the Delhi government more are likely to join in the next one ence in the investigation conducted said yesterday that the government even (scheme) tomorrow. A report is to the current fleet. will have an ‘e-rickshaw samwaad’, week. by the investigating officer”. INDIA THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 15

Google Several deals to be signed with UAE boosts

Prime Minister online Narendra Modi welcomed Abu Dhabi security Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed with a IANS warm embrace as the latter alighted from NEW DELHI: Internet users in the aircraft at the India today are more conscious Palam Technical Area about their online safety, Internet giant Google India said yesterday as it rolled out several new fea- tures and resources designed to IANS protect users online. Google India released some key search trends of last year pointing demand of greater cyber NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Naren- security. The trends showed that dra Modi yesterday broke protocol in the past year there have been as he received Crown Prince of Abu 20 percent more searches for Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Com- “change password” and 97 per- mander of the UAE Armed Forces, cent more searches for “two-step General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed verification”. Al Nahyan, as he arrived here on a Two-step verification requires three-day visit to India. more than just a password to sign Modi welcomed Sheikh Mohamed into your Google account, such as with a warm embrace as the latter a 6-digit code that is sent to your alighted from the aircraft at the Palam phone for more protection. Technical Area. So to ramp up the online “A special welcome for a special security, Google is offering ini- friend. PM @narendramodi person- tiatives like simplifying security ally receives HH Sheikh Mohamed bin settings to making trustworthy Zayed Al Nahyan,” the Prime Minis- messages easier to spot in Gmail. ter’s Office tweeted. Google will also be driving multi- The crown prince is being accom- ple initiatives to drive awareness panied by a high-level delegation about online safety among Indian comprising cabinet ministers, senior Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New Delhi yesterday Internet users. officials and business leaders. “With an increase in the After the India-UAE relation- and civil nuclear cooperation, are numbering around 2.6 million, is Today, Sheikh Mohamed will be blue collar workers. This is the sec- number of users coming online ship was elevated to comprehensive likely to be signed between India and also likely to come up for discussion, accorded a ceremonial welcome at ond highest level visit to India from and the rise in the penetration of strategic partnership during Prime the United Arab Emirates (UAE). he said. Meanwhile External Affairs Rashtrapati Bhavan following which the Gulf region after the visit of the smartphone users in India, we at Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the “A number of new agreements Minister Sushma Swaraj called on he will lay a wreath at Rajghat. Emir of Qatar in March 2015. Google are committed to offering UAE in August last year, the first by and MoUs (memorandums of under- Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and He will have a tete-a-tete with The region, which hosts seven users a safe Internet experience,” an Indian prime minister in 34 years, standing) are proposed to be signed Deputy Supreme Commander of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi after million expatriate Indians and is an Sunita Mohanty, director, trust there is focus on new areas of coop- during the visit of the crown prince UAE Armed Forces, General Sheikh which President Pranab Mukherjee important source of remittances, has and safety, Google India said. eration like defence production in to expand the areas of our cooper- Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, soon will host him for a private lunch. a strong bearing on India’s security and “We are adding five million India, security, counter-terrorism, in ation,” said Wadhwa. after he arrived. Delegation-level discussions stability in its neighbourhood. The UAE new users a month taking the user nuclear and space sector, in energy “This list is still being updated. I “Our honoured guest from across will be held here between Modi is the third largest trading partner of base of aconnected’ Indians to 500 sector, according to Anil Wadhwa, cannot give the number right now but the Arabian Sea. EAM @SushamSwaraj and Sheikh Mohamed on Thursday India after the US and China. millions online by 2018-2019. It’s secretary (east) in the external affairs as we speak the negotiations are still calls on Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed evening and then the agreements will Tomorrow, Sheikh Mohamed will more important now than ever ministry. going on,” he added. Al Nahyan,” external affairs ministry be signed. After Saudi Arabia, the UAE leave for Mumbai where he will visit before to ensure the data and pro- A slew of agreements, including The welfare of the expatriate spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted with hosts the highest number of Indians the Bombay Stock Exchange and meet files of these users is safe online,” on defence equipment manufacturing Indians in the United Arab Emirates, pictures of the two leaders. in the Gulf, 60 percent of whom are Indian business leaders. Mohanty added.

Internal migration in West Bengal Kerala CPI-M Anti-trafficking draft bill factions call ups penalty for offenders

truce ahead Reuters protection for both victims and wit- nesses, the official said. of elections In addition, a separate court CHENNAI: A new bill being drafted will be established to handle seri- aims to curb the steep rise in human ous crimes, she said. IANS trafficking by unifying several exist- At present, human traffick- ing laws, raising the penalties for ing cases are dealt with largely offenders and providing for victims’ under the Immoral Traffic (Preven- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: rehabilitation, government officials tion) Act, though some also come Ahead of assembly elections in said yesterday. under the Protection of Children Kerala, the two known factions of The bill calls for the creation of from Sexual Offences Act, or sec- the CPI-M in the state have decided an organised crime investigation tions of the Indian Penal Code and to work together, setting aside their agency, a special court to deal with Code of Criminal Procedure, labour internal issues. trafficking cases and severe pen- laws and overseas affairs, the offi- The majority faction in the alties for repeat offenders and the cial said. Communist Party of India-Marx- trafficking of minors, they said. “This is a big step forward,” Dr P ist is led by former state secretary “Human trafficking in India has M Nair, a member of the expert com- Pinarayi Vijayan, while former taken on many forms, with people mittee set up to draft the bill, told the chief minister V S Achuthanan- being trafficked for forced labour, Thomson Reuters Foundation in a dan heads the other. domestic work and even begging,” telephone interview. The Vijayan faction, which a senior Women and Child Develop- “Since 2000, many of us work- more or less controls the party, had ment Ministry official working on the ing to prevent human trafficking decided to teach Achuthanandan draft bill said. have been pushing for comprehen- a lesson after he walked out of the “All these cases are dealt with by sive legislation. The highlight of the Women resting on a pavement in Kolkata yesterday. According to surveys, West Bengal is a common party state conference last year. He various agencies and under numer- draft bill is that it gives victims a destination for internal migration from adjacent states. was not included in the state com- ous different laws,” she said. legal right to rehabilitation, mak- mittee and was relegated to a mere “The Supreme Court of India ing the state more accountable in invitee to the Central Committee. felt that all cases, national or inter- doing so.” But as Achuthanandan is con- national, should come under the According to National Crime sidered the biggest crowd puller in purview of one single law. The new Record Bureau data, 5,466 cases of Kerala politics, things appeared to legislation will have a more holistic trafficking were reported in 2014, an Nasa discounts meteorite theory have changed ahead of the elec- approach and plug the lacunae in the increase of 60 percent since 2010. tions that the Left Front led by the implementation of anti-trafficking “The new legislation hopes to CPI-M is determined to win. drives,” said the official. fix these numbers,” Nair said. “At “We will put our best foot for- The bill will propose increas- present investigators, judicial offic- Reuters College in Natrampalli in Vellore traverse through the Earth’s atmos- ward in the upcoming assembly ing the penalty for offenders to up ers and public prosecutors lack district, around 170 km from Chen- phere, but a few can disrupt giving rise elections,” a senior CPI-M leader to 15 years’ jail from the present training in handling these sensi- nai, was killed and three others to several meteorites - as the object said. four to five years, and will provide tive cases. were injured in an explosion after a is known once it impacts the Earth. WASHINGTON/CHENNAI: Scientists burning object fell from the sky on But Nasa scientists held that at the Nasa have discounted reports February 6. Police said Kamaraj and online photographs of the site of the that an Indian bus driver in Tamil others were hit by splinters due to the suspected meteorite hit in a college Nadu was killed by a meteorite, but impact of the unknown object which campus on Saturday were more con- IS suspect sent to 10-day police custody Indian experts said this can only be also created a three-feet wide crater. sistent with “a land based explosion” ruled out after “detailed analysis”. They said the fragments of mate- than with something from space, the IANS Seeking the remand, police He was presented before the Only a detailed analysis of the rial embedded in Kamaraj’s body New York Times reported yesterday. reportedly told Additional Sessions court after the expiry of his earlier object that has been received from had been sent for forensic analysis Early reports included images of Judge Reetesh Singh during in- police remand. the Vellore police can tell whether it is and the post-mortem report would a crater, five feet deep and two feet camera proceedings that they had Mohsin Abraham Sayeed, 26, a a meteorite or not, said a senior official be finalised only after the receipt wide. Witnesses described hearing NEW DELHI: A court yesterday to recover data from the Facebook resident of Malad in Mumbai, was of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). of the analysis report. Tamil Nadu an explosion, and police recovered sent an Islamic State (IS) suspect to and other accounts of Sayeed. arrested from old Delhi’s Kashmere “The IIA team has received a sample Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had a black, pockmarked stone from 10 days’ police custody after the city According to sources, police Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal on from the local police. The nature of the announced a solatium of Rs100,000 the site in Vellore. Lindley Johnson, police said they had to recover data informed the court that the accused February 4 by a Special Cell of Delhi object can be ascertained only after a to Kamaraj’s family saying he lost his NASA’s planetary defence officer, told from his Facebook account. had to be taken to Muzaffarnagar, Police. detailed analyses by experts,” IIA dean life due to meteorite hit. the US daily in an email that a death The man, Mohsin Abraham Say- Agra and Lucknow for the purpose Sayeed was allegedly in touch G C Anupama said. Anupama said: “Most meteor- by meteorite impact was so rare that eed, was arrested in connection of investigation. with four IS suspects arrested on Kamaraj, employed as a driver oids (as the object is known before it one has never been scientifically con- with planning terror attacks in the The court allowed the police to January 19 in Uttarakhand’s Harid- with Bharathidasan Engineering impacts the Earth) disintegrate as they firmed in recorded history. country. quiz Sayeed for another 10 days. war district. 16 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 EUROPE

Farmers French foreign minister Fabius bows out rebuff Greek

AFP As foreign minister since 2012, to India and Saudi Arabia, and also went agents were caught after the sink- Fabius helped to negotiate the Iran to Brazil and South Africa to get them on ing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow PM’s talks As foreign minister nuclear deal, as well as dealing board and listen to their concerns. Warrior in New Zealand as it was on since 2012, Fabius with the thorny dossiers of the Syria Fabius, who comes from a long its way to protest against a French offer PARIS: Veteran French politician Lau- helped to negotiate conflict, and the growing threat of line of art merchants, is independently nuclear test. After initial government rent Fabius bowed out of government jihadism in western Africa, where wealthy, and his status as the richest of denials, Fabius later told journalists yesterday after a career spanning more the Iran nuclear deal, French troops are deployed. the Socialist ministers has been seen as the French secret service was indeed Reuters than three decades that saw an early as well as dealing Journalists became accustomed off-putting to the rank and file. behind the bombing, adding: “The string of scandals but ended with his to his pithy expressions. Whether Haughty, highly pedigreed truth of this affair is cruel.” shepherding a complex climate deal as with the thorny discussing the Islamic State group or and clad in classic suits —Hermes, However the biggest stain on ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister foreign minister. dossiers of the Syria Nigeria’s Boko Haram, he would often according to one local report —he his career was a scandal in the late Alexis Tsipras said yesterday he Fabius holds the distinction of repeat: “They are fake believers, but has often been labelled a member of 1980s in which blood infected with was willing to talk to protesting being France’s youngest ever prime conflict, and the true criminals.” the “gauche caviar”, the French term HIV was distributed in France, and farmers over pension reform but minister, a post he took up at 37, and growing threat of However, it is Fabius’s final big for a champagne Socialist. later abroad, even after government said it was essential to overhaul has remained a Socialist heavy- project that is likely to shape his leg- Fabius followed the well-worn path became aware of the problem. the system to ensure Greeks could weight, ending his career in the ornate jihadism in western acy: sealing a historic deal to save to political power in France: graduating Hundreds were infected, and Fabius continue to receive pensions. hallways of the Quai d’Orsay as his Africa mankind from global warning. from the elite Ecole Normale Superieure was charged with manslaughter, but Greeks are furious over the country’s top diplomat. As host of the global climate talks and attending the National School of acquitted in 1999. His health minister plans, which will entail increased Amiable and sometimes witty in at the end of 2015, he presided over 13 Public Administration (ENA). was convicted but never punished. In social security and tax payments person, the cerebral 69-year-old also days of gruelling talks to get 195 nations A political wunderkind, he more recent times, it is his 34-year-old for many groups of workers, and has a reputation for being aloof. minister told reporters he would take to agree on transforming the energy became a lawmaker aged 32. Then- son Thomas who has caused Fabius the the farmers swiftly rebuffed Nevertheless, his experience made up in March “if things go as planned”. system underlying the world economy. president Francois Mitterrand most embarrassment. Tsipras’ offer of talks, pledging him a popular foreign minister with the Segolene Royal, the high-profile While fending off rumours of ill appointed him as budget minister Thomas Fabius has faced a raft instead to step up their blockades French people, who largely saw him as environment minister and ex-part- health —and a persistent suggestion three years later and then sent him to of legal problems over his passion for of highways. a fitting representative abroad. ner of President Francois Hollande, that he suffered from Parkinson’s — the ministry of industry and research. gambling and is wanted in the United Greece’s leftist government has Yesterday, President Francois is among the rumoured successors, Fabius threw himself into the complex In 1984, he became France’s States for allegedly writing rubber promised to reform the costly pen- Hollande nominated Fabius to head but former prime minister Jean-Marc world of climate science and politics youngest-ever prime minister. cheques for millions of dollars at sev- sion system as part of a multi-billion France’s prestigious Constitutional Ayrault is also believed to be in the for two years preceding the talks. However, Fabius would quickly eral Las Vegas casinos. He has also euro bailout deal with its interna- Court, a post the outgoing foreign frame. He made 12 trips to China, four each face a major scandal, when French been charged with forgery in France. tional creditors, but Tsipras said he was ready to look at helping specific groups hurt by the changes. “We are already doing that Poland protests with the self-employed ... we are Doctors stage second strike in London hospitals aspiring to do the same with farm- ers, provided they want to sit down over BBC report for a dialogue to find a solution,” he told a cabinet meeting. AFP “We have to be clear that the AFP reform is not optional, or just a conventional obligation of the country. It is absolutely necessary WARSAW: Poland issued a formal LONDON: Thousands of junior doc- for the social insurance system to protest yesterday over a BBC report tors at English hospitals staged a have a future,” Tsipras added. asking if controversial moves by second strike yesterday against pro- Without the pensions over- Warsaw’s new right-wing govern- posed new conditions and pay rates haul, Greece cannot conclude a ment were “Putinising” the EU and for working unsociable hours. first assessment of its broader eco- Nato member. Junior doctors—all medics below nomic reforms which would pave A foreign ministry letter consultant level—were providing only the way for discussions on sorely addressed to a top BBC executive emergency care during the 24-hour needed debt relief. said a January report on the polit- strike, which runs until 8am (800 Elected on a pledge to end aus- ical crisis in Poland was “biased”, GMT) today. Nearly 3,000 operations terity, Tsipras is trying to juggle the “inaccurate” and drew “unjusti- have been postponed, National Health competing demands of Greece’s fied conclusions”. Service (NHS) England said. lenders and voters wearied by Titled Is Poland being The main point of dispute years of recession and austerity. Putinised?, the report on the BBC’s between doctors and the government He has a parliamentary majority flagship Newsnight current affairs is over whether Saturday should be of just three. The overhaul aims to programme featured interviews classed and paid as a normal working protect Greece’s current pension- with a government MP as well day. Prime Minister David Cameron’s ers, who have already endured 11 as Poles protesting controversial centre-right government says the cuts to their pensions in the past legal changes to the top court and reforms are needed to help create a five years as governments have public media. Critics have accused “seven days a week” NHS where the struggled to avert bankruptcy. the governing Law and Justice quality of care is as high at the week- Greece’s central bank chief (PiS) party led by ex-premier ends as on weekdays. said timely conclusion of the lend- Jaroslaw Kaczynski of attempting Junior doctors demonstrated out- Junior doctors shout slogans and hold placards outside Guy’s Hospital during a strike in London yesterday. ers’ economic review was crucial, to stack the Constitutional Court side hospitals around England. warning that delays risked derail- and public television and radio Abhishek Joshi, a doctor at St ing a projected economic recovery with loyalists since winning an Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, “There have been studies to show Outside Guy’s Hospital in London, offered “a fair deal”. Eight studies in five in the second half of 2016. Farmers, October election. said the new contracts could stop that tired doctors are even worse than demonstrators held placards reading years had shown weekend mortality who face a tripling of social secu- The moves have triggered a hospital operators from being drunk drivers,” he said. “Would you “Not fair, not safe” and “Tired doctors rates were higher and he had to “do rity payments under the current series of mass demonstrations and penalised if doctors work prolonged want a drunk driver operating on you?... make mistakes”. something about that”, he told the BBC. pension plan, have been blockad- harsh criticism both at home and shifts, “at the end of which we’ll be Saving your heart in the middle of the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt A first 24-hour strike was staged ing motorways across Greece for the across Europe. tired.” night? That’s not what we want.” insisted junior doctors were being on January 12. past three weeks. 4 dead as mini bus hits mine in Ukraine Renzi compares EU

AFP heavy battles between pro-Russian southwest of the de facto rebel capital former Soviet republic’s once-boom- to sinking ship rebels and government troops in June. Donetsk as the bus and its five pas- ing industrial heartland of more “There are lots of anti-tank mines sengers were leaving a separatist-run than 44,000 mines by the start of in this field and it seems that it hit one part of the province towards a gov- December. MARINKA: Four people were killed of them,” a 55-year-old witness said. ernment-administered area. But the warring sides and foreign AFP yesterday when a passenger minibus “It was a huge blast.” Officials said the driver had monitors are struggling to estimate hit a mine in eastern Ukraine during a Ukrainian military spokesman ignored mine warning signs posted how many unexploded devices relative calm in fighting, officials said. Andriy Zadubinnyi said two civilians along the road and drove onto a field a remain. A reporter at the scene saw pools died at the scene and a third in the few hundred metres from the Ukrain- More than 9,000 people have ROME: Italian Prime Minister Mat- of blood and personal belongings of ambulance on the way to the hospital, ian checkpoint. been killed and 20,000 injured teo Renzi (pictured) has stepped up the victims scattered near a check- while the body of a fourth victim was Ukraine’s emergencies minis- since the conflict broke out in April his war of words with Brussels by point at Marinka —a flashpoint village later found on the side of the road. try said it had cleared the separatist in the wake of Ukraine’s pro-West- comparing the European Union to of about 10,000 people that witnessed The blast occurred about 20 km Donetsk and Lugansk regions in the ern revolution. the orchestra that kept on playing as the Titanic sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic. The outspoken leader, who has clashed with EU officials over philosophy. Renzi has often referred Italy arrests priest budget rules and other issues, made to the German-inspired Stability Standing ovation for Rajoy the comment in an interview pub- Pact as the “Stupidity Pact”. for defrauding lished the day after Rome launched a The 41-year-old insists he is a push for the EU to adopt a two-speed Europhile but he often sounds like approach to its future development. a Eurosceptic as he rails against elderly savers “The EU is like the orchestra Brussels “technocrats” or the failure playing on the Titanic,” Renzi told of the EU to act decisively over the ROME: A priest was arrested for Bloomberg, insisting his revitalised migrant crisis or the chaos in Libya. allegedly defrauding hundreds of and reformed Italy had earned the He has challenged France over elderly people out of millions of right to play a leading role in shap- temporary border closures linked euros through an money-laun- ing the bloc’s destiny. to migrant flows, Germany over a dering scheme, Italian police said “Today we have done reforms major gas pipeline project and fought yesterday. Monsignor Patrizio Ben- and we are in a position to say to the European Commission over the venuti, 64, has been placed under EU partners: ‘friends, we can change consolidation of bad debts by Ita- house arrest, and an international this wrong, bureaucratic approach.’” ly’s banks as well as budget issues. arrest warrant has been issued Renzi has notably clashed with In a reflection of Italy’s more for French financier and property Brussels over Rome’s demands for lee- active diplomacy, Foreign Minister dealer Christian Ventisette, whom way on the EU’s Stability Pact budget Paolo Gentiloni on Tuesday hosted a authorities have not been able to rules to allow him to revive the strug- dinner for his counterparts from the find, finance police said. gling Italian economy with tax cuts bloc’s six founding member states. Police said the pair persuaded and growth-orientated spending. Billed as the start of a reflection 300 would-be savers in France, Behind the technical debate over on the EU’s future, the ministers Belgium, Switzerland, Luxem- whether costs for one-off structural endorsed a statement reiterating bourg, the United States and Italy reforms or dealing with the migra- their commitment to “ever closer to invest €30m, encouraged by Spain’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (second right) is applauded by Popular Party Senate tion crisis can be discounted from union” while signalling that not all the promise of helping a charita- members at the start of a meeting at the Spanish Senate in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. the calculation of deficit levels, lies a member states would be expected ble foundation. fundamental difference of economic to pursue the goal. EUROPE THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 17 Call to speed up refugee relocation

commitments to cooperate. A Commission statement said EU Migration the report on Italy, where more than Commissioner 160,000 irregular migrants arrived last year, found that only two of six Dimitris planned “hot spots” for processing Avramopoulos writes those to be considered for asylum or be deported were fully operational. letters to member For another two of the six, plans states asking them to had not even been finalised, it said. accelerate relocation Of five hot spots planned for Greece, where more than 800,000 of refugees from migrants arrived via Turkey last overstretched year, only one was fully opera- tional, the report found, despite the Greece and Italy measures having been agreed by EU leaders five months ago. Meanwhile, EU Migration Com- missioner Dimitris Avramopoulos Hundreds of migrants and refugees walk at the port of Piraeus after arriving from the island of Lesbos, yesterday. Agencies said he has written letters to mem- ber states with a “clear and strong message” to accelerate the reloca- tion of refugees from overstretched Greece asked to improve conditions for refugees BRUSSELS: The European Union Greece and Italy. urged Italy yesterday to speed up Avramopoulos said he had sent preparations for what it expects will letters to all the interior ministers AFP further pressure on Greece after it It said Greece had addressed and the fact many asylum seekers do be a new wave of migrants cross- after only 497 people were relo- urged Athens last week to reinforce shortcomings cited by a European not want to stay there. ing the Mediterranean from Libya cated to other member states out of its borders, the gateway to Europe for Court of Justice ruling in 2011 which Germany has also caused dis- this summer. the 160,000 agreed last September. most of the asylum seekers from Syria said conditions for asylum seekers ruption by saying last year that it In reports endorsed at its weekly “That is why I have addressed BRUSSELS: The EU yesterday told and other countries. were degrading, meaning that other would take in all Syrian refugees that meeting, the European Commission, a letter to each interior minister Athens to improve conditions for “There are still key areas in countries could not send them back reached its territory no matter where the EU executive, found both Italy reminding them that they are bound refugees so that other overstretched the asylum process that need to be there. they had initially landed in the EU. and Greece, the member states in by the relocation decisions which member states can send some of them improved (in Greece)... notably in the The EU’s Dublin regulations on “There must be a real possibility to the front line of the migration crisis, have to be implemented immedi- back to Greece if they first entered the areas of reception capacity and condi- migration say people must apply for return asylum-seekers to the country wanting in their application of meas- ately, Avramopoulos said. bloc there. tions, access to the asylum procedure, asylum in the country where they first of first entry into the EU, as foreseen ures agreed by EU leaders and also “We need urgently to switch The call from the European Com- appeals and legal aid,” the commis- land, but that system has been thrown by the commonly agreed EU rules,” called on Turkey to fulfil its recent gears on relocation,” he added. misison, the EU executive, heaps sion said. into chaos by the conditions in Greece the commission said. Britain to double Nato naval deployments Germany probes cause

AFP of deadly train crash

AFP divides into two, according to RND. LONDON: Britain will double its Nato Police would not confirm the naval deployments this year to show report. Dobrindt himself had cau- its enemies it is “ready to respond tioned against any speculation on to any threat”, Defence Secretary BERLIN: German investigators raced the causes of the disaster. Michael Fallon said yesterday. yesterday to determine whether “At the moment we will have to Britain will play a bigger role in human error or technical fault was to wait (for the result of the investiga- Nato maritime exercises and activi- blame for a train crash that killed 10 tion). Everything else is speculation, ties in 2016, the Ministry of Defence people, as police said all bodies had and would be unhelpful and inap- (MoD) said. been recovered from the wreckage. propriate,” he had said on Tuesday. “Increasing our Nato deployments There are “no more missing Stefano, 24, a passenger on one sends a strong message to our ene- people”, police said in a statement, of the trains, told Bild newspaper mies that we are ready to respond adding that 17 people were severely that the horrific accident began to any threat, and defend our allies,” injured and 63 others slightly hurt in with a sudden “screech, like with Fallon was to say, according to an Tuesday’s collision near the south- an emergency brake. Then there MoD statement. ern spa town of Bad Aibling. was a real crash, it was damn loud. “2016 will see a particular focus Two trains travelling at high The back of the train was thrust up. on the Baltic region with our ships speeds crashed head-on on a sin- The lights went out and I was thrown sent there as part of the maritime gle track, with one slicing the other across half the train.” group, the mine counter measure An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter takes off from British Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean apart, ripping a large gash in its side. “I was so scared that I was going group and the Baltops exercise.” during Operation Ellamy, in the Mediterranean Sea, yesterday. Transport Minister Alexander to die. Next to me, a man was flung The 28-member Nato alliance is Dobrindt said the line was fitted with head-on against a window pane, trying to figure out how to adapt to a an automatic braking system that he was around 45 to 50 years old. complicated array of potential threats, three mine sweepers with around 130 eastern member states, which are presence in the eastern part of our should have prevented such acci- I saw how he died,” recounted Ste- including feared Russian land seizures personnel for Nato operations in the alarmed by a more assertive Russia, alliance,” he said. “This will send a dents and investigators were probing fano, who was later helped out of the along the borders of countries in east- Baltic Sea, North Atlantic, North Sea sends a “clear signal” to any would- clear signal. Nato will respond as one whether the mechanism malfunc- train by fellow passengers. ern Europe and the Baltic nations. and the Mediterranean Sea. be aggressor. to any aggression against any ally.” tioned or whether there had been Salvage workers expect to take The frigate HMS Iron Duke will Two frigates will be sent to the “Today and tomorrow, we will This forward deployment, which human error. at least two days to remove the man- operate in the Baltic Sea from Janu- anti-submarine warfare exercise make decisions to strengthen our diplomatic sources say may involve Newspaper group Redaktion- gled wreckage from the site, national ary to July, while a destroyer will part named Dynamic Mongoose, while defence and deterrence,” Stoltenberg no more than 6,000 troops on rota- sNetzwerk Deutschand (RND), news agency DPA reported. of the maritime immediate reaction flagship HMS Ocean, Britain’s big- said as he opened a two-day defence tion, is part of what Nato dubs citing sources close to the inves- The accident is Germany’s first force from October to November. gest warship, will contribute to the ministers meeting at Nato headquar- “modern deterrence,” drawn up tigation, said a signalling station fatal train crash since 2012, when The deployments involve around Baltops exercise in the Baltic Sea. ters in Brussels. largely in response to the Ukraine worker had manually deactivated three people were killed and 13 400 Royal Navy personnel. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said “I expect defence ministers crisis and Russia’s shock 2014 annex- the automatic signalling system to injured in a collision between two The Royal Navy is also sending the alliance’s increased presence in to agree to enhance our forward ation of Crimea. let the first train—which was run- regional trains in the western city ning late—go past. of Offenbach. That action would have also shut The country’s deadliest post- off the automatic braking system. war accident happened in 1998, Trapped Spanish The second train then forged when a high-speed ICE train link- Kremlin downplays attack on Kasyanov ahead on the same track in the ing Munich and Hamburg derailed in potholers alive opposite direction, before the first the northern town of Eschede, killing was able to split off where the line 101 people and injuring 88. AFP Pelevina wrote on Twitter they were any questions should be addressed speaking Chechen. to the Federal Guard Service, which TOULOUSE, FRANCE: Seven Last week, Chechen leader Kady- protects Kasyanov. Spanish potholers trapped in a rov posted on his Instagram an image Kadyrov in turn apparently cave in southwestern France have MOSCOW: The Kremlin yesterday of Kasyanov and his deputy apparently posted a mocking comment from his been found unhurt and rescuers downplayed a restaurant attack on in the crosshairs of a sniper’s rifle. Instagram account on a report on the are preparing to bring them to the opposition leader Mikhail Kasyanov Kadyrov added the caption: restaurant attack on a Chechen news surface, police said yesterday. as a “hooligan stunt” and denied it “Whoever did not understand, will site: “Me again)))!!?:” “Contact has been made. was linked to a threat from Chechen understand now!” Kasyanov asked Moscow police briefly detained They are still 300 metres under- leader Ramzan Kadyrov. security services and investigators to three Chechen police officers out- ground but they are alive,” a source Late on Tuesday, a group of 10 carry out a formal probe into Kady- side the restaurant, Moskovsky said.“They are all safe and sound, men approached Kasyanov in a cen- rov’s post as a death threat. Komsomolets daily reported, cit- but tired,” Frederic Rose, of the tral Moscow restaurant and “shouted President Vladimir Putin’s ing its own sources. regional authorities of Haute-Gar- threats” before throwing a cake at spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Kasyanov did not identify the onne, said. “We have put them in a him, the Parnas party leader said the restaurant incident was unrelated Chechen officers as his attackers safe area and we will bring them up.” in a statement. Kasyanov, who as a to Kadyrov’s threat, however. but the reason for their presence was Eight of an original group of 15 former prime minister is guarded by “Here you should not equate any- unclear, it reported. potholers had managed to escape federal security services, said he filed one with the Chechen leadership,” Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and raise the alarm yesterday. a police report over “threats to my life Peskov told journalists. was shot dead in the back in Febru- The group had been caught out and safety.” He described the attack- “We are talking about a hooli- ary last year as he crossed a bridge by the rapid rise of water in the Bavaria State Premier Horst Seehofer (centre) visits the site of a train ers as “non-Slavic” in appearance. gan stunt, which of course should near the Kremlin after dining in cen- cave after large amounts of ice and His fellow party member Natalya be condemned,” he said, adding that tral Moscow. snow melted. accident near Bad Aibling, southern Germany, yesterday. 18 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 AMERICAS

Chris Christie Sanders and likely to end bid Trump win in for White House WASHINGTON: New Jersey Gov- ernor Chris Christie is expected to end his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, US media New Hampshire reported, but a Christie spokesman said the candidate had not made up his mind. February 1 to Cruz in the first nom- “No decision has been made,” inating contest, the Iowa caucuses. spokeswoman Sam Smith said. Trump’s odds for His win showed pundits were wrong Politico, citing an unidentified winning the White to think he would quickly self- source, said Christie, who placed destruct based on his penchant for a disappointing sixth in the New House, once seen insults and imprecise plans for the Hampshire primary would sus- as an extremely presidency. pend his campaign. long shot, improved Trump’s odds for winning the Fox Business Network, in a White House, once seen as an post on Twitter, earlier reported significantly after extremely long shot, improved sig- that Christie was dropping out his victory in New nificantly after his victory in New but did not cite any sources. Sep- Hampshire, online betting site Lad- arately, CBS reported the governor Hampshire brokes PLC said. could take as long as 24 hours The real estate tycoon is now before deciding, citing sources. at 9/2, compared to 7/1 last week, After election results came in meaning that his chances of victory on Tuesday evening, the two-term Reuters in November are now 18 percent. governor said he was returning to Democrat Hillary Clinton still had New Jersey rather than moving on best odds of becoming president at to South Carolina, the next pri- 50/50, Ladbrokes said. mary contest, and would reassess MANCHESTER: Democrat candi- Sanders said his victory over his campaign. His departure would date Bernie Sanders and Republican Clinton, showed “we have sent the leave eight Republicans vying to Reverend Al Sharpton (left) welcomes US Senator from Vermont and Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Donald Trump coasted to victory message that will echo from Wall represent the party in the Novem- on a wave of voter anger in the New Street to Washington, from Maine Sanders at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem, New York, yesterday. ber presidential election. Hampshire presidential nominat- to California, and that is that the ing contest, thrashing traditional government of our great country US politicians in a display of anti- belongs to all of the people and not establishment power. just a handful of wealthy campaign Sweeping wins by Trump, a New contributors.” Hillary and Republicans regroup after defeat York billionaire, and Sanders, a dem- Clinton now looks wounded. She ocratic socialist, on Tuesday testified trailed Sanders by 60 percent to 38 to the sizable share of American vot- percent in New Hampshire with 92 ers upset at US economic conditions percent of precincts reporting. AFP guaranteeing bitter and drawn-out But her message risks falling on all out internecine warfare. and willing to send a shockwave to In an apparent attempt to chip races to the Democratic and Repub- deaf ears unless she manages to Trump’s visceral assault on Amer- Washington in the November 8 pres- away at Clinton’s strong support lican nominations. address a core weakness revealed ican politics brought him his debut idential election. among African-American voters, In a uneasy concession speech, by Tuesday’s exit polls: her lack victory after a second-place show- New Hampshire’s verdict sets Sanders met civil rights leader Rev. MANCHESTER: Hillary Clinton and Clinton immediately pivoted away of voter trust. Among voters who ing in last week’s Iowa caucuses. up a tough fight for Republicans in Al Sharpton at a restaurant in New a gaggle of mainstream Republican from her months-long stump address, cared most about trustworthiness, It was a must win for Trump, after South Carolina’s February 20 pri- York City’s Harlem neighborhood. presidential hopefuls turned their deploying messages designed to only five percent chose the former his embarrassing performance in Iowa mary and for Democrats there Black voters will play a crucial gaze south yesterday, hoping to move appeal to black voters who can decide secretary of state who has failed to called into question his showmanship on February 27. Some of the most role in the Democratic race in South on from thumping New Hampshire the next primaries in South Carolina shake off the controversy over her strategy and his brand as a winner. monumental campaign battles in Carolina where more than half of the primary defeats at the hands of Bernie and Nevada. use of a private email server while But similar levels of support for elections past have been fought in Democratic primary voters in 2008 Sanders and Donald Trump. “I know I have some work to do, in the sensitive office. Kasich, Senator Marco Rubio, former the state that holds the first primary were African Americans. Sanders and Trump —two polit- particularly with young people,” Sanders, a self-described demo- governor Jeb Bush and Texas Sena- elections of the American South. Young voters in New Hampshire ical outsiders with vastly different acknowledged Clinton, who received cratic socialist who advocates nothing tor Ted Cruz left the rest of the field Ohio Governor John Kasich won liked Sanders’ populist proposals to ideologies, but who have a common just 16 percent of the vote among less than “political revolution” has not in chaos. Now the fight moves to a spirited fight for second in the break up big banks and have the gov- campaign credo of shouting truth at people under 29 according to New fared well among minority groups will South Carolina, a state with a lin- Republican field in New Hampshire, ernment pay for free college tuition. power —won the second contest in Hampshire exit polls. have his work cut out to extend his gering reputation for bare-knuckle with US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, “People have every right to this months-long nomination race The only age group where she winning streak. campaign tactics. former Florida Governor Jeb Bush be angry but they’re also hungry, with some ease. came out ahead was the over 65s. Sanders signaled he was in the Even before the candidates and US Senator Marco Rubio of Flor- they’re hungry for solutions,” Clin- Sanders almost doubled Clinton’s Clinton said she recognised the race to win and said he expected arrived, the state’s airwaves were ida fighting for third place. All four ton, 68, said after congratulating tally and Trump bested second place American electorate’s fury with estab- the next few weeks to be even more being flooded with negative attack now are headed to South Carolina. the 74-year-old Sanders. “I will Ohio governor John Kasich by almost lishment politics. closely fought. ads, with each man hoping to do down For Trump, New Hampshire work harder than anyone to actu- 20 percentage points. “People have every right to be If the Democratic race is poised rivals and emerge as the mainstream showed he has staying power and ally make the changes that make Both results shocked the angry,” she said. “But they’re also to take a more confrontational choice to successfully challenge can take a punch after losing on your lives better.” party establishments, virtually hungry, they’re hungry for solutions.” turn, then Republicans are set for Trump. US lawmakers Persistent drought threatens millions with hunger in Haiti to bring Reuters thousands of Haitians rely on inter- average, with losses of up to 70 per- divided country in the hands of a dis- The agency provides 200,000 national food aid to survive. cent in some places, the WFP said. “In puted interim government. Haitians with cash in exchange for bipartisan Acute water shortages caused by some areas of Haiti, up to 70 percent Nearly 500,000 schoolchildren work on watershed management and prolonged drought, made worse by of the population is facing hunger.” across Haiti rely on school meals pro- soil conservation projects to improve BOGOTA: Around 3.6 million people the El Nino weather phenomenon, A recent study by the Haitian vided by the WFP for their daily meal, agriculture. legislation in Haiti are struggling to feed them- have cut food supplies and hit subsist- government and the UN Children’s and school meals make up the largest The drought has gripped other selves as three consecutive years of ence farmers hard. Three out of four agency (Unicef) found that “malnu- food safety net in the country. parts of the Caribbean and Central drought have ruined harvests and Haitians live on less than $2 a day. trition rates are above emergency The WFP has distributed food aid, America, particularly parts of El Sal- Reuters raised food prices, worsening hun- “Without rain for the 2016 spring levels in several communes,” the including rice, sugar, oil and salt, to vador, Guatemala and Honduras. ger among the poor, the UN World season, farmers will lose their fourth WFP said. 120,000 people in drought-hit areas The current El Nino, which began Food Programme (WFP) has said. consecutive harvest on which they The food crisis comes at a time since November. in early 2015, is one of the strong- WASHINGTON: US House of Repre- The poorest country in the normally depend to feed their fam- of political uncertainty and social It says it will expand its programme est on record and has also caused sentatives lawmakers will introduce Americas, Haiti cannot produce ilies,” Wendy Bigham, WFP’s deputy unrest after Michel Martelly stepped by providing food and cash to one mil- widespread crop losses in countries bipartisan legislation on that would enough food for its 10.4 million peo- country director in Haiti, said. down as president last week without lion Haitians facing hunger to help them ranging from Ethiopia to Papua New prohibit states from requiring tech ple in normal times, and hundreds of The main 2015 harvest fell below an elected successor, leaving a deeply cope with rising food prices. Guinea. companies to build encryption weaknesses into their products. The move marks the latest foray into an ongoing debate over encryption between Silicon Valley Mexican traditional fight Colombia’s FARC to stop and Washington. While tech com- panies generally oppose weakened security standards, federal author- recruiting child soldiers ities have warned about a “going dark” phenomenon in which criminal suspects use powerful AFP 220,000 people dead. encryption in their communica- Yesterday’s announcement tions so that investigators cannot appeared to be a gesture to ease access a phone’s content, even with negotiations by the FARC, whose a warrant. HAVANA: Colombia’s FARC rebel leaders have warned in recent weeks The ENCRYPT Act, sponsored force promised yesterday to end of lingering obstacles to a peace deal. by Democratic Representative Ted recruitment of all child soldiers to its The two sides have signed deals Lieu and Republican Blake Far- ranks, in a further bid to seal a peace on four of the six agenda items at enthold, would prevent any state deal ending a half-century conflict. the talks: justice for victims, land or locality from mandating that a At peace talks in Cuba, the leftist reform, a political role for ex-rebels “manufacturer, developer, seller, guerilla group had already pledged and fighting the drug trafficking that or provider” design or alter the to stop recruiting fighters under 17, fuels the conflict. security of a product so it can be but the Colombian government said The unsettled issues are dis- decrypted or surveilled by author- that did not go far enough. armament and the mechanism ities, according to bill text. International authorities and by which the final accord will be The legislation is in response to rights groups define any member of a ratified. proposals in recent months in New force aged under 18 as a child soldier. Disagreement remains over York and California that would “Today we communicate to the whether the peace deal should be require companies to be able to country our decision to end the put to a popular vote or passed by decrypt their smartphones man- recruitment of those aged under 18 to a constituent assembly as the FARC ufactured after 2017, Lieu said. the FARC,” a negotiator for the Marx- demands. “It is completely technologi- A man takes part in the traditional Xochimilcas fight to defend their women against the Aztecs, in ist rebel force, Victoria Andino, said, Colombia’s President Juan cally unworkable for individual reading out a statement. Manuel Santos said on Monday a ref- the Mexican municipality of Zitlala in Guerrero district, yesterday. Fighting plays an important role in states to mandate different The two sides have vowed to sign erendum would be held on a possible some of the traditions for the indigenous groups in Guerrero. encryption standards in consumer a peace deal by March 23 to end five peace deal whether the rebels want products,” Lieu said. decades of conflict that have left a vote or not. AMERICAS THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 1917 Govt already has funds for Zika: Republican Senator

Reuters government had $1.49 billion left in Ebola funding as of Dec. 31, 2015. The There’s still money Ebola outbreak began in West Africa left that was in December 2013. WASHINGTON: The Obama admin- The CDC received a $272m istration has no immediate need for appropriated for increase for 2016, the aide said. funding to combat the Zika virus Ebola. So there’s no Officials at the Department of because money remains unspent Health and Human Services were from fighting the two-year-long immediate shortage not immediately available to com- Ebola outbreak, a member of the of money for the ment on the issue. Republican Senate leadership said. . Democrats rejected the Repub- Lawmakers are debating what administration to lican agenda of hearings and called resources are needed as Zika spreads do what they think for action on Obama’s plan. “All the in South and Central America and the needs to be done, lip service in the world isn’t going to Caribbean and raises fears of the protect America from the Zika virus,” possibility of birth defects. said Roy Blunt said Senator Charles Schumer of New But while Democrats joined York, the Senate’s No. 3 Democrat. with the administration to call for The World Health Organisation more than $1.8bn in emergency declared the outbreak an interna- funding, Republicans say there is reporters. “So there’s no immediate tional health emergency on February no need for immediate action and shortage of money for the adminis- 1, citing a “strongly suspected” rela- intend to have hearings on Capitol tration to do what they think needs tionship between Zika infection in Hill, including a meeting with US to be done.” pregnancy and microcephaly, a con- Health and Human Services Sec- He said that the Centers for Dis- dition marked by abnormally small retary Sylvia Burwell. ease Control and Prevention the head size that can result in develop- “We all believe this needs to be National Institutes of Health have mental problems. dealt with,” said Senator Roy Blunt received additional funding. Most of Brazil is investigating more than of Missouri, who will chair a hear- the money sought by Obama would 4,000 suspected cases of microceph- A scientist swats a mosquito at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Insect Pest Control ing about Zika today. be spent in the United States on test- aly and has identified evidence of “There’s still money left that was ing, surveillance and response. Zika infection in 17 of these cases. But Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria, yesterday. Several Latin American countries searching for ways to appropriated for Ebola,” Blunt told A Republican aide said the much remains unknown about Zika. control Zika-carrying mosquitoes have recently turned to the IAEA for help. Team finds remains but no sign of 43 Mexican students Rabies spread by bats kills 12 in Peruvian Amazon Reuters September 2014, in an incident that However, a 2015 report by the most notorious crimes of Mexico’s sparked an international outcry over an international panel of experts recent drug-scarred history. human rights abuse, forced disap- severely questioned the government’s Anthropology has not found sci- Reuters people in native Achuar villages near pearances and killings committed account, rejecting the central claim entific evidence to establish any link the Morona River basin where the MEXICO CITY: Argentine foren- with impunity in Mexico. that the students were incinerated in between the remains recovered in the deaths have surged, said governor sics experts said they had found the The government originally said the dump. So far, the remains of only Cocula dump and the missing students,” Fernando Melendez. Some three chil- remains of 19 people in a dump in the students were abducted by cor- one of the 43 students has been posi- the report said. After combing the site, LIMA: At least 12 people in remote dren were among the 12 dead, he said. southwestern Mexico where the gov- rupt police officers who handed them tively identified. the Argentine team found various teeth indigenous communities in the Peru- “Today the people of Loreto are ernment claimed 43 missing students over to a local drug gang. Gang mem- The Argentine forensic report, and bone fragments of 19 different peo- vian Amazon have died from rabies living a tragedy.” were incinerated in 2014, but no sign bers killed the students and destroyed which is unable to shed light on the ple, ranging between 15 and 38 years of in recent months and several more Peru’s central government was of the students. their bodies in a bonfire in the dump unsolved mystery of where the stu- age. Guerrero, where the incident took remain sick after catching the dis- preparing a state of emergency to free The student teachers disappeared in the nearby town of Cocula, accord- dents might be, further undermines place, is one of the most violent regions ease from bats, a local governor said. up funds for additional vaccines and in the southwestern city of Iguala in ing to that official account. the government’s handling of one of of the country. Authorities rushed to vaccinate fly them into affected communities.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 13o C Maximum: 23o C

FAJR 04.54 am ZUHR 11.48 am MAGHRIB 05.27 pm HIGH TIDE 07:00 - 19:00 Misty to foggy at places at first becoming slight SHOROOK 06.12 am ASR 03.01 pm ISHA 06.57 pm LOW TIDE 00:00 - 13:45 dust and moderate temperature during day with scattered clouds and cold by night.

20 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Lemon festival Max Martin wins Polar www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Music Prize MOST READ AFP 1 Pakistan airline workers end strike

Detection of gravitational waves would open STOCKHOLM: His songs have pro- 2 new window on universe vided party music and a romantic backdrop for millions — and yes- Between mines and mortars: Stranded lives terday, the man who created the 3 in eastern Ukraine magic was taken out of the wings and brought into the limelight. Swedish songwriter Max Martin, who has written chart-top- TWEET OF THE DAY ping hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Adele and Justin Timber- lake, was awarded Sweden's Polar Music Prize along with Italian opera singer Cecilia Bartoli. This year's winners are known for their ability to reach wide audiences and both were seen as timely choices for the award, founded by Swedish super pop group ABBA's late man- ager Stig Anderson and previously won by music legends including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Yo-Yo Ma, Keith Jarrett and Dizzy Gillespie. While Martin may be unknown to the general public, he's the favourite of pop stars lining up outside his Stockholm studio to record with him. Some of his hits include "...Baby One More Time," the single that lTunched Britney Spears' career and made her a A worker puts the final touch to a sculpture made with lemons and oranges at the Lemon festival in household name, as well as Katy Menton, France, yesterday. Some 140 tonnes of lemons and oranges will be used to make displays Perry's "I Kissed a Girl", Pink's "So during the 83rd festival, which is themed “Cinecitta”, and runs from February 13 through March 2. What", and Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off". www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 23 QE 9,619.48 -78.89 PTS PAGE | 24 Ooredoo supports DOW 16,029.58 +15.20 PTS SoftBank profit WEF’s gender gap FTSE100 5,672.30 +40.11 PTS rises as Son sees report BRENT $30.84 -$0.42 Sprint revival

THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 • 2 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatargas 2 signs 15-year LNG deal with Pakistan

enhance its LNG market share while at the same time helping countries Qatargas 2 will supply around the world meet their grow- 3.75 million tonnes ing energy needs. I’m very proud to welcome Pakistan to our customer of LNG per annum portfolio, and would like to thank to Pakistan State Oil His Excellency Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan’s Minister of Petroleum and Company Ltd Natural Resources, who along with the leadership in Pakistan, have been instrumental in achieving this impor- tant milestone.” The Peninsula “I would like to take this opportu- nity to register my sincere appreciation to Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Qatargas, DOHA: Qatar Liquefied Gas Company and his team for their excellent work Limited (2) (Qatargas 2) signed a long- to finalize this important agreement,” term agreement to supply Pakistan Al Kaabi added. State Oil Company Limited (PSO) with On his part, Sheikh Khalid bin Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Khalifa Al Thani, Chief Executive The Sales and Purchase Agree- Officer of Qatargas Operating Com- ment (SPA) was signed by Saad pany Limited, said: “Emanating from Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatar Petroleum our vision to establish new markets President & CEO, and Chairman of with a new portfolio of customers, the Qatargas Board of Directors, and signing of this agreement represents Sheikh Imran ul Haque, Managing a momentous occasion for Qatargas Director & Chief Executive Officer as we continue to play a key role as of PSO. a world leader in the supply of clean, Under the terms of the agreement, reliable energy to global markets. Qatargas 2 will supply 3.75 million After delivering the commission- tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG to ing cargo in April last year, we are PSO for a period of 15 years with the delighted that our discussions with first cargo expected to be delivered PSO regarding a long term agree- in March 2016. ment have come to fruition. Taking Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Chair- this opportunity, we thank the team at man of Qatargas Board of Directors PSO for their hard work and we look Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic described the agreement as “a very forward to a strong and enduring of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif look on as officials sign the agreement. important milestone in Qatar’s stand- partnership with PSO and Pakistan.” ing as a reliable energy supplier as it In April 2015, Qatargas delivered at Port Qassim as part of the Elengy ExxonMobil and Total which started continuous strong economic growth the commissioning of new LNG marks the first direct long term agree- the first commissioning cargo to PSO LNG terminal, Pakistan’s first LNG production in 2009, is committed to and a promising energy market. Receiving Terminals globally. To date ment between the two companies.” onboard the LNG vessel, Excelerate import terminal. reliable supplies of clean, safe and One of the key strengths of Qatar- the Company has helped commission Al-Kaabi said: “Qatar is con- Exquisite, the Floating Storage and Qatargas 2, a joint ven- highly efficient source of energy. gas has been the development of 17 LNG terminals across the Americas, stantly looking to expand and Regasification Unit (FSRU), moored ture between Qatar Petroleum, Pakistan is an important nation with considerable expertise in supporting Europe and Asia.

Real estate value surges by 102.8% Qatar’s hospitality sector to on two mega deals see major growth this year The Peninsula

By Sachin Kumar Qatar’s hotel investment environment performance metrics in the hotel The Peninsula and performance forecasts for 2016. industry. DOHA: The country’s real estate According to Colliers Interna- Speakers said that Qatar’s hospi- transaction value surged 102.8 tional, a total of 1,460 keys opened in tality market presents development percent to QR849.3m during the 2015 in Qatar. The most recent open- opportunities within the midscale first week of January compared DOHA: Qatar’s hospitality sector is ings included properties such as the hotels and serviced apartments. with the previous week . The rise expected to see total count of room DoubleTree by Hilton Doha Old Town The limited presence of these asset in the weekly deal value is attrib- keys rising to 23,000 by the end of and the Shangri-La Hotel Doha. classes in Doha offers owners and uted to two mega deals worth current year, registering a growth of Some hotels slated to open in investors a potential opportunity to Yellen warns of domestic a combined value of QR500m, 27 percent. 2015 have been pushed to first and target this market gap. Philip Wooller Ezdan Holding Group’s weekly “By the end of 2016, the total second quarter of 2016, due to plan- – Area Director Middle East & Africa, real estate report noted yesterday. supply will be around 23,000 hotel ning and licensing delays. Supply is STR Global said that RevPAR averages and global risks to economy Between December 31, 2015 and and service apartment keys. At the expected to grow at a Compound $130 across the gulf region which was January 4, the country closed a total moment there are close to 19,000 Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9 50 percent higher than the rest of the of 42 deals. The combined value hotel and service apartment keys in percent, with Msheireb Downtown world. Profits went up in all markets of the previous week’s deal was Qatar,” said Filippo Sona, Director, Regeneration project representing an in 2014. However 2015 and 2016 look AFP outlook for the US economy had QR418.8mn. In terms of value and Head of Hotels Mena Region, Col- addition of 655 keys in 2016. likely to be tougher years but profit become more cloudy. total number of deals Doha Munic- liers International speaking on the Doha is predominantly a business margins are still very good. She made no comment on ipality ranked top. The municipal sidelines of Arabian Hotel Investment destination, with the corporate seg- Richard Thompson, Editor MEED whether the Fed still expected to area accounted for 61.9 percent of Conference (AHIC) Business Briefing ment accounting for more than 60 gave overview on Qatar’s economy WASHINGTON: Federal Reserve continue raising interest rates this the country’s total real estate trans- held yesterday. percent of the hotel demand. and Mark Shea, Head of Hospitality, Chair Janet Yellen (pictured) warned year, but her concerns probably low- action value at QR525.8m. Doha “The growth in keys from 2015 “Due to a dip in oil prices and Middle East Faithful + Gould dis- that the US economy faced risks ered the possibility of an increase Municipality completed 14 deals or to 2016 will be around 27 percent,” slowing economic activity, Doha cussed trend on hospitality sector. from tightening domestic financial in its next policy meeting in March. 33.3 percent of the total deals in the he added. experienced a slow growth in cor- “It is an honour to facilitate dis- conditions as well as global eco- “Financial conditions in the week. With 11 deals Rayyan munic- Organised jointly by MEED (Mid- porate demand in 2015. This trend is cussions at an event that brings nomic turmoil. United States have recently become ipality stood second. “Investors and dle East Economic Digest), Katara expected to continue in the coming together some of the region’s industry Expressing concerns that less supportive of growth, with real estate developers are looking Hospitality and Bench Events at year, with Doha hotel RevPAR fore- leaders in the area of hotel invest- were not nearly as pronounced declines in broad measures of equity for developing a series of projects. Sharq Village and Spa, the event casted to decrease by 4 percent in ment, development, operations and the last time she spoke publicly in prices, higher borrowing rates for We are expecting a revival in the brought together hospitality experts 2016,” said Sona. advisory,” said Christopher R J Kna- December, Yellen said in prepared riskier borrowers, and a further country’s real estate sector”, Ezdan from the Middle East and North RevPAR or revenue per avail- ble, Chief Operating Officer, Katara testimony to Congress that the appreciation of the dollar,” she said. stated yesterday. Africa who presented overview of able room is one of the important Hospitality. 22 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS Education and housing push up inflation rate

7.1 percent in January from the same 3.1 percent. Recreation and culture Qatar’s inflation rate month in 2015. The year-on-year was up by 1.7 percent, which cloth- surge is primarily due to increasing ing & footwear and restaurants and up by 2.8% in January prices in eight groups including edu- hotels increased by 1.3 percent, from from a year ago cation, the Ministry of Development December 2015. Planning and Statistics (MDPS) stated The CPI of January, 2015 exclud- yesterday. ing housing, water, electricity and gas Recreation and culture rose by group stands at 104.09, an increase by 6.1 percent on y-o-y, while housing, 0.7 percent, when compared to the The Peninsula water , electricity and gas jumped index of December 23015; and an 6.0 percent. Furniture and house- increase of 2.8 percent in compari- hold equipment’ edged 2.1 percent son to the CPI of January, 2015. up, clothing and footwear increased The food and beverages became DOHA: Education, house rents, water 1.4 percent and transport increased 1.5 cheaper by 1.4 percent in January & electricity pushed up Qatar’s infla- percent. No change has been recorded from a year ago and 2.5 percent from tion rate by 2.8 percent in January in “Tobacco” group. December 2015. Furniture and house- from a year ago. The inflation rate rose 0.6 per- hold equipment became costlier by 2.1 Latest consumer price index (CPI) cent on month-on-month, with percent from January 2015 and 0.8 details show that house rents climbed “Transport” group rising the most by percent from December 2015. Goldman eyes cost cuts: CEO BP chief bearish

AFP credit quality in banks, Blankfein 2012 to 36,800 by the end of 2015. said that the bank can “absolutely According to the informed do a lot more on the cost side if source, Goldman’s job axe will fall on oil as storage we have to.” “We take a particular most sharply in its fixed-income NEW YORK: US banking giant and energetic look at continued products, such as bonds, curren- Goldman Sachs is weighing cost cost cuts when revenues are cies and commodities activities, cuts to deal with a slowing glo- stalled.... Necessity is the mother where 10 percent of the staff will tanks are filling up bal economy, its chief executive of invention,” he said at a Credit lose their jobs. Lloyd Blankfein (pictured) said. Suisse financial services forum Big banks have been under A person with knowledge in Miami. pressure to rein in budgets as of the situation said Goldman Despite reducing staff among the economic slowdown height- Bloomberg barrels a day by the end of 2017, he intends to slash at least five per- its traders and bankers, Goldman ens worries about deteriorating said. BP expects to see “a faster tight- cent of its total workforce this has been forced to boost its work- credit quality, particularly as ening” than that, Dudley said. year. Speaking a day after Gold- force to deal with new regulatory energy companies grapple with The anticipated decline in oil man shares plunged 4.6 percent requirements. The number of those the sharp decline in oil and gas LONDON: BP is planning for oil production resulting from low prices amid rising market worries over employees rose 11 percent from prices. prices to stay low for the first six is taking longer than expected, months of the year and expects according to Christopher Bake, a surplus production to only start member of the executive commit- diminishing when storage tanks fill tee at Vitol Group, the world’s largest up in the second half. independent oil trader. Both conven- “We are very bearish for the first tional crude production and US shale 82% drop in AP Moller-Maersk profit half of the year,” Chief Executive output have been “sustained” better Officer Robert Dudley said at the IP than forecast, he said at the confer- Week conference in London yester- ence in London Tuesday. AFP day. “In the second half, every tank About 360 million barrels of and swimming pool in the world is crude and refined products — or going to fill and fundamentals are about 2 million a day — will be going to kick in. The market will start placed into storage over the next six COPENHAGEN: Danish conglom- balancing in the second half of this months, Bake said. That’s a surplus erate AP Moller-Maersk yesterday year.” equivalent to the output of Nigeria, reported an 82-percent drop in More than a year into a downturn Africa’s largest oil producer. Onshore annual profit as its shipping unit sparked by Opec’s decision to keep storage tanks are brimming and now was hit by lower freight rates and pumping to defend market share, would be a good time to own ships its oil business suffered from lower prices are still 70 percent below their capable of storing oil offshore, he oil prices. 2014 peak and companies are beset said. Shipping unit Maersk Line, seen by plunging profits, dividend cuts Crude stockpiles in the US, the as an international trade bellwether and mass layoffs. The oil industry’s world’s largest consumer, rose above as it controls around 15 percent of annual IP Week gathering in London 500 million barrels last month to global sea freight, was hit by a has been dominated by warnings the highest since 1930, according to “combination of low demand and that the worst of the slump isn’t over. data from the Department of Energy. high supply increase... in the sec- Crude is trading below $30 a They are forecast to increase for a ond half of 2015,” the group said in barrel in New York after falling to fifth week, according to a Bloomb- a statement. a 12-year low last month, but pro- erg survey before government data Net profit plunged to $925m duction is still taking longer than released Wednesday. Inventories at from $5.19bn a year earlier as reve- expected to decline and record oil the nation’s biggest storage hub in nue dropped 15 percent to $40.30bn. stockpiles just keep on growing, Cushing, Oklahoma, expanded to the “The demand for transpor- according to bankers, traders and highest since 2004 last month. tation of goods was significantly executives attending the IP Week With capacity to store oil lower than expected, especially in conference. exhausted in some places, prices MV Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, the world’s biggest container ship, at the harbour of Rotterdam. the emerging markets as well as the Global oil supply still exceeds may need to drop low enough to halt group’s key Europe trades,” it said. demand by as much as 1.7 mil- crude output that can no longer be Copenhagen-based Maersk also saying it would cut 4,000 jobs by workforce by between 10 and 12 per- expected global demand for seaborne lion barrels a day, Igor Sechin, CEO stockpiled, according to Jeff Cur- wrote down the value of its oil busi- the end of 2017 and defer vessel cent in the face of low oil prices. container transportation,” Maersk of Russia’s largest producer Ros- rie, head of commodities research ness by $2.6bn as it posted a loss of investments to buoy up its dominant In the current year, Maersk Line said yesterday. neft OJSC, said at the conference. at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. “I $2.1bn. position in a falling market. would be hit by “the significantly As a result, the group’s underlying The imbalance will probably ease wouldn’t be surprised if this mar- Maersk Line announced a cost The move came shortly after Mae- lower freight rates going into 2016 result would be “significantly below by the end of this year and poten- ket goes into the teens,” he said in cutting programme in November, rsk Oil announced it would slash its and the continued low growth with last year,” it said. tially become a shortfall of 700,000 an interview. In boost to self-driving cars, US tells Google computers can qualify as drivers

Reuters “NHTSA will interpret ‘driver’ Kelley Blue Book automotive research control. “The next question is whether in the context of Google’s described firm, said there were still significant and how Google could certify that the motor vehicle design as referring to legal questions surrounding auton- (self-driving system) meets a stand- the (self-driving system), and not to omous vehicles. But if “NHTSA is ard developed and designed to apply WASHINGTON/DETROIT: US vehicle any of the vehicle occupants,” NHT- prepared to name artificial intel- to a vehicle with a human driver,” safety regulators have said the arti- SA’s letter said. ligence as a viable alternative to NHTSA said. ficial intelligence system piloting a “We agree with Google its (self- human-controlled vehicles, it could Google is “still evaluating” NHT- self-driving Google car could be con- driving car) will not have a ‘driver’ substantially streamline the process SA’s lengthy response, a company sidered the driver under federal law, a in the traditional sense that vehicles of putting autonomous vehicles on the spokesperson said. Google executives major step toward ultimately winning have had drivers during the last more road,” he said. have said they would likely partner approval for autonomous vehicles on than one hundred years.” If the car’s computer is the driver with established automakers to build the roads. Major automakers and technology for legal purposes, then it clears the self-driving cars. The National Highway Traffic companies such as Google are rac- way for Google or automakers to Google told NHTSA that the real Safety Administration told Google, a ing to develop and sell vehicles that design vehicle systems that com- danger is having auto safety features unit of Alphabet Inc, of its decision in can drive themselves at least part of municate directly with the vehicle’s that could tempt humans to try to take a previously unreported February 4 the time. artificial pilot. control. letter to the company posted on the All participants in the autonomous In its response to Google, the Google “expresses concern that agency’s website this week. driving race complain that state and federal agency offered its most com- providing human occupants of the Google’s self-driving car. Google’s self-driving car unit on federal safety rules are impeding test- prehensive map yet of the legal vehicle with mechanisms to control November 12 submitted a proposed ing and eventual deployment of such obstacles to putting fully autonomous things like steering, acceleration, NHTSA’s Hemmersbaugh said fed- For example, current federal rules design for a self-driving car that has vehicles. California has proposed vehicles on the road. It noted exist- braking... could be detrimental to eral regulations requiring equipment require alerts on dashboards if tire “no need for a human driver,” the let- draft rules requiring steering wheels ing regulations requiring some auto safety because the human occu- like steering wheels and brake pedals pressure runs low. NHTSA said a test ter to Google from National Highway and a licensed driver in all self-driv- safety equipment can not be waived pants could attempt to override the would have to be formally rewritten would need to be created that shows Traffic Safety Administration Chief ing cars. immediately, including requirements (self-driving system’s) decisions,” the before Google could offer cars with- the vehicle computer is informed of Counsel Paul Hemmersbaugh said. Karl Brauer, senior analyst for the for braking systems activated by foot NHTSA letter stated. out those features. the problem. BUSINESS THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 23 Ooredoo supports WEF’s gender gap report

According to The Industry Gen- communities we serve across our business and policy must find new der Gap Report, the burden of job global footprint, but also internally ways to ensure that the full talent Report says burden losses that will result from automa- within our organisation,” he added. pool of men and women is educated, of job losses that tion and disintermediation as a result This blow to gender equality can recruited and promoted. of the Fourth Industrial Revolution be explained by the fact that some of While traditionally employ- will result from will impact women and men relatively the roles most at risk from automation ers have struggled to retain women automation and equally, with 52 percent of the 5.1 mil- and disintermediation are those that colleagues beyond the junior level, lion net job losses expected globally are performed by a larger proportion respondents expect to see an increase disintermediation will between now and 2020 affecting men, of women; for example, in the Office of 7-9 percentage points in the share impact women and compared with 48 percent affecting and Administrative job family. How- of women in mid-level positions by men relatively equally women. However, the fact that women ever, it is also partly a result of the fact 2020 and an 8-13 percentage point make up a smaller share of the work- that women are relatively under-rep- rise in the number of senior positions force means that today’s economic resented when it comes to jobs that are being held by women as retention Nomura CEO sees gender gap may widen even further expected to have the most growth in becomes ever more important in the The Peninsula than the current 40 percent. the next five years; for example, the face of key global talent shortages. buyback chance Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Computer and Mathematical and Archi- The expected increase applies bin Saud Al Thani (pictured), Chair- tecture and Engineering job families. to all nine industry sectors assessed after shares hit man of Ooredoo Group and member Given women’s low participation in the report, although to varying DOHA: The Fourth Industrial Revo- of the Board of Trustees of the Global in STEM (science, technology, engi- degrees. The three that will see the three-year low lution will have a disproportionately Challenge initiative on Gender Par- neering, mathematical) professions, most significant increases of female negative impact on the economic ity, said: “We hope that by raising development and improvement.” one of the fastest-growing areas of job workers across all job categories prospects of women, although the the profile of this issue more organ- “At Ooredoo, in alignment with creation, women stand to gain only between now and 2020 are: Energy emphasis on talent brought about by isations and governments will also the UN Sustainable Development one new STEM job for every 20 lost (22 percent-30 percent); Basic Indus- TOKYO: Nomura Holdings Inc, sweeping changes caused by disrup- work to tackle the barriers to gen- Goals, we continue to be passionate across other job families, whereas the tries and Infrastructure (20 percent-27 Japan’s largest brokerage, is tions to the labour force will result in der inequality in the workplace. This about fighting this issue and support ratio for men is one new job for every percent) and Healthcare (41 percent-48 weighing buying back its shares more women progressing into senior report provides vital insight into the a variety of initiatives which work to four lost elsewhere. percent). In all three, the number of after they plunged to the lowest positions, a new study by the World current status of women in the work- drive change, tackle the gender gap This new data illustrates the women in senior roles is expected to price in three years. Economic Forum (WEF) has found. force, and the significant potential for and empower women not only in the urgency with which leaders across double, albeit from a low base. “We’re considering returning profit appropriately” to share- holders, Chief Executive Officer Koji Nagai (pictured), 57, said in an interview in Tokyo. “There’s no Economy Ministry’s mobile app wins doubt that it’s better for us to do it Opec points to when they’re cheap.” The Tokyo-based firm has tumbled about 24 percent this ‘best mobile-govt service award’ month after it posted earnings that missed estimates and refrained larger oil supply from announcing the repurchase of its shares, unlike smaller com- The Peninsula petitor Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Recent global financial-market surplus in 2016 turmoil has dealt a blow to Nomu- ra’s ambitions to return to profit DOHA: Sheikh Maktoum bin abroad, and Nagai said that now Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mak- isn’t the time to make a prediction Reuters the financial strain on producers toum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, has for when that might happen. dependent on oil income, the inabil- honoured Qatar’s Ministry of Econ- “There’s no point discussing ity of central banks to lower interest omy and Commerce, awarding it the such topics during this rainstorm, rates and impacts on sectors from ‘best mobile-government service unfortunately,” he said. “That’s LONDON: Opec pointed to a larger manufacturing to agriculture. award across the Arab world’ in the something we can talk about in oil supply surplus on the world mar- The report added to signs that economy and trade category in rec- normal times. We have to moni- ket this year than previously thought the price drop is hitting relatively ognition of its mobile app on iPhone tor the situation carefully under as Saudi Arabia and other members expensive non-Opec supply. and android. these circumstances.” pump more oil, helping to make up Companies have delayed or can- The award was presented dur- Nagai said the market volatil- for losses in non-member producers celled billions of dollars worth of ing the 4th edition of the World ity is affecting Nomura’s overseas hurt by the collapse in prices. projects, putting some future sup- Government Summit held in Dubai, wholesale business, including fixed The monthly report from the ply at risk. UAE under the patronage of Sheikh income, as well retail operations Organisation of the Petroleum Opec now forecasts supply from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at home. Exporting Countries indicates supply non-member producers will decline Vice- President of the United Arab The benefits of Abenomics will exceed demand by 720,000 bar- by 700,000 bpd in 2016, led by the Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler have faded for Japan’s brokerages. rels per day (bpd) in 2016, up from United States. Last month, Opec pre- of Dubai. The award comes in rec- Nomura’s shares are now close to 530,000 bpd implied in the previ- dicted a drop of 660,000 bpd. ognition of the ministry’s efforts the price they were at when Shinzo ous report. But Opec produced 32.33 million to reinforce a diversified economy Abe became prime minister in A persistent surplus could weigh bpd according to secondary sources, and promote a competitive business December 2012 and sparked a on prices, which have collapsed to up 130,000 bpd from December, environment. Launched last year, the stock-market rally with his agenda a 12-year low of $27.10 a barrel last offsetting the forecast decline from mobile app is an innovate initiative of reviving the economy through month from over $100 in mid-2014. outside the group. implemented in accordance with the monetary easing, fiscal spending Opec’s 2014 strategy shift to defend Top Opec exporter Saudi Arabia highest international standards. and deregulation. market share and not prices helped told Opec it increased production to The app offers a basket of unique The stock fell for a seventh day deepen the decline. 10.23 million bpd from 10.14 million electronic services; for instance the Wednesday, slumping 3 percent to Opec also cut its forecast for bpd in December. issuance or renewal of commercial A ministry official receiving the award. 494.9 yen as of 11:05 am in Tokyo. world economic growth in 2016 to The secondary sources also permits, access to commercial com- That’s lower than when Nomura 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent and said reported higher output from major pany records and the submission of sold 454bn yen ($4bn) of shares in low oil prices were hurting the econ- producers Iran and Iraq. complaints. Users can also access licenses and the registration of intel- to motivate government agencies to a public offering in 2009 to help omy, in contrast to previous price Supply from Opec could rise fur- a variety of economic indicators lectual property rights in addition to provide innovative solutions in the fund an expansion abroad stem- slides that were supportive of glo- ther due to the lifting of sanctions on and financial reports, in addition to the recruitment of employees and the fields of smartphone applications and ming from its purchase of Lehman bal growth. Iran. Tehran is aiming to increase the latest news from the ministry, launch of commercial activities. ensure around the clock access to Brothers Holdings Inc’s European “It seems that the overall neg- output by 500,000 bpd, which would administrative closures and recall The award, which also recog- government services through stream- and Asian operations in the pre- ative effect from the sharp decline fill most of the hole left by non-Opec campaigns besides local, regional nises government services that help lined, highly efficient and transparent vious year. in oil prices since mid-2014 has members. and international economic news. improve business and commercial procedures that meet customer needs Nagai declined to comment outweighed benefits in the short- Opec left its 2016 global oil The award recognises gov- activities, is presented based on and requirements. on the timing and the size of any term,” Opec said. “There seems to demand growth forecast little ernment agencies for their efforts several criteria including efficiency Participants include govern- buyback. Chief Financial Officer be a ‘contagious’ effect taking place changed, predicting demand would in terms of promoting economic and effectiveness of the application ment entities from the UAE and the Shigesuke Kashiwagi said on Feb. across many aspects of the global rise by 1.25 million bpd, marking a development, streamlining busi- (40percent), ease of access (40per- Arab region as well as international 2 that the company wouldn’t rule economy.” slowdown from 1.54 million bpd in ness incorporation procedures, the cent) and innovation (20percent). government entities and university out repurchasing its shares if the Opec cited factors including 2015. issuance and renewal of permits and The m-government award aims students. timing is right. Time Warner profit surpasses estimates GWC wins leading logistics

NEW YORK: Time Warner Inc posted fourth-quarter earnings that service provider award beat analysts’ estimates as a smaller tax provision and higher sales at the HBO and Turner cable networks helped make up for rising costs for The Peninsula their seventh consecutive year in alike, ensuring steady growth in the sports and original programmes. 2015, bringing together a global net- future.” Profit excluding some items rose work of thinkers, visionaries, and GWC is the leading provider of to $1.06 a share, reflecting lower thought leaders working together to logistics and supply chain solutions taxes and fewer shares outstand- DOHA: GWC, Qatar’s top logistics leverage innovation as a resource to in the State of Qatar. Established ing, the New York-based company provider, has once again been named address global challenges. as a Qatari shareholding company said in a statement. Analysts pre- the Leading Domestic Logistics Serv- The announcement of the award in 2004; the company offers high- dicted $1, the average of projections ice Provider of the Year 2016 at the has come after a year of achievement, quality warehousing and distribution compiled. Revenue decreased 6 renowned GIL Global Best Practices as GWC earned QAR 185.2 million in services, hazmat logistics, freight for- percent to $7.1bn, trailing analysts’ Awards. net profits for 2015, a 32% increase warding, project logistics, sports and $7.5bn estimate. The company also Recognising the company’s overall from the results of the year event logistics, equestrian logistics, raised the quarterly dividend to 40 commitment to developing bespoke 2014. fine art logistics, supply chain con- cents, beating analysts’ 37-cent esti- logistics infrastructure in line with “Having established a strong sulting, transportation management, mate, and announced a $5bn share the nation’s aim to diversify its eco- foundation in the local economic records management, and door-to- buyback programme, the first new nomic sectors in-line with the Qatar landscape, GWC has demonstrated door moving and relocation services. authorisation since June 2014. National Vision 2030, the award was the resiliency and flexibility needed GWC delivers this by understanding The results may ease pressure on presented to GWC’s Corporate Com- to maintain its foothold in the market their clients’ needs and by leverag- Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes, munications Manager Mohammad during the current economic envi- ing their global shipping network. who is trying to lift the company’s Daoud during the award ceremony ronment,” stated GWC Corporate The company is backed by a team of sagging stock price amid speculation held by Frost & Sullivan in Al-Khobr, Communications Manager Moham- committed and innovative experts that investors will push the company Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. mad Daoud. “The Company will in the field and supported by state- to sell itself or spin off HBO, its pre- The Frost and Sullivan GIL Glo- continue to work diligently to deliver of-the-art IT systems and logistical The entrance of Time Warner Centre in New York City. mium cable channel. bal Best Practices Awards celebrated upon its clients’ needs and the sector infrastructure. 24 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS Turkish firm Fiba puts Russian bank up for sale

visas might not be renewed because will expire this year, and they believe of the diplomatic dispute. the chance of their being renewed is Credit Europe Bank Turkish aircraft shot the jet down low, given the political dispute, said was ranked last year near Syria in late November, with the source. “They realise they will just Ankara alleging it had violated Turkish not be able to come to Russia in order as the 53rd biggest airspace. Moscow denied that, and Pres- to control their own business here. It is lender in Russia by ident Vladimir Putin, accusing Ankara impossible to work in this way.” assets, with capital of of stabbing Russia in the back, ordered The bank would be the most high- economic sanctions on Turkey. profile commercial casualty of the row around 17bn roubles A Moscow-based spokeswoman for between Russia and Turkey, which until Credit Europe Bank, the biggest Turk- the Syria conflict were close political ish-owned bank in Russia according to and trade partners. data from last year, declined to com- Credit Europe Bank was ranked Reuters ment. Representatives of Fiba Group last year as the 53rd biggest lender in in Turkey could not immediately be Russia by assets, with capital of around reached for comment. 17bn roubles ($215m). One of the two sources, an employee By selling now, the Turkish own- MOSCOW: Turkish conglomerate Fiba at Credit Europe Bank, said the lend- ers may have to settle for a low price. Group has put up for sale a bank it er’s business had struggled with the The other banking source said Workers remove snow outside a branch of the Credit Europe Bank in Moscow yesterday.. owns in Russia, two banking sources recession in the Russian economy, Fiba Group was looking to sell Credit told Reuters, a decision that may be but it still made a profit. “What really Europe Bank at around 0.6-0.8 times due partly to a row between Moscow pushed (the owners) to leave Russia is its capital. Russian banks sold before a deterioration in banks’ asset quality. discount.” Danilov said roughly half of leading Russian consumer lender TCS and Ankara over the shooting down a deterioration in Russia-Turkey rela- the country’s economy slowed in 2014 “It is a relatively good bank and is Credit Europe Bank’s retail portfolio Group said the firm would be inter- of a Russian warplane. tions; this is what the top management usually had a sale price that exceeded managed quite well,” said Alexander was uncollateralised, a high proportion ested in bidding if the sale went ahead. One of the sources said Fiba Group’s of the bank told their employees,” the their capital. Danilov, senior director for Russian of its corporate loans were denomi- “Credit Europe is a quality asset, we decision to sell Credit Europe Bank was source in the bank said. Analysts said the planned sale could banks at Fitch Ratings. “However, nated in foreign currency and it had are interested in it,” she said, adding prompted by fears among the unit’s sen- Entry visas held by the bank’s non- be complicated by the grim outlook for if there were a sale there are a few significant debts maturing this year. that TCS had not yet received an offi- ior executives that their Russian entry Russian managers and shareholders the Russian economy, which has led to issues that could potentially lead to a Nevertheless, a spokeswoman for cial invitation to bid.

Monsanto to pay $80m to resolve Polish central bank blasts foreign loan plan as stability risk accounting claims Bloomberg percent. The gauge tumbled 24 percent The central bank said the large- payments, the loans exposed them to presenting the report. last year. “Following this report, the scale conversion of foreign-currency currency swings. “Everyone is focusing on the con- chances are rising that the plan won’t mortgages, which amount to the The draft law would make banks sequences that this conversion could be introduced in its current shape,” equivalent of $42bn, could lead to accept repayments on the equiva- have for bank profits, but it’s a piece NEW YORK: Monsanto Co will WARSAW: Poland’s central bank gave said Marta Jezewska-Wasilewska, a depreciation of the Polish currency, lent of almost 8 percent of Poland’s of a bigger puzzle, which could have a pay $80m to settle a US regulator’s a scathing assessment of the President’s Warsaw-based analyst at brokerage negatively affect public finances and gross domestic product in foreign-cur- serious knock-on effect for the entire claims that the company improp- proposal to convert foreign-currency Wood & Co. “This explains why bank- reduce the sovereign’s credit ratings. rency mortgages at a “fair” exchange economy.” erly accounted for certain expenses loans into zloty, piling pressure on the ing stocks aren’t falling.” Besides the costs of converting loans rate, unless a voluntary agreement Getin Noble Bank SA, Bank Mil- tied to customer rebates for weed- ruling party to amend the draft legisla- The financial industry is one of and repaying clients for currency is reached. lennium SA, MBank SA, PKO Bank killer Roundup. tion or risk destabilising the financial the main battlefields for Poland’s new spreads, as proposed in the draft legis- The president’s office has deferred Polski SA and Banco Santander SA’s The world’s biggest seed industry. government, which is also confronting lation, lenders also face the additional to country’s financial market watchdog Bank Zachodni WBK SA are among company booked revenue from President Andrzej Duda’s plan, if retailers and has clashed with European burden of insuring their foreign-cur- to calculate the cost of the proposal, those with the most exposure to for- the discount programme with- implemented, would cost banks 44bn leaders over its overhaul of institu- rency exposure, it said. which is currently awaiting debate in eign-currency loans, Wood & Co’s out properly recognising all of its zloty ($11.2bn), or about four years of tions including the constitutional court Poland is following other east- parliament. The central bank is the Jezewska-Wasilewska said. costs, the Securities and Exchange profit, while pushing 70 percent of the and public media. Besides the loan- ern European countries that moved first public institution to put a price The central bank’s 44bn-zloty cost Commission said in a statement. nation’s lenders into the red, the cen- conversion plans, which central bank to convert mortgages denominated in tag on the proposal in its report on estimate for the plan could grow by Three accounting and sales exec- tral bank said in a financial stability Governor Marek Belka called “pure foreign currencies, including in Swiss Wednesday. an additional 20bn zloty if borrow- utives also agreed to pay penalties report. The WIGBank index of the coun- evil” last month, commercial lend- francs, after they proliferated prior to “It’s our legal obligation to send a ers whose property values have fallen to settle allegations against them, try’s lenders advanced 1.1 percent to ers are subject to a new tax that will the 2008 financial crisis. signal about potential risks,” central below the value of their loans decide to the agency said. a four-week high at 1:14 pm in War- siphon off about a third of the indus- While allowing many borrowers bank board member Andrzej Rac- cancel their mortgages, which would SEC Chair Mary Jo White made saw, paring its year-to-date drop to 5.4 try’s annual profit. to take advantage of lower interest zko told reporters in Warsaw, when be possible under Duda’s proposal. enforcing accounting rules a pri- ority when she joined the agency in 2013 after the number of such cases declined in previous years. In June, the regulator fined Computer SoftBank profit rises as Sciences Corp $190m for manipu- lating financial results and clawed back pay from former executives. “Monsanto devised rebate pro- Son sees Sprint revival grammes that elevated form over substance, which led to the booking of substantial amounts of revenue without the recognition of asso- Bloomberg seen as critical to reviving the shares, ciated costs,” said Scott Friestad, with Son saying that the struggling unit associate director in the SEC’s is making progress. “Sprint is show- enforcement division. ing definitive signs of a turnaround,” Also in connection with the set- TOKYO: SoftBank Group Corp Son told reporters in Tokyo. “There tlement with the SEC, Chairman increased third quarter operating are yet more opportunities for cost and Chief Executive Officer Hugh income 7.3 percent on new Japanese cutting at Sprint.” Grant, and former Chief Financial wireless customers as billionaire Sales for the quarter rose 4.3 per- Officer Carl M Casale reimbursed Chairman Masayoshi Son sees signs cent to 2.4 trillion yen. The company the company for cash incentives and of a turnaround at its beleaguered US didn’t provide full-year forecasts. some stock awards they received unit Sprint Corp. Shares of SoftBank fell 3.5 per- in the company’s 2009 and 2010 Operating profit rose to 189.6bn yen cent to 4,603 yen in Tokyo before the fiscal years, Monsanto said. ($1.65bn) in the three months ended earnings were announced. The stock After losing market share to December 31, the Tokyo-based com- has fallen 25 percent this year. generic competitors, Monsanto’s pany reported yesterday. Net income Average revenue per user for its sales force told retailers that if they fell 88 percent to 2.3bn yen. main phone business in Japan rose maximised Roundup purchases in SoftBank stock has been ham- to 4,720 yen in the third-quarter, as the fourth quarter of 2009, they mered by pessimism about Son’s data usage increased, SoftBank said. could participate in a new rebate ability to turn around Sprint after he The company added 74,000 net new programme the following year, paid $22bn for a controlling stake in subscribers in the period to a total of according to the SEC. 2013. With about $100bn of debt, end- 31.7 million users. Profit in the busi- Masayoshi Son, President of SoftBank Group, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. ing losses at the US wireless carrier is ness rose 12 percent to 172.4bn yen. Sovereign funds’ selling could hit $700bn of European stocks

Reuters a quarter of their value since the start producer nations such as Norway and one-third in banking stocks. In its last available quarterly report, China has its own sovereign wealth of the year, a $240bn wipe-out more Saudi Arabia and hitting currencies. Like Gardiner, Panigirtzoglou the fund said it was worth 7,019bn funds which, though less exposed to brutal than at the start of the finan- Their sovereign wealth funds grew thinks it is likely that sovereign wealth Norwegian crowns ($816.61bn), of oil, could start selling off assets as the cial crisis in 2008. rich during oil’s long rally, but crude funds have been selling down some of which 60 percent was invested in economy stalls. LONDON: Up to $700bn of European “I suspect there has been some prices have collapsed from above $100 their holdings in recent weeks. equities. Among their holdings are stakes stocks, including major banks, could liquidation across the board by some in June 2014 to a 12-year low of $27.10 “It’s not a flow that you can eas- Global financial stocks accounted in major Italian banks. be in the firing line as the slump in funds,” said Kevin Gardiner, global last month. ily detect as some of that selling is for 23.5 percent of this overall equity CrossBridge Capital strategist Man- oil prompts some producer countries’ investment strategist at Rothschild Few sovereign wealth funds report being executed by high frequency portfolio, while European stocks rep- ish Singh said that while there was no sovereign wealth funds to offload Wealth Management their stock holdings across sectors trading companies,” Nikolaos Pan- resented 40 percent of the Norwegian hard evidence, the notion that sover- investments. “It’s hard to be sure, but it’s quite and regions, but based on information igirtzoglou said. fund’s overall equity holding — roughly eign wealth funds are selling some of Fund managers and investors say likely that some sovereign wealth funds from those that do, JP Morgan’s global Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, $200bn worth. their European equity holdings was recent sharp selloffs in global markets in oil-producing countries have felt market strategist Nikolaos Panigirt- the world’s largest at more than $810bn, Its major European stock invest- plausible and could explain of this and especially European stocks may the need to plug the gap in their budg- zoglou estimates that oil producers’ hinted this month at an active man- ments included Nestle, Royal Dutch year’s sharp stock falls. have been exacerbated by national ets,” Gardiner said. funds hold around $2 trillion of pub- agement style that could entail selling Shell, Novartis, Roche, HSBC and “Sovereign wealth funds went into rainy-day funds selling parts of their Worries about oversupply in the licly listed equities worldwide. its equity assets. Sanofi. European financial stocks in a big way equity portfolios to ease squeezed oil market and a slowdown in China, Extrapolating further, he esti- Egil Matsen, the central bank offi- The Qatar Investment Authority a few years ago, so that could be one public finances. the world’s second-biggest economy, mates that up to $700bn of that total cial supervising the fund, said that meanwhile has big stakes in Volkswa- of the reasons why that sector has That might also help explain why have renewed the long slide in crude could be invested in western European the fund would retain its aim of out- gen, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Sainsbury been hit this year, as they liquidate European bank stocks have lost nearly prices this year, slashing revenues for equities, with between a quarter and performing global markets. and Glencore. positions to raise cash,” said Singh. BUSINESS THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 25 Indonesia to ease foreign investment curbs

It would be the most far-reaching yet in foreign stakes in companies from a minority to follow the new rules.” Widodo’s meteoric rise a string of stimulus packages rolled out over a majority, helping Indonesia comply with lim- from furniture businessman to president of Indonesian President the past six months to drive industry and its on “equity caps” stipulated under the TPP the world’s third-largest democracy — and Joko Widodo’s proposal, employment beyond the economy’s tradi- and other trade pacts, like one under negoti- the first to come from outside the political or tional mainstays of agriculture and mineral ation with the European Union. military establishment — was widely seen in which will ease rules in extraction. The healthcare push, which would open 2014 as a watershed moment for Indonesia. the e-commerce, retail, Southeast Asia’s largest economy has up investment in hospitals, clinics and labo- Supporters had predicted that the former been growing at its slowest pace in six years ratory services, could bring a sea-change in a governor of Jakarta would root out corruption, healthcare, movie and because of falling commodity prices and cool- country where at present foreign medical pro- promote people based on merit rather than several other industries, ing growth in major trading partner China. fessionals are not allowed to practice. connections and create a vibrant economy. But Widodo told Reuters in an interview at the Although foreign direct investment into Instead, as economic growth sagged last could pit a relative Presidential Palace that he was very optimis- Indonesia has risen in recent years, it remains year, critics said he seemed out of his depth newcomer on the tic that growth would rebound to 5.3 percent among the lowest in Southeast Asia in relation at times and battling to get around politicians this year after a slide to 4.8 percent in 2015. to total investment and gross domestic prod- determined to preserve the status quo. political stage against an His trade minister, Tom Lembong, told uct. Foreign investors have pushed for years A cabinet reshuffle last August, which establishment resistant to Reuters separately that the planned overhaul for a greater access to opportunities in Indo- brought experienced technocrats into his team, change of the so-called ‘Negative Investment List” nesia’s vast domestic market, valued at some set a new tone. Since then Widodo’s adminis- signalled a greater openness to foreign invest- $840bn at market exchange rates. tration has rolled out nine stimulus packages ment and would partly prepare the country for Singapore was Indonesia’s largest foreign cutting red tape, offering tax breaks and loos- free trade agreements, including eventually investor last year, with a 20.2 percent share ening regulations. Reuters the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). of the $29.28bn total realised investment, fol- Widodo said there were two prongs to “We are seriously considering deregulation lowed by Malaysia and Japan, the Investment his growth strategy: Deregulation to create Indonesian President Joko Widodo across the board, but focusing on e-com- Coordinating Board said last month. competition, efficiency and better services, during an interview with Reuters at the merce, healthcare, and creative industry,” Indonesia has a long history of protection- and infrastructure development. His govern- Presidential Palace in Jakarta yesterday. JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo Widodo said ahead of a cabinet discussion ism, and vested interests have often stood in ment has struggled to disburse funds for roads, yesterday unveiled plans for a “big bang” loos- of the proposals. the way of trade and investment from abroad. ports and power stations, and many critical ening of restrictions on foreign investment in “There are 49 sub-sectors (affected) so in The last revision to the negative list was infrastructure projects were hamstrung by the mining sector saw the most inward invest- nearly 50 sectors to encourage competition my opinion this is the big bang.” done in 2014 and was seen by many as less bickering ministers and red tape. ment, followed by transport, warehouses and in an economy long dominated by powerful Lembong said retail was also among the investor-friendly. However, data released last week showed telecommunications. vested interests. sectors that would be opened up, and there Widodo said that, so far, he has not faced that investment growth picked up in the last Bank Indonesia spurred growth prospects The president’s proposal, which will ease would be some degree of deregulation in each any political backlash or resistance to the steps quarter of the year thanks to rising public further in January by cutting interest rates for rules in the e-commerce, retail, healthcare, of the 16 main sectors on the negative list, he has taken towards liberalisation. spending. The final quarter also saw a jump the first time in 11 months. Widodo said in the movie and several other industries, could pit which include agriculture, forestry, energy, “For me competition is very important,” he in foreign direct investment, taking its rise for interview he wanted to see rates even lower a relative newcomer on the political stage communication and transport. said. “If we have already launched our dereg- the year to 2.8 percent in dollar terms. but could not force the hand of an independ- against an establishment resistant to change. In some cases this would raise the limit on ulation, the bureaucracy and the system must Despite the collapse in commodity prices, ent central bank.

UAE food firm aims to double Nissan nine-month revenue to $1bn by 2020: CEO net profit surges

Reuters AFP slim possibility of rate hikes this year could dampen sales. Weaken- ing demand in emerging markets ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi-listed such as Thailand and Indonesia, as food and drinks firm Agthia Group TOKYO: Nissan yesterday said that well as a planned consumption tax is aiming to double revenues by strong North American sales drove hike in Japan next year, could also 2020 through organic growth it to another surging profit, as the eat into the market. and acquisitions, its chief execu- world’s top auto market China shows “In Japan and certain emerging tive said yesterday. Agthia reported signs of picking up. markets, we have seen some chal- on Tuesday that it made a net profit The Altima sedan maker said its lenges, but there is a positive trend of Dh231m ($63m) last year on a 13 April-December net profit jumped in North America so we have not percent rise in revenue to Dh1.87bn nearly 34 percent from a year ear- revised our forecast,” Nissan corpo- ($509m), boosted by new products lier to 452.8bn yen ($3.7bn), despite rate vice-president Joji Tagawa said. and exports. weakness in Japan and emerging He added that China, where “Our action plan is to grow our markets. Nissan, which also said Nissan’s latest sales edged up two revenues to over $1bn by 2020 by revenue jumped more than 10 per- percent, was showing signs of a A Mercedes-Benz outside the Westin Book Cadillac where Mercedes announced the new E-class sedan on growing our businesses organi- cent to 8.94 trillion yen, is the last stronger pick up, amid fears that a the eve of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, in January 2016. cally as well as through mergers and of Japan’s Big Three carmakers to slowdown in the world’s number two acquisitions,” Iqbal Hamzah said. report its nine-month results. economy threatened car demand. Agthia is eyeing acquisitions The company left unchanged its Rival Toyota has said its latest in the Gulf in the water, juices and fiscal year to March profit forecast. net profit jumped nearly 10 percent Daimler and VW recall 1.5 million dairy sectors with the company “Nissan has been strong in North to 1.9 trillion yen, despite falling expecting to firm up one deal in America while sales in China are sales in most regions except North the coming months, he said. steady so the upward trend is likely America, with the world’s top auto- While Gulf economies are to continue for now,” said Shigeru maker focused on squeezing more vehicles in US over airbag woes expected to slow as lower oil prices Matsumura, analyst at SMBC Friend productivity out of its plants. reduce state spending, areas which Research Center, who pointed to the Honda also said North America are less affected by the economic rollout of small sport utility vehicles was a bright spot that helped offset cycle such as food, healthcare in Asia’s top economy. sluggish sales at home, as Japan’s Reuters 14 carmakers have recalled a total of made between 2007 and 2014, and education are continuing to Japan’s carmakers have also been economy stumbles and younger about 24 million US vehicles involv- including vehicles bearing the Dodge, expand strongly due to the region’s looking to lure rival Volkswagen’s cus- people increasingly turn away from ing about 28 million Takata air bag Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz young and increasingly-affluent tomers as the German giant deals with owning a car. Nissan credited new inflators. Sprinter brands. population. a massive pollution cheating scandal. models in North America and in WASHINGTON/FRANKFURT: Ger- Volkswagen said it will recall Daimler said it was unaware of This means businesses coming “Volkswagen is in a severe situation,” Europe for driving up sales. man carmakers Volkswagen and 680,000 vehicles in the United States airbag failures in its vehicles, and onto the market are attracting sig- said Rakuten Securities analyst Yasuo “Our product offensive has reaped Daimler are recalling 1.5 million due to the potentially faulty airbags, that the numbers of vehicles involved nificant investor interest. Investcorp Imanaka. “Japanese automakers can rewards in North America and West- vehicles in the United States due to following Daimler which said late on in the recall could fall once further bought a stake in Saudi supermar- take advantage of the slump by win- ern Europe, where buoyant consumer potentially faulty airbags made by Jap- Tuesday that 840,000 US vehicles technical studies had been carried ket chain Bindawood Holding and ning Volkswagen customers. It could demand and rising unit sales under- anese company Takata Corp, the focus with Takata airbag inflators would out by NHTSA. Daimler said it would Almarai is said to be among the be a plus for them.” pinned Nissan’s overall profit-growth,” of a long-running global safety crisis. be checked. take a charge of 340m euros ($383m) potential bidders for Abu Dhabi’s Nissan and its top domes- Carlos Ghosn, president and chief The move comes after US auto Daimler said it was recalling to cover the cost of the recall. National Food Products Company. tic rivals, Toyota and Honda, have executive officer, said in a statement. safety regulators said last month about 705,000 Mercedes-Benz cars Volkswagen said the US recall Agthia acquired Dubai-based benefited from healthy growth in the For the nine-month period, Nissan’s that Takata had declared 5.1 million and about 136,000 vans after being affected VW models built between Al Bayan Water in October for a US where low interest rates proved global unit sales figure rose 1.4 per- US vehicles defective, revealing that notified by the US National High- 2006 and 2014. A spokesman price of between Dh160m and a boon to consumers, although the cent to 3.89 million vehicles. far more air bags than previously way Traffic Safety Administration declined to comment on how much Dh180m, Hamzah said, adding thought were potentially unsafe. (NHTSA) that certain Takata airbags the recall could cost. that the company has surplus Takata’s inflators can explode were potentially defective. Other manufacturers have cash of Dh500m and an additional with too much force and spray metal Cars being recalled include the announced big recalls of cars with Dh250m earmarked for capital shrapnel into vehicle passenger com- Mercedes-Benz SLK convertible, the Takata airbags over the last few years. expenditure in 2016. This year he partments. They are linked to at least C-Class and E-Class sedans, the M A number of carmakers from top cus- said he expects a double-digit per- 10 deaths worldwide and more than and GL-Class sports utility vehicles tomer Honda Motor Co to Mazda Motor centage rise in revenues and profit 100 US injuries. as well as the R-Class and SLS coupe Corp have said they will no longer fit as the company expands in some Problems with Takata airbags made between 2005 and 2014. the product in new cars, fanning con- of its business lines and launches were first reported in 2009. So far, Daimler is also recalling vans cerns over Takata’s future. new products. Cheap smartphones to propel app spending

Bloomberg China, Mexico, Brazil and Turkey. Revenue gen- of services such as Spotify, Netflix, Tinder and Chi- erated per device will grow to $16.2 in 2020 from na’s iQiyi. Baidu Inc.’s iQiyi, one of China’s largest $15.4, boosted by spending in the Americas, Europe video streaming services, doubled the number of and the Middle East, even as average revenue will paid subscribers to its Netflix-style platform to 10 NEW YORK: Worldwide mobile application decline slightly in the fast-growing Asia- Pacific million in less than six months to December. Games store revenue is set to reach $101bn in five years region. will continue to contribute the majority of spending, as smartphones become cheaper and data plans “Consumer time spent on mobile is steadily even as their share is forecast to drop to 74 percent more accessible, drawing in people in developing increasing and a greater share of wallet is being from the current 85 percent. countries, according to data provider App Annie. channeled through a mobile platform,” Dan- Consumer spending in app stores will grow The user base of smartphones and tablets will ielle Levitas, senior vice president of App Annie’s 24 percent to $50.9bn this year, according to the more than double to 6.2bn by 2020, up from 2.6bn, research & analysis team, said in an interview. report. Of this growth, $2.4bn will come from the the San Francisco-based company said in a fore- Music streaming, video streaming and dating Americas, $2bn from EMEA region and $5.4bn from A woman wearing a mask rides a bicycle past Nissan Motor Co cars cast yesterday. Some of the strongest growth will apps will lead the surge, boosted by better hard- Asia-Pacific, which will continue to outpace the come from countries such as India, Indonesia, ware and cheaper data plans, as well as expansion other regions in coming years. displayed outside the company’s dealership in Tokyo yesterday. 26 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 9,619.48 0.81 % QE Total Return Index 15,002.53 0.81 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,468.92 0.38 % QE All Share Index 2,568.68 0.74 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,632.29 0.99 % QE All Share Industrials 2,768.23 0.30 % QE All Share Transportation 2,304.21 0.28 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,106.81 1.29 % QE All Share Insurance 4,035.28 0.27 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,070.12 0.56 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 5,420.08 0.97 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 10-02-2016 Today 08-01-2016 Previous day Index 9,619.48 9,698.37 Change 78.89 77.80 % 0.81 0.81 YTD% 7.77 7.01 Volume 7,416,993 10,372,684 Value (QAR) 255,952,719.64 336,683,721.17 Trades 4,283 5,420 Up 11 | Down 26 | Unchanged 03

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 4826.486 -56.116 -1.15 5379.6 4857.9 Cac 40 Index/D 4086.07 88.53 2.21 4586.11 3951.29 Dj Indu Average 16014.38 -12.67 -0.08 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 19288.17 105.08 0.55 21794.84 18534.3 Iseq Overall/D 5900.84 178.5 3.12 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 32144.59 -299.61 -0.92 33304.4 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 15713.39 -372.05 -2.31 18951.12 16017.26 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1812.29

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.2609 QR 5.3354 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 4.0750 QR 4.1328 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.5860 QR 2.6369 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.7170 QR 3.7703 Yen QR 0.0314 QR 0.0320 A C C-A/D 1269.05 -9.4 18033 Electrosteel-B/D 19.5 -0.5 88364 Kabra Extr-B/D 83.8 1.6 46078 Til Ltd.-T/D 379.8 -7.4 17458 Aus$ QR 2.5638 QR 2.6146 Aarti Drugs-B/D 488.85 3.45 1485 Emco-B/D 26 -1.3 28638 Kajaria Cer-A/D 926 -10.8 3076 Timexgroup-T/D 30.35 -0.15 40645 Ind Re QR 0.0532 QR 0.0542 Aban Offs-A/D 164.3 -4.65 176606 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.04 -0.12 30783 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 123 -1.1 1068 Tinplate-B/D 64.35 -1.15 41364 Ador Welding-B/D 272.4 -8.5 2351 Escorts-A/D 127.15 -5 131775 Kalpat Power-B/D 180.5 3.1 6976 Ucal Fuel-B/D 99.6 -3.9 7643 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Aegis Logis-B/D 92.5 0.15 28164 Eveready Indu-/D 215.6 -10 26176 Kalyani Stel-T/D 138.5 -7 20957 Ucal Fuel-B/D 99.6 -3.9 7643 Peso QR 0.0761 QR 0.0776 Alembic-B/D 36.45 -0.7 64315 F D C-B/D 181.6 0.25 2938 Kanoria Chem-B/D 57.6 -5.05 47653 Ultramarine-B/D 104.9 2.5 8058 SL Re QR 0.0250 QR 0.0256 Alkyl Amines-B/D 309.9 -3.6 1566 Federal Bank-A/D 45.1 0.5 250855 Kg Denim-B/D 52.85 0.05 151613 Unitech P -A/D 4.9 -0.14 7149249 Taka QR 0.0458 QR 0.0469 Alok Indus-A/D 4.85 -0.17 1065551 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5 -0.49 84499 Kinetic Eng-B/D 92.6 -4.1 7284 Univcable-T/D 71.25 -3.7 1370 Apollo Tyre-A/D 149.5 14.45 1144588 Finolex-A/D 308.7 -1.3 12005 Kopran-B/D 50.25 -4.4 171774 Uppergsugar-T/D 59.95 1.2 3058 Nep Re QR 0.0333 QR 0.0339 Asahi I Glass-/D 148 2.25 5906 Gail-A/D 345.6 -3 97021 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 6.45 -0.11 21946 LONDON SA Rand QR 0.2279 QR 0.2324 Ashok Leyland-/D 87.35 -1 812708 Gammon India-T/D 15.75 -0.3 127930 Lumax Ind-B/D 398 -19.1 7476 Ballarpur In-B/D 15.05 -0.1 91012 Gangotri Tex-T/D 1.64 0.07 9807 Lupin-A/D 1862.8 -41.2 170465 Banaras Bead-B/D 41 -1.9 2406 Garden P -B/D 24 -0.05 12948 Lyka Labs-T/D 82.2 -2.15 43434 3I Group/D 404.8 12.8 942750 GOLD AND SILVER Bata India-A/D 488.6 7 69718 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1056.05 -71.25 44150 Mangalam Cem-B/D 168.3 -3.5 6441 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3073 34 179450 GOLD QR138.9735 per gramme Beml Ltd-A/D 1001.4 -9.15 18209 Goodricke-B/D 174 -1 13990 Mastek-B/D 123.9 -2.7 21845 Barclays/D 160.45 4.25 27657338 Bh Electronic-/D 1187.6 -19.8 17754 Goodyear I -B/D 482 -6 8585 Max India L-A/D 360.4 1.4 24872 Bg Group/D 1038 10 4116214 SILVER QR1.7775 per gramme Bhansali Eng-T/D 17.6 -0.4 81859 Hcl Infosys-B/D 35.9 -0.65 587583 Mrpl-A/D 59.5 -2.15 47269 Bp/D 333.8 -0.65 14894586 Bharat Bijle-B/D 789.75 -20.75 3418 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 17.7 -0.5 1338560 Nahar Spg.-B/D 102.8 -1.7 11007 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3724 -12.5 1040779 Bharatgears-B/D 66 -1.5 2427 Himat Seide-B/D 176.1 -3.75 72628 Nation Alum -A/D 33.75 -0.3 98908 Bt Group/D 463.9 3.95 4676492 Bhartiya Int-B/D 506 12 10354 Hind Motors-T/D 5.53 -0.17 56854 Navneet Edu-B/D 82.35 -0.7 7393 Centrica/D 188.1 0.2 4823328 Bhel-A/D 128.05 -3.35 406989 Hind Org Chem-/D 13.85 -0.15 25140 Nepc India-T/D 2.03 -0.1 3850 Gkn/D 257.7 3.4 1428706 European indexes Bom.Burmah-B/D 375.15 -18.6 5744 Hind Unilever-/D 824.25 -2.35 43316 Neuland Lab-B/D 650 -24.25 3004 Hsbc Holdings/D 439.5 7 15245216 Bombay Dyeing-/D 46.55 -1.15 118175 Hind.Petrol-A/D 722.85 -3.9 49695 Nrb Bearings-B/D 113.4 3.5 10216 Kingfisher/D 322.3 1.8 2525226 bounce higher Camph.& All-B/D 450.5 -12.3 1852 Hindalco-A/D 67 -2.95 2109433 O N G C-A/D 214 -4.4 168826 Land Secs Grou/D 1037 33 1036871 Canfin Homes-B/D 987.2 -13.9 2996 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1122.25 -37.55 57072 Oil Country-B/D 25.6 -1.3 9226 Legal & Genera/D 211.2 8.8 14741150 Caprihans-Xc/D 84.2 -2.25 11118 I F C I-A/D 22.15 -1.3 1467563 Onward Tech-B/D 68 -3.3 4548 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 58.5458 0.42 80960237 AFP Castrol India-/D 407.4 -1.4 23028 Idbi-A/D 53.75 -1.9 1232673 Orchid Pharm-B/D 42.05 -1.65 189750 Marks & Sp./D 414 2.8 3151459 Century Enka-B/D 162.1 -7 10079 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 345.3 -13.4 1175 Orient Hotel-T/D 21.4 -0.6 1010 Next/D 6695 30 245846 Century Text-A/D 465.1 -9.2 384791 India Cement-A/D 77.9 -3.7 765081 Orient.Carb.-T/D 507.25 -10.25 8251 Pearson/D 752.5 0.5 1168403 Chambal Fert-B/D 55.15 -0.3 20531 India Glycol-B/D 78.95 -3.25 25824 Orient.Carb.-T/D 507.25 -10.25 8251 Prudential/D 1197.6651 72 3765362 LONDON: Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen left US Chola Invest-A/D 688.15 0.45 151374 Indian Card-B/D 213 -14.2 2468 Oudh Sugar-B/D 38.95 -1.2 10614 Rentokil Initi/D 154 2.1 963071 markets mixed with a warning of clouds on the eco- Chowgule St-T/D 17.7 -0.3 5909 Indian Hotel-A/D 111 0.05 27276 Patspin India-/D 9 -0.11 3035 Rolls Royce Pl/D 523 10.5 2981564 nomic horizon, but Europe rebounded while Asia sank Cimmco-B/D 80 -3.2 9370 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1101.25 -39.9 5976 Punjab Chem.-B/D 135 6.9 10831 Rsa Insrance G/D 386.4 13.2 1494653 again on fears of another banking crisis and global Cipla-A/D 538.85 -17.65 269958 Indusind-A/D 834.8 -34.1 379924 Radico Khait-B/D 107.25 0.4 61981 Sainsbury(J)/D 244.9 2.4 1192990 recession. City Union Bk-/D 82.7 -2 9181 J.B.Chemical-B/D 245.7 -8.95 22758 Rallis India-A/D 157 -5.45 9353 Schroders/D 2456 90 139212 The dollar perked up after Yellen said the Fed still Colgate-A/D 846 -2.05 13789 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 64 1 1817 Rallis India-A/D 157 -5.45 9353 Severn Trent/D 2076 5 167393 expects gradual interest rate rises, but her concerns Container Cor-/D 1104.05 -35.95 9848 Jagson Phar-B/D 40.2 -1.1 16835 Reliance Indus/D 393.7 -8.9 209260 Smith&Nephew/D 1086 19 844784 probably lowered the possibility of an increase in its Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 320.8 -21.7 6374 Jamnaauto-B/D 132 -6.7 229757 Ruchi Soya-B/D 24 -0.05 27481 Smiths Group/D 910.5 12 363595 next policy meeting in March. Dcm Financia-T/D 1.27 -0.06 1460 Jbf Indu-B/D 198 -2.4 12898 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 490.95 -18.5 2181 Standrd Chart /D 406.1 2.8 5706457 “Financial conditions in the United States have Dcm Shram Ind-/D 86 -4 2120 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.34 0 102885 Salora Inter-B/D 44.8 -3.6 10608 Tate & Lyle/D 579.105 4.5 310594 recently become less supportive of growth, with declines Dhampur Sugar-/D 59.8 -4.3 135031 Jct Ltd-B/D 6.4 -0.4 494725 Saur.Cem-B/D 49.1 -0.2 37426 Tesco/D 181.15 7.35 18490502 in broad measures of equity prices, higher borrowing Dr. Reddy-A/D 2886.85 -72.8 73630 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 8.07 -0.66 29649 Sterling Tool-/D 441 -22.7 2277 Unilever/D 2965.5 34 1337348 rates for riskier borrowers, and a further appreciation E I H-B/D 109.7 -3 12776 Jik Indust-T/D 1.04 0 2000 Tanfac Indust-/D 30 -1.15 1018 United Util Gr/D 906.82 4.5 513459 of the dollar,” said Yellen. “These developments, if they E.I.D Parry-A/D 167.5 -3.85 74742 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 86.05 -1.05 710638 Tanfac Indust-/D 30 -1.15 1018 Vodafone Group/D 202.964 1.8 17865927 prove persistent, could weigh on the outlook for eco- Eicher Motor-A/D 17897.9 -270.9 4031 Jmc Projects-T/D 203.7 0.5 5040 Thirumalai-B/D 167.4 -3.5 2851 Whitbread/D 3782 82 297624 nomic activity and the labour market.” The euro fell to $1.1223 from $1.1293 on Tuesday. While the Fed holding off on rate hikes is a plus for most equities companies and consumers will be able to borrow funds at lower interest for longer, but US stock indices couldn’t hold onto modest gains, with the Dow slipping into negative territory approaching midday. In New York, the Dow was down 0.07 percent at Most Gulf stock markets fall 16,003.11 points in early trade, the S&P 500 was up 0.5 percent at 1,860.53 points while Nasdaq was also up 1 percent at 4,312.30 points. Reuters value estimate of the stock by 40 percent to months of last year, profit had dropped. change. Beltone is preparing to arrange European markets were pulled higher as oil prices 83 dirhams but maintained a “buy” rating Qatar dropped 0.8 percent as drilling initial public offers of shares of several food drifted upward, while the German market was buoyed on it. Another major retailer, Jarir Market- rig provider Gulf International Services, the and retail companies with estimated total by Deutsche Bank, whose share price soared on specu- ing, also sank 2.4 percent. most heavily traded stock, slid 6.1 percent. capital exceeding 10bn Egyptian pounds lation it may be considering a bond buyback programme DUBAI: Shares fell on most Gulf stock Dubai’s index edged down 0.2 per- In Muscat, Oman Telecommunications ($1.3bn), he said. to help ease concern about the size of its funds. markets yesterday after oil prices dropped cent to 3,060 points, coming well off its Co rose 2.7 percent after it scrapped plans HIGHLIGHTS In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.7 percent at overnight, but Egyptian stocks rose, with intra-day low of 3,031 points after oil prices for a $130m, five-year dual-currency sukuk SAUDI ARABIA: The index dropped 0.7 5,672.3 points; In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 was up 1.6 per- foreigners the net buyers by a considera- recovered slightly. Emaar Properties sank issue, saying the interest rates demanded by percent to 5,833 points. cent at 9,017.29 points and in Paris, the CAC 40 was up ble margin. 1.3 percent before announcing its fourth- lenders were too high. Chief Executive Talal DUBAI: The index edged down 0.2 per- 1.6 percent at 4,061.20 points. Saudi Arabia’s index dropped 0.7 percent quarter earnings. Asmaller property firm, Al Mamari said the company’s capital invest- cent to 3,060 points. Shares in Germany’s biggest lender — which had to 5,833 points, testing minor technical sup- Deyaar, jumped 6.6 percent. Construction ments would continue but did not elaborate. ABU DHABI: The index rose 1.0 per- shed about 13 percent over the course of Monday and port at the early February low of 5,834 points. company Drake & Scull, which has been In Egypt, the index rose 1 percent, with cent to 4,105 points. Tuesday — shot up 16.6 percent to an intraday high of Another close below that support would con- edging up from record lows in the last few foreigners the net buyers by an unusually QATAR: The index dropped 0.8 percent ¤15.43. They closed with a gain of 10.2 percent at ¤14.58. firm a break, triggering a minor double top weeks, was the most heavily traded stock large margin of more than two to one, to 9,619 points. Asian stocks took another battering yesterday, formed by the end-January and February and surged 3.9 percent. according to stock exchange data. Tele- EGYPT: The index rose 1 percent 6,063 with Tokyo suffering sharp losses. More bourses reo- highs and targeting about 5,600 points. Abu Dhabi’s index outperformed the com Egypt climbed 3.7 percent. points. pened after the Lunar New Year break but immediately Most petrochemical shares held up rel- region, rising 1 percent, on the back of Beltone Financial, taken over by Oras- OMAN: The index edged up 0.1 percent plunged into the red, playing catch-up with a rout that atively well, with Saudi Basic Industries RAK Properties, which jumped its 15 com Telecom late last year, surged 9.8 to 5,395 points. has seen billions wiped off valuations across the globe climbing 0.4 percent, but many second- percent daily limit in the heaviest vol- percent after the Daily News Egypt quoted KUWAIT: The index edged down 0.3 so far this year. Japan’s Nikkei index lost 2.3 percent at and third-tier stocks were sold by local ume since last April after it reported Beltone Chairman Sameh Torgoman as percent to 5,148 points. 15,713.39 points to close at its lowest level since October investors. Retailer Alhokair dropped 2.4 2015 profit rose to Dh160m ($43.6m) saying the company was developing a BAHRAIN: The index was flat at 1,169 2014, extending Tuesday’s 5.4-percent collapse. percent to SR44.40. NBK Capital cut its fair from Dh156m in 2014. For the first nine new strategy and considering a name points. BUSINESS VIEWS THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 27

Amazon ups global Germany rebalances its delivery business to take on Alibaba economy — up to a point

By Spencer Soper “one click-ship for seamless inter- Bloomberg national trade and shipping.” “Sellers will no longer book with DHL, UPS or Fedex but will n recent weeks, speculation book directly with Amazon,” the has mounted that Amazon.com 2013 report said. Amazon will IInc plans to launch a global partner with third-party carri- shipping and logistics operation ers to build the global enterprise that will compete with United and then gradually squeeze them Parcel Service Inc. and Federal out once the business reaches suf- Express Corp. Asked about reports ficient volume and Amazon learns that the company was leasing enough to run it on its own, the planes and had registered an documents said. ocean freight booking business, If the logistics business takes Chief Financial Officer Brian hold, financial services could fol- Olsavsky downplayed Amazon’s low, with Amazon giving loans to ambitions last month in an earn- merchants, processing interna- ings call. He said the company tional payments and consulting was simply looking to supplement its network of sellers on customs its delivery partners — not replace and tax matters. them—during peak periods like The strategy echoes the com- the Christmas shopping season pany’s move into cloud services, Amazon documents reviewed which it developed internally and by Bloomberg News reveal a far gradually expanded into a com- bolder plan. A 2013 report to mercial enterprise that’s now A file picture of BMW cars at the car terminal of BLG Logistics Group waiting to be shipped, in Bremerhaven, Germany. Amazon’s senior management Amazon’s fastest-growing and team proposed an aggressive glo- most profitable division. bal expansion of the company’s Amazon never made big Fulfillment By Amazon service, proclamations about its cloud which provides storage, packing operations in the early days and By Michael Nienaber for the day. Other factors lie beyond her influ- and shipping for independent instead marketed directly to soft- Reuters The International Monetary Fund (IMF), ence. Record low interest rates set by the merchants selling products on ware developers. Companies like which Lagarde now heads, cautiously European Central Bank are encouraging the company’s website. The Hewlett Packard, Dell and Micro- welcomes the trend towards greater con- Germans to borrow and spend, while the report envisioned a global deliv- soft largely ignored the threat and n 2010, France’s then Finance Minister sumption. “Domestic demand is increasingly slump in global oil prices has helped to ery network that controls the flow are now playing catch-up. Christine Lagarde urged Germany to playing more of a role as growth driver in push down inflation, raising their pur- of goods from factories in China “This is classic Amazon fash- boost economic demand at home and Germany, which should contribute to rebal- chasing power. and India to customer doorsteps ion,” said Colin Sebastian, an help weaker euro zone states recover ancing both inside and outside the euro area,” With Germans’ appetite for foreign in Atlanta, New York and London. analyst at Robert W Baird & Co, from the global crisis. Six years on, it said an IMF official, speaking to Reuters on goods rising, imports from other euro The project, called Dragon Boat, is who says a global logistics oper- Iis delivering - up to a point and as much by condition of anonymity. zone countries climbed to ¤350.5bn in proceeding, according to a person ation could become a $400bn accident as by design. The year Lagarde made her plea, net 2014 from ¤302.2bn in 2010, data from the familiar with the initiative, who business for Amazon. Those who say Germany is gradually foreign trade accounted for almost a third Federal Statistic Office show. This helped asked not to be identified because Amazon laid out its logistics rebalancing its economy, after decades of of growth in the German economy, which to reduce Germany’s trade surplus with the the information isn’t public. strategy in 2013 after predicting relying mainly on its exporters for growth, was then recovering from the financial cri- rest of the euro zone to ¤63.2bn in 2014 from The ambitious strategy prom- an uptick in the flow of merchan- point to forecasts that domestic demand will sis much more rapidly than other major euro ¤88.6bn in 2010. In 2015, imports from other ises to turn FedEx and UPS into dise from Amazon sellers in one account for all of this year’s expansion. zone countries. euro zone countries further rose by nearly Amazon rivals, but also will pit country to buyers in another. Others, however, doubt whether the shift By last year, this contribution had shrunk four percent, preliminary data showed on the Seattle giant against Chi- Merchants in China and India towards greater spending by private citi- sharply with domestic demand instead Tuesday. nese counterpart Alibaba Group are keen to reach online shop- zens, industry and the state marks a lasting, accounting for the lion’s share: 1.5 percent- Germany, however, can’t shake off its Holding Ltd. Both companies pers in the US and Europe — and structural change in the economy. Germa- age points of the 1.7 percent growth rate. habits that easily. The trade surplus with are vying for dominance of the operation Dragon Boat will help ny’s trade and broader current account This year, Berlin expects growth to be the world jumped to ¤247.8bn last year rapidly growing cross-border close the gap between them. In surpluses remain high, they say. entirely domestically-driven. Net foreign from ¤213.6bn in 2014, the data showed. e- commerce market, which by the proposal, Amazon said the A third group warns that if Germany gets trade will only hinder the expansion, with The wider current account surplus also 2020 is expected to swell into a $1 new logistics business would too keen on consuming, rather than produc- overall exports hurt by waning demand for hit a record ¤249.1bn in 2015. This reflects trillion industry serving 900 mil- open cross-border commerce ing the high quality goods it has long sold ‘Made in Germany’ goods from emerging how Germans also remain a nation of lion shoppers, according to a June to smaller merchants who oth- to the world, it may not bounce back from markets such as China, where the economy savers, with pension funds investing this report from Accenture and AliRe- erwise wouldn’t bother with it. future downturns in the way it did from the is slowing, and Russia which is in recession. money in the likes of French and Italian search, Alibaba’s research arm. That in turn would make many global crisis of 2007-09. The rebalancing that has been achieved government debt, and returning interest Amazon’s plan would cul- more products available to Ama- One thing is certain: so far is due both to factors over which Ber- payments boosting the surplus. minate with the launch of a new zon shoppers around the world. Germans are sucking in lin has no control, and government policy Holger Schmieding, chief econo- venture called “Global Supply Three years after Amazon more imports from other decisions - some made over a decade ago. mist at Berenberg private bank, says Chain by Amazon,” as soon as this proposed its grand vision for a euro zone countries, help- Chancellor Angela Merkel can claim the collapse in oil prices is masking the year, the documents said. global logistics business, there ing to encourage growth some of the credit in at least one respect. underlying trend of imports rising faster The new business will locate are signs the plan is nearing fru- and employment among Her public welcome for refugees from wars than exports. Amazon at the center of a logis- ition. Last month, a San Francisco the neighbours. in Syria and elsewhere helped to encourage Credit for the increased productivity tics industry that involves not just logistics company called Flex- One such is 35-year- more than one million people to seek asy- largely goes to Merkel’s Social Democrat shippers like FedEx and UPS but port posted a blog noting that Record low interest old house husband lum in Germany last year. predecessor Gerhard Schroeder, who also legions of middlemen who Amazon’s Chinese subsidiary reg- rates set by the ECB Augustin Tougas whose The conservative chancellor has decided reformed the labour market more than a handle cargo and paperwork istered in the US as a Non-Vessel wife works as a teacher to spend not only a large part of her polit- decade ago. Highly unpopular at the time, associated with transnational Operating Common Carrier, ena- are encouraging in Berlin and has just ical capital on the migrant crisis, but also the reforms — which cut industry’s labour trade. Amazon wants to bypass bling it to provide ocean freight Germans to borrow got a pay rise of more last year’s entire budget surplus of ¤12bn on costs and boosted its competitiveness — these brokers, amassing inven- services to other companies in the than four percent, well accommodating and integrating the record cost Schroeder the 2005 election. But they tory from thousands of merchants $350 billion ocean freight indus- and spend, while the above inflation which hit influx of refugees. transformed Germany from “the sick man around the world and then buy- try. And in December, Amazon slump in global oil a record-low of 0.1 per- While Merkel’s refugee policy is polit- of Europe” into one of the continent’s most ing space on trucks, planes and was said to be considering leas- cent last year. They’ve just ically controversial, it is undoubtedly an dynamic economies. ships at reduced rates. Merchants ing 20 Boeing Co. 767 freighter jets prices has helped spent ¤300 ($340) on an economic game-changer for Germany’s Now Germans are enjoying the pay- will be able to book cargo space to control more of its delivery and to push down Italian espresso machine. ageing society. The DIW economic insti- off in the form of record-high employment online or via mobile devices, cre- cost, according to a person famil- inflation, raising their After disturbed nights tute estimates that the state will spend over while the buoyant economy allowed com- ating what Amazon described as a iar with the plans. caring for their two small ¤30bn on refugees in 2016 and 2017, add- panies and unions to agree last year on purchasing power. children, a stiff coffee is ing about 0.3 percentage points to annual the highest real wage increase in more what they need to prepare growth. than 20 years. Millennials are shifting car ownership model; ask Toyota

By Norihiko Shirouzu worked, for a while, with the brand selling to respond. Also, technology companies such to join them. Toyota is also exploring its own Reuters 173,000 cars in 2006, but sales dropped to as Apple, Alphabet and Uber are muscling in ride-sharing business model, designing just 56,167 last year, prompting the world’s to control cars of the future. In the biggest smaller, easier to manoeuvre i-Road vehi- biggest car maker to call time. Some Scions Detroit-Silicon Valley crossover deal to date, cles, which could be used specifically for city will be re-badged as Toyotas. “I don’t think my General Motors is investing $500 million in car-sharing services. hen Toyota Motor looked to the generation hates cars, but the way we look at Lyft, a privately-owned ride-hailing service The marketing chief of one Asian automaker future at the turn of the millen- cars is different now,” said Brandon Perez, an in the United States, and plans to develop an said the changes prompted by ride-hailing and Wnium and aimed its new, edgy Scion 18-year-old construction management major on-demand network of self-driving cars. car-sharing services were a major factor in his small-car brand at twenty-somethings, it at California Polytechnic State University in Others are responding, too, to the disrup- firm’s recent move to overhaul its premium could not have guessed that the model would San Luis Obispo. tive waves from technology and tech-savvy brand strategy. As these apps and services gain be dead after just 12 years. In killing off the “For my parents’ generation ... buying a millennials, who increasingly want their cars traction, more households are likely to limit brand last week, the Japanese company was car was a big goal. Cars are still important to be as connected as their homes - though themselves to just one car, said the executive, responding to the changing habits of millenni- and kids in my age group still want to drive, Paula Poveda, a 19-year-old student in Tal- who didn’t want to be named because he is not In killing off the brand als — those born in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s but we’re not as auto-centric.” lahassee, Florida, thinks today’s connectivity authorised to speak to the media. — who are reshaping the traditional model of Perez also feels young people today are acts against the need to own a car. “Day to day, for short commuting and last week, the Japanese car ownership. practical and don’t mind buying used cars. “We’re more connected than my parents’ doing errands, they can use Uber or similar company was responding “Surveys we do tell us young buyers are “Cars are so reliable now, and more durable,” generation and technology allows us to be services. Those households would more likely less interested in owning cars,” one of those he said. He thought Scion failed to live up in contact with friends constantly. We don’t buy just one car and spend more money on to the changing habits behind the Scion brand said. to its billing as an aspirational brand. “They have to go out and see them all the time,” that car. That would most likely be an upscale of millennials — those “They either don’t have the financial lee- were kind of like re-styled Toyotas. They she said, adding she doesn’t need to own a car. That’s where our growth is going to come way or they’re substituting car ownership look different, but otherwise the Scion tC, car, and when she does she’ll probably buy a from,” he said. “A lot of my generation aren’t born in the 1980s, 90s with ride-sharing or car-hailing services like for example, isn’t that different from driv- used model or get a hand-me-down from her so good at saving money,” said Daniel Scar- and 2000s — who are Uber,” he said, adding Toyota would redirect ing a Corolla.” Faced with the demographics parents. At the recent Consumer Electronics pato, a 25-year-old e-commerce worker who reshaping the traditional its Scion resources to its Toyota and Lexus of a ‘sharing economy’ and a generation that Show in Las Vegas, Toyota and Ford said they recently moved to Beijing from California. models. Toyota launched the Scion brand is - very broadly - still living at home with will adopt the same SmartDeviceLink (SDL) “The job market for us isn’t great, and most model of car ownership hoping Generation Y-ers would become their parents, juggling debts and marrying software to link smartphone apps to car dash- young people I know are in debt. Buying a new the grown-up Toyota buyers of tomorrow. It later, the auto industry is having to shift gear board screens, and invited other automakers car is a bit of a luxury.” 28 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

Japan camera makers battle sight smartphone onslaught ‘Less than Zero’: Japan’s negative AFP yield bond explained

TOKYO: High-schooler Nao Noguchi is a perfect illustration of why Japa- AFP They would be much better off nese camera sales have plunged the stuffing their cash under the past few years — she uses her smart- mattress. But Japan’s govern- phone for everything and cannot ment bonds are overwhelmingly understand why anyone would bother TOKYO: The yield on Japan’s held by institutions like banks with a separate device for photos. benchmark 10-year government and insurers rather than mom “It is easy to take your smart- bond dipped below zero for the and pop investors. phone out of your pocket if you want first time this week, offering the And they would need a lot to take a picture of someone or some- topsy-turvy promise of investors of mattresses to hide the cash thing. And you can send the pictures paying to lend someone money. they’re sitting on. to friends quickly” on social media, What are bonds? Bonds are generally seen as said the 17-year-old on a day trip to Sovereign bonds are a way super safe investments where Tokyo’s historic Asakusa district with for governments to raise cash for capital is all but guaranteed, even her friend Rina. their spending plans, promising if they pay very little — or no — The selfie-stick toting pair are the lenders (investors) a guaranteed interest. This means they become camera industry’s worst nightmare. income — or yield — per year. very sought after during times of A rapid shift to picture-taking Like any other loan, borrow- economic crisis such as that cur- smartphones has torn into a camera ers usually have to pay interest rently roiling global markets. sector dominated by Japanese firms on the money, and have to pay And in any case, the options including Canon, Olympus, Sony and back the capital at the end of a for Japanese banks are limited— Nikon — much like digital cameras all fixed period. Nearly all countries the Bank of Japan (BoJ) has but destroyed the market for photo- issue these bonds and — like already reduced its benchmark graphic film years ago. other loans — the amount they interest rate to -0.1 percent, And the numbers paint a grim pic- pay generally depends on how so keeping cash in its vaults is Japanese camera maker Fujifilm’s instant photo system, the “Instax mini 90 Neo Classic”, allowing a user ture: 130 million cameras were sold risky lenders believe they are. expensive, and -0.035 percent globally in 2011. Four years later, that to make card-sized prints instantly, in Tokyo. If a lender thinks his money is seems like quite a good deal. figure stood at just 47 million. very safe, he won’t charge much What will happen next? The collapse was underscored cameras, but at the same time so Leica, while Olympus is pushing about five million units moved in interest; conversely, if he’s wor- The benchmark 10-year this month as the firms published many people are taking photos, as further into the medical equipment the current fiscal year to March. The ried the loan will go bad, he’ll bond crept back into positive their latest financial results, with never before in human history. business as a leader in endoscopes, appeal of giving friends physical pho- charge a lot. territory yesterday but could weak sales threatening a once-vibrant “The smartphone is the first step which now eclipse camera sales. tos sold Calvin Lau on the Instax. The United States pays head south again. sector. into the topic of photography, then But some like Konica Minolta have “We never know how photos will about 1.7 percent, Germany pays But the BoJ’s negative inter- Now companies are having to people want to upgrade, the poten- thrown in the towel on cameras alto- come out until they’re fully ready,” around 0.2 percent and hard-hit est rate has so far failed to have scramble for a response, hitting back tial is there.” gether, opting to go into print and said the 31-year-old Hong Konger Greece must pay about 10 per- the desired effect of forcing with upmarket options and offering For Canon, whose Sure Shot optical devices. who now lives in Tokyo. cent on its decade-long notes to banks to spend their cash, and web-friendly features, or in some digital camera has been hit by smart- Fujifilm, which was nearly put out “It’s fun and exciting for people attract wary investors. some analysts suspect the cen- cases simply moving away from the phones, the response is to offer what of business by the drop in photo film taking Instax photos and those whose But Japan’s yield is now tral bank could push the rate hard-hit business. a phone cannot, such as more pow- sales, has also shifted focus to other photos are being taken. negative? even lower; that, in turn, could While Apple and Samsung erful zoom options. businesses, including the health sec- “I like the concept that the pic- That’s right, meaning any- squeeze bond rates further. recently pointed to slowing sales of “We have been offering cam- tor—one of the companies it acquired tures you take are the one and only one buying a bond (becoming a However, the BoJ is the smartphones, they have proved a eras that offer features smartphones has developed a drug to combat the ones out there... We can give our lender) has to pay for it. middle of a vast bond-buy- mighty rival, offering an all-in-one cannot provide,” said company deadly Ebola virus. friends unique, real pictures.” For example, if an investor ing scheme as part of a plan to phone, computer and camera with spokesman Richard Berger. But Fujifilm has not abandoned Still, Seiko Mikie, who has about was to hand the government stimulate the economy, so banks comparatively high-quality pictures “People who use smartphones are the sector that made its name, and 20 years on Lau, thinks the Polaroid 100,000 yen ($875) for a 10-year and insurance companies might and Internet photo downloading. The becoming interested in photography, scored an unlikely win with the throwback is about as lame as it gets. bond at Tuesday’s — 0.035 per- want to gamble on the idea that answer, the camera industry says, is they want to take better pictures, to be Instax, a nostalgic throwback to the “I’m not the least bit interested cent rate, it would actually cost the central bank will expand to innovate and convince smartphone more creative so they are moving up to retro Polaroid. Users can sling the in a Polaroid-style camera — that him 3,500 yen, so he would only this plan users to climb up the quality ladder. SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras.” bulky gadget — available in a series is something from the Showa era,” get back 96,500 yen. That means if they buy “It’s kind of life insurance for the Another battleground has been of flashy colours — around their neck said the 50-year-old transportation Why on earth would any- below-zero yield bonds now camera industry to always protect this in mirror-less cameras, which can and print pictures they’ve just taken. company employee, referring to the one do that? and sell them back to the BoJ superiority in terms of picture quality,” be made nearly as small as compact The latest versions sell for about $140. last Japanese emperor’s reign which For the man in the street, at a later date when yields have said Heribert Tippenhauer, an analyst cameras but with picture quality that After a slow start, the camera’s ended with his death in 1989. the answer is that they wouldn’t. gone up, they will make money. at market research firm GfK. rivals their bulkier counterparts. appearance on a popular South “Back then, the picture quality “The competition from smart- Sony and Panasonic have teamed Korean television series helped jack was good enough for the time, but phones has almost killed the cheapest up with German rivals, including up Asian sales in recent years, with not any longer.”

The present oil price is not sustainable in Capital delivering the volume. We should see some David Samra, pick-up from where we are now, going who oversees about $20bn Comment forward. for Artisan Partners

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk India gold discounts Christiana Figueres @ DealB%k hit record highs CFigueres Implementing #Paris- NAME IN THE MARKET: BOND YIELDS Agreement means Reuters inventory, but buyers are not there avoiding 77% in CO2 Energy executives and their in the market,” he said. Gold sell- emissions from build- bankers are preparing for ers in India, who generally charge ings by 2050 a prolonged downturn that MUMBAI: Indian gold traders a premium over London prices, say they are struggling to draw are offering a record discount of The Economist @ could change the energy buyers despite offering record up to $25 an ounce. TheEconomist industry in a way not seen discounts over rallying inter- Though the wedding sea- national prices, as consumers son that extends to May typically If banks are not prof- since the turmoil of the late wait to see if rates can fall fur- raises gold demand, many have itable, the cost of 1990s gave rise to mega- ther after the federal budget delayed purchases in anticipa- negative-rates will pass this month. tion of prices falling further. on to their customers mergers like Exxon Mobil The bullion industry expects Buying has been muted in recent the government to cut the record days in otherwise buzzing jew- 10 percent import duty on gold ellery centres like Zaveri Baazar Bloomberg TV @ in the annual budget for 2016/17 in Mumbai. MoneyBeat that will be presented on Feb. 29, Gold prices shot up to their BloombergTV potentially boosting supply and highest since August 2014 on Investors need cen- driving domestic prices lower. Monday at Rs28,527 per 10 tral banks to send Indian gold prices also grammes, after trading below clear signals and swung into deep discounts Rs25,000 per 10 gm last month. boost confidence, As Twitter Inc. prepares to before the last budget, when the Local prices are up more than UniCredit CEO says release its latest results, the government surprised the mar- 13 percent this year, and that ket with no cut in duty on the has weighed on demand to an options market is pricing Reuters Business @ metal. India is the world’s sec- extent, said some retail buyers. in a massive move in the ond biggest gold consumer. “People are expecting a ReutersBiz Daman Prakash Rathod, reduction in the import duty company’s stock a director at MNC Bullion, a in the budget,” said a Mum- Time Warner misses wholesaler in Chennai, said he bai-based dealer with a private with a steeper-than- was seeing hardly any trans- bank. “But the market is behav- expected 6 percent actions at present. “Dealers are ing abnormally. This kind of drop in quarterly offering hefty discounts to clear discount cannot sustain.” revenue: www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 32 PAGE | 34 Pakistan drop Curry stars as Shehzad for Asia Warriors downn Cup, World T20 Houston Rocketsets

THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 • 2 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Barshim to lead Qatar’s gold quest in Doha

a fourth title to the record-books, following his successive victories in ATHLETICS: SPOTLIGHT ON Barshim along with 2010, 2012 and 2014. BALLA & AL GARNI Francis are aiming Barshim sailed over 2.34 earlier this year in Malmö and judging by his for their fourth title own recent statement, he has set his (60m hurdles) and Saleh Alhaddad in the continental sights not only on another continen- (long jump) and Japan’s Tomomi Abiko championship which tal indoor accolade, but on a new area in pole vault. and world indoor record as well. India’s Om Prakash Karhan is begins at Aspire The quest for more medals for rated among the favourites in the shot Dome on February 19 the hosts will be led by other medal put in his quest for back-to-back Asian hopefuls like Samuel Francis (60m), indoor titles, as is Uzbekistan’s Svet- Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla (800m) lana Radzivil. and Mohamed Al Garni (1500m & In the women’ section, Olym- The Peninsula 3000m), aiming to duplicate their pic triple jump champion and Asian 2014 success. record holder Olga Rypakova from Another Qatari on the road to a Kazakhstan is undoubtedly the one to DOHA: Local hero and defending fourth Asian indoor title is Francis, watch among the 115 female athletes Asian and World indoor high jump a three-time winner over the 60m The first medals of the champion- champion Mutaz Barshim will lead will be chasing a fourth title on Day 1 ships will be awarded to the winners Qatar’s challenge at the 2016 Asian of the Championships when the gun of the women’s triple jump, an event Indoors Championship in Doha. sounds the start of the short dash final which is overshadowed by the pres- Barshim leads the men’s chart of at 8:45pm time. ence of Rypakova. 175 competitors preparing to flock to The hosts, who aim to set a new At the age of 31, the Kazak Aspire Dome’s state-of-the-art facility gold-medal haul record and thus sur- remains one of the event’s top guns. for the February 19 to 21 event. pass their 2014 five-star tally, have Her medal winning capacity when Olympic bronze medallist more arrows in their quiver besides the going gets tough, guided her to Barshim is more likely though to add the aforementioned. the 2015 IAAF World Championships Asian champion and indoor bronze in Beijing. record holder Abdalleleh Haroun as Rypakova has great memories Qatar’s high jumper Mutaz Barshim is aiming to win his fourth title in the Asian Indoors Championship in Doha. well as Tosin Ogunode, the 2014 sur- from the Aspire Dome arena, a venue prise package who ran 6.50, a 60m she won an Asian title in 2008 and the Asian record when not yet eligible to World title in 2010. represent Qatar internationally, may Other notable entrants are Saudi China is featuring, along with look certain to enforce China’s bid who jumped 5.77 in mid-January. as well find themselves climbing on Arabia’s Mohammed Salman Al Khu- hosts Qatar, the largest delegation to reclaim the top spot from reign- Kazakhstan, besides Rypakova and the top of the podium. walidi, the long jump area record consisting of 23 athletes. Among them, ing champs Qatar on the medal table. Valiyev, has high expectations from Over 430 athletes representing holder and the only “survivor” from in-form 19-year-old pole vaulter Bahrain is represented by a the new shot put Asian record holder 37 nations are due to compete at the the 2004 golden generation, ath- Huang Bokai who showed his poten- 17-athlete strong team (12 of them (20.51) Ivan Ivanov and the 60m 2016 AAA Indoor Championships at letes who won at the inaugural Asian tial by clearing 5.60 recently and the women - more than any other nation). sprinter Victoriya Zyabkina (7.24 sea- Aspire Dome in the men’s and wom- Indoor Championships. 2012 champ Ling Li, the women’s pole Asian 3000m record holder Albert son best). en’s section. Al Khuwalidi is along with Kaza- vault Asian record holder. Rop and the Asian 400m hurdles Apart from Al Khuwalidi, the Sau- Others who seek to defend their khstan’s triple jumpers Roman Valiyev Zheng Xingjuan a former Asian champion Oluwakemi Adekoya, who dis may count as well for a podium titles won two years back they cap- and Rypakova the only three 2008 champion is expected to challenge is entering the 400m, are the team’s finish on Mohammed Othman tured in Hangzhou, China are Mahdi winners who return to Doha for a Radzivil in the high jump, while Cao main assets. Shaween in the 1500m and the shot Olga Rypakova from Kazakhstan Zamani and Maryam Toosi, from Iran, second golden taste inside the Aspire Shuo in triple jump, Minjia Lu in long Japan’s main gold medal hopes put outdoors area record holder, Sul- as will Kuwaitis Abdulaziz Almandeel Dome famous arena. jump and Tianqian Guo in shot put lie on pole vaulter Seito Yamamoto tan Abdulmajeed Al Hebshi.

Injury forces Sharapova Qatar Gymnastics Federation celebrates National Sport Day out of Qatar Open

The Peninsula

DOHA: World No. 6 and five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova of Russia has pulled out of the 2016 Qatar Total Open due to injury. The Russian with- drew due to an injury to her left forearm, organis- ers announced yesterday. The 28-year-old had been among the star-stud- ded field of players, which includes No.1-ranked Serena Williams and defending champion Russia’s Maria Sharapova reacts as she Lucie Safarova among oth- watches compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova ers, expected to grace the play during their Fed Cup World Group Gymnasts and officials of Qatar Gymnastics Federation, who took part in the National Sport Day celebrations, pose for a group picture at courts of the impressive match in Moscow, in this February 7 file Khalifa International Ten- Katara Beach in Doha on Tuesday. picture. Sharapova withdrew from the nis & Squash Complex. Qatar Open citing injury. It is the second time the world number six has pulled out of a tournament this season because of the same injury. Earlier this year, Sharapova also had to withdraw from her intended season opener, Futsal: Qatar clash with Japan in Asian opener the Brisbane International. “Unfortunately, I will not be able to play the Qatar Open because of my left forearm injury,” the 28-year-old said in statement released by Qatar Tennis. “I would like to wish the tournament and all the great fans in Doha a The Peninsula Qatar is pooled in Group D along Sousa. “For us, this is not a dream, game,” he said. “We had a great pre- great week of tennis and I hope to see them next year.” Sharapova has won with Japan, Australia and Malaysia. that’s only for people who are sleep- paratory camp in Portugal. That in Qatar twice -- in 2005 and 2008. In their opening game, Qatar take ing a lot. We’re not sleeping, we’re helped us on many front,” Tiago said. This year she was meant to be part of a strong line-up in Doha in a tour- TASHKENT: Qatar futsal coach on Japan at the Uzbekistan Stadium here to work hard and improve.” “We have strong boys who fight nament featuring number one seed Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Petra yesterday said his team is capable of today. “We have come here with the all the way,” the coach said. Kvitova. Also there will be surprise Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber. beating top sides at the Asian Futsal “We are the smallest nation by far intention of competing hard and The 16 participating teams have If seeding goes to plan Kerber and Williams will meet again in the final in Championship. at these finals with a population of learning new things as we go along,” been divided into four groups of four Doha, just 28 days after their clash in Melbourne. This year’s Qatar Open will Coach Tiago De Sousa said yes- only 300,000 but we are here to grow Tiago said. teams and each group will play a one- be played between February 21 and 27 and is the 14th time the tournament has terday: “The players have prepared and learn with a target of reaching the “For us being here is not just a round league where each team in the been held. It was the first professional women’s tennis tournament staged in well. They have the ability to surprise final eight which would be a fantas- matter of playing. We want to win,” group will play one match against the Middle East and has a total prize money of $2,517,250 (2,238,482 euros). the big teams.” tic achievement for Qatar,” said De he said. “We want to get better every every other team. 30 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT Inter down Estudiantes to reach semis

Estudiantes were at least attempting to FOOTBALL: AL KASS CUP create goalscoring opportunities, but Maranzio and Kerin INTERNATIONAL their shooting was generally wayward, score one goal apiece allowing Inter to sit back and wait for the right moment to strike. for Italian side in with right back Facundo Mura paying And that moment almost arrived on their 2-0 win over the particularly close attention. the 73rd minute when Thomas Schiro With half an hour gone, Milan had produced some sublime skills in the Argentinian club in been unable to convert their superior- centre circle before setting Russo free the quarter-finals ity in possession into genuine chances down the inside left channel. and, if anything, The diminutive forward beat the Estudiantes had created the better onrushing Aguero to the ball, but the opportunities, although both goal- Argentine keeper showed good antic- The Peninsula keepers were under-employed as the ipation to avert the danger with a smart action was confined to a fascinating, save. and physical, midfield struggle. But Inter would not have to wait But on 31 minutes Inter won a free long for a second, decisive, moment DOHA: Inter Milan came out on top kick eight yards out, wide on the left, to arrive. On 79 minutes substitute left of a closely contested contest in the following a foul by Matias Gonzalez on back Roberto di Jenno broke down the first game of the last-eight at Al Kass, Russo. Tommaso Spaviero fired the ball wing and centred. Fucile blocked the defeating Estudiantes 2-0 to advance into the area, and it was met by Gior- cross, and referee Mashari Al Sham- to the semi-finals. gio Vitali, whose header forced a save mari immediately pointed to the spot. The Argentines can count them- from Ignacio Iguero, the first time the In fact, replays suggested that the ball selves unlucky to have lost in rather Argentine stopper had been called into had come off Fucile’s knee rather than controversial circumstances, having meaningful action. his hand. harshly conceded a penalty with the Estudiantes made a substitution The Argentine was nevertheless game finely balanced. at half time, with Santiago Chanapi cautioned, and his misery was com- Gaetano Maranzio of Inter Milan scores from the penalty spot during their quarter-final match against Inter got the game underway and, replacing Pablo Corroto. Inter remained pounded when Gaetano Maranzio Estudiantes at Aspire Zone in Doha yesterday. Intern Milan won 2-0. Bottom: The Most Valuable Player of initially at least, showed greater attack- unchanged, as did the cagey nature of stepped up to calmly dispatch the pen- the match with his award. ing intent, with Estudiantes working the contest, with chances at a premium. alty kick, giving Inter a 1-0 lead they hard to deny space – conceding a However, on 52 minutes Estu- had barely deserved. succession of free kicks in the proc- diantes won a free kick wide on the Estudiantes’ sense of injustice struck Aguero on the back of the head ess. The Argentines seemed content to left, which Chanapi crossed for Renzo increased moments later, when they and cannoned in. soak up the early Inter pressure, until Fucile to head, but his attempt sailed poured forward from the restart, and The incident epitomised the the 10th minute when Mariono Merli high and wide. Erquiaga appeared to be impeded in the poor fortune that the Argentines had tested Glulio Mangano with a skilful It was a sign that the Argentines area by Federico Valietti. Al Shammari experienced. diving header that the Italian keeper were beginning to take the game waved away the Argentines’ impas- Five minutes of injury time were did well to save. to Inter, but the Milan rearguard sioned protests, and the Argentines’ added, but by now the Italians were Inter’s main attacking threat was remained largely untroubled, until the agony was complete with four minutes home and dry, as Estudiantes strug- coming down the left side, with Pio 65th minute when Ivan Equiaga broke remaining, as they committed players gled in vain for a response to the Russo’s tenacious running causing towards the area from the right, only forward in search of an equaliser. double sucker punch that they had problems in the Argentine backline, to be cynically stopped in his tracks by Inter’s Elia Visconti broke free just received. Inter advanced into although the end product into the area Andrea Gallina, inches outside the box. down the left and, with the Estudiantes the semi-finals and, while their per- was sometimes lacking. The Italian defender received a yel- backline for once missing in action, formance was less than electrifying, Russo had bagged a hat-trick in low card, but the resultant free kick ran half the length of the pitch before the impression is growing that they Milan’s opener against Shanghai Green- from Gonzalez was wasted. squaring to Luka Kerin, who only had are genuine championship challeng- land, but he was finding opportunities As the closely fought con- the keeper to beat. Amazingly, his ers. After three matches, their record more limited against a disciplined and test entered the last 20 minutes, it first-time effort from eight yards hit reads: played three, won three, scored highly physical Estudiantes backline, remained impossible to pick a winner. the post, but the ball rebounded and twelve, conceded none.

Qatar Basketball Federation celebrates NSD High-flying Al Gharafa annihilate Qatar SC, Al Sadd down Al Rayyan

The Peninsula

DOHA: Salem Omar Abdelkader and Saad Abdulrahman Mohamed hit the 20s with ease as Al Gharafa ham- mered Qatar SC 101-59 during their Qatar Basketball League match. Abdelkader produced 29 points while team-mate Mohamed man- aged a tally of 24 points as Al Gharafa never looked behind in the lop-sided clash at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall. Mohammed managed 3 assists also. Ndoye Hassino and Galloway Kevin Dwayne both scored 14 points each as Al Gharafa emerged runaway winners. Dwayne managed an aston- ishing 14 assists also. Nayef Mohammed Mahmoud scored 10 points for the winners besides chipping in with 3 assists. Action from the Qatar Basketball League match between Al Gharafa Al Abdulla Raslan Rashid scored 6 and Qatar SC. Al Gharafa won 101-59. points. For Qatar SC, Jefferson Con- steveous scored 23 points and Al Rayyan. Al Sadd won 67-64 at For Al Rayyan, Davon James managed 6 assists to complete a the same venue. Dominic scored 21 points and had respectable tally from the losing Abdi Khalid Suliman scored 24 6 assists. side. points for Al Sadd. Suliman also Ngombo Tanguy Alban also QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani takes part in the National Sport Day celebrations White Malcolm Anthony scored managed 5 assists. sparkled, managing a tally of 17 of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) on Tuesday. QOC Secretary-General Dr Thani Al Kuwari (right) 15 points. Al Muftah Abdulrahman Saeed Erfan Ali scored 14 points points in the low-scoring game. and QBF President Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are also seen. Ibrahim scored 9 points. and chipped in with 3 assists. Immanuel Alexander Quintin Yousif Ahmad and Abdalla Raffa Anthony scored 12 points chipped in with 13 points 3 assists. Ahmed Mahmood scored 4 points for Al Sadd besides managing a tally At the same venue today, the each. of 6 assists. Kone Mohamed Deba U-16 final will be played, Qatar Bas- In the day’s second clash yes- (11 points and 1 assist) also played ketball Federation said yesterday. QSF marks National Sport Day terday, Al Sadd edged past giants well for Al Sadd. The final will commence at 5:00pm.

Children taking part in the National Sport Day celebrations of Qatar Equestrian Federation (QSF) at Katara Beach on Tuesday. Action from the Qatar Basketball League match between Al Rayyan and Al Sadd. Al Sadd won 67-64. SPORT THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 31

Barcelona’s ‘big three’ Stuttgart’s Ukrainian forward Artem Kravets (left) and Dortmund’s defender Marcel Schmelzer vie for rested for Valencia trip the ball during their German Cup (Pokal) quarter-final football match on Tuesday. Dortmund won 3-1. AFP rested along with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique as Enrique takes advantage of the dead rubber amongst a hec- BARCELONA: Barcelona’s star tic schedule, which sees Barca play attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis six games in the next 18 days. Suarez and Neymar were all left Neville is fighting for his job out of coach Luis Enrique’s squad after suffering what Valencia sport- for their Copa del Rey semi-final, ing director Jesus Garcia Pitarch second-leg against Gary Neville’s described as one of the worst results Valencia yesterday with Barca in the club’s history in the first-leg. already leading 7-0. The former Manchester United Messi underwent treatment on captain has also failed to win any of kidney stones which affected his his nine La Liga matches since tak- participation in the Club World Cup ing charge in December. “I’ve got last month on Monday and Tuesday, full belief in myself, full belief in the but is expected to be fit to face Celta players and from my point of view the Vigo on Sunday. only thing we can do now for the club Suarez, who scored four times in and the fans is win football matches,” the first-leg, and Neymar have been Neville told the club’s website. Last-gasp Ogbonna stuns Liverpool

AFP his first start since July by slamming Aubameyang nets 30th goal a shot against the post. The pace was sedentary but the game was open and the wood- LONDON: Angelo Ogbonna headed work was rattled again at both ends home in stoppage time of extra time - Coutinho for Liverpool, Payet with as West Ham United stunned a a free-kick for West Ham - before as Dortmund reach semis youthful Liverpool team 2-1 in Tues- the hosts took the lead in first-half day’s FA Cup fourth-round replay at injury time. Upton Park. Enner Valencia wriggled his way Philippe Coutinho’s clever free- to the byline on the left and dug out a The winners move kick had cancelled out Michail cross to the back post, where Antonio Antonio’s volleyed opener for leapt to meet it with a crisp side- into their third West Ham and the game was sec- foot volley that flashed past Simon semi-final in a row onds from a penalty shootout when Mignolet. Dimitri Payet curled a free-kick into Klopp sent his side out early the visitors’ box from the right and for the second half and within four Ogbonna rose at the back post to minutes they were level, Coutinho AFP head in the winner. deviously stroking a 20-yard free- It was the Italian centre-back’s kick beneath the wall and in after first goal since signing from Juventus Pedro Obiang was deemed to have last year and it earned Slaven Bilic’s fouled Benteke. BERLIN: Pierre-Emerick Aubam- side a trip to Blackburn Rovers in the Klopp sent for fit-again strikers eyang claimed his 30th goal of the fifth round. West Ham had never Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, season on Tuesday to help fire Borus- previously beaten Liverpool in the while injuries to Winston Reid and sia Dortmund into the German Cup FA Cup, but they have now overcome Cheikhou Kouyate obliged West Ham semi-finals with a 3-1 victory at VfB them three times this season, hav- manager Bilic to bring on James Col- Stuttgart. ing beaten them twice in the league lins and Andy Carroll, the former Gabon striker Aubameyang and prior to the 0-0 draw in their first Liverpool striker. Germany winger Marco Reus, who cup encounter. Valencia appealed in vain for a have provided 45 of Dortmund’s goals Back in the dug-out after having penalty when Tiago Ilori appeared in all competitions this season, net- his appendix removed on Saturday, to tug him back as he attempted to ted before Henrik Mkhitaryan claimed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp convert Antonio’s low cross. their late third. Dortmund are now watched his young charges push The teams continued to in the semi-finals for the third sea- (From left) Dortmund’s players Mats Hummels, Roman Buerki and Stuttgart’s midfielder Christian West Ham all the way until falling at exchange chances - Randolph par- son in a row while spirited Stuttgart Gentner pick up tennis balls thrown to the field by fans to protest against match ticket prices during the very last hurdle. Despite making rying from Benteke and Sturridge, had their five-match winning streak, their German Cup DFB Pokal quarter-final match on Tuesday. 10 changes and entrusting the mid- Valencia heading over and Mark dating back to mid-December, ended. field to 18-year-old Pedro Chirivella Noble testing Mignolet - but they Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich will and the callow pair of Kevin Stewart could not be separated in normal attempt to join Dortmund in the last and Joao Carlos Teixeira, Liverpool time. Noble also worked Mignolet in FOOTBALL: GERMAN CUP four when they play VfL Bochum on QUARTER-FINALS Dortmund fans call foul on made an assured start. extra time, but the best chances fell Wednesday while minnows Heiden- The first chance was theirs, to Benteke. Twice within a minute heim host Hertha Berlin. Christian Benteke’s volley scrambled he should have scored, first volley- Dortmund took the lead at Stutt- After Wendall’s dismissal, Peru’s Stuttgart’s cup ticket prices behind by Darren Randolph from ing wide with the goal at his mercy gart’s Mercedes Benz Arena when 37-year-old striker Pizarro scored Coutinho’s deep corner, but West and then shooting tamely at Ran- Reus fired home off the crossbar Bremen’s second by converting the Ham were quick to respond, right- dolph in a one-on-one, and Ogbonna with just five minutes gone. Stuttgart resulting penalty, then set up their AFP more than 70 euros. back Joey O’Brien almost crowning made him pay. fought back and levelled when Lukas third. Leverkusen took the lead when “We wanted to try and put a good Rupp’s shot deflected off Mkhitar- ex-Manchester United forward Hern- face on the matter, but at the same yan and into the Dortmund net on 21 andez continued his record of scoring time show that it was not on,” said minutes to the home fans’ delight. The in each round of the cup. BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund fans Marc Quambusch, the initiative’s visitors regained the lead when Reus After Stefan Kiessling was up- called ‘foul’ on away ticket prices for spokesman. set up Aubameyang for his third in as ended by Bremen’s Spanish defender their team’s German Cup quarter- The fans carried out the protest many Cup games this season, and his Alejandro Galvez in the area, ‘Chichar- final at Stuttgart by hurling dozens with Dortmund’s blessing. 30th in all competitions, on 31 min- ito’ rifled home the resulting penalty in of yellow and red balls onto the pitch. Stuttgart said they had put prices utes as Stuttgart failed to cope with the 22nd minute. The lead lasted nine Dortmund fans took exception up for away fans after Dortmund had Dortmund’s pace. minutes as Bremen’s Argentinian cen- after Stuttgart raised ticket prices at done exactly the same thing for a With time running out, Aubam- tre-back Santiago Garcia put Werder the Mercedes Benz Arena for Tues- Bundesliga match between the clubs eyang broke clear and pulled Stuttgart level by hitting Leverkusen’s net to day night’s game as Borussia booked at Borussia’s Signal Iduna Stadium. goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak off his make it 1-1. their place in the last four with a 3-1 Ticket prices are an issue in Eng- line to allow Mkhitaryan a simple tap- Disaster struck for the hosts when win over their hosts. land’s Premier League after 10,000 in on 89 minutes. Wendell was shown a straight red After boycotting the first 20 rows fans walked out of Liverpool’s 2-2 Earlier, veteran Claudio Pizarro for hauling down Bartels, who was of the away section, Dortmund fans draw at home to Sunderland last Sat- helped seal Werder Bremen’s 3-1 through on goal, just before the break. then threw the brightly-coloured balls urday over the £77 ($112, 99 euros) it quarter-final win at ten-man Bayer The 37-year-old Pizarro, who onto the pitch midway through the will cost for the most expensive match Leverkusen by playing a key role in last weekend became the first for- first-half which Borussia players, led ticket at Anfield next season. their shock victory. eign player to make 400 Bundesliga by captain Mats Hummels, had to pick Prices remain reasonable in Ger- Mexico’s Javier Hernandez put appearances, hit his eighth goal of the up as the game was briefly halted. many’s top flight where tickets range Leverkusen ahead, then Bremen’s season. Pizarro then played a big part “Football must be affordable!” from 16.70 to 78.20 euros for a home Argentinian centre-back Santiago in Bremen’s third as his shot was saved read one banner in the away section Bundesliga match at Borussia Dort- Garcia levelled before Brazilian by Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, as the cheapest ticket for Tuesday’s mund, while Bayern Munich charge defender Wendell was sent off for but Florian Grillitsch tapped home the match was 38.50 euros, plus booking from 15 up to 70 euros for home Bayer just before the half-time break. rebound on 82 minutes. fee, while the most expensive were league games. Zamalek sack coach ‘No truth’ in Chelsea rumours for Juve’s Allegri after Al Ahly loss AFP Reports in England yesterday claimed Chel- AFP football director Hazem sea owner Roman Abramovich had ruled Diego Emam and appointed Simeone out of contention for the job because Mohamed Salah as MILAN: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri he does not like the Atletico Madrid coach’s CAIRO: Egyptian giants interim coach. has again distanced himself from the Chel- playing style. Although former Juventus coach Zamalek have sacked Mido, who had also sea manager’s job amid claims he will replace Antonio Conte has also been linked to the club, their coach Ahmed Hos- played with Tottenham interim boss Guus Hiddink at the end of the the spotlight is firmly on Allegri due to his suc- West Ham United’s Angelo Ogbonna sam, known as Mido, after Hotspur, was Zamalek’s season. cess with the club last season. losing 2-0 to arch-rivals star striker before retir- Allegri, who steered the Turin giants to the But ahead of Juve’s top-of-the-table clash wins a header during their English FA Al Ahly in the Cairo derby. ing in 2013. Champions League final last year, has a con- against Napoli on Saturday, he said: “There’s Cup fourth round replay football match The club, which suf- The club appointed tract until June 2017 but is reported to be the no truth in it. I can’t deny or confirm some- against Liverpool at The Boleyn Ground fered the defeat on him as coach in January Blues’ number one choice to replace former thing that doesn’t exist. in Upton Park, east London, on Tuesday. Tuesday, also sacked 2014. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. “Once and for all, let’s end this discussion.” 32 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT

Pakistan drop Shehzad for Asia Cup, World T20

made from the last tour. She- selectors believe that team will with the bat as well. hzad’s unbeaten 111 against do well in both tournaments.” Also returned to the squad Manzoor, Raees Bangladesh at the last World Shehzad’s place goes to is lanky paceman Mohammad and Amir among T20 saw him finish the tourna- 29-year-old Khurram Man- Irfan, rested for the Twenty20 ment with an average of 46.00, zoor who had played 16 Tests series in New Zealand, mak- those who made albeit while only adding 27 and seven one-day internation- ing a four-pronged pace attack it to the final 15 as more runs in Pakistan’s other als for Pakistan but has never with all left-handers, with the three games. featured in a Twenty20 game. sole right arm bowler coming selectors opt for Also out are Sohaib Maq- He scored 309 runs in Paki- in the shape of medium pacer a blend of youth sood, paceman Umar Gul stan’s Twenty20 tournament Anwar Ali. and experience and wicket-keeper batsman with a strike rate of 133 which The national selectors had- Mohammad Rizwan as chief earned him the place. delayed announcement of the selector Haroon Rasheed said Rasheed said it was not as Pakistan squad for the Asia the squad was selected after if Shehzad hasn’t been given a T20 and World T20 after some considering the conditions in chance to show his worth. sterling performances in the Agencies Asia Cup hosts Bangladesh “We gave Shahezad con- Pakistan Super League in Dubai. and India, where the World sistent chances. His confidence The Asia Cup will be played Twenty20 will be staged. level is down after a run of poor from February 24-March 6 fol- “While picking the squad, form, which happens to play- lowed by the World Twenty20 KARACHI : Pakistan have made the team management and ers, so why not give a chance from March 8 to April 3. four changes to their squad skipper were consulted by the to someone else who is in good for this month’s Asia Cup fol- selectors, and all concerned nick?” said Rasheed. The 24-year-old lowed by the World Twenty20 gave their consent in this Left-arm paceman Rum- Pakistan Squad: Ahmed Shehzad including the axing of struggling regard,” Rasheed said. man Raees and left-arm failed to make it opener Ahmed Shehzad after a “The T20 team has been spinning allrounder Mohammad Shahid Afridi (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, to the final squad. poor run of form. selected keeping in mind the Nawaz were also rewarded for Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, The 24-year-old Shehzad conditions and the recent per- their showings at domestic level. Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, managed just 33 runs in Paki- formances of some players in The 21-year old Nawaz has Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, stan’s 2-1 Twenty20 series loss domestic and A team tours. taken eight wickets in four Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, in New Zealand last month and The team is a fine blend of Pakistan Super League matches is one of four changes selectors experience and youth and the in Dubai and showed good form Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees

Dawson in as Broad, KP and Woakes miss out Pakistan cricketers

AFP waiting for

LONDON: Uncapped Hampshire government go-ahead all-rounder Liam Dawson has been called up by England for the World Twenty20 tournament that starts in Reuters in Bangladesh because of concerns India next month. over the safety and security of their Seamers Stuart Broad and Chris squad after postponing a test tour Woakes both miss out on selection for of the country in October for sim- the 15-man squad, but Steven Finn is LAHORE: Pakistan are open to play- ilar reasons. included despite his recent struggles ing next month’s World Twenty20 “We didn’t say or propose with injury. matches at a neutral venue if the playing the World T20 matches at As expected England overlooked government does not clear their neutral venue but someone at the Kevin Pietersen, despite his excellent tour of India over security concerns, ICC meeting said that if there are recent form in South Africa’s Ram Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chair- concerns over any extremist activity Slam competition and Australia’s Big man Shaharyar Khan has said. (at Pakistan matches) then neutral Bash League. Pakistan’s participation in venues will be looked into,” Khan The Super 10 stage of the tourna- the March 8-April 3 tournament said. ment starts on March 15, with England across the border depends on gov- “Since it’s an ICC event and not playing their Group One opener the ernment clearance as there are a bilateral series we have to play it following day against the West Indies. specific threats and it has already but if the decision (by the govern- Kevin Pietersen Stuart Broad Chris Woakes Also in their group are Sri Lanka, been communicated to the Interna- ment) is negative then maybe the South Africa and one qualifier from tional Cricket Council (ICC), Khan ICC could say that our matches be Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Scotland and practices and saw him in the nets. only major global trophy in the 2010 series in South Africa, but he is yet to told reporters in Lahore. held in neutral venues in Sri Lanka Hong Kong. “From a bowling point of view, he World Twenty20. play a match in that series and will “We have told the ICC the deci- or United Arab Emirates, and we Left-arm spinner Dawson, 25, has gets a bit on the ball, and he looks as But Bayliss was quick to reiterate not return to the international ver- sion is with the government and it’s will be ready for that.” scored seven first-class centuries, but though he’s got something about him that a return for Pietersen is just not sion of the shortest form of the game not just us who have to decide,” Khan The ICC and the Indian cricket it was his good form with the ball on personality-wise. going to happen. next month. said on Tuesday. board (BCCI) could not be immedi- the England Lions tour of the UAE that “He can bat as well, and he’s a “He wasn’t even discussed in the Sri Lankan batting legend Mahela “We need to understand that ately reached for comment. has seen him picked. good fielder apparently.” selection meeting,” he said. Jayawardene and former England there are specific Pakistan-ori- Pakistan have hosted all their England coach Trevor Bayliss Australian Bayliss said that he Chris Woakes has been a regu- Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood ented security threats and we are international matches in the United admitted that he does not know too was considering keeping Finn on lar in recent sides for all formats of will take up coaching roles. concerned, hence (we) involved the Arab Emirates since a bus carrying much about the latest member of his the current tour of South Africa, but the game, but the bowling all-rounder Full England squad for World government.” the Sri Lanka team was attacked by squad. decided to give him time to rest ahead misses out as England look to a three- Twenty20: Majority-Muslim Pakistan and gunmen in Lahore in 2009. “I haven’t actually seen him play a of the tournamant in India. man spin attack of Dawson, Moeen Eoin Morgan (capt), Alex Hales, India, who have a Hindu majority, Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar was game. He came to a practice when we Pietersen, who is currently in Ali and Adil Rashid to lead the way Jason Roy, Joe Root, James Vince, have fought three wars since becom- withdrawn from a series between were out in the UAE, and he was there Dubai playing for the Quetta Glad- on the sub-continent. Jos Buttler, Sam Billings, Ben Stokes, ing two separate countries in 1947 India and South Africa in October with the Lions,” Bayliss said. iators in the inaugural Pakistan Former Twenty20 captain Broad Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, David Wil- after independence from Britain. after protesters stormed the BCCI But the Australian added: “I went Super League, was named player of was recently recalled to the one-day ley, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Reece Last month, Australia pulled headquarters in Mumbai, demand- to one or two of their (England Lions) the series when England won their international squad for the ongoing Topley, Steven Finn out from the under-19 World Cup ing his removal.

What are the credentials required to play in IPL?

IANS Dominated by the IPL rejects of it all, the teams will have to get at Rs.2 crore and Rs.1 crore, do not get not one but two teams to challenge like Ricky Ponting for Mumbai Indi- - Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siri- the right blend of Indian and over- sold whereas the ones pricing mod- the IPL teams. George Bailey, Mar- ans, Jacques Kallis for Kolkata Knight wardana, Dishamantha Chameera seas players. estly at less than 10 lakh, become tin Guptill, Usman Khawaja, Hashim Riders and Stephen Fleming for CSK. and Sanchitha Senanayake - the If the route to getting into the millionaires overnight! Amla, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mike Bailey, who had taken the Kings XI NEW DELHI: The defeat on Tues- islanders nearly bowled the Indians India side is via the IPL, an India cap To pick the best from a bunch of Hussey, Adam Voges, Brad Haddin, Punjab to the final two years ago was day in the Twenty20 International out for less than a hundred before can also make one a millionaire as it 351 players going under the hammer Darren Sammy, Lahiru Thirimanne, dumped after the team’s poor show- against Sri Lanka brought the Indian coasting to a five-wicket victory. has happened with Pawan Negi. Negi is clearly a jugglery for the franchises Cameron White, Marlon Samuels, ing last year. players down to earth after the auc- The Sri Lankans can raise the is seen as skipper Mahendra Singh to get the best buy for the money at Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, A big shock was Aaron Finch, an tion euphoria of the Indian Premier inevitable question, what credentials Dhoni’s choice for the Asia Cup and their disposal. Imagine only 94 could Nuwan Kulasekara, Manvinder Bisla, acknowledged T20 specialist, scrap- League (IPL) barely two days before are required to get into an IPL team? the World Twenty20. That’s the break be accommodated by the eight fran- Grant Elliot, to name the more pop- ing through as a last-minute after the game. Is a good domestic season he badly needed and a couple of days chises. Things should improve for ular and acknowledged Twenty20 thought buy. As the debate rages over None of the new-found IPL mil- enough to get the IPL ticket? Or, is later he became the highest paid players once Chennai Super Kings gypsies, might have expected to be the veracity of some of the players lionaires was playing at Pune, though the auction windfall truly a lottery? Indian at the auction, though Negi’s and Rajasthan Royals return to the in the league. The only explanation getting such huge amounts, the argu- the highest-paid Indian, Pawan Negi, How does a promising overseas promise is unquestioned. fold to possibly make it a ten-team could be as overseas professionals, ment in their favour is a fair number was in the squad. Nor, for that mat- player get in? Yet, some IPL choices are incon- format after serving their two-year it would be difficult to accommo- of them got in on the strength of their ter, was half the Sri Lankan team The answer is a bit of luck is ceivable as they defy commonsense suspension for marring the spirit of date them in the playing eleven. But performances on the domestic cir- good enough for the franchises of the essential in getting into the mix of and cricketing logic. In an auction the sport. then someone like Hussey could be cuit. Franchise coaches/advisers highly popular Twenty20 pro league. a franchise think-tank. At the end where players pitch their base price The unsold players can easily field of immense value as coach or adviser short-listed them. SPORT THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 33 Windies board rejects call for new deal in World T20 row

West Indies without signing a contract This year’s squad include and if these players in particular choose not to sign, then I guess we’ll be left with dashing batsmen Gayle no option but to substitute other players and Pollard but pay cut for them.” Muirhead added that the board was issue likely to affect the not in a position to improve the remuner- team’s strength ation package, negotiated with the players association nine months ago. “They have had lots of time to digest Bangladesh women’s and argue and do everything,” he said. Reuters “Five of the players were instrumen- team skipper tal and were there at the onset, so at this Janahara Alam point, I’m hoping that the players will sign and take advantage of the other benefits KINGSTON: West Indies players will that are there.” be thrown off the squad for the World He said that players would receive half Twenty20 if they do not agree to financial of any shirt sponsorship the board nego- Bangladesh name squad terms by Sunday’s deadline, the head of tiates in addition to a portion of prize the region’s cricket board said on Tuesday. money. The hard-line stance comes in the Although West Indies cricket has fallen for ICC Women’s World T20 wake of reports that the 15-man squad, on hard times in the test format, it remains upset at a huge pay cut, has rejected the a major player in the shortest form of the contract offered by West Indies Cricket game. West Indies won the 2012 World Agencies Qualifier, losing to Ireland Women Board (WICB). Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and are currently by two wickets in a thrilling final. Cricinfo.com on Tuesday published a ranked second in the world. It will expect the spinners, led by letter from Darren Sammy to the WICB This year’s squad includes dashing DHAKA: Janahara Alam will lead Fahima Khatun, Khadija Tul Kubra in which the West Indies captain said the batsmen Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard. a 15-member Bangladesh Women and Rumana Ahmed, the allrounder, financial terms for the World Twenty20, Sammy, who requested an urgent squad at the ICC Women’s World T20 to repeat the feats of the qualifier as West Indies captain which starts in India on March 8, were meeting before Sunday’s deadline, has pro- 2016 in India in March-April. it challenges the top sides. unacceptable. posed the players participate in the World A report which appeared on Bangladesh Women is drawn Darren Sammy “We want to represent the West Indies Twenty20 under the same conditions as at ICC’s official website said that Sanj- in Group B, and begin its campaign in action during but the financials on offer we can’t accept,” previous tournaments. ida Islam, the 19-year-old right-hand against India on March 15 at the M a team’s practice Sammy wrote. He said players were facing a pay cut batter, is the only addition to the side Chinnaswamy stadium in Bang- session. The dashing WICB chief executive Michael Muir- of nearly 80 percent and stood to earn that qualified for the global tour- ladesh, before taking on England all-rounder says the head did not sound in a negotiating mood, only $21,000 apiece this year, compared nament through the ICC Women’s (March 17, Bangalore), West Indies financial terms for however, when he spoke on Jamaican to $135,000 at the last tournament. World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 in (March 20, Chennai) and Pakistan the World Twenty20, radio. The latest impasse between WICB and Bangkok in December. (March 24, Delhi) in the group stage. which starts in India “The WICB is committed to play in the the players comes some 18 months after The selectors also named on March 8, were tournament, let me say that first,” Muir- the premature end of West Indies’ tour of Rubaya Haider, Shamima Sultana, Squad: Jahanara Alam (captain), unacceptable. head said on Hitz 92fm. India because of a longstanding payment Suraiya Azmim Sonda, Nuzhat Tas- Ritu Moni, Ayasha Rahman, Sharmin “No one will leave the shores of the dispute. nia (Tumpa) and Tazia Akthar as the Akter Supta, Salma Khatun, Nigar stand-by players for the tournament. Sultana (wk), Farzana Haque, Khad- Led by Alam, Bangladesh ija Tul Kubra, Rumana Ahmed, Shaila warmed up for the Qualifier with Sharmin, Lata Mondal, Nahida Akter, a 2-0 series win over Zimbabwe. It Panna Ghosh, Sanjida Islam, Fahima Australia warn of a ‘nice fiery clash’ won four of its five matches in the Khatun. against New Zealand after ODI fallout Bangladesh take on

AFP ground to be caught by bowler Matt Windies in semis Henry and the batsman was given out. The loss of the wicket started an IANS Australian collapse that gave New UNDER-19 CRICKET WELLINGTON: Australia have warned Zealand the game by 55 runs and the WORLD CUP of a “fiery clash” in the first Test against series 2-1. New Zealand starting in Wellington Both sides struggled in the middle tomorrow as tensions continue to sim- order with their batting, but New Zea- MIRPUR: Bangladesh will face a stiff 2004, losing by 25 runs to Pakistan, mer over the bizarre ODI dismissal of land go into the Test with their tails up test when it clashes against a strong a team it stunned in the quarter-final Mitchell Marsh. after their overall success. West Indian side in the second semi- last Monday. A win for the hosts over Australian captain Steve Smith, “I think we just take a bit of confi- final of the Under-19 cricket World the West Indies will steer them into who was clearly annoyed at the way dence,” coach Mike Hesson said. Cup today. its maiden final where three-time Marsh was given out in the third one- “Knowing that if we’re able to put Riding on some superb per- champion India is waiting for the day international on Monday, has Australia under pressure from a bat- formance and support of home fans, title clash in Mirpur next Sunday. diplomatically said there was no last- ting point of view then that can create Bangladesh has delivered consist- The West Indies coach Graeme ing animosity. opportunities for us.” ently in familiar conditions to join West said his wards understood the But Australian quick John Hastings The Basin Reserve offers a typi- India as the only unbeaten teams in challenge ahead, but were keen to gave a blunt warning yesterday that cal New Zealand green wicket for the the 16-nation tournament. prove themselves in the biggest game relations remained strained between first Test, but David Warner expected Mehidy Hasan’s young boys have of their lives so far. the two sides and there would be fire- that would matter less than the swing already earned the distinction of “Clearly the challenges of play- works, and not just to celebrate New movement offered by the atmosphere becoming the first Bangladesh team ing in Bangladesh are different from Zealand captain Brendon McCullum’s to New Zealand strike bowlers Tim at any level to reach the semi-finals those in the Caribbean. We recog- 100th Test. Southee and Trent Boult. of a world event. nise the significance of the game. It will be “a nice fiery clash, I’m “The ball will swing for a lot longer Bangladesh earlier defeated Bangladesh has some of the finest sure there will be plenty on it,” Hast- than what it does in Australia,” Warner Nepal by six wickets after a tense under-19 players in the world. We ings said as the players took a look at said. match to storm into the semis, giv- realise we are not taking on just 11 the green Test wicket that offers venom “Looking at the wicket here it looks ing the nation its maiden appearance players, but an entire nation,” West for the quick bowlers. nice and green, but that’s irrelevant. I in the last four of a world event. said yesterday. “They (New Zealand) want to be don’t think the ball will do much off On the other hand, the West Bangladesh coach Mizanur the ‘big spirit of cricket’ in the ICC, the wicket. Indies team had endured a roller- Rahman insisted his team will not but when it comes down to it, with a “It will swing around a lot, and coaster ride over the past two weeks be affected by the expectations of big series on the line, you’re obviously obviously with two world-class swing to step closer to a shot at the title that home fans. going to take that one aren’t you?” bowlers in the attack it’s going to be has eluded it so far. “You take one game at a time. Marsh was given out after a vocif- a challenge for us guys at the top of Skipper Shimron Hetmyer and You do the processes right and be erous crowd reaction to replays on the the order.” Tevin Imlach hit half-centuries as the better side on the day and you big screen at the ground brought the Australia still have nightmares they shocked Pakistan by five wick- become successful. We do not want Adam Milne of New Zealand celebrates the wicket of Matthew Wade umpire’s attention to the caught and of the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge last ets to cruise into the semis. them to think about the pressure of bowled dismissal. year when they failed to cope with the of Australia during their third ODI match in Hamilton last Monday. The West Indies entered the final playing in front of a big crowd or The replays showed the ball had swing and were all out for 60 in their Despite losing the ODI series, Aussies have warned of a ‘nice fiery when the tournament was held for the fact it is a semi-final or a final,” rebounded off Marsh’s boot and not the first innings. clash’ against the Kiwis in the Test series which starts tomorrow. the only other time in Bangladesh in Mizanur said. Injured Steyn named in South Africa’s World Twenty20 squad

AFP a bone stress reaction likely to keep after showing good domestic form. South Africa will open their “We have had disappointments him out of action until shortly before Players new to the world event are World Twenty20 campaign against in the past and this year is another the tournament. fast bowlers Kyle Abbott and Kagiso England in Mumbai on March 18. Also great opportunity for us to lift that The South African squad includes Rabada, batsman Rilee Rossouw and in their group are defending cham- elusive ICC trophy. We have been JOHANNESBURG: South Africa yes- 10 of the players who helped them all-rounders Chris Morris and David pions Sri Lanka, the West Indies and playing together as a squad for some terday named fast bowler Dale Steyn reach the semi-finals of the 2014 Wiese. a qualifier. time now and are really hungry and (pictured) in their 15-man squad for World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. South Africa will use the same In their two most recent T20 motivated.” the World Twenty20 tournament A notable exclusion is fast bowler squad in two Twenty20 internationals series in Asia, South Africa beat Bang- which starts in India next month. Morne Morkel, although Morkel has against England on February 19 and 21 ladesh and India on their own home South Africa’s Squad: Steyn’s inclusion is subject to only played in one Twenty20 inter- as well as three matches against Aus- turf. In between, they shared a home Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, fitness as he has not played since national since then. tralia between March 4 and 9. series against New Zealand. Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de suffering a shoulder injury in the first There was no place, either, for In the most recent bulletin on South African captain Faf du Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Test against England in December. Morkel’s elder brother, Albie, 34, Steyn, Cricket South Africa targeted Plessis said: “The World T20 is the Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Ros- What was at first thought to be a who had been the subject of spec- the Australia series as the most likely competition that we have been work- souw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese. minor injury was later diagnosed as ulation that he might earn a recall return for him. ing towards over the last 18 months. 34 THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT Curry stars as Warriors down Houston Rockets

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Milan Lucic of the Los scores 35 points in Angeles Kings warms up resounding victory as before the game against Anthony’s heroics for the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday in NY Knicks go in vain Boston.

AFP NHL: Kings trounce Bruins

OAKLAND: Steph Curry turned on as Panthers outwit Sabres the style as the Golden State Warriors overcame a brave Houston Rockets fightback to triumph 123-110 and stretch their winning streak to 10 Agencies NHL RESULTS games on Tuesday. Reigning NBA Most Valuable Anaheim 4 Philadelphia 1 Player Curry scored 35 points in a NY Islanders 3 Columbus 2 pulsating battle in Oakland to take NEW YORK: Milan Lucic scored a Los Angeles 9 Boston 2 the Warriors’ record to 47-4 for the goal and an assist in his first return Florida 7 Buffalo 4 season. to Boston as the Los Angeles Kings Montreal 4 Tampa Bay 2 The highlight of Curry’s latest beat the Bruins 9-2 on Tuesday night masterclass was his role in a remark- at TD Garden. Winnipeg 2 St Louis 1 able passage of play in the third Lucic, who was traded June 26 Washington 5 Nashville 3 quarter, when he stripped the ball after nine seasons in Boston, picked Dallas 4 Minnesota 3 inside the Warriors paint and then up an assist during the Kings’ four- New Jersey 2 Edmonton 1 darted forward to launch an attack. goal second period and added one San Jose 2 Chicago 0 An incredible behind-the-back of his own early in the third to make pass found Andre Iguodala, who for a very happy return. Vancouver 3 Colorado 1 flipped to Leandro Barbosa to score. Jonathan Quick made 35 saves Calgary 4 Toronto 3 The Rockets had fought back after for the Kings, while Tuukka Rask and a disastrous first quarter which saw Jonas Gustavsson combined for 48 in the Warriors jump out to a 38-22 lead the Bruin net. games against the Flyers while Steve after only 11 minutes. Jeff Carter, Marian Gaborik, Mason, making his fifth start in eight Houston rallied however with Andy Andreoff, Drew Doughty, days, stopped 22 shots. James Harden (37 points) and led Stephen Curry (left) of the Golden State Warriors drives the ball against Ty Lawson of the Houston Rockets Dwight King, Trevor Lewis, Luke Chris Stewart and Andrew 74-69 early in the second half. Schenn and Dustin Brown also Cogliano also scored for the Ducks. at ORACLE Arena on Tuesday in Oakland, California. Curry’s 35-point night came scored for the Kings. Wayne Simmonds for the Flyers. despite 12-for-24 shooting for the Brad Marchand and Tyler Ran- Islanders 3, Blue Jackets 2 (SO) Warriors, who improved to 24-0 at dell scored for the Bruins. Cal Clutterbuck scored in the home this season with their 42nd quarter. “Our bench really carried us dump Fisher. “This was something Panthers 7, Sabres 4 fourth round of a shootout to lead consecutive victory at Oracle Arena. tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr NBA ROUND-UP that I don’t really know if it was a Reilly Smith had two goals and the New York Islanders over Colum- Curry made seven three-point- said. “The surge from the bench to quick decision or was lingering,” said an assist, and six Florida players bus in Nationwide Arena. ers along with nine assists. Warriors’ start the fourth quarter gave us the Anthony. scored in a victory over Buffalo. Jaroslav Halak finished with 29 Australian center Andrew Bogut separation we needed.” “I’m not going to try to figure that Brian Campbell, Jussi Jokinen, saves for the Islanders while John added 13 points while blocking six The Warriors now have the Chi- and John Wall made a series of clutch part out but everybody found out as Alex Petrovic, Brandon Pirri and Tavares and Anders Lee scored in shots. cago Bulls’ remarkable 72-win season shots down the stretch to seal the far as players around the same time Jaromir Jagr also scored for the Pan- regulation. The contest tipped decisively back in their sights, a record benchmark Wizards win. yesterday morning.” thers, while Roberto Luongo made Cam Atkinson and Brandon in the Warriors’ favor when unher- long seen as unbeatable. Beal amassed 26 points while Fisher was fired after the Knicks 30 saves. Dubinsky each scored and had alded forward Harrison Barnes rose Elsewhere, Carmelo Anthony Wall weighed in with 28 points, 15 of went on a protracted losing streak Sam Reinhart scored twice for assists for the Blue Jackets, while from the bench to score 10 points scored 31 points but it was not enough them coming in an important fourth- with nine losses in 10 games, includ- the Sabres and Evander Kane and rookie Joonas Korpisalo finished during a 17-5 run early in the fourth to prevent the New York Knicks from quarter cameo. ing Sunday’s defeat to the Denver Mike Weber also scored. Chad John- with 44 saves. sliding to defeat against the Washing- In-form rookie forward Kristaps Nuggets. son made 20 saves and allowed two Canadiens 4, Lightning 2 ton Wizards in their first match since Porzingis finished with 20 points for “It’s tough,” Anthony said. “When I goals after replacing Robin Lehner Tomas Plekanec scored twice to NBA RESULTS the dismissal of coach Derek Fisher. the Knicks, who abruptly axed Fisher wrap my brain around it and put eve- early in the second period. lift Montreal over Tampa Bay at the San Antonio 119 Miami 101 Anthony drained a three-pointer on Monday to replace him with assist- rything into perspective, it’s hard with Ducks 4, Flyers 1 Bell Centre. Washington 111 NY Knicks 108 with 67 seconds left to reduce Wash- ant Kurt Rambis. how many coaches I’ve been through, Rickard Rakell scored two first- Brendan Gallagher and Devante Milwaukee 112 Boston 111 ington’s lead to 106-101 but the Anthony said shortly before how many players, how many differ- period goals and Anaheim jumped Smith-Pelly also scored for the Utah 121 Dallas 119 Wizards held on for a 111-108 victory tipoff that the Knicks locker room ent team-mates. “You just try to find on Philadelphia. Canadiens, who won three in a row at Madison Square Garden. had been taken by surprise by team some kind of consistency. The busi- Frederik Andersen made 28 for the first time since November 22 Golden State 123 Houston 110 Washington guards Bradley Beal president Phil Jackson’s decision to ness of basketball is a tough business.” saves for his fourth win in as many to 27. Denver streets run orange to welcome champions Broncos

Reuters

DENVER: Hundreds of thousands of cheering, orange-clad Denver Broncos fans lined the city’s streets on Tuesday for a parade and rally to welcome home the team after their upset victory in Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. A roar from the sun-splashed crowd went up around noon when the first fire truck, carrying Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Von Miller and quarterback Peyton Manning, kicked off the parade through down- town Denver. Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning holds the Vince Lombardi The Broncos captured their third NFL championship on Sunday with trophy after the NFL’s Super Bowl 50 against Carolina Panthers in a stunning 24-10 victory over the Santa Clara, California, USA, on Sunday. favored Panthers behind a stifling defense, led by linebacker Miller, who stymied Carolina’s vaunted from the festivities as he battles years of existence. The sentimental high-powered offense Alzheimer’s disease. A city spokes- crowd favourite was Manning, who Molly Nichols, an 11-year-old woman said officials could not at age 39 became the oldest quarter- fifth-grader from the Denver suburb provide an estimate of the crowd size, back to win a Super Bowl and who of Parker, secured a front-row spot but planned for a throng of “hundreds many observers believe will retire on along the parade route with her par- of thousands.” She noted that the top of the football world. ents and aunt after getting an excused number could swell to nearly 1 mil- Addressing the crowd at the end absence from school. lion, well over the city’s population of the parade, Manning credited his “My favourite player is Von Miller, of almost 664,000, as fans poured in teammates for allowing him to garner so it was really great to see him,” she from the suburbs. his second championship, the only said. Denver has had a love affair with quarterback to win that honor with Also at the head of the parade the Broncos since their inception in two different franchises. “We’ve got Denver Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (centre) lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy in front of his team- was Annabel Bowlen, wife of team 1960, even though the team failed to a great culture in our locker room,” mates during the Super Bowl 50 championship parade celebration at Civic Center Park, Denver on Tuesday. owner Pat Bowlen, who was absent post a winning season in its first 13 he said. SPORT THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 35 Camels clinch Beach Touch Rugby title

BEACH TOUCH RUGBY The giants edge out CHALLENGE AT KATARA Al Khor 3-2 in extra time in pulsating challenge attracted 160 players from final to win 16-team 16 teams including squads from competition the current national Sevens Rugby championship such as Camels 1 & 2, Al Khor, CNAQ and the Blue Fal- cons. The competition also appealed to corporate and business squads like Woqod, the Katara Eagles and the The Peninsula Doha Chiefs. All year round touch rugby squads such as the Hurricanes, the Storm, Doha Greens and the Wu Touch Clan DOHA: With strong winds and var- returned for their second year while ying temperatures the challenge was new entrants from schools such as very testing for all 16 teams but it was Sherborne and Dukhan could not the Camels national team who added resist the temptation of playing in another trophy to their collection the biggest Touch Rugby challenge by winning the ‘NSD - Beach Touch and against the National Rugby team. Rugby Challenge’ on Tuesday evening The competition presented by QRF in front of hundreds of screaming was a huge success according to Al fans after downing the youthful and Kuwari, who spoke to the media after energetic Al Khor 3-2 in extra time the match. at Katara. He said: “QRF officials and organ- Both teams went into the Cup final isers did an outstanding job promoting undefeated, tired and sore from their and presenting the competition. We previous six gruelling matches on the played 300 minutes of Beach Touch sand. Rugby, that’s 5 hours of non-stop The Camels lead by the Fijian rugby action. We entered 12 teams connection were first to score but initially and 16 turned up to play so enjoyment was short lived when Al we altered our schedule. We couldn’t Khor’s youthful determination saw reject anyone wanting to play sport them reply immediately afterwards. on NSD.” Both teams desperately tried to outwit “As for the crowds it peaked at Pictures show action during the Beach Touch Rugby final between Camels and Al Khor at Katara on Tuesday. Camels won 3-2. and manoeuvre each other however, 1000 just before 3pm. This included half time beat them leaving the scores spectators, families and friends all deadlocked 1-1. who seemed to enjoy the Katara The second half was played at beach atmosphere and wanting to organising and presenting this won- a furious pace and again it was the watch the last finals,” he added. derful spectacle.” Camels who drew first blood tak- Al Kuwari later praised Katara “I would like to commend them ing the lead 2-.1 With time running and the CEO Dr. Khalid Al Sulaiti say- for their strenuous efforts in hosting out for the bay boys of Al Khor they ing: “The ongoing strong support and the Sevens and Beach Rugby tourna- drove rapid settles at the Camels to endorsement by Dr Khalid Al Sulaiti ments. Al Kuwari and me. Al Malki be finally rewarded with a diving try should not be overlooked, he and his are leading by example and steering to level the score 2-2 just before full committee have done a tremendous the Federation in a positive direction. time. job in organising all the activities and Congratulation to them both,” added The scene was set for a thriller in affording us the space and logistics to the official. extra time as the young boys took it hold such a successful event”. Hans Thomaz coach of the Hurri- to the Fijian internationals. QRF General Secretary Ali Al canes and Storm said: “I would like to They threw everything at the Malki, said, “What a fantastic day on congratulate the QRF for their efforts Camels who in one motion turned the beach. Thanks to all our partners and dedication to establish and pro- defense into attack scoring a Golden especially to Katara and WOQOD who mote the sport of Rugby in Qatar.” try ending Al Khor’s dream run. The played empathic supporting roles to The plate finals saw the Hurri- win to the Camels leaves them unde- make today happen. QRF is proud to canes post an early try against the feated on Qatar soil in any rugby be part of the NSD celebration and last year’s finalist the Wu Touch Clan competition. The 3-2 victory also hopes to make Beach Touch Rugby an who was disadvantaged by injuries makes the Camels - Qatar’s Beach annual event on our sports calendar”. and team shortages. Despite the Touch Rugby Champions for 2016. With schools entering the com- adversaries WTC fought gallantly and Earlier in the day, a very sporty petition for the first time and others retaliated with a try out wide for an looking QRF President Yousef Al wanting a crack at the Fijian con- equaliser before full time. Kuwari opened up proceedings wel- nection Al Malki said: “It was very In extra time seconds before the coming all teams and their huge exciting to watch the other teams and drop off rule, the Hurricanes man- supporter base. school kids wanting to challenge our aged to slip through some tired “I wish to thank you all for your Camels National team. Credit goes to defence scoring a golden try and seal- attendance and willing to participate the Sherborne and Dukhan schools for ing a much anticipated 2-1 victory. in our first National Sport Day’s beach their great feats today. As for Al Khor In the lower bowls finals fixture touch event. Sport in particular rugby their young ones are full of energy and the Storm rained three consecutive fosters courage, health, fitness, team skill. I think they can run all day.” tries against the Chiefs to take the title building and togetherness,” he said. Lions Rugby Club president they lost last year. Final score Storm The Woqod sponsored beach Nimo Amit said: “We thank QRF for 3 Chiefs 0.

Paris 2024 logo lights up Arc de Triomphe Wallabies flanker Liam Gill to head for France next year

Agencies to study. However, Gill’s departure has also fuelled media speculation that Pocock could head north to shore up the Reds pack along with Walla- MELBOURNE: Wallabies openside bies captain Stephen Moore, who has flanker Liam Gill (pictured) is head- already announced he is Brisbane- ing overseas to play in France at the bound in 2017. end of the Super Rugby season in a The Brumbies, who were furi- blow for the ailing Queensland Reds ous at losing hooker Moore, said on and Australian rugby. Wednesday that contract negotia- The highly-rated 23-year-old has tions with Pocock were far from over. been linked with a move Top 14 side “It creates all sorts of problems if Toulon, having been shut out of Aus- Poey takes a break,” Brumbies chief tralia’s back row for the last two years executive Michael Jones told News by David Pocock, Michael Hooper Daniel Herbert said in a statement. Ltd media of the proposed sabbatical. and latterly Sean O’Brien. “Whilst we are disappointed to “My preferred solution, and our A shining light for the Reds last see him go, there are limitations to offer to him, doesn’t allow a break.” year in an otherwise gloomy sea- what we are currently able to do if Meanwhile, Toulon’s US inter- son, Gill would join Wallabies Quade players garner overseas interest and national forward Samu Manoa is to Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell aren’t in the top band of Wallabies.” undergo an operation on his injured and James O’Connor at the French Overseas-based players with left knee and will be out for around side owned by comic book tycoon fewer than 60 test caps are not three months, coach Bernard Laporte Mourad Boudjellal. allowed to play test rugby under said yesterday. With Gill, who was capped 15 Australian Rugby Union (ARU) rules The news is a blow for the Top 14 times for the Wallabies from 2012- aimed at retaining local talent. giants, coming just a day after Irish The Arc de Triomphe displays the 2024 Paris Olympics logo in Paris, on Tuesday. Paris is applying 13, missing out on a national contract Gill’s move would therefore lock Paul O’Connell announced his to host the Summer Olympic Games of 2024 against Rome, Budapest and Los Angeles. A multi- and the salary top-up afforded to make him ineligible to play for the retirement from all rugby through coloured image of the Eiffel Tower with the words ‘Paris, Candidate city, Olympic Games 2024’ was Wallabies players, the Reds admit- Wallabies from 2017, at a time when injury without ever having donned screened onto the Arc at the top of the Champs-Elysees, and simultaneously on the town hall in ted they were unable to compete at Pocock might also be unavailable for a Toulon shirt. Marseille. The logo’s unveiling marked the start of the French capital’s campaign to lure the Games the negotiating table. selection. Manoa, who arrived in Toulon to Paris, which faces competition from Budapest, Los Angeles and Rome, with a decision to be “He has international aspirations Pocock, whose contract with from Northampton in the summer, made on September 13, 2017 in Lima. Paris, which lost out to London for the 2012 Olympics, has but plays in a position in which Aus- Canberra-based Super Rugby side injured his knee in the 29-21 friendly staged the sporting spectacular twice before in 1900 and 1924. tralia have significant depth and he ACT Brumbies expires at the end of defeat by the Sharks on Friday, hav- felt he would have limited Wallaby the season, has expressed an inter- ing previously sustained an injury in opportunities,” General Manager est in taking a year-long sabbatical December. THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2016 36

Our photographer Salim Matramkot captures individual action during stage 3 of the Tour of Qatar yesterday. Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen of Dimension Data reigned supreme in the 11km time trial to the grab golden jersey from team-mate Mark Cavendish. The Briton will attempt to regain his leadership when the race resumes with the fourth and penultimate stage between Al Zubarah and Madinat Al Shamal today. Boasson Hagen grabs golden jersey

STAGE 3 RESULTS Norwegian star wins 1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Dimen- stage 3 of the cycling sion Data, 0:13:26 2 Jos Van Emden (Ned), Team LottoNl- spectacle, Britain’s Jumbo, 0:00:25 Mark Cavendish to 3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita), BMC Racing Team, 0:00:29 relaunch quest for 4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), BMC Racing top spot today Team, 0:00:32 5 Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz), Astana Pro Team, 0:00:40 6 Lieuwe Westra (Ned), Astana Pro Team, By Rizwan Rehmat 0:00:43 The Peninsula 7 Mark Cavendish (GBr), Dimension Data, 0:00:44 8 Jordan Kerby (Aus), Drapac Profes- sional Cycling 9 Søren Kragh Andersen (Den), Team DOHA: Norwegian cycling legend Giant-Alpecin, 0:00:45 Edvald Boasson Hagen yesterday 10 Daniel Oss (Ita), BMC Racing Team, produced a convincing ride to win 0:00:47 the time trial on what was day three General Classification after stage 3 at the Tour of Qatar. The Dimension Data rider clocked 1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Dimen- sion Data, 6:53:35 a time of 13 minutes 26.98 seconds to win the 11km time trial and take the 2 Mark Cavendish (GBr), Dimension Data, 0:00:26 leader’s golden jersey. Dutch rider Jos Van Emden (Team 3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita), BMC Racing LottoNl-Jumbo) emerged as the sec- Team, 0:00:32 ond fastest yesterday, finishing 25 4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), BMC Racing seconds behind Boasson Hagen. Team, 0:00:34 Italy’s Manuel Quinziato (BMC 5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Team Katu- Racing Team) finished 29 seconds sha, 0:00:45 behind the day’s leader while Bel- 6 Søren Kragh Andersen (Den), Team gium’s Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Giant-Alpecin, 0:00:48 Racing Team) was 32 seconds slower 7 Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor), Team Katu- than the Norwegian. sha, 0:01:02 Kazakhstan rider Dmitriy The Dimension Data rider Mark Cavendish (second left), his team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen (centre) and Soren Kragh Andersen of eamT Giant- 8 Sam Bennett (Irl), Bora-Argon 18, 0:01:07 Gruzdev (Astana Pro Team, 40 sec- Alpecin pose on the podium after stage 3 of Tour of Qatar in Doha yesterday. Pics: Salim M/The Peninsula onds behind) completed the list of the 9 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus), Team Katu- top five fastest riders. sha, 0:01:10 Overnight leader and 2013 cham- 10 Michael Schär (Swi), BMC Racing Team, pion, Mark Cavendish was seventh fastest (44 seconds behind) on what The Dutchman’s time remained and returned to those of Soren Kragh 0:01:15 was another windy day in Doha. TOUR OF QATAR: STAGE 3 safe for 45 minutes before compatriot Andersen. Points Classification ROUND-UP By virtue of his dominant per- Jos van Emden flew to the line in an Cavendish said he was looking 1 Mark Cavendish (GBr), Dimension Data, formance, Boasson Hagen now leads impressive time of 13’51’’. forward to the next two days. 36 pts the general classification (GC) with an But the man of the day would be “I have done well in the time trial. 2 Edvald Boasson Hagen, (Nor) Dimen- overall time of 6 hours 53 minutes and “He’s a good team-mate,” Boas- Boasson Hagen. Normally in another race I’d use it as sion Data, 29 35 seconds. son Hagen said of the Briton. The Norwegian first set the fastest a rest day but obviously I had to do 3 Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Team Katu- Boasson Hagen’s Dimnesion Data “He also great in lead-outs. He has time at the intermediate time-check since I had the golden jersey,” Cav- sha, 27 team-mate Cavendish is 26 seconds a lot of experience and is good with in 6’16’’ before crossing the line in endish said. 4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), BMC Rac- behind in GC. the younger guys. an astonishing 13’26’’, winning the “I wanted to go hard and create ing Team, 19 Quinziato (BMC Racing Team) is in “I think it is really good to have stage at an average speed of 50.918 confidence. I wanted to test myself. 5 Sacha Modolo (Ita), Lampre - Merida, 17 third place, 32 seconds adrift of Boas- him in the team. It is no less pressure km/h, with a comfortable 25’’ advan- I am pretty happy with my perform- 6 Manuel Quinziato (Ita), BMC Racing son Hagen. (to have Cavendish in the team) but it tage over Van Emden and 29’’ over ance. It is superb for team Dimension Team, 12 Van Avermaet is 34 seconds is an opportunity to do well together. Quinziato. On the exact same cir- Data,” Cavendish, 30, said. “We want 7 Jos Van Emden (Ned), Team LottoNl- slower than Boasson Hage while stage “My goals are the spring classics. cuit as last year, the Dimension Data to build a strong team. It is superb Jumbo, 12 two winner Alexander Kristoff (Team Pretty much all the races I will com- rider thrashed the previous record set for this team. I feel super happy,” the 8 Andrea Guardini (Ita), Astana Pro Team, 9 Katusha) is in fifth spot (45 seconds). pete in,” Boasson Hagen said when by Niki Terpstra (14’03’’) and estab- Briton said. 9 Roy Jans (Bel), Wanty - Groupe Gobert, 9 “Yes, it was nice to win this stage,” asked about his targets in 2016. lished a time that was 59’’ faster than Kristoff, who began the day in Boasson Hagen said after getting the After two normal stages and his personal best of 2015 when he fin- second overall after his dramatic 10 Sam Bennett, (Irl) Bora-Argon 18, 7 golden jersey. intense battles between the top guns ished 8th. photo-finish dash during stage 2 on Teams Classification “I have been feeling good this of the Tour of Qatar, day 3 of the Starting his timed effort with a Tuesday, seemed disappointed. 1 BMC Racing Team, 20:42:42 week,” he said. event offered a far different menu slim 5’’ lead over Kristoff in the GC, The Norwegian is 45 seconds 2 Team Katusha, 0:01:00 “We will try to stay in the front to the 133 remaining riders: a windy Cavendish had to bid farewell to his behind Boasson Hagen. 3 Bora-Argon 18, 0:01:36 now,” he added. 11.4-km individual time-trial set golden jersey, despite a very decent “I thought I would do better today, 4 Dimension Data, 0:01:59 “I was suffering because of the between the Losail MotoGP Circuit 7th fastest time, just 44’’ adrift. at least, as I did it last year but maybe 5 Astana Pro Team, 0:03:52 wind but then that was the case for and the spectacular arena that wel- Cavendish, however, maintained I just missed some power,” said the 6 Fortuneo - Vital Concept, 0:05:42 every rider,” Boasson Hagen said. comed last year’s Handball World command of the points classification Norwegian rider. 7 Team LottoNl-Jumbo, 0:05:50 “That happens when you try to go Championships. and will therefore be wearing the sil- “I was not bad at all today, but I fast,” he said. After best times set by Jesse Ser- ver jersey in today’s 4th stage between wanted more. It wasn’t my best day, 8 Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise, 0:07:50 A rider begins his time trial Boasson Hagen praised the role gent, and Jordan Kerby, experienced Al Zubarah and Madinat Al Shamal. but it happens. Anyway, I am looking 9 UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling campaign during stage 3 played by Cavendish in the Dimen- Lieuwe Westra hit hard, clocking a The white pearl jersey for the forward to next stages, still everything Team, 0:07:56 yesterday. sion Data camp. reference time of 14’09’’. best young rider switched shoulders can happen in this race,” he said. 10 Wanty - Groupe Gobert, 0:08:00