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PrivatePr sector can Confident Qatartar playpl major role in eye quarter-finalsfinals foodfo programme berth

MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 • 8 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6679 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Emir arrives in Moscow New law allows Online ticket non-Qataris to be founders of sales surged sports clubs

By Mobin Pandit and last year Mohammed Osman The Peninsula

“Q-tickets aims to provide a sin- 100,000 tickets gle online space for people of Qatar DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim to discover and purchase tickets to bin Hamad Al Thani issued Law per month were movies, cultural and sports events. No 1 of 2016 yesterday. purchased online With that vision in mind we started It gives the Cabinet the authority with online booking of movie tickets.” to induct non-Qataris as founders for entertainment “Using the website movie lovers of sports clubs with citizens on the events in 2015 can now book movie tickets online suggestion of the Minister of Youth for City Center, Villaggio, The Mall, and Sport. It also allows merger of Landmark, Royal Plaza and Westend existing sports clubs. Park and tickets for upcoming events, The law makes it mandatory for By Sachin Kumar concerts and night life,” he added. a sports club to be licensed to have The Peninsula Compared to other coun- at least 20 founder-members and tries, Qatar’s e-commerce sector all of them must be Qataris above is in infancy and has huge growth 18, with no criminal record. potential. E-commerce market in However, in public interest, the DOHA: Online ticketing in Qatar Qatar, currently pegged at $1bn, is above conditions can be waived by got a boost last year with surge in likely to double in the next five years. the Cabinet on the advice of the demand for online bookings. Peo- “There are tremendous opportu- Minister and non-Qataris can be ple in the country booked close to nities in e-commerce sector in Qatar. inducted as founder-member of a 100,000 tickets per month for enter- People in Qatar have so far focused sports club being established. tainment-related events in 2015. The on traditional business such as real Legal entities (including pri- tickets booked were mainly for mov- estate, banking, telecom and oil and vate firms) can establish sports ies, other entertainment events, and gas,” said Dr Singh. clubs if they fulfil the terms and sports. “If you look at the consumer side, conditions as laid out in this law if Online booking of tickets saves there is not much technology avail- special approval is provided by the time and efforts of viewers which is able to people. People still have to Minister in consultation with the encouraging people to go online to call or go physically to avail many Prime Minister. Such entities can book tickets. Increased use of smart services. So there is a lot of space of individually, or jointly with others, phones and tablet computers has also aggregators,” said Singh. also acquire existing sports clubs boosted online buying. According to the Ministry of with approval, says the law, reports Currently, there are three major Information and Communications QNA. The law has taken immediate players in Qatar’s online ticket book- Technology (ictQatar), this market is effect and will be published in the ing for entertainment-related events. expected to grow at Compound Annual official gazette. It has 59 articles in Q-tickets is the market leader in Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17 percent over eight chapters. If there are enough Qatar’s online ticket booking mar- the next five years. number of clubs for a sporting activ- ket commanding a market share of E-commerce refers to the use of ity or activities, then permission to around 80 percent. Virgin Tickets is Internet to conduct business trans- open a new club will not be given. A another player in Qatar that provides actions between individuals and club’s premises should be suitable tickets for events and not for mov- organisations. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Moscow last evening on an official visit. The for a sporting activity for which it is ies while Novo Cinemas has a portal Sale of airline tickets and con- Emir and his delegation were welcomed at the Vnukovo International Airport by Deputy Minister being licensed or it wouldn’t qual- for its tickets. sumer electronics occupy around of Foreign Affairs and the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and North ify for licensing. If licensed, such “We are doing about 100,000 tick- 40 percent share in Qatar’s e-com- Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, senior Russian officials, Qatar’s Ambassador to Russia, Saud bin Abdullah a club will lose its licence. Clubs ets per month. In the last two years, merce market. Air travel market has Al Mahmoud, and Russia’s Ambassador to Qatar, Noor Mohammad Julov. for sporting activities that are not we have sold over 1.5 million tick- 22 percent share while consumer elec- → See also page 2 needed will not be licensed. ets in Qatar,” said Dr Tejinder Singh, tronics has 18 percent share in Qatar’s Founder of Q-Tickets.com. e-commerce market. → Continued on page 6

US, Iran hail deal implementation IS militants kidnap more than 400 civilians in Syria

TEHRAN: US and Iranian presidents AFP The shock attack comes despite The dead included 85 civilians and Rahman said. He said they had been with regime forces backed by Rus- yesterday hailed the implementation a Russian air campaign targeting the 50 regime fighters, according to the taken to areas under IS control in the sian air strikes trying to recapture of Tehran’s nuclear deal as historic, group that began in September, and monitor, which said yesterday that IS west of Deir Ezzor province and to lost ground. even as new US sanctions threat- more than a year of strikes by a US-led had also kidnapped more than 400 the border with Raqqa province — Syria’s state news agency SANA said ened fresh tensions. BEIRUT: Jihadists from the Islamic coalition against the jihadists in Syria. civilians from captured territory. the main IS stronghold in Syria — to at least 300 civilians, “most of them → See also page 8 State group have abducted more than The Britain-based Syrian Observ- “Those abducted, all of whom are the northwest. women, children and elderly people,” 400 Syrian civilians after capturing atory for Human Rights said IS had Sunnis, include women, children and The monitor said at least 42 IS fight- had been killed in the assault. new ground in a major assault on the killed at least 135 people in the multi- family members of pro-regime fight- ers had been killed in the attack, adding It denounced the deaths as a city of Deir Ezzor that left dozens dead. front attack that began on Saturday. ers,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel that fighting was ongoing yesterday, “massacre”. Travel & Tourism PAGE | VIMAINMAIN SSPONSORSPONSORS PAGE | X Qatar Airways: Record 8.4 Going Places million travellers Together transit HIA

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT MONDAY 18, JANUARY 2016 Australia beat Vietnam Qatar and China Extending warm hospitality to all THE S f Q h hf dkdThllfQTAAlShVlldSffdh f launch Cultural Year Today’s edition QNA in the countries, especially Qatar Museums includes the first of Authority and the Chinese Ministry of Cul- a 12-page special ture have prepared for the event. He added that the event will contribute to supplement on Travel BEIJING: The Embassy of Qatar in China the coming together of the two peoples and in association with the Chinese Ministry of enhance mutual understanding and knowl- and Tourism in Qatar. Culture announced yesterday the launch of edge, stressing that the Cultural Year coincides The supplement will the Qatar-China 2016 Cultural Year. with ongoing cooperation for implementa- Speaking at a press conference in the main tion of the New Silk Road Economic Belt. come out every month hall of the National Museum of China, Qatar’s The Deputy Director of the External Rela- with more features Ambassador to China, Saqr bin Mubarak tions Department of the Chinese Ministry of Alexander Gersbach of Australia and Nguyen Van Toan of Vietnam in action during their AFC Al Mansouri, underlined Emir H H Sheikh Culture, Lu Yanvi, stressed the importance of and articles. U-23 match at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC in Doha yesterday. Australia won 2-0 Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Chinese the Cultural Year, pointing out that the two Pic: Salim/The Peninsula → See also page 36 President Xi Jinping’s full support for the Cul- sides have signed an agreement this year to tural Year. He pointed out that authorities organise cultural activities in both countries. 02 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 HOME

Emir arrives in Moscow Emir receives message from Saudi King

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Moscow last evening on an official visit to the Russian Federation. The Emir and his delegation were welcomed at Vnukovo International Airport by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Russian President’s Special Representative Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday received a written message from Custodian of the for the Middle East and North Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, senior officials, Qatari Ambassador to Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia on fraternal relations Russia Saud bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Russian Ambassador to Qatar Noor Mohammad Julov between both countries, means of advancing them and issues of common concern. The Emir met Saudi and Qatari embassy staff. The Emir was accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the airport. Minister of State and Cabinet Member Dr Musaed bin Mohammed Al Aiban who presented the message.

Al Jazeera scribe First Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening Centre opens Baher Mohammed to deliver lecture and above with no symptoms will be screened for breast cancer through at GU-Q today The facility at Al mammography. Authorities have called Wakrah Health Centre on men and women aged 50 and above DOHA: Georgetown University in with no symptoms to undergo bowel Qatar (GU-Q) will host a lecture by can screen about 20 cancer screening. award-winning Al Jazeera journal- people daily With a high incidence of breast ist Baher Mohammed today at 6pm. and bowel cancer in the country, the Baher’s imprisonment by the campaign by PHCC together with Egyptian government had sparked Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) worldwide demands for press By Fazeena Saleem will encourage people without symp- freedom. The Peninsula toms to screen for cancer. The lecture ‘A conversation with “The opening of the centre marks Al Jazeera Journalist Baher Moham- a significant milestone in the country’s med’ is part of a public lecture series efforts towards ensuring the health and hosted by GU-Q. DOHA: The first Breast and Bowel Can- well-being of its citizens and residents,” Baher will share the two- cer Screening Centre in the country said Dr Abdulmalik. As a key compo- year ordeal that started with his was officially inaugurated yesterday nent of the ‘Screen for Life’ programme, December 2013 arrest along with in Al Wakrah. it is manned by highly skilled health- his colleagues Mohamed Fahmy It opened as part of a new initiative care professionals trained to efficiently Ahmed Abdulla Al Khulaifi, Assistant Secretary-General, Administrative Affairs, Supreme Council of Health, and Peter Greste, and continued ‘Screen for Life’ that promotes aware- operate the facility’s state-of-the-art opening the centre, along with Dr Mohammed Al Thani (left), Director, Public Health Department, SCH, and through the controversial inves- ness and early detection of breast and equipment,” she added. Mariam Ali Abdulmalik (right), Managing Director, PHCC. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula tigation, imprisonment, trial and bowel cancer to save lives. The ‘Screen for Life’ will aim to sentencing that made global head- Ahmed Abdulla Al Khulaifi, Assist- screen Qataris at the beginning but lines and launched the international ant Secretary-General, Administrative any resident approaching the centre population,” said Flora R Asuncion, whole population,” she added. A mobile unit will also be launched #FreeAJStaff social media campaign. Affairs, Supreme Council of Health for a screening will not be turned away. Assistant Managing Director, Clini- According to Asuncion, the centre in March, which will visit health cen- He will also share details of his (SCH), together with Dr Mariam Ali Representatives from a call centre cal Affairs, Operations and Workforce can screen around 20 people a day. tres to screen patients. experiences inside the prison and Abdulmalik, Managing Director, Pri- would approach people in the age cri- Development, PHCC. “After imaging and tests are com- The Breast and Bowel Cancer reiterate his message of the need for mary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), teria and risk. Others can also make “We have a call centre, specific pleted, reports will be read by two Screening Centre in Leabaib will greater press freedom in the region and Dr Mohamed Al Thani, Director, an appointment by calling 800 1112. for breast and bowel screening, it’s experts to get a second opinion and open in March and Rawdat Al Khail and beyond. The lecture will be fol- Public Health Department, SCH, opened “About 25,000 eligible people will dedicated to screening. “We will not ensure the findings,” she said. in December. According to the SCH, lowed by a discussion moderated by the centre within Al Wakrah Health be screened within the first year, start- reject any non-Qatari who wants to If symptoms are detected during among the incidence of cancer in Qatar, GU-Q’s Dean, Dr Gerd Nonneman. Centre. ing with Qataris and the programme be screened, but obviously we will try screening, patient will be referred to breast cancer accounts for 17.42 per- Initially, 25,000 women aged 45 will be expanded to cover the entire the Qataris first. So it’s open for the HMC for further treatment. cent and bowel cancer 10.55 percent. Qatar to attend book fair in Cairo Play time DOHA: Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Her- itage, will participate in the 47th Cairo International Book Fair to be held from January 27 to Feb- ruary 10. The ministry’s booth will inform the public on the most important Qatari books, introduce Qatar’s environment to visitors through the creativity of Qatari writers and the ministry’s publications in various areas of creativity, including litera- ture, heritage and books translated from other languages. The exhibition will provide an opportunity to support Arab cul- tural exchange, consolidate relations among Arab writers and contribute to putting forward ideas and solu- tions to intellectual issues on the Arab arena. Some 850 publishers, including 50 foreign, 250 Arab and Children playing around a ‘well’ at the Souq Waqif. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula 550 Egyptian will take part. Bah- rain is the Guest of Honour. QNA holds English media training for beginners

QNA field. The five-day training, which to acquire basic skills of news cov- write short stories using appro- has brought together trainees from erage of societies and writing and priate descriptions, details and ministries and state institutions, editing, focusing on news report- quotations along with means of aims to provide participants with ing and press writing skills. conducting better interviews. DOHA: A training course ‘Writing news writing skills and means of Trainees will have opportunity Regular training by QNA is in and Editing News in English for gathering and evaluating infor- to understand the media profes- implementation to the Emiri deci- Beginners’ started at Qatar News mation for news stories for wider sion, the code of ethics, including sion No. 51 of 2009, which entrusted Agency offices yesterday as part public. the importance of diversity, and the agency with the task of pro- of a series of programmes organ- The course, being conducted by basic elements of digital news story, viding training to Qatari media ised by the Department of Foreign Dr Fayez Mencher Al Zafiri, Adviser acquire skills to write major stories persons to improve their per- Media Affairs to rehabilitate and at Kuwait’s Ministry of Information, in eight to 10 paragraphs. formance through training and train Qatari cadres in the media also seeks to enable participants They will also learn how to development programmes. HOME MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 03

Qatari painter opens first solo expo Deputy Premier meets envoys QNA

DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Aisha Al Kaabi’s ‘Burst of H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud separately met ambas- sadors Askar Hawkibayev (Kazakhstan) and Eva Bolano (Sweden). Talks Colours’ features 10 acrylic dealt with relations between Qatar and their countries, ways of enhanc- paintings in which she ing them and issues of common concern. explores abstract technique Renaissance of Arabic Language The Peninsula Forum from Wednesday

DOHA: Young Qatari artist Aisha Al Kaabi opened her first solo exhibition at Katara Art Studios yesterday. The Peninsula Al Kaabi’s debut expo ‘Burst of Colours’ fea- tures 10 acrylic paintings in which she explores abstract technique. She experiments with various hues dominated by yellow and red to vividly high- DOHA: The Renaissance of Arabic light the inspiration behind her works. Language Forum will take place for “‘Burst of Colours’ is my first artistic experi- two days from Wednesday at Qatar ence. I have combined plenty of colours that might Qatari artist Aisha Al Kaabi (left) and Darweesh Ahmad Al Shibani, Director, Marketing and National Convention Centre (QNCC). be perceived as scattered, while in a comprehen- International and Cultural Relations, Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, tour the exhibition. The forum is hosted by World sive approach will be seen as elegant and cohesive,” Organisation for Renaissance of Ara- explained Al Kaabi. bic Language (WORAL), a member The emerging artist, who is taking up psychol- art enthusiasts. The artist started painting six years by the Qatari young artist. Katara will leave no stone of Qatar Foundation for Education, ogy at Qatar University, expressed happiness over ago, joining painting and visual art courses. unturned to motivate and encourage Qatari talents Science and Community Develop- launching her first exhibition at Katara. She has been into abstract painting for four years. that pave the way to introducing creative visions,” ment (QF), which was established in She said the exhibition is deemed a determined In her artwork, Aisha features “audacious” colour said Darweesh Ahmad Al Shibani, Director, Mar- 2013 to enhance the Arabic language ‘Children’s Programmes on Radio and start for her first collection of works and especially combinations that require high artistic sense and keting and International and Cultural Relations, through creative and proactive ini- Television’; and ‘Modern Techniques to that it is taking place at Katara which is considered specific colour coordination patterns. Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, who opened tiatives that address language and Enhance Children’s Use of the Arabic an art landmark attracting Qatari, Arab and foreign “At Katara, we are glad to host the first exhibition the exhibition. research culture. Language’, the forum aims to encour- As part of the lead-up to the forum, age participation from the audience. ‘Linguistic Upbringing of The Arab The event will feature discussions Child - The Reality and Prospects for of research papers and initiatives on the Future’, WORAL organised a media linguistic development. HBKU appoints Founding Dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences roundtable. It provided summary of “The themes and workshops will the objectives and initiatives of the deal with all aspects of linguistic edu- event, which is in line with QF’s mis- cation for Arab children. The Peninsula years. The new college will build on speaker and a published author, most sion to develop a knowledge-based “As a comprehensive approach, it the strength of TII, which was launched notably Arab Women in Arab News: society, while protecting and preserv- will allow us to provide recommen- by Dr Al Malki in 2012. Old Stereotypes and New Media pub- ing the region’s heritage and culture. dations that can be applied to school Prior to joining HBKU, Dr Al Malki lished in 2012. The forum will bring together systems around the region to achieve DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa University was associate professor at Carnegie Most recently, during her tenure as more than 300 well-known research- the best results,” said Dr Ali Al Kubaisi (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation Mellon University (CMU-Q), where she executive director of TII, Dr Al Malki ers and figures from the education (pictured), Director General, WORAL. (QF), has announced the appointment became Education City’s first Qatari was responsible for gaining valida- field to contribute to the three themes Dr Al Kubaisi stressed the role of of Dr. Amal Mohammed Al Malki (pic- faculty member. She first joined CMU-Q tion for MA in Translation Studies -- ‘Realities of the Arab Child’s Lin- media in enhancing Arabic language tured) as Founding Dean of its College in 2005 as a visiting professor after from University of Geneva, making guistic Upbringing’; ‘The Effects of and said: “Audio and visual media is of Humanities and Social Sciences. teaching at CMU’s mother campus in it HBKU’s first externally validated Children’s Exposure to Current Ara- key to enhancing children’s linguistic The college will initially offer two Pittsburgh in the US. She holds a PhD graduate degree. bic Media Content’; and ‘Alternatives abilities, especially considering the master’s degree programmes pre- in Comparative Literature and an MA She also ensured TII’s Interna- to Develop the Arab Child’s Linguis- amount of time young people spend viously delivered through HBKU’s in English/Arabic Applied Linguistics tional Translation Conference quickly tic Future’. Through four interactive on platforms such as television, tab- Translation and Interpreting Institute and Translation from SOAS Univer- became an important annual fixture workshops -- ‘The Development of lets and smartphone applications. (TII) – an MA in Translation Studies – with an expanded range of degree sity of London. on the calendar of leading translation Arabic Language Skills for Chil- It is important to offer programmes and an MA in Audiovisual Translation programmes to follow in the coming She is a well-regarded public experts and academics. dren’; ‘Creative Writing for Children’; and initiatives that cater to children.” 04 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 HOME QA to attend Bahrain International Airshow

our very latest aircraft at the Airshow, Ministry recalls and celebrating the one-year anniver- Qatar Airways’ sary of A350 operations as the global 2009 Mitsubishi A350 and A380 and launch customer. Qatar Executive’s “The aircraft is the very latest in Eclipse model design, technology and comfort and Bombardier Global will make its first appearance at the Doha: The Ministry of 5000 to be on display airshow this year, which will delight Economy and Commerce, aviation enthusiasts, families and other in collaboration with from January 21 to 23 visitors to the Middle East’s first major Qatar Automobiles Com- aviation event of 2016.” pany, dealer of Mitsubishi QA will display its A350 with cus- vehicles, has announced tom interiors, featuring a Business the recall of Mitsubishi The Peninsula Class cabin comprising 36 seats in Eclipse model of 2009 a 1-2-1 configuration and Economy over a defect in the con- Class featuring 247 seats in a 3-3-3 trol unit of the hydraulic configuration. brake system. The minis- DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) yesterday QA was the global launch customer try said the recall is within announced that it will exhibit three air- of the A350 last December and is the the framework of its craft at Bahrain International Airshow largest operator of this aircraft type. ongoing efforts to protect at the Sakhir Airbase from January It operates seven A350s and has 73 consumers and ensure 21 to 23. more A350s on order. QA operates reg- dealers follow up on vehi- QA’s A350, for which it was the glo- ular commercial service to Frankfurt, cles’ defects and repair bal launch customer, an A380 and Qatar Munich, Singapore and Philadelphia Qatar Airways Airbus A350 for which the airline was the global launch customer. them. Executive’s Bombardier Global 5000 on the A350. The ministry said business jet will be on static display. It will also display its twin-deck most spacious cabins among super- delivery of its first Gulfstream G650ER, fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year it will coordinate with The airshow, held biennially since A380 ‘super jumbo’ aircraft, the largest large business jets flying today. one of the most sought-after business of operations, the airline operates a the dealer to follow up 2010, offers visitors and participants passenger plane in the world, which The Global 5000 features an ele- jets in the market and the world’s larg- modern fleet of 175 aircraft flying to on maintenance and opportunity to visit hundreds of com- features 517 seats -- eight in First Class, gant two-cabin configuration with a est and fastest civilian aircraft. key business and leisure destinations repairs and communi- panies, tour the aviation world’s most 48 in Business Class and 461 in Econ- separate galley, allowing discreet serv- Considered the most technologi- across six continents. cate with customers to popular and latest-generation aircraft, omy Class. ice and maximum comfort for up to cally-advanced business jet, the aircraft Voted 2015 Airline of the Year by ensure necessary repairs and enjoy its famous five-hour flying QA operates six A380-800s to Lon- 13 passengers. is capable of flying non-stop from the Skytrax, QA operates seven daily flights are carried out. It urged display with free grandstand seating don, Paris and Bangkok. Qatar Executive has seen rapid Middle East to North America or from between Bahrain and the airline’s hub customers to report any for families and visitors. Its private jet division, Qatar Exec- growth of operations since its incep- destinations in Asia to Africa – further, in Doha, from which it flies to more violations to its Consumer Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, utive, will showcase its impressive tion in 2009, and flies a premium fleet faster than any other jet of its kind. than 150 destinations across Europe, Protection and Anti-Com- QA Group, said: “We look forward to long-range Bombardier Global 5000, of nine business jets. QA is one of the fastest growing the Middle East, Americas, Africa and mercial Fraud Department welcoming guests and visitors on board which features one of the widest and Last month, Qatar Executive took airlines operating one of the youngest Asia Pacific. through hotline: 16001; email: [email protected]; Twitter: @MEC_Qatar; Instagram: MEC_Qatar; and the ministry’s mobile HGH research committee meets app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar.

The Peninsula that HMC’s research policies are observed and the rights Agricultural of patients participating in the research are protected,” projects DOHA: Hamad General Hospi- he added. tal (HGH), a member of Hamad Dr Yousuf Al Maslamani, in focus Medical Corporation (HMC), Medical Director, HGH, opened held a Research Forum at Hajar the meeting and praised the DOHA: The Agriculture Auditorium to introduce the new centre’s role in the establish- and Environment Com- research committee members ment of the committees. He said mittee of Qatar Chamber and discuss the HGH research this highlights HMC’s commit- met and discussed means process with clinicians across ment to high-quality medical of supporting agricul- all specialities interested in research. ture projects, classifying research. Professor Ibrahim Janahi, food products, price con- “The hospital-based research Executive Director, Research, trol and food imports. committee is one of many formed HMC, said the centre will make The meeting was headed at all HMC hospitals in July 2015 every effort to strengthen the by Mohammed Ahmed Al and reports to HMC’s Medical committees, which support Obaidly, Member of the Research Centre. This is our first meeting and we the development of high-quality research at HMC. Board and Head of the plan to hold the forum every six months,” said Dr “Research is important in creating the evidence committee and attended Abdulla Al Naimi (pictured), Chairman, HGH Research base that can be used to support the development of by the representative Committee. new treatments and therapies, drive forward changes of the Laboratories and “The committee is responsible for reviewing, at in clinical practice and continue to improve patient Specifications Depart- the hospital level, applications to conduct research outcomes,” he said. Dr Noora Al Kaabi, Coordinator, ment at the Ministry of studies. It reviews applications in terms of meeting Research Committee, HGH, explained the process Environment. paperwork requirements, feasibility and integrity and the requirements researchers must comply with of research efforts. The committee helps ensure to obtain approval for their research studies. Ooredoo unveils system to speed up installations

The Peninsula the location via GPS. of the company deploying The FFA app will also send customers an auto- cutting-edge technology matic SMS with the appointment time, following on internally to enable us to from the standard appointment date SMS they get better serve our customers. DOHA: Ooredoo has launched a special Field Force Automation when they make a booking, so that they know when “The FFA system has (FFA) system to make the process of installation faster and easier to expect technicians, saving time and making the been designed to auto- for customers in Qatar, it was announced yesterday. process smoother and more efficient. mate the whole installation With the new FFA system, as soon as an installation date is The FFA solution enables Ooredoo’s installation process and ensure our cus- booked, the customer’s details are team to track and monitor the process from start to tomers get the service they uploaded on a special mobile app, finish, ensuring all necessary equipment is available require in a timely manner.” along with GPS coordinates for the at the warehouse, the appointment is logged with The first team to deploy address. Ooredoo and any problems or need for repeat visits the new solution as a pilot This enables technicians to are recorded to enable a faster follow-up. will be the Fibre Roll-Out immediately know the order Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief Operating Officer, team, in response to the huge details, location and appointment Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo is a major supporter of smart demand for fibre installa- time for new installations, and find solutions for businesses and this is a great example tions in Qatar. If successful, Ooredoo will equip all tech- nicians with technology to use the FFA solution. The FFA system is set to provide better schedul- ing, faster appointments and other benefits for customers. The app has been designed based on customer feedback on the installation process, and recommenda- tions to enhance the process. Home users and busi- ness customers can access Ooredoo’s fastest Internet speeds – the 100Mbps plan –for QR650 per month, with basic fibre packages starting at QR233 for home broad- band and voice services. Ooredoo’s investment in fibre will continue through- out the year as part of its expansion of the Supernet network in Qatar. Details of all plans, pricing and offers are available at www.oore- doo.qa/fibre along with the fibre availability map. HOME MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 05 Foggy conditions likely RAF helps 12,000 people in Taiz this morning and night Camels and donkeys carried temperature to rise 2,000 food baskets for 15 days to reach the besieged city in Yemen The Peninsula In Al Wakrah and Messaieed, the difference between day and night mercury levels will be higher — 11 degrees — as the maximum forecast By Sanaullah Ataullah DOHA: Foggy conditions may con- is 24 and the minimum 13. The Peninsula tinue in parts of the country this Due to the foggy weather in dif- morning as well, but the mercury ferent places this morning, visibility may increase slightly in Doha tonight, is expected to be 2km or less, later making the chill lose its sting. improving to four to 8km as the day DOHA: To deliver urgent humanitarian aid in a The night has been cold for the progresses. besieged city in Yemen, Sheikh Thani bin Abdul- past two to three days, but today the The night in Doha and Al Ruwais lah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) nightly temperatures forecast for dif- may not be as cold as it has been for resorted to a novel way -- it used a caravan of cam- ferent parts of the country are between the past two to three nights. els and donkeys to carry the essentials there. 13 and 17 degrees Celsius. Inland, the wind will be north- Though it took the animals 15 days to take the aid In Doha, the mercury may rise to westerly, initially changing direction to beneficiaries, as the roads leading to the province 17 degrees tonight, while day temper- later to northeasterly, moving at were blocked by Houthi militias owing allegiance Beneficiaries with their aid assistance in Taiz. atures are expected to be around 24. speeds between three and 12 knots. to ousted president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. The night will be cold in Al Khor Offshore, it will be windy in the Taiz City remains besieged and inaccessible in the north and Al Wakrah and morning and the seas will be high. through vehicles. So RAF took 2,000 baskets of The aid was taken on the back of camels and don- most deserving people like poor families and the Messaieed in the south, with the Northwesterly to northeasterly winds basic food items (at a cost of QR400,000) for dis- keys to the areas facing the blockade. families of widows and orphans, based on a list to temperature being 13 degrees there. will be moving at speeds of six knots tribution to the people there. Over 12,000 people The food baskets contained basic items such ensure fair distribution. The United Nations has In Al Ruwais, there will hardly and later 16 to 22 knots offshore. in the province who remain affected by the block- as rice, flour, sugar, dates, wheat, baby milk and expressed concern over the deteriorating situation be any difference between night and In its routine forecast for today, ade benefited. canned food, among others. Each basket will be in Taiz located in the centre of Yemen where over day temperatures as the maximum the weather bureau said the deep sea RAF delivered he aid with help from local Yem- enough for a family of six to seven for a month. 200,000 people are besieged since the escalation expected is 20 degrees and the min- will be wavy, with waves rising up to eni partner Fajrul Amal Charitable Organisation. Priority in distribution was accorded to the of fighting in September 2015. imum 18. five to seven feet at places at times. Temporary closure of road Widam opens sales outlet in Muaither suburb from tomorrow morning The Peninsula it plans to open more sales outlets this Australian MLA recognition for quality. must not smoke in abattoirs and must year. The company was established in MLA is ‘Meat and Livestock Australia’, not sleep there. “Our workers maintain 2004 to meet the increasing demand for a producer-owned non-profit entity a high level of personal hygiene and The Peninsula the highway will be diverted to the meat, meat products and livestock, and dedicated to research and develop- their nails are also checked from time opposite side of the road (east-bound DOHA: Widam Food Company, a is a commercial entity to reckon with. ment in the red meat sector. to time to ensure they haven’t grown lane) leading to Doha city, which was Qatari-listed entity dealing in food “We are not the only company Widam said it has a laboratory to to make sure they maintain high level divided to contain directions (to and processing and livestock trading and in our line of business in the coun- check bacteria in meat, applies high of personal hygiene,” said the report. DOHA: The Public Works Authority from Doha City), with two lanes in known for meat wholesale and retail try but we are trying to emerge as a level of sterilisation system and main- The company also has a home (Ashghal) has announced a tempo- each direction. trade, has opened a sales outlet in the better choice for customers,” the com- tains high level of cleanliness so its meat delivery service and to avail it, one rary closure of a 2km road west of Al The diversion will not have a big Muaither suburb. The outlet on Umm pany said in its report. It has recently and meat products are of high quality must either visit its website or call Rayyan Sports Club from early morn- impact on traffic as it was in place Dome Street in Muaither is Widam’s carried out extensive renovation of and very safe to consume. 8000056. Widam supplies all kinds ing tomorrow. The road is part of the and has been extended in length. 18th sales point opened as part of the its automatic abattoirs and has to its Its workers, including those engaged of meat and its derivatives, including west-bound lane of Dukhan High- It is for construction of the bridges company’s expansion plans for the year. credit various international awards in its abattoirs, must wear white uniform Australian mutton, fresh, frozen and way leading from Doha to Dukhan which intersect with the highway on Formerly known as Qatar Meat and quality certifications. on duty and use a head cap to maintain chilled, Syrian and Sudanese mutton City. The closure will last six months. the New Orbital Highway and Truck and Livestock Company, or ‘Mawashi’, For instance, it has ISO 22000-2005 hygiene. They must also get health cer- (fresh), Indian and Pakistani goat meat Traffic on the closed section of Route project. Widam said in a report yesterday that and ISO 9001-2008 certifications and tification from authorities regularly, and cow’s meat, among others. 06 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 HOME

SEC issues annual report cards Unicef team visits QC in Pakistan on performance of schools

Joint projects for The Peninsula providing them with accurate infor- mation about various aspects of the displaced people school,” said Al Obaidli. for North Waziristan It also helps parents compare DOHA: The Education Institute at the the performance of their children’s region reviewed Supreme Education Council (SEC) has schools with previous years and see the started issuing annual report cards change. The card includes academic on performance of Independent and achievements of the student, their private schools. marks in assessment tests, rate of par- Report cards on 291 Independent, ent and student satisfaction, teaching The Peninsula Arab private and international schools methodology, activities, school serv- have been issued and can be accessed ices, parents’ satisfaction about the on the SEC website. The report aims curriculum, home work to given to stu- to help parents and the public have dents, level of parents’ interaction with DOHA: A United Nations Interna- information about the performance school and educational environment tional Children’s Emergency Fund of the schools. and teachers who attained profes- (Unicef) delegation visited Qatar Ameena Hassan Al Obaidli, Direc- sional licence. It also shows whether a Charity’s (QC) offices in Pakistan to tor, School Assessment Office at the private school has achieved national review joint projects implemented institute, said the card is one of the or international accreditation and is for the benefit of the displaced peo- effective means for improving the per- part of the school voucher system. The ple from North Waziristan region, formance of schools and enhancing SEC has invited schools to check the near the Afghan borders. the assessment system. report and compare their perform- The delegation comprised four “This will help parents enhance ance with other schools. The report experts in the field of water and health interaction with schools and take is the outcome of collective effort of facilities. the right decision to choose schools students, parents, teachers employ- In cooperation with Unicef, QC for their children because we are ees and school directors. is implementing projects related to water, facilities at schools and med- ical centres in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts. The QC office organised awareness TAMUQ MH370 research one of activities focused on the country- A Unicef team member briefing beneficiaries on the projects. side, such as meetings with parents, the top maths stories of 2015 teachers and students to highlight the importance of using drinking water, Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan, at a QC implemented 110 economic Operations, QC, said, “We have having health facilities and sewage cost of QR7m. empowerment projects for the ben- partnership and cooperation agree- systems, and specifying certain places The QC office last year also built efit of the poor categories. ments with so many international DOHA: Texas A&M Qatar (TAMUQ) The researchers used applied for garbage disposal. 21 mosques in Kashmir and the rest Instead of receiving aid, the ben- humanitarian organisations -- Unicef mathematician Dr Goong ‘Gordon’ maths and computational fluid dynam- QC also distributed to the partic- of Pakistan’s provinces at a cost of eficiaries would be able to make their placed on top. “The message we con- Chen’s research theorising what hap- ics to conduct simulations on the RAAD ipants bags which contained tools for over QR2.5m. own money and become financially vey through our main office and its pened to Malaysia Airlines flight 370 Supercomputer at TAMUQ of a Boeing personal hygiene. It also built a multi-service com- independent. The projects were imple- branches in Pakistan is that we seek (MH370) has been named one of the 777 plunging into the ocean, a so-called Last year, QC drilled 1,500 wells plex and a training centre at a cost mented at a cost of QR4.07m. to spread hope and make all the needy top maths stories of 2015 by Ameri- “water entry” problem in applied maths in the four provinces -- Khyber, of QR2.2m. Faisal Al Fahida, Director of people around the world happy.” can Mathematical Society. and aerospace engineering. The team Chen and an interdisciplinary simulated five scenarios and concluded research team theorised that the plane that based on all available evidence — plunged vertically into the southern especially the lack of floating debris Six-month jail Indian Ocean in March 2014. The or oil spills near the area of the pre- QRCS holds disaster management training at GU-Q researchers’ computer simulations sumed crash — the most likely theory led to the forensic assertion that a is that the plane entered the water at or QR10,000 90-degree nosedive explains the lack a vertical or steep angle. The Peninsula Crescent Societies. who said they acquired professional of debris or spilled oil in the water The fluid dynamic simulations fine for erring Lectures were delivered by eight and practical knowledge and experi- near where the plane is presumed to indicated that for a vertical water relief experts on topics, including over- ences. They thanked QRCS for efforts have crashed. The research was the entry of the plane, there would be no sports clubs view of International Red Cross and to develop their capabilities to be cover story in the April 2015 issue of large bending moment, which is what DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society Red Crescent and Qatar Red Cres- ready to help the distressed every- Notices of the American Mathemat- happens when an external force, or (QRCS) held a two-day basic disaster cent; disaster management; sphere where and raise awareness. This, they ical Society. moment, is applied to a structural ele- Continued from page 1 management course at Georgetown project, nutrition; logistics; psycholog- said, promotes humanitarian action The research was supported by a ment (such as a plane), which causes the University in Qatar (GU-Q) for 25 stu- ical support; field assessment; water and volunteerism in line with QRCS’s grant from Qatar National Research fuselage to buckle and break up. As the All sports clubs will have a dents to prepare them for participation and sanitation; risk analysis; and shel- charitable message. Fund and made headlines all over the vertical water-entry is the smoothest chairman who will be directly in the Disaster Management Camp by ter and camp management. QRCS and GU-Q have held basic world, including CNN, the Huffington with only small bending moment in accountable to its general assembly. the year-end. The participants were divided into disaster management courses for over Post and International Business Times. contrast with other angles of entry, The general assembly will The training aimed to build the four working groups. The sessions 60 students. Such courses are part Chen is an applied mathemati- the aircraft is less likely to experience meet at least once a year though disaster response capacity among involved brainstorming, teamwork, of QRCS’s training and qualification cian who teaches and researches at “global failure,” or break up on entry the chairman can convene emer- volunteers, practice activities of pre- practice, simulation scenarios, case portfolio, which involves community TAMUQ and Texas A&M University’s near the ocean surface, which would gency meetings of the general paredness and create a team ready for studies and emergency planning. lectures and courses on safety and main campus in College Station, Texas, explain the lack of debris or oil near assembly, if needed. intervention in emergencies. The attendees were introduced to security, public health, first aid, and US. He led the team of collaborators the presumed crash site. Clubs violating the law or people It is the first step for volunteers experiences of the QRCS Risk Reduc- surface water rescue. from Texas A&M, Penn State, Virginia Chen said in such a situation the running clubs without valid licence in the field of disaster preparedness, tion Team which took part in the relief There are several basic and Tech, MIT and Qatar Environment and wings would have broken off almost will be liable to face a jail term of six response, and management. Its cur- mission for victims of the earthquake advance disaster management courses, Energy Research Institute in simulat- immediately and, along with other months or a fine of up to QR10,000, riculum is accredited by International in Nepal last year. culminating in the camp, which is the ing and modelling what might have heavy debris, would have sunk to the says the law. Federation of the Red Cross and Red The course was praised by trainees, only Arabic event of its kind. happened to the plane. bottom of the ocean.

Officials at the event. Dame Kelly again Doha Dash ambassador

DOHA: The organisers of the Dolphin Energy Doha Dash races. It is crucial to support such events that encourage 2016 yesterday announced the return of Double Olympic you to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, which are acces- gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes as the event’s ambas- sible to people from all backgrounds and abilities. Even sador for the second year running. if you are new to running, don’t be afraid to take on this Holmes will continue supporting the community event exciting challenge; running is not only a great workout, and participate in the 2016 event on February 9 at Losail but is also a lot of fun.” International Circuit. Holmes, who is recognised as one of Hassan Al Emadi, General Manager, Qatar Dolphin the most accomplished British athletes, is best known for Energy, said: “We are delighted at the return of Holmes winning gold for the 800 and 1500 metres events at the as an ambassador for this year’s dash. She is a great role 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She set British records model for young sports people around the world and it is in many events and holds the UK national records for the wonderful to welcome her in Doha once again to partic- 800, 1000, and 1500 metres distances. Though she retired ipate in the 2016 edition of the dash we hope will attract from competition in 2005, Holmes enjoys running and thousands of runners, friends and families wanting to is an advocate for leading a healthy and active lifestyle. enjoy fun time exercising together.” Last year, Holmes became Doha Dash’s first international Supporting the vision behind National Sport Day, the ambassador and completed the 5km race during an event. annual dash has a race for everyone; a 5km for those aged Holmes said: “I am thrilled to be returning for a sec- 12 and above (registration fee QR100), a 3km run (QR50) ond year as the official Dolphin Energy Doha Dash 2016 for participants over 8, a 1km run for children and a 1km Ambassador. It is such a popular community event and ladies walk, both free. A new 10km run for those aged 15 I encourage the Doha Community to come out to Losail and over (QR150) is set to attract seasoned runners from International Circuit on February 9 and join in the exciting the city. Registration is open on www.dohadash.com. MIDDLE EAST MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 07

Princess Haya with UN Chief Car bomb in Formation of Yemeni port city kills four Libyan govt Reuters

DUBAI: Four people were killed and several others injured on Sunday when a suicide car bomb exploded delayed outside the home of the director of security for the southern Yemeni port city of Aden, eyewitnesses and respected”, stressing that the Lib- medics said. Libya’s presidential yan people were “suffering the The four men killed were consequences”. guards for Brigadier General Sha- council has “I urge Presidency Council to lal Ali Shayyeh, who survived a announced that the adhere to new timeline it has com- car bomb attack on his convoy mitted itself to, ensure the expeditious on January 4 amid an escalating formation of the formation of Gov. of National Accord,” wave of assassinations against much-delayed unity he tweeted. security forces in the city. Peter Millet, the British ambas- The government of Presi- government has sador to the North African country UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Princess Haya Al Hussein, Chairperson of International dent Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has been postponed agreed, stressing that the national Humanitarian City, after holding a conference on the official launch of the report of High-Level Panel been grappling with lawlessness by 48 hours interests of Libyans must come first. on Humanitarian Financing, in Dubai, yesterday. there since militiamen, backed “Disappointing delay. Form- by a Saudi-led Arab military alli- ing #Libya Govt of National Accord ance, drove the Iran-allied Houthi is urgent to deal with #terrorism & group out in July. AFP rescue the economy,” Millet tweeted. Yemen descended into a civil Libya has been in chaos since war last March when the Houthis the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Egypt’s parliament endorses forced Hadi to flee to Saudi Ara- Muamer Gaddafi and now has two bia after they closed in on Aden, TRIPOLI: UN envoy Martin Kobler governments and parliaments. drawing a Saudi-led coalition into deplored a decision by Libyan authori- On December 17, under UN guid- the Yemen conflict. ties to postpone the formation of a new ance, envoys from both sides and a controversial anti-terrorism law Alliance and anti-Houthi forced unity government that was expected number of independent political seized Aden from the Houthis over yesterday, saying timelines must be figures signed a deal to unify the gov- the summer but have yet to impose respected. ernment. Around 80 of 188 lawmakers Reuters legal penalties for what it calls pro- Egypt’s new parliament, which has control on the city where militants A presidential council headed by from Libya’s internationally recog- portionate use of force. 568 elected members plus another 28 and other gunmen have a promi- businessman Fayez Al Sarraj had been nised parliament, based in the east The law also fines journalists for appointed directly by the president, nent presence. expected to announce by Sunday a of the country, and 50 of 136 mem- contradicting the authorities’ version is dominated by the “Support Egypt” In a rare security incident in the cabinet line-up as part of a UN-bro- bers of the rival Tripoli-based General CAIRO: Egypt’s parliament yesterday of any militant attack. The original coalition, an alliance of over 400 MPs Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, kered deal to end years of bloodshed National Congress signed the deal. overwhelmingly endorsed a contro- draft was amended last year following loyal to Sisi. gunmen on a motorbike also shot in Libya. But the council said on its It calls for a 17-member govern- versial anti-terrorism law that sets up a domestic and international outcry Human rights groups accuse Sisi, dead a police colonel. Facebook page that the formation of ment, headed by Sarraj, and based special courts and shields its enforc- after it initially stipulated imprison- who as military chief deposed a freely Ground fighting and air strikes the much-delayed unity government in the capital. ers from legal ramifications. ment for such an offence. elected Islamist president in 2013, of have killed around 6,000 people “has been postponed by 48 hours”, The United Nations is pressing all The law is one of roughly 400 The newly elected legislature is rolling back freedoms won in the 2011 during the nine-month war in without elaborating. sides to the Libyan conflict to accept that were issued by executive decree constitutionally obliged to review the uprising that toppled veteran autocrat impoverished Yemen. Kobler, who arrived Sunday the power-sharing deal, amid con- during the more than three years in executive decrees within 15 days of its Hosni Mubarak. The United Nations esti- for talks with Libyan politicians, cerns the Islamic State jihadist group which Egypt was governed without first session, which was on January Opposition legislator Mohamed mates about half that number bemoaned the move. is gaining influence in the country. a parliament after its democratically 10, and either approve or reject them. Salah Khalifa, a leader of the Islamist are civilians. “I regret the decision of Presidency Yesterday, Kobler held private elected chamber was dissolved in The anti-terrorism law passed Nour Party, which holds just 12 seats Mojalli, a reporter for several Council to postpone the formation of talks with the speaker of the inter- mid-2012. by an overwhelming 457 votes to 24 after controlling about a quarter of Western and international news the Government of National Accord. nationally recognised legislature, It details sentences for various ter- without a single amendment to the the previous parliament, said the law outlets, died while investigating the #Libya can no longer wait,” he wrote Aguila Saleh, to discuss the latest rorism-related crimes ranging from original decree issued by President employed ambiguous wording. site of a mineral bath that residents on Twitter. developments, the national news five years to the death penalty, and Abdel Fattah Al Sisi last year, parlia- “I fear that it will be used broadly said was hit by coalition planes last He called for “timelines to be agency Lana reported. shields the military and police from mentary sources said. when it is applied,” he said. week, killing 15 civilians. 08 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Iran hails new chapter as nuclear sanctions lifted

Iran can now resume US imposes widespread oil exports, the lifeblood of its economy new ballistic missile Reuters sanctions

Bloomberg TEHRAN: Iran has “opened a new chapter” in its ties with the world, President Hassan Rowhani said yesterday, after sanctions were WASHINGTON: The US Treasury Depart- lifted under its historic nuclear deal with glo- ment announced sanctions against 11 bal powers. companies and individuals for their ties The UN’s atomic watchdog late on Satur- to Iran’s ballistic missile programme, one day confirmed that Iran had complied with its day after sanctions tied to Iran’s nuclear obligations under last summer’s accord and the programme were lifted. United States and European Union announced The list included Mabrooka Trading they were lifting the sanctions that have for Co. LLC, based in the United Arab Emir- years crippled the country’s economy. ates, and its networks in both the UAE and Western governments hailed the announce- China, according to a statement released ment as a milestone though some critics, from the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets including Israel, alleged that Tehran was still Control. Five Iranian individuals were seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. also on the list. “This action is consistent Iranian President Hassan Rowhani speaks at a press conference in Tehran after the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions on his The announcement followed news of a pris- with the US government’s commitment oner swap between Iran and the United States country. RIGHT: US President Barack Obama delivers a statement on Iran at the White House in Washington, yesterday. to continue targeting those who assist in that will include the release of Washington Iran’s efforts to procure items for its bal- Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, in another Addressing lawmakers in parliament he said allies in the Middle East, and the entire world under a standoff dating back to 2002 marked listic missile programme,” the Treasury sign of thawing relations between the long- Iran, no longer burdened by sanctions, would are safer because the threat of the nuclear by failed diplomatic initiatives, ever-tighter said in its statement. time foes. Rowhani, a moderate whose 2013 seek foreign investment of $30-50bn annually, weapon has been reduced.” sanctions, defiant nuclear expansion by Iran The announcement serves to back up election victory helped launch a huge diplo- to dramatically spur growth to eight percent. Iran can now resume widespread oil and threats of military action. the Obama administration’s claim that matic effort toward the deal struck on July 14 EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, exports, long the lifeblood of its economy In addition the nuclear talks put Iran and it won’t soften enforcement of sanctions in Vienna, said implementation of the agree- representing the six world powers, announced though Rowhani has moved away from rely- the United States on the road to better rela- aimed at stopping Iran’s development of ment did not harm any country. the lifting of “multilateral and national” sanc- ing on crude. Less than 25 percent of revenues tions, more than three decades after the Islamic ballistic missiles, even after the land- “We Iranians have reached out to the world... tions in Vienna, saying the deal showed that in this year’s budget will come from oil. revolution that toppled the US-backed shah. mark deal over that country’s nuclear have opened a new chapter in the relations intense diplomacy could resolve even “the most The nuclear deal will also open up business Iran’s imminent return to the oil market programme. The administration has of Iran with the world,” the official Irna news difficult issues”. in the 79-million-strong country. The Vienna has also contributed to the sharp slide in the come under pressure from Republicans agency quoted Rowhani as saying. Iran is “not a The United States lifted a raft of sanctions, agreement was nailed down after two years of price of crude to 12-year lows of under $30 and Democrats alike to punish Iran for threat to any government or nation”. The agree- with Secretary of State John Kerry saying in rollercoaster negotiations following Rowhani’s per barrel this week, putting public finances recent ballistic missile tests. ment, he said, “is not a loss for any country”. Vienna: “The United States, our friends and election. The highly complex deal drew a line in Gulf nations under strain. US to pay Iran $1.7bn in debt and interest: Kerry

AFP the decks between the old foes. support for the Iran’s deposed mon- US President Barack Obama arch — stormed the American embassy defended the settlement in a tele- and took hostages. vised statement from the White House, In 1981, the Iran-US Claims tri- WASHINGTON: The United States is saying it was for “much less than the bunal was established in The Hague to repay Iran a $400m debt and $1.3bn amount Iran sought.” to settle outstanding debts between in interest dating to the Islamic revo- “For the United States, the settle- the two countries, and Tehran filed lution, Secretary of State John Kerry ment could save us billions of dollars a suit demanding the arms payment said yesterday. that could have been pursued by Iran. be returned. The repayment, which settles a suit There was no benefit to the United Kerry described payment of the brought under an international legal States in dragging this out,” he said. 35-year-old trust as a “fair settlement,” tribunal, is separate from the tens of Kerry said the claim was in the but it is sure to draw the ire of those in billions of dollars in frozen foreign amount of a $400m trust fund used Washington who think he had already accounts that Iran can now access by Iran to purchase military equip- made too many concessions to secure after the end of nuclear sanctions. ment from the United States prior to the nuclear deal. But the timing of the announce- the break in diplomatic ties, plus $1.3bn “Iran will receive the balance of Members of the Iranian parliament greet Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (left) after his return ment, one day after the implementation in interests. $400m in the Trust Fund, as well as from Vienna where he witnessed the announcement of lifting of the sanctions after a historic nuclear of the Iran nuclear accord, will be seen Iranian-US ties broke down in 1979 a roughly $1.3bn compromise on the deal with global powers. as pointing to a broader clearing of after revolutionaries — angered at US interest,” he said, in a statement.

US official eyes Iranians welcome deal with more Iran satisfaction and caution engagement Reuters

Reuters imports, as the government gains access to tens of billions of dollars of assets frozen abroad. However, foreign businesses may hesitate to invest heavily in WASHINGTON: The Obama a market that still carries a lot of risks. administration would like to test DUBAI/ANKARA: The lifting of sanctions set off The opponents of the deal, a significant faction in whether there can be additional scenes of jubilation in Iran’s parliament: Supporters Iran, also kept their counsel. Hardline newspapers cooperation with Iran on other world planted kisses on the forehead of Foreign Minister who dislike the deal due to deep suspicions about issues and sees talks over the war Mohammad Javad Zarif and jostled to take selfies. US intentions did not take a strong stand, perhaps in Syria as the main forum for that, For pragmatic politicians like him, the nuclear resolving to focus on a bitter internal power strug- a US official said yesterday. deal that reconnects Iran to the world marks a victory gle that is likely to intensify after the deal. “We believe that a test of whether over rival factions at home as much as a diplomatic Iranians interviewed by telephone by Reuters Iran wants to engage constructively coup overseas. There was also optimism among described themselves as exhausted by the years on regional issues is whether or not ordinary Iranians. “I cannot wait ... We deserve to of hardship and hopeful rather that better times they can understand, over time, that be part of the international community again,” said might be ahead. the Syrian civil war is not going to be elementary school teacher Ziba Ghafouri, 35, in the “At least 10 small factories were closed in our area. resolved so long as Bashar Al Assad northern city of Babolsar. Just a few big factories could survive,” said tile shop is in power,” the official told report- But many others reacted cautiously, in contrast owner Reza Sadrsefat in the central city of Isfahan. ers on a conference call. The official, to widespread elation six months earlier, when Ira- “Even as owner of a small shop, I had difficul- speaking on condition of anonym- nians poured into the streets to celebrate the signing ties to buy material in the past few years. And even ity, also defended the prisoner swap of the nuclear deal that made possible the lifting of when I did, the prices were so high that I could not between the United States and Iran most economic curbs. sell them. I am very happy that our leaders could against Republican criticism. Many have lived under sanctions or wartime resolve this issue.” “If people want to say that they austerity for so long that they have no concrete expec- In Dubai, Iranian sailors were packing small were for leaving these Americans in tations about what the future might hold. trading boats with foreign goods, preparing to cross prison, they should say so. But the And they have been told by their government the Gulf to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Even fact of the matter is, this was our not to expect quick miracles, an idea people seem this creaking bridge to the world has suffered under opportunity to bring them home,” to have taken to heart. sanctions, they said. he said. “I don’t think it will have much impact on our “We had a problem with sanctions. We traded Critics, including Republican lives,” said retired government employee Moham- less, our imports and exports were down. With the opponents, have poured scorn mad-Reza Hosseini, 63, in the central city of Shiraz. lifting of sanctions our trade will gradually increase,” on the deal, saying it fails to do “This country has so many problems that it will sailor Hossein Jaafari said. enough to ensure Iran will never take years to solve them.” With sanctions finally For many young Iranians it’s not all about the acquire the bomb. Israel, widely lifted, Iranians must settle down to the sober task money. Ali Araghchi, the nephew of Iran’s top nuclear assumed to be the Middle East’s of rebuilding an economy that has been battered negotiator, believes the lifting of sanctions will start only nuclear-armed state and even since the deal was reached in July last year a new era of diplomatic harmony and improve Iran’s Iran’s arch-foe, has repeatedly Iran will immediately have more money to pay for global image. slammed the agreement. ASIA / PHILIPPINES MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 09 Missing HK Windmill replicas bookseller in China

Foreign Ministry said it had raised Gui’s case with the Chinese ambassa- Gui Minhai, who dor to Stockholm. It was not possible vanished from to contact Gui and it remains unclear his apartment in whether he has a lawyer. Gui’s daughter, Angela, who is Thailand last October, based in Britain, said she could not voluntarily returned confirm what was being reported but that she still believed her father had to China to answer a been abducted and his detention was conviction from 2004 related to his work. Gui Minhai cautioned in the report killing of a student “any individual or organisation” against intervening or “engaging in malacious speculation”. His confession was broadcast Reuters yesterday night on China Central Television. The official Xinhua News Agency published a separate report. Gui, who holds a Swedish pass- BEIJING: A Swedish bookseller whose port, “surrendered to public security Windmill replicas sold to tourists at a wind farm facility in the town of Pililla, Rizal province, Philippines, yesterday. The newly constructed mysterious disappearance has sparked organs” in October, Xinhua said, fears he may have been taken by Chi- without providing details about his 54-megawatt wind farm project being undertaken by Alternergy Wind One Corporation generates electricity supplementing clean energy nese agents said he had voluntarily surrender or transport from Thailand. in Metro Manila and Rizal province. turned himself into the authorities for Gui was sentenced to two years a drink-driving accident that resulted imprisonment, suspended for two in a death 11 years ago. years, after killing a female student Gui Minhai, who vanished from in the coastal city of Ningbo while driv- his apartment in Thailand last Octo- ing drunk, the report said. Gui fled in Sri Lanka turns ber, voluntarily returned to China August 2006 and his two-year proba- Jailed Nasheed to stay in Maldives to answer a conviction from 2004 tion was revoked. He is now suspected to social media killing of a student, state media said of other crimes, the report said. yesterday. “Although I have Swedish citizen- for help with “I am returning to surrender by ship, I truly feel I’m Chinese, my roots after govt ‘hostage’ demand personal choice, it has nothing to do are still in China. So I hope that Swe- constitution with anyone,” Gui, looking distraught, den will respect my personal choice, said in a China Central Television respect my rights and privacy and let AFP “It is an ethical issue. That is why was sentenced on terrorism charges broadcast. “This is a personal respon- me solve my own problems,” Gui said. president Nasheed has not agreed to relating to the arrest of an allegedly sibility that I ought to bear.” The five missing booksellers the demand of a guarantor,” he added. corrupt judge in 2012, when he was AFP Gui, a naturalised Swedish citi- include Lee Bo, a British passport The sudden development came still in power. The UN has said his trial zen, is one of five members to have holder who disappeared from Hong MALÉ: Jailed Maldivian opposition hours after the country’s prisons chief was seriously flawed and he should be gone missing from of a Hong Kong Kong at the end of last month. leader Mohamed Nasheed’s travel Mohamed Husham announced that released and compensated for wrong- COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s prime bookstore that specialises in selling Chinese Foreign Minister Wang abroad for surgery was scuttled at the opposition leader Nasheed had been ful detention. minister yesterday announced gossipy political books on China’s Yi said on Jan 5 that Lee is “first and last minute yesterday as the authori- granted 30 days’ leave from prison for Hardline President Abdulla officials would use social media Communist Party leaders. foremost a Chinese citizen” and called ties demanded a “hostage” in his place, a spinal cord surgery and was expected Yameen has refused to accept the to seek public opinion on a pro- The disappearances and Chi- on others not to make “groundless his party said. to leave soon. “We are making arrange- UN ruling and is resisting interna- posed new constitution aimed at na’s silence have prompted fears that accusations” on the case. “The government backtracks on ments so that he can travel later today,” tional pressure to release Nasheed. preventing a return to ethnic war. mainland Chinese authorities may be In a handwritten note dated Jan- their decision to unconditionally allow Husham said. London-based barrister Amal Ranil Wickremesinghe said using shadowy tactics that erode the uary 3 and purportedly written and (former) president Nasheed to travel Nasheed’s lawyers met him Sun- Clooney is on the legal team pressur- Sri Lanka will use social media to “one country, two systems” formula signed by Lee, photos of which were to UK for surgery,” Maldivian Demo- day, a day after the government made ing the government unconditionally help draft a new statute to devolve under which Hong Kong has been widely circulated on social and local cratic Party (MDP) spokesman Hamid an initial U-turn and agreed to let him to release Nasheed. Otherwise she more powers to minority Tamils governed since its return to China media but couldn’t be verified by Reu- Abdul Ghafoor said. travel to Britain. The Maldives govern- will call for targeted sanctions from and ensure unity after decades from British rule in 1997. ters, Lee wrote that he had travelled He said the government had ment has previously refused to sanction the international community. of war. In recent years, state media has back to China in order to assist with insisted on the nomination of a family overseas medical treatment for him. India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jais- “Sri Lanka could be the first publicised a string of what is presented an unspecified “investigation”. member to act as a guarantee for his Media reports have said Male reluc- hankar visited Male for talks with country to get views expressed as confessions made by high-profile The Xinhua report said that return after 30 days of treatment in tantly softened its stand on Nasheed the government and stopped over in on social media (to contribute to) suspects. Critics say these accounts “related persons” are cooperating Britain to serve his 13-year jail term. following diplomatic pressure from Colombo last week, while Sri Lanka’s drafting a new constitution,” he deprive the accused of the right to a with the investigation, but didn’t pro- The guarantor would be a “hostage” neighbouring India and Sri Lanka as Foreign Minister Mangala Sama- said. “We want to seek the view fair trial. vide details of whereabout or status who could be prosecuted if Nasheed well as former colonial power Britain. raweera made an unscheduled visit and opinions of young people. Par- Earlier this month, the Swedish of the other missing persons. did not return, he said. The 48-year-old former president to Male on Thursday. ticipate in this process.” Sites such as Facebook and Twitter played a key role in sup- porting Wickremesinghe’s election in August as well as during the Manila suspends exports of Macaque monkey Suu Kyi bemoans youth January 2015 presidential election at which he supported Maithri- pala Sirisena. Since coming to power, the ‘wasting time’ online new government has set up free wi-fi zones in many public places to encourage the use of web-based AFP much to capturing the youth vote in services. a country where just over half the The government is opening a population is under 27. But Suu Kyi, new office in Colombo Monday who turned 70 last year and was an to start receiving written propos- YANGON: Myanmar’s Aung San Suu academic before she became a pol- als from the public for the new Kyi, who was forced to spend years of itician, has never professed to be at constitution. solitude under house arrest, has hit the forefront of technology. Wickremesinghe travelled to out at young people “wasting time” For the best part of two decades the former wartorn zone of Jaffna on computer games and social net- she had little more than a dusty library in the north Friday to pledge to working. of books and the radio to keep her devolve political power to minor- The veteran opposition politician, company during long periods of house ity Tamils. whose party will soon take power arrest, before her release in 2010 and He has also promised to pros- after winning landmark elections last the country’s slow transition towards ecute both state forces and Tamil November, made the comments in a a quasi-democracy. rebels accused of war crimes in the letter to organisers of a literary festi- Just a few years ago access to the final stages of the island’s 37-year- val at the weekend in Yangon. Internet was limited and monitored old separatist war, in line with “Our lifestyles are changing now- while a mobile phone would cost pledges to the UN Human Rights adays as technology improves,” she thousands of dollars. Now Myan- Council last year. wrote in a public letter to the Nobel- mar is as awash with smartphones Sri Lanka’s year-old govern- Myanmar Literary Festival posted and social media accounts as many ment has begun drafting a new online late on Saturday. of its regional neighbours. constitution aimed at resolving “Now our children waste a lot of In her letter Suu Kyi also hit out at the drawn-out ethnic conflict their time on computer games, Internet education standards, citing underfund- which ended in 2009 and claimed games and social networks. Children ing as well as a tendency towards rote 100,000 lives. read less because the use of technol- learning rather than critical analysis. The issue has been fraught, ogy has increased,” she added. Suu “We rarely have libraries in our schools however, with hardline members Kyi is widely adored in Myanmar for and we have no more time to read books of the Sinhalese majority oppos- her years of steely opposition to dec- when we are in class,” she said. ing a federal system that would ades of brutal and corrupt junta rule. “Our education system is about ensure more political power for In November her National League learning by heart and answering ques- minority Tamils. for Democracy (NLD) trounced the tions, limiting critical thinking and Some minorities fear a “uni- A Macaque monkey in captivity named ‘Buboyits’ is held by a Filipina in the town of Ternate, Cavite military-backed governing party and reading books.” Under junta rule edu- tary” constitution would see them province, Philippines, yesterday. Officials of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Animal will soon form a new administra- cation and healthcare spending was lose out while moderate Tamils Industry (BAI) have suspended exports of the Macaque monkey after an Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) was tion—though the army will still wield chronically neglected as the military who want to remain in a single found among monkeys held captives at an unnamed facility in the country. Philippines is among the significant power under the junta- lavished what little income the impov- union have pressed for greater world’s major exporters of laboratory monkeys in 2015. written constitution. erished nation had on itself and its power in areas where they are The NLD’s electoral success owes allies within the business elite. in the majority. 10 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Sanctions relief Nuclear success to intensify

ran is celebrating the lifting of economic sanctions by Western powers. The sense of euphoria is understandable as the country Iranian infighting prepares to enter a new ear after decades of severe economic hardship. President Hassan Rouhani hailed the sanctions relief as a “glorious victory” and a “turning point”. The media celebrated Rowhani’s growing influ- and foundations that control Similarly hardline and pro- Ithe arrival of ‘a new era’ in style, with imaginative and screaming ence and popularity, have much of the economy. Rowhani authorities alike have headlines. And the Tehran stock exchange performed strongly and is The elections to already taken off the gloves to The hardliners are likely to condemned the storming of the Assembly of display the limits of the pres- resort to a tactic they have suc- Riyadh’s Embassy in Tehran likely to remain bearish. ident’s power at home where cessfully adopted in the past: early this month by protest- The sanctions were lifted on Saturday after confirmation from the Experts are likely they oppose any political finding grounds to disqualify ers reacting to the execution of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Tehran had complied to be crucial in liberalisation. pro-Rowhani candidates. Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr. with the nuclear deal. In a clear sign of rapprochement with the United They fear that voters, hope- “I expect stormy days Dozens were arrested, accord- States, the announcement in Vienna came a day after a prisoner swap determining the ful living standards can rise before the elections. Pressure ing to state media. between Tehran and Washington. future path of Iran, with the end of sanctions, will will mount on Rowhani and “Iran has already adopted a reward pro-Rowhani candi- his allies, including moderates’ moderate foreign policy. Even But the mood in our region is not so upbeat. In stark contrast to the the top Shia power dates in elections next month mass disqualifications,” said the hostility with the US has celebrations in Iran, the Gulf stock markets sank to multi-year lows at which plans to pour to parliament and the Assem- political analyst Saeed Leylaz. transformed to a controlled the news. The Saudi index plunged 3.3 percent to close at 5,838 points, bly of Experts, a clerical body Hardliners have stepped one,” said Leylaz. “We wit- its lowest finish since March 2011. Other bourses too panicked. Oil prices large amounts of with nominal power over the up their calls to suppress dis- nessed it during the sailors’ had fallen on Friday in expecation of the lifting of sanctions because Iran crude oil onto the supreme leader. senting voices since September, capture and the Saudi Embassy is expected to start oil exports. global market now “Rowhani has gained even when Khamenei warned of storming.” The market reaction is a reflection more popularity compared to “infiltration” by Iran’s enemies. With Rowhani willing to that the sanctions 2013 because of his nuclear They may also target polit- improve ties with the United of the mood in the Gulf countries, are gone success. This will help his allies ical campaigners and reporters States, Tehran and Washing- Iranian leaders which have always been wary of greatly to win a majority in the sympathetic to the president. ton will continue to cooperate Iran’s agenda in the region. The elections,” said another sen- “They will compensate for Row- on the regional crisis including have spoken of the nuclear deal comes at a time of ior official. “People know that hani’s victory by more arrests the rise of Islamic State, often need for security tension and financial turmoil, when Rowhani’s policy ended Iran’s of activists and more journal- known to its enemies by the the conflicts in Yemen and Syria are By Parisa Hafezi isolation and their economic ists will be summoned by the Arabic name of Daesh. and peace in the Reuters hardship. He is their hero.” courts,” said a pro-reform jour- “Iran and America need continuing with no end in sight and a region, but their The elections to the Assem- nalist, who asked not to be to work together in the region disastrous dip in oil prices is straining bly of Experts are likely to be named for security reasons. ... the taboo is broken and this words need to the budgets of producing countries. crucial in determining the Opposition leaders Mirhos- channel of communication will be matched with In Yemen, the Iranian support for future path of Iran, the top Shia sein Moussavi and Mehdi remain open between the two action Houthis has complicated the war, ran’s success in winning Muslim power which plans to Karoubi remain under house countries,” said the second sen- forcing the Gulf countries to intervene an end to international pour large amounts of crude arrest following street protests ior official. militarily, and in Syria, Iran is one sanctions will only inten- oil on to the global market now against what activists say was Tehran and Washington sify a power struggle that the sanctions are gone. a rigged presidential election in cut ties shortly after Iran’s 1979 of the chief backers of President among the faction-rid- Khamenei underwent pros- 2009. Islamic Revolution and rad- Bashar Al Assad which is delaying his denI elite, and President Hassan tate surgery in 2014 and should Rights groups and the ical students stormed the US departure. There is a genuine concern that Iran might use its new-found Rowhani cannot count on the 76-year-old supreme leader United Nations have accused embassy in Tehran, taking 52 status to further its agenda. Tehran will be getting billions of dollars in domestic political support from be unable to continue through Iran of severely restricting free- Americans hostage for 444 days. frozen funds and this money can be used to increase its influence in the the supreme leader before two illness, the Assembly would dom of expression, religion and The official made clear region. And Iranian oil is certain to roil the energy markets, with prices critical elections. have to select his successor. the media as well criticising its there were limits to the rap- However, Tehran’s leader- high number of executions. prochement between Iran and set to fall further. ship has now decided on a less Leaders at loggerheads? Some analysts say Rowhani, the United States. “They have Peace and security are vital for economic growth and any attempt confrontational foreign pol- Rowhani’s growing clout who represented Khamenei at common interests and enemies by any side to exacerbate tension needs to be countered. Iranian leaders icy than in the past, although could put him at loggerheads the Supreme National Security ... Iran’s fight against Daesh in have spoken of the need for security and stability of the region, but a restoration of full ties with with Khamenei, and any change Council for over two decades, Iraq and Syria is a clear exam- their words need to be matched with action. Tehran must refrain from the “Great Satan” — the United in the balance of Iran’s complex lacks the will to resist hard- ple of it.” However, the official actions that could be seen as interference. And the western countries, States — remains out of the power structure might force the liners’ pressure preventing added: “Full restoration of ties which are already queuing up in Tehran to grab a slice of the economic question, officials say. supreme leader to cut the presi- the kind of social reforms that will not happen.” The scrapping of most US, dent’s domestic claws. many young Iranians demand. The elite Revolutionary opportunities that will be thrown up, must ensure that Iran strictly abides European Union and United “Rowhani’s political power Rowhani has occasionally Guards and its affiliated Basij by every clause of the nuclear agreement. Nations sanctions on Saturday will increase because of eco- criticised the crackdown but militia forces have been lead- under a nuclear deal with six nomic advances and this has done little to stop it. ing Iran’s effort against Islamic major powers should strengthen balance will be restored by State in Iraq and Syria. both the economy and Shia more domestic pressure,” said Foreign policy moderation “In his public speeches and Iran’s hand in a Mideast region political analyst Hamid Farah- Iran’s internal struggle is in private meetings with the torn by sectarian strife. vashian. “Without Khamenei’s unlikely to be fought out over government officials, Khamenei Quote of the day Rowhani, a pragmatist blessing, Rowhani cannot con- foreign policy, where the lead- has made it very clear that the whose 2013 election cleared the front his rivals.” ership appears to have agreed US was and will remain Iran’s way for the thaw in relations Khamenei — who took over on a less confrontational line. foe,” said Farahvashian. Under with the outside world, owes his in 1989 from Ayatollah Ruhol- Its decision to release five Iran’s constitution, Khamenei, We Iranians have reached out success to Iran’s top authority: lah Khomeini, the founder of Americans, including a Wash- and not Rowhani, has the last to the world... have opened a Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali the Islamic Republic — has ington Post reporter, a few say on all state matters. Khamenei endorsed the nuclear always made sure that no group, hours before the lifting of sanc- new chapter in the relations of agreement, overriding hard- including among his own hard- tions displayed this change of Iran with the world. liners who oppose dealing with line allies, gains enough power approach. Washington. to challenge his authority. Tehran also swiftly ended Khamenei has “Every move by the gov- “On the nuclear issue, Row- an incident on Wednesday always made sure ernment was approved by the hani and Khamenei are in the when it freed 10 US Navy sail- leader. The leader protected us same boat. But Khamenei will ors a day after detaining them that no group, against hardliners’ pressure,” back hardliners in their politi- aboard their two patrol boats in including among said a senior Iranian official, cal disputes against moderates,” the Gulf. his own hardline involved in the talks with the said a former official. “It was a decision made by Hassan Rowhani six powers which led to Tehran As well as the Guardian Iran’s top authorities. It shows allies, gains enough Iranian President curbing its nuclear programme Council, which vets laws and that there is a consensus over power to challenge in return for an end to the sanc- election candidates, Khamenei foreign policy among our deci- tions crippling its economy. controls the judiciary, the secu- sion-makers,” said a senior his authority But hardliners, wary of rity forces, public broadcasters security official.

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 11 Religion and politics — can it work?

understanding of the need for this. decent, beneficial or good, especially Also the observation of Lord Rowan in the media. How can any immutable was that religious communities are often constitution really be made by peo- not given equal rights when a particular ple holding such a view of the world? religion dominates the political system, Religious views are needed to arrive and that rights of minority groups are fre- at common, constant values to incor- quently not recognised- such as the right to porate into a constitution. have civic equality (access to law and per- All citizens of a country should be sonal dignity for all) and personal liberty as well-educated and informed as pos- (within limits).He gave examples of Myan- sible, in age appropriate stages, to the mar, a Buddhist dominated State where extent that by voting age, they would be Muslims are currently suffering from gen- able to choose by referendum perhaps, ocide and expulsion; Malaysia, where he which philosophy or religion’s set of said Christians are disadvantaged, and ISIL laws they would prefer to be the basis controlled areas, in which anyone with a dif- of their constitution, and educational ferent version of Islam or different religion system. Then the most learned from is in mortal danger, dissent not tolerated, each community could discuss together and public morality enforced with severe the details of how the laws would be By Luzita Ball punishments. applied, and new issues that need to The Peninsula In a politically secular political sys- be legislated upon, hopefully arriv- tem, Lord Rowan proposed, each religious ing at agreed upon laws. The majority community’s public role in national iden- elected political leader would have to tity should be recognised, and each should make decisions in the case of lack of be valued for its contribution to the joint agreement. This is how true democ- n the auditorium of the beautiful and interest of preventing the moral dissolution racy should work and continue to work, huge spaceship-like building that and corruption of society, and improving maintaining flexibility. After much dis- houses the Qatar Faculty of Islamic it. They could each be listened to as part of cussion, I believe many people would Studies in the Qatar Foundation in inclusive, non-coercive, public, constructive gradually opt for the constitution and Doha, an intriguing lecture recently debates and discussions, in which inter- laws coming out of, and in agreement attractedI me to attend. Lord Rowan Wil- esting and difficult questions are asked of with the best understanding of Islam, liams, the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury each other, and would then have a chance possibly producing a better result than (highest clergy member of the Church of to influence the new laws of the country. I many of today’s modern governments. I England), and now Master of Magdalene wanted to ask where the original and main wonder if Lord Rowan would be willing College, Cambridge University, gave a lec- body of law would come from. It would be to contemplate this possible outcome ture entitled ‘Secularity- good or bad?- A rather time consuming and complicated of his ideal system! religious perspective’. I arrived just in time if the main constitution and all laws of a to sit down and hear the introduction to country needed to be devised from scratch, Lord Rowan. He is a well-known figure in and be similarly debated, leaving the coun- Luzita Ball is a writer and editor, Britain, famous for being well-read and try to run riot in the meantime! an English Muslim, with a Masters educated, having completed a Doctorate He emphasised the need to work together in Urban Regeneration. She can in Theology from Wadham College, Oxford to solve the major global issues faced today, be contacted at L.ball.articles@ Lord Rowan Williams, the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury University (I have just realised, at the same such as disease, the environmental cri- gmail.com college and at about the same time that my sis, food and water supplies etc. I agree father, Dr Rasheed Ball, was doing his Doc- wholeheartedly and would add the issue torate in Classics!).He has written about of internationally ubiquitous terrorism, and Violation of these is a crime. Freedom has governments, but similar to the Sudanese and many subjects, and seems to be quite dip- war something on most people’s minds, to have its limits. Malaysian governments. I recommend read- lomatic, intelligent, thoughtful and broad a suggestion he diplomatically avoided! Another aspect of the Islamic State that ing the new Tunisian constitution, written minded, while having a deep belief and sin- He was describing what happens to some comes to mind is that the laws of Shari’ah in 2014, which is available online. Com- cerity, being positively viewed by Muslims extent in the UK, which I agree is one of cannot be made the law of the land until pared to the dignity of Tunisian politics, in many ways. the best examples, depending upon who is and unless the majority of people of that Daesh look like a gang of amateur bandits! He gave an engaging lecture and took currently in power and in the civil service land call for this to happen. It cannot be ‘Secularity’ or tolerance based on a con- many questions afterwards. He seemed to and intelligence services. Sometimes the forced upon non-Muslims, or unwilling stitution made by secularists might be a be of the opinion that religion and politics consultation seems cosmetic- for appear- Muslims. If the population think another different matter. Lord Rowan pointed out can lead to a lack of freedom of conscience, ances, and they are not actually listening, set of laws is better, then that is their choice. that many governments who claim to be whereby people are forced to follow a par- or limited to those most in agreement with As far as I understand this is a principle of secular are actually showing signs of extrem- ticular religion by law. This I see can lead to those dominating the government such as Shari’ah. Islam can only spread into peo- ism such as extreme Hinduism in India’s a lack of sincerity in religion, and a degree of secularists. Interestingly the UK claims not ple’s hearts through education and good government, and occasionally intolerant rebellion, and can open the door for hypoc- to have a codified national constitution! examples. No heart can believe something Christianity in the US Government. There risy, or outwardly appearing to be religiously The ideal system he suggested, and most by force. In the Qur’an it says ‘There is no are not really many examples I can think practising but inwardly not believing, and in the audience would have agreed, is where compulsion in religion- the truth stands out of where a country’s laws did not originally people not benefitting from the religious there are enforceable limits to what the State clearly from error’ (Qur’an- Surah 2 (Baqa- come from a religion, except after Commu- teachings. Forcing anything on a person usu- can impose. A particular necessity is that rah), Ayat 256). Also in Surah Al-Kafiroon nism. Under Communist rule, all religion An example of true ally makes them go in the opposite direction, ‘Rights of conscience and dissent’ should be (109) it clearly says ‘To you be your way and was viewed negatively, and denigrated Islam in politics is especially when not accompanied by spir- preserved at least in certain morally disput- to me be mine’. Anyone who thinks that as ‘the opium of the people’- a delusion. itually deep education, and a good justice able situations, for example the performing any change in religion will be achieved by This often made it impossible for anyone in Tunisia after their system. However, I think some minimum of abortions or euthanasia by doctors. Peo- force is mistaken. Islam has never spread to practise religion. Communists mostly revolution ousting levels of decency are useful for a peaceful ple should not be forced to act against their effectively in this manner. tried to eradicate it from public life, edu- society, when accompanied by basic pub- conscience, definitely an important right An example of true Islam in politics is cation and even sometimes family life (as Ben Ali. An-Nahda, lic education about the religion to promote for religious people. in Tunisia after their revolution ousting Ben with the Khmer Rouge), splitting families a very widely One student I think in the audience Ali. An-Nahda, a very widely supported, bal- apart. Communism obviously did not lead made the comment that the vision that Lord anced, and well-educated Islamic party for to many rights for religious communities. supported, balanced, Rowan had described sounded very simi- many years, has been very pragmatic and Currently in the UK, the predominant and well-educated lar to the true Islamic system. Perhaps by worked well with all minority political par- philosophy in many educational institu- Islamic party for many A particular necessity is that ‘Rights this he meant the Islamic system of ‘Shura’ ties represented in the interim parliament, tions is ‘Pluralism’, in which all religions of conscience and dissent’ should be or ‘mutual consultation’, which is the way which drew up the new constitution. Islamic are supposedly considered equally worthy years, has been very that believing Muslims are told to conduct laws were only integrated into the law of of ‘respect’, due to there being no ‘Abso- pragmatic and worked preserved at least in certain morally their affairs. Or possibly he meant the way the land where accepted by the majority lute Truth’ i e Right and Wrong. However disputable situations, for example that each religion is allowed freedom to of representatives, which included many the result is that it is actually not possibly well with all minority worship and practise their religion within socialists, secularists, and even Ben Ali sym- to even write about the concept of abso- political parties the performing of abortions or a true Islamic State, including having their pathisers. The main laws of the land are, as lute truth in some universities. Therefore euthanasia by doctors. People should own courts for family law. He may have a result, based on Islam with some small the religions are then considered equally represented in the not be forced to act against their been thinking about how each citizen in an adjustment to accommodate those lean- untrue, as even the concept of truth is not interim parliament, Islamic State has rights that are protected ing in a more secular, or feminist direction. believed by some. This leads to a very wishy conscience, definitely an important equally. The life, honour, intellect, religion, Both the interim parliament and new par- washy and changeable morality, full of moral which drew up the right for religious people property and family lineage of every citi- liament contain many women, including relativism, influenced by current trends new constitution zen are protected within the Islamic State. quite a number with hijab, unlike many Gulf and availability of evidence about what is The politician who ‘hears’ us? It’s just hype

By Barton Swaim traveller and listener. “I’ve travelled across The travelling-and-listening line will who work the hardest.” Maybe he really has routinely claimed that, as he travelled The Washington Post our country over the last months listen- appear in some form in any US political heard this “over and over,” but it sounds the state, the top concern he heard from ing and learning,” she told Cooper, “and campaign. It’s a convenient way to invest to me very much like something Feingold people was the legislature’s out-of-con- I’ve put forward specific plans about how the candidate’s views with an aura of pop- himself would say. trol spending. Now, it was true that he had we’re going to create more good-paying ular support. And although the line implies Then again, politicians often find them- travelled the state, and it was true that in any political candidates, if we’re jobs.” Candidate Clinton is known, in fact, that a great majority of the electorate agrees selves surrounded by people who tell them his travels many people buttonholed him to believe what they say about for her “listening tours” of key primary with whatever the candidate allegedly keeps to do what they, the politicians, already about improvident state budgets. But the themselves, spend most of their states. She is also adept at deflecting dif- hearing on his or her travels — if every- intend to do. implication he meant to convey — that time travelling around listen- ficult questions by citing her many travels body’s saying it, it must have widespread “As I travel the state,” Governor Pete concern with government spending was Ming to people. “I’ve travelled all around the and listening interactions with the citizenry. support — the view said to be on every- Ricketts, R-Nebraska, recently said about widespread — was, unfortunately, untrue. country, Anderson,” former Maryland gov- At a news conference in which she was body’s lips rarely sounds like the sort of an attempt by the legislature to raise the He attracted the sort of people who cared ernor Martin O’Malley told CNN’s Anderson repeatedly questioned about allegations thing lots of people would actually say. gas tax, “Nebraskans tell me that they want deeply about the issue. Cooper at one of last year’s Democratic pres- that she used a private email server for offi- “As I’ve travelled to all of Wisconsin’s 72 to see tax relief, not tax increases.” People Did he really believe that large numbers idential debates, “and there’s two phrases cial business, Clinton remarked that “it’s counties this year,” wrote Russ Feingold, a probably do tell the governor they want of people cared about the dangers of gov- I keep hearing again and again and again. not anything that people talk to me about Democrat running to reclaim his old Sen- tax cuts. But that is because he supports ernment profligacy, or did he merely use And they’re the phrases ‘new leadership’ as I travel around the country.” ate seat in Wisconsin, “I’ve heard over and tax cuts, not because Nebraska is full of their comments to strengthen the credibil- and ‘getting things done.’ “ So Clinton’s travels are mainly about over that while the economic recovery has people demanding lower taxes. There may ity of his own insufficiently popular view? O’Malley’s opponent Hillary Clinton, learning, and one of the things she has already benefited the wealthiest Ameri- be only 10 of them, but all 10 have found I think the latter was more often the case though, would not be outdone. The former learned is that people don’t care about cans, today’s economy still isn’t working their way to Ricketts. - and I found it hard to blame him for it, secretary of state has long been a prodigious media reports that reflect poorly on her. well enough for the families in Wisconsin I used to work for a governor who agreeing with him as I did on policy grounds.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA China tells Taiwan to abandon bid for independence

be as useless as looking for fish in a China’s Taiwan tree,” it said. China called Chen, who led Taiwan Affairs Office warned from 2000-2008, a troublemaker and it would oppose a saboteur of cross-strait ties, even as he tried to maintain stable relations any move towards with Beijing. The Global Times, an influ- independence and ential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s that Beijing was Daily newspaper, said in an editorial determined to that if Tsai’s administration sought to “cross the red line” like Chen, Taiwan defend the country’s would “meet a dead end”. sovereignty “We hope Tsai can lead the DPP out of the hallucinations of Taiwan independence, and contribute to the peaceful and common development Reuters between Taiwan and the mainland,” it added. In Taiwan, the China-friendly China Times called on Tsai to be a “dove for cross strait peace”. TAIPEI/BEIJING: Taiwan should “Peace across the Taiwan Strait is abandon its “hallucinations” about the most important external factor for pushing for independence, as any Taiwan’s stable development,” it said moves towards it would be a “poison”, in an editorial. Chinese state-run media said after a Tsai won 56 percent of the vote landslide victory for the island’s inde- to sweep aside rival Eric Chu of the Joshua Wong (centre), the teenage face of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement which brought parts of the city to a standstill in 2014, walks into a pendence-leaning opposition. China-friendly Nationalist Party that Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic had ruled Taiwan under incumbent press conference in Taipei yesterday. Student leaders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Umbrella Movement said they would seek closer ties with Progressive Party (DPP) won a con- president Ma Ying-jeou since 2008. Taiwan after the island elected a new president who pledged to stand up to China. vincing victory in both presidential Tsai’s DPP also made huge gains and parliamentary elections on Sat- in the parliamentary polls to gain an urday, in what could usher in a new absolute majority with 68 seats in the round of instability with China, which 113-seat legislature, giving her admin- claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own. istration a far stronger policy-making ‘Sunflower’ activists turn lawmakers Tsai pledged to maintain peace with lever over the next four years, and its giant neighbour China, while China’s potentially more leverage over Bei- Taiwan Affairs Office warned it would jing on cross-strait deals and affairs. AFP opposition Democratic Progressive Movement. We will never compromise,” KMT over its China policy and Taiwan’s oppose any move towards independ- China’s Foreign Ministry, in its reac- Party, which has traditionally cam- Huang, 42, said. economic woes saw it haemorrhage ence and that Beijing was determined tion to her victory, said Taiwan was an paigned for the island’s independence. Rock star Freddie Lim, 39, was also seats on Saturday. Among the belea- to defend the country’s sovereignty. internal matter for China, there is only Both Tsai and the protesters’ victory among the successful NPP candidates, guered party’s successful candidates Reacting to Tsai’s victory, China’s one China in the world and the island’s TAIPEI: Beijing not only has to con- is symbolic of growing public resistance unseating a veteran KMT lawmaker in was Chiang Wan-wan, great grand- government-controlled media used election neither changes this reality nor tend with a new president in Taiwan to Beijing after a rapprochement under Taipei. The tattooed death metal singer son of former KMT leader Chiang noticeably less shrill language than that international acceptance of it. who is wary of relations with China, outgoing president Ma Ying-jeou of the grabbed headlines with his scream- Kai-shek, who set up government in levelled at Chen Shui-bian, the DPP’s “There is only one China in the but a fresh batch of activists-turned- China-friendly Kuomintang which has ing, headbanging campaign concerts Taiwan after defeat by Mao Zedong’s last president, and noted her pledges world, the mainland and Taiwan both lawmakers from the island’s boisterous sparked fears Taiwan’s sovereignty is ahead of the vote. “I’m the first rocker Communist troops. for peace and to maintain the “status belong to one China and China’s sov- Sunflower Movement. being eroded. in Asia to go to parliament,” said Lim Chiang, 37, campaigned on a broad quo” with China. ereignty and territorial integrity will Protesters from the student-led “It’s our first election battle and after the victory. “This election shows domestic platform promoting eve- But the official Xinhua news agency not brook being broken up,” the min- movement that dramatically occu- we have a long way ahead of us,” said anyone has the right to go into par- rything from care for the elderly to also warned any moves towards inde- istry added. “The results of the Taiwan pied the island’s parliament in 2014 Huang Kuo-chang, an academic and liament to promote a better Taiwan.” business start-ups. For Huang, vic- pendence were like a “poison” that region election does not change this over a trade pact with Beijing took their leader of the Sunflower Movement Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy tory is a chance to stand up for Taiwan. would cause Taiwan to perish. basic fact and the consensus of the first step into mainstream politics after who became a lawmaker on Saturday. since splitting with China in 1949 after “I call on China that if it wants to “If there is no peace and stabil- international community.” winning seats in parliamentary elec- His New Power Party grew out of a civil war on the mainland, but has push forward ties with Taiwan ... they ity in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s new The White House congratulated tions on Saturday. the protests and won five seats in par- never formally declared independence. have to respect Taiwanese people who authority will find the sufferings of Tsai and said the United States main- The activists’ success came on the liament — making it the third-largest But Beijing still sees it as part of its want to maintain their way of life, and the people it wishes to resolve on the tained a “profound interest” in peace night Taiwan voted in its first female in the legislature. “The NPP will not territory awaiting unification, by force respect Taiwan people’s right to decide economy, livelihood and its youth will between Taiwan and China. president, Tsai Ing-wen of the main forget the principles of the Sunflower if necessary. Resentment towards the their future,” he said.

Vietnam blood donation drive Burkina Faso attack survivors recall night of horror

AFP were firing away and crying out ‘Allahu at the hotel, according to Songa-Oue- Akbar’ (God is Greatest) into the night.” draogo’s account. “We heard shots and In the early hours of the morn- at first thought it was firecrackers. But ing, once the firing had stopped, Trabi then we immediately shut ourselves OUAGADOUGOU: “We didn’t know made the mistake of wanting to leave in a meeting room and switched off if we would get out. We tried calling to get some rest, only to come face to the lights. They fired, breaking down our families, to tell them we weren’t face with a jihadist. “He was young, the door, bursting through and shoot- sure we were going to see them again,” 19 or something like that. He made a ing at everyone,” she said. Five of the said Suzanne Songa-Ouedraogo, her gesture for me to come. I thought it 14 people there were shot. voice trembling as she recalled Fri- was the end. So I pushed a crate of “You could hear them (the attack- day night’s jihadist attack that killed beer on top of him and fled. He fired ers) speaking in their language. We 29 people in the Burkina Faso capi- - tatatata - and I dived on to the floor. couldn’t understand, there was fir- tal of Ouagadougou. “I hurt my knee and crawled ing everywhere. It was a nightmare.” The Burkinabe artist, one of the away. It wasn’t until afterwards I felt Burkina Faso declared three days survivors of the hours-long assault, I’d been shot” in the back by the shoul- of national mourning following the was treated on Saturday afternoon at der. “There was blood everywhere,” he attack. “The Burkinabe nation is in the Yalgado-Ouedraogo hospital for said. “Later the Red Cross took us away shock,” President Roch Marc Christian a gunshot wound to the arm. and, when we went past the Cappuc- Kabore said in a television address. She lay wounded, bleeding away cino, I saw four corpses, two of them A total of 29 people were killed in in the dark for more than seven hours white women, it wasn’t pretty. I was the attack on the hotel and a nearby A student donates blood during a blood donation festival called ‘Red Sunday’, at a university in Hanoi, in a meeting room at the Splendid lucky,” Trabi recalled. “Now when I restaurant, including six Canadians, Vietnam, yesterday. Reports state the annual blood donation programme aims to collect 20,000 units Hotel, one of the attack sites, listen- close my eyes I can hear the voice of two French and two Swiss nationals of blood this year. ing as the assailants shouted and fired that bastard jihadist.” as well as an American and a citizen their weapons metres away from her. The situation was no less desperate of Portugal. Lucien Trabi, an arts manager from the Ivory Coast, was in the al fresco Taxi-Brousse bar across the street from the hotel to have a drink when Ebola: 109 quarantined in Sierra Leone “five jihadists, two of them women, walked by”. Though several witnesses have Reuters flare-ups as survivors can carry the virus for months. spoken of seeing two women the Just after the WHO announcement on Thursday, tests country’s interior security minister revealed that Mariatu Jalloh, a 22-year-old student, died Saturday night denied this to be the of Ebola on January 12. case, speaking only of “three men”. FREETOWN: More than 100 people have been quar- Her death has concerned health experts because author- “The landlady said, ‘Why are they antined in Sierra Leone after coming in contact with a ities failed to follow basic protocols, according to a health dressed like that’. They were wearing woman who died of Ebola last week, highlighting the report seen by Reuters last week. gloves and I saw a Kalashnikov. They potential for the disease to spread, just as the deadliest The report stated that she lived in a house with 22 passed us and went to the Cappuccino outbreak on record appeared to be over. people while she was unwell. Five people were involved cafe (another of the sites attacked). The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week in washing her corpse, a practice that is considered one There, suddenly, they started spraying declared that “all known chains of transmission have of the chief modes of Ebola transmission. everyone with bullets. Above all they been stopped in West Africa” after Liberia joined Sierra The Ministry of Health and the Office of National Secu- were looking for expats,” Trabi said. Leone and Guinea in going six weeks with no reported rity said in a joint statement that 109 people have so far “We hid in an apartment, high A policeman stands guard in front of the Splendid Hotel yesterday. new cases of Ebola. At the same time, it warned of possible been quarantined, 28 of whom were high-risk cases. up. You could see the jihadists, they PAKISTAN MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 13 Suicide bomber kills 14 in Afghanistan

the house of Shinwari,” said Najibul- It was a second lah Kamawal, the health director of Nangarhar province, of which Jala- attack in the eastern labad is the capital. Afghan city in less Ambulances rushed to the scene, which was littered with than a week and pieces of human flesh, sandals targeted at the home and charred debris. of a politician Shinwari is a well-known mem- ber of Nangarhar’s provincial council and his family is said to be actively involved in local politics. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani AFP strongly condemned the attack, warn- ing security forces will go after the culprits with “all its strength”. “When terrorists lose the ability JALALABAD: At least 14 people were to fight face-to-face with our secu- killed when a suicide bomber struck rity forces, then they target public the home of a prominent politician in places and kill our innocent people,” Jalalabad yesterday, officials said, in Ghani said in a statement. the second deadly attack in the east- “The government will fight those ern Afghan city in less than a week. who shed the blood of our innocent The Taliban denied responsibil- people.” ity for the bombing, which also left The bombing is the latest deadly A private security official passes by suicide bomb attack site in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. 13 people wounded on the eve of a attack in the city since Wednesday, new round of four-country negotia- when Islamic State (IS) jihadists tions aimed at restarting peace talks claimed responsibility for a four- territory across Syria and Iraq, is Afghanistan, the group has taken to the The uptick in violence comes amid brazen winter campaign of violence. with the insurgents. hour gun and bomb siege targeting making gradual inroads in Afghan- airwaves with a 90-minute Pashto- renewed international efforts to revive The so-called “roadmap” talks The carnage came during a jirga, the Pakistani consulate. istan, challenging the Taliban on language radio show called “Voice of peace talks with the Taliban, locked were meant to lay the groundwork for an assembly of tribal leaders, at the All three attackers and seven secu- their own turf. the Caliphate”. in a tussle for supremacy with the direct dialogue between the Afghani- home of politician Obaiduallah Shin- rity forces were killed in the assault, The jihadists have managed to The government has said it is IS in Afghanistan. Last week repre- stan government and the Islamists to wari, who escaped unscathed. the first major IS attack in an Afghan attract disaffected Taliban fighters trying to block the broadcast, which sentatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, end the 14-year Taliban insurgency in “Fourteen people were killed city and on a Pakistani government increasingly lured by the group’s sig- is beamed from an undisclosed the United States and China met with the country. The four-country group and 13 others injured when a suicide installation. nature brutality. location and aimed at winning the a view to revive stalled Taliban peace is set to hold the next round of discus- bomber detonated his explosives in The group, which controls In a sign of their growing reach in new recruits. talks, even as the insurgents wage a sions today in Kabul. Land routes finalised for Pakistan’s trade with Central Asia Sharif to visit Saudi and Iran Internews Economic Cooperation (CAREC), According to the documents, an enhancing bilateral trade. study of the proposed link. Sherkhan-Ninjpayan border route additional carriageway on Torkham- For Chaman to Spinboldak rail link, Afghanistan has also proposed ‘to ease tension’ has been identified by Tajikistan, Jalalabad road will be completed by Pakistan has approved a Rs1.262bn project. a new rail link from Helmand city- Afghanistan and Pakistan as a cor- December 2016. However, completion However, work will start in tandem, with Bahramcha (Afghanistan) to Gwadar ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalised ridor for trade. The Afghan Chamber of the project has been linked with the Afghan side starting construction of via Yakmuch and Panjgur which will various projects concerning road and of Commerce will prepare a proposal adequate security for the project from Kandhar-Spinboldak section. provide the shortest economic rail con- rail link for boosting trade with Afghan- for establishing a joint transport com- the Afghan government. For Peshawar-Jalalabad rail link, nectivity for regional trade and transit istan and Central Asian states. pany by February 2016. Regarding Peshawar-Kabul Motor- Pakistan has approved a project worth between the two countries and the Official documents show that a The proposal will be discussed and way, a PC-II of Rs 90m has been Rs 76m to carry out feasibility study. region. Afghanistan has offered to con- feasibility study will be conducted approved at the Afghanistan-Pakistan approved by the NHA for feasibility Afghanistan has proposed rail con- duct the feasibility study of this project. on the link road between Tajikistan joint committee on bus service and study. Afghanistan has been requested nectivity between Khost and Pakistan Pakistan Railways plans to connect and Pakistan. This issue has already Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber to hold the second meeting of focal per- via Miran Shah/Bannu. This route can Gwadar with the Afghan railway via been raised with Afghanistan and a of Commerce and Industry for goods sons to speed up work on the project. be used for trade, transit and transport Basima, Quetta and Chaman in line response is still awaited from Kabul. transport. On these two issues, a meet- Pakistan is also working on improv- corridor. The Afghanistan government with the CAREC and regional connec- Under the Central Asia Regional ing will be held in Kabul soon. ing the rail link with Afghanistan for has offered to carry out pre-feasibility tivity framework. AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Min- ister Nawaz Sharif (pictured will Raj Kapoor’s birthplace Lost childhood lead a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia and Iran this week to try to ease tension between the Muslim countries, a minister said yesterday. partially demolished Information minister Pervez Rashid said Sharif would travel to Riyadh today and Tehran tomor- Internews the police had yet to do so. row and would meet Saudi King The official said the current owner Salman bin Abdulaziz and Iranian claimed to have a notice of the munic- President Hassan Rouhani. ipal authorities asking him to pull Foreign ministry spokesman PESHAWAR: The birthplace of Bolly- down the structure, as its condition Qazi Khalilullah said Sharif would wood legend Raj Kapoor was partially was too precarious and it could col- exchange views on regional and demolished by its owner here on yes- lapse anytime. He said despite the international issues and try to reduce terday in northwestern Pakistani damages, the structure was stable. tension between the two countries. metropolitan if Peshawar. “We will watch the building closely “Pakistan is deeply concerned Officials of the archeology to save it from further destruction,” at the recent escalation of tensions directorate said they made an elev- he said. between the Kingdom of Saudi Ara- enth-hour attempt to save the historic An official at the Khan Raziq police bia and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” building located in Dhaki Munawar station said the police didn’t register the spokesman said in a statement. Shah area of the walled city but by FIR of the house’s demolition. He said the prime minister has then, the top floor of the four-story He said four labourers working in called for the peaceful settlement structure was pulled down. the building were taken into custody of differences in the larger inter- They said rest of but they were later freed. ests of Muslim unity. the building was badly Town-I area council- “The purpose of the visit is to damaged. The Khyber lor Mian Zulfiqar said the mediate and to end the standoff Pakhtunkhwa government building in question was between the two countries,” a third had earlier announced in very precarious con- Children collect recyclable plastic in a canal in Peshawar, yesterday. These children sell the plastic to government official said. to declare the houses of dition and could collapse support their families. Saudi Arabia and Iran are Peshawar-born Bollywood anytime. He said the area already fighting a proxy war in actors Raj Kapoor and Dilip residents demanded the Yemen and support opposing sides Kumar as heritage to pro- authorities to take notice in the Syrian conflict. But tensions tect and preserve them. of the fragile structure have reached new heights in the The officials said that insisting it threatened past two weeks. they learned about the their lives. Petition against perks of ex-chief justice Saudi Arabia and a number of demolition of the house The councillor said its Arab allies cut diplomatic ties yesterday morning and went to the the recent earthquakes had badly with Iran after protesters angry at Khan Raziq police station for help to shaken the old building. Internews A petitioner, Shahid Orakzai, filed 205 after he forms or joins a political Riyadh’s execution of a prominent ensure the immediate halt to work. “We’ve heard about a notice issued a petition under Article 184 (3) of the party, functioning under the Political Shiite cleric on January 2 sacked its They said instead of stopping to the owner by Town-I directing him Constitution, arguing that Chaudhry Parties Order, 2002. “No political activ- embassy in Tehran. the demolition, the police officials either to reduce the building’s height is no more a retired judge in the eyes ist can draw the pension of a judge of Local media said Pakistan’s got into formalities and asked them or to raze it. ISLAMABAD: A petition has been of the Constitution and is not entitled the Supreme Court.” powerful army chief General Raheel to produce a written application for “The archeology department woke moved in the Supreme Court of Paki- to pension under Article 205. The petition said the launch of a Sharif would also accompany Pre- the purpose. up only when it heard about dem- stan to stop pension and all perks “Instruct the registrar to stop the party two years’ after his retirement mier Sharif. Pakistan’s decision “After much haggling, two police olition. It never bothered to check enjoyed of top judge of the coun- payment of pension and recover any did indicate Chaudhry’s adherence to this month to join Saudi Ara- personnel followed us to the site and the structure for stability and dam- try, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sum commuted in advance for any the constitutional provisions. bia’s 34-country coalition against for the demolition stopped,” an offi- ages following the earthquakes,” he because he has entered politics by period after December 25, 2015,” said “But he may have misread the con- extremism sparked a domestic pro- cial said. said. Zulfiqar said if it was a heritage launching his own party. the petition yesterday. ditions imposed by the Constitution on test by the main opposition parties, He said the directorate had building, then the directorate should Chief Justice (Rtd) Chaudhry launched The petitioner questioned whether the judges or, seemingly, intermixed who called for negotiations between demanded the registration of an have taken care of it earlier instead Pakistan Justice Democratic Critic Party a judge of the Supreme Court is enti- them with restrictions on retiring civil Riyadh and Tehran and put Islam- FIR against the house’s owner but of waiting for it to cave in. (PJDCP) on December 25, 2015. tled to any remuneration under Article servants,” the petition pointed out. abad under pressure to mediate. 14 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 INDIA

PDP authorises India inaugurates Mehbooba on govt formation digital learning SRINAGAR: The Peoples Dem- ocratic Party (PDP) yesterday unanimously authorised its pres- ident Mehbooba Mufti to take the centre in Palestine call on government-formation in Jammu and Kashmir and contin- uation of its alliance with the BJP. “The party deliberated on our Vikas Swarup tweeted. The centre is score-card during the last 10 months The Digital Learning part of India’s efforts at supplementing of the PDP-BJP coalition rule and capacity-building in Palestine. unanimously authorised PDP presi- and Innovation Centre Earlier yesterday, Sushma Swaraj, who dent Mehbooba Mufti to take a final at the campus of the was accompanied by Secretary (East) in call on the future of our alliance with the external affairs ministry Anil Wadhwa the Bharatiya Janata Party,” sen- Al Quds University and other senior officials of the ministry, ior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar told in Ramallah is part held delegation-level talks with Palestin- reporters after a marathon party ian Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki, to start meeting here. of India’s efforts her visit to Palestine and Israel. The party reposed complete Her visit comes after the visit of Pres- trust in Mehbooba Mufti during the at supplementing ident Pranab Mukherjee in October last four-hour meeting, the former edu- capacity-building year. cation minister said. Sushma Swaraj also called on Pales- in Palestine, which tinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was inaugurated by hosted a lunch in her honour. the External Affairs Prior to that, she paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his bust, which Police officer Minister Sushma is placed at the Garden of Nations here. She also paid tributes to the mauso- shoots woman Swaraj leum of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat here. to death Sushma Swaraj, who landed in Tel Aviv late on Saturday, reached Ramallah, Agencies the administrative capital of Palestine, NEW DELHI: A Delhi Police sub- Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city yesterday morning. inspector yesterday shot dead a Ahead of Swaraj’s visit to Palestine, of Ramallah, yesterday. married woman and later tried the external affairs ministry spokes- to commit suicide with his serv- RAMALLAH , PALESTINE: External person had said: “This is the first visit ice revolver, police sources said. Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday of external affairs minister to West Asia of people and has been active in the top Israeli leadership. minister Tsipi Hotovely. The shooting was reported from inaugurated the India-Palestine Digital region and Palestine is the first destina- capacity building by extending schol- She will call on Israeli President Many in Israel see Swaraj’s visit Uttam Nagar in west Delhi. Learning and Innovation Centre at the tion in the region which in itself reflects arships to Palestinian students and Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Ben- as a build-up to a much-anticipated Sub-inspector Vijender Singh, campus of the Al Quds University here. the importance India holds for Palestine building schools. After her engage- jamin Netanyahu, who also retains visit by Prime Minister Narendra posted at Ranhola police station “Investing in youth for a better future. in its engagement with the countries of ments in Palestine, eration between the portfolio of foreign minister, Modi to the region. Netanyahu and in west Delhi, has been admitted EAM inaugurates the #IndiaPalestine Dig- the region.” the two countries. and meet defence minister Moshe Rivlin are also expected to visit India to AIIMS Trauma Centre with gun ital learning Centre at Al Quds Univ,” India is executing several projects in From Palestine, the Indian min- Ya’alon, minister of Infrastructure after having received invitations from shot injury. external affairs ministry spokesman Palestine to improve the living conditions ister will proceed to Israel to meet Yuval Steinitz and deputy foreign Mukherjee in October during his visit. The victim, identified as Nikki Chauhan, lived with her husband in Uttam Nagar. According to sources, she was a small time reporter and report- Congress wins 108 of 278 local body seats in Manipur edly came in touch with Vijender when he was posted at Uttam Nagar police station a few years ago. The two allegedly had an affair IANS President Thounaojam Chaoba were Deputy chief minister Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years, could but ultimately married different making claims and counter-claims The local body Gaikhangam brushed aside the BJP manage to win just four Nagar Pancha- people. According to sources, the on their parties’ electoral gains in the contention that the Congress wave yats, the Congress bagged four Nagar gunned down woman was of late municipal council and nagar pan- elections were held is on the wane, saying the Congress Palika (municipalities) and three Nagar demanding money from Singh, fail- IMPHAL: The Congress put up a chayat polls. in 18 municipal is consolidating its strength and will Panchayat (city councils) ing which she threatened to lodge good show in the municipal coun- Gaikhangam said: “Most of the certainly retain power for the fourth “BJP government has done nothing a rape complaint against him, cil and nagar panchayat elections Independents were fielded by the Con- councils and eight assembly term in 2017. on the issues of paddy procurement, sources added. This, sources said, in Manipur, winning 108 out of the gress. The elected Independents have nagar panchayats to The BJP, which had no legislator, bonus, ration cards, etc. You can see led to a spat between the two and 278 seats for which polling was held started joining the Congress.” parliament member or other elected the result of its inaction in the out- the enraged sub-inspector shot her on January 11. BJP’s Chaoba contended that the elect 278 councillors members in Manipur, first opened come of the local body polls. This and then tried to end his life as well. The local body elections were Congress is on the wane since it could and 586 panchayat account by winning two bypolls tom victory will boost the confidence of Singh is recuperating at the hospital. held in 18 municipal councils and field just 199 candidates. Considering the assembly in last November. the Congress,” said T S Singh Dev, eight nagar panchayats to elect 278 the fact that the BJP had no elected members in Manipur’s The winning of substantial number leader of opposition in the Chattis- councillors and 586 nagar panchayat member in these local bodies in the four districts of of seats in the local bodies is a major garh assembly. members in Manipur’s four districts past, winning such a large number Imphal West, Thoubal, achievement for the BJP. However, Ajit Jogi, another Congress leader Woman throws of Imphal West, Thoubal, Imphal East, of seats is a gigantic stride, he added. the party is hamstrung by internal and former chief minister, was of the and Bishnupur. He said: “This shows the unmis- Imphal East, and bickerings. view that while both his party and ink at Kejriwal The results were declared late Sat- takable (Prime Minister Narendra) Bishnupur The BJP has been embroiled in some BJP experienced dissension ahead urday for 278 municipal council seats, Modi wave in Manipur. We are cer- blame game for its not-so-impressive of the local body polls, the prob- of which the Congress won 108 seats, tain of wresting the political power poll performances. In fact, Chaoba who lems on the other side were much NEW DELHI: A woman threw Bharatiya Janata Party 62, Commu- from the Congress in the 2017 assem- was to retire late last year, got a new more serious. ink at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind nist Party of India 2, Lok Janashakti bly elections.” lease till the local body polls. Now there “Dissension in the BJP was much Kejriwal here yesterday at a pub- Party four and the Independents 102. The way the party’s position was already is a hectic lobbying for the next graver than what happened in Con- lic gathering to mark the “success” Though elections were to be held whittled away shows the growing will establish whether the BJP has made BJP state unit president. gress. In ticket distribution, we focused of the odd-even traffic restriction for 279 seats, one seat remained vacant resentment of the people against the any inroads. Upbeat by the poll results, The Congress had dealt a severe only on the names thrown up by the scheme but missed him. as no nomination was filed for it. Congress ministry, he added. Chaoba said: “Now it is clearly proven jolt to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party PCC survey. Overall, we did very well Kejriwal, who was speaking at As the results were being declared, Countering Chaoba’s attacks before that the Modi wave has made a land- (BJP) with a huge victory in Chhat- in the selection of candidates,” he said. the Chhatrasal Stadium, remained Manipur’s Deputy Chief Minis- the January 11 polls, Chief Minister fall in Manipur and that the Congress tisgarh local body polls last month. Jogi said Congress doubtless ben- unruffled. Police detained the ter Gaikhangam and BJP state unit Okram Ibobi had said the outcome is on the way out.” While the BJP, in power in efited from the dissension in the BJP. woman.

Kochi Smart City YSR Congress MP held for Protest against stray dogs to be inaugurated next month slapping Air India official

IANS IANS after the latter declined to issue board- ing passes to him and his relatives as DUBAI/KOCHI: The first phase of the boarding was already closed for Kerala’s much-delayed Kochi Smart the Air India flight to Delhi. City will be inaugurated next month, HYDERABAD: A YSR Congress Party The MP had since evaded police a meeting of the project’s board of MP was arrested yesterday on charges interrogation. His anticipatory bail directors in Dubai decided yesterday. of slapping an Air India official at the petition was also rejected by a court. According to Kerala IT and Tirupati airport in November. Earlier, YSRCP state legislator Industries Minister P K Kun- P Mithun Reddy and another Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy was halikutty, who led the state IT accused, Madhusudhan Reddy, were arrested in the same case and was delegation in talks with joint ven- detained at Chennai airport early yes- later released on bail. ture partner Dubai Holdings, the terday and handed over to Andhra Meanwhile, police in Pileru in exact date would be decided next Pradesh. Chittoor district arrested over 100 week when the list of the visiting The MP and his aide were brought supporters of the MP when they were dignitaries from UAE would also to Tirupati where they were produced heading towards Tirupati to express emerge.The first phase that would before a magistrate who sent them to solidarity with him. be inaugurated is the 6.5 lakh square judicial custody for 14 days. The opposition party also staged feet building, in which, according Mithun Reddy is a member of the a sit-in on the Tirupati-Chennai high- to the minister, 25 new companies Lok Sabha from Rajampet in Kadapa way to protest against the MP’s arrest. have already booked space. district. Mithun Reddy’s father and YSRCP Along with the inauguration, A case for assaulting a public serv- legislator Peddireddy Ramchandra the foundation stone for the sec- ant on duty was filed against Mithun Reddy said his son did nothing wrong. ond phase — of a 470,000 sq feet Reddy and 15 others at Yerpedu police He was confident they will get jus- building — would also be laid. The station at Renigunta near Tirupati on tice in the court. organisers are making efforts to November 27 last year. Party MP Y V Subba Reddy alleged Members of civil society hold placards and banners as they protest against the local administration bring in the United Arab Emirates The case was registered on a com- that Mithun Reddy’s arrest was a con- for their failure in stopping dog bites cases in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, yesterday. According Vice President and Prime Minister plaint by Rajasekhar, Air India’s station spiracy against the YSRCP. He dared to the government, 63,330 dog bite cases were recorded in the past six years. Leading animal rights Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al manager at the airport. the government to make public the activists have moved court against culling of stray dogs planned by various municipal authorities Maktoum, who is also the Ruler of Mithun Reddy allegedly entered CCTV footage recorded at the airport across Kashmir. Dubai, for the inauguration. into an argument with Rajasekhar when the incident occurred. INDIA MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 15

India can import Indo-French military exercise oil freely from Iran

importing oil from Iran, to be paid for and diesel by under a rupee each on now in US dollars, comes at a time the same day. State-run Indian Oil when global prices are expected to Also marking a 13-year low, the Corporation said the plunge further with Iranian oil add- price of the Organisation of Petroleum possibility of freely ing to the supply glut. Exporting Countries(OPEC) basket of Iran is expected to increase its twelve crudes stood at $25 a barrel importing oil from export of 1.1 million barrels of oil on Friday, compared to $25.69 on the Iran comes at a time per day by 500,000 soon, followed previous day, the organisation’s sec- by a further 500,000 bpd thereafter. retariat said. when global prices The lifting of sanctions came after Adding to investors’ worries was are expected to US Secretary of State John Kerry issued the lack of signs that US shale oil pro- a statement confirming the Interna- ducers would start to cut production plunge further with tional Atomic Energy Agency has in face of the plunging prices. Iranian oil adding to verified that Iran “has fully imple- With Opec deciding last Decem- the supply glut mented its required commitments”. ber against cutting output, traders are The prospect of Iran doubling its betting the cartel is less likely to cut crude oil exports has provoked the output now to prevent easy passage continuing fall in oil prices with UK of Iranian crude into the market, par- Brent crude closing trade on Friday ticularly at a time of tensions between IANS below $29 a barrel. Iran and Saudi Arabia. Brent and US’ West Texas Inter- Meanwhile, IOC’s latest refinery in mediate (WTI) have declined on most Odisha’s Paradip started production of days of trading this year with markets petrol from the Rs.34,555-crore facil- NEW DELHI: With international expecting supply to surpass demand. ity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will French soldiers (left) and Indian Army’s drummers participate in a parade during the closing ceremony nuclear sanctions on Iran lifted yester- The Indian basket of crude oils dedicate the 15 million metric tonnes of the joint Indo-French Army Exercise ‘Shakti 2016’ at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Bikaner. day, India will resume its unrestricted closed trade on the last trading day per annum refinery, which will pri- Soldiers from India and France have been taking part in joint military excercises in the western state import of oil from that country. on Friday at a 13-year low of $26.43 a marily produce BS-VI fuels to serve of Rajasthan. State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) barrel, according to official data. The the eastern and southeastern markets, here said that the possibility of freely oil marketer cut the price of petrol to the nation on February 7. Partly cloudy Lalu elected RJD chief day in Delhi, for ninth time in row but 25 trains cancelled IANS

IANS PATNA: Lalu Prasad was yesterday formally elected the Rashtriya Janata Dal national president for the ninth NEW DELHI: It was a foggy Sunday consecutive term. morning in the national capital with The re-election of the former rail- the minimum temperature recorded way minister for another three-year at 9.6 degrees Celsius, three notches term was a foregone conclusion since above the season’s average. The Met he was the only candidate in the fray Office has forecast a partly cloudy for the top party post. day ahead. “Lalu Prasad has been formally According to the Northern Rail- An elderly woman sleeps on a foothpath in a foggy morning in New Delhi, yesterday. elected the RJD national president for way, 25 trains were cancelled and the ninth consecutive time,” party’s one had to be rescheduled. Eleven national election officer Jagdanand others were running late due to fog likely to remain partly cloudy through- day is likely to hover around 18 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season’s Singh said. in and around Delhi. out the day, an India Meteorological Celsius. The humidity at 8.30 a.m was average while the minimum temper- The formal voting to elect Lalu Due to fog in the morning, the Department official said. 88 percent. Saturday’s maximum tem- ature settled at 11 degree Celsius, four Prasad, 67, was held at the party’s visibility was 800 metres. The sky is The maximum temperature of the perature was recorded at 17.2 degree notches above the season’s average. national council meeting here, with more than 700 delegates from 24 states attending. Lalu Prasad, who filed his nom- ination papers at the RJD state Congress ready to give conditional support to GST headquarters here on January 8, has been the RJD chief since the party’s formation on July 5, 1997, after a split the Centre. Earlier, the RJD chief — a in the Janata Dal. former Bihar chief minister — reached IANS accepted, we will help pass it in just was not ready for it. Gandhi pointed confronting the proposed legislation. Soon after his re-election, hun- the meeting venue at S K Memorial 15 minutes,” Gandhi assured during out that it was the Congress which “Jaitley does not have to tell me dreds of party leaders and workers Hall here along with his wife Rabri his interaction with management had introduced the GST bill, but the GST is good. I know it’s good. But we garlanded the former chief minister Devi and sons Tejaswi Yadav and Tej MUMBAI: Congress vice president students of the Narsee Monjee Insti- BJP had stopped it in parliament for don’t want a GST without a cap on and presented flowers to him amid Pratap and RJD state president Ram Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his tute of Management Studies at Vile seven years. taxes, we want a limitation on the slogan-shouting. Chandra Purbey besides scores of party was ready to support the Goods Parle here. “(Finance Minister) Arun Jait- maximum tax that can be charged,” After his re-election, Lalu Prasad other senior leaders. and Services Tax (GST) bill in parlia- He expressed willingness for a ley did not allow it to pass then, and he added. said the RJD will play an important The RJD won 80 of the 243 seats in ment once the government accepts the ‘compromise’ on GST with the gov- Narendra Modi, then Gujarat chief The Congress leader denied that it role in uniting like-minded parties the Bihar assembly to emerge as the opposition party’s conditions. ernment by discussing it across the minister, also did not allow GST,” was the strategy of the party to block on one platform to end the “misrule” single-largest party after the Novem- “The day the conditions are table, but alleged that the government he said, referring to the roadblocks parliament on the issue. of the Narendra Modi government at ber 2015 polls.

Baby receives oral polio drops Exotic shrimp BJP holds talks with production to get Kerala’s new party a boost in Kerala

IANS IANS scenario in Kerala, where a strong resentment prevails against the fronts led by the leftist opposition and the ruling Congress. KOCHI: Shrimp farming in Ker- NEW DELHI: Leaders of the BJP and Talks were held on how to ala is all set to touch new heights newly formed Bharath Dharma Jana appraoch the coming assembly polls. with an institute for ocean studies Sena (BDJS) of Vellapalli Natesan held More talks will be held in Kerala,” securing licence to set up the first talks here yesterday on their possi- Rajasekheran told reporters in Delhi hatchery in the state for the exotic ble alliance in Kerala. after the meeting. white-leg vannamei shrimp. State Bharatiya Janata Party chief The first round of parleys for the The Coastal Aquaculture Kummanam Rajasekheran, his pred- new alliance were held by Rajas- Authority in Chennai has given the ecessor V Muraleedharan and BDJS ekheran at Natesan’s residence on nod to Kerala University of Fish- leader and Natesan’s son Tushar Vel- December 26. eries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) lapalli held a meeting with national The upcoming ‘yatra’ of Rajas- for setting up the hatchery at the BJP president Amit Shah on the matter. ekheran later this month from university’s research station near The assembly elections in Ker- Kasargode district in north Kerala here. ala are likely to be held in April/May also came up for discussion at the To start with, the hatchery will this year. meeting. be used for the university’s purposes Natesan, a Hindu Ezhava leader, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu and that of the shrimp farmers asso- launched his political party last will flag off the rally while union Home ciated with it. year. Natesan heads the powerful Minister Rajnath Singh will be the KUFOS vice chancellor B Mad- A child is given an oral polio vaccination by a non-government organisation worker in Srinagar, Kashmir, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana chief guest at the yatra’s culmina- husoodana Kurup said things will yesterday. With India being polio-free for five years now, the government has plans to reduce the Yogam, a social organisation of the tion in the state capital next month. now change, as the shrimp farmers intensity of the oral vaccination. Hindu Ezhava comunity. The BJP is yet to open its account were till now dependant on other “We discussed the overall political in the 140-member Kerala assembly. states for shrimp spawn. 16 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 EUROPE

Cameron risks Luminarias celebrations party schism over EU vote

Seven of Wilson’s team of 23 sen- ior ministers campaigned to leave what Cameron, who was then the European Economic Com- favours staying munity. While Britain voted 67 percent to 33 percent to stay in, Labour split six in a reformed EU, years later, with four pro-Europeans has been accused breaking away to form a new party. “The divisions did not disappear just by Eurosceptics of because they had had a polite agree- seeking insignificant ment to disagree,” said Steven Fielding, professor of political history at the Uni- changes in the versity of Nottingham. negotiations “It got them through the referen- dum campaign but it didn’t alter the situation that there were significant fig- ures in the party who wanted to come Reuters out and those who wanted to stay in.” Cameron has said he will work hard to get “the best possible deal” in nego- tiations with the bloc. He hopes to win A horseman crosses a bonfire at the traditional ‘luminarias’ celebrations at San Bartolome de Pinares in Avila, central Spain, yesterday. LONDON: Hoping to hold together a deal in February, opening the way More than 100 horses participated in the celebrations with a belief of getting purified with the smoke from around 20 big bonfires. a party with a small majority in par- for a referendum as early as in June. liament and facing resignations, the Some Conservative Euroscep- British prime minister takes the unu- tics say more than half of Cameron’s sual step of letting members of his lawmakers could vote to leave, while cabinet oppose the government ahead several ministers, including Home of a referendum on Europe. Secretary Theresa May, Business Majority of Spaniards oppose new elections The year was 1975 and that leader Secretary Sajid Javid, Work and Pen- was Labour’s Harold Wilson. But with sions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith current Conservative Prime Minis- and House of Commons leader Chris AFP The conservative Popular only from Ciudadanos. Podemos, a close ally of Greece’s ter David Cameron’s plans to hold a Grayling, are reported by local media Party (PP) of acting Prime Minis- Spain’s King Felipe VI will today ruling Syriza which has made fighting referendum on Britain’s European to be considering backing an EU exit. ter Mariano Rajoy won 123 of the start holding consultations with the corruption and economic inequal- Union membership increasingly ech- In Cameron’s favour is that his party parliament’s 350 seats in a Decem- leaders of political parties with rep- ity the focus of its platform, would oing the last time Britons voted on is in a strong political position —it won a MADRID: A majority of Spanish voters ber 20 general election, winning resentation in parliament in a bid come in second place with 22.5 per- staying in the bloc, it could just as majority in a general election last year. . oppose holding fresh polls to resolve a the most seats but falling short of to help break the impasse. cent support, up from 20.7 percent easily be 2016. Facing the prospect of The election of veteran left-wing activ- political impasse caused by an incon- an absolute majority. The Socialists Only 33 percent of voters back in the election. members of his team quitting, Cam- ist Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the main clusive general election last month and came second with 90 seats. a new election to end the deadlock The Socialists would come in eron used the same tactic as Wilson opposition Labour has set off an inter- want parties to form a coalition govern- Two new parties, Podemos and while 61 percent would prefer to see third as their support would fall to this month and bowed to pressure to nal conflict over its identity. ’ ment instead, a survey showed yesterday. the centre-right Ciudadanos, won a an agreement between the parties, 21.1 percent from 22 percent during allow ministers to campaign to leave But Cameron’s decision to let min- If new elections were held the combined 109 seats, ending decades according to the Metroscopia poll pub- the election while Ciudadanos would the EU after he renegotiates Britain’s isters air their views and campaign results would be similar to the Decem- of two-party dominance by the Popu- lished in El Pais. once again come in fourth with 16.6 relationship with the bloc. against each other has led to warnings ber vote and the deadlock would lar Party and the Socialists and giving The Popular Party would once percent support, up from 13.9 percent But Cameron, who like Wilson from veteran party figures, including remain, although new anti-austerity Spain a hung parliament in which a rul- again capture the most votes if a fresh in the general election. favours staying in a reformed EU and Europhile former finance minister party Podemos would edge out the ing majority cannot easily be formed. election were held, with their support The telephone poll of 1,200 eli- has been accused by Eurosceptics of Ken Clarke and former deputy prime Socialists from second place, accord- Since the election, Rajoy has met at 29 percent according to the poll. The gible voters was carried out January seeking insignificant changes in the minister Michael Heseltine, that it will ing to the poll published in top-selling separately with leaders of the three party won 28.7 percent of the vote in 12-14. It has a margin of error of 2.9 negotiations, may be mindful of history. make it harder to heal rifts. daily newspaper El Pais. rival parties and won implicit support last month’s general election. percentage points.

Sweden Snow attracts crowd New court to try launches probe into mosque Kosovo war crimes ‘arson’ bid AFP may feel threatened in Kosovo. This is why the option of trying cases out- STOCKHOLM: Swedish police said side Kosovo was explored.” yesterday they have launched an Establishing such a court trig- investigation into possible arson THE HAGUE: A new EU-backed court gered heated debate in Pristina, with after a fire at a mosque in the south- to try war crimes allegedly committed the opposition boycotting the vote west of the country. by ethnic Albanian guerrillas during in August. “At this time it is unclear how the the bitter Kosovo conflict will open But Prime Minister Isa Mustafa fire started. A preliminary investi- this year in The Hague, Dutch offi- told legislators at the time that such gation for arson has been launched cials said. a tribunal was a key demand of Kos- and the premises have been cor- “The court will try serious crimes ovo’s strategic partners, especially the doned off to allow the technical staff allegedly committed in 1999-2000 United States and the European Union. to work,” police said in a statement. by members of the Kosovo Liberation A Kosovo government spokes- Firemen and police were called Army (KLA) against ethnic minorities man did not respond to a request to in at around 3am (0200 GMT) but and political opponents,” the Dutch comment on the issue. they found no one at the site in the foreign ministry said in a statement. But Ardian Arifaj, a political advi- town of Boras. Opening more than a decade and sor to the minister of foreign affairs, “It is no longer possible to use a half after the Kosovo war ended, who led the negotiations on the court the site. All activities have been the new tribunal will have interna- confirmed the discussions with the cancelled until further notice,” tional judges but will be part of the Netherlands. “This decision is the the mosque’s administration said Kosovo judicial system. Those con- result of negotiations in which I’ve on Facebook. Arsonists have tar- victed will not serve their sentences led the Kosovan delegation,” he said. geted several mosques and centres in the Netherlands. The war in Kosovo, which came housing asylum seekers in recent It will be housed in a former build- amid the chaos of the break-up of months, in a string of attacks linked ing belonging to the European police the former Yugoslavia, ended when a Cars back up on a street heading up to the peak on the Grosser Feldberg by the already overcrowded to the growing influx of migrants. agency Europol, once a new extension three-month long Nato air campaign Sweden, which is home to 9.8 parking lots near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, yesterday. Winter conditions in the upper reaches of has been built, and will be funded by drove Serbian forces out of the break- million people, is one of the Euro- the Taunus mountains attracted many residents of the snowless Rhine-Main lowlands. the European Union. away territory in June 1999. pean Union countries that has taken The 1998-1999 war pitted ethnic The people of Albanian-majority Albanian guerrillas seeking independ- Kosovo, with its population of some ence for the southern Serbian province 1.8 million, unilaterally proclaimed of Kosovo against Serbia’s forces, who independence in 2008, a move that withdrew from the territory after an Serbia still refuses to recognise. Montenegro to turn island fortress into hotel 11-week NATO bombing campaign. The new court will open as the Pristina has been under intense inter- International Criminal Tribune for national pressure to create the special the Former Yugoslavia, set up by the AFP company Orascom to invest €15m towards history,” campaigner Olivera the conversion included a memorial court since a 2011 Council of Europe United Nations in 1993 as a temporary ($16m) to build a high-end hotel with Doklestic said. room to former inmates. report on alleged crimes by KLA mem- tribunal to deal with war crimes com- a dance floor, spa and marina jetty. The 54-year-old woman, whose Despite the concern of prison- bers. The report unveiled reports of mitted during the Balkans conflicts “We were facing two options: to grandfather, father and uncle were ers’ relatives, Montenegrin PR agency abductions, summary executions and of the 1990s, is winding down having PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO: Mon- leave the site to fall into ruin or find imprisoned at Mamula, said that the Magna said the local war veterans’ —most controversially —the trafficking already issued its last indictments. tenegro has defended its decision to investors who would be willing to fortress should be renovated and opened group had given approval for the of prisoners’ organs, with special rap- The ICTY has indicted some 161 allow an island fortress and wartime restore it and make it accessible to to visitors as a historic site. “No con- project, which includes plans to con- porteur Dick Marty accusing the KLA of people for crimes committed during concentration camp to be transformed visitors,” Olivera Brajovic, head of the centration camp in the world has been serve the fortress. Salt and Water, the abusing, torturing and killing 500 pris- the wars in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo into a luxury resort, a move that has national directorate for tourism devel- transformed into a hotel,” she said. Belgrade-based company designing oners, mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma. and the former Yugoslav Republic of sparked anger among relatives of its opment, told reporters. According to the local war veter- the resort, has pictures of the planned Marty’s report notably pointed the Macedonia. Some 80 people have been former prisoners. Relatives of some of those detained ans’ association, Mamula had more transformation on its website. finger at former guerrilla chief and sentenced and 18 acquitted, while the Situated in the Adriatic sea in the at Mamula during the war have however than 2000 prisoners, of whom 50 died It says the idea for the “reconstruc- prime minister Hashim Thaci, who cases against 36 others have been popular Bay of Kotor, the 19th century come together to oppose the project, from hunger amid the grim conditions tion project” was converting the fortress is now Kosovo’s foreign minister — dropped or the defendants have died. fort on Mamula island was run by fas- which they say is inappropriate given and 80 were executed. “to the luxurious touristic resort with accusations Thaci has vehemently Former Kosovo prime minister cist Italian forces during World War II the island’s dark past. Brajovic insisted that “countries minimal interventions”. denied. “This is a sensitive issue in Ramush Haradinaj, a former KLA as a concentration camp, where dozens “To build a luxury hotel dedicated much richer than Montenegro have According to the World Travel and Kosovo,” the Dutch foreign ministry commander, was acquitted of war of inmates are believed to have died. to entertainment at this place where so chosen to preserve similar buildings in Tourism Council, Montenegro is ranked acknowledged. “Possible suspects may crimes by the ICTY. He is now a mem- Now the Balkan country has granted many people perished and suffered is a such a way, even sites under UNESCO third in the world for its tourism indus- be seen by sections of Kosovan soci- ber of parliament and leader of an a 49-year lease to Swiss-Egyptian blatant example of lack of seriousness protection”. Brajovic said plans for try’s long-term growth forecast. ety as freedom fighters, and witnesses opposition party. EUROPE MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 17

Serbia PM Three freed US prisoners arrive in Geneva Vucic calls

yesterday, a US official said. dual US-Iranian citizenship, would then televised statement from the White Trevithick, was released in a sepa- for early polls Among those on board was The leave for an American base in Ger- House. But he also sounded a note rate process, a US official has said. Iran had announced Washington Post’s Tehran corre- many. Neither US nor Swiss officials of caution, adding that the US would The Post had earlier reported the release hours spondent Jason Rezaian, who had been had explicitly named those on board continue to have problems with the that the flight out of Iran was delayed AFP detained in Iran for nearly 18 months. the Swiss-bound plane, but McGurk’s Iranian government’s “destabilising because Rezaian’s mother Mary and before Tehran’s “Overwhelmed to greet Jason tweet confirmed reports that the three activities” in the region, including its wife Yeganeh, who also were on the historic nuclear deal #Rezaian, his wife, Yegi, mother, Mary freed prisoners were Rezaian, Saeed support for militant groups. plane, initially did not appear on the + Saeed #Abedini + Amir #Hekmati to Abedini, a Christian pastor, and former The Swiss foreign ministry said the flight manifest. BELGRADE: Serbia’s Prime Min- was implemented #Geneva after safely departing #Iran,” US Marine Amir Hekmati. prisoner swap followed 14 months of US Secretary of State John Kerry ister Aleksandar Vucic yesterday senior US diplomat Brett McGurk wrote Iran had announced their release confidential discussions in Switzerland. told reporters travelling with him from called for early elections in a bid on Twitter. on Saturday, just hours before Tehran’s The fourth Iranian-American Vienna to Washington that Iranian to cement stability as the Balkan An witness at Geneva airport saw historic nuclear deal with world pow- released as part of the swap, Nosrat- Foreign Minister Javad Zarif resolved country negotiates its accession into AFP a Swiss air force plane touch down at ers was implemented, in exchange for ollah Khosravi-Roodsari, has not yet the problem. the European Union. around 1700 GMT, on the same tar- Washington pardoning seven Iranians left Tehran, senior US officials said. “Zarif had no question about it,” Vucic made his announcement mac where a large, official US aircraft accused of sanctions-busting or vio- Speaking on condition of anonym- Kerry was quoted as saying. “It was during a meeting of his conserva- was stationed. lating trade embargoes. ity, officials said Khosravi-Roodsari part of the agreement, it was clearly tive, pro-EU party’s leadership in GENEVA: A Swiss plane carrying three The Swiss foreign ministry earlier “When Americans are freed, that’s —about whom little is known —elected stated. The problem was, one of the Belgrade, two years before new of the four US citizens freed by Iran said that after landing in Switzerland, something we can all celebrate,” US not to board the plane for Switzerland. guys on the ground, at a military base, elections are actually due under in a prisoner swap landed in Geneva the freed prisoners, all of whom have President Barak Obama said in a A fifth American, Matthew didn’t have it on the manifest.” the Serbian constitution. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) holds an absolute majority in parliament with 158 of 250 seats. French drug trial In order for early elections to Cultural bonanza happen, the prime minister can either resign or he can ask Presi- volunteer dies dent Tomislav Nikolic —who is an ally and founded the SNS party — to end the parliament and call for Reuters a snap vote. A parliamentary poll would then have to be held within 60 days. “My decision is that we will have RENNES: A man left brain-dead elections... Serbia needs four more after a drug trial in northwest France years of stability so that it is ready to died yesterday, said the hospital join the European Union,” Vucic said. where he was being treated. In December, Serbia began the The Rennes hospital said in a first two of 35 stages in negotiations statement that five other volunteers for Belgrade to join the EU. were in stable condition after they The so-called chapters in mem- were admitted last week. bership talks focused on Belgrade’s In total, 90 people took part in normalisation of relations with its the trial of the drug made by Por- breakaway territory of Kosovo and tuguese pharmaceutical company on financial control. The opening Bial, which is intended to treat mood of accession talks appears partly and anxiety issues, as well as move- linked to Europe’s migration crisis ment coordination disorders linked —the continent’s worst since World to neurological issues. War II —as the EU had earlier called It was not yet known what for a pause in adding new mem- caused the tragedy, said Francois bers to the bloc. Peaucelle, the head of Biotrial, the Serbia has been hard hit by the company that conducted the trials migrant crisis as it has been a major for Bial. French authorities how- transit point for hundreds of thou- ever, launched three investigations. sands of people fleeing war and Cases of early-stage clinical tri- misery, and seeking to start new als going badly wrong are rare but lives in EU countries like Germany not unheard of. In 2006, six healthy and Sweden. Still, the EU has ruled volunteers given an experimental out any enlargement of the bloc A view of the National Forum of Music during the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture in Wroclaw, Poland, yesterday. drug in London ended up in inten- before 2020 even for countries that sive care. have started accession talks. Midnight rescuers Poland will not bow to EU on reforms: Leader

AFP likely to be discussed. to power in October. president Martin Schulz. Schulz saving migrants’ “We should not concern our- But Kaczynski, a former prime has compared the political situ- selves with this, we must continue on minister who currently has no for- ation there to a “coup”, drawing our path and not give in to any (EU) mal government role, scoffed at the the anger of Polish leaders who WARSAW: The head of Poland’s rul- pressure,” Kaczynski said in an inter- EU’s worries. demanded an apology. lives in the Aegean ing right-wing party insisted yesterday view with conservative newspaper “To say that democracy is in danger Kaczynski said any EU vote on it would not bow to EU pressure after Rzeczpospolita. in Poland is quite ridiculous,” he said sanctions would not win unanimous Brussels launched an unprecedented The EU last Wednesday in remarks published on the newspa- approval, after a key ally, Hungarian AFP the migration crisis,” says Ian Ruggier, probe into judicial reforms that have announced it was investigating per’s website. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, vowed head of MOAS’s operations. stoked concerns about the state of whether new legislation governing “No-one should have any illu- to block them. For Syrian brothers Ahmad and democracy in the country. the Constitutional Court violated the sions that we will bend or make any Duda will meet EU President Don- Rami and Saleh from Iraq, were it The comments by Jaroslaw Kac- bloc’s democracy rules and merited concessions.” ald Tusk today in Brussels, where he is AEGEAN SEA, GRÈCE: Braving the not for MOAS, they might never have zynski, leader of the eurosceptic Law punitive measures. The European Parliament will also due to hold talks with Nato chief waves in the dead of night to rescue made it. and Justice party (PiS), came on the There is also growing concern be debating the crisis in Poland Jens Stoltenberg ahead of a summit of migrants desperate to reach Europe, Their flimsy inflatable boat can’t eve of a visit to Brussels by President about increased control over Poland’s at a session on Tuesday, after the the Western military alliance in July volunteers working in the Aegean Sea withstand the strong waves kicked Andrzej Duda where the dispute is state media under the PiS, which swept reforms came under fire from its in Warsaw. stop at nothing to live up to their slo- up by the deep winter winds, and by gan: “No one deserves to die at sea.” the time MOAS’s 51-metre (167-foot) It’s almost midnight off the Greek Toonder rescue ship arrives, the three island of Agathonisi south of Samos, men are in the water. 30,000 want French once a tourist haven and now a main Another group of migrants whose Concern for the animals transit point for hundreds of thousands boat capsized in the same area ear- nationality for of people fleeing war and misery who lier the same night suffered a terrible have reached Europe’s shores in the fate: at least six people drowned, with Bataclan guard continent’s worst migration crisis another 10 reported missing. | since World War II. Ahmad, Rami and Saleh, who are “We just received a call... of a pos- 32, 39 and 35 years old, are incredi- PARIS: An online petition to award sible dinghy or small craft in the water bly relieved to see the blinding glare French nationality to an Algerian with 40 persons on board. So at this of the rescue ship’s spotlights. man who helped people escape the time we are just making our way to They grab at the large scramble Bataclan concert hall during Novem- the area and we will see what happens ladder hurled down from the vessel, ber’s jihadist attack on Paris had from there,” says Ripley Davenport, and when they make it onto the deck secured more than 30,000 signa- a rescue swimmer from the Migrant they look shocked and exhausted. tures by Saturday. Offshore Aid Station NGO (MOAS). Another 45 people were travel- The 35-year-old, who has MOAS was set up by Christopher ling in the same dinghy from Turkey asked that he not be identified, and Regina Catrambone in Malta after to Greece’s shores. Thanks to Daven- is a guard at the venue and twice 400 people drowned off the Italian port and his two dozen colleagues, went inside to help terrified peo- island of Lampedusa in 2013. “No one they all survive. ple get out as gunmen were killing deserves to die at sea,” is its power- Once they get them all on board, concert-goers. ful slogan. the rescuers comfort them, dry In all, 90 people were killed Since December 2015, MOAS has their hair, and give them food and at the Bataclan and 40 died else- been working in the Aegean too. Last dry clothes. A little while later, the where in the November attacks year, 850,000 refugees and migrants migrants’ panic starts to wear off. The on the French capital. —mainly Syrians fleeing nearly five children among them are colouring in “He could have run away upon years of war —reached Greece’s pictures handed out by MOAS’s crew hearing the gunfire, given he was shores. And in the first two weeks members, while Ahmad, Rami and outside. But he chose to enter to of 2016 alone, more than 20,000 peo- Saleh become lost in their thoughts. warn spectators and lead them to ple arrived, the UN says. Noura Shekhan, 26 from Damas- the emergency exits.” The man, who But the journey is wracked with cus, says she is happy she has finally has been identified only as Didi, danger. Last year, 3,800 people reached Europe with her parents and was praised in the petition for hav- drowned or went missing at sea in her sister-in-law. She paid her smug- ing “saved dozens of spectators”. It the Aegean and the Mediterranean gler $700 to cross the Aegean, and had called for him to be naturalised as as they tried to reach Europe. to spend four hours locked in a truck a French citizen. The petition was A woman holds an image of a wolf as people take part in a demonstration of several wildlife conservation “We came here because the Greek with 80 people travelling from Izmir launched by Thiaba Bruni, spokes- prime minister (Alexis Tsipras) had to Didim in western Turkey, where woman for France’s Representative associations, to protest against the hunting of wolves in Nice, southeastern France, yesterday. issued a call for support to deal with they finally started their sea voyage. Council of Black Associations. 18 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS

Obama declares emergency over High surf complicating foul water search for 12 Marines in Michigan AFP

spokesman Lt. Scott Carr said. National Weather Service mete- WASHINGTON: US President Rescuers battled waves up to orologist Derek Wroe said that the Barack Obama declared a state of A Navy P-3 aeroplane 30 feet late on Saturday, but winds surf peaked on Friday afternoon and emergency in Michigan, freeing up was scouring the decreased to about 10 mph. was slowly declining. federal aid to help an area affected ocean, along with The US Marines Corps released the A storm about 1,500 miles to the by contaminated water, the White names of the 12 missing crew members. north and northwest of Oahu was send- House said. helicopters from the Though based in Hawaii, the Marines ing large swells to the islands, he said. Authorities in the state have Coast Guard, Army, were from various states. The transport helicopters were been dealing with a major health The Coast Guard was notified on part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing crisis over lead-contaminated water Navy and Honolulu Thursday of the crash by a civilian at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Known that arose from cost-cutting meas- police and fire who saw the aircraft flying then dis- as Super Stallions, they are the US ures implemented in the city of Flint, appear and a fireball. Someone else military’s largest helicopter, capable home to some 100,000 people. departments. Two reported a flare in the sky, Carr said. of carrying a light armored vehicle, Problems arose after state Navy warships and It was not clear if the fireball and the 16 tonnes of cargo or a team of com- officials ignored months of health flare were the same. bat-equipped Marines, according to warnings about the foul-smelling two Coast Guard The Marines were alerted when a Marine Corps website. water as residents complained that cutters were on the the CH-53E helicopters carrying six The Coast Guard initially reported it was making them sick. scene crew members each failed to return to that the choppers had collided, but On Thursday, Michigan Gover- their base at Kaneohe Bay following Marine Capt. Timothy Irish said that nor Rick Snyder submitted a request a nighttime training mission. Hours he did not know if the accident was to the president to call a state of later, a Coast Guard helicopter and a collision. The helicopters normally emergency. C-130 airplane spotted debris 2 ½ carry four crew members, but this par- However it was just four years AP miles off of Oahu. ticular flight also carried one or two ago that the governor named a state- A Navy P-3 aeroplane was scour- instructor trainers, Irish said. He did appointed manager to take control ing the ocean, along with helicopters not know if they were teaching the of Flint’s troubled finances. from the Coast Guard, Army, Navy crew or just observing. As part of cost-cutting, the city HALEIWA: The high surf warning and Honolulu police and fire depart- The family of Cpl. Christopher J. began drawing water from the Flint that has complicated the search for ments. Two Navy warships and two Orlando said it was grateful for peo- River in April 2014 rather than con- 12 Marines who are missing after two Coast Guard cutters were on the scene. ple’s prayers. “We continue to monitor tinuing to buy it from Detroit. That’s helicopters crashed off Hawaii was Honolulu lifeguards on personal water- the ongoing search effort in Hawaii when problems began. expected to persist. craft were also looking. and are thankful for the hard work Obama declared that “an The waves dispersed the debris The Coast Guard was keeping peo- of the many federal and local heroes emergency exists in the state of and complicated the search, which ple out of a wide zone that spanned undertaking this search and rescue Michigan and ordered federal was expanded to include waters off about 30 miles of shoreline, citing dan- mission,” the family said in a state- aid to supplement state and local US Marines searching for debris of two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters Oahu’s west coast. “It makes finding ger from debris. The zone extended ment released by the Massachusetts response efforts,” a White House things incredibly difficult,” Coast Guard from the shore to 8 miles off the coast. State Police. along the coast of Haleiwa, Hawaii. statement read. Republicans hail Iran prisoner release but attack Obama strategy

Reuters the United States should not be involved sanctions in response to Iran’s ballistic weapon. That figure has been widely oversight of the nuclear deal going end of crippling economic sanctions in prisoner deals because they only missile tests in violation of UN Secu- disputed and is thought to be closer forward. House of Representatives on Iran to entice it into dismantling encourage the taking of more hostages. rity Council resolutions. to $100bn. Speaker Paul Ryan, a top Republican its nuclear programme. Jeb Bush, the former Republican “As president, my approach will be Trump said he was happy Ameri- lawmaker, criticised the lifting of the Obama has long argued that a WASHINGTON: US Republican presi- governor of Florida, called for new to distrust and verify” Iran’s actions, cans were being freed, “but I will tell sanctions. US policy to isolate Iran, in force dential candidates praised the release sanctions against Iran and cited an Clinton said in a statement that also you it’s a disgrace that they were there “A bipartisan majority in the House since the 1979 takeover of the US of five Americans held in Iran, but said exclusive report from Reuters that the expressed her relief over the “safe return for so long.” Democratic presidential voted to reject this deal in the first place, embassy in Tehran and the hostage the Obama administration had con- Obama administration refrained from of American prisoners from Iran.” candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted: and we will continue to do everything crisis there, did not slow Tehran’s ceded too much to win their freedom. imposing new sanctions last month The new relationship unfolding “This good news shows that diplo- possible to prevent a nuclear Iran,” nuclear programme. In a multi-pronged arrangement after Tehran warned doing so could between Washington and Tehran, after macy can work even in this volatile Ryan said in a statement. Early last May, Congress asserted between two long-time enemies, the derail the prisoner deal. more than 30 years of bitter antag- region of the world.” Republicans have complained its oversight role in any nuclear deal United States and Iran agreed on a Bush praised the Americans’ onism, could be Obama’s signature In addition to the release of the five Obama’s overtures to a country tagged with Iran, approving legislation giv- prisoner swap on the same day their release but added: “The bigger issue foreign policy achievement, but it was Americans, Obama has granted clem- by the US State Department as a spon- ing lawmakers the power to review historic nuclear deal was fully imple- is that we’ve legitimized a regime that also sure to remain a political flash- ency to several Iranians convicted or sor of “terrorism” were naïve, risking and effectively block the deal. mented, which cleared the way for the shows no interest in actually moving point in the United States. facing trial in the United States over US national security and the existence But the combined opposition of lifting of sanctions on Tehran. forward with the so-called commu- Republican front-runner Donald alleged Iran sanctions violations. of Israel, which some Iranian leaders Republicans, conservative lobbying On the presidential campaign trail, nity of nations.” Trump said at a campaign event that At the same time, it was announced have vowed to destroy. groups and the Israeli government New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Separately, Democratic presidential Iran would realise a windfall of $150bn in Vienna that Iran was complying with Throughout last year, the Obama were not enough to sink the deal in accused Obama of being “an expert at candidate Hillary Clinton and Dem- from the lifting of economic sanctions the nuclear deal, which was a key step administration, despite Republican Congress, as Obama’s fellow Demo- making bad deals with the Iranians”. ocratic Senator Richard Blumenthal under the nuclear pact, which is meant in the rolling back of the sanctions. opposition, worked feverishly to win crats mostly fell in line, blocking the Florida Senator Marco Rubio said urged the administration to apply new to keep Iran from developing a nuclear Congress could seek tougher an international deal that offered the disapproval measure in the Senate.

Argentina remembers Nisman Many US travellers get serious about overseas trip security

Washington Post seven dead and wounded at least 19, than 100,000 trips a year, has seen the November terrorist massacre in a spike in demand for travel-secu- a Mali hotel popular with expatriates, rity training. and the assaults in Paris that killed 130. “Enrollments have gone up dra- WASHINGTON: Youssouf Ouedraogo Those attacks, along with airlin- matically in the last month in a half,” is a seasoned traveller, but suddenly ers that have gone missing or been Jeff Culver, the bank’s head of secu- he’s not such a casual one. Before a blown up and Islamic State-related rity, said of the two-day course in recent string of terrorist attacks, mass scares from California to Cairo, have situational awareness available to shootings and downed airliners, Oue- spooked many hard-core travellers employees. At a facility in Northern draogo would have picked a hotel for accustomed to the most uncomfort- Virginia, staffers role-play restaurant his upcoming visit to Cameroon based able and unsavory parts of the world. attacks, carjackings and other worst- on what the expense account would Even those who might have case scenarios. bear and his own seat-of-the-pants thought that their non-combatant Managers say their travelling sense of which was safest. status shielded them from most of employees, even those who have Now, after two days of travel the violence are increasingly eager already logged millions of long-haul training provided by his non-profit to prepare for the worst. miles over the years to the dustiest Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada (second right) and their daughter Antonia employer, the Washington-based “A lot of the NGOs thought, ‘Hey, nooks of the world, are asking for (right) pose alongside Iara (left) and Kala Nisman (third left), daughters of the late state prosecutor Alberto public health expert said he chose we’re protected by being do-gooders’,“ greater travel prep. Even the small Nisman in Buenos Aires yesterday. Today will mark the first anniversary of the death of Nisman, the lead from a list of hotels pre-approved by said Bruce McIndoe, chief executive non-profits are being asked to provide investigator into the car bomb attack that killed 85 people at a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, security experts. He asked for a room of iJet, an Annapolis, Maryland- more training, more intelligence and who was found dead in his apartment hours before he was scheduled to present his case to Congress. between the second floor (not too easy based travel risk management firm more sophisticated ways of keeping in for ground intruders to access) and the that employs 200 people around the touch from a dozen time zones away. fifth (not too high for local fire truck world, plus 900 contractors. “But now “If you’re walking around with ladders). He plans to register with the they recognise that they are targets just a 1-800 number to call if you get US Embassy. And he has added an just by being Westerners. This could into trouble, forget about it,” McIn- extra day in the city to vet transpor- happen anywhere.” doe said. “That’s not going work even First case of Zika-linked brain damage reported tation options before he heads to the Though few Americans are killed without a crisis.” countryside. in terrorist attacks, trepidation is IJet, which is tracking between AFP transmitted it to the fetus, the health department said. “In the past, we would just rent a fuelling the growing market for travel 300,000 and 500,000 travellers at It added that neither mother nor child is still infected car, jump in and trust the driver,” said assistance and travel insurance, any given time, provides its clients with and that there is no danger to anyone in Hawaii. There is Ouedraogo, who spends almost half which is expected to reach $18bn smartphone apps that act as traveler WASHINGTON: The United States has reported its first no vaccine to prevent the disease. his time on the road, mostly in Africa. by the end of this year, according panic buttons: Press one button to reach case of a newborn suffering from brain damage linked The Zika virus, which can impair normal intellectual Violent attacks in so many parts of the to industry analysts. a hotline help centre. The green but- to the mosquito-borne Zika virus that has caused birth development in newborns, has affected several thousand world “have raised my awareness that In recent months, McIndoe has ton means “I’m okay;” the red sends defects in Latin America. The baby, born in a hospital in babies in Brazil in recent months. something can happen.” heard from more than 200 organ- an “I’m in trouble” alert along with Oahu, suffers from microcephaly, a rare condition that The case in Hawaii was confirmed by the federal Cent- A litany of horrors has jolted fre- isations, agencies and companies GPS coordinates. means its brain and skull are abnormally small, the Hawai- ers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). quent-flying foreign aid workers, looking to improve their travel safety. One think tank security consult- ian state health department said late Friday. “We are saddened by the events that have affected this contractors and think tank research- Some bookers have begun to avoid ant who frequents conflict zones said The mother was probably infected with the virus early mother and her newborn,” said Sarah Park, a Hawaiian ers, including Thursday’s siege in the US hotel chains. The World Bank, he has been peppered with questions in her pregnancy while living in Brazil in May 2015 and state epidemiologist. Indonesian capital of Jarkata that left which dispatches staffers on more from friends looking for expert advice. AMERICAS MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 1917 Clinton, Sanders set to clash in pre-Iowa debate

Sanders has a significant lead. All too The pair, along with aware of the Sanders surge, Clinton sharpened her offensive against him Maryland former this past week, highlighting their pol- governor Martin icy differences with the self-declared democratic socialist on guns, health O’Malley, take the care and taxes. stage in Charleston, Charlotte was the scene last year of a horrific murder of nine African-Amer- South Carolina with icans gunned down in a church, and the temperature rising gun control is likely to feature prom- inently at the debate. in the primary battle Clinton has assailed Sanders for being weak on gun control. This past week she released ad knocking Sand- ers on firearms and his votes against AFP a landmark bill requiring background checks for gun sales. “It is time to pick a side,” Clinton says in the spot. “Either we stand with WASHINGTON: With the Democratic the gun lobby or we join the president presidential nomination at stake, front- and stand up to them.” runner Hillary Clinton squares off in a Sanders, for his part, has accused debate today against Bernie Sanders, the former first lady of having cozied whose campaign could be hitting its up to billionaires and said she would US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders greets voters during Jim Clyburn’s Annual Fish Fry in Charleston, South Carolina, yesterday. stride two weeks before the first nom- not be tough enough on Wall Street ination vote in Iowa. banks. He will mine that vein further. The pair, along with Maryland America’s battle against Islamic former governor Martin O’Malley, take State extremists is also expected to the stage in Charleston, South Caro- be on the agenda. One sticking point Trump to woo evangelicals in search for votes lina with the temperature rising in the is the peculiarity of the Democratic primary battle. debate schedule. All three are aware that their per- The Democratic National Commit- formance — the final Democratic debate tee (DNC) scheduled its first debate on AFP Trump and Cruz are locked in a favorite book, Trump simply responded: own turf, and is not shy about launch- before the Iowa caucuses on Febru- a Tuesday in October—the Republicans tight race in Iowa, which on February 1 “the Bible.” But the real estate mogul ing personal attacks. In late December, ary 1 — could have a crucial impact began debating in August. becomes the first state to vote for party can’t name a single verse. Winning over Trump proclaimed: “Not a lot of evan- on who wins the state. Since then the Democrats have nominees. News that Trump, known the evangelical voting bloc could set gelicals come out of Cuba,” a thinly Establishment Democrats are wary held weekend affairs only, including WASHINGTON: Manhattan billion- more for womanising, an extravagant Trump on a path to become the Repub- veiled attack on Cruz and his father, of a repeat of 2008, when Clinton led the latest during the Christmas shop- aire Donald Trump, a pro-abortion lifestyle and bombastic rhetoric than for lican Party’s presidential nominee. Rafael Cruz. Trump has also ques- all rivals into the Iowa home stretch, ping rush on a day that, stunningly, Republican until recently, appears to piety, will speak on campus triggered About 70 percent of Americans tioned whether Cruz, who was born only to lose the state to little-known coincided with the opening day of the have little in common with evangelical threats of student protests. Evangeli- describe themselves as Christian, and to an American mother in Canada, can senator Barack Obama, who pulled much-awaited new Star Wars movie. Christians. But he is increasingly gain- cal voters typically support candidates among Christians one in four say they even run for president. the rug out from under his rival and Republicans seized on the sched- ing their support as he openly courts that are conservative on social issues, are evangelical Protestants, accord- This strategy to play offense is eventually won the nomination and ule to accuse Democratic leadership of this key voting bloc. an area of weakness for Trump. ing to a Pew Research Centre study already paying dividends. An early the White House. seeking to protect Clinton from exces- Just two weeks out from the Iowa According to polls, nearly two- on religion. January NBC News/SurveyMonkey Clinton is the presumptive favorite sive on-stage criticism that would be caucuses, Trump will speak today at thirds of evangelical Republicans say “It’s quite mandatory for a poll gave Trump 35 percent support again. But last year’s scandal about seen by millions. Liberty University, a private school in a candidate’s position on abortion is Republican to get the support of the among evangelicals, just behind Cruz her use of a private email account and The DNC “could be doing a much Lynchburg, Virginia and an evangel- the most important issue driving their evangelicals,” said Baylor University but well ahead of retired neurosurgeon private server while secretary of state better job of showcasing its candidates,” ical bastion. The visit coincides with voting decision. professor Lydia Bean, author of “The Ben Carson, a Seventh Day Adventist. has lingered, and her favourability rat- the Las Vegas Review Journal wrote a holiday commemorating civil rights But Trump, 69, who during his polit- Politics of Evangelical Identity.” Trump is taking advantage of the ings are lower than those of Sanders. in a recent editorial. “Nowhere is this leader Martin Luther King. ical life has been a Democrat and an Trump, she said, “has absolutely no lack of unity among evangelicals, O’Malley, despite stage time with more evident than in the DNC’s curi- Speaking at the university has been independent, is only a recent convert arguments. That’s what is interesting.” whose leaders have been unable to the other candidates, has made no sub- ously weak debate schedule.” a rite of passage for conservative presi- to the “pro-life” anti-abortion position The reality TV star “has zero claim publicly choose a candidate among stantial headway in polls and is seen Last Thursday’s Republican debate dential candidates from Ronald Reagan prevalent among evangelical Christians. to be a Christian leader, absolutely zero. a crowded Republican field that also by many as an also-ran. was engaging, rowdy, bizarre, and tense. in the 1980’s to Ted Cruz, Trump’s main In recent weeks Trump has stressed Behind the scene, I think that a lot of includes Florida Senator Marco Rubio While leading nationally, Clinton All six Republican showdowns have been Republican rival, who launched his his own faith as he stepped up efforts leaders don’t want to support him, and ex-pastor Mike Huckabee. suddenly finds herself under threat must-see TV for political junkies and campaign there in March. to reach out to this critical Republican they’d rather prefer Ted Cruz,” she said. The evangelical voter base feels of losing the first two state contests, for Republican voters eager to not only Cruz, a Texas senator whose father voter group. “I am an evangelical. I’m “That’s why he has to attack. Don- forgotten by national leaders in in February 1 in Iowa, where the pair study the difference between the sev- is a Cuban-born evangelical preacher, a Christian. I’m a Presbyterian,” he ald Trump doesn’t care, he can literally Washington and is attracted by anti- are neck and neck in the polls, and eral candidates, but to wonder at the already enjoys strong support from said last month. say anything to get what he wants.” establishment candidates like Cruz February 9 in New Hampshire, where bombast of frontrunner Donald Trump. the evangelical community. And when asked recently about his Trump is ready to battle Cruz on his and Trump.

SpaceX fails to US Scout troop balances Muslim faith and American values land rocket on

AFP ocean platform

AFP GETTYSBURG: In a bus taking them to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — site of the US Civil War’s most famous bat- LOS ANGELES: SpaceX failed to land tle — the members of Boy Scout Troop the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket 114 are all ears. on a floating platform in the Pacific “Listen up during the trip! This is a Ocean yesterday, marking the fourth rewarding trip—if you pay attention, time it has missed the mark. it will help you get the merit badge,” “First stage on target at drone- booms one of the Scout leaders. “We ship but looks like hard landing; are going to Gettysburg!” says one of broke landing leg,” the California- the 20 teenagers excitedly. “Alhamdu- based company said on Twitter. lillah!” he cries, Arabic for praise God. SpaceX said it lost contact with Troop 114 is like any other in the its live video link of the floating Scouts, except in one important respect: barge, or droneship, before the They are Muslim. rocket came in for a landing, so no For these boys, combining their images were immediately available. Islamic faith with an organisation that A commentator on SpaceX’s live was long a rite of passage for many webcast said video would be made young Americans is the best response available in the coming hours. to growing Islamophobia in the United “Unfortunately we are not States and the rhetoric of Donald Trump. standing upright on the drone ship Scouts from Troop 114 pose with their parents and organisers of the troop at the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War inGettysburg. The Republican presidential front- at the moment but the good news runner wants a ban on Muslims entering here is that the primary mission is the United States in the wake of attacks Boy Scouts. The only difference is how the second inauguration of Barack have to do something about it,” he says, the Amish left persecution in Europe still on track,” said the commenta- in Paris in November and the one that we pray.” Obama in 2013, and the Scouts hope defiantly. to settle in the United States, to find tor, referring to the launch of the followed in California one month later. The Saturday outing to Gettysburg to be present again in 2017 when the After visiting the museum and “religious freedom.” US-French oceans satellite, Jason-3. Like all scouts, the members of aims to drive home to the scouts the new president is inaugurated — even the Gettysburg battlefield, the teens Chalinine, an Algerian woman who SpaceX is trying to land its rocket troop 114 — created in Fairfax, Vir- turning point in the American Civil War. if it is Trump. head back to the bus for lunch—fast has lived in the United States since 1994, back on Earth so it can re-use the parts ginia in 2012 — pledge: “On my honour, And the goal is not just to under- But Rashid cannot disguise his food. Along the way, Rashid distrib- volunteered to accompany the group. She in the future, as the company headed I will do my best.” score the importance of American anger at the provocative billionaire utes postcards. “Write a postcard for enrolled her two children, a son and a by Internet entrepreneur Elon Musk But these scouts also hope they history — but to hammer home that real estate tycoon, who leads in the the veterans, they’ll like it,” he tells his daughter, in Scout troops “because they tries to make spaceflight cheaper and can “serve the Muslim community and American history is also their history. polls among likely Republican voters. charges. After eating, the group stops do a lot of volunteering.” “It’s the same more sustainable than before. help the kids become better citizens,” “It’s important to transmit the “Those boys are born here, they at a mosque on the edge of a high- values as Islam,” she says. SpaceX succeeded in landing says Abdul Rashid Abdullah, who is in American values, the values Lincoln are American. They can’t take it away way to pray. But she cannot hide her concern at its Falcon 9 first stage— the long charge of the troop of 35 Scouts, most fought for,” says Rashid. “They have to from us. The one who is anti-Ameri- Then it’s on to Amish Country, the the sometimes harsh focus on Muslims towering portion of the rocket — of who are Americans of Arab origin. learn the history of this land. You have can is the one who says such things,” community of traditionalist Christians in America and says she cancelled the on solid ground at Cape Canaveral, “Muslim Boy Scouts are not com- to get them concerned by American he says, referring to Trump’s ban call. in Pennsylvania known for their simple family’s subscription to cable televi- Florida in December. Even though mon, it’s true,” concedes the 43-year-old history,” chimes in Jamal Amro, the Izzuddin, his 17-year-old son, will living and reluctance to adopt modern sion at home so her children hear as an ocean landing is more difficult, American, who converted to Islam in owner of the bus and a Palestinian who vote for the first time this year after conveniences. It’s a chance for Amro little from Trump as possible. “I hope SpaceX says it needs to perfect the 1990. “But there are more and more emigrated to the United States in 1977. turning 18. “Trump scares a lot of peo- to grab the microphone once more my children will feel more American technique so it can bring back its of us. We get lots of support from the Troop 114 had the chance to attend ple. But also, he motivates people—you and to describe to the teenagers how than I do,” she whispers. rockets in all kinds of situations.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 17o C Maximum: 24o C

FAJR 05.01 am ZUHR 11.44 am MAGHRIB 05.09 pm HIGH TIDE 00:15 - 10:45 Strong wind and high seas. Some clouds. SHOROOK 06.21 am ASR 02.47 pm ISHA 06.39 pm LOW TIDE 05:00 - 18:15

20 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

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A woman on cross country skis tows a child on a sledge near LochTay in Scotland yesterday. Happiness: Is it in your DNA?

AFP study co-author Michael Minkov of “not at all happy”. They compared this The genetic data used corre- the Varna University of Management to data on the ethnic prevalence of “A sponded to ethnicity, which meant in Bulgaria, said. allele”, a variant of a gene involved in researchers had to estimate “national” “Actually the correlation between regulating anandamide, a substance figures by taking into account each PARIS: Happiness is a state of mind, happiness and safety seems to be which enhances sensory pleasure and country’s mix of ethnic groups. the gurus say. Well, actually, it could be inverse. The highest murder and rob- helps reduce pain. Evolution was one possible expla- more a function of genes, the authors bery rates in the world are in northern The country with the highest hap- nation for higher A allele prevalence INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY of an unusual scientific study asserted. Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa piness rating, Mexico, also had the in equatorial and tropical environ- Nations whose inhabitants boast and that is precisely where the hap- highest estimated prevalence of A ments, said Minkov. a certain gene variant, they found, piest and most relaxed people are.” allele, the researchers found. Perhaps “to survive in those stress- had much higher self-reported hap- The study, published in the peer- Ghana and Nigeria also had high ful societies you need genes that help piness levels. reviewed Journal of Happiness Studies, ratings for both, as did Columbia, Ven- you cope with the stress,” he said. The British Coun- Happiness at the national level claims to be the first to show a link ezuela and Ecuador. same may be true for cold, harsh north- cil in Doha was more closely related to this var- between genetics and happiness at Iraq and Jordan, along with Hong ern Europe. Genes are, of course, not has lined up iant than factors like wealth, country the national level. Kong, China, Thailand and Taiwan — the whole story, the team emphasised. a whole year stability, or even disease prevalence— Minkov and his colleague Michael all of which had a low prevalence of And there were exceptions: Rus- of events and possibly explaining, for example, why Harris Bond from Hong Kong Poly- A allele — were also the least likely sians and Estonians, with high A allele activities for Nigerians rate themselves happier than technic University, relied on the World to rate themselves as “very happy”. prevalence, scored low on the happiness the #Shake- Germans. Values Survey (WVS), a ranking based Northern Europeans had a much scale. This “may be a lasting effect of speare Lives “Feeling happy, relaxed and in a on questionnaires in which respondents higher prevalence of the A allele, and the economic and political difficulties 2016. good mood does not depend on the have to rate themselves as “very happy,” rate themselves happier than those in that East European countries continue prosperity and safety of a country,” “rather happy,” “not very happy” or central and southern Europe. to experience,” the authors wrote.

British Homing World show Calais migrant camp gets its own Jungala Radio station

AFP

CALAIS, FRANCE: In the heart of the Calais migrant shantytown in north- ern France known as the “Jungle”, a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelu- jah” rings out from the ramshackle headquarters of the camp’s very own radio station. Hashemi, a Syrian in his 20s, is editing his first programme for Jun- The makeshift theatre in the so-called “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais. gala Radio, a music show featuring performances by artists from the sprawling camp in northern France. distribution centre where he could few times a week. A member of the It’s a chance to lighten the mood practise his English and make friends. Iranian national kung fu team gave at a time when freezing temperatures “Everyone wants to go to the UK, lessons here for a while, and his mantle have made conditions in the camp even but it’s very hard and we need some- has been taken up by another karate grimmer for the thousands trapped thing to do while we wait,” says the expert from the camp. here, looking for a way to reach Brit- teenager, who learned his English “We don’t shape what goes on, and ain from the port city. “I’m trying to watching Harry Potter and Holly- we don’t dictate whether you come to find the voice and the feelings of the wood action movies with his older confront your situation or escape from refugees,” says Hashemi, giving only brother in Kurdistan. it, or just to have a bit of fun,” says Joe his first name. “I want to share what is Next door to the well-stocked Jun- Robertson, one of two British friends happening here with the whole world.” gle library, a volunteer is struggling who helped set up the theatre. Jungala Radio launched its first to teach some basic French to a small “Many people have come here who programme on January 1 via Face- group of Sudanese and Afghans — a are down,” adds his co-organiser Joe book and Soundcloud and is gradually sign that at least some people in the Murphy. “Being part of a creative thea- building a team of producers and jour- camp are now considering asylum in tre community has turned them around nalists from the camp community. France rather than Britain. and given them a role to play, which One of their budding hacks is a The young volunteer shows heroic is hugely important for their mental 15-year-old Iraqi Kurd who has been patience as she tries to explain the word well-being.” living in the Jungle for three months. “bienvenue” (“welcome”) — a word that Back at Radio Jungala, Hashemi He is enthusiastically hunting out inter- her pupils have rarely heard since arriv- is putting the finishing touches to his views with one of the recorders bought ing in Europe. On the other side of the music show with the help of Ciaran, a by Radio Jungala via a crowd-funding camp, a young Afghan is on stage in the 22-year-old media graduate from Brit- campaign, though he says it is a tough gig. large white dome of the Good Chance ain who helped launch the initiative. “I like learning new things, but Theatre, giving an impromptu song and “We are only here for tech support this is difficult. When I have to ask dance performance while a visiting Brit- and constructive criticism. We want people questions, I feel a bit embar- ish artist jams on the guitar. the people here to take ownership and rassed,” he says with a smile. Since launching a few months control of it,” says Ciaran. Hashemi But the boy, who wished to remain ago, the theatre has evolved in sur- says he loves his new job. “I never A man holds a pigeon during the British Homing World show of the year at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens anonymous, remains determined to prising ways — such as the Eritrean thought of doing radio in my life, but in Blackpool, northwest England, yesterday. make the most of his time in the camp, circus troupe that come to teach and now I hope to do more,” he says. “I’m having already helped out in an aid practise their tricks and backflips a just trying to be the best that I can.” www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 22 QE 8,527.75 -657.37 PTS PAGE | 23 AIIB will have DOW 15,988.08 -390.97 PTS Uber CEO: China to compliance unit to FTSE100 5,804.10 -114.13 PTS soon surpass Silicon oversee management BRENT $28.94 -$1.94 Valley in innovation

MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 • 8 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar stocks plunge to multi-year lows on panic

tors. The benchmark index recorded chart along with its continuous print shareholders who have purchased net averages and bearish RSI indicators. lifting of sanctions on Iran could in the its lowest level since April 2013, as it of lower-lows. The next area of sup- intra-day 1 percent or more of a listed Oil prices fell below $30 for the short term push oil down further, as Benchmark index closed yesterday at 8,527.75 points after port comes at 8,300 point-8,000 point, company’s capital. This is according third time last week as traders pre- additional Iranian supply arrives in recorded its lowest slumping 7.16 percent, or 657.37 points. knowing that a close below 8,000 point to the instruction by the market reg- pared for the prospect of Iranian oil the global market. The stocks dropped sharply just would trigger the next horizontal line ulatory body QFMA, the bourse said. flooding global markets. Gulf Arab governments have been level since April 2013, minutes into trading, pushed down on at 7,500 point,” analysts at KAMCO The energy sensitive stocks MPHC Middle East stock markets plunged putting in place austerity policies to after slumping 7.16%, global cues. The drops add to a series Research said. and GIS shed 9.97 percent and 8.55 per- to new lows yesterday, with Saudi Ara- stabilise government finances in an of recent declines that have caused On the counter side, they added, a cent, respectively. Powerhouse stock bia tumbling more than 5 percent, as a era of cheap oil. But the latest drop or 657.37 points broad concern about the year ahead. noticeable bullish move is not expected Industries Qatar (IQ) lost 6.88 percent. fresh slide of oil prices and declines in of oil prices, if sustained, could force Among the sector indexes, real estate to take place but some short-term Among the banking stock Masraf Al global equities triggered panic selling. another, more severe round of austerity. was the worst hit. momentum could be seen emerging Rayan and QIB lost the most. Yester- Many institutional investors were The Saudi stock index tumbled The four stocks in the sector col- due to the oversold status of both weekly day’s market crash was followed by taken aback by the extent of yesterday’s 5.4 percent, its largest drop since last By Satish Kanady lectively tumbled 9.94 percent with and daily RSI (relative strength index) a series of bad news for the regional losses in the Gulf, the almost indiscrim- August, to 5,520 points, its lowest close The Peninsula UDC and Ezdan shedding 10 percent indicators. The nearby lines come at market. The UN nuclear watchdog’s inate tone of the selling, and the lack since March 2011. each. Telecoms sector was battered 9,000 point, 9,400 and 9,600 point. announced it is lifting of sanctions of buying support in the market even Dubai index slid 4.6 percent to 2,685 by 9.32 percent. “Medium-term and long-term on Iran. when valuations reached low levels, points, its lowest level since Septem- “Selling was pronounced through- investors can enter the market at levels On the utility giant QEWC, which Reuters reported. ber 2013, bringing this year’s losses to DOHA: Qatari stocks plunged to a out the last few weeks and the market higher than 10,000 point and 11,000 closed at QR180.10, the technical Sentiment was hit hard by Brent 15 percent. Abu Dhabi’s index sank 4.2 multi-year lows yesterday, triggered is poised to witness further weaknesses point, respectively, KAMCO advised. analysts noted the stock is exposed oil’s 6 percent drop yesterday to settle percent, led by real estate firms and by oil-induced sell off. All seven sector on the medium-term as no signs of Qatar Exchange (QE) yester- to further technical correction down- below $29 a barrel, bringing its decline banks; blue chip Aldar Properties lost indexes tumbled as panic gripped inves- reversal has been spotted on the weekly day announced it will disclose the wards, given its move below all moving for the week to 13 percent. Saturday’s 7.0 percent, Reuters said.

Saudi Oil Minister optimistic Shell CEO says oil giant would about increase in crude prices be hit by Brexit

Bloomberg sanctions against Iran might affect exchange on Friday. The benchmark crude prices. Iran, freed of curbs on its grade has dropped 22 percent this year oil exports, plans to boost shipments after tumbling 35 percent in 2015. by 1 million barrels a day this year. Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest RIYADH: Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Led by Saudi Arabia, the Organisa- crude exporter, together with non-Opec Naimi said crude prices will rise and tion of Petroleum Exporting Countries, producer Mexico have “an especially foresees that market forces and coop- which supplies about 40 percent of important role to play,” Al Naimi said eration among producing nations will the world’s oil, abandoned limits on yesterday in Riyadh at an event with the lead in time to renewed stability. output on December 4 amid efforts to Mexican President and energy minister. “I am optimistic about the future, squeeze higher-cost producers such as When oil prices plummeted in 1998, the return of stability to the global oil Russia and US shale drillers out of the Mexico cooperated with the Saudis LONDON: The chief exec- markets, the improvement of prices market. The decision contributed to a and other suppliers to restore mar- utive of one of the world’s and the cooperation among the major global glut and led to a further drop in ket stability and boost prices, he said. biggest firms Royal Dutch producing countries,” Al Naimi said. prices. Saudi Arabia produced 10.25 “Mexico and the kingdom have an Shell warned yesterday “Market forces as well as the coopera- million barrels a day in December, up especially important role to play in that the oil and gas com- tion among producing nations always 750,000 barrels a day from the end achieving this objective, in the past, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi at a meeting. pany would be negatively lead to the restoration of stability. This, of last year. at the present, and in the future,” Al impacted were Britons to however, takes some time.” Brent crude dropped $1.94, or Naimi said. back leaving the European Al Naimi declined to comment when 6.3 percent, to $28.94 a barrel on the Saudi Arabia will sign an agree- industry, with provisions for exchang- and encouraging mutual investments, Union in a referendum. asked how the removal of economic London-based ICE Futures Europe ment to cooperate with Mexico in the oil ing experts, setting up joint ventures he said. Chief Executive Ben van Beurden (pictured) told the Sunday Times newspaper that the Anglo-Dutch firm, which is currently seeking Private sector can play major role in food programme shareholder approval for its bid to acquire Britain’s BG Group, could suffer were Brit- ain to leave the bloc. “We are The Peninsula member of a family which has been sector which the country can strengthen a company with a strong her- involved in family businesses, includ- with the support of private sector. This itage in the UK and on the ing in the food sector for more than is possible with the support of govern- Continent. There would be a four decades. ment. Lands should be leased out for the real break between the two, DOHA: Qatar’s emerging private sector “If you really means food security, national entrepreneurs on subsidised which would affect freedom can play a pro-active role in realising you have to store whatever you can- rates. There should be tax exemptions of movement of staff, trade — the country’s ambitious food safety not grow locally or long standing. And on importing logistic materials. we would be impacted,” he programme, provided the government you have to produce whatever you can “Without the government support said. “There will be a path of is extending support. The government produce locally. When we talk about it is not possible work very success- divergence, and that will have can support private sector in various food security, storage and its related fully. May be it can work in a small all sorts of inefficiencies. ways, including leasing of lands for logistic is a fundamental issue in Qatar scale, but not in a big way as we expect. That’s not good for compa- attractive prices and offering subsidies and the private sector can support the We expect the government to allocate nies like ours that thrive by to import materials those required for government in a big way,” he said. required lands in a subsidised rate and there being no barriers. That developing infrastructure and logistics, Because of Qatar’s extreme weather support us in developing the infra- is a fundamental economic a veteran Qatari businessman has said. and soil condition traditional farming structure and to avoid all customs duty aspect of it.” Launched in 2008, Qatar’s national is not a good idea. Instead, we have to and taxes on the imports of agricul- Van Beurden also said food security programme was aimed at focus on alternative methods of cul- ture equipments”, Al Khalaf added. the firm’s $48bn bid for BG ensuring the country’s food security. The tivating agri produces. For this, the Al Khalaf beleives Qatar’s new Group, which has faced private sector, which contributes over private sector needs strong support international airport has got all the shareholder criticism as the half of the country’s total GDP can play from the government. Family busi- potential to emerge as one of the largest oil price drops to a 12-year a better role in supporting the country’s nesses and private sectors should be ports in the region with better logis- low, made sense and that initaitve, Ahmed Hussain Al Khalaf, encouraged to get involved in cultivat- tic facilities..”The new port can be the he hoped that it would be Chairman, International Projects Devel- ing organic and high quality produces. main hub in the region in ensuring the approved by more than a opment Company told The Peninsula. The private sector is capable of making food security of the region. The port “narrow margin.” Al Khalaf, a senior member of Qatar the country self-reliant on vegetables can be the region’s biggest re-export- Ahmed Hussain Al Khalaf in his office in Doha. Pic: Qassim/The Peninsula Chamber (QC), is the third generation and fruits. Livestock market is another ing facility as well”, he said. 22 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Amwal is fund manager for Al-Beit Al Mali Fund

The Peninsula returns through investing in equities play a growing significance in today’s in Qatar. global business environment, and we Since its inception in 2006, the Fund believe that it can offer more long-term delivered a total return of 106.8 per- solutions to drive both growth and sus- DOHA: Amwal LLC, Qatar’s leading cent. In 2015, Al Beit Al Mali Fund was tainability. We have the resources and independent asset management firm, ranked 1st in Qatar for Qatari listed expertise in Shari’ah-compliant serv- has been appointed Fund Manager for equity funds domiciled in Qatar and ices, and look forward to working with the Al-Beit Al Mali Fund founded by was ranked 3rd in the Gulf Coopera- Investment House to further support Investment House for investing in tion Council (GCC) among top 20 GCC the development of a much stronger listed equities in Qatar, in line with Islamic Equity funds. platform for Islamic finance in Qatar.” the Islamic principles. Fahmi Alghussein, CEO of Amwal, Hashem Al Aqeel, CEO of Invest- Fahmi Alghussein, CEO of Amwal (second right) and other officials at the conference. Regulated by the Qatar Central said, “Amwal is committed to provid- ment House, said, “Islamic finance Bank, the fund’s objective is to achieve ing our clients with the most lucrative has growing demand in Qatar and the capital appreciation for its investors by investment options available within region, and Qatar was one of the first momentum of the industry. Despite have Amwal on board as Fund Man- a thorough screening and selection investing in Shariah-compliant com- Qatar and the region. The global Islamic countries in the world to identify the the declining current oil prices, we agers and are confident their firm process. Amwal has one of the longest panies listed on the Qatar Exchange. finance industry has witnessed a significance of Islamic banking. The believe that the macro economic out- understanding of the market. track records in Qatar for managing The Al-Beit Al Mali fund is open only remarkable growth trajectory in the country has a best-in-class Shariah- look for Qatar on the medium and long Mohamad El Masri, Chief Invest- Qatari listed equities. We will leverage to private and institutional investors, past decade and is estimated to grow compliant regulatory framework in term is positive and promising, with ment Officer at Investment House, on their expertise and understanding and will offer the prospect of strong by an average of 19 percent per year place to build a global centre for Islamic planned investments across diverse said: ”Amwal’s appointment to man- of the market and make sure to deliver growth and long term investment till 2018. Islamic economic principles economy, and maintain the growth business sectors. We are delighted to age Al Beit Al Mali Fund came after the best performance to our investors” Hyundai’s Genesis and AIIB will have compliance Etihad Rail cuts almost a third Tucson models win unit to oversee management of workforce major safety awards

Bloomberg DUBAI: Etihad Rail has cut about 30 percent of its work- force, as Abu Dhabi seeks to trim costs after the slump BEIJING: The $100bn Asian Infra- in the oil. structure Investment Bank will have “We have introduced a a special compliance-and-integrity restructuring initiative across unit that will exercise oversight over the company to further the management and report directly streamline our operations to the board, according to Jin Liqun, as well as our internal pro- the lender’s president. cedures and processes,” a “There’ll be division of power and company spokesman said in responsibility between the board and an e-mailed statement, with- management,” Jin said at a press con- out disclosing the number of ference yesterday. “It’s important to dismissals. implement.” “These changes involve China will need to meet its pledge a number of staffing adjust- for a high standard of governance at ments, as we move towards the AIIB amid a slowdown in the coun- a flatter management The Peninsula the emergency brake assist offering.” try’s economy and a plunge in stocks. Jin Liqun (centre), President of the AIIB, speaks during a press structure.” Adrian Lund, IIHS President, said The emergence of the bank shows that conference in Beijing. The Dh40bn ($11bn) Eti- on the rationale behind the Hyundai China is playing a full role as a member had Rail network, which will recognition: “The Genesis is equipped of the international economy, and is provide both freight and DOHA: Hyundai Motor’s Genesis with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), evidence of global rebalancing, Pierre supervisory chairman of China’s sov- government will also give financial passenger services when (pictured) and Tucson have been nine airbags and energy-absorbing Gramegna, Luxembourg’s minister of ereign wealth fund. AIIB is creating a support to the fund. completed, will eventually recognised by the Insurance Insti- front airbags, while the Tucson has finance, said at the Beijing ceremony. pipeline of projects and will work with The founding of the new multi- link the six GCC nations from tute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2016 AEB, helping these vehicles earn our “Setting up a development bank institutions such as the Washington- lateral lender “is a landmark event the United Arab Emirates to Top Safety Pick+ awards. This pres- top rating. Both earned a required is relatively easy, running a bank is based World Bank and Japan-led Asian in the reform of the global economic Saudi Arabia through Ghwei- tigious awards body helps consumers good rating in the small overlap front hard,” said David Loevinger, a former Development Bank on co- financing governance system,” said Premier Li fat in the west and Oman select vehicles that offer the highest crash evaluation and a superior-or China specialist at the US Treasury projects, he said. AIIB will also have Keqiang in a speech. through Al Ain in the east. level of crash protection by conduct- advanced-rated front crash preven- and now an analyst at fund manager stand-alone projects, Jin said. The establishment of the AIIB Etihad Rail is expected to ing extensive testing and awarding tion system with automatic braking TCW Group Inc in Los Angeles. “China The AIIB will boost infrastructure marks the emergence of the world’s start awarding contracts those which are worthy. capabilities, a key criteria to qualify has committed to hold the AIIB to high investment and provide impetus for first major multilateral development for Stage 2 of the project, a Jin (James) Kim, Vice-President for a Top Safety Pick+ award.” standards of governance and trans- economic growth in Asia and the rest bank in a generation — the last being 628-km stretch connecting and Head of Operations at Hyundai Hyundai Motor’s Genesis is parency. They’ve talked the talk. Now of world, Chinese President Xi Jinping the European Bank for Reconstruction Mussafah, Khalifa Port and Motor Company Africa and Middle equipped with many advanced safety they’ve got to walk the walk. If China said Saturday at an opening ceremony and Development, set up in 1991 to help Jebel Ali port as well as to East said: “Our company’s emphasis technology options, including ESC, delivers, its role as a global leader will in Beijing. The Beijing-based lender rebuild former Communist nations in Saudi and Oman. on safety is once again highlighted Lane Departure Warning System, be enhanced.” is pivotal to Xi’s vision for China to Eastern Europe after the Cold War. “The rail links to Oman as two very different models, one Tire Pressure Monitoring System, The lender plans to raise capital in achieve the same great-power status China has similarly lofty goals. via Al Ain and to Saudi Arabia an SUV and one a luxury sedan, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake currencies including US dollars, euros as the US, which opposed the crea- The AIIB is one of the three entities it’s via Ghweifat remain within are internationally recognised for Distribution, Lane Change Assist and and the yuan, while making loans in tion of the AIIB. promoting, along with a joint BRICS the scope of Stage Two, in their advanced safety technologies. a rear-view camera. In addition, the American dollars, said Jin, who pre- China will contribute $50m to a Development Bank with Brazil, Rus- line with the project man- The features which I think have helped vehicle includes Sensory Surround viously worked at the World Bank special preparatory fund to be estab- sia, India and South Africa, and a Silk date,” Etihad Rail said in the us secure these awards are elements Safety Technologies that help driver and the Asian Development Bank on lished soon for infrastructure projects Road Fund designed to revive Chi- statement. such as the autonomous emergency alertness and focus on total occupant China’s behalf, and was a former mon- in less developed member states, Xi nese commercial ties in south and braking feature, lane departure safety, and even the safety of other etary policy committee member and said. Jin said in his briefing that Korean central Asia. warning with lane keep assist and drivers nearby. Gulf Air poised for major aircraft announcements at Bahrain airshow

The Peninsula

DOHA: With numerous media attend- ees arriving from across the globe to cover the highly anticipated Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2016, in addition to regional media represent- atives invited by Gulf Air, the airline looks forward to making some major aircraft announcements on Day 1 of the upcoming three-day event at the Sakhir Airbase on Thursday. “As the national carrier of the King- dom of Bahrain and a key national infrastructure asset it is integral for us to be involved in this significant, bien- nial event that adds great value to the growing prominence of the Kingdom’s aviation sector in the international companies and I am pleased to say that In addition to its highly anticipated arena. Held under the patronage of Gulf Air will have some very exciting announcements during the Bahrain H M King Hamad bin Isa Al Khal- aircraft announcements to make at International Airshow 2016, Gulf Air ifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, BIAS 2016,” said Gulf Air Acting Chief will also have a dedicated exhibition this three-day event is a key business Executive Officer Maher Salman Al stand and chalet at the prestigious platform for international aviation Musallam. event. BUSINESS MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 23 Air freight growth concentrates in Mideast

The capacity of these carriers also expanded compared to October 2015, shows how much the health of the glo- and capacity grew 5.8 percent. The increased by 9.2 compared to November and were higher than the low point in bal economy — upon which air cargo market remains hard to read. A 0.4 During the same 2014. This happened when negative August. This indicates that the decline depends — remains on a knife-edge,” percent expansion compared to Octo- period, global air (y-o-y) comparisons occurred across all in cargo demand may be bottoming out. said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director Gen- ber indicates that air cargo could be regions, including the generally robust Of the major markets that together eral and CEO. recovering. But export indicators are freight markets show Latin American and African markets comprise more than 80 percent of total Asia-Pacific carriers saw a slight poor, making it hard to be optimistic air cargo volumes that faced decline in demand for air trade, Europe was down 2 percent, fall in FTKs of 1.5 percent in Novem- for the coming months. cargo volumes of varying degrees. North America by 3.2 percent, and ber compared to November 2014, and Latin American airlines also were down 1.2% Although the Middle East led the Asia-Pacific by 1.5 percent. The com- capacity expanded 3.2 percent. Com- reported a decline in demand of 6.4 per- way as the only market showing pos- parative weakness in these regions pared to October, volumes expanded cent (y-o-y), and capacity expanded 1.9 itive growth, the rate fell to less than was driven largely because the per- by a strong 1.9 percent. Over recent percent. Few positive signals emerged half the 11.9 percent average growth formance in November 2014 was very months, the declining trend in vol- from the markets in this region, with Uber CEO: China By Mohammad Shoeb for the year-to-date. Low oil prices strong. Latin American and African umes has halted. Better demand in economic and political conditions in The Peninsula are impacting some economies in the markets also fell, by 6.4 percent and advanced economies is driving export Brazil particularly weak. The com- to soon surpass region. 6 percent, respectively. growth in some countries, particu- parison with October also showed a IATA, the global aviation industry “The freight performance in larly in Japan. 1.4 percent contraction and air cargo Silicon Valley body of about 250 airlines, normally November was a mixed bag. Although European carriers reported weaker demand appears to be mirroring DOHA: The Middle Eastern carriers, doesn’t disclose country or airline-spe- the headline growth rate fell again, and demand in November, down 2 percent weaker consumer confidence. in innovation including three major Gulf airlines, cific data. According to figures released the global economic outlook remains compared to a year ago, and capacity African carriers experienced a fall were the only airlines in the world that by the International Air Transport Asso- fragile, it appears that parts of Asia- rose 2.2 percent. Comparing Novem- in demand of 6 percent and capacity witnessed growth in air cargo vol- ciation (IATA), the global air freight Pacific are growing again and globally, ber to October, the trend was flat, but rose by 6.6 percent. Africa remains one umes in November 2015 (year-on-year), markets showing air cargo volumes export orders are looking better. In there are indications that stronger man- of only three regions (with Asia-Pacific BEIJING: Watch out, Silicon Val- where demand expanded by 5.4 per- (measured in Freight Tonne Kilom- fact, the downward trend in FTK vol- ufacturing and export orders could and Middle East) to record positive ley. China’s out to eat your lunch. So cent despite over 1 percent decline in eters, FTKs) were down 1.2 percent in umes appears to be bottoming out. But support air freight demand in the com- year-to-date growth for 2015. Demand says Travis Kalanick (pictured), the global air freight markets during the November 2015, compared to Novem- there is a great deal of uncertainty. ing months. North American airlines is holding up despite the underper- Silicon Valley pioneer who steered month, latest data show. ber 2014. Total cargo volumes, however, The current volatility of stock markets experienced a fall of 3.2 percent (y-o-y) formance of Nigeria and South Africa. Uber Technologies Inc to a larger valuation than four-fifths of the companies on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. He’s now setting his sights on China: the ride-hailing com- QIB wins three pany’s domestic unit is valued at more than $8bn after taking more money after the closure of its lat- est funding round, Kalanick told reporters in Beijing. awards from IFM The Uber Chief Executive, who’s personally overseeing Uber’s come-from-behind battle against Didi Kuaidi, argued the country’s The Peninsula Strategy 2030. The most recent addi- growing cohort of entrepreneurs tion to the Bank’s Aamaly program will eventually eclipse those that is the well-received Heavy Fleet and have made the Bay Area a cradle Heavy Equipment Financing pack- of global technology innovation. DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), age, tailored to companies working “In the next five years, there will Qatar’s leading Islamic Bank, has in construction, trading and services, be more innovation, more invention, QPMC employees at the award ceremony. been recognised by the London-based and designed to allow companies to more entrepreneurship happening International Finance Magazine (IFM) finance their fleet by assisting with in China, happening in Beijing than with three awards: Best Islamic Bank finance for any kind of vehicle. in Silicon Valley,” Kalanick said at in Qatar 2015, Most Innovative SME The third award honours QIB’s the “Geekpark” conference in Bei- Product – Aamaly in Qatar 2015, and multi-platform Mobile Banking app. QPMC employees recognised jing. That will in turn spur Chinese Best Mobile Banking App. The innovative app offers a compre- corporations to begin to go global The bank’s receipt of three sep- hensive self-service functionality to and open up to entrepreneurs from arate awards is a testament to the the Bank’s customers, allowing users without. “We gotta play our A-game resounding success of its business to perform transfers, account and at annual awards ceremony in order to compete with the best.” strategy, built on offering Shari’ah- card enquiries, make utility and card Kalanick’s view may not sit well compliant banking and financing payments and update personal infor- with those who deem the country solutions along with a customer- mation on a 24/7 basis. Available in a violator of intellectual property centric, technologically progressive English and Arabic and featuring an The Peninsula helping QPMC achieve its goals and Al Hammadi said: “Team spirit rights, home to copycat ripoffs approach. intuitive interface, it is one of Qatar’s utmost potential. leads to the harmony and integra- and subject to rigorous content The Best Islamic Bank award, most downloaded financial apps, with Eisa Al Hammadi, QPMC Chief tion of roles necessary in carrying out restrictions. received for the second year in a row, more than 60,000 registered users. Executive Officer and Dr Latifa Al strategic projects, as well as achiev- Yet the country has birthed reflects the significant progress that Bassel Gamal, QIB’s Group CEO, DOHA: Qatar Primary Materials Darwish, QPMC Director of Admin- ing company objectives.” some of Asia’s largest and most well- QIB consistently made throughout the said: “To be recognised with three Company (QPMC) hosted an annual istration led the event. Al Darwish said: “Motivation and regarded technology corporations, past couple of years across the differ- awards from the IFM publication employee appreciation and recogni- Al Hammadi said: “Today we honouring employees have become from social media and gaming giant ent business sectors, supported with reflects the Bank’s continuous efforts tion ceremony marking a record of its recognise and appreciate QPMC’s key characteristics of QPMC and a Tencent Holdings Ltd to e-commerce the introduction of new products and to strengthen its status as a leading employee’s successes, corporate con- employees on various front. The past cherished tradition which reaffirms leader Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. services, a refined coverage model Bank in Qatar. Our commitment to tributions and achievements, said a years have been a time of major accom- QPMC’s milestones. We are thrilled Along with search-engine operator and a genuine attention to the cus- our customers and the local market statement yesterday. plishments, a plateau achieved by the to express our pride and gratitude of Baidu Inc, they have invested in and tomers. QIB has been able to grow its is reflected in our market-leading The annual Employee and Labours mutual integrity and loyalty between belonging to this great organisation.” helped foster a plethora of startups relationships with all customer seg- approach to developing high-quality Award ceremony brought together QPMC, its staff and labours. The pride “Indications of QPMC’s successes and online services, whose scope ments across the entire spectrum of products such as our Aamaly suite, QPMC’s staff and labours from vari- and integrity we share today is the are evident, and efforts of doing so will and scale outstrip those available their financial needs. aimed to meet the needs of SME cus- ous departments including the Washed authentic and driving force behind constantly be valued by the compa- in the US. Investors are beginning The second award, the Most Inno- tomers, our emphasis on technological Sand plants department, projects man- QPMC’s success and achievements.” ny’s management in efforts to spread to take note. Investments in China vative SME Product in Qatar 2015, solutions that both meet and anticipate agement department, logistic yards He added: “We are pleased to be our values and maximise our per- and India, where most of the biggest relates to the Bank’s innovative Aam- the requirements of our customers.” and supply chain departments who together on this occasion to celebrate formance,” Al Darwish said. deals are taking place, more than aly program, which is specifically “We thank our loyal customers for were also in attendance. the outstanding performance of QPMC The celebrations was inspirational tripled to $16.9bn in the third quar- designed for the Small & Medium choosing QIB as their preferred bank The event reflected QPMC’s core over the past years, which has been the and encouraging to QPMC’s staff and ter, just under the $17.5bn invested Enterprise sector. Consisting of and for demonstrating their trust in foundation aimed at maintaining a corner stone of QPMC and the force labours, an environment that high- in North America as of October 1, financing solutions, trade services, our institution, as well as our com- continuous communication stream that helped achieve our business and lighted the engagements of QPMC according to Preqin Ltd, a Lon- fleet financing and staff-based solu- mitted staff, who consistently make with its employees, acknowledging industrial milestones. This achieve- employees and labours of all grades don-based consultancy. Venture tions, the products are consistent with the extra effort to enhance our repu- their hard work, contribution and ment is due to the dedication and hard across the various departments and investors closed 1,016 deals in China the Bank’s commitment to contribute tation and status as a market leader,” efforts, which played a major role in work of our employees; the essence of sites as Employee Service Awards were up to the third quarter of 2015 — to the Qatar National Development he concluded. achieving the company’s vision and QPMC’s reputation and pride.” handed out to attendees. more than in all of 2014. Porsche models to make regional debut at Qatar Motor Show

The Peninsula consumption further, when compared to its predecessor. The coupe version of the model sprints to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 330 km/h, DOHA: A range of new Porsche mod- which is 12 km/h higher than before. els will celebrate their regional debuts All-wheel drive versions of Por- at the 2016 Qatar Motor Show (QMS), sche’s iconic 911 models will also take taking place at the Doha Exhibition centre stage in Qatar with the pre- and Convention Centre (DECC). Among miere of both the 911 Carrera 4S and them will be the 911 Carrera 4S, 911 911 Targa 4S. Both models are a repre- Targa 4S and the all new Macan GTS. sentation of how Porsche is evolving In follow up to its world premiere at the sports car. the 2016 edition of the North American Thanks to more than four decades International Auto Show in Detroit, Por- of experience with turbo engines — sche will also bring the new 911 Turbo in both motor racing and production S to Qatar for its regional debut. Simi- sports cars — the completely new lar to previous years, Porsche will use New Porsche models to be on display at the 2016 Qatar Motor Show. engine generation with bi-turbo charg- the Doha event as a platform for intro- ing featured in both models, raise the ducing its latest models to the region, emotional driving pleasure to an even with 2016 being no exception. the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s the three-letter insignia, the Macan for, and with the introduction of four The new 911 Turbo S leads Por- more intense level. An increase of 20 The 911 has been the world’s best- reign as segment leader in two-door GTS is inspired by motor racing. new models to the region, the 911 Turbo sche’s plan to premiere three 911 model hp across all models amounts to a total selling sports car for decades and now sports cars. Deesch Papke, Chief Executive S, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Targa 4S and the derivatives at one motor show. As the of 420 hp in the 911 Carrera 4S Cabri- new turbo as well as all-wheel drive Meanwhile, the all-new Macan Officer of Porsche Middle East and Macan GTS, we are starting the year top athlete in the range, with an output olet and 911 Targa 4S. When equipped versions of Porsche’s iconic sports car GTS provides driving experiences that Africa FZE, said: “We are proud to on a high. Our strong product offen- of 580 hp, the 911 Turbo S is a high- with PDK and Sport Chrono Package, will be showcased in the Middle East surpass those which have become cus- once again showcase the very best sive indicates an exciting year ahead performance sports car through and both the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet and for the first time. Embodying the per- tomary with the sporty Macan. Porsche that Porsche has to offer on a regional and as such we are very much look- through. 911 Targa 4S boast a zero to 100 km/h fect balance of Porsche performance will celebrate the latest derivative of stage such as the Qatar Motor Show. As ing forward to welcoming guests in The latest iteration of the model improvement of 0.3 seconds on pre- and driving dynamics, the new 911 its compact SUV at Qatar Motor Show always, at this year’s show, our aim is Qatar to our stand, for a unique Por- achieves breath-taking driving vious models; sprinting to the speed models are well equipped to continue and like all Porsche variants that bear to demonstrate what Porsche stands sche experience.” performance, whilst reducing fuel in just 4.0 seconds. 24 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS China watchdog Norway’s tech fund gets taste of Apple admits flaws in Bloomberg

OSLO: Norway’s top performing tech fund has gotten a taste for Apple equity regulation Inc. again. DNB Nordic Technology, which has beaten its peers seven of the ten past years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, bought a effect,” Xiao said in the transcript. “little bit” in Apple Tuesday after “During the abnormal volatility in exiting the stock in the spring of Losses this year the stock market, some institutions last year. were fuelled by a let illegal and irregular activities “It’s too early to take a big ride instead of taking responsibility position in Apple,” Anders Tand- controversial circuit- to stabilize the market.”It’s been a berg-Johansen, portfolio manager breaker system wild ride for Chinese stock investors. at DNB ASA, said in an interview The Shanghai Composite Index more Wednesday. “But the stock is obvi- which authorities than doubled in the 12 months through ously very cheap right now.” scrapped in the first May before losing 34 percent by the Apple has fallen 27 percent from end of September as regulators failed a high in February. Investors are week of January to manage a surge in leveraged bets pricing in a potentially weak first by individual investors. A state- quarter driven by slowing sales of sponsored market rescue campaign Iphone 6s. sparked a rally toward the end of the Tandberg-Johansen sees esti- year but those gains have been wiped mates for earnings per share for AFP out this month. 2016 coming down to $8 as the “The stock market developed so replacement rate for Iphones will fast that the regulations failed to catch be “stretched.” up,” said Ronald Wan, chief executive “Then the stock is still cheap,” SHANGHAI: The Chinese equi- of Partners Capital International Ltd., he said at DNB’s office in Oslo. “We ties watchdog has acknowledged an investment bank in Hong Kong. don’t think Apple will lose market loopholes and ineptitude within its “Only when the laws and regulations share. But they replaced a lot of regulatory system after a review of improve, can the market develop in their users last year and will have the turmoil that’s shaken markets a healthy way. That cannot be done a tougher year this year.” since last June. in one or two months.” One of the 5.7 billion kroner An immature bourse and Losses this year were fueled ($645 million) fund’s biggest hold- participants, incomplete trading rules, by a controversial circuit- breaker ings is Alphabet Inc., the holding an inadequate market system and system, which authorities scrapped in company that owns Google. It’s an inappropriate regulatory system the first week of January after finding one of the companies that is “best were to blame and regulators will that it spurred investors to rush for the positioned within many of the impor- learn from their mistakes, Xiao exits on big down days. The turbulence tant trends,” said Sverre Bergland, Gang (pictured), chairman of China in China has rippled through global another portfolio manager. Securities Regulatory Commission, markets this year, contributing to “It’s hard to see how they could said in a transcript of an internal a 8.5 percent drop in the MSCI All- be derailed within the important meeting of the regulator that was Country World Index. areas where they have position,” he posted on the agency’s website on The CSRC will try to learn from said. “The biggest risk is the regu- Saturday. its overseas counterparts but will latory. EU has put a question mark Chinese shares fell into a bear avoid wholesale adoption of another to some of their business because market again on Friday, wiping out nation’s regulatory system, said Xiao. they are so powerful.” gains from an unprecedented state IPO reforms will be gradual and the Still, the fund trimmed its stake in rescue amid waning confidence in registration system for offerings won’t Alphabet in 2015 as the stock surged the government’s ability to manage be settled in one step, he said. China from July. the country’s financial markets. The plans to shift to a registration-based “It was very cheap,” Bergland initial collapse came after cheer system for IPOs, loosening the grip of said. “Now it’s not that cheap but leading by state media helped fuel the CSRC, which has controlled the valuation is still pretty okay com- an unprecedented boom in mainland timing and pricing of listings. pared to many of the other players equities, triggered stock purchases The Shanghai-Hong Kong in the Internet sector.” An iPhone 6 Plus is pictured on sale at an Apple Store in Los Angeles, California. by the government, restrictions on stock link will be improved, a Bergland prefers Alphabet to trading and a temporary ban on initial Shenzhen-Hong Kong connect Facebook Inc., which the fund has public offerings. Xiao was criticized will be started and a link between never held. The barriers are higher you look at younger people it’s a lot of Group Ltd, which is the fund’s biggest sees no bubble in the tech sector. “Due for helping to talk up the market as the Shanghai and London bourses for Google with their search busi- Snapchat. New competitors are coming.” holding. “SAP looks very good for 2016,” to low rates there’s still a very good risk the bubble developed. will be considered, Xiao said. The ness than for example for Facebook, The managers see the so-called Bergland said. “Priced in line with mar- premium in tech stocks,” he said. “But “The slumping stock market, watchdog will encourage mergers he said. “FANG” stocks -- Facebook, Amazon. ket and it will have a rather high earnings with seven years of rise it’s smaller than fleeing liquidity, speedy deleveraging and acquisitions, cap margin trading “We’re a bit afraid of the engage- com Inc., Netflix Inc. and Google’s par- growth. And the business model is very it was. If the rate is where it is now and activities, augmented by self-defeating within a “reasonable overall size,” ment within the real Facebook app,” ent Alphabet -- getting more expensive. stable and sticky so we think it can be we think estimates look rather fair we redemption at mutual funds and strictly regulate program-trading he said. “They have 1.4 billion users. Instead the fund is investing in companies repriced from this level.” Although believe it can be an okay year. We expect selloffs in futures, spiraled into and curb excessive speculation in It’s not unthinkable that there can that are “less popular” such as Oracle tech stocks have outperformed since a normal year in tech, about eight to ten a full- scale crisis like a domino futures, Xiao said. come something that derails it. If Corp., SAP SE and Marvell Technology the financial crisis, Tandberg-Johansen percent in the market.” Pawel says currency will London property deal leaves Qualcomm seeks ATP fund on currency risks joint-venture recover after S&P cut shortcut to server Bloomberg Bloomberg

Bloomberg

COPENHAGEN: Denmark’s biggest SAN FRANCISCO: Qualcomm WARSAW: Poland Finance Minister pension fund just teamed up with AXA Inc., trying to break Intel Corp.’s Pawel Szalamacha (pictured) said Investment Management to buy two dominance of chip sales for server the nation’s currency will recover hotels in central London. computers, is forming a joint ven- after a surprise ratings downgrade But the “extremely expensive” ture in China, the fastest growing by Standard & Poor’s sent the zloty market is an increasingly tough place consumer of data-center hardware. to a four-year low and ruled out gov- to do deals even for seasoned institu- The San Diego-based chipmaker ernment action to prop it up. tional investors, according to Michael will take a 45 percent stake in a “I expect the zloty exchange rate to Nielsen(pictured), a director at the new company being formed with stabilize later on Monday and on Tues- real estate investment unit of ATP. the government of Guizhou Prov- day and return to levels from recent “The cheap price of money is ince. The new venture will develop days,” Szalamacha told Bloomberg pressing up prices,” Nielsen said by server chips for the Chinese mar- in a phone interview Saturday. “It’s phone. “There are some markets where ket using Qualcomm designs and a knee-jerk market reaction related the initial yield is below 4 percent. technology. to S&P’s rating decision, which in no on record. “We expect major sell-off that have sparked street protests in That is not something we would do.” very aggressive.” But despite all the “We felt the fastest way to par- way reflects the country’s economic in domestic government bonds next the European Union’s biggest east- For ATP, which is based north of speculation about bubbles, real estate ticipate in China was through a fundamentals. However, I see no need week as the local debt market was ern economy. Copenhagen, it’s only the third time still offers an appealing alternative to joint venture,” said Anand Chan- to intervene on the market.” much more resilient than currency Szalamacha called S&P’s assess- the $100 billion fund has invested long-term investors like pension funds. drasekher, who heads Qualcomm’s In an unexpected decision late on so far” Rafal Benecki, an economist ment “dishonest” and said he’ll invite outside Denmark without going via In London, demand for property fledgling server unit. “We view the Friday, Standard & Poor’s became the at ING Groep NV in Warsaw, said in a the company’s analysts to Warsaw to a third party. is outstripping supply. The city and China market as the second-larg- first of the three major credit asses- note. “The risk premium should rise get a more in- depth view of the facts on The fund would prefer to stay in its surrounding counties will need at est server market in the world by sors to downgrade Poland, saying that significantly and the zloty may weaken the ground. He also dismissed concern the euro area as record-low inter- least one million new homes in the 2020 and it’s the fastest-growing policies of the new government are further” to 4.6 per euro. that the decision would affect demand est rates add to the cost of currency next 10 years to meet demand, the market already.” imperiling the nation’s institutions. Deputy Prime Minister and Devel- for Polish bonds from central banks and hedges. Adam Smith Institute research group Qualcomm has a long way to go. In a separate decision, Fitch kept its opment Minister Mateusz Morawiecki other longer-term financial investors. “The currency risk and the cost said in a reportthis month. The biggest maker of mobile- phone assessment of country’s creditworthi- told RMF FM radio that he expected the who are aware that the company’s “cul- of hedging currencies is related to ATP’s real estate unit targets about chips is one of many challengers ness unchanged, although it warned of situation to stabilize “very fast.” Even ture and methodology” differs from the the interest rate, so with the current, 5-7 percent in annual returns, Nielsen seeking to dislodge Intel in the lucra- rising political tensions sparked by the if it stays around 4.5 per euro in the other two credit assessors, as proven by very unusual levels that we have in said. tive market for powerful processors administration’s “confrontational pol- short-term, this will benefit export- its sole decision to downgrade US in 2011. many countries, it’s very expensive The fund holds about 6 percent of that run data center machines. Intel, icy stance.” S&P’s move sent the zloty ers and help Poland achieve a trade “S&P is wrong and will correct its to hedge, especially the US dollar, its total assets in property. It started the biggest overall semiconductor to its biggest daily drop since 2011 on surplus this year, which is “very good decision,” Szalamacha said. “We’ll con- the Swedish krona and the sterling,” doing direct real estate purchases maker, has squashed all opposition a closing basis. The Polish currency news for the economy,” he said. vince them about it with 2016 budget Nielsen said. ATP’s pension obliga- some two years ago, but has been and enjoys more than 99 market was trading at 4.4822 versus the euro The Law & Justice party has tried to results and our work to rebuild gov- tions are denominated in the Danish investing through real estate funds share. It’s able to charge more than at 4:48 p.m. in New York on Friday, the assert its influence over state institu- ernment revenue, which would reduce krone, which is pegged to the euro. for about 12 years. $7,000 for some models, more than weakest since January 2012. Among its tions after winning an unprecedented Poland’s reliance on debt financing.” ATP said on Friday it bought the “Right now, the asset class can seven times the price of even its most peers in developing Europe, the zloty parliamentary majority in an October The surprise decision came two Club Quarters’ hotels on Ludgate and deliver a rather favorable return, expensive desktop offering. While is the second-worst performer against election, limiting opposition oversight days after the European Commission Gracechurch in a joint venture with a long-term, stable return, and we the Qualcomm-Guizhou joint ven- the euro after the Russian ruble in the over secret services and increasing its took a first step to discipline Poland’s AXA, with each paying about $130 mil- know that other asset classes, bonds ture’s initial products will essentially past three months. The country’s 2025 influence over the constitutional court ruling party for exerting greater sway lion. “We are very selective,” Nielsen for example, don’t deliver the same be the same as the US chipmaker’s euro-denominated bonds slid the most and the public broadcaster, moves over the state. said. “The pricing we see in London is return level,” Nielsen said. forthcoming offerings. BUSINESS MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 25 Modi offers $1.5bn fund and tax breaks for startups

“The government should not inter- of a “big bang” and the 21st century Startups will get fere in startups,” Modi said on Saturday belongs to it, he said, while adding to an audience that included billion- challenges include slow Internet con- tax breaks such aire Masayoshi Son, the founder of nections and the need for more wireless as income tax Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp., and spectrum to be allotted to mobile- Uber Technologies Inc. Chief Execu- phone carriers. exemptions for the tive Officer Travis Kalanick. “India’s SoftBank has invested in e-com- first 3 years, quicker youth should be a job creator, not a merce provider Snapdeal.com and seeker.” the ride-hailing service Ola Cabs in patent applications, Asia’s No. 3 economy is in the midst India, as well as the real-estate web- a credit guarantee of an Internet startup boom that’s site Housing.com and hotel-booking lured billions of dollars and raised app Oyo Rooms. The company is also programme and questions about whether valuations part of a planned $20 billion solar easier routes to wind are becoming stretched. Much of the power venture. up if they fail money is coming from foreign inves- The World Bank ranks India 130th tors such as SoftBank. A lack of tax out of 189 economies for ease of doing breaks has curbed the involvement business, an improvement from ear- of local investors. lier years but far from Modi’s goal of “About 70-80 percent of the breaking into the world’s 50 top busi- Bloomberg funding is coming from overseas,” ness-friendly destinations. The nation said Harish Visweswara, a partner is revising rules to make company at consultant Grant Thornton India registrations easier, Corporate Affairs LLP. The government needs to curb Secretary Tapan Ray said at the con- NEW DELHI: India said it will set up red tape and get rid of the numerous ference. Revenue Secretary Hasmukh a 100-billion- rupee ($1.5 billion) fund permits and licenses required to run Adhia signaled the budget due Feb. 29 to encourage startup businesses and a simple business, he said. may tackle the difference between the pledged to ease regulations for entre- The administration’s objective is to capital-gains tax treatment of unlisted preneurs, as Prime Minister Narendra reduce obstacles from complex rules, investments and the more favorable Modi strives to create the jobs needed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at regime for listed securities. in a developing nation of 1.3 billion the conference. “Our effort over the The premier is trying to boost people. last few years has been to restrict the Indian expansion beyond the current Startups will get tax breaks such role of the state essentially as a facil- clip of more than 7 percent that’s the as income-tax exemptions for the first itator,” Jaitley said. fastest among major economies. His three years, quicker patent applica- Son said in New Delhi that he’s agenda has faced some setbacks. For tions, a credit guarantee program and pumped almost $2 billion into India instance, a national goods and serv- easier routes to wind up if they fail, in the past year, and that he’d likely ices tax that would try to make India Modi said at a government conference scale up rather than cut back his invest- more of a single market is stalled. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley talk during an event to launch for entrepreneurs in New Delhi. The ments if he were to reconsider his plans. “Startups will play an important fund will be established over four years. The country is at the beginning role in India’s growth,” Modi said. an initiative to bolster start-ups in New Delhi on Saturday. Global turmoil tempts buyers return to Japan bonds Renewable energy focus could boost

Bloomberg yields will soar,” Suezawa said. The global economy share of long-term JGBs held by pri- vate Japanese investors could shrink to about 40 percent from about 60 per- ABU DHABI: Doubling the share of TOKYO: Foreign buyers are returning cent should the central bank continue solar, wind and other renewables in to Japan’s bond market after a two- its stimulus program into 2018, he said. the energy mix would boost global week hiatus as global turmoil drives Japanese investors are becoming economic growth by as much as 1.1 a rally in assets perceived as safer reluctant to buy bonds with yields near percent by 2030, according to the including the yen. record lows as those abroad using asset International Renewable Energy International funds bought a net swaps flock to short- to medium-term Agency. 218.5 billion yen ($1.9 billion) of Japan’s JGBs, Suezawa said. Two-year yields The gains equal to $1.3 tril- mid-to-long-term debt in the week reached a record low of minus 0.06 lion would mostly come from ended Jan. 9, Finance Ministry data percent last month. increased investment, IRENA said show, as the yen completed its big- Domestic investors are essentially in a report on Saturday. That would gest five-day rally since August 2013. subsidizing the enhanced yield that boost “direct and indirect” industry That’s a reversal from 1.75 trillion yen foreign buyers get, as the highly-rated employment to 24.4 million people, of net sales in the period ended Dec. debt gets extremely cheap for overseas according to the report. Last year, it 26, driven by holidays and the Fed- holders, according to ReikoTokukatsu, estimated sector employment at as eral Reserve’s interest-rate increase. a relative value strategist at BNP Pari- many as 9.2 million people. A pedestrian walks past the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. Benchmark 10-year yields fell to a bas SA in Tokyo. The cost of JGBs for “Doubling the share of renew- record 0.19 percent on Jan. 14 as Chi- dollar-based investors is “effectively ables in the global energy mix pays na’s slumping yuan sparked a global but I think foreign demand for JGBs points higher than similar-maturity U.S. biggest holder, owning 30.3 percent. collapsing,” Tokukatsu said. “Japa- back in terms of economic growth, equity rout. will continue.” Treasuries. As long as spreads on basis The growing presence of the BOJ nese are paying the price.” social welfare, job creation and “Overseas flows into Japanese Foreign investors were net buyers swaps remain relatively wide, foreign and foreigners in the JGB market is While JGBs may tumble if for- overall trade balances,” it said in bonds via basis swaps have contin- of Japan’s medium-term debt for a 10th demand for Japanese debt should stay making the market more vulnerable, eign funds unwind holdings, higher conjunction with its annual meet- ued since the start of the year,” said straight month in November, the long- supported, said Takafumi Yamawaki, said Hidenori Suezawa, an analyst at yields would attract Japanese back ing in Abu Dhabi. “This study, the Takenobu Nakashima, a quantita- est bullish run since May 2014, as the the chief rates strategist in Tokyo at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo. to the domestic market, JPMorgan’s first of its kind, provides a solid tive strategist at Nomura Securities spread on cross-currency basis swaps JPMorgan Chase & Co. International “There may not be a problem as Yamawaki said. basis for future work to quantify Co. in Tokyo. expanded to the widest level in four ownership of JGBs jumped 16.5 percent long as the BOJ is buying, but when “Japanese are holding a far big- the growth-enhancing potential “There was a seasonal-related drop years. Although the gap has contracted to 102 trillion yen at the end of Septem- domestic investors are no longer in ger amount of foreign assets, and an of renewable energy in the global in buying around Christmas and posi- since then, it suggests dollar-based ber from a year earlier, accounting for the market, when the BOJ stops buy- increase in JGB yields could eventu- economy.”Total energy demand is tions were pared toward the end of holders of Japanese two-year notes are a record 9.8 percent of the market, BOJ ing, foreign demand will also likely ally work to pull money back home,” expected to increase by 21 percent the year with the Fed raising rates, still able to get a yield that’s 65 basis data show. The central bank was the disappear, creating a huge risk that he said. by 2030, the group said.

Low inflation to delay BoE rate Has the time come to sell Check Point? hike and helps Bloomberg down, it’s still a buy to the majority of analysts, Bloomberg data show. consumers: EY “It’s actually attractively priced given the company’s strong earn- NEW YORK: Check Point Software ings,” said Jonathan Ho, an analyst LONDON: Low UK inflation through Technologies Ltd.’s reputation among with William Blair & Co. in Chicago. 2016 will help consumer spend- cybersecurity stocks rests on being “The company hasn’t been losing share, ing and delay any Bank of England a safe, if boring, investment. Now they seem to be maintaining their share, rate increase until late in the year, short sellers are circling the world’s so far, even as Palo Alto’s has grown.” according to a report from EY Item top fire wall provider in anticipation Check Point stock slipped one per- Club. of a stumble. cent last week to $75.95 a four-month The group sees consumer-price Bearish bets against Tel Aviv-based low. It rose just 3.6 percent last year, growth staying below 0.5 percent Check Point made up 12.9 percent of following a 22 percent gain in 2014. in the first half and only reaching 1 shares outstanding on January 14 On a third-quarter earnings call in percent by the fourth quarter, just after touching a record 13.5 percent October, analysts quizzed Chief Execu- half of the BOE’s target of 2 percent. in December. The stock has tumbled tive Officer Gil Shwed on whether he’s In a report to be published Monday, 13 percent in the past month, com- investing enough to fend off compe- it will say this makes it “difficult” pared with a 10 percent decline in the tition. He said the company last year for the Monetary Policy Commit- ISE Cyber Security ETF. increased its sales force and marketing tee to follow the Federal Reserve Check Point, which boasts the high- while also making two small acqui- in raising interest rates. est operating margin among 20 global sitions in mobile and cloud security. EY will also say consumers will peers, may not be the fastest-growing, its back, and now it becomes a prove- That hasn’t spared Palo Alto shares terrorist threats that are here to stay. It will reevaluate the pace once full- continue to drive the economy in but it’s been the most reliably profitable, me stock going into earnings season,” from the selloff. Both companies are “I am totally optimistic and bullish year results are in. 2016. It will forecast household according to FBR & Co. With rival Palo he said. caught up in a broader rout as investors on cybersecurity and even in today’s Check Point is in preliminary spending growth of 2.8 percent and Alto Networks Inc. forecast to report Check Point will report $758 mil- fret the hyperbolic growth triggered horrendous market, I think it’s a tre- merger discussions with CyberArk, economic expansion of 2.6 percent. sales growth almost five times faster lion in profit on $1.6 billion in revenue by high-profile data breaches at com- mendous play,” Andersen said by an Israeli firm that specializes in privi- “However, 2016 is likely to be as than Check Point’s and Cisco Systems for 2015, a 9 percent increase in sales, panies like Sony Corp. and JPMorgan phone. “It’s more like a horse race at leged account security, Israeli business good as it gets for consumer spend- Inc. redoubling efforts to retake mar- according to the average estimate of Chase & Co. will fizzle out this year. this point in terms of who’s going to newspaper The Marker reported last ing in this decade as increasing ket share, the Israeli company may 28 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Not everyone agrees. Peter win the biggest contract, but there’s week. inflation, interest-rate rises and have to sacrifice profits or risk losing The company reports earnings Jan. Andersen, chief investment officer plenty of business to go around.” Both companies declined to com- welfare reform start to bite in later ground to competitors. 28. Palo Alto Networks, co-founded at Congress Wealth Management in Andersen said he owns shares of ment on the report. Analysts say such years,” it will say. Against that back- “They’ve had a great few years and by ex-Check Point engineer Nir Zuk, Boston, which oversees $7.5 billion in Palo Alto Networks and CyberArk Soft- a merger would make sense for Check drop, the pace of spending growth there’s a view that the party’s over,” reported $75 million in net income on assets, predicts governments and com- ware Ltd., but not Check Point. Point in a climate where the prolifera- will cool to 2.1 percent in 2017 and said Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR in $928 million in revenue in its fiscal panies will continue to dedicate ample While Check Point’s 54 percent tion of new security companies makes 1.7 percent in 2018. New York. Check Point “had a target on 2015 year, a 55 percent jump. resources to fighting cyber attacks and operating margin is at risk of coming the industry ripe for consolidation. 26 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 8,527.75 7.16 % QE Total Return Index 13,255.17 7.16 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,061.39 8.29 % QE All Share Index 2,281.36 6.84 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,324.28 5.13 % QE All Share Industrials 2,609.94 7.02 % QE All Share Transportation 2,041.69 7.17 % QE All Share Real Estate 1,845.58 9.94 % QE All Share Insurance 3,559.87 5.26 % QE All Share Telecoms 825.66 9.32 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 4,662.76 8.13 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 17-01-2016 Today 14-01-2016 Previous day Index 8,527.75 9,185.12 Change 657.37 220.26 % 7.16 2.34 YTD% 18.23 11.93 Volume 12,306,493 8,985,438 Value (QAR) 374,016,758.66 388,512,048.70 Trades 5,186 4,859 Up 00 | Down 40 | Unchanged 00

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year low All Ordinaries 5068.753 -109.257 -2.11 5379.6 5151.3 Cac 40 Index/D 4357.15 -123.32 -2.75 4586.11 4440.77 Dj Indu Average 16906.51 -252.15 -1.47 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 20333.34 -647.47 -3.09 21794.84 20947.3 Iseq Overall/D 6502.14 -185.02 -2.77 6791.68 6639.68 Karachi 100 In/D 32682.5 -285.76 -0.87 33304.4 32515.05 Nikkei 225 Index 17767.34 -423.98 -2.33 18951.12 18064.3 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1867.01

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.1610 QR 5.2364 Euro QR 3.9381 QR 4.0178 CA$ QR 2.4801 QR 2.5366 Swiss Fr QR 3.6227 QR 3.7145 Yen QR 0.0307 QR 0.0315 China’s most beaten-down Aus$ QR 2.4729 QR 2.5662 Ind Re QR 0.0530 QR 0.0542 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Peso QR 0.0749 QR 0.0773 SL Re QR 0.0250 QR 0.0256 stocks still too high for funds Taka QR 0.0467 QR 0.0469 Nep Re QR 0.0338 QR 0.0344 SA Rand QR 0.2284 QR 0.2330 Bloomberg

GOLD AND SILVER

GOLD QR127.4014 per gram BEIJING: The Chinese stocks battered SILVER QR1.6466 per gram most by this year’s $1.3 trillion selloff are still too expensive for two of the most accurate forecasters of main- land markets. The ChiNext index, a gauge of smaller Chinese technology compa- Several banks losing nies that sank 24 percent this year, is valued at levels almost three times share in corporate more expensive than the Shanghai market and still trades at a 2 percent premium over its own five-year aver- currency business age. That’s not cheap enough for Bocom International Holdings Co.’s Hao Hong, who called both the boom and bust in Reuters mainland markets last year, and Yuanta New China Fund’s Jeff Yeh, who out- performed 96 percent of peers in the past 12 months. LONDON: Small and medium-sized British compa- Despite starting 2016 with some of nies are increasingly looking outside banks for foreign the world’s steepest declines, the ChiN- exchange in search of better rates and services, a sur- ext is still 51 percent higher than it was vey showed yesterday. two years ago. Valuations, which surged A stock investor checks prices in a brokerage house in Jiujiang in central China’s Jiangxi province. Research com- to records during China’s equity bub- pany East & Partners’ ble last year, haven’t dropped enough survey of more than because major sellers have been locked before erasing losses to trade 5.6 per- add tech shares unless they are back to 2,200 UK firms with By offering out of the market by government restric- cent higher at Thursday’s close after 28 more reasonable valuation levels,” said annual revenues of companies tions on stake reductions, according listed companies vowed to take action Yeh, who favors shares in the precision up to £100m ($143m) to Hong. to stabilise the market. mechanics and consumer industries. showed roughly 10 currency at much “The ChiNext is still not cheap,” Yet it’s working against the group His $51m fund returned 9.4 percent in percent use at least tighter ‘spreads’, said Hong, the chief China strategist in 2016 as concerns over a weak yuan the past 12 months, according to data one of the dozens of brokers are at Bocom International in Hong Kong. and slowing economic growth send the compiled by Bloomberg. brokerages special- “The problem is that people expect Shanghai Composite Index to the brink Technology stocks will continue The ChiNext index, ising in payments in instrumental in management will continue to sell off of its low during a $5 trillion rout last to benefit from government efforts to and out of foreign making forex their stakes,” as the restrictions are summer. The ChiNext’s drop is about develop the sector, according to Chang a gauge of smaller currencies. eventually eased. “The market will 8 percentage points deeper than the Ji-sheng, a money manager at Uni-Pres- Chinese technology It listed the top six trading more start to front run these guys,” he said. Shanghai gauge this year, while the ident Assets Management in Taipei. brokers in the space competitive Swings in ChiNext shares, favourite CSI 300 Information Technology Index In July, China’s cabinet unveiled companies that by market share targets of China’s short-term specula- is the biggest loser among large-cap an “Internet Plus” programme to link sank 24% this year, as Western Union, tors, are often more extreme than the industry groups. technology companies with manu- Monex, CMC, Amer- broader Chinese market. That vola- Despite its fall, the small-cap meas- facturers and rejuvenate traditional is valued at levels ican Express, Alpari tility was beneficial for investors as ure is valued at 33 times projected industries through the use of services almost three times and UKForex. mainland shares climbed last year, earnings over the next 12 months, ver- such as cloud computing and artificial More than 8 per- with technology shares delivering the sus 12 for the Shanghai Composite. The intelligence. Internet Plus will be pro- more expensive than cent of those that trade in the more sophisticated currency best return among 10 industries — even technology gauge, meanwhile, has a moted through the nation’s five-year the Shanghai market options market also use brokers instead of banks, the on a risk-adjusted basis. The ChiN- multiple of 27. Leshi Internet Informa- plan ending 2020, President Xi Jin- and still trades at a survey showed. ext dropped as much as 3.4 percent tion & Technology Corp, an Internet ping said last month during the World By offering companies currency at much tighter video provider that was one of last Internet Conference in Wuzhen, near 2% premium over its “spreads” between buy and sell prices than the rates year’s best performers, trades at 134 Shanghai. Earnings at ChiNext compa- own five-year average banks give each other and their biggest clients, the bro- times estimated earnings. nies are projected to surge 73 percent kers have been instrumental in making forex trading Yeh, who was adding to his Chi- over the next 12 months. as a whole more competitive. nese technology holdings as recently “I am still positive on the trend of Shenzhen trading over the past year, The biggest brokers say they have grown strongly by as October, said he’s now turned “con- China technology stocks,” said Chang, said in January 12 filing that one of its watching over the currency needs of company manag- servative” on the sector amid elevated whose NT$3.3bn UPAMC Great China major investors plans to sell his entire ers too busy to notice that, say, the dollar has hit levels valuations and potential headwinds Fund has beaten 95 percent of peers 6.59 percent stake in the company via where they would like, or need, to buy or sell. Swings in ChiNext shares, to growth. A private Chinese services over the past five years. “I will add block trades. That has made millions for a generation of forex gauge slumped in December to the sec- stocks with good growth potential.” Sinosun Technology Co, a pro- entrepreneurs but has also begun to draw a response favourite targets of China’s short- ond-lowest reading since the series Even after the government curbed vider of electronic password systems from banks. A number have tightened the spreads offered term speculators, are often more began a decade ago, dealing a blow to stake sales by major shareholders, some that’s tripled over the past 12 months, on ordinary corporate transfers and some, such as Ger- extreme than the broader Chinese bets that “new economy” industries such investors are finding ways to unload said that the controlling shareholder man lender Deutsche Bank, have invested in new client as technology and consumer services their positions. MIG Technology Inc, a plans to cut up to 10 percent of its stake service centres in cheaper locations outside London to market would underpin the nation’s growth. maker of power-surge protection gear through block trades or a share trans- help address the challenge. “There is no point to aggressively that jumped more than 306 percent in fer agreement. BUSINESS VIEWS MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 27

Gulf widens in credit Benefits of sanctions relief markets fraught with danger for investors to bypass most US firms

BY Katie Linsell and a London-based high-yield Sridhar Natarajan portfolio manager at BNP Bloomberg Paribas Investment Part- ners, which oversees about €509bn. “That doesn’t help a whole chunk of the US mar- ot since the financial ket, namely the oil sector, crisis has there been where defaults are likely to Nsuch a divide between increase.” winners and losers in global The firm reduced hold- credit markets. ings in consumer and auto It was on full display on sectors because they’ve Wednesday as Anheuser- become expensive to hold, Busch InBev NV attracted while buying riskier securities a record $110bn of inves- of ArcelorMittal and Anglo tor orders and sold $46bn of American that sold off too bonds on the same day that much, Monnoyeur said. a fear gauge for the credit Money managers are wor- market jumped to a three- ried about buying assets year high. In high-yield debt, that may be hard to sell in just a quarter of the bonds stressed markets after the in a widely followed index failure of a high- yield bond are trading near the bench- fund overseen by Third Ave- mark’s average yield — the nue Management LLC. The least since 2008, according $788.5m fund blocked cli- to Rogge Global Partners. ents from pulling their money After years of central bank because it couldn’t meet stimulus that drove demand redemptions without selling for just about any and all holdings at steep discounts. corporate debt, investors “You pick the wrong name who gobbled up $12.5 tril- in this market and it can lion of bonds globally in the do an awful lot of damage A man looks at exchange rates seen through the window of a currency exchange shop in Tehran’s business district yesterday.. past seven years are becom- to your performance,” said ing increasingly discerning. Henry Craik- White, a sen- Amid an economic slow- ior investment analyst at down in China and carnage Wells Fargo Asset Manage- By Toluse Olorunnipa and the nuclear deal.” in commodities prices, the ment, which oversees about Angela Greiling Keane The agreement struck with the US and gap between the safest and $488bn. “There’s a liquidity Bloomberg five other world powers in July provided that riskiest borrowers is making gap between the level peo- sanctions tied to Iran’s nuclear programme it more expensive for com- ple want to sell at and the would be lifted simultaneously with a finding panies to raise debt, while level where others are willing he lifting of sanctions on Iran as part by the International Atomic Energy Agency that shutting the lowliest out of to buy.” of the nuclear deal with world pow- the government in Tehran had met commit- For most US companies, the market altogether. For investors reluctant to ers may be a bonanza for companies ments to curb its ability to develop a nuclear “The market has been split take on more risk, the cash is in Europe and Asia, but not so much weapon. That will open up the $406bn Iranian however, little will into winners and losers, the piling up, and when they see for those in the US. economy for investment after more than a change after the deal’s haves and have nots,” said a high-quality borrower come TThe actions taken on Saturday in Vienna decade of penalties. “A sanctions regime very Mikkel Velin, a high-yield along with attractive yields, leave in place a number of US restrictions on much remains in place with respect to Iran, implementation gives portfolio manager at London- they’re hardly holding back — commercial dealings with Iran over its ballistic making it very complicated and risky to do Iran access to more than based Rogge, which manages as seen in the AB InBev deal. missile programme and support for terror- business” there, said Juan Zarate, chairman of about $40bn. “This will be a The world’s biggest brewer, ist groups that will block any swift flood of the Financial Integrity Network, an advisory $50bn in cash frozen in year of security and sector which has already arranged US business with the Islamic Republic and firm, and a senior White House and Treas- overseas accounts and selection as investors try to the largest-ever debt pack- its roughly 77 million people. ury Department official during the George eases restrictions on dodge landmines.” age backing its purchase of One exception is Boeing Co and other mak- W Bush administration. “Any company going That’s in stark contrast SABMiller Plc, was inundated ers of commercial aircraft and parts. They into Iran has to deal with a whole range of Western business deals to just a year and a half ago, with investor demand for its will have authority to quickly do business as business and compliance risks, not to men- when investors sent yields on US-dollar bond sale. Iran revitalises its ageing airliner fleet. For tion reputation risks,” Zarate said. even the riskiest junk bonds The strong response, other companies, those US and European airplane makers, such as to all-time lows. The aver- partly fueled by investors’ in financial services in Boeing and Airbus Group SE, stand to benefit. age yield on bonds rated CCC desire to hold liquid assets, particular, the deal only Aircraft leasing companies such as AerCap narrow-bodies and twin-aisle 777s for long- or lower reached 9 percent allowed the company to lifts sanctions imposed to Holdings NV and Air Lease Corp may also haul flying. US and European engine makers in July 2014 and has since increase its bond offering, ini- punish Iran on its nuclear gain business because the carve out includes such as General Electric Co, Safran SA and soared to a six- year-plus high tially slated at about $25bn. programme and doesn’t leases as well as sales to Iran, said Bloomberg United Technologies Corp may also benefit of 20 percent. The beer-maker was also touch a sweeping ban on Intelligence analyst Caitlin Webber. from airplane purchases. Now, corporate defaults able to reduce yields enough US trade and investment Airbus got a jump on Boeing even before For most US companies, however, little are the highest since 2009 to shave off about $100m put in place by the Clinton the Saturday’s proceedings were finalised: will change after the deal’s implementa- and Standard & Poor’s said in potential annual interest administration in 1995. Tehran agreed to buy 114 Airbus planes, the tion gives Iran access to more than $50bn in this week that the outlook for costs, according to data com- One exception is “There is not going to Tasnim news agency reported, citing Abbas cash frozen in overseas accounts and eases corporate borrowers world- piled by Bloomberg and a be a comprehensive law Akhoundi, Iran’s transport minister. The deal restrictions on Western business deals. wide is the worst since the person with knowledge of Boeing Co and other allowing all US compa- includes a mix of new and used jets. Foreign subsidiaries of US companies global financial crisis. Inves- the transaction. makers of commercial nies to operate in Iran The country’s fleet is ripe for replacement, will get “some relief of as yet unknown quan- tors including DoubleLine Even among junk-rated anytime soon,” Majid especially its narrow-body jets. Like auto- tity” under the general licences issued by Capital’s Jeffrey Gundlach are borrowers, those in the aircraft and parts. Rafizadeh, president of mobiles in Cuba, planes in Iran have been the Treasury Department when the agree- warning of recession in the highest tier are still being They will have the International Amer- frozen in time due to trade being halted with ment is implemented, said Adam M Smith, US. “Some companies will not welcomed to the market, with ican Council on Middle the regime. The average age of Iran Air’s 45 an attorney who designed and enforced US be able to sell bonds in this Pinnacle Foods Inc improving authority to quickly East and North Africa and planes is 27 years — practically antiques by sanctions when he worked at the Treasury market because they look too the terms of its debt offering do business as Iran a member of the Harvard industry standards — with its Boeing 747s the Department and is now an attorney with risky,” said Olivier Monnoyeur, for itself earlier last week. International Relations oldest of the bunch, according to Planespot- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washing- revitalises its ageing Council, said in an e-mail. ters.net. Iran is interested in Airbus wide-body ton. Those licenses will clarify how much airliner fleet “This will make American planes including A350s and the A380 dou- access private businesses with US ties will firms the biggest losers of ble-decker, too, along with Boeing Co 737 have to the Iranian market. Benefits of cheap oil will come to US economy, but not soon

By Virginie Montet already feeling it, Ubide said. “If we look at to official figures, down from a yearly average producer states are suffering to varying degrees. AFP it in two or three years’ time, we’ll be able to of 5.1 percent from 2010 to 2014. Murphy said “Alaska, North Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma, conclude that the decline in oil prices on net Americans have saved $115bn thanks to cheap Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming are all was positive. But we need some time for that.” gas over the past 18 months, but rather than states that will experience some amount of ith petroleum investment and Steve Murphy of Capital Economics sounded spending it, “Personal saving has increased economic or fiscal fallout as a result of sus- the manufacturing sector sag- a note of caution, however, saying much will by $120bn, suggesting that households have tained low oil prices,” said a statement from ging and the stock market in depend on how long oil prices remain low. saved every last dime from lower pump prices.” the rating service Standard & Poor’s. free fall, many Americans are “The magnitude and duration of the slump Ubide noted, however, that “once the level Low energy prices will continue to affect Wwondering when they will begin to see the in oil prices has far exceeded what we origi- of savings is higher, at some point the con- the inflation rate, though Yellen has said for benefits of cheap oil. nally expected, and the longer it persists, the sumer can use those savings to spend.” months that this will be a “transitory effect.” Crude oil prices have tumbled by 70 percent harder it is to argue that decline will ever be There are, in any case, more winners than The US central bank wants to see a steady- since mid-2014, dropping this year below $30 a net positive for the US economy,” he said. losers in the United States, according to Reza ing of inflation around 2 percent. a barrel, a price unimaginable as recently as 18 “Lower prices should have boosted real Varjavand, an economics professor at Saint “Transitory can be a long time,” Ubide said BHP will cut its rig months ago, when they were at $110 a barrel. economic growth in the US. Instead, the hit Xavier University in Chicago. ironically, adding that the impact on inflation The technological breakthroughs of to domestic investment has been unrelent- “Transportation, airlines, consumers — of cheaper and cheaper oil is bound, mathe- count in the shale hydraulic fracturing — or fracking — have rev- ing, while households still haven’t spent any they all win. The losers are mostly overseas.” matically, to lessen. “At some point, the effect unit from seven to olutionised the market for black gold, making of their savings.” Varjavand noted that stock markets have of the decline in price is going to disappear the United States the world’s leading petro- US financial authorities, starting with Fed suffered and “older people who have money in from inflation,” he said. “The lower the oil five by April and has leum exporter. So why do things feel so bleak chair Janet Yellen, insist that lower gasoline retirement accounts and pensions, they lose. price goes, the less impact it has on inflation put investment and to many Americans? It may be just a question prices should free consumers’ purchasing “But consumers generally win,” he said. on an incremental basis.” of timing, some economists say. power. Premium gas at the pump is now below As for industry, the petroleum and manu- Will the savings that American house- development plans “On a net basis, the decline of oil prices is $2 a gallon on average, a seven-year low. facturing sectors are suffering. The extractive holds enjoy because of cheaper oil lead to an for the remainder of or will be positive for the US economy,” said And yet few signs of impact on consumer industries — mining, coal and oil — lost nearly easing of wage demands? Angel Ubide, a senior fellow at the Peterson spending seem to have materialised, even if the 130,000 jobs last year, according to the Labor Standard & Poor’s seemed to nod in that this fiscal year under Institute for International Economics. American consumer remains the locomotive Department. The number of active wells oper- direction when it noted that “low oil and gas review Because the negative impact is “faster of today’s modest levels of US growth. Retail ating in the United States fell by 68 percent prices provide an offset to still sluggish wage and more concentrated in time,” people are sales rose only 2.1 percent in 2015, according during the year. The finances of several US growth.” 28 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

The simple truth about sight China’s market Octagon brings

Bloomberg back outside money to run family office his is insane,” said Chen Gang, chief investment officer for Shanghai Heqi Bloomberg its quantitative hedge fund as it Tongyi Asset Man- failed to attract investor money “Tagement, on January 7, the day stock after making a loss in 2014. trading in China lasted only 29 wild SINGAPORE: Octagon Capital A total of 257 funds were liq- minutes before market circuit breakers Management Pte , a hedge-fund uidated in the third quarter of shut it down. Unlike some would-be firm started by former Govern- 2015, up from 200 in the previ- sellers that day, he says he unloaded ment of Singapore Investment ous three months, according to all his firm’s equity holdings by the Corp executives, will return all Hedge Fund Research Inc. This time the exit door closed. The circuit client money in its two funds and brought the total number of clo- breakers, put in place just a few days convert to a family office, join- sures for the first nine months of before, called for an all-day trading ing a rising number of managers 2015 to 674, compared with 661 halt if shares dropped 7 percent. going back to running in-house during a year earlier. Those rules have taken much of capital. Lam declined to disclose the blame for China’s latest market Investors will receive their assets or say how much money the chaos. The China Securities Regu- and 1990s dot-com booms in the US a certain value. That may have helped money early next month, co- firm is returning. He also declined latory Commission said they had a “There are stocks that are basically accelerate the early January rout. founder Lam Poh Min said in an to provide returns. Once Octagon “magnet effect”—as shares fell, people junk, but they’re trading at outra- China’s securities commission sus- instant message exchange from returns money to outside inves- may have rushed to get sell orders in geous valuations because there’s a pended the circuit breakers after the Singapore. tors, it will consider expanding while they still could, pulling prices lot of market manipulation,” says Jan. 7 shutdown. Policymakers need Lam and other Octagon its focus to global markets since down to the trigger point even faster. Jian Shi Cortesi, a money manager to “gradually explore, gain experi- Capital executives are meeting the firm will have more invest- (Announcing last call to a bar full of at GAM Investment Management in ence, and make adjustment” to the with investors this week, he said. ment leeway as a family office, drinkers tends not to encourage mod- Zurich. “The way down is always very system, commission spokesman Deng The firm will continue to man- Lam said. eration, either.) The focus on poorly volatile.” Ge said in a statement. Former US age the quantitative equity fund “Investment flexibility is an designed trading curbs may, however, China’s stock market didn’t used Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady, with executives’ and partners’ edge,” he said. “We’re consider- distract from a less exotic source of to be so exciting. Under President Xi who’s credited with implementing money, as well as capital from ing expanding our investment risk: speculation. Jinping’s administration, articles in circuit breakers in the US, says the friends and family, Lam said. universe to non-Asian markets.” The median stock on mainland state-run media encouraged people problem is that China didn’t allow “We believe it’s time to move Lam, a former senior portfo- exchanges still trades at about 57 times to invest, fostering a belief that the stocks to fall enough. In the US, trad- on,” Lam said. “Hedge funds are lio manager at GIC, Singapore’s earnings—at least twice as expensive government would make sure eve- ing is halted temporarily after declines going back to their roots, and I’m sovereign wealth fund, and Nel- as any other major market. (Leading ryone profited. in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock A boom in initial certain this trend will continue,” son Chia, previously an equity China stock indexes don’t look nearly The benchmark CSI 300 index index of 7 percent and then again at he said, referring to firms return- trader at GIC, co-founded so pricey but are weighted to finan- climbed 150 percent in the 12 months 13 percent; trading is suspended for public offerings ing outside capital to focus on Octagon Capital in 2004 with cial companies, which tend to carry before the market slide that began in the day only if losses reach 20 per- made parts of managing their own money. $692,000, most of which was lower valuations.) In spite of currency June, and it’s still up 53 percent from the cent. “The right thing to do is widen Michael Platt’s BlueCrest their own money. instability and concerns about slowing start of that run. The nation has more their band,” says Brady. the stock market Capital Management, Doug Lam, along with Octagon economic growth, investors are treat- than 90 million individual investors, So the circuit breaker part of the look more like a Hirsch’s Seneca Capital, Scott portfolio manager Quek Jee ing the typical Chinese company as if compared with 87.8 million members problem seems reassuringly fixable. Bommer’s SAB Capital Man- Ngee, were the first people at its potential is somewhere between of the Communist Party. Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic lottery. Shares of agement and Martin Taylor and GIC to develop computer mod- that of Google and Facebook. Now retail investors are having adviser at Allianz, called the turmoil Beijing Baofeng Nick Barnes’s Nevsky Capi- els to trade financial markets. A boom in initial public offer- doubts. Hua Jie, a 56-year-old retiree in China’s markets “self-inflicted tal are among firms that have Octagon grew assets in its Pan ings made parts of the stock market in Sichuan province, says she hasn’t wounds,” arguing in a Bloomberg Technology, a shut down or returned outside Asia fund to more than $400 mil- look more like a lottery. Shares of been this downbeat on the nation’s View editorial that “there are steps developer of online capital amid investor redemp- lion in 2008 before withdrawals Beijing Baofeng Technology, a devel- stock market since she began investing the Chinese government can take to video players, tions, weak returns, shrinking that year cut the size to about oper of online video players, soared more than a decade ago. “I no longer ensure that the pain is temporary.” fees and mounting costs to run $124 million. The fund, which 4,200 percent in 55 trading days want to play this game,” says Hua, a Eugene Fama, the Nobel prize- soared 4,200 hedge funds. BlackRock Inc., the started in October 2004, employs after going public on the Shenzhen former saleswoman at a consumer winning economist at the University percent in 55 world’s largest asset manager, is a quantitative long-short strat- stock exchange in March. (The stock electronics store in Chengdu. “I’ve of Chicago, says there’s little evidence winding down a global macro egy that uses computer models to then dropped 31 percent before sus- lost faith in the regulators.” that rules like circuit breakers either trading days after hedge fund after losses and inves- make wagers on currencies and pending trading in October.) With the Many institutional investors, too, prevent or cause volatility. “In panic going public on the tor redemptions eroded assets, equities in Asia. A levered ver- market crowded with novice retail have been quick to bail as markets selling, prices go down, and they while Piquant Capital is shutting sion began trading in July 2012. investors, other companies simply turn south. Hedge funds often have bounce back up. I don’t even know Shenzhen stock renamed themselves to look like tech agreements with investors requiring that you would want to get around exchange in March stocks, recalling the 1960s “tronics” liquidation if their holdings drop below that,” he says.

We are in the last innings of the economic recovery, the last innings of the equity market, and the last Sharmin Mossavar- Capital Rahmani, CIO, innings of the dollar rally. Not the last inning, but Goldman Sachs Comment last innings, means a few more innings are left

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk Big Mac bargain signals Dealogic @Dealogic Wealth Adviser end of Aussie rout

China outbound M&A NAME IN THE MARKET: WATER & ENERGY Bloomberg ore, the nation’s biggest export, has reached $12.3bn, picks up. The selloff in the Aus- marking the fastest No one knows whether this tralian dollar will come to an end, start to the year on SINGAPORE: The cost of a Big based on the responses. record and up from just is just another short-term Mac is giving Australian dollar “It’s a brave call given China $2.9bn in 2015 YTD market decline of 10% to forecasters ammunition to pre- and commodity prices but this dict an end to a three-year rout. type of analysis is saying, in the Reuters Business @ 20%, similar to what we Australia’s currency is under- long term, it probably looks to ReutersBiz have seen throughout the valued by 29 percent, based on be quite good value,” said Roger the price of the McDonald’s Corp Bridges, chief global strategist Blame, anger, frustra- 7-year bull market, or the hamburger in the nation versus for interest rates and curren- tion as China’s stock sign of a new bear market. the cost in the US. The last time cies in Sydney at Nikko Asset rescue effort looks the gauge designed by the Econ- Management Australia, which defeated omist magazine was at this level oversees $14.6 billion. “Don’t was 2009, and the currency went expect it to move around to give New Climate Economy @ on to rally 28 percent that year. A you instant gratification. It just DealB%k separate measure of purchasing takes time.” NewClimateEcon power parity from the Organiza- Bridges said his company had tion for Economic Co- operation been betting against the Aussie IMF calls for #carbon and Development shows the and is cutting that position. tax on ships and planes Aussie is overvalued by about 3 The Economist magazine The corporate crunch percent, dropping from 17 per- developed the Big Mac index in is clouding Chinese cent a year ago. 1986 as a guide to whether cur- The three-year selloff was rencies are at their “correct” Financial Times @ government’s efforts to driven by an economic slowdown level, according to the publica- FinancialTimes manage the economy. To in China that drove down the tion’s website. The gauge is based prices for Australia’s commod- on purchasing-power parity, the Sixty-six investors to keep growth from falling off ity exports. Bloomberg surveys idea that exchange rates should sue Volkswagen a cliff, authorities are pushing of economists show all of that’s move toward the level that would going to change in 2016 as growth equalize the prices of identical a raft of stimulus. quickens and the price of iron goods in any two countries. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 30 PAGE | 34 Wilder retains Maxwell shines WBC title with as Australia knockout secure series

MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 • 8 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Confident Qatar eye quarter-finals berth

We are waiting to play the next clash,” “We have seven players who play he said. “We want to reach the quar- outside of Syria and they came to us Sanchez’s boys ter-finals and I am hopeful we are on very late, so the harmony between the looking to impress right track,” he said. players was not good in the first match. against Syria at Jassim Hassan scored twice in Qatar’s 3-1 I tried to play other players who can win on Tuesday against China and then play well with my team, but every match Bin Hamad Stadium against Iran on Friday. backing of another significant crowd also must have a formation,” he added. today “Now we play Syria. We will play to when they take on Muhannad Al Fakeer’s In another game today, China face win,” the influential striker said. Syria after seeing more than 11,000 turn Iran. China coach Fu Bo has vowed his Scoring five times in two matches out for their win over Iran at Jassim Bin team will not be an easy prospect for has given coach Sanchez satisfaction. Hamad Stadium on Friday. Iran despite back-to-back 3-1 defeats The Peninsula “To achieve six points from two “To have a lot of people in the sta- at the hands of Qatar and Syria. games gives us confidence,” Sanchez dium is a good help for the players. It’s “Both matches have been the same said after Qatar’s win on Friday. a good environment, and although as we have scored and then the oppo- “It was probably one of the best they were focused on the game, they nent has come back into the game,” said DOHA: Hosts Qatar will be looking to games in the competition,” Sanchez enjoyed the people supporting us,” Fu, who will be without goalkeeper seal a quarter-finals berth when they said after the Iran win. “What we have added Sanchez. Du Jia and midfielder Xu Xin due to take on Syria at the AFC U-23 Cham- to do is arrive fresh for Syria game by Syria, placed third in the group, beat suspension. pionship today. resting well,” he added. China 3-1 following a 0-2 loss against “We have talked about this and it Unbeaten in two matches so far, “We know that the time between Iran in the tournament opener on Jan- is maybe down to our lack of experi- Group A leaders Qatar are coming off games is very short and our main target uary 12. ence and we need to improve that. We impressive wins over China (3-1) and is to recover the players to have them Syria coach Al Fakeer said he a win have told the players that they might Iran (2-1). available for the next game,” said Qatar against Qatar would be a good way to need to go through these experiences Coached by former Barcelona youth coach Sanchez. end the preliminary stage of the three- as they grow up and become an adult manager Felix Sanchez, Qatar will be Sanchez said he is hoping Qatar can week event. player, but we have confidence for the eager to keep their slate clean when they recover quickly after back-to-back wins. “I believe every match has a plan last match,” he added. take on Syria at Jassim Bin Hamad Sta- “It’s hard to play three games in and we must plan for the next match Iran currently occupy second place dium. A point from the game can give seven days, but it’s the same for eve- very well. We played badly in the first due to a superior head-to-head record Qatar Qatar a quarter-finals berth. ryone and we have to adapt and get to match and we needed a shock to play over Syria, although Mohammad Khak- coach Felix “The coach has given us a plan,” the next game in the best condition,” good and we saw that some players pour’s side are not guaranteed progress Sanchez captain Abdelkareem Hassan said on Sanchez said yesterday. did not play well with the other play- even with a win over China should Syria Saturday. “We have been playing strong. And Qatar are hoping to have the ers,” Al Fakeer said yesterday. defeat Qatar. 30 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Haye makes short work of De Mori in comeback win

AFP the belts instead of fight me so why bother (pursuing him)? “Why not go for bigger, bet- LONDON: Britain’s former world ter fights? A bigger fight’s Anthony heavyweight champion David Haye Joshua. I believe that fight can be made Felix to chase marked his return to the ring with later on in the year. I’m in shape, I’m a comfortable first-round win over punching hard. I’m a little bit older. Rio double after Australian journeyman Mark de Mori It’ll make for a great fight. That’s the at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. type of fight I want, that’s why I’m schedule change In his first fight for three- back in boxing. It’s the big fights, I and-a-half years following a need that.” career-threatening shoulder injury, He added: “Fury’s a good fighter. Reuters the 35-year-old Haye needed just two You don’t go to Germany and do what minutes and 11 seconds to see off de he did (in beating Wladimir Klitschko). Mori, who was sent to the canvas by a It’s a shame he doesn’t want to fight LOS ANGELES: American sprinter strong right hand and scrappy com- me but I think we all know why when Allyson Felix will get a rare chance bination before failing to beat referee you see power like that (tonight). to win gold in both the 200 and Robert Williams’s count. “I want to unify the heavyweight 400 metres after the global athlet- Haye, also a former world cruiser- division. I set my plan out to do that ics governing body changed the Rio American Deontay Wilder punches Artur Szpilka during their WBC Heavyweight Championship weight champion, is now looking for a many years ago and I fell short. Olympics competition schedule. bout at Barclays Center in New York City on Saturday. Wilder defended his WBC title with a bout with British rising star Anthony “I’m going to make a serious run “I am excited for the oppor- knockout. Joshua given he will have to wait a at this heavyweight division. There tunity to attempt this incredibly while for a clash with compatriot Tyson are titles all over the place at the difficult feat,” Felix said on her Twit- Fury, who holds the WBA version of moment and it’ll take someone like ter account. “The schedule was just the world heavyweight titles. me to clean it up.” the first step. The next step is to “Tyson Fury is pretty clear about London-born Haye defeated giant make the US Olympic team.” not wanting to fight me,” Haye said Russian Nikolai Valuev to become The change, made by the Inter- Wilder retains WBC shortly after defeating de Mori. WBA heavyweight champion in national Association of Athletics “I said I’ll work my way up the November 2009, but lost his crown Federations (IAAF) and accepted by rankings, and he said he’d relinquish to Wladimir Klitschko in July 2011. the IOC and Rio organisers, gives Felix more time between her open- ing round of the 200 metres and Britain’s former world heavyweight final of the 400 metres, making title with knockout the double plausible, the IAAF said champion David Haye celebrates his win on Saturday. against Australian Mark de Mori. The Olympic 200 metres gold medallist and world 400 metres Martin bags IBF champion will now have more than 13 hours between races instead the Heavyweight World 75 minutes allowed under the orig- Championship title inal schedule. “I am excited,” Felix’s coach after knocking off Bob Kersee told Reuters. “She has Glazkov wanted to do this double and the schedule change gives her a better opportunity to win more medals for the United States.” Reuters Felix had sought the change in hopes of becoming only the third woman to win both events in the same Olympics. American Valerie NEW YORK: American heavy- Brisco-Hooks claimed the honour weight world champion Deontay at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and Wilder defended his WBC title with France’s Marie-Jose Perec won both a knockout of Artur Szpilka at the at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, join- Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New ing men’s Atlanta double winner York on Saturday. Michael Johnson. Kersee had pushed More drama followed the hard for the change, frequently say- contest when WBA and WBO ing that 200-400 metres runners Heavyweight champion Tyson should be given the same chance Fury climbed into the ring and Tyson Fury demands fight that 100-200m sprinters have in said he wanted to fight Wilder in the Olympics. a unification bout. He had already said Felix would Szpilka, who was bidding to run both the 200 and 400 at the US become Poland’s first world heav- with champion Wilder Olympic trials so she would be ready yweight champion, made it a close in case the change came through. battle before absorbing a tough USA Track and Field had made right hand to the chin with 2:24 Agencies getting closer, Fury said: ‘Any time! the request in December and on left in the ninth round. Any place! Anywhere. I’ll fight you Saturday said the change will help Szpilka (20-2) was uncon- in your back garden.’ elevate the visibility of the sport scious for a few moments before ‘Like I did [to] Klitschko, I’ll beat as a whole on the Olympic stage. recovering following the bout. NEW YORK: Tyson Fury stormed into you.” International Olympic Commit- Wilder (36-0) displayed his the ring and demanded a fight with Security stepped in to separate tee (IOC) President Thomas Bach power yet again and has now Deontay Wilder after the American the two fighters and Wilder hit back was not immediately available for knocked out 35 opponents in 36 beat Artur Szpilka with a stunning at Fury, saying: “This is an act. You’re comment but appeared to favor the fights. knockout on Saturday. not a real fighter. This is an act. I don’t change when asked at last year’s “He was definitely a crafty Fury, who beat Wladimir Klitschko play this. You should be an actor. This world championships. guy,” Wilder told reporters. “I in November, was in Brooklyn to watch ain’t WWE. “ “The Olympic programme has haven’t competed against a south- WBC champion Wilder beat plucky “I would love to fight him next. Charles Martin walks away after he TKO Vyacheslav Glazkov been defined in principle,” Bach paw in three years. He was a tough Pole Szpilka. Unfortunately I have other mand- in the second round to win the IBF World Heavyweight said at the time, “but if we have a competitor, but you’re fighting for And after Wilder won the fight atories due. Make the date Tyson, I special case where we could help a world title.” Championship at Barclays Center in New York City on Saturday. with a devastating ninth round knock- promise you.” Like a wrestler, Fury an athlete we should still be ready “It’s not supposed to be easy. out, the Brit jumped through the ropes, stood on the corner turnbuckles, ges- to discuss it.” I’m surprised it took that long, but slammed down his jacket and stormed tured toward the crowd as was booed The news also was a bright spot we had 12 rounds and they all can’t BOXING: WBC AND IBF unbeaten Ukrainian, slipped early around the ring. The two boxers then by the fans and then escorted out of for the IAAF, which has been beset be pretty.” WORLD TITLES in the third and never recovered. squared up with the Gypsy King taking the Barclays Centre by security. by recent anti-doping and corrup- Wilder is the first American He fell to the canvas later after the microphone and shouting: ‘There’s A fight between Wilder and Fury tion charges. heavyweight champion in nearly throwing a punch. only one Tyson Fury. What have you may not have been signed yet – but The women’s 200m compe- a decade. In an earlier showdown, injury in the third round and had “We trained for 12 rounds and got to say about that Deontay?’ the hype has well and truly started. tition was already shaping up to Charles Martin won the IBF Heav- to retire from the match. Martin we were going to get stronger as Wilder responded: ‘We all know But if a fight is to happen then first be one of the highlights of the Rio yweight World Championship (23-0-1) becomes the second the rounds went on. I’m sorry for Fury, you are just a phony, this is just an Fury will have to beat Klitschko for a Olympics with Felix, Dutch world after Vyacheslav Glazkov suf- current American heavyweight him. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t act. You know where I am, you know second time when they meet in their champion Dafne Schippers and fered a reported torn right ACL titlist. Glazkov (21-1-1), a previously continue the fight.” what time, you know what place, I ain’t rematch, most likely in May, mean- Jamaican Olympic silver medallist scared of nobody, I’ll come to your ing any potential fight with Wilder is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce expected back yard.’ With tension in the ring unlikely to happen until the second in the field. getting heated and the pair’s heads half of the year. Now Felix’s bid for the dou- ble will add more excitement. The change moves the first round of the women’s 200m from the evening of August 15 to the morning. Her first France’s Stravius grabs honours as Phelps fourth in 200m freestyle 200m race is now set for 9:30AM in Rio with the 400m final remain- ing at 10:45PM, according to the IAAF website. AFP and fellow Frenchman Jordan Poth- the last three Olympics. to win the world title at Kazan, Rus- and Josh Prenot third in 4:15.07 in a US Felix, 30, has tried the 200- ain (1:48.62). The 30-year-old, who is out of sia last year. sweep. The women’s 400m medley 400m double once on the global Phelps, whose 22 Olympic med- retirement and aiming to add to his Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who title went to Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, scene, finishing second in the 400m als include a staggering 18 gold, was medal tally at the Rio Games, fin- had the fastest time in the world last who cruised to victory in 4:36.27 after and third in the 200m at the 2011 LOS ANGELES: French Olympian Jer- third at the halfway mark, but couldn’t ished in 1:48.87, his fastest-ever in year in the event but didn’t race it at being shut out of the medals in the world championships. emy Stravius won the men’s 200m free mount a late challenge and finished the month of January. worlds, settled for silver in 1:56.14, 100m free and 400m free on Friday. She wanted to attempt the dou- style at the Pro Swim meeting in Austin, off the podium in an event that fea- Among other finals on Saturday, with former world champion Missy Hosszu also captured silver in the ble at the 2015 worlds but ultimately Texas, on Saturday as Olympic super- tured among his eight gold medals the second day of the three-day meet- Franklin third in 1:57.49. 200m backstroke, won by American decided the schedule would be too star Michael Phelps settled for fourth. at the 2008 Beijing Games. ing, freestyle phenomenon Katie US veteran Ryan Lochte romped Maya DiRado in 2:08.19. difficult. Felix went on to win the Stravius clocked 1min 47.56sec, While the 200 free is no longer a Ledecky clocked a personal best of to victory in the men’s 400m indi- Hosszu clocked 2:08.63 and world 400m while Schippers claimed the leading all the way to finish ahead major focus for Phelps, he has been 1:54.43 to win the 200m freestyle -- vidual medley with a time of 4:12.66. record-holder Franklin was third in 200m in the fourth fastest time ever. of American Townley Haas (1:48.35) on the US 4x200m free relay team at improving on the 1:55.16 she swam Chase Kalisz was second in 4:14.64 2:09.21. SPORT MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 31 Sheikh Jassim Cup: Al Sadd, Lekhwiya clash on Jan 21

DOHA: Football giants Lekhwiya and Al Sadd will clash for Sheikh SHEIKH JASSIM CUP Jassim Cup glory on January 21 at the recently-renovated Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium, Qatar Football Asso- match organisers. The meeting will ciation (QFA) announced yesterday. discuss all organisational matters The clash to be played at the home related to the match. ground of Al Ahli will kick off at 6pm. The pre-match press conference The Sheikh Jassim Cup is an will take place on Wednesday at Al annual cup competition in Qatar Ahli Stadium. held between the winners of the Head coaches of both teams and Qatar Stars League (QSL) which is two players will speak about the team’s Lekhwiya and the Emir Cup cham- preparations ahead of the one-off pions which is Al Sadd. clash. Al Sadd claimed the title of last It is worth mentioning that the season’s Emir Cup when they played Sheikh Jassim Cup is one of the key against Lekhwiya at Lekhwiya Sta- events in Qatari football calendar dium and won 3-2. and acts as the season opener but The Champion of this year’s was postponed this year due to the cup will receive the cup trophy and busy football calendar. gold medals while the runner up will The first Sheikh Jassim Cup was receive silver medals. held in 1977 and was won by Al Sadd. Both teams will receive cash prizes Al Sadd have won the coveted tro- which will be announced shortly. phy on 13 occasions. The technical meeting of the Prior to Sheikh Jassim Cup 2014, match, which will be headed by Ali all 18 first and second division clubs Al Naimi, QFA Match Commissioner, competed in the tournament under will commence on Wednesday at QFA’s a format in which the teams were Al Sadd players and officials celebrate their win in the Sheikh Jassim Cup in this file picture. headquarters, Al Bidda Tower. divided into four groups with the win- Right: Al Rayyan striker Nilmar (right) tries to shoot during the semi-final match of the Sheikh The meeting will be attended by ners from each group qualifying for Jassim Cup against Al Wakra at Al Gharafa Stadium in this September 5, 2013 file picture. Al Sadd and Lekhwiya officials and the semi-finals.

Chelsea await Europe romp to emphatic win over Asia Costa news after Everton draw their lead to six following Saturday’s after thumping Malaysia’s Nicholas EURASIA CUP RESULTS foursomes. EURASIA CUP Fang 7 & 6. Sweden’s Kristoffer Brob- Match result: Europe 18.5 Asia 5.5 Europe claim 10 The Asian team, who had forced a erg defeated Japan’s Shingo Katayama AFP of the deciding 12 dramatic 10-all draw in the inaugural 5 & 4 before Asia salvaged some pride. Yesterday’s singles event in 2014, had no answer to their has received a shot in the arm from Current Asian Tour number one Ian Poulter (ENG) bt Danny Chia (MAL) singles matches Europeans rivals, winning just two of his success in Malaysia as he pre- Anirban Lahiri from India defeated 4&3 LONDON: Chelsea face an anx- for an 18.5 to 5.5 the singles and halving another. pares to head to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Ireland’s Shane Lowry 2 & 1 while Danny Willett (ENG) bt An Byeong- ious wait after striker Diego Costa points triumph to England’s Danny Willett claimed Championship. Korean KT Kim silenced Austrian- Hun (KOR) 3&1 was hospitalised during a crazy 3-3 the crucial point, defeating last year’s He said he was looking forward born Bernd Wiesberger 3 & 2. Andy Sullivan (ENG) bt Thongchai draw with Everton that saw John demonstrate their European Tour “Rookie of the Year” An to going back out on Tour for the next Lahiri called on the Asian Tour, Jaidee (THA) 4&3 Terry score for both sides at Stam- matchplay superiority Byeong-Hun 3 & 1 to give Europe an couple of weeks. the world’s third largest, to step up Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) bt Kiradech ford Bridge. unassailable 13 to 3 advantage, before “And then sitting down with the to the challenge of competing on the Aphibarnrat (THA) 2 up. The Spain forward had already over Asia Clarke raised the trophy as rival Asian European Tour and figure out what I global stage. hobbled off with a shin injury, hav- Shane Lowry (IRE) lost to Anirban captain Jeev Milka Singh looked on. did well as captain or what I could have “We need to set in train, like Europe ing earlier scored, when Terry found Lahiri (IND) 2&1 “I feel really sorry for Jeev and his done better, and work on those areas and the PGA Tour, some system in help- the net in the 98th minute from an team as they just came up against a and hopefully get the whole package ing groom the Asian Tour players more Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) lost to K T offside position. AFP red-hot, a very hot European team even better for September.” so that they get used to competing in Kim (KOR) 3&2 Chelsea interim manager Guus this week,” said Clarke. Ian Poulter, who entered as a wild- more matchplay events,” said Lahiri. Lee Westwood (ENG) bt Nicholas Fung Hiddink admitted he was crossing KUALA LUMPUR: Europe demon- “These are some of the best play- card, claimed the opening point on His call was echoed by Singh, who (MAL) 7&6 his fingers that Costa was not seri- strated their matchplay superiority over ers in the world, never mind Europe.” the closing day with a 4 & 3 win over was appointed last month to the Asian Ross Fisher (ENG) halved with Wang ously injured, but made it clear that Asia yesterday, claiming an emphatic He added: “Guys are proud to rep- local hero Danny Chia, with Poulter Tour Board of Directors. Jeung-Hun (KOR) he was in no hurry to sign another 13-point victory in the EurAsia Cup in resent Europe and that’s why we are making six birdies ahead of sealing “We do need to follow the same Chris Wood (ENG) bt SSP Chawrasia striker this month in case of a Kuala Lumpur. Europeans and that’s why they are all his success at the 15th. course as the European Tour because (IND) 1up lengthy lay-off. Europe won 10 of the deciding 12 here because we want to win.” Like Poulter, fellow Englishman we have seen it for years now that they Kristoffer Broberg (SWE) bt Shingo “He’s in the hospital and they singles matches for an 18.5 to 5.5 points The victory confirmed Europe’s Andy Sullivan remained undefeated are the best team in the world when Katayama (JAP) 5&4 will have a scan,” Hiddink said. “We triumph on the Glenmarie Golf and domination of the world stage, and in his three matches, claiming a 4 & it comes to matchplay competition,” don’t know the result yet and I hope Victor Dubuisson (FRA) bt Wu Ashun Country club course. later this year the team will vie to cap- 3 triumph over Thailand’s Thongchai he said. (CHN) 1 up it’s not bad. It’s on his shin. He was Darren Clarke’s Europe team were ture a fourth straight Ryder Cup over Jaidee. “They start their preparation for in a lot of pain, that’s true. leading by three points after Friday’s the Americans. Lee Westwood, also playing as a these team event a good year before Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) bt Prayad Mark- “We can move in the transfer opening four-balls and extended Clarke’s quest to clinch the trophy wildcard, made it 12 points for Europe and we need to do exactly the same.” saeng (THA) 3&2 market if we want to, but at the moment we are doing nothing. We hope Diego comes out the hospi- tal in good health and we go on as we are doing. Snedeker, Blair share “I always had my attitude that when something has to be done, yes or no, we don’t go public before we Sony Open lead do something. It’s not wise to talk. We are not in negotiations with whoever, at this moment.” The draw means Chelsea remain LOS ANGELES: Zac Blair had six bird- shots in front of Argentina’s Fabian closer to the relegation places than ies in a six-under par 64 on Saturday Gomez, who carded a 65 for 198. the European slots and Hiddink con- to grab a share of the third-round The leaderboard, tightly bunched ceded that hopes of a top-four finish lead alongside Brandt Snedeker at the all week, spread out just a bit at the top are diminishing quickly. US PGA Tour Sony Open in Hawaii. on Saturday, but with seven players “The aim and ambitions we had Blair had a chance to take sole tied at 199, there were still 10 players for fourth place, we had to make possession of the lead in the $5.8 mil- within four shots of the 16-under lead. three points in each of these two lion tournament at Waialea Country With birdies again likely to be home games,” said Hiddink, whose Club in Honolulu, but missed a birdie plentiful, Snedeker said he would still side had drawn 2-2 at home to West putt from inside three feet at the 18th. try to resist the urge to keep track of Bromwich Albion in their previ- “I hit a bad putt, nothing more to it what others were doing on Sunday. ous match. than that,” said the 25-year-old, who “I’ve found for me I play bet- “We didn’t do so, so it’s diffi- goes into the final round in search ter when I don’t scoreboard watch, cult. We’re using our decreasing of his first PGA Tour title tied with because I don’t caught up in what’s number of games. It will be even seven-time tour winner Snedeker on going on,” Snedeker said. more difficult.” 16-under par 194. “I can’t control what everybody A dull first half was followed Overnight leader Snedeker carded else is doing. I’m going to go out there by a frantic final 45 minutes that a bogey-free four-under par 66. and try and shoot as low as I possi- saw Terry put through his own European team players pose for a picture with the EurAsia Cup trophy in Shah Alam, Malaysia, yesterday. The leaders were one stroke in bly can. goal and Kevin Mirallas fire Ever- front of American Kevin Kisner, who “You see here in years past, guys ton 2-0 ahead. Fortune favoured carded a 66 for 195. shoot 62, 63 here on Sunday to get the Chelsea when Everton goalkeeper Kisner shook off a bogey at the job done. I know I’m going to have to Tim Howard came out but missed Captain Clarke ‘still has much par-three 17th, where his five-iron make some birdies tomorrow. Even- the ball to allow Costa a tap-in and ended up on the wrong side of a hos- par or one-under par is not going to again when Cesc Fabregas’s shot pitality tent, to birdie 18. get it done.” was deflected past the American to learn’ after EurAsia victory “When I hit it, I knew it was not to make it 2-2. what I was trying to do,” he said of Everton thought that they had his five-iron at 17. “I was thinking SONY OPEN SCORES won it when Ramiro Funes Mori I could hit a cut shot and hold it up hooked home in stoppage time, but AFP over the three days leading by three 2010) in having led a team to victory against the wind, and it did not cut, RESULTS Terry -- playing his 700th Chelsea points after Friday’s opening four- ahead of captaining in the Ryder Cup. obviously. I thought I killed some- 194 Zac Blair 65-65-64, Brandt game -- had the last word with a balls, six points after the second day “There are a lot of things I have body in the stands.” Snedeker 63-65-66 deft flick after 97 minutes and 53 KUALA LUMPUR: Victorious EurAsia foursomes before winning nine of the learnt this week -- time being one of Nevertheless, with his birdie at 195 Kevin Kisner 63-66-66 seconds of action. Furious Ever- Cup captain Darren Clarke admitted singles and sharing one in an 18.5- them that I didn’t have an awful lot the last he secured his spot in Sun- 196 Kim Si-Woo (KOR) 64-67-65 ton manager Roberto Martinez yesterday he still had much to learn 5.5 points triumph at the Glenmarie of,” said Clarke. day’s final group. 198 Fabian Gomez (ARG) 69-64-65 demanded that match officials ahead of leading Europe in Septem- Golf and Country Club. It was Clarke’s “But there are a lot of positives I can “I think it’s huge tomorrow so you make public the amount of min- 199 Jeff Overton 70-65-64, Daisuke ber’s Ryder Cup against the US. first taste of team leadership victory. take from this week and... hopefully I know what’s going on,” Kisner said utes they add on after seven were Kataoka (JPN) 66-69-64, Webb Clarke led his team to an emphatic The Northern Irishman joins recent will do a better job when it comes to of playing with the leaders. Simpson 67-67-65, Jason Dufner signalled by the fourth official. It 13-point demolition of an Asian Tour European Ryder Cup captains Paul September. At the end of the day if South Korean Kim Si-Woo, 20, 67-67-65, Gary Woodland 66-67- was mainly the result of an injury team to win the EurAsia Cup in Kuala McGinley (Seve Trophy 2009, 2011) your players don’t perform you can capped his round with a birdie at 17 66, Sean O’Hair 65-66-68, Matt to Bryan Oviedo, although Ever- Lumpur yesterday. and Colin Montgomerie (Seve Tro- be the best captain in the world but and an eagle at 18 for a 65 that left Kuchar 71-66-62 ton’s celebrations after their third His 12-man team was never headed phy 2002, 2003, 2005, Royal Trophy you’re not going to win.” him two off the pace on 196 -- two goal may also have been a factor. 32 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Djokovic bids to extend streak in Australia

Novak Djokovic The world number of Serbia during one set to launch a practice session of the Australian his 2016 Grand Slam Open in Melbourne, campaign at the Australia, yesterday. Australian Open in The Australian Open runs from January Melbourne today 18-31.

AFP

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic will look to extend his sensational run of form at the Australian Open today as expectations soar about what he could achieve this year. All eyes are on the Serbian world number one and his bid for a calen- dar-year Grand Slam after he fell just short during his brilliant 2015 season. The 28-year-old is yet to drop a set this year and his performance in Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in action during a practice session ahead the Australian Open at Melbourne the Qatar Open final was described Park, in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. as “perfect” by his flummoxed oppo- nent, Rafael Nadal. challengers Andy Murray and Stan- as tough as you are handling it. You Opens, but lost to Djokovic in last year’s Djokovic could even pick up the first islas Wawrinka starting tomorrow. got to keep that in your mind and try Wimbledon and US Open finals. At 34, ever men’s ‘Golden Slam’ if he man- Djokovic, who has five Austral- to be tough. he is running out of time to add to his ages to unite the four major titles and ian Open titles, has only lost once in “Whatever is coming our way record haul of majors. be crowned Olympic champion at Rio the last five years at Melbourne Park, tomorrow, I’ll try to be ready for it.” A second Australian Open title de Janeiro in August. when he was stopped by Wawrinka in Murray also has an enviable record for Nadal appears a stretch after his He opens his Grand Slam season the 2014 quarter-finals. at Melbourne Park, reaching four finals slump in 2015, but Wawrinka, cham- against South Korea’s Chung Hyeon One wildcard for the Serb could be in the past six years -- although he is pion in 2014, should be a contender today and is already having to play Melbourne’s intense heat, with temper- yet to lift the trophy. after he beat Djokovic in last year’s down his chances of what could be a atures forecast at 37 degrees Celsius His title bid could be distracted by French Open final. historic year. (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) today. the imminent birth of his first child, “It’s a new year. Hopefully I can “It’s only the beginning of the sea- Djokovic retired with “heat illness” which he is desperate to attend even do something good this year,” said son. It’s too early to talk about what during his 2009 Australian Open quar- if it means missing the final. the Swiss. I can or can’t do later in the season. ter-final against Andy Roddick, but he “For me, my child is more important Outside the top five, Japan’s world I’m here to focus on Australian Open,” has steeled himself physically and out- to me, and my wife is more important number seven Kei Nishikori will be he told reporters in Melbourne. “If I lasted Nadal in the 2012 final which to me, than a tennis match,” said the looking to get past the quarters for the am able to do the same or better, like ran for nearly six hours. British second seed. first time in Melbourne. 2015, I’m not sure,” he added. “Hon- “Sometimes it’s very difficult to Federer, as the third seed, could Home interest will focus on the estly, as I said, it’s just the beginning. I handle (the conditions) if it goes over face Djokovic in the semi-finals as the farewell of former world number one try to take one tournament at a time.” 40 degrees,” Djokovic said. 17-time Grand Slam champion looks Lleyton Hewitt, who is playing his final Roger Federer is also in action on “Again, you’re not the only one on to win his first major title since Wim- tournament, and the talented but way- day one, against Georgia’s Nikoloz Basi- the court. There’s an opponent across bledon 2012. ward duo of Bernard Tomic and Nick lashvili, with Djokovic’s other main the net. He is, of course, handling it The Swiss has won four Australian Kyrgios.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN Rising stars Kyrgios, Tomic SCHEDULE ROD LAVER ARENA 11:00 am (0000 GMT) Luksika Kumkhum (THA) vs Petra Kvitova (CZE x6) have promises to keep Serena Williams (USA x1) vs Camila Giorgi (ITA) Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) vs Chung Hyeon (KOR) Reuters at Melbourne Park yesterday. “Unfortu- nately with me, given my bad reputation 7:00 pm in the past, things have happened. I Roger Federer (SUI x3) vs Nikoloz MELBOURNE: With the retiring Lley- think (the attention) always gets a little Basilashvili (GEO) ton Hewitt set for a bitter-sweet farewell too big. I think ... just being sick, maybe Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) vs Saman- from the Australian Open, the bur- a little bit disappointing the way that tha Stosur (AUS x25) den of home expectations will land you guys sort of ... went about it.” Margaret Court Arena heavily on the shoulders of talented With Kyrgios seeded 29th, Australia 11:00 am but tempestuous duo Nick Kyrgios and have two seeds in the men’s draw for Daria Gavrilova (AUS) vs Lucie Hra- Bernard Tomic (pictured). the first time in over a decade. decka (CZE) Australia’s yearning for a home Former US Open champion Sam Yuki Bhambri (IND) vs Tomas Ber- men’s champion runs deep after 40 Stosur is the lone local seed in the wom- dych (CZE x6) years of frustration but the pair will be en’s draw at a tournament where she under the microscope for their behav- has often battled crippling nerves. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x4) vs iour as much as their tennis. With two-times Grand Slam cham- Christina Mchale (USA) Both have spoken of their love for lewd remark aimed at Stan Wawrinka pion Hewitt bowing out, Kyrgios was 7:00 pm home crowds but that love has, at times, during a match last year. feeling renewed pressure to perform Nao Hibino (JPN) vs Maria Sharap- not entirely been reciprocated. The 20-year-old has steered clear on the biggest stage but also spoke of ova (RUS x5) Australia’s number one Tomic, of controversy leading up to this year’s a greater level of comfort with it. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x9) vs Mar- seeded 17th at Melbourne Park, was tournament but Tomic has been under “I feel as if I’m more relaxed this cos Baghdatis (CYP) jeered by the centre court crowd when fire for retiring midway through his year,” he said. “Coming around, I’ve got Hisense Arena he retired hurt early in his opening quarter-final match at the Sydney a lot more confidence in my game. I 11:00 am match of the 2014 tournament against International, citing sickness. feel a lot more comfortable playing in Philip Kohlschreiber (GER) vs Kei Rafa Nadal. Having once earned the nickname front of the crowd this year. I’m defi- Nishikori (JPN x7) The mercurial Kyrgios lit up last ‘Tomic the Tank Engine’ after being nitely playing a lot better. year’s tournament with a dizzying run accused of giving up in a US Open “The crowd definitely expects any Sloane Stephens (USA x24) vs to the quarter-finals but was lashed in match, the 23-year-old was sensi- Aussie to play their best tennis here. Wang Qiang (CHN) mainstream and social media for yell- tive to the criticism, given a swathe That’s fair enough. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs Caroline ing expletives and smashing racquets. of withdrawals that hit the tournament. “I think every Aussie should step Wozniacki (DEN x16) He remains under huge scrutiny and “Other players did pull out that up here and try their absolute hardest 7:00 pm a suspended ban from the ATP after a week, were also ill,” Tomic told reporters to bring the best out of themselves.” Nick Kyrgios (AUS x29) vs Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) Show Court 2 11:00 am Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) vs David Goffin (BEL x15) Djokovic backs Murray over baby dash Vasek Pospisil (CAN) vs Gilles Simon (FRA x14) Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) vs Kateryna AFP event of its men’s final. Djokovic, who “I was not in the Grand Slam. I was yet again, he understands that there Bondarenko (UKR) is seeded to meet the Scot in the Janu- still kind of in a dilemma whether my are some other priorities in life. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) vs Ale- ary 31 decider if all goes to schedule, wife would go into labour or not. I was “I’m glad he’s thinking that way. ksandra Krunic (SRB) MELBOURNE: Five-time Australian said it was a very personal decision actually in China. I didn’t know actu- I wish his wife and him all the best.” Show Court 3 Open champion Novak Djokovic yester- and one he supported. ally whether it was going to happen Two-time Grand Slam-winner 11:00 am day backed Andy Murray’s (pictured) “Considering his situation, of course or not. I was ready to pack my bags Murray has reached four of the last Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x10) vs plan to quit the tournament if his wife I support and I agree with his decision. and go,” he said. six finals at Melbourne Park, although Viktorija Golubic (SUI) goes into labour, saying he would do I would do the same,” said Djokovic. “I “Again, it’s a very sensitive subject he is yet to lift the trophy. Marin Cilic (CRO x12) vs Thiemo de the same thing himself. understand the position that he’s in.” to talk about. It’s very individual. You If Murray were to pull out of the Bakker (NED) World number two Murray has Djokovic’s wife Jelena gave birth to got to respect the decision of an indi- final, the title would go to his oppo- made it clear he will not hesitate to their first child, Stefan, in 2014. vidual, especially of somebody who is nent and the Australian Open would Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs Svet- lana Kuznetsova (RUS x23) pull out and dash home to be with He was in China ahead of the birth in his position. “Of course, he’s one of miss its showpiece moment usually wife Kim Sears for the birth of their and was ready to pack up and leave the favourites to win this trophy. He’s watched by millions of viewers around Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) vs Grigor Dim- first child, even if it meant robbing the if necessary. been playing really well last season. But the world. itrov (BUL x27) SPORT MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 33

FIVE MEN’S CONTENDERS AT THE Grand Slam queen seeks to AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Novak Djokovic (SRB), 28. Ranking: 1

Grand Slam titles: 10 add another major crown The supreme Serb may need to suffer an off-day if anyone is to prevent him from winning a sixth Australian Open title. Djokovic was virtually unstoppable in 2015, when he put together one of the best seasons ever seen: three Grand Slam titles among 11 tournament victories, and a win- STAGE SET FOR THE loss record of 82-6. As the season closed, it was Tennis legend and SEASON’S FIRST SLAM only the rapier backhand of Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final that had stopped Djokovic com- defending champion piling the first men’s calendar-year Grand Slam Serena Williams preparations with illness or injury since Rod Laver in 1969. The world number one affecting their build-up. also became the first player to top 16,000 rankings prepares to launch Aggressive baseliner Halep, who points, and currently stands on 16,790 -- nearly bid to bag her 22nd won titles in Shenzhen, Dubai and double the total of second-placed Andy Murray. Grand Slam trophy Indian Wells last year, is looking for All this in the year after he got married to his long- her first Grand Slam crown. time partner Jelena Ristic, and became a father. “I think to win a Grand Slam,” she Djokovic’s upbringing in war-torn Belgrade may said, when asked her what her focus have grounded him emotionally and in the midst of last year’s terrific was. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen run, he was a picture of composure and calm. He has picked up where AFP this year, but this is my biggest goal.” he left off at the start of this season, beating Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in the Spain’s Muguruza, who had a Qatar Open final, a result which edged him closer to becoming the first watershed 2015 and made the Wim- player to reach $100m in career prize money. Certainly Nadal was in bledon final, is also targeting her major no doubt about the quality of the opposition he faced in Doha. “I know MELBOURNE: Serena Williams begins breakthrough. nobody playing tennis like this ever,” said the 14-time Grand Slam win- her quest today to equal Steffi Graf’s The 22-year-old is now under the ner. “Since I know this sport I never saw somebody playing at this level.” Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles guidance of coach Sam Sumyk, who battling fitness concerns and with a helped Victoria Azarenka to the top host of players desperate to dethrone of the women’s game and successive Andy Murray (GBR), 28. Ranking: 2 the defending champion. Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013. Following a dominant 2015, the She said the Frenchman had so Grand Slam titles: 2 world number one is gunning for a far not imparted any specific tips on Murray has contested four Australian Open finals without winning any, seventh Australian crown adamant what it would take to land a maiden a statistic he would dearly love to improve. Yet the Scot faces some sig- that she is over the knee problems that Grand Slam on the Melbourne Park nificant hurdles at this year’s tournament. Not only does Murray face hindered her during the latter half of hardcourts. the potential challenge of Djokovic, his former boyhood friend whom the year and during her Melbourne “There is no recipe. I mean, I come he has never beaten in four attempts at Melbourne Park, including three Park build-up. here as prepared as possible,” she said. finals. But he also has the impending birth of his She insisted on Saturday she was Azarenka, now fully fit after two first child to consider. Murray has promised to fly “120, 130 percent right” as she pre- troubled seasons, is one of the form home if his wife Kim Sears, who is due next month, pares for a tricky first-round encounter players, having beaten Germany’s goes into labour -- even if that means missing with Italian Camila Giorgi, the high- Angelique Kerber to claim the Bris- the final. “I’d be way more disappointed winning est ranked non-seeded player in the bane crown. the Australian Open and not being at the birth women’s draw. It was the resurgent Belarusian’s of the child,” he said. “Hopefully it doesn’t come “I’ve had a really good prepara- first piece of WTA silverware in two- to that.” Murray won four tournaments last sea- tion. I mean, I didn’t have the match and-a-half years and sent her soaring son, including two Masters titles, and finished the play that I’ve wanted to have,” said up the world rankings to 16, a timely year as world number two for the first time. But the 34-year-old American. Serena Williams of the US plays a forehand return during a practice confidence boost. She said she was his runner-up finish behind Djokovic in last year’s “But after playing for so many years excited to be injury-free and in with Australian Open final turned out to be his best performance in a major session ahead of the 2016 Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. on tour, I should be able to, you know, a chance of recapturing her former tournament. Murray’s partnership with coach Amelie Mauresmo, who focus on that and the fact that I have glories in Melbourne. took maternity leave last year, is set to resume in earnest and it could be played a lot of matches. So that’s what the final, and reached her sixth last more unforced errors than I would like, “I feel good, I’m feeling excited. just the boost the Scot needs as he presses for Grand Slam title number I’m trying to focus on now.” year when she toppled arch-rival Maria but I’m ready to go,” said the 28-year- I had a pretty good week of practice three. Murray is also riding high after leading Britain to their first Davis Her three Grand Slam titles last Sharapova. old, who is attempting to win her first here,” she said ahead of her first-round Cup title since 1936, against Belgium in November. year in Australia and at Roland Gar- Williams is in a tough half of the title at Melbourne Park since 2008. encounter with Belgian Alison Van ros and Wimbledon took her within draw with Russia’s Sharapova, seeded She opens her tournament against Uytvanck. one of Graf’s long-time record of 22 five, potentially awaiting her in the Japan’s Nao Hibino, with temperatures Among other players, the world Roger Federer (SUI), 34. Ranking: 3 and put her three clear of both Chris quarters. Sharapova, 28, is also lack- forecast to hit a sizzling 37 Celsius (98.6 numbers four, six and seven -- Evert and Martina Navratilova. ing match practice after a left forearm Fahrenheit). Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra Kvitova Grand Slam titles: 17 Melbourne Park has been a happy problem forced her out of the Bris- Snapping at the heels of the two and Angelique Kerber -- have also been Retirement talk has all but abated for Federer but attention will be firmly hunting ground. She claimed her first bane International, but she too said veterans are world number two Simona struggling with either injury or illness fixed on how the superlative Swiss crafts the next stage of his late-career Australian Open title way back in all is now well. Halep and third ranked Garbine Mugu- in the lead-up to the opening Grand surge. The all-time Grand Slam record-holder has parted ways with 2003, beating elder sister Venus in “Yes, I might be rusty, make a few ruza, who have also had less than ideal Slam of the year. former advisor Stefan Edberg and brought in Ivan Ljubicic in what will be their first major tournament together. Croatia’s Ljubicic, a former world number three, has also worked with Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych -- and is credited with an intimate knowledge of Djokovic’s high of breaking her Grand Slam duck game, as well as those of Federer’s other rivals. Federer lost to Djoko- Halep will Simona Halep of over the next fortnight. “I come here vic in the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year, Romania reacts during without expectations. I have only one and piercing the armour of the world number one take one her press conference tournament before this Grand Slam,” is a key challenge as he looks to add to his collec- ahead of the Australian she said. tion of major titles. Top of Federer’s list this year is Open at Melbourne “Actually I feel good, I feel con- the Olympics, where he is yet to win singles gold, game at Park yesterday. fident. You never know. I just have and as preparation he has scrapped most of his to go on court and take my chances clay court season. Federer, the oldest man in the a time every time.” top 10 and without a Grand Slam title since 2012, Halep, now coached by Austral- says he is virtually recovered from the flu-like ian Darren Cahill, has failed to get illness he suffered at the Brisbane International, AFP beyond the quarter-finals in five pre- where he lost to Raonic in the final. Federer disap- vious attempts at Melbourne Park. Her pointed his many fans in Melbourne last year when he was shown the best Grand Slam showing was reach- exit in the third round by Andreas Seppi, and he will want a far stronger ing the 2014 French Open final. performance this time around at a tournament he has won four times. MELBOURNE: World number two She gets her tournament underway Simona Halep said yesterday she is tomorrow against Chinese qualifier determined to taste Grand Slam glory Zhang Shuai with a potential quarter- Stan Wawrinka (SUI), 30. Ranking: 4 but is keeping her expectations in check final looming against veteran eighth after an injury-marred build-up to the 21-time major winner Serena Wil- want, that I scheduled already.” seed Venus Williams, who has been Grand Slam titles: 2 Australian Open. liams scheduled to meet her in the Halep’s chances of landing her playing the Australian Open since 1998. One of the few men to hurt Djokovic in recent times will be watched The Romanian is enjoying her final if the seedings go to plan. first major in Melbourne could be hin- “I think the tournament is open,” warily by his rivals in the men’s draw. Wawrinka stunned the Serb on his highest ever ranking after a stellar “I think to win a Grand Slam,” she dered by an niggling achilles injury Halep said, with most of the women’s way to winning his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2014, 2015 in which she won titles at Shen- said when asked about her season’s that forced her out of the lead-up Bris- top 10 having their Grand Slam build- breaking a four-year stranglehold over the Grand Slam titles by the men’s zhen, Dubai and Indian Wells, raking focus. “I don’t know if it’s going to hap- bane International. up hampered by either illness or injury. “Big Four”. The rest of that year was indifferent but Wawrinka is firmly in more than $4.5m in prize money. pen this year, but this is my biggest goal. She recovered to make the semi- “Everyone has a chance to win this back in the reckoning after putting together his The ultimate goal is Grand Slam And to have good matches, have good finals of the Sydney International last title. “I mean from top 10. I think every best season yet in 2015. He took four titles includ- glory, with world number one and tournaments, and to play everything I week but is not getting her hopes too tournament is open.” ing another chastening upset of Djokovic in the French Open final as he chalked up his second major win. As so often for Wawrinka, it was his fearsome one-handed backhand that made the difference as he floored Djokovic in a defeat that India’s Sania Australia’s Tomic defends ultimately denied the Serb a rare calendar-year Mirza plays a Grand Slam. Wawrinka is known for the tattoo on backhand return his arm, a quotation from Samuel Beckett which during a practice Sydney pull-out reads: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No Matter. Try again. session ahead Fail again. Fail better.” Wawrinka won his third straight title at this of the 2016 month’s Chennai Open. Australian Open in Melbourne AFP pull-out had nothing to do with sav- yesterday. ing himself for Melbourne Park -- and Rafael Nadal (ESP), 29. Ranking: 5 he also hit out at the media’s cover- MELBOURNE: Australia’s top player age of the story. Grand Slam titles: 14 Bernard Tomic yesterday defended “You know, other players did A wretched spell last year prompted Nadal to wonder whether his Grand his controversial pull-out from the pull out that week, who were also Slam-winning days were over as the oft-injured Spaniard looked a Sydney International, insisting he was ill. Unfortunately with me, given my busted flush. But through sheer hard work, the indomitable Mallorcan sick and wasn’t just saving himself bad reputation in the past, things have looks to have fought his way back, if not to his very best, then at least to for the Australian Open. happened,” he said. form that is capable of winning more titles. Nadal Tomic was trailing Russian Tey- “I think it always gets a little too failed to win a major tournament last year for the muraz Gabashvili 6-3, 3-0 when he big. You know, just being sick, (it’s) first time in a decade, and saw his ranking drop to withdrew on Friday. maybe a little bit disappointing the 10th before he clawed his way back up late in the He was heard talking with the way that you guys (the media) sort of season. Runner-up finishes in Beijing and Basel, umpire about the draw he had just went about it. It’s unfortunate it had and victories over Wawrinka, Murray and David received for the Australian Open, and to be like this. Ferrer at the World Tour Finals proved that all is how he had little to gain from playing “I said the honest truth. That’s not lost for Nadal. His big problem, as for the rest on in Sydney, sparking media criticism. the most important thing, that I was of the men’s tour, is Djokovic, as last week’s dis- Tomic, in good form this year, sick. I’m happy you guys can finally piriting 6-1, 6-2 reverse in Doha showed. insisted he was not well and his understand.” 34 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Maxwell shines as Australia secure series

SCOREBOARD Hosts take unassailable CRICKET: INDIA IN AUSTRALIA 3-0 lead over India after INDIA AUSTRALIA R Sharma c Wade b Richardson 6 S Marsh c Dhoni b I Sharma 62 middle-order batsman S Dhawan b Hastings 68 A Finch c Dhoni b Yadav 21 Marsh (62) and Steve Smith (41) con- hits 96 off just 83 balls V Kohli c Bailey b Hastings 117 S Smith c Rahane b Jadeja 41 tinued the assault, but left arm spinner to ensure thrilling win in A Rahane c Maxwell b Hastings 50 G Bailey st Dhoni b Jadeja 23 Ravindra Jadeja got the vital breakthrough Melbourne M S Dhoni c Maxwell b Hastings 23 G Maxwell c Dhawan b Yadav 96 when he had Smith caught at slip by Ajinkya G Singh b Faulkner 8 M Marsh (run out) 17 Rahane. R Jadeja (not out) 6 M Wade c S Dhawan b I Sharma 6 Jadeja managed to extract some turn

from the otherwise placid wicket and struck R Dhawan (not out) 3 J Faulkner (not out) 21 again when he got a ball to spin past the AFP Extras (LB-5 W-9) 14 J Hastings (not out) 0 edge of George Bailey’s bat. Dhoni whipped Total (for 6 wkts in 50 overs) 295 Extras (LB-3, W-5, NB-1) 9 off the bails to leave the Australians on Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-134, 3-243, 4-265, Total (for 7 wkts in 48.5 overs) 296 150 for three. 5-274, 6-288. Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-112, 3-150, 4-167, Shaun Marsh then edged a ball to Dhoni MELBOURNE: Glenn Maxwell blasted 96 Did not bat: U Yadav, I Sharma, B Sran 5-204, 6-215, 7-295. off Ishant Sharma and when Mitchell Marsh from just 83 deliveries to lead Australia to (17) and Matthew Wade (6) both fell cheaply, a thrilling three-wicket win over India in Bowling: Richardson 10-0-48-1 (2w); Hast- Bowling: Yadav 9.5-0-68-2 (1w 1nb); Sran India were right back in the game. the third One Day International and a series ings 10-0-58-4 (1w); Faulkner 10-0-63-1 8-0-63-0 (2w); I Sharma 10-0-53-2 (1w); R However, Maxwell stayed in control and victory yesterday. (3w); Boland 9-0-63-0 (1w); Maxwell 9-0-46- Dhawan 6-0-33-0; Singh 5-0-27-0; Jadeja gradually lifted the scoring with a mixture After Australian captain Steve Smith won 0; Marsh 2-0-12-0. 10-0-49-2 (1w). of audacious boundaries and quick run- the toss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ning between the wickets. and sent India in to bat, the visitors made Earlier, Kohli was in magnificent touch 295 for six from their 50 overs thanks largely “The way I’m hitting the ball and On a lifeless MCG wicket, 295 did not look as he smashed his runs off just 117 balls, to a superb 117 from Virat Kohli. approaching the game is different to what substantial enough to challenge the strong hitting seven fours and two towering sixes The Indians were well in contention for I’ve been doing over the last few years.” Australian batting line-up. to the delight of the huge contingent of their first win of the series when they had The win gives Australia an unassaila- “The batsmen are working hard but Indian supporters at the MCG. Australia in trouble at 215 for six. ble three-nil lead in the best-of-five series, we’re always talking about 10-15 extra In the process Kohli became the fastest But Maxwell, who was out just one but the match was much more of a con- runs,” Dhoni said. man to reach 7,000 runs in one-day inter- run short of victory, combined with James test than the first two encounters in Perth “This was a slightly different wicket nationals, taking 161 innings to reach the Faulkner to guide Australia home. and Brisbane. but there was not much the batsmen could milestone -- four fewer than South Afri- “The wicket was quite slow so I had Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have done -- 295 was a good total.” ca’s AB de Villiers. to try and hit the ball in front of square,” said poor fielding had again cost his side. Australian openers Shaun Marsh and The 27-year-old from Delhi came in with Maxwell said. “It’s tough to take,” he admitted. Aaron Finch attacked from the outset and India on 15 for one after in-form opener “I tried to hit them as clean as I could “We didn’t field well tonight. There were cruised in the first few overs, punishing Rohit Sharma edged Kane Richardson to over cover and luckily enough they came at least three boundaries we should have some wayward Indian bowling. wicketkeeper Matthew Wade for six dur- Australia’s Glenn Maxwell acknowledges the crowd off the middle. easily stopped.” Australia raced to 48 before Finch edged ing his innings. after being dismissed for 96 against India during their “I feel like I’ve been making big strides Australia successfully chased down Umesh Yadav to wicketkeeper Mahendra Kohli played superbly to notch up his one-dayer at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. over the last few months,” he added. 309 and 308 in the opening two matches. Singh Dhoni for a quickfire 21. 24th ODI century.

Record-breaking Kiwis crush Pakistan Kohli fastest to score 7,000 runs

AFP SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN Mohd Hafeez c Astle b Santner 19 HAMILTON: A world-record T20 part- A Shehzad c Williamson b Anderson 9 nership by Martin Guptill and Kane S Maqsood c Santner b Elliott 18 Williamson gave New Zealand a com- S Malik b McClenaghan 39 prehensive 10-wicket win in the second Umar Akmal (not out) 56 Twenty20 against Pakistan in Ham- S Afridi c Williamson by Milne 7 ilton yesterday. Imad Wasim c Milne b McClenaghan 8 Set a target of 169, Guptill finished S Ahmed (run out-Milne) 1 the match with a boundary to take Wahab Riaz (not out) 0 the New Zealand total to 171 with 14 Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-7) 11 balls remaining and all wickets intact. Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) 168

His stand with Williamson eclipsed Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-34, 3-67, 4-130, 5-137, the previous best Twenty20 part- 6-161, 7-163. nership of 170 set by South Africans Bowling: Santner 3-0-29-1 (w2); Anderson Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman 4-0-26-1 (w3); Milne 4-0-37-1 (w1); McClena- against England in 2009. New Zea- ghan 4-0-23-2 (w1); Astle 1-0-13-0; Elliott land’s dominance in Hamilton, after 4-0-36-1. Pakistan won the first game in Auck- NEW ZEALAND land on Friday, means the three-match series will be decided in Wellington M Guptill (not out) 87 next Friday. K Williamson (not out) 72 Guptill, who uncharacteristically Extras (LB-6, W-6) 12 trailed Williamson for much of the Total (for no loss in 17.4 overs) 171 match, finished with a flourish to be Bowling: Umar Gul 2-0-18-0 (w1); Mohammad 87 not out from 58 balls with nine fours Shoaib Malik of Pakistan (right) looks back as he is bowled out by Amir 3-0-34-0; Imad Wasim 4-0-32-0; Shahid and four sixes. Williamson faced 48 New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan during their second Twenty20 Afridi 4-0-38-0; Wahab Riaz 3-0-30-0 (w1); balls for his 72, which included 11 fours. at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. Shoaib Malik 1.4-0-13-0. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first but there was no urgency about their run-gathering. While Pakistan tried desperately Akmal was unbeaten on 56 off took 10 off the first over with a six Halfway through their innings for a wicket, the one chance they were 27 deliveries at the close while Malik and a four. Pakistan were 60-2, while New Zea- offered went to ground when Shoaib made 39 off 30. But when Santner was removed India’s Virat Kohli celebrates his century against Australia during land passed the same 60 mark in the Malik dropped a straightforward New Zealand, with an eye on the from the attack, Corey Anderson and their one-dayer at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. Kohli seventh over and were 82-0 after 10 caught-and-bowled chance from World Twenty20 in India in March, Adam Milne put the brakes on the scor- became the fastest player to score 7,000 in ODIs during the match. overs. Williamson on 61. experimented with left-arm spinner ing before the Akmal-Malik onslaught. Kohli reached the 7000-run mark with a glance to the boundary Williamson and Guptill both After the slow start to the Paki- Mitchell Santner opening the bowling. While Pakistan only scored 60 at fine leg from the bowling of James Faulkner. Kohli passed 7,000 brought up their half-centuries in stan innings, Umar Akmal and Malik New-ball spearheads Trent Boult and runs in the first 10 overs, they added runs in his 161st ODI innings, four fewer than the 165 that South the 13th over when they took 15 off added backbone with a 63-run part- Matt Henry sat out the match. 108 in the second half of the innings. African AB de Villiers took to reach the same milestone. Mohammad Amir, whose three overs nership off 34 balls to get the tourists It was a switch which suited Paki- Mitchell McClenaghan had the best cost 34 runs. up to 168-7. stan opener Mohammad Hafeez, who figures for New Zealand with two for 23. Broad grabs No.1 ranking Sabbir seals emphatic Bangladesh victory

Reuters SCOREBOARD AFP CRICKET: ZIMBABWE IN DUBAI: Pace bowler Stuart Broad BANGLADESH H Masakadza c Mahmudullah b Sabbir 30 BANGLADESH (pictured) has gone top of the Inter- Tamim Iqbal c Vitori b Muzarabani 23 R Mutumbami c Soumya b Sabbir 7 national Cricket Council (ICC) rankings Soumya Sarkar c Waller b Cremer 43 S Williams lbw Shuvagata 7 KHULNA: Sabbir Rahman starred with after his brilliant display in England’s both bat and ball yesterday as Bangla- series-clinching victory against South Sabbir Rahman (not out) 43 M Waller c Soumya b Al-Amin 29 desh crushed Zimbabwe by 42 runs in Masakadza was dropped twice, both Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday. M’dullah c Mutumbami b W Masakadza 1 P Moor b Mustafizur 9 the second Twenty20 international to on 24 in the same over off Mortaza, but Broad took six wickets for 17 Mushfiqur Rahim (rtid hurt) 24 N Madziva b Mustafizur 0 take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Sabbir ensured the mistakes were not

runs in a devastating burst as Eng- batting rankings although Joe Root Shakib Al Hasan (not out) 27 G Cremer c&b Sabbir 8 Sabbir made an unbeaten 43 and costly by removing the batsman for 30. land bowled the hosts out for 83 in moves up to second after his century Extras (B-2,LB-1, W-3) 6 W Masakadza (not out) 6 then took 3-11 to help Bangladesh restrict Zimbabwe collapsed after Al-Amin their second innings. England then for England. Zimbabwe to 125-8 at Khulna after the Hossain dismissed Malcolm Waller, the knocked off the victory target of 74 South Africa will lose their top- Total (for 3 wkts in 20 overs) 167 Extras (LB-5, W-2, NB-1) 8 home side posted a commanding 167-3. only other batsman to offer some resist- easily. ranked status to India following the Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-75, 3-76. Total (for 8 wkts 20 overs) 125 Aiming to bounce back from Fri- ance with 29 off 21 balls. Earlier, Soumya Broad, 29, moved above Ravi- fourth test against England. They trail Bowling: Vitori 4-0-29-0; Madziva 3-0-30-0; Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-55, 3-65, 4-68, day’s four-wicket loss in the opening Sarkar also made 43 as Bangladesh dom- chandran Ashwin of India and South 2-0. Meanwhile, Poor management Muzarabani 4-0-35-1 (w2); W Masakadza 5-105, 6-108, 7-109, 8-125. match, Zimbabwe began positively with inated from the start after Mortaza had Africa’s Dale Steyn into top spot -- and a negative mind-set contributed 4-0-32-1; Cremer 4-0-29-1 (w1); Williams Bowling: Shuvagata 3-0-18-1; Shakib 4-0- a 50-run partnership between stand-in won the toss and elected to bat first. the first time an English bowler has to South Africa’s home series defeat 1-0-9-0 26-0; Al-Amin 3-0-21-1; Mustafizur 3.5-0-19- captain Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Shakib Al Hasan was unbeaten on topped the ICC rankings since Steve by England and loss of the number ZIMBABWE 2 (w1); Mortaza 4-0-25-1 (nb1); Sabbir 2.1-0- Sibanda. Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe 27 alongside Sabbir, who faced 30 balls Harmison in 2004. one test ranking, former Proteas cap- Mortaza, the third change bowler, broke and hit three sixes at the packed Sheikh V Sibanda b Mortaza 21 11-3 (w1). Australia’s Steve Smith leads the tain Graeme Smith said. the stand when he bowled Sibanda for 21. Abu Naser Stadium. SPORT MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 35

Sharks edge out Stars; Rangers pip Flyers

NEW YORK: Tomas Hertl scored 1:12 into overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a 4-3 win over the Dal- las Stars at SAP Center. MLB: Baltimore San Jose stretched their winning streak to five. Marc-Edouard Vla- and Davis reach sic assisted on Hertl’s winner after scoring two goals in the game for 7-year deal the first time in his career. Rangers 3, Flyers 2 New York goaltender Henrik NEW YORK: The Baltimore Orioles Lundqvist continued his storied and slugger Chris Davis (pictured) career against the Philadelphia Fly- have reached agreement on a seven- ers by lifting the Rangers to a 3-2 year, $161m deal, multiple media shootout win at Wells Fargo Center. outlets reported on Saturday. Lundqvist was sensational The contract includes a full no- -- especially in overtime -- and trade clause and there is no opt-out stopped all three shots in the shoot- in the deal with the first baseman, out. Mats Zuccarello won it for the which is pending a physical, accord- Rangers (24-15-5) with the only goal ing to MLB.com. in the shootout. The Kansas City Royals agreed Senators 5, Kings 3 to give right-hander Ian Kennedy a Mike Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jared Abbrederis (left) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals free safety Rashad Johnson (right) during the second five-year, $70m contract, accord- each had a goal and an assist as the ing to multiple reports. quarter in NFC Divisional round play-off game on Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, USA. Ottawa Senators defeated the Los The deal includes an opt-out Angeles Kings 5-3. clause after the first two years. Ottawa (21-18-6) climbed to Kennedy still needs to pass a within one point of the second wild physical. card spot in the Eastern Conference. The World Series-champion Goaltender Craig Anderson stopped Royals were looking to replace Arizona Cardinals overcome 30 Los Angeles shots for the win. righty Johnny Cueto, who recently Sabres 4, Capitals 1 signed a $130m contract with the Four Buffalo players scored to San Francisco Giants. lead the Sabres to a 4-1 win over The New York Yankees avoided the Washington Capitals. arbitration with right-hander Phil Varone, Tim Schaller, Michael Pineda and infielder-out- Green Bay Packers in thriller Evander Kane and Cody Franson fielder Dustin Ackley. had goals for Buffalo (18-23-4), while According to reports, Pineda goalie Chad Johnson made 33 saves. agreed to a one-year, $4.3m con- Marcus Johansson scored for tract and Ackley to a one-year, the Capitals (33-8-3), whose five- $3.2m deal. Larry Fitzgerald’s NFL: PLAY-OFF GAMES game win streak came to an end. The Philadelphia Phillies set- Blue Jackets 2, Avalanche 1 tled their three salary-arbitration brilliant 75-yard catch Jack Johnson scored on a flut- cases, agreeing to one-year deals the key as Cardinals tering, redirected wrist shot with with right-handers Jeremy Hel- quarter of a back and forth affair. 1:07 remaining to give the Columbus lickson and Jeanmar Gomez, and win first play-off Palmer put the Cardinals ahead Blue Jackets a 2-1 victory over the shortstop Freddy Galvis. game since 2009 17-13 on a pass that looked to be an Colorado Avalanche at Nationwide Right-hander Joe Kelly and the season interception when it was deflected by Arena. Seconds earlier, Avalanche Boston Red Sox agreed to terms on Green Bay’s Randall Damarious and goaltender Calvin Pickard made a a one-year, $2.m contract to avoid ricocheted into the hands of Michael brilliant stop on Blue Jackets left arbitration. Floyd. winger Brandon Saad. Kelly went 10-6 with a 4.82 ERA The Cardinals added a field goal Devils 2, Coyotes 0 in 25 starts this past season. He fin- Reuters prior to Green Bay’s last drive of reg- Ryan Boucher and Kyle Palmieri ished strong after a rough start, going ulation. “It’s tough. We’ve lost a few of scored and Cory Schneider posted 8-0 from August 1 before being shut these over the years where you don’t his fourth shutout of the season in down on September 9. touch the ball in overtime,” Rodgers the Devils’ 2-0 victory over the Ari- American League Cy Young NEW YORK: Larry Fitzgerald’s said. zona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Award winner Dallas Keuchel remarkable 75-yard catch and run “It comes down to a coin flip some- Boucher scored his first goal of avoided arbitration with the Hou- set up his game-winning touchdown times. There were bizarre plays made the season in the first period and ston Astros by reportedly agreeing as the Arizona Cardinals survived a by both teams.” Palmieri got his 18th just 18 seconds to a one-year, $7.25m contract. wild finish with a 26-20 overtime tri- Meanwhile, Tom Brady and the into the third to support Schneider, The amount is the highest ever umph over the Green Bay Packers on Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald celebrates after scoring defending Super Bowl champion New who made 38 saves. garnered by a first-time arbitra- Saturday. the winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during overtime England Patriots snapped the Kansas Blues 4, Canadiens 3 tion-eligible starting pitcher. David Carson Palmer, who connected in NFC Divisional round play-off game in Glendale on Saturday. City Chiefs’ 11-game winning streak Jori Lehtera scored 2:04 into Price and Dontrelle Willis shared with Fitzgerald on a five-yard pass with a 27-20 victory on Saturday to overtime to give the St. Louis the previous high of $4.35m. for the winning score, earned the first reach the AFC championship for a fifth Blues a 4-3 win over the Montreal Keuchel went 20-8 with a 2.48 play-off win of his 12-year National consecutive season. Canadiens. ERA in 2015. Football League career and sent the Cardinals struck on the opening drive. with little-used wide receivers but he The Patriots, who had a first-round Bruins 3, Maple Leafs 2 Houston also agreed to one-year second-seeded Cardinals into next “We’re a resilient team and we still managed to produce 261 yards bye, looked to be back at full strength Brad Marchand scored with 47 deals with third baseman Luis Val- week’s NFC championship. believe,” said Fitzgerald, who fin- and two scores. and nothing like the team that lost four seconds left to give the Boston Bru- buena ($6.125m), shortstop Marwin But Arizona first had to withstand a ished the game with eight catches Rodgers’ miracle throw at the end of six games heading into the play-offs ins a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Gonzalez ($2m) and right-hander 41-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass by for 176 yards. of the fourth quarter was reminiscent as they pulled ahead early and never Leafs at TD Garden. Josh Fields ($900,000). Aaron Rodgers as time expired on regu- “We found a way to win. We’re glad of his Week 13 Hail Mary winning pass looked back. New York Mets pitcher Matt Har- lation that sent the game into overtime. to get this one behind us. We have to against the Detroit Lions. Brady tossed two touchdowns and vey avoided arbitration with the Mets The coin toss prior to overtime was keep on fighting next week.” The Green Bay QB scrambled and rushed for another, Rob Gronkowski by agreeing to a one-year, $4325m initially flubbed by the official, who The Cardinals, who had not won a flung a bomb that found the leaping caught a pair of TDs to erase any injury NHL RESULTS deal. Harvey made $614,000 last watched it fall to the ground without play-off game since the 2009 season, arms of receiver Jeff Janis. “Most teams concerns and receiver Julian Edelman NY Rangers 3 Philadelphia 2 season while going 13-8 with a 2.71 turning over and had to flip it a sec- will play the winner of game between would’ve probably played prevent ended a two-month absence from a New Jersey 2 Arizona 0 ERA in his return from Tommy John ond time, but once play started the the top-seeded Carolina Panthers and (defence on the last drive). I said ‘hell broken foot to put New England at full Ottawa 5 Los Angeles 3 elbow surgery and helped the Mets Seattle Seahawks for a trip to the Super no, blitz him,’” said Cardinals coach strength. Boston 3 Toronto 2 reach the World Series. Bowl. Bruce Arians. “It’s pretty special to be back in New York also reached one-year The Packers defeated Washington “And he made a great throw. I loved the AFC Championship game,” said Buffalo 4 Washington 1 deals with right-hander Addison PLAY-OFF RESULTS 35-18 last week to reach the divisional the way our guys responded.” the player, who extended his National Columbus 2 Colorado 1 Reed ($5.3m), shortstop Ruben American Conference at Foxborough round of the play-offs and fought until Palmer recorded 349 yards pass- Football League record for play-off St Louis 4 Montreal 3 Tejada ($3m) among others. New England 27 Kansas City 20 the end despite a critical loss with an ing for three touchdowns to offset two wins to 22. Nashville 3 Minnesota 0 The St Louis Cardinals and closer injury to leading receiver Randall Cobb interceptions. “Whoever we play is going to be National Conference at Phoenix Edmonton 2 Calgary 1 Trevor Rosenthal avoided arbitra- in the opening quarter on Saturday. He was the benefactor of an a great team. We’re going to need to tion by agreeing to a one-year, Arizona 26 Green Bay 20 (overtime) That left Green Bay and Rodgers improbable bounce late in the fourth be sharper.” San Jose 4 Dallas 3 Golden State Warriors suffer fourth defeat of the season

AFP Jackson added eight assists and Shooting guard Klay Thompson league. Prior to Saturday, Philadel- chipped in 15 points and seven assists. Caldwell-Pope had five rebounds and scored 24 points, but Green was held NBA ROUND-UP phia’s biggest win was 103-91 victory “We don’t want to take anything three steals. to five -- 10 below his average. over the similarly sorry Los Angeles away from them, they played great,” Centre Andre Drummond produced Golden State did chip away at the Lakers on December 1. said Paul, who managed just four-of-11 LOS ANGELES: Detroit celebrated his league-leading 34th double-dou- Pistons’ 19-point lead in the third Forward Richaun Holmes scored shooting from the floor but hit three former Pistons great Ben Wallace on ble with 14 points and 21 rebounds, quarter. Walton added. “In this league if you’re 17 points and guard Ish Smith and for- of five three-pointers in 27 minutes. Saturday with a win over the NBA’s unfazed by the trash-talking of Warri- Curry, who scored 16 points in the not ready to fight back, you’re going ward Robert Covington had 16 apiece “They made shots, they moved the current best, handing the Golden State ors power forward Draymond Green. period, drained two three-pointers to to get blown out.” for the 76ers, who shot 55.3 percent. ball well. We knew coming in to this Warriors just their fourth defeat of the “It’s like playing your best friend,” pull his team within 12. Another Curry The Warriors are 37-4 at the mid- “It feels good when you see your game that they were a high-scoring season. Drummond said of Green’s jawing. three-pointer made it 83-73 later in way point of the regular season with teammates on the bench and they’re team and we never slowed them down. The Pistons beat the Warriors 113- “You can talk if you want, it doesn’t the frame. a tough NBA Finals rematch with the telling you to keep killing it, as they 95, Golden State’s second defeat in mean you mean it. You’re just trying to But Detroit opened the fourth Cleveland Cavaliers coming up on call it,” Okafor said. NBA RESULTS three games and a perfect ending for get the best of him. I intimidate peo- quarter with a 9-0 scoring run to Monday. “They just continue to motivate Milwaukee 105 Charlotte 92 Detroit fans to a night that saw their ple by the way I play. seize control. In Philadelphia, rookie center Jahlil me, give me confidence, and it’s a lot Boston 119 Washington 117 club retire four-time defensive player “I don’t need to talk.” “No matter where we go, teams are Okafor scored 17 of his 25 points in the of fun.” In Los Angeles, the Sacramento of the year Wallace’s number three Warriors point guard Stephen going to give us their best shot,” War- first quarter and the 76ers rode a fast Kings snapped the Clippers 10-game Atlanta 114 Brooklyn 86 jersey in their Palace at Auburn Hills Curry, the reigning NBA Most Valu- riors interim coach Luke Walton said. start to a 114-89 victory over the Port- winning streak with a 110-103 triumph. Detroit 113 Golden State 95 arena at halftime. able Player and the league’s leading “It was a big night with the crowd, land Trail Blazers -- the most lopsided DeMarcus Cousins scored 19 points Philadelphia 114 Portland 89 Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson scorer, delivered on cue with 38 points, it was a sellout, retiring Ben Wallace’s of the 76ers’ lowly five wins this season. with 13 rebounds and six assists for Memphis 103 NY Knicks 95 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 20 five assists and seven rebounds. jersey. Okafor connected on 12 of 16 from the Kings. Utah 109 LA Lakers 82 points apiece and Detroit led by dou- But the rest of the Warriors offered “They were coming after us tonight the field and pulled down 10 rebounds Point guard Chris Paul, who was ble digits throughout the second half. little support. and we weren’t ready to fight back,” for the Sixers, the worst team in the in foul trouble throughout the night, Sacramento 110 LA Clippers 103 MONDAY 18 JANUARY 2016 36 Arsenal edge ahead as Rooney stuns Liverpool

Soccer: World Cup / chances, first drilling narrowly wide ENGLISH PREMIER after Jordan Henderson, freed by Lucas Captain Rooney’s goal Asian Cup qualifying Leiva, had seen a header palmed away LEAGUE RESULTS gives Manchester by the outrushing David de Gea and Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1 United victory over then releasing James Milner to slice (Rooney 78) win over Liverpool in four games and wide with a fine, half-volleyed pass. Stoke 0 Arsenal 0 Liverpool, Arsenal a first away victory since the 2-1 suc- It was from a Firmino flick, mean- Tomorrow draw with Stoke cess at Watford on November 21. while, that Henderson flashed a shot “When you beat Liverpool, it is across goal and wide after a neat move Swansea vs Watford (2000 GMT) good for the fans and for the table as involving Adam Lallana. The Brazilian Played on Saturday our competitors also lose points,” said looked poised to put Liverpool ahead Aston Villa 1 (Gestede 75) Leicester 1 AFP Van Gaal. “It is a big step in a good six minutes before half-time, but as he (Okazaki 28) direction and I am very happy. cocked his right foot to shoot, Anthony Bournemouth 3 (Gosling 10, Daniels “In the second half we played Martial nipped in to intervene. 54-pen, Afobe 75) Norwich 0 LONDON: A goalless draw at Stoke much better and kept the ball bet- A ragged half for the visitors Chelsea 3 (Costa 64, Fabregas 66, left Arsenal top of the Premier League ter and created chances, and Wayne ended with Ashley Young hobbling Terry 90+8) Everton 3 (Terry 50-og, yesterday after Manchester United cap- Rooney makes the fantastic goal again.” off after appearing to injure his groin, Mirallas 56, Funes Mori 90) tain Wayne Rooney scored late on to Victory took United to within two with youngster Cameron Borthwick- Manchester City 4 (Delph 22, Aguero give his side a 1-0 win away to bitter points of the Champions League berths Jackson coming on. Injured United trio 41, 68, Silva 84) Crystal Palace 0 rivals Liverpool. and allowed them to reclaim fifth place Michael Carrick, Phil Jones and Mar- A share of the spoils at the Bri- from West Ham United, leaving Liv- cos Rojo were among the fans in the Newcastle 2 (Perez 6, Wijnaldum 15) tannia Stadium saw Arsenal return to erpool six points back in ninth place, away end and they could only look on West Ham 1 (Jelavic 49) the summit on goal difference ahead their top-four hopes fading. with concern as Liverpool continued Southampton 3 (Ward-Prowse 5, of surprise title contenders Leicester “It’s a derby and you have one job to dictate in the second half, De Gea 35-pen, Tadic 72) West Brom 0 City, with both clubs now boasting 44 -- to win it,” said a disappointed Klopp. saving with his feet after Emre Can Tottenham 4 (Eriksen 42, 67, Dembele points from 22 league matches played “United would have to say they were had flummoxed Chris Smalling with 60, Kane 79-pen) Sunderland 1 (Van so far this season. not so good, but they won so they’re a step-over. Aanholt 40) But for the second time in a mat- happy. We played better, but we feel Martial threatened in the 56th ter of days Arsenal were left to reflect frustrated.” minute, fizzing a shot wide after Borth- the bar. Liverpool’s best chance of an on whether they had gained a point They may be England’s two most wick-Jackson’s cross was deflected equaliser fell to Firmino, but he could or in fact dropped two after a thrill- decorated clubs, but Liverpool and into his path, but Liverpool were soon not control Milner’s mishit shot right ing midweek 3-3 draw with Liverpool. United are not this season’s leading back on top. in front of goal and as his disbeliev- Earlier, Rooney -- who made his contenders and a scrappy, shapeless De Gea fielded a side-foot effort ing glance at the linesman testified, name playing for Liverpool’s city rivals first half reflected both clubs’ recent from Henderson and then plunged to there was no offside flag to spare his Everton -- marked his latest return to difficulties. his right to parry a rasping shot from blushes. Liverpool’s former manager Merseyside by scoring the only goal Both teams had drawn 3-3 on Can before springing up to claw away Brendan Rodgers has said the club’s of the game at Anfield. their previous outings -- Liverpool Firmino’s cross from the rebound. owners were behind the decision to Presiding over his first game at home to Arsenal, United at New- Van Gaal sent on Juan Mata, match- sign Mario Balotelli from AC Milan after against United, Liverpool manager Jur- castle United -- but there was to be no winner in United’s 2-1 victory at Anfield the coach had built his plans around gen Klopp watched his team dominate, frenzied attacking to warm the 43,865 last March, and Memphis Depay, but Arsenal-bound Alexis Sanchez. but Rooney punished their profligacy shivering souls at Anfield. still Liverpool came, Mamadou Sakho Liverpool signed Balotelli for 16 with his fifth goal in four games, a close What quality football there was heading Milner’s cross over. million pounds ($22.81 million) fol- range snapshot after Marouane Fel- came chiefly from Liverpool and, in They could not make their pressure lowing the departure of Luis Suarez laini had hit the bar. particular, Roberto Firmino, preferred count, however, and with 12 minutes to Barcelona in 2014, but the Italian Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring It was United’s only shot on tar- once again to Christian Benteke as the remaining Rooney made them pay by endured an unsuccessful season at the opening goal during the English Premier League football match get, but it was enough to give visiting nominal frontman. slamming the ball past Simon Mignolet Anfield before returning to Italy on at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England, yesterday manager Louis van Gaal his fourth He was involved in two early after Fellaini’s header came back off loan for this campaign.

Al Arabi down Al Australia open points tally, Khor in QBF League

Jordan and UAE in 1-1 draw The Peninsula DOHA: Soyebo Temi Narcellius and O’Brien Todd Edward scored The Peninsula AFC U23 with Ngyuen Cong Phuong provid- 29 points each for Al Arabi in their Championship in Doha ing a constant threat going forward, 84-78 win over Al Khor in the Qatar leading to recalled Australia mid- Basketball Federation (QBF) League DOHA: Centre-back James Donachie fielder Mustafa Amini picking up an here at the Al Gharfa Indoor Sta- and striker Jamie Maclaren scored 11th minute yellow card for upend- dium yesterday. in either half as Australia picked heartbreaking defeat by the UAE at the ing the striker. At the end of the first quarter, up their first points of the AFC U23 same venue earlier in the week, Aus- Australia, though, came close to a Al Arabi led 25-20, but in the sec- Championship with a 2-0 win over tralia made the ideal start as Donachie second 15 minutes before half-time as ond they picked up pace to widen a hard-working Vietnam yesterday was on hand to fire into the net via the the Olyroos quickly worked the ball the gap by 13 points (40-27). at Grand Hamad Stadium. underside of the crossbar from the across to Andrew Hoole, but after the Al Khor bounced back to make it Donachie opened the scoring edge of the six yard area after Viet- midfielder cut back inside the pen- 62-52 at the end of the third quar- inside the first two minutes as Aure- nam defender Dao Duy Khanh had alty area, Vietnam goalkeeper Minh ter, hoping to make a fight in the lio Vidmar’s side looked to bounce struggled to deal with Alex Gersbach’s Long stood up well at his near post. last period. back from Thursday’s 1-0 opening day corner after just two minutes. Minh Long was then fortunate However, in the final session, defeat by the United Arab Emirates l. And another Gersbach delivery two to save from Maclaren soon after as Al Arabi held on to the lead to wrap And with Maclaren adding a second minutes later almost handed Australia only an outstretched leg denied the the proceedings. on the hour mark despite a determined a quickfire second, but fortunately for striker as the Brisbane Roar forward Rembert Patrick Ronald top display from Toshiya Miura’s Viet- Vietnam, goalkeeper Phi Minh Long connected with a pull back from team- scored with 33 points for Al Khor nam, Australia head into Wednesday’s was able to apply a crucial touch as mate Brandon Borrello, who shot wide while, Abouo Charles had 24 suc- Action from the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) league match between meeting with Jordan firmly in the qual- Duy Khanh’s near post header looked just before half-time. cessful attempts. ification picture in Group D. on course for the back of the net. And the Vietnam goalkeeper con- No other Al Khor players crossed Al Khor and Al Arabi at Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Looking to make a belated start But despite the early setback, tinued to be required at the start of the the double digit mark. Arabi won 84-78. to their campaign following their Vietnam remained in the contest second half as the custodian snuffed out a chance for Maclaren just two minutes after the restart from Bor- rello’s through ball before pushing away a flicked header from the striker Podium winners at the Qatar Cup a minute later, with Donachie unable to capitalise on the rebound. But Maclaren finally found a way past Minh Long on the hour mark as the striker netted from the edge of the six yard area from Hoole’s pass after Vietnam had failed to clear the ball out of their penalty area after Amini had been denied by the goalkeeper. That finally put daylight between the sides, although Vietnam contin- ued to push for a goal that their display deserved and Miura’s side were only denied an 85th minute consolation as Australia goalkeeper Jack Dun- can acrobatically turned Pham Manh Hung’s dipping free-kick over the crossbar. The United Arab Emirates missed out on the chance to secure a place in the quarter-finals after being held to a 0-0 draw by Jordan. Victory would have taken the Emi- ratis into the next round following on from Australia’s 2-0 win over Vietnam earlier in the day, but with the points Mustafa Amini (left) of Australia and Do Duy Manh of Vietnam vie for shared both the UAE and Jordan go The podium winners at the Qatar Cup pose for a picture along with officials of Qatar Shooting and ball possession during their AFC U-23 match at the Grand Hamad into the final round of matches with Archery Association at Losail Shooting Range yesterday. Today is the last day of the championship. Stadium of Qatar SC in Doha yesterday. Picture by: Salim/The Peninsula their hopes of playing in the knock- out rounds intact.