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Lagarde to run for Messi fit as Barca second term at the seek to regain head of IMF top spot

SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 • 13 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6684 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Festival plan to Spring Festival opens at Souq Waqif promote organic vegetables

Saturday. The honey festival was held for two days a week — of those three Ministry’s plans days when the farmers’ markets are follow successful open — in Umm Salal, Al Wakrah and Al Khor/Al Dhakheera — one by one. conclusion of festival The first festival was held in Al of locally-produced Mazrooa, then Al Wakrah and yester- day, it ended in Al Khor-Al Dhakheera. honey at three A total of 278kg of Qatari honey farmers’ markets was sold here in two days. Abdul Rahman Al Sulaiti, Super- visor of the farmers’ markets at the ministry, said plans are afoot to hold The Peninsula a festival of locally-grown organic vegetables. He said the honey fes- tival was very successful and so the organic vegetables’ festival would DOHA: After successful conclusion of also be a hit with consumers. Also a festival of locally-produced honey, on the cards is a festival of regular Stilt walkers move around Souq Waqif after the opening of the annual Spring Festival yesterday. → See also page 2 the Agricultural Affairs Department at vegetables produced in local farms Pic Kammuty / The Peninsula the Ministry of Environment is plan- and greenhouses. On a pilot basis the ning to promote organic vegetables. ministry has converted one farm into The ministry has plans to hold a an organic facility and plans to open festival of organic vegetables at the five more such farms. three farmers’ markets where the Organic vegetable production is honey festival ended yesterday. growing at a rapid pace worldwide Qatar Airways chief rejects Gulf consolidation The honey festival aimed to due to increasing demand in view encourage local honey producers. of health benefits. In Qatar, organic Some 50 honeybee farms are vegetables produced by local farms getting financial and technical sup- are available in limited quantities so Reuters Emirates and Etihad with their three he said during a panel at Bahrain Air- aviation summit in Amsterdam that port from the government through the idea is to increase its production. big hub airport operations, all within show, pointing to US carriers as an Czech airlines shouldn’t necessarily the ministry. Organic farming relies on tradi- a small geographic location. example. survive just for the sake of it. It all began in 2013 when the min- tional methods such as crop rotation, In other aviation markets, like the In Europe, there has been consol- “It was part of national pride every istry decided to support 30 honeybee usage of green manures and compost. MANAMA: Qatar Airways (QA) Group US, the number of airlines has shrunk idation, with the five largest airline country needs to have a national car- farms and honey production peaked Biological pest control methods are Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker yes- as carriers have consolidated, help- groups controlling around half of the rier. My feeling is that Europe is too at 6.1 tonnes. The following year, 50 also used. The government also pro- terday said he was not in favour of ing them become more profitable, so journeys made by air passengers in the small for so many national carriers,” farms were brought within the state vides technical help to honey and other regional consolidation, rejecting any much so that US airlines account for region. But there are often calls from he said. support network while there are plans farms. Technicians visit the facilities need for the Gulf to join in the trend over half of global earnings in the air- aviation industry executives for more Al Baker also took a swipe at legacy to add 50 more farms by Septem- regularly and workers are provided for mergers which has raised airline line industry. consolidation among Europe’s smaller European carriers, saying they were ber 2016. with training. profitability elsewhere in the world. But Al Baker said consolidation carriers, many of which struggle to disadvantaged by their inefficiencies, The farmers’ markets are open Al Sulaiti said recently a fair of Some industry experts are scep- could be bad for consumers. “I don’t post a sustainable profit. not by the growth of Gulf carriers. only in the winter months and three flowers was also held at the farm- tical as to whether the Gulf needs agree with consolidation, always done Dan Tok, Minister of Transport for days a week from Thursday through ers’ markets. fast-growing QA and rival carriers to extract capacity and jack up prices,” the Czech Republic, said during an EU → Continued on page 2

Syria opposition: Qatar down North Korea to reach semis 45 migrants drown as Turkey No talks unless vows to stop voyages to Europe Russian raids end

AFP into trouble off the Aegean islands of Reuters Farmakonisi and Kalolimnos in the early hours. But the toll could rise as rescuers were scouring the waters ATHENS: Forty-five people drowned for people missing from the boat that BEIRUT: The Saudi-backed Syrian when three refugee boats sank yester- capsized off Kalolimnos. opposition ruled out even indirect day off Greece, as German Chancellor The Turkish coastguard also found negotiations with Damascus before Angela Merkel obtained a pledge from the bodies of three children after a steps, including a halt to Russian air Turkey to “do everything” to stop third boat sank near the seaside resort strikes, contradicting US Secretary record numbers of migrants head- of Didim. of State John Kerry’s insistence that ing to Europe. Germany and Turkey have talks will begin next week. Thousands fleeing war and mis- emerged as crucial players in the crisis, With the five-year Syrian war ery are embarking on the dangerous and Merkel, who hosted Prime Min- showing no signs of ending, it looks journey across the Mediterranean to ister Ahmet Davutoglu for talks, said uncertain that peace talks will begin seek a better life in Europe. both sides signed an agreement to “do as planned on Monday in Geneva, Greek and Turkish coastguards everything to reduce the number of partly because of a dispute over recovered the bodies of 44 migrants — refugees” crossing into the EU. the composition of the opposition including 20 children — whose boats In exchange, Ankara can count on delegation. Qatar’s Ahmed Alaa (right) in action against a North Korean player during the AFC U23 Championship capsized on their way to Greece, offi- German support in easing by Octo- George Sabra, a senior official of quarter-finals in Doha yesterday. Qatar won the match 2-1. Pic: Syed Omer → See also page 23 cials said. Greek rescuers pulled 74 ber EU visa requirements for Turkish opposition council, the High Nego- people to safety after two boats ran citizens visiting the Schengen area. tiations Committee, said obstacles to the talks were there, reiterating demands for the lifting of block- ades on populated areas and the release of detainees, measures Tunisia protests ‘under control’ after nation-wide night curfew set out in a December 18 Security Council resolution that endorsed the peace process. “There must be a halt to the AFP Anger erupted over last week’s decision risks prosecution, apart from and a bank branch were ransacked on 42 security personnel wounded, the bombardment of civilians by Rus- death of an unemployed young man medical emergencies and those work- the neighbourhood’s main street and ministry said. sian planes,” said Sabra, who was who was electrocuted when he climbed ing at night,” it said. a police post burnt. In central Tunisia, The new spike in unrest prompted this week named a senior member an electricity pole while demonstrat- Authorities called for calm after security forces clashed with protesters Prime Minister Habib Essid to cut short of the opposition delegation to any TUNIS: Tunisia yesterday declared a ing in central Tunisia. 16 people were arrested on vandalism in several towns, including Kasserine a European tour. Essid said protests had talks. “The form of the talks does nighttime curfew across the country The interior ministry said the 8pm charges in a suburb of Tunis. National where the unrest started, using tear been “brought under control”. “The not concern us, but the conditions to try to calm the most serious out- to 5am curfew was necessary to pre- Guard units clashed with individu- gas against them. situation is calm... ,” Essid said after a must be appropriate for the nego- break of social unrest since the 2011 vent damage to property and ensure als in balaclavas until early morning. At least three police stations were meeting with French President Fran- tiations,” he added. revolution. public safety. “Anyone disobeying this Two household appliance stores attacked over the past 24 hours and cois Hollande in Paris. 02 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 HOME Annual Spring Festival begins at Souq Waqif

as part of the 15-day festival. of people curious to see what was being 15-day cultural The alleys were filled with visi- shown inside. Four short international tors taking videos and photos of the 360-degree movies were screened for and entertainment stilt walkers and performers passing free from 4pm to 8pm at the dome. bonanza for visitors by in regular intervals. The Giant Fountain Circus show, the Another set of stiltwalkers enter- main attraction at the festival which of all walks of life tained visitors at the new Souq Waqif is staged twice nightly, was also a big Park above the underground parking draw. Concerts featuring renowned lot which opened last year. Arab singers are also presented by Al After a week, a new group of stilt- Rayyan Radio nightly at Al Hamam By Raynald C Rivera walkers and street performers will Square. Workshops at the Souq Waqif The Peninsula arrive to bring smiles to the visitors Art Center include Spring flowers to the famous tourist destination in ceramic and decoupage, mural line, the city. The park’s Open Theatre was water painting, reverse glass art, desert also abuzz with activities as children rose carving and an artists’ forum. DOHA: Souq Waqif burst into festive participated in painting, sculpture and Stalls are located around the ven- spirit as hundreds of visitors attended origami competition. ues while restaurants and coffee shops the opening of the annual Spring Fes- Several stages have been put up saw good business due to the festival’s tival yesterday. at Al Hamam square and its adjacent added attractions. Stilt walkers in fancy costumes, area, which used to be a parking space, The opening of the 2,000-stall clowns, acrobats and traditional Kha- in which shows, including traditional underground parking area has also leeji folkloric troupes entertained folkloric performances, were shown. increased tourist turnout in the souq. people from various age groups with A movie theatre which looked like a The shows are open to the public performances in alleys and on stage giant white orb witnessed long queues from 3.30pm to 10pm until February 4. A young visitor tries her hand at the drum at the festival. Pic: Kammuty / The Peninsula Foggy conditions at places likely this morning Lufthansa ‘utilisation third of ours’ Continued from page 1 Some European carriers like The Peninsula Lufthansa have criticised the likes of QA, which does not publish financial statements, saying they receive unfair state funding, meaning European airlines DOHA: Visibility will be poor this cannot compete on an equal footing, alle- morning due to foggy conditions in gations the Gulf carriers deny. Al Baker several places across the country, the said unlike QA, Lufthansa could not oper- weather bureau has warned. ate from its Frankfurt hub 24 hours due to Visibility could first be less than night flying rules, common across Europe. 1km and as the day progresses, the fog “Lufthansa utilisation is a third of ours Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive will clear and visibility will improve — because they have to park their aero- Akbar Al Baker addressing a to four to 8km. planes at night because people are getting news conference at Bahrain Day temperatures vary between disturbed by the noise,” he added. Airshow 2016 yesterday. 19 and 24 degrees Celsius. In Dukhan, there will be three degrees of difference between day and night temperatures. During the day here, the tempera- ture will be 19 degrees and 16 degrees Qatar to attend Antalya expo at night. The night will generally be cold elsewhere. In Doha, day temper- atures will reach 24 degrees and at QNA their keenness to strengthen them night it will be 15 degrees. on all fields. The maximum temperature in Mes- The sea in Al Wakrah is turning into a favourite destination for anglers who converge in large numbers during The ambassador said Qatar’s saieed, Al Wakrah and Abu Samra will weekends. Yesterday being a Friday, coupled with a stable weather in the evening, many from different ANKARA: Qatari Ambassador to Tur- participation will highlight several also be 24 degrees. In Al Ruwais, the nationalities turned up on the seaside to pursue their pastime. Pic: Salim /The Peninsula key Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi, in aspects reflecting the country’s culture day temperature will be 22 degrees his capacity as General Commis- and history and strong, developing and 23 degrees in Al Khor. sioner of Qatar’s pavilion at Expo experiments in the promotion of sus- Nightly mercury levels will vary the minimum temperature forecast The sea will be calm with waves later will change to northeasterly with 2016 Antalya on flowers and chil- tainability and greenhouses in line between 14 and 16 degrees. In Mes- is 14 degrees, Al Khor 15 degrees and in deep sea rising up to four feet. The the speed of three to 10 knots. Sun- dren, yesterday signed participation with Qatar National Vision 2030 and saieed, Al Wakrah and Abu Samra, Al Ruwais 16 degrees. wind will be southeasterly inland and rise will be at 6.20 and sunset at 5.11. agreement with Turkish General Com- efforts of the government and public missioner Erdogan Kok. and private sector institutions. At the signing ceremony, attended On infrastructure and green by Turkish officials and media person- buildings and cities, Al Shafi said alities, Al Shafi expressed gratitude the national agenda aspires to estab- and appreciation to the government lish Qatar as one of the leading world Five-dirham coins that are rarely seen and people of Turkey. He said Qatar countries in the field, especially in is glad to take part in the exhibition as the current phase when it is follow- The Peninsula retail store to buy something and a saleswoman a continuity of participation in events ing up on a workshop on facilities handed him a toffee instead of returning him 25 and activities in Turkey throughout and infrastructure related to 2022 dirhams of change. The colleague insisted on 25 the year, stemming from fraternal FIFA World Cup Qatar is hosting. He DOHA: Qatar has coins of various denomina- dirhams and made it known he wouldn’t settle for ties between both countries. hoped that through the expo, Qatar tions in circulation with its riyal currency notes. anything else. “I put my foot down and demanded He said this reflects the depth of will help convey the concepts of green The coins commonly seen in circulation are 25 dirhams back. I refused to accept the toffee,” ties between the two countries and life and sustainability to the world. of 50 and 25 dirhams (100 dirhams make a riyal). the colleague said. He was pleasantly surprised But also in circulation are coins of one, five when the saleswoman, though a bit reluctantly, These five-dirham coins were put into and 10 dirhams, although they are rarely seen. handed him five copper-coloured brand-new and circulation in 2012. Pic: Qassim / The Peninsula Yesterday, one of our colleagues went to a major shining coins of five dirhams each. NU-Q to host 3 journalists from Pulitzer Center to QU focuses on safety over risk materials and waste discuss Mideast challenges The Peninsula in the workplace that can have a pos- itive impact on overall health, welfare and productivity and an organisation’s The Peninsula centre and a distinguished journal- success.” ist who has reported from conflict DOHA: Qatar University (QU) Health Vallenius said QU has been con- zones, including Afghanistan, Sudan, Clinic organised and hosted a training sistent in upholding international best Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. His work course to promote health and safety practice and standards of workplace DOHA: Northwestern University in has received honours and awards. awareness about risk materials and health and safety and that the course Qatar (NU-Q) is hosting three jour- Kem is an author and contribut- waste. is an example of its commitment in nalists from the Pulitzer Center on ing editor at the centre. Her books for Themed ‘Prevention is better than this regard. Crisis Reporting to discuss opportu- young people include biographies of cure,’ the course was held in conjunc- “It is an opportunity to collaborate nities and challenges facing reporters Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi, tion with Occupational Health and in knowledge-sharing with its part- in the Middle East. Anne Frank and Eleanor Roosevelt. Safety Department at Hamad Medical ners in engaging the community on Katherine Zoepf, Jon Sawyer and “Journalism is a profession that Corporation (HMC) to raise commu- important issues such as this.” Kem Knapp Sawyer will explore the is engaged in a public service – the nity awareness about health and safety Dote said, “Hazardous materials theme ‘Beyond Reporting: Bringing free flow of information and ideas processes and facilitate the creation of and waste in the workplace require Middle East Stories to Life’ during a – and at NU-Q, students are encour- safe workplace environments. sound management to ensure smooth forum at NU-Q. aged to step outside the classroom Over 180 students, doctors from organisational operations. Zoepf, a Pulitzer Center grantee and learn from experienced journal- the clinic and QU faculty and staff “Workers in the frontline of activ- and fellow of the New America ists and writers,” said Dr Everette E took part. The programme included Officials at the event. ities involving such type of waste are Foundation, has spent over a dec- Dennis, Dean and CEO, NU-Q. presentations by QU Environmental to be made aware of chemical hazards ade living, travelling and writing in “This is a great chance not only Health Officer Laura Vallenius and and associated risks that jeopardise the Arab world for prestigious New for them, but also for anyone inter- HMC Safety Instructor Leo Dote. booths by QU Environment, Health on first aid. their health and adversely impact York publications. In addition to the ested in how news is reported in the They spoke about ‘Qatar Univer- and Safety Office (EHSO) and Qatar Dr Hafsa Hashad, Head of the clinic, productivity. main forum, she will present her new Middle East today.” sity’s Environment, Health and Safety Red Crescent (QRC). said the event highlighted QU’s core “Safety must always be considered book, Excellent Daughters: The Secret The forum and book discussion Guidelines’; and ‘Health and Safety Participants were provided with role in raising awareness about issues a priority where hazardous materi- Lives of the Young Women Who are mark NU-Q’s latest collaboration Management of Hazardous Materi- information on QU’s hazardous waste related to health and well-being. als are concerned, and education and Transforming the Arab World at a with the centre, which also offers an als and Waste.’ disposal procedures, QRC’s health and “Our aim is to ensure the best training can help ensure safe opera- separate NU-Q event. annual fellowship for its most prom- An exhibition featured information safety services, and a brief session standards of health and safety systems tional and organisational processes.” Jon is Executive Director of the ising students. MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 03 Syria opposition wants end to Russian bombing

of detainees, measures set out in a is a Jaysh Al Islam member, another Opposition ruled December 18 Security Council resolu- potential complication facing the talks tion that endorsed the peace process. because Russia says it is a terrorist group. out even indirect “There must be a halt to the bom- HNC chair Riad Hijab is due to meet negotiations with bardment of civilians by Russian planes, Kerry on Saturday and “all the mat- and sieges of blockaded areas must ters will be tabled clearly”, Sabra said. Damascus before be lifted,” said Sabra, who was this Russia views the HNC as a Saudi steps including a halt week named as a senior member of attempt to dictate who represents the the opposition delegation to any talks. opposition. The HNC has said it will to Russian air strikes “The form of the talks does not concern not join any negotiations if a third us, but the conditions must be appro- party attends, rejecting Russia’s bid priate for the negotiations,” he said. to expand the opposition delegation Reuters Sabra’s opposition council, the to include others. High Negotiations Committee (HNC), The Kurds control vast areas of was formed in Saudi Arabia last month. northern and northeastern Syria It groups Assad’s political and armed where they have set up an autono- Civil defence members try to put out a fire after what activists said were air strikes carried out by the BEIRUT: The Saudi-backed Syrian opponents, including rebel factions mous administration which they say opposition ruled out even indirect fighting Damascus in western Syria. should be a model for settling the Syr- Russian air force in the town of Sarmada, in Idlib Governorate near the Syrian-Turkish border, yesterday. negotiations with Damascus before The west is the main theatre of ian conflict. steps including a halt to Russian air the war between rebels and Damas- The opposition accuses the Kurds strikes, contradicting US Secretary cus, whose military position has been of cooperating with Damascus, a Kurds want representation at talks of State John Kerry’s insistence that bolstered since September by Russian charge they deny. One opposition talks will begin next week. warplanes and Iranian ground forces. official said on Thursday the Kurds With the five-year-old Syrian war Russian warplanes continued should attend on the government side. showing no signs of ending, it looks to bomb many parts of western and Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Reuters figures that could be deemed closer to took aim at Alloush’s Jaysh al-Islam increasingly uncertain that peace talks northern Syria yesterday, particularly Muslim told Reuters that the Syr- its own thinking as well as the main group, which Russia has called a terror- will begin as planned on January 25 Latakia province, where the govern- ian Kurds must be represented at Syrian Kurdish party, the PYD, and ist group. “Their mentality is the same in Geneva, partly because of a dispute ment is pressing an offensive against peace talks or they will fail. He also the affiliated YPG militia. as the Nusra Front and Daesh. They over the composition of the opposi- rebels, the Syrian Observatory for accused Jaysh Al Islam of fostering PARIS: Syrian Kurds must be repre- The YPG has meanwhile estab- clearly want to establish an Islamic tion delegation. Human Rights reported. the “same mentality” as Al Qaeda sented at peace talks in Geneva or they lished close ties with the United States, state,” he said. “The Riyadh platform Peace efforts face huge underlying Pro-government forces captured and Islamic State. will fail, a Syrian Kurdish leader said and is an important partner in the is accepting to establish an Islamic challenges, among them disagreements a dam 10 km (6 miles) from the town “If there are some parties that are yesterday. Saleh Muslim, co-chair of fight it is leading against Islamic State caliphate. It’s not acceptable.” over President Bashar Al Assad’s future of Salma, seized last week in one of effective in this Syria issue who are the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria. In an interview in May last year, the and tensions between Saudi Arabia the most significant gains since Russia not at the table, it will be the same as (PYD), also said that one of the oppo- The Saudi-backed opposition late leader of Jaysh Al Islam, Zahran and Iran. Russia yesterday denied a intervened. “They’ve tightened their what happened in Geneva 2,” Muslim, sition groups involved, Jaysh Al Islam, council has said it will boycott the Alloush, backed away from previous report that President Vladimir Putin stranglehold on (rebel) fighters in the co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic had the “same mentality” as Al Qaeda Geneva negotiations if Russia insists hardline rhetoric, saying the Syrian had asked Assad to step down last year. Latakia countryside,” Observatory Union Party (PYD) said, referring to and Islamic State. on such a shake-up. Its chief negotiator people would be free to choose the The Syrian government has said director Rami Abdulrahman said. failed negotiations in 2014. The negotiations, which are due to Mohamad Alloush said on Thursday type of state they want and calling it is ready to take part in the Geneva While rebels have received military Jaysh Al Islam last year backed begin on January 25 in Geneva, look the PYD’s “natural place” was with Alawites part of the Syrian people. talks on time. The office of UN envoy support from Assad’s foreign enemies, away from hardline Islamist rhetoric increasingly uncertain for reasons the government delegation and the The YPG militia has seized swathes Staffan de Mistura said he was still states including Saudi Arabia, Tur- heard from it earlier in the conflict, including a dispute over the compo- opposition has accused the Kurds of of Syria from Islamic State with the aiming “at rolling out the talks” on key and Qatar and the United States, saying Syrians should be free to pick sition of the opposition delegation. “If fighting rebel groups. help of US-led strikes. January 25, and would be “assessing their calls for more effective weap- their form of government and Alaw- there are some parties that are effec- Muslim dismissed those suggestions The Syrian Kurds have declared progress over the weekend”. ons including anti-aircraft missiles ites were part of the Syrian nation. tive in this Syria issue who are not at as propaganda, saying Kurdish groups an autonomous administration across Russia said the talks could be have gone unanswered. The Kremlin yesterday rejected a the table, it will be the same as what were not cooperating with the Syrian parts of northern Syria along the Turk- delayed until January 27 or 28 because One of the biggest rebel factions in report that an envoy for Putin asked happened in Geneva 2,” Muslim told government and were defending them- ish border, rankling Ankara, which of the disagreement over who would the HNC, Jaysh al-Islam, said the oppo- Assad to step down last year. Reuters, referring to failed negotia- selves against groups that one day were has fought a decades-long insurgency represent the opposition. sition was facing “many pressures” to The Financial Times had earlier tions in 2014. affiliated to radical Islamists and another against Kurdish PKK separatists. George Sabra, a senior oppo- make concessions but credited Saudi reported that the head of Russian mil- “The negotiations and political day calling themselves moderates. “I don’t know what will hap- sition official, said the obstacles to Arabia, Turkey and Qatar for help- itary intelligence agency travelled to solution will fail so we are keen to When asked whether the Riyadh pen, but we are very keen to stop the the talks were still there, reiterating ing it to “overcome these pressures”. Damascus at the end of last year to ask have everyone at the table.” opposition platform set up in December bloodshed,” he said. “I think this is demands for the lifting of blockades The lead negotiator picked by the Assad to step down only to be angrily Russia wants the opposition nego- was a step forward compared to pre- beginning of the political solution. It on populated areas and the release HNC for the hoped-for negotiations rebuffed. tiating team expanded to include other vious opposition delegations, Muslim will take time.” Yemen loyalists Turkey alarmed by Russian build-up on Syria border accuse rebels of kidnapping AFP Observatory for Human Rights had Observers have said that Russia, delegation, headed by a general and with both the regime as well as Kurd- said that Russia had sent a number of which has for years been at loggerheads including members of the Russian mili- ish militia of the Democratic Union engineers to the Syrian border town with Turkey over the Syrian conflict, tary intelligence service GRU, had flown Party (PYD). journalists of Qamishli to strengthen the runway may want to refit the airport as a Rus- into Qamishli on January 16 to inspect The People’s Protection Units (YPG) ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep and increase the capacity of an air- sian base, as happened in Hmeimim the airport. have established control over much Tayyip Erdogan yesterday expressed port there. in Latakia province. The Kremlin and Iran are the chief over the northern Syrian border region ADEN: Yemen’s loyalist militia alarm over reports of a build-up of Russia’s reported move into Qam- Qamishli lies just south of the Turk- remaining allies of President Bashar Al in the past months after pushing out yesterday accused rebels of respon- Russian troops in northern Syria near ishli comes as Ankara and Moscow ish border town of Nusaybin. Assad who Turkey wants to see ousted Islamic State (IS) jihadists. sibility for the kidnapping of two Al the Turkish border, saying such move- are experiencing their biggest cri- “I can say that Turkey is closely as the key to ending Syria’s almost five But Ankara accuses the PYD and Jazeera journalists and their driver ments would not be tolerated. sis in years over the shooting down watching every military movement on year civil war. YPG of being the Syrian branch of the who went missing in the flashpoint “We have said this from the of a Russian war plane by Turkey on its borders and especially the border Turkey has repeatedly expressed outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party central city of Taiz. beginning: we won’t tolerate such November 24. with Syria,” the government source alarm about Russia’s deployment of (PKK) and has been alarmed by an Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdi formations (in northern Syria) along “We maintain our sensitivities told AFP, asking not to be named. troops to Syria which Moscow says is apparent tightening of ties between Al Bokari, his colleague Abdulaziz the area stretching from the Iraqi bor- on this issue,” added Erdogan, citing The Turkish army has already rein- aimed at fighting jihadists but is widely Moscow and the Kurds after the plane Al Sabri and driver Munir Al Subaie der up to the Mediterranean,” Erdogan reports that Russia had deployed some forced security by digging trenches in seen as buttressing the Assad regime. downing. have been missing since Monday told reporters after Friday prayers in 200 soldiers and stating that he would the border zone, the Hurriyet daily said. Education Minister Nabi Avci, “For us, there is no difference night. Istanbul. raise the issue Saturday in talks with It quoted Turkish security sources speaking in parliament, claimed Rus- between PYD, YPG, PKK or Daesh The Doha-based news channel Britain-based monitor the Syrian visiting US Vice President Joe Biden. as saying that a Russian military sia’s forces in Qamishli were working (IS),” said Erdogan. has said Bokari, who was cover- ing the conflict between rebels and forces loyal to President Abdrab- buh Mansur Hadi, had apparently been kidnapped. Gunmen kill 17 in The Popular Resistance militia charged that Shia Houthi rebels and their allies were behind the kid- Somalia restaurant napping of the three men. Their car was found abandoned near the central Hurriya square, an area under the control of loyalists, Reuters off the first car bomb at dusk. A huge it said. The city of Taiz is held by second blast, which witnesses said ech- loyalists of Yemen’s internation- oed around the city centre, struck about ally recognised government, but it an hour later as government soldiers has been besieged by Iran-backed MOGADISHU: At least 17 people were laid siege to the restaurant. rebels for months. killed in the Somali capital of Mogad- Al Shabaab, which regularly targets The New York-based Committee ishu when five Islamist gunmen set off hotels and restaurants in the capital, to Protect Journalists (CPJ) yesterday bombs and stormed a popular beach- seeks to topple the Western-backed called for the immediate release of front restaurant late on Thursday, government and impose a strict ver- Bokari and his companions. Somali police said. sion of Islamic law across Somalia, “Security in Yemen has rapidly Al Shabaab, a militant group aligned a nation racked by conflict since the deteriorated in the past year, making with Al Qaeda, said its fighters set off outbreak of civil war in 1991. it one of the most dangerous places two car bombs at the Beach View Cafe The group at one point controlled in the world to work as a journalist,” on Mogadishu’s popular Lido beach, most of Somalia, including the capi- said CPJ’s Sherif Mansour. and engaged in a gun battle for hours tal Mogadishu, but in recent years an “We call on all parties to cease with government troops trying to flush African Union peacekeeping force has targeting journalists and to free them out. “The operation ended at 3am wrestled most of that territory away immediately all members of the last night and at least 17 civilians were from the group. media that they are holding,” he said. killed,” police officer Osman Nur said Somalia’s prime minister urged The Houthis overran Sanaa yesterday. the public to remains calm and called more than a year ago, forcing Hadi’s Somalia’s security minister, Abdi- the attack on a civilian target was a government to flee the capital for rizak Omar Mohamed, said four of the desperate move by a group facing second city Aden and then to Riyadh. gunmen were killed and one was cap- annihilation. Hadi loyalists backed by a Saudi- tured alive. “The government forces “Let it remain clear that (the attack) led coalition have fought back and rescued hundreds of civilians who will not hamper the commitment of my for weeks been trying to retake Taiz were dining there,” he told state-run government and that of our people to province and pave the way towards A Somali soldier walks past wrecked cars in front of the Lido seafood restaurant yesterday following an Radio Muqdisho. resurrect Somalia,” Omar Abdirashid the rebel-held capital. overnight attack on the beachfront restaurant in Mogadishu. Police said Al Shabaab fighters set Sharmarke said in a statement. 04 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Tunisia arrests 16 over ‘sacking and pillaging’

public and private property — will be severely punished,” he said. Two household Protests against unemployment appliance stores and poverty have spread across towns in central Tunisia since the beginning and a bank branch of the week. had been ransacked Security forces have clashed with on the Tunis protesters in several towns, including in Kasserine where the unrest started, neighbourhood’s using tear gas against them. main street and that a At least three police stations have been attacked over the last 24 hours police post had been and 42 members of the security forces burnt have been wounded, the interior min- istry said. Meanwhile, the father of an unem- ployed Tunisian protester whose death AFP has sparked a new wave of unrest says his son was a victim of corruption and “broken promises” five years after the revolution. TUNIS: Tunisia has arrested 16 peo- Demonstrators are once again ple over “sacking and pillaging” in a taking to the streets of impoverished suburb of the capital, authorities said central Tunisia, the birthplace of the yesterday, as social unrest rumbled on “Arab Spring”, triggering clashes with in the centre of the country. security forces in which hundreds have “Following acts of sacking and been injured. pillaging of businesses and banks in The unrest has echoes of the pub- Ettadhamen,” a working class neigh- lic anger unleashed by the death of a bourhood northwest of Tunis, security street vendor who set himself on fire forces “arrested 16 people,” a National in a nearby town in December 2010 in Guard official said. protest at unemployment and police National Guard units clashed with harassment. individuals in balaclavas until early yes- That desperate act of defiance pro- terday morning, Khalifa Chibani said. vided the spark for the uprising that A journalist reported yesterday that overthrew longtime leader Zine El Abi- two household appliance stores and dine Ben Ali and inspired revolutions a bank branch had been ransacked around the region. on the neighbourhood’s main street Tunisia has been hailed as a beacon and that a police post had been burnt. of hope compared with other chaos-hit Young Tunisians raid and loot a burnt appliance store in Ettadhamen city, west of the capital Tunis, yesterday. Witnesses spoke of “the work of countries like Libya and Egypt, where troublemakers”. popular revolts also toppled veteran Interior ministry spokesman Walid autocrats. on Saturday when he climbed an elec- marginalisation and broken promises,” the 65-year-old said. The unrest has spread to other parts Louguini confirmed the arrests and But its transition has been tested tricity pole in the town of Kasserine Yahyaoui said. “If there was no corrup- In recent days security forces of the country—including the capital blamed “criminals trying to take advan- by social unrest over poverty and job- while protesting at the removal of tion, the name of my son would never have used tear gas and water can- where authorities reported “sacking and tage of the situation.” lessness as well as by a growing jihadist his name from a list of public sec- have been removed and he would still non against crowds of hundreds of pillaging” in one suburb—prompting “We stand with peaceful protest- threat. Othman Yahyaoui’s unem- tor recruits. be alive. As long as nepotism contin- demonstrators, some of whom burned them to declare a nationwide night- ers, but other acts — violence against ployed son Ridha, 28, was electrocuted “My son is a victim of corruption, ues, others will die young like him,” tyres and threw stones. time curfew.

Iraqi minister Israeli MPs oppose eviction of settlers from West Bank says ‘blackmail’ behind kidnap Reuters and Palestinians. The settlers said “It is forbidden to evict Jews from 120-seat Knesset, making the oppo- Israeli-Palestinian peace process. they had bought the properties legally their homes and there will be con- sition of three MPs sensitive. However, In its latest seizure, Israel con- of US citizens from Palestinian owners but in order sequences, we demand the prime even if it suffers a defeat in parlia- firmed on Thursday it was planning to occupy the apartments they need minister’s involvement in the mat- ment, the government is not seen as to appropriate a large tract of land in JERUSALEM: Israeli troops forcibly Defence Ministry approval. Yaalon ter,” said Ayoub Kara, a Druze Arab likely to collapse. the West Bank, drawing condemna- CAIRO: Iraq’s defence minister removed Jewish settlers from homes said the settlers had not complied Likud lawmaker. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said tion from the United Nations Secretary said that the three Americans who they said they had purchased from Pal- with the law. Hebron, a city of about 220,000 Yaalon’s move was “scandalous”, while General Ban Ki-moon and the United went missing in Baghdad last week estinians in the occupied West Bank “I have no intention of compro- Palestinians in the south of the West Diaspora Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin States, Israel’s closest ally. had been seized by an “organised city of Hebron yesterday, prompting mising when the law is broken so Bank, has long been a source of tension, described it as “wrong”. The Palestinians want to establish gang” that carries out abductions some right-wing Israeli lawmakers to egregiously,” he said in a statement. fuelled by the presence of around 1,000 The settlers moved into the apart- an independent state in the West Bank, for “blackmail”. threaten to withhold support for the “To take occupancy of the homes, a Jewish settlers who live in the heart ments on Thursday and were evicted Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel In an interview in Cairo, Kha- government. number of actions are required and of the city protected by Israeli troops. yesterday morning. Television footage captured in the 1967 Middle East War. led Al Obaidi said the kidnappers Ministers and members of parlia- none were carried out, which is why The city is the location of the Cave showed scuffles as the police forced them Talks have been frozen since April, spotted the three Americans as they ment from Prime Minister Benjamin the trespassers were evicted.” of the Patriarchs, a revered Jewish out. Police said about 80 settlers had 2014. repeatedly visited the same place. Netanyahu’s Likud party decried Three right-wing lawmakers, two shrine, which sits alongside the Ibra- been removed without major incident. About 550,000 Jewish settlers live The three men are employed Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon’s from Likud and another from the ultra- himi Mosque, worshipped by Muslims Israeli settlements in occupied ter- in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by a small company that is doing refusal to sign off on the settlers’ nationalist Jewish home party, said as the Sanctuary of Ibrahim. ritory are highly contentious. Deemed combined while about 350,000 Pal- work for General Dynamics Corp occupation of the homes in Hebron, they would not attend parliamentary Netanyahu’s coalition commands illegal by most countries, they are a estinians live in East Jerusalem and under a larger contract with the US a city of high tension between Israelis votes on Monday in protest at the move. a one-seat majority of 61 in Israel’s fundamental issue in the stalled 2.7 million in the West Bank. Army, a source familiar with the matter said. “An organised gang spotted them coming repeatedly to this place, which, I believe, is suspect,” he said. “We cannot say Five children hurt in whether these gangs are Sunnis or Shias but they carry out kidnapping and blackmail operations.” Turkey school attack The minister did not say why he considered the place from which the men were kidnapped to be “suspect”. US intelligence agencies investi- Reuters European Union all classify the PKK gating the kidnapping are focusing as a terrorist organisation. their efforts on three militant Islamic The attack occurred before the groups closely affiliated with Iran, children entered their classrooms to US government sources said on DIYARBAKIR: Five children were hurt collect their report cards on the last Thursday. yesterday when an explosive ripped day of the semester, officials said. Asaib Ahl Al Haq, Kata’ib Hez- through a schoolyard in Turkey’s Selahattin Demirtas, head of par- bollah and the Badr Organisation mainly Kurdish southeast, a region liament’s Peoples’ Democratic Party are the principal focus of the inves- gripped by violence between mil- (HDP), called the attack an “atroc- tigation into the armed kidnapping itants and state security forces for ity.” “It is an atrocity to bomb a school of the three Americans in the Dora months, security sources said. garden with little children in it. But neighbourhood, south of Baghdad, The sources blamed the attack we are in an environment where is the sources said. on the armed Kurdistan Workers no will to reveal those responsible for In Switzerland on Thursday, Party (PKK), saying members tossed any crime,” Demirtas, whose party is Iraqi Prime Minister Prime Min- a homemade explosive into the yard accused of links with the PKK, told ister Haider al-Abadi said, however, of the middle school in the Baglar reporters in Ankara. that they “just went missing,” and district of Diyarbakir, the region’s A few miles from the school in Sur he very much doubted any Iranian US security officers use a K-9 dog as they check vehicles during the visit by United States Vice-President biggest city. There were no imme- district, two soldiers were wounded in involvement. Joe Biden in Istanbul, yesterday. diate claims of responsibility. a rocket attack, security sources said. The Iraqi government has strug- Turkish authorities have been bat- Also, a special forces police officer gled to rein in the Shi’a militias, tling PKK militants in cities and towns was killed in Cizre, a town further many of which fought the US mil- Biden chides Turkey over freedom of expression in the mainly Kurdish southeast since east bordering Syria, in clashes with itary following the 2003 invasion. July, after a 2-1/2-year ceasefire col- PKK militants, they said. Shia militias have previously been lapsed. More than 150 civilians have Sur, Cizre and the town of Silopi accused of killing and abducting AFP said Turkey’s most recent record in Middle East and parts of the world who died, rights groups say, in the worst have been under a round-the-clock American nationals. freedom of expression under Pres- are only beginning to grapple with violence the southeast has seen in curfew since December during secu- Hostility between Tehran and ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “not the notion of freedom,” said Biden. two decades. rity operations against militants who Washington has eased in recent the kind of example that needs to Meanwhile, prosecutors have Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan have dug trenches and built barri- months, with the lifting of crip- ISTANBUL: US Vice-President Joe be set”. launched a vast investigation against said the PKK was behind the attack, cades to keep police at bay. pling economic sanctions against Biden yesterday strongly criticised Tur- Speaking at a meeting with civil more than 1,200 academics who signed saying it was the “peak” of the group’s Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Elvan Iran, in return for compliance with key for failing to set the right “example” society representatives in Istanbul, a petition criticising the military assaults against public buildings, said that operations were nearly a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions on freedom of expression, following Biden said the United States wanted crackdown in the Kurdish-domi- including hospitals and mosques. complete in Silopi. “Hopefully this and a recent prisoner swap. the imprisonment of journalists and to see Turkey set a “strong example” nated southeast. “Our only comfort is that none cleansing operation will soon finish However, the United States investigation of academics who crit- for the whole region of what a “vibrant Some two dozen academics were of our babies were martyred,” he in Cizre and Sur as well,” he added. imposed sanctions on 11 compa- icised government policy. democracy” means. detained for questioning and while told reporters after Friday prayers “We will continue our struggle until nies and individuals on Sunday for In a rebuke of rare vehemence “The more Turkey succeeds, the all were released, they remain under in Istanbul. members of the terrorist organisa- supplying Iran’s ballistic missile for Washington’s key Nato ally, Biden stronger the message sent to the entire investigation. Turkey, the United States and the tion are wiped out.” programme. ASIA / PHILIPPINES SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 05

China jails top Fire destroys 300 houses in Manila rights activist for spying

border town of Nong Khai where he tried to enter Laos, said Shi. Zhang Haitao, a “When I heard he had gone miss- rights activist based ing, I was very shocked,” said Li’s in the troubled friend, Liu Xuehong, a Thailand-based activist. “I think he’s in danger now western region of and has probably been arrested.” Xinjiang who wrote Shi said Thai police refused to accept her report of her husband’s online postings disappearance, asking her to con- critical of the ruling tact the Chinese embassy. Chinese Foreign Ministry Communist Party, spokesman Hong Lei, asked about was jailed for Li’s disappearance, said he “did not understand” anything about him or inciting subversion about the “relevant situation”. He did of state power and not elaborate. illegally supplying Police General Dechnarong Sut- ticharnbancha, Thailand’s national intelligence abroad police spokesman, said he had no knowledge of Li’s case. Public concern has risen in Hong Kong in recent weeks that a Hong Residents cut electric wires to collect copper that they can sell to junkshops after a fire razed a residential area in Manila yesterday. Almost Reuters Kong-based bookseller, Gui Minhai, has been abducted in the Thai sea- 300 houses were destroyed, affecting more than 400 families, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection. side town in Pattaya. Gui, who worked for a publisher specialising in gossipy BEIJING: A Chinese court has jailed political books on Chinese Commu- a well-known rights activist for 19 nist Party leaders, went missing along years on state security charges, includ- with four other associates. ing supplying intelligence abroad, as Gui and a Swedish NGO worker Philippines rushing new GMO China warns the leadership widens a crackdown named Peter Dahlin both appeared on rights lawyers that has triggered on Chinese state television this week international condemnation. confessing to crimes. The confessions Philippines Zhang Haitao, a rights activist have sparked criticism from west- rules to avert import disruption based in the troubled western region ern governments and rights groups, of Xinjiang who wrote online postings who have said the confessions were Reuters critical of the ruling Communist Party, likely forced. was jailed for inciting subversion of Chinese authorities have detained Reuters year. The government challenged the the Department of Agriculture. Two state power and illegally supplying Dahlin, the 35-year-old co-founder ban by motioning for a reconsidera- more will be held next week. BEIJING: China’s Foreign Ministry intelligence abroad, said his lawyer, of the Chinese Urgent Action Working tion by the top court shortly after the The draft order should be ready urged the Philippines yesterday to Li Dunyong, by phone. Group, on suspicion of endanger- ruling, officials said. For now, exist- for signing by heads of the five agen- exercise “restraint” over “relevant Li added that the evidence for ing state security. The organization MANILA: The Philippines is set to ing import permits remain valid, cies on February 16, Montoya said. parties”, after Filipino protesters said the latter charge might amount to worked with Chinese human rights issue new rules next month on GMO although no new ones will be issued Farm officials said animal feed they planned a second trip to con- nothing more than accepting phone lawyers. imports, seeking to avert food sup- as they expire. millers can ship in GMO products until tested islands in the South China Sea. interviews with foreign journalists. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot ply disruptions when a court-ordered “We are aware of the urgency of their import permits expire. One per- The Filipino protesters plan “The sentence was very severe, Wallstrom told Swedish news agency stoppage kicks in as import permits coming up with the new rules,” said Dr. mit will expire in March and five more in April to spend a month on all but it’s normal for that region of the TT yesterday that it was unacceptable for animal feed expire this year, gov- Jaime Montoya, a government health later this year, said Merle Palacpac, the islands in the Spratlys that are country,” he said. The court could not to put Dahlin and Gui on television. ernment officials said. scientist who heads an inter-agency chief of the plant quarantine service occupied by the Philippines. In be reached for comment. “It is an unacceptable behaviour In a landmark ruling in December, panel that drafted new guidelines for division at the Bureau of Plant Industry. December, about 50 Filipino pro- A second rights activist, Li Xin, and we are using all our diplo- the country’s Supreme Court struck GMO use and imports. “We are maintaining status quo testers, mostly students, made a has been missing for 10 days after matic contacts to try to get as much down a 2002 government regulation Weak demand for US soymeal since a (motion for reconsideration) three-day boat trip to Thitu, one leaving Thailand for Laos with the information as possible,” Wall- that allowed the import of geneti- cargoes overseas has dragged front- has been filed,” Palacpac told Reuters. of nine outcrops or islands occu- hope of returning to Thailand to apply strom told TT. cally modified organisms (GMO) and month soymeal on the Chicago Board Estefania de Vera, president of the pied by the Philippines. for political asylum, said his wife, The US Department of State also imposed a temporary ban until new of Trade to near six-year lows this Philippine Association of Feed Mill- Chinese Foreign Ministry Shi Sanmei. expressed concern about the “coerced” rules were formulated. month, extending a December rout ers, said her group has not received spokesman Hong Lei repeated Li, a former writer for the Southern confessions on Thursday. Asked about The order covers imports of corn, partly sparked by the Philippine court any reports of shipment disruption so that China had “indisputable sov- Metropolis Daily, a respected semi- the State Department criticism, Chi- soybeans, soybean meal and sorghum, ruling. The panel yesterday began a far following the court ruling. ereignty” over the Spratlys. “The independent newspaper, arrived in nese spokesman Hong said “foreign among others. The biggest impact series of public consultations on a draft “Our concern is the succeeding Philippines’ occupation and illegal Thailand from India on January 1 and countries have no right to interfere would be on soymeal, the Philippines’ joint administrative order to be issued ones if they stopped issuing new per- seizure of the islands is against the boarded a train to the northeastern on the relevant issue”. top GMO import at 2 million tonnes a by five government agencies including mits,” she said. law and without effect,” Hong said. Myanmar pardons 34 political prisoners China slams ‘superstitious’ reasons for falling births AFP

AFP million in the number of women of YANGON: Myanmar pardoned more childbearing age. than 100 prisoners yesterday, including Nonetheless, the China Daily, a New Zealander and at least 34 oth- which is published by the officially ers jailed on political charges, officials BEIJING: A state-run Chinese news- atheist Communist government, yes- said, days before a historic political paper yesterday excoriated population terday lashed out at the NHFPC in a transition that will see Aung San Suu authorities for “superstition” after they rare editorial criticising authorities. Kyi’s pro-democracy party take power. blamed the inauspicious Year of the “The prompt explanation the The move comes after a US envoy Sheep for births falling in 2015 despite National Health and Family Com- urged the quasi-civilian government a loosening of the one-child policy. mission offered for the reduction last week to free all remaining political China for decades restricted most in the number of newborns in 2015 prisoners before the new parliament couples to a single offspring through sounds farfetched rather than a sin- convenes next month. “Altogether 102 often brutally enforced rules and a cere attempt to recognise the pressing prisoners including a foreign prisoner, a system of fines for violators. demographic challenges,” it said in New Zealand national who was serving Authorities long argued that it was an editorial. his sentence, were released,” presiden- a key contributor to China’s economic The body’s “creative use of super- tial spokesperson Zaw Htay wrote on boom, but with the population ageing, stition neither helps understand the his official Facebook account. the workforce shrinking, and severe real demographic challenges nor adds Outgoing President Thein Sein, a gender imbalances it has been loos- credibility to the estimate for popula- former general, has overseen Myan- ened in recent years, culminating in tion growth”, it added. The issue was mar’s transition from the nearly five a two-child law that took effect ear- “crucial to the design of a functioning decades of junta rule that ended in lier this month. social security and healthcare sys- 2011, releasing political prisoners at But total births fell by 320,000 last tem in the long run”, it said. key moments in the reform process. year to 16.55 million, data from the In 2014 the rules were loosened People released from prison call for the release of all remaining political prisoners, outside Insein Prison That transition culminated with National Bureau of Statistics showed to allow couples to have a second off- landmark elections held in November in Yangon, Myanmar, yesterday. this week. Many parents say they spring if one of the parents was an only which saw the party of Nobel laure- are reluctant to have more children child, rather than both as previously. ate Aung San Suu Kyi — who was kept bars under Thein Sein’s watch. one hand and take with the other,” groups and read as a worrying sign of because of the cost. At the time, the People’s Daily, the under house arrest by the junta for In fact, only hours after the pardon said Laura Haigh, Amnesty Interna- surging Buddhist nationalism in Myan- A National Health and Family official mouthpiece of the Commu- 15 years — win a thumping majority. was announced, a Yangon court sen- tional’s Myanmar Researcher. mar, which has seen anti-Muslim riots Planning Commission (NHFPC) offi- nist Party, quoted officials predicting Yesterday’s pardon included at least tenced Kachin peace activist Patrick Among those pardoned was Philip and persecution of the country’s trou- cial attributed the decline partly to the change would add two million 34 prisoners of conscience, said Ye Kum Jaa Lee, 43, to six months in prison Blackwood, a New Zealander sentenced bled Rohingya population. it being the Year of the Sheep in the births a year in the future. Aung, a representative of the Former over a Facebook post that mocked the to two years in prison last March for Prior to yesterday’s pardon, a total Chinese zodiac. In the event second child births Political Prisoners Support Group. army chief. Amnesty International “insulting religion” by using an image of 129 convicted political prisoners Most of those born in it will be rose by less than one million that Though many of Myanmar’s hun- called the ruling a “stark reminder” of a Buddha wearing headphones to were being held in Myanmar pris- unhappy in life, according to tradi- year to 6.06 million, according to dreds of political dissidents were jailed of the limits on free speech in Myanmar. promote a cheap drinks night at the ons, with 408 others awaiting trial, tional beliefs still held by some. the NHFPC, and the rate of increase during repressive junta rule, scores of “Today’s events perfectly sum up Yangon club where he worked. according to a report by the Assist- The official also attributed the declined in 2015, when 6.52 million activists have also been thrown behind how the Myanmar authorities give with His jailing was condemned by rights ance Association for Political Prisoners. reduction to a fall of around five second children came into the world. 06 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA

North Korea arrests US Icicles as long as man student for ‘hostile act’

visits to secure their release. accusation that has been levelled at The student, identified as Otto numerous detained foreigners in the The student, Frederick Warmbier from the Uni- past — covering a range of possible identified as Otto versity of Virginia, had entered North charges from espionage to illicit mis- Frederick Warmbier Korea as a tourist “for the purpose of sionary work. bringing down the foundation of its The fact that Warmbier is accused from the University single-minded unity at the tacit con- of acting under US direction, would of Virginia, had nivance of the US government and suggest he faces a spying charge. The under its manipulation,” the North’s latest arrest comes months after the entered North Korea official KCNA news agency said. North released another male student as a tourist “for the He was detained “while perpetrat- — a South Korean studying at New ing a hostile act against the DPRK”, it York University. purpose of bringing added, using the official acronym for Arrested in April for illegal entry, down the foundation North Korea. China-based Young Pio- Joo Won-Moon, who had permanent neer Tours, which organises regular US residency, was freed in October of its single-minded trips to North Korea, said Warmbier through the border truce village of unity at the tacit had been a member of a New Year tour Panmunjom on the inter-Korean fron- connivance of the and was arrested when the group was tier. Unlike some other foreign citizens set to return to Beijing on January 2. detained in the North, Joo was never US government “We hope his release can be put on trial. and under its secured as soon as possible,” the tour Several Americans have been group said, adding that it was assisting held in North Korea in recent years, manipulation,” the the US State Department in the affair. including the South Korean-born North’s officia KCNA State Department spokesman John missionary Kenneth Bae, who was Kirby, citing “privacy considerations,” similarly charged with hostile acts news agency said declined to comment beyond acknowl- and sentenced in 2013 to 15 years in edging the reports of Warmbier’s arrest prison. Bae was released in Novem- and stressing that the welfare of US ber, 2014, along with fellow American citizens was always a top priority. Matthew Miller, after a secret mission AFP The United States has no diplo- to Pyongyang led by US intelligence matic or consular relations with the chief James Clapper. North, and the Swedish Embassy in Tensions are currently running Pyongyang provides limited consular high on the Korean peninsula, as North SEOUL: North Korea said yesterday services to US citizens detained there. Korea braces for fresh sanctions in that it had arrested a US student who, Warmbier becomes the third the wake of the fourth nuclear test under orders from Washington, had North American detained in North it carried out January 6. The United engaged in an unspecified “hostile Korea, which last month sentenced a States, along with allies Japan and act” after entering the country on a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life South Korea, has led calls for a tough tourist visa. imprisonment with hard labour on UN Security Council resolution that The detention comes at a sensitive sedition charges. would impose economic penalties that time, with the United States taking a During a recent interview that the go well beyond existing sanctions. leading role in efforts to secure tough pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, gave to CNN In a show of strength earlier this international sanctions on North Korea in Pyongyang, the North presented month, a nuclear-capable US B-52 over its latest nuclear test. another ethnic Korean prisoner, whom bomber — flanked by South Korean Giant icicles hang from the eave of a home in Gwangju, 329km southwest of Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. Pyongyang has a history of using they said was a US citizen arrested for F-15 fighter jets and US F-16 planes foreign detainees as bargaining chips spying in October — flew a mission just south of the inter- The freezing cold that swept across the country this week is expected to peak over the weekend. to extract concessions and high-profile The term “hostile act” is a catch-all Korea border. Abe and Putin Attacks in Asia inject new urgency into US bomb training agree to meet Reuters launched an attack in central Jakarta three IEDs from everyday articles, who worked the bloody aftermath of amid the debris of three separate as island row with pistols and homemade bombs. including a frying pan, a toolbox, a the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. bombs. The roof of one car now sits Eight people died, including the four doorbell switch and magnets from a The students arrive the next day for up a tree, Swiss-cheesed by shrapnel. CHA’AM, THAILAND: A major Asian militants. loudspeaker. They packed the devices what Eldredge calls “scene process- Eldredge gives the students a tip. rumbles on city is rocked by a car bomb as VIPs Islamic State claimed responsi- with an explosive mixture called ing”: combing the debris for evidence With his knife, he cuts a hole in the car’s arrive for a summit. Nearby, a man bility for the attack, raising fears of ammonium nitrate fuel oil, used in to show what kind of bomb caused tyre, shoves his hand in and pulls out on a motorbike detonates his suicide more violence by the group’s supporters what are popularly known as “ferti- each explosion. The design of IEDs is a ragged pellet of aluminium: part of AFP vest. People gather, emergency crews across the region. Five months before lizer bombs”, or with military-grade similar the world over, says Eldredge, the frying pan that formed the IED’s arrive — then a third explosion rips that, another improvised explosive C4 plastic explosive. Or both. with blueprints available on websites container. through the crowd. device (IED) tore through a popular Two of the IEDs were attached to produced by Al Qaeda, Islamic State Every year, the ATF holds at least TOKYO: Prime Minister Shinzo That’s the all-too-familiar sce- shrine in Bangkok, killing 20 people, cars on the range. The third, a sui- and many other groups. one post-blast training course in Abe and Russian President Vladimir nario recently presented to a select most of them foreign tourists. cide vest made from an orthopaedic But the materials change depending Thailand, Botswana, Hungary and El Putin agreed yesterday to arrange group of Southeast Asian police offic- “The whole world knows there is back brace, is strapped to a manne- on the country. Those used by Eldredge’s Salvador, drawing trainers from its a visit to Moscow by the Japanese ers at a US-funded training course on a bomb threat in Southeast Asia now,” quin on a motorbike and placed next team to build today’s IEDs were sourced field offices across the United States. leader, despite a long-running dead- investigating blast scenes. said Gunalan Muniandy, one of eight to a third car. in Thai stores “to make it more realis- Evidence gathered through post- lock over a decades-long territorial The two-week course, taught by Malaysian police officers taking the The IEDs were then detonated from tic for the participants”, he said. blast analysis can help prosecute a dispute. experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, course with counterparts from Thai- a safe distance. When the suicide vest An IED has five main components: bomber or build a pattern that links Japan-Russia relations have Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), land, Cambodia and Laos. “We better exploded, the nearby car was briefly switch, power source, initiator (fuse), a suspect to multiple devices, says been hampered by the territorial is held at least once a year in Thai- get prepared for the future.” Key to engulfed in a fireball before reappear- container and the explosive itself. The Eldredge. “If we protect the public row that dates back to the end of land. But recent events have added that preparation are four blast-shat- ing as a smoldering wreck. first three alone can tell students by catching the bad guy after his first World War II when Soviet troops new urgency to an otherwise routine tered vehicles parked on a firing range “Everyone in that car is dead,” said whether high or low explosive was device (but) before he does his second seized the four southernmost islands training. On January 14, just days after near the Thai seaside town of Cha’am. Michael A. Eldredge, a veteran ATF used, said Eldredge. device, we’ve done our job,” he said. in the Kuril chain, known as the the course began, Indonesian militants On Sunday, ATF personnel made bomb technician based in Baltimore But first they’ve got to find them Northern Territories in Japan. In a phone call, Abe and Putin agreed a visit will take place at an “appropriate time,” Japan’s foreign ministry said in a statement, though South Africa billboard Laos Communist Party picks it did not specifically mention the island dispute — the key impedi- ment to better relations. Putin could new 11-member politburo also visit Japan after Abe’s trip to Russia, the ministry added. Over the years leaders of both Reuters a new 77-member central committee countries have met several times announced yesterday. to discuss the row, but Russia and Second on the list and re-elected to Japan have never officially reached the politburo was National Assembly an agreement, and lingering ten- VIENTIANE: Laos’s Communist Party chairwoman and former central bank sions have hampered trade ties for chose veteran Bounnhang Vorachit governor Pany Yathotu, suggesting decades. to be its new leader yesterday and her rise in the party hierarchy to be At a news conference ear- elected a new 11-member politburo a possible prime minister, according lier this month, Abe renewed his at the end of a five-yearly congress to Martin Stuart-Fox, a Laos expert call for progress on the elusive that saw the exits of several high- and retired professor of the Univer- World War II peace treaty, stressing profile politicians. sity of Queensland. that the territorial issue “cannot Bounnhang, the current vice pres- The prime minister and cabinet be resolved without exchanges ident, won the leadership vote and five posts are expected to be announced between the leaders,” referring new faces joined the elite politburo as later in the year. “The most signifi- to himself and Putin. outgoing party chief and president, cant promotion has been Madame Despite a lack of progress on the Choummaly Sayasone, Prime Minis- Pany,” Stuart-Fox said, adding she territorial row, the Japanese leader ter Thongsing Thammavong and two was now “a very powerful figure”. said in an interview this week that deputy premiers made way. He said major policy changes from Moscow’s help is needed to resolve The selection of Bounnhang, 78, the new leadership were unlikely. Laos crises in the Middle East. was anticipated by experts, who see a has close political ties to communist Abe, the current chair of the continuation of a status quo in which Vietnam and mirrors its political sys- Group of Seven (G7) advanced power is tightly controlled by the party tem. Both countries are holding their countries, which comprise Brit- while pursuing strong economic expan- five-yearly congresses this week. ain, Canada, France, Germany, sion, which has averaged 7.8 percent China has been vying for influ- People walk past billboard of the South African flag, newly set up on the building in the trendy Italy, Japan and the United States. since 2011. Bounnhang is now one of ence on Laos, however, providing It formerly included Rus- Long Street area, where a billboard saying ‘Zuma must fall’ was set up some days earlier, and then the last remaining members of the rev- scholarships, aid, loans and infra- sia under a G8 configuration, but destroyed, in Cape Town, yesterday. The original billboard referred to South African president, and olutionary generation in the higher structure investment to a fledgling Moscow was evicted following the African National Congress (ANC) president, Jacob Zuma. echelons of a party that has run Laos $12bn economy 862 times smaller annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. for four decades. He topped the list of than its own. PAKISTAN SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 07 University attackers vow to target schools in video

Pakistan, killing 21 people in an attack We will continue that had chilling echoes of a 2014 assault on a school in nearby Peshawar, also to attack schools, claimed by Mansoor’s faction. colleges and The rampage threatened to shat- ter the sense of security growing in universities across the troubled region a year after the Pakistan as these are Peshawar attack, which left more than the foundations that 150 people dead -- mostly children. In the video issued yesterday, Man- produce apostates, soor said his faction had attacked the said Khalifa Umar university “because this is the place where lawyers are made, this is the Mansoor, whose place that produces military officers, faction claimed this is the place that produces mem- bers of the parliament, all of whom responsibility for the challenge Allah’s sovereignty”. attack on Bacha Khan Flanked by armed extremists wearing masks, he said that instead university of targeting professional soldiers, “we will target the nurseries that produce these people”. AFP “We will continue to attack schools, colleges and universities across Paki- stan as these are the foundations that produce apostates. We will target and ISLAMABAD: The Taliban faction demolish the foundations,” he said. behind a massacre at a university in Another commander confirmed northwest Pakistan this week issued the release of the video. Mansoor a video message yesterday vowing to issued a similar video in the wake of target schools throughout the coun- the Peshawar attack on December 16, The image taken from a video released by a Taliban faction yesterday shows its leader Khalifa Umar Mansoor (centre) with militants delivering try, calling them “nurseries” for people 2014, Pakistan’s deadliest ever extrem- a statement from an undisclosed location. who challenge Allah’s law. ist assault. He said schools like the one The video, which spread rapidly in Peshawar, which is some 50kms on Facebook but was not released from Charsadda, were “preparing those in Charsadda yesterday, while in Pesha- people “brings a lot of pain, despond- border (with Afghanistan),” he said. to school when the government is not on official media accounts for the generals, brigadiers and majors who war, two policemen were shot dead at ency and hopelessness”, Peshawar-based Parents of the victims of the Pesha- able to provide any security?” Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistani (TTP), killed and arrested so many fighters”. a checkpoint by unknown gunmen. senior analyst and retired brigadier Saad war attack accused the government of Teachers in northwest Pakistan were shows Khalifa Umar Mansoor, whose “If our women and children died as Analysts have said the Taliban sent Khan said this week. Defence and secu- once more failing to keep their children given permission to carry firearms in the faction claimed responsibility for the martyrs your children will not escape. a message of impunity with Wednes- rity analyst Talat Masood agreed. safe. “It happened again,” said Zaheer- classroom after the Peshawar massacre, attack on Bacha Khan university on If you attack us we will take revenge day’s attack, that a national crackdown “This is the same pattern. They are uddin, father of Kashan Zaheer, a ninth and one of those who died in Wednes- Wednesday. for the innocents,” he said in the video on extremism has failed and they can looking for soft targets and it is simply grade student who was wounded in day’s attack was an assistant chemistry Heavily armed gunmen stormed message, also posted online. hit targets at will. They are targeting impossible to provide security to the the 2014 attack. professor who had turned and fired on the campus in Charsadda in northwest Security forces were still deployed schools because the killing of young soft targets, especially those near the “How is it possible to send our kids the gunmen with his own pistol.

Pakistan has around Court warns govt officials against misusing authority 130 India-specific Internews by all concerned that ministers and a fine of Rs5m to the former minister observed that it was obvious that a appointments against the interests and nukes: Report legislators exerting pressure upon on appointing 145 people from 1994 society which allows merit to be sacri- requirements of the relevant institution civil servants for political favours in to 1996 in violation of the rules in the ficed at the altar of political patronage, and appeasing his political friends at the public sector and a bureaucracy oil and gas sector though set aside by does nothing to prevent weakening of the cost of over burdening the work- Internews ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of ready to oblige them form a deadly the high court later. the State structure and which closes force and the budget of the institution Pakistan yesterday cautioned all federal alliance and their unholy collabora- Being aggrieved, the NAB moved its eyes to injustice was doomed to he was meant to serve and protect,” and provincial government functionaries tion works as a recipe for destruction the appeal against annulment of self-destruct. the verdict said. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s nuclear to refrain from misusing their authority of merit, weakening of the state struc- the conviction before the Supreme It is, therefore, about time that In his capacity as the federal min- warheads estimated to be between to gain any benefit or favour for them- ture and promotion of injustice in the Court, seeking restoration of Saifull- NAB and courts of the country come ister, Saifullah forced his will upon a 110 and 130 are aimed at deterring selves or any other person. society, says a majority of judgments ah’s conviction. down heavily upon such predators of reluctant chairman of a public sector Indian aggression, says a latest Con- Doling out jobs in the public sector authored by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa Justice Umar Atta Bandial, however, a strong, just and decent society, the company and after relaxing the rele- gressional report. through corruption,nepotism, favour- issued yesterday. dissented by justifying in his note that majority judgement said. vant rules he got 145 persons appointed The Indian media has reported, itism, lack of due process and misuse The majority judgement came on though Saifullah acted wrongly but “The shocking state of affairs has to different jobs against the require- quoting Washington sources, that of authority has remained a bane of our an appeal of NAB against the acquit- the means adopted by him of relaxing left us in no doubt whatsoever that ments of the company only to please the report also expressed concern society, says the Supreme Court in a tal of former minister for petroleum the rules as suggested to him by the the case in hand was not a case of a his political friends in the Parliament, that Islamabad’s “full spectrum terse observation while deciding a 2002 and natural resources Anwar Saiful- then chairman of OGDC does not in the mere regularity in appointments but Justice Khosa regretted. deterrence” doctrine had increased appeal against illegal appointment of lah through a June 13, 2002, verdict of absence of his knowledge of illegal- was a case of the respondent’s wil- The verdict did not agree rather the risk of a nuclear conflict between 145 people in the Oil and Gas Devel- the Lahore High Court. ity or wilful commission of an illegal ful bulldozing the regular procedure, express surprise over acceptance by the two South Asian neighbours. opment Company Limited (OGDCL). An accountability court had act amounted to an offence. forcing his will upon another vested the high court of a culture of politi- “Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal It must be realised and appreciated awarded one-year imprisonment with Justice Khosa on the other hand with jurisdiction, approving or making cal patronage. probably consists of approximately 110-130 nuclear warheads, although it could have more. Islamabad is producing fissile Hepatitis-C claims material, adding to related production Supreme Court lifts ban on hunting rare bird facilities, deploying additional nuclear weapons, and new types of delivery 80,000 lives in vehicles,” Congressional Research Serv- ice (CRS) said in its latest report. Pakistan annually AFP in a decision welcomed by wild- In its 28-page report, the CRS life campaigners. The International noted that Pakistan’s nuclear arse- Union for Conservation of Nature nal is widely regarded as designed to Internews includes the bird on its “red list” of dissuade India from taking military ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Supreme threatened species, estimating there action against it, but Islamabad’s Court yesterday overturned its deci- are fewer than 97,000 left globally. expansion of its nuclear arsenal, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister sion to ban the hunting of the houbara But the federal and provincial development of new types of nuclear of State for National Health Services bustard, a rare desert bird whose governments asked the court to weapons and adoption of a doctrine Saira Afzal Tarar told the National meat is prized as an aphrodisiac. review the decision, claiming that called “full spectrum deterrence” Assembly (the lower house) yester- Wealthy hunting parties from controlled hunting was a tool for have led some observers to express day that there were about eight the Gulf travel to Pakistan’s south- preservation and should be allowed. concern about an increased risk of million cases suffering from Hep- western Balochistan province every In a judgement issued yesterday, nuclear conflict between Pakistan atitis-C in the country and about winter to kill the houbara bustard the court said it had set aside its orig- and India, which also continues to 80,000 die each year due to liver using hunting falcons. inal decision to ban hunting of the expand its nuclear arsenal. disease. In reply to a question dur- The issue has also cast a spotlight bird and that petitions on the issue The CRS is the independent ing question hour, the minister said on traditionally close ties between would be listed for fresh hearings. research wing of the US Congress, at present only Shifa International Pakistan and its allies in the Arab In the review petitions, filed by which prepares periodic reports on Hospital, Islamabad, has the facil- world, particularly Saudi Arabia. the the Federation and provinces a wide range of issues so as to help ity of liver transplant. A provincial High Court in Balo- of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan lawmakers take informed decisions. She said the government is chistan in November 2014 cancelled and three provinces, the law officers Reports of CRS are not consid- negotiating with the Shifa Inter- all permits for hunting in the prov- of the respective provinces, while ered as an official view of the US national Hospital on a package for ince, but the federal government arguing before the larger bench, con- Congress. “Pakistan has in recent liver transplant under Prime Min- headed by Prime Minister Nawaz tended that law of their respective years taken a number of steps to ister’s National Health Programme. Sharif —a close ally of Saudi Ara- provinces allows conditional hunt- increase international confidence She said a liver transplant facil- bia —continued to issue licenses. ing of Houbara bustard and for this in the security of its nuclear arse- ity will be established in the country A houbara bustard at a zoo in Lahore. Last year the Supreme Court purpose a code of conduct had been nal,” said the CRS report authored by in cooperation with Bahrain. banned hunting of the bird entirely, given. Paul K Kerr and Mary Beth Nikitin. Passport home delivery service gets cold response in Pakistan

Internews renewal yesterday out of which only Project in collaboration with the federal passport was too high. service,” said Ashraf Ali of Wapda Town Hassan from Nishtar Colony, said he 22 approached the TCS counter opened government and the National Bank of A source at the Garden Town office who visited Garden Town passport office would prefer collecting the passport in the main hall for guidance. Pakistan (NBP) simultaneously in Kara- said the delivery service had drawn to apply for a new passport. from the office himself as he lived Such a counter could not be set up chi and Lahore around a week ago. not more than 2 percent applicants a He said the Directorate General nearby. “I have to travel abroad soon LAHORE: Not more than 22 applicants at the second busiest passport office in The service was launched in Islam- day. He said people might acknowl- of Immigration and Passports should so I cannot take a risk.” opted for the newly introduced home the city on Abbot Road despite a week abad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar last edge the service for convenience later. have contacted the Pakistan Postal Arif Ansari, public relations head delivery service at the Garden Town since the service was launched. Not month where, passport officials say, “I have been contacted by the TCS department for this service, adding at TCS, said their counters had been passport office in Pakistan’s eastern more than 25 applicants availed the the response was poor as well. staff for availing home delivery serv- he would collect the passport himself set up at passport offices in five major city of Lahore, it was learnt yesterday. facility at GTPO on Wednesday last. A couple of applicants spoke to ice, but I refused because I only trust as misplacement or wrong delivery cities, claiming their staff was receiv- Around 840 applicants visited The TCS had launched Machine express reservations over the home Pakistan Postal Service, which is more could cause inconvenience. ing a good response in Islamabad and the office for a new passport or for Readable Passport Home Delivery delivery service, saying Rs 250 per reliable and secure than a private courier Another applicant, Tehzeebul Peshawar. 08 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 INDIA Corruption down as nuts and bolts tightened: Modi

“But let me assure all of you that I Mindset towards am not deterred by such criticism as this would distract me and I will not the differently- be able to work on my mission for the abled people must people of India,” he said while assur- ing that he would, in times to come, change and the “continue to trouble such people”. word ‘viklang’ He said that the mindset towards the differently-abled people must (disabled) should change and the word ‘viklang’ (disa- be replaced with bled) should be replaced with ‘divyang’ (endowed with special faculties). ‘divyang’ (endowed “What I want to do is change the with special mindset about differently-abled peo- faculties): PM ple. When I say let’s use the word ‘divyang’, it is about that change,” he said. In his December 27 ‘Mann ki Baat’ IANS radio address, Modi based his con- cept of ‘Divyang’ on the premise that the people with physical diabilities tend to develop special faculties that VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra even the fully ‘able’ lack. Modi yesterday said that corruption “We see a person’s disability with has considerably come down ever our eyes. But our interaction tells us Female civil defence personnel march during the full-dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade in Kolkata, yesterday. since his government came to power the person has an extra power. Then in May 2014 as “nuts and bolts” have I thought, in our country, instead of been tightened. using the word ‘viklang,’ we should Speaking at an event after dis- use the term ‘divyang’,” Modi said Hollande to begin India visit in Chandigarh tributing special aid equipment to in his radio address of last month. 9,296 differently-abled people at The prime minister said his gov- DLW grounds in his parliamentary ernment has been working for the AFP day enjoying Chandigarh’s wide boul- modernist heart before meeting On Monday the pair will lay a foun- constituency, Modi claimed this has betterment of the poor ever since evards and serene gardens. Indian Prime Minister Narendra dation stone at the new headquarters been achieved largely by “tightening it was formed. “We are constantly Although the city’s population Modi at its famous rock garden — a of the International Solar Alliance, a the nuts and bolts”. thinking about how development will has more than doubled since it was 20-acre (eight-hectare) space filled 121-nation group launched by Modi at By filling up the lacunae and reach the poor and how the lives of CHANDIGARH: More than 60 years built in 1953 at the request of India’s with sculptures made from the rub- the Paris COP21 conference in Novem- ensuring that the role of middlemen the poor will be transformed,” he said. after it was designed by one of the first prime minister, residents say its ble of its construction. ber, to expand affordable solar power. was completely erased in government On day one of his government he world’s best-known modern architects, Franco-Swiss creator’s vision has stood When the leaders sit down to talk Modi and Hollande will discuss dealings, the prime minister said wel- had announced that “it will always be the city where President Francois Hol- the test of time. business, India is expected to finally India’s ambitious plan to create 100 fare schemes are being implemented there for the poor and for those who lande begins his India visit tomorrow “It’s very green, it’s clean, people conclude a multi-billion-dollar deal “smart cities” after Paris offered finan- faster and other projects are being have faced struggles in life”, Modi said. remains an oasis of calm in a country are kind and civilised as compared to to buy 36 French Rafale jets that was cial assistance of two billion euros to fast-tracked. Upon learning that some peo- better known for urban chaos. other places in India,” said 28-year-old first announced back in 2012. develop Chandigarh and two other The prime minister added that his ple who were invited for the event Chandigarh is the only city out- Navjot Kaur, who works with children. A sticking point has been Delhi’s cities with links to France. government is committed to assim- have suffered a road accident, the side France designed by Le Corbusier, “It is one of the best-designed cit- standard requirement that arms mak- Chandigarh, built for just half a ilating all sections, specially poor, prime minister said: “Some ‘divyang’ the architect whose functional designs ies in India.” ers invest a percentage of the value of million people, is now facing over- weaker and marginalised sections sisters and brothers were to join us informed his home country’s post- The city, which lies 250km north of any major deal in India, known as the population with 1.1 million inhabitants, of the society into the mainstream. but the bus had an accident. Gov- war urban planning policy for three New Delhi, is divided into 55 low-rise offset clause. a figure that is expected to rise by 50 Modi said that attempts like the ernment will make arrangements decades. residential sectors whose structures Hollande’s delegation will include percent over the next 15 years. one in Varanasi — distribution of for their treatment.” Hollande was invited to India to appear to melt into plentiful greenery. his defence, finance and foreign affairs The city centre has been well pre- aid equipment in large programmes Modi set a record of sorts by dis- be the guest of honour at this year’s Even traffic flows relatively freely, ministers, as well as leaders from served, but authorities have struggled to — have ensured that the role of mid- tributing 15,746 special aid equipment Republic Day parade on Tuesday, the in sharp contrast to the gridlock of around 40 companies. “This visit will be control the expansion of slums around dlemen is completely done away with. to 9,296 differently abled people here. final day of a visit that is expected to major cities such as Delhi and Mum- an opportunity for political exchange, the periphery. In the same breath, he mused how Union Social Welfare Minister focus on trade and security. bai, thanks to a complex system of protocol but also to further deepen our “It is a challenge to maintain a these middlemen were overworked Thawar Chand Gehlot said this was Before he heads to India’s capital, lanes that separate different catego- bilateral exchanges on economic and balance between heritage and devel- now as they had the task of attack- the biggest camp to be held for such the French president, on his second ries of vehicle. strategic matters,” the French presi- opment,” the city’s chief architect Kapil ing him every now and then. a purpose anywhere in the world. official visit to the country, will spend a Hollande will visit Chandigarh’s dency told reporters in Paris. Setia said. Alert issued after Pathankot taxi driver found dead Several detained in nation-wide IANS found dead at the Kalta bridge in Kan- people. Citizens should inform the different places including Karnataka, near India Gate for long,” said a sen- gra district of Himachal Pradesh, a police control room if they observe Hyderabad and Mumbai, sources said. ior police officer. security police officer said. Kumar was the res- any suspicious activity,” Deputy Com- The Delhi Police have already The officer said that the crowded ident of Gaggal in Kangra. missioner of Police Rajan Bhagat said. made India Gate and Rajpath out of places, malls, railway stations and bus crackdown NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police yester- Investigating agencies said that The Delhi Police issued the alert a bounds for vehicles and tourists. This depots are kept under tight security day issued an alert after a taxi driver the vehicle, which was registered with week before French President Francois year, police closed movement of vehi- cover. “Extra paramilitary forces have alleged hijacked by three unidenti- any travel agency, is missing. Hollande is set to arrive in India to be cles on Rajpath early in the wake of already been deployed in the city with NEW DELHI: Indian police detained fied people from Pathankot in Punjab Security agencies relate the inci- the chief guest at the Republic Day cel- numerous intelligence reports about sniffer dogs and Delhi Police Quick yesterday several suspected mili- was found dead in Himachal Pradesh. dent similar to the Pathankot Indian ebrations in the national capital. The possible terror attacks. Reaction Teams (QRTs) following the tants as part of a nationwide security Through its official twitter handle, Air Force (IAF) base attack in which security agencies are into tizzy following “The security has already been terror threat.” crackdown ahead of Republic Day the Delhi Police released photographs a taxi driver Ikagar Singh was hired the raids by the National Investigation increased all across the capital. We The Delhi Police on Tuesday celebrations at which France’s pres- of three suspects and the details of a and killed by Jaish-e-Mohammed ter- Agency (NIA) across the nation in search do not want to leave any loophole. We arrested four suspected IS terrorist ident will be the chief guest, officials Maruti Alto car, bearing registration rorist hours before their terror strike. of suspected IS terrorists. are not allowing anyone to enter India from Uttarakhand when they were said. number HP 01D2440, which was hired “People should not panic as secu- The NIA in coordination with dif- Gate and park their cars near it. The planning to attack in Delhi, National The National Investigation by them on January 20. rity agencies and Delhi Police are doing ferent state police teams have arrested tourists and Delhi residents are not Capital Region (NCR) and the ongoing Agency (NIA), a federal police unit Taxi driver Vijay Kumar was later their best... The message is to just alert twelve suspected terrorists from being allowing to stand on the road Ardh Kumbh in Haridwar. that probes terror offences, said operations were underway ahead of Republic Day on Tuesday, when India marks the anniversary of its democratic constitution taking force Wintry walk Draft civil aviation in 1950. “Our operations are going on in several places across the country, policy to be revised in which several suspected people have been detained,” NIA spokes- man S K Singh said, adding further IANS placed in the public domain to gar- details would be available later in ner feedback and suggestions from the day. all stakeholders before finalisation. French President Francois Hol- The policy thereafter was expected lande was invited to India to be the NEW DELHI: Civil Aviation Minister to be presented to the union cabinet guest of honour at this year’s Repub- P Ashok Gajapathi Raju yesterday said in late December last year for final lic Day parade, which will be on he hoped to place the draft civil avi- approval after formal suggestions and the final day of his three-day visit. ation policy before the union cabinet feedback had been received. France has said security will after sorting out certain minor issues. The civil aviation ministry even be high on the agenda after deadly “We have had extensive discus- extended the last date for receiving Islamist attacks in Paris in Novem- sions. There are two-three minor stakeholders’ comments on the draft ber that evoked memories of the issues which are getting ironed out civil aviation policy till November 2008 Mumbai attacks which left right now, as soon as they are ironed 30, 2015. 166 people dead. out, it (policy) will be circulated,” Raju The draft policy, which has According to the Press Trust told reporters at an industry event encountered stiff resistance from of India news agency, the NIA has here. some quarters in the industry, has pro- arrested 14 suspected Islamic State ”Government has a procedure, we posed certain changes like imposing group sympathisers in four differ- take inter-department consultations.” a new cess and regulating minimum ent states including Karnataka in The minister spoke on the sidelines fare tariffs. the south. of an airports marketing conference Further, the minister clarified that “We have been told that six ter- Girls walk to their school on a cold foggy morning in New Delhi. The season’s coldest day was reported which was organised by the Airports effective control of domestic airlines ror suspects... have been arrested in Delhi yesterday with the minimum temperature recorded at 4.2 degrees Celsius, three notches Authority of India (AAI). which sell stake to foreign passenger after raids since Thursday night,” below the season’s average. The draft civil aviation policy carriers comes under the Ministry Karnataka home minister G Par- was released on October 30 and was of Finance. ameshwara told reporters. EUROPE SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 09 Podemos ready to form govt with Socialists in Spain

informed King Felipe VI of “our desire to form a government of change with Pablo Iglesias said the Socialists and the United Left”. he has informed King Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez should lead the government with the Podemos Felipe VI of his desire leader himself as deputy, said Iglesias. to form a government Podemos, which came third in a general with the Socialists election on December 20, had until now not said if they would attempt to form a and the United Left government with the Socialists. Last month’s general election produced a hung parliament with no easy way of forming a ruling coali- Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias (centre) speaks to reporters at a news conference with party members at Parliament in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. AFP tion majority. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Pop- ular Party (PP) won the most seats The Socialists have rejected the PP’s Rajoy, capping off a series of meetings most seats to form a government, he of homeowners struggling to pay their (119) but fell well short of an absolute advances and want a left-wing alliance with the leaders of political parties that can opt for an alliance of other parties mortgages and do more to help the long- MADRID: The leader of Spain’s anti- majority in the 350-seat parliament. of “progressive forces” that includes new won representation in parliament. if he feels they can deliver a more sta- term unemployed whose benefits have austerity party Podemos yesterday Rajoy has called for a “grand coa- anti-austerity party Podemos and its He will then nominate the leader ble option. If there is still a deadlock run out. He also said a left-wing gov- proposed forming a government with lition” of the PP, the Socialists who allies who have 65 seats along with the of a party to form a new government, two months after this first confidence ernment would honour Spain’s debt but the Socialists, making a left-wing gov- won 89 seats, and new centre-right United Left with two seats. The Social- who must then win a vote of confidence vote, the king must call fresh elections. “reduce the deficit at a slower rhythm”. erning alliance more likely after last party Ciudadanos which took 40 seats. ists have yet to respond to the Podemos in parliament to take office. Iglesias said a left-wing govern- A majority of Spanish oppose hold- month’s inconclusive election. But he has so far won implicit sup- proposal. While the monarch has tradition- ment would adopt measures within ing another election to resolve the Pablo Iglesias told reporters he had port only from Ciudadanos. The king will meet Iglesias and ally invited the party winner with the the first 100 days to prevent evictions political stalemate. Spanish minister Chechens hold rally supporting Kadyrov 72 evacuated linked to graft after bomb scandal resigns rov, days after he caused a furore by and abusing his political post. government order to state organi- vowing to destroy critics of Russian In response to the backlash sations to “ensure attendance of all threat on Ramzan Kadyrov, President Vladimir Putin. Chechen authorities ordered a pub- employees in your organisation” to MADRID: A corruption scandal in who rules the North Kadyrov, who rules with an iron lic demonstration of support on Friday the rally. It also quoted a university Spain involving state-run water con- grip the North Caucasus region that for their Kremlin-backed leader. teacher as saying that state employ- Swedish plane tract company Acuamed claimed Caucasus region was the scene of two separatist wars, A photographer at the scene esti- ees in Chechnya are forced to sign an its first political casualty yesterday penned a diatribe penned a lengthy diatribe in pro-Krem- mated the attendance at some 100,000 undated dismissal request when they as a junior minister from Deputy lin daily Izvestiya this week against people, though authorities in regional are hired, guaranteeing complete obe- AFP Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de against Putin’s critics, Putin’s critics, calling them a “gang police force said that more than dience due to risk of losing their job. Santamaria’s office resigned. calling them a “gang of jackals” who “dream of destroy- 800,000 demonstrators had taken Several people who have chal- Santamaria said Frederico of jackals” who ing our state.” part in the rally. lenged Kadyrov’s grip on power have Ramos de Armas had decided to The latest broadside by former The entire population of Chech- been killed in the past, including inves- STOCKHOLM: A Scandinavian stand down after he was linked to an “dream of destroying rebel Kadyrov —accused by human nya is about 1.4 million. tigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya Airlines (SAS) plane carrying 72 peo- investigation into Acuamed, which our state” rights groups of overseeing torture, Demonstrators chanted “We sup- and rights activist Natalia Estemirova. ple from London to Stockholm was police say had fraudulently allo- extrajudicial executions and corrup- port Kadyrov”, “our strength is our Chechens are also thought to be diverted to Gothenburg yesterday cated building projects and falsified tion —came after he last week called unity,” among other slogans, and bran- behind the murder of opposition critic after a bomb threat and passengers certifications to fatten contractor liberal independent media “enemies dished portraits of Kadyrov and Putin, Boris Nemtsov, who was gunned down were evacuated, the police said. payments. AFP of Russia” that seek to sow “chaos” in denouncing their opponents as enemies last February steps away from the Krem- “The 72 people on board the Police raided offices of Acua- the Caucasus and beyond. of the state. Human rights activists lin. Two suspects are reportedly linked plane, including the crew, have been med across Spain on Monday and The remarks caused an uproar say crowds at pro-Kremlin rallies are to an armed squad answerable to Kady- evacuated. The evacuation is com- arrested 13 people. and several people publicly criticised often boosted by large numbers of stu- rov. In January last year, thousands of pleted,” police spokesman Stefan “(He) handed me his resignation GROZNY: Tens of thousands of peo- Kadyrov, with one local lawmaker dents and workers ordered to attend people took to the streets in a state-spon- Gustafsson told reporters. in order to defend his honour and ple yesterday staged a state-sponsored in Siberia, Konstantin Senchenko, by state-run institutions. sored demonstration against publication The plane was parked at a in strict compliance with the law,” rally in the Chechen capital Grozny in dubbing him “the shame of Russia” Opposition newspaper Novaya of Prophet Mohammed cartoons in the remote area of the Landvetter air- Santamaria told a news conference. support of strongman Ramzan Kady- for amassing vast personal wealth Gazeta published a scanned wake of Islamist attacks in France. port in Gothenburg, on Sweden’s west coast, and a bomb squad was called to search the aircraft. “The bomb technicians have arrived and are preparing to search Conservative TV pundit tipped the plane,” Gustafsson said. He said the bomb threat was called in to air traffic controllers to capture Portugal’s presidency while the plane was in the air. The flight landed at Landvetter around 10am (0900 GMT). AFP of state can dissolve parliament in but lost the absolute majority it had All air traffic to and from the the event of a crisis. enjoyed since 2011. airport was initially interrupted That power, known as the “atomic The government of Socialist Prime because of the bomb scare, but bomb” among the nation’s political Minister Antonio Costa has promised departing flights were later resumed, LISBON: Popular TV pundit Marcelo commentators, is key as the minor- to implement a moderate programme a spokeswoman for Landvetter told Rebelo de Sousa is expected to win ity Socialist government has been that respects European Union budget reporters. tomorrow’s presidential election in relying on a delicate alliance with commitments. But it is forced to count Arriving flights will be blocked The new book wirtten by Nicolas Sarkozy to be available in market Portugal, which would give him the the extreme-left to run the country on the support in parliament of a bloc as long as the police operation is from Monday. power of life or death over the nation’s after inconclusive October elections. of communists and greens that has not underway, she said. Landvetter is fragile ruling alliance. The centre-right bloc of former renounced its critical stance towards Sweden’s second-biggest airport, While the post of president in Por- conservative prime minister Pedro European budgetary rules and Por- registering around six million pas- Sarkozy in book regrets tugal is mostly ceremonial, the head Passos Coelho won the most seats, tugal’s membership of Nato. sengers in 2015. delaying reforms EU ministers to French mosque reopens

AFP citizens but is accused by right-wing discuss border opponents of driving wealthy peo- ple out of the country. control issue Sarkozy also acknowledges his PARIS: With little more than a year reputation for being short-tempered, to go before presidential elections, regretting that he “gave into anger” BRUSSELS: European Union interior French opposition leader Nico- on occasion, such as the time he was ministers will discuss on Monday las Sarkozy has admitted to some caught on camera mumbling “Get lost, options for extending temporary “regrets” over his time in power in a you stupid” at a man who insulted him border controls in the passport-free new book to be published on Monday. during an agricultural show. Schengen zone to control migration Sarkozy, 60, faces an uphill strug- The decision to go on holiday with flows, an EU spokeswoman said. gle as he tries to see off more popular a friend immediately after winning Germany, the top destination for members of his party, The Republi- the election —a time when France was people arriving in Europe amid the cans, in order to make a new bid for plunging into an economic crisis — continent’s worst migration crisis in the presidency in May 2017. also makes it onto the list of regrets. decades, is among several European His new book, France for Life, Sarkozy makes no secret of his ambi- countries that have reintroduced blames his defeat at the hands of Fran- tions to return to the Elysee Palace. temporary border controls to bet- cois Hollande in 2012 on his failure to “With this book, Nicolas Sarkozy ter control migration. get tough on France’s famously gen- is not offering his memoirs, he is giv- But such temporary border erous benefits and heavy taxes. ing us a self-examination designed checks expire in May, meaning they “Today, I regret delaying some for an eventual return to power,” the must either be lifted or extended reforms that should have been made daily Le Figaro wrote yesterday. for up to two years if Berlin argues in the first days of my presidency,” After his defeat in 2012, Sarkozy that “persistent deficiencies” on the writes Sarkozy, who ran the coun- vowed to disappear from the public external borders of the Schengen try from 2007 to 2012. eye. It took only two years for him to zone justify that. “We have not yet He admonishes himself for not change his mind, returning to lead the launched this mechanism... (but) challenging the 35-hour working UMP party —which he renamed The this possibility exists. The Com- week introduced by the Socialists Republicans —and lining himself up mission is prepared to use it” the People leave the mosque after the Friday prayer in Frejus, France, yesterday, following the provisional in the late 1990s, or the “solidarity tax for another possible run at the pres- spokeswoman said on two-year authorisation for its reopening delivered by the prefecture. on fortunes” that targets the richest idency in May 2017. extension. 10 SATURDAY 23 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

Israeli aggression How Russia lost its math

he plan to seize a large tract of Palestinian agricultural land minds to the West in the occupied West Bank is the latest act of provocation by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and another Tcog in his giant, atrocious plan to thwart the formation of a Mathematics was long a émigrés originated in the upper of those who moved West in Palestinian state. The Army Radio said that 154 hectares (380 Russian refuge for the Soviet Union’s tail of the skill distribution of 1993-2015 went to the U.S., with acres) of land in the fertile Jordan Valley close to Jericho, an area where smartest “internal emigres” -- mathematicians in the Soviet France a distant second. Israel already has many settlement farms built on land Palestinians seek mathematics escapists who wanted nothing Union and quickly moved into An optimist might note has lost its best to do with the Communist ide- the upper tail of the skill dis- that after the initial drop, the for their own state, has been marked for seizure. The move is certain to ological machine. To be sure, tribution in the American number of researchers with invite international criticism. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon representatives; the state used them to do things mathematics community. Russian affiliations stabilised and the US have criticised the decision as a violation of international law, nevertheless, it still like sensitive defense research, In certain areas, such as at about 50 percent, and the but such criticisms fail to make any impact in Tel Aviv where the right- but at least they enjoyed more integral and differential equa- share of double affiliations -- wing government of Netanyahu finds itself in an unassailable position stands very high at creative freedom than authors, tions, Russians were more both with Russian and Western due to the inaction and failure of the international community, including the international painters or even composers. A advanced than Americans. On institutions -- started growing, formidable training and selec- arrival to the West, they pushed reaching about a quarter. That’s Arabs, to hold it to account. “Israel is stealing land specially in the Jordan level. The decline tion system for mathematicians local researchers aside in these not necessarily good for Russia, Valley under the pretext it wants to annex it,” Hanan Ashrawi, a senior has come to an end and physicists evolved, with fields. Eventually, they found a though. Those researchers who official in the Palestine Liberation Organization, said. According to but no significant meritocratic elite schools and a way to banks and trading firms left the country have more cita- her, this should be a reason for a real and effective intervention by the system of competitions, known just as the demand for “quants” tions to their name and more international community to end such a flagrant and grave aggression progress is as Olympiads, that helped increased and the financial publications in top-25 journals. which kills all chances of peace. currently visible. the best minds to get noticed. industry’s tech revolution began. Those Russia managed to retain About 550,000 Jewish settlers live There wasn’t much interna- This made several markets prefer to publish within the tional recognition, though: The more competitive, but in the end country; these are either deeply in the West Bank and East Jerusalem Communist Party preferred to it resulted in a significant trans- conservative individuals or less As Israel prepares combined while about 350,000 play its cards close to its chest. fer of knowledge to the West. gifted ones. Timorin and Sterli- Palestinians live in East Jerusalem By Leonid Bershidsky Mathematicians couldn’t even The ex-Soviets would, for exam- gov wrote: to seize more and 2.7 million in the West Bank. Bloomberg publish their work overseas ple, cite previously little-known “Russian mathematics has Palestinian land, Compared to previous Israeli prime without permission and, since work that had been published lost its best representatives; the international ministers, Netanyahu has been on the 1936 case of Nikolai Luzin, in the Soviet Union, and thus nevertheless, it still stands very who was accused of saving enrich the available research high at the international level. a settlement-building spree on land community is n Michael Lewis’s book his best results for publication base. In business, too, they used The decline has come to an end choosing to look earmarked for a Palestinian state. “Flash Boys,” one of the abroad and nearly lost his life techniques and approaches but no significant progress is The damage these settlements has characters, telecom expert for it, many preferred not to ask that hadn’t been common in the currently visible.” the other way. done is immense – it has killed the Ronan Ryan, suddenly for that permission. West before their arrival. This lack of progress is peace process, led to an upsurge noticed around 2005 that Then the Soviet Union col- It’s clear that the West ben- potentially more damaging to in Palestinian attacks on Israelis, Imore and more trading software lapsed, and they were suddenly efited from the influx: This is Russia than the drop in oil prices destroyed the credibility of elected “seemed to be written by guys in demand. In a 2012 paper, a textbook case proving the or even the external aggres- with thick Russian accents.” George Borjas and Kirk Doran usefulness of skilled immi- sion of President Vladimir Putin. Palestinian leaders due to their inability to stop the Israeli aggression, That was because most of these showed how the arrival of these gration. The effect on Russia The Soviet Union, both because and finally, has given impetus to a Boycott Israel movement in the West guys were no longer doing aca- academics in the USchanged itself, the donor country, is less of and despite its repressive which is gaining momentum. But Netanyahu has remained unperturbed demic work in Russia and other the entire field. “Our empiri- well- researched. nature, produced a cohort of and seems determined to seize more land. He wants to create new facts former Soviet countries. cal analysis demonstrates that Timorin and Sterligov used bright scientists who might hold on the ground and finally kill the Palestinian dream of forming their own A recent paper published in the American mathematicians the Web of Science academic the key to weaning Russia off its state. The Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Moscow by Vladlen Timorin and whose research programmes database to locate publications oil dependence and, arguably, Ivan Sterligov from the Higher most overlapped with that of the by mathematicians with com- making aggression unneces- Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in the 1967 War. School of Economics attempts to Soviets experienced a reduction mon Russian last names. In sary: A technological advantage Unfortunately for Palestinians, and fortunately for Israel, the Arab quantify the outflow of Russian in productivity after the entry of 1994, about 70 percent of such is a more efficient way to gain world is preoccupied with its own internecine problems. The problems mathematicians since the Soviet Soviet émigrés into the USmath- scientists were affiliated with power in today’s world. Mod- in the Middle East have reached Europe in the form of an unmanageable Union’s collapse -- a momen- ematics market,” they wrote. Russian institutions. That pro- ern Russia, however, has little refugee crisis. The Palestinian issue has been relegated to the back of tous migration that has changed Between 1992 and 2008, portion dropped sharply in the to offer that cohort to entice it their lists. the academic and business land- the average Soviet émigré pub- 1990s, to about 50 percent. The back, and it is losing the next But Netanyahu must realise that his land-grabbing will not scape in the US-- and orphaned lished 20 more papers than Timorin- Sterligov paper sheds generation of mathematicians Russia of its best and brightest, the average American, and some light on where most of the because the best of the emigres help further his agenda. In the West, governments and citizens are but hasn’t completely wiped it those papers received 143 more mathematicians went; unsur- are busy training USand Euro- increasingly getting restless and angry at his flagrant violations of out as a math superpower. citations. In short, the Soviet prisingly, more than a third pean students. international law.

Quote of the day Who had the worst week in Washington? Hillary Clinton

The Washington Post eroded as well. In Iowa, after holding a high- and too pie-in-the-sky liberal (on health care). Turkey is a longtime friend of single-digit lead (at worst) for months, Clinton Complicating those efforts is the news that ours. It’s a Nato ally. now finds herself in a dead heat with the cau- broke midweek: The intelligence communi- tart a bid for the Democratic presiden- cuses just over a week away. The Real Clear ty’s inspector general confirmed thatdozens We’re strongly in support tial nomination as giant front-runner. Politics polling average gives Clinton an edge of emails on the private server Clinton of it. We stand with it in Check. Raise tens of millions of dollars of less than five points. used while she was at the State Depart- and look unbeatable for large swaths of Sanders has always run stronger in New ment contained extremely highly classified terms of defence of its own Sthe year before the primaries start. Check. An Hampshire than in Iowa, but of late several information. territory. insurgent challenger running to her ideologi- polls suggest that he is widening his steady Clinton continues to stick by her original cal left? Check. Collapsing poll numbers on the lead over the former secretary of state. In the line on the email controversy - that she never eve of actual votes? Check. Real Clear Politics polling average, Sanders is sent or received anything that was classified Over the past week or so, Clinton has up by almost 13 points. at the time - but the latest news is proof that Ashton Carter watched as her national polling lead over Sen. Lose both of those states early next month, the story and its reverberations are likely to US Secretary of Bernie Sanders, Vt., a self-avowed socialist, and Clinton’s inevitability bubble bursts. Period. dog her all the way through November. has shrunk. And, far more important, Clinton’s Clinton, to her credit, is doing everything Hillary Clinton, for watching history repeat Defence standing vis a vis Sanders in the key early- she can to avoid a repeat of 2008. She’s savag- itself, you had the worst week in Washington. voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire has ing Sanders as both too conservative (on guns) Congrats, or something.

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BernieCare looks to Europe; Americans don’t

By Paula Dwyer the median of the 34 OECD countries was Bloomberg about half that, at 8.9 percent. The mixed public-private systems of the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland spend 32 per- cent less than the USwhile the U.K., where ernie Sanders probably knows that health care is fully nationalized, spends his plan to give all Americans free 50 percent less. health care is never going to become European countries manage to keep law. Yet he’s doing the country a their health spending down by reducing Bservice: His proposal has re-ignited a national patient choices on diagnostic tests, new debate -- the third since the 1990s -- over technologies, expensive drugs and costly why the US can’t be like Europe, Canada procedures such as hip and knee replace- and the rest of the industrialised world and ments to what their governments define adopt universal health care. as “medically necessary.” Administrators Sanders is no dummy. He calls his pro- and physician panels, not patients, decide posal “Medicare for All” because federal what’s necessary. Another word for this is health insurance for the elderly is so popular rationing. that some of its beneficiaries don’t realize Rationing would have to take place it’s a government programme. Remember under the Sanders plan, too. He would have those picket signs that warned President a “board of medical experts” decide which Barack Obama to “keep government out elective procedures, cosmetic surgeries of my Medicare?” or prescription drugs patients could get. To Sanders, Europe’s example proves The USspends about $3 trillion a year that it wouldn’t be such a leap to extend on health care, or about $10,000 a person. Medicare to everyone while getting rid of Sanders claims that, by getting rid of third- private insurance and employer-based cov- party claims processing and the need for erage (and by extension, Obamacare). As insurers to make a profit, and by making Bloomberg View columnist Leonid Ber- the health system more efficient, he could shidsky wrote, Europe’s nationalized health cut $10 trillion over 10 years in costs. systems run pretty well and haven’t bro- But as Bloomberg View columnist Megan ken their national budgets. Per-capita taxes McArdle has written, what Sanders is really aren’t inordinately higher in Europe than in saying is that, after cutting out insurers, the US (the US’s $14,202 is about the same he’d still somehow force about a third to as Britain’s but $3,000 less than what Ger- a fifth of existing costs out of hands-on mans pay). patient care. And that means hospitals and And the Vermont senator relishes say- doctors would have to accept far less in ing that “We spend more, yet end up with reimbursements. Patients would go from less.” He’s right: Europeans spend less on fighting insurers over claims to fighting the health care yet have better health outcomes, federal government to approve the proce- as measured by rates of infant mortality, dures they want to have and the specialists United States Senator and Democratic Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders (centre) is greeted by supporters. life expectancy and obesity. they want to see. Single payer, not Medicare for all, is Politically, it’s a hard sell. Remember the more apt description of Sanders’s plan, the ruckus during the Obamacare debate which would give the federal government a over a comparatively modest proposal to raise individual taxes by $450bn a year. surely testing that line. much bigger role than it plays in controlling let Medicare cover end-of-life patient-care Included in that would be a new 2.2 per- Europe’s national health-care pro- health care under Obama’s 2009 Affordable counseling? Opponents likened the coun- cent payroll tax on top of existing payroll grams are paid for by a combination of Care Act. Based on his website’s description, seling boards to “death panels” and the taxes for Social Security and Medicare and individual and value-added taxes, which Sanders would massively expand Medi- proposal died. a new one Sanders previously proposed are more broadly based levies on busi- care’s current slate of benefits, for which What’s more, Sanders conflates “health- to provide family and medical leave with nesses and consumers. But Americans every American man, woman and child ier” with “happier” by failing to see that what pay. But the $450bn figure doesn’t count have never warmed to VAT systems. (employed or unemployed) would qualify. makes Americans happy is good health plus a 6.2 percent payroll tax that employers There’s another, even deeper political He would also combine all insurers -- pub- the ability to see specialist doctors when would pay and pass along in the form of booby trap in the Sanders plan. Of the 29 The simplicity of lic ones like Medicaid, veterans’ programs they want, obtain second and third opin- lower wages and higher consumer prices. million uninsured people he aims to help, the Sanders plan and the federal-state Child Health Insur- ions and have aging body parts replaced In the end, many individuals would see about 11 million are undocumented immi- may appeal to many ance Program as well as private ones like so they can keep playing tennis past their rates above 70 percent once state and grants who are excluded from Obamacare Aetna and UnitedHealth Group -- into a prime years. payroll taxes are included. and another 2 million are incarcerated. The Americans; but single, federal payer. Sanders also proposes major tax Beyond the political barriers to opposition advertising campaign writes not such details as It sounds appealing. But would it really increases on people earning more than enacting taxes on this scale, there’s also itself: Bernie Sanders wants to disrupt be popular once Americans found out how it $250,000 a year. He would create four a potential economic cost. Most econo- the entire health system to cover illegal reduced freedom worked? There are strong reasons to doubt it. new income-tax brackets, ranging from mists agree that very high rates of taxation immigrants and criminals. of choice, tax First, let’s revisit the spending issue. 37 percent to 52 percent for those earning cause economic distortions, such as the The simplicity of the Sanders plan The USdoesn’t just spend more than other more than $10 million a year. He wants to worthless tax shelters that thrived in may appeal to many Americans; but not increases, transfers advanced nations, it spends much, much tax investment income at the same rates, the 1970s just to hide wealth. They dif- such details as reduced freedom of choice, to undocumented more. The Organization for Economic Coop- up from 23.8 percent now, and cut 15 per- fer over how high taxes would have to tax increases, transfers to undocumented eration & Development in a July 2015 report centage points off the value of deductions be before discouraging risk-taking and immigrants and bigger government. In immigrants and said the USspent 16.4 percent of gross domes- for mortgage interest, charitable contribu- job creation, resulting ultimately in less trying to emulate Europe, it rubs against bigger government. tic product on health care in 2013, while tions, state taxes and the like. All told, he’d economic growth, yet Sanders’s plan is the grain of America. Poland clouds NATO’s nuanced Russia plan

By Robin Emmottand prepared a joint position in May last Wiktor Szary year to lobby Nato for the permanent Reuters stationing of a brigade. All three former Soviet republics have Russian minori- ties and fear Kremlin moves to inflame tensions there after the pro-Russian oland is putting its own spin on insurrection in eastern Ukraine. a nuanced Nato plan to deter Polish President Andrzej Duda said PMoscow in eastern Europe with- last week at Nato he wanted any Nato out stationing permanent troops on troop presence to be “permanent to Russia’s borders, prompting disquiet the greatest extent possible”. from allies including Britain, which Nato allies such as Germany and needs Warsaw’s help in EU reform Britain are against stationing forces negotiations. permanently in the east. But Britain Poland’s defence minister on is also wary of publicly criticising the Thursday seized on Britain’s announce- Polish government as London seeks ment that it is sending troops for its support in negotiations aimed at exercises in the country, telling local keeping Britain in the European Union radio that London would station 1,000 ahead of a referendum on “Brexit” military personnel in Poland from expected in June. A few years ago, it next year. Poland is understood to be open to was assumed that Britain’s defence ministry declined compromise over British demands to (the eastern flank’s to comment, but alliance diplomats limit the rights of EU migrants if Lon- say there are no such plans. Britain Witold Waszczykowski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland speaks during a panel session at the 46th don helps build up Nato’s presence in security) could is providing nearly 1,000 troops for Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday. central Europe. two Nato exercises later this year, as Nato’s main focus is on a be guaranteed well as 1,000 personnel in four years’ 5,000-strong “spearhead” force, part through a support time, when Poland will lead the new Nato outposts, more war games, and, if the Cold War, when the United States of the stepped-up exercises, which of which can move within 48 hours. mechanism, a Nato rapid-reaction spearhead force. needed, a rapid response force, includ- had some 300,000 service personnel Nato set out in a calendar published But Poland’s Foreign Minister But the subtlety of the language ing air, maritime and special operations stationed in Europe. on Thursday. Witold Waszczykowski said that spearhead. Today, used to promote the new Nato deter- components of up to 40,000 personnel. Nato also wants to keep a 1997 That is exactly the kind of reaction was not enough. “A few years ago, this position is rent policy in the east is an opportunity “Some people say ‘permanent’, oth- promise to Moscow not to perma- Nato Secretary-General Jens Stolten- it was assumed that (the eastern for Poland’s new conservative gov- ers use ‘persistent’, other people use nently station forces on the Russian berg wants to avoid, saying last year flank’s security) could be guaran- evolving and is ernment. Warsaw, which is hosting ‘rotation’. In fact we are talking about border, thereby avoiding antagonising that he will not be “dragged into an teed through a support mechanism, starting to head the Nato summit in July, has called for the same thing,” General Petr Pavel, a newly-assertive Russia and reach a arms race”. a spearhead,” he said on Thursday a permanent Nato troop presence in chairman of Nato’s military committee, peace settlement in eastern Ukraine, Publicising Nato’s message is a sen- at a joint news conference with Ger- in the direction of the past and the new government has told a news conference on Thursday. where Nato says Russia supports the sitive task, because eastern and Baltic man Foreign Minister Frank-Walter security guarantees intensified those demands. The idea is to reassure the ex-Soviet rebels with weapons and troops. Nato allies hope that a persistent Nato Steinmeier in Warsaw. Nato’s current compromise aims countries in Nato that they are pro- Russia responded yesterday by military presence in the east may one “Today, this position is evolving being fulfilled to have a “persistent” - rather than tected from the kind of annexation saying it will form four new military day become permanent, whereas Nato and is starting to head in the direction through ... “permanent” - military in the east, Russia orchestrated in February in 2014 divisions this year to strengthen its wants to avoid giving that impression. of security guarantees being fulfilled based on a new network of eight small in Crimea, while avoiding a return to western and central regions because Poland and the Baltic states through ... a presence of allied troops.”

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 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS

Obama govt Massive snowstorm threatens US East Coast seeks to curb

capital braced for what could turn out to forecasters said. Southeastern Penn- methane be one of the worst storms in its history. sylvania, including Philadelphia, was The National “This has life-and-death implica- expecting 25 to 42cm of snow. Weather Service said tions and all the residents of the District Governors of Arkansas and Ten- emissions of Columbia should treat it that way.” nessee ordered state offices closed the storm has the The Weather Channel said more yesterday as the storm pushed across potential to cripple than 85 million people in at least 20 their states and Kentucky. It dropped Reuters states were covered by either a blizzard 13cm of snow in Arkansas and a win- a broad swath warning, winter storm watch, winter try mess of snow, sleet and freezing of the Northeast storm warning, winter weather advi- rain in parts of Tennessee and Ken- WASHINGTON: In its latest move to and further hit sory, or freezing rain advisory. tucky, Petersen said. combat climate change, the Obama Given the extraordinary conditions “It’s expanding and coming east,” administration yesterday said it will the Baltimore and expected, Washington has been pre- he said. “It will continue to grow as it overhaul 30-year-old regulations Washington metro paring all week for the type of blizzard crosses the mid-Atlantic states, where for oil and gas operations on public that Bowser said the city has not seen Maryland, southeastern Pennsylvania and tribal lands to limit the “waste- areas in 90 years. and northern Virginia will get the heav- ful release” of natural gas and curb AccuWeather senior meteorol- iest snow.” methane emissions. ogist Alex Sosnowski said the storm The Virginia National Guard planned The proposal would require oil could bring Washington one of its big- to bring in up to 300 troops for help. and gas producers to use currently Reuters gest snowfalls on record, eclipsing the Across the Southeast, government available technology to limit flar- “Snowmageddon” storm of 2010 that offices, schools and universities were ing at oil wells on federal land. It dropped 45.2cm. The largest snowstorm shuttered yesterday. would also require operators to reg- recorded in Washington was the 1922 In addition to several inches of ularly check for natural gas leaks WASHINGTON: A powerful storm Knickerbocker storm, which inundated snow, the Charlotte, North Carolina, and replace outdated equipment barreled toward Washington, DC, yes- the city under 71cm. area could get up to a half inch of ice, that allows large quantities of gas terday, threatening to bury parts of the “I think it’s going to be a nightmare, causing concerns about power out- and methane to escape into the air. East Coast under as much as 76cm of the rates of snow we’re talking about,” ages and dangerous driving conditions. The overhaul would also clarify snow after coating North Carolina in said Marisa Kritikson, 27, a nursing stu- State and city officials in North when oil and gas companies need to white and blasting Arkansas, Tennes- dent at George Washington University Carolina warned more snow and ice pay royalties on flared natural gas. see and Kentucky with a wintry mix. in Washington. accumulation was expected tomorrow “These updated regulations, The National Weather Service said Weather forecasters were looking with some areas getting a foot of snow. which would be phased in over the storm had the potential to cripple for storm to hit the capital between The governor’s office reported four several years ... would not only get a broad swath of the Northeast, with 1pm and 3pm yesterday and last until fatalities in weather-related car crashes more of our nation’s natural gas into about 2 feet of snow due to hit the Bal- late tomorrow, bringing up to 2 to 2.5 since Wednesday, including a death A satellite image of the winter storm moving through the central pipelines and delivered to market timore and Washington metro areas. feet over 36 hours and winds of 48 to yesterday that caused traffic backups United States. but also reduce pollution and cut Western suburbs could get even more 80 kmph, the mayor said. on I-95 in Johnston County. greenhouse gas emissions that are snow while the New York area was Farther north, a blizzard watch was In the Washington area, resi- offices would close at noon yester- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit contributing to climate change,” expected to get a little less. issued for New York City and parts of dents scrambled to prepare, picking day to allow them to get home before Authority, which includes the second- Assistant Secretary for Land and “I want to be very clear with every- its Long Island and New Jersey suburbs stores clean of bottled water, food and the snow began piling up. City offi- busiest US subway system, took the rare Minerals Management Janice Sch- body. This is a major storm,” Washington starting early tomorrow. Snow accumu- other supplies. Federal employees in cials said everyone except emergency step of suspending operations from neider said. Mayor Muriel Bowser said as the nation’s lation could reach 30cm in the region, the Washington area were told their workers should stay off the streets. The yesterday through tomorrow. The proposal comes as a major methane leak from a natural gas storage site near Los Angeles has forced thousands of people to evac- uate their homes for months and put Mexico seeking extradition US toughens background check a spotlight on emissions oversight. The proposed rule is estimated to avoid the loss of up to 56bn cubic of ‘El Chapo’ drug kingpin feet of gas a year through venting, process after major hack flaring or leaks, according to the Interior department, which could AFP months after marines had arrested supply up to about 760,000 house- him in his native northwestern state AFP Several analysts have linked the new entity,” Daniel said, adding that holds each year. of Sinaloa. The Mexican authorities hack to China, but US officials have the revamped process would “rep- The overhaul would reduce flar- launched a massive manhunt that led avoided directly blaming Beijing for resent real change from how we are ing by up 60 percent and venting by DAVOS: Mexican President Enrique to his recapture on January 8 in the the breach. The new background check doing business now.” up to 46 percent compared to 2013 Pena Nieto yesterday said his coun- seaside Sinaloa city of Los Mochis WASHINGTON: The US government system will take over many functions Officials said that in addition to rates. Methane is the second most try is working to extradite recaptured —a triumph that ended up having to said yesterday it was revamping its from the Office of Personnel Manage- hardened cybersecurity, the new sys- prevalent greenhouse gas after car- drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guz- share headlines with US actor Sean background check process for fed- ment, which was roundly criticized tem would allow for an evaluation of bon dioxide. Though it only lasts in man for trial in the United States as Penn’s bombshell revelation that he eral employees and contractors with for weak security following news of how much data is stored online for the atmosphere for 20 years, meth- soon possible. met Guzman three months before a more secure database, following a the breach. accessibility and what is kept offline, ane is 84 times more effective than The Mexican attorney general’s his capture. major hack disclosed last year. The new “National Background inaccessible to hackers. carbon dioxide at trapping heat, office is pursuing charges against While the Mexican government A new government entity will be Investigations Bureau,” with a presi- Officials said the administration’s and environmental groups have Guzman while also working on his seeks to ship Guzman across the bor- created to conduct the checks, and dentially appointed director, will take budget calls for $95m to upgrade the pressed the administration for extradition, the president said at an der, a tank is positioned outside the the Department of Defence will pro- over the role of managing checks. computer systems for the new initiative. tighter restrictions on leaks. annual gathering of billionaires and Altiplano prison and a cell’s floors vide security for the data gathered in The new entity will be housed The disclosure of the breach last Schneider told reporters yes- political leaders in the snow-covered have been reinforced with metal rods the process, officials said. within OPM but the Defense Depart- year rocked the federal government, terday the overhaul will deliver Swiss Alpine resort of Davos. to prevent another tunnel. The extra- The announcement came in ment will keep the data secure. “This revealing one of the worst cyber fail- both financial and environmen- “The instruction is to accelerate dition effort marks a reversal from response to disclosures last year that entity will have a considerable amount ures in the public sector. The news led to tal benefits. its work to obtain his extradition as Pena Nieto’s refusal to send Guzman hackers accessed some 20 million per- of operational autonomy,” said Michael congressional hearings and prompted “The monetary and social cost of soon as possible,” Pena Nieto said. to United States prior to his July escape sonnel records for US government Daniel, the White House cybersecu- the resignation of the OPM director. release natural gas into the atmos- The Mexican administration was from the maximum-security facility. employees and contractors, including rity coordinator, on a conference call The administration launched a phere are clear and dangerous,” she deeply embarrassed when Guzman The Mexican authorities have warned, sensitive personal data in some cases with reporters. government-wide review of cyber- said. “If we are wasting that much escaped a maximum-security prison however, that the extradition proc- gathered from background checks. “The Department of Defence will security last year as well as the energy, we are clearly not operat- through a tunnel on July 11, just 17 ess could take a year or more. be providing the cybersecurity for this background investigation process. ing efficiently.” US conservatives launch Trump broadside US strips accreditation of 5 Russian honorary consuls in a lead editorial. warned that Trump “wobbled all over Trump is a The publication followed up with the lot” politically, at times embrac- essays by 22 conservative figures who ing abortion rights, gun control and a philosophically took turns denouncing Trump, the universal health care system. AFP interference with our diplomatic unmoored political frontrunner in the race for the Repub- Having held views so contrary to and consular operations in Russia, lican presidential nomination. the Republican platform shows he including, but not limited to, wide- opportunist who Calling him “astoundingly igno- cannot be trusted to carry the con- spread harassment of our personnel, would trash the rant,” a “charlatan,” a “glib egomaniac” servative mantle, they said. WASHINGTON: Washington has as well as the forced closure of the and plain “crazy,” the conservatives The accusers also drilled into stripped five Russian honorary con- American Center in Moscow and 28 broad conservative expressed revulsion at the prospect of Trump’s policy choices, with novelist suls of their accreditation in response American Spaces throughout Rus- ideological a President Trump —and what he might Mark Helprin offering a comprehen- to the harassment of its own staff in sia,” Toner said. do to the nation and to the Republi- sive takedown in a single sentence. Russia, the State Department said. “This does not affect Russia’s for- consensus, says a can brand. With just over a week to “He doesn’t know the Constitu- “We are prepared to take fur- mal diplomatic operations, including lead editorial of a go before the first presidential nom- tion, history, law, political philosophy, ther appropriate measures if there its embassy, consulates general or publication inating vote in Iowa, their views also nuclear strategy, diplomacy, defence, are additional efforts to impede our its cultural center in Washington.” reflected the panic that Trump has economics beyond real estate, or even, diplomatic and consular activities in The American Center in Moscow set off within a Republican establish- despite his low-level-mafioso com- Russia,” spokesman Mark Toner warned. was closed in September last year ment deeply at odds with the celebrity portment, how ordinary people live,” Russia’s foreign ministry after acting for 22 years as a library billionaire’s angry, populist message. Helprin wrote. expressed outrage at the move against and a cultural and meeting space for AFP But the magazine’s broadside none- Several contributors blasted Trump the consuls —US nationals who rep- Russians and US expats. theless triggered an angry response from conservative mouthpiece” as the for his xenophobia, and particularly his resent Moscow in California, Florida, US officials saw the Russian move the Republican National Committee, Review. call for a ban on Muslims entering the Minnesota, Puerto Rico and Utah. as part of a broader crackdown by which disinvited the National Review “They’re just telling the truth,” Bush United States. Trump has “made racial Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova President Vladimir Putin’s govern- WASHINGTON: Conservatives shaken from being a partner of the party’s Feb- told Fox about the criticisms of Trump. and religious scapegoating so central accused US “security services” of ment on official foreign missions and by the rise of Donald Trump (pictured) ruary 25 candidate debate. Contributors to the magazine’s to his campaign,” warned David Boaz, carrying out “provocations against western-backed NGOs. appealed to Republicans yesterday not “Debate partners can’t have a pre- did not hold back in trashing Trump. vice president of the Cato Institute. employees of Russian diplomatic Russia commentators have often to support his presidential c andidacy, disposition towards or against any “This is a crisis for conservatism,” Trump shot back in a series of fiery missions, and not only in the United accused US missions of stirring oppo- uniting in a full-blown attack from candidate,” RNC spokesman Sean said talk show host and author Glenn tweets condemning the “failing” publi- States.” sition sentiment and even so-called the pages of an influential conserv- Spicer said, confirming the magazine Beck in one of the essays. “Trump beguiles cation. “The late, great William F Buckley “The decision on the honorary “color revolutions” in former Soviet ative magazine. is no longer a debate partner. us, defies the politically correct media, would be ashamed of what had hap- consuls continues the Barack Obama republics. “Against Trump,” declared the cover Review publisher Jack Fowler and bullies anyone, ” wrote David McIn- pened to his prize, the dying National administration’s policy aimed at curb- Ties between the Cold War rivals of the National Review, a leading voice appeared to take the move in stride. tosh, president of the Club for Growth. Review!” Trump posted on Twitter as the ing ties with our country,” she alleged, are at a low ebb following Russia’s of the American right founded by the “We expected this was coming. Edwin Meese, who served in pres- magazine was rolled out online. in a statement. annexation of Crimea and interven- late commentator William F Buckley. Small price to pay for speaking the ident Ronald Reagan’s administration, The feature follows a similar move The State Department said for- tions in the conflicts in Syria and “Trump is a philosophically truth about The Donald,” he wrote upbraided Trump for vilifying rivals on the left by prominent actors like mal diplomatic relations would not eastern Ukraine. unmoored political opportunist who yesterday in a blog post. with personal attacks. Harry Belafonte, intellectuals including be hurt by Washington’s tit-for-tat But Secretary of State John Kerry would trash the broad conservative Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, “Our people need positive, unifying Noam Chomsky, and other celebrities move, which it said followed similar and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ideological consensus within the GOP who trails his rival Trump considera- leadership, not negative, destructive who have joined a “Stop Hate Dump action by Moscow against US interests. maintain regular contact and are in favor of a free-floating populism bly in the polls, warned the RNC was political rhetoric,” he said. Trump” campaign denouncing the real “This action is being taken in working together to push for a nego- with strong-man overtones,” it said wrong to punish such a “cherished In an introduction, Review editors estate mogul as a threat to America. response to continued Russian tiated settlement in Syria. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 14 QE 8,584.01 -105.30 PTS PAGE | 15 Draghi in favour DOW 16,108.54 +225.86 PTS Oil will rise to $40 by of monetary FTSE100 5,911.24 +137.45 PTS end of 2016, Nigeria’s stimulus BRENT $31.48 +$2.23 Petroleum Minister

SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 • 13 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Low oil price chance for S&P may cut oil countries’ ratings Reuters had foreseen could mean another batch emerging market giant, has a stable of cuts is imminent, S&P’s EMEA head outlook, but pressure is mounting of sovereign ratings Moritz Kraemer, almost everywhere as governments GCC reforms: Ministers told Reuters. see their revenues bleed away. LONDON: Credit rating agency “This is not the run-of-the-mill “There is a big overhang of nega- Standard & Poor’s signalled yester- commodities swing, this is something tive outlooks and a rapidly growing day that oil-exporting countries face different altogether,” Kraemer said. negative overhang,” Kraemer said. fresh downgrades as crude prices fall “We had an important number of Azerbaijan, one of the few big oil We saw an further and that it could repeat last downgrades last year in Africa, the countries to escape a rating down- year’s move when it made a big group Middle East and the CIS, and if our grade last year could potentially be the opportunity to have of cuts all at once. outlooks continue to perform as an first to fall when its bottom-of-invest- people do the right The plunge in oil prices since indicator of where the ratings may ment-grade BBB- rating is reviewed mid-2014 has brought a blizzard of next go, more might be coming up on January 29. thing, which is to downgrades, including for Russia and this year.” Under EU rules introduced after pay the right cost of Brazil, which have been stripped of S&P currently has Azerbaijan, Bah- the global financial crisis, S&P pub- energy investment grade, number one pro- rain, Kazakhstan, Oman, Russia, and lishes its rating reviews according to a ducer Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, Saudi Arabia on negative outlook in schedule although it can make ad hoc where the oil rout has raised fears of its Europe, Middle East and Africa changes in specialcircumstances. It did a sovereign default. region, as well as Brazil and Vene- so last February, when it cut ratings for But a further 20 percent slump zuela in Latin America. oil-exporting Bahrain, Kazakhstan, AFP since the start of the year which few Nigeria, another oil-dependent Oman, Venezuela and Congo

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND: The sharp drop in the price of oil, the lifeblood of Gulf economies, is an opportunity to end subsidies and introduce reforms US Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a speech at the 2016 World in the energy-rich region, ministers Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday. said yesterday. “With low prices... it is the right time” Emirates is looking into lifting subsi- “What if it goes up again? We’ll have to cut subsidies on oil products, Kuwait’s dies on other products and services, to look at rationalising subsidies... to Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh said at including on electricity. those who need” them, he said. the World Economic Forum in Davos, “That’s not healthy,” he said, speak- Kuwait began selling diesel and ker- Switzerland. ing of gas sold to electricity providers osene at market prices at the start of 2015, In a panel on the future of economic at subsidised rates, stressing the need and on Thursday its emir announced reform in the Arab world, Saleh -- also to “apply international prices”. plans to raise the prices of petrol, elec- Kuwait’s acting oil minister -- said that The head of Bahrain’s Economic tricity and water. record low oil prices would make the Development Board, Khalid al-Rumaihi, Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest lifting of subsidies on fuel products eas- went further, describing the sharp drop oil exporter, also took unprecedented ier on consumers. in oil revenues as a “blessing in disguise,” measures to cut subsidies on energy “We saw an opportunity to have because it provides an “opportunity for products, as it posted a record budget people do the right thing, which is to reforms”. He named fiscal reforms and deficit of $98 bn (90bn euros) in 2015. pay the right cost of energy,” said Emir- widening the economic base in Gulf The IMF has urged the Gulf countires ati energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei. countries as potential outcomes of lower to cut their subsidies’ bills as their rev- “We need to rethink about major oil revenues, which represent the bulk enues shrink. reforms that make our budgets inde- of receipts for most Gulf countries. Oil prices have shed about 75 per- pendent from oil revenues,” he added. Saleh argued that governments will cent in 18 months due to a supply glut, After liberalising fuel prices in need to formulate a way to help needy weak demand, overproduction and a June, Mazrouei said the United Arab citizens when oil rebounds. slowing global economy.

Moody’s to Lagarde for second term review 120 oil and gas firms AFP

PARIS: Christine Lagarde (pictured) Singapore : Credit evalua- announced yesterday that she will tor Moody’s said yesterday run for a second term at the head of it has placed the ratings the International Monetary Fund, of 120 oil and gas firms after winning strong backing from worldwide under review across Europe. for possible downgrade “Yes, I am running for a second due to plunging crude mandate,” the former French finance prices. minister confirmed in an interview “These reviews reflect with France 2 television. a mix of declining prices With her term coming to an end in that are near multi-year July, the IMF formally began accept- in the long-running affair of Bernard lows, weakening demand ing nominations on Thursday for who Tapie, who received a substantial state and a prolonged period of will guide the global crisis lender for payout for his dispute with a state bank oversupply that will con- the next five years. during her time as finance minister. tinue to significantly stress After leading the IMF through No other names have so far been the credit profiles of com- one of its most difficult challenges touted as potential candidates, but panies in the oil and gas -- the rescue of the eurozone from the Fund will be taking nominations sector,” the firm said in a meltdown -- Lagarde drew strong through February 10 with a view to statement. endorsements from Germany, France, its executive board making a deci- “The actions also Britain, and the Netherlands. sion by March 3. reflect Moody’s effort to The US praised her performance Lagarde, 60, easily won a contest recalibrate the ratings in in the role without giving its formal with several developing country can- the oil and gas portfolios backing. didates to take over the IMF in 2011 to align with the funda- Her plans to run again nonethe- as Europe was sinking deep into eco- mental shifts in credit less face a potential hurdle: she could nomic crisis. conditions.” stand trial in France over her role in But her win came amid criti- About half of the firms a banking scandal that predates her cisms that the IMF’s top job should under review come from arrival at the IMF. not be locked down by a European, the United States. In December, investigating judges as it has since the institution was cre- placed her under formal investigation ated in 1944. 14 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Philips’ $2.8bn sale of India, France lighting unit dropped haggle over warplane deal GO Scale Capital has been cancelled California’s Silicon Valley. Philips will Sale of Philips’ because of US regulatory concerns. continue to report the Lumileds busi- NEW DELHI: Indian and Both companies failed to convince ness as “discontinued operations”, the French negotiators were hag- Lumileds lighting the Committee on Foreign Investment company added. Amsterdam-based gling yesterday over the price of unit to Beijing-based in the United States (CFIUS) to clear the Philips in October announced that the 36 combat planes for the age- GO Scale Capital deal, Philips said, adding it is seeking sale of an 80.1 majority share stake ing Indian air force, officials of another buyer. was in doubt because of unspecified The logo of Philips is seen at the company’s entrance in Brussels. the two nations said, just days has been cancelled “We will now engage with other CFIUS concerns, but at the time it said before President Francois Hol- parties that have expressed an inter- they would be addressed. lande visits to New Delhi to because of US est in exploring strategic options for GO Scale Capital said had the trans- Theodoor Gilissen private bank. “It’s split in two, separating its healthcare- cement commercial ties. regulatory concerns Lumileds,” Philips Chief Executive action gone through it “would have clear that the Americans don’t want the lifestyle arm from its historic lighting The fighter jet deal is part of Frans van Houten said in a statement. combined Lumileds’ world-leading technology to go to China,” said Vers- section in a move to streamline oper- a $150bn military modernisa- “I am very disappointed about this technology and know-how with the teeg. “However, the deal will eventually ations. The split is expected to be tion drive India has launched, outcome as this was a very good deal for highly competitive LED manufactur- go through, but with another buyer,” completed some time this year, with drawing global arms makers AFP both Lumileds and the Go Scale Capi- ing industrial base in China.” he told AFP, adding the setback was analysts predicting that Philips could into one of the world’s biggest tal-led consortium,” Van Houten said. “Unfortunately all such efforts unlikely to impact on Philips’ strategy eventually sell off Lighting, one of its markets. Hollande and Indian Philips and GO Scale have now fell short of addressing unexplained of moving away from lighting in the core businesses for many years. Philips, Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrawn their CFIUS filing, the Dutch (US) government concerns,” it said in healthcare-lifestyle sector. “It’s unlikely which sold its first light bulb a few years stepped into the estimated $9bn THE HAGUE: Dutch electronics giant company said, calling the US regula- a statement. though that Philips will get the same after it was founded in 1891, has for the deal last year, ordering gov- Philips said yesterday a planned tory concerns “unforeseen”. “The decision by the CFIUS is a pure price as was offered by GO Scale Cap- past dozen years focused on medical ernment-to-government talks $2.8-billion majority share sale of its Lumileds has research and devel- piece of trade politics,” said Jos Vers- ital,” he added. equipment, which now accounts for after commercial negotiations Lumileds lighting unit to Beijing-based opment and production facilities in teeg, analyst at the Amsterdam-based Philips in 2014 announced it would more than 40 percent of sales. with the plane maker, Dassault Aviation, collapsed. The leaders agreed to scale back the original plan for 126 Rafale planes to just 36 in fly- away condition, to meet the Gold retreats as ECB hints Argentinian President Indian Air Force’s urgent needs, as it faces China and Pakistan. But even the smaller deal hopes for creditor deal ran into problems over the unit at more monetary stimulus price of the planes and other contract terms. France’s envoy to India, Francois Richier, said early in 2016 the two sides were holding talks in New Delhi but he could not say for sure if they would strike a deal ahead of, or during, Hol- Reuters Argentina’s central bank has been lande’s visit, which begins on working on loan deals with banks Sunday. “Discussions are tak- since early December. Last week, the ing place, can’t say what will be country’s finance minister signalled the outcome,” he told report- DAVOS: Argentine President Mauricio the agreement for between $4-6 bil- ers. “It’s not finalised yet. It’s Macri said yesterday that talks with lion to help bolster reserves. a complex negotiation. I am US creditors in a long-running legal “We made good progress, hopeful, but hopeful does not battle over unpaid debts had not made very good progress. We expect an mean certitude.” much progress, although he hoped announcement very soon,” Macri said An Indian foreign minis- to reach a settlement early this year. of the loan plan. As part of Argentina’s try spokesman said the deal “We want to reach a settlement, re-integration into international finan- for the 36 planes was in an find a fair agreement,” Macri told cial markets, Macri also said that he advanced stage. Hollande will Reuters on the sidelines of the World wanted to re-engage with the Inter- be the guest of honour at India’s Economic Forum in Davos, adding national Monetary Fund (IMF). Republic Day parade on Janu- that he hoped to reach a deal “this “Yes, we have to go back to the ary 26, in a sign of deepening year, early this year”. IMF in terms of fulfilling Article 4, like political and commercial ties. Macri said the biggest sticking every country in the world,” he said. point in the discussions was the issue Article 4 is a feature of IMF mem- of penalties on Argentina’s defaulted bership which provides for regular FTSE heads for bonds. monitoring of economies and asso- “We don’t want to discuss capital, ciated provision of policy advice. The first weekly Reuters “Gold has eased off from its $1,100 mark and could test towards $1,085 in the we want to discuss penalties which are last Article 4 Executive Board Con- as the president of the ECB spurred short term,” MKS said in a note. Gold really high. In some cases penalties sultation for Argentina was in July some appetite for riskier assets,” Naeem prices rallied to two-month highs at arrive to 80 percent and in case of one 2006, according to the IMF’s website. gain of 2016 Aslam, chief market analyst at Ava $1,112.00 earlier this month as oil prices bond capital is 10 cents and penalties Macri said now was the “best time” LONDON: Gold fell yesterday as hints Trade, said. plunged and heavy selling of equities are 90 percent,” the president said. for investors to put their money into of more monetary stimulus from the “The $1,100 mark is an impor- in China spilled over into the global Macri, who was sworn in as president Argentina, which had the capacity to LONDON: Britain’s top share European Central Bank weighed on the tant number with respect to any bull markets. in December, confirmed Argentina’s produce food for 600 million people. index extended the previous euro and pushed European shares up strength for the metal, and we need Gold benefited from the risk aver- next meeting with US court-appointed “For that we need infrastructure. session’s rally yesterday, with 2.5 percent, denting appetite for alter- to stay above this number to fortify sion among investors that sank stocks mediator Daniel Pollack on the talks We need roads, ports for that we need a jump in commodities-related native assets, while oil rebounded. more demand.” and crude oil, although slow physical was scheduled for February 1, after an financing. We are near (to having) stocks on the back of stronger Benchmark Brent crude, whose ECB President Mario Draghi said demand from major consumers China effort to meet during January failed. the worst logistics in Latin America. oil and metals prices boosting slide to 12-year lows this week fuelled that fading growth and inflation pros- and India kept a lid on price gains. “We are ready for a fair agree- That’s a great opportunity also for the overall market. risk aversion, bounced 5.3 percent yes- pects will force the bank to review its Premiums for gold prices in China ment. We hope (the) mediator will companies and investors.” He raised The FTSE 100 jumped 1.8 terday as traders cashed in on record policy stance in March, a strong sig- rose only slightly this week and sell- have room to finish this conflict and concern about human rights in fellow percent to 5,879.57 points by short positions. nal that more easing could be coming ers in India offered discounts amid hope holdouts will be happy with the South American country Venezuela. 0937 GMT, building on Thurs- That fed into better appetite for within months. His comments made poor demand. agreement and I get approval of my “We are fully committed to defend- day’s similar gains and moving assets seen as higher risk, such as on Thursday lifted the dollar 0.4 per- Holdings of the world’s largest gold- Congress,” Macri said. ing human rights and Venezuela does away from this week’s “bear stocks, and weighed on gold. Spot gold cent against the euro and prompted backed exchange-traded fund, New The Argentine president said he not respect human rights. My princi- market” territory, a technical was down 0.5 percent at $1,096.20 a rally in beleaguered stock markets. York-listed SPDR Gold Shares, rose had not met with Paul Singer who ples will not change and I still think termto define a slump of 20 an ounce at 1030 GMT, while US gold “With equity markets remaining bid another 1.8 tonnes on Thursday, data heads Elliott Management Corp, Venezuela is not respecting human percent from an index’s pre- futures for February delivery were and oil continuing to squeeze higher, from the fund showed. That brought which is one of the of main litigants, rights. They have politicians in jail vious peak. down 60 cents an ounce at $1,097.60. gold is likely to come under pressure its inflow for the week to 4.2 tonnes. during his visit to Davos. Separately, with no reason.” Draghi biting the bullet stems euro that only wanted to rise

Bloomberg euro wiped out its modest year-to-date 2016 to 117.56 per dollar. exchange rate where the ECB inter- gain and fell the most in two weeks. “The ECB and the BOJ are not going vened verbally in the past,” said “He’s trying to restore the credi- to stand by and watch their currencies Valentin Marinov, head of Group-of-10 bility of the ECB, which I don’t think strengthen,” Lee Ferridge, the Bos- foreign-exchange research at Credit LONDON: Mario Draghi came out has been damaged in a serious way— ton-based head of macro strategy for Agricole SA’s corporate and invest- strongly in favour of more monetary it’s just been dented a bit,” said Paresh North America at State Street Global ment-banking unit in London. stimulus, stemming the nascent rally Upadhyaya, director of currency strat- Markets, said before the ECB meet- Until Thursday’s drop, the euro had in the euro. egy in Boston at Pioneer Investments, ing. “If euro-dollar went back toward – like the yen – been rallying this year. Apart from the yen, Europe’s which oversees about $243bn. “For $1.15, then you would see some com- The MSCI All-Country World Index shared currency was beating every those long-term euro bears, this is ments coming at least from Draghi and declined into a bear market and crude major counterpart this year as inves- very heartening.” maybe more talk of stimulus.” oil prices fell to a 12-year low, while tors sought havens from the global While the ECB insists it doesn’t tar- State Street has about $2.2 trillion in the past two days Russia’s rouble turmoil that’s sent at least 16 exchange get the exchange rate, like the BOJ it under management. and Mexico’s peso tumbled to records. rates to record lows. Worse still, a nar- needs a weak currency to achieve its Draghi’s not out of the woods yet. That’s raising concern that the out- rowing gap between European and US goal of kick-starting lackluster growth Ferridge said the euro stands to get look for global economic growth is interest rates, plus a growing gulf in and inflation. a boost versus the dollar from the worsening and the Federal Reserve will the euro versus its effective exchange Speaking in Frankfurt after offi- shrinking difference between yields have to reduce the amount of policy rate, indicated further gains were in cials kept key interest rates unchanged, on German and US sovereign debt. tightening it delivers this year. the cards. Draghi said the central bank may re- Before Draghi spoke, the cost of a Both the euro area and Japan have So, after disappointing investors assess its policy stance in March amid euro-dollar call option exceeded that current-account surpluses, making in December with a narrower-than- a deteriorating economic outlook and for a put for the first time since 2013, them attractive venues for capital dur- forecast stimulus boost, the European turmoil in global markets. according to one-month risk-reversals ing times of risk-off sentiment. Central Bank president insisted after The euro dropped 0.4 percent to data compiled by Bloomberg. And the BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda the first meeting of 2016 that there are $1.0844 as of 5:22pm London time yes- shared currency’s effective exchange said last week officials won’t hesitate no limits to how officials can act within terday, leaving it down 0.2 percent rate has diverged from the euro’s rate to add stimulus if necessary. The cen- their mandate. Though he didn’t actu- since the start of the year. The yen has versus the dollar. tral bank announces its next policy President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi arrives for a session ally announce any new measures, the strengthened more than 2 percent in “We are at a level in the effective decision on January 29. at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, yesterday. BUSINESS SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 15 Oil will rise to $40 by end No plan to devalue Yuan: Official of 2016, says minister China’s economy Bloomberg Countries effectively abandoning grew 6.9 percent in its output ceiling last month, Rus- sia pumping near record levels and 2015, the slowest rate US shale fields proving more resil- since 1990. Capital is LONDON: Crude oil will rise above ient than forecast, oil executives and flowing out of China $40 by the end of the year as low prices ministers at the WEF have painted a force producers to cut investments and gloomy outlook for 2016. “Everybody on worries over the a supply glut eases, Nigeria’s Petro- is agreed on one thing: prices today weak economy leum Resources Minister of State are not good enough,” Kachikwu said. Emmanuel Kachikwu (pictured) said. Most of the oil executives and rep- Oil, currently trading below $30 resentatives of energy- rich nations a barrel, could drop further before who met in a closed session in Davos AFP starting to rebound, he said Thursday on Thursday agreed the market was in a Bloomberg Television interview oversupplied by about 1 million bar- at the World Economic Forum in rels a day and that lower spending Davos, Switzerland. on new projects would bring sup- SHANGHAI: China has no intention A reduction in spending by energy- ply and demand into balance next to devalue its currency, the country’s rich countries and companies will year, according to one of the partici- vice president Li Yuanchao has said, trim supply, he said. pants who asked not to be identified following a sudden drop in the value The market “needs to get worse because the meeting was private. of the yuan that spooked global mar- before it gets better,” Kachikwu said. OPEC needs to collaborate with kets this month. “The second half of this year holds producers from outside the group to Beijing guided the unit down by more promise.” drain the surplus and balance the setting its daily fix lower for eight Crude has slumped to the lowest market, Kachikwu said. He said it’s consecutive sessions, representing in more than 12 years as demand con- uncertain whether the group will meet a 1.4 percent fall, before returning tinues to overwhelm supply. With the before its next scheduled gathering to stability. “The fluctuations in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting in June. currency market are a result of market US 100-dollar banknotes and Chinese 100-yuan banknotes are seen in the picture illustration at Beijing forces and the Chinese government has in China on Thursday. no intention and no policy to devalue its currency,” Li said in an interview community,” said Li, the highest- Foreign Exchange said Thursday that package, widely criticised as being on the sidelines of the World Economic ranking Chinese official attending the impact could be controlled. heavy-handed, which included state- Forum in Davos Thursday. the annual meeting. Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs backed funds buying up shares. The falls raised worries of a “I hope the rest of the world can estimates there was a foreign exchange But an official at China’s securities creeping devaluation, as it echoed boost confidence and have more outflow from China of $97bn in regulator defended the moves, saying moves in mid-August when China confidence in China.” December, according to a research the government was trying to act as a adjusted the yuan down nearly five China’s economy grew 6.9 percent report. market maker. percent over a week, and spurred fears in 2015, the slowest rate since 1990, the China’s benchmark Shanghai stock “The Chinese government Beijing is pursuing a currency war to government said on Tuesday. index has already lost about a fifth of its intervened, and some people from help boost its flagging exports. For this year, Li said, “some value this year, closing at a more than outside China think what the Chinese “Recently there have been some moderation in the growth rate is one-year low Thursday, on worries over government is trying to do is to bolster fluctuations in China’s economy, consistent with the law of economics”. the economy and the government’s the market to boost the shares of the its equity and foreign exchange Capital is flowing out of China ability to stave off a “hard landing”. market,” China Securities Regulatory markets and this has triggered some on worries over the weak economy, A stock market rout last year saw Commission vice chairman Fang overreaction from the international though the State Administration of Beijing launch an unprecedented rescue Xinghai said. Apple CEO Cooks meets with Antitrust chief amid probe BofA to cut more jobs

Bloomberg Commission both confirmed the in return for a pledge to create jobs company.” Regulators have sought Bloomberg from a year earlier. Revenue growth talks took place but didn’t elabo- in the country. more information in the probe and will be “challenging,” even as the US rate on what was discussed. “As far as Ireland is concerned are expecting responses within the economy improves, Chief Financial Ireland may eventually be forced and we’ve been very clear about next few weeks, raising concerns NEW YORK: Bank of America Corp Officer Paul Donofrio said Tuesday BRUSSELS: Apple Inc Chief Execu- to recoup billions of euros in unpaid this -- we’ve dealt with all the that after a year and a half they still the lender that cut more than 10,000 on a call with analysts after the firm tive Officer Tim Cook had a private taxes from Apple, according to issues about reputational dam- aren’t clear how the investigation jobs last year, will reduce the number of reported fourth- quarter results. Net meeting with the European Union’s Bloomberg Intelligence. age, about comments that Ireland will end. employees in 2016 as it seeks to lower income for the three months that ended antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager as The probe is the most high profile was some sort of tax haven which “If the commission follows its costs amid declining revenue, Chief December 31 increased 9.4 percent EU regulators close in on a final deci- investigation in an EU crackdown was completely without foundation own precedent” from recent cases Executive Officer Brian Moynihan said. to $3.34 billion, or 28 cents a share, sion into the iPhone-maker’s tax deals on tax deals between countries and and utterly untrue,” Kenny said in “and effectively requires Ireland to “We took down the head count by from a year earlier, the bank said in a in Ireland. multinationals that’s also embroiled an interview with Bloomberg TV’s impose the statutory tax rate, Apple 2,000 in the fourth quarter,” Moyni- statement. Revenue for the year fell 2.1 The Brussels meeting came the companies including Starbucks Corp. Hans Nichols in Davos, Switzerland will be looking at around ten per- han said Thursday. He declined to say percent to $82.5 billion and expenses same day as Irish Prime Minister Enda and a unit of Fiat Chrysler Automo- on Thursday. centage points of tax on substantially how many jobs would be cut this year, declined 24 percent to $57.2bn. Since Kenny described as “false and base- biles NV in the Netherlands and “From our perspective we’re very more than a hundred billion dollars “but it will be lower than it is now.” 2010, Bank of America has cut costs less” claims that Ireland is a tax haven Luxembourg. clear that our Revenue Commission- of profit from a decade of sweetheart Bank of America, the second-larg- the most among its competitors as low for the company. The EU is examining whether ers have never done specific deals or deals,” said Alex Cobham, director of est US lender, had 213,280 employees interest rates and volatile markets Apple and the European Ireland gave Apple a special tax deal a favorable deal with any particular research at the Tax Justice Network. as of December 31, down 4.7 percent stymie revenue growth. Brazil’s real drops to four-month low

Bloomberg economic downturn than the sharp would mark the longest period with- rise in inflation,” Spiro said. “This out expansion in more than a century. would be a perfectly defensible view Suspicions of political influence if it were not for the fact that mone- over the central bank come as Presi- SAO PAULO: Brazil’s real sank to a four- tary policy has become dangerously dent Dilma Rousseff works to overcome month low and bond traders priced in politicized and that the central bank an effort to impeach her for alleged faster inflation after the central bank’s was, up until very recently, sounding accounting violations related to gov- surprise decision to keep interest-rates quite hawkish.” ernment finances and boost record-low unchanged raised questions about the The real dropped 1 percent to 4.1393 popularity numbers. institution’s independence. per dollar at 2:51pm in Sao Paulo, poised Lower borrowing costs can aid Deutsche Bank AG, Brown Broth- for the weakest closing level since Sep- growth by making it more attractive ers Harriman & Co and Credit Suisse tember 23. Swap rates on contracts for businesses to take out loans and Group AG all issued reports signaling maturing in January 2017, which show invest. concern that policy makers are under traders expectations for borrowing Bernd Berg, an emerging-markets political pressure to prioritise economic costs, fell 0.35 percentage point to 14.8 strategist in London at Societe Gene- growth over fighting inflation. Societe percent, the lowest level in four months. rale, said the currency will come under Generale said the real seems poised to The breakeven rate, a measure of further pressure because of the cen- drop about 6 percent more to a record bond traders’ expectations for infla- tral bank’s move. 4.4 per dollar within weeks. tion over the next two years, rose 0.09 A drop to 4.4 per dollar is possible While forecasts for Brazil’s deepest percentage point to 10.44 percent, the in the next couple of weeks if global and longest recession in more than a highest in at least three years. sentiment continues to deteriorate and century could justify a decision to keep “The signaling process orches- commodity prices remain at historic interest rates unchanged, the central trated by the monetary authority has lows, he wrote. bank didn’t communicate its strategy lost some of its power to coordinate Win Thin, the head of emerging- clearly in the weeks leading up to the market expectations,” Credit Suisse market strategy at New York- based meeting and that’s stoking concern economists led by Nilson Teixeira wrote Brown Brothers, said the rate deci- its coming under political influence, in a report. “It will make it even more sion was “terrible.” He predicted the said Nicholas Spiro, a London-based difficult to bring about a significant currency would soon weaken past its managing director at Spiro Sovereign reduction in consumer inflation in the record low of about 4.25 per dollar, Strategy. coming quarters.” reached in September. An unusual statement from the Late Wednesday, policy makers “This is a major blow to the BCB’s monetary authority Tuesday that it said they would keep the benchmark credibility, especially considering that was taking new growth forecasts into Selic rate at 14.25 percent, surprising the bank has not been able to keep account came just days after the bank’s economists surveyed by Bloomberg, inflation close to the 4.5 percent target president sent an open letter to the most of whom had expected at least a since 2009,” Deutsche Bank strate- government reiterating his commit- 0.25 percentage point increase. gists led by Drausio Giacomelli wrote ment to slow inflation to 4.5 percent The bank cited global uncertainty in a report. from 2017, from the current level of for the decision, which came a day after “The BCB decision not to raise inter- more than 10 percent. the International Monetary Fund cut its est rates seems to be consistent with “Brazil’s central bank has made estimates for Brazil’s economy, fore- a broader strategy of trying to stimu- it crystal clear now that it’s more casting a 3.5 percent contraction this late an economic recovery at any cost concerned about the severity of the year and zero growth next year. That due to political reasons.” View of the headquarters of Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras in centre of Rio de Janeiro, on Thursday. 16 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS VIEWS

Yellen to keep fed rate Lagarde: Skilful pioneer options open amid turbulent markets with knack for direct talk

By Craig Torres impact on the world’s largest Bloomberg economy of a dimming global outlook. So while the committee will surely review their outlook for growth and pushing inflation anet Yellen’s big challenge next up toward target, one goal will week is clear communica- be to get financial markets back tion about a clouded outlook. in line with their thinking. The Federal Reserve was Investors see the probability Jexpected to leave interest rates of a second rate hike this year as unchanged at their January 26-27 less than 50 percent, based on meeting even before the recent pricing in fed funds futures, and rout in global stocks. But just six view the odds of a hike in March weeks after policy makers fore- at 20 percent, down from 45 per- cast four rate hikes this year amid cent this time last month. solid growth, the world looks a “Anything they do that may more precarious place. sound a little more dovish does Equity prices from Japan have a significant chance of vali- to Brazil have tumbled into a dating the market pricing in fewer bear market, China’s economy rate hikes,” said Michael Hanson, slowed and oil prices are lower, a US senior economist at Bank prompting European Central of America Corp in New York. Bank President Mario Draghi to “They want to be careful not to warn Thursday that downside feed the pessimism.” risks have increased. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Yellen has been publicly stock index is down about 10 per- silent since assuring investors cent since the December 15-16 on December 16 that tighten- FOMC meeting. The Fed’s infla- ing would be gradual, after the tion target looks further away with Federal Open Market Commit- oil prices falling around 25 per- tee hiked its benchmark policy cent, and the dollar rising almost rate for the first time since 2006. 2 percent against key currencies. Fang Xinghai, (right), Director-General, International Economic Department, speaks with Managing Director of the International Though there is no press confer- As dismally as financial and ence scheduled to follow next commodity markets have per- Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, at the 46th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. week’s meeting, she’s expected formed this year, the Fed also to take a more nuanced approach has plenty to be encouraged by than her European counterpart in when it examines the US econ- AFP she patiently worked to restore the institu- the policy statement the Fed will omy. In particular, the labour tion’s luster after the ouster of predecessor issue after Wednesday’s meeting. market continued to roar forward Dominique Strauss-Kahn amid a sex scandal. “The December statement is in December when employers The IMF move gave her a powerful seat relatively fresh, and I don’t think added 292,000 jobs to non-farm ive years ago Christine Lagarde inside the closed circle of the world’s leaders there’s any urgency to change payrolls. That brought the new smashed through the glass ceiling -- where women are notable by their absence the underlying tone,” said Ward jobs total to 2.65 million for 2015. at one of the world’s leading insti- -- but also responsibility for handling Greece’s McCarthy, chief financial econo- On top of that, labour-market tutions, becoming the first woman debt crisis that threatened the whole Euro- The French lawyer and mist at Jefferies LLC in New York. gains may finally have begun to to head the International Mone- pean economy. former finance minister, The committee will try to walk “a produce healthier levels of wage Ftary Fund. Less than a year after her arrival, the ini- fine line between avoiding con- growth. Hourly earnings in the The French lawyer and former finance tial rescue plan for Greece crumbled and the who was last year voted tributing to hysteria but remaining US, after ticking up by an aver- minister, who was last year voted the world’s IMF was forced to join an expanded second the world’s sixth most relevant and credible.” age annual rate of 2.0 percent sixth most powerful woman by Forbes mag- bailout operation, taking the cost to a massive Draghi said officials will from 2011 to 2014, rose 2.5 per- azine, has seen her popularity in France hit 240 billion euros ($270 billion). Yet Greece powerful woman by review their programmes at the cent last year. a peak and some see hints of further politi- kept bleeding, and now has a third bailout Forbes magazine, has next policy session in March and New York Fed President Wil- cal ambitions despite legal woes. that the IMF supports but has not contrib- there are “no limits” to how far liam Dudley, the only regional Fed Lagarde, 60, has brushed aside the chat- uted to financially. seen her popularity in they’re willing to deploy meas- chief with a permanent FOMC vote, ter and announced yesterday she would run A tough negotiator and determined con- France hit a peak ures within the ECB’s mandate. said Friday that “in terms of the for a second five-year term as IMF managing sensus-builder, Lagarde did not hesitate to The FOMC must acknowl- economic outlook, the situation director when her current one expires in July. cross swords with the very officials she worked edge the threats to growth and does not appear to have changed She has already won strong European closely with in her previous job, even criticiz- their 2 percent inflation target much since the last FOMC meet- backing for another stint, as well as glowing ing her successor as finance minister, Pierre even while US labour markets are ing,” noting the stronger labour praise from top US offi- Moscovici, of being asleep during one cri- strong. Voicing too much concern, market. cials, after steering the sis meeting. “There are many instances of however, could rattle markets Should the Fed pay too much global lender through Ms. Lagarde’s courageous truth-telling,” said even more and dim expectations attention to market jitters, it risks one of its most difficult economist Desmond Lachman, a former IMF dominance in large organizations like the of further rate hikes, complicating validating expectations in futures challenges -- rescu- official. IMF. A steady career climb to the top of glo- communications down the road. markets for exceedingly grad- ing the Euro Zone from At the same time, she skillfully managed bal finance has long made Lagarde a French The FOMC will have to say ual interest-rate increases. The meltdown. the shifting currents of power in the Fund, stand-out. Born in Paris, her parents were “that financial markets and oil FOMC may have to aggressively But she now faces a where emerging giants like China are chal- teachers and she was brought up in the port markets have come down without correct that view later if the econ- potential hurdle in her lenging the Europe-US-dominated status quo. city of Le Havre. signaling they are done with their omy gains speed. If the economy stellar career: an order Lagarde recently scored two major She pushed her way up to become chair- rate cycle,” said Robert Martin, US turns out to be stronger than She has already won in December to stand trial successes at the IMF: the addition of the Chi- woman of the company’s global executive economist at Barclays Capital Inc. expected, the Fed may have to strong European in a French court, accused nese yuan to the Fund’s basket of reserve committee in 1999, a first for the firm, and It’s a difficult task. The com- raise rates faster, which could be of negligence when she currencies and the passage by the US Con- then of its global strategy committee in 2004. mittee must persuade investors even more disruptive for growth backing for another was France’s finance chief gress of long-stalled IMF reforms, for which She then embraced politics, joining the that volatility in stock markets and unemployment. Tim Hopper, stint, as well as in a massive government she had joked she would “do belly-dancing” government of president Jacques Chirac doesn’t automatically translate chief economist at asset manager payment to French tycoon if needed to get US ratification. as trade minister in June 2005. Two years into weaker US growth, and TIAA-CREF in New York, said the glowing praise from Bernard Tapie to settle a The silver-haired mother of two sons, later, Chirac’s successor Nicolas Sarkozy they have six more weeks until Fed had stumbled in its commu- top US officials after 2008 business dispute. whose chic wardrobe has also grabbed media named her agriculture minister, and shortly the March meeting to gauge the nications in the past. It will not be her attention -- she was once listed among the after switched her to the finance portfo- rescuing the Euro Zone first headwind at the “best-dressed” personalities in Vanity Fair lio in 2007, making her the first woman from meltdown 188-nation IMF. After tak- magazine -- also has fashioned herself as named to the post which she held 2011, a ing the helm in July 2011, an icon to talented women fighting male record longevity. Credit strains intensifying as Carlyle and Staples meet resistance

By Sridhar Natarajan and Veritas. Investors who agreed to lend money US junk bonds slid to their lowest levels in points between December 31 and Wednesday, Michelle F Davis to fund Staples Inc’s $6.3bn purchase of Office almost seven years. An index of US specu- reaching 583 basis points intraday, the high- Bloomberg Depot Inc nine months ago are now trying to lative-grade bonds has slumped 4.1 percent est level since 2012, and the biggest jump at negotiate better terms on the financing, people this month, almost equaling the 4.6 percent the start of the year since 2009. with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg. drop in all of 2015. “A lot of funds limped into the new year “I suspect there are a lot of deals that were DoubleLine Capital has been cutting expo- hoping for a market rally but that just hasn’t he riskiest parts of corporate debt teed up, ready to come to the market, that will sure to high-yield debt in its $5.3bn core fixed happened,” Heron said. Investors’ concerns markets are inching closer to panic just have to stay on the shelf for the foreseea- income fund, bringing it down to 2.4 percent may be more than just shifts in sentiment-- mode. Just ask Mark Heron, head of ble future,” said money manager Margie Patel, at the end of the year from 8.1 percent in May. there are signs that global economic growth distressed debt at hedge fund Elling- at Wells Capital Management in Boston, which “The negative sentiment in the market has is slowing and credit quality is getting weaker. ton Management Group. A dealer manages about $350 billion. “The pipeline is turned into a full-blown high yield selloff and Complacency about the risks of conta- Toffered to sell him a loan at 97 cents on the going to dramatically shrink.” more credits are going to run into trouble,” said gion from the weakest segments of high yield dollar this week. Heron said he would buy it at In the Staples deal, investors in the com- Kapil Singh, a money manager at DoubleL- is reminiscent of sentiment regarding sub- 88 cents, a low-ball bid he thought would end pany’s loans are being asked to put money ine. “High yield buyers are becoming choosier prime debt in mid-2007, Heron’s firm wrote the conversation. To his surprise, the dealer into escrow to fund an acquisition that was and choosier.” Investors are reassessing their in a November report. Investors are not only sold him the junk- rated loan at his price. supposed to close by early February but now risk tolerance globally across multiple asset The International Monetary Fund said on concerned about new “You get the sense that there is a broader may take several months longer. The lenders classes. This year, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Tuesday that it was cutting its forecasts for market issue,” Heron said. Widespread stress said on a conference call Wednesday that they index has fallen by about 8 percent, the MSCI global economic growth for 2016 and 2017 debt issues. The cost in high-yield bond and loan markets have wal- were reluctant to fund a loan on the same terms world stock index has lost about than 10 per- by 0.17 percentage point, reflecting weaker of protecting an index loped investors and are increasingly hurting that they agreed to in April 2015, because junk cent and yields on 10-year US Treasury notes growth in emerging economies. companies looking to issue debt, particularly bond markets have since cratered. slid below 2 percent on Wednesday. Oil futures That weaker growth has worried at least of North American junk when acquisitions are involved. After inves- Investors are not only concerned about new declined to their lowest level since 2003 this some central bankers. European Central Bank credits against default has tors resisted a $5.5bn debt offering last year to debt issues. The cost of protecting an index of week. President Mario Draghi set the euro region up suffered its worst start to fund Carlyle Group LP’s buyout of a Symantec North American junk credits against default The risk premium on the Markit CDX North for expanded monetary stimulus for the third Corp Unit, the two agreed on Tuesday to cut the has suffered its worst start to a year since 2009, American High Yield Index, a credit-default time in a year on Thursday, noting that there a year since 2009 price that the private equity firm would pay for when the world was in the middle of a finan- swaps benchmark tied to the debt of 100 junk- are “no limits” on how far the ECB will go to the technology company’s data- storage unit cial crisis. Exchange-traded funds that hold rated companies, surged as much as 113 basis boost the economy as global risks escalate. CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 17

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12345 678 910111213 GEMSTONE HBOMBS

14 15 16 PEACHP I T OLDEL I ONTHE I CE LADMAG 17 18 19 CLONE LYN OHH 20 21 22 SPHERE R I SKY

23 24 25 26 HAPPY BABYCAKES TSOS FR I ENDZONE 27 28 29 30 EM I BR I L LOS B I X

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 TONGUET I ED WEST LITTLEONE SABLE 39 40 41 42 SLUNG QUIRED 43 44 45 BAG ENS BURLY

46 47 48 49 ARENT I NA I VEART SERGIO INTERNEE 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 EAMONN PASYSTEM Yesterday’s answer 58 59 60 61 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 62 63 64 65 DOWN 35 Big feature for Donald 1 ___.com (dating site) Trump or Kanye West Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 66 67 68 36 Vessel landing on 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every 2 Staring intently 3 Capital of Senegal Mount Ararat column and every 3x3 box contains all the 69 70 71 4 Cursory glance 37 ___ capita digits 1 to 9. 5 Err 40 Pre-calc course 41 Pine (for) ACROSS 39 What 23-Across thinks 6 No-sweat shot with (as illustrated in this 7 Knock for ___ 42 Alma mater for five 1 Sir’s counterpart U.S. presidents grid?) 8 Former planet 6 Cumberland ___ 48 Least normal 9 Talkative bird 43 Vice president Agnew 9 Was introduced to 44 Southern-fried vegetable 49 Ancient land on the 14 Having the mouth wide 10 Tennis star Ivanovic Aegean HYPER SUDOKU open 45 Movie filming spot 11 Drinks before dinner, 51 The Beatles’ 15 Down with something 46 Singer K. T. ___ maybe ___ Pepper 16 Great-grandfather of 47 Movie filming spot 12 Pine (for) 52 Supermodel Klum Noah 50 Notable 23-Across feature 13 Curds’ partner in a 53 Ironworker’s block nursery rhyme 17 Seizes 58 Toward the back of a ship 54 Jury of one’s ___ 18 Notable 23-Across feature 60 Hereditary unit 19 Words before “gather” or “see” 55 Stationery 20 Bygone Russian autocrats 61 “House,” but not “Full brand 24 Queue 21 Mr. ___ (Marquand sleuth) House” 56 Change, as the 22 Item on a custodian’s ring 62 23-Across’s occupation 25 College military org. Constitution 23 Fictional character who 65 Consumed 26 Double-reed 57 Copenhageners, e.g. instrument “died” in 1975 66 Make up (for) 58 Eve’s man 29 French miss: Abbr. 27 News service inits. 67 Foundation leader: Abbr. 59 Salad cheese 30 No. 2 28 President born Aug. 4, 68 Biscuit with tea 63 Nav. rank 31 In addition 1961 69 En ___ (together) 64 Letter in a copyright 31 Sidebars of many web 70 They: Fr. 32 Salsa and guacamole, symbol for two pages 71 Cares for, as a garden 34 ___ tide 33 Pointy heels 38 Works hard

Yesterday’s answer How to play Hyper Sudoku: A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like a normal Sudoku. BABY BLUES BABY

How to play Kakuro: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can NOVO be of any size. It has rows and columns, and SHOWING AT KAKURO dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like Our Brand Is Crisis (2D/Comedy) 10:00am, 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm in a crossword, some of the dark cells will TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 contain numbers. Some cells will contain two Dirty Grandpa (2D/Comedy) 10:00, 10:30am, 12:00noon, 2:00, numbers. 3:00, 4:00, 6:00, 7:20, 8:00, 10:00, 11:40 & 11:55pm However, in a crossword the numbers Ride Along 2 (2D/Comedy) 11:00am, 12:45, 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:15, reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers 9:30 & 11:45pm The Boy (2D/Thriller) 10:30am, 12:45, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:40 & 11:50pm are all you get! They denote the total of the The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) 10:00am, 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:00, digits in the row or column referenced by the 9:20 & 11:40pm number. Daddy’s Home (2D/Comedy) 10:15am, 12:10, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15, Within each 8:15, & 10:15pm The Hateful Eight (2D/Comedy) 12:10am collection of cells - Min Dahar Ragel(2D/Arabic)10:00am, 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be 9:00&11:45pm used but, like sudoku, The Peanut Movie (2D/Animation) 10:00, 11:50am, 1:40 & 3:30pm each number may only The Revenant (2D/Adventure) 5:30, 8:30 & 11:40pm be used once. 2D IMAX 6:00, 9:00 & 11:55pm Star Wars:The Force Awakens(Action) 3D IMAX 10:00am, 12:40 & 3:20pm MALL Yesterday’s answer Gethu (2D/Tamil) 2:30pm The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) 5:00pm Ride Along 2 (2D/Action) 7:00pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Min Dahr Ragel (2D/Arabic) 8:45pm The Boy (2D/Thriller) 11:30pm Airlift (2D/Hindi) 2:30 & 8:30pm The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 4:45pm ALL IN THE MIND Our Brand Is Crisis (2D/Comedy) 6:30 & 9:00pm Can you find the hidden words? They may Two Countries (2D/Malayalam) 11:30am; 2:15 & 10:45pm be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or Ya Tayr El Tayer - The Idol (2D/Arabic) 5:00pm backwards. Dirty Grandpa (2D/Comedy) 7:00pm Rajini Murugan (2D/Tamil) 11:00pm ASIAN TOWN Charlie (Malayalam) 1:00 & 7:30pm Airlift (Malayalam) 12:30, 6:15 & 11:30pm 2 Countires (Malayalam) 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 6:30, 7:15 & 8:30pm 2 Countires (Malayalam) 9:30, 10:00pm Soggade Chinni Nayana (Telugu) 2:45pm Rajani Murugani (Tamil) 3:15, 4:30 & 10:15pm Gethu (Tamil) 5:15pm Hoy en la Historia LANDMARK January 23, 1978 Gethu (2D/Tamil) 2:15pm Ya Tayr El Tayer - The Idol (2D/Arabic) 4:30pm Sweden became the first nation Dirty Grandpa (2D/Comedy) 6:15 & 11:30pm to ban the use of aerosol spray Two Countries (2D/Malayalam) 11:15am; 8:15 & 11:00pm cans because of fears that The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 3:00pm fluorocarbon gases contained in Airlift (2D/Hindi) 12:30pm 4:45 & 9:00pm them depleted the ozone layer Our Brand Is Crisis (2D/Comedy) 7:00 & 11:15pm 971: In China, Song dynasty troops Ride Along 2 (2D/Action) 2:30pm Rajini Murugan(2D/Tamil) 4:15pm armed with crossbows defeated the war Min Dahr Ragel (2D/Arabic) 7:00pm elephant corps of the Southern Han The Boy (2D/Thriller) 9:45pm 1719: Liechtenstein became an independent principality within the ROYAL PLAZA Holy Roman Empire Dragon Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D/Animation) 2:30pm 1931: Celebrated Russian prima Ride Along 2 (2D/Action) 4:30pm ACCELERATION, BRISK, CHARGE, DART, DASH, FAST, ballerina Anna Pavlova died Dirty Grandpa (2D/Comedy) 6:30 & 11:30pm FESTINATE, FLEET, FLIT, FLYING, HASTEN, HIGH Min Dahr Ragel(2D/Arabic) 8:30pm The Boy(2D/Thriller) 2004: The European Space Agency’s VELOCITY, HOTFOOT, HURRY, HURTLE, LOCOMOTION, 9:45pm Airlift (2D/Hindi) 2:30, 7:00 & 11:15pm MOVE, PACE, QUICK, RACE, RAPID, RATE, RUNNING, Mars Express orbiter confirmed the presence of water ice at the south The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 3:00pm RUSH, SCOOT, SPEED, SWIFT, THRUST, TRAVEL, The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) 5:00pm WHIZZ, ZOOM. pole of Mars Ya Tayr El Tayer - The Idol (2D/Arabic) 9:30pm The Revenant (2D/Adventure) 5:00pm Picture: Newscom © GRAPHIC NEWS Our Brand Is Crisis (2D/Comedy) 7:45 & 11:30pm 20 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

SCOREBOARD ZIMBABWE S Rahman c (sub-Masakdza) b Chisoro 1 All-round Anderson gives NZ V Sibanda c Shakib b Mortaza 4 Imrul Kayes c Jongwe b Raza 18 H Masakadza (not out) 93 Shakib Al Hasan b Chisoro 4 R Mutumbami b Hider 32 Mahmudullah b Chisoro 54 M Waller b Taskin 36 Nurul Hasan c Chigumbura b Raza 15 S Raza st Nurul b Shakib 2 Mashrafe Mortaza c Sibanda b Jongwe 22 huge victory over Pakistan E Chigumbura (not out) 5 Abu Hider c Masakadza b Madziva 14

Extras (B-2, W-6) 8 Arafat Sunny b Madziva 10 Total (for 4 wkts in 20 overs) 180 Taskin Ahmed (not out) 1 for 101 in the 17th over. The compre- Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-84, 3-145, 4-149. Extras (LB-2 W-9) 11 hensive victory marked the return of Did not bat: P Moor, L Jongwe, T Chisoro, N Total (all out in 19 overs) 162 Hosts wrap up the burly all-rounder Anderson to his best Madziva, G Cremer. Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-13, 3-13, 4-17, 5-53, Twenty20 series 2-1 after he missed the first half of the New Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-40-1; Hider 4-0-33-1 6-110, 7-134, 8-139, 9-157, 10-162. Zealand summer because of injury. (w3); Sunny 3-0-27-0; Taskin 4-0-31-1(w1); Bowling: Chisoro 4-0-17-3; Madziva 4-0-34- with 95 runs win in His man-of-the match 82 off 42 Shakib 4-0-35-1 (w2); Sabbir 1-0-11-0. 4(w1); Jongwe 3-0-35-1 (w1); 3-0-31-2 (w6); Wellington deliveries was backed by Grant Elli- BANGLADESH Cremer 4-0-27-0 (w1); Chigumbura 1-0-16-0. ott taking three for seven, Adam Milne Tamim Iqbal b Madziva 1 Result: Zimbabwe won by 18 runs. three for eight and his own two for Soumya Sarkar c Mutumbami b Madziva 11 Series Result: Series drawn 2-2. 17 as Pakistan imploded. Anderson’s lack of cricket was evident in a rocky AFP start to his innings when he went to the crease with New Zealand at 62-2 after seven overs. He had 15 off 10 at the end of the Masakadza, Madziva level WELLINGTON: Corey Anderson 11th over when New Zealand lost their whacked a career-best 82 not out and two senior batsmen in quick succes- followed up with two wickets as New sion with Kane Williamson out for 33 series for Zimbabwe Zealand demolished Pakistan by 95 and Ross Taylor retired hurt for six. runs in their deciding Twenty20 in By the end of the 15th over, when Wellington yesterday. New Zealand were 129-3 Anderson New Zealand wrapped up the series decided he had played himself at 36 AFP an imposing total. After opting to bat 2-1 after being sent into bat and making off 23 balls and lashed out. first, Zimbabwe began aggressively, an imposing 196 before rolling Pakistan In the last five overs he faced 19 shrugging off the early dismissal of opener Vusi Sibanda who was caught New Zealand celebrate after winning the series against Pakistan at KHULNA: A record-breaking innings at cover by Shakib Al Hasan off the SCOREBOARD Westpac Stadium in Wellington yesterday. by Hamilton Masakadza led Zimbabwe bowling of Mashrafe Mortaza after NEW ZEALAND A Shehzad c Boult b Anderson 8 to an 18-run victory over Bangladesh making just four. yesterday as the tourists clinched a Much of the damage came dur- M Guptill c U Akmal by S Afridi 42 Mohd Rizwan (run out) 4 deliveries and bludgeoned 46 runs series draw in the fourth and final ing a second-wicket partnership of K Williamson c S Malik b W Riaz 33 S Malik c McClenaghan b Anderson 14 with his innings including four sixes CRICKET: PAKISTAN IN Twenty20 international in Khulna. 80 between Masakadza and Rich- NEW ZEALAND C Munro (run out) 4 S Ahmed c Milne b Elliott 41 and six fours. Masakadza hit 93 off 58 balls, the ard Mutumbami. C Anderson (not out) 82 U Akmal c (sub-Younghusband) b Milne 5 He then set about carving through highest innings by a Zimbabwean in Rookie paceman Abu Hider R Taylor (retd hurt) 6 S Afridi c sub (Henry) b Elliott 8 the Pakistan top order capturing a T20 international, as the southern bowled Mutumbami for 32 with a bril- Ahmed Shehzad for eight and Shoaib Africans reached 180-4. liant yorker before Taskin Ahmed took G Elliott (run out) 19 I Wasim c Guptill b Elliott 0 Malik for 14 before leaving the field flying start putting on 57 in six overs. His heroics were then followed by the wicket of Malcolm Waller for 36. L Ronchi c U Akmal b W Riaz 1 A Ali c Ronchi b Milne 8 with cramp. When Afridi brought himself on Neville Madziva who grabbed 4-34 Waller, man of the match in

M Santner (not out) 2 W Riaz c Ronchi b Milne 4 Sarfraz Ahmed (41) and Malik were he captured Guptill in his first over as the hosts were dismissed for 162 Zimbabwe’s 31-run victory during Extras (LB-2, W-4, NB-1) 7 Mohd Amir (not out) 1 the only Pakistan batsmen to reach with the New Zealand opener hav- in 19 overs. Wednesday’s third contest, had again Total (for 5 wkts in 20 overs) 196 Extras (LB-2, W-4) 6 double figures as Elliott and Milne ing made 42 off 19 deliveries. Mahmudullah top-scored for looked dangerous in an 18-ball innings proved too difficult to handle in the Colin Munro only faced three balls Bangladesh with 54 off 41 balls, but before he was bowled. Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-62, 3-94, 4-174, 5-175. Total (all out in 16.1 overs) 101 daunting run chase. before he ran himself to bring Ander- Zimbabwe were always in control. But Masakadza continued to blaze Did not bat: Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Mitchell Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-14, 3-15, 4-36, 5-55, When Pakistan captain Shahid son to the crease and captain Afridi’s Mahumudllah and Imrul Kayes away and was joined at the climax McClenaghan 6-75, 7-76, 8-92, 9-98, 10-101. Afridi won the toss he opted to bowl hopes of salvaging the series disap- (18) steadied the innings before Nurul of the innings by Zimbabwe skip- Bowling: Anwar Ali 3-0-31-0; Mohammad Bowling: Anderson 3-0-17-2; Boult 3-0-32-1 first, quoting the history of West- peared . Hasan (15) and Mashrafe Mortaza (22) per Elton Chigumbura, who made Amir 4-0-35-0; Imad Wasim 4-0-42-0; Wahab (w1); Milne 3.1-1-8-3; Santner 1-0-7-0; McClena- pac Stadium where the six previous Wahab Riaz was the most suc- gave Bangladesh a faint glimmer of an unbeaten five on his return after Riaz 4-0-43-2 (w1, nb1); Shahid Afridi 4-0-27-1; ghan 3-0-15-0 (w1); Elliott 2-0-7-3 (w1); Munro Twenty20 matches had all been won cessful of the Pakistan bowlers with hope. Masakadza, who had equalled taking a break in the previous two Shoaib Malik 1-0-16-0 (w2). 1-0-13-0 (w1). batting second and the highest score two for 43. his own record of 79 in the opening matches. PAKISTAN Result: New Zealand won by 95 runs. Twenty20 total at the ground was 163. New Zealand and Pakistan play match of the series, struck eight fours Bangladesh won the first two Mohd Hafeez c Santner b Boult 2 Series: New Zealand 2-1. But statistics did not stop Martin the first of three one-day internation- and five sixes in an unbeaten knock matches, respectively by four wick- Guptill and Williamson making another als in Wellington on Monday. that ensured Zimbabwe compiled ets and 42 runs. Smith keen to pile on the misery for Indians

Reuters only to lose their last nine wickets for also saw the 500-run mark breached CRICKET: INDIA IN 46 runs in Canberra. on several occasions and Smith said AUSTRALIA India’s chances of victory in Sydney he was “disappointed” with the doc- today could be aided by the absence ile surfaces at home. SYDNEY: Australia skipper Steven of Glenn Maxwell, who was struck on “It’d be nice if the wickets that tra- Smith has stressed there will be no the knee during Wednesday’s win. ditionally have a little bit more pace let up when they play the fifth and “We’ve played some very good The all-rounder went on to hit a and bounce in them, the WACA and final One Day International against an cricket against them of late,” Smith crucial quick fire 41 at the end of the Gabba, were able to bring back those Indian side staring at a series white- said yesterday. Australian innings to help post a win- characteristics,” Smith said. wash on today. “We dominated them when they ning target. “I’ve been a little bit disappointed The Australians stretched their were out here last summer, we beat “He might have had something with with the way they’ve played through- one-day win streak to 18 matches them in the World Cup semi-final and his hamstring as well,” Smith said of out the whole summer in the two test after a stunning India collapse in the we’re up 4-0 so we’re in a good spot. Maxwell’s ailments. matches against New Zealand on those fourth one-day on Wednesday allowed “Hopefully we can top it off tomor- “We’ll wait and see how he pulls up respective pitches. the hosts to claim a 25-run victory. row with a 5-0 whitewash.” and see how the team goes from there.” “The wickets didn’t have a great Smith said he was pleased with India have not beaten Australia in The ODI series has seen the two deal of pace and bounce to them which his side’s displays and was keen to any format since 2013. sides score close to 2500 runs com- we naturally see. It’d be great if that Australia’s Kane Richardson (right) and Matthew Wade celebrate the wrap up a 5-0 series sweep before The tourists looked like ending bined with little help for both the fast was brought back. I think that’ll make the three-match Twenty20 series that barren run when they were on and spin bowlers. The Test matches it a little bit more even between bat wicket of India’s Rohit Sharma during their fourth ODI at Manuka Oval begins next week. 277 for one, chasing 349 for victory, against New Zealand and West Indies and ball.” in Canberra, Australia last Wednesday.

Tampa Bay extend James stars as Cavaliers slice up LA Clippers winning streak

NEW YORK: In a rematch of last Agencies NBA RESULTS line this season, shot 6-for-15 from year’s Stanley Cup Finals, Tampa the charity stripe and finished with Bay extended its winning streak 10 points and 13 rebounds. to seven games, while ending Chi- CLEVELAND 115 LA Clippers 102 Cavs forward James Jones fouled cago’s franchise-record run at 12 NEW YORK: Kevin Love scored 18 NEW ORLEANS 115 Detroit 99 Jordan four times in a span of 1:21 late with a 2-1 win at Amalie Arena on points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Memphis 102 DENVER 101 in the third quarter. Thursday. LeBron James had 22 points and 12 SACRAMENTO 91 Atlanta 88 Jordan shot 3-for-8 during that Nikita Kucherov and Anton assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers in stretch, and Cleveland extended a Stralman scored for the Light- a 115-102 home victory over the Los nine-point lead to 88-72 by the time ning while Ben Bishop had 17 saves. Angeles Clippers on Thursday. Clippers shot 6-for-25 from deep after Jones exited the game and the Cavs Artem Anisimov scored for the The Cavs won for the 13th time in making 22 three-pointers in an over- stopped fouling. Blackhawks. The Pittsburgh Pen- the past 14 meetings against the Clip- time win against the Houston Rockets Cleveland coach David Blatt said guins got two goals from Phil Kessel pers and improved to 18-3 against them on Monday. before the game he did not like the in a 4-3 comeback win that ended all time at Quicken Loans Arena. The victory against a top Western rule, believing it should result in an an eight-game losing streak against Clippers guard Chris Paul had 30 Conference team was important for unsportsmanlike foul but as long as it the Philadelphia Flyers. points and nine assists, including 12 the Cavs, who were blown out by the was legal, he would continue to use it. consecutive points in the first quar- Warriors four days ago and remain “I think the referees can decide NHL RESULTS ter to keep Los Angeles close. 0-3 against Golden State and the San certain things, you know?” Blatt said. Vancouver 4 Boston 2 However, Cleveland’s defence Antonio Spurs, the two top teams from The Clippers rallied once the Cavs New Jersey 6 Ottawa 3 stiffened after the first quarter and the West. The Clippers are not quite in stopped fouling. Pittsburgh 4 Philadelphia 3 the Cavaliers’ hacking strategy on that elite category but they are not far A basket from Paul pulled them Los Angeles centre DeAndre Jordan behind. One night after Detroit Pistons within 93-87 in the fourth but a three- Calgary 4 Columbus 2 in the second half worked perfectly. centre Andre Drummond shot 36 free pointer from Love extended the lead Carolina 1 Toronto 0 The Clippers shot 41 percent after throws largely from intentional fouls, back to nine, and the Cavs quickly Tampa Bay 2 Chicago 1 the first quarter. Guard JJ Redick, who the Cavs used the controversial hack- began fouling Jordan again. Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (left) and forward LeBron James Nashville 4 Winnipeg 1 entered shooting 50 percent from three- ing strategy on center Jordan late in the Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving scored Dallas 3 Edmonton 2 point range, scored 17 points while third quarter and again in the fourth. 21 points and guard JR Smith scored celebrate in the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Los shooting 2-for-6 from long range. The Jordan, a 42 percent shooter from the 22, hitting six three-pointers. Angeles Clippers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Thursday. San Jose 3 Arizona 1 SPORT SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 21

Federer AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS seals 300th MEN’S SINGLES THIRD ROUND Tomas Berdych (CZE x6) bt Nick Kyrgios (AUS slam win x29) 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Andreas Seppi Reuters (ITA x28) 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) Roger Federer (SUI x3) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x27) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 MELBOURNE: A patient Roger Fed- Kei Nishikori (JPN x7) bt Guillermo Garcia- erer weathered a second set storm Lopez (ESP x26) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 from Grigor Dimitrov before slap- David Goffin (BEL x15) bt Dominic Thiem ping down the Bulgarian 6-4 3-6 (AUT x19) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 6-1 6-4 to reach the fourth round of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x9) bt Pierre-Hu- the Australian Open and clinch his gues Herbert (FRA) 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) 300th win in grand slams. The four-times champion wob- Gilles Simon (FRA x14) bt Federico Delbonis bled briefly in the inter-generational (ARG) 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 battle when the 24-year-old nick- Roberto Bautista (ESP x24) bt Marin Cilic named ‘Baby Fed’ pulled off his best (CRO x12) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 impression of the Swiss master to WOMEN’S SINGLES THIRD ROUND capture the second set under a Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Daria Kasatkina closed roof at Rod Laver Arena. during his third round match against (RUS) 6-1, 6-1 Federer, however, simply lifted a Italy’s Andreas Seppi at the Australian gear, taming an occasionally way- Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) bt Yulia Putintse- Open tennis tournament at Melbourne va (KAZ) 6-3, 6-4 ward forehand before speeding Park, Australia yesterday. away to set up a clash with another Belinda Bencic (SUI x12) bt Kateryna Bond- young gun in Belgian 15th seed David arenko (UKR) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 Goffin. Maria Sharapova (RUS x5) bt Lauren Davis Blessed with a similar shot- (USA) 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-0 making grace as his opponent, Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x4) bt Monica Dimitrov showed his class in a Puig (PUR) 6-4, 6-0 number of thrilling baseline bat- tles and Federer admitted that, at Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) bt Roberta Vinci times, it felt like playing himself. Djokovic, Serena ease (ITA x13) 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 “It’s a little odd from time to Carla Suarez (ESP x10) bt Elizaveta Kulichko- time, I feel like he picks up the ball va (RUS) 6-4, 2-0 abandon on the backhand and the forehand Daria Gavrilova (AUS) bt Kristina Mladenovic (like me),” Federer said in a court- (FRA x28) 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 side interview. “Then I started playing the into fourth round wrong way at times ... It’s nice play- ing him, it’s always fair play.” Murray in Their head-to-head record at the end of the twilight match stood pursuit of at 5-0 in Federer’s favour, however, TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN Australian Open’s OPEN and Dimitrov exits Melbourne Park first Aussie still very much stuck in the Swiss’s reigning champions long shadow. Having celebrated his march towards Open title 1,000th tour win in Brisbane last the crown without quickly turning to her cropped- year, Federer was tickled by the top outfit. idea of notching up his 300th in having lost a set Rain washed away much of the Reuters grand slams. Only Martina Navra- between them day’s action on the outside courts at tilova has won more matches at the Melbourne Park, only intensifying majors, with 306, while among the the focus on the elite playing under MELBOURNE: World number two men, Jimmy Connors is a distant cover on the three main arenas. Andy Murray, four-times a losing second to Federer with 233. The Roger Federer is still very much finalist, will continue his pursuit third seed’s winning run showed Reuters part of that elite despite having gone for a first Australian Open title that he still has the game to dis- three years without adding to his 17 against Joao Sousa in the third miss young pretenders. grand slam titles and he notched up round today. “You got to work hard, even a record 300th grand slam victory Sousa, who has won only one set harder now these days it seems M E L B O U R N E : Novak Djokovic and for a man by beating Grigor Dim- against Murray in six attempts, will like,” Federer told reporters when Serena Williams reached the fourth itrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. hope to break his horrible record of asked what he might write to a jun- round of the Australian Open with- Bulgarian Dimitrov was dubbed having lost his last 16 games against ior version of himself. It may as well out having lost a set between them ‘Baby Fed’ for his similarity in style top-10 opposition. Fourth seed Stan have been a lecture for the bene- yesterday as the grand slam estab- to the Swiss master but after briefly Wawrinka will be looking to become fit of Dimitrov as the 24-year-old lishment held firm on day five of troubling the four-times Australian only the 12th active player to record plots a way to return to the big-time the championships. Open champion to win the second 400 tour-level match-wins when in the wake of an underwhelming Tougher challenges will set, he looked more pale imitation he takes on Lukas Rosol. Women’s season that checked his emergence. undoubtedly come but the untrou- than doppelganger. Serena Williams of the US serves during her third seed Garbine Muguruza will “You got to be patient, as well,” bled progress of the two reigning Fifth seed Maria Sharapova also women’s singles match against Russia’s Daria be hoping to reach the fourth round Federer added. champions and dominant players lost a set to Lauren Davis but that Kasatkina yesterday. for the third year running when she of 2015 has started to resemble a only infuriated the 2008 champion takes on Czech Republic’s Barbora Roger procession in the first week of the and she raced through the decider Strycova in the first match on Rod Federer year’s first grand slam. 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 to claim her 600th 21-year-old German Anna-Lena Hewitt, the locals noisily embraced Laver Arena. Djokovic, champion for five of WTA victory. Friedsam, who beat last year’s US their newest darling after Daria Twice former champion and 14th the last eight years at Melbourne The 28-year-old will next face Open runner up Roberta Vinci. Gavrilova backed up her upset of seed Victoria Azarenka scorched Park, played a rare match away from Belinda Bencic, a teenager who is Former US Open champion Petra Kvitova by beating Kristina her first two opponents, losing only Rod Laver Arena but still proved too expected to be challenging for Marin Cilic was the one major cas- Mladenovic 6-4, 4-6, 11-9. three games. She will next take on strong for Italian Andreas Seppi, majors before too long. ualty of the day in the men’s draw, Hewitt was back on Rod Laver Japanese 18-year-old Naomi Osaka, securing his 210th grand slam vic- The Swiss was the first player going down 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5 to Rob- Arena to watch Australia’s most who is making her first appearance tory 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(6). into the round of 16 after over- erto Bautista Agut. Japan’s seventh promising young men’s player, at Melbourne Park. In an all-French The Serbian had to work for his hauling Kateryna Bondarenko seed Kei Nishikori brushed off a Nick Kyrgios, lose 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, duel Gael Monfils will face Stephane victory through some long rallies 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and said she would wrist problem to move past Guill- 6-4 to sixth seed Tomas Berdych Robert on Hisense Arena. but always looked like he had an not be intimidated by playing a ermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, in typically tempestuous style. The Robert will bid to become the extra gear when he needed it. five-times grand slam champion. 6-4 and set up a last 16 meeting reverberations from allegations first qualifier through to the round Williams did a twirl on Rod Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwan- with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat that tennis authorities had failed of 16 at Melbourne Park since Milos Laver Arena after crushing Rus- ska, a semi-finalist in 2014, played compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert to act on suspicions of match-fix- Raonic in 2011. Canadian Raonic sian teenager Daria Kasatkina 6-1, through the pain of a leg injury to 6-4, 7-6(7), 7-6(4). ing, which overshadowed the first will be up against Viktor Troicki. 6-1 to extend her record of wins to beat Puerto Rica’s Monica Puig A night after Melbourne Park days of the tournament, had all but Following the exits of Lleyton 71 matches, the post-match chatter 6-4, 6-0. Radwanska next faces bid an emotional farewell to Lleyton faded away yesterday. Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios, Australia will have to make do with having only one man in the last 16.

Doha vs Dubai Hurricanes at Doha Rugby Club

Doha Rugby team met Dubai Hurricanes in a friendly encounter at Doha Rugby Club yesterday. Here are some of the action during the game. Pic: Baher A/The Peninsula 22 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

La Liga: Messi fit as Barca Sebastian Coe visits Doha seek to regain top spot

Suarez also returns for tricky Malaga trip today after completing ban

AFP

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Sebastian Coe (left) speaks as Qatar MADRID: Lionel Messi is fit as Bar- Athletics Federations President Dahlan Al Hamad listens during a press conference in Doha, yesterday. celona make the tricky trip to Malaga today looking to move back to the top of La Liga. Messi missed Wednesday’s 2-1 Copa del Rey win at Athletic Bilbao due to a hamstring problem that forced Aguero wary of jeopardising fitness him off at half-time in a 6-0 rout of the same opponents last weekend, but returned to training on Thursday. AFP -- as happened for the game against Barca will also have Luis Suarez Sunderland. back after he completed a two-game “I started the previous game at Cup ban in midweek as they look to Arsenal when I felt a pain in my knee. exact revenge on the only side that Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi gestures during the LONDON: Manchester City striker I was told ‘that’s it, you’re coming off’. stopped the European champions Copa del Rey final match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, in Sergio Aguero (pictured) has prom- “Now I feel like I’m getting up to from scoring in their two meetings this June 2015 file photo. ised his determination to play football full fitness for games and missing as last season. won’t see him run the risk of taking few as possible, that’s the most impor- Malaga took four points from a the field less than fully fit. tant thing. possible six against Barca in La Liga and Jordi Alba through suspension “I have said to the squad to not be Aguero missed seven City matches “The Premier League is so demand- last season and were only defeated and injury respectively. Zinedine anxious, the goal will come.” earlier this season because of a ham- ing that you can’t play at 80 percent. I’ve 1-0 thanks to Thomas Vermaelen’s Zidane faces his toughest test yet as Should they be deposed by Barce- string problem suffered while on tried to do that before and that’s when late strike when the two sides met at Real Madrid boss when his side travel lona today, Atletico Madrid can return international duty with Argentina. Aguero told Sky Sports News yesterday. I’ve injured myself,” added Aguero, the Camp Nou earlier this campaign. to Real Betis tomorrow, but Los Blan- to the top of the table ahead of their His interrupted campaign then “With the last injury I picked up on who has scored 13 goals in all com- “We need to rest well because cos are still heavy favourites to deliver trip to the Camp Nou next weekend saw the 27-year-old sidelined for four international duty I carried on play- petition this season. against Malaga we have had diffi- another convincing win. when they host Sevilla tomorrow. matches with a heel injury before ing when I should have come off,” he Asked what lay behind his fitness cult games,” said Barca midfielder Madrid have scored five times in Atletico have won nine of their last returning against Arsenal on Decem- added. problems, Aguero said: “You’re work- Ivan Rakitic. disposing of Deportivo la Coruna and 10 league games, but showed signs of ber 21 only to go off in the second half “That could have been avoided ing hard in the gym so it could be that. “We need to have a lot of respect Sporting Gijon at home in Zidane’s fatigue in labouring to a 0-0 draw with a knee problem. but you always want to play, espe- “Then you think: ‘What else could for them.” two games in charge since replac- at Celta Vigo in the first-leg of their Aguero then found himself in the cially for your country. it be? Could it be your diet?’ So you Malaga have already aided Bar- ing Rafael Benitez earlier this month. Copa del Rey quarter-final match on frustrating position of being an unused “Argentina really needed to win, change it. Then no, maybe it’s not that. ca’s title challenge this year by holding The Frenchman will be without Wednesday. substitute for City’s next match against so I said to myself ‘I’ve got to play’. Last year I changed my diet. I’ve always Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw at the San- Gareth Bale, who suffered the recur- “We knew that every game will Sunderland but has since started every “I felt a twinge in my leg and with eaten well but now I eat a few more tiago Bernabeu back in September and rence of a calf problem that will keep demand more effort and work, but that fixture ahead of the third-placed club’s the slightest sprint I felt it again. After vegetables than I did. “As well as that beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 last month. him out for up to three weeks against is part of the responsibility of deal- Premier League match away to West trying so hard to keep fit, the slight- I try to do things in the gym to protect “We have played great games Sporting, but otherwise has a fully- ing with the demands of every game. Ham on Saturday. est niggle and this happened. the quadriceps, the hamstrings and the against those high in the table this fit squad to choose from. Now we need to rest, eat well and pre- “Right now I feel fit and well,” “Now I won’t risk myself glutes to be fit to compete properly.” year and last season,” Malaga mid- In contrast to Real’s free-scoring pare for the upcoming games,” said fielder Ignacio Camacho told the club’s form, Betis haven’t scored in seven con- Atletico boss Diego Simeone. website. secutive games as part of a 10-game Valencia boss Gary Neville goes “We need to play a very complete winless run. in search of his first La Liga win at the Lahm drops early game to take any points.” However, they did pick up an seventh attempt when Los Che visit Juve ‘reject’ Barca’s The hosts will be without Nordin impressive point away to high-fly- Deportivo la Coruna. Amrabat, though, after the Moroccan ing Villarreal under new boss Juan And Chinese magnate Chen Yan- retirement hint international completed his move to Merino. sheng will oversee his new club after €80m bid for Dybala Watford on Monday. “I am sure that if we continue like completing a takeover of Espanyol AFP Barca will be debilitated by the we did against Villarreal we will have as Villarreal look to strengthen their absence of defenders Gerard Pique chances,” said Merino. position in fourth at Cornella-El Prat. BERLIN: Germany’s World Cup- AFP knocked back. Barcelona and Real winning captain Philipp Lahm has Madrid are among the top European dropped the first hint that he may clubs reportedly eyeing the 22-year- retire before his Bayern Munich old, who is known for his creative Qatar National Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show contract expires in 2018. MILAN: Juventus have rejected an skills, dribbling and keen eye for goal. The 32-year-old stepped down offer from Barcelona for star striker If the report is confirmed, it would as Germany’s skipper after leading Paulo Dybala that is reported to be put Dybala among Barcelona’s most them to their Brazil 2014 World Cup in excess of €80m ($86.7m), a report highly-rated players, alongside Brazil triumph, but he has suggested he claimed yesterday. striker Neymar, who it is estimated may retire from all football within Dybala, signed last summer from cost the club at least €83.4m in 2013. the next two years having spent his Palermo for 40m euros, has quickly Uruguayan Luis Suarez cost the whole career with Bayern. become a fans’ favourite in Turin as European champions around €95m “My current contract runs until the champions continue their fight- when he joined from Liverpool in 2014. the summer of 2018. Of course, I am back following a disastrous start to It would also underline Juve’s not getting any younger, only older, the campaign. intention to hold on to a player they and as a professional sportsman, In 19 league appearances, the made great efforts to acquire, secur- it is something you always have to Argentinian has struck 11 goals includ- ing his signature on a five-year deal question,” said Lahm. ing some spectacular efforts that have shortly after Dybala hit 10 league “If someone comes along who attracted the attention of La Liga giants goals for Palermo prior to Christ- plays better in my position, or I real- Barcelona and Real Madrid. mas last season. ise that I can no longer keep up, then A report in Turin-based news- Juventus won their first league I would certainly have to deal with paper Tuttosport claims Juventus and Cup double in 20 years last sea- the fact that perhaps I should finish president Beppe Marotta rejected an son, when coach Massimiliano Allegri sooner.” Earlier this month, Lahm offer of €80m for the player when Bar- also steered them to the final of the ruled out a future career in coach- celona sporting director Ariedo Braida Champions League, and an eventual ing, but has said he will keep close knocked on the door in December. 3-1 defeat to Barcelona. Osama Omar Al Dafa giving trophy to winner of Class 2 B FIllies Fairiz Al Safwa at the Qatar National links with Bayern and the German It added that Barcelona returned Allegri’s men sit second in Serie Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show for individual owners yesterday in Katara. Picture courtesy: Juhaim Football Association (DFB) once his with an improved offer in recent days, A, two points behind leaders Napoli playing days are over. which the Italian champions also before hosting Roma tomorrow.

SCOREBOARD Ton-up Cook and Amla put South Africa on top South Africa (I innings): S Cook b Woakes 115 D Elgar c Taylor b Ali 20 H Amla b Stokes 109 AFP CRICKET: ENGLAND’S four before he was bowled off an inside ball he faced, a leg side half volley from by Taylor off Moeen Ali for 20 when A de Villiers c Root b Broad 0 TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA edge by Ben Stokes. Cook was on 97 James Anderson. the off-spinner was brought into the when Amla was dismissed and was Jimmy Cook, who was in the crowd attack in the 11th over. J Duminy lbw Ali 16 still two short of his century when AB yesterday, had to wait until the age Elgar went for a pull shot and Tay- T Bavuma (batting) 32 CENTURION: Debutant Stephen Cook de Villiers was caught at second slip of 39 to make his official Test debut lor took avoiding action but the ball Q de Kock (batting) 25

and Hashim Amla shared a double cen- with an unbeaten sixth wicket stand off Stuart Broad for his second duck after being a prolific scorer for South lodged between his legs and he was Extras (LB-10, W-2) 12 tury partnership for South Africa before of 56. in three innings since being appointed Africa in 19 unofficial “rebel” Tests dur- able to grab hold of it before it touched England fought back on the first day Cook, called up at the age of 33 captain. Cook went to his century off 187 ing South Africa’s political isolation, the ground. Total (for 5 wkts) 329 of the fourth and final Test at Super- when the South African selectors balls when he tucked Stokes through including a hundred on debut against Amla was dropped on five when Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-237, 3-238, Sport Park yesterday. finally opted for a specialist opening midwicket for two and added 15 more an English team in 1981/82. he edged Stokes low to first slip, 4-271, 5-273. Cook made 115 and Amla hit 109 batsman to partner Dean Elgar, was runs before edging a ball from Chris Cook was the sixth South African where skipper Alastair Cook, possi- Bowling: Anderson 21-4-70-0; Broad in a South Africa total of 329 for five calm and organised from the start of Woakes into his stumps. to make a hundred on debut and the bly obscured by diving wicketkeeper 18-1-65-1 (1w); Ali 17-4-53-2; Woakes 16- at the close of play. his 218-ball innings during which he JP Duminy followed soon after- 100th in all Test matches. Jonny Bairstow, put down the chance. 2-74-1 (1w); Stokes 18-2-57-1. The pair put on 202 for the second hit 14 boundaries. wards when he missed a pull shot A freak catch by James Taylor at Cook had a life on 47 when Bairstow To bat: K Rabada, D Piedt, K Abbott, M wicket before Amla’s dismissal sparked Amla, four months younger than against Ali and was leg before wicket short leg was England’s only success again dived in front of his captain Cook Morkel. a collapse in which four wickets, includ- Cook but 91 matches richer in Test expe- on 16. In contrast to his father, Jimmy, before tea after South Africa won the and spilled a difficult chance off Broad. England: A Cook, A Hales, N Compton, J ing that of Cook, fell for 36 runs. rience, was back to his fluent best as who was dismissed first ball on his toss and decided to bat. Cook had hit 35 first-class centu- Root, J Taylor, B Stokes, J Bairstow, M Ali, C Temba Bavuma and Quinton de he reached his century off 131 deliv- Test debut against India in 1992/93, Elgar and Cook put on 35 for the ries including a South African record Woakes, S Broad, J Anderson. Kock restored South Africa’s advantage eries with 18 fours. He hit one more Stephen Cook scored four off the first first wicket before Elgar was caught score of 390. www.thepeninsulaqatar.comm PAGE | 20 PAGE | 21 All-round Djokovic, Serenaerena Anderson gives NZ ease into fourthurth huge victory round

SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 • 13 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Dominant Qatar storm into semi-finals

Brilliant hosts down We knew we spirited DPR Korea could beat North 2-1 in tense battle Korea: Shanin

The Peninsula The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar defender Fahad Shanin yes- terday said his team-mates were confident DOHA: Ali Asad scored inside the of overcoming North Korea in the quar- first 90 seconds of extra-time as terfinals of the AFC U-23 Championship. hosts Qatar secured a place in the Hosts Qatar yesterday beat a resilient semi-finals of the AFC U23 Champi- North Korea 2-1 in extra time to reach the onship after holding off the spirited semi-finals of what is the 2016 Olympic challenge of DPR Korea to claim a Games qualifying tournament. hard-fought 2-1 win in yesterday’s Akram Afif (4, penalty) and Ali Asad quarter-final at Jassim Bin Hamad (92) scored for the home team. Stadium. North Korea’s captain So Kyung-jin Belgium-based midfielder Akram scored off a free kick to force the extra time. Afif coolly converted from the penalty The top three sides will reach the football spot after just five minutes to hand competition at the Rio de Janeiro Olym- Qatar the lead only for So Kyong-jin pic Games. to snatch an equaliser with a free- “They are a strong side. We were kick in second-half stoppage time to exhausted today,” Shanin said yesterday. send the tie into extra-time. “It was a tough match. But we knew But with Asad sweeping home how we would beat them. The important from Afif’s cross inside the first two thing is we have won the match. The fan minutes of extra-time, Qatar will face support today was tremendous. We feel either Korea Republic or Jordan at Jas- great when the fans turn out in such large sim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday numbers,” the Qatari defender said. for a place in the final and qualifica- “I would say it was a team effort,” he said. tion for the Olympic Games later this Meanwhile, Qatar captain Abdelkar- year in Brazil after Felix Sanchez’s side eem Hassan yesterday termed his team’s maintained their 100% tournament quarterfinals win over North Korea as ‘a record with a fourth consecutive win. great fight’. Jubilant Qatar goalkeeper Muhannad Group A winners Qatar, who are “I thank God for this win. It was a great looking to qualify for the Olympic Naim celebrating with a fellow teammate fight back by our side in the extra time. Games for the first time since 1992, after the victory. Also, I want to thank my team mates for attacked DPR Korea from the first putting up such a great fight,” Hassan said whistle and the home side were on Friday. “It was an extremely match. Not rewarded after just five minutes as an easy game by any means.” Ali Asad (right) who scored the second goal for Qatar, vyiing for the ball with Kim Ju-Song of DPR Korea during the second quarter-final Afif was too quick for defender Kang “We are hopeful of going all the way. of the AFC U23 Championship which the hosts won 2-1 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin/ The Peninsula Il-nam as the midfielder burst into We have played tough football in this event. the penalty area, and after picking Korean team wasn’t that tough but they himself up after being felled by the played hard in patches but we still stuck centre-back, confidently fired the AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP as continued pressure from DPR on the far side cut short any ques- first-time volley under goalkeeper An together. I am confident after suitable rest resulting penalty high into the top Korea saw Jang Ok-chol break into tion marks as the ball bounced down Tae-song and into the bottom corner. we will come back stronger. I can’t say what corner. DPR Korea were able respond the area and his angled rising strike close to the goalline following a foul The hosts were then indebted to will happen but we will continue to try our after the early blow as Kim Ju-song in the closing stages of the first 45 was unconvincingly helped over the in the build-up. But in the second goalkeeper Naim at the start of the best,” he said. tested goalkeeper Muhannad Naim minutes as Kim Yong-il looked to crossbar by the Qatar keeper. of four minutes of added time, DPR second period of extra-time as the Striker Afif - who scored one of the two before Yun Jong-su’s side thought capitalise on an error from defender DPR Korea maintained the pres- Korea equalised as So expertly curled custodian had to be alert to claw away goals for the home side yesterday - said: they had found a response after 19 Tameen Mohammed nine minutes sure at the start of the second half, a free-kick from just outside of the Kim Ju-song strike from just outside “It was a team effort. Thank God for this minutes, but Kim Yong-il had nar- before half-time only for the striker although Qatar came agonisingly close penalty area in to the top corner past of the penalty which appeared to be win. We are playing as a unit. You will see rowly strayed offside on the edge of to mis-time his strike from the edge to doubling their lead with 10 min- Naim’s despairing dive. Qatar, though, curling back into the top corner. us producing committed performances in the penalty area before beating the of the six yard area to scuff the ball utes remaining as a glancing header restored their advantage less than Naim sealed Qatar’s place in the the coming games also.” Qatar custodian. wide with only Naim to beat. from substitute Mohammed Muntari 90 seconds into the first period of last four by diving low to his right to In the remaining two quarterfinals, Group B runners-up DPR Korea Naim was, though, called into struck the underside of the crossbar, extra-time as Asad met Afif’s chipped palm away another stoppage time Korea take on Jordan while the UAE face continued to enjoy chances to equalise action four minutes before half-time although the assistant referee’s flag cross from the byline and directed a free-kick from So. defending champions Iraq. Extra-time goals take Japan closer to Rio Injury-hit UAE seek success against strong Iraq today The Peninsula in normal time, but an inability to convincingly unlock the Japanese defence was to prove crucial as the The Peninsula a full group available having rotated game moved into extra time. With only the squad for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with DOHA: Extra-time goals from Yuta five minutes gone in the first period, Korea having already secured qual- Toyokawa and Shoya Nakajima kept Khakpour’s team were chasing the ification with a game to spare. Japan’s hopes of a sixth consecutive game as Toyokawa slipped between DOHA: Coach Abdullah Misfir has Today’s winner will progress to a appearance the Olympic Games alive the Iranian centre backs to head home confirmed the United Arab Emirates semi-final meeting with Japan, with with a 3-0 win over Iran that moved Sei Muroya’s cross from close range. will be without a host of first team the top three finishers also qualify- Makoto Teguramori’s side into the Kushibiki maintained Japan’s advan- players for today’s AFC U23 Champi- ing for the Olympic Games later this semi-finals of the AFC U23 Champi- tage soon after when he did well to onship quarter-final with defending year in Brazil. onship last evening. block Seyed Mohsen Karimi’s effort champions Iraq at Grand Hamad Sta- Meanwhile, Jordanian c oach Toyokawa put Japan in front five as the Japanese went into the change- dium. Jamal Ahmad will dispense with the minutes into the first additional period over holding a slender lead. Midfield trio Ahmed Barman, tactics that saw his team advance before Nakajima struck twice in two Four minutes into the second Salim Ali and Saif Rashid were all to the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 minutes to settle what had been a tight period of extra-time, however, Naka- forced off in the first half of Wednes- Championship when they take on tussle and victory means the Japanese jima punished the tiring Iranians with day’s thrilling 3-2 win over Vietnam Korea Republic for a place in the semi- are one win away from guarantee- a spectacular strike from the right due to injury as the UAE secured top finals today. ing themselves one of the continent’s that curled into the far top corner of spot in Group D after Jordan were Korea, who are aiming to maintain three berths at the Olympiad in Rio Mohammadreza Akhbari’s goal and, a held to a goal-less draw by Australia. their impressive run of appearing at de Janeiro in August. minute later, he struck again, beating And with fellow midfielder Abdalla the last seven Olympic Games intact, Japan will meet either United Arab the Iranian goalkeeper from a simi- Ghanim suspended, Misfir must qualified for the quarter-finals at the Emirates or Iraq in the next round, lar position, only this time to his right. rethink his plans as the UAE seek to top of Group C after winning their with the winner securing a place at the Iran almost salvaged a consola- remain on course for the 2016 Olym- opening games against Uzbekistan Japan’s forward Yuya Kubo (second from left) vies for the ball while Olympics, while the loser will play-off tion four minutes from the end of the pic Games having made a successful and Yemen before being held to a 1-1 against the other losing semi-finalist game, but Karimi’s attempt came back Iran’s Ali Karimi (left) and Alireza Naghizad (centre) looking to spoil his debut four years ago in London. draw by Iraq. for the third and final spot in Brazil. off the bar before eventually ending effort during their AFC U23 Championship quarter-final match played Unlike Misfir, counterpart Shahad The nation won the bronze medal Iran had impressed for periods in the arms of Kushibiki. at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha yesterday. Abdulghani has confirmed Iraq have in London four years ago.

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Treasures from last of Mitford sisters under auction

AFP “This auction paints a vivid picture of Deborah, Presley telephone and a borer machine blade used to INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY duchess of Devonshire, featuring mementoes, objects excavate the Channel Tunnel. There are also books and pictures that tell the story of her remarkable inscribed by the Kennedys, Madonna and Henry life,” said David MacDonald, Sotheby’s specialist in Kissinger. On sale is one of only 50 pre-publica- LONDON: Treasures belonging to the last of the charge of the sale set for March 2. tion copies of “Brideshead Revisited” from 1944, Mitford sisters, who fascinated and scandalised The sale is estimated to realise £500,000 to inscribed by its author Evelyn Waugh, and esti- British society of the 1930s, are going under the £700,000 ($715,000 to $1m), with individual lots mated to fetch at least £15,000. hammer at a London auction in March. ranging from £10 to £40,000. The dowager duchess’s family said they were Activities at the Deborah Mitford, the dowager duchess of Dev- The objects she surrounded herself with “were keeping precious items bequeathed to them, but opening day onshire and the youngest of the six sisters, died in often moving, funny, or both, and usually had mar- were consigning the rest for auction. of the Souq 2014 aged 94. Known as “Debo”, she hobnobbed vellous stories attached”, MacDonald said. “Given the kind of person she was, and the rich Waqif Spring with the Kennedy family, was painted by Lucian “The items in this sale capture the very essence and varied life she led, there are more belongings Festival 2016. Freud and once had tea with Adolf Hitler. of this endlessly captivating woman.” than we can together accommodate,” they said. Photo by Sotheby’s auction house is selling more than 450 The sale includes Regency chairs, Jacob Epstein Deborah was one of the less flamboyant sisters, Kammutty VP lots of personal belongings, ranging from her jew- sketches, a diamond heart-shaped brooch designed some of whom were known for their dramatic love ellery to her Elvis Presley memorabilia collection. by her husband, Shetland pony harnesses, a novelty lives and extreme political views.

Mariah Carey Vienna Ice Dream 2016 Redford refuses to be engaged to Aussie mogul drawn into Oscars row James Packer AFP following the opening ceremony, fes- tival executive director Keri Putnam said change in Hollywood could only AFP come from the system as a whole PARK CITY: US actor Robert Redford rather than members of the Academy refused to be drawn into the Oscars of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. SYDNEY: US pop star Mariah Carey race controversy as the Sundance “What is happening at the Oscars and Australian casino tycoon James Film Festival he founded got under- is the symptom of the deeper prob- Packer are engaged to be married, way in the mountains of Utah. lem which is not unique to the film according to friends who said yes- “I am not into Oscars, I am not and media business,” she said. “It’s terday that they were over the moon into that,” Redford told reporters as something we see in technology and for the lovebirds. he kicked off the annual gathering other areas. The couple has been dating for — a showcase for independent films “When there is a system that has several months and celebrated New — in the ski resort of Park City. grown up a certain way with a lot of Year’s Eve at billionaire Packer’s “For me it’s about the work,” he people who look the same that are Crown Casino in Melbourne, where said. “Whatever comes from it, what- making decisions, that are gaining the singer took to the stage to per- ever rewards come from it, that’s great power, it’s very difficult for people form before an intimate audience but I don’t think about it.” of different backgrounds to get the that included Packer’s mother. The festival opened amid a storm chance to get started and move up “I’m so excited to be in Mel- of controversy in Hollywood over the ladder.” bourne with James for New Year’s the lack of black actors nominated She said she hoped Sundance — Eve,” the husky-voiced songstress for the Oscars for the second year which over the years has offered a reportedly said at the fete. A close in a row. platform for independent filmmakers friend of the couple confirmed the Filmmaker Spike Lee and actor and launched several Oscar-nom- upcoming nuptials and said she was Will Smith, as well as his wife Jada inated films including this year’s People skate on an ice rink during the opening of the ‘Vienna Ice Dream 2016’ event at the Townhall “over the moon that James has found Pinkett Smith, have said they would Brooklyn — could positively influ- such happiness with Mariah”. Square in Vienna, Austria, yesterday. The event offering ice skating and other activities on the 8,000 not attend the Academy Awards on ence the debate on diversity. The Sydney Morning Herald square metres ice rink day and night is organised by the city of Vienna and has since its launch in February 28 over this year’s all-white “The problem is, is the talent reported that Packer proposed to 1996 attracted several hundreds of thousands visitors every year. The event runs until March 6, 2016. Oscar nominations. ready?” Putnam said. “But is the sys- his girlfriend in New York on Thurs- Asked by reporters about his tem ready to receive that talent? Are day. Sources close to the Packer opinion on the matter, Redford — a they ready to say ‘yes’ to those sorts family said “the family is overjoyed two-time Oscar winner — clearly did of projects?” that they have found each other”, the not want to address the topic. The festival, which runs through paper reported. “Mariah has made “Diversity comes out of the word January 31, will shine the spotlight James a very happy man, she is a Hermit inherits fortune and gives it away independence,” he said. “It’s a word I’ve on some 120 independent features, very special person and the family operated from principally for most of many by independent newcomers wholeheartedly approves,” it added. my life. That’s something we’re pretty trying to make their mark. E News entertainment website AFP hours from the nearest village in need it more. I am fine with my $70 proud of, how we show diversity in This year’s lineup offers an described her engagement ring as eastern Serbia, recently received monthly pension,” Zlatic told the daily. the festival.” array of films and documentaries “breathtaking” and said the rock 940,000 Australian dollars ($660,000) Zlatic and her husband Momcilo left He added that he was by no means that deal with timely issues such as weighed in at a whopping 35 carats. bequeathed by her husband who died for Australia in 1956 where he worked against mainstream cinema — “I have gun violence in the United States Carey, who is around 45 but BELGRADE: An elderly hermit living there in 2011, the Vecernje Novosti as a carpenter, but she came back less been very happily part of that” — and and abortion. whose date of birth is a matter of in a mud hut in the Serbian mountains newspaper said this week. But Zlatic than two years later to take care of his goal in creating the Sundance fes- Redford said he was proud of dispute, is best known for smash inherited a fortune from her estranged has given all of her newfound wealth to her sick mother and never returned. tival in 1985 was more to give a voice this year’s lineup and the timely pop hits Hero, We Belong Together husband in Australia — but swiftly people from the village who look after She kept in occasional contact with to independent filmmakers rather topics addressed. “We don’t bring and Someday. Packer, 48, has three gave it all away to live off her mea- her, bringing food, water and wood. Momcilo who was thought to have “than insurgents coming down from a them up,” he said. “We just put the children from his marriage to his gre pension, local media reported. “Where I am going soon I do not acquired several cattle farms, one mountain to attack the mainstream.” spotlight on the artists who bring second wife, Erica Baxter. Marija Zlatic, 86, who lives two need money, so I gave it away. They of Zlatic’s carers told the newspaper. Speaking with a group of reporters them up.”