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SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 • 13 Shaaban 1436 • Volume 20 Number 6447 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

OPINION Deputy Emir greets Abbas on grandson’s wedding Iraq from Demand spurs bad to the worst partitioned S Defence Secretary UAshton Carter rubbed salt into the wound when he said Iraqi forces lacked villas’ rents determination in their fight against ISIS. “What apparently hap- pened is the Iraqi forces just Affordable housing crisis main cause showed no will to DOHA: Yawning shortages of and sighted such villas in areas fight” in affordable housing for limited- like Al Markhiya and near TV Ramadi income expatriate families are Roundabout. which was now giving way to portacabins “There are hundreds of ille- control- on offer in single villa com- gally partitioned villas in these led by the pounds on low rents in some and other areas,” the daily said. terrorist areas in and out of the city. Such villas were also sighted organi- Some families have begun liv- where tens of single workers sation of ing in portacabins, even provided arguably employed by shopping ISIS, he Dr Khalid Al-Jaber with “dangerously” makeshift centres were huddled together in Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said. electric and water supply con- violation of safety rules. on the marriage of his grandson Mahmoud Mazen during the wedding at Ritz-Carlton Doha last night. He also Al Sharq. The Iraq Popular nections, reports The daily said its reporter met conveyed the congratulations of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Abbas. Mobilisation Forces responded The daily said even rents of former dwellers of partitioned by pinning the blame on the residential units in illegally parti- villas who had left after having US. “The forces which have tioned villas that were within the come to know that they were been described by Carter reach of low and middle-income illegal. as lacking will to fight were expatriate families earlier are Some of these families said Price cap on 400 Ramadan items trained by Americans for soaring. middlemen took whole villas on eight years and the US plun- “Pigeonhole residential units rent from owners, illegally par- DOHA: Minister of Economy A similar number of items were He said the ministry will inten- dered the will of Iraqi armed in illegally partitioned villas are titioned them, created makeshift and Commerce H E Sheikh included in the price control last sify efforts to monitor prices and forces,” a spokesman said. competing with regular apart- residential units and sublet them Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani year. ensure sufficient availability of Despite American criti- ments as far as rents are con- to limited-income expatriate yesterday issued a decision, A full list of the commodities food items in the market. cism and response from vari- cerned, which are soaring,” Al families. imposing a price cap on 400 is expected to be issued shortly. This apparently is a warning to ous quarters, the problem in Sharq said. “No safety rules are followed in food and non-food items ahead Items will include flour, sugar, shops against violating the min- Iraq today reveals the depth According to the daily, despite these villas,” a family, which had of Ramadan. rice, macaroni, harees, oil and istry’s decision or the list or try- of the crisis and its serious- clampdown on villas partitioned occupied a unit in such a villa and The price control will be in milk, among others. ing to bypass it by not releasing ness under a disunited army in violation of the law, advertise- left, was quoted as saying. force from 24 of the Hijri month Prices of some essential com- enough stocks of the commodities and a weak government. ments to let and sublet residen- The daily reproduced a few of Shaaban corresponding to June modities are expected to fall with to avoid possible losses. The ongoing sectarian tial units on these properties advertisements that appeared 11 until the end of Ramadan, the ministry’s decision. He said the ministry will take conflicts, presence of for- continue to appear in local news- in newspapers, where entire which falls mid-July. “We are expecting a full list of measures to protect the rights of eign armed militias on a papers and on social media. floors with big rooms, a kitchen The annual Ramadan price items next week,” an official of consumers, combat commercial rampage and mobilisation of “Local newspapers and social and toilets in offer could easily freeze, which has entered its fifth a leading hypermarket told this fraud and prevent monopolistic forces along sectarian lines media are inundated with such be partitioned and give away to year, aims to “ease the burden of daily last evening. practices. At the same, the min- on Iran’s behalf have aggra- advertisements but nobody low and middle-income families extra costs on consumers”, the The Minister has urged the istry is keen to promote competi- vated the crisis. cares,” the daily said, adding on rent. Qatar News Agency reported, public to keep a vigil on shops and tion in the market, he added. Continued on page 2 its reporter paid a field visit THE PENINSULA quoting the Minister. report any violations of the law. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Nepal refutes report on its workers in Qatar

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Ministry of Labour and Employment yesterday refuted a report published by the Guardian on the conditions of its workers in Qatar. In a statement, the minis- try said the report inaccurately Firefighters trying to contain a blaze in what appears to be an illegal quoted Minister of State for makeshift residential unit in Al Mamoura. Labour and Employment Tek Bahadur Gurung with regard to Nepali workers in Qatar following the devastating earthquake that Fire at partitioned villa hit Nepal on April 25. The ministry said that “the DOHA: An outer house in a around 1.30pm, arguably due to content of the report does not villa compound, allegedly with a short circuit. reflect the spirit of the minis- illegally partitioned residential The lady of the house called her ter who had appealed, in good units, in New Salata of the city, husband in panic. He was at work faith, to all employers of Qatar caught fire yesterday. and advised her to rush out of the to facilitate the return of Nepali No casualties were reported. house with their child and pass- workers to join their family mem- The occupants of the house, an ports to safety. The family was bers who have been victims of the Indian family, had a lucky escape. preparing to go home on vacation. earthquake”. The man of the house was not Continued on page 4 Continued on page 4 in at the time the fire erupted THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA More FIFA indictments likely WASHINGTON: A senior US Internal Revenue identify the remaining targets of the US investiga- Service official yesterday said he is “fairly confi- tion or say whether Blatter was among them. dent” there will be another round of indictments “We strongly believe there are other people and in the criminal investigation into alleged corrup- entities involved in criminal acts,” Weber said. tion within soccer’s governing body, FIFA, the US authorities said on Wednesday that nine offi- New York Times reports. cials and five sports media and promotions execu- Several senior FIFA figures have been indicted in tives were charged in cases involving over $150m bribery and kickback schemes, although no charges in bribes over 24 years. They said their investiga- were brought against FIFA President Sepp Blatter, tion exposed complex money laundering schemes, re-elected on Friday. “I’m fairly confident that we millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and tens of will have another round of indictments,” Richard millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials. Weber, Chief of IRS unit in charge of criminal inves- The IRS did not respond to a request for comment. tigations, was quoted as saying by the Times. See also page 27 The newspaper reported that Weber would not REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Iraq now split into three states New interchange Continued from page 1 ground to help them identify tar- the fact that the Iraqi crisis will Extremist terrorist groups are gets, making the operation useless. go on and its implications will growing roots and the US-led air In Iraq today, there are three be huge and will cross borders. strikes are unable to stop their states with three governments. Federica Mogherini, the High advance. The first one is in Baghdad, Representative of the European John McCain, who heads the which has limited political power Union for Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committee in the and a corrupt system dominated Security Policy, said that a military Senate, said in an interview with and guided by the sectarian reli- solution in Iraq is not enough, and CNN that 75 percent of the war- gious authority. The second is a some expect the conflict between planes were coming back to their Kurdish-led government in Erbil, Sunnis and Shias in the region bases without dropping bombs and the third the ISIS govern- to develop into a ‘war for thirty because of lack of people on the ment in Mosul. All signs point to years’. THE PENINSULA

Qatar slams bombing at mosque in A new interchange under construction as part of the expressway project, south of Doha, yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Dammam

DOHA: Qatar has strongly condemned and Qatar ranks second in denounced the bombing that targeted Al Anoud mosque in Dammam in Saudi Arabia on Friday, economic performance killing a number of inno- cent people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Competitiveness Yearbook suggests improvements that the criminal act con- tradicted all moral princi- DOHA: Qatar ranks 13th among represented by current account Competitiveness Yearbook for the ples and human values as 61 mostly high-income countries and trade surpluses, Qatar’s low seventh time. well as all divine religions. in the International Institute unemployment rate, and the solid The Minister of Development The ministry reiter- for Management Development growth of GDP. Other contribut- Planning and Statistics, H E Dr ated Qatar’s solidarity (IMD) World Competitiveness ing factors were a strong surplus Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit, with Saudi Arabia and its Yearbook 2015. This year’s in the general budget and efficient welcomed the findings of the full support for all actions assessment confirms Qatar’s financial management. report: “These results confirm that that the Kingdom takes in strong performance across mul- On the other hand, there were our overall performance is solid order to maintain its secu- tiple fronts. The assessment is some areas where the report and they will certainly help us to rity and stability. based on a range of statistical suggests some areas of improve- identify those areas where we need The ministry expressed indicators and on opinions polled ments. These include lowering to consolidate gains and make Qatar’s confidence in the among local business leaders, export concentration by product further improvements”, he said. ability of the Saudi secu- giving a rounded view of the and partner, strengthening direct “Qatar’s National Development rity services to detect and economy’s competitive position. inward investment flows, increas- Strategy sets out clear goals in foil such criminal acts and Areas where Qatar ranked ing female labour force partici- the areas of business regulation, bring the criminals to highly in the report included pation, strengthening high-tech economic infrastructure, and pri- justice. economic performance (2nd), exports and the share of renewa- vate sector development that will The ministry expressed government efficiency (4th) and bles in total energy requirements. lead to future advances. Qatar Qatar’s sincere condolences business efficiency (11th). Scope The assessment of Qatar’s has no option but to diversify its to the Saudi government, for improvement was identified in competitiveness in IMD World economy. If it is to achieve this, people and to the families some areas, including infrastruc- Competitiveness Yearbook 2015 we must continuously working to of the martyrs, and wished ture (47th). is a collaborative effort of IMD increase efficiency and productiv- speedy recovery to those This ranking has been influenced and the Ministry of Development ity and improve our international injured in the attack. by a number of factors, including Planning and Statistics. Qatar competitiveness.” QNA strong economic performance as has contributed to the IMD THE PENINSULA HOME SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Healthcare workers’ conference begins 3,000 professionals to discuss quality improvement

DOHA: The Middle East only does the ME Forum allow was one of the best ways to iden- Forum on Quality and Safety us to showcase these successful tify quality improvements, and in Healthcare 2015 (ME programmes, it also gives us an that through platforms such as Forum), a professional develop- opportunity to learn and col- the ME Forum these improve- ment opportunity for health- laborate on new techniques and ments could be discussed openly, care industry employees in methodologies being employed then adapted and refined for indi- the region who are driven by a globally,” she added. vidual teams and organisations. desire for excellence in patient The three-day conference is I’m also grateful to our partners care, opened here yesterday. being organised by HMC, the at Hamad Medical Corporation. Almost 3,000 healthcare pro- largest public sector health- They continue to model the com- fessionals from Qatar and across care provider in Qatar, in col- mitment and leadership that the GCC region attended the laboration with the Institute for health systems anywhere need to opening ceremony of the ME Healthcare Improvement (IHI), thrive. In convening gatherings Forum, a quality improvement a leading non-profit healthcare like this Forum, they are helping conference for international quality improvement organisa- to spread innovations and proven healthcare professionals. tion based in the United States. methods throughout the region,” It’s being held at Qatar Maureen Bisognano, the IHI Bisognano said. National Convention Centre for president and CEO, gave a key- The ME Forum will feature six the third consecutive year, as a note address to the attendees. keynote addresses and 33 work- mix of keynote addresses from She said collaborating with peers shops. THE PENINSULA international experts and over 30 interactive workshops designed to highlight patient quality and safety improvements. Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Managing Director Dr Hanan Al Kuwari highlighted the developments and progress made across the public health- care provider’s operations since the forum’s first year. “Many of Hamad’s quality and safety initiatives have featured in this year’s poster and storyboard exhibition, including our suc- cesses in situational background assessments, risk assessments for venous thromboembolism, sur- gical safety checklists, and the distribution of antibiotics within an hour of diagnosis, with com- pliance rates in the high 90s per- centage range, Al Kuwari said. “We’ve also seen significant improvements in our PICU ward at Women’s Hospital as a direct result of our quality improvement programmes, as well as many Hamad Medical Corporation Managing Director Dr Hanan Al Kuwari other patient safety initiatives speaking at the Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare 2015. across the HMC system. Not SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Ooredoo opens co-branded shop DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday services. In addition, the shops will Expert to speak on business announced the opening of the sec- offer SIM replacements, Hala top-ups ond co-branded franchise shop in and more. As the only Ooredoo pres- Kharaitiyat, as the company looks ence in the area, it will provide a place to work alongside partners to for customers to seek help with tech- extend its reach in the community. nical issues and advice on offers and model innovation at HEC The new facility provides a conven- devices. The shop was inaugurated by ient “one-stop shop” for customers Ahmad Al Naema, Chief Sales and seeking services such as Hala, Shahry, Services Officer, Ooredoo. Companies must relentlessly innovate, believes marketing expert broadband, fixed line and business THE PENINSULA DOHA: HEC Paris will be organising a “In recent times, a huge number of com- masterclass on Business Model Innovation panies have been dropping from the ranks on June 3 at its premises in Tornado of being the most valuable brands, the most Tower. admired companies or simply the largest Targeting HEC Paris Executive MBA par- companies in their respective industries due ticipants, the masterclass session, from 6 pm to complacency,” Prof. Dalsace explained. to 9 pm, will be conducted by its market- “In a rapidly changing business environ- ing guru, Prof. Frédéric Dalsace (pictured), ment wherein high-speed flow and access associate professor of marketing and aca- to information by consumers can greatly demic director of the EMBA programme. impact perception, image and branding of During the session, Prof. Dalsace will be companies, big or small, old or new, relentless defining business model innovation and illus- innovation is the name of the game if com- trating how this relatively new concept has panies want to succeed or even just survive. been developed using specific examples. Accordingly, those that have already shifted “Business model innovation is a concept to business model innovation include some of that encompasses innovation at the value the most successful companies today.” proposition, value architecture and profit Prof. Dalsace holds a M.Sc. degree from equation levels,” Prof. Dalsace said. “Unlike HEC Paris and an MBA with honours from traditional innovation approaches that focus Harvard Business School. He also has an Management Journal, Harvard Business on developing new products, this new concept M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in management from Review and Business Horizons. The master- covers a wider scope and presents a relatively INSEAD. class is open to the public but prior registra- bigger advantage in terms of performance or Prof. Dalsace’s works have been pub- tion is required as seats are limited. cost in comparison to existing ones”. lished in academic journals such as Strategic THE PENINSULA Action sought against partitioned houses

Continued from page 1 against partitioned houses, both villas and in a particular building and how much The house was gutted, destroying all their apartments. is the actual consumption, said Fraish. personal belongings, including goods the fam- “Their occupants are risking their lives. It The head of Qatari Engineers’ Association, ily had bought to carry home. is a serious social problem,” he said. To solve Ahmed Jolo, when told about the recent inci- On Friday, a two-storey house behind the housing shortage, which is leading lim- dents of fire, said the municipalities must Jaidah Tower in Musherib area occupied by ited-income families to occupy these make- tighten monitoring and ensure that buildings about two dozen single workers was gutted shift housing units, the CMC has urged the comply with safety rules. in a fire, and a day earlier, a makeshift house government to allow multi-storey buildings Apart from the threat posed to lives by in Al Mamoura was destroyed in a blaze. in the sprawling suburbs, such as Muaither, people occupying such homes, people from Told about the incidents of fire at the start Al Azizya and Al Rayyan, where only two- different cultures living in unsafe and con- of the summer months, a civic official blamed storey buildings are permitted. gested places can cause tension. the municipalities and said they were not Fraish said that one state agency that Real estate expert Ahmed Al Oruqui said monitoring illegally partitioned houses to put could easily help the authorities catch ille- people living in illegally partitioned villas a stop to the “dangerous” practice. gally partitioned villas and apartments was were risking their lives and violating the Mubarak Fraish, a member of the Kahramaa, the public utility. country’s laws. “They should at least ensure Central Municipal Council (CMC) from They can blow the whistle since they that such places have fire extinguishers and Al Gharrafa, said the municipalities must know how much water and electric- quality electric wiring so that short circuits roll up their sleeves and take strict action ity should be consumed by those living don’t cause fire,” he said. THE PENINSULA

Vodafone offers more data on Red plans DOHA: Vodafone announced local calls and SMS, Vodafone get to enjoy the existing suite of yesterday that all new and Red M customers will enjoy Vodafone Red lifestyle benefits, existing Vodafone Red Postpaid 10 GB instead of 1GB of data, which include a personalised Red customers will enjoy between 10 Vodafone Red L customers will Care Team, free unlimited valet GB and 60 GB on all Red plans enjoy 20 GB instead of 2 GB of parking at key shopping locations every month for 12 months. data and Vodafone Red XL and and malls across Qatar and a pri- The Red Qatari Plan will now VIP customers will enjoy 60 GB ority pass to access airport VIP include 15 GB for 12 months. The instead of six GB and 15 GB of lounges around the world. move follows the upgrading of data, respectively. Customers Additionally, all new Vodafone 65 percent of its network infra- of the Red Qatari Plan will get Red Postpaid customers will get structure, making it Qatar’s fast- an increased 15 GB instead of a 30 percent discount across est data network with the widest 10 GB. 14 months on their respective 4G+ coverage. Besides the increased data plans, which is equivalent to four With the new offer and besides allowance, existing and new months of free service. the existing unlimited free Vodafone Red customers will THE PENINSULA

Over 800 visit smoking clinics DOHA: More than 800 people have visited smok- ing cessation clinics at Primary Health Care Centers since May last year. The smoking cessation service has been expanded to Al Daayen, Umar bin Khattab, Mesaimeer and Abubaker-alsdeeq health centres. THE PENINSULA

Employers helping Nepal workers

Continued from page 1 The ministry said employers in Qatar responded positively and Nepalese workers were being helped to return home. The ministry said it expected fact-based and responsible reports from a reputed newspaper like the Guardian in future. It also expressed full confidence that “such unfounded reports would not affect excellent rela- tions between Nepal and Qatar”. QNA SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 QC Director Qatargas honours General removed DOHA: Director General of Qatar Chamber (QC), long-serving employees Reemi Rohani has been removed from his position. DOHA: Qatargas organised a spe- from the total Qatargas workforce of The Deputy Director cial ceremony to recognise and over 3000 employees. General, Saleh Al Sharqi reward employees for their out- The Long Service Awards were has been appointed as standing performance and con- split into four categories – 5, 10, 15 Acting Director General, tinuous years of service with the and 20 years of service. A total 332 Al Sharq reported. company. employees who have crossed these THE PENINSULA Qatargas CEO, Khalid bin Khalifa milestones received the awards from Al Thani presented ‘Shukran the CEO. Awards’ for outstanding perform- Addressing the employees prior ance and ‘Long Service Awards’ for to presenting the awards, the CEO continuous years of service to over thanked them for their dedication 500 Qatargas employees during the and efforts. He attributed the suc- SEC issues event held on 25th May at the Qatar cess Qatargas has achieved over the National Convention Center. years to the hard work and profes- guidelines for The ‘Shukran Award’ (‘Shukran’ sionalism of its work force. The CEO is the Arabic word for ‘Thank you’) reiterated Qatargas’ commitment to Qatarisation provides a special recognition and develop its people and to recognize DOHA: The Supreme appreciation for efforts and excep- and reward them for their positive Education Council (SEC) tional contributions of employees contributions towards achieving the has issued unified admin- throughout the year. During the Company’s objectives. He also urged istrative guidelines for ceremony, a total of 189 Qatargas them to keep up the good work and Independent schools employees were recognized for their wished them further success in their Officials from RAF with the workers who received aid from the charity. which entail Qatarisation outstanding performance in 2014 careers with Qatargas. of all non-specialised jobs and valuable contribution towards Qatargas has a well-structured in these schools. achieving the Company’s business programme to recognise, acknowl- The schools are also goals. They were awarded the highest edge and reward the accomplish- required to increase the annual performance ranking during ments of its employees. number of Qatari employ- 2014 after a rigorous selection process THE PENINSULA ees every year. RAF distributes food to The guidelines include job specifications for all Independent school staff as well as the administrative hierarchy. workers for Ramadan The SEC has asked all schools to define the job and the duties and respon- 210 workers in Umm Salal benefit sibilities of every employee to avoid duplication. DOHA: Sheikh Thani bin “The schools participating in the community. QFH is shoul- The schools are not Abdullah Al Thani Foundation the programme have collected dering accountability to support permitted to remove an for Humanitarian Services more than 40 tonnes of ration all needy people in the country,” existing position or add (RAF) has distributed five materials,” said Salah Mohammad said Ali bin Yousuf Al Kuwari, a a new position without tonnes of food to workers of Al Mahmoud, Head of QFH. senior official from RAF. written approval from the Umm Salal Municipality to help “There is tough competition “RAF is ready to implement Education Institute at SEC. them prepare for the fasting among schools. Everyone wants more charity projects in collabo- As per the guidelines, month of Ramadan. to collect as much as possible; one ration with the Municipality to all the schools must com- The Foundation said it will school collected more than five support workers and needy fami- ply with the SEC’s policies soon start providing cold water tons of food, he added. QFH not lies. It is a beginning of our coop- related to staff recruitment. and insulation bags to keep food only distributes ration packets to eration. We will keep doing our The student-teacher ratio hot at worksites. workers and needy families, but best to support the poor, whether in the schools should be The food packs contain 25 kilo- also carries fresh surplus meals citizens or expatriates, said Al maintained at one teacher grams of 12 types of food, includ- from restaurants to them”. Kuwari. for every 10 students. ing rice, flour, edible oil, kidney “QFH is all set to launch Umm Salal Municipality is very The schools have to beans, sugar, milk and dates. some more projects to support big, with more than 10,000 work- appoint coordinators for Some 210 workers benefited from the needy people. The projects ers, said Mansur Hasan Al Naimi, subjects including science, the initiative. include distribution of cold water head of the Services Section of the mathematics, Islamic stud- The packs have been distrib- to labourers on worksites in a bid Municipality. ies, social science, English uted by RAF Arm, Qatari Foods to prevent dehydration in the “Officials from the municipal- language and information House (QFH) in collaboration scorching heat of the summer ity show concern for them. We technology. There must be with the Municipality. Most season. The workers will also be coordinate with charity organi- seven to nine coordinators materials were collected by stu- provided insulation bags to keep sations to serve them on various at the primary and prepar- dents of Independent Schools as their food hot and eatable,” said occasions, like National Day and atory levels, and nine to 10 a part of a programme launched Al Mahmoud. on the eve of the holy month of coordinators at the second- by QFH to encourage students to “It is our social responsibility Ramadan,” he added. ary level. perform charity, said a release. to help the weaker sections of THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

UN envoy opens Medical education goes high-tech Yemen talks DOHA: The ways in which SANA’A: The UN envoy for simulation-based learning Yemen yesterday launched methods are changing medi- a mission to discuss stalled cal education were explored Geneva peace talks as Saudi-led at a special lecture given by a coalition warplanes pounded visiting expert in the field. rebel positions across the war- Dr Deborah Sutherland (pic- ravaged country. tured), CEO of the University UN special envoy Ismail Ould of South Florida Center for Cheikh Ahmed, who flew in to Advanced Medical Learning Sana’a on Friday, said “all Yemeni and Simulation, told an audi- parties must return to dialogue,” ence of students and healthcare according to rebel-controlled professionals about the oppor- sabanews.net. tunities and challenges posed A member of ousted president by the increasing use of simu- Ali Abdullah Saleh’s General lation-based teaching methods People’s Congress said the in medical education. Mauritanian diplomat yester- Simulation-based learning day met “senior leaders” of the uses artificially contrived sce- party for talks on the Geneva narios and, frequently, specialist conference. technology such as anatomical But the source said the envoy models and computer-generated being ensured is largely through improved healthcare outcomes did not meet Saleh, who lashed images to allow medical students simulation-based learning and for patients.” out at Saudi Arabia in an inter- and healthcare professionals to assessment.” The University of South view with a Beirut-based televi- develop practical skills in a safe Held at WCMC-Q, the Florida Center for Advanced sion channel broadcast on Friday. environment. Simulation-based lecture was organised by Medical Learning and The Geneva conference had learning can remove the need the Division of Continuing Simulation is one of the world’s been due to take place on May 28 to learn skills by practicing on Professional Development in foremost medical simulation but has been postponed, in a blow living patients, which reduces collaboration with the Dean’s and training facilities. Dr. to UN efforts to end a conflict the risk of injury and improves Office. Dr Sutherland, who is Sutherland gave the placement estimated to have killed almost learning outcomes by creating a also associate vice president of of a central-venous catheter 2,000 people. less stressful learning environ- the University of South Florida as an example of the type of Speaking from Sana’a, Saleh ment and allowing techniques Health and associate dean of the procedure that the facility can said in the interview that he had to be practiced repeatedly under Morsani College of Medicine, is simulate. The procedure entails rejected a Saudi offer of “millions close supervision. visiting Doha as part of a dele- insertion of a catheter into a of dollars” to drop his alliance Dr Sutherland’s lecture, gation of specialist advisors who vein near the heart by thread- with the Houthis. titled ‘The Changing Paradigm are working with WCMC-Q to ing it through a large vein in the In his interview, Saleh renewed of Medical Education: The Role discuss the evolution of the col- arm, chest or neck. calls for talks in Geneva between of Simulation-Based Learning’, lege’s Clinical Skills Center. She said: “Placement of the Yemeni parties as well as Yemen explained that the new teaching Dr Robert Crone, senior advi- central-venous catheter has and Saudi Arabia — which he method has begun to change the sor to the dean on academic been identified as one of the accused of seeking to sow “sedi- way medicine is taught. affairs at WCMC-Q, said: “Dr top ten most erroneously per- tion” in the war-torn country. She said: “The proliferation of Sutherland is a recognised formed medical procedures in But “sooner or later we will simulation-based learning activ- expert in her field and our audi- the United States. CAMLS is hold talks with Saudi Arabia,” ities represents a critical shift ence members were clearly very addressing this by offering a said the former president, who in the medical education para- interested to hear her thoughts course that allows medical pro- belongs to the Houthis’ Zaidi off- digm. A definite movement is about the ways in which simula- fessionals to learn the correct shoot of Shia Islam. underway from the traditional tion-based learning can benefit procedure for placing the cen- Saleh said talks in Geneva apprenticeship model that has both students and healthcare tral line using ultrasound in a should focus on a “power trans- been used for centuries to a professionals undergoing train- safe, controlled environment, fer, choosing a new authority” and model that has a competency- ing as part of their continuing which has clear benefits for both elections, as well as “condemning based approach at its core, and professional development, and the medical professional and the the Saudi aggression”. AFP the way in which competency is how this can ultimately lead to patient.” THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST IS demolishes infamous Palmyra prison

forces retook an area west of the city destruction of the long-feared prison IS-controlled town of Al Bab, the Britain-based moni- Barrel bombs dropped from Syrian of Ramadi, which IS overran earlier at Palmyra, which IS seized 10 days ago toring group’s director Rami Abdel Rahman said. in May. The Syrian Observatory for after government forces pulled out. “People often gather on Saturday mornings at the Al Human Rights said IS planted explo- In rebel-held areas of Aleppo province Hail market in Al Bab, which is why the number of dead regime helicopters kill 71 civilians sives that “largely destroyed” the including the city itself, “at least 71 civil- was so high,” explained Abdel Rahman. He said 12 people Palmyra jail, which was for decades a ians were killed, and dozens wounded were also killed in barrel bomb attacks on Aleppo’s rebel- BEIRUT: Islamic State group yesterday, as barrel bombs symbol of abuses meted out on regime when regime helicopters dropped barrel held Al Shaar neighbourhood, including eight members of militants demolished a notori- dropped by regime helicopters opponents. bombs,” the Observatory said. a single family. Barrel bombs — crude weapons made of ous government prison in the killed 71 civilians in Aleppo. In Opponents of President Bashar Al In the worst carnage, 59 civilians, all containers packed with explosives — have often struck historic Syrian city of Palmyra neighbouring Iraq, government Assad welcomed on social media the male, were killed at a market in the schools, hospitals, and markets in Syria. AFP Egypt deports US citizen sentenced to life in jail CAIRO: Egypt yesterday deported a US-Egyptian cit- izen sentenced to life in jail on charges of destabilising the country as part of a crackdown on the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, officials said. Mohamed Soltan, 27, whose father is a leading Brotherhood official, was arrested in August 2013 and sentenced to life in April. He has been observing a hunger strike since January 2014, amid concern from his relatives in the United States who fear for his health and say charges against him were fabricated. A police official said Soltan was put on a plane to the United States and the US embassy in Cairo confirmed his deportation. “We can confirm his departure. We are happy that he will be reunited with his family in the United States,” an embassy spokesman said. Soltan worked with media outlets covering the political upheaval that erupted in Egypt after the army deposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi and a crackdown on his supporters. Mursi was ousted by then-army chief and now President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi in July 2013 after mass street protests against his one-year rule. A government crackdown has left hundreds of Mursi supporters dead, thousands imprisoned and dozens sen- tenced to death after speedy trials, described by the UN as “unprecedented in recent history”. One of those sentenced to death in such a trial was Soltan’s father, Salah. The Brotherhood, from whose ranks Morsi hails, was also listed as a “terrorist organisation”. Soltan was released from jail in line with a presidential decree stipulating foreigners convicted in Egypt can be deported to their home countries. But to do so he had renounce his Egyptian nationality, said his brother Omar Soltan, who welcomed the news his brother had been freed. “The news of Mohamed’s deportation have taken an enormous load of worry off our backs and has replaced it with joy and happiness,” Omar wrote in English, in an email. AFP SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Car bomb kills 12 rebels in Iran rejects site south Yemen inspections ADEN: A bomb-laden vehi- cle parked near an arms depot exploded killing 12 Iran-backed rebels and wounding eight oth- Kerry, Zarif fail to make breakthrough ers in southern Yemen’s Abyan province yesterday, a local offi- GENEVA: Tehran rejected a put a nuclear bomb beyond Iran’s cial said. key Western demand for site reach. The official said the attack in inspections yesterday and dif- Kerry and Zarif huddled for six the coastal city of Shoqra was ferences remained after US hours in a leading hotel with their carried out by local anti-rebel Secretary of State John Kerry delegations and top European fighters, who are backed by a and his Iranian counterpart Union official Helga Schmid. Saudi-led coalition pounding Shia held talks to secure a nuclear “Secretary Kerry and Foreign Houthi militia and their allies deal. Minister Zarif, along with their since March 26. With a deadline a month away, teams, had a thorough and com- Anti-rebel forces are made up a senior Iranian negotiator said prehensive discussion of all of of pro-government fighters, Sunni the Geneva talks between Kerry the issues today,” a senior State tribes and southern separatists, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Department official said. collectively known as Popular Mohammad Javad Zarif failed to “We are committed to working Resistance Committees. bridge the differences between to close the remaining gaps and In the southern port city Tehran and world powers. to staying on the schedule we’ve of Aden, coalition warplanes “The differences are still there,” set forth to get this done,” the launched deadly airstrikes against Abbas Araghchi, deputy head of official said. rebel positions, a military official Iran’s negotiating team, said at But just before the Geneva US Secretary of State John Kerry talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva yesterday. said, without giving a toll. the end of the meeting. talks got underway, Araghchi Top US and Iranian diplomats are gathering in Geneva, hoping to bridge differences over a nuclear inspection Aden has been the scene of Araghchi, quoted by state tel- said it would be “out of the ques- accord and economic sanctions on Tehran. deadly clashes between the rebels, evision’s website, said the negotia- tion” for UN inspectors to ques- who include troops loyal to ousted tions would “resume next week at tion Iranian scientists and inspect ambitions in return for a lifting of the United States and its part- of a nuclear deal, with Tehran president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the level of deputies and experts”, military site inspections as part crippling international sanctions. ners — Britain, China, France, agreeing to rein in and moth- Popular Resistance fighters. rather than have the Kerry-Zarif of a final deal with world powers. After three decades of enmity, Germany and Russia — seek to ball large sections of its nuclear A health official in the city said talks go into a second day as After an interim accord struck an accord would pave the way to finalise the complex pact. programme. that “nine people, among them expected. in Geneva in November 2013, bringing Iran back into the inter- On April 2, Iran and the “P5+1” But the differences remain, four civilians, were killed and 132 The latest talks in the run-up Washington and Tehran are try- national fold and create fresh — as the US and its partners are with both the United States and people wounded during the past to a June 30 deadline came amid ing to nail the final details of a impetus to resolve a host of con- known -- agreed after eight days Iran under immense pressure 48 hours.” heightened diplomatic moves to ground-breaking agreement that flicts in the Middle East. of tough talks in the Swiss city from hardliners not to make AFP try to end a 12-year standoff and would see Iran curtail its nuclear The Geneva meeting came as of Lausanne to the main outlines major concessions. AFP IS-linked group in Saudi calls for more attacks against Shias

DUBAI: An Islamic State-affiliated after the militant group struck another were “apostates”, adding: “it is our duty who perpetuated this violence at places “terrorist bombing attempt” against the group in Saudi Arabia has urged more Shia mosque in the oil-rich region. to kill and displace them... wherever they of worship,” said US State Department Shia mosque. attacks against Shias, after IS claimed The so-called Najd Province, which may be”. Four people were also wounded spokesman Jeff Rathke. Its secretary general Iyad Madani, two bomb attacks on mosques in the claimed both bombings, defended attacks in Friday’s attack in the city of Dammam, “The United States stands with the using the Arabic acronym for IS, said kingdom. An IS suicide bomber on on Shias and said they should be “killed eve- which coincided with weekly prayers. people of Saudi Arabia against this vio- that this “failed attempt has revealed the Friday blew himself up at the entrance rywhere”, in an audio message posted online The attack sparked widespread con- lence and remains committed to work- even uglier face of the terrorist Daesh to a mosque in Saudi’s Eastern Province, late on Friday. The group “has ordered its demnation. The United States denounced ing with the Saudi government and our organisation.” “These ugly crimes will not killing three people, after security vol- soldiers everywhere to kill the enemies of the “brutality of the terrorists” and international partners to fight violent succeed in breaking apart the compo- unteers and police prevented him from religion, especially (Shias),” a spokesman is said it was committed to working with extremism in the region,” he added. nents of Saudi” society and will instead entering during the weekly prayers. heard saying in the audio message. Saudi Arabia to fight extremism. “We The 57-member Organisation of Islamic bring them closer, said Madani, himself The attack came exactly seven days The unidentified speaker said Shias deplore the brutality of the terrorists Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the a Saudi national. AFP Rowhani urges ‘free’ legislative vote TEHRAN: Iranian President Rowhani said politicians should house arrest in 2011 after repeat- Hassan Rowhani said yesterday be allowed to speak freely in pub- edly challenging the official 2009 that the government aims to lic, regardless of their views. election results. hold “free” parliamentary elec- “Preventing someone from Since the attack on Motahari, tions next year, the official Irna making a speech by sticking a several reformist figures have news agency reported. label on him” is unacceptable. been also prevented from giving “The success of the government His comments come weeks speeches across Iran. to is to hold free, healthy and after dozens of protesters threw Rowhani also insisted state competitive elections,” Rowhani bricks at the taxi of outspoken institutions must remain neutral said in a speech to governors and MP Ali Motahari in the south- in the election. provincial governors. ern city of Shiraz as he planned The president, elected in June Iranians will vote for a new to deliver a speech. 2013 with the support of reform- parliament on February 26, 2016, Motahari has frequently criti- ists and moderates, also requested when elections for the Assembly cised the regime’s house arrest of that transparent ballot boxes be of Experts in charge of appoint- opposition leaders Mir Hossein used at next year’s vote to avoid ing, supervising and dismissing Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. fraud. the supreme leader are also due. The pair were placed under AFP

Libyan militia frees Tunisians TUNIS: Dozens of Tunisians held in Libya by a militia forming part of an alliance ruling Tripoli have been freed, the foreign ministry announced yesterday. “All the Tunisians being held in Libya have been freed. The final group was released today,” the min- istry said in a statement, without giving numbers. In Tripoli, Mohamed Abdelsalam Al Kuwiri, who heads a unit in the Tripoli- based government that combats illegal migration, said that a final group of 90 Tunisians was released yesterday, two days after 71 others were freed. They had been held for verification of their iden- tity papers, he said. Tunis announced earlier in May that scores of its nationals were being held in western Libya by a mili- tia belonging to the Libya Dawn alliance. Kuwiri said last week that his officers had helped secure the release of a first group comprising dozens. A foreign ministry offi- cial, speaking anonymously, said yesterday that a total of 245 Tunisians had been detained, all of whom had now been freed. AFP SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Poroshenko’s man Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

KRAINIAN President Petro Poroshenko has appointed former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili as the governor of the region of Odessa. The announcement Uby the president of the embattled country is quirky as it is hard to imagine the US-educated leader who took on the ‘Modernisers’ and ‘Back to might of Vladimir Putin’s Russia,to head a province of another nation. Poroshenko, who headed a chocolate empire before becoming president is, however, an astute politician. Saakashvili is considered an able administrator and leader who took the reins of Georgia in 2003 and ruled till 2013. the Future’ Republicans The pro-western Saakashvili is essentially a reformist BY JENNIFER RUBIN (Christie and Kasich) have more blue- fervour with hot-button social issues. who tried to fight political and social ills in the former Soviet collar and ethnic appeal than others. Their foreign policy can be hawkish Republic and made Georgians dream of a place for their nation in here appear to be two general These candidates are not necessarily (Santorum), isolationist (Rand Paul) or the European Union. Saakashvili adopted a zero-tolerance policy groupings of candidates in the moderate. Bush, pundits are learn- erratic (Cruz); their anti-government against corruption in the former Soviet Republic and succeeded 2016 GOP presidential field. ing, was an exceptionally conserva- paranoia, however, tends to work against in making it virtually free of graft and nepotism. Administrative TFor shorthand, let’s call them tive governor. Fiorina may be the most a firm pro-national security stance on “Modernisers” and “Back to the Future” conservative in this group, yet her issues such as National Security Agency and police reforms in the south Caucasus nation were largely Republicans. And then there are those business background, international surveillance. initiated by Saakashvili’s government. who are deciding which they want to experience, technological comprehen- They are not any more conserva- Georgia and Ukraine are not neighbours and the two be, sometimes trying to disguise which sion and verbal dexterity give her a tive than some of the Modernisers countries seemingly don’t have much in common except that they camp they fall into. contemporary persona. (Santorum voted against right-to-work are both former Soviet republics and share a Russian heritage. The Modernisers embrace aspects The Modernisers are inherently opti- legislation, Huckabee raised taxes, Paul Saakashvili, a trusted top adviser of Poroshenko, currently heads of the reform conservative movement, mistic and believe with proper fixes our has gone far left on national security), an effort to reinvent government, find future is bright; they paint their ideo- but they fancy themselves as the “true” Ukraine’s International Advisory Council. He has replaced Ihor conservative solutions to social and eco- logical opponents as wrong and clueless conservatives. On social issues, critics Palytsya, who has been governor of Odessa since May 2014 and nomic issues and make the Republican but not evil. find them strident and judgmental. who used to work at companies linked to Kolomoisky, who was Party responsive to the needs of voters. Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker is gener- Like most populists they see the world fired earlier this year as governor of Former Florida Gov Jeb Bush, Sen ally, but not invariably, in this group. His as a zero-sum game in which evil forces Former Georgian Dnipropetrovsk. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, Ohio Gov John record is replete with reforms and ini- (immigrants, liberal, Big Government, Saakashvili’s appointment has Kasich, New tiatives to improve the lives of middle- Wall Street) are making regular folks’ president Mikheil Jersey Gov Chris and working-class people. Like other lives miserable. They peddle in resent- to be seen in the light of Odessa Christie and Modernisers, he is solid on national ment and distrust. Their anti-gov- Saakashvili’s being a strategic region with a Carly Fiorina are security. ernment rhetoric can easily spill into port that would undoubtedly be in The Back to quintessential However, his flirtation with ethanol conspiratorial-style politics. appointment as the cross-hairs of the Kremlin. As Modernisers with subsidies and his reversal on immigra- The cringe-worthy moments come the governor of Poroshenko announced Saakashvili’s the Future a yen to reform tion reform show he’s not entirely in when a Modernizer tries to pass as a education, redo the Modernizer camp. He, among all Back to the Future Republican. Christie appointment with the Georgian Ukraine’s Odessa Republican the tax and regu- the candidates, tries hardest to strad- has decided after all this time to dump leader beside him, his words were latory code and dle the two groups, which at times Common Core. Louisiana Gov Bobby puts his abilities loaded with meaning. “We are hopefuls want push for a pro- creates confusion about his political Jindal, a Rhodes scholar wonk, has to test in another united by our love of Odessa and to re-create growth agenda. disposition. Social conservatives need transformed himself into the hardest Ukraine,” Poroshenko said, adding They under- convincing that he is “one of them,” of hard-line cultural warriors. In doing country. that the new governor would bring a mythical stand the 21st- while conservative reformers are so, they lose authenticity. century economy horrified that he might have qualms No classification works perfectly, in discipline and carry out much bygone era. and the difficulty about legal immigration. His pugna- but in broad terms, the Modernisers needed reforms. “In just one year, Oddessites should feel that in maintaining cious, anti-Washington and anti-elitist vs Back to the Future Republicans their living standards are higher,” the Ukrainian leader said. Their rhetoric upward mobil- rhetoric differentiate him from other construct gives one a general sense of That Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade is alarmist, and ity. They see Modernisers. where the 2016 GOP candidates line up. Minister Aivaras Abromavicius has praised the appointment American diver- Who are the Back to the Future I find it hard to believe that the nominee of Saakashvili spotlights the expectations from him. Calling they play to sity as a perma- Republicans? These hopefuls want to will come from the Back to the Future nent reality and re-create a mythical bygone era. Their camp, and indeed several have been Saakashvili a radical, the minister said that ordinary decisions fears of cultural an asset. They rhetoric is alarmist, and they play severely criticised and even mocked by don’t work and time is running out. The Georgian leader seems understand the to fears of cultural ruin and political fellow Republicans. They have an uphill to have hit the ground running. Not waiting even for a day, he ruin and political economic neces- tyranny. climb to convince Republicans that they announced that he aims to make Odessa the capital of the Black tyranny. sity of immi- Sen Rand Paul, R-Ky, prefers a pre- are electable. Sea region. After being adviser to the Ukrainian president, gration reform. New Deal-size government on domes- Wherever candidates line up along While socially tic issues and 1920s-style isolationism. the ideological spectrum, they would Saakashvili who faces an arrest warrant in his home country, conservative, they are also inclusive Former Sen Rick Santorum, R-Pa, and be well advised to remember that the has the challenging task of leading a strategic province. His and avoid railing against the decline of former Arkansas Gov Mike Huckabee United States is increasingly diverse, experience as the leader of Georgia and his penchant for reforms public morals. dream of re-creating the 1950s with a tolerant and accepting of active (albeit will be tested on the new job. Saakashvili has to live up to the In general, they are forward-looking mix of protectionism, anti-immigration limited) government. It’s for this reason expectations of Poroshenko and prove that the Kremlin — and wonkish. Internationally, they are measures and cultural demagoguery. that the smart bet is on a nominee from squirming at his appointment — has much to account for in the hawkish and recognise the necessity of Sen Ted Cruz, R-Tex, flits between the Modernizer camp. confronting Islamist terrorism. Some the two, trying to mix anti-government WP-BLOOMBERG future. The other side Quote of Nigeria’s Buhari faces high expectations the day IGERIA’S new president, Under these burdens, Nigeria’s divide between the country’s south Buhari can do many things to unleash Muhammadu Buhari, who economy has been sputtering. Its and its north -- Boko Haram’s killing his country’s manifold economic took office Friday, made currency has fallen sharply, making ground -- is deepening. Entrenched strengths and advance the aspira- Nhistory by notching the first imports more dear and stoking infla- corruption has afflicted every corner of tions of its citizens. defeat of an incumbent president tion. The plunge in oil revenues has the economy, making Nigeria a cellar- For starters, he can dismantle the since independence in 1960. Now forced the government to borrow dweller in Transparency International’s state oil company that he helped set We cannot claim to comes the hard part: getting Africa’s more than it planned. And a recent Corruption Perceptions Index. up when he was oil minister during have defeated Boko biggest economic dynamo restarted. back-pay dispute between the gov- Yet the country also has a ram- the 1970s. It has become a nexus for Two things complicate that task: ernment and fuel-distribution com- bunctious and demanding middle thievery and incompetence, draining Haram without Boko Haram’s deadly insurgency, panies all but shut down the country. class, a surging young population, nearly half the proceeds from crude oil rescuing the Chibok which has claimed more than 14,000 More fundamentally, Nigeria’s and an increasingly diversified econ- sales before they reach the treasury, lives and displaced more than 1.5 mil- once-breakneck increases in gross omy that includes one of the world’s according to one recent investigation. girls and all other lion Nigerians, and the recent halving domestic product haven’t translated biggest film industries. President Buhari has pledged to follow up on of the price of oil, which accounts into shared growth: Unemployment Buhari can’t jack up the world price that audit. Better still would be to sell innocent persons held for more than two- thirds of Nigeria’s last year was 25.1 percent, the of oil. And while the fight against Boko the company, or end its majority stake hostage. government income and almost all its number of Nigerians living in poverty Haram is making slow progress, it in joint ventures. Muhammadu Buhari export revenues. is not decreasing, and the economic will take years to win. Nevertheless, The Washington Post Nigerian President SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 As war grinds on, diplomacy failing in Ukraine

advantage is his unpredictabil- The Kremlin is trying to ‘localise’ the ity. The Kremlin has stubbornly denied the presence of active- conflict by training and equipping a duty Russian military personnel in eastern Ukraine, even as troops rebel army that can stand on its own, and equipment again mass along the border. The mountain of evidence show- while insisting that Kiev negotiate with ing the Kremlin’s involvement keeps growing for the world to see. Moscow’s proxy leaders. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian army captured two Russian sol- diers in the Luhansk region and BY LUCIAN KIM to a lasting peace settlement. brought them to a Kiev hospital The Minsk agreement, origi- to recover from their wounds. arl-Georg Wellmann, nally signed in September and The two men told their story to a representative in amended in February, provides Pavel Kanygin, a correspond- the German parlia- useful alibis to all sides: to Ukraine ent for the independent Russian Kment, flew to Moscow that it’s pursuing the reintegration newspaper Novaya Gazeta, in a last week on a behind-the-scenes of breakaway regions by peaceful series of interviews published over mission to help break the deadlock means; to Russia that it’s just a the past week. Captain Yevgeny in eastern Ukraine. But when he concerned, peace-loving neigh- Yerofeyev and Sergeant Alexander landed at Sheremetyevo Airport, bour; and to the West that it did Alexandrov said they were active- border officials denied him entry, everything to end the fighting. duty Russian army soldiers from without any explanation, until With the exception of the rebel Samara, contradicting claims by 2019. Wellmann, a member of representatives — who are moti- the Russian Defence Ministry Chancellor Angela Merkel’s vated by Mad Max-style mayhem that they had resigned. Both Christian Democratic Union, had more than nation-building — all men expressed dismay that their to spend the night in a transit sides tirelessly repeat that “there government had disowned them lounge and was escorted onto the can be no military solution to the and that their relatives were too first flight home the next morning. conflict.” What nobody can say scared to take their phone calls. Wellmann raised a storm in aloud is that Minsk is also not the Ukrainian servicemen fire a grenade launcher towards pro-Russian separatists near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. On Thursday, Putin ordered German and Russian media, solution; it was only intended to that troop deaths in peace-time and Merkel’s government lodged stanch Ukraine’s bleeding. complaining that locals weren’t peace process. Western powers deal, the pro-Russian rebels con- “special operations” be classi- an official complaint with the Russia occupied and annexed interested in fighting and called for cling to the accord because they tinued their assault on Debaltseve fied as a state secret. While the Kremlin. Although he was known Crimea last year in the power direct Russian military assistance. have no Plan B. and overran the town less than a Kremlin denied any link to events as a critic of Russia’s involve- vacuum following then-President In late August, just as it looked Minsk’s first provision, call- week later. in Ukraine, Putin isn’t taking any ment in the Ukraine conflict, Viktor Yanukovych’s unexpected as if the rebel supply lines would ing for an immediate ceasefire, The war in Ukraine has since chances. As much as possible, Wellmann said he had been invited flight from anti-government pro- be cut, regular Russian troops was never implemented. Even disappeared from the headlines, he wants to increase the burden by Konstantin Kosachyov, chair- tests in Kiev. When heavily armed poured across the border to the after the original document was yet the fighting and the dying con- on his proxies in Donetsk and man of the Russian Federation pro-Russian fighters then began rescue, routing Ukrainian forces signed, the separatists advanced, tinue in isolated spots. No progress Luhansk. With European Union Council’s committee on foreign seizing administrative buildings at the rail junction of Ilovaisk. hammering Ukrainian-held pock- has been made in turning the sanctions against Russia coming affairs, and Sergei Glazyev, an in eastern Ukraine, the country’s With his army shattered and the ets such as the transport hub of conflict into a dialogue — mainly up for review in June, Putin is adviser to President Vladimir provisional leaders launched a strategic port of Mariupol under Debaltseve and the Donetsk air- because the pro-Russian forces keeping all his options open. Putin. He didn’t have plans to haphazard “anti-terrorist opera- threat, Poroshenko sued for peace port. Merkel sprang into action never had any political demands Merkel, like other Western meet Russian opposition leaders. tion”; they were soon caught in in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. in February as voices grew louder besides holding a referendum to leaders, has said that no sanc- It’s a worrisome sign when the dilemma of repeating the As a peace agreement, there’s in Washington to arm Ukraine. leave Ukraine. If anything is clear tions relief will be considered the back channels of German Crimean fiasco or provoking a nothing wrong with the Minsk Concerned about an escalation now, it’s that Putin doesn’t plan until the Minsk peace agreement diplomacy clog up. Merkel, the full-scale Russian invasion. The document, which includes all the in fighting, Merkel shuttled to to annex the separatist regions is implemented. What lever- main guarantor of the so-called Ukrainians only started to get a right words about the cessation Kiev, Moscow, and finally Minsk. but use them instead to sabotage age she has left is another ques- Minsk protocol, is doing her best grip on the insurgency after the of hostilities, de-escalation, local French President François Ukraine from inside. The Kremlin tion. Just a year-and-a-half ago, to save the shaky peace agree- election a year ago of President elections, and reconciliation. The Hollande went along to show that is trying to “localise” the conflict German diplomats succeeded in ment between Russian-backed Petro Poroshenko, who energised problem is that Russia plays a Europe — and not Germany alone by training and equipping a rebel negotiating the release of jailed separatists and the Ukrainian the fight against the separatists in double role — as a disinterested — was taking the lead. army that can stand on its own, oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, government. But as the war the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. observer on paper and an active The so-called Minsk-2 agree- while insisting that Poroshenko once Putin’s greatest rival. Today, grinds on as a low-level con- By the beginning of July, the party to the conflict in the field. ment that resulted from Merkel’s negotiate with Moscow’s proxy an envoy from Merkel’s party flict, the biggest weakness of Donetsk rebel commander, Poroshenko has no choice but to efforts was essentially a reaffirma- leaders. can’t even get out of the Moscow the deal is becoming clear: None a former Russian special ops play along in this charade or take tion of the original protocol. As if Poroshenko has practically airport. of the parties see it as the start officer named Igor Girkin, was the blame for a collapse of the to show what they thought of the no room to manoeuvre. Putin’s REUTERS Civilians are pawns in South China Sea With ANC’s help, Zuma BY GREG TORODE and MANUEL will dominate an Asian security forum in Coconut Princess that sails from China’s MOGATO Singapore this weekend to be attended by US Hainan island. shrugs off scandals Defence Secretary Ash Carter and military “Setting foot on China’s most beauti- n tiny specks in the disputed Spratly officials from Asia, including China. ful gardens is a declaration of our national BY MIKE COHEN and PAUL Nkandla,” Zuma said, giggling. archipelago of the South China Sea, China claims most of the South China Sea. sovereignty,” says the website of the Hainan VECCHIATO “They have no substantive political OVietnamese and Filipino children The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Airways International Travel Agency, which issues to raise. It emphasises the skip to school each day. Not far away, China and Taiwan also claim parts of the vital trade also warns travellers to wear sunscreen. outh African President Jacob poverty of politics in our opposition is building lighthouses and weather stations route. All claimants except Brunei have mili- International tourists, meanwhile, can visit Zuma is an ultimate political parties.” on reclaimed land. Further north, a Chinese tary fortifications in the Spratlys. a small diving resort on Malaysia’s Swallow Ssurvivor: Implicated in scandal While Public Protector Thuli cruise ship takes “patriotic” tourists to a sepa- As China pushes ahead with the construc- Reef in the southern reaches of the Spratlys. after scandal throughout his politi- Madonsela found that Zuma unfairly rate group of contested islands. tion of at least one airstrip and other military Wu Shicun, president of China’s National cal career, he’s batted them all away. benefited from his home upgrade, Little noticed in the heated debate over the facilities on reclaimed land in the Spratlys, Institute of South China Sea Studies, said he He appeared to overcome the lat- Nhleko said the construction of a potential military use of China’s holdings is a Chinese officials are stressing the civilian went to Woody island earlier this year and est controversy on Thursday when swimming pool and enclosures for growing civilian presence across the South nature of the work. noticed that the population had risen to sev- the police minister absolved him of his cattle and chickens were neces- China Sea — a trend that potentially com- Ouyang Yujing, head of the Foreign eral hundred, forcing the building of proper any blame for the squandering of sary security features. plicates any future armed conflict while but- Ministry’s department of boundary and ocean roads and rubbish collection facilities. taxpayers’ money in a 215-million- Government officials and con- tressing competing claims to territory. affairs, told state media this week that while In addition to an elementary school and a rand ($17.7m) upgrade of his pri- tractors were liable for misspend- Such moves will be limited by the small size, China had “every right” to use its Spratly hospital, the families of fishermen had places vate home. Before that, he escaped ing and cost overruns, Nhleko said, exposed conditions and lack of fresh water on holdings for military purposes, the facilities to shop, Wu said. trial on charges of taking more echoing the findings of a panel of most islands in the typhoon-tossed waterway, would be “primarily civilian”. It’s very different on the Philippine-held than 700 bribes from arms dealers, ANC lawmakers. but beefing up civilian features is still impor- He listed search and rescue, disaster pre- island of Thitu, also known as Pagasa, in the was acquitted of rape charges and “The fact is that a private resi- tant for rival claimants, experts said. vention, scientific research and weather Spratlys. admitted he fathered a child out of dence has been turned into a state “It does strengthen their legal position observation, among others. China had a Some 135 soldiers and civilians eke out wedlock with a friend’s daughter. residence because the president does ... because it underscores effective adminis- groundbreaking ceremony for the building of an existence, sharing a communal vegetable The formula for his success is some state business from it,” Ben tration, not just military, but civilian,” said two lighthouses on its new islands, state media garden and a health clinic while the children simple. Zuma dominates the ruling Turok, a veteran ANC member and Ian Storey, a South China Sea expert at said on Tuesday. attend a basic school. African National Congress, and the former chairman of Parliament’s Singapore’s Institute of South East Asian China accelerated its South China Sea Rovelyn Jugo, 22, moved to Manila’s largest ANC controls South Africa. He has ethics committee, said by phone Studies. civilian push in 2012, when it made a town- holding in the Spratlys with her husband and appointed allies to key posts and from Cape Town. “I am at a loss for “That would be important if these dis- ship on Woody island in the Paracel chain, son a year ago. shored up his popular support by words.” putes ever went to the International Court of north of the Spratlys, the head of a civil- “Everything is free, so we can save,” she extending welfare grants to more Opposition parties rejected Justice,” added Storey, referring to the United ian administration for its claimed islands said during a recent media visit to the island. than 16 million people, a quarter of Nhleko’s findings and said they Nations’ primary judicial body that can rule and reefs. The Paracels, entirely occupied On the Vietnamese-held island of Southwest the population. wouldn’t allow Zuma to get away on territorial disputes. by China since 1974, are also claimed by Cay, an elementary school opened this month, “He is untouchable,” Mzukisi with what they considered the theft Tensions in the Spratlys, in particular Vietnam. the third Vietnam has opened in the Spratlys Qobo, a politics lecturer at the of public funds. over China’s island building and freedom of Now, mainland Chinese tourists can visit in the last two years, according to state media. University of Pretoria, said by “The minister’s report dem- navigation through the contested waters, Woody island aboard a cruise ship called the A health clinic on Spratly island, the biggest phone. “Those who have positions onstrates that President Zuma’s Vietnam occupies, is also being upgraded. in government will remain silent henchmen will do anything to shield Under the UN Convention on the Law of because they will not want to lose the president from his responsibil- the Sea, the ability of an island to sustain a the patronage they have. It’s a vain ity,” Mmusi Maimane, the leader civilian population and economic activity is hope to think that any leader or of the main opposition Democratic vital to determining whether it can claim a member of the ANC will stand up Alliance, told reporters in Cape 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone to him and not suffer consequences.” Town on Thursday. “This battle is (EEZ), international lawyers say. The ANC, which is still widely far from over.” Those that can’t are legally considered credited with ending white minority Yet with the ANC’s overwhelm- rocks. rule, has won more than 60 percent ing majority in parliament, opposi- Clive Schofield, an Australian legal expert, support in every election since the tion parties have failed twice to pass said placing civilians on a reclamation was not first multiracial vote in 1994. Zuma, motions of no confidence in Zuma. enough for an EEZ. 73, won a second and final five-year Armed police threw lawmakers of “The legal character of the feature will not term in May last year, after the the Economic Freedom Fighters out change no matter how large the civilian popu- ANC won 62 percent. of the National Assembly when they lation becomes, or what economic activities The day before Police Minister disrupted Zuma’s annual state-of- take place there,” he said. Nkosinathi Nhleko cleared Zuma the-nation speech. While the legal nuances may be a long way of misspending on his home in “It shows the weakness of a politi- from life on Thitu, China’s reclamations are Nkandla in eastern KwaZulu-Natal cal system when a party spends too hard to miss. province, the president stood at the long in power,” Aubrey Matshiqi, a At night, lights are visible on Subi Reef, a podium in the National Assembly researcher at the Helen Suzman Chinese reclamation 20 km away. and mocked opposition party mem- Foundation in Johannesburg, said “What we hear on the radio about the situ- bers who demand that he repay by phone. “It becomes comfort- ation here is frightening,” said Jugo. “We are some of the money. able of its support base and its A Filipino soldier patrols the shore of Pagasa Island (Thitu Island) in the Spratly group of islands ready to leave ... In fact, our things are in plas- “Some people who could not leadership become inured to the in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, Philippines. tic containers so we can take them with us.” pronounce Nkandla, they have need of the ordinary citizens.” REUTERS now learned Nkandla, Nkandla, WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com EUROPE EU hits out at ‘unjustified’ Russia travel ban Moscow imposes ban on 89 European citizens; blacklisted politicians proud about move

BRUSSELS: The European foreign service said. “We consider She was among eight Swedes Nine Britons are thought to list along with an explanation of had been shared with European Union hit out yesterday at a this measure as totally arbitrary and several MEPs confirmed on be on the list, including the head how to contest it legally. diplomats. travel ban imposed by Russia and unjustified, especially in the the list, which was drawn up in of the MI5 domestic intelligence “At a time when we are trying He said on Friday that he would on 89 European citizens, call- absence of any further clarifica- response to the EU’s own sanc- agency, Andrew Parker, the to defuse a bitter and dangerous let “Moscow know... in no uncer- ing it “totally arbitrary and tion and transparency,” it added. tions and travel bans on Russia head of the armed forces Nick conflict in the heart of Europe, tain terms” that the Netherlands unjustified”. Blacklisted politicians were citizens over Moscow’s annexation Houghton, former foreign secre- this does not help,” German rejected it as the bans were “not The formerly undisclosed list nevertheless proud about being of Crimea in Ukraine last year. tary Malcolm Rifkind and former Foreign Minister Frank-Walter based on international law”. was revealed to European diplo- banned by Russia. Former Czech foreign minister deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. Steinmeier said in a statement Western governments have sus- mats on Thursday, and includes “Those who try to censor us Karel Schwarzenberg, a staunch “I have read the reports in the during a visit to Ukraine. pected the existence of a list for past and serving parliamentar- and make us scared for standing critic of Russia’s policy towards media but not a word from the Polish media reports suggest some time and several prominent ians and ministers who have been up for values deserve even more Ukraine, also confirmed he was Russians!” Rifkind said via email that as many as 18 Poles have politicians and officials have been outspoken critics of President criticism. For me it’s about being on the list and welcomed it. as the Foreign Office said there been targeted, including Deputy stopped from entering Russia in Vladimir Putin and the war in very committed to standing up for “When I saw the other names was “absolutely no justification Minister of National Defence recent months. Ukraine. peace and freedom in Ukraine,” (on the list), I found out I was in a for this list” Robert Kupiecki and the Senate Finland’s new Foreign Minister European politicians who dis- one of those banned, Swedish very decent club. I consider this a According to German daily Bild Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz. Timo Soini commented in a covered they had been banned MEP Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, reward,” he was quoted as saying seven German nationals have been Borusewicz is a key blog post on the inclusion of from travelling to Russia wore the said. by news agency CTK. targeted including Michael Fuchs, Communist-era dissident who Finland’s only known name on badge proudly, as Brussels took “I’m more proud than scared Other names have since been vice-president of the national was denied entry to Russia in the list—Green Party MEP Hiedi aim at Moscow for the decision. and this gives me more determina- made public including Guy parliament’s conservative CDU- March to attend the funeral of Hautala—and said it was pointless Beyond releasing the names tion to continue... If the Kremlin Verhofstadt, head of the Liberal CSU group and Franco-German outspoken opposition activist to “over-dramatise” the issue. of the blacklisted individuals to takes me and my colleagues seri- group in the European Parliament former MEP Daniel Cohn-Bendit. Boris Nemtsov who was shot dead “This is an expected reaction diplomats, Moscow has failed to ously it means we’re doing a good and a former Belgian PM, and The German government also in central Moscow. to the (EU) travel ban against provide “any other information job,” the centre-right politician, Sweden’s former centre-right complained about the secrecy sur- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Russian citizens. It’s not a big on legal basis, criteria and proc- married to Sweden’s former for- culture minister Lena Adelsohn rounding the measures and said Rutte was the first to reveal surprise.” ess of this decision,” the EU’s eign minister Carl Bildt, added. Liljeroth. it expected Russia to publish the that a list of blacklisted figures AFP

Russian aircraft head 4,200 migrants rescued off US destroyer in Mediterranean in Black Sea MOSCOW: Russian military ROME: More than 4,200 favouring departures as warm aircraft were scrambled to head migrants trying to reach spring weather sets in. off a US warship that was acting Europe have been rescued from Last month around 800 “aggressively” in the Black Sea, boats in the Mediterranean in migrants drowned off Libya in state news agency RIA reported last 24 hours, the Italian coast- the Mediterranean’s most deadly yesterday, citing an anonymous guard said yesterday. shipwreck in living memory when source in Russia’s armed forces In some of the most intense their 20-metre long fishing boat in Crimea. Mediterranean migrant traffic capsized and sank. The source was quoted as say- of the year, a total of 4,243 peo- That spurred the European ing that the US destroyer Ross ple have been saved from fishing Union to agree on a naval mis- was moving along the edge of boats and rubber dinghies in 22 sion to target gangs smug- Russia’s territorial waters and operations involving ships from gling migrants from Libya, but heading in their direction. nations including Italy, Ireland, a broader plan to deal with the “The crew of the ship acted Germany, Belgium and Britain. influx is in doubt due to a dispute provocatively and aggressively, On Friday the Italian navy said over national quotas for housing which concerned the operators of 17 dead bodies had been found on asylum seekers. monitoring stations and ships of one of the boats off Libya. Details Around 35,500 migrants arrived the Black Sea Fleet,” RIA quoted of the nationalities of the victims in Italy from the beginning of the the source as saying. and how they died have not yet year up to the first week of May, “Su-24 attack aircraft dem- been released. the UN refugee agency estimated, onstrated to the American crew Migrants escaping war and a number which has swelled con- readiness to harshly prevent poverty in Africa and the Middle siderably since. About 1,800 are a violation of the frontier and East this year have been pouring either dead or missing. to defend the interests of the into Italy, which has been bear- Most of those rescued on country.” ing the brunt of Mediterranean Friday and Saturday are expected Russia’s Defence Ministry was rescue operations. Most depart to reach ports around southern not immediately available to com- from the coast of Libya, which Italy during the weekend. The Italian Naval vessel Spica carrying close to 1,000 migrants rescued in ongoing operations. ment on the report. has descended into anarchy British naval vessel HMS Bulwark The incident is the latest exam- since Western powers backed a offloaded more than 740 early on have pressed member states to However, an EU plan to dis- said it would not participate and ple of encounters between Russian 2011 revolt that ousted Muammar Saturday at the southeastern share the burden of housing refu- perse 40,000 migrants from Italy some eastern states called for a and Western militaries, as ten- Gaddafi. Italian port of Taranto. gees more fairly through a reset- and Greece to other countries met voluntary scheme. sions continue over the crisis in Calm seas are increasingly European Union authorities tlement quota system. with resistance this week. Britain REUTERS Ukraine and Russia’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula, home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, last year. Earlier this month both Britain and Sweden said that they had scrambled fighters to intercept Russian bombers near their Ukraine president appoints Saakashvili as regional governor territory.

ODESSA, Ukraine: Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integ- the artificial conflicts that have into open conflict in 2008 when Russia He has recently been living in Berlusconi gets in President Petro Poroshenko rity, independence and peace,” been artificially imposed on this defeated Georgia in a five-day war over exile after authorities last year yesterday appointed fiercely Poroshenko said. “But maybe the amazing society,” Saakashvili said the breakaway region of South Ossetia. issued an arrest warrant for him a muddle over pro-Western former Georgian biggest challenge is another war after his appointment. Saakashvili — a charismatic on abuse of power charges that he leader Mikheil Saakashvili, who — a war against corruption, a war “Together with the president polyglot who speaks five lan- insists are politically motivated. poll candidates once fought a war with Russia, against injustice, a war against and his team we are all going to guages, including Ukrainian — Russian officials have already as governor of the strategic the unreformed economy.” build a new Ukraine,” he said. was already working as an advisor lashed out at the appointment as ROME: An apparent case of a Odessa region. The controversial announce- During his time at the helm in to Poroshenko and was granted rumours swirled ahead of the offi- mistaken address saw former Poroshenko made the ment of the flamboyant Saakashvili Georgia, Saakashvili, 47, became Ukrainian citizenship just ahead cial announcement. Italian prime minister Silvio announcement at a televised as head of the southern coastal an arch-nemesis of the Russian of his appointment. “Saakashvili — accused of Berlusconi show up briefly to event in the Black Sea port along- region is a pointed signal from leadership as he dragged his Saakashvili — who left power numerous crimes against the a leftist election rally and urge side the reformist Saakashvili, Kiev to Moscow that it remains tiny ex-Soviet homeland out of in 2013 — ruffled a lot of feath- Georgian people — gets appointed support for the candidate, local calling the ex-Georgian president set on its pro-European course Moscow’s orbit and closer to the ers with his radical reforms and governor of Odessa” senior for- media reported yesterday. a “great friend of Ukraine”. despite a bloody separatist conflict West after taking power in a pop- clampdown on corruption in eign ministry official Konstantin The incident took place on “There remain a large number in the east blamed on the Kremlin. ular revolution in 2003. Georgia and is a deeply divisive Dolgov wrote on Twitter. Friday night in the town of of problems in Odessa: preserving “Our main aim is to leave behind The collapse in relations spiralled figure there. AFP Segrate on the outskirts of Milan, during a rally for Paolo Micheli, who is running for mayor in local elections today. Anti-government protest in London Supporters of Micheli, who has the backing of the ruling centre-left Rajoy open to strategy Democratic Party, watched agape as Berlusconi swept into the square where the gathering was taking place, flanked by six bodyguards. changes ahead of polls The 78-year-old former pre- mier wandered around the square SITGES, Spain: Spanish take note,” Rajoy said at a confer- for a few minutes before asking Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ence attended by business leaders someone the candidate’s name. yesterday said he was open to and politicians in Sitges, north- On being told the answer he strategy changes for the first ern Spain. “There are things we said “Young people I’m count- time since his party suffered big have to change and we will do, ing on you to vote Paolo” only to losses in local polls last week- although not when it comes to beat a hasty retreat after being end, only months ahead of a our economic policy.” informed of his mistake by a general election. The PP has been banking member of his entourage. Rajoy — whose centre-right heavily on an economic recov- “With the support of the People’s Party (PP) lost 2.5 mil- ery to secure a second term in Cavaliere I can say I’ve won,” lion votes from four years ago office when the country votes in Micheli reacted in an ironic post in the municipal and regional November, though the message on his Facebook page. polls — did not detail whether has yet to convince voters. Berlusconi appeared to have he would reshuffle his cabinet or Spain is growing again at one gone astray while looking for alter policies. of the fastest paces in the euro the hall where the mayoral can- But the premier, who has come zone, but nearly one in four of the didate of his Forza Italia party, under pressure from even within workforce remains out of a job, Tecla Fraschini, was holding a the PP ranks in recent days to and social inequalities are rising. campaign event. Twenty million change tack, acknowledged mis- The governing party has also voters go to the polls on Sunday to takes and said recent election been dogged by corruption scan- elect governors in seven of Italy’s Members of the police look on as demonstrators take part in a protest against the Conservative government’s results were unsatisfactory. dals, and Rajoy admitted that 20 regions, as well as the mayors austerity measures in central London yesterday. “It’s clear there are some things these “had hurt the PP.” of more than 1,000 municipalities. we have not done well, we need to REUTERS AGENCIES SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 O’Malley jumps Face-off near jail into White House race Democrat hits out at Clinton

BALTIMORE: Former families that have led the country Maryland governor Martin for much of the past quarter cen- O’Malley, a onetime Hillary tury, saying he knew Wall Street Clinton loyalist, launched his would have no problem accepting White House campaign yester- another Bush or another Clinton day, warning the Democratic in the White House. frontrunner that the presi- “The presidency is not a dency was not her “crown” for crown to be passed back and the taking. forth... between two royal fami- Calling for a revival of the lies,” O’Malley boomed, to loud American dream, which he applause. warned was “hanging by a In the battle for the Democratic thread,” O’Malley insisted it was presidential nomination, however, time for a presidency focused on the 67-year-old Clinton enjoys a equality for all Americans, more huge lead over her two declared jobs, higher wages and compre- rivals — liberal independent hensive immigration reform. Senator Bernie Sanders, 73, He hit out at “powerful, wealthy and now O’Malley. According to special interests” that he said have RealClearPolitics.com, O’Malley FROM RIGHT: Former Venezuelan member of the National Assembly Maria Corina Machado, former Bolivian president Jorge Quiroga, Lilian Tintori, conspired to deepen the pockets polls at less than one percent to former Colombian president Andres Pastrana, and the mother of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Maria Antonieta de Lopez, speak of the rich while leaving increas- Clinton’s 63.6 percent. with members of the Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela at the entrance of the military jail ‘Ramo Verde’ in Los Teques, Venezuela, yesterday. ing numbers of Americans behind, The narrow Democratic race Quiroga and Pastrana are in Venezuela to meet opposition leaders Daniel Ceballos and Leopoldo Lopez. despite more than six years with could not be more different than Democrat Barack Obama in the the stampede of politicians seek- White House. ing the Republican nomination. “Our economic and political Eight candidates are already system is upside down and back- in the Republican contest and Swordfish kills wards and it is time to turn it eight more are all but certain to US army facility in Utah sent around,” O’Malley told a few hun- jump in, including Jeb Bush, the fisherman dred supporters in a park over- son and brother of two former looking downtown Baltimore. presidents. The 52-year-old is youth- O’Malley seeks to tap into a live anthrax to Australia in Hawaii ful, charismatic, and brings to new generation of voters dis- his campaign executive leader- connected from the Clintons or WASHINGTON: US authori- It was not clear precisely when Lawmakers voiced alarm over HAWAII: A Hawaiian fisher- ship experience as a two-term Bushes. ties investigating the mistaken samples from the 2008 batch were the mishap involving the 2014 man died when a swordfish he Baltimore mayor and two-term They include Baltimore shipment of live anthrax by a sent out or where the samples batch of anthrax, and demanded had speared in a harbour on state governor. resident and physician Alissa military lab have discovered were sent, other than Australia, army officials explain what went the Big Island struck him in But he is an unknown to most Zingman, 32, who praised the another batch of the lethal bac- officials said. wrong. the chest with its sharp bill, Americans who live outside the former governor for taking posi- teria dating back to 2008, some “We are still trying to figure “While the Army says it is con- officials said. Washington-New York corridor tions on several issues, including of which was sent to Australia, out where the samples were sent,” fident no one has been harmed, it The man, a captain in the char- where his political successes have opposition to a huge trade accord officials said Friday. a US official who spoke on condi- needs to tell us what is being done ter fishing business, on Friday been more broadly recognised. that Washington is secretly nego- The revelation suggested a tion of anonymity told AFP. immediately to prevent this from morning saw the swordfish in O’Malley supported Clinton’s tiating with 11 other Pacific Rim wider problem in the handling of Australia’s Foreign Minister happening again,” Senator Bill the Honokohau small boat har- ill-fated 2008 presidential run, nations. “I’ve been really disap- anthrax samples, which were sup- Julie Bishop welcomed the Nelson said in a letter to Army bour and jumped into the water to but he signalled yesterday that pointed with how little I’ve seen posed to be rendered inactive by investigation by the US into the Secretary John McHugh. catch it, the state Department of despite her overwhelming front- from Hillary,” Zingman told AFP, irradiation at a US Army facility shipment. Nelson called the incident Land and Natural Resources said. runner status, it would not be adding that the former top diplo- in Utah. “We are taking part in the a “serious breach of trust” in Witnesses say he speared the a waltz to the nomination for mat “doesn’t have an excuse” for Military and health officials investigation and I am pleased it the army’s obligation to keep fish but it struck him in the chest Clinton in 2016. not weighing in on the trade deal. launched a probe after a com- is underway,” she said. Americans and troops safe. with its spear-shaped bill, accord- He took a swipe at the two AFP mercial lab in Maryland last week US military and health author- US government laboratories ing to the department. found a live sample of anthrax ities insisted there was no threat came under fire last year over Onlookers pulled the unrespon- in a shipment from the army’s posed to public health and no sus- reports of sloppy management of sive man out of the water and Dugway Proving Ground, near pected cases of infection. deadly bacteria. performed CPR until paramedics Salt Lake City. Four lab workers in the states As a result, health officials took him to a hospital where he The Pentagon acknowledged on of Texas, Delaware and Wisconsin suspended the shipment of was pronounced dead, the depart- Thursday that at least 18 govern- had been put on antibiotics as potentially dangerous pathogens ment said in a statement. ment, university and commercial a precaution, according to the from government labs in Atlanta The man was not named in laboratories received suspected Centers for Disease Control and the CDC shut down two of the statement but local televi- live samples of anthrax from a (CDC). its laboratories, including one sion station KITV identified him batch irradiated in March 2014. In addition, 22 military and implicated in the mishandling of as 47-year-old Randy Llanes. Samples from that batch were civilian personnel were also placed anthrax samples. “He was a tough guy, he was distributed to various labs for under preventative treatment at The lethal anthrax disease is such a tough guy that everyone’s research in nine states as well as Osan air base in South Korea, the spread by spores and has been scared of him, the whole harbour’s at the US military’s Osan air base Pentagon said. used for bioweapons programmes scared of him,” Kalina Llanes, in South Korea. The anthrax bacteria sent in the United States and else- the man’s sister-in-law, told the But on Friday, officials said the out by the army facility in Utah where. Washington long ago station. investigation turned up another was part of a Pentagon effort “to scrapped its bioweapons effort as She added that those who knew Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland governor Martin batch of live anthrax, which was develop a new diagnostic test to part of an international treaty, him well were “not scared of him O’Malley announcing his candidacy for the 2016 Democratic presidential meant to be made inactive or identify biological threats,” the which the United States ratified because he has such a big heart.” nomination in Baltimore, Maryland, yesterday. “dead” in 2008. CDC said. in 1975. AFP KITV showed an image of the fish, which according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources measured 3 High-value detainee feet long with a bill that extended another 3 feet, lying dead at the New treatment may prolong water’s edge. REUTERS Colombian health after breast cancer troops kill two CHICAGO: Promising advances in post-menopausal. Those results led investi- leftist rebels research could mean longer, healthier gators to stop the trial early because it was lives for women with breast cancer, the so effective. BOGOTA: Colombian sol- number one cancer in women worldwide, “After initial hormonal therapy stops work- diers killed two leftist rebels experts said yesterday at a major US can- ing in metastatic breast cancer, the next step yesterday, the military said, cer conference. is typically chemotherapy, which can be effec- amid renewed fighting that has A new targeted therapy that appears to tive, but the side effects are often very difficult shaken peace talks between double the amount of time cancer can be held for women,” said lead study author Nicholas the government and the in check, a drug that offers more women a C Turner, a consultant medical oncologist at FARC group. chance at healthy lives post-diagnosis and The Royal Marsden and a team leader at The The military said the latest a surgical option to remove extra tissue in Institute of Cancer Research, London, United clash occurred in the southwest- order to reduce the likelihood of cancer’s Kingdom. ern department of Narino, near return were among the findings presented “This relatively easy-to-take new drug can the town of Tumaco. at the American Society of Clinical Oncology substantially delay the point when women The body of one of the rebels annual meeting in Chicago. need to start chemotherapy, making this an was recovered but the other was The targeted drug, palbociclib, is made by exciting new approach for women.” “violently snatched away by the Pfizer and was granted accelerated approval Palbociclib works by blocking a key protein civilian populace,” the military by the US Food and Drug Administration that fuels the growth of hormone receptor- statement said. earlier this year for use in women with the positive breast tumors. Soldiers also recovered a gre- most common form of advanced breast cancer, Researchers said that comparable benefits nade launcher, a mortar, three known as estrogen receptor positive (ER+), were seen in both pre- and postmenopau- handguns, ammunition and explo- human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 sal women, but more long term research is sives as well as 5.7 kilogrammes of negative (HER2-). needed to determine whether or not the drug coca paste, it said. According to the findings of a phase III helps women live longer. At least 44 rebels have been trial presented at the ASCO meeting, the Another study released at ASCO involved killed since May 21 in government drug — when used in combination with an more than 3,100 postmenopausal women with ground and air attacks. anti-estrogen agent called Fulvestrant — was a localised form of breast cancer, known as President Juan Manuel Santos able to double the time women spent without ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is ended a government suspension having their cancer advance. typically treated by surgically removing the of airstrikes in April following a The combination delayed disease progres- cancerous lump from the breast, followed by Leiver Padilla Mendoza (centre), alias “El Colombia”, is escorted by police officers rebel attack that killed 11 soldiers. sion for just over nine months, compared radiation. as he arrives in Venezuela, after being extradited from Colombia, at Simon Bolivar The FARC has responded by to nearly four months in women taking Women with this kind of breast cancer face Airport in Caracas yesterday. Mendoza is accused of the murder of Venezuelan calling off a unilateral ceasefire Fulvestrant alone, according to a randomised a higher risk of invasive breast cancer, but legislator Robert Serra. that it had been observing since study of 521 women, most of whom were death from DCIS itself is rare. AFP December. AFP SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA US to bring Japan under Call for universal suffrage cyber defence umbrella Focus on military bases and infrastructure TOKYO: The United States Japan are wary of cyber threats, including those against Japanese will extend its cyber defence including potential attacks from critical infrastructure and serv- umbrella over Japan, helping its China or North Korea. While the ices utilised by the Japan Self- Asian ally cope with the grow- United States is investing heavily Defence Forces and US Forces.” ing threat of online attacks in building a force to counter and US Defence Secretary Ash against military bases and retaliate against online attacks, Carter, who met his Japanese infrastructure such as power Japan, which hosts the biggest US counterpart Gen Nakatani at grids, the two nations said in a military contingent in Asia, has the Shangri-La Dialogue in joint statement yesterday. been slower to buttress its cyber Singapore yesterday, unveiled a “We note a growing level of defenses. more muscular military cyber sophistication among malicious The Japanese military’s cyber strategy in April that stressed cyber actors, including non-state defense unit has around 90 mem- an ability to retaliate with cyber and state-sponsored actors,” they bers, compared to more than weapons. said in a statement released by 6,000 people at the Pentagon, a That strengthened deterrence the US-Japan Cyber Defence Japanese Defence Ministry official comes in the wake of high-pro- Policy Working Group, which was said at a briefing on Thursday. file attacks against corporations established in 2013. Japan is trying to catch up including the hacking of Sony Cybersecurity is a key area as it prepares to host the 2020 Pictures Entertainment last year, where Japan and the United Olympics in Tokyo and with cyber which the US blamed on North States are deepening their mili- attacks on the rise. Assaults on Korea. tary partnership under a set of government websites are now China’s Defence Ministry new security guidelines released being detected ever few seconds, expressed concern about the new in April, that will also integrate according to Japanese cyber strategy saying it would worsen their ballistic missile defense defense experts. tension over Internet security. systems and give Tokyo a bigger In the statement, Japan’s China is frequently accused by security role in Asia as China’s defence ministry pledged to the US of being engaged in wide- A masked demonstrator holds a placard as he takes part in a rally with others demanding universal suffrage in military power grows. “contribute to join “efforts for spread hacking attacks, charges Hong Kong yesterday. Both the United States and addressing various cyber threats, Beijing denies. REUTERS

Suicide bombing inside mosque Japanese volcano UN warns of hunger in N Korea GENEVA: A drought in North the rice-planting season. Normally because of Pyongyang’s restrictions kills 26 in Nigeria calm ‘for now’ Korea could lead to huge food they submerge the land almost a on humanitarian workers and inter- shortages this year, the top UN week or two in advance. But this national concerns over its nuclear MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA: A TOKYO: A violent volcanic eruption in Japan that forced official in the country said in an year, I’ve seen it myself - they’re ambitions. suicide bomber killed at least the evacuation of an island appears to have come to a halt, interview. Rainfall in 2014, the doing it in the dry, actually plant- “Let’s not make aid political,” 26 people yesterday inside a the country’s weather agency said yesterday. lowest in records going back 30 ing rice. So what we’re hearing Isaczai said. The United Nations mosque in northeast Nigeria’s The announcement came a day after Mount Shindake, which years, was 40-60 percent below right now is that they’re switch- provides nutritional supplements to city of Maiduguri, with the sits on the far southern island of Kuchinoerabu, sent plumes of 2013 levels, and reservoirs are ing to maize and corn because that schools and hospitals but does not blast leaving much of the build- ash up to 9,000 metres (29,500 feet) tall shooting into the sky. very low, said Ghulam Isaczai, the requires less water.” have the funds to supply rice for ing destroyed, witnesses said. Television pictures showed the after-effects of the eruption, UN resident coordinator. Some farmers, already strug- North Korea’s 24.6 million popula- “It was suicide attack by a as ash and rock cascaded down the mountainside towards one “We’re extremely concerned with gling with a shortage of fuel and tion, 70 percent of whom are already bomber who pretended to be wor- of the island’s harbours. the impact of drought which will equipment, have resorted to using classed as “food insecure”. shipper,” said Haruna Dawud, a Grey sediment blanketed the breakwaters and discoloured affect the crop this year severely. buckets to water seedlings, he said. “How are they going to fill this trader at the Monday Market the sea. The eruption forced all of the island’s nearly 140 inhab- And we might be faced with another The effect of North Korea’s lack of gap? I think they have reached out which is next to the mosque. itants to flee, with one elderly man having suffered a minor major incident of food availabil- agricultural infrastructure such as to some countries — to India, to The Monday Market has over facial injury. ity or even hunger,” said Isaczai. irrigation systems was visible on China, to Russia,” Isaczai said. the past year been hit by several The Japan Meteorological Agency said that volcanic activity “It is going to create a huge defi- the border, where “dry and harsh” The lack of water has dried up suicide bombings blamed on Boko at the site had calmed for now. cit between the needs and what is North Korean land met green fields rivers and streams and has also hit Haram. The Islamist insurgents But it is unclear whether this will remain the case, the agency available.” in China. electricity supply, which was at its launched an overnight attack on said, maintaining its volcanic alert for the peak at the highest If El Nino weather conditions A famine in the 1990s killed as worst in winter when hydroelectric Maiduguri yesterday but were level. On Saturday morning, smoke was observed at a height of bring more drought this year, the many as 1 million North Koreans power was restricted to reserve repelled by the military. 200 metres above the volcano, a level seen before Friday’s major situation in 2016 could be even but recently many international water for the rice-planting season. Dawud said he saw 20 bodies eruption, Japan’s Jiji Press agency said. AFP worse, he warned. “This is currently donors have been reluctant to help REUTERS being evacuated after the blast at roughly 3:30pm (1430 GMT) but could not confirm how many were dead. Another trader, Tutu blasts Nura Khalid, said he personally counted nine corpses being taken government for out of the mosque. “The roof was blown off and ‘humiliating’ fire destroyed the mats and a few Qurans,” Khalid said. Sada Umaru, a trader who par- South Africa ticipated in the rescue operation, also said the death toll may reach JOHANNESBURG: 20 or higher, but like Dawud, was Archbishop Desmond Tutu not able to confirm a specific toll yesterday blasted the South amid the chaos that followed African government for the blast. Umaru confirmed the humiliating the country by accounts of other witnesses that allowing the president to get the attacker entered the mosque away with spending $24m of pretending to be a worshipper who taxpayers’ money on home had come for afternoon prayers. improvement work. The bombing and the thwarted “When the South African Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri government denied His Holiness came hours after Nigeria’s the Dalai Lama a visa to attend President Muhammadu Buhari the Nobel Laureates Summit was sworn into office, vowing to in Cape Town last year, I called crush the insurgent group. them a lickspittle bunch,” said Tutu in a statement. “Our police minister’s per- Workplaces must formance in clearing the presi- dent of any responsibility for have Communist the Nkandla spending, gave new meaning to the word.” Party units: China South Africa’s ombuds- woman last year found that SHANGHAI: China has passed Indonesian Muslims during a mass meeting and rally at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, yesterday. Thousands attended the meeting that urged the President Jacob Zuma had a regulation ensuring govern- goverment to save migrants from Myanmar’s ethnic Rohinyga group. “unduly benefited” from the ment organisations and private work on his private residence companies have Communist at Nkandla — which also Party units so that party pol- Migrants to be taken to Rakhine: Myanmar included a cattle enclosure, icy can be implemented across amphitheatre and visitors’ cen- society, the People’s Daily, the tre — and recommended that official party mouthpiece, said. YANGON: More than 700 leaving around 3,500 people on “Bengalis” from across the border. to deport them there. The discov- he repay some of the money. The regulation was passed migrants found crammed into a Thai, Malaysian and Indonesia “They will be taken to Rakhine ery of the latest vessel looks set But Police Minister on Friday at a meeting of the fishing boat by Myanmar’s navy soil and an estimated 2,500 more State near Bangladesh tomorrow to deepen a tug of war between Nkosinathi Nhleko said on Politburo, one of the Communist will be taken to the country’s stranded at sea. or the day after,” Myo Win, a local Bangladesh and Myanmar over Thursday that an investiga- Party’s elite ruling bodies, troubled Rakhine state, a local The majority of those fleeing official from Haigyi Island, which who is responsible for migrants tion found that the president with President Xi Jinping in official said yesterday, adding to the three countries are per- is close to where the navy towed discovered in the Bay of Bengal. is not liable to repay any of attendance. all those on board were from secuted Rohingya Muslims from the boat. Myanmar has been keen to the public funds spent as the It was unclear if the regulation, Bangladesh. Myanmar’s western Rakhine “As these people came from portray those leaving its shores as improvements were in fact the latest in Xi’s campaign aimed A total of 727 people, includ- state or people escaping poverty Bangladesh, we will take them Bangladeshi economic migrants security features. at strengthening party discipline, ing 74 women and 45 children, in neighbouring Bangladesh. back to Rakhine State because it’s and has rejected widespread criti- The swimming pool was extended to foreign organisations were discovered in the hull of a A local official said the group close (to the border),” he added, cism that the Rohingya’s dire con- actually a “firepool” needed to operating in China. vessel on Friday morning in the discovered on Friday had been referring to the western state. ditions are one of the root causes fight any blaze at the mainly- Party discipline is Communist Irrawaddy delta region with state taken to Thamee Hla Island in Earlier this month Myanmar’s of the current exodus. thatched compound, while the Party jargon for efforts to fight media reporting that 50 passen- the Irrawaddy delta region by the navy found more than 200 bare- Bangladesh has said it will not cattle enclosure and chicken corruption. A campaign against gers had perished before they navy, ahead of their transfer to chested men in the hull of a take back any migrants who trace run were necessary to prevent graft has formed the centrepiece were rescued. Rakhine. wooden, Thai-registered fishing their origin to Myanmar. the animals tripping motion of Xi’s administration and the It is the latest boat to have Buddhist-majority Myanmar vessel. Myanmar’s 1.3 million detectors as they roamed leadership has vowed to target been discovered as the region does not recognise the Rohingya Myanmar insisted all but eight Rohingya are heavily persecuted about, the minister concluded. both high- and low-level offend- battles a migrant crisis that has as an indigenous ethnic group and of those found on that boat were and are one of the world’s largest AFP ers. AGENCIES erupted since the start of May, officials routinely refer to them as Bangladeshi nationals and vowed stateless populations. AFP SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Sharif defers Gunmen kill 22 bus passengers supersession of officers Seven assailants also killed ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the history of civil QUETTA: Gunmen disguised corridor Pakistan wants to build bureaucracy in Pakistan, Prime as members of the Pakistani with billions of dollars of Chinese Minister Nawaz Sharif has security forces killed at least investment. converted into deferment all 22 passengers yesterday night The much-vaunted project, supersession cases of BS-19 and after forcing them off buses announced when Chinese BS-20 officers recently recom- travelling from the western President Xi Jinping visited mended by the Central Selection city of Quetta to Karachi on the Pakistan in April, envisages an Board (CSB). southern coast, officials said. eastern and western route, with The CSB had recommended The assault in the province of the latter passing from Gwadar supersession of dozens of officers Baluchistan occurred in the town port in the south through Quetta in BS-19 and BS20 belonging to of Mastung, around 40 km (25 and beyond. different groups and cadres but miles) south of Quetta. Separatists have been waging the prime minister preferred to “Fifteen to 20 armed men in an insurgency in Baluchistan, of defer their cases of promotion three pickup trucks and wear- which Quetta is the capital, for instead of blocking their promo- ing security uniforms kidnapped more than a decade. They are tion permanently. around 35 passengers,” Sarfaraz demanding an end to what they According to sources, the prime Bugti, Baluchistan’s home minis- see as the exploitation of their minister feels that the superses- ter, told Reuters. resources by people from other sions require solid grounds and He said the bodies of 22 passen- parts of Pakistan. concrete reasons, which could gers were later found around two Islamist militants also regularly pass the test of the judicial scru- km away from the main Quetta- target civilians and the security tiny. It is said that this move Karachi highway in foothills. forces, and earlier this month at would also reduce the volume of Seven of the assailants have been least 43 commuters were killed on litigation from the deferred offic- killed in an operation involving a bus in Karachi by a group that ers, who would have the hope for hundreds of soldiers and police, has declared allegiance to Islamic promotion in future. he added. State. Otherwise, except for the case The circumstances of the pas- All of the victims in that attack Pakistani volunteers from the Edhi Foundation transport the bodies of those killed in the bus attack in Quetta of Joint Secretary Establishment sengers’ deaths could not imme- were Ismailis from Pakistan’s yesterday. Division Mumtaz Ali Khan, all diately be established and the minority Shi’ite community, cases of promotions recom- motives of the assailants were but one security official said the 500 security personnel on the are surrounded by security staged a protest over the lack of mended by the Central Selection unclear. The attack will be a con- Mastung attack did not appear to ground was underway to hunt forces,” Bugti said. security in Baluchistan. Among Board have been approved by the cern for the government of Prime be sectarian. down the remaining assailants In Quetta, where the bodies of the demonstrators were relatives prime minister. Minister Nawaz Sharif because Officials in Mastung said a believed to be hiding in mountain- the slain passengers were taken, of 16 of the victims, whose bodies Notifications of all those pro- it raises further questions about major operation involving four ous terrain. hundreds of people gathered out- were laid out in a line wrapped moted are being issued. the feasibility of a new economic helicopter gunships and around “The kidnappers and terrorists side the governor’s house and in cloth. REUTERS INTERNEWS

Thar coal Rains raise Pak water stock to record high Taxman eyes LAHORE: The massive rainfall in March official of the Punjab Irrigation Department. Jointly, the rivers had 222,400 cusecs of plant yields and April has raised Pakistan’s stock of Punjab received heavy rainfall in March water yesterday, giving planners ample quanti- cigarettes, water to record levels, according to official and April, with up to 300mm being recorded ties both for releases and conservation, he said. charts made available yesterday. in March alone. This year Pakistan is likely to release a 1Megawatt For the first time in its history the country “With temperatures still behaving, at least huge quantity of water into the sea, according cold drinks KARACHI: With the ongo- has 8.91 million acre feet (MAF) of water. at nights, the water demand is down substan- to the official. This drives home an important ISLAMABAD: An unhealthy ing battle against energy crisis, Tarbela Dam has 3.48MAF, Mangla lake tially, allowing the water managers to conserve point, which the Punjab Water Council has lifestyle is about to get more Pakistan’s Sindh province gov- 5.17MAF and Chashma 0.26MAF of water. maximum water,” he remarked. been making for a long time; more reservoirs expensive in Pakistan: the gov- ernment finally generated one On the corresponding day of last year, “In fact, the inflows (at reservoirs) have should be built in the country. ernment has decided to increase megawatt from the Thar coal the country had only about 3MAF of water - far exceeded projections made by the Indus “Pakistan can conserve only about 4.5MAF taxes on cigarettes, carbonated power plant through an under- 0.115MAF in Tarbela lake, 2.88MAF in Mangla River System Authority (Irsa) this year,” said of water. The rest goes to the sea because of beverages, and even sugar in a ground coal gasification process Dam and 0.018MAF in Chashma reservoir. another Punjab government official. lack of capacity to store water.” bid to raise more revenue in the on Thursday. Last year, the water level in Tarbela Dam “According to the Irsa projections, water The official said that if the rivers continued upcoming budget for fiscal 2016. According to officials, power was 1,390 feet against 1,493.5ft now. And level in Tarbela Dam should have been 1,466.7ft to follow the current trends and had more The proposals are part of the generation will be enhanced to Mangla had 1,171.5ft of water last year against on May 29, whereas it has touched 1,493.5ft - a reservoirs been built in the country, Pakistan taxation measures that will be 10MW by the end of this year and 1,212ft now. difference of 26.73ft. could have stored more water which could put on the table before the fed- 100MW by 2016. “Two factors have led to Pakistan boast- “Similarly, the water level in Mangla lake have been utilised in the years having low rain- eral cabinet on June 5 and, once “We have successfully produced ing record water stocks today: late rain that should have been 1,176ft, whereas it has gone fall. “This is the point that the government approved, will be implemented 1MW and 4MW is present in brought down the demand for field water and up to 1,212ft, a difference of 36ft,” the official needs to consider. from July 1, the beginning of fis- our system. Initially, the elec- healthier than expected water flows,” said an said. INTERNEWS cal year 2016, said sources in the tricity will be supplied to our finance ministry. projects and a nearby village,” The government has finalised said renowned scientist Dr Samar a budget proposal to increase Mubarakmand, who heads the Price of a scarf the federal excise duty (FED) on project. both categories of cigarettes by Ten wells have been dug up for 9 soldiers, 93 between 19 per cent and 33 per Thar coal-fired power plant near cent from the new fiscal year, they Islamkot, each with a distance of militants killed added. In the category where the 50 metres. After the gasification price of a thousand cigarettes is process, pure gas is connected in Afghanistan over Rs2,706 or Rs2.70 per stick, to coal gas generators imported the new tax rate is proposed at from China from where the elec- Rs3,150. The proposed rates are tricity is produced, according to in two days 19 per cent or Rs518 higher than officials. KABUL: Nine Afghan army the prevailing tax rates. “In these wells, steel pipes are personnel and 93 militants For the second category, having drilled down to 600 feet to reach have been killed during price range of less than Rs2,706 the coal bed and pump out under- military operations and clashes per thousand sticks, the govern- ground water. We later fire the within the past two days ment has proposed to increase the coal inside with compressed air to in Afghanistan, a Defense tax rates by one-third to Rs1,450, produce the gas mixed with other Ministry spokesman said the sources said. particles,” said Engineer Abdul yesterday. Tobacco is already considered a Manan Larik. “Over the past 48 hours, non-essential consumption item “We have installed a gas puri- 93 militants have been killed by the government. In the previ- fication plant to get rid of unnec- and seven arrested in 12 ous budget, the government had essary particles including carbon provinces while nine army also increased the FED rate on and sulphur in order to produce soldiers died as a result of cigarettes in the range of 13.2 per pure gas that is linked with gen- clashes and bomb explosions,” cent to 23.3 per cent. erators,” Larik said. spokesman General Zahir A recent study by the Global He said the government Azimi said. The Afghan security Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) had earlier allocated Rs10 bil- forces have recently intensified reveals that about one-fifth of lion for this project to generate operations against militants Pakistan’s adult population is 100MW under the gasification as spring and summer known as addicted to smoking. Nearly one pilot project, but due to financial the fighting season is drawing out of every three adult men and constraints, there has been near. The Taliban militant group six out of every hundred women no tangible progress in the past An Afghan street vendor negotiates the price of a scarf with a customer as he sells scarves on a roadside in has yet to make comments. use tobacco in some form in five years. INTERNEWS Kabul yesterday. Despite massive injections of foreign aid since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghanistan AGENCIES Pakistan. INTERNEWS remains desperately poor as it attempts to recover from decades of conflict. Govt succeeds in evolving consensus on CPEC Baloch cops tie up with NAB ISLAMABAD: It was chief of PkMAP Mehmood Khan Khan and Mehmood Khan Diq(gold), Kalat (iron ore), ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan Police has joined hands with Pakistan’s federal minister Achakzai and chief of Qaumi Achackzai about the projects Lasbela (Manganese), Gwadar National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in its national campaign on for planning and develop- Watan Party Aftab Ahmed Khan that would be initiated in KPK (oil refinery), Muslim Bagh awareness and prevention and has started printing NAB’s message ment Ahsan Iqbal who worked Sherpao. and Balochistan which include (chromite), Industrial Economic ‘Say No to Corruption’ on the top of all their correspondence and tirelessly to evolve consensus Sources said Ahsan Iqbal early harvest projects, Gwadar Zones/Parks in Quetta, Dostan, letters, supporting the cause of creating awareness among the peo- among the political parties assured them that the chief min- Eastbay Expressway, New Gwadar, Khuzdar, Uthal, Hub, ple about the ill effects of corruption and corrupt practices across on China-Pakistan Economic isters will be taken on board and Gwadar International Airport, Dera Murad Jamali. the country, says a press release. Corridor (CPEC) route. working group will be established Gwadar Projects (school, hospi- The mega projects in KPK To spread the message, NAB proposed Inspector General of Police, Prior to the all parties confer- with representatives from all tal, marine works, infrastructure, include Early Harvest Projects Balochistan to print the message ‘Say No to Corruption’ on all the ence chaired by Prime Minister provinces to examine the sites for social sector projects) 660 MW KKH Phase-II(Thakot-Havelian), correspondence made by Balochistan Police. Nawaz Sharif on Thursday Ahsan industrial parks/economic zones coal-based project, Hub 300 MW Havelian Dry Port, Fiber Optic NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has welcomed Balochistan Iqbal held a series of meeting with and prepare feasibility studies for coal-based project, Gwadar 600 Data Communication System Police’s decision for printing of message ‘Say No to Corruption’ on all the leaders of all political parties presentation to the Joint Working MW solar project, and upgrading Khunjerab-Islamabad), 870 MW the correspondence by Balochistan Police to spread NAB’s message in to allay their concerns. Group in July 2015. of railways and road network. Hydro power project, Suki Kinari, far flung areas of the province to create awareness among people at Those he met included JUI He assured Asfandyar Wali Minerals Processing Mansehra and Potential projects large about the ill effects of corruption. (F) chief Maulana Fazalur Khan that presently no new road Zones in Balochistan include includes Swat Expressway, On the directions of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rehman, ANP chief Asfandyar is being constructed under CPEC Khuzdar (Chromite, Antimony, Hydro Projects Shogosin 132 Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, NAB is pursuing ‘Awareness and Wali Khan, senior leaders of the but only the existing network of Chaghi (Chromite), Qila MW Chitral, Balakot 300 MW, Prevention’ campaign to curb corruption and corrupt practices in the PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr roads is being upgraded. Saifullah(antimony, chromite), Shigokuch Dir 102 MW, etc. country. Shireen Mazari and Asad Omar, He informed Asfanyar Wali Sandak (gold, silver), Reko INTERNEWS INTERNEWS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Woman held Heat wave toll reaches 2000 for air ticket Mass awareness programme to help people cope with rising temperatures fraud, husband HYDERABAD: India’s bru- 48 degrees Celsius -- the highest absconding tal weeks-long heat wave has temperature recorded in the state GURGAON: A former woman killed more than 2,000 peo- so far -- and two points higher employee of an air ticketing ple, authorities said yesterday, than 46 degrees -- though there company here was arrested as the government launched a were no officially recorded heat for fraud while her husband, mass education campaign to wave casualties in the state so far. her accomplice and another help people cope with scorching Nagpur followed with 47 degrees ex-employee of the same firm, temperatures. Celsius while Wardha stood at 46 were absconding, police said Hundreds of mainly poor peo- degrees, and Akola remained con- yesterday. ple die at the height of summer stant like at 45 degrees. Yavatmal The 30-year-old woman named every year in India, but this also remained constant at 44 Bableen, a resident of Delhi’s year’s toll is the second highest degrees, while Jalgaon notched Kirti Nagar area, and her hus- in India’s history and fifth most in up a degree from 43 to 44. While band Varun Anand were work- recorded history globally, accord- Solapur and Parbhani recorded ing in the same company in Udyog ing to EM-DAT, an international 43 degrees Celsius, Aurangabad Vihar till last year, said police disaster database. and Amravati recorded 42 officer Subhash Boken. The southern states of Andhra degrees; Nanded, Osmanabad The company had filed a police Pradesh and Telangana -- which and Buldhana were slightly com- complaint on April 10 that some- have so far borne the brunt of the fortable at 41 degrees Celsius one was disturbing its business heat wave -- accounted for 1,979 each. process and transferring money deaths. A further 17 people were The weather continued to be fraudulently using the user names killed in Orissa, eastern India, dry in most districts in the hin- and passwords of employees. while nine people were reported terland, with humidity levels The complaint was filed on dead elsewhere in the country, Road markings appear distorted during heat wave in New Delhi yesterday. as low as 32 percent (Nagpur), charges of cheating and breach of taking the death toll to 2,005. (34) Akola, (35) Amravati, (37) trust against unknown company A total of 2,541 people died in His counterpart in neighbour- Medical Sciences, told AFP. before the cooling rains reach Chandrapur and (38) Yavatmal. employees. 1998 due to extreme tempera- ing Andhra Pradesh, where 1,490 Yesterday, maximum tem- India’s arid plains. For the first time this week, The case was referred to the tures, the highest figure in India’s people have died since mid-May, peratures across India hovered Himachal Pradesh continued the salubrious hill station of cyber crime cell, and during history, according to EM-DAT. said officials there had launched a around 45 degrees Celsius (113 to sizzle yesterday and recorded Mahabaleshwar recorded 28 investigation, it was found that Officials in Andhra Pradesh and publicity campaign outlining how Fahrenheit), with forecasters in a maximum temperature of 41.7 degrees Celsius, down from none of the present employees Telangana, meanwhile, launched to deal with the heat wave. New Delhi warning that searing degrees Celsius. Its capital city the high of 30 degrees, after it were involved, but someone from public education campaigns to “The deaths have definitely temperatures would continue Shimla recorded a high of 27.1 recorded a continuous high of outside was involved. inform the most vulnerable on come down in the last few days,” next week across several states. degrees Celsius, weather officials 29 degrees earlier this week. Police tracked down Bableen how to withstand the heat. state disaster management chief Hundreds of people -- mainly said. This was the lowest temperature and arrested her from her house In Telangana, the authorities P. Tulsi Rani told AFP. from the poorest sections of soci- A meteorological department recorded in the state yesterday. on the basis of “technical evi- were using pamphlets and local Health officials in Andhra ety -- die at the height of summer official said Shimla’s maximum The temperature in coastal dences”, the police officer told media to inform people to avoid Pradesh’s Prakasam district, every year across India, while tens temperature was four notches areas like Mumbai remained IANS. going outdoors and to drink where 305 people have died due of thousands suffer power cuts above the average. A fresh west- constant at 35 degrees yesterday It was found that the cou- plenty of water, the state’s disas- to the heat wave, said the situa- from an overburdened electric- ern disturbance would be active while other seaside districts like ple used to transfer the money ter management chief B.R. Meena tion has improved in the last few ity grid. in the region between June 1 and Raigad and Ratnagiri stood at 34 provided to customers by the said. days with few people arriving in India declares a heat wave 2 with chances of rain and thun- degrees, but with high humidity company as bonus on booking “The death toll stands at 489. hospitals with symptoms of heat when the maximum tempera- dershowers across the state. levels. tickets regularly to their own There has been some relief in the stroke. ture hits 45 degrees Celsius, or There was no relief from A surprise cloud cover during bank account. heat wave also but we are out on “There is no alarming situation five degrees higher than the aver- the heat wave sweeping parts the day over Mumbai and parts The account was opened in the roads telling people how to at present. The heat has come age for the area in previous years. of Vidarbha and Marathwada of coastal Konkan areas brought Bableen’s name and had nearly stay safe,” he told AFP, adding down, and we’re seeing fewer The annual monsoon is forecast regions of Maharashtra with some relief from the heat, though ` 14 lakh in it. that there had been no deaths in new patients come in with heat to hit the southern state of Kerala high temperatures continuing the temperatures and humidity Cash amounting to ` 50,000 the state as a result of the hot stroke,” J.V. Subbarao, a top offi- this week before sweeping across yesterday. levels remained unchanged. was recovered from the arrested weather since Thursday. cial at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of the country, but it will be weeks Chandrapur burnt at a high of AGENCIES woman. IANS Former Odisha CM ‘China crushing protests by nomads’ NEW DELHI: China has been “violently voice to the Tibetan nomads who are forced overgrazing and was environmentally harmful. crushing” all peaceful protests by Tibetan to live “wasted lives” in concrete barracks on Forcing the nomads to leave their pastoral Gamang quits Congress nomads demanding return of their pastoral the outskirts of cities, and rendered unfit to way of life has instead led to rapid ecological land and their nomadic way of life in the merge into the Chinese society due to lack of degradation of the grasslands, said Lafitte, as BHUBANESWAR: Veteran Giving reasons for his parting Tibetan plateau, a Tibetan rights activist skills or even knowing the Chinese language. the yaks and sheep by constant nibbling of tribal leader and former of ways with the Congress, he said said here yesterday. The in-depth report has been brought out the grass would strengthen the roots and thus Odisha chief minister Giridhar he was quitting the party since it Tsering Tsomo, a Tibetan nomad and head by the TCHRD, which has the Dalai Lama prevent soil erosion. Gamang yesterday resigned did not come to his support over of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and as its patron, and NGO League for Pastoral “The Tibetan nomads have a deeper under- from the primary membership his controversial vote against the Democracy (TCHRD), said the population of Peoples. standing of the ecology of the grasslands. If of the Congress. Atal Bihari Vajpayee government Tibetan nomads has come down “by hundreds It makes a case for giving the Tibetan pas- the nomads are allowed mobility then they He took the decision as he was in Parliament on April 17, 1999. of thousands” over the years since the Chinese ture lands, which is of the size of western can make the drylands productive,” he said. “humiliated” in the party since “Since 1999, I have been humili- government launched in 2003 its policy of forc- Europe, back to the nomads and allowing them Around 22 of the over 140 Tibetans who 1999, the former union minister ated in public for bringing down ing the nomads to give up grazing livestock their mobility in order to preserve the ecology. immolated themselves in Tibet demanding and nine-time Congress MP from the Vajpayee government with in the grasslands and live in concrete urban “We want the Chinese government to cease independence were nomads, he added. Koraput Lok Sabha constituency my vote. Till today, neither any housing blocks. their policy of excluding the nomads from the Ilse Kohler-Rollefson, of the Germany- said in his resignation faxed to party nor any leaders have come “Civil society does not exist in China; no Tibetan plateau. We want stewardship of our based NGO League for Pastoral Peoples, said Congress president Sonia Gandhi. out with the truth and protected one can peacefully petition the government. land back, as we are the ones who know best consumption of meat and dairy products was Though he maintained that he me from public criticism. Any kind of peaceful demonstration and how to use it,” said Tsomo. set to double by 2050 in the world. would not join any other party, his “I feel my loyalty to the party request is violently crushed,” Tsomo said at According to the report’s author Gabriel She said nomadic pastoralists work on the son hinted that both would join a has turned into a liability for the a media event to release a report on the “dis- Lafitte, a journalist who has spent 20 years principle of sustainability. national political party soon. party,” Gamang said. appearing nomads of Tibet” at the Foreign in Tibet researching the subject, the pasture “The number of their flock of sheep and goat “I announce my resignation The tribal leader said that he Correspondents Club. lands are full of rich deposits of gold, silver, adjusts naturally to availability of grassland. from the primary membership had voted against the then BJP- Tsomo, who has grown up in Himachal copper, lead and other precious metals. So the term overgrazing does not exist,” she of the Congress with immediate led government in deference to Pradesh, said the Chinese government, after He says hundreds of mines, most of them said, terming the Chinese policy of keeping effect. I have taken the decision the whip issued by the Congress. forcing the nomads to leave the pastoral grass- illegal, run by people from the Chinese main- animals and nomads out of their pastoral land as I have been thoroughly humili- Even though he denied join- lands, has instead set up chemical factories land have sprung up in the pastoral lands from “totally wrong”. ated by the party leadership who ing any political party, his elder and industries which let off toxic effluents into where the Tibetan nomads have been evicted. She said China like India was a signatory have insulted me,” he told media son Sisir Gamang hinted that he the pristine waters of the many rivers that The Chinese in 2003 launched the policy of to the UN convention on biological diversity, persons here. along with his father would join a originate there, thus polluting them. “sedentarisation” or to forcefully make the and thus has a legal obligation to support Gamang said that he wanted national party in the near future. The report, “Wasted Lives: China’s cam- nomads lead a sedentary life, in the mistaken pastoralists. to be a free man although he had “We will join a national party in paign to end Tibetan nomadic lifeways”, gives belief that grazing of grasslands was leading to IANS no intenion to quit politics. He the near future. Everything will also said that he had not quit the be clear within four-five days,” Congress to join another party. said Sishir. “I have done nothing wrong. Giridhar Gamang was the chief Bollywood awards ceremony I wanted to be free. There is minister of Odisha from February no question of returning to the 17, 1999 to December 6, 1999. Court grants Congress once I have taken the The nine-time Congress MP has decision,” the former chief min- also been a four-time union min- ister said. ister. IANS exemption to Kejriwal NEW DELHI: A court here Govt approves shipping yesterday granted exemption to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from personal appear- deal with Bangladesh ance in a case related to protest outside former Delhi chief min- NEW DELHI: The union cabinet yesterday approved the agree- ister Sheila Dikshit’s residence ment on coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh for coastal in December 2012. movement of goods between the two countries. Besides Kejriwal, other Aam “Exim trade between India and Bangladesh would be benefited by way Aadmi Paty (AAP) leaders have of reduction in freight charges. It will also improve the utilisation of also been granted exemption from port capacities of Indian ports and open up new opportunity for Indian personal appearance. coastal vessels. It will also help in decongestion of roads especially at Metropolitan Magistrate the land custom stations/integrated check posts at the Indo-Bangladesh Dheeraj Mittal allowed Kejriwal, boarder,” an official statement issued here said. Deputy Chief Minister Manish The Indian ports serving as trans-shipment ports for Bangladesh Sisodia, noted advocate Prashant cargo will derive benefits by way of enhanced throughput as a result Bhushan and other AAP leaders’ of Indo-Bangladesh coastal trade, it said, adding that both the nations plea seeking exemption from per- shall render the same treatment to the other country’s vessels as sonal appearance. it would have done to its national vessels used in international sea Kejriwal’s counsel Rishikesh transportation. Kumar and Neha Rastogi India’s trade with Bangladesh has grown rapidly during the past few told court that he will not be years. Bangladesh is now India’s largest trade partner in south Asia. able to appear in court due Currently, there is no significant cargo movement between the sea to his some political Indian actress Parineeti Chopra performs on stage during the Arab Indo Bollywood Awards ceremony yes- ports of Bangladesh and India as it is not profitable for the big ocean commitments. going vessels to operate between the ports of the two countries. IANS terday in Dubai. IANS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Re-promulgated land bill Passing out parade gets cabinet approval Nitish, Congress oppose government move NEW DELHI: The union cabi- calling for its withdrawal. His reaction after the union net yesterday gave its approval The decision to re-promulgate Cabinet yesterday recommended to the re-promulgation of the the ordinance “was a gross injus- re-issuance of the controversial land acquisition ordinance. tice with farmers of the coun- land acquisition ordinance for the The cabinet meeting, chaired try”, said Congress spokesperson third time, as the earlier one is by PM Narendra Modi, gave Randeep Singh Surjewala in a lapsing on June 4. its approval to amend the statement, adding that the gov- Nitish Kumar said that never Right to Fair Compensation ernment should seek forgiveness before was any bill opposed in and Transparency in Land from people on the “insensitive such a way by the people across Acquisition, Rehabilitation and decision”. the country. Resettlement (Amendment) “This is insult of the Indian “People as well as differnt Ordinance, 2015. parliament which had refused political parties, except the BJP The land acquisition ordinance to pass the anti-farmer bill,” and its allies, have been opposing will be promulgated for the third Surjewala said. the bill and demanding its with- time. The ordinance was first Accusing Prime Minister drawal. Such opposition has never promulgated in December last Narendra Modi of “double-faced been seen before,” he said. year to amend the Act passed anti-farmer attitude”, Surjewala The chief minister said that during the United Progressive said the prime minister had said his party, Janata Dal-United, like Alliance (UPA) government in he was open to suggestions on the other parties, too was opposed Madhya Pradesh Police personnel celebrate after taking part in a passing out parade at their training head- 2013. land bill but his government again to the bill, which would “snatch quarters at Bhoori near Bhopal yesterday. Around 184 cadets from 17 states of the country took part in the An official release said the put its stamp on the ordinance. land from farmers for corporate changes in the 2013 Act “will “On the one hand, the BJP-led houses”. convocational parade after completing a rigorous training programme. facilitate farmers to get better government forms a joint com- Nitish Kumar said that Modi compensation and rehabilitation mittee to have a re-look at the had made the land bill a “prestige and resettlement benefits” in lieu bill, on the other hand it plays a issue” by ignoring the opposition Speaker Goel of land compulsorily acquired by cruel trick (to approve re-prom- by the country’s farmers. Five Mumbai policemen the concerned government. ulgation of ordinance),” he said, He also targeted union minis- The bill was passed in the Lok adding the decision should be ters who had visited Bihar from testifies in riot Sabha with official amendments immediately taken back. May 26 to 29, saying that they in March this year but was not Bihar Chief Minister Nitish were only addressing press con- sent to week’s custody case of 2008 taken up in the Rajya Sabha Kumar said yesterday that the ferences and doing nothing else. MUMBAI: Five policemen, including a senior inspector of police, where the government lacks Narendra Modi government was “Union ministers are like who were nabbed on Friday for alleged involvement with a drug NEW DELHI: Delhi Assembly majority. “trying to impose controversial paratroopers, who have no syndicate, were remanded to a week’s police custody till June 4 by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel The land ordinance was again land acquisition bill on farmers work, except to address press a Mumbai court here yesterday. appeared before a court here promulgated in April this year. through the ordinance route that conferences in hotels here and The accused are Anti-Narcotics Cell of Azad Maidan Police Station yesterday in a 2008 rioting case. With the Congress and several will prove costly”. there,” the Bihar chief minister head, senior police inspector Suhas Gokhale and officials Gautam He appeared before other opposition parties firmly “Modi’s government is desper- remarked. Gaekwad, Sudhakar Sarang, Jyotiram Mane and Yeshwant Parate. Metropolitan Magistrate Sunil opposed to the bill brought by ate to pass the land acquisition Nitish Kumar said that all All the five have been booked under the stringent NDPS Act and the Kumar Sharma, who cancelled the National Democratic Alliance bill in the Rajya Sabha, where union ministers were parroting police may proceed further against them by way of departmental action. a bailable warrant issued against (NDA) government, it has been it was opposed, to impose it on the name of only one man in their They were nabbed for allegedly helping their former colleague, ex- him. The court on March 21 referred to the joint committee millions of farmers, who are pro- statements. head constable Dharmaraj Kalokhe and his alleged mistress, Shashikala issued the warrant against him of parliament. testing against it across the coun- As for the ban on a students’ alias Baby Patankar, a drug queen. after Goel failed to appear before The recommendation of the try,” Nitish Kumar told reporters body in IIT Madras, Nitish Earlier, on May 15, the police had nabbed another key accomplice it. The court has fixed September cabinet for re-promulgation of after attending an official func- Kumar said that Modi was “trying Paulraj Duraiswamy from Tamil Nadu, besides Patankar’s son, Satish, 19 as the next date of hearing. the ordinance will be sent to tion here. to murder democracy” through taking the total number of arrests to eight in the case so far. Police in its chargesheet has President Pranab Mukherjee. “For Prime Minister Modi, the ban on freedom of expression The scandal, which has embarrassed the Mumbai Police first came to alleged that BJP workers pelted The Congress yesterday con- farmers’ interest hardly mat- at the IIT. light when Kalokhe was arrested on March 9 after a police team found stones at the CPI-M office on demned the government’s decision ter. What matters for him is the “I strongly favour freedom of 114 kgs of the party drug Mephedrone or ‘Meow-Meow’, popular with March 9, 2008, damaged prop- to recommend re-promulgation of interest of corporates as he has expression in the country,” he youth, at his home in Satara district, around 300 kms from Mumbai. erty and assaulted policemen who the land ordinance, terming it “an been trying to push through the added. Police also recovered another 12 kgs from his locker in the Marine stopped them. insult to the parliament” while land bill,” Nitish Kumar said. IANS Drive Police Station in Mumbai where he was posted. IANS IANS

Coal route Missing NRI Vow to fight for internal hotelier killed, body not found autonomy in Kashmir CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police SRINAGAR: The opposition in Jammu and Kashmir was yesterday clarified that British National Conference (NC) yes- improving, it was opportune time hotelier of Indian origin Ranjit terday vowed to fight for the to revoke Armed Forces Special Singh Power has been mur- restoration of “internal auton- Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state. dered, but his body was yet to omy” in Jammu and Kashmir “If government sources say that be recovered, rejecting initial and demanded the “strengthen- the graph of violence in many reports that a body found in a ing” of Article 370 of the con- parts of Kashmir is on decline Punjab forest was of the NRI. stitution that accords special and infiltration of militants into Deputy Commissioner of Police status to the state. the state is also decreasing, then Rajinder Singh told reporters The party would continue what stops the government from that the victim’s friend and busi- to strive for the restoration of repealing AFSPA, like Tripura ness partner, Baldev Singh Deol, internal autonomy, as had existed did recently,” he asked. and his partner’s driver stran- before 1953, in the state, NC lead- “NC had previously asked the gled Power at Anandpur Sahib ers said at a party convention centre to revoke AFSPA, so that in Ropar district, some 80 km held at the mausoleum of party people here can live without fear,” from here. founder Sheikh Abdullah on the said Sagar, who was rural devel- Rajinder Singh, who is based banks of Dal lake here. opment minister in the previous in Jalandhar town, said the crime “From time to time, numer- Omar Abdullah led NC-Congress was committed on May 8 when ous amendments in Article 370, government. Power landed in India and was by virtue of which Kashmir has The opposition party also criti- last seen in Amritsar. a distinct identity, have created a cised the PDP-BJP coalition gov- The body of Power, who was trust-deficit in the state-centre ernment for “failing to formulate on a business trip to India, was relations,” NC general secretary any comprehensive rehabilitation later thrown in the Bhakra canal Ali Muhammad Sagar said. package of the 2014 flood victims”. in Ropar. A boy carries coal at an open cast coal field in Dhanbad district in Jharkhand. Premier Narendra Modi is He said that restoration of “We (NC-Cong government) After allegedly committing the determined to move more than 100,000 people living near coalfields in eastern India to new homes, making autonomy was a must to end had asked the centre for a pack- crime, Doel returned to Britain political uncertainty in the state age of Rs.44,000 crore for the it easier to douse underground fires that have burned for a century and mine huge reserves of premium coal. on May 15, said the police officer. and to address political aspira- rehabilitation of flood victims and The burning deposits of Jharia, in Jharkhand state, are particularly prized because they are the only source of “We are yet to recover the tions of the state’s people. flood-affected traders. The money body,” he said. top quality steelmaking coal in the country. India spends $4bn a year on importing that grade alone. “NC will never abandon its was not released but still Omar On being asked about the fight for the rights of people here did his best to help the people,” recovery of a body from a forest and realisation of their dreams,” he said. The NC leaders opposed near Anandpur Sahib, he said: he added. the state government’s new job “We have also got the informa- Goa CM pumps for missing colleague The senior NC leader said that policy and termed it “anti-people” tion. I cross-checked and it was since different government agen- and “aimed at making backdoor a different body.” PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister BJP-led coalition government hearing a petition which seeks cies had said that law and order appointments”. IANS Based on the interrogation of Laxmikant Parsekar said yes- until he was forced to resign to term the minister as an driver Sukhdev Singh, who is also terday on-the-run former cabi- when the Supreme Court last absconder, while police have Deol’s nephew, police said they net minister Francisco Pacheco month upheld a Bombay High declared a reward of Rs.25,000 for have unearthed incriminating was “acting crazy” by evading Court order sentencing him to six any information on the wherea- evidence relating to the crime. arrest but added that he sym- months in jail in a 2006 assault bouts of the former minister. “We will seek police remand of pathised with the convicted case. Parsekar said he, along with Woman burnt alive for Sukhdev Singh and initiate extra- minister. Pacheco is the chief of the Goa other legislative assembly mem- dition of Deol from Britain,” he Parsekar, speaking to reporters Vikas Party, which is a coalition bers, had sympathy for Pacheco, said. on the sidelines of a media event, partner in the BJP-led alliance but also added that his blatant opposing husband’s affair He said the car used in the said he along with the legislative government and has two MLAs in evasion of law would “land him crime has been recovered. assembly had “sympathy” for the legislative assembly, including in trouble”. PATNA: A woman was allegedly burnt alive after she objected to “The victim’s two briefcases Pacheco, who has been evading himself. “He was my colleague. We def- her husband’s extra-marital affair with his sister-in-law in Bihar’s and two handbags are yet to be an arrest warrant for nearly two Pacheco, who has a history initely have sympathy towards Nalanda district, police said yesterday. recovered. As per the interroga- months now. of criminal cases against him him (like) every assembly mem- The incident took place in Nijay village. tion, they are lying in Sukhdev “He’s acting crazy. All I can ranging from extortion, assault, ber. Trouble can strike anyone. A police case was lodged following a complaint by the woman’s Singh’s flat in Jalandhar.” say, is that if he had come to me bigamy, money laundering and Therefore, he should have come brother, said officer-in-charge Kirpal Kumar of the Rahui police sta- Both Sukhdev Singh and Deol for advise, I would have given me human trafficking, loan default, forward and surrendered,” the tion under which Nijay village falls. were booked under section 302 proper advise. He is following has been missing since April 9. chief minister said. The brother, Sinku Kumar, told police that his sister was married in (punishment for murder) and sec- wrong advise,” Parsekar said, as He has failed to pay heed to an “Do you think by delaying his 2009 to Mahesh Yadav, a police official currently with the Special Task tion 365 (kidnapping or abduct- the opposition has accused the order asking him to surrender, arrest he is reducing his time Force. “My sister objected to the extra-marital affair of her husband ing) of the Indian Penal Code. BJP-led coalition government of and police have been unable to period of six months. That six with his sister-in-law,” he said, adding that his sister was tortured and A property dispute is believed sheltering Pacheco. serve the arrest warrant issued months continues. He is landing abused. Police said six people were named in the complaint, but all of to be the cause of the crime. Pacheco was the minister for against him. in trouble,” Parsekar said. them were absconding. A manhunt has been launched to arrest them. IANS archives and archaeology in the A trial court is currently IANS IANS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

Prayer Timings Weather Hazy to misty at places at first Fajr 03.16 am Zuhr 11.31 am Maghrib 06.20 pm o o Minimum: 28 C Maximum: 41 C becomes hot during Shorook 04.44 am Asr 02.56 pm Isha 07.50 pm HIGH TIDE 02:15 - 16:30LOW TIDE 09:00 - 22:30 the day.

Adventurous actions: A contestant walks on tightrope as a helicopter flies past during a tightrope competition in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, China, yesterday. Seven contestants from China, Switzerland and Russia took part in the competition which ends today. RIGHT: Mohamed Eid Abed Al Hawwari, a Libyan man from Benghazi, practises his Parkour skills at the archaeological site in the suburbs of the Libyan eastern town of Shahat. Solar Impulse plane takes off on Pacific flight NANJING, CHINA: The revolution- just hours before the take-off. to Nanjing but was held up for weeks by detachment, Borschberg has declined internal brakes from the propellers to ary Solar Impulse 2 aircraft took off “We have a good weather window, weather issues. to contemplate his own mortality. make the fragile-looking craft -- already early today for a six-day, six-night which means we have a stable corri- “I don’t see it (as) risky, in the sense just 2.3 tonnes, the weight of a large flight over the Pacific Ocean, the most dor to reach Hawaii,” he said, shortly ‘WE HAVE A PARACHUTE’- that we worked a long time on all these SUV — as light as possible. ambitious leg of its quest to circum- before climbing into the cockpit to test Each day on the Pacific voyage, different questions,” he previously said. At one point Borschberg returned navigate the globe powered only by the instruments. Borschberg will experience altitudes of “In the worst case, we have a para- to his native Switzerland for medical the sun. The current flight plan saw no threat 28,000 feet, akin to the world’s highest chute, we have a life raft and we know checks related to migraine problems. Pilot Andre Borschberg, 62, left the from typhoons, a typical weather threat peak, and temperature changes of 55 how to use it. Of course, hoping that we The plane is the successor of Solar ground in Nanjing, in eastern China, in Asia. degrees Celsius (almost 100 Fahrenheit) will not need to do that.” Impulse, which notched up a 26-hour heading for the US island of Hawaii, “I’m really confident we should be able in the unpressurised, unheated Solar Planners had identified airports in flight in 2010, proving its ability to store at about 2:40 am (1840 GMT), after to get through and find the right way,” Impulse 2 cockpit. Japan should the plane need to make a enough power in lithium batteries dur- extended delays awaiting a suitable he said. At the same time he will only be able stop because of technical problems, but ing the day to keep flying at night. weather window over safety concerns. It is the seventh and longest section to catch the shortest of naps — his seat the open ocean offered no such possi- Ridiculed by the aviation industry Lit by white lights on its wings, the of the maiden solar-powered global cir- doubles as a bed — given the need to bility, he said. “As soon as we leave this when it was first unveiled, the Solar plane rolled down the runway before cumnavigation, an attempt to promote check the autopilot. part of the world, then afterwards we Impulse venture has since been hailed climbing into a misty sky with its four green energy. But failure could mean a parachute are in the open sea. There is no way to around the world, including by UN chief whirling propellers nearly silent. The journey began in Abu Dhabi in descent into the ocean hundreds of kilo- come back,” Borschberg said. Ban Ki-moon. Ground crew members cheered as it March and is scheduled for 12 legs, with metres from rescue. Solar Impulse 2 is powered by more “Now is the moment just to demon- took off. a total flight time of around 25 days. No ship will trail the plane as it is far than 17,000 solar cells built into wings strate what this airplane can do — fly The 8,500km flight could set a record Nonetheless Solar Impulse 2 spent too fast for a maritime vessel to keep up that, at 72 metres, are longer than those day and night with no fuel,” Bertrand for duration by a single pilot, organis- two months in China after arriving at with, even though its maximum speed of a Boeing 747 and approaching those Piccard, who has flown the Solar ers said. Chongqing airport from Myanmar on of 140km an hour is much slower than of an Airbus A380 superjumbo. Impulse on other stages of the voyage, “I cross my fingers and I hope to cross March 31, where it had been due to conventional jet aircraft. In advance of the Pacific flight, the told reporters by video link. the Pacific,” Borschberg told reporters make only a brief stop before continuing Even so, with an engineer’s crew stripped off two side wheels and AFP

Wave surfing New fitness app lets you compete with others

NEW YORK: A new fitness app can give your workout schedule a real edge as it lets you compete with friends who use different fitness track- ers. If all your friends use fitness trackers different from yours, you can match your steps with the rest of the group. “The online platform ‘Matchup’ lets users of different fitness trackers — including Fitbit, Jawbone and Withings — compete against each other in the same place, launched its free mobile app for iPhone this week,” reported The Observer. Matchup’s web platform already has more than 20,000 users. “It is rare that an entire group of friends, family, or co-workers share the same devices,” Matchup cofounder John Contreras was quoted as saying. “With Matchup, we create an opportunity for a group of users with various devices to connect and join challenges together.” The app offers a variety of ways for users to compete with each other. “This transparency makes it easy for users to support each other with nudges in case someone is beginning to fall into sedentary patterns, Contreras said. ‘Share your Plate’ campaign to aid underprivileged kids

NEW DELHI: ‘Share your Plate’ campaign, launched by online food delivery marketplace Foodpanda in association with Care India and Sakshi NGO, is aimed at generating cash and kind for underprivileged children. The month-long campaign has been launched to alleviate the problem of hunger which the deprived section of society has to deal with on a daily basis. Foodpanda will be contributing by driving traffic to their website by promoting the campaign across all its platforms. “Being a food delivery platform, we realise what hardships the under- privileged have to go through to afford one square meal a day. It is our constant endeavour to spread happiness through food and we wish to extend this belief to the needy sections of society as well,” Saurabh Kochhar, CEO, Foodpanda, said in a statement. “We want to send out a message of hope Big wave surfer Jaques Theron from South Africa rides a wave at an offshore reef known as Dungeons off Cape Town, yesterday. Surfers used through our humble contribution to the efforts of both Care India and powered waverunners to tow themselves into the fast moving swells which are too big to paddle into. Sakshi NGO who are working in this direction,” he added. IANS Sunday 31 May 2015 13 Shaaban 1436 Volume 20 Number 6447 Price: QR2

QIB holds training on operational risks

Business | 18

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 QNB, QDB sign new Al Dhameen Programme Deal to help SMEs overcome short credit obstacles

DOHA: Khalid Abdulla Al aimed at facilitating and speed- QNB are proud to be the first Mana, Executive Director of ing up approvals to guarantee the bank in Qatar to join the Al Business Finance at Qatar value of the funding provided by Dhameen program back in 2013. Development Bank (QDB) and the partner bank to small and Today we are proud to be the first Yousef Mahmoud Al Neama, medium enterprises lacking suf- conventional bank to sign onto Al General Manager Group ficient guarantees. Dhameen’s new portfolio agree- Corporate and Institution Khalid Abdulla Al Mana of ment as we continue our work Banking for Qatar National QDB said: “Al Dhameen is a funding new and existing com- Bank (QNB), signed a new Al primary programme for ensur- panies that want to grow their Dhameen Programme portfolio ing Qatari SMEs can overcome business. The rapid growth of agreement sponsored by QDB, having a short credit history our country and economy creates enabling further expansion of and other obstacles they face. Al more opportunities for start-ups SME financing in Qatar. Dhameen additionally serves a and enables them to meet the From QDB, Hamad Al Kubaisi, strategic purpose – boosting lend- growing needs of the market.” Executive Director of Strategy ing to sectors of great importance In enhancing and improving and Business Development and to the national economy including the Al Dhameen programme, Jawaher Humaid Al Noaimi, industrial manufacturing, educa- QDB relied on the survey of Al Dhameen Manager, also tion, health and value-added pro- partner banks and all concerned attended the ceremony. From fessional services. We are mainly parties to expand the base of ben- QNB, the signing ceremony was targeting start-ups and therefore eficiaries and allow the partner attended by Hamad Hassan Al delighted to sign this agreement banks to determine the appropri- Jamali, Acting AGM, SME, SME with QNB – a strong partner ate small and medium enterprises Banking; Wisam Matouk, Acting committed to developing SMEs to be financed and to fund them Head of Sales and Relationship and the wider private sector more flexibly. Al Dhameen pro- Management, SME Banking; alongside Al Dhameen’s powerful gram continued its distinguished Khalid Abdulla Al Mana and Yousef Mahmoud Al Neama exchanging documents during the signing ceremony. and Dimitros Criticos, Head of network of banks across Qatar.” contribution to the enhancement Products & External Relations, Yousef Mahmoud Al Neama, and diversification of the national provide bank guarantees esti- guarantees were cashed. having signed onto QDB’s new SME Banking. General Manager Group economy and achieved the high- mated at more than QR573m for This is the second such agree- Al Dhameen portfolio one week The new product “Al Dhameen Corporate and Institution est rates since it was launched more than 212 small and medium ment signed this month, with prior. portfolio”, is a QR100m portfolio Banking of QNB said: “We at in 2010 as the bank agreed to enterprises. QR363m of these International Islamic (QIIB) THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Tourism represents Greece open to 4pc of Qatar non-oil economy DOHA: The tourism sector’s contribution to Qatari GDP compromise touched QR28bn in 2014. Total number of tourists visited Qatar during the year reached 2.82million; Al Sharq reported to seal deal citing data released by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). Tourists from the GCC region accounted for the maximum Consensus on some issues: Minister number, with an estimated 40 per- cent of the total visitors. A total ATHENS: Greece’s govern- suggested a greater willingness of 1.12 million tourists or 28 per- ment is confident of reaching a to compromise on pre-election cent of the total visitors arrived deal with its creditors this week pledges. from different Asian countries. and is open to pushing back Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras With a share of 421,000 tourists, parts of its anti-austerity pro- stormed to power in January European countries accounted gramme to make that happen, on promises to cancel austerity, for 15 percent of total visitors. the country’s interior minister including restoring the minimum A total of 319,000 tourists from said yesterday. wage level and collective bargain- other Arab nations visited Qatar Greece and its EU/IMF credi- ing rights. during the period, while America’s tors have been locked in talks for The government earlier this share stood at 143,000 and African months on a cash-for-reforms week said it hoped for a deal by countries accounted for 34,000. deal and pressure is growing for Sunday, though international The QTA report noted that tour- a deal, since Athens risks default lenders have been less optimis- ism sector plays a key role in Qatar’s without aid from a bailout pro- tic, citing Greece’s resistance to economic diversification agenda. But gramme that expires on June 30. labour and pension reforms that the sector has to go a long way in “We believe that we can and are conditions for more aid. achieving its target. Currently, the we must have a solution and a Voutsis said Athens and its sector directly contributes QR13.6bn deal within the week,” Interior partners agreed on some issues, People walk past wallets whose exteriors are made in the image of Euro banknotes hanging outside a kiosk in to the GDP i.e. 4 percent of the Minister Nikos Voutsis, who is not such as achieving low primary Athens. country’s non-oil economy. The involved in Greece’s talks with the budget surpluses in the first two combined contribution of the tour- lenders, told Skai television. years. But they still disagreed on ism sector to the GDP accounts for “Some parts of our programme a sales tax, with Greece pushing said. The debt stand-off between creditors miss their June dead- in the eurozone but on a better QR28bn. The report noted that the could be pushed back by six so any VAT hikes will not burden Greece and its European Union lines to avert a debt default. organised aid programme,” he country’s tourism sector is directly months or maybe by a year, so lower incomes. partners overshadowed a meeting In an interview with Realnews said. Stathakis was confident a providing 61,000 jobs in the country”. that there is some balance,” he “A powerful majority in the of policymakers from the Group newspaper published on Saturday, deal will be reached. “Otherwise, THE PENINSULA said. political negotiations has showed of Seven rich nations in Dresden, Economy Minister George mainly Greece but the European He did not elaborate on what respect for the fact that there Germany, on Friday. Stathakis said Athens had no Union as well will step into parts of the ruling Syriza party’s can’t be further austerity strate- The United States warned alternative plan. unchartered waters and no-one Lisbon proposes anti-austerity programme could gies for the Greek issue, the Greek of a possible accident for the “The idea of a Plan B doesn’t wants that.” be pushed back, but the comments problem and the Greek people,” he world economy if Greece and its exist. Our country needs to stay REUTERS European fund

LISBON: Portugal will propose far-reaching changes to the euro zone next month, including the creation of a European Monetary Fund (EMF) with its own budget QIB conducts staff training on operational risks to fight crises and economic imbalances in the region, accord- DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank QIB employee is going through QIB’s Chief Risk Officer combination of theoretical expla- carried out to enhance employees’ ing to a draft proposal. (QIB), introduced a bank- his / her first weeks in the bank. Rakesh Sanghvi indicated that nation and practical application efficiency, achieve top performance The proposal marks a depar- wide e-learning programme to The training programs go branch employees are the first addressing all activities related to levels and limit operational risks.” ture for Lisbon, which is seeking increase awareness about oper- hand-in-hand with QIB’s strat- line of defense in QIB against daily branch operations and ties Addressing the topic of opera- greater influence in the single ational risks. All bank employ- egy to train its employees and operational risk. Operational with other QIB departments. tional risks is becoming increas- currency area after implement- ees were required to study and to support and promote their risk management is at the heart QIB’s Head of Human Capital ingly important amid the fast ing harsh austerity measures and pass the exam at the end of capabilities and develop a sound of the Bank’s strategy given its Group, Mr. Khalefa Al Mesalam – paced development and growth deep economic reforms under an the course. To complement the risk-management culture. This contribution – when implemented said: “QIB invests in its human of Islamic Banking Services and international bailout it took in e-learning initiative, classroom should enable QIB to stay abreast with proper care and profession- resources by implementing train- their reliance on technology. 2011 to ward off a debt crisis. training courses on branches of all requirements and directives alism – to improving employees’ ing programs which are funda- Within this context, QIB has “The adjustments by countries operational risk management issued by regulatory authorities, performance, reassuring custom- mental to enrich employees’ skills outlined a strategy for all the like Portugal and Ireland were have been organised for all and to keep up with constantly ers and shareholders, and helping and capabilities, and offer them the employees to be able to recognize decisive in reinforcing the prin- branches employees. In addi- evolving international banking QIB meets its objectives and miti- necessary knowledge to meet the operational risks so as to mitigate ciple of European responsibil- tion, operational risk training is legislations, an increasing number gates inherent risks. The afore- banking sector requirements. The them and protect the Bank and ity,” said a spokesman for Prime an integral part of the induction of banking products and higher mentioned strategy was the focal operational risk program is one of its customers. Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. training program that each new customers’ expectations. point of the training courses – a series of training programs that was THE PENINSULA REUTERS

Eurozone lending slows Opec officials cheer improving market ahead of meeting VIENNA: Opec will meet this to slow higher-cost production in meeting is scheduled for June 5. outages,” UBS analysts said on than two percent. However, early to standstill week amid rising global demand the United States and elsewhere Opec is not expected to cut oil Friday. signs of a production slow down and a reduction in supply, which that had been eroding its market production at its meeting next “In our view, this likely implies in the United States in the past FRANKFURT: Lending are both helping to support share. week, and the meeting is expected oil prices are towards the top end couple of months has helped push throughout the euro zone failed prices, two Opec officials said “The demand is getting better to be a short one, Saudi Arabia’s of expectations until the physical oil prices back to $65 per barrel. to grow in April after a prom- after pre-meeting talks. and there is a slight reduction in Al Hayat newspaper quoted an market really begins to tighten,” “While Opec again is facing ising uptick a month earlier, a A calmer mood among national the supply. Prices are improving,” unnamed Opec source as saying UBS added. continued oversupply, slip that tempers hopes for a representatives and officials com- one of the officials told Reuters on Thursday. Oil prices crashed to as low as lower oil prices do appear to rapid turnaround in borrowing pared with the last Opec meet- after experts discussions in Most analysts agree the car- $46 per barrel in January from be having the intended effect of to boost the economy. ing in November 2014 means it is Vienna, known as the economic tel will likely keep its production as high as $115 in June 2014 as reducing investment by non-Opec European Central Bank data likely to keep its production poli- commission board, which typically policies unchanged. US oil production grew and after producers,” UBS said. showed that overall lending cies unchanged despite a persist- precedes the main meeting. “We see no agreed change in Opec ’s decision in November, However, it may take longer growth to households and firms ent global oil glut. “The market has adjusted Opec policy at the coming meet- thus creating a situation in which than expected for global oil mar- was unchanged in the month, Opec refused to cut output at itself since the last meeting,” ing and expect continued robust global supply exceeded demand by kets to tighten. despite the recent launch of a the November meeting, seeking said another official. The Opec production excluding unplanned 2 million barrels per day or more REUTERS massive money-printing pro- gramme to bolster the 19 coun- tries in the euro bloc. Although the fact that lending is holding steady is positive in Japan jobless rate down itself, following years of decline, the stagnation in April will disap- Indian Oil shifts focus point those who had predicted a modest improvement, including in a Reuters poll. Sparse lending to companies to natural gas business has dogged the struggling euro zone economy although the pic- NEW DELHI: Indian Oil Corp retailer, meeting 46.7 percent of ture had been improving and (IOC), the country’s biggest India’s fuel demand through its policy setters including ECB refiner, is expanding its natural 24,400 fuel stations. President Mario Draghi believe gas business as the south Asian India, the world’s fourth-big- that the bloc is recovering. nation, the world’s third-largest gest oil consumer, is expanding But the fact that banks are carbon emitter, aims to cut its its gas import infrastructure to lumbered with billions of euros of dependence on coal and oil. increase usage of the cleaner fuel loans that may go unpaid and con- Thirteen of the world’s 20 dirti- and raise its share in the coun- sumers and companies are wary est cities are in India, with New try’s overall energy mix from the of borrowing is blunting the full Delhi taking top spot, a report by current 8 percent. impact of the 1 trillion euro-plus the World Health Organisation IOC already supplies compressed ECB scheme to buy chiefly gov- said last year. natural gas (CNG), widely used in ernment bonds. As part of Prime Minister urban public transit, through its Although overall lending is flat, Narendra Modi’s “Clean India 160 stations, Ashok said, adding detailed data shows that lend- Mission”, the country last year the facility would be installed in ing to companies or consumers launched an air quality index to fuel pumps in cities that need to is actually in decline, with only help citizens understand complex use gas for public transport. borrowing by home buyers bright- pollution data and its implications “Probably we will make sure to ening an otherwise bleak picture. for their health. “Gas is certainly have provisions for CNG sales at Lending to businesses fell by seen as the fuel of future with our new retail outlets,” he said. 0.4 percent annually, albeit an so much emphasis on environ- IOC aims to add about 1,000 fuel improvement on the previous ment ... we would like to play an stations in the current fiscal year. month, where the fall was even active role in terms of providing It recently made its first pur- steeper. Consumer credit to buy P edestrians walking across a crossway in Tokyo, Japan. Japan’s job availability improved in April to its best customers with the choice of the chase of spot liquefied natural gas cars or holidays is also in decline, fuel they want,” B. Ashok, IOC (LNG) from Excelerate Energy level in about 23 years while the unemployment rate fell to lowest level in 18 years, the Ministry of Health, down by 0.1 percent. chairman, told a news conference. for delivery in June. Labour and Welfare said. REUTERS IOC is the country’s biggest fuel REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 How emerging markets can weather Fed rate hike Normalisation of US monetary policy could reverse capital flows, says QNB Group analysis

DOHA: The likely date of the expected first Fed rate hike aggressive, raising its lending rate on foreign bond investment and real fell 19 percent; Indonesia’s the weaker exchange rate may have first interest rate hike by the later this year? two percent on July 15; Brazil a one percent tax on currency rupiah fell 15 percent; and the been more of a drag on growth. US Federal Reserve (Fed) In May 2013, the Fed trig- increased policy rates by 1.5 per- derivatives (introduced a few years Turkish lira was down 14 percent As EMs brace themselves for draws ever nearer. Janet Yellen, gered the taper tantrum when cent; Indonesia by 1.25 percent; and ago when the Brazilian Real was over the same period. The benefit another possible round of capital the chair of the Fed, reiterated it announced the possibility of Turkey raised its lending rate by appreciating too quickly). India of weaker exchange rates is that flight as the Fed tightens monetary recently that it would be appro- reducing the pace of its asset 0.75 percent. Higher interest rates removed a cap on foreign equity they make exports more competi- policy, they are likely to look back priate to start the process of purchases programme. Yields on may help to mitigate outflows in the ownership in telecoms, intro- tive and imports more expensive, at what lessons they can learn from raising rates at some point this US 10-year treasuries rose from short term, particularly during a cri- duced incentives for non-resident helping to reduce current account the 2013 taper tantrum. The trade- year. The excessively easy mon- 1.7 percent at the end of April sis. However, they will also suppress Indians to deposit their savings in deficits. However, there are also offs between growth and stability will etary policy in the US over the 2013 to 2.5 percent at the end economic growth by making it more India, and introduced restrictions trade-offs as weaker exchange rates differ from country to country, but a last seven years has led to sig- of June. As US yields rose, EMs expensive to borrow. For most EMs, on gold imports to reduce the large increase the burden of foreign cur- mix of policies seemed to have guided nificant capital flows to emerg- experienced $29bn of net capi- prompt tightening of monetary pol- current account deficit. rency debt. In India, where foreign EMs through the taper tantrum. ing markets (EMs) in search of tal outflows in June 2013 alone, icy appears to have helped stabilise Finally, capital flight led to currency debt is only 16 percent Tighter monetary policy as well as yield. The normalisation of US compared with average inflows of the situation, with net capital inflows sharply weaker exchange rates, of GDP, the weaker exchange rate temporary and targeted legal restric- monetary policy could reverse $26bn per month in the prior 3.5 recovering to an average of USD16bn despite the fact that a number probably worked in the country’s tions should help to ease capital out- these capital flows, as it did in years. This forced EMs to react since the taper tantrum. of EMs intervened to support favour helping reduce the current flows while allowing the exchange mid-2013 during the so-called in three ways. Second, some EMs made tax their currencies, draining foreign account deficit from 4.9 percent of rate to depreciate could help achieve taper tantrum. What lessons First, by the end of August 2013, a and legal changes to encourage exchange reserves. The Indian GDP in 2012 to 1.7 percent in 2013. a painful but quick adjustment to the can EMs learn from the 2013 number of major EMs had increased capital inflows and limit outflows. rupee fell the most, down 22 per- However, in Turkey, where foreign current account deficit. taper tantrum ahead of the interest rates. India was the most Brazil eliminated a six percent tax cent by the end of August; Brazil’s currency debt is 47 percent of GDP, THE PENINSULA

Rouble rebound threatens ‘Made in Russia’ industry revival

MOSCOW: Russia’s rouble is from lower crude prices. Now the money-making export, which has on a roller-coaster. After being currency is on the rise again and rebounded from lows of below $50 the world’s second worst-per- the government — which only a barrel to around $60 a barrel. forming currency against the months ago was desperately try- That’s still only half the figure of dollar last year, it is among the ing to support the currency — is a year ago. best in 2015. intervening in markets to keep it A sharp increase in interest That will help keep a leash on from strengthening much further. rates and deep budget cuts have inflation, to the relief of millions After plummeting to nearly 80 also helped stabilize the currency. of Russians. But it is worrying one roubles against the dollar during On the down side, the economy part of the economy — the local panic selling in December, the is still sliding into recession and industry that had seen demand rouble has recovered to trade at the US and European Union have grow for its Russian-made goods 52.6 per dollar on Friday. That’s shown no sign of letting up on the when the falling rouble made still over a third below its level economic sanctions on Russia. imports hugely expensive. in January 2014, meaning local “If the oil price goes down or Russian sectors, from build- industry still enjoys some of if, God forbid, there is further ing materials to craft beer, took its competitive advantage over escalation in Ukraine or there advantage of the rouble’s drop to imports. is surprising news coming from undercut better-known imported Russian craft beers on tap, the Russian economy, which is rivals and gain a bigger domestic for example, sell for 150 to 200 suffering, then the rouble can market share. roubles ($3-4) for a half-litre in take a hit,” says Sergei Guriev, Nikita Filippov, co-owner of a Moscow bars compared with 300 a prominent economist and uni- A general view of the Sberbank building during the Annual General Shareholders Meeting of Sberbank of Russia St. Petersburg-based craft brew- roubles ($6) for the imported versity rector who left Russia in Open Joint-Stock Company in Moscow. ery, says it was a godsend. German and Belgian brands, 2013 after coming under pressure “European beers finally hit the which have so far dominated the from the authorities. price roof, and bar owners real- premium segment. Guriev says the Russian Central Sberbank’s Q1 profit slashed ized that they can’t raise their Demand for Russian craft beer Bank has currency reserves worth menu prices any more as the is now twice as high as supply, $362 billion as of May 15 that it beer would become unafforda- Filippov estimates. He says cost- can use to influence the rouble’s MOSCOW: Russia’s biggest roubles of analysts polled by December when the ruble plunged ble,” he says. “That was a crucial lier imported hops forced him to value. Whereas in December it lender Sberbank said that its Bloomberg. in value against the dollar. moment when the bar owners had raise prices by 10-15 percent in was running down those reserves first quarter net profit was The Russian banking giant also “We are working to reduce our to reconsider their profit margins December, but that rise is smaller in an attempt to support the slashed by more than half com- passed on financial aid the author- costs as quickly as possible,” he for the first time in many years, than price hikes for imported rivals. rouble, the central bank is now pared with a year earlier, as ities offered the banking sector, added, as the bank has already and that was the time when they Stereotypically the preserve intervening in markets to stop the the country’s economy slid into which has been hammered by the imposed massive job cuts in efforts turned their faces to local craft of American hipsters, craft currency from strengthening too recession. economic crisis caused by Western to modernise the institution. breweries.” beer entered Russia through St. much, Guriev says. The bank does The net profit of the Moscow- sanctions over the Ukraine con- An influential member of the The government has champi- Petersburg, the country’s historic that by selling roubles and buy- based bank, descendant of the flict and plunging oil prices. Kremlin’s liberal faction, who has oned such trends, hoping to get “window on Europe,” but now ing foreign currencies, effectively savings societies from the tsarist “The strongest negative factors been critical of the government’s something out of the rouble’s dra- some of the most popular brews building its reserves up again. era, fell by 58 percent to 30,6bn are the sanctions, the events in handling of the crisis, Gref said matic drop last year. One focus is come from unexpected places like Guriev says the central bank is roubles ($584m) compared with Ukraine and Russia’s economic that “2015 and 2016 will not be the the construction materials sector, the industrial Ural mountains city under pressure from industry to the same period in 2014. Net situation,” said Sberbank chair- easiest years for the economy and as the country prepares to build of Yekaterinburg or from Tula, limit the strength of the rouble. interest income plunged by 16.4 man German Gref in an inter- the banking sector.” World Cup venues. Oil compa- better known for making the “Imports were going down because percent to 200.3bn roubles. view published Thursday in the Given the fall in buying power nies were also helped, as they sell Russian army’s rifles. of the weaker rouble. So strength- Still, Sberbank remained the Vedomosti newspaper. due to the current crisis the bank their product for dollars but have The rouble’s recent rise has ening the rouble too much would only major public bank to post a He said the bank had seen has been hit with massive delays many expenses in roubles, help- been helped mainly by a recovery hurt this process,” he said. profit, and its first quarter earn- “unprecedented withdrawals” in the repayment of loans. ing to temper the financial pain in the price of oil, Russia’s biggest AP ings beat the estimate of 22.3bn during the financial panic in AFP Doha Bank named Best Regional Commercial Bank

DOHA: Doha Bank has been named, for the third year in a row, the “Best Regional Commercial Bank” at The Banker Middle East Industry Awards, considered the most important recognition of financial excellence in the Middle East. The Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2015 were presented at ceremony at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai, which was attended by leading names from across the region’s banking and financial services industry. Dr R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank received the award on behalf of Doha Bank. “To be crowned the foremost commer- cial bank in the Middle East for a third straight year is a firm acknowledgement of the effectiveness of Doha Bank’s busi- ness strategy and the value we bring every day to our customers throughout Qatar, the GCC and beyond,” said Dr R Seetharaman, . “What makes this award special is the unique evaluation criteria employed by The Banker Middle East Industry Awards, which takes into con- sideration innovation, customer service and sustainable financial performance of nominated institutions. The award is a reflection of Doha Bank’s leadership on sustainable growth.” “This award will further fuel our deter- mination to meet our customers’ financial needs more effectively and provide them with unmatched, continuously improving Officials during the award ceremony. levels of service,” he added. The award is the latest in a string of Trade Finance Bank in Qatar” at the Asian for the first quarter of 2015 – an increase of prestigious regional and international Banking and Finance Awards 2014 held 5.2 percent over the corresponding period accolades received by Doha Bank over in Singapore. Doha Bank also won the in 2014. The bank’s net operating income the past year. The Bank was named the “Beyond Success Award” at The Bizz 2014, increased by 2.3 percent to QR714m while “Best Commercial Bank in the Middle considered one of the world’s most prestig- total assets rose by QR4.1bn, a growth of six East” at the Global Banking & Finance ious business awards. percent, from QR70.1bn as at 31 March 2014 Review Awards 2014, and “Best Domestic Continuing its solid financial performance, to QR74.2bn as at 31 March 2015. Retail Bank in Qatar” and “Best Domestic Doha Bank posted a net profit of QR420m THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

BofA to improve Sales could compliance practices, pay $30m fine to OCC shift GM, Ford WASHINGTON: Bank of America Corp agreed with US regulators to improve its com- pliance practices and pay a fine to higher gear for violations in lending rules toward military personnel. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) asked the May sales approaching $40bn No. 2 US bank by assets to pay a penalty of $30m due to non- NEW YORK: Shares of US officer at BMO Private Bank in home loan compliance with the automakers may finally be able Chicago. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to accelerate. “The strong dollar created (SCRA) and unsafe non-home Investors are closely await- a headwind, and GM had some debt collection litigation practices. ing next week’s May sales data, high-profile product recalls, but The OCC, which regulates and expected to come in near record given current trends, I would supervises all national banks, levels. Meeting those forecasts expect sales growth to continue.” also ordered “remediation” to could be enough to lift the sector Both GM and Ford appear about 73,000 affected customer — among the cheapest in the mar- undervalued at current levels. accounts. ket — putting the sting of product GM’s forward price-to-earnings “The enforcement action is recalls and tepid recent growth in ratio is 7.62, well below the S&P intended to correct deficiencies the rear view mirror. 500’s 17.4 ratio, while Ford’s P/E in the bank’s practices and proce- Estimated sales of 1.6 million is 8.77, according to Thomson dures related to its SCRA- com- new cars and trucks in May would Reuters data. pliance programme,” the OCC make for a seasonally-adjusted Both also rank among the said. annual rate of 17.4 million vehi- cheapest S&P 500 stocks per The order covers collections lit- cles, according to Edmunds.com, StarMine’s intrinsic value, which igation from several years ago for a car buying platform. looks at anticipated growth over A worker at a “Samgas” plant for the production of gas meters in Rivne, Ukraine. The price of gas was raised a small percentage of credit card “This is going to be one of the the next decade. GM is the fourth- twice in April. and deposit overdraft customers best months ever,” said David cheapest stock in the S&P by this who defaulted on their account, Kudla, chief investment strategist metric, with StarMine estimating BofA said. of Mainstay Capital Management that shares should trade at $81.69, Gazprom puts Ukraine’s total gas debt BofA shifted its compliance in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Kudla more than twice its Thursday group to risk oversight group sees May sales approaching closing price of $36.39. StarMine from the legal department earlier $40bn, not far from the $40.3bn calculates that Ford is the 10th this year after regulators warned record in August 2014. cheapest stock in the S&P, and at $29.5bn, pricing pressure mounts big banks to adopt more ethical Weak auto results contributed that it would need to rise 79 per- internal cultures. to flat overall retail sales in April, cent to meet its intrinsic value. BELGRADE: Russian natu- gas deliveries in 2013 and 2014, second quarter. Under this deal, but May is expected to represent Despite that, shares of Ford ral gas producer Gazprom $200m was for gas deliveries to Gazprom has dropped a take-or- Intel close to deal a rebound. Lower gas prices could are down 1.7 percent in 2015, put Ukraine’s total gas debt southeast Ukraine, and the rest pay clause. boost demand for sports utility vehi- underperforming the S&P’s 2.6 at almost $29.5bn, ratchet- was a fine for “take-and-pay”, in Miller repeated his concerns to buy Altera cles and trucks, which have higher percent rise. GM is up 3 percent ing up pressure in a gas pric- which clients pay a minimum for about Ukraine’s ability to fill price tags and better margins. on the year, thanks largely to a ing dispute with the country, a certain volume of gas whether its gas storage tanks to see the WASHINGTON: Intel Corp There is also pent-up demand $5 billion stock buyback program which is fighting a pro-Mos- they buy the whole consignment country and Europe through the has resumed negotiations to buy for new vehicles as consumers have announced in March. cow rebellion on its eastern or not. winter. smaller chip maker Altera Corp been holding on to their cars for While auto stocks could rally outskirts. Naftogaz said in a statement “Ukraine is already pumping and is close to a $16bn acquisi- longer since the financial crisis. if the sales come in as expected, Ukraine’s Naftogaz and the bills claimed by Gazprom gas and storing gas for the next tion agreement, people familiar The average age of US cars is now it could spell bad news for the Gazprom are squaring off in an under the take-or-pay stipula- autumn/winter period. The speed with the matter said. between 10 and 11 years, Kudla said. broader market, as any sign of arbitration court in Stockholm, tions contradict a 10-year con- and volumes they have today defi- The price for Altera could The timing of the Memorial consumer strength could nudge where Naftogaz is seeking more tract signed in 2009. The company nitely will not allow Ukraine to be as much as $54 per share, Day holiday also helped May sales, the US Federal Reserve into rais- than $16bn from the Kremlin- is also challenging the clause in pump a minimal volume ... which a 15 percent premium over its according to Jessica Caldwell, sen- ing interest rates more quickly controlled company. the court. will allow it to cover by 100 per- Thursday closing price of $46.97. ior analyst at Edmunds.com in that is currently anticipated. Most Kiev is challenging the price of Previous gas disputes cent without any risk, to live That would value Altera at more Santa Monica, California. analysts expect the first rate hike Russian gas, and billions of dol- between Ukraine and Russia through a cold winter, by both than $16bn, according to one of “Because there was a full week to come later this year, but opin- lars in debts which Russia says have affected the European Ukraine and the European coun- the people. of May after the holiday weekend, ions are split on whether it will have accrued, and is appealing Union, where Gazprom meets a tries,” Miller said. Altera shares were up 4.2 shoppers had plenty of time to occur in September or December. to international arbitrators for a third of gas demand. Around 40 “There is only one conclusion. percent at $48.96 during Friday take advantage of the deals being “Good data would make the Fed definitive ruling. percent of that gas travels via Ukraine has to increase the speed morning trading in New York. widely communicated in dealer raise rates sooner. I believe the “The total debt of Ukraine Ukraine, which until recently of the pumping and purchasing.” The deal could be reached in and automaker marketing mes- stock market would sell off (on until this date is $29.477bn,” bought most of its own gas from He also said Gazprom’s gas the coming days, the sources said, sages,” Caldwell said. strong auto data) because it would Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Russia. exports to Europe would increase cautioning that no agreement was Credit for auto loans is expand- shorten that timeline,” said Battle Miller told an energy conference Gazprom and Ukraine have by 5 percent in 2015 from a year certain and asking not to be iden- ing, a positive sign for the sector, who expects a rate hike in the fall. in Belgrade. agreed on the terms of Russian earlier. tified because the negotiations noted Jack Ablin, chief investment REUTERS Of that, he said, $2.6bn is for gas supplies to Kiev for the REUTERS are confidential. Intel and Altera did not respond to requests for comment. In April, Altera rejected an unsolicited $54 per share offer from Intel following months of Japan push into Africa resources sputters, helps China negotiations, sources told Reuters at the time. Earlier this year, Intel signed a TOKYO: A Japanese govern- copper it needs to churn out steel sociologically and economically in the Japanese government’s may provide,” said Christophe standstill agreement with Altera ment drive to secure access to and electronic components. stable,” Shigeru Oi, President Agency for Natural Resources Akagha Mba, mining minister that expires on June 1, giving the resources in Africa has sput- But worries over the stability of JX Nippon Mining & Metals and Energy, said the $2bn set in Gabon, a nation on the west world’s largest chipmaker the tered as some companies shy of the investment environment Corp, Japan’s top copper refiner, aside to back investment in Africa coast of central Africa. “But the option to launch a hostile bid away from investing due to in some African nations, along said in a speech. had been spent more slowly than Japanese are still at the same after that, Reuters reported in slumping commodity prices and with falling commodity prices, “If those things improve, Africa, expected, but that declining com- stage. They have not even started April. worries over political stabil- have sapped momentum from which is rich in promising mineral modity prices were the main rea- (significant investment) yet.” Avago Technologies Ltd ity, helping China as it races to that push, Japanese firms said at resources, will certainly become son for this. African countries such as (AVGO.O) agreed on Thursday to import raw materials from the a mining conference. an attractive investment target.” He added that Japanese and Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso and buy Broadcom Corp (BRCM.O) continent. A lack of infrastructure and Resource-poor Japan wants to African ministers would meet on Burundi have been hit by conflict for $37 billion, in the largest Around two years ago, Japan concerns over resource national- diversify its supplies of key com- Saturday to discuss ways to pro- in recent years. But African offi- merger of chipmakers ever. said it would provide about $2bn ism were also cited as reasons. modities. For example, around mote greater investment. cials at the event said that many The New York Post first mainly to back African commod- “To invest in mine development, 70 percent of its copper sup- “Chinese investment has actu- nations in Africa were demo- reported late Thursday that ity projects by its firms as part it is necessary to see an improve- ply currently comes from South ally increased a bit as they are cratic, with robust legal protec- Intel and Altera had restarted of a move to secure supplies of ment in Africa’s investment America. trying to take advantage of oppor- tion for foreign investors. talks. materials such as coking coal and environment so it is politically, Takahiro Hagiwara, a director tunities falling commodity prices REUTERS REUTERS

Bulgarian central bank governor IBQ wins two Banker ready to quit Middle East awards SOFIA: Bulgarian central bank governor Ivan Iskrov said yes- DOHA: International Bank Chaouki Daher, DGM and terday that he was ready to step of Qatar (ibq) received two Head of Private Banking at ibq down if there was enough support awards from Banker Middle said upon receiving the award: in parliament for his successor. East magazine at a ceremony “We are extremely proud to be The ruling GERB party has held in the UAE. IBQ won the honoured with this prestigious nominated Dimitar Radev, senior award for “Best Private Bank industry award that under- economist with the International Qatar” received by Chaouki lines the Bank’s excellent track Monetary Fund, to take over Daher, DGM and Head of record of serving ibq’s valued pri- the central bank post in a bid to Private Banking at ibq and vate banking clients and high- restore trust in the banking system the award for “Best Customer lights our exceptional offerings following the collapse of Corporate Service Qatar” received by in private wealth management Commercial Bank last year. Hassan Al Mulla, Head of services. “GERB party has nominated a Retail Banking. IBQ’s Private Banking experts well-prepared candidate with seri- Jabra Ghandour, Managing are at the forefront of the indus- ous experience in finance,” Iskrov Director at ibq said: “Since the try, as experienced professionals told reporters on the sidelines of beginning of 2015, ibq has won who can provide some of the an IMF forum in Sofia. “It is not several banking awards highlight- most in-depth knowledge of con- important whether I approve of ing both our private banking and fidential and personalised bank- the nomination, what is important retail customer service, and we ing services for high net worth is that enough deputies back it.” are proud to receive such prestig- and ultra-high net worth indi- Iskrov’s second six-year term ends ious awards from Banker Middle viduals in Qatar. Suffice to say, in October. He has said several times East in recognition for delivering we have an excellent team with that he is ready to tender his resig- a quality service and maintain- a strong service-driven culture nation earlier if there is a political ing the highest standards to our and approach, and I dedicate this consensus about his successor. valued customers across all target award to them.” REUTERS Officials during the awards ceremony. segments.” THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Huge drop in W Virginia coal production forecast 1,800 miners likely to lose jobs; some reserves would become too depleted to recover nearly at any cost: Report

CHARLESTON: West coal for electricity amid compe- any price,” the report says. plan’s effects. Southern West industry has suffered permanent Energy said it warned 1,417 work- Virginia University researchers tition from natural gas; changes Recently, struggling southern Virginia coal wouldn’t be as rat- damage and blamed the Obama ers at five underground West predict that state coal produc- in emissions rules for power counties have laid off law enforce- tled by the carbon plan, with administration’s policies. Virginia mines of planned layoffs. tion will drop 39 percent com- plants; and worsening geological ment officers and made other production projected to drop an “What an awful lot of people On the same day in southern pared with the industry’s last conditions that make extracting cuts, attributing them at least extra 9 percent by 2035. Part of are thinking is that all of this West Virginia, Alpha Natural high point in 2008 — less-than- southern West Virginia coal less partly to falling tax money that the reason is because demand for upheaval in our industry in this Resources told 439 workers that encouraging news for more than productive. comes from companies extract- the region’s power-producing coal state is temporary,” Raney said. it expects to idle Rockspring 1,800 coal miners who learned The dismal projections don’t ing coal. will have already dropped signifi- Both Democrats and Development’s Camp Creek last week they would likely lose even account for a federal pro- The northern coalfields’ pro- cantly, and much of the southern Republicans in West Virginia underground mine and process- their jobs. posal to stem carbon emissions duction would remain “relatively coal is used to produce steel, is have harshly criticized the pro- ing plant in Wayne County. Already-struggling southern from coal-fired power plants, part stable” by 2035, but that would exported, or both, the report says. posed carbon limits. The WVU forecast says pro- coalfield counties would bear the of President Barack Obama’s plan change with the carbon proposal Overall production levels in “We recognize market forces duction will fall from 115 million brunt of the industry’s downturn, to stem global warming. added to the formula. 2035 statewide would be trimmed play a large role in these deci- short tons in 2014, to 104 million with an expected 29 percent pro- The report completed by The northern region has from about 96 million short tonnes sions; however, the market is short tons this year, to 98 million duction drop in 2035, compared to WVU’s Bureau of Business and remained more productive, while to less than 79 million short also being forced to react to short tons in 2016. In comparison, 2014. The dwindling coal industry Economic Research also draws a the south has struggled to keep tonnes under the carbon rule. overreaching regulations from West Virginia produced 158 mil- has ravaged that region with job stark divide between the state’s mines open. The report stressed that the (Environmental Protection lion short tons in 2008. losses, and has even necessitated two coal-producing regions. But because northern West upcoming federal rules could face Agency),” Governor Earl Ray Despite a moderate rebound cuts to government services. Even when assuming a stronger Virginia coal is predominantly more legal challenges, adminis- Tomblin spokesman Chris from 2017 to 2020, production The report rattles off a combi- market for exports, in southern sourced to domestic power trative changes and shifts in Stadelman said in an email. will drop to less than 96 million nation of familiar economic, geo- West Virginia “some reserves plants, its production would fall deadlines to comply. Northern West Virginia coal short tons in 2035, according to logical and regulatory challenges: would become too depleted or by 28 percent by 2035, compared West Virginia Coal Association suffered the biggest blow in last the forecast. weak export demand; less use of fragmented to recover at nearly to 2014, considering the carbon President Bill Raney said the Friday’s round of layoffs. Murray AP US biofuel rules seek compromise

NEW YORK: US regulators limitations that have slowed unveiled much delayed biofuel advancement of these goals,” she targets that sought a middle said in a call with reporters. ground for the nation’s conten- The EPA maintained its stance tious renewable fuels policy, but that use of ethanol in motor fuels the plan triggered challenges has for now hit the “blend wall”, and threats of legal action from the saturation point beyond which two of the biggest industries, oil it cannot go without significant and corn. infrastructure changes. The Environmental Protection The rules will be open to pub- Agency (EPA) raised its previous lic comment until July 27, and targets for the amount of biofu- EPA plans to finalize details by els to be mixed into motor fuel November. Analysts at ClearView for the three years to 2016. As Energy Partners predicted a fresh expected, the proposed goal was wave of lobbying and possibly legal short of the aggressive targets set action. Companies and industry by Congress in a 2007 law. groups said they would lobby The 2014 goal was an increase Congress and consider lawsuits. from a previous proposal, anger- The EPA proposed that some 16.3 ing the oil industry which opposes billion gallons of renewable fuels more blending. But the biofuel should be mixed into the country’s target was lower than most mar- gasoline or diesel supply this year, ket experts had expected, upset- increasing to 17.4 billion gallons ting the powerful corn lobby. next year. The proposal also revised Separately, the government the 2014 target up to 15.93 billion pledged some $100m in grants to gallons, in line with actual con- help outfit filling stations to pump sumption last year and up from the biofuel blends using more corn- previous proposal of 15.21 billion. based ethanol, which makes up the The retroactive target for 2014 vast majority of the US renewable remains significant because it fuel supply. Some fuels also use affects efforts by refiners to com- A technician works inside the Oil and Natural Gas Corp group gathering station on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. biomass-based diesel, largely made ply with the standard. from vegetable oils, or cellulosic In the immediate term, the new fuel, made from plant waste. goals were seen as easy to reach ONGC sees new subsidy rules boosting profit The EPA proposal was a year for oil companies and importers, and a half behind schedule and the parties obligated to prove followed years of uncertainty over compliance with the fuels. This NEW DELHI: India’s top such as ONGC and Oil India currently hovering around $61 ONGC Videsh, public, a company the Renewable Fuel Standard would put further pressure on energy explorer Oil and Natural offering discounts on crude a barrel. For prices above $60 a executive who did not want to be (RFS). The policy, a bedrock of prices of ethanol blending credits. Gas Corp said on Thursday it sales to help cut the losses of barrel the companies will have to named, told reporters earlier on two administrations, is meant to A boost in targets for biodie- expects current-quarter profit state refiners. give a discount of 85 percent of Thursday. He added, however, reduce US dependence on foreign sel, a much smaller market than to be boosted by an interim rule For the June quarter, the oil the incremental oil price increase that ONGC would favour delay- oil and utilise cleaner, domestic ethanol, helped briefly push soy- change on discounts offered by ministry has set interim rules and the discount will rise to 90 ing a listing given the current low energy sources. oil futures up almost 5 percent to upstream oil companies to state to exempt upstream state firms percent for prices beyond $100 a oil price. The new volumes represent the highest prices in four months. retailers. from giving any discounts on barrel. The government also wants to “ambitious” growth for the Corn futures were muted, with ONGC, majority-owned by the crude and refined fuels if global ONGC did not have to pay any sell shares in ONGC and biggest renewable fuels industry and go a prices a few cents lower. government, reported net profit oil prices average up to $60 a bar- discount in the March quarter as fuel refiner India Oil Corp to raise long way toward meeting goals set The target was too high for US down nearly a fifth from a year rel this quarter. crude prices fell sharply and the about a third of its budget tar- by Congress, said Janet McCabe, refiners like Tesoro Corp and oil earlier to Rs39.35bn ($616m) in Asked if that would help his government was working on new get for asset sales of $11bn — and Acting Assistant Administrator industry lobby groups including its fiscal fourth quarter to March company post a higher profit for subsidy rules as part of broader reduce its fiscal deficit to 3.9 per- for EPA’s Office of Air and the American Petroleum Institute 31, missing analysts’ estimates the quarter, ONGC Chairman reforms in the sector. Still, its net cent of GDP in the 2015/16 fiscal Radiation. (API) and American Fuel & averaging 54.91bn. D K Sarraf said: “Definitely yes, profit was lower than a year ear- year. It had to defer plans to sell “We’re balancing two dynamics: Petrochemical Manufacturers India keeps a lid on retail because I am assuming a price of lier due to higher costs and tax a 5 percent stake in ONGC last Congress’ clear intent to address (AFPM) which have sued the EPA prices of liquefied petroleum at least $60 internationally which outgoings. year as investors wanted clarity climate change and increase over the delays to issuing rules. gas and kerosene to tame infla- is very good.” The Indian government wants on subsidy payments. energy security, and real-world REUTERS tion, with upstream companies Brent crude oil prices are to take ONGC’s overseas arm, REUTERS

Indonesia coffee output to fall Budget data to give clues to Modi’s capital expenditure promise

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister government recognises it will the subsidy bill and collect more Narendra Modi hit his borrow- have to take the lead to meet its taxes on oil products,” said a sen- ing targets in the fiscal year jobs and growth goals. ior finance ministry official. recently ended by slashing Fiscal deficit figures for the Analysts warn that the $19bn in capital spending and first month of the new fiscal year, retrenchment will have a knock- data will show whether he has due just before quarterly GDP fig- on effect on the pace of recovery taken his foot off the brakes in ures, will give a first indication of as private investment remains April. whether Modi is committing gov- weak. Although the GDP figures Modi, who has completed one ernment cash to back his election are expected to show India out- year in power this week, man- pledge of “better days” for India. pacing China as the world’s fast- aged to beat a fiscal deficit goal In the last fiscal year, the gov- est-growing economy, they are of 4.1 percent of GDP in the fis- ernment cut its capital spend- flattered by statistical revisions cal year to March with a severe ing — mainly on rural and urban that even policy makers say are capex squeeze in the final three infrastructure projects — by more hard to square with subdued indi- months of the year. than a fifth to Rs4.36 trillion. Its cators of economic activity. That helped offset the impact original budget estimate was “The government should have of weak tax revenue but, as Modi Rs5.55 trillion. used the opportunity to raise pub- looks to prime Asia’s third-largest Officials at the finance min- lic investment rather than taking economy for recovery, his govern- istry said the government had credit for achieving better-than- ment will need to ramp up spend- no option but to cut spending to budgeted fiscal deficit numbers,” ing on roads, railways and ports. meet its borrowing targets. said N R Bhanumurthy, an econo- A worker sews sacks of coffee beans before exporting them to the United States in Medan, Indonesia’s With banks weighed down “Things could have been worse mist at the National Institute of North Sumatra province. Indonesia’s coffee output will fall short of a previous estimate by around by bad loans, company profits had the government not got a Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), 50,000 tonnes this year due to an El Nino weather pattern. squeezed, rural demand weak windfall gain from lower global a Delhi-based think tank. and exports depressed, the crude oil prices. That helped cut REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Key hire at Yahoo helps Less hassle, more profit – how turn around tech firms’ being nice paid off at Ryanair bad reputation on privacy BY GWYN TOPHAM book and fly. they added so many things the there is not a suit to be seen, Last week, it appeared to see price went right up.” and few faces over 40. BY ANDREA PETERSON espite Ryanair’s image the fruit of those changes: a Few, though, seem to have However, there are some makeover as a caring spectacular, 66% leap in profits been ultimately swayed one way Ryanair veterans present, he day before news broke that Alex Stamos was joining Yahoo carrier, passengers to €867m (£623m) in the first or the other by the niceness – including Ray Conway, the air- as chief information security officer, he laid out the approach Dremain anxious in the full year since its conversion perhaps confirming O’Leary’s line’s chief pilot, who has been Tthat has defined his tenure at the company so far: Technology queue to board the airline’s 0940 from the uncompromising stance longer-standing view that the with the carrier since its incep- shouldn’t just be secure, it should be “trustworthy.” flight from Gatwick to Dublin. of old. O’Leary said the trans- customer service that mattered tion as a two-plane operation. “What we are failing at is building technology people feel com- Mainly, though, that’s because formation, dubbed the Always was cheap fares and punctual Underneath the makeover, fortable with using day to day,” he told a theatre auditorium crowd the gate display is describing it Getting Better programme, had services. On board, the plane he says, Ryanair operates on packed with security researchers and civil liberties activists in erroneously as an easyJet flight attracted millions of new cus- is still a riot of yellow plastic, straightforward principles. It February 2014. to Berlin. But there is a differ- tomers. But has being nice really and crew still flog scratchcards, still only flies one type of plane, “Our field, unlike anything else, likes to blame users for making ence from the Ryanair queues driven profits, or has the hard although the well-thumbed the Boeing 737, and while the jet mistakes, likes to say it’s someone else’s fault if something goes of old: no jostling for the best cash been won elsewhere? menus and inflight magazines has become more technologically wrong, likes to say that people aren’t smart enough to use the seat, and a noticeable array of Tales of Ryanair woes past have been deemed too tatty to advanced it has not required an things that we build.” odd-shaped cases, second bags, fall readily from the lips of pas- remain. Our 737 touches the expensive investment in retrain- That attitude had to change, Stamos told the crowd, and the first shopping and oversized soft toys sengers on the London-Dublin tarmac almost 10 minutes after ing pilots. That cuts costs, while step to “kicking the habit” was admitting that there was a problem. being carried aboard. flight, with regulars noting the its scheduled arrival time for the making maintenance schedules Stamos’s hiring was an admission by Yahoo that it had a problem: One man is clutching a 2ft- difference in the bag policy above short hop to Dublin – a delay and rostering simpler. Civil liberties and security groups had repeatedly complained about long cardboard tube as well as all. Crew seem friendlier, says that doesn’t stop the sounding More passengers now occupy its track record for protecting users’ privacy. his case. “I’m best man at a wed- Danielle Smyth, a yoga instruc- of the notorious on-time arrival each plane: where an average Since Marissa Mayer took the helm of Yahoo in 2012, the ding tomorrow and it’s for the tor: “Maybe before they were bugle, now wrapped in a mar- of one in six seats was empty company has been undergoing a sort of reboot, bringing on such speech,” says Colm Donnelly, 26. a bit uptight as they had to keting jingle in a new sanitised in 2014, the results for 2014-15 high-profile personalities as Katie Couric and acquiring blogging “I’m still a bit worried about get- enforce those rules. It was just form, like Cameron instead of show it is down to one in eight, platform Tumblr. While Yahoo boasts more than 1 billion regis- ting it on. But I’m much more so restrictive – I remember once Thatcher. Donnelly disembarks and the target for 2015-16 is one tered users, investors have remained skeptical about its ability to likely to chance my arm with when something didn’t quite fit, safely with case and oversized in 10, well ahead of the industry compete against giants like Google. something like that on Ryanair I was told I couldn’t bring it on: tube, and no penalty to pay. average. To survive, Yahoo needs to attract new users while retaining its now.” I managed to fit it between three If the main difference so far For a decade from 2000, the core audience, observers say — and part of the company’s strategy The Irish airline relaxed its other people’s cases but it was a is purely the absence of stress, fate of airlines’ profits had an is an effort to distinguish Yahoo as the “trustworthy” tech company. famously tight rules and puni- bit of a panic.” Others weren’t a dramatic manifestation of inverse correlation with the The face of that effort is Stamos, a cybersecurity professional tive charges last year, as part of so lucky: last time Sharon change is evident at Ryanair’s fuel price as rising oil costs sav- with a gift for boiling down complicated debates into understand- a plan to turn its woeful image Watchorn, a project manager new HQ, on a business park a aged the bottom line. Since 2010, able sound bites, and the technical chops to back up his rhetoric. around: to stop, in chief execu- from Guernsey, flew this route few miles from the airport. It is fuel-efficient planes and effec- Stamos was also the primary organizer of TrustyCon — essentially tive Michael O’Leary’s words, with Ryanair, she recalls: “I a building that O’Leary snapped tive hedging have helped the an elaborate anti-National Security Agency protest that served as “unnecessarily pissing people had a wheelie case a millimetre up after the crash left a surfeit industry decouple the oil price a counterpoint to a major cybersecurity industry conference hap- off”. Allocated seating ended the too long; they put it in the hold of unwanted property and it has from profits. Ryanair’s hedging pening around the corner. scramble at the gate. Permitting and charged me an extortionate the kind of features you’d expect of fuel and currency costs, allow- At Yahoo, he has continued to be a vocal critic of what he sees as a second carry-on bag, and giv- amount.” to see in Silicon Valley rather ing it to purchase planes and oil government attempts to undermine the digital security of everyday ing more flexibility for frontline Julia Wright, from Suffolk, on than at a notoriously parsimo- until 2018 with dollars bought at people — a position that may help Yahoo rebuild its reputation as staff to tolerate minor infringe- her first Ryanair flight for some nious airline. On a day when a rate that looks cheap, should the trusted ally of users, not governments. This spring, he even ments, also followed. Ryanair years, had noticed the changes to O’Leary and other Ryanair execs help it to even bigger profits went head-to-head with NSA chief Adm. Michael S. Rogers at a wanted to signal it had changed, the website: “It’s better than it are on the road to trumpet their ahead. cybersecurity conference in the District. to make it easier for people to was, booking online. Previously, financial results to investors, THE GUARDIAN Rogers told the crowd that tech companies should build ways for law enforcement to access the secure communications flowing through their products, what experts call a “back door.” Stamos didn’t stay quiet long. “It’s like drilling a hole in the windshield,” he said, before asking Rogers whether Yahoo should provide the same sort of access to the Chinese government, or the Russians. But Stamos’s questions also hinted at one of his biggest chal- U.S. fourth-quarter GDP left unrevised lenges at Yahoo: the company’s track record on protecting users. The U.S. economy expanded in the fourth quarter at a 2.2 percent annual rate as previously stated in last month’s forecast. In 2007, the company settled with the families of two Chinese dissidents it had allegedly helped the Chinese government to iden- tify. And privacy advocates have long criticized Yahoo for lagging behind its competitors in adopting some basic security practices GDPPreviously GDP CONTRIBUTORS Previously to protect consumers. Quarterly annualized pct changereported Percentage points reported “The relationship between Yahoo and the privacy community 5 was toxic,” said Christopher Soghoian, a technologist who works on privacy and surveillance at the American Civil Liberties Union. Personal consumption The turning point didn’t come, he said, until Yahoo was publicly 4 shamed. The company had long failed to automatically use SSL encryp- tion technology, which creates a sort of protected digital tunnel 3 between Internet users and the sites they visit, for its e-mail service. Private investment When news emerged that NSA had been collecting hundreds of 2.2% millions of contact lists from personal e-mail and instant messag- ing accounts, security experts noted that Yahoo users were among 2 those most vulnerable. “It had ignored calls to encrypt, and as a result governments Exports were surveilling Yahoo at a scale that dwarfed every other major 1 provider,” Soghoian said. The revelations spurred Yahoo to announce it would deploy the encryption feature, but by then it was already years behind peers 0 such as Google and Microsoft. And, some security experts said, Government even then its technology wasn’t as secure as it could have been. A few months later, Stamos came on board. -1 Soon after he was hired, Yahoo announced it had finished secur- ing the connections between its data centers — another government surveillance target — and was encrypting more of its services. -2 Imports Over the past year, the company has also announced a series of ambitious projects aimed at keeping users safer online. The company is working on technology that will allow users to encrypt -3 e-mails “end-to-end,” meaning only the sender and recipient can 2010 '11 '12 '13 '14 3 read the contents. -1 0 1 2 Such encryption is more secure and means even Yahoo won’t be Source: U.S. Commerce Department able to see what its users are saying to one another. “Our goal is to become the best at this,” Stamos said. “Focusing S. Culp, 29/03/2015 not just on security, but safety: Are we the safest when used by a Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate normal person?” WP-BLOOMBERG FTC’s anti-trust settlement a win for lawyers

BY NOAH FELDMAN upsetting from the standpoint of looked on the surface like busi- risk of a judgment against it. contradiction between patent majority, said the FTC should be consumers. Cephalon, a company ness as usual. Shareholders typically prefer to law and antitrust law: The pat- able to look beyond the basic cir- s Thursday’s $1.2bn anti- that was acquired by Teva in But according to the FTC, see big-ticket litigation resolved, ent system is designed to confer cumstances of the infringement trust settlement between the 2011, was the maker of an anti- something was rotten in the even at a big loss, rather than a monopoly on the patent holder suit and the reverse payment to Federal Trade Commission sleep drug known as Provigil. agreements. The so-called taken to trial. in order to create incentives for ascertain whether there had been Iand Teva Pharmaceutical Competitors of Cephalon began “reverse payment” settlement, On the surface, it seems natu- research and development in anti-competitive effects. (The Industries a victory for consum- producing generic drugs to com- the FTC claims, wasn’t really a ral enough that the FTC, which bringing new products to market; 2013 case was about a different, ers? Or is it a sign of government pete with Provigil. resolution of the underlying law- is in the business of looking out the antitrust system is designed analogous instance of a reverse enforcement run amok? In response, Cephalon sued suits. It was a cover for Cephalon for consumers’ interests, would to root out and prohibit anti-com- payment, not about Provigil.) The answer to that question, the makers of the generic drugs, to buy off the generic manufac- vigilantly scrutinize the resolution petitive monopolies. In essence, this was a victory it turns out, goes back to a 2013 charging them with patent turers and allow Provigil to keep of patent infringement lawsuits to These two approaches sit poorly for antitrust theory over patent U.S. Supreme Court case, FTC infringement. The generic makers its monopoly on the marketplace. assure that they aren’t function- with each other. The legal sys- theory. v. Actavis, in which five justices countersued, insisting they had The FTC’s argument turns on ing as cover for anti-competitive tem wants a patent holder such Chief Justice John Roberts allowed the FTC to pursue a new not infringed on Cephalon’s pat- the assertion that, as an economic collusion among drug manufac- as Cephalon to be able to enjoy wrote a dissent in the 2013 case. kind of antitrust litigation. And ent. So far, the proceedings were matter, the payments “made no turers. Otherwise, consumers its monopoly. If the generic drugs He pointed out that a patent is, the issue at the heart of that case following the familiar script of economic sense for Cephalon would get the short end of the really infringed on Cephalon’s by definition, an exception to the was fascinating: What happens patent suits and countersuits that except as payments not to com- stick if patent owners bought off patents, we want them to be antitrust laws. And he argued when the good kind of monopoly are part of the everyday business pete.” The FTC would’ve had to the makers of potentially success- suppressed. And if it would cost that the Supreme Court should created by a patent runs head- model of big pharma. prove this claim at trial. By set- ful generic competitors. Cephalon more time and money maintain existing precedent. long into the bad kind of monop- To resolve the lawsuits, tling the suit against Cephalon, But when the Supreme Court to fight that in court than it would According to that precedent, as oly created by collusion between Cephalon paid the generic manu- Teva may have been saying in considered this issue in 2013, the cost to pay the generic makers to characterized by Roberts, so long merchants? facturers $300 million; in return, effect that it expected the FTC justices were split on how the hold off, we want Cephalon to be as the patent holder acts within To hear the FTC tell the the manufacturers agreed to hold to win. But it’s more likely that FTC should look at such reverse able to make that payoff. the scope of its patent, the anti- story, the facts that gave rise to off on selling generic versions of Teva determined that it didn’t payment settlements. The trou- In the 2013 case, Justice trust laws don’t apply. Thursday’s settlement are pretty Provigil for six years. Again, this make business sense to take the ble starts with a structural Stephen Breyer, writing for the BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 MotoGP: Iannone takes maiden pole Lorenzo to start second on the grid for today’s race, Dovizioso of Ducati in third

LUCO DI MUGELLO, Italy: a big step forward. “I improved Italian MotoGP rider Andrea Italian Grand Prix Italian rider Andrea Iannone a lot and my lap time was not so Iannone (centre) of the Ducati Mugello, Italy: Grids for Italian Motorcycling will start from pole position for bad, but it wasn’t enough. It looks Team, celebrates after getting Grands Prix after yesterday’s qualifying at the first time in his MotoGP like the extra soft tyre worked the pole position at the Italian Mugello: career when he lines up for the very well, so our competitors who Italian Grand Prix today. could use this option where very MotoGP at the Mugello Circuit MotoGP The 25-year-old Ducati rider -- strong. in Scarperia, central Italy, yes- 1. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Ducati) 1min who rode with a dislocated shoul- “All the top riders were able terday, next to Jorge Lorenzo 46.489sec, 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) der in the previous race in France to improve their pace a lot, so of the Movistar Yamaha at 0.095sec, 3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/ a fortnight ago -- posted the fast- apart from my starting position team, second position, and Ducati) 0.121, 4. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/ est time in qualifying at Mugello on the third row, which is not Italian Andrea Dovizioso Honda LCR) 0.168, 5. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/ yesterday to record his ninth fantastic, I’m quite happy about of the Ducati Team, third. Suzuki) 0.365, 6. Michele Pirro (ITA/Ducati) career pole spot in all categories. today. We worked well on the BOTTOM: A combination 0.381, 7. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 0.386, Spain’s two-time world cham- bike and I improved my feeling of pictures shows Spaniard 8. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.434, 9. pion Jorge Lorenzo -- bidding for and my pace. It will be a hard Marc Marquez falls with his Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) 0.445, 10. a third successive win this season race, but we will see tomorrow Honda during the qualifying Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Tech3) 0.561 -- will start second on the grid (Sunday). session of the Italian MotoGP 11. Bradley Smith (GBR/Yamaha Tech3) and Iannone’s team-mate and Lorenzo -- who has eaten into yesterday. 0.601, 12. Yonny Hernandez (COL/Ducati compatriot Andrea Dovizioso in team-mate Rossi’s lead in the Pramac) 0.934 third. championship with his victories Selected “We must be proud of our per- in Spain and then France -- had 13. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) formance, because we improved set the track alight in the morn- Moto2 the bike, which has been our ing practice session. goal for today (Saturday),” said The 28-year-old Spaniard 1. Sam Lowes (GBR/Speed Up) 1:51.514, Lorenzo. broke the track record for one lap 2. Dominique Aegerter (SUI/Kalex) at “We had to improve our pace with a scorching effort of 1min 0.342sec, 3. Tito Rabat (ESP/ESP/Kalex) by half a second and maybe we 46.617sec, bettering the previ- 0.360, 4. Thomas Luthi (SUI/Kalex) 0.365, didn’t do that but we did shave ous mark set in 2013 by Honda’s 5. Luis Salom (ESP/Kalex) 0.606, 6. Johann off three-tenths. Dani Pedrosa by more than half Zarco (FRA/Kalex) 0.626, 7. Simone Corsi “Today has been a great day. a second. (ITA/Kalex) 0.630, 8. Xavier Simeon (BEL/ We couldn’t get the pole position, Honda had a poor day with Kalex) 0.641, 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Kalex) but second place is great. The set- two-time defending champion 0.726, 10. Axel Pons (ESP/Kalex) 0.813, ting of our bike is quite good. We Marc Marquez facing a real chal- 11. Sandro Cortese ((GER/Kalex) 0.817, 12. may be losing a little bit in speed lenge to get his season going, after Julian Simon (ESP/Speed Up) 0.958 on the straight, but on the rest a series of listless performances, Moto3: of the track we are ok,” he added. as for only the second time in his 1. Danny Kent (GBR/Honda) 1min Another Italian, legend MotoGP career he failed to make 56.615sec, 2. Hiroki Ono (JPN/Honda) at Valentino Rossi leads the overall the top 10 riders final session and 0.289sec, 3. Romano Fenati (ITA/KTM) standings after five races -- he will start the race only in 13th 0.704, 4. Karel Hanika (CZE/KTM) 0.714, will start in eighth spot. position. 5. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA/Honda) 0.718, 6. “Just like previous races this The other two races will see Jakub Kornfeil (CZE/KTM) 0.751, 7. Enea season, here in Mugello the level, British riders start from pole with Bastianini (ITA/Honda) 0.778, 8. Francesco the speed and the lap times Sam Lowes, riding a Speed Up, Bagnaia (ITA/Mahindra) 0.914, 9. Andrea are a lot faster than last year,” at the head of affairs in Moto2 explained Rossi. -- his second ever pole position -- Locatelli (ITA/Honda) 0.936, 10. Isaac “Marquez rode the lap time of and compatriot and championship Vinales (ESP/Husqvarna) 1.032, 11. Miguel the pole position last time and leader Danny Kent on a Honda in Oliveira (POR/KTM) 1.042, 12. Brad Binder he’s just in thirteenth place, so it’s Moto3. AFP (RSA/KTM) 1.081

NBA: Magic hope Skiles as coach Lightning edge Rangers to will end play-off drought claim Stanley Cup berth ORLANDO: Scott Skiles was NEW YORK: The Tampa Bay NHL Result sprawling Lundqvist on the glove named coach of the Orlando Lightning booked a Stanley side. Magic yesterday, the 13-season Cup Finals berth with a tense Washington: Result yesteday from the “The puck had eyes and went NBA coach tasked with ending 2-0 victory over the New York National Hockey League’s best-of-seven through a couple of bodies and the club’s three-year run of fail- Rangers yesterday, the visitors Eastern Conference final: went through Hank (Lundqvist), ing to reach the playoffs. breaking home goalie Henrik At New York so that turned out to be the win- Skiles, whose first season Lundqvist’s Game Seven domi- Tampa Bay 2 New York Rangers 0 ner,” a dejected Rangers coach as a coach was for Greek side nance to claim the Eastern Alain Vigneault said. Thessaloniki in 1996-97, takes Conference championship. (Tampa Bay win series 4-3) Tampa Bay delivered the ham- the job from which Jacque Vaughn Lundqvist had won the last six Cooper said about his young mer blow nine minutes later was fired last February, one taken series-deciding showdowns he had team, beaten 7-3 with a chance when Tyler Johnson raced up on an interim basis by James played for New York but third- to end the series in Game Six in the right and delivered the puck Borrego. period goals by Alex Killorn and Florida. perfectly to Palat, who buried it The Magic went 25-57 this past Ondrej Palat ended that National The Lightning, who led the past Lundqvist. season, only a slight improvement Hockey League record run by the NHL in goals during the season, “I think we all felt that the on 23-59 the season before and Swede and silenced the Madison played ferocious defense to regis- (first) goal was going to be 20-62 in 2012-13 but not nearly Square Garden crowd. ter their fifth victory in six games extremely important,” Lundqvist enough to satisfy fans of a team Lightning goaltender Ben at the Garden this season. lamented. “Unfortunately, I never that reached the NBA Finals in Bishop stopped all 22 shots from “You shine the light bright on saw it until it was too late.” 2009, losing to the Los Angeles the Rangers, withstanding an all- our guys, they’ll just put on sun- The Lightning will be playing Lakers, and 1995, losing to out assault in the final minutes, glasses and walk right through it,” in the Stanley Cup Finals for Houston. while Lundqvist saved 23 in the Cooper said. “It’s unreal how they the second time in their 22-year Skiles, 51, has an overall NBA defensive battle. respond.” existence, having beaten Calgary regular season record of 443-433 Tampa Bay will meet either After two pressure-packed, to win the NHL title in 2004. guiding Phoenix, Chicago and the Anaheim Ducks or the scoreless periods, Lightning It was a gut-wrenching loss for Milwaukee, the team from which Chicago Blackhawks, who play a center Killorn opened the scoring the Rangers, who had the best he and club owners agreed to his Game Seven decider of their own just two minutes into the third. regular season record, after losing resignation after a 16-16 start to on Saturday for the Western Spinning off the wall and skat- in the Finals last year to the Los the 2012-13 campaign. Conference title. ing toward the middle, Killorn Angeles Kings. The best-of-seven Skiles has guided six teams into “They just answer the chal- flicked a backhand through Stanley Cup Finals series begins the playoffs, reaching the second lenge,” Lightning coach Jon a crowd that trickled past a on Wednesday. AFP round in 2000 with Phoenix and 2007 with Chicago. “Scott clearly distinguished Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) forces out Texas himself as a tremendous fit,” Rangers centre fielder Delino DeShields (7) at second base and turns a Magic general manager Rob play during the eighth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington yesterday. Hennigan said. “Our young roster will benefit greatly from Scott’s extensive head coaching experi- ence and commitment to teaching Hamilton shows flashes smart, physical, unselfish basket- ball. We believe in Scott’s ability to establish a culture of winning habits and accountability that will of his old brilliance help guide our team in a positive direction.” NEW YORK: Josh Hamilton He finished 2-for-3 with three As a player, Skiles appeared has returned to Texas with a runs scored, displaying all the in 600 career NBA games over bang, hitting two home runs in form that made him a five-time 10 seasons with Milwaukee, his second game in front of the All Star. Hamilton spent five sea- Indiana, Orlando, Washington Arlington crowd as he led the sons with the Rangers, winning and Philadelphia, averaging Rangers to a 7-4 victory over the American League MVP in 11.1 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 the Boston Red Sox yesterday. 2010, before signing with the Los rebounds a game. His .889 per- One night earlier, Hamilton Angeles Angels before the 2013 centage from the free throw line went 2-for-4 in his first game season. during his career ranks as the back in Arlington as a Texas Prior to this season, the eighth-best in NBA history. Ranger since 2012. His encore was 34-year-old fell prey to old demons Skiles was an original member even better. and experienced a relapse of a of the Magic and played in 384 Receiving welcoming ovations drug addiction that ultimately led games during five seasons with Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) and defenceman Victor Hedman (77) get tangled up with New from a partisan crowd, Hamilton to his trade back to Texas. Orlando from 1989-94, and in York Rangers defenceman Kevin Klein (8) during the second period of game seven of the Eastern Conference blasted a solo home run to right Hamilton has appeared in just 1990 against Denver set an NBA Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Play-offs at Madison Square Garden yesterday. The Lightning defeated the field in the second inning then five games in 2015, with the last single-game record of 30 assists Rangers 2-0 to win the series 4-3. struck again in the fourth on a two being his most dramatic. that remains today. AFP blow that snapped a 2-2 tie. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Qatar team training in London IBQ sponsors Emir Cup Basketball

Abilmona Fadi Hani of El Jaish team receiving the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award dur- ing the awards cer- emony of the Emir Cup Basketball at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Stadium Al Sadd on Friday. El Jaish defeated Al Sadd 80-70 to win the champion- ship. International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) sponsored the Emir Cup for the seventh consecu- tive year. Hassan Al Mulla, Head of Retail Banking at Qatar national team players taking part in a training session in London yesterday. Coach Jose Carreno’s squad is in England for a training camp IBQ attended the which will end on June 6. During the camp, Qatar will play Northern Ireland today before taking on Scotland on June 5. Qatar is preparing for their awards ceremony. opening World Cup qualifier when they travel to Maldives on June 11.

Knee injury Farah surges to year’s fastest sidelines Wallabies lock Briton turns back Tanui challenge in 10,000m triumph in Eugene Carter

EUGENE, United States: Eugene Diamond League will be the 1,500m at Birmingham, SYDNEY: Wallabies backrower Britain’s Mo Farah pulled England, in June. Sam Carter will be sidelined for Eugene, United States: Results yesterday, away on the final lap to win the With sprinters waiting in the up to three months after injur- the opening day of the Eugene Diamond 10,000m at the Eugene Diamond wings for Saturday’s main slate ing his knee while playing Super League athletics meeting: League athletics meeting yes- of events, distance runners took rugby for the ACT Brumbies. terday in a season’s best time of Men center stage on Friday night in Scans, taken yesterday, showed 26min 50.97sec. 5,000m the third of 14 Diamond League that Carter had suffered a torn Farah, Olympic and world 1. Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 13min 10.54sec meetings of 2015. medial ligament, an injury that champion at 5,000m and 10,000m, 2. Edwin Soi (KEN) 13:11.97 Ethiopian 17-year-old Yomif takes 12 weeks to clear. held off the determined challenge Kejelcha, who won the world The second row will miss the of Kenyan Paul Tanui to continue 3 Galen RUPP (USA) 13:12.36 junior title last July on the same rest of the Super rugby season as a winning streak in the event that 10,000m Hayward Field track in Eugene, well as Australia’s pre-World Cup stretches back to 2011 -- when he 1. Mo Farah (GBR) 26:50.97 poured it on late to win the matches. Mo Farah (front) took silver in the 10,000m at the men’s 5,000m in a season-leading Carter, who started 11 tests 2. Paul Tanui 26:51.86 of Britain reacts world championships. 3. Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 26:52.65 13:10.54sec. for Australia last year, required Nevertheless, he was disap- After home hope Galen Rupp after cross- lengthy treatment on the pitch pointed that a slow early pace left Discus had taken the lead with 700 ing the finish at Canberra Stadium on Friday him outside the time he had in 1. Piotr Malachowski (POL) 65.59m meters remaining, Kejelcha pow- line to win the night after twisting the joint in mind -- somewhere around 26:30. 2. Robert Urbanek (POL) 65.42m ered past with 300 meters to go men’s 10,000m the 22-16 victory over the Bulls, race during the “It would have been good to 3. Vikas Gowda (IND) 64.41m and pulled away for a convinc- which kept the Brumbies in the run a little bit faster,” Farah said. ing triumph over Kenyan Edwin Prefontaine playoff hunt. Shot put: “Training has been going really Soi (13:11.97) with Rupp third Classic Diamond Carter tried to run off the well, I’ve done some great ses- 1. Joe Kovacs (USA) 22.12m (13:12.36). Kejelcha’s time crushed League meet- injury but was unable to move sions. My aim was to run a little 2. David Storl (GER) 21.92m his own personal best of 3:25.19 ing at Hayward freely because of the strain, and faster.” 3. Ryan Whiting (USA) 21.37m and bettered the previous best Field in Eugene, was ordered to undergo tests Farah’s time was more than Women of 2015 -- 13:11.44 set by South Oregon, USA, yesterday. four seconds slower than his African Stephen Mokoka in April. “Like any test player, interna- personal best, but he had plenty Long jump American Tianna Bartoletta tional player, it’s going to be a loss left to power past Tanui, who had 1. (wind 2.5m/sec) Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 7.11m won the women’s long jump with to your team,” Brumbies coach edged ahead going into the final 2. Christabel Nettey (CAN) 6.99m a wind-aided 7.11 meters. Stephen Larkham told reporters lap. 3. Lorraine Ugen (GBR) 6.89m She’s the first woman to sur- after the match. Tanui settled for second in pass seven meters this season, but “He had a bit of a spell out of 26:51.86, with compatriot Geoffrey Championships in Beijing in her 6.99m at Doha remains the the game but I thought the last Kamworor third in 26:52.65. August, Farah said it was too soon best in the world this year in a couple of weeks he’s really played All three were inside the pre- to say if he’ll attempt to repeat legal wind. exceptionally well. vious best in the world this year, his 5,000-10,000 double of the 2012 Canadian Christabel Nettey “But I think we’re lucky we’ve the 27:08.21 clocked by Tanui on Olympics and 2013 worlds. was second with a leap of 6.99m, got good experience in the second May 16. “Depends on if my body lets and Britain’s Lorraine Ugen third row with Blake Enever and Rory In a season aimed at the World me,” said Farah, whose next race (6.89). AFP Arnold. “I think those guys have gained enough experience throughout the year to be able to fill the shoes that Carts leaves.” Singapore’s The emergence of towering lock Arnold has been a major boost Rookie Curran shares to the Brumbies this year and a Mamat wins Wallabies call-up for the Rugby Championship would not be out of the question. Bangladesh Lock forward is a depart- lead at soggy PGA event ment where Australia coach Open Michael Cheika does not have the IRVING, United States: PGA Thirty-three players will have US PGA Byron Nelson resources he has in other areas of DHAKA: Veteran Singapore Tour rookie Jon Curran capi- to complete the second round Irving, United States: Leading scores his squad. golfer Mardan Mamat capped a talised on a fast start and some today morning, though further yesterday after completion of the second The Brumbies head to Perth dominant performance over the pinpoint iron shots to surge into thunderstorms are expected round of the rain-struck US PGA Byron to play Western Force in their four days to win the inaugural a three-way tie for the lead in overnight. penultimate match next weekend Nelson tournament (USA unless noted, par Bangladesh Open by two strokes the weather-disrupted second American Ryan Palmer before rounding out the regular 70 round 1, 69 round 2 due to rain): in Dhaka yesterday. round of the AT&T Byron Nelson (66) and Australian Cameron season at home to the Canterbury The 47-year-old, who said he in Irving, Texas yesterday. Percy (64) were at eight under 130 Jon Curran 67-63, Jimmy Walker Crusaders. was inspired by an encouraging While Masters champion with local favourite and world 64-66, Steven Bowditch (AUS) 62-68 message from his wife Naz, shot Jordan Spieth also charged into number two Spieth a further 131 Cameron Percy (AUS) 67-64, Ryan a two-under-par 69 to finish with contention after struggling on two shots back after carding a Palmer 65-66, Tony Finau 67-64, Joe Axelsen to a combined score of 14-under 270 the greens in his opening round, 64. Affrunti 68-63 at the Kurmitola Golf Club. Curran set the early pace by firing “I had a lot of short birdie 132 Nick Watney 67-65, Jerry Kelly play Chen in It was Mamat’s fifth Asian a six-under-par 63 at the rain- putts today,” said Spieth after 68-64, Jonathan Randolph 69-63, Tour title, which earned him the saturated TPC Four Seasons piling up seven birdies, three of Hunter Mahan 68-64 Australia final winner’s purse of $54,000 after Resort Las Colinas. them on his last three holes, and 133 Jordan Spieth 69-64, Zac Blair he led in all four rounds of the “I got off to a pretty good start, two bogeys. “I zeroed in on the 69-64, Scott Pinckney 69-64, John $300,000 event in the Bangladeshi hit some really close iron shots targets nicely. Merrick 66-67, Zach Johnson 69-64, SYDNEY: Viktor Axelsen capital. Mardan Mamat of Singapore and I made some good 10 or “The finish was certainly nice. upset his higher ranked Danish Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 69-64, Colt Khalin Joshi of India shot a poses with the trophy after 15-foot putts for birdie,” Curran For the middle of that round, I rival Jan O Jorgensen to reach Knost 68-65 68 in the final round to end with winning the Bashundhara told reporters. was only hanging around one or the final of the Australian Open 272 and tie for second place with Bangladesh Golf Open at the That left the 28-year-old at two under and to be able to close 134 Jeff Oveton 69-65, Luke Guthrie Superseries in Sydney yesterday. Lee Soo-Min of South Korea, who Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka nine-under 130, where he was at five under on the day puts me 69-65, John Senden (AUS) 67-67, The ninth-ranked Axelsen pre- posted a 67 on the last day. yesterday. joined later in the day by fellow in contention.” Andrew Loupe 69-65, Derek Ernst vailed 21-15, 21-17 over the world Mamat, keeping himself com- American Jimmy Walker (66) and Grounds crews worked hard 67-67, Michael Thompson 68-66, No.3 Jorgensen to reach his sec- posed in the stifling heat, bogeyed overnight leader Steven Bowditch in the morning to prepare the Charley Hoffman 69-65 ond Superseries final of the year the fourth hole to have his over- you are the man’. “That really of Australia (68). course for play, though the par- Shoprite LPGA Classic after he was runner up in the night lead of three shots reduced inspired me today. Walker and Bowditch did well four 14th had to be shortened to 66 Morgan Pressel India Open two months ago. by one, but then stayed on course “I have improved a lot on my to finish in fading light after the a par-three measuring just 104 Axelsen will face world No.1 to claim what he said was a “spe- mental game. I talk a lot to myself start to the second round had been yards because of an unplayable 67 Ryann O’Toole, Alena Sharp (CAN), Chen Long in today’s final. cial win”. to motivate myself to play well. delayed by three hours because of fairway. Min Lee (TPE), Anna Nordqvist (SWE) Chen beat the 10th-ranked “I’m the first winner of the In fact, my wife and I have been water-logged conditions caused by Officials said they would con- 68 Jenny Shin (KOR), Catriona Matthew Tian Houwei in an all-Chinese Bangladesh Open so this is a talking a lot about my game and 4.5 inches of rainfall overnight. tinue to evaluate the situation (SCO), Pernilla Lindberg (SWE), Sydnee semi-final, 21-14, 21-19. special win,” he said. “I talked to confidence. “Didn’t want to have to get and determine whether to play Michaels, Thidapa Suwannapura Tian’s risk averse steadiness my wife last night and she sent “She always inspires me and up early (on Saturday)... it will the 14th hole as a par-three for (THA), Brooke Henderson (CAN), Park was more suited against Chen me a message saying ‘You are the feeds me positive thoughts. I’m be nice to sleep in little bit,” said the final two rounds. Hee-Young (KOR), Christel Boeljon Long and he led early before his champion, you are the winner and very pleased with that.” AFP Walker. REUTERS (NED), Gerina Piller effectiveness petered out. SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Boult and Southee rock England Adam Lyth hits first Test century, New Zealand claim five wickets in final session

LEEDS, United Kingdom: appeared destined for mid-on. Trent Boult and Tim Southee But substitute fielder Neil Chanderpaul led a New Zealand recov- Wagner went the wrong way as ery after Adam Lyth scored the ball flew past him for a four axe fury hangs his maiden Test century and that took Lyth to 98. Alastair Cook became England’s Two balls later, Lyth had his over Windies all-time leading Test run-scorer century when a slog-swept bound- at Headingley yesterday. ary off Craig saw him completed England were cruising on the a 188-ball hundred, including 14 Test squad second day of the second Test fours. while left-handed openers Lyth Earlier, Cook overtook Gooch’s ROSEAU, DOMINICA: West (107) and skipper Cook (75) were previous England record of 8,900 Indies officially turned the page sharing a first-wicket stand of 177. Test runs when he square-drove on the past yesterday when But the departure of Lyth, Southee for four that gave him Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the needlessly run out shortly before the score of 32 he needed to sur- team’s second-highest run- the advent of the new ball, pass his mentor’s mark. maker, was as expected left sparked a slump that saw four The economical Craig removed out of the Test squad to face wickets fall late in the day. Cook, although it needed a New Australia. At stumps, England were 253 Zealand review to have the All of the 14 players named for five in reply to New Zealand’s skipper lbw after he missed an -- except opener Rajindra first innings 350, a deficit of 97 intended sweep. Chandrika and wicketkeeper/ runs. Cook batted for nearly four batsman Shane Dowrich -- fea- The new ball saw left-armer hours and faced 187 balls includ- tured in the recent drawn series Boult take two wickets for 10 runs ing a dozen boundaries. against England. in four overs and Southee one for He walked off having moved up Chandrika and Dowrich are yet seven, also in four overs. to 12th place in the all-time list to earn their maiden Test caps. Lyth, 27, was Cook’s sixth of leading Test run-scorers with As anticipated, there was no opening partner since the retire- 8,944 runs in 114 matches and 203 place for Guyanan 40-year-old ment of former captain Andrew innings, at an average of 46.82, Chanderpaul, a veteran of 164 Strauss, with Nick Compton, Joe with 27 hundreds and 41 fifties. Tests who has been a fixture of Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Then a mix-up between the England’s Alastair Cook hits a boundary to become England’s highest-ever run-scorer in Test cricket on the the squad since his 1994 debut. Robson and Jonathan Trott all Yorkshire pair saw of Lyth and second day of the second Test at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, yesterday. Chanderpaul has amassed given a chance in the problem Gary Ballance saw the former run 11,867 Test runs -- an agonising position. out when debutant wicket-keeper 86 behind West Indies’ record However, Lyth went some way Luke Ronchi gathered Boult’s low run-getter Brian Lara. to making the berth his own throw from point. But his fate was sealed when ahead of the Ashes series start- It was the end of Lyth’s near Cook says he ‘doesn’t he managed just 92 runs in three ing in July. five-hour knock. Ballance (29) was matches against England at an Yesterday saw England’s first then bowled by a full length deliv- average of 15.33. century opening stand in a home ery from Boult and then Southee Both Dowrich (78 and 53 Test since Cook and Strauss added had another Yorkshireman in not out) and Chandrika (74) 186 against India at Edgbaston on Joe Root (one) well caught by deserve’ England record made timely runs for the West 2011. Ronchi off a superb outswinger Indies President’s XI against the Lyth had managed just seven that moved away late. Australians in this week’s drawn and 12 on debut during England’s Ben Stokes had been England’s LEEDS, United Kingdom: tour match in Antigua. 124-run win in the first of this hero at Lord’s with innings of 92 Alastair Cook became England’s Most Test runs for England Chanderpaul had wanted to two-Test series at Lord’s. and 101. But he had made just six highest-ever run-scorer in (player, span, matches, innings, not outs, runs, highest score, average, 100s, 50s, noughts): play in the series as a farewell on But he was far more assured on Saturday when he played away Test cricket when he broke Alastair Cook 2006- 114 203 12 8944 294 46.82 27 41 7 his terms. back in familiar surroundings, from his body at a Boult delivery the record of batting mentor Graham Gooch 1975-1995 118 215 6 8900 333 42.58 20 46 13 My request to finish up with although he did have several and second slip Craig held a sharp Graham Gooch during the sec- Alec Stewart 1990-2003 133 235 21 8463 190 39.54 15 45 14 the Australian series is not ask- ‘nervous nineties’ moments. catch above his head. ond Test against New Zealand David Gower 1978-1992 117 204 18 8231 215 44.25 18 39 7 ing too much,” Chanderpaul was On 90, he almost played on to England were now 247 for five. at Headingley yesterday. Kevin Pietersen 2005-2014 104 181 8 8181 227 47.28 23 35 10 quoted as saying in the local Southee, kicking fresh air, as he New Zealand, who resumed on But after stumps the stoical Geoffrey Boycott 1964-1982 108 193 23 8114 246* 47.72 22 42 10 newspaper Kaiteur News. tried to boot the ball away from 297 for eight, thrashed 53 runs in opening batsman said the way he Michael Atherton 1989-2001 115 212 7 7728 185* 37.69 16 46 20 “It gives me a chance to danger. In fact, the ball hit the just 7.1 overs on Saturday before batted meant he “didn’t deserve” Colin Cowdrey 1954-1975 114 188 15 7624 182 44.06 22 38 9 acknowledge my supporters at stumps but didn’t dislodge either they were bowled out. the record. home...I should not be pushed into Ian Bell 2004- 110 188 22 7341 235 44.22 22 42 13 bail. Stuart Broad took the last two The 30-year-old left-handed retirement.” Lyth was on 94 when his drive wickets to fall, finishing with five opener started England’s reply to Walter Hammond 1927-1947 85 140 16 7249 336* 58.45 22 24 4 Lara said Chanderpaul should against off-spinner Mark Craig for 109 in 17.1 overs. AFP New Zealand’s first innings 350 Note: * = not out play even if his Test run record yesterday needing just 32 more humbling.” Cook went nearly two of working with somebody like for the West Indies would be runs to surpass Gooch’s mark of years without a Test century and Alastair Cook is very special. extinguished. Scoreboard 8,900 runs in 118 Tests. in that period, as well as his own “The first time I saw him on “It has absolutely nothing to New Zealand (I Innings) England (I Innings) Cook, first coached by ex-Eng- loss of form, he had to cope with the bowling machine, I couldn’t do with runs or numbers,” Lara M Guptill c Bell b Anderson ...... 0 A Lyth run out (Boult/Ronchi) ...... 107 land captain Gooch as a schoolboy, a 5-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia, believe the balance and timing told the Trinidad and Tobago T Latham c Root b Broad ...... 84 A Cook lbw b Craig ...... 75 reached lunch unbeaten on 27. the ensuing controversy over he had. He’s a lovely lad, a very Guardian. K Williamson c Buttler b Anderson ...... 0 G Ballance b Boult ...... 29 Then, to his 13th ball after Kevin Pietersen’s international special boy.” West Indies and Australia will R Taylor lbw b Broad ...... 20 I Bell (batting) ...... 12 lunch Cook passed Essex pred- exile, his axing from England’s Cook was eventually out for 75, play two Tests -- in Dominica B McCullum c Wood b Stokes ...... 41 J Root c Ronchi b Southee ...... 1 ecessor Gooch -- whose runs World Cup squad and the sack- lbw to off-spinner Mark Craig from Wednesday an at Sabina BJ Watling b Wood ...... 14 B Stokes c Craig b Boult ...... 6 came in four more Tests (118 to ing of coach Peter Moores. on the sweep after the tourists Park, Jamaica, from June 11-15. L Ronchi c Anderson b Broad ...... 88 J Buttler (batting)...... 6 114) -- when he square-drove Tim “The last 18 months have been overturned Indian umpire S Australia haven’t played a Test M Craig (not out) ...... 41 Extras (B14, W3) ...... 17 Southee for four to break a record tough personally as a captain,” Ravi’s original not out decision since January. T Southee c Lyth b Wood ...... 1 Total (5 wkts, 88 overs) ...... 253 that had stood for nearly 22 years. said Cook. to end a first-wicket stand with The West Indies yeserday M Henry c Buttler b Broad ...... 27 To bat: M Ali, S Broad, M Wood, J Anderson “It is a very special day for me “A lot of stuff has gone on the Adam Lyth worth 177. The skip- named a 14-man squad for the T Boult c Lyth b Broad ...... 15 Fall of wickets: 1-177, 2-215, 3-238, 4-239, personally. I can’t really describe last four or five months, but I have per batted for nearly four hours first Test against Australia, start- Extras (B4, LB14, NB1) ...... 19 5-247 it, to be on top of the list. I don’t given time to my game and I feel and faced 187 balls including 12 ing Wednesday at Windsor Park: Total (all out, 72.1 overs) ...... 350 Bowling: Boult 23-4-63-2 (1w); Southee 23- deserve to be there with the way like it is going well.” fours. By going past Gooch, Cook Denesh Ramdin (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Sky Sports. Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-68, 4-123, 5-144, 4-57-1 (1w); Henry 18-4-76-0 (1w); Craig 22- I play,” Cook told Former England batsman moved up to 13th place on the all- Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren 6-264, 7-265, 8-281, 9-310, 10-350 10-38-1; Williamson 2-1-5-0 “You don’t play for the records, Derek Randall, Cook’s coach at time list of leading run-scorers in Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Bowling: Anderson 13-3-43-2; Broad 17.1-0- Match position: England are 97 runs behind but I know I needed 32 runs but to Bedford School, north of London, Test cricket, where retired India Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, 109-5 (1nb); Wood 14-4-62-2; Stokes 17-4- New Zealand with five first-innings wickets break the record, you want to do told BBC Radio’s Test Match great Sachin Tendulkar remains Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon 70-1; Ali 11-3-48-0; standing. it with an innings (that matters). Special: “You can imagine as a way out in front with 15,921 runs Samuels, Jerome Taylor. It was an amazing moment, very cricket coach, to have the pleasure in 200 matches. AFP AFP Cycling: Climb king Contador assures Giro title

SESTRIERE, Italy: Alberto The 199km penultimate stage caught up with Landa before Contador was virtually assured Giro d’Italia slog from Saint Vincent to launching a series of attacks with of winning the Giro d’Italia for Sestriere, Italy: Leading results from stage Sestriere, featured an 8km bru- 2km to go and crossed the fin- a second time after surviving 19 of the Giro d’Italia yesterday a 199km tal climb up the dirt roads of the ish line 18sec ahead of Canada’s attacks in yesterday’s summit run from Saint Vincent to a summit finish at Colle delle Finestre, where Astana Ryder Hesjedal. finish to keep an unassailable Sestriere: pair Landa and Aru launched “This is my second stage win in lead on his nearest rival and Stage their thrilling attacks. two days and it still hasn’t sunk stage winner Fabio Aru. 1. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 5hrs 12min 25sec, But Contador kept his cool in, especially after so many days It was a second straight stage 2. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/CAN) at 18sec, to allow the pair and others to of suffering. I come to Sestriere win for 24-year-old Italian Aru, 3. Rigoberto Uran (COL/ETI) 24, 4. Mikel climb away from him, eventually to train, and I’m very attached who along with teammate and Landa (ESP/AST) 24, 5. Steven Kruijswijk levelling out to cross the mist to the town, so this win is spe- third placed overall Mikel Landa (NED/LNL) 34, 6. Alberto Contador (ESP/ shrouded summit where banks cial for that reason, too,” Aru said launched a desperate bid to dis- TIN) 2:25, 7. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) of snow still clung to the rocky afterwards. lodge Contador on the penulti- 2:28, 8. Franco Pellizotti (ITA/AND) 2:28, 9. slopes only a minute behind then Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran was mate dirt-road climb. Leopold Konig (CZE/SKY) 2:28, 10. Diego race leader Landa. third and Landa fourth just 24 But now today’s flat 185km ride Rosa (ITA/AST) 2:28. “There was never a moment seconds adrift. into Milan means that barring Overall when I thought the jersey was But by this time all eyes were catastrophe Spaniard Contador 1. Alberto Contador (ESP/TIN) 84hrs 03min in danger. I maintained my calm counting down the clock with will roll over the finish line over 30sec, 2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 2min because I knew that the dif- Contador continually punching two minutes ahead of Aru, add- 02sec, 3. Mikel Landa (ESP/AST) 3:14. 4. ference in speeds between the the air as he closed in on the fin- ing to a first title he won there Andrey Amador (CRC/MOV) 8:19, 5. Ryder groups was going to be small, ish line at Sestrieres knowing the in 2008. Hesjedal (CAN/CAN) 9:52, 6. Leopold Konig said Contador. title was his. Current holder of the Tour of (CZE/SKY) 10:50, 7. Steven Kruijswijk “Today was not a great stage Astana’s young leader Aru is Spain title, Contador is aiming (NED/LNL) 11:02, 8. Damiano Caruso (ITA/ for me. I wasn’t feeling good, second in the overall at 2min to become the first rider since BMC) 12:17, 9. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/FDJ) probably because of the accu- 02sec, with his teammate Landa the now deceased Italian Marco 16:00, 10. Yury Trofimov (RUS/KAT) 16:23. mulated effort, but I knew I had third at 3min 14sec and the trio Pantani to achieve the Giro a good cushion in the General should still be in that order when d’Italia-Tour de France double in Classification and, even though the tour today. Sardinian Aru had the same calendar year. stage. “This Giro d’Italia is in the there were plenty of kilometres seen his bid for overall victory “We’ll have a good dinner bag now, with just tomorrow’s to go before the finish, I pre- steadily tamed by the superiority The overall leader, Spanish rider Alberto Contador, reacts as he crosses tonight, although I have to watch stage to come, so I’m already ferred to ride at my rhythm,” of Contador after the race moved the finish line of the 20th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia cycling tour, over my weight for the Tour,” a light- thinking of my next target,” he explained the Spaniard. upwards into the high mountains 199 km from Saint-Vincent to Sestriere, Italy, yesterday. hearted Contador said after the added. Before the final climb Aru earlier this week. AFP SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Qatar vs Colombia Facts Qatar want to start strong The roads to New Zealand

Qatar are making their return to the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a 20-year absence, courtesy of winning their maiden AFC Asian U-19 Championship crown in in U-20 World Cup today October last year. Despite failing to retain the trophy they lifted in 2013, Colombia blossomed as Maroons take on South American giants Colombia in Group C clash the South American U-20 Championship wore on and bowed out on a high by clinching the runners-up spot for the BY RIZWAN REHMAT time to beat hosts Myanmar 3-2 second time in their history. in the semi-finals. Qatar bagged HAMILTON: Asian champions the trophy when they downed Strengths and styles Qatar will get a chance to test DPR Korea 1-0 in the final. their skills on the global stage Qatar will be looking forward Qatar’s Spanish coach Felix Sanchez today when they take on South to their inspirational captain built his team for the Asian finals American giants Colombia on Ahmad Moein, who dictated play around a core of Europe-based players, day two of the FIFA U-20 World from the midfield during Qatar’s among them striker Ahmed Al Saadi Cup. triumphant run in Myanmar last and midfielder Ahmad Moein — both of Qatar, the 1981 finalists, are October. He had also emerged as whom play their club football for Eupen making a comeback to the tour- the player of the tournament at in Belgium. nament after 20 years following that event. their historic Asian U-19 title The 19-year-old makes up one Mirroring the philosophy of the senior win last October. Columbia, on part of Sanchez’s quartet from team, Colombia’s game plan is based the other hand, will be keen to Belgian side KAS Eupen. Eight do better than two years ago when months ago, Sanchez took 13 play- on bossing possession and smart they made it to the last-16 stage. ers from the team that played in movement. This combination prevents Coached by Felix Sanchez, Myanmar to play club football in the defence from being overworked and Qatar have spent most of May Europe. allows the side to conserve energy by training and playing warm-up “A decision was made to send not having to chase games, while also games in Australia and New them to Europe so they could making it possible to get plenty of players Zealand. improve as players. It’s a great into attacking positions. Sanchez held a training session experience for them, no doubt for the Qatari boys yesterday at about it,” Sanchez said at the The coaches the Waikato Stadium here, the time. venue for today’s Group C clash. “I’d really like to see some Sanchez stepped up from the Qatar This Hamilton encounter — of them in action at the 2022 U-17 job to take the reins of the national expected to be World Cup and U-19 team from Dutchman Marcel van played in cold FIFA U-20 World Cup even the 2018 Buuren last year. After steering his side conditions — will finals,” Sanchez, a to the Asian finals with a 100 per cent certainly provide Results and Fixtures former Barcelona In this file picture taken on October 24, 2014, Qatar’s players and officials celebrate after winning the Asian record in qualifying, he then saw them go an early oppor- Results from pool matches on day one of youth coach, had Football Confederation Under-19 Championship final at the Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium in Yangon. undefeated to win the title. tunity for both the FIFA Under-20 World Cup played in New said after Qatar sides to prove Zealand yesterday: won the Asian “I am pleased with this performance their mettle. Group A title. because the players have done really France tri- New Zealand 0 Ukraine 0 Meanwhile, well from start to finish. I’ve enjoyed umphed in the United States 2 Myanmar 1 Columbia coach Qatar’s 1981 hero sees great working…what we’ve achieved together last edition of Group B Carlos Alberto is extraordinary.” — Qatar’s Spanish the FIFA U-20 Restrepo has Argentina 2 Panama 2 coach Felix Sanchez. World Cup. The selected a squad Ghana 1 Austria 1 Colombians with just two potential in 2015 squad Carlos Restrepo has been there, done it Today’s Matches haven’t won the youngsters with Colombia at the U-20 level, having tournament yet, Group C with experience HAMILTON: They may be youth tournament 34 years ago, coach who previously worked first helped the country reach the world their best per- Qatar vs Colombia (0100) of playing in playing in the FIFA U-20 World Bilal had no hesitation in declar- in Barcelona’s La Masia youth finals in the age group way back in 1993 formance com- Portugal vs Senegal (0400) Europe. Andres Cup for just the third time, ing it as the highlight of his academy, also sees the 2022 (though he left before the tournament in ing in 2003 when Group D Tello and Alexis but no one in Qatar will for- career. World Cup as the key target for Australia). He repeated this feat in 2013, they finished Zapata play in get their first brush with this “The best moment of my foot- his players. Mexico vs Mali (0100) guiding his side to the Round of 16 in third. Italy. tournament. In 1981, the then ball life was that bicycle kick and “These boys will be at a great Turkey after taking up the reins again The South Uruguay vs Serbia (0400) Restrepo debutants shocked the football the moment we beat England football age in 2022, by which the previous year. A calm and collected Americans have All times in GMT will especially world by marching all the way and knew we were in the final,” time they will be 25, 26, and thinker, the 53-year-old has also never played the count on these to the final, ousting much-fan- he said. there is a huge desire among Gulf nation at this level and a win two players but the Colombian cied Brazil and England on the “At that time Poland were the all those who work with the enjoyed success at club level, picking up for Sanchez’s boys today could squad doesn’t lack overall qual- way. best team in Europe and we beat team for them to be competing silverware in each decade of a career that certainly make people sit up and ity. Goalkeeper Alvaro Montero Germany proved too strong in them in the group stages, then in their home World Cup,” he has featured stints in his homeland Costa take notice of the Qataris. and central defender Juan the final, but that Qatari team — we beat Brazil — the home nation said. Rica, Venezuela and Honduras. Clubbed together with Senegal Quintero are both rocks at the and top scorer Badr Bilal in par- of football — in the quarter-finals “It is a long journey, but it will and Portugal, Qatar are consid- back. Key figures further up the ticular — retain only the fondest and England, which was a mas- be enriching for them to expe- “We’ve made it to the World Cup again ered the underdogs who could go pitch include attacking midfield- of memories of their Australian sive achievement. Now we have rience this U-20 tournament, and now the onus is on us to keep all the way in Group C. ers Sergio Villarreal and Jarlan adventure. trust in this team to do well too.” which is the closest you can get working hard to continue our progress. Qatar, where football remains Barrera and forwards Rafael Bilal struck three goals during Bilal also believes that Qatar’s to the World Cup itself. We lacked a little bit of ruthlessness… the number one sport, are return- Borre and Jeison Lucumi. the team’s run to the final, the class of 2015 will form the basis “There are three great teams There’s still more to come from this ing to the U-20 World Cup after Lucumi was the team’s top best of which was a spectacular of the team that will play the in our group in the form of squad.” —Colombia’s coach Carlos an impressive title win at last scorer in qualifying with four bicycle kick against England in senior FIFA World Cup in seven Colombia, Portugal and Senegal. Restrepo. year’s AFC U-19 Championship goals. the last-four stage. years’ time at home. Three top teams from strong in Myanmar. And despite the Also today, Portugal play He believes that the current “I believe in the coach Felix continents, so it will be a chal- FIFA U-20 World Cup Records two-decade-long absence from Senegal at the same venue. Qatari team will benefit mas- Sanchez. He is a very good coach lenge for us,” Sanchez said. the tournament, the Maroons Portugal, making their third- sively from their U-20 education. and I hope that he has luck in “But our team has been This is Qatar’s third appearance at the have been tagged as the ‘surprise straight appearance at the U-20 “This type of tournament is the this tournament. When you have together for a long time, first FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Qataris took package’ team, just like the 1981 World Cup, finished as runners- highest level in football and they luck, you can reach the final,” he for the Gulf competition, then part in the 1981 and 1995 tournaments, Qatari team that lost in the final up at last year’s European U-19 need this experience,” Bilal said. said. in winning the Asian title and losing to Germany in the final on the first to West Germany. Championship. “We have very good players in “But there is no pressure on now at the World Cup. There of those occasions and going out in the In October last year, Qatar They have won the title in 1989 this team, they have good foot- the team. My advice to them is always pressure but we enter group phase on the second. began their Asian U-19 and 1991 and were also runners- ball minds and when they have a all is to enjoy playing because if this competition as the Asian Championship campaign in style, up in 2011. This is Portugal’s 10th difficult situation they know how you do that then you can achieve champions.” New Zealand 2015 will mark Colombia’s topping Group D ahead of DPR appearance at the event. to solve it. I hope and am sure big things. They will gain great They also arrive in New ninth appearance at the U-20 World Cup Korea, Iraq and Oman. This is Senegal’s first appear- that they will have good results experience at this tournament Zealand knowing only too well and their third in a row, having hosted the Coached by Sanchez since 2013, ance at the U-20 World Cup. They and qualify for the next round,” and if they continue in the right that, in football — as Australia event in 2011 and qualified for the last Qatar then knocked out China in qualified for the event after mak- he said. way they will be a part of the 1981 spectacularly illustrated — edition in Turkey. Their best performance the quarter-finals. ing the semi-finals of the African Reflecting on his own remark- team in 2022.” anything is possible. came at UAE in 2003, where Reinaldo After disposing of the Chinese, U-20 Championship earlier this able experience at FIFA’s flagship Sanchez, Qatar’s Spanish THE PENINSULA Rueda led them to a third-place finish. the Qataris then needed extra year. THE PENINSULA 25,000 come out to cheer hosts in opening match

AUCKLAND: Fans and play- ended with a Ukraine 2-1 and Ghana and Austria drew ers ignored the cold winter con- disappointingly were wasteful 1-1 to complete the first day’s ditions as hosts New Zealand wayward shot. too, with both matches. kicked off the 2015 FIFA U-20 New Zealand Eduard Sobol Argentina, heavily favoured to World Cup by drawing 0-0 with did have one, and Mykyta win the Under-20 crown for a Ukraine in front of a packed glorious oppor- Tatarkov failing record seventh time opened with North Harbour Stadium here tunity of their to even test Sail a flourish when their marquee yesterday. own though, after being teed player Angel Correa put them The lack of goals in this when Matthew up in excellent 1-0 up in the 14th minute against Auckland encounter wasn’t for Ridenton headed positions. Panama. the want of chances but a lack of over from close And they The Atletico Madrid forward composure too often proved the range after Sam had their latched on to a cross by Tomas undoing of both sides. Brotherton had keeper, Bohdan Martinez and slammed the ball The junior All Whites cer- risen highest Sarnavskyi, to into the back of the net from eight tainly couldn’t have asked for any to meet a Kiwi thank for emerg- metres (yards) away. Fidel Escobar of Panama greater backing with a sell-out corner. ing with a point But Panama equalised minutes celebrates after scoring a goal crowd of 25,000 cramming in to The game after he dived to later when Jhamal Rodriguez against Argentina during a FIFA set a new record attendance for became more make a crucial swooped on the ball and fired it Under-20 World Cup Group B a FIFA match in New Zealand. open in the sec- save from Noah home from 25 metres. match in Wellington yesterday. There was precious little for ond period and Billingsley’s late The game remained locked at the Kiwi fans to cheer in the first the hosts should sliding effort. 1-1 until the 79th minute when half though as Ukraine domi- have taken the lead inside a cou- The Kiwis, who finished Correa cashed in on a goalkeeper nated, creating the better of what ple of minutes. strongly, also missed a glori- error to punish Panama with his few chances there were. Clayton Lewis was the guilty ous late opportunity when Sam second goal. Artem Biesiedin was among party on this occasion, leaning Brotherton headed inexplicably But again it was a short-lived Ukraine’s Eduard Sobol (right) competes for the ball with New Zealand’s the Europeans’ danger men and back at the crucial moment to wide from inside the six-yard box. lead as Fidel Escobar equalised Joel Stevens during the opening game of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup he twice came close, first forcing shoot over after breaking through Meanwhile, Panama held for Panama when he hammered in Auckland yesterday. Oli Sail into a smart save before on to an incisive pass from Alex Argentina to a shock 2-2 draw, a Carlos Small cross into the back leading a speedy breakaway that Rufer. the United States beat Myanmar of the net. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Arsenal rout Villa in final Wolfsburg land first German Cup BERLIN: VfL Wolfsburg scored three times in 16 min- to claim FA Cup record utes to come back from a goal down to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 yesterday and Sanchez inspires Gunners to record 12th Cup triumph land their first German Cup final win, a fitting corona- tion after a hugely successful LONDON: Holders Arsenal season. won the FA Cup for a record The Wolves, who finished 12th time yesterday, outclass- second in the Bundesliga, ral- ing Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley lied after Dortmund had taken with stunning goals from Theo a fifth-minute lead on a sun- Walcott and Alexis Sanchez set- drenched day at the Olympic ting up their one-sided victory. Stadium, venue of next week’s Per Mertesacker and Olivier Champions League final between Giroud were also on target, once Barcelona and Juventus. the match was effectively over as “It was a great game for us,” a contest, as the Londoners sealed goalscoring midfielder Kevin De their biggest winning margin in a Bruyne told ARD television. final of the world’s oldest knock- “We struggled in the first 20 out competition. minutes but after that we played Arsene Wenger also became the great.” VfL Wolfsburg’s head coach most successful FA Cup manager De Bruyne and his colleagues Dieter Hecking celebrates of modern times, guiding his side paid tribute to team mate with the trophy after his side to a sixth triumph in their 19th Junior Malanda, who died in final, another record. a car crash in January, with beat BVB Borussia Dortmund Arsenal, who came from two his number printed on every in the German Cup final at goals down to beat Hull City 3-2 Wolfsburg player’s shirt. the Olympic Stadium in Berlin a year ago, were never in trou- “We have kept playing for yesterday. ble against Villa and should have him since the winter break. We been ahead even before Walcott had him with us and he would Dortmund could recover, Bas put them in front with a sizzling have hoped we won it,” said De Dost’s header five minutes later left-foot volley after 40 minutes. Bruyne, fighting back the tears. made it 3-1. Sanchez made it 2-0 against a Dortmund, in their fourth An estimated 130,000 hugely disappointing Villa, who final since 2008 and hop- Dortmund fans poured into the hardly had a serious effort on ing for a winning farewell for capital but 50,000 of them saw goal, five minutes into the second coach Juergen Klopp, got off little in the stadium in terms of half with a glorious dipping shot. to a dream start when Pierre- a second-half comeback from Mertesacker then converted a Emerick Aubameyang fired in their team. close-range header when he was Arsenal’s players celebrate with the FA Cup trophy after beating Aston Villa 4-0 at the Wembley Stadium in a volley following a chip from Instead it was Wolfsburg who left unmarked at a set-piece and London yesterday. Shinji Kagawa. Keeper Mitch were dangerous on the break, Giroud, who came on as a late Langerak denied Wolfsburg a leaving Klopp with a bitter end substitute, side-footed the ball However, all they have to look who also played in the final for goal, an effort that gave Given no quick equaliser, palming an Ivan to seven success-laden years at home with the last kick of the forward to now is a rebuilding Newcastle United 17 years ago, chance. Perisic shot round the post, but Dortmund that included two game. job under new manager Tim made a brilliant save from a The keeper could also do little he could do nothing when Luiz league titles, two German Super Arsenal’s victory was cheered Sherwood who saved them from Laurent Koscielny header. about Sanchez’s superb strike as Gustavo slotted in a rebound Cups, a German Cup and a by Southampton fans as it means relegation but could not master- They went close again through Arsenal retained the FA Cup for after the Australian saved a Champions League final in 2013. they will now take the last mind their first FA Cup triumph Aaron Ramsey, last season’s the second time in their history, thunderous free kick from For Wolfsburg, backed by car remaining place in next season’s since 1957. Wembley match-winner, and the after achieving back-to-back wins Naldo in the 22nd minute. maker Volkswagen, it was their Europa League after finishing Arsenal dominated the match midfielder had another chance in 2002 and 2003. De Bruyne, Wolfsburg’s best first trophy since winning the seventh in the Premier League. as Villa fan Prince William looked to put Arsenal ahead with a shot They rounded off the season player of the season by far with Bundesliga in 2009 and came 20 Seven-times FA Cup winners on from the Royal Box. that flew over the bar. with a 12-0 goal advantage over 10 league goals and 20 assists, years after their only previous Villa would have qualified for The Gunners almost took the Walcott, preferred in the start- Villa after beating them 3-0 drilled in his first German Cup German Cup final appearance. the Europa League with another lead after 14 minutes but Villa’s ing lineup to Giroud, justified and 5-0 in this season’s Premier goal after 33 minutes and before REUTERS victory. 39-year-old keeper Shay Given, Wenger’s faith with the opening League matches. REUTERS FIFA President Blatter comes out fighting despite divisions

ZURICH: FIFA President Sepp Blatter came out fighting yes- terday as he began his fifth term in charge of soccer’s governing body, implying that the United States timed the announcement of a major corruption probe to try to scupper his re-election bid. The 79-year-old Swiss com- fortably won Friday’s vote at a FIFA Congress in Zurich, having secured the support of blocks of votes from Asia and Africa, which outweighed dissenters including Europe’s powerful soccer body Paris Saint-Germain’s skipper Thiago Silva holds up the French Cup trophy after his side beat Auxerre at the UEFA. Stade de France Stadium in Paris yesterday. He now faces the daunting task of restoring public faith in FIFA President Sepp Blatter attends a news press conference in Zurich an organisation tainted by allega- yesterday. tions of rampant graft and deeply divided over his leadership. office. tenure of office, to eliminate all PSG claim historic quadruple One of Blatter’s strongest crit- “This was rejected by UEFA so these elements or individuals.” ics, English Football Association it couldn’t go through,” he said. Blatter has not been implicated Chairman Greg Dyke, predicted “Even now, the big UEFA doesn’t in any wrongdoing, but his critics further scandals before the end have an independent ethics com- have argued it is time for him to with French Cup victory of his new four-year term. mittee, (but) they should be an step down. “I think he (Blatter) will be example for the other confedera- His supporters welcomed the PARIS: Ligue 1 champions proper tribute to Auxerre who shown themselves to be a step then forced to resign,” he told tions... It’s not acceptable.” outcome of a vote that saw him Paris Saint-Germain claimed an played a good game and caused us ahead of all their home rivals in reporters. He did, however, call for the fend off a sole challenger, 39-year- historic quadruple trophy haul some trouble,” the French inter- 2014-2015 but Auxerre held their But Blatter, who has run FIFA two groups to work together, old Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of yesterday by beating Auxerre national added. ground against the capital giants for nearly 20 years, went on the particularly to protect the World Jordan. 1-0 to win the French Cup title. “It’s been a long season but, in as they marched towards a clean offensive, criticising US authori- Cup. That support reflects Blatter’s Edinson Cavani’s header after the end, we achieved something sweep of domestic honours. ties for how they had handled “They need FIFA and FIFA success in expanding FIFA’s 64 minutes sealed another title special. We have amazing play- Even striker Ibrahimovic their investigation. needs UEFA,” Blatter said. membership away from soccer’s for the Parisian club who had ers and we’re very happy with failed to find the back of the net “No one is going to take it off Britain’s Prince William, who heartlands and in exploiting already won the Ligue 1 crown what we’ve done. Now is time to and Thiago Motta was the main me that it was a simple coinci- is President of the English FA, resentment in Africa and Asia along with the Champions’ celebrate.” threat of the first half when his dence (that) this American attack called on FIFA to reform and over the perceived arrogance of Trophy and the League Cup -- PSG rounded off their season long-range effort cracked against (happened) two days before the show “it can represent the inter- the game’s powerhouse nations in the three other trophies possible in a memorable fashion with their the right hand upright five min- elections of FIFA,” Blatter told ests of fair play” in a speech at the Europe and South America. in French football. first French Cup since 2010 but utes from the break. the Swiss RTS television channel FA Cup final in London yesterday. Despite Blatter’s re-election, The French Cup was the only it wasn’t as easy as expected for Auxerre ‘keeper Donovan Leon, late on Friday. The Prince also backed the the scandal surrounding the domestic title missing from PSG’s one of the richest clubs in world just 22, needed no help when he “Why didn’t they (the police) decision by former Manchester investigations into corruption cabinet since they were taken football. held off a Cavani header from a do this in March when we had United Chief Executive and newly looks set to rumble on. over by their big-spending Qatari Ligue 2 side Auxerre, who fin- Maxwell cross inside the second the same meeting? At that time, elected FIFA Vice-president Platini has raised the possibil- owners in 2011. ished ninth in their third suc- half. we had less journalists.” David Gill to quit the position ity, albeit slim, of Europe boycott- Clear favourites before the kick cessive season in the French But with 64 minutes gone, the Officials from the US almost immediately in protest at ing the World Cup tournament, off, PSG only needed the second- second-tier, relied on counter- Uruguayan forward once again Department of Justice were not Blatter’s re-appointment. soccer’s showcase played every half Cavani goal to do what no attacks and long balls to cause rose unmarked in the heart of immediately available to comment Blatter played down the four years. There has also been other club had ever achieved trouble to a full-strength Paris the defence to cannon a power- on his remarks. impact of the scandal on one of talk of UEFA breaking away from in France and bag their ninth team and it took them over an ful header off the underside of Blatter also criticised UEFA, the world’s most powerful sports FIFA, although that is also seen French Cup. hour to break the deadlock. the bar and into the back of the whose President, Michel Platini, bodies, which takes in billions of as unlikely. “We had a great, great sea- Captain Thiago Silva had come net. had called for his resignation, say- dollars in revenue from TV mar- Blatter’s future could yet son. What we managed to do is back from a thigh injury in time Late but unconvincing ing it was not setting a good exam- keting rights and sponsorships. depend on the reaction of FIFA’s unique. We play at PSG to live for the final as well as Zlatan attempts from Amara Baby or ple to other soccer federations. “These crimes which have been major sponsors and stakehold- such moments,” midfielder Blaise Ibrahimovic, who also started Cheick Fantamady Diarra for He told reporters yesterday committed are related to North ers such as Coca-Cola and Matuidi said. despite struggling with a minor the Burgundy side never trou- that UEFA had opposed a pro- and South America and a mar- McDonald’s, who have been dis- “We may have some regrets calf problem. The only absence of bled Paris’ Cup specialist Nicolas posal to set up an independent keting company has been men- mayed by the arrests and US from the Champions League but note was that of Javier Pastore, Douchez, who kept his fourth committee to carry out integrity tioned, so I do not see how (FIFA) prosecutors announcing indict- we lost to an ogre (Barcelona).” who was suspended. clean sheet of the tournament. checks on executive committee could be directly affected by this.” ments of officials and companies. “It’s also important to pay Laurent Blanc’s side have AFP members before they could take “We have always tried, in my REUTERS Sunday 31 May 2015 13 Shaaban 1436 Volume 20 Number 6447 Sport Price: QR2

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ZURICH: The 2022 World Cup presidency, had proposed increas- -- a victory the Asian Football will remain a 32 team competi- ing the number of teams. Confederation (AFC) played a tion with no change to the share But Blatter said on Friday major role in delivering. between the regional confed- that the World Cup should “not The AFC leadership’s staunch erations, FIFA president Sepp be touched.” support for Blatter was reiterated Blatter said yesterday after The FIFA executive also “con- on the eve of the contest by Al talks between football chiefs. firmed” that the same continent Khalifa’s patron, Olympic Council Europe and South America had cannot hold the World Cup twice of Asia chief Sheikh Ahmad feared an attempt to cut their in a row, which definitively ruled Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, despite the places, but Blatter said: “there is out a Chinese bid for 2026. only other candidate being from no change.” “In accordance with the Jordan. The decision taken by FIFA’s FIFA Statutes ... member asso- With Australia the only pub- executive committee means that ciations from the Asian Football lic dissenters in the Asian bloc, Europe will still have 13 places at Confederation would not be able Blatter duly romped to victory the Qatar tournament and Africa to bid for 2026,” said a FIFA over Prince Ali bin Al Hussein five. statement. despite the corruption allegations Asia and South America each China had expressed an inter- which have again engulfed soccer’s get four places and a chance at est in 2026 but its football leaders world governing body this week. a playoff. North and Central said the rule made a bid unlikely “On behalf of myself, the AFC America get three places and a as Qatar will host the 2022 and the whole Asian football fam- playoff chance while the Oceania edition. ily, I would like to congratulate winner enters a playoff. Wang Jianlin, one of China’s Joseph S. Blatter on his re-elec- Qatar will qualify automatically richest men, who has a stake in tion as FIFA President,” Bahraini as the hosts. Atletico Madrid and also owns the Al Khalifa said in a statement Serena Williams of the US celebrates her third round victory over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the UEFA chief Michel Platini Infront sports promotion agency yesterday. women’s third round at the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris yesterday. RIGHT: Rafael Nadal had said ahead of the meeting met with Blatter at the FIFA con- “The AFC has always sup- of Spain in action against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during their third round match. that remaining at 13 places was gress in Zurich this week. ported the FIFA President and a “red line” for the European Meanwhile, Asia football chief we are happy to continue work- confederation. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al ing with him and FIFA to further Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who Khalifa congratulated Blatter on develop Asian and world football Djokovic, Murray challenged Blatter for the FIFA his re-election for a fifth term into the future.” AGENCIES enter last-sixteen Nadal making right noises as form surges

PARIS: Novak Djokovic and Nadal will tackle unseeded Sock Rafael Nadal moved to within who, at 22, became the youngest French Open one win of a French Open quar- American man to make the last- Paris: Results from the sixth day of the ter-final blockbuster yesterday 16 since Pete Sampras in 1993. French Open at Roland Garros yesterday (x as the sport’s next generation “I am playing more solid and denotes seeded player): endured a Grand Slam reality am more consistent with each Men 3rd round check. match,” said sixth-seeded Nadal, Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Thanasi World number one and top seed who took his Paris record to 69 Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Djokovic reached the last-16 for wins against just one loss. Richard Gasquet (FRA x20) bt Kevin the sixth straight year with a Kyrgios, the 29th seed and Anderson (RSA) 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 6-4 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over 19-year-old bidding to add a first French Jack Sock (USA) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 6-2, Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. Open last-16 place to his runs 6-1, 6-4 Defending champion Nadal, to the 2014 Wimbledon and 2015 Rafael Nadal (ESP x6) bt Andrey Kuznetsov chasing a 10th title in Paris, Australian Open quarter-finals, (RUS) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 brushed aside Russian world wasn’t helped by requiring a med- Andy Murray (GBR x3) bt Nick Kyrgios (AUS number 120 Andrey Kuznetsov, ical timeout for an elbow injury x29) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. late in the second set against Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt David Goffin (BEL Third-seeded Andy Murray, Murray. x17) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 twice a semi-finalist, was also Murray, who fired 12 aces untroubled as he cruised to a 6-4, and 45 winners while Kyrgios Marin Cilic (CRO x9) bt Leonardo Mayer 6-2, 6-3 victory over Kokkinakis’s was undone by 37 unforced (ARG x23) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 20-year-old compatriot Nick errors, goes on to face unseeded David Ferrer (ESP x7) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) Kyrgios. Frenchman Jeremy Chardy who 6-3, 1-6, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 It was a chastening day for surprised 17th seeded Belgian Women 3rd round the sport’s youngsters at Roland David Goffin 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Victoria Garros with Kokkinakis and Meanwhile, world number one Azarenka (BLR x27) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 Kyrgios joined at the exit door by Serena Williams dug deep to Sloane Stephens (USA) bt Tsvetana 18-year-old Croatian Borna Coric, advance into the last 16 of the Pironkova (BUL) 6-4, 6-1 defeated by Amercia’s Jack Sock, French Open with a 3-6 6-4 6-2 Sara Errani (ITA x17) bt Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. win against Belarussian 27th seed (GER x10) 6-3, 6-3 Djokovic, bidding for a first Victoria Azarenka yesterday. Julia Goerges (GER) bt Irina Falconi (USA) Roland Garros title to com- Williams, the champion at 6-4, 6-1 plete a career Grand Slam, will Roland Garros in 2002 and 2013, Petra Kvitova (CZE x4) bt Irina Begu (ROM face French 20th seed Richard trailed for much of the match, but x30) 6-3, 6-2 Gasquet for a quarter-final place. battled back from a 4-2 deficit in Gasquet, one of five Frenchman the second set to storm home and Timea Bacsinszky (SUI x23) bt Madison to make the last-16, saw off 15th set up an all-American clash with Keys (USA x16) 6-4, 6-2 seed Kevin Anderson 4-6, 7-6 Sloane Stephens. The 19-times Andreea Mitu (ROM) bt Francesca (7/4), 7-5, 6-4 despite the South grand slam champion made a slow Schiavone (ITA) 7-5, 6-4 African hitting 22 aces and 62 start, hitting a flurry of unforced Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) bt Kristina winners. errors as Azarenka took charge. Mladenovic (FRA) 6-4, 6-1 Djokovic fired 34 winners and But she found her stride late in Last-16 line-up didn’t face a single break point in the second to take the upper hand Serena Williams (USA x1) vs Sloane Stephens his one-hour, 49-minute win over against former world number (USA) highly-rated wildcard Kokkinakis. one Azarenka. Williams fell 2-0 Sara Errani (ITA x17) vs Julia Georges (GER) “Thanasi has a lot of talent and behind in the decider on Court Petra Kvitova (CZE x4) vs Timea Bacsinszky strength. He is still a teenager Philippe Chatrier, but reeled off (SUI x23) and he has plenty of time to do six games in a row, sealing victory Andreaa Mitu (ROM) vs Alison van Uytvanck great things,” said Djokovic after with a rasping crosscourt fore- (BEL) winning his 25th successive match hand. Wimbledon champion Petra Ana Ivanovic (SRB x7) vs Ekaterina this season. Kvitova powered into the last 16. Makarova (RUS x9) “I hope he does as he has a lot The fourth seed from the Czech of qualities.” Republic, finally found her form to Elina Svitolina (UKR x19) vs A Cornet (FRA x29) Nine-time champion Nadal outplay Romanian Irina-Camelia Flavia Pennetta (ITA x28) vs Garbiñe reached the fourth round courtesy Begu 6-3, 6-2 in just 58 minutes, Muguruza (ESP x21) of eight breaks of the Kuznetsov taking the last five games at a Lucie Safarova (CZE x13) vs serve. canter. AGENCIES Maria Sharapova (RUS x2)