www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

BUSINESS | 15 SPORT | 22

Rolls-Royce Al Arabi stun cuts dividend Lekhwiya for first time in QSL

SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 • 4 Jumada I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6705 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Emir discusses Some driving Syria with Erdogan schools call QNA

ISTANBUL: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani dis- for fee hike cussed the latest regional and international developments with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip rising costs for housing and fuels, Erdogan yesterday. which constitute a significant por- They focused on developments Most of the driving tion of their monthly variable costs in Syria and agreed on the need for schools The Peninsula are adversely impacting their a political resolution to the crisis businesses. that maintains the unity of Syr- spoke to said that “We have not increased our fees ian land. the rising costs for for more than two years, but due to The meeting took place at some recent developments expanses Yilidiz Presidential Palace where housing and fuels, have increased further and things the two leaders had a working which constitute a are becoming increasingly difficult lunch and reviewed bilateral coop- to manage,” said Mohammed Al Zain eration and the means to enhance significant portion Ibrahim, Executive Manager of Gulf them. of their monthly Driving School. They discussed cooperation in variable costs, are Ibrahim added: “It’s not only the economic, investment and mil- about higher fuel prices. Even the itary field. adversely impacting rents of accommodation facilities The delegation accompany- their businesses that we take on lease for housing ing the Emir attended the meeting. our staff and prices of spare parts On the Turkish side, members of and maintenance costs of vehicles the cabinet participated in the have gone up significantly.” discussions. He said that finding qualified Later, the Emir met with By Mohammed Shoeb trainers with valid GCC license has Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet The Peninsula also become difficult as the authori- Davutoglu. ties have made rules more stringent. They discussed bilateral rela- He explained that according to tions and means to enhance them the new rules a trainer must have in all fields. DOHA: Some leading driving earned a Senior Secondary School Upon his arrival at Istanbul schools in Qatar are calling for Certificate (12th pass), and she/he is Ataturk Airport, the Emir was an increase in their fees to “adjust also required to go through driving received by Turkish Minister of with their rising overheads and fall- and signal tests irrespective of the Energy and Natural Resources ing profit margins” citing several, years of driving experience. This Berat Albayrak, Qatar’s Ambassa- including the recent hike in fuel is mandatory for even for drivers dor to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak prices and higher rentals for housing. having GCC license, except for GCC Al Shafi and a number of senior Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Most of the driving schools The nationals. Turkish officials and embassy Peninsula spoke to said that the →Continued on page 2 Yilidiz Presidential Palace in Istanbul, yesterday. members. World powers agree to end Syria hostilities but doubts remain

AFP implement a nationwide cessation and hard-to-reach areas”. The deal said Julien Barnes-Dacey, of the Euro- “In many ways this Munich meet- A senior Russian foreign affairs of hostilities to begin in a target of went further than expected, with pean Council on Foreign Relations. ing was thrust to the fore by the official appeared to support the one week’s time,” said US Secretary Lavrov talking about “direct contacts He highlighted the fact that the situation in Aleppo, and yet the condi- doubts, saying he was “not very opti- of State John Kerry after extended between the Russian and US military” Islamic State group (IS) and Al Qaeda tions of the agreement do not seem to mistic” about a ceasefire. MUNICH: World powers yesterday talks co-hosted by Russian Foreign on the ground. affiliate Al Nusra would not be cov- apply to Aleppo,” said Barnes-Dacey. “Despite the agreement, Russia agreed an ambitious plan to cease Minister Sergei Lavrov. But Kerry said they were under ered by the “cessation of hostilities”. “Talking about Nusra works in will continue its anti-terrorist mili- hostilities in war-racked Syria, but The International Syria Support “no illusions” about the difficulty of The failure to include Al Nusra the Russians’ favour since so many tary operation,” Vladimir Djabarov, the Munich deal left out the Islamic Group also agreed that “sustained implementing the agreement. Ana- was particularly important, Barnes- rebel groups have ties to Nusra. This vice-president of Russia’s foreign State (IS) group and Al Qaeda’s local delivery” of aid will begin this week, lysts were sceptical the deal would Dacey said, since the group is active in effectively gives the green light for the affairs commission told the TASS branch, leaving analysts to doubt its with a new UN task force meet- stop the bloodshed. Aleppo and surrounding regions, and Syrian government and its allies to news agency. viability. ing in Geneva to start pushing for “It is ambitious and yet very tenu- many of the more “moderate” rebels carry on military action while paying The 17 countries agreed “to much greater access to “besieged ous... there are huge question marks,” have links with it. lip service to the agreement.” →See also page 3&4

British rider Cavendish wins Tour of Qatar Dr Hamad Al Kuwari named ‘Man of the Arab Heritage’

The Peninsula Ambassador of Qatar for France, the United States, the Unesco and the UN. Speaking to QNA after landing the award that was announced in DOHA: Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Abu Dhabi by the Arab Center for Al Kuwari, the former minister of Tourism Media (ACTM), Al Kuwari culture, arts and heritage has been said the recognition is not only an named ‘Man of the Arab Heritage’ honour but also a responsibility and for 2016 by the Arab Centre for Tour- trust that requires carrying on not ism Media (ACTM) in recognition of only at the domestic and Arab levels his efforts to preserve Arab history but the global one in general. and heritage. He said that such recognition Winning the 2016 Arab herit- stresses to the world Qatar’s keen- age personality of the year award ness on heritage, which is one of the is a recognition of Qatar’s efforts in noble responsibilities of Unesco, par- protecting and preserving heritage, ticularly during the current situation according to Dr Al Kuwari. in the Arab countries such as Syria, He is the Qatari candidate for Iraq, Yemen and Libya, which makes the secretary general position at heritage a victim that is subject to the United Nations Educational, destruction and looting. Scientific and Cultural Organiza- He also said that he shares the tion (Unesco). Al Kuwari has been responsibility in saving the history Riders in action on the fifth and final day of Tour of Qatar at the picturesque Doha Corniche yesterday. British rider Mark Cavendish won the Minister for Culture, Arts and and heritage of Qatar. And Arab her- the title. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula →See also Page 23 Heritage of Qatar for more than itage is main tourist attraction of the seven years. He was previously the region. 02 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME

Texas A&M at Qatar hosts Foreign Minister in Munich talks Liberal Arts Conference

The Peninsula The event served as a rich opportunity in Qatar for schol- ars in the social sciences, arts and humanities to engage with col- DOHA: Texas A&M University at leagues from around the world and Qatar hosted its Fourth Annual Lib- to stimulate research and learn- eral Arts International Conference 31 ing efforts. Jan. to 2 Feb. at the Hamad bin Khal- Conference speaker and ifa University (HBKU) Student Center attendee Dr. Amy Hodges from in Education City. the Writing Centre at MIT/Singa- This year’s conference featured pore University of Technology and 70 papers from institutions in 15 Design said: different countries on six conti- “I enjoyed the LAIC, not only nents, and included 40 speakers because of the connections I made from Qatar. with people in my own field, but The Liberal Arts Program also because of the diversity of at Texas A&M at Qatar hosts the thoughtful perspectives from peo- conference each year to explore a ple in different fields that made wide variety of regional and glo- me think about my own research bal topics from a multidisciplinary in a new way. Every discus- perspective. sion I attended was rigorous and The three-day conference, inspiring, and I came away from “Crossing Disciplines, Crossing Bor- the conference impressed by the ders,” featured lectures, trips to Souq quality of the presentations, the Waqif and Mathaf: Arab Museum hospitality shown by Texas A&M of Modern Art, and seven parallel at Qatar and HBKU, and the collab- Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel sessions consisting of 20 panel dis- orations that I’m sure will produce cussions. Collaborations from past innovative solutions to common Al Jubeir and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of a meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) conferences have led to several aca- problems that we face across the in Munich, Germany. demic articles and two books. disciplines.” New approach to Most driving schools GHG emissions Majority feel passionate will help reduce charge QR3,400 carbon footprint about their work: Survey for full course The Peninsula Continued from page 1 gear) QR3,900 (manual gear) for full Over half of those polled (57.9%) ‘agreed’ that this was true and course,” said the official requesting were generally happy with the work another 11.8% ‘strongly agreed’. “We are required to spend more anonymity. DOHA: A promising approach to Over half of those culture and environment at their More than three quarters claim that money to meet the growing stand- Currently most of the driving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions polled by Bayt.com organisation, 64% of which are their manager provides feedback and ards. First of all it is not very easy to schools in Qatar are charging about is converting waste CO2 (carbon ‘extremely happy’ and 36% of which cares about their professional growth find a driver with the given qualifi- QR3,400 for a full course (light motor dioxide) into industrially relevant are generally happy are ‘moderately happy’. Conversely, and development (76.8%), and only cation. And those who meet these vehicles) which is about 30 percent chemicals and fuels, said Chair with the work culture one in ten poll respondents in the 7.3% ‘strongly disagree’ that this is conditions expect higher compen- higher compared to QR2,400 charged Professor and QAFAC Chair at MENA admitted that they were ‘not the case. sation,” said Ibrahim. about a couple of years ago. Qatar University (QU) Center for and environment at happy at all’ with their current work Moreover, the poll also showed Yet another official of a sepa- Some driving schools are also Advanced Materials (CAM) Prof their organisation, environment. that for 81.7% of MENA respond- rate driving school lauded similar offering “fast track” courses charg- Syed Javaid Zaidi. An impressive 87.1% of MENA ents, exceptional performance is concerns. He added: “It takes about ing between QR4,500 and QR5,000 He was delivering a keynote professionals feel a sense of con- recognised and rewarded at their QR10,000 to recruit a driver, varying from school to school. speech at the sixth Waste Manage- nection with their co-workers , and workplace, compared to only 10.9% including the ticket fare and other But customers have a different ment and Recycling Summit held approximately half ‘agree’ with this who said that this is not the case for expanses.” story to narrate. They say that run- at Intercontinental Doha last week. The Peninsula sentiment (50.2%), while 36.9 per- them. Some driving schools, as part of ning a driving school is one of the This approach would reduce cent strongly agree’. In fact, very When it comes to giving 100% their cost cutting drive, has stopped most lucrative businesses in Qatar. the carbon footprint associated few respondents ‘disagree’ (3.5%) or of their effort and passion at work, providing complementary pick-and- Most of the schools are flooded with with the burning of fossil fuels ‘strongly disagree’ (1.2%). more than half of the respondents drop services to trainees. customers, and one has to wait for such as oil, gas and coal. It will also DOHA: Majority of respondents to More than half of the MENA ‘agree’ (54.3%), and 35.9% ‘strongly However, a senior official at several months after registration for provide new feedstocks for petro- a survey from the Middle East and respondents felt that their work- agree’. Actually, only a small minor- Karwa Driving School said that the practical classes. chemical production, and generate North Africa (MENA) feel that the places recognized or celebrated ity of respondents ‘disagree’ to always recent petrol price hike would have “Taking advantage of the long revenue to contribute to the eco- work they do adds purpose to their special personal occasions such as giving their best performance at work very marginal impact on profits , waiting time, some driving schools nomic growth. life. 91.5% of respondents to the Bayt. birthdays and marriages (51.3%). (2.3%), and 2.1% ‘strongly disagree’. may be less than 2 percent, as fuel have even started fast track courses According to a research , car- com ‘Passion for Work in the Middle According to 36.1% of respondents, Another mere 6.6% of the bills do not constitute a big portion minting extra money. I took one full bon emissions in the Middle East East’ survey has said that their jobs their companies ‘always’ recognised respondents said that they do not of monthly expenses. Thus ruled out course and fail to obtain a license. and North Africa have doubled are rationale in their life. such occasions. However, 33.4% of look forward to going back to work the possibility of any fee hike in the So this is my second course. In total in the last 30 years with oil-rich Another 75% of MENA respond- MENA companies ‘almost never’ rec- after a vacation or weekend while the near future. I have spent about QR11,000, an countries taking the lead. Although ents are ‘extremely passionate’ about ognise special occasions. majority of the respondents claimed “Our revised fee was imple- amount equivalent to the price of a these countries represent a small their work and for 86.5% of MENA When asked whether their work- to look forward to returning to work mented last December which is still car in India,” said Faseeh Khan, an percentage of global emissions, respondents, their work has helped place has a culture of transparency (86.9%), and 37.6% strongly agreeing lower than our competitors. We engineer working here with a pri- they lead in the emissions per them discover who they really are. and honest communication, 60.2% with this sentiment. charge about QR 3,200 (automatic vate company. capita with their people creating 2-10 times more than the amount of emissions of average people. Qatar has the highest emissions per capita with 55.4 tons of CO2 per Retaj group participates person, about 10 times more than the global average. In the region, Qatar is followed by Kuwait, the UAE in Sport Day activities and Bahrain, ranked respectively 3rd, 4th and 5th in the world. “Qatar is endeavoring to address its current The Peninsula west has become a stadium and this and future emissions, and will need is something we are proud and gives to embark on different programs a clear message to the world that the that reduce emissions to appropri- DOHA: Retaj company, which wise leadership of the state, led by ate levels for the whole country and includes Retaj Hotels & Hospitality, Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad develop solutions for the reduction Retaj Real Estate and Retaj Market- Al Thani put the health of the Qatari and utilization of waste CO2”, said ing and Project Management have citizen at the forefront concerns. Prof Zaidi. participated in the National Sport Dr Johar said Retaj Group It is has been estimated that Day activities by organising a march participates annually in the Sports CO2 contributes in more than 70 that started from Retaj Al Rayyan Day and encourages all its employees percent of the total global warming Hotel Al Dafna through the Corniche to participate in this national event which is caused by all green- leading to Retaj Royale Doha Hotel. by adopting a healthy patterns of its house gases. The growing energy Participants of this activity members to increase efficiency and demand and consumption result included the CEO’s of Retaj group productivity in order to contribute in increasing CO2 emissions. The and the head departments and all to build a powerful nation and be main energy consumers in Qatar employees working group, the won- able to meet the challenges of sport are the oil and gas sector, flaring, derful march has been led by vice and contribute to the success of the energy and water. chairman and managing Director World Cup which will take place in of Retaj Group Dr. Mohammed bin Qatar 2022. Johar Al Mohammed, as well as the Engineer Ibrahim Fakhro, CEO Qatari journalist CEO of Retaj Real Estate Engineer of Retaj Real Estate said the sports Ibrahim Yousif AlFakhro, and Retaj day of the state, which was launched elected Hotels & Hospitality CEO Dr Kamal in 2012, intended to induce the Sanhaji. adoption of a healthy lifestyle for Dr Johar highlighted the all people of Qatar which pursuant MANAMA: Qatari journalist importance of sport in our daily to national Human Development Retaj company staff participating in the National Sport Day celebrations. Mohammed Haji was elected yes- lives; he also praised the Qatari of the citizen in accordance with terday as Vice President of the Asia global initiative on selecting a day Qatar Vision 2030 which is also Sports Journalism Federation. for sports activities, adding that what is Retaj Real Estate objective The federation’s congress Qatar is the first country in the world to ensure that the current and future precedent and recorded to the state & Hospitality is adapting healthy stay to short and long stay guests from was held in Bahrain with repre- that maintains a sports day allows generations are physically and of Qatar and it’s also reflecting the for our guests considering ourselves different segments. sentatives from 29 nations out citizens, residents and visitors the mentally fit. strategic thinking of the decision as dry hotels serving the green The participation of all Retaj of 33 participating. Bahrain’s possibility of exercise in all state’s Fakhroo added that the idea of makers of the state. community and also by including Hotels & Hospitality employees reflect Mohammed Qassim elected as the facilities. He also added that Qatar having a dedicated day to promote Dr Kamel Sendhaj the CEO of Retaj a state of the art health club in our our strong belief in sports and its president of the federation. from north to south and from east to sport is considered a global hotels & Hospitality said: “Retaj Hotels hotels to encourage a healthy lifestyle essential role in our daily lives. HOME/ MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 03

Assad vows to Emir attends PAF air parade retake all of Syria

Iraq were severed. But if not, he said, “the solution Bashar Al Assad’s will take a long time and will incur defiant stance a heavy price”. Assad said he saw a risk that Tur- doused hopes of an key and Saudi Arabia, key backers imminent halt to of the opposition, would intervene militarily in Syria. hostilities that world World powers on Friday agreed powers are pushing on an ambitious plan to cease hos- tilities in Syria within a week, but to take effect within doubts soon emerged over its via- a week bility, especially because it did not include IS or Al-Qaeda’s local branch.US Secretary of State John Kerry said there were “no illusions” AFP about the difficulty of implementing a nationwide “cessation of hostili- ties” as he announced the deal in Munich alongside Russian Foreign DAMASCUS: President Bashar Al Minister Sergei Lavrov. Assad has vowed to recapture the Lavrov underlined that “terror- whole of Syria and keep “fighting ist organisations” such as IS and Al terrorism” while also negotiating an Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra Front “do end to the war, as international pres- not fall under the truce, and we and sure mounts for a ceasefire. the US-led coalition will keep fight- His defiant stance, in an exclu- ing these structures”. sive interview with AFP released Russia says its more than four- yesterday, doused hopes of an immi- month-old bombing campaign in nent halt to hostilities that world Syria targets IS and other “terror- powers are pushing to take effect ists”, but critics accuse Moscow of within a week. focusing on mainstream rebels. Assad said the main aim of a The Munich deal went further Russian-backed regime offensive in than expected, with Lavrov talk- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended an air parade performed by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircrafts at the Doha oldirport a Aleppo province that has prompted ing about “direct contacts between tens of thousands of people to flee the Russian and US military” on yesterday. Before the parade the Emir was briefed on JF-17 fighters and the Super Mushshak. The air parade coincides with the two-day was to cut the rebels’ supply route the ground, where the powers back official visit by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, during which both countries agreed to strengthen military cooperation. from Turkey. opposing sides in the five-year-old He said his government’s even- conflict. tual goal was to retake all of the But after Assad’s forces this country, large swathes of which month nearly encircled Aleppo, Syr- are controlled by rebel forces or the ia’s second city, several nations put Weather bureau Islamic State (IS) group. the onus on Moscow to implement Morocco Arab Summit postponed to April 6 “It makes no sense for us to say the deal. forecasts strong that we will give up any part,” he said “Through its military action on QNA uled to be held in Morocco on March Secretary-General Ambassador in the interview conducted on Thurs- the side of Assad’s regime, Russia 29-30 March, to April 6-7 at the Ahmed Ben Helli said at the request winds today day in Damascus. had recently seriously compromised request of the Kingdom of Morocco of the Kingdom of Morocco the Arab Assad said it would be possi- the political process. Now there is a the host country of the Arab sum- League decided that the Arab sum- ble to “put an end to this problem in chance to save this process,” Ger- CAIRO: The General Secretariat of mit . mit will be held in Marrakech on The Peninsula less than a year” if opposition sup- man foreign ministry spokeswoman the Arab League decided to adjourn In a press statement released April 6-7 instead of March 29-30 ply routes from Turkey, Jordan and Christiane Wirzt said. the ordinary Arab Summit, sched- today, Arab League Deputy March.

DOHA: The weather bureau has forecast strong winds at places across the country and said that Qapco honours winners of slight dust and moderate temper- ature will be experienced during the day. weight-loss programme Also offshore will be partly cloudy with slight dust. The wind will northwest- DOHA: Qatar Petrochemical Com- Director and CEO of Qapco and Besides, Sports Day marked erly and move between 10 and 18 pany (Qapco) and its sister company Qatofin said: “The National Sport the culmination of “Lose to Win”, knots inshore and the speed would Qatofin, celebrated the fifth edi- Day is an excellent opportunity to a flagship corporate weight-loss increase to 22 knots and will move tion of the National Sport Day promote the regular practice of programme, which is part of Qap- at speeds of between 10 and 18 festivities at QAPCO’s Sports Club sports amongst our employees and co’s annual “Be Fit, Be Healthy, Be knots offshore. in Mesaieed. Hundreds of employ- to encourage them to do the same Happy” campaign. During 12 months, The wind direction in offshore ees from the Mesaieed community with their children. It is our respon- employees were offered the support too will be northwesterly, with a along with their families participated sibility, as parents, to transfer the of health and nutrition profession- speed between 18 and 28 knots. in the fun-filled day that included values associated with sport to the als, together with the co-operation of Visibility will be some 4km at an array of sport activities such as future generations. Every one of us Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), first, later improving to 4-9km. football, handball and volleyball can contribute to build a healthier to encourage them to adopt health- According to the weather fore- matches, bowling tournaments, bas- and fitter nation.” ier diets and to embrace more active cast high seas will be experienced ketball games, spinning and cross-fit Dr. Al Mulla also highlighted lifestyles. One of the winners receiving certificate. today with one to three feet tides workouts. Through the various sports that through the year, sport com- Thanks to original activities and inshore and on offshore between competitions offered, the aim was petitions have been instrumental at monthly monitoring, the programme six and nine feet tides. also to encourage the younger ones, Qapco, strengthening teamwork and has been extremely successful and inspiration for many. The fitness and in order to promote healthy lifestyles The maximum and minimum the next generation, to embrace corporate culture, fostering social almost 500 employees enrolled. wellbeing of its employees and their amongst its employees and the com- temperature forecast are 12 and 23 healthy lifestyles and to practice integration and reinforcing cohesion. Three employees who progressed knowledge of health related issues munity. Aligned with the principles of degrees C, respectively. In Doha, sports every day. He concluded, “Sport has contributed the most on their weight-loss and is a priority for Qapco. Throughout the Qatar National Vision 2030, Qapco the temperature will be at a min- On the occasion, Dr. Moham- to shaping the Qapco family and our active lifestyle journey were recog- the year, the company organizes a believes sports will support a sustain- imum of 13 degrees and maximum med Yousef Al Mulla, Managing Mesaieed community”. nised during the day and became an number of health-oriented initiatives able future for generations to come. of 23 degrees.

Crowne Plaza celebrates Sport Day Fourth Annual Jumbo Games

Video Home & Jumbo Electronics, in their 36th Year of operations in Qatar, Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park celebrated National Sport Day by encouraging its guests to get into the fitness successfully concluded the Fourth Annual Jumbo Games and with the Qatar streak with the hotel’s refreshing and healthy offers. Guests were treated to a whole day of healthy treats including National Sport Day at the Fereej Al Wukair Playgrounds. The activities included fruit wall, fresh smoothies counter and healthy buffet station at Aramede Restaurant. Hotel team members and guests soccer, cricket, basketball, volleyball, tug-of-war, fun games, table tennis, carrom were also encouraged to participate in the city-wide activities at Aspire Zone and at the Corniche. and arm wrestling. Over 500 employees enjoyed the events. 04 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Doubts emerge over plans to end Syria war

will begin “immediately”, with a new UN task force meeting later Friday “In many ways this in Geneva to start pushing for much Munich meeting greater access to “besieged and hard- to-reach areas”. was thrust to the The deal, struck in late night fore by the situation talks in Munich, went further than expected, with Lavrov talking about in Aleppo, and yet “direct contacts between the Rus- the conditions of sian and US military” on the ground, where the powers are backing oppos- the agreement do ing sides in the five-year-old conflict. not seem to apply But after a fortnight in which the to Aleppo,” says an forces of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad have besieged the key rebel analyst city of Aleppo with the help of heavy Russian bombing, several nations put the onus on Moscow to implement FROM LEFT: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura during AFP the Syria deal. “Through its military a news conference after the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting in Munich, southern Germany, yesterday. action on the side of Assad’s regime, Russia had recently seriously com- hostilities was particularly important, we and the US-led coalition will keep people to flee, left the opposition and durable cessation of violence,” promised the political process. Now he said, since the group is active in fighting these structures”. virtually encircled and killed an esti- Kerry said. MUNICH, GERMANY: After an ambi- there is a chance to save this proc- Aleppo and surrounding regions, and But other analysts struck an opti- mated 500 people since it began on The separate aid task force will tious deal to end hostilities in Syria ess,” foreign ministry spokeswoman many of the more “moderate” rebels mistic note, saying it was significant February 1 -- the latest hellish twist pressure the Syrian government to within a week was signed early yes- Christiane Wirzt said. have links with it. that the US and Russia had been able in a war that has claimed more than open routes, since only around a terday, doubts emerged over its “What is important now is “In many ways this Munich meet- to strike a deal at all. a quarter-million lives. A key Syrian dozen of 116 UN access requests have viability as it excludes the Islamic embracing this opportunity, stop- ing was thrust to the fore by the “It almost reminds one of super- opposition body, the High Negotia- been granted. State group and Al Qaeda’s local ping the air strikes, ceasing targeting situation in Aleppo, and yet the condi- power agreements in the days of the tions Committee, said yesterday it was Russia and the West remain branch. civilians and providing humanitarian tions of the agreement do not seem to Cold War,” said Michael Williams, a up to rebels on the ground whether to starkly at odds on several issues, par- US Secretary of State John Kerry access,” added Turkish Foreign Minis- apply to Aleppo,” said Barnes-Dacey. former UN diplomat in Lebanon at implement the deal. ticularly Moscow’s failure to focus its admitted there were “no illusions” ter Mevlut Cavusoglu on Twitter. “Talking about Nusra works in London’s Chatham House think tank. Kerry said talks between rebels bombing on the Islamic State group. about the difficulty of implementing Analysts remained sceptical about the Russians’ favour since so many The US and Russia have “taken and the regime would resume as soon “So far Russia has mainly tar- a nationwide “cessation of hostilities” the chances of ending the bloodshed. rebel groups have ties to Nusra. This ownership of this now. This is impor- as possible, but warned that “what we geted opposition groups and not ISIL between regime forces and rebels as “(The agreement) is ambitious effectively gives the green light for the tant. The parties, the opponents will have here are words on paper—what and intense air strikes against differ- he announced the deal in Munich and yet very tenuous... there are huge Syrian government and its allies to notice this. It will put quite a bit of we need to see in the next few days ent opposition groups in Syria have alongside Russian Foreign Minister question marks,” said Julien Barnes- carry on military action while paying pressure on Assad and his regime. It’s are actions on the ground.” actually undermined efforts to reach Sergei Lavrov. Dacey, of the European Council on lip service to the agreement.” very hard for them now to walk away.” A UN task force, co-chaired by a negotiated peaceful resolution,” said The 17-nation International Syria Foreign Relations. Lavrov underlined that “terror- Peace talks collapsed earlier this Russia and the US, will work over the Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, speak- Support Group also agreed that “sus- The failure to include Al Qaeda ist organisations” such as IS and Al month over the offensive on Aleppo, coming week “to develop the modal- ing at the Munich Security Conference tained delivery” of humanitarian aid affiliate Al Nusra in the cessation of Nusra “do not fall under the truce, and which has forced at least 50,000 ities for a long-term, comprehensive yesterday. Turkey says up to 40,000 people newly settled at camps Yemen loyalists advance towards

Reuters reporters near the border at Oncupi- Turkey’s war-ravaged neighbour. Turkish Foreign Minister Mev- and the Nusra Front, but said Moscow rebel-held capital nar, in comments broadcast live by Turkey, which already hosts 2.6 lut Cavusoglu welcomed the Syrian should do so in coordination with the TRT television. million Syrian refugees, has tried to ceasefire deal in a post on his Twitter US-led coalition. “In the last week there has been keep the latest wave on the Syrian side account, saying it was an “important The latest wave of refugees has ADEN: Yemeni pro-government ISTANBUL: Up to 40,000 refugees a new wave of migration, notably of the border, in part to pressure Russia step” towards resolving the crisis. swelled to 100,000 the number of forces have advanced to within have settled in camps on the Turkish because of the Russian bombardment to cease its air support for Syrian gov- However, unless Russia ends people sheltering at nine camps 40km of Sana’a in a push towards border inside Syria in the latest wave and 35,000 to 40,000 people have ernment forces near the city of Aleppo. its strikes on Western-backed Syr- located on the Syrian side of the the rebel-held capital from the of migration, a Turkish deputy prime flowed to the Turkish border,” he said. Nato member Turkey is one of ian opposition forces, the ceasefire border within 3 km of Turkey, Cavu- northeast, loyalist military sources minister said yesterday, as attacks by Earlier yesterday the United Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s reached in Munich will not hold and soglu said, adding that a 10th camp said yesterday. Russian-backed Syrian government States, Russia and more than a dozen most vehement critics and an ardent humanitarian access will not be effec- was being prepared. Loyalist forces took the town of forces send tens of thousands fleeing. other nations reached agreement in supporter of opposition forces. Anka- tively secured, Cavusoglu told TRT in Akdogan said it was important Nihm after overrunning the head- A diplomatic initiative with Russia Munich to cease hostilities in Syria ra’s relations with Moscow have been comments broadcast from Munich. to create a “civilian settlement area” quarters of the renegade pro-rebel and Syria is needed to prevent further and provide humanitarian aid. The very strained since the Turkish air He said Turkey and its partners on the Syrian side of the border but 312th Brigade of the army earlier waves of migration that would also deal is aimed at eventually paving force downed a Russian jet along the did not object to Russia targeting insisted Turkey was maintaining its this week, the sources said. impact Europe, Yalcin Akdogan told the way for a political transition in Turkish border in November. militant groups such as Islamic State “open-door policy” towards refugees. The advance puts them within striking distance of the heights overlooking Sana’a international airport, where residents said the rebels were digging trenches and Hope for peace in laying minefields. Both sides suffered losses in the battle for the camp. South Sudan rises “We are now on the road to Sana’a,” said a jubilant loyalist fighter who gave his name only as Mohammed. AFP while in war-torn northern areas “We ask our brothers, the 40,00 are being starved to death, fighters of the national army, to with violence blocking desperately be patient. Victory will be at hand needed aid. very soon.” JUBA: South Sudan’s President Salva It was not immediately clear The push towards Sana’a Kiir has named his arch-rival Riek when Machar would travel to Juba from the east comes with loyal- Machar as Vice-President, raising to take up his post, and what it would ist forces making little headway in hopes for the implementation of a take for him to feel secure enough their efforts to advance into cen- repeatedly broken peace deal to end to return. tral Yemen from their stronghold more than two years of civil war. “If I get the support needed in the south. Tens of thousands of people for the implementation of security Since a Saudi-led coalition have been killed and over two mil- arrangements, I think within a few intervened in support of Presi- lion forced from their homes since weeks I will be able to take up my dent Abedrabuh Mansur Hadi last war between the rivals broke out in position,” Machar said. March, his loyalists have ousted December 2013, pushing the world’s Analysts warned that while Shia Houthi rebels from five south- Travel agent Muhiadin Hassan (left) helps a group of migrants to arrange for flights to Baghdad at his youngest nation to the brink of famine. Kiir’s decree may help end the war ern provinces. office in Helsinki, Finland. While the appointment was between the two, levels of intense But in the north they have been agreed as part of an August 2015 violence and conflict will likely con- largely confined to Marib, east of peace deal, its announcement now tinue at a local level. Sana’a, and Jawf, on the Saudi Iraqi refugees leave Finland voluntarily adds pressure on Machar to return Casie Copeland, from the Inter- border. to South Sudan from exile. national Crisis Group (ICG) pointed Progress has been slow, partly But fighting continues, and the out the increasingly “fractious” because of Yemen’s mountainous Reuters the migrants but Finland too saw the small travel agency in Helsinki. conflict now involves multiple mili- nature of rebel and opposition terrain and in part because of the number of asylum seekers increase Muhiadin Hassan who runs the tia forces driven by local agendas or forces, repeating previous warnings determined support the rebels nearly tenfold in 2015 to 32,500 from travel agency said he was now selling revenge, who pay little heed to paper that violence is shifting into “a multi- have received from army units 3,600 in 2014. 15 to 20 flights to Baghdad every day. peace deals. polar war with localised conflicts.” still loyal to Hadi’s predecessor, HELSINKI: Thousands of Iraqi refu- Almost two thirds of the asylum A majority of the home-bound Machar, who was vice-president The peace agreement is increas- Ali Abdullah Saleh. gees who arrived in Finland last year seekers last year were young Iraqi migrants have told immigration from 2005 until he was sacked in ingly fragile, with Kiir undermining Meanwhile, suspected Al have decided to cancel their asy- men, but some are now having sec- services they want to return to their 2013, and who has yet to return to a fundamental pillar of its power- Qaeda members killed five police lum applications and to return home ond thoughts, so Finland will begin families, but some expressed disap- Juba since fleeing when war broke sharing clauses by nearly tripling the officers yesterday in an attack in voluntarily, citing family issues and dis- chartering flights to Baghdad from pointment with life in Finland. out, welcomed the decree. number of regional states. Aden, a security source said. appointment with life in the country. next week to take them home. Offi- “Some say the conditions in Fin- “It is welcome news because it is Kiir also signed into law on The masked assailants Europe is in the grip of its worst cials said about 4,100 asylum seekers land and the lengthy asylum process a step forward in the implementation Thursday a controversial Non-Gov- attacked a police outpost in the migrant crisis since the Second World had so far cancelled their applica- did not meet their expectations, or of the peace agreement,” Machar ernmental Organisations (NGO) bill, Basateen area of northern Aden War, with more than a million peo- tions and that number was likely to what they had been told by the people said from Ethiopia. restricting numbers of foreign aid before fleeing, the source said. ple arriving last year, fleeing wars and reach 5,000 in the coming months. they paid for their travel,” said Tobias “It means we are implementing workers, which has both raised fears The incident came a day after poverty in the Middle East and beyond. “My baby boy is sick, I need to van Treeck, programme officer at the the peace agreement as stipulated.” it will hinder efforts to help millions three pro-government soldiers Germany and Finland’s neigh- get back home,” said Alsaedi Hussein, International Organisation for Migra- Some 2.8 million people — or a in need, and goes against the peace were killed by suspected jihad- bour Sweden have taken in many of buying a flight back to Baghdad at a tion (IOM). quarter of the country — needs aid, agreement. ists in the southern port city. ASIA / PHILIPPINES SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 05

China urges UN Mass wedding in Manila action over N Korea launch

Nations Security Council to take further steps and in adopting a new “Sanctions are not resolution so that North Korea will the end, the purpose pay the necessary price and show there are consequences for its should be to make behaviour,” the minister said, speak- sure that the nuclear ing through an interpreter. China has insisted it is already issue in the Korean making great efforts to achieve Pensinsula should denuclearisation on the “Korean peninsula” and has previously be brought back rejected what it calls “groundless to the channel of a speculation” on its North Korea negotiation,” says stance, following remarks from US officials that China could do more. Wang Yi The UN Security Council is discussing a new resolution. Dip- lomats say the Americans have been pushing for tough measures that Reuters go beyond targeting North Korea’s atomic weapons and missile pro- grams,. “Sanctions are not the end, the purpose should be to make sure MUNICH: China will back a UN that the nuclear issue in the Korean Security Council resolution to make Pensinsula should be brought back North Korea “pay the necessary to the channel of a negotiation-based Filipino couples listen to a speech during a mass wedding in Manila, yesterday. About 350 Filipino couples participated in the mass price” for recent rocket launches, resolution,” he said. wedding organised to strengthen family ties. its foreign minister said adding the After Wang met US Secretary of goal was to get Pyongyang back to State John Kerry in Munich, Kerry the negotiating table. urged China to use its influence in Wang Yi also said he was con- Pyongyang to help the international cerned by a possible US deployment community increase pressure on it, of its sophisticated THAAD (Terminal State Department spokesman John Philippines hints at two-way sea talks 6.5-magnitude High Altitude Area Defence) mis- Kirby said. sile defence system to South Korea, He said Washington needed earthquake saying it could also be used to tar- to clarify its motives. Wang said Reuters Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines “A bilateral approach per se is get China. going forward China’s policy would and Taiwan also claim the water- good,” del Rosario said in a tele- strikes Indonesia North Korea has been under UN be increasingly attentive on the ways where about $5 trillion of vision interview, three years after sanctions since its first nuclear test regional nuclear issue and guided ship-borne goods passes annually. Manila filed the case in The Hague, in 2006. It has conducted three more by three principles. “First the Korean MANILA: The Philippines may con- China refuses to recognise the rejecting Beijing’s offer of two-way JAKARTA: A powerful 6.5-mag- atomic tests since then, including last Pensinsula cannot be nuclearised. sider two-way talks with China to case lodged by the talks. nitude earthquake struck eastern month’s, and numerous ballistic mis- This applies to the North and South. resolve a territorial dispute in the Philippines with the tribunal and “When the conclusion of the Indonesia late yesterday, but no tsu- sile launches. Second, there is no military solution South China Sea but only if it wins says all disputes should be resolved arbitration is handed down, and if nami warning was immediately Washington and Beijing have to this issue. its case with Beijing at an arbitration through bilateral talks. it is in our favour, I think we should issued, US seismologists said. appeared divided over how to “If there is a war or turbulence tribunal in The Hague, Manila’s for- Philippine Foreign Minister initiate a bilateral because we The earthquake hit at 5:02pm respond to North Korea, with Wash- it is not acceptable for China. Third, eign minister said yesterday. Albert del Rosario, who has resigned already have a platform by which local time (1002 GMT yesterday), the ington urging tougher sanctions and China will not allow its legitimate China claims almost the entire effective next month due to health we can solidly approach the nego- US Geological Survey said, and was Beijing stressing the need for dia- interests including in national secu- South China Sea, believed to have reasons, said the court may hand tiating table. If it’s not in our favour, centred three kilometres (two miles) logue. “(We) support the United rity interests to be undermined.” huge deposits of oil and gas. Brunei, down a ruling before May. they will approach us.” east-southeast of Andekantor in the Sumba region at a depth of 30km. The Indonesian disaster mitigation agency said there were no immedi- ate reports of damage or casualties. Hong Kong bookseller ‘involuntarily removed’ to China: Britain Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said he had not been able to contact anyone from the affected area since all commu- AFP Lee and sent to his wife confirmed nication with West Sumba Regency he was now on the mainland and through satellite phone, mobile said he had gone to China of his own phone and radio had been cut off. volition to help with unspecified He said that the communica- HONG KONG: Britain said on yes- investigations. tions infrastructure in the affected terday that a Hong Kong bookseller But lawmakers and activists area was already limited due to its believed detained by China was have accused Chinese authorities of remote location. “involuntarily removed to the main- snatching Lee from Hong Kong, con- “Until now we are still trying land”, in its strongest comments yet travening the semi-autonomous city’s to collect the information on the on a case that has rocked the city laws which do not allow Chinese impact, there have been no reports amid fears its promised freedoms police to operate within the territory. on fatalities and damages so far,” are being eroded. “The full facts of the case remain Nugroho said. The disappearance of Lee Bo, unclear, but our current information In the neighbouring island of who holds a British passport and indicates that Mr Lee was involuntar- Sumbawa the earthquake was felt published books critical of Chinese ily removed to the mainland without strongly for 15 seconds and caused politics, was a “serious breach” of an any due process under Hong Kong people to flee their homes in panic. agreement signed with Beijing before SAR law,” said Hammond in a regu- Indonesia sits on the Pacific the city was handed back to China lar six-month report on Hong Kong “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates in 1997, said foreign secretary Philip to the UK parliament. collide, causing frequent seismic Hammond in a new report. “This constitutes a serious breach and volcanic activity in the region. Four other booksellers from the of the Sino-British Joint Declara- A 6.9-magnitude quake that Mighty Current publishing house also tion on Hong Kong and undermines struck in the Banda Sea in Decem- disappeared in October and the Chi- the principle of ‘One Country, Two ber sparked panic but there were nese authorities have confirmed they Systems’ which assures Hong Kong no reports of damage or casualties. are now under criminal investigation. residents of the protection of the In November a 6.1-magnitude There are still question marks over Hong Kong legal system,” said undersea earthquake that struck what has happened to Lee, 65, the Hammond. eastern Indonesia also prompted only publisher to have disappeared The foreign secretary said Brit- some residents to run outside but from Hong Kong. ain had called for Lee’s immediate had no tsunami potential, disaster An employee walking past shelves in a bookstore in the Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong. Letters purportedly written by return to Hong Kong. officials said. Suu Kyi gets extra security after FB threat Nepal prime minister to

AFP desire to be president. Her National increased for her (Suu Kyi)... but it is plays are underway in Myanmar was visit India next week League for Democracy has taken its unofficial.” deepened Friday as it emerged that seats in parliament after storming last The threat comes at a key time President Thein Sein will not travel to year’s election -- the freest in dec- in Myanmar’s drawn out power America next week to join Southeast AFP the blockade ended last week. “The YANGON: Myanmar’s Aung San Suu ades in the once junta-ruled nation. transition. Asian leaders in talks with President cabinet has approved Prime Minister Kyi has been given extra security fol- But Suu Kyi is blocked from After her party’s November elec- Barack Obama. K P Sharma Oli’s first official visit to lowing a death threat on Facebook the presidency by a charter clause tion win, Suu Kyi vowed to appoint a As well as blocking Suu Kyi’s rise, India scheduled for February 19-23,” alluding to her presidential ambitions, because her children and spouse were proxy and rule “above” a president the charter also gifts the military 25 KATHMANDU: Nepal’s prime min- said official. “Prime Minister Oli is officials said yesterday. foreign born. who is set to be chosen in March. percent of parliamentary seats and ister will travel to India next week for now in a position to improve the sour- In a post last week, a man called An NLD member, who did not But in recent days rumours have an effective veto on constitutional his first foreign visit, a government ing relationship with India after the Ye Lwin Myint threatened to shoot want to be named, but who is close to swirled of backroom talks towards amendments. official said yesterday, signalling a promulgation of the new constitution anyone who tries to change a con- Suu Kyi confirmed that extra security suspending the controversial 59 (f) Suu Kyi, for years the army’s nem- thaw in tensions after the end of a in Nepal. He hopes to end any confu- troversial clause in the constitution measures were in place “since that clause so she can take the top job. esis as the figurehead of the country’s months-long border blockade. sion in bilateral ties that has emerged which bars pro-democracy champion man’s threat.” It is a highly contentious issue, democracy struggle, is already pro- The strained ties meant that KP in recent times,” Khanal said. Suu Kyi from the top office. A senior police official in the capi- with some senior members of the still tected by a personal security detail. Sharma Oli, who became premier Nepal is heavily dependent on While he did not specifically tal Naypyidaw confirmed the security powerful army vigorously opposed to Her father, independence hero in October, put off visiting India -- a India for fuel and other supplies and name the 70-year-old Nobel laureate, boost, also requesting anonymity. charter change. general Aung San, was assassinated traditional first stop for Nepali prime New Delhi pledging billions of dollars Suu Kyi has made little secret of her “Police security has been Speculation that big political in 1947. ministers heading overseas -- until in aid to the country 06 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA

Central African Mass prayers for earthquake victims Republic votes tomorrow

Touadera, also 58, a former maths professor standing as an independ- Whoever wins ent who surprised everyone by will hope to turn coming second in the first round of voting with 19.4 percent. the page on years Touadera’s popularity stems of fighting in the from a measure he introduced as prime minister -- paying govern- country. The most ment salaries directly into bank recent episode of accounts, ending decades of pay arrears and unpaid wages. bloodletting was The election is expected to be sparked by the March close. Dologuele has won the back- 2013 ouster of long- ing of the person who came third in the first round -- with 12 percent of serving president the vote -- while Touadera has the Francois Bozize support of 22 other candidates who ran in the December campaign. Whoever wins will hope to turn the page on years of fighting in AFP the vast country, only fractionally smaller in area than Afghanistan. The most recent episode of Relatives, monks and visitors facing pictures of earthquake victims pray during a memorial service in Taiwan, yesterday. The number of bloodletting was sparked by the deaths in February 06 earthquake has risen to 91, with at least 31 people still missing, according to Central Emergency Operation Centre. BANGUI: The Central African March 2013 ouster of long-serv- Republic holds delayed presidential ing president Francois Bozize by a and parliamentary polls tomorrow, mainly Muslim rebel alliance, the with voters desperate to usher in Seleka, which installed Michel Djo- peace after the country’s worst sec- todia as the first Muslim leader of the tarian violence since independence predominantly Christian country. Zuma mocks opposition for in 1960. Djotodia quit in January 2014 after The presidential election looks disbanding the Seleka, but attacks set to be a tight run-off between on Christians by rogue Muslim forces two former prime ministers in the led to brutal reprisals against Muslim disrupting address mineral-rich but dirt-poor coun- districts by “anti-balaka” (“anti- Several people try dogged by coups, violence and machete”) militias from Christian misrule since winning independ- communities. killed in attack ence from France more than five Thousands were slaughtered in a AFP He took aim at the EFF protest- country look bad out there.” He said decades ago. spiral of atrocities that drove about ers who chanted calling on him to opposition parties were too focused The first round of voting on one in 10 of the population of 4.8m step down. on criticising the ANC and were “not at Mali UN base December 30 was won by Anicet to flee their homes. “They are showing how useless convincing people”. Georges Dologuele, a 58-year-old This election will see a stag- CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s Presi- they are, people will never vote for Zuma is facing moves in court, BAMAKO: Suspected Islam- former central banker known as gering 1,800 candidates competing dent Jacob Zuma yesterday mocked them,” Zuma said. “They don’t under- in parliament and on the streets to ist militants attacked a UN “Mr Clean” after his attempts to for a place in the 105-seat National the opposition as “useless” and igno- stand democracy, how it works.” have him impeached or dumped by peacekeepers’ base in the bring transparency to murky pub- Assembly. However, three previous rant, after rowdy radical lawmakers “They just move with the wind the ANC. northern Mali town of Kidal lic finances when in office. He will presidents are barred from stand- repeatedly disrupted his annual state when it goes this way, that way, Among a slew of issues that have yesterday, killing several peo- face off against Faustin Archange ing again. of the nation parliamentary address. shame on them.” angered the opposition and sparked ple and wounding others, a In the latest attack on the embat- The EFF’s firebrand leader Julius calls for his removal from office is the spokesman for the separa- tled president, who is tainted by graft Malema had yelled at Zuma that use of taxpayers’ money to upgrade tist Coordination of Azawad allegations, lawmakers from the left- he was “no longer a president that his private residence. Movements (CMA) said. ist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deserves respect from anyone”. Malema’s party and the main “There is gunfire and noisily interrupted his speech on But Zuma said the opposition’s opposition group, the Democratic mortar fire against the Thursday night before being ordered rowdy behaviour was damaging Alliance, have dragged the president MINUSMA (UN peacemak- out of the chamber. South Africa’s reputation -- and also to the Constitutional Court over his ing mission) camp. It is an When he was finally able to working to his ruling African National initial refusal to obey a ruling by the attack by the Islamists, appar- speak after chaotic scenes in par- Congress (ANC)’s advantage. national ombudswoman that he repay ently involving a suicide car liament, Zuma announced plans for “If the party or the president com- some of the $24 million lavished on bomb,” said CMA spokesman “an effective turnaround plan” for mits a mistake, there is a process how the Nkandla home. Radouane Ag Mohamed Aly. South Africa’s ailing economy, amid you deal with that,” he said in his first Zuma insisted he had “never” A UN spokesman said dire warnings about growth from the reaction to his latest heckling. refused to reimburse for the refur- there were some dead and The two main Central African Republic presidential candidates Anicet International Monetary Fund and the “You are really not doing good bishments but said the case had been wounded in the attack, which Georges Dologuele (left) and Faustin Archange Touadera. World Bank. for your country. You are making this “highly politicised”. began at 6:45am (0645 GMT). He said there had been eight mortar shells as well as gun- fire. A separate UN source, who was at the base but declined to be identified, said Rwanda to relocate Burundi Japanese politician two people had been killed. The base forms part of an attempt by the MINUSMA quits over affair mission to keep the peace in Mali in the wake of a takeo- refugees to other countries ver of the north by Islamists AFP Miyazaki, adding: “We reap what in 2012, which was thwarted we sow.” Health, Labour and Wel- by a French-led intervention fare Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki force that forced the militants AFP to run for a third term, which he went and compromises lasting political TOKYO: A Japanese politician who insisted the scandal would have out of key towns. on to win. Hundreds of people have solutions. made headlines over his quest to no bearing on government policy. been killed and at least 230,000 have For Rwanda, the growing risks take paternity leave quit yester- “It is an individual case,” fled the country. to our national security from the day after confessing to an affair he told local media. “It is not Benin election KIGALI: Rwanda is to relocate refu- Some 75,000 Burundian refugees Burundian impasse and misunder- with a bikini model while his wife something which will have any gees from Burundi to other countries, are in Rwanda, according to the UN standings in our foreign relations are was pregnant. Kensuke Miyazaki, influence on issues of policy.” the government said yesterday, amid refugee agency, UNHCR. unacceptable.” 35, shook up Japan’s conservative Miyazaki met the woman -- postponed accusations Kigali was meddling in “The callous indifference to the Neighbouring nations already political scene when he sought to also a professional kimono dresser the affairs of its troubled neighbour. well-known root causes of instability host thousands of Burundian refu- take a month’s leave to help his -- when she helped him and other COTONOU: The first round “The government of Rwanda will in Burundi, and the refugee exodus is gees in overstretched camps, with then pregnant wife, a first for a politicians dress up in ceremonial of Benin’s presidential elec- immediately begin working with troubling,” Rwandan Foreign Minis- Tanzania hosting some 130,000 and male Japanese lawmaker. garb for the opening of Japan’s tion has been postponed by a partners in the international com- ter Louise Mushikiwabo said. Democratic Republic of Congo has His bid drew criticism from parliament last month. week to March 6 because of munity to plan the orderly and safe “It also exposes refugees to over 18,000. Uganda, which borders many politicians in a country The sexual relationship problems with the distribu- relocation of Burundian refugees to increased threats from forces at home Rwanda to the north, has 21,000. where fathers taking time off to happened several days before tion of voting materials, the third countries,” the statement read. care for children is rare. Miya- Miyazaki’s wife, fellow politician constitutional court said late Last week, UN experts told the zaki, however, won the backing of Megumi Kaneko, gave birth to on Thursday. Security Council that Rwanda has Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who their first child. “I have done such The first round was ini- recruited and trained refugees from supported his trailblazing idea. a cruel thing to my wife,” he told tially scheduled for February Burundi, among them children, who The ruling Liberal Democratic a press conference. 28 but, as of February 6, voter wanted to remove Burundi’s Presi- Party lawmaker announced his “I’m deeply sorry that what cards had only been dis- dent Pierre Nkurunziza from power. resignation after a weekly mag- I’ve been advocating (on pater- tributed in two of its dozen Burundi has repeatedly accused azine revealed his affair with the nity leave) was contradicted by my departments, prompting the Rwanda of backing rebels intent on 34-year-old woman while they careless actions. So, I have decided opposition to cry foul. The overthrowing the government in were in Kyoto, his constituency. to quit.” Miyazaki had faced vocif- constitutional in its decision Bujumbura. Kigali has fiercely denied The admission of his affair erous calls for him to step down. said that if this year’s voter the accusations. triggered outrage online, but pol- “To think he was lobbying for cards were not available for “Rwanda readily shoulders its iticians were at pains to point out paternity leave while (having an people they could use those obligations to protect and care for that Miyazaki’s fall from grace affair),” fumed Yukio Edano, sec- from earlier polls. “The pres- refugees,” the government state- should not detract from the debate retary general of the opposition ident of the republic is invited ment said. on paternity leave. “The issue of Democratic Party of Japan. “He to call the electoral body to “However, experience in the men taking vacation or pater- has tarnished the debate.” Pater- the polls for the first round Great Lakes is that the long-term nity leave should not be rejected nity leave is rare in Japan, with of the vote on March 6, 2016,” presence of refugees so close to their or devalued because of this sort only about 2.3% of men working at the decision read. Incumbent country of origin carries considera- of thing,” said Japan’s Education private companies taking time off. president Thomas Boni Yayi is ble risks for all involved.” A Burundian soldier of the UN peacekeeping force using a metal Minister Hiroshi Hase, who could Abe wants to increase the propor- barred by constitutional lim- Burundi has been in turmoil since detector at the entrance of a polling station in the flashpoint PK5 not resist a thinly veiled swipe at tion to about 13 percent by 2020. its from seeking another term. Nkurunziza announced plans in April district in Bangui. PAKISTAN SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 07

Official says 97 Al Qaeda and other militants held no ‘organised presence’ of

The men are accused IS in Pakistan of involvement in major attacks on Reuters two Pakistani air bases, the Karachi airport, several ISLAMABAD: Officials in gov- ernment have taken seemingly regional intelligence contradictory stands on Islamic headquarters and on State’s influence in the coun- police installations try, after a rare warning by an intelligence chief that the Middle between 2009 and East-based militant group posed 2015, the military said a domestic threat. Reports of stepped-up recruit- ment by Islamic State and a bloody attack linked to the group last year have stoked fears the movement is Reuters gaining momentum in Pakistan, despite the government rejecting its formal presence. The government reasserted ISLAMABAD: The army yester- its view on Thursday, a day after day claimed to have arrested 97 Al Intelligence Bureau director Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi mil- general Aftab Sultan told a parlia- itants, including three commanders, mentary panel that Islamic State in Karachi and foiled a planned attack was coordinating with militant to break US journalist Daniel Pearl’s groups and that hundreds of peo- killer out of jail. ple had left the country to join its The men are accused of involve- fight in Syria. ment in major attacks on two “Let me reiterate that there is Pakistani air bases, the Karachi air- no organised presence of Daesh in port, several regional intelligence Pakistan,” foreign office spokes- headquarters and on police instal- man Nafees Zakaria told reporters lations between 2009 and 2015, the in Islamabad, using the Arabic military said. Security officials show high profile militants allegedly belonging to a joint terrorist network of Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent, Lashkar-e- acronym for the group. The LeJ’s Naeem Bokhari and Jhangvi and Tahreek-e-Taliban, in Karachi, yesterday. The entry of Islamic State, Sabir Khan, as well as Farooq Bhatti, while its numbers may remain deputy chief of Al Qaeda in the Indian Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s sectar- and international pressure to crack released during the raid, he said. They had a separate list of about small, would complicate Pakistan’s Subcontinent (AQIS), were captured by ian ideology is closely aligned with down on all such groups, and Six suicide bombers had been 100 prisoners, including Sheikh, fight against indigenous Islamist Pakistani forces in recent raids, mili- Islamic State, as it wants to kill or launched a renewed operation against enlisted in the attack plan, in addition whom they were supposed to release, militants fighting to overthrow the tary spokesman Lieutenant General expel Pakistan’s minority Shias and some of them in June 2014. to 19 involved in facilitating it, Bajwa he added. government. Asim Bajwa said. establish a Sunni theocracy. Bajwa declined to give details said. More than 350kg of explosives Video images of the militants’ The intelligence chief’s asser- “Our conclusion is that all of the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subconti- of the raids, including their timing. had been recovered from a building hideout showed blue plastic bar- tion that Pakistan should be terrorist groups are trying to cooper- nent was formed by global Al Qaeda Several of those arrested, including believed to be a hideout, he said. The rels filled with explosives, washing worried about Islamic State’s role ate with each other in order to carry chief Ayman Al Zawahiri in Sep- Bokhari, were in the advanced stages attackers planned to raid the prison machines that had been used to trans- prompted mixed reactions. out terrorist attacks,” he told a news tember 2014, and is one of dozens of of planning a jailbreak attempt on the compound with two vans filled with port arms and ammunition, long “This is the first time it has conference. The LeJ and AQIS had militant groups, some aligned against Hyderabad Central Jail, Bajwa said. explosives, and had a list of about 35 lengths of detonating cord and doz- been officially admitted,” said been working “in collusion” with the Pakistan and others against its neigh- Khalid Omar Sheikh, who kid- prisoners they planned to kill, Bajwa ens of ball bearings. Col. Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also bours, that operate in various parts of napped and killed the Wall Street said, displaying pencil sketches of The footage also showed several an opposition parliamentarian of known as the Pakistani Taliban, the country. Journal’s Daniel Pearl in 2002, is the prison allegedly made by the rifles that Bajwa said had been stolen the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Bajwa added. Pakistan has been under domestic being held at that jail and was to be militants. from police in earlier targeted attacks. (MQM).

Winter woes in Afghanistan TV channel Aid increased for heirs of warned over anti-Malala Pakistanis dying abroad hate speech Internews promote positive image of Paki- stan, he said. Afp “To address concerns of Paki- ISLAMABAD: Legal heirs of over- stani expatriates and to attract them seas Pakistanis who die in a foreign to invest in Pakistan, the board country will get Rs300, 000 ($2,280) decided to hold a convention of over- ISLAMABAD: TV regulator yes- aid from the Overseas Pakistanis seas Pakistanis in Islamabad next terday censured a leading news Foundation (OPF). This was decided year,” Khan said. channel for airing “hate speech” by the OPF board at its meeting yes- Prominent members of Pakistani against Nobel Peace Prize winner terday. diaspora, including businessmen, Malala Yousafzai and her family, Earlier, destitute families of philanthropists, professionals and warning that accusations of blas- overseas Pakistanis who died abroad investors, would be invited from phemy could endanger lives. received Rs250,000 as one-time different parts of the world to par- Malala, who moved to England financial aid. ticipate in the convention, Khan after being shot in the head by the The meeting decided to hold a further said. Taliban, is both admired and hated convention of overseas Pakistanis The meeting was attended, in her native Pakistan where some in Islamabad next year to promote among others, by Minister for conservatives view her as a West- positive image of the country. Overseas Pakistanis and Human ern agent on a mission to shame “The aid is granted under the Resource Development Sadrud- her country. Financial Aid Scheme,” OPF Man- din Shah Rashdi, secretary of the Internally-displaced Afghans walk through a camp for the displaced on the outskirts of Kabul yesterday. In its ruling, the Pakistan Elec- aging Director Habibur Rehman ministry Khizar Hayat Khan, For- As winter continues, many Afghans struggle to provide adequate food and shelter to their families. tronic Media Regulatory Authority Khan said. eign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and (PEMRA) said that a programme The meeting decided to increase Chairman of the Federal Board of aired by the 24-hour ARY news annual budgetary allocation for the Revenue Nisar Mohammad Khan. channel on February 7 used “inde- scheme from Rs200m to Rs240m. Participants of the meeting cent and uncivilised” language to About 800 families of overseas Paki- said that overseas Pakistanis were describe the 18-year-old, brand- stanis will be provided the aid this an asset because of their contribu- ing her “a traitor, a blasphemer of year. tion to the national economy, role in Joining police force a tough Allah and the Prophet Mohammad “The number of beneficiaries development of the country, spirit of (Peace Be Upon Him)”. of the scheme is increasing as the patriotism and potential as a bridge “The host and guests used such amount for the scheme is being grad- to the outside world. words about Malala Yousafzai and ually increased,” the OPF director The minister said that the gov- option in KP province her family that undoubtedly fall said. ernment wanted to utilise the under hate speech and use of such The board resolved to use the potential of overseas Pakistanis for words are strictly banned under potential of Pakistani diaspora to development of the country. the law and constitution,” it said. Internews conducted without them. women-only complaint desks at each “Issuing certificates of treason “The presence of two civilians police station of the province could and infidelity and declaring some- who would act as witnesses and not materialise due to the insufficient one the enemy of the country or an PESHAWAR: In Pakistan, policing policewomen is a legal requirement number of policewomen. As a result, enemy of Islam is not the job of TV Cop killed in Islamabad is largely a man’s job. And in north- for a raid if it is planned well ahead. the complaint cells are functional at anchors or the participants of a TV west Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, But in case of an emergency, if we only select police stations. programme,” it added. “They are social conventions and stereotypes are pressed on time and calling for “I joined the police force due to broadcasting such material which AFP police head-constable has been have restricted the number of police- policewomen is not feasible, we are extreme poverty in order to support could endanger someone’s life.” martyred,” Muhammad Zia-ul- women to just 586 in a 40,000-strong allowed to conduct a raid without the my family of 10. My elderly father is a Malala was awarded the Nobel Qamar, a spokesman for Islamabad force. There are 99 seats for police- policewomen as per the ruling of the peon in a government department. I Peace Prize in 2014 along with ISLAMABAD: One police officer was police said. Qamar said another women in Mansehra district, but only high court,” a policeman requesting cannot get another job with my mat- India’s Kailash Satyarthi, a fellow killed and two others wounded when policeman and a paramilitary sol- 14 constables have joined the force anonymity said. And in a province ric qualification, otherwise this isn’t education activist. gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint dier were wounded. thus far. In Torghar, there is just one wracked by militancy, the search and an attractive option,” says a consta- Hardline groups continue to in Islamabad yesterday, a police Police said they had launched a policewoman. strike operations are too frequent and ble. “Nearly all those women who revile the teen, who was shot by spokesman said. search operation to arrest the gun- It is mandatory for policemen in policewomen too few. joined the police as constables have in 2012 after she spoke out against The incident happened on the men who fled the scene after the the province to be accompanied by “Due to the non-availability of done so because of financial difficul- them for opposing girls’ education. edge of the capital when police tried shooting. Pakistan has been in the policewomen during raids as they policewomen, you cannot include ties. They are not here by choice; they However, there has also been an to stop two men on a motorcycle for grip of a bloody homegrown Tali- cannot enter a house without con- them in raiding parties in some dis- have no other option. I would like to outpouring of invective from Paki- a routine search. ban insurgency since 2007 but there stables. The number of policewomen, tricts, planned or otherwise,” he adds. get a teaching job, but I’m overage stan’s middle classes, who are keen “All of a sudden the motorcy- have been very few attacks in recent however, is so low that raids are often Even initial plans to establish now,” she adds. to educate their daughters. cle riders opened fire on them, one years in Islamabad. 08 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 INDIA

SC orders Sonia and Rahul Wedding fair to face trial in graft case

them. There will be more chaos with on conclusions and same has to be these people going to the court than decided after recording of the evi- The two members not going to the court,” the court told dence. so paragraph 31 and paragraph of the Nehru- BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the 39 are expunged,” the court said. complainant, as he said that power The high court in paragraph 31, Gandhi dynasty had to grant exemption was vested in the while holding that a political party approached the top magistrate. As Swamy tried to read an was free to tap other avenues to aug- earlier apex court ruling in support, ment its income, however said that the court to throw out Justice Khehar said that one option allegations against the Congress office the case charging was that they ask the Gandhis and bearers are that of “siphoning off the others to make an application for party funds in a clandestine manner”. that it is a vendetta exemption from personal appear- Questing the propriety of the carried out by BJP ances and direct the magistrate to party “extending interest free loans leader grant it or do it themselves. to a separate legal entity i.e. AJL, it In yet another relief to the Gan- had said that “what crops up in the dhis, the court permitted them to mind of a prudent person is as to raise all the issues, including the where was the need of extending Visitors attend ‘Asia Wedding Fair-2016’ in Bangalore yesterday. More than 100 exhibitors will showcase locus of Swamy, who has initiated interest free loans to a public limited some of the finest collections of wedding essentials and accessories, traditional and fashion jewellery. IANS the criminal proceedings. company engaged in a commercial The fair ends tomorrow. “Whatever you want to say, you venture of publishing newspapers”. say at the time of the framing of the In paragraph 39, it had said: “After charges,” the court said as senior having considered the entire case in NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court counsel Kapil Sibal sought to assail its proper perspective, this court finds yesterday refused to put on hold maintainability of Swamy’s com- no hesitation to put it on record that criminal proceedings against Con- plaint . Making it clear that they were the modus operandi adopted by peti- JNU student held for sedition charge gress president Sonia Gandhi, vice not going to reverse the high court tioners in taking control of AJL via president Rahul Gandhi and oth- order, Justice Khehar said that their special purpose vehicle i.e. Y I, par- ers in the National Herald case but interference would be limited to the ticularly, when the main persons in expunged all adverse observations, adverse inferences and conclusions Congress party, AJL and YI are the IANS involved in the protest held on Tues- was held at the Press Club of India inferences and conclusions by the by the high court. “We are not happy same, evidences a criminal intent.” day in the academic institution. in Delhi where anti-India slogans and high court. with what the high court judge has “Whether it is cheating, criminal mis- The police swung into action a placards were also raised. Kanhaiya A bench of Justice Jagdish Singh said. That is the limited interference appropriation or criminal breach of day after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kumar, the president of the left-dom- Khehar and Justice C Nagappan also (of expunging them) we can do. trust is not required to be spelt out NEW DELHI: Delhi Police cracked Maheish Girri lodged a complaint inated JNU Students Union, was exempted the Gandhis and others “So far as determination ren- at this nascent stage,” it said. Direct- down on a group of protestors at against the “anti-constitutional and arrested from a hostel in the univer- from personal appearances, noting dered by the high court in rejecting ing Gandhis and others to appear Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) anti-national elements” who partic- sity campus in the police crackdown. that their presence in the trial court the prayer for quashing of the pro- before the trial court, the high court yesterday and arrested a student ipated in the demonstration. Charged with sedition and con- would cause more “inconvenience, ceedings against the petitioners are had said it could not be argued that leader on sedition charges for alleg- The event was organised by a spiracy, Kumar was brought before than convenience”. However, it said concerned, we find no justification in no case for their summoning has edly raising anti-India slogans during group of students to protest the 2013 Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen. the trial court was free to have their intervening with the order. been made out, and the “question- a demonstration in the campus to hanging of Guru, an alleged Jaish-e- The police sought his custody to presence as and when needed. “On factual position in paragraph able conduct of petitioners needs to mark the hanging of parliament Mohammed militant, from Kashmir. interrogate him about his links and “When people of such promi- 31 and conclusion in paragraph 39 of be properly examined at the charge attack convict Afzal Guru. The protest sparked clashes between also identify others accused of shout- nence are there, they are not going to the high court judgment, we are of the stage to find out the truth and so, Dozens of policemen swarmed two groups of students after which ing “anti-national” slogans in a video run away. If on a particular occasion view that it will not be open (for trial) these criminal proceedings cannot the campus in south Delhi to look police were deployed in the campus. clip from the event that was played when you need them, you can call for court recording any findings based be thwarted at this initial stage”. for more students, suspected to be A day later, another meeting in the courtroom.

Snowfall shuts highway in Kashmir Headley says Al Qaeda wanted to attack India Hopes rise for IANS Headley revealed how the Lashkar nefariously planned to elimi- Air Kerala nate Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray. Thiruvananthapuram: Hopes MUMBAI: Pakistani-American Headley, 56, spoke of develop- of bringing into existence terrorist-turned-approver David ing close links with Rajaram Rege, Kerala’s own airline received Coleman Headley yesterday said the former PRO of present Shiv Sena a boost yesterday as Chief the global terror network Al Qaeda President Uddhav Thackeray, by Minister Oommen Chandy wanted to attack India’s National luring him with a business offer to announced Rs10crore had Defence College in New Delhi as he access Shiv Sena Bhavan which was been set aside for the project also revealed a medley of Lashkar- also on the target list of LeT. in the state budget. e-Taiba plans to strike terror in the “I took videos of the Shiv Sena “I set aside Rs10crore country. Bhavan from outside and inside... for commencing Air Ker- Headley, who has been testi- I thought LeT would be interested ala. It will be done once we fying through video-conferencing in attacking it or even carry assas- get the Centre’s sanction to since Monday before a special court sination of its (then) head (Bal commence flights to the Mid- in Mumbai for his involvement in the Thackeray),” Headley said. dle-East countries from here,” 2008 Mumbai terror attack, claimed He said he provided two-three Chandy said while presenting that Al Qaeda considered the defence videos to his Pakistani handlers the budget in the assembly. college as “a good, high-value target Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal. Rege The project has been caught with many senior military officers”. admitted that he knew Headley but in turbulence ever since he He said he visited the college said he never took him to the Shiv first mooted it during his campus casually for a survey in 2007 Sena Bhavan. Sena MP Sanjay Raut first tenure as chief minister Stranded Kashmiri passengers wait for the opening of the Jammu-Srinagar highway at the general bus at the instance of Al Qaeda leader said the Thackerays and the party (2004-06). stand in Jammu, yesterday. Kashmir remained cut off from the rest of the country as heavy snowfall in Ilyas Kashmiri. have always been targeted by terror The project envisages the Pir Panjal mountain range closed the Srinagar-Jammu highway. In his ongoing deposition before groups “since we are the only ones to help Keralites who are Special TADA Judge G A Sanap, who speak out against Pakistan”. fleeced by airline companies for travelling to their state from different Middle-East countries. At present, rules for flying on international Apex Court orders for uniform Pachauri sent on indefinite leave, routes stipulate that a com- pany should own 20 aircraft and should have operated policy for assault victims activists say it ‘means nothing’ domestic flights for five years. Modi’s wife fasts Reuters Maharashtra in the west providing no formal financial aid, while oth- IANS head since 1982, will be on leave for slum dwellers ers such as Goa providing up to one from TERI, TERI Governing Coun- million rupees ($14,620), said the cil and TERI University till the issue MUMBAI: Prime Minister NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has court order. is reviewed by the governing coun- Narendra Modi’s wife Jas- directed all the states to formulate “All the states and union terri- NEW DELHI: TERI yesterday asked cil given the sub judice nature of the hodaben yesterday joined a uniform policy to provide compen- tories shall make all endeavours its executive vice chairman R K matter,” a TERI statement said. members of an NGO on a sation to victims of rape and other to formulate a uniform scheme for Pachauri (pictured), mired in a sex- Senior lawyer Vrinda Grover, who day-long token hunger strike forms of sexual assault, saying such providing victim compensation in ual harassment case, to proceed on has been vocal on the whole issue, in support of slum dwellers. aid was crucial for a survivor’s reha- respect of rape/sexual exploitation,” indefinite leave, a move the women said the action did not mean anything Jashodaben was flanked by bilitation. said an order by a division bench activists said “meant nothing”. as Pachauri continued to retain his five National Security Guard Conservative and patriarchal made up of Justices M Y Eqbal and The Energy and Resources Insti- posts. commandos as she joined attitudes in India mean victims of Arun Mishra. tute’s move comes in the face of flak “Pachauri’s leave doesn’t mean leadership of this important insti- ‘Good Samaritan Mission’ sexual assault are often shunned “Indisputably, no amount of from various quarters over making anything as he still holds the posts. tute. The council also inducted the non-governmental organisa- by their families and communities money can restore the dignity and him the executive vice chairman, the He retains his office as the chancellor new director general Ajay Mathur as tion’s volunteers to demand and blamed for the violence perpe- confidence that the accused took first ever in TERI. (of TERI University). It is illegal and he a council member who will operate a halt to demolitions of trated against them, say activists and away from the victim. No amount Pachauri was accused of sexu- needs to be removed by the Human with full executive powers.” slums in Mumbai. “We are lawyers. of money can erase the trauma and ally harassing a 29-year-old female Resource Development Ministry and Meanwhile, a protest was staged demanding that the author- Many are ostracised from their grief the victim suffers. This aid can colleague in 2015. by the varsity board,” Grover said. outside TERI office here by women ities concerned should put a homes and cannot afford the legal be crucial with aftermath of crime.” Meanwhile, TERI university act- The statement also mentioned activists opposing the scientist’s stop to this practice,” Brother fees to fight for justice in an under- The top court passed the order ing vice chancellor Rajiv Seth said that Ashok Chawla, a former finance reappointment at the institute. Peter Paul Raj, Good Samar- resourced judicial system where on Thursday after hearing a plea that varsity vice chancellor Leena secretary and former chairman of the After sexual harassment charge, itan Mission founder and verdicts can still take years to reach. filed by a convicted man in the cen- Srivastava, on a sabbatical since Competition Commission, will be the Pachauri stepped down as chairper- ex-aide of Mother Teresa, India’s 29 states and seven tral state of Chhattisgarh challenging August 2015, is likely to rejoin soon. new TERI chairman. son of the UN Intergovernmental said at the protest venue. union territories vary in how they a seven year jail term for sexually The university will hold its con- “The council welcomed Ashok Panel on Climate Change last year provide support to sexual assault exploiting a blind girl with a false vocation on March 7. Chawla as its new chairman. and proceeded on leave from TERI victims, with some states such as promise of marriage. “Pachauri, who has been institute The council looks forward to his where he was the director general. EUROPE SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 09 Greek farmers clash with cops during protest

agriculture ministry after arriv- ing by ferries. They began pelting The farmers are riot police with tomatoes and other angry about items, broke windows in the minis- try and set fire to dustbins. government plans Police, who blocked their route, to increase their responded with teargas, and arrested four people. “The first floor of the social security building sustained damage, it is contributions as part fortunate that no staff were hurt,” Agriculture Minister Evangelos of a wider reform of Apostolou told reporters. the country’s ailing Apostolou called on the leaders pension system to contain “extreme” elements in their midst, amidst reports that far- right militants had joined the protest. Police also confronted other farmers from the Peloponnese AFP peninsula who tried to break Farmers clash with police amid tear gas in front of the agriculture ministry in Athens, during a protest, yesterday. through barriers into the city cen- tre from a western suburb with their farm vehicles. across the country for a mass rally in blockading border crossings to Bul- a new bailout with Greece’s interna- generally over the need to protect ATHENS: Greek farmers clashed The farmers are angry about front of the parliament. garia and Turkey. tional creditors in August, offered the their income,” he said. with police who fired teargas yester- government plans to increase their The government has banned the But following an appeal from Sofia farmers a compromise on Wednesday. Greece’s creditors the European day ahead of a mass demonstration social security contributions as part farmers from using tractors in the on Tuesday, they allowed trucks to “We are open to a substantial, Union and the IMF have insisted on in Athens to protest pension reforms of a wider reform of the country’s demonstration, but a deal was reached pass for several hours a day at one honest dialogue with the farmers,” the reforms as a condition for loans demanded by the EU and the Inter- ailing pension system. They also to allow a symbolic procession of 17 of crossing into Bulgaria. Tsipras said in televised comments to to the debt-ridden country. national Monetary Fund (IMF). reject plans to double their income the vehicles in the capital. The farmers threatened to further his cabinet. The country’s statistical office Around 2,000 farmers from the tax by 2017 and scrap benefits such Since mid-January, farmers have escalate the protest by blocking ports “There is significant room for Elstat meanwhile reported that GDP island of Crete, most of them car- as cheaper fuel. used their tractors to block dozens of and airports at the weekend. improvement on their social secu- fell back 0.6 percent in the last quarter rying their characteristic wooden The Cretans were to be joined highways. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, rity contributions, on the issue of compared with the previous three- canes, gathered in front of the later in the day by farmers from Earlier this month they also began whose options are limited after signing when the measures take effect, and monthly benchmark. Ukraine sees Russian hand in cyber attacks on power grid Independent daily to close Reuters by a cyber attack, and has prompted its cyber defences. Hackers targeted three power dis- Deputy Energy Minister Ole- fears both within Ukraine and out- But the findings chime with the tribution companies in December’s ksander Svetelyk said hackers had print edition side that other critical infrastructure testimony of the US intelligence chief attack, and then flooded those com- prepared the attacks at least six could be vulnerable. to Congress this week, which named panies’ call centres with fake calls to months in advance, adding that his KIEV: Hackers used a Russian-based The ministry, saying it had com- cyber attacks, including those target- prevent genuine customers report- ministry had ordered tighter secu- internet provider and made phone pleted an investigation into the ing Washington’s interests in Ukraine, ing the outage. rity procedures. Bloomberg calls from inside Russia as part of a incident, did not accuse the Russian as the biggest threat to US national “According to one of the power “The attack on our systems took coordinated cyber attack on Ukraine’s government directly of involvement security. Relations between Kiev and companies, the connection by the at least six months to prepare —we power grid in December, Ukraine’s in the attack, which knocked out elec- Moscow soured after Russia annexed attackers to its IT network occurred have found evidence that they started LONDON: The UK’s Independent energy ministry said yesterday. tricity supplies to tens of thousands the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 from a subnetwork belonging to an collecting information (about our sys- newspaper will move online and The incident was widely seen as of customers in central and western and pro-Russian separatist violence (internet service) provider in the Rus- tems) no less than 6 months before the cease print publication late next the first known power outage caused Ukraine and prompted Kiev to review erupted in Ukraine. sian Federation,” the ministry said. attack,” Svetelyk said. month, following the sale of its tab- loid sister “i” to Johnston Press Plc for 24m pounds ($34.9m) yesterday. Russian ex-KGB officer Alexander Lebedev bought the Flood in France Independent and the Independ- EU to end most of ent on Sunday newspapers for 1 pound in 2010, after snapping up the London Evening Standard a year earlier. He handed owner- Belarus sanctions ship of the newspapers to his son, Evgeny, who also runs the TV sta- tion London Live. AFP blacklist, the sources said. “This decision preserves the A longstanding arms embargo Independent brand and allows us will also stay in place. to continue to invest in the high- “For us, it is important to remain quality editorial content that is BRUSSELS: The EU is to end most of a close monitor of human rights in attracting more readers to our its sanctions against Belarus, includ- Belarus and we don’t believe there online platforms,” Evgeny Lebe- ing strongman President Alexander has been significant improvement,” dev said in a statement yesterday. Lukashenko, after improvements in one of the sources said. The Independent, which began its human rights record, diplomatic “Some member states believe publishing in 1986, will be found at sources said yesterday. the best way to get an improvement the website from the end of March The European Union in Octo- is to lift sanctions while others like and the print closures will result in ber suspended an asset freeze and us to believe it is best to leave some a number of staff layoffs, Lebedev travel ban against 170 individuals (measures) in place,” the source said. said, without divulging a figure. The and three entities for four months Doing so “implies leverage... that digital move will create 25 content after Lukashenko released several we can extend the list again if need roles, a new subscription mobile high-profile political prisoners as be,” the source added. app and the opening of offices in demanded by Brussels. Another source said the foreign Europe, the Middle East and Asia, The sources said that EU for- ministers are mindful of the wider and an expansion in the US, he said. eign ministers meeting on Monday picture, notably Belarus’ role in host- The London Evening Stand- in Brussels are now expected to ing a series of peace talks between ard will be unaffected by changes approve ending these sanctions Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in east- at the Independent,. In 2015, the completely. At the same time, four ern Ukraine. Evening Standard made a profit of people who were not included in “In the Ukraine crisis, Belarus 5m pounds and the London Live TV Submerged river banks in Bordeaux, southwestern France, after the river Garonne reached a flood the October suspension because of has played a positive role and shown channel is expected to double reve- peak over 6.8 metres, yesterday. their involvement in “unresolved a willingness to come closer to the nues and break even in 2017, Evgeny disappearances,” will remain on the EU,” the source said. Lebedev said. Clooney backs Merkel on refugees at Berlin meet Be ready to halt migrants,

AFP David Miliband” in the International how difficult the task is and Chancellor separately, a group of asylum seekers, Austria tells Macedonia Rescue Committee, said Merkel when Merkel talks about the incredible work “to talk about and ask what messages asked about the encounter at a press that all these volunteers have been and what things we can do... to help.” conference following talks with Polish doing—it’s not just the government but An opinion poll published late Reuters main crossing point from Greece for BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. what all the people in Germany have January showed that nearly 40 per- migrants, many of them Syrian refu- Merkel yesterday hosted George “We spoke about the possibilities been doing,” said the actor. cent of German voters want Merkel to gees, crossing the Balkan peninsula Clooney for talks on Europe’s refu- for an NGO and a government to work Britain’s former foreign minis- quit over her asylum policy. en route to western Europe. gee influx, after the Hollywood idol together on the causes that force peo- ter Miliband is now head of the IRC, Outside Germany, Merkel has also SKOPJE: Austria told Macedonia Austria, which received 90,000 offered to lend star power to help with ple to flee their countries, and also how while Clooney’s wife Amal is a Leba- come under fire. French Prime Min- yesterday to be ready to “completely asylum requests last year, has set a the crisis. to encourage people to get involved in nese-born human rights lawyer. ister Manuel Valls joined a growing stop” the flow of migrants across its limit of less than half that number The meeting lent Merkel a bit of the cause,” she said, describing the dis- The Clooneys were in the German chorus of critics Friday with a warn- southern border from Greece and for this year. “Most probably in much-needed support as her liberal cussions as “very good”. capital to attend the Berlin film festi- ing her policy was “unsustainable in said it would do the same on its own the coming months our maximum asylum policy comes under attack at Clooney told public television ZDF val, which this year also puts Europe’s the long term”, while his Russian frontiers within months. number will be reached, so Austria home and abroad. that “what we were there to do is to refugee influx in the spotlight. counterpart Dmitry Medvedev had Macedonia has erected two will have to stop the migrants at its “We spoke about the involvement talk about how best we can help”. The actor had told reporters stronger words, calling it “quite sim- lines of metal fencing topped with border,” Austrian Foreign Minister of George Clooney, his wife (Amal) and “I understand first and foremost that he would meet Merkel and, ply stupid”. razor wire along the border at the Sebastian Kurz said. 10 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL

Trump’s turn Colombian president must his is an age of political upheavals and subversions. The sell peace to end war established political orders are being questioned and upended at a terrific speed; the right, with high toxicity, is considered right more than ever before and mavericks and crazies are T his career is on the line. Although paramilitary rivals fed their war that has hit Colombia’s treas- replacing level-headed leaders. Nowhere is this phenomenon more pronounced than in the US, where the big win of Republican a slim majority of Colombians chests with drug profits. Now that ury and currency, and under supports the peace effort, the the Farc has pledged to give up the his administration the country presidential candidate Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary has polling firm YanHaas recently trade, rural drug gangs are step- is hardly a basket case. Gross many Americans scratching their heads with all fingers about where their found that about half the coun- ping up their operations. Santos’s domestic product will grow 2.7 country is heading. Many think he should have been crushed and chucked try believes that peace will take unprecedented order to bombard percent this year (down from out many weeks ago. But he proved them wrong. Here is a presidential at least another four years. Many some of their outposts is encour- 4.6 percent in 2014), which looks hopeful who favours barring Muslims from entering the United States, who Colombians worry that in trying aging and a sign he takes the almost robust in a region slipping mocks women, insults Latin Americans, endorses war crimes like torture, to keep the Marxist rebels at the criminal threat seriously. into recession. table, Santos mortgaged justice It will take a lot more to con- Santos’s economic challenge is denounces party icons and mouths expletives, but still enjoys splendid for truce. Moreover, the costs of vince the country’s skeptical to help Colombians overcome new support among his party men. Even the Republican establishment is the peace agreement will weigh citizens that a new Colombia is hurdles without losing sight of shocked, but feels helpless in the face of Trump’s relentless surge which is heavily on an economy hit hard in the works. Despite the nation’s their recent gains: Extreme pov- as sweeping as a destructive flood in its unstoppability. by the oil rout and severe drought, natural riches and soaring urban erty fell by half from 2002-2014 As political pundits try to dig deep to explain this weird phenomenon, feeding public frustrations over skylines, rural poverty abounds. and the middle class now out- the rest of the world is equally worried at Trump’s invincibility. It’s common By Mac Margolis fleeting prosperity. The country’s gap between rich numbers the poor. He also needs Bloomberg sense that power can inject practical wisdom into the craziest of leaders, So never mind the plaudits and poor is one of the world’s to talk up the “peace dividend” from United Nations Secretary worst and land distribution -- less and lure the foreign investment but this rule may not apply to Trump. General Ban Ki-moon and the than one percent of the popula- that will make it real for more A leader who has been abusing and olombian President prayers from Pope Francis. San- tion owns 62 percent of the land people. A 2015 World Bank study trampling on everything others consider Juan Manuel Santos tos needs to show Colombians that -- is a scandal. reckoned that had the war ended Over decades, unassailable, and whose support base knows how to wage a he can meet the challenges raised All the better for Alvaro Uribe, 20 years ago, per capita income has only been swelling with every such charm offensive. Vis- by the peace agreement, narrow Santos’s hardline predecessor and would be 50 percent greater today. Republican disrespectful act, can’t be expected to play iting the US last week, the country’s divisions, and re- fiercest critic, whose unending His political prospects may leaders have been Che impressed a gathering of Latin charge its faltering economy. hostility toward the insurgents brighten if the final accord is by the rules. America policy wonks, threw a One of the biggest sore points and rapport with humble rural signed by the announced March indulging in a toxic One explanation is that voters are lavish party for Beltway notables, is the peace deal’s provision for dwellers play well on the stump. 23 deadline. That, in turn, could politics of fear and reacting furiously against the status quo. and walked away with a com- holding the Farc to account. Pen- “While Santos is seen as aloof help prevent the ensuing national The visceral disappointment of the white mitment from President Barack itent rebels who lay down their and polished, a member of the referendum on peace, scheduled hatred and it’s time middleclass at the erosion of their power Obama to ask the US Congress for weapons, own up to their crimes Bogota elite,” said Michael Shifter, for later this year, from turning to harvest what and lives, the stagflation, cross-border $450 million to help end the West- in special courts, and compensate president of the Inter-American into a damning plebiscite on his trade deals and Wall Street bailouts have ern Hemisphere’s longest war. their victims will be condemned Dialogue, “Uribe throws on a pon- presidency. they have sowed. If only Santos played so well to hard labour but not to jail. “If cho and people flock to hear him.” Santos has intimated he may all been blamed for his surge. The public at home. By rights, he should be a the Farc refuses to atone for its Earlier this week, the ex-presi- quit if the deal collapses. Yet fail- revolt is said to be rooted in decades of national hero. After three-and-a- sins, Colombians are going to feel dent again slammed the leniency ure to stop the conflict would be failure by politicians to improve the living half years of vexing negotiations, they’ve got a raw deal,” said Chris- granted to the Farc and askedthe Latin America’s loss. Colombians standards of ordinary Americans. the conflagrated Andean nation topher Sabatini, a Latin America US to reconsider its support for the should look to the future, not the But the Republican establishment has no right to wring its hand in is closer than ever to settling its scholar at Columbia University. peace agreement. past, vote yes on the referendum, despair at Trump’s destructive rise. Republican leaders brought this on half-century-old quarrel with Another worry about the It’s no help that Santos’s push and then keep the pressure on the Revolutionary Armed Forces war’s end: Newly empowered to end the war coincides with a government to safeguard the his- themselves. Over decades they have been indulging in a toxic politics of of Colombia, or Farc -- a conflict narco- traffickers will take the sharp economic downturn and toric deal against the fog of peace. fear and hatred and it’s time to harvest what they have sowed. that has killed at least 220,000 Farc’s place in Colombia’s thriv- rising inflation. More than 80 The victory of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders over the long- people and uprooted another 5.7 ing cocaine business, which percent of respondents said the Mac Margolis is a Bloomberg time favourite Hillary Clinton too has surprised America. Bernie is a million. supplies most of US demand. economy is either in decline or View contributor based in Rio de longstanding leftwing demagogue, a socialist, which is considered an Yet instead Santos’s approval Over the course of the conflict, stagnating. But Santos can’t do Janeiro. anathema in America. His rise is interesting for our region for a different ratings are below 30 percent, and both the Farcand its rightwing much about the fall in oil prices reason -- he is the first Jewish person and non-Christian to win a presidential primary. His views on Middle East are under scrutiny. He has declared that he is not a great fan of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ukraine needs the toughest love IMF can give Netanyahu and boycotted Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress last year. But now he will be confronting different realities. The Washington Post uprisings, in 2004 and 2013. And corruption, being hired to work with the new National especially in the energy field, is what has Anti-Corruption Bureau, need to be protected exposed the country to manipulation -- and, from interference, so that corrupt officials can he International Monetary Fund has later, invasion -- by Russia. be brought to trial. Ideally their trials will be threatened to cut off aid to Ukraine So what to do? After IMF Managing Director held before special corruption courts run by Quote of the day Tunless the government finally cracks Christine Lagarde issued her threat, Porosh- judges from outside Ukraine’s compromised down on corruption. It’s the right message, and enko promised to deliver a road map to reform. judiciary -- if need be, from abroad. the fund should be prepared to follow through It should include at least three proposals. Poroshenko must understand that Ukraine We went from no schools for if President Petro Poroshenko fails to deliver. First, Ukraine needs an enforceable sched- has reached a tipping point. Its Western donors Make no mistake: This would be a devas- ule for the privatising most of the country’s are running out of patience, and so are some women in 1960 to universal tating blow for a country still struggling with 3,000-plus state-owned companies, whose of its own leaders. Earlier this month, Aivaras education, to where today 55 a Russia-inspired insurgency in its eastern losses are bleeding the budget dry. Under the Abromavicius, the reformist economy minister, provinces. The IMF-led $40 billion aid pro- country’s post-Soviet system, the profits these resigned, protesting that he could no longer act percent of college students are gram is keeping Ukraine’s economy alive, if companies earn are privatised, but assets and as a “smokescreen” for malfeasance, including women. When it comes to issues just barely. losses remain the responsibility of the state. So, meddling in state enterprise appointments by like women›s driving, this is not a The unfortunate truth is, independent oligarchs pay stooges in parliament and gov- a legislator who is a close business associate of Ukraine has so far shown itself incapable of ernment ministries to ensure that their people Poroshenko’s. Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko religious issue, it›s a societal issue. reform. It’s been almost two years since former are put in charge of state enterprises. These and other technocrats who had hoped to pro- President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted (and appointees, in turn, can siphon revenues to duce change are also threatening to resign. Russia, in response, annexed Crimea). With their bosses -- and pass losses on to the state. Poroshenko’s promised road map will need the conflict in the eastern Donbas region Naturally, it will take time to sell so many to satisfy Western donors and reformist min- Adel Al Jubeir now merely simmering, the greatest threat to companies. In the meantime, Ukraine should isters alike. Indeed, the proposals it contains Ukraine’s continued existence as an independ- form an independent committee of technocrats should be solid enough to persuade Abromav- Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister ent state is its own corruption. to cull corrupt managers and replace them with icius to return to his job. No one is in a better The country’s persistent vulnerabil- professionals. position to judge whether the government is ity to this problem has inspired two popular Also, special prosecutors, who at last are getting serious about reform.

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 11 US sends mixed message to Europe on Iran sanctions

“technically right,” but only if one doesn’t count the many front companies behind which the IRGC hides: “There is no way that major business investment is done in Iran without at some point touching the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and their business enterprises.” Richard Nephew, a former State Department official who helped coordi- nate sanctions on Iran, conceded, “there are very few areas of the Iranian econ- omy that the IRGC is not touching in some fashion.” But he also said believed Smith, who has “access to the totality of US information,” and that critics should too, “unless they can prove it beyond making assertions about bank-shot By Eli Lake relationships.” Bloomberg Ottolenghi, however, said there is hard evidence that European compa- nies have already conducted significant transactions with at least one company ince reaching the nuclear agree- linked to the IRGC, Mahan Air. In 2011, ment that lifted economic the Treasury Department sanctioned sanctions on Iran, President the airline for its role in transporting Barack Obama has pledged to weapons and personnel to Syria. While Scontinue to punish foreign companies the US removed the Interpol red notice that do business with the regime’s power- -- basically, an arrest warrant -- on ful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. the company’s managing director last In theory, this will chill European month as part of the deal to free US investment in Iran because the IRGC, prisoners in Iran, the airline remains along with its front businesses, controls under “secondary sanctions,” which pun- Stephen Mull, State Department Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation, and John Smith, acting major portions of Iran’s economy in vital ish third-country actors doing business director of the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, testify during a House Foreign Affairs sectors such as oil, construction and with targeted entities or people. Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on Thursday. banking. But despite recent reports of Ottolenghi pointed out that several billions of dollars worth of new Euro- European companies have already begun pean investment in Iran, the US Treasury providing ground services for Mahan month when he visited London, Paris engage the Revolutionary Guard Corps Department has seen no evidence that Air flights landing at European airports. and Rome and signed new investment or its front companies. European companies are conducting These include the Swedish firm Aviator deals worth billions of dollars. Tell- “A foreign bank that conducts or facil- transactions with the IRGC. Many sanc- and Airport Handling of Italy, which men- ing European companies they cannot itates a significant financial transaction tions experts question whether this is tions Mahan as a client on its website. provide ground services for Iran’s sec- with Iran’s Mahan Air, the IRGC-control- Several European really possible. Sherman brought up Mahan Air ond- biggest airline would undermine led construction firm Khatam al-Anbiya, companies On Thursday, John Smith, the acting at Thursday’s congressional hearing. the goal of reintegrating Iran into the or Bank Saderat, will risk losing its access director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign While several parts of the US govern- global economy. to the US financial system, and this is have already Assets Control, had a testy exchange ment were working to stop Mahan Air At the same time, top Obama officials not affected by the nuclear deal,” Szubin begun providing before the House Committee on Foreign flights from landing in European air- have repeatedly said existing sanctions told Congress in August. ground services Affairs. Asked repeatedly by Rep. Brad ports, Smith said, his office had found against Iran for its human rights abuses, In December, Szubin said in a speech Sherman, D-California, who opposed no evidence of any European bank doing development of ballistic missiles and at the Atlantic Council: “After imple- for Mahan Air the Iran deal, which European com- business with the airline. support for terrorism will be enforced. mentation day, non-US persons who flights landing panies have been sanctioned for doing Sherman was flabbergasted. “We’re This is no small matter. Since agreeing in knowingly facilitate significant trans- After at European business with the Revolutionary Guards, relying on the executive branch to enforce July to the nuclear deal, Iran has stepped actions with a designated Iran-linked implementation Smith couldn’t name any. “I have not seen this deal because you are able to moni- up its support for Syria’s dictator, con- entity or individual risk losing access day, non-US persons airports. These evidence of European actors continuing tor what Iran does,” he said. “And here’s ducted missile tests that violated a United to the US market.” include the to do business with the IRGC,” he said. an example where you have a major air- Nations resolution, and waged a crack- Particularly now, foreign businesses who knowingly Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fel- line doing business in dozens of cities down against internal dissent at home. and banks are watching the Treasury facilitate significant Swedish firm low at the Foundation for the Defense and you can’t find them doing business Earlier this month, Iran’s most powerful closely to gauge exactly how risky these Aviator and of Democracies and an expert on Iran with a single bank.” religious body disqualified hundreds of transactions really are. If Smith’s testi- transactions with Airport Handling sanctions, was skeptical. “There is over- Smith’s testimony illuminates a par- candidates aligned with Rouhani, who mony Thursday is any indication, then a designated Iran- whelming evidence that European adox of Obama’s post-deal Iran policy. is considered a moderate, from running it seems doing business with the IRGC of Italy, which businesses lining up to trade with Iran On the one hand, the agreement lifts a in elections later this month. is a pretty safe bet. linked entity or mentions Mahan will be transacting with the IRGC,” he number of sanctions on Iran’s banks The acting undersecretary of the individual risk said. and companies, and even has language Treasury for terrorism and financial as a client on its Matthew Levitt, a former Treasury encouraging investment in its econ- intelligence, Adam Szubin, has sent a losing access to the website. official with the Washington Institute for omy. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, warning out to banks and businesses The writer is a Bloomberg View columnist US market. Near East Policy, told me Smith could be emphasised this element of the deal last all over the world to be careful not to writing about politics and foreign affairs The politics of autism

Throughout the approximately 75 What is needed, they argue, is not a In 2008, then-candidates Clinton lead to a prenatal test, with alarming years that the diagnosis has been on cure but an overhaul in attitudes such and John McCain made statements consequences. the books, the “autism community” - that people who are neurologically leaving open the possibility that Remember the adults. a term suggesting comity, cooperation different are accepted and supported vaccines had unleashed an autism In our view, one of the most urgent and cohesion - has time and again been as they are. They believe that attempts “epidemic.” (There is some argument and least controversial policy needs is roiled by dispute. In years past, the to cure autism, or to suppress its over whether candidate Barack Obama more services for adults with autism. clash between those who believed distinctive behaviors with drugs or did the same. Most think not.) Even then, Such adults are too often treated as if vaccines caused autism and those who behavioral therapy, are tantamount science did not support that conclusion, they are invisible. It’s the children with didn’t reached epic proportions. And to obliterating autistic identity. If you but the public was sharply divided, and autism who tug at our heartstrings; there has long been enormous tension use the word “cure” in a speech on a vocal contingent of parents believed advocacy organisations know it, and between those who want to find a cure autism, you should not be surprised to vaccines had harmed their children. you do, too. But those kids grow up. A for autism and those who see autism as be called out for “ableism.” Champions Now the science disproving the link is half-million Americans with autism will a neurological variation representing of neurodiversity want to hear instead overwhelming. Any candidate sounding turn 21 over the next 10 years, many of but one more way of being human. that you respect and celebrate autistic the vaccine alarm today risks reigniting them in desperate need of appropriate The autism world, like the world difference. old controversies. It’s scaremongering. housing and employment opportunities. in general, needs less discord. And Be careful with the other c-word Seek common ground. Many of them could live with a greater By John Donvan so, as two writers with personal too. This won’t be easy, given how degree of independence if there were The Washington Post interests in diminishing the strife in We just used it: “celebrate.” You polarised the conversation has more funding for affordable housing this conversation (both our families will sound wildly off-key to some if become. The good news is that many tailored to their needs. Many could Throughout the are affected by autism), we offer the you say this too often. Consider the people concerned about autism see have the satisfaction of a productive approximately candidates some pointers: parents of children who cannot speak, the infighting as counterproductive. job if given the necessary training and 75 years that the o far this election cycle, Hillary Be careful with the word “cure.” who hurt themselves relentlessly, who There are ways to address both camps, support, and if corporations could be Clinton has been the only As politicians, you know that words wander away from home and too not only rhetorically but also with policy persuaded to make room for people diagnosis has been Scandidate to offer a detailed matter. You should be aware how much often are found dead, who need help prescriptions. Calls for epidemiological with narrowly focused but highly on the books, the position on autism. Odds are she won’t furor surrounds this one word. Pay feeding themselves and who will have studies focused on measuring the developed skills. Don’t forget the be the last, considering that the Centers heed to the burgeoning neurodiversity to wear diapers for the rest of their lives. prevalence of autism or surveys children, but if you don’t remember “autism community” for Disease Control and Prevention movement. A good many autistic people Though these parents are adamant designed to identify supports needed the adults, you’ll be disappointing a - a term suggesting estimates that there are more than 3 reject the idea that autism requires a that their children deserve support by the autism community will find few large chunk of the autism community million Americans with a diagnosis of cure. Rather, they embrace their brain and acceptance, they nevertheless see objectors. But be warned: Research into - which, on this question, happens to comity, cooperation autism spectrum disorder, and most wiring as essential to who they are, autism as a source of pain and struggle the genetic underpinnings of autism is be united. and cohesion - has of those people have families. That’s and they do so even if the challenge in their children’s lives, and they would a contentious subject. Some hope that Hillary Clinton might have been a constituency worth wooing. of social interaction with what they do anything to change that. For them, gene therapy can diminish the array of the first candidate out of the gate on time and again been But let the wooers be warned: call the “neurotypical” world causes autism is an emergency. struggles that autism presents to many autism issues, but we hope the other roiled by dispute. Autism has its own politics, and they them pain and frustration or costs them Do not give new life to discredited children. Others fear that identifying candidates will keep the conversation are fraught. opportunities. ideas. the genes responsible for autism could going.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 AMERICAS Clinton and Sanders vie for minority votes

upcoming nominating contests. intense political struggle. “The kind of criticism that we’ve “Based on every analysis I can Both candidates heard from Senator Sanders about find by people who are sympathetic openly courted black our president, I expect from Repub- to the goal, the numbers don’t add licans, I do not expect from someone up,” Clinton told Sanders. “That’s a and Hispanic votes running for the Democratic nomina- promise that cannot be kept.” during a debate tion to succeed President Obama,” Sanders said he was simply said Clinton, who served as secretary moving to provide what most indus- that was far more of state during Obama’s first term. trialised countries have —healthcare restrained and “Madam Secretary, that is a low coverage for all. blow,” said Sanders, a US senator “We’re not going to dismantle cordial from Vermont. Sanders said he had anything,” Sanders said. “In my view been an Obama ally in the Senate healthcare is a right of all people, not even if he did not always agree with a privilege, and I will fight for that.” him. “Do senators have the right to Sanders also repeated his accu- Reuters disagree with the president?” Sand- sation that Clinton is too beholden to ers said. the Wall Street interests she once rep- Clinton, who has eagerly resented as a US senator from New embraced Obama’s legacy, said York, noting her Super PAC received MILWAUKEE: Democratic presiden- Sanders had called Obama weak $15m in donations from Wall Street. tial candidates Hillary Clinton and and a disappointment, and “that “Let’s not insult the intelligence Bernie Sanders clashed sharply in a goes further than saying we have of the American people,” he said. debate over their support for Pres- our disagreements.” “Why in God’s name does Wall Street Democratic US presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton ident Barack Obama, with Sanders With Clinton looking to rebound make huge campaign contributions? accusing Clinton of “a low blow” after after her crushing 22-point loss I guess just for the fun of it, they want wave as they arrive on stage for a debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. she compared him to Republicans. to Sanders in the New Hampshire to throw money around.” As the Democratic race moves to primary on Tuesday, the two also dif- Clinton said the donations did not disproportionately high rate of incar- communities of colour,” she said. acute pressure to calm growing nerv- states with large minority popula- fered over healthcare and Wall Street. mean she was in Wall Street’s pocket, ceration for black men was “one of the They both agreed on the need for ousness among her supporters after tions, both candidates openly courted Even so, the restrained exchange and noted that President Barack great tragedies” in the United States. immigration reform, an important her drubbing in New Hampshire and black and Hispanic votes during a was unlikely to change the trajectory Obama had taken donations from He called for “fundamental police issue to Hispanic voters, though they a razor-thin win the prior week in the debate that was far more restrained of a race that has intensified dramat- Wall Street during his campaigns. reform” that would “make it clear that clashed over the Obama administra- Iowa caucus. Both states have nearly and cordial than last week’s conten- ically over two weeks. “When it mattered, he stood up any police officer who breaks the law tion’s actions on handling a wave of all-white populations. tious debate in New Hampshire. Clinton accused Sanders of and took on Wall Street,” she said. will in fact be dealt with.” undocumented children who entered For his part, Sanders hoped to har- In the sharpest exchange of the misleading Americans on his With an eye to on the minor- Clinton criticised what she called the country alone. Clinton criticised ness the momentum and enthusiasm night, Clinton attacked Sanders for healthcare. She said his proposal ity vote, both candidates decried “systemic racism” in education, hous- Sanders for voting against a reform he gained from the first two contests being too critical of Obama, who is for a single-payer, Medicare-for-all the high incarceration rate of Afri- ing and employment. “When we talk measure in 2007, which Sanders and prove he can be a viable con- extremely popular with the black healthcare plan would mean dis- can-Americans and called for about criminal justice reform we defended because of a provision in tender to lead the Democratic Party voters who will play a big role in the mantling the programme known as broad reforms of the criminal jus- also have to talk about jobs, education, the bill for guest workers. to victory in the November 8 presi- outcome in South Carolina and other Obamacare and triggering another tice system. Sanders said the housing and other ways of helping Clinton entered debate under dential election. Colombia ELN rebels declare 72-hour lockdown Authorities to sweep

Reuters further delays in their efforts to begin website yesterday. During similar in recent weeks for ongoing delays Oregon wildlife refuge peace talks. The lockdown begins lockdowns in the past, rebels have at these talks. Santos has said nego- tomorrow, said the ELN, which the forced shops to close and buses to tiations will not start until the group United States and European Union halt transport along routes. frees two hostages. Reuters supporters by phone he had not BOGOTA: The National Libera- consider a terrorist group. The ELN has been holding pre- The stoppage of commercial agreed with the other three to leave tion Army, a leftist Colombian rebel “We have directed all the combat- liminary peace talks with the activities and transport was being the refuge, in a call broadcast live on group known as ELN, has declared ant forces of the National Liberation government of President Juan Manuel held to mark the 50th anniversary an Internet audio feed. a 72-hour armed lockdown in areas Army to take part in an armed strike,” Santos for more than two years, but of the death of rebel hero Camilo BURNS: Law enforcement officials “I’m actually pointing a gun at where they operate, restricting trans- the country’s second-largest rebel formal negotiations have yet to begin. Torres, a radical Catholic priest killed were preparing to sweep a wildlife my head,” Fry said, during the tel- port and commerce amid signs of group said in a statement on its Each side has blamed the other in combat, the group said. refuge in Oregon for explosives and ephone call. evidence a day after the last hold- The final four occupiers will outs in a protest over federal control face charges of conspiracy to of Western land surrendered, ending impede federal officers, along with a six-week armed standoff. the 12 previously arrested, officials Canadian man Tribute to Lincoln Federal authorities said on said. Thursday the Malheur National “The occupation of the Malheur who went Wildlife Refuge in eastern Ore- Wildlife Refuge has been a long and gon would remain closed for traumatic episode for the citizens of several weeks, as agents secured Harney County and the members of missing found what was now considered a crime the Burns Paiute tribe,” US Attorney scene and scoured it for fugitives Billy Williams said in a statement after 30 years or explosives. issued to the press. Materials to make explo- The takeover, which began on sives could be found on the January 2, was sparked by the return AFP property, according to a federal to prison of two Oregon ranchers official speaking on the condition convicted of setting fires that spread of anonymity. to federal property near the refuge. OTTAWA: A Canadian man who The nearby town of Burns, which The standoff, originally led by disappeared 30 years ago is set has been caught in the crossfire as brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy, for an emotional reunion with his the wildlife refuge occupiers pro- came to a head after the arrest in family after he suddenly remem- tested the federal government’s Portland this week of their father, bered his name, media said. control of expanses of Western land, Cliven Bundy. Edgar Latulip, whose men- was quiet late on Thursday as resi- He was charged with conspir- tal age was that of a child, was dents sought to resume normal life acy, assault on a federal officer and 21 when he walked out of a spe- after the 41-day standoff. obstruction of justice over a sepa- cial home in Kitchener, Ontario in The final four occupiers of the rate 2014 standoff on federal land 1986, Canadian media reported. refuge surrendered on Thursday, near his Nevada ranch. Latulip, who had previously with the last protester repeatedly Ammon and Ryan Bundy were attempted suicide and was on threatening suicide in a dramatic arrested in January along with nine medication, was never heard from Members of a US honour guard representing all branches of the military participate in a presidential final phone call with mediators protesters on a snow-covered road- again and his mother feared he full honour wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 207th birthday, at the Lincoln before he gave up. side where a spokesman for the might have been murdered. Memorial in Washington, DC, USA, yesterday. David Fry, 27, stayed behind group, Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, was That was until a man with a for more than an hour and told shot dead. different identity living 120km away told his social worker last month that he thought his real name could be Edgar Latulip, after he had flashbacks. Venezuela high court gives Maduro economic crisis powers A DNA test confirmed that the man was indeed Latulip. His mother Silvia Wilson, who AFP “does not affect its legitimacy, valid- Opposition lawmakers reacted with suffering from crippling shortages would allow them to reach agreements later moved to Ottawa, described ity, entry into force and legal effect,” dismay. “The Supreme Court cannot of basic goods—from coffee to cook- with the private sector to stimulate pro- her surprise when she received the the court ruled, saying lawmakers had usurp the competence of the legisla- ing oil and diapers. duction, but Maduro’s opponents say news by telephone last week from not followed the proper procedures to ture,” tweeted the deputy Juan Guaido. Lawmakers urged Maduro to it is a smokescreen for expropriations. a police detective. CARACAS: Venezuela’s Supreme reject the bid. Another lawmaker critical of the launch an international appeal for Lawmakers had voted by 107 “I don’t know what to think. I Court has approved President Nicolas “This will make our task a lot decree, Jose Guerra, charged that the “humanitarian aid” to help stave off the votes to 53 to reject the measure, was just kind of blown away,” Wil- Maduro’s request for special powers easier,” Maduro responded on state court “considers itself a state within the threat of famine posed by the shortages. fearing along with trade unions son, 76, said, describing her son as to tackle a deepening economic crisis, television after the ruling. He said he state,” charging that it “believes itself to Announcing the decree in mid- and the business community that it a troubled boy. “I want to talk to overriding opposition from lawmak- would announce the first measures be above the will of the people.” January, Maduro admitted Venezuela could threaten private property and him. I just want to see him.” ers to place the oil giant in a 60-day in the coming days. The opposition, which took con- was in a “catastrophic” economic enterprise, destroy jobs and worsen The North American Missing state of emergency. “The Supreme Court of Justice has trol of the legislature in early January state, but said his emergency plan economic hardship. Persons Network described Latu- In a ruling, the court said the spoken, its word is holy and must be for the first time in 17 years, charges would allow the government to shore Analysts say the political standoff lip as having the mental capacity decree issued by the socialist pres- respected by all parts of society and that Maduro has packed the court up its health, housing, education and threatens to worsen the hardship that of a 12-year-old. Niagara Regional ident last month had entered into all institutions.” with his allies, as the political stand- food services. drove voters to hand the opposition a Police Constable Philip Gavin said force, granting him expanded author- The decree gives Maduro’s admin- off between the two sides drags on. Maduro has vowed to overhaul landslide election victory last month. that Latulip suffered a head injury ity over the moribund economy of the istration special temporary powers to Venezuela has the world’s biggest the country’s system of production to “The problem is that it lacks a after a fall around the time he went oil-rich, cash-poor South American take over private companies’ resources, known crude reserves but the price shift it away from the oil revenue on mediator to settle the conflict of missing, impairing his memory. country for two months. impose currency controls and enact of oil has plunged over the past year- which his social spending programs power, which complicates the situa- It was not immediately clear Last month’s rejection of the “other social, economic or political and-a-half, slashing its revenues. have relied. tion,” said Asdrubal Oliveros, head of when the reunion would take place. decree by the National Assembly measures deemed fitting.” As a result, the country is The government says the plan analysis firm Ecoanalitica. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 14 QE 9,485.90 -133.58 PTS PAGE | 15 Renault nets DOW 15,894.70 +299.71 PTS ‘Make in India’ $3.3bn FTSE100 5,707.60 +170.63 PTS threatens profit in 2015 BRENT $33.68 +$2.29 vulnerable workers

SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 • 4 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Lower oil prices pose downside risk to equities: BofAML

The Peninsula There is nothing short of an ambi- Materials, sectors which are hurt by capex—could also remain lethargic as of December 2015 standing $30bn tious fiscal adjustment that can slow falling oil prices, with some puts and although they may be offset by greater below the prior year. Given the poor While all GCC down the erosion of Saudi Arabia’s takes. Tech, health care, telecom and spending at oil price beneficiaries. return performance in equity and countries have foreign assets or prevent explosive financials, collectively make up 60 On the oil and sovereign wealth bond markets last year, it does not DOHA: The GCC currencies’ US dol- debt dynamics at $25/bbl, as the alter- percent of BofAML 2016 EPS esti- funds (SWFs) correlation, the BofAML look like a massive liquidation of sov- lar pegging will continue at least for expressed their native is a marked intensification of mate and are not directly impacted said that petrodollar outflows will ereign assets has started in earnest. the medium term period. Key to this commitment to the pressure on Saudi Riyal. “We estimate by the cost of oil. have limited impact on the US rates Having said that, it is worth noting view is a combination of still sizeable USD pegs, their Saudi Arabia has liquid foreign assets Consumer stocks are the most market, there are other important that the Sovereign Wealth Fund bid foreign assets in parts of the GCC and of $720bn (110 percent of GDP) which inversely correlated with oil prices, financial factors to think about. In for risk assets is falling. The level of the apparent start of a regional multi- ability to defend the could last 5-6 years at unchanged fis- and generally outperform when oil particular, Sovereign Wealth Fund SWF asset under management (AUM), year fiscal adjustment process, BofA arrangements in a cal policies, and no debt issuance at prices fall. “We estimate that every assets, two thirds of which have been currently $7.2 trillion, has stagnated Merrill Lynch (BofAML) said. $30/bbl”, BofAML said in a research $10/bbl sustained decline in oil prices accrued in on the back of surging oil in recent quarters, and $4.4tn of all While all GCC countries have sustained oil price note sent to The Peninsula. reduces S&P 500 EPS by about $1.00- and natural gas prices, could start to SWF AUM originates in commodity- expressed their commitment to the slump varies greatly Explaining on what lower oil 2.00. Lower-for-longer oil thus poses fall, leading to a huge liquidation of producing countries. USD pegs, their ability to defend the prices do to S&P 500 equities, Savita downside risk to our 2016 EPS esti- equities and fixed income assets. Given the new commodity price arrangements in a sustained oil price Subramanian, Chief US equity and mate of $125 (+5 percent), as well as Oil and gas exporting countries regime, SWF AUM is likely to come slump varies greatly. under $30/bbl for 15-20 years. At the quant strategist, BofAML, said the trajectory of future commodity- owned about 61 percent of the $7.2 under downward pressure. SWF Within the GCC, Kuwait, Qatar other end of the spectrum, lower oil prices are a bigger drag exposed sectors’ earnings growth as trillion in assets as of December 2015 exposures are opaque, but pub- and the UAE are still in a comforta- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman than benefit to earnings as nearly producers and suppliers adjust to a sitting in SWFs. licly available data shows equity ble position given fiscal breakeven oil are more challenged as fiscal buffers 18 percent of the banks’ earnings “new normal” in oil prices. Capex Since oil prices collapsed in allocations of around 50 percent, prices of $50-65/bbl and fiscal buff- would be exhausted within five years per share (EPS) forecast for 2016 is spending—which has fallen sig- 2H2014, there has been no growth concentrated in consumer, financial, ers that can cover deficits incurred under the same set of assumptions. derived from Energy, Industrials and nificantly due to cuts in Energy in dollar notional values, with assets industrial and tech sectors. Qatar’s private consumption Oil prices to increase on stable recover spending: QNB report sharply

The Peninsula the 1-month interbank rate rose by AFP 20 basis points to 1.45 percent in November and the 1-year interbank rate was stable at 1.9 percent. LONDON: Oil markets surged DOHA: Qatar’s investments as a The foreign merchandise trade yesterday as traders hunted for share of its gross domestic product surplus fell to $2.6bn in December bargains after a turbulent week, (GDP) rose to 39.6 percent in Q2 2015 2015 from $3.0bn in November, and analysts said. from 32.4 percent in 2014 on stable is down from $5.8bn a year earlier. The Crude futures in New York government capital spending. The year-on-year decline was mostly due trading were up more than 10 per- country’s private consumption rose to the fall in exports, which decreased cent around 1730 GMT, a day after to 20.8 percent of GDP in Q2 2015 by 36.9 percent year-on-year on lower US prices tanked towards 13-year from 14.8 percent of GDP in 2014, oil prices and imports also contracted lows. Brent crude futures rocketed with imports similarly increasing by 1.0 percent over the same period. 8.5 percent in London. from 30.5 percent to 36.1 percent of We expect the merchandise trade sur- Brent North Sea crude for GDP on growing population needs, plus to stabilise in line with oil prices. delivery in April was up $2.56, or QNB Group’s monthly report noted. The current account surplus nar- 8.5 percent, to $32.62 a barrel. US QNB expects the share of pri- rowed to $2.8bn in Q3 2015 on lower benchmark West Texas Intermedi- vate consumption and investment to hydrocarbon exports; the capital and ate for March soared $2.73, or 10.4 increase on high population growth financial account recorded a deficit percent, at $28.94 a barrel com- and strong government investments; of $3.9bn over the same period. We pared with Thursday’s close. WTI lower expected oil prices in 2015 expect the current account surplus had on Thursday settled at $26.21 Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (left), Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of should reduce the share of exports. to narrow in 2015, before stabilising — the lowest finish since May 2003. Qatar’s crude oil production in 2016-17. International reserves fell UAE Armed forces, and Ashishkumar Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer of BSE Ltd, pose after hitting the The Wall Street Journal decreased to 683k barrels per day (b/d) to $38.5bn in November 2015 com- ceremonial gong at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai, India, yesterday. quoted UAE Oil Minister Suhail Al in November 2015 from 639k b/d in pared with $39.1bn in October. In Mazrouei as saying that the Organ- October. QNB expects oil prices to stabi- months of prospective import cover, isation of Petroleum Exporting lise as excess supply in the global market international reserves were broadly European stocks bounce back Countries was willing to coop- is reduced by both higher demand and stable at 6.7 months of imports from erate with other producers on production cuts among high-cost pro- 6.8 months in October. We expect trimming the global crude supply ducers, such as US shale oil producers. international reserves to stabilise at glut. Speaking to Sky News Ara- “We expect Qatar’s on-going around 7.0 months of import cover LONDON: European stocks percent of its value, Frankfurt over However, the global sell-off bia, Mazrouei said he expected investment programme to continue to going forward as oil prices stabilise rebounded yesterday on higher 16 percent, Paris nearly 14 percent showed no sign of ending in Asia. A supply levels on world mar- attract expatriates, resulting in over- then recover in 2017. oil prices, solid German economic and London over 8 percent. near five-percent plunge in Tokyo led kets to “stabilise”. “The market all population growth of 4.1 percent Bank deposits year-on-year growth and rising US retail sales, Wall Street equities also pushed another rout, bringing to an end one will oblige all (producers) not to in 2016.The broad money (M2) growth growth fell to 5.8 percent in Novem- regaining some ground lost this week higher after data showing retail sales of the most painful weeks for global reduce but to stabilise their out- has picked up to 3.4 percent in Decem- ber 2015 from 6.4 percent in October. on fears of a global recession. edged 0.2 percent higher in Decem- investors as fears about the world put levels,” he said. ber on the continued rise in quasi Public sector deposits contracted by London jumped 3 percent higher ber and January despite falling oil economy — and possible recession The minister expected world money growth. The rise was mostly 9.9 percent, private sector deposits and Frankfurt and Paris gained 2 prices, helping to underpin positive — stalked trading floors. The Nikkei demand for crude to rise this year attributable to the pickup in growth and non-resident deposits grew by 11.9 percent, brushing off another slump sentiment. In New York, the Dow was 225 was down 4.8 percent at 14,952.6. by 1.3 million barrels per day (b/d) of quasi money from 3.5 percent in percent and 50.9 percent respectively. in Asia, as investors welcomed news up 1.5 percent at 15,900.42 points in Hong Kong ended 1.2 percent and also said it was “possible” that November to 3.9 percent in Decem- QNB expects deposits to continue that the German economy grew by early trade; the S&P 500 was up 1.5 down after a near four percent fall supplies from non-Opec produc- ber, and growth in M1 also rose to 2.1 growing on strong population growth. a solid 0.3 percent in the fourth percent at 1,857.19, while the Nasdaq on Thursday, Sydney shed 1.2 per- ers fall by 500,000 b/d. percent in December from 1.9 percent Bank loan growth rose to 19.4 quarter. was up 1.4 percent at 4,324.35 points. cent and Seoul’s KOSPI was 1.4 Low oil prices have hammered in November”, QNB analysts said percent year-on-year in November In London, the FTSE 100 was The London stock market was percent lower. South Korea’s small- Venezuela and Nigeria, but its QNB expects M2 to continue 2015 from 16.5 percent in October. up 3.1 percent at 5,707.60 points; in propelled higher also on inves- cap Kosdaq index ended more than influential Gulf members led by growing as strong population growth Loans to the public sector grew by Frankfurt, the DAX 30 was up 2.5 tor relief that British engine maker seven percent lower, having been Saudi Arabia have refused to cut is projected to drive the expansion 6.8 percent year-on-year, lending percent at 8,967.51; in Paris the CAC Rolls-Royce had not scrapped its suspended briefly during the session output as it looks to maintain mar- in deposits. Overnight interbank to the private and foreign sectors 40 was up 2.5 percent at 3,995.06 shareholder dividend. Rolls-Royce, when it dived eight percent. ket share in the face of competition rates were stable at 1.17 percent in also grew by 23.6 percent and 41.9 and in Milan, the FTSE MIB was up which did however cut the payout for With investors pulling out of from US shale. November 2015 as compared with percent respectively. QNB forecasts 4.7 percent at 16,514 points. Despite the first time in almost 25 years, saw high-yielding assets, safe havens Opec has, meanwhile, called 1.21 percent in October. The 1-week bank lending to continue growing gains, European markets are still its share price rocket over 14 percent such as the yen are benefiting. The on non-cartel producers such as interbank rate rose by 17 basis driven by project lending and the down heavily from the beginning to 606 pence, topping the FTSE 100 unit soared more than seven percent Russia to participate in any coor- points to 1.36 percent in November, expanding population. of the year. Milan has lost nearly 23 leaderboard. against the dollar this year. dinated reductions to output. 14 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS Growth in Germany keeps eurozone economy steady

Germany was characterised by solid Outside the eurozone, Britain and continuous growth in 2015,” fed- rose to a 0.5 percent quarterly expan- For the full 28-nation eral statistics office Destatis said. sion from 0.4 percent. European Union, the France slowed to 0.2 percent from For the full 28-nation European economy gained 0.3 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter. Union, the economy gained 0.3 per- The Italian recovery stalled, with cent in the fourth quarter, down percent in the fourth just 0.1 percent growth after 0.2 per- from 0.4 percent in the third, and quarter, down from cent, complicating Italy’s efforts to expanded 1.8 percent for the year. start reducing its ¤2.2 trillion ($2.5 Howard Archer at IHS Glo- 0.4 percent in the trillion) debt mountain this year. bal Insight said that while the 2015 third, and expanded “Italy is still struggling to growth rate of 1.5 percent was the emerge from the great reces- best since 2011, the fourth-quarter 1.8 percent for the sion of 2008-14 and despite some performance was only “lacklustre” year encouraging signs in the first part and the outlook was not promising. of 2015, growth lost momentum “We have been expecting euro- in the second half,” said Lorenzo zone growth to improve modestly Codogno, chief economist at LC to 1.7 percent in 2016 but this is Carlos Ghosn (right), Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and Takao Asami, Senior Vice AFP Macro Advisors. currently looking ever more ques- Spain, meanwhile, led the pack tionable and may well need to be -President of Nissan, attend Renault’s 2015 annual results presentation at their headquarters in Boulogne- with another gain of 0.8 percent. revised down,” Archer said in a note. Billancourt, near Paris, France, yesterday. Bailed out Greece fell back into “There are clearly mounting BRUSSELS: Solid growth in power- recession as its economy contracted downside risks to the eurozone house Germany kept the eurozone by 0.6 percent, however that was a growth outlook coming from global Renault nets $3.3bn profit in 2015 economy steady in late 2015 despite distinct improvement from a 1.4 per- growth problems and financial mar- the buffeting from global market tur- cent contraction the previous quarter. ket weakness and volatility,” he said. moil and a sharp slowdown in China, Athens remains saddled with a Other analysts were equally data showed yesterday, but the out- huge mountain of debt and it is strug- guarded. “The fact that eurozone AFP lead to the consolidation of the com- crash in oil prices took their toll. look is clouded. gling to meet the tough terms laid down growth did not slow in the fourth pany by Renault”. Avtovaz warned Avtovaz has been majority-owned Analysts said the figures were in a third debt rescue agreed with its quarter provides little comfort in the in a separate statement that with- since 2013 by Renault and Renault’s “something of a relief” after recent international creditors last year. current environment of global mar- out assistance, market conditions global partner Nissan and employs weakening data had suggested a Spain, meanwhile, led the pack ket turmoil and does not preclude PARIS: Renault said yesterday that “create a material uncertainty that 44,000 people. modest recovery in the 19-nation with another gain of 0.8 percent. the need for further decisive policy net profit for 2015 was up nearly 50 gives rise to significant doubt about Chief executive Carlos Ghosn said single currency bloc was running But despite the positive fourth- action from the ECB,” Capital Eco- percent to ¤2.96bn ($3.3bn) despite a the group’s ability to continue as a 2015 had been “a good year”. “On the out of steam. quarter headline figure, the report nomics said. hit from its Russian subsidiary which going concern”. basis of these results, we can look The Eurostat statistics agency also pointed up the risks and the Capital Economics even warned Renault said it may recapitalise and Avtovaz, which makes Lada forward to 2016 with a certain degree said the eurozone grew 0.3 percent European Central Bank, which has that it may have to cut its already low take over to save it from collapse. cars, said it would further “optimise of confidence,” he said. in the last three months of 2015, the launched an unprecedented one-tril- 1.2-percent growth forecast for this The French carmaker said it was the workforce” as part of its “anti- Ghosn said he was confident same pace as in the previous quar- lion-euro stimulus programme, may year. “We have pencilled in growth of in talks with the holding company of crisis plan” to improve finances in the global car market would grow ter and in line with analyst forecasts. have to do even more to get the econ- 1.2 percent in 2016 but the recent tur- its Russian unit, Avtovaz, after it took 2016, having already switched all of between 1 and 2 percent this year and German gross domestic product omy back on track, they said. moil in global financial markets and a ¤620m loss in Russia as the econ- its employees and management to a said he was counting on Russia and (GDP) growth, at 0.3 percent, offset For all 2015, it expanded 1.5 signs of renewed stress in peripheral omy slowed drastically last year. four-day week in February last year. Brazil — another developing market weaker performances from southern percent, coming in short of the 1.6 eurozone (countries) have increased Renault said in a statement the The Russian car market slumped that slumped in 2015 — picking up. countries by virtue of its sheer size. percent estimate given by the Euro- the downside risks even to our fore- talks would examine the feasibility 35 percent in 2015 as international Renault also opened its first fac- “The economic situation in pean Commission last week. cast,” it said. of “a recapitalisation which could sanctions over Ukraine and the tory in China this month. India’s central Deutsche Bank launches bank chief says lenders need mega bond buyback ‘deep surgery’ AFP Its shares have lost about 34 percent of their value this year. Since tak- AFP ing over last year, Cryan has been seeking to raise capital buffers and BERLIN: Germany’s biggest lender restore investor confidence in a bank MUMBAI: The head of India’s cen- Deutsche Bank yesterday flexed its battered by rising compliance costs tral bank has said the country’s muscle on Friday, launching a mas- and losses at its securities unit. lenders may need to perform “deep sive bond-buying programme to Separately, in Brussels, German surgery” to sort out bad loans and assuage concerns over the depth of Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeu- clean up their balance sheets. its pockets. ble also swiped aside concerns over Reserve Bank of India Gover- The group said it would repur- the bank’s health. nor Raghuram Rajan, who famously chase up to ¤4.8bn ($5.4bn) of its “Deutsche Bank is a strong bank predicted the 2008 world financial own outstanding bonds, adding that and that’s that,” he told journalists crisis, has set Indian banks a dead- its liquidity position is comfortable on Friday, adding that there were line of March next year to tidy up enough to carry out the buyback. “no worries” about the health of the their non-performing assets. The offer for bonds denominated financial institution. And he told a gathering of bank- in euros is worth up to ¤3bn, while It “has sufficient capital... we had ing leaders in India’s commercial that for debt denominated in US dol- taken precautions to make banks capital Mumbai on Thursday that lars totals up to $2bn. resilient after the finance and bank- getting those stressed loans in order The announcement sent the ing crisis in 2007 and 2008,” he said. “may require deep surgery” not bank’s shares shooting up 7.86 per- The entire European banking The headquarters of Commerzbank in Frankfurt, western Germany, yesterday. “band aids”. cent to ¤14.77, outperforming the sector had lost about a fifth of their “Existing loans may have to be overall Frankfurt DAX index, which market capitalisation in January, written down somewhat because was up 1.89 percent. dragged down by weakness in the of the changed circumstances Commerzbank quadruples profits The bank’s stocks had already eurozone economy and challenges since they were sanctioned,” said rocketed up more than 16 percent on facing banks from ultralow interest Rajan, a former International Mon- Wednesday over speculation that it rates and regulatory pressures. etary Fund chief economist. would repurchase bonds. But Deutsche Bank has taken a “But to do deep surgery such as AFP “2015 has shown that our strategy increase of 11 percent year-on-year, Yesterday’s announcement bigger battering because it is also restructuring or writing down loans, is right and that the implementation and underlying or operating profit marks a second offensive by the entangled in a web of legal woes. Its the bank has to recognise it has a has been successful,” boasted chief tripled to ¤1.9bn. group to allay fears, after its new share price has plunged by a third problem — classify the asset as a executive Martin Blessing. The group said investment chief executive John Cryan took the since the beginning of the year. non-performing asset,” he added. FRANKFURT: Commerzbank, Ger- “For the first time in five years in its retail or high-street bank- unusual step earlier this week of The bank faces a quagmire of Bad debts and poor loan pro- many’s second biggest bank, said we have attained a net profit of more ing business was paying off, with issuing a public statement and writ- as many as 6,000 different litiga- visions, especially among India’s yesterday that its profits quadrupled than one billion euros and have seen underlying profits in that division ing to the group’s employees to say tion cases, the provisions for which state-owned banks, are hampering in 2015 and it would resume dividend further significant strengthening of doubling last year. that the bank “remains absolutely helped push it to a record loss of 6.8 investment at a time when Asia’s payments as it expects to see further our capital base,” Blessing said. The retail banking division, vastly rock-solid, given our strong capital billion euros last year. third-largest economy needs more profit growth this year. The profits were slightly bigger expanded by the acquisition of rival and risk position.” It was fined last May a record lending to boost economic growth. Investors welcomed the strong than analysts had expected and sent Dresdner Bank in 2008-2009, had The move comes just days after $2.5bn for its involvement in rig- Encouraging banks to identify 2015 showing by Germany’s sec- Commerzbank shares soaring on the long weighed on Commerzbank’s Deutsche Bank told investors and ging interest rates, and has faced loans that are in default or close to ond-biggest lender which posted a Frankfurt stock exchange. profitability. Commerzbank said it staff that it has sufficient funds to probes by Swiss authorities for sus- increases transparency and means net profit of ¤1.06bn ($1.2bn), com- Commerzbank said that reve- slashed loan risk provisions last year pay coupons on its riskiest debt. pected price fixing on the precious the government can force lenders pared with ¤266m the year before. nues totalled ¤9.8bn last year, an to ¤696m from ¤1.14bn in 2014. Cryan said the bank is “rock solid.” metals market. to make provisions to cover them where necessary, making the banks more stable in the long run. “Think therefore of the NPA clas- sification as an anaesthetic that allows EU hits China with new steel anti-dumping probes the bank to perform extensive neces- sary surgery to set the project back on its feet,” he said. “If the bank wants to pretend that everything is all right AFP artificially cheap imports to threaten our indus- output for everyone’s sake. “In the wake of a production by as much as 150 million tonnes with the loan, it can only apply band try. I am determined to use all means possible worrying trend, I urge you to take all appropri- over the next five years but this is far short of the aids—for any more drastic action to ensure that our trading partners play by the ate measures to curb the steel overcapacity and 340 million tonnes that experts say the country would require NPA classification,” rules,” EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malm- other causes aggravating the situation,” Malm- is overproducing every year. the governor added. BRUSSELS: The EU launched new probes yes- stroem said in a statement. stroem wrote in a letter to Chinese Commerce The latest measure on steel comes amid a Rajan added that while terday into imports of Chinese steel, warning it The European Commission, the EU’s exec- Minister Gao Hucheng. growing stand-off between the EU and China, reforms would likely hit banks would not allow “unfair competition” to threaten utive arm, had opened an investigation into The letter also warned China that it faced which are major trading partners but which immediately, in the future it would Europe’s industry already crumbling under a imports of seamless pipes, heavy plates and hot- new probes if nothing was done after its steel have also had many trade disputes in the past, be beneficial for India’s economy flood of cheap imports. rolled flat steel from China, the statement said. exports soared 50 percent in 2015, destabilis- most bitterly over solar panels which contin- as a whole. “While the profitabil- European steelmakers are reeling from a The Commission separately imposed anti- ing the global market and the EU in particular. ues to rumble on. ity of some banks may be impaired global glut and last week Luxembourg-based dumping duties on cold-rolled flat steel imports China accounts for half of global steel In a separate statement yesterday, the in the short run, the system, once world leader ArcelorMittal blamed China for a from China and Russia. It recalled that it recently production but internal demand has slowed Commission said it was extending existing anti- cleaned, will be able to support colossal $8bn loss in 2015 while thousands of also imposed anti-dumping measures on Chi- sharply along with the economy, forcing it to dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports economic growth in a sustaina- jobs are being cut. nese steel bars used in the construction industry. look overseas. of Chinese solar modules and cells via Taiwan ble and profitable way,” he added. “We cannot allow unfair competition from Malmstroem last month urged China to cut Beijing has announced plans to cut and Malaysia. BUSINESS SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 15 US consumers flex muscles as retail sales rise

That, together with weak export growth because of dollar strength, The Commerce efforts by businesses to sell inventory Department said and cuts in capital goods spending by energy firms, restrained GDP retail sales excluding growth to a 0.7 percent annual pace. automobiles, petrol, Consumer spending is being building materials supported by a strengthening labor market, which is starting to lift wages. and food services Still, households remain cautious increased 0.6 about boosting spending, against the backdrop of an uncertain global eco- percent last month nomic outlook and a sustained decline in oil prices, which have sparked a broad stock market sell-off. Signs of firming consumer Reuters spending are likely to be welcomed by Federal Reserve policymakers. But given the volatility in equities markets and weak US inflation, the WASHINGTON: US consumer central bank could find it hard to spending regained momentum in raise interest rates this year. A motorist rides past a wall bearing the image of the mascot for ‘Make in India Week’ in Mumbai yesterday. Over 190 companies and 5,000 January as households ramped up The Fed increased its key short- purchases of a variety of goods, in a term interest rate in December, the delegates from 60 countries are due to take part in the first ‘Make in India’ week to be held in Mumbai from today until February 18. hopeful sign that economic growth first hike in nearly a decade. was picking up after slowing to a In a separate report, the Labour crawl at the end of 2015. Department said import prices Other data showed import prices dropped 1.1 percent last month after ‘Make in India’ threatens vulnerable workers fell in January for a seventh straight decreasing 1.1 percent in December. month as the cost of petroleum Import prices have decreased in products continued to decline and 17 of the last 19 months, reflecting the Reuters dangerous to exempt businesses embroidering clothes, weaving car- “The policy should be to simplify a strong dollar undercut prices for robust dollar and plunging oil prices. even more. There are large numbers pets or making matchsticks. labour laws and promote formalisa- a range of goods, pointing to weak Lower oil prices have translated into of child workers and bonded labour- Even adult workers are not pro- tion of the economy.” inflation in the near term. cheaper gasoline, boosting house- ers; without checks and balances, we tected. Almost half the world’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s The Commerce Department said hold discretionary spending but also MUMBAI: Efforts by the Indian gov- won’t know what’s going on.” enslaved workers, or about 16 mil- government has focused on efforts retail sales excluding automobiles, weighing on sales at service stations. ernment to boost manufacturing and India is regarded a low-cost man- lion, are in India, many working in to draw more foreign investment petrol, building materials and food In January, a 3.1 percent drop in encourage startups may put vulner- ufacturing hub for industries ranging poorly regulated industries such as and make it easier for businesses to services increased 0.6 percent last receipts at service stations restricted able workers at greater risk, activists from autos to textiles. Protection for brick kilns or small textile units. set up shop. India ranked 130 of 189 month after an unrevised 0.3 per- the gain in overall retail sales to 0.2 say, amid pressure from investors to workers is lax and legislation poorly In the automotive industry, which countries on the World Bank’s Ease of cent decline in December. percent. Retail sales for December smooth the path of doing business. implemented. has drawn large global brands includ- Doing Business index from last year, These so-called core retail were revised to show a 0.2 percent rise The “Make in India” week kicks Millions of workers contend with ing Honda Motor and Suzuki Motor, well behind its peers including Bra- sales correspond most closely with instead of the previously reported 0.1 off today, aimed at luring greater archaic labour laws and are confined more than 1,000 workers, most below zil, China and Russia. the consumer spending component percent dip. The increase in retail sales investment to increase output and to the so-called informal sector, with 23 years of age, are injured seriously Meanwhile, activists and labour of gross domestic product. Econo- was also tempered by harsh winter create more jobs in industries includ- poor training and few benefits in in the automotive hub of Gurgaon unions have long called for a higher mists had forecast core retail sales weather, which hurt spending at res- ing electronics manufacture and businesses that often flout laws con- and Manesar in northern India alone minimum wage, better working con- increasing 0.3 percent last month. taurants and bars. textiles and apparel. cerning safety or the employment of every year, according to a report by ditions and more training for workers. “The markets may have decided Auto sales advanced 0.6 percent A separate effort to boost startups underage workers. non-profit organisations Agrasar and “Using people as a mere physical that the US is headed for recession, but in January after rising 0.5 percent exempts them from some inspections There are 5.7 million child work- Safe in India. resource to reach the goal of becom- obviously no one told US consumers,” in December. Receipts at clothing and taxes for at least three years. ers in India between the ages of five “Most enterprises remain in the ing a manufacturing giant is no way said Paul Ashworth, chief economist at stores gained 0.2 percent. Sales at “There’s already a lot of pres- and 17, out of 168 million globally, informal sector for fear of compli- for the country to progress,” said Pre- Capital Economics in Toronto. online retailers jumped 1.6 percent, sure to amend existing laws to make according to the International Labour ance with the laws and this is bad rit Rana, a co-founder of Delhi-based Growth in consumer spend- but receipts at sporting goods and it easier to fire workers or prevent Organization. for labour because they get no non-profit organisation Agrasar, that ing, which accounts for more than hobby stores fell 2.1 percent. Sales them from unionising,” said Gayatri More than a quarter of them benefits,” said Prashant Narang, helps rehabilitate injured workers. two-thirds of US economic activity, at electronics and appliance outlets Singh, a co-founder of the Human work in manufacturing, confined to an advocate at the Centre for Civil “We need a better manufacturing moderated in the fourth quarter. edged up 0.1 percent. Rights Law Network in Mumbai. “It’s poorly lit, barely ventilated rooms Society in New Delhi. model.”

India inflation rate edges up Russia’s oil asset sale to 5.7% in Jan attracts Lukoil interest AFP Reuters per barrel. State-owned Rosneft, led by Putin’s closest ally in the energy NEW DELHI: India’s consumer sector Igor Sechin, had long been price inflation quickened slightly considered a front-runner to snap up to 5.7 percent in January, official MOSCOW/LONDON: Oil major Bashneft as his company has swept data showed yesterday, present- Lukoil has told the Russian govern- up a string of energy assets over the ing a potential headache for Prime ment it wants to buy smaller rival past decade and a half. Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Bashneft as the state prepares to sell But a steep decline in oil prices the national budget due later this either a controlling or minority stake combined with Rosneft’s heavy debt month. in the firm to plug a budget deficit, has made the company much less The acceleration from a 5.6 sources said. acquisitive in the past two years. percent rise in December marks The government of President The government is also consid- the sixth month in a row that Vladimir Putin has ordered a pri- ering selling stakes in Rosneft itself, inflation gained pace, with the vatisation drive to cover a yawning which is Russia’s top oil major, ship- rate driven up by higher food hole in its budget, which has been hit ping firm Sovkomflot and diamond prices. by tumbling crude prices and West- miner Alrosa as part of its privati- “The pick-up was in large part ern sanctions over Moscow’s role in sation drive. due to a rise in food inflation, the the Ukraine conflict. Bashneft is Russia’s sixth-largest result of delays in the sowing of The state owns 75 percent of Bash- oil firm with an output of 400,000 the rabi (winter) crop amid unusu- neft, which it nationalised just two barrels per day. It market capital- Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce, poses in front of a Pegasus aeroplane engine in Bristol, Britain. ally warm temperatures in recent years ago. It is considering whether to isation stands at $4.5bn, meaning months,” Shilan Shah, India Econ- sell a stake of more than 50 percent, or a buyer could secure control in the omist at Capital Economics, wrote to limit the sale to 25 percent through producer and large refiner for less Rolls-Royce cuts dividend for first time in a note. a stock market offering, several gov- than $2.5bn. It used to be valued at January’s inflation was higher ernment and industry sources said. as much as $13bn before oil prices than expected, with the median “There are many parties show- began to nose-dive in mid-2014 and AFP were relieved the dividend had not steady market conditions for most of estimate of 36 economists in a ing interest, including Lukoil,” a the rouble’s value also plunged. been scrapped, and also welcomed our businesses it will be a challenging Bloomberg News survey predict- government source said. Lukoil and The government had yet to news of a healthy order book. year as we start to transition prod- ing prices would rise 5.4 percent Bashneft declined to comment, while decide whether to sell control in Roll-Royce has issued six profit ucts and sustain investment in civil last month. the Russian economy ministry was not Bashneft as the economy ministry LONDON: British engine maker warnings over the last two years as aerospace and tackle weak offshore However, it still fell comfort- immediately available to comment. is arguing a placement in the stock Rolls-Royce yesterday cut its share- slumping oil prices have hit demand markets in marine.” ably within the central bank’s Lukoil is Russia’s second-largest market could generate more money, holder dividend for the first time in for vessels, and embarked upon a In midday deals, Rolls-Royce short-term target to keep infla- oil producer and its biggest private according to sources. almost 25 years and said 2016 would radical restructuring last year. shares soared 16.42 percent to 617 tion below six percent until oil firm. A Bashneft sale to a private Bashneft has a history of mov- be “challenging”, but its shares nev- Net profit, or earnings after tax, pence on London’s FTSE 100 index January 2016. buyer would represent a significant ing in and out of state control over ertheless soared. rose 20 percent to £83m ($120m) last of top companies, which was 1.8 per- Modi’s right-wing govern- turnaround for the world’s largest the past 20 years and has been a tar- The firm, which makes engine year compared with 2014, the com- cent higher at 5,638.2 points. ment will present its next budget energy industry, coming more than get for some of the country’s richest systems for aircraft and sea vessels, pany said yesterday. Rolls added that Late last year, Rolls-Royce on February 29 amid growing 15 years of consolidation and nation- and most influential businessmen. announced in its annual results state- its order book swelled by four percent announced changes to its top man- pressure to deliver long-awaited alisation which allowed the Kremlin It was first privatised in the ment that it has reduced its full-year to £76.4bn last year. agement structure, resulting in the economic reforms. to regain control after a chaotic pri- 1990s, then nationalised in the last dividend to 16.37 pence in 2015, from However, underlying profit fell 12 departure of its head of aerospace. India’s central bank kept vatisation in the 1990s. decade, before being sold to telecoms 23.1 pence for 2014. That was the first percent at constant exchange rates The removal of a layer of sen- interest rates on hold at 6.75 per- It is a measure of the plight fac- billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov. reduction in the group’s shareholder to £1.4bn, while sales dipped one ior management represented a first cent earlier this month, citing the ing the budget, which could face The oligarch later fell out with the dividend since 1992. percent to £13.4bn. “Our outlook for step in a company-wide restructur- importance of controlling inflation an additional shortfall of up to 2.5 Kremlin and was put under house However, Rolls’ share price ral- 2016 is unchanged,” said Chief Exec- ing launched by East after he took the and a slowing growth momentum trillion roubles ($31.7bn) this year arrest leading to another nationali- lied more than 16 percent as investors utive Officer Warren East. “Despite helm in July. in Asia’s third-largest economy. if crude prices stay at around $30 sation of Bashneft. 16 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS VIEWS

Elon Musk’s vision Refiners eye petrol demand is not for the faint-hearted after US winter storms

By Nichola Groom in trying to pack too many fea- Reuters tures and new technologies into the vehicle. Both Tesla and SolarCity are eave it to Elon Musk to make a trying to revolutionise industries company’s stock jump nearly dominated by entrenched and L5 percent a day after reporting deep-pocketed companies. SpaceX widening losses - all in the mid- faces different but no less daunt- dle of a market selloff. ing challenges in trying to innovate Musk’s electric vehicle startup, with reusable rockets. Tesla Motors Inc, on Wednesday Against that backdrop, invest- posted its eleventh straight quar- ing in Musk companies is “not for terly loss, when analysts had the faint of heart,” said Nancy Pfund, There are already more expected a profit. Tesla also said managing partner of DBL Partners, it planned $1.5bn in capital spend- a venture capital firm that was an than 500m barrels of ing this year but had just $1.2bn early investor in all three. crude in storage at in the bank. “This is not a story that plays Investors focused instead on out in a quarter,” Pfund said. refineries, tank farms, Musk’s promises to make Tesla prof- She is among a core group of pipelines and oilfields itable this year and to deliver 60 Musk investors who have deep faith percent to 80 percent more vehicles in his long-term vision - and his across the United States, than last year. Analysts described ability to execute. an increase of 84m the forecasts as ambitious but not “He’s the Mount Everest of inno- impossible. vative visionary minds,” she said. barrels compared with It’s precisely that outsized opti- “He has a tolerance and an ability to 12 months ago. mism that defines Musk and his move the big ideas forward with- appeal to the market, despite blown out getting cowed by those that deadlines and long waits for prof- would settle for a smaller vision.” its in high-risk industries. Musk’s Musk has promised to sell By John Kemp such as fuel, power and platinum catalysts. towards the end of the month. two other ventures, SolarCity Corp 500,000 electric cars annually Reuters Net margins once all these other capital Poor weather contributed to an unusually and Space Exploration Technolo- by 2020, though the company and operating costs are taken into account rapid build up in petrol stocks during Janu- gies, also face steep challenges in sold one-tenth that number last were much narrower in most cases. ary which put petrol prices under pressure. cutting-edge industries. year - at a loss. The surge hinges he prospect that US oil refiners might Nevertheless, gross and net refining mar- The poor weather should have only a short- “Investors look at Elon, and on effective and timely delivery respond to rising stockpiles of refined gins in the first eight months or so of 2015 term impact. Petrol consumption has already some say he’s a promoter or that of Tesla’s long-promised Model 3, fuels and weakening margins by cut- were some of the most attractive for a dec- rebounded strongly in the most recent week. he steps over bounds with what he a mass-market $35,000 electric ting the amount of crude they process ade, and refiners responded by running their US refiners and blenders will exit win- promises,” said Robert W. Baird car with a long driving range, now has roiled oil markets in recent days. distillation units flat out. ter with somewhat higher petrol stocks than analyst Ben Kallo. “But his track scheduled for 2017. TThere are already more than 500m bar- Strong demand from drivers kept reported normal but it should be possible to clear the record is pretty good. That’s why Chevrolet appears on track to rels of crude in storage at refineries, tank petrol stocks in line with the long-term average overhang by exploiting the normal flexibil- he still attracts the type of insti- produce an affordable, long-range farms, pipelines and oilfields across the especially when adjusted for the increase in ity within the system. tutional investors he does.” electric car - the Bolt - before Tesla. United States, an increase of 84m barrels consumption. But the more sluggish demand Many refineries take crude distillation tow- Still, at least six analysts slashed While investors are rallying compared with 12 months ago. for diesel resulted in a large build up in inven- ers and other refinery units offline between their price targets on Tesla shares. behind Tesla, they are fleeing from In addition, there are another 836m bar- tories of distillate fuel oil, which by the end of February and April for routine maintenance Kallo has a “neutral” rating on Tesla SolarCity shares, which have fallen rels of refined fuels and intermediate products 2015 stood 27m barrels, or 22 percent, higher and upgrades during what is ordinarily the and lowered his price target to $230 37 percent in the two days since it being stored at refineries, tank farms, pipe- than at the end of 2014. slowest time of the year for fuel demand. Stocks from $282 on Thursday. forecast a bigger-than-expected lines and terminals, an increase of 76m barrels Gross refining margins tumbled towards of petrol and other fuels typically fall dur- Tesla’s stock rose 4.7 percent loss for the current quarter and compared with 2015. Crude stocks are at a the end of the year, averaging just $14 between ing the maintenance period. By taking units to $150.47 on Thursday and was cut its installation forecast for the record level and product stocks are nearly the middle of August and the end of Decem- offline earlier, keeping them out for longer, among the Nasdaq’s top percentage second quarter in a row. so, according to weekly reports from the US ber. By early February 2016, the 3-2-1 margin and bringing them back later, most refiners gainers in a weak overall market. After years of nearly doubling Energy Information Administration. had dropped to just over $11 per barrel. should be able to reduce inventories to target But the gain comes after steep annual installations, SolarCity said Anything that indicates refiners might be The stock of refined and partially refined levels without too much disruption. losses so far this year. The automak- last year it is shifting its strategy about to cut the amount of crude they proc- products had risen by 76m barrels, almost The consequence could be an additional er’s shares are down more than 37 to focus more on generating cash ess has the potential to have a big impact 10 percent, compared with February 2015. build up in crude oil stocks but the increase percent - and Musk’s personal stake than on pursuing growth. Musk on both crude and products prices . “As US Critically, from the end of December, the would comparatively modest and should in Tesla has fallen by more than is the chairman of SolarCity and refinery cuts quicken, crude market faces stock of petrol and blending components already be priced in by the market since it $3bn. Barlcays analyst Brian John- its largest shareholder, with more next threat”. also began to surge, reaching a record 256m is reasonably foreseeable. son called Tesla “one of the most than 21 percent of the stock. The Over the last year, US refineries have oper- barrels in early February, an increase of 13m The biggest question facing refiners as polarising stocks.” Some investors company is run by two of his first ated their distillation units at record rates to barrels on February 2015. well as traders is whether petrol consump- seem to ignore short-term stum- cousins, Lyndon and Peter Rive. satisfy strong demand for petrol. Fuel consumption has been hit by a com- tion will continue to grow rapidly in the rest bles and see only a future vision “It’s important to maintain Economic growth, job gains and lower bination of factors, some of them likely to be of 2016 or show more modest gains. of massive profits from disruptive perspective in a volatile mar- oil prices combined to produce the strongest very short-term while others could have a Employment growth remains healthy technology. Others see delays and ket,” said SolarCity spokesman growth in petrol consumption in more than more prolonged impact. and the low price of petrol should continue disappointing results as emblem- Jonathan Bass. “The migration to a decade. US refiners reaped large profits by Diesel demand has been hit by the world- to encourage motorists to use their cars more atic of the company’s inability to clean energy will continue, and exploiting the difference between depressed wide slowdown in freight while El Nino has and buy vehicles with larger engines. But deliver on Musk’s soaring rhetoric. SolarCity will continue to be a very crude prices and strong demand and high hit heating oil consumption. the industrial side of the economy is strug- The company lost credibility big part of it.” prices for petrol. The economics of every El Nino is a cyclical phenomenon and its gling, many corporations report increased with some investors after repeated SpaceX faces its own challenges refinery are different, depending on the type impact should fade by the middle of 2016. caution about investment, and financial mar- delays of its Model X sport utility in delivering on more than $10 bil- of crude they are able to buy and the mix of The duration of the freight slowdown kets have had a turbulent start of the year. vehicle, which Tesla still struggles lion in contracts with Nasa and fuels they can produce. is more difficult to predict and depends on There are lingering questions about to produce fast enough for waiting commercial customers. But one way to think about the gross mar- the performance of the US and global econ- how much of the benefit from cheaper fuel customers. In a Wednesday earn- The privately owned Haw- gin refiners are able to achieve is to consider omies as well as how quickly US businesses prices has already filtered through into pet- ings call, Musk acknowledged the thorne, California-based firm is an illustrative refinery that processes three clear the overhang of inventories. rol demand and how much is still left to come. automaker’s ambitions for the X working to accelerate its launch barrels of crude to produce two barrels of Petrol consumption, which had been Petrol consumption in the United States, outpaced its development and man- schedule after grounding a rocket petrol and one barrel of distillate fuel oil. growing much faster than distillates, slowed India and China contributed most of the world- ufacturing capabilities. for six months last year follow- Between January and the middle of August in the last three months of 2015 and then wide increase in fuel consumption last year. “I do think there was some ing an explosion that destroyed 2015, the gross 3-2-1 cracking margin aver- again in January 2016. So refiners and traders will continue hubris there with the X,” Musk said, cargo bound for the International aged $24 for every barrel of crude processed Some of the most recent slowdown, how- watching anxiously for any clues about explaining that the company erred Space Station. through a refinery. ever, is likely to have been due to the flooding whether that strong consumption will be In reality, refineries also have a range of that hit the Midwest at the start of January repeated or is about to succumb to a tougher costs from equipment and labour to inputs and the snow storm which hit the East Coast economic environment. Tweetwars: The social challenge in Indonesia

By Jeremy Wagstaff people are coming back to Twitter,” said Enda culture became a liability in 2014’s fractious Nasution said students he has spoken to Reuters Nasution, a blogger and entrepreneur who presidential election. use WhatsApp to communicate with their lec- has nearly 200,000 followers on his Twit- As politicians saw the power of Twitter to turer, and LINE to chat with each other. Or ter account. mobilise support, the network was flooded by Facebook and Path, says student Jeremiah ndonesia has long been the Twitter capital A Twitter spokesman declined to com- digital armies of volunteers and automated Mandey, who joined Twitter in 2010. “I used of the world, but rival apps and rancorous ment on the data, saying he had not seen it, accounts, or bots, spawning what Shafiq Pon- Twitter to interact with friends, but now I use Ipolitical debate are driving users away, but said younger people in major markets like toh, chief strategic officer at Jakarta-based it to get news,” he said. illustrating the challenges the microblogging Indonesia and India were eager users. He said social media consultancy Provetic, described Government departments, companies and service faces even in markets once consid- the company was expanding in Indonesia and as a “tsunami” of “black campaigns, hoaxes, even President Joko Widodo have embraced ered strongholds. working with airlines, banks and celebrities prejudice, racism, spam, harassment, anon- Twitter as a public announcement service. The While Twitter doesn’t break down country to add services and content. ymous accounts and political action to frame Jakarta police traffic feed, alerting commut- figures, Global Web Index data shows Indo- He noted Indonesia was one of the top topics, issues (and) spin doctoring.” ers to jams, accidents, potholes and protests, Indonesia has long been nesia remains joint first with Mexico in active markets for Twitter’s recent acquisition Peri- “Twitter,” he said, “became an uncom- has over 5m followers. the Twitter capital of the users among the 34 countries the UK-based scope, which allows users to stream live video. fortable place to be.” This provides a service, but is too passive metrics company monitors - and significantly Among younger users - active Twitter users This antagonism hit rock bottom when for younger people, says Aulia Masna, an edi- world, but rival apps and ahead in terms of penetration, at 74 percent in the 16-24 year age range - Indonesia lags two Twitter users took a dispute over govern- tor. “People are on social media to have fun rancorous political debate of all Internet users. Spain, Mexico and the UK. JakPat, an Indo- ment car-making policies offline and slugged and be entertained,” he says. “Twitter in Indo- But that masks a deeper shift, analysts and nesian survey company, found last month it out near a sports stadium. Cellphone foot- nesia is better known as the place for news, are driving users away, users say, as changing tastes, culture and pol- that teenagers were less likely to use Twitter age of their fist-fight was broadcast on TV. debate and politics. So it attracts the more illustrating the challenges itics push Indonesians to rival services. The regularly than those aged 26 and above, and “After that it felt like that if you don’t want serious, older crowd.” proportion of active Twitter users in Indo- were switching to other apps such as Face- to get into trouble, people would retreat and The company spokesman said Twitter the microblogging nesia has dipped 10 percentage points in the book and its photosharing sibling Instagram. find a more comfortable space online,” said opened a Jakarta office last year and added service faces even in past two years, to about one third of Inter- But there’s also a push factor: Indonesians Nasution, the entrepreneur. staff, in part to expand its user base beyond net users, the Global Web Index data show. are leery of Twitter’s core appeal; its default Those online spaces include Facebook’s the capital. The recruits included a govern- markets once considered “Unless Twitter makes changes or there’s public feed, where everything a user posts WhatsApp and Messenger apps, South Korean ment relations expert. It was also working strongholds. some new exciting things on Twitter that can’t is visible to everyone on the network. What Kakao’s Path, Japan’s Naver Corp’s LINE and with local bank BNI to allow customers to be found on other platforms then I don’t think was once an attraction in Indonesia’s sociable BlackBerry’s Messenger. transact via Twitter. CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 17

SERVICES

A/C MAINTENANCE & ACCOUNTING SOFTWARES SERVICES COMPUTER & IT IMMIGRATION SERVICES

ARTECH SAMA COOL Sage Accounting, Peachtree, QuickBooks, Dynacom, *OTUBMMBUJPO
.BJOUFOBODF
".$

0O
$BMM
BOE
4FSWJDJOH
PG
BMM
LJOET
%BD&BTZ
5BMMZ
104
#BS
$PEF
'JYFE
"TTFUT
4PGUXBSFÚT PG
4QMJU
1BDLBHF
6OJUT
'$6
")6
737
VOJU
BOE
$IJMMJFST
Tel: E-mail: +974 44375654 [email protected] "O
JOJUJBUJWF
PG
4BNB
(SPVQ
8--
5FM
44433199 RS NC OF .PC
66797555 'BY
4444 7709 - &NBJM
[email protected] GET PER M A NE NT E IDE Y ADVERTISING OVERSEAS NEWSPAPER BLASTING AND PAINTING CADAAN GEM ADVERTISING & PUBLICATIONS (Overseas Newspaper Advertisements) AUSTRA ALI 5FM
44442001 - GSM: 55783303 M. PALLONJI QATAR ,, UK Z 10
#09

&NBJM
NQBMMPOKJ!RBUBSOFURB UASN ATTESTATION 5FM
44606822
'BY
44606977 GSM:55879234 AN D EURO PE GET PERMANENT RESIDENCY OF WALK-IN FOR BICYCLES & WATER SPORTS CANADA UNDER QUEBEC SKILLED WORKER, EXPRESS FREE COUNSELLING SKATE SHACK ENTRY & PROVINCIAL NOMINEE ALL WORKING DAYS "M
"JO


4BMXB
3PBE
'PS
%JSFDUJPO
DBMM
5FM
446-92532 COMPUTER TRAINING CENTRE PROGRAMS FROM 10am - 6pm GSM: 552-47885/779-36152 - www.skate-shack.com BECOME A PERMANENT AT WWICS OFFICE RESIDENT OF AUSTRALIA WITH FAMILY COMPUTER CENTRE FOR BOOKING CALL: FAST TRACK SKILLSELECT 50314381, 30509694, 70629014 or BUSINESS SET-UP "M
3BZZBO
$PNQMFY
3BZZBO
3PBE CATEGORY landline 44850723/725 5FM
44435361/44370779 'BY
44449130 STUDY IN CAN, AUS, NZ, USA, WWICS has a global presence UK, SINGAPORE & EUROPE with Associate Offices in LEADER MIDDLE EAST W.L.L. CAR SERVICE CENTRE CANADA- Toronto, AUSTRALIA- Sydney, 'PS
GBTU

SFMJBCMF
#64*/&44
4&561
-0$"-
410/4034
5SBEF
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN CANADA, USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, UAE- Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, -JDFODFT
+PJOU
7FOUVSFT
1VCMJD
3FMBUJPOT
7JTBT

3FBM
&TUBUF
4FSWJDFT QATAR- Doha, BAHRAIN, KUWAIT, 5FM
+974 55745147 &NBJM
CJ[RBUBS!ZBIPPDPN
CHAUFFEUR SERVICE CENTRE NEW ZEALAND, EUROPE & OMAN- Muscat, KENYA- Nairobi 4FDPOE
UP
OPOF
DPNQSFIFOTJWF
BOE
HFOFSBM
NBJOUFOBODF

CARIBBEAN ISLANDS & INDIA- 16 Offices. TFSWJDFT
PG
BMM
LJOET
PG
WFIJDMFT
"MTP
EFBMT
JO
TBMFT
PG
QBSUT
PROFESSIONALS IN HIGH DEMAND IN CANADA & AUSTRALIA: etc. $BMM
55820652 Engineers (Civil, Mech., Software & Petroleum), Teachers, Professors

CARPET Apply & Lecturers, Nurses, Healthcare, Information Technology, Sales & Mktg, Banking, Insurance, Finance & Accounts Professionals, DENTAL CLINIC Insurance Adjusters, Technicians, Trades Persons & many more... ORIENTAL CARPET COMPANY *Conditions &YDMVTJWF
)BOENBEF
$BSUQFUT
'VSOJUVSF

$SBGUT
Devinder Sandhu & Parvinder Sandhu, WWICS/ Its Staff/ Associates are Members of CAPIC, ICCC, 4VIBJN
#JO
)BNBE
4U
/FBS
3FE
-PCTUFS Sr. Directors are members of ICCRC PHDCCI, CII, FICCI, ICBC, CMA, APIEC, IACC & MARA 44479794/44131850 55569620 5FM
GSM: WWICS QATAR WORLD'S LARGEST RESETTLEMENT GROUP CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE Mezzanine Floor, IBQ Bank Building, Adjacent to HSBC Bank Building, Opp. New Quality Almeera, Airport Road, Ummughlina Area, Doha, Qatar, Ph: +974 44850723/25 E-mail: [email protected] Website : www.wwicsgroup.com

JOB PORTAL

GULF DENTAL CENTER GROUP )JMBM
#SBODI
44670701/2 %VIBJM
#SBODI
44217338 8BLSB
#SBODI
44771011/22

MANILA DENTAL CENTER 0ME
"JSQPSU
#BDLTJEF
PG
-VMV
)ZQFSNBSLFU 5FM
44414461/2 ELECTRONICS

FLORIST

JEWELLERY

CANARA JEWELLERY "M
.BOTPVSB
#JO
%JSIBN
4USFFU
5FM
44422071, 44357283
&NBJM
DBOBSBKFXFMMFSZ!ZBIPPDPN DBOBSBKFXMMFSZ!HNBJMDPN

XXXDPN

MEDICAL SERVICES

FURNITURE

APOLLO FURNITURE 4BMXB
3PBE
5FM
44689522 (3 Lines) XXXBQPMMPGVSOJUVSFPOMJOFDPN GLASS COATING

APOLLO ENTERPRISES $SZTUBM
#POE
(MBTT
$PBUJOH
"HBJOTU
5IF
4VOÚT
)BSNGVM
3BZT
)FBU
3FTJTUBODF
4BMXB
3PBE
5FM
44426664 GSM: 55830870/33599574 &NBJM
[email protected] CAPITAL CLEANING COMPANY W.L.L. GENERAL TRADING $PNQMFUF
(FOFSBM
$MFBOJOH
4FSWJDFT
GPS
0ME
BOE
/FX
7JMMBT SERVICES 5FM
44582257 .PCJMF
33189899/ 55565328 MASSAGE E-mail: [email protected] KOTTAKKAL AYURVEDIC MASSAGE CENTRE AL MUTWASSIT CLEANING & PEST CONTROL "ZVSWFEJD
.BTTBHF
1IJMJQQJOF

5IBJ
.BTTBHF ,IBSBCB
4USFFU
#FIJOE
8IJUF
.PTRVF
/FBS
#BESJZB
4JHOBM
#JO
.FINPPE 5FM
44367555 'BY
44367999 GSM: 55875920/55860432 5FM 44360061 GSM: 33453697

STAR PLUZ W.L.L. CLEANING & PEST CONTROL INTERNATIONAL MASSAGE CENTER (AYURVEDIC) $PNQMFUF
(FOFSBM
$MFBOJOH
BOE
.BSCMF
1PMJTIJOH *OEJBO

5IBJMBOE
3FKVWBOBUJPO
#BDL

+PJOUT
1BJO
1BSBMZTJT
"MTP
1FTU
$POUSPM
BOE
(FM
4FSWJDF
3IFVNBUJD
%JTFBTFT
)PNF
4FSWJDFT
0QQPTJUF
.VHBMJOB
5FM
44371342 GSM: 55872811 "M
+B[FFSB
57
#JO
0NSBO
5FM 44218166 GSM: 77702421

ROYAL THAI MEN SPA ASIA TRANSLATION & SERVICES CENTRE "VUIFOUJD
5IBJ
.BTTBHF
5IBJ
5SBEJUJPOBM
.BTTBHF
"SPNBUIFSBQZ
)PU
0JM
4BVOB
-FBEJOH
-FHBM
5SBOTMBUPST

%PDVNFOU
-FHBMJ[BUJPO
4JODF

*OEJBO
$FSUJûDBUF
#PEZ
4DSVC
'PPU
.BTTBHF
%Ú
3JOH
3PBE
)JHIXBZ
/FX
4BMBUB
/FBS
"M
"SBCJ
"UUFTUBUJPO
)FBE
0GûDF


"M
)JMBM
#SBODI


4BMXB
3PBE
For advertisements, call: INVEST IN QATAR 4UBEJVN5FM 44666745 www.thaimassagedoha.com #SBODI

.PCJMF
$POUBDUT
4VûZBO

:PPOVT

 QUEENS LAND SERVICES 44557857 HELPLINE GROUP OF COMPANIES Pen.Mag Business Set-up and Sponsorship. 8F
QSPWJEF
"
UP
;
TVQQPSU
GPS
UIF
$PNQBOZ
'PSNBUJPO
$PNNFSDJBM
Tel: 44557857 %FCU
$PMMFDUJPO
3FBM
&TUBUF
4FSWJDFT
3FHJTUSBUJPO
130
4FSWJDFT

3FBM
&TUBUF
4FSWJDFT
$BMM
/PX
[email protected] .PC
77776917 &NBJM
[email protected] 77711129/44351974/44919213 - www.helplinegroups.com 18 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 CLASSIFIEDS

SERVICES FOR RENT

APOLLO REAL ESTATE FAMILY & EXECUTIVE BACHELOR ROOM MASSAGE RENT A CAR %PIBÚT
MFBEJOH
3FBM
&TUBUF
"HFODZ
DBO
PGGFS
ZPV
B
XJEF
TFMFDUJPO
PG
BWBJMBCMF
(Studio Type) available inside brand new villa QSPQFSUJFT
"QBSUNFOU
UP
DPNQPVOET
BOE
PGûDF
TQBDF
(JWF
VT
ZPVS
SFRVJSFNFOUT
BOE
MFU
VT
ûOE
at Al Thumama Area (beside kahramaa ofce). COUNTRY RENT A CAR - BARWA AL WAKRA Rent QR.2,500, 3,000 & 3,500 monthly. Big size 
.PEFM
,JB
$FSBUP
)POEB
$JUZ
%BJMZ.POUIMZ
3FOUBM

'VMM
*OTVSBODF
$PWFSBHF
'SFF
.BJOUFOBODF

ZPV
B
QMBDF
UIBU
ûUT
8JUI
PWFS

ZFBST
FYQFSJFODF
JO
%PIB
XF
LOPX
UIF
NBSLFU 3FQMBDFNFOU

)ST
3PBE
4JEF
"TTJTUBODF
5FM
44154467/44687507 (4.
55048720/ Qatar’s first Real Estate Company under British Management bedroom, attached kitchen & bathroom. Water, 5544042/66995238 &NBJM
JOGP!DPVOUSZSFOUBDBSDPN

#MEH
/P
4IPQ
/P Electricity & Internet (Wi) is included. Parking and Call: Office: 44689522, Maureen 55864352 maintenance are available. GO RENT A CAR Abubakar 55850815, Peter 55506803, Dexter 55872145 Please call: 66767499/ 74454928/33186267 $PNQFUJUJWF
3BUFT
GPS
$BS
3FOUBM

-FBTJOH
www.apollopropertiesonline.com +974 44325500 44375753 33697075/ 5FM 'BY


(4.
COMPOUND VILLAS 66971703/55241629 &NBJM
JOGPHPRBUBS!HPSFOUBDBSNFDPN FLATS AL DAR CAR RENTAL
t

#FESPPN
''

%PIB
+BEFFE
23 
t

#FESPPN

'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

-VRUB
23  
)PVST
#JO
0NSBO
"INFE
#JO
"MJ
4U
10
#PY


t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

.VHMJOB
23 
t

#FESPPN
''

"M
3PXEB
23  44877789 55599972/55732070 44866637 5FM

(4.


'BY

t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

%PIB
+BEFFE


t

#FESPPN
4'

"CV
)BNPVS
23  BMEBSDBSSFOUBM!IPUNBJMDPN

"M
(IBOJN
23 
t

#FESPPN
4FNJ'VSOJTIFE

)JMBM
23  EUROPCAR RENT A CAR CO LLC
t

#FESPPN
''

0ME
"JSQPSU
23 
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

.VSBJLI
23  )FBE
0GûDF
BU
$3JOH
3PBE
5FM
44660677
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE
XJUI
4XJNNJOH
1PPM



t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

"[J[JZB
23  Airport: 40108888 .PCJMF

55827766/ 55849587

/FBS
$PSOJDIF
23 
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE
$PNQPVOE
7JMMB

&NBJM
"ENJO!FVSPQDBSDPNRB
t

#FESPPN
6OGVSOJTIFE

8BLSB
23 

"CV
)BNPVS
23 
0OMZ
&VSPQFBOT
t

#FESPPN
4'
$PNQ
7JMMB

"M
/BTJS
23  AVIS RENT A CAR
t

#FESPPN
4FNJ'VSOJTIFE

.VOUB[B
23 
t

#FESPPN
4'
&VSPQFBO
0OMZ

/BKNB
23 
t

#3
4'
$PNQ
7JMMB

"JO
,IBMJE
23  .BJO
0GûDF
BU
"M
4IBSJG
5SBEJOH

$POU
$P
#MEH
BU
UIF
KVODUJPO
PG

t

#FESPPN
4FNJ'VSOJTIFE

8FTU
#BZ
23  "JSQPSU
4USFFU

4VIBS
4U
3PBE
5FM
44667744 / 40108887
t

#FESPPN
''

%PIB
+BEFFE
23  'BY
44657626 &NBJM
BWJT!RBUBSOFURB
8FC
XXXBWJTRBUBSDPN
t

#FESPPN
''

0ME
"JSQPSU
23 
t

#FESPPN
''

(IBSBČB
23 
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

8BLSB
23 
t

#FESPPN
4'

.VBJUIFS
23  BUDGET RENT A CAR
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE
XJUI
4XJNNJOH

t

#FESPPN
4'

"M
,IBSUJZBU
23  5IF
#FTU
$BS
3FOUBM
4FSWJDF
JO
2BUBS


1PPM

.VHMJOB
23 
t

#FESPPN
''

8BLSB
23  )FBE
0GûDF

44310411
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE
XJUI
4XJNNJOH
1PPM

A ONE REAL ESTATE
t

#FESPPN
4'

.VSSBJLI
23  "JSQPSU
"SSJWBM

"JSQPSU
%FQBSUVSF
40108880 -55808638 (24 Hrs)
t

#FESPPN
6'

"JO
,IBMJE
23  A ONE REAL ESTATE

"M
/BTJS
23 
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE
XJUI
4XJNNJOH
1PPM



t

#FESPPN
''

"JO
,IBMJE
23  MANPOWER SERVICES NATIONAL CAR RENTAL

/FBS
$PSOJDIF
23 
t

#FESPPN
4FNJ'VSOJTIFE

"M
8BBC
23  $BST

8%T

1JDLVQT

#VTFT

$IBVGGFVS
%SJWF

t

#FESPPN
''

1FBSM
2BUBS
23 
t

#FESPPN
4'
$PNQ
7JMMB
-BHPPO
23  $BMM
5547 8150/5547 8151
t

#FESPPN
6OGVSOJTIFE

8BLSB
23 
t

#FESPPN
6'

"CV
)BNPVS
23  &NBJM
JOGP!OBUJPOBMRBUBSDPN
t

#FESPPN
4FNJ'VSOJTIFE

.VOUB[B
23  “NO AGENTS”
t

#FESPPN
''

/BKNB
23  CHAUFFEUR RENT A CAR
t

#FESPPN
'VMMZ
'VSOJTIFE

.BOTPVSB
23  CALL: 66725353, 44410851, 70047475 :FBSMZ
BOE
.POUIMZ
XJUI
PS
XJUIPVU
ESJWFS
5FM
44445456
.PCJMF
55820652 “NO AGENTS” &NBJM
JOGP!DIBVGGFVSRBDPN CALL: 66725353, 44410851, 70047475 ANNOUNCEMENTS

RESETTLEMENT SERVICES SITUATION WANTED BUYING We buy all kinds of used household "
'JMJQJOB

ZFBST
PME
#BDIFMPS
%FHSFF
IPMEFS
items. Office Furniture, Electric and JT
MPPLJOH
GPS
B
KPC
BT
"ENJO
"TTJTUBOU4FDSFUBSZ electronics items.. Fridge, A/Cs, 3FDFQUJPOJTU
%PDVNFOU
$POUSPMMFS(SBQIJD
%FTJHOFS
Freezer, TV & Computers. MOVERS &YDFMMFOU
JO
.4
0GûDF
BOE
"EPCF
4PGUXBSFT 1MFBTF
DPOUBDU

&NBJM
OOMZO@!ZBIPPDPN Call: 55505773 E2E GLOBAL LINES (Q) PACKERS & MOVERS WLL 8PSMEXJEF
%PPS
5P
%PPS
4FSWJDF
BOE
-PDBM

*OUFSOBUJPOBM
3FMPDBUJPO 5FM 4451 6688 'BY 4468 8631 .PC 6613 7103 SERVICES &NBJM
TIJQQJOH!FFRBUBSDPN
8FC
XXX
FFRBUBSDPN

METAL REPAIRS SERVICED OFFICES TRANSLATION SERVICES

APOLLO ENTERPRISES HELPLINE #FM[POB
1PMZNFSJDT

5FM
44426664 $3JOH
3PBE
/FBS
(VMG
5JNFT
(4.
55871914/ 55524897 &NBJM
BQPMMP!RBUBSOFURB

5FM
44919213 .PC
77711129 www.helplinegroups.com JORVJSZ!BQPMMPDIFNJDBMTDPN POLYCLINIC WRAPPING SERVICES

FAMILY MEDICAL CLINIC "M
8VLBJS
"M
.BTIBBG
5FM
44113556/7/8 PARTY ITEMS & BALLOON DECORATION

PARTY KINGDOM /FBS
+BJEBI
'MZPWFS
/BTSBMMBI
$FOUSF
5FM
44353501/ STATIONERY & OFFICE 44366431 - E-mail: [email protected] SUPPLIES OFFICE EXPERTS PEST CONTROL 3FHVMBS
4VQQMJFS
PG
0GûDF
4UBUJPOFSZ

4VQQMJFT
*5
1SPEVDUT
BOE
$POTVNBCMFT
BOE
PUIFS
(FOFSBM
$POTVNBCMFT
8F
EP
GBTU
EFMJWFSJFT

"O
JOJUJBUJWF
PG
4BNB
(SPVQ
8--
5FM
44433199 - 'BY
4444 7709 - &NBJM
[email protected]

SCAFFOLDING

APOLLO ENTERPRISES SCAFFOLDING DIVISION $POUSBDU)JSF4BMF

4BMXB
3PBE
5FM
44693334 RECRUITMENT SERVICES 'BY
44416274
(4.
55521089/55560246/55536285 XXXBQPMMPRBUBSOFU

&NBJM
BQPMMPTDBGG!RBUBSOFURB

MALZAMAT QATAR W.L.L. 4UFFM

"MVNJOJVN
4DBGGPMEJOH
4BMF
)JSF

$POUSBDUJOH
5FM
44504266 'BY
44502489 (4.
66715063 www.malzamatqatar.com &NBJM
[email protected], [email protected] RENT A CAR UNIFORMS

AL SULAIMAN RENT A CAR .BJO
0GûDF
$
3JOH
3PBE
5FM
44911711 "JSQPSU
#SBODI

.PC

"M
,IPS
#SBODI
 &NBJM
JOGP!BMTVMBJNBODBSDPN
BJSQPSU!BMTVMBJNBODBSDPN AL MUFTAH RENT A CAR WLL )0
%Ú
3JOH
3E
5


"JSQPSU

(SBOE
)BNBE
"WFOVF

3BT
-BGGBO

"M
,IPS

&
.BJM
SFTFSWBUJPOT! SFOUBDBSEPIBDPN

8FCTJUF
XXXSFOUBDBSEPIBDPN OASIS RENT A CAR WATER TANK CLEANING :06
3&/5
.03&
5)"/
"
$"3
8*5)
0"4*4 5FM
4413 0011 "MMFO 6641 7354 'BY: 4413 0033 REAL ESTATE 3FOUBM!0BTJT$BST$PN

0BTJT$BSTDPN

(SFBU
EFBMT
PO
MPOH
UFSN
SFOUBMT AL MUTWASSIT CLEANING & PEST CONTROL ,IBSBCB
TU
#FIJOE
XIJUF
.PTRVF
E2E FLEETS - The Complete Transportation Solution AL MUFTAH SERVICES 'BY
443679 99
(4. 55875920/55860432 #VT
3FOUBMT
4UBGG

4DIPPM
5SBOTQPSUBUJPO
1JDL
BOE
%SPQ
0GG
4FSWJDFT
FUD 5FM 44634444/44010700 .PC
55542067/55823100 5FM 4460 5291 'BY
4460 2176
.PC
66728034 &
.BJM
SFTFSWBUJPOT!SFOUBDBSEPIBDPN

CAPITAL CLEANING COMPANY &NBJM
üFFUT!FFRBUBSDPN
8FC
XXXFFRBUBSDPN 8FCTJUF
XXXSFOUBDBSEPIBDPN $MFBOJOH
8BUFS
5BOLT

1FTU
$POUSPM
(4. 55565328/ 33189899 5FM
44582257 NICE RENT A CAR ADAM REAL ESTATE COMPANY E-mail: [email protected] 4PMVUJPO
GPS
5SBOTQPSU

-FBTJOH
BMM
UZQFT
PG
WFIJDMF

)FBWZ
&RVJNFOU 5FM
44413392 (4.
55514223 'BY
44317896 8FCTJUF
niceqatar.com "M
,VXBSJ
#MHE
UI
'MPPS
"M
4BEE
/FBS
4FCTUBJO
3FTU
&NBJM
[email protected]/ [email protected] 5FM
44366932
'BY
44366931 (4.
55500789 / 55803731 For advertisements, call: REGENCY FLEETS "
3FHFODZ
(SPVQ
$P 4QFDJBM
$PSQPSBUF
MFBTJOH
BOE
3FOUBM
SBUFT
1SJDF
JODMVEFT
$PNQSFIFOTJWF
*OTVSBODF
APOLLO REAL ESTATE .BJOUFOBODF
3FQMBDFNFOU
7FIJDMF
FUD
%SJWFO
CZ
7BMVFT
&NBJM
JOGP!SFHFODZüFFUT 4BMXB
3PBE
(4.

55864352/55506803/ 55872145 44557857 DPN

5FM
44433822/44554046
'BY
44554047 Branches: "JSQPSU

5FM
44153086 5FM
44689522 XXXBQPMMPQSPQFSUJFTPOMJOFDPN
#FWFSMZ
)JMMT

5FM
44122131 .PWFOQJDL
5PXFS

4VJUFT
5FM
44966107/30122300 &NBJM
BQPMMPQSPQ!RBUBSOFURB BREAK TIME SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 19 EASY SUDOKU CROSSWORD

1234567 891011121314 ATTABOY ATOMS

15 16 S I AMESE CAMEOS SCROLLS CRAWLED 17 18 SLOWBURN AWE 19 20 TAHOE EASY DRUM ATOZ ACNE Z IPPO 21 22 23 24 25 TOM I SAK MI CA 26 27 28 29 30 31 NEWMANAGEMENT

32 33 34 CAPP LAMA ERG EBONS SAME PLEA 35 36 37 TAME ACRE LOSES 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 CH I LOAMSO I L HANSARP HUMPDAY 46 47 48 IGNITE OSBORNE 49 50 51 SODAS WEST J ET Yesterday’s answer 52 53 54 55 56 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 57 58 59 60 61 DOWN 27 College student’s accumulation Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 Blond shade 62 63 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every 2 New York State’s ___ 28 Lyricist Gershwin column and every 3x3 box contains all the 64 65 Examinations 29 Out of jail, conditionally digits 1 to 9. 3 Give a tongue-lashing 34 National Spelling Bee 4 Contacted via Google airer ACROSS 41 Possible answer to “What’s Talk, say 36 Pierce portrayer 1 Ruling party? brewing?” 5 Outdoor fountain piece 37 Avail oneself of 8 Box with handles? 42 Land bordering Francia 6 Duckbill’s tail? 38 Election Day in the U.K. 46 Dad on “Malcolm in the 15 Mariner’s measure 7 Note’s counterpart 39 Milliners’ accessories Middle” 16 Attire 8 Grand ___ (wine 40 Somewhat firm HYPER SUDOKU 47 Page, e.g. 17 “The Invisible Man” author designation) 43 Appropriated 18 Settles in, say 48 Aromatic seasoning 9 Permanently exclude 44 Noted recovery program 19 First in line, in a way 49 Educational institution near Plano, informally 10 Gets juicier, say 45 “Selma” setting: Abbr. 20 And others: Abbr. 51 “Straight Outta Compton” 11 Fine fiddle 47 Donors, often 21 Game with Wild Draw 4 rappers 12 Stephen ___, War of cards 50 Prince Eric’s love 52 Birthplace of Paddington 1812 naval hero 22 Washington M.L.S. team 53 Flats: Abbr. Bear 13 Empty, as a fountain pen 26 Set location 54 ___-chic (fashion style) 53 Let up 14 Extra N.B.A. periods 30 Vast stretches of time 55 Genesis son 57 Least 21 2015 Women’s World 31 G.I.-entertaining grp. 56 Singer Amos 60 Some return addresses Cup champs 32 To the rear 57 One may be laid at your 62 Bug detector? 22 Lays down the law 33 “___: Cyber” doorstep 63 Legalese adverb 23 ___ Nostra 34 Lead-in to while 58 “I’ll take that as ___” 64 “Four Quartets” poet 24 International 35 “The A-Team” character 59 GPS fig. 65 By a wide margin humanitarian grp. played by Mr. T 61 Swineherd’s workplace 38 “Fancy ___!” 25 Period

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

How to play Kakuro: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can NOVO be of any size. It has rows and columns, and SHOWING AT KAKURO dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like The Choice (Romantic) 2D 10:30am, 12:40, 1:30, 3:00, 5:10, 6:30, VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 7:20, 9:30, 11:20 & 11:40pm in a crossword, some of the dark cells will TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 contain numbers. Some cells will contain two Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (Horror) 10:00, 11:00am, numbers. 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:15, 8:30, 9:00 & 11:00pm However, in a crossword the numbers How To Be Single (2D/Comedy) 11:00am, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50pm & 12:00midnight reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers Kung Fu Style (2D/Animation) 10:30am, 12:20, 2:10, 4:10 & 6:00pm are all you get! They denote the total of the The Finest Hours (Action) 8:00 & 11:00pm digits in the row or column referenced by the The Benefactor (2D/Drama) 10:40am, 2:20, 6:10 & 10:00pm number. Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (2D/Action) 12:30, 4:20, 8:10 Within each & 11:50pm The Pack (2D/Horror) 12:20, 4:10, 8:00 & 11:55pm collection of cells - Ride Along 2 (2D/Comedy) 10:20am, 2:10, 6:00 & 9:45pm called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be Fitoor (2D/Hindi) 10:30am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 & 11:00pm used but, like sudoku, Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D/) 10:10am, each number may only 12:00noon, 1:50, 3:40 & 5:30pm The Boy (2D) 7:20, 9:20 & 11:20pm be used once. The Finest Hours(3D IMAX) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30& 11:55pm MALL

Yesterday’s Paavada (2D/Malayalam) 2:00 & 10:45pm answer The Choice (2D/Drama) 4:30pm The Benefactor(2D/Drama)8:30pm The Pack(2D/) 10:00pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate The Jil Jung Juk (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D/Animation) 2:30pm Kung Fu Style (2D/Animation) 4:15pm Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (2D/) 6:00 & 9:45pm Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D/Horror) 7:45 & 11:30pm ALL IN THE MIND Fitoor (2D/Hindi) 4:15 & 8:30pm Can you find the hidden words? They may Sanam Re (2D/Hindi) 2:15 & 6:30pm be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or How To Be Single (2D/Comedy) 6:30pm backwards. ASIAN TOWN Adi Kapyare (Malayalam) 1:00 & 8:45pm Fitoor (Hindi) 3:45, 6:15 & 11:15pm Sanam Re (Hindi) 6:00pm 2 Countires (Malayalam) 3:15 & 8:15pm Pavada (Malayalam) 1:00, 2:45, 3:15, 5:30, 8:15 & 11:00pm Visaranai (Tamil) 12:30pm Jil Jung Juck (Tamil) 12:45, 6:00 & 11:00pm

Hoy en la Historia LANDMARK Paavada (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 11:00pm February 13, 1941 The Finest Hours(2D/Action)4:45pm The Choice(2D/) 6:45pm Penicillin, discovered in 1928 by Sanam Re (2D/Hindi) 8:45pm Alexander Fleming, was first used Kung Fu Style (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:00pm on a human patient, an Oxford Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D/) 5:30, 9:30 & 11:30pm policeman whose scratches from a Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (2D) 7:30pm rose bush had turned septic The Jil Jung Juk (2D/Tamil) 8:45pm 1917:      Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D) 4:30pm       The Benefactor(2D/)6:00pm Ocean 14(2D/Arabic) 7:45pm 1974: Author Alexander Solzhenitsyn How To Be Single(2D)9:30pm The Pack(2D)11:30pm was stripped of Soviet citizenship and deported after the publication of ROYAL PLAZA The Gulag Archipelago Alvin & The Chipmunks:The Road Chip(2D) 3:00pm ABORIGINE, ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, AYERS ROCK, 2001:       Navy Seals:The Battle of New Orleans(2D) 5:00 &11:00pm BLUE MOUNTAINS, BONDI BEACH, BOOMERANG,           Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D/Horror) 7:00 & 9:00pm BRISBANE, CAIRNS, CANBERRA, DARLING, DARWIN, DIDGERIDOO, GREAT BARRIER REEF, HOBART,      Fitoor (2D/Hindi) 2:30, 6:45 & 11:15pm Sanam Re (Hindi) 6:45pm KANGAROO, KOALA BEAR, MELBOURNE, MURRAY, 2011: Thousands of Italian women Kung Fu Style (2D/Animation) 5:00pm NEW SOUTH WALES, NORTHERN TERRITORY, PERTH, protested against premier Silvio 9:15pm 11:15pm PLATYPUS, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, The Finest Hours(2D) The Pack(2D/Horror) SYDNEY, TASMANIA, ULURU, VICTORIA, WALLABY, The Benefactor(2D/Drama) 2:30 & 8:00pm YARRA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.  !    '# $%&'() How To Be Single (2D/Comedy) 4:00pm The Choice(2D) 6:00pm Ocean 14(2D/Arabic) 9:30pm 20 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORTS

Hornets’ England make Kidd-Gilchrist out with injury Nadal back to winning three changes

Agencies for Italy tie

ways at Argentina Open AFP CHARLOTTE: Charlotte Hornets RUGBY: SIX forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suf- NATIONS fered another torn labrum during Wednesday night’s game against “Danny, Joe Marler the Indiana Pacers and will be out LONDON: England head and Joe Launchbury will indefinitely. Defending champ coach Eddie Jones has all have significant roles The team announced Thursday made three changes to his to play to finish the game.” that an MRI revealed the extent of beats Juan Monaco team to play Italy in their Saracens forward Maro the injury to his right shoulder. It following shock Six Nations clash in Rome Itoje is in line to make his said the injury will be re-evaluated tomorrow. England debut after he was and an update on Kidd-Gilchrist’s exit at last month’s Lock Courtney Lawes, named on the bench, along status provided after the NBA All- Australian Open loose-head prop Mako with Northampton prop Star Game break this weekend. Vunipola and scrum-half Paul Hill. Miami Heat centre Hassan Ben Youngs come in for Joe Italy fell 23-21 in their Whiteside was suspended for one Launchbury, Joe Marler and opener to France in Paris game without pay for throwing an Danny Care respectively. last weekend. elbow into the head of San Antonio AFP Youngs, 26, who has England team: Spurs center Boban Marjanovic, the 53 caps, will link up with Mike Brown, Anthony NBA announced. Bath’s George Ford, push- Watson, Jonathan Joseph, The Houston Rockets are ing Care onto the bench. Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell, actively shopping centre Dwight BUENOS AIRES: Rafael Nadal Vunipola, 25, was pre- George Ford, Ben Youngs, Howard, Yahoo Sports reported. returned to action on Thursday ferred over Marler, with Billy Vunipola, James According to the report, the for the first time since his shock Lawes, 26, taking Launch- Haskell, Chris Robshaw, Rockets have already contacted first-round exit from the Aus- World number five Rafael bury’s place. George Kruis, Courtney teams about the possibility of trad- tralian Open with a straight-sets England beat Scotland Lawes, Dan Cole, Dylan Nadal hits a return against ing Howard, an eight-time All-Star. win over Juan Monaco in the ATP 15-9 in their opening clash Hartley (captain), Mako Argentina’s Juan Monaco Howard, 30, is expected to Argentina Open. at Murrayfield last Satur- Vunipola during their ATP Argentina opt-out in his contract this sum- Defending Buenos Aires day and next take on Italy Replacements: Jamie mer to become an unrestricted free champion Nadal wasn’t his sharp- Open match in Buenos Aires in the Stadio Olimpico. George, Joe Marler, Paul agent, so the Rockets may want est self in the rematch of last year’s on Thursday. “We’ve made a few Hill, Joe Launchbury, Maro to get something in exchange for final. He dropped his serve three changes to the line-up for Itoje, Jack Clifford, Danny Howard now, rather than get noth- times but broke Monaco in the Italy,” said Jones. Care, Alex Goode ing in return if he leaves after this final game of each set to emerge wasn’t able to build much momen- down the line to force Monaco to on track here. The year started “I believe this is the season. with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour tum against him. Monaco earned serve to extend the match. for Nadal with a 6-1, 6-2 thrash- strongest 23 to go to Rome SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP Denver Nuggets guard and 38 minutes. the first break of the second set The Buenos Aires clay has ing by Novak Djokovic in the final and get the performance TODAY’S FIXTURES Emmanuel Mudiay and Phoenix He set up a quarter-final en route to a 3-1 lead, and after proved fertile ground for Nadal at Doha, which was followed by and result we want. Suns guard Devin Booker were clash with Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi, breaking back for 3-3, Nadal was in the past, and the 29-year-old his 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), “Mako, Ben and Court- (All Times in GMT) named as substitutes for two of a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over Diego in trouble again with two double world number five, owner of 14 6-2 loss to fellow Spaniard Fern- ney have been pushing France vs Ireland (14:25) the special events during All-Star Schwartzman. faults to trail 15-30 in the ninth Grand Slam titles, admitted when ando Verdasco in his first round hard for selection during Wales vs Scotland (16:50) weekend. Monaco hadn’t played a tour- game. he sought a wild card for the tour- in Melbourne - just the second training, but they also fit Tomorrow Mudiay was named to replace nament since having right wrist He held on, sealing the game nament that he hoped he’d be first-round exit from a Grand the game plan we want to injured defending champion Patrick surgery last August. But Nadal with a trademark forehand winner able to get his 2016 campaign Slam in his career. implement against Italy. Italy vs England (140:0) Beverley of the Houston Rockets in the Skills Challenge during NBA All- Star weekend at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Oscar commits The Suns assigned guard Jordan McRae to the Bakersfield Jam of the Untimely Lille clash hinders PSG’s Euro hopes to Chelsea D-League, the team announced.

NBA RESULTS AFP than that. If you talk to me about the wins over Bordeaux and Angers, and Reuters Phoenix 105 Houston 111 FOOTBALL: PSG AIMS HIGH fixture list, I get heated, so it’s better Bruno Genesio’s side will seek to bounce to avoid it,” Blanc said after Wednes- back from their cup exit at home to Caen. Detroit 111 New York 105 day’s 3-0 victory over Lyon sent holders “We’ve shown we have the quality Portland 103 Toronto 110 PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain head into of faith but also a big responsibility,” PSG through to the quarter-finals of to compete at the top of the table from LONDON: Chelsea midfielder New Orleans 96 LA Lakers 99 today’s game at home to Lille with Blanc said of his renewal. the French Cup. here until the end of the season,” Gen- Oscar has said that he has no the spectre of next week’s Champi- “The club has ambitions both nation- “As of Sunday, we’ll start prepar- esio said following the defeat in Paris, reason to leave the club and ons League last-16 clash with Chelsea ally and in Europe, and we’ll do all we ing for the game against Chelsea. The with teenage striker Maxwell Cornet was keen to add to his trophy looming large over the runaway Ligue can to reach those objectives.” game against Lille, with all respect to adding to that sentiment. haul with the Premier League 1 leaders. PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi Lille, is badly timed.” “We’ve managed to pick ourselves champions. PSG were frustrated in their insisted he never had any doubts that Second-place Monaco can widen up in the league. We have to continue to “I want to stay here for a McCoy attempts to rework a congested fix- the former France coach was the right the gap between themselves and the work hard ahead of Sunday’s match,” long time. I want to win more ture list as league officials rejected man to take the club forward. chasing pack in the race for France’s said Cornet, who was disappointed Lyon games, more trophies, because likely to be the club’s request to reschedule this “I always had confidence in Laurent other automatic Champions League were unable to build on a promising I love Chelsea, I love the fans,” weekend’s encounter, leaving Laurent Blanc, I never thought about appointing qualifying spot when they visit Saint- start again PSG in midweek. the Brazil international, whose charged Blanc’s men just two full days to pre- another coach,” said Al-Khelaifi, add- Etienne, who are six points adrift in Slumping Angers, losers of five of contract runs through to the pare for Tuesday’s first leg. ing he had “always believed in (Blanc’s) fourth, tomorrow. their past seven matches, were aim- end of the 2019 season, told Reaching the last four of Europe’s ability to take the team to a higher level Third-place Nice, above Saint- ing to arrest their slide and reignite an Chelsea TV. Agencies premier club competition is the prin- each season”. Etienne on goal difference, host Marseille unlikely European challenge away to “I don’t have (a reason to) cipal objective for PSG this season, but PSG are well on course to sew up although Claude Puel’s Champions Rennes yesterday. change the club. Everyone likes on Thursday Blanc received the Qatari a fourth successive league title, with a League hopefuls will be without leading Nantes and Lorient, who both pro- me here and I’m very happy PHILADELPHIA: Buffalo Bills run- owners’ unequivocal backing after pen- huge 24-point lead over nearest rivals scorer Hatem Ben Arfa after the France gressed to the last eight of the French here.” ning back LeSean McCoy is unlikely ning a contract extension until 2018. Monaco, but Saturday’s match at the Parc international was ruled out for around Cup on Wednesday, meet in a Brittany Guus Hiddink’s side, who to learn of official charges against “I’m very happy, also for my staff. A des Princes is the seventh in an eight- a month with a hamstring injury. Lyon derby today, while Montpellier host fel- are 13th in the table, host fourth- him on Thursday related to being coach is nothing without his staff. For game series in little over three weeks. have forced their way back into Euro- low strugglers Toulouse with both sides from-bottom Newcastle United accused of aggravated assault us, continuing the adventure is a show “The calendar can’t get any tighter pean contention with successive 3-0 bidding to avoid relegation. in the league on Saturday. stemming from a weekend fight at a Philadelphia nightclub. According to reports on Wednes- day, an arrest warrant could be issued for McCoy, whose attorney FIFA presidential battle told ESPN that his client would sur- render to police if charged in the Messi named La Liga Player of the Month case. Police have recommended lands in Miami that one of the charges be aggra- vated assault. Reuters uary, the first time he has won first hat-trick of the season against The three-game suspension of the award since its introduction Granada. Argentine Messi’s team AFP officials at a hotel in Miami on Thurs- Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Von- in 2013. mate Neymar won the award in day and yesterday. taze Burfict was upheld Thursday, BARCELONA: Barcelona forward The five-times Ballon d’Or November, the first Barca player It is not known whether the according to published reports. Lionel Messi has been named La winner scored six goals in the to claim it. Real Madrid’s Cris- leadership of CONCACAF - holding Burfict recently had his case Liga’s player of the month for Jan- league in January, including his tiano Ronaldo has won it twice. MIAMI: The battle for the top job in a potentially pivotal 35 votes in the heard by NFL appeals office Der- world football arrived in the United FIFA ballot - will call on its member- rick Brooks, the former Tampa Bay States on Thursday with FIFA presi- ship to endorse its preferred candidate. Buccaneers standout and Hall of dential contenders hoping to secure An umbrella group of Central Famer. crucial votes from the scandal- American CONCACAF members, The New York Giants hired Mar- tainted governing body for soccer UNCAF, last month endorsed Infan- tin Mayhew as director of football in the region. tino’s bid to succeed Blatter. operations/special projects, the club UEFA official Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF has been at the heart announced. Asian chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebra- of the global corruption scandal, with Mayhew will work closely with him al-Khalifa were both expected former president Jeffrey Webb and his assistant general manager Kevin to be among the FIFA Presidential successor Alfredo Hawit both arrested Abrams on the salary cap, collective contenders giving presentations to last year in separate raids in Swit- bargaining compliance and player members from CONCACAF, which zerland. Infantino joined the race to contract negotiations. He will also governs football in North America, replace Blatter in a February 26 vote handle special projects assigned Central America and the Caribbean. following the ban handed down to by general manager Jerry Reese. Infantino, a key ally of banned UEFA supremo Michel Platini. Infan- Mayhew replaces Matt Harriss, former presidential hopeful Michel tino has vowed to clean up FIFA if who recently departed to become Platini, and Sheikh Salman, the elected after months of corruption vice president of football adminis- influential head of the Asian Foot- allegations which have plunged the tration for the Detroit Lions. ball Confederation are battling for global football body into the worst Former NFL wide receiver Josh the right to replace ousted former crisis in its history. Morgan reportedly shot himself in FIFA chief Sepp Blatter at elections The UEFA official has planned the leg recently while cleaning a gun. later this month. to introduce 12-year term limits for The gun accidently discharged Also in the running are Jordan’s senior officials and increase trans- while Morgan was handling it on Prince Ali bin al Hussein, South Africa’s parency throughout FIFA. January 31 in his home in Leesburg, Tokyo Sexwale and outsider Jerome FIFA has not yet released the 2014 Va. Morgan, 30, suffered non-life Champagne. report, citing procedural delays. Gar- threatening injuries and was trans- All five candidates were expected cia resigned in protest, claiming the ported to a nearby hospital. to make presentations to CONCACAF report was suppressed. SPORT SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 21

Al Sadd clinch U-16 basketball title SCOREBOARD INDIA M Gunathilaka c Dhoni b Nehra 2 R Sharma c & b Chameera 43 T Dilshan st Dhoni b Ashwin 0 S Dhawan c Chandimal b Chameera 51 S Prasanna c Yuvraj b Nehra 1 A Rahane c Dilshan b Senanayake 25 D Chandimal st Dhoni b Jadeja 31 S Raina c Chameera b Perera 30 C Kapugedara c Pandya b Jadeja 32 H Pandya c Gunathilaka b Perera 27 M Siriwardana (not out) 28 M S Dhoni not out) 9 D Shanaka c Raina b Ashwin 27 Y Singh c Senanayake b Perera 0 T Perera c Rahane b Ashwin 0 R Jadeja (not out) 1 S Senanayake lbw Bumrah 0 Extras (B-1, W-9) 10 D Chameera b Bumrah 0 Total (for 6 wkts in 20 overs) 196 K Rajitha (not out) 3 Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-122, 3-127, 4-186, Extras (W-3) 3 5-186, 6-186. Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) 127 Bowling: Rajitha 4-0-45-0; Perera 3-0-33-3 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-16, 4-68, 5-68, (3w); Senanayake 4-0-40-1 (1w); Chameera 6-116, 7-117, 8-119, 9-119. 4-0-38-2 (2w); Prasanna 3-0-21-0; Siri- Bowling: Ashwin 4-0-14-3; Nehra 3-0-26-2; wardana 1-0-6-0; Shanaka 1-0-12-0. Yuvraj 3-0-19-0; Jadeja 4-0-24-2; Raina 2-0- Did not bat: R Ashwin, J Bumrah, A Nehra 22-0; Bumrah 3-0-17-2; Pandya 1-0-5-0. SRI LANKA Result: India win by 69 runs. Players and officials pose for a group photo after the final of U-16 Qatar Basketball League between Al Sadd and Al Gharafa in Doha on Thursday. Al Sadd won the final 90-78 to win the trophy. Dhawan fifty drives India Aussies ruin McCullum’s day to big win over Sri Lanka AFP to gain early edge over NZ RANCHI: Swashbuckling opener Shikhar Dhawan struck his maiden Twenty20 fifty to help India to a crushing 69-run victory over the SCOREBOARD visiting Sri Lanka in Pune yesterday. Put into bat on a flat pitch, Dha- Visitors dismiss New Zealand (I innings): wan’s blistering innings of 51 off just the hosts for 183 M Guptill c Smith b Hazlewood ...... 18 25 ball enable India to post a chal- and then score T Latham c Nevill b Hazlewood ...... 6 lenging 196 for six, despite a late K Williamson c Nevill b Siddle ...... 16 hat-trick from Thisara Perera. 147-3 at stumps on After losing two early wickets, H Nicholls c Nevill b Siddle...... 8 Sri Lanka never looked like posting opening day after B McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood...0 a challenging score and they only Khawaja and Smith’s C Anderson c Khawaja b Lyon ...... 38 managed to post 127 for nine in their half centuries in B Watling c Nevill b Hazlewood ...... 17 20 overs. D Bracewell c Voges b Siddle ...... 5 It was a decisive return to form Wellington for Man-of-the-Match Dhawan after M Craig (not out) ...... 41 a recent disappointing run on tour in T Southee c Hazlewood b Lyon ...... 0 Australia, where he managed just 90 T Boult c Khawaja b Lyon...... 24 runs from three games. India’s Shikhar Dhawan plays The left-hander unleashed an AFP Extras (B-4, LB-1, NB-5)...... 10 a shot during the second T20 Total (all out) ...... 183 array of strokes all around the park,

to help the hosts return to winning against Sri Lanka in Ranchi

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-38, 3-44, 4-47, ways after their shock loss in the first yesterday. WELLINGTON: It was supposed to 5-51, 6-88, 7-97, 8-137, 9-137, 10-183. game of the three match series on be Brendon McCullum’s day but it Bowling: Hazlewood 14-2-42-4; Bird Tuesday. was opposing captain Steve Smith 10-1-52-0 (nb3); Siddle 12-5-37-3 (nb2); Dhawan’s opening stand with to pick a hat-trick in the shortest who made the right moves as Aus- Marsh 6-1-15-0; Lyon 6-0-32-3. Rohit Sharma provided a solid format. tralia ended day one of the first Test Australia (I innings): 75-run base for the hosts to take But Perera’s heroics failed to against New Zealand comfortably in New Zealand’s J Burns c Watling b Southee ...... 0 control against an inexperienced inspire the visiting batsmen, who control in Wellington yesterday. Brendon McCullum Sri Lankan bowling. faltered against a disciplined Indian D Warner c Watling by Southee ...... 5 Smith called correctly at the toss, walks from the Young medium-pacer Kasun attack. made New Zealand bat on a green field after being U Khawaja (batting) ...... 57 Rajitha enjoyed a dream debut on Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin wicket and within two sessions the caught during day S Smith c&b Craig ...... 71 Tuesday when he took three wick- struck with the very first legal deliv- innings was over for 183. one of the first Test A Voges (batting) ...... 7 ets but he was brought back down ery of the Sri Lankan innings to get Australia at stumps were 147-3, against Australia Extras (B-4, W-1, NB-2) ...... 7 to earth in his second T20 inter- veteran opener Tilllkaratne Dilshan 36 behind New Zealand, with Smith national, conceding 45 runs in his stumped. at Basin Reserve Total (for 3 wkts) ...... 147 making 71. Usman Khawaja was not wicketless four-over spell. Sharing the new ball with Ash- in Wellington Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-131. out 57 with Adam Voges on seven. yesterday. Dushmantha Chameera picked win, left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra Voges was bowled by Doug Bowling: Southee 8-1-22-2; Boult 10-2- up Dhawan’s wicket to put the brakes also hit the deck hard to rattle the Bracewell in the final over of the day 36-0 Bracewell 11-1-45-0 (nb2); Anderson on India’s run-rate in the seventh Lankan top-order with two more only for umpire Richard Illingworth 2-0-9-0 (w1); Craig 9-1-31-1. over. strikes and put the visitors on the to call it a no-ball. Replays indicated But after a brief respite for the back foot. it was a legitimate delivery. visitors, Hardik Pandya smashed a Skipper Dinesh Chandimal and When New Zealand batted, Josh Nevill snaring four catches includ- hope that their cause was not lost at 12-ball 27, which included two sixes Chamara Kapugedara tried hard to Hazlewood and Peter Siddle did the CRICKET: AUSTRALIA IN ing a superb one-handed diving effort the start of the Australian innings against Sachithsra Senanayake in get the visitors out of trouble with a damage for Smith as they ripped NEW ZEALAND to remove Kane Williamson down when Tim Southee snapped up two the 17th over. 52-run fourth-wicket stand but Dho- through the top order in conditions the leg-side. New Zealand were early wickets. Sri Lanka’s hopes were lifted ni’s persistence with spin paid off. ripe for seam and swing. reeling at 51 for five in the 12th over Joe Burns went in the first over when Perera took a hat-trick at Left-arm spinner Ravin- Their cause was helped by some before a determined knock by Corey without scoring and David Warner the tail-end of the Indian innings, dra Jadeja snared Kapugedara injudicious shot selection, includ- he walked off after facing seven Anderson, who with BJ Watling went followed soon after for five. effectively preventing the hosts from and Chandimal with consecutive ing by McCullum, who saw his 100th deliveries. about stopping the tumble of wickets. But Smith and Usman Khawaja pushing the score past the 200-run deliveries to foil any chance of an Test celebrations fall flat when he was That the New Zealand innings Anderson then featured in a 10-over then took control and proved the pitch mark. opposition chase while the asking out for a duck He did not get forward lasted 48 overs was thanks to lusty stand with Mark Craig that produced was playable as they put on 126 for Perera sent Pandya, Suresh rate steadily mounted. far enough to a Hazlewood special tail-end hitting with the last three 40 runs and Craig, who had a Mitch- the third wicket. Raina and Yuvraj Singh back to the Dhoni’s sharp work behind the that came back, took an inside edge wickets contributing 86 after Hazle- ell Marsh delivery hit his stumps but Smith offered a chance on 18 but pavilion in the 18th over to give T20 stumps was the reason behind Chan- and deflected off the pads to David wood and Siddle had reduced the side not dislodge the bails, put on 46 with was dropped by Craig at second slip. cricket its fourth hat-trick and a first dimal’s departure as India tightened Warner at third slip. to 97-7. Trent Boult for the 10th wicket. Craig, however, made no mistake by a Sri Lankan. the noose. After McCullum had received a All seven dismissals came from Craig was unbeaten on 41 at the with the second offering from the Australia’s Brett Lee and New The two teams head to Visa- rousing ovation when he walked to edges to the cordon behind the end with Boult out for 24. Australian captain taking a return Zealand’s Jacob Oram and Tim khapatnam for the series decider the middle, there was silence when wicket with wicketkeeper Peter New Zealand had a glimmer of catch off his own bowling. Southee are the other three bowlers tomorrow.

Morris magic helps SCOREBOARD India bans Pakistani umpire over IPL scandal SA level series ENGLAND SOUTH AFRICA J Roy c Abbott b Rabada 6 H Amla b Broad 0 Reuters A Hales c (sub-Miller) b Imran Tahir 50 Q de Kock b Stokes 27 had done nothing wrong. “Mr Asad with England Rauf has been banned for a period of J Root c Imran Tahir b Morris 109 F du Plessis b Woakes 34 five years from umpiring or playing E Morgan c Behardien b Imran Tahir 2 A de Villiers (run out-Woakes) 36 or representing cricket in any form JOHANNESBURG: A swashbuck- B Stokes c Amla b Imran Tahir 2 J Duminy lbw Rashid 31 NEW DELHI: Pakistani umpire Asad or anyway being associated with the ling half-century by Chris Morris J Buttler c&b Abbott 1 F Behardien c&b Topley 38 Rauf was handed a five-year ban by activities of the Board and its Affil- hauled South Africa back from the the Indian cricket board (BCCI) yes- iates,” the BCCI said in a statement brink of defeat as they scraped M Ali c Amla b Abbott 4 D Wiese c Morgan b Stokes 21 terday over his involvement in an yesterday.

past England by one wicket yes- C Woakes c De Kock b Rabada 33 C Morris b Rashid 62 illegal betting scandal that blighted The 59-year-old, who last offi- terday to level the one-day series A Rashid c De Villiers b Rabada 39 K Rabada c Root b Topley 0 the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) ciated an international match in the at 2-2 with one match left. S Broad c Duminy b Rabada 6 K Abbott (not out) 3 season. 2013, did not appear before the BCCI Morris, going into bat at Controversy plagued the sixth disciplinary committee and sent a number eight, bludgeoned his R Topley (not out) 0 Imran Tahir (not out) 4 edition of the lucrative Twenty20 written statement instead, the board way to 62 off 38 balls to help South Extras (LB-4, W-6) 10 Extras (LB-8, W-3) 11 league with former India paceman added. Africa reach their target of 263 Total (all out in 47.5 overs) 262 Total (for 9 wkts in 47.2 overs) 266 S Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Asad Rauf The panel found the umpire with 16 deliveries to spare after Joe Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-87, 3-95, 4-97, 5-100, Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-63, 3-63, 4-121, 5-143, cricketers arrested on suspicion of guilty of facilitating betting, disclos- Root had made his second succes- 6-108, 7-203, 8-233, 9-258, 10-262. 6-191, 7-207, 8-210 , 9-262. accepting money to concede a fixed from the IPL for two years after key ing inside information and receiving sive century for the tourists. number of runs. officials from both teams were found gift or payment that brought the game England made 262 before Bowling: Abbott 9-1-57-2 (3w); Rabada 9.5- Bowling: Broad 7-0-55-1; Topley 8-1-39-2; All three were given life bans by guilty of illegal betting. into disrepute. being bundled out in 47.5 overs. 1-45-4 (1w); Morris 9-0-52-1 (2w); Wiese 10- Woakes 8-1-42-1 (1w); Stokes 10-0-45-2 (1w); the BCCI. The investigating Mumbai Police The Pakistani umpire has also The last game of the series will 0-58-0; Imran Tahir 10-0-46-3. Ali 9-0-39-0; Rashid 5.2-0-38-2 (1w). The Chennai and Rajasthan fran- also named Rauf in the charge sheet not got any ICC assignment in the be in Cape Town tomorrow. chises were subsequently suspended but the umpire’s lawyer said his client last few years. 22 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT

A Lekhwiya player (centre) vies for Keshiwa Reysol pull the ball during their QSL match played at Grand Hamad Stadium in off comfortable win which Al Arabi won 1-0 yesterday.

The Peninsula penalty practice in their previous game against Real Madrid, which ended in an extended shootout, and Syoda duly dispatched the spot kick DOHA: Keshiwa Reysol cruised to to make the score 3-1 on the stroke a comfortable 4-2 victory over ten- of half time. man Aspire Academy during their This was way behind the expec- Al Kass International Cup fixture in tations of Aspire and the pressure Doha yesterday. from the Japanese end was too much In the early stages both sides for them. With 20 minutes remain- struggled to impress under the ing, Reysol added a fourth after windy conditions but Reysol took Nakamura latched on to Yama- the much needed lead in the 25th da’s chipped pass down the inside minute. Toshiaki Myamoto for- right channel to fire low across the warded the ball to Yuto Yamada despairing El Din and into the left- who passed it onto skipper Riku hand corner. Tanaka, who side-footed a sublime With six minutes remaining, volley across the keeper into the left- Abdulrasheed Ibrahim went close to hand corner. reducing the deficit for Aspire, only Just five minutes later, the Aspire to be denied by keeper Leo Kokubo. boys derived the equalizer when But in the 90th minute the Andri Syahpurta won the ball in the Academy scored the goal that their centre circle and fed the advancing tenacity had merited, when Ibra- Al Hasia, who beat the keeper with him broke down the inside right ease from eight yards out. channel before squaring for the Al Nahwi header stuns Lekhwiya The game went in full swing and recently introduced Yusuf Yusuf, a fierce battle was clearly visible. who forced the ball home to make Reysol regained the advantage just the final score 4-2. two minutes after parity had been Later in the evening, Al Ahli FOOTBALL: QATAR STARS Al Arabi wins 1-0 LEAGUE ROUND-UP restored. Daisuki Sadahiro rushed pulled got the better of an accurate TODAY’S FIXTURES down the right and cut the ball back shooting after full time scores read adding more woes to Al Sailiya vs Al Wakrah for Yamada, whose mishit shot was 1-1 against Estudiantes De La Plata. defending champions end of the first half, however striker at Hamad Bin khalifeh Stadium (4.45pm) bundled home by centre forward Santiago Ricciardi gave the per- Ahmed Khalfan’s effort sailed over Shunta Nakamura. fect start for Estudiantes in the 11th of QSL the bar when perhaps it should have Umm Salal vs Mesaimeer Two minutes of added time were minute, scoring the opening goal of been on target, the first half ended at Seham Bin Hamad Stadium (7.15pm) allotted at the end of the half, and the match. 1-0 to Arabi. Reysol used it to extend their lead Al Ahli’s substitute Badar Lekhiwya made their approach in dramatic fashion. As the Japanese Ghanam Al Johani netted the equal- The Peninsula more attacking in the second half and attacked down the right, Din caught iser in the 88th minute, pulling the began to create chances. A number Tanaka with a high kick to the head. game towards a penalty shoot-out of times the good work of midfielder Miyamoto floated the resulting free in which Al Ahli made no mistake Youseff Msakni were dismantled kick in, and it was met at the far post in all five occasions while Estudi- DOHA: The defending Qatar Stars by the much better Arabi back line. by Soma Okamoto, who headed back antes only netted in three occasions. League (QSL) champions Lekhwiya Despite the onslaught, Arabi did cre- across goal to Norihiro Syoda two Sports Club had to bow down to a ate some chances on the break. yards out. determined Al Arabi side in their QSL On the 63rd minute Ahmed Kha- His shot was handled on the TODAY’S FIXTURES game last afternoon at Grand Hamad lfan missed a key one on one chance, line by Nasser Al-Harrbi, prevent- Stadium. Lekhwiya dropped further whilst Captain Boualem Khoukhi’s ing a certain goal. The defender was FC Red Bull Salzburg vs points in their title defense follow- long distance free kick brought out a shown a straight red card for delib- Real Madrid at 3.35pm. ing a 1-0 loss to Al Arabi yesterday. good save from Claude Lecomte. erate handball, and referee Sharif Inter Milano vs Aspire Football Dreams Lekhwiya missed penalty through Lekhwiya pushed hard and finally Al Khatariat player pointed to the spot. at 6.00pm. Nam Tae Hee, adding woes to their got their chance to equalize when the Mohmad Abdul Abdulla Kashiwa had gained plenty of miserable night. Head coach Djamel referee pointed to the penalty spot (left) vies for the ball Belmadi was forced to watch from the on the 81st minute. Substitute Ahmed with Al Ahli’s Mouhssine stands after being suspended for an Al Saady was adjudged to have been Iajour during their QSL incident in his sides round 17 match bundled down in the area by Alain match which ended in a against Al Sailiya. Lekhwiya enjoyed Souza. South Korean Midfielder Nam one-all draw yesterday. possession for large stretches of the Tae Hee stepped up for Lekhwiya and first half, and had a number of key blazed his effort over, much to the chances to open the scoring. despair of the on watching Djamel leave the field with what looked a Ahli both proved to be equally dan- One such occasion was on the Belmadi. hamstring strain after being pres- gerous when the full time score read 15th minute when new signing Alain Despite the missed effort sured by Abdullah Al Yazidi. Despite 1-1 last night. Dioko failed to convert from close Lekhwiya pushed the home side all Tabata’s exit, Rayyan created several The Brigadeers created the more range after a guided header fell into the way till the end, and could of chances in the first half. Uruguayan telling chances at Al Khor Stadium but his path from a corner. Against the scored had Luiz Martins whipped defender Gonzalo Viera hit the post it was Kharaitiyat who went in front run of play, Al Arabi took the lead effort not flashed past the post. How- with a header, while Nathan Otavio after 30 minutes thanks to a pen- from a set piece on the 35th. Javad ever it was the Arabi backline who headed straight at Khor goalkeeper alty from Yahia Kebe. The Burkina Nekonam’s free kick found the head remained resolute to see out a famous Baba Djibril. Faso striker struck down the centre of defender Ahmed Al-Nahwi who victory for Gianfranco Zola’s side Khor’s best chance in the first half of the goal after Ahli stopper Yazan was left unmarked, and was able to which also saw Al Arabi moving up fell to Reza Shanbah, whose shot from Naim Hussein dived to his left. In nod the ball past Lekhwiya stopper to the fourth slot in the points table. distance was well saved by Omar the second half, Ahli had the bulk Claude Lecomte. Lekhwiya could Al Rayyan’s Sebastian Soria Bari. The winners missed out sev- of possession but struggled to cre- have had an equalizer as early as scored a match winner in the 78th eral opportunities to extend the lead ate clear-cut chances. Ahli levelled the 38th minute, however a brave minute against Al Khor at Al Sadd Sta- during the second half. Ahmed Alaa, terms in the 77th minute when skip- block from goal scorer Ahmed Al- dium to put his side further away from who replaced Tabata, fired over the per Meshal Abdullah stepped up to Nahwi denied striker Alain Dioko at the rest in the QSL points table, which bar from 15 yards before Soria was score a deserved equalizer off a pen- the very last. They had enjoyed over means they now sit 16 points clear at denied by a flying save from Djibril. alty. Abdullah hit his penalty into the 60 percent of ball possession in the the top with only eight games to go. Jorge Fossati’s men finally scored with top corner after Kharaitiyat goal- first half, but didn’t have many clear Al Rayyan’s first Falcon Shield 12 minutes to go. Hamid Ismail’s shot keeper Ahmed Soufiane dived low Aspire Academy’s Abdalaziz Al Hasia (centre) makes an unsuccessful cut changes to their name. since 1995 is now in the reachable was well saved by Djibril but Soria to his left. attempt to score against Keshiwa Reysol in their Al Kass International Arabi looked composed at the distance. The most notable incident was on hand to power the ball into an The result means Ahli and Cup game which the later cruised to a comfortable 4-2 victory back throughout the tie, and had of the first half was Tabata’s injury. empty net from just a few yards out. Kharaitiyat remain 11th and 12th yesterday. one final chance from a corner at the Rayyan’s top scorer was forced to Meanwhile Al Kharaitiyat and Al respectively.

Qatargas Chess Championship continues in full swing

The competitors making their moves during the third edition of the Qatargas Chess Championship yesterday at Al Muntaza Model Primary School for Boys. The four-day event is being organised by Qatar Chess Association (QCA) with sponsor help from Qatargas. LEFT: Hamad Al Tamimi, executive director of the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), Mohammed Al Medaihki, Secretary General, QCA and Azam Abdul Aziz, Director of Public Relations, Qatargas, are seen with young kids during the second day of the Qatargas Chess Championship. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 20 PAGE | 21 Nadal back to Australia gain winning ways in early edge over NZ Argentina in Wellington

SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 • 4 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali and Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani pose with the riders following the final stage of five-day Tour of Qatar at Doha Corniche yesterday. British rider Mark Cavendish won the title while Alexander Kristoff of Norway clinched the final stage. Pics: Salim M / The Peninsula Cavendish crowned champion in Qatar

Cavendish picked up a six-second RESULTS AND British sprint king lifts time bonus for his second place fin- ish. Yesterday’s shoulder-to-shoulder Tour of Qatar trophy finish was reminiscent of how Krist- STANDINGS for second time as off edged Cavendish in stage two on Top 10 results from stage 5 Tuesday. 1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Team Katu- Alexander Kristoff Trailing by 9 seconds at the start sha, 2:56:16 bags third stage win of yesterday’s dodgy stage hit by 2 Mark Cavendish (GBR), Dimension Data in five gruelling days strong winds, Kristoff cut down his 3 Roy Jans (Bel), Wanty - Groupe Gobert time gap to finish 5 seconds behind 4 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr), Fortuneo - Cavendish in the overall classification. Vital Concept BMC rider Greg Van Avermaet 5 Sacha Modolo (Ita), Lampre - Merida (8 seconds behind), team-mate 6 Sam Bennett (Irl), Bora-Argon 18 Manuel Quinziato (12 seconds) and By Rizwan Rehmat Edvald Boasson Hagen (25 seconds) 7 Moreno Hofland (Ned), Team LottoNl-Jumbo The Peninsula grabbed the third, fourth and fifth spots respectively in the general 8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Dimen- sion Data classification. Belgium’s Roy Jans (Wanty - 9 André Looij (Ned), Roompot - Oranje Peloton DOHA: British cycling star Mark Cav- Groupe Gobert), Belarussian Yauheni endish yesterday battled to a second Hutarovich (Fortuneo - Vital Concept) 10 Marco Canola (Ita), UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team spot in the fifth and final stage at Tour and Italy’s Sacha Modolo (Lampre - of Qatar where the Dimension Data Merida) completed the top-five riders Final general classification after stage 5 rider protected a narrow overnight in the fifth and final stage. lead to emerge as the overall cham- Cavendish’s team-mate Boasson 1 Mark Cavendish (GBR), Dimension Data, British rider Mark Cavendish of Dimension Data celebrates his Tour of Qatar triumph on the final of five- 13:47:23 pion for the second time. Hagen - who was set to consolidate day race in Doha yesterday. Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani is also The 30-year-old finished a notch his golden jersey lead during the 2 Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Team Katu- seen in the picture. sha, 0:00:05 behind chief rival Alexander Krist- fourth stage but slipped back because off who bagged his third stage win in of punctured tyres - yesterday wound 3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), BMC Racing Team, 0:00:08 five days but could not stop Cavend- up his Qatar trip in 8th spot in the In what was a gladiatorial con- The first man to be caught was Tronet CYCLING: FIVE-DAY TOUR 4 Manuel Quinziato (Ita), BMC Racing ish from winning his second Tour of final stage. test between Cavendish and Kristoff at the 104km mark while the remain- OF QATAR CONCLUDES Team, 0:00:12 Qatar title in four years. Experienced Cavendish was throughout the week, it was the final ing two leaders were gobbled up by Kristoff, riding for Team Katu- expertly guided by Mark Renshaw and stage finish that helped the Briton to the pack with just under two laps to 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Dimen- sion Data, 0:00:25 sha, won the high-speeds sprint at Boasson Hagen just 200 meters off seal his second win in the desert. go. The pack remained bunched all the finish line opposite the sea-front the finish line when the Briton shad- Cavendish, however, was quick 114.5-km ride to the Doha Corniche. the way the final straight. 6 Søren Kragh Andersen (Den), Team Giant-Alpecin, 0:00:36 at Doha Corniche where strong chilly owed Kristoff with purpose before to admit it was his team-mate and After only 5 kilometres, three As expected a royal sprint took winds made life difficult for the group settling for the second spot in the golden jersey winner on Wednesday men managed to break away: Steven place between the two fastest men 7 Sam Bennett (Irl), Bora-Argon 18, 0:00:47 of 130 riders. 114-km stage. - Boasson Hagen - who deserved to Tronet (FVC), Bart De Clercq (TSV) and of the peloton: Cavendish vs Krist- win the race. Jesse Sergent (ALM). Their advantage off and it was finally the Norwegian 8 Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor), Team Katu- sha, 0:00:55 Boasson Hagen suffered a cou- reached 52’’ over counter-attacking who outsprinted his main rival, cross- ple of punctures on Thursday to lose rider Brian Van Goethem (ROP) and ing the line with a whisker ahead of 9 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus), Team Katu- sha, 0:00:56 ground on his rivals at the five-day 2’20’’ over the pack. the Briton. race. Fifteen kilometres later, while the Like a year ago, Kristoff again won 10 Michael Schar (Swi), BMC Racing Team, 0:01:04 “Obviously, it’s nice to be wear- first chasing rider was caught, the gap three out of five stages on the Tour ing gold now, but I know I am only grew to 2’25’’ at the 28km mark and of Qatar but still missed out on over- Point classification wearing it on behalf of Edvald,” Cav- even a maximum 4’ at km 40. all glory. Danish rider Soren Kragh 1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Team Katu- endish said. Under the control of teams Katu- Andersen finished as the best young sha, 57 points “He only lost it because of bad sha and Dimension Data, front rider rider (pearl white jersey) while BMC 2 Mark Cavendish (GBr), Dimension Data, luck and not through any other kind of still enjoyed a comfortable lead before claimed the team classification. 54 cause. He should be the guy wearing arriving on the final circuit. Kristoff said wind was a major 3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Dimen- this gold jersey, but we are just super The first intermediate sprint of factor in the peloton splitting into sion Data, 32 happy to keep it in Team Dimen- the day (4th crossing of the line, at the groups. 4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), BMC Rac- sion Data,” Cavendish said about his 74.5-km mark), was won by Sergent “In the first part of the race it was ing Team, 31 team-mate. in front of Tronet and De Clercq as not windy, but later the wind became 5 Sacha Modolo (Ita), Lampre - Mer- “We were really motivated for the main bunch remained 2’15’’ adrift. stronger,” Kristoff said. ida, 23 today and I have won this stage before Apparently not interested by the ““That sprint was pretty hectic. A 6 Sam Bennett (Irl), Bora-Argon 18, 19 a couple of times. The lads did it per- bonus seconds up for grabs at the lot of teams were trying to take the 7 Roy Jans (Bel), Wanty - Groupe Gobert, fectly on the final laps when it was second intermediate sprint, team lead. We did actually a very good job 18 hectic, keeping me in the front and Katusha let the front men battle it out all day,” Kristoff said. 8 Manuel Quinziato (Ita), BMC Racing out of danger, so I was ready for the by themselves. “I want to thank my team, it was Team, 17 sprint,” the Briton said. Indeed the 8th crossing of the line a great day for us – all guys did a 9 Jos Van Emden (Ned), Team LottoNl- Taking off from the Sealine (97.5km mark), De Clercq won the fantastic job both during the stage in Jumbo, 12 Norway’s Alexander Kristoff of Team Katusha after winning the final Beach Resort, south of the nation, sprint ahead of Sergent and Tronet every dangerous moment and at the 10 Andrea Guardini (Ita,) Astana Pro stage of Tour of Qatar yesterday. 130 remaining riders took off for the while the pack was still 28’’ adrift. end,” the Norwegian said. Team, 9

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

FAJR 04.53 am ZUHR 11.48 am MAGHRIB 05.28 pm HIGH TIDE 08:15 - 21:00 Slight dust and moderate temperature during SHOROOK 06.10 am ASR 02.52 pm ISHA 06.58 pm LOW TIDE 01:30 - 15:00 the day, cold by night.

Lease an apartment at Medina Centrale starting from QR 8,500/month

For more info contact +974 4495 888

24 SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Flowers for sale www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

MOST READ 1 LNG deal ‘key to Pakistan’s prosperity’

Emir visits Al Qassar Metro Station 2 project 3 Qatargas Chess Championship kicks off

TWEET OF THE DAY

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY Flowers are on display for sale at a flower market in Vienna, Austria, yesterday.

British cyclist Mark Cavendish celebrates winning the golden jersey at Tour of Qatar in Doha. Also seen is Not so incy Qatar Cycling Federa- First Arab contender in 20 tion President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani. wincy: Spider Photo by Salim Matramkot years opens Berlin film fest kills snake in Outback duel AFP premiere as one of 18 films from It was the end of an era “under around the world vying for the fes- censorship that we thought was only Daily exercise leads to tival’s Golden Bear top prize, with political, but in fact was (also) sedat- three-time Oscar winner Meryl ing everybody”, he said. AFP TUNIS: A love story set against the Streep heading up the jury. Protests swept Tunisia in late 2010 healthier bones in men aftermath of Tunisia’s watershed rev- Its tale of “emotional upheaval” after the death of a street vendor who olution will kick off the competition echoes Tunisia’s recent history, said set himself on fire in protest at unem- SYDNEY: A plucky little spider at the Berlin film festival as the first Ben Attia, who turns 40 this year. But ployment and police harassment, has once again proved that size IANS Arab contender in two decades. rather than impart a political “mes- leading Ben Ali to flee the country. doesn’t matter by taking on—and Hailing from the North Afri- sage”, his movie describes a kind of In his own “emotional upheaval” beating—a much larger venomous can country that triggered the Arab personal revolution. alongside the tumult wrought by the snake, in a very Australian telling NEW YORK: High-impact exercise during adolescence and young adult- Spring, Hedi is the debut feature- The film’s main character Hedi revolution, Hedi “discovers himself of the story of David and Goliath. hood is linked to healthier bones in middle-aged men, reveals a study. length film of Tunisian filmmaker —whose name means “serene” in through a love story” and “detaches The spindly Daddy Long Legs According to researchers, individuals who continuously participated in Mohamed Ben Attia. Arabic—“isn’t unemployed, his family himself from conventions”. spider appeared to have come out high-impact activities such as jogging and tennis during adolescence and It is the first film in Arabic and set doesn’t have any money problems... He realises “he has another on top after going head-to-head young adulthood had greater hip and lumbar spine bone mineral density in the Arab world since 1996 to vie for but he feels out of place in society”, choice—but then, after the eupho- with a brown snake in rural New than those who did not. “While osteoporosis is commonly associated with prizes at Europe’s first major cinema Ben Attia said. ria, he discovers it’s not all that easy”, South Wales. only post-menopausal women, it is, in fact, a serious issue for men as well,” showcase of the year. When he meets a tour guide Ben Attia said. Farmer Patrick Lees said he was said Pamela Hinton from the University of Missouri. “It’s not that I’m not ambitious, called Rim and love strikes, Hedi Tunisia is hailed as a rare success astonished to discover the expired Research has shown that the consequences of osteoporosis can be much but I never imagined going to Ber- (played by Majd Mastoura) begins to story of the Arab Spring, although reptile dangling from a web at his worse for men as they are less likely to be diagnosed and are at a greater lin! All of us are surprised,” Ben Attia ask serious questions about the man authorities have failed to improve the outback home in Weethalle, about mortality risk from fractures that occur as a result of a fall. said. It is a rare achievement for any he wants to be and his role in society. economy or do much to ease social 400km west of Sydney. To protect men against osteoporosis, researchers aimed to understand the first-time filmmaker to be invited to Ben Attia said he himself used to exclusion. Authorities last month “The snake was already dead, connection between bone-loading exercise during adolescence and young the Berlinale competition. be a “conformist”, selling cars for a liv- imposed a nationwide curfew to curb I made sure of that before I took adulthood when the skeleton is still growing and bone mass in middle age. The only other debut feature in ing before launching into filmmaking. some of the worst social unrest since the photo,” he said, referring to the For the study, published in the American Journal of Men’s Health, the race this year—British theatre The wake-up call came on the revolution. creature’s reputation for its deadly researchers analysed data from the physical histories of 203 males aged director Michael Grandage’s Genius— January 14, 2011 standing in the “It’s true we have a bit of a hang- venom and quick bite. 30-65 years. Participants’ sports and exercise histories varied, both in type has an all-star cast including Colin crowd outside the interior ministry over,” Ben Attia said. “We thought he Lees’ photo, posted on his and level of activity, and the length of time spent doing various physical Firth, Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. demanding the removal of longtime (Ben Ali) just needed to leave for it all Aussie Farmer Facebook page, activities also differed. “Hedi ” will have its world dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. to get better. has proved a huge hit in a country well known for its array of fear- some animals. Many Australians take Mother Nature in their stride, but visitors ‘Time to say goodbye’ to comet probe Philae: Space agency to the vast island country marvel at its range of dangerous wildlife, from gargantuan saltwater croco- AFP “We are not commanding any piggybacking on Rosetta as part of a diles to the deadly Sydney Funnel more,” Ulamec said of the tiny probe, groundbreaking European Space Web Spider. which captured the hearts and minds Agency (ESA) mission to probe a comet Brown snakes are common in of thousands around the world who for clues to the origins of life on Earth. eastern Australia, and can be as PARIS: Ground controllers said yes- followed its every move via Twitter. The months that followed yielded much as six feet long when fully terday that they would stop sending Mothership Rosetta, orbiting many exciting scientific finds, and grown. Their bite, which delivers commands to comet probe Philae, comet 67P/Churyomov-Gerasimenko more than a little drama, as Philae a potent mix of neurotoxins and announcing it was “time to say good- as it shoots out on its 6.5-year loop intermittently phoned home between coagulants, can be fatal to humans. bye” to the robot lab resting after a around the Sun, will continue listen- long bouts of sleep. Lees said that after taking his captivating science mission. ing out for the washing machine-sized The lander “tweeted” about his photograph, he left the determined “There is indeed little hope to still lander for a month or two to come. adventures, also captured in a car- little arachnid to enjoy its moment. get a signal from the lander,” said Phi- “We still have the receivers on the toon depicting Philae as a brave “I can’t deny the spider its vic- lae project manager Stephan Ulamec orbiter on, we did not switch anything little adventurer with a hard hat and tory,” Lees said. “I’m not sure if it of the German Aerospace Center DLR. off... it’s just to be honest and to be real- studded boots. Philae’s last contact killed it but it definitely won in the The DLR, host of the Philae control istic: It’s really not likely that we will from the surface of 67P was on July long run.” centre, said the probe was “probably” hear anything any more,” said Ulamec. 9 last year, and by now the comet is Wildlife experts said it was A file photo of a computer generated image of the ESA space probe covered with comet dust, and shaded Philae touched down on 67P on thought to be too far out on its orbit possible the snake and the spider from the Sun’s battery-replenishing rays November 12, 2014, after a 10-year, for the lander to have enough energy had duked it out—to the death—but Rosetta and its landing capsule Philae. on the surface of its alien home. 6.5-billion-km journey through space, to reboot. it was impossible to know for sure.