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Rajan wants global Uzma reigns rules of conduct supreme at for central banks Doha Golf Club

SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 • 4 Jumada II 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6734 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Winning leap Emir receives call Al Kuwari slams from Kuwait Emir

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received last destruction of evening a telephone call from Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. heritage sites Emir congratulates Mauritius President

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Emir’s Cultural bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a cable of congratulations to the Advisor says pained President of Mauritius, Ameenah by Homs, Palmyra, Gurib-Fakim, on her country’s Aleppo, Mosul National Day, reports QNA. Dep- uty Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin and Nimrod. Hamad Al Thani sent a similar cable to the President of Mauritius.

The Peninsula Emir sends message Action from the second leg of the QNB Doha Tour at the Main Arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation to French President (QEF) in Al Rayyan yesterday. Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami guided Armstrong Van De Kapel DOHA: H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz to victory in the second leg while Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly finished second followed by PARIS: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Al Kuwari (pictured), Cultural Advi- affects mostly the Middle Eastern Qatar’s Ali Youseff Al Rumaihi. → See also page 29 bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a sor to Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin and Arab regions. written message to French Pres- Hamad Al Thani, condemned the “Symbolic sites that are a record ident Francois Hollande. destruction of world heritage sites of human history have been devas- The message was delivered in conflict zones as he addressed tated by the forces of darkness, sites by Qatar’s Ambassador to France a dinner hosted yesterday for “The such as Timbuktu, Bamiyan and Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al New York Times Art for Tomorrow” Palmyra. These nefarious, misguided Special portal for expat workers Thani, during a meeting with Hol- conference. forces strived to erase these treas- lande’s advisor for North Africa “The heritage of humanity is ures from our consciousness and and the Middle East, David Cvach, integral for all of us and any dam- from our global map, even though The Peninsula Communications, which has till now Affairs and several other ministries at the Elysee Palace, reports QNA. age that occurs thereto affects as they represent a memory chosen by provided free internet connection to and government bodies concerned well the entire history of human- Unesco to be inscribed on its List of over 50,000 expatriate workers at with providing services to the expa- ity. I feel a remorseful, direct pain World Heritage Sites. their homes. triate workforce. Emir receives call when I see the world’s great herit- I was infuriated like many of DOHA: Qatar has launched a special The new portlet, “Hukoomi for The portal was launched at an age sites, among which I lived and my fellow human beings by these portal to make it easier for expatriate Migrant Workers” will be available in event on Thursday which saw the from John Kerry which I constantly visited, now criminal violations, which began workers to access government serv- five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Minister of Transport and Communi- being destroyed. This destruction occurring in 2011 in the valleys of ices and information. The portal is Nepalese and Tagalog. cations, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti is still ongoing in Homs, Aleppo, Afghanistan where wonderful ruins part of the e-government website The multilingual portal is the opening a new ICT facility at Doha DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Palmyra, Mosul and Nimrod,” said and artworks disappeared from the Hukoomi. result of collaboration between the Metro compound where Qatar Rail bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday Dr Al Kuwari. record of humanity.” The move complements the Ministry of Transport and Commu- labourers live. received a telephone call from US He called the attacks a threat Better Connections Programme nication, Ministry of Administrative Secretary of State John Kerry. They to the heritage of humanity which → Continued on page 2 of the Ministry of Transport and Development, Labour and Social → Continued on page 8 discussed bilateral relations.

Recreation Battle for Taiz Over a third of LPG metal drives up February cylinders phased out inflation By Mohammad Shoeb and their sales remained in the range The Peninsula of 5.15 million cylinders compared to 5.12 million in 2014. The Peninsula Therefore, Woqod is planning to launch a new strategy to replace DOHA: Qatar Fuel (Woqod), the them with Shafaf ones. DOHA: Consumer prices rose 3.3 main retailer of energy products The strategy is expected to be percent in the country year-on- including cooking gas cylinders in applied gradually and with flexibil- year last February, and in just a the country, has phased out over ity so as not to cause confusion in the month—as compared to January— a third of metal gas cylinders with local market. Under the new plan, inflation was up 0.6 percent. Shafaf — a transparent plastic gas more incentives are to be granted Increasing cost of recreation cylinder considered safer and explo- to customers. and culture, education, housing sion proof, a senior official of the Woqod earlier raised the com- rent, water and electricity were the company has revealed. “Currently, pensation from QR50 to QR100 to main drivers of yearly inflation. there are about 650,000 LPG (liq- swap metal cylinders with Shafaf. Data released by the Minis- uefied petroleum gas) cylinders in The swap promotion is still running. try of Development Planning and circulation in the market, of that The year 2015 witnessed a fair Statistics yesterday reflect that the 250,000 are Shafaf… Over the last growth in LPG sales exceeding 9.6 yearly price rise in the cost of rec- three years we have already replaced percent compared to 2014, with total reation was a high of 9.4 percent. one-third of the total cylinders,” a sales rising to 122,165 tonnes (includ- The cost of education went up senior spokesperson at Woqod told ing LPG sales in bulk) compared to by 7.1 percent year-on-year while Yemeni tribesmen from the Popular Resistance Committees, supporting forces loyal to Yemen’s The Peninsula. 111,497 tonnes during the previous rent, water and electricity and gas President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, during clashes with Houthi rebels in the central city of Taiz. Troops “We are trying our best to phase year, according to Company’s annual became 5.7 percent costlier. loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed government were close to retaking the third largest city yesterday. out all the remaining metal cylin- report. Transport and furniture → See also page 9 ders with Shafaf cylinders which is “The sales figures of February and household equipment also expected to be completed within two suggest the same pattern as com- became expensive as their prices to three years,” he added, request- pared to previous months. People are rose by 2.1 percent and 1.7 percent, ing anonymity. coming and replacing metal cylin- respectively. The Shafaf LPG cylinders are ders with Shafaf taking advantage There were marginal increases available in 12kg and 6kg variants. of the QR100 discount which we in the prices of restaurants and Jump in number of organ transplants The sales of 12kg transparent cylin- are offering as part of our promo- hotels (0.9 percent), miscellaneous ders in 2015 rose by over 44 percent tion campaign to use safer, lighter goods and services (0.4 percent) to about 1.9 million compared to and more user-friendly cylinders”, and communications (0.2 percent). By Fazeena Saleem the waiting time for patients, accord- dialysis patients. This is in addition previous year. While the sales of said the spokesperson. Food and beverages, on the The Peninsula ing to a senior official at the Fahad to a total of 140 end stage kidney dis- 6kg units increased by 21.6 percent He also said that Woqod has a other hand, became cheaper by Bin Jassim Kidney Centre of the ease patients (pre-dialysis stage). to 45,000 cylinders, compared to stock of few hundred thousands of 1.3 percent, healthcare by 0.3 per- Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). In 2015, the centre performed 37,000 for 2014. transparent cylinders and trying to cent, clothing and footwear by 0.1 DOHA: The number of organ trans- Currently, the centre treats a 19 kidney transplants and six liver Despite intensive efforts to convince the customers about the percent. plants — mostly of kidney — in Qatar total of 712 patients. It includes 360 transplants, a jump from previous replace metal gas cylinders with benefits of switching over to Shafaf. has gone up significantly last year, hemodialysis patients, 200 perito- years. Shafaf, the metal cylinders did not → Continued on page 7 although it didn’t have an impact on neal dialysis patients and 12 home → Continued on page 7 record a significant drop during 2015 → Continued on page 7 02 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 HOME

Greeting cables sent to Mauritius

QNA

DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a cable of congrat- ulations to Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim on her country’s National Day. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a similar cable to President Gurib-Fakim. 3 new mosques ready: Ministry

DOHA: The Ministry of Endow- ments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has announced that three new mosques in Al Wakrah, Hazm Al Markhiya and Umm Al Idham are ready as part of its plans to dou- ble the number of mosques to keep H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Cultural Adviser to H H the Emir, with officials at the event. pace with population and urban growth in the country. The mosque in Al Wakrah can accommodate 500 worshippers, Tree Week events including 75 women. Terror ‘attacks war crime on humanity’ It has accommodation for the imam and a Holy Quran Memori- begin today sation Centre. The mosque in Hazm Al Continued from page 1 pillaged of their treasures. public opinion on the seriousness about, the collective conscious- Markhiya can accommodate 300 Dr Al Kuwari expressed of these war crimes.” ness of humanity.” DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- worshippers, including 66 women, Citing the extensive damage appreciation for the assistance of Dr Al Kuwari, who is Recently, Dr Al Kuwari was ronment is celebrating Tree Week with several and has accommodation for the done in heritage sites in Tim- the international community as candidate to the post of the Direc- named “Man of Arab Heritage” activities and programmes from today. imam and the muezzin. buktu and Palmyra, he called the well as Unesco which restored the tor-General Unesco, promised for 2016 by the Arab Center for Events include agricultural guidance lectures The mosque in Umm Al Idham terrorist attacks a war crime on archaeological site in Timbuktu. to bring attention to heritage if Tourism Media after an elec- for schools on the importance of aforestation can accommodate 70 worshipers humanity. “I would also like to express elected to the post. tronic voting campaign in which and agriculture and the need to grow plants and has accommodation for the “What these terrorist groups my deepest gratitude and appre- “If I am fortunate enough to 41,000 Arabs from 18 Arab States and trees. imam and the muezzin. did in Palmyra was an unprece- ciation for all those who serve be provided the opportunity to participated. The Department of Agriculture at the dented disaster as they destroyed this cultural humanitarian become the Director-General of He lauded Unesco’s important ministry will plant some trees in Al Mazr- the tombs of Timbuktu inscribed cause, which is an integral part the Unesco, I will bring greater role in the preservation of tangible oua. Municipalities such as those in Al Rayan, Qatar Forum to on the Unesco’s List of World Her- of the African Continent and the attention to the issue of herit- and intangible heritage. Al Shamal, Al Daayen and Al Wakrah will itage Sites and we share in this Arab Islamic Civilisation’s great age, namely in Timbuktu, which “Let me highlight a posi- hold awareness lectures on a forestation and mark 10th year regard the opinion of those who heritage.” was one of the main commercial tive aspect of this effort, which agriculture. saw this as a horrific war crime He praised the crucial role and spiritual capitals of the Afri- consists ofthe inscribing of won- An agricultural competition will be organ- DOHA: The Qatar Forum will mark conducted upon all of humanity.” played by media in highlighting can Continent, while also making derful Arabic coffee and Majlison ised by Al Daayen Municipality under the theme on Monday its 10th anniversary as He also mentioned Libya the issue. “This role has greatly sure not to neglect the other his- the Unesco Representative List of ‘Al Daayen: A green oasis’. a platform for insurance and risk where centuries old mosques and contributed in raising global torical and archeological sites that Intangible Heritage of Humanity Ras Laffan Industrial City students will also management in the Middle East Quran schools were destroyed and awareness on this incredibly remind us of our collective mem- last year, after the inscribing of participate in aforestation activities after attend- and North Africa (Mena) region. famous archeological sites were important issue and helped focus ory which is the tapestry I spoke Falconry.” ing awareness lectures. HOME SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 03 ROTA opens two community centres in Nepal

women’s empowerment, raising health aware- training programmes in livelihood skills, lit- ness and facilitating other requests based on eracy, health and technology to serve local the needs of the local community. communities.” The centres will focus on cre- Tina Sciabica, Executive Director, READ ating livelihood opportunities for youth and Global, said: “Through our partnership with women through vocational and life skills train- ROTA, we seek to facilitate sustainable enter- ing and hold leadership development and prises that address community needs and offer sports programmes.

Local community members at the opening of one of the centres in Nepal.

The project, developed for communities and youth in QR455,000 to support the four- in partnership with READ particular in line with our mission year programme from 2014 to The centres are Global and the Bill & Melinda to engage young people and 2017. part of a four-year Gates Foundation, will serve community members to address The Kalika CLRC is in Kalika project to empower an estimated 100,000 people, educational and developmental village in the Bheri Zone in the including 35,000 from four rural challenges at home and abroad,” mid-western region. It has a pop- youth and improve districts in the central and western Al Abdulla said. ulation of 15,910 and has a literacy quality of life. Terai. With a focus on ICT skills, The centres are owned and rate of 86 percent. ROTA has pro- the project aims to establish and operated by the local communities vided QR601,606 to improve local upgrade 11 community centres, they benefit, and provide free infrastructure, provide training, creating educational, social access to resources, including a enhance education, support ICT The Peninsula and economic opportunities for library, ICT tools, educational development, build the centre’s communities, with a focus on toys, sports and books for children capacity and create alternative youth. It aligns with QF’s ambition and young people. Each centre energy power resources. to help unlock human potential has formed a youth leadership The project budget is for two DOHA: A delegation from Reach by providing opportunities for subcommittee so that the local components. The first features Out To Asia (ROTA), a member of young people. The delegation, led young people can have a say in an infrastructural scale-up and Qatar Foundation for Education, by Abdulla Al Abdulla, Director, the programmes and resources includes enterprise management Science and Community Devel- Quality, Impact, & Strategy, ROTA, the centres offer. and building construction. The sec- opment (QF), has officially opened opened the Deukhuri Community The Deukhuri CLRC was ond is reserved for ICT equipment two community centres in Nepal. Library and Resource Centre built in 2015 in Gadhawa village and technology improvements, The ongoing project, launched (CLRC) in the Dang District, and the in the Rapti Zone of the mid- including the operation and train- in 2014, aims to empower youth Kalika CLRC Centre in the Bardiya western region of Nepal. Some ing of the library management and provide information and District. 68 percent of the population of committee. communications technology “Through the project, 12,453 are literate. In partnership Funds are allocated to elevating (ICT) facilities to help eliminate ROTA aims to expand living with READ Global, ROTA has computer literacy, enhancing pro- ICT barriers. and educational resources provided financial aid of about fessional development, influencing 04 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 HOME QF hosts final marathon in Qatar Running Series

“Recreation Services is respon- sible for managing facilities and Qatar Foundation’s activities that cater to the commu- participation nity. Education City is great for this demonstrates its type of event, because we have walk- ways and cycle paths throughout the commitment to campus.” create a sports-loving The series was created by Ziyad Rahim, CEO, Z Adventures. society. An accomplished long-distance runner, Ziyad holds 10 Guinness World Records in long-distance running. The Peninsula Explaining how QF was eager to be a host venue, Ziyad said: “I con- tacted different organisations to partner with us. The first one to come DOHA: More than 150 men and forward was QF, and it hosted the first women gathered to take part in the event in November. final race of the Qatar Running Series “Such was the success of the first hosted by Qatar Foundation for Edu- race that QF went on to host the sea- cation, Science, and Community son finale, too. I would like to thank Development (QF). QF, the work put in by the QF team Organised in collaboration with was tremendous and our runners Z Adventures and Crunch, the last enjoyed the event.” The race attracted race in a six-part series took place in several world-class competitors from Education City and was entitled ‘QF around the world, including Klaus Classic’. Westphal, from Germany, who has Catering to all abilities, the event taken part in marathons all over the featured four races — a marathon, world. By participating in the QF The winners of the final race in the Qatar Running Series, which took place at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community a half marathon, a 10km run and a Classic, Klaus has run competitively 5km run. Development (QF). in 111 countries. The event demonstrated QF’s ded- Married couple Peter Bennett and ication to encouraging members of Yen Ngugen flew in for the weekend to the community to adopt healthy and “We are delighted to have played host runners compete in the races today, “We are committed to engaging of this dedication.” complete country number 96. more active lifestyles. to the final race of this successful run- but it also brought together sev- the community and raising awareness Simon Jones, Recreation Super- For a complete list of QF’s initia- Hend H Al Mousawi, Senior Super- ning series. eral regional and international about the importance of wellbeing, visor, QF, said: “Promoting healthy tives and projects, visit http://www. visor, Recreation Services, QF, said: “Not only did dozens of local enthusiasts. and today’s race is tangible evidence lifestyles is very important for QF. qf.org.qa Ooredoo begins new Messi campaign

Officials at the launch of ‘Together We Do Wonders’ which will again feature Ooredoo’s Global Brand Ambassador Lionel Messi.

The Peninsula a sequel to the award-winning campaign, which will again feature Ooredoo’s Global Brand Ambassador Lionel Messi. The new commercial received its world premiere at DOHA: Following on from the success of Ooredoo’s ‘Sim- a special event in Barcelona, attended by Messi; Waleed ply Do Wonders’ advertising campaign with Lionel Messi, Al Sayed, Group Deputy CEO, Ooredoo, and other sen- the company has launched ‘Together We Do Wonders’, ior Ooredoo executives. It was held in parallel with the GSMA Mobile World Congress. The commercial, which features the same young cast as the previous film, plays on Ooredoo’s key themes of teamwork, technological skills and striving to do your best. This time around and highlighting possibilities tech- nology can bring, Ooredoo is using the campaign to showcase its global CSR initiatives and support for sport across its footprint. As part of the campaign, Ooredoo has launched a micro-site with an online strategy game ‘Stand for Good’ at www.standforgood.com. The game asks players to digitally “capture” a football pitch in locations across Ooredoo’s footprint, and then asks them to hold the pitch for 12 hours to be entered into a draw to win a return flight to Barcelona to meet Messi and watch him play. In addition to being able to enjoy the online game, players will also have the opportunity to champion some of the key community projects supported by Ooredoo, such as the mobile health clinics in Indonesia, Myan- mar, Algeria and Tunisia in partnership with the Leo Messi Foundation. Al Sayed said at the launch in Barcelona: “Our first campaign encouraged young people to ‘simply do won- ders’ — to be the best they could be, something we hope to inspire across our footprint. Our ‘Together We Simply Do Wonders’ campaign aims to inspire young people to help the needy and support sport for the less fortunate. We’re proud to continue our great work with Messi, and thank him for his ongoing support for our initiatives.” Messi said: “The foundation is pleased to work with Ooredoo on programmes to support people around the world, and I’m delighted the new campaign enables fans to make a contribution to and raise the profile of these efforts.” Ooredoo’s CSR initiatives supported by the cam- paign include its work with the foundation on its mobile health clinic programme, which provides healthcare services for remote areas in Indonesia, Myanmar, Alge- ria and Tunisia. The programme, which brings healthcare to disad- vantaged communities, delivered brand-new mobile health clinics in Algeria in 2015, and provided services to 73 villages in Myanmar, with 75 percent women as beneficiaries. The clinics have also been active in Indo- nesia with 16 travelling across the region. You can play ‘Stand for Good’ at www.standforgood. com and can see ‘Together We Do Wonders’ advertise- ment at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToTHkjEEjFE HOME SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 05 Kahramaa screens its 40-plus employees for glaucoma

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health, organised a free camp yesterday for its 40-year plus employees and conducted tests for eye pressure and errors of refraction at its headquarters. The camp was part of Kah- ramaa’s corporate objective to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Donated food items are being packaged for the needy people in Qatar. The event organised by the Health, Safety and Environment Department (HSE) led Kahramaa joining the world community to mark World Glaucoma Week from March Students of nine schools 6 to 12. Several employees and sen- ior functionaries were screened and provided with information and awareness about glaucoma and donate 7.5 tonnes of food related diseases. The World Glaucoma Week is a joint initiative of the World Glaucoma people in Qatar. Umm Al Qura Model School for Boys; Association and the World Glaucoma The donations were collected Al Risala Secondary School for Girls; Patient Association to eliminate RAF’s Qatari Food over two weeks under a charity pro- Uthman bin Affan Model School for blindness resulting from glaucoma. House conducts gramme organised by the Sheikh Boys; and Rawdat Al Rashid Primary- The week is observed every year to Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Preparatory School for Girls. spread awareness. ‘Madaris Shakira’ Humanitarian Services (RAF) in The programmes are being held Glaucoma is a group of eye dis- (Thankful Schools) collaboration with the Ministry of in school campuses. Students are eases which cause progressive optic programme to Education and Higher Education in being introduced to the objectives of nerve damage resulting in a gradual schools. the initiative and the rules of partici- loss of vision. support needy The programme entitled ‘Madaris pation. They are also told what types The theme of this year’s activities families and Shakira’ (Thankful Schools) was held of foodstuff could be donated. was ‘Beat Invisible Glaucoma’ (B.I.G). by RAF’s arm Qatari Food House QFH received the donations. After Glaucoma develops when the individuals in Qatar. (QFH) to collect basic food items from checking the expiry dates and other intraocular fluid naturally produced schools to support needy families and food specifications, the items are by the eye is not drained properly. individuals in the country. taken for repackaging and distribu- This can be caused by a block- Nine schools took part in phase tion to needy people. age in the drainage canals of eyes. The Peninsula one of the initiative — Umm Ayman The main purpose of the initia- When this occurs, the pressure in A Kahramaa employee is screened for glaucoma at the company’s Secondary School for Girls; Umm tive is to promote generosity and the the eye builds up above normal lev- Al Amad Primary School for Girls; culture of philanthropy among the els, which damages optical nerves. If headquarters. Abu Hanifa Model Primary School young generation so that they will left untreated, this damage can lead DOHA: Students of nine Independ- for Boys; Safiya bint Abdul Mutalib come forward to help the weaker sec- to blindness. ent schools have donated 7.5 tonnes Kindergarten for Girls; Amina bint tions of the community in need, RAF Kahramaa has been organ- employees to ensure their wellbe- lifestyles and ensure a healthy work- of basic food items to support needy Wahab Preparatory School for Girls; said in a statement. ising regular health camps for its ing, spread awareness about healthy ing environment. 06 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 HOME HMC organises activities to mark World Kidney Day

Managing Director, HMC, said, “Kid- population,” said Dr Hassan Al Malki, About 13 percent of ney disease is a serious condition Head of Nephrology, HMC. affecting the health and lifestyles of There are risk factors contrib- Qatar’s population many young and old people in Qatar. uting to the development of kidney suffering from kidney This year’s World Kidney Day activ- disorders and it is important that ities build on the progress we have people are aware of them and take disease. made in recent years to provide safe, steps to prevent them where possible. effective and compassionate care for “People with a family history of patients with kidney disorders.” kidney disease, those above 50 and The early stages of kidney disease people of African, Hispanic, Aborigi- The Peninsula often show no signs or symptoms and nal or Asian origin have an increased for this reason it can be difficult to risk. High blood pressure, diabetes, accurately diagnose kidney disorders excess body fat and smoking increase before they reach an advanced stage. the chances of developing kidney dis- DOHA: As kidney disease affects 13 A person can lose up to 90 per- ease,” he added. percent of Qatar’s population, Hamad cent of kidney function before HMC’s kidney team presented Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Neph- experiencing any signs. Many signs gifts to dialysis patients at Fahad Bin rology Department, in collaboration and symptoms may not be obviously Jassim Kidney Centre as part of activ- with the Corporate Communications associated with chronic kidney dis- ities. Students from Qatar University Department, held events to mark ease, but it is important that people and schools also visited the centre to World Kidney Day. suffering regularly from the symp- learn about kidney function and how Officially held on March 10, the toms consult their doctor for a test. to prevent kidney disease. global theme this year was ‘Kid- Chronic kidney disease is a long- A family community day was held ney Disease and Children’ and HMC term condition caused by the inability at Aspire Park, featuring fun and edu- placed a focus on raising aware- of the kidneys to function effectively. cational activities. The nephrology ness about kidney issues related to “Around 10 percent of the world’s team educated the public about signs children. population is affected by chronic and symptoms of kidney disease and HMC’s kidney team presents gifts to a dialysis patient at Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Centre as part of World Minster of Public Health H E Dr kidney disease and it is estimated how to maintain good kidney health Kidney Day celebrations. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, also that it affects 13 percent of Qatar’s and undergo tests. 100 Qatari students attend Young Engineers and Scientists programme at TAMUQ

The Peninsula Bin Al Khattab and other primary developing young Qataris on STEM Independent schools. education pathways that meet Qatar’s The programme is a component of long-term development goals. the Dhia: Engineering Leaders strate- “Through our strategic partner- DOHA: Over 100 Qatari students from gic partnership with Maersk Oil Qatar. ship with Maersk Oil Qatar, we are schools across Qatar have learned It caters for Qataris in grades five and motivating young Qatari students about experience-based science and six and teaches engineering concepts towards enthusiastic learning in sci- engineering challenges at the Young through experimentation and prob- ence and engineering,” Kenimer said. Engineers and Scientists programme lem-based learning that challenge “These young people are tomorrow’s at Texas A&M University at Qatar them to apply science and maths to engineering leaders, and they will (TAMUQ). real-world problems. help build Qatar’s knowledge-based The latest round of interactive Dr Ann Kenimer, Interim Dean, economy.” workshops took place at the branch TAMUQ, said the programme was Dhia outreach initiatives engage campus and featured Al Bayan, Omar an essential element of efforts for hundreds of students every year

School students take part in the programme.

through educational enrichment Young Engineers and Scientists, part as they experience how science is programmes in STEM — science, of the broader Dhia programme, we applied through engineering. technology, engineering and maths. are focusing on areas where we can “We understand from research Lewis Affleck, Managing Director, make tangible, lasting differences to that students develop attitudes Maersk Oil Qatar, said the company Qatar and its people.” towards maths and science at a young is supporting educational initiatives Kylie Gunn, a teacher at Qatar age. Our hope is to spark students’ that contribute to the sustaina- Petroleum’s Dukhan English interest early and work to ensure ble development of a highly skilled School, said she was grateful for the that they are prepared for university workforce in Qatar for generations to opportunity to bring students into studies in engineering and science. come. Maersk Oil Qatar is investing in the university for such a learning Qatar needs technical expertise and science and engineering education to opportunity. our young Qatari students are the support Qatar National Vision 2030 Jowaher Al Marri, Coordinator, greatest source for that in the years to and ensure the country has gradu- STEM outreach programmes. TAMUQ, come.” School administrators inter- ates it needs to secure its continuing said activities for young engineers ested in participating in science or prosperity. and scientists were designed to engineering outreach activities may “Through programmes such as inspire students towards learning contact [email protected] ‘Uniting With Heritage’ initiative begins today

QNA and protect cultural sites. It hosts visits to cultural heritage sites, including Zubarah Archeological Unesco World Heritage Site and workshops which will address all age groups to raise DOHA: The Ministry of Culture and Sports, in collabora- awareness about the importance of cultural heritage. tion with Qatar Museums and the Unesco office in Qatar, There will be morning workshops for schools with will inaugurate the ‘Uniting with Heritage’ programme at evening workshops and lectures for adults while work- Barzan Tower in Umm Salal Mohammed today. shops will be organised during the weekend for families. The programme seeks to raise awareness about the The three-month programme also includes semi- importance of heritage around the world and brief the nars and visits to archaeological sites. The project aims public on cultural heritage. It brings together a global alli- to raise awareness about how to preserve cultural her- ance working in solidarity to fight illegal trade in artefacts itage, targeting.

Francophonie opens at Katara

Qatari artists perform the traditional dance during the opening ceremony of the Francophonie at Katara yesterday. Pic: Kammutty /The Peninsula HOME SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 07

Qatar Leadership Centre holds orientation HBKH serves 79,000 in Mauritania for Qatari professionals Hamad Bin Khalifa Hospital in Boutilimit releases report on The Peninsula “As Qatari professionals contributing to the devel- activities and services opment of Qatar in various offered last year professions, we should consider DOHA: Qatar Leadership enhancing our capabilities a to improve health Centre (QLC) welcomed new responsibility,” said Dr Kha- conditions of the classes for an interactive ori- lid Abdulla Al Yafei, Senior entation programme from Consultant, Hamad Medical communities in various March 6 to 10 at its Al Bidda Corporation and participant regions. Tower headquarters. in the Executive Leaders The event provided Qatari Programme. professionals entering its Exec- “QLC is known for excel- utive, Rising and Government lent programmes with a focus The Peninsula Leaders Programmes with an on critical and creative think- opportunity to deepen insight ing. I believe this will enable all into the objectives of QLC and participants to get to the heart its diverse elements of learning of any issue, regardless of field. DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa Hospital in experience and featured team- Participating in the programme Boutilimit, Mauritania, has issued its building exercises to support will prove invaluable for my annual report on medical activities and the group. work in the healthcare sector.” services offered last year to improve the Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Maryam Ibrahim Al Sadah, health conditions of the communities Managing Director and Mem- a participant in the Govern- of Boutilimit and neighbouring regions. ber of the Board of Directors, ment Leaders Programme who Operated and managed by Qatar QLC, said, “I am pleased that works at the Ministry of Econ- Red Crescent Society (QRCS), under a the new participants continue omy and Commerce, said: “The memorandum of understanding with the tradition of excellence added value and knowledge Education Above All (EAA), the hospital An operation in progress at Hamad Bin Khalifa Hospital. established by their prede- QLC conveys will encourage relied on the resources and infrastruc- cessors and reflect the same me to enhance my capabilities ture of 2014, with 89-member workforce determination to contribute to in policy-making and commu- of specialist doctors, nurses, assistants, 20 nurses, 12 midwives, and 37 social days, the team conducted 426 exam- H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, for- Qatar’s national development, nications which are integral to social workers, and administrative/serv- advisers, last year. inations and 45 operations in ENT, merly through the Qatari-Mauritanian and apply what they learn to my work. By engaging with fel- ices staff. Working towards sustainable and paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, Social Development Foundation, and their professional lives.” low peers from various sectors According to the report, the emer- comprehensive professional develop- general surgery and ultrasound imaging. now through EAA, a global initiative to Growing interest in QLC and organisations, I will have gency unit received 13,092 cases, ment of human resources, the hospital Three multi-speciality medical build an international movement to con- programs “reflects a strong the opportunity to discover outpatient clinics 47,065 clients, recov- held four training courses for obstet- missions were sent to three districts tribute to human, social and economic desire among Qatari men and and share insights and best ery departments (internal medicine, rics and gynaecology staff, conducted of Trarza Region, with doctors, medi- development by offering good education women to support the national practices.” paediatrics, obstetrics & gynaecol- doctors and midwife trainers from cations, and medical supplies. Lasting and welfare programmes and initiatives. vision, he said, expressing con- Faisal Al Sulaiti, Head, ogy and general surgery) 5,650 stays, Nouakchott. Sixty-three medical and one day each, the three missions accom- Since taking the responsibility for oper- fidence that the participants Production Technology, Qatar obstetrics and gynaecology department paramedical workers benefited. plished 842 consultations. ating and managing the hospital, QRC will take full advantage of the Petroleum, and participant in 1,255 deliveries, the medical lab 41,564 The hospital participated in a two- As part of World Health Organisa- has worked to develop and upgrade opportunities the programme the Rising Leaders Programme, examinations, the medical imaging day medical convoy dispatched by a tion’s (WHO) ‘Save Lives: Clean Your main departments, including emergency, offers them to learn, grow and said: “The lessons we take from department 7,703 X-ray and ultrasound local charity in Monguel, Gorgol Region, Hands’ campaign, the hospital organ- obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, share with colleagues and QLC will be invaluable in our images, and the surgical unit 732 oper- and another dispatched by the School ised an open education day for staff, internal medicine, surgery and dentistry, friends what they have learned. professional and personal lives, ations. The hospital served more than of Medicine in Nouakchott. It contrib- with informative and field activities. It a pharmacy and outpatient clinics. Team-building exercises enabling us to contribute to 79,000 people last year. uted consultants of various specialities, ended with a training course for 25 staff, On average, the medical staff of the helped participants learn about Qatar National Vision 2030.” The hospital focuses on training the resident physicians, nurses and social featuring specialised discussions and 73-bed hospital perform 40 operations their peers, and form personal Participants also attend students of public health schools and advisers, with medical equipment and presentations. The hospital was estab- per month, with women and children as bonds and professional net- modules and policy seminars trained 69 medical workers, including medicines. Working nonstop for four lished in 2007 under the patronage of the main beneficiaries of the services. works that will benefit them at held over the course of a year. QLC and after the programme. QLC’s world-class modules Team-oriented activities were are offered in collaboration held, whose mastery requires with Harvard University, Uni- Shafaf cylinders safe and Tobacco prices group planning and effort versity of Cambridge Executive Session for national within a time frame. Activities Education, University of Chi- easy to handle: Official remain unchanged focused on enhancing commu- cago Booth School of Business, trainers concludes nication, teamwork, creativity Duke Corporate Education and Continued from page 1 and management skills, which HEC Paris, among others. Continued from page 1 will prove to be beneficial for The expertise of partic- The Peninsula Mohamed Saad, Head, Adminis- the participant’s leadership ipants, who hold positions He said Shafaf cylinders are not only safer and trative Affairs Section, CSD, said development. in government, healthcare, easy to handle but they also do not explode in case the course aimed to enhance Tobacco prices remained The five-day event also finance, education, military of fire which is “good reason enough to buy them”. participants’ skills and qualify unchanged in the year and on a included sessions on the pro- and tourism, serves as a val- To a question on awareness campaigns, he DOHA: The Ministry of Interior national cadres. monthly basis. On a monthly basis, gramme’s objectives and uable resource to the cohort said: “Fundamentally, we are doing awareness has concluded the eighth session The course included lectures the ministry data shows that the cost components of each pro- and complements the insights programmes through advertisements, including of preparing national trainers to on modern theories of learn- of recreation and culture went up by gramme. The newly admitted conveyed by QLC. Founded by monetary incentives (discounts).” enhance their skills. The two- ing and how to apply them in three percent, and of miscellaneous 120 Qatari professionals will an Emiri Decree in 2008, QLC Asked about the safety of metal cylinders and week course took place at the training and how to choose the goods and services by 1.7 percent. contribute to Qatar National continues to attract accom- their routine fitness check-ups, he said: “ Every Capital Security Department appropriate training style. A lec- Restaurants and hotels became 1.3 Vision 2030 and continue plished Qatari professionals time we take a cylinder back to our facility for headquarters (CSD) and was ture on training styles and how percent cheaper in a month, while the applying expertise to facili- driven to excel in their careers refilling, it is properly weighted and thoroughly attended by 20 officers from sev- to benefit from them and how to costs of education, tobacco, health- tate Qatar’s transition towards and further advance Qatar’s checked for leaks at our automated calibration eral departments of the ministry. use the body language in train- care, household equipment remained a knowledge-based economy. development goals. system.” Lieutenant Colonel ing meetings was also held. flat month-on-month. 10-fold rise in number of organ transplants

Continued from page 1

According to official data, the number of organ trans- plants increased ten times between 2009 and 2015. More than 100,000 potential donors have registered with Qatar’s pioneering Organ Donor Registry marking a major milestone for the project. “Over the past three to four years we have seen an increase in the number of kidney transplant but with no significant effect on the waiting time for the patients. Additionally the number of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing annually. About 48 percent of our patients in this category are Qataris and 68 percent of them living with Diabetes Mellitus,” Dr Fadwa Al Ali, Director of the Centre told this daily. The centre provides care to patients with early chronic kidney disease and end stage kidney disease through out-patient clinics as well as dialysis dependent patients. The centre has total of 80 haemodialysis stations, 20 of them as private and isolation rooms and the rest as common rooms, each common room with five dialysis stations. “We also provide a range of services and care to the patients. This includes in-center haemodialysis care as well as in-center and home peritoneal dialysis care. In 2015, we started to provide wound care and home haemo- dialysis services. We always make sure that the latest, advanced and cost-effective technology in dialysis care (machines, care items and medication) are provided to our patients,” said Dr Al Ali. “Other services include care to help them manage their conditions including diabetic care, foot and wound care and related services such as social work and a pharmacy,” he added. Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Center is planning to intro- duce cardiology care this year, along with special care for patients with high risk of developing kidney disease such as patients with diabetes and hypertension. “This will be in collaboration with other related serv- ices in HMC including diabetic care, hypertension care and cardiovascular care,” said Dr Al Ali. 08 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 HOME / MIDDLE EAST

First 100 ICT facilities completed

Continued from page 1 by ensuring they have access to ICTs The programme aims to provide and the Internet where they live. spaces equipped with ICT tools and The event marked the comple- In his opening remarks, Al Internet connectivity where work- tion of the first 100 ICT facilities as Sulaiti said; “All that we see today ers live and train them in how to use planned for phase two of the minis- is part of the ministry’s Digital Inclu- ICTs through volunteers to ensure try’s Better Connections Programme. sion Strategy to enhance digital ICT-equipped facilities provide The new facility takes the culture among citizens and resi- utmost benefits to workers. number of workers benefiting from dents, particularly those who have “The programme has been the free Internet connection in their little to no ICT skills. The goal is to receiving great feedback from ben- accommodations beyond 50,000. ensure everyone has access to ICT eficiary workers and employers. We They are now able to perceive, use tools.” look forward to achieving digital and benefit from information and Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant inclusion in all workers’ residential communication technologies where Undersecretary, Digital Society areas and all segments of society,” they live. Having access to ICTs tools, Development at the ministry, said said Al Mansoori. labourers learn how to keep con- in a presentation that it is crucial to The ministry has welcomed nected with friends and families, in remain updated with the digital rev- three new programme partners addition to learning new digital skills. olution by enhancing digital skills of — Ooredoo, the Public Works Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti opening a new ICT facility at Minister of Administrative Devel- all sections of the society. Authority (Ashghal) and the Qatar opment, Labour and Social Affairs H “One way to appreciate migrant Ports Management Co. (Mawani Doha Metro compound where Qatar Rail labourers live. E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi workers’ role in Qatar’s urban devel- Qatar). Three MoUs were signed and representatives of partnering opment is the Better Connections under which Ashghal and Mawani entities were present at the event. Programme, a key component Qatar will make sure their contrac- is the free Internet connectivity beneficiaries as possible, includ- National Human Rights Committee, Better Connections is an initiative to to boost digital skills of migrant tors provide facilities equipped with provider. The ministry had earlier ing RAF, ROTA, Microsoft Qatar, Qatar Rail, Ezdan Holding Group, include migrant workers with little to workers, supporting Qatar’s goal ICT tools and Internet connection for signed MoUs with institutions and Supreme Committee for Deliv- Musheireb Properties, Qatar Fuel no ICT skills in Qatar’s digital society of building a smart society,” she said. their migrant workers. And Ooredoo companies to cover as many worker ery & Legacy, Qatar Foundation, (Woqod), CH2M and QDVC. ‘Art Lab’ exhibition opens

By Raynald C Rivera told this daily. The Peninsula Nikolaos’s seascape photographs are one of The expo is part of ‘The the highlights at the exhibition. His ‘H2Orizons’ New York Times Art for installation, created in collaboration with Sound- wall, is a multi-dimensional triptych combining DOHA: A diverse collection of artworks by eight Tomorrow’ conference images he took of the Aegean Sea in Greece and artists from around the world are displayed at which begins today. music he curated. the ‘Art Lab’ exhibition which runs alongside Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al ‘The New York Times Art for Tomorrow’ con- Thani, a prominent Qatari artist, scholar and ference at W Doha Hotel. art collector, is also one of the featured artists The exhibition, which gathers a selection people to come together to exchange ideas. The whose oeuvre blends traditional Qatari objects. People queuing up near a potable water supply tank in Syria. of contemporary art installations, opened on more we get together and exchange ideas, the He has played a pioneering role in cultivating the eve of the conference featuring luminaries better our society will be, whether it has to do and preserving modern and contemporary art from the art world. “I’m excited about it (the con- with politics, art or society. We can only benefit in the Middle East and North Africa. ference) and I’m privileged and honoured to be from exchanging ideas and understanding each “Sheikh Hassan’s batoola installation ‘Moth- RAF sets up 25 bore wells in Syria invited to come here. I think it is important for other,” Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark erland’ is very beautiful and evocative of Qatar and the Middle East,” said Louise Hunter, Manag- ing Director, Summerhouse Media, and Curator By Sanullah Ataullah damaged businesses and trading activ- of the exhibition. Hunter described the exhibition The Peninsula ities, hitting people’s sources of income. as “diverse, interesting and intriguing. People cannot buy basic needs, includ- “For instance, Androulla Michael’s Decon- ing clean drinking water. A large number structed Selfie; the fact that it was made out of displaced people are taking shelter in of cotton pads she used as makeup remover is DOHA: Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foun- these areas which are considered relatively intriguing. It was made from something so sim- dation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) safer. Several areas have been battling a ple, which shows art is all around us and we has set up 25 facilities to bore wells and severe water crisis since the beginning can make art out of almost anything,” she said. provide drinking water to the people in of the war. So accessing potable water Another feature of the exhibition is the five regions of war-torn Syria. remains a key challenge for most people. Google Art Institute which allows visitors to The potable water supply units were The Bashar Al Assad regime targets delve into the world’s cultural treasures, putting set up in Aleppo, Rif Halab, east of Damas- basic services and infrastructure facili- over 200,000 art works and six million photos cus, Dira, and Rif Hamat. So far, more than ties, particularly water plants. at their fingertips, before they take a journey 88,000 are benefiting from the initiative. Water pumps powered with genera- in virtual reality. “The institute was born five The project aimed to provide clean tors run on diesel stopped working due to years ago to provide access to culture to eve- water to the residents of these areas and a lack of maintenance. Even those work- rywhere in the world, democratising access to those migrated there from other areas in ing have no fuel to continue. Water tankers culture, and work with cultural institutions to the country due to the ongoing violence. were the only option to provide clean help them make the best of digital opportunities. These areas are worst-affected by the water to the people. But they are so expen- Today, we have 1,000 partners, including muse- war and remain without electricity. As a sive that most people cannot afford. So ums and cultural institutions which allow users result, water pumps have stopped working. they are forced to drink and use contami- ‘Stargate’, a walk-through, immersive structure comprising seven LED screens with to have an experience around art and history,” The water supply network and wells nated water. Several cases of stomachache changing image groups, rhythms and colour hues by Pia MYrvoLD, one of the installations said Giorgia Abeltino, Director, Public Policy at supplying drinking water were destroyed were reported to clinics due to drinking at the exhibition. the institute. by heavy shelling. The war has also unclean water. Syria regime says Assad ouster Arab League brands Lebanon’s ‘red line’ ahead of peace talks Hezbollah ‘terror’ group AFP but Syria’s foreign minister said federal division of Syria was not that was out of the question. an option. “We will not talk with any- The HNC has also insisted on AFP one who wants to discuss the Syria’s territorial unity, but says DAMASCUS: The Syrian govern- presidency... Bashar Al Assad is talks must create a “transitional ment yesterday said the ouster a red line,” Walid Muallem told a governance body with full exec- of President Bashar Al Assad Damascus news conference. utive powers”. CAIRO: The Arab League yester- remains a “red line” two days “If they continue with this De Mistura told Swiss news- day declared Iran ally Hezbollah a ahead of renewed talks aimed approach, there’s no reason for paper Le Temps that although “terrorist” group, after Gulf states to end the conflict. them to come to Geneva.” He said Syria’s Kurds were not invited to adopted the same stance over the Leading members of the the government delegation would talks, they should be given the Lebanese Shia movement’s sup- opposition delegation to the talks go to Switzerland today. opportunity to voice views on the port for the regime in Syria’s war. arrived in Geneva yesterday. UN peace envoy Staffan de country’s political future. The decision was endorsed by The UN-brokered negotia- Mistura said the meetings in Regime backer Russia had the majority of foreign ministers tions are the latest push by the Geneva would not last more than called on De Mistura to include of the pan-Arab body except for international community to find 10 days. The negotiations would Syrian Kurdish representatives Lebanon and Iraq which expressed a solution to Syria’s five-year cover the formation of a new gov- in peace talks. “reservations”, said Bahraini diplo- war, which has killed more than ernment, a fresh constitution and Violence in Syria has mat Wahid Mubarak Sayar. 270,000 people. UN-monitored presidential and decreased since a landmark “The resolution of the League’s The government and the parliamentary elections within ceasefire between the regime and council (of foreign ministers) main opposition group, the Riy- 18 months, he said. rebels across parts of the country includes the designation of Hez- adh-based High Negotiations However, Muallem said De began two weeks ago. bollah as a terrorist group,” he said, Committee (HNC), have agreed Mistura had “no right” to discuss Brokered by the US and Rus- reading from a statement at the to attend the talks after the last future presidential elections or sia, which back opposing sides Cairo headquarters of the League. round collapsed in February. any agenda items. in the conflict, the truce appears But he said Algeria had some Chief Opposition Negotiator “Neither he nor anyone else, to be largely holding despite the “observations” about the decision, Mohammad Alloush and HNC whoever they may be, has the warring sides accusing each other although he did not elaborate. delegation Head Asaad Al Zoabi right to discuss presidential elec- of violations. Wrapping up a visit He said the resolution are in Geneva. tions. This right is exclusively for to Saudi Arabia yesterday, US denounced “Iranian interfer- “The regime was counting the Syrian people.” Secretary of State John Kerry said ence” in the “internal affairs” of on the opposition not to come to Muallem said the negotiations US and Russian officials would Arab countries, including Bah- Geneva... but it is here, and it will would aim to form a “unity gov- meet to discuss opposition com- rain where it allegedly “supports have a united stance, vision and ernment” which would appoint a plaints of truce violations. terrorism”. negotiating strategy,” said HNC committee to either write a new “Our teams are meeting with In January, GCC member delegation member Hassan Abdel constitution or amend the current Russia in Geneva and Amman, Bahrain said it had dismantled a Azim. The HNC has repeatedly one. “Then we will have a refer- where very detailed lay downs “terror” cell allegedly linked to called for Assad’s departure at the endum for the Syrian people to will take place regarding these Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and start of any transitional period, decide on it,” he said, adding a allegations,” he said. Hezbollah. MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 09 S Sudan troops committed abuses: UN

UN to bring the complaints and we act on them, but they do not want” Call for arms to do so, he said by phone from the embargo on war- capital, Juba. racked country. CONFLICT SPREAD Conflict that erupted in the oil- producing nation in December 2013 has left tens of thousands of people Bloomberg dead and forced 2 million others to flee their homes. The UN report is based on visits between October and January to the worst-affected parts JUBA: Forces loyal to South Sudan’s of Unity and Upper Nile states as well government enacted a “scorched as Western and Central Equatoria, earth” policy that included rape, where the conflict has spread in the abuse and killings of civilians dur- past year. ing more than two years of civil war, Amnesty International said on according to a United Nations report. Friday that South Sudanese gov- The UN Human Rights Office ernment forces had “deliberately documented the “shocking” scale of suffocated” more than 60 men abuse in the world’s newest nation, and boys detained in a shipping with 1,300 reports of rape recorded container in Unity state last year. in one state alone in five months, it Soldiers “arbitrarily arrested” the said on its website. It cited “credible victims in late October and bodies Yemeni tribesmen from the Popular Resistance Committees, supporting forces loyal to Yemen’s President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, in het central sources” as saying that militia and were later seen at a mass burial site, government forces were allowed to the London-based group said, cit- city of Taiz, yesterday. violate women instead of being paid ing interviews with more than 42 wages. Many of the actions could witnesses. amount to war crimes and crimes South Sudanese Information against humanity, according to the Minister Michael Makuei Lueth report. described the report as “lies aimed Yemen govt troops gird to retake Taiz While “all parties in the con- at tarnishing the legitimate gov- flict” were behind violations, in 2015 ernment” and fabricated by rebels. “government forces and associated Soldiers are “under obligation to pro- Reuters Supporters of President Abd- by the government-run sabanew. government had prepared 1,000 militia bore the greatest responsi- tect civilians,” he said by phone. rabuh Mansur Hadi, backed by a net news agency as a major break- men to take charge of security in bility,” the office said. The report The UN said on Friday that a Saudi-led Arab coalition, have been through. It said Hadi and his deputy, Taiz immediately to avoid a repe- recommends that UN High Commis- lack of funds is hurting the imme- trying for months to lift the siege of Khaled Bahah, had telephoned the tition of the lawlessness and chaos sioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad diate humanitarian response — only ADEN: Troops loyal to Yemen’s pres- the southwestern city and open up local military commander to congrat- that happened in Aden after govern- Al Hussein request the UN Security 8 percent has been committed of ident have captured the western key supply routes. ulate him on the victory. ment forces captured the city from Council to impose a comprehensive the $1.3bn-plan for emergency entrance to the strategic city of Taiz, The struggle is part of coalition Meanwhile, sabanews.net, the Houthis in July last year. arms embargo on South Sudan. assistance, and most of that money partially breaking a siege by Houthi efforts since March last year to roll another news agency controlled by Aden, where the Yemeni govern- Malaak Ayuen Ajok, a South was carried over from previously, fighters allied with Iran, medical and back Houthi gains and restore Hadi, Houthis, said fighters from the group ment is currently based, has been Sudanese army spokesman, said the according to an e-mailed statement military sources said yesterday. who is currently in Saudi Arabia, to killed 27 Hadi supporters. gripped by bomb and gun attacks report was not “well-balanced” and from Geneva. At least 48 people have been power. The war has devastated the Bahah, who is also the prime targeting senior government officials looks like “a conspiracy against the Fighting has spread to new areas, killed in heavy clashes in Yem- country, killed more than 6,000 peo- minister, told a news conference in and security personnel since last year. government” and military. He said creating a fresh exodus of refugees en’s third biggest city, the medics ple and displaced millions. the southern port city of Aden that The United Nations had accused locations had changed hands with which hasn’t been accounted for in and local fighters said, and at least The reported capture of the west- the Yemeni government was prepar- the Houthis of obstructing the deliv- rebels during the fighting and that the current response programme, 120 people have been wounded. ern entrance to Taiz, where nearly ing an aid convoy to Taiz to leave soon ery of humanitarian supplies to assigning blame for incidents was and the lean season that peaks in Witnesses said there were bodies half of the 250,000 residents had but gave no further details. civilians in Taiz, saying residents difficult. “We have always asked the May. scattered in the streets. been trapped since May, was hailed Bahah told journalists that the had been living under “virtual siege”.

Abbas dangles Loads of debris pay rise before Iraqi cleric cranks up striking West pressure on govt Bank teachers AFP deadline to present the names of AFP technocrats for a new government. Abadi has been pushing for a government of technocrats in a bid to RAMALLAH: Palestinian Pres- NAJAF: Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr revive reform pledges that he made ident Mahmoud Abbas pledged yesterday urged his followers to last year but have remained largely yesterday to improve conditions ramp up pro-reform rallies by set- a dead letter. for teachers whose three-week-old ting up tents in front of Baghdad’s Despite some of the ministers strike has closed several schools in ‘Green Zone’ and camping out until seen as the most corrupt being from the Israeli-occupied West Bank. their demands are met. his own political movement, Sadr In a previously unscheduled The Shia said in a statement that has, with some success, attempted television address Abbas, flanked the sit-in demanding the reshuffle of to make the new reform drive his by prime minister Rami Hamdal- a cabinet perceived as corrupt and own. lah, promised a 10 percent pay ineffective would begin on Friday, Sadrists have held a series of rise, a management review and March 18. massive rallies in central Baghdad, the implementation of a 2013 work “I make a historical call to every with thousands turning out on Friday agreement. honest, reform-loving Iraqi to rise up for the latest protest to press their The average monthly salary and start a new phase in the peaceful demands. for a teacher is $600. A school popular protests,” the statement said. The presence a week earlier of head with a master’s degree and Sadr urged protesters to stay armed Sadr supporters outside the 25 years of service can earn $700. there for the 10 remaining days of Green Zone — where Abadi’s office, Abbas’s West Bank-based Pal- an ultimatum he gave the govern- parliament and the US embassy are estinian Authority (PA) has been ment last month. located — sparked intense security pleading with teachers to return “Get ready and organise your- concerns. to class, warning that pupils oth- selves to establish sit-in tents. This In the protest that he attended erwise risk a “lost year.” is your time to root out corruption in Baghdad two weeks ago, Sadr Most of the promises given by A front-loader clears debris after clashes between military forces loyal to Libya’s eastern government and the corrupt,” he said. threatened that his supporters Abbas yesterday are only to take and the Shura Council of Libyan Revolutionaries, in Benghazi, yesterday. A month ago, Sadr gave Prime could storm the Green Zone if their effect from September 2017 but Minister Haider Al Abadi a 45-day demands were not met. he asked them to go back to work tomorrow, the first day of the Pal- estinian working week. The PA, which spends nearly half of its budget on wages for its Saudi Arabian judges confirm death sentences of four men 180,000 civil servants, has been in chronic economic crisis for years. The monthly wage bill of nearly $150m is 16 percent of Reuters Shia Muslim men feared their sons, Saudi newspaper Okaz said: “The juveniles who are awaiting execution newspapers reported that Saudi Ara- gross domestic product, one of arrested for involvement in anti-gov- four terrorists awaiting the imple- after their sentences ... were upheld in bia was planning to execute more the highest in the world. The PA ernment protests while under the age mentation of the death sentences the SCC (Specialised Criminal Court) than 50 people for “terrorist crimes” was supposed to have been an DUBAI: Death sentences against of 18, were among those facing the complement the first group of 47.” last year.” that killed more than 100 civilians interim body and be replaced in four Saudi men convicted of terror- death penalty. One is a nephew of It said a total of 13 judges had con- The three are Dawoud Al Mar- and 71 security personnel. 1999 by a sovereign state of Pales- ism have been confirmed by 13 judges, Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, the cleric whose sidered the cases in three levels of hoon, arrested in 2012; Abdullah The 47 executed on January 2 tine but a peace treaty with Israel a Saudi newspaper reported, raising execution in January led to a rupture hearings, but did not identify the Hassan Al Zaher, who was 15 when were mostly Sunnis convicted of Al has proved elusive and foreign aid the possibility of a new round of exe- of diplomatic relations between Saudi four men. he was arrested in 2011; and Ali Al Qaeda attacks in the kingdom a dec- to the administration has halved cutions two months after 47 people Arabia and Iran. Rights group Reprieve, which Nimr, aged 17 when he was detained ade ago. over the past five years. including a prominent Shia cleric Officials from the Saudi Justice campaigns against the death pen- in 2012. France has called on Saudi Four, including the older Nimr, Of the 45,000 teachers in Pal- were put to death. Ministry and the Interior Ministry alty, said: “While details of the four Arabia not to execute Nimr, arguing were members of the Shia minority estinian schools, nearly 36,000 are International rights groups were not immediately available to in line for execution remain unclear, he was a minor at the time. who were accused of involvement in in the West Bank. said the families of three young comment. the reports will raise fears for three In November last year, two Saudi shooting policemen. 10 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 OPINION

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 Blocking peace North Korea is a nuclear power:

yrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moualem has thrown hurdles at the UN-led peace talks scheduled to The world just has to live with it begin on Monday by stating that talks will fail if any party tries to discuss the presidency in a transition the North’s ability to conduct inter- conservative legislators and others deployment enhance deterrence government, calling the incumbent president, Bashar national financial transactions and both in and out of government have or make Pyongyang more trigger SAl Assad, a ‘red line’. The foreign minister also heaped criticism ban the export of North Korean called for the country to go nuclear. happy? Would it provide Seoul on UN envoy Staffan de Mistura for presenting an agenda for coal and minerals. But they are not Were that to occur, Seoul would fol- enough reassurance to eliminate the talks and for his comment that presidential elections would enough. Even combined with the low the path of several countries any inclination to go nuclear? Or previous sanctions, this will not - the Soviet Union, Britain, France is offshore deployment enough? take place in 18 months. Immediately after Al Moualem made move the North off its nuclear ped- and Pakistan - that responded in Then, there is the matter of Bei- the statement at a press conference yesterday, the opposition estal. It is simply too late. kind to their adversaries’ posses- jing’s response. Would the return retaliated by saying Damascus was trying to stop the talks First, it is inconceivable that sion of nuclear weapons. of the bomb to South Korean soil before they had started. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un However, any move by South prompt a major dustup in Sino-US The verbal exchanges speak of the huge challenges that lie would give up the weapon that Korea to break its Nuclear Nonpro- relations? Or would it demonstrate By Bennett Ramberg ahead. Al-Moualem’s statement is a huge disappointment and places his nation in the exclusive liferation Treaty vows would pit it Washington’s commitment to assure Reuters global nuclear club. Pyongyang has against its crucial ally, Washington, the security of all its East Asian shows the arrogance of the Syrian regime which wants the talks invested so much and come so far which doggedly opposes nuclear allies? to be held on its terms, and this can only guarantee the failure to mature a nuclear program that proliferation whether by friend or These open questions deserve of the talks. Its arrogance stems from the support it is receiving hat are Washing- provides it with an atomic deterrent foe. In addition, nuclear acquisition robust public debate in the United from Russia, which has reshaped the war by reclaiming ton and its allies and a means of intimidation. Sec- would present South Korea with its States and South Korea. But so does significant areas in the west. to do about North ond, history repeatedly shows that own challenges. Though the coun- another matter, now even more off Hopes were high that the planned talks would make some Korea? In January, sanctions are unlikely to be fully try has the technical capacity to the radar. Is it time for the United WPyongyang tested its fourth nuclear enforced or sufficient to squeeze build a bomb, it could take years States to reach out to North Korea, headway, even if limited, as they come during a ceasefire in device. It launched a satellite in North Korea. for it to perfect a delivery device to formally concede what it can- Syria which still holds despite sporadic violations. The ceasefire February to gather additional data Washington and its allies must and marshal an effective deterrent, not change - namely that North was brokered by the US and Russia, and its success, though not for developing an intercontinental now come to the realisation that or use doctrine. The effort would Korea is a nuclear-armed nation complete, has prompted the US to try the formula in Yemen ballistic missile. Meanwhile, North it is time to adapt. Adaptation has prove costly because it would divert - not as any favor to the Stalinist where a civil is going on. But the Korean engineers keep cranking already begun. South Korea has scarce defense dollars from other regime but to generate a quid pro Syrian regime is stiffening its position out weapons material that could made a multi-year commitment vital security needs. It would also quo, the establishment of official Syrian FM’s and is even criticising the UN envoy, fuel dozens of nuclear bombs in to increase its military budget and raise the ire of China. liaison offices in the two countries’ years to come. modernise its conventional forces. It Impressing upon North Korea capitals? This would put in place a which means the talks are doomed statement The international response con- has begun deploying longer-range that no good will come from its permanent face-to-face commu- that his to fail. The Syrian opposition, the US tinues to be ineffective. After much surface-to-surface missiles and is bomb remains critical. It raises nication link to defuse the risk of and several Arab countries have made pouting from concerned countries, acquiring US F-35 strike aircraft. the question of whether more war should tensions mount. government it clear that they will not settle for the United Nations Security Coun- Seoul is talking with Washington good could come from Washing- The alternative - keeping North was not ready anything less than the ouster of Assad. cil recently responded to the new about installing the sophisticated ton’s return of nuclear weapons Korea ever more isolated - perpet- to discuss Al Moualem’s statement shows that round of tests with an impressive missile defense system Terminal to South Korea - the United States uates the fantasy that Pyongyang the talks have reached a stalemate new collection of sanctions. High Altitude Area Defense or removed them in 1991 as the Cold still can be sanctioned or other- Assad’s The sanctions promise to halt THAAD. Collectively, beefing up War ended. wise induced to give up its nuclear presidency in even before they started, and finding the movement of contraband by of its conventional forces bolsters Given North Korea’s unabated bombs. Rather, the challenge now a way forward is extremely tough. monitoring North Korean com- Seoul’s deterrence capabilities. nuclear development, is it time to is not to bolster quixotic policies peace talks “I advise them that if this is (the merce moving in and out of the Yet many in South Korea reassess that 1991 decision? Re- but to nurture others that assure shows the opposition’s) thinking, they shouldn’t country, prohibit the export of jet still fear that Seoul’s military installing the weapons would raise Kim’s bomb does not give birth to regime is not come to the talks. They must abandon and rocket fuel to Pyongyang, block buildup will not be enough. Some a host of additional issues: Would a 21st-century nuclear war. these delusions,” he said. A delegation interested in from the Syrian government is negotiations. heading to Geneva on Sunday, but will not stay for more than 24 hours if the The Constitution rules, except in Puerto Rico opposition does not show up. The talks will coincide with next week’s fifth anniversary of a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, displaced millions and created the world’s worst refugee crisis which is purposes of the federal judicial Downes v. Bidwell, the Supreme The court’s compromise grant- system, Puerto Rico is treated as Court answered the question with ing Puerto Ricans some but not all destablising Europe. part of the US That’s why Pérez- a resounding “Kind of.” It held that constitutional rights was designed If tomorrow’s talks collapse, it will deal a huge blow to peace Giménez is in office there as an some, but not all, of the rights in to allow Puerto Rico to become a efforts and the prospects of another attempt to bring both sides ordinary Article III federal judge, the Bill of Rights applied in Puerto possession without quite admitting to the negotiating table look remote and will be riddled with nominated by Jimmy Carter and Rico -- and it declined to say exactly that this made the US an empire as many complications as we witness now. The last round of confirmed by the Senate. which ones. and Congress a legislative dicta- indirect talks collapsed on February 3 over a Russian-backed Ordinarily, federal judges fol- In dissent, Justice John Mar- torship there. low the Supreme Court’s precedents shall Harlan, who also famously The popularity of the war, and government offensive in Aleppo. automatically. The Constitution is dissented in Plessy v. Ferguson, the of McKinley after it, was a major the supreme law of the land, and “separate but equal” case, derided factor. It was about this decision By Noah Feldman the court’s interpretations of it are the idea that the US would recog- that the humor columnist Finley Bloomberg binding on the lower courts. nise anything less than full liberty Peter Dunne wrote: “no matther Puerto Rico is different -- not for Puerto Ricans. Falling short of whether th’ constitution follows because lower courts don’t have this, he argued, turned the US into th’ flag or not, th’ supreme coort to listen to the Supreme Court, but an empire governing colonists, not a follows th’ iliction returns.” Quote of the day federal judge in Puerto Rico because according to the justices, republic of self-governing citizens. This history explains the district ruled on Tuesday that the the Constitution doesn’t apply there To be sure, Harlan was a prod- judge’s ruling, but doesn’t justify it. ASupreme Court’s decision in with full force. uct of his time. He didn’t believe As a legal matter, he is simply wrong. We expect refugees favour of gay marriage doesn’t apply The issue goes all the way back Puerto Ricans were inherently Last year, in Obergefell v. on the island, which is a common- to the US acquisition of Puerto Rico equal any more than he thought Hodges, the Supreme Court rec- to accept these offers wealth with a unique constitutional in the Spanish-American War. After that blacks were racially equal to ognised that the right to same-sex status. The ruling will eventually be William McKinley’s decision to whites when he dissented in the marriage is protected by the due (of integration). It is reversed on appeal. But its effect is acquire the island, the Supreme Plessy case. Rather, Harlan thought process and equal protection clauses a duty and not just a meaningful nonetheless, because Court found itself addressing the that because the American public of the Fourteenth Amendment. This it functions as a double protest: issue of the rights of the island’s wouldn’t consent to treating Puerto is not one of the amendments that possibility. against the high court’s support residents. The problem was usu- Ricans as equals or granting them Puerto Rico gets to ignore, as Joshua for gay marriage and against the ally addressed under the heading citizenship, the US shouldn’t hold Block of the ACLU immediately on unresolved constitutional status of a question: Does the Constitu- the island as an imperial posses- Twitter. The district court’s deci- Angela Merkel of the island. tion follow the flag? sion. Insisting on equal rights for sion will therefore be struck down German Chancellor The ruling of the federal dis- In a group of decisions known Puerto Ricans was a way of argu- whenever the US Court of Appeals trict judge, Juan Pérez-Giménez, collectively as the Insular Cases, ing that the US should let Puerto for the First Circuit gets around to is an artifact in its own right. For most famously the 1901 case of Rico go. it, probably soon.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Opinion page should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief.

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AFP while another says “Please enjoy the many countries in the developed remains hugely lucrative and power- on smoking, and the youngsters them- tobacco products -- for residents and scenery and fresh air in our village”. world have launched campaigns to ful, and it is common to see children selves got addicted to the costly habit visitors -- came into force in 2006. The move has inspired other vil- cut tobacco use, ramped up prices, smoking a sweet-tasting clove cig- at a young age. While cigarettes are Punishments for those caught lages around the country to follow suit restricted cigarette advertising and arette -- an extremely popular cheap by international standards in breaking the rules include commu- INDONESIA: Nestled amid moun- and take the law into their own hands banned smoking in public places, Indonesian speciality, which domi- Indonesia -- with a packet of a local nity service, such as cleaning up tains in remote central Indonesia, as the central government shows lit- leading to sharp falls in smoking rates. nates the local market. brand costing around the equiva- mosques in the staunchly Muslim vil- Bone-Bone looks like any other rural tle sign of launching a determined, While Indonesia is not alone But in Bone-Bone, it is a differ- lent of a dollar -- a heavy habit can lage and their neighbourhood, while hamlet in the archipelago, with a nationwide fight against tobacco. among developing countries in lag- ent story. Smoking has almost entirely strongly impact the finances of poor some have even been forced to issue modest collection of houses, shops Such bans are just a small step in a ging behind in efforts to tackle disappeared among the population of families with meagre incomes. a public apology to the entire village and mosques and people quietly going country where 30 percent of the adult tobacco use, even by regional stand- around 800 inhabitants since the ban “I went to college with 13 other through a loudspeaker. about their daily lives. population are smokers, and more ards it fares poorly. came into force a decade ago. students from this village, only six Amir, a blacksmith and father of But it is an unlikely champion in than 200,000 die every year due to Tobacco adverts remain highly Rather than worries about vil- graduated, the rest dropped out nine in Bone-Bone, was forced to end the fight against smoking in one of the tobacco-related illnesses, according visible around Indonesia, on bill- lagers contracting cancer, economic because they spent their tuition his 40-a-day habit by the ban. ”I can world’s most tobacco-addicted coun- to public health experts in Indonesia. boards and posters, it is the only concerns were what prompted then money on cigarettes,” Idris told AFP. save money, I can buy what my family tries, after it became the first village More than two thirds of adult country in Southeast Asia that still village head, Muhammad Idris, to The ban was implemented in needs and I can pay for my children’s in Indonesia to impose a total ban on males use tobacco, the highest rate allows cigarette advertising on tel- implement the ban through a local stages. In 2000, local authorities education,” said Amir, who like many smoking. “Thank you for not smoking, in the world, according to the World evision, and the only one in the bylaw. He said that many poor fam- prohibited the sale of cigarettes in Indonesians goes by one name. About say no to cigarettes” reads a sign at the Health Organisation’s Global Adult Asia-Pacific region not to have ratified ilies in the area could not afford to Bone-Bone, smoking in public places 10 villages across the country have entrance to the settlement to Sulawesi, Tobacco Survey, although far fewer a key UN treaty on tobacco con- send their children to school because was forbidden from 2003, and then a followed Bone-Bone’s example by one of the archipelago’s main islands, women smoke. In recent decades, trol. The domestic tobacco industry their fathers were spending too much full ban on both smoking and selling imposing a smoking ban. Group that 200 homeless in Manila fire Sri Lanka’s hounded Dalai Tamil prisoners call off strike

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Lama disbands Tamil prisoners, who launched a hunger strike demanding their release, said the statement on the website of called off their fast after a the Buddhist group. From March 10, minister assured them of The announcement the ISC and its websites would dis- speedy trials. comes after it was solve, the statement added, without As many as 13 former giving any explanation. Liberation Tigers of revealed that China’s The telephone number for Foley Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cad- ruling Communist listed on the group’s earlier public- res launched the hunger ity material is now disconnected. strike on February 23 Party backs the Nicholas Pitts, a Hong Kong-based demanding the govern- Buddhist religious spokesman for the ISC, did not ment expedite the cases respond to a request for comment. against them or release sect behind the The Dalai Lama said he was aware them. protests that have of the decision by the ISC to disband. The prisoners called confronted the Dalai “I don’t know,” he said. off the strike on Friday More than five decades after he after Prisons Reforms and A resident looks on from the roof of his house as a huge fire advances at a residential area in Manila, Lama in almost every fled into exile in India following a Rehabilitation Minister D country he visits. failed uprising against Chinese rule, yesterday. Almost 200 families were affected by the blaze. M Swaminathan gave an the Dalai Lama still exerts consid- assurance that he would erable religious authority over many discuss the issue with of the six million ethnic Tibetans the attorney general’s Reuters living within China’s borders. This department officials. Four infuriates Beijing, which routinely inmates who fell ill due denounces him as a separatist, New MH370 debris to be sent to Australia to the hunger strike were accusing him of attempting to split admitted to the prison GENEVA: The Buddhist group Tibet from China. hospital. leading a global campaign of har- In the United States, the ISC is was found in Mozambique that the He said the debris would be rassment against the Dalai Lama has registered as a charity in Califor- AFP family got in touch with authorities. examined by investigators from called off its demonstrations and dis- nia. Since 2014, its spokespeople “The South African Civil Aviation Australia and Malaysia and special- US in talks to banded, according to a statement on have said they are responsible for Authority has arranged for the col- ists from Boeing. News of the find its website. organizing the protests but denied lection of the part, which will then be comes just days after the two-year station bombers The announcement comes after any link with Beijing or the Chinese SYDNEY: A new piece of debris found sent to Australia as this is the coun- anniversary of the plane’s mysteri- it was revealed in December that Communist Party. Most of the pro- by a South African holidaymaker try appointed by Malaysia to identify ous disappearance on March 8, 2014. in Australia China’s ruling Communist Party testers have been Western recruits. that could be a part of the missing any parts found,” spokesman Kabelo The aircraft diverted for backs the Buddhist religious sect They joined forces with a smaller Malaysian flight MH370 will be sent Ledwaba said in a statement Friday. unknown reasons while on a routine SYDNEY: Washington is in behind the protests that have con- group of ethnic Tibetan devotees in to Australia for analysis, aviation Transportation authorities in overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur talks to station its strike fronted the Dalai Lama in almost chanting slogans and beating drums. authorities said. Canberra confirmed on Saturday the to Beijing with 239 passengers and bombers in Australia, every country he visits. The sect They accuse the Dalai Lama of being Teenager Liam Lotter told local South African, Malaysian and Aus- crew aboard. according to a US general, had become a key instrument in a bigot and a fake. media he had found the metre-long tralian governments were working to Investigators believe the plane amid concern about Chi- China’s campaign to discredit the The Dalai Lama’s most recent piece of metal on a beach while on bring the material to Australia. rerouted to the southern Indian na’s military expansion in Tibetan spiritual leader. The direc- engagements have been largely free holiday in Mozambique in Decem- “The family have contacted the Ocean, where it crashed. Last July the South China Sea. tors of the International Shugden of protest. There was a small demon- ber, and had taken it home. Australian Transport Safety Bureau,” a man on the French-held Indian General Lori Robinson, Community (ISC) had decided to stration earlier this week during his It was only when news broke a spokesman from ATSB said. Ocean island of Reunion found a commander of US Pacific “completely stop organising dem- visit to Madison, Wisconsin, accord- earlier this month of a suspected “They have provided us with pho- wing fragment that experts later Air Forces, said, “We’re onstrations against the Dalai Lama,” ing to people close to the leader. piece of the Malaysia Airlines plane tographs which are being reviewed.” determined came from MH370. in the process of talking about rotational forces, bombers and tankers out of Australia and it gives us the opportunity to train Much lower turnout at anti-nuclear rally in Taiwan with Australia,” China aims to

AFP parliament],” Shu-Hsin Tsui, secre- pass law on soil tary general of Green Citizens’ Action Alliance, said. pollution in 2017 Tsai, who will take office in May, TAIPEI: An annual anti-nuclear rally yesterday reiterated her party’s plan BEIJING: China aims to in Taiwan yesterday saw a much to make Taiwan nuclear-free within pass its first soil pollution lower turnout than previous years a decade. “To accomplish this goal, law next year hoping to as president-elect Tsai Ing-wen vows in addition to promoting energy effi- tackle a “serious” problem to abolish the use of atomic energy ciency we need to more importantly that so far lacks dedicated on the island by 2025. adjust the energy mix,” the presi- legislation, a senior Chi- Hundreds of people gathered dent-elect said in a Facebook post. nese official said. outside Taipei’s Presidential Palace The DPP says it will put forward China’s government in the rain, many wearing yellow a raft of new energy policies once declared war on pollution ribbons and stickers bearing the slo- it takes office, including plans to in 2014 in a bid to head gans “Say goodbye to nuclear” and increase the use of clean energy on off rising public anger “Nuclear go zero”. the island. over the environmental However, the crowd was notice- Taiwan currently gener- costs of rapid growth. ably smaller than the thousands who ates about one-fifth of its energy It is under particu- joined last year’s protest. from three nuclear plants. In 2014, lar pressure to reduce the Organisers chalked up the dem- authorities were forced to seal off risk of contaminated crops onstration’s small showing to the a nearly-completed fourth nuclear entering the food chain. Democratic Progressive Party’s plant after public opposition. Farming on 3.3m hec- victory at the polls in January. The The DPP has said it has no plans tares across China already DPP has promised, along with a slew to restart the project. The rally being banned indefinitely. of new political parties set to enter comes a day after Japan marked the There have been repeated parliament, to phase out the use of fifth anniversary of a major nuclear food scandals, especially nuclear energy. disaster when the Fukushima energy rice, a staple for hundreds “Whether it’s the DPP or the plant was hit by a tsunami following of millions in China, being New Power Party, those that agree an earthquake, knocking out power contaminated with heavy Taiwanese holding placards take part in the annual anti-nuclear protest during a downpour in Taipei, Taiwan, with creating a nuclear-free home to its cooling systems and sending metals. yesterday. have become the majority [in reactors into meltdown. 12 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 ASIA / AFRICA US and South Korea stage assault drills

threatened to respond with an all- The submarine may be adrift out offensive. under the sea or have sunk, perhaps About 55 US marine Tension on the Korean penin- after a technical problem during an sula has been high since the North exercise, US officials with intelligence aircraft and 30 US conducted its fourth nuclear test in of secret US monitoring of the North’s and South Korean January and followed that with a activities as saying. ships, including long-range rocket launch last month, North Korea has said it is devel- triggering new UN sanctions. oping submarine-launched ballistic the USBonhomme About 55 US marine aircraft missiles although doubts about that Richard and USBoxer, and 30 US and South Korean ships, were raised after Western experts including the USBonhomme Rich- said publicly released footage of tests which carry AV-8B ard and USBoxer, which carry AV-8B appeared to be fake. Harrier attack jets Harrier attack jets and V-22 Osprey On Thursday, North Korean aircrafts, took part in the assault on leader Kim Jong Un watched as his and V-22 Osprey beaches near Pohang city, the US forces fired two short-range ballis- aircrafts, took part navy said. tic missiles into the sea. This month “They will penetrate notional the North conducted drills with what in the assault on enemy beach defenses, establish a it said were newly developed large beaches near Pohang. beach head, and rapidly transition caliber rocket launchers. forces and sustainment ashore,” the Kim has ordered the country to US military based in South Korea said improve its nuclear attack capability in a statement before the exercise. by conducting more tests, in defiance South Korean marines participate in an annual Combined Joint Logistics during the Ssangyong exercises Reuters The North’s military said it was of a UN Security Council resolution prepared to counter the US and South adopted last week in response to the against a possible attack from North Korea, in Pohang. Korean forces “with an ultra-preci- isolated state’s latest nuclear test. sion blitzkrieg strike of the Korean Kim also said his country had POHANG: US and South Korean style”. miniaturised nuclear warheads to troops staged a big amphibious “The revolutionary armed forces mount on ballistic missiles, although N Korean submarine missing: Report landing exercise yesterday, storm- of the DPRK holding tightly the arms the US and South Korean govern- ing simulated North Korean beach to annihilate the enemies with tow- ments have expressed doubts about defences amid heightened tension ering hatred for them are waiting for that too. AFP The unknown class of vessel had suffered a failure during an exercise. and threats by the North to annihi- the dignified Supreme Command to The South Korean and US mil- been reportedly operating off the “The speculation is that it sank”, late its enemies. issue an order to launch a preemptive itaries have said they had notified North Korean coast earlier in the week an unidentified US official said. “The The landing and assault drills strike of justice,” it said in comments the North of “the non-provocative when it disappeared. A South Korean North Koreans have not made an on South Korea’s east coast were carried by the state news agency. nature” of the exercises involving SEOUL: A North Korean submarine defence ministry said Seoul was inves- attempt to indicate there is some- part of eight weeks of joint exer- DPRK stands for the Democratic about 17,000 American troops and is missing, reports yesterday, as the tigating the reports. Pentagon officials thing wrong or that they require help cises between the allies which the People’s Republic of Korea. North more than 300,000 South Koreans. reclusive state issued a fresh threat declined to comment on the matter. or some type of assistance.” The inci- South has said are the largest ever. Korea has been searching for one of The United States has about of retaliation against US and South The US is unsure if the missing dent comes as tensions were further The North has denounced the exer- its submarines that has been missing 28,500 troops stationed in South Korean forces involved in joint mili- vessel is adrift or whether it has sunk, heightened on the Korean peninsu- cises as “nuclear war moves” and for days off its east coast. Korea. tary drills. CNN reported, but officials believe it lar by a fresh threat from Pyongyang. Niger oppn leader back in jail; vows election boycott

AFP statement that he had been taken then taken back to his cell”. Ousseini out of a race it said was “unfair”, but Issoufou who took 48 percent -- fail- to the capital. “Contrary to what we Salatou, spokesman for the opposi- Amadou’s lawyer insisted the follow- ing to clinch an outright first-round 40 Boko Haram believed, Hama Amadou has not left tion coalition known as COPA 2016, ing day that he would still be taking majority victory. his prison in Filingue for the hospi- which backs Amadou for the pres- part. The COPA 2016 coalition called militants killed NIAMEY: Jailed Niger opposition tal in Niamey,” a source said. idency, said he had “been suffering Salatou said, “We have asked our for Amadou’s release on March 2 to leader Hama Amadou, due to stand Salah Amadou, a senior official for quite some time, but his condi- activists and all patriots not to cam- allow him to campaign fairly against in army fighting in a presidential run-off next week, of the jailed candidate’s party, earlier tion worsened yesterday”. paign and not to go out on March Issoufou. His lawyers said the judicial was back behind bars on Friday said Amadou was suffering from eye The confusion came as COPA 20.” He added: “Hama will not vote authorities would hand down a rul- Kano: The Nigerian army after receiving medical treatment, problems and was being transferred 16 announced an “active boycott” on March 20, COPA will not vote on ing on the case Monday. said it killed at least 40 his entourage said, as his coalition to Niamey from his jail in Filingue, of the election, which it said had March 20.” Amadou, a 66-year-old The opposition has accused the Boko Haram Islamist mil- vowed to boycott the vote. about 180km from the capital. been agreed “in connection with Mr former premier and ex-speaker of government of fraud in the first itants in fighting in the Sources close to Amadou -- who The lawmaker later said the Amadou”, with Salatou vowing that parliament, has campaigned from round, claiming “unfair treatment country’s northeast. has been in jail since November on opposition leader had been “taken Issoufou would face “a phantom can- behind bars. He nevertheless picked between the two candidates” and Troops clashed with baby-trafficking charges -- said the to the clinic in Filingue under a heavy didate” on March 20. up nearly 18 percent of the vote in the complaining that the Constitutional militants in the villages opposition leader had been treated security escort to receive treatment The coalition had announced first round of the presidential race Court has yet to officially confirm the of Alajeri and Danbasa in locally, going back on an earlier in the presence of his doctor, and on Wednesday that it was dropping on February 21, coming second to results. Borno state on Friday, kill- ing many of them and recovering large quanti- ties of weapons. South Korean high speed train Public ire against army’s Two dead in VP nominee in Myanmar helicopter crash in Taiwan AFP strongly do not want.” The US State Taipei: Two people are Department confirmed that Myint dead after a rescue hel- Swe, now Yangon chief minister, icopter crashed into the still faces sanctions but did not say sea off Taiwan’s north- YANGON: Myanmar’s army sparked whether this would affect diplomatic eastern coast on Friday. public criticism yesterday after it relations. The helicopter carry- nominated a retired general still “We have made our concerns ing five crew members blacklisted by the United States to known about this individual and was called to check on be vice president of the country’s this process, quite frankly, and oil spills from a freighter first civilian government in decades. we’ll monitor it going forward,” that ran aground Thurs- Hardliner Myint Swe, 64, is seen spokesperson John Kirby said in a day. The other three crew as a close ally of former junta leader Washington briefing Friday. members on board the Than Shwe and comes from a mili- The US began easing economic crashed helicopter were tary establishment that pummelled sanctions on Myanmar after a quasi- all rescued with no seri- the Southeast Asian country into civilian government took over from ous injuries. poverty under decades of isola- the junta in 2011 and unleashed a tionist rule. wave of political reforms. A new high-speed train rolling out of Hyundai Rotem Co.’s plant in the southern coastal city of A parliament dominated by Aung But dozens of business tycoons Australian Changwon, South Korea. The train will start to run in 2018 when South Korea will host the Winter Sang Suu Kyi’s National League for and senior military figures, includ- Olympics in the alpine city of PyeongChang. Democracy is days away from con- ing Myint Swe, have been kept on the foreign minister firming a president after sweeping treasury department’s list of “Spe- to power in November elections, but cially Designated Nationals” and to visit Fiji the still-strong army has the right to Americans are barred from doing nominate a candidate. business with them. Sydney: Australia’s foreign Though the NLD’s nominee Htin Questions also remain about the minister, Julie Bishop, will US accuses Uganda of rights violations Kyaw is all but guaranteed to clinch retired general’s eligibility for the travel to Fiji today to meet the top post, the army’s Myint Swe role, as he was disqualified from Fijian prime minister Frank would still become one of two vice the vice presidency in 2012 for hav- Bainimarama and sur- Reuters Western powers and Uganda, an stability and prosperity of the region,” presidents. ing a son-in-law with Australian vey the damage wrought ally in the fight against Islamists the statement said. Social media sites and comment citizenship. by cyclone Winston, her in the region. US State Department Uganda’s electoral commission boards were flooded with criticism The country’s army-scripted office said. spokesman John Kirby said Ugan- declared Museveni, 71 and in power after his nomination was announced, charter bans anyone with close for- The cyclone, the worst NAIROBI: Uganda has persistently da’s repeated detention of opposition since 1986, the winner of the Febru- with many expressing regret over the eign relatives from the top office, storm ever recorded in violated the rights of its citizens figures and harassment of their ary 18 election with 60 percent of the military’s continuing political influ- which is why Suu Kyi herself is una- the southern hemisphere, and media in the aftermath of last supporters, and the government’s vote. Kizza Besigye, who came in sec- ence. “Even though we hoped to see ble to officially take the helm despite hit the archipelago last month’s presidential election which interference in a challenge of the poll ond with 35 percent and has rejected a civilian government, we have to her widespread popularity. month, killing 43 people saw President Yoweri Museveni results are “unacceptable activities in the results as fraudulent, has been accept a thief anyway,” wrote Face- Her choice for a proxy, respected and leaving tens of thou- retain his hold on power, the United a free and democratic society”. under virtual house arrest for weeks. book commentator Aung Kyaw Oo. writer and long-time friend Htin sands homeless. More States said. “The United States and Uganda A second challenger, former prime Zaw Linn posted, “I can’t Kyaw, is highly likely to assume the than 25,000 remain in The comments are the latest sign have a long standing and strong part- minister Amama Mbabazi, has filed understand why the military role after sailing through a parlia- evacuation centres. of deteriorating relations between nership that has contributed to the an official challenge to the results. chose someone who the people so mentary vote this week. PAKISTAN SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 13 Campbell sought ‘power’ before Afghanistan exit

frustrations over the lengthy bureaucratic process behind Army General John decision-making in Washing- Campbell expressed ton, something other Pentagon a sense of urgency chiefs, including Obama’s three past defence secretaries, have also for specific powers noted. “otherwise it’s not “But I would tell you with Pres- ident Obama — every time I would going to impact” the get to the president, I got the decision war in 2016. I was really looking for,” Campbell said. Since Campbell’s arrival in Afghanistan in 2014, Obama has rolled back some of his drawdown Reuters plans as Taliban militants made gains, Islamic State established a nascent presence and casualties increased among Afghan security WASHINGTON: The US general forces. who until last week commanded The Obama administration also Mourners carry the coffins of members of a family who drowned trying to cross the Aegean Sea during a funeral ceremony in Kabulesterday. y the Nato-led coalition in Afghani- gave US forces broader authority to stan said he recommended broader hit Islamic State fighters in Afghan- scope for US military activity as the istan, who Campbell said probably country fends off a resilient Taliban numbered closer to 1,000 than 3,000 insurgency. fighters. Kabul family buries 10 drowned migrants Army General John Campbell Campbell’s successor, Nichol- declined to disclose the specific son, inherits a conflict that is powers he requested from Presi- testing Afghan security forces and AFP of his family. “You can see that the as the tears begin to flow again. Ashraf is less certain. “We all dent Barack Obama’s administration the roughly 13,000 international bodies are being washed now,” says The scene reveals the tragic know that Afghanistan faces a lot before he stepped down as part of a troops who remain, with insurgents Ashraf, a cousin of the family, as half human story behind statistics from of challenges. But they (the Skan- normal leadership transition. But he contesting or controlling as much as a dozen men tend to the corpses in an the International Organisation for deris) did not face huge problems. expressed a sense of urgency, “oth- a third of Afghanistan. KABUL: “It was God’s will,” says Islamic funeral rite. Migration showing that between Jan- They lacked nothing. It was fate that erwise it’s not going to impact” the US rules for engagement are far Mohammed Ashraf, a tear rolling One, seemingly at the end of his uary and mid-February alone, 320 pushed them to leave. It was God’s war in 2016. more limited in Afghanistan since down his weathered face as he looks strength, murmurs a prayer. Another people died crossing the Aegean. will.” “I’m not going to get more peo- Nato ended its combat mission in at the lifeless bodies of five male bites into his scarf to suppress a sob. More than 130,000 people have trav- An uncle of the family and Gen- ple. So the only way that I can impact 2014. relatives, brought back to Kabul Only men are allowed to participate elled to Greece via Turkey since the eral Abdul Rashid Dostum, the is potentially change some of the Campbell acknowledged that after they drowned trying to reach in this ceremony for their male rela- start of the year, according to the Afghan first vice-president and authorities we have. So authorities even with new authorities, much Europe. tives. Two houses along, the women of same group, most of them Afghans, former warlord, both contributed deal with: what you can strike, what would come down to the perform- The coffins sit open in the the family are doing the same for the Syrians and Iraqis fleeing conflict and towards the cost of repatriating the you can’t strike, at what levels you ance of Afghan forces, who he courtyard of the family home in five women and girls who drowned a bleak economic climate. bodies. The Skanderis left Kabul a can do train, advise, assist,” Camp- said needed to continue to come Kart-e-Seh, a middle-class neigh- on the same crossing between Tur- Of those, 42,000 are stuck in month ago and set out on the now bell told a group of reporters at the off checkpoints and become more bourhood in the Afghan capital, the key and Greece. Greece, a series of border closures in notorious route to Europe via Iran Pentagon. manoeuvrable as they seek to push bodies of four boys and one older man Of the members of the Skanderi the Balkans blocking them from con- and Turkey, before their boat sank “So I’ve asked for some back the Taliban. wrapped in black material but their family who attempted the voyage, tinuing further into Western Europe. on Friday last week. modifications.” “We could have all the author- faces exposed. only the father of the five children “Life is very hard in Kabul. That’s Like most of the thousands of The incoming commander, Gen- ities we want. If the Afghans aren’t One coffin is notably smaller who drowned has survived. “He the reason why they left. I work in Afghans who migrate to Europe, the eral John Nicholson, will also get to doing what they need to do, it’s not than the others. It belongs to Faiz, is in a hospital in Turkey,” Ashraf a hotel-restaurant and the money is family paid “thousands of dollars” to weigh in on the matter, Campbell going to make a difference,” he said, who was just nine months old when explains. “We are all from the same too tight,” says Atiqullah, a cousin of people smugglers, according to Qadir, said. even as he lauded their efforts so he drowned in the Aegean Sea last village, from the same neighbour- the family who did not wish to give a relative. “They took a mortgage to Campbell acknowledged far. week along with nine other members hood. We grew up together,” he says his full name. pay for their trip,” he says.

Fashion week Pakistani Qawwali fighting a teen wins UN poster battle for survival

competition Internews

Internews According to Ali, there was a time LAHORE: Qawwali music in Paki- ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani teenager stan has historically been upheld by when the singers has won a global children’s poster gharanas [whole families dedicated were well-versed in competition held by the United to the art] that boast of an affinity Nations Human Rights Office. with the genre that dates back to the the ragas that they Children were asked to paint time of Amir Khusrow. were singing but that what freedom meant to them. The However, changing trends of the competition was held as part of a music industry in recent times have is no more the case. year-long campaign to mark the engaged these gharanas in a fight “The industry is in 50th anniversary of two impor- for survival. dire need of quality tant human rights treaties: the Ali Badar Miandad belongs International Covenant on Eco- to the renowned Miandad qaw- singers who can nomic, Social and Cultural Rights wali family. His brother Sikander shoulder the legacy and the International Covenant on Miandad and uncle Sher Miandad Civil and Political Rights. may have established themselves and take the tradition Fifteen-year-old Eiza Abid won in the world of qawwali, but Ali Models present creations by Pakistani designer Sana Maskatiya (left) and Nomi Ansari on the second forward.” in the 12-18 age group and 11-year- has other plans. day of Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) week in Lahore. old Alexandria Slaven from Samoa “Qawwali is our family asset won in the 5-11 age group. and many of my relatives started of gharanas take matters into their Eiza had used dark tones and their careers under the supervision own hands. “It is seeing a decline bright colours to represent the of my father Ustad Badar Miandad,” as of now. The time of giants like freedom of thought while Alex- he says. Starting out with his father, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, andria had painted a picture of Ali ventured into light, classical sing- Sabri Brothers, and Aziz Mian was Battle royale in Imran Khan’s party people holding hands and stand- ing and music direction. undoubtedly our golden era and my ing under a coconut tree. “I want to move with time,” he father was the last of those puri- “My painting personifies the adds. He stated that stepping out- tans,” he said. Internews is endorsed by Shah Mahmood the central secretary general. Some darkness and confinement within side his comfort zone was essential, According to Ali, there was a Qureshi-led Nazriati Group. party members said that Aleem had a person’s life and once the per- given the changing trends in the time when the singers were well- Mahmood’s candidature was been persuaded by Tareen to put his son is set free from the pressures industry. versed in the ragas that they were confirmed by Hamid Khan, chairman support behind Sarwar’s candidature. and judgement of others, one can “Light music is gaining popu- singing but that is no more the case. LAHORE: Battle royale is how it can of a review committee formed by the Deliberations over the selection freely express their thoughts and larity nowadays, whereas qawwali “The industry is in dire need of be described – stalwarts fighting it Nazriati Group to vet applications for of candidate for the Punjab presi- imagination in their true colours, is facing a crisis. I chose this career quality singers who can shoulder out for the prized positions of pres- intra-party elections. Khan said the dent’s election had been underway illustrating their unique vision and path and it has really been a bless- the legacy and take the tradition ident of Punjab chapter and central group had yet to select candidates for for several weeks. Tareen held meet- bright outlook,” Eiza wrote. ing for me. I have earned recognition forward.” secretary general of Imran Khan’s other party offices. He said consid- ings with party members in the Vittorio Cammarota, Director on both sides of the border with my He said back in the day all Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party. ering the party chairman belonged province to finalise his group’s can- of the UN Information Centre in work.” qawwali singers underwent years Former Punjab governor Chaud- to the Punjab, the secretary general didate. As many as 250 members had Pakistan said: “We are very proud He recently worked on the of training to perfect their skills. hry Sarwar and the party’s only should come from another province. attended one of these meetings. of Eiza Abid’s achievements. She soundtracks of Pakistani films like “Today’s generation does not seem National Assembly member from The Unity Group made its “We’ve tried to build consen- has succeeded with expressing the Jang and Fiker Not and also sang to care and this is the basic rea- provincial capital city of Lahore, announcement at a press conference sus as far as possible to avoid rifts concept of freedom through a very and composed music for upcoming son that our music industry is in Shafqat Mahmood, will face off in the addressed by Tareen. Aleem Khan and in the party,” Tareen said. He said positive and inspiring [piece of art]”. Indian film, Ishaq Risk. With three a crisis. intra-party elections for the highest the party’s legislators in Punjab Assem- candidates for election to regional and Cammarota said the paint- music albums, Udasiyan, Jano Dilum Things are still different in India party office in the province. bly Shoaib Siddiqi. Dr Nosheen Hamid, district level offices would be finalised ing will be exhibited along with and Faqeera, under his belt, Ali feels since singers there are encouraged to Sarwar has the backing of were also present at the occasion. soon. He said he hoped the intra-party the ones submitted by Pakistani his choices have really paid off. learn music properly.” He takes pride Jehangir Tareen-led Unity Group Tareen announced that he would elections would be completed before children in the competition at the As far as qawwali is concerned, in the fact that Pakistani singers are while Mahmood’s candidacy contest the election for the office of the party’s Foundation Day. centre in Islamabad. Ali feels it is high time the survivors dominating Bollywood. 14 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 INDIA Regulator gets tough on ‘wilful defaulters’

was also addressed by Finance Min- ister Arun Jaitley, officials were The criteria for asked to remain alert on the super- determining who vision of the markets, particularly in the wake of global developments. constitute a ‘fit and The issue of loan defaulters at proper’ person in the the watchdog’s meeting followed regulations are being the matter being raised at the board of governors of the Reserve Bank of amended. India (RBI) meeting with the top brass of the finance ministry. One of the main topics of dis- cussion at the RBI meeting was the IANS issue of non-performing assets of banks — which primarily concern loan defaults and wilful defaults by industry. NEW DELHI: Two of India’s finan- “Non-performing assets are of cial sector watchdogs yesterday two types,” Jaitley said after the took a grim view of the stress in the RBI meeting, explaining that one banking sector on account of loan is created as the result of a slow- defaults, with the one dealing with down that can be recovered once equity markets announcing a ban the economy turns around, while Prime Minister of Narendra Modi with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and on wilful perpetrators from raising the other is on account of individ- public money. ual misdemeanours. other guests at the ‘Advancing Asia, Investing for the Future’ conference in New Delhi, yesterday. “All wilful loan defaulters will “We don’t want to create a situ- stand disqualified from the board ation by overstating these incidents positions as listed companies that, in turn, will hamper activities,” under the new rules,” Securities he said, alluding that banks should India is beacon of hope and stability: PM and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) not be deterred from bona fide fresh Chairman U K Sinha said at a press lending. “But the rising levels of NPAs conference after the watchdog’s is a matter of concern for all of us.” board meeting. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan Bloomberg He vowed to be a “good Asian and avoid competitive devaluations. “Our help to the farmers is not Sinha also said tainted people said a due process will be followed and good global economic citizen” Steep losses on global stock markets based on giving handouts,” said will neither be allowed to take over in defining wilful defaulters. while hailing efforts to lower infla- and volatility in currencies at the start Modi. He plans to boost incomes the management control of other As per recent RBI estimates, the tion, narrow the budget deficit and of the year had fuelled calls for the through measures like investing in listed companies, nor permitted to total exposure of commercial banks NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Naren- boost foreign reserves. world’s biggest economies to do more irrigation, boosting productivity, float mutual funds, debt or equity in terms of gross NPAs, the resched- dra Modi doubled down on India’s “Amid global problems, I am to stoke demand and bolster stability. improving marketing of food and securities, or similar money-rais- uled loans and write-offs was 14.1 commitment to macroeconomic sta- happy to say that India is a haven of Modi also reassured investors that creating rural assets, he said. ing instruments. percent of deposits that works out bility, saying it has never devalued its macroeconomic stability and beacon his government remained committed “Our recent budget provides a In this regard, he said, the crite- to around Rs9,455bn. currency to achieve growth and won’t of hope, dynamism and opportunity,” to keeping price growth under con- roadmap for our future plans and ria for determining who constitute a The government is also facing resort to cash handouts as a way to Modi said yesterday at a conference trol after pledging to double farmer ambitions,” Modi said. “fit and proper” person in the regu- flak following the unexpected exit boost farmer income. in New Delhi. incomes in a budget presentation last “Our underlying philosophy lations are also being amended. The of industrialist Vijay Mallya from the With International Monetary “We do not follow beggar-thy- month. is clear — to create the climate for bar on wilful defaulters is also on country, even as a consortium of 17 Fund Managing Director Christine neighbour macroeconomic policies,” The focus on rural areas that are wealth generation, and for that wealth floating instruments like non-con- banks led by the State Bank of India, Lagarde on stage next to him, Modi said the Prime Minister. home to 70 percent of India’s popu- to be spread to all Indians, especially vertible debentures and redeemable were seeking repayment of around said that India has “never tried to Modi’s remarks follow a com- lation comes as Modi faces several the poor, vulnerable farmers and dis- preference shares. Rs9,000crore that he has borrowed gain in trade at the expense of our mitment last month from Group of key state elections that could affect advantaged communities,” added During the board meeting, which from them. partners.” 20 finance chiefs to boost growth his economic agenda. Modi.

Selling flowers Congress to contest

Rajnath meets all Bengal assembly J&K governor seats it holds NEW DELHI: Days after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti hinted at forming IANS RSP, AIFB and the CPI. “We are hold- a government in alliance ing discussions on the seats which with the BJP in Jammu are overlapping. Our aim is hassle- and Kashmir, Home Min- free understanding. But if needed, ister Rajnath Singh met KOLKATA: The disputes over seat we may have friendly fights,” he said. state Governor N.N. Vohra adjustments between the Left Front Meanwhile, around 600 troopers yesterday. and the Congress persisted yester- of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) would be Vohra briefed Singh day with the latter announcing that deployed in West Bengal and Assam on the steps taken for it will contest in all the 32 assembly to facilitate peaceful assembly elec- implementation of Prime seats where it had lawmakers now. tions in the two states, an official said. Minister Narendra Modi’s State Congress president Adhir “The TSR troopers would pro- Rs80,000crore special Ranjan Chowdhury said the names vide security cover first during the package for the state, offi- of the candidates will be declared assembly polls in Assam. From cial sources said. There from New Delhi. Assam, they would move to West was, however, no word The Congress had earlier named Bengal,” Inspector General of Police on whether Singh and the 75 seats where it would pit candi- (Law and Order) Anurag said. governor discussed gov- A girl waits for devotees as she sells flowers at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna dates. Some of those seats were “Around 600 (six companies) ernment formation. The and mythical Saraswati in Allahabad, yesterday. included in the list of 32 constitu- TSR jawans, led by senior officials, state is under Governor’s encies Chowdhury announced. would be posted in Assam by March Rule since Mehbooba Mufti In two of the 32 constituencies - 28. After the completion of two- declined to form the gov- Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, the LF has phase elections in Assam, they would ernment after her father already announced its candidates. be deployed in West Bengal,” he said. and chief minister Mufti Increasing the pressure on He said the union home ministry Muhammad Sayeed died. EC makes special arrangements for the LF, Chowdhury said he would has asked the Tripura government to announce a further list of constit- send the TSR troopers to Assam and uencies in the next couple of days. Bengal as part of the central forces. 2 BSF men killed ‘weaker sections’ on polling days He said the Congress will also The troopers would be posted extend support to parties like the in the last five phases of elections in Maoist attack Janata Dal-United and the Rash- in West Bengal, where there would IANS Puducherry are to be held in April gender would be provided,” the elec- triya Janata Dal in some of the seats. be a month-long voting process for JAGDALPUR: Two BSF and May. tion commission said. When reporters told him that the 294-member assembly in seven personnel were killed The order is part of the initiatives “In areas where there are large the LF has already set aside two phases beginning April 4 and end- and four wounded in taken by the commission “to enhance number of ‘parda-nashin’ (veiled) seats each for the JD-U and the RJD, ing May 5. A large number of central a gunfight with Maoist NEW DELHI: The Election Com- the quality of voting experience for women electors are assigned to a Chowdhury said: “They have made forces have already been deployed guerrillas in Chhattis- mission yesterday directed the the esteemed electors, more par- polling station, a lady officer would the announcement, not us.” in different parts of election-bound garh’s Bastar region. authorities in five election-bound ticularly the special categories of be appointed as polling officer for However, he said talks were on West Bengal. “West Bengal Chief The incident occurred states to identify localities predom- voters in terms of ease, comfort and identification and application of with the LF to narrow down the dis- Minister Mamata Banerjee was around 2.30am on Friday inantly inhabited by the “weaker facilitation”. indelible ink,” it said. puted seats. “There was not much averse...to use the TSR during pre- night when a BSF patrol sections” to help ensure their par- As part of this move, in case of Special arrangements, facilities complication earlier. But now some vious elections two years back since team was ambushed. The ticipation in the polling process. a leprosy sanatorium being located and facilitation for old and infirm complications have emerged. Trina- the TSR jawans are from Left-ruled exchange of fire lasted In an order, the commission said within a constituency, a separate persons and pregnant women would mool Congress seemed very happy. Tripura,” a TSR official said. for about one hour, fol- polling stations in these localities polling station will have to be set up also be made in the polling stations. But both Congress and Left front Besides providing security dur- lowing which two security “irrespective of the number of elec- “exclusively for the inmates”. Nearly 170 million people will be spearhead CPI-M have taken the ing the 2010 Commonwealth Games personnel died while four tors” need to be identified “so that “In certain areas where women eligible to vote in the staggered elec- initiative to narrow down the dis- in New Delhi, the India Reserve (IR) security personnel were the weaker section electors would folk feel inhibited in mingling with tions that will see two-phase polling puted seats.” battalions of TSR were earlier sent to injured, police superin- not have to go to an area where they male members due to social practice in Assam and six-phase polling in He said the Congress did not Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Madhya tendent Jitendra Meena might be prevented from voting”. or custom, in those areas separate West Bengal. have much of a problem with the Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, said. Elections to assemblies in Assam, polling station for men and women Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puduch- CPI-M, but the main problem was Jharkhand, Nagaland and Mizoram West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and with separate queues for either erry will have single day polling. with the other LF partners like the to provide security during elections. INDIA SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 15

Congress India and Mexico to boost bilateral ties compares RSS with IS Swarup said that Sushma Swaraj acknowledged that the present bilat- The two ministers also eral trade volume of $6.5bn was low IANS discussed cooperation and sought Mexico’s participation in flagship programmes like Make in in oil and gas, India, Skill India and Smart Cities. NEW DELHI: Senior Congress renewable energy, “The two ministers also dis- leader Ghulam Nabi Azad yes- cussed cooperation in a number of terday sought to compare the urban planning and areas, including oil and gas, renew- RSS with the Islamic State (IS) the housing sector. able energy, urban planning and the while saying he equally opposes housing sector,” he said. India is the both organisations but drew an third largest importer of crude oil angry protest from the BJP which from Mexico. The Latin American demanded an apology. IANS country ranks among the top 10 oil- “We oppose ISIS with equal producing nations and has the world’s might as we oppose the RSS,” fourth largest shale oil reserves. Azad said addressing a meeting “The external affairs minister also of religious minorities and oppo- NEW DELHI: External Affairs Min- mentioned that we would like Mex- sition parties held under the aegis ister Sushma Swaraj yesterday held a ico’s participation in ensuring value of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. meeting with Mexican Foreign Min- addition and greater use of technology Religion should not be an issue, ister Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas in our agriculture and agro-process- he said adding: “Even from among during which they did a compre- ing sectors,” Swarup stated. us if someone does any wrong hensive review of the bilateral ties “She also conveyed our interest in thing, then he is also no less than between the two countries and providing launch facilities for Mexi- the RSS.” explored the possibility of elevat- can micro and nano satellites.” The Bharatiya Janata Party ing the relationship between the two The spokesman said that both (BJP) demanded Congress pres- countries to a new level. sides shared their respective perspec- ident Sonia Gandhi to tender an “During their meeting, the exter- tives in engaging with the diaspora. apology and take action against nal affairs minister and the Mexican Delivering a lecture organised by Azad. “These only reflect Con- foreign minister undertook a com- the Indian Council of World Affairs gress frustration. They are still prehensive review of the entire gamut (ICWA), Salinas said that her country unable to stomach the defeat of of bilateral relations including politi- could learn a lot from India in deal- 2014. We demand from Congress cal, commercial and trade, financial, ing with the diaspora. chief Sonia Gandhi that she should technical and other areas to further “India has a long tradition of initiate action against Azad and broaden and strengthen cooperation,” recognising the value of its diaspora tender an apology to the people the external affairs ministry said in abroad for public diplomacy,” she said. of this country,” BJP leader Shri- a statement. In yesterday’s meeting, Sushma kant Sharma said. It added that the ministers agreed Swaraj and Salinas also exchanged Another BJP spokesman Nalin to exchange high level visits in the views on cooperation in issues relat- Kohli also slammed the Congress near future and also discussed impor- ing to women’s empowerment. leader for his statement and said tant regional and international issues According to Swarup, the Mex- “is he (Azad) forgetting all the of mutual interest. ican foreign minister also renewed social services RSS do during nat- “The two ministers discussed the invitation extended by her coun- ural calamities”. ways and means of elevating the try’s President Enrique Pena Nieto to The RSS also reacted saying special relationship between India Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit such remarks only show “intellec- and Mexico,” external affairs minis- Mexico in the near future. Soon after tual bankruptcy” of the Congress try spokesman Vikas Swarup stated, her arrival on a two-day visit, Salinas party. adding that both sides agreed to hold called on Modi. She also interacted “Mr Azad comparing ISIS with the next meeting of the joint commis- with the private sector at a business RSS exhibits the intellectual bank- External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (right) shakes hands with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, sion in Mexico in the second half of event organised by the Confederation ruptcy of Congress,” RSS leader Claudia Ruiz-Massieu Salinas prior to a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. this year. of Indian Industry (CII). Manmohan Vaidya tweeted. Study reveals Week-long ‘Festival of Innovations’ kicks off at Rashtrapati Bhavan 13% of school IANS the President’s Office in collaboration Technology, told media persons. at the national level. “The final 60 posture correcting chair, among others. with the National Innovation Founda- “Our idea is to reach out to the innovations will be showcased at the The most noticeable products kids myopic tion (NIF). The festival was kicked off students from class 6 to 12 for inno- Rashtrapati Bhavan,” Sharma noted. among the 65 eye-catching grass- with the inauguration of an “Exhibition vative ideas across the country. From The president also released a book root innovations are anti-molestation IANS NEW DELHI: In a bid to boost the of Innovations” at the world-famous there, one lakh ideas will be selected titled “Festival of Innovation- 2015” device for women worn on wrist and grassroot-level innovations across the Mughal Gardens that will remain open and each of them will be given authored by Dr Harsh Vardhan, Min- alert switch in bus/auto rickshaw for country, President Pranab Mukher- to the public till March 19. Rs5,000 to convert the idea into an ister of Science and Technology, at the safety of women. NEW DELHI: Over 13 percent of jee yesterday inaugurated the second “Innovation is an idea whose time innovation,” he added. the event. The exhibition showcases The festival will also have three the school-going children in India edition of the week-long “Festival has come. The budget for this festival Later on, 10,000 innovations several innovations including a tractor- exhibitions, two workshops, four have turned myopic, an AIIMS Innovation” at Rashtrapati Bhavan. has gone up 600 percent as compared will be selected and showcased at driven onion transplanter, multi-crop group discussions, two award pres- study has revealed, adding that The festival, to be celebrated from to last year,” Ashutosh Sharma, sec- state-level. Out of the 10,000 inno- thresher, foot operated page-turn- entation ceremonies and roundtable the number has doubled in the March 12 to 19, has been organised by retary, Department of Science & vations, 1,000 will be showcased ing device for differently-abled and on different topics during the week. last decade due to excess usage of electronic gadgets. According to the Rajendra Prasad Center for Opthalmic Sci- ences at the All India Institute of Graduation ceremony RTI report on Muslims Medical Science (AIIMS), the statis- tics for the disorder a decade ago fabricated: Ministry was only 7 percent. Myopia, also known as near- sightedness and short-sightedness, is a condition of the eye where IANS misreporting,” said the ministry. the light that comes in does not The response came in response directly focus on the retina but in to a series of Right to Information front of it, causing the image that (RTI) applications by a journal- one sees when looking at a distant NEW DELHI: The AYUSH minis- ist who had sought the number of object to be out of focus. It does try yesterday expressed “anguish” Muslim yoga teachers and trainers not affect focus when looking at a at the mischievous misinformation hired for foreign assignments dur- close object. being spread in a section of media ing the first World Yoga Day on June “Very less studies have been abd termed as “fabricated” a pur- 21 last year. done in India on the eye related ported RTI reply that had claimed “As per government policy: problems and the myopia one is that central government does not no Muslim candidate was invited, one of them. We are also conduct- recruit Muslims in the ministry as selected or sent abroad,” the reply ing a national survey to find out a policy. was quoted as saying. the other eye related problems “The ministry of AYUSH has The ministry, however, said among the children,” said Atul noted with anguish certain mischie- that an RTI request was received Kumar, head of the RP centre. vous misinformation being spread in from Pushp Sharma which sought The announcements were part certain section of media and social information about various issues of the 49th Foundation Day of the media quoting a reply to an RTI by including how many times yoga R P Center for Opthalmologic Sci- mentioning a fabricated draft as councils were formulated in last ences, during which Kumar also Army cadets celebrate after their graduation ceremony at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai annexure I to that letter, which has ten years, detail list of each council, announced other new studies yesterday. A total of 183 cadets including 37 women graduated from the academy and will be never been issued by the ministry name of Yoga council members who being carried out to figure out the posted as Lieutenants in the Army. or any of its agencies. The minis- got selected and how many Muslim existing eye related problems. try strongly condemns this piece of candidates were invited. Team to inspect shutdown reactor at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station

IANS the entry into the reactor building and as to its cause. “All of us are relieved plant officials and will not interfere in what failed and why it failed,” Hariku- heavy water that is in the primary identify the location of the leak. We as there is no increased radioactiv- their decision making process. mar said. It is learnt that closed circuit coolant circuit would have been are in the process of starting the proc- ity inside and outside the premises,” “Now things are under control television images of the reactor build- absorbed neutrons to be converted ess of accessing the building,” L K Jain, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the situation at the KAPS unit is ing is not visible or clear. into tritiated water. Tritium is a radi- CHENNAI: A team of inspectors are site director, KAPS said. (AERB) chairman Shiv Abhilash almost normal. The leak has not been Meanwhile, in a statement the oactive isotope and thus the tritiated expected to inspect the first 220MW “We are maintaining the core Bhardwaj isolated and the cooling of the reactor Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament water will be automatically radioac- reactor at Kakrapar Atomic Power cooling. There is no increase in the “The reactor is stable from safety continues. The reactor safety systems and Peace urged the plant operator, tive,” the statement added. Station (KAPS) that shut down on radiation levels. Moving forward, we point of view and theoretically the have cooled down,” AERB secretary S Nuclear Power Corporation of India AERB has asked KAPS to keep the Friday morning due to a leak in the have to locate the spot of the leak,” inspection team can get inside the Harikumar said. Ltd (NPCIL) to ensure protection of the unit under shutdown till the incident coolant system, said a top official at Jain said. reactor building to make their study,” However it is not known when the workers at KAPS who are involved in is investigated and corrective action the plant site. Agreeing that it is not a small leak, he added. However he said AERB will atomic power plant will against start cleaning up the spilled heavy water. is taken. KAPS is part of Indian atomic “Today (Saturday), we may make he said investigation has to be made leave the inspection decision to the operations. “AERB needs to understand “By its very nature, some of the power plant operator NPCIL. 16 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 EUROPE / UK

US says Cameron Most French want vote on EU membership is ‘partner’ amid diplomatic flap by the University of Edinburgh said they should also have a vote, with 44 Some 53 percent percent saying they would vote to stay AFP of French in if one was held, against 33 percent respondents to a who would leave. The “View from the Continent” WASHINGTON: The White House survey conducted study polled 8,002 respondents across praised British Prime Minis- by the University Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Ire- ter David Cameron as a “partner land and Sweden about their views and ally” , seeking to extinguish of Edinburgh said on Britain’s EU membership, which a diplomatic flap after comments they should also will be decided at a referendum on by President Barack Obama on June 23, and the possibility of hold- the 2011 Libya intervention were have a vote, with 44 ing a similar vote themselves. seen as a public rebuke. percent saying they In Sweden, Germany and Spain, Obama was also critical of more respondents were in favour of former French leader Nicolas would vote to stay in, holding a referendum than against, Sarkozy when discussing the two against 33 percent but not an absolute majority when European allies’ roles in Libya dur- who would leave. those who were undecided were ing an interview with The Atlantic taken into account. magazine. Only in Poland and Ireland did In an article, Obama said Cam- A slogan of the “Vote Leave” campaign is projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover in southern England. an absolute majority not want a vote. eron became “distracted” and If they were to go to the polls, 60 Sarkozy wanted to promote his AFP percent of Germans would vote to stay public opinion is tighter, with 56 per would fare worse outside the bloc, report Jan Eichhorn, of the Univer- country amid the fall of Moamer in, compared to 66 percent in Poland, cent wanting Britain to remain, but but in both France and Sweden, more sity of Edinburgh’s school of social Gaddafi regime. 68 percent in Spain and 69 percent in 44 per cent saying they want Britain people think that its economy would and political science. British daily The Independ- Ireland, the study said. to leave,” said the study. do better outside of the EU. Prime Minister David Cameron ent slammed Obama’s comments LONDON: Most French people want When asked if they wanted Brit- Under half of those polled in both Around half of the Germans were secured reforms to four areas of EU as “an unprecedented attack on a to follow Britain by holding a referen- ain to remain, France was the only France and Germany believed that in favour of Britain remaining in the as part of a pre-referendum push to British leader by a serving US pres- dum on the country’s European Union country in which there was not an Britain’s membership was good for the EU, compared to only a quarter of take back some powers from Brussels. ident,” while The Times called the membership, although they would absolute majority who said “yes”. EU. Spain was the strongest in favour French respondents. His bid to reduce access to welfare criticism “extraordinary.” likely vote to remain in the bloc, a “Between two-thirds and fourth- of Britain remaining, at 81 percent fol- “Our survey shows a willingness for EU migrants appeared popular Speaking to reporters aboard British study has shown. fifths of respondents in each country lowed by Poland 80 percent, Ireland to reform the EU, but less so for an across the continent with 46 percent Air Force One, White House Some 53 percent of French want Britain to remain in the EU, 79 percent and Germany 73 percent. individual country to gain excep- of German and 53 percent French spokesman Josh Earnest said respondents to a survey conducted with the exception of France where Most countries think that Britain tional treatment,” said author of the respondents backing a cap. Obama “values deeply the special relationship between the United States and our allies in the UK.” Earnest called Cameron “a particularly effective interlocu- Concern for the bulls Experts discuss rights tor” and a “partner and ally.” He noted that the leaders have an “effective working relation- abuse issue in N Korea ship” allowing the two countries to collaborate on security issues including the fight against the AFP In London, Kirby said it was vital Islamic State group. for the international community to In the interview with The keep Beijing engaged because China Atlantic, Obama discussed the “likes to keep talking, and there lies British and French-led bomb- LONDON: The UN commissioner the hope on the issues of Korea”. ing campaign that led to the fall who investigated human rights The report by the COI, headed of Gaddafi’s regime. Obama said in North Korea yesterday recom- by Kirby and delivered in February when he considered what went mended establishing a panel of 2014, concluded that human rights wrong in Libya, “there’s room experts to study how crimes against violations in North Korea were for criticism because I had more humanity in the reclusive state can unparallelled in the modern world. faith in the Europeans, given Lib- be punished. If there remains much to do, there ya’s proximity.” “What do you do if we bring have nonetheless been “a number of Cameron stopped paying home powerful evidence of crimes positive developments”, said Kirby, cit- attention soon after the military against humanity—and a veto” from ing notably “the establishment of a UN operation, he said, becoming “dis- one of the five permanent mem- field office in Seoul to continue gather- tracted by a range of other things.” bers of the United Nations Security ing the statements of refugees” fleeing Since Gaddafi’s downfall, Libya Council “prevents you taking it fur- the Pyongyang regime. has descended into near-anar- ther? How can you deal with that Kim Deuk-Hwan, the deputy chy, ruled by rival militias vying problem?” said Michael Kirby at a head of mission of the South Korean for power while the Islamic State conference in London on human embassy in London, said: “We can- group grows in influence. rights in North Korea. not remain silent as human rights Earnest said it was not the first Creating a panel of experts abuses continue.” He called for full time Obama mentioned shortcom- “would be a good step because it implementation of the March 2 UN ings in international community’s would keep the focus on the follow resolution imposing a new sanc- response to Libya. with the US up and actions on the COI (Commis- tions on North Korea after the latest bearing responsibility as well. sion of Inquiry) report”, he said. nuclear and ballistic missile tests. He added: “More broadly, the Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN “The only way to change the argument the president is making high commissioner for human rights, behaviour of the intransigent regime (in the Atlantic piece) is that the Animal rights organisation AnimaNaturalis’s members hold placards as they stage a protest against said in December that it was essen- is for the international community US cannot and should not put our- bullfigthing in front of the Valencia City Hall in Valencia, Spain yesterday. tial to take cases to the International to speak with one voice and to act in selves in a position to be the world Criminal Court. a united fashion,” he said. policeman.” Madonna wants peace Britain sends more troops to train Iraqis fighting IS

AFP deployed to provide training in logis- been made in the fight against IS, British jets have been striking IS over son’s custody row tics and bridge-building, as well as which rules parts of Syria and Iraq. targets in Iraq and Syria. specialist medical staff. “Now is the time to step up our A few days back, British Tornado The move would take the total training of Iraqi forces, as they pre- and Typhoon aircraft conducted four AFP family can get to heal the wounds LONDON: Britain said yesterday it number of British personnel on train- pare for operations in key cities such attacks in northern and western Iraq. which have been inflicted on this was sending more troops to Iraq to ing missions inside Iraq to 300. The as Fallujah and Mosul,” he said. The day after they carried out five family over the past four months,” train up the armed forces taking on additional troops are expected to be “Along with the trebling of UK attacks in the same area, destroying a Madonna’s lawyer David Williams, the Islamic State jihadist group. deployed to training camps at Bis- air strikes, this underlines the cru- weapons cache and several IS fighting LONDON: Madonna wants to heal told reporters. Defence Secretary Michael Fal- mayah and Taji outside Baghdad. cial role our armed forces are playing positions, a spokesman of the minis- the wounds in her family caused The singer wants to “chart a lon said a further 30 troops would be Fallon said “solid progress” has in the fight against IS.” try of defence said. by a dispute with her ex-husband course for Rocco and the fam- over custody of their son Rocco, her ily which enables them to put this lawyers told the English High Court behind them and to restore peace yesterday. to the family,” he said, adding that Man charged with The US pop megastar’s lawyer Madonna wants them to meet in New On the streets against emergency told judge Alistair MacDonald that York over Easter. she wanted to end the court battle Ritchie’s lawyer, Alex Verdan, car bombing being fought in London with British said the director had proposed film director Guy Ritchie over their a meeting in London as the pair BELFAST: A 45-year-old man was 15-year-old son. had not been in the “same place charged yesterday with attempting The former couple are also at the same time” since the dis- to murder a Northern Irish prison engaged in similar court action in pute began. officer who was seriously injured New York. Earlier this week, judge MacDon- in a car bomb a week ago, which MacDonald finished hearing ald said little detail could be revealed was claimed by militant nation- evidence and now has to decide about the hearings, but relaxed his alists. Police have said there is a whether the proceedings in the Eng- restrictions following an applica- “severe” threat to security forces lish High Court should close, or if he tion from two British newspaper as the centenary approaches later should make decisions about Roc- publishers. this month of the 1916 anti-British co’s welfare. Madonna and Ritchie split in Easter Rising, the dramatic chapter A New York judge in December 2008 after eight years of marriage. of Ireland’s independence struggle. had asked Ritchie to send Rocco The pop icon touched on the Amid a heavy police pres- back to the US, after the teenager custody battle in a concert in New ence at Belfast Magistrates’ Court, decided to move to London rather Zealand, where she dedicated Edith Christopher Robinson from Bel- than stay in his mother’s home or Piaf’s signature song La Vie en Rose fast appeared to face the charges accompany her on tour. to the 15-year-old. that also included possession of an Ritchie has attended the London “There is no love stronger than improvised device with intent to court hearings, though Madonna has a mother for her son,” she said endanger life. been singing in Australia and New tearfully before singing the song He did not reply when asked Zealand. in Auckland. “I hope he hears this if he understood the charges, and Protesters hold flags at Place Saint Michel in Paris during a demonstration against the national state “What she has always wanted somewhere and knows how much was remanded in custody for four of emergency called by the Collective Against Islamophobia in France, yesterday. to do... is to find a way in which this I miss him.” weeks. EUROPE SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 17 Greece to fix Idomeni camp overflow soon

He added that 400 had done just that, moving to centres in northern Conditions in the Greece. Figures released by Greek camp have worsened authorities yesterday estimated since four Balkan some 12,000 people remained at Idomeni but thousands more are countries shut their camped out in fields nearby wait- borders, closing off ing for reopening of a border. Greece is hosting more than the main route to 42,000 migrants and refugees northern Europe. with around 7,700 on islands in the Aegean Sea. Many more are still undertaking perilous voyages to reach the islands from Turkey. AFP The closing of borders by neigh- bouring states has posed a huge headache to the government of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. ATHENS: Greece aims to deal swiftly Meanwhile, Macedonia Defence with the migrant overflow at the Minister Zoran Jolevski said he hoped Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek- his country’s “responsible” attitude to Macedonian border where some the migrant crisis would help accel- 12,000 people are camping in mis- erate its entry into Nato, something Migrants stand in the ashes after a fire destroyed part of the makeshift shelter migrant camp the ‘Jungle’ during its dismantlingon the outskirts erable conditions waiting to cross. Greece has blocked until now. of Calais, France, yesterday. “I hope the situation at Idomeni Jolevski said Macedonia, which is resolved within a week without has closed its border with Greece recourse to force,” Mega television stranding thousands of migrants, yesterday quoted Dimitris Vitsas, the had shown that it was a “respon- minister charged with coordinating sible member of the international Police arrest 14 at Calais anti-migrant protest the refugee flow, as saying. community”. Conditions in the camp have “This migrant crisis is yet more worsened since four Balkan coun- proof that all countries from the tries shut their borders on Tuesday region must be integrated in Nato AFP and burned tyres, waved banners and Identitaire—said about 130 activists Four other people were arrested and Wednesday, closing off the main structures if their politicians and set off smoke bombs, police and offi- took control of “three bridges that on February 22 and charged with route to wealthy northern Europe governments wish it,” Defence Min- cials said. allowed migrants to access the city participating in attacks several trodden by hundreds of thousands ister Zoran Jolevski said in Slovenia. Riot police broke up the dem- of Calais.” months ago on migrants near the of migrants in the last two years. “We believe that with more Nato LILLE, FRANCE: French police onstration and seized a truck This incident comes after five men infamous Calais camp also known The measures have left members in the region, the region arrested 14 people yesterday after a transporting equipment for the group. posing as police officers were detained as the “Jungle”. thousands—including many chil- will be more stable,” he said, add- far-right group took to the streets for While surrounded by officers, on Friday on suspicion of attacking Thousands of migrants have been dren—stranded amid Europe’s worst ing the country was pressing ahead an anti-immigrant rally in the port some protesters carried banners saying migrants in Calais. living in the Jungle and other smaller migration crisis since World War II. with reforms of its military to com- town of Calais, where thousands of “No Way” and “Go Home,” according to A police source said that the camps along the northern coast, des- Vitsas said Athens would try “to ply with Nato standards. Macedonia migrants are living in improvised photos and video of the protest posted attackers used iron bars and pickaxe perate to reach Britain where many convince” refugees to accept a trans- has been in a stalemate to get access camps. on Twitter. handles, saying the men went repeat- have family or community ties and see fer to other reception centres across to European Union and Nato due to The roughly 80 activists blocked However, a press release issued edly to Calais to attack the migrants better hopes of gaining employment the country. a veto by Greece. off two bridges close to the city centre by the far-right group—Generation staying in the camp. or education.

Poland defies Archaeological excavation Russian banker pleads rights body on guilty in US ‘spy ring’ top court ruling AFP “I plead guilty, your honor,” he said, wearing black-rimmed spec- Reuters tacles and speaking in fluent but accented English. NEW YORK: A Russian banker Buryakov’s arrest was the first WARSAW: Poland’s ruling con- pleaded guilty in New York to con- such case since 10 deep-cover servatives said yesterday they spiring to act as an unregistered agents, including Anna Chapman, would disregard a ruling by the foreign agent, a year after he was were arrested in the New York area country’s top court that outlawed arrested on an alleged spy ring. in 2010. They pleaded guilty and some of their legal reforms, putting The plea possibly saves Russia were part of a prisoner swap with them on a collision course with the and the United States from divulging Moscow. European Union that has also crit- potentially sensitive information in “More than two decades after the icised the changes. the glare of a public trial, which had end of the Cold War, Russian spies Poland’s eurosceptic Law been scheduled to begin on April 4. still seek to operate in our midst and Justice (PiS) party has faced The murky case, which included under the cover of secrecy,” said growing pressure from the EU, the FBI planting covert record- Bharara. the United States and other bod- ing devices hidden in binders, was “Thanks to the work of the FBI ies since it swept to power in the akin to “a plotline for a Cold War-era and the prosecutors in my office, bloc’s largest eastern member in movie,” said the chief US prosecutor attempts to conduct unlawful espi- October and increased controls on for Manhattan, Preet Bharara. onage will not be overlooked.” media and other institutions. US prosecutors say Evgeny A second, more substantive The constitutional court had Buryakov, 41, worked undercover charge of actually acting as an said on Wednesday that the gov- for Russia’s SVR foreign intelli- unregistered foreign agent was ernment’s decision to increase gence agency for years while posing dropped. Prosecutors and the the number of its judges needed as an employee for Russian bank defense agree that a sentence of to make rulings was illegal, deep- Vnesheconombank in Manhattan 2.5 years would be appropriate, ening a crisis that has stirred and previously in South Africa. and a fine of between $10,000 and concerns about democracy and Dressed in prison scrubs, Burya- $100,000. the rule of law. kov pleaded guilty in federal court to Buryakov will be sentenced by Critics say the reforms, which count one on an original two-count federal Judge Richard Berman on also change the order in which Excavation site of the state office for archaeology at the Neumarkt square in front of the Dresden indictment that had also accused May 25. The offence carries a max- cases are heard at the top court, Frauenkirche, in Dresden, Germany. him of acting as an unregistered imum sentence of five years under have made it difficult for judges foreign agent. the US law. to review, let alone challenge, the government’s legislation. The government has refused to publish the court’s ruling in an official journal, effectively putting Wood from America to heat thousands of homes in Paris it in legal limbo, saying the judges had not followed the very legisla- tion they were ruling on when they Reuters Paris to import carbon emissions, especially if the The plant, which will use a 50-50 traditional Haussmann-style apart- made their decision. 140,000 tonnes of wood has to be imported. mix of wood and coal, awarded a ment buildings and institutions like The Venice Commission, the wood per year from But CPCU officials said that the five-year contract to US suppliers that schools and hospitals. rights body the Council of Europe’s US use of wood - as well as a switch from runs until 2019. Forty percent of the steam dis- advisory panel, on Friday said that PARIS: Paris plans to import thou- Says this will boost fuel oil to gas - will avoid 300,000 “We hope that by then the French tributed by CPCU, 64.5 percent owned Poland’s overhaul of the court sands of tonnes of wood per year from tonnes of carbon-di-oxide emissions wood industry will be ready to deliver, by gas group Engie and 33.5 percent would endanger “not only the rule the United States as part of plans to renewable energy in per year. because we prefer to buy at home,” by the city, is generated in energy- of law but also the functioning of use more renewable energy in its urban heating “This is a good example of how Saint-Ouen Mayor William Delan- from-waste plants. The rest comes the democratic system.” urban heating systems, city author- French timber indus- the energy transition is put in place noy said. from wood, gas and coal-fired plants, The panel also said that the ities said. try unable to deliver following the United Nations climate Europe is a major market for including Saint-Ouen. government must recognise the Paris urban heating company sufficient wood conference,” said Celia Blauel, Paris wood pellets to replace coal in Engie director Henri Balzan said top court’s verdict on the reforms. CPCU — which provides heat and Engie sees strong deputy mayor for the environment. power plants, with British utility investment in urban heating networks The government would ask the hot water for more than a quarter of Compagnie Parisienne de Chauff- Drax one of the top importers. Drax in France, which is heavily dependent parliament to review the Venice Parisians — plans to burn 140,000 growth in district age Urbain President Frederic Martin says economies of scale justify the on electric heating from its nuclear Commission’s recommendation, tonnes of wood pellets per year in heating networks said it was cheaper to buy the pellets shipping distance, but environmen- plants, was way behind countries in spokesman Rafal Bochenek told a new €75m ($84m) plant in Saint- from the United States than in France, talists say burning pellets leads to northern and eastern Europe. a news conference yesterday, but Ouen, north of Paris, that will start However, environmentalists where the timber industry also pro- deforestation. “We expect district heating net- it will not recognise the top court’s operating in a few weeks, the author- have questioned to what extent duces pellets but mainly in small CPCU runs a 480km steam heat works in France will grow five-fold verdict, he added. ities further said. wood-fired power plants can reduce volumes for individual customers. network that supplies many of Paris’ by 2030,” he said. 18 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 AMERICAS Trump blames ‘thugs’ for cancelled Chicago rally

to build a wall along the US-Mexico seek confrontation, to come together border and to impose a temporary ban in violence.” At the University on Muslims entering the country. Meanwhile, Trump was under fire of Illinois-Chicago His rallies often attract small from rivals who blamed his incendi- groups of protesters, but Friday’s was ary rhetoric for a violent outbreak stadium rally the two the first at which there may have been between protestors and supporters sides shouted at each as many protesters as supporters. at the Republican frontrunner’s rally other until a Trump Asked by CNN interviewer Don in Chicago. Lemon if he would take back any- “When you have a campaign that staffer appeared and thing he had said, Trump said: “Now, affirmatively encourages violence, said the event would when I talked about illegal immigra- when you have a campaign that is tion, I have no regrets whatsoever.” facing allegations of physical vio- be put off until an “If I didn’t bring up illegal immi- lence against members of the press, unspecified date for gration, it wouldn’t even be a subject you create an environment that only of the campaign,” he added. encourages this sort of nasty discord,” security reasons. At the University of Illinois-Chi- Trump’s main rival for the Republican cago stadium rally the two sides nomination, Ted Cruz, told reporters. shouted at each other until a Trump Throngs of protesters, many of staffer appeared and said the event them blacks and Latinos angered by Agencies would be put off until an unspecified Trump’s incendiary anti-immigrant date for security reasons. rhetoric, had massed outside and Police said five people were inside the venue in Chicago, min- arrested, including CBS News reporter gling with the candidate’s supporters. CHICAGO: US Republican presi- Sopan Deb. Two officers were injured, Pundits said the chaos at the rally dential front-runner Donald Trump with one requiring stitches. was reminiscent of violent protests at yesterday blamed organised “thugs” The cancellation followed an the 1968 Democratic National Con- for protests that shut down his Chi- appearance by Trump in St Louis on vention, also in Chicago, held when cago rally and said the incident had during which protests forced him to the United States was torn apart by “energised America.” halt his speech repeatedly. opposing views on the Vietnam War. Trump canceled the Chicago event In statements, Republican rival A Trump rally scheduled for Sun- after it turned chaotic, with scuffles candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio day in Cincinnati, Ohio has also been breaking out between protesters and both called the incident “sad” and said cancelled, with the local spokesman backers of the real estate magnate. the protesters should have let the rally for the campaign telling US media that “The organised group of people, happen. Trump has a significant lead Secret Service supporting the cam- many of them thugs, who shut down in primary contests over the three paign could not complete preparation our First Amendment rights in Chi- remaining Republicans vying for the work in time. cago, have totally energised America!” White House. He is looking to cement CNN estimated there were Trump said on Twitter. it on Tuesday. between 8,500 to 10,000 people in The First Amendment to the US Ohio Governor John Kasich, the arena in Chicago when tensions Protesters shout against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump inside the University of Illinois Constitution protects freedom of also battling Trump for the Repub- erupted into chaos. at Chicago Pavilion in Chicago. speech and assembly. The Chicago lican presidential nomination, told The billionaire said he decided to rally came ahead of five primary elec- reporters before a campaign event call off the gathering after consulting Trump told CNN later. “I think we later, but not before the crowd threw fueling the toxic atmosphere. On Feb- tions on Tuesday, including contests in Cincinnati that Trump had “cre- police, where tensions had been ris- made the right decision (to cancel)... bottles and other objects at officers, ruary 1, as protesters interrupted a in Ohio and Illinois. ated a toxic environment.” ing in the build-up to the event at the even though our freedom of speech and several tried to take the stage and rally in Iowa, he encouraged support- Trump has drawn fervent sup- “And that toxic environment has University of Illinois at Chicago. was violated.” speak at the podium. ers to “knock the crap out of them,” port as well as criticism for his calls allowed his supporters, and those who “I don’t want to see anybody hurt,” The chaos ended several hours Critics have accused Trump of and pledged to pay their legal fees. Alabama prison Obama makes a case for access to mobile device data on lockdown Reuters force Apple Inc. to allow access to an “What mechanisms do we have would create a “back door” to phones and a secure “key” that is accessible to after riot iPhone linked to San Bernardino, Cal- available to even do simple things that could be abused by criminals and the “smallest number of people pos- ifornia, shooter Rizwan Farook. like tax enforcement because if in governments, and that Congress has sible” for issues that were agreed to But he made clear that despite fact you can’t crack that at all, gov- not given the Justice Department be important. Reuters AUSTIN: US President Barack Obama his commitment to Americans’ pri- ernment can’t get in, then everybody authority to make such a demand. “Setting aside the case between made a passionate case for mobile vacy and civil liberties, a balance is walking around with a Swiss bank Obama acknowledged skepticism FBI and Apple ... we’re going to have devices to be built in a way that would was needed to allow some govern- account in their pocket.” about government in the wake of the to make some decisions about how WASHINGTON: An Alabama allow the government to gain access ment intrusion if necessary. Last month, the FBI obtained a revelations about US surveillance pro- do we balance these respective risks,” prison was on lockdown yesterday to personal data if needed to prevent “If technologically it is possible to court order requiring Apple to write grammes by former National Security Obama said. “My conclusion is you after a riot in which the warden a terrorist attack or enforce tax laws. make an impenetrable device or sys- new software and take other meas- Agency contractor Edward Snowden. cannot take an absolutist view.” and a guard were stabbed, the Speaking at the South by South- tem where the encryption is so strong ures to disable passcode protection But he pressed his point that a The President listed airport state Corrections Department said. west festival in Texas, the President that there is no key, there’s no door at and allow access to Farook’s iPhone. compromise that respected civil lib- security and stops for drunk driv- About 100 inmates at the said he could not comment on the all, then how do we apprehend the Apple, which declined to comment erties and protected security had to ers as examples of measures that William C Holman Correctional legal case in which the Federal child pornographer, how do we solve on Obama’s remarks, has not com- be found. That solution would likely were intrusive but accepted. He also Facility in Atmore, about 80km Bureau of Investigation is trying to or disrupt a terrorist plot?” he said. plied. It said the government request be a system with strong encryption warned against “fetishising” phones. north of Mobile, were involved in the disturbance, which started late on Friday, the department said in a statement. The trouble began with a fight between inmates in a dor- Winter storm in Mexico Search narrows to 3 mitory. The guard was stabbed when he tried to detain one of the inmates, it said. for Apex Court judge Warden Carter Davenport was also stabbed when he and other officers entered the dorm. Injuries to Davenport and the guard were Reuters India and grew up in Kansas, would not life-threatening. be the first Asian-American and first Inmates then set a fire in a Hindu on the high court. Obama hallway outside the housing unit. appointed him to the appeals court Three Correctional Department WASHINGTON: The White House in 2013. The Senate confirmed him emergency response teams were has narrowed its search for a US in a 97-0 vote. deployed to restore order. Supreme Court nominee to three Srinivasan served in the Justice The statement said some federal appeals court judges, Sri Department under Democratic and inmates were able to post photos Srinivasan, Merrick Garland and Republican presidents and worked online using cell phones. Guards Paul Watford, a source familiar with as a clerk to the first woman to serve were searching the prison for ille- the selection process said. on the Supreme Court, Sandra Day gal phones and other contraband. Srinivasan, an Indian-Ameri- O’Connor, a Republican appointee. News website Al.com posted can who served under presidents of Garland, who has earned praise photos and a video apparently shot both parties before President Barack from lawmakers of both parties, is by an inmate, showing prisoners Obama named him as an appellate the chief judge of the Washington setting fires and roaming freely judge, and Garland, considered but appeals court, where he has served through the jail. Several inmates passed over for the Supreme Court since being appointed by President covered their faces with towels. twice before by Obama, are con- Bill Clinton in 1997, winning confir- The website said prisoners sidered the leading contenders, mation in a 76-23 vote. Prior to that, were using social media to report A view of Ocampo community, in Michoacan state, Mexico yesterday as a strong winter storm affected according to the source and two he served in the Justice Department that “gates are rolled up” and that some states of Mexico. Three percent of monarch butterflies died in this town due to heavy frost. other sources close to the process. under Clinton. they had overturned beds. Obama is searching for a Watford, 48, is a judge on the replacement for long-serving con- San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit servative Justice Antonin Scalia, Court of Appeals, winning Senate who died on February 13. Senate confirmation in a 61-34 vote in 2012. Republicans have vowed not to hold He previously worked as a prosecu- Venezuelan editor jailed for four years confirmation hearings or an up-or- tor and in private practice. down vote on any nominee picked If confirmed, he would be the by the Democratic president for the nation’s third black justice, follow- lifetime position on the court. ing current justice Clarence Thomas, AFP chief David Natera as an attack on “Correo del Caroni was found tomorrow about a case of corruption A formal announcement could and Thurgood Marshall. press freedom and a form of preven- guilty for exercising its editorial will think about Correo del Caro- come as soon as Monday. That would It was unclear whether two other tive censorship aimed at discouraging independence and contributing to ni’s example and probably stop the give Obama the weekend to think candidates who had been expected investigative reporting. transparency,” the paper’s editor investigation or publication of the about his final choice and make an to be interviewed by Obama, fed- CARACAS: A court in Venezuela The newspaper published a series Oscar Murillo tweeted. information,” said Carlos Correa, announcement before Tuesday’s eral appeals court judge Jane Kelly sentenced a newspaper editor to of investigative articles between May This sentence is aimed at intim- director of Public Space, a freedom presidential primary elections. and federal trial judge Ketanji Brown four years in prison for defamation and September 2013 accusing sev- idating Venezuelan media “to force of expression NGO. He called the Srinivasan, 49, and Garland, 63, Jackson, were now out of the run- after the paper investigated alleged eral businessmen linked to the iron them to submit to censorship and self- case a “mechanism of preventive serve together on the US Court of ning altogether. corruption at a major company, the ore miner CVG Ferrominera Ori- censorship that is unnecessary in a censorship.” Appeals for the District of Colum- Kelly is a judge on the St. Louis- newspaper said yesterday. noco of embezzlement, extortion and democratic country,” Tinedo Guia, Although Natera will remain free bia Circuit. That court has served based 8th US Circuit Court of Critics denounced the sentence conspiracy. president of the National Journal- pending an appeal, he is barred from as a springboard to Supreme Court Appeals. Jackson is a federal trial by the court in the southern state of Critics jumped on the news of ists’ Union, told reporters. leaving the country and must appear for several justices including Scalia. judge in Washington. Both were Bolivar against Correo del Caroni Natera’s sentencing. “Any media receiving information in court every 30 days. Srinivasan, who was born in appointed by Obama.

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A child cries during a haircut in a barber shop during the Longtaitou (which means the dragon raises its head) Festival, on the second day of the second month of Chinese Lunar calendar, in Baokang County, Hubei Province, China. It is believed that having a haircut on this day is likely to bring good luck.

Arab Ottoman classical music at Katara. Rock keyboard pioneer Keith Emerson dies Video by Kammutty VP

AFP in the worlds of rock, classical and jazz," "That part of the act was something he said. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix's the- that just felt natural to do; something atrics with the electric guitar, Emerson that allowed me be more expressive," he Retirement can boost positive changes created a new showmanship with the said. Emerson studied classical piano as NEW YORK: Keith Emerson (pictured), keyboards as he would attack the keys a child in England and eventually took the flamboyant yet accomplished key- with knives and play the organ upside up the Hammond organ as he became SYDNEY: Individuals who retire become more physically active, boardist who pioneered the use of down with the giant instrument sus- intrigued by jazz. reduce their sitting time, are less likely to smoke, and have healthier synthesizers in rock music, has died at pended over him. But Emerson's career -- and, to sleep patterns, when compared with people who are still working, age 71, his bandmates said. The Eng- He became best known to the pub- an extent, the trajectory of rock -- finds a new research. lish keyboardist died late Thursday lic in 1974 when Emerson, Lake and changed when he heard the influential "A major life change like retirement creates a great window of at his home in the Los Angeles area, Palmer closed California Jam, con- 1968 album "Switched-On Bach" by the opportunity to make positive lifestyle changes -- it's a chance to get his former band, Emerson, Lake and sidered the last in a generation of composer then known as Walter Car- rid of bad routines and engineer new, healthier behaviours," said Palmer, announced on Facebook. great rock festivals which drew some los, who performed classical pieces on lead researcher Melody Ding, senior research fellow at the Univer- "Keith was a gentle soul whose love 250,000 people to a speedway and was the Moog synthesizer. sity of Sydney in Australia. for music and passion for his perform- broadcast on ABC television. The early-generation analog syn- The results of the study showed that the amount of physical activ- ance as a keyboard player will remain Emerson, with his always flowing thesizers -- whose creator, US engineer ity in retirees increased by 93 minutes a week. Their sedentary time unmatched for many years to come," hair, ended the festival by strapping Emerson told the British publication Robert Moog, would become a friend decreased by 67 minutes per day and sleep time increased by 11 min- Carl Palmer, the group's percussion- himself to a grand piano and playing Counterculture: "Guitar players were -- had gradually been finding their utes per day. Further, 50 percent of female smokers stopped smoking ist, said in a statement. as it spun around some 15 metres (50 the most mobile musicians on the stage way into popular music, most notably after their retirement. The largest reduction in sitting time occurred "He was a pioneer and an innovator feet) in the air. Asked later about his and it's very difficult to make a 350- appearing on The Beatles' 1969 album in people who lived in urban areas and had higher educational levels. whose musical genius touched all of us attention-grabbing stage performances, pound Hammond part of you." "Abbey Road." Muslim women learn self-defence in US Google AI programme wins third straight match to take Go series Reuters Donald Trump’s call in December to ban Muslims from entering the coun- try. “You can be attacked at any point. Reuters South Korea and Japan, involves two You can be pushed off ... of a subway contestants moving black and white WASHINGTON: Some 20 women in ledge,” said Abdelhamid. She added stones on a square grid, with the aim Islamic hijab worried by rising anti- that headscarves and the hijab can of seizing the most territory. Muslim rhetoric in the United States sometimes turn Muslim women into SEOUL: Google’s artificial intelli- Experts did not expect an artifi- watched on a recent night as their targets. gence (AI) programme yesterday cial intelligence programme to beat self-defence instructor showed them One of the women in the class, took a 3-0 lead in a five-match series a human professional for at least a how to punch a would-be attacker. Kristin Garrity Sekerci, an American against one of the world’s top players decade, until AlphaGo beat a player “Kiai!” shouted Rana Abdelhamid, convert to Islam, said she wanted to of the complicated board game Go. last year. But Lee, 33, had been an Egyptian-American with a black be able to defend herself if she were The victory for the AlphaGo expected to put up stiffer competi- belt in shotokan karate, as she dem- attacked. “You stand out. It’s not fair, programme, designed by Google tion than the player defeated then. onstrated the blow. but it’s the reality. And you have to subsidiary DeepMind, over South “To be honest we are a bit “I’m fighting - Kiai! That’s how equip yourself to be able to face that,” Korean professional player Lee stunned and speechless,” said Deep- loud I want you to be,” Abdelhamid, said Garrity Sekerci, who works with Sedol, the holder of 18 international Mind founder Demis Hassibis, who a Muslim human rights activist and the Islamophobia-tracking Bridge Ini- titles, has surprised many, including earlier tweeted that AlphaGo’s vic- native of Queens, New York, told the tiative at Washington’s Georgetown its designers and has underscored tory was a “historic moment.” group. The women followed her lead, University. advances in AI. Google executives say Go offers some shouting the martial arts cry Muslim advocacy groups like the Egyptian-American community activist Rana Abdelhamid (left) “I am very sorry for the pow- too many possible moves for a louder than others. Council on American-Islamic Rela- demonstrates a move during a self-defence workshop designed for erless display,” a dejected Lee told machine to win simply through The workshops launched by tions (CAIR) say anti-Muslim bias Muslim women in Washington, DC. reporters in the South Korean cap- brute-force calculations, unlike Abdelhamid for women are among crimes in the United States have tri- ital, Seoul, after his defeat. chess, in which IBM’s Deep Blue a number of similar classes around pled since attacks by Islamic militants officials say.“There really is a need for of a hate crime than they were before “Though I have a lot of experi- famously beat former world cham- the United States that have sprung up in Paris in November and shootings Muslim women to protect themselves the September 11, 2001, attacks. ence in Go I have never felt before pion Garry Kasparov in 1997. as Muslims perceive themselves to be by Muslim extremists in San Ber- in this society,” said CAIR spokesman The women in Abdelhamid’s class such severe pressure as I do now, AlphaGo has sought to approx- under increasing threat. nardino, California, in December. Ibrahim Hooper. The Bridge Initiative included a young Palestinian who and I suppose my abilities were a bit imate human intuition, by studying The feeling has intensified with About 80 percent of the victims in says Muslims in the United States are works at the Pentagon and a middle- lacking to overcome that.” Go, most old matches and using simulated Republican presidential candidate such incidents are women, CAIR five times more likely to be the victim aged Yemeni who is learning English. popular in countries such as China, games to hone itself independently. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 23 QE 10,386.44 +7.74 PTS PAGE | 24 Asia reforms key DOW 17,213.31 +218.18 PTS China flags stimulus for global economic FTSE100 6,139.79 +103.09 PTS restraint but says policy growth: IMF chief BRENT $40.39 +$0.34 should be flexible

SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 • 4 Jumada II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

GCC-listed companies’ profits down 16% in Q4

cent beat their expectations. Of the Among the companies covered in on a YoY basis, except for UAE which companies reported lower than 142 GCC companies’ profits forecasted Qatar, three beat analysts’ expecta- saw 5 percent increase in its bottom expected estimates led by higher Qatari companies by the SICO Investment Bank, most tions and the profits of another three line. Saudi based companies’ earnings operating expenses and lower prices. delivered 15% countries’ overall aggregate profits fell were in line with the expectations. Nine declined by 15 percent YoY, mostly due 75 percent of Telecoms reported dis- lower-than-expected below analysts’ expectations except companies missed the consensus esti- to a fall in petrochemical companies appointing results due to higher for the UAE. mates. The majority of GCC companies profits as a result of lower prices. expenses, currency fluctuations and profits in the period. In Qatar, where the SICO cov- missed consensus estimates in 4Q15. On the other hand, UAE reported 5 other impairments. On the other ered 15 listed companies, aggregate 60 percent of the Qatari companies percent YoY growth in earnings as hand, 62 percent of Real Estate and profit totalled QR 6.1bn, 15 percent were below estimates and 71 percent of Etisalat’s 4Q,15 net income improved Construction companies has beaten lower than forecasted, mainly due Kuwaiti companies missed consensus. 22 percent YoY and Emirates NBD’s estimates. Overall, Real Estate com- By Satish Kanady to Industries Qatar’s (IQ) disappoint- In the UAE, 43 percent of the profit was 74 percent higher YoY. panies’ aggregate profits dropped The Peninsula ing performance. IQ reported 4Q15 companies’ results were lower than Eshraq losses narrowed to Dh2.5m by 57 percent YoY. Telecom compa- profit QR 0.6bn vs estimated profit of expectations, whereas 39 percent net loss in 4Q15 vs Dh718m in 4Q,14, nies’ aggregate profit increased by 55 QR 1.1bn on the back of lower prices reported above forecasted earnings. which contributed in offseting NBAD’s percent YoY in Q4. Building Material across all segments: Fertilisers, Petro- 47 percent of the Omani compa- reported lower than forecasts. 25 percent YoY fall in earnings and companies profit increased by 5 per- DOHA: Over 51 percent of the GCC’s chemicals and Steel. Also, CBQ missed nies missed consensus estimates. Overall, GCC companies reported UNB’s 55 percent decline in profits. cent and Transportation companies’ listed companies’ profits were lower estimates by due to higher provision- 60 percent of the Bahraini compa- a 16 percent year-on-year(YoY) Petrochems and Telecoms missed earnings grew by 74 percent. Con- than analysts’ estimates for the final ing charges and lower income from its nies reported lower than forecasted decline in earnings, with all coun- consensus estimates the most in sumers’ total aggregate profit ended quarter of 2015 (Q4, 15), while 31 per- associate (United Arab Bank). earnings, while 51 of Saudi companies tries aggregate earnings decreasing 4Q, 15. 69 percent of petrochemical 5 percent higher on YoY.

Made in China meet China’s industrial output growth wanes

AFP Despite the darkening outlook consumer spending, increased 10.2 the People’s Bank of China Gover- percent in the same period, the nor Zhou Xiaochuan told reporters National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Saturday that there was no need for said. Fixed-asset investment, a meas- BEIJING: China’s industrial pro- “excessive” monetary stimulus to hit ure of mainly government spending duction during the first two months the government’s target of at least 6.5 on infrastructure, expanded 10.2 per- of the year grew at its slowest rate percent growth over the next five cent on-year for the first two months since the global financial crisis, the years. And while worries about the of 2016. government said yesterday, with top economy have weighed on investors Results fell short of economists’ officials vowing to support growth this year and spurred a stock mar- expectations, according to a survey and the volatile stock market. ket slump, on Saturday the chairman by Bloomberg News, which predicted The measure, which gauges of the China Securities Regulatory a year-on-year increase in retail sales output at the country’s factories, Commission said at a briefing that the of 10.9 percent, while industrial pro- workshops and mines, rose 5.4 per- state would intervene “if the market duction was projected to expand 5.6 cent year-on-year in January and is not working properly at all or con- percent. NBS analyst Jiang Yuan February. The figures were the weak- tinues to fail”. blamed the disappointing indus- est since November 2008 as China “It will be too early to talk about trial output data on sluggish foreign seeks to effect a difficult transition withdrawing” state support for demand, the government’s efforts to from an investment and export- stocks “for rather a long time into cut pollution-heavy production of Officials at the Qatar Chamber media briefing on ‘Made in China 2016’ event in Beijing. driven growth model to one led by the future”, Liu Shiyu said. steel, cement and coal and slump- consumer spending. Retail sales, a key indicator of ing output of tobacco products. Vodafone unveils Global M2M Platform and IoT solutions

By Mohammad Shoeb relayed over a network delivering data that’s innovative to Qatar and in turn The Peninsula to applications. The intelligent devices help realise the Qatar National Vision are embedded in a remote asset and 2030,” said Vodafone Qatar’s CEO, Ian capture events such as temperature, Gray. location, consumption, heart rate, This means that Vodafone Qatar’s DOHA: Enterprises in Qatar will now stress levels, light, movement, alti- capabilities now include a scalable have a direct access to Vodafone’s lat- tude and speed. These sensors include Global M2M Platform with interac- est Global Machine to Machine (M2M) a Global M2M SIM card that is able to tive portal for end users; global SIM Platform and Internet of Things (IoT) receive and transmit the event data cards powered by the world’s largest solutions as the telecom giant has wirelessly to a central server where network; highly secure solutions; more introduced the cutting-edge technol- an application translates this data into than 1300 M2M experts; broad portfo- ogy to the local market. Many other meaningful information that can be lio of M2M terminals, application and applications to follow over the next analysed and acted upon. service enablement development and few months. IoT communications can also be testing and deployment — all from a Vodafone’s M2M Platform and used to gain immediate feedback on single supplier, with a single contract. Vodafone Qatar CEO Ian Gray (centre) with Vodafone’s IoT Head of Sales for Southern Europe and Middle IoT have wide range of applications how a particular remote asset is being Vodafone has over 20 years of East Tony Guerion (right) at the launch in Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula including fleet management and asset used, which features are most popular M2M experience and a Global M2M tracking among others. and what problems such as errors or Platform that is available in 40 mar- annual CSP Benchmarking study for various authorities. The transportation transformed beyond all recognition. With the launch of the power of its breakdowns typically arise. kets, leveraging Vodafone’s global 2015, Machina Research determined sector especially is a priority area for Today the world is more connected international network to Qatar, only “We’re delighted to bring enter- footprint and partner networks, allow- that Vodafone maintained its position the country as it attempts to deal with than ever; now technology is not just Vodafone can provide a global M2M prise customers in Qatar Vodafone’s ing customers to roam on the best as the number one global operator in its growing traffic problems in addition connecting people but machines and SIM card, enabling, IoT adopters to leading global experience in M2M available network. terms of taking advantage of the glo- to the importance that Qatar’s emerg- devices together on a global scale, for- experience business optimisation connectivity and IoT solutions that Vodafone has been rated the best bal M2M market opportunity. ing smart cities remain safe cities. ever changing the way we do business. through cost saving. will optimise business operations. M2M communications service pro- Creating smart cities that will Tony Guerion, Vodafone’s IoT Head At Vodafone, IoT is driving this revolu- IoT communications are made The roll-out of IoT services over our vider in the world for the fourth year improve the quality of life for all peo- of Sales for Southern Europe and the tion helping businesses to innovate and possible by a device that is attached superfast network is an important part in a row, according to independent ple in Qatar has been identified as Middle East, said: “In the past gener- in turn deliver better operational agil- to a machine to capture an event that is of our strategic direction to bring all research by Analysys Mason. In its an important focus area by Qatar’s ation the way we communicated has ity and better customer engagement.” 22 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS Telecom consumer complaints up 13%

in 2015 compared to 1,006 complaints definition of Consumer Rights was out- a year ago. Most of the complaints lined. On this day, organisations come Most of the were relating to roaming bills, fixed together across the globe to promote complaints were line installation, data charges and net- the basic rights of all consumers, and work coverage. for demanding that those rights are relating to roaming “Complaints have risen because respected and protected. bills, fixed line more people are coming in Qatar. We The booth is offering fun activ- see it as our success because it also ities for the whole family such as a installation, data means that consumers are becom- children’s corner, an interactive infor- charges and network ing more aware about their rights,” mation wall and a complaint wall coverage. said Amel Salam Al Hanawi, Con- featuring different methods consum- sumer Affairs Department Manager, ers can lodge a complaint. CRA, talking to The Peninsula at a “In all its activities, CRA seeks consumer awareness booth at City to ensure the provision of advanced, Amel Salam Al Hanawi, Consumer Affairs Department Manager, CRA, at the consumer awareness booth at Center mall yesterday. CRA is host- innovative and reliable ICT and postal City Center mall yesterday. Pic: Abdul B/The Peninsula By Sachin Kumar ing consumer awareness booth at City services across Qatar. And above all, The Peninsula Center mall from yesterday until Tues- CRA ensures that benefits are passed day, open from 10am to 9pm, to help on to the consumers of communica- finalising two Codes on Spam and Pre- year CRA is celebrating the World concerns about their communication people better understand their con- tion services,” said Al Hanawi. “I would mium Rate Service,” Al Hanawi added. Consumer Rights Day and this year, service provider, can easily contact sumer rights and find out more how like to invite all to come and join us The CRA team will also be con- the awareness campaign underscores CRA’s Consumer Affairs Department DOHA: Qatar’s telecom sector has CRA can help address any concerns to celebrate this day. We, at CRA, are ducting several awareness sessions the importance of CRA’s complaints through a variety of channels. A ded- seen around 13 percent rise in con- about their service provider. here to help and have a commitment and providing useful consumer tips resolution process as a key tool pro- icated Consumer Telecom Hotline sumer complaints last year. The The regulator is celebrating to give you, the consumers in Qatar, at the CRA booth, with the objective tect consumer rights and to ensure – 103 – has increasingly become the Communications Regulatory Authority the World Consumer Rights Day, the power of choice. Already, we have of visitors leaving knowing that they service providers fulfil their obliga- most used channel of contacting CRA (CRA), communication sector regula- an annual occasion commemorat- a strong Consumer Protection Policy, have rights, and feeling confident to tions,” said Al Hanawi. Consumers, besides its official Twitter account @ tor in Qatar, received 1,135 complaints ing March 15, 1962, when the first and Advertising Code, and now we are protect those rights. “This is the fourth who have an unresolved complaint or CRAqatar.

Credit Suisse to cut jobs in New York Qatargas’ Laffan Refinery achieves two safety milestones

The Peninsula capacity of 160,600 barrels per day possible thanks to a management the plant sharing best practices and Kerojet and 100 Gasoil) i.e. with a NEW YORK: Credit Suisse Group (bpd). This capacity will increase to commitment to strengthen the Inci- lessons learnt, a regular recognition of total shipped quantity of 34.1 mil- AG said it would lay off 163 306,600 bpd with the Laffan Refinery dent and Injury Free (IIF) culture in safety findings and safe behaviors, an lion tonnes. employees at its New York office, 2 (LR2 expansion project) expected to the company and a collective coop- active reporting of all near misses and Late last year, Qatargas had ini- as part of a restructuring plan DOHA: Qatargas’ Laffan Refinery be completed in the third quarter of eration between all divisions involved incidents, the strict follow-up of the tiated a Water Recycling Facility under new Chief Executive Tidjane (LR) asset has achieved two signifi- this year. The high value products of in operation, maintenance, support implementation of all relevant cor- at Laffan Refinery 2. This facility Thiam. The cuts will be effected cant safety milestones by completing the refinery include Naphtha, Kero- functions and contractors with a com- rective actions. is designed to handle the Treated through May, the bank said in a two consecutive years of operations jet, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, Propane mon clear target of continuous focus In Laffan Refinery, the shared val- Industrial Water from Laffan Refin- regulatory filing on Thursday. without any Total Recordable Injury and Butane. on personal and process safety. ues include “I will not get hurt”, “we ery 1, currently in operation, and Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s (TRI) and more than six years of oper- This safety milestone achieve- Several elements of the integrated all go back home safe and sound”, and Laffan Refinery 2, which is under second-biggest bank, made a total ations without any Lost Time Incident ment is the result of the continuous approach to safety in Laffan Refinery “if it is not safe, I will not do it.” Since it construction. of around 200 redundancies in (LTI) since its start-up in September commitment to safety by the Qatar- were successfully implemented with started production, the Laffan Refin- The Water Recycling Facility aims its London-based operations last 2009. gas leadership and workforce alike specific and recurrent safety tasks to ery has produced as on end-2015 a at reducing the water consumption month. The Zurich-based bank The Laffan Refinery is oper- and adopting an integrated approach operations, regular multi-discipline total of 153 million barrels of Naphta, of these two plants and at eliminat- said in February it had accelerated ated by Qatargas on behalf of Qatar to safety that involves working in a meetings and plant visits focusing on 106 million barrels of Kerojet, 43 mil- ing the discharge of Treated Industrial cost savings to lock in 1.2 billion Petroleum, Cosmo, ExxonMobil, Ide- cooperative manner to ensure the SHE (safety, health and environment) lion barrels of Gasoil and 13 million Water. The recycled water is planned of the targeted 3.5 billion francs mitsu, Total, Marubeni and Mitsui health and safety of all employees matters, the continuous reinforce- barrels of LPG. to be re-used in the Laffan Refiner- by 2018, with around 4,000 jobs shareholders. It is the largest con- and contractors. ment of IIF Culture through dedicated A total of 880 ships have so ies 1 and 2 as boiler feed water and being cut. densate refinery in the world with a This TRI achievement was talks with all working personnel in far been loaded (398 Naphta, 382 cooling water.

Al Khayarin wins award Rajan wants global rules of conduct for central banks

Reuters

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan called yesterday for global central banks to adopt a system for assessing the wider impact of their actions, including unconventional monetary policies now in use. Rajan proposed that a group of academics should measure and analyse the “spillover” effects of KG Electrical Trading General Manager Vinay Mishra presenting the Gold Category Certification award monetary policies and indicate which to KG Group CEO Mohammed Idrees Anwar. The event was attended by senior officials of KG Group should be used and which avoided. and KG Trading. Al Khayarin Electrical Trading, a subsidiary of Al Khayarin Group of Companies, has He suggested a traffic light system, been awarded the certification for being No. 1 distributor of HAGER range of products in Qatar for grading policies green, orange or red. third consecutive year. The monitoring system could be RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan at a conference in New Delhi yesterday. implemented through an interna- tional agreement along the lines of monetary policy only gradually after Governor in September 2013, India the Bretton Woods currency accord years of near-zero rates and quanti- was in the midst of its worst currency or via the International Monetary tative easing. crisis in more than two decades as Fund. Rajan has been a vocal critic of fears the Fed would begin tightening QNB takes part in Harvard Business Rajan’s speech was the high- such policies, saying central banks policy exposed the country’s weak light of a three-day International seeking to fulfil domestically focused finances and big current account Monetary Fund event in New Delhi, mandates are ignoring the impact of deficit. India eventually stabilised attended by IMF chief Christine their actions on the global economy. the rupee, partly by building up its School programme for banks Lagarde and Indian Prime Minister The speech was the most com- foreign exchange reserves, but his Narendra Modi, at which worries prehensive given on the subject by ringside view of the crisis has made about the global economy were front Rajan, who is widely credited with him a strong critic of the kind of stim- The Peninsula the development of executive leaders added: “QNB’s participation in this pro- and centre. “The international com- having predicted the global finan- ulus measures adopted by developed from banks and financial institu- gram comes in the framework of the munity has a choice,” Rajan said. “We cial crisis that began in 2007. economies in recent years. tions operating in GCC countries. It Group’s constant keenness to develop can pretend all is well with the global The former IMF economist, He warned that such policies is organised on a rotating basis each national cadres, particularly executive financial non-system and hope that tipped by local media as a potential spook people into fearing “calamity DOHA: QNB has recently partici- year in a Gulf country, with a plan to leadership. Developing the perform- nothing goes spectacularly wrong. Or successor to Lagarde, also called on is around the corner”, leading them pated in the Harvard Business School’s expand its scope regionally. ance of national cadres in the bank will we can start building a system for the the Fund to take a lead role in ensur- to save rather than to spend and thus Leadership Development Programme Nada Al Ansari, Executive Man- remain a top strategic priority due to integrated world of the 21st century.” ing policies adopted by its members diminishing any benefits. for banks, which was themed “Lead- ager, QNB Centers of Excellence, said the importance of this category in real- Rajan’s speech came days after do not have “beggar-thy-neighbour” Rajan has stated India will not ing Strategy Implementation in the that it is implemented in accordance ising sustainable development”. the European Central Bank eased consequences. “We need new rules follow other countries and devalue its Banking Sector” and was targeted with the high standards applied by QNB believes it is important that monetary policy further by cutting of the game, enforced impartially by currency, a view endorsed by Prime toward executive managers. Harvard Business School to these the human resources capabilities and all its main interest rates, expand- multilateral organisations, to ensure Minister Narendra Modi, who ruled The programme consisted of kinds of programmes in its US head- potential continue to meet the Group’s ing asset purchases and launching countries adhere to international out ‘beggar thy neighbour’ policies. two main axes which are “Strate- quarters. Al Ansari also explained that growing operational requirements as a loan programme which could see responsibilities,” he said. Early in his tenure, Rajan raised gic Management” and “Leadership”, it is based on the study of practical it constantly works to find innova- it pay banks to lend to firms and Lagarde had advice of her own, interest rates to tackle double-digit and witnessed the participation of a situations which the school is well- tive means to develop programmes households. urging Asian nations on Saturday inflation but the RBI cut by 125 basis number of executive managers, rep- known for and that is being used by for current and new staff in order to The Bank of Japan has also taken to employ growth-friendly mone- points last year as consumer prices resenting different departments in distinguished universities and train- ensure the provision of the best tal- interest rates into negative territory tary and fiscal policies to counter eased, to help boost an economy the bank. Harvard Business School ing centers to develop the performance ents and cadres in Qatar and across for the first time while the US Fed- challenges posed by a fragile global growing fast by global standards but provides a special programme for of executives around the world. She its international footprint. eral Reserve is expected to tighten economy. When Rajan became RBI below its potential. BUSINESS SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 23 Markets set the stage for Fed rate hikes: QNB

financial markets persists, then we collapsed to 0.7 percent in the US The Chinese authorities have of a Fed rate hike. can expect two or three rate hikes this (later revised up to 1 percent) and reversed their exchange rate policy, A hike on March QNB says if the year,” QNB noted in its weekly ‘eco- -1.4 percent in Japan (later revised letting the renminbi appreciate and 16th remains highly current relative calm nomic commentary’ yesterday. up to -1.1 percent). Third, lower oil calming capital flight concerns. And, improbable given Global financial markets strug- prices raised the risk of credit events finally, GDP growth is now expected the recent finan- in financial markets gled at the beginning of 2016: the amongst oil producers that could to rebound in Q1 2016 in the US (2.0 cial turmoil and persists, then two or MSCI world equity index fell 11.5 per- destabilise financial markets. percent consensus forecast) and without more data three rate hikes this cent in the first six weeks of the year According to QNB analysts, one Japan (1.2 percent consensus fore- to confirm the with the worst losses in China, down significant result of the turmoil in cast). Recent data also suggests that economy is back year are likely. more than 20 percent; the US S&P financial markets was that the Fed consumption in the US is beginning on track. However, index fell 10.5 percent over the same backed off on its rhetoric around the to pick up with stronger retail sales, current futures period; and oil prices fell 19.4 percent next rate hike. In her testimony to consumption and consumer confi- markets imply a 46 due to concerns about global demand Congress on February 10, Fed Chair dence data. percent probability The Peninsula and continued excess supply. Janet Yellen said that tightening finan- Two key data points for the Fed of a 25 bps rate hike Markets were struck by a range cial conditions would need to be taken have also come in stronger than by June and 72 per- of global economic concerns. First, into account. Market expectations for expected in the last two weeks, cent by December. in China, the devaluation of the ren- rate hikes were substantially revised strengthening the case for the Fed to In a com- DOHA: After a tough start to the year, minbi and slowing growth raised the down, with only an 11 percent chance raise interest rates. mentary in global financial markets have recov- risk of further devaluations and run- of a rate hike priced into financial First, core inflation rose to 1.7 per- mid-February, ered strongly in recent weeks. Early away capital flight. Markets may also markets for the whole of 2016. cent in January, nearing the Fed’s 2 QNB postulated in the year, a number of concerns be concerned about the tail-risk of a It does now appear that concerns percent target and compared with that the Fed would plagued financial markets and pushed full-blown balance of payments crisis. about China and the global economy expectations of 1.5 percent. Second, press ahead with back expectations for increases in the Second, a raft of negative data pointed have eased. Global equity markets nonfarm payrolls came in much rate hikes if mar- US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy rate. to a slowdown in economic activity have recovered some ground from stronger than expected at 242k in Feb- kets stabilised. Now end of the year, up from zero at the However, more recently, the allevia- concentrated in the global manufac- their lows. The MSCI world equity ruary, keeping unemployment down that global financial markets have sta- peak of the market turmoil. The truth tion of these concerns and a recovery turing sector. index is now only 3.6 percent down for at 4.9 percent and providing a fur- bilised, a rate hike this coming June is likely to be somewhere in the mid- in financial conditions means that the Industrial production contracted the year, the S&P is 2.7 percent down ther indication of the strength of the does seem to be firmly back on the dle, so, if the current relative calm in Fed is now more likely to press ahead in December in the world’s largest and oil prices are up 9.8 percent. US labour market. cards. In December, the Fed reckoned financial markets persists, then we with rate hikes. manufacturing hubs, the US, Japan Meanwhile, Chinese equity markets Futures markets have re-priced to it would hike rates four times in 2016. can expect two or three rate hikes “If the current relative calm in and Eurozone. Q4 GDP growth are down 18.0 percent for the year. incorporate the increased likelihood Markets now expect one hike by the this year.

MultaQa Qatar opens ONGC to invest tomorrow & celebrates $5bn to develop major eastern its 10th anniversary gas asset

The Peninsula countries in 2015. MUMBAI: India’s Oil and Nat- This year’s conference, which ural Gas Corporation (ONGC) again will be hosted by the Qatar said it will unveil an invest- Central Bank and the Qatar Finan- ment of around $5bn by the DOHA: MultaQa Qatar will celebrate cial Centre, is opened with two end of March to develop a its 10th anniversary. Over the years keynote addresses from Minister major gas asset in the east, the conference has firmly estab- of Finance H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi, with a view to tapping higher lished itself as the flagship platform , who is also the Chairman of the gas prices. of the risk and insurance industry in Qatar Financial Centre, and Qatar The asset, which the the Middle East and Northern Africa Central Bank Governor H E Sheikh state-owned company (Mena). Since 2007 senior insurance Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani. acquired in 2005 under a executives and leading experts come The international industry key- swap agreement with UK’s to Doha and debate for two days the note address will be delivered by Cairn Energy Plc, can pro- trends and developments, which Anna Maria D’Hulster, Secretary duce up to 17 million metric currently dominate their agenda. General and Managing Director standard cubic metres per This year’s MultaQa Qatar is sched- of the global insurance industry’s day (mmscmd) of natural gas uled to open tomorrow. leading think tank, the Geneva IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (right) and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 75,000 barrels of oil per “It fills us with pride to host the Association. Melinda Gates during the ‘Advancing Asia’ conference in New Delhi yesterday. day by 2020. Mena insurance and reinsurance As in prior years, the keynotes The level of output will industry for the 10th consecutive are followed by an executive panel make it ONGC’s second big- time,” said Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida, discussions. gest hydrocarbon asset in CEO of the Qatar Financial Centre Moderated by Dr Kai-Uwe India, DK Sarraf, chairman (QFC). Schanz, Chairman of MultaQa Asia reforms key for global and managing director of “We initiated the conference Qatar since 2008, Ali Al Falada, the country’s biggest explorer, because insurance and reinsur- Senior Deputy Chief Executive told reporters yesterday. He ance are essential ingredients for Officer & Group President of QIC, indicated that the investment economic and societal progress, in Michael Jensen, Managing Director economic growth: IMF chief could be more than $5bn. particular in an emerging market Mena of AIG, Romel Tabaja, Dep- The announcement fol- like the Mena region. Looking back uty Chief Executive Officer of Trust lows a government decision over the past years, MultaQa Qatar Re and David Watson, Chief Exec- to allow producers demand a has certainly contributed to raising utive Officer Reinsurance EMEA of AFP is of great interest to the entire improvements in Indian infrastruc- higher price for gas extracted awareness of the benefits of insur- XL Catlin will discuss the acceler- world,” Lagarde, on stage with Indian ture. Strengthening the business from hydrocarbon basins ance and reinsurance in our region. ating pace of internationalisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said. environment and developing bond located in the deepwater and At the same time, it has also demon- some of the region’s re/insurers and “Increased interconnectedness markets will be crucial across the ultra deepwater, where costs strated to the industry our region’s its implications. NEW DELHI: Asia is “the world’s means that Asia now affects the region, she said. can be significantly higher. potential for their growth and devel- At the occasion of MultaQa most dynamic region” but structural world more than ever before,” she India’s government has projected “With the new gas price opment,” Al Jaida said. Qatar, the QFC also launches the reforms are key given its increasing said. “By the same token, Asia is now economic growth of 7.6 percent for announced by the govern- MultaQa Qatar’s recipe for suc- 2016 Mena Insurance Barometer, importance to the global economy, more deeply affected by global eco- the financial year 2015-16, making ment, our discoveries in the cess rests on the combination of an annual survey based on in-depth International Monetary Fund chief nomic developments than ever before it the world’s fastest-growing major KG (Krishna Godavari) basin first-rate thought-leading confer- interviews with senior executives of Christine Lagarde said in New Delhi — and must respond to them.” economy. In January the IMF low- are now viable,” Sarraf said. ence proceedings, an impressive regional and international (re)insur- yesterday. With the global economy facing ered its outlook for global economic The new investment may speaker line-up of industry leading ance companies and intermediaries, Asia already accounts for 40 per- challenges, it is key that Asian coun- growth this year, warning of substan- boost ONGC’s natural gas out- experts and senior executives and, reflecting on the current state and cent of the world economy and stands tries carry out structural reforms to tial risks in major emerging market put by a quarter and crude oil finally, premium meeting facilities near-term prospects of the $50bn to deliver nearly two-thirds of glo- boost competitiveness and jobs and economies. Slower Chinese growth, production by almost 15 per- which enable delegates to discuss Mena insurance markets. bal growth over the next four years, ensure growth in future, she said. a stronger US dollar, collapsed oil cent over the next 4-5 years, and negotiate business matters. According to this year’s Barom- Lagarde, the IMF managing director, Lagarde cited examples includ- prices and political turmoil could a major leap for a company As a consequence, MultaQa eter, the Mena insurance markets told the Advancing Asia conference ing the need for China to rebalance wreak further havoc in struggling often criticised for failing to Qatar has grown from about 80 continue to demonstrate their resil- in the Indian capital. its economy away from debt-led economies like Russia and Bra- arrest a production decline. delegates in 2007 to more than 700 ience despite the current economic “Given this vital economic role, investment, the need for corporate zil, putting the brakes on the global participants from more than 30 slowdown in the region. making the most of Asia’s dynamism governance reforms in Japan and for recovery, it said. QIC Group partner sponsor of MultaQa Qatar

The Peninsula the Group President & CEO, Gunther subsidiaries, MultaQa Qatar Saacke, CEO of Qatar Re amongst 2016 will not only serve as an other senior executives from the QIC important platform to share Group. and discuss key develop- DOHA: Qatar Insurance Group said Al Fadala will be one of the emi- ments and challenges in the yesterday it is delighted to be a partner nent speakers of the MultaQa Qatar regional and international sponsor of this year’s MultaQa Qatar 2016 Executive Panel where the markets, but will also be a 2016. Over the past ten years, Multaqa panellists will discuss the strategic good networking ground to has developed into the Mena region’s outlook of Mena insurance markets meet our broking partners leading risk and insurance forum, and its global context. and clients.” attracting senior industry profession- Speaking on the importance of “MultaQa Qatar 2016 will als in insurance and reinsurance from the partnership, Ali Fadala says: “We also serve as a key platform the regional and international arena. are delighted to be a partner spon- from which we can demon- The conference will be attended sor and are eager to participate at this strate to the global audience by Ali Saleh Al Fadala (pictured), year’s MultaQa Qatar 2016. This is very the growing sophistication of Senior Deputy Group President and much the region’s leading insurance the insurance and reinsur- CEO of QIC Group, Salem Al Mannai, and reinsurance industry conference, ance sectors both in Qatar Deputy Group President & CEO of QIC- which attracts an impressive range of and the wider Mena region”, QIC headquarters in Doha. Mena region, PE Alexander, Advisor to speakers. For the QIC Group and its he added. 24 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS AT&T, Starwood & Marriott working on Cuba deals

president in nearly 90 years. But even to sign Cuban players without them as Obama prepares to unveil further having to defect. Flurry of deal-making measures next week to chip away White House officials were not could help the US at decades-old restrictions on trade immediately available for comment. and travel to Cuba, the longstanding While many US companies are President use his US economic embargo strictly lim- interested in the Cuban market, most historic March 20-22 its efforts by American companies to have been slow to take advantage do business on the communist-ruled of the US opening to Havana. They trip to showcase island. AT&T is trying to complete a remain hemmed in by the more than what he sees as the mobile communications agreement half-century old embargo and wary benefits after with Cuba’s state telecoms monop- of the Cuban government’s failure to oly Etecsa, while Starwood is also enact significant economic reforms. decades of hostility. weighing an announcement, accord- US airlines have rushed to apply ing to the source, who was briefed by for routes to the island but the administration and company officials. embargo still bans general tourism ATT declined comment. A source as well as many other kinds of busi- Reuters familiar with AT&T’s negotiations ness dealings. said: “While there are discussions Obama has called for lifting the with Etecsa, there is no agreement embargo but that can only be done by in place.” Congress, and Republicans who con- WASHINGTON: At least three major Starwood said it “has applied for trol both chambers have made clear US companies, AT&T Inc, Starwood authorisation from the US Treas- they will not act. Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc and ury Department to operate hotels Obama’s Republican critics have Marriott International Inc, are seeking in Cuba.” “We see many opportuni- accused him of giving up too much for to complete deals in Cuba as Presi- ties for the expansion of our brands too little from the Cuban government dent Barack Obama prepares to visit into Cuba at this inflection point, and and of playing down human rights Havana, a person familiar with the look forward to building long-term concerns to pursue rapprochement discussions said. relationships and welcoming trave- with Cuba, which began in December The flurry of deal-making could lers into our hotels in this dynamic 2014 and is now seen as a major piece help Obama use his historic March market.” People walk past the AT&T store in New York’s Times Square. of his foreign policy legacy. 20-22 trip to showcase what he sees Marriott spokesman Thomas White House officials have coun- as the benefits of Washington’s dip- Marder said: “We are optimistic that Cuba.” works timed for Obama’s visit. Major details were immediately available. tered that the outreach to Cuba is lomatic opening with the former Cold we are going to get a green light soon The three companies were first League Baseball is considering an MLB has had discussions with the aimed at helping ordinary Cubans War foe after decades of hostility. It from the US government to have identified by the Wall Street Journal. announcement, according to the per- US and Cuban governments looking while opening up commercial oppor- will be the first visit to Cuba by a US hotels under the Marriott flag in Other deals may also be in the son familiar with the discussions. No for ways to allow big-league teams tunities for Americans.

Inventor sues China flags stimulus restraint but Mozambique ‘tuna bond’ 3M over says policy should be flexible heads toward default creation of Reuters Reuters that paid a 6.305 percent coupon, Post-it note into a new fixed rate sovereign note due 2023. “In Fitch’s view, the offer NEW YORK: US conglom- BEIJING: China’s central bank won’t JOHANNESBURG: Debt issued by could constitute a Distressed Debt erate 3M Company, maker of resort to excessive stimulus to bolster Mozambique’s state-run tuna-fishing Exchange (DDE) under the agency’s the ubiquitous Post-it note, growth but will keep a flexible stance company Ematum may net a ratings criteria, which we would consider has been sued by an Ameri- in the event of an economic shock — downgrade after the agency Fitch a default event,” Fitch said in a can inventor who says he first domestic or global, Governor Zhou said the state’s offer to exchange out- statement. conceived the sticky message Xiaochuan said while reiterating the standing liabilities for a fixed rate “If Fitch deems the exchange products. authority’s prudent monetary policy. sovereign note could represent a offer to be a DDE, the agency would Alan Amron, 67, filed suit Under the banner of prudent pol- default. downgrade Mozambique’s Long- in a federal court in Florida icy, the Chinese central bank has cut Dubbed the tuna bond, the orig- term foreign currency Issuer Default seeking at least $400m in interest rates six times since Novem- inal $850m bond was issued in 2013 Ratings to ‘C’ from ‘B’, indicating that damages and interest from ber 2014 and has also reduced the and presented as funding for “tuna default is highly likely in the near 3M, according to court doc- amount of cash that commercial fishing and related infrastructure” term,” it said. uments seen Friday. lenders must hold as reserves. The although it quickly became appar- Conversely, Fitch said it could In his suit, Amron, who last policy easing was on February ent that much of the cash was for remove the rating watch if the claims to have 39 US pat- 29 when the People’s Bank of China maritime surveillance and security. transaction was not judged to be a ents, said he had invented the (PBOC) lowered the reserve require- PBOC Governor Zhou Xiaochuan at a conference in Beijing yesterday. Fitch said late on Friday it was distressed debt exchange. product in 1973 and called it ment ratio. placing Mozambique’s long-term “The funds raised were origi- “Press-on-Memo”, but with- The central bank is trying to keep foreign and local currency Issuer nally intended for the development out filing a patent. liquidity flush to support an econ- situation,” he added. Zhou outlined interest rates in attempts to stimulate Default Ratings (IDRs) of ‘B’ on Rat- of Ematum’s tuna-fishing capabili- However 3M has stuck to omy undergoing the most significant the PBOC’s five monetary policy consumer demand and stoke worry- ing Watch Negative (RWN) because ties, but according to the IMF, $500m its position that Post-it, one structural reforms in two decades. stances as “loose”, “appropriately ingly low inflation. But the strategy of its concerns about the bond. was spent on maritime security of its most famous brands, But officials, including Zhou, have loose”, “prudent”, “appropriately has increased volatility in the finan- Such a move would be a fresh equipment instead,” Fitch said. was invented by its scientists warned against excessive policy loos- tight” and “tight”, with flexibility on cial markets and raised the spectre blow to the deteriorating investor “The government subsequently Arthur Fry and Spencer Silver. ening that could intensify downward either side of each. China adopted an of competitive currency devaluation. image of Mozambique, which sits incorporated the $500m into the The St. Paul, Minne- pressure on the yuan and spur capi- “appropriately loose” policy after the Zhou said China does not need to on vast untapped reserves of natu- budget while the remaining $350m sota-based company began tal outflows. “The current monetary 2008 global crisis before shifting to use currency policy to boost trade, ral gas but has been hard hit by the is booked on Ematum’s balance marketing the product in 1977 policy is prudent with a slight loos- a “prudent” stance in 2011. reaffirming Beijing’s stance that it slump in global commodity prices. sheet,” it said. and sales of the little notes ening bias,” Zhou told to reporters at “We would adjust our monetary will not rely on yuan depreciation Mozambique this week asked Mozambique is set to publish took off in 1980. a scheduled news conference in Bei- policy on a real-time basis. If there to drive exports. holders of bonds in Ematum to swap more details of its exchange offer, Amron sued 3M in 1997 jing yesterday on the sidelines of the are big changes in the domestic and Jin Zhongxia, executive director the debt for new US dollar-denomi- including coupon and pricing, on claiming he was the Post- annual parliament session. global environment, we will keep for China on the International Mon- nated 2023 bonds to smooth its debt March 17. The metical currency has it inventor. The two parties “We also want to stress that the flexibility in monetary policy to etary Fund’s policymaking board, maturity profile. fallen by a third against the dollar settled the lawsuit but the monetary policy should be adjusted counter shocks,” Zhou said. said at a conference in New Delhi on The Mozambique government is over the past 12 months as investors terms of their deal were not dynamically depending on the Central banks in Europe and Saturday he did not expect a “very offering to exchange 2020 matur- worry about the government’s abil- published. judgment towards the economic Japan have resorted to negative dramatic” depreciation of yuan. ing bonds, with $697m outstanding ity to manage its finances. In his new suit, Amron said that the settlement stip- ulated that neither side would claim the invention. But 3M has violated that agreement, he alleges. Moody’s downgrades Hong Kong outlook to ‘negative’ He asked for a trial but the judge favored mediation and gave the two parties until the AFP “Political risk has risen in Hong end of the year to settle their Kong in light of ongoing tensions differences. over the implementation of the ‘One 3M denied Amron’s claims Country, Two systems’ policy,” it said, and it would seek to have the HONG KONG: Ratings agency referring to the policy that grants suit thrown out. “3M devel- Moody’s downgraded its outlook for the city freedoms not seen on the oped Post-it notes without Hong Kong yesterday, citing increas- mainland. any input or inspiration from ing political riskiness and closer It warned that tensions could rise Mr. Amron,” Donna Fleming economic ties with China, which is in the lead-up to an election next year Runyon, a 3M spokeswoman, facing a growth slowdown. for the city’s leader, which it said said. “There was nothing in Moody’s changed Hong Kong’s could “impair the effectiveness of the settlement agreement outlook from “stable” to “negative” government policies”. that limited what 3M could as the semi-autonomous city con- The vote is the first following a say,” she said. tinues to reel from political unease failed political reform package last The spokeswoman said following mass pro-democracy pro- year that saw pro-democracy law- the company would file a tests in 2014. makers vote down a proposal that motion to dismiss the law- The city saw violent street clashes would have opened the ballot for suit next week. between police and protesters last the city’s leader to all seven million She pointed out that the month and the fate of five Hong residents instead of only allowing Bei- “only” inventors of the Post- Kong booksellers who went missing jing-vetted candidates to run. it notes, Fry and Silver, were and later turned up on the mainland, A Hong Kong government spokes- A pedestrian walks past a building site in Hong Kong yesterday. inducted in the National with four now under criminal inves- man said Moody’s comments were Inventors Hall of Fame in tigation, is still in question. The case “purely speculative and subjective Moody’s report also said risk in in China’s markets, highlighting the years of double-digit increases. 2010. 3M is one of the 30 blue- has triggered fears of increasing Chi- statements without any ground”. China’s economy and financial sta- strong transmission of changes in risk Moody’s also downgraded China’s chip members of the Dow nese interference in the city. “There has been no evidence of bility could also undermine the city’s aversion from China to Hong Kong.” outlook from “stable” to “negative” Jones Industrial Average and “Increasing political linkages are mainland interference in Hong Kong economic outlook. The world’s second-largest econ- earlier this month. had $30.3bn in sales world- likely to weigh on Hong Kong’s insti- affairs or Hong Kong institutions los- “The elevated volatility in Hong omy expanded 6.9 percent in 2015, the But Hong Kong’s financial sec- wide in 2015. tutional strength,” Moody’s Investors ing independence over time,” he said Kong’s financial markets in recent worst performance in a quarter of a retary John Tsang said close links to Service said in a statement. in a statement. months has mirrored developments century and a far cry from the golden Beijing were a boon, not a burden. BUSINESS SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 25

China plans to Honda fuel cell vehicle merge state companies

down bloated state-owned compa- nies as economic growth slows in State-owned China. State-owned companies have companies have become plagued by overcapacity and inefficiency, but also provide jobs become plagued to millions of people and power a by overcapacity huge portion of the economy — from energy to commodities to shipping. and inefficiency, Last year the number of enter- but also provide prises administered by Xiao’s jobs to millions of regulator drop from 112 to 106, with high-profile mergers by China Ocean people and power Shipping Group and China Shipping a huge portion Group, as well as two train makers. Xiao said the consolidation that of the economy occurred last year was going “not — from energy to too bad,” and more can be expected this year. commodities to Xiao said China won’t see the shipping. sort of layoffs recorded in the last major round of state-owned enter- prises reform in the 1990s under then-Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. Bloomberg Under Zhu, some 60,000 firms were A man walks past the all-new fuel cell vehicle (FCV) ‘Clarity Fuel Cell’ displayed in front of the Honda Motor Co headquarters in Tokyo, closed and 40 million workers lost their jobs, according to govern- Japan. According to the carmaker, Clarity Fuel Cell is the world’s first five-passenger sedan type FCV and achieves a top-class range among ment data. This time, China has zero emission vehicles of almost 750km. Honda is planning to introduce the new FCV in Europe and the US before the end of 2016. The BEIJING: China will combine more announced plans for 1.8 million job price of the vehicle in Japan is around €61,500 of its biggest state-owned enter- losses in the coal and steel sectors. prises as part of a sweeping plan to Even so, not all workers in “old cut overcapacity in the $18 trillion economy” industries such as coal sector but won’t see the widespread and steel have skills that are trans- layoffs that accompanied a similar ferable elsewhere. China’s economy overhaul in the 1990s, a senior reg- slowdown has fanned jitters and Tunisia in charm offensive to save tourism sector ulator said. broader panic as the growth sinks Reform of China’s state-owned to its lowest in two decades. enterprises must balance many “The economic slowdown is interests, especially those of employ- within expectations, but what has Reuters north African country, which wit- with Britain, France and Germany monitor security camera footage ees, Xiao Yaqing, the chairman of the exceeded our expectations is the nessed the first of the Arab Spring since a gunman killed 38 people, around the clock. State-Owned Assets Supervision and panic,” Xiao said. “Panic is more uprisings in 2011 and is moving mostly Britons, in the beach resort The government has been help- Administration Commission, told a frightful than the downturn — it may towards democracy while facing a of Sousse in June. ing the tourism sector pay for the briefing in Beijing. worsen the downturn.” BERLIN: Slim Zghal’s three beach growing threat from Islamic State. But highlighting the uphill battle cost of tighter security, for instance Big state-owned enterprises will In December, China set a two- hotels in Tunisia had their best month At the world’s biggest travel fair, it for the Tunisian tourist industry, the by paying social security contribu- be made stronger while duplication year deadline for money-losing ever in June last year. Now, two of set out to deliver a upbeat message Foreign Office in London says: “The tions for employees, and banks are will be eliminated, he said. enterprises owned by the central them are closed and the other one is to reporters and travellers. threat from terrorism in Tunisia is giving hotels more time to pay back “We are in the business of grow- government to improve their per- less than a third full, as tourists are “Tunisia is safe,” Tourism Minister high. Further attacks remain highly their loans. ing bigger and better,” Xiao said at formance, with firms that suffer scared off by concerns over security. Selma Elloumi Rekik said. “Of course likely, including against foreigners.” It But with guests staying away, the briefing, held on the sidelines of losses for three straight years liable “With 30 percent you can’t make there are some places that are dan- advises against all but essential travel hotels are still booking losses. “I China’s annual legislative session. to be shut down. The sector is now any money. But if running hotels is gerous. But there are areas that are to the country. have other projects, so it’s not so He said that reform is split into two being divided into companies that your dream, it’s not only about the 100 percent safe.” Zghal, 52, has doubled the bad. But for someone who has only tracks: Cut overcapacity in some are considered commercial or pub- money,” he told Reuters at the ITB The country has taken a number number of security guards in his hotel hotels it would be very difficult,” industries while capturing growth lic-service entities. travel fair in Berlin. of security measures since last sum- in Monastir, the only one of his three said Zghal. others like aerospace, nuclear power, Among those companies tar- Three major militant attacks last mer, including hiring a security beach hotels that is still open, to 30 The number of tourist arriv- high speed rail, smart grid technol- geted for mergers could be the year, including two on foreign visitors, consultant to draw up a handbook since the Sousse attack. als in Tunisia dropped 25 percent ogy and renewable energy. airline sector. In October, people as well as travel warnings by coun- for tourism-related operations such Alongside police, they patrol the to 5.4 million last year, the Tour- Xiao’s remarks highlighted the familiar with the matter said China tries including Britain, have battered as hotels and museums, which were hotel Royal Thalassa Monastir and the ism Ministry’s website showed. That thin line that Chinese regulators is considering combining some oper- the tourism industry which accounts the focus of its news conference at beach in uniform and plain clothes, contributed to a slowdown in eco- must walk as they seek to implement ations of the nation’s three biggest for 7-8 percent of Tunisia’s economy. the fair. guide guests through metal detec- nomic growth to 0.8 percent from President Xi Jinping’s plan to slim airlines. The stakes are very high for the It is cooperating more closely tors at the hotel’s only entrance and 2.3 percent a year earlier.

Uber recruitment drive Shrinking oil reserves crimp Iraqi Kurdistan’s allure

Reuters have, nevertheless, been unaf- Capital Markets analyst Brendan fected by the revisions. For example, Warn said. “But if you haven’t got Shaikan, operated by Gulf Keystone good geology and the oil is not so in the north of the region, saw its easily produced, you are much less LONDON: A string of downgrades reserves upgraded last year to 639 attractive and no longer a major’s to Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil reserves is a million barrels (mmbbls). acquisition story.” fresh blow to the autonomous region’s The region still boasts one of the The relatively low cost of produc- fledgling oil industry already crip- world’s lowest production costs, at ing oil in the region and Genel’s plans pled by conflict, political strife and around $20 a barrel. Genel Energy to unlock gas reserves there still low crude prices. lost more than a third of its market made the firm a compelling invest- The revisions - resulting from value last month after the London- ment, Genel said. a closer inspection of oilfields after listed company halved the reserves For the KRG, whose revenue drillers hit more water than expected estimate for Kurdistan’s largest depends on oil, the revisions are - take the shine off one of the operational field, Taq Taq, to 356 more bad news. The region is strug- world’s largest oil and gas reserves, mmbbls and wrote down its value gling to pay field operators due to a which had drawn investors such as by $1bn. dispute over oil revenues with the ExxonMobil. The revision means more than central government in Baghdad and A further loss of faith in the half of the 80,000-barrels-per-day the need to fund its fight against region’s oil bonanza also pressures field’s reserves have been produced. Islamic State. People sign up to become Uber drivers at the first of Uber’s ‘Work On Demand’ recruitment events the debt-ridden Kurdistan Regional Genel also operates a second field, The KRG started repaying oil where they hope to sign 12,000 new driver-partners, in South Los Angeles. Government (KRG), which has strug- Tawke, whose reserves were little companies earlier this year but still gled to ramp up production and changed at 631 mmbbls. owes them billions of dollars. exports due to pipeline outages and Water levels in the six-year-old Before Genel, Afren Plc wiped conflict with Islamic State militants. Taq Taq started rising rapidly in the the entire proven and probable “The recent reserve downgrades second half of last year, prompting reserves of 190 mmbbls from its are another blow to optimism about a study by consultancy McDaniel & Barda Rash field in western Kurdis- Kazakhstan baulks at freezing oil output Kurdish oil production,” said Rich- Associates that revealed the poros- tan after also hitting more water ard Mallinson, geopolitical analyst at ity of the rock - the ability to access than expected in wells. Reuters “If we are invited, we will (take part in the meeting),” consultancy Energy Aspects. “While oil - was overstated, leading to the Oryx Petroleum shut two wells Shkolnik told reporters. Kazakhstan is not a member of there are substantial amounts of oil revision, Genel said. in the Demir Dagh field after hitting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. in this underexplored province, com- Tony Hayward, Genel’s chief water, raising suspicions of similar An Iraqi oil official was quoted on Wednesday as say- panies are finding it is not as easy to executive and a former boss of BP, geological problems elsewhere. It ASTANA: Kazakhstan indicated that it had no plan to ing the world’s biggest oil exporters in and outside Opec find or produce in the quantities ini- said in an analyst call that the down- also revised lower its proven reserves freeze oil output, as suggested by a group of major produc- planned to meet in Moscow on March 20. Russia’s energy tially expected.” grade was “clearly very disappointing in the Hawler licence area by 21 per- ers, and would instead ramp up production to its original ministry, however, has since said no date or place had Among the handful of produc- for ourselves and the Kurdistan cent to 215 mmbbls. target of 77 million tonnes per year if the oil price stayed been set yet for such talks. ers still operating in the region, three Regional Government”. Chevron, the second-largest above $40 a barrel. The Kazakh government in its budget in Novem- have in recent months reviewed their The downgrade is a blow to US oil company after ExxonMobil, Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik also signalled that ber had targeted oil output of 77 million tonnes in 2016, estimates of proven oil reserves or Genel’s and other producers’ hopes relinquished at the end of 2015 its the biggest ex-Soviet oil producer after Russia had not assuming an average oil price of $40 a barrel, but it low- reduced output due to geological for the region. “If you take a long- interest in the Rovi block north of been invited to take part in a planned meeting of Opec ered the target to 74 million tonnes last month as Brent problems. term view, you can look through Erbil but continues to test wells in and non-Opec oil producers to discuss freezing output. crude hovered nearer $30. Several fields in different areas politics and geopolitical risks,” BMO the Sarta area. 26 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS Mystery ‘dude’ rattles Turkish stock traders

Bloomberg what’s going on.” At least one Euro- brokerage placed buy orders for 486m “There’s a giant bull in the china strategist at TEB Invest/BNP Paribas. pean bank’s clients have stopped liras ($167m) of shares, about 15 times shop,” said Kerem Baykal, a fund One thing the three broker- A mystery investor is taking short-term positions in Turkish more than Merrill Lynch, the second- manager who oversees about $610m ages have in common is an ability to now executing major stocks after concluding the investor is biggest dealer that day, according to at Ak Portfoy. “He’s got deeper pockets accommodate high-frequency trad- ISTANBUL: There’s a spectre haunt- using an algorithmic system in which official data. And in the 16 trading than anyone else in the game and can ers—firms that rely on algorithms ing stock traders in Istanbul that some transactions with complex formulas decide trades, while days to March 8, it registered almost move the market in any direction.” rather than humans to execute their are calling “the dude”. increasing frequency, others are avoiding the market until 1bn liras of buy orders for Turkey’s Both the exchange and securities trading ideas. A mystery investor who first they have more information, a person six largest banks and Turkish Air- regulator declined to comment, as Borsa Istanbul moved its servers appeared a year-and-a-half ago with scaring away familiar with the matter said. lines — helping push the Borsa index did Yatirim Finansman. Two other to a new data center late last year in $450m of bets on a single day, almost competitors who can’t “Herif,” or “the dude,” has helped to consecutive three-month highs. brokerages that traders and bankers the hope of attracting business from double the market average, is now lift the average daily trading volume In all of January and February, said the unknown buyer has gone automated traders before it restarts executing major transactions with figure out when he or on the Borsa Istanbul almost 8 per- Yatirim Finansman bought a net through, Gedik Yatirim and Meksa its long-delayed initial public offering. increasing frequency, scaring away she will strike next, cent this year, compared with a 15 1.23 billion liras of stock, almost 70 Yatirim, said they can’t reveal cli- HFT firms often place their servers competitors who can’t figure out when traders and bankers percent decline on the main exchange percent more than the next larg- ent data legally. in the same center to get the fastest he or she will strike next, traders and in Warsaw and a 27 percent plunge in est buyer, UBS Menkul Degerler Meksa Deputy Chief Execu- possible connection to an exchange’s bankers said. said. Moscow, data compiled by Bloomberg AS. This is why Istanbul Portfolio’s tive Officer Figen Ozavci said the computers. Turgay Ozaner and his partners at show. The Borsa Istanbul 100 Index Ozaner said the secretive buyer is exchange made the market “vulner- Okte said he’s convinced the Istanbul Portfolio have been scour- has advanced 13 percent in the period, now “making the market.” able to harsh swings” by moving to a unknown investor is doing just that. ing the official daily trading recap for into the biggest net buyer on the mar- outpacing Russia’s Micex and Poland’s It’s not rare in emerging markets more sophisticated trading system too “This algo guy just discovered a new months for signs of the shadowy fig- ket by far. WIG20. for a single player to move an index fast, which kept investors from real- market and he’s running his own show ure’s identity, but it’s a code they’ve “Nobody knows anything for Closely held Yatirim Finansman, via short-term trades, especially in izing “what kind of environment they because there’s not enough competi- yet to crack. Whoever it is seems to sure,” Ozaner said in his office in a which handled less than 2 percent of countries like Turkey that depend on were getting into.” tion, but it will come,” Okte said. “We have skipped from one local broker- picturesque neighbourhood on the all trades two years ago, now accounts foreign inflows. But nobody in Istan- Indeed, the bigger issue may not are in the very early stages, but we age to the next honing his system and shores of the Bosporus. “And this is for the majority on some days. bul has seen anything like what is be who “the dude” is, but what it is, know from developed markets that turning the latest, Yatirim Finansman, Turkey, where usually we all know On February 22, for example, the happening now. according to Isik Okte, an investment machines always win this game.

Argentina peso devalued Emerging bond Key Indian equity index sliding indices log second back to junk after six years week of gains Reuters

IANS January for the third straight month, LONDON: A steady deterioration came after the trading hours of Fri- in emerging market credit qual- day. The impact is likely to be felt ity is pushing the collective rating next week. on the sector’s most widely used MUMBAI: Key Indian equity mar- During the week, most of the debt benchmark back towards ket indices ended in the green for global indices also ended in red, junk, six years after it rose out the second week in a row on Friday, including Germany’s Dax 100, the of that category. due to inflows from foreign funds, London FTSE 100, Shanghai Com- JPMorgan, which runs the but not before some volatile trad- posite and Nasdaq. But Hong Kong’s EMBI Global Diversified index of ing sessions led by global cues and Hang Seng stood ground to end in sovereign dollar bonds from devel- profit-taking. the positive territory. oping countries, said that based on The Sensitive Index (Sensex) The main movers of the market the ratings from two of the three of the BSE, which had closed at were foreign funds. In each of the four main ratings agencies the index 24,646.48 in the week before, ended trading days of the week — Monday would already be considered junk, on the latest Friday at 24,717.99, to being a holiday on account of Maha or sub-investment grade. log a gain of 71.51 points, or 0.29 per- Shivratri — they emerged net buyers Fitch and Standard and Poor’s cent. In two weeks, the index has in the equities segment, accounting rate the EMBIG at BB-plus but gained 6.75 percent. for total purchases worth $554.76m. Moody’s still has it on the lowest The broader, 50-share Nifty of Within the 19 sector-specific investment grade category, Baa3. the National Stock Exchange (NSE) indices, the top gainer was that for “The EMBIG Diversified is at also rose 24.85 points or 0.33 per- the auto sector, up 1.55 percent, fol- risk of losing its last remaining cent during the week to cross the lowed by healthcare and realty, investment grade rating if Moody’s 7,500-mark at 7,510.20. It gained by which was specifically buoyed by the were to downgrade approximately 480.45 points, or 6.83 percent dur- passage of the real estate bill. The IT, 7 percent of the index by one ing the past two weeks. banking and tech indices, however, notch,” JPM told clients in a note. “With key bills connected to gas, fell the most. While many conservative real estate and mining sectors being Among individual stocks that funds are barred from investing in passed in parliament, the investors go into the Sensex basket, Lupin junk-rated securities, a slideback are increasingly becoming assured was the top gainer, up 4.35 percent to junk for the index as a whole is that the government is back on the at Rs1,857.55, followed by Asian largely symbolic. reform path,” said Anand James, Paints, up 3.35 percent at Rs896.15, But it would deal a fresh blow co-head of technical research with Tata Motors, up 3.04 percent at to emerging markets’ already Geojit BNP Paribas. Rs354.00, HDFC, up 2.68 percent at battered image, with huge capi- “But the cautiousness that pre- Rs1,158.75 and Airtel, up 2.35 per- tal outflows, rising debt ratios and vailed through was however not cent at Rs337.85. a rise in borrowing costs all pres- unexpected, given the slew of event Coal India was the top loser, suring the asset class. risks lined up for the next week down 0.98 percent at Rs319.05, All this has led to dozens of including India’s inflation figures as ICICI Bank, down 0.77 percent at ratings cuts, with 34 sovereign A pedestrian looks at a currency exchange rates board at a money exchange in Buenos Aires’ financial well as US Fed meeting,” James said. Rs213.80, BHEL, down 0.67 percent downgrades in 2015 compared The industrial output numbers, at Rs103.65, Tata Steel, down 0.57 district, Argentina. Several US companies from the food and agriculture business are taking a hit with 18 upgrades. The most sig- which showed that India’s fac- percent at Rs294.45 and NTPC, down because of the abrupt 50 percent devaluation of Argentina’s peso versus the US dollar. nificant were Brazil, Russia, South tory output had logged a decline in 0.51 percent at Rs126.30. Africa and Kazakhstan, all of which comprise a sizeable chunk of the index. This year has already seen 10 downgrades and only one upgrade New China stocks chief vows in emerging markets. ECB pays banks to Moreover, 27 of the 65 coun- tries in the EMBIG index are on the negative rating outlook of one or decisive intervention if needed more rating agencies, indicating take its money a downgrade is likely, JPM added. South Africa’s rating, for Bloomberg greater panic and systemic finan- time was like an oil tanker truck instance, is expected to fall to junk cial risks.” whose engine was not working as it Reuters and the reluctance of banks to lend later this year. Liu was responding to questions went down a steep road,” he said. “In as the economy struggles. Mortgage The average yield spread on at his first briefing since replacing a less severe scenario, the truck might lending will be excluded. There will the EMBIG Diversified index — the BEIJING: China’s new stock regu- Xiao Gang, who was widely criticised be destroyed and the driver die. In the be a de facto upper limit of ¤1.7 trillion premium over US Treasuries that lator vowed to step in “decisively” if for his handling of last summer’s rout worst case it could lead to forest fire FRANKFURT: The European Cen- ($1.9 trillion) on the size of the scheme, investors demand to hold emerging needed to stem the sort of stock-mar- and oversaw the failed introduction and threaten innocent lives.” tral Bank will offer to pay banks that the ECB says, although its actual size debt — is around 420 basis points ket panic that resulted in a $5 trillion of a market circuit-breaker mech- Asked about plans to proceed borrow money from it in what is the will likely be far smaller than that. (bps) compared to just under 300 wipeout last summer, adding that it anism in January. Liu’s remarks with an IPO-registration system, most radical scheme anywhere in Banks will get a chance to borrow bps in January 2010, when JPMor- was far too early to think about the signaled the market won’t be flooded something Premier Li Keqiang men- the world to boost lending to con- in June, September and December as gan announced the index had shed state rescue fund leaving the market. with new shares or any of the stakes tioned in his annual reports to China’s sumers and companies. well as in March 2017. Banks in the junk status. China Securities Regulatory that China Securities Finance, the legislature in 2014 and 2015 but not The project would mean that eurozone are allowed to borrow up It had 39 constituents at the Commission Chairman Liu Shiyu state rescue fund, snapped up to this year, Liu said such a system was banks qualify for billions of euros of to 30 percent of their existing loans, time, but since then a host of wouldn’t give a time line on govern- stem the rout. necessary but would take time. He initially free loans from the ECB and which are estimated by the ECB at issuers have debuted, including ment plans to speed up initial public Liu, formerly chairman of Agri- declined to elaborate. would get paid up to 0.4 percent of roughly ¤5.7 trillion. After two years, lowly-rated sub-Saharan African offerings. He defended the govern- cultural Bank of China, joked that A registration-based system for what they borrow on condition that ECB experts will test whether those and Central American countries. ment’s decision to intervene last year, he’d only been CSRC chairman for IPOs would end CSRC intervention they lend more to companies or con- banks have increased their loans, “We have seen credit erosion in saying the move bought leaders time 22 days. He said there are “lessons to in pricing and allow companies to go sumers. The programme, the latest using a technical benchmark that emerging debt indexes and this has to restore a “dysfunctional” market be learned” from the circuit-breaker public quicker. attempt to rekindle slow, if improv- reflects how much a bank had been happened along with a big boom and headed off bigger threats to the issue and the country won’t be ready He said it was too early to talk ing, lending will see the ECB release lending previously. in issuance,” said David Spegel, financial system. for such a system for years. Yet he about China Securities Finance exit- four rounds of four-year zero-rate If the banks are proven to be lend- head of global EM strategy at ICBC “Under such a situation of panic, also avoided detailed criticism of ing the market. Last August, the CSRC loans to banks from June. ing 2.5 percent or more than they were Standard Bank. if we didn’t act decisively, could the CSRC moves before he arrived, said the fund will remain in the mar- If it works, the plan will make when taking the so-called TLTRO “The over-reliance on debt impact not be huge?” Liu said at the particularly during the time of the ket for years to come. The fund now it easier and cheaper for borrow- (targeted longer-term refinancing capital relative to equity eroded briefing, held on the sidelines of market collapse. has stakes in almost 600 publicly ers across the 19-member eurozone, operation), then the ECB will pay issuers’ underlying credit quality China’s annual legislative session. “The impact of the slumping stock traded companies, according to data although some critics pointed to the them up to 0.4 percent of what they and the commodity price collapse “It would certainly have led to even index on the financial market at the compiled by Bloomberg. failure of earlier similar ECB schemes borrowed. accelerated the process.” BUSINESS VIEWS SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 27

Houston oil workers Air bag rivals struggling may face the axe but jobs still growing to displace Takata

By Howard Schneider jobs, and at a rate consistent with Reuters the outlook from Fed policymakers who expect growing U.S. payrolls will mean enough domestic spend- ing to keep the economy expanding LUNGING energy prices overall. Texas “lost a lot of energy robbed the Texas econ- jobs,” said Dallas Fed research head omy of an estimated Mine Yucel, but the state “has been 60,000 jobs last year, very resilient. I was surprised.” as oil and gas companies Across the oil patch, there’s a Pput the brakes on production and similar pattern of positive trends slashed investment, throwing engi- offsetting bad news. Though low neers and geologists out of work. prices have crippled investment But the forest of construc- in exploration and cut drilling rigs, tion cranes sprouting around overall employment in Oklahoma this petrochemical hub tell the continues to rise in a state that has flip side of the story, as some of built large logistics and defense the same forces that drove down contracting industries. those prices sparked tens of bil- In North Dakota, ground lions of dollars in investment in zero for the fracking boom, over- new processing plants to take all employment has dropped, but advantage of cheap and plenti- the unemployment rate remains a ful supplies of oil and gas. super-low 2.7 percent compared ExxonMobil Corp and Chev- to the national average of 4.9 per- ron Phillips Chemical Co, a joint cent. The number is held down by venture of Chevron Corp and Phil- an expected adjustment: just as lips 66, are building mammoth workers flocked to the state when chemical crackers to process vacancies were plentiful, the labor polyethylene from natural gas, force has declined as the jobs disap- and logistics firms have created peared and workers returned home. millions of new square feet of These states represent a drop warehouse space as they plan to in the bucket compared to Tex- ship the output to the global plas- as’s $1.6 trillion, 12.5 million-job tics industry. economy, a size approaching that A file picture of a technician holding a recalled Takata airbag inflator after he removed it from a Honda Pilot at the AutoNation Rising chemicals output has of Canada. Despite the oil down- contributed to record traffic turn, the unemployment rate is Honda dealership service department in Miami, Florida. at the Houston Port Author- only 4.7 percent as non-energy ity, and officials say the trend is companies like fiber-optic man- expected to continue. Through- ufacturer Applied Optoelectronics out the Baytown area, which is expand in the state. By Naomi Tajitsu hired restructuring lawyers, remains integral to calibrate their propellant force, and on the outskirts of Houston, an In a rough year for the oil Reuters to the process. “In the near term, Takata will manufactured to fit each different model. estimated $8bn worth of projects business, the state as a whole be kept afloat until all the replacement parts In some cases these models date back as is expected to be finished this added 144,000 jobs in 2015, are produced,” Upham said. far as 2000, and parts makers have to year and another $22bn com- according to the Texas Workforce For the ongoing recall, alternative re-tool to replicate obsolete designs. pleted in 2017. Commission, with strong gains EPLACING potentially lethal suppliers including Autoliv, ZF-TRW and “We’re having to produce a similar This has all propped up across the trade and hospitality Takata Corp air bags in a mass Daicel Corp have to fashion replacement inflator which performs the same way in employment in Texas at an oth- sectors, as well as professional recall is more challenging inflators from similar sized designs in their the module as the original did,” said an erwise difficult time. The positive services, health and education. and time-consuming than own product portfolios, and adapt them to executive at a major parts supplier, who impact on the overall US econ- In the Houston metropolitan expected as rival parts Takata’s original design to fit the air bag declined to be named due to the sensitivity omy from the chemicals industry area, which compared to the rest suppliers struggle to make bag module - the casing containing the air bag. of the issue. “We’re having to take a (design that this illustrates is also one of of Texas has traditionally been Rinflators that replicate the originals fitted by Inflators, made of stainless steel or and testing) process which usually takes the reasons the US should avoid most dependent on the energy the Japanese firm. The recalls so far cover aluminium, are not a one-size-fits-all 2-3 years and speed it up to a matter of a downturn despite troubles else- sector, the oil crash did not pre- tens of millions of cars made by more than product. They come in basic disk or tubular months.” Thomas Jonsson, spokesman where in the world. That in turn vent a net gain of 23,000 jobs last a dozen carmakers - and spanning some 170 shapes: ‘hamburgers’ for driver and front for Autoliv, the world’s leading air bag should create the conditions for year. That was well short of the model variants in the United States alone. It’s passenger seats, and ‘hot dogs’ for rear seats, supplier, told Reuters: “We’re seeing our the Federal Reserve to raise inter- above-average 100,000 positions rare in a product recall to have alternative according to an engineer at a major air bag deliveries of up to 20 million inflators est rates again this year. that the city had been adding in suppliers make the replacement parts. But supplier. being dragged out longer than expected. “They are shedding jobs recent years as oil production the unprecedented scale of the Takata recalls, ‘Hamburger’ inflators resemble burger Since we don’t have products off the shelf upstream. That’s the nature of surged, said Patrick Jankowski, where defective air bags have been linked to cartons with pinched edges that can measure that are identical to the original inflators, the business,” said B J Simon, vice president of research at the 10 deaths, has prompted up to around 10 cms (3.9 inches) on each there’s a design phase and a validation associate executive director of Greater Houston Partnership. several automakers to side. The size, dimensions and the amount phase for each different product.” the Baytown-West Chambers But it is also more in line with source replacement of propellant needed to activate the inflator A spokesman for Honda Motor Co said County Economic Development the city’s long-run average and inflators from Takata’s can vary according to vehicle model. its announcement last month that repairs Foundation. But “the opportu- likely more sustainable. rivals. “We need to look at the space between the on 2.2 million recalled air bags would nity to build these crackers just While there may be some The recalls highlight instrument panel and the steering wheel, and begin this summer was indicative of the could not be passed up...access impact on wages from the loss the interdependence make sure we can fit it,” said the engineer, slow pace of procuring replacement parts. to cheap feedstocks changed the of higher paying positions for between Takata, its rivals who didn’t want to be named as he is not Since last year, parts suppliers have whole equation downstream.” geologists and engineers, said and automakers facing authorised to speak to the media. “That’s boosted replacement inflator capacity, and Construction workers have Jankowski, some of the skilled delays for replacement complicated because we’re trying to fit into by mid this year should produce around jobs, new schools are being built construction trade and health The recalls so far parts. “Automakers are an existing space that Takata designed with 5 million replacements each month, to handle a growing local popu- jobs that will replace them also cover tens of millions very reliant on Takata its (automaker) customer, and we may have according to Valient. lation, a new Kroger Marketplace pay above average. to produce replacement to change our design to do this.” Honda said it is sourcing most store is being completed, and a Jim Hanna, a vice president of cars made by inflators and to cooperate Takata said it has “dramatically replacement inflators from suppliers partially vacant shopping mall is for human resources and indus- more than a dozen with ... (rival) companies increased” output of replacement inflators other than Takata, and Nissan Motor Co being overhauled. trial relations with Fluor, said making Takata-designed and is “working closely” with other inflator said it also is securing some replacements The global economy may be it was typical for construction carmakers — and inflators,” said Scott makers to supply replacement kits. But it from rival suppliers. Toyota Motor Corp, sputtering, with weak demand one workers to put in 50-hour weeks spanning some 170 Upham, CEO of Valient remains under pressure from automakers which recalled 11.8 million air bags last of the reasons that oil prices have or more, with annual wages run- Market Research. and regulators to speed up a recall that is year alone, says it switched to Daicel cratered. But the US keeps adding ning upwards of $100,000. model variants in the For now, Takata, now in its eighth year. for around a quarter of the replacement United States alone. which the Wall Street The range of recalled models means more inflators it needs, with Autoliv providing Journal reported has inflator designs have to be modified, tested some others and Takata the remainder. US pounces on Canada in drive to deflate natural gas surplus

By Christine Buurma & Rebecca Penty have reached historic highs, prices have fallen spending this year by 55 percent amid the thermal units at 8:07 a.m. Friday on the New Bloomberg almost 40 percent since the end of 2011 and slide in oil and gas prices. The company is York Mercantile Exchange. the fuel has established itself as the Bloomb- also reducing its workforce another 20 per- That’s where proposals like Spectra’s erg Commodity Index’s worst performer. All cent, which means that Encana will have Nexus and Atlantic Bridge projects come of that has spurred a desperate drive by drill- more than halved its number of employees in. The pipelines, scheduled to start up by S gas drillers battered by the low- ers to expand their markets. and contractors since 2013. the end of next year, would carry about 1.6 est prices in 17 years have found “There’s so much supply growth in the The production gap between the two billion cubic feet of gas, or enough to heat another release valve for their eastern U.S. that producers are seeking any countries is significant. Last year, Canada 22,000 homes for a year, to the northern U.S. output: Canada. Over the past five and all outlets to get the gas to market,” Mar- produced about 12 billion cubic feet a day of and Canada. To achieve this, the company is Uyears, the shale boom that unlocked vast tin King, an analyst at FirstEnergy Capital gas, compared with almost 80 billion from seeking to reverse the Maritimes & Northeast supplies of natural gas across North Amer- Corp. in Calgary, said. “It’s another obstacle the states. At the same time, drillers working line, which sends gas from Canada’s eastern ica has tripled pipeline shipments from the for Canadian producers.” the Montney shale basin in Western Canada waters south of the border. The push US to Mexico, and spurred the first seaborne Home-grown Canadian drillers such face a disadvantage with the northern edge Meanwhile, TransCanada, the company exports from the lower 48 states. as Calgary-based Birchcliff Energy Ltd and of the Marcellus basin in Pennsylvania sitting that was stymied in its attempt to build the begins next Now, pipeline companies led by Spectra Encana Corp, are already feeling the heat. about 12 times closer to Toronto. Keystone XL oil pipeline, is considering year, with plans Energy Corp, TransCanada Corp and Energy Nine years ago, supplies piped from Canada The region covering the Marcellus is one reversing its Iroquois gas line, which has been to open or Transfer Partners LP are gearing up to more met 16 percent of US demand for natural of the few places where it’s still profitable to sending western Canadian supplies to the U.S. than double the flow into Canada by 2027, gas. By 2014, as US output rose to a record invest in gas lines. It’ll yield 17.4 billion cubic for more than two decades. The move would expand at least according to the Canadian Energy Research for a fourth straight year, Canadian supplies feet a day this month, 2 billion cubic feet more allow TransCanada to boost volumes on the three major Institute. The push begins next year, with plans had slipped under 10 percent. Some Cana- than the US Energy Information Administra- pipeline by delivering cheap Marcellus gas to to open or expand at least three major pipelines dian producers will hurt more than others. tion had previously forecast. the eastern provinces. pipelines and and reverse the flow northward on a fourth. Those who keep their costs down and sell to While the number of drilling rigs tar- On Thursday, TransCanada confirmed that reverse the Meanwhile, TransCanada may be going a markets that don’t vie with supplies from the geting gas has plunged to zero in fields from it was in negotiations about a “potential trans- step further, engaging in acquisition talkswith eastern US will remain competitive, said Jeff North Dakota to Oklahoma, there are still 40 action” with another company, but wouldn’t flow northward Columbia Pipeline Group Inc, a company with Tonken, Birchcliff’s chief executive officer. running in the Marcellus and its neighbor- identify it. People familiar with the matter said on a fourth. a direct route into the US’s prolific Marcellus Meanwhile Encana, one of Canada’s larg- ing Utica shale. Gas futures for April delivery the company was Columbia Pipeline, and that shale play. The efforts come as gas stockpiles est gas producers, has said it was cutting rose 3.8 cents to $1.826 per million British the discussions are now at a standstill. 28 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Wall Street’s frustrated Chinese ECB’s foray into corporate bonds may bankers are heading back home do little for inflation

By Bonnie Cao in New York and Green Street Advi- Bloomberg sors in California with an MBA from By Francesco Canepa be a small portion of the ECB’s the University of Southern California’s Reuters monthly purchases, which Marshall School of Business. were increased to ¤80bn on Asian-Americans, some 6 percent Thursday. It may represent a OR Shiwei Zhou, it was of the US population, make up only 2.6 significant slice of the market partly the sense of obli- percent of the corporate leadership of HE European Central for such bonds, however. gation toward after-work Fortune 500 companies, according to Bank’s decision to buy In a note earlier this year, drinks and talk of ice a study by DiversityInc. The number corporate bonds will Barclays analysts said bonds hockey. William Su felt for Chinese natives is lower. be a boon for investors from non-financial institutions his career was stuck after Meanwhile, the offers in newly- Tbut may have a muted impact on that would meet the ECB crite- Ffour years in the same role. QJ Guo wealthy China are increasingly inflation given the small size of ria amounted to ¤480bn, adding wanted to be near his parents as they attractive. The picture is not entirely that market and its tenuous link an ECB move into this market age. All three are among the many rosy for the returnees, not only to the broader economy. would have negligible effect on Chinese who came to the US to study because some must take care of aging The ECB, which so far credit conditions. What the ECB business, find work and make sala- parents. They are also going back bought bonds issued by gov- will achieve is an expansion the ries beyond reach at home and are after a stock market rout last sum- ernments and other public assets it can buy, easing fears it now headed in the opposite direction. mer wiped out more than $5 trillion entities, announced on Thurs- may run out of eligible targets. As US firms have cut bonuses and and had the worst start of the year in day it would purchase the debt It will likely also lead inves- positions, and China’s sector explodes expansion. And with the government Fund, which manages about 39bn yuan at least two decades. The government of private companies provided tors currently holding corporate in sophistication and pay, some are pushing for reforms, some joined Chi- ($6bn), speaking of his career oppor- also targeted the finance industry they are based in the euro zone, bonds into higher-yielding migrating back. And while this may na’s financial regulators. tunities. “In a mature market like the with arrests and investigations. have an investment grade rating assets such as stocks. This proc- seem like an odd moment to repat- But the latest round of returns US, you have to wait for a long time for And those going back are expe- and are not banks. ess, known by central bankers riate, given the mounting financial is different. With the government opportunities. I didn’t know when my riencing a minor version of culture ECB President Mario Draghi as portfolio-rebalancing, has jitters back home, two forces are driv- encouraging entrepreneurship to turn would come.” shock. “I’m used to the American style said the move would ease been the most visible result ing the move: The fact that many feel drive growth, China’s financial Su, 35, got an MBA from the Uni- of planning ahead,” Su said. Meetings financing conditions in the real of central banks’ quantitative they’re hitting a bamboo ceiling in the markets are now seen as compet- versity of Rochester in New York in China are often impromptu, he said. economy, presumably by low- easing programmes across the US and the belief that Chinese growth, itive. Venture capitalists poured a State with a goal of becoming a fund “And people tend to be late.” He also ering yields on corporate bonds world, fuelling rallies in major while slowing, is shifting into areas record $37bn into China last year. manager. But after four years as a noted that house prices in Shenzhen — effectively making it cheaper markets between 2012 and 2015. that will benefit bankers. This has led to the creation of some Vanguard Group analyst in Penn- had risen 50 percent the past year. for companies to borrow money It is supposed to finance cor- “China has a huge demand for of the world’s most-valuable startups, sylvania he felt he was not rising Tony Wan, a Chengdu native who on the market. Indeed, yields on porate investment but its impact good brains as the labour-inten- including smartphone manufacturer professionally, sold his two-story worked as a quantitative analyst in bonds issued by eurozone non- on the real economy has been sive economy is behind us,” said Xiaomi Corp and peer-to-peer lender house and moved his family to Shen- New York for four years until very financial companies fell sharply small. Many companies have Cao Huining, professor of finance Lu.com, officially called Shanghai zhen in October. recently, said he didn’t really mind. on Thursday. preferred to buy back shares at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Lujiazui International Financial Asset Guo, 29, worked at CBRE Group “The chaos is a good thing because it However, the market for or even sit on their cash, rather Business. “A lot of people see better Exchange Co. Inc, the world’s largest property serv- means more opportunities,” said Wan, such notes is small and is mainly than put money to work while career paths in China than in the US, The IMF recently added the yuan ices company, as an analyst for two declining to name the bank where he made up of large corporations growth prospects remain poor. where they probably could just make to its basket of reserve currencies, join- years. Like many Chinese, he is an works. “As long as you play smart, you that have enjoyed low financ- “Is it enough to boost infla- a mediocre living.” ing the dollar, euro, pound and yen, so only child and wanted to be near his won’t have troubles.” ing costs for years and, in some tion? I’m not so sure,” Philippe The movement is such a wide- Chinese lenders are also scrambling parents as they age. Now he’s with a Still, not all sea turtles have swum cases, sit on large cash piles. Gudin, an economist at Barclays, spread phenomenon that the Chinese to strengthen their trading desks. state-owned Chinese insurance firm back for good. About 5 percent of The ECB has not said how many said. “It’s not a silver bullet. Infla- have a moniker for the returnees, Hai This is a move that Barclays Plc’s esti- in Shanghai. them will return abroad because bonds it will buy or how large it tion is still low because there are Gui, or “sea turtles”. In Mandarin, the mates could increase global demand “It is just very hard to crack that, they will find it harder to fit into estimates the market to be. external factors and the recovery phrase means “return across the sea” for the yuan by as much as $300bn because you don’t grow up in that their home country than they realize, “Speculation is that it is modest.” The ECB’s own staff and sounds like the animal’s name. by 2020 despite its weakening since kind of culture,” said Zhou, 40, who according to Michael Page, a recruit- could be in the region of estimates showed price growth The turtles first started swim- August. The government has unleashed joined Ctrip.com International Ltd, ment consulting firm. Some will ¤5bn ($5.59bn) per month,” would not reach the bank’s target ming back in 2008 when Wall Street stringent measures to defend the cur- China’s biggest online travel company, spend their time between their two Tanguy Le Saout, head of Euro- of almost 2 percent for the next erupted in crisis. They were prized for rency, depleting reserves by more than speaking of his attempts to follow ice countries. They have their own Man- pean fixed-income at Pioneer two years and economic growth their understanding of the nuances $500bn last year. hockey. “How many Chinese play darin name — “seagulls” — meaning Investments, said. This would will remain slow. of Chinese culture as well as West- “In China, the sky is the limit,” said such sports?” Zhou worked as an those who remain uncertain which ern practices that helped overseas Su, executive director at First Seafront equity analyst at Manning & Napier country is their home.

Under such a situation of (market) panic, if we didn’t Capital act decisively, could the impact not be huge? It would Liu Shiyu, newly-appointed certainly have led to even greater panic and systemic chairman of China Securities Comment financial risks. Regulatory Commission

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Malaysian finance Market Talk official set to be IMF @IMFNews MoneyBeat central bank governor Lagarde: women are the untapped resource NAME IN THE MARKET: FEMALE LABOUR FORCE and the treasure of KUALA LUMPUR: A top Malaysian #AdvancingAsia, but S&P now derives more than half finance ministry official is set to be face legal barriers to of its revenue from corporate appointed central bank governor to labor market debt versus about a quarter in replace Zeti Akhtar Aziz next week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing uni- 2007. Moody’s generates about dentified sources. KPMG US @KPMG_US 45% of its revenues from grading Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah will Funding, resources & corporate debt versus 28% in replace Zeti, who steps down as Bank new #tech = greatest 2007. Corporate debt issuance has Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor on April concerns for private 30 after 16 years at the helm, the news- company directors remained at historically-high levels paper said. A spokesman at the Prime because of low interest rates Minister’s Office told Reuters he would not comment on speculation. Zeti is widely respected, and credited for push- Fitch Ratings @ ing reforms and sound policies, as well as DealB%k protecting the independence of the cen- FitchRatings tral bank. There has been no official word Negative Interest on her replacement. Rates Put More Pres- Mohd Irwan was one of the candi- sure on #Japanese CVC Capital Partners, a European dates short-listed for the job along with Banks’ NIM private equity firm whose U.S. deputy central bank governor Muham- holdings include BJ’s Wholesale mad Ibrahim, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Eco- Club Inc. and consultancy CNBC-TV18 @ nomic Planning Abdul Wahid Omar and the ambassador to the United States Awang CNBCTV18Live AlixPartners LLP, is expanding its U.S. team that invests in the Adek Hussin, Reuters reported in February. RBI Guv- Raghuram A career civil servant, Mohd Irwan is Rajan: Should Avoid telecommunications, media and Treasury secretary-general at the Finance Sustained Uni-direc- technology sectors. Ministry, which is headed by Prime Minis- tional Exchange Rate ter Najib. He is also a member of the board Intervention of advisers for 1MDB. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32 Rafael Benitez Sharapova slams to rescue media coverage of Newcastle doping case

SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 • 4 Jumada II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Double delight for Qatar’s Al Ajami

savoured a flawless routine with Arm- strong Van De Kapel QNB DOHA TOUR Qatari rider wins Alsharbatly picked up QR92,060 CSI2* - Comp. 9, Table (A) Against the second leg of for his second-place finish. Home clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2, 145 rider Ali Youseff Al Rumaihi, a mem- CM QNB Doha Tour as ber of the Olympic Games squad for Qatar, finished third with Gunder. Al 1 Cheril, Ali Al Khorafi, 34.21 seconds, QR Armstrong Van De 17,500 Kapel books ticket to Rumaihi won QR69,045. Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Abdulaziz 2 Kannada, Rashid Towaim Al Marri, 36.27, Rio Olympics Al Eid (Old Chap Time, QR32,221) and QR 14,000 Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed 3 Santos, Awad Al Qahtani, 38.43, QR 10,500 (Cliff Z, QR25,316) completed the top five. “For sure I am so pleased that I 4 Wkd Lexington, Nasser Albagami, 34.46, By Rizwan Rehmat have won on home soil, in front of my QR 7,000 The Peninsula fans.” Al Ajami said. 5 Cover Girl G, Bader Mohammed Alfard, “I did not expect to win because 34.86, QAR 4,900 there are good riders in this compe- tition,” Al Ajami said. CSI2* - Comp. 8, Two Phases, Art. DOHA: It was double delight for Ramzy Hamad, Alsharbatly and 274.5.3, 125 CM Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami Khaled Al Eid are all good riders,” the 1 Ungarin 4, Ali Al Khorafi, 24.19 seconds, who yesterday guided Armstrong Qatari said. QR 12,500 Van De Kapel to victory in QNB Doha “This is a new horse. We bought it Tour title win at the Main Arena of the recently in 2016. And he will be going 2 Wait N See, Saad Alajami, 25.86, QR 10,000 Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF). to Rio with me,” Al Ajami said. 3 H Zoe, Abdullah Alrajhi, 26.15, QR 7,500 The victory in the feature com- “Now I will get ready for the third petition of the day sealed Armstrong leg of the QNB Doha Tour,” he said. 4 T. Vivaldy, Meshary Alhumaidi Alharbi, Van De Kapel’s ticket to Rio Olympic “Olympics is a big target for us. It 26.36 QR 5,000 Games where the Qatar squad will won’t be easy and I hope we can do 5 Wisecrack, Morten Alexander Djupvik, 26.50 feature in the equestrian competition. it (win the gold),” he said. QR 3,500 Armstrong Van De Kapel yester- In the team competition, Al Udeid day clocked a time of 39.08 seconds Blue sailed to win in the round against Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami (centre) celebrates his win in the second leg of the QNB Doha Tour at CSI4* Comp 10, Table (A) One round in the jump-off to seal the win worth the clock as the trio of Saed Saad, the Main Arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) in Al Rayyan yesterday. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah against the clock, ARt 238.5.1, 145cm QR115,075. Tina Lund and Salman Mohammed Alsharbatly (left), finished in second place and Ali Youseff Al Rumaihi of Qatar, came third. 1 Al Udeid Team, 222.99 seconds, 4 faults, Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alshar- Al Emadi picked up the top prize of QR 89,088 batly, astride Littel Pezi, retired QR89,088. just seconds into the jump-off to Al Udeid Blue clocked a com- just 4 faults. Lusail Team comprising Al Attiyah and Mohammed Osama El Marri won QR14,000. Qatar’s Awad 2 Lusail Team, 240.45, 7 faults, QR 70,656 hand over the win to Al Ajami who bined time of 222.99 seconds with of Ramzy Haamd Al Duhami, Hamad Borai finished in second spot that was Al Qahtani, astride Santos, bagged 3 Al Shaqab Team, 221.41, 8 faults, QR 55,296 worth QR70,656. Lusail Team clocked the third spot. a time of 240.45 seconds. Santos clocked a time of 38.43 4 Doha Team, 238.79, 17 faults, QR 38,400 Al Shaqab Team grabbed the third seconds in the jump-off class as Al 5 Katara Team, 235.38, 19 faults, QR 29,184 spot in the five-side competition. Qahtani won QR10,500. Saudi duo of Kamala Abdullah Bahamdan, Nasser Albagami and Bader Moham- 6 Al Rayyan Team, 243.12, 22 faults, QR Ibrahim Hani Bisharat and Khaled med Alfard completed the top five. 24,576 Abdulrehman Almobty produced a Albagami, astride WKD Lexington CSI4* Come 11. Table (A) Two rounds comined time of 221.41 seconds. The (34.46 seconds), won QR7,000. Cover with jump off, Art 273.3.4.1, 4.5, 2.2, third prize was worth QR55,296. Girl G, ridden by Alfrad, clocked 34.86 160cm Doha, Katara and Al Rayyan seconds to finish in fifth spot. Alfard 1 Armstrong Van De Kapel, Faleh Suwead Al teams were placed fourth, fifth and won QR4,900. Ajami, 39.08 seconds, QR 115,075 sixth respectively. In competition, Kuwaiti rider Al The fourth place was worth Khoraifi produced a dazzling run with 2 Littel Pezi, Abdullah Alsharbatly, retired, QR38,400 (238.79 seconds, 17 faults), Ungarin 4 to win the 125cm class on QR 92,060 while the fifth-best team picked up what was the final day’s action in the 3 Gunder, Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi, QR 69,045 QR29,184 (235.38 seconds, 19 faults) second leg of the three-event QNB for their efforts. Doha Tour. 4 Old Chap Time, Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid, Al Rayyan won QR24,576 (243.12 Ungarin 4 clocked a time of QR 46,030 seconds, 22 faults). 24.19 seconds as Al Khoraifi won 5 Cliff Z, Bassem Hassan Mohammed, QR Earlier in competition 9, in-form QR12,500. 32,221 Kuwaiti rider Ali Al Khoraifi guided Saudi rider Saad Alajami guided Cheril to a convincing win in the Wait N See to second spot. Wait N See 145cm class. clocked 25.86 seconds as Alajami Vivaldi, 26.36) finished fourth while Qatari rider Faleh Cheril clocked a time of 34.21 sec- won QR10,000. Alajami’s compa- Norway’s Morten Alexander Djupvik Suwead Al Ajami onds as Al Khorafi - who rides under triot Abdullah Alrajhi managed a (Wisecrack, 26.50) ended in fifth spot. with his winning the flag of FEI - picked up the top flawless ride with H Zoe to claim the Alharbi won QR5,000 while Djupvik horse Armstrong prize of QR17,500. third spot. got richer by QR3,500. Van De Kapel. Qatar’s Rashid Al Towaim Al Marri H Zoe clocked a time of 26.15 The third leg of the QNB Doha sealed the second place when his ride as Alrajhi won QR7,500. Saudi Ara- Tour will be held from March 24 to Kannada clocked a time of 36.27. Al bia’s Meshary Alhumaidi Alharbi (T 26 at Katara. Al Khor rally to down Qatar SC, El Jaish edge Al Arabi

The Peninsula Jefferson Consteveous (24 points) Action from the BASKETBALL: QATAR CUP and Al Muftah Abdulrahman Ibra- 2016 Qatar Cup him (14 points) supported Anthony’s between Qatar SC DOHA: Al Khor continued their efforts. and Al Khor at the impressive run in the 2016 Qatar Cup In the second match, El Jaish 2016 to register a second successive From there on, Al Khor were sim- defeated Al Arabi 81-77 also col- Al Gharafa Indoor win while El Jaish also finished on the ply unstoppable. Helped by top scorer lected their second successive win Stadium yesterday. winning side in yesterday’s matches Rembert Patrick Ronald, Al Khor con- to maintain a consistent run in the at the Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium. tinued to pick hole in the Qatar SC tournament. In the first match of the day, Al defence on a consistent basis to score El Jaish had opened their Qatar Khor made a splendid recovery in the points while defending with aplomb. Cup campaign with 74-73 win over third quarter to post a 84-77 win over Ronald top scored for Al Khor Al Sadd on Wednesday. Qatar SC. with 38 points playing a stellar role Bell Rashad Ernest top scored for Coach Ahmed Fawzy started off in the win. El Jaish with 19 points. an impressive note to take a 23-13 Abouo Charles, with 26 points Macklin Vernon Leon and lead heading into the second quar- and Hadzibegovic Alen with 13 Magassa Hadj, both scored 18 points ter and continued in the same quarter points, played a perfect foil to Ron- for El Jaish. to finish the second quarter at 40-30. ald, to give coach Ahmed Kamel side For Al Arabi, Soyebo Temi Nar- In the third quarter, Al Khor took his second win of the championship. cellius and Seck Oumar, scored 20 the lead for the first in the game going For Qatar SC, White Malcolm points each in a losing cause. into the last quarter with a four point Anthony took the fight into the Al Hamed Ibnomer Moutasim cushion of 62-58. Khor camp with 34 points. scored 14 points for Al Arabi. 30 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 SPORT

Former champs Al Gharafa, Pakistan cricketers arrive in Kolkata Al Ahli pick up points

post their eighth win of the season. producing quality football. Our tar- in what was the first goal of the hard- Al Gharafa record Earlier yesterday, hosts Al Ahli get will be to win as many matches fought clash. Adam also scored his picked up key points with a slick 4-2 as possible for here onwards.” second in the 80th minute to reduce second win in four win against Umm Salal. Al Gharafa are placed in 8th Al Ahli’s lead. games while Umm For Al Gharafa yesterday, Tamir spot with a tally of 30 points from 22 For sixth-placed Umm Salal, it Gamal Ziber kicked off the proceed- matches. It was Al Gharafa’s second was their third straight match without Salal go winless again ings by scoring the opening goal in win in their last four fixtures. Sev- a win. Umm Salal, coached by Bülent the 11th minute. enth-placed Al Sailiyah have 31 points Uygun, have a tally of 32 points from Substitute Adel Ahmad Mohmad from 22 matches. For Al Sailiyah, it 22 matches. found the net in the 62nd minute. An was their first loss in the last three Al Ahli, placed 10th, have a 25 The Peninsula own goal by Dragos Grigore in the matches. points from 22 rounds. Saturday’s 68th minute added to Al Sailiyah’s Earlier, a brace by captain win was Al Ahli’s second in the last woes. Hungarian striker Krisztian Mashael Abdulla (77 and 95) and three matches. Nemeth added Al Gharah’s fourth a double by team mate Mouhssine The round 23 commences on DOHA: Former Qatar Stars League goal in the 72nd minute. Iajour (27 and 56) saw Al Ahli pick up March 18 when hosts Al Wakrah (QSL) champions Al Gharafa and Al Al Gharafa goalkeeper Abdulaziz three points from the round 22 clash take on Umm Salal. The same day, Al Ahli posted contrasting wins as round Ali Abdulla said: “It was a team effort. played at Al Ahli Stadium. Ahli will face Al Arabi as the fight for 22 came to an end yesterday. We played well as unit. That was the For Umm Salal, Abdulqadir Ilyas places on the QSL points table hots up. Al Gharafa crushed Al Sailiya 4-0 key to our victory today.” Adam was the third player in the The QSL title has already been at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium where He added: “We have been get- match to score two goals. decided with Al Rayyan winning their the hosts looked in little trouble to ting good support and the side is Adam scored in the 23rd minute 8th crown with five rounds to spare. Everton’s Lukaku ends Chelsea’s season Pakistan cricket captain Sahid Afridi looks on as the team arrives for the T20 World Cup cricket tournament at the Netaji Subhas Reuters FOOTBALL: FA CUP Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata yesterday. Pakistan team had delayed their arrival citing security concerns. Chelsea’s Diego Costa (centre) in action with Everton’s Gareth Barry and Leighton Baines already put victory beyond during their FA Cup quarter final played in LIVERPOOL: Romelu doubt. Liverpool yesterday. Lukaku scored two With a replay looking goals, one demonstrating likely, Lukaku conjured up South Africa beat India strength and rare skill, to a goal from nowhere, mus- knock his old side Chelsea cling past two defenders out of the FA Cup 2-0 in on the left flank, power- a dramatic quarter-final ing into the box and, after in World T20 warm-up featuring two sendings- some nifty footwork, fir- off yesterday. ing a left-foot shot into the Chelsea striker Diego corner. Agencies Shikhar Dhawan was India’s Costa was shown the red It ended Premier highest scorer with 73 while Suresh card for a second book- League champions Chel- Raina notched 41 and captain ing as he retaliated with sea’s chances of any Mahendra Singh Dhoni recorded face-to-face aggres- silverware at the end of MUMBAI: South Africa defeated 30 as the home side got into their sion after being fouled by another wretched week hosts India by four runs in their groove. Gareth Barry. Barry was that also saw them crash World Twenty20 warm-up match But in the end they fell just short then given a second yel- out of the Champions in Mumbai yesterday. on a total of 192 for three. low card three minutes League against Paris St The Proteas won the toss and India play New Zealand on Tues- from time but Lukaku had Germain. opted to bat, going on to make 196 day in the first Super 10 group-stage for eight in their 20 overs at the game of the tournament. western Indian city’s Wankhede England are in action against Stadium. the West Indies on Wednesday Man City lose ground, JP Duminy top-scored for South before facing South Africa on Fri- Africa, hitting 67 off 44 balls. His day in the Proteas’ first match of the impressive knock included six fours championship. Pelle propels Saints and three sixes. Later yesterday, Scotland reg- Left-handed batsman Quinton de istered their first victory in an Kock stylishly played his way to 56 International Cricket Council (ICC) AFP Ham United, with Man- runs before retiring not out. event when they beat Hong Kong by chester United two points Hardik Pandya was the pick of eight wickets via Duckworth-Lewis further back. India’s bowlers, grabbing three wick- method in a rain-shortened contest. Meanwhile, Italian ets. India’s run chase got off to a bad The outcome had no real conse- LONDON: Manchester striker Graziano Pelle start with opener Rohit Sharma going quence on the tournament as both City’s faltering Premier ended a 13-game scoring for ten and Virat Kohli managing just teams had already crashed out of League title bid sustained drought with a double one before being caught off only his contention for a place in the main another blow yesterday as as Southampton stole a second ball. draw. a 0-0 draw at Norwich march on Stoke City in the City left Manuel Pel- race for European quali- legrini’s side nine points fication with a 2-1 win at below leaders Leicester the Britannia Stadium. City. Steve Cook headed in Oman face Bangladesh test Victory would have a 78th-minute winner as taken City above Arse- Bournemouth won 3-2 at nal into third place, but home to fellow relegation Agencies conceded that it would be a chal- instead they remain battlers Swansea City to lenge, promising not to take Oman fourth, only two points move 13 points clear of the lightly. “We don’t take any team above fifth-placed West bottom three. lightly. Oman have caused few big DHARAMSALA: The weather in upsets and beating Ireland is not a Dharamsala has been unpredicta- small thing at all,” he said yesterday. ble, but the qualification scenario “We have analysed them as Barca thrash Getafe in Group A of the World Twenty20 much as we would Pakistan or India. PSG poised to lift crown as is straightforward. The winner of Obviously we have a lot less infor- the Bangladesh versus Oman game mation on them but we have studied as Messi stars today will go through to the Super their batsmen and bowlers as pro- 10s. And, in case of a no-result, fessionally as we can. It’s a big game Monaco held by Reims AFP opens up an 11-point Bangladesh qualifies as it has a for us and we won’t be taking them lead on second-placed slightly higher net run-rate than lightly.” Atletico, who were to host Oman. Today’s game would be Oman’s Deportivo la Coruna later Bangladesh has been the clear first match against a full-member AFP games when Gerard Houllier fellow Brazilian Diego to pull BARCELONA: Lionel yesterday. favourite in the group after a good nation and one inspired perform- led Lyon to the crown in 2007. Reims level after 79 minutes, Messi scored, provided Real Madrid are now run in limited-overs cricket of late ance can take it to a stage it has Monaco are targetting for a precious point as they three assists and missed 15 points adrift of Barca in and, bar a massive upset, had to be never been anywhere close to the second direct Champions sit three points above the a penalty as Barce- third ahead of their trip to backed to take another forward step before. MONACO: Paris Saint-Ger- League spot with Leonardo drop zone. lona pressed home their Las Palmas today. by getting into the main round. As Aamir Kaleem, their vice- main’s path to claiming the Jardim’s side having no room “Our situation isn’t good,” advantage at the top of La An eighth defeat in Bangladesh didn’t have much captain said, “it’s a win-win Ligue 1 title in record time for error with Lyon, the only said Jardim. Liga with a 6-0 thrashing nine games leaves Getafe turnaround time from the Asia Cup situation” for the team. “If we win this weekend was cleared on team to beat the Parisians this “I’m not happy. At 2-1 we of Getafe yesterday. just a point above the rel- final, which it lost to India, but has we go through to the next round, but Friday as nearest challengers season, third, seven points had the chance to score a third Juan Rodriguez’s own egation zone. acclimatised well to the cold condi- unfortunately if we can’t do that we Monaco were held 2-2 at home behind the Principality side. and we missed. When you goal opened the scor- “This is a unique tions in Dharamsala. have still achieved a lot in this tour- by Reims. Monaco had gotten off to a miss the third goal you give ing before Messi saw his team, different to the rest Its batsmen were slightly off- nament,” he said. A win at lowly Troyes bright start with winter sign- a lot of confidence to your penalty saved by Vice- and which does things colour in the opening game against Oman faces the Asia Cup final- today would give Laurent ing Vagner Love getting a first rivals.” nte Guaita, teed up Munir that make it seem like the Netherlands but will take con- ists today after a heroic show against Blanc’s side 77 points - 25 half double. He added: “But there are El Haddadi and Neymar there is nothing the oppo- fidence from the fact that they still Ireland in their first match. The best more than Monaco who are The Brazilian opened eight games left, 24 points to and smashed home his nent can do,” said Barca managed to come out on top. The big- thing about the victory was that it currently second with 52 after just five minutes at Stade collect.” 36th goal of the season boss Luis Enrique. gest positive for Bangladesh in the wasn’t a case of just one player hav- points after 30 games - and Louis II only for Gaetan Char- “The third (placed team) all before half-time. The European cham- two games has been Tamim Iqbal’s ing a field day, as is often the case a fourth successive crown to bonnier to get the equaliser will play against the fourth Neymar and Arda pions weren’t even at full form. The left-hand opener showed with unfancied teams in T20s. round out an excellent week six minutes later following a (Rennes-Lyon), both won’t Turan rounded off the strength as Enrique left he can bat according to the situation The result was a consequence after reaching the Champions superb cross from Nicolas De win.” scoring to seal Barca’s Luis Suarez on the bench – he made a well-paced 83 against of a complete team effort; Munees League quarter-finals. Preville. Lyon, coming off last 12th straight La Liga win ahead of Barca’s return Netherlands and followed it up with Ansari, Kaleem and Khawar Ali Until now the fastest a Vagner got his second weekend’s 5-1 win against after the break. to Champions League a whirlwind 40 in the rain-hit game starred with the ball before Zeeshan team has won the French on 37 minutes following an Guingamp, travel to another A 37th consecutive action against Arsenal against Ireland. Maqsood, Khawar and Amir Ali pro- league title was after 33 error by Charbonnier only for Brittany side Rennes todayday. game without defeat on Wednesday. Heath Streak, its bowling coach, duced magic with their bats. SPORT SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 31

Qatari delegation visits Turkish Football Federation facilities

QNA Hassan Al Thawadi at the new facil- expertise, the Qatari delegation was match between Turkey and Greece. of support and expertise which we geographical proximity, we also ities in Riva - which incorporates a given a helicopter tour of Istanbul to Facilities in the stadium include 34 have been offered from Turkey by the look forward by 2022 to welcoming national team centre with five train- receive an overview of major infra- rooms for players, as well as accom- government and the Turkish Foot- Turkish fans - some of the most pas- ISTANBUL: A visit to the Turk- ing pitches and custom-built areas for structure developments. The tour modation for elite young players and ball Federation, will be invaluable sionate in the world – to Doha. ish Football Federation facilities in players, officials and coaching staff - showcase mega sports projects like 11 new training pitches under con- to Qatar as we build towards the first The Acting President of the Riva, Istanbul, and a helicopter tour included productive discussions with Galatasaray’s Turk Telekom Arena struction in addition to the existing FIFA World Cup in the region.” Turkish Football Federation, Servet above the city’s most recent stadium the Acting President of the Turkish and Besiktas’s Vodafone Arena as three pitches. “Turkish companies are already Yildirim, welcomed the Qatari del- additions were the highlights on the Football Federation, Servet Yildirim. well as the new airport and road Commenting on the conclusion of involved in Qatar, where they are egation to the newly-built facilities second stop of a Qatari trade delega- Also present in the discussions was networks being build in the vicinity. the two-day visit to Turkey, SC Sec- helping to build the infrastructure in Riva, and said he looked for- tion visit to Turkey, which included Turkish National Team coach Fatih The last stop for the delegation retary General Hassan Al Thawadi to support the tournament in terms ward to signing a memorandum of officials from the Supreme Commit- Terim, who highlighted Qatar’s strong was Basaksehir Fatih Terim Sta- said: “It was an honour to meet with of both the road networks and Doha understanding between the football tee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and performance in the recent interna- dium, where a full technical tour and President Erdogan and receive Tur- Metro. This visit to Turkey has greatly federations of the two countries: “As stakeholders from Qatar Rail, Ash- tional friendly held between the two overview of the functionality of the key’s full support for the 2022 FIFA enhanced our cooperation and high- sister countries, Qatar and Turkey gahl, Aspetar and the Qatar Tourism teams in Doha. modern 17,500 seater stadium took World Cup in Qatar. The recep- lighted further opportunities and have a lot to share, especially in the Authority. Following the discussions, which place. The stadium named after Tur- tion and the positive meetings we technical areas where we can work fields of infrastructure and knowl- The meetings held by the dele- focused on ways to enhance tech- key’s renowned national team coach have had both in Ankara and Istan- together and exchange expertise with edge. There are many areas between gation led by SC Secretary General nical cooperation and exchange of recently hosted the international bul, and specifically the high level a major football nation. With such Turkey and Qatar to cooperate.”

Wenger tells Arsenal to show more consistency

AFP

LONDON: Arsene Wenger (pic- Benitez to tured) has told his Arsenal stars to show more consistency as the FA Cup holders try to get their spluttering season back on track in today’s quar- ter-final against Watford. Wenger’s side host the Hornets at a time when they are languishing rescue eight points behind leaders Leicester in the Premier League and teetering on the brink of another tame Cham- pions League exit. On Wednesday, Arsenal must overturn a two-goal first-leg defi- cit in the Champions League against not at an end. The Wales midfielder Newcastle holders Barcelona in the Camp Nou suffered a thigh injury in Tuesday’s to avoid crashing out of Europe’s elite 4-0 FA Cup fifth round replay win New Newcastle United club competition. at Hull just 15 minutes after com- manager Rafael Benitez Most Gunners supporters would ing off the bench in the second half. speaks during a press admit the FA Cup represents by far When asked whether Ramsey’s sea- conference. the most realistic chance of silver- son was over Wenger insisted: “I dont ware after winning it for the last two believe that. At the moment his clin- seasons, but Wenger refuses to rule ical signs are quite positive. I would out a dramatic turn of fortunes both say four weeks. have committed to a legendary Eng- apologising for the “uncertainty” sur- unhappy with the way Newcastle’s at home and abroad. “It was a bit worse than I thought The former Liverpool lish club, with the massive challenge rounding the 54-year-old McClaren’s millionaire owner Mike Ashley, the “I haven’t given up on the Pre- because I didn’t see it. of remaining part of the Premier position after last Saturday’s 3-1 home man behind Britain’s Sports Direct mier League at all and I’ve said that “Usually when a player gets boss in for a three- League,” said Benitez in a Newcas- defeat by Bournemouth. chain, has run the club . many times, nor the Champions injured with a muscle, he stops and year period to help tle statement. That result was widely regarded The team’s troubles have been League,” Wenger said. I did not have that feeling of pre- Benitez was Liverpool’s manager as making any extension of the reflected in a merry-go-round at St “We have to take care of the next caution so I thought he would be save Newcastle from from 2004-2010 and also had a brief former England manager’s nine- James’ that has seen 10 managers minute and the next minute is an FA available for Sunday.” Premier League stint as Chelsea caretaker boss dur- month Newcastle reign impossible, in the 12 years since Bobby Rob- Cup game. Per Mertesacker and fellow ing the 2012/13 season. with the Magpies having won just son, another ex-England boss, left “Is it the best chance to win a centre-back Gabriel also suffered relegation He tried to rally Newcastle’s six of their 28 league games so far in 2004. trophy? It’s still far away. We must injuries against Hull at a time increasingly frustrated supporters by this season, and on Friday the club For all their passionate support win the next game and prove that we when Laurent Koscielny is already saying: “All of us must push together said McClaren had been sacked with and ‘big club’ status, Newcastle have can show consistency again.” sidelined. in the same direction and with the “immediate effect”. not won a major trophy since the 1969 Losing Aaron Ramsey to injury Arsenal beat Watford 3-0 at AFP same target in mind. This is the rea- McClaren, in a statement issued European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a for the rest of the campaign would be Vicarage Road in October but the son why I’m going to ask for your total later Friday through the League Man- forerunner of the Europa League. a major blow to any renewed chal- Hornets’ utility man Ikechi Anya support to successfully complete this agers’ Association, said he understood They spent £29 million ($41 mil- lenge in the league, but Wenger believed his side were hard done by task.” why he had been sacked but insisted lion, 37 million euros) on new players remains adamant that his season is on that occasion. LONDON: Rafael Benitez returned The 55-year-old added: “Per- he could have turned the tide of poor during the January transfer window to English football on Friday with the sonally, it means my return to the results. in a bid to avoid the drop but only task of saving Newcastle United from Premier League, closer to my home “I am obviously very disappointed Aston Villa are below them in the Premier League relegation after the and my family. I can’t be happier. with the decision,” he said. “I appre- table, although the Magpies are just struggling north-east side announced “C’mon Toon Army! The club and ciate any frustrations relating to the a point away from safety. Buffon goes past Zoff as the Spaniard as their new manager. I need your total involvement!” team’s results and the club subse- Benitez, who guided Liverpool to Former Liverpool boss Benitez, Newcastle managing director Lee quently finding itself in a battle to Champions League glory in 2005, will sacked by Real Madrid earlier this Charnley hailed Benitez’s appoint- avoid relegation. I remain confident, have just days to get to know his new Juventus extend lead season, has signed a three-year deal ment, saying: “In Rafa we have, however, that we would have stayed players before a formidably tough first with Newcastle, who are currently without doubt, secured the services in the Premier League with a view to match away to Premier League lead- second-bottom in the table with just of one of Europe’s top managers. building for next season. ers Leicester on Monday. AFP legendary Dino Zoff’s tally of 903 10 league games remaining this term. “Our sole focus now is to give “I would like to place on record His first home game in charge will minutes in the 67th minute, he His appointment was announced our full support to Rafa, his coach- what a privilege it has been to man- be against local rivals Sunderland on went on to finish on 926 minutes just hours after Newcastle confirmed ing team and the players in order age Newcastle United Football Club. It March 20, one of the most significant unbeaten, just three behind the that they had sacked former manager to secure our status in the Premier is a great a club -- the embodiment of Tyne-Wear derbies in years given the MILAN: Gianluigi Buffon’s impres- 929-minute record set by Sebas- Steve McClaren. League. the city, with incredible supporters.” Black Cats are also battling to avoid sive unbeaten run in Serie A gave tiano Rossi with AC Milan in 1994. “I have the pleasure to confirm I Earlier, Charnley found himself Magpies fans have long been relegation. Juventus a second reason to cele- Juve started brightly and after brate on Friday as the champions just 25 seconds Dybala’s volley opened up a six-point lead on title from Mario Mandzukic’s lay-off rivals Napoli with a 1-0 win over skimmed the crossbar, while the Sassuolo. Bosnian drilled wide from Dyba- My methods are working: Van Gaal Paulo Dybala’s superb 36th la’s pass soon after. minute strike made the differ- Brazilian wingback Alex San- ence in Turin as Juve, bidding for a dro saw his back-post header from a record-equalling fifth consecutive free kick blocked by Consigli, while AFP under which circumstances,” said Van crown, took their unbeaten run to Sassuolo were denied a 20th minute Gaal, whose side host West Ham United 19 games to keep the pressure on lead when Alfred Duncan fired wide in the FA Cup quarter-finals today. Napoli ahead of their trip to Pal- when he ran unchecked on to a cut- “When you don’t have too many ermo today. back into the area. LONDON: Manchester United man- players and you have to play in three Reputed giant-killers Sassuolo Allegri’s patience on the touch- ager Louis van Gaal has insisted that his competitions, it is very difficult to play. were unbeaten since a 2-0 home line was stretched further on 25 methods are working despite his side’s The (playing) style is also working. It is defeat to Roma in early February, minutes when Sami Khedira bun- one-sided Europa League loss to arch not giving the best results. It is not good Eusebio Di Francesco’s men beating dled Dybala’s cut-back over from rivals Liverpool and struggles in the Pre- enough when you think you have to be Lazio and AC Milan amid a recent close range after Mandzukic’s mier League. champion or win the Europa League or three-game winning run. weighted delivery into the box. United’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool the FA Cup”. But their winning streak came Juve had the momentum, with on Thursday left them facing elimina- “It is still possible, but when you see to an end when Dybala latched on to Dybala linking well with Cuadrado tion from the Europa League and with this game, you can say that. But when Juan Cuadrado’s well-worked deliv- but then firing Sandro’s inviting Van Gaal’s side three points below the you analyse what we have done this sea- ery, controlled on the right side of backheel over. top four in the Premier League, having son and last season, you cannot say that.” the area and beat Andrea Consigli at Dybala made amends on 36 played a game more than fourth-place Asked by a reporter during his the ‘keeper’s far post with a superb minutes when a one-two with Manchester City, their hopes of Cham- Anfield post-match media conference curling drive. Cuadrado saw the Colombian draw pions League qualification are fading. why United have not managed to win When Juve travel to the Allianz three players and then find Dybala United continue to search for an iden- more than four games in a row this sea- Arena looking to build on a shaky in space to beat Consigli with a tity under Van Gaal and were well beaten son, Van Gaal said it was due to the need 2-2 draw from the first leg of their great curling drive from 20 yards. by Jurgen Klopp’s effervescent Liverpool, to manage the resources in his squad. Champions League last 16 tie, they Juve remained in command but the Dutchman cited injuries, suspen- With West Ham’s visit today followed will be hoping Buffon remains after the restart but a mazy run by sions and the strain of competing on three by the last 16 return leg against Liver- impervious. Nicola Sansone kept Juve’s back Manchester United’s manager Louis van Gaal (right) with Memphis fronts as mitigating factors. pool on Thursday, United’s chances of The Italy veteran started the three on their toes, and then Buf- “I think it is working, because you salvaging any silverware from their sea- Depay at the end of their Premier League match against Watford game unbeaten over 836 min- fon courted controversy when he have to see how we have to work and son could be over by the end of next week. at Old Trafford in Manchester in this March 06 file photo. utes and, having surpassed the appeared to handle outside the area. 32 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 SPORT

WADA records 99 positive meldonium tests

Reuters since 1 January 2016 when the substance Meldonium became banned, there The chemical formula of Meldonium. WADA said MONTREAL: The World have been 99 adverse Anti-Doping Agency analytical findings for on Friday they have recorded 99 positive tests (WADA) said on Fri- Meldonium recorded,” for Meldonium. day they have recorded WADA spokesman Ben 99 positive tests for the Nichols said in an email recently-banned drug to Reuters. at the centre of the case “These cases were Athletes call for involving five-times grand analyzed by a number of slam tennis champion different WADA-accred- Maria Sharapova. ited laboratories and WADA to widen its WADA did not name reported by many different the athletes who tested NADOs and international positive for meldonium, sport federations.” investigation which has been linked to The substance, increased athletic per- Meldonium, which is man- formance, but said they ufactured for people with came from different sports heart problems, was added AFP the same.” and were reported by to WADA’s list of banned WADA’s Independent many national anti-dop- substances on January 1 Commission found evi- ing organisations. and can improve exercise dence of systemic doping “We can confirm that capacity. MONTREAL: The head involving Russian track of the World Anti-Doping and field, plunging ath- Agency’s athletes commit- letics into the biggest tee on Friday called on the scandals in it’s history. body to widen its investi- Although WADA later World Rugby names gation into drug abuse in deemed Russia to be “non- Russian sport, complain- compliant” with its code, ing of an “unsatisfactory” Scott said the agency suspended players response to last year’s needed to expand the bombshell Independent mandate of the Independ- Zimbabwe cricket captain Hamilton Masakadza is clean-bowled by Hamid Hassan during their T20 World Commission report. ent Commission to allow it Cup cricket match against Afghanistan at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur yesterday. Afghanistan won by 59 runs. Reuters DOPING SCANDAL Former cross-coun- to dig further into findings try skier Beckie Scott said of the report. in an open letter to WADA “Many comments and MOSCOW: The two Rus- World Rugby said in a state- President Craig Reedie statements within the sia national rugby sevens ment it “moved to confirm that athletes remained report indicate that other players suspended from all these findings”. concerned by the scale of sports and countries are Afghanistan through to competition for taking the Meldonium was added possible doping in Rus- implicated, and as such, banned substance meldo- to the World Anti-Doping sia and that it may have require further investiga- nium are Alexey Mikhaltsov Agency’s list of banned sub- spread to other sports. tion,” Scott said. “Our view and Alena Mikhaltsov, the stances on January 1. “We are of the firm as a committee is that sport’s governing body, Russian tennis cham- opinion that there needs the response to date - to World T20 main draw World Rugby, said yester- pion Maria Sharapova to be further investigation such an evidence-based, day. confessed this week that into other sports in Russia, incriminating report - has Russia’s rugby feder- she had tested positive for and other countries iden- been unsatisfactory ...” she Reuters are crazy about cricket. They love at 49 for no loss in the fifth over, ation (RRF) said on Friday meldonium at the Austral- tified in the report,” Scott added. the game, so (winning it) was very slumped to 63-4 in the eighth. that a national men’s ian Open in January, but said. “WADA states clearly important for us,” victorious captain Nabi then joined forces with team player and a women’s said she had failed to notice “Since November, that it supports clean ath- Asghar Stanikzai said. Shenwari to first steady the innings national team member had that it had been banned. we have received many letes and at the moment, NEW DELHI: Afghanistan roared With a place in the main draw before accelerating. Beneficiary of a been suspended after their Alena and her husband calls and requests from clean athletes are dis- into the main draw of the World at stake, Stanikzai opted to bat missed stumping opportunity, Nabi positive meldonium tests, Alexey play for Yenisei-STM athletes and athlete com- appointed with the lack Twenty20 with an emphatic 59-run and was vindicated as Shahzad set hit Wellington Masakadza for two but gave no names. club based in the Siberian mittees, from many sports, of action that has been victory over Zimbabwe in a first alight Nagpur’s VCA Stadium with his sixes in the same over and brought Naming the athletes, city of Krasnoyarsk. across many nations, for taken.” round Group B match yesterday. swashbuckling batting. up his maiden fifty in 30 balls before Mohammad Shahzad (40) gave The portly 28-year-old hit Tendai falling in the final over. Zimbabwe’s Afghanistan a flying start before Chatara for four successive bounda- erratic bowlers conceded 25 extras, Mohammad Nabi (52) and Samiul- ries after a quiet opening over, forcing including 17 wides, to make things lah Shenwari (43) added 98 runs off the pacer off attack. difficult for themselves. Sharapova slams media 64 balls to power them to 186-6, their Donald Tiripano was pressed into Chasing a daunting target, Zim- highest total in this format. service but there was no respite from babwe lost their top half for 65 The associate nation then Shahzad who hit him for three suc- inside 12 overs. Tinashe Panyanga- returned to bowl out Zimbabwe for cessive fours. ra’s unbeaten 17 was the top score coverage of doping case 127 to register a memorable victory Shahzad greeted left-arm spin- in the Zimbabwe innings which over a full-member nation and join ner Sean Williams by hitting his first ended with two balls left. Leg-spin- England, South Africa, West Indies delivery for a six but fell in the same ner Rashid Khan was the pick of the and Sri Lanka in Group One of the over after a 23-ball blitz attempting Afghan bowlers, claiming three for 11 Reuters Super 10 stage of the tournament. a reverse sweep. in his tidy four overs but Nabi, who “This was a very important His dismissal triggered a mini- also got a wicket with the ball, was match for us. People in Afghanistan collapse as Afghanistan, cruising adjudged man-of-the-match. FLORIDA: Five-times grand slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova hit out at some media accounts of her doping case that she termed Aussies determined to break World “wrong” in an open letter to her fans on Facebook on Friday. Sharapova, who tested positive for the banned drug meldonium at T20 hoodoo with IPL experience the Australian Open in January, is facing a suspension of up to four years by the International Tennis AFP “We feel pretty settled, we have 15 Federation (ITF) and has already guys who can give this tournament a lost numerous sponsorships in the pretty good shake,” he added. aftermath. Smith, who leads the team in all The former world number one NEW DELHI: Skipper Steve Smith the three formats, said they will be thanked her fans for their “tremen- (pictured) said yesterday that Aus- banking on their allrounders who dous outpouring of support” before tralia were determined to break their have recently performed well. launching into a critique of what World T20 hoodoo, saying his team’s He said inclusion of debutant leg- she believed were some inaccu- vast experience of playing in the spinner Adam Zampa in the squad rate reports. Indian Premier League would give will boost the team’s bowling depart- “A report said that I had been them a definite edge. ment on slow Indian tracks. warned five times about the Five-time World Cup champions The 26-year-old skipper said upcoming ban on the medicine I Australia have been under-perform- his team will adapt to the condi- was taking. That is not true and ers in the shortest format and their tions quickly and will fully utilise it never happened,” Sharapova best showing in the tournament has the Indian experience to win the cup. wrote. been the runners-up finish in 2010 “We know what to expect from familiarity with Indian pitches will The 28-year-old Russian said when they lost the final to England. the conditions over here, a lot of us auger well for them. she was making no excuses for not “Traditionally we haven’t done as have played here before, either in IPL Australia will play New Zealand knowing about the ban that went well as we would have liked in this or against India so we know what to in their opener on Friday. into effect on Jan. 1, but said that format of the game. This is a tour- expect and we’re ready for the chal- Australia will play favourites after the first announcement, other nament that has eluded us so we are lenge,” the skipper said. India on March 27 and Smith insisted notices were “buried in newslet- here to try and win it,” Smith said Smith and five of his teammates that there is no added pressure on the ters, websites, or handouts.” during Australia’s opening press con- in the World T20 squad are part of side that recently lost the T20 series “Again, no excuses, but it’s ference of the 16-team tournament. the various IPL franchises and their 0-3 against the MS Dhoni-led side. wrong to say I was warned five times,” said Sharapova, who has said she took the drug for 10 years due to a family history of heart issues and diabetes. The World Anti-Doping England beat New Zealand in warm-up game Agency (WADA) added meldonium to their banned substance list after concluding that it improves blood AFP elected to bat with captain Kane Wil- powered his way to 55 off 36 balls, flow and boosts exercise capacity. liamson smashing a 63 that included including seven runs and two sixes, “I’m proud of how I have nine fours as the Black Caps made while Alex Hales notched 44 as Eng- played the game. I have been hon- 169 for eight in their 20 overs. land reached 170 for four with four est and upfront,” Sharapova said. MUMBAI: England defeated New The second highest scorer for balls remaining. “I look forward to the ITF Zealand by six wickets in their World New Zealand was Ross Taylor who Leg-spinner Adil Rashid was hearing at which time they will Twenty20 warm-up match in Mum- finished on 19 not out at the west- the standout performer of England’s receive my detailed medical bai yesterday. ern Indian city’s Wankhede Stadium. bowling attack, grabbing three wick- records. I hope I will be allowed Five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova. New Zealand won the toss and England opener Jason Roy then ets for just 15 runs. to play again.” SPORT SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 33

No date set for Top-ranked Spieth seven behind Tiger return as Masters looms leaders Stricker and MacKenzie AFP MIAMI: Former world number one VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP Tiger Woods, who has not played competitively since August follow- Defending champion SCORES ing back surgery, has no timetable bounces back with a 137 Will MacKenzie 70-67, Steve for a return as the year’s first three-under-par 68 Stricker 71-66 major, the Masters, looms less than 138 Daniel Berger 70-68, Graham a month away. on the Copperhead DeLaet (CAN) 72-66, Bill Haas “Health-wise, I continue to Course at the 71-67 improve,” Woods said in a blog posting on his website Friday. “I’m Innisbrook Resort in 139 Scott Brown 70-69, Retief Goosen working hard on my short game (RSA) 70-69, Ryan Moore 70-69, at my outdoor practice facility Palm Harbor Justin Thomas 72-67, Charles and on my indoor full swing golf Howell 67-72, Jerry Kelly 70-69 simulator. 140 George McNeill 74-66, Ken Duke “Still no timetable on my Reuters 67-73, Kang Sung (KOR) 72-68 return, but I’m excited to get back 141 KJ Choi (KOR) 74-67, Matt Kuchar out there with the guys.” 71-70, Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-71, The 14-time major cham- Jamie Lovemark 70-71, Steve pion, second only to the record 18 MIAMI: Jordan Spieth holed out three Wheatcroft 73-68, Charl Schwart- majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has times from off the green to banish any zel (RSA) 71-70, Patrick Reed not won a major since the 2008 thoughts of missing the cut in the 71-70, Charley Hoffman 69-72, US Open. second round at the Valspar Cham- Henrik Stenson (SWE) 71-70 Woods has 79 career PGA pionship in Florida on Friday. 142 Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 71-71, Danny titles, three shy of the all-time The defending champion, in dan- Lee (NZL) 70-72, Louis Oosthui- record set by Sam Snead. ger of an early exit after an opening zen (RSA) 72-70, Tyler Aldridge Woods has not won a title since 76, bounced back with a three-under- 70-72, Kyle Stanley 73-69, Kevin the 2013 World Golf Champion- par 68 on the Copperhead Course at Na 74-68, Danny Willett (GBR) ships Bridgestone Invitational at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. 70-72, John Huh 71-71, Greg Yates Jordan Spieth signs autographs after his round during the second round of the Valspar Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Spieth ended the day equal 43rd, 69-73 Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida on Friday. Ohio. seven strokes behind halfway leaders Woods said he spent time Steve Stricker (66) and Will MacKen- at sponsor events this week and zie (67). “Today was all about the cut,” a feed after the first round. frustrated with that.” Atop the lead- the par-four 10th. congratulated retiring NFL quar- World number one Spieth made a relieved Spieth told reporters. The quote - “what good is kicking erboard, meanwhile, were part-time “I just hit a good solid seven-iron terback Peyton Manning, calling poor start to his second round, run- “I actually did pretty well to make the door other than hurting my foot player Stricker and the quotable and it turned right in there,” said the him a friend and adding, “I look ning up a bogey six at the opening six (at the first hole). I thought it was (and having) to withdraw” - sounded MacKenzie set the halfway pace at 12-times PGA Tour winner. “You don’t forward to playing more golf with hole after yanking his drive into an really strong what we did after that. innocuous enough, but Spieth thought five-under 137, one stroke ahead of expect shots like that to go in but defi- him, and right now, getting more unplayable lie. For the first 20 holes to be at six-over that in isolation it made it seem as fellow American Daniel Berger and nitely take it and propelled me to have shots.” But it was nearly all positive after and we finished at two-over, (there though he was unfazed whether he Canadian Graham DeLaet. Stricker, a good backside.” Woods pondered his youthful that as he compiled five birdies to go are) only positives going forward.” played the weekend. 49, who spends more time deer Co-leader MacKenzie credited days and the new young guns of with just one more bogey, twice chip- Spieth also expressed disappoint- “I was a little upset,” he said. “It hunting than playing golf these days, his lofty position to improved putting. the PGA after a dinner last month ping in and once using his putter to ment at the PGA Tour for posting a made it seem like I was OK with get- jump-started his round when he “Thus far my season’s been totally hosted by Jack Nicklaus for 22 US hole out from the fringe. quote, since deleted, on their Twitter ting hurt and withdrawing. I was bagged an eagle from 150 yards at awful but I’m over it,” he said. Ryder Cup team hopefuls plus US captain Davis Love and vice cap- tains Woods, Jim Furyk and Tom Lehman. “It was fun to catch up and rib each other,” Woods said, not- Australia’s Hend widens lead in Thailand ing he talked with Nicklaus about the progress of his recovery and fishing. “It was good to hear from the AFP younger guys who are on the cusp TRUE THAILAND of making the team for the first CLASSIC THIRD- time. It was nice to get things out Scott Hend of BANGKOK: Australia’s big-hitting Scott Hend will head into the in the open, so they understand Australia playing final day of the True Thailand Classic with a two-shot lead after ROUND SCORES what the atmosphere will be like. a shot during pushing ahead of the pack yesterday. I think the dinner was a great idea round three of He carded two-under par 70 in windy conditions on the Black Leading third-round scores from the True and brought a lot of guys closer. the True Thailand Mountain Golf Club in seaside Hua Hin. Thailand Classic at the Black Mountain “What I tried to explain is that golf tournament American golfer Peter Uihlein jostled with Hend for the top of Golf Club in Hua Hin yesterday. a lot of times you don’t have the at the Black the leaderboard after three birdies in the morning, but fell back 202 Scott Hend (AUS) same rhythm of playing like you Mountain Golf later in the day with a bogey, finishing in second at 12-under 204 do in a PGA Tour event. You don’t 204 Peter Uihlein (USA) Club in Hua for the three rounds. know how much you’re going to Hin, Thailand, A victory today will be Hend’s second European tour title. 205 Thomas Pieters (BEL); Pelle play, and that uncertainty requires yesterday. “I knew it was going to be a tough day, very windy, so Edberg (SWE) an adjustment.” I’m very pleased,” Hend said according to a report from the 206 Benjamin Hebert (FRA); Woods said he recalled leav- tour organisers. David Lipsky (USA); Shaun ing Stanford at age 20 and being Day two frontrunner Pelle Edberg dropped back to third Norris (RSA) the only tour player his age. Saturday, after five bogeys saw him card one-over 73 for “That was tough,” Woods said. 207 Prom Meesawat (THA); the round. Panuphol Pittayarat (THA); “Eventually, guys I played with in The Swede is sharing third place with Belgium’s Thomas Pie- Simon Yates (SCO) college trickled out. Now, there’s ters, who sailed through the tough conditions with the strongest a core of younger guys, like Rory showing of the day, carding a bogey-free six-under 66. 208 Rikard Karlberg (SWE); (McIlroy), Jason (Day), Rickie Local hopeful 23-year-old Panuphol Pittayarat meanwhile Thongchai Jaidee (THA); (Fowler) and Jordan (Spieth). It’s a struggled in the afternoon with four bogeys and fell back from Joost Luiten (NED) talented group that will compete second to end the day tied for fifth. against each other for a long time.” Russia confident of ticking IAAF boxes for Olympic spot

AFP Russian athletes ahead of the Olympic there’re no guarantees possible,” czar Dick Pound compared Russian Games, not least because they have Mutko said. “It’s all individual, that’s efforts to combat doping in athletics to attain Olympic-standard qualify- why we’re talking that there should to changing deckchairs on the Titanic. MONACO: The IAAF has given Russia ing marks before teams are registered be personal responsibility for dop- ussia aside, the Council also fired a tight two-month stay of execution in the second week of July, with track ing use.” out a warning to five other countries, to get its anti-doping house in order, and field set to kick off on August 12 Coe, who has endured a tough including east African track giants but Moscow insists it is confident Rus- in Rio. time since taking over the IAAF from Ethiopia and Kenya, saying they were sian athletes will compete in the Rio But the door was left ajar for Rus- now-disgraced ex-president Lamine in “critical care” over their anti-dop- Olympics. sia’s re-inclusion in the IAAF family, Diack last year, repeated his vows to ing programmes. Russia was suspended in Coe saying that an extraordinary crack down on doping on Friday. “The reform process has led to November after revelations of state- Council meeting would be held in “My job is not actually to get as more information being shared and sponsored doping and widespread May, with Andersen and his team many athletes to the Olympic Games recommendations owed at Council corruption, the IAAF setting up an again reporting their findings before as possible,” the British two-time level around the fight to protect clean independent taskforce to monitor the a collective decision is taken. Olympic gold medallist said. athletes,” Coe said. athletics powerhouse’s compliance to Despite Andersen saying Russia’s “The job of the IAAF Council is to “To this end, our review by anti- the verification criteria for re-entry problem was one of a cultural change make sure that those athletes who are doping teams has identified five to international competition. that, worryingly, could take years, going to the Olympics are clean and countries who the IAAF Council have Taskforce head Rune Andersen, one person in no doubt that Russia are in systems that are based upon agreed are in critical care at differ- a former World Anti-Doping Agency would tick all the boxes in the com- integrity.” ent degrees.” (WADA) director, recommended to ing two months was Russian Sports Russia was banned in November Coe said Ethiopia and Morocco the IAAF Council that while Russia Minister Vitaly Mutko. following a sensational report by an had to “implement as a matter of had made some advances, they sim- “I don’t see any insurmountable independent commission of the World urgency a robust and adequate ply were not enough for the moment. obstacles that may prevent the clos- Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). national testing programme, both in “The view of the taskforce is that ing of the issue in May,” Mutko said. The IAAF said Russia could only and out of competition”. there is significant work still to be Mutko insisted Russia was doing be reinstated if it fulfilled strict cri- Kenya, Ukraine and Belarus were done to satisfy the reinstatement con- everything possible to meet the strict teria outlined last year, including also “put on an IAAF monitoring list ditions and so the Russian athletics criteria set by the world athletics rul- compliance with all WADA and IAAF for 2016 to ensure their national anti- federation should not be reinstated ing body but stressed that he believed anti-doping rules and requirements doping programmes are significantly Sebastian Coe, IAAF’s President, attends a press conference as part to membership at this stage,” IAAF the responsibility for doping code vio- The IAAF Council’s decision was strengthened and their journey to president Sebastian Coe said. lation should be personal. widely expected, coming just two compliance completed before the of the 203nd International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Time is now ticking fast for “When we speak about doping days after influential anti-doping end of this year”, Coe added. council meeting in Monaco on Friday. 34 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 SPORT Thompson, Curry shine in Warriors victory

Houston Rockets NBA ROUNDUP snap Boston Celtics’ 14-game home advantage.The margin reached 20 by winning streak halftime and 24 by the end of the third quarter, allowing both teams to rest starters for the second half of a back- Agencies to-back upcoming on Saturday night. Curry, who was held to 12 points in Wednesday’s win over Utah, sur- NEW YORK: Stephen Curry and Klay passed that total in the first 11 minutes Thompson dominated their matchup this time around. with the Portland backcourt of Dam- He finished 13-for-23 from the ian Lillard and CJ McCollum on Friday field, including 7-for-14 from 3-point night, exploding for 71 points in the range. Golden State Warriors’ 128-112 blow- Thompson was even better. He out of the Trail Blazers. bombed in 13 of his 22 shots, includ- Curry had 34 points and Thomp- ing eight of his 11 3’s. son a game-high 37 as the Warriors The eight 3-pointers gave Thomp- (58-6) avenged their most lopsided son 204 for the season, making him loss of the season en route to their and Curry the first set of teammates 47th consecutive home-court win. in NBA history to record 200 3s apiece Lillard scorched the Warriors for in a season for years in a row. 51 points and McCollum added 21 in Draymond Green had team- Portland’s 137-105 home win over the high totals in rebounds (13) and defending champs on February 19. But assists (seven) to go with 17 points this one was a polar opposite almost for the Warriors, who have opened a from the opening tip. six-game homestand with three con- Thompson poured in four 3-point- secutive wins. ers in the first 6:03, helping Golden The Warriors shot 44.9 percent State take the lead for good at 16-9. from the field and even better from Then Curry, scoreless at the point, beyond the 3-point arc, hitting 18 of took over, dropping in four 3s of his 40 (45.0 percent). New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Jeff Green (8) during the second half of own and adding three two-point With the Trail Blazers dropping hoops in a personal 18-point flurry in 19 of their 36 3-point attempts, the their NBA game at Staples Center on Friday. over the final 4:55 of the period, clubs combined for an NBA-record 37 helping Golden State run up a 40-27 3s, breaking the old mark of 36. McCollum shot just 6-for- 32 points and Dwight Howard added over Houston’s past 13 starts. “We have and stayed fifth overall in the Eastern McCollum had 18 points and 15, although he did hit half his six 12 points and 12 rebounds to spark one more game to finish the road trip Conference. Marvin Williams scored Lillard 17 for the Trail Blazers (34- attempts from 3-point range. Backup the Houston Rockets past Boston off the right way.” 22 points and Frenchman Nicolas NBA RESULTS 32), who were coming off a 116-109 Gerald Henderson had 12 points and 102-98 on Friday, snapping the Celt- The Rockets visit Charlotte, trying Batum added 17 points and 11 assists Charlotte 118 Detroit 103 overtime win at home Tuesday over Meyers Leonard recorded a double- ics’ 14-game NBA home win streak. to snap the team’s longest win streak for Charlotte. Philadelphia 95 Brooklyn 89 Washington to snap three-game los- double with a team-high 13 rebounds Five days after halting Toronto’s in six seasons, which rose to six games “It feels good, but in this league Houston 102 Boston 98 ing streak. to complement 10 points for the Trail 12-game home win streak, the Rock- with a 118-103 Hornets home win over it’s all about tomorrow,” said Hornets Miami 118 Chicago 96 Portland had won 10 in a row Blazers, who have lost four in a row on ets ended the longest Boston home Detroit. coach Steve Clifford. when it had two or more days off the road by an average of 15.3 points. victory run since a franchise-record Boston had not lost at home since “We’ve got to watch the film and Memphis 121 New Orleans 114 leading into the game. The loss was costly for Portland 18-game streak in 1990-91. At 33-32, January 6. “We didn’t really know figure out what we’ve got to do better. Minnesota 99 Oklahoma City 96 Lillard, who shot 18-for-28 and in the playoff race. The Trail Blazers the Rockets are level with Dallas for what it felt like,” Celtics star Isaiah That’s how we all have to think. I just Utah 114 Washington 93 connected on nine 3-pointers in his now find themselves tied in the loss the last two Western Conference play- Thomas said. told them, two or three teams at this Orlando 107 Sacramento 100 51-point eruption against the Warriors column with Dallas (33-32) and Hou- off spots while the Celtics stumbled to “It was tough getting that feeling time of year are going to get better. Golden State 128 Portland 112 last month, was harassed into 5-for- ston (33-32), who are only a half-game 39-27, third in the Eastern Conference. again especially at home. I feel like It happens every year. Two or three 19 shooting in the rematch. He missed behind. “It’s getting there,” said Harden, we let our fans down.” teams are going to get better and win LA Clippers 101 NY Knicks 94 five of his nine 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, James Harden scored who is averaging 34.5 points a game The Hornets improved to 36-28 a playoff series or two.” Consistent Spezza helps Stars beat Blackhawks, Penguins edge Jackets

Agencies NHL RESULTS “You don’t even get a chance to offseason, Chicago traded Johns and Pittsburgh 3 Columbus 2 get your feet under you to see how it’s forward Patrick Sharp to the Stars. going to look. That one was on a plat- Sharp also missed this game because Philadelphia 3 Tampa Bay 1 LOS ANGELES: Jason Spezza has ter and the next one was on a platter.” of injury. been carrying some extra weight St Louis 5 Anaheim 2 The next power-play goal was by “It was a little weird,” Johns said. recently while Dallas Stars team- Dallas 5 Chicago 2 Benn at 10:42 of the second for a 4-0 “For five years, I watched those guys mates Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn Arizona 4 Calgary 1 lead. Patrick Eaves deflected Seguin’s and thought one day I’d be playing went through uncharacteristic goal shot, which landed at Benn’s feet to for them. I have a lot of respect for droughts — six games for Seguin and the right of the net for a tap-in goal. that organisation, but I’m happy to seven for Benn. Chicago will return home to play Benn and Seguin each have 33 be here.” All three helped the Stars move Los Angeles tomorrow. Kari Lehtonen goals this season. Meanwhile, Carl Hagelin’s sec- atop the Western Conference stand- made 21 saves for the Stars, who are “It was nice,” Benn said. ond-period goal, his fourth since ings on Friday night. 3-0-1 in their last four games. Antoine “I think I was more excited when joining Pittsburgh earlier in the sea- Spezza scored in his fifth straight Roussel and Ales Hemsky also scored. (Seguin) scored and when the other son, led the Penguins to a 3-2 win game, Seguin and Benn ended their Teuvo Teravainen and Tomas guys scored than when I did. They’re over the Columbus Blue Jackets on scoring slumps and the Stars beat the Fleischmann scored for Chicago. not pretty all the time, and I’ll take Friday in Nationwide Arena. Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. The conditions were right for what I can get. Even if it’s kicking it Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang “Everything he shoots goes in,” Spezza to open the scoring at 11:08 in, I’ll take it.” also scored for the Penguins, while Stars coach Lindy Ruff said of Spezza. of the first period with a wrist shot Quenneville then removed Corey goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury had “He’s had some around the net front, from just inside the blue line. It was Crawford, who had 16 saves. Scott 25 saves. he’s had some great shots.” his fourth power-play goal in five Darling finished with 10 saves. He The Penguins (35-24-8) are try- Dallas improved to 41-20-8 with games, and six of his eight goals in was pulled for an extra skater with ing to hold off rival Philadelphia for 90 points, one more than St Louis and the last nine games have come on the 8:10 to play and returned after Hem- the second and final wild-card play- two more than Chicago. Each team power play. sky’s empty-net goal with 4:31 left. off spot in the Eastern Conference. has 13 games remaining. Spezza also has 15 points (4 goals, Spezza, Benn and Hemsky each The win preserved their three-point “St. Louis might be the best team 11 assists) in 14 career games against had a goal and an assist. Chicago’s cushion. in the league right now,” Ruff said. Chicago, and the Blackhawks have Fleischmann also had a goal and an Elsewhere, Sam Gagner scored a “It’s going to be, ‘Put this one allowed 16 power-play goals in their assist. power-play goal and Steve Mason had away and get ready for (Satur- last 13 games. Dallas defenceman Stephen 18 saves as the Philadelphia Flyers Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman (6) collides with Arizona day),’ because (Saturday’s) task “Right off the bat they score, right Johns made his NHL debut because posted a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Coyotes left wing Anthony Duclair (10) at Scotiabank Saddledome in is going to be even a little more away,” Chicago coach Joel Quennev- of injuries to John Klingberg, Jordie Lightning on Friday night at Amalie their NHL game on Friday. Coyotes won 4-1. daunting.” ille said. Benn and Jason Demers. During the Arena. Manziel era in Cleveland over as Browns waive troubled QB

Agencies be released when the new league year Manziel appeared in 14 games 230 rushing yards. He had only two guaranteed money because he could during the team’s bye week a video began on Wednesday but he remained with eight starts over two seasons. victories as a starter. be suspended by the NFL for his latest emerged showing the quarterback on the team’s roster. The Texas A&M product and former Manziel leaves with two off-field incident -- a domestic vio- at a party, which drew the ire of the NEW YORK: The Johnny Manziel era The Browns reportedly kept the Heisman Trophy winner completed years remaining on his four-year, lence case against his ex-girlfriend franchise. Rather than starting on in Cleveland is over after two seasons 23-year-old Manziel for a few days on 147 of 258 passes for 1,675 yards with $8,248,596 contract -- $7,998,596 of in Dallas last month. “Monday Night Football” at Baltimore of off-field and on-field struggles for the chance that a team offered them a seven touchdowns and seven inter- which was guaranteed. Manziel was not in the plans of coming off of two weeks to prepare, the troubled quarterback. conditional late-round pick in a trade. ceptions. He added 259 rushing yards The Browns still owe Manziel the franchise under the direction of Manziel was benched and inactive for In a move that was expected two As many as three teams were and one score. guaranteed base salaries in 2016 and vice president Sashi Brown and new that game. days ago, the Browns officially waived interested in Manziel, according Last season, Manziel started six 2017 of $1,169,872 and $1,004,125, Browns coach Hue Jackson, who said Manziel finished the season away Manziel on Friday. to Cleveland.com. One report had games, appearing in nine total, and respectively. last month the Browns were “mov- from the team. While the Browns Manziel, who was selected by the San Francisco 49ers quarterback threw for 1,500 yards with seven There were reports the Browns ing on from those types of situations.” were on the field for Week 17, Manziel Browns with the 22nd overall pick in Colin Kaepernick wanting to play in touchdowns and five interceptions were waiting for an opportu- Manziel was given a shot to earn was nowhere to be found and spent the 2014 NFL Draft, was expected to Cleveland. and had six fumbles, while adding nity to void Manziel’s remaining the starting job by the Browns but the day before in Las Vegas. SPORT SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 35

Riders in action during the second round of Qatar International Enduro Cross 2016-2017 season at Sealine on Friday. Blair pips Jaffar to win at Sealine

British rider reigns supreme in both the races at EI category during the second round of Qatar International Enduro Cross 2016-2017 season

The Peninsula

DOHA: British rider Ryan Blair reigned supreme in the second round of Qatar International Enduro Cross 2016-2017 season after winning both the races in E1 category at Sealine on Friday. It was a tough race yesterday for the Briton with last round winner Mohammad Jaffar of Kuwait giv- ing him a tough competition. It was a sea-saw battle between the two rivals but in the end Blair managed to overcome his opponent. “The track was really good,” the British rider said after his win. “They (organisers) made it more tech- nical than usual. But it was a good race for me though I made mistakes. I am happy I still ended up winning both the races.” British rider Ryan Blair and South African Wade Den, together with Mansoor Al - Suwaidi from UAE are the Winners of the second round of Qatar Inter- national Enduro Cross 2016-2017 Season. Meanwhile, South African rider Wade Den remained unbeaten in E2 category as he continued his winning streak from the last round. Den won both the races in his category at the Qatar International Endurocross. In the Quad Category, Emirati rider Mansoor Al- Suwaidi dominated, winning both the races while his nemesis Fahad Musallam finishes runner-up on both occasions. In the over 40 year old category, it was Shannon O’Cannor who bagged the first Race while Geoff Den claimed victory in the second race. It may be recalled that Jaffar claimed both the races at the 5km track at Golden Beach Sealine for the opening round of the QMMF Qatar International Endurocross 2016-2017 Season. South African Den shone in E2 category winning A rider in action during the Quad Category race at Qatar International Enduro Cross 2016-2017 season at Sealine on Friday. RIGHT: QMMF President Abdulrahman Al both races in the opening round while Musallam and Al Suwaidi shared victory in Quad Category in the Mannai giving away a trophy to a rider after the completion of the second round.

Qatar Arabian Horse Show Isles advances but Lagat, Eaton falter

AFP Olympics this year before retiring, just missed the podium, finishing fourth in 7:41.25, .06 behind third place Eric Jenkins. WASHINGTON: US rugby star Car- Two-time Olympian Galen Rupp lin Isles advanced to the 60-meter finished eighth and South Sudan-born semi-finals on Friday at the US Indoor US rugby player two-time Olympian Lopez Lomong Track and Field Championships while Carlin Isles did not finish. Olympians Ashton Eaton and Bernard Natasha Hastings, a three-time poses for a Lagat faltered. world outdoor champion and two- portrait at the At the same Portland, Oregon, time indoor champion as well as a 2016 Team USA venue where the world indoor cham- 2008 Olympic champion on the US pionships will be staged next week, Media Summit, 4x400m relay, led women’s 400 final- the first eight finals were staged and last Monday in ists in 51.79 seconds. qualifying heats were conducted in Beverly Hills, Janay DeLoach, third in the long several track events for final day of California. jump at the London Olympics, led competition. 60m hurdles semi-finalists in 7.88 Isles, 26, says he hopes to qual- seconds. ify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics Vernon Norwood, a member of in August with the rugby sevens and indoor 60m runner-up, led the men’s long jump at 7.60m and next-to-last last year’s US 4x400 outdoor world athletics squads. 60m qualifiers in 6.56 seconds, .01 in among 23 60m preliminary runners championship relay in Beijing, led Touted as the world’s fastest rugby front of Marvin Bracy, the 2014 world in 6.80 seconds as he conducted early men’s 400 finalists in 45.81. player, Isles could play for the US indoor 60m runner-up. work toward his bid to defend Olym- Erik Kynard, high jump silver Eagles in Brazil as rugby returns to Haitian-born Barbara Pierre led pic gold at Rio. medalist at the London Olympics, the Olympic lineup with rugby sevens. women’s 60m semi-finalists in 7.13 Millrose Games champion Ryan won the US indoor crown in his spe- Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani giving away trophy to the Isles placed 12th in the 60m pre- seconds. Hill won the men’s 3,000 in 7:38.60 cialty by clearing 2.29m. winner of Class 2B Mashkora during Qatar International Arabian liminaries in 6.68 seconds, fourth in Eaton, the reigning world and with Paul Chelimo .40 behind. Two-time Olympian Shannon his heat but still good enough to be Olympic decathlon champion and Three-time world indoor 3,000m Rowbury won the women’s 3,000 Horse Show at Al Shaqab on Friday. among 16 semi-finalists advancing . the two-time reigning world indoor champion Lagat, the Kenyan-born crown in 8:55.65, 1.66 seconds ahead Mike Rodgers, a 2010 world heptathlon champion, was sixth in the 41-year-old hoping to reach his fifth of runner-up Abbey D’Agostino. 36 SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016

QMMF T3 Challenge: Qatari riders emerge victorious

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatari riders Jassim Al Emadi, Mubarak Khal- ifa Al Khelaifi and Rashid Jumal Al-Muhannadi claimed victories in the second round of the QMMF T3 Challenge 2016-2017 Season at Golden Beach Sealine yesterday. Al Emadi won the 4km race after a tough competi- tion from his opponents. Mubarak Khalifa Al Khelaifi led drivers in the first official run followed by Rashid Jumal Al Muhannadi on the second place, while Al Emadi was on the 4th position. But on the second official run Qatar’s Al Emadi bounced back from fourth position to first position, overtaking Mubarak and Rashid, and he continued to muscle his way to the top of the podium. The Qatari dominated the official run for the top 4 drivers and was awarded as first in the overall clas- sification of the second round of QMMF T3 Challenge 2016-2017. Al Shaqab’s horse auction a success

Pure Bred Arabian mare Wind Kamelia fetches the highest price of QR500,000 as over 200 interested buyers take part in annual event

The Peninsula

DOHA: Al Shaqab, member of Qatar A file photo shows action from the last year’s edition of Aspire Jam street basketball tournament at Aspire Foundation, successfully held its sixth annual auction last week, which Park. saw more than 200 horse owners and lovers from Qatar and overseas flocking to its premises to view and purchase the best of Pure Bred and 12 teams to take part in Aspire Straight Egyptian Arabian horses in the region. And, even the rain could not stop them from attending the event. Jam street basketball tourney Bidding at the auction came fast and furious as bidders try to outbid each other in their quest to own one of the prized horses, pedigrees of the The Peninsula through a fun sporting activity, and most famous Arabian horses that EVENT TO BE PLAYED ON contributes towards the Foundation’s have won various awards in Inter- MARCH 26 efforts to promote healthy lifestyles national and Regional competitions. among members of the local com- A total of 103 horses including DOHA: A dozen of teams are set to munity,” he added. foals, mares and stallions were sold compete in the fifth edition of the near the Aspire Zone Foundation The tournament makes up one during the auction. “Aspire Jam” street basketball tour- headquarters. part of a year-round programme of Organised by Al Shaqab’s Breed- nament scheduled to be held on The matches will be played activity that we organise as part of A steward puts a horse on display during Al ing and Show Department, the March 26. between 3:00pm to 7:00pm. our efforts of promoting fitness and auction started at 2:00pm and took Shaqab’s annual horse auction recently. The tournament is part of Aspire Commenting on the tournament, health in Qatar”. almost six hours to complete due to Zone Foundation’s continuous efforts Abdullah Al Khater, Events Manager To add further excitement to the the large number of horses availa- to promote a sports culture among at Aspire Zone Foundation said: “We day, the Lords of Gravity interna- ble for sale. She is 9 years old and a daughter Day are held annually at Al Shaqab. members of the local community and strive at Aspire Zone Foundation to tional group will be preforming an Faisal Al Rahmalni, one of of WH Justice, who had won multi- This year, however, they were encouraging them to adopt healthy give all members of the community incredible mix of acrobatic and bas- the best auction organisers in the ple awards at various championships. held on different days due to the large lifestyles. the opportunity to partake in dif- ketball moves that reflect strength, Arab world, conducted the bid nother notable Pure Bred, number of participating horses. It is The teams which will participate ferent forms of physical activity and flexibility, and endurance. proceedings. Yara Al Shaqab, a daughter of Al expected that, in the coming years, in the tournament, will comprise five encourage them to take up sports. “ More information on the tourna- Wind Kamelia, a Pure Bred Ara- Shaqab’slegendary Marwan Al more and more horse enthusiasts will players each aged 17 years and above. “The tournament represents ment rules and regulations can be bian mare fetched the highest price Shaqab, fetched QAR420,000. be attending the Annual Al Shaqab The competition will take place a new opportunity to encourage obtained from website: www.lifei- of QAR500,000. The Al Shaqab Auction and Open Auction. at the Aspire Park parking area young people to unleash their talents naspire.qa

Uzma reigns supreme at Doha Golf Club Rassan claims Doha Cup title

The Peninsula in her effort. We now look forward to hosting her Uzma Mir in at the grand finals in Belek this October.” action at Qatar Mir was able to easily coast to victory during segment of the the tournament, which featured 88 players, all per- 2016 Turkish DOHA: Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier sonally-invited guests of Turkish Airlines. Airlines World of Turkey, and Europe’s best airline for the fifth By winning the competition in Qatar, Mir will Golf Cup at Doha year in a row, hosted the Qatar segment of the 2016 now compete with several other finalists from Golf Club on Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, the sport’s biggest around the world at the Turkish Airlines World Golf Friday. and most exciting amateur tournament at the Doha Cup 2016. The 2016 series is a truly global affair, Golf Club on Friday. with more than 7,500 guests of the airline expected The challenge was won by Uzma Mir, who now to take part in destinations including Hong Kong, progresses to the grand final in Belek, Antalya, Great Britain, South Korea, Japan, China, Spain, in Turkey, which will take place in October and the United States, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, November this year. Argentina, Brazil and Turkey. Kursad Caymaz, General Manager for Turkish The overall winner of the Grand Final Airlines Qatar said: “We would like to congratu- progresses to play in the 2016 Turkish Airlines Open late everyone who took part in the Turkish Airlines pro-am attended in the past by top golfers like Tiger Star rider Harry Bentley guides Rassan to victory at Doha Cup at World Golf Cup qualifier in Doha. It was a brilliant Woods and Rory McIlroy, while all finalists are to the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club on Friday. day for the game of golf and Mir was outstanding enjoy a seven-night stay in an all-inclusive hotel.