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SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 • 4 DHUL QA’DA 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6881 2 Riyals thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

QNB revises oil price Energy-saving Emir meets Saudi King in Morocco forecast; prices to average $44.7

s DOHA: QNB has revised up its oil AC a huge hit price forecast to average $44.7/barrel in 2016, up from its previous forecast of $40.8. The continued rebalancing about the new air conditioners, in the oil market is expected to lift there is a huge demand for them prices to an average of $55.0 in 2017, More than 160 in the market. A survey shows that up from a previous forecast of $51.3 types of new ACs more people want to buy them,” and $57.9 in 2018, QNB analysts said Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, yesterday. are available in the Assistant Undersecretary for Lab- The rebalancing in the oil market, including oratories and Specifications at market has been stronger than the ministry told The Peninsula expected. On the demand side, the window and split yesterday. International Energy Agency (IEA) units, from different He said that there are enough currently expects global demand stocks of the new ACs in the mar- growth to reach 1.4m barrels per brands. ket and there is no shortage. day (b/d) in 2016, up from their More than 160 types of new ACs previous forecast of 1.2m b/d. The are available in the market, includ- strong demand growth is driven ing window and split units, from by emerging markets, especially different brands. China and the rest of emerging By Sidi Mohammed Some 18 companies have been Asia. Furthermore, demand from The Peninsula issued licences to import the energy Europe is proving to be resilient saving air conditioners, which are despite increased uncertainty commonly called “star ACs”. ACs from the Brexit vote. The addi- with four, five and six stars are cur- tional demand should help clear DOHA: The new energy-saving air rently available in the market, said some of the excess supply in the conditioners, introduced last month Al Kuwari. market, estimated by the IEA to in the Qatari market have received “Some people are asking which be 1.7m b/d in 2015. a huge response from customers, type is better. We are advising them a senior official of the Ministry of to buy the six-star ACs since they Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Municipality and Environment said can save more energy,” said Al Air raids kill 10 yesterday. Kuwari. Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, at the residence of the King in the Moroccan city of Tangier. Conventional air conditioners ACs with a higher star can per- near Syria hospital have been phased out from the mar- form better and can save more QNA and the Saudi King reviewed the close delegation accompanying the Emir. ket, following a ban on their import energy. ties between the two brotherly coun- On the Saudi side, it was attended and sale enforced on July 1. “Soon we will announce the tries and ways to further develop and by the Deputy Crown Prince, Second BEIRUT: A barrage of air strikes The authorities are now pre- entry of seven and eight stars units TANGIER, MOROCCO: Emir H H strengthen them for the benefit of peo- Deputy Prime Minister and Defence yesterday near a hospital in paring to launch a massive in the market. Prices of an eight- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ples of the two countries. Minister Prince Mohammed bin Sal- northwestern Syria killed at inspection campaign to make sure star unit could be about 40 percent met yesterday with the Custodian of The two sides also exchanged man bin Abdulaziz, and a number least 10 civilians, said the Syrian all dealers and shops comply with higher compared to conventional the Two Holy Mosques King Salman views on a number of issues and of Princes and ministers. The Emir Observatory for Human Rights. the ban. ACs,” said the official. bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, developments on the Arab and attended a dinner banquet hosted by The raids targeted the town of “Despite that we have not done at the residence of the Saudi King in international arenas. The meeting the Saudi King. Milis in Idlib province, which much to raise public awareness → Continued on page 2 the Moroccan city of Tangier. The Emir was attended by members of the → More pictures on page 2 borders Turkey.

Yemen talks fail; new round after one month

AFP

KUWAIT CITY: The UN special envoy for Yemen announced the end of peace talks yesterday with- out any major breakthrough, but also said a new round of nego- tiations would begin after one month. “We will be leaving Kuwait today but the Yemeni peace talks are continuing,” Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told a press conference. Team Qatar during the march past at the Rio Olympics as H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, He said he will be holding poses with equestrian team member and show jumper Sheikh Ali Khalid Al Thani who was bestowed the honour of being Qatar’s flagbearer. bilateral consultations with the MEDAL STANDINGS two delegations in the coming few weeks to work out details of a peace plan. He also said that the two sides Thrasher, Peaty shine on day one in Rio South Korea 1 1 0 2 have committed to resume “direct United States 1 1 0 2 talks within a month at a venue to be agreed upon”. RIO DE JANEIRO: US teenager pic campaign with a bang, clocking gold in the men’s cycling road race hooked to the sport when deer Argentina 1 0 0 1 Ould Cheikh Ahmed said Ginny Thrasher and Britain’s Adam a world record 57.55sec in the heats at the Olympic Games. The Belgian hunting with her grandfather and Belgium 1 0 0 1 Kuwait remains a possible loca- Peaty shone on the opening day of the 100m breaststroke. cyclist pipped Jakob Fuglsang of yesterday that passioin saw her past tion to host the next round. “We action at the Olympic Games in Peaty lowered the world mark of Denmark into second with Rafal China’s champion sharpshooters to Hungary 1 0 0 1 have guarantees and commit- Rio yesterday. Thrasher claimed 57.92 that he set in London on April Majka of Poland taking bronze at the claim the first gold medal of the Rio Russia 1 0 0 1 ments from the two sides that they the first gold medal of the Games 17, 2015. Meanwhile, Greg Van Aver- end of the gruelling 237.5km race. 2016 Games. Vietnam 1 0 0 1 are ready to return to the negoti- while Peaty launched his Rio Olym- maet won a sprint finish to claim In shooting, Thrasher got See also pages 22 to 24 ating table,” he said. Although the talks that began April 21 made no headway, Ould Cheikh Ahmed refused to call the process a failure. “In fact, we have not failed. We believe the Kuwait talks made Data shows traffic violations and accidents fell in June great progress,” he said without elaborating. The end of the talks came just The Peninsula 2.34 million recorded during the same The number of traffic violations in May. Violations caught on radar the period, with 449 incidents in June a few hours after Yemen’s rebel period last year, shows data released by in June this year dropped by 22.2 were the highest at 65,959, followed against 543 incidents in May. Acci- Shiite Huthis and forces loyal to the Ministry of Development Planning percent compared to the previous by violations of “traffic instructions.” dents in June included 370 minor their ally, former president Ali and Statistics. Population in June, how- month, and by 12.6 percent com- The number of new vehicles reg- cases, 60 major and 19 people died Abdullah Saleh, appointed a coun- DOHA: Population in Qatar increased ever, fell by 4.3 percent compared to the pared to the same period last year. istered in June decreased to 4219, in the accidents during the period. cil to govern Yemen. Ould Cheikh by 5.7 percent in June this year, reach- previous month, when it reached over The total violations last June was from 4424 vehicles in May. Ahmed condemned the move. ing over 2.47 million, compared to over 2.58 million. 110,606 against 142,215 violations Traffic accidents also fell during → Continued on page 2 02 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 HOME

Emir meets Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Morocco

Psoriasis not contagious: HMC doctor 16,361 work visas issued in June through Hukoomi The Peninsula any age. It is not contagious,” said Dr. psychological and social impact, pso- certain infections and some Ahmad Hazem Takiddin, Derma- riasis increases risk for heart disease, medication.” tology and Venereology Consultant, stroke, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, He advised those concerned they Continued from page 1 Monthly statistics for June also HMC. hypertension, obesity, depression have psoriasis to seek medical advice show an increase by 6.9 percent in DOHA: In recognition of Psoria- Psoriasis changes the life cycle and other serious health conditions and said it is important to ensure Some 75 accidents were the number of visitors to Qatar from sis Awareness Month observed in of skin cells. It causes cells to rap- if not treated. individuals are correctly diagnosed reported at Al Rayyan Traffic other GCC countries compared with August, Hamad Medical Corporation idly build up on the surface of the “Psoriasis is more than just a skin and get the right treatment. Department, followed by Madinat the same period last year. (HMC) is raising awareness about the skin. It typically occurs on the knees, condition. It can significantly impact “Psoriatic arthritis is an inflam- Khalifa Traffic Department. A total of 665,355 people from misunderstood skin disease. elbows and scalp but can affect the one’s emotional well-being and qual- matory arthritis associated with Qatar issued 16,361 work visas other GCC states visited Qatar in “Psoriasis is a persistent, chronic, torso, palms and soles of the feet. ity of life,” said Dr. Takiddin. psoriasis. Most people develop pso- in June through its e-Government June compared with 622,322 in systemic disease of the immune sys- There are several types of psoriasis. “Those with psoriasis often feel riasis first and are later diagnosed portal Hukoomi compared with June last year. However, the number tem which can be hereditary. It is Most go through cycles, flaring for a embarrassed about their appearance. with psoriatic arthritis, but the joint 30,028 work visas issued in May — of visitors from other Arab coun- characterised by overproduction of few weeks or months, then subsid- They may face social difficulties due problems can sometimes begin down by 45.5 percent. tries dropped by 25.5 percent, with skin cells, usually resulting in thick, ing for a time or going into complete to other people’s perception that pso- before skin lesions appear. A total of 22,320 new residency 121,090 in June from 162,642 in June silvery scales and flaky, irritated skin. remission. riasis is infectious, which is not true. “Like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis permits (RP) were issued in June last year. “It affects about three percent of the Many people with psoriasis expe- People develop psoriasis through a is treatable but there is no cure. The compared with 29,099 in May. The number of visitors from Qatar population. Men and women rience anxiety, embarrassment and combination of genes and exposure focus is on controlling symptoms and The number of RPs cancelled Asian, African and European coun- develop psoriasis at equal rates. The depression. They face discrimination to external triggers. preventing damage to joints. Without in June was 2,849 against 16,999 tries also dropped significantly. condition is often diagnosed between because others fear the condi- “Triggers can include stress, treatment, psoriatic arthritis may be in May. In June, 91,622 RPs were However, the number of visitors ages of 15 and 35, but can develop at tion is contagious. In addition to the skin injury (such as cuts or scrapes), disabling,” he said. renewed against 107,376 in May. from the Americas increased by 1.5 The number of exit permits percent during the period. issued in June was 82,277 against The total number of visitors 75980 in May. The number of births dropped by 5.6 percent from over (Qataris and non-Qataris) in June 1.52 million in June last year to over Qatar Summer was 2,172 against 2,061 in May. 1.44 million this June. Festival raffle winners named Prices of green ACs almost similar to conventional ones The Peninsula Continued from page 1 inspections this month. Anyone found selling conventional ACs DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has Al Kuwari said prices of ACs will be punished under the rules announced the winners of the first weekly with less specifications — four-, concerning violation of specifica- raffle draw as part of Qatar Summer Festi- five- and six-star are almost sim- tions,” he said. Al Kuwari said the val 2016. The draw was held on Thursday at ilar to those of the conventional ministry had received informa- Al Khor Mall. ones. “We were expecting their tion that some shops, not dealers, Over 9,500 vouchers were entered into the prices to be about 10 percent were selling regular ACs and urged raffle and the winners were drawn. higher than regular ACs but they the public to report to authorities if Top winner Syed Nasooh Akther bagged a are not, because many dealers have they come across such violations. Jaguar XJ 2016. Sreekanthin won the second reduced prices,” said Al Kuwari. He advised customers to prize of QR50,000 and Hazem Ibrahim and He said a joint committee of approach the dealers for main- Amirah Kamis Al Masl won QR20,000 each. representatives from the Consumer tenance of new ACs at least for Suzan Abu Shameh; Abdulaziz Moham- Protection Department at the Min- the first two years as other work- med; Ibrahim Said; Noushad; Emerson istry of Economy and Commerce, shops are not familiar with the new DoCarmo Guerrer; Nicoleta Mareca; Anasra Kahramaa and General Authority technology. He said most new ACs Sangilula; Mona Piza Flores; Aalaa Jamal for Standards and Specifications come with a warranty and would Ajina; Edmundo D. Pineda; and Ahmed Jas- has been set up to inspect in the not require frequent maintenance. sim Al Bohusein won QR10,000 each market and ensure compliance by Spare parts of new ACs will be Next weekly raffle draw will take place traders and dealers. available only with the dealers in at Hyatt Place at 7pm, said QTA Press Office. The first weekly raffle draw in progress at Al Khor Mall. “We will start surprise the initial stages.

Ashghal ties up with malomatia Ooredoo showcases vision for smart cities & solutions at Rio Olympics

to train staff The Peninsula Qatar, said: “We’re proud to be work- ing with QOC to demonstrate Qatar’s credentials as an advanced destina- The Peninsula tion for global sports events. DOHA: Ooredoo is demonstrating “Ooredoo’s services, systems and the power and potential of a wide solutions are set to deliver a next- DOHA: Ashghal has adopted an range of next-generation smart ICT generation customer experience innovative approach towards solutions at 2016 Olympic Games in for fans and visitors and the Games training programmes for Rio de Janeiro. provide an ideal platform for us to employees and has tied up with The company, a national spon- promote our expertise.” malomatia, Qatar’s leading IT sor of Qatar Olympic Committee, Ooredoo is set to deploy Oore- company, to build a comprehen- is hosting a solutions booth inside doo Supernet to support immersive sive e-Learning solution. Bayt Qatar, QOC’s Olympic hospi- media at sporting events in the The eLearning concept is con- tality house to share Qatar’s culture, future. Fans will be able to use their sidered to give Ashghal employees heritage and sporting passion with mobile devices to watch live replays more flexibility and allow them visitors to the Games. Visitors will be from multiple angles, check the lat- to organise time optimally. The able to preview the incredible next- est stats and enjoy a fully-interactive programme was launched for generation immersive media Qatar experience — wherever they are in Qatari employees and is aligned will provide at future sporting events, the stadium or when they are out- with their individual development. and enjoy videos and presentations side or at home. Ashghal continues to focus on the nation’s world-class sporting Ooredoo is also developing on strengthening competencies and technology infrastructure. services that offer a unique fan expe- as one of the leading govern- Visitors will also be introduced to rience via mobile, with online visas, ment entities responsible for Ooredoo’s drive to build smart cities instant information and ticketing, contributing to the achievement of the future, supported by world- that will support visitors when they of comprehensive development class smart data centres and ICT arrive at the airport, travel to the sta- and sustainability. systems integration capabilities. dium and make their way home. It attaches importance to Ooredoo representatives will Alongside next-generation cus- improving human capital through look to build relationships with key tomer services, Ooredoo aims to comprehensive training and stakeholders from around the world make Qatar the most secure sports The Ooredoo booth at 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. development plans. Its with focus during the exhibition, highlighting event destination, deploying a cyber- on individual development, pre- its position as a leading integrated security framework that addresses Ooredoo has demonstrated its national projects, including Lusail sponsorship of QOC in Rio is part of the pared and implemented for Qatari ICT provider. critical infrastructure threats and experience and expertise in connect- City, Hamad International Airport, company’s initiative to support sport employees. Waleed Al Sayed, CEO, Ooredoo ensures an incident-free experience. ing world-class ICT infrastructure on Katara, Souq Waqif and more. The and technological innovation in Qatar. HOME SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 03

New public art installed at HIA Is Erdogan’s theory the solution for The two installations include ‘Al Koora’, organisations? created by ROTA volunteers in By Dr. Sharoq Almalki appear better than they are. Q They will place the blame on collaboration with their own shortcomings, failures Qatari artists, and an the events being played and poor performance on other ‘Desert Horse’, a out in Turkey, as Erdogan employees. rids the country of toxic Q Similarly, they will take unique and striking elements, be some- the credit for the good work car- Cthing that can be mirrored in the ried out by their team, or by other sculpture by workplace? workers. acclaimed Qatari The Turkish President has artist Ali Hassan. ruthlessly purged his government, Consequences of not the army, the court, the media, cleaning up all toxics and all aspects of society since As mentioned, it is essential to the failed coup attempt. The way carry out the process of ridding The Peninsula he has gone about it, is a lesson your company of toxic elements in how to eliminate those factors correctly, and that means elim- that are a threat to the success of inating all of them. If this is not the organisation – whatever that done thoroughly enough it will DOHA: Under the patronage of Qatar may be – to operate. inevitably lead to the following Museums Chairperson H E Sheikha Every tier of the organization consequences: Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa is dealt with, from the top to the Q There will be a decrease in Al Thani, QM and Hamad Interna- bottom, but an important factor motivation from the good employ- tional Airport have added renowned is that it starts at the top. This is ees, as they will see that their pieces of public art to the outstanding often the hardest place to make hard work is not being rewarded, collection on display and enjoyed by ‘Al Koora’ art reflects the character of Qatar’s people and its natural environment in the past, present and such cuts, but without doing a while those in the company who passengers travelling through HIA. root and branch purge, it will are carrying out poor or unethical future. Two new pieces have been ultimately be futile, as the bad work are progressing and getting installed for passengers and visitors elements left will be in a position promoted. to experience — ‘Al Koora’, created Crucial to this is our public art pro- artistic media, including paintings, different elements. of power to recruit further toxics Q Ethical employers will be by volunteers of Reach Out To Asia gramme which creates memorable sculpture, electronic and interactive This reflects the character of its and influence and the process will afraid to speak up as whistle- (ROTA) in collaboration with Qatari cultural experiences outside our installations. people and its natural environment – start all over again. blowers if they perceive that the artists, and ‘Desert Horse’, a unique museums and galleries, including “Our terminal is a public space in the past, present and future. people above them are part of the and striking sculpture by acclaimed in striking spaces such as HIA. that welcomes millions of people Paintings, drawings and poems What are the signs of toxic problem, and any action on their Qatari artist Ali Hassan. “We are proud to be adding more every year and is an ideal space to were assembled to form the iconic elements in your organisation? part could have consequences. This is Hassan’s third piece of art world-class art to the collection at interact with art. The exposure such standing landmark, created as a There are many different types Q The best employees will that has a permanent home at HIA. HIA to inspire millions of visitors a venue gives artists, especially bud- gesture of gratitude to Father Emir of toxics, and some will be acting often move to a different com- The new pieces join the growing and residents who fly through HIA ding Qatari artists, is exceptional.” H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al in the way they do for different pany, one where their talents are collection of paintings, sculptures each year. The new works create a ‘Al Koora’ project was developed Thani for winning Qatar’s bid to host reasons. Some of these reasons (for recognized and rewarded. and installations by local and inter- powerful and ambient presence and by the ROTA Volunteer programme. 2022 FIFA World Cup. example, they are being pressured Q Any bad apples left in the national artists at the airport. On underline our commitment to invest ROTA empowers local communi- ‘Desert Horse’ captures the his- by someone above, or they have organization will continue to show at HIA are works by Qatari in talented Qatari artists.” ties by providing access to quality tory and spirit of travel in Qatar in been over promoted to a senior spread the toxic effects, infiltrat- artists Amal Al Raban, Ali Hassan, Engineer Badr Mohammed Al primary and secondary education the past. The iconic sculpture meas- position which they don’t fit) can ing all areas of the organization Mubarak Al Malik and Salman Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer, HIA, to children affected by crisis across uring 8m x 6m was created using be addressed in different ways, but like a cancer once again. Malik — in the Oryx and Al Maha said: “HIA prides itself for being an Asia. Forty children with special intricate sculpting techniques to the most important factor here is lounges. innovative exhibition space. Art is needs from seven institutions collab- interpret the spirit of travel and the to find who they are and exam- How to go about clearing the Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mah- an integral part of HIA, having been orated with students from Virginia flow of movement to signify how the ine the reason or reasons they are toxic elements moud, Acting CEO, QM, said: “We are designed to house permanent and Commonwealth University in Qatar Bedouins travelled in history. The acting the way they are. Then act It is the role of leaders to step committed to enriching the lives of temporary exhibitions. Passen- (VCU-Q) and artists to create a work artwork is an interpretation of the quickly and decisively. up and clean up the organiza- all those who live in and visit Qatar. gers are exposed to a diverse set of of art that represents Qatar through iconic desert horse. tion in line with Erdogan’s theory Common signs that someone – i.e. clear out all tiers of the busi- could be a toxic include: ness structure, starting from the Q They are less productive top and all across. As mentioned, than others in the same/similar only removing one bad apple will QC provides roles/level. Out of all of the reasons not solve the problem. Those lead- this is the most likely where the ers should leverage the help of meals to 300 person may just be in the wrong the HR department who will be role for their skill set, or that they able to help identify the individ- workers to need additional training, or that uals concerned, and find out the favouritism and nepotism played cause of their behaviour. If they beat the heat a big role in getting this person to are deemed to be simply toxic, this level. then they should be flushed out. Q They are prone to create There are two simple say- dramas. This is more often than ings that work perfectly in this The Peninsula not a way of directing attention situation, and should be applied towards themselves, to make it to the process of ridding your appear they have a more impor- business with all toxic elements tant or larger role in a project than for good. The first is: when you DOHA: A group of Qatari youth they actually do. clean the stairs, you start from volunteers, in collaboration with Q Everything they do is for the top. The other is: don’t let one Qatar Charity (QC), distributed themselves and their own self- rotten apple spoil the rest of the 300 meals, including water and interest. They have no interest in barrel. They may be simplistic, juice, to workers to help them beat building or working in a team. This but as so often in life, the simple the heat. extends to them being not willing things are also the best. And in this Nine youth teams partici- to develop the skills and talents of case, they are the most effective pated in the campaign, five of other workers particularly devel- ways to ensure you have a fully them females. oping other Qataris. functioning organization where The national youth initiative Q They are unethical in their everyone is pushing towards the was led by Captain Adel Lami, methods, or goals, or both. right direction. Ambassador of QC’s Humanitar- Q Toxics tend to manipulate (Dr. Sharoq Almalki is an ian Affairs. other employees, to either make employee engagement expert, The initiative was part of QC’s them follow their own unethical author and public speaker — summer campaign to support low- practices, or to make themselves [email protected]) A group of workers with their meals provided by Qatar Charity. income workers. 25 high school students gain insight on media world at NU-Q

The Peninsula platforms. “The summer programme their lives,” Rhys said. The two-week is aimed at giving students a glimpse course offered the students exposure of the media world, whether they to the inner workings of media and choose that as a career or not,” said communication fields. DOHA: Twenty-five high school Dean and CEO Everette E. Dennis. Zainab Abdelgadir from the students attended Northwestern “The importance of media in a Cambridge International School for University in Qatar’s (NU-Q) Sum- global society begins in humble ways girls was curious about journalism mer Media Programme, which offers as students learn to frame stories and as a career and wanted to explore young media enthusiasts an intro- purse them with accuracy and pro- the industry during the long sum- duction to the world of journalism. fessionalism,” he said. mer break. “I was never really set In its seventh year, the pro- International broadcast journalist on what I wanted to do after college, gramme is designed to educate and former Al Jazeera English video but at the end of this programme, I students on the basics of journalism, reporter Paul Rhys and NU-Q grad- told my family: ‘I want to live the last Students attending one of the workshops as part of NU-Q’s Summer Media Programme. including how to conduct interviews, uate Dana Atrach led the workshops, two weeks for the rest of my life.’” capture high-quality images, craft training the students in the funda- Tony El Ghazal, who attends the “The programme was practical, included topics such as film explo- conducted for seven years have been educational infographics, write and mental practices of the profession, International School of Choueifat, and I was able to learn why certain ration, documentary photography, planned, organised and run by Emily edit a 750-word feature article, and and the role and value of journalists was eager to learn about how his headlines work and I also saw that I social media and news reporting. Wilson, NU-Q’s longtime head of how to speak at news conferences. in society. interests could be utilised in the field. could use my skills to create some- It also includes Qatar Leadership community relations who is return- The programme is an opportunity “The great thing about NU-Q’s Having written scripts and edited thing valuable and informative.” Conference, one of the largest pro- ing home to the US this month. for young people interested in media high school programme is that it 30 hours of film to create short mov- Throughout the year, NU-Q hosts fessional development forums for “The success of this effort and careers, or a better understanding of catches students so young. They’re ies for his high school classmates and weekend workshops, film festivals, educators and students in the Mid- the lives of high school students it how media works through first-hand able to see themselves as journalists family, El Ghazal wanted to see where and leadership conferences for high dle East, held in partnership with has touched is a tribute to her work,” experiences using popular digital and media professionals very early in his talents could take him. school students. Past sessions have THIMUN Qatar. These programmes Dennis said. 04 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 HOME / MIDDLE EAST

RAF launches seventh forum for global partners in Malaysia

deputy director of RAF and rep- resentatives of 60 international Sixty-five officials of humanitarian organisations. humanitarian projects It is being held for five days in partnership with the United in 25 countries are Nations Office for the Coordination taking part. of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) under the theme ‘From Providing Aid to Ending the Need’. About 65 executive directors of The Peninsula projects from the organisations in 25 countries will receive training and attend workshops for international Projects Management Development DOHA: Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah (PMD) conducted by PM4NGOs and Foundation for Humanitarian Serv- will receive certificates. ices (RAF) has launched the ‘Seventh In a speech, Mohamed Ahmed Officials at the launch of the forum in Kuala Lumpur. Forum of RAF Partners in Human- Al Manae, Qatar’s Charge d’Affaires itarian Work’ in Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, welcomed attendances Malaysia. and highlighted Qatar’s humanitar- supporting humanitarian work. services, its work with partners Dr Mohammad Salah Ibrahim, RAF’s goals, including development The forum was attended by offi- ian role which has put the country He said: “We are witnessing and efforts towards sustainable Deputy General Manager, RAF, said of charity work and people and those cials from the Qatari Embassy, the among the top nations in the world RAF’s development in humanitarian development.” the launch of the forum is part of who support it.

Angling on Corniche Turkey probes link of Salam Hospitality Zaman ad to foiled coup opens cafe #999 Anatolia

The Peninsula The cafe is completed with a ISTANBUL: A former advertising executive of Zaman seating capacity of 72 indoor and daily was remanded in custody yesterday as part of a 52 outdoor. The culinary offering probe into a controversial commercial allegedly hint- focuses on international cuisine ing at an impending coup bid some nine months before DOHA: Salam Hospitality with a touch of local influence, the July 15 events played out. announced the opening of cafe #999 paying attention to healthy ingre- The daily is affiliated with the US-based preacher at fire station. dients. The menu options include Fetullah Gulen, who is accused by the Turkish govern- Located at the old fire station gluten free, organic, healthy, and a ment of being the mastermind of the defeated coup. building at Civil Defence rounda- ‘touch of Doha’. The signature dishes Two people, including former advertising exec- bout, the cafe covers a surface area as claimed by the chef include some utive Yakup Simsek and owner of the advertisement of about 300 square metres. It wel- remarkable dishes — the sujuk agency that made the commercial, identified as T.M.S., comes guests into an open dining burger and the camel kofta wrap. were detained and presented before a court in Istan- space set in consonance with the One of the most exciting din- bul, according to a judicial source. look and feel of the old fire station ing aspects of cafe #999 is the food While the court remanded Simsek in custody, the building. The atmosphere is char- truck. Truck #999 is the second old- owner was released under judicial control. The source acterised by a sense of simplicity: est fire truck in Doha, which was said: “The advertisement in question was made on the cement flooring left in its natu- converted into a food truck. Located orders of Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanli… It A man with his two children angling on the Corniche on a hazy day yesterday. ral state, white table tops and the on the south west parking entrance was a message to the organisation’s army wing.” Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula wooden floating shelves add a rus- of fire station, truck #999’s menu The court previously issued an arrest warrant for tic component to the overall style. selection offers a taste for everyone. the fugitive Dumanli. Babyshop unveils ‘Back to School’ collection

The Peninsula

DOHA: With the summer coming to an end, children are looking forward to a brand new academic year. Connecting back with their friends, the pride of being one year older and wiser, new books and, most of all, new uniform and stationery drives the excite- ment among children. With the upcoming ‘Back to School’ period, Baby- shop, the one-stop kids retailer, gives shoppers opportunity to make easy and convenient ‘back to school’ purchases with top brands and latest trends. The range is inspired by fun colours, designs, pat- terns, styles and classic essentials that pre-schoolers, primary and teenage students can choose from. It also features the widest range of licensed character mer- new entrant in the world of learning from trolley back- chandise in the market, with a huge selection for boys packs to water bottles and lunch cases. and girls. For the teens, a fresh range of characters, colours BOYS CHARACTER MERCHANDISE: Ferrari, and designs have been introduced, based on the lat- Real Madrid, Spiderman, Minions, Cars, Batman Vs. est trends that appeal to them across brands such as Superman, Lamborghini, Barcelona, Full Stop, Ducati, Pepe Jeans and Full Stop, covering a broad spectrum Manchester City, Lion Guard, Star Wars, Paw Patrol, in ‘Back to School’ offerings. Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Ice Age, Celebrity Icon TROLLEY BAGS AND BACKPACKS: From an exten- and Sonic. sive range, the trolley bags and backpacks showcased GIRLS CHARACTER MERCHANDISE: Hello Kitty, come in shapes, styles and sizes to choose from. Frozen, Princesses, Marie, Sofia The First, Minnie, Paul Girls and boys can pick their favourite trend-based Frank, Dora the Explorer, Trolls, Shopkins, Teletubbies, bag while being able to select their favorite charac- Zootopia, Melody, MTV, Masha and the Bear, Sesame ter in the range. Street Finding Dory and Angry Bird. SPORTS COLLECTION: For football fanatics, the PRE-SCHOOL AND TEEN RANGE: For the first collection includes Read Madrid, FC Barcelona and time, Babyshop introduces a range exclusively for Manchester City gears, among others. It also features toddlers who commence their scholastic journey this the widest range of licensed character merchandise September. The range incorporates everything for a across ages with a huge selection for boys and girls. WATER BOTTLES: The stainless steel range to the new Tritan water bottles available across Babyshop stores. BPA-free trendy designs in various sizes and colours from Cool Gear are a superhit. VALUE PACK SETS: Value pack sets include back- packs, lunch cases and pencil cases, a hit among parents looking to make value purchases. The intro- duction of the new 3pc Transforming Value pack set can be used as a trolley bag or a backpack depending on the preference of the user. LUNCH CARRY BAGS AND LUNCH BOXES: A wide variety of lunch cases in a range of colours, styles and sizes, infused with top characters for students to have enough to choose from before making their decision on their favourites. The bags come in a wide range, including brands such as Smash. STATIONERY & CASES: From 3D hard case pencil cases to creative erasers, gel pens and markers, tat- too pens, etc– students can indulge in an impressive line-up of products. As part of its brand campaign ‘Make your own rules’, Babyshop is inviting consumers via Facebook to share images and videos of the one chore they would like their little children to perform in return for a pos- sible reward, to encourage children to perform a task in return for their favorite ‘Back to School’ products. The campaign began on July 20 and runs until August 10 and gives three students opportunity to walk away with ‘Back to School’ products from Babyshop. MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 05

Palestinians held At least 500 by Israel end fighters killed in hunger strike RAMALLAH: More than 300 Palestinian prisoners yester- day halted a hunger strike after Israel prison authorities a week in Aleppo agreed to end “humiliating” body searches and return recently transferred prisoners, a rights route into Aleppo and break the gov- group said. ernment siege of eastern districts. The detainees, all members At least 130 civilians Anti-regime forces have cap- of the Islamist Hamas movement, has been killed since tured the armaments school and started the strike on Wednesday to most of the artillery school at a large protest a prison crackdown dur- last Sunday, most military academy, bringing them ing which some were placed in in rebel shelling closer to the government’s access solitary confinement, personal route into the city. belongings seized and prisoners of government- The former Al Nusra Front — transferred to other facilities. controlled districts. renamed Jabhat Fateh Al Sham They agreed to end the strike after breaking from Al Qaeda — after prison authorities said they announced having captured the would “stop humiliating naked two military schools and a third body searches” and “return AFP military position. Drone footage recently transferred prisoners”, posted by the group online showed a the Palestinian Prisoners Club series of explosions in some of those said. buildings, and massive columns of The Israel Prisons Service BEIRUT: More than 500 rebels billowing black smoke. said on Friday that it had moved and government forces have been Abdel Rahman said the advance Hamas prisoners, searched Smoke billowing from an under-construction building near Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle, yesterday. killed in one week of fierce fighting left the regime forces “in a very dif- cells and seized mobile phones to control the northern Syrian city ficult position despite Russian air earlier in the week, acting on of Aleppo, a monitor said yesterday. support”. “intelligence information about The Syrian Observatory for “This is an existential battle. direction of terror from inside Human Rights could not give a Whoever wins it will win Aleppo,” prisons”. specific toll, but said the majority he said. Firefighters tackle building But dozens of prisoners from of those killed since July 31 were Repeated attempts particularly the leftist Popular Front for the rebels and jihadists “because of the by Moscow and Washington to put Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) aerial superiority of the regime and an end to the fighting in Syria’s bat- blaze in Dubai; no injuries continued on Saturday to refuse intense Russian air strikes”. tered second city have failed. food in solidarity with prisoner Observatory chief Rami Abdel Russia and the United States Bilal Kayed, who has been fast- Rahman said at least 130 civilians support opposing sides in Syria’s Reuters pictures and a video of the build- there was a fire at a 79-storey resi- ing for 53 days over his detention had also been killed since Sunday, civil war, which has left 280,000 ing showing flames and clouds of dential tower. without trial, said the Prisoners most in rebel shelling of govern- people dead and forced half the black smoke. In November 2012, a 34-storey Club. ment-controlled districts. population to flee their homes. A spokesman said the fire was Dubai residential building was badly Kayed was to be released in He said at least seven civil- The two world powers have DUBAI: Firefighters fought for hours brought under control some five damaged by fire. June after serving a 14-and-a- ians were killed yesterday in rebel agreed “concrete steps” to revive a to control a blaze at a multi-sto- hours after it started, Gulf News In some of those cases, experts half-year sentence for activities shelling of the regime-held neigh- tattered ceasefire and tackle jihad- rey building under construction in reported. It was not immediately said the flames may have been in the PFLP, labelled a terror- bourhood of Hamdaniyeh. ist groups in Syria, although details Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle yes- clear if the building was being devel- encouraged to spread by exterior ist organisation by Israel, the Regime forces on Saturday have not been made public. terday, the latest in a series of fires oped for residential or commercial cladding, used for decoration or European Union and the United struggled to push back a powerful On Thursday, US President in the business and tourism hub of purposes. insulation. States. assault on military positions south Barack Obama said Russia risked the United Arab Emirates. Last month a fire broke out at the The UAE revised its building Instead, Israeli authorities of the battleground city. casting itself as an “irresponsible The English-language Gulf residential 75-storey Sulafa Tower safety code in 2013 to require that ordered that he remain in custody The offensive has brought actor” on the world stage, partic- News said there were no inju- in the upscale Marina District, on cladding on all new buildings over under the administrative deten- together rebels, Islamists and jihad- ularly over its actions in Aleppo in ries in the fire, which broke out at New Year’s Eve a blaze hit a down- 15 metres (50 feet) tall be fire-resist- tion law, which allows prisoners ists in an attempt to cut off a regime recent weeks. mid-day. The newspaper published town hotel and in February last year ant, but older buildings are exempt. to be held without trial for renew- able six-month periods. Kayed, 35, is suffering from failing kidneys and has lost at S Sudan accepts foreign troops least 30 kilos (65 pounds), Pales- Turkey arrests dozens of special forces tinian officials say. Israel says administrative Anatolia detention allows authorities to AP Special Forces Command following military being brought firmly under hold suspects while continuing the July 15 coup, the agency reported. civilian authority in a series of gov- to gather evidence, while Pal- The crackdown targets sus- ernmental decrees following the estinians, human rights groups pected followers of US-based cleric declaration of a state of emergency. ADDIS ABABA: South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has relented to inter- and members of the interna- ISTANBUL: Dozens of special forces Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara Earlier on Saturday Prime Minis- national calls for an Eastern Africa protection force to be deployed in the tional community have criticised personnel were arrested in Turkey accuses of masterminding the ter Binali Yildirim hosted a security troubled country. However, one local analyst said that Kiir’s government the system. yesterday in the latest development coup attempt. Tens of thousands of summit of high-level government must convince its public that such a force can help bring stability. Intense Of more than 7,500 Pales- in a sweeping crackdown following employees in the military, police and military officials in Ankara. lobbying was seen at an extraordinary meeting of the eight-country Inter- tinians currently in Israeli jails, the failed coup in the country that force, judiciary and throughout the Those attending included the coun- governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday in the Ethiopian around 700 are being held under killed over 270 people, the state-run public sector have been dismissed, try’s foreign, justice, interior and capital Addis Ababa. administrative detention, Pales- Anadolu news agency said. detained or arrested. defence ministers, the chief of gen- Since the removal of South Sudan’s opposition leader Riek Machar tinian rights groups say. Nearly 90 staff members were Turkey has also been reforming eral staff and the heads of Turkey’s as first vice president on July 15 and the subsequent sacking of ministers Palestinians have regularly arrested after being identified by its security apparatus in the after- national intelligence agency and the belonging to his SPLM/A-IO movement, the IGAD has been stern in its calls gone on hunger strike in protest a commission established by the math of the failed coup, with the national police. for an intervention force. at their detention.

Executions may inflame Displaced Iraqis regional tensions, says Iran’s Sunni cleric

Reuters

DUBAI: A leading Iranian Sunni cleric said the exe- cution of Sunni Islamists last week could inflame sectarian tensions in the Gulf region, while Tehran said it was merely taking a tough stance on foreign- backed terrorism. Iran executed up to 20 Sunni Kurds accused of attacks on security forces. There were no public tri- Displaced Iraqi people, who fled from Mosul due to Islamic State violence, gather als and rights groups said the convictions may have at a refugee camp in the Makhmour area near Mosul, yesterday. been based on forced confessions. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Friday that “overly broad and vague criminal charges” had led to “a grave injustice”. Iran’s Foreign Ministry expressed surprise at the Saudi to help Germany remarks. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always taken forceful policy measures to counter regional terrorist groups supported by foreign countries,” investigate attacks: Paper ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by state news agency Irna. Molavi Abdolhamid, a leading Sunni cleric in Iran said the executions lacked “forethought and toler- Reuters Traces of the chat, which investigators ance” at a time when Iran and the whole region were have been able to reconstruct, indicate that suffering from extremism. both men were not only influenced by but “Our main complaint is that the sensitive situation also took instructions from people, as yet in our region has not been considered in these exe- BERLIN: Saudi Arabia has offered to help unidentified, up until the attacks, the report cutions,” Abdolhamid, who is regarded as a spiritual German investigators find those behind said. The IS group has claimed responsibil- leader for Iran’s Sunni minority, said on his website. Islamist bomb and axe attacks in July, news ity for an attack on July 18 near Wuerzburg Iran and Saudi Arabia accuse each other of try- magazine Der Spiegel reported yesterday, in Bavaria in which a 17-year-old refugee ing to exploit sectarian differences to sow discontent citing a senior member of the Saudi gov- believed to be from Pakistan or Afghani- in the other country. In January, Saudi Arabia exe- ernment.Saudi authorities are in contact stan wounded five people with an axe before cuted a prominent Shia cleric along with dozens of with their German colleagues, responding police shot him dead. Sunni militants, causing outrage in Iran. to new findings that show both attackers A 27-year-old Syrian who blew himself up Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the were in close contact via a chat conversa- in Ansbach, southern Germany on July 24 had world. Amnesty International says at least 977 peo- tion with possible Islamic State( IS) backers pledged allegiance to IS on a video found on ple were put to death there in 2015, compared to 320 from Saudi Arabia, Spiegel said. his mobile phone, investigators said. in Pakistan. 06 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 ASIA / AFRICA S Africa’s ruling party suffers major poll setback

national tally of 58.3% of votes, a analyst Ralph Mathekga of the worst In metropolitan area plunge of eight points from 2011. poll result for the party since the end DA leader Mmusi Maimane hailed of white-minority rule 22 years ago. that includes Pretoria, the result as a landmark for his party. Vice-president and party dep- DA won 43.1% of the “This is a tipping point for the uty leader Cyril Ramaphosa said people of South Africa,” he said. “This the ANC would heed the elector- vote over the ANC’s represents for all of us the fact that ate’s message. 41.2%, according we are a party not only of opposition “Clearly our people are send- but of government.” ing out messages all around, we are to final results in Turnout was about 58% as voters going to listen very, very carefully. elections. chose mayors and other local repre- We are a listening organisation, we sentatives responsible for hot-button are going to listen to our people,” said issues including water, sanitation and Ramaphosa. power supplies. Ahead of final results, the ANC AFP President Jacob Zuma, ANC Vice-president and deputy leader Cyril Ramaphosa and DA leader Mmusi Maimane Problems providing such basics was still struggling to hold on to its trigger regular and sometimes violent outright majority in Johannesburg, In Tshwane, the metropoli- of the ANC conceding defeat Friday hotbed of anti-apartheid activism. “service delivery” protests in South the country’s economic centre. JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s tan area that includes Pretoria, DA in Port Elizabeth, a key battleground The showings have prompted Africa, where harsh socio-economic The position of Zuma, 74, as ruling African National Congress won 43.1% of the vote over the ANC’s of Wednesday’s municipal election. speculation over their long-term divisions remain a grim legacy of the head of state is coming under ques- (ANC) suffered a historic defeat in 41.2%, according to final results in Defeat in Port Elizabeth by a mar- impact on President Jacob Zuma. apartheid era. tion even though his mandate still the country’s capital to the opposi- elections highlighting the declining gin of 46.7 to 40% was a humiliating At the national level ANC remains The setback to the ANC “hap- has three years to run after a poll tion Democratic Alliance (DA) in local popularity of the party that led the blow for the ANC as the municipality the nation’s top party. However, the pened quicker and harder than widely seen as a referendum on a elections, the electoral commission anti-apartheid struggle. is officially known as “Nelson Man- party Mandela once headed has seen everyone thought! It’s a shocker for leader plagued by scandals since said yesterday. The loss of Pretoria comes on top dela Bay” in tribute to its past as a a slump in support after landing a everyone,” said independent political taking office in 2009. Congo and Uganda Singapore on alert after ‘rocket attack’ plot foiled leaders agree on sharing Reuters state’s glittering downtown water- to celebrate their National Day holi- group in the Middle East. front, where night-time Formula One day on Tuesday. The six arrested on Batam - Grand Prix Races are held alongside Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major mostly factory workers, according intel to fight rebel group BATAM: Singapore called for height- a giant ferris wheel and a swanky commercial, banking and travel hub to local media - were suspected of ened vigilance yesterday, a day after casino resort. that is home to many Western expa- having links to Bahrun Naim, an AP with security services so that they Indonesian police arrested a group “This shows how our enemies triates, has never seen a successful Indonesian now fighting with Islamic can exchange the needed infor- of men they believed were plotting are thinking of different ways of attack by Islamist militants. State in Syria. mation, but we also recognise that a rocket attack on the wealthy city- attacking us,” Shanmugam said in a However, authorities did break “There’s a link to Bahrun Naim KASESE: The leaders of Uganda there may be recruitment from DR state with the help of a Syrian-based Facebook posting. “Terrorists ... will up a plot to bomb several embassies because there was communication and Congo agreed on a plan to share Congo.” Islamic State militant. seek to come in through our check- soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with Bahrun Naim - but whether security intelligence to combat rebel Eastern Congo is home to mul- The six suspected militants were points; they will also try to launch on the United States, and a Singapo- they were affiliated with Bahrun groups active along the countries’ tiple armed groups competing for rounded up on Friday in dawn raids attacks from just outside. And this is rean militant was accused of plotting Naim’s group or not - this is what border. control of the region’s vast mineral on Batam island, which is about in addition to lone wolf attacks from to crash a hijacked plane into the we’re investigating now,” police Congo President Joseph Kabila resources. 15km south of Singapore, and local radicalised individuals/groups. We city’s airport in 2002. spokesman Agus Rianto said. and Uganda President Yoweri One former rebel group, M23, police chief Sam Budigusdian said have to be extra vigilant.” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Indonesian investigators believe Museveni made the announcement operated in eastern Congo from they were still being held there while Batam is linked to Singapore said this week Singapore was a tar- that Naim was one of the master- after meeting in Uganda to discuss 2012 until it was repulsed by UN investigations continued. by frequent ferries and its beach get for Islamic State because it is “a minds behind an attack in January security. forces and Congo’s army. Singapore’s home affairs min- resorts and golf courses are a pop- rational, open, cosmopolitan coun- in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, The Uganda-based rebel group Many rebels fled to Rwanda ister, K Shanmugam, said the men ular weekend getaway destination try” even though it is not involved in which eight people were killed, Allied Democratic Forces has killed and Uganda before a 2013 peace had plans to hit Marina Bay, the for Singaporeans, who are preparing in the US-led campaign against the including the four attackers. at least 500 civilians in the Beni agreement. region in Congo’s North Kivu prov- Museveni said Uganda would ince since October 2014. hand over any remaining former “We have decided to fight rebels. against all forms of recruitment The leaders also said they Thai referendum today from Uganda,” Museveni said. will form a joint committee on oil “We are currently taking steps exploration. Australian police arrest man over Kayaker stranded on Aussie terror raids

island after crocodile attack SYDNEY: Austral- ian police arrested a AFP “He was very fortunate,” a 31-year-old man yes- spokeswoman from the Australian terday in counter-terror Maritime Safety Authority, which raids in southern Vic- SYDNEY: A kayaker left stranded coordinated the rescue said. toria state, saying they for days on a small Australian “It didn’t pierce the kayak. He believed they had inter- island after his craft was attacked said he was running on adrenalin rupted something “quite by a crocodile was rescued by hel- (to get to the island).” serious”. icopter yesterday, authorities said. The man remained on the Victoria Police Assist- The intrepid man was about island until yesterday when he ant Commissioner Ross 3km from Townshend Island, reluctantly activated his personal Guenther did not name north of Rockhampton in Queens- locator beacon, alerting authori- the man, who has not land, when the animal lunged at ties to his location, after he ran out yet been charged, and him on Wednesday. of provisions. would not confirm He paddled furiously to land at Saltwater crocodiles have reports he was linked the island, but was then stranded become more common in northern to far-right groups. But Volunteers count papers during the distribution of voting material at a city administration office on the there by a combination of bad Australia since they were declared he said that the individ- weather and tidal problems. a protected species in 1971. eve of the country’s constitutional referendum in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat, yesterday. ual had a “number of affiliations to different organisations”. The Australian gov- ernment lifted its terror Burundi blocks threat level to high in Hundreds hit streets in HK’s first ‘PokeWalk’ September 2014. vehicles from AFP Players filled up the sidewalks Media calls HK entering Rwanda and screamed with excitement when rare Pokemon creatures appeared on independence HONG KONG: Hundreds gathered in their phones, as they were watched AP Hong Kong to live out their childhood over by a handful of police officers a ‘gimmick’ dream of catching Pokemon in the and organisers who led the crowds wild in what was billed as the city’s and reminded participants to be HONG KONG: Chinese BUJUMBURA: Authorities in first Pokemon Go walk yesterday. careful when crossing roads. media yesterday dis- Burundi are preventing public The gaming application landed In Indonesia last month a French missed Hong Kong’s transport vehicles from crossing in late July in Hong Kong and saw player was stopped and questioned independence movement the border into Rwanda, in an residents more glued to their phones for several hours after the app led as a political “gimmick”, escalation of tensions over alle- than ever, searching for the cyber him into a military base. following the city’s first gations that Rwanda backs rebels creatures in locations ranging from On the other side of the world, pro-independence rally opposed to Burundi’s government. public parks to the government two youngsters were so preoccupied that was attended by The operators of some pas- headquarters. with catching the cartoon monsters more than 2,000 people. senger buses transporting people The app, which uses satellite that they wandered across the US- The unprecedented between the two countries say locations, graphics and camera Canada border. rally saw people fill a they have been stopped by Burun- capabilities to overlay cartoon mon- Some Pokemon Go players were park near the govern- dian border officials who ask sters on real-world settings, has even robbed after being lured to iso- ment’s headquarters passengers to leave the vehicles prompted warnings from govern- FROM LEFT: Cheng Lai, 30; Jennifer Wu, 26; and Adam Lo, 28, take lated locations in hopes of catching Friday night, chant- and cross the border on foot. mental departments and even from part in the world’s first ‘Pokemon Go’ competition in Hong Kong, China, the virtual creatures, according to ing “Hong Kong Pierre Nkurikiye, a spokes- the Chinese People’s Liberation Army yesterday. US reports. independence”. man for Burundian police, says the garrisoned in the city. Other distracted players have The protest was government wants to stop all food But this did not stop hundreds of Siu co-founder of Press Start, which it is nice, we all grew up with Poke- been blamed for causing traffic led by five pro-inde- exports from Burundi, which faces Pokemon faithful from gathering in organised what is billed as the city’s mon,” Sarah Masters, 19, said. accidents. pendence candidates a possible food crisis amid political the financial district of Central yes- first “PokeWalk” said. “It’s nice how people can come Pokemon Go was released to who were banned from violence following the president’s terday to catch the cyber creatures Another player also agreed it was together and do something like this,” mixed reviews, with critics praising standing for election in decision to seek a third term. en masse. nice to see people of different ages the university student added. the game’s concept and the incentive Hong Kong because they Burundi’s government accuses “We grew up with Pokemon and out in the streets reconnecting with Around 200 players attended the to be more active in the real world, advocate a split from Rwandan authorities of training this has been something in our lives others and their childhoods. event, according to reporters at the while criticising frequent technical mainland China. and arming rebels. since we were very young,” Vince “I think the community aspect of scene. issues apparent at launch. ASIA / PHILIPPINES SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 07

Filipino and Vietnamese protesters display anti-China placards and Vietnamese national flags during a call on China to respect their rights in the disputed South China Sea, in front of the Chinese consular office in Manila, yesterday. RIGHT: Protesters place flowers along a metal fence during a protest. China conducts ‘combat patrols’ over contested sea

Reuters the contentious South China Sea. patrols, practising tactics ... increas- international legal action against Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam The air force sent several H-6 ing response capabilities to all kinds China in 2013. all have rival claims in the South Chinese official bombers and Su-30 fighter jets to of security threats and safeguard- Beijing has reacted angrily to China Sea. said that bombers BEIJING: China’s air force sent inspect the airspace around the ing national sovereignty, security and calls by Western countries and The United States has conducted and fighter jets on bombers and fighter jets on “combat Spratly Islands and Scarborough maritime interests,” Shen said. Japan for the decision to be adhered freedom of navigation patrols close patrols” near contested islands in the Shoal, Senior Colonel Shen Jinke of China has refused to recognise to and has released pictures of air- to Chinese-held islands, to Beijing’s ‘combat patrols’ in South China Sea, in a move a senior the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) the ruling by an arbitration court in craft flying over the shoal since the anger, while China has been bolster- S China Sea was colonel said was part of an effort to Air Force said, according to state The Hague that invalidated its vast ruling. ing its military presence there. normalise such drills and respond to news agency Xinhua. territorial claims in the South China China has repeatedly blamed The South China Sea contains part of an effort to security threats. The patrols included surveillance Sea and did not take part in the pro- the United States for stoking tension over 250 small islands, atolls, cays, normalise such drills The exercises come at a time of and refuelling aircraft, Xinhua said, ceedings brought by the Philippines. through its military patrols in the shoals, reefs, and sandbars, most of heightened tension in the disputed although it did not say when they A dispute over the shoal, 124 South China Sea, a strategic water- which have no indigenous people, and respond to waters after an arbitration court occurred. nautical miles northwest of the way through which more than $5 many of which are naturally under security threats. in The Hague ruled last month that “The Air Force is organising nor- Philippines mainland, was one of trillion of trade moves annually. water at high tide, and some of which China did not have historic rights to malised South China Sea combat Manila’s main reasons for bringing China, Brunei, Malaysia, the are permanently submerged. Duterte vows to keep Clashes leave seven dead in Philippines

‘shoot-to-kill’ order Anatolia One soldier was also reportedly saw the NPAs dragging along their missing in action. casualties.” In a separate clash in the vil- The clashes come amid prepara- Philippines and AFP “I don’t care about human rights, ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Philip- lage of Parasanon, one soldier was tions for renewed peace negotiations believe me,” he said, according to pines’ military confirmed yesterday wounded but later died in hospital. -- scheduled for August 20 in Oslo, Saudi to talk over official transcripts released by the that at least five soldiers and two Government troops also found the Norway -- that aim to bring an stranded workers MANILA: Philippine President Rod- presidential palace yesterday. communist rebels were killed in body of a rebel alongside a carbine end to a decades-long guerilla war rigo Duterte has vowed to maintain He added that government recent clashes, despite peace nego- rifle and an improvised explosive against the government. his “shoot-to-kill” order against officials who use their positions to tiations scheduled to start later this device. Since his landslide victory in the MANILA: The Philippines drug dealers while in office and engage in a trade that wrecks the month. Meanwhile, another encounter in May 9 election, President Rodrigo said yesterday it would says he “does not care about human lives of many Filipinos were first Capt Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infan- nearby Bukidnon province left one Duterte has been making overtures within days send govern- rights”. on his list. try Division spokesman, said in a soldier dead Friday afternoon. toward the Communist Party of ment missions to Saudi About 800 people have been Duterte said he was also offer- statement that a Scout Ranger pla- Capt Joe Patrick Martinez of the the Philippines (CPP) and its armed Arabia to help thousands killed since Duterte won a land- ing soldiers and police his “official toon engaged in “field monitoring” 4th Infantry Division said that the wing, the NPA. of jobless Filipinos left slide election in May, according to and personal guarantee” of immu- clashed with some 60 fully armed two-hour clash broke out in Lilin- On Friday, the Philippines stranded across the king- reports by the local press which has nity from prosecution for killings New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas gayon village of Valencia City after Supreme Court granted a petition dom after the plunge in been tracking the maverick politi- undertaken in the performance of in a 45-minute gunbattle on Friday security forces rushed to the area filed by the presidential office for oil prices. cian’s campaign pledge to kill tens their duties. morning in Monkayo town of south- following reports of NPA rebels the temporary release of two jailed The first batch of offi- of thousands of criminals. The president dismissed crit- ern Compostela Valley province. extorting money from residents. communist leaders to enable them cials would fly to Saudi “This campaign (of) shoot-to- ics’ suggestions some of the 402 The violence left a female NPA He was quoted as saying that to participate in the talks. Arabia on Wednesday kill will remain until the last day of suspects whose killings have been guerrilla dead and 13 soldiers government troops managed to The military estimates that “to provide immediate my term if I’m still alive by then,” acknowledged by the police were wounded, three of whom were drive the rebels away, and “tracks the number of NPA members has humanitarian, legal, and Duterte said at a news conference “salvaged”, the local police term for declared dead on arrival at a nearby of bloods were seen along NPA’s dropped from a peak of 26,000 in other consular assistance in his southern hometown of Davao. summary execution. hospital. withdrawal route. Civilians also the 1980s to less than 4,000. to the overseas Fili- pino workers stranded in work camps across Saudi Arabia,” a foreign depart- ment statement said. The immediate target is to bring aid to “those without food and in dire need of medical care and other support services”, it added.

Measles outbreak behind deaths of people in Myanmar

YANGON: Myanmar health officials have confirmed that a measles outbreak is behind the deaths of more than 30 peo- ple, mostly children, in a remote part of the coun- A woman lights up a candle in front of the cenotaph for the victims of the 1945 atomic try as authorities rush to bombing at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, yesterday. treat victims. The outbreak has struck the far corner of Japan marks Hiroshima bombing anniversary Myanmar’s northern Saga- ing region, a remote and AFP American B-29 bomber During the solemn cere- mountainous area which Enola Gay dropped its deadly mony, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi borders eastern India and payload, dubbed “Little Boy”, Matsui recalled the visit by is populated by people TOKYO: Japan yesterday on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Obama in his peace declaration, from the Naga tribes. marked 71 years since the city Much of the city was incin- citing the president’s historic The deaths began in of Hiroshima was destroyed by erated by a wall of heat up to speech. June and highlight how a US atomic bomb, as its mayor 4,000 C -- hot enough to melt “(His visit) was the proof vulnerable Myanmar’s urged the world to unite in abol- steel -- killing tens of thousands. that Hiroshima’s strong wish not more isolated populations ishing nuclear weapons. About 50,000 participants, to tolerate the ‘absolute evil’ was are in a country where The annual ceremony including Prime Minister Shinzo shared by President Obama,” he healthcare was never pri- came just months after Barack Abe and representatives of more said. oritised under decades Obama became the first sitting than 90 countries and regions, The mayor urged the world of brutal and inept junta US president to visit the western observed a minute’s silence to take action towards the abo- rule. Japanese city, paying moving at the exact time the atrocity lition of “the ultimate form of tribute to victims of the devas- occurred some seven decades inhumanity, united and with tating bomb. ago. passion”. 08 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Complex conflict Thais split over change,

s the cradle of Syrian culture, Aleppo bleeds in a battle of attrition between rebels on one side and stability before draft vote the regime supported by Russian firepower on the other, the war drags on unhindered, unbridled and uncontrolled. Aleppo has become the latest By Max Constant power to civil servants and puts expressed bitterness over the very Aflashpoint in a country ravaged by a war that has triggered Anatolia down the people,” concurred Pao strict constraints imposed by the Democracy is one of the deadliest conflicts in the region. Started as a protest Vichayuth, a bank employee. regime on freedom of expression. against President Bashar Al Assad during the heydays of the Among the most contro- something which A referendum act punishes versial clauses of the draft with a maximum jail term Arab Spring in 2011, the unrest spiralled into a major conflict that n the eve of today’s charter, written by a junta- has to do with of ten years those deemed to morphed into geopolitical struggle with Iran, Russia, US, Middle referendum on a post- appointed committee of legal human rights. It spread “false information” East states and some Nato countries roped in. coup constitution, Thais experts, figures one establish- is not something that might influence voters, as Different regions of the Middle Eastern country that boasted appear to be hesitating ing a 250-member senate, fully well as “violent, aggressive or Obetween prioritizing stability in appointed by the military. coming from a coercive information” related a history told by splendid monuments and ruins have now been ruined as a result of the war. Rebels’ demand that Assad step the short-term — by submitting Another allows for a non- small group trying to the referendum and the draft to the aspirations of the junta rul- elected “outsider” — including a charter. aside for peace has been sidelined to bring into focus issues of ing the kingdom — or challenging retired military officer — to be to impose their Rangsiman Rome, a leader terrorism, right of the country to exercise its own choice and the regime by shooting down the chosen prime minister through commands on the of student activist group New rejection of United Nations pleas for draft charter. a vote by two-thirds of parlia- Democratic Movement who was peace. Any advise by third countries in For those who attended a ment — also consisting of the people. arrested and detained for 12 days the interest of Syria is rebuffed by the recent political event within 500-member lower house. in July alongside 12 peers for dis- Increasing Assad administration as meddling into the campus of Bangkok’s pres- Gothom Arya, a former tributing brochures explaining its internal affairs. tigious Thammasat University, election commissioner and their analysis of the draft, insisted number of a symbolic place of resistance prominent independent analyst, that debate “should not pose any strikes on While multilateral organisations, against past dictatorships, their told Anadolu Agency this week charter is prominent in this half- problems”. leaders and politicians bicker over the assessment of the draft charter that he has no doubt “whatsoever urbanized, half-rural area on the “There are different sides hospitals in fate of Syria, what is being ignored is is clear-cut. that [junta leader] Chan-ocha rim of greater Bangkok, other and we debate together about Syria should the plight of the common Syrian. Assad “Many articles in this text are wants to prolong his power”. provinces in the north and north- what is right and what is immediately remains unrelenting. So do the rebels just unfair,” Phanom Weerapong, “If the military can control 251 east are said to be fiefdoms of the wrong by forwarding various and the US-led coalition. A few days a 65-year-old retired civil serv- MPs [in the lower house], they will “Red Shirts” — opponents of the arguments. In this manner, we stop. ant, told Anadolu Agency at the be able to govern through them junta and staunch supporters of can see quickly what is true or ago, air strikes on a maternity hospital end of July as he read the full text and the 250 senators,” he added. former Prime Minister Thaksin not and the debate is closed,” claimed lives while another one on a plastered by students on a series Outside of Bangkok, how- Shinawatra, who was overthrown he told Anadolu Agency. hospital yesterday is said to have killed of whiteboards. ever, it’s more about stability than in an earlier 2006 coup. “But the military prefers to 10 people. The hospital, in the town of Meles, is about 15km from “Democracy is something democracy. Despite the popularity of use their absolute power for Idlib city in rebel-held Idlib province. which has to do with human The farmers of Thailand’s Thaksin and his younger sis- block us from presenting our Aleppo has become a test of power of the regime forces rights. It is not something com- rice bowl, located around 150 ter Yingluck — deposed in the argument. against the rebels. The regime earlier took over the only route ing from a small group trying to kilometers north of the glisten- 2014 putsch — local media has For Rome, a law student, the impose their commands on the ing capital appear to have other reported that even in these charter’s details matter less than that was being used by insurgents for sending supplies to the people,” he asserted — a clear concerns and priorities. regions, a majority seemed to its role of representing a stand for civilian population. reference to the junta which has “I will accept the draft,” favor the military-sponsored or against the junta. Russia advised Syrians to quit the area by promising them ruled the country since the May Prasert Noisuwan told Ana- draft charter, mostly due to prag- “Those who vote ‘no’ reject passage through a safe corridor, a move considered deceptive 2014 coup, led by General Pray- dolu Agency while cutting long matism prevailing over more the military regime. Those who by the international community. Yesterday again, rebels had uth Chan-ocha who also serves beans in her field along a lake in idealistic endeavors. vote ‘yes’ accept it,” he said. broken the siege of the province. What was being paraded as an as prime minister. Suphanburi province. “From Chiang Mai to Bang- “Of course, even if the ‘no’ Weerapong then placed one “If the draft does not pass, kok to [southern] Pattani, it wins, the junta will maintain his achievement by Russia-backed regime forces had again fallen of the grimacing emoticon stick- disorder will continue to prevail seems that most people intend power, but they will know that the into the hands of those it was fighting. ers available to participants on and the situation will get worse to vote ‘yes’, also many of those majority of the people disavowed Amid countless ceasefires and meetings, Syria keeps burning. the board next to an article stip- and worse. We want a more com- who supported the charter did so their actions. It will send the mes- Attempts at peace have been hit by the intransigence of the ulating that the junta-appointed fortable life and voting ‘yes’ [to with a sense of resignation that sage: ‘you can keep the power warring sides. Not a day passes by without scores being killed in senate should be able to vote the draft] is the way to go,” she it is the only way forward for the because you have weapons, but one bombing or another. alongside the lower house to added. Her views were echoed by country, with the ‘anti-corrup- the majority of the population It seems there is no stopping the war in the near future. choose the prime minister. several rice farmers and traders tion constitution’ as its driver,” does not want you’.” The article was surrounded in the area. Bangkok Post reporters wrote For some observers, the real However, abhorrent attacks on hospitals and other healthcare by a large number of unhappy “The draft charter has many in a combined special report last issue indeed is not whether the facilities should be stopped by any means. Let the world not hear emoticons, as well as a post-it positive points. It is a tool to fight Sunday, after being dispatched constitution will be accepted or about an attack on a hospital after today. reading: “in democracy, the peo- against corruption,” said Woralak countrywide. rejected, but whether the fun- ple’s power is the biggest power.” Sawang, who owns a small gro- Pool surveys, however, are damental questions with which The draft charter has been cery store along a country road themselves often unreliable in Thailand has been confronted widely criticised by civil soci- where rice bags are piled up to Thailand, especially as — in such since the political crisis that ety representatives and political the ceiling. a tense context — people hesitate started ten years ago — with parties as “undemocratic” and “Dishonest politicians will not to answer questions from anyone the coup against Thaksin — can intended at prolonging — either be able to enter parliament any- resembling an “official”. receive adequate answers. directly or indirectly — the more. I will vote ‘yes’ to support In a survey conducted July 17 “Who will tackle the fun- Quote of the day power of the military, which the military,” she added. by the National Institute of Devel- damental issues? Who will seized power under the pretext Norachit Preuksa, a 75-year- opment Administration, a public bring together on the same The elections were hotly of re-establishing order follow- old farmer, described the draft graduate university, 60 percent platform the former [political] contested, with competing ing protests against the elected charter as “a good job” and of respondents said they were enemies?” asked Gothom Arya. parties passionately arguing government. expressed hope that “it will help undecided. “The issues of corruption and of Most of those attending the old people like me”. “This consti- Two visions seem to be in the judicial and the education their points of view in gathering at Thammasat Uni- tution will help poor people. At opposition: a pro-democratic side systems need to be solved. But attempts to win the favour of versity agreed with Weerapong. least we will be able to pay our fed up with military interventions can it be done before organis- the electorate. That is how it “This draft charter only pro- water and electricity bills,” he told in politics (19 coups in 84 years ing elections?” tects the interest of some groups, Anadolu Agency. of constitutional monarchy) and Underlining that such a proc- should be in a democracy. not the interests of the majority of A clause in the document advocating a more mature politi- ess “can take a lot of time”, he people,” Achariya Lawansarith, a stipulates that the State must pro- cal system, and a large part of the stressed, “the best solution would 21-year-old fine arts student, told vide a small amount of monthly population prioritizing stability in be to work at trying to solve these Jacob Zuma Anadolu Agency. financial support to people who the short-term. issues while at the same time South Africa President “I can’t accept this constitu- register as “poor”. Back in Bangkok, those cam- opening the door to a larger polit- tion because it gives an enormous While support for the draft paigning against the draft charter ical participation”.

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 09 The Khan family is our family

By Dana J H Pittard The Washington Post

am a former soldier who served our nation in uniform for more than 34 years. I was also Captain Humayun Khan’s combat brigade commander Iin Diyala province, Iraq, in 2004. I came to know Humayun after tak- ing command of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in Germany in 2002. The motto of our unit was “No mission too difficult. No sacri- fice too great. Duty First!” Humayun was a wonderful person, liked and respected by all who knew him. I used to joke with him about the tank platoon he once led, which I had led 20 years earlier. I often told him that we were kindred spirits. I remember clearly the day he died. Humayun was a great officer. The 201st Forward Support Battalion, Huma- yun’s unit, was the most motivated and combat-oriented logistics unit I had ever In a 2006 file photo, then-Brigadier General Dana Pittard, commander, Iraq Assistance Group, runs his fingers over the names of soldiers who gave their lives seen. It supported our 4,000— person in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom at Forward Operating Base near Baqubah, Iraq. brigade, protected wheeled convoys and was responsible for guarding the gates at our large forward operating base: Camp potentially hurt our relationship throughout our entire brigade combat American Gold Star family is an attack Warhorse. with local Iraqis. Humayun had fos- team. There were three memorial serv- on all patriotic and loyal Americans who We employed more than 1,000 Iraqi tered a warm relationship with our ices for him — one with our soldiers at have sacrificed to make our country citizens at Camp Warhorse. We were local workforce, and he and his unit Camp Warhorse, a second with our rear great. Any politically or racially moti- slowly making progress in the prov- were determined to break the cycle of detachment and family members at our vated attack on the Khans is despicable ince, the economy and security were violence by reducing or eliminating home base in Vilseck, Germany, and a and un-American. improving, and the insurgents were los- unnecessary deaths and injuries at our third with the Khan family in United I am no politician. I have stayed away ing steam. Security at Camp Warhorse gates. States. We named the 201st Battalion from politics my entire adult life. My was extremely tight. On the morning of June 8, 2004, headquarters on Camp Warhorse the family has been Republican ever since Unfortunately, we had killed or the gate guards alerted Humayun to Khan Building in his honor. my maternal grandparents migrated wounded several innocent Iraqi an orange-and-white taxicab slowly Humayun was one of 36 men and from Jim Crow South Carolina to Phil- drivers at our gates over the pre- moving through our serpentine barri- one woman in our brigade who died dur- adelphia in the late 1920s. vious month for failing to heed our ers during the “rush hour” of Iraqi day ing our year in Iraq. My grandmother voted for Herbert warning signs and our gate guards’ workers coming onto camp. Our fallen comrades were of all Hoover in 1928. Though I am a Repub- Humayun had instructions. Each of these incidents Humayun probably moved toward races, religions and genders. They rep- lican, I have voted my conscience — for fostered a warm the suspicious vehicle to avoid killing the resented sacrifice, service, duty and both Democrats and Republicans — for driver unnecessarily, but at some point, the essence of what makes our coun- the past 32 years. I’m going to vote my relationship with he concluded that something was wrong try great. And, yes, it is a great country conscience again this year. our local workforce, Humayun was a great officer. The and ordered his men to hit the dirt. right now. We live in a dangerous and complex and he and his unit 201st Forward Support Battalion, The driver detonated his car bomb, Despite our flaws, the United States world. We need leaders who are steady, killing Humayun and two Iraqi citizens. remains a beacon of hope around the patient and empathetic, especially at the were determined Humayun’s unit, was the most Humayun died trying to save the lives world. Blue Star families are those with a national level, during this troubled time. to break the motivated and combat-oriented of innocent Iraqis. His brave effort to member deployed to combat in the serv- We need somebody who has respect for approach the vehicle probably saved ice of our country. our Gold Star families. cycle of violence logistics unit I had ever seen. It American lives as well. Gold Star families are families that But, above all, our country needs by reducing supported our 4,000— person I raced to the gate upon hearing the have lost a loved one in a combat zone. more men and women like Humayun or eliminating brigade, protected wheeled convoys huge explosion. It was an awful scene. In our military culture, we hold Blue Star Khan and the countless others who Battalion commander Lt Col Dan Mitch- families in the highest regard. But we willingly and humbly served this great unnecessary deaths and was responsible for guarding the ell and his soldiers had resecured the have absolute reverence for our Gold nation of ours without reservation or and injuries at our gates at our large forward operating destroyed gate, but we lost more than Star families. recognition. “Duty First!” a gate, we lost a member of our team — I join all those who stand in support gates. base: Camp Warhorse. of our family. of the Khan family. This family is our The writer is a retired US Army Humayun’s death caused sadness family, and any attack on this wonderful major General. How China could finally help clean up the Olympics

more medals — and China wins a they were forced to dope. gained a lot of influence over the That would align with Presi- lot of them — seemed to equate with More recently, China’s record- Olympics. dent Xi Jinping’s push to improve its rising status in the world. It even setting swimming performances at Last summer, Beijing won the public morality via his anti-cor- seemed to boost racial self-confi- the 2012 London Olympics caused rights to the 2022 Winter Games ruption crackdown, and would be dence: In 2004, hurdler Liu Xiang suspicion among competitors, based largely on its ability to pay for a statement of confidence in an told the press that his unexpected coaches and commentators. them — even though the city is mostly athletic program that easily ranks gold medal proved that “athletes with This spring, a whistleblower snowless and has no tradition of win- among the world’s best, even with- yellow skin can run as fast as those revealed that authorities had covered ter sports. out drugs. with black and white skins.” up positive tests by Chinese swim- Chinese corporate sponsorship It would also be a powerful Yet as China’s political and finan- mers, and were allowing a coach has likewise become an increasingly gesture if China wants to push the cial investment in the Olympics has banned for doping to work with ath- important way to fund the games. International Olympic Committee grown, the games themselves have letes in Tianjin. In April, the World And the value of Chinese broad- to make further reforms to clean up By Adam Minter only become more tarnished: Rev- Anti-Doping Authority suspended cast rights is growing rapidly as the the games. For three decades, Bloomberg elations of widespread cheating by China’s drug-testing lab. country’s huge population starts to That may sound unlikely. But China has embraced Russia at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi For China, these aren’t just tune in. few countries have China’s attach- the Olympics as a are just the latest to undermine the embarrassments; they’re political All of which means that China ment to sport as a symbol of national integrity of competition that the Chi- problems. Allegations of doping at isn’t powerless to stop the erosion greatness. proxy for national hen the Olympic torch was nese government so esteems. the 2008 Beijing games threaten to of the Olympic brand. It could start If nothing else, standing up greatness. Winning lit Friday in Rio de Janeiro, China has had its share of dop- stain an event that the government at home, by finally making a public against cheating would be a way to Wthere were 416 Chinese ing problems, of course. In the early has extolled as a key moment in Chi- push to stamp out cheating. enhance its status in the world — more medals — and athletes in attendance, the largest 1990s, its women’s distance-running na’s international emergence. For one thing, it could require regardless of how many athletes it China wins a lot contingent the country has ever sent team set a series of astonishing world Cheating among Olympians is that all athletes in its state system sends to the medal platform. abroad. It’s a hopeful symbol amid an records, despite having no history of especially thorny when the govern- be covered by “biological passports” of them — seemed unprecedented whirlwind of doping success in the sport. ment is trying to clean up corruption that track long-term physiological The writer is a Bloomberg view col- to equate with its and corruption charges. And it seems Their coach credited tradi- everywhere else — from its civil changes in the blood. Such technol- umnist. He is the author of “Junkyard rising status in the like a pretty apt metaphor. tional elixirs made from worms service to its much-maligned soc- ogy should be adopted universally, Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dol- For three decades, China has and turtles, but the truth was cer leagues. but China — perhaps more than any lar Trash Trade.” He is based in Asia, world. embraced the Olympics as a proxy likely more banal: Two of the And that’s actually a reason for other country — has the ability to where he covers politics, culture, for national greatness. Winning runners have since claimed that hope. In recent years, China has lead the way. business and junk.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 10 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 PAKISTAN Afghan tourism bring reward as well as risk

“Because of the police they’re do encourage tourists to come and alive,” said a senior Interior Minis- visit Afghanistan, but after checking It is debatable try official, speaking on condition of with us first.” whether the presence anonymity. “Otherwise they would After an Indian woman was kid- of security forces all be dead.” napped from downtown Kabul in In the van, which was badly June, officials sparked controversy endangered the burned in the attack, were six Britons, by telling expatriate residents to hire tourists’ lives or saved two Americans and a German, part guards or use police escorts. of a steady trickle of visitors lured by Bamiyan, which also boasts them. the stunning beauty of the landscapes Afghanistan’s first national park, is and landmarks and, in some cases, seen as relatively secure, the Inte- by the thrill of danger. rior ministry official said. Reuters In this instance, the group had “In such places we have no con- set out from Bamiyan, once home to cerns,” he said. “But when they go giant Buddha statues carved into the elsewhere, we expect them to take KABUL: When police stopped a cliffs until they were destroyed by the extra measures. Unfortunately some van that was travelling across cen- Taliban in 2001. do not.” tral Afghanistan to the western city They were driving west to Herat, Several tour operators catering to Afghan security forces search passengers and a car at a checkpoint after Taliban militants attacked a group of Herat, they were in for a big sur- an ancient city near the Iranian bor- Westerners said they had not made of foreign tourists in western Herat province, yesterday. prise: it was full of Western tourists. der renowned for its citadel and the drive from Bamiyan to Herat for The visitors’ presence in one of blue-tiled mosque. several years because of concerns security has gotten worse between cancellations yet since Thursday’s Marc Leaderman, head of group the world’s most dangerous coun- The Afghan government wel- over security. cities,” Willcox said. incident. Untamed Borders took tours at Wild Frontiers, another Brit- tries made headlines on Thursday comes travel to what it considers “The main issue over the last few The handful of operators who around 50 clients on trips to Afghan- ish firm, said his company had no after their vehicle, now under police safe areas, where Taliban militants, years has been driving between cit- bring international tourists to istan in 2015 and expects to escort plans to bring any visitors this year. escort, was caught in a suspected Tal- seeking to topple the government and ies,” said James Willcox, a founder Afghanistan say increasing violence another 60 this year, he added. “We’ve noticed a distinct drop in iban ambush. return to power, are not deemed a of British-based Untamed Borders. has led them to curtail some travel in For Jonny Blair, who went to interest, and that’s combined with It is debatable whether the pres- threat. The company offers hiking in recent months. Afghanistan with Untamed Borders our own concerns over the decline ence of security forces endangered the Even then visitors are encour- the remote Wakhan Corridor in the Major suicide bombings have in January, the lure of the country’s in security,” he said. “This is the tourists’ lives or saved them - at least aged to fly, rather than drive between northeast, horse trekking and even rocked Kabul this year, and areas famous sites and natural beauty first year in a while that we haven’t five foreigners were slightly wounded. destinations whenever possible, said heli-skiing in the rugged Afghan of Helmand in the south and Kun- overrode any fears. brought at least 40 to 50 people.” But their trip across a stretch Zardasht Shams, deputy minister of mountains. duz in the north are regularly hit by “I grew up in Northern Ireland, Foreign tour operators deny that of country widely seen to be risky Information and Culture. But the last time it offered the fierce battles between troops and so I’m used to seeing guns,” he said. they cater to thrill-seekers. underlined the dangers such trav- “The (convoy) in Herat was not driving route to Herat was in 2009. insurgents. Local residents were nothing but “We’re not about taking people ellers face, and the difficulty coordinated with us,” he said, adding “When we first started, we could Smaller, more sporadic attacks welcoming, Blair said, and he never to dangerous places but rather intro- Afghanistan’s stretched police force that many tourists visited the coun- drive from Kabul to Herat along the occur across the country. felt threatened. “I definitely would ducing them to an amazing country,” has in protecting them. try last year without incident. “We central route ... but as time’s gone on, Willcox said he had not had any go back.” said Leaderman.

Heading home Sindh provincial govt to appoint experts for Australia to help ecommerce regulations Pakistani province Internews a mushroom growth of online shops fight malnutrition in the country. The internet buying or selling is still a new development ISLAMABAD: The Austral- KARACHI: The government of Paki- in the country. A majority of con- ian government through stan’s Sindh province will soon sumers is not ready to buy goods or the World Bank is sup- notify two core groups to formu- services on digital platforms. porting the Balochistan late ecommerce regulations, a top Cash on delivery, accounting for government to address official said yesterday, raising the 90% of $60 to $70m annual ecom- malnutrition issue and hope for a much-needed regulated merce transactions, is the popular promote breastfeeding online trade in the country. mode of buying that restrains the and its AUD17m projects “We will notify a policy unit shopping experience from becom- will improve access to and an advisory unit next week,” ing entirely digitised. nutrition in seven districts said Robina Athar, who heads the In Pakistan, where around 100 of Pakistan’s Balochistan ecommerce framework commit- online shopping portals are oper- province, Australian High tee constituted by the ministry of ating, the customer is given two Commissioner Margaret commerce. options: one to pay online using Adamson said. Last year the government con- Visa and Master and second to opt According to a state- stituted a committee, consisting for cash on delivery. In the former, Afghan refugee families board a truck as they return to Afghanistan through the Pakistan border ment issued here, of officials from the ministries of the payment is transferred to the Adamson said that the crossing at Spin Boldak, in southern Kandahar province, yesterday. commerce and information and merchant account of the acquir- Australian government technology and the State Bank of ing bank. would continue these Pakistan, to devise a regulatory Telecom operators have intro- projects to improve nutri- framework. duced digital payment solutions, but tion for women and Athar didn’t comment on the consumers still prefer cash on deliv- children. delay in the rollout. But, she said ery. Athar said e-payment will be She said these 50% of voters less than 35 years nothing has been done on the the main discussion point. projects would also edu- ground. “Since there has been no The stakeholders from the cate and encourage spadework, it will take time before private sector will be invited to women to breastfeed, Internews “Some 15,000 youngsters are age between 18 and 25 years, and the framework is ready,” she added. enlighten the government with the where possible. reaching the age of 18 years every 23.8 million have age between 26 Ecommerce in Pakistan has main issues to be resolved through day, so some 10 million more vot- and 35 years, so addition of some 10 caught a speed in the recent past the regulations. ISLAMABAD: Given the age-wise ers would be added in the voters million new youngsters would make with customers developing famil- She said the regulatory strength of the citizens some 50% list till 2018 general elections,” the them nearly 50% of the total voters iarity with the online platforms for framework will cover intellec- Pakistan eyeing of total registered voters in Paki- sources said. in 2018 general elections. buying and selling. tual property rights, data privacy, stan would have the age less than 35 “An awareness campaign would He said there are currently After the introduction of 3G and consumer protection and dispute seat on medical years, which means that the young be initiated to ensure all eligible per- 93,072,617 voters in Pakistan with 4G, the internet penetration got a big resolution. Ali Zain Sheikh, coun- norms generation would have an oppor- sons get them registered in the voter Punjab having 53,824,620; Sindh jump. The government’s estimate try manager at Kaymu.pk, a leading tunity to become a part of one of lists,” he added. 20,130,897; Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa put the number of internet users at online marketplace of Berlin incu- the biggest electoral process in the A senior official of Election Com- 13,376,654; Balochistan 3,333,318; 30 million, which is 15 per cent of bator Rocket Internet said the ISLAMABAD: Pakistan world in 2018 general elections, it mission of Pakistan (ECP) said that Fata 1,722,304 and Federal Area the country’s population. regulations will pave the way for has announced its candi- was learnt yesterday. currently 16.2 million voters have 684,824. Absence of regulations is seeing online payment culture. dacy for the key position of member at-large at the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA), USA. The elections for the Taliban’s new commando force tests Afghan army’s strength position are slated to take place in September in Melbourne, Australia, AP and now they appear to be closing in The new commando unit is called the force to 400 fighters, according buildings, minimising the number where IAMRA Mem- on the capital, Lashkar Gah. Sara Khitta, which means Red Group to the deputy head of Helmand’s of casualties among the insurgents. bers General Assembly Afghan officials in Helmand say or Danger Group in Pashto. provincial council, Abdul Majeed The Taliban commander said that will meet on the side- KANDAHAR: An elite new Taliban the army is facing an insurgent fight- “This kind of force is giving us Akhonzada. “They are very dan- casualties among the commando lines of the International force is proving its strength in the ing force that is better-organised and very good results, and we have been gerous and very successful,” he said. unit had been minimal, but he gave Conference on Medical strategic southern province of Hel- more skilled than ever. discussing whether or not we should It appears to be the latest devel- no numbers. Regulations. mand, pointing to the insurgents’ They say the Taliban have been deploy this sort of unit more widely,” opment in Taliban tactics. Over the In neighbouring Kandahar prov- The IAMRA came into ability to refine their battlefield sending men into the fight who he said. past six months, the insurgents have ince, powerful police chief General being in year 2000 to techniques to match Afghanistan’s appear to be members of a com- The Taliban would give no fur- shown that they are able to mod- Abdul Raziq, acknowledged the new facilitate collaborations increasingly professional national mando-like unit, believed to consist ther details, and military officials ify their approach to suit different force as a “reality.” among watchdogs for army. of several hundred elite fighters. refused to discuss the subject. But terrain. ‘’We can’t deny that the Taliban medical education and The Taliban regard Helmand as A senior Taliban commander civilian officials in Helmand said the For instance, in southern Uruz- are now changing their techniques practice around the world their heartland. They share Pash- confirmed the existence of the new, force is led by a commander known gan they have started closing off local and this new group is part of their to ‘protect, promote, tun ethnicity with its residents and highly-trained force. as Haji Nasar, former operational roads and intra-provincial highways new approach and new tactics. They and maintain health and the province’s vast opium output Speaking on condition of ano- head of the Taliban operating in Kan- to cut supplies to villages and towns, are well equipped and highly armed,” safety of the public by has helped fund the war against the nymity as he was not authorised to dahar and Zabul provinces. putting local government under he said. ensuring proper stand- government in Kabul, now in its fif- speak to the media, the commander The unit was first deployed in the pressure. The so-called Red Group deploys ards for the profession of teenth year. said the force numbered “around district of Sangin, in north-eastern This allows them to expand their snipers who back up gunmen from medicine’. In recent weeks, the Taliban have 300 fighters now, after starting out Helmand, earlier this year and its territory while launching fewer direct larger units during night attacks on taken huge swaths of the province with 200.” success has inspired plans to expand attacks on police checkpoints and government forces. INDIA SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 11

Premier asks Andhra panel states to prepare dossier of cow vigilantes in campaign IANS

NEW DELHI: Breaking his silence on cow vigilantism, Prime against IS Minister Narendra Modi yester- day said he felt “very angry” at such incidents and has asked state governments to prepare a allow themselves to be misled by dossier of people who are “run- the propaganda of the terror group ning shops” in the name of cow Minorities on social media. protection. Commission tells The speakers suggested set- “There are some people who ting up a body for counselling are running shops in the name of imams to create youth arrested for allegedly trying cow protection. They indulge in awareness among to join IS. Omer Jaleel, Secretary anti-social activities in the night youth about terror (minorities’ welfare) of Telangana and wear the cloak of gau rak- government, said the time had come shaks (cow protectors) by the day,” group. for every Muslim to stand up and be a visibly riled Prime Minister Modi counted against IS. said speaking at a Town Hall-style He said IS had nothing Islamic meeting here. about it. “I have asked the state govern- IANS “Its acts of killing and burning ments to prepare a dossier of all People stand next to burnt shops after gunmen flung grenades in a market on Friday, on the outskirts of people and committing other bar- such people,” he said. baric acts have nothing to do with Kokrajhar town, in Assam, yesterday. The opposition parties have Islam,” he said. Jaleel said ‘Islamic been criticising the Prime Minis- HYDERABAD: The Minorities Com- State’ is a misnomer given that ter for his “silence” amid growing mission of Telangana and Andhra Islam means peace and tranquillity. incidents of attacks on Dalits and Pradesh yesterday launched a cam- “It should be called just a terrorist Kokrajhar tense as militant Muslims by “gau rakshaks” in var- paign against Islamic State (IS) by group,” he said. ious parts of the country. roping in imams of mosques to cre- Mohammed Ali Rafath, a former He sought to make a clear dis- ate awareness among Muslim youth Indian Administrative Service (IAS) tinction between self-styled “gau about the terrorist organisation. officer, described IS as a global con- attack death toll rises to 14 rakshaks” and those who are The campaign, said to be the spiracy to put Islam and Muslims genuinely concerned about the first by any state minorities com- on the defensive. He said IS was the welfare of the bovines and said mission in the country, comes in the product of the same forces that put IANS others. One of the militants was shot an NIA source told IANS. he felt anguished at the actions of wake of recent arrests of seven Mus- up Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda dead. Five of the injured brought to such vigilante groups. lim youth in Hyderabad, allegedly in Afghanistan. Sarma, who had visited Kokra- GMCH last night are out of danger “Mujhe bahut gussa aata hai owing allegiance to the IS. “By doing this, these powers KOKRAJHAR: Tension continued jhar immediately after the incident now. Today (Saturday) five more of (I feel very angry),” he said, and The commission launched the have achieved their objective of to simmer in Kokrajhar in Assam a on Friday, said that the slain mili- the injured will be shifted to GMCH, lamented that more cows die campaign with a seminar on ‘ISIS — diverting world’s attention from day after militants triggered grenade tant has been identified as Manjoy said Sarma. by swallowing plastic than by Interpreting reality’ here yesterday. their atrocities in Iraq, Afghani- blasts and shot at civilians, even as Islari alias Maodang, a commander “The situation is normal now. We slaughter. Speakers including intellectuals, stan and Palestine,” he said. the number of dead rose to 14 yes- of the outfit. are receiving seven companies of The Modi government at the religious scholars, bureaucrats, law- Rafath said IS was part of the terday. An NIA team studied the Assam Chief Minister Sonowal additional forces in Kokrajhar. While Centre and BJP governments in yers and activists made suggestions larger conspiracy by the capitalist attack site as Chief Minister Sarba- and Sarma yesterday visited Guwa- a few of them have already reached, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to wean away youth from the ideol- and imperialist forces who want nanda Sonowal visited the injured hati Medical College and Hospital some are being sent,” Additional DGP have come under strong criti- ogy of the terror outfit. to grab precious resources of the in hospital. (GMCH) to meet the injured who Bodoland Territorial Area Districts cism for attacks on Dalits and The commission’s Chairman region. Assam Health Minister Himanta were shifted to Guwahati last (BTAD) LR Bishnoi said while talk- Muslims by vigilante groups amid Abid Rasool Khan said the ‘imams’ Blaming the US and its allies for Biswa Sarma yesterday said that one night. ing to IANS yesterday. the charge that the law enforce- during their sermons next Friday creating chaos in Iraq and Syria by of the injured, who was hit by bul- A four-member National Inves- He said that the process of iden- ment agencies remained mute will speak on the dangers posed by pitting Sunnis and Shias against lets, died yesterday morning, taking tigation Agency (NIA) team, sent tifying the militants involved in the spectators. IS and warn Muslim youth against each other, he said, “If they don’t the total civilian deaths to 14. from the agency’s branch in Guwa- killings on Friday is on. Four Dalit youths were flogged falling into its trap. stay out of the Muslim world it will Three members of the anti-talk hati, visited the attack site. “We have called the family mem- by cow vigilantes near Gujarat’s The speakers said that IS had cost them dear tomorrow”. faction of the National Democratic “A four-member Guwahati NIA bers of the slain militant to formally Una town on July 11. nothing to do with Islam and that Eminent lawyer Shafeeq Mohajir Front of Bodoland (NDFB) opened team visited Kokrajhar yesterday identify him and the process is on to In BJP-ruled Jharkhand, its activities were in fact damag- said a sense of persecution and fire at the weekly Balajan mar- afternoon, but it will not take over gather details about the other two two Muslim cattle herders were ing Islam and Muslims across the injustice may draw youth towards ket near Kokrajhar town on Friday, the case from local police right now. militants involved in the killings,” hanged by a local cow protection world. They advised youth not to such outfits. killing 13 civilians and injuring 20 We will wait for government’s order,” said Bishnoi. vigilante group in March this year. Sushma asks Army chief raises benefits for veterans in Karnataka envoy to meet IANS rally in this Karnataka town, about I have been stressing a lot on the appointed two persons at every pol- for veterans, which will be increased 260km from Bengaluru. welfare of ex-servicemen. We are yclinic to take care of them and their in phases. Four have been cleared prisoner in The two army chiefs were Field holding 103 such rallies for veterans needs when they visit for check-up and six more are waiting for approval MADIKERI: Terming the hilly Marshal K M Cariappa, the first Com- and veer naris (war widows) this or treatment,” Singh noted. in phase one,” Singh said. Pakistan jail Kodagu region in south Karnataka mander-in-Chief of the armed forces, year across the country as against In recognition of the services and The army has also started an Ex- a land of brave warriors, Chief of and General K S Thimayya (1957- 63 rallies last year,” he told a huge sacrifices made by ex-warriors, the servicemen Comprehensive Health IANS Army Staff General Dalbir Singh yes- 61), who had been the only Indian to gathering of serving and retired sol- General said the army would hold, Scheme (ECHS) across the country, terday announced a slew of benefits command an infantry brigade in the diers and their families here. every year, a ‘Veterans Rally’ on including remote areas for the ben- for veterans and war widows includ- Second World War. About 1,800 veterans and war January 14, the day Field Marshals efit of veterans. NEW DELHI: External Affairs ing dedicated hospitals and health Noting that not many chiefs widows from Kodagu district and Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw, the “The idea is to retouch their lives Minister Sushma Swaraj yester- scheme. had come here to meet serving and neighbouring areas participated in only other to hold the rank, retired and take care of them just the way day said that she has directed “Kodagu is a land of heroes, retired warriors, Singh said it was the the rally braving inclement weather from service. we did when they were in service,” the Indian envoy in Islamabad which gave the country two army duty of the army to look after veter- and rains. The focus of the rally will be to Singh added. to seek consular access to an chiefs. It is a special place from ans and war widows, pay homage to “More than ensuring all benefits resolve anomalies in the disburse- Expressing the army’s solidarity Indian lodged in a jail in Paki- where generals, lieutenant colo- the martyrs and acknowledge their and facilities to the veterans and war ment of pension and legal cases the with its retired fraternity, he assured stan’s Peshawar following reports nels, brigadiers and brave jawans invaluable contribution to the organ- widows, I have told all commands veterans face for justice. them that the army and the govern- of repeated attacks on him. served the country over the dec- isation and nation-building. that respect is the most important “A proposal is before the govern- ment would be sensitive to their “I am very much disturbed to ades,” Singh said at a veterans “Since I took over (as army chief), thing for ex-servicemen. We have ment to set up 10 regional hospitals needs. read about repeated attacks on Hamid Ansari who is detained in Peshawar jail since 2012. It is inhuman,” she said in a series of tweets. Fire at Gurdwara Javadekar opens IIT “I have asked our High Com- missioner in Pakistan to seek Consular access to Hamid Ansari in hospital/Jail and report,” campus in Jammu she said. Hamid Nehal Ansari was IANS He said the government was attacked twice in the Peshawar contemplating starting an IIT power Central Prison in the last two programme for providing free months, Dawn online quoted his JAMMU: Human Resource Devel- coaching and guidance to the aspir- lawyer as telling a court on Thurs- opment Minister Prakash Javadekar ing IIT students which shall help day. The lawyer said a jail official yesterday inaugurated the Jammu students in fulfilling their dream also thrashed Ansari daily. campus of the Indian Institute of of entering these premier institutes. Jail Superintendent Masoodur Technology (IIT). “The focus of the government Rehman, however, argued that the Spread over 500 acres in is on quality education and all injuries were of minor nature and Nagrota area of Jammu, the inau- stakeholders shall partner in this that such incidents “kept happen- guration of the IIT campus comes endeavour to take the country to the ing” in prisons. as the fulfilment of a long pending zenith of technical and academic External Affairs Ministry demand of the people in Jammu and brilliance,” he said. spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Kashmir. He announced Rs1bn for set- in his weekly media briefing here “IIT Jammu will transform the ting up research infrastructure in on Friday that a petition was filed region into an educational hub. It the National Institute of Technology in the Peshawar High Court ear- will become the flag bearer of the (NIT) in summer capital Srinagar. lier following earlier reports that intellectual capacity of the country Jitendra Singh, MOS (PMO), Ansari was attacked in prison. in Jammu and Kashmir,” Javadekar was also present during the “Through our high commis- said while congratulating those inauguration. sion in Islamabad, the government students who have made it to IIT “Opening of a premier institute has also raised the matter of Jammu through fierce competition like IIT marks a new chapter in the Ansari’s well-being and his early Sikh volunteers carry the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book) out of the burnt out Sikh Gurdwara Dhan and hard work. development of the state and a step release,” he stated. Dhan Baba Dhanna Singh ji, at a village on the outskirts of Amritsar, yesterday. Two Guru Granth Sahibs “You are the privileged ones towards realisation of the vision to He said the Pakistan govern- and two other Sikh religious books were burnt during the blaze reportedly caused by a short circuit. who will foster the ambitious ‘Make promote Jammu and Kashmir as ment has also been asked to allow in India’ programme,” the minister an education hub,” Jitendra Singh Ansari to speak to his family. said. said. 12 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 EUROPE 13 dead at Ukraine rebel leader injured birthday party in car blast KIEV: The leader of a self-proclaimed separa- fire in France tist republic in eastern Ukraine was injured in a suspected car bomb- ing yesterday, local media as tearful mourners hugged each reported. other and brought flowers to the Igor Plotnitsky, the The dead were aged scene. head of the Lugansk between 16 and The dead were aged between 16 People’s Republic, “was and 25, and one person among the wounded this morning 25, and one person six injured was fighting for their life. as a result of a powerful among the six injured Authorities said the hotel had been explosion that occurred crowded with young partygoers. near his car,” the offi- was fighting for their Prime Minister Manuel Valls cial pro-Russian rebels’ life. The hotel had expressed “deep sadness at the trag- news agency said. Plotnit- edy that claimed 13 young lives”. sky, 52, was being treated been crowded with Police officers and fire investigators inspect the damaged Au Cuba Libre hotel in Rouen, northern France, Local deputy prosecutor at a local hospital along young party goers. Laurent Labadie told AFP the yesterday. with several other peo- blaze, which began around mid- ple who suffered injuries night (2200 GMT Friday) in the in the blast in the city of hotel’s basement, was triggered room, releasing a toxic mix of gasses hotel, particularly in relation to fire The blaze in Rouen was France’s Lugansk, the report said. AFP accidentally. that poisoned the victims. Witness exits and flammable materials. deadliest since September 2005 when “Someone came down with a Stephanie, 36, described the terrify- Under French building regula- an apartment building fire in the Paris birthday cake with candles and ing moment the fire took hold. “I was tions, polystyrene panels are banned suburb of L’Hay-les-Roses killed 18 Man behind fell down the stairs,” Labadie said, at the hotel on the ground floor having from use on ceilings, and hotels like people. It is the highest death toll in a ROUEN: A fire sparked by birth- citing initial investigation findings. a drink, when we saw the flames -- it the Au Cuba Libre must be equipped French night sport fire since Novem- German forest day cake candles tore through a “The candles were thrown onto was like a flame-thrower, everything with at least one portable fire extin- ber 1970, when a blaze at a disco in hotel in northern France early yes- the walls and ceiling, where there happened so fast,” she told reporters. guisher. But a source at the crisis cell the east of the country claimed the fire remanded terday, killing at least 13 people in was soundproofing material. There One of the injured was in a crit- of the French Interior Ministry said lives of 146 people, most in their early the nation’s deadliest blaze in over was an immediate conflagration ical condition, the secretary general that “unfortunately there are always 20s. Jittery France is on edge after a MADRID: A German man a decade, investigators said. and gas was released.” of the Seine-Maritime prefecture people who try to get round the rules series of recent attacks by Islamic who allegedly sparked a Through the shattered front Police said earlier in the day Yvan Cordier said. The investiga- between safety inspections, which are State-affiliated jihadists, including deadly forest fire in the windows of the Au Cuba Libre hotel that the flames had ignited polysty- tion will focus on whether building sometimes pre-planned, sometimes the killing of an 85-year-old priest Canary Islands by burn- in Rouen melted stools were visible, rene on the ceiling of the basement safety rules were respected at the unannounced”. in nearby Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. ing toilet paper has been remanded in custody, a court spokesman said yesterday. The blaze, which has France returns Events called off torn through a wooded, Two Belgian police hurt by mountainous area of around 200 after Nice attack La Palma, one of the lesser-known islands of migrants to Italy machete-wielding assailant AFP the Spanish archipelago off the coast of Africa, AP claimed the life of a park LILLE: French authorities on Fri- ranger shortly after it was AFP Belgium has been on high secu- Belgian extremists, which left day announced the cancellation started on Wednesday. MILAN: France has returned rity alert for months since suicide 130 people dead. Last month they of two major events over security some 200 migrants to Italy who bombers struck Brussels airport arrested and charged a 33-year-old fears, following last month’s Nice plunged into the sea to cross into and a subway station near the Euro- man, identified as Nourredine H., lorry attack that killed 85 people. 7 held in Spain France, evading border controls. BRUSSELS: A machete-wield- pean Union’s institutions on March with attempting to commit “terror- One of Europe’s biggest flea They were among some 300 ing man shouting “Allahu akbar” 22, killing 32 people. The attacks ist murder” and “taking part in the markets, in the northern French for sharing who had moved to the rocky (God is the greatest) wounded two were claimed by the Islamic State activities of a terrorist organisation”. city of Lille, was cancelled, while shoals on the Italian side of the policewomen in southern Belgium (IS) jihadist group, which controls Prosecutors said there was for the European road cycling cham- illicit images border in recent days, in defiance yesterday before being shot dead by large areas of territory in Iraq and now no link to the Brussels sui- pionships, which were due to be of authorities who had removed police, with Europe on edge after a Syria and has claimed numerous ter- cide bombings. Belgium is the main held in Nice from September 14 to MADRID: Spanish police migrants from the shoreline last wave of jihadist attacks. ror attacks in Europe in the last year. source per head of population of 18, were also called off on Friday. said yesterday that they summer. The No Borders activist The attack outside the main Belgian Interior Minister Jean jihadist recruits going from Euro- “We have really tried our had arrested seven peo- group said the action was aimed police station in the city of Charleroi, Jambon condemned a “disgusting act pean Union countries to fight with best, but there are risks we can- ple, including a British at forcing the border to re-open. around 60km south of Brussels left in Charleroi” on his Twitter account IS in Syria, causing deep concern not reduce,” Lille Mayor Martine teacher who lived in They plan a protest on Sunday. one of the policewomen with “deep and said the country’s terror threat that they will return home battle- Aubry told a news conference Barcelona, for sharing Migrants arriving in south- wounds to the face” while the other level -- currently at level three on a hardened and even more radicalised. alongside Michel Lalande, the top thousands of illicit images ern Italy after being rescued in the was slightly injured, Belga news scale of four -- would be examined. The interior ministry said 457 Bel- government official in the region. and videos of children Mediterranean continue to make agency said. Belgian police have carried out gian men and women had gone or Lille’s most popular event, online. The investigation their way to the border town of Charleroi police said the attacker dozens of anti-terror raids since the tried to join jihadists in the Middle held the first weekend of Septem- kicked off last year when Ventimiglia hoping to continue to was shot and killed, while the two November 2015 attacks in Paris, East, including 90 who are missing ber each year, attracted nearly 2.5 police received informa- northern Europe. victims were out of danger. planned in Belgium and involving or dead. million visitors in 2015. Cancel- tion that the illicit content ling this year’s Grande Braderie was circulating on various de Lille was a “painful decision”, inter net platforms. Aubry said. Lalande said the deci- The probe was sub- Malian expelled on sion was necessary because of the sequently given a major A grandeur on fire “hyper-urban format (of the mar- boost when a specialised ket) with its streets full of people.” firm came forward with suspected jihadist links He added: “There comes a a damaged hard-drive time, despite our passions and our that a customer had given convictions, when we have to say them to retrieve files, in PARIS: France has expelled a Malian believed stop.” In Nice, meanwhile, mayor which they found more to pose a “serious threat” to public order “for Philippe Pradal told a news con- than 27,500 photos of belonging to a pro-jihadist Islamist movement,” ference that the decision to cancel child abuse. the interior ministry said yesterday. the European road championships “Malian national Moussa Keita was expelled had been taken due to the level of to his homeland yesterday bringing to 81 the policing available. Teen in court number of expulsion measures taken since “Given that it was an event 2012,” the ministry said. The ministry said that would have required a large over London Keita was expelled Friday on his release from police presence, and that we jail after serving “a heavy sentence for common have not received any guaran- knife attack law offences”, the ministry said. Those included tees about their deployment, the armed robbery, according to a source close cycling championships that Nice LONDON: A teenager to the case. The source also said Keita had was due to hold in France’s name accused of murdering a indicated interest in joining the jihad in Syria are cancelled,” he said. The two US tourist and injuring five and Iraq. On Thursday, France had expelled events are the latest to be called others in a knife attack Algerian Abdelkrim Mostefai on suspicion of A forest fire burns in Las Manchas, on the southwestern part of La Palma island, Spain, off following the Bastille Day in central London made links to jihadist networks, according to a police yesterday. truck attack in Nice on the French his first court appear- source. Riviera. ance yesterday and was remanded in custody. Zakaria Bulhan is charged with the mur- der of 64-year-old retired Small aid ships play big role in Europe’s migrant crisis teacher Darlene Hor- ton plus five counts of attempted murder fol- AFP at the shipwreck off the island of “We could not leave people to die secured the dinghies while waiting They play a key part alongside lowing the incident on Lampedusa in October 2013 which like that,” said Sophie Beau, the exec- for the larger ships, or sent our doc- the European Union’s Triton, run by Wednesday evening in claimed some 365 lives. utive director of SOS Mediterranee, a tor aboard a military ship to examine border control agency Frontex, and Russell Square. Their MOAS (Migrant Offshore French, Italian and German organi- migrants.” Sophia, an operation to fight people The 19-year-old, who ROME: Two years ago, a small, pri- Aid Station) association in 2014 sation founded in 2015. Jugend Rettet jumped straight in trafficking. Other smaller vessels are lives in Tooting in south vately-run ship set out to lend a hand launched the Phoenix, a 40-metre There are now a dozen such at the deep end last week, its Iuventa responsible for identifying boats in London, is a Norwegian to military operations in the Mediter- (130-foot) refurbished fishing vessel humanitarian ships patrolling off the ship dealing on day one with six over- difficulty, distributing life jackets, national of Somali origin ranean rescuing migrants on boats which paled in comparison with the coast of Libya, chartered by MOAS, crowded migrant dinghies at once. keeping panicked migrants calm -- who came to Britain as a near capsising off Libya. vast fleet of the Mare Nostrum oper- Doctors Without Borders (MSF), SOS The MOAS Phoenix and an important step in stopping boats young child in 2002. He Today, there are a dozen such aid ation, then conducted by Italy’s navy Mediterranee, the Catalan Proactiva Responder sail in partnership from overturning -- and providing appeared at Westminster ships engaged in over 20 percent of and coastguard. Open Arms and German Sea-Watch, with the Red Cross, while the MSF first aid in emergencies before the Magistrates’ Court for a the life-saving missions. But some 3,000 of the 50,000 Sea-Eye and Jugend Rettet. Aquarius is jointly chartered by SOS arrival of larger rescue boats. procedural hearing,where The first step was taken by Chris- migrants rescued in the weeks that “In some cases, we literally Mediterranee. All three, along with It’s an invaluable role which helps he spoke only to confirm topher and Regina Catrambone, followed were saved by this small pulled people from the water,” said the MSF Bourbon Argos and Dignity, prevent mass tragedies at sea, Ital- his name, address and a wealthy Italian-American cou- boat. And the MOAS operation Gerard Canals, the Proactiva Open can take migrants aboard and trans- ian coastguard spokesman Filippo date of birth. ple based in Malta who were aghast became one to emulate. Arms mission head. “In others we fer them to Italian ports. Marini said. AMERICAS SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 13 Trump endorses Ryan & Republican senators

Ayotte a “rising star.” Trump’s endorsement came as “We will have disagreements, but one of several steps to get his cam- We will have we will disagree as friends,” Trump paign back on track after days of disagreements, but said, controversy and falling poll numbers Trump earlier this week refused that have given Democrat Hillary we will disagree as to endorse Ryan, telling The Wash- Clinton the advantage in the race to friends: Trump ington Post he was “not quite there the Nov. 8 election. yet” - nearly the same phrase Ryan In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll had used about Trump before finally released on Friday, Clinton’s lead over endorsing him. Trump said in the Trump narrowed to less than 3 per- Reuters same interview that McCain had not centage points, down from nearly 8 done enough for veterans and crit- points on Monday. icized Ayotte for distancing herself Trump said on Friday he wanted from him during the campaign. a “big tent” party with multiple view- GREEN BAY: Republican Donald Ryan, the top US elected Repub- points welcome. He said he was Trump acted to steer his White House lican, had no plans to attend the endorsing the Republican lawmak- campaign back into favour with his Wisconsin event, a sign of linger- ers due to their “shared mission to party’s establishment yesterday by ing frictions between the pair, even make America great again.” endorsing US House of Represent- though Trump’s running mate, Mike Trump also announced a new atives Speaker Paul Ryan and two Pence, did endorse him. Ryan’s advisory team to help guide him on Republican senators seeking re-elec- Republican primary challenger, busi- economic policy. The group relies tion, after expressing coolness toward nessman Paul Nehlen, did attend, heavily on hedge fund managers them earlier this week. according to a spokesman. and investment bankers, a group “I need a Republican Senate Ryan is expected to win the Trump has railed against. There are Donald Trump greets supporters after speaking at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, yesterday. and a House to accomplish all of challenge for his House seat in next no women on the team. the changes that we have to make,” week’s Republican primary, and he Trump plans to release his eco- Trump economic adviser Stephen economy,” Moore said. defending himself against her charge Trump said during a rally in Green is viewed by many Republicans as a nomic policy framework in a speech Moore told Reuters that the candi- At events in Des Moines, Iowa, that he is temperamentally unfit for Bay, in northern Wisconsin, Ryan’s possible presidential candidate in the in Detroit on Monday, an event that date’s plan would focus on four areas: and Green Bay, Trump showed dis- the White House. home state. He also endorsed Sena- future. The tension between Ryan will offer him a chance to avoid tax, deregulation, energy policy and cipline that is unusual at his often “All my life I’ve been told, ‘You tors John McCain of Arizona and Kelly and Trump caused deep frustration theatrics and detail how he would trade. “It’s going to be an all-encom- free-wheeling rallies, calling Clin- have the greatest temperament,’” he Ayotte of New Hampshire, calling among party leaders and lawmakers. handle economic issues if elected. passing look at how we reform the ton the “queen of corruption” and said in Des Moines.

Holding on Autopsies show Orlando club massacre victims were shot multiple times: Report

Reuters Florida released autopsy reports earring dangled from her right ear on Friday for 31 of the 49 people and the other was tangled in her hair. killed at Pulse club in Orlando in The autopsy by the Orange one of the deadliest mass shootings County Medical Examiner’s Office TAMPA: Autopsy reports on some of in modern US history. Reports for on shooter Omar Mateen, 29, showed the people shot at a club in Florida the remaining victims were pending. that he was hit in his head, neck, in June appear to support witness Evidence of the way the shooter chest, abdomen, right calf and right accounts of the massacre at the fired at people could be found in the foot. A toxicology report showed crowded club including that some autopsy report of an 18-year-old girl that there were no illicit drugs in his people were shot many times before who was shot once near her jaw system. Mateen was killed by police the gunman was brought down in a and twice through her upper body. who stormed the club after a three- hail of police bullets. When her body was found, one hoop hour siege. Venezuela govt throttles ‘Scary’ Lucille rebellious congress Ball statue replaced in NY AFP “That is where the real battle in Ven- A supporter holds a poster with an image of Bolivian President Evo Morales during an inauguration ezuela will be fought.” Venezuela, Reuters ceremony of a handicraft fair in El Alto, Bolivia, yesterday. the country with the world’s larg- est oil reserves, has hurtled into CARACAS: Venezuela’s opposition- chaos with the crash in global crude NEW YORK: A new statue hon- led legislature is fighting for air as prices. Maduro blames the country’s ouring the “I Love Lucy” star was the crisis-hit country’s government deep recession and hyperinflation set to be unveiled in Celoron, New throttles it, threatening to cut off its on wealthy business magnates he York, on what would have been cash and even its electricity. says are conspiring against his Ball’s 105th birthday, after resi- Obama’s drone policy released The National Assembly is government. dents of her hometown made it the one institutional weapon the The center-right opposition clear they did not “love” an unflat- opposition has in its fight to oust coalition, the Democratic Unity tering previous version. President Nicolas Maduro, whom Roundtable (MUD), blames the fail- The life-size bronze artwork Reuters and rules the government must fol- counter terrorism policies,” Jaffer it blames for a severe recession, ure of the socialist policies of the was created by the well-known low when it carries out targeted added. The ACLU’s lawsuit sought chronic food shortages and mount- past 17 years under Maduro and his sculptor Carolyn Palmer, whose attacks. information, among other things, on ing chaos. But since opponents of late mentor, Hugo Chavez. proposal was selected from more Obama pledged in 2013 to pro- the law and policies used to justify the leftist leader won control of the With their legislative power than 60 submitted by artists WASHINGTON: The Obama admin- vide greater transparency about lethal force and how the government legislature in December elections, stymied, Maduro’s opponents are around the world, it was informed istration has released a redacted counter-terrorism operations, picks targets. the Supreme Court has stripped seeking a referendum on remov- by sources. version of President Barack Obama’s including drone strikes overseas, The administration has defended them of their powerful two-thirds ing him from power before his The statue at Lucille Ball policy on drone strikes abroad fol- amid calls by some US lawmakers its use of drones as essential in the majority and quashed about 20 bills term ends in 2019. They are racing Memorial Park will replace lowing a freedom of information and rights groups for more openness. fight against al Qaeda and other they had passed. to force a referendum by January another that was installed seven lawsuit filed last year, the American “We welcome the release of militants in countries such as Paki- The controversial rulings have 10, the cutoff date to trigger new years ago. A bronze version of Civil Liberties Union said yesterday. these documents, and particularly stan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Drone fueled opposition accusations that elections -- four years into his six- that statue is being produced for The release of the Presidential the release of the Presidential Pol- strikes have at times killed civil- the high court is loyal to Maduro. year term. But with Maduro’s camp St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY, Policy Guidance document, as well icy Guidance that has supplied the ians who were not targets, igniting But the opposition majority accused of stalling, it looks increas- according to the information as other Department of Defense policy framework for the drone cam- local anger. Obama said in April that refuses to surrender. ingly unlikely the opposition will be available. papers, follows an order by US Dis- paign since May 2013,” the ACLU’s procedures covering drone strikes “The parliament is judicially able to force a recall vote in time. Critics panned the sculpture, trict Court Judge Colleen McMahon deputy legal director, Jameel Jaffer, targeting suspected terrorists are neutralized,” said political ana- The National Assembly last saying it looked nothing like the in February requiring the Justice said in a statement. constantly reviewed, acknowl- lyst Luis Vicente Leon, head of the week defiantly swore in three of iconic redhead, and it eventually Department to produce the docu- “Its release now will inform an edging there had been “legitimate polling firm Datanalisis. “But it is its lawmakers who had been sus- became known as “Scary Lucy.” ment, also known as “the Playbook.” ongoing debate about the lawfulness criticism” of the legal framework for still the stronghold of the political pended by the high court over Palmer spent nine months The document sets out the law and wisdom of the government’s drone strikes. struggle” against Maduro, he added. alleged electoral fraud. working on the project, includ- ing watching countless episodes of “I Love Lucy” and hiring mod- els to pose in 1950s-style dresses. “I not only wanted to por- Migrants’ ‘American dream’ turns to nightmare tray the playful, animated and spontaneous Lucy, but also the glamorous Hollywood icon,” Palmer said in a statement. AFP away from the Pacific coast of Chia- countries. Jennifer’s body was “I wanted to see if I could do some- nearby countries. People-smugglers Palmer has sculpted a pas, a southern Mexican state, on July returned to the village of San Carlos thing” to improve her lot by migrating -- known as “coyotes” -- promise to number of other famous fig- 20. It was six in the morning. in northwestern Honduras. to the US, Lopez said, explaining that get many of them past borders and ures. Her marble statue of Pope Shortly after getting underway, The body of Carlos Aguilar, aged she was counting on the support of other obstacles, for a price. Francis stands at the papal res- OMOA: For many Latin Americans, a big wave knocked the boat over seven, was delivered to a village an two brothers already living there. Child migration is a big part of idence in New York City, where the “American dream” refers to mak- before anyone had time to react. hour to the south, San Manuel Cortes, Thousands of Latin Americans the human flow toward the United the pope blessed it during his ing the risky trip north to a new, safe When Lopez surfaced, she saw for burial there. And in neighbouring -- and migrants from as far away as States. The minors often travel with visit last year. A bronze version and hopefully prosperous life in the Jennifer holding onto a buoyant El Salvador, the body of five-year-old Pakistan and Afghanistan -- attempt no adult companion, and bank upon of that statue is being produced United States. backpack. “’Don’t let go!’ I yelled. Erick Adrian Robles was received by the perilous journey through Central meeting up with relatives already in for St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY, For Olga Lopez, a 36-year-old “’Yes, Mommy,’ she answered, laugh- his family in the town of Sonsonate. America, into Mexico and across the America. In July 2014, the US was according to the information Honduran, the dream became an ing, all happy, not at all affected,” They were among the scores of US border. confronted with a spike in Central available. unforgettable nightmare when she Lopez recounted. Central Americans who have died According to the government American children crossing its bor- “I Love Lucy” aired in the saw her 10-year-old daughter Jen- “But then another wave came, this year along the often dangerous Committee for Returned Migrants der, calling the influx of 60,000 1950s and is considered one of nifer drown in the waves off Mexico. and after that I didn’t see her again.” trail to the United States. in Honduras, between 60,000 minors a “humanitarian crisis.” the greatest television comedies She said about how they both Jennifer was one of three children In 2016 so far, 106 Hondurans and 100,000 Hondurans leave the A total of 8,467 children have ever. Ball played the wife of ban- were among a boatload of eight who perished from that boat. have lost their lives trying to make country every year because of dire been returned to Honduras so far dleader Ricky Ricardo, who was undocumented migrants -- four Late last week, their remains their “American dream” happen. For unemployment and violence. Many this year. Most of them were inter- portrayed by her real-life hus- adults and four children -- churning were repatriated to their home all of last year, the figure was 200. try for America, while others aim for cepted by Mexican authorities. band, Desi Arnaz. 14 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 AMERICAS

Chicago police Honduras’ woes US to test GM release video of mosquitoes to fight Zika CHICAGO: US health reg- teen shooting ulators have cleared the way for a trial of genet- ically modified (GM) gunned him down. mosquitoes in Florida Chicago Police Superintendent that can reduce mosquito In the footage, two Eddie Johnson said in a state- populations, potentially officers can be seen ment the July 28 shooting “raised offering a new tool to a lot of questions about whether fight the local spread of shooting at a stolen departmental policies were fol- Zika and other viruses. car driven by the lowed,” adding that officers will be The US Food and Drug held accountable for their actions Administration said on man, Paul O’Neal, “should wrongdoing be discovered.” Friday that a field trial who crashed the The clips included police cuff- testing Intrexon Corp’s ing O’Neal as he lay with his shirt genetically engineered Jaguar into a police bloodied, while one officer cursed mosquitoes would not car and then fled into him. have a significant impact Activists march to protest against the re-election of President Juan Orlando Hernndez, in Tegucigalpa, a backyard where “They shot at us too, right?” one on the environment. The officer can be heard saying, refer- Honduras, yesterday. announcement came as officers gunned him ring to the occupants of the stolen Florida officials grap- down. Jaguar. No firearms were found on ple with the first cases O’Neal, who police shot in the back. of local Zika transmission A lawyer for O’Neal’s family, in the continental United Michael Oppenheimer, told a news States. Florida health Reuters conference that the young man California mayor declares innocence authorities have identi- had been killed in cold blood and fied 16 Zika cases spread called for a special prosecutor to by local mosquitoes and be appointed in the case to pursue Reuters everyone present during the inci- $20,000 bail later in the day. are ramping up aerial pes- CHICAGO: Chicago police released possible criminal charge against dent was at least 18 years old. He was accused of playing strip ticide spraying of a Miami video that showed the moments officers. He referred to the gathering in poker with several young people, neighborhood where all before officers killed an unarmed “What I saw was pretty cold- question last year as a “party” for including a 16-year-old boy, inside of the people are believed 18-year-old black man last week blooded,” Oppenheimer said. SAN FRANCISCO: The mayor of camp counselors. the mayor’s camp cabin, and serv- to have been infected. but failed to capture the fatal shots “There is no question in my mind Stockton, California, who faces Silva’s lawyer, Mark Reichel, told ing alcohol to at least six individuals Pregnant women are because a policeman’s body cam- that they ran this kid down and charges stemming from a strip Reuters the mayor had no intention under the legal drinking age of 21. most at risk from Zika, era was not recording, prompting murdered him.” poker game that he is accused of ini- of resigning and would defend him- Prosecutors said Silva used his which can cause a rare allegations of a cover-up and calls In one of the video clips, an tiating at a summer camp he hosts self in court. cellphone to make an audio record- birth defect in fetuses for a special prosecutor. officer can be seen gesturing toward for underprivileged youth, on Fri- Silva, a Republican who was ing of the game without the consent called microcephaly. The In the footage released by Chi- other officers’ body cameras after day said he is innocent of criminal elected mayor in 2012, was arrested of others. The recording was seized Zika outbreak was first cago’s Independent Police Review the shooting and telling them to wrongdoing. by FBI agents on Thursday at the as evidence by investigators and detected last year in Bra- Authority, two officers can be seen make sure they were all turned off. Anthony Ray Silva, 41, at a brief summer camp, which Stockton became the basis of a felony eaves- zil and has spread rapidly shooting at a stolen car driven by The Reverend Jesse Jackson, the news conference the day after his leases from the U.S. Forest Service dropping charge against Silva. in the Americas, primarily the man, Paul O’Neal, who crashed Chicago-based civil rights leader, arrest, denied furnishing anyone in the Sierra mountains. Stockton is Speaking to reporters on Friday, through mosquito bite. the Jaguar into a police car and then told Reuters the lack of footage of with alcohol or doing anything to located about 80 miles northeast of Silva said he wanted to make three fled into a backyard where officers O’Neal’s killing was “a cover up.” endanger a child, insisting that San Francisco. Silva was released on points. Canada denies visas to 200 Incinerating drugs Cuban dissident MONTREAL: Organis- ers of the World Social Forum set for next week in Montreal said Friday briefly hospitalised that Canadian authorities have denied travel visas to more than 200 delegates Reuters More than a dozen other dissi- invited to the anti-globali- dents around the country, mainly zation event. members of an opposition organi- Others are still waiting zation called the Patriotic Union of word from Canada’s immi- HAVANA: Veteran Cuban dissident Cuba (UPACU) in the eastern part gration ministry, which Guillermo Farinas was briefly hos- of the country, also are on hunger issues travel documents. pitalised in Santa Clara yesterday strikes, with at least two members The summit is set to open after losing consciousness in his hospitalized, according to opposi- on Tuesday. Currently home on the 16th day of a hun- tion groups. “234 guests were refused ger strike to protest government A few of the UPACU members visas, and the number is repression, his opposition organi- began their hunger strikes ear- increasing day-by-day,” zation said. lier than Farinas, also to protest WSF spokesman Safa This was the second time the repression. Chebbi said. Rejected visa 54-year-old Farinas, who has staged Farinas has been a vocal critic applicants were told their more than 20 similar actions over of the detente between the United travel history, financial sit- the years, was rushed to receive States and Cuba that began in uation or concerns they Anti-narcotics and Military Police officers incinerate more than 200kg of cocaine seized in southern medical attention and intravenous December 2014, when he said dis- may not leave Canada Honduras near the border with Nicaragua, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, yesterday. liquids since starting the hun- sidents should have been included after the summit were ger strike after what he said was a in secret talks preceding it that he cited as reasons for the beating by police in his home city of called a betrayal. rejections, Chebbi said. Santa Clara in central Cuba. Last week, the US State Depart- They appeared to Farinas, who received the Euro- ment voiced concern about the largely target delegates pean Union’s Sakharov Prize for condition of Farinas and other from Africa and the Mid- Renee Zellweger slams media speculation Freedom of Thought in 2010, is hunger strikers, and urged Cuba’s dle East, including from demanding that such beatings cease government to take action. the Democratic Repub- and a meeting between dissidents “We stand in solidarity with lic of Congo, Morocco, Iran Reuters year, said she wanted to “make some possibility alone was discussed and the government to negotiate an those who advocate for human and Nigeria. Haitian and claim on the truths of my life,” in a among respected journalists and end to repression. rights and fundamental freedoms, Nepalese delegates were blog post entitled “We Can Do Bet- became a public conversation is a Farinas returned home from a including freedom of expression also turned away. ter” on Huffington Post. disconcerting illustration of news/ hospital after being there for more and the right to peaceful assem- Nancy Caron, spokes- LOS ANGELES: Actress Renee Zell- She was also critical “that tabloid entertainment confusion and soci- than seven hours, Juan Carlos Ruiz, bly,” State Department spokesman woman for Immigration, weger criticised media outlets for speculations become the subject of ety’s fixation on physicality.” a member of Farinas’ organization, John Kirby said. Communist-run Refugees and Citizen- discussing her appearance, and said mainstream news reporting.” Zellweger, who won a best the Frente Antitotalitario Unido (the Cuba calls all political opponents US ship Canada, said a team she did not have any surgery to alter “Not that it’s anyone’s business, actress Oscar for “Cold Mountain” United Antitotalitarian Front), said mercenaries with no popular fol- within the federal depart- her face, in an essay published yes- but I did not make a decision to alter and will be reprising the titular role in a telephone interview from the lowing. Dissidents are relatively free ment had offered to work terday. my face and have surgery on my in the third “Bridget Jones’ Diary” dissident’s home. to talk among themselves, travel with WSF organizers to Zellweger, 47, whose appearance eyes,” the actress said. movie coming out in September, has “They gave him an intravenous abroad and publish on the Inter- facilitate delegates’ entry has led to widespread speculation “This fact is of no true import faced rumors that she had surgery to solution. But already he is recover- net, though their posts are blocked into Canada. in various media outlets in the past to anyone at all, but that the alter the shape of her eyes. ing and right now sleeping,” he said. within the country. Top chef gives Brazil’s poor a taste of high life

AFP jelly, burnt saba onion and charcoal He and a team of celebrity chefs Brazilian design. It is the brainchild French chefs Alain Ducasse and need, under the motto “buy lunch, salt. It will set you back 220 euros plan to use that to make some 5,000 of Bottura, Brazilian chef and activist Claude Troisgros, Spain’s Andoni give dinner,” a spokeswoman said. at his restaurant, which has three meals for some of the most “vul- David Hertz and journalist Alexan- Aduriz and Brazilians Alex Atala, Co-founder David Hertz, who Michelin stars. In Rio de Janeiro, Bot- nerable” people in Brazil, a country dra Forbes. Felipe Bronze, Roberta Sudbrack runs a “social gastronomy” charity in RIO DE JANEIRO: Restaurant-goers tura will be serving up scraps, and his plagued by poverty and inequality. “I promised my mother I would and Rafa Costa e Silva. They will Brazil called Gastromotiva, said the usually pay hundreds of euros to eat customers won’t pay a cent. Their restaurant, called Refettorio use my fame to make invisible peo- take turns cooking, setting the menu project is more about changing the the creations of Massimo Bottura, but The idea is to tackle the twin Gastromotiva, will open Monday in ple visible. The time has come to based on the ingredients available way people think than feeding them. he will be serving poor Brazilians for social ills of waste and poverty with the trendy Lapa neighborhood. give back to the world what it has -- which will be surplus food, not “We had never worked with the free at the Olympics. one creative, delicious project -- The 108-seat restaurant is funded given to me,” said Bottura. “We have leftovers. Rio city hall has granted issue of food waste before. That’s a The 53-year-old Italian modern- set against the backdrop of Rio de by corporate sponsors. Customers an opportunity with this project, them the site free of charge for 10 legacy we’ll leave,” he said. ist chef owns Osteria Francescana in Janeiro’s lush landscapes amid the will be chosen by charities working which is cultural, and not a chari- years. After the Olympics and Para- The project builds on a similar Modena, rated best in the world by excitement of the Olympics. in Rio’s poorest neighborhoods. table project, to fight wastefulness. lympics, Refettorio Gastromotiva will one, Refettorio Ambrosiano, that Restaurant magazine this year. Bottura’s ingredients will be gar- The restaurant was decorated If we change the way people think, operate as a culinary institute as well Bottura launched last year for the He is known for dishes such as bage-bound surplus food donated by by renowned Brazilian artist Vik we can help give birth to a new tra- as a regular restaurant. World’s Fair in Milan. He is working “An eel swimming up the Po River” the catering companies at the Olym- Muniz, with furniture designed dition,” he told a press conference. Patrons paying to eat there will on others in Los Angeles, New York -- eel with polenta, Campanie apple pic park and athletes’ village. by the Campana brothers, icons of His kitchen team will include also donate a meal to someone in and Montreal, to open next year. BREAK TIME SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 1517

TV LISTINGS

08:00 News 12:00 Yeh Vadaa Raha 11:00 Dog TV 13:10 Liv And Maddie 08:30 People & Power 12:30 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi 11:55 Ten Deadliest 14:25 Jessie 09:00 The Guantanamo Rani Snakes With 14:50 Jessie 22 15:15 13:00 KumKum Bhagya Nigel Marven Girl Meets World 10:00 News 16:05 13:30 Meri Saasu Maa 12:50 Bahama Blue Descendants 10:30 Inside Story Wicked World 11:30 14:00 Jamai Raja 13:45 Bahama Blue Talk To Al Jazeera 16:35 Miraculous Tales 12:00 14:30 Tashn E Ishq 18:20 Treehouse News Of Ladybug And 12:30 15:00 Vishkanya Masters TechKnow Cat Noir 13:00 NEWSHOUR 16:00 Yeh Vadaa Raha 19:15 Zoltan The 17:00 14:00 16:30 Gravity Falls News Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Wolfman 17:25 Gotta Kick It Up 14:30 20:10 Inside Story Rani The Wild Life Of 18:55 The 7D 15:00 Al Jazeera World Yesterday’s answer 17:00 KumKum Bhagya Tim Faulkner 19:05 Austin & Ally 16:00 NEWSHOUR 17:30 Vishkanya 20:35 The Wild Life Of 19:30 Jessie Conceptis Sudoku: Conceptis Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle 17:00 News 18:00 Tashn E Ishq Tim Faulkner 19:55 Liv And Maddie based on a 9×9 grid. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in 17:30 The Listening the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3×3 box 18:30 Kaala Teeka 21:05 20:20 Mako Mermaids Post Bondi Vet contains the same number only once. 19:00 22:00 20:45 Good Luck 18:00 NEWSHOUR Meri Saasu Maa Treehouse 19:00 19:30 Yeh Vadaa Raha Charlie News Masters 21:10 19:30 101 East 20:00 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi 22:55 Ten Deadliest H2O: Just Add Water 20:00 News Rani Snakes With 22:00 Binny And The 20:30 Inside Story 20:30 Jamai Raja Nigel Marven 22:00 News 21:00 Ghost KumKum Bhagya 23:50 Gator Boys 23:10 22:30 Talk To Al Jazeera Hank Zipzer 22:00 Vishkanya 00:45 Gator Boys 23:35 23:00 The People’s Binny And The 01:40 Bahama Blue MEDIUM SUDOKU Health Ghost BABY BLUES BABY

Yesterday’s answer

CROSSWORD HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

NOVO SHOWING AT Ice Age: Collision Course (Animation) 3D 11:00am, 1:00, 3:00, 5:30, VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00pm 2D 10:10am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 10:00 & 11:50pm Jason Bourne (Action) 2D 11:00am, 1:30, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:30pm & 12:20am The Legend Of Tarzan (2D/Adventure) 10:15, 11:15am, 12:30, 1:30, 2:45, 5:00, 6:15, 7:15, 9:30 & 11:45pm Bad Moms (2D/Comedy) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:55pm Mojave (2D/Thriller) 10:15am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 & 8:00pm Sucide Squad (2D/Action) 11:30am, 1:00, 2:00, 3:30, 4:30, 6:00, 7:00, 8:30, 9:30, 11:15pm & 12:00midnight IMAX 10:00am, 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30pm & 01:00am The Conjuring 2 (2D/Horror) 3:45, 8:30 & 11:15pm The Legend of Tarzan (3D IMAX/Action) 10:00am, 12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40, 8:50, 11:00pm & 01:00am 7 star 1:30, 6:30 & 11:30pm MALL

Bad Moms (2D/Comedy) 11:30am & 5:15pm Ice Age: Collision Course (2D/Animation) 11:15am, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 & 7:15pm Thirunaal (2D/Tamil) 1:00 & 11:15pm Mojave (2D/Thriller) 3:30pm Where To Invade Next (2D/Documentary) 1:30pm Midnight Sun (2D/Drama) 3:30pm The Legend Of Tarzan (2D/Action) 7:15pm Kasaba (2D/Malayalam) 1:00, 9:00 & 11:00pm Suicide Squad (2D/Action) 11:00am, 5:00, 9:00 & 11:30pm Jason Bourne (2D/Action) 7:00 & 9:30pm ROYAL PLAZA ALL IN THE MIND The Legend Of Tarzan (2D/Action) 11:30am, 4:45 & 9:15pm Suicide Squad (2D/Action) 11:15am, 7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm Ice Age: Collision Course (2D/Animation) 11:45, 1:30, 3:15, 5:00pm Midnight Sun (2D/Drama) 1:45pm Mojave (2D/Thriller) 3:30pm Kasaba (2D/Malayalam) 2:00, 9:00 & 11:30pm Bad Moms (2D/Comedy) 5:15pm Jason Bourne (2D/Action) 6:45 & 11:15pm Where To Invade Next (2D/Documentary) 7:00 pm

ASIAN TOWN

Kabali (Tamil) 6:00pm Kasaba (Malayalam) 5:45, 7:00, 8:15, 9:30, 10:45, 12:00midnight Anuraga Karikkin Vellam (Malayalam) 5:15 & 10:15pm Thirunal (Tamil) 9:00pm ASSAIL, ATTACK, BATTLE, CHALLENGE, CHAMPION, CLASH, COMBAT, COMPETITION, CONFLICT, CONQUEST, CONTENDER, CONTEST, DEFEAT, DEFEND, DRAW, ENEMY, FIGHT, GAME, AL KHOR MATCH, OFFENSIVE, OPPOSITION, OUTDO, Kasaba (3D/Malayalam) 11:30am, 2:15, 5:00, 7:45 & 10:30pm OUTFLANK, OVERCOME, OVERPOWER, PARRY, PLAYER, PROTECT, REPEL, RESIST, RIVAL, Ice Age (3D/Animation) 11:30am, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 & 9:30pm SPORT, STRUGGLE, TRIUMPH, VANQUISH, Suicide Squad (3D/Action) 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm VICTORY, WARRIOR, WITHSTAND.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 34o C Maximum: 41o C

FAJR 03.40 am ZUHR 11.40 am MAGHRIB 06.18 pm HIGH TIDE 07:30 - 19:45 Hazy at places at first becomes hot daytime with SHOROOK 05.04 am ASR 03.08 pm ISHA 07.48 pm LOW TIDE 02:15 - 13:00 slight dust and relatively humid by night.

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TWEET OF THE DAY

H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani during the opening ceremony of 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

A man with two kids Noah Al Khulaifi with Nada Arakji during the Athletes’ parade. Members of the handball team at Athletes Village. angling at the Doha Corniche on a hazy day yesterday. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula. Al Rayyan Stadium progress impressive: Cafu

QNA right direction and in the coming years ambassadors through Generation South Africa in their opening Olym- the country will develop even more. I Amazing is fantastic. The cooperation pic men’s football fixture, Cafu said he would love to be a part of this project. between the SC and the Cafu Founda- saw a Brazil led by Neymar with the Lily Tomlin to get lifetime award The stadiums are very nice, they have tion when they visited us during Brazil possibility to go all the way and clinch RIO DE JANEIRO: The former Milan marvellous designs, and Qatar will be 2014 was very important, and it helped gold on home soil. Reuters and Roma defender was visibly ready.” the kids involved a lot. It was also very “It is very emotional for me, to have impressed with the detailed plan- Walking through the SC’s room important for the beautiful cultural Rio hosting the Olympic Games. I hope ning and progress happening at the Al at the Qatar Olympic Committee’s exchange between our two countries.” we put on a great Olympic Games, with NEW YORK: Lily Tomlin, one of America’s most enduring comic Rayyan Stadium, which is displayed as Bayt Qatar in Rio de Janeiro, the Bra- Cafu concluded that the Rio 2016 Brazil winning a lot of medals. I think actresses, will receive a lifetime achievement award in January from a scale model including the surround- zil legend also came across a screen Olympics were both an emotional Brazil is very capable to win gold in the the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the group announced on Thursday. ing precinct area at Bayt Qatar. outlining the work being done by the highlight for him personally, as well men’s football competition. It is the title Tomlin, 76, who rose to fame in 1969 through television’s “Rowan “The plans for the stadium of Al SC’s Generation Amazing programme. as an opportunity for Brazil to add a that is still missing from Brazil’s col- and Martin’s Laugh-In” weekly show, went on to headline movies Rayyan which I have seen here today “The work that the Supreme Com- further international football title to lection, and they have a great leader like “Nashville,” and Broadway shows that have brought multiple are very impressive,” Cafu told www. mittee is doing by developing kids their impressive collection. both on and off the pitch in Neymar. I Emmy and Tony awards. sc.qa. “I think they are going in the from around the world into sporting Despite Brazil’s 0-0 draw with believe they can do it.” He added. Big animals declining rapidly US may fund research to create

IANS cent animals would be a tremendous tragedy,” said one of the co-authors Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Professor at Uni- mixed human-animal embryos versity of California, Los Angeles in the US. “They are all NEW YORK: The world’s largest mammals are declin- that is left of a once much more diverse megafauna that ing rapidly and preventing their extinction will populated the planet only 12,000 years ago. And more AFP cells into animal embryos, deeming are wondering why we are doing require bold political action and financial commit- importantly, we have only just begun to understand the it too controversial. experiments on them,” said Stuart ments from nations worldwide, experts have warned. important roles they play in maintaining healthy eco- Since then, experts have met to Newman, a researcher at New York In an article in the journal BioScience, 43 wildlife systems,” she noted. discuss the state of the science. Now, Medical College. experts wrote that without immediate changes, many of Among the most serious threats to endangered ani- MIAMI: Research that mixes human the NIH is offering to fund research “And then, what if we had the Earth’s most iconic species such as gorillas, rhinoc- mals are illegal hunting, deforestation, habitat loss, cells into animal embryos could get introducing human cells into certain human bodies with animal brains, eroses, elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, bears and other expansion of livestock and agriculture into wildlife US government funds for the first kinds of animals. That could include and then you say, ‘Well they are not large mammals will be lost. “The loss of these magnifi- areas, and human population growth, the experts said. time under a new proposal that has experiments “where there could be really humans, we can do experi- stoked concerns about ethics and the either a substantial contribution or a ments on them and harvest organs limits of science. substantial functional modification from them,” he said. “I am coming Some say the research has the to the animal brain by the human up with extreme scenarios, but just Water splash potential to spark major medi- cells,” said a statement on Thursday. making these chimeric embryos 15 cal breakthroughs in diseases like The NIH will seek public com- or 20 years ago was considered an Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s or con- ment for 30 days on the proposed extreme scenario.” ditions like infertility, and could help scope of the research. Oversight on Indeed, Newman filed for a pat- grow organs for human transplant, funding decisions will be provided ent on a human-animal chimera which are in short supply. by an internal NIH steering com- almost two decades ago -- not Critics, however, worry that mittee, it said. “I am confident that because he wanted to make such a these mixtures, or chimeras -- these proposed changes will ena- creature, but to make the point that named after the monster in Greek ble the NIH research community to such dangers lay ahead. mythology with a lion’s head, goat’s move this promising area of science The US Patent Office rejected body and dragon’s tail -- raise forward in a responsible manner,” his application in 2005. But now, complex moral questions and go wrote Carrie Wolinetz, NIH associ- he fears his warnings are going beyond what is acceptable in mod- ate director for science policy, in a unheeded. Even though the NIH is ern society. blog post. The prospect of altering starting small, and probably doesn’t One year ago, the US National an animal’s brain to make it more intend to allow animals with full Institutes of Health placed a mor- human alarms some experts. human brains, “we don’t have any A beluga whale sprays water at visitors at a sea park in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo, yesterday. atorium on research proposing to “Let’s say that we have ani- laws in this country that would stop introduce human pluripotent stem mals with human brains and they doing those things,” he said. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 18 QE 10,681.08 +136.07 PTS PAGE | 19 DOW 18,543.53 +191.48 PTS Google executive Bombardier chief quits self-driving FTSE100 6,793.47 +53.31 PTS warns of weak car project BRENT $44.27 +$0.20 business-jet demand

SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 • 4 DHUL QA’DA 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

QNB revises up oil forecast; prices to average $44.7

has revised up its forecast to average Energy Agency from Europe is proving to be resil- increase their production this year as $44.7/b in 2016, up from its previous (IEA) currently ient despite increased uncertainty they compete for market share. Over- The continued forecast of $40.8/b. The contin- expects global from the Brexit vote. The additional all, the increase in supply is expected rebalancing in the ued rebalancing in the oil market is demand growth demand should help clear some of the to be moderate and the over-sup- oil market is expected to lift prices to an average to reach 1.4m excess supply in the market, estimated ply in the market is expected to be of $55.0/b in 2017, up from a previous barrels per day by the IEA to be 1.7m b/d in 2015. reduced to 0.4m b/d by the strong expected to lift forecast of $51.3 and $57.9 in 2018. (b/d) in 2016, On the supply side, high-cost oil demand growth, leading to oil prices prices to an average Oil prices have had an event- up from their producers in the US have been stead- averaging $44.7/b in 2016. In 2017, ful 2016. They started the year on a previous fore- ily reducing their output since April QNB expects the remaining moder- of $55.0/b in 2017. downward trend falling to a low of cast of 1.2m 2015. The IEA expects US produc- ate excess supply in the market to be $28 in late January on concerns about b/d. The strong tion to fall by 0.5m b/d in 2016. But completely eliminated despite higher slowing global growth and currency demand growth the supply adjustment has not been supply from virtually all the major devaluation risk in China. Prices then is driven by confined to the US. Other produc- global producers. This is because the The Peninsula recovered to around $50 by mid-year emerging ers in non-Opec countries such as additional demand, expected to reach only to moderate to their year-to- markets, espe- China and Colombia are also fore- 1.3m b/d—near its long-term trend date average of $42, QNB noted in its cially China cast to reduce their output in 2016. growth, should be enough to absorb yesterday’s ‘economic commentary’. and the rest Offsetting this is additional Iranian all remaining and new supply. DOHA: Given the stronger-than- The rebalancing in the oil mar- of emerging production following the lifting of expected rebalancing currently ket has been stronger than expected. Asia. Further- sanctions in January. Other Opec Continued on page 18 under way in the oil market, QNB On the demand side, the International more, demand countries are also expected to 18 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 BUSINESS Oil price movements key to GCC economies: IMF

The report “The Impact of Oil systemic financial sector risks rose associated with oil price upturns. Prices on the Banking System in in the GCC countries with the oil price For instance, during 1991–2014, Strong banking sector the GCC” released on Friday said: upswing in the years before the 2008 the growth rates of real govern- soundness provides “First, the GCC economies are global financial crisis. An expand- ment spending and non-oil GDP highly dependent on oil and gas ing deposit base and high liquidity were much stronger during oil price an important buffer exports. During 2011–14, hydro- (owing to high oil prices and short- upturns than during downturns. in the GCC to the oil carbon exports represented about term capital inflows) resulted in Second, the timing of downturns in price decline since 70 percent of exports of goods and credit and asset-price booms before business and financial variables in services on average. Fiscal depend- the global financial crisis. There some cases coincides with that of oil mid-2014, says ence on hydrocarbon revenues was was a sharp increase in household prices. IMF document. even greater, accounting for over 80 leverage between 2004 and 2008 Contractions in credit and equity percent of total fiscal revenues on in Oman. Citing another IMF doc- markets reflected oil price move- average. Over the past decade and a ument, the Fund suggests that the ments, along with global financial half, the dependence on hydrocarbon bursting of a domestic real estate market developments and the By Satish Kanady fiscal revenues did not decline despite bubble and tightening global liquid- underlying domestic vulnerabili- The Peninsula efforts at economic diversification.” ity conditions played a role in the ties. Importantly, contractions in Second, macro-financial linkages United Arab Emirates’ 2009 finan- real government spending occurred in the GCC can amplify the effects of cial crisis, while defaults in 2008 by as often as real oil price downturns oil price movements over the finan- two of the largest investment compa- in the 1990s, but less so since 2000, DOHA: An IMF document that exam- cial cycle. Oil price movements and nies in Kuwait imposed strains on the likely aided by greater fiscal buffers. ines the links between global oil price government spending policies cre- banking system, with the third-larg- global financial crisis hit, asset prices evidence suggests that oil price Strong banking sector soundness movements and macroeconomic and ate feedback loops between asset est bank having to be recapitalised. and credit declined in several GCC performance has been an impor- provides an important buffer in the financial developments in the GCC prices and credit that can lead to the A separate IMF document discussed countries, although fiscal stimulus tant driver of business and financial GCC to the oil price decline since has noted the GCC economies can be buildup of systemic vulnerabilities in Qatar’s preemptive recapitalisation of and liquidity support helped cush- variables in the GCC economies. mid-2014. GCC banks have strong adversely affected by low oil prices the financial sector. banks and other measures to support ion the impact. First, stronger performance of real capital and liquidity buffers as of for at least two reasons. The report reminded how the banking sector in 2009. As the According to the IMF document, and financial variables tends to be end-2014.

QNB revises up oil Google executive quits Berkshire profit up 25% in Q2 forecast; prices to self-driving car project driven by insurance buyout average $44.7 Continued from Page 17 Reuters Reuters The completion of the rebal- ancing process should support higher oil prices, which it fore- WASHINGTON: Chris Urmson (pic- NEW YORK: Berkshire Hathaway Inc casts to average $D55.0/b in 2017. tured), who was instrumental in said its second-quarter profit rose 25 In the medium term, oil prices building Google’s self-driving car percent, helped by improvement in should be determined by the cost project, said on Friday he is leav- insurance underwriting, investment of the marginal producer, in this ing the team after seven and a half gains and the purchase of Precision case US shale companies. Oil ana- years. Castparts Corp, Warren Buffett’s lysts currently estimate this cost Alphabet Inc’s Google had (pictured) largest acquisition. to be $60/b. QNB analysts there- named Urmson chief technical But operating results fell short of fore expect a gradual convergence officer of the project after it hired analyst forecasts, as depressed oil of oil prices to this level, leading former Hyundai Executive John prices and coal demand weighed on to an average oil price of $58.0/b Krafcik to be chief executive of the volume at the conglomerate’s BNSF in 2018. project. Urmson, who joined the railroad unit, while units serving the While the shale revolution has project when it was launched and oil, gas and heavy equipment indus- been a game changer for oil, it has has been a public face of Google’s tries struggled. Other businesses, not changed its intrinsic nature as autonomous vehicle efforts, testified including the Geico auto insurer, a market. When markets are over- before a US Senate panel on auton- fared better. insurance roots, including through “This is a conglomerate, and you supplied and prices fall, they tend omous cars in March. Net income for Omaha, the $32.1bn January purchase of have to take the good with the bad.” to adjust through two channels. Krafcik confirmed Urmson’s Nebraska-based Berkshire rose to Precision Castparts, which makes Insurance underwriting swung First, high-cost producers tend departure in a tweet. Urmson, in $5bn, or $3,042 per Class A share, aircraft parts, and February acqui- to a $337m profit from a year-ear- to exit the market as their busi- a blog post late Friday, said he was from $4.01bn, or $2,442, a year ear- sition of Duracell, which makes lier loss of $38m. That helped boost nesses become unviable. Second, “ready for a fresh challenge.” He lier. Operating profit rose 18 percent batteries. But many operations overall insurance profit, including low prices encourage higher con- said he was not sure what he would project appointed its first general to $4.61bn, or $2,803 per Class A remain anchored in the United investment income, 40 percent to sumption which provide support do next. “Going to take some time counsel. Google has logged more share, from $3.89bn, or $2,367. States, and several struggled with $1.32bn. The improvement included a to prices. These dynamics are and get some perspective from out- than 1.8 million miles of autono- Analysts on average expected the same pressures stemming from near tripling of pre-tax underwriting currently underway in the oil side of Google,” he wrote in a text mous driving in testing in Texas, operating profit of about $2,911 per low commodities and materials gain at Geico, which added custom- market and are progressing in a message to Reuters. California, Arizona and Washington share. Revenue rose 6 percent to prices and demand. ers and boosted premiums while its manner that is faster than previ- Urmson said earlier this year state. It has said it has no timeta- $54.46bn. Book value per share, Buf- “Some of the ‘old economy’ busi- rate of loss claims fell. ously thought. This does not mean that self-driving cars are coming. ble for making self-driving vehicles fett’s preferred measure of growth, nesses lagged, hurt by the weaker Meanwhile, currency fluctua- a return to a world in which oil “I’ve gone from hoping this would available to the public. rose 1.7 percent from the end of energy sector, but the insurance tions helped Berkshire’s namesake prices exceeded $100/b for sev- happen to thinking it might happen Officials have said Google is March to $160,009. businesses turned around, espe- reinsurance business swing to a eral years, but a price of $60/b to knowing it will happen,” Urmson preparing to make its self-driv- Buffett has over the years diver- cially Geico,” S&P Global analyst $184m pre-tax gain from a year- is probably within range in the said. Google self-driving car project ing car unit a separate company. sified Berkshire far beyond its Cathy Seifert said in an interview. earlier $411m loss. medium term. spokesman Johnny Luu confirmed The program is now part of its X Urmson’s departure and praised research laboratory unit. him. “Seven years ago, the idea that “The self-driving car project is a car could drive itself wasn’t much in the middle of graduating from X more than an idea. Chris has been and this is sort of a gradual proc- Mena printing revenues forecast to grow 7.2% a vital force for the project, help- ess,” Astro Teller, who heads the X ing the team move from a research program, told NBC News in April. phase to a point where this life-sav- In May, Google and Fiat Chrys- ing technology will soon become a ler Automobiles NV said they had The Peninsula Smithers Pira report, total printing Chairman of IEC, said: “The printing year in the Mena within the signage, reality,” Luu said. agreed to work together to build revenues alone are forecast to grow industry has witnessed a paradigm digital signage, retail signage solu- Google’s project has had other a fleet of nearly 100 self-driving 7.2 percent per annum, reaching shift over the last few years. Tech- tions, outdoor media, screen and significant departures, even as it minivans, the first time a Silicon $26bn by 2018. nology innovation year-on-year has digital printing industries. “New has hired dozens of new employees. Valley firm had teamed up with a DOHA: International Expo Consults Demand for the latest standard resulted in top quality results with technologies have been redefining Earlier this year, Anthony Levand- traditional carmaker to develop an (IEC) part of Falak Holding, stated of printing and digital signages is on regard to printing and signages. the process of printing, thereby help- owski, who was product manager autonomous vehicle. that the investments in theme parks, the growth path. Old equipment is Today, attention-grabbing digital ing GCC countries to expand their for Google’s self-driving car pro- In March, Reuters reported infrastructure and retail in Qatar will gradually and steadily being phased and traditional signages, are a must domestic industries and generate gram, left the project to co-found Google’s self-driving car team was further boost the billion-dollar print- out to usher in new machinery. This to attract the customers. These tools the desired awareness amongst its a startup with two other former expanding and hiring more people ing industry. This sector is expected growth translates into vast oppor- will further enhance the effective- customers. Also the increasing spe- Google employees. with automotive industry expertise, to grow exponentially across the tunities for printers, raw material ness of marketing campaigns.” cialisation of Qatar’s printing sector Google’s self-driving car project underscoring the company’s deter- MENA region due to the investment suppliers and print equipment sup- IEC is the organiser of the has seen a tremendous growth in is expected to become a standalone mination to move the division past by governments in various sectors, pliers in the country. 19-year-old, ‘SGI Dubai show’, one creation of new jobs as well,” Sharif company this year. In July, the the experimental stage. especially infrastructure. As per the Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, of the most anticipated events of the Rahman, CEO of IEC, said. Bangladeshi expat wins Mercedes Benz at Sky Jewellery summer promotion

The Peninsula HBK signal. prizes are also to enhance the life of Sky Jewellery had announced at least a few winners that can make a total of two Mercedez Benz cars a difference to their life,” Babu John, and 125 sovereigns of gold as prizes Managing Director of Sky Jewellery, DOHA: Cyriac Varghese, Group Gen- for the three regions of Doha, Dubai said. Among others present at the eral Manager of Sky Jewellery, handed and Muscat. Of this, one Mercedes function were Mian Ehsanullah, Head over the key of a Mercedes Benz car to Benz car and 25 sovereigns of gold of Corporate & International Banking, Mohammed Abdur Razzak, a Bangla- were offered in Doha region alone. and Samuel Varma, Relationship Man- deshi expatriate, one the winners of The prize-awarding ceremony was ager of Al Khaliji Bank; P K Mohan and its recent grand summer promotion. conducted in the presence of cus- Tom C Jacob, both regional managers In addition to Razzak, two win- tomers, who witnessed the ceremony of Sky Jewellery. ners of five sovereigns of gold each and and got to see the winner. Thus they “Al Khaliji bank being a prominent five winners of two sovereigns of gold were able to repose their trust in Sky banker for the regional operations of each and another five who won one Jewellery and its mode of conducting Sky Jewellery, this was a great moment sovereign of gold each, also received promotions, announcing winners and for the bank too to witness such loyal Sky Jewellery Mega draw winner receiving the Mercedes-Benz Key from Sky Jewellery officials during the their prizes at the same gathering held presenting the grand prizes to winners. and trustworthy celebrations of the at the Sky Jewellery showroom near “We believe in transparency. The big group in the region” Mian said. prize distribution ceremony at Jewellery Showroom Doha yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP/The Peninsula BUSINESS SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 19

Bombardier chief warns of Stiglitz quits Panama weak business-jet demand Papers probe, cites

Shrinking demand for corporate been particularly problematic for lack of transparency planes — typically Bombardier’s most models with fewer seats, Belle- The planemaker cut profitable business — is weighing on mare said on a call with analysts. production of its Bellemare as he works to increase While sales of Bombardier’s small- profit and cash flow. He took over last est product, the Lear 75, improved Reuters Global 5000 and year following delays in the devel- in the latest quarter, the company 6000 business jets opment of the C Series commercial is attempting to assess how to “best last year, and delayed jet, which entered service last month position” the plane. The planemaker — about 2 1/2 years after the initial cut production of its Global 5000 and BUENOS AIRES: The committee entry into service of target. 6000 business jets last year, and for analysts, who had predicted Bom- set up to investigate lack of trans- another model by Bombardier swung to an adjusted delayed entry into service of another bardier would spend $623m in the parency in Panama’s financial loss of 6 cents a share in the second model by two years as sales of large latest quarter. system itself lacks transparency, two years as sales of quarter, the company reported in a private planes dropped. Increased C Series production Nobel Prize-winning economist large private planes statement. Analysts had predicted a Any further output cutbacks in contributed to a $586m loss before Joseph Stiglitz (pictured) said after loss of 5 cents, according to the aver- business aircraft would amount to interest and taxes at Bombardier’s resigning from the “Panama Papers” dropped. age of estimates. Revenue dropped “fine tuning,” and would likely target commercial aircraft unit, the com- commission. 6.7 percent from a year earlier to the Lear 75, Bellemare said. Second- pany said. That compares with a The leak in April of more than $4.31bn, compared with an average quarter earnings before interest and year-earlier loss of $10m. 11.5 million documents from the estimate of $4.18bn. taxes in the business-jet unit jumped “The development phase of the C Panamanian law firm Mossack Fon- Bloomberg The Montreal-based compa- 78 percent to $212m. “We are at the Series is now done, and from a cash seca, dubbed the “Panama Papers,” ny’s Class B shares fell 1.8 percent to right level on the production side,” consumption standpoint this is going detailed financial information from C$1.96 at 1:59 p.m. in Toronto while Bellemare said. “We have flexibility. to be a tailwind for us,” Bellemare offshore accounts and potential tax Canada’s benchmark S&P/TSX Com- We can go down a little bit, we can said. Bombardier expects to build 12 evasion by the rich and powerful. MONTREAL: Bombardier Inc cau- posite Index rose 0.8 percent. The go up a little bit. We’re trying to be to 15 units of the jet this year, climb- Stiglitz and Swiss anti-corrup- tioned that private-aircraft prices planemaker’s stock had gained 49 aggressive on the cost side.” ing to about 30 to 40 next year. tion expert Mark Pieth joined a will remain under pressure as it percent this year through Thursday. Despite the weak business-jet Bombardier’s adjusted results for seven-member commission tasked posted a wider-than-expected “The business-jet end markets demand, Bombardier maintained the latest quarter exclude a provi- with probing Panama’s notori- Aleman, former administrator of the loss, adding to President and Chief have weakened in the past three its full-year forecasts of $16.5bn to sion of $492m stemming from 127 C ously opaque financial system, but Panama Canal, rejected assertions Executive Officer Alain Bellemare’s months,” said Cameron Doerksen, a $17.5bn in revenue and $200m to Series purchase agreements, includ- they say they found the govern- that the committee lacked transpar- (pictured) burdens as he tries to National Bank Financial analyst. Still, $400m in EBIT. The company also ing 75 aircraft that Delta Air Lines ment unwilling to back an open ency, and said the five remaining turn around Canada’s largest aer- “from my perspective, the quarter stuck by its prediction of spending Inc. agreed to buy in April. investigation. members, four of which are Pana- ospace company. “The business-jet was pretty much in line with expec- $1bn to $1.3bn of free cash flow. Bombardier’s net loss according Both quit the group on Friday manian, would continue their work. market will stay soft for a while,” Bel- tations, with a few positives. Cash use The planemaker spent $490m of to generally accepted accounting after they say Panama refused to “The report has to be deliv- lemare said in an interview. “There was better, and the margins in busi- free cash flow in the second quarter, principles was $490m, or 24 cents guarantee the committee’s report ered to the president of Panama, will come a time where it will start to ness jets were better.” after burning through $808m a year a share, compared with net income would be made public. “I thought and then the president of Panama get better. We just don’t know when.” Oversupply of private jets has earlier. The figure is a key variable of $125m, or 6 cents, a year earlier. the government was more com- will decide when and how it will be mitted, but obviously they’re not,” made public,” he said. Stiglitz said. “It’s amazing how they The Panama Papers cover a tried to undermine us.” period of almost 40 years, from The Panamanian government 1977 until December 2015, and show Gold rally Rolls-Royce launches ‘DAWN’ in India defended the committee’s “autono- that some companies set up in tax mous” management in a statement havens with the help of Mossack issued later, and while it said it Fonseca may have been used for threatened by regretted the resignations of Stiglitz money laundering, arms and drug and Pieth, it chalked them up to deals as well as tax evasion. strength in US unspecified “internal differences.” In addition to embarrass- Panama’s President Juan Carlos ing leaders worldwide who had Varela said in April that the inde- interests tied to secretive business labour market pendent commission would review concerns, the leak heaped pressure the country’s financial and legal on Panama, well-known for its lax practices. financial laws, to clean up its act. Bloomberg In its first full meeting of the “I have had a close look at the so investigative committee in New called Panama Papers, and I must York on June 4-5, there was con- admit that even as an expert on eco- sensus that the government of nomic and organised crime, I was NEW YORK: Renewed strength Panama needed to commit to mak- amazed to see so much of what in the US labour market is threat- ing the final report public, whatever we talk about in theory was con- ening to derail the gold rally that its findings, Stiglitz and Pieth said. firmed in practise,” Pieth said in a sent futures to the best first half But they said they got a letter telephone interview. in almost four decades. Employ- from the government last week In the papers he said he found ment jumped in July for a second backing off from its commitment evidence of crimes such as money month and wages climbed, boost- to making the committee’s finding laundering for child prostitution ing bets that the Federal Reserve public. rings. “We’re being asked to do this may raise US interest rates this “We can only infer that the gov- as a courtesy for them and we’re year and sending gold to its big- ernment is facing pressure from paraded in front of the world media gest loss in more than 10 weeks. those who are making profits from first, and then we’re told to shut up Rolls-Royce Regional Sales Manager, Asia Pacific, Sven J Ritter (left) and Kun Group of Companies Bullion has extended gains the current non-transparent finan- when they don’t like it,” Pieth, a Director Vasanthi Bhupathi pose during the launch of the Rolls-Royce ‘DAWN’ in Chennai on Friday. this quarter, helped by low inter- cial system in Panama,” Stiglitz said. criminal law professor at Basel Uni- est rates and pledges by central Commission member Alberto versity, said. banks from Europe to Japan to continue to crank up stimulus spending. Low rates are a boon for gold because they keep the metal more competitive against assets Tesla Motors discloses $1.1bn in third-quarter cash needs like bonds that pay interest. “Some people in the mar- ket think that rates are going up and therefore the reason to own Reuters mass market sedan, the Model 3. That “During the third quarter, we the second half of the year on capital raise” next year. The company also gold is not as strong,” said Bob has raised questions about whether will be using substantial amounts expenditures. Tesla declined to com- said in its filing that “from time to Phillips, the Indianapolis-based the company will need to raise new of cash in connection with conver- ment beyond the filing. time” it has received requests for managing principal at Spectrum cash to reach its goals. sions of our 2018 Notes and we could Tesla, which wants to buy solar information from regulators and Management Group, which over- NEVADA: Tesla Motors Inc disclosed It said in the filing that it had pursue other actions to reduce our panel installer SolarCity Corp for governmental authorities “such sees $500m. Gold futures for $1.1bn in third quarter cash require- $3.25bn in principal sources of outstanding balance of convertible $2.6bn in shares, also disclosed that as the National Highway Traffic December delivery dropped 1.7 ments in payments and planned liquidity as of June 30, 2016, includ- notes, which could require further the value of its secured assets had Safety Administration (NHTSA), the percent to settle at $1,344.40 an expenditures, about a third of the ing $1.7bn from a public offering in outlays of cash,” Tesla wrote in the limited its ability to borrow under its National Transportation Safety Board ounce at 1:48 p.m. on the Comex cash on hand mid-year, in a new May and a $678m credit line. filing with the US Securities and asset-based revolving credit agree- and the Securities and Exchange in New York, the biggest loss since sign of pressure on the electric vehi- The filing also said that in July Exchange Commission. If the two ment with a syndicate of banks. Commission.” May 24. Prices had the first weekly cle maker. it had repaid that $678m credit line third-quarter payments are sub- Chief Executive Elon Musk earlier The federal regulator NHTSA decline in three weeks. The company is finishing con- and that it intended to repay principle tracted from the mid-year cash last week had repeated a projection is investigating a May 7 fatality in The odds of the Fed raising struction of a massive battery factory on $411m of 2018 convertible notes balance, Tesla would have $2.1bn that if the deal is consummated, the Florida in which a driver using Tes- rates by December climbed to 46 in Nevada, the Gigafactory, and ram- in the third quarter and could spend left over. The company on Wednes- combined Tesla-SolarCity could la’s auto-pilot system crashed into percent on Friday, from 37 percent ping up for production next year of a more on the securities. day told analysts it planned $1.75m in require a “small equity capital a truck. a day earlier, Fed-fund futures data compiled by Bloomberg show. Payrolls climbed by 255,000 last month, exceeding all forecasts in a Bloomberg survey of 89 econ- QIC Insured names Ramadan Raffle winner omists, following a 292,000 gain in June that was a bit larger than previously estimated, a Labor The Peninsula of QR100,000. Five second prize win- innovative products and services in Department report showed Friday. ners, namely, Lugard, Josel Serafica the marketplace.” The jobless rate held at 4.9 Leanda, H.N., N.C. and R.S. were each Shine said: “I was thrilled to percent as many of the people presented a cheque for QR5,000. The receive a call from QIC Insured, streaming into the workforce DOHA: QIC Insured, the retail arm 150 winners of the third prize win- informing me that I had won the first found jobs. The average hourly of Qatar’s leading insurer Qatar ners were each given home insurance prize of QR100, 000. I have been a earnings rose a more-than-fore- Insurance Company (QIC), yesterday worth QR400. customer of QIC Insured for more cast 0.3 percent from a month announced the winners of its recently While handing over the prizes, than eight years, and I am very sat- earlier, the most since April. concluded “Insure & Win” Ramadan Salem Al Mannai said: “I would like isfied with the products and services The bigger picture for the Raffle 2016 campaign. to congratulate all the winners of that they provide.” gold market shows governmen- The draw to select prize win- the Ramadan Raffle 2016. Since its QIC Insured ran a campaign, tal efforts to boost slow-growing ners was conducted in the presence launch, we’ve had a record number offering competitive rates for com- economies ultimately will bene- of senior dignitaries from the Minis- of participants and have been inun- prehensive car insurance starting at fit prices this year, Phillips said. try of Economy and Commerce (MEC), dated with positive feedback. 2.16 percent during the holy month “You’ve got England, Europe Deputy Group President & CEO of QIC “Besides marking the success of Ramadan. and Japan all expanding their — Mena, Salem Al Mannai and senior of the campaign, this also demon- Customers who purchased com- monetary easing by printing QIC officials at the QIC headquarters strates our commitment to provide prehensive car insurance online money,” he said. “I think gold at West Bay. the best offers and services to our between June 11 and July 11 automati- The first prize winner Shine S K R Sasidharan holding the cheque for prices will probably continue to Shine S K R Sasidharan, who won customers. And going forward, we’ll cally became eligible for participation QR100,000. move higher.” the first prize, was awarded a cheque continue to lead by launching more in the raffle draw. BUSINESS VIEWS 20 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016

Olympics helps ‘Helicopter money’ is Samsung to break VR content conundrum coming to America

By Nicole Piper on the ground in Brazil includes Bloomberg 13 so-called Galaxy Studios — including one on the beach in Copacabana — at which Olympic tourists can try out, and hopefully io de Janeiro’s Mara- get hooked on, the tech. cana Stadium is huge, The experience of VR is with more than 78,000 unlike anything most people seats from which lucky have felt before. Your feet on Rfans could watch the 2016 the ground and air condition- Olympic Opening Ceremonies ing blasting your skin are the yesterday morning. Samsung only reminders that you’re not Electronics Co had partnered actually standing on the track with Comcast’s NBCUniversal as Usain Bolt dashes past, the and the Olympic Broadcasting 360-degree view making it nec- Services to distribute the first essary to physically turn your VR Olympic broadcast of select head as he sprints toward the events — including the opening finish line and the crowd cheers. and closing ceremonies, diving, Samsung has turned to VR basketball, track and field, and technology amid a slowdown in gymnastics. high-end smartphone growth. VR is seen by many — like With competitors like Apple Inc. Facebook Chief Executive Officer getting into VR and the related Mark Zuckerberg — as the future augmented reality field, Samsung of tech. It’s expected to change hopes its high-profile Olympic everything from gaming, to investment will put it in a sweet sports to communication and spot if consumer attention shifts how people work. and VR becomes a major source The corner of Wall and Broad Street is pictured across from the New York Stock Exchange. The technology is still in its of growth. nascent stages, however, and no “The Olympics will give extra one has quite figured out how to momentum for virtual reality,” By A Gary Shilling available, yet they can’t force banks to lend central banks from their governments is make money from it yet. Sam- Mario Laffitte, Samsung’s Latin Bloomberg and consumers and businesses to borrow, rarely clear cut. It’s become the norm in sung’s investment is training America Vice-President of mar- spend and invest. That undermines the peacetime, but not during times of war, before the Winter Olympics come keting and corporate affairs, said effectiveness of QE; as the proverb says, when government spending shoots up and to its home turf in PyeongChang, in an interview in Sao Paulo. you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t the resulting debt requires considerable South Korea, in 2018. “Virtual reality is really having a everal years of rock-bottom inter- make it drink. central-bank assistance. That was cer- In some ways, Brazil is the big wave right now.” est rates around the world haven’t Furthermore, developed-country cen- tainly true during World War II, when the perfect testing ground: The Samsung faces a Catch-22 been all bad. They’ve helped tral banks purchase government securities US money supply increased by 25 percent Olympics have historically been in building up its VR prowess: reduce government borrow- on open markets, not from governments a year. The Federal Reserve was the hand- a showcase for new technolo- With only about 1 million active ing costs, for sure. Central banks directly. You might ask: “What’s the differ- maiden of the US government in financing gies — the Los Angeles Games monthly users, it needs to build Salso send back to their governments most ence between the Treasury issuing debt in spending that far exceeded revenue. introduced email to a wider audi- a larger Gear VR audience to be of the interest received on assets purchased the market and the Fed buying it, versus Today, developed countries are engaged ence in 1984 and Seiko debuted able to develop content, but it through quantitative-easing programs. Gov- the Fed buying securities directly from the not in shooting wars but wars against its Quartz timing system in can’t attract more viewers with- ernments essentially are paying interest to Treasury?” The difference is that the open chronically slow economic growth. So the Tokyo in 1964, according to the out a lot of good content to begin themselves. market determines the prices of Treasuries, belief in close coordination between gov- book Olympic Turnaround by with. Publicity from a high-pro- Since the beginning of their quantita- not the government or the central bank. The ernments and central banks in spurring Michael Payne. “It makes sense file Olympics can help do both. tive-easing activities, the Federal Reserve market intervenes between the two, which economic activity is back in vogue — thus for Samsung to get as much early This same conundrum applies has returned $596bn to the US Treasury and keeps the government from shoving huge helicopter money. experience with the technology to ad revenue: Advertisers want the Bank of England has given back $47bn. quantities of debt directly onto the central All of the QE activity over the past sev- as possible so that it can try to to make sure enough people will This cozy relationship between central bank without a market-intervening test. eral years by the Fed, the Bank of England, take the lead,” said Morning- see their content to make an banks and their governments resembles This enforces central bank discipline and the European Central Bank, the Bank of star analyst Dan Baker. “Being investment in a new technology. “helicopter money,” the unconventional form maintains credibility. Japan and others has failed to significantly ahead on the technology curve “Initiatives like the Olympics of stimulus that some central banks may In contrast, direct sales to central banks revive economic growth. US economic allows for better returns and and the NBA are designed to kick- be considering as a way to spur economic have been the normal course of govern- growth in this recovery has been the weak- profitability.” start the process,” Morningstar’s growth. One is looking ment finance in places like Zimbabwe and est of any post-war recovery. Growth in But Samsung, which has been Baker said. for more such helicopter Argentina. It often leads to hyperinflation Japan has been minimal, and economies a top-level Olympic sponsor since Even if the content is entic- money —fiscal stimu- and financial disaster. (I keep a 100-trillion in the UK and the euro area remain under 1998, faces a lot of hurdles. ing, the technology itself still lus applied directly to Zimbabwe dollar bank note, issued in 2008, pressure. The UK’s exit from the European While the Suwon-based com- has obstacles. Early stage users the US economy and which was worth only a few US cents as Union may well lead to a recession in Britain pany has exclusive VR rights have complained about every- financed by the Fed — inflation rates there accelerated to the hun- and the EU as slow growth turns negative. through NBC to the 2016 games, thing from overheated phones no matter who wins the dreds-of-million-percent level. Now it sells A downturn could spread globally if finan- only about 80 hours out of the to motion sickness. And the presidential election in for several US dollars as a collector’s item, cial disruptions are severe. This would no 6,700 hours of programming will jaw-dropping sensation of VR November. after the long-entrenched and corrupt Zim- doubt ensure a drop in crude oil prices be broadcast with the technology. sets high expectations. While Major central bank It’s called helicop- babwean government switched to US dollars to the $10 to $20 a barrel level. This, too, And they’ll air a day later. What’s the image quality is good, it has ‘helicopter money’ is ter money because of and stopped issuing its own currency.) would generate considerable financial dis- more, viewers will need Sam- a grainy quality to it reminiscent a fact of life in war the illusion of dump- Argentina was excluded from borrow- tress, given the highly leveraged condition sung’s Gear VR headset ($100), of the early days of television. ing currency from the ing abroad after defaulting in 2001. Little of the energy sector. Major central bank hel- a Samsung Galaxy smartphone It’s not up to the level of HD TV, time. Conventional sky to people who will domestic funding was available and the icopter money is a fact of life in war time (about $850), a cable subscription which is so clear you’ll see every monetary policy is rapidly spend it, thereby Argentine government was unwilling to — and that includes the current global war and the NBC Sports app. drop of sweat on the basketball impotent and voters creating demand, jobs reduce spending to cut the deficit. So it on slower growth. Conventional monetary Residents of Brazil, where players’ faces. And then there’s and economic growth. turned to the central bank, which printed policy is impotent and voters in Europe and the games will be broadcast by the hardware itself. People don’t in Europe and North Central banks can raise 4bn pesos in 2007 (then worth about $1.3bn). North America are screaming for govern- media conglomerate Globo, will really like the bulky, space-age America are screaming and lower interest rates That increased to 159bn pesos in 2015, equal ment stimulus. I just hope it doesn’t set a not have access to NBC’s VR video. goggles, but for now that’s all and buy and sell secu- to 3 percent of gross domestic product. Not precedent and continue after rapid growth Samsung’s push to proselytise VR there is. for government rities, but that’s it. They surprisingly, inflation skyrocketed to about resumes — otherwise, the fragile independ- stimulus. can thereby make 25 percent last year, up from 6 percent in ence of major central banks could go the credit cheap and readily 2009. To be sure, the independence of most way of those in banana republics. Vodafone uses voiceless Africa plans to get tech-savvy youth

By Loni Prinsloo and Matthew Hill India, according to the companies’ websites. countries in which it operates, including Zam- will be driven by higher customer numbers, Bloomberg While Vodafone’s data bundle expires sooner bia. MTN shares have climbed 5.7 percent this increased take-up of smartphones and serv- than those of its competitors, undercutting year, while Vodafone’s have gained 3.4 per- ices such as Orange Money, he said. its rivals could enable the UK company and cent. “Africa is one of the least-developed “In Europe, people are much more Amsterdam-based network partner Afrimax regions of the world in terms of information wealthy but the market is saturated,” Amy nside a packed Vodafone Group store in to establish market share. Meanwhile, its cus- and communications technology, in partic- Cameron, head of information and commu- the Zambian capital of Lusaka, a group tomers can make calls to each other using ular once we move beyond basic voice and nications technology research at Fitch’s BMI, of the city’s tech-savvy students wait in data services such as Whatsapp. data,” Dobek Pater, managing director of Pre- said by phone from London. “In Africa there line for wireless modems they hope will The current economic slowdown not- toria-based Africa Analysis, said in emailed is still a ton of people that do not have access. Itransform their ability to surf the internet. withstanding, Africa remains the last great comments. “Some of the markets in Africa There is no legacy infrastructure.” They don’t even care that they won’t be growth frontier for European telecommuni- may be experiencing problems currently, but To compete with MTN, telecommunica- able to get a voice plan to talk over the Brit- cation companies whose largest markets are long term they are likely to demonstrate good tions operators “really need scale,” she said. The lack of a voice licence ish mobile operator’s network since Vodafone all filled up. More than half the continent’s positive growth due to the cyclical nature of “MTN is already there in terms of having is just one obstacle facing doesn’t have a licence for that. “The coming population is seen owning a smartphone by commodities, diversification of the economy, reached across the region and being present of Vodafone is long overdue,” Anthony Kam- 2020, compared with 23 percent at the end and socioeconomic upside.” in many African markets. That gives MTN Vodafone as it targets as beu, 25, a student at University of Zambia, of last year, according to a report published Vodafone’s French competitor, Orange, bargaining power when it’s buying equip- many as 12 new African said outside the store, which opened in June. July 26 by GSMA. That’s helped by the con- has been rationalising its Africa presence this ment and it has greater experience in terms of “The other networks have been exploiting tinent’s relatively young population, which year after agreeing to sell its majority stake working in difficult environments and devel- markets. us — poor service, high prices, everything.” is more likely to embrace new technology. in Telkom Kenya. The Paris-based company oping local services.” Kambeu said the Vodafone packages are The lack of a voice licence is just one agreed to buy Airtel’s units in Burkina Faso MTN’s enterprise business in Zambia good value even without voice, although he obstacle facing Vodafone as it targets as many and Sierra Leone alongside assets in Dem- has grown by double digits this year and hopes the company will eventually be able as 12 new African markets. Sub-Saharan Afri- ocratic Republic of Congo from Millicom the company has rolled out a number of data to provide that as well. can economies grew at the slowest pace in International Cellular. “Our ambition in these packages to cater for the country’s youth, the Vodafone’s data price of 250 kwacha 15 years in 2015, weighed down by low com- countries is to be number one or number two, company’s Zambia CEO, Charles Molapisi, ($25) for 10 gigabytes is almost two-thirds modity prices, according to the International as this is because you need to reach a criti- said in e-mailed comments. “We have the less than that offered by other providers, Monetary Fund. Vodafone is also up against a cal size in order to be profitable,” Orange’s widest 3G and 4G network in the country which include the local units of South Afri- formidable rival in Johannesburg-based MTN, Deputy CEO, Ramon Fernandez, told report- and MTN Zambia will continue to expand ca’s MTN Group Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd of which is the market leader in most of the 22 ers in London on July 28. Revenue growth our portfolio of enterprise solutions.” SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 21

Qatar hosts course for coaches, draws praise from ICC officials

By Fawad Hussain next month as they are expected to The Peninsula feature in various evens from next month.” Qatar may host GCC Cup Sikandar informed a GCC Cup DOHA: Continuing its efforts to one-day tournament was being promote the sport in the region, the planned later this year. Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) suc- “The GCC Cup is being planned cessfully hosted a two-day ICC-Asia for December and the UAE and Coach Educator Course, which con- Qatar are possible venues for the cluded in Doha yesterday. competition. The two-day event saw a total of “In addition, more events are in 22 coaches (three from Qatar) from the pipeline for this region including eight emerging cricket nations from a women’s Twenty20 tournament.” the continent attending the course, Meanwhile, Raju, who has played under the supervision of former 28 Tests and 53 ODIs for India was cricketers Iqbal Sikandar (Pakistan), content with development of the Lakshmi Venkata Pathiraju (India) game in Qatar. and Amin-ul-Islam (Bangladesh). “I’ve been to Qatar many times The participating coaches rep- and I see the presence of very good resented Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, talent in the country. The QCA is Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the making valuable efforts to promote UAE apart from host country. FROM LEFT: Gul Khan, Domestic head QCA, Amin-ul-Aslam, ICC Development Officer, Manzood Ahmad, General-Secretary QCA, Iqbal Sikandar, ICC the game in the region.” “Qatar hosted this course on rec- Development Officer, Venkata Pathiraju, ICC Development Officer and Mohammad Asif, Event Management Coordinator during the Qataricket Cr Amin-ul-Islam, a veteran of 13 ommendation by the International Association (QCA) press conference in Doha. Pic: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula Tests and 39 ODIs echoed Raju’s Cricket Council (ICC),” the QCA Sec- comments. retary General Manzoor Ahmed told “Qatar’s recent performance a press conference in Doha. team said the ICC-Asia’s objective is Officer. “Our objective was to train also praised QCA’s efforts for devel- room for more improvement and is good and they have showed vast “ This course will prove beneficial to give coaches maximum possible them to conduct the Level 1 Coaching opment of the game. that will come with more activity.” improvement. in our efforts to promote the game in information about the job. Course. We have a number of coaches “Qatar has shown good devel- Sikandar hoped Qatar will show vast “They have shown a good the region.” ‘It was a refresher course for the in the region and such course will opment in the game over the years. improvement in their forthcoming potential and I am optimistic with Sikandar, 57, who was a part of coaches,” said Iqbal who is serving as definitely help them.” The QCA has been active in pro- assignments. continuing effort they can emerge Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning the ICC-Asia as Country Development The former Pakistan cricketer motion of the game. But, there is a “Qatar’s activity will begin from at international level,” he said.

Latham hits ton as NZ dominate SL seal historic series triumph opening day

SCOREBOARD Reuters Six-star Perera the Sri Lanka (I innings): 281 hero as hosts claim Australia (I innings): 106 BULAWAYO: Tom Latham scored a century for a second successive 229-run win over Sri Lanka (II innings): 237 match as New Zealand pulver- World No.1 Aussies to Australia (II innings): ised the home bowling to finish secure the rubber D Warner lbw Perera 41 on 329 for two on the first day of J Burns c de Silva b Herath 2 the second Test against Zimbabwe yesterday. N Lyon c Silva b Dilruwan Perera 0 Latham, who made 105 in the AFP U Khawaja b Dilruwan Perera 0 first Test, scored 136 before being S Smith c Silva b Perera 30 caught and bowled in the last over A Voges b Perera 28 of the day by part- timer spinner

GALLE: Off-spinner Dilruwan Per- Sean Williams. M Marsh lbw Sandakan 18 era bagged six wickets to fashion Captain Kane Williamson, Sri Lanka’s historic series win over P Nevill (run out) 24 playing his 50th Test, will start Australia yesterday as the world M Starc b Herath 26 today five runs short of his cen- number one side suffered a humili- J Hazlewood c&b Perera 7 tury and completing a record of ating 229-run loss inside three days tons against each of the Test play- J Holland (not out) 0 in the second Test in Galle. ing nations. Australia, chasing a challenging Extras (LB-7) 7 Martin Guptill was the first 413 for victory, were bundled out for Total (all out) 183 man out, trapped lbw to a full 183 after lunch as Sri Lanka, who won Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-10, 3-10, 4-61, delivery from Donald Tiripano. their last series against the visitors in 5-80, 6-119, 7-123, 8-164, 9-181, 10-183. Guptill went for 87 after sharing 1999, took an unassailable 2-0 lead an aggressive opening partner- in the three-match rubber. Sri Lankan cricketers Rangana Herath, (left) and Dilruwan Perera (centre) and team members acknowledge Bowling: Herath 19.1-1-74-2; Perera 23- ship of 167 with Latham on a slow Veteran spinner Rangana Herath the crowd as they celebrate their victory in the second Test match against Australia at the Galle International 5-70-6; Sandakan 6-1-30-1; De Silva 2-0- wicket after Williamson won the set up the win for the hosts with his Cricket Stadium in Galle yesterday. 2-0. toss. maiden Test hat-trick which helped Latham’s century came up dismiss Australia for a record low of off 190 balls and he continued to 106 in their first innings. Overnight batsmen David Warner trapped lbw off a straighter Perera short leg. Perera, who also took two bowlers. Herath and Perera shared look comfortable until the penul- Australia faltered in their sec- and skipper Steven Smith offered delivery that hit the batsman on the wickets on Friday, then bowled Adam four wickets between them on a cha- timate delivery of the day when he ond outing as well after Perera, who some resistance with their 51-run front pad. Voges for 28 to register his fourth otic second day which saw the fall of spooned the ball back to Williams. registered his career-best figures of fourth wicket partnership but both Smith (30), who used his feet five-wicket haul in 11 Test matches. 21 wickets and put the match on the The partnership for the second 6-70, sent the visitors packing in just of them fell to Perera’s guile. well against the spinners during his But it was Herath’s left-arm fast track. wicket was worth 160 runs. 50.1 overs as the Sri Lankan players Warner, who tried to counter 58-ball stay, was the next to go as spin that did the early damage in a Sri Lanka won the first Test at New Zealand won the first Test went into a celebratory huddle. attack during his 31-ball 41, was he gave away a catch at backward match dominated by Sri Lankan slow Pallekele by 106 runs. at the same venue by an innings and 117 runs inside four days, scoring 576 for six. SCOREBOARD SCOREBOARD England (I innings): 297 New Zealand (I innings): Bairstow and Ali punish Pakistan M Guptill lbw Tiripano 87 Pakistan (I innings): 400 England (II innings): T Latham c&b Williams 136 K Williamson (batting) 95 A Cook c Y Shah b S Khan 66 AFP a new record for the Birmingham four, scored briskly, just as oppos- out to first-innings five-wicket hero A Hales c Y Khan b Amir 54 ground if they are to go 2-1 up in the ing wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed Sohail Khan and a diving Shah held Extras (b-4 nb-7) 11 J Root c Mohd Hafeez b Y Shah 62 four-match series, as the most any had done in Pakistan’s first innings an excellent catch at point. Total (for 2 wkts) 329 J Vince c Y Khan b Amir 42 side have made in the fourth innings of the match. Mohammad Amir then turned Fall of wickets: 1-169, 2-329.

BIRMINGHAM: Jonny Bairstow and to win a Test at Edgbaston is South Bairstow received excellent sup- 126 for one into 126 for two when To bat: R Taylor, H Nicholls, M Santner, B

G Ballance c A Shafiq b Y Shah 28 Moeen Ali both scored dashing fif- Africa’s 283 for five in 2008. port from Ali, who played several Hales (54) edged a seaming delivery

Watling, I Sodhi, T Southee, N Wagner, T J Bairstow (batting) 82 ties as England wrested the initiative But openers Alastair Cook and fine shots of his own against a tiring from the left-arm quick and Younis Boult. from Pakistan on the fourth day of Alex Hales both went early as Paki- Pakistan attack featuring just four Khan held a difficult low chance at M Ali (batting) 60 Bowling: D Tiripano 14-3-58-1 (nb-5); M the third Test at Edgbaston yesterday. stan took two wickets for no runs in frontline bowlers. second slip. Extras (B-4, LB-7, W-1, NB-8) 20 Chinouya 15-5-43-0; C Chibhabha 9-2- At stumps, England were 414 for nine balls. Play resumed yesterday with After lunch, Root pulled Shah for Total (for 5 wkts) 414 five in their second innings, a lead Joe Root (62) and James Vince (42) England captain Cook 64 not out a boundary that saw him to a 108- 30-0 (nb-1); G Cremer 25-1-108-0 (nb-1); Fall of wickets: 1-126, 2-126, 3-221, of 311 runs. stopped the rot during a third-wicket and Hales 50 not out after they had ball fifty. J Nyumbu 22-1-63-0; S Williams 2.5-0-15- 4-257, 5-282. Bairstow was 82 not out and Ali stand of 95. erased a first-innings deficit of 103 But Shah, bowling into the rough 1; S Raza 2-0-8-0. Bowling: Amir 30-8-73-2 (1w); Sohail 60 not out. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah struck with their maiden century stand in 18 outside leg stump, had his revenge Zimbabwe: T M K Mawoyo, C J Chibhab- 27-3-102-1 (8nb); Rahat 21-8-54-0; Shah England’s sixth-wicket duo had either side of tea to dismiss Root and innings as a Test-match opening pair. when Root, not for the first time this ha, Sikandar Raza, C R Ervine, P S Mas- added an unbroken 132 runs inside Gary Ballance. But Pakistan soon removed both season, mistimed a sweep and gave vaure, S C Williams, P J Moor, A G Cremer, 42-4-152-2; Azhar 5-0-22-0. 27 overs ahead of today’s final day. But the middle-order pair’s York- batsmen. a simple catch to Hafeez at short fine D T Tiripano, J Nyumbu, M T Chinouya. Pakistan will now have to set shire colleague Bairstow, in at 257 for Left-hander Cook (66) pushed leg. 22 SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 SPORT

IOC chief urges unity in Nishikori sets up clash with ‘world of crisis, mistrust’

AFP war or poverty to compete in Rio -- was a riposte to a world “where history-making Millman selfishness is gaining ground, where certain people claim to be superior RIO DE JANEIRO: International to others.” Olympic Committee President Tho- “You are sending a message of Japanese fourth Japan’s Kei Nishikori mas Bach made an appeal for unity hope to all the many millions of ref- returns the ball to in a troubled world on Friday as the ugees around the globe. You had to seed thrashes Spain’s Spain’s Alberto Ramos- opening ceremony for the 2016 Rio flee from your homes because of Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, Vinolas during their de Janeiro Games got under way. violence, hunger or just because you men’s first round match Bach, who has faced criticism in were different,” Bach said. 6-4 in the opening at the Olympic Tennis recent weeks for his decision not to “Now, with your great talent and round Centre in Rio de Janeiro, ban Russia from the Games over a human spirit you are making a great yesterday. doping scandal, said the August 5-21 contribution to society.” sporting extravaganza would send Bach, meanwhile, said the first a message of hope to the watching Olympic Games staged in South world. America had helped transform AFP “We are living in a world of cri- Rio de Janeiro, despite the failure sis, mistrust and uncertainty,” Bach to deliver certain infrastructure said. promises and a pledge to clean up “Here is our Olympic answer: the city’s heavily polluted Guana- RIO DE JANEIRO: Japanese fourth the 10,000 best athletes in the bara Bay. seed Kei Nishikori reached the Olym- world, competing with each other, “You have transformed the won- pic tennis tournament second round at the same time living peacefully derful city of Rio de Janeiro into a yesterday where he will face Austral- together in one Olympic Village, modern metropolis and made it ian John Millman who recorded the sharing their meals and their even more beautiful,” Bach said. first ‘double bagel’ win in Olympic emotions. Brazilian Olympic Committee history. “In this Olympic world, we chief Carlos Nuzman meanwhile Nishikori, a quarter-finalist at the see that the values of our shared attracted jeers – swiftly drowned 2012 Olympics, breezed past Span- humanity are stronger than the out by applause – after praising the ish left-hander Albert Ramos-Vinolas forces which want to divide us.” contribution of Brazil’s scandal-hit 6-2, 6-4 in just 79 minutes. Bach said the presence of the federal government. Fittingly, a Brazilian umpire Car- IOC’s Olympic refugee team -- com- “Rio is proud to be the Olympic los Bernardes was in the chair for The crucial break of the set came player in the women’s draw in Rio year. Defending champions Andy prising 10 athletes who have fled capital of the world,” Nuzman said. the first match on centre court and in the ninth game before Nishikori Olympics. Murray and Serena Williams as well Nishikori rose to the occasion, tak- served out for victory. India’s Leander Paes is playing as world number one Novak Djoko- ing the opening set in just 33 minutes, Millman, 27, swept past Ricardas in his seventh Olympics, comfort- vic and 2008 champion Rafael Nadal breaking in the third and seventh Berankis in just 50 minutes to com- ably a record for a tennis player at all start their medal campaigns on IOC President Thomas games. plete a miserable summer for the the Olympics. Tuesday. Bach speaks during the Rio Ramos-Vinolas, who made the Lithuanian player. The 43-year-old is in men’s dou- Djokovic, bidding to become just Olympics opening ceremony French Open quarter-finals this year, At Wimbledon in June, Berankis, bles with Rohan Bopanna and they the third man after Andre Agassi and on Friday. must have realised it was not to be 26, was knocked out in the first kick-off against Lukas Kubot and Nadal to complete the Golden Slam his day in the second game of the round by Britain’s world number 772 Marcin Matkowski of Poland. of Olympic gold and the four majors, second set. Marcus Willis, a club professional. The evergreen Paes was a singles has arguably the toughest opening Nishikori allowed his racquet to Later Monday, fifth seeded Venus bronze medallist at the 1996 Olym- encounter. fly from his hand but still won the Williams, the 2000 champion in Syd- pics in Atlanta. Paes and Matkowski The Serb faces 2009 US Open point as he scrambled to retrieve it ney, starts against Belgium’s Kirsten are regular partners on the ATP Tour champion Juan Martin del Potro who before unleashing a winner past the Flipkens. and reached the French Open quar- beat him in the bronze medal match bemused Ramos-Vinolas. At 36, Williams is the oldest ter-finals at the French Open this at the London Olympics in 2012. ‘Greedy’ Neymar and Brazil seek Iraq bounce back today

AFP 27 times, more than double any other by touching the ball into Messi, that’s Brazilian player. “Greedy Neymar what many people do not under- becomes a problem in the Olympic stand.” However, Brazil coach team,” said ESPN Brazil. Rogerio Micale defended his star and RIO DE JANEIRO: Mercilessly cast “Inexplicably, Brazil did eve- captain, citing rustiness as Neymar as ‘greedy’ and ‘missing’ for failing rything contrary to what they hadn’t been involved in competitive to fire Brazil to victory in their Rio rehearsed and preached for 17 days action since May 22 after skipping 2016 opener against South Africa, (in preparation),” added Rio news- the Copa America in June. Neymar and his highly-touted team- paper O Globo. “Neymar was missing “I think we have to see he is com- mates need a big response against too.” ing off a long holiday period and is Chile’s Tomas Gonzalez competes in the qualifying for the men’s vault event of the Artistic Gymnastics at Iraq today. However, Neymar, who still had regaining the pace of play,” said the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. A 0-0 draw against a South Afri- Brazil’s two best efforts brilliantly Micale. can side reduced to 10 men for the saved by Itumeleng Khune, defended “He will grow a lot during the final half hour on Thursday was his decision to act as more of a play- competition, I have great confidence met with a chorus of boos by a near maker, comparing his role to that in him.” Biles and Douglas lead US 70,000 capacity crowd in Brasilia. occupied by five-time World Player Neymar didn’t face the ire of the Brazil were expected to launch of the Year Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Brazilian press alone. the Games in style as red hot favour- “Sometimes you end up playing Manchester City’s new £27m ites to land a first Olympic football according to a certain player. It’s like signing Gabriel Jesus somehow man- charge for gymnastics gold gold thanks to the presence of Bar- how Barcelona play. We play accord- aged to hit the post when presented celona superstar Neymar. ing Messi, he is the guy who plays with an open goal. However, he suffered the most more on the ball and we end up mov- “I will not sleep tonight,” admit- severe backlash in the Brazilian ing off the ball,” he said. ted the 19-year-old. AFP Biles has dominated the four-year Douglas and Raisman, win- press Friday after losing possession “It’s why we don’t get bothered Another slip-up against Iraq Olympic cycle since, winning 10 ner of floor gold in London, are the back in Brasilia is unimaginable for world titles and is the overwhelm- only two US gymnasts from the 2012 the hosts, but they will face a well- ing favourite to be the star of the Rio Games, with the former selected prepared and highly-motivated RIO DE JANEIRO: Even on “autopi- Olympic Arena. despite struggling in US Olympic opponent who enjoyed the bet- lot”, Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas She snatched another gold in last trials. ter of their opening 0-0 draw with will spearhead a powerful United year’s worlds ahead of Douglas, and “It’s a very good to combine Denmark. States women’s gymnastics team’s the 2013 and 2014 world titles as her experience with newcomers,” said In contrast to Brazil’s short bid for Olympic gold from today. rival took time off after the London the 73-year-old. preparation time, Iraq have been in Douglas, 20, is the reigning Games. Britain, the world team bronze training camps across Europe for Olympic all-around titleholder and “We’re so well-prepared that we medallists from Glasgow last year, months in the build-up to the Games Games rookie Biles, 19, a three-time know what to expect of ourselves are ready to challenge for a first with the aim of surpassing their world all-around champion. and our gymnastics once we go out women’s Olympic team medal since run to fourth at the Athens Games The US are the reigning Olympic there on the competition floor,” said 1928. in 2004 when they beat a Portugal and two-time world team champi- Biles, bidding to become the first “We’re stronger and better than side containing Cristiano Ronaldo. ons, with gold theirs for the taking woman to win five gymnastic gold we were four years ago and it’s going Brazil aren’t the only big nation with the battle between Douglas and medals at a single Olympics. up and up,” said Britain’s Rebecca in need of quick turnaround in Biles set to ignite the all-around. Aly Raisman, 22, Laurie Hern- Downie. fortunes today. Two-time gold med- “We’ve done so many routines andez, 16, and 19-year-old Madison “We’re hoping to get a medal as allists Argentina face Algeria after we’re kind of on autopilot right now, Kocian, who shared the uneven a team.” suffering opening defeat to Portugal. so it’s just like go, go, go, go,” warned bars world title last year, complete Russia’s Aliya Mustafina won Defending champions Mexico Douglas, bidding to become the first the five-woman US team. Martha all-around bronze in London, and opened with a 2-2 draw against Ger- woman since Czechoslovakia’s Vera Karolyi is confident she has found with China’s Shang Chunsong and many, but are expected to pile more Caslavska in 1968 to win back-to- the right combination in what will Giulia Steingruber of Switzerland Neymar of Brazil and Abbubaker Mobara of South Africa in action misery on Fiji, who lost 8-0 to South back all-around gold. Too young to be her final Olympics as US national is expected to challenge for an all- Korea on Thursday. Germany also during their opening football match at Olympics in Brasilia on Thursday. compete in London, the acrobatic team coordinator. around medal. face the Koreans in Salvador. SPORT SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 23

Hockey grapples with ‘wake up call’ in Rio

Reuters

RIO DE JANEIRO: With its future as Olympic sport under scrutiny, there are more than just med- als at stake for hockey players at the Rio Games and the pressure is on to produce a crowd-pleas- ing tournament, cementing their place in the top-flight of world competition. Despite ticket sales of 630,000 making it the third biggest-selling event at the 2012 Games in Lon- don, hockey narrowly avoided being dropped from the Olym- pic roster in 2013 over concerns organisers were not doing enough to engage new fans. Sun Yang of China competes in the men’s 400m freestyle heats at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. “There was a perception that we were not a fan-focused sport,” said Kelly Fairweather, chief exec- utive of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). “To be honest, we were shocked ... It was a bit of a wake Peaty breaks own world record up call.” The FIH has responded by introducing a number of changes Australia’s Mack Horton in 3:43.84 suddenly appeared in the start lists to the way hockey will be played Park fails to qualify and Italian Gabriele Detti. for the 100 metres, whose heats take and broadcast at the Rio Games. Park, the first Korean to claim an place on Sunday, and Wednesday’s Those include a move to for 400 freestyle Olympic swimming medal when he 200m, the event in which she won an 15-minute quarters and sched- finals won the 400 freestyle in Beijing in Olympic bronze medal in London in uling more time for television 2008, completed an 18-month ban 2012. On Friday her name had been replays and analysis to showcase Britain’s Adam Peaty reacts after he imposed by world governing body absent from the field for both races. players’ virtuoso skills with a ball FINA in March after testing positive The build-up to the Rio Games broke the world record in the men’s 100m moving at more than 160 kilome- Agencies for testosterone ahead of the 2014 has been overshadowed by revela- Breaststroke heat during the swimming tres an hour, Fairweather said. Asian Games. tions of widespread state-sponsored event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at For the first time in Olym- Under a controversial Korean doping in Russia. Under guidelines the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de pic competition, the Rio hockey Olympic Committee regulation, laid down by the International Janeiro, yesterday. tournament will also feature RIO DE JANEIRO: Britain’s Adam he was then hit with an additional Olympic Committee, but left ulti- quarter-finals, making it the last Peaty set a world record of 57.55 three-year ban from the national mately to the discretion of individual team sport to adopt the format at seconds in the men’s 100 metres team the day the FINA suspension sports federations, Russians with the Games. breaststroke heats at the Rio Olym- expired. past doping convictions were ineli- Fairweather said he hoped the pics yesterday, beating his own mark That would have ruled him out gible to compete. move would give fans the thrills of 57.92 set in London last year. of contention for Rio but the Court But a number have successfully and excitement of an extended Meanwhile, South Korea’s Park of Arbitration for Sport cleared the appealed to the Court of Arbitration knock-out competition while Tae-hwan, the 2008 Olympic cham- 26-year-old to compete. for Sport, arguing that once their raising the stakes for teams who pion who won a late battle to swim Park is also due to swim in the bans have been served, they should now have to finish in the top four at the Rio Games after appeal- 100m, 200m and 1,500m freestyle not be punished a second time for of each group, leaving little room ing against a doping ban, failed to races in what will be his fourth and the same offence. for error in the early stages of the qualify for the men’s 400 metres final Olympics. Lovtsova came eighth and last tournament. freestyle finals yesterday. Earlier, Russian swimmer Nata- in the final heat of the 100m butter- “Hockey has had a lot of The 2012 silver medallist fin- lia Lovtsova was reinstated at the fly, won by world champion Sarah catching up to do,” he said. “The ished fourth in his heat, won by last minute to the women’s 100 Sjostrom of Sweden. She left with- Games are the pinnacle of our China’s world and Olympic cham- metres butterfly yesterday after out speaking to reporters. sport ... To have been removed pion Sun Yang, but his time of three appealing successfully against a Efimova is likely to mount a more would have been devastating.” minutes 45.63 seconds left him 10th doping ban, but trailed in last in her powerful challenge in the breast- Underlining the heightened overall with only the top eight going heat. Lovtsova’s inclusion forced stroke events. attention from top sporting offi- through. officials to hastily reissue the start- On Friday, after learning of her cials, International Olympic Sun, China’s big hope, was fourth ing list for the event, in a sign of the reinstatement, she posted a picture Committee head Thomas Bach fastest overall in a line-up led by turmoil prompted by a rush of last- of herself on Instagram, looking sur- and United Nations Secretary- Conor Dwyer of the United States minute appeals by banned Russian prised and tearful, with the caption: General Ban Ki-moon joined with a time of 3:43.42. competitors. “I’m going to the Olympics. I couldn’t hockey fans watching the open- Dwyer was followed by Breaststroker Yulia Efimova be more proud and relieved.” ing stages of the Rio Games’ first men’s pool match between Argentina and the Netherlands on Saturday. Argentina, who are currently Boxing: Tommasone makes history as first professional seventh in the FIH world rank- ings, fought hard to hold their world No. 2 and London 2012 sil- Reuters fighter to compete in the Olympic- made a constitutional change in 21-year-old Lindolfo Delgado. “The the guard of his taller opponent. It is ver-medallist opponents to a 3-3 syeserday, winning his opening bout June that ended 112 years of ama- Olympics is the top dream of any ath- the first time since 1980 that fighters draw, delighting fans on both against an amateur from Mexico. teur exclusivity at the Games. lete,” said Tommasone. are competing in the Olympics with- sides and setting the tone for what RIO DE JANEIRO: Carmine Tom- Tommasone, a 32-year-old light- One of only three outright “I am very happy,” he added, out headgear. The boxing began in organisers hope will be a compe- masone made boxing history when weight from Italy, is competing after pros to have qualified, he won all his face still red from a gritty bout mid-morning on the first full day of tition worthy of this and future he became the first fully professional AIBA, the sport’s governing body, three rounds on Saturday against in which he struggled to penetrate competition at the Games. Olympics.

India’s Leander Paes (L) speaks India’s veteran Paes makes an early exit to teammate India’s Rohan Bopanna during their men’s first round doubles tennis match at the Olympic Tennis Centre of the AFP fought hard,” said Paes. “I was Djokovic, bidding to become The 23-year-old, who next hoping to go deeper in the draw just the third man after Andre faces Britain’s Kyle Edmund, said Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de but we came up against a very hot Agassi and Nadal to complete the the win was one of the best of his Janeiro, yesterday. Polish team.” Golden Slam of Olympic gold and career that justified his decision RIO DE JANEIRO: India’s Lean- Paes and Matkowski are the four majors, has arguably the to play the Olympics rather than der Paes’s seventh Games ended regular partners on the ATP Tour toughest opening encounter. chase ranking points at second- in a bitter first round loss at the and reached the French Open The Serb faces 2009 US tier events in Europe. Olympic tennis tournament. quarter-finals. Open champion Juan Martin “I’m a young player. I wanted Paes, 43, and Rohan Bopanna Later Monday, fifth seeded del Potro who beat him in the to prioritise things that are were defeated 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) Venus Williams, the 2000 bronze medal match at the going to be positive to my career by Lukas Kubot and Marcin champion in Sydney, starts London Olympics in 2012. experience,” said Daniel. Matkowski of Poland. against Belgium’s Kirsten Meanwhile, apan’s Taro “I can’t really rush with the The evergreen Paes was a Flipkens. Daniel caused the biggest shock points. It makes sense for the singles bronze medallist at the At 36, Williams is the on the first day of the Olympics older guys, I guess, to skip this 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. oldest player in the women’s tennis tournament yeserday and save their energy for the He shrugged off the draw in Rio. when the world number 117 Grand Slams. controversy surrounding Defending champions Andy stunned US 14th seed Jack Sock. “I could have just stayed his Rio selection after it was Murray and Serena Williams as Daniel, born in New York to in Europe, trying to get more claimed Bopanna preferred to well as world number one Novak an American father and Japanese points. But I am getting some play with Saketh Myneni. Djokovic and 2008 champion mother, but who lives in the really unbelievable experience “It had no effect on us. We Rafael Nadal all start their Spanish city of Valencia, eased and I feel like I am part of gave it everything we had and campaigns on Tuesday. to a 6-4, 6-4 win. something much bigger.” www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 Qatar Cricket Neymar and Brazil Association hosts seek Iraq bounce course for coaches back today

SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 2016 • 4 DHUL QA’DA 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Glitter gives way to gold medals Thrasher wins first chase in Rio gold of Rio Games AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: The glitter and I took the lead it kind of became glamour of Rio’s stunning Olym- Unflappable American clear to me that I was in contention pics opening ceremony gave way for a medal, but I quickly pushed yesterday to bitter competition teenager holds her that thought away and focused on for the first medals of the Games nerve against two breathing and taking one shot at a dogged by a doom-laden buildup. time,” Thrasher said. The first medal of the Games Chinese Olympic Thrasher learned to love shoot- was be picked up in shooting on Champions to clinch ing while hunting deer with her Saturday but hopes and dreams 10m Air Rifle event grandfather when she was in eighth will also be fulfilled -- or shat- grade.“I got my first deer and I liked tered -- for cyclists, fencers, the adrenaline of pulling the trig- weightlifters, jodokas, swimmers, ger,” she said. and archers as the first Olympic Reuters She then joined her high school titles are determined. air rifle team and was recruited by Hours earlier, the Olympics West Virginia University, where she were declared open at Rio’s fabled became a national collegiate cham- Maracana Stadium late on Friday RIO DE JANEIRO: Unflappable pion as a freshman this year. with Brazilian marathon runner American teenager Virginia Thrasher With her non-nonsense style, Vanderlei Cordeiro lighting the won the first gold medal of the Rio Thrasher seemed unfazed by her cauldron following an exuber- 2016 Olympic Gamesyesterday, hold- seasoned field and consistently ant display of Brazil’s cultural ing her nerve against two Chinese Gold medallist Virginia Thrasher scored in the 10 points target area heritage, capped by breathtak- Olympic champions to clinch the of the US waves on the podium over the 20 rounds. ing pyrotechnics -- and a burst women’s 10m air rifle event. during the medal ceremony Afterwards, she noted that she of high-octane samba. The 19-year-old US college for the women’s 10m air rifle had not attended the Olympics’ The ceremony lifts the curtain champion edged out China’s Du shooting event at the Rio 2016 opening ceremony Friday night and on a more than two-week sporting Li, gold in Athens in 2004, with an Olympic Games at the Olympic had instead gone to bed early for her festival featuring superstars like Olympic-record score of 208 in the Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro Olympic debut. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. sport’s new finals format. Defending yesterday. Like all American shooters, All eyes will be on American Olympic champion Yi Siling, also of Thrasher faced the inevitable ques- swimming star Phelps, the most China, took the bronze medal. The youngest of the eight final- tion of what she thinks about gun decorated Olympian in history, Competing in her first Olympics, ists by several years, Thrasher control in the United States, a hot- when he returns to the pool in Thrasher, as the first champion of established an early lead after bat- button issue in this election year. the first week. the 2016 Games, was awarded her tling with the Russian shooter Daria She responded matter of factly Track and field will see Jamai- medal by International Olympic Vdovina, who stumbled midway that the controversy over guns in ca’s Bolt aim to defend his 100m, Sheikh Ali Khalid Al Thani, flagbearer of Qatar at the Rio Olympics, leads Committee (IOC) president Thomas through the competition and fin- America “really is just distract- 200m and 4x100m crowns by Bach and said the achievement was ished fifth. ing from our sport, which is very his contingent during the opening ceremony on Friday night at the clinching all three for the third beyond her wildest dreams. “About halfway through when different.” Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. straight Games. Gymnastics could unearth a new heroine in America’s teenage star Simone Biles, while rugby and golf return to the Olympic pro- Qatar relishes moment to shine at opening ceremony gramme after gaps of 92 years and 112 years respectively. More than 10,000 athletes from 207 teams took part, with The Peninsula Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Sec- the biggest cheers reserved for retary General of Qatar Olympic Committee the specially formed refugee added: “Our vision to become a leading nation team and the joyous Brazilian in bringing the world together through sustain- contingent. RIO DE JANEIRO: Team Qatar has savoured an able development in sport is clearly becoming Iran’s flag bearer was Zahra historic sporting moment as the largest team to a reality. In Rio 2016, Qatar will add five new Nemati, their first ever female ever represent the nation in the Olympic Games sports to our Olympic achievements. That is a flag-carrier who will compete in joined in celebration for the official Opening huge statement and proves we have truly devel- archery despite being paralysed Ceremony of Rio 2016. oped a pathway for our athletes to compete at in both legs. The team which consists of 38 athletes the highest level. Competing in any Olympics in The Russian delegation, bat- across ten sports was proudly led by acclaimed any sport represents success and we expect that tling allegations of state-backed Equestrian team member and showjumper- success to grow and develop with our experi- doping, got only lukewarm Sheikh Ali Khalid Al Thani who was bestowed ence over the next two weeks. Qatar’s sporting applause when they entered the the honour of being the nation’s flagbearer by future burns as bright as the Olympic torch lit stadium. the Qatar Olympic Committee. here tonight.” Each athlete was presented Inspirational flagbearer Sheikh Ali Khalid The first athletes to taste Olympic action in with a seed and a cartridge of soil Al Thani was welcomed by fans and officials Rio are swimmers Noah Al Khulaifi and Nada to enable them to plant a native into the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio Arakji who will compete in first round heats tree of Brazil, which will ulti- de Janeiro alongside fellow athletes including at the Maria Lenk Aquatic centre. Arakji the mately form an “Athletes Forest” skeet shooting bronze medallist from London first Qatari female to participate in two Olym- made up of 207 different species 2012 Nasser Al-Attiyah and teammate Rashed pic Games following her debut in London 2012 -- one for each delegation. Hamad, swimmers Noah Al-Khulaifi, Nada saw action yesterday in the 100m butterfly with Indigenous tribes and dueling Arakji,handball team captain Abdulrazzaq seventeen years old Noah Al Khulaifi experi- dance groups were among the Ahmed Murad and teammates, the beach vol- encing the Olympics for the first time today in highlights of a show low on tech- leyball team, weightlifter Fares Hassounaand the 100m backstroke. First day action yesterday nology but high on invention. judo athlete Morad Zemouri. in Rio also awaits boxer Hakan Erseker in the The evening’s overwhelming Speaking following the Opening Cere- 60kg category and table-tennis player Li Ping, theme was environmental protec- Qatar swimmer Nada Arakji takes a selfie with Qatar Swimming Federation President mony H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, and the beach volleyball team. Qatar’s sporting tion. An early opening sequence President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Khaleel Al Jabir during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio on Friday night. heroes will hope to live up to the impact that depicted the birth of life, culmi- said:“Each step taken by our athletes tonight Bayt Qatar has had in Brazil and on the people nating in the sprouting of a green on the greatest sporting stage of all represents promise and commitment to sport and the athletes need to feel your support.” On a spec- of Rio. Following a memorable opening which entanglement of leaves from the a proud and important step forward for Qatar. Olympic values. After years of hard work and tacular opening night in Rio, Qatar’s incredible included International Olympic Committee stadium floor depicting the Ama- As millions watch on I am filled with huge pride preparation I’m confident new Qatari role mod- sporting progress was evidentto all. Rio 2016 members, International Federation Presidents zon rainforest. to witness the largest team in Qatar’s Olym- els will emerge and grasp their opportunity to marks a significant milestone with athletes rep- and National Olympic Committee Presidents Indigenous Brazilians then pic history take its place alongside the leading inspire the next generation of athletes of our resenting Qatar in the Olympics for the very and sporting superstars, Qatar Olympic Com- performed dances before creat- sports nations of the world. nation. I urge every Qatari to join Team Qatar first time in handball, beach volleyball, weight- mittee’s hospitality house is now sold out to ing huge “Ocas” or native huts in “Qatar’s athletes are fulfilling our country’s through our campaign #YallaQatar as all our lifting, judo and boxing. public visitors for the first four days. the center of the stage.