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MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 • 22 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6693 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar to host 2023 FINA world aquatics Emir receives Vehicle owners phone call from Morocco King free to choose DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received yesterday a telephone call from King Mohammed VI of Morocco, reports QNA. They reviewed bilat- workshops eral relations and discussed issues of common interest.

The Ministry has urged consum- Ethiopia appeals Car dealers lose right ers to examine warranty booklets to ensure that car dealers are comply- for drought aid to designate garages ing with the amended terms. Violations can be reported to the Ministry on the hotline 16001 or OGOLCHO: Ethiopia urged inter- email: [email protected] or the Min- national donors yesterday to offer The Peninsula istry’s application on mobile phones: aid promptly for relief operations MEC_Qatar. to support 10.2 million people crit- The Ministry said custom- ically short of food, and said it was ers must, though, carefully choose committed to allocating as much of DOHA: Owners of new vehicles that where to carry out maintenance or Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari (centre) and President its own funds as necessary. are within the warranty period can repair of a car within the warranty of the Qatar Swimming Federation Khaleel Al Jabir (fourth left) celebrate after Doha was chosen to The drought is as severe in now get them serviced or repaired period and retain all receipts with host the 2023 FINA World Aquatics Championships during a meeting of FINA leaders at a hotel in some areas as the one in 1984, at workshops of their choice. them. Repair records and date of Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. → See also page 29 when famine killed a million The dealer now has no right to maintenance, as instructed by the people. dictate terms and designate work- manufacturer, should be carefully shops for the service or repair of a preserved if maintenance is carried new vehicle. out at a third-party workshop. The new terms apply not only to Some 22 car dealers in the coun- showroom-fresh vehicles but also try, all of them reputed distributors 10,000 migrant children disappeared in Europe to those that are old but with unex- of showroom-fresh cars, have given pired warranties. a written undertaking of compliance. In other words, the fresh terms They have pledged to comply allow customers to freely choose the with the provisions of Law No 19 of AFP last 18-24 months. The agency’s chief of a “criminal infrastructure” estab- and refugees, many fleeing the con- garage to carry out maintenance or 2006 which aims to promote com- of staff Brian Donald said the vulner- lished over the last 18 months to flict in Syria, crossed into Europe repair of a vehicle within the war- petition and prevent monopolistic able children had disappeared from exploit the migrant flow. last year. Europol estimates that 27 ranty period. practices. the system after registering with state The Observer reported that percent of them are children, the The Ministry of Economy and The dealers were asked by the THE HAGUE: Over 10,000 unac- authorities following their arrival in Europol found evidence of links Observer said. Commerce conducted an exten- Ministry to follow a Nine-Clause Ini- companied migrant children have Europe. “It’s not unreasonable to say between smuggling rings bringing “Whether they are registered or sive study of warranty booklets of tiative to ease warranty terms for the disappeared in Europe, the EU police that we’re looking at 10,000-plus people into the EU and human traf- not, we’re talking about 270,000 chil- car dealers that showed the use of benefit of customers. agency Europol said yesterday, fear- children,” Donald said, adding that ficking gangs exploiting migrants for dren,” Donald told the paper. restrictive clauses and ambiguous All the above dealers must fur- ing many have been whisked away 5,000 had disappeared in Italy alone. sex and slavery. “Not all of those are unaccompa- terms. nish details of amended warranty into sex trafficking rings or the slave “Not all of them will be crim- “There are prisons in Germany nied, but we also have evidence that The Ministry then asked them to terms to the Ministry which has a trade. inally exploited; some might have and Hungary where the vast majority a large proportion might be,” he said, remove expressions that might deny Competition Protection Department, Europol’s press office confirmed been passed on to family members. of people arrested and placed there adding that the 10,000 is likely to be warranty coverage to owners who for approval. to AFP the figures that were published We just don’t know where they are, are in relation to criminal activity a conservative estimate. choose third-party workshops for in British newspaper The Observer, what they’re doing or whom they are surrounding the migrant crisis,” Don- car repair or service. → Continued on page 2 adding that the numbers were for the with.” Donald said there is evidence ald said. Over one million migrants → See also page 16

White House hopefuls in last At least 60 dead in IS attacks push for Iowa close to major Syria shrine caucus today Reuters suicide attacks in Sayeda Zeinaba, a detonated a car bomb near a public district of southern Damascus where transport garage in the neighbour- AFP the Lebanese militant group Hez- hood’s Koua Sudan area. bollah and other Iraqi and Iranian Two suicide bombers then blew BEIRUT/AMMAN: At least 60 people militias have a strong presence. themselves up nearby as people were DES MOINES: US presidential were killed, including 25 Shia fight- Rami Abdulrahman, head of the being rescued. The authorities put the candidates made a frenzied, final ers, and dozens wounded yesterday Britain-based Observatory, said the dead at 45 people. “Bodies were still push yesterday to lock in Iowa by a car bomb and two suicide bomb- suicide bombers had targeted a mil- being pulled from the wreckage,” a voters on the eve of the first nom- ers in a district of Damascus where itary bus carrying Shia militias who witness told state news channel Ikh- inating contest of the 2016 election Syria’s holiest Shia shrine is located, were changing guard there. bariyah. The heavily populated area season. a monitor said. The explosions occurred as rep- in the south of the city is a site of pil- Republican Donald Trump Sunni fundamentalist Islamic resentatives of Syria’s government grimage for Shias from Iran, Lebanon and Democrat Hillary Clinton State claimed responsibility for the and its divided opposition began and other parts of the Muslim world. both were leading in the polls, attacks, according to Amaq, a news convening in Geneva for the first UN- Syrian Prime Minister Wael Al but not by enough to assure vic- agency that supports the group. It mediated peace talks in two years. Halaki was quoted as saying the tory for either candidate in today’s said two operations “hit the most State television showed footage of attacks were prompted by “terror caucuses. important stronghold of Shia mili- burning buildings and wrecked cars groups” who sought to “raise their Armies of volunteers fanned tias in Damascus”. in the neighbourhood. morale after a string of defeats” by out through the snow-swept Mid- The Syrian Observatory for Syrian state news agency the army. Syrian forces and residents gather at the site of the suicide bombings western state, knocking on doors Human Rights said the casual- SANA, quoting an Interior Ministry or manning phone banks to get out near a Shia shrine on the outskirts of Damascus yesterday. ties were expected to rise from the source, said a group of militants had → See also page 8 the vote, while candidates domi- nated the air waves. Clinton, fearful of a repeat of 2008 when she was beaten to the punch in Iowa by an upstart Discover America in Doha: US to parade best products and services Barack Obama, was leaving noth- ing to chance, stumping in the heartland this weekend as her main rival Senator Bernie Sand- The Peninsula American Chamber of Commerce, US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Robert Hager, Chairman of the added Hager. A special edition of ers did the same, seeking to deny celebrates US-Qatar partnership. Shell Smith hailed the week as a cel- American Chamber of Commerce AmCham Qatar’s Distinguished her yet another shot at history. The week is aimed at bringing a ebration of ties that bind the two (AmCham) Qatar, said: “We are Speaker Series on February 17 A Bloomberg/Des Moines Reg- little bit of America to Qatar. countries. delighted that the US Embassy and will hold a panel discussion on the ister poll published late Saturday DOHA: American products and serv- Activities will include a forum for “This week will showcase the very our commercial partners have come upcoming US presidential elections. — the final one of the campaign — ices will be showcased during the business leaders interested in doing best of American ingenuity, products, together with us to present the sec- A half-day forum — ‘Doing Business put Clinton just ahead of Sanders, second annual “Discover America business in the US, a special American services, and culture. The US and ond Discover America Week to Qatar. in the US’ — on February 18 will give 45 to 42 percent, with a four per- Week Qatar 2016” from February 15 Film Showcase, an American Sports Qatar have a strong partnership that Commercial ties between two coun- information to firms looking to invest cent margin of error. to February 22. Day and exhibits of leading American saw several milestones in 2015 and tries have never been stronger and in the US or expand there. The event being organised by the fashion designers, food, and educa- we are pleased to begin 2016 with a we are working alongside our Qatari → See also page 18 US Embassy in association with the tion opportunities. celebration of our ties,” said Smith. counterparts to expand those ties,” → Continued on page 2 02 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME Over 25,000 fans visit Qatar Motor Show 2016

to gain fast track access to the event. star appearances from Red Bull ath- Showcasing 18 percent more lete and professional Quad Racer Today is the last brands than in 2015 and with a new Mohamed Abu Issa. home at the DECC in the heart of Daily competitions take place for day to explore the Doha, the show is bigger, bolder and show branded goodies and gifts, with world of motion at more interactive. partners such as the Marriott Marquis Doha Exhibition & Featuring showroom and hands- Doha West Bay or priority access to on experiences from more than 40 the exhilarating Evotek Technology Conference Centre leading international brands, enthu- F1 Simulator on the showroom floor. siasts can see over 20 regional and The show has awarded more than local car model premieres. 50 prizes to visitors and online fans Exhibitors include Audi, BMW, with much more to come before it The Peninsula Bosch, Cadillac, Castrol, Chrysler, ends. Continental, Dodge, Ducati, Ferrari, To take part in competitions and Ford, GMC, Harley Davidson, Infinity, for latest news and information, Jaguar, Jeep, KTM, Land Rover, Lexus, follow the show via Instagram, Face- DOHA: More than 25,000 automotive Maserati, Maxus, Mercedes-Benz, book, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, or fans have flocked to Doha Exhibition Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Perform- visit the show website. & Conference Centre (DECC) for Qatar ance Technology, Piaggio, Porsche, Winner Mark Dale Nieveras, said: Motor Show, organised by Qatar Tour- RAM, Renault, Rolls Royce, Sand X, “I was in a state of surprise when I ism Authority. Titanium, Toyota, Triumph, VW and won the competition, The show has been wowing Ziebart. “It was just from posting pic- crowds since its opening on Thurs- The all-new interactive Fan- tures and responding to the day as one of the most anticipated zone has also attracted crowds with posts on the events on Qatar events of the year. daily stunt motorbike displays, Red Motor Show Instagram page. It is free and open until today. Bull driving simulators and test drive It was an added bonus to be able to try Visitors are advised to pre-regis- opportunities. the Evotek Technology F1 simulator, ter via www.qatarmotorshow.gov.qa Visitors have also seen guest it felt so real and great fun.” Visitors at the exhibition.

US economy experts to highlight real Nod of Competition Protection estate opportunities and investments Department must to revise terms Continued from page 1 in violation of technical requirements, Continued from page 1 the dealer is obliged to submit the proof Institute at the Museum of Islamic Art. In the schedule of events for Discover America Week. Any changes to be made in future to of violation. following days, Rossato-Bennett and Madigan On February 21, representatives from the the terms already approved will need The dealers will not be permit- Experts with insights into the US econ- will conduct lectures and classes for those inter- International Student Network will host a col- prior approval of Competition Protec- ted to add the cost of maintenance or omy will address real estate opportunities and ested in filmmaking in partnership with several lege fair in the lower level of Ezdan Mall, where tion Department. repair to the sale price of a vehicle to investments on February 19. local organizations. representatives from 18 American universities A car dealer must now also allow the exception of pre-approved promo- During the Week, the US embassy will inau- AmCham will host an American Sports and will be available to discuss their school pro- a vehicle owner to use materials such tional offers. gurate the American Film Showcase. Sundance Family Fun Day on February 19 and the Sixth grams. The fair is free and open to the public. as oil filters or spare parts of original The ministry said in a statement Film Festival Award-winning documentarian Annual Golf Tournament will take place on Feb- For more information about Discover specifications provided the spares are yesterday that the new measures will Michael Rossato-Bennett and Academy award- ruary 22 at the Doha Golf Club. Chevrolet will America Week Qatar 2016, those interested accredited by the manufacturer. provide incentives to car dealers to nominated film producer Alix Madigan will also be hosting a day of test driving and fam- may visit: qatar.embassy.gov/discoveramer- Dealers will avoid warranty cov- improve their performance, boost conduct screenings and master classes in Doha ily activities at the Qatar Racing Club, among ica.html and www.amchamqatar.org or follow erage only for spare parts that do not competitiveness and improve the from February 18 to 22. other activities. All week long, the US embassy on Twitter and Instagram @AmbDana and meet technical requirements and shall quality of services provided at their The programme will kick off with a screen- will be hosting a booth in Ezdan Mall outside of @USEmbassyQatar and on Facebook ; @ not revoke warranty coverage for other workshops. ing of Rossato-Bennetts film Alive Inside, Carrefour, where visitors can learn about stud- AmChamQatar and on Facebook. Tag us on parts. With its statement, the ministry presented in partnership with the Doha Film ying in the US, American tourism, and pick up a #USAWeek2016. In the event of damage to the parts also attached the list of the 22 local of a vehicle as a result of maintenance car distributors that are all big names. HOME MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 03

Qatar to attend knowledge economy forum in Kuwait

The Peninsula importance of adopting the concept of knowledge economy and methods leading to the transition to the con- cept of the knowledge economy to DOHA: Qatar will take part in a con- develop policies to diversify income ference ‘Contemporary Functions of sources, increase job opportunities States from a Knowledge Economy and reduce the burden on states’ Perspective’ to be held in Kuwait budgets. from today. International experts in the fields The Qatari delegation will be led of knowledge economy, innovation by Minister of Development Planning and economic development will and Statistics H E Dr Saleh Mohamed provide intellectual environment Al Nabit. that promotes the forum’s goals The two-day forum aims to to develop perceptions on ways to highlight the most distinctive con- diversify sources of income, improve temporary administrative and the business environment, develop economic functions from the per- education system, take advantage spective of knowledge economy to of the country’s development and develop the concept of development optimise the concept of knowledge. plan consistent with the perspective The forum is organised by the and help build a knowledge environ- General Secretariat of the Supreme Educational professionals from Qatar Foundation academies take part in a school leadership development programme devised by Harvard ment conducive to the transition to Council for Planning and Devel- Graduate School of Education. the knowledge economy. opment in Kuwait, in cooperation It includes six sessions to raise with the Arab Planning Institute, the awareness among people and edu- World Bank, and the United Nations cational institutions about the Development Programme. QF to boost teaching and learning

The Peninsula development and develop skills “I would like to extend my sin- The Education in the practice of instructional cere appreciation and gratitude to leadership. Katherine Merseth, Faculty Chair, Development Launched with a three-day inter- ETLQ, Senior Lecturer in Education, DOHA: The Education Development Institute, a member active session last month, attended and Faculty Director, Teacher Edu- Institute (EDI), a member of Qatar by representatives from QF’s Pre- cation, HGSE, and her team for the Foundation (QF), has partnered with of Qatar Foundation, University Education Office and comprehensive three-day course. Harvard Graduate School of Edu- has partnered with educators from QF academies, the “We look forward to a productive cation (HGSE) in Massachusetts to project continue online until May. and professionally rewarding collab- launch a custom-made leadership Harvard Graduate “The programme will enrich our oration,” Sheikha Noof added. programme. School of Education leaders’ insights and skills across “The participants’ excitement The project is entitled ‘Imple- to launch a custom- several areas, including instruc- is palpable. We have been warmly menting Strategies and Structures tional leadership and understanding welcomed and look forward to to Enhance Teaching and Learning in made leadership of the value of sharing experiences, continued learning together,” said Qatar Foundation Academies (ETLQ)’. programme working collaboratively, reflecting on Merseth. Falling under QF’s wider, year- practices to implement strategies and The ETLQ faculty team also round commitment to develop structures that will enhance learn- includes Deborah Jewell-Sherman, Qatar’s teaching professionals, the ing in schools,” said Sheikha Noof Professor of Practice, and Tom Cas- programme aims to promote contin- The initiative created by HGSE Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Director, sidy and Habeeb Qaudri, regular Some of the beneficiaries with relief packages. uous life-long learning and supports was designed to explore multi- Institutional Development, Pre-Uni- contributors to professional educa- Qatar National Vision 2030. ple frameworks for organisational versity Education Office. tion programmes at HGSE. QRCS completes winter relief project in coldest parts of Yemen Qatar Career Fair ends first session of workshop series

The Peninsula Beneficiaries were selected The Peninsula based on criteria, including the poorest, the affected by war, the inhabitants of coldest areas of DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society Yemen, and the vulnerable like DOHA: Qatar Career Fair (QCF), of Qatar Founda- (QRCS) office in Yemen has com- women, orphans and people with tion (QF) has wrapped up the first session of ‘Career pleted its winter relief project in the special needs. Development Workshop Series’ as part of efforts to coldest parts of the country, with Abdelfattah S Mawadah, 38, a help young Qataris acquire skills and knowledge a $160,000 (QR582,000) budget, beneficiary with seven kids, said, to plan a successful career. under the Warm Winter Programme “The project helped protect my chil- The two-day workshop ‘Discover Your Dream for 2015-2016. dren against winter diseases and Career’ provided participants with hands-on expe- As temperature went below enabled them to go to school.” rience to help them understand and navigate the zero in many mountainous parts Another beneficiary, Ahmed K career development process, which includes the of Yemen, QRCS personnel worked Nagi, 80, said, “It is my first time selection of a career path compatible with their over three months to distribute 5,100 to benefit from a project by a civil skills, interests, values and personality. blankets and 2,550 bags of children’s society organisation. My family and I Participants took career assessment tests clothes to 2,550 families (17,850 are happy for having blankets, jack- and attend career exploration and construction people). ets, boots and gloves. Thanks a lot, activities, enabling them to have a plan that will Each family received two blan- QRCS.” assist them in implementing and enriching cho- kets and one bag containing jackets, The Warm Winter campaign is sen careers. boots, gloves and socks for three providing QR11m worth of aid for Abdullah Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director, QCF, children. more than 200,000 beneficiar- said, “Since its inception, QCF has worked towards In partnership with local chari- ies in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, providing education, training and development Participants attending the workshop. ties, wide areas were covered in the Lebanon (Syrian and Palestinian ref- opportunities for students in Qatar to enhance their governorates of Sana’a, Amanat Al ugees), Jordan (Syrian refugees), and abilities, bolster talents and empower them to over- Asemah, Amran, Dhamar and Saada. Kurdistan (Syrian refugees). come national development challenges. and align their most valuable qualities to achieve attend the event because I’m on the verge of finish- “The workshop series was inspired by this their professional aspirations and dreams. ing high school and I wanted to know which field framework to empower Qatari youth by facili- Participants were also familiarised with the of study might suit me best. tating their entry into various sectors of the local career planning model, which starts with a personal “Initially, I thought I would like to study petro- labour market. The series contributes to QF’s mis- assessment of skills and interests to help deter- leum engineering but my participation in the Nairobi National Dance sion of unlocking human potential and supports mine whether their current employment goals are workshop has encouraged me to think about career the development of a knowledge-based economy appropriate, while encouraging them to map out options. I’ve also learned about the importance of Ensemble to perform at Katara in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.” career options. being confident when choosing the field I intend The workshop featured quizzes and pres- Ali Ahmed Al Matwi, a student from Ahmad to specialise in and of consulting experts before entations to help participants choose the right Ibn Hanbal Independent Secondary School, said, making important decisions because my choice The Peninsula majority of these tribal cultures professional field, including an introduction to the “I found out about the workshop series through will not only impact my university years but my into its performance. Included are concept of career planning and help them identify social networking sites. I decided to register and career path,” he added. Kikuyu, Kamba, Embu, Meru, Luhya, Luo, Kisii, Maasai, Kalenjin, Giriama DOHA: The Nairobi National Dance and Digo tribes which represent Ensemble will perform tonight and regions from all corners of Kenya. tomorrow at Katara as part of Cul- Each tribal representation brings tural Diversity festivities organised an assortment of instruments such Ooredoo organising partner for GSMA forum by the Unesco office in Doha and as handmade tin drums, Ohangala, Cultural Village Foundation. Isukuti and Ngotha drums, Kiting- Hailing from the group’s name- isho shakers, Chivoti flutes, Orutu The Peninsula access to mobile services, identifying abuse of serv- GSMA and its vision to ensure an open and trusted sake locale of Nairobi, Kenya, the traditional violins and the Nyatiti, ice terms and conditions, and identification of fraud environment within which fraud and security intel- ensemble comprises over 25 male an eight-string instrument. committed while roaming, among others. ligence can be shared in a timely and responsible and female dancers and musicians. Ornate costumes consisting of Ooredoo has sponsored the event as part of its way and urge our customers to report any fraud- They present authentic depic- animal hides are part of the per- DOHA: Ooredoo will be one of the organising part- ongoing investment in fraud and scam blocking ulent activity they come across to us.” tions of Kenyan culture with use of formance, with each tribe bringing ners for GSMA Fraud and Security Group event to across Qatar, and is working with local technology Ooredoo has launched technical and security song, dance, percussion and addi- an assortment of Kenyan regalia. be held from tomorrow until Thursday at Marriott companies and overseas operators to ensure their measures to fight fraudulent SMS and call scams tional elements central to Nairobi Lion, leopard, buffalo and Marquis City Centre Hotel in Doha. customers avoid being victimised by these scams. that have targeted its customers by changing the — The City in the Sun. ostrich feathers are among the ani- The event will gather over 100 international Ooredoo executives have stressed that the way in which they deliver their SMS; implement- The ensemble aims to spread mal products used in the ensemble’s attendees from telecommunication industries from company does not sell or provide external organ- ing a new set-up, which will reduce the number of culture with its global performances, presentation. around the world, to discuss industry management isations with customer records such as telephone fraud incidents. Its new advanced filtering system will and educate, preserve and recollect Katara presents yet another of fraud and security matters related to mobile tech- numbers and that customer service representative have increased control and security for messaging, the richness of Kenya’s national her- international destination for the nology, networks and services. It aims to increase will never ask for key information such as bank resulting in a significant reduction in the number of itage through music and dance. ensemble’s far-reaching interna- awareness about fraud areas and provide a forum details on calls. unsolicited SMS messages received and spam. More Kenya’s cultural diversity is tional tour. to discuss solutions for the protection of mobile Waleed Al Sayed, CEO, Ooredoo, said: “Our tailored SMS security measures will be taken to fur- incredibly rich, based on the pres- In addition to touring Africa and operator technology, and costumer identity, secu- support for the forum is part of our ongoing com- ther reduce unwanted SMS. The revolutionary change ence of more than 40 distinct tribal locations across Kenya, the ensem- rity and privacy. mitment to raise awareness and protect our is the culmination of engineering work and repre- ethnicities across the country. ble has also performed at festivals in Key topics include how to protect customers institutions, and digital economy from the threat sents only one of the activities the company is using The ensemble has weaved the Spain, France and Portugal. against fraud, detecting and preventing fraudulent of cyber attacks and phone call scams. We support to address fraud calls and spam messages. 04 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME HBKU to discuss peace education in Africa

academics, United Nations dele- HBKU’s Faculty of Islamic Studies, Ministry recalls Two-day forum gates and prominent practitioners will open the event. to delve into crucial issues in edu- Panellists will be from the UN, Mercedes-Benz on ‘Peace cation and peace-building that can World Bank, New York University, Education: Qatar affect Africa’s socio-economic and University of Oxford, Education S Class models political transformation. Above All, African Union Com- Engagement in In line with HBKU’s approach mission, Plan International, and of 2014 Mapping of Policies, to higher education, which Women in Cities International promotes pushing the limit of inno- Dr Tok said: “The international Programmes and vation and research to respond to workshop will help identify cur- Doha: The Ministry of Resources in Africa’ the needs of communities, the rent and necessary capacities and Economy and Com- to be held from forum highlights the role univer- impacts of multi-level education merce, in collaboration sities should play in fostering peace actors to develop social cohesion with Nasser Bin Kha- February 8 education in post-conflict and con- through conflict-sensitive educa- led Automobiles, dealer flict-prone countries. Panellists will tion protocols and mechanisms of Mercedes-Benz vehi- discuss the most effective ways to improve our understanding of cles, has announced the universities in war-affected coun- capacities needed for peace build- recall of Mercedes-Benz The Peninsula tries can be functionally relevant ing leadership development and S Class 2014 models over to the daily needs and challenges resource management at various a potential malfunction in of their immediate environment by levels.” At a time of economic and the AC blower. promoting peace-building through political turmoil in regions across The ministry said the DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- peace education. the world, the workshop, through recall is within the frame- versity (HBKU), a member of Qatar Participants will discuss les- the diversity of its themes and par- work of its efforts to Foundation (QF) for Education, sons from Qatar and analyse ticipants, is a demonstration of protect consumers and Science and Community Devel- strategies, case studies and new HBKU’s commitment to education ensure dealers follow up opment, is holding a two-day ideas utilised to building peaceful and community development, inte- on vehicle defects and international workshop on the role and resilient communities. gral to QF’s mission in and beyond repairs. of peace education in Africa. Dr Abdullahi Hussein from Qatar. The workshop will be held The ministry said it To be held on February 8 and 9, Qatar National Research Fund, at Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies will coordinate with the the forum ‘Peace Education: Qatar Hany Besada from the UN and building in Education City. dealer to follow up on Engagement in Mapping of Poli- University of Ottawa, and Dr Registration is open and those maintenance and repairs Global experts will review issues that can affect Africa’s socio-economic and cies, Programmes and Resources Mohammed Evren Tok, Assistant interested can learn more at: www. and communicate with in Africa’ will bring together Professor of Public Policy in Islam, hbku.edu.qa/Peace Education. political transformation. customers to ensure nec- essary repairs are carried out. It urged customers to report any violations to its Qatar attends Gulf Disability Qatari envoy stresses US coordination to Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through hot- Society meeting in UAE promote Middle East peace and stability line: 16001; email: info@ mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @ MEC_Qatar; Instagram: QNA Chairman, Executive Board, and Board MEC_Qatar; and the member of Gulf Disability Society Alyazi QNA Al Kuwari praised Qatari part- Arab Future Cities Summit 2016 ministry’s mobile app Al Kuwari and Vice-President and Board nership with the US capital, to explore the prospects for sus- for Android and IOS: Member Mohammed Al Benali. describing Qatari investments tainable urban development in MEC_Qatar DOHA: Qatar participated in the 50th Participants discussed and approved WASHINGTON: Qatari Ambas- in Washington as the culmina- the region, Al Kuwari said, call- meeting of the Board of Gulf Disability the agenda of the meeting read out and sador to the US Mohamed Jaham tion of a long-term relationship. ing on US mayors to expand Society held under the auspices of the ratified the minutes of their previous Al Kuwari yesterday stressed the He said over the past years, cooperation. Al Shamal civic Association of Families of Persons with meeting, followed up implementation of importance of US-Qatari rela- US companies have increased He also highlighted the Disability in the UAE. the decisions of the meeting of the Board. tions at all levels, especially investments in Qatar, including expansion of Qatar Airways body planted The meeting was attended by the soci- They also discussed Gulf protection defence and security cooperation. economic sectors comprising network in US to include eight 84,650 flowers ety’s Honorary President Sheikh Duaij bin system in accordance with the vision of He also reiterated the impor- infrastructure, transportation, destinations, noting that cities Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairwoman of the the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to tance of coordinating efforts sport facilities, healthcare, are not only linked by transpor- society, Mona Al Mansoori, along with be submitted to the GCC Secretariat and between both countries to pro- technology, tourism and energy tation and communications, but DOHA: The Public Parks board members from all GCC States. preparations for a scientific forum to be mote peace and stability in the development. also through shared values and Department at Al Shamal The Qatari delegation comprised held in Saudi Arabia. Middle East, which is witnessing He referred to the recent sign- principles. municipality planted 84, a period of great transformation. ing of a trade and investment He stressed that Qataris are 650 seasonal flowers, 112 During a reception hosted agreement between both coun- united with the world through palm trees and 915 sidra by the Qatari embassy in the tries as a bridge between them the spirit of global citizenship trees in different parts of QCS to hold cancer walkathon on Saturday City Center DC, Qatari Diar’s and said donations by the Qatar and partnership. the municipality last year. investment, Al Kuwari said the Katrina Fund have contributed Baltimore Mayor and con- The municipality US-Qatar partnership includes over $100m in reconstruction ference President Stephanie received 135 applica- strategic, economic and cul- projects in New Orleans and Rawlings-Blake thanked Al tions for trimming trees The Peninsula which begins at 10am. The walkathon tural sectors and stressed Qatar’s neighbouring cities. Kuwari for his initiative and and fixing sign boards in is part of a unified awareness campaign keenness to explore basic sectors Al Kuwari said thousands of Qatar for US investments, urg- parks, said a statement. about cancer, being launched by QCS to in the US economy to expand Qataris are studying in universi- ing Qatar to explore Baltimore. The municipality mark GCC Cancer Awareness Week from investments. ties in over 20 US cities and that Bowser praised Qatari Diar’s marked Tree Week under DOHA: The Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) today until February 7, Qatar News Agency Addressing mayors of US the Education City in Qatar hosts investment City Center DC which the theme ‘Trees for gen- will hold a 5km walkathon on Doha Cor- reports. The campaign will focus on early cities, led by Mayor of District of six US universities, along with has revived the heart of Washing- erations’ in March last nice on February 6 to raise awareness intervention to prevent cancer, risk factors, Columbia, Muriel Bowser, on the global research centres, institutes ton, DC as an economic power, year. about cancer, obesity and smoking. healthy nutrition, importance of sports and sidelines of the 85th US Confer- and international conferences. created jobs and reflected the Over 400 people from different age healthy environment, general hygiene and ence of Mayors in the US capital, Qatar hosts the fifth Annual city’s prosperity. groups are expected to attend the event occupational health. Open house: Indian mission receives 369 complaints since start of 2016

The Peninsula

DOHA: The Indian embassy has received 369 complaints from Indian expatriates in Qatar, mostly job-related, since the beginning of this year. Last year, the mission received 4,132 complaints from Indians. The data were released at the monthly open house held at the embassy premises yesterday Deaths of 19 Indians were reg- istered at the embassy last month. The total number of deaths regis- tered last year was 297, similar to the number of deaths registered in the previous year, said a statement. Indian Ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora, Deputy Chief of Mis- sion R K Singh and other officials met Indians who lodged com- plaints at the open forum. They discussed their prob- lems and assured them that the embassy would actively follow Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora (centre) attending the monthly open house at the embassy. up their cases with the authori- ties concerned in Qatar. Arvind Patil, President of Follow Up Department this week received from Qatari authorities ICBF continues to help Indian Indian Community Benevolent to enquire about the welfare of for travel documents for Indian workers through various welfare Forum (ICBF), an community asso- Indian prisoners and detainees. nationals in the deportation centre, measures, including provision of ciation working under the embassy Currently there are 90 Indians in the embassy has issued 22 emer- air tickets, financial assistance and for the welfare of Indian workers, the central prison and 172 Indi- gency certificates (ECs) last month. medical help. The assistance given also attended the open house. ans at the Search and Follow Up The mission also provided 18 air by the ICBF to Indians during last An embassy team visited the Department, awaiting deportation. tickets to Indians in distress for month included four air tickets for Central Prison and Search and On the basis of requests their return to India, last month. needy workers. HOME MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 05

Arbitration ‘best way to settle disputes DFI to host two workshops between companies’ Script development and screenwriting workshops are in The Peninsula recently to students of Law College partnership with the at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Torino Film Lab presence of Professor Clinton Fran- cis, dean of the collage. DOHA: Arbitration is the best way He pointed out that, the QICCA to settle disputes between compa- has a list of accredited arbitrators The Peninsula nies since it is technically efficient, and experts for the use of different fast and simple, says Sheikh Thani types of arbitration and the centre bin Ali bin Saud Al Thani, Deputy has received many applications Chairman of Qatar Lawyers’ Asso- from individuals keen to join the DOHA: Doha Film Institute (DFI), in ciation. centre as judges and experts and partnership with the Torino Film Lab, Commercial arbitration, which the applications will be reviewed by is hosting two script development and he defined as an ‘exceptional way to the concerned committee at the QC. screenwriting workshops for local and settle disputes without going to the During his presentation, Sheikh regional talent. normal judicial system’ is an old tra- Thani explained that the most dis- The partnership between both dition in the Arab world and it goes putes being heard are related to organisations aims to train and back centuries, he said. contracting and construction con- develop capacity and will focus on Sheikh Thani explained that tracts. “This is quite natural as this enhancing script-writing skills and “when we talk about arbitration in sector is managing the biggest exploring the universal appeal of local The Short Screenwriting Lab in progress. terms of location we can identify projects in the country and there are and regional films. three types: Internal, International considerable numbers of local and The programme includes a Short and Foreign and all of them can be global companies engaged in the Screenwriting Lab and the Hezayah focus on the quality of work coming three-week workshop, which started programme will focus on developing performed institutionally or in free sector. The important step for set- Screenwriting Lab to strengthen indi- out from the region. Through our part- on January 29 and runs until Febru- the scripts of the 12 projects. arbitrations”. tling a dispute through arbitration is vidual filmmaker’s personal voice and ners at the Torino Film Lab, we look ary 19, is designed to assist new and The workshop is being con- For this purpose, the Qatar to have parties agreed on arbitration provide an opportunity to advance forward to developing programmes emerging Qatari screenwriters and ducted by Matthieu Darras, Head of Chamber of Commerce and Indus- and set the conditions, establish the professional and creative skills while that help transfer specialist skills and writer-directors to develop and write a Programmes, Torino Film Lab, and try established the International case, and then the committee take developing a network of industry knowledge to emerging talents from screenplay from an original idea with supported by script consultants — Centre for Conciliation and Arbi- the decision and implementation is relationships. Qatar and the region and nurture their the support of international mentors. Egyptian filmmaker and academic tration (QICCA) in 2006, he pointed the last step, he said. Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO, DFI, said, craft.” The workshop is focusing on 12 Ayman El Amir, and Italian story edi- out. Arbitration is the most effec- “Our core mandate is to provide a plat- Savina Neirotti, Director, Torino selected short film projects from local tor and screenwriter Simona Nobile. In order to create suitable tive way to settle disputes between form for filmmakers in Qatar to grow Film Lab, added, “The lab focuses filmmakers. The first week consists The Hezayah Screenwriting Lab, environment for investment Qatar companies because it does not take artistically and professionally. on filmmakers, and all profession- of an introduction to the short-film from this April until February 2017, is has developed legislations which more than six months at the most “We do this by showcasing their als that help them develop clarity of format, analysis of key works, the designed to assist Qatari and regional include arbitrations such as the law unless the parties agree on a period talent to international industry vision, endurance and strength. Sto- short-film environment, including screenwriters and writer-directors to regulating foreign capital invest- which is more than that. partners at our film events and by rytelling is at the centre, always. We major festivals, and how to move from develop and write a first draft feature- ment in Qatar and the Tenders and The parties need to submit their providing relevant and topical profes- are pleased to collaborate with DFI development into production. length screenplay from an original Bids regulatory law, which mentions documents within thirty days in sional training to bring out their best that shares many of our goals and are The lab also comprises seminars idea with the support of two interna- arbitration as a means of settling order to be informed before 15 days work. Arab cinema has been gaining looking forward to this year of intense and presentations by international tional mentors. It consists of four-day disputes between companies. about the time and date of the first widespread acclaim and international work together.” experts in the short film industry. workshops over 10 months and is open Sheikh Thani was speaking session, he added. popularity and there is an increased The Short Screenwriting Lab, a The second and third week of the to the 12 projects.

Rahat Fatah Ali Khan wows fans Ministry to conduct ‘Executive Opinion Survey’

The Peninsula qualitative analysis about economic areas where competitiveness could policy, regulations and aspects of be improved and provide informa- the business environment which tion for prospective investors and influence the nation’s competitive- the general public.” DOHA: The Ministry of Develop- ness ranking. Qatar ranked 13th out of 61 ment Planning and Statistics, in The 2016 IMD World Com- countries in the 2015 Competitive- collaboration with the Institute for petitiveness Report, scheduled ness Yearbook. Management Development (IMD) in for release in June, will measure The high ranking stems from Switzerland will be carrying out an strengths and weakness in Qatar’s the strong macroeconomic per- ‘Executive Opinion Survey’ during economic environment and com- formance of the Qatari economy, February and March. pare them with other nations. coupled with ongoing reforms and Survey data will complement Minister H E Dr Saleh Al Nabit modernisation of institutions of the hard statistical data and provide said: “The report will help identify government.

Rahat Fatah Ali Khan performs in Asian Town on Friday night. Pic: Abdul / The Peninsula

INJAZ Al Arab and ExxonMobil unveil grant for new learning platform

The Peninsula “During those 10 years, INJAZ Al and universities. Arab has reached more than two mil- “The new digital platform is lion students across the region. We another example of our continued are grateful for their ongoing sup- commitment and dedication to the DOHA: INJAZ Al Arab, the regional port and excited about the prospect of development and success of INJAZ office of Junior Achievement being able to reach more than 10,000 Al Arab and its initiatives that con- Worldwide, and ExxonMobil have Company Programme participants tribute to building the capacity of announced a two-year grant which annually via our online platform. Arab youth,” said Alistair Routledge, supports a new learning platform “The Company Programme President and General Manager, Exx- to combine digital and classroom represents INJAZ Al Arab’s most onMobil Qatar, and board member learning for INJAZ Al Arab’s flagship impactful initiative and is sought of INJAZ Qatar. ExxonMobil’s part- Company Programme. after by our network of students and nership with INJAZ Al Arab provides The experiential learning pro- stakeholders.” opportunity for young and aspiring gramme takes youth through the INJAZ Al Arab is moving entrepreneurs to showcase their start-up cycle of creating their own towards a digital and hybrid learn- business acumen and creativity, with business during an academic year. ing approach to efficiently maximise an audience of some of Mena’s most Upon completion of translation, benefits of its volunteer model, which successful business leaders.” localisation and digitisation of the brings private sector volunteers into Since 1919, the Company Pro- programme, the new platform will classrooms to provide instruction and gramme has taken students through be piloted in Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Ara- real world expertise in financial liter- a step-by-step process that works. bia and the UAE with an estimated acy, entrepreneurship and workforce Students partner with a mentor, 60, 600, 100 and 40, respectively, readiness. learn leadership skills, identify busi- high school and university students, The ExxonMobil Foundation and ness opportunities, set goals, develop before being released to INJAZ Al ExxonMobil Mena affiliates provide a business plan, create a marketing Arab’s network across the Middle financial and volunteer support to strategy, launch a product, report to East and North Africa (Mena) region INJAZ Al Arab, the Mena chapter of shareholders and write an annual and Pakistan. Junior Achievement, which reaches report. “ExxonMobil is a founding board nearly 400,000 youth annually. A longitudinal assessment by Jun- member of INJAZ Al Arab, and the ExxonMobil senior executives ior Achievement Canada found that collaboration marks 10 years of sup- serve on the boards of directors of 30 percent of those who complete the port, which has been crucial to the INJAZ Al Arab, Qatar, the UAE and Company Programme start entrepre- development and expansion of our Egypt. In addition, more than 220 neurial ventures of their own in the operations across Mena,” said Sheikh employee volunteers have shared course of their careers, as opposed Khaled Al Nahyan, Chairman, INJAZ their professional experiences and to less than five percent of the gen- Al Arab. skills with students at local schools eral population. 06 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME

Qatar Shell backs THIMUN Qatar Model United Nations for 12th year

The Peninsula social pillars of Qatar National Vision THIMUN Qatar. “It allows students 2030 we support through its focus on to discuss challenging international education, teamwork and leadership. issues, but perhaps more importantly, “The key objectives of THIMUN by allowing students to organise the DOHA: The Hague International are aligned with Qatar Shell’s CSR event, it is an important opportunity Model United Nations (THIMUN) Qatar strategy, as we are committed to sup- for students to practice real-world began last week at the Qatar National porting and delivering sustainable leadership skills on an international Convention Centre (QNCC) with more contributions that positively impact scale. I am proud of their contribu- than 1,700 students from 87 nation- Qatar’s society. A vital part of our CSR tions to civil and informed discourse alities. strategy includes collaboration with and ability to host such a tremendous The three-day conference aimed key local partners to reinforce Qatari event.” to promote the development of leader- talent and capabilities,” he added. Schools from all GCC countries FROM LEFT: Dr Rayaz A Malik, Professor of Medicine, WCM-Q; Dr Hadi Abderrahim, Managing Director, Qatar ship skills among high school students Qatar Shell’s CSR programmes were represented, in addition to new through discussion, debates and support Qatar’s development in line participants from Indonesia, South Biobank; and Dirk Fransaer, Managing Director, VITO, at the MoU signing ceremony. negotiations that address real world with Qatar National Vision 2030. Africa, Sri Lanka, Spain and Taiwan. problems and global issues. In addition to the development and Students participated in committees, Qatar Shell has been the sole training of around 300 Qatari staff, including Disarmament, Human Rights sponsor of THIMUN in Qatar for 12 Qatar Shell contributes to national and Environment, and the General consecutive years. talent development more broadly Assembly. THIMUN Qatar also hosts Deal to boost eye research Mohammed AbuJbara, Corporate — through the Enterprise Challenge a special committee and advisory Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager, Qatar; TAFAWOQ the Project Man- panel that focuses on issues in the Qatar Shell,, delivered the keynote agement Centre of Excellence; and host region, providing opportunity for knowledge to further research in embark on the second phase of Qatar speech at the opening ceremony and KOORA TIME, a five-year sustaina- youth to collaborate on current global the field of retinal image analysis and Biobank, the pursuit of research col- said: “Qatar Shell is proud to have sup- ble initiative in partnership with Qatar issues. The aim is to give students from Qatar Biobank, help develop non-invasive and con- laborations is a key element to our ported this programme for 12 years Football Association to improve the diverse countries and backgrounds WCMC-Q and VITO venient health monitoring and early success in shaping the future of since it started as Qatar MUN Pro- health and wellbeing of youth through opportunity to practise tolerance, sign MoU to further disease identification. personalised healthcare. “We look gramme and then became The Hague football. peaceful collaboration and problem The three organisations will work forward to the exchange of scientific International Model United Nations “THIMUN Qatar is unique, with resolution to address challenges fac- research in retinal to exchange scientific information information and future collabora- Programme five years ago. high school students running it for ing the world through debate, dialogue image analysis and through training, education courses, tions with WCMC-Q and VITO.” “THIMUN touches the human and their peers” said Lisa Martin, Head, and collaboration. and joint research projects to dem- Using samples collected by Qatar develop convenient onstrate the value of retinal images Biobank, WCMC-Q and VITO will health monitoring in patients at risk of stroke, diabe- undertake ‘translational’ research tes and other neurological illnesses to develop innovative imaging and and early disease like dementia and multiple sclerosis. genetic biomarkers in medical dis- identification All research using specimens eases. Dr Rayaz A Malik, Professor housed within Qatar Biobank will of Medicine, WCMC-Q, said, “The be conducted in Qatar. partnership offers great opportuni- According to an abstract sub- ties for new research that could lead mitted at QF’s Annual Research to significantly improved healthcare The Peninsula Conference 2014 in collaboration outcomes for our patients. We are with VITO, “the eye is the clearest delighted to sign this memorandum and most accessible organ to observe of understanding to provide a frame- anatomical and physiological char- work for increased collaboration and DOHA: Qatar Biobank of Qatar acteristics of microvessels — the sharing of expertise, which we are Foundation (QF) has entered an smallest blood vessels of the circu- confident will be extremely success- agreement with Weill Cornell Med- latory system. ful and productive.” ical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) and Subtle changes in the retinal VITO is a leading European inde- Vlaamse Instellingvoor Technolo- blood vessels can mirror early car- pendent research and technology gisch Onderzoek in Belgium (VITO) dio- and cerebrovascular events long organisation in the areas of clean to strengthen scientific collaboration. before their clinical manifestation.” tech and sustainable development, Participants at THIMUN Qatar. The memorandum of under- Dr Hadi Abderrahim, Managing elaborating solutions for societal standing (MoU) includes sharing Director, Qatar Biobank, said, “As we challenges. Northern Cyprus FM visits Katara

QNA She also briefed on events organised by and the Chairman of the Chamber of Indus- Qatari Society of Al Gannas (Sniper Asso- try of Northern Cyprus. ciation), its activities, including Qatari Tcholak said her country has entered falconry and fishing heritage, tournaments talks with southern Cyprus and they are DOHA: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the and competitions. She praised world- in the process of achieving agreements Republic of Northern Cyprus, Amina Tch- renowned cultural mega-projects to bring for unification which will facilitate their olak, yesterday visited Cultural Village together cultures and peoples. integration into the European Union, and Foundation-Katara and was briefed on Dr Al Sulaiti stressed the importance generate more business opportunity and facilities and projects. of such visits to Katara which represents economic prosperity for their country. She praised the Village and its mission the first tourist and cultural destination in Sheikh Faisal highlighted historical to bring people together and build bridges Qatar and the Gulf and reflects the devel- relations between the two countries, prais- of communication between them. opment and renaissance taking place in ing the geographical location of Cyprus Tcholak was accompanied by Katara Qatar at all levels and fields, including and the security and stability which will General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al culture. encourage investment. Sulaiti, who gave a detailed explanation of Separately, Qatari Businessmen Asso- The chairman of Chamber of Industry events and activities. She also visited Open ciation Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim of Northern Cyprus presented investment Air Theatre, an architectural masterpiece Al Thani met Tcholak in the presence of the opportunities five sectors, including sup- of Katara, and toured sections buildings. chairman of the Chamber of Commerce ply of water pipeline from Turkey. Northern Cyprus Foreign Minister Amina Tcholak with officials at Katara. Ooredoo sponsors ‘How Women Work’ forum for third year

The Peninsula champion women across Qatar as part of its past two years and we are happy to be working commitment to enrich people’s lives and support together for a third term. Ooredoo’s commitment the human development pillar of Qatar National to develop its employees and attract and retain Vision 2030. female talent makes it an ideal partner for us. DOHA: Ooredoo will continue collaboration with Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Director, Com- Our shared goals and values make the partner- How Women Work (HWW) as a strategic partner munity and Public Relations, Ooredoo, said: ship meaningful and enable both organisations of the Annual How Women Work Conference for “Empowering women in Qatar is one of our to contribute to the growth and development of the third year running. main areas of CSR focus and by creating an open the women’s community.” The conference empowers women in Qatar dialogue at events such as these, we can help The event will mark the last conference personally and professionally and the seventh educate and empower women about opportuni- under the leadership Zeitler, who will hand the edition of conference will be held from March 8 ties available to them. The strategic partnership brand over to its new owner. to 9 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Doha to coincide with How Women Work, alongside our initia- The conference is an interactive, inspiring with International Women’s Day, which is cele- tives, is a key element in reaching Qatar National and empowering event, where attendees have brated worldwide on March 8. Vision 2030.” the opportunity to attend workshops and pres- Ooredoo has been the strategic partner Carolin Zeitler, Founder, HWW, said: “Oore- entations that encourage interaction, inspire of How Women Work since 2014 and aims to doo has been a great strategic partner for the exploration and empower continuous growth on personal and professional levels, as attend- ees define and create their own success. The conference is centred on the theme ‘Con- necting the Dots’. The HWW community includes leaders, employees, executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, graduates, students, and women looking to re-enter the workforce. The HWW Community was founded by Zeitler in 2009 due to her passion and dedication to empower women to grow and succeed, reach hearts and minds, break down barriers and promote under- standing across cultures and genders. Carolin was able to bring together women with aspira- tions and ambitions to share knowledge, ideas and ambitions, enabling them to find sustain- able ways to succeed. To secure attendance at the conference, visit Eventbrite to register and purchase tickets online https://www.eventbrite. com/e/how-women-work-2016-connecting-the- dots-tickets-19910369451?aff=ebrowse, as places Participants at a previous conference. are expected to fill quickly. MIDDLE EAST MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 07 Israel rejects French ultimatum on Palestinian statehood

peace conference was the latest sign of West- dictated terms.” On Saturday, Palestinian Pres- reflecting their own frustration with the pol- of Jerusalem,” the Israeli military said in a ern frustration over the absence of movement ident Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the French icies of Netanyahu’s right-wing government. statement. In public remarks to his toward a two-state solution since the collapse proposal, telling an African summit in Ethi- The criticism, particularly about the set- “Forces at the scene responded to the cabinet, Netanyahu did of US-brokered negotiations in 2014. opia that “the status quo cannot continue”. tlements, where some 550,000 Jews live in attack and shot the assailant, resulting in his not explicitly reject the Fabius said that if the French plan did not But Washington responded with caution around 250 communities scattered across the death. Three Israelis were wounded and are break the deadlock, Paris would recognise a to the French move, saying it continued to West Bank and East Jerusalem, has raised Pal- being evacuated for emergency medical treat- notion of an international Palestinian state. Such a step would raise con- prefer that Israel and the Palestinians reach estinian hopes that world powers might finally ment in hospital.” conference, but he made cern in Israel that other European countries, an agreement on final-status issues through be minded to support a UN resolution con- The military later confirmed the victims also long opposed to its settlement-building in direct talks. demning Israel’s policy outright. were soldiers. clear that reported details occupied territory, would follow suit. While aware the initiative may struggle to Since October, Palestinian attacks, partly A journalist saw the body of the Pales- of the plan made it a In public remarks to his cabinet, Netan- get off the ground, French officials said Paris fuelled by tensions over the freeze in peace tinian man killed near the checkpoint. A yahu did not explicitly reject the notion of an had a responsibility to act now in the face of talks, have killed 26 Israelis and a US citizen. bullet-riddled silver car apparently used in non-starter international conference — an aide said Israel ongoing Israeli settlement activity and the Meanwhile, a Palestinian opened fire at a the attack was next to the body. would examine such a request once it was prospect of continued diplomatic inaction West Bank checkpoint yesterday, wounding The car had plates seeming to indicate it received — but he made clear that reported as the United States focuses on a presidential three Israeli soldiers before being shot dead, belonged to the Palestinian government. Reuters details of the plan made it a non-starter. election in November. as four months of violence cast doubt on fresh A Palestinian intelligence source said Netanyahu said a “threat” to recognise And, the officials said, Netanyahu had peace talks efforts. Israeli authorities had informed them that a Palestinian state if France’s peace efforts gone a step too far in accusing UN Secretary An attempted car-ramming also occurred the man, Amjad Sukari Abu Omar, around did not succeed constituted “an incentive of State Ban Ki-moon of giving a “tailwind to later at a military checkpoint in the West Bank 30 years old, worked as a bodyguard for the JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin to the Palestinians to come along and not terrorism” by laying some of the blame for north of Jerusalem, with the attacker shot and Palestinian attorney general’s office. Netanyahu called yesterday for a more “sober” compromise”. four months of stabbings and car rammings taken to hospital for treatment, Israel’s mili- Palestinian ambulances sought to move approach towards the Israeli-Palestinian con- “I assess that there will be a sobering up by Palestinians at Israel’s door. Ban angered tary said. No Israelis were reported wounded. towards the body, but were prevented from flict in dismissing a French peace initiative as regarding this matter,” Netanyahu added. “In Israel by saying last week that it is “human The Israeli army said the shooting attack doing so by Israeli soldiers. The body was later only encouraging Palestinians to shun com- any event, we will make effort so that there nature to react to occupation”. took place near the Beit El settlement close handed over to Palestinian authorities. A post promise. is a sobering up here, and our position is very The United States, European Union - Isra- to Ramallah. Israeli medics said two of the on what was believed to be the man’s Face- The proposal on Friday by French Prime clear: We are prepared to enter direct nego- el’s closest allies - have also issued unusually three wounded soldiers had serious injuries. book page before the attack spoke vaguely of Minister Laurent Fabius for an international tiation without preconditions and without stern criticism of Israel in recent weeks, “A gunman opened fire near Beit El, north the possibility of him becoming a “martyr”. Palestinian UN appeals for $861m in 22 killed as hunger striker heavy fog can no longer humanitarian aid for Iraq causes road speak: Lawyer crashes in Egypt AFP donor countries,” Jassem Moham- med al-Jaff, the minister of migration AFP RAMALLAH: A Palestinian and displacement, said at the news detained by Israel and on hunger conference. strike for over two months has lost BAGHDAD: The United Nations Iraq plans to spend more than his ability to speak and most of his launched an appeal yesterday for $1.5bn on humanitarian assistance CAIRO: Bad weather including hearing, his lawyer and family said $861m in international humanitarian in 2016, but faces a shortfall of some heavy fog caused two major traf- yesterday. assistance to help millions of people $891m that the funding appeal will fic accidents in Egypt yesterday Mohammed Al Qiq’s condition in Iraq who are suffering from war help to address, according to the UN. that left at least 22 people dead, is “very dangerous. He lost his abil- and displacement. “The government has its back officials said. ity to speak and 60 percent of his Violence including the devas- against the wall because the price The deadlier accident saw 16 hearing,” his lawyer Jawad Boulus tating war with the Islamic State of oil is so low, and that’s why we’re people killed and 21 wounded in said in a statement. jihadist group has displaced 3.3 asking the international community multiple car crashes near Beni Boulus visited Qiq at the Emek million Iraqis in the past two years, to be generous,” said Grande. Sueif on the highway linking Cairo Medical Centre in the northern while some 250,000 Syrians have The Islamic State group over- to Upper Egypt, police said. Israeli city of Afula, where he is fled to Iraq to escape the war in their ran large areas north and west of Two dozen vehicles were being treated. Speaking at a press country. “We want to use this money Baghdad in 2014, and Iraqi forces are involved in the accident, police conference, Qiq’s wife Fayha said to reach 7.3 million people. These battling to push the jihadists back. said, blaming thick early morn- doctors had told her family that her are the most vulnerable people in The already huge number of dis- ing fog. husband could no longer speak. Iraq,” UN humanitarian coordinator placed Iraqis is expected to increase Six people were killed and “What are they waiting for in for Iraq Lise Grande told a Baghdad further in 2016 as Iraqi forces fight three others wounded when a order to release my husband or news conference. to retake areas in Anbar and Nine- truck ferrying workers crashed look into his arrest?” she asked, “Our top priority is to get to the veh provinces. into a train at a railway crossing and answered: “Until he suffers a people who are in the most trouble “Depending on the intensity of south of Cairo, police said. brain haemorrhage or becomes a and to give them what they need in fighting and the scale of violence in The driver of the truck was martyr.” order to survive -- food, cash, shel- the months ahead, 11 million Iraqis, unable to see the closed railway Spokeswomen for the hospi- ter, water,” Grande said. perhaps even 12 to 13 million, may crossing due to fog and crashed his tal and the Israel Prison Service The wife of Palestinian imprisoned journalist Mohammed Al Qiq, Fayha Plunging oil prices have drasti- need some form of humanitarian vehicle into the train, police said. would not comment on the reports. Shalash (left), flanked by her son Islam, during a press conference in cally reduced oil revenue which Iraq assistance by the end of 2016,” the Egypt is notorious for traffic Qiq, a 33-year-old father Ramallah yesterday. relies on for the vast majority of its UN said. “More than 500,000 peo- accidents due to its poorly main- of two and a correspondent for funds, meaning that Baghdad cannot ple are expected to flee their homes tained roads and little enforcement Saudi Arabia’s Almajd TV net- administrative detention law, which November 25 in protest against the afford to cover the cost of address- during the year, the majority from of traffic regulations. work, was arrested on November allows the state to hold suspects for “torture and ill treatment that he was ing the humanitarian crisis. towns and districts along the Mosul The World Health Organiza- 21 at his home in the West Bank renewable six-month periods with- subjected to during interrogation”, “The needs of the displaced fam- and Anbar corridors,” it said in its tion says traffic accidents account city of Ramallah. He is being out trial. according to Addameer, a Palestin- ilies are greater than our capacity, humanitarian response plan for the for nearly 12,000 deaths annually held under Israel’s controversial He has been refusing food since ian rights organisation. and therefore we need support from year. in Egypt. Malala seeks to raise $1.4bn to educate Syrian refugees

Reuters

LONDON: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai will seek to inspire world leaders at a conference in London on Thursday to commit $1.4bn this year to give Syrian ref- ugee children access to education, she said yesterday. Heads of state and government and ministers from countries around the world will converge on London for the “Supporting Syria and the region” conference, which aims to raise funds for humanitarian crises caused by the Syrian war. Some 700,000 Syrian children living in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon and in other Middle Eastern coun- tries are out of school, according to a report issued by the Malala Fund, which campaigns and fundraises for edu- cational causes. “I have met so many Syrian refugee children, they are still in my mind. I can’t forget them. The thought that they won’t be able to go to school in their whole life is com- pletely shocking and I cannot accept it,” Malala said in a telephone interview. “We can still help them, we can still protect them. They are not lost yet. They need schools. They need books. They need teachers. This is the way we can protect the future of Syria.” A Pakistani teenage education activist who came to prominence when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on her school bus in 2012, Malala continued campaign- ing on the world stage and in 2014 became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. Now 18, she lives in Britain but devotes much of her time and energy to the cause of education for Syrian refugee children. An accomplished public speaker who brought a United Nations audience to its feet in a cel- ebrated speech in 2013, she hopes to make a powerful impact at the London event. 08 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Kerry wants Syrian talks to continue despite attack

steps by all the parties to increase developing a political transition plan A senior negotiator food aid and other humanitarian as outlined in a Security Council res- assistance to 13.5 million Syrians, olution approved last month. for the Syrian including 6 million children. He said reaching a negotiated opposition delegation “In the end there is no military political settlement in Syrian would solution to the conflict,” Kerry said also undercut support for Islamic threatened to walk in a televised statement. State militants across the region. out of the talks if Kerry’s statement came after a Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al senior negotiator for the Syrian oppo- Jubeir and his Turkish counterpart President Bashar Al sition delegation threatened to walk Mevlut Cavusoglu yesterday voiced Assad’s forces and out of the talks if President Bashar Al support for Syrian opposition figures Assad’s forces and allies continued who have travelled to Geneva for UN- allies continued to to escalate a bombing campaign in brokered peace talks. escalate a bombing rebel-held areas and hamper deliv- “We share the same position campaign in rebel- ery of humanitarian aid. which consists of supporting our Syr- Since the beginning of 2015, the ian brothers directly or when they held areas and Syrian government approved only 13 take part in international meetings,” hamper delivery of of 113 requests made by the United Jubeir said in Riyadh at a joint news Nations to deliver humanitarian aid, conference with Cavusoglu. humanitarian aid Kerry said. And only one in 100 Syr- Turkey’s top diplomat echoed ians had received any food aid at all him, saying: “We back demands for in 2015. “Let me be clear: The Syrian a truce and for sending humanitar- regime has a fundamental responsi- ian aid” to besieged towns in Syria as Reuters & AFP bility - all the parties to the conflict requested by the opposition. have a duty - to facilitate humanitar- The opposition Higher Negotia- ian access to populations in desperate tions Committee had threatened to need ... Right now, today,” he said. boycott the talks involving Syrian WASHINGTON/RIYADH: US Sec- Preventing food supplies from government representatives which retary of State John Kerry appealed getting to those in need by planting opened Friday in Geneva unless a Residents and soldiers loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad inspect damage after a suicide attack in yesterday to both sides to continue land mines, erecting barbed wire host of conditions was met. Syrian peace talks in Geneva despite barriers, or other means was an A delegation from the HNC Sayeda Zeinab, a district of southern Damascus, yesterday. an attack by Islamic State (IS) bomb- “intentional tactic of ‘surrender or arrived late Saturday in the Swiss city ers that killed more than 60 people starve,’ that was in direct violation and yesterday some members met UN spokeswoman Basma Kodmani told President Bashar Al Assad and have kingdom. Jubeir told reporters that near the country’s Shia shrine. of the law of war, Kerry said. envoy Staffan de Mistura. reporters. “We are here for political called for his removal from power. Riyadh and Ankara have agreed to set Kerry said the conflict could Kerry urged the parties to “We only came to Geneva after negotiations but we cannot start those Yesterday’s joint Saudi-Turkish up a “strategic cooperation council” to easily engulf the Middle East if no work toward measurable progress written commitments on the fact until we have those gestures,” she said. news conference came as Turkish coordinate their positions, including in negotiated settlement was achieved. on agreeing a ceasefire, increas- that there would be serious progress Saudi Arabia and Turkey are Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu “the battle against terrorism, politics, He also called for immediate ing humanitarian assistance and on the humanitarian issues,” HNC both opposed to the Syrian regime of wrapped up a three-day visit to the security and military affairs”. Baghdad and Iraqi Kurds agree to cooperate Saudi police arrest nine American ‘terror’ suspects

Reuters AFP BAGHDAD: A delegation from Iraq’s cash-strapped Kurdistan region agreed yesterday with the govern- ment in Baghdad to cooperate on reforms aimed at dealing with an acute economic crisis afflict- RIYADH: Saudi authorities have arrested nine American citizens among 33 ing them both. “terror” suspects rounded up over the past days, the Saudi Gazette newspaper The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and reported yesterday. Four Americans were arrested on Monday and five oth- federal authorities in Baghdad rely heavily on oil ers over the past four days, the paper reported citing an unidentified source. export revenue and have been hit hard by the glo- The arrests also included 14 Saudis, three Yemenis, two Syrians, an Indo- bal slump in crude prices. nesian, a Filipino, an Emirati, a Kazakhstan national and a Palestinian, the Relations between the two sides have been paper said. It did not say if any of the “terror suspects” was linked to the strained in recent years by ongoing disputes over Islamic State (IS) group, which has claimed several deadly attacks against revenue sharing, the budget and the authority to security and Shias in the kingdom in recent months. export oil. On Friday, a suicide bomber attacked a Shia mosque in Eastern Province The Kurdish delegation, led by the region’s killing four people before worshippers disarmed and tied up his accomplice Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, met with Iraq’s who had fired on them. IS, a radical Sunni group that considers Shias here- Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other senior tics, did not claim that attack. The Saudi Gazette said some 532 IS suspects government officials. accused of plotting attacks in the kingdom are being questioned ahead of “We think the meeting was positive consid- their trial at the criminal court in Riyadh. They are members of six cells ering the nature of the problems and contentious arrested in “pre-emptive” raids across the kingdom and include a Saudi issues still lingering between both sides,” Abadi’s woman and a Filipina, the paper said. Saudi officials are offering as much Iraqi pro-government forces fire a missile during clashes with Islamic State (IS) group fighters, spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said after the talks. as SR7m ($1.9m) for information that would help foil militant attacks. Further meetings would now be held on a reg- on the eastern outskirts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, yesterday. ular basis, he added. The previous such meeting was last July. independence, built their own pipeline to Turkey sovereign state, however, it has more options than Gunmen kill two Saudi policemen Kurdish officials have warned in recent weeks and began exporting oil without federal government Kurdistan to deal with an economic crisis. that their region faces an economic collapse. approval. The KRG has since increased independ- Iraq’s Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Meanwhile, gunmen killed two Saudi policemen yesterday in an attack Kurdistan enjoyed an economic boom in the ent oil sales to more than 600,000 barrels per day Reuters last week the crisis was forcing Kurds to in the eastern Qatif region, home to the kingdom’s Shia minority, police said. wake of the United States-led invasion that toppled (bpd). But with depressed prices and a bloated pub- consider reviving a deal with Baghdad to reinstate The two officers were escorting a truck used for transporting cash when Saddam Hussein in 2003, receiving a share of the lic payroll, it is now five months in payment arrears the region’s budget share in return for exporting they came under “heavy gunfire from unknown attackers in Sihat in Qatif revenue from Iraq’s rising oil exports. and deeply in debt. oil under state auspices. Spokesman Hadithi gave province”, a spokesman said. The police spokesman, cited by the official But Baghdad cut funding to the region in Baghdad has projected a budget deficit of no indication that was discussed in yesterday’s SPA news agency, did not say whether the attack was being treated as polit- 2014 after the Kurds, in pursuit of economic 24 trillion dinars ($20.41 billion) for 2016. As a meeting. ical or criminal. Saudi-led Yemen coalition to probe possible abuses

AFP in a report on Tuesday said the coa- experts. Yemen descended into chaos lition has carried out 119 sorties that when the coalition began air strikes violated humanitarian law, and it last March to support the government called for an international commis- and push back Iran-backed Shiite RIYADH: The Saudi-led Arab coa- sion of inquiry. Huthi rebels who had taken over the lition battling Shia rebels in Yemen The report said the UN Security capital Sana’a. announced yesterday the creation Council should consider setting up More than 5,800 people have of an independent commission of the inquiry to “investigate reports of since been killed and 27,000 inquiry to examine charges of pos- violations of international humani- wounded, according to UN figures. sible abuses against civilians in the tarian law and human rights law in About 60 percent of all civilian conflict. Yemen by all parties and to identify deaths and injuries were caused by The coalition command, in a brief the perpetrators of such violations.” air-launched explosives, the report statement published by the official The panel said it had documented said.The UN experts documented Saudi SPA news agency, said it had coalition strikes on civilian targets at least three alleged cases of civil- formed “an independent team of including refugee camps, weddings, ians fleeing residential bombings experts in international humanitar- buses, residential areas, medical and being chased and shot at by ian law and weapons to assess the facilities, schools, mosques, mar- helicopters. incidents and investigate the rules of kets, factories, food warehouses and UN Secretary General Ban Ki- engagement”. airports. moon has been increasingly vocal in The coalition said the objective “Many attacks involved multi- his criticism of the Saudi campaign was to “develop a clear and com- ple air strikes on multiple civilian in Yemen. prehensive report on each incident objects,” it said. Earlier in January, he warned that with the conclusions, lessons learned, Yesterday’s coalition statement cluster bomb attacks by the coalition recommendations and measures that made no mention of the UN recom- on Sana’a could amount to a war should be taken” to spare civilians. mendation, nor did it elaborate on crime. The coalition later denied A panel of United Nations experts the names or nationalities of its own using the munition. ASIA / PHILIPPINES MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 09 China strongly flays US for sending warship near isle

Wright said in Washington. law, sabotaged the peace, security and China, Taiwan and Vietnam have good order of the waters, and under- China, Taiwan overlapping claims in the Paracels and mined the region’s peace and stability.” and Vietnam have require prior notice from ships transit- In an opinion published yesterday by ing what they consider their territorial the official Xinhua news agency, China overlapping claims waters. The latest operation was par- described the manoeuvre as a “delib- in the Paracels and ticularly aimed at China, which has erate provocation” that raised doubts raised tensions by embarking on mas- about the United States’ sincerity just require prior notice sive construction of man-made islands days after Secretary of State John Kerry from ships transiting and airstrips in contested waters. visited Beijing for meetings about the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry South China Sea and North Korea that what they consider spokesman Le Hai Binh said that Viet- were called productive by both sides. their territorial waters nam respects “innocent passage” of A social media search yesterday ships through territorial waters in line showed a smattering of posts calling with international law. State media on China to adopt a tougher military quoted Binh as reiterating Vietnam’s posture against US encroachment — AP sovereignty over the Paracels and Sprat- if not wage war with the US. China lys and calling on nations to actively and claims almost the entire South China practically contribute to peace and sta- Sea and its islands, reefs and atolls bility in the South China Sea. on historic grounds. US officials say BEIJING: China strongly condemned The US has claimed the attempts to ensuring freedom of navigation is in the United States after a US warship restrict navigational rights by requir- US national interests, while not taking deliberately sailed near one of the Bei- ing prior notice are inconsistent with sides in the territorial disputes. jing-controlled islands in the hotly international law and pledged to reg- China seized the unpopulated contested South China Sea to exercise ularly carry out similar manoeuvres. Triton Island, an area of 1.2 square freedom of navigation and challenge In October, another US warship sailed kilometres, from former South Viet- China’s vast sea claims. in the nearby Spratly Islands near Subi nam in 1974. In May 2014, China The missile destroyer USS Curtis Reef, where China has built one of parked a huge oil drilling platform Wilbur sailed within 22km of Triton seven artificial islands. off the Vietnamese coast in the area, Island in the Paracel chain “to challenge The latest operation also drew Bei- prompting Vietnam to send fishing excessive maritime claims of parties that jing’s ire. Defence Ministry spokesman boats and coast guard vessels to har- claim the Paracel Islands,” without noti- Yang Yujun issued a statement saying ass the rig and nearby Chinese vessels. fying the three claimants beforehand, the “unprofessional and irresponsible” Skirmishes led to collisions and the Defence Department spokesman Mark US action “severely violated Chinese capsizing of one Vietnamese boat.

Philippine airport cop held K-pop reveals growing tensions on N Korea’s side of DMZ for smuggling AP Surrounded by a deeply dug-in and care- at age 16 he has spent most of his 40 years in purported H-bomb test, North Korean army Lt. rare animals fully hidden array of troops ready to attack and the military assigned to various duty postings Col. Nam Dong Chol said his country is not afraid artillery batteries ready to fire, this is the world’s around the DMZ. Until 2000, the North broad- of new sanctions from the UN. Instead, and in most heavily fortified border. cast its own propaganda right back at the South. line with North Korea’s official talking points, AFP IN THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE, NORTH Perhaps waiting to first find out what kind The colonel, Jon Nam Su, denied reports in he said the time has come to negotiate a peace KOREA: There is a strange quiet along the of response to its nuclear test the United Nations the South that it has started doing that again. treaty with the United States. northern side of the Demilitarised Zone that will come up with, the North has so far said “We’re not doing that,” he said. “But the puppets He noted that the armistice, signed in 1953 MANILA: Authorities at the Phil- divides the two Koreas. Quiet, until you listen hardly a word about the restart of the South’s in the South do what the US wants, and they are in one of the barracks at Panmunjom, ended ippines’ main airport have taken harder. Mixed in with magpies flying peace- propaganda broadcasts. saying extremely unreasonable things.” the fighting in the Korean War but left the two possession of 47 rare animals or fully overhead and leaves rustling in the freezing But flare-ups can be sudden. Just a few Access to the DMZ on both the North and sides in a state of conflict that has gone on for birds which an airport policeman wind, the faint melodies of South Korean pop months ago, the South’s decision to restart sim- South sides is heavily controlled. From the North, more than six decades. “To solve the problem was allegedly trying to smuggle to ballads waft through the air, interspersed with ilar propaganda broadcasts after the death of there are only two places where foreigners are on the Korean Peninsula, we have to replace Japan, a senior wildlife official said spoken commentaries too weak to really follow two South Korean soldiers in a land mine blast allowed to go. From the outpost where Col Jon the armistice agreement, which is now just a yesterday. but strong enough to discern an accent that is so incensed North Korea that it issued an ulti- spoke, a concrete bunker perched atop a hill scrap of paper, with a peace treaty concluded The wildlife included 11 tars- decidedly southern. matum to the South that if they weren’t stopped, that commands a clear view of the DMZ, it is between us and the United States,” he said. “A iers, 11 snakes, 11 monitor lizards, The music has been drifting over the bor- the rock-concert-style banks of speakers on the possible to see guard posts in the South that fly peace treaty, in itself, would show that both eight sailfin lizards, eagle owls der in retaliation for what North Korea said was southern side of the DMZ would be attacked both the South Korean and United Nations’ flags. sides trust each other, believe in each other, and scops owls. They were found its first hydrogen bomb test on January 6. Amid and destroyed, even if that meant going to war. About 20km west of the post is the armistice and respect each other. So, concluding a peace on Thursday, packed in styro- indications that the North is now preparing to South Korea turned them off. village of Panmunjom, where North and South treaty would mean solving the Korean Penin- foam cases which were labelled launch a rocket that is bound to bring a further A Korean People’s Army colonel who on Korean soldiers are close enough to silently glare sula problem in a peaceful way.” as aquatic plants, said Theresa international outcry, the odd mixture of calm Friday escorted an AP Television News crew at each other at arm’s length. But on Friday, only With the current standoff between North Mundita Lim, head of the coun- and almost imperceptible strains of K-pop are around a military outpost on the edge of the a couple of North Korean soldiers stood guard Korea and most of the world after its fourth try’s biodiversity bureau. an unsettling reminder that, like so many things DMZ seemed almost sanguine about them. outside the meeting huts that straddle the Mil- nuclear test likely to get worse in the weeks “We received a tip last January. in this hard-to-read country, appearances can Back in the day, he said, the broadcasts used itary Demarcation line dividing their countries. and months ahead, such a solution seems very, That is when we began our surveil- deceive. to be a lot louder. He said that since signing up When asked about the tensions since the very far away. lance. We already observed (the suspect) going back and forth to the airport,” transporting items for shipping, she said. The suspect had previously used his position at Relief operation Tanzania arrests 3 after the airport to send shipments of suspected indigenous animals to a partner in Japan before he was UK wildlife pilot killed caught. He has been arrested for violating wildlife laws and could face four years in jail, Lim said. AFP “The suspected poachers shot the She said that while birds like helicopter which was on surveillance cockatoos had previously been at a remote game reserve,” Maghembe found being smuggled through added. “This is a sad incident. We will the airport, this was the first time DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzanian police continue with the war against poach- they had found tarsiers, one of the have arrested three men after a Brit- ers... these are cruel criminals.” world’s smallest primates, hidden ish pilot was killed when gunmen The wildlife charity Gower in an airport shipment. opened fire on his helicopter as he worked for confirmed his death. The Philippine tarsier is listed tracked suspected elephant poach- “Roger was killed while piloting a by the International Union for ers, a minister said yesterday. helicopter during a coordinated effort Conservation of Nature as “near- Roger Gower, 37, was killed on Fri- with the Tanzanian wildlife authori- threatened”. Other species like the day when his helicopter crashed after ties to track down and arrest active sailfin lizard and the eagle owl are it was attacked during a patrol of the elephant poachers,” said a statement listed as “vulnerable,” meaning they Maswa Game Reserve in northern from Dan Friedkin, chairman of the are at risk of extinction in the wild. Tanzania, close to the world famous Friedkin Conservation Fund. It was the latest scandal affecting Serengeti National Park. “The suspects “In the course of this action, the security personnel at Manila’s Ninoy are in the hands of police,” Natu- poachers fired upon the helicopter Aquino International Airport. ral Resources and Tourism Minister and Roger was fatally wounded.” Last year charges were filed Jumanne Maghembe said. Conservation officials appealed Filipino villagers queue during a relief operation conducted by motorcycle group ‘Ride For A Cause (RFAC)’ against six airport police offic- “They are cooperating, and soon for help in catching the culprits. ers for allegedly planting bullets at a landslide-hit village in the mountains of Sierra Madre, Infanta township, Quezon province, Philippines, more people making up the poaching “These people killing elephants in in luggage and then demanding yesterday. Hundreds of RFAC volunteer motorcycle riders brought relief goods after affected villagers gang will be netted and brought to our conservation areas live in the extortion payments from the vic- appealed to government for help to clear away debris on the roads for the passage of relief goods. justice.” Gower’s South African col- neighbourhood, and those with tims to avoid arrest. league, safari guide Nicky Bester, information should come forward,” leapt out of the helicopter midair as Shelutete added. it crashed and was injured, accord- “We all need to work together ing to a spokesman from Tanzania’s to end the killings of elephants and National Parks, Pascal Shelutete. people fighting poaching.” Muslim peace bid to continue after my term: Aquino “Three elephant carcasses that Ivory is sought out for jewellery were found indicated that whoever and decorative objects and much of shot the chopper down was on a it is smuggled to China, where many AFP they are unlikely to pass the peace Liberation Front (MILF). But opposition of the Comprehensive Agreement... serious illegal hunting spree,” She- increasingly wealthy shoppers are bill before the president’s term ends from some legislators had delayed its beyond this administration,” he lutete said, adding such poachers can buying ivory trinkets as a sign of in June. Aquino had ordered “con- passage despite his lobbying. Aquino’s quoted Deles as saying. be “heavily armed with sophisticated financial success. It is estimated sultation and meetings with the chief peace negotiator Teresita Deles The draft law is aimed at ending military weaponry”. that more than 30,000 elephants MANILA: Philippine President stakeholders as well as meaningful had told him that her office would be a Muslim separatist revolt in Mind- Photographs of the crashed heli- are killed for their tusks every year. Benigno Aquino has ordered special action so we can continue the peace meeting concerned parties especially anao that has claimed over 100,000 copter show twisted metal, as well as The international ivory trade was efforts to ensure a peace agreement process”, his spokesman Herminio the MILF to firm up the mechanisms lives since the 1970s. The law would apparent bullet holes in the fuselage, banned in 1989, but one-off sales of with Muslim rebels is implemented Coloma told reporters. and the transition for when the peace create an autonomous area and grant and smears of blood on the pilot’s ivory stockpiles have since been per- even after his term ends this year, his Aquino had hoped to pass the bill deal is implemented, Coloma said. a measure of self-rule to the Muslim seat. It was not immediately clear if mitted and trade in old ivory is also spokesman said yesterday. to seal a peace accord with the largest “We need to do all that is possi- minority in the south of the largely Gower was killed by the gunshots or allowed, giving criminal smugglers Congressional leaders have said Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic ble to ensure the full implementation Christian nation. when the helicopter crashed. cover for their illegal trade. 10 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Spare the children China wants you to know

yrian civil war is the worst humanitarian tragedy of our time. The world has been watching helplessly as hundreds of it’s monitoring you thousands of civilians are killed, millions displaced and an entire country destroyed beyond recognition. But every day knows I’m on the phone with Mobile evidently does with the this humanitarian tragedy has been spiralling, acquiring new someone calling from outside Within China, PSB. In the past several years, Sproportions we couldn’t think of. But what has remained unchanged China, and so I should be espe- government China has introduced some of the is the international community’s sense of helplessness, its wanton cially vigilant, because the world’s toughest laws, regulations caller could be part of some monitoring and guidelines on data privacy. disregard and detachment at this tragedy of Himalayan proportions. scheme to steal my money or of private These tightly circumscribe what The EU police agency Europol said yesterday that over 10,000 otherwise cheat me. The phone data companies can collect and unaccompanied migrant children have disappeared in Europe, giving number for the anti-fraud hot- communication introduce strict penalties for pri- rise to fears that they could have fallen into the hands of sex trafficking line is included. International is not only vacy breaches. Xi cites the laws rings or trapped into the slave trade. The agency’s chief of staff Brian fraud is, as of now, the only common, but it as evidence that China has zero Donald says: “Not all of them will be criminally exploited; some might criminal activity that China’s tolerance for hacking. government uses the mobile The quizzical result is: have been passed on to family members. We just don’t know where is also explicit, network to warn me about. institutionalised E-commerce giant Alibaba they are, what they’re doing or whom they are with.” What is extremely I do like knowing the Chi- must not share anything about worrying is that there was evidence of a ‘criminal infrastructure’ By Peter Fuhrman nese police are on the job, warning and generally quite my Taobao account and is established over the last 18 months to exploit the migrant flow. These Washington Post and protecting the innocent. But I popular. legally and financially respon- children face a destiny that is worse than that of the rest of migrants find it a little unsettling that they sible if my account gets hacked. waiting to be relocated. It’s unlikely know immediately when I get an But state-owned China Mobile that there will be coordinated efforts international call and are eager the user to that country and (along with its two state-owned hen they to inform me that they are keep- populating the message with rivals, China Unicom and China to trace these children and ensure met most ing tabs. There’s also the fact that the number for the nearest Chi- Telecom) will freely share my Europol’s report their safety, reducing them to another recently, Pres- I get these messages every time nese embassy and consulate. private data with government that over 10,000 statistic in a civil war in which human ident Obama my 83-year-old father calls from The US National Security departments at the national, unaccompanied lives are being reduced to numbers. extracted from Florida. Does the Chinese security Agency has ways, if Edward provincial and local levels. European countries which are hisW Chinese counterpart, Xi Jin- apparatus know something about Snowden’s revelations are to According to China’s latest migrant children shutting their doors on asylum ping, a solemn pledge to rein in him that I don’t? be believed, to detect when a cybersecurity law, all compa- Chinese surveillance and hack- China Mobile is the world’s US mobile phone is being used nies operating in China, foreign have disappeared seekers need to adopt a more lenient ing of US government agencies, largest mobile phone company, anywhere in the world. But it and domestic, must share pri- in Europe has policy on children. Britain is one companies and individuals. with more than 800 million goes to a lot of trouble to keep a vate data with the government to failed to shake the country that has said it will take in The backsliding seems to have customers. To generate that user from knowing that. Not so aid in official investigations. No migrant or refugee children who have begun almost immediately, automatic anti-fraud text mes- the Chinese state. specific mention is made of state- conscience of the been separated from their parents. with new reports of attacks by sage, international calls routed I’ve asked Chinese friends owned enterprises such as China world. Other countries must follow this Chinese hackers in the United across the network in all like- about this, and none expressed Mobile. Some US companies, policy. The picture of Aylan Kurdi States. This conflict is not only lihood pass through a server the slightest quibble about their including Apple, have introduced a matter of competing national layer controlled and monitored government knowing where encryption techniques that make lying with his face down on the beach interests. At its heart are rad- by the PSB; calls from cer- they travel or when they receive it harder for the NSA to access had shocked the conscience of the ically opposed conceptions of tain countries get flagged, and international calls. The govern- user data and conversations. No world, creating a wave of sympathy for Syrian refugees and even causing personal privacy and the legal- the text message is dispatched ment is just trying to be helpful, such effort is underway in China, a positive tilt in the refugee policies of some European countries. That ity of government monitoring. as the call is taking place. This they explain. There’s no real nor, as far as I can tell, is any- the uncertainty about the fate of around 10,000 children is failing to Within China, government isn’t cyberspying. This is a deep civil liberties debate about it, one seriously suggesting it. I’m create a similar sympathy speaks of the depths to which the Syrian crisis monitoring of private commu- integration. It’s not only the not even in the online chan- no civil-liberties purist, so I don’t nication is not only common, PSB. Upon landing on a trip to nels where criticisms of Chinese particularly mind getting these has sunk. A UN report said the Syrian town of Mouadamiya is newly but it is also explicit, institu- another country, I usually get policy are voiced. text messages from the Chinese under siege by Syrian government forces, saying around 45,000 people tionalised and generally quite an automatic Chinese-language In contrast, the US has gone government. But it does serve as are cut off from humanitarian aid and medical help. Mouadamiya, on popular. How much so? Just text message from the Chi- through a particularly bitter a vivid reminder that while liv- the southwestern edge of Damascus, has been about every time I get an inter- nese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and protracted national debate ing in China I’m subject to a set under the control of opposition armed groups since mid-2012. national phone call on my reminding me to behave politely over whether and how mobile of rules and an official mind- Even amidst all these tragedies, negotiations being held in Geneva to Chinese mobile phone, I’m and providing me with emer- phone companies, along with set that are the obverse of those find a find a solution to the Syrian crisis or reach a ceasefire are going pinged within seconds by a gency contact numbers. It’s a email providers, should share in the United States. Online and text message. It’s an automated neat bit of coding. China Mobile information and communica- mobile communication privacy nowhere. Representatives of the Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC) message from the anti-fraud reports to the foreign ministry, tions metadata with the NSA. as we Americans understand it warned that they may yet walk away from the talks unless the suffering department of the city of Shen- and perhaps other departments It’s not certain how much US simply does not exist here. of civilians in the five-year conflict is eased. zhen’s Public Security Bureau as well, when a user’s phone companies actively assisted the (PSB), China’s version of the FBI. begins seeking a roaming signal NSA in its domestic surveillance. Peter Fuhrman is chairman This message informs me outside China. The system then But it’s beyond doubt that none and chief executive of China in polite Chinese that the PSB generates the text welcoming cooperates to the extent China First Capital. Quote of the day

Let me be clear: The Syrian Who had the worst week in Washington? regime has a fundamental By Chris Cillizza Then Fox did this: “We learned from a from the Iowa debate hall. In typical Trumpian responsibility — all the parties Washington Post secret back channel that the Ayatollah and fashion, he dismissed the debates without him to the conflict have a duty - Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump as “low-rated afterthoughts.” unfairly when they meet with him if he The Trump-less debate proved the Don- to facilitate humanitarian his past week, Fox News honcho Roger becomes president,” said a news release, ald right. It was, in the main, a vanilla affair access to populations in Ailes learned the same lesson the entire apparently written by Ailes. with few memorable moments as the seven desperate need .. TGOP field has come to understand in this “A nefarious source tells us that Trump has candidates onstage played it safe; the Iowa cau- campaign: When you fight with Donald Trump, his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with cuses loom. The ratings, too, were decidedly you lose.Trump began the week by flirting, yet his Twitter followers to see if he should even un-Trumpian. While more than 24 million peo- again, with the idea of skipping Thursday’s go to those meetings.” ple watched the first GOP presidential debate John Kerry presidential debate on Fox, citing past “unfair” Trump does not like to be mocked. He on Fox, just 12.5 million tuned in for this one. treatment from moderator Megyn Kelly. He abruptly canceled his plans to attend the debate Roger Ailes, for becoming the latest victim US Secretary of State even put up a Twitter poll asking his millions and instead scheduled a counter-rally, billed of the Trump juggernaut, you had the worst of followers what they thought he should do. as a fundraiser for veterans, just a few miles week in Washington. Congrats, or something.

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 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 11 Social media is indispensable to Qatari students

times per day. This reflects the trend with regard to media consumption in general which is less and less inclined towards old media in favour of internet platforms. Nowadays social media spaces have become indispensible components of the Qatari youth’s everyday lives. Almost 67 percent said they cannot do without social media networks, being dependent upon them for their daily routines and tasks. Forty four percent among them said they actively use it between 1-3 hours per day, 28% say they use it between 4-6 hours and 28% use it over 7 hours per day. Therefore, apart from attending lec- By Dr Noureddine Miladi tures, 72% of students in this sample spend a substantial part of their daily free time (4 hour and more) on social media sites. WhatsApp is the most popular among students as almost 97% actively use it reg- new study by the Media and Mass ularly. It is obvious that this platform is communications Department at becoming the most favourable medium of Qatar University shows that social communication, compared to older social media networks have become nec- media networks like Facebook and Twitter. Aessary tools in the lives of Qatari youth, Maintaining an online presence and as they are for youth around the world. preserving an online self, seeking informa- Research findings revealed aheavy pres- tion as well as entertainment, remain key ence of technological gadgets in people’s objectives of being online. In the online lives. Results showed an increasing trend world, youth cultivate a sense of who they in terms of ownership of smartphones and are and who they are not, based on their their constant use by Qatar university stu- consumption behaviour and the persona dents. Forty five per cent of the respondents they establish for themselves- a persona claimed that they normally carry two or they consciously present, edit or delete as more smart phones at all times for their per their need. daily uses. Another significant finding is related When asked about the reasons behind to the respondents’ ownership of personal their choice of ownership of more than one social media pages. About 10% claimed smart phone, 36% said they use each tel- that they own a page and run a group on cultural activities, and consumption of These findings have implications for ephone for a different purpose, like voice social media. 24% are active participants music and online gaming. A high interest in all types of institutions, organisations and communication or to keep accessing spe- in comments and sharing. 66 per cent only news and current affairs was expressed by businesses. Trends among students are cific social media networks. Twenty seven view material and rarely contribute with a large number of respondents. About 73% likely to be an indication of the general per cent responded that they use each tele- comment or sharing. However, in addi- of respondents confirmed that the main behaviour of the youth on the inter- phone to communicate with different types tion to being an admin for a group, a few sources of news about local and interna- net, obviously with an educational bias. of people such as family, friends or work users affiliate to various other groups of tional affairs, or other news of all types, for If anyone wants to target the youth with colleagues. their interest. them are social media networks. Old media educational material, information about If anyone wants to Sites like Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, As for the aims behind running a social such as TV, radio and newspapers score events, or to market products to them, then target the youth YouTube and Instagram constitute impor- media site, respondents expressed a keen very low in the respondents’ list of interests. the results of this study should inform their tant socializing platforms and have become interest in being heard or actively seeking About 16% refer to TV as a source of what strategy, if it is to be effective. with educational a considerable focus of their daily inter- information regarding what is happening they learn about the world and newspapers This could have a knock on effect material, actions. Results showed that 96% of the around them. A sizeable majority (73.5%) attract about 11per cent of their interest, regarding future investments as these respondents regularly use social media claimed that by having their own social while radio scored the lowest. might become focused less upon televi- information about networks and 45% said they are always media sites, this helps them follow up the Other key findings from the survey sion, newspaper and radio and more on events, or to connected to the internet. A sizeable current affairs and what is going on in included influence on students’ choices the internet and webpages, if the young number from among them also said they society. Also 23% of the respondents feel of lifestyle and fashion because of expo- consumer is considered important. On the market products visit their favourite social media sites few such sites help them express themselves sure to internet advertising. Nineteen other hand, perhaps if these latter types of to them, then the freely, and constitute an opportunity for percent claim that role models such as media became better connected to social their voices to be heard by others. How- film stars, artists and religious figures on media websites, then they would more results of this study ever a minority of 3.42 from among the social media are very important in influ- successfully connect with the upcom- should inform their respondents use their social media sites encing their choice of consumer products ing audiences of the future, and thereby strategy, if it is to be as vehicles for social activism. like clothing, accessories, perfume, hair- maintain investors’ interest. Social media In addition to, and despite the high style etc. There was a high awareness about marketing and news distribution is the effective use of social media, a notably high per- new consumer products advertised via future! “Nowadays social media spaces centage of the respondents rely heavily social media networks. Over 76% of the have become indispensable on the internet as an educational tool. A respondents confirm that social networks majority (96%) of students capitalise on the constitute the primary sources of informa- components of the Qatari youth’s university blackboard, search engines like tion about new manufactured products. The writer is Associate Professor everyday lives. Almost 67% said Google, Wikipedia, homes pages of media TV as a medium for advertising in this in Mass Communication, School of organisations and other educational insti- case ranks second and constitutes only Social Sciences, Qatar University. This they cannot do without social tutions, and social media as key sources of 15.5% of people’s attention about news article is a summary of the results of media networks, being dependent information about their research papers, products, whereas newspapers and street a long study conducted by the author study projects and other assignments. billboards are source of awareness about in June 2015. He can be reached via upon them for their daily routines Moreover, other activities which take new products for only 3.45%, and only e-mail: [email protected] and tasks.” place on the internet are notable such as 0.86 of the respondent claim that radio is news and information seeking, social and a source of information for new products. Double standards of the UN regarding people under siege

described as scandalous because of be disguised, concealed or ignored. Israel is, after all, a UN member state Palestinian Authority, even though the UN’s involvement. A legal opinion Blockaded by land, air and sea, the (although it has never fulfilled at least the movement had not yet been given written by Professor Nigel White of the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza, one condition of its membership by a fair chance to carry out its democratic University of Nottingham published last like the Syrians, are dependent on allowing Palestinian refugees to mandate. week by Electronic Intifada accused the humanitarian aid which may or may return to their land). The procession of high-profile UN of “contributing to the maintenance not get through the blockade. Making In his resignation letter, Wibisono departures continued with the resig- of the blockade” as a result of which the the case in its latest appeal, the Brit- wrote poignantly, “It is my sincere hope nation of Alvaro de Soto from his post organisation, “therefore, is committing ish charity Oxfam laments the fact that that whoever succeeds me will man- as UN Middle East envoy in 2007. The as well as aiding and assisting viola- more than 60% of the youth in Gaza age to resolve the current impasse, and Peruvian diplomat condemned the eco- tions of international law.” are unemployed, the highest rate in the so reassure the Palestinian people that nomic sanctions imposed on the Gaza White, a leading expert in United world. The charity notes further that after nearly half a century of occupa- Strip and warned of their “devastating Nations law criticised the world body even when they attempt to farm their tion the world has not forgotten their consequences.” for not only failing but also obstruct- own land or fish in their own territo- plight and that universal human rights The attempt to bring about political ing the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. rial waters they are shot at and often are indeed universal.” He told Anadolu change in Gaza through the Israeli-led “Whether it Since the UN is not a faceless organisa- killed or wounded by Israelis. Agency that Israel, as the occupying siege and blockade has continued to tion, someone must take responsibility Ban’s heartfelt plea for Syria was power, must realise that peace “starts this day. Instead of being part of the is used as a By Dr Daud Abdullah for this dereliction of duty and the not the only incident that underscored with respect for human rights.” solution for the two million besieged weapon of war, crimes committed against the people the UN’s collusion in maintaining the Wibisono was not the first UN offi- Palestinians, the UN has clearly become of the besieged enclave. In this instance, hideous status quo in Gaza; last week’s cial to resign because he was frustrated part of the problem. or for political it has to be the UN secretary-general resignation of MakarimWibisono from by the Israelis, nor is he likely to be Ban Ki-moon’s tenure as Secre- gain, the siege of N Secretary-General Ban himself. his post as UN Special Rapporteur on the last. When James Wolfensohn, the tary-General has been tarnished by this civilians is both Ki-moon’s condemnation of While this may seem the right the situation of Human Rights in the former International Quartet envoy to scandal. Not only has UN complicity in Syria’s starvation policy is wel- and honourable thing to do, no one Palestinian Territories was another. the Middle East resigned in May 2006, Israel’s human rights violations been immoral and come. He was absolutely right expects it to happen any time soon. It Like his predecessor Richard Falk, the he wrote in his final report that much laid bare for all to see, but Ban must illegal. The case Uto make clear that the use of starvation will certainly not happen while there veteran Indonesian diplomat was never of the economic damage and hardship also now acknowledge this and resign. as a weapon of war is a war crime. How- are no ghastly images of Gazan chil- allowed into the occupied Palestinian caused to the Palestinians was due to of Gaza can only ever, he seems to have overlooked the dren broadcast on TV screens across territories by the Israelis. Israel’s systematic violation of its agree- be described situation in the Gaza Strip, where two the world. Ban, it seems, is waiting Indeed, the UN human rights ments, particularly with regards to the million Palestinians have been “put on for the UN to witness such scenes office in Geneva confirmed that the freedom of movement of people and Dr Daud Abdullah is the as scandalous diet” by the Israeli occupation for almost “that haunt the soul”, to use his own last rapporteur to enter the territo- goods throughout the occupied terri- Director of Middle East Mon- because of ten years. Whether it is used as a weapon words about Syria. Yet even with- ries was John Dugard way back in tories, including the Gaza Strip. itor, a news website, and has of war, or for political gain, the siege of out the images of the gaunt elders 2007. What has the UN done to bring Like most western officials at a Doctorate in History. You the UN’s civilians is both immoral and illegal. and children, men and women, the Israel to account for this unacceptable the time, he also expressed dismay can contact him via the email: involvement.” The case of Gaza can only be daily horrors of life in Gaza cannot state of affairs over so many years? at the election of Hamas to lead the [email protected]

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA 50 feared dead as Boko Haram hits NE Nigeria village

AFP assault which took place after evening said. “They came in Golf saloon cars birthplace of the Boko Haram move- Nigeria on the neighbouring countries. prayers in the mostly Muslim region. and began to shoot sporadically. ment, Maiduguri has been hit by In a statement, the EU condemned Nigeria’s army said Army spokesman Colonel Mus- Many people ran to the bush includ- several attacks in the recent months the Nigeria attack and reiterated the Boko Haram fighters tapha Anka said the assailants arrived ing myself,” he said. as the militants have tried to retake bloc’s commitment to provide $54m MAIDUGURI: At least 50 people were “in two cars and on motorcycles, they “When we came back in the the city from which they were pushed “to assist countries of the region to feared killed when Boko Haram fight- attacked Dalori, opened fire then set light to homes,” morning the entire community has out three years ago. fight terrorism”. ers armed with guns and explosives some 12km from he said. been razed. At least 50 people were In the Lake Chad region, which “The EU remains committed to attacked a village in northeastern Three female suicide bombers killed, and there are many people borders Nigeria as well as Chad, Cam- providing a comprehensive range of Nigeria, the army and local residents the northern city of who had initially tried to mingle with wounded,” he said. eroon and Niger, suicide bombers political, development and human- said yesterday. Maiduguri late on the villagers “were intercepted then Mallam Hassan, another vil- struck two Chadian villages killing itarian support to Nigeria and the And another three people were blew themselves up,” he said. lager, gave a similar account. “I lost three people, a local security official region in tackling this threat and in killed and 56 wounded in two sui- Saturday, burning The assailants also tried to pen- an uncle in the attack. But I thank God said. In the first attack, a bomber on ensuring the sound development of cide attacks in the Lake Chad region, down the village and etrate a camp for people displaced I escaped with my children,” he said. a motorcycle blew himself up in Guie the region,” it said. an area frequently targeted by Boko sending residents by the Boko Haram insurgency situ- An aid worker who did not want village, killing one person and injur- Despite claims late last year by Haram, a local security official said. ated just outside the village, but were to be named, also put the number of ing 32, while the second attack in President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria’s army said Boko Haram fleeing into the bush repelled by troops, he said. Villagers dead at more than 50, saying the bod- the village of Miterine killed two and Nigeria had “technically” won the war fighters attacked Dalori, some 12km said they fled into the bush when the ies had been taken to hospital. wounded 24, he said. against Boko Haram, the group has from the northern city of Maiduguri assailants entered Dalori. The nearby city of Maidug- Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon kept up a string of attacks. late on Saturday, burning down the which said it was committed to sup- “We were seated outside our home uri, which lies just 150km from the have formed a coalition along with The group which seeks a hardline village and sending residents fleeing porting regional African states in the shortly after the Isha prayer when we southern shores of Lake Chad, has a Benin to fight Boko Haram comprising Islamic state in northern Nigeria has into the bush. fight against such extremist groups. heard gunshots and within a few min- population of 2.6 million more than 8,700 soldiers, police and civilians. In killed some 17,000 people and forced The attack was swiftly con- Residents and an aid worker said utes the invaders had arrived,” Malam half of whom are refugees. response, Boko Haram has launched more than 2.6 million others to flee demned by the European Union, at least 50 people were killed in the Masa Dalori, a community leader, Known for being the spiritual cross-border attacks from northern their homes since 2009. New era as Suu Kyi’s AU force for Burundi on MPs brace for office hold amid govt refusal AFP the sole message of Suu Kyi’s trium- phant election bid. And that will not be easy. While the junta handed power to a AFP NAYPYIDAW: In a modest dormi- quasi-civilian reformist government tory in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, in 2011, the Southeast nation remains novice MP Tin Thit recites a poem blighted by poverty and corruption. ADDIS ABABA: A proposed he has penned called “No Retreat”, Junta-era neglect has left a peacekeeping force for troubled steeling himself to enter Myanmar’s legacy of ravaged education, health- Burundi was put on hold yester- parliament carrying the dreams of a care, infrastructure and a creaking day, as African leaders pulled back nation left traumatised by army rule. bureaucracy. from sending troops in the face of A poet, editor, activist — and now Ethnic minority divisions have vehement opposition from the gov- newly elected MP — he is among hun- also torn deep fractures across the ernment in Bujumbura. dreds of political newcomers poised nation and civil wars continue to rav- For now, the AU is proposing to take their seats today in the coun- age border areas, fought by a military more talks. The United Nations try’s most democratic legislature that has ensured it will retain huge has warned that Burundi risks a in generations, following the huge political and economic powers under repeat of a 1993-2006 civil war, November landslide win by Aung San the new government. “Our region is with hundreds of people killed Suu Kyi’s National League for Democ- another world,” said Cing Ngaih Mang, since April 2015, when President racy (NLD). a newly elected MP for a small eth- Pierre Nkurunziza announced he “This is our era,” the newly minted nic minority party from western Chin would stand for a controversial Newly-elected National League of Democracy (NLD) members of parliament sit in a bus as they depart the NLD lawmaker said on Saturday as he State, marvelling at the grandeur of third term in office. city development committee compounds for parliament in Naypyidaw. Some 390 NLD MPs are due to take prepared for a last-ditch round of par- Myanmar’s junta-built capital. At least 230,000 people have liamentary training organised by his “The difference in development their seats in the national parliament today, turning the tables on the army-backed party that dominated fled to neighbouring countries. party, brushing off concerns about his is like comparing earth and sky,” the legislature alongside a bloc of unelected military MPs for the last five years. Burundi has consistently and his colleagues’ lack of experience. she said, adding that she had been opposed the idea of the AU’s “This is our responsibility. We will watching parliamentary TV to brush complex political manoeuvring awaits including Suu Kyi, have prior legis- could get by without luxury. planned 5,000-strong peacekeep- just do the job we have to do,” he said. up on protocol. For his part Tin Thit in the coming days. The parliament lative experience, meaning the party Tin Thit said the experience was ing mission, saying the deployment The new parliament marks a never aspired to be a politician. But will shortly nominate a new president has few veterans to show new law- like a reunion, with former cellmates, of troops without its express per- momentous political shift for a coun- he managed to topple former defence to replace incumbent Thein Sein, a makers the ropes. To combat this the school friends and other acquaint- mission would be tantamount to try that was held in the chokehold of minister Wai Lwin in November’s former general, in late March. party has been running workshops in ances gathered together in a the an “invasion force”. oppressive junta rule for decades. vote, winning a lower house seat in Suu Kyi is barred from the recent weeks, while new MPs flocked junta-built capital. The AU charter’s Article 4(h) Many of the NLD MPs have served the military heartland of Naypyidaw. position by a military-scripted con- to Naypyidaw to watch their prede- He served seven years in jail for gives the pan-African bloc the right prison time in Myanmar’s long strug- Some 390 NLD MPs are due to stitution because she married and had cessors in the last days of the previous poems deemed critical of the state. to intervene in a fellow nation state gle for democratic change. They are a take their seats in the national par- children with a foreigner. parliament which ended on Friday. But the 49-year-old is also eager “in respect of grave circumstances, diverse bunch, counting singers, law- liament today, turning the tables on She has vowed to rule “above” the At a series of squat regimented to put the past behind him, in a sen- namely: war crimes, genocide and yers and businessmen among their the army-backed party that domi- next leader, a move that is likely to housing blocks where shabby one- timent that reflects the extraordinary crimes against humanity”. ranks. But few have any experience of nated the legislature alongside a bloc put her at loggerheads with the army storey dorms cost $4 a day, new MPs scenes of camaraderie in the parlia- But a top African Union dip- the cut and thrust of Myanmar’s com- of unelected military MPs for the last which holds an effective veto on char- were moving in. “We can endure it, ment in recent days as the army elite lomat, Ibrahima Fall, said Sunday plex parliamentary process. five years. ter change because it retains a quarter we came here for the country,” said sought to hand over power with grace that sending troops without They will need to show the coun- While the NLD-led parliament of seats in the legislature. one NLD lawmaker who asked to — even throwing a party to mark the Burundi’s approval was “unimag- try’s 51 million people that they can will be seen as essentially a rub- Only around two dozen NLD remain anonymous, adding many occasion. “We need to move forward,” inable,” with the bloc deciding to deliver the “change” that was virtually ber stamp for Suu Kyi’s government, MPs entering parliament Monday, had “served time in prison” and he said. send envoys to hold talks with the government. “There is no will nei- ther to occupy nor to attack,” AU Peace and Security Council chief Benin PM gets Smail Chergui added, saying that “if Burundi accepts it, it will be a oppn support Surgery for ‘Tree Man’ force for disarmament”. Clashes between government for presidential loyalists and the opposition have to remove warts become increasingly violent. “We election want dialogue with the govern- ment, and the summit decided to dispatch a high level delegation,” Reuters AFP other health problems. The massive Chergui told reporters, without warts, which first started appear- giving more details. ing when he was a teenager but Chad’s President Idriss Deby, COTONOU: Benin’s prime min- began spreading rapidly four years speaking after he took over the ister Lionel Zinsou, favoured by DHAKA: A Bangladeshi father ago, have been diagnosed as epi- post of African Union chairman the president to succeed him in dubbed “Tree Man” for massive bark- dermodysplasia verruciformis, an on Saturday, warned colleagues next month’s election, received a like warts on his hands and feet will extremely rare genetic skin disease against inaction. boost on Saturday when the lead- finally have surgery to remove the that makes the person susceptible “Our organisation acts as it has ing opposition party also named growths that first began appearing to skin growths. for the past 20 or 30 years: we meet him as their preferred candidate. 10 years ago, a hospital said yesterday. “Popularly it is known as tree- often, we talk too much, we always In a ceremony declaring their Abul Bajandar, from the southern man disease,” DMCH director write a lot, but we don’t do enough, support, leaders of the PRD party district of Khulna, was undergoing Samanta Lal Sen said. “As far as we and sometimes not all,” Deby said. described Lionel Zinsou as the “con- preparations for the surgery to cut know there are three such cases in Analysts say other African nations sensus candidate” that would bring out the growths weighing at least 5kg the world including Abul Bajandar. It are wary of setting a precedent of prosperity to the tiny West African that have smothered his hands and is the first time we have found such deploying troops against the gov- country whose economy has been feet. “Initially, I thought that they’re a rare case in Bangladesh,” he said. ernment’s wishes. AU leaders have hit by a slowdown in Nigeria. harmless,” the 26-year-old said at Bajandar’s elder sister, Adhuri spent two days debating the crisis “With him, Benin can begin to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Bibi, said hundreds of people have in Burundi at the 54-member bloc’s develop,” said Adrien Houngbédji, “But slowly I lost all my ability to visited their home in Khulna over the summit in Ethiopia, with closed door president of the PRD party. work. There are now dozens of two years to see the “Tree Man”. “Even talks expected to wrap up later. Zinsou said in December that to three inch roots in both my hands. here at the hospital, hundreds have “It was never the intention he was running as the main can- And there are some small ones in my already gathered,” she said. of the African Union to deploy a didate for the ruling FCBE party, legs,” said Bajandar who was forced Bajandar, a father of one, said mission to Burundi without the dispelling fears that President Boni to quit working as a bicycle puller. he tried cutting the warts when consent of Burundian authori- Yayi would defy constitutional A team of doctors has been they first appeared, but it was ties,” Ibrahima Fall, AU Special term limits and seek a third term. formed to perform the operation at extremely painful. “After that I Representative for the Great Lakes He remains that party’s candidate. DMCH, Bangladesh’s largest state- went to a village homeopath and Region, told French radio RFI. Yayi has led the cotton-pro- run hospital, which has decided to herbal specialist. But those medi- “This is unimaginable,” the ducing country since 2006. He is waive costs of the treatment. cines only worsened my condition.” Senegalese diplomat added. Nku- barred under the country’s consti- Tests are underway to ensure He also consulted doctors in runziza’s quest to remain in power tution from standing for a third term Bajandar’s root-like warts can be neighbouring India, but he and his sparked weeks of street protests Abul Bajandar, 26, dubbed “Tree Man” for massive bark-like warts on his and the election, scheduled for Feb- removed surgically without dam- family could not afford the cost of that were brutally suppressed, and ruary 28, is considered wide open. hands and feet, sits at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in Dhaka yesterday. aging major nerves or causing any the operation there. a failed coup. PAKISTAN MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 13

Job prospects drop for Kabul skyline Pakistanis in Mideast

million have found work between Libya. Before Muammar Gaddafi 1971 and 2015. fell in 2011, some 72,610 people had The conflict in Arab Jobs in Kuwait, which had pro- found work there. And while the countries could vided employment to 109,951 trend was on the rise for a while after Pakistanis from 1971 to 2002, have the dictator was killed, doubling from render a large section shrunk dramatically in the years fol- 1,872 in 2012 to 4,543 in 2013. How- of Pakistanis jobless lowing the Arab Spring with only 132 ever, increasing fighting saw that who would have no Pakistanis given jobs in 2014 before fall from 2,121 in 2014 to just eight in rising slightly to 155 in 2015. 2015. At the height of the fighting in option but to return Despite being a major contributor 2014, around 7,040 Pakistanis had home, at which for remittances, the US has seen only to be evacuated from the country. 4,760 Pakistanis find work between Around 700 Pakistanis remained in point the country 1971-2015, while 12,170 were work- Sirte which were advised in August would have another ing in the United Kingdom during 2015 to leave as the situation there this period. deteriorated. economic crisis on its The story in crisis-hit countries, Unrest and uprising in Yemen has hands, an expert said however has been quite different. also affected the Pakistani labour force Iraq hosted 68,133 workers from 1971 there. According to the bureau, only 22 to 2001. After US troops invaded the Pakistanis were employed in Yemen country in 2003 to oust strongman last year as a coalition of Gulf countries Internews Saddam Hussain, the war had meant took on rebels. This was down from little to no job prospects. 137 Pakistanis who found employment A girl holds onto a railing overlooking Kabul city in Afghanistan yesterday. But the situation began to there in 2014. As many as 5,420 Paki- improve 2012 onwards with 2,651 stanis had found employment in Yemen ISLAMABAD: Once a happy hunt- workers having found work there. from 1971 to 2015. ing ground for job seekers, Pakistanis According to the data provided by the Renowned economist Kaiser have seen work prospects in Gulf Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Bengali blamed the government for countries shrink dramatically in Employment, 32 Pakistanis found not doing enough to ensure protec- Hospitals in recent years, most prominently in work there in 2012, jumping to 951 tions for Pakistanis working abroad, war-hit countries such as Syria, Iraq, in 2013 and 1,041 in 2014. and for failing to create economic Malala wants Edhi Yemen and Libya. However, the rise of the Islamic conditions within the country to stop Lahore told According to figures submitted State group in 2015 and the cor- the workforce drain. in the National Assembly recently, as responding counter-action saw a “I know many textile sector to hire private many as 8.7 million Pakistanis have corresponding fall in Pakistani work- industrialists in Karachi who have nominated for Nobel found work overseas between 1971 ers going to Iraq with only 625 people shifted their focus to stock business guards and 2015, over 84 percent of which going there during this time. instead while those in iron and steel has been in Gulf countries. Syria, where Islamic State has a industry are now importing goods Internews Ziauddin Yousafzai, an educa- Internews Saudi Arabia has been the most large footprint and has seen extended from China,” Bengali said as he tionist who ran a school in Swat at popular destination catering to 4.3 global counteraction from the likes of explained how jobs within Pakistan the time of the attempt on Malala’s million Pakistanis (49.4 percent of US, France, Britain and now Russia, were shrinking and causing more life, had started an online petition LAHORE: Hospitals and private all overseas workers) and hence a saw no Pakistanis find a job there in people to explore prospects abroad. PESHAWAR: Nobel Laureate Malala to convince important Pakistanis to clinics were directed yesterday to top source of foreign remittances the past five years. That is not to say, He warned that conflict in Arab Yousafzai has said she nominated nominate Edhi for the Nobel Peace hire private security guards for ($2.89bn between July-December however, that Syria was ever a happy countries could render a large sec- well-known social worker Abdul Prize 2016. their premises. 2015 according to State Bank). hunting ground for Pakistanis with tion of Pakistanis jobless who would Sattar Edhi for the Nobel Peace Prize He has been reminding every- The directive was part of The second largest country to only 346 people finding work there have no option but to return home, at 2016 as he was the most deserving one that the deadline for making the standard operating procedures host Pakistani workers has been between 1971 and 2011. which point the country would have person for the award. nomination is February 1. (SoPs) for security of hospitals, the United Arab Emirates where 2.8 It was a similar story in war-hit another economic crisis on its hands. Malala was talking from Bir- In a recent note as part of Mala- medical colleges and private clin- mingham, United Kingdom where la’s #Edhifornobel Campaign, he ics approved at a meeting between she has been living since October wrote: “Please raise your voice with Adviser to Chief Minister on Health 2012 after undergoing surgery for me for a man who has transformed Khawaja Salman Rafique, vice- Uzair: A failed politician gunshot wounds in her head as a the lives of millions of people and set chancellors of the King Edward result of an attack by Taliban mil- an example to each of us about now Medical University and the Fatima itants in her hometown, Mingora, to live our lives.” Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) but successful gangster in Swat. The completed nominations and principals of all public medical “Abdul Sattar Edhi’s services and should be marked for the attention of colleges and medical superintend- sacrifices are unparalleled. He has the Norwegian Nobel Committee and ents of teaching hospitals. Internews been serving the humanity irrespec- either emailed to postmaster@nobel. The SoPs directed manage- tive of class, creed or gender,” she no or sent via post to the following ments of medical colleges to raise added. address: The Norwegian Nobel Com- boundary walls at their premises KARACHI: They say the bigger they are, the harder According to Malala, it was time mittee Henrik Ibsens gate 51 0255 to eight-feet and to put barbed they fall. And it isn’t a pretty sight when that happens. Edhi’s life-long humanitarian work Oslo Norway. wires on them. It said that guards Pictures of a dishevelled-looking man being escorted was recognized at the global level. Those qualified to nominate should be deployed at all buildings by Rangers personnel took the social media by storm She noted that despite his old age someone for the Nobel Peace Prize in hospitals and medical colleges yesterday. Edhi continued to serve the needy include. The members of national including emergency wards, the The man is none other than Lyari’s self-styled don through his network of services assemblies, governments and states; OPDs and hostels. Sardar Uzair Jan Baloch — the gangster turned wannabe offered by the Edhi Foundation. the international courts; the uni- It said the guards hired in this politician who had challenged the power corridors and Malala, who is still a student, versity rectors, professors of social regard should not be more than 47 set up his own fiefdom in the restive neighbourhood. has spent time promoting Edhi’s sciences, history, philosophy, law years in age. The SoPs also sought At the height of his power, Uzair’s security protocol candidature for the Nobel Peace and theology; the directors of peace installation of CCTV cameras and comprised at least a 100 guards armed with Kalashnik- Prize 2016. She officially nominated and research institutes; the Nobel establishment of control rooms to ovs, AK-47s and even rocket launchers. He would travel Edhi for the award and wrote a let- Laureates, and the board members monitor security measures. around his kingdom in a Land Cruiser, surrounded by ter along with her father, Ziauddin of organisations that have won the Health Department spokesper- his trusted guards. Yousfzai to a number of prominent Nobel Peace Prize. son Ikhlaq Ali Khan also stressed His signature look comprised a starched white shal- people to endorse his nomination. It may be added that the 88-year the need for the hospital staff to Pakistan Rangers escorting Uzair Baloch (centre) to war kameez, a Sindhi cap and a keffiyeh draped over Malala was the co-recipient of old Edhi has dedicated his life to remain vigilant. He said it was his shoulders, exuding an aura of invincibility to those a court in Karachi. the Nobel Peace Prize 2014 along helping others. His Edhi Foundation not possible for security guards around him. with India’s child rights campaigner runs over 1,800 ambulances to give to check every visitor. But the humble-looking man who stepped out in look of dread etched across his face. If there is one word Kailash Satyarthi. free medical aid to anyone in need. He said the hospitals should handcuffs, flanked by paramilitary men on both sides, to describe Uzair’s political life, it would be ‘short’. He She was the youngest winner of The organization also provides maintain a close liaison with hardly exudes the same persona. He had done away with contested the elections for town Nazim in 2001 but lost the Nobel Peace Prize and also the shelter to orphaned children, free police station concerned to ensure the keffiyeh and sat with a grim face in the law enforc- them to Habib Jan. This was the first time that his name first Pashtun and Pakistani to win medical care, drug rehabilitation a timely response to any emer- ers’ vehicle. His confident smile has been replaced by a appeared on Lyari’s political map. the prestigious award. services and disaster relief. gency. Khan said medical colleges and teaching hospitals were also asked to hire retired army officers not less than the rank of major or colonel to conduct security audits. Obama forced to rethink Afghan troop numbers Lahore Literary festival to kick off AP to the next president. “They are just hoping that virtually on their own last year for the first time Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s ambas- things hold together and they won’t have to face since the US invasion in 2001. Nato officials have sador to the United States, acknowledged on February 19 a decision on whether to actually implement the told The Associated Press that Afghan troops that Kunduz was a setback. But he said it also force reduction they’re talking about until late are displaying prowess yet suffering sustained reminded Afghans what life was like under the WASHINGTON: Fifteen years into the war that summer, early fall, by which time the admin- heavy casualties — 28 percent higher in 2015 Taliban. “They don’t want to return to that,” Internews few Americans talk about any more, conditions istration will be on its last legs,” Dobbins said. than before the international combat mission he said. In the south, Afghan army units have in Afghanistan are getting worse, preventing Top military officials, as well as Republicans ended in December 2014. been engaged in fierce fights with the Taliban for the clean ending that President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress, think that trimming Lt Gen John “Mick” Nicholson, Obama’s pick months in Helmand province, where militants LAHORE: The fourth edition of the hoped to impose before leaving office. the force any more during Obama’s presidency to be the next top US commander in Afghani- sow more than $3bn a year in opium revenue. three-day Lahore Literary Festival Violence is on the rise, the Taliban are is a bad idea. Republican Sen. John McCain of stan, said at his Senate confirmation hearing The Afghan army in Helmand has been plagued (LLF) will start from February 19, a staging new offensives, the Islamic State group Arizona, chairman of the Senate Armed Serv- that the Afghan security forces have “more than by incompetence and corruption. The Afghan statement said yesterday. is angling for a foothold and peace prospects ices Committee, said Thursday that Afghanistan held their own against the insurgency,” but are military recently fired and replaced top Afghan “This year’s three-day, free and are dim. Afghanistan remains a danger zone. was in a “crisis situation.” not yet “self-sustainable.” army leaders there. open-to-public event will feature It’s hobbled by a weak economy that’s sapping Initially, Obama announced plans to reduce Asked whether the US effort in 2015 had Also in the south, US and Afghan forces last some of the most insightful voices public confidence in the new government. the force to 5,500 troops by the end of last year, resulted in gains or losses, Nicholson replied: year killed 150 to 200 Al Qaeda members in a from home and abroad in reward- Afghan police and soldiers are struggling to and to 1,000 by the end of 2016. Last fall, Obama “The Taliban came at the Afghan security forces large training camp, complete with tunnels, that ing, thought-provoking discussions hold together the country 13 months after the changed his mind, saying the situation remained more intensely than perhaps we anticipated. was discovered in neighboring Kandahar prov- on literature and arts,” said Razi U.S.-led military coalition culled its numbers too fragile for the American military to leave. Because of that, we did not make the advances ince, another militant stronghold. Ahmed, Founder and Chief Exec- by 90 percent. He announced plans to keep the current force we ... thought we would make.” A current Afghan official, who spoke on utive Officer of the LLF. The bottom line: For a second time, Obama of about 9,800 in place through most of 2016 to When US and other foreign troops left on condition of anonymity because he was not “Lahore has historically been is rethinking his plan to drop U.S. troop levels perform not in an offensive combat role but to an announced schedule, the Taliban pounced. authorized to speak to the media, acknowl- the firmament of big ideas,” he said. from 9,800 to 5,500 before he leaves office in continue counterterrorism missions and advise Last fall, they briefly seized Kunduz, a city edged the army’s many setbacks this year, but “The LLF is all about celebrating January 2017. Afghans battling a resurgent Taliban. of 300,000 in northern Afghanistan. It marked said the Taliban had sought to achieve major the intellectual and creative vital- “I don’t see any drawdowns” in the near It’s been a tough year on the Afghan the militants’ first capture of a major city since victories after the US-led coalition announced ity of this city, its cosmopolitan and future, said James Dobbins, Obama’s former battlefield. before the US-led invasion and was marred by it would end its combat mission on December 31, syncretic past, its storied cultural special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan soldiers and policemen — bank- the mistaken US strike on a charity hospital run 2015. Instead, they failed to retake huge swaths contributions, and its place in the He predicted Obama would leave the decision rolled by $4.1bn in US taxpayer money — fought by Doctors Without Borders, killing 42 people. of land, the official said. global literary world today.” 14 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 INDIA Top diplomat behind push for UN Security Council bid

IANS Permanent Representative, Courtenay Rat- other issues to India interacting in a more Commission on Crime Prevention and Crim- tray, the former head of the reform process inclusive and open manner with other coun- inal Justice and the Executive Board of the UN known as the Intergovernmental Negotiations tries. “Inclusiveness gives India the strength,” Children’s Fund (Unicef). (IGN). he said. “That is why we get cooperation from “The yardstick of a nation’s strength is in UNITED NATIONS: When serious negotia- On the final day of the last session of the other countries.” elections,” he said. And this can be measured tions on Security Council reforms finally begin General Assembly, Kutesa, who is also the for- Sylvie Lucas, the Luxembourg Permanent by the fact that India has won every election this week based on a framework document, eign minister of Uganda, had the negotiating Representative who succeeded Rattray as the it contested during his tenure. they will be a legacy of Asoke Kumar Muke- text adopted. head of the IGN, is to convene this week the Another high point of Mukerji’s term was rji (pictured) who worked incessantly during China and Pakistan and other members first meeting that will be based on the nego- India’s role in helping develop UN’s ambi- his tenure as India’s top diplomat at the UN to of the UfC as well as Russia were overcome tiating text. tious development goals for the next 15 years move ahead the long-stalled process. by the breadth of the support for the negotiat- India’s chances of getting a permanent known as Agenda 2030. Earlier such agenda His peers at the UN acknowledge the lead- ing text that they ended their opposition and seat on the Council hinge on the outcome of were top-down affairs, but this time the devel- ership of Mukerji in mobilising support for the it was adopted unanimously by the Assembly. the negotiations. oping nations that are most directly involved text-based negotiations to break decades But there was a last minute attempt using In a twist to the popular diplomatic dic- participated in setting the goals. of deadlock and standing up to last minute some UN staffers to sabotage it. Under pres- tum that nations have no permanent friends “Eradication of poverty is the objective machinations against it during his tenure as sure from China and some other countries, but only permanent interests, despite the of Agenda 2030, and India spearheaded this India’s Permanent Representative that ended they tried to change the wording of Kutesa’s unfriendly bout with Beijing on Council issue in the negotiations,” Mukerji said. “The in December. agreed communication with the negotiating reforms, Mukerji turned first to China for get- major takeaways for India are the inclusion “Ambassador Mukerji is a formidable, pro- democratic and legitimate Security Council text drafted in July before sending it out. ting the UN to declare the International Yoga of Economic Goals such as infrastructure, fessional diplomat, highly competent, highly representation.” Mukerji, who has the look of a gentle, grey- Day. Mukerji explained to IANS that getting employment, Smart Cities, etc for the first time respected by his peers,” said Antonio Patriota, The reform movement in the UN had been haired academic, went on the offensive and, China to endorse the proposal would be seen as Development Goals, and also the identifi- a former foreign minister of Brazil. stifled for years mainly by China and a group backed by British, French and other diplomats, as a sign of the idea’s universality and get other cation of energy as a goal.” “He played a specially significant role in of 13 countries known as Uniting for Consen- threatened a walkout from their meeting. The countries to line up behind it. Even as some On the last day of 2015, the Council con- coordinating the L-69, which is a coalition of sus (UfC), which is led by Italy and includes staffers backed down and the agreed text was in India expressed misgivings about it, 177 ceded a key demand by India in the area of developing countries, large and small, from Pakistan. sent out and eventually adopted. nations co-sponsored the Yoga Day resolution peacekeeping operations. Mukerji had cam- Africa, Latin America, Middle East and Asia” They created a Catch 22 situation by block- Mukerji developed ties to key groups of and Islamic nations supported its unanimous paigned persistently for the troop contributing that works for Council reform. ing the adoption of a negotiating text, saying it nations, large and small, backed by initiatives passage at the UN. countries to be consulted on peacekeeping Brazil and India constitute along with couldn’t be done unless there was a consensus, in New Delhi like outreach to Pacific island To get the Chinese interested, Mukerji told mandates and operations. Japan and Germany a group known as G-4, while a consensus couldn’t be reached with- nations, the India-Africa summit and devel- them about the joint yoga programme that US Permanent Representative Saman- which works together for the expansion of the out a text on which to base the negotiations. opment assistance to various nations. schools in New Delhi and Shanghai held dur- tha Power, who presided over the Council in Council and mutually support each other for Sam Kutesa, the president of last Gen- Patriota noted that beyond his role in the ing Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan’s visit to a December, admitted the consultation proc- permanent seats on it. eral Assembly session, took the decisive step L-69, Mukerji “also established a network of south Delhi school. ess had been flawed and said on behalf of the “Brazil and India coordinated vigorously last year to create a negotiating text based relationships with our colleagues.” And he, During Mukerji’s UN tenure that started Council that there should be be full participa- on this issue,” said Patriota, now his country’s on a survey of opinions of member nations along with the IGN, was able to call on this net- in April 2013, India won several elections to tion by the troop contributing countries and UN Permanent Representative. Mukerji was a on Council reform. Over 120 countries took work to support the text-based negotiations. UN bodies, including a re-election to the UN that these should extend to other important “very articulate spokesman for India, for its part in the survey carried out by the Jamaican Mukerji attributed the success in this and Human Rights Council, and elections to the areas beyond mandates. Badal wades Fitness first into parade controversy

The Sikh community has been Sikh community at loggerheads with the French gov- ernment due to the latter’s ban on hurt by exclusion students wearing turbans in schools of regiment from in France as it was seen as a reli- parade: Leader gious symbol. “The Republic Day parade is always regarded as a great occasion to showcase India’s multi-cultural and multi-religious identity, high- IANS lighting its secular ethos. “As a vibrant and fiercely patri- otic minority community in the country, the Sikhs are always seen CHANDIGARH: The controversy as the most powerful symbol of this over the exclusion of the Sikh Regi- multi-dimensional identity and sec- ment from the Republic Day parade ular character of the country,” Badal in Delhi refuses to die down, with said. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh “The exclusion of the Sikh Reg- Badal yesterday describing the epi- iment from the parade would be Youth exercise near the sea front on a hazy morning in Mumbai. sode as “sad and regrettable” in a regrettable at any time but it was letter to Prime Minister Narendra doubly so this year because of the Modi and saying that the commu- presence of the French president as nity was “hurt”. a special guest at the event. In his letter, Badal said “the “The Sikhs have been facing absence of the Sikh regiment from several practices in France which the Republic Day parade was sad and amount to the denial of freedom to Disabled passenger ‘crawls on airport tarmac’ regrettable”. observe the fundamental religious Badal urged the central govern- practices to the community, includ- ment to issue necessary instructions ing a ban on the wearing of turbans and guidelines “to ensure that the one of the five symbols of their reli- AFP on Saturday evening. After being landed there was none and all they the Press Trust of India. It is not the Sikh Regiment is never kept out of gion,” Badal said. helped down steps from the plane by said was there were security reasons.” first time India’s state carrier, which Republic Day parade in future”. Incidentally, the French presi- airline staff and a friend, Ghai said no Ghai, who is confined to a wheel- has not made a profit since 2007, “A widespread feeling of hurt and dent started his India tour on January wheelchair was available for her to chair after suffering polio as a child, has been in the news for the wrong resentment (has been) caused by the 24 from Chandigarh, the joint cap- NEW DELHI: A disabled passenger reach the terminal-bound bus sev- described the incident as shocking reasons. non-inclusion of the Sikh Regiment ital of Punjab and Haryana which said yesterday she was forced to crawl eral metres away. and embarrassing. Last month, a London-bound in the Republic Day parade where was designed by French architect Le on New Delhi airport’s tarmac after “We were kept waiting on the Air India denied the incident, flight was forced to return to Mum- French President Francois Hollande Corbusier. Hollande was received at Air India failed to provide a wheel- tarmac for half an hour before a pas- saying there was a delay in bringing bai after three hours in the air over was the chief guest,” Badal said in the Chandigarh airport by Haryana chair when her plane landed, an senger coach came to pick me up. I the wheelchair because the plane a suspected rat sighting in the cabin. the letter. Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, who allegation the carrier denies. had to crawl on the tarmac to board was parked in an outlying bay. “We A plane carrying 160 passengers According to reports, the Sikh is also the acting Punjab governor, Anita Ghai, 53, a leading disabil- the coach,” Ghai told AFP. strongly deny the statement... We at was forced this month to return to Regiment, which had participated Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal ity rights activist, said she was left “I kept on reminding the staff to Air India give utmost importance Delhi almost 30 minutes into a Milan- in the parade earlier, was excluded Khattar and Chandigarh MP Kirron stranded after arriving in Delhi from arrange a wheelchair throughout the to passenger’s safety and comfort,” bound flight after smoke was detected this time. Kher. the northern Indian city of Dehradun journey but to my shock when we it said in a statement, according to in the cabin. Candidates wrap up campaign for Hyderabad municipal elections

IANS candidates and workers conducted of the city. For the ruling Telan- Andhra and Rayalaseema regions Hyderabad as a global city. with his younger brother and party door to door canvassing. gana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), several settled here. The TRS is contesting all 150 leader in Telangana assembly, As many as 1,333 candidates will ministers led by K Tarakarama Rao Tarakarama Rao, son of Chief seats. The chief minister has indicated Akbaruddin Owaisi. fight it out for the 150 divisions of the campaigned for the party candidates. Minster K Chandrasekhar Rao, has that the party may have a post-poll Congress, the main opposition HYDERABAD: Campaigning came municipal body. About 7.5 million Stakes are high for TRS as it thrown a challenge at the opposition, alliance with Majlis-e-Ittehadul Mus- party in Telangana, is contesting all to an end last evening for tomor- voters are eligible to exercise their is making a debut in Hyderabad’s saying he will quit if the TRS fails to limeen (MIM) to capture key posts of seats. National general secretary row’s elections to Greater Hyderabad franchise. municipal polls. It is a major test for win 100 seats in 150-member body. mayor and deputy mayor. Digvijay Singh, party’s Telangana unit Municipal Corporation. Federal ministers M Venkaiah the party which was not considered The campaigning saw TRS high- MIM, a key player in Hyderabad’s president Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leaders of major political parties Naidu and Prakash Javadekar strong in the city with a sizeable pop- lighting the welfare and development politics, had bagged 43 seats in 2009 others campaigned for the party. They including federal and state ministers addressed some election meetings in ulation from Andhra Pradesh. schemes launched by it during the last elections and had shared power with claimed that Hyderabad developed criss-crossed the city on the final day the city on the last day, urging peo- The TRS, which was considered 18 months. In its manifesto, the party then ruling Congress party. It is con- during Congress rule. The GHMC polls to campaign for their candidates. ple to vote for the Bharatiya Janata “anti-Andhraites” during the move- promised to protect the cosmopoli- testing 75 seats this time. are also a major test of strength for All the parties were involved in Party-Telugu Desam Party (BJP-TDP) ment for separate Telangana state, tan culture of the city, provide basic MIM chief and Hyderabad MP the TDP-BJP alliance after its defeat extensive campaigning and leaders, alliance to ensure real development tried to reach out to voters from amenities and ensure development of Asaduddin Owaisi led the campaign in 2014 general elections in Telangana. INDIA MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 15

Kejriwal speaks Little rider for striking cleaning staff

Patparganj, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra swept the streets in Karawal Aam Aadmi Party Nagar, both in east Delhi. (AAP) leaders clean Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel also led a team in Shahdara garbage across the area in east Delhi to clear the gar- capital bage littered on the streets. Other AAP legislators and resi- dents undertook cleanliness drives in various residential areas. IANS “The AAP is of the view that any part of Delhi cannot be allowed to remain dirty. It is shocking the civic agencies — the three munic- NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind ipal corporations — have failed in Kejriwal yesterday supported strik- their primary and obligatory duty ing sanitation employees of Delhi’s of keeping the city clean,” it said in three main civic bodies seeking sal- a statement. aries as AAP leaders cleared garbage “Due to largescale corrup- across the capital. tion and mismanagement, the “I support (the) demand of pro- three MCDs have financially and Children pose with UK-made Panther Sloper vintage motorcycle during a Vintage Classic Car Rally in Kolkata, yesterday. More than two testing MCD (Municipal Corporation functionally collapsed. The corpo- hundred foreign vintage cars and motorbikes were on display at the event. of Delhi) employees that they should rations are even unable to explain get their full salaries,” the Aam how they have spent the planned Aadmi Party (AAP) leader tweeted. and unplanned budgetary grants “I hope some solution will emerge” provided to them by the Delhi gov- after Tuesday’s hearing on the issue ernment,” the party said. in the Delhi High Court, he added. “It is condemnable that despite The president of the Mazdoor having received the entire budget- Former milkman arrested for cheating 100 ATM users Vikas Sanyukta Morcha, Sanjay ary amount before time and having Gehlot, however said that the strike been given the concession by the by sanitation workers will continue Delhi government of not seeking till their demands were met. any repayment of the Rs60bn out- IANS (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said Murslin, Mobin, Mubarik, Wasim, and pressed the ‘clear’ button, due “We are going to meet Lt Gov- standing loan and even the interest the gang adopted different modus Salim, Shahid, Mustkim, Sahabuddin, to which no money came out. ernor Najeeb Jung on Monday amount from the MCDs for the operandi, depending on the situation, Hamid, Isha, Kallu, Jamshed and Asif. “In the meantime, another mem- afternoon to discuss the whole current financial year, these cor- and targeted only those ATMs where Imran and Asif were recently ber of the gang would enter the ATM issue,” he said. porations instead of paying their NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old man has no security guard was deployed. arrested by Haryana Police in a booth claiming that it was not work- Sanitation workers have been on employees salaries have provoked been arrested here for cheating over Imran and his associates cheated similar case. He has disclosed his ing. Believing them, the customer strike demanding immediate pay- them to go on strike.” 100 people by withdrawing money over a hundred people at different involvement in more than a hundred would leave without cancelling the ment of salaries and pending back The Delhi government on Sat- from their accounts on the pretext of ATMs in Delhi and the National Cap- cheating cases, said the officer. transaction, and the gang members wages. In some areas, they have not urday formed a task force as part helping them use ATM booths, police ital Region, the officer said. “One gang member would enter would withdraw the amount,” the only refused to clear garbage but of special arrangements to remove said yesterday. A former milkman, Imran was the ATM booth on the pretext of officer said. At times, the officer said, have littered it on the streets. garbage across the national capital. The accused, identified as Imran, arrested from Mahipalpur in south extending help to the victim to with- the gang would observe the secret PIN While Deputy Chief Minister The public works department a resident of Palwal in Haryana, Delhi on a tip off on Saturday. draw money. As soon as the ATM user of some customers and interchange Manish Sisodia cleaned the gar- of the city government deployed 93 formed a gang of fellow villagers. A hunt is on to nab the other gang entered the amount to be withdrawn, their ATM cards on the pretext of bage in his assembly constituency vehicles to clean the garbage dumps. Joint Commissioner of Police members — Waris, Irshad, Khalid, the accused diverted his attention helping them.

Scientists A tent city find betel Mufti’s daughter wants leaf’s health BJP to keep promise benefits

IANS Mehboobaji’s views on government IANS formation,” a party leader said. “She told them she was not averse to government formation, but KOLKATA: The next time you SRINAGAR: PDP President Meh- she won’t burn her fingers for noth- hear the words “Meetha patta” booba Mufti yesterday told her ing. She spoke about Mufti Sahib or “Madrasi patta”, don’t ignore party’s core group that she was not taking a big decision by deciding to the humble heart-shaped pop- averse to forming the government in form an alliance with the BJP but ular mouth-freshener. Paan or Jammu and Kashmir but this cannot his dream remained largely unad- betel leaf could provide the key happen unless she has assurances dressed during his 10-month tenure,” to unlock an arsenal of anti- from the ally BJP that her late father’s said the source. inflammatory drugs, claim Indian vision would be fulfilled. According to him, Mehbooba researchers. Scientists at Univer- Presiding over the meeting of Mufti said that she cannot decide sity of Calcutta and Indian Institute Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to claim power in the state simply of Chemical Biology here have leaders, Mehbooba Mufti, accord- because that would make her the examined nine varieties of betel ing to party sources, said she needed chief minister. leaf and identified the ones that concrete assurances from the coali- From yesterday’s closed-door can reduce inflammation. tion partner Bharatiya Janata Party PDP deliberations, it has become A part of India’s food culture, that the vision of late chief minis- clear that the impasse over the gov- ayurvedic texts have mentioned ter Mufti Muhammad Sayeed about ernment formation in the state will the medicinal properties and ther- equitable development and peace in continue. apeutic effects of the betel leaf. A general view of a giant tent city built for pilgrims attending the Magh Mela, a month-long Hindu the state would be fulfilled. Jammu and Kashmir was placed “Usually people general- “The core group meeting was under Governor’s rule on January 8 festival, in Allahabad, yesterday. ise paan as one variety and don’t called today to basically discuss after Sayeed passed away on January know that some varieties could party affairs like its member- 7 in New Delhi after a brief illness, be causing them harm in the ship campaign and reaching out and Mehbooba Mufti did not step long run,” Ena Ray Banerjee of to people. However, some lead- forward to stake claim to form the the university’s Immunology and ers and legislators wanted to know government. Regenerative Medicine Research Laboratory told IANS. “Among the nine varieties, five showed anti-inflammatory Train set on fire in Andhra unrest properties, one showed the ten- dency to cause inflammation and three didn’t show significant IANS Violence broke out around 3pm The protesters later attacked anti-inflammatory activity,” Ban- during a large rally organised by Tuni railway station and ransacked erjee said on the sidelines of the Kapu State Committee at Tuni to the furniture. Four railway employ- “Frontiers in Translational and demand inclusion of Kapus in the ees were injured. Regenerative Biology” conference VISAKHAPATNAM: Violence broke backward classes list and job reser- The agitators also set on fire Tuni yesterday. out in Andhra Pradesh’s East Goda- vation. Kapu leaders declared they rural police station. Five policemen The findings were presented vari district yesterday as thousands will not lift the blockade till the gov- were injured as stones rained on at the conference and, according of protesters from Kapu caste set on ernment issued an order to meet their them. Dozens of trains were stopped to Banerjee, will pave the way for fire a train, blocked rail tracks and demands. at various stations in coastal Andhra the “possible development of new vehicles, police said. Soon the protestors marched due to the violence and the presence class of anti-inflammatory drugs”. The protesters also set ablaze a towards the track and stopped Visa- of protesters on the tracks. Inflammation, such as pain, police station in Tuni, a town in East khapatnam-Vijayawada Ratnachal With the situation going out soreness or swellings, are impor- Godavari district, about 100km from Express near Tuni railway station. of control, additional forces were tant immune responses and Visakhapatnam. They attacked the engine and set on rushed to the region. Chief Minis- several naturally occurring All trains between Vijayawada fire eight coaches after ordering pas- ter N Chandrababu Naidu called an products have the power to curb and Visakhapatnam and vehicular sengers to get down. emergency cabinet meeting. Trouble inflammation. Banerjee said the traffic on Chennai-Kolkata national A railway official said no one was began soon after M Padmanabham, study also links environmental highway came to a halt as thousands injured in the incident but passen- a senior Kapu leader, announced at influence to the anti-inflamma- of protestors squatted on tracks and gers including women and children the rally that they will not tolerate File picture of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba tory attributes of paan. the highway. fled in panic. any further delay. Mufti at a protest in Srinagar. 16 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 EUROPE Migrant influx Support for Merkel dips to 2012 low: Survey AFP shedding one percentage point to 24 recourse to their firearms —as laid While Merkel does not face percent, according to the poll of 1,638 down by law.” national elections until 2017, regional people conducted from January 21 to 27. “No policeman wants to fire on a elections in three states in March will worries German Meanwhile, the populist Alter- refugee and I don’t want that either. be a key test of support, with the AfD BERLIN: Support for German Chan- native for Germany (AfD), which on But as a last resort there should be hoping to pick up seats at her par- cellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Saturday sparked a storm by suggest- recourse to firearms,” said Petry in ty’s expense. alliance has slumped to its lowest ing that police should be allowed to comments to the Mannheimer Mor- A poll published on Friday by news since July 2012 as opposition over her shoot migrants to stop them from gen regional daily that drew a flurry weekly Focus found that 40 percent conservatives liberal refugee policy grows, a survey entering Germany, scored a record of criticism. of respondents want Merkel to resign. showed yesterday, while a right-wing 12 percent, gaining two percentage With 1.1 million asylum seekers Nevertheless, a subsequent poll com- populist party polled a record high. points on a similar poll published a arriving in Germany in 2015, con- missioned by Focus found that, with 41 the government’s handling of the According to the poll published week ago. cerns are growing over the country’s percent, Merkel came in top as the poli- refugee crisis, said the government by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Founded on a eurosceptic plat- ability to integrate the newcomers. tician whom the public believe can best The number of was negotiating with some countries public support for Merkel’s Christian form, the AfD has gone through a After a decade in power Mer- manage the migrant crisis. migrants must go including Turkey about taking back Democratic Union and sister party leadership split and veered further kel has come under fierce pressure Runner up with 38 percent was criminal refugees who arrived via Christian Social Union now stands at to the right, with some of its leaders to review her open-arms approach Bavaria’s premier Horst Seehofer, down and criminal non-EU countries. just 34 percent, down two percent- voicing support for the anti-Islamic towards those fleeing war, with who has been a vocal critic of Merkel’s refugees could be “That can then mean that such age points. PEGIDA protest movement. emotions heightened after a rash of liberal stance. Finance Minister Wolf- refugees are not deported to their The Social Democratic Party — On Saturday, its chairwoman assaults in Cologne on New Year’s gang Schaeuble polled 34 percent and deported, said senior home countries - if civil war is rag- the junior partner in Merkel’s left-right Frauke Petry said border police Eve police blamed mostly on North Social Democrat chief Sigmar Gabriel German conservatives ing there, for example - but rather grand coalition, has also lost ground, “should be able if need be to have Africans. with 30 percent. to the country via which they came into the EU,” said Altmaier, who is also Merkel’s chief of staff. Reuters He said Germany was work- ing closely with Turkey, Jordan and Migrants rescued Lebanon to host most of the refu- gees until there was peace in Syria BERLIN: Senior German conserv- and Iraq. atives sought at the weekend to A spokesman for his office reassure Germans concerned about declined to comment on the state a record migrant influx, saying num- of negotiations. bers must go down and criminal On Wednesday Merkel’s coali- refugees could be deported as a poll tion government backed a new law showed support for the bloc slipping. to make it easier to deport foreign Concerns about crime and nationals who commit crimes. security have mounted since men Interior Minister Thomas de of north African and Arab appear- Maiziere suggested in magazine ance assaulted women in Cologne Der Spiegel that Germany could not at New Year. accept economic migrants. Chancellor Angela Merkel said “It is impossible for Germany most refugees from Syria and Iraq to take in all the refugees from the would go home once the conflicts world’s crisis regions. And this espe- there had ended and urged other cially applies to those people not European countries to offer more from Syria who are coming here for help “because the numbers need to a better life,” he said. be reduced even further and must not Reiner Haseloff, the CDU state start to rise again, especially in spring”. premier of Saxony-Anhalt, told Welt The record influx and associ- am Sonntag newspaper that Ger- ated concerns are taking their toll many could no longer accept the politically, with support for Merkel’s “loss of control” at its borders and conservative Christian Democratic said ordinary Germans would only Union (CDU) and its Bavarian Chris- remain prepared to help if there tian Social Union (CSU) sister party was a “strict reduction” of numbers falling by 2 percentage points to 34 arriving. percent in an Emnid survey for Bild Concerns about migrants have am Sonntag. boosted support for the right-wing That was its lowest level in Alternative for Germany (AfD), that survey since July 2012, though with the Emnid survey putting it on another pollster has already shown 12 percent, marking it as the third them at 32.5 percent. strongest political force in Germany In an interview with the same after Merkel’s bloc and their junior Some of the 10 immigrants arrive at Tarifa, southern Spain, after being rescued at sea as they were crossing the Straight of Gibraltar on newspaper, Peter Altmaier, who coalition partner, the Social Demo- a small boat to the Spanish coast, yesterday. Merkel has tasked with overseeing crats (SPD). Austria plans to step up deportations of migrants Veteran BBC presenter

Reuters of people who poured into Europe, cap the number of asylum claims at crisis has faced opposition and delays, many of them fleeing war and pov- 127,500 over the next four years. Vienna has increasingly said it will act Terry Wogan dies at 77 erty in the Middle East, Afghanistan Now the government has decided alone to bring down the number of and elsewhere. to carry out at least 50,000 deporta- migrants reaching its border if it has to. VIENNA: Austria will step up depor- Despite an initial outpouring of tions in the same period. By adding new states to its list AFP tations of migrants and is adding sympathy for the migrants, public It will also offer up to €500 ($542) of “safe countries of origin”, Aus- Morocco, Algeria and other states to concern about the influx have fuelled to migrants whose asylum applica- tria will be able to send people from a list of countries it deems safe, ena- a rise in support for the far right in tions have been turned down if they those states back under an accel- bling it to send people back there Austria, and opposition to the coali- agree to be deported. erated process in which a ruling is LONDON: BBC presenter Terry more quickly, government minis- tion government of Social Democrats “We are already among the coun- reached in days rather than months, Wogan (pictured), one of Brit- tries said yesterday. and conservatives has grown. tries with most deportations,” Interior Mikl-Leitner said. ish television’s most familiar faces Austria and neighbouring Ger- In an apparent move to address Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said. “We are declaring Morocco, and long-running anchor of its many threw open their borders in those concerns, the government “But we will increase the rate further.” Algeria and Tunisia safe countries of Eurovision coverage, died of can- September to hundreds of thousands announced this month that it would As a joint European solution to the origin,” she said. cer yesterday aged 77, his family announced. Irish-born Wogan had a success- ful television career, most notably anchoring Britain’s flagship chat At least 12 dead Carnival parade show during the 1980s, and hosted a hugely popular radio show for 27 in Moscow years, retiring in 2009. Bowie refusing to cooperate. Prime Minister David Cameron “David Bowie, well he probably factory fire said Britain had lost a huge talent. wasn’t at his best when I interviewed “I grew up listening to him on the him,” he later said. radio and watching him on TV,” he “I thought a solid slap would AFP wrote on Twitter. “His charm and wit have helped the situation. I didn’t always made me smile. hit him, of course, but it came close.” “Britain has lost a huge talent — Tony Hall, the BBC’s director MOSCOW: At least 12 people, someone millions came to feel was general, led the tributes, calling including three children, perished their own special friend,” he added. Wogan “a national treasure”. in a fire in a Moscow factory that Wogan started his career as a “For 50 years Sir Terry graced caused the roof to collapse, Rus- banker in Ireland but after five years our screens and airwaves,” he sian authorities said yesterday. left to become a radio newsreader, added. “His warmth, wit and geni- Investigators said the blaze beginning a remarkable broadcast ality meant that for millions he was engulfed an area covering 3,000 career that was recognised with a part of the family.” square metres in a factory situated first an OBE and then a knighthood Broadcaster and journalist Piers in the east of the Russian capital, in 2005. Morgan called him “one of the great- which makes clothing according He began presenting the BBC est broadcasters who ever lived”. to the local media. Radio 2 breakfast show in 1972, Wogan offered commentary “Twelve bodies were recov- helping it become Europe’s most- on the Eurovision Song Contest ered” at the site, emergency listened radio broadcast with a from 1980 until 2008, garnering ministry spokeswoman Oksana combination of smooth Irish charm a huge following with his light- Zolotova told TASS news agency. and a subversive sense of fun. hearted cynicism of the kitsch music Authorities said the victims of He also hosted BBC TV chat show competition. the fire were likely migrants who Wogan from 1982 until 1992, presid- In an address to Eurovision del- worked and lived at the factory. ing over many memorable moments egates shortly after handing over “Preliminary evidence sug- watched by millions of viewers. the British commentary to fellow gests that migrants lived at their They included football leg- Irishman Graham Norton, Wogan workplace, some even with their end George Best turning up drunk, criticised countries who voted children.” former sports presenter David Icke together along political lines in the The fire broke out at around proclaiming himself as “a son of the annual singing contest. 1800 GMT on Saturday and was Revellers in costumes dance during a carnival parade in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. Godhead”, US actor Chevy Chase He told them to stop taking the only extinguished around five remaining silent throughout the event so seriously because “every- hours later, authorities said. interview and music icon David body knows it is rubbish”. EUROPE MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 17

Tough Guy race Risk of IS crossing Cameron to Mediterranean with refugees: seek ‘brake’ French minister on EU benefits AFP PARIS: Islamic State fighters hid- ing among refugees travelling from Libya to Italy pose a “major risk” to resolve the underlying problem.” to Europe, French Defence Minister The meeting with Tusk expects to Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday. Cameron is under publish draft proposals on how to Le Drian said there was an pressure from his reform Britain’s relationship with the “urgent” need for a political solu- EU, which Cameron can then use to tion to the crisis in Libya to help own party, which has campaign against a so-called “Brexit”. combat the spread of the Islamic a strong eurosceptic Cameron is under increasing pressure State group (IS), which now has from his own centre-right Con- several thousand fighters in the contingent, to come servative party, which has a strong North African country. back with a eurosceptic contingent, to come back “Daesh is installing itself,” Le robust deal with a robust deal. Opinion polls cur- Drian told French TV, using the rently suggest that Britons would vote Arabic acronym for the IS group. to leave the EU by a small margin. “I have been very worried British officials hope that a final about Libya since September 2014. deal can be nailed down at a Brus- They are there, nearly 300km from AFP sels summit being held on February the coast, and they are spreading.” 18 and 19. That could then open the He said that put IS only 350 door to a referendum in June. km from the Italian island of But Cameron insists he is willing Lampedusa, the arrival point LONDON: Prime Minister David to hold out to secure the right package for thousands of migrants and Cameron is to propose curbing the of reforms, if necessary delaying the refugees leaving Libya for the benefits European Union migrants referendum until September. European Union. can claim in negotiations with EU Cameron has set out four areas “When good weather comes to president Donald Tusk ahead of in which he wants reform —migrant the Mediterranean, there is the risk a referendum on whether Britain benefits, safeguards against more that (IS fighters) could make the should leave the bloc. political integration in the EU, pro- crossing, mixing in with refugees. Under Cameron’s proposal, tection of countries such as Britain It’s a major risk,” said Le Drian. an “emergency brake” to in-work which do not use the euro currency “Everyone is aware of the dan- benefits would come into force and boosting economic competitive- ger of transferring the conflict in immediately after the referendum, ness. The main sticking point has Syria and Iraq where we are starting due to be held by 2017. been Cameron’s insistence that EU to see some positive elements, to a “What form an emergency brake migrants employed in Britain must new conflict in Libya,” he said, add- takes is set to be the main issue at wait four years before claiming cer- ing that a political solution was the dinner in Downing St after the EU tain welfare payments. “only way to eradicate” the problem. institutions backed down last week “The Prime Minister intends to “There must be a government and conceded that EU nationals leave Tusk in no doubt that he will of national unity. There’s a serious should have to pay into the UK wel- not do a deal at any price,” added the political process under way, sup- fare system before receiving benefits,” source. Tusk’s visit comes after Cam- ported by the UN Security Council. a senior government source said. “A eron held a hastily-arranged meeting I think it’s urgent.” Libya has been deal will only be possible if a brake with European Commission chief in chaos. It now has two govern- would apply to current levels of Jean-Claude Juncker to try to resolve ments and parliaments, with the EU migration to Britain, could be the British leader’s main concern — recognised authorities based in triggered immediately after the refer- reducing the number of EU migrants Competitors jump through fire during the Tough Guy event in Perton, Britain, yesterday. the eastern city of Tobruk and a endum and would apply long enough coming to Britain. militia-backed authority in Tripoli. Armed man Bavarian leader defends planned visit to Moscow at Disneyland Reuters Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “We have prepared this trip very warn the Russians that they need to “One organises resistance among German-Russian relations are carefully ... and we are not pursuing stop the hybrid falsification of infor- the conservatives to a humanitarian tense amid concern that Moscow is any parallel foreign policy,” Seehofer mation and the undercover financing refugee policy while the other uses Paris to trying to stoke popular discontent told ZDF television, adding it was of radical right-wing networks,” he his propaganda network to mobilise BERLIN: Bavarian state premier here over claims by a 13-year-old primarily motivated by the good rela- told the newspaper Welt am Sonntag. hundreds of German-Russians to hold go on trial Horst Seehofer yesterday defended German-Russian girl of having been tions - especially in trade - between Deputy Niels Annen from the hostile demonstrations outside Ger- his planned visit to Russian President kidnapped by migrants in Berlin. his rich state and Russia. Social Democrats, Merkel’s jun- man refugee homes,” he said. Vladimir Putin in Moscow against Prosecutors said on Friday they had Critics across the political spec- ior coalition partner, told the same The Berlin case led to an unusual AFP warnings it could undermine Chan- proof the claim was false. trum were not reassured. newspaper: “Foreign policy is made war of words when Russian For- cellor Angela Merkel’s refugee policy. The Ukraine crisis and Syria’s civil “Seehofer has positioned himself in Berlin, not in Munich”, referring to eign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Seehofer, a Merkel ally who has war have also soured bilateral ties, and against the chancellor in the debate on the state capital of Bavaria. German authorities of “sweeping MEAUX: A man who was found to sharply criticised her for letting in so German media have accused Moscow refugees - I really hope he doesn’t go on Juergen Trittin, foreign policy problems under the rug” by covering be carrying two handguns as he many migrants from the Middle East of secretly cooperating with far-right this trip,” said Roderich Kiesewetter, a spokesman for the opposition Greens, up the rape case. tried to enter a hotel at Disneyland and elsewhere, said the trip starting anti-immigrant parties that have been foreign policy spokesman for Merkel’s told Welt am Sonntag that Seehofer Steinmeier hit back with a sharp Paris will go on trial tomorrow on on Thursday had been agreed with gaining support in Germany and other conservatives in parliament. would meet a “kindred spirit” when warning to Moscow not to exploit the charges of possessing and trans- the chancellor and Foreign Minister European countries. “If Seehofer goes, he needs to he visits Putin. case for “political propaganda”. porting weapons and ammunition, prosecutors said. The 28-year-old man was detained on Thursday after the weapons, along with ammuni- Youngest conjoined tion and a Koran, were discovered in his bag during a routine secu- rity check at the amusement park’s New York Hotel. twins separated in He risks up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 ($82,000), the prosecutor’s office Switzerland: Report in the city of Meaux, east of the French capital, said in a statement issued yesterday. AFP doctors decided their only chance The incident comes as France was attempting surgery never before remains on high alert after gun- performed on such young infants. men and suicide bombers killed Separating the babies’ liver put 130 people in coordinated attacks GENEVA: Swiss doctors have sepa- both under massive pressure, said in Paris in November. rated eight-day-old conjoined twin Barbara Wildhaber, head of the pae- But prosecutors have already sisters fused at the liver and chest diatric surgery unit at the Geneva said the man is not suspected of —the youngest ever successfully sep- University Hospital, who headed the any terrorism offences. arated, a Swiss paper reported. team that carried out the surgery. During questioning the man Five surgeons, assisted by two “We were prepared for the death said he had been carrying the nurses and six anaesthesiologists, of both babies, it was so extreme,” guns—two small calibre auto- carried out the successful, five-hour she told Le Matin Dimanche. But the matic pistols—because he did not operation last month to separate the surgery succeeded. “It was magnif- Stricken cargo ship ‘Modern Express’ (left) in the Atlantic Ocean off France. want to leave them at his moth- tiny identical twins, the Le Matin icent! I will remember it my entire er’s home where he was living, Dimanche weekly reported yesterday. career,” Wildhaber said. a police source told reporters Maya and Lydia were born at Bern Since their surgery, Maya and earlier. France in final bid to save stricken ship hospital two months prematurely Lydia have been recovering well, Another police source, how- along with their triplet sister Kamilla they have put on weight and have ever, said the man initially told on December 2. The two were joined begun breast feeding. officers he had been armed AFP Rochelle at some point between bad weather once again disrupted by the liver and the chest. The pair is among only about because he feared for his own tonight night and tomorrow night, efforts yesterday. As well as its cargo The conjoined twins were ini- 200 separated conjoined twins cur- safety. unless rescue teams can success- of diggers and timber, the boat was tially stable and doctors had planned rently living around the globe, it said. The man’s girlfriend was also fully attach a tow line. carrying 300 tonnes of fuel oil. to allow them to settle after birth and Also known as Siamese twins, taken in for questioning on Thurs- BORDEAUX: French authorities said The 22 crew of the Modern French authorities said there was separate them after a few months. conjoined siblings are identical day but prosecutors said they were yesterday they would make one last Express were evacuated by helicopter a limited risk of pollution in the event But after a week, their situation twins who in rare cases, about one satisfied that she was not incrimi- attempt to stop a stricken cargo ship in dramatic scenes last Tuesday after of a crash, but a depollution vessel deteriorated dramatically: one suf- in 200,000 live births, are born with nated in any wrongdoing. from crashing into France’s Atlan- an unexplained breakdown caused was at the scene. fering from hypertension and the their skin and internal organs fused Disneyland Paris is the most tic coast. the boat to tilt dangerously. A specialist salvage team from other suffering from the opposite together, according to the University visited theme park in Europe, The Panamanian-registered With the boat leaning over at the Netherlands has been working condition, known as hypotension. of Maryland Medical Centre website. with 14.8 million visitors in 2015, Modern Express cargo ship is set 40 to 50 degrees, salvage teams at the scene since Friday. They man- Both conditions were life- About half are stillborn, and the according to Euro Disney’s annual to hit the coastline not far from have been unable to fix a tow line aged to attach a tow line but it was threatening to the frail twins, who survival rate is between five and 25 report. the western French resort of La to the 164-metre-long vessel, and snapped in the rough seas. weighed just 1.1 kilo each, and the percent. 18 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 AMERICAS Firebrand Cruz aims to storm White House

middle” GOP establishment unwill- ing to play hardball against US With the Iowa President Barack Obama. caucuses looming For Democrats, Cruz is a dan- gerous demagogue they love to hate. today, Cruz is locked To religious conservatives, he is a in a tight contest patriot, a thinking man’s champion of the common folk sent to Congress — with frontrunner and perhaps to the White House —to Donald Trump disrupt the ways of the go-along-to- for their party’s get-along establishment and fulfill the principles of smaller government. presidential He has since become the nomination movement’s north star, but critics blast him as a posterboy for Washington gridlock. Cruz, a master orator with a clear sense Former US president Bill Clinton (centre) and his daughter Chelsea Clinton (left) look on as Democratic presidential candidate nda former AFP of mission, has angered his elders Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a “get out to caucus” event at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. in both parties for showing little deference to seniority and snatching the spotlight from more experienced WASHINGTON: Once reviled by political stalwarts. fellow Republicans as a “wacko He insists the government has Clinton a tough sell among young voters bird” eager to shut down the US wrecked the economy, infringed on government, Ted Cruz now aims to religious liberty, put constitutional outmaneuver rivals and bring his Tea rights “under assault,” overtaxed AFP the Boston Globe called an “unlikely While Patwa said he was still a marketing degree, concurred. “It’s Party conservatism straight into the Americans and sought to take leader of a youth movement.” deciding on his caucus vote today, easier for her to see both sides of the White House. away their guns. “We know how to In a New York Times/CBS news he acknowledged that the senator issues,” the 22-year-old said. “It will With the Iowa caucuses looming fix this. And it’s to get Washington national poll this month, the senator with the grey hair and booming voice be easier for her to govern.” today, Cruz is locked in a tight con- to stop screwing it up,” he told a AMES: Engineering student David from Vermont attracted 60 percent seemed like “fresh air.” While scores of enthusiastic test with frontrunner Donald Trump conservative event last year. Karayof does not come in disguise of Democratic voters under 45, while Karayof said that Sanders speaks young fans routinely stand in line for their party’s presidential nom- In September 2013, his when infiltrating a Hillary Clinton Clinton’s support in this more youth- to young voters on issues such as tui- for a Sanders rally, Clinton’s crowd ination. But Cruz, who has fought conservative star power soared rally at Iowa State University in Ames. ful demographic stood at 31 percent. tion-free public colleges, income at Iowa State looked more mature. hard to maintain a prominent place when he spoke for 21 hours straight Wearing a Bernie Sanders sticker Citing numbers provided by the inequality and climate change. “I understand that young people for faith in American life, also sees to try to block a stopgap spending bill on his T-shirt and armed with a stack Sanders campain, the New York “There is very little support for vote for him,” 64-year-old lawyer himself in a battle for the very soul in the leadup to a crippling shutdown of pamphlets, the 24-year-old openly Times reported that of the 15,000 Hillary on campus,” he added. Edward Kimmel, who travelled from of the nation. the following month. seeks out the former First Lady’s sup- people in Iowa who have done at least 21-year-old Clinton supporter Maryland to Iowa to campaign for As a freshman in the US Senate, Many Republicans blasted Cruz porters to cast doubt on their choice one volunteer shift, 27 percent are 18 Katherine Diaz conceded that Sanders Clinton, said. the 45-year-old Texan —an intel- for convincing Tea Party adherents for Democratic presidential nominee. to 24 years old, and 32 percent are 25 has an edge over the former Secretary “That’s fine as long as we are on lectual proponent of a grassroots in the House of Representatives to “This is a list of fact-checked to 34. The campaign has represent- of State among Democrats at her uni- the same page come November. I just movement that has simmered for shut down government in a doomed statements that Hillary Clinton has atives on 38 Iowa college campuses, versity. “I don’t know why, maybe they hope we don’t get Donald Trump, for years under the Republican main- quest to defund Obama’s crowning made and that I disagree with,” Kara- according to the Times. align with him more on social issues,” heaven’s sake.” Kimmel wished that stream —has barely three years domestic achievement. yof said as he moves through the “I think people are frustrated the accounting student said. younger voters would value Clinton’s under his belt in Washington. Cruz’s apparent eagerness crowd. “If you do not look carefully with Washington,” 22-year old Abhijit Diaz added that she would vote experience more. “Hillary is the most But in the 2016 presidential race, to gum up the works led an at the candidates, this might end up Patwa, who studies mechanical engi- for Clinton because “she is a little bit qualified person ever to run for office,” his outsider status has played well exasperated John McCain, to deride hurting the whole party.” neering and political science at Iowa less radical and has the experience.” he said. “This is an opportunity we have with the right-wing base furious Cruz and other Tea Party lawmakers With his promise of a “political State, said when asked about Sand- Her friend Emma Kuntz, who never had before -- having someone with what he derides as the “mushy as “wacko birds on the right.” revolution,” Sanders has become what ers’ appeal among his peers. just graduated from Iowa State with that prepared for president.” Ex-mob boss Obama to visit US mosque for first time gunned down in Bloomberg presidential campaign front-runner Society of Baltimore, is also notable Canada: Police Donald Trump’s subsequent call to because it was prominently featured temporarily ban Muslim immigra- in the first season of the popular tion. The mosque visit will be made “Serial” podcast. OTTAWA: A former Mafia don with WASHINGTON: President Barack the day before the annual National Adnan Syed, the teenager who is a long history as a leading figure Obama will visit a US mosque for Prayer Breakfast in Washington. serving life plus 30 years for the kill- in Canada’s crime underworld has the first time in his presidency next “We’re not going to build progress ing in 1999 of his former girlfriend, been gunned down at his home in week, when he travels to Baltimore with a bunch of phony tough talk, and Hae Min Lee, attended the mosque Toronto, police said on February 3 to meet with Muslim bluster, and over-the-top claims that with his parents. Authorities said Rocco Zito, 87 community leaders. just play into ISIL’s hands,” Obama, “For a number of years we’ve —for years a senior member of the Obama will hold a round-table using an acronym for the jihadist been encouraging the president to go notorious ‘Ndrangheta, or Calab- with community members and group Islamic State, told Democratic to an American mosque,” spokesman rian mafia —was found fatally shot “reiterate the importance of staying members of Congress gathered in Bal- Ibrahim Hooper of the Washington- at his home late Friday. true to our core values —welcom- timore for annual retreat on January based Council on American-Islamic A suspect, Domenico Scopel- ing our fellow Americans, speaking 28. “We’re not going to strengthen relations said in an e-mailed state- Ex-president liti, 51, identified in the Canadian out against bigotry, rejecting indif- our leadership around the world by ment. “With the tremendous rise in media as the dead man’s son-in- ference, and protecting our nation’s allowing politicians to insult Muslims September 11, 2001, attacks. anti-Muslim sentiment in our country, of El Salvador, law, has turned himself in, which tradition of religious freedom,” the or pit groups of Americans against The White House hopes Obama’s we believe that it will send a message said he faces a first degree murder White House said in a statement. each other.” first such U.S. foray will pack the of inclusion and mutual respect.” charge in the case. Police however, Obama has denounced American In calling for religious tolerance, same symbolic punch. He has pre- A CNN poll conducted in Sep- facing graft have issued no statement about hostility toward Muslims following Obama has repeatedly invoked his viously visited Muslim houses of tember 2015 found that 29 percent the relationship between Zito and December’s Islamic State-inspired predecessor, George W Bush, who worship in Malaysia, Indonesia and of Americans identified Obama as Scopelliti, and not yet disclosed a mass shooting in San Bernardino, as president visited a Washing- Turkey. Muslim. About four in 10 correctly charges, dies possible motive for the homicide. California, and Republican ton mosque just six days after the His choice of mosques, the Islamic identified Obama as Protestant.

Reuters One dead in shooting In celebrations mood SAN SALVADOR: The former president of El Salvador, Fran- cisco Flores (pictured above), 56, at motorcycle expo died on Saturday after suffering a stroke as he waited to face trial over embezzlement charges. AFP started by rival biker gangs. Flores ruled the Central Amer- The newspaper said the witness ican nation from 1999 to 2004 and asked not to be named out of fear of he had been operated on last Sun- retaliation. day after suffering a stroke. LOS ANGELES: A shooting and stab- Lopez could not confirm that “We regret the death of Pres- bing at a large motorcycle show in biker gangs were involved, saying ident Francisco Flores and we the western US state of Colorado has an investigation into the incident sympathise with his family at killed one person and injured at least was going on . this time,” his far-right National- six others, officials said yesterday. The Denver Health Medical ist Republican Party (Arena) said The early afternoon incident in Center said its paramedics brought in a statement. Denver prompted a precautionary in seven people —including one Flores was accused of embez- lockdown at a local hospital where deceased. zling $15m of aid from Taiwan that the wounded were taken. Of the six injured, three were in was donated after two devastat- “During the disturbance, there critical condition and three in seri- ing earthquakes hit the country were shots fired and at least one ous condition, it said. in 2001. He had siphoned $10m stabbing,” Denver police spokes- It temporarily went into lock- to give to his party and kept $5m, woman Raquel Lopez told reporters. down mode as a precaution but according to prosecutors. “We do have one deceased party tweeted in the late afternoon that it Flores maintained his inno- and multiple other victims. At this had returned to normal operations. cence and was under house arrest time, we do not have anyone in cus- The Colorado Motorcycle Expo, for the charges. tody.” The Denver Post, describing held on Saturday through yesterday “He suffered a terrible health the incident as a “shooting and stab- at Denver’s National Western Com- Revellers take part in the annual block party known as the ‘Simpatia e Quase Amor’ during pre-carnival crisis, provoked by this unjust bing melee,” cited an anonymous plex, bills itself as one of the largest celebrations at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. political attack,” his wife Lourdes witness as saying that the feud was motorcycle events in the country. de Flores told local media. AMERICAS MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 1917

US and Mexican FBI negotiates with Oregon refuge holdouts operation targets

Reuters Bundy and several other protesters adding: “We don’t want them here.” Bundy has issued messages high-level Sinaloa as they traveled on a highway. Soper countered that rally foot- through his attorney urging those The holdouts in a Supporters staged a rally in the age showed “about 70 percent of the remaining at the refuge to stand down cartel members BURNS: The FBI negotiated with four video posted online nearby ranching community of Burns vehicles were actually locals.” and saying they would continue to armed occupants at a remote federal on Saturday night. About 30 pick-up The FBI said Finicum reached fight through the courts. wildlife refuge in Oregon while the expressed their trucks and other vehicles honked for a gun during the confrontation, But the holdouts in the video, said Reuters holdouts in a video posted online mistrust of the horns and waved flags - US, Confed- which was recorded on grainy video. they did not want to leave the site, expressed their mistrust of the gov- erate and Gadsden - as they drove. His family disputes that. 48 km from Burns in the state’s rural ernment and reluctance to leave. government and Passing the courthouse, protesters In taking over the refuge, pro- southeast, and expressed mistrust of MEXICO CITY: Two dozen mem- One of the four protesters remain- reluctance to leave yelled “murderer” and “FBI go home.” testers criticised federal control of the US government. bers of Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa ing at the Malheur National Wildlife B J Soper, a founding member of the vast tracts of land in a flare-up of “I don’t believe that they have any cartel have been arrested in an Refuge said in a darkly lit video Pacific Patriots Network, said: “It came the so-called Sagebrush Rebellion, a authority over me because they’re operation at the US-Mexico bor- posted on Friday that he wanted to from the locals, who asked up to help decades-old conflict over federal con- illegal and I can’t bow down to that,” der that also yielded assault-type be assured he would not be arrested Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, 54, a out and organize this driving rally and trol of millions of acres in the West. said one. weapons and hundreds of pounds if he left. Others with him expressed spokesman for the group that seized show support for the community.” “Negotiations are ongoing,” FBI Harney County Sheriff Dave of narcotics, US authorities said similar sentiments. buildings at the refuge on January But Mayor Craig LaFollette said spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said, Ward earlier this week said the pro- yesterday. Tensions in the standoff 2, was killed by police during the the protesters were mostly outsiders declining to give details on the talks testers went too far in their armed The secretive operation car- remained high four days after arrests of occupation leader Ammon who had disrupted the community, or comment on the video. occupation. ried out by US and Mexican authorities on Friday dealt a “strong blow” to the cartel, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, just weeks White cop to sue after the arrest of cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, fol- lowing his escape from prison six months earlier. estate of black “Due to the sensitive nature, this operation was conducted with utmost secrecy to maintain the element of surprise and to teen he killed ensure the safety of the Mexican law enforcement officers execut- ing it,” ICE spokeswoman Gillian AFP who was struggling with men- Christensen said in a statement tal health problems, had called 911 late yesterday. for help several times earlier that The statement did not name CHICAGO: A white police officer evening but the dispatcher did not the 24 people taken into cus- plans to sue the estate of a black send an officer to the house until his tody but said the operation teenager he shot dead because he father called. dubbed “Mexican Operation Dia- was traumatised by the fact that he Brodsky said that makes the blo Express” targeted high-level accidentally killed the teen’s neigh- incident a “double tragedy because members of the drug trafficking bour in the incident, his lawyer said. if my client had advance knowledge organisation. “The damage is my client feels he was dealing with a mentally ill Operating around Sonoyta, a horrible that Bettie Jones is dead person he may have handled this in Mexican city along the border with because of the actions he was forced a different way.” the US state of Arizona, the Sinaloa to take,” attorney Joe Brodsky said. Police tactics and racism have cartel has smuggled millions of “It’s affected him greatly. It’s a been the subject of a national debate pounds of illegal drugs, millions of burden he’s going to have to carry since protests erupted in Fergu- US dollars and weapons between for the rest of his life.” son, Missouri, in mid-2014 over the the two countries, ICE said. The December 26 shooting came shooting death of a black teenager, The joint operation is further Ana Beatriz is held by her father Alipio Martin during a medical appointment at the Altino Ventura as the US city was reeling from a 18-year-old Michael Brown. evidence of a more cooperative series of incidents in which police The US Justice Department is Foundation in Recife, Brazil. Authorities in Brazil, are trying to shed light on the link between Zika virus relationship between the United were accused of being too ready investigating how Chicago police related to 4000 babies born with microcephaly. States and Mexico in cracking to pull the trigger on their service use force after the death of another down on drug cartels responsi- weapons. The family of Quintonio black teenager, Laquan McDonald, ble for taking billions of dollars LeGrier, 19, has repeatedly said there who was shot 16 times as he was Plea for help in city where Zika first confirmed worth of narcotics across the bor- was no reason why police should walking away from officers. der every year. have opened fire when responding Brodsky insists this case is Mexican authorities had exten- to a domestic disturbance at their nothing like that of McDonald, an AFP lot of pain in our joints,” she said. explosive contagion —“there were sive help from Washington in home. They have sued both the city incident caught on camera which Sometime later, the 35-year-old entire buildings full of sick peo- recapturing Guzman in a violent and the officer who shot him: Rob- sparked mass protest and led embat- was told that what she was feeling ple,” Bandeira said —they assumed standoff in early January. Guzman ert Rialmo, 27. tled Mayor Rahm Emanuel to fire CAMAÇARI: Camacari was in chaos, was caused by the Zika virus, but she it was an arbovirus, the generic name had humiliated Mexican Presi- A wrongful death suit filed by Chicago’s police chief and reform its hospitals overflowing with sick still had her doubts. for viruses transmitted by insects dent Enrique Pena Nieto with a LeGrier’s father, Antonio, argues the department. people desperate to know what was “Nobody knew much about it -- or other animals, like dengue or jaw-dropping escape from a max- that the teen “never had possession “He didn’t kill him like he mur- happening to them, never suspecting that it was like dengue, that it was chikungunya. imum security prison. Mexican or control of a weapon” and was not dered him —he shot to save his own theirs would be the first confirmed carried by mosquitos, that it came In his laboratory at the univer- authorities could not be reached a threat to Rialmo or anyone else at life,” Brodsky said. “Somebody is cases of Zika in Brazil. from another country. We heard a sity’s Institute of Health Sciences, for further information yesterday. any point. swinging a baseball bat and they’re In the city where the virus made lot of stories about the famous Zika,” Soares and his colleague Silvia Sardi News of the the latest oper- Rialmo was standing outside two feet above you, you’re a pumpkin.” its explosive debut in early 2015, anx- she said. “Was I scared? Of course! focused on 20 samples from patients ation comes just before the Iowa when he opened fire on LeGrier, who Brodsky insists that the outrage ious residents asked themselves: Was We didn’t know what was coming in Camacari. presidential nominating caucuses, was inside the building, the lawsuit which the incident provoked would it dengue? An allergic reaction to next. You are always afraid of the They hit upon the villain: Zika, the first test in the November 2016 said. Antonio LeGrier is also suing be muted if people knew the facts contaminated water? unknown.” which was first identified in 1947 election campaign. for wrongful arrest after police made of the case. The “mysterious” disease, peo- It was April 2015 and the hos- in Africa, and had surfaced in the The perceived porousness of him leave his dying son in order to Rialmo, a former marine who ple called it, while medical reports pitals were inundated in this city of Pacific islands in 2007 and 2013, but the US border with Mexico has file a statement about the incident. has only been on the force for three referred to it as “undetermined ecze- 200,000. with limited impact. emerged as a hot issue in the City officials have apologised years, backed away as LeGrier matous syndrome,” noting the skin Antonio Carlos Bandeira, a doctor “I had read interesting studies on campaign, with billionaire Don- for the death of Jones, a 55-year old approached and repeatedly ordered irritation associated with it. at the Santa Helena hospital, thought Zika. Parallel to that, I saw pictures ald Trump, a candidate for the mother of five, but have said LeGri- him to drop the bat before open- “My two children and I got sick. the syndrome had to be identified of people infected with the virus. I Republican nomination, propos- er’s shooting was justified. ing fire, Brodsky said. “The round In my neighborhood, nearly every- with urgency, so he contacted Gubio discussed it with Silvia Sardi, we did ing construction of a wall along The city has released few details that tragically killed Bettie was body became infected,” said Vanessa Soares, a virologist he knew at the the tests and they were conclusive,” the entire length of the 1,900- about the incident except to say that a through-and-through,” which Machado dos Santos, who makes a Federal University of Bahia. he said. mile border. LeGrier was brandishing a baseball passed through LeGrier’s body living selling coconut water about 50 There were so many cases at “And that’s how we identified it Sonoyta, in the Mexican state bat when he was shot after his father before striking Jones, Brodsky said. km from Salvador in the northeast- the time, that the call to Soares was for the first time in Brazil.” of Sonora, is directly south of the called for help in the wee hours of “It’s not like he shot a spray of bul- ern state of Bahia. “truly a plea for help,” Bandeira That was on April 28, 2015. The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife the morning. lets. He couldn’t see through LeGrier... “Our skin began to itch, we had recalled. next day, Brazilian health officials Refuge, a vast wilderness area in LeGrier, an engineering student he didn’t know she was there.” fever, headaches and body aches, a Judging by the symptoms and made the finding public. the Arizona desert.

AyyayayayayayayyyyLaurels yet again Venezuelan Coffee diet woos Americans troops cross into Colombia with ‘Bulletproof’ pledge AFP The ingredients are blended BOGOTA: Venezuelan navy troops together to produce a creamy, nat- crossed their country’s border with urally sweet beverage a bit like a Colombia before exchanging gun- milkshake, taken at breakfast in fire with police, the Colombian LOS ANGELES: A new coffee diet lieu of a meal. foreign ministry said yesterday. claiming to help lose weight and “So you drink a couple of these A Venezuelan navy patrol improve IQ is gaining a major fol- and all of a sudden you don’t care pursued several boatmen to the lowing in the United States —and about food for a very long time,” said town of Arauquita, on the Colom- raising eyebrows among doctors Asprey. “Your brain has energy that bian bank of the Arauca river, the skeptical of its benefits. doesn’t come from sugar, you didn’t ministry said in a statement issued Dave Asprey, the founder and want sugar in your coffee and you yesterday, sparking an exchange CEO of the “Bulletproof Diet,” pulls lose the craving.” Asprey used to of gunfire with Colombian police. no punches when making claims weigh 300 pounds, and spent much However, there were no injuries, for his radical health recipe, cup of of his life battling to lose weight. the statement added. coffee in hand. “You become a bet- The coffee diet idea came to him “The government has been ter employee, better parent, better during a trip to Tibet in 2004. He was investigating the case since last friend, better person,” he said. “My weak with altitude sickness while night and has contacted Vene- energy changes, my brain changes. traveling in the mountainous region zuelan authorities to clarify the I can pay attention, I can follow —until he drank yak butter tea. circumstances of the event,” the through.” Asprey was so impressed by the ministry said. The cornerstone of Asprey’s diet energetic effect of the drink that he Diplomatic relations between is a drink called Bulletproof Coffee, tried to reproduce it at home. the neighbours are often fraught. a modified version of the caffeinated After years of trying all kinds of Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani witnessed last evening the arrival of Fath Al Kheir Venezuela closed several border beverage which uses beans stripped ingredients, he unveiled a patented 2 at Katara Cultural village beach. The event was also attended by H H Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad Al crossings last year and deported of mycotoxins —essentially mold that formula in 2009 through his blog Thani,Miss Universe Representative 1996, Venezuelan of the Emir. Alicia Pic: Qassim/TheMachado (centre), Peninsula sings before being crowned→ See as alsoQueen page of the26 thousands of Colombians, before forms during the fermentation proc- claiming the coffee and an asso- Mariachi folk music during a ceremony in Mexico City, Mexico. promising to legalize their status ess. Add to that butter from grass-fed ciated health regimen helped him if they returned. cows and medium-chain triglycerides oil. attain a “bodybuilder” physique.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 12o C Maximum: 21o C

FAJR 04.59 am ZUHR 11.47 am MAGHRIB 05.20 pm HIGH TIDE 09:30 Strong wind and high seas. SHOROOK 06.18 am ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 06.50 pm LOW TIDE 03:00 - 17:00

20 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Alpenhorn players www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Alpenhorn players perform at the farmer’s festival ‘Sennenchilbi’ in Kuessnacht, Schwyz canton, central Switzerland, yesterday. The farmer’s festival of Kuessnacht takes place every six years.

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY Spotlight and diversity winners at SAG Awards

AFP Spotlight took the prize for outstanding per- supporting actor for Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation, formance by a cast in a motion picture, the SAG and one for best actor in a TV series for his role equivalent of an Oscar. as a detective in the British crime drama Luther. In the acting honours, Leonardo DiCaprio won Uzo Aduba took home the award for outstanding LOS ANGELES: Spotlight, a drama about abuse in the best actor award for his portrayal of fur trapper actress in a comedy series for her role as Suzanne the Catholic church, landed the top prize at the 22nd Hugh Glass in the revenge thriller The Revenant. In “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Netflix’s prison comedy- Screen Actors Guild Awards that also saw black the best actress category, Brie Larson won for Room, drama Orange is the New Black. Viola Davis won Congrats! Doha to actors score major wins. The awards, seen as a bell- in which she plays a kidnapped young woman liv- best actress for legal drama series How to Get Away host world aquat- wether of the all-important Academy Awards, were ing in captivity with her son. With Murder, while Queen Latifah won for out- ics championship being closely watched as they were taking place But perhaps most notable at the star-studded standing actress in a television movie or miniseries in 2023. amid a controversy over the lack of diversity in ceremony were the number of black actors hon- for her role in HBO’s Bessie, a biopic of the blues this year’s list of Oscar nominees. oured. Idris Elba scooped two awards, one for best singer Bessie Smith. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 22 QE 9,481.30 +202.29 PTS PAGE | 23 Al Sulaiti is new DOW 16,466.30 +396.66 PTS Doha Bank Research Director FTSE100 6,083.79 +152.01 PTS bags four at EMRQ BRENT $34.74 +$0.85 awards

MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 • 22 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Global expansion part of risk aversion strategy: QNB

Al Emadi, who is also the Minister Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and QNB expects 40% of Finance, said the acquisition proc- Southeast Asia regions with the most ess of Finsbank AS will be completed promising growth outlook within the of its net profit in six months. QNB group expects to global economy. This year has seen contributions finalise the transaction during the the best performance in the Group’s first half of 2016, he said. history. “We have developed QNB as from international Finsbank is the fifth largest pri- an incubating centre to support local operations vately owned universal bank by total community and support the local assets, customer deposits and loans market and individuals”. in the Turkish market The chairman said that QNB The macroeconomic fundamen- Group’s success in maintaining By Satish Kanady tals of Qatar is one of the strongest in momentum across all its activi- The Peninsula the region, despite lower oil prices, ties was reflected in the strong 2015 driven by non-hydrocarbon sector financial results. Driven by the dual growth. This has continued apace, considerations of on-going domes- as the government has reaffirmed tic and international expansion along DOHA: QNB Group’s ongoing glo- its commitment to its infrastructure with the continuing adoption of a pru- bal expansion plans are part of the investment programme, moving dent approach to risk management, bank’s risk aversion strategy. The towards the goals of Qatar’s National QNB had re-affirmed its status as the Group is expecting a 40 percent of Vision 2030. leading financial institution in the QNB Group Chairman H E Ali Shareef Al Emadi (fifth left) and other officials at the event.Pic: Abdul B/The Peninsula its net profit for the year 2016 from its Al Emadi said the banking sector Middle East and Africa Region. foreign operations, H E Ali Shareef Al in Qatar continues to record strong On the bank’s business plans for Emadi, the chairman of QNB Group growth, with QNB successfully lev- the year 2016, Al Emadi said retaining consideration for 2016. 11 percent from December 2014 to distribute cash dividend of 35 percent said yesterday. eraging its position as the leading QNB’s position through diversify- “The strong and robust nature of QR539bn,” he said. of the nominal share value (QR3.5 per “Qatari market is of course financial institution in the country. ing income sources and expanding QNB Group’s performance in 2015 The general assembly ratified share) and a bonus shares of 20 per- important for us. But geographical The banking system will continue to the range of activities across the was reflected in the delivery of record all remaining items on its agenda of cent of the share capital—two shares expansions are bringing us better grow stronger going forward. QNB Group would be the primary financial results. Net profit rose to both the ordinary and extra ordi- for every ten shares. returns,” he said, while addressing the QNB Group’s growth has been focus. The ability to meet sharehold- QR11.3bn, up by 8 percent compared nary general assemblies, including the The meeting approved EY as Ordinary General Assembly meeting. strategic, focused and targeted on the ers’ expectations remained a core to 2014 and total assets increased by proposal by the board of directors to external auditors of the year 2016. QIC rebrands, announces expansion plans

By Mohammad Shoeb The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), one of the largest insurance service providers in the Mena region, has rebranded itself as ‘QIC Insured’, and has also launched a seamless ‘one-stop online solution’ to make the experience of buying personal insurance services much easier and hassle-free. Khaled Mohammed Al Aboodi, CEO and GM of ICD, and Abdulaziz The unveiling of the new log Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO of QDB at the signing ceremony. and announcement of its enhanced online services were made in a press conference held at the company’s headquarters in Doha yesterday. QDB signs MoU with “We have realised that changing the log and rebranding our personal lines will help us to position ourselves against our international competi- Islamic Corporation tors,” said Fredrik Bisbjerg, Executive Vice President at QIC Insured. Bisbjerg, who is also the Head of The Peninsula and developing SMEs and local busi- Group Retail business, said: “ We have nesses. The preliminary work to be completely revamped our website undertaken by the joint parties will to provide a true seamless one-stop cover, although be not limited to, the solution for personal insurance as DOHA: Qatar Development Bank following: concept design, market people do not want to go anywhere (QDB) has signed a Memorandum analysis, structure and governance, Fredrik Bisbjerg (right), Executive Vice-President at QIC Insured at the press conference and launch by QIC (to buy insurance products).” of Understanding (MoU) with The as well as potential positioning and He added that even customers held at its headquarters yesterday. Pic: Baher A/The Peninsula Islamic Corporation for the Devel- product development. with other insurance providers will opment of the Private Sector (ICD), The MoU was signed by Khaled be able to switch to QIC Insured in a growth and success in the compa- carves out a clear identity around that the most important aspects when the private sector arm of Islamic Mohammed Al Aboodi, the Chief very smooth manner. ny’s personal insurance products, convenience in a more expressive selecting personal insurance are trust, Development Bank (IDB) Group. The Executive Officer and General “There is no need to go any- the regional insurance giant is now style. customer service and price and we new agreement is a joint strategic Manager of the ICD, and Abdulaziz where for the inspection of vehicles. ready to take its products, services Salem Al Mannai, Deputy Group are placing ourselves to keep the pole collaboration in examining inno- Nasser Al Khalifa, the Chief Execu- We have a lot of advanced tools that and consumer brand to the next level. President and CEO at QIC Insured position on all three aspects in Qatar vative means and opportunities to tive Officer of QDB. can do the job from ‘quote-to-claim’ The new brand is created to be (Mena region), added: “Building on With the rebranding and launch support small-and-medium enter- Abdulaziz Nasser Al Khalifa said: online without any hassle.” positioned against the international our vast experience with personal of our new platform, we will further prises (SMEs) in Qatar. “We are delighted to partner with the However, he said that the com- insurers in the other GCC countries lines from the last 50 years, we intro- cement our position as the leading The MoU commits the two insti- Islamic Corporation for the Devel- pany will continue to have its too and the new styling direction — duced online sales of the personal insurance company in Qatar and tutions to share knowledge and opment of the Private Sector, which branches for customers who like to ‘U’ smiley with a clear reference to insurance products two years ago the region.” expertise relating to the SME sector includes in its membership a number come in person and see the “friendly the colors of the QIC Group under- which from the very inception was Besides focusing even more on in Qatar. A work group composed of of countries that strive to offer all faces” of its staff. He also said that the lines the focus on customer service a great success. We’re now ready to ease of use, convenience and offering key stakeholders and experts from assistance to young entrepreneurs.” company has increased the capac- and friendliness that is built in to build on those experiences and radi- the right products at the right price, each party will be formed in order to Khaled Al Aboodi said: “ICD and ity in its call centres significantly to the online solutions and related call cally change our service offerings and the new online platform introduces work on the feasibility of co-devel- QDB share a mission of support- address personal queries. center services– that expresses the our brand positioning” a very modern brand universe under oping an investment and financing ing the private sector, in particular Marking two years of significant performance through design and Al Mannai added: “We understand the new name. vehicle that will focus on supporting SMEs.” 22 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE to organise Tax and regulatory reforms margin trading awareness meets under focus in Qatar report The Peninsula

country’s tax and regulatory systems, countries, as well as one of the fastest including the introduction of a Wage growing economies.Qatar continues DOHA: As part of the policy, aim- PwC Qatar has signed Protection System (WPS), which came to look at new ways and incentives to ing to promote knowledge and MoU with OBG for into effect in November. Other devel- attract Qatari entrepreneurs and for- investment awareness among all the publishing 2016 opments to be explored include a shift eign direct investments as a way of investors, Qatar Exchange (QE) under way in the Qatar Tax Authori- diversifying its economy. With the new will organise a series of lectures report on the state ty’s approach to the taxation of capital discussions around tax reforms in the on margin trading. gains on the disposal and transfer of region and the likely introduction of Hussain Al Abdulla, Sales & shares in domestic companies by non- VAT, Qatar and GCC governments will Marketing Director, said that these resident companies. need to make strategic decisions con- introductory lectures comes within The Peninsula PwC Qatar has signed a mem- cerning key elements in the system, the framework of QE’s efforts to Wadih AbouNasr, Country Senior Partner, PwC Qatar, and Oxford orandum of understanding (MOU) including harmonization of a number enhance investors’ awareness with OBG for the publishing firm’s of areas across the GCC to make the Business Group’s Managing Director for Middle East, Jana Treeck. in terms of this new mechanism 2016 report on the state. Under the VAT system fully efficient.” aimed to enhance market liquidity DOHA: The changing face of Qatar’s MOU, the professional services firm Oxford Business Group’s Managing she said. “Last year’s announcement The Report: Qatar 2016 will be a and provide new financing chan- tax regime and the impact of planned will team up for a third time with OBG Director for Middle East, Jana Treeck, that the government plans to reduce vital guide to the many facets of the nels for investors. reforms on investors are amongst the to compile and produce the Account- agreed that Qatar’s changing eco- spending in non-essential areas has country, including its macroeconom- QE will hold two sessions per topics set for analysis in a forthcom- ancy and Tax Chapter of The Report: nomic landscape was creating a raft set the scene for the private sector to ics, infrastructure, banking and other week starting February 8 (in Eng- ing report on the country by the global Qatar 2016. of new opportunities for businesses. further increase its contribution to sectoral developments. The publi- lish and in Arabic) its premises, publishing firm Oxford Business Group Wadih AbouNasr, Country Senior “Qatar’s efforts to diversify its Qatar’s economic growth. I’m sure this cation will also contain interviews Annex 2 from 6pm to 7pm. Number (OBG). Partner, PwC Qatar, said “Oil and nat- economy are already yielding signif- will be one of many key issues that with leading representatives. It will of seats is limited to 100 seats and The Report: Qatar 2016 will update ural gas revenues have placed Qatar as icant results, with non-hydrocarbon we explore with PwC in what prom- be available in the second quarter of only registered people will be readers on the latest changes to the one of the highest per-capita income growth now reaching double digits,” ises to be an exciting year of research.” 2016, print or online. allowed attend. Al Sulaiti is new Research Director at EMRQ QFB launches Knowledge Excellence Series The Peninsula the Ministry of Municipality & Envi- develop and retain outstanding ronment, the Private Engineering people from the broadest possible Office, Qatar Petroleum (QP), and employee pool to meet its business joint ventures Qatargas and RasGas; needs worldwide, providing them The Peninsula and a Chartered Financial Analyst DOHA: ExxonMobil has announced in addition to research partners and with great opportunities to learn, suc- (CFA) with a BA from Harvard Uni- the appointment of Dr Mohamad Al academia. ceed and flourish; the same is true versity, where she graduated magna Sulaiti (pictured) as Research Direc- “We are delighted to announce Dr for Qatar. We want to ensure that cum laude in a Special Concentra- tor for ExxonMobil Research Qatar Mohamed Al Sulaiti’s new appoint- our efforts help Qatar remain at the DOHA: Qatar First Bank (QFB) yes- tion in Economics and Social Studies, (EMRQ), succeeding Dr Jennifer ment as Research Director for forefront of setting new standards for terday announced the launch of its and an MBA in Finance from Colum- Dupont. Dr Al Sulaiti’s appointment ExxonMobil Research Qatar,” said sustainability, and delivering energy ‘Knowledge Excellence Series’. bia University, where she was a Toigo marks the first time a Qatari national Alistair Routledge, President and safely and reliably. We can only pro- To kick off the series on today, Fellow. will head EMRQ. General Manager for ExxonMobil vide this support if we have the right QFB will host, Financial expert Nili Ziad Makkawi, QFB’s Chief Exec- Previously EMRQ’s Technical Qatar. “Dr Al Sulaiti has been a driv- people at the helm of our operations,” Gilbert, Co-Founder and Portfolio utive Officer said: “Our Knowledge Interface Coordinator, Dr Al Sulaiti ing force behind the EMRQ engine he added. Manager for Matarin Capita with Excellence Series aims to sup- has been part of the EMRQ team for for many years. His technical exper- “I am thrilled to have been responsibility for hedge fund and port Qatar’s initiatives to become the past five years. His main priori- tise and dedication will continue granted this incredible opportunity long-only equity strategies, at its a knowledge based economy. Our ties during his time at the research areas of water reuse, environmental to ensure that our local vision for to head EMRQ at a time when the recently launched premium Private intention is to develop a platform center, which is strategically housed management, safety and coastal/geo- advancing technology meets those centre has become recognised as a Banking Lounge. Nili is regularly that will accelerate the transfer of at Qatar Science and Technology logical research. He has also played a of our partners in Qatar and aligns dedicated contributor to Qatar’s long- invited to share her extensive invest- knowledge and information sharing Park (QSTP), have focused on build- key role in serving as EMRQ’s liaison with the goals of the Qatar National term success,” stated Dr Al Sulaiti. ment insights on CNBC television by bringing together industry prac- ing and expanding upon EMRQ’s with ExxonMobil Qatar’s local part- Vision 2030.” “The opportunity is both gratifying network. She is a Chartered Alter- titioners and business leaders from proven technical capabilities in ners and key stakeholders, including “ExxonMobil strives to attract, and inspiring.” native Investment Analyst (CAIA) the wider community.” Porsche debuts new 911 range and Macan GTS at Qatar Motor Show

Officials with the Porsche range at the Qatar Motor Show.

The Peninsula which racing innovations are evolved to new turbo chargers with larger from the track to the road, the new compressors, the 3.8 litre twin-turbo 911 range and Macan GTS embody a six-cylinder engine delivers an out- new era of segment leading across put of 580 hp. This makes the Turbo DOHA: Led by the Middle Eastern multiple series. Deesch Papke, S the first production 911 to acceler- premieres of the latest 911 Turbo S Chief Executive Officer of Porsche ate to 100 kilometre per hour (km/h) and all-new Macan GTS, Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, com- in less than three seconds, reaching thrilled at the 2016 Qatar Motor Show mented: “The Porsche 911 is the the milestone speed in 2.9 seconds. (QMS) with a total of four regional brand’s most iconic model and we The model’s top speed is 330 km/h, debuts highlighting the brand’s latest are thrilled to be powering into 2016 12 km/h higher than its predecessor. advancements in producing bench- at the Qatar Motor Show with three The same traits of Porsche’s sports mark setting models. new variants, including the top-of- car evolution displayed in the Turbo Building further upon its unri- the-range 911 Turbo S which offers S are extended to the 911 Carrera 4S valed legacy as one of the world’s even more power, driving excite- and 911 Targa 4S which also made best-selling sports car, Porsche’s 911 ment and a sharper design. Through their regional debuts at the Qatar premieres included the new 911 Car- constant development in the form Motor Show. rera 4S and 911 Targa 4S as the brand of technology transfer and a mind- As the newest addition to Por- goes into 2016 with a commanding set of evolution our engineers have sche’s SUV range, the Macan GTS start. From the more powerful, yet been able to advance the 911 range promises even more driving fun more efficient 911 models, to the to a new high. With the premiere of as the sports car among compact sporty and dynamic Macan GTS, the all-new Macan GTS we are cel- SUVs. With an output of 360 hp, the Porsche’s performance evolution ebrating a landmark moment, as we model features a 3.0 litre V6 bi-turbo showcased in Qatar saw over half a now have a powerful and dynamic engine, Porsche Doppelkupplung century of sports car development GTS version in every Porsche model (PDK) and Porsche Traction Man- on display. series.” agement (PTM), with flexible power Progressed through Porsche’s The new 911 Turbo S is the top distribution between front and rear technology transfer concept, with athlete in the 911 range and thanks axles. BUSINESS MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 23 Make in India Week invites Qatari investors

The roundtable event was He said that since the launch Event will offer organised by Qatar Chamber. The of this initiative, the Government Ambassador said that at the time of India has taken several reform glimpse of immense when major economies are facing initiatives to create an enabling envi- opportunities to slowdown concerns, India is a rare ronment that has provided a push to bright spot for global investors. With manufacturing, design, innovation Qatari businessmen a growth rate of over 7 percent, India and entrepreneurship. has emerged as the fastest growing He added that the government has economy globally and it remains an also launched other innovative initi- oasis in the midst of a subdued eco- atives such as “Digital India”, “Smart By Sachin Kumar nomic landscape. Cities” and “Skill India”. The Peninsula He said that Make in India ini- The theme of the Make in India tiative was launched globally in Week is innovation, design and sus- September 2014, as part of the Gov- tainability. A number of events have ernment of India’s renewed focus on been planned around this theme on DOHA: India has invited Qatari invigorating the country’s manufac- the larger canvas of manufacturing. investors and businessmen to par- turing sector. The landmark initiative He added that another related ticipate in ‘Make in India Week’ has made a tremendous impact on event — India Investment Summit — taking place from February 13 to 18 the investment climate of the country, will be organised from February 4 to in Mumbai. Speaking in a roundtable and reflects in the significant growth 5 in New Delhi, which is likely to see discussion yesterday, Sanjiv Arora, of overall Foreign Direct Investment attendance of major global investors. Ambassador of India to Qatar, said (FDI). India’s ranking in terms of FDI Earlier in the session Vice Chairman Qatar Chamber Vice-Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari (third left), Ambassador of India to that ‘Make in India Week’ will offer destination globally has improved of Qatar Chamber, Mohamed bin Qatar, Sanjiv Arora (second left), Board Member of Qatar Chamber, Khalid Al Kuwari (right) and First Secretary glimpse of immense opportunities to from 15th in 2014 to ninth rank in Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari welcomed (Press, Education and Commerce) at the Indian Embassy, Dinesh Udenia (left), addressing the “ Made in India Qatari businessmen. 2015. Indian businessmen in Qatar. Week” roundtable at the Qatar Chamber in Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula QBA chairman meets with Tajikistan business delegation

The Peninsula potential partnership and coopera- with its trading partners and repre- tion between the two parties and the sented in the stability in the area of willingness of the Qatari businessmen energy and water resources , indus- to cooperate with their counterparts try and information technology and DOHA: Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim in Tajikistan and also the possibility transportation. Al Thani, Chairman of Qatari Busi- of forming a delegation to travel and Tajikistan has an investment- nessmen Association (QBA) met explore ways of investment. friendly environment in all sectors, with a delegation of Tajiki business- Tajiki Minister of Economic Devel- especially in the areas of electric men headed by Hikmatullozoda opment and Trade said the Tajikistan power generation and in the field of Nematullo, Minister of Economic delegation visit will help increase the agriculture. Development and Trade along with 6 value and volume of bilateral trade. The two sides exchanged souve- deputy ministers here yesterday. The government of Tajikistan has stra- nirs where Sheikh Faisal presented a QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani with Tajikistan business delegation. Sheikh Faisal discussed the tegic objectives that is keen to achieve QBA crystal shield to Nematullo. Doha Bank bags four awards

The Peninsula

DOHA: Doha Bank bagged top honours at ‘The Banker Mid- dle East Industry Awards’, taking home awards in four main cate- gories including Best Web/Mobile Banking Service for the Doha Bank mobile app, Best Savings Account for Al Dana Savings Scheme, Best Co- Branded Credit Card for the Lulu Doha Bank Shopping Credit Card, and Best Forex Trading Service. The awards were received by Dr R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, and senior management from the retail banking, treasury invest- ment and technology departments Dr R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank, receiving the award. at a ceremony held in here recently. “The awards indicate the success award for Best Forex Trading Service shop at Lulu stores in Qatar. It is the of Doha Bank’s business strat- for its industry-leading range of mar- only product of its kind to allow cus- egy across key verticals,” said Dr gin trading products and corporate tomers to enjoy instant savings on Seetharaman. “To come up trumps hedging solutions for cross-border groceries as the points earned can at The Banker Middle East Indus- transactions that have been seeing be redeemed without any limitations try Awards is always special as the increased demand. The Bank, which or restrictions. criteria for making the grade are so offers foreign exchange services from Al Dana savings account offers stringent, and you clearly need to be 7.15am to 8pm from Sunday to Friday, customers a wide range of banking a cut above the competition to win also provides the best rates for expa- benefits including a free VISA inter- in any category. These awards are triate customers for remittances to national debit card and online, SMS an acknowledgement for innova- their home countries. and newly introduced Apple Watch tive offerings to our customers using The Lulu Doha Bank Shopping banking services. Customers can technology. The awards are also a Credit Card, winner of the award for also manage their utility bill pay- source of great encouragement for Best Co-Branded Credit Card, offers ments through their Al Dana account us to push our limits in creating an unbeatable value proposition on and transfer funds across multiple products and services that meet the everyday spends, with cardholders accounts and to third parties, as well changing needs of our customers.” saving 5 percent on every purchase as send money overseas at the most Doha Bank said that it got the via shopping points each time they competitive exchange rates. HSBC to freeze salaries, hiring in 2016

Reuters to boost profitability and returns to content of the staff email. shareholders. In October, contractors at its The bank is also pushing through investment banking division in Lon- with plans for annual cost savings of don had their pay cut by 10 percent LONDON: Europe’s largest lender, up to $5bn by 2017. in line with the bank’s efforts to rein HSBC, is imposing a hiring and pay Europe’s biggest bank said in June in costs, a source familiar with the freeze across the bank globally in that it planned to slash nearly one in matter said at the time. 2016, two sources familiar with the five jobs and shrink its investment News of the pay and hiring freeze matter said. bank by a third in response to slug- follows a significant week for HSBC, An email was sent to staff on gish economic growth and tighter after its board met last week to con- Friday detailing the latest cost- global regulation of bank balance sider moving headquarters to Hong saving measures, according to the sheet risk. Kong and to focus on the bank’s sources who spoke on condition of “As flagged in our Investor strategy. anonymity. Update we have targeted significant A decision on the domicile issue Like numerous other global cost reductions by the end of 2017,” could come early next week, a senior banks, the Europe’s largest lender is a spokeswoman for the Europe’s source at the Europe’s largest lender in the midst of a cost-cutting drive largest lender said, confirming the said on January 27. 24 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

BHP & Rio Nigeria faces currency woes as oil falls evade worst

in 2015, its slowest pace in over a dec- of cyclone in ade, according to an International Things are more Monetary Fund report in January. expensive, rent is Unlike Norway, which invested Australia hundreds of billions of dollars of its high, food is high. oil money into stocks, bonds and real Everything has estate, Nigeria spent its riches when SYDNEY: BHP Billiton Ltd, Rio times were good. Tinto Plc and other iron-ore pro- increased and yet Now that crude prices have ducers in northwest Australia the staff salary has slumped more than two-thirds since evaded the worst of Cyclone Stan $100 per barrel in mid-2014, Nigeria after the weather system missed remained the same is exposed. major export hubs and weakened Dollar reserves currently stand at as it moved inland. a low of $28bn-- $20bnless than in The cyclone made landfall April 2013. There is only enough for early yesterday with less force than AFP five months of imports for a country expected east of Port Hedland, heavily dependent on foreign goods. the world’s largest bulk-export While the huge drop in oil prices terminal, the Bureau of Meteor- is a major headache for Nigeria, ology said on its website. While LAGOS: Onele Vincent and his col- analysts say it is the government’s the bureau expects heavy rain, leagues are fed up with the rising cost response that is the biggest cause for potential flooding and gusts of up of living. So they decided to do some- concern. to 90 kilometers an hour in some thing about it and led a noisy protest The central bank governor, God- places, it said Stan has faded to a at a top Lagos hotel where they work. win Emefiele, on Tuesday dismissed category 1 cyclone and will grad- “Things are more expensive, rent calls to devalue the naira in his mon- ually lose power. is high, food is high,” Vincent said last etary policy committee statement. Port Hedland is the maritime week in the lobby of the Southern Sun Instead he chose to continue gateway to Asia for miners hunting hotel, a favourite of the monied elite, propping up the currency at 197-199 for iron ore in the Pilbara region politicians and expatriates. naira to the dollar and maintain for- of Western Australia. BHP, which “Everything has increased and eign-exchange restrictions. had evacuated workers as Stan yet the staff salary has remained the As a result, the naira on the black approached, reopened sites at the same.” market is hovering around a record port early Sunday, Matthew Nette, Vincent and the other hotel work- low of 305, fuelling complaints from Naira, the currency of Nigeria. a spokesman for the company, said ers are far from lone voices in Nigeria, domestic and foreign businesses in an e-mail. Rio, which had sent where many are feeling the pain as who can’t access dollars needed for markets analyst at Frontier Strategy needing foreign investment but una- avoid a recession, planning to pour ships to safe anchorages, said in an Africa’s biggest oil producer struggles imports. Group. “Everyone is complaining ble to get any. money into massive road and rail- e-mail Sunday its facilities west of to adapt to the record lows of global With little domestic manufactur- about the lack of direction from the “If you’re not attracting those way projects. Port Hedland at Dampier and Cape oil prices and its naira currency is ing and years of under-investment, government.” Attempts to shore up inflows and you’re not generating a But the budget is based on an oil Lambert were back to normal. under devaluation pressure. mismanagement and corruption in the naira are designed to protect the surplus from the export of oil, then price of $38 per barrel, above the cur- “The cyclone danger has Daily newspaper headlines warn the oil sector, Nigeria depends on nation’s dollar reserves. it’s going to be more difficult to sus- rent market price of around $33, and passed,” the weather bureau of “Hard times ahead”, while many imports for almost everything, from But the tight forex controls have tain foreign exchange reserves where relies heavily on borrowed money. said in an advisory to residents billboards in the commercial hub of milk and machinery to petroleum led to accusations growth is being they are,” added Razia Khan, an econ- After Buhari remarked in Decem- in Port Hedland and other com- Lagos stand stark white, just blank products. strangled in Africa’s most populous omist at Standard Chartered Bank. ber that he would consider devaluing munities either side of Cyclone signs, an indication that companies Jittery investors, fearing the inev- country. “That could impact on its per- the naira, some investors took it as a Stan’s path. The bureau initially are trimming costs. itable devaluation of the naira, have “At this stage, a weaker naira ceived credit worthiness, which isn’t sign the currency situation would be said Stan might hit the coast as Even high fliers are taking a hit. held off doing business in the coun- is less important for fostering the a good thing when Nigeria is thinking resolved early in the new year. a category 3 cyclone. BHP’s Port Importers of French wine complain try until there is a clearer monetary resumption of needed international of borrowing externally to fund some Yet on Thursday Buhari put those Hedland operations “experienced that demand has dried up. Luxury policy. investment flows than the lifting of of its more ambitious infrastructure hopes on the back burner, saying on limited impact,” the company car dealers and real estate agents say “The situation right now is caus- the foreign exchange restriction,” programmes.” a visit to Kenya he will not have the spokesman said. “Safety inspec- business has dwindled. ing a lot of anxiety and uncertainty JF Ruhashyankiko, a Goldman President Muhammadu Buhari naira “killed” and is “optimistic” tions on site have been completed Africa’s leading economy is pro- because no one knows how to plan Sachs economist, said in an investor last month announced a record his policies will soon stabilise the and operations will progressively jected to have grown by 3.0 percent for it,” said Anna Rosenburg, emerging note. Now Nigeria is in limbo, badly six trillion naira ($30bn) budget to economy. recommence this morning.” Gou confident of taking control of Sharp Sharp meets Foxconn and INCJ amid bailout talks include about 390bn yen to buy new don’t want to destroy this company, shares for a controlling stake, said the we want to keep it.” INCJ may invest person, who couldn’t be identified about 300bn yen in Sharp, people Bloomberg Sharp’s history, the newspaper because the information isn’t public. familiar with the matter have said. reported. The Foxconn chairman had About 225bn yen will be used to Under INCJ’s offer, the banks would planned to make a bid of about 660 buy preferred stock in Sharp, prima- hand over the preferred shares for billion yen ($5.4 billion) for Sharp, rily from the company’s two major free, the Nikkei reported, without TOKYO: Sharp Corp, the embat- according to a person familiar with banks, and another 45bn yen will be citing anyone. tled Japanese electronics maker at the matter who spoke before the used to buy land from the company. Under the deal, INCJ would lead the centre of bailout talks, has met meeting took place. “I’m very confident, if the govern- a push to restructure Sharp’s solar with Foxconn Technology Group of The offer is designed to beat out ment says they won’t touch” it, Gou business, streamlining production Taiwan and Japanese government- an alternative deal with INCJ, the said. He said reports that INCJ is a facilities and integrating the unit backed fund Innovation Network Japanese government fund, and government entity, and that Foxconn with Solar Frontier K.K., the Nikkei Corp of Japan, the two rivals vying would include about 390 billion yen is competing with the government, reported. for control of the maker of Aquos to buy new shares for a controlling are incorrect. Solar Frontier is a wholly owned flat-screen televisions. stake, said the person, who couldn’t Though the Taiwanese com- unit of Showa Shell Sekiyu KK The meetings took place on Sat- be identified because the informa- pany is offering more money, Sharp Sharp’s American depositary receipt urday, Yoshifumi Seki, a spokesman tion isn’t public. About 225 billion yen Bloomberg year-end event for his company in is leaning toward a deal with INCJ, rose as much as 13.4 percent to $1.27 for the Osaka-based electronics will be used to buy preferred stock in Taipei after he met with Sharp man- which would keep its technology and closed at $1.25 on Friday. maker said by phone. He declined Sharp, primarily from the company’s agement at their headquarters in within Japan and allow it to cooperate Gou said at the event in Taipei to provide further details. According two major banks, and another 45 Osaka Saturday. The Foxconn chair- more closely with domestic compa- yesterday that Hon Hai Precision to the Yomiuri newspaper, Foxconn billion yen will be used to buy land TAIPEI: Foxconn Technology Group man had planned to make a bid of nies, people familiar with the matter Industry Co.’s profit growth last Chairman Terry Gou was among from the company. Though the Tai- Chairman Terry Gou (pictured) is about 660bn yen ($5.4bn) for Sharp, have said. year met his 10 percent target even those to meet with Sharp’s manage- wanese company is offering more confident his company will win in according to a person familiar who “Our terms and conditions are as sales failed to reach their goal. ment at the company’s headquarters. money, Sharp is leaning toward a its bid to take control of Sharp Corp, spoke before the meeting took place. much much better than competi- Profit margins expanded because Following the two-hour meeting deal with INCJ, which would keep the embattled maker of Aquos flat- Gou’s offer is designed to beat out tors,” Gou said yesterday. Taiwanese of automation, he said. Hon Hai, the in Osaka, Gou extolled the virtues of its technology within Japan and screen televisions, he said yesterday. an alternative deal with Innovation and Japanese technology companies Taipei-listed flagship of the Foxconn a tie up with the Japanese company, allow it to cooperate more closely Sharp will make a decision next Network Corp of Japan, the Japanese have synergies and should cooperate group, makes iPhones, iPads and saying the two businesses would see with domestic companies, people week on the offer, Gou said at a government- backed fund, and would and develop together, he said. “We MacBooks for Apple Inc. synergy and that he would continue familiar with the matter have said. Brazil’s sugar industry Concern over investment opportunities will rise reaches turning point Bloomberg assets can often be dramatically markets have slumped, while bil- It also provides loans to dis- mis-priced, both in the equity and lions of dollars have been drained tressed companies. Last year, the credit space.” from the banking system. company returned 5.1 percent, net Sancta Capital sees UAE- Distressed securities are of all fees, to investors, compared Bloomberg next will result in the stabilisation of DUBAI: Distressed investment based construction companies and the bank debt, trade claims or with a decline of about 17 percent in prices, he said. Sugar futures traded opportunities in the United Arab small businesses offering the best corporate bonds of companies or the S&P Pan Arab Composite Index. in New York climbed 5 percent last Emirates and the Arabian Gulf will distressed situations as projects are government entities that are expe- Several Dubai-based gov- year, reversing four annual declines. rise this year as stock markets and put on hold, contractors struggle to riencing financial or operational ernment entities were forced to LONDON: The Brazilian sugar The sweetener was last year’s companies in the region buckle get paid and local banks seek to off difficulty, default, or are bankrupt. restructure debt after property industry is reaching a turning point third-best performer in the Standard under the pressure of oil trading at load loan portfolios, Alanani said “After a strong rally in prices and asset values slumped in as global shortages mean more sta- & Poor’s index of 24 raw materials. around $30 a barrel, according to in an interview in Dubai where the 2014/2015, driven mostly by specu- the Persian Gulf business hub and ble prices at a time the depreciation A decline of more than 30 percent Sancta Capital Group. company has a research office. lative flows, we’ve quickly retraced credit markets froze with the onset of the real is reducing costs, accord- in the Brazilian real is boosting “We’re expecting compelling It also expects blue-chip infra- to levels last seen in 2011/2012,” of the 2008 global credit crisis. ing to Bunge Ltd which owns eight earnings for millers selling the com- opportunities as equity prices col- structure firms in Africa to offer said chief investment officer Gus Companies including Dubai mills in the nation. modity in US dollars and reducing lapse, credit spreads continue to good investment opportunities, he Chehayeb, who co- founded Sancta World reached a deal with banks Brazil, the world’s largest pro- costs from a peak in 2011, Schroder widen, and companies struggle said. Capital with Alanani in 2014. to delay repayments, while others ducer, will need to boost output said. “We do believe that the Bra- to raise capital from traditional Oil’s more than 70 percent “This correction is the result of such as Limitless LLC are still in dis- over the next decade to meet ris- zilian sugar cane milling and also sources,” said Ahmad Alanani, plunge since June 2014 means that a natural structural adjustment in a cussions with creditors. ing demand, Soren Schroder, chief ethanol industry is at a turning point, chief executive officer of the Hou- some companies in the UAE and new world where low oil prices are “Compared to the last crisis, the executive officer of the White Plains- that we hit the bottom,” said Schro- ston-based firm, which invests in neighboring countries, among here to stay.” distress is felt by private companies based company, said at the Dubai der of Bunge, which moves about 6.5 under-performing companies and the world’s biggest crude produc- Sancta Capital, which manages the most as opposed to government- Sugar Conference, a private event for million tons a year in its sugar and their debt. ers, are struggling to make debt about $30 million of assets, invests related entities whose balance sheet 400 industry leaders. Global supply bioenergy division. “There’s light at “The region offers an uncom- repayments. mainly in bonds and shares listed in are relatively healthier this time deficits forecast for this year and the the end of the tunnel.” petitive investment landscape and Most of the region’s stock the UAE Kuwait and Egypt. around,” Chehayeb said. BUSINESS MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 25 Solar industry in Nepal eyes growth

number of houses using solar energy,” but estimates from the main man- said Ram Prasad Dhital, chief of the ufacturers’ association suggest With power outages state-run Alternative Energy Promo- annual transactions total around lasting up to 15 hours tion Centre. $140m. Shrestha said he paid nearly “But as interest develops in urban $6,500 for the 4,200-watt solar sys- a day and the price of areas after the fuel crisis, we expect tem installed at his home last month. diesel used to power (the industry) to grow exponentially in “It was a very good decision,” he coming years,” said Dhital, describing told AFP. “Now we can’t even tell when generators soaring, solar as “the ideal option” for many in the power comes and goes. We don’t the Himalayan the power-starved country. have to stand in queues (either)”. Landlocked Nepal has histori- Nepal receives more than 300 nation’s solar industry cally relied on neighbouring India days of sunlight a year, more than is eyeing a boom in for petrol, diesel and cooking gas, Germany, the world leader in solar sales but these and other critical supplies power, making it an ideal hotspot to have slowed to a trickle since a border harness renewable energy. blockade kicked off more than four But efforts at solving Nepal’s months ago. energy problems have traditionally Nepal’s Madhesi ethnic minority focused on tapping its hydro rather AFP has blocked a key border crossing than solar potential. with India, in protest over a new However a series of big-ticket national constitution adopted in Sep- projects on harnessing its Himalayan tember that they say denies them rivers for electricity have either stalled KATHMANDU: After enduring end- political representation. or fizzled out. less blackouts in Nepal’s months-long Overnight queues at petrol pumps Foreign investors have long com- and ongoing national fuel crisis, man- are routine and a black market for plained of red tape and other delays agement consultant Pankaj Shrestha smuggled diesel and cooking gas in getting government approval, finally splurged on a set of solar pan- thrives, as government talks fail to with one Norwegian firm this month els for his home in Kathmandu. resolve the crisis. announcing its withdrawal from a $1.5 “First there was no cooking gas Until now, solar firms in Nepal billion hydropower project. Nepal’s available, so we bought an elec- have targeted rural households cut off total installed hydropower generation tric cooker. But then there was no from the electricity grid. NGOs and capacity is only about 800 megawatts electricity, so how could we cook any- the government have subsidised sales -- 1.9 percent of its potential -- despite thing?” the 52-year-old asked. of solar panels to more than 750,000 its vast network of rivers. With power outages lasting up to homes in need. “Hydropower projects are large- 15 hours a day and the price of diesel But huge crowds thronged a Kath- scale and require a lot of investment Nepalese technician Purushottsam Neupane and his team fixing a solar panel on the roof of a private house used to power generators soaring, the mandu trade fair on clean energy this and time,” said Dipak Bahadur Shahi, in Kathmandu. Himalayan nation’s solar industry is month, with businessmen, housewives president of the Nepal Solar Power eyeing a boom in sales. and middle-class professionals among Producers’ Association. trekkers hot showers at high altitudes. income of $700. A basic 120-watt it planned to install a solar system to Although solar panels are unaf- the mix, in a sign of changing times. “Whereas the solar sector is “Earlier the demand was just for package costs about $400 to power power its campus of 700 students. fordable for millions of poor Nepalis, Sales of solar systems surpassed driven by the private sector and basic lighting, (but) now people want six lightbulbs and charge one laptop “It is impossible to say when the industry is confident the cri- $18m during the three-day event, with we can deliver swiftly according to high-capacity systems that can power or a mobile phone. Nepal’s energy crisis will be resolved,” sis will spur the country’s frustrated representatives of about 90 com- demand.” In recent years, small-scale laptops and appliances,” Shahi said. But some who can afford the Shrestha said. “We have spent mil- middle-class to invest in the renew- panies struggling to keep up with wsolar projects have sprouted across Solar remains too expensive for investment are tired of the crisis. lions on diesel generators every year. able energy. “We have already seen a demand, organisers said. Reliable Nepal, from dusty villages to Hima- many households and businesses in Dinesh Shrestha, chair of the lead- Solar is not cheap, but at least it will 10 percent increase each year in the industry figures are not available, layan guesthouses that offer freezing a country with a per capita annual ing Nepalgunj Medical College, said be a one-time investment.” Saudi in talks Indian sugar with lenders S Korea plans single trading account stays at home

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Jabal Omar Bloomberg which will replace an unpopular Asian markets tracked by Bloomb- so far under the current identifi- as price surges Development Co is in talks with rule that currently requires offshore erg. When South Korea was taken cation system,” Kim Young Sung, creditors after failing to make the money managers to trade shares off MSCI’s shortlist of candidates for analyst at Daewoo Securities Co., first repayment, worth 650m riy- through a separate account for each the status of a developed nation in said by phone last week, before the LONDON: A surge in Indian sugar als ($173.29m), on a 3bn riyal state SEOUL: South Korea plans to intro- of their funds, will be introduced on 2014, the index provider cited the FSC announcement. prices means the world’s second- loan on January 1, the property firm duce a single trading account for a trial basis from May, the FSC said. “cumbersome” identification sys- Introduction of the omnibus largest supplier will sell more said yesterday. In a bourse filing, foreign funds from next year as Once the new rules take effect, tem and absence of improvement in account takes South Korean shares on the domestic market and less the company said its sustainability it bolsters efforts to get its stocks brokerage firms will need to send won trading hours as the two main “one step further” towards inclu- abroad. depended on finding funds to repay included in MSCI Inc.’s developed- over their transaction records to reasons. sion in the MSCI developed-market India will export less than 50 short-term debts. The company has country indexes. the Financial Supervisory Service, Recognition as a developed indexes, Kim said. percent of what the government long-term debt of more than 8bn The Financial Services Commis- which will monitor them for for- nation is coveted as it could open the The benchmark Kospi index has ordered, according to ED&F Man riyals.The developer, whose projects sion will amend rules and oversee eign capital flows, according to the door to a larger pool of global funds fallen 2.5 percent this month, eras- Holdings and Olam International. are mainly located in Mecca’s Jabal an overhaul of electronic trading statement. and potentially lower volatility asso- ing last year’s 2.4 percent advance, While expectations for Indian Omar district near the Holy Mosque, systems in April as it prepares for The simplified rules follow out- ciated with emerging-market assets. on outflows amid turbulence in glo- exports were bearish for the mar- said it plans to use a 900 million the change, the regulator said in a flows of as much as $4.9bn from “The omnibus account will bal markets and the prospect of a ket six months ago, the estimates riyal credit facility from a local bank statement. South Korean shares over the past resolve most of the inconveniences weaker yuan spurring competitive are now being lowered, accord- to cover the repayment. The so-called omnibus account, twelve months, the most among that foreign investors experienced devaluations in the region. ing to John Stansfield, an analyst at soft- commodities trader Group Sopex. Indian sugar prices rallied more than 30 percent in the past five months on expectations the current crop will turn out smaller IAG airline boss to keep cutting costs than initially forecast. The gains mean the nation’s millers make more money selling their pro- Reuters he lined up a merger with Spanish land in London, rather than resort duction locally, Jack Hannon, an carrier Iberia in 2011 to create IAG, to back-up destinations, such as Ire- analyst at Olam, said before the which in turn snapped up Britain’s land’s Shannon. Dubai Sugar Conference, a pri- BMI, Spain’s Vueling and Ireland’s One adviser, who worked with vate event for 400 industry leaders LONDON: Once dubbed “Slasher Aer Lingus. Walsh on one of his takeovers, said starting yesterday. Walsh” for his relentless drive to cut Once again, the 54-year-old sig- the ash cloud episode showed how “Exports are more derived costs, the boss of British Airways- nalled there would be no retreating ruthless he could be to achieve his by price than by policy,” Piero owner IAG is showing no sign of going from this strategy for IAG, even should goals. But he added he could also Carello, a London-based general soft. he follow through on his once-stated use charm and diplomacy to nav- manager at Olam, said Saturday in Willie Walsh (pictured) has built plan to retire at 55. igate political and union tensions an interview in Dubai before the his reputation on his refusal to give “There’s lots more deals for IAG to when needed. event. “We don’t see India as a rel- ground to unions and a willingness to do, but whether I do them or some- “It helps that he has a huge appe- evant factor to the world market.” wield the axe at former state-owned one else ... It doesn’t matter when I go tite for work while being able to Prime Minister Narendra airlines, convinced it’s the only way or if I go, there’ll be someone there relax outside of it,” the adviser, who Modi’s government in Septem- to stay competitive in an era when to replace me,” Walsh added on the declined to be named, said of Walsh, ber ordered mills to compulsorily budget carriers increasingly rule the sidelines of a conference in Dublin a Liverpool soccer club fan. export 4m metric tonnes in the roost. this month. “He tends to eschew the pomp and 2015-16 season that started in It is a testament to his success that A pilot from the age of 17, he rose ceremony of leadership and instead October and offered a subsidy on while IAG lags Lufthansa and Rya- to become CEO of Aer Lingus in 2001, wears his no-nonsense approach to the shipments. Less than half of nair in terms of passenger numbers, taking over just when the 9/11 attacks business with pride. He has zero time that will be shipped, estimated it is expected to report more operat- crippled global travel demand. It was (Iberia) unions, and he got that all ideologically opposed to making deals for titles.” With Walsh’s overhauls, Kona Haque, head of research at ing profit for 2015 than those carriers there he formed the template for his through,” said one top-30 shareholder with trade unions ... That’s not to say IAG’s airlines stole a march on Air ED&F Man. Olam sees overseas or any other European rival. strategy, when he had a front-row seat in IAG, who declined to be named. that he’s easy to deal with,” he said. France-KLM and Lufthansa which are sales of 1.5m tonnes at current Sporting a close-cropped haircut to the rapid expansion of budget air- When Iberia workers went on Walsh showed similar single- still struggling to persuade staff of the prices as Sucrees et Denrees SA’s as he spoke to industry delegates at a line Ryanair as its neighbour at Dublin strike in Madrid, waving flags say- mindedness during the Icelandic ash need for change, a tougher task now Commercial Director Auke Vlas conference in January, ahead of the Airport. ing “British Go Home”, a bullish Walsh cloud crisis in 2010, when he ordered as oil prices are boosting profitability. foresees the same, he said at the five-year anniversary of the forma- He soon earned the Slasher Walsh declared he would see off the protests, full Britain-bound BA planes to take “He’s way ahead of where conference yesterday. Stansfield tion of IAG, he said there would be no nickname for the job cuts he made at telling the media: “I’ve done it before off from the east coast of the United Lufthansa and Air France are,” said of Group Sopex said exports could let-up in his mission. the Irish carrier before he was hired and I’ll do it again.” States and Canada, even though UK Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. Walsh be 2.5m tonnes, but “that number “Hence the reason for my hair- to become boss at BA in 2005 where “This is an all too rare exam- airspace was still closed to landings. now sees more cost-savings on the is reducing by the day.” cut - that’s the theme for 2016, it’s his skills were put to the test when the ple of an airline management team It was a risky bet, but with BA los- horizon, including grinding out effi- El Nino-induced dry weather all going to be about cutting costs,” global financial crisis also dampened setting a clear path and sticking to ing millions of pounds a day due to ciencies in areas like maintenance is reducing production in India, said the Irishman, who encourages demand for travel. it, in the face of strong opposition grounded planes, he wanted to pres- and handling, and combining his with the nation’s sugar mills asso- a focus on financial results by telling He cut BA staff and froze pay, from unions,” said Jonathan Wober, sure authorities to quickly revise a carriers’ back-office functions in an ciation cutting its 2015-16 output staff “show me the money”. despite 18 months of bitter industrial the CAPA Centre for Aviation’s chief decades-old safety code to reflect new office in lower-cost Krakow, Poland. estimate by 1m tonnes to 26m Walsh’s strategy over the past 15 dispute, and after the 2011 merger financial analyst. While he can be tests that had shown flying through a The IAG boss again overcame oppo- tonnes earlier this month. Pro- years has also been marked by an with Iberia, he embarked on a simi- tough Walsh is also pragmatic, said certain concentration of ash was pos- sition - both political and union - last duction could fall to 24.5m tonnes aggressive M&A policy as he sought lar battle at the loss-making Spanish Jack O’Connor, president of Aer Lin- sible without damage to aircraft. year to seal the 1.3 billion euro take- next season and dry weather to prevail in what he once described carrier. gus’s largest union, SIPTU. The gamble paid off - the author- over of Aer Lingus. It followed the means farmers were unable to as a “fight for survival”. “I was really sceptical how that “Like most employers I’d say he’d ities changed the rule in the nick of acquisitions of BMI in 2012 and low- plant cane that is usually har- As CEO of British Airways (BA), was going to work out with the prefer not to deal with us but he’s not time and his planes were able to cost carrier Vueling in 2013. vested 18 months later. 26 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 9,481.30 2.26 % QE Total Return Index 14,737.32 2.26 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,371.86 3.33 % QE All Share Index 2,519.72 2.47 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,545.74 1.01 % QE All Share Industrials 2,847.73 2.62 % QE All Share Transportation 2,205.1 3.12 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,053.99 5.71 % QE All Share Insurance 4,058.22 0.64 % QE All Share Telecoms 984.62 1.20 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 5,248.63 5.98 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 31-01-2016 Today 28-01-2016 Previous day Index 9,481.30 9,272.01 Change 209.29 292.51 % 2.26 3.26 YTD% 9.09 11.1 Volume 11,377,366 12,075,606 Value (QAR) 316,161,831.16 396,849,885.86 Trades 5,138 5,260 Up 34 | Down 05 | Unchanged 01

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5028.071 27.281 0.55 5379.6 4857.9 Cac 40 Index/D 4329.8 -50.56 -1.15 4586.11 4084.68 Dj Indu Average 15944.46 -222.77 -1.38 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 19195.83 143.38 0.75 21794.84 18534.3 Iseq Overall/D 6255.66 -86.3 -1.36 6791.68 6146.61 Karachi 100 In/D 31193.73 92.35 0.3 33304.4 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 17041.45 -122.47 -0.71 18951.12 16017.26 S&P 500 Index/D 1882.95 -20.68 -1.09 2134.72 1812.29

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.1570 QR 5.2324 Euro QR 3.9509 QR 4.0058 CA$ QR 2.5812 QR 2.6400 Swiss Fr QR 3.5232 QR 3.6124 Yen QR 0.0297 QR 0.0305 Hollywood and Adele save Aus$ QR 2.5500 QR 2.6147 Ind Re QR 0.0528 QR 0.0540 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Peso QR 0.0751 QR 0.0767 SL Re QR 0.0250 QR 0.0257 Sony in smartphone rut Taka QR 0.0468 QR 0.0470 Nep Re QR 0.0332 QR 0.0339 SA Rand QR 0.2208 QR 0.2252 By Pavel Alpeyev and Takashi Amano Bloomberg GOLD AND SILVER GOLD QR131.6171 per gramme SILVER QR1.6910 per gramme ony Corp’s earnings got a huge helping hand from Hollywood, music and games last quar- ter, validating Chief Executive SOfficer Kazuo Hirai’s shift away from its consumer hardware roots. The com- Gulf stocks trim pany’s US shares jumped the most in more than seven years. As Apple Inc and Samsung Elec- worst start in 10 tronics Co reel from the twin blows of a global smartphone slump and emerg- years after oil rises ing-markets uncertainty, Sony posted better-than-expected results. A 33 percent surge in net income to 120.1bn yen ($997m) in the December quarter DUBAI: Gulf Arab equities trimmed their worst January appeared to endorse its move toward in at least a decade after oil capped its second weekly gaming and entertainment, confining advance. Dubai’s DFM General Index led gains in the mobile exposure mainly to the sophis- region, climbing to the highest in three weeks as the ticated camera sensors it’s known for. number of shares traded was almost double the six- Sony gave due credit on Friday to month intraday average. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index both the James Bond film “Spectre” had the big- and record-breaking sales of Adele’s Visitors looking at new Xperia smartphones at the booth of Sony at the consumer electronics and home appliances gest increase “25,” which wasn’t available on stream- in more than ing services Spotify and Apple Music. trade fair IFA (for ‘Internationale Funk Ausstellung’),in Berlin, Germany. a year on a Games, its biggest division by sales, closing basis. Equities across sold more PlayStation 4 consoles and Saudi Ara- emerging markets software titles to help offset a plunge surpassed the 2.53 trillion yen expected development. slowed. It had a loss of 11.7bn yen in the bia’s Tadawul in sensor orders from smartphone cus- by analysts Sony’s American depository About 7 million VR headsets will be quarter after Sony took a 30.6 billion All Share rallied last week tomers such as Apple and Samsung. receipts rallied 18 percent to $23.88, sold by the end of 2016, according to yen impairment on its battery business. Index rose a as risk appetite “Games, music and movies are now their biggest jump since October 2008. market researcher IHS Technology. By fourth day, in a position to help out when the elec- The ADRs, which rose 20 percent in 2020, the market is expected to reach the longest strengthened on tronics business isn’t doing well,” said 2015, recovered much of this month’s $2.6bn with 37 million headsets sold. streak since bets that US Fed will Yoshihiro Nakatani, a senior fund man- decline, leaving them down 3 percent Both music and film turned in solid November. refrain from raising ager at Asahi Life Asset Management. this year. performances. The film division was “We were “From the credit market point of view, While Sony kept its full-year its fastest-growing in the quarter, with Sony will launch sitting on the interest rates soon Sony has become a solid investment.” forecasts unchanged for the whole revenue climbing 27 percent to 262.1bn PlayStation VR, sidelines for Sony has relied on image sensors company, including operating income yen. Sony had the fourth-biggest hit at most of Jan- to bolster profits while Hirai shifted of 320bn yen, it increased projec- the North American box office in the a virtual reality uary,” said focus away from consumer electron- tions for games on higher network quarter with “Spectre, which grossed headset, by June 30. Muhammad Shabbir, the Dubai-based head of equi- ics such as TVs. The company kept its sales while cutting expectations for $199m, according to BoxOfficeMojo. ties and funds at Rasmala Investment Bank Ltd. “We’re forecast for the highest annual profit the devices unit that produces image com. The company’s nearly looking to enter the market again this week after the in eight years. sensors. Adele’s latest album, featuring the 36 million-strong losses we’ve seen this month. February could well shape Operating income for the quarter Gaming operating income will be hit “Hello,” helped propel music rev- up as a positive month.” was 202.1bn yen, 16 percent more than 85bn yen, about 6 percent more than enue 8 percent higher to 181.2bn yen. global base of PS4 Equities across emerging markets rallied last week estimates while sales of 2.58 trillion yen an October forecast, Sony said. Quar- Full-year earnings at the music divi- consoles may give it as risk appetite strengthened on bets the Federal Reserve terly operating profit for the business sion are now seen 14 percent higher will refrain from raising interest rates soon and as oil was 40.2bn yen. than the company forecast in Octo- an advantage over jumped on speculation an output cut may be on the way. It’s now sharpening its focus on ber. While the new album was kept off rivals like Facebook’s The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, a gauge of 200 of streaming and online game services streaming services, demand for other Oculus, which require the region’s biggest companies, added 2.5 percent at by bringing its PlayStation hardware, titles in Sony’s catalog is helping revive 12:32 pm in Dubai, gaining for a third day. The meas- software and network operations under the music industry, the company said. a high-end computer ure has lost 8.9 percent this month, poised for the worst one roof. “Thanks to services like Spotify and to run. Sony can also start to a year since the index was created 10 years ago. Sony has said it will launch Play- Apple Music, the music market is finally The DFM General Index increased 3.6 percent to the Sony is now sharpening its Station VR, a virtual reality headset, by showing signs of rebounding,” Chief leverage two decades highest level since January 11, taking its three-day gain focus on streaming and online June 30. The company’s nearly 36 mil- Financial Officer Kenichiro Yoshida told of experience to 9.7 percent. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index advanced lion-strong global base of PS4 consoles reporters in Tokyo on Friday. “Movies 3.1 percent. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark added 3.3 percent, game services by bringing may give it an advantage over rivals like is another business we expect to con- working with game taking its four-day gain to 8.2 percent. Oman’s MSM 30 its PlayStation hardware, Facebook Inc’s Oculus, which require tribute to profit growth. We will also studios and already Index added 3.1 percent. Bahrain’s BB All Share Index a high-end computer to run. Sony can continue to invest in TV production.” rose 0.9 percent, Qatar’s QE Index advanced 1.5 percent. software and network also leverage two decades of experi- Sony’s devices unit however felt has more than 100 Kuwait’s SE Price Index increased 1.6 percent, the operations under one roof ence working with game studios and the pain of decelerating smartphone titles in development most in more than a year. already has more than 100 titles in demand as markets matured and China BUSINESS VIEWS MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 27

Commodities shock Fiat Chrysler’s new may push LatAm back into IMF’s arms plan: Ignore the future

By Andrew Mayeda Venezuela about IMF finan- and David Biller cial support, fund spokesman Bloomberg Raphael Anspach said. An increased IMF pres- ence in Latin America would be controversial. During the fter the debt crisis of the 1980s, the fund stepped in to 1980s, seeking aid from help countries including Mex- Athe International Mone- ico and Brazil pay the large tary Fund had about as much debts they’d racked up with appeal to Latin American foreign banks. But the lend- nations as a root canal. The er’s recommended policies, plunge in commodity prices including budget cuts and may leave them no choice. deregulation, failed to pre- Once favoured by inves- vent deep recessions in most tors for their high-flying places. The anti-IMF scorn in resource economies, coun- the region is embodied by the tries including Brazil and “Monopoly”-style board game Argentina are suffering from “Eternal Debt,” in which play- drops in the cost of every- ers assume the roles of Latin thing from oil to iron ore and American nations and strive to soybeans, along with weak- defeat the multilateral lender. ening demand from China “The IMF is a much more and a strengthening dol- flexible and a much more lar. Regional output is set to useful institution today, but shrink for a second straight unfortunately the stigma of year for the first time since the past is very much present, the crisis three decades ago, and countries that would be according to the IMF. well advised to use the fund, The slump is raising the like Brazil, probably are not prospect that some countries doing it,” said Talvi, director may have to seek assistance of the Brookings-CERES Latin from the Washington-based America programme. Fiat Spider on display at the Philadelphia Auto Show, Pennsylvania, yesterday. fund, whose policy prescrip- Venezuela is at risk tions are blamed by some because 95 percent of its for- for the “lost decade” that fol- eign-currency earnings come lowed the crisis. Last week from oil exports. The IMF By Edward Niedermeyer strategy to manage these staggering threats: the IMF revealed that Suri- predicts the country’s econ- Bloomberg arguing that they aren’t really real. name, a $5bn economy on omy will contract 8 percent During Fiat Chrysler’s fourth-quarter South America’s northern this year, after shrinking 10 earnings presentation, Marchionne went coast, approached the fund percent in 2015. Inflation is down the list of industry bogeymen and to discuss financial support. expected to spike to 720 per- sk any auto executive about the casually dismissed each one. Volume is “It’s possible that over cent, following 2015’s world issues that keep them up at night, no longer the critical factor it once was, he the next few years you may high of 275 percent, accord- and they’ll reply with one or more argued, because healthy demand for trucks With the automaker’s see some other Latin Amer- ing to the fund. of the following: — The hunt for and SUVs is boosting Fiat Chrysler’s margins Jeep and Ram brands ican countries knocking at Discontent over spiraling opportunities to boost volume, as without it having to achieve economies of selling vehicles as fast as the IMF’s door,” said Alberto prices and widespread short- Athe days of developing-market expansion scale. Emissions regulations can be man- Ramos, chief economist for ages of everything from milk come to an end. aged by buying the credits generated by they can be produced, the region at Goldman Sachs. to cancer medicines helped — Increasingly tougher emissions regu- his competitors’ money-losing electric-car its CEO sees little reason Venezuela and Ecuador, both the opposition wrest con- lations, which threaten the truck and SUV programmes. And as for those new mobil- of which have seen foreign- trol of Congress in December segments that deliver the healthiest mar- ity paradigms, Marchionne dismissed the to invest in the brutally currency reserves dwindle from President Nicolas Madu- gins in the business. wave of futurism as just the latest distrac- competitive, low-margin amid the oil collapse, are pos- ro’s United Socialist Party for — The rise of technology-driven “new tion for an industry that regularly fails to sible candidates, Ramos said the first time in more than mobility paradigms,” such as car sharing stick to its knitting. business of mass-market in a phone interview. a decade. Foreign-currency and autonomous vehicles, which threaten Marchionne’s breezy optimism is backed sedans Brazil, the region’s largest reserves have dropped more to erode the private- ownership values that by a flood of cheap gas that has revived the economy, may also eventu- than 35 percent from a 2015 underpin the industry. market for trucks and SUVs — a market ally need to go to the IMF, high of $24.3bn in February Addressing these few thought would ever return. With the said Ernesto Talvi, a former to $15.6bn. Unless oil prices pressures requires the automaker’s Jeep and Ram brands selling chief economist at Uruguay’s recover, Venezuela will be scale to compete prof- vehicles as fast as they can be produced, central bank. The govern- unable to service its debts itably and the cash to Marchionne sees little reason to invest in autonomous taxis and commuter pods. ments of Brazil, Ecuador and in the next six to 12 months, invest in new technolo- the brutally competitive, low-margin busi- But Marchionne’s pragmatic strategy is Venezuela didn’t respond to said Jorge Mariscal, emerg- gies, which puts smaller ness of mass-market sedans. The company far from a no-brainer. For one thing, Fiat requests for comment. Ven- ing-markets chief investment automakers, such as Fiat won’t invest in future versions of its Dodge Chrysler hasn’t found a partner to produce ezuela’s foreign trade and officer at UBS Wealth Man- Chrysler Automobiles, at Dart or Chrysler 200 models, according to the sedans it needs — if not for profit, then investment minister, Jesus agement, which oversees $1 a distinct disadvantage. Marchionne, but will look to “partners” to to provide its dealers with the full product Faria, said an IMF request is trillion in assets. “The situ- So it was hardly a sur- provide replacement product. line they need to keep consumers com- “totally ruled out,” according ation is quite dire,” Mariscal By cutting sedan prise that Fiat Chrysler’s By cutting sedan production and switch- ing in the door. Absent a long-sought deal to comments published on said in an interview, adding production and Chief Executive Officer, ing that newly freed-up plant capacity to with another major automaker, the com- Friday in a local newspaper. that he expects oil prices to switching that newly Sergio Marchionne, trucks and SUVs, Marchionne hopes to pany’s default option will be to rebadge The IMF is already starting “creep up” later this year. The spent much of the last replace Fiat Chrysler’s weakest business with Mitsubishi sedans as Dodges and Chrys- to respond to the oil collapse country has borrowed more freed-up plant year trying to drum up its strongest. With cheap gas prices likely to lers, a move that echoes dark periods of elsewhere: Officials arrived in than $45bn from China over capacity to trucks and a merger that would persist, getting out of the small-car busi- its past and could cause serious erosion Azerbaijan last week for talks the past decade, using the give his firm the ability ness seems like a no-brainer for an already of its brand equity. on providing possible finan- funding for everything from SUVs, CEO hopes to to face these challenges truck-dependent firm like Fiat Chrys- That would be a worrying develop- cial aid. There have been no farming to infrastructure and replace Fiat Chrysler’s head-on. But with his ler. In the longer term, the sedan business ment: By abandoning investments in talks with Brazil, Ecuador or telecommunications projects. search for partners looks like a loser anyway, since sedans are anything but trucks, SUVs and luxury weakest business with meeting with universal increasingly becoming commodified “mobil- brands such as Alfa Romeo and Maserati, its strongest rejection, Marchionne ity appliances” and are thus most likely to Fiat Chrysler will lose the ability to gen- has turned to a bold new be affected by ride-sharing apps, as well as erate new value for its brands. Qualcomm forecasts show competitive smartphone market

By Ian King and Adam Satariano are structural and not going away,” said Stacy Mollenkopf has been trying to halt and company as a reason to hold off on paying Bloomberg Rasgon, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. reverse sales declines that have cut Qual- all the fees that Qualcomm says these com- He has the equivalent of a hold rating on the comm’s revenue by more than 10 percent for panies owe. stock. “The market is saturating. The compet- three straight quarters. He’s trying to get Qual- Derek Aberle, Qualcomm’s president, said itive environment is getting worse.” comm’s technology into new markets such as the company is making headway in getting ualcomm Inc forecast second-quar- Qualcomm shares slipped 8.3 percent to servers, cars and medical devices as the com- Chinese companies to sign licensing agree- ter sales and profit that may fall short $43.59, the lowest price since September 2010, pany’s main phone-chip business becomes ments. Qualcomm signed four deals during Qof analysts’ estimates, indicating that at the close in New York. They have declined more competitive and overall growth slows. the recent quarter and has “less than a hand- increasing competition in the slowing smart- 13 percent this year. Profit in the first quarter, Last year was the first that the smart- ful” of key contracts left to work out, Aberle phone market is weighing on semiconductor which ended in December, fell to $1.5bn, or 99 phone market expanded by less than 10 said in an interview on Wednesday. orders. The shares tumbled. cents a share, from $1.97bn, or $1.17 a share, a percent, according to market researcher IDC. Still, Qualcomm said it’s deferring $100m Net income in the period that ends in year earlier, Qualcomm said. Sales declined Demand in China, which has fueled market in revenue per quarter as a result of a contract March will be 69 cents to 79 cents a share on to $5.78bn. Analysts had projected earnings growth, is slowing to a percentage in the “low dispute with South Korea’s LG Electronics Inc, revenue of $4.9bn to $5.7bn, Qualcomm said of 83 cents on sales of $5.68bn. single digits” percent because of economic which alleges it overpaid royalties to Qual- Wednesday in a statement. On average, ana- Chief Executive Officer Steve Mollenkopf concerns, IDC said. Phone purchases in that comm. While Qualcomm said it believes LG’s Qualcomm’s division lysts had projected earnings of 84 cents on said the market continues to grow, but there’s country will increasingly be driven by the claims are “without merit,” the two companies sales of $5.66bn. Qualcomm’s division that “weakness” among the top-tier brands, which replacement of existing devices, rather than are working through an arbitration process that makes processors makes processors and modems for phones, includes Apple and Samsung. “Worldwide, new consumers buying for the first time. that could extend into next year. and modems for phones, its biggest business by revenue, is getting the premium tier is down a little bit from our Qualcomm is unique among semiconduc- Qualcomm’s biggest source of revenue, the its biggest business squeezed on two fronts: the overall market previous expectations,” he said. The overall tor makers in that it gets most its profit from design and sale of modems and microproces- is slowing, and competitors are churning out smartphone market is becoming saturated, licensing patents. Makers of phones pay the sors, has lost some of its industry leadership as by revenue, is getting chips that rival Qualcomm’s on price or per- making it tougher for many of Qualcomm’s company royalties, whether or not they use other companies have caught up in the capa- squeezed on two fronts: formance. At the same time, the top three customers to find growth. Apple yesterday its chips. That lucrative profit pool has come bilities their chips offer. The largest makers of smartphone makers — Samsung Electron- reported its slowest iPhone growth since the under attack as governments around the phones are also increasingly designing their slowing market and ics Co, Apple Inc. and Huawei Technologies device was introduced in 2007, and said that world examine Qualcomm’s business prac- own chips as they try to distinguish their most competitions Co — are increasingly designing their own handset sales would fall for the first time ever tices. Some Chinese manufacturers have used expensive phones from others’, cutting into parts, further eroding demand. “Their issues in the March quarter. their government’s investigation of the U.S. Qualcomm’s market. 28 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

Wall Street turmoil may put sight brakes on US economic growth Nordea responds

Bloomberg to drop in bond market liquidity he turmoil in financial markets may slow the US economic expansion. But it Bloomberg The central bank has also probably won’t kill it. expressed concern. Governor While the threat of a Lars Rohde in December urged Tdownturn has risen, consumers and COPENHAGEN: Scandinavia’s lenders to consolidate their bond companies have the wherewithal biggest bank is preparing adjust- issuance. to weather the turbulence in stocks ments that will address a drop Covered bonds fund virtually and keep the economy afloat, econ- in liquidity in the $400bn mort- all of Denmark’s home loans, so omists say. gage bond market in Denmark. any jolts to that market ultimately “The risk of a recession in 2016 Nordea Bank AB says it is threaten the financial underbelly is pretty low, certainly under 25 per- responding to the fragmen- of the entire economy. Given that cent,” said David Hensley, director of tation of issuance that has, in Danes carry gross debt burdens global economics for JPMorgan Chase part, followed tighter regulation. that are three times their dis- & Co in New York. “I’m more worried The same concern has already posable incomes -- a rich-world about growth downshifting to 1 to 2 prompted Nykredit, Denmark’s record -- there’s little scope for percent than I am about a recession.” biggest mortgage lender, to absorbing shocks. Federal Reserve Chair Janet explore changes it says will be So far, the mostly AAA-rated Yellen and her colleagues suggested Businesses are more vulnerable high, according to a sentiment index unveiled by March. mortgage-backed covered bonds Wednesday that they might put off to succumbing to the shock from the compiled by the New York-based pri- Nordea Kredit, the bank’s have continued to attract strong raising interest rates in March in markets than consumers, according vate research group. Danish mortgage lending unit, investor demand. But low liquid- response to the more uncertain eco- to Hensley. “The gains we’ve seen in employ- is now “working with a number ity, coupled with a change in risk nomic outlook. The central bank That’s because companies also ment, the declines in gas prices at of things,” Peter Lybecker, chief appetite, could lead to fire sales, increased rates in December for the are being squeezed by rising labor the pump and increases in house executive officer of Nordea in Denmark’s systemic risk coun- first time in nine years. costs and a general lack of pricing prices are helping to offset the vola- Denmark, told Bloomberg. The cil said in December. Since hitting bottom in June power, while households continue to tility in the financial markets,” said goal is to “make sure that we, as a Nykredit has said it plans to 2009, the economy has withstood a benefit from a strong job market and Lynn Franco, the Conference Board’s large mortgage bank, are able to make “small” but “important” series of shocks -- a near collapse falling gasoline prices. Director of Economic Indicators. issue in series which have enough adjustments to address these of the euro zone and a government The biggest risk is that a panic in An extended bout of turbulence liquidity to attract the right inves- risks. Nordea is examining its shutdown in the US, to name but the financial markets so unnerves though could sour sentiment and tors,” he said. range of products before giving two -- on its way to recording the consumers and companies that they cause consumers to become more “It is a challenge. If I had a specifics. fourth-longest expansion since the slash spending, driving the economy cautious in their spending hab- very simple solution, I would have But not everyone is worried. end of World War II. It’s also been the into recession, said Joel Prakken, its. Even before the recent fallout suggested it publicly,” he said. Denmark’s biggest lender, Dan- weakest, with gross domestic prod- co- founder of St. Louis-based Mac- in financial markets, households Banks operating in the world’s ske Bank, says the shortage of uct climbing at a mere annual pace roeconomic Advisers LLC. were electing to take advantage largest mortgage-backed cov- liquidity is likely to be temporary. of 2.2 percent. So far at least, Americans seem of falling gasoline prices to boost ered bond market started voicing “When people talked about a Government figures Friday are to be taking the stock- market rout savings. concernslast year, when rules liquidity crisis, they might have forecast to show GDP growth decel- in stride. Franco though said that, in the capping use of the securities in overstated it a bit,” said Klaus erated in the final three months of “This is not the first time that end, the most important determi- liquidity buffers took effect. Iron- Kristiansen, executive vice pres- 2015, to a 0.8 percent annualized I’ve seen a drop, sadly,” said Detroit nant of consumer confidence is the So far this year, ically, a law designed to prevent ident at Realkredit Danmark, rate, from 2 percent in the third native Lindsay Madden as she job market. refinancing auctions from failing Danske’s mortgage arm. “Right quarter, according to the median browsed through a Tesla Motors Inc And on that score, the news is US stock prices has also drained liquidity from now, we can most certainly find projection of economists surveyed show room in Washington. “So I am first rate. Payrolls expanded by more have fallen about the market as lenders create more investors for the bonds that we by Bloomberg. Behind the predicted not in a panic, not fussing about it.” than 280,000 per month on average securities under new ISIN codes to have on issue.” slowdown: a sharp slackening in Americans surveyed by the in the last quarter of 2015, the strong- 8 percent, wiping comply. Equally ironically, efforts The last thing Danske wants is inventories by manufacturers and Conference Board this month seem est three-month showing of the year. trillions of dollars to spread refinancing auctions a regulatory adjustment to tackle other businesses and a larger trade similarly sanguine, with 34.6 percent Some economists though worry off wealth. The over the whole year have also any decline in liquidity, given the deficit. expecting equity prices to decline that the good times for workers won’t split liquidity as more bond series dramatic changes the industry So far this year, US stock prices over the coming year. While that’s last if businesses decide to respond steep drop in are created. has already undergone, he said. have fallen about 8 percent, wip- up from 30.5 percent in Decem- to the tumult in the stock and corpo- equities also has “Today, we have 4,000 At Realkredit Danmark, ing trillions of dollars off wealth. ber, it’s still below the 38.5 percent rate-bond markets by retrenching. open series of mortgage bonds,” “liquidity is sufficient in the The steep drop in equities, coupled recorded in September, when finan- In what Deutsche Bank AG’s Chief raised the cost Lybecker said. “That is an issue majority of our issuances,” he said. with a shake-out in the corporate- cial markets were first spooked by International Economist Torsten of capital for in terms of liquidity in the mar- bond market, also has raised the cost developments in China. Slok suggested could be a sign that’s ket and trading activity.” of capital for companies, making it Overall consumer confidence beginning to happen, jobless claims companies more expensive for them to expand. climbed in January to a three- month have reached a six-month high.

I think consensus can often be Capital wrong. I am very bullish on China Michael Dell, Comment on long term. Dell Chairman & CEO

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk ‘Boring stocks’ pay off IMF @IMFNews MoneyBeat for Norway manager

Housing prices in China NAME IN THE MARKET: CORPORATE DEFAULT Bloomberg return at lower risk,” Naess said have been on a long in an interview on Thursday. “But upward march over Oil market analysts at now we have delivered better the past decade. What OSLO: Buying stocks where not returns over 10 years at lower does this mean? major Wall Street banks much is happening can give sur- risk.” were slow to recognise the prising results. The fund has averaged an Goldman Sachs @ Wading through 8,000 com- annual return of 13.6 percent collapse in oil prices over panies to find about 100 “boring” over the past five years, beat- GoldmanSachs the last 18 months, or to see stocks has allowed Nordea’s Glo- ing its index by 5.9 percentage $GS Research sees a bal Stable Equity Fund Unhedged points. The fund only takes 68 turn in the global “sav- how dramatically deep it to outperform all but 2 percent of percent of the market risk, as its ings glut” in ‘16 as would be. its peers, even as it also takes less beta shows. growth dynamics shift risk, according to Robert Naess, a The fund typically invests to developed mkts portfolio manager in Oslo at the in health care companies, tele- asset management unit at Nor- com operators and utilities. Its dea Bank, Scandinavia’s largest biggest holdings now are John- Moody’s Ratings News @ Barron’s lender. son & Johnson, fixed-line phone MoodysRatings While investors seeking company Nippon Telegraph and cover from China’s slowdown Telephone Corp., Verizon Com- A protracted period and slumping oil prices has munications Inc. KDDI Corp. and of low oil prices nega- lopped 15 percent off the MSCI Stryker Corp., a maker of artifi- tively affects Nigerian Big US banks are in better World Index since last May, cial hips and knees. In the past banks’ dollar liquidity shape than they have been in Naess’, and his partner Claus months the fund increased in Air and elevates asset risks Vorm’s, portfolio of stocks where Liquide SA and EBay Inc., while years, and yet they trade at “not much happens” is outper- it sold McDonald’s Corp., Con- Reuters Business @ levels last seen in 2011. forming. He has an unemotional solidated Edison Inc. and AGL ReutersBiz method in placing 20 billion Energy Ltd. as their stock prices euros ($22 billion), picking only outpaced earnings. Naess, who Berkshire companies with the most stable also manages emerging markets resumes buying earnings and avoiding over- equities, says those markets are Phillips 66 stock priced stocks. “When we started now “definitely cheaper than I thought we could give the same developed markets.” www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 31 PAGE | 34 Lehmann hopeful Kerber learns to tto join Test team in just ‘go for it’ after New Zealand Australian Open title

MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 • 22 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Doha wins bid to host 2023 world FINA championships

Hosting the FINA Championships has been a longstanding dream of Qatar and we are committed to Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh Al Attiyah in action in this file picture. Al Attiyah is aiming to win the Qatar International Rally for the fourth hosting a spectacular successive year. edition of the event, says Dr Al Kuwari Al Attiyah eyes yet The Peninsula another title in Doha

BUDAPEST: Doha will host the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, the The Peninsula Oman International Rally from International Swimming Federation November 3 to 5 and Dubai Inter- (FINA) announced yesterday. national Rally from November 17 to Japanese city of Fukuoka will host DOHA: Two-time Dakar Rally 19. the 2021 edition. champion Nasser bin Saleh Al Atti- Al Attiyah said that each round The decision was made after a yah is aiming to win yet another of the Qatar Rally has its own chal- vote of the FINA executive commit- Qatar International Rally title. lenges and they should be handled tee in Budapest. The Chinese city of The ace driver, having won in according to a well studied plan. Nanjing was the third bidder for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 want to clinch “Geographical diversity is the Qatar Olympic Committee General-Secretary Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari (centre) and President of organisation of these Championships. the title for the fourth successive most important feature of this Held every two years, the Aquat- the Qatari Swimming Federation Khaleel Al Jabir (right) sign an agreement, after Doha was announced to year and begin the Middle East championship which attracts a large ics include world championships in host the 2023 FINA world aquatics championships during a meeting of FINA leaders in a hotel in Budapest, Racing Championship (MERC) on a number of the participants from swimming, diving, synchronized Hungary, yesterday. President of International Swimming Federation (FINA) Julio Maglione is also present. wining note. Europe,” added Al Attiyah, who is swimming and water-polo. The three-day event will be held also a ace shooter and has won a They were held in the Russian from February 4. bronze medal at the 2012 London city of Kazan last year and will go conference in the Magyar capital: We would like to thank FINA for the looking forward to working in part- “I will do my best to win the title, Olympic Games. to Budapest in 2017 and Gwangju in Doha previously hosted the 2014 trust that they have placed in us nership with FINA over the years as it will be the a good start to this Al Attiyah leads a pack of ace South Korea in 2019. short-course World Swimming and we guarantee to deliver on our ahead.” season Middle East championship,” drivers at the event organised by “Both winning cities, Fukuoka Championships, while Fukuoka commitments. Hosting the FINA “The FINA Family has been many said Al Attiyah. Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Fed- and Doha, are strong partners of staged the World Aquatics Champion- Championships has been a long- times in Doha and everyone knows The Qatar race will kick start eration (QMMF). FINA and will offer optimal condi- ships event for the first time in 2001. standing dream of Qatar’s and we our true passion for organising top- this season’s FIA MERC. This year’s extravaganza has tions for the organisation of these Speaking from Budapest, Secre- are committed to hosting a spectac- events. Sport is an important tool for Besides Qatar the other six stops attracted 15 drivers from Sweden Championships. There is a very strong tary General of the Qatar Olympic ular edition of the event, which will the development of our youth and of of the MERC are: Kuwait Interna- and Italy set to give a renewed fla- commitment from the local author- Committee, Dr Thani Abdulrahman showcase the very best of aquatic our country. Hosting the FINA World tional Rally from March 24 to 26, vour to the event. Drivers from ities to welcome this event in their Al Kuwari, said: “It is an absolute sports and capture the attention of Championships for the first time in Jordan International Rally from May Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and Tur- respective dynamic metropolis,” FINA honour for Doha to host the 2023 new athletes and new audiences, Middle East will be a great way to 5 to 7, Lebanon International Rally key will showcase their skills and President Julio Maglione said while FINA World Championships and helping aquatics to grow and develop develop Aquatics on a global scale,” of September 2 to 4, Cyprus Inter- will attempt to challenge Al Attiyah’s announcing the decision at a press FINA World Masters Championships. in a new region. We are very much he emphasised. national Rally from October 7-9, dominance on home soil. FIFA presidential race is duel with Infantino, says Sheikh Salman

AFP are Sexwale from South Africa, Jor- speaking in Doha after attending the dan’s Prince Ali bin Hussein, a former final of the AFC Under 23 champi- FIFA vice president, and Jerome onship, which finished on Saturday. DOHA: FIFA presidential frontrunner Champagne from France, a former Infantino was also in Qatar over Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa FIFA official. the weekend, as well as Sexwale. said yesterday that only he or Europe’s Speaking in English and Arabic, Sheikh Salman added that any- Gianni Infantino can win the race to Sheikh Salman said he was increas- one who had no chance of winning become leader of world football. ingly confident of victory. should now consider dropping out of The Asian Football Confedera- “When I took the decision to run the race. tion president also said any candidate in the election, I thought I had a good “Well, I think that, you know, any who does not have “a minimum chance. candidate who feels that he cannot number” of votes should not stay in “And now we are approaching bring, let’s say, a minimum number the contest for the February 26 vote, the election date and after all the last (of votes), I don’t think he should Action from the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) League match between Al Wakrah and Al Gharafa at piling pressure on the other three contacts with the confederations and continue.” campaign contenders. the national federations, I am con- In his election manifesto, he has Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Gharafa won 67-56. In the second match, Al Sadd won South African media are already fident and optimistic and I can see argued for more than 32 national 78-70 against El Jaish. speculating that the only African that things are improving day by day.” sides to play at each World Cup and candidate Tokyo Sexwale could with- He added: “From my point of said yesterday that no more than 40 draw this week, though he denied view things are more than good.” teams should contest the tournament. this. All 209 FIFA member associa- He also reiterated his support for Al Gharafa, Al Sadd win in QBF League Asked who how many candidates tions will vote at a special congress Qatar’s hosting of the tournament had a chance of winning the presi- in Zurich for a successor for Sepp in 2022. The world football body is dency of the scandal-tainted FIFA, Blatter, who stepped down and was reeling from US corruption charges the Bahrain sheikh said: “Realisti- subsequently banned from FIFA, against 39 football officials, market- The Peninsula the basket 21 times while Mohamed impressive note and maintained cally for the five, I think two.” following corruption allegations ing executives and two companies. scored 16 points. Galloway Kevin the momentum for the next three Pressed on who they are, he engulfing football’s governing body. Blatter is separately under formal Dwayne and Adako Emmanuel Osaro quarters. In the first quarter they added: “I think Gianni has the sup- The Sheikh and Infantino are investigation in Switzerland for crim- DOHA: Ndoye Hassino and Saad scored 13 and 10 point to give coach lead 20-14, in the second period Al port of the (UEFA) confederation and seen as the frontrunners and he inal mismanagement over a “disloyal” Abdulrahman Mohamed excelled for Koussay Hatem side full points. Wakrah narrowed down the points I think Asia has its candidate. From hinted that a deal between the two $2 million payment made to UEFA Al Gharafa in their 67-56 win over Al For the losing side, Saaka Adamu difference to six points (33-27). what I hear, from what I feel, I think could be possible ahead of the vote. president Michel Platini. Blatter and Wakrah in the Qatar Basketball Fed- and Watson Boney Harold with 16 Thereafter, Al Gharafa struck at its between me and him.” “You have to leave the door Platini were banned from all football eration (QBF) League at Al Gharafa and 15 points respectively tried to regular intervals to win the match. Infantino is the UEFA general always open, you cannot shut the activity for eight years by FIFA’s eth- Indoor Stadium here yesterday. take the fight to the Al Gharafa camp. In the other match, Al Sadd edged secretary. The other three candidates door on any candidate.” He was ics tribunal in December. Hassino was successful in finding Al Gharafa started off on an El Jaish 78-70. 30 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT Angers thump pitiful Monaco, Lyon lose again

Ligue 1 Results Monaco stay 21 points FOOTBALL: LIGUE 1 On Saturday Angers 3 (Ndoye 19, 43, Yattara 55) behind leaders Paris Monaco 0 Saint-Germain after Troyes 0 Nantes 1 (Gillet 40) turn up,” said Monaco coach Leon- Lorient 2 (Toure 15, 51) Reims 0 loss to Angers, Lyon ardo Jardim. “We didn’t play with the intensity Toulouse 1 (Ben Yedder 64-pen) lose 1-0 to Bastia Guingamp 2 (Sankhare 12, needed to compete in this league. Briand 72) “It’s difficult to explain. It’s not Gazelec Ajaccio 0 Montpellier 4 possible to play really well five or six (Yatabare 14, Martin 41-pen, days ago (in a 4-0 win over Toulouse) AFP Dabo 52, 57) and then perform like we did today.” Bastia 1 (Brandao 69) Lyon 0 Stephane Moulin’s side have been a menace from set-pieces all season PARIS: Angers inflicted a 3-0 defeat and they took a 19th-minute lead from of a big deflection, and although Sub- on second-placed Monaco on Satur- a corner. asic got across to save, the Monaco day to reignite their unlikely challenge Visiting stopper Danijel Subasic defence watched on as N’Doye prod- for a Champions League spot in kept out a free header from Romain ded in from on the goalline. France, while Lyon’s European hopes Thomas, but midfielder Saiss got to The hosts made the points safe suffered another damaging blow fol- the rebound first and his shot flew ten minutes into the second period lowing a 1-0 loss at Bastia. in via the shin of Angers top-scorer when Yattara steered home a third Hosts Angers took an early lead N’Doye. after N’Doye fluffed a great chance at the Stade Ange Casanova when The Senegalese midfielder has to complete the first hat-trick of his Cheikh N’Doye deflected in Romain had a fantastic debut season in the career. Despite claiming just their Saiss’s effort after Monaco failed to top flight and the fortuitous effort was second win in six games, Angers are clear a corner. his sixth league goal this term. showing no sign of letting up in the Lyon’s forward Alexandre Lacazette (second left) vies with Bastia’s defenders Gilles Cioni (left) and N’Doye doubled the advantage Monaco were wearing their train- race for Europe as their rivals also Sebastien Squillaci (second right) during the French Ligue 1 match at Armand Cesari Stadium in Furiani, before half-time as Angers took utter ing shirts as all three of their kits keep dropping points. near Bastia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, on Saturday. control, before gloss was added to clashed with Angers’ home strip, and “Lots of people don’t like Angers, the scoreline in the second period by it was another scrappy goal that gave but I really like them. They’re a good Mohamed Yattara. N’Doye a brace and Angers a two- side with 37 points, a return which a man down after the dismissal of goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca. Montpel- at struggling Toulouse, while Nantes Monaco stayed 21 points behind goal cushion that they thoroughly they deserve for the quality they’ve Gilles Cioni. lier climbed out of the bottom three are unbeaten in nine games follow- champions elect Paris Saint-Germain, deserved. shown,” added Jardim. Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre with a 4-0 win at Gazelec Ajaccio ing a 1-0 win at bottom side Troyes. who play Saint-Etienne. N’Doye’s initial shot was turned Lyon slumped to a seventh defeat Lacazette spurned Lyon’s best chances in new coach Frederic Hantz’s first On Friday, Marseille set an Angers moved, temporarily at onto the crossbar by a stunning Sub- in their last 10 league outings as to come away with at least a point, game in charge, with Reims sliding unwanted club record as a 1-1 draw least, above Nice and into the third asic save. Brazilian striker Brandao scored a the former seeing his shot blocked on into the relegation zone after losing against Lille at the Velodrome and final Champions League place. Yattara then hit the loose ball 69th-minute winner in Corsica, with the line by Sebastien Squillaci with 2-0 at Lorient.Guingamp pulled fur- extended their winless run at home “Today I think we totally failed to towards the far corner with the aid Bastia seeing out the final few minutes Lacazette then denied by the legs of ther clear of trouble with a 2-1 victory to nine matches.

Kindergarten Sanchez fires Arsenal, City cruise in FA Cup Klopp backs

AFP looked quite in control, but when a 24th-minute penalty. He com- 100th appearance and Eric Dier and ENGLISH FA CUP Liverpool’s FA they equalised suddenly you could pleted his hat-trick with 16 minutes Tom Carroll also finding the net in a RESULTS LONDON: Arsenal remain on course see energy, commitment, and we had remaining, seizing on Idrissa Gueye’s 4-1 win at third-tier strugglers Col- Cup kids for a third consecutive FA Cup success to dig deep to win the game.” calamitous back-pass and surging chester United. On Saturday after Alexis Sanchez inspired Arsene Making his first start after two through to score, before Raheem Ster- Liverpool beat Stoke City on Fourth round Wenger’s side to a 2-1 fourth-round months out with a hamstring injury, ling added a fourth. penalties to reach the League Cup Arsenal 2 (Chambers 19, Sanchez AFP win over second-tier Burnley on Sat- Chile star Sanchez teed up Calum “Kelechi is a very good young semi-finals on Tuesday and Mark 53) Burnley 1 (Vokes 30); Aston Villa urday. Chambers to open the scoring in the player,” said City manager Manuel Hughes’s men met with fresh cup dis- 0 Manchester City 4 (Iheanacho 4, Manchester City and Totten- 19th minute with a fine shot using the Pellegrini. “We let (Stevan) Jovetic and appointment four days later as they 24-pen, 74, Sterling 76); Bolton 1 LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp ham Hotspur also progressed, but outside of his right foot. (Edin) Dzeko go because I see Kelechi lost 1-0 at Crystal Palace, with Wil- (Pratley 80) Leeds 2 (Doukara 8, praised his young Liverpool Diagouraga 39); Bury 1 (Jones 86) Hull West Bromwich Albion were taken Sam Vokes equalised for Burnley every day and know what he can do.” fried Zaha scoring. 3 (Akpom 14, 57-pen, 69); Colchester players after a 0-0 FA Cup fourth- to a replay by third-tier Peterborough on the half hour with a powerful City are second in the Premier Portsmouth, FA Cup winners 1 (Davies 80-og) Tottenham 4 (Chadli round draw against West Ham that United and Liverpool drew 0-0 with header, but Arsenal, who made nine League, face Dynamo Kiev in the in 2008 but now languishing in the 27, 79, Dier 64, Carroll 82); Crystal added to his club’s growing fixture West Ham United. changes, claimed victory in the 53rd Champions League last 16 and will fourth division, were in sight of a Palace 1 (Zaha 17) Stoke 0; Liverpool list. Arsenal’s win at the Emirates minute when Sanchez slammed home tackle Liverpool in the League Cup major upset when Gary Roberts put 0 West Ham 0; Nottingham Forest Klopp named inexperienced Stadium preserved their hopes of after a neat team move. final on February 28. them ahead in the 43rd minute of 0 Watford 1 (Ighalo 89); Oxford 0 youngsters Cameron Brannagan, becoming the first team to win three Nigerian starlet Kelechi Iheana- Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were their meeting with south-coast rivals Blackburn 3 (Marshall 36-pen, 76, Brad Smith, Kevin Stewart and consecutive FA Cups since Black- cho scored a hat-trick as Manchester taken to an unwelcome replay by Bournemouth. Watt 45+2); Portsmouth 1 (Roberts Joao Teixeira in his line-up as he burn Rovers, who achieved the feat City kept alive their dream of an West Ham, who had previously But Josh King equalised for Eddie 43) Bournemouth 2 (King 71, Pugh made 10 changes to the side who 83); Reading 4 (Robson-Kanu 37, between 1884 and 1886. unprecedented quadruple of trophies beaten them twice in the league. Howe’s side with a 71st-minute header overcame Stoke on penalties last Vydra 40, 89, Williams 75) Walsall “We would love to do it, but there by easing to a 4-0 win at Aston Villa, Showing 10 changes, Liverpool before Marc Pugh secured a 2-1 win. 0; Shrewsbury 3 (Akpa Akpro 56, Tuesday to reach the League Cup is a long way to go,” said Wenger, last season’s beaten finalists. dominated proceedings at Anfield, Saido Berahino’s brace was not Whalley 87, Grimmer 90+7) Sheffield final. who gave a debut to Egyptian mid- Iheanacho opened the scoring but could find no way past West enough for West Brom, who drew 2-2 Wednesday 2 (McGugan 19, 76); The Liverpool manager was fielder Mohamed Elneny and also in the fourth minute, following in to Ham stand-in goalkeeper Darren with Peterborough, but Odion Ighalo’s West Brom 2 (Berahino 14, 84) keen to rest key players ahead of welcomed back holding midfielder score after Fernando’s header was Randolph. late strike earned Watford a 1-0 vic- Peterborough 2 (Coulthirst 79, Taylor Tuesday’s trip to Premier League Francis Coquelin. cleared off the line, and the 19-year- Tottenham breezed through, tory at Championship representatives 86) leaders Leicester, as his side “For the first 20 minutes we old forward added a second with Nacer Chadli scoring twice on his Nottingham Forest. faced their ninth match of a busy January. On Saturday, they were unable to find their way to victory, despite creating several good chances in the second half, with Teixiera and Christian Benteke both failing to Forget quadruple, Pellegrini tells Man City beat goalkeeper Darren Randolph when well placed. Klopp, though, felt his young AFP “Our mind is not on what we can complete his hat-trick 16 minutes players justified their inclusion in win, it is on the games we need to from time, before Raheem Sterling the side, and indicated that they win. We have so many injured play- added a fourth. are likely to feature in the replay at BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: ers that the FA Cup is more difficult Despite the result mirroring the Upton Park, to take place the mid- Manchester City manager Manuel because we have important games ample margin of defeat in Villa’s week after next. Pellegrini urged his team to take their in the Premier League.” 4-0 loss to Arsenal in last season’s “We will have a team for the minds off a potential quadruple and One issue that Pellegrini will final, beaten manager Remi Garde replay at West Ham, and maybe back on the Premier League follow- not be overly concerned by is goal- said it would not damage his side’s it won’t be too far away from this ing a breezy victory in the FA Cup. scoring, after youngster Kelechi confidence. team today,” said Klopp. City finished off a good week in Iheanacho helped himself to a hat- A five-match unbeaten run had “You can ask me about Joao the knockout competitions by cruis- trick in Sergio Aguero’s absence at Villa showing signs of life in their Teixiera and Cameron Branna- ing past Aston Villa 4-0 in the FA Cup Villa Park. relegation battle, but Garde paid the gan, but if you want to mention fourth round on Saturday, just three “I see him working everyday, so price for fielding a weakened side names, there are others too. Five days after making it to the League I know what he can do in the game,” against City. weeks ago, Kevin Stewart was at Cup final. said the City manager, whose side are “I didn’t make change for Swindon and not playing too often. They are also into the knockout second in the league behind Leices- change’s sake,” said the French- “Brad Smith made a big step in stages of the Champions League, but ter City. man, whose side are bottom of the the right direction and did really Pellegrini knows that his side must be “I received some criticism about league table. well at full-back. That was really focused for tomorrow’s visit to Sun- not replacing Stevan Jovetic and Edin “We have players that can’t cope cool. derland and cannot afford to slip up Dzeko at the beginning of the season. with three games in quick succession. “Sheyi Ojo came in and again in the Premier League. My answer was that we have Kelechi.” I know that this competition is very did well as a substitute, and so did “We’ve had good results in both Pellegrini added: “It is very important for everyone in this coun- Jerome Sinclair. So there’s a lot of cups, but that is finished now and important for him to take his chance try and for this club, because they got potential. we must focus our minds on some and demonstrate why he’s in the to the final last year. “That’s very important. But it’s very important games in the Premier squad. To score a hat-trick is not “When you start the game so important not just to know about it. League,” he said. easy, but I’m impressed because of poorly, it is difficult. After the first two The players have to show it, but as “I don’t think that’s a good way of the way I see him work and improve goals, they played quietly and we did a manager, you also have to show thinking, to think about trying to win every day. not have much danger to cope with. that you are seeing their steps. everything. We must try and demon- “He can play up there on his own “The penalty was a bit harsh, but That’s what we tried today. strate with our performance today because he scores, his movements it is done. I don’t want to blame the “I’m pleased with this. These (Saturday) that we are able to try and are good. I wasn’t thinking about sav- team too much and we have impor- boys would have deserved to win do well in all the competitions. ing money, I was thinking we have a tant games coming up. tonight, but it is what it is.” “In my first season here we won young player who is very important “The third goal we had possession Klopp still has a number of two titles, but were out of the FA Cup for our club.” of the ball and it was a bad pass. But I key players out injured, includ- in the quarter-finals. This season Iheanacho, 19, opened the scoring don’t want to blame anyone. We must ing strikers Daniel Sturridge and Manchester City’s Nigerian striker Kelechi celebrates scoring his team’s we’re in the Champions League round in the fourth minute, netted a 24th- stick together for the last 16 games of Danny Ings, defenders Martin Skr- third goal during the English FA Cup fourth round match against Aston of 16 so we must try and improve in minute penalty and then seized on the season. These are very important tel and Joe Gomez and playmaker Villa at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, on Saturday. that competition also. a loose Idrissa Gueye back-pass to games for this club.” Philippe Coutinho. SPORT MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 31 Raina sets up last-ball win

CRICKET: INDIA SEAL Chasing a victory T20 SERIES 3-0 target of 198, with 17 needed in the last (52) and Kohli (50) both fell to Boyce as the match tightened up. over, Raina finished Kohli, named man of the series, off with a boundary was thrilled to have completed a to seal 3-0 series win clean sweep of the T20s after India lost the one-day international series. Australia’s for India The much-maligned Watson led coach from the front for Australia in a mas- Darren terful solo performance. He probably played himself into Lehmann. AFP Australia’s squad for the upcom- ing Twenty20 World Cup with his unbeaten 124 from 71 balls, the sec- ond-highest score in the format at SYDNEY: In a stunning run chase international level. The 34-year-old Lehmann hopeful to join India won their third and final was promoted to the captaincy due to Twenty20 match against Australia the injury-enforced absence of Aaron Test team in New Zealand off the last ball yesterday to take the Finch and opened the batting. series 3-0. Australia made a formidable 197 SCOREBOARD AFP “I’ve had some good care and it’s for five but India replied with 200 been a nice relaxing week, although for three against an inexperienced AUSTRALIA watching us not play so well (in the attack. U Khawaja c Dhoni b Nehra 14 T20s against India) hasn’t been that They needed 17 to win off the last S Watson (not out) 124 SYDNEY: Australia’s cricket coach relaxing.” over and Suresh Raina hit a boundary S Marsh b Ashwin 9 Darren Lehmann said yesterday Lehmann said one of the dif- off the final ball for victory. G Maxwell c Raina b Singh 3 that he was hopeful he would be ficulties the T20 squad faced was Stand-in Australian skipper given medical clearance to join his that the players did not play together Shane Watson, who had scored an T Head b Jadeja 26 team’s Test tour of New Zealand as often. unbeaten century and also claimed C Lynn c Jadeja b Bumrah 13 he recovers from deep vein throm- “We’ve only played four games the vital wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, C Bancroft (not out) 0 bosis. in the last 18 months, and we’ve lost appeared to have won his side the Extras (LB-2, W-4, NB-2) 8 Lehmann was replaced by bat- three of them,” he said. match when he conceded just five Total (for 5 wkts in 20 overs) 197 ting coach Michael Di Venuto for “They don’t play that often runs from the 19th over. Australia’s three-match Twenty20 together, scheduling is always a Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-69, 3-75, 4-168, But rookie bowler Andrew Tye series against India ending on Sun- tough one for us, we’re obviously (0-51) could not handle the pressure 5-193. day night, as well as the team’s getting prepared for New Zealand

in the 20th. The first two balls went Bowling: Nehra 4-0-32-1; Bumrah 4-0-43-1 one-day international tour of New which is an important tour as well. for a four and six from Yuvraj Singh (2nb); Ashwin 4-0-36-1 (1w); Jadeja 4-0-41-1; Zealand, with matches taking place “The World T20 is just around (15 not out), paving the way for Rai- Singh 2-0-19-1; Pandya 2-0-24-0 (3w). on February 3, 6 and 8. the corner, so you’ve got to find the na’s last-ball heroics. INDIA The Test matches will be played best solution somewhere, so we’re Raina should have been stumped R Sharma c Watson b Boyce 52 in New Zealand on February 12 and got some guys in New Zealand, some by debutant Cameron Bancroft off the 20. guys here, we’re rewarding good S Dhawan c Bancroft b Watson 26 first ball he faced from young spin- “Obviously (I’m) still recover- performances in the BBL and hav- ner Cameron Boyce (2-28), and made V Kohli b Boyce 50 ing from the DVT, but for me it’s just ing a look at some young guys. the most of his good fortune to score S Raina (not out) 49 about hopefully getting medical “So it’s a tough one, but we’re 49 off 25 balls. Y Singh (not out) 15 clearance later on in the week and really confident where we are going Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Extras (B-1, W-7) 8 see where we go from there and join with the World T20, although obvi- again led the Indian batting, both the New Zealand group,” Lehmann ously the two results don’t help.” Total (for 3 wkts in 20 overs) 200 posting half-centuries. told reporters in Sydney. India won the first T20 match on For much of the chase India Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-124, 3-147. He added that he hoped to join Tuesday in Adelaide by 37 runs and looked to have the target under con- Bowling: Tait 4-0-46-0 (4w); Boland 3-0- Indian batsman Suresh Raina (on top) celebrates with team-mate the squad “on the weekend”. the second match in Melbourne on trol after taking full advantage of 34-0 (2w); Watson 4-0-30-1 (1w); Tye 4-0-51- Yuvraj Singh after hitting a four last ball to win the third Twenty20 “But until medical clearance Friday by 27 runs, giving the tourists some wayward bowling by pace- 0; Boyce 4-0-28-2; Maxwell 1-0-10-0. International cricket match against Australia in Sydney yesterday. comes through to fly, I’ll have to wait an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three- man Shaun Tait (0-46). But Sharma and see. But I’m feeling a lot better.” game series. ‘Unfinished business’ Record-breaking Guptill and Williamson pulls Clarke out ensure New Zealand two-ball win of retirement AFP

AFP AUCKLAND: A record partnership by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson gave New Zealand victory with two SYDNEY: Former Test captain balls to spare in a tense third one- Michael Clarke (pictured) yester- dayer against Pakistan in Auckland day said he was returning to cricket yesterday. six months after he retired, telling The three-wicket win in the rain- Australian media he had “unfin- abridged match also wrapped up the ished business” in the shorter form series for New Zealand 2-0. of the game. Initially set a target of 291 to win, The 34-year-old, who bowed New Zealand made a disastrous start out in August after the disastrous with Brendon McCullum out for a Ashes series in England, said his first first-ball duck. game would be with his grade club But Guptill and Williamson Western Suburbs against Randwick- restored order with a 159-run stand, a Petersham in Sydney on February New Zealand ODI record for the sec- 20-21. ond wicket, to set the side up before “To step away from cricket for a lengthy rain delay shortened the four months has been great, I have match by seven overs. found my body has enjoyed it and When play resumed, New Zealand my mind has really enjoyed it too,” were set a revised target of 53 off 45 Clarke told News Corp newspapers. told commercial broadcaster Chan- balls, which they reached with two New Zealand team poses for a photo after the series win against Pakistan. “At the same time I’ve realised nel Nine. balls to spare and with the help of a the game of cricket is in my blood. “When I was playing for Aus- contentious umpire’s call. I’ve been looking for an outlet to tralia I was focused on Test and With 27 balls remaining and New smart catch on the run. Enter Wil- SCOREBOARD replace what I’ve chosen to walk one-day cricket. I walked away Zealand still 38 runs short of their tar- liamson to partner Guptill in a record away from.” from that, now I have the opportu- get, Corey Anderson appeared to have stand, two better than the previous PAKISTAN NEW ZEALAND One of the outstanding bats- nity to focus on the shorter form of been caught behind but was given not best 157 which Guptill had set with Azhar Ali c Guptill b Henry 3 M Guptill c Hafeez b Azhar 82 men of his generation, Clarke said the game if I enjoy this game.” out and Pakistan had used up their McCullum four years ago against Ahmed Shehzad c Guptill b Boult 12 B McCullum c Irfan b Amir 0 he “missed the game” and would Australia’s coach Darren Leh- review. In the decider against Paki- Zimbabwe. Mohd Hafeez c Milne b Santner 76 K Williamson st S Ahmed b Azhar 84 “never say never to anything”. mann welcomed Clarke’s return. stan, Azhar Ali won the toss and opted Azhar removed the pair in the “All I know is, I’ll never say never “He’s a pretty good player, his to bat first which initially proved space of eight deliveries. Guptill was B Azam c Guptill b Henry 83 H Nicholls lbw Amir 5 to anything. I’ll start with Western record speaks for that,” Lehmann productive. first to go for 82 caught at point by S Malik c Ronchi b Boult 32 G Elliott c Babar b Malik 10 Suburbs and we will see where it told reporters in Sydney. While Babar Azam and Moham- Hafeez, and Williamson was stumped S Ahmed c Ronchi b Milne 41 C Anderson c Babar b Irfan 35 takes me. For now, my focus is def- “As far as I know and I spoke mad Hafeez were together it looked for 84. Azhar may consider himself a Mohd Rizwan (run out-Elliott) 16 L Ronchi b Riaz 20 initely the shorter format of the to him this morning, it’s just about like they would threaten the Eden part-time bowler but showed all the W Riaz c Guptill b Anderson 11 M Santner (not out) 10

game.” playing that first grade game in Feb- Park ODI innings record of 340. guile of a career leg-spinner when he The batsman, who became Aus- ruary and see where it takes him Even with Hafeez back in the outwitted Williamson charging down Mohd Amir c Ronchi b Milne 1 A Milne (not out) 0 tralian Test captain in 2011, last year from there.” pavilion, Pakistan were 207-3 with the wicket by getting the ball through Rahat Ali c Ronchi b Milne 0 Extras (LB-5, W-14) 19 pulled out of his Big Bash League Clarke had long battled back 20 overs remaining. to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Mohd Irfan (not out) 0 Total (for 7 wkts in 42.4 overs)265 deal with the Melbourne Stars but problems but said his “body feels But they were soon to run out of Henry Nicholls, who set up the Extras (W-14, NB-1) 15 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-165, 3-180, 4-188, said yesterday he was interested in unbelievable”. steam with their last six wickets fall- first ODI win, and Grant Elliott both Total (all out in 47.3 overs) 290 5-210, 6-253, 7-256. returning to Australia’s domestic “I’ve been training since walking ing for 63 runs and they were all out fell cheaply as New Zealand slipped Did not bat: Matt Henry, Trent Boult. Twenty20 league. away from cricket. But my back’s had for 290 with 15 balls remaining. from 165-1 to 210-5. Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-20, 3-154, 4-215, “I still believe I have some unfin- time to settle,” he told Channel Nine. McCullum’s comeback was very Lusty hitting from Anderson with 5-227, 6-256, 7-279, 8-284, 9-284, 10-290. Bowling: Irfan 8-0-60-1 (w5); Amir 9-0-39- ished business in the Twenty20 “The stress and pressure of play- brief after being sidelined for five 35 off 29 narrowed the gap and with Bowling: Boult 9-0-60-2 (w3; nb1); Henry 2 (w2); Rahat Ali 7-0-54-0 (w2); Wahab Riaz department of cricket. We’ve got ing at high level, you’re pushing your weeks by a back complaint. six required off the last over, Mitch- 10-0-44-2 (w3); Anderson 4-0-26-1 (w1); 8.4-0-51-1 (w3); Shoaib Malik 3-0-19-1; Azhar BBL, IPL, a number of tournaments body to the max 24/7. To be able to The first ball he faced from ell Santner hit boundaries off the first Santner 5-0-56-1 (w1); Milne 9.3-0-49-3 (w2); Ali 7-0-37-2 (w2). around the world that allow you the walk away from that for five months Mohammad Amir was hooked to long and fourth deliveries to get New Zea- Elliott 10-0-55-0. Result: Kiwis by three wickets (D/L method) opportunity to go and play that,” he now has helped my body.” leg where Mohammad Irfan took a land home. 32 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT ‘Krusher’ destroys Pascal in rematch

Pascal, whose only hope was to go for a roundhouse knockout punch. Sergey Kovalev of Russia celebrates The 32-year-old Pascal’s legs were already going his victory over Jean Pascal of Canada Russian dominates and he looked wobbly as he tried in by way of TKO during the WBO, WBA, vain to get away from Kovalev’s sting- and IBF light heavyweight world Canadian counterpart ing combinations. championship match in Montreal, in every round to Roach warned Pascal, 33, at the Canada on Saturday. defend his three end of the fifth and sixth rounds that he was going to step in and stop the titles successfully in fight but Pascal talked him out of it. Montreal Roach even asked the referee to watch his fighter closely before the start of the seventh round because he was worried about his fighter’s health. “It just wasn’t your night,” Roach AFP finally told Pascal as the fighter sat on his stool with a vacant look in his eyes. Pascal, who struggled to win a 10-round decision over Yunieski Gonzalez in his last fight, came in as MONTREAL: Light heavyweight the heavy underdog. He dropped to world champion Sergey ‘Krusher’ 30-4-1 with 17 knockouts. Kovalev successfully defended his Kovalev notched his eighth title three titles, demolishing challenger Sergey Kovalev (left) of Russia lands a punch on Jean Pascal of Canada defense since winning his first belt Jean Pascal in a rematch of their during the WBO, WBA, and IBF light heavyweight world championship with a fourth-round knockout of March fight on Saturday. Nathan Cleverly in 2013. match in Montreal, Quebec, on Saturday. The 32-year-old Russian domi- After destroying Pascal, Kovalev nated every round, masterfully cutting now plans to fight either former super off the ring and landing left jabs at will extended it to make Pascal suffer middleweight champ Andre Ward before Pascal’s trainer Freddie Roach BOXING: FIERY KOVALEV more. or WBC light heavy champ Adonis put a stop to the slaughter before the DEFENDS TITLES “He doesn’t respect anybody,” Stevenson. start of round eight -- giving Kovalev Kovalev said. “I don’t respect him and He even said so in the ring Satur- a seventh-round technical knockout. I never will. day night using a schoolyard taunt to This was the Canadian’s first “I wanted to fight more rounds describe Stevenson. fight with six-time trainer of the year with 26 knockouts. The two became and punish him more. Give him more “I would like to fight Adonis Roach, but the outcome was virtually bitter rivals in the build up to the pain.” Chickenson.” the same as his March fight against rematch with Pascal, who is black, Kovalev knocked Pascal down in Stevenson, who watch the fight Kovalev, which ended with an eight- accusing the Russian of being rac- the first round with a straight left jab from ringside, had already climbed round TKO for the Russian. ist and Kovalev questioning Pascal’s but the referee ruled it a slip. Knock- through the ropes and was jawing Kovalev retained his World Box- character. down or not it was a sign of things at Kovalev but keeping his distance. ing Association, International Boxing Kovalev told the crowd of 9,866 to come. Kovalev then gave Stevenson the mid- Federation and World Boxing Organi- at the Bell Centre Arena, immediately By the third round Kovalev was dle finger before being pushed away sation titles as he improved to 29-0-1 following the fight, that he purposely landing rights and lefts at will against by several of his handlers. Detroit’s Larkin sets new Mighty Warriors squeak past 76ers ‘fastest skater’ record as Cleveland Cavaliers down Spurs AFP being hosted by the Nashville Preda- tors. Predators superstar Shea Weber defended his title by winning the popular Hardest Shot competition. AFP LOS ANGELES: Detroit Red Wings Weber just missed Zdeno Chara’s rookie centre Dylan Larkin captured four-year old record of 108.8 mph the Fastest Skater title, breaking with a blast of 108.1 mph. the 20-year old mark set by Mike Pacific Division captain John LOS ANGELES: Golden State’s Har- Gartner during the NHL all-star Scott drew the loudest cheer of any rison Barnes drained a three-pointer skills competition on Saturday night. non-Nashville player in pre-event with two-tenths of a second left on The 19-year-old American Lar- introductions. Scott, who won a fan Saturday to lift the Warriors to a 108- kin zipped around the Bridgestone vote to claim his spot on the team 105 victory over the 76ers in a duel Arena ice surface in 13.172 seconds, and was then traded by the Arizona of the NBA’s best and worst in Phil- just 0.02 seconds ahead of Gartner’s Coyotes to the Montreal Canadiens adelphia. former record of 13.386. Larkin on January 15, was sent down to the Up by 24 midway through the would have had an even faster time lower level American Hockey League third period and by 15 with 5:42 if he hadn’t stumbled around the by Montreal, which the NHL said remaining, the reigning champion last turn. invalidated the fan vote. Warriors appeared headed for a pre- “I was just happy I didn’t fall. It is But Scott’s spot was restored dictable win over the lowly 76ers. pretty cool -- the crowd was pretty after complaints about the way he But they had to fight to the wire to nuts,” Larkin said of his blazing lap was treated. Wearing a jersey that improve to 43-4, matching the 1966- around the rink. said NHL across the front, Scott defi- 67 76ers for best 47-game start in NBA Larkin’s skate, in front of a sold antly took part in the Hardest Shot history while the current Sixers fell out crowd of 17,006, highlighted the and Shootout competitions. to 7-41. All-Star Weekend festivities ahead of “It was really neat that it hap- While Philadelphia’s feisty fight- mid-season showcase game which is pened,” said Scott. back fell short, it lent drama to a night on which the marquee match- up between Cleveland and the San Antonio Spurs belonged entirely to the Cavaliers. LeBron James scored 29 points and the Cavs dominated San Anto- nio 117-103 to consolidate their spot atop the Eastern Conference with 34 victories in 46 games. They have now won four straight Kyrie Irving (right) of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over during the third quarter of the NBA game against since dropping their first game under the San Antonio Spurs at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated new head coach Tyronn Lue, who the Spurs 117-103. took over a week ago after the sur- prise dismissal of David Blatt. Going into the game, Cleveland were 0-3 against the top two teams rally was quickly squelched by the Warriors with 32 points. Curry fin- in the West, having fallen at San Anto- Cavs, who had 21 points apiece from NBA ROUND-UP ished with 23 points, while Green nio earlier this month and lost twice Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds to Golden State. Irving and backup point guard and nine assists -- and shouldered But they took full advantage of Matthew Dellavedova combined for the blame for the near-upset say- the absence of Spurs star Tim Duncan the first 18 points of the fourth quar- have happened, we probably should ing he got carried away “chasing a and the fact that San Antonio forward ter as Cleveland powered to the win. have lost, because that’s what hap- triple-double”. LaMarcus Aldridge was in foul trou- “We’re just pushing the pace, pens when you mess around with the Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday ble much of the night. pushing it every single night,” said game and the ball.” drained a three-pointer from the With their new-look offense fir- James, whose Cavs have scored at As it was, Kerr added, “Harrison left wing with 9.3 seconds remaining, ing, the Cavaliers shot 64 percent in least 114 points in four straight games. bailed us out.” then made a game-winning 15-foot the second quarter and led 66-49 at “Coach Lue is getting on us every A 20-5 late 76ers scoring run jump shot with 1.3 seconds left to lift halftime. single day to keep the tempo going included seven points from guard Ish New Orleans to a 105-103 home win San Antonio opened the third and we’ve been able to do that and not Smith. Smith’s steal and breakaway over the Brooklyn Nets. with an 8-0 scoring run, but their turn the ball over. So that’s resulting dunk with 22.3 seconds left knotted The Pelicans notched their sev- in us playing some really good bas- the score at 105-105. enth win in nine games. NBA RESULTS ketball so far.” On the final Warriors’ possession, In Indianapolis it went to over- Uptempo offense has been the guard Stephen Curry fired a pass from time, with Pacers guard Monta Ellis Golden State 108 Philadelphia 105 Warriors’ calling card. But their the right wing to forward Draymond scoring a season-high 32 points in a Toronto 111 Detroit 107 inability to take care of the ball on Green at the top of the circle. 109-105 overtime triumph over the Indiana 109 Denver 105 Saturday almost cost them against He found Barnes in the right cor- Denver Nuggets. New Orleans 105 Brooklyn 103 the 76ers. ner for the winning three-pointer. The Pacers led 106-105 when Ellis “We probably should have lost,” “He always shoots a tremendous drove for a layup with 20.4 seconds Washington 123 Houston 122 Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings competes in the Gatorade Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after percentage from the corner,” Green left, drawing a foul and making the Memphis 121 Sacramento 117 his team coughed up 23 turnovers. said of Barnes. “It’s like a layup for free throw to complete the three- NHL Skills Challenge Relay during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Cleveland 117 San Antonio 103 “If the gods delivered what should him.”Guard Klay Thompson led the point play that sealed the win. Competition in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday. SPORT MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 33 Spieth, Song in cliffhanger as weather suspends play

Song leads the World No.1 by two shots Jordan Spieth of the US plays a shot during round three of the as shootout to be Singapore Open at the Sentosa completed today Golf Club in Singapore yesterday.

AFP

SINGAPORE: A thunderstorm halted the final round of the SMBC Singapore Open yesterday just as world number one Jordan Spieth was attempting to go a stroke behind leader Song Young Han on the 18th hole. This left the competition in a cliff- hanger as the South Korean had two more holes to play and was lining up a 10-foot par on the 16th. The $1.0m tournament will now be decided when play resumes today KJ Choi of South Korea reacts after a birdie putt on the 18th hole at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course. during Round 3 of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on The South Korean is looking to Saturday in San Diego, California. secure his first career title after tak- ing six-runners-up places in Japan and South Korea during the past three years. Choi seeks to end drought Inclement weather and fading light have dogged the competition his approach to narrow the gap. “I some pressure on the leader. Assum- since Thursday, suspending play that GOLF: SINGAPORE OPEN have got to hit as many greens in ing I make that putt on 18 that is going in rain at Torrey Pines had to be resumed the following day. regulation as possible, I just have not to put some pressure on him. Song done that,” said the American. put on a blistering eight-under-par 63 “All it takes is a little bit of a performance on Friday that equalled Reuters straight 66 to vault within two shots SCORES A total of 15 players had to com- spark, a little confidence with my the course record, but only managed of the lead, an unlikely position after 274 Liang Wen-chong (CHN) plete round three this morning, with ball striking to make sure I have got two and one under in the next two he opened with a 77. 276 Wang Jeunghun (KOR) Spieth playing two holes and Song that distance control down and the days before play was suspended. Nobody has recovered from such five. The session ended with the putting will come.” “I am really tired, it has been a LA JOLLA: South Korean veteran KJ a poor start to win the tournament. 277 Lee Won-joon (AUS), Brett Mun- Texan trailing the South Korean by Spieth lived up to his expectations long wait. Coming back tomorrow is Choi moved within sight of his ninth Fuzzy Zoeller overcame an son (USA), Chapchai Nirat (THA) five strokes. and put on a commanding perform- okay for me as the course should be PGA Tour victory when he earned opening 76 in 1979 and Pete Brown 278 Masahiro Kawamura (JPN), Sam Plagued by erratic form in the last ance, shooting five birdies against a in a better condition (less wet),” said a share of the lead with American did the same in 1970. Brazel (AUS), Jazz Janewattana- three days, Spieth conceded he was bogey before heading into the final the 24-year-old. Scott Brown after the third round “You don’t get too many chances nond (THA) rushing his game, trying to do too hole to shave Song’s lead. “Tomorrow I will just play shot by at the Farmers Insurance Open on to win on this tour, and when you do, 279 Yoshinori Fujimoto (JPN), Richard much and making the wrong deci- “My game really started to come shot and hope I can get the win. I have Saturday. you really got to try to get it,” said T. Lee, Berry Henson (USA), Choi sions. Heading into the final round, together on the back nine,” said the had a lot of second place finishes and Choi birdied the par-five 18th to Blixt, the 2014 Masters runner-up Jinho (KOR) the 22-year-old resolved to change world number one. “I was putting it is time for a victory.” shoot even-par 72 and join Brown with Jordan Spieth. (70) at nine-under-207, one shot “I felt like there was a low score ahead of Jimmy Walker and Gary out there on the South Course. I shot Woodland at Torrey Pines in south- low here before and figured maybe I ern California. can have one of those rounds today Nordqvist, Hull share lead at season opener Twenty-three players are and hopefully one tomorrow. We’ll bunched within four shots on a see what happens.” packed leaderboard, with rain The day provided plenty of and strong winds forecast to lash excitement, with American Ben AFP into the strong breezes that buffeted the course in the final round on Crane and Swede Freddie Jacob- players all day. Yesterday. son both holing out with long irons “It felt really good, like, just an Choi, winless on the PGA Tour to eagle the par-four 15th, but Jason awesome shot,” a beaming Jang said. since 2011, was delighted to give Gore’s albatross from 250 yards an MIAMI: Anna Nordqvist and Char- “I didn’t see the ball finish, looked like himself a chance of ending his the par-five 18th was the pick of the ley Hull both closed with birdies on (it was) just past the hole. drought. “This course is very impor- bunch. Saturday to share a one-shot lead “But I saw my dad like this,” she tant on the tee shot and second shot heading into the final round of the added, thrusting her arms into the but more important is iron play,” the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at air, “’You’re in the hole!’ I’m like, 45-year-old told reporters. PGA SCORES Paradise Island. ‘Seriously?’ “Today my greens in regulation -9 Scott Brown (US) 66 71 70; KJ Choi (Korea) 68 Sweden’s Nordqvist was the first “Awesome day today,” said Jang, was a little bit low, but my chipping 67 72 to break out of a tie at 11-under when who added two birdies for a four- was good and the putting was good.” -8Gary Woodland (US) 68 67 73; Jimmy Walker she rolled in her sixth birdie of the under 68 that left her five shots off the Co-leader Brown recently (US) 69 71 68 day at 18 to cap a five-under 68 for pace and tied for 13th on the crowded became a father for the second time, -7 John Huh (US) 69 69 71; Michael Kim (US) 70 12-under 207. leaderboard. but on Yesterday will be focused on 69 70; Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 77 66 66; Fredrik English teenager Hull, who had In the unpredictable winds, Nor- trying to secure his second tour a share of the overnight lead, was dqvist said patience was key. victory. Jacobson (Sweden) 69 69 71 right behind her, nabbing her sixth Nordqvist said there wasn’t really “Any time you’re close to the lead -6 Ben Crane (US) 71 68 71; Hudson Swafford birdie of the round at the last for a Anna Nordqvist of Sweden tees off on the second hole during the third any way to prepare for the gusty or in the lead, it’s obviously pretty (US) 70 71 69; J.B. Holmes (US) 70 68 72; Dus- four-under 69. round of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at the Ocean Club Golf breezes. good feeling,” he said. “I’ve been tin Johnson (US) 70 66 74; Kevin Streelman (US) They were one stroke in front of Course on Saturday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. “It’s just been different every day,” driving it well for three days, really, 69 69 72; Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) 72 69 defending champion Kim Sei-Young she said. “My caddie has been doing and hopefully if I can continue that 69; Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) 69 73 68; Martin Laird of South Korea, who carded a 69; a great job all week. Yesterday we tomorrow, I’ll be able to post another (Britain) 69 68 73 South Korean Kim Hyo-Joo, who South Korean Jang Ha-Na the history of the US women’s tour. had a long club into two, today we decent number. The weather’s going -5Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 73 69 69; Colt posted a 68, and American Stacy grabbed a slice of LPGA history with Jang’s sweetly struck three-wood had a little wedge. You have to adapt to be brutal, so we’ll just see how it Knost (US) 70 73 68; Billy Horschel (US) 67 70 Lewis, who had six birdies without a hole-in-one albatross at the eighth at the 218-yard hole was on line all when you get there and hit confident goes.” 74 a bogey in her six-under 67. -- the first albatross on a par four in the way, rolling in even though it was swings.” Swede Jonas Blixt shot his second Kennaugh wins Australian race

AFP Adelaide last weekend, finished fifth. “I know a lot of things about Britain sprint great Cavendish power all the time and I’m not one (Team Dimension Data), the win- who likes numbers and that kind of ner of 26 Tour de France stages, and stuff. SYDNEY: Current British road race Australia’s Caleb Ewan (ORICA- “But I’ve been doing a lot of work champion and Olympic gold medal- GreenEDGE) did not complete the on that stuff and tried to pace myself list Peter Kennaugh won the Cadel race. to the finish. I had the legs. I felt ter- Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Kennaugh, who won gold at the rible for the first half of the race and Australia yesterday, as fellow coun- London Olympics in the team pursuit, then obviously came around.” tryman Mark Cavendish pulled out made his move with 10 kilometres to Australia’s Cadel Evans, whom before the finish. go, and was able to keep ahead of the the race is named after, hailed Ken- Kennaugh (Team Sky) won the chasing pack. naugh’s win and described the race Britain’s Peter Kennaugh of second edition of the 174-kilometre “They (Team Sky) were telling as fantastic. Team Sky celebrates after (108-mile) race in Geelong, Victo- me to stay calm. I went up the road “The guys raced hard. As we winning the men’s elite cycling ria, in four hours, four minutes and just over a lap to go and they said it saw, chopping and changing, back race in the 2016 Cadel Evans 59 seconds, six seconds ahead of wouldn’t work,” the 26-year-old told and forth, I expect more from the Great Ocean Road Race in local sprinter Leigh Howard (IAM broadcaster Channel Seven on his expected favourites so to speak,” he Geelong yesterday. Cycling) and Italian Niccolo Boni- solo victory. told Channel Seven. fazio (Trek-Segafredo). “But they told me just to hit it, Australian Amanda Spratt Australian Simon Gerrans kind of what Richie Porte did on Wil- (ORICA-AIS) won the women’s race (ORICA-GreenEDGE), who claimed lunga (in the Tour Down Under). Just on Saturday with a time of two hours, a record fourth Tour Down Under in commit. 58 minutes and 45 seconds. 34 MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT

Morata strikes Fearless Kerber learns to just ‘go take Juventus to 12th straight for it’ after Australian Open title victory AFP

TENNIS: KERBER When I won against CELEBRATES TRIUMPH MILAN: Alvaro Morata hit his second brace of the week as cham- Azarenka, that pions Juventus cruised to a 4-0 win showed me that I at Chievo to equal a club record of career was beginning, adding that 12 consecutive victories and top really am a good she had proven herself not just by Serie A for the first time this sea- player and I can beating Williams but also two-time son. champion Victoria Azarenka in the Morata was given a rare start show it as well on quarter-finals. by Massimiliano Allegri in the Ital- the big courts, says “You know, when I won the first ian Cup semi-final in midweek and new Australian Open set, when I won against Azarenka, hit the net twice in a 3-0 first leg that showed me that I really am a rout of Inter Milan. champion good player and I can show it as well It earned the Spaniard a rare on the big courts,” she said. start alongside 12-goal striker “I was not playing very good last Paulo Dybala, and Morata seized year on the big tournaments. This is the day to put the visitors 2-0 up the first big tournament of the year, by half-time. AFP and I won it, the first Grand Slam.” Brazilian left-back Alex San- Kerber is only the fourth player to dro added a third on the hour and conquer Williams in 26 Grand Slam Paul Pogba hit Juve’s fourth just six finals, joining the American’s older minutes later. MELBOURNE: Angelique Kerber said sister Venus, Russian Maria Sharap- Juventus, who struggled at the it feels like a second coming in her ova and Australian Samantha Stosur. start of the campaign, took a one- career after she won her first Grand Her career plumbed the depths in point lead over Napoli, who play Slam title at the Australian Open, and 2011, when she lost 11 times in the first Empoli at home. also learned an important lesson: just round before her game finally clicked Fiorentina and Inter Milan are “go for it”. and took her to the semi-finals of the seven points adrift of Juventus in The 28-year-old German, born US Open. third and fourth places respec- in Bremen to Polish parents, broke Saturday’s stunning upset over tively ahead of away games at through for her maiden major suc- Williams, a 21-time Grand Slam, Genoa and AC Milan later. cess at her 33rd attempt, shocking champion sent Germany into a spin, Allegri applauded his side’s world number one Serena Williams with a host of sports stars hailing the composure against an outclassed 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and gaining a legion of achievement, along with Chancellor Chievo, but calmed talk of equal- new fans. Angela Merkel. ling the club’s record of winning She celebrated yesterday by tak- “With this win, you have not only five consecutive titles. ing a swim in the Yarra river next to fulfilled your big dream, but, 17 years “There are still 16 games left to the Rod Laver Arena, in echoes of the after Steffi Graf, also the millions of play and lots of points to play for dip American Jim Courier took after tennis fans hoping for a German so it’s far from over,” Allegri told his 1992 championship win on the win at a Grand Slam tournament,” Sky Sport. same court. said Merkel. The elated Kerber, who Angelique Kerber of Germany poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the Australian And with five regulars side- After plugging away since turn- lives in Poland, said she was proud Open at Government House in Melbourne, yesterday. lined through injury, the Flying ing professional in 2003, Kerber had of finally fulfilling the belief of fam- Donkeys’ faced a formidable chal- a breakout year in 2015 when she won ily and friends that she could reach lenge as Juve went in search of four tournaments, more than doubling the pinnacle. “They told me, ‘Okay, let’s go to are out today, behind only the Amer- you must really believe in yourself. their 12th win on the trot. her career total to seven. “I think it’s more like proud about work and you will do it someday’. ican great. This is actually the biggest thing that Juve took control immedi- She had never gone beyond the my team, my family, my friends. They Yeah, that’s true what they said actu- Kerber attributed a tougher men- I learned also in these two weeks, to ately and after Sandro fired a semis at a major before but with a are always believing in me,” she said. ally at the end. “I think it’s more like tal outlook as crucial to taking down go for it. volley over Albano Bizzarri’s Grand Slam title now next to her “I’m not the easiest person some- proud that the hard work pays off the top seed, who had won all six of “Of course you will have some crossbar from Morata’s delivery, name, she said it felt like a new chap- times. I had also a few downs where right now.” her previous Melbourne Park finals. losses in your career, as well, and also the Spaniard fired the visitors into ter had begun. I was not so believing in myself. All The upset against Williams “The mental part, it’s really big. I tough moments still. But, you know, a sixth minute lead from Stephan “Maybe it’s the second,” she my family and friends, they believed ensures she will become world was able to see it also,” she said. you must believe that you can do it. Lichsteiner’s pinpoint delivery to said, when asked if it felt like a new always in me. number two when the new rankings “I mean, you must be relaxed and I learned that in these two weeks.” the back post. It was the Span- iard’s first league goal in 14 games but, with key Cup and Champions League games on the horizon, will buoy Allegri in what is a crucial month for the champions. Aussie upset motivates Keeping up the offensive, Pogba’s 30-yard drive was a yard wide of the upright. Dybala then stung Bizzarri’s gloves and Sami Khedira missed the target with the record-seeking Serena follow up. Chievo quickly focused on defensive duties but Juve got their second five minutes before the interval, Morata finishing off AFP a well-worked move with Dybala and Khedira to tap the German midfielder’s delivery past Bizzarri. Having failed to score since MELBOURNE: Serena Williams said October, it was Morata’s fourth her upset in the Australian Open final goal in five days. was a wake-up call for the rest of Juve’s domination continued the year if she wants to add to her 21 after the break, when Chievo came Grand Slam titles. close to reducing arrears late on The 34-year-old world number only for Gianluigi Buffon to come one was the clear favourite to win out smartly to block Roberto Inge- her seventh title at Melbourne Park, lese’s close range drive. but Angelique Kerber didn’t read the Pogba saw several efforts fly script, stunning the defending cham- within range but was unselfish on pion 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. the hour with a lay-off for Sandro Elena Vesnina of Russia (right) and Bruno Soares of Brazil pose The shock halted Williams’ bid to that allowed the unmarked Bra- with the trophy after winning their mixed final match against Coco match Steffi Graf’s Open-era record zilian to blast his angled drive past Vandeweghe of the US and Horia Tecau of Romania at the Australian of 22 Grand Slam titles, which will Bizzarri. Open in Melbourne, yesterday. now have to wait at least until the Pogba finally came good, the French Open in June. Frenchman skipping past one Williams was gracious in defeat, tackle and controlling well on the praising Kerber generously, and she edge of the area before firing just Coffee-fuelled Soares said she would learn from her mis- inside the near upright with Biz- takes -- of which there were many in zarri at full stretch. Angelique Kerber (right) of Germany celebrates her win against Serena an uncharacteristically error-strewn Buffon blocked from Inglese Williams of the United States during the women’s final match at the doubles up at Open performance. with 18 minutes remaining, but “For sure, I think it’s good to Australian Open in Melbourne, yesterday. Juve should have added to their know that if I want to win some tour- tally. Morata narrowly missed his Reuters tie-break that he had not slept well naments, I have to play better,” she third when he held off his marker after he finished his official duties at said. Kerber called the gesture the sign honestly, she’s a really good girl. If I to curl just wide of the far upright 0400 local time (1700 GMT) and had “I was missing a lot off the of a great champion. couldn’t win, I’m happy she did.” as Bizzarri looked on. sent Vesnina a text message at 0430 ground, coming to the net. She kept “She told me after that she’s Throughout the tournament Wil- In the closing minutes Pogba MELBOURNE: Brazil’s Bruno saying he was ‘ready to go’. hitting some great shots actually really happy for me and that I really liams has spoken about enjoying her held the ball up well before turn- Soares, fuelled by numerous cups “Been living on coffee ever since. every time I came in. deserved it,” said the German. “So, tennis more and savouring each win, ing to fire a shot that pinged off of coffee, produced a doubles dou- So I had 22 coffees already today. “I think I kept picking the wrong yeah, you saw that she is really, really conscious that she could be in the post and bar. ble yesterday when he and Russian But now it’s all worth it,” Soares told shots coming into it. But, honestly, it’s a great person. She is inspiring a lot twilight of her long career. partner Elena Vesnina won the Aus- reporters. something to learn from, just to try of people.” Williams joked, “I should She reiterated that she planned tralian Open mixed doubles title on “It feels amazing. It was long to get better.” get into acting!” when told she looked to be back at Melbourne Park again SERIE A RESULTS Rod Laver Arena. days, tough days. Last night I fin- Kerber, seeded seven, made the almost as happy as her opponent. next year, while noting that her loss Chievo 0 Juventus 4 (Morata 6, 40, Soares, who won the men’s dou- ished really late. It’s tough. A lot of most of the litany of unforced errors, She added: “No, I was actu- meant Kerber would move behind her Sandro 61, Pogba 67) bles title with Britain’s Jamie Murray adrenaline going on. Tough to sleep. but she also played some quality ally really happy for her. She’s been at world number two when the new On Saturday that finished early on yesterday, “But I knew I had another impor- tennis, dominating points from the around a really long time. We’ve had rankings are released today. Carpi 1 (Mancosu 74-pen) Palermo 1 clinched his second title in a little tant day. You don’t get the chance to baseline while landing some crucial a number of matches. I’ve beaten her “I mean, she’s had a great month. (Gilardino 24) over 16 hours when he and Vesnina play many grand slam finals. I think drop shots. a lot. She got to the finals in Brisbane. She beat American Coco Vandeweghe you got to make the most of it. Afterwards Williams seemed “She played so well. She had an won here. So, yeah. I was surprised Atalanta 1 (Denis 32) Sassuolo 1 and her Romanian partner Horia “To get the chance to play one almost as happy as Kerber, cross- attitude that I think a lot of people and really happy for her,” she said. (Berardi 27) Tecau 6-4 4-6 10-5. and win one, it’s already extremely ing to the other side of the net to can learn from: just to always stay “I’m like, whoa, number two. Roma 3 (Nainggolan 18, El The Brazilian said after they special. I mean, I got two in the same embrace the 28-year-old and offer positive and to never give up. What’s after two is one, so I guess I Shaarawy 48, Pjanic 84) Frosinone clinched the trophy in the super day, so... it’s special.” congratulations. “I was really inspired by that. So, better be careful.” 1 (Ciofani 24) SPORT MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 35

Peerless DJOKOVIC’S 11 GRAND SLAM WINS

Serb says 2016 - Australian Open 2015 - Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open supremacy is 2014 - Wimbledon 2013 - Australian Open tailor-made 2012 - Australian Open 2011 - Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open AFP 2008 - Australian Open

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic revealed he’s tailored his game DJOKOVIC’S PATH TO to beat his top three rivals Rafael AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray after another dominant 1st round: bt Chung Hyeon (KOR) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne 2nd round: bt Quentin Halys (FRA) 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) yesterday. 3rd round: bt Andreas Seppi (ITA x28) 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) The supreme Serb proved too 4th round: bt Gilles Simon (FRA x14) 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 strong for world number two Mur- Quarter-final: bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x7) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 ray as he won a record-equalling Semi-final: bt Roger Federer (SUI x3) 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 sixth Australian Open title, in Final: bt Andy Murray (GBR x2) 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) straight sets, to propel himself fur- ther away from his rivals. Djokovic equalled the tally of Australia’s Roy Emerson and it was also his 11th Grand Slam title, plac- ing him equal fifth on the all-time list alongside Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, behind leader Federer’s 17. “There’s no doubt I am play- ing the tennis of my life in the last 15 months and results are show- ing that,” Djokovic said. “I am just trying to keep it up. I don’t want think how far I can go or where my boundaries are.” So far this year, after his phe- nomenal 2015 season of three major titles, Djokovic has ham- mered Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in Doha, Federer 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the Australian Open semi-finals and Murray 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) in yes- terday’s final. Dad-to-be And Djokovic, who has been Murray on top of the rankings for 182 weeks, Djokovic thrashes Murray said it was no accident that he had won so convincingly against all ‘next plane three of his main rivals in recent weeks. “I prepare myself the best for home’ these three guys - Nadal, Federer for sixth Aussie Open title and Murray. Those three guys are AFP the biggest rivals I have, and no disrespect to other players,” he said. MELBOURNE: Andy Murray “Of course it was very pleasing World number declared “I just want to get home” to play the way I played against all and headed straight for the air- these guys. one extends his port yesterday as he raced to be “Against Nadal (in Doha) it was domination on men’s reunited with his pregnant wife the best-of-three sets, but here after his Australian Open final best-of-five. I played amazing first tennis, securing his defeat. two sets against Roger, then I lost 11th Grand Slam title Murray, who has been on baby the third, and it was very close in alert all tournament with his the fourth. wife, Kim Sears, due to give birth “I think the experience of play- within weeks, said he was get- ing so many matches against these ting the next flight home after his AFP guys, being on the big stage, know- loss to world number one Novak ing what’s at stake, knowing the Djokovic. importance and value of these “I’m proud that I got into this tournaments and fighting for the position, you know. Just quite trophy, I think that helps. MELBOURNE: World number one looking forward to getting home “These three guys have been Novak Djokovic hammered a mis- now,” Murray said in a quickfire the most dominant ones next to me firing Andy Murray in straight sets press conference before rushing and I have been trying to analyse to win a record-equalling sixth Aus- for his plane. my game with my team and try to tralian Open title and strengthen his The British world number two get myself to a high level. grip on men’s tennis yesterday. had pledged to quit the tourna- “When I get to play them I The Serbian world number one ment if his wife went into labour, know exactly what kind of game swept to a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) victory in and he was also close to pulling plan to execute.” two hours, 53 minutes to hand Mur- out when his father-in-law Nigel Despite beating Murray for a ray his fifth defeat in the Melbourne Sears collapsed at Rod Laver Arena fourth time in an Australian final, Park final. last week. said he still Djokovic believes the Djokovic equalled the tally of “It was a tough, tough couple Scot’s time will come. Australia’s Roy Emerson, who won of days. Thankfully, he’s fine now. “You saw how difficult it was the tournament six times between Yeah, I just want to get home,” said for Andy in the presentation cer- 1961 and 1967, an achievement that London-based Murray. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (right) stands with the men’s singles trophy beside Britain’s Andy Murray after emony afterwards. I know that has gone unmatched in the 49 years He added: “I’ve been held on feeling, I understand him, I feel since. winning his final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Australia yesterday. flights for, it feels like five days. I’ve for him,” he said. It was also Djokovic’s 11th Grand been held on almost every single “I know what he has to go Slam title, and he moved into equal flight, so the first one out of here, through as a player and all the fifth place with Rod Laver and Bjorn TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN after Murray overhit a forehand to The numbers behind I’m leaving. It’s at 1:00, I think.” effort and energy he has to put Borg behind 17-time leader Roger OPEN FINAL WRAP-UP trail 4-3. Fighting Murray broke Earlier Murray had tears in in to get himself to the finals and Federer. back in the following game with Djokovic’s domination his eyes and a faltering voice as lose five times in Australian Open Djokovic paid tribute to his van- his backhand clipping the baseline, he paid tribute to his wife after he finals. I sincerely feel that if he quished rival, telling the crowd at which was confirmed by Djokovic’s $ Djokovic (2008, 2011-13, 2015-16) has now was well beaten 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) continues working on his game the presentation: “Tough luck tonight coach, lost five finals at the US Open challenge. won six Australian Opens, matching the record - his fifth defeat in the Melbourne he’s going to have another crack Andy, you are a great champion, in 1982-1984 and 1988-1989, before Murray fought off two break of Roy Emerson (1961, 1963-67). final. at this championship.” you’re a great friend, a great winning at Flushing Meadows in points in a fiercely-contested “You’ve been a legend for the person. 1985-1987. ninth game in a war of the attrition $ Djokovic now owns 46 hardcourt titles, last two weeks. Thank you so “He’s very professional and com- Murray had tears in his eyes at between the two long-time rivals. level with American Andre Agassi and only much for all of your support and mitted to this sport, so I am sure in the presentation when he thanked But Djokovic fought back from behind Roger Federer (60). I’ll be on the next plane home,” the the future he is going to have more his pregnant wife Kim Sears, who is 0-40 down to break Murray’s serve Scot said at the on-court awards $ He has 11 grand slam titles, drawing level opportunities to play for this trophy.” due to give birth to their first child for a fourth time featuring one ceremony. on the all-time list with Australian Rod laver Djokovic underlined his status in the coming weeks. exhaustive 36-shot rally to lead 6-5 He later explained it had been as the dominant force in Melbourne, “You’ve been a legend for the last and serve for the second set. and Swede Bjorn Borg. Ahead of him are a difficult tournament as he was after downing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to two weeks. Thank you so much for The Serb claimed a two sets Emerson (12), Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal beset by distractions, but which win his first major title in 2008 and all of your support and I’ll be on the to love lead after winning an (14) and Roger Federer (17). also, however, seemed to take the beating Rafael Nadal in an epic final next plane home,” he said in a fal- 80-minute battle for the second set, $ Djokovic has won seven consecutive tour- sting out of his latest Grand Slam in 2012, along with his four wins tering voice. leaving Murray with it all to do. naments. disappointment. over Murray in 2011, 2013, 2015 and Djokovic faced a break point in Djokovic tightened the noose With the defeat, Murray now 2016. his opening service game but then with another service break in the $ Since losing to Federer at last year’s Cincin- became only the second man in Djokovic also extended his went on a blazing run, breaking first game of the final set, with Mur- nati final in August, Djokovic has won 38 of his the post-1968 Open era - after Ivan Grand Slam winning streak to Murray’s serve twice to claim open- ray looking at the herculean task next 39 matches. Lendl, his former coach - to lose 21 matches, and he has not lost a ing set in 30 minutes. taking the final to five sets. five finals at the same Grand Slam match at the majors since he was It took the Scot until the sixth Murray broke back in the sixth $ He has beaten world number two Murray 11 tournament. defeated by Stan Wawrinka in last game to hit his first winner and end a game but in the tiebreaker the Scot times from 12 clashes since losing to him in the “Regardless of today’s result, year’s French Open final at Roland 14-game winning sequence by Djok- served two double-faults as Djok- 2013 Wimbledon final. it’s been hard. Had I lost in the Garros. ovic in his meetings with Murray. ovic steamed to five match points, $ Djokovic is on a 21-match winning streak in third or fourth round it still would While Djokovic was further Murray survived four break and won on his third match point have been difficult with everything grand slams. He has not lost a grand slam enhancing his reputation, Mur- points to hold serve in a marathon with an ace. that’s happened,” Murray said. match since he was defeated by Stan Wawrin- ray has the unwanted statistic of 12-minute third game as he tried to It was another big statement “She’s been amazing. Han- becoming only the second man stay in the second set against the from Djokovic against his major ka in the 2015 Roland Garros final. dled everything unbelievably well. in the post-1968 Open Era to lose pressing Serb. rivals after beating Rafael Nadal 6-1, $ He has held the ATP number one ranking Yeah, I have to thank her for allow- Novak five Grand Slam finals at any one But Djokovic gained another 6-2 at Doha and convincingly beat- since July, 2014. ing me to play and stay here with Djokovic major. psychological breakthrough with a ing Roger Federer in the Melbourne everything that was going on. But, Ivan Lendl, Murray’s former service break in the seventh game semi-finals. yeah, it was tough.” MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2016 36

Shin salutes Teguramori for Jubilant coach hails Japan’s game-changing substitutions Cup-winning effort in Doha The Peninsula DOHA: Korea Republic coach Shin Tae-yong (pictured) paid tribute to Japan’s coach Makoto Teguramori as Asano and Yajima AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP the latter won the AFC U23 Cham- pionship on Saturday, scoring three make sure Japanese goals in the final 23 minutes to com- book Rio ticket at the plete a 3-2 come-from-behind win said the former Vegalta Sendai coach. at the Qarari capital. end of a magnificent “I missed the opportunity to get Second-half substitute Takuma tournament in Qatari our two forward players into the Asano scored twice and Shinya game, but on the other hand, I was Yajima also found the back of the net capital feeling that we were dictating the as the Japanese fought back from a game in the second half and I knew two-goal deficit to win the continen- that we had enough key players who tal title in dramatic fashion. could move us forward. So I was “It’s true the substitutions from The Peninsula pretty calm.” the Japanese changed the game and Japan were second best for much in that context I think I should com- of the first half, with Kwon putting pliment the Japan head coach,” said comeback, scoring the goal that the South Koreans in front in the 27th Shin. “He created the tactics that meant the title went to Japan. DOHA: Japan had every reason to minute while, two minutes after the changed the game. “Our team and our players did celebrate after they clinched the AFC restart, Shin Tae-yong’s side doubled “But I don’t think there was a very well throughout the compe- U23 Championship at Abdullah bin their advantage via Jin. problem with our team. I think our tition,” said Shin. “We didn’t show Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Satur- Asano’s introduction in the 60th team has a lot of potential and can any boring football. We kept play- day after substitute Takuma Asano minute, however, swung the game improve more and be more flexi- ing a passing game and they showed came off the bench to score twice and in Japan’s favour, with the Sanfrecce ble, so I want to maintain my tactics their great performance in the earn Japan a dramatic come from- Hiroshima man halving the deficit when we go onto the world stage. competition. behind 3-2 win over Korea Republic seven minutes later before Yajima lev- “Playing with one formation “Tonight we dominated the in the final. elled the scores with a header into the cannot be enough for every cir- game, but since this competition was Japan coach Makoto Teguramori top corner just a minute later. cumstance and that’s why I kept in Asia and we are going to play in a never doubted his team’s ability to The goals gave the Japanese a changing the situation within the global competition I felt it was nec- fight back and claim the AFC U23 significant boost and, with just nine team. That was the experiment I essary to use certain players. I have Championship title, even when Korea minutes to go, Asano ensured the was doing throughout this compe- found a few players and I have a few Republic led by two goals with less trophy went back to Tokyo when he tition, so I still believe we have a lot styles that should be useful for the than 30 minutes remaining. slotted past Korea Republic keeper of potential to improve in the flexi- team in the future. Two goals from Asano either side Kim Dong-jun. bility of our tactics.” “Our team has done well in this of a Shinya Yajima header inside the “It was a really dramatic game The South Koreans had looked competition and even though we final 23 minutes saw the Japanese and it’s great we won the Asian title,” in control of the game by the sec- have lost tonight we have achieved overturn a two-goal deficit after continued Teguramori. ond minute of the second half when our goal because we got the ticket Kwon Chang-hoon and Jin Seon- “I told the players today that we Jin Seon-guk struck to double his to Brazil.” guk had given the South Koreans the should show everyone our brav- side’s lead after Kwon Chang-hoon The South Koreans will now join advantage. ery and move the Japanese fans. I’m had earlier put the Taeguk Warri- Japan and Iraq as Asia’s represent- Japan will now join their East really glad that we have achieved this ors in front. atives at the Olympic Games in Rio Asian neighbours Korea republic and objective. Shin’s team were in total con- de Janeiro in August and Shin has Iraq who beat the hosts, Qatar in the “My plan was to win the game in trol, but the introduction of Asano already turned his attention to the third place play-off at the Olympic the second half and for it to end 2-0 in the 60th minute turned the tide 16-team tournament later this year. Games in Rio de Janeiro later this since both teams have been playing in Japan’s favour, with the Sanfrecce “There are six months left to year. a lot. Of course there was the thought Hiroshima man netting seven min- the Olympic Games, so our team “I never thought we were com- that anything could happen, but I utes after stepping onto the pitch. needed to overcome the Asian con- Japanese players Riki Harakawa (left), Shoya Nakajima (centre) and pletely defeated because I knew if thought our opponents would slow Yajima headed in the equaliser a tinent and go to the world because we could control the ball we could down and that would be when we Takuma Asano celebrate after the latter scored his second goal during minute later and, in the 81st minute, we’ll be facing much stronger teams endure and still manage the game,” would dictate the game. the AFC U23 Championship final. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula Asano capped an improbable at the Olympics,” he said. Olympic football qualification rare bright spot for Iraqis

AFP 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the After Iraq’s win over Qatar with a The national football team’s suc- a source of national pride. That some- Angeles in 1984, Seoul in 1988 and fifth time the Iraqi team has qualified. header in extra time on Friday, Saf- cess is a cause for celebration in a thing is football. Athens in 2004. But the 2007 Asian For Iraqis, that victory was an far “went out to dance and celebrate country that has had long years with “That night, we forgot all the cor- Cup was perhaps the best example of escape, however brief, from the many with the people in the streets”, he said. little to celebrate. ruption and politics and suffering. It the unifying power of football in Iraq. BAGHDAD: Iraqis set off fireworks problems they face. He joined thousands of other Ira- Millions of Iraqis have been dis- was a great night in every sense of That year, at the height of bru- and took to the streets to celebrate “Nothing brings joy to Iraq except qis who honked horns, waved flags placed by violence, bombings in the word,” said Ali al-Samarrai, who tal sectarian violence, Iraqis came their football team qualifying for the the athletes,” said Yasir al-Saffar, who out of car windows and sent fireworks Baghdad and elsewhere are com- works in computer repairs. together to cheer on the national Olympics, a rare unifying bright spot owns a small shop in Baghdad. shooting into the sky for several hours mon, the Islamic State group still “The young athletes united the side and turned out to celebrate their for a country plagued by violence and “Thank you for the joy you have in the Iraqi capital. holds significant territory, and areas nation, and the old politicians divided team’s victory in the tournament. division. brought to us all,” Saffar said of the The Iraqi team returned home recaptured from the jihadists have the nation,” Samarrai said. “The Iraqi Olympic team put a Iraq defeated Qatar 2-1 in the football team, adding that it is “the Saturday to a raucous welcome of been devastated by the fighting. The Iraqi football team has big smile on the faces of tired Iraqis,” Asian Football Confederation’s U23 opposite of the politicians, who bring cheering, drums, horns, whistling and Iraqis need something positive to made four previous appearances at journalist Ziad al-Shammari wrote on Championship to secure a spot in the worry and sadness”. waving of flags at Baghdad airport. rally around, something that serves as the Olympics: Moscow in 1980, Los Facebook after the victory over Qatar. Aspire Zone Foundation gears up for Sports Day activities

The Peninsula these past few weeks to ensure a mix of activities that both exceed the pub- lic’s expectations and which reflect the importance of the largest sports DOHA: Teams of staff and volunteers festival in the country. In particular, at Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) will the Foundation has focused on ensur- put the finishing touches this week to ing a programme that is suitable for preparations for the fifth edition of the people of all ages and levels of fit- National Sports Day (NSD) which will ness to appeal to all members of the be held on February 09. Thousands of community. people from the local community are The Foundation’s NSD programme expected to visit Aspire Zone to cel- focuses on promoting physical activ- ebrate the day and make the most of ity, lifestyle and behaviour choices, its world-class facilities and venues. as well as strengthening participants’ Commenting on the preparations, awareness of the importance of sport AZF Director of Marketing and mem- and its role in supporting the health ber of the NSD Organising Committee, AZF Director of Marketing and and wellbeing of individuals and com- Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri said: “AZF member of the NSD Organising munities. This focus aligns with AZF’s has made a major contribution to the Committee, Nasser Abdullah Al objective of promoting healthy life- success of National Sports Day these Hajri. styles in support of the Qatar National past few years through organising Vision 2030. Families taking part in last year’s AZF NSD Fun Run in an enthusiastic manner. innovative and creative programmes AZF will organise a number of of activity. The Foundation’s world- which covers more than 2km of green football competitions during NSD, class venues and facilities have made fields, lakes and sports venues. AZF including the Aspire Academy Foot- part. A number of 3 on 3 basketball a number of activities. One of the age is. Families visiting Aspire Zone on it a natural choice for people looking has also provided companies and ball League for players born between competitions will also be organised highlights in this year’s programme National Sports Day will also be able to celebrate this significant occasion organisations with the opportunity 2004 – 2005. Around 220 players in partnership with the Qatar Basket- of activities is the 5,000-steps jour- to partake in the Family Bike Ride in and helped to increase participation to hold their own activities in its pre- from Qatar Football Federation clubs ball Federation. ney, which will start at 9AM in Aspire Aspire Park. And for children, one of and involvement in the day more cinct, enabling many of the country’s are expected to participate in this Meanwhile, the visitors at the Park next to the Burgeri restaurant. the more unusual activities availa- broadly.” most important organisations to cele- league. Young visitors to Aspire will Aspire Dome will have the oppor- Visitors to Aspire can also enjoy wall ble is Judo instruction, which takes “During each of the last four edi- brate this special day and involve the also be able to take part in a number tunity to take part in a number of climbing which takes place at a sta- place under the careful supervision tions of NSD, AZF has introduced a widest number of participants possi- of exciting football matches on Aspire fitness activities including sprinting, tion behind the Grand Heritage Hotel of expert trainers. hugely diverse range of activities ble,” he added. Zone’s outdoor football pitches. throwing, vertical jumping, 200m under the supervision of specialised More details are available on designed to make the most of the AZF and its member organisations Another exciting event taking place bike racing and more. The Aspire trainers. Aspire Zone will also host the Aspire website - www.lifeinaspire. advanced facilities on offer. These Aspire Academy, Aspetar and Aspire this year is the beach soccer compe- Academy Football Performance and Fun Run, which is open to all mem- qa or any of the Aspire Zone Founda- take place all across Aspire Park, Logistics have been busily preparing tition, which will see eight teams take Science Department is also organising bers of the community whatever their tion’s various social media channels.