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GWC net profit Ibra fires up 15% to PSG into QR46.5m French Cup final

THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 • 14 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6773 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Emir gets phone Emir in Riyadh call from Iraqi PM for key US-GCC QNA DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a tel- ephone call from Prime Minister of Iraq Dr Haider Al Abadi. Discus- sions dealt with bilateral relations summit today and developments in the region. Abadi affirmed his govern- ment’s determination to continue and the Minister of Interior of Saudi its endeavours to release the rest The summit will Arabia Mohammed bin Naif bin of Qatari citizens abducted in Iraq Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riy- and ensure their return to their discuss challenges adh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar homeland as soon as possible. bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Qatar’s The two sides condemned the facing the GCC Ambassador Sheikh Abdullah bin terrorism in all its forms and man- states, especially Thamer Al Thani. Emir later partici- ifestations and stressed the need to pated in the GCC - Morocco summit, intensify efforts to combat it in order in the context which was held at Al Diryah Palace. to maintain the security and stabil- Today’s summit will discuss ity of the region. of the Iranian challenges facing the GCC states, intervention in the especially in the context of the Ira- nian intervention in the region, Saudi Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin OIC hails Unesco region. officials said yesterday. As a prelude to the summit, GCC Defence Minis- Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, yesterday. resolution on Aqsa ters held a meeting with US Secretary Agencies of Defence Ashton Carter in Riyadh states and the US, he added. “Today Rashid Al Zayani praised the will- the stability of the region. During yesterday. we must work seriously to confront ingness of both sides to strengthen the meeting , GCC states and the US JEDDAH: Organisation of Islamic Saudi Deputy Crown Prince these challenges. It is only by work- cooperation and friendly relations have agreed to deploy joint patrols Cooperation (OIC) praised the Mohammed bin Salman bin ing together, we will get through all in various fields. to intercept ships smuggling Ira- resolution of the United Nations DOHA/RIYADH: Emir H H Sheikh Abdulaziz, who is also Second Dep- the obstacles that we face,” the Saudi He stressed the importance of nian weapons to Yemen, Al Jazeera Educational, Scientific and Cul- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived uty Premier and Minister of Defence Press Agency quoted Mohammed bin defence cooperation between the reported yesterday. tural Organisation (Unesco) in Riyadh yesterday to attend a key said that the summit is taking place Salman bin Abdulaziz as saying. GCC states and US in the light of the GCC states and the US would stage confirming that Al Aqsa is Mus- GCC summit with US President Barack under major challenges facing the Ashton Carter praised the dis- current developments and security joint maritime patrols to stop weap- lim site with no Jewish history Obama which begins today. The Emir world and the region. He highlighted tinguished relations between the US challenges facing the region, includ- ons being smuggled from Iran, GCC and condemning Israeli viola- and his delegation were welcomed the most important challenges as ter- and the Gulf countries over the years, ing the threat of terrorism and the secretary general was quoted as say- tions there. at Riyadh Air Base Airport by the rorism, political instability and the which, he said, have contributed to continued Iranian interventions to ing. The two sides also agreed on joint OIC Assistant Secretary-Gen- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Iranian interferences in the affairs of enhancing security in the region at all destabilise the security and stability cooperation towards improving Gulf eral Samir Bakr hailed the efforts King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the countries in the region. levels. “Our concerns now are focused of the region. missile defence, special forces and of the Islamic Group at the Unesco of Saudi Arabia and other top Saudi The meeting will focus on efforts on crises that Iraq, Syria and Yemen Al Zayani stressed that the GCC maritime security, but no new deals for tabling the resolution which officials. to meet these challenges together, are facing,” said Carter. states will continue to fulfill their were announced, Al Jazeera said. has received support of 33 coun- The Emir was also greeted by through the long and deep-rooted Addressing the meeting, GCC international obligations to meet the tries against six, with 17 countries Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister partnership that binds the GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif bin challenges and crises that threaten → See also page 7 abstaining.

Delegation from Qatar received 305,014 ILO and IOE visitors last month visits Labour City

The Peninsula By Raynald Rivera 2% in comparison to the same period The Peninsula in 2015, due to a lower number of visitors from non-GCC Arab coun- tries, the Americas, Europe and DOHA: A delegation comprising Asian countries including Oceania. representatives from the Interna- DOHA: Qatar has received the larg- However, visits to Qatar by nationals tional Labour Organisation (ILO) est number of visitors in one month of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the International Organiza- last March with a total of 305,014 countries increased 11%, while visits tion of Employers (IOE) visited the visitors, according to Qatar Tourism by nationals from Other (non-Arab) Labour City in Mesaimeer yester- Authority’s (QTA) Q1 2016 Tourism African countries increased by 7% day. Performance Report. in comparison to the same period The members praised the liv- The number of international vis- in 2015. ing condition of expatriate workers itors entering Qatar on leisure visit Within the GCC, Saudi Arabian in Qatar and the state’s com- visas (tourist visas, personal visit nationals have contributed to the mitment to provide them a safe visas, family visit visas, and tran- majority of the growth in arrivals working environment, health- sit visas) has risen by 6% in the first from the region. Compared to the care and adequate housing units. quarter of this year in comparison first quarter of 2015, arrivals of Saudi The field visit was organised by to the same period last year. nationals have increased by 16%. the Qatar Chamber . Labour City, Total visitor arrivals in the first opened last November with a capac- quarter of 2016 (822,626) dropped by → Continued on page 4 ity of more than 100,000 workers comprises housing units, clinics, places of worship, stadiums, shop- ping centres and bus stops. The delegation also checked Gazans protest work sites at Al Wakrah Stadium scheduled to be completed ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar Chamber Director Gen- eral Saleh Hamad Al Sharqi said that the ILO and IOE officials appreciation for the workers’ hous- ing units and projects of the World Cup is an international certificate for Qatar’s commitment to interna- tional standards of workers’ rights. He added that their words refute allegations by some West- ern authorities regarding workers’ situation in Qatar. He noted that Qatar considers expatriates as an Firefighters extinguish burning tyres during a Palestinian protest essential partner and an important against Israel’s decision to ban building material from entering part of the development strategy. Gaza, in front of United Nations High Commissioner’s office in The state is keen to ensure that that Gaza city, yesterday. workers get their rights and they are treated with respect. 02 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 HOME Cabinet nod to establish patent grievances panel

Deputy Prime Minister and Min- committee of the Patent Office and The weekly session ister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E determine the procedures. Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mah- The draft decision provides for the also approves moud said the Cabinet welcomed the formation a committee of grievances recommendations for outcomes of 13th session of the Islamic with regard to the decisions made by Summit Conference held under the the Patent Office, headed by the direc- baselines to measure theme ‘Unity and Solidarity for Justice tor of the registration of patents unit outer limits of Qatar’s and Peace’ in Istanbul, with the par- at the ministry, with representatives ticipation of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim from the ministry; Qatar Foundation maritime areas bin Hamad Al Thani. for Education, Science and Commu- The Cabinet reviewed topics on nity Development; and Qatar Chamber the agenda and took decisions and of Commerce as members. The com- QNA measures. It approved recommen- mittee will look into grievances dations of the Standing Committee concerning registration of patents of the Convention on the Law of the and compulsory licences to exploit Sea concerning setting up baselines the inventions of the cases provided DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior for measuring the outer limits of mar- in the patent law No. 30 of 2006. The Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin itime areas of the state. patent law identifies patent as the cer- Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired It also approved a draft decision tificate granted by the Patent Office to the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at the of the Minister of Economy and Com- the patent owner to have legal protec- Emiri Diwan yesterday. merce on the formation of a grievance tion for his invention.

Metro work on track

Vehicles moving on Doha-Al Wakrah Road, with an under construction metro line in the background. Pic: Abdul B / The Peninsula HOME THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 03

Dr Darwish Al Emadi appointed Arab forum on sustainable growth opens QU Vice-President institutions, and training teachers and doctors in addition to humanitarian The Peninsula The conference, relief operations. The QSWF is also initiated by Qatar, taking care of vulnerable segments, including women, children, elderly calls for innovative and orphans and working in partner- DOHA: Dr Darwish Al Emadi solutions to meet the ship with the government to provide has been appointed as the Vice- goals of sustainable services for them. President of Qatar University with During the first public session on effect from yesterday. development agenda the sustainable development agenda, Dr Al Emadi served as head 2030. Minister of Administrative Develop- of strategy and development ment, Labour and Social Affairs H E and director of Social and Eco- Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaim nomic Survey Research Institute, said development is the responsibility QU, and acting vice-president of By Sidi Mohamed of the government, society, and indi- research. The Peninsula viduals, and cooperation is necessary He is a 1979 graduate of the to ensure sustainable development. Department of English and Mod- FROM LEFT: Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Dr Abdallah Al Dardari, Deputy ern European Languages, Qatar Al Nuaimi; Karen Daduryan, Deputy Regional Director, UNFPA ASRO; Jamal Abdul Khaleq Al Noori, Chairman, Executive Secretary, ESCWA, urged University and in 1986 obtained DOHA: An Arab conference on the Abdullah Al Noori Association; Jeff Thindwa, Practice Manager, Governance and Inclusive Institutions, World civil society organisations to be his doctorate in sociolinguistics ‘Role of Civil Society in the sustaina- Bank Group; Ambassador Badr bin Umar Al Dafa; and Dr Abdallah Al Dardari, Deputy Executive Secretary, independent from governments and from the University of Edinburgh. ble development agenda 2030’ opened ESCWA, during the first session of the conference yesterday. Pic: Salim M / The Peninsula donors, to cooperate with other civil Dr Al Emadi has held several yesterday at Qatar National Conven- societies and develop their abilities senior administrative posts at tion Center (QNCC), with a call for in international trade and the right in Qatar University, including as the innovative solutions to meet the goals Arab League and other entities. QSWF, said: “The aim of the con- challenges requires hard work to find development. dean of the College of Human- of the agenda. The two-day conference is ference is to achieve human dignity innovate solutions and development Dr Al Dardari said that since ities and Social Sciences from Under the patronage of H H attended by over 200 delegates from as only governments can’t achieve strategies. 2012 the Arab world has lost about 1995 to 2000 and as the dean of Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the forum 11 Arab countries, representing local development without the help of civil She cited Qatar which is contrib- $1 trillion since due to damage and the Graduate School from 2001 is organised by Qatar Social Work and international civil society organi- society organisations.” uting to international cooperation reconstruction will cost more. The to 2003. Foundation (QSWF), in collaboration sations, in addition to representatives She said the ongoing demo- through partnerships between the conference is Qatar’s initiative, Between 2003 and 2004, Dr with the United Nation Development from the private sector and special- graphic, political and economic government, civil society organisa- launched by QSWF to increase aware- Al Emadi served as the director Programme, UN Population Fund/ ists in the development field. events in the region will not only tions and the private sector, and its ness about the agenda, adopted by 193 of the Education Institute at the Arab Region, UN Economic and Social In her opening remarks, Munira delay development but also negatively achievements, including developing member states of the United Nations Supreme Education Council. Commission for Western Asia, the bint Nasser Al Missned, Chairman, affect the region as a whole. These big villages, health centres and, education in New York last September. National Museum of Qatar begins exclusive tours Milipol Qatar attends London expo QNA QNA share its latest developments with May according to a schedule to pro- for the public, students, and museum community members through their vide participants with an exclusive professionals. blogs. opportunity to visit the museum It will redefine the role of a cul- DOHA: A delegation from Milipol Qatar and Milipol Paris committees took The QM’s invitation to visit the and explore the exterior and inte- tural institution, fostering a spirit of part in London International Police Expo on security and counter-terrorism DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) yester- new museum, launched two weeks rior designs made by Jean Nouvel participation and providing condi- which ended yesterday. The delegation’s participation aimed at attracting day started exclusive tours for Qataris ago through social networking sites, and inspired by the desert rose. tions to thrive. more companies to Milipol Qatar 2016 to be held from this October 31 to at the new National Museum of Qatar was well received among citizens, The museum is built around Beyond galleries, it has a 220- November 2. (NMQ) ahead of its opening. with 500 citizens and college stu- Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Tha- seat auditorium, two retail outlets, The delegation comprised Brig. Nasser bin Fahad Al Thani, Head, Milipol The new NMQ received in the dents registering for tours. ni’s original palace — his family two restaurants and a cafe, a food Qatar Committee; and committee member Brig. Ahmed Abdulla Al Jamal. afternoon the first group of 20 cit- Participants were divided into home and seat of the government forum, a research centre, laborato- They held talks with officials of major international companies on promo- izens, mostly bloggers, led by their different categories. for 25 years. ries and a park filled with indigenous tion of Milipol Qatar 2016. Brig. Nasser bin Fahad said Milipol Qatar 2016 curiosity to visit the museum and The tours will continue until The space will be a thriving hub plants. will provide business opportunities for exhibitors and all concerned parties. QC distributes urgent aid in Somaliland

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) has begun distributing urgent humanitarian aid to 30,000 drought-affected people in Somaliland in northwest of Somalia. The aid includes basic foodstuff, drinking water and medical services, among others. Distribution will continue throughout the month, QC said in a statement. Food supplies are pro- vided for the families, clean water is distributed through tankers to 7,875 affected people and medical services will be offered to over 2,000 people. Mobile clinics equipped with necessary machines will be made available to provide services to Qatar Charity representatives distributing basic foodstuff to the patients and conduct tests if needed. beneficiaries in Somaliland. Doctors and nurses will also be in the targeted areas to raise medical awareness. Tribal leaders and village elderly faces disasters. It is out of a brotherly In the first phase, food supplies supervised distribution. and moral duty to support anyone in were distributed to 500 families in Mohammed Rashid Al Ka’bi, need. Such aid reflects the goodness Della in Somaliland in collaboration Director, Relief Management, QC, of the Qatari people. We thank the with QC office there. The families had said QC sent urgent aid to the affected philanthropists who helped in imple- earlier received coupons through Somalis because it always ensures mentation of this and other relief which they received food supplies. quick intervention when a country projects.” Al Jazeera wins 19 medals at New York Festivals awards

The Peninsula Malaysia won a gold medal for the Story for Desperate Journeys which Best Current Affairs programme. covered the refugee crisis in Europe. 101 East presenter Steve Chao My Nigeria, a six-part Al Jazeera won his second consecutive gold production showing six stories of six DOHA: Al Jazeera has won 11 gold medal for Best News Reporter/Cor- Nigerians, picked up a bronze in the world medals, six silver world medals respondent. 101 East also won three Community Portraits category. and two bronze medals at the New silver world medals for the episodes Broken Dreams: The Boeing 787 York Festivals awards. Murder in Malaysia; Myanmar’s Jade won the gold medal in the Current A special award decided by a Curse and Becoming Pacquiao. Affairs and a silver world medal in United Nations jury honoured the Faultlines, a joint Al Jazeera the Business and Finance categories. interactive documentary Life on English and Al Jazeera America The Investigation Unit also picked Hold with the UNDPI medal, while programme, won three gold world up a Finalist Certificate in the Current also winning the gold in the Online medals for Mexico’s Disappeared Affairs Category for Inside Kenya’s News category. and Death of Aging, while Fergu- Death Squad. Al Jazeera English also 101 East won two gold medals for son: Race and Justice in the US won picked up eight Finalist Certificates Afghanistan’s Billion Dollar Drug War a silver world medal. Faultines also for programmes from Faultines, 101 as Best Investigative Report and for picked up a bronze medal for Forgot- East, Women Make Change and Peo- the Human Concerns category. ten Youth: Inside America’s Prisons. ple and Power. The festival’s World’s Myanmar’s Jude Curse won a gold Al Jazeera English news was Best TV & Films competition honours medal in the National/International awarded a silver world medal for programming in all lengths and forms Affairs category, while Murder in Best Coverage of a Continuing News from over 50 countries. 04 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 HOME Tunisian artist conveys Leisure visitors to Qatar on rise green message at expo Continued from page 1

The arrivals of UAE nationals increased by The Peninsula The exhibition includes a number of 14 percent, and Bahraini nationals rose by 2 paintings and art pieces reflecting nature, percent. in addition to wooden sculptures and Data shows that the number of visits spiked carvings of birds, animals and other art in the period between March 9 and 18, which DOHA: Tunisian artist Malik Hamza Saeed forms. coincided with spring holidays in Saudi Arabia. has opened his solo exhibition ‘Plants “This exhibition is perceived as an “Qatar continues to attract a healthy throughout ages decorating palaces’ at opportunity to raise public awareness on number of leisure visitors, signifying the grow- Katara. how people in the community can add a ing portfolio of tourism offerings, especially for touch of art and beauty to their homes by visitors from the GCC who find Qatar a place using natural components and materials where they can enjoy new experiences while as a decoration style in their palaces, and benefiting from the comfort of shared language apartments. and heritage,” said Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief “All my work here is made of natu- Tourism Development Officer at QTA. ral materials and objects including dried “This data offers us important insights as plants, but with new techniques that give we step up our development and promotional life and naturalness to the plants used,” efforts. It also helps us as we guide investors and the artist said. work with our partners in the public sector on He added: “I regard both my painting the expansion of Qatar’s leisure and business “Horizon” which portrays the surface of events offering, as well as the cruise industry.” Doha in a horizontal line with a vast green According to the United Nations World background and another painting inspired Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Qatar is the from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in only country in the Middle East region that has closely with global averages, with an average available room (RevPar) as well. ancient Iraq to be the most important maintained consistent arrivals growth for over of 70 percent for hotels and hotel apartments RevPar across the entire accommodation paintings of this exhibition. a decade. recorded for the quarter. This is 14 percent sector has declined by 20 percent between Q1 “There are several wooden sculptures The country had registered a 3.7 percent lower than the average occupancy rate of Q1 2015 to Q1 2016, with hotels dropping by 21 and carvings that have also attracted the growth in annual arrivals in 2015, compared 2015, which reflects the growth in accommo- percent and hotel apartments by 14 percent. attention of visitors. to 2014, and an average of 11.5 percent growth dation supply (11 percent increase in total room However, the Total Revenue achieved :It took me three months to prepare over the past 5 years (2010-2015), making it stock since end of March 2015) and the con- across the accommodation sector has held for this debut and I once again thank one of the fastest growing destinations in the tinued maturation of Qatar’s tourism industry. stable between Q1 2015 and Q1 2016 (at -0.3 Katara for this amazing opportunity and world. Such drops in occupancy rates, along with percent), as increased revenues from food & for hosting my exhibition to create bet- Meanwhile, occupancy rates in the tour- simultaneous (albeit smaller) drops in average beverage and other sales has compensated for ter public understanding of this kind of ist accommodation sector are aligning more room rates, have led to declines in revenue per decreases in room revenues. beautiful art.” One of the exhibits at Katara Building The exhibition is open until April 29 at No. 22. Katara Building 22. Bus interchange to be relocated

The Peninsula now change routes from here, time and enhancing reliability. and road closures and diversions said a statement. With effect from However, passengers need to note and narrow roads hampering our April 24, Mowasalat will increase that the timetable has changed due efficiency and affecting our time the frequency of buses in several to the increased frequency,” said schedule. With the support of the DOHA: The Asian Town and Street routes, to meet the requirements the statement. The new time table Ministry of Transport and Com- 52 bus interchange will be relo- of the growing number of passen- may be downloaded from www. munications, we are on the right cated to an area near the Karwa gers, in line with changes proposed mowasalat.com. Also it displayed track in providing most reliable, City, Mowasalat said yesterday. by the Ministry of Transport and at the notice board the central bus comfortable and economical bus Passengers for feeder serv- Communications. terminal in Al Ghanim. services to the public in Qatar,” ices, 300 series circular services “This will vastly benefit the bus “There are challenges with said Khalid Nassir Al Hail, Man- and routes 20, 21 and 57 should passengers reducing the waiting various construction activities aging Director, Mowasalat. Turkish Presidential Symphony Orchestra wows fans

The Peninsula

DOHA: The renowned Turkish Presidential Symphony Orchestra recently performed at Katara Opera House. The concert was organised by the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara in cooperation with the Turkish Embassy. The orchestra performs at Katara Opera House. Speaking at the event, Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti music to Qatar, in a bid to further between the two nations. thanked the Turkish Embassy for its cooper- boost cultural ties between the “This fine musical show represents a unique oppor- ation in bringing the finest of Turkish art and two countries and the friendship tunity for exploring the depth and richness of diverse Turkish culture and heritage,” said Dr Al Sulaiti. Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Demirok expressed gratitude for all the efforts made by “Katara to intro- duce a taste of cultures from around the world to Qatar.”

Cloudy weather

The Doha skyline blanketed by scattered clouds last evening. The Meteorology Department has forecast slightly dusty and cloudy weather today with an expected rise in temperature. Pic: Baher A / The Peninsula HOME THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 05

TAMUQ students exhibit solar products at Shams Generation Level 3 programme

The Peninsula (science, technology, engineering, art, tiered for primary (Level 1), second- and mathematics). ary (Level 2), and tertiary students An initiative of Qatar Solar Tech- (Level 3). nologies (QSTec), Shams Generation “By engaging with TAMUQ, we DOHA: After inspiring primary and celebrated the first successful com- have managed to expand the out- secondary school students in Qatar pletion of its Level 3 programme as reach of Shams Generation to include with its innovative solar energy undergraduate students of Texas universities and aid in developing the educational programme, Shams Gen- A&M at Qatar (TAMUQ) showcased solar energy applications knowledge eration has broadened its outreach to their MVPs (minimally viable prod- of these future engineers. include institutes of higher learning. ucts) all centred around the efficient “By working together, Shams The Shams Generation pro- use of solar energy. The Level 3 pro- Generation and TAMUQ have dem- gramme is the largest national-level gramme ran through the complete onstrated that providing a real-world QRCS officials with some of the beneficiaries at the handover ceremony. educational initiative of its kind in spring semester and was incorpo- experience can truly enrich the Qatar and aims at forging a blue- rated into the teaching curriculum knowledge of students beyond the print for progress on sustainability of as part of a graded course by TAMUQ. classroom environment; one that solar energy as a resource, using the Shams Generation’s educational equips them for the challenges and interdisciplinary approach of STEAM programmes are designed to be accomplishments of life,” said Chair- 650 keys to comfort given man and CEO of QSTec, Dr Khalid K Al Hajri. “The work the students have produced is absolutely amazing and highlights the value our Shams Gen- to families in Philippines eration initiative is adding to solar education in Qatar.” The class of juniors were invited building 650 housing units, seven cyclones. It is the deadliest Philip- to design fully functional solar MVPs classrooms, and a depot in northern pine typhoon on record, killing at on the hypothesis they could be QRCS homes project Tacloban. Soon after the project was least 10,000 people and rendering turned into viable products if a star- was part of Qatar completed, work on another 625-unit nearly 66,000 homeless. It affected tup funding was available. Alliance for the project was initiated. almost 9,800,000 people in nine A total of 30 students were In a ceremony with Philippine regions with 44 provinces and 600 divided into seven teams for the Relief of the Peoples Red Cross Society (PRCS), the units towns. State and community infra- project and had been provided with of Somalia and the were handed over to families. structure was damaged, disrupting a Shams Generation advanced solar The homes are built of wood and basic services and worsening living kit to test their innovative ideas on. Philippines, at a cost cement, each with separate toilet and conditions. For TAMUQ, the collaboration of QR8,211,020. sewerage chamber. The families were Qatar Alliance was formed as allowed the university to offer stu- selected based on case studies from a result of Qatar Day of Solidarity dents a STEAM environment from the among the families whose homes had with the Peoples of Somalia and the typical STEM education engineering been destroyed; people with special Philippines, on November 19, 2013 in Students with their project at the Shams Generation programme. students are designed to encounter. The Peninsula needs; families whose breadwinners response to a call by Emir H H Sheikh are children, women, or old people; Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. and chronic patients. The benefi- Apart from QRCS, assigned to ciaries were trained in safe shelter implement executive work of the DOHA: A Qatar Red Crescent Soci- standards and emergency measures. campaign, the alliance involved GCC Health Ministers to meet in Riyadh ety delegation visited the Philippines The classrooms were built at the Qatar Charity, Sheikh Thani Bin to inaugurate a housing project, as central school of northern Burauen, Abdullah Foundation for Human- part of a development programme a town of Leyte Province, at a cost of itarian Services (RAF), Sheikh Eid QNA During the three-day meeting, the ministers will of Qatar Alliance for the Relief of $150,000. A ready-made depot was bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable discuss the issue of unified purchase and tenders for phar- the Peoples of Somalia and the built near the PRCS branch in Leyte. Association, and Al Asmakh Char- maceuticals, laboratories, surgery, medical and healthcare Philippines, at a cost of $2,256,209 Local workforce was hired ity Foundation. The alliance has supplies and equipment. (QR8,211,020). to build them as a way to provide executed many projects and held RIYADH: The executive authority of the GCC Health Min- Topics on the agenda also include technical issues such QRCS was represented by Rashid income for the local community. events to mobilise financial and other isters will hold its 84th meeting in Riyadh on Sunday to as Zika virus, non-communicable diseases, cardiovascu- bin Saad Al Mohannadi, Director, Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the support for the campaign to help alle- achieve cooperation and integration among GCC coun- lar disease, diabetes, cancer, health systems development, Social Development Department. Philippines on November 8, 2013, viate the suffering of as many victims tries in the health sector. and healthcare financing, among others. The one-year project involved was one of the strongest tropical as possible in both countries. 06 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 HOME Second A319 joins QE charter fleet

Al Baker said: “We are delighted to Qatar Executive is offer our distinguished clientele these bespoke charter travel solutions, and preparing to serve to provide them with a singular, lux- travel needs during urious experience at the time and location of their choosing.” Ramadan with all- Airbus A319 aircraft can serve Premium Airbus A319 destinations around the globe with perfectly suited for completely customised schedules All-Premium Class Airbus A319 large families and aircraft ready to serve travel needs group travel. during Ramadan The 40-seat charter aircraft can cater for big families and group travel The 40-seat aircraft with a single aisle, 2-2 seating configuration, and The Peninsula range of up to 3,700km/6,850km, can easily connect destinations through- out the Middle East with major cities in Europe, Africa and South Asia. DOHA: Qatar Executive (QE), the pri- The seats recline and convert into Hassan Al Kuwari (left), Director of Events and Acting Director of Sales, vate jet division of award-winning 79-inch long fully-flat beds, which The interior of all-Premium Class Airbus A319 aircraft. Qatar Star League; and Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Director, Community Qatar Airways (QA), is preparing for come with elegant Italian Frette linen and Public Relations, Ooredoo Qatar, exchange the documents after the holy month of Ramadan and the and duvets. Each seat further pro- signing them. busy summer season by adding a sec- vides generous space for work or rest, ond all-Premium Class Airbus A319 is made more comfortable and con- aircraft can serve destinations around and comes equipped with power out- aircraft to its luxurious charter fleet. venient with direct-aircraft access the globe with completely customised lets, WiFi, GSM services, USB port, As Ramadan is a very popu- via the Executive terminal and cus- schedules, allowing for more flexi- audio sockets and LED lighting. Ooredoo is official telecom lar time to perform Umrah in Saudi tomised immigration and customs bility and the option to reach remote The two all-Premium Class Air- Arabia, the two 40-seat all-Pre- processing. or multiple locations in the shortest bus A319 aircraft complement QE’s mium Class Airbus A319 aircraft The Airbus A319 aircraft is per- amount of time in ultimate comfort. existing long-range fleet of two brand partner of Qatar Cup are expected to be well-received by fectly suited for travel to Ta’if, Jeddah Passengers are offered an exclusive new Gulfstream G650ER and eight large families, as well as travel agents or Madinah from where passengers private jet experience, award-win- modern Bombardier aircraft, includ- looking to charter aircraft for group can continue the holy pilgrimage to ning service, spacious cabins, and ing three Challenger 605s, four Global bookings. Mecca. world-class cuisine. 5000s and a Global XRS, all availa- The Peninsula latest scores at super speeds across Umrah travel by charter aircraft In addition, the Airbus A319 QA Group Chief Executive Akbar ble for worldwide charter. the country. “In addition, Ooredoo con- tinues to develop ‘smart stadium’ DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday solutions that will support Qatar’s announced that it will be the offi- sporting ambitions. We’re happy to Over 300 students display talent at astronomy olympiad cial telecom partner of Qatar Cup be supporting the Qatar Cup, as it 2016, organised by Qatar Star League inspires people to join in the spirit (QSL). of football.” By Fazeena Saleem opportunity to learn more about The announcement was made Hassan Al Kuwari, Director of The Peninsula neuroscience and engage with world- at a press conference at Al Saad Sta- Events and Acting Director of Sales renown researchers at QBRI’s labs. dium, which will host the semi-finals for QSL, commented: “Our partner- Started by a team of scientists of the event on Sunday, 24 April. ships with leading organisations like from QEERI’s Fascination Astron- The Qatar Cup, previously Ooredoo help take the Qatar Cup DOHA: Students with an interest in omy Program, a project funded by referred to as the Heir Apparent Cup, tournament to the widest possible astronomy and neuroscience show- the Qatar National Research Fund has become one of the most popular audience in Qatar. cased their skills and talents at a (QNRF), the Qatar National Astron- football competitions in the coun- “We want to spread the joy of competition in Doha. omy Olympiad was born out of a try, pitting the top four teams in the football to all of Qatar’s diverse peo- The two-day ‘Bright Sparks’ saw desire to use astronomy as a gate- league against each other to win the ple and ultimately build the fan base over 300 students, majority of them way to the sciences for students in the ‘all-star’ final. for the sport around the country. Qataris, from 72 schools, partici- country. The program organized vis- The 2016 Qatar Cup will be one “We thank Ooredoo for their pating in two competitions — the its to 120 schools in Qatar in the fall of the highlights of the football cal- support and look forward to work- Qatar National Astronomy Olympiad of 2015 and engaged students in var- endar, with the much-anticipated ing with the company.” (QNAO) and Qatar Brain Bee Com- ious hands-on astronomy activities. finals taking place on April 29. As The sponsorship will provide petition (QBCC). The event offered The efforts led to the creation of a Telecom Partner, Ooredoo bring Ooredoo with significant visibility talented secondary students the 80 Astro Clubs in the country, started results and highlights of the matches including coverage on several key opportunity to shine both domesti- Students from Mosaab Bin Omair Secondary Independent School for by students and teachers. Thirty-five to the widest possible audience and placements at the championship’s cally and globally, competing for the Boys, Ayesha bint Abi Bakr Secondary Independent School for Girls, clubs participated in the Olympiad support fans with incredible cover- venues. chance to represent Qatar in interna- and Ibn Taymiya Secondary Independent School won the grand awards with students completing projects age via the Ooredoo Supernet. In addition, Ooredoo’s Head- tional versions of the competitions. for creative and innovative projects presented at the QNAO. around topics related to astronomy Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Direc- quarters be part of Qatar Cup trophy It was organised by Qatar Bio- and presenting work in the presence tor, Community and Public Relations tour, so that employees have the medical Research Institute (QBRI) Boys, Ayesha bint Abi Bakr Second- first place in the competition and of judges from QEERI. A group of 20 of Ooredoo Qatar, said: “We believe chance to take selfies with the cov- and Qatar Energy and Environment ary Independent School for Girls, and winning the opportunity to travel students will be selected from among Ooredoo can bring incredible value eted prize. Research Institute (QEERI), two of Ibn Taymiya Secondary Independ- to Copenhagen, Denmark for the the participants to undergo three- to football in Qatar and enhance This agreement is the latest in Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s ent School won the grand awards International Brain Bee Competi- more intensive training by QEERI the experience for fans through our a series of Ooredoo promotions national research institutes with the for creative and innovative projects tion. Makarim, along with Rama Raed specialists, as the institute deter- mobile technology. and activities built around sporting support of the Ministry of Education presented at the QNAO. The results of Ammuri and Tala Abu Samaan, the mines the final team to represent Our Supernet enables people to events in Qatar, aiming to encourage and Higher Education. the brain bee were also announced, second and third place winners, from Qatar at the International Olympiad upload videos, download match sta- sporting participation and healthy Students from Mosaab Bin Omair with Raya Makarim, from Bright Al Bayan Secondary Independent on Astronomy and Astrophysics in tistics and keep up-to-date on the lifestyles. Secondary Independent School for Future International School, taking School for Girls, also won the unique Bhubaneshwar, India this December.

Vodafone opens retail kiosk at The Pearl-Qatar

The kiosk in Medina Centrale at The Pearl-Qatar.

The Peninsula on Fridays. The kiosk will cater to one of Qatar’s key residential and commer- cial areas and will deliver DOHA: Vodafone Qatar an even more welcoming has rolled out its global and engaging experience retail kiosk concept at The with the best Tech expert Pearl-Qatar’s Medina Cen- support. Customers can trale, taking its nationwide visit the kiosk to settle retail footprint to 25 out- their bills, including Pearl lets. Broadband, check out Facing the entrance and purchase the latest to Spinney’s and located smartphones and devices right next to Qatar National in addition to a line-up of Bank, the kiosk reflects the newest accessories. Vodafone’s world-class The kiosk includes an look and feel and offer Iconic Top 10 Table with a customers a delight- choice of the latest best- ful ambience besides the sellers, a Hero Product ease and simplicity. Work- zone and an accessory ing hours cover Saturday panel featuring the latest to Thursday from 10am mobile and tablet accesso- 10pm and 2pm to 10pm ries, among others. MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 07 Obama meets Saudi King ahead of US-GCC summit

in the regional summit, which the Riyadh. The Sunni Muslim-ruled king- Obama’s trip follows White House said would focus on dom — the world’s biggest oil exporter regional stability, counterterrorism and the largest buyer of American- an unusually robust including the fight against the Islamic made weapons — sees Shiae-led string of high-profile State (IS) and Al Qaeda, and Iran. Iran as its main rival. King Salman’s Talks are also expected to address the reign has overseen a more assertive US visits to the Gulf Saudi-led military campaign against foreign policy, with Saudis venturing states. Shia rebels and their allies in neigh- into Yemen and pushing the US to take bouring Yemen. more aggressive moves to overthrow US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. and CIA Director John Brennan were Saudi Arabia and Iran back oppos- AP among the officials accompanying ing sides in Syria’s civil war and in the Obama. Carter, meeting with defence Yemen conflict, where the US military ministers from the Gulf nations yes- is providing refueling and other logis- terday, pressed them to provide more tical help to the Saudi-led war effort. RIYADH: President Barack Obama economic and political support to Iraq Saudi Deputy Crown Prince opened a brief trip to Saudi Arabia in a preview of themes Obama was Mohammed bin Salman, the king- yesterday with a one-on-one meeting expected to emphasize. Stepping off dom’s defence minister, said ahead with the Custodian of the Two Holy of Air Force One earlier at King Kha- of Obama’s visit that the Gulf and the Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz lid International Airport, Obama was US must work together to confront in Riyadh. The visit for a Gulf sum- greeted by Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al challenges including terrorism, insta- mit comes against the backdrop of Saud, the governor of Riyadh. bility and what he described as Iranian increasingly strained US relations US officials have expressed hope interference into regional countries’ with the Saudis, who remain deeply the latest meeting will build on last affairs.Obama’s trip follows an unu- opposed to his outreach to Iran and year’s Camp David summit, though sually robust string of high-profile skeptical of his approach to Syria. they acknowledge differences remain US visits to the Gulf states. Vice Pres- Under crystal chandeliers, the between the US and Saudi Arabia. ident Joe Biden last month visited the Saudi King greeted Obama in a grand Obama’s recent comment that the United Arab Emirates, and US Secretary Defence Ministers from GCC countries with US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter during the Ministrial foyer at Erga Palace, where the two Saudis and Iranians should “share the of State John Kerry earlier this month walked slowly to a reception room as neighbourhood” roiled officials in was in nearby Bahrain. Summit in Riyadh, yesterday. the small of incense wafted. The two offered polite smiles as they sat down side by side for pictures at the start of their two-hour private meeting. US defence chief presses Gulf nations to do more in Iraq “The American people send their greetings and we are very grateful for your hospitality, not just for this meet- AP a more inclusive government. The what the Gulf nations have been ministers from the six GCC nations — conference that Carter expressed ing but for hosting the GCC-US summit defence ministers’ meeting was aimed willing to do in the fight, both with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, United the US commitment to stand with the that’s taking place tomorrow,” Obama at laying the groundwork for a sum- their military forces and financial Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. Gulf nations against Iranian threats, said, referring to the six-nation Gulf RIYADH: Defence Secretary ashton mit today among President Barack contributions. The ministers also reaffirmed including weapons smuggling into Cooperation Council summit. Carter pressed reluctant defence min- Obama and heads of state from the While Saudi Arabia, the United ways that their militaries can work countries such as Yemen. King Salman offered similarly isters from six Gulf nations yesterday Arab countries. Arab Emirates and other Gulf states are more together, including in training, The US official said that the US gracious words for the president, who to provide more economic and polit- A senior defence official said the part of the US-led coalition battling the exercises and missions with their spe- wants to see a continued push to is paying his fourth trip here for face- ical support to Iraq now to help the defence chiefs had a robust discus- IS group in Iraq and Syria, they have cial operations and naval forces. interdict the weapons shipments from to-face meetings and photos with war-torn nation in its fight against the sion, but came to no solid agreements done only limited airstrikes in Syria. One proposal would have each Iran to insurgent groups in Yemen royal rulers since becoming president. Islamic State (IS) Group. on the increased aid. Carter told a news conference later country designate a special operations and other areas. The official was not “The feeling is mutual between us In a series of sessions, Carter The official said it appears the that Sunni support for a multi-sectar- unit to go through enhanced training authorized to discuss the issues pub- and the American people,” the king urged the Arab countries to specif- Gulf nations will be willing to consider ian government in Iraq will insure that so it could work more closely with all licly ahead of the meeting, so spoke said through a translator. ically help with the reconstruction doing more. But the Sunni leaders the IS group “stays defeated.” the other nations. on condition of anonymity. The president was slated to spend of cities of Ramadi and Hit as well want to wait until they see more polit- “What we would like, and what The ministers also talked about US officials also want Gulf nations little more than 24 hours in the Saudi as Anbar province, areas that have ical improvements in Baghdad and we discussed today, is to do more,” ways to counter threats from Iran — to have a more formal diplomatic capital before heading on to visits to been won back from the militant greater participation and aid for the said Carter, who spoke at Diriyah a high priority for the Gulf countries presence in Baghdad, arguing that London and Hannover, Germany. group but left in near-shambles. He Sunni population before they agree Palace alongside Gulf Cooperation who have been dismayed with the US involvement with the Shiite-domi- In addition to Saudi Arabia, the said helping the Iraqi people go home to do more. Iraq is a Sunni-majority Council Secretary-General Abdulla- move to reduce sanctions on Tehran in nated Iraqi government will decrease United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and rebuild their lives would lead to country with a Shia-led government. tif Al Zayani. exchange for the nuclear agreement. the deep sectarianism fracturing the Oman and Bahrain are participating a more lasting victory and promote The US has been unhappy with At the meeting were defence Al Zayani said at the news country. 08 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 MIDDLE EAST

Israeli intelligence cooperation with Egypt at unprecedented level

AFP The Israeli military’s deputy chief the Palestinian cause. Egypt-Israeli relations, Egypt’s government strongly opposed, he said. ever experienced before,” Golan said. of staff spoke of an “unprecedented Militants in Egypt’s Sinai parliament in March dismissed a “Look at their involvement in Of a possible future crisis, he said level of cooperation” mainly regarding Peninsula pledged allegiance in deputy after he held talks with Israel’s Iraq, their involvement in Syria, in “we’re not going to see small war in intelligence. November 2014 to IS, which controls envoy to Cairo during a dinner at his Lebanon, in Yemen, in Sudan and Lebanon. It’s going to be decisive. It’s JERUSALEM: Israel has seen “unprec- “But that’s between defence parts of Iraq and Syria and also has home. other places,” Golan said. going to be full-scale war ...” edented” intelligence cooperation establishments, and I wouldn’t a presence in conflict-ridden Libya. Tewfiq Okasha’s hosting of Israeli “Just unbelievable. You can find He said that because of the with Egypt and Jordan as the fight describe that as some sort of Fighters have long used Sinai as ambassador Haim Koren sparked Iran today everywhere.” Iran has presence of Hezbollah fighters in against the Islamic State group nudges reconciliation between the people,” a base and launched an insurgency outrage in parliament, where one backed Israeli enemy Hezbollah, civilian areas, “there is no other them to work together more closely, a Golan said at a news conference for after the military overthrew Egypt’s lawmaker hit him with a shoe. and Golan said the Lebanese Shia way to take out this threat without military chief said yesterday. foreign journalists. Islamist president Mohamed Mursi Golan also spoke of the threat militia’s improving capabilities deeply really creating large damage to the Major General Yair Golan said “But it is a good starting point, and in 2013. Israel says Iran poses in the region, concerned Israel. Lebanese infrastructure, to Lebanese “there is a strong feeling in the I’m quite optimistic concerning that.” Jordan, which borders Iraq and saying it is determined to spread its He said that could result in “full- houses and other civilian facilities.” region... that we have to put aside Egypt and Jordan are the only Syria, has for years struggled with influence through the Middle East. scale war”, including a harsh response In the summer of 2006, Israel and past animosities and concentrate Arab countries that have signed peace homegrown extremists and is part Israel will closely monitor from the Israeli military. Hezbollah fought a devastating war on mutual interests and working treaties with Israel, but relations of a US-led coalition carrying out air whether Iran complies with the “Comparing that to anything in Lebanon that killed nearly 1,200 together” to deal with the militant between them remain delicate, strikes against IS. nuclear deal it struck with world we’ve experienced before, no doubt, Lebanese, mostly civilians, and about threat. particularly over their support for In a sign of the sensitivity in powers last year, which the Israeli this is the most severe threat we’ve 160 Israelis, mostly troops. Houthis to join peace talks in Kuwait today

ceasefire. Representatives of Houthi The rebels’ Al Masirah televi- rebels and their allies boarded an sion quoted Houthi representative The UN-brokered Omani plane bound for Kuwait via Saleh Al Sammad as saying they talks had been set Muscat, said a Sana’a airport official. agreed to join the talks after receiv- to open on Monday The UN-brokered talks had been ing assurances from the UN envoy set to open in Kuwait on Monday but and ambassadors that loyalists would but were put off were put off after the Iran-backed respect the ceasefire. A Western dip- after the Iran-backed insurgents failed to show up over lomat in Kuwait said representatives alleged Saudi violations of the cease- of the five permanent members of the insurgents failed to fire, which took effect on April 11. UN Security Council sent a message show up. The government delegation to the rebels saying they “under- which arrived in Kuwait at the week- stand their fears” and urging them end, had threatened to pull out if the to “quickly join” the talks. talks did not start today morning. Writing on Facebook, Mashat AFP The delegation, in a statement, warned however that “we will have Kurdish fighters take position during clashes with pro-government forces in the northwestern Syrian town also accused the Huthi rebels of vio- the right to suspend our participa- of Qamishli, yesterday. Qamishli is under the shared control of the regime and Kurdish authorities, who lating the ceasefire in many areas. tion” if the assurances are not met. have declared zones of “autonomous administration” across parts of north and northeast of the country. A Saudi-led coalition launched An official of the rebel-allied SANA’A: Yemen peace talks are to air strikes in Yemen 13 months ago General People’s Congress party, start today in Kuwait, the United after the rebels, who had seized con- Yasser Alawadi, said on his depar- Nations said, after rebels agreed to trol of Sanaa in 2014, advanced in ture from Muscat that there would be join the delayed negotiations fol- other parts of the country. “no discussion of political issues until Evacuations begin from two lowing assurances pro-government President Abdrabuh Mansur the ceasefire is respected”. forces would respect a ceasefire. Hadi’s government fled to main But another GPC official, Yahia The talks are the most important southern city Aden but its members Duwaid, was more “optimistic”, say- attempt yet to resolve Yemen’s dev- still spend most of their time in Riy- ing the UN had helped “overcome blockaded Syrian towns astating conflict, which the UN says adh. The loyalists have managed many obstacles which had delayed has killed more than 6,400 people since July to reclaim large parts of our arrival in Kuwait”. The GPC is and forced almost 2.8 million forced the south, including temporary cap- led by former Yemeni president Ali from their homes. ital Aden, but have been unable to Abdullah Saleh, who ruled the coun- Reuters pro-government forces are Zabadani Zabadani will be taken to the rebel- “The Yemeni peace negotiations dislodge the rebels from Sanaa and try for 33 years until 2012 and has and Madaya, near the Lebanese held Syrian town of Idlib, the witness will start tomorrow in Kuwait under other key areas. joined forces with the Houthis. border. Those blockaded by rebels said. the auspices of the United Nations,” On Tuesday, UN chief Ban Ki- Yemeni sources close to the talks are al-Foua and Kefraya in the Pro-opposition TV station Ori- said UN spokesman Stephane Dujar- moon had urged both sides to work say the insurgents are demanding the BEIRUT: The evacuation of 250 peo- northwestern Idlib province, both ent News showed coaches with ric. A delegation of rebels left Yemen’s with his envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh lifting of UN sanctions against Saleh ple from two Syrian towns blockaded predominantly Shi’ite and loyal to Red Crescent markings lined up for capital yesterday to join the talks say- Ahmed “so that talks can start with- and Houthi leaders. Yemen’s inter- by pro-government forces began the government. inspection before heading to al-Foua ing the UN had assured them over the out further delay”. nationally recognised government is yesterday, a witness said, after an A Syrian Arab Red Crescent car and Kefraya. Orient said residents demanding the Houthis abide agreement was reached which also leaving Madaya and Zabadani came from the towns would be taken to the by a Security Council reso- allows for another 250 people to under rebel fire but there were no Damascus countryside area and the lution calling for a political leave two towns blocked off by rebels. casualties, a witness said. The Leb- government-controlled city of Lata- process and for the rebels to The Hezbollah-controlled TV sta- anese TV station al Mayadeen also kia. The warring sides agreed a local withdraw from cities they tion Al Manar reported the agreement reported the Red Crescent convoy ceasefire for the four towns in Sep- seized while surrendering earlier on Wednesday. had come under rebel fire. tember, but the agreement has not their weapons. The towns blockaded by Residents of Madaya and been fully implemented. Australian mother and TV crew freed

Reuters & AP

BEIRUT: An Australian mother and television crew charged with kidnapping the woman’s children in Beirut were released from jail yesterday, after an out- of-court settlement was reached with the children’s Lebanese father. Sally Faulkner and the four-member Australian “60 minutes” television crew were charged on April 12 with involvement in kidnapping after the two chil- dren, aged five and three, were snatched off the street. CCTV footage broadcast on Lebanese television appeared to show several people grabbing the chil- dren from their grandmother and bundling them into a car. The children were returned to their father after Faulkner was arrested. Faulkner and TV presenter Tara Brown walked free from a women’s prison in Baabda, just outside Beirut, and the three-man TV crew emerged from a nearby courthouse jail, after the father, Ali Zeid Al Amin, dropped the charges. Opposition figure sues Al Sisi over islands

CAIRO: An Egyptian opposition figure who ran in the presidential elections against Abdel Fatah Al Sisi says he’s suing the president over his decision to hand over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The announcement on the handover of the islands, which have been under Egypt’s protectorate, sparked demonstrations last week. Hamdeen Sabahi, the leader of the Egyptian Popular Current, submitted a 10-page complaint to an administrative court in Cairo over the case. ASIA / PHILIPPINES THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 09

Delicious preparations China angered No payment to by Britain’s comments on free captives: South China Sea Philippines Reuters BEIJING: China expressed anger yesterday after a senior British to “discourage this kind of grow- official said a ruling expected ing ‘industry’” and cut off funds within a few months in an inter- The military wanted that would ultimately strengthen national arbitration case the to “discourage this the rebels. Indonesia’s coordina- Philippines has brought against tion minister for political, legal and China’s South China Sea claims kind of growing security affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, must be binding. ‘industry’” and cut was quoted as saying a Taiwan firm Hugo Swire, British minister of was prepared to pay 50 million pesos state responsible for East Asia, also off funds that would ($1.08 million) to free a crew held said Britain saw the ruling, by the ultimately strengthen since late March. Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Philippines rarely publi- the Hague, as an opportunity for the rebels: Official cises ransom payments and officials China and the Philippines to renew sometimes refer to them euphemis- dialogue over their territorial dis- tically as “board and lodgings”. Vietnamese prepare a dish at the World Street Food Congress 2016 at Taguig, south of Manila, in the putes. China claims virtually all of Padilla said there were ongoing Philippines, yesterday. Food stalls serve dishes from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the South China Sea and rejects the Reuters military operations to rescue the Thailand, US and the Philippines. court’s authority in the case, which captives. “The safety of the kidnap is widely expected to go in favour victims is our primordial concern,” of the Philippines, significantly he added. Five other foreign nation- raising tension in the strategic MANILA: The Philippines discour- als, including two Canadians, are waterway. aged ransom payments yesterday for also held on the remote southern “The comments by Mr Swire captives held by Islamist militants island of Jolo, a stronghold of the Two Indonesian ports ban ships to neglect the facts and are very in a bid to stop a kidnap “industry” small but violent Al Qaeda-linked discriminatory and one-sided emerging after a series of rebel sei- group, known for beheading, bomb- and seriously go against Brit- zures of Indonesian and Malaysian ings and extortion. ain’s promise not to take sides,” crew. Neil Reeder, Canada’s ambas- Philippines after spate of hijackings Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes- A Philippine military spokesman sador to the Philippines, expressed woman Hua Chunying told a daily was responding to media reports on serious concern over an Abu Sayyaf news briefing. Tension in the Tuesday that quoted an Indonesian threat to behead two of its citizens South China Sea is the fault of the minister as saying a Taiwan firm on April 25 if their families and gov- Reuters largest thermal coal exporter, sup- were affected by the shipping restric- United States and the Philippines, would pay to free 10 Indonesians ernment failed to pay 300m pesos plies 70 percent of the Philippines’ tions at the two ports. not China, with US ships and air- held by Abu Sayyaf rebels. for each of them. coal import needs. “Tomorrow, I’ll have a meeting craft increasingly appearing in the A combined 18 crew from Indo- “We are very, very concerned 2“The situation in the Philippines with the Navy and State Intelligence region, she added. nesia and Malaysia have been taken about the situation of our nation- JAKARTA: Authorities from at least is considered not safe and some of Agency to further discuss the matter. “The facts prove that if the captive in three separate attacks on als,” Reeder told reporters in Manila. two Indonesian coal ports have our ships were hijacked,” Umar Aris, We’re trying to find the best solu- South China Sea is tense then it’s tugboats in Philippine waters close “We are doing our best for their blocked ships from leaving to the Indonesia’s acting director general tion,” Aris said. Indonesia has already the US which is the biggest pusher to maritime borders with the two safety and security and we hope Philippines due to security concerns of sea transportation, told Reuters. called for joint maritime patrols with of this,” Hua said. The court is countries. that they’ll be safe and sound and after a spate of ship hijackings in the Shipping permits to the Philip- the Philippines and Malaysia follow- expected to rule in late May or “The armed forces continues to released very soon.” southern Philippines, an Indonesian pines were no longer being approved ing the attacks. early June. In February, the United encourage everyone to observe the Security is precarious in the government official said yesterday. at the ports of Banjarmasin and A total of 18 crew members from States and the European Union, government’s no ransom policy,” south of the largely Christian Phil- The growing frequency of mar- Tarakan in Indonesia’s Kalimantan, Indonesia and Malaysia have been of which Britain is a part, warned Philippine military spokesman Brig- ippines, despite a 2014 peace pact itime attacks by Islamist militants an area home to some of the biggest taken captive in three separate China it should respect the ruling adier-General Restituto Padilla told between the government and the is for the first time affecting coal coal mines operated by Adaro Energy attacks on tugboats in Philippine from the Hague. The court has no reporters. largest Muslim rebel group that trade between the Southeast Asian and Bumi Resources. It was not clear waters close to maritime borders powers of enforcement and its rul- He said the military wanted ended 45 years of conflict. neighbours. Indonesia, the world’s how much of Indonesia’s coal exports with the two countries. ings have been ignored before. 10 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

US President Barack Obama and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (right) EDITORIAL walk together following their meeting at Erga Palace in Riyadh, yesterday. Peace failure Hi, bye and thanks, yrian peace talks are heading for collapse, or have already collapsed, depending on how grim a view we are prepared to take of the events unfolding in Geneva. The Sopposition has called a ‘pause’ to negotiations which is equivalent to a walkout. The UN-sponsored peace talks Mr President! had never looked promising from the start because of unbridgeable differences between the government and the opposition over the fate of President Bashar Al Assad. The government says Assad’s as strain in the relationship between Obama is too frightened to even GCC countries is an urgent priority. A the US and its Arab allies in the name Israeli Prime Minister, Ben- real cooperation leading to an even- presidency cannot be negotiated while the opposition says his Arabian Gulf is an understatement. jamin Netanyahu, as a belligerent tual confederation yields a solidified removal is a prerequisite for any deal. Both sides are aware of the The damage Obama’s administra- “free-rider” opposing the two-state Arab front that will certainly cre- huge consequences of the collapse of the current peace effort, with tion made to the role of the US as solution to the Palestinian plight ate a regional power to be reckoned one Western diplomat warning that talks may not resume for at a truly reliable ally for Gulf Arab and continuing settlements building with. Measures for confederation least a year if they are abandoned now. states is simply irreparable. on Palestinian lands. The list of let- must be accompanied by measures The first casualty of the stalemate in Geneva is the ceasefire President Obama is a lame- down policies of Mr. Obama towards of reform and modernization. The duck president. His presidency will his allies worldwide is longer than rule of law, stringer observation of which was brokered by the US and Russia to pave the way for the be remembered by many as the a newspaper column. Ukraine, Tur- human rights and all-out transpar- first peace talks attended by the warring parties. The opposition man who let us down. President key, Iraq, South Korea and Japan in ent war against corruption in our yesterday declared that the six-week- Obama was wrongfully advised the face of North Korean nuclear countries must be adhered to. old ceasefire was over, clearing the By Dr Saad bin Teflah that we had “free-ride” in fight- threats and most recently Nagorno- Mr. Obama’s visit to the GCC way for a full resumption of fighting. Al Ajmi ing terrorism. Facts and innocent Karabakh, to name just a few. may be his last to the region as a It’s also time The ceasefire was never implemented blood of victims of ISIS and Al Qaeda Yet one must thank Mr. Obama president, all be it a lame-duck one. completely. There were cases of sporadic from Kuwait to Jizan, prove other- for his wake-up policies of hesi- He will leave with no tangible rem- for the West wise. He thinks of leaving behind tation for us to start thinking of a edy for his failed regional policies. and their fighting from the start, which intensified n public, all Arabic hospitality a legacy as a man who appeased new strategy for self-reliance. The But he will leave with the region gradually, but it has helped in the will be expressed in welcom- Iran. Facts and innocent blood of GCC countries have great sources contemplating hard and deep for Arab allies delivery of much-needed aid to victims ing President Obama as he Syrians, Iraqis and Yemenis stip- of wealth and know-how to des- new ways of thinking and security to intervene and brought a respite from fighting to visits Saudi Arabia today to ulate exactly the opposite. Obama ignate a new strategy of regional seeking; or so one really hopes. Imeet with all GCC leaders in Riy- may think that he confronted ISIS security. The so-called Obama Mr. Obama: Welcome! Good- in Syria to large numbers of people. Syrians will now be exposed to the full fury of the adh. The visit of Obama comes at a and amassed tens of countries to “doctrine” must be transcended bye and thank you! help the time when trust in US foreign pol- fight it not realising that by ignor- by the “Salman Doctrine”. Resolve war; there will be another mass exodus opposition. icy is at its lowest. ing its creator, Basshar Alassad, his of measures for greater integration The writer is an academic and media of refugees and mass killings and Syria What Western media “dubbed” endeavors will all go in vein. Mr. and deeper cooperation among the expert. will continue to wallow in death and destruction. The opposition will have to rethink its strategy if they are to achieve their objective of ousting Assad – like going for better coordination, leadership and war strategy, Arab democracies? Not so fast, say some and an aggressive campaign abroad to leverage the support they are already enjoying. It will be a tough task. Most of the international community wants Assad to leave, but their support AP is committed to “striking the bal- he said. “It is just very difficult to tired of the trouble and strife. hasn’t translated into anything substantial whereas Russian ance between enhancing security build a modern, stable democracy. Certainly many seem terrified and Iranian support has helped Assad regain lost territory and and stability and upholding rights Others find it elitist to suggest by what happened in places that inflict huge damage on the opposition as well as the Islamic State new-old idea is rattling and freedoms,” according to a state- that the Arab world is not ready for have spun out of control. In Libya, around the Middle East ment from his office. democracy. Are we really not deserv- militias hold sway. Yemen is mired militants. The US is busy with a presidential election and therefore five years after the Arab The idea has a philosophical ing, they ask, of what the Indians in civil war, compounded by a year is unlikely to be of any help other than verbal support. Many Arab Spring stirred democratic foundation: just as democracy is and Brazilians take for granted? of Saudi-led airstrikes. Iraq’s Sunni countries too are preoccupied with their own internal crises. The Aambition: that restoring stability, about more than elections and can- Some will mention cases of con- regions are overrun by the Islamic opposition will need a credible and well-thought out strategy to especially if accompanied by some not allow an unbridled dictatorship troversial election outcomes even State group. In Syria, half the pre- overcome these adverse circumstances. Turkey and some Arab economic and political improve- of the majority, so must freedom in the West and ask: In such a com- war population of over 20 million countries, including from the Gulf, continue to stand solidly behind ments, should be reform enough not be allowed to become anarchy. plex world, can any society truly has been displaced, and parts of the opposition and the opposition needs to win their trust too to for the moment. Critics dismiss such talk as self- be ready? Is it not better to simply cities have been levelled. This discourse appears to be tak- serving, a conflating of criticism and treat genuine freedom as a basic Lebanon is paralysed by confes- broaden this support. ing front and centre these days, most sedition typical of elites trying to human right? sional politics and has hasn’t been It’s also time for the West to intervene in Syria to help the obviously in Egypt — the region’s hang on to privilege. But the go-slow “The idea that some people are able to elect a president in almost opposition. A ray of hope has come from France which is planning most populous country and the one approach does find quiet defenders not prepared for justice is racist,” two years, and parliament rarely to discuss with other European powers and US the idea of that raised the highest hopes for not only among the wealthy and con- respected Egyptian author Alaa meets. Mahmoud Abbas’ term as convening a meeting of major powers on Syria. democracy advocates when the mil- nected who benefit, but also among Aswany told The Associated Press. president of the Palestinian Author- itary in 2011 removed longtime ruler educated people who simply don’t “It reflects a lack of respect for peo- ity ran out years ago. Hosni Mubarak as millions rallied fully trust the masses at the moment. ple. I absolutely disagree with it.” Democracy rarely gets men- against him and his Western sup- How much is hard to accurately Still, to Egyptians who see their tioned in the United Arab Emirates, port collapsed. gauge in a region where pundits are region’s turbulence and observe although there have been elections The current government is muzzled in ways both subtle and overt police and soldiers being killed by for a federal citizens’ advisory coun- Quote of the day aggrieved to find itself facing possi- and where polling is rarely conducted. Islamic State-affiliated jihadis in the cil. Other Gulf nations have relatively bly harsher international criticism So claims about it tend toward anec- Sinai Peninsula, the security argu- powerless parliaments. It is essential that all than Mubarak ever did, mostly over dote, experience and logic. ment especially can resonate. And Egypt, compared to other Arab states reaffirm their questions of human rights. It argues “People value stability more than in Jordan, where there’s little doubt states, has made impressive strides. that democracy does not require anything else,” said Abdulkhaleq that the monarchy is in charge and Al Sissi overwhelmingly won pres- commitment under the tolerance of chaos in the streets, Abdullah, a professor of political critics know what lines not to cross, idential elections in 2014 with far (UN) Charter to resolve and that unfettered freedoms can science at United Arab Emirates King Abdullah gets major points more votes than had been won two disputes by peaceful destabilise a brittle society facing University. He said the instability among the middle classes for keep- years earlier by Mohammed Mursi, means. illiteracy, poverty, weak democratic and rise of political Islam following ing a place that borders Syria, Iraq the Islamist president the military traditions and a jihadi insurgency. the Arab Spring slowed the push for and Palestine calm, even showing overthrew for alleged misrule in In meetings with US Con- greater freedom and democracy, and some modest economic growth. 2013. While the election was widely gressional delegations this week, that most UAE citizens aren’t clam- There is a noticeable decline in criticised because the previously Ban Ki-moon President Abdel-Fattah Al Sissi oring for sweeping change while the inclination to demonstrate in ruling Muslim Brotherhood was UN Secretary-General argued that “democracy is an ongo- they watch turmoil elsewhere in many countries — although this can banned, few claim the vote count ing process and cannot be realized the region. mislead: the right to do so is much was falsified — no small matter con- overnight,” elaborating that Egypt “Let’s just be modest about it,” curtailed and people may have just sidering the region’s recent history.

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By Leonid Bershidsky Bloomberg

he Russian annexation of Crimea is to be consummated with a 12-mile bridge connecting Russia’s Krasn- odar region with the Crimean city Tof Kerch. The first support of the bridge was completed earlier this month, beginning the final phase of a project that explains a lot about how President Vladimir Putin’s Russia functions -- and how Russia has functioned for ages, achieving surprising results with chaotic, ill-thought-out efforts. The Nazis were the first to try to bridge the Kerch Strait in 1943 as they created an infrastructure for their invasion of the Soviet Union. Hitler’s personal architect and trusted minister, Albert Speer, com- missioned and approved the plans, and construction started just in time for the Soviet troops to push the Nazis back. The Germans bombed what they had built so the Russians couldn’t use it. The Soviets completed a bridge in 1944, but it was a temporary one, using wooden supports, and ice floes crushed it in 1945. A permanent bridge has been discussed A billboard, which promotes the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait to the Krasnodar region, is displayed on a street in Kerch, Crimea, recently. ever since. Long lines for the ferries between The board reads: “Crimean spring. We build bridges”. the Russian mainland and Kerch suggested that a rail and automobile connection would be much in demand. Russia and Ukraine quiet approval. At the same time, Crimea’s in negotiations with Russia regarding the potentially the longest combined rail and by well-connected tender winners after agreed to build the bridge in 2008, but the economy, which relies heavily on tourism, Russian-sponsored rebellion in Ukraine’s car bridge in Europe -- has ever been built. they realize they can spend or steal the expensive project kept stalling. An agree- suffered from the lack of Ukrainian vaca- eastern regions, said as recently as March, The bottom of the Kerch Strait is covered money but not do the job, a former top ment reached a month before the 2014 tioners and the inability of Russian ones to 2016. “Russians will be hammering in these with some 50 meters (154 feet) of silt. The Mostotrest engineer told me. The company “Revolution of Dignity” was rescinded by get to the peninsula in sufficient numbers. supports for decades. The only person who design rests on the assumption that each has picked up a number of such projects in the post-revolutionary government in Kiev So the Russian government hastened to had a realistic plan for that bridge was of the 595 bridge supports will rest sol- Moscow after losing tenders to the mayor’s after the Crimea annexation. commission the bridge. In typical fashion, Albert Speer, the German construction idly on hollow steel pipes driven into the friends. Now, it has come into the Crimea For Russia, however, the project has a company owned by Arkady Rotenberg, minister.” sea bottom under the silt with extremely bridge project with guns blazing. become an urgent necessity. Crimea’s Putin’s erstwhile judo sparring partner, won Yet, Rotenberg stuck with the task. In powerful pile drivers. Just like the gargantuan infrastructure water, gas pipelines, railroads and high- the 384 billion ruble ($5.8 billion) tender for an interview with the daily Kommersant, The 70-to-80-meter-long pipes are projects for the Sochi winter Olympics, the ways came from Ukraine. That quickly the design and construction of the bridge he said the Kerch bridge would be his last supposed to sit at an angle to the bottom all-important bridge is being built with no proved problematic as Ukrainian and pro- less than two weeks after Crimea held its big project, something for which he would so that fewer of them are needed. Since regard for reasonable timing, lots of polit- Ukrainian Crimean Tatar activists set up fake referendum to join Russia in March, like to be remembered;he wouldn’t even they must be welded together in place from ical pressure, a Putin crony in control of a blockade of Crimea-bound cargoes and 2014. The firm was part of Stroigazmon- try to make money on it. Given the sensi- shorter pipes -- no Russian factory can the finances and a state-controlled com- blew up the power transmission towers tazh, a group of companies specialising on tive nature of the project -- it is, after all, make, and no transport can deliver, the full pany that has managed to preserve bits on the border with Crimea, all with Kiev’s the construction of oil and gas pipelines tangible evidence of Russia caring about required length -- the technical difficul- and pieces of its Soviet heritage. -- a business, largely with state compa- Crimea and its residents -- Putin must ties for the bridge builders become almost Under Putin, the country has barely nies, that has made Rotenberg a billionaire. have felt safe to entrust it to his old friend overwhelming. Besides, Rotenberg, under developed any new expertise except in The whole business looked ridicu- following such assurances. He has also Western sanctions as a close Putin friend, constructing shady financial schemes. The lous. Bridge construction has never been made it clear publicly that he’d hold him could not obtain enough of the pile driv- engineering talent and technology still has The Nazis were the first to try to Stroigazmontazh’s specialty. Besides, in responsible. While taking a picture with the ers, which are not made in Russia. to be assembled from Soviet-era organi- bridge the Kerch Strait in 1943 January, 2015, the government reduced construction workers on Tuzla island, the At the end of March, Rotenberg brought zations that have somehow survived the the cost estimate to 212.5 billion rubles; president beckoned the billionaire: “Come in the only company in Russia that could tempestuous 1990s -- and have often been as they created an infrastructure by then, Russia’s oil windfall was over and here, Arkady, don’t hide. If anything goes try to implement the design: Mostotrest. A renationalised since. Like the Mostotrest for their invasion of the Soviet even the most politically important projects wrong, we’ll blame you.” Soviet institution founded in 1930, it has engineer, I believe the bridge will ultimately had to be run as cheaply as possible. The In February, the Russian government built most of Russia’s big, complicated be built. It won’t happen exactly on deadline: Union. Hitler’s personal architect deadline Putin wanted and the government approved the final design -- which Roten- bridges, and it’s not under sanctions, so it The railroad part is now scheduled for 2019. and trusted minister, Albert Speer, set, December 2018, looked unattainable. berg had mostly out sourced -- and a new can buy the necessary equipment. Priva- The cost will probably overrun, too, commissioned and approved the Under normal conditions, just the design cost estimate, further reduced to 211.9 bil- tized by its workers in the 1990s, the firm and Rotenberg may have to cover some of it and geological survey -- there’s a tectonic lion rubles. At times, 800 engineers and couldn’t sustain its debt burden, and last out of his own pocket. Putin’s propaganda plans, and construction started just fault at the botton of the Kerch Strait -- technical experts worked on it, in the Soviet year, 94 percent of its stock was consol- media will sing paeans to the heroic feats in time for the Soviet troops to push would have taken a few years. tradition of cramming to meet a politi- idated by a pension fund owned by the of the workers and engineers who build Ukrainians declared the bridge project a cally-motivated deadline. state railroad monopoly. the bridge, just as the Soviet press once the Nazis back. The Germans bombed fantasy or a device for Rotenberg to appro- The design looks majestic in a video Mostotrest is now charged with most did. The bridge will stand as a monument what they had built so the Russians priate government cash. “There’s no way presentation, but Rotenberg is flying by of the construction work on the bridge. to Putin’s Soviet revival project -- and as couldn’t use it. there will be a bridge there,” Roman Bess- the seat of his pants here. Nothing quite It’s the story of Mostotrest’s life, being an uncomfortable echo of a project the mertny, a Ukrainian official taking part like this bridge -- the longest in Russia and brought in at the final stage of the project Nazis started but failed to finish. Brazil parties while it can before national reboot

in the nation’s capital on Sunday shortfalls with illegal accounting that is, the conspirators include the member of the Brazilian Democratic last year as Rousseff’s fortunes and the huge street parties that tricks. For the second time in a little federal auditing court, which flagged Movement (PMDB), a one-size-fits- were slipping. Drafted by leading followed across the country, Brazil over a generation, and just 31 years the fiscal trickery for which Rousseff all party that’s opportunistically economists, it calls for imposing might have been reborn when a after Brazil returned to democracy, is now answering in Congress; the taken part in every government fiscal discipline on government crushing 71 percent of the lower a freely elected leader is poised to Supreme Court, which has upheld since the return of democracy in by curbing excess spending and house of congress voted to support be removed from office. the impeachment process against 1985, the 75-year-old politician is trimming bloated social programs. a motion to remove President Dilma So cue the caveats and trepidation multiple challenges by government a seasoned negotiator. He’s spent It also calls for cutting the social Rousseff from office. as the push to oust Rousseff moves lawyers; and now 71 percent of the decades whipping up legislative votes security deficit by raising the What lies ahead promises to be to the Senate, which could decide lower chamber of congress where, and conciliating coalition demands retirement age for pensioners, and a lot messier. In fact, the euphoria to remove her, pending trial, by until recently, Rousseff’s governing and appetites for pork and patronage. easing labor laws to allow workers over Rousseff’s tumble from grace mid May. But the end of Rousseff’s coalition boasted a working majority. “Brazil’s political system is all and employers to negotiate wages By Mac Margolis took me straight back to 2003, the government does not have to be If Rousseff is thrown out, her about building consensus,” Carlos and hours. Bloomberg year her predecessor was starting another Brazilian disaster. It could vice president, Michel Temer, would Pereira, a political scientist at the Malleability alone won’t mend office. It was January, and tens of well spell a renewal. Here’s the take office with a tremendous lift. Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Brazil’s badly polarized society any thousands of ecstatic well-wishers upside of Brazil’s lowest moment Granted, not everyone in congress Janeiro, told me. “Rousseff wanted more than it will lift the economy poured into Brasilia, dozens of them in decades: “It’s like when the who voted for impeachment is likely to impose a vision even though her from recession and win back the here were paeans to flag, diving into the reflecting pools on the computer freezes up,” said Alberto to fall in line behind Temer, whom key party was never a majority. The country’s investment grade rating. country, an interstate highway capital mall, to hail the inauguration Ramos, Latin American analyst at prosecution witnesses have accused PMDB lives for negotiating, and That would be a tough assignment for Tand “my granddaughter’s of Workers’ Party legend Luiz Inacio Goldman Sachs. “Sometimes it’s best of benefiting from illegal ethanol negotiating is what Brazil needs at the most skilled statesman, and no birthday.” One exalted lawmaker Lula da Silva. to reboot.” purchases. And he may yet run afoul the moment.” one has ever called Temer that. And read from the Bible, and another Thirteen years on, Lula is now First, Brazil’s democratic of the country’s electoral court, which Temer is enough of an operator as welcome as a new spirit of dialogue praised a former military torturer. on the defensive, battling suspicions institutions are in good shape. For is weighing allegations that his and to know what he doesn’t know, and may be in embattled Brasilia, Temer My favourite was the junior that he benefited from a massive graft all the fevered talk by Rousseff Rousseff’s 2014 re-election campaign Machiavellian enough to reach out will still have to deal with the same representative from the northern and kickback scheme at the state oil loyalists of a coup d’etat, which was financed by dirty money from to some of Rousseff’s most fierce old legislature, where more than Brazilian state of Para, who fired a company Petrobras, Brazil’s biggest the president reiterated in a press the Petrobras scandal, proof of which adversaries to draw up a shadow one in 10 of the 367 lawmakers who into the congressional chambers in corruption scandal on record, which conference Monday, there’s no basis could remove him from office, as government even as hers floundered. voted for impeachment on Sunday Brasilia before casting his vote for began on his watch. And Rousseff, to suggest the congressional vote of well. For now, though, Temer is this Such ecumenicalism also was also face criminal charges. That’s impeachment. Lula’s successor and political mentee, no confidence was the work of an politically gridlocked country’s behind the PMDB’s new party plank, something conciliation or confetti Judging by the political theatre stands accused of hiding huge budget anti-democratic conspiracy. Unless, best shot at a fresh start. A lifelong A Bridge to the Future, announced can’t fix.

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 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 ASIA / AFRICA N Korean remittances at risk: US

Reuters sanctions aimed at starving it of funds If the North were to test a fifth for its atomic weapons program. nuclear device, the United States A study says 150,000 Estimates of North Korean work- and its allies South Korea and Japan North Koreans work ers abroad vary widely but a study could also take unspecified “defence- WASHINGTON: A fifth North Korean by the South’s state-run Korea Insti- related measures,” Russel said. nuclear test could trigger new sanc- abroad primarily in tute for National Unification put the Russel laid out what he called the tions including an effort to choke off China and Russia, number as high as 150,000, prima- possible “universe” of how the US hard currency earnings by its work- rily in China and Russia, sending back government and others might respond ers abroad, the top US diplomat for sending back as much as much as $900m annually. North to a fifth test and he acknowledged the Asia-Pacific region said yesterday. as $900m annually. Koreans are known to work abroad that sanctions have failed to deter “Like a regimen of medicine, the in restaurants and on construction North Korea, which tested its first dosage can be upped when the effects sites, and also as doctors. nuclear device in October 2006. He fall short of what’s required,” Assist- by a group of like-minded states from The effectiveness of current, or stressed that no decisions had yet Diver filming the bleached coral at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier ant Secretary of State for East Asian the European Union and Southeast any new, sanctions depends heavily been made and said he could not pre- and Pacific Affairs Danny Russel said. Asia, along with the United States. on them being fully implemented by view a response to an event that has Reef. Russel made clear he was speak- North Korea conducted a fourth China, North Korea’s neighbor, the yet to occur. ing about the possibility of fresh nuclear test in January and a long- closest thing it has to an ally and by US General Vincent Brooks, in sanctions by the UN Security Coun- range rocket launch the following far its largest trading partner, US offi- said that China was frustrated over cil, by the United States on its own, or m o n t h , t r i g g e r i n g e x p a n d e d U N cials and analysts say. North Korea’s behaviour. Half of the corals in Great Barrier Reef ‘dead or dying’ 20 dead in Myanmar boat tragedy 17,000 ghost workers found Reuters 2,300km along Australia’s northeast coast and is the world’s largest liv- ing ecosystem. in Nigeria “There were some who said that SYDNEY: Australian scientists said the worst had passed. We rejected AFP yesterday that just seven percent of that, and they were wrong,” Envi- the Great Barrier Reef, which attracts ronment Minister Greg Hunt told around A$5bn in tourism every reporters. “Let it be known that this LAGOS: Nigeria has uncovered year, has been untouched by mass is a significant event. We take it seri- 17,000 more ghost workers on the bleaching that is likely to destroy half ously.” US President Barack Obama civil service payroll, the country’s the coral. embarrassed Australia 18 months anti-corruption body said yester- Bleaching occurs when the water ago by warning of the risk of cli- day, taking the number of fictitious is too warm, forcing coral to expel mate change to the reef during a employees to more than 37,000. living algae and causing it to cal- G20 meeting. A spokesman for the Economic cify and turn white. Mildly bleached UNESCO’s World Heritage Com- and Financial Crimes Commission coral can recover if the temperature mittee last May stopped short of (EFCC) said the findings came as drops, otherwise it may die. placing the Great Barrier Reef on an part of an audit conducted with the Although the impact has been “in danger” list, but the ruling raised finance ministry and the account- exacerbated by one of the strongest long-term concerns about its future. ant-general’s office. El Nino weather systems in nearly Australia is one of the largest The finance ministry said it 20 years, scientists believe climate carbon emitters capita because of its had removed more than 20,000 change is the underlying cause. reliance on coal-fired power plants ghost workers from the state pay- “We’ve never seen anything like for electricity. Despite pledging to cut roll, saving the country millions of this scale of bleaching before. In the carbon emissions, Australia has con- dollars in wages. EFCC chairman northern Great Barrier Reef, it’s like tinued to support fossil fuel projects, People are in rescue operations after a boat capsized off the coast at Sittwe in Myanmar. Some 20 Ibrahim Magu said 37,395 ghost 10 cyclones have come ashore all at including Adani Enterprises Ltd’s people died, including children and the victims were from the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority workers had now been found in the once,” said Professor Terry Hughes, proposed A$10bn Carmichael coal and blamed the tragedy on restrictions that forced them to journey by sea. federal civil service. “Our inves- conveyor of the National Coral project in the Galilee Basin in west- tigations have so far revealed Bleaching Taskforce, which con- ern Queensland. that the federal government has ducted aerial surveys of the World “It’s not good enough for them lost close to one $4.98m to these Heritage site. to say they care about the reef while ghost workers,” he added. Magu “Our estimate at the moment is they keep backing the coal industry warned the figure could go even that close to 50 percent of the coral is and avoid tackling climate change,” Laos appoints president & premier higher “as we unravel more ghost already dead or dying,” Hughes said. said Shani Tager, a Greenpeace workers buried deep.” The Great Barrier Reef stretches campaigner.

Reuters appointed Communist Party leader contributing a third of output growth, in January. the World Bank says.This has boosted “The National Assembly has incomes and access to electricity, tel- China suspends G20 anti-graft task force approved Bounnhang Vorachit as ecoms and healthcare for its mostly BANGKOK: Laos’s National Assem- president, with more than two-thirds rural population of 6.7 million. bly yesterday appointed Communist of the votes,” said assembly chair- Laos has close political ties to Party chief Bounnhang Vorachit as woman Pany Yathotou. communist Vietnam and mirrors Reuters Anti-Corruption Taskforce, com- Panamanian law firm Mossack the country’s new president and The 149-member assembly com- its political system. Communist prising businesses and civil society Fonseca, revealed how the rich and named foreign minister Thongloun pleted the process of nomination and neighbour China has been vying groups, had been drawing up G20 powerful use such structures to avoid Sisoulith as prime minister. voting for both candidates in around aggressively for influence in Laos, policies for increasing transpar- taxes and in some cases conceal ill- The picks are seen by many ana- an hour. In his acceptance speech, however, providing loans, aid and HONG KONG: China suspended an ency of offshore financial structures, gotten gains. They were published by lysts as a continuation of the status Bounnhang said he would strive infrastructure investment. international anti-corruption task among other work, but the body was German newspaper Sueddeutsche quo in secretive Laos, where the for “peaceful international policies, Laos is still struggling to rid itself force earlier this year after taking scrapped in late January because Zeitung and more than 100 other communists have ruled since the unity, friendship and cooperation”. of the painful legacy of the Vietnam over the G20 presidency, according Chinese companies declined to par- international news outlets. end of the Vietnam War. One of the fastest-growing econ- War, when it became the most heav- to six individuals in the group, who ticipate, according to the sources. The B20, the G20’s business State television broadcast a meet- omies in East Asia, landlocked Laos ily bombed country in history after called it a setback to global efforts to China is one of several coun- outreach arm, and its various task ing of the single-chamber National has averaged GDP growth of 7 per- the US and its allies dropped about crack down on shell companies used tries under pressure to share data forces are by convention led by com- Assembly, at which lawmakers listed cent over the past decade, with two million tons of ordnance from to conceal assets. on paper companies after the “Pan- panies from the nation holding the the virtues of Bounnhang, who was increasing use of natural resources 1964 to 1973. The so-called “Business 20” ama Papers”, documents from presidency. ANC losing support in Japan earthquake toll rises to 48

Nelson Mandela Bay Anatolia

Reuters to power on a wave of optimism in TOKYO: The death toll from two pow- 1994. erful earthquakes in southwest Japan “The things they promised rose to 48 yesterday, with rescuers haven’t happened,” father of four continuing to search for several peo- SOUTH AFRICA: Unemployed Sacu, 46, said in a narrow alley- ple reported missing for five days. South African labourer Xolisa Sacu way in Zakhele where hawkers sell News broadcaster NHK reported has given up waiting for the housing, everything from car exhaust pipes that teams scoured wreckage in services and jobs that the African to mangoes from sparse streetside Kumamoto Prefecture’s Minamiaso National Congress has been prom- stalls. “There is rubbish everywhere village for three people who remained ising his rubbish-strewn township and there are no jobs for our chil- unaccounted for since a magnitude 7.3 since the end of apartheid 22 years dren,” said Sacu, who was a youth temblor early Saturday. According to ago. member of the ANC during apart- the prefecture’s government, around Zakhele township is like many heid but does not intend to vote for 10 people who were evacuated are rundown areas of the Nelson Man- them again. believed to have died after their health dela Bay municipality where the ANC In Nelson Mandela Bay, the ANC’s worsened. is at risk of losing a local election in share of votes slipped from 70 per- Kyodo news agency quoted Tak- August, almost unthinkable two dec- cent in 2004 to just over 50 percent enori Noma, a 68-year-old at a shelter ades ago when the area was at the at local polls in 2014. An Ipsos poll in Mashiki village as saying, “I feel heart of the anti-apartheid struggle. late last year suggested a very tight worse day by day, but I have nowhere Acknowledging the electoral sig- race this year, with the ANC winning else to go.” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s nificance of this coastal region in the only 43 percent of the vote against 42 Cabinet has decided to spend 2.3 bil- Evacuated earthquake survivors at Mashiki Gymnasium evacuation centre in Japan, yesterday. Eastern Cape, President Jacob Zuma percent for the combined opposition lion yen ($21 million) in reserve funds chose to launch the ANC’s manifesto parties and 15 percent of undecided to transport food, water and other sup- in its biggest city, Port Elizabeth, on voters. plies to the region as soon as possible. Saturday. Less than half the expected Losing power in Nelson Mandela Concerns for the health of more form after prolonged immobility -- after taking refuge according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Satur- 100,000 people turned out to hear Bay municipality, a stronghold of the than 100,000 evacuated people in her car. Around 280 people have been transported day’s quake was considered the main event and resulted Zuma’s promises of jobs and better ANC’s during the fight against apart- mounted after a 51-year-old woman from shelters to hospitals since the initial strong tem- in further destruction of private homes, bridges, road- public services for the poor, a sign heid and named after its liberation died Tuesday from deep vein thrombo- blor Thursday night -- the majority in Kumamoto. Ever ways and expressways. At least 9,000 houses and other that many South Africans are los- hero, would be a symbolic blow for sis -- a condition known as “economy since last Thursday, more than 700 tremors detectable by buildings have reportedly been destroyed or damaged in ing patience with a party that swept Zuma and his party nationally. class syndrome” in which blood clots humans hit Kumamoto and neighboring Oita Prefecture, Kumamoto and four other prefectures. PAKISTAN THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 13 Seven cops guarding polio team shot dead

bodies were taken, also confirmed crippling childhood disease, remains Attack in Karachi the casualties. endemic. Attempts to eradicate it have The polio workers, who were been badly hit by militant attacks underscores extremist unharmed in the attack, were on the on immunisation teams that have resentment against third day of an immunisation drive. claimed more then 100 lives since Provincial home minister Sohail December 2012. bid to fight disease. Anwar Siyal, told the private Dunya In 2014 the number of polio cases TV channel: “The policemen sacri- recorded in Pakistan soared to 306, ficed their lives to protect the polio the highest in 14 years, before falling AFP workers.” to 54 in 2015. No group immediately came for- The most recent attack came in ward to claim responsibility, but January, when a suicide bomber blew Islamist outfits including the Paki- himself up outside a polio vaccina- KARACHI: Motorcycle gunmen yes- stani Taliban say the polio vaccination tion centre in the southwestern city of terday shot dead seven policemen drive is a front for espionage or a con- Quetta, killing 15 people — two civil- guarding a polio vaccination team in spiracy to sterilise Muslims. ians and 13 security officials. Pakistan’s southern port city Kara- Police and rangers later cordoned Authorities want to vaccinate 35 chi, officials said, a brazen attack in off the areas where their colleagues million children under the age of five, the country’s economic hub. had been killed. wiping out the disease by the end of Feroz Shah, a senior police offi- The interior of the police van was 2016. In Karachi, a heaving metropolis cial, said that eight gunmen carried heavily soaked with blood, with an of around 20 million, authorities have out the killings in two separate attacks officer’s cap lying on the front seat. enlisted 2,500 female “neighbourhood in the city’s western Orangi Town Speaking to the media, provin- vaccinators” drawn from local com- neighbourhood. cial police chief Allah Dino Khawaja munities to support the programme. “The gunmen first opened fire announced a $50,000 award for Islamist opposition to all forms on three policemen in the streets of the arrest of the gunmen, as well as of innoculation grew after the CIA Orangi Town, killing them all,” he $20,000 compensation to each of the organised a fake vaccination drive to said, adding: “Later they shot dead victims’ families. help track down Al Qaeda’s former four policemen, who were sitting in a leader Osama Bin Laden in the Paki- police mobile van” a few streets away. Frequent target stani garrison town of Abbottabad. Pakistani security personnel gather around a police van following an attack by gunmen on security force Abdul Kareem, an official in Pakistan is one of only two coun- The terror chief was killed dur- Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where the tries in the world where polio, a ing a US special forces raid in 2011. members guarding a polio vaccination team in Karachi yesterday.

Middle East peace needs Kabul suicide attack death toll more than doubles to 64 commitment: AFP others wounded in yesterday’s Kabul charged with protecting top govern- and protect the lives and properties The Taliban’s resurgence has Islamabad attack,” Ministry spokesman Sediq ment officials. of the civilian people’, by launching raised serious questions about the Sediqqi told reporters. “Most of them Mourners in Kabul held emotion- a massive suicide attack in central ability of Afghan forces to hold their KABUL: The death toll from a Taliban are civilians.” ally charged funerals yesterday for the Kabul,” Human Rights Watch said in own and prompted calls for the US Internews suicide attack in Kabul has more than The ministry had earlier put the victims of the attack, one of the dead- a statement. to reconsider its troop withdrawal doubled to 64, officials said yester- death toll at 30. liest in Kabul for years. “Those responsible for delib- schedule. day, making it the deadliest militant “The victims of (the) terrorist “The government is unable to stop erately carrying out such an attack There are currently 9,800 Amer- UNITED NATIONS: Restoration of assault in the Afghan capital for years. attack are all fathers, brothers or these attacks on the people,” said committed a war crime.” ican troops in the country, set to fall peace in the Middle East will not be The brazen attack on Tuesday on children of people,” Afghan President Abdul Basir Mobasher, a relative of The Taliban on Tuesday last week to 5,500 by 2017. easy unless there is genuine com- a security services office in the heart Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter. a security official who was killed in announced the start of their spring Peace talks which began last mitment by all powers and parties of Kabul is seen as the opening salvo “We will avenge every drop of the attack. offensive, even as the government summer were abruptly halted after to negotiated solutions, Pakistan in this year’s Taliban spring offensive, Afghan blood.” “The people will be forced to rise tries to bring them back to the nego- it was revealed that Mullah Omar has told the United Nations Secu- launched last week. The Taliban claimed three “mar- up in revolt if these attacks don’t stop.” tiating table to end the drawn-out had been dead for two years, a dis- rity Council. A powerful Taliban truck bomb tyrdom seekers” carried out an attack The attack underscores concerns conflict. closure which sparked infighting During a debate on the Middle tore through central Kabul and a on the National Directorate of Secu- raised in a new United Nations report, The insurgents warned they within insurgent ranks. East and Palestine, Permanent fierce firefight broke out, sending rity, the main spy agency. One of which highlighted a spike in civil- would employ “large-scale attacks” A four-country group compris- Representative Maleeha Lodhi said clouds of smoke billowing into the sky them, it said, managed to slip away ian casualties during the first three across Afghanistan during the offen- ing Afghanistan, the United States, a comprehensive and enlightened and rattling windows several kilome- alive. months of the year due to an increase sive — dubbed Operation Omari China and Pakistan has been hold- policy was also needed to over- tres away. Afghan authorities insisted the in urban warfare. in honour of the movement’s late ing meetings since January aimed at come the underlying political, “It is with regret that I announce building, used by NDS in the past, “The Taliban exposed the hollow- founder Mullah Omar, whose death jump-starting negotiations, though economic and social causes of con- that 64 people were killed and 347 housed an elite security agency ness of their recent vow to ‘safeguard was announced last year. their efforts have so far been in vain. flicts raging in the region. She said it would be difficult to resolve other crises which had pro- liferated in the region, or to curb the rise of terrorism and extrem- Homecoming after two years Pakistan seeks to draw ism, unless the world found a “just and durable solution to the Arab- Israeli conflict”. She said the ‘Arab Spring’ had Buddhist pilgrims turned into “a winter of despair and suffering” and the scale of the suffering in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Internews The Sri Lankan delegation will elsewhere was unprecedented in visit Mardan, Takht-i-Bahi and its scope and intensity. Swat, apart from Lahore, Taxila “As we discuss solutions here TAXILA: Pakistan is developing the and Peshawar museums, which are today, people continue to endure Gandhara Trail to attract Buddhist home to some of the rarest Buddhist unimaginable suffering and their pilgrims from Sri Lanka and other relics. exodus has created a humanitar- parts of Asia and to demonstrate its Gandhara is a triangular piece ian catastrophe.” interest in preserving and showcas- of land about 100 kilometres east Lodhi underlined an urgent ing its non-Islamic heritage. to west, and 70 kilometres north need for statesmanship, diplomacy A delegation of 40 high-rank- to south, on the western side of and dialogue. ing Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and the Indus River, surrounded by “Political and ideological Buddhist scholars, led by Parliament mountains. polarisation in the region has Speaker KaruJayasuriya and the Pakistan has been the cradle exacerbated the consequences of Buddha Sasana and Justice Minis- of Buddhist art and culture since external intervention, intensified ter Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, are now ages. The Gandhara civilisation that sectarian and ethnic divisions and in Pakistan to visit various sites on spawned rich art and culture flour- rendered political solutions more the Gandhara Trail at the invitation ished in the northwestern region of difficult.” of the Pakistan government. Pakistan from the 6th Century BC to Islamabad aims to introduce its the 5th Century AD. rich Buddhist heritage, known as the The Gandhara School of Art is Karachi to set Gandhara heritage, to the largely said to have created the present Citizens and a vehicle pass the Saidgai military checkpoint in North Waziristan, Pakistan, yesterday. Buddhist Sri Lankans, and revive image of the Buddha. up heat relief Military operations against Taliban militants, launched since June 2014, have reached the final stage. the Gandhara Trail, which was part Carved in stone, stucco, terra- Over 3,500 militants were neutralised during the operations and some civilians who left, have started of the ancient Silk Route linking cotta and bronze, these images were centres in May to return home through this checkpoint. China with West Asia, a Pakistan enshrined in monasteries and stupas High Commission press release said. in the Gandhara region. Internews

KARACHI: The authorities in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi are set to launch relief and facilitation Dark hour: Pakistanis get summer power cut schedules centres next month to cope with the expected heatwave, which is feared to revisit the city in coming Internews of Water and Power after a week-long transmission system. months, said the ministry. losses, whereby high loss/theft areas months as it did last year, officials consultation with distribution compa- “With better management, sys- It explained that in areas where will be subjected to loadshedding for here say. nies under the ex-Wapda [state energy tem improvements and addition of the recoveries were up to the mark more than eight hours. “We are ready to launch more ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan govern- giant] network. new generation, the power sector and losses were within the permissi- This strategy has been devised than 500 facilitation or relief ment has announced a power outage Electricity demand is anticipated is prepared to provide electricity in ble limit, loadshedding hours would keeping in view the principle of equity centres early next month,” said schedule for urban and rural areas to increase between 600 and 800 the summer to the domestic, com- remain predictable and within the in terms of recoveries and losses. a senior official in the health where residential and commercial megawatts this year and will offset mercial and industrial consumers announced schedule of six to eight “Responsible consumers should have ministry. localities will see power cuts of six an increase in power generation, but with a countrywide load manage- hours a day. less number of loadshedding hours as Those relief centres would be to eight hours a day, while a sepa- better expected availability from the ment schedule of six hours in urban “However, in areas where the compared to the defaulters or those set up at public places, including rate electricity load management plan hydropower resources this year will areas, eight hours in rural areas and losses are greater and recoveries are involved in power theft,” said the parks, bus stands, railway stations, might also be out in the peak season help improve supply to the industrial no loadshedding in the industrial sec- lower, the ministry has chalked out Power Ministry. marketplaces, which would pro- for the industrial sector. sector, according to an official. tor,” said a statement issued by the a special load management plan,” it An official, however, conceded vide shelter and water to people However, power cuts for more He said the power supply had Power Ministry. stated. For this, a percentage-wise that some honest consumers in a suffering the effect of heat. “They than the scheduled hours would be peaked at 16,800MW last year and But a separate load management schedule for each and every 11kv specific area could suffer because of would be our first defence against enforced in areas with low recover- would go well beyond 17,000MW plan might be introduced for the feeder has been issued across the high loss/theft and less recoveries by the heatwave,” he added. ies and high losses, said the Ministry this summer due to the improved industrial sector for the peak summer country based on recoveries and others. 14 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 INDIA

Surging demand! Mahatma Gandhi’s German experts granddaughter gets French honour

find new way to IANS

NEW DELHI: A granddaugh- ter of Mahatma Gandhi, Tara predict monsoon Gandhi Bhattacharjee, was yesterday conferred a French honour for her contribution to the fields of culture, education and propose their model to the Indian environment. Meteorological Department. French Ambassador Francois Study by Potsdam “We can predict the beginning Richier conferred the L’Ordre des Institute for Climate of the Indian monsoon two weeks Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts earlier, and the end of it even six and Letters) on Bhattacharjee at Impact Research weeks earlier than before — which the French Embassy here. focuses on Kerala. is quite a breakthrough, given that “The honour comes in recogni- for the farmers, every day counts,” tion of Bhattacharjee’s remarkable said Veronika Stolbova of PIK and work for promoting peace, sol- Zurich University. idarity, culture, education and AFP “We found that in North Paki- development through her commit- stan and the Eastern Ghats, a ment to perpetuating the memory mountain range close to the Indian and legacy of her grandfather, Ocean, changes of temperatures and Mahatma Gandhi,” an embassy BERLIN: Climate researchers in humidity mark a critical transition to statement said. Germany said yesterday they had monsoon,” said Stolbova in a state- Bhattacharjee has been found a way to more accurately ment. Usually the focus has been on working for the Kasturba Gandhi predict the Indian monsoon, which southern India’s Kerala region, said National Memorial Trust for the could help maximise the subcon- Stolbova, lead author of the study past 28 years. People stretch their hands to grab drinks distributed during a procession to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti tinent’s food and hydro-power published in the scientific journal Founded by Mahatma Gandhi, supplies. the Geophysical Research Letters. or birth annniversary of Mahavir in New Delhi, yesterday. the trust serves the needy women Improved forecasts of when The team said it used an and children in rural India. the heavy summer rains start and advanced mathematical approach end could help millions of farmers called network analysis of com- plant crops at the right time, and plex non-linear systems, combined allow energy providers to estimate with subtle statistical analyses of the when dams and reservoirs fill up, early warning signals for the mon- Rollback on pensions a small victory: Unions they said. soon onset and withdrawal. Global warming already affects “These precursor phenomena monsoon stability and will make are often buried by huge piles of Reuters of 58 — after thousands of protesters — for instance for education, health- treat workers poorly, abuses ranging accurate forecasting ever more weather data and hence get over- clashed with police in the information care or taking a lease on a house. from withheld salaries to debt bond- important, as deviations can spark looked,” said PIK guest scientist technology hub of Bengaluru. Unions were opposed to the pro- age. “These workers, mostly women, droughts and floods, said the Pots- Elena Surovyatkina of the Rus- “The rollback is a small victory posal to limit withdrawals to the work in vulnerable conditions very dam Institute for Climate Impact sian Academy of Sciences’ Space CHENNAI: Garment workers across for workers’ unions. But with sweep- worker’s share of the fund, and to tolerantly. The government is pushing Research (PIK). Research Institute. the southern Indian states of Kar- ing labour reforms being introduced, force workers to leave the govern- them to a corner which is why they “The timing of Indian summer Kurths said they had looked at nataka and Tamil Nadu welcomed we are worried that the rights of the ment contributions in the fund until took to the streets, losing three days monsoons, on which the livelihoods the climate system “as a network, the government’s decision to scrap workers will be overshadowed by retirement. of wages,” said R Prathibha, president of many millions of people depend, is just like the social networks so many a controversial proposal to change the welfare of big corporations,” said India is among the largest tex- of the Bengaluru-based Garment and likely becoming more erratic,” said people are using in their everyday the rule on pension withdrawals but R Karruppusamy, director of Rights tile and clothing manufacturers in Textile Workers Union, which led the project leader Juergen Kurths. “This life”. “On Facebook or Twitter, you said the battle for their rights was far Education and Development Centre, the world, supplying leading inter- campaign against a change in the use makes early and accurate forecast- can follow how news is spreading, from over. a charity working with women in the national brands. The textile industry of pension fund savings. ing ever more crucial.” one posting leading to many oth- The government on Tuesday textile industries in Tamil Nadu. is also the second largest employer in Trade unionists have also been The scientists said they had ers. In the climate system, not people dropped its proposal — to allow Under the existing rules, workers the country after agriculture. challenging the government over the developed a novel prediction method but geographical regions are com- the employer’s contribution to the and employers contribute equally to Workers and rights groups say the gradual reduction in social security based on a network analysis of municating — admittedly in a quite Employee Provident Fund to be the EPF, and workers can withdraw hundreds of small and medium-sized benefits for workers in the textile and regional weather data, and would complex way.” released only at the retirement age the full amount saved at any time enterprises use forced labour and garment industries.

Tendulkar takes Candlelight protest Father chops off hands to Twitter to speak out against of baby’s teen molester child labour AFP rushed to the spot. We picked him up, his hands, and took him to the Reuters hospital,” he said, adding that the NEW DELHI: A father chopped off accused was in a stable condition. the hands of a teenager who alleg- Sharma said police were hunting MUMBAI: Indian cricket legend edly raped his baby daughter before for the father, a brick kiln labourer Sachin Tendulkar, chess cham- dumping him alive near a canal in who fled after the attack, and have pion Viswanathan Anand and northern India, police said yesterday. registered a case of attempted mur- Bollywood stars took to Twitter Parminder Singh approached the der against him. this week to support a campaign 17-year-old accused on Tuesday after The mother of the girl allegedly against child labour, using their he had appeared in a local court in found the accused molesting her in fame to draw greater attention to Punjab state charged with raping the April 2014. Police registered a rape the issue. then seven-month-old girl in 2014. case and the teen was sent to a juve- The campaign, launched by Police said the 25-year-old Singh nile remedial home pending a trial. Indian insurer Reliance Gen- lured the teenager away from the India has a grim record of sex- eral Insurance and children’s court in Bathinda district by offer- ual assaults and there are occasional rights NGO Child Rights and You ing him an out-of-court settlement, reports of vigilante justice meted out (CRY), used the hashtag #DONT_ before tying him to a tree and cut- to rapists, in a country with a noto- EMPLOY_LITTLE_ONES to urge ting off his hands. riously slow and sometimes corrupt people to promise not to use child “He (the father) took him near a legal justice system. labour. Bollywood stars Soha dried up canal, beat him up badly The fatal gangrape of a stu- Ali Khan and Mandira Bedi also and then tied him to a tree and dent on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 tweeted their support. Members of All Jammu Kashmir Students Union (AJKSU) hold banners during a candlelight protest finally hacked his hands off. There is unleashed a wave of public outrage “Every child deserves to in Srinagar, yesterday. They were protesting the killing of five civilians in north Kashmir and alleged nothing below the wrists now,” Swa- and street protests against violence chase dreams. Let dreams be harassment of Kashmiri students in other states. pan Sharma, a senior police officer against women in India. That inci- chased,” Tendulkar tweeted. The of Bathinda, said by telephone. dent prompted the government to former India captain’s tweet was “Locals alerted police and we toughen penalities for rapists. retweeted almost 2,000 times and liked nearly 5,000 times. There are 5.7 million Indian child workers aged between five and 17, out of 168 million globally, AAP govt cracks down on ‘surge pricing’ by taxis according to the International Labour Organization. More than half the Indian chil- dren work in agriculture, toiling in IANS battling pollution has only added to customers. All the taxis belong to var- said. “This time odd-even of Delhi law. “We are not against taxi aggre- cotton, sugarcane and rice paddy citizens’ woes. ious app based cab aggregators,” a Government is not working. But a few gators. We fully support them. They fields, and over a quarter in man- Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Delhi government official said. law abiders do obviously suffer,” ran provide important service to people. ufacturing, embroidering clothes, NEW DELHI: Cracking the whip Arvind Kejriwal hinted that “surge On Monday, the Delhi government one complaint on Facebook. But they will have to follow (the) law. weaving carpets or making match- against unscrupulous taxi operators pricing” by cabs may be banned in had seized 18 taxis belonging to Ola In some places, citizens com- “Overcharging, diesel cars, drivers sticks. Children also work in for over-charging passengers during the capital. and Uber for over-charging com- plained about auto rickshaw drivers without licence/badges and black- restaurants and hotels. “Millions the odd-even scheme, the Delhi gov- Responding to a tweet suggest- muters, taking advantage of a leap in refusing to ferry passengers and mailing by taxi aggregators won’t be of children in India, engaged in ernment yesterday said it will put a ing that suspension of surge pricing demand for taxis during the ongoing demanded that the city government allowed,” the chief minister tweeted. labour, are battling minimum stop to “surge pricing” by cabs even should continue even after the odd- odd-even traffic scheme. crack down on three-wheelers like On Monday, Uber and Ola had wages, long working hours, suf- as it impounded 68 such taxis over even system ends on April 30, Amid criticism of and complaints they have on cab aggregators. suspended surge pricing after Kejri- fering abuse and exploitation and the past two days. Kejriwal replied: “Yes. We will do it.” against the odd-even system by some On Monday, Kejriwal threatened wal threatened of stern action against being brutally deprived of their “We will bring a policy to stop A representative for app-based people on Facebook and Twitter, the “strict action” over “surge pricing”, overcharging by cab operators. basic rights,” CRY director Anita surge pricing in the city by the cab cab aggregator Ola when contacted System of Air Quality and Weather a technique used by cab aggrega- The demand for taxis has shot up Bala Sharad said in a statement. aggregators,” Delhi Transport Min- merely said, “We have no com- Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), tors to hike fares in the event of in the capital on account of the odd- The campaign also asks peo- ister Gopal Rai said here. ments to make on the subject at the which is under the union govern- high demand. After app-based cab even traffic scheme that commenced ple to stop using restaurants and The sixth day of the Aam Aadmi moment.” The Delhi government’s ment’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, said operator Uber blamed the Delhi gov- on April 15 and will run till April 30. other businesses that employ child Party government’s odd-even traf- transport department impounded that particulate matter pollution had ernment for taxi shortage, Kejriwal Restrictions on diesel and labour, and to ensure out-of-school fic scheme saw complaints from a 50 more taxis, including 35 regis- dipped marginally. The PM 2.5 level clarified in the morning through a petrol driven cars during the children and their parents are section of citizens against the non- tered outside Delhi for over-charging declined to 90.2 yesterday from the series of tweets that his government ongoing scheme has forced thou- made aware of the law that guar- availability of auto rickshaws and commuters. “We have impounded 50 level of 124.6 a day ago, while PM 10 was not opposed to online aggrega- sands of motorists to go for taxis to antees free education up to 14. also that the traffic scheme aimed at more taxis following complaints from came down to 210 from 275.1, SAFAR tors but insisted they should obey the commute. INDIA THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 15

Jammu and Kashmir Over 160 die govt cracks down of heat wave in on WhatsApp east and south AA SRINAGAR: Residents of Jammu and Kashmir will now need to obtain official permission to run news groups on social media application ‘WhatsApp’ — a move some such high temperatures are recorded are describing as an “e-curfew”. in the month of May,” he said. While the government says the new regulation is Weeks of rising Police have reported 55 heat- intended to prevent the dissemination of “rumours” temperatures cause related deaths in Orissa and at and “false news”, critics say it is meant to maintain least 45 in Andhra Pradesh. Sixty- the Indian government’s monopoly on information water shortages and six were reported in Telangana, exchange. farmer distress. though the state’s deputy chief min- “The divisional commissioner of Kashmir on Mon- ister, Mohammed Mahmood Ali, said day directed the operators of social media news agencies the causes of death were still being to obtain proper permission from the concerned deputy verified. commissioners for posting news on social media news Meanwhile, a 12-year-old girl in groups,” read a statement issued by the Indian govern- AP the drought-stricken western state ment in Jammu and Kashmir. of Maharashtra died from the heat According to the statement, all WhatsApp news while fetching water, Indian broad- groups must now register themselves with the govern- caster NDTV said yesterday. ment within ten days of being established. If they fail to HYDERABAD: Weeks of sweltering Making matters worse, India is do so, it added, legal action can be brought against them. temperatures have caused more than grappling with severe water short- The new regulations were issued only days after 160 deaths in southern and eastern ages and drought affecting more five civilians were killed by Indian forces in Jammu India, officials said, warning that any than 300 million people — a quarter and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, triggering popular relief from monsoon rains was still of the country’s population. Thou- demonstrations. likely weeks away. sands of distressed farmers have After massive protests against Indian rule erupted Most of the heat-wave victims committed suicide, tens of thousands in the region in 2008, the Indian government cracked were labourers and farmers in the of farm animals have died, and crops down on local cable news networks, forbidding them states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh have perished, with rivers, lakes and from airing any news considered “controversial” by the and Orissa, though temperatures ponds drying up and groundwater Indian authorities. elsewhere in India have also hit 45 tables sinking. “We know how the media sets the narrative in con- degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). Scrambling to deal with the flicts, and India has consistently tried to allow only one Schools were closed last week crisis, officials have sent tankers narrative — their own — to come out of Kashmir,” a jour- in Orissa until at least April 26. Offi- of water to parched farming com- nalism professor at a university in Jammu and Kashmir cials in Andhra Pradesh were giving munities in Maharashtra, banning told Anadolu Agency. out free water and buttermilk to help people from drilling deep wells and “That’s why the only people allowed to air news people stay hydrated. And every- ordering farmers to shift away from are the Indian government itself and the big Indian where, people have been urged to growing water-guzzling sugarcane corporate satellite TV channels,” the professor added, stay indoors during the hottest hours crops. The heat wave in India coin- speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears of of the day. cides with record-high temperatures reprisal. “No doubt, a lot of rumors pass as news on Y K Reddy, a state meteorological across the globe. these WhatsApp groups, but that’s not why they are official, said the temperatures were For southern India, this is the being attacked,” he said. about 4-5 degrees Celsius higher second consecutive year marred “It is because they also tell the situation from the Road and vehicles appear to sizzle in the baking Chandigarh heat yesterday. than normal for April. “Normally by a deadly heat wave. ground.”

Govt may move SC to get remarks New Delhi says will try to bring back Koh-i-Noor diamond against President AFP On Monday, India’s Solicitor Gen- public display in the Tower of Lon- gem being a gift. “The government of #ModiSarkar has not just done a flip- eral Ranjit Kumar told the Supreme don. Kumar’s statement, in response India remains hopeful for an amica- flop. It has done a full flop,” Congress expunged Court it had been given to Brit- to a private lawsuit brought by the All ble outcome whereby India gets back party spokesman Sanjay Jha said on NEW DELHI: India’s government has ain and not stolen, as many Indians India Human Rights and Social Justice a valued piece of art with strong roots Twitter, referring to Prime Minister said it will make “all possible efforts” believe. Front, a non-government organisa- in our nation’s history,” it said. Narendra Modi’s government. NEW DELHI: The union govern- to get back the Koh-i-Noor diamond, The transfer of ownership formed tion, sparked outrage among many The lawyer who brought the The diamond had been an heir- ment is likely to move the Supreme part of the British Crown Jewels, part of a peace treaty signed in 1850 Indians including Sikhs. Supreme Court case, Nafis Sid- loom of the Afghan monarchy and Court to expunge the com- sparking accusations of a u-turn after after Britain gained control of the In a statement released late Tues- dique, welcomed the government’s before then was in Persian royal ments made by the Uttarakhand the solicitor general said the priceless Sikh empire of the Punjab, now split day, the government said it would statement. hands, but its true origins remain High Court on President Pranab gem was given to Britain. between Pakistan and India.s “make all possible efforts to bring “The Koh-i-Noor is of Indian ori- a mystery. Its name translates as Mukherjee yesterday while hearing The spectacular 108-carat gem, Sikh king Ranjit Singh in turn back” the diamond “in an amicable gin. It should be returned to India,” “Mountain of Light” and it is tradi- the case over imposition of central which came into British hands dur- had taken it from an Afghan king manner”. he said. tionally worn by a queen — it is said rule in the state. ing the 19th century, is the subject of who had sought sanctuary in India. It said Kumar had merely been But the main opposition Congress to bring bad luck to any man who “The government does not a historic ownership dispute and has It is now set in the crown that was explaining the history of the diamond party, which also supports the gem’s wears it. The circumstances that led approve such harsh comments been claimed by at least four coun- worn by Queen Elizabeth’s mother to the Supreme Court as well as pre- return, accused the government of to it falling into British hands remain against the president. We will def- tries including India and Pakistan. until her death in 2002 and is on vious administrations’ views on the a flipflop. “On #KohinoorDiamond, disputed. initely move the Supreme Court, requesting it to expunge the com- ments,” a union minister said on the condition of anonymity. “Such comments against the Before the ballot Nation ranks low in president will put a wrong prec- edent, if not objected to,” the minister added. A bench of the Uttarakhand media freedom index High Court in Nainital said the country’s president was not a king who could be infallible. The strong rebuke over the IANS university run by former propaganda imposition of President’s Rule in ministry officials,” the report said. Uttarakhand came as the bench The report however said the observed: “Absolute power can situation was “worsening in India” spoil anybody’s mind and even WASHINGTON: Media in India although “its media are dynamic and the president can be wrong and continues to be under stress as the much more capable of playing the in that case his decisions can be country figures low at 133 out of 180 role of democracy’s watchdog than subjected to evaluation.” nations in the latest press freedom the media in most other countries in The bench said the right to index, an international watch- last third of the index”. judicial evaluation of orders dog said yesterday, accusing Prime The index measures media plu- passed by everyone lies with the Minister Narendra Modi of being ralism, independence, the legal courts. “indifferent” to threats against framework and the safety of jour- The Bharatiya Janata Party scribes. nalists in 180 countries. (BJP) also expressed displeasure The damning report by the It is based on questionnaires over the high court’s comments. Paris-based Reporters Without filled out by experts around the “The court should have Borders also painted a sad picture world as well as on quantitative data refrained from using such lan- of the world media freedom that on abuses and acts of violence per- guage against the president. After Polling officials collect Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from a government distribution centre has suffered a “deep and disturb- petrated against reporters. independence, no institution has ahead of the fourth phase of Assembly elections in Kolkata, yesterday. The state elections are being ing decline” due to pressure from “Frequent lawsuits against ever made such strong observa- held over six phases. “governments, ideologies and pri- journalists by local officials and tion against the president,” BJP vate-sector interests”. draconian legislation on defama- general secretary Kailash Vijay- About India, the 2016 report tion and online publications impose vargiya told IANS. said that journalists and bloggers major constraints on the media and “The post of president is are attacked and “anathematised encourage self-censorship. But vio- supreme in our democracy and by various religious groups that are lence has emerged as the main brake such remarks will unnecessarily Permanent commission for women in Navy quick to take offence”, referring to on media activity in recent years, instigate a new debate in the coun- growing right wing extremism in the especially for reporters in the field try,” he added. Vijayvargiya, who country. “At the same time, it is hard and investigative journalists,” the has played a key role for the BJP IANS nent commission. “Recognising the importance for journalists to cover regions such report said. in the Uttarakhand political crisis, The permanent commission is of providing equal opportunities to as Kashmir that are regarded as sen- The report said Indian jour- also said that options were open to subject to meeting the requisite cri- women officers, seven women offic- sitive by the government.” nalists were exposed to “growing move the Supreme Court. NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy teria, including physical fitness and ers from the batch of Short Service The report alleged that “Modi violence” irrespective of the place “We have taken strong cog- yesterday announced grant of per- good annual confidential report. Commission officers of the educa- seems indifferent to these threats where they work. “As well as fre- nisance of the high court’s manent commission to women An official statement said the tion branch and naval constructor and problems, and there is no mech- quent verbal and physical violence, unfortunate remarks. Options are officers on completion of seven navy was also finalising a policy to cadre, who joined in 2008-09, have anism for protecting journalists”. attacks by armed groups are on the open to move the Supreme Court years in service, adding that seven enable women officers to serve on been granted permanent commis- “Instead, in a desire to increase rise in several states and the local to ask it to quash the remarks,” he of its women officers who joined in select warships with appropriate sion,” a statement from the navy control of media coverage, Modi authorities have had little success said. 2008-09 will be accorded perma- facilities for women. said. envisages opening a journalism in reining it in. 16 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 EUROPE / UK EU citizens fear Brexit more than the Brits

Agencies part of the 28 member European Only in France did more people in France, Germany, Spain, Poland German police Around 78 percent Union or strike out alone. expect Britain to go than not, with and Britain, was published in a sec- The issue has split the British gov- 52 percent predicting a Brexit and 48 tion of French media yesterday. free woman held of Germans, more ernment, with Prime Minister David percent saying the referendum will Meanwhile, support for Britain to PARIS/LONDON: European citizens than two-thirds of Cameron facing viscious opposition back staying. stay in the European Union has risen captive by mother are more concerned about a so- from senior figures in his own party When asked about the conse- two percentage points to 53 percent, called Brexit than the British people Spaniards and almost such as Justice Secretary Michael quences of of leaving, only a tenth of according to an ORB poll for The Tel- themselves, said a survey published six out of 10 French Gove and London Mayor Boris Brits said the EU’s economy would egraph newspaper. BERLIN: German police yesterday, two months before Britain Johnson. improve while 38 percent it would The Telegraph said support for freed a mentally disa- votes on whether to leave the Euro- wanted Britain to Brits currently expect the ‘In’ deteriorate and 21 percent said noth- support for leaving the 28-member bled 26-year-old woman pean Union. stay in the EU. camp to win it —40 percent expect ing would change. block had fallen by three percentage who was believed to The survey of five European Britain to stay in the EU, according Their continental counterparts points to 41 percent since an earlier have been locked away countries by TNS found 78 percent to yesterday’s survey, compared to were less hopeful, however. Two- poll published on April 5. in an apartment by her of Germans, more than two-thirds 26 percent who expect voters to back thirds of Germans, 43 percent of Six percent of those questioned own mother, possibly for of Spaniards and almost six out of 34 percent who want to leave, accord- leaving. Spaniards, 39 percent of Poles and said they did not know how they years. 10 French wanted Britain to stay in ing to TNS. Some 28 percent were still Their European counterparts 33 percent of French predicted a would vote. Britain holds a referen- The young woman the EU. undecided. were more optimistic, with 47 percent Brexit would hurt the EU’s econ- dum on EU membership on June 23. was found in a “physically That far outstripped the 38 per- The question will be put to a ref- of Germans, 48 percent of Spaniards omy, the survey said. The Telegraph said the poll sur- run-down and neglected cent of Britons who backed staying in erendum on June 23, when the British and 44 percent of Poles predicting The survey, carried out by TNS veyed 800 people but did not give any state” in a rubbish-strewn the union, only slightly more than the public will vote on whether to stay Britain will avoid an exit. between April 4-14 simultaneously further details. flat in the southern city of Rosenheim, a police spokesman said, adding that she had been sent to a psychiatric hospital. SNP rules out new Scottish Hofer is a poster boy “Communicating with her is very, very difficult,” the spokesman, Stefan independence vote Sonntag, said. Police dis- covered the captive by chance while carrying out Reuters an eviction order. Damien Hirst EDINBURGH: Scotland’s First Min- ister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) works ‘leaked’ said yesterday her pro-independ- ence Scottish National Party (SNP) dangerous gas would not press for a second inde- pendence referendum until it was LONDON: Iconic works clear most Scots wanted to leave the of art by British artist United Kingdom. Damien Hirst involving Sturgeon was speaking to sup- dead animals preserved porters ahead of a May 5 vote. Britain’s mainstream parties. in giant tanks leaked “If there is to be a second ref- SNP’s manifesto pledges another potentially-dangerous erendum—whether that is in the independence vote if Scotland is formaldehyde gas dur- next parliament or in a future par- forced out of the European Union ing a show at London’s liament—we first have to earn the “against its will” via a British ref- Tate Modern gallery, it right to propose it,” she said. “Set- erendum vote to leave the bloc on emerged yesterday. ting the date for a referendum before June 23. Election campaign posters of presidential candidate Norbert Hofer from Freedom Party of Austria Scientists testing a majority of the Scottish people Asked how Britain leaving the seen in Vienna, yesterday. Around 6.3 million Austrians are eligible to vote in presidential elections a new sensor for the have been persuaded that inde- EU could affect the independence to take place on April 24. remote detection of the pendence—and therefore another cause, were Scotland to vote to stay carcinogenic gas in the referendum—is the best future for in, Sturgeon said: “We will judge hte 2012 exhibition found our country is the wrong way round,” situation if it arises, but I’m not going levels above those legally she added. further with that because I don’t permitted, according to a Scottish voters rejected inde- want the UK to vote to leave EU.” study in the journal Ana- pendence by 55 to 45 percent in a “(After the vote) we will continue EU proposes visa-free travel for Ukrainians lytical Methods. referendum in 2014, but the SNP to make case for independence on its “It has been found went on to win a sweeping victory merits,” she said. that the tanks are sur- in a national British election in 2015, Sturgeon has been cautious in AFP passports,” EU Migration Commis- of the so-called Eastern Partnership rounded by formaldehyde taking all but three of Scotland’s 59 using new tax powers, despite talk- sioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told that is designed to attract eastern fumes, constantly exuded seats in parliament in London. ing of opposing austerity imposed by a news briefing in Brussels. European nations into the EU’s sphere in the atmosphere (likely The upcoming Scottish par- Britain’s Conservative government, “This is the result of the success of of influence. via the sealant), reach- liament will have unprecedented and some Scottish parties are pro- BRUSSELS: The EU yesterday pro- Ukrainian government in achieving Ukraine’s parliament last month ing levels of 5 ppm (parts powers over taxes after a last-minute posing higher taxes aimed at helping posed offering visa-free travel in difficult reforms in Justice and Home approved a key anti-corruption bill per million), one order of pledge by the British government just the worst-off. “Yes, we have to use Europe to Ukrainians, delivering on Affairs area and beyond,” he added. that paved the way for a visa-free magnitude higher than before the 2014 referendum. The SNP new powers to mitigate austerity. a key pledge to the pro-Western gov- Avramopoulos said the European travel decision in Brussels. It may the 0.5 ppm limit set is in power in Scotland since 2007 But we take the view that if every ernment in Kiev. Commission, the EU’s executive arm, prove especially galling for Moscow up by legislation,” the and attracts most of the pro-inde- time George Osborne proposes a cut “Today we follow up on our was formally making the proposal to whose own efforts to secure visa- abstract states. pendence vote. Support for keeping we ask people in Scotland to write a commitment to propose short- EU member states who would vote free EU access, if only for business the United Kingdom as one, however, cheque to cover it, we are penalising stay visa-free travel to the EU for on the issue. leaders, languished for years before is much more fragmented between people in Scotland.” Ukrainian citizens with biometric Visa-free travel is a cornerstone falling victim to the Ukraine crisis. Three Ukraine soldiers killed Hungarian teachers’ strike hits over 1,000 schools Missing British in attack KIEV: Three Ukrainian tourist found dead soldiers were killed by Reuters 5,000 schools walked out yesterday, “That will ease nearly all financ- patchwork “Strike!” sign on the fence. pro-Russian rebel, Kiev according to Teachers’ Union and the ing problems,” Retvari said. “Justified “We don’t just want better con- LIMA: A British tourist missing for military said yesterday, Central Statistics Office. complaints about excessive bureauc- ditions for ourselves,” she said. “We 10 days in Peru was found dead, the heaviest toll reported “The government seems deter- racy have also been honoured.” have shown how each demand of ours police said, breaking hearts of in the separatist east of BUDAPEST: Staff of more than 1,000 mined not to give much more money He acknowledged the government affects children.” family and friends who launched the ex-Soviet republic in Hungarian schools held a one-day to education. That spells bad times for did not see eye to eye with teachers Teachers complain that the social media blitz in hunt for him. nearly two months. strike yesterday demanding more free- us, and the children,” Tamas Szecsodi, about pay, saying the government had centrally-prescribed curriculum Body of Harry Corder Greaves, Ukrainian mili- dom, financing and lighter workloads who teaches literature at the elite St. prioritised a health sector wage hike overburdens school students. 29, was found at the bottom of a tary spokesman Andriy for themselves and their students. Stephen Grammar School in Buda- this year. Teachers’ Union Chairwoman deep crevasse in the mountains Lysenko said the troops Teachers have been protesting for pest, told reporters. The government has offered a Piroska Gallo told the daily Mag- of Pisac, in the Andean region of had died in a mortar months against moves by the right- “Teachers are thoroughly one-time bonus to education staff of yar Nemzet that a stalemate was Cusco, police said. Greaves arrived attack on the govern- wing government of Prime Minister exhausted and exasperated by now.” 70,000 forints this year, which teach- likely as recent talks only addressed in Peru in February to go traveling. ment-held village of Viktor Orban to strip schools of much The government will dedicate ers said was too little. minor issues and the government was On April 7, he began a solo hike Mayorsk. He said five sol- of their autonomy and increase cen- an extra 100bn forints ($368m) for Teachers said they would keep up unlikely to make crucial concessions. through the scenic region of the diers were also wounded tral planning and management. education in 2017, Human Resources the pressure. “Regaining autonomy for the country’s southeast, where he was over the past 24 hours in Talks between government and Ministry state secretary Bence Ret- “People understand now that this schools would be a great step for- to spend his birthday on April 9. separate incidents. unions have been unsuccessful and vari told broadcaster TV2. In 2016 the is not a teacher problem,” said teacher ward,” she said. “It would also mean Friends expected to see him nearly 25,000 of about 150,000 education budget ran to around 550 Katalin Torley at Budapest’s Kolcsey the government admits the obvious: again on April 10, but never heard teachers in some 1,200 of Hungary’s billion forints. Grammar School, where she hung a its education policy has failed.” from him. Breivik wins lawsuit

OSLO: Norwegian mass ‘Queen of Parts’: Car components murderer Anders Behring Breivik yesterday won his lawsuit against the used for royal birthday portrait state over his “inhuman” solitary confinement in prison. “The court... has Reuters portrait of Elizabeth made out of hun- our queen is actually Britain’s most concluded the prison dreds of car and truck components. famous mechanic,” Dhiren Master, conditions constitute A team led by artist David Parfitt marketing director at Kwik Fit, whose inhuman treatment,” the used spark plugs, petrol caps, hoses, technicians made the artwork, said Oslo district court said. LONDON: Queen Elizabeth has been gaskets, bumpers and headlights in a video release. It said Breivik’s almost painted and photographed by some for the “Queen of Parts” portrait to “During World War II, she did five-year isolation in of Britain’s top artists and photog- create Elizabeth’s face, hair, jewel- her part in serving the country by prison violated Article 3 raphers. Now there is an image of lery and clothing. For the crown, they joining the Women’s Auxiliary Ter- of the European Conven- her made from components usually used brake and indicator lights from an ritorial Services where she served as tion on Human Rights. found in a mechanic’s garage. Austin K2, a type of military truck that a mechanic and a driver.” Judge Helen Andenaes To mark the 90th birthday of Brit- Elizabeth did mechanical training on Born on April 21, 1926, Elizabeth Sekulic ruled that Breivik’s ain’s longest-reigning monarch today, in 1945. She served as a mechanic in a last year surpassed the 23,226-day right to correspondence a company specialising in auto parts branch of the British Army. reign of her great-great-grandmother Memorabilia celebrating the birthday of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II are had not been violated. repair has unveiled a 10 feet, 115 kg “Many people don’t know that Queen Victoria. on sale at a gift shop in Windsor. EUROPE THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 17

Border controls Lawmakers of urged to stem Podemos on refugee flow AFP

ROME: Austria will reintroduce hunger strike controls along its border with Italy unless the migrant flow through the area is reduced, Foreign Min- ister Sebastian Kurz warned in an the European Union and Turkey, see- interview published yesterday. ing how Europe violates internation Italian Prime Minister Mat- The four Spanish law,” Podemos lawmaker Pedro teo Renzi last week insisted Italy lawmakers have Arrojo told reporters. was not facing an “invasion” after Turkey agreed to take back all a spike in migrant boat crossings called on people migrants arriving at Greek islands to from Libya exacerbated fears it to occupy public relieve pressure on European Union could become the main entry point which has seen over a million migrant into Europe. squares for 24 hours arrivals since early 2015. In return EU But Kurz highlighted Austria’s tomorrow in support promised to resettle one Syrian ref- deep concerns as Europe struggles ugee for every Syrian taken back by to contain the worst migrant cri- of refugees. Turkey, capped at 72,000. sis the continent has known since Refugees queue to receive food supplies provided by humanitarian agencies at the refugee camp of Arrojo, who has consumed only World War II. water with salt and sugar since Sat- Idomeni, near the Greek-Macedonia border, Greece, yesterday. “Look at the figures. Austria urday, said he hoped to transform received 90,000 migrants last AFP public indignation over plight of year, close on one percent of the migrants “into action”. “We have population—in terms of Italy’s seen that initiatives are starting two Migrant flows decrease: Greek PM population that would amount to MADRID: Four lawmakers from bloom. There is a parish that is col- more than 600,000 people,” Kurz Spain’s far-left party Podemos and lecting shoes for refugees,” said Arrojo. told Italian daily Il Messaggero. its allies said yesterday they are on Twenty-four hour assemblies are Reuters the arrival of migrants and refugees. Greece’s Defence Minister Panos He noted that 154,000 a week-long hunger strike to try to planned for a dozens cities tomor- Hundreds have died making the Kammenos met his German coun- migrants had arrived in Italy rally public support of refugees. row, including Madrid, he added. short but precarious crossing from terpart Ursula von der Leyen in across 2015 but had “only” reg- They began hunger strike on Miguel Anxo Fernan Vello, a law- ATHENS: Migrant flows to Greece Turkey to the shores of Greek islands Athens a day earlier and said that istered 83,000 asylum claims—a Saturday and have called on peo- maker with Galician party En Marea, have decreased markedly in recent in inflatable dinghies. The island of Nato’s naval back-up in the Aegean discrepancy of 71,000. ple to occupy public squares for 24 said he was taking part in hunger months, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Lesbos is full of unmarked graves. Sea to help stop people smugglers Austria, seeking to cut this hours tomorrow, the day they plan strike because he was angered that Tsipras said yesterday, defending “A few months ago we had flows had also contributed to the reduced year’s arrivals to 37,500, sparked to end their action , in a gesture of Spain has welcomed only a handful his government’s support of a deal of 3,000 to 4,000 daily to our islands flows. consternation in Rome last week support for the people at the centre of refugees since the migrant cri- between the European Union and ... Today, the flows are about 50 to Nato Secretary General Jens over preliminary construction of Europe’s biggest migrant crisis. . sis started. Spain agreed to accept Turkey to tackle the migrant crisis. 60 (migrants and refugees) daily,” Stoltenberg is expected to visit Athens work at Brenner Pass in the Alps to The idea stems “from the shame 16,000 refugees from Greece and Turkey and the EU last month Tsipras told parliament during a later this week, according to govern- prepare for a possible new influx of we felt over the agreement between Italy but so far only 18 have arrived. sealed an accord which aims to end debate on security. ment officials. migrants coming north from Italy.

Two fishermen Capturing ‘Golden Age’ Russia warns US fight off shark with bare hands over naval incident

Reuters Lute pressed Russia about the inci- AFP dent, warning it had been dangerous. The United States has said the guided missile destroyer USS Cook was on BRUSSELS: Russia accused the routine business near Poland when PAPEETE: Two fishermen man- United States yesterday of intimida- it was harassed by Russian jets. aged to fight off a shark with their tion by sailing a US naval destroyer “We were in international bare hands after it attacked them close to Russia’s border in the Bal- waters,” a Nato diplomat reported while they were fishing around an tics and warned that the Russian Lute as telling Grushko during the atoll in French Polynesia, one of military would respond with “all Nato-Russia council meeting. them told reporters. Hoatua Iotua necessary measures” to any future Stoltenberg said there were “pro- said he and his cousin Teva Toko- incidents. found disagreements” over how to ragi were fishing with a harpoon Moscow’s ambassador to Nato said handle Europe’s security, each side gun when a grey reef shark about the April 11 maritime incident showed urgently needed to talk more and six feet long tried to snap up a fish there could be no improvement in ties to use existing rules to reduce mil- that he had speared. Tokoragi then until the U.S.-led alliance withdrew itary risk. tried to chase the shark away, from Russia’s borders. Russia’s chief concern is Nato’s piercing it in the fin with a spear. “This is about attempts to exer- biggest modernisation since the Cold Iotua said they tried to remove cise military pressure on Russia,” War, which is likely to include a mili- the spear—believing the shark was the envoy, Alexander Grushko, said. tary build-up in eastern Europe with a dazed enough not to resist—but “We will take all necessary meas- rotating, multinational force in Poland the animal went for Tokoragi and ures, precautions, to compensate for and the Baltics. Poland and other Nato grabbed him by the arm. Tourists take pictures among flowers at the Keukenhof garden in Lisse, Netherlands, yesterday. This these attempts to use military force,” members in the Baltics worry about an Iotua said he hit the shark in year’s theme of the floral park is the Golden Age. he told reporters. increase in the Russian military pres- the head repeatedly until it let go US Ambassador to Nato Douglas ence in its Kaliningrad enclave. and Tokoragi managed to lift him- self back into their boat. However the struggle was not over. “I started to get into the boat, Experts blame but (the shark) grabbed my knee so Nato-Russia talks end in disagreements I fell into the sea and I had another ‘toxic’ drug for fight with the shark: I grabbed it so it didn’t tear my knee,” he said. AFP to protest the annexation of Crimea still gripping eastern Ukraine. Stoltenberg said it was important While he held the head of the from Ukraine in early 2014. “There were profound disa- to “keep channels of communication man’s death in shark, Tokoragi tried to cut its “I think we had a frank, serious greements related to the crisis with open” in both military and political tail in a bid to weaken it, how- BRUSSELS: Nato and Russia ran up and actually good meeting,” Stolten- Ukraine,” he said. “During the meet- terms, adding that it was necessary medical trial ever—with wounds to his calf and against “profound disagreements” berg told a news conference after the ing it was reconfirmed we disagree for “risk reduction”. wrist—he was weak and had lost a over Ukraine and other issues as their talks, adding that both sides had “lis- on the facts, the narrative and the “We all agree it is in all our AFP lot of blood . Iotua said he managed ambassadors met yesterday for the tened to what each other has to say.” repsonsibilties for the crisis in and interest to keep channels for polit- to prise open the shark’s mouth: “I first time since 2014, alliance chief But former Norwegian prime around Ukraine.” ical dialogue open. It is necessary pushed his head down and quickly Jens Stoltenberg said. minister Stoltenberg stressed that Relations have also worsened and useful, in times of tensions as we PARIS: Medical experts said death jumped in the boat,” he said. The two sides agreed to keep “Nato and Russia have profound and in recent months over Moscow’s air experience now,” the Nato chief added. of a man in a French drug trial was Tokoragi suffered the worst communicating following the meet- persistent disagreements”. campaign in Syria and tensions have “However, this does not mean that we likely caused by the compound injuries and was evacuated by hos- ing of the Nato-Russia Council, He admitted they were far from flared in the past week after two inci- are back to business as usual.” itself, saying it was probably toxic. pital to Tahiti where he underwent which has been on ice since the alli- any breakthrough on easing ten- dents involving the US military and Fears the two sides could become Publishing their final report into an operation. ance cut practical ties with Moscow sions over the simmering violence Russian planes in the Baltic Sea. embroiled in violence have grown. January’s drug trial in the western French city of Rennes, experts said the accident was “clearly linked to the compound tested.” Six volunteers were hospital- Italian Senate rejects no-confidence motions against Renzi ised after taking part in the trial, one of them was killed and four suffered brain damage. Reuters League, was rejected by 180 to 93. steadily over the last year, although helped his energy business. “The most credible hypothe- Renzi, who would have been the PD remains Italy’s most popular “This government has to go sis is that the molecule itself was forced to resign if he had lost either party, according to opinion polls. because it only acts in the interests toxic,” said the report ordered by ROME: Italian Prime Minister Matteo vote, defended his government’s record He got a boost when a referendum of the lobbies, their friends and their French medical agency ANSM. Renzi (pictured defeated two par- and said the motions were a waste of aimed at curbing Italy’s offshore oil relatives,” 5-Star founder Beppe Grillo Lead author Bernard Begaud liamentary no-confidence motions parliament’s time and aimed only at and gas industry failed to secure the said on his blog before the votes. said the rules “generally seem to tabled by opposition parties that grabbing the attention of media. necessary quorum, with a sizeable In December, Constitutional have been respected” in the trial accuse his government of conflicts “Politics is about respecting majority of voters shunning the bal- Reforms Minister Maria Elena Boschi, run by Portuguese pharmaceutical of interest and bowing to industrial those who govern and it’s about con- lot as Renzi had advised. one of Renzi’s closest allies, faced firm Bial, even if “common sense” and banking lobbies. structive opposition, not constantly The no-confidence motions fol- down calls to resign over an alleged appeared to have been neglected. Both motions, which were voted shouting,” he told the senators. He low the resignation last month of conflict of interest after a banking The trial was testing a com- on in the upper house Senate, were then left the Senate without wait- Industry Minister Federica Guidi scandal that left thousands of savers pound less efficient than another comfortably beaten as expected, anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, ing for the vote, to the protests of the in an influence-peddling scan- out of pocket. already on the market, and “no with Renzi relying on the support of was defeated by 183 votes to 96. The opposition. dal. Phone-tapped conversations Her father, a former vice-pres- more effective than several oth- his centre-left Democratic Party (PD) second, tabled by former prime min- The 41-year-old premier, who released by police appeared to show ident of one of the banks involved, ers from the same family that had and its centre-right allies. ister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia took office in February 2014, has Guidi assuring her partner the gov- was fined by the Bank of Italy for already been abandoned because The first motion, filed by the party and the right-wing Northern seen his personal approval ratings fall ernment would pass legislation that misconduct. they were ineffective,” Begaud said. 18 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 AMERICAS Trump and Hillary cast themselves as inevitable

victories by the 74-year-old dem- Florida. Trump’s haul of most of ocratic socialist and gave her a New York’s 95 delegates moved him The wins in New York much-needed lift. closer to the 1,237 needed to win for both Republican The eventual victors of the the nomination outright. Anything and Democratic Democratic and the Republican nom- short of that will lead to a contested inating campaigns will face each convention when Republicans hold candidates, have other in November’s general election. their national conclave July 18-21 in given a boost to Trump’s win, celebrated to the Cleveland. tune of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, “There’s only two issues left the frontrunners as New York” at Trump Tower in Man- for Republicans: Will Trump get they head for next hattan, marked a rebound from his 50 percent of the delegates prior Wisconsin defeat two weeks ago. It to Cleveland, and if not, how close primaries. set him up for another big night on will he be? New York gives him a April 26, when Pennsylvania, Con- nice boost, but it will take weeks necticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and before we know the answer,” said Maryland will hold primaries. Ari Fleischer, who was White House Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton celebrates victory of New York state primary with husband Reuters With a campaign staff reboot and press secretary under President a more focused performance, Trump George W Bush. and former US president Bill Clinton, in New York City. has sought to improve in recent Cruz, a 45-year-old US senator weeks as a candidate. The tone of his from Texas, came in third in New NEW YORK: Republican Donald victory speech was in keeping with a York and gave his primary night Trump leans toward replacing Fed chief Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton more measured style the often-brash speech in Philadelphia, where he scored sweeping victories in nomi- billionaire has adopted. was already focused on running in nating contests in their home state “We don’t have much of a race Pennsylvania. He called on Repub- Reuters New York state nominating contest. Trump said he favoured the low of New York, and immediately cited anymore based on what I’m seeing on licans to unite around his candidacy. “I don’t want to comment on interest rate environment and that those wins to argue that they are all television,” Trump said as television Ohio Governor John Kasich, reappointment, but I would be more raising rates would be a blow to the but unstoppable as their respective networks projected a large margin of 63, a long-shot candidate, is seek- inclined to put other people in.” US economy. Trump had accused the parties’ presidential nominees. victory for him. “Senator Cruz is just ing to use his second-place showing WASHINGTON: Republican presiden- Yellen was nominated for the Fed in November of keeping rates low Trump’s crushing defeat of Ted about mathematically eliminated.” in New York as proof he is emerg- tial candidate Donald Trump would top Fed job by Democratic President to help Obama, an assertion the White Cruz in Tuesday’s primary election Trump, 69, predicted some ing as Trump’s central challenger in be inclined to replace Federal Reserve Barack Obama and began her four- House rejected. tilted the energy in the Republican “amazing weeks” ahead for his the states that come up next on the Chair Janet Yellen if he wins the White year term in February 2014. “The best thing we have going for race back to the front-runner, just as campaign. calendar. House despite supporting the US cen- In his interview, Trump said he us is that interest rates are so low,” Republican National Committee mem- Still, he has a long way to go to Hillary got nowhere near the tral bank’s efforts to keep interest rates “absolutely” backed efforts to dimin- Trump told Fortune. bers begin meeting in Florida yesterday seal the nomination and begin try- knockout punch she needed to finally low, he told Fortune magazine. ish the Fed’s power and allow Congress “If rates are 3 percent or 4 percent to discuss their July convention, where ing to heal the wounds in his bitterly put Sanders away. But the broad smile “I think she’s done a serviceable to audit it, and backed away from his or whatever, you start adding that kind the nominee will be chosen. divided party. on her face as she gave her victory job,” Trump said in an interview as pledge to erase the more than $19 tril- of number to an already reasonably For the Democratic favourite, Some fence-mending may speech spoke volumes about how the billionaire real estate mogul moved lion in US debt in eight years. crippled economy in terms of what we Clinton’s more narrow victory over happen when he sends campaign important New York was to her bid to a step closer to becoming his party’s Representatives for the Fed produce, that number is a very scary Bernie Sanders snapped a string of advisers to the RNC meeting in become the first female US president. nominee with a resounding win in the declined to comment on the report. number,” he added.

Panama President bats Turning a new page German Arce is Colombia’s new for financial transparency energy minister

AFP government” under Organisation for BOGOTA: Colombia’s President Economic Cooperation and Devel- Juan Manuel Santos named Ger- opment standards. man Arce as mines and energy At an investment seminar on minister, replacing Tomas TOKYO: Panamanian President Juan Tuesday, he said that Panama is Gonzalez who resigned amid Carlos Varela yesterday pledged that willing to cooperate with an OECD an energy crisis that has left the his country will stand at the forefront initiative to share tax information. country on verge of electricity of a global push for greater finan- Varela also defended his country rationing. cial transparency in the wake of the while in Japan, saying in an inter- Dry weather caused by “Panama Papers” scandal. view with Jiji Press that Panama has drought, as well as damage to elec- Panama is scrambling to avert been “wrongly” labelled a tax haven. tricity generators, prompted Santos redesignation as a tax haven that “Panama is a country respectful to ask Colombians to cut back on assists money laundering after the of laws,” he said. Varela also told Jiji electricity use to avoid power disclosure of the offshore dealings of that Panama will establish a high- cuts. Gonzalez resigned after crit- many of the world’s wealthy, famous level commission, to be composed icism he did not act fast enough to and infamous. of six to eight internal and external resolve the problem. They came to light when mil- members, within six months in order Arce, an economist and former lions of documents—the so-called to improve transparency of its finan- deputy finance minister, takes over Panama Papers—covering nearly 40 cial system. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands (right), Colombian Culture Minister Mariana Garces (left) and as the energy sector is suffering years of business were leaked from The members are slated to Colombian Book Chamber President Enrique Gonzalez inaugurate the International Book Fair of Bogota from weak oil prices that have the archives of the Panamanian law include Nobel Prize-winning econ- reduced investment and drasti- in Bogota, Colombia. Holland is the special guest country for the fair. firm Mossack Fonseca. omist Joseph Stiglitz, Jiji reported. cally cut government revenue. The revelations had far-reach- The Panamanian president’s ing political consequences, already visit to Japan comes after the world’s bringing down the Icelandic prime leading economies took a step last minister and Spain’s industry min- week toward denying tax evaders ister, while forcing others to explain and money launderers the abil- Judge approves police accord for Missouri their financial dealings. ity to hide behind anonymous shell “Our goal is to cooperate actively companies. and to lead the efforts of the interna- Acting in the wake of the scan- Reuters teenager that sparked violent protests. the relationship it has with that com- arrest practices do not discriminate tional community on the topic of the dal, finance chiefs of the Group of US District Judge Catherine munity,” the consent decree signed on the basis of race or other factors global problem,” Varela said during 20 meeting in Washington on Fri- Perry of Missouri’s Eastern District by Perry said. protected under law. a joint press conference with Prime day supported proposals requiring approved the 129-page accord, which The agreement requires Fer- The largely black community of Minister Shinzo Abe. authorities to share the identities of WASHINGTON: A federal judge also outlines the revamping of the St. guson police officers to undergo Ferguson erupted into violent protests Varela, who arrived in Japan shell companies’ real owners. approved an agreement between Louis suburb’s municipal law code. bias-awareness training and the in 2014 after a grand jury chose not to on Sunday, also said that Panama They also backed creating a the Justice Department and Fergu- The Justice Department and Fer- department must implement an indict white Ferguson police officer has agreed “to advance discussions blacklist of international tax havens son, Missouri, to reform city’s police guson recognise “that the ability of a accountability system. Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of for negotiating a bilateral taxa- that do not cooperate with informa- department, a pact prompted by the police department to protect the com- The city also agreed that police unarmed 18-year-old African-Amer- tion scheme with the Japanese tion-sharing programmes. 2014 shooting of an unarmed black munity it serves is only as strong as must ensure that stop, search and ican Michael Brown.

Students in US given SATs that Crossing swords were online before exam

Reuters test questions began to circulate online. administered in June 2013. A copy The media also reported that the of that test booklet was available in organisation had sometimes recycled advance on a website called Crack- exams in the United States, including SAT.net. Between the time the booklet WASHINGTON: At least five times in last January. That was during a reg- was posted and early 2015, the web- the past three years, US high school ular Saturday exam sitting, the day site reported the document had been students were administered SAT tests most Americans take the SAT. downloaded more than 53,000 times. that included questions and answers But the College Board has recy- It’s unclear how many students widely available online more than a cled SATs more frequently than the took the exam during the five sittings. year before they took the exam, an occasional Saturday. The tests were The College Board has said it’s unable analysis shows. also reused in the US during special to assess how many test-takers may A section of media reported last midweek sittings, on Sundays and have seen recycled exam material month that the College Board, the during makeup exams, even though online before taking the test. Reusing not-for-profit that owns the college some questions and answers from test items is common in the stand- Actors perform a battle during the Marquesa Medieval Festival 2016 at La Marquesa forest in Estado entrance exam, had often reused those tests had been discussed online. ardised test industry. It helps ensure de Mexico, Mexico. Every year, the Marquesa Medieval Festival gathers musicians, actors, dancers, SATs overseas after first giving the A test given on April 15, 2015, that scores on different versions of fighters and people interested in medieval culture during three days of festival. test in America and even after some for example, previously had been an exam are comparable. AMERICAS THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 1917 Ecuador toll keeps rising as new jolts cause jitters

through the night toward a former air- 11 foreigners among the dead, includ- port where temporary shelters have ing two Canadians and three Cuban It was the strongest been set up. doctors who had been on a medical aftershock yet Meanwhile, scenes of mourn- mission to Ecuador. ing multiplied all along Ecuador’s The final toll could surpass casu- following Saturday’s normally placid Pacific coastline as alties from earthquakes in Chile and magnitude-7.8 quake people began burying loved ones Peru in the past decade. that left 535 people and hope faded that more survivors Among the survivors, the situation will be found. Funeral homes were was growing increasingly tense. While dead. running out of caskets, and local humanitarian aid has been pouring governments were paying to bring in in from around the world, distribu- coffins from other cities. tion is slow. In Manta on Wednesday, In the small town of Montecristi, residents waited for hours under the AP near the port of Manta, two children tropical midday sun for water and were among those buried Tuesday. food supplies. The army kept con- They were killed with their mother trol behind fenced barricades. while buying school supplies when In several cities, rescuers with MANTA, ECUADOR: A fresh tremor the big quake struck. sniffer dogs, hydraulic jacks and spe- rattled Ecuador before dawn yes- The funeral had to be held outside cial probes that can detect breathing terday, a magnitude-6.1 jolt that set under a makeshift awning, because from far away continued to search for babies crying and shaken residents the town’s church was damaged survivors among the rubble. pouring once again into the streets, and unsafe. Family members wailed At least six were found in Manta fearful of yet more damage follow- loudly and one man fainted as the early yesterday. ing a monster earthquake over the children were laid to rest in an above- One of the most hopeful tales was weekend. ground vault. that of Pablo Cordova, who held out It was the strongest aftershock yet The government put the death toll for 36 hours beneath the rubble of Debris of collapsed buildings in Portoviejo, Ecuador seen yesterday as aftershocks hit the area following a following Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 at 553 yesterday— up from a previ- the hotel where he worked in Por- 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rattled the country’s coast on Saturday. quake that killed more than 500 ous official toll of 525 — but officials toviejo, drinking his own urine and people. Some people in Portoviejo expected more bodies to be found. praying that cellphone service would abandoned their homes, even those At least 100 people remain missing be restored before his phone battery wife on Monday afternoon and was by a team of rescuers from Colombia ever seeing him again and managed with no apparent damage, and headed and another 4,600 injured. At least died. He was finally able to call his pulled from the wreckage soon after Cordova’s wife had given up on to buy a casket. At least 8 dead Rousseff seeks international stage against ouster in NY in Houston

Reuters laws. She maintains the charges are international media against an rejected by the Supreme Court. had not shielded him from ethics floods; more groundless and trumped up to ille- impeachment that she has called a The crisis has paralysed Brazil’s committee hearings. gally oust her and end 13 years of rule “coup d’etat without weapons” against government as it struggles to revive She also accused Vice President rain forecast by her leftist Workers Party. a legitimate democratic government. the economy from its worst reces- Michel Temer of plotting against her. BRASILIA: Beleaguered Brazil- With the prospect of the Senate Rousseff says the accounting sion in decades in the midst of a Temer will replace Rousseff if she is ian President Dilma Rousseff has suspending her in three weeks, Rous- manipulation her administration massive corruption scandal involv- unseated. Ironically, during her trip Reuters changed her plans and will attend seff had cancelled her trip to attend used, by putting off transfer of ing state-run oil firm Petrobras. It is to New York, Temer would temporar- a UN event tomorrow in New York to the signing of the Paris Agreement on funds to state banks, was a practice also scrambling to host the Olympic ily assume the presidency. make her case against an impeach- climate change tomorrow, so that she employed by previous governments. Games in Rio de Janeiro in August. Her opponents have also gone to HOUSTON: At least eight people ment process that could remove her could focus on her political survival. Her opponents say this allowed her In a news conference on Tuesday the United States to defend the legality have died and some 1,150 homes from office within weeks, her office “She intends to go tomorrow to to unfairly expand public spending with foreign journalists, Rousseff said of the impeachments. Senate For- have been damaged in flooding said yesterday. New York,” an aide said in a What- and boost her re-election campaign the impeachment was supported by eign Relations Committee chairman triggered by torrential downpours Rousseff lost a crucial vote in the sApp message. in2014. lower chamber Speaker Eduardo Aloysio Nunes, of the opposition PSDB in the Houston area this week, lower house of Congress on Sunday Two presidential aides said Rous- Her government’s legal Cunha, who has been charged with party, was in Washington this week officials said on Wednesday, as and faces impeachment by the Sen- seff would use her visit to New York appeals asserting she committed corruption and money laundering, out to explain to US government officials forecasts called for more rain. ate on charges of breaking budget to defend herself in interviews with no impeachable crime have been of revenge because her government that the process is constitutional. Seven of those killed were found in vehicles that had been in flooded areas, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences and a local sheriff said, adding that Nature’s fury Venezuela oppn seeks medical examiners were work- ing to confirm the causes of death. The National Weather Serv- ice said more rain is on tap for the president’s ouster city, the country’s fourth largest, after a record-setting drenching that dumped as much as 45 cmon AFP He has vowed to hold on to some parts of the Houston area. . power and press on with the social- The weather service has issued ist “revolution” launched by his late a flood watch from central Texas predecessor Hugo Chavez. through Houston and into large CARACAS: Opponents of Vene- Addressing thousands of sup- parts of Louisiana. zuelan President Nicolas Maduro porters who gathered in heavy rain There have been more than rallied support against him half- outside the presidential palace in 1,200 water rescues during the way through his mandate, leaving downtown Caracas, Maduro focused recent flooding, with emer- him prey to legal measures to drive most of his attacks on the opposi- gency crews shuttling people by him from office. tion-controlled Parliament. boat to dry ground and picking Thousands of supporters of the The efforts are “the spearhead of up motorists whose cars were centre-right opposition attended a coup that aims to once again pro- caught in rushing waters. Hou- gatherings in Caracas and across mote North American imperialism ston Independent School District, the country seeking a referendum against the revolution,” he said, as country’s seventh-largest school on cutting his term short. Venezuela observed a holiday mark- district, said it would reopen after But launching a referendum is ing its struggle for independence. the flooding caused hundreds of the role of the national electoral Maduro pledged to go on an schools to close earlier this week. board, which the opposition accuses offensive in the coming three years Heavy storms can overwhelm of being controlled by the president’s and “ultimately defeat the treacher- the drainage channels that move allies. The opposition vowed to oust ous oligarchy.” water from Houston back to the A view of the eruption of the Popocatepetl volcano from Santiago Xalitzintla village in Puebla, Mexico. Maduro when it took control of the “This country is a bomb that Gulf of Mexico, particularly if the Several eruptions of the Popocatepetl volcano left the city of Puebla covered with a white ash cloud. legislature in January after winning could explode,” leading opposition ground is already saturated. elections, blaming him for a crip- figure Enrique Capriles said at one pling economic crisis. of the anti-Maduro gatherings. Seeking to open another front, Maduro blames the collapse on the opposition also plans to unveil an “economic war” by capitalists. NY officer avoids a bill in the legislature this week to The opposition blames his economic Actress Jennifer Aniston is world’s cut short Maduro’s term. management. prison in fatal Maduro has successfully blocked “This assembly is going to fall,” previous bills in the National Assem- said Marjorie Cadenas, a Maduro shooting bly by appealing to the Supreme loyalist rallying in Caracas. most beautiful woman: People Court, which critics say he also “We have had three hard years of controls. struggle against the economic war.” NEW YORK: A former New York AFP an American actor and director. City police officer avoided prison The blonde actress is famous for for the killing of an unarmed black her impeccably coiffed tresses and man in an unlit stairwell, prompt- for her marriage to now ex-husband ing demonstrations outside a NEW YORK: Hollywood actress Jen- Brad Pitt, who dumped her to find Brooklyn courthouse. nifer Aniston (pictured) has been love with Angelina Jolie—both of State Snupreme Court Jus- anointed by People magazine as the whom have had their own turns as tice Danny Chun sentenced Peter world’s most beautiful woman, the People’s most beautiful. Liang to 800 hours of community entertainment weekly announced Aniston—along with last year’s service, after prosecutors rec- yesterday. honoree, Sandra Bullock, 51 —is ommended six months of home The magazine, which each year also among the oldest beauties ever confinement. Liang, a rookie crowns the celebrity male and female to have been singled out by People. who lost his badge after his con- it deems best-looking, named Ani- “Beauty has changed for me over viction, had faced up to 15 years for ston its most beautiful once before, the years,” she told the magazine. his manslaughter conviction in the in 2004. “It’s really learning to love every death of Akai Gurley, 28. Aniston, 47, a Hollywood main- single thing about yourself,” she said. The officer was patrolling stay who became a mega-celebrity excited, teenage-y kind of moment.” Aniston confided that looking the darkened stairs inside a pub- through her starring role in the long- The honour comes just as Aniston good takes more effort as one ages. lic housing building in Brooklyn running television sitcom “Friends,” prepares for her latest big screen role, “We’ve got to really be mindful of on Nov. 20, 2014, when he fired a said she was stunned to hear the in the Hollywood movie “Mother’s what we put inside our bodies, and single shot that he testified was news. “I thought, ‘Oh my God,’” she Day,” which opens later this month. how we sleep and take care of our- accidental. The bullet ricocheted told People . Last year, Aniston married her selves. You can get away with a lot in off a wall and struck Gurley in the Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters during a “There was this sort of very longtime beau Justin Theroux, 44, your 20s,” she said. chest as he walked one floor below. rally in Caracas.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 25o C Maximum: 34o C

FAJR 03.47 am ZUHR 11.33 am MAGHRIB 06.01 pm HIGH TIDE 04:00 - 17:15 Slight dust and partly cloudy. SHOROOK 05.07 am ASR 03.02 pm ISHA 07.31 pm LOW TIDE 10:30 - 23:00

20 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST New hope as gene manipulation Flower Chandelier www.thepeninsulaqatar.com restores eyesight to blind

MOST READ QNA

Leicester City: Three reasons why they LONDON: Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered a 1 could lose the title to Tottenham technique that could restore vision in patients who are blind from a condi- tion called Retinitis Pigmentosa, an inherited condition, which affects one Qatar Rail to receive first stage Doha in 4,000 people and for which there is currently no effective treatment. 2 Metro tunnels by November Paul Bishop, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Manches- ter, a key researcher on the study said: "I am very excited by the potential of Iran struggles to find enough this technology to re-establish vision in patients who have little or no vision. 3 ships for oil exports "Thousands of patients could have their sight restored every year." The disease, which often affects children and young people, progressively destroys light receptors at the back of the eye that are essential to vision. It is a progressive disease and sufferers usually first notice increasing TWEET OF THE DAY difficulty in night vision, followed by difficulty seeing in the periphery and poor colour perception. The breakthrough, which uses a technique called Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa's work 'Flower Chandelier' is on display optogenetics, involves injecting a key gene into the eye which converts other - non light receptor cells called neuronal cells - into light receptors. in his exhibition 'Happy Together' at the Museum of Contemporary Art The gene therapy involves the use of a specially designed virus to carry Kiasma in Helsinki, Finland, yesterday. The exhibition will start tomorrow the DNA instructions for the rhodopsin light-sensing protein into these neu- and ends on September 18. ronal cells. Hometown gets ready for Shakespeare commemoration

AFP in the picture-postcard streets of performance. Prince Charles, the heir nearly five million people every year Stratford-upon-Avon. to the throne, will attend the show, to visitors seeking out the places where And some of Britain's finest actors broadcast live on British television and the Bard was born, lived, wrote and UNITED KINGDOM: William Shake- are returning to the town's Royal in European cinemas. died. speare's hometown is bracing for a Shakespeare Theatre to perform his "It's going to be a total jamboree, "You're in the crucible of Shake- surge in visitors from around the world most celebrated scenes, in a special a real festival feeling," said Geral- speare," said Cyril Nri, who plays this month as it marks 400 years since show on the April 23 anniversary. dine Collinge, the Royal Shakespeare busy-body Polonius in the RSC's current the death of the foremost playwright in Oscar-winners Judi Dench and Company's director of events and exhi- production of "Hamlet" in its 1,000-seat the English language. Helen Mirren lead a cast including bitions. "It is a logistical challenge as home theatre. A parade to Shakespeare's grave Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, well as a great artistic one." "To come right to the place where and fireworks will round off a day of Antony Sher, Joseph Fiennes and David Stratford, a town of 27,000 resi- he was born is just perfect to perform theatre, dancing, music and parades Suchet for the "Shakespeare Live!" dents in central England, welcomes at," he said. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 24 QE 10,366.93 +69.64 PTS PAGE | 25 DOW 18,143.69 +90.09 PTS Turkey central bank Yahoo logs loss as FTSE100 6,410.26 +4.91 PTS chief makes debut it courts potential with rate cut BRENT $45.51 +$1.43 buyers

THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 • 14 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

QIIB’s first quarter net profit touches QR223.1m

increased to QR25.7bn compared credit and liqudity, he added. liquidity, strong reserves and suc- to QR23.2bn at the end of the same Abdulbasit Ahmed Al Shaibei, CEO cess in diversification initiatives. We Bank’s total assets period last year, reflecting a growth of QIIB pointed out that the total rev- at QIIB rely on all these factors and at the end of of 11 percent. enue of the Bank for Q1 2016 reached we were able to achieve this growth Announcing the results, Chair- QR400.3m, witnessing a growth a in the first quarter of 2016.” Q1 increased to man and Managing Director of QIIB, double-digit growth of 13.6 percent Al Shaibei also indicated that QIIB QR41.3bn, registering Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin compared to QR352.4m during the is in the process of issuing the first Abdullah Al Thani said yesterday the same period last year. tranche (as part of its Tier 1 Sukuk) of a growth of 11.4%. results clearly reflected the success of QIIB’s deposits increased and QR1bn in accordance with the Basel the Bank’s strategy in continuing to reached QR27.9bn, which represents III requirements. Besides supporting grow and facing market challenges. a growth rate of 10.8 percent com- the Bank’s Tier 1 capital (in accord- The results confirm that QIIB contin- pared with the same period in 2015. ance with the Basel III requirements), The Peninsula ues to enhance its financial position Capital adequacy under Basel III the Sukuk will support QIIB’s ability to and strength and moves forward. The reached 17 percent, which reflects the finance and improve its capital ratio. bank was also able to successfully strength of the bank’s financial posi- In terms of overseas expansion, cope with the internal and external Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani (left) and Abdulbasit tion. Commenting about the future Al Shaibei pointed out that the bank’s DOHA: QIIB, one of Qatar’s leading factors affecting the market during Ahmed Al Shaibei. growth prospects, Al Shaibei added: external plans currently focused on Islamic lenders, posted a net profit the last period. “The large number of infrastructure the Moroccan market, where it was of QR223.1m for the first quarter (Q1) “Current large-scale projects in externally, continuous growth driven are also proud of the development of projects and major projects provides waiting for the final approval from the of 2016, up 5.1 percent compared to the domestic market are capable of by good figures is achievable and on Qatar’s economy, with the support continuous growth avenues for most Bank Al Maghrib for the opening of a QR212.3m for the same period last year. creating significant growth opportu- hand,” Sheikh Dr Khalid added. and under the patronage of Emir H H sectors, including the banking sector. joint venture bank in collaboration The Bank’s total assets at the end nities for many sectors, particularly “We attribute our success and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.” All experts agree that Qatar’s econ- with ‘Credit Immobilier Et Hotelier Sa’ of Q1 2016 increased to QR41.3bn, banking. And with QIIB’s focus on the strength to the Qatari economy, The market factors prompted QIIB to omy will be one of the few in the in Morocco. The JV bank will be ready registering a growth of 11.4 percent; domestic market and specific oppor- which continues to achieve excellent exert greater efforts and develop suit- region to continue achieving strong to go once the final approval from the while the bank’s financing portfolio tunities with limited risks available growth rates in various sectors. We able plans , particularly in terms of growth figures thanks to its high authorities in Morocco is received. GWC net profit up ‘Greater Paris’ woos Qatari investors

By Satish Kanady 15% to QR46.5m The Peninsula

The Peninsula DOHA: Paris is wooing potential Qatari investors to be the part of a huge infrastructure development project — ‘Greater Paris’ — to which DOHA: GWC, Qatar’s leading logis- the government of France has already tics provider, yesterday announced net committed €50bn. The state-spon- profit of QR46.5m for the first quarter sored investment in infrastructures of 2016 showing growth of 15 percent is designed to trigger €80bn private compared to QR40.4m by the end of investment, visiting officials told The the same period in 2015. Peninsula yesterday. The company’s revenue streams “The project is already moving. had an equally consistent rise, with The investments are expected to add total revenues peaking at QR220m 250bn euros to the country’s GDP at the end of the quarter, a 14 per- in the next ten years. The response cent increase from QR192.3m in the that we get from Qatari investors are first quarter of 2015. The company’s really encouraging”, Chiara Coraz- assets continued to develop, with zara, Managing Director, Greater total assets reaching QR3.078bn by Paris Investment Agency said. the end of March 2016, compared with is nearing completion, and will offer a International investors are eager QR2.981bn at the end of December new 17,500 square metre distribution to step in. GreenField investments 2015, representing 3 percent growth. center, two accommodation buildings, have jumped 42 percent over last year “Every effort has been taken to and a mosque by the end of Q2 of 2016, against 10 percent growth in the pre- ensure that the company moves in with a second 28,000 square meter vious year, she said on the sidelines line with the direction taken by the warehouse to be launched by the end of an “Investment Majlis” hosted by nation, so we may continue to grow of August 2016. Qatari Businessmen Association with Eric Chevallier, French Ambassador to Qatar, delivering the opening speech at the Investment Majlis organically within the currently pro- The GWC Bu Sulba Warehousing the French e Embassy in Qatar in the vided environment, directly serving its Park, meanwhile, has achieved sev- presence of the French ambassador yesterday in Doha. Pic: Baher/The Peninsula needs,” said GWC Chairman Sheikh eral important milestones, completing Eric Chevallier. Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassem bin 40 percent of construction operations Billed as the third most attractive 65km/h high-capacity The French ambassador said Jabor Al Thani (pictured). at the site, while boasting an impres- investment destination in the world, automated subways, France is currently the second invest- “Our commitment to the diversifi- sive safety record at the site to boot. The Greater Paris is envisaged as an twice the speed of ment destination for Qatar. The value cation of the economy and the tenets The company has recently awarded exceptionally diverse economy, with existing lines. of commercial activities between of the Qatar National Vision 2030 pro- one of its contractors, for “One Million leading clusters in finance, banking Chiara who Qatar and France stood at €3bn at vide us the direction needed as we Man Hours without Lost Time Injury”, and insurance, complex systems, elaborated on the the end of 2015. This is excluding the strive to achieve our purpose, remain- ensuring GWC’s commitment to the nanotechs and alternative energies, opportunities for for- aircraft deals struck by the entities in ing the provider of choice for logistics highest standards of Quality, Health, biotechs and genomics, greentechs eign investors in the both the countries. solutions in Qatar, and thereby ensur- Safety, and the Environment. and utilities, robotics, softwares, real estate sector, said France offers a wide range of ing our shareholders the best possible For its continued commitment gaming, aeronautics and logisitics. real estate in France opportunities for Qatari investors, returns,” he said. to excellence in performance and Chiara, key member of a can be acquired either including real estate, new technolo- On the operational side, the RLIC service provision, the company was 20-member visiting delegation by way of asset or share gies, innovative startups, healthcare, West Side Service Area (WSSA) facility recognised by a number of interna- , said ‘Greater Paris’ has already deal. The sales and pur- hospitality and sports and games. was completed on schedule, and made tional transport sector parties in the emerged as a top destination for glo- chase agreement (SPA) Greater Paris Investment Agency operational in Q1 of 2016, offering first quarter of 2016; as International bal investors. in an asset deal must is founded by Paris Chamber of Com- 15,000 square metre warehouse with market research consultants Frost The “Grand Paris” project , the be notarised for land merce and Industry to attract new specialised Hazmat logistics specifi- and Sullivan named GWC “Leading core project, is the number one eco- registration purposes. international investors to Greater cations, in addition to open yard, bulk, Domestic Logistics Service Provider nomic development project in Europe. By contrast, SPAs in Paris and to bolster its attractiveness. and ISO Tank storage in the remain- of the Year 2016” for the second year Seven clusters are already under a share deal can be It is comprised of more than one hun- der of the facility. The Logistics Village in a row during their seventh annual development. Linked by 200km concluded as private dred major French and multinational Qatar Phase V development at the LVQ GIL Global Best Practices Awards. network infrastructure , it has got Chiara Corazzara agreements. companies. 22 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

Mannai reports Qatar & Bulgaria QR124.7m profit in first quarter

sign MoU in the The Peninsula

field of ports DOHA: Mannai Corporation yes- terday announced net profit of QR124.7m for the three month period ended March 2016 while and Communications, Ivaylo Mosk- its revenues stood at QR1.27bn. ovski in Sofia and discussed issues Company’s earnings per share was Talks held on topics of mutual interests between the two QR2.74 while return on equity was of common interest countries. 21.2 percent. Both the ministers witnessed the Alekh Grewal, Group Chief between the two signing of a Memorandum of Under- Executive Officer & Director said, countries in the fields standing (MoU) between Qatar and “Decline in revenue has been due of transport and Bulgaria for bilateral cooperation to weak consumer sentiments in the field of ports. The MoU was in the retail segment across the communications and signed at the Bulgarian Ministry of GCC, which has resulted in drop ways of enhancing Transport, Information Technology in profits during the first quarter and Communications by Captain of 2016. Qatar businesses have them. Abdulla Al Khanji, CEO, Qatar Ports shown strong growth in the B2B Management Company and Anguel (Business to Business) segment Zabourtov, Director General, the Bul- especially in ICT. With the acqui- garian Ports Infrastructure Company. sition of GFi Informatique during The Peninsula The Qatari Minister also held a the year, we remain optimistic to Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti (standing left) with his Bulgarian meeting with his Bulgarian counter- achieve improved results going part. It was attended by Mohammed counterpart Ivaylo Moskovski witnessing the MoU signing ceremony in Sofia. forward”. Ali Saed Al Nuaimi, Ambassador of DOHA: Minister of Transport and the State of Qatar to Bulgaria and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif members of the Qatari delegation Talks centred on topics of com- and communications and ways of expertise exchange in the fields of Al Sulaiti met with Bulgarian Minister representing transport and commu- mon interest between the two friendly enhancing them. The two officials civil aviation, information technol- of Transport, Information Technology nications sectors. countries in the fields of transport also stressed the importance of ogy, e-government and cybersecurity. QSTP hosts session on Big Data Analytics in healthcare

The Peninsula together industry experts to inspire much understanding of this concept common database management Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), an expert further technological research as possible, while at the same time tools or traditional data processing on Next-Generation DNA sequencing and innovation, Hamad Al Kuwari, provide the necessary tools for applications. technologies, insisted on the QSTP’s Managing Director, said: interested parties to get engaged in In his presentation, Dr Ceccarelli importance of identifying statistically DOHA: Qatar Science & Technology “QSTP’s TECHtalk series lies at the relevant practice.” highlighted that the importance of meaningful resources that help with Park (QSTP) hosted an expert core of creating an entrepreneurial The panel discussion was Big Data lies not only in the access to early detection of cancer rather than session about ‘Big Data’ as part of its ecosystem in Qatar through fostering attended by numerous seasoned data, but how to make sense of this stratification of cancer patients. He landmark TECHtalk series. Entitled the exchange of expertise, knowledge experts who came together from data. This requires new methods and said it is essential to address the ‘Big Data Analytics: Revolutionising and creativity on technological an array of pioneering institutions. tools of analyses to be continually hindrances to data immigration to Healthcare’, the series aimed to advancement and commercialisation Guest speaker Dr Michele Ceccarelli, developed and updated. ensure studied data is statistically address the importance of data of ideas. The series is particularly Acting Research Director of Dr Ceccarelli noted in his correct and significant. analytics in changing the face of important to identifying the very Bioinformatics at Qatar Computing presentation that some of the key Bilal Sabbagh, Healthcare modern healthcare and fostering essential needs of the local market Research Institute (QCRI), presented challenges in Big Data that experts Associate Partner at IBM Middle East technological advancement in the and creating tailored, sustainable his work on cancer genomics, which face include the pre-processing & Africa, continued, saying that it is Al Yafei is new fields of ICT and Health. solutions through applying various encompasses developing novel tools and data normalisation, data no longer just about genes, but also The Techtalk proposed technology-based solutions.” and algorithms for gene expression integration, higher order methods about social behavioural patterns that Acting GM of recommendations to unify Al Kuwari continued: “Big data analysis, gene network analysis, and reproducibility research, as define how diseases are taken in and data in order to benefit medical Data analytics, as perpetually and identification of structural well as the development of rigorous reacted to. practitioners and stakeholders. It observed around world, is becoming genomics alteration. quantitative and statistical methods. Malike Bouaoud, Head of Ezdan Real Estate was suggested that this approach increasingly vital for businesses, According to Dr Ceccarelli, Identifying contemporary sources Technology Trend and Smart would enable them to optimise institutions and individuals to the average hospital generates an of big data in health and medicine, Innovation at the Ministry of useful information,thereby enhancing make smart and efficient decisions, estimated 665TB of data annually, the Professor listed drug research, Transport and Communications, The Peninsula the creation of technologies and especially in an area as important as yet 80 percent of this data currently genomics, patient records, social discussed the digital transformation accessible services, andaiding the healthcare. remains unstructured. Looking at how media, diagnostic test and home taking place around the world, and customisation of medical treatment. We, along with our esteemed Big Data is transforming medicine, a monitoring as some possible ones. the need to adapt the technology not Commenting on the subject, stakeholders within and outside Qatar collection of large and complex data Dr Joel Malek, Director of only to quantifiable data and statistics DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group yes- and QSTP’s role in bringing Foundation, endeavour to create as sets are difficult to process using Genomics Core at Weill Cornell but also to changing human lifestyle. terday announced the appointment of Omar Al Yafei as Acting Gen- eral Manager of Ezdan Real Estate Company, one of Ezdan Real Estate Gulf Air gets ISO subsidiaries. Al Yafei (pictured) was assigned such position with certification for the aim to stimulate the company’s quality of operational efficiency and to enhance productive capac- Information ity and position. Al Yafei is considered one of Security practices the most qualified national cadres that heavily contributed to achiev- ing administrative realisations in The Peninsula the field of management devel- opment and leadership. During his past experience, he earned remarkable leadership and man- DOHA: In an awards ceremony agerial skills, through an array of recently held at Gulf Air, the national leadership positions he served in carrier of Bahrain’s Muharraq head- the government sector. quarters, the airline was recognised Gulf Air A/Chief Executive Officer Maher Salman AlMusallam and Chief Executive of Certification at Bureau Veritas Bahrain ZulfiqarHaider at the He holds a bachelor’s degree by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in awards ceremony which was also attended by members of Gulf Air’s Information Security Committee. in business administration and Testing, Inspection and Certification has attended many specialised (TIC), for successfully upgrading its courses in the field of leadership Information Security Management Zulfiqar Haider, Chief Executive of standard of Information Security and Dr Jassim Haji, Gulf Air Director of its ISO 27001 certification over the and management. System to the latest ISO 27001:2013 Certification at Bureau Veritas Bah- this involves constantly assessing our Information Technology, commented: past four years, and it is the first air- Group CEO Ali Al Obaidli said standard. rain at the awards ceremony which capabilities and modifying/enhanc- “We are pleased to achieve yet another line in the world to be accredited for that choosing Al Yafeiis is a step The standard specifies the was attended by members of Gulf Air’s ing them.” Information Technology enhancement its Information Technology practices forward in the structural improve- requirements for establishing, Information Security Committee. “Gulf Air is considered a reputable and to be recognised for our team’s under five (5) different ISO Certifi- ment process the group and its implementing, maintaining and con- Accepting the certification Maher operator in the GCC region maintain- work. This advance in Information cates. The Information Technology ISO subsidiaries. tinually improving an Information Salman Al Musallam said: “As a glo- ing information security standards Security not only demonstrates our certifications were in the five areas of This process will positively Security Management System. bal airline, much of our work involves and meeting ISO requirements.The technological control and the evolved Quality Management, Environmental impact the overall performance The certification was awarded handling sensitive and critical infor- same was witnessed by our assessors measures we have in place but also Management, Service Management, and the operational capacity to Maher Salman AlMusallam, Gulf mation, including passenger data. We during the certification process,” said our high level of user awareness.” Information Security Management within all its investments, espe- Air A/Chief Executive Officer, by are committed to providing the highest Zulfiqar Haider. Gulf Air has successfully managed and Energy Management Systems. cially in real estate, which constitute the core investment sec- tor of the group’s portfolio. On top of these investments are residen- tial compounds and villages run by Tata’s Port Talbot management working on buyout plan Ezdan Real Estate Company, total- ling up to 20,000 units. “Ezdan Holding Group is one of those leading business entities Reuters The Indian group announced but analysts were sceptical that a Once the birthplace of the modern the government guarantees lower that have succeeded in leaving plans to exit its entire British steel solution could be found for a busi- steel industry, Britain has shed thou- power prices. a prominent mark locally and operation last month, leaving the ness losing £1m a day. sands of jobs in the sector in recent It would also plan to change the regionally, thanks to its successful government battling to save a once “There is confidence in the future years due to high costs and histor- raw material for the steel plants to investment diversification policy, LONDON: Senior staff at Tata’s Port mighty industry that has been ham- of primary steel making in Port Tal- ically low steel prices which have locally available scrap from imported the fact that stimulate us to spare Talbot, Britain’s biggest steel works, mered by a surge in cheap Chinese bot and across Wales,” Wilkie said in been dragged down by oversupply iron ore. no effort to support and promote are seeking to launch a management imports, soaring costs and weak a statement posted on Wales online. and cheap Chinese imports. According to local media reports, Ezdan position. In addition, join- buyout plan with the support of its demand. “We are now working with partners The only other public expression Wilkie’s plan is based on a turnaround ing Ezdan Ezdan Real Estate is a staff, investors and the government The managing director of Tata to fully develop proposals which we of interest for Tata Steel UK has come proposal submitted to Tata earlier this quantum addition to my career,” to save the loss-making plant put up UK’s strip products unit, Stuart Wilkie, believe offer very real prospects of from commodities company Liberty year which was rejected in favour of said Al Yafei, who joined Ezdan for sale by Tata Steel. said he was working to develop a plan, sustainable future success.” Group, which is considering a bid if a sale. two weeks ago. BUSINESS THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 23

German buyers Middle Eastern M&A value at $4.7bn in Q1 invited to visit

fees, fees from completed M&A trans- first quarter of 2015 and the slow- percent of Middle Eastern outbound region. Follow-on offerings accounted Qatar at IMEX actions totalled $54.4m during the first est opening period for equity capital M&A activity, while acquisitions by for the remaining 12 percent of activ- Investment banking quarter of 2016, a 22 percent decrease markets issuance since 2011. Middle companies based in Bahrain and ity. Arabian Food Industries Co raised Frankfurt fees declined 17% compared to a year ago and the slowest Eastern debt issuance reached $5.5bn Saudi Arabia accounted for 29 per- $126.9m in an initial public offering in first quarter for M&A fees since 2013. during the first quarter of 2016, a 22 cent and 23 percent, respectively. March, the largest equity offering in during the first Syndicated Lending fees percent decrease compared to the Domestic and inter-Middle East- the region during the quarter. Sam- The Peninsula quarter of 2016. accounted for nearly two-thirds of value raised during the first quar- ern M&A decreased 36 percent bacapital took first place in the first the overall Middle Eastern invest- ter of 2015 and the slowest opening year-on-year to $1.8bn. Inbound M&A quarter 2016 Middle Eastern ECM ment banking fee pool, the highest period for DCM issuance since 2009,” fell 52 percent to $558.8m, a two-year ranking with 32.3 percent market first quarter share since fee records he added. low. Industrials was the most active share. DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority Reuters began in 2000, the estimates from Equity capital markets underwrit- sector, accounting for 31 percent of As for Debt Capital Markets, Bah- (QTA) hosted ‘buyer’s breakfast’ for Thomson Reuters / Freeman Con- ing fees declined 84 percent compared Middle Eastern involvement M&A. rain was the most active nation in the German event planners at IMEX sulting said. to last year, while debt capital markets The largest deal with Middle East- Middle East accounting for 30 percent Frankfurt yesterday, to promote Nadim Najjar, Managing Director, fees totalled $5.2m, down 66 percent ern involvement during the quarter of overall activity, followed by Saudi the country as a destination for DOHA: Middle Eastern investment Mena, Thomson Reuters, said: “The from 2015. Fees from combined debt was the $1.1bn acquisition of Den- Arabia and Kuwait. International business events to the German banking fees reached $178.2m during value of announced M&A transactions and equity capital markets under- mark-based Icopal A/S by GAF Corp Islamic debt issuance increased 14 and European markets. the first quarter of 2016, a 17 per- with any Middle Eastern involvement writing accounted for 6 percent of the from Bahrain-based Investcorp percent year-on-year to reach $10.2bn The breakfast targeted cent decline compared to the value reached $4.7bn during the first quarter overall fee pool in the region during Ltd. Lazard topped the first quarter during the first quarter of 2016, the conference organisers and rep- recorded during the first quarter of of 2016, a decline of 67 percent com- the first quarter, the lowest percentage 2016 announced any Middle Eastern largest first quarter for issuance in resentatives of associations 2015 and the lowest annual start for pared to the first quarter of 2015 and since the first quarter of 2009. involvement M&A league table with two years. Morgan Stanley took the seeking venues for their events. investment banking fees in the region the slowest first quarter for deal mak- As for M&A deals, Outbound M&A US$1.4 billion from advising on the top top spot in the Middle Eastern bond QTA invited many of these buyers since 2014, Thomson Reuters quar- ing in the region since 2014.” activity fell 85 percent from the first two deals of the quarter. ranking during the first quarter of to visit the country’s world-class terly investment banking analysis for “Middle Eastern equity and quarter of 2015 to reach $1.3bn, the In respect to Equity Capital Mar- 2016 with an 11.9 percent share of facilities, as well as attend match- the Middle East region released yes- equity-related issuance totalled lowest first quarter total since 2010. kets, two initial public offerings raised the market, while CIMB Group took making sessions with the relevant terday noted. $228.0m during the first quarter of Overseas acquisitions from the United $200.6m and accounted for 88 per- the top spot for Islamic DCM issuance local industries. In 2015, nearly In respect to investment banking 2016, a 92 percent decline from the Arab Emirates accounted for 39 cent of first quarter 2016 activity in the with a 17.3 percent share. 40,000 people from Germany vis- ited Qatar. IMEX Frankfurt is a global trade show that brings the whole MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Con- ferences and Exhibitions) industry Qatargas will continue together under one roof, enabling meeting planners, corporate meet- ings and conference organisers and exhibitors to find their ideal to evolve personal destinations and set their forth- coming events in motion. QTA is exhibiting alongside 15 partners at the trade show this and process safety week, showcasing a full range of hotels, tour operators, event management companies, and The Peninsula “Safe Start 2016 serves as a plat- state-of-the art venues, including form to recognise achievements Qatar National Convention Cen- and to line up the whole organisa- tre and the recently opened Doha tion toward the year’s safety focus Exhibition and Convention Centre. DOHA: Qatargas will continue to areas, based on incidents analysis The visits come as Qatar steps evolve personal and process safety and trends. In 2016, Qatargas will up efforts to target German-speak- in 2016, said a senior official speaking continue to evolve personal and ing European markets, setting up at a symposium held in Doha recently. process safety, focusing on “No One a representative office in Berlin in Qatargas participated in the Gets Hurt” and “Keeping it Inside the early 2015. Annual Qatar Process Safety Sym- pipes,” meaning the efforts aimed at “Qatar is a rapidly growing hub posium where Ahmad Helal Al avoiding process safety incidents. We for education, sport, research, and Mohannadi, Qatargas Chief Operat- have developed a dedicated task force healthcare, as well as oil & gas. ing Officer – Operations, delivered to identify root causes behind Loss of Our country offers eye-opening the plenary keynote address titled Primary Containment (LOPC’s) and experiences for business visitors “Building an Organisational Process recommend enhancements to min- of any background, both inside and Safety Culture”. imize all process safety events and beyond the walls of its venues,” Ahmad Helal Al Mohannadi, Qatargas Chief Operating Officer – Operations, delivering a keynote address The event titled “Building Com- continue to roll out campaigns that commented Ahmed Al Obaidly, petency in Process Safety” was focus on safety themes where we can at the symposium. Acting Director of Exhibitions at co-hosted by Texas A&M Qatar improve. Safety in Qatargas is not QTA. “The German-speaking mar- (TAMUQ) and ConocoPhillips Qatar. just a word or a commitment alone; ket is one that all business events In his presentation Mohannadi it is translated into every action and The two-day symposium allowed excellent networking opportunities. of operation without any recorda- destinations are competing for. outlined how Qatargas manages appears in every task,” he said. delegates from industry, regulatory Furthermore, it brought together ble injury and the Laffan Refinery Together with our partners we safety and monitors safety per- Also representing Qatargas at the institutions, and academia to hear knowledge and expertise from dis- completed two years of operation have achieved a strong presence formance, elaborating on Qatargas event was Khalifa Al Sulaiti, Safety about safety success stories, incident tinguished speakers from around the without recordable injuries. Two and are delighted to share the wide Incident and Injury Free (IIF) culture and Risk Manager. He presented the case studies, best practices, new leg- globe. major shutdowns were carried out in spectrum of business and leisure and the various safety programmes “Safe Start 2016” video of Qatargas islative regimes, and recent advances Qatargas has an outstand- 2015 without recordable injuries and options through our active par- and initiatives in place across Qatar- sharing some insights into the Com- of research on process safety. ing safety record as Qatargas 2 the Train 6 shutdown was completed ticipation at IMEX Frankfurt this gas’ operations. pany’s safety journey. The symposium also provided has recently completed one year safely and successfully in April 2016. year,” added Obaidly. Women empowerment key for economy EU opens new Google war with Android charges The Peninsula Private employers), she shared valu- able insights and key learning from her experience in conflict resolution AFP fine of 10 percent of worldwide glo- and business negotiations in a lively bal sales for one year, which would DOHA: The stability of a country’s debate moderated by Ahmed Hafez, amount to a $7.4bn fine on the basis economy relies on three main pillars Director of Government Business at of 2015 revenues. namely: strength of its civil society, Thomson Reuters. BRUSSELS: The EU opened a new In its latest charge sheet, the education, and women empowerment, The ‘ibq Speaker Series’ seeks to front against Google yesterday, slap- EU accused Google of obstructing said Ouided Bouchamaoui, a Nobel offer the Bank’s privilege customers ping the US giant with anti-trust innovation by giving unfair promi- laureate and Tunisian leader, during the opportunity to interact with the charges alleging it had abused the nence to its own apps, especially its her address at an event organised by most influential and inspirational dominance of its Android mobile search engine, in deals with mobile International Bank of Qatar (ibq). leaders from around the world. phone operating system. manufacturers such as Samsung or Bouchamaoui, the winner of 2015 “We are honoured to welcome The charges are a massive blow Huawei. Nobel Peace Prize, was here at the such an inspirational speaker and to one of the Google’s most strategic The company is also accused invitation of ibq to participate as hon- one of the treasures of the Arab world businesses and could alter a global of restricting manufacturers from orary guest speaker at the first edition to the inaugural session of the ibq smartphone sector that is fast taking installing rival operating systems of the Bank’s ‘Speaker Series’, which Speaker Series,” commented Omar over traditional PCs as the biggest based on Android on their phones. was held here at the Four Seasons Bouhadiba, Managing Director of ibq. segment in the world of computing. Google now has a chance to Hotel under the auspices of Sheikh “Her experiences are a reminder that Competition Commissioner Mar- answer the charges, either by fight- Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, true leadership has no boundaries, grethe Vestager said Silicon Valley ing them comprehensively and Chairman of ibq. and that with the same skills a person giant Google had used practices such risking a huge fine or proposing rem- The event attracted more than a can go from being a business leader, as making manufacturers pre-install edies to satisfy Brussels. hundred high profile ibq clients from to a commander of a community, to its market-leading search engine as Google said it would work with local and regional business circles in a regional pioneer, helping to steer an the default in phones. the EU to show that consumers ben- Qatar. entire country to safety and stability “The preliminary conclusions efitted from Android. “I would like to warmly thank ibq in turbulent times.” from our investigations is that “Android has helped foster a and ibq’s board of directors for this Bouchamaoui’s business these practices breach EU com- remarkable — and, importantly, opportunity to address influential accomplishments and initiatives petition law,” Vestager, a former sustainable — ecosystem, based members of Qatar’s business com- were recognised worldwide. She Danish economy minister, told a on open-source software and open munity” said Bouchamaoui on her was awarded the “Arab Woman of press conference. innovation,” Kent Walker, Senior second visit to Doha. Achievement” award in 2013 under She said Brussels believed that Vice President and General Coun- In her keynote speech, she took the auspices of the G8 Deauville Part- “Google has abused its dominant sel of Google, said in a statement. the audience through her personal nerships and received the “Legion position”, adding: “We have found “We look forward to working journey from successful CEO to co- d’Honneur” from the French Presi- that Google pursues an overall strat- with the European Commission founder of “The National Dialogue dent, François Hollande. In January egy on mobile devices to protect to demonstrate that Android is Quartet.” This initiative, for which she 2015, the Tunisian President, Beji Caid Winner of 2015 Nobel Peace Prize and Tunisian leader Ouided and expand its dominant position good for competition and good for was awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Essebsi made her Grand Officer of the Bouchamaoui (right) with a senior ibq official in Doha on Monday. in Internet search.” consumers.” Prize, was instrumental in laying the Order of the Republic, and His Maj- The case is the second attack by The case against Android resem- building blocks for a peaceful transi- esty, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the EU against Google after Vestager bles one against Microsoft in which tion in Tunisia. decorated her with the Royal Order of Bouhadiba said: “Building mean- Series’ is part of the bank’s commit- last year formally charged the com- the EU in 2013 fined the software Bouchamaoui, who is also the the Polar Star in November 2015. She ingful relationships with customers ment to nurture our partnerships pany for abusing its dominance of giant 561 million euros ($634 million) President of the Tunisian Con- is a member of the Oslo Business for is of utmost importance to ibq and with our customers, by providing the search engine market in Europe. for failing to offer users a choice of federation of Industry, Trade and Peace Award Committee since Jan- it goes beyond providing top bank- them with innovative platforms for Taking both EU cases against web browser on its Windows oper- Handicrafts (Confederation of uary 2016. ing services. This first ‘ibq Speaker thought leadership.” Google together, the company risks a ating system. 24 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS Turkey central bank chief makes debut with rate cut

in constitutionally secular Turkey, meeting had been widely viewed “Decline in global volatility has has taken his position at a time when by market participants as a test for continued and global financial con- Cetinkaya is the investors are concerned about poten- Cetinkaya, who investors fear may ditions have improved,” the central first Islamic finance tial government pressure on monetary not be able to withstand pressure on bank’s monetary policy committee policy. policy. said in a statement. specialist to hold President Tayyip Erdogan has Seventeen out of 21 analysts sur- “The committee decided to the position of repeatedly railed against high inter- veyed by Reuters had predicted a cut take a measured step towards est rates, equating them with treason. of 50 basis points in the overnight simplification.” central bank As expected, the central bank left its lending rate, the highest of the three The policy committee also said governor in Turkey. benchmark repo rate unchanged at rates the bank uses to set policy. the underlying core inflation trend 7.5 percent and instead cut the upper Economy Minister Mustafa Elitas, remained limited, necessitating the band of its interest rate corridor by an who has also called on the bank to maintenance of a tight liquidity stance. expected 50 basis points, to 10 percent. cut aggressively, said the decision to The lira firmed to 2.8085 after the “The new governor may be a little cut by 50 basis points fell short of his decision, from the previous session’s Reuters more dovish than we had anticipated,” expectations. close of 2.8313. said William Jackson of Capital Eco- “I had hoped the central bank That may have been a sign of relief nomics in a note. would do something to trigger excite- by investors who had feared greater “We had thought that Mr ment and fuel investment, but that rate cuts. ISTANBUL: Turkey’s Murat Cetinkaya Cetinkaya would tread more cau- expectation was not fully realised,” “When it comes to Turkish mon- kicked off his first meeting as central tiously in his first meeting, particularly he told broadcaster CNN Turk. etary policy, relatively cautious and bank chief yesterday by trimming the given concerns in the market about In his first public comments since gradual rate cuts are greeted positively top end of the bank’s interest rate cor- political pressure on the central bank,” being named governor, Cetinkaya by a market which always fears more ridor by 50 basis points in what some he said, adding that the back could cut said at a ceremony on Tuesday that aggressive action,” Nicholas Spiro of saw as a sign of more accommodative the overnight rate to 8.5 percent this he would try to keep inflation in line Lauressa Advisory. policy to come. year. with targets, maintain a close eye on “Mr Cetinkaya did what investors Former Central Bank of Turkey Governor Erdem Basci (left) arrives to The 40-year-old Cetinkaya, the The bank has now kept its bench- financial stability and improve com- expected him to do and, as is often the attend a hand over ceremony with new Governor Murat Cetinkaya in first Islamic finance specialist to hold mark repo rate on hold at 7.5 percent munication in order to bolster the case with Turkey’s central bank, got Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. the position of central bank governor for 14 consecutive months. yesterday’s bank’s credibility. away with it.” Intel to slash up UK unemployment rises for first time to 12,000 jobs since mid-2015 in restructuring AFP to Britain’s uncertain EU future and hazy economic outlook. AFP Intel shares fell more than two “I’m not saying the increase in percent in after-hours trade on the unemployment today is a direct news to $30.90. “Our results over the LONDON: The number of people out result of that but it is an example of last year demonstrate a strategy that of work in Britain rose for the first the kind of real gritty questions that SAN FRANCISCO: Intel will cut up is working and a solid foundation for time since mid-2015 in the three those people who say Britain should to 12,000 jobs worldwide as it seeks growth,” said chief executive Brian months to February, the latest sign the leave the single market, they need to to shake up its business to reduce Krzanich. “The opportunity now is to economy is slowing as Britain gears respond to that,” he said. dependence on the slumping per- accelerate this momentum and build up for a divisive referendum on its The Vote Leave campaign hit sonal computer market, the US tech on our strengths.” membership of the European Union. back. Conservative lawmaker Penny The Intel logo is displayed at a digital fair in Germany. giant said. Intel made the announcement as The data also showed the Mordaunt said the unemployment Known as the leading PC chip- it reported a modest three percent rise number of people in work rose by figures were not “just statistics to be maker, Intel has in recent years been in first-quarter profit to $2bn, with everything becomes smart and con- Analysts are also anticipating a just 20,000, the weakest perform- cynically dragged into the referen- looking to shift to mobile and emerg- revenues growing seven percent to nected,” he said at the time. relatively weak environment for PC ance since the three months to June dum debate.” ing technologies such as health care, $13.7bn. “Our first-quarter results tell Intel said the job cuts will come sales during the first half of this year last year. The Bank of England and the wearables and other connected the story of Intel’s ongoing strategic from “a combination of voluntary because businesses are still testing Economists link a recent slowing International Monetary Fund have devices. transformation, which is progress- and involuntary departures,” and a switching to machines powered by in Britain’s economy to uncertainty recently said uncertainty about the The restructuring will eliminate ing well and will accelerate in 2016,” re-evaluation of its global operations. the latest Windows 10 software. surrounding the June referendum referendum was hurting invest- about 11 percent of the Intel workforce Krzanich said. Intel will set aside $1.2bn to cover And the consumer market as well as a slowdown in global ment in Britain. Some economists by mid-2017 and aims to “acceler- Intel will be increasing invest- the costs of the job reductions, and remains cobbled by volatility in growth. Britain created more than have said a higher minimum wage ate evolution from a PC company to ments in key growth areas, which expects the program to save $750m stocks, commodities and curren- 200,000 jobs as recently as the last introduced in April may also weigh one that powers the cloud and bil- include the range of smart home and this year and $1.4bn by mid-2017. cies, International Data Corporation quarter of 2015. “The combination of on hiring. A BoE survey released yes- lions of smart, connected computing other connected devices known as The company said chief financial (IDC) said. sub-consensus wage and employ- terday showed investment intentions devices,” the California group said in the “Internet of Things,” as well as its officer Stacy Smith would “transition New households are not adopt- ment growth was not encouraging, among services firms and hiring a statement. data centers and computer memory to a new role leading sales, manu- ing PCs like they used to, especially and may suggest that uncertainty intentions among consumer services “It is not a surprise,” NPD analyst operation. Krzanich has spoken fre- facturing and operations once his in emerging markets, where smart- surrounding the forthcoming ref- companies were their lowest since Stephen Baker said of the swingeing quently about the shift in computing, successor is in place.” phones are often preferred for online erendum is starting to show up in mid-2013. The Office for National job cuts at the chip titan, which was and laid out his vision more than a Sales of personal computers slid access, Gartner analysts said. How- the data,” James Smith, an econo- Statistics data showed the number of founded in 1968. year ago, telling the Consumer Elec- for the sixth consecutive quarter at ever, analysts expect to see some mist with bank ING, said. unemployed people rose by 21,000 “For everybody who has made tronics Show that the industry would the start of 2016, falling to levels not rebound in PC sales later this year Work and pensions minister while the unemployment rate was their bed in old tech, trying to lie in be “unleashed” by wearables. “So seen since 2007, market trackers as part of a “Windows 10 refresh” Stephen Crabb said companies were steady at 5.1 percent for the fourth it is pretty uncomfortable right now.” computing becomes unwired, and reported last week. movement. putting big investments on hold due consecutive month.

Eurozone ready to finalise Greek Delayed take-off for China’s own regional jet deal next week AFP the next step up in size. Officials said at the time that it would make its first BRUSSELS/ATHENS: Eurozone test flight this year, though reports say finance ministers are ready to it might also be delayed. hold an extraordinary meeting SHANGHAI: China’s homegrown The Shanghai-based company will next week if negotiations on the regional jet should have made its partner with US aircraft maker Boeing review of the Greek reform pro- first commercial flight weeks ago, to set up an interior completion cen- gramme are concluded, a senior but the ARJ21 has still not flown any tre in China, and aims to produce an EU official said, commenting that fare-paying passengers, dealing yet even larger wide-body jet in coopera- talks remained difficult. another setback to the country’s ambi- tion with Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. Discussions between Greek tious plans for domestically produced whose products include the Sukhoi authorities and international planes. Superjet 100. The ARJ21 was also a lenders have resumed this week Chengdu Airlines received the no-show at China’s major show for in Athens with the aim to con- aircraft from manufacturer the corporate jets in Shanghai last week, clude a reform review which is a Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China though it does have a business version condition to release more bailout (COMAC) in November, already years and could potentially compete against money to Greece. “If there is so behind schedule, and it made several some of the foreign brands that were much progress that a conclusion “demonstration” flights without pas- displayed on the Hongqiao Airport of the negotiation can be ration- sengers in January. runway. COMAC restricted itself to ally expected, then I would expect It was scheduled to ferry passen- display miniatures of the ARJ21 at there to be a Eurogroup sometime gers from its home base in southwest Asia’s premier air show in Singapore next week,” the senior official said. China to commercial hub Shanghai A Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) ARJ 21-700 regional jet at the Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai, in February. “They (Chinese officials) Negotiations in Athens are on February 28, according to media southern China’s Guangdong province. are looking at these market segments however not smooth, EU and Greek reports, but has yet to do so. Neither thinking: How can we do what Boe- officials said. “I have hopes but no the jet’s maker nor the airline were ing and Airbus have done?” said Jeff expectations that they would wrap willing to say why. “The Civil Avia- “There is no exact time,” a spokesman fly on the homegrown aircraft. “Sup- Airbus (for me),” said an online post Lowe, managing director of aviation up everything before the Euro- tion Administration of China is still said. When the ARJ21 — which stands port the domestically made plane! I by Tang Kanyang, who identified him- services provider Asian Sky Group. group on Friday,” the source said doing preparation work for the first for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st would take it!” said an online posting. self as a lawyer. But most manufacturers do not referring to the regular meeting flight, so maybe it hasn’t finished,” a century — finally takes to the skies for But first COMAC must win over The plane can seat 78-90 passen- view the COMAC plane as a com- of eurozone finance ministers to COMAC spokesman said, referring to commercial flights, it will be the cul- customers and passengers about the gers and has a range of 2,225-3,700 petitive threat yet, even though the be held in Amsterdam on April 22. the government regulator. “The airline mination of a programme that has so ARJ21’s quality and reliability. The air- kilometres (1,380- 2,294 miles). State- Chinese commercial aircraft market An option is that negotiations and CAAC have the final say.” far taken 14 years. craft still lacks the crucial US Federal owned COMAC has claimed more than is already Asia’s largest and crucial would resume in Athens after the A CAAC spokeswoman referred First formally approved by the Aviation Administration (FAA) certi- 270 orders for the ARJ21, mainly from to their plans over the next decades. Eurogroup this week, to reach a questions about the issue to the airline. government in 2002, journalists were fication that would allow it to fly in domestic customers, and has bigger “They have a product. We have technical deal that would then be Chengdu Airlines, whose fleet shown the body of the plane five years US skies. Some potential passengers plans too. ours,” said Fernando Grau, director finalised by a new extraordinary consists of 21 A320 aircraft made by later, when officials confidently pre- expressed worries. “It’s not that I am In November, it rolled out the of marketing and product strategy meeting of eurozone finance min- European consortium Airbus and the dicted deliveries in late 2009. Some unpatriotic. To be honest, I don’t dare C919, China’s first domestically devel- for executive jets of Brazil’s Embraer isters next week, the official said. single ARJ21, declined to give a date. Chinese see it as their patriotic duty to take the plane. It’s still Boeing and oped narrow-body passenger plane, in China. BUSINESS THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 25

Nakheel posts Yahoo logs loss as it 8% increase in first-quarter courts potential buyers profit DUBAI: Dubai property developer Goldman said the results were “at a reported deadline for submissions Nakheel reported an 8 percent rise the high end or above our guidance passed on Monday. in its first-quarter profit yesterday. The company ranges,” and that company continued Bloomberg News, also citing Nakheel made a profit of reported a net loss to look at “the strategic alternatives unnamed sources, said Verizon is Dh1.47bn ($400.26m) in the three process as a top priority.” now vying for Yahoo’s core business months to March 31, up from of $99m in the first The firm offered no specifics, against at least two other bidders: Dh1.35bn a year earlier, it said in quarter, compared saying its board committee and legal TPG, a private equity firm, and YP a statement. advisors had talks “with interested Holdings, the online advertising busi- The company did not state its with a $21m profit strategic and financial parties.” ness of what was previously called revenue or reveal other financial a year earlier. Yahoo shares rose 1.4 percent to Yellowpages.com. details but said the profit rise was $36.84 in after-hours trade following Daily Mail and General Trust, the mainly due to it handing over 536 the release. “While slightly better than parent group behind British tabloid completed units and its “retail, AFP expectations, Yahoo’s results point Daily Mail, revealed last week that it residential leasing and hospital- to a gradual decline in most finan- was in talks with “a number of par- ity businesses all showing a strong cial indicators over time and against ties” over a potential bid for Yahoo, performance”. key competitors,” said Warwick Busi- but it is unclear whether the negotia- Alibaba, and any deal is likely to Revenue from Mavens was on The Dubai real estate market SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo reported ness School’s Sotirios Paroutis, who tions resulted in an offer. be only for the declining “core” track to top the company’s $1.8bn has softened since late 2014 after a quarterly loss as the struggling has studied Yahoo. “What parts of the Although Mayer declined to reveal operations. forecast for this year, Yahoo said. a three-year boom fed by an influx Internet pioneer continued to court business will be sold to whom and at who was in the bidding for Yahoo and Although Yahoo is one of the best- Mayer’s loyalists maintain that of cash from politically unstable potential buyers and examine other what price are the next strategic deci- what offers, if any, had been made, known names on the Internet, used by Mavens are a hidden success story at Arab nations. Residential prices strategic options. sions for Yahoo’s management.” she did say during an earnings call around a billion people, it has fallen Yahoo, blossoming while the compa- were down 10 percent in the first Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa US telecoms giant Verizon has with analysts that management takes behind Google in web searches and ny’s legacy business withers. three months of 2016 compared Mayer (pictured) said the com- emerged as a leading contender to part in daily calls or meetings with the been steadily losing ground in online But some shareholders are impa- with the same period last year, pany has “made substantial progress take over Yahoo as other big names review committee or its consultants. advertising. tient, and one activist investment consultants JLL said on Tuesday. toward potential strategic alterna- reportedly drop out, according to US “We are moving expeditiously,” In February, Yahoo said it was cut- group has launched a bid to gain Despite this, Dubai developers tives” while working to trim costs and financial media. she said. ting 15 percent of its workforce and control of Yahoo’s board, calling the are pressing ahead with their con- drive growth. Chances for Verizon Communica- Meanwhile, workers inside Yahoo narrowing its focus as it explored transformation efforts a failure. struction plans. The company reported a net loss tions have climbed as Google parent are pursuing a plan to revive the com- “strategic alternatives.” Industry tracker eMarketer fore- Nakheel is seeking Dh5bn of $99m in the first quarter, compared Alphabet, Time Inc and US broad- pany despite the “external noise,” Mayer has simultaneously been cast that digital ad revenue this year from banks to fund its projects, with a $21m profit a year earlier. Reve- casting and cable television group Mayer said. working to revive growth and made at Yahoo will fall nearly 14 percent to in its first attempt to raise size- nues slumped to $1.09bn compared to Comcast all decided against making Yahoo has been working to sepa- priorities of what she refers to as $2.83bn while money raked in by Sili- able debt since it was forced into $1.23bn in same period a year earlier. an offer, the Wall Street Journal said, rate its core business from its valuable “Mavens” — mobile, video, native con Valley rivals Google and Facebook a $16bn debt restructuring at the Yahoo Chief Financial Officer Ken citing unnamed sources, just before stake in Chinese Internet colossus advertising and social media. will rise. turn of the decade. Mitsubishi Motors admits falsifying fuel-efficiency tests

AFP VW (Volkswagen) emissions scandal Mitsubishi shares plunged 15.16 would rumble on and now it looks percent to 733 yen ($6.73) after local like the dodginess is not confined to media reported the faulty emissions the German carmaker,” said Joe Run- tests. “This may be different from TOKYO: Japanese carmaker Mit- dle, head of trading at London-based Volkswagen’s issue, but the market subishi Motors yesterday admitted it ETX Capital. “Mitsubishi’s bombshell has become very sensitive to such kind falsified fuel-efficiency tests in more that it’s been falsifying (fuel-economy) of news,” Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at than 600,000 vehicles, after reports tests calls into question whether we Tokai Tokyo Research Center, said. “It of misconduct sent its Tokyo-listed have a much larger industry-wide may have a similar impact in terms of shares crashing. scandal on our hands.” sales and the company’s reputation.” The embarrassing revelation The rigged figures were The fall in Mitsubishi’s stock was comes in the wake of a massive pol- discovered after Nissan found incon- its biggest one-day plunge since 2004. lution-cheating scandal at Volkswagen sistencies in fuel-economy data and At that time, Mitsubishi was strug- that erupted in September and which reported it. Japan’s number-two auto- gling to launch a turnaround as it the German giant is still struggling to maker said it would halt sales of the teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, overcome. It also marks the latest blow affected cars. “Today, we have no hit by a lack of cash and a series of for Japan Inc after auto parts giant plans to change our relationship,” it huge recalls linked to serious defects. Takata was hammered by an explod- added, referring to its production out- Volkswagen has been hammered ing air bag defect blamed for at least 11 sourcing to Mitsubishi. by a global scandal that erupted when deaths, and as Toshiba tries to recover Mini-cars, or kei-cars, are small it emerged that it had installed emis- from a huge accounting scandal. vehicles with 660cc gasoline engines sions-cheating software in 11 million Mitsubishi said it would halt pro- Mitsubishi Motors Corp’s President Tetsuro Aikawa (right) speaks during a press conference regarding that are hugely popular in the Japa- diesel engines worldwide. The costs duction and sales of the affected irregular fuel efficiency tests by the carmaker in Tokyo yesterday. Aikawa admitted the allegations and said nese market, but have found little of the scandal are still incalculable vehicle models — mini-cars sold in that 625,000 vehicles are affected by the wrongdoing. success abroad. Mitsubishi sold more but are expected to run into several Japan — and warned that the number than a million vehicles at home and billions of dollars as a result of fines of affected vehicles would likely rise. consumption rates than the actual bottom line would take a hit. “This is The problem affected about overseas in its latest fiscal year. “Tak- and lawsuits. South Korean automak- The maker of the Outlander sport rates,” Mitsubishi President Tetsuro not a simple problem and we need 625,000 vehicles, including mini- ing into account the seriousness of ers Hyundai and Kia in 2014 agreed utility vehicle also said it would inves- Aikawa told a Tokyo news briefing. time” to assess the impact,” Mitsubi- cars “eK Wagon” and “eK Space”, and these issues, we will also conduct to pay $100m to settle a US govern- tigate cars it sold overseas. He added that the test was “differ- shi’s top executive said. “But I’m sure the “Dayz” and “Dayz Roox”, which an investigation into products man- ment investigation into exaggerated “(The company) conducted test- ent” from one required by Japanese there will be an impact. The damage Mitsubishi produces for rival Nissan. ufactured for overseas markets,” the fuel efficiency on 2012 and 2013 car ing improperly to present better fuel law, and warned that the automaker’s will be big.” “We’ve always thought that the carmaker said in a statement. models sold in the United States. Japanese exports US existing home sales surge and Coca-Cola sales fall on strong drop as strong yen supply improves dollar and weak Europe demand

clouds trade picture WASHINGTON: US home resales rebounded more than expected Reuters in March, suggesting the housing market recovery remained intact AFP and may undermine their willing- despite signs that economic growth ness to expand capacity and lift probably stalled in the first quarter. NEW YORK: Coca-Cola Co’s sales wages,” said Marcel Thieliant at The National Association of fell for the fourth straight quarter as research house Capital Economics. Realtors said on Wednesday exist- demand for its fizzy drinks declined TOKYO: Japanese exports to key The safe-haven yen has risen ing home sales surged 5.1 percent in Europe and a strong dollar eroded market China fell back in March sharply since the start of the year to an annual rate of 5.33 mil- the value of sales in markets outside after a brief holiday-linked boost, as turmoil on global equity markets lion units last month. Economists the United States, including Latin official data showed yesterday, as pushed investors into assets seen as polled by Reuters had forecast America. a stronger yen clouds the country’s solid bets. The dollar was trading sales rising 3.5 percent to a 5.30 Shares of the maker of Sprite trade picture. around 120 yen at the start of 2016. million-unit pace. Sales were up 1.5 soda and Minute Maid juices fell The figures also showed Japan’s yesterday, it bought 109.02 yen. percent from a year ago. Existing about 1 percent to $46 in premarket trade surplus hit 755bn yen, ($6.9bn), A stronger yen makes export- home sales rose in all four regions trading yesterday. more than tripling from a year ago ers less competitive overseas and last month, jumping 11.1 percent in Coke and rival PepsiCo Inc have and its highest level in five-and-a- shrinks the value of their repatri- the Northeast and accelerating 9.8 been hurt as consumers increasingly half years, largely thanks to a fall in ated profits. percent in the Midwest. turn health-conscious, cutting back oil prices. The trade data are the latest US financial markets were lit- on fizzy drinks and turning to teas, The drop in Japan’s shipments snapshot for the world’s third-largest tle moved by the report. The PHLX fruit juices and smoothies. to China, down 7.1 percent from the economy, which shrank in the last housing index was down 0.28 per- The rise in the dollar has also hit same month last year, came after quarter of 2015 and could be in for cent. Shares in the nation’s largest the companies, which have a size- a rise in February, the first gain in another weak showing in the three homebuilder, D.R. Horton Inc, fell able presence in markets outside Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Muhtar Kent at a new Coca-Cola plant seven months, the Finance Ministry months through March. 0.20 percent and shares of Lennar the United States, including China, in Cikedokan, Bekasi-West Java. reported. Analysts said the expan- A deadly earthquake disas- Corp slipped 0.40 percent. Europe and Brazil. sion was distorted by the timing of ter at the weekend forced some of A separate report from the The average value of the dollar China’s Lunar New Year holiday. Japan’s biggest firms including Sony Mortgage Bankers Association rose 2.6 percent in the first quarter 12 percent of total revenue. according to Thomson Reuters I/B/ Japan’s overall exports fell nearly and Toyota to temporarily shut down showed mortgage applications from a year earlier. The US currency The net income attributable to E/S. Net operating revenue fell 4 seven percent in March, largely operations in the affected region. last week rose to their highest level had risen 18 percent in the first three Coke’s shareholders fell 4.5 percent percent to $10.28bn. owing to a pickup in the yen, while The shutdowns were also likely in nine weeks as interest rates on months of 2015. to $1.48bn, or 34 cents per share. Excluding the impact of acqui- imports were down about 15 percent. to impact the fragile economy, and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages hov- Coke’s sales in Europe declined Excluding items, Coke earned 45 sitions, divestitures and currency “The slump in export values is Tokyo’s faltering bid to boost growth, ered at their lowest level in more 1 percent to $1.20bn in the quarter cents per share, beating the aver- movements, total revenue rose 2 lowering firms’ revenues and profits dubbed Abenomics. than a year. ended April 1, accounting for nearly age analyst estimate of 44 cents, percent. 26 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,366.93 0.68 % QE Total Return Index 16,773.01 0.68 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,116.87 1.21 % QE All Share Index 2,892.12 0.71 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,753.08 0.42 % QE All Share Industrials 3,166.15 0.55 % QE All Share Transportation 2,572.35 0.22 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,684.02 1.89 % QE All Share Insurance 4,468.78 0.68 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,175.83 0.62 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,861.1 1.84 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 20-04-2016 Today 19-04-2016 Previous day Index 10,366.93 10,297.39 Change 69.54 65.87 % 0.68 0.64 YTD% 0.6 1.27 Volume 15,144,979 15,482,713 Value (QAR) 529,932,844.07 476,257,525.78 Trades 6,841 6,944 Up 25 | Down 13 | Unchanged 01

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5281.167 26.508 0.5 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4579.85 13.37 0.29 4586.11 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 18053.6 49.44 0.27 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 21236.31 -199.9 -0.93 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6208.83 -44.98 -0.72 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 33619.84 -109.78 -0.33 34154.7 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16906.54 32.1 0.19 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.2066 QR 5.2808 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 4.1181 QR 4.1765 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.8526 QR 2.9091 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.7665 QR 3.8201 Yen QR 0.0331 QR 0.0337 A C C-A/D 1469.95 5.4 14315 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.25 0.2 91371 Kajaria Cer-A/D 1059.7 13.7 4731 Til Ltd.-T/D 402 5.9 1231 Aus$ QR 2.8237 QR 2.8792 Aban Offs-A/D 184.8 2.2 162344 Escorts-A/D 172.35 0.95 241955 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 327.1 15.5 74938 Timexgroup-T/D 31.2 -0.85 16021 Ind Re QR 0.0545 QR 0.0556 Aegis Logis-B/D 111.05 -0.2 148171 Eveready Indu-/D 267.5 5.65 38120 Kalyani Stel-T/D 179 10 145019 Tinplate-B/D 74.25 3.05 161904 Alembic-B/D 37.35 0.4 94217 F D C-B/D 185.4 -2.85 4078 Kanoria Chem-B/D 65.8 -0.95 22506 Ucal Fuel-B/D 108.8 5 41400 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Alkyl Amines-B/D 319.9 -0.1 1252 Federal Bank-A/D 44 -1.1 425853 Kg Denim-B/D 90 -1.85 16884 Ultramarine-B/D 121.8 2.2 4495 Peso QR 0.0781 QR 0.0796 Alok Indus-A/D 4.96 0.21 1757770 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5 -0.02 54908 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 58 -0.4 26717 Unitech P -A/D 5.14 0.04 7613786 SL Re QR 0.0248 QR 0.0252 Apollo Tyre-A/D 169.2 -4.15 321756 Finolex-A/D 376 -3.45 8497 Kinetic Eng-B/D 92 -4.8 9279 Univcable-B/D 78.55 -2.05 1753 Taka QR 0.0460 QR 0.0470 Asahi I Glass-/D 162.35 -1.5 4877 Gail-A/D 367.05 7.6 137414 Kopran-B/D 52.45 0.55 107912 Uppergsugar-T/D 125.4 -6.5 51745 Nep Re QR 0.0341 QR 0.0347 Ashok Leyland-/D 108.15 -1.05 733464 Gammon India-T/D 12.48 0.12 115753 Lloyd Metal-B/D 27.15 -2.55 45175 LONDON Bajaj Hold-A/D 1500.05 0.35 2039 Garden P -B/D 23.15 -0.35 5443 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 4.9 -0.05 25262 SA Rand QR 0.2545 QR 0.2595 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.54 0.33 783286 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1176 -27 7799 Lupin-A/D 1572.25 1.15 76018 Bata India-A/D 554.5 3.1 21980 Goodricke-B/D 187.2 7.4 68482 Lyka Labs-T/D 86.3 -2.3 29889 3I Group/D 479.6 -2.6 293232 GOLD AND SILVER Bayer Crop-A/D 3718.15 -27.75 25804 Goodyear I -B/D 505 -9.1 6470 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 287 6 6292 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3379 -34 195256 Beml Ltd-A/D 946.5 -6 47895 Hcl Infosys-B/D 46.2 0.3 436493 Mah.Seamless-B/D 211.5 6.7 32866 Barclays/D 170.35 2.55 14476566 GOLD QR146.6608 per gramme Bh Electronic-/D 1198.5 -5.65 16481 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 18.95 0.2 1563465 Mangalam Cem-B/D 276.5 34.4 102406 Bp/D 360.0803 -2.85 13047001 SILVER QR2.0055 per gramme Bhansali Eng-T/D 20.5 0.9 75628 Himat Seide-B/D 209.4 -2.65 95121 Maral Overs-B/D 28 0.1 1190 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4261 -20 1072719 Bharat Bijle-B/D 944.25 -18.75 4772 Hind Motors-T/D 5.42 0.12 39228 Mastek-B/D 148.1 -6.3 104252 Bt Group/D 441.05 -10.05 10296519 Bharatgears-B/D 74.15 -1.2 3171 Hind Org Chem-/D 16.5 0.7 33481 Max Financial-/D 355 -2.7 7481 Centrica/D 236 -1.3 2575500 Bhartiya Int-B/D 460 4.9 5993 Hind Unilever-/D 902.6 5.9 63603 Mrpl-A/D 66.05 -1.05 74313 Gkn/D 302.9 7.2 4937178 Bhel-A/D 132.85 0.5 830751 Hind.Petrol-A/D 846.05 -22.45 85799 Nahar Spg.-B/D 100.65 -0.65 14370 Hsbc Holdings/D 464.2 10.15 15188994 Bom.Burmah-B/D 412.8 0.55 10646 Hindalco-A/D 101.75 4.65 2647173 Nation Alum -A/D 43.7 -1.5 542255 Kingfisher/D 359.7 -3.7 1318300 Qatar Exchange Bombay Dyeing-/D 49.25 0.45 335894 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1138.4 11.1 103804 Navneet Edu-B/D 89.5 0.6 19323 Land Secs Grou/D 1104 0 353506 Camph.& All-B/D 586 11.4 2034 I F C I-A/D 25.1 0.2 894900 Nepc India-T/D 1.52 0 13365 Legal & Genera/D 243.7 0 5725990 Canfin Homes-B/D 1230 -13.4 6817 Idbi-A/D 71.95 0.55 813161 Neuland Lab-B/D 748.75 3.75 2527 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 67.52 -0.33 54696951 index edges up Caprihans-Xc/D 90 1.5 10162 Ifb Agro-B/D 410.2 -2.9 1332 O N G C-A/D 209.9 2.15 194873 Marks & Sp./D 434.5 -0.3 1235266 Castrol India-/D 377.5 -1.45 62299 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 395.55 9 8580 Ocl India-B/D 501 -2 1897 Next/D 5400 -40 183986 Century Enka-B/D 192.8 1.6 11217 India Cement-A/D 89.85 -3.7 557599 Oil Country-B/D 29.1 -0.9 66619 Pearson/D 846 -0.5 453160 Reuters Century Text-A/D 630.95 12.9 202567 India Glycol-B/D 88.2 0.9 20503 Onward Tech-B/D 75 0.1 1778 Prudential/D 1410 -15.5 2042758 Chambal Fert-B/D 60.35 0.7 107129 Indian Card-B/D 226.1 10.6 2575 Orchid Pharm-B/D 41.25 0.05 96451 Rank Group/D 250 -3.3 46278 Chola Invest-A/D 782.6 -10.85 2773 Indian Hotel-A/D 105.1 -2.9 30373 Orient Hotel-T/D 22.95 -0.25 2280 Rentokil Initi/D 182.7 6 1406894 DUBAI: Most stock markets in the Gulf fell slightly yes- Chowgule St-T/D 19.23 0.91 2624 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1065.05 5 6161 Orient.Carb.-T/D 500 5.25 2735 Rolls Royce Pl/D 689 -7.5 1502141 terday with Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications and food Cimmco-B/D 74.5 1.3 4455 Indusind-A/D 989 1.2 37602 Orient.Carb.-T/D 500 5.25 2735 Rsa Insrance G/D 469.2 -1 455305 shares selling off after mixed earnings, while Egypt fol- Cipla-A/D 527.25 3.1 216060 J.B.Chemical-B/D 248.5 -0.8 6129 Oudh Sugar-B/D 78.05 -6 170129 Sainsbury(J)/D 291.7 -0.8 2794033 lowed global shares lower. City Union Bk-/D 93.55 -1.75 15710 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 81.75 -2.15 8460 Pacific Indu-B/D 124.9 9.9 6229 Schroders/D 2606 -18 75401 The Saudi telecommunications sub-index dropped Colgate-A/D 851.5 6.35 30943 Jagson Phar-B/D 36.9 0.4 17901 Punjab Chem.-B/D 172 -1.6 1102 Severn Trent/D 2221 -15 104972 3.3 percent, helping to push the overall stock index down Container Cor-/D 1370 39.1 15215 Jamnaauto-B/D 145.8 -2.5 54343 Radico Khait-B/D 90.85 2 162942 Smith&Nephew/D 1175 -18 672279 0.3 percent. Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) dropped 7.8 percent Dcm Shram Ind-/D 126.7 -6.3 4842 Jbf Indu-B/D 216.35 4 30534 Rallis India-A/D 202.05 10.1 118996 Smiths Group/D 1110 -7 411446 to SR29.50 despite swinging to a first-quarter profit of Dhampur Sugar-/D 86.9 -5.85 166099 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.3 -0.01 28925 Rallis India-A/D 202.05 10.1 118996 Standrd Chart /D 552.4 10.5 5796821 SR16.6m ($4.43m) from a loss of SR44.5m in the prior- Dr. Reddy-A/D 3107 15.5 16179 Jct Ltd-B/D 4.45 -0.24 1414015 Reliance Indus/D 433.3 2.6 59272 Tate & Lyle/D 605.5 -0.5 131186 year first quarter. Revenues of SR3.4bn were down 6 E I H-B/D 105.65 -1.45 11294 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 8.23 -0.3 46732 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.05 -0.7 54515 Tesco/D 180.35 -1.45 4788203 percent from a year ago - the lowest turnover since the E.I.D Parry-A/D 230 -8.15 109665 Jik Indust-B/D 0.88 -0.04 900129 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 500 -1.3 1330 Unilever/D 3318.5 -12.5 1149906 fourth quarter of 2014. Eicher Motor-A/D 20499.3 246.4 3106 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 86.9 0.45 316132 Saur.Cem-B/D 70.2 1.45 151218 United Util Gr/D 945.5 -10 532208 Saudi Telecom shed 0.4 percent to SR60.50 after it Electrosteel-B/D 18.9 0.5 140546 Jmc Projects-T/D 231.9 5.5 56054 Tanfac Indust-/D 28 0.8 2830 Vodafone Group/D 231.9 -0.45 18277016 missed analysts’ forecasts. Net profit for the first quar- ter dropped 5.2 percent because of rising costs; the firm Emco-B/D 27.6 0.6 19894 Kabra Extr-B/D 94.5 -1.85 2440 Thirumalai-B/D 210.5 0 4955 Whitbread/D 3863 68 488235 made a profit of SR2.38bn compared to analysts’ aver- age expectation of SR2.5bn. Savola Group, slumped 5.7 percent to SR39.70 after it reported an 80.3 percent drop in first-quarter net profit, missing analysts’ forecasts. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi fell 0.1 percent as Abu Dhabi European and US stocks consolidate gains as China falls Islamic Bank slumped 7 percent. It had surged 9.5 percent on Tuesday after Bloomberg reported ADIB planned to open its shares to foreign ownership, but after the mar- ket close the bank issued a statement saying it had no AFP after Kuwaiti oil workers ended you have, the less tough the pun- Paris, the CAC 40 was up 0.6 per- absence of a major economic shock such plan. Other large-cap banks were also sold, with their three-day strike, bringing ishment will be,” Halver said. cent at 4,591.92 points, while the like a bigger than expected fall in National Bank of Abu Dhabi falling 1.1 percent. oil prices back down as markets In London, meanwhile, the EURO STOXX 50 was up 0.95 per- the Chinese economy, the worst is Dubai’s stock index shed 0.5 percent, weighed down by adjust to the higher supply,” said FTSE 100 was practically flat. In cent at 3,142.52 points. behind us in the oil patch,” he said a 1.8 percent drop in Emirates NBD. On Tuesday, Dubai’s LONDON: Global shares mostly Jasper Lawler, analyst at traders Britain, new data showed that the US shares were slightly higher in a note to investors. largest lender said it had laid off around 300 people in consolidated recent gains yester- CMC Markets. unemployment rate had fallen to despite mixed earnings reports. Shanghai’s market was the recent weeks at two subsidiaries as it seeks to cope with day but some Asian markets fell as After sharp falls for Chinese its lowest level in more than a dec- Shares of soft drinks giant Coca- biggest loser, shifting 2.3 percent. a weaker economy. ENBD reported a first-quarter net oil prices dropped with the end of equities, Frankfurt’s DAX and the ade, but the jobless total has risen Cola sank more than 5 percent on a Analysts said there was specula- profit of Dh1.81bn ($492.8m), up 8 percent from the same a strike by crude workers in key CAC 40 in Paris closed with mod- for the first time in almost a year. drop in first quarter earnings. Chip- tion dealers were concerned that a period a year earlier. Builder Arabtec was up 0.6 per- producer Kuwait. est gains ahead of a meeting of the Kallum Pickering, of Berenberg maker Intel advanced 1.2 percent string of positive recent data from cent ahead of its shareholder meeting later in the day. Oil markets, which have taken European Central Bank today. bank, was upbeat, despite saying after saying it would trim 12,000 China, the world’s number two Qatar’s index added 0.7 percent to 10,367 points. centre stage since the weekend Volkswagen shares topped the the labour market had lost slightly jobs. Earnings in the first quarter economy, could prevent author- Qatar Islamic International Bank rose 1.6 percent after talks to tackle a global supply glut, Frankfurt gainers, rising 6.6 percent more momentum than expected in at Intel rose three percent to $2bn. ities there from unveiling more posting a 5.1 percent rise in first-quarter earnings to tumbled by around 2.0 percent in to €120.90, lifted by a Bloomb- February. “But considering that the The Dow was up 0.26 percent at stimulus measures. QR223.1m ($60.8m). earlier deals on the news from the erg News report that the troubled beginning of 2016 was the worst 18,100.55 points in afternoon trade. Elsewhere, Tokyo’s Nikkei Cairo’s main index fell 0.8 percent, following global Opec member country. German carmaker’s progress in start to a year in markets since 2008 Sheraz Mian, of Zacks Invest- ended the day 0.2 percent higher, shares lower as foreign investors sold Egyptian stocks, Prices later rebounded into fixing diesel emissions means it and EU referendum uncertainty is ment Research, said despite the with speculation that Japan’s bourse data showed. Real estate firm Porto Group positive territory following the pub- could avoid a trial in the US over looming over the UK, today’s data downturn in oil prices, he believed central bank will unveil fresh stim- plunged 8.3 percent and investment company Qalaa lication of a US crude inventory its cheating software, Baader Bank is somewhat encouraging,” he said the worst was over. “The commodi- ulus following last week’s double Holdings lost 4.3 percent. Showing continued concern report that showed US oil produc- analyst Robert Halver said. VW in a note to investors. ty’s day-to-day prices will continue earthquake, boosting sentiment. about Egypt’s foreign exchange shortage and the risk of tion continued to fall last week. shares were also boosted by Mit- In London, the FTSE 100 was reflecting headlines about the still- However, Mitsubishi Motors crashed a further devaluation, the Egyptian pound fell sharply “Asian markets got an early subishi’s admission that it had up 0.1 percent at 6,410.26 points; elevated global inventory levels and more than 15 percent on confir- on the black market to 11.35 against the US dollar yes- lift from a weak dollar and rising manipulated emissions tests. “The in Frankfurt, the DAX 30 was up noise coming out of Opec. mation it had conducted faulty terday from 11 a day earlier. oil price but gave up early gains thinking is that the more cheaters 0.7 percent at 10,421.29 points; in “But I strongly feel that in the emission tests. BUSINESS THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 27

HSBC in charm Iran struggles to find offensive to woo enough ships for oil exports China sceptics

By Lisa Jucca & has played a crucial role in Chi- Sinead Cruise na’s opening up to the world since Reuters the late 1970s, accounts for one quarter of the nation’s trade and has been known as the ‘workshop of the world’ for its production attling against sceptical and export of massive amounts Western investors, HSBC, is of garments, electronics and other Bon a mission to explain why products. The region, particularly its push into a slowing China is around the city of Shenzhen, is good for the global bank’s future now turning into a hub for inno- growth. vation and technology, as well as HSBC which reported flat developing a services sector that annual pre-tax profit in 2015, includes law, design and account- is betting that the Pearl River ing. Its $1.1 trillion in annual gross Delta region in southern China domestic product is already big- is succeeding in rapidly upgrad- ger than Indonesia’s. ing its economy from low-value During the road show, partic- manufacturing to high-growth ipants were introduced to local industries, creating big opportu- HSBC clients such as appliances nities to provide banking services. maker Medea and telecoms giant But overall negative senti- Huawei , according to the trip’s ment towards China has meant agenda. Other HSBC customers its shares, have dropped 26 per- in the region include DJI, a Shen- cent over the past year. zhen-based manufacturer that Malta-flagged Iranian crude oil supertanker ‘’Delvar’’ is seen anchored off Singapore March 1, 2012. In the run up to its annual supplies three quarters of the glo- shareholder meeting in London bal market for commercial drones on Friday, HSBC took analysts and thanks to its Phantom model. investors on a three-day tour of “The Pearl River Delta is a By Jonathan Saul & Parisa Hafezi many owners, who are not short of business back exports, he said: “Of course it does.” the Pearl River Delta, an area natural area for (HSBC) to be Reuters in a booming tanker market, are unwilling The strain on Iran’s fleet is partly with 60 million people just across operating in,” said Joost de Graaf to take Iranian cargoes. because it has struggled to gain access the border from Hong Kong. It’s at Amsterdam-based Kempen The main reason is that some US restric- to land storage sites around the world, as UK-based board went on a sim- Capital Management, which ran faces a struggle to increase oil tions on Tehran remain in place and prohibit sanctions shut it out of the international ilar tour of the region last year, owns shares in HSBC. “But the exports because many of its tankers are any trade in dollars or the involvement of US financial network, making it more reliant according to people familiar with issue that the majority of inves- tied up storing crude, some are not sea- firms including banks - a major hurdle for on floating storage than many oil-produc- the situation. tors will have is that (China) is not worthy, and foreign ship owners remain the oil and tanker trades, which are priced ing rivals including Saudi Arabia. HSBC, which is the largest a transparent market, and the lack Ireluctant to carry its cargoes. in dollars. The problem has been compounded bank in Hong Kong and currently of bankruptcy law or formal pro- Tehran is seeking to make up for lost Eight foreign tankers, carrying a total of by a global oversupply of oil, and the has 65 bank outlets in Guangdong cedure to repossess assets when trade to Europe following the lifting of EU around 8 million barrels of oil, have shipped industry sources estimated Iranian tank- province, which includes the Pearl clients default, makes it hard for sanctions imposed in 2011 and 2012, which Iranian crude to European destinations since ers were storing 45-50 million barrels of River Delta, is hoping to produce people to truly judge the health of deprived it of a market that accounted for sanctions were lifted in January, according unsold crude. Two other sources with $1bn a year in pre-tax-profit from the financial system.” over a third of its exports and left it relying to data from the tanker-tracking source and other leading oil tanker operators ech- the area. But some investors are Citi, which rates HSBC as its completely on Asian buyers. ship brokers. oed the concerns of Rodgers and White, doubtful given the economic top pick among UK banks, says Iran has 55-60 oil tankers in its fleet, That equates to only around 10 days’ and said they were not doing Iran deals at slowdown in China and a spike HSBC currently only makes a senior Iranian government official told worth of sales at the levels of pre-2012, when the moment. One of the two sources said in Chinese bad bank debt. $100m in the Pearl River Delta. Reuters. He declined to say how many European buyers were purchasing as much with a new U.S. president to take office HSBC’s growth plan envis- HSBC is the biggest foreign player were being used to store unsold cargoes, as 800,000 barrels per day (b/d) from the in January, tanker owners were unsure ages adding 4,000 employees to in China, where collective mar- but industry sources said 25-27 tankers Opec producer. So far no Iranian tankers whether there could be any change to the the Pearl River Delta area over ket share by foreign banks remain were parked in sea lanes close to terminals have made deliveries to Europe, according nuclear deal Washington and other world the next three-to-five years, and below 2 percent. including Assaluyeh and Kharg Island for to data from the tanker-tracking source. powers agreed with Iran which led to the it also plans to redeploy capi- To retain investors and attract this purpose. Paddy Rodgers, chief executive of end of sanctions. tal from other regions into Asia, funds that focus on dividend- Asked how many tankers were not sea- leading international oil tanker company “It does not appeal to them to take on though it is unclear how much of paying stocks, HSBC distributed worthy and needed to go to dry docks for Euronav, said at present there was “no great the risk and the uncertainty of the US that will target southern China. It about $10bn of its 2015 profit in refits to meet international shipping stand- urgency to do business in Iran”. connection and future US political pol- currently has around 1,500 bank dividends, offering a chunky 8 ards, the senior official said: “Around 20 “There is not a premium to do business icy that would come into play,” said the employees and 13,000 IT and sup- percent yield, one of the highest in large tankers ... need to be modernised.” in Iran and there is plenty of other business source, who declined to be named, cit- port staff in the Pearl River Delta. the global banking world. Gulliver A further 11 Ira- - the markets are busy, rates are good. So ing sensitivity over potential Iranian trade. Citi analyst Andrew Coombs, told Hong Kong shareholders at nian tankers from there is no stress on wanting to do it,” he told. Gavin Simmonds, of the UK Chamber who was on the trip, says HSBC the bank’s informal annual meet- the fleet were carry- “I don’t really want to set up a euro bank of Shipping trade association, said of the is looking to grow its branch ing on Monday that the bank is ing oil to Asian buyers account in Dubai in order to trade with Iran US presidential timing and the global oil network in the region to 100 also studying the possibility of a on Tuesday, accord- - that would crazy.” oversupply: “Iran is rejoining the market outlets, but HSBC will not com- buy back of its shares, which are ing to Reuters shipping Michele White, general counsel with at the worst possible time.” ment on that. “The bank’s Pearl now trading below book value. data and a source who INTERTANKO, an association which repre- Before 2012 Iran exported around 2 River Delta strategy is perfectly “My major concern, as I am Tehran is seeking to tracks tanker move- sents the majority of the world’s tanker fleet, million b/d, with more than half going to sensible,” said Ian Gordon, who sure it is to other investors, would make up for lost trade ments. That was broadly said: “We have witnessed a reluctance by Asia, mainly China, South Korea, India and heads bank research at Investec be whether they are able to main- to Europe following in line with the number our members generally to return to Iranian Japan. Tehran has been banned from sell- bank and was on the trip. “How- tain their dividend policy and consistently commit- trade given the prohibition on use of the US ing oil to the United States for decades. ever it will likely be three-plus balance sheet ratios during the the lifting of EU ted to Asian runs since financial system - essentially no US dollars.” The tanker industry has cited other years before we see any mean- Asian Pivot,” said Tony Jordan sanctions imposed sanctions were lifted in The senior Iranian government offi- problems posed by Iranian business. ingful incremental contribution. It at EFG Asset Management (UK), January, putting more cial, who declined to be named due to the Ship insurers have plugged a shortfall in does nothing to soften the impact which owns HSBC shares. in 2011 and 2012, strain on the remaining sensitivity of the matter, acknowledged his cover that had been caused by US rein- of near-term headwinds.” A securities joint venture due which deprived it of a available fleet. country was finding it difficult to hire for- surers being restrained by Washington’s Last year, HSBC made 83.5 to be launched in China, which market that accounted This means foreign eign tankers. sanctions, although tanker owners say it percent of its unadjusted pre-tax HSBC will majority own, will ships are needed for a big “We are working on the problems. There comes with risks and it could also be with- profits in Asia and 52 percent in give it the chance to offer serv- for over a third of its export push to Europe are various issues involved, financial, bank- drawn if, for instance, wider sanctions are Hong Kong alone. Its mainland ices ranging from investment exports and left it and elsewhere, said the ing and even insurance. It has improved a reimposed. “Shipping insurance is still a China banking profits, excluding banking and domestic securities industry sources, as Iran little bit since the lifting of sanctions but we problem. We see many buyers in the mar- associates, stood at $1.05bn. trading, where it faces stiff com- relying completely on looks to meet its target of still face serious problems.” ket still avoid buying from Iran,” Fereidun The Pearl River Delta, which petition from local lenders. Asian buyers. reaching pre-sanctions Asked if this and the need to modern- Fesharaki, founder of energy consultancy sales levels this year. But ise some of the domestic fleet was holding FGE, wrote in a note. Dreams of Draghi cash drop fade in Europe’s political abyss

By Jeff Black& Jeanna Smialek to people,” said Adair Turner, former chair- lawmakers that it can lead to a “compound- currently allowed in its statute. The required Bloomberg man of the UK Financial Services Authority ing Ponzi scheme.” His predecessor Mervyn approval by two-thirds of its members would and now a senior fellow at the Institute for King said in a Bloomberg Television inter- be a high hurdle to clear, Claeys said. New Economic Thinking. “In Europe, the view on Wednesday that central banks “have The dominant concern in some quarters moment you start talking about creating bought enough time and can do little more.” of Europe might be memories of hyperin- hould Mario Draghi ever want to start money and spending you get the question: Turner says firing up the printing press flation. The printing of money by Germany’s raining down helicopter money, the ‘Who’s going to get it?’ The fact that there seems like a good idea, as the currency union Reichsbank in the 1920s, in part to fund rep- SEuropean Central Bank president is is imperfect trust between those nations faces grave social and economic problems arations, destabilised the nation’s currency likely to struggle to get off the ground. just magnifies the problems of agreeing to that need to be aggressively tackled before and helped pave the way to Nazi rule. That In the debate over a form of stimulus that something which is technically possible and they break the consensus that holds it ultimately led to tight legal restraints on what many believe is at odds with the European economically required.” together. Yet policy makers, wearied by six the Bundesbank, and consequently the ECB, Union treaty, even the option with the fewest As the ECB Governing Council meets in years of sovereign debt crisis, fell out over can and can’t do. Some commentators think legal hurdles risks kicking off a political bat- Frankfurt, the debate over what could pos- Greece’s bailout in 2015 and this year has seen there’s a way around the letter of the law. In In the debate over a form tle that contributes to the euro’s demise. That sibly come next if the current round of bond discord over the refugee crisis and the UK’s a paper published this month, Deutsche Bank of stimulus that many view extends to economists who say such a purchases and negative rates fails to save the referendum on its EU membership. There’s AG economists led by George Saravelos said radical step is needed to stop the currency economy from deflation may seep into the little confidence that agreement could be the ECB could bypass governments entirely believe is at odds with the bloc from slipping into terminal decline. discussion. Officials haven’t hit their infla- reached over helicopter money even if condi- and send funds directly to the public. In the- European Union treaty, The analogy of a helicopter drop of free tion target in more than three years and tions deteriorate to the point that it warrants ory, that should raise nominal demand. In cash, conceived by US Nobel laureate Milton have repeatedly delayed the date by when serious consideration. Among ECB Governing practice, it would probably draw a backlash. even the option with the Friedman, has morphed into ideas ranging they expect to do so. The topic may come up Council members, consensus to approve the “It would be such an overt fiscal action fewest legal hurdles risks from coordinating monetary and fiscal pol- at Draghi’s post-meeting press conference. tool “would be very difficult to reach,” said that the legitimacy of the ECB would be icy to handing central bank-written checks Asked about helicopter money in March, he Gregory Claeys, an economist at the Bruegel undermined,” said Willem Buiter, chief econ- kicking off a political to citizens. The latter option is receiving the mused that it was “an interesting idea.” When institute in Brussels, who says depositing omist at Citigroup Inc. and an early advocate battle that contributes to most attention in the euro area, where states that caused a stir in some circles — Bundes- €1,000 ($1,137) into consumer bank accounts of helicopter money. “Central banks sending a the euro’s demise. are banned from running overdrafts at cen- bank President Jens Weidmann called the “would create a big boost in spending, and check to every man woman and child would tral banks or directly selling them bonds. idea “absurd” — ECB officials played down the this would have quite an effect on prices.” flout the principle that it’s parliaments who Strictly speaking, Article 123 of the Lisbon notion. Bank of England Governor Mark Car- For a start, the central bank would have take these decisions. I don’t think they could Treaty “does not exclude giving cash directly ney joined the debate on Tuesday, telling UK to create a new instrument beyond those politically survive it.” 28 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight In a world of look-alike cars, can Brent signals Japan pop culture heroes help? traders to release oil stocks By Norihiko Shirouzu & Naomi Tajitsu Reuters By John Kemp In practice, the transactions Reuters rarely match perfectly and there is often some residual risk, but cash and carry is still one of ome of Japan’s top carmakers, with a rep- the lowest risk and most pop- utation for quality performance wrapped rude oil storage helped ular trades in the physical oil in often bland design, are turning to the commodity traders and business. country’s pop culture to give them “J-fac- refiners make strong In late 2014 and again in late tor” and help set them apart in a world of profits last year and in 2015, traders and refiners raced Sincreasingly look-alike cars. Cthe first quarter of 2016 but now to buy as much crude as possible Designers of Nissan Motor’s GT-R supercar, for the price structure which made and put it into storage to profit example, borrowed from the popular “Gundam” sci- it possible is evaporating. from a big contango structure in fi anime franchise to give the pug-nosed $100,000 In a typical storage strat- the futures market. model a mechanical, robot-like appearance, with egy, known as “cash and carry”, But the strategy depends on a squared off rear and round tail lamps. traders buy physical crude and the contango remaining wide “Take a look at the car’s window and roof line. put it into storage in a tank farm, enough to cover all the costs of It doesn’t flow smoothly from front to rear, it’s bent. or more rarely on a tanker at financing and storing the phys- We wanted to express the awkward but cool, pow- sea. Traders simultaneously sell ical crude. erful shape of the Japanese anime robot,” global crude futures for a nearby con- As the contango in Brent design chief Shiro Nakamura told Reuters. tract, hedging their exposure in narrows sharply, strategies “We wanted to set us apart from Porsche, Fer- case prices fall while the oil is which depend on selling Brent rari and other supercars, which are designed to stored. futures are becoming unprof- mimic the streamlined beauty of a hunting ani- As the futures contracts itable (Hedge funds bet on mal, like a jaguar.” near expiry, traders buy them tightening oil market despite Nakamura, who has also designed for General back and sell more contracts Doha debacle, Reuters, April 19 ). Motors and Isuzu Motors, wants Japanese cultural for a date further in the future. To the extent traders and aesthetics to help Nissan cars stand out from the The strategy continues until the refiners are financing and crowd, noting that “globally, cars from the main- trader is ready to release the storing extra stock with Brent Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Nissan Motor Co, poses for stream brands have started to look more and more stocks back to the market. futures, the barrels are likely to alike.” a photo with Nissan Gripz concept car at the company’s Global Design Center in Atsugi, Japan. But the strategy only works be sold if the market remains “We stress Japan because we’re a Japanese if the futures market trades in in a narrow contango or moves brand,” he added. “Unless you derive design and Pikachu, the tough but cuddly hero of “Pokemon”, .conductor apologises if the train is 30 seconds late. contango, with contracts near deeper into backwardation. styling from your own cultural DNA, there’s no another popular, long-running Japanese anime At Nissan, Nakamura has experimented with expiry cheaper than those fur- In contrast, WTI futures chance for continuity, and you lack confidence.” series. a modern interpretation of Japanese pop culture’s ther forward. continue to trade in a much Nissan and others hope that efforts such as However, Toyota’s global design chief Tokuo affinity for cuteness. In a contango market, larger contango, which contin- these can help them differentiate in a market where Fukuichi said the resemblance was not necessar- He says he has been told that the Nissan Juke, traders are constantly buying ues to make financing physical so many of today’s cars are difficult to tell apart. ily intended, and was more to do with engineers’ a mini-SUV, looks not unlike Monkey D. Luffy, a lower-priced contracts and sell- oil stocks profitable. Brent is “Efficiencies of mass production, economies efforts to improve the car’s aerodynamics. piratical lead character with a large grin in Japa- ing higher-priced ones, making used in cash and carry strat- of scale, brand globalisation, a risk-averse corpo- For Toyota, and especially its premium Lexus nese anime “One Piece”. a profit on the difference. egies outside North America rate culture, a car’s ergonomics, and infrastructure brand, the J-factor is more in the car’s function- He says he has no issues with this, though any The profit from the futures while WTI is employed mostly and regulatory constraints all play into this phe- ality than its styling, Fukuichi said: “the way the likeness was unintended. half of the transaction pays for for storage trades in the US. nomenon,” said Richard Kong, managing partner doors open and shut and how knobs and switches “That ... cutesiness is also Japanese pop cul- all the costs of borrowing money The sharp narrowing of at Montaag, a California-based design firm, who and the steering wheel feel when you touch them.” ture DNA (that) we try to convey in some of our to buy the physical oil and Brent spreads suggests specu- was previously a chief designer at Ford’s Lincoln “Ahead of how the car looks we try to put the cars while keeping them modern,” Nakamura said, arranging storage. Provided the lative physical stocks in Europe, brand and also worked at BMW’s design subsidiary. importance of visibility to reduce blind spots, for referencing also the Cube microvan, which is boxy physical and financial transac- Asia and on tankers at sea will Others, too, are searching for that J-factor. example. We stress the craftsmanship. That’s our and squat but has a modern look and an asymmet- tions are exactly matched there be the first sold, while stock- At Toyota Motor, the front grille and angled LED DNA and J-factor,” he said, referencing a national rical wraparound rear window. is an opportunity to make a risk- holding in the US remains headlamps on the latest version of the hybrid Prius culture where a bullet train stops at the platform “Symmetry is a Western concept,” he said. “Jap- less profit. profitable for now. C are said to make the hatchback look a little like within just 10 cms of where it should, and the anese are more comfortable with imbalance.”

There is a global wave of pulling back to Saurabh Mukherjea, Capital your home turf. We’ll need to see now Chief Executive Officer of if other Tata group companies will do a institutional equities at Ambit Comment similar pullback overseas Capital Pvt Ltd. in Mumbai

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Name in the Market Fitch Ratings @ HEARD ON THE STREET FitchRatings ALIBABA’S CROSS-BORDER DEALS China Debt-Equity Swap Plan Would Be The demise of an oil freeze Negative for Banks with little fundamental impact hits sentiment but leaves a IIF @IIF market undergoing slow, self- Technologies are repair effectively unchanged. It set to spur a trans- reinforces one, key message: The formation of the worst may be over but there is no asset and wealth management quick fix. industry

Reuters Business @ ReutersBiz DealB%k Volkswagen resists demand from U.S. plaintiffs to go to trial instead of EPA settlement Abuse of interest rates and the failure to address the problem IMF @IMFNews is one of the most expensive scandals to hit Wall Street since #IMFMeetings panel: forecast for emerging the financial crisis. markets may not be as gloomy as you think www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 32 PAGE | 35 Arsenal seek Bolt eyes top-four spark triple ‘threepeat’ against West Brom at Rio Olympics

THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 • 14 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

SEALINE CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY 2016 RESULTS OF SS3 Qatar’s Nasser Saleh CARS Al Attiyah and his 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) French navigator Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 3hr 19min 33sec Matthieu Baumel 2. Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) of Toyota Hilux Mini All4 Racing : 3hr 20min 13sec Overdrive team 3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) in action during Mini All4 Racing : 3hr 38min 07sec the third Special 4. Ricardo Porém (POR)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) Mini All4 Racing : 3hr 44min 50sec Stage of the Sealine 5. Yuriy Sazonov (KAZ)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR) Hummer H3 III : 3hr 49min 33sec Cross-Country Rally yesterday. INSET: BIKES Great Britain’s Sam 1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Rally : 4hr 03min 10sec Sunderland riding 2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally : 4hr 05min 08sec his KTM 450 during 3. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha WR450 : 4hr 14min 15sec yesterday’s stage. 4. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) Yamaha WR450F : 4hr 15min 23sec 5. Jose Cornejo (CHI) KTM 450 Rally : 4hr 18min 04sec

QUADS 1. Ignacio Casale Catracchia (CHI) Yamaha Raptor 700 SE : 4hr 55min 49sec 2. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 : 5hr 17min 08sec OVERALL POSITIONS AFTER SS2: CARS Al Attiyah, Casale extend 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive : 8hr 28min 37sec 2. Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Mini All4 Racing : 8hr 37min 13sec 3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing : 9hr 22min 06sec dominance at Sealine 4. Ricardo Porém (POR)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) Mini All4 Racing : 9hr 42min 30sec 5. Yuriy Sazonov (KAZ)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR) Hummer H3 III : 9hr 50min 42sec 6. Jutta Kleinschmidt (DEU)/Philipp Beier (DEU) X-raid CBRA : 10hr 07min 09sec and Pablo Quintanilla are tied own after three days of com- “In the end it seemed to be three female QMMF-supported 7. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor (POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive : 10hr with both of them clocking a petition and were separated by quite predictable. I arrived with rookies in their T1 Nissan Patrols. 48min 8. Yerdan Shagirov (KAZ)/Vitaliy Yevtyekkhov (RUS) The Qatari time 10hr 58min 38sec. seconds throughout the entire Pablo together,” said Sunderland. Kiwi Emma Gilmour had passed H3 Evo V : 11hr 02min 32sec legend closes Al Attiyah and Quintanilla stage, a minor navigational error Ignacio Casale maintained PC4 at 3pm in 18th overall on 9. Hernan Garces (CHI)/Juan Pablo Latrach (CHI) Ford Ranger : 11hr 19min 20sec in on another recorded stage wins under very near the end costing the Saudi a a comfortable lead over Rafal Wednesday afternoon. French 10. Adel Hussein Abdullah (QAT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) different circumstances. Over- potential stage win. Third-placed Sonik in the quad category, girl Charlotte Berton and Span- Nissan Patrol (T2) : 11hr 23min 06sec international night motorcycle leader Toby Vladimir Vasilyev is now 53min although the Pole stopped at the iard Cristina Gutierrez were rally title while Price retired with a back injury 29sec adrift of the Qatari in his scene of a crash involving fellow progressing well after massive BIKES before the restart and that ena- Mini All4 Racing. Sonik Team rider Julian Villar- early delays and were 21st and 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally : 10hr 58min 38sec Sunderland and bled Sunderland and Quintanilla “I lost the way a little, but we rubia near the stage start. That 25th overall through PC3. 1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Rally : 10hr 58min 38sec to utilise their favourable start- had a good run without any prob- time should be returned to the Today is the penultimate day Quintanilla set up 3. Juan Carlos Salvatierra (BOL) KTM 450 Replica : 11hr 19min 36sec ing positions to catch their rivals lems,” said Al Attiyah. recent Abu Dhabi Desert Chal- of this year’s event and compet- bike showdown and edge into a shared lead, with “I am quite happy. This is our lenge winner at the evening’s FIM itors will face the rigours of a 4. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha WR450 : 11hr 24min 54sec both riders tied to the second. plan. We do same speed and we Jury meeting at Losail. 354.75km selective section that 5. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) Husqvarna 450 Rally : 11hr 30min 18sec Quintanilla claimed the stage keep everyone behind. Just one Local driver Adel Hussein starts at Al Shabana (first bike win by 1min 58sec, although the slow puncture for the last 100km, Abdullah began the stage with a at 07.15hrs) and finishes close to QUADS The Peninsula nature of cross-country motor- but we kept on going.” solid advantage over Saudi’s Yasir the former bivouac at Sealine. 1. Ignacio Casale Catracchia (CHI) Yamaha Raptor 700 SE : 2hr 32min 32sec cycle racing dictates that he may Motorcycle stage winner Seaidan in the T2 category for The stage initially heads north 2. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 : 13hr 08min 10sec give some or all of that back to his Quintanilla said: “Today was Series Production Cross-Coun- towards Al Jamilaiya, using some KTM rival on Thursday. really difficult for me. I damaged try Vehicles in his Nissan Middle of the terrain from the first day, DOHA: Qatar’s multi-talented Al Attiyah and French navi- the rear wheel on a big jump near East-supported Patrol. He ceded and then cuts back across the racing icon Nasser Saleh Al Atti- gator Matthieu Baumel led from the start and drove like that until 4min 40sec of that hard-earned heart of Qatar between Dukhan yah and Chile’s Ignacio Casale the front of the car field and pro- the refuel. I did not think I could lead on the day’s stage and heads and Doha. The closing kilometres took the lead the respective car gressed in a sensible manner to make it. Then, at the refuelling, I into the final two specials with an then venture through the dunes and quad categories after the win the special by 40 seconds stop and the team changed the advantage of 4min 06sec on the eastern side of the coun- Al Attiyah to lead a third and longest selective sec- and propel their Toyota Hilux wheel. I was lucky to finish the Carlo Cinotto pipped Michele try to finish close to the former tion of the Sealine Cross-Country Overdrive to an outright lead race. I am happy. It was good Cinotto to the T3 stage win in his bivouac at Sealine. Rally yesterday. of 8min 36sec over Saudi Ara- stage. We have two more days Polaris RZR 1000s and held the The fans can follow the Rally star-studded line up In the motorcycles category, bia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi. The two to go. For sure, it is going to be class lead at the end of the day. live on http://qmmf.cronoban- the race leaders Sam Sunderland rivals remain in a class of their really tough.” It was a fraught day for the deira.com at Jordan Rally

AAB powers Overdrive Racing Team The Peninsula

AMMAN, Jordan: Qatar’s 11-time regional driving champion The Peninsula will be bidding for a fourth victory Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah will be the cynosure of all eyes at the in five years on the Sealine event Jordan Rally, the third round of the FIA Middle East Rally Cham- and a third successive win with pionship which will be held from May 5 to 7. French navigator Matthieu Baumel. Jordan Motorsport unveiled a quality line-up of drivers for DOHA: Abdullah Abdulghani and “Everyone at Overdrive is the three-day event. Brothers (AAB), Toyota’s exclu- delighted to welcome Nasser back The Qatari star leads the line and will be out to prove sive dealer in Qatar, and overdrive for two of the most demanding ral- that he has plenty left in the tank after more than a decade Racing, a Belgium based interna- lies in the FIA World Cup calendar,” of domination. tional raving logistics and vehicle said Overdrive Racing’s team direc- He will be joined in Jordan by several compatriots, includ- modification company, announced tor Jean-Marc Fortin. ing second seed Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Khalid Al Suwaidi and that Toyota was the single-largest “We are delighted to have Rashed Al Nuami. entry brand in the FIA Cross Coun- Nasser El Attiyah back in harness Jordan’s charge will be led by 2014 National Champion try Rally world cup in one of our cars and I am sure that Husam Salem, who finished third last year, and reigning Qatar’s esteemed rally driver he will be looking for the outright national champion Khaled Juma. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah has made win or a podium at least.” There will also be drivers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Leb- a sensational return to Overdrive R K Murugan, AAB Chief Oper- anon and Turkey along with co-drivers from France, Ireland, Racing while driving a Toyota ating Officer stated in a press Poland, Cyprus and Finland to bring a truly international fla- Hilux for the Belgian team in the conference that was held in Toy- vour to the event. Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and ota Showroom “We at Abdullah “We are looking forward to hosting a top class rally,” said in Sealine Cross-Country Rally, Abdulghani and Brothers Company, Othman Nassif, the CEO for Jordan Motorsport and Chairman the second and third rounds of are happy to support the Overdrive of the Organising Committee. the 2016 FIA Cross-Country Rally Racing Team for their entire logis- “Nasser will undoubtedly start as favourite but it will be World Cup. tics requirement in Qatar. We take interesting to see how close the other regional and local driv- Al Attiyah drove for the team in this opportunity to wish the team ers can push him,” he added. 2012 and won the Sealine Cross- members all the best and we are The Jordan Rally gets underway with a special spectator Country Rally in an Overdrive sure that the Overdrive Racing event on the afternoon of May 5, followed by two days of exhil- Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah of Toyota Hilux Overdrive team (left) poses for a photograph Toyota, one season after taking the Team will come out as the winners arating action on some of the best routes to be found anywhere first of his two Dakar Rally titles. He as last year”. with the Abdullah Abdulghani and Brothers Company officials. in the world of rallying. 30 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 SPORT

FIFA chief Infantino heads to Qatar after visit to Russia

Agencies wrapping up a two-day visit to Russia Russia can sit down and wait until the desire to promote the wonderful reiterated that Russia would not be in which he gave an overall positive FIFA CHIEF VISITS QATAR summer of 2018,” Infantino told ideals of football, which is probably stripped of the tournament in spite assessment of the state of prepara- reporters. the most popular sport in the world,” of the controversy. tions for the 2018 World Cup. Russia’s preparations for the RIA Novosti state news agency quoted “The World Cup 2018 will take MOSCOW: FIFA President Gianni The head of football’s world gov- two World Cup venues during his visit World Cup appear to be broadly on Putin as telling Infantino. place in Russia, of course,” he said. Infantino will arrive in Qatar today erning body told Putin that he had - said Tuesday that preparations were target despite delays being reported at Putin added that Russia would use “The decision has been taken six to meet with government officials and seen “progress” in Russia’s prepa- “on track” but warned that hard work some of the stadiums being built and the World Cup to “build relations” with years ago almost. It is now my job as the organising committee of the 2022 rations to host the tournament and lay ahead to ensure the tournament the FIFA corruption scandal casting participant countries. FIFA president together with minis- Football World Cup. praised the government for its work, is a success. clouds over the tournament. Speaking at a joint press con- ter Mutko and the Russian population Infantino met with the Russian Russian news agencies reported. “If I compliment Russia it doesn’t “We fought for the right to host ference with sports minister Vitaly to make sure that we deliver the best President Vladimir Putin yesterday, Infantino - who visited Moscow’s mean that as of today or tomorrow this major event openly, honestly, with Mutko earlier yesterday, Infantino ever World Cup in Russia.” Luneng send ACL: Lekhwiya eliminate Bunyodkor Sanfrecce

range, while at the other end goal- Hiroshima The Qatar Stars keeper Amine Lecomte pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Otabek Shuku- packing League side hopeful rov’s attempt from 30 yards out. of a place in the Just before the half hour mark Afif went close again, but this time Bunyo- The Peninsula Round of 16 after dkor goalkeeper Murotjon Zukhorov 2-0 win in Tashkent was on hand to push his side-footed effort to safety. JINAN: China’s Shandong Luneng Jurica Buljat tried his luck from secured their progression to the outside the area in the 58th minute, last 16 of the AFC Champions The Peninsula only for the ball to sail over the cross League after their Brazilian mid- bar before Lekhwiya took the lead fielder Diego Tardelli scored the seven minutes later. only goal of the game to send Nam Tae-hee’s attempted through Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima pack- TASHKENT: Qatar Stars League side ball was redirected by the Bunyod- ing in Group F yesterday. Lekhwiya maintained their push for kor defence into the path of Boudiaf, The Chinese Super League a place in the Round of 16 of the 2016 and his first-time effort beat Zukhorov knew from the beginning that AFC Champions League yesterday at the near post to put the visitors in a win against their Japanese when goals from Karim Boudiaf and front. counterparts yesterday would Mohammed Muntari secured a 2-0 win Four minutes later, Nam almost guarantee their safe passage to the over Group B rivals Bunyodkor. doubled his side’s lead, only to shoot knockout stage for the first time The victory by the Qatari side also across the face of goal, while the Korea since 2005. made sure that the semi-finalists in the Republic international was involved The home team opened the AFC Champions League in 2008 and again in the 74th minute when his scoring on 10 minutes at Jinan 2012 are eliminated from this year’s one-two with Boudiaf allowed the Olympic Sports Centre through tournament. goal scorer to fire off a shot that came Brazilian striker Tardelli’s well- Captain Boudiaf struck in the back off Zukhorov’s left post. timed header. 65th minute before Muntari sealed By the 78th minute, however, The visitors dominated the the result 2 minutes from time and Lekhwiya had claimed a deserved possession after the interval, the win moves Djamal Belmadi’s side second as Yousef Msakni slipped the but Sanfrecce substitute Yusuke on to eight points with only one match ball into the path of Mohammed Mun- Minagawa spurned their best remaining in the group phase. tari and the young Qatar international opportunity as Shandong sealed Bunyodkor needed to win to have struck his left foot shot under Zukhorov second place behind Korea any hope of staying alive in the com- and into the bottom corner. Republic’s FC Seoul, who claimed petition and the defeat leaves them There was no way back for Bunyo- top spot with a 2-1 win against stranded at the bottom of the stand- dkor and Lekhwiya go into their Thailand’s Buriram United in yes- Lekhwiya’s Mohamed Muntari (left) and Bunyodkor’s defender Rustamjon Ashurmatov vie for the ball ings on two points. meeting with the Uzbek side in Doha terday’s other Group F fixture. Lekhwiya had the first chance of in two weeks’ time harbour strong during their 2016 AFC Champions League encounter played at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan “We lost to FC Seoul five weeks the game after just seven minutes when hopes of advancing to the knockout yesterday. Lekhwiya maintained their push for a place in the Round of 16 of the tournament when goals ago, then we lost to Hangzhou in Ali Afif volleyed over the bar from close phase once again. from Karim Boudiaf and Mohamed Muntari secured a 2-0 win against their Group B rivals. the CSL; I said then that we had problems in defence and we had to work on it,” said Shandong coach Mano Menezes, whose side will face already-eliminated Bur- Red Diamonds, Sydney FC eliminate defending champs iram United on Matchday Six next month. Shandong started on the front foot and came within inches of The Peninsula backfoot at the start of the contest taking the lead on eight minutes with Yuki Muto threatening twice when Wu Xinghan headed Walter for Urawa inside the first 10 minutes. Montillo’s chipped cross from the The home side, though, came right narrowly wide after getting to SYDNEY: Japan’s Urawa Red Dia- into the contest as the half pro- the ball ahead of advancing goal- monds secured a berth in the next gressed and captain Sebastian keeper Takuto Hayashi. round of the AFC Champions League Ryall sliced over the crossbar after But shortly after Tardelli did for the first time since reaching the 15 minutes. put the hosts in front when he 2008 semi-finals after a goalless Milos Dimitrijevic was then rose above the Sanfrecce defence draw with fellow knockout stage- denied by the legs of Urawa goal- to head home Zheng Zheng’s free- bound side Sydney FC from Australia keeper Shusaku Nishikawa after kick from the left for his third goal yesterday. The result also eliminated 30 minutes before Chris Naumoff of the campaign and second in two defending champions Guangzhou flashed an effort just wide of the games against the J.League side. Evergrande as well as Korea Repub- post from the edge of the penalty Sanfrecce finally managed lic’s Pohang Steelers. area six minutes later after cutting an effort on goal after 30 minutes Guangzhou’s 2-0 win over in from the right. when Yusuke Chajima broke for- Pohang on Tuesday had confirmed The second half, though, was ward before skewing his shot from Sydney’s first appearance in the a much tighter affair as both sides 20 yards well wide. Round of 16, but Graham Arnold’s struggled to dominate. Then four minutes before the side were unable to record the The visitors could have snatched interval Shandong goalkeeper fourth consecutive win which would all three points with just over 10 Wang Dalei was down quickly to have sealed top spot in Group H minutes remaining, but Sydney goal- push Tsukasa Shiotani’s effort from with a game to spare although it keeper Vedran Janjetovic stood tall outside the penalty area wide as was a third cleansheet in a row for for the home side to deny Urawa sub- it headed towards the bottom left the A-League side. stitute Shinzo Koroki with a fabulous corner. The draw, though, was enough point blank save. Shandong were back in the for Urawa to secure at least second “Overall I thought we did very ascendency early in the second place with the 2007 AFC Champions well tonight. They are a very diffi- half, though, as Liu Binbin got League winners heading into next cult team to play against. As I said on the end of Hao Junmin’s deep month’s final round of fixtures two before the game yesterday, they are cross from the left, but his header Kohrogi Shinzoh (centre) of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds manoeuvres past Brandon O’Neill (left) and Aaron points behind Sydney, who face Chi- very mobile, they have six or seven from a narrow angle missed the na’s Guangzhou while the J.League national team players. We had four Calver of Sydney FC in their AFC Champions League football match played in Sydney yesterday. target. side entertain Pohang. 20 year olds out there, I thought we Needing to avoid defeat to stay “I felt it was a very good game did very well,” said Sydney coach in the tournament, the visitors and both teams played very well,” Arnold. “We go to Guangzhou and began to control the possession said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic. I have to think seriously about what Jiangsu FC move ahead with 3-0 win but struggled to create chances “We knew and expected how team I take, because we have five as the Shandong backline sat back. Sydney would come out today. We players with a yellow card, so if we Then with 20 minutes remain- expected them to use the long ball take them to Guangzhou and they ing, Kohei Shimizu’s ambitious to the tall, physical strikers and I get booked, they will miss the last 16. The Peninsula after just six minutes before Jo added And just a minute later Jiangsu were attempt from the left corner of the think we defended very well against So I have to think hard about what a second shortly after. Jiangsu’s dom- two goals up as Teixeira found over- penalty area flew past Wang’s right these players. “We also created a lot to do with that. inance lessened in the second period lapping right-back Zhou Yun with a post as Sanfrecce again failed to of chances and a couple of clear cut “It was a real tactical battle but they still added a third with 10 glorious long ball from the halfway trouble the hosts. chances, but I’m very happy that we tonight, it was a difficult game tac- NANJING: A superlative performance minutes remaining through substi- line and the defender’s cross in from Shandong could have sealed came away with a draw and that tically and I thought the players from Alex Teixeira helped Jiangsu FC tute Ji Xiang. Despite the rain pounding the right was poked in at the back-post the win six minutes from time we both qualify through to the next played very well. “We created his- move into second in Group E as they down in Nanjing at the saturated Olym- by a sliding Jo. when Tardelli raced on to Wang’s round. “Hopefully we play each other tory at Sydney FC by getting into the edged close to a place in the AFC pic Sports Centre, Jiangsu were the Teixeira and Han Seung-yeop then huge kick up field only to see his again by winning the next round, last 16 for the first time. We wanted Champions League Round of 16 after aggressors from the start with pre-sea- exchanged chances at either end fol- effort blocked by the outrushing that’s my opinion.” to win tonight to take that first spot. yesterday’s 3-0 win over Becamex son marquee signing Teixeira dictating lowing the hour, before second half Hayashi. Sydney had already secured Once you get to the last 16,the most Binh Duong which saw the Vietnam- play for the hosts. replacement Ji made certain of the three And a minute later Sanfrecce’s qualification for the last 16 prior important thing about coming first ese champions eliminated. Brazilian Ramires clipped a pass points and Binh Duong’s elimination Minagawa should have done bet- to kick-off following Guangzhou’s is having the home game second, The Brazilian playmaker had a into the path of Wu who dinked the ball as he drilled home an angled shot on ter when he fired well over from 10 win over Pohang on Tuesday, but the because it doesn’t matter who you part to play in all three goals for the over the onrushing Binh Duong goal- 80 minutes after a lay-off from Jo with yards after Takumi Shiotani picked home side found themselves on the play against, they’re all top teams.” hosts as Wu Xi opened the scoring keeper Bui Tan Truong to score the first. Teixeira again at the heart of the move. him out with a perfect cut-back. SPORT THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 31

Wenger warns against ‘negative Ibra fires PSG into environment’

Reuters

French Cup final LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says The Emirates stadium is in danger of becoming face Lille in the League Cup final this the objective and we did it. We were a “negative environment” with weekend. not great and neither was the pitch swathes of season ticket hold- Cup holders and Ibrahimovic picked up the ball but we did the necessary,” he told ers expected to miss Thursday’s Ligue 1 champions from a Di Maria pass and ran straight French television. Premier League clash with West will now face either at goal from 40 yards out before curl- PSG became the first team to bow Bromwich Albion. ing a shot with the outside of his right out of the Champions League at the Wenger’s side were booed off second tier Sochaux boot around Lorient goalkeeper Ben- quarter-final stage for four years in after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Pal- or arch rivals jamin Lecomte from the edge of the a row when they were beaten 3-2 ace on Sunday left the Gunners area. on aggregate by Manchester City fourth in the table, 13 points adrift Marseille in the Everyone had been expecting the last week. of leaders Leicester City. title clash Swede to pass but instead he racked Marseille, who fired coach Michel With their title hopes all but up a 43rd goal in all competitions this on Tuesday, have the chance to put a over for another season, Arse- season. silver lining on an otherwise woeful nal’s priority is now Champions Ligue 1’s 11th placed side Lorient campaign when they go to second- League qualification via a top-four had put up little to worry the Paris- tier Sochaux in the second semi-final. finish which they should manage, AFP ians until then but second string OM slipped to a 2-1 defeat at although failure to beat West Brom keeper Salvatore Sirigu made a cru- Monaco on Sunday night as their could threaten even that limited cial late save when called upon. winless run in the league extended ambition. Both Ibrahimovic and strike part- to 10 matches. With north London rivals Tot- PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a ner Edinson Cavani went close as PSG Michel has been replaced until tenham Hotspur in second place typically brilliant goal as Paris Saint- peppered the Lorient goal in the first the end of the season by his assist- and still in with a chance of win- Germain beat Lorient 1-0 away in a half after coach Laurent Blanc had ant Franck Passi, who will be helped ning the title, Arsenal fans have French Cup semi-final on Tuesday. put out a strong side. by club legend Basile Boli, recently become increasingly disenchanted The Cup holders and Ligue 1 PSG midfielder Blasie Matuidi working as an ambassador for the with the team and Wenger has champions will now face either deflected suggestions it had been a club. called on them to stand behind second tier Sochaux or arch rivals close game saying his side had always Sochaux have picked up some big the players. Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates Marseille in the final. been comfortable. scalps this season though in their run “I want our fans to be happy The Parisians are bidding for a “We’re in the final for the second to the last four, having seen off Nantes after scoring a goal during the French Cup semi-final football match and when they are not, it affects second successive clean sweep of year running, two finals for the sec- in the quarter-finals and Monaco in against Lorient (FCL) at Moustoir Stadium in Lorient, western France me,” Wenger told a news con- the domestic honours in France and ond year running in fact. That was the last 16. on Tuesday. ference on Wednesay. “You do not want to play in a negative environment... “We are responsible for the performance of the team and it is true that, at the moment, it is ‘One-season wonder’ tag inspired Kane to lead title push not a highlight. “I hope in the next years, Arsenal will always play in the Agencies “It’s not a case of: ‘OK, I’m happy where I ‘Rest of the World’ side as the former Chelsea top three and, hopefully, people am’. I want to go and get more goals, create my bosses clash at Old Trafford on June 5 in a char- won’t get disenchanted.” chances for the team and do my best for Tot- ity match for UNICEF. Tickets have been put on tenham Hotspur.” Mourinho, who was sacked by Chelsea in general sale for the West Brom LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Tottenham reduced the deficit to leaders December after a Premier League loss to Rani- match, a rarity for Arsenal home Kane’s (pictured) determination to prove his Leicester City to five points after Monday’s 4-0 eri’s Leicester City, will have Sunderland boss games, and Wenger accepts the doubters wrong after a slow start to the cam- away win over Stoke City but Kane is aware that Sam Allardyce in the dugout as his assistant. fans’ patience has been severely paign has driven the England international to the north London side probably need to win “I want to be the first one to win the Soc- tested after his team’s a run of the top of the scoring charts in a remarkable all of their remaining games to pip the Foxes cer Aid trophy for both teams,” said Mourinho, only four wins in their last 13 season for the player and his club. to the title. who led the ‘Rest of the World’ to a 4-2 vic- league matches. Kane scored 31 goals in a stunning break- “All we can do is keep doing what we’re tory in 2014. “Everybody is free to do what through campaign last year but was the subject doing. We’ve got to win all our games. We want “Sam and I will make a very good partner- he wants with his season ticket,” of some negative headlines when he found the to win all four of them and then we will go from ship and it will be a great feeling for Claudio to Wenger said. “We have to live net just once in his first 13 appearances for Mau- there,” Kane said. finally lose a match,” added the 53-year-old, with that. ricio Pochettino’s men this term. “Leicester have got some tough games com- who has been tipped in the British media to “It’s a Thursday night, it’s The 22-year-old soon rediscovered his ing up. They’re in the driving seat. All we can take over at either Manchester United or Paris unusual. We just had a disap- scoring touch, however, and now has a Pre- do is keep winning our games... I’m sure we’ll St Germain. pointing result at home, maybe mier League-leading 24 goals as second-placed push them all the way.” Meanwhile, Ranieri, who has led Leices- that plays a part as well. Is the Spurs continue their bid to end a 55-year wait Spurs host 14th-placed West Bromwich ter’s unexpected title charge this campaign, disillusionment more pro- for a top flight title. Albion at White Hart Lane on Monday, after is looking to inflict another loss for Mourinho. nounced? Yeah, maybe.” “There was a lot of talk at the start of the Leicester take on 15th-placed Swansea City at “It is a great honour that (singer and match Arsenal won the FA Cup for season. It fuelled the fire in my belly to want the King Power Stadium a day earlier. organiser) Robbie Williams has asked me to the last two seasons but have fin- to prove them wrong and I’ve gone and done Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s next manage- manage the Rest of the World XI and I’m look- ished in the Premier League top that. It doesn’t stop here for me,” Kane told Brit- rial role has been revealed with the Portuguese ing forward to helping them defend their title,” two just once since their last title ish media. leading ‘England’ against Claudio Ranieri’s Ranieri said. success in 2004.

Asian Snooker Championship H earing scheduled in Sharapova’s case, says ITF president

AP

LAUSANNE: A disciplinary hear- ing has been scheduled in Maria Sharapova’s doping case, with a ruling possible before Wimble- don starts. International Tennis Feder- ation president David Haggerty said yesterday that its doping cases typically take “two to three months” to process. That could Sohail Shehzad from Pakistan in action during his game at the Asian Snooker Championship at Qatar Billiards and deliver a verdict in June. Haggerty said he has not been Snooker Federation Academy yesterday. More than 55 players from 20 countries are taking part in the seven-day told details by the federation’s championship under 12 groups in the preliminary rounds. BELOW: Indian cueist Ishpreet Singh Chadha takes his Five-time Grand anti-doping tribunal, including aim. Pictures by: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula when and where the hearing will Slam tennis be held. champion Maria Sharapova was provisionally Sharapova suspended after announcing on March 8 that she tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Some athletes among nearly 200 Croatian umpire who continued Open in January. who have tested positive claim to work, including at the 2015 U.S. The Russian said she had been they had not taken the drug this Open, while he was serving a one- prescribed the blood-flow boost- year. year suspension which was never ing drug since 2006, and had been Haggerty said Sharapova’s publicly disclosed. unaware the World Anti-Doping case “will continue to he heard.” On potential match-fixing Agency had prohibited its use from “For her, given her levels (of cases, the Tennis Integrity Unit Jan. 1. meldonium), it is not even a ques- received more than 40 alerts Russian officials want Shara- tion,” incoming WADA director of suspicious betting patterns pova to play at the Rio de Janeiro general Olivier Niggli told The in matches played in the first Olympics in August. Associated Press this week. three months this year, Hag- Sharapova will not have her Elected as ITF president last gerty said. provisional ban lifted pending year, Haggerty said the govern- Haggerty is due in Rio on May the verdict, despite WADA pub- ing body and its integrity unit will 4 to assess Olympic preparations lishing new guidelines to sports be more transparent in commu- which are “in progress, but not bodies last week amid uncer- nicating about cases. finished,” including court sur- tainty over how long meldonium On Tuesday, the ITF faces and lighting at the Olympic remains in an athlete’s body. announced a 10-year ban for a Park venue. 32 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 SPORT Anita pegs City back to give Newcastle hope

be pleased,” said Benitez. “The team has more belief now. Deila to Aguero’s 100th The fans are behind the players and Premier League goal they will fight to the end.” step down Newcastle were indebted to a was not enough for fine display from Karl Darlow, their Pellegrini’s side third-choice goalkeeper, who kept as Celtic out efforts from Jesus Navas, Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne in a nervy sec- ond half. manager And the hosts might even have AFP won it at the death when substitute Georginio Wijnaldum had a close- AFP range shot blocked by City goalkeeper Joe Hart. NEWCASTLE, UNITED KINGDOM: City, who recalled captain Vin- Sergio Aguero’s 100th Premier League cent Kompany after a month out with GLASGOW: Ronny Deila will goal was not enough for Manchester a calf injury, went ahead in the 14th step down as manager of Scottish City to force victory as they were held minute, though the hosts had justifi- giants Celtic at the end of the sea- to a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened able claims that the effort should not son, the Norwegian announced Newcastle United on Tuesday. have stood. yesterday. Aguero, City’s top scorer, claimed After he was fouled by Andros Celtic are currently eight his landmark goal after 14 minutes, Townsend, Aleksandar Kolarov swung points clear of Aberdeen in the but Manuel Pellegrini’s side was a free-kick into the Newcastle area Scottish Premiership and on pegged back before half-time as from City’s left. course for a fifth successive title, Dutch international Vurnon Anita The officials missed Aguero but Deila’s position has been under found the net for the first time in more returning from an offside position scrutiny for some time. than two years to earn a deserved as the set-piece was taken and the Celtic have made little progress point for Rafael Benitez’s side. Argentinian rose to send a glancing in Europe under the 40-year-old City remain third, a point ahead near-post header beyond Darlow and were knocked out of the Scot- of Arsenal and five points above from six yards out. tish Cup by Old Firm rivals Rangers Manchester United, trailing leaders It has taken Aguero just 147 games following a semi-final penalty Leicester City by 12 points. to score 100 Premier League goals, shootout defeat on Sunday. “I am happy,” said City manager with only Alan Shearer -- who was Newcastle United’s English midfielder Jack Colback (top) vies with Manchester City’s English midfielder “It is vital that the club comes Pellegrini. “We started winning the at St James’ Park as part of the BBC’s Raheem Sterling during the English Premier League football match in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east first, instead of me being the game, but we could not have the con- radio match commentary team -- focus,” Deila said in a statement England on Tuesday night. trol after that. We knew that it was reaching the landmark more quickly, on the Celtic website. very tough. We are just trying to add in 124 appearances. “Hopefully now the team and points.” “Sergio Aguero’s record is the half-hour, but the Frenchman right-back role. The Dutchman cut Darlow then had to dive full- the club can be the focus as we A draw left Newcastle two points deserved,” said Pellegrini. “He makes lacked conviction after intercepting inside Kolarov onto his left foot and stretch to his right to claw away an enter this final important period adrift of safety, but they will retain an important difference for us. I am a Kolarov pass and sprinting 50 yards, curled in a low shot that beat Hart and angled drive from Navas at a swiftly of the season. hope of pulling off an unlikely escape happy for him.” sending a tame shot straight at Hart found the net via the foot of the left- taken free-kick, as the visitors piled “It was an absolute privilege in their remaining four games if De Bruyne came close to doubling from just inside the area. hand post for a stunning leveller. on the pressure in their attempts to to be named manager of Celtic, they can reproduce this level of the advantage when the Belgian was But Sissoko did not have to wait City started the second period on retake the lead. such a wonderful football club, performance. gifted possession by Jamaal Lascelles, long to make amends as he played the front foot, with Aguero having a They failed to do so, in the proc- and I have enjoyed my time here “I have to be pleased because but the prolific midfielder shot nar- a significant role in the 31st-minute penalty claimed waved away by well- ess seeing their 12-game winning run immensely.” against a team like Man City, to do rowly wide. equaliser, sweeping a ball out to placed referee Kevin Friend after the against the Tyneside club brought to Former Celtic manager Neil what we have done from 1-0 down, Moussa Sissoko should have Anita, who had advanced to the edge forward went down in a penalty area an end to leave their top-four hopes Lennon, who left the club in 2014, the reaction of the team, you have to drawn the hosts level just before of the City area from his auxiliary tussle with Chancel Mbemba. very much in the balance. and former Everton and Manches- ter United manager David Moyes, who previously played for Celtic, are among the contenders touted to succeed Deila. On the possibility of succeed- Arsenal seek top-four spark against West Brom ing Deila, the Northern Irishman told Britain’s Press Association: “I would definitely be interested.” He added: “I was associated AFP share of the points. Usually ruthless the opportunity to do this in their with the club for 15 years, I missed against weaker teams at the Emir- lives. it when I left as a player and there ates, Arsenal have taken just eight “We get to go to these foot- are aspects that you miss even points from a possible 18 in their last ball grounds and play against great now at 44 years of age.” LONDON: Arsenal’s quivering tight- six home fixtures and it is threaten- players, great football teams, at great Deila, who was on a one-year rope walk towards their Premier ing to derail their season. stadiums. You relish it, you shouldn’t rolling contract, was appointed League top-four objective resumes Wenger has never failed to steer be nervous or worried about it. as manager in 2014 following this Thursday when West Bromwich Arsenal into the Champions League “We’ve got the points to keep us success in his homeland with Albion visit the Emirates Stadium in during his 20-year tenure, but the in the Premier League, so we should Stromsgodet. a re-arranged fixture. risk of failure has scarcely loomed really look forward to these games.” He led Celtic to a league and Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to so large at this stage of the season. England midfielder Jack Wilshere League Cup double in his first Crystal Palace saw Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal were top of the league is nearing a first-team return for campaign, but has twice failed to side slip to fourth place and left them as recently as mid-January, but their Arsenal after stepping up his come- steer the club through the Cham- with precious little wriggle room springtime domestic capitulation, back from a broken fibula with two pions League qualifying play-offs. ahead of their final five matches of coupled with cup disappointments, run-outs for the club’s under-21 side. Celtic reached the Europa the season. has placed the manager in the spot- His midfield colleague Aaron League last 32 in 2014-15, losing Fifth-place Manchester United light as never before. Ramsey is a potential starter against to Inter Milan, but finished bottom and sixth-place West Ham United With large sections of Arsenal’s West Brom after making his return of their Europa League group this both have opportunities to close the support now calling on Wenger to from a thigh injury as a late replace- season. They were also eliminated gap on Arsenal on Wednesday and step down, another slip-up against ment for Alex Iwobi against Palace. from the League Cup in the third goalkeeper Petr Cech knows that West Brom could make for a very Scottish midfielder James Morri- round by Ross County. his side cannot afford to keep toss- uncomfortable evening for the son is a major doubt for West Brom “There have been some dis- ing away points. 66-year-old Frenchman. with a hamstring injury, while left- appointments and times when “We’ve been talking about the West Brom, who prevailed 2-1 in back Chris Brunt (knee ligaments) is we have not achieved what we situation where if any of the teams November’s reverse fixture, would a long-term absentee. had hoped for, and I’m realistic ahead of us slip, we need to get three appear to pose little threat to Arse- Meanwhile, Newcastle manager and honest enough to admit that,” points, but unfortunately we’ve not nal’s top-four hopes, particularly Rafael Benitez insists his side has the Deila added. been able to do that,” the Czech inter- after a run of four matches without momentum going into the final four “But I know that the players, national said this week. victory. But with Premier League sur- games in the fight for Premier League myself and my back-room team “It’s disappointing. We were vival effectively assured, they can survival.Despite missing a chance have always given everything ready to push on, we tried to win all play with relative freedom and man- to climb out of the bottom three fol- we had to bring success to our our games and we will try to win all ager Tony Pulis has urged his players lowing a 1-1 draw with Champions supporters. the remaining games, too. to make the most of successive away League semi-finalists Manchester “I will never forget the wel- “Other teams are coming very games against Arsenal and Totten- City, Benitez claims Newcastle have come I received almost two years close now and there will be an ham Hotspur. put themselves in with a good chance ago at Celtic Park from so many interesting fight until the end of the “They are great games,” said of staving-off a second relegation fans. When I joined Celtic I knew season. Let’s see if winning all our Pulis, who saw Saido Berahino have in seven seasons, after taking four I was coming to one of the world’s games is going to be enough to get two penalties saved in Saturday’s 1-0 points from their last two matches. great football clubs.” higher up in the table.” home defeat by Watford, which left They remain second-bottom, two Celtic chairman Ian Bankier Arsenal dominated Sunday’s West Brom 10 points clear of the rel- points from safety going into the final said: “I would like to thank Ronny game against Palace, enjoying 72 egation zone. month of the campaign as they bid to for his contribution to the club and, Arsenal’s Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech applauds the fans following the percent of possession, but Yan- “I’ve told the players when we finish above Norwich and Sunderland on behalf of the Celtic Board, give English Premier League football match against Crystal Palace at the nick Bolasie’s 81st-minute equaliser played Manchester City, there’s such to avoid the two remaining relega- him our best wishes for the future Emirates Stadium in London on April 17. allowed the visitors to depart with a a small percentage of people that get tion places to accompany Aston Villa. in everything he does. Napoli hit Bologna for six to make Juventus wait

AFP fortuitous goal as his prod rebounded head-to-head record, they would have form the penalty spot 10 minutes 10 minutes. Omar El Kaddouri teed Roberto Donadoni took the defeat off Bologna goalkeeper Antonio been champions. before the break after Kevin Con- up Mertens for his second and the on the chin. Mirante, hit him in the chest and the Instead, Napoli live to fight stant had brought down Jose Callejon. Belgian scored his hat-trick two “We played terribly, I’m the first bounced in. another day as Gabbiadini struck Any chance of a Bologna come- minutes from the end with a rasp- one who’s responsible. I apologise to ROME: Dries Mertens scored a hat- Juventus could have won a fifth twice in the first half, cutting Juve’s back was snuffed out just before the ing drive into the top corner form the fans and now I want the reaction trick and Manolo Gabbiadini notched straight title with victory over Lazio lead, for 24 hours at least, to six points. hour mark when Marek Hamsik teed outside the box. of men,” he told Mediaset Premium. a brace as Napoli kept their faint Serie on Wednesday had Napoli lost. Gabbiadini fired home from the up Mertens to fire home from the left Lopez had set up Mertens for What was most impressive about A title hopes alive as Bologna were That would have given the Old centre of the box from Mertens’s pass side of the box. his third and the Belgian winger Napoli’s performance was the fact thrashed 6-0 on Tuesday. Lady of Turin a 12 point lead with after just 10 minutes. Napoli, who after the game returned the favour in the final top scorer Gonzalo Higuain was still David Lopez rounded off the just four matches left, and as they maintained their media boycott, minute. absent, sitting out the last of his three- scoring a minute form time with a have the edge on the southerners in He doubled Napoli’s advantage added three more goals in the final Bologna’s former Italy coach game ban. SPORT THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 33 Spurs thrash Memphis to take 2-0 series lead

a one-sided encounter as the Hawks raced into a big early lead that Bos- Atlanta also cruise ton never looked like overhauling. past Boston with a Korver, Atlanta’s joint top scorer second straight win with Al Horford on 17 points, hit five three-pointers, four of them in the opening seven minutes, to leave Boston reeling. Celtics guard Evan Turner was disgusted by the way he AFP and his teammates had surrendered the early initiative so easily. “In a playoff game, that should never happen,” Turner said. “We LOS ANGELES: The San Antonio have to start off with more energy.” Spurs thrashed the Memphis Griz- Boston coach Brad Stevens said zlies on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in his side had been unable to match their play-off series as Atlanta also Atlanta’s pace. cruised past Boston with a second “They were playing at a speed straight win. that we weren’t at,” Stevens said. San Antonio, boasting the sec- “We can’t get off to starts like ond best regular season record in that. We just put too much pressure the league behind the Golden State on ourselves to make shots later, Warriors, raced into the lead early on because every one of them mattered against Memphis and never looked so much just to give us a shot to get back en route to a comprehensive back in the game.” 94-68 win. It was a second blow- It marked a welcome return to out victory for San Antonio over the form for Korver, who had made just Grizzlies, who had crashed to a 106- three of his previous 19 three-point 74 defeat in Game One on Sunday. attempts. He missed all seven efforts With Game Three looming on in Game One. Friday, San Antonio will now be odds The series now moves to Bos- on to take a step closer to a clean ton for Game Three on Friday, with sweep against a Memphis side who the Celtics desperately needing to Matt Barnes (22) of the Memphis Grizzlies fouls Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs after a shot during game two of the Western Conference have been comprehensively out- turn around their form if they are classed in their opening two Western to extend the series. Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Play-offs at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas on Monday. RIGHT: Memphis Grizzlies head coach avidD Conference playoff games. Korver said he expected Boston Jeerer pleads with official during game against San Antonio Spurs. “So far, we just did our job by to mount a response at home. winning our two games at home,” “Game Three is going to be the Spurs guard Tony Parker said. “We toughest game of the series so far for just have to make sure we take care sure,” Korver said. LeBron brushes off Van Gundy ‘shenanigans’ of the ball (in Memphis) and stay The Celtics badly missed the focused. injured Avery Bradley, who dam- “It’s the playoffs. (We need to) aged a hamstring in Game One and respect the opponent and know is now expected to miss the remain- Agencies a practice on Tuesday. “My main received special treatment from the series at one apiece. However, that over there it’s going to be a lot der of the series. thing is however I can help my team referees. Nowitzki underwent a scan Tuesday harder.” His replacement, Marcus get a win, how I can go out and put “LeBron’s LeBron. They’re not which revealed a bruised bone in his Memphis’ Matt Barnes called Smart, struggled to offer an attack- an imprint on the game and play as going to call offensive fouls on him. right knee, leaving him touch and go on his teammates to “go down ing threat, failing to score until the LOS ANGELES: LeBron James played hard as I can. I’ll live with the results He gets to do whatever he wants,” said for Thursday’s third game. swinging.” fourth quarter before finishing with down talk of a feud with Detroit of that. Van Gundy, who was subsequently “Dirk suffered a bruised right “We are coming into a gunfight three points.Boston point guard Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy on “Stan has gotten the better of fined $25,000 (22,000 euros) by the knee on the play very early in the armed with spoons,” he said. Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points in Tuesday as the Cleveland Cavaliers me in a playoff series before in his league for the remarks. game when he slid and fell,” coach “We have to make some shots. a losing effort, while Amir Johnson targeted a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Orlando days. But it’s not about me James however was adamant that Rick Carlisle told reporters. “This We have to roll the dice a little and weighed in with 14 points and eight Conference play-off series. versus Stan. It’s about his teams ver- the controversy would not prove to be thing with Dirk now, we hope this is find a way to switch things when we rebounds. Van Gundy was fined by the sus the teams that I’ve been on and a distraction. not something that’s going to cost him get home. It doesn’t matter where we NBA on Monday for criticising the I’m not having an individual matchup “Listen, I’m 31-years old. I don’t to miss any time.” play -- here, at a YMCA or in Mem- NBA Play-off Results officiating during Detroit’s defeat to with Stan or an individual matchup get caught up in no shenanigans,” he Nowitzki’s absence would be phis, we just have to play better. Western Conference Cleveland in game one, suggesting with Stanley (Johnson) or any other said. another blow for the Mavs, who are “I don’t know how good our officials were reluctant to give fouls Stan they can possess. Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki faces already facing doubts around point chances are. I just know I want to At San Antonio, Texas against Cavs star James. “It’s about getting my guys ready. a battle to be fit for the Dallas Mav- guard J.J. Barea (groin) and forward go down swinging.” San Antonio Spurs 94 However James brushed off That’s all that matters.” ericks when they face the Oklahoma David Lee (foot). In Atlanta, the Hawks took a Memphis Grizzlies 68 suggestions that Van Gundy’s com- Van Gundy scored a postseason City Thunder today in a crucial Game Point guard Deron Williams (her- stranglehold on their Eastern Con- (San Antonio leads 2-0) ments may prompt him to change victory over James and the Cavaliers Three of their best-of-seven playoff nia) is also “uncertain going forward,” ference series against Boston, Eastern Conference his style heading into game two on in 2009 when he was in charge of the series. according to Carlisle, despite play- romping to an 89-72 win to go 2-0 At Atlanta, Georgia Wednesday. Orlando Magic. Nowitzki played a key role for the ing in Game Two.Williams, who took up in the best-of-seven series. Atlanta Hawks 89 Boston Celtics 72 “I would never change my game The Detroit coach sparked uproar Mavs on Monday when they bounced pain-killing medicine to help him play An early barrage of three-point- no matter what a player or coach during Sunday’s 106-101 defeat when back from being thrashed in Game in Game Two, said he is hopeful he (Atlanta leads 2-0) ers from Kyle Korver set the tone for says,” James told reporters after he told an ESPN reporter that James One to snatch an 85-84 win to level can feature. Defending champions Blue Blues rally to beat Blackhawks Jays off to winning start Agencies

Reuters tiebreaking run when Canha lined an 0-2 pitch off shortstop Didi Gre- NEW YORK: Vladimir Tarasenko gorius’ glove into left field. had two goals and an assist, and the NEW YORK: Marcus Stroman con- Rays 3, Red Sox 0 (10 innings) St. Louis Blues rallied for a 4-3 win tained Baltimore’s powerful line-up, Kevin Kiermaier, mired in a over the Chicago Blackhawks on and Toronto took the series opener 1-for-25 slump, broke up a score- Tuesday night. against its American League East less pitchers’ duel with a leadoff Jaden Schwartz and Alexander rival. home run in the 10th inning, keying Steen also scored for the Blues, who Toronto also handed the Orioles a three-run rally and giving Tampa erased a 2-1 deficit with three consec- their first loss in six games at Cam- Bay a shuout victory over Boston. utive goals. St. Louis seized a 3-1 lead den Yards this season. The defending Desmond Jennings doubled in the best-of-seven Western Confer- division champion Blue Jays won home two unearned runs later ence quarterfinal. their third consecutive game, while in the 10th as the Rays, getting a Defenseman Duncan Keith scored Baltimore lost for the fourth time in combined one-hitter from three two goals and Andrew Shaw had a five. pitchers, won their third straight goal and two assists for Chicago, Stroman (3-0) allowed three and sent the Red Sox down to their which dropped back-to-back games runs on six hits with three strikeouts third straight defeat. on home ice. and a walk over seven innings. He Indians 3, Mariners 2 St. Louis goaltender Brian Elli- won for the 11th time in his past 12 Francisco Lindor had three hits ott stopped 39 of 42 shots to earn the decisions, dating back to 2014. and an RBI and Carlos Carrasco victory and Chicago goalie Corey Nationals 7, Marlins 0 pitched into the seventh inning as Crawford turned aside 16 of 20 shots. Bryce Harper hit a grand slam as Cleveland beat Seattle at Progres- The Blues seized a 3-2 lead on a part of a seven-run seventh inning as sive Field. power-play goal by Schwartz with the Washington Nationals defeated Lindor had two singles and a 18:24 remaining in the third period. the Miami Marlins 7-0 on Tuesday double, and he drew a bases loaded Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van night at Marlins Park. walk in the Indians’ two-run fourth Riemsdyk tried to sweep the puck The Nationals (10-3), who lead inning. away from the crease but inadvert- the NL East, hit four home runs in Reds 4, Rockies 3 ently passed it to Schwartz, who beat their huge inning. That’s the first Brandon Phillips fell a homer Crawford stick-side for his second time Washington has hit four hom- shy of the cycle and Robert goal in as many games. Andrew Shaw (65) of the Chicago Blackhawks watches as the puck sails over Brian Elliott of the St Louis ers in an inning since the Nationals Stephenson posted his second A defensive turnover by the Blues on a goal by Duncan Keith in the third period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round came into existence in 2005. It’s career victory as Cincinnati Blackhawks allowed St. Louis to during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on Monday. The Blues also the first time the Marlins have defeated Colorado at Great Amer- increase its lead to 4-2 less than four defeated the Blackhawks 4-3. allowed four homers in an inning. ican Ball Park. minutes later. Steen intercepted a pass Athletics 3, Yankees 2 Phillips singled, doubled and attempt by van Riemsdyk and raced Mark Canha singled with two tripled in his first three at-bats into the offensive zone for a break- flipped a pass from behind the net to he puck hit Shaw and bounced it into the net. Tarasenko scored outs in the top of the 11th inning before he singled again in the ninth away goal. Tarasenko, who beat Crawford with over Elliott’s glove. again to even the score at 2 with as Oakland began a 10-game road to finish 4-for-4. Chicago cut the deficit to 4-3 on a rapid release from the right circle. Keith scored a power-play goal 2:29 remaining in the second trip with a victory over New York. Braves 8, Dodgers 1 Keith’s second goal of the game with Chicago evened the score at 1 on to give Chicago a 2-1 lead with 6:51 period. On the power play, he fired The winning rally started Tyler Flowers matched his 5:20 remaining in the third period. a deflection by Shaw with 10:48 to go remaining in the second period. a wrist shot from the right circle when Jed Lowrie lined a double to career high with four hits and St Louis opened the scoring on a in the second period. Marian Hossa After Elliott denied Shaw from for his third goal of the series and right field off Johnny Barbato (1-1). drove in two runs to help Atlanta wrist shot by Tarasenko with 5:58 left flipped a high shot from the top of the point-blank range, Keith chased his 13th goal in 17 career play-off Lowrie took third on a ground- beat Los Angeles and extend its in the first period. Center Jori Lehtera right circle. T down the loose puck and punched games. out by Khris Davis and scored the winning streak to four games. 34 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 SPORT Extensive series lined up this summer Down Under

INTERNATIONAL Australia to host South Africa, New SCHEDULE Zealand, Pakistan 2016-17 Test Series vs South Africa and Sri Lanka as CA November 3-7: WACA Ground, Perth releases schedule November 12-16: Blundstone Arena, Hobart November 24-28: Adelaide Ovsal, Adelaide IANS One-Day International Series vs New Zealand December 4: SCG, Sydney

December 6: Manuka Ovsal, Canberra Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia December 9: MCG, Melbourne (CA) yesterday released its summer Test Series vs Pakistan 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 match against Royal schedule of cricket, with four nations December 15-19: Gabba, Brisbane Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai to tour Australia over 41 days of inter- (Day-Night Test) yesterday. national cricket. December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne South Africa, New Zealand, Paki- January 3-7: SCG, Sydney stan and Sri Lanka will all make the One Day International Series vs trip Down Under, with the Proteas to Pakistan Mumbai Indians thrash play Australia in a three-Test series January 13: Gabba, Brisbane during November, while Pakistan January 15: will also contest three Tests through MCG, Melbourne December and January, reports January 19: WACA, Perth Bangalore by six wickets Xinhua. January 22: SCG, Sydney South Africa will clash with January 26: Adelaide Ovsal, Adelaide Australia in Perth, Hobart and T20 International Series vs Sri IANS 11th over. The duo struck a 76-run Adelaide, while Pakistan will contest Lanka partnership for the second wicket. the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, February 17: venue TBD Despite the fall of wicket at the while also making appearances in February 19: venue TBD other end, skipper Rohit used his Brisbane and Sydney. 2016 is the first MUMBAI: Leading from the front, experience to best effect to bring year that Perth will host the first Test February 22: venue TBD skipper Rohit Sharma smashed 62 up his half century in 38 balls and of the summer. Between the two Test Steve Smith’s Australia to host four teams this summer. off just 44 balls to guide Mumbai keep the hosts on course towards series, New Zealand will visit from to start the international season in Indians to a comfortable six-wicket the run chase. across the Tasman to take part in a Perth allows us to do so with a bang,” victory over Royal Challengers Ban- But Abdulla struck for the second set of three One Day Internationals To round out the summer, Sri “We believe that there is he said. galore in an Indian Premier League time to dismiss Rohit in the 13th over (ODIs) in early December. Lanka will visit Austrlia’s shores for something for all cricket fans in the “It gives Western Australian (IPL) match at the Wankhede Sta- to put Bangalore back into the game. Following the Test series against a three-match T20 series, with venues upcoming program,” Sutherland said. cricket fans, including a strong local dium here yesterday. Mumbai were 109-3 at his point of Pakistan, Australia will host a second to be confirmed at a later date. “We have two highly-regarded South African community, the chance Batting first, Bangalore managed the game. New batsmen Kieron Pol- ODI series against the Pakistanis Cricket Australia chief executive Test nations in South Africa and to see two of the world’s best sides, 170-7 in 20 overs. Travis Head (37) lard and Jos Buttler (13) held on for across five dates in January. South James Sutherland said the summer’s Pakistan touring Australia this while allowing us to broadcast the was the top scorer for the side. a couple of overs before the latter Africa will not play a ODI series in cricket calendar is one of the most summer and both series promise match in prime time to the east coast In reply, riding on Rohit’s gave his wicket away in the 16th over. Australia over the 2016/17 summer. action-packed in recent memory. to be great contests. “The decision of Australia,” he added. innings and Kieron Pollard’s quick- But Pollard, who failed to fire unbeaten 19-ball 39, defending impress in earlier matches, came champions Mumbai chased down up with a quick-fire knock, smash- the total easily as they posted 171-4 ing four boundaries and three sixes in 18 overs to bag their second win to steer his team to second victory Malinga’s medical check-up ICC bans Hong Kong’s Irfan for of the season. in the IPL-9. Iqbal Abdulla (3-40) was the pick Earlier, put into bat, the visitors of the bowlers for Bangalore. got off to a flying start, scoring 49 for anti-corruption code breach Chasing a challenging target of the loss of one wicket after the com- 171, Mumbai got off to a poor start, pletion of powerplay. losing opener Parthiv Patel (5) in the KL Rahul took the initiative at Reuters second over itself. the start, smashing two fours and HK CRICKETER WAS SUSPENDED IN NOVEMBER But his opening partner Rohit two sixes for his 14-ball 23, but the Sharma and incoming Ambati Ray- right-handed batsman fell in the udu (31) held on to score at a good fourth over to the bowling of Mitchell DUBAI: Hong Kong all-rounder pace without losing any further McClenaghan to give Mumbai their Irfan Ahmed has been banned for captain Salman Butt. ACU chairman wickets to score 51-1 after the com- first breakthrough. 2-1/2 years for failing to disclose Ronnie Flanagan said corrupt indi- pletion of the powerplay. But the wicket did not stop approaches made to him to engage in viduals had increased the targeting As Rayudu was looking set after incoming batsman AB de Villiers corruption, the International Cricket of players from ICC Associate Mem- striking five boundaries, off-spinner (29) and opener Virat Kohli (33) from Council (ICC) said yesterday. ber nations, where cricket is firmly Iqbal Abdulla scripted the much- playing their natural game. The 26-year-old Pakistan- established and organised, and the needed breakthrough for the visitors, Jasprit Bumrah (3-31) and Kru- born cricketer was provisionally game’s stakeholders needed to stave removing the right-handed bats- nal Pandya (2-27) were the pick of suspended in November with the them off. man to put Mumbai at 82-2 in the the bowlers for Mumbai. ICC’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) “This penalty (imposed on investigating his role in relation to Ahmed) should act as a reminder to the activities of another suspected all participants of the need to com- SCOREBOARD offender. ply with their obligations under the “Whilst Mr Ahmed was not (anti-corruption) code at all times ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE bhajan Singh 2-0-20-0 (2w); K H Pandya 4-0- charged with any offence involv- and, in particular, the requirement V Kohli c Southee b K H Pandya 33 27-2 (4w); H H Pandya 2-0-18-0. ing corruption, the ACU established to report corrupt approaches to the K L Rahul c H Singh b McClenaghan 23 MUMBAI INDIANS that he had failed to disclose to it full ACU without any delay,” Flana- details of approaches or invitations gan said. “It is pleasing to note that A B de Villiers st Patel b K H Pandya 29 R G Sharma c de Villiers b I Abdulla 62 to engage in corrupt conduct that the investigation upon which these S R Watson c Patel b Bumrah 5 P A Patel c de Villiers b Richardson 5 had been made to him between Jan- charges were founded originated T M Head (run out) 37 A T Rayudu c Richardson b I Abdulla 31

uary 2012 and January 2014,” the ICC from information that had been dis- S N Khan c K H Pandya b Bumrah 28 J C Buttler c Watson b I Abdulla 28

said in a statement. closed to the ACU. S T R Binny c H H Pandya b Bumrah 1 K A Pollard (not out) 40 Ahmed, who had played in six “This is a clear and welcome H H Pandya (not out) 2 one-day internationals and eight demonstration that participants now H V Patel (not out) 0 Twenty20 matches for Hong Kong, more and more fully realise their K W Richardson (not out) 1 Extras (W-2, NB-1) 3 Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga (right) leaves a private hospital accepted the sanction and waived own responsibilities in combating Extras (B-1, LB-2, W-10) 13 Total (for 4 wkts in 18 overs) 171 after a medical examination in the capital Colombo yesterday. his right to appeal, the ICC added. this scourge on the game through Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) 170 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-82, 3-109, 4-140. Cricket has been plagued by a prompt and diligent reporting as Malinga who was dropped from the Twenty20 cricket World Cup Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-91, 3-93, 4-99, 5-162, Bowling: V R Aaron 4-0-37-0 (1nb); K W Ri- number of corruption issues and a required by the Code.” because of a niggling knee injury was asked to present himself 6-169, 7-169. chardson 3-0-26-1; S R Watson 4-0-40-0 2010 spot-fixing scandal resulted Ahmed’s ban is backdated to for a medical test before being allowed to play in the financially (1w); H V Patel 2-0-20-0; Iqbal Abdulla 4-0- in bans and jail terms for Pakistan when he was provisionally sus- Bowling: T G Southee 4-0-25-0; M J McClena- lucrative Indian Premier League. 40-3 (1w); S T R Binny 1-0-8-0. fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and pended and will expire on May 4, ghan 4-0-46-1; J J Bumrah 4-0-31-3; Har- Mohammad Amir, and former Test 2018. F1: Susie Wolff defends Ecclestone after women racers remarks

Reuters but Wolff felt they need to be put into take part in a Formula One grand prix Ecclestone, who has made derog- A full recording of the interview, perspective. weekend when she drove in Friday atory comments in the past about posted later on the conference website “After hearing Bernie’s comments practice at Silverstone for Williams. women and is no stranger to con- (advertisingweek.eu) showed, how- LONDON: British racer Susie Wolff in context and speaking to him today, No woman has raced in Formula troversy, was interviewed by WPP ever, that Ecclestone had also made has defended Bernie Ecclestone it’s clear we both have the goal of get- One since 1976. chief executive Martin Sorrell at an some more supportive comments that (pictured) after he doubted whether ting a female driver to F1,” the Scot, Wolff, now retired from racing, Advertising Week Europe conference went largely unreported. women would physically be able to wife of Mercedes motorsport head said Ecclestone had agreed last week on Tuesday. “Today I would love and I would drive a Formula One car fast and in Toto Wolff, said on Twitter. to support her ‘Dare to be Different’ His comment that “I don’t know help to get a lady in a Formula One any case would not be taken seriously. “Through my years in motorsport, initiative to encourage more women whether a woman would be able car,” he said. Asked what he would say The comments by the sport’s he was supportive of my mission to into motorsport. physically to drive a Formula One car to a sponsor putting up backing for an 85-year-old commercial supremo make it onto the starting grid in F1,” “For me, actions always speak quickly, and even if they could they all-female team, he replied: “Great. I’d caused a storm on social media, with added Wolff, who in 2014 became louder than words...Bernie is with are never going to be taken seriously” put another $20m in to make sure it women racers quick to condemn him, the first woman driver in 22 years to us,” she added. was widely reported. happened.” SPORT THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016 35 Bolt eyes triple ‘threepeat’ in Rio

JAMAICAN AIMS HIGH FOR “I’ve always said OLYMPICS I want to be the greatest. I want to be then in Ostrava and then to his coach’s like Pele and Ali and June meet in Jamaica before the trials all those guys,” says and then on to the Diamond League the sprint king meeting in London. The 29-year-old said his coach, Glen Mills, wanted him to leave the retirement door open. “Coach says I shouldn’t say I want to retire just yet, I should focus on the Reuters year and see how I feel after the (2017) world championships (in London),” said the six-time Olympic gold med- allist. “And if I still feel like I want to NEW YORK: Sprint king Usain Bolt retire, I should. But he says to give it aims to crown his legacy with an a chance, because I think my coach is unprecedented Olympic threepeat pushing for me to go a few more years. at the Rio Games, and to top that off We’ll see what happens,” he added. by running the first ever sub-19 sec- “Personally, I don’t really want to onds 200 metres. continue for years and years because The long-striding Jamaican sug- it’s getting hard. I have to sacrifice gested he might not stop there, leaving more and more. It takes up so much open the chance he could extend his of your time.” career beyond the 2017 season he has In any event, Bolt said he would said would be his last. not treat 2017 like a farewell tour. Bolt has already swept the 100 “I’m never going to come out and and 200m sprints at the last two joke or be a joke in a season. I’m a Olympics and added gold in the winner. I believe in winning. I hate to 4x100 relays in both Beijing (2008) lose. I will never come out and say it is and London (2012) with his Jamaican a farewell tour. I will want to compete team mates. at my best, go to the championships “Just to defend my titles, to do the and win again.” As for the legacy he threepeat. That’s my main goal. That’s hoped to leave the sport he has domi- my main focus,” Bolt said on Tuesday nated for eight years, Bolt spoke about after helping sponsors Hublot open Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt poses during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the flagship “Hublot” store on Fifth Avenue in another Hublot spokesman, 75-year- their biggest US fine watch store with the Manhattan borough of New York, on Tuesday. old soccer great Pele. a grand opening on Fifth Avenue. “I met Pele today. For me, it was a “My secondary goal is to try and dream come true,” Bolt said. run sub-19,” added Bolt, who set the Bolt said he has been gradually “Starting out this season I had a preparations carefully so he can end before the championships,” he said. “I’ve always said I want to be the world 200m record of 19.19 in 2009. rounding into shape after dealing with problem with my ankles and it was a his Olympic career with a flourish. “I’ll keep pushing myself and greatest. I want to be like Pele and Ali “That’s something I really want and I ankle problems. setback but not that bad. We’re getting “I really want to be at my best hopefully everything smoothes out and all those guys. hope that everything goes smoothly “I’m feeling OK,” he said. “My back on track and he’s happy with the leading up to the championships. I and I’ll be at my best when the Olym- “I want to be great. I want to be and I can get it. That would be a big coach says my fitness is not exactly progress I’m making.” have two months before (Jamaican) pics comes around.” Bolt said he remembered as one of the greatest step for me.” where he wants it to be. Bolt said he would ramp up his trials and three and a half months would run his first race in Cayman, that have ever done the sport.” Crisis-hit Greeks and Brazilians IOC chief Bach predicts ready for the Olympic flame spectacular Rio Games AFP carry the flame. The runner’s name scandal. Brazil will be represented is to be announced on Friday, Greek at Olympia by the president of the organisers said. Rio 2016 organising committee, Reuters The International Olympic Carlos Nuzman, and sports minis- ATHENS: Greece, beset by eco- Committee has given the green light ter Ricardo Leyser. nomic difficulties and a migration for a team of up to 10 refugees to Actress Katerina Lehou, playing crisis, will hold a traditional cere- take part at the Rio Olympics. a high priestess, will light the flame LAUSANNE: International Olympic mony today for the Rio Olympics as So far, 43 high-performance on Thursday using the rays of the Committee (IOC) President Thomas Brazil battles its own political woes. athletes, who are also refugees, sun reflected off a concave mirror. Bach said on Tuesday that the Rio de The dress rehearsal for the have been identified as possi- After giving thanks to the Janeiro Olympics would be “spectac- lighting of the Olympic flame bly being eligible for the Games in ancient Greek sun god Apollo, ular” and a “great success” despite a in ancient Olympia went ahead Brazil. Lehou will light the Rio Olympic political and economic crisis grip- smoothly yesterday, and the offi- Bach said the final number torch held by the first relay runner, ping the host nation. cial ceremony today will launch a would depend on meeting quali- artistic gymnast Lefteris Petrou- Bach’s comments came after four-month torch relay culminating fying criteria, adding that the team nias, Greece’s reigning world Rio’s Olympic chief Carlos Nuzman at Maracana Stadium for the Games would compete under the flag of the champion on the still rings. brushed aside complaints over power opening ceremony on August 5. IOC. Petrounias will pass it on to failures and other problems revealed The torch harks back to the “We have all been touched by Brazilian volleyball legend Giovane during a gymnastics test event. ancient Olympics, when a sacred the magnitude of this refugee crisis. Gavio, an Olympic gold champion Brazil President Dilma Rousseff flame burned throughout the By welcoming this team, we want at the 1992 Barcelona and 2004 suffered a humiliating loss in a cru- Games. The tradition was revived to send a message of hope to all the Athens Games who is now direc- cial impeachment vote in the lower in 1936 for the Berlin Olympics. refugees in the world,” Bach, who tor of volleyball for Rio 2016. Gavio house of Congress on Sunday. She The Olympic torch relay will run visited Eleonas in January, said in had also carried the torch in Rio de is almost certain to be forced from through part of Greece before being March. Janeiro during the relay for the Ath- office well before the Olympic Games handed over to Brazilian officials While Greek President Proko- ens 2004 Games. open in Rio on August 5. on April 27 for the start of a 95-day pis Pavlopoulos will be attending The Olympic torch will be The crisis has paralysed the gov- relay across the South American Thursday’s official ceremony, his handed over to Nuzman in the ernment as it struggles to revive the country a week later. Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rous- presence of Pavlopoulos, Bach and economy from its worst recession in A highlight of the Greek leg seff has cancelled her planned Greek Olympic Committee presi- decades, casting doubt on Brazil’s will be the passing of the torch on attendance as she is currently fight- dent Spyros Capralos on April 27 in ability to complete preparations for April 26 through the refugee camp ing for her political life amid a deep a ceremony at the historic all-mar- the event in time. President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach of Eleonas, where one of the hun- recession, impeachment proceed- ble Olympic stadium in Athens, site A federal prosecutor also said on dreds of refugees housed there will ings, mass protests and a corruption of the first modern Games in 1896. Monday that a sweeping investigation delivers a speech as he gestures during the opening ceremony of the into corruption in Brazil is target- SportAccord Convention 2016 on Tuesday in Lausanne. ing more infrastructure projects for the Olympics than previously made public. he said. “We know from other host to detect problems raised by athletes Bach, speaking at the assembly cities that the final stretch leading and national federations.” Greek actress Katerina of the Association of Summer Olym- to the Olympic Games is always the Nuzman also sounded a relaxed Lechou, playing the pic International Federations (ASOIF), most challenging.” note about the political situation. role of High Priestess, called on the IOC to show solidarity “We’re all in it together,” he “Until today we have no involve- passes the Olympic with Brazil. added. ment and no problems with any of the flame to a volunteer “We know the current economic “If everyone plays their part, I am political or economical situations in filling in for the first and political situation in Brazil will confident that these games will be a the country,” said Nuzman, head of torch bearer, during continue to make final preparations great success.” the Rio organising committee. the dress rehearsal challenging, but I’m convinced, Earlier, the assembly heard that “We are not involved in this and for the Olympic flame and we are all convinced, that the a gymnastics event being held in Rio the Games will run normally as they lighting ceremony for Olympic Games 2016 will be truly this week, partly as a test run for the have until today. We don’t expect any the Rio 2016 Olympic spectacular,” he said. Games, suffered from power failures, problems in delivering the Games,” Games at the site of “The Olympic Games enjoy problems with the timing system and he said. ancient Olympia in strong public support from the Bra- power outages when athletes were “I have no doubt we will deliver Greece, yesterday. zilian people and the organisers can performing. an incredible Games but it is impor- count on the solidarity of the sport- International Gymnastics Feder- tant to remember the situation is ing world.” ation official Ron Froehlich told the completely different today,” he said. Bach said that staging the Games assembly that the power outages Brazil was awarded the Olympic was a “team effort” and that “the were potentially a “serious issue” and Games in 2009 when it was enjoy- many successful test events which also complained of a lack of sufficient ing a period of strong economic have already taken place are an lighting in competition and training growth but has since fallen into its excellent example of this team work,” halls, which he blamed on funding worst recession in decades. Brazil is he said. problems. also battling an outbreak of the Zika “The sport facilities are either But Nuzman, in his address to the virus, which is linked to birth defects completed or about to be finished,” assembly, said: “Test events are there in newborns. 36 THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016

Top QSL quadruplet to spice up spectacular contest

The Peninsula Soria has blossomed his year, and can uphold this record when El Jaish could be argued as the QSL’s most take on Al Sadd on Monday evening. deadly attacking trio this year. Hassan Haydoos (Al Sadd) Al Rayyan and their passionate Qatari international captain DOHA: The Qatar Cup is set to kick- fan base will be willing Tabata to be Hassan Haydoos has enjoyed a fine off on Sunday with the top four sides amongst the goals, when Al Rayyan individual season with Al Sadd reg- in Qatar looking to battle it out to lift face Lekhwiya in the first semifinal of istering 12 goals in the QSL season. the famous trophy on April 29 at Al the Qatar Cup on Sunday at Al Sadd The mercurial winger has enjoyed his Sadd Stadium. Stadium. highest goal return in his eight years While thrilling battles are on Abderrazak Hamdallah (El Jaish) with the Wolves. the cards for the coveted trophy, the El Jaish spent big money on Blessed with blistering pace, and four leading QSL scorers are expected Abderrazak Hamdallah last sum- composure when it matters Haydoos to spice up the eagerly-awaited mer, and the Moroccan striker hasn’t is masterful at taking teams on the tournament. disappointed in his debut QSL sea- break. The Peninsula takes a look on the son. El Jaish’s number 9 finished up Crucially Haydoos has built up quadruplet. as the joint top scorer with 21 goals an understanding with Spanish mid- Rodrigo Tabata (Al Rayyan) in 23 QSL games. fielder Xavi Hernandez, which could Al Rayyan’s talismanic captain Hamdallah is no stranger in be crucial if Sadd are to lift the Qatar has enjoyed the best season of his scoring goals, and boast impressive Cup this time around. With Al Sadd professional career in the 2015/2016 stints in Norway and Chinese side playing at their home advantage, they QSL season. Guangzhou R&F. could be turning to home-grown hero The attacking midfielder is the He has been the missing piece for Haydoos to supply the goals. joint top goal scorer in the league, Sabri Lamouchi side, and his goals Yusef Msakni (Lekhwiya) registering 21 goals in 24 QSL games. helped the solders finish in second Yusef Msakni has been the main FROM LEFT: Al Sadd’s Hassan Haydoos, El Jaish’s Abderrazak Hamdallah, Lekhwiya’s Yusef Msakni and Al Tabata at times looked unplayable place in the QSL standings. Hamdal- man for Lekhwiya in front of goal dur- this season, and pushed his Al Rayyan lah indeed did score one of the goals ing the 2015/2016 QSL season. The Rayyan’s captain Rodrigo Tabata are expected to score flurry of goals in the upcoming Qatar Cup. side all the way to the QSL title for the in the 2-2 draw with Al Sadd which Tunisian international registered 14 first time in 21 years. Central to Taba- confirmed second place. goals in 23 QSL starts this term. ta’s game is his high intensity work Jaish boast the enviable record of Msakni’s versatility in playing as side over the course of the season. in the QSL standings. Djamel Belma- when Lekhwiya take on Al Rayyan on rate along with a deadly eye for goal. reaching every Qatar Cup final since a false nine or on the right wing has Msakni is a player who enjoys cutting di’s side will be looking to retain the Sunday the 24th of April when they His partnership with fellow its inception three years ago. Sabri helped head coach Djamel Belmadi in and scoring goals, and his clinical Qatar Cup this season. The tricky take on Al Rayyan in the first Qatar attackers Sergio Garcia and Sebastian Lamouchi will be hoping Hamdallah who has chopped and changed his finishes aided Lekhwiya to fourth spot Tunisian may hold the keys to success Cup semifinal.

Tabata and Qatar’s Mohamed Hamdallah to Qatar Cup: Clash of the grabs bronze at share honour Asian Taekwondo The Peninsula

The Peninsula DOHA: Qatar’s Abdulaziz titans begins on Sunday Mohamed earned bronze medal DOHA: The Qatar Stars League for the country in the 58kg yes- (QSL) has confirmed the details terday in the prestigious Asian for the upcoming Qatar Foot- Taekwondo Championship tak- ball Awards, which is set to take ing place in Manila, Philippines, place May 21. according to details made avail- The board of trustees for QSL champions able here. the QFA awards headed by Al Rayyan face Qatar taekwondo team is con- Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Lekhwiya as El Jaish sisting of Khalifa Abdulrahman Al bin Ahmed Al Thani, Head of Kubaisi, the Secretary General of the Qatar Football Association meet Al Sadd in the Qatar Taekwondo and Judo Feder- also confirmed that the Mansor semi-finals ation (QTJF), Mohamoud Shalaby, Muftah Award, which is given to the team technical Director, the top scorer in the QSL sea- Mohamoud Sami, coach along- son will be shared between Al side players Yagoub Mohammed, Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata and El Ahmed Dagbas, Abdulaziz Hassan, The Peninsula Jaish’s Abderrazak Hamdallah. Mohammed Hamouda, Othman Both strikers grabbed 21 Bolaras, Mansour Al Qahatani and goals this term. Further details Hada Akbar. on the awards ceremony, along DOHA: Four top Qatari club sides will On other hand, the QTJF Presi- with a list of nominees will be battle for the prestigious Qatar Cup dent, Mohammed Ahmed Al Sulaiti made available in due course. title as the eagerly-awaited Qatar Cup and also Executive Board member is set to begin on Sunday at Al Sadd of Asian Taekwondo Federation Stadium. is here in Manila to attend the The Qatar Stars League (QSL) the Board meeting on the sideline of highest professional football league the event. in the country formally announced Woqod signs on the details of the tournament held at Al Sadd football club yesterday. Hassan Al Kuwari, Director of Events at the QSL (centre), Ahmed Al Adsani, Director of Competitions of the Qombur as Cup sponsors Hassan Al Kuwari, Director of Events at the QSL was joined by QSL (left) and Mubarak Bilal Al Ali from the Ministry of the Interior during the Qatar Cup press conference Ahmed Al Adsani, Director of Com- yesterday at Al Sadd Stadium. Pic: Obaidly clinches DOHA: The Qatar Stars League petitions of the QSL and Mubarak (QSL) has confirmed that Woqod Bilal Al Ali from the Ministry of the at the same venue. Al Adsani also security personnel will be on hand to bronze at has signed an agreement as Offi- Interior. stressed that the matches being help with any issues spectators had. PROMOTIONAL TOUR cial Fuel Business partner for the Ahmed Al Adsani confirmed that played on both days, was to increase Hassan Al Kuwari confirmed LAUNCHED GCC boxing 2016 Qatar Cup. the tournament will kick-off on Sun- the excitement of the Qatar Cup com- that the tickets for the tournament The deal was signed yesterday day (April 24) with the first semi-final petition and to encourage football are now available online via qsl.com. at Al Sadd football club. between Al Rayyan and Lekhwiya, fans to watch both semifinal matches. qa, along with tickets being availa- Katara where fans will have the DOHA: Qatar’s boxer Moham- Speaking on the agreement, which will kick off at 7:15pm at Al Mubarak Bilal Al Ali of the Minis- ble daily at the Katara fanzone along opportunity to take part in a host of med Abdulla Qombur clinched Hassan Al Kuwari Director of Sadd Stadium. try of Interior advised fans to arrive with the semifinal tickets being sold football related activities. The fan the bronze medal in heavyweight Events at the QSL welcomed The second semi-final will take early to enjoy the atmosphere. at Qatar Sports Club ticket office zone will have a distinct emphasis on 91kg at the prestigious third GCC Woqod as a sponsor for the Qatar place on April 25 between El Jaish From the many fan activities at gate 5. Al Kuwari also revealed family fun, and provide the general Men’s Boxing Championship held Cup. and Al Sadd, kicking off at 7:15pm provided, Al Ali also stressed that details of a dedicated fan zone in public to get up close to the famous in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “I would like to welcome Qatar Cup trophy. According to details made Woqod as a sponsor for the Qatar M e a n w h i l e , t h e f i r s t p r o m o - available here yesterday, Qombur Cup competition.” tional tour for the Qatar Cup 2016 earned the bronze medal , follow- “Fuel is important in driving was launched yesterday with a visit ing his shock defeat at the hands of any competition and I am proud to Aspire Academy and Khalifa Inter- UAE’s boxer Qasim Barout in the that we have another major national Stadium. last eight stage. Qatari company as a sponsor, our The promotional tour delega- In another bout, Qatar’s Abdu- arrangement means we can now tion, which consists of the Events latif Mohammed will shake hands sell tickets across key Woqod out- Officer Abdel Aziz Al Malki and the with the KSA’s Samer Hamidy in lets, reaching more people than Community Relations Officer Nasser clash for the gold medal in the ever before.” Al Kuwari, visited Aspire Academy 56kg class. Speaking at the signing of the which represents the future of foot- Abdulatif’s team-mate Huzam agreement, Shaikha Sara Bint ball in Qatar. Nabaa will take on Saudi counter- Nasser Al Thani Head of PR & Also the delegation visited the part Hassan Ali in the 69kg class. Communication at Woqod said; working site of the Khalifa Inter- In the 81 kg final, Qatar’s “Woqod is proud to be associated national Stadium after the Aspire Hakan Noor El Deen will shake with this competition, and being Academy within the frame of huge hands with KSA’s Ahmed Jaber a part of developing football in interaction from all stakeholders. Al Fifi. Qatar. Woqod will be selling tick- The trophy tour will visit Al Bid- Hassan Al Mohannadi is the ets for the Qatar Cup at selected daa Tower – the Qatari football Qatari team’s head the delegation locations.” family headquarters – today followed to Saudi Arabia which includes six The Qatar Cup competition by a visit to Al Jazeera Cafe in Katara. boxers and coach Carlos. kicks off on Sunday. Also the trophy will visit some other Jamal Mubarek and Moham- Top four QSL teams will vie for location during the coming few days mad Gamber will represent the the top honour in the tournament. such as Souq Waqif and Aspire Park. national team for the first time in Al Rayyan will clash will The promotional trophy tour aims the event. defending champions Lekhwiya at introducing fans to the Qatar Cup The other boxers are Hozam Players of Lekhwiya SC celebrate with the Qatar Cup trophy after defeating El Jaish 1-0 in the final at the while Al Sadd will take on El Jaish and Encourages fans to attend Qatar Nabaa, Hakan, Abdulateef and in the semi-finals. Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in this May 2015 file photo. Cup games. Telas i.