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MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 • 1 RAMADAN 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6819 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Emir greets leaders; Qatar and India sign 7 agreements to receive well-wishers

The two sides agreed to DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani exchanged in telephone Ramadan set up Supreme Strategic calls yesterday, greetings with a number Committee for coordination of leaders of Arab and Islamic countries on the advent of the Holy month of Ram- starts today and follow-up of mutual adan. Emir exchanged greetings with cooperation. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King DOHA: Today will be the first Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Kingdom day of Ramadan, the Crescent of Saudi Arabia, the Emir of Kuwait H H Sighting Committee at the Min- Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, istry of Endowments and Islamic H M King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bah- Affairs said in a statement. By Mohamed Iqbal rain, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister The Peninsula and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. DOHA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Emir will receive Their Excellencies Sheikhs, ministers, Advisory Coun- concluded his two-day visit to Qatar yesterday, cil Speaker as well as undersecretaries, Advisory Council members and citizens which saw the signing of seven agreements/MoUs to offer their greetings on the Holy month at Al Wajba Palace on the first and sec- to boost cooperation between the two countries ond evenings after Taraweeh prayers, the Emir Diwan said, extending wishes of in a number of sectors. blessings and wellbeing to the Qatari people and the Arab and Islamic nations. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday met with the Indian Prime Minister at the Emiri Diwan and discussed bilateral issues and regional issues of mutual RAMADAN concern. Modi who is on a five-nation tour, left Emir opens Interior for Geneva yesterday. TIMING The two sides agreed to set up a Supreme Ministry’s new HQ Strategic Committee for coordination and follow-up of mutual cooperation. The joint DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin committee will regularly review all bilateral Hamad Al Thani yesterday opened matters, as well as regional and global issues the new headquarters of the Inte- of mutual interest. rior Ministry. The Emir, afterwards, Today’s Ifthar 6 : 25 pm Modi also met the Prime Minister and Inte- toured the Police Museum which Tomorrow’s Imsak 3 : 04 am rior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin exhibits old weapons, gears, devices Khalifa Al Thani. The Indian Premier held meet- and clothes documenting the stages ings with Qatari businessmen and members of of police evolution in addition to a the Indian community yesterday. model of Qatar oldest police sta- “The discussions with the Emir focused on a tion. Emir was accompanied by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani receives Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at number of issues including the Indian diaspora in Prime Minister and Interior Minis- Qatar, their living conditions, security and general the Emiri Diwan, yesterday. ter H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser welfare,” Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Rela- bin Khalifa Al Thani and number of tions) at the Ministry of External Affairs told the level of trade, to investments. The Indian side pro- was introduced to the Indian Premier as his Their Excellences the Ministers in media yesterday during a briefing on the Indian posed to relax Qatar’s tourist visa rules in favour “second home”, said Vikas Swarup, Joint Secre- addition to Interior Ministry’s sen- > PAGE 19 Premier’s visit. of Indian investors and businessmen. Modi’s meet- tary ( External Relations) at the Indian ministry. ior officials. He said that the MoUs signed with Qatar ing with the Emir was marked with the warmth sought to take bilateral relations beyond the of relations between the two sides, where Qatar → Continued on page 3 → Picture on page 6 02 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 HOME

Emir congratulates 672,000 copies Queen of Denmark Emir urges safe release of Qataris of Mus’haf Qatar in third edition DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim QNA bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a cable of congratulations to Queen QNA Margrethe II of Denmark on her country’s National Day. DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Deputy Emir H H Sheikh bin Hamad Al Thani received a Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yes- written message from Iraq’s Prime DOHA: The third official edition terday also sent a congratulatory Minister Dr Haider Al Abadi on of Mus’haf Qatar, the first Qatari cable to Queen Margrethe II. relations between the two coun- print of the Holy Quran, included Prime Minister and Interior tries, means of enhancing and 672,000 copies of different sizes, Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin developing them and issues of said Dr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a common concern. Kuwari, Adviser to the Minister similar cable to the Queen. The message was handed of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and over by Dr Khaled Mutaib Al supervisor of writing and printing Obeidi, Iraqi Defence Minister Mus’haf Qatar. Minister visits and Personal Envoy of Iraqi Prime Dr Al Kuwari told a press con- Minister, when the Emir met him ference yesterday that the third Doha Municipality and his delegation at Al Bahr Pal- edition, for which a contract was ace yesterday. They discussed the signed in March 2015, is the first in issue of Qataris kidnapped in Iraq. the era of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim DOHA: Minister of Municipality The Emir hoped that the Iraqi bin Hamad Al Thani. The first edi- and Environment H E Mohamed authorities would intensify their tion was launched in 2010 and the bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi yester- efforts for the Qataris’ release second in 2013. day visited Doha Municipality and and safe return home as soon as The third edition includes met Director Mohamed Ahmed El possible. 672,000 copies of six types and Sayed and other officials. The Min- Dr Al Obeidi assured the Emir five sizes, including 70,000 cop- ister was briefed on work progress that his government is doing eve- ies of pocket size, 70,000 copies and the latest developments in the rything in its power to secure the of the hand size, 450,000 copies field of public hygiene through a release of the abducted Qataris of the mosque size ‘medium’, big- presentation by Safar Mubarak Al and facilitate their return to their Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Dr Khaled Mutaib Al Obeidi, Iraqi Defence Minister and ger sizes and luxury copies and the Shafi, Director of Public Hygiene. country. Personal Envoy of Iraqi Prime Minister, at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. largest size printed in nine colours. Al Thumama Health Centre opens tomorrow

By Fazeena Saleem in the surrounding areas. It has 45 A total of 5,037 people, including from the area. We sent SMSs to the The Peninsula clinics to provide services. 1,077 Qataris, from the neighbouring community and encourage them to It will serve residents of eight sur- areas have registered with the centre, register through a link. rounding areas, including Nueja, Al and it will start receiving appoint- Services at the centre also include Hilal, and Al Maamoura, and expected ments. The Clinical Information a medical commission unit, family DOHA: Al Thumama Health Cen- to reduce the crowding at the neigh- System (CIS) also will be implemented medicine clinics, vaccination clin- tre opens tomorrow with specialised bouring Umm Ghuwailina and Airport from day one. The centre’s 80 percent ics, communicable diseases and services not available at other centres. health centres. of services will be provided through non-communicable diseases clin- It will have a mental health clinic, “This is not a usual health centre. the appointment system. Flora R ics, pregnant women care, healthy physiotherapy unit, smoking cessa- It will provide all services available at Asuncion, Assistant Managing Direc- woman and healthy child clinics, ENT tion clinic, diet and nutrition centre, other health centres, but what makes tor, PHCC, said, “It is one-of-a-kind clinic, dentist clinic and a ophthalmol- home care services and other health, it unique is a physiotherapy unit, life centre and will receive appointments ogy clinic. Laboratory and pharmacy said Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, Man- style related services and early detec- from day one. Our patients can start service will also be available. The Flora R Asuncion, Assistant Managing Director, PHCC; Dr Mariam Ali aging Director, Primary Health Care tion services for certain illnesses,” Dr calling the hotline 107 and book two-storey centre is built on an area Corporation (PHCC) yesterday. Abdulmalik told a press conference. appointments.” of 10,000 square meters and has two Abdulmalik, Managing Director, PHCC; Dr Fathiya Al Meer, Director, The centre will initially serve over “One of the main aims of the cen- Dr Fathiya Al Meer, Director, cen- basements for parking. It has 220 Central Region, PHCC; and Nikki Georgios, Executive Director, Engineering 5,000 people and expand services to tre is to reduce pressure on the nearby tral region, PHCC, said, “We have staff and will be open from Sunday Department, PHCC, at a press conference yesterday. between 20,000 and 30,000 residents health centres.” started registering health card holders to Thursday between 7am and 11pm. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula HOME MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 03 Emir lauds Indian PM’s initiatives Modi praises Continued from page 1 diaspora Indian Ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora said Modi’s meeting with Qatari busi- nessmen was very fruitful. By Hussain Ahmad Several Qatari investors have shown The Peninsula interest to invest in various sectors in India and negotiations are going on, said the ambassador. “ We can expect the results very soon,” he said. DOHA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised An MoU was signed between Financial the Indian diaspora in Qatar, saying he didn’t feel like Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) and the he was not in India. Qatar Financial Information Unit (QFIU) “It’s as if the whole of India is standing in front of concerning cooperation in the exchange me,” he said, addressing select members of Indian com- of intelligence related to money launder- munity at a reception at Al Dafna Ballroom of Sheraton ing, terrorism-financing and related crimes. Hotel in Doha yesterday. The MoU facilitates exchange of intel- FROM LEFT: Sanjiv Arora, Indian Ambassador to Qatar; Amar Sinha, Secretary, Economics Relations, Ministry of External His arrival at the venue was greeted by the audi- ligence related to money laundering, Affairs; Vikas Swarup, Joint Secretary (External Relations) at the Ministry; and Mridul Kumar, Joint Secretary for the Gulf at ence with cheers and chants of ‘Modi, Modi’. terrorism-financing and related crimes the Ministry during a press briefing on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Qatar, at Sheraton Hotel yesterday. The Prime Minister was in Doha on a two-day and persons connected thereto. Pic: Baher A / The Peninsula visit as part of his five-nation tour. He left for Geneva Another MoU between the Indian yesterday. Ministry of Skill Development and “Indians are staying here like how they are staying Entrepreneurship, and the National Qual- bilateral cooperation in various fields of projects, metro trains in 50 cities, modern to invest in the exploration and production in India and wear the same dress, follow the same hab- ifications Authority at the Ministry of common interest, increase bilateral visits waste management systems in 500 cities, sector in India by bidding for exploration in its and when they go back, they don’t feel they are going Education and Higher Education seeks of high-level in political, defence, security health care with affordable price, sanitation India under the new “ Exploration Licens- from a different place unlike non-resident Indians in cooperation in skills development and cooperation as well as trade and economic for all by 2019 and houses for all by 2022. ing Policy” (NELP) and the Discovered Small other parts of the world,” Modi said, speaking in Hindi. mutual recognition of qualifications. relations,” said a joint statement issued The two sides condemned all acts Field Policy. He praised the hard work and contribution of Indi- An MoU on tourism aims at bilateral yesterday. of violence, terrorism and extremism, The two sides exchanged views on ans to the growth of the local economy, which he says is cooperation in the field of planning and The Emir expressed appreciation of the whatever their motives, reasons and issues of mutual interest and regional and acknowledged and lauded by the leaders of this coun- developing of tourism, through marketing contributions being made by the Indian justifications in all their forms and mani- international issues, including the secu- try. “My chest swells with pride when I hear words of and promotion as also to support cooper- community in the development of Qatar. festations, reaffirming that terrorism shall rity situation in West Asia, the Middle East praise about Indians on foreign soil,” he said. Vibrant ation between private sector stakeholders. The Qatari side briefed the Indian Premier not be linked to any religion, culture or eth- and South Asia. They also expressed deep and still-growing relations between Qatar and India was Another MoU seeks cooperation in on reforms in labour laws aimed at protect- nic groups. concern towards the security situation in also highlighted, especially trade ties with the energy areas of occupational and environmental ing workers’ interests in Qatar. The two sides discussed ways to Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, stressing the cooperation at its core. health, pharmaceuticals, medical educa- The Emir praised the new initiatives enhance bilateral cooperation in the field need to achieve peaceful solutions by con- The Prime Minister used much of his speech to tion, exchange of the best practices in the of the Indian prime minister, including of cyber security, including prevention of ducting political dialogue and negotiations. spotlight the growing stature of India among the glo- field of primary healthcare, research in the “Start-Up India”, “Made in India”, “Smart the use of cyberspace in support of terror- In the context of the United Nations’ bal community and its robust economic performance field of health care, technology, health care City” and “Clean India”, referring to their ism, extremism and dismantling the social reform, the two sides discussed the impor- amidst a pervasive global gloom. “India clocked an system and exchange of medical experts strong potential to provide a positive impe- fabric. They welcomed the mutual visits tance of adopting an effective system aimed impressive growth rate of 7.9 percent in the last quar- and scientists. tus to the growth of the Indian economy, and dialogue between religious leaders and at establishing a UN system that reflects ter of 2015. This superb performance is despite a famine The First Executive Programme for MoU said the statement. men of culture of the two countries, hold- a contemporary reality as a key factor to in some parts of the country and floods in some areas.” in the field of Youth and Sports provides Modi highlighted the major initiatives ing conferences and seminars in order to address global challenges. Modi also elaborated his government’s fight against for exchanges and cooperation in sports taken by the Indian government to facilitate strengthen peace, tolerance, inclusion and They stressed the urgent need for the entrenched corruption in India, claiming success in its activities, training camps for sports teams business by simplifying existing proce- good advocated by all religions values. continuation of United Nations reforms, efforts. He didn’t speak about the long-pending demands and exchange visits of leaders and officials dures and increasing the foreign direct The two sides agreed to focus on including the Security Council by expand- of Indians in the Gulf about various services accorded between the two countries. investment (FDI) limit in key areas includ- strengthening cooperation in the field of ing its membership to make it more to them. An agreement seeks cooperation and ing railways, defence, insurance, calling energy, which includes the areas of train- representative, credible and effective. Hundreds of community leaders and several media mutual assistance between the two coun- on Qatar to be a partner in the process of ing and human resource development; The Indian Prime Minister expressed persons were present. After the speech, the audience tries on matters pertaining to customs growth of India. cooperation in the field of research and his sincere gratitude to the Emir for the split into groups and the Prime Minister posed for a pic- administration through exchange of infor- He pointed out that his country has development and the promotion of joint warm welcome and generous hospitality ture with each group. Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora mation and intelligence. plans for the construction of infrastructure projects in the petrochemical complexes and invited the Emir to pay an official visit welcomed the gathering. “Recognising their mutual goodwill, in accordance with international standards and joint exploration in India and other to India at a mutually convenient time. The The event started with the recital of the national the two sides agreed to expand and deepen through the construction of 100 smart city countries. The Indian side called on Qatar Emir accepted the invitation. anthems of India and Qatar. Two four-storey mosques ready

The Peninsula

DOHA: Two four-storey mosques which can accommo- date thousands of worshippers have been readied in Al Hitmi and Umm Ghuwailina at the beginning of Ramadan. The new facilities are part of a plan of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to build multi-storey mosques in densely populated areas, especially in Doha down- town, to avoid people praying on streets and pavements outside mosques. The multi-storey mosques will be able to accommodate a growing number of worshippers with the growth of population. Twenty-four new mosques with full services have been readied throughout the country ahead of the Holy Month. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) completed 22 projects for the Ministry in different parts of Qatar, said a statement. The new projects include mosques for daily prayers, mosques housing Friday sermons, centres for teaching Holy Quran and houses for Imams and Muadhins. They are in Nuaija, Bu Hamour, Ain Khaled, Old Al Hitmi, Al Muntazah, Old Al Ghanem, New Al Khulaifiat, New Slata, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Mansoura, Msheireb, Fereej Al Nasser, El Ebb, Rawdat Al Hamama, Rawdat Egdeim Al Sakhama, Umm Garn, North Khalifa, Julaiah, South Khalifa, Al Shahaniya. Fifteen mosques are under construction and are The four-storey mosque in Umm Ghuwailina, which expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year. Daily prayers mosques and Jame’a mosques include a can accommodate about 1,240 worshippers. main prayer hall for men and another for women, ablu- tion (Wudu) facilities for men and women, Da’wa room, include classrooms, a library, a multipurpose hall, a nurs- and a parking area. ery, teachers rooms, administrative offices, a kitchen and The Jame’a mosques can accommodate between 300 parking areas. The engineering and architectural designs and 2,400 worshippers and parking areas are provided of the mosques and the Holy Quran teaching centres fea- in most of these mosques. The Quran teaching centres ture a traditional and unified character. HMC cautions against misuse of health cards

The Peninsula the borrower,” he said. The major rely on to fully assess the health sta- risk posed by sharing health cards tus of the patient. Details in medical is that these people will also be shar- records include blood type, long-term ing health records. This means that conditions, allergies and history of DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation doctors assessing a patient’s health surgical procedures. (HMC) has found a significant number condition will be looking at the med- “The majority of health card mis- of patients presenting health cards ical history of another patient when use is committed by a very small belonging to others to access services. making a diagnosis. minority of patients who, sadly, do The alarming trend identified by “If a patient with long-term not realise the seriousness of their officials is putting people’s health at conditions such as diabetes and actions and the negative impact this risk, said Dr Yousef Al Maslamani, hypertension uses the health card of a may have on their health and that Medical Director, Hamad General healthy person, the examining med- of the card holder. We urge people Hospital. ical team may be unaware of these to stop this illegal practice for their “First, it is important to note that existing conditions. This will mean safety,” he added. the practice is not only dishonest they are unable to provide an accu- To obtain a health card, residents but also illegal. But more worry- rate diagnosis and suitable course of can visit their nearest primary health ingly, using someone else’s card to treatment, putting the patient’s health centre. They will be asked to fill out obtain care services or prescrip- at risk,” said Dr Al Maslamani. forms. Details on how to apply for a tions could compromise the future Patients’ medical records con- health card are available on the HMC health of the owner of the card and tain vital information clinical teams website www.hamad.qa 04 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 HOME Ministry provides tips Call to protect nature & wildlife HMC: Avoid to reduce spending overeating during Ramadan during Ramadan Ministry to launch The Peninsula Arabian oryx DNA The Peninsula project to identify native species. DOHA: Hamad Medical Corpora- tion (HMC) has urged people to have DOHA: Qatar’s household spending on consumer goods a balanced meal and avoid overeat- and food traditionally peaks by 30 percent during Ram- ing during Ramadan. adan compared to regular days where the average By Sidi Mohamed Dr. Saad Abdul Fattah Al spending does not exceed 15 percent. The Peninsula Nuaimi, Senior Consultant, Emer- The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is offer- gency Medicine, Hamad General ing tips to citizens and expatriates to reduce expenses Hospital (HGH), said consuming through ‘Shop smarter and plan better’ for the Holy large quantities of food or an unbal- Month. The ministry highlighted the importance of DOHA: Under the patronage anced diet during Iftar or Suhoor saving money and planning for shopping in advance, of Minister of Municipality and can lead to an upset stomach, intes- allocating a monthly budget for food commodities, pre- Environment H E Mohamed bin tinal disorders and a worsening of paring a list of necessary commodities and complying Abdullah Al Rumaihi, the Min- other pre-existing health problems. with it as well as avoiding shopping prior to Iftars since istry marked yesterday World “Lack of moderation in food hunger is shown to motivate consumers to buy unneces- Environment Day under the intake and overindulging when sary products. The Ministry aims at providing families theme ‘Combating illegal trade eating sweet food contradicts the with tools for better financial planning. in wildlife’. purpose of the fast,” he added. It encouraged families to prepare a detailed list of Activities were held at Ezdan Engineer Ahmed Al Sada (third left), Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at Dr. Al Nuaimi said one of the meals to be consumed during Ramadan and set money Mall from 10am to 8pm, in the the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and other officials touring the exhibition at most common complaints linked aside to shop for basic commodities such as rice, oil, presence of senior officials from Ezdan Mall yesterday. Pic: Abdul B / The Peninsula to overeating during Ramadan is sugar and other products before the Holy Month to avoid the Ministry, to raise awareness abdominal pain. “This happens market crowds. The Ministry provided tips on how to among the young generation when people eat very quickly manage the household budget, using credit cards and about the importance of taking Environmental Affairs at Min- Director, Environmental Pro- reserves. He said a project immediately after the Magh- making the most out of shopping in small malls. It urged care of the environment. A col- istry, told The Peninsula: “The tection, Nature Reserves and of Arabian oryx DNA will be rib adhan (call to prayer). A large citizens and residents to check newspapers and adver- lection of photographs of Qatari Ministry is organising events Wildlife Department at the launched soon to identify the amount of carbohydrates/sweets tisements for the latest promotions and subsidised goods. plants and animals and those of to raise awareness about the Ministry, said Qatar is among native species. The global day in a meal can cause people to feel It invites the public to follow its accounts on social media endangered animals were on importance of wildlife to the first GCC countries which is observed on June 5 to raise bloated and this is what most fre- networks, including Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube display to highlight the day. maintain it along with the bio- has preserved the endangered awareness and encourage pos- quently results in stomach pain.” under the name MEC_QATAR and subscribe to its What- Engineer Ahmed Al Sada, diversity in Qatar.” Arabian oryx by setting up Al itive action to protect nature and Other recommendations to sApp account on 66111400. Assistant Undersecretary for Omar Salem Al Nuaimi, Shahaniya and other nature the planet earth. avoid preventable ill-health dur- ing Ramadan, as advised by him, include: Do not skip Suhoor as this will increase the length of the fast, Diversion on East Industrial Road from tomorrow which is not advisable in the hot season and may result in dehy- dration and fatigue; drink as much The Peninsula water as possible between Iftar and sleeping, particularly in the hot season; avoid salty foods dur- ing Iftar and Suhoor meals; avoid DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) caffeinated drinks such as coke, will start a temporary diversion on part of the coffee or tea; avoid refined carbo- north-bound lanes of East Industrial Road, for hydrates and sugar; and try not to 2.76km from Street 23 (near Al Watan Petrol consume heavy fatty and oily foods, Station) to Street 10 (near Woqod Petrol Station). which often cause gastrointestinal The diversion will be implemented from disturbances. tomorrow and last until mid-July, in coordina- For the Suhoor meal, it is advis- tion with the Traffic Police Department. Traffic able to eat proteins, oils, complex on the closed section of the road will be diverted carbohydrates such as beans and to the adjacent service roads, where the number half a cup of fresh juice or a piece of of lanes will be reduced from five to two, as fruit; break your fast for Iftar meal shown in the map. with a simple, easily digestible meal Speed limit will be reduced to 50kmph which helps your glucose levels along the diversion route to ensure the safety return to normal and help control of road users and the project’s workforce. appetite during the main meal and Ashghal will install road signs advising fasting hours; avoid direct exposure motorists of the diversion and has urged road to sun and exercise in a hot environ- users to abide by speed limits and follow signs ment which can lead to sweating for safety. and fluid loss and dehydration. QCAA and Es’hailSat to provide technical support for air monitors

The Peninsula signed a memorandum of understanding benefits, services and by satellite for stakehold- (MoU) to take advantage of satellite services expertise in line with their ers, including local parties to provide technical support for air moni- interests, in a way that con- and regional and interna- DOHA: Qatar Civil Aviation Authority toring professionals. tributes to Qatar National tional organisations. The (QCAA) and Qatari satellite Es’hailSat have The MoU stipulates exchange of Vision 2030, serves the MoU also stipulate coop- progress of existing eration in the search for projects towards Qatar in possibilities of the use of 2022, and upgrade work satellite communications efficiency, Qatar News in emergencies and dis- Agency reports. aster warning. The MoU Both sides also agreed was signed by Abdullah to cooperate in expand- bin Nasser Turki Al Sub- ing joint investment and aie, Chairman, QCAA, disseminating and mar- and Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, keting information and CEO, Qatar Satellite Com- data on Earth observation pany (Es’hailSat).

Vodafone offers free data on WhatsApp messaging

The Peninsula ones in Qatar and all over the world through our strong network,” said Mohamed Al Sadah, Chief DOHA: Vodafone Qatar Operating Officer, Voda- is offering WhatsApp fone Qatar. data for messaging and Vodafone’s network sharing pictures, vid- is now better than ever. eos, documents and voice In April this year, a team recordings for free for its of independent network consumers and enterprise analysts arrived in Qatar customers during Ram- to travel the main cities, adan. town and roads to assess Postpaid customers the network performance will receive an invitation of all the country’s net- SMS and can respond with work operators. 1 to avail the offer. Prepaid Each operator was customers can activate the ranked on call quality offer through Happy Offers and clarity, data speeds, by dialing *123# or calling latency, YouTube, and web 123. browsing performance. “Ramadan is all about Vodafone achieved togetherness and for that the overall highest score, we are offering one of earning the ‘Best in the most used apps in the Test’ certificate from P3 world for free so our cus- Communications, an inter- tomers can stay close to national leader in mobile their families and loved performance testing. HOME MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 05 Ramadan: Arabic TV channels more popular Qatar Airways arrives in Atlanta The Peninsula broadcast a new episode daily rather than once a week. The report was released in cooperative effort with Doha Film Institute (DFI). Ramadan is an important time for television in the Middle The inaugural DOHA: During Ramadan, Arabic TV channels East, with a surge in TV viewing, particularly are more popular than at other times of the Arabic series. inbound and year, said a Northwestern University in Qatar The study said there is a general expansion outbound flights (NU-Q) report on the media industry. of channels and offerings across all sectors, The report found that on five top free-to- including broadcast, print and digital media. were sold out, air, general interest channels three-quarters of It delved into 11 media sectors, including TV, demonstrating all programmes during Ramadan are scripted magazines, radio, religious TV and TV pro- compared to about half during the rest of the gramming during Ramadan. Prayers and the need and year. Drama is also mentioned as the most pop- religious programmes also increase substan- desire for new ular category. The result of the region-wide tially, accounting for an average of eight hours international ‘Media Industries in the Middle East, 2016’ of programming a week during Ramadan, ver- study showed that almost half the program- sus two hours during other months. service to and ming consisted of scripted material or about Entertainment TV channels traditionally from Atlanta. three times more than other months. Among compete over the rights for the latest in Turk- the non-scripted programmes, those with a ish, Egyptian, Syrian, and Gulf dramas — with religious theme become more important increased production in the UAE and Saudi The report said TV stations in the region Arabia, said Joe Khalil, Associate Professor in prepare for the Ramadan season and often Residence at NU-Q. The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) has launched its first commercial Emirgan Sutis opens second branch flight to Atlanta, as the airline commenced daily, non-stop service between Hartsfield- Rossen Dimitrov (second left), Senior Vice-President Customer Experience, Qatar Airways; Jackson International Airport Roosevelt Council Jr. (centre), Interim Airport Director; Gunter Saurwein (second right), Vice- (ATL) and Hamad International President for Americas, QA, exchange gifts before welcoming media aboard A380. Airport (DOH) in Doha. Skytrax’s reigning ‘Airline of the Year’ marked the occa- world — businesses that need to India, Southeast Asia and about working for Skytrax’s sion by operating the inaugural the convenience that only our African destinations, such as three-time Airline of the Year flights with one of the airline’s flight, with connections in Doha, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Asmara, by visiting the airline’s website superjumbo Airbus A380 can provide,” Al Baker added. and Khartoum. at www.qatarairways.com. aircraft. QA’s home and hub, Hamad “Our vision for QA and HIA QA offers competitive, tax- The inaugural inbound and International Airport (HIA), offer has always been as a global free salary, housing, medical outbound flights were sold out, geographic advantages other hub, seamlessly spanning con- insurance and other perks, in demonstrating the need and airlines and alliances cannot; tinents and facilitating world addition to the opportunity for desire for new international the carrier is based in Doha, travel,” said Al Baker. “The world rapid career advancement. service to and from Atlanta. within six hours of 80 percent becomes far more accessible The introduction of daily Akbar Al Baker, Chief Exec- of the world’s population. With with kind of global network, wide-body Boeing 777 passen- utive, QA Group, said: “From our its network throughout Asia and and we at QA want to take the ger flights provides additional very first flight, we see that our the Middle East and Africa, QA journey with you, and make the belly-hold capacity to the cargo services are essential to this flights can reduce overall flying travel as rewarding and memo- carrier’s four-times weekly city, even in a major aviation time by hours. rable as the destination.” freighter services between hub such as Atlanta. The first QA departure QA is one of the fastest Doha and Atlanta. The car- “We are broadening the proves the point that hundreds growing airlines in aviation his- rier now offers a combined 744 horizon and giving seasoned of passengers on the first flight tory, taking on average one new tonnes of capacity a week on Ahmet Demirok, Turkish Ambassador to Qatar, and Ahmed Al Siddiqi, Chairman, business and leisure travel- from Atlanta took advantage of aircraft every 11 days. To help its Doha-Atlanta-Doha route, Al Siddiqi Holding, inaugurated the second branch of Emirgan Sütis, famous for its lers convenient access to many convenient connections to reach support this growth, QA will meeting the robust demand of traditional Turkish cuisine, at 18 La Croisette - Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. VIPs, new and important destinations over 40 destinations out of the host a recruitment drive for its the destination. Flight schedule: media and bloggers were present. The restaurant is open from Sunday to Thursday around the world. airline’s global network of more award-winning and iconic cabin DOH to ATL QR755 departs at and Saturday from 7.30am to midnight and on Friday from 7.30am to 11am and “Atlanta is home to dozens than 150 destinations. crew in Atlanta starting in July. 9:05 and arrives at 16:55; ATL to 12:30pm to midnight. Free parking is available. of Fortune 500 companies that The majority of connecting Dates will be announced shortly. DOH QR756 leaves at 19:25 and conduct business around the passengers flew on from HIA Applicants can learn more arrives at 16:15 the following day. 06 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 HOME

Emir opens Interior Ministry HQ Ministry urges PHCC launches first private sector to reduce working Mobile Mammogram hours to six Screening Unit in region QNA

By Fazeena Saleem Bowel Screening Programme which DOHA: The Ministry of The Peninsula complies with the recommendations Administrative Development of the National Cancer Programme,” and Labour and Social Affairs she said. has urged the private sector “PHCC’s main aim is to create to reduce working hours to DOHA: Primary Health Care Cor- awareness and educate the public six during the Holy Month of poration (PHCC) yesterday launched about importance of screening for Ramadan, in application of a first of its kind Mobile Mammo- cancer. We need to break the myths the provisions of the labour gram Screening Unit in the region and stigma among people. law. to screen women for breast cancer “With the launch of the mobile In a press statement yes- and create awareness about the dis- unit we take the service to people terday, the Ministry called on ease among public. and encourage them to screen for private sector companies The unique mobile unit will visit breast cancer. We send them text and institutions to adhere to various Health Centres and public messages with information about the instructions related to places. Initially It will station at the benefits of early detection of breast Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday opened the new headquarters of the Interior reduced working hours dur- Abu Baker Health Centre for three cancer,” she added. Ministry. The Emir was accompanied by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin ing Ramadan. months. The mobile unit will initially Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Ministers and senior officials. Appointments for screening in serve only Qataris and later expand the mobile unit can be made by call- the services to expatriates. It will ing Cancer Screening Call Centre on also go to public places like shop- 8001112 in advance. ping malls, schools and universities The unit has highly skilled to create awareness. healthcare professionals trained “We are also going to use it as to efficiently operate the facility’s a marketing tool at public places to state-of-the-art equipment. Screen- educate people about the impor- Emiri Guard holds graduation ing will be conducted in the utmost tance of screening for breast cancer privacy by a female radiologist and and how early detection will help trained nurses who will provide saving life. Our target group is The ceremony was attended by including self-defence methods and No. 3, First Lieutenant Khaled Madi Al vital information and responses to women above 45 years. the Emiri Guard Deputy Commander, VIP protection exercises. Major General Hajri won the first place, First lieuten- all questions from patients about the “We contact our Qatari popu- The personnel Inspector-General, assistant com- Al Shahwani honoured the graduates ant Hamad Khaled Al Shahwani second examination process. lation, give them information and complete seven manders, heads of departments and and urged them to exert more efforts, and Lt. Mohammed Hamad Al Hajri the The mobile unit was launched encourage them to get an appoint- courses and perform groups, officers from Emiri Air Force, wishing them success in their lives. third position. by Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, ment for screening in the mobile Emiri Land Force and the Military The Commander of the school, In self-defence course No. 9, Cor- Managing Director of PHCC at the unit,” said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, drills during the Police, and from Kuwait. Lieutenant-Colonel Mubarak Battal poral Mohamed Ahmed Showaiter won Leabaib Health Centre as part of Manager, Cancer Programme Divi- ceremony. In a speech, Major Saud Zaqlan Hassan Al Otaibi, presented a com- the first position, Lieutenant Moham- ‘Screen for Life’, a national pro- sion, PHCC Al Shammari from the school wel- memorative gift to the commander of med Hassan Al Sulaiti second and Lt. gramme that promotes awareness ‘Screen for Life’ was launched in comed the participants and stressed the Emiri Guard. This is followed by the Mohammed Mattar Al Muraikhi the and early detection of cancer in December 2015. At present Al Wak- that the school is always keen to raise announcement of the results of courses third place. Qatar. rah and Leabaib Health Centre have QNA the level of training courses accord- as follows: In the warrant officers qualifying The unit has highly skilled the facilities for early detection of ing to the directives of the Emiri Guard In the Security and VIP Protection course No. 5, Warrant Officer 2 Salem healthcare professionals trained breast and bowel cancer. A total of Command. He said the courses are Course No. 76, Capt. Ahmed Jassim Al Rashid Al Marri won the first place, to efficiently operate the facility’s 1300 people have been screened specialised in Emiri Guard duties and Othman from the military police com- Warrent Officer 2 Nasser Ali Al Habb- state-of-the-art equipment. in the past three months. Also both DOHA: Under the patronage of the participants were trained in various mand won the first place in the course abi second and Warrant Officer 2 Saeed Screening will be conducted centres have appointments fixed Emiri Guard Commander, Major Gen- skills. and fitness, lieutenant Mohammed Saif Al Marri the third place. in the utmost privacy by a female until November. eral Hazza bin Khalil Al Shahwani, the Major Al Shammari said the intelli- Hassan Al Sulaiti the second place and In the preparation of trainers radiologist and trained nurses who The new million dollar mobile Emiri Guard School at Barzan camp gence protection training is one of the Lt. Faisal Jabr Al Nuaimi the third place, course No. 1, Soldier Hussein Abdullah will provide vital information and mammogram unit is manufactured yesterday celebrated the graduation important courses to train participants while Lt. Abdul Aziz Husayn Al Mansuri Aweidah won the first place, Sergeant responses to all questions from in the US. of seven courses. on how to put security plans for VIP won the first place in shooting. Mohammed Alawi Al Yafei second patients about the examination Norman Hames, executive The courses included: Protective protection through the study of all pos- In the rapid intervention course No. and MP Abdul Aziz Salem Al Anzi process. vice president and chief operating Intelligence Training No. 3; Security sibilities and expected threats. 5, Lieutenant Faisal Abdullah Al Kuwari came third. In the constituent signal The mobile unit was launched officer- Western operations, Rad- and VIP Protection No. 76; Self-defence He thanked all those who contrib- won the first position, lieutenant Rashid course No. 3, Sergeant Badshah Wazir by Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, Net said, “We designed the mobile No. 9; Rapid Intervention No. 5; Trainer uted to the success of the courses and Mohammed Al Shahwani second and Khan won the first position, Corporal Managing Director of PHCC at the unit as well as the screening suites Development course No. 1; Warrant urged graduates to work on further Lt. Mohammed Issa Al Kuwari the third Mohammad Khaled Al Naimi second Leabaib Health Centre. “The mobile at health centres. officers qualifying course No. 5; and training to develop capabilities. place. and MP Mohammed Hasher Al Hajri screening unit is first of its kind in “This is our very first project in Constituent signal course No. 3. The trainees presented shows, In the protective intelligence course the third position. the gulf region. the region. There are mobile units Launch of the unit is a major for cancer screening in some coun- development for PHCC as part of tries, but those are not designed and the fight against cancer in Qatar. developed as this unit.” It offers a new concept in pri- According to Hames, the unit Charity allocates QR17.7m for Ramadan projects in Qatar & abroad mary healthcare as breast screening can screen one patient every half is an essential part of the Breast and an hour and about 16 a day.

The Peninsula QR17.7m for Ramadan projects in Qatar More than 80 percent, QR14,5m people benefitted last year, said and other countries, QR6.7m more than of total fund will be spend in a statement. Vouchers for basic last year. The projects include offering the country, only QR3.2m will foodstuffs worth QR1.5m will Iftar meals, distributing vouchers for basic be sent in abroad on Ramadan be distributed to around 2,500 DOHA: Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim foodstuffs and some cash to needy fami- projects. needy people by the beginning Charitable Foundation has earmarked lies and individuals as financial support. “Iftar meals will be offered of next week. at 11 locations throughout Doha Another 2,500 needy peo- with the capacity of up to 1,800 ple will benefit from cash fasting people at each location, distribution at the cost of QR4m said Saeed Al Hajri CEO of the Regarding the activities Foundation. and projects outside Qatar, Three Iftar tents will be set the Foundation is currently up in New Mirgab area, one tent distributing food baskets to in old Mirgab area, another in 5,000 families in six African new Doha area, a tent in Muazir countries including, Ethiopia, area, Misaimeer area, another Somali, Nigeria, Togo, Benin tent in Al Murra Alsharqia, and Ghana at a cost of QR2m a tent in Industrial area and in collaboration with Islamic another in Al Khor Industrial Dawa Organisation. Food items area and the a tent in Umm worth QR200,000 to be dis- Salal Ali in collaboration with patched to Yemen soon. Barzan youth centre. Dates worth QR1m were Some 15,000 people will shipped to nine Asian countries, benefit from Iftars meals on including Pakistan, China, Sri Dr. Mariam Ali Abdulmalik (second right), Managing Director, Primary daily basis, a total up to half Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Health Care Corporation, inaugurating the Mobile Screening Unite at a million people through- Laos, India, Nepal and Indo- Leabaib Health Centre, in the presence of other officials yesterday. out Ramadan, some 300,000 nesia for the needy. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula Katara Ramadan Festival to host 75 activities

The Peninsula celebrate the advent of Ram- Katara Chief added: “This peace and tolerance amongst peo- adan every year and cherish its year’s Ramadan season will have ple from all walks of life and faith. glorious meanings and messages several religious, cultural and sci- Which has always been one of our of piety, mercy, forgiveness and entific platforms distributed over vision pillars”. DOHA: The Cultural Village repentance, as well as blesses and 75 activities across all the Cultural Katara announced that its Foundation-Katara unveiled its generosity felt by all during this Village to provide Katara’s visitors Ramadan Festival 2016 under 2016 Ramadan programme under special time of the year. Our pro- with an unforgettable and inform- the theme of “Human Creation the theme of “Human Creation in gram this season entitled “Human ative experience, starting from the in the Holy Quran” will comprise the Holy Quran”, during a press Creation in the Holy Quran”, high- 14th of June”. activities including a workshop for conference yesterday morning lights: God’s endless miracles to Dr. Al Sulaiti also stated the memorizing the Holy Quran held held by the General Manager of grant our visitors the opportunity following: “The launch of this for the 5th year. Katara Dr. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al to contemplate and think about month-long Ramadan festival The workshop will be open Sulaiti. the greatness of one of God’s reflects the significant role of for male and female children Al-Sulaiti said in a speech creation, the creation of human Katara in highlighting and pre- aged from seven to nine and will delivered on the occasion: “The beings and mankind whom God serving the Arab and Islamic be running from May 22-26. In holy month of Ramadan has its shouldered him the responsibil- identity, promoting awareness on addition, a two-week workshop unique religious and spiritual ity to build planet earth and a the spiritual, cultural and scien- for memorizing the Holy Quran manifestations, traditional and diverse and innovational array tific depth of Islamic civilization will start on June 12 and will run cultural taste. Katara is keen to of activities.” and spreading the culture of love, until the June 23. MIDDLE EAST MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 07 Iraqi forces secure southern edge of IS-held Fallujah

operation coincides with a twin offensive on acronym for a car bomb, the Iraqi special Iraqi special forces have IS-strongholds in neighboring Syria. Syrian forces officer called to Australian coalition Kurdish forces are advancing on Manbij, an IS- forces over a hand-held radio. Moments later, secured the largely held city controlling the supply route between a plume of white, then black smoke appeared agricultural southern the Turkish border and the town of Raqqa, the on the horizon. Commanders at the scene militants’ de facto capital. At the same time, said the explosion was created by a coalition neighbourhood of Syrian government troops are advancing on rocket destroying the incoming car bomb. Naymiyah under cover of Raqqa from the south. Car bombs were once the most deadly The slow-moving Iraqi operation was form of IS counterattack for Iraq’s special US-led coalition airstrikes. announced in May. An array of troops includ- forces, who have taken the lead in a number ing Iraqi military divisions, the federal police of anti-IS operations, including in the cit- and the largely Shiite militia groups, known ies of Tikrit and Ramadi. Al Saadi, who also as the Popular Mobilization Forces, had commanded the Tikrit operation, says coa- AP cleared IS from the majority of Fallujah’s lition air power in Fallujah has prevented suburbs. car bombs from inflicting casualties on his On Monday, Iraq’s elite special forces forces, but they have still succeeded in slow- began pushing into the city center, but they ing progress. NAYMIYAH, IRAQ: Iraqi forces secured the have faced stiff resistance as Fallujah has “We are expecting many more,” once southern edge of the Islamic State (IS) group been under IS control for more than two inside the city’s more urban neighborhoods, stronghold of Fallujah yesterday, two weeks years, and the militants have been able to Al Saadi said. after the launch of an operation to recapture erect complex defences. Fallujah is one of the last strongholds of IS the city, the Iraqi special forces commander Tall dirt berms dot the dusty fields to the in Iraq. While the militants once held nearly overseeing the operation said. city’s south. A single column of counterter- a third of the country’s territory, their grip Iraqi special forces, also known as its A truck mounted with a home-made rocket launcher is parked on the front line rorism Humvees snaked up toward a row of has slipped to less than half that, according counterterrorism forces, have secured the as Iraqi pro-government forces hold a position near the village of Al Azraqiyah, low lying houses that mark the beginning of to the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. largely agricultural southern neighbour- northwest of Fallujah, yesterday. the main city. “VIBED! VIBED!” shouted an IS still controls patches of territory in north- hood of Naymiyah under cover of US-led Iraqi air commander from a small mobile ern and western Iraq, as well as its second coalition airstrikes, Lt.Gen Abdel Wahab Al Saadi said. Special forces are now poised to enter the main city, Al Saadi said. The Fallujah base on Fallujah’s southern edge. Using an largest city, Mosul. Syrian and Russian aircraft step up bombing of Aleppo

Reuters shrapnel- were dropped by military intervention in September has helped helicopters on several densely pop- to bolster Assad’s government. ulated districts. The monitor also said the Syrian A civil defence worker said at least government raids had targeted the AMMAN: Nearly 50 strikes hit rebel- 32 people were killed in the rebel-held main Castello road that leads into held areas in and around the Syrian parts of the city, with eighteen bod- rebel-held Aleppo as part of a cam- city of Aleppo yesterday in some of ies alone pulled out of the rubble of paign to cut the main rebel route in the heaviest raids recently by Russian flattened buildings in the Qatrji neigh- and complete the encirclement of the and Syrian government aircraft, res- bourhood, the worst hit. city’s insurgent-held areas. idents and a monitor said. “This week-long campaign of A Russian defence ministry state- For their part, rebels also hit gov- bombing is very intense and day by ment on Sunday accused militant ernment-held areas of Aleppo in what day it’s getting worse .. it is the worst Syrian Islamist groups of firing mor- Syrian media said was an escalation we have seen in a while,” said Bebars tars on the mainly Kurdish-populated in mortar attacks on the western dis- Mishal, a civil defence official in Sheikh Maqsood neighourbood in tricts of what was the country’s largest rebel-held Aleppo. Aleppo that overlooks the Castello road. city before the war. The aerial raids on Sunday came The monitor said 13 people, State media said missiles fired in the wake of Friday’s strikes on including six children, were killed on Hamadaniyah, Midan and other civilian areas that residents said were on Saturday in the Kurdish-run area neighbourhoods by insurgents left at the most intense in over a month. by insurgent mortars. least twenty dead, mostly civilians, The city, which has been divided Rebels accuse the powerful Kurd- in the second day of intense shelling for years between rebel and gov- ish YPG of working hand in hand with People shop ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan at Souq Al Srijeh in Damascus, Syria, yesterday. of government-held areas, which had ernment-held zones, has seen many the Syrian army to cut the main artery left at least 24 dead on Saturday. deadly bombardments that have all by intensifying their ground attacks In the rebel-held eastern sector but destroyed a February ceasefire on the highway and targeting civilians groups of bringing at least 1,000 the strategic town of Khan Touman, battlefield setbacks yet to a coalition of the city, the Syrian Observatory agreement. who use it while Syrian jets pound the fighters into an area in the southern rebels say. of foreign Shi’ite fighters, including for Human Rights said dozens of Full control of Aleppo city route from the air. Aleppo countryside. The Nusra Front spearheaded Iranians and the Lebanese Hezbollah barrel bombs - oil drums or cyl- would be a huge prize for President The Russians had on Saturday The militants have consolidated an attack on Khan Touman last fighting in support of Syrian govern- inders packed with explosives and Bashar al-Assad. Russia’s military accused militants from radical Islamic gains since Friday in the area around month, delivering one of the biggest ment forces.. Israel charges IS kills dozens of its second Hamas teen tunneller own in hunt for spies

AFP AP particularly gruesome methods, including reportedly dropping some into a vat of acid. IS “commanders don’t dare come JERUSALEM: Israeli prosecutors BAGHDAD: In March, a senior com- from Iraq to Syria because they are charged a Gaza teenager yes- mander with the Islamic State (IS) being liquidated” by airstrikes, said terday with membership of the group was driving through north- Bebars Al Talawy, an opposition military wing of Hamas, after he ern Syria on orders to lead militants activist in Syria who monitors the was said to have provided infor- in the fighting there when a drone jihadi group. mation about the group’s tunnel blasted his vehicle to oblivion. Over the past months, Amer- network, officials said. The killing of Abu Hayjaa Al ican officials have said that the The Shin Bet security serv- Tunsi, a Tunisian militant, sparked US has killed a string of top com- ice said the 17-year-old had been a panicked hunt within the group’s manders from the group, including arrested last month after crossing ranks for spies who could have its “minister of war” Omar Al Shis- from the Gaza Strip into Israel “on tipped off the U.S-led coalition hani, feared Iraqi militant Shaker his own”. about his closely guarded move- Wuhayeb, also known as Abu The suspect, who as a minor ments. By the time it was over, Wahib, as well as a top finance cannot be identified, was the the group would kill 38 of its own official known by several names, Palestinian demonstrators marking Israel’s 1967 seizure of the Palestinian-dominated eastern half of second Gazan 17-year-old alleg- members on suspicion of acting as including Haji Iman, Abu Alaa Al Jerusalem are separated from Israelis taking part in an annual march, outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s edly involved in tunnelling to be informants. Afari or Abu Ali Al Anbari. old city, yesterday. charged by Israel in a month. They were among dozens of IS In the northern Iraqi city of In addition to those two, members killed by their own lead- Mosul, the biggest city held by IS another man, 29-year-old Mah- ership in recent months in a vicious across its “caliphate” stretching mud Atawnah, was also charged purge after a string of airstrikes across Syria and Iraq, a succession Israel frees Iran TV correspondent over his alleged part in the mili- killed prominent figures. of militants who held the post of tant group’s tunnel network in May. Others have disappeared into “wali,” or governor, in the province The Israeli army said the minor prisons and still more have fled, have died in airstrikes. charged on Sunday was a mem- fearing they could be next as the As a result, those appointed to AFP terrorism,” police said. A court in Naza- themselves Syrians. Iran is an ally ber of the northern Gaza “Beit jihadi group turns on itself in the governor posts have asked not to be reth in northern Israel extended his of Syria, which is technically at war Lahiya battalion of Hamas’s mil- hunt for moles, according to Syrian identified and they limit their move- remand until Sunday, when he was with Israel, and a sworn enemy of the itary wing”. opposition activists, Kurdish militia ments, the Iraqi informant told The released “under limitations, includ- Jewish state. “The perpetrator conveyed commanders, several Iraqi intelli- Associated Press. Iraqi intelligence JERUSALEM: Israel yesterday ing a five-day house arrest,” police said. Hussein Mortada, head of Al valuable information regarding gence officials and an informant for officials allowed the AP to speak by released a correspondent in the In an interview with Beirut-based Alam’s office in Syria, said on Hamas activities in the northern the Iraqi government who worked phone with the informant, who spoke Golan Heights for Iran’s Arabic-lan- Al Alam yesterday, Safadi said he was Wednesday that the arrest was part Gaza Strip and especially Hamas’s within IS ranks. on condition of anonymity, fearing guage television after four days of “accused of incitement to terrorism, of a “systematic campaign” by Israel offensive tunnels,” a statement The fear of informants has for his life. The purge comes at a time detention, police said. supporting terror organisations and against the media. said. It alleged that “it was also fueled paranoia among the mil- when IS has lost ground in both Syria Bassam Al Safadi, a journalist standing behind terror organisa- Israel seized 1,200 sq km of the revealed that Hamas is operating itants’ ranks. A mobile phone or and Iraq. An Iraqi government offen- for the Al Alam news channel, was tions.” The 43-year-old was described Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 to establish multiple tunnels deep internet connection can raise sus- sive recaptured the western city of arrested on Wednesday on suspicion by police as Arab Israeli, but many Six-Day War and later annexed it in a within the Gaza Strip connected picions. As a warning to others, IS Ramadi from IS earlier this year, and of “supporting a terrorist organisa- Arab residents of the Golan, who are move never recognised by the inter- to the offensive tunnels infiltrat- has displayed the bodies of some another mission is underway to retake tion and incitement to violence and from the Druze community, consider national community. ing Israel”. suspected spies in public — or used the nearby city of Fallujah. 08 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES Duterte urges public to kill criminals

“If he fights and fights to the Police officer’s Philippine leader death, you can kill him,” he said, adding: “I will give you a medal.” wife slain in offers money for He stressed that drug addicts slain drug lords. could not be rehabilitated and Bangladesh warned, “if you are involved in drugs, I will kill you. I will really DHAKA: The wife of a sen- kill you.” ior Bangladeshi police official AFP Duterte reiterated that his anti- known for battling Islamist crime campaign would be “a bloody militants was stabbed and war,” as he offered money for slain shot to death yesterday, and MANILA: The Philippines’ president drug lords. “I will pay, for a drug lord: machete-wielding assailants elect Rodrigo Duterte urged the pub- five million (pesos)($107,000) if he is killed a Christian grocer in a lic to join his anti-crime crackdown, dead. If he is alive, only 4.999 mil- separate incident. offering people huge bounties for lion,” he laughed. Both attacks appeared to killing drug dealers. Duterte, who takes office on June be the work of Islamist mili- His announcement late Saturday 30 and is the longtime mayor of the tants who have killed at least came as other officials began paying southern city of Davao, also offered 30 people, including religious bounties for slain suspected crimi- smaller amounts for lower-ranked minorities, liberal bloggers nals in an apparent attempt to ride figures involved in the drug trade. and academics, since Feb- on Duterte’s success. He did not say how a private cit- ruary last year, police said. Duterte won the presidential izen could identify suspects. Three assailants riding election last month, running on a Duterte has previously been a motorcycle stabbed and platform of a ruthless anti-crime linked with vigilante “death squads” then shot Mahmuda Aktar, campaign. that have killed scores of people 33, while she was on her After previously saying he would in Davao and has vowed to widen way to put her son onto a unleash the military and police on his campaign when he becomes school bus near her home in criminals, Duterte said the public president. the southeastern port city of could go after them as well. Others have followed his lead Chittagong, police said. “If they are there in your neigh- with the elected mayor of the cen- “She was stabbed first. bourhood, feel free to call us, the tral city of Cebu, Tomas Osmena, Then they shot her in the head police or do it yourself if you have admitting he paid more than $3,000 three times,” Humayan Kabir, Supporters of Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte attend a victory party in Crocodile Park in Davao the gun. You have my support,” he to police officers for killing drug deputy police commissioner told his cheering followers. traffickers. City, southern island of Mindanao on Saturday. of Chittagong said. Australian coast lashed Vietnam breaks up protests as Thousands of anti-Abe by freak storm

SYDNEY: The east coast of anger seethes over fish deaths Australia, including Sydney, activists rally in Tokyo was battered by a freak storm yesterday with trees uprooted and thousands left without AFP both cities either before or while they unavailable since Saturday night. power. joined protests. Human rights groups hit out at Reuters In the lower house, Abe’s ruling The wild storm struck AFP saw one incident in Hanoi the latest crackdown. coalition enjoys a two-thirds “super New South Wales after HANOI: Dozens of activists were where plainclothes officers tackled “The Vietnam government should majority”. wreaking havoc in Queens- detained in Vietnam’s two big- an activist and dragged him off. be leading the investigation into what TOKYO: Thousands of protesters Abe’s support rates rose by three land state on Saturday, with gest cities yesterday as they Another 30 people were detained caused these fish kills, not sup- gathered in downtown Tokyo yester- percentage points to 56 percent after an intense low-pressure sys- tried to hold protests calling for after launching a brief protest in front pressing people’s efforts to demand day to call for Prime Minister Shinzo he hosted a Group of Seven summit tem bringing heavy rains, greater government transparency of Hanoi’s cathedral. answers and accountability,” said Abe to resign and for a law allowing in May and accompanied US Pres- gales and rough seas. over a recent spate of mass fish Activists posted pictures show- Phil Robertson from Human Rights the military to fight overseas to be ident Barack Obama on a historic Hundreds of people were deaths. ing the protesters holding banners Watch. overturned, as an election for par- visit to Hiroshima, a Nikkei business evacuated from homes across Tonnes of dead fish and other with slogans like “Fish dead, people On Thursday government official liament’s upper house draws near. daily survey showed on Monday. NSW and motorists trapped marine life began washing up on cen- dead” and “No Formosa”. Mai Tien Dung was quoted in state The protesters, many of them Abe on Wednesday announced on roads had to be rescued tral Vietnamese shores two months Taiwanese conglomerate For- media as saying that investigators elderly, rallied in front of parlia- a widely expected decision to delay as floodwaters rose, the State ago and continued to appear for two mosa, which runs a steel mill in the have now concluded what was kill- ment and in a nearby park, holding a sales tax increase by two-and-a- Emergency Service said. to three weeks, sparking widespread area where the fish have died, is ing the fish. placards with slogans such as “Step half years, and said he would seek Gusts in excess of 90 anger. widely suspected of being the cause. But they would only release the down, Abe government” and “Citi- the public’s mandate for his plan in kilometres per hour were Frustration has been further State media initially pointed the results after “independent consul- zens change politics”. the upper house vote. recorded with forecasts of fuelled by a perceived lack of clar- finger of blame at the company but tation from domestic and foreign In the July 10 election, opposi- Organisers of the Sunday rally “locally destructive” winds of ity from the communist leadership have since rowed back, as anger grew experts”, he said. tion parties hope to keep Abe’s ruling put the crowd at 40,000, while up to 125 kilometres per hour about what caused the deaths. in Vietnam against ethnic Chinese Fishing and tourism in central coalition from winning the major- police declined to give a number. in some parts of the state, the Major streets in central Hanoi and interests in the country. Vietnam have been hit hard by the ity of the 121 seats up for grabs in Some right-wing activists tried to Bureau of Meteorology said. Ho Chi Minh City were temporarily Authorities have since responded marine deaths. the 242-member chamber where approach participants but were held Sydney Airport closed deserted yesterday morning as secu- with a crackdown against protesters, Vietnam’s communist rulers it already commands an overall back by police. two of its three runaways rity forces blanketed the area. placing many activists under house tolerate little dissent but anger over majority. When a similar anti-Abe rally amid high winds, with Activists used social media arrest and at times interrupting the corruption and environmental deg- Analysts say his Liberal Dem- took place in the same locations domestic and international accounts to document many arrests, Internet. radation often spark significant ocratic Party and its junior partner last August, organisers said some flights affected. saying people had been detained in Facebook has been intermittently protests. have a good shot at success. 120,000 people participated. China slams US ‘provocations’ in S China Sea

AFP of a US-China dialogue in Beijing and after Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper SINGAPORE: An Asian security cited Chinese army sources as say- summit ended in discord yesterday ing Beijing was mulling such a zone. after China denounced US “provo- China claims nearly all of the cations” in the South China Sea and sea despite competing claims by declared it does not fear trouble in several Southeast Asian neigh- the contested waters. bours, and has pressed its claims “The South China Sea issue has by rapidly building artificial islands become overheated because of the suitable for military use. provocations of certain countries Washington has responded by for their own selfish interests,” sending warships close to Chinese- Admiral Sun Jianguo told an annual claimed reefs, angering Beijing. forum in Singapore. Rhetoric has escalated ahead of Sun, who stressed China’s desire a decision at the Permanent Court for a peaceful solution, spoke one of Arbitration in The Hague on a day after US Defence Secretary case brought by the Philippines, a Ashton Carter said any Chinese longtime US ally and former colony, construction on an islet near the against China, which says it will not Philippines would prompt unspec- recognise any ruling. ified “actions” by the United States The Chinese admiral said US China’s Admiral Sun Jianguo (left), Deputy Chief of general staff of and other nations. naval and air patrols in the sea were the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), arrives with his aides On a visit to Mongolia yester- a display of “military muscles” and for a plenary session at the 15th International Institute for Strategic day, US Secretary of State John China was being forced to “accept Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, yesterday. Kerry also warned Beijing against and honour” the tribunal’s ruling. setting up an air defence identifica- “China firmly opposes such will not be isolated in the future. on Scarborough Shoal 230 kilome- tion zone over the disputed waters. behaviour. We do not make trouble Actually I am worried some peo- tres (140 miles) off the Philippines “We would consider an ADIZ, but we have no fear of trouble,” Sun, ple and countries are still looking which considers it part of its exclu- an ADIZ zone, over portions of the leader of the Chinese delega- at China with a Cold War mentality sive economic zone. the South China Sea as a provoc- tion in Singapore, said in prepared and prejudice,” the Chinese admiral According to a Pentagon report, ative and destabilising act, which remarks. said in response to questions from China has added more than 3,200 would automatically raise tensions Carter had left Singapore by the other delegates. acres (1,295 hectares) of land to the and call into serious question Chi- time Sun made his speech. Apparently referring to the seven islets it occupies in the Sprat- na’s commitment to diplomatically Sun also took exception to Cart- United States and the Philip- lys, a separate island chain from manage the territorial disputes of er’s statement on Saturday that pines, Sun said “some hegemonic Scarborough. the South China Sea,” Kerry said. Beijing risks building a “Great Wall countries have empowered small Manila says China took effec- “We believe that it is critical of self-isolation” with its military countries to make provocations tive control of Scarborough Shoal that no country move unilaterally expansion. against big countries”. in 2012, stationing patrol ves- to militarise the region,” he added. “We were not isolated in the The SCMP has reported that sels and shooing away Filipino His remarks came on the eve past. We’re not isolated, and we China plans to establish an outpost fishermen. ASIA / AFRICA MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 09 Thousands rally in support of Congolese leader

in 2001, is preparing to remain in Tensions rose further when the referendum ended a two-term Kabila’s supporters office beyond his two-term limit country’s Constitutional Court ruled limit. which ends in December. in May that Kabila could remain in a In Rwanda, a referendum last want the polls to In a show of support for Kabila, caretaker capacity beyond Decem- year led to constitutional changes be delayed because some 5,000 people marched through ber until elections are held. that could see President Paul Kag- the capital of the Democratic Repub- Addressing the crowd at the birth- ame rule until 2034. of logistical and lic of Congo in a carnival-like day rally, Henri Mova, the secretary Both leaders faced criticised at financial difficulties atmosphere before gathering at a general of the ruling PPRD party, home and abroad over their legal stadium to mark the leader’s 45th accused Kabila’s opponents of seek- manoeuvres to cling to power. birthday, an AFP reporter saw. ing “to destabilise” the country. Joseph Kabila rose to the Pres- “Happy birthday, comrade pres- He also raised the prospect of a idency in January 2001 after the AFP ident, founder of the party,” read a referendum to allow the Congolese assassination of Laurent-Désiré giant banner next to a portrait of to have their say on presidential term Kabila, becoming the world’s first Kabila. limits. head of government born in the 1970s. KINSHASA:Thousands of supporters Political unrest has plagued DR “The Congolese people are sov- Aged 29, he was considered young celebrated Congolese leader Joseph Congo for months over fears that ereign and their will shall not be and inexperienced. Kabila’s birthday with a rally in Kin- Kabila will postpone elections due questioned,” he said. He subsequently attempted to end shasa on Saturday, at which a party to be held late this year. “If the people decide on a refer- the ongoing civil war by negotiating supremo floated the idea of holding His supporters have said they endum, they will do it,” he said. “The peace agreements with rebel groups a referendum to extend the presi- want the polls to be delayed for at people of Congo-Brazzaville did it, the who were backed by Rwanda and dent’s rule. least two years because of logisti- people of Rwanda did it,” he added. Uganda, the same regional armies PPRD supporters of Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph The suggestion is likely to fuel cal and financial difficulties, despite President Denis Sassou Nguesso who brought Laurent-Désiré Kabi- opposition suspicion that Kabila, in Western pressure to stick to the of the Republic of Congo won re-elec- la’s rebel group to power three years Kabila celebrate his 45th birthday at the Velodrome Stadium in the power since his father’s assassination schedule. tion this year after a constitutional before. popular Kitembo neighbourhood of Kinshasa on Saturday.

US navy officer arrested for Fire breaks out at Muslim group condemns mob killing driving wrong way AFP and avoid actions that could breach Muslims youths who accused him of law and order. desecrating the Quran. Sri Lankan camp Nigerian President Mohammadu His severed head was then AFP KANO, NIGERIA: The umbrella body Buhari on Saturday called the kill- hoisted on a spike and paraded for Nigerian Muslim groups yester- ing “utterly condemnable” and urged around the city. day condemned the mob killing of tolerance. Jama’atu Nasril Islam organisa- TOKYO: A US naval officer was AFP traffic chaos as residents escaped. an elderly Christian woman in north- He vowed that the perpetrators tion conducts Islamic education and arrested yesterday for alleged “Pretty chaotic scenes on the ern city of Kano last week, describing would be brought to justice and urged missionary work in the region, and drink-driving on Okinawa, where road...,” he said on Twitter. “I am the perpetrators as “miscreants and people not to take matters into their has had particular success amongst military personnel are already COLOMBO: A key military ammu- estimating that thousands are criminals.” own hands. recent converts from the Igbo tribe. under curfew after a suspected nition dump in Sri Lanka exploded evacuating.” Bridget Agbahime, 74, the wife Kano state governor Abdullahi JNI is the umbrella under which rape and murder by an employee yesterday showering shrapnel over The night sky was lit with a of a pastor, was killed last Thurs- Umar Ganduje and prominent com- all Islamic Organizations in Nigeria of a military base. a large area on the edge of the capi- bright orange glow and the area day in the Wambai area of Kano, the munity and leaders on Friday held a rally around. Naval officer Aimee Mejia, 21, tal forcing thousands to flee to safety, shook at regular intervals. Flying region’s largest city. meeting over the incident and issued Its name, which in English is who was arrested shortly after officials said. debris could be seen from three kil- The act is “criminal and un- a joint statement condemning the “Society for the Support of Islam”, midnight, injured a local woman There were no immediate ometres away. Islamic, perpetrated by miscreants killing. signifies why the society was first after driving the wrong way reports of casualties at the Sal- “We have closed the road and and criminals,” Jama’atu Nasril Islam Abahime, an ethnic Igbo trader conceptualized and formed; basi- down a street, an Okinawa police awa military camp where security asked all residents to leave out of (JNI) said in a statement. was “mobbed and extra-judicially cally to work, through peaceful ways, spokesman said. forces are known to store some of consideration for their safety,” a The Sultan of Sokoto, Muham- murdered” at a market, according including ‘wisdom and good preach- She hit an oncoming vehicle their heavy weaponry and ammu- police officer at the scene said. madu Sa’adu Abubakar, who is the to a police statement. ing’ in projecting the good image and bounced off it to collide with nition, including rockets, police said. Law and Order Minister Sagala supreme head of all Muslims in Two suspects have been arrested, of Islam and defending the legiti- another, leaving the woman with Residents in Salawa were Ratnayake said fire trucks were able Nigeria, is the JNI president. according to Nigeria’s police chief mate rights and interest of Muslims a cracked breastbone, the spokes- seen leaving their homes as police to reach the site about three hours “It is hardly believable that such Solomon Arase. throughout Nigeria. man added. reported shrapnel hitting the main after the blaze started. “The fire had dastardly acts could happen in the Kano has been blighted by reli- The idea for the formation of JNI “She was arrested on the spot highway as well as the built-up quickly spread to two ammunition name of religion,” JNI said. gious violence in the past. came up in 1962 after the return of for driving while intoxicated,” he neighbourhood. dumps and it was difficult to put out The body commiserated with In one notorious case in 1996 an the then Premier of northern Nigeria, said. Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Min- the fire because the fire trucks could Agbahime’s widower and said the Igbo Christian trader, Gideon Aka- Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Public anger against the heavy ister Harsha de Silva said there was not reach the place,” Ratnayake said. Sultan appealed to all to remain calm luka, was beheaded by suspected Sokoto) from pilgrimage in Makkah. US military presence on Okinawa was rekindled last month with the arrest of a former US Marine, who at the time was a base employee, in connection with the death of a Observing the moon 20-year-old woman. 32 soldiers dead in The arrest led to a month-long night-time curfew on US forces stationed on the island, as part of a “period of unity and mourning” Boko Haram attack over the killing. Yesterday’s arrest is expected Reuters survived attempts by African armies to rekindle anger among Okina- to destroy it. wans, who plan a major rally this “The terrorist threat remains month to protest against the mili- NIAMEY: Thirty soldiers from Niger a concern to our subregion,” said tary bases as well as the behaviour and two from Nigeria were killed Senegal’s president Macky Sall, the of personnel. in a Boko Haram attack by “hun- incumbent chairman of the Eco- Foreign Minister Fumio Kish- dreds of assailants” on Friday on the nomic Community of West African ida lodged a protest with US southeastern town of Bosso close to States (Ecowas). ambassador Caroline Kennedy the border with Nigeria, the Niger “We must face it by combining about the driving incident and she defence ministry said on Saturday. all our resources in a comprehen- apologised, the foreign ministry It was the deadliest attack sive long-term perspective,” he told said in a statement. carried out in Niger by the Islam- an Ecowas summit in Dakar on The island of Okinawa was ist group since April 2015, when at Saturday. the scene of a World War II battle least 74 people, including 28 civil- “We must at the same time and is now considered a strategic ians, were killed at the Lake Chad remove any confusion in terminol- linchpin. But the heavy burden of island of Karamga. ogy: there is no Islamic state in West hosting US bases and soldiers has “The counter-offensive con- Africa matching the terrorist aims of long been an irritant in the two ducted early this morning helped Boko Haram. countries’ relations. to retake control of all the positions Boko Haram remains Boko Okinawa hosts more than half Men use a telescope to observe the moon ahead of the Holy month of Ramadan at Al Musyari’in in the city of Bosso. The situation is Haram and Islam has nothing to do the 47,000 American military mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. under control,” the defence minis- with terrorism and its killing spree”. personnel in Japan under a dec- try said in a statement. Boko Haram is an Islamist rebel ades-long security alliance. “A sweep is ongoing in the area group based in northeastern Nigeria, with the mobilisation of all land and also active in Chad, Niger and north- air means”. ern Cameroon. Seven others from Niger and The group’s leader is Abubakar eight from Nigeria were injured in Shekau. The group had alleged links the attack that targeted a military to Al Qaeda, but in March 2015, it Chinese tycoon makes quiet return to limelight post, according to the ministry, announced its allegiance to the which reported “several deaths” Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant among the assailants. (ISIL). AFP at a forum on environmentalism worth in 2009 at around $22 million. The town of Bosso is part of the Since the current insurgency delivered to dozens of media and Ren last week gave his first Diffa region, where many refugees started in 2009, it has killed 20,000 entrepreneurs. online interview since the microb- and internally displaced people have and displaced 2.3 million from their BEIJING: An outspoken former prop- “We should say no to firms which log’s closure, in which he called on sought shelter from Boko Haram vio- homes and was ranked as the world’s erty tycoon disciplined by China’s pollute the environment during the the government to deepen market lence elsewhere. deadliest terror group by the Global ruling Communist Party for ques- production process,” Ren said in a reforms and obliquely referred to his The region has been targeted Terrorism Index in 2015. tioning its media controls made a rare speech lasting some 20 minutes and own punishment. numerous times in attacks blamed After its founding in 2002, Boko public appearance yesterday, months broadcast online. “There are some activities the on the militants. Haram’s increasing radicalisation after authorities shut down his hugely Asked by an AFP reporter if he upper ranks won’t let me take part Around 200 people took the led to a violent uprising in July 2009 popular microblog. could discuss his microblog’s closure, in,” he said. “But when I take part streets on Saturday in the capi- in which its leader was summarily The government-ordered closure he replied gruffly: “I can’t.” in philanthropic activities, they will tal Niamey to voice support for the executed. in February of Ren Zhiqiang’s Sina The Cyberspace Administration Ren Zhiqiang allow it.” population in Diffa and to ask for an Boko Haram has been trying to Weibo account, which had some 37 of China ordered the closure of Ren’s Ren left the army in 1981 and audit of military spending as they establish an Islamic state adhering to million followers, was seen as a sign blog after he questioned Xi’s policy of provide them with services.” became deputy general manager of denounced a “lack of results” from strict Sharia law in northeast Nigeria of ever-tighter restrictions on free- tighter party control over state media. The party, of which Ren is a mem- Beijing Yida. In 1984 be joined Bei- army action. since 2009. dom of speech under President Xi “When did the people’s gov- ber, later announced he would be jing Huayuan Group Corporation as a Along with Chad, Cameroon, About 2.1 million people have Jinping. ernment change into the party’s suspended for a year over the posts. department head. He was imprisoned Nigeria and Benin, Niger has con- been displaced and thousands have Ren, nicknamed “The Cannon” government?” he wrote “Is their Ren stepped down as president of in September 1985, but was released tributed troops to an 9,000-strong been killed during the seven-year for his outspoken opinions, did not money the party’s? ... Don’t use tax- property firm Beijing Huayuan Group 14 months later without being con- regional task force dedicated to insurgency. mention the incident in a speech payers’ money for things that don’t in 2011. One report estimated his net victed of any crime. fighting the group that has so far 10 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Sublime refusal Destruction of Fallujah — another legacy

witzerland’s bold step to hold a vote on an unconditional basic income for all, though defeated, of the 2003 American invasion of Iraq carries the seeds of a futuristic vision that could one Sday see the light of day. The move deserves plaudits in a country that has achieved a high degree of economic rule,Sunni Muslims (who were a eye to Daesh’s atrocities during the had been given by the US army in and social development often looked up to even by the developed majority representing the main- last few of years. This terror group 2003 when they decided also to shut world. stream Islam) have been facing a is now used again (similar to case in down the channel’s offices in Iraq The Swiss rejected the proposal to give 2,563 Swiss Francs type of ethnic cleansing. Christof Syria) to invade Fallujah and empty because of its daring journalism. Wilk from Human Rights Watch it from its Sunni population. History will soon unveil that the to every adult and 625 Francs to each child as a basic income has recently confirmed that the Furthermore, Daesh have sys- invasion of Fallujah is not merely irrespective of the person’s employment status. Proponents of sectarian militia in Iraq, headed tematically targeted Sunni groups, to uproot Daesh but to strategically the interesting proposal — a first in any country — said that in an by Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, have been be it in Syria or Iraq. It has been broaden the sectarian rule backed economic climate with high unemployment, a guaranteed basic committing all types of crimes recurrently reported that the spo- by Iran on all Iraqi soil. This plan is income would go a long way in reducing uncertainty. against the Sunni Iraqis. radic attacks on regime armies in partly about silencing all forms of In liberal direct democracies like Switzerland, people often Thousands of homes were both countries is fake. Soon Daesh Sunni dissent against the sectarian destroyed, properties ransacked will be provided safe passage along government of Baghdad and partly do not work because they have to earn a salary, they do it out By Dr Noureddine Miladi and thousands of people killed with their hundreds of trucks and to expand the Iranian hegemony of passion or a liking for the vocation. The degree of social and scores of others tortured and heavy artillery to another enclave in the region. development in the country, which has imprisoned in concentration camps. in Iraq or Syria where they will be I emphasized in a previous piece always remained politically neutral All of this has been under the guise allowed to regroup again. that it was evident that the USA had and out of multilateral alliances, is o doubt the American of the Iraqi government. Human This sophisticated game has been supporting and sustaining unparalleled. An industrial society that invasion of Iraq in 2003 rights Watch confirmed that the cul- been untangled by various critics a corrupt regime in Iraq instead Rejection of has produced international names in has led to the destruction prits (sectarian militia) have been and media organisations, including of encouraging democratic rule. of a country which was involved in these operations for activists on social media. Ameri- Now it is also still valid to ask, a vote for precision engineering, watches and None of the most vibrant societies the last few years and have never can satellite TV channels as well as are the US and its allies waging the guaranteed feeds the best chocolate to the world, in that part of the world. A cra- been made accountable. human rights organizations have wrong war against Daesh in Syria Switzerland epitomises the state of dle of civilization, Iraq has been What is currently going on in signposted the Iranian involve- and Iraq? Isn’t Daesh a symptom basic income a nation which is a universe away turned into rubble and its social Fallujah is another chapter of the ment in the invasion of Fallujah rather than the cause of what is shows the from other countries. While countries fabric has been increasingly disin- attempt to eradicate the Sunni exist- and other remaining Sunni major- going on? grapple with poverty, misery and tegrating. A society once a ‘melting ence from various parts of Iraq. ity places. The Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi Are not the Bashar regime and maturity of pot’ of Sunnis, Shiites, Christians, Fallujah has been a symbol of resist- army has been reported to be wag- the subsequent Iraqi governments corruption, the Swiss strive to better Swiss society. Assyrians, Jews and Kurds is now ance to corrupt rulers and colonial ing a war by proxy for the Iranian since 2003 the root of all the dras- the living conditions of citizens and a playground for a sectarian gov- invaders. Now it is being barbari- ‘Revolutionary’ Guard. The fact tic devastation taking place in that expatriates alike. ernment blatantly supported by cally destroyed and its inhabitants that Kassim Sulaiman, leader in part of the world, including the cre- It is easy to imagine the result of Iran and unashamedly sustained annihilated by the so called Al- the Iranian ‘Revolutionary’ Gard, is ation of this terror group? a similar vote in any other country. by the USA. Hashd al-Shaabi militia directly roaming free in Iraq, giving advice Isn’t the real war in Syria and Not only would it be approved by a thumping majority, citizens, Everyone agrees that Saddam supported by the government in to the militia, while he is wanted Iraq against dictatorship and cor- lawmakers and all other sections of society would try to Hussain was a tyrant who ruled Baghdad and the ‘Iranian Revo- internationally raises a lot of ques- rupt regimes, and to promote and with an iron fist. He obliterated lutionary Guard’. tions, argues the head of Al-Hayat strive for a transparent democratic maximise the size of the dole irrespective of liquidity. every form of dissent during his Daesh (IS) has already done its newspaper in New York. rule which represents everyone?? The Swiss referendum can be seen as a move towards a reign. People from every opposi- job in preparing the ground for what The recent shutting down of Al- post-industrial society in a country that has transcended social, tion group were either killed, jailed is currently taking place. This ter- Jazeera offices in Iraq is another economic and political barriers. Endowed with ethereal beauty or forced to find refuge in neigh- rorist group has already subdued attempt to silence the witness. and a small population, the country is the dream destination of bouring countries or other parts all formed of dissent by killing and Along with other Arab media out- The writer is Associate Professor of Media and Communication. He tourists and is associated with a tranquil culture. of the world. terrorizing those who oppose its lets, Al-Jazeera has been accused of However, those who have been rule. It is evident that the govern- misinformation and fabrication of can be reached via e-mail: nmi- The referendum, rejected by about 77 percent of voters, has put into power by the American ment of Bagdad has turned a blind news. The same reasons ostensibly [email protected] set a good example in the field of public policy. Finland is also occupation army after 2003 have toying with a similar idea. The day when robots would replace been no better than Saddam Hus- human beings in Scandinavian states may not be very far. sein. Successive reports by human Paying human beings for work then may become increasingly rights organization and testimonies meaningless. from civil society organisations, If this comes true, people would gravitate towards a line oppositional groups and media out- lets testify to the endless oppression of work that gives them pleasure and not only an income. This that the Iraqi Sunni majority have might sound ambitious and unachievable, but is certainly been facing under a regime backed feasible. up by Iran. Since the installation of a sectarian government another chapter in the ordeal of Iraqi Sun- nis has been inaugurated. I am not sure how history will remember our era, but the last dec- ade or so has probably been the bloodiest in the history of the Arab Quote of the day world since the Palestinian Nakba in 1948. What is most worrying is not My visit to Qatar has only the destruction of several thousands of years old historical witnessed comprehensive and civilizational legacy in Bag- and fruitful discussions dad and other parts of Iraq, but that will usher in a new the devastation of the multi-eth- era of friendship between nic and multi-religious society from within. After the destruc- India and Qatar. tion of people’s cultural heritage, memory and civilizational pride, now they themselves are being Narendra Modi uprooted in their being. Indian Prime Minister For over a decade since the Children who fled their homes due to the clashes in Fallujah, pose for the photographer on the fall of Baghdad, under a sectarian outskirts of Fallujah recently.

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 11 Why US diplomacy can’t fix the Middle East

The moment seemed ripe for a Middle East breakthrough facilitated by the United States. Our influence in the region was at an all-time high. The US military had just pushed Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, and the Israelis and Arabs were off-bal- ance - in the case of Jordan, Syria and the Palestinians, they were looking for ways to ingratiate themselves into America’s good graces. We were respected, admired and feared in the region to a degree we haven’t been since. Baker, meanwhile, was probably the By Aaron David Miller best US negotiator to tackle the Middle The Washington Post East since Henry Kissinger brokered three disengagement agreements in the wake of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. I watched Baker srael wanted no part in it. And nei- cajole, pressure and threaten to walk out ther the Israelis nor the Palestinians on both Israel’s Yitzhak Shamir and Syr- were scheduled to attend. Yet Sec- ia’s Hafez Al Assad, and I saw him huddle retary of State John Kerry remained with Palestinians like a football coach to Ioptimistic ahead of Friday’s sure-to-go- encourage them to attend the peace confer- nowhere Middle East peace conference ence. It helped that he had the full backing in Paris. “What we are seeking to do,” he of President George HW Bush - his close said, “is encourage the parties to be able friend who cared about Mideast peace and to see a way forward so they understand was making good on a pledge to Saudi peace is a possibility.” Arabia that he’d take on the Arab-Israeli I recognise that sentiment: the feeling issue after the Persian Gulf War. that you need to do something, anything, to The Madrid conference produced the keep a nearly dead process alive. For much first direct bilateral negotiations and peace of my 24-year career as a State Depart- process success between Israelis and Arabs ment Middle East analyst, negotiator and - Syrians, Jordanians and Palestinians - adviser, I held out hope that a conflict- since the Egyptian-Israeli agreement 12 ending peace agreement was possible. I years earlier. I revelled in our achieve- had faith in negotiations as a talking cure ment and marvelled at what US diplomacy and that the United States could arrange a could accomplish when it was tough, tena- US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) shakes hands with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault at a Middle East comprehensive solution. I believed in the cious and strategic. peace conference in Paris on Friday. Neither the Israelis nor Palestinians attended. power of US diplomacy. My mistake was in believing that But by the time I left government in Madrid, which really produced only a pro- 2003, I was a disillusioned diplomat and cedural breakthrough, would necessarily July 2000 Camp David summit: a last-ditch Israel’s diktats. There was no longer any peace processor with serious doubts about create a foundation for progress on the sub- effort to save the Oslo process. During a That kind of sums up way for me to rationalise the importance what the United States could accomplish stantive issues. I thought if we just kept the briefing a week before, Clinton went around how I thought about of process without direction, negotiations in the Middle East. I realise now that, like process going, if we were committed and the room asking everyone to gauge the without substance or even the use of the Kerry, I was tilting at windmills. US-bro- creative, we would somehow find our way prospects of the summit. our diplomacy back word “peace.” Our overinflated optimism kered peace in the Middle East is a quixotic to agreement between the Israelis and the And everyone, from the national secu- then: With good timing at Camp David had had real costs. After quest. And the more we try and fail, the Palestinians on Jerusalem, borders and rity adviser to the secretary of state, said and assertive American raising expectations we couldn’t deliver less credibility and leverage we have in refugees, along with agreement between more or less the same thing: There was leadership (something on, we blamed Arafat for the summit’s the region. the Israelis and the Syrians on the Golan a chance; Ehud Barak and Arafat would failure, and that made it easier for him, Looking back now, the high point of Heights. But we never got there. Process make decisions only in the heat of a sum- short of fly-crushing in the wake of Sharon’s provocative visit my optimism was probably in 1991, the can’t substitute for substance. mit; the president owed it to the cause and brute force), we could to the sacred Temple Mount, to acquiesce year we orchestrated another, more pro- I maintained my misplaced optimism to himself to pursue peace before the end solve festering problems to and encourage the violence that would ductive Middle East peace conference in into the Clinton administration. Sitting with of his term. The assessment we all should become the second intifada. Madrid. I remember that on one of nine my family on the South Lawn of the White have given him was that there would be no once and for all. My US diplomacy can be effective when we trips that led to the conference, a large fly House in September 1993, watching Pres- conflict-ending accord or even a frame- memos at the time had have partners willing to make decisions, boarded the plane with us at Andrews Air ident Bill Clinton preside over the historic work agreement, because neither Barak a yes-we-can edge. when all parties feel an urgency to make Force Base and buzzed annoyingly around handshake between Israeli Prime Minis- nor Arafat were ready to pay the price, and those decisions and when gaps separating the staff compartment. I was vainly trying ter Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation the president was unlikely to bridge the the parties can actually be bridged. The Iran to swat it when Secretary of State James Organisation Chairman Yasser Arafat, I gaps. But I brushed aside my doubts and nuclear agreement, while greatly flawed, is Baker walked by to brief the press in the believed, in what had to be one of the most echoed the others. Part of me was con- take necessary risks or recognise that a a case in point. It succeeded because it was rear of the aircraft. Hours later, while draft- stunning misjudgments of my career, that cerned about pissing off everyone else in negotiated settlement is in their interest not a transformational but a transactional ing talking points, I felt a presence over the peace process had become irreversible. the room. The invitations to Arafat and (and not just ours). arrangement, a highly detailed arms-con- my shoulder and turned just as Baker’s The Israelis and the Palestinians, Barak had already been issued, so the In March 2002, during the height of trol accord of arguably limited duration large hand dropped the fly onto my yel- without US involvement, had reached an briefing really was a formality. But part the second intifada, President George W and scope that both the United States and low legal pad. agreement on mutual recognition and a of me still wanted to believe that we could Bush’s Middle East envoy, Anthony Zinni, Iran wanted for their own reasons. That kind of sums up how I thought declaration of principles that was supposed make peace. and I were sent to negotiate a cease-fire But when it comes to matters that cut about our diplomacy back then: With good to get them toward talks on the big issues. The president thought that if he could between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minis- to the core of people’s identities - such as timing and assertive American leader- I really thought they had taken ownership just get the Israelis and the Palestinians ter Ariel Sharon. But that was either the Jerusalem or Palestinian refugees, or the ship (something short of fly-crushing brute of their negotiations and would dedicate in the room, he could somehow get them Bush administration’s idea of a cruel joke social engineering required to end Syria’s force), we could solve festering problems themselves to making the Oslo Accords stick. to an agreement, building on what Barak or just a throwaway talking point before civil war - or creating an outcome in Iraq once and for all. My memos at the time Through the crises of the next seven was prepared to offer and using the famous the final break with the PLO leader. or Libya that produces stability and good had a yes-we-can edge. years of the Oslo process - Palestinian Clinton powers of persuasion. But we had That week, a Palestinian suicide bomber governance, the United States doesn’t have attacks, Israeli settlement activity, the assas- no strategy, we coordinated too closely had blown himself up at a Passover seder in the horses to pull the wagon. The incon- sination of Rabin by an Israeli extremist with the Israelis, and we had no Arab buy- Netanya, killing 30 Israelis and wounding venient reality is that we will never have a opposed to Oslo - I kept the faith that the in on issues such as Jerusalem nor any sign 140. Israeli forces responded with Oper- greater stake in this region, or more power almighty peace process ultimately would that the Palestinians would move off their ation Defensive Shield, entering the West to remedy its ills, than those who live there. succeed. I convinced myself that with added core demands. We didn’t run the summit; Bank and imposing closures on most major I haven’t given up hope for smart and Americans have a hard time urgency from the United States, the con- the summit ran us. Palestinian cities and towns. well-timed US diplomacy. But I’ve aban- accepting that we can’t sort out fidence-building, interim measures laid When I think back about that fateful I’ll never forget the scene in Arafat’s doned my illusions of just how much conflicts when those directly out in the Oslo agreement could be made period, I shudder. With the best of inten- compound. The place reeked of foul air, America is able and willing to do to repair to work and pave the way for negotiations tions, in seven months, we planned three body odor and too few working toilets. a badly broken, cruel and unforgiving Mid- involved aren’t willing or able to on the core issues. Early in 1997, literally presidential negotiations (two on the Syr- The only light, in what had been in bet- dle East. do so. But sometimes, it makes down on my hands and knees in the West ian track and one on the Palestinian) and ter days a reasonably well-lit conference As the fix-it people, Americans have Bank city of Hebron measuring the width failed at all three. room, came from candles and a bit of sun a hard time accepting that we can’t sort more sense for our diplomats and of a street that figured prominently in the What I should have realised all along that managed to peek through windows out conflicts when those directly involved negotiators to stay home rather negotiations, I felt both small and ennobled. was that strong US mediation can’t make that were almost completely blacked out aren’t willing or able to do so. But some- than look weak and ineffective while This was important, and I’d do anything up for weak leadership of the parties to a for fear of Israeli snipers. And there in times, it makes more sense for our diplomats to keep the process alive. negotiation. We can’t talk them into getting the gloom sat a self-satisfied Arafat, his and negotiators to stay home rather than searching for solutions to problems My commitment, and the illusions that control over their political constituencies. black machine gun ominously displayed look weak and ineffective while search- they simply cannot resolve. sustained it, would take me all the way to And we can’t expect that our enthusiasm on the table, holding forth about how he’d ing for solutions to problems they simply the ill-advised, ill-timed and ill-prepared will persuade them to invest in solutions, be rather be martyred than surrender to cannot resolve. Holding war criminals accountable

The Washington Post Commission report, some 40,000 peo- domestic court has tried and con- dollars in aid. Secretary of State John But the successful prosecution of and prosecute human rights viola- ple were killed by the dictator, dubbed victed a former leader of another Kerry acknowledged the United States’ Habré far from negates the need for tions. Such efforts deserve financial “Africa’s Pinochet.” African country. It’s a vindication of checkered past with Chad in a state- the International Criminal Court. and logistical support from the Afri- Habré was tried in Senegal the efforts of the survivors of Habré’s ment, saying that the case provides Instead, it highlights the importance can Union, the United States and the small court in Senegal just because he fled there after he was violence, who campaigned tirelessly “an opportunity for the United States of the principle of universal jurisdic- United Nations. sent a big message to African deposed; the special court was cre- for almost 25 years for justice, with the to reflect” and learn. That’s true, and tion - under which war criminals can The 73-year-old Habré, who Adictators. Last Monday, the ated through an agreement with the support of Human Rights Watch and there are places in Africa where Kerry be held accountable anywhere. was dragged into court kicking and Extraordinary African Chambers African Union. The conviction by the other advocacy groups. Their courage could immediately apply the lessons African states still need to screaming at the beginning of the pro- court sentenced former Chadian dic- panel of three judges in Dakar con- and tenacity should inspire other vic- - the oppressive U.S.-backed regimes strengthen domestic legal mecha- ceedings, eventually fell silent as he tator Hissène Habré to life in prison for sequently sent a powerful warning to tims of human rights abuses to seek of Ethiopia and Egypt, for example. nisms that would serve to hold human was forced to listen to the narrative crimes against humanity. His regime human rights abusers on the African justice. The completion of the Senegal trial rights abusers accountable for their testimonies of the survivors of his bru- carried out unspeakable brutalities continent: Impunity for heinous crimes The United States has reason to comes as the International Criminal crimes. The Special Criminal Court tality. That he will spend the rest of during his reign from 1982 to 1990, against humanity is no longer guaran- be embarrassed by the Habré saga. Court continues to face criticism from in the Central African Republic is one his years in a jail cell instead of cozy including torture, arbitrary arrests and teed outside the country where they The former dictator was a US ally African governments and the African positive example; created last year by exile is a victory not just for Africa but forced disappearances of political oppo- occur. The ruling represents the first against Moammar Gaddafi’s Libya, Union, which accuse it of unfairly tar- interim president Catherine Samba- also for the cause of justice around the nents. According to a Chadian Truth time that an African Union-backed and his regime received millions of geting African states for prosecution. Panza, the court aims to investigate world.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 PAKISTAN

Ramadan preparations New plan to make Terrorism fell cities creative and smarter in Pakistan last urban centres

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government will establish a Con- year: US report struction Sector Development Board to regulate and manage the real estate sector in the country by bringing its jurisdiction under one “Throughout 2015, the Pakistani roof. military continued ground and air To ensure this, the govern- Pakistan, which operations in North Waziristan and ment has allocated Rs18.5bn in the suffered the third Khyber Agency to eliminate terror- national budget for the new finan- most number of ist safe havens and recover illegal cial year beginning next month to weapons caches,” the report read. focus on provision and expan- terrorist attacks in However, it criticised the coun- sion of sustainable and affordable the world behind Iraq try for not doing enough against urban municipal services and the Haqqani Network, Afghan housing facilities in collaboration and Afghanistan, saw Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), with private sector. only 1,009 attacks JamaatudDawa (JuD) and Jaish-e- The new plan aims to bring Mohammad (JeM). “Paramilitary and improvements in developing ‘smart in 2015 down from civilian security force counterter- cities’ — cities that are capable of Residents buy dates from a shop at a market in Karachi on the eve of the Holy Month of Ramadan. 1,823 attacks in 2014. rorism efforts included countering adapting to increase complexity terrorism in urban areas and con- and demand for knowledge com- ducting pre-emptive raids to arrest munication given urban expansion suspected terrorists or interrupt According to the budget’s Internews terrorist plots, and confronting ter- Annual Development Plan, the rorists that attacked civilians, law housing sector will be developed enforcement agencies, and military Seven dead as Taliban gunmen keeping in view increasing urban- and paramilitary troops.” isation and growth in population. KARACHI: Terrorism caused fewer The report noted how the A modern ‘Housing Information deaths in Pakistan in 2015 even country was in various stages of System’ will be established to pro- though the country continued to face implementing stringent laws and raid court complex near Kabul vide data on housing demand and significant terrorist attacks during plans to counter terrorism including supply. the year, according to a new US gov- implementation the National Coun- The private sector will be ernment report. terterrorism Authority Act, the 2013 AFP provincial governor Mohammad “to do everything in their power to encouraged and facilitated to According to the ‘Country Investigation for Fair Trial Act, the Halim Fedayee said. ensure adequate protection of judicial transform slums into adequate Reports on Terrorism’ released by 2014 amendments to the Anti-Ter- “Unfortunately seven people officials and other civilians seeking sustainable settlements through the US State Department along with rorism Act, and the 2014 Protection PULI ALAM: Taliban gunmen were killed, including Mohammad access to judicial institutions”. the provision of low-cost and data compiled by the National Con- of Pakistan Act (PPA). stormed a court complex in a city Akram Nejat, the newly appointed “Judicial officials and other low-income housing, along with sortium for the Study of Terrorism “However, the judiciary moved south of Kabul yesterday, killing at head of the court.” civilians can never be considered adequate allied infrastructure, and Responses to Terrorism (START), slowly in processing terrorism and least seven people in the insurgents’ Hasib Stanakzai, a member of combatants and thus should not be like sewerage, clean water, gas the total number of deaths in terror- other criminal cases, likely due in third so-called “revenge” attack for Logar’s provincial council, confirmed targeted,” he said in a statement. and electricity. ist attacks worldwide fell last year by part to the overly broad definition of last month’s execution of Taliban- the death toll. Meanwhile, a lawmaker was The federal government will 14 percent to 28,328. terrorism offenses listed in the ATA.” linked prisoners. The Taliban said the attack was killed by an explosive device at his facilitate and support provincial This was down from 32,763 It further noted that the differ- The attack in Pul-i-Alam, cap- in retaliation for the execution of six home in Kabul Sunday, though no and regional governments to shift deaths in 2014. Attacks were down ent government law enforcement ital of volatile Logar province, also Taliban-linked inmates in early May, group claimed responsibility for the the development trend towards by 13 percent down to 11,774 from agencies were only sporadically left 23 prosecutors wounded as they part of President Ashraf Ghani’s new attack. vertical expansion, especially in 13,482 in 2014. sharing information while there was were meeting to decide the fate of hardline policy against the insur- “The explosive that had been the city centres to provide ade- Pakistan, which suffered the no comprehensive integrated data- six newly arrested Taliban militants. gents. “The martyrdom attack was planted in front of the house of law- quate and affordable residential third most number of terrorist base capability. The head of the court Moham- carried out in revenge for the exe- maker Sher Wali Wardak martyred facilities in addition to commer- attacks in the world behind Iraq and While Pakistan struggled with mad Akram Nejat was among those cution of our mujahideen,” Taliban him, injuring 11 others,” interior min- cial space to citizens. Afghanistan, saw only 1,009 attacks curbing terrorism at home, at least killed in the attack, which comes spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said istry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said According to the document, in 2015 down from 1,823 attacks in four Pakistanis were expelled from as the Taliban step up their annual on Twitter. on Twitter. zoning laws will be revised to cater 2014 but it meant the country saw different countries on terrorism spring offensive after naming a new The UN Assistance Mission in The latest violence underscores to the growing demand for com- attacks in every month of the year. related charges while at least one leader late last month. Afghanistan (UNAMA) was quick to Afghanistan’s fragile security sit- mercial and parking space in large Fewer attacks meant fewer deaths other was indicted. One Pakistani “Three gunmen wearing police condemn the attack. uation as the Taliban intensify urban centres. This will involve use which dropped to 1,081 in the year was also killed in a suicide blast in uniform entered the court building The head of the mission, Nicho- attacks against the Western-backed of ‘mixed use’ areas — residential from 1,761 in 2014. Saudi Arabia. and started shooting people,” the las Haysom urged Afghan authorities government. and commercial.

Afghan lawmaker dead in bomb blast Action plan on women’s economic empowerment

near his home Internews US-Pakistan Business Opportunities empowerment and entrepreneurship. Dastagir Khan said that the fourth conference was a special opportu- Conference. A key aspect will be a ‘Women in business conference was a “manifes- nity to build new commercial ties that The conference was aimed at the Economy Forum’ that consults and tation of that commitment” made by would strengthen the economic link Reuters building business-to-business link- mobilises private-public partnerships the two leaders. US-Pakistan ties, he between the US and Pakistan and NEW YORK: Pakistan and the United ages between US and Pakistani from both countries to coordinate and added, would mature and deepen in make this kind of economic cooper- States have signed an action plan on businesses and to generate network- formulate recommendations. the years ahead. ation a lasting institution. women’s entrepreneurship and eco- ing opportunities for them. The two-day conference, the Replying to a question, he said the “American firms are excited about KABUL: An Afghan member of nomic empowerment as the two Among those present at the cer- fourth in a series, was the first to be Pakistani farmers’ difficulties stem doing more business in Pakistan and parliament was killed by a bomb countries ended a major business emony were Commerce Minister held in the US. The previous confer- from falling international commod- for good reason, too,” he said, add- planted near his residence in the conference here. KhurramDastagir Khan, who led the ences took place in London, Dubai ity prices as they could not sell their ing that Pakistan has the world’s sixth capital Kabul yesterday, the inte- The action plan was signed by the Pakistan delegation to the conference and Islamabad. About 300 indus- produce. largest population. rior ministry said. US Ambassador-at-Large for Global and US Deputy Secretary of Com- try representatives, investors, and Moreover, Pakistan’s agriculture Of its 196 million residents, two- The device, hidden in a electri- Women’s Issues, Catherine Russell, merce Bruce Andrews, who headed government leaders from the two suffered from lack of modern tech- thirds were under the age of 30, cal box attached to a wall exploded and Pakistan’s Additional Secre- the American delegation. countries as well as emerging pro- nology, and this problem is being “Clearly, this is an attractive market as Shir Wali Wardak left his house, tary of Commerce RobinaAther at a The action plan stems from a fessionals and entrepreneurs attended addressed by the government. with many strategic advantages and ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi simple ceremony here over the week- US-Pakistan Memorandum of Under- the conference held in CitiCorp build- In his remarks, Deputy Secre- there is enormous room for growth,” said. “It could either have been a end on the sidelines of the two-day standing to enable women’s economic ing in mid-town Manhattan. tary Andrews highlighted that the Andrews said. bomb on a timer or one that was remotely detonated,” Sediqqi said, adding that 11 people, including five of Wardak’s bodyguards, were wounded in the blast. Waste dump site Pakistan spends Rs683m No group immediately claimed responsibility. The attack came hours after on Afghan hospitals Taliban insurgents stormed a courthouse south of Kabul, kill- ing at least five people including a newly appointed appeals court Internews provided with Rs32.6m grant. head. An amount of Rs1m was spent on The militants have vowed Nishtar Kidney Centre at Jalalabad, revenge for the hanging on May 8 Afghanistan during the fiscal year of six Taliban prisoners convicted ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has spent 2015-16. Afghanistan also received of terrorism as part of a security Rs683m on construction and repair Rs51m from Pakistan for 15 weigh crackdown after a suicide attack of hospitals in Afghanistan during bridges and 30 mobile mixtures as in Kabul in April that killed 64 the outgoing fiscal year, which closes part of project Torkham-Jalalabad people. Afghanistan is set to hold on June 30, budget documents for the Road. The document revealed that delayed parliamentary elections new financial year reveal. Pakistan spent generously on foreign in October after last June’s dead- An amount of Rs103m has been assistant and an amount of Rs3bn line was missed. sought for construction of a 200- was spent on foreign assistant over Parliament’s five-year term bed Jinnah Hospital in Kabul as and above the approved budget dur- expired a year ago, but elections part of the supplementary demand ing outgoing fiscal year. were postponed due to security for grants and appropriations in the The country spent Rs50m on fears and disagreements on how federal budget. award of 800 scholarships to stu- to ensure a fair vote after a bitterly An additional amount of Rs546m dents from Indian-administered disputed presidential elections in has been separately demanded for Kashmir in field of medicine, engi- 2014. “different work” at Jinnah Hospital neering and information technology. Meanwhile, Nato’s presence at Kabul and Naib Aminullah Khan Additionally, a sum of Rs15.1m in Afghanistan is important for Logari hospital at Logar Afghanistan. was spent to finance 100 scholar- the country’s safety, the Turkish The document revealed that ships for Bangladeshi students in defence minister said during his Rs50.2m was spent on installa- field of engineering, medical and IT. visit to Kabul. Turkish Defence tion and commissioning of medical Pakistan provided gift of rice Minister Fikri Isik met Afghan equipment for three hospitals in worth Rs925m to Cuba while Niger Garbage collectors gather around a waste dump site in Lahore on World Environment Day yesterday. President Ashraf Ghani as part of Afghanistan while 1,000 Afghan stu- received rice worth Rs685m from the his official visit to Afghanistan. dents at Rehman Baba Hostel were country during the last year. INDIA MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 13 17 dead in Mumbai-Pune Expressway accident

A majority of the victims are Just then a speeding luxury bus of Speeding bus crashes from Satara and others hail from Nikhil Travels, coming from Satara, Pune, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. apparently failed to notice the two into two stationary The injured, two of whom are criti- vehicles in the darkness and rammed cars by the road. cal, have been admitted to hospitals the two cars before veering off the in Raigad and Navi Mumbai. road and tumbling into a 40-feet According to the state Highway ditch. “The two cars have suffered Control, the accident took place extensive damage and are in a man- IANS around 4am, some 20km from gled state. The bus has suffered heavy Navi Mumbai, the satellite township damage and cranes were called to adjoining Mumbai. remove it,” said a police official. RAIGAD: Seventeen persons were Preliminary investigations, spot Political leaders were sad over killed and 35 others injured when a assessment and eyewitness state- the accident. speeding luxury bus rammed into ments said that a Maruti Swift DZire “The accident near Panvel on two stationary cars on the Mum- with a flat tyre was stuck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is tragic, bai-Pune Expressway here early right side of the Pune-Mumbai arm deeply pained over the loss of lives yesterday morning, officials said. of the expressway, while people were and injuries,” said Maharashtra Chief So powerful was the impact of the repairing the puncture. Minister Devendra Fadnavis. hit that the bus and Innova car veered Meanwhile, some people from a “It is a big accident and a matter Rescuers retrieve the remains of a body at the site of the bus crash on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near off the highway at the spot near She- passing Toyota Innova stopped by for of concern for us,” said Public Works Shedung Panvel. dung village and fell into a ditch. help around 4am. Department Minister Eknath Shinde.

Academicians stand against Nepal urges India to delay border check-post opening

ABVP at IANS unilaterally as it could “complicate” point because of the longer distance Birgunj customs. Birgunj Customs Chief Sewan- trade between the two countries. they would have to travel to reach the Nepali traders say this would tak Pokharel spoke in a similar vein. university Nepal has to complete the ICP for customs clearance works. affect export-import being carried “Trucks loaded with goods have to KATHMANDU: Nepal has requested remaining about 30 per cent of works All the services necessary for out through Birgunj. travel 13km from the Indian ICP to India not to commence operations on on the ICP which is being built at export-import such as customs, immi- Not only the import of petro- Birgunj customs. It will create more IANS its new Integrated Check Post (ICP) on Sirsiya, close to the Indian ICP, said gration, quarantine and banks, among leum products, export-import of trouble for importers,” he said. the Nepal-India border in Raxaul-Bir- Nepali officials. Once completed, the others, are available at the ICP. Such other goods would also be affected, “The Indian ICP was inaugurated gunj till it completes work on its own Birgunj customs operations will shift facilities are being built on either side they contend. Talking to the media, on Friday but it has not yet come into KOLKATA: Friends of Rohith side of the border trading post. there. of the border. India has taken the President of Birgunj Chambers of operation,” said Birgunj Customs Chief Vemula, the Dalit scholar who India inaugurated its first Inte- Raxaul-Birgunj is the key Nepal- responsibility of building the ICPs Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Pra- Pokharel. “As Sunday is a public hol- committed suicide in Hydera- grated Check Post (ICP) on its side of India trading point that conducts over on both sides. deep Kediya said Nepal’s trade will iday in India, we will know only on bad, as also some academicians the border in Raxaul-Birgunj on Fri- 70 per cent of the total fuel business The Land Port Authority of India be heavily affected if the ICP on the Monday or Tuesday whether the ICP yesterday backed the Jadavpur day. Built on 110 acres of land, the between the two countries. is responsible for operating the Indian Indian side is operated. will be operational.” University students for stand- Indian ICP has four entry points. Nepali traders have expressed ICP. The Indian authority will con- “Importers will be affected. So we “Even Raxaul-based traders have ing up to the “divisive policies” of With its side of infrastruc- concern that operation of the ICP on duct customs clearance-related works would request that the Indian ICP not protested the operation of the Indian Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ture yet to be completed, Nepal has the Indian side could disrupt normal at the ICP based at Panatoka, Rax- be started till the Nepali ICP is ready ICP unilaterally as it would result in (ABVP). Professors from eminent requested India not to operate the ICP trade through the Birgunj customs aul, and send the goods through the for operation,” said Kedia. traffic jam in India,” said Pokharel. institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) joined students of several universities in rallying behind the causes Vemula championed at a Unwed mothers targeted in convention here. Participating in the pro- gramme, organised by the West Bengal Chapter of Joint Action ‘black market baby scam’ Committee for Social Justice - a platform for those demanding justice for Vemula - IIT professor AFP at the now-shuttered Palash — located just across Anand Teltumbde termed as “com- the road from the government hospital in Gwalior mendable”, the “spirit of resistance — and sold illegally to couples in different cities. showed by Jadavpur University”. GWALIOR: In an intensive care unit, a nurse However investigators fear the total number He said the resistance put up soothes a crying baby rescued in a raid on a pri- could be much higher, with hospital records show- by the Jadavpur University stu- vate Indian hospital that police suspect was selling ing more than 700 babies were delivered there in dents should be emulated by other abandoned newborns on the black market. recent years. institutions. “She is too weak and needs special care,” the Experts say stealing and selling babies to cou- “I am sure when colleges and nurse said, patting the girl born underweight and ples is not uncommon in India, even directly from universities reopen after summer premature and receiving treatment at another hos- hospitals where doctors and nurses are some- vacation more such resistances pital, run by the government. times involved in handing them over to criminal will be visible,” said Teltumbde. “I pray a nice couple adopts her and raises her syndicates. Vemula’s friend and Hydera- like their own,” the nurse said in the central city But investigators say this was unusual in that bad Central University student of Gwalior. agents targeted pregnant women who agreed to Dontha Prasanth also saluted the Police fear staff at the private Palash Hospi- check into the facility and go through with the A general view of the now-shut 30-bed Palash Hospital (with blue glass) located “resistance” by JU students. tal were selling babies for as little as Rs100,000 scam. Accusing the ABVP of trying ($1,500), with agents convincing unmarried moth- “Unlike female foeticide and illegal abortions, just opposite the city’s main government hospital in Gwalior. to make inroads into educational ers to give birth at the facility and then abandon which are major problems for us, the live births institutions by ensuring appoint- them. happening at the hospital never raised any sus- manager was in control of the adminstra- trafficking of women and children, although ment to important administrative “Their agents meticulously went about search- picion,” Anoop Kamthan, Gwalior’s chief medical tion and I am now hearing some eight to nine there are no official figures. posts persons of their choice, he ing for pregnant woman who wanted to abort but officer, said. months ago they sold one or two babies,” “We have examples of newborns being said “In the next stage they use instead were convinced to give birth,” police super- “Mothers were willingly abandoning their Gupta told AFP, while in police custody. fraudulently declared dead and later sold violence to make their presence intendent Kumar Prateek who led last month’s raid babies,” he said. Gupta and another face initial charges for adoption. These are well-oiled networks felt in those institutions”. and investigating the case said. Police were tipped off by a former disgruntled including of slavery, as police try to piece spread across the country,” said Anjali Pawar Last month, pro-Left students “They were unwed women, vulnerable. And worker, leading to the raid and arrest of two sen- together details of the racket. who works for international NGO Against organisation of the JU and the RSS the hospital exploited them, offering them secrecy ior hospital officials. Gupta says he too adopted one of the Child Trafficking. student wing ABVP were locked in in return for the newborns,” he said of the stigma Taposh Gupta, hospital director and one of babies born at the hospital, but stressed that Some parents turn to the blackmarket confrontation over the screening attached to unmarried mothers in socially con- those accused, insists he is innocent of any wrong- he went through proper legal channels. because of the lengthy and frustrating proc- of AVivek Agnihotri’s award-win- servative India. doing, pointing the finger at his staff. Activists say blackmarket adoptions are ess of legal adoption that has long involved ning film “Buddha In a Traffic Jam”. Police say they have traced five babies born “I don’t have any knowledge about it. My common in a country with high levels of endless red tape, according to experts. Both Teltumbde and Prasanth saluted the social reform in West Bengal and said the state has never given importance to the caste system. Beating the heat Monsoon set to start in Work starts on Kerala: Weather Dept three Himachal IANS recorded at the 14 weather stations road projects located at the Lakshadweep, Ker- ala and in Mangalore in Karnataka. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Con- The norm is that if after May IANS ditions are favourable for onset of 10, 60 per cent of these 14 stations the southwest monsoon over Ker- report rainfall of 2.5 mm or more ala over the next two to three days, for two consecutive days, the onset SOLAN: Union Road Trans- according to the Indian Meteorolog- of monsoon over Kerala is declared port Minister Nitin Gadkari ical Department (IMD). on the second day, provided the yesterday laid foundation stones Making the announcement in its wind and cloud formations are also of three mega road projects worth mid-Sunday press release, the IMD favourable. Rs26.55bn on the 89-km-long Par- pointed out that rain/thundershow- Southwest monsoon normally wanoo-Shimla national highway ers have occurred at many places sets in over Kerala around June 1. in Himachal Pradesh. over West Bengal, Sikkim, coastal It advances northwards, usually in Chief Minister Virbhadra Andhra Pradesh and at a few places surges, and covers the entire coun- Singh was also present on the in Chhattisgarh, Assam, Meghalaya try around July 15. occasion. and Kerala. Last year while the IMD forecast Good condition of the roads It has been raining in Kerala for the onset of the southwest monsoon People relax in the Sabarmati river on a hot summer day in Ahmedabad yesterday. would promote the state’s tour- the past few days and the weather by May 30, the actual onset took ism industry, Gadkari said. officials are analysing the data place on June 5. 14 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 INDIA

Flora and fauna BJP demands Jat agitation CBI probe into Mathura violence resumes in IANS NEW DELHI: Reiterating its demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the Mathura violence, the BJP yes- Haryana terday threatened to launch a statewide stir against the Uttar Pradesh government. “A Commissioner-level inquiry and state highways and railway ordered by Chief Minister Akhilesh Security forces put tracks to prevent blockade. Yadav is to cover up the issue and “If people sit on dharna or pro- to protect the main culprits. We on alert in sensitive test on places which have not been reject this inquiry and reiterate our areas. specified for the purpose, they would demand for a CBI probe,” Bharatiya invite stern action against them- Janata Praty (BJP) secretary Sri- selves. If any untoward incident kant Sharma told IANS. occurred at such a spot because of He said that if a CBI probe was Students in costumes carry placards during a rally on World Environment Day in Hyderabad yesterday. IANS any leader or any other person, that not ordered, the BJP will begin a World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5 to raise global awareness about environmental fellow would be held responsible for statewide protest against the ruling the untoward incident. Areas have action to protect nature and the planet. Samajwadi Party at every district already been specified for protests headquarter. CHANDIGARH: At least nine dis- and dharnas,” he said. tricts in Haryana were on high alert The districts on high alert yesterday as a section of Jat com- include Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Jind, munity renewed their agitation for Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Panipat reservation. and Kaithal. Amritsar on alert ahead of Bluestar anniversary The Jat community has served In Sonipat district, orders have a 15-day ultimatum to the Haryana been imposed under Section 144 of government for implementation of the Criminal Procedure Code, pro- IANS city, especially around the Golden Shiromani Gurdwara Parband- In Ludhiana, hardliner Sikh lead- reservation. hibiting any assembly of five or more Temple complex. hak Committee (SGPC) chief Makkar ers Daljit Singh Bittu, Manvinder Reports said the agitators, people at any place. Prayers were held at the Akal on Sunday reversed a decision by the Singh Giaspura and Jaswant Singh who have started their agitation The administration in Sonipat Takht inside the Golden Temple SGPC chief secretary barring media Cheema were detained. in rural areas instead of towns this district has banned all internet serv- AMRITSAR: Security agencies were complex yesterday. The prayers will from entering the Golden Temple Radical leader Dhian Singh time, had begun their protest rally ices to ward off any tension,fights, on alert in the Sikh holy city of Amrit- conclude today. complex and regretted such a notice Mand, who was last year appointed at Mayyar village in Hisar district, threats to human life, damage to sar, ahead of the 32nd anniversary In the last three-four years, pro- was issued. as interim jathedar (chief) of the Dhanana village in Bhiwani district, property and deterioration in the of army’s ‘Operation Bluestar’ in Khalistan slogans have been raised Badal also termed the ban Akal Takht by Sikh hardliners at a Jasia village in Rohtak district, Jhanj law and order situation. the Golden Temple complex to be by hardliners during the anniver- on media coverage on June 6 congregation near Amritsar, was Khurd village in Jind district, Mat- “These services could also be observed today. sary function. Clashes also took inside Golden Temple Complex as also taken into custody by Fero- loda village in Panipat district and used in illegal activities such as Punjab Chief Minister Parkash place between both sides in the last “unfortunate”. zepur police. Pranpura Bawal village in Rewari blocking roads, highways and rail- Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar two years. “I have called up the SGPC Chief Mand was detained to prevent district . way tracks, damaging government Singh Makkar appealed to all sections Badal told media in Tarmala Secretary today (Sunday) morning him from reaching the Akal Takht to Haryana Additional Chief Sec- property and disrupting essential to exercise restraint and observe the village in Muktsar district on Sun- and urged him to reconsider these address people during functions to retary, Home, Ram Niwas said that services and supply of food. Social anniversary peacefully. day that the state government was orders. Such orders are totally against mark the anniversary. 55 companies of para-military force media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, The appeal came due to appre- committed to maintain peace and the spirit of democratic nations as In Bathinda, the police detained have been stationed to deal with the Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, hension of clashes between Sikh communal harmony. media is the fourth pillar of democ- hardline leader Gurdip Singh and agitation. Google Plus and mobile internet hardliners and moderates. “The state government is keeping racy,” he said. Hardeep Mehraj. Para-military forces and Hary- could be misused for this purpose,” Paramilitary forces and Punjab a strict vigil over the entire situation The Punjab Police detained sev- Radical Sikh organisation Dal ana Police personnel were deployed Sonipat deputy commissioner Police personnel were keeping a close and every effort would be made to eral radical Sikh leaders ahead of the Khalsa has called for an ‘Amritsar at sensitive areas, including national K Makarang Pandurang said. watch in different parts of Amritsar maintain law and order,” he said. anniversary as a preventive measure. Bandh’ today.

Himachal Fire fury Anti-migrant bills focus to set up markets shifts to New Delhi for farmers IANS midnight on the Singjamei side in Imphal West district. Besides paralysing normal life, the shutdown also hit legalised IANS NEW DELHI/IMPHAL: With the border trade since the Trans Asian arrival of representatives of polit- Highway No 1 passes through it. ical parties from Manipur in New Several women’s groups staged a Delhi, the battleground for three sit-in protest demanding withdrawal SHIMLA: Market yards and contentious bills passed by the state of the “cooked up” charges against small vegetable collection cen- assembly has shifted from Imphal to Khomdram Ratan, the former con- tres are being established across the national capital. venor of Joint Committee on Inner Himachal Pradesh to help farmers Minister of State for Home Kiren Line Permit System. market their produce, an official Rijiju assured the state BJP leaders T Sakhi, a woman activist said: said yesterday. from Manipur on Saturday night that “The government plan was to sup- Besides, the government is if the three pending bills -- aimed press the popular movement. laying emphasis on marketing at regulating migrants -- are not However, the people’s agitation is through cold stores and fruit veg- against any community in Manipur going on in full swing even after etable yards. Efforts to enhance he would extend support to the Ratan’s resignation”. agriculture production have bills. The outlawed insurgent group, brought satisfactory results with The three legislative measures the United National Liberation grain production reaching to a new are awaiting presidential assent. Front of Manipur (UNLF), has clar- height at 1.67m tonnes in 2014-15. He told state Bharatiya Janata ified that Ratan is not its member. Besides, the state produced 1.81 Party (BJP) president Khetrimayum Publicity secretary M Shakhen lakh tonnes of potatoes in the same Bhabananda and others that sev- said: “The UNLF has no connection year, an official statement said. eral persons had come to him saying with the Inner Line Permit move- Agriculture is the major occu- that the bills are against certain ment in Manipur. The objective of pation of the people of Himachal communities. the UNLF has no connection with Pradesh. According to the 2011 A firefighter tries to extinguish a blaze at a textile mill in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, an indefinite shut- the protection of the indigenous Census, it is the only state in the down was enforced from Saturday peoples.” country where 89.96 per cent people live in rural areas and 70 per cent of the people are directly dependent upon agriculture for livelihood, which contributes 10.4 Manohar Aich: Soared above stature to be Mr Universe per cent to the gross state domes- tic product. A total of 542,000 hectare is IANS posterity not only for his lifelong ded- of five or six, he loved exercising, spe- as a bus conductor in London to and the rippling biceps and triceps under cultivation in the state. ication to body building, but also for cially push-ups,” said daughter Bani live there and train’, and he was so were a big draw among the crowd. The state’s climatic condition is never flinching when ranged against Banerjee. determined he won it next year,” Even at the age of 85-90, the favourable for growing cash crops heavy odds. Like most youths in colonial India, said former Bengal champion body- showman was a regular feature at like potato, ginger, garlic and off- KOLKATA: In the early years of If he took up the job of bus con- Aich was fired by patriotic zeal. The builder Ashim Mallik, who had seen body building competitions where season vegetables. independent India, when the newly- ductor in London, he also churned out young man was thrown into jail in Aich from close quarters. he was bought in as the judge. But A provision of Rs4.82bn has freed nation was desperate to make power-packed circus shows for years the mid-1940s for slapping a British Once Aich came back, he was such was his fame, that everywhere been made in the state’s budget in its mark in the world, a 4 feet 11 inch to make both ends meet. officer in a police station -- and that warmly feted, becoming a virtual he had to display his muscles on pub- this fiscal for promoting off-sea- bodybuilder — Manohar Aich — pro- Born in Comilla District, now a is where he started practising body traffic stopper. He started his own lic demand. son crops, especially vegetables. pelled the country into limelight, part of Bangladesh, to Mahesh Chan- building more seriously. gymnasium, and also dabbled in In his traditional “akhara” called The state launched the winning the Mr Universe title in 1952. dra Aich (Father) and Chapala Sundari Three years after India gained circus. the “Manohar Byam Mandir”, Aich Rs3.2bn Himachal Pradesh Crop He was only the second Indian, (Mother), Aich joined the Royal Air Independence, Aich won the Mr Her- “There he used to showcase his used to train budding talent. For him Diversification Project with the after Monotosh Roy in 1951, to win the Force in 1942 -- when India was still cules crown, which egged him to try strength. Aich used to pull chains, tear exercise was the only way to stay fit. assistance of Japan International prestigious title in any category. a British colony -- and took up body for the Mr Universe title. thick books. It was all about power for “If you exercise daily you won’t Cooperation Agency in June 2011. Aich passed away yesterday, aged building, encouraged by a British He travelled to London and in 1951 him,” said Mallick. fall ill. When you are young, you train The purpose of the project is to 104, having lived a life worth living officer, Reub Martin. finished second in the contest. Not one He spent some time with the to build your body, when you are old, ensure crop diversification by pro- — replete with adventure, colour- For Aich, the passion for exercise to give up so easily, he stayed back in International Circus and later started you train to maintain it,” he said in viding farmers irrigation facilities ful experiences and dalliances with was a childhood habit that he picked London to have another go in the Pro- his own circus company but ended up an interview to a fitness portal a few and by connecting their fields by varied professions. A widower, Aich up after watching palanquin bear- Short division of the Mr Universe title. bankrupt. Then he spent about three years back. A minor stroke in 2011 roads, promotion of organic pro- is survived by his two sons and two ers of Comilla take part in wrestling But putting up in an unknown years in Oriental Circus. robbed him of his ability to lift heavy duce besides vegetable production, daughters. bouts and stick fights every morning foreign had its problems. Aich had to From the 1960s onwards, Aich weights. But he was keen on watching and marketing through self-help The man, lovingly called “Pocket to keep themselves supremely fit for work as a bus conductor to sustain was much in demand across the the progress of his students, sitting on groups for which they are provided Hercules” for his short but muscu- their arduous job. himself. country and abroad for his body a chair of his akhara with a toothless, technical knowhow. lar frame, will be remembered by “This inspired him. From the age “He once told me, ‘I had to work building shows. The chiselled frame, childlike grin. EUROPE / UK MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 15

Ex-PM Major accuses Brexit For a healthy life campaign of ‘deceit’

in his most outspoken interven- tion on the campaign. Exposing the deep “I think this is a deceitful cam- rifts caused by the paign and in terms of what they’re saying about immigration, a really vote, John Major depressing and awful campaign, they urged Britons to are misleading people to an extraor- dinary extent.” question the facts World leaders and international coming from Boris organisations have cautioned Brit- Johnson, a champion ain about the risks of leaving the bloc it joined in 1973, while the Bank of of the “Out” England has said Brexit could tip the campaign. economy into recession. campaign is verging on the squalid.” Despite the warnings, the Leave Major was the last Conservative campaign has gained momentum in prime minister before current incum- recent days by urging voters to “take Thousands of participants gather at Plaza Mayor square in Madrid to take part in the 4th Free Yoga Reuters bent David Cameron, who wants back control” from Europe’s elites, in Masterclass in Madrid, the biggest outdoor yoga event in Spain yesterday. Britain to remain in the EU. particular over immigration. His 1990-1997 premiership was Figures published last week put plagued by disputes in his party over net migration at 330,000 in 2015, LONDON: Former prime minis- Europe, including Britain’s ignomin- of which a net 184,000 came from ter John Major (pictured) yesterday ious withdrawal from the European the EU, far above Cameron’s ambi- accused the campaign for Britain to Exchange Rate Mechanism, the pred- tion in 2011 to cut numbers to tens ‘Project Europe’ to stay: EU official leave the European Union of fatuous ecessor to single currency, in 1992. of thousands. and squalid claims on immigration He said Leave campaigners were The Leave campaign has said and the cost of membership to dupe misleading voters by saying Britain it could extend an Australian-style Reuters whatever would be the outcome. leaders in February, Prime Minis- the public into voting out at this paid £350m ($510m) a week to Brus- points-based system to EU citizens if “A European Union without ter David Cameron won the right month’s referendum. sels, when two-thirds of that came Britain votes to leave the bloc. Germany or France is completely for Britain to opt out of the group’s Exposing the deep rifts caused back in subsidies and a rebate. John- Justice Minister Michael Gove, unimaginable, but we had a Euro- principle of “ever closer union” and by the vote, Major urged Britons to son dismissed his comments. a prominent Leave campaigner, BERLIN: A British exit from the Euro- pean Union without Britain at the for national parliaments, working in question the facts coming from the Out supporters have said the said the scale of immigration was pean Union would not end idea of a very beginning,” he said in an inter- concert, to block some EU legislative “court jester” Boris Johnson, a cham- money could be better spent on depressing wages and putting a strain unified Europe and should not be view. “It won’t be the end of ‘Project proposals. pion of the Out campaign and himself schools and hospitals in Britain, on public services. seen as a “horror scenario”, European Europe’, as some are describing it.” If the UK left, EU rules would a possible future leader of Major’s but Major said “these promises of “We would in due course bring it Parliament Vice President Alexander Group of Seven leaders and have to change to adjust the voting Conservative party. expenditure on the National Health down to tens of thousands,” he said Lambsdorff said in a German radio many others have warned that a structure. In either event, Lambsdorff “What they have done ... is feed Service or elsewhere are frankly on ITV’s Peston on Sunday show. interview. British vote to leave the EU would said, it would be critical to improve out to the British people a whole fatuous”. Johnson also deployed the “tak- Lambsdorff, a German Liberal be a serious risk to global eco- the organisation’s ability to act as one galaxy of inaccurate and frankly “If they can’t be straightfor- ing back control” argument yesterday, lawmaker, told the Deutschland- nomic growth. body, and might also make sense to untrue information,” he told the ward and honest on a clear cut in his case over the money Britain funk station that he hoped British Lambsdorff said the EU would have a two-tier European system BBC, less than three weeks before matter of fact like that upon what sent to Brussels, its borders and other voters would decide to stay in the EU. have to reform, no matter what hap- with different members moving at the vote on June 23. “I think their else can we trust them,” he said, parts of its economic future. But he said the EU would survive, pened. In a deal struck with fellow different paces.

Migrants to EU should be kept on Italy votes for mayors islands: Austria’s in test for PM Renzi foreign minister AFP Renzi’s PD, was forced to quit over an expenses scandal. AFP Voting in the Trastevere district of the capital, Rolando Antonucci, ROME: Italian Prime Minister Mat- 78, said he hoped for greater civic- teo Renzi’s party was locked in battle mindedness “among citizens and VIENNA: Asylum seekers to the yesterday for control of Rome and lawmakers alike”. European Union should be held other cities in municipal elections “I came to vote because I have on islands rather than be allowed seen as a test for the ruling party and hope... who knows, maybe for once direct access to the continent, Aus- the country’s divided right. I will be satisfied with my vote.” tria’s foreign minister said. The focus is on the major cities Rome is saddled with a debt of Sebastian Kurz suggested in an of Bologna, Milan, Naples, Turin and more than €13bn ($15bn), which is interview with Die Presse newspa- especially the capital Rome, where twice its annual budget. Former Polish Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski (left), Bronislaw Komorowski (second right) and leader per published yesterday that the the populist anti-establishment Five The expenses scandal and a of KOD Mateusz Kijowski (right) attend a demostration of the Committee for the Defense of Democracy bloc follow the “Australian exam- Star is heading the race for the may- much bigger unrelated scandal (KOD) movement in Warsaw yesterday on the anniversary of the first free election in 1989. ple” to discourage migrants from or’s seat. over organised crime’s infiltration setting out on the often perilous More than 13 million people are of Rome’s City Hall have bolstered journey to Europe. eligible to choose members of 1,300 Five Star’s Virginia Raggi. Thousands protest Polish govt policies Under Australia’s harsh and municipal councils in a two-round The 37-year-old went into yes- much-criticised immigration pol- ballot to be completed on June 19. terday’s vote with polls indicating icy, asylum-seekers who try to By midday, turnout stood at she could secure around 30 per- AFP Leszkowicz, a retired psychologist alarmed critics at home and abroad. reach Australia by boat are turned almost 18 percent, the interior min- cent of first-round votes. The PD’s who turned up dressed in the EU “Basically, it’s the PiS takeover of back or sent to Pacific camps in istry said. Despite the possibility his Roberto Giachetti was trailing on member state’s red and white colours. everything,” said Bethann Hubert, a Nauru and Papua New Guinea centre-left Democratic Party (PD) around 24 percent. Losing Rome Poles also massed in several 52-year-old American living in War- where they are held indefinitely could lose control of both Rome and would not augur well for Renzi four WARSAW: Tens of thousands of peo- other cities to mark the semi-free saw and a member of KOD expat while their refugee applications Milan, Renzi has played down the months before a referendum on con- ple marched across in Warsaw to elections on June 4, 1989 —Poland’s group. “It’s scary to watch,” she said. are processed. significance of the vote. stitutional reforms designed to end protest against government policies first dose of democracy that heralded The government reforms have They are blocked from reset- Yesterday, s if to demonstrate his decades of gridlock in parliament. they believe threaten democracy, as peaceful demise of communist rule. also drawn concern from the Euro- tling in Australia even if found to insouciance, Renzi visited training Renzi has vowed to resign if vot- the country marked 27th anniversary The rallies were organised by pean Union, which recently issued be refugees. camp of the Italian football squad, ers reject the reforms. of its first taste of electoral freedom. the Committee for the Defence of an unprecedented warning to the “The Australian model of to wish them luck in the Euro 2016 In Milan, the PD candidate is Former presidents Bronis- Democracy (KOD), a movement that ruling party to roll back its over- course cannot be completely rep- championships starting in France locked in a tight race with the can- law Komorowski and Aleksander sprung up in opposition to policies haul of the top Polish court or risk licated but its principles can be next week. “The municipals are didate of the right. Kwasniewski led the crowd as they adopted by ruling Law and Justice sanctions. applied in Europe,” the minister about mayors, the people whose job Five Star meanwhile is hoping chanted “Freedom! Equality! Democ- (PiS) party. Foreign Minister Witold Waszc- said, adding that he was scepti- it is to repair streets, not government that success in Rome will give it the racy!” and waved EU and Polish flags. The reforms, which give the gov- zykowski downplayed the EU cal about the impact of a recent of the country,” Renzi said recently. platform it needs to transform itself “I’m against this govern- ernment more control over media warning, calling it “a sugges- agreement with Turkey aimed at Rome has been without an into Italy’s main opposition in the ment. I didn’t vote for it. I believe and other institutions while weak- tion, which doesn’t oblige us to do reducing the number of migrants elected leader since last October, run-up to national elections due by they’re breaking laws,” said Dorota ening constitutional court, have anything”. travelling to the continent. when Ignazio Marino, a member of June 2018 at the latest. New immigration rules: Curry houses struggle to find staff

AFP European Union, after the Vote Leave complains about “the language bar- outside the EU. campaign claimed that the problem rier and the experience—they’re not “I want stronger relationships was the fault of uncontrolled EU familiar with the food, the cooking, with the Commonwealth in terms migration pushing up numbers of the spices”. of trade and I want an immigration WATFORD, United Kingdom: arrivals. The Bangladesh Caterers Associ- system that doesn’t discriminate Mixing spices in a searing hot pan, It said that a so-called Brexit ation, an industry body, claims four against them in favour of peo- cooking naan in the tandoor oven would herald a “fairer” immigration to five curry houses a week are clos- ple from southern and eastern and juggling takeaway orders, system that treats EU and non-EU ing in Britain because of a shortage Europe,” UK Independence Party restaurant owner Saiful Alam is workers, particularly from former of staff. (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said. short-staffed and stressed — a sit- colonies in the Commonwealth with Vote Leave campaigner Priti While the UKIP and Vote Leave uation he hopes Brexit will improve. family ties to Britain, equally. Patel, a government minister, last message resonates with some ethnic Like many of those running The argument resonates with month launched a “Save Our Curry minority voters, research suggests Britain’s 12,000 curry houses, the Alam as he puts together dishes on Houses” campaign, blaming EU that they are generally in favour of Bangladeshi chef is struggling to his own in the kitchen of the Prince of migration for the industry crisis. staying in the EU. find suitable staff as new immigra- Bengal, a modest restaurant in Wat- With up to one million Com- Pro-EU Labour lawmaker Keith tion rules have made it harder to hire ford, north of London, after his new monwealth residents of Britain Vaz said Vote Leave was mak- people from Bangladesh and India. Romanian cook failed to turn up for eligible to vote in the referendum, ing EU migrants a “scapegoat” for The issue has taken on political work. other “Leave” campaigners have more complex problems in the curry heat ahead of the June 23 referen- Alam has some British staff and also emphasised the potential to industry, saying it was trying to “play Oli Khan (Senior Vice President Bangladesh Caterers Association) cooks in dum on Britain’s membership of the eastern European employees, but improve ties with those countries people off against each other”. the Prince Of Bengal restaurant in Watford. 16 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 EUROPE Swiss voters reject free income plan

how much they work would promote and runs a small business design- human dignity and public service. ing and building furniture, said he Provisional final Opponents, including the govern- voted “yes”. results showed 76.9 ment, said it would cost too much and “For me it would be a great weaken the economy. opportunity to put my focus on my percent of voters Provisional final results showed passion and not go to work just for a opposed the bold 76.9 percent of voters opposed the living,” he said. social experiment. bold social experiment launched by Champions of the plan portrayed Basel cafe owner Daniel Haeni and a more automated future in a poster allies in a vote under the Swiss sys- bigger than a soccer field asking People cast their ballots during a vote on whether to give every adult citizen a basic guaranteed monthly tem of direct democracy. “What would you do if your income income, in a school in Bern, yesterday. Reuters Haeni acknowledged defeat but was secure?” They had also marched claimed a moral victory. as robots down Zurich’s high street “As a businessman I am a real- and handed out free 10-franc notes. basic needs covered society doesn’t feel Employers heaved a sigh of relief The plan included replacing in full ist and had reckoned with 15 percent “I voted ‘yes’ because money does responsible any more to look after the that Switzerland, where unemploy- or in part what people got from social ZURICH/BERN: Swiss voters rejected support, now it looks like more than not really have its place in this world, ones who can’t really handle the situ- ment is only around 3.5 percent, benefits. The government estimated by a wide margin yesterday a pro- 20 percent or maybe even 25 percent. it is so arbitrary and linked to power ation on their own”, she said. had not become the first country to the proposal would have cost 208bn posal to introduce a guaranteed I find that fabulous and sensational,” games,” said Ronnie Lehmann, 37, In a separate vote yesterday, Swiss embrace guaranteed income measure. Swiss francs a year, significantly weak- basic income for everyone living in he said. “When I see the media inter- who makes less than 4,000 francs voters clearly rejected a proposal to The Swiss government had urged ened the economy and discouraged the wealthy country after an uneasy est, from abroad as well, then I say a month as a bicycle mechanic. “But require state-controlled companies, voters to reject the campaign, saying people, especially low earners, from debate about the future of work at a we are setting a trend.” I’m not surprised the proposal got such as Swisscom, not to seek to make the scheme would cost too much and working. time of increasing automation. Switzerland is the first country rejected, the world is not ready for a profit. undermine social cohesion. Much of the cost could have been Supporters had said introducing to hold a national referendum on an it yet.” The government had warned that Interior Minister Alain Berset said covered by existing social security a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss unconditional basic income. A woman Meleanie said she accepting the initiative would hurt the the vote showed Swiss voters sup- payments, but sharp spending cuts or francs ($2,563) per adult and 625 Olivier, a 26-year-old carpen- reluctantly voted “no”. “I find it is a companies’ competitiveness and could ported economic and social system in tax increases would have had to make francs per child under 18 no matter ter who works on construction sites danger that once people just get their lead to higher taxes. place “and that this system works well.” up a remaining gap of 25bn. Paris museum reopens Romanians vote for mayors overshadowed by graft

AP Romania has launched a major council presidents and vice presidents bribes. He denies wrongdoing. as flood waters recede drive against corruption in the last were indicted for corruption in 2015. A deputy chairman of Roma- few years and its anti-corruption Ion Gavrila, a security officer nia’s main Social Democracy party, agency successfully prosecuted 1,250 guarding an ornate white office Lia Olguta Vasilescu, is running for AP Elsewhere, emergency crews BUCHAREST, ROMANIA: Romani- cases, including a former prime min- building in Bucharest, said he was a second term as mayor of Craiova, were pumping water out of a key ans voted yesterday for local officials ister and five former ministers. disillusioned with the candidates Romania’s sixth largest city. She has Paris highway interchange. South in administrations that are plagued However, people who have been running for office. been indicted on suspicion of brib- of the capital, 300 cars and big rigs with corruption. indicted of corruption but haven’t “There are five out of six who are ery, using her authority or influence PARIS: The riverside Grand Palais trapped for four days on a highway In Bucharest, the former city been convicted are not excluded suspected of corruption in Bucharest, to obtain money or other goods and exhibition hall in Paris reopened were being removed and returned to mayor and five out of six district from running for office. Some 51 who should I vote for? The problem is for money laundering. She denies yesterday as floodwaters slowly their owners who had been forced to mayors elected in 2012 have been of 109 mayors of Romania’s major that once people get into office, they wrongdoing. receded from the French capital, abandon them. The complex, day- convicted or are being investigated cities have been convicted or inves- steal,” he said. It is the first ballot after the Colec- after the worst floods in three dec- long operation “is going quite well,” on graft charges. Two are running tigated for corruption or have been The current mayor of the city of tiv nightclub fire in Bucharest where ades caused the Seine River to burst Gendarmerie Captain Laurent Ter- to win their districts again this year. declared unfit for office according Brasov, George Scripcaru, is running 64 people died. The fire was blamed its banks. rien told BFM-TV. Bucharest, a city of more than 2 to the penali.ro anti-corruption site. for a fourth term. He was arrested on safety officials who ignored vio- Other regions remained at risk, After a week of exception- million, had the largest local budget According to Romania’s anti-cor- in 2015 for abuse of office, on sus- lations of fire regulations. Former notably parts of Normandy, as dig- ally heavy rains around Europe, this year of 4.1bn Romanian lei ruption prosecutors’ office, more than picion of taking kickbacks from Premier Victor Ponta resigned fol- ging out began in villages and towns at least 18 people died in flooding ($1.01bn). 100 mayors, deputy mayors, county energy contracts and accepting lowing protests after the fire. around the French capital. in Germany, France, Romania and The Louvre Museum, sev- Belgium. New thunderstorms were eral Paris train stations and roads forecast for eastern France. In Nor- remained closed. Quayside res- mandy, the Seine River was expected German leader taurants along the Seine were still to peak later in the day. More than Russian hi-tech spy devices under engulfed in water yesterday and 11,000 French homes are still with- tourist boats were unable to pass out electricity. terms Merkel under bridges, a blow to the river- The flood risks along the Seine side economy. moved downstream after forc- attack over privacy fears The glass-topped Grand Pal- ing thousands from their homes ‘dictator’ ais, built for the 1900 World’s Fair and houseboats earlier this week. and currently hosting an exhibit by West of Paris, it overflowed around AFP it was only another channel of com- Monitoring of communications by avant-garde Chinese artist Huang city of Rouen overnight, but the local AFP munication,” Kasperskaya said. private corporations touches a nerve Yong Ping among several others, administration said the damage was The Russian authorities and pub- in a country where the shadowy KGB opened again yesterday after clos- “localised and limited” and severe lic lashed the invention as a breach of security service once monitored dis- ing on Friday because of flood risks. flood warnings for the area were lifted. BERLIN: A German right-wing MOSCOW: New Russian tech- law or infringement of privacy. sidents and where the state is keen to populist politician attacked Chan- nologies, including phone call The goal behind phonecall inter- retain its grip on citizens’ personal cellor Angela Merkel as a “dictator” interception and a facial recogni- ception, Kasperskaya said, is to provide data. who is trying to “replace the Ger- tion app, have stirred a fierce debate large businesses with a tool to prevent The KGB’s post-Soviet successor, man people” with migrants, a about privacy and data monitoring. information leaks, including com- the FSB, has long used a sophisti- newspaper reported yesterday. Infowatch, a Moscow-based panies whose success depends on cated system called SORM to carry Alexander Gauland, of anti- IT security company managed by protecting corporate secrets. out surveillance communications by immigration Alternative for Natalya Kasperskaya, found itself Communications minister telephone or on the Internet. Germany (AfD) party, told a rally in hot water after it revealed it had Nikolai Nikiforov said a court rul- The revelations of whistleblower that Merkel’s liberal asylum pol- invented a system that companies ing was needed to get permission to Edward Snowden showed that the US icy was radically transforming the can use to intercept employees’ mobile tap phones. Speaker of Russia’s lower National Security Agency also car- face of the country, the Frankfurter phone conversations. house of parliament, Sergei Naryshkin, ries out surveillance on a mass scale. Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung said. Companies outside Russia have said he feared such technologies could Human rights advocacy group He called Merkel a “chancel- also devised call interception soft- be used to malicious ends. Agora has said that nine million Rus- lor-dictator” to applause from ware, and Infowatch already markets Facing objections from the sians, including opposition figures the crowd and said Germany’s products that monitor employees’ authorities, the company has and political activists, have come mainstream parties were pursu- e-mails, USB keys and printers. refrained from designing a voice rec- under state surveillance since 2007. ing a policy of “human flooding”, But Kasperskaya says she was ognition system, even though there Their mobiles have been taped, an “attempt to gradually replace taken aback by storm that surrounded is demand from sensitive sectors their e-mails read and their move- German people with a population the mobile phone innovation. including banking, the oil industry ments tracked by what Agora calls a People take pictures of rain-swollen river Seine, in Paris, yesterday. coming from all parts of the earth”. “We weren’t expecting this. For us and large public companies. “political policing instrument.”

Two dead in Spain bus crash Podemos overtakes Socialists: Polls AFP The Socialists, however, would support, the polls showed, compared MADRID: Two people died and 46 drop from second to third place, gar- to 13.9 percent in December. others were injured yesterday after nering just 20.2-21.6 percent while Podemos’ strong showing comes a bus carrying mostly foreigners Unidos Podemos—an alliance made despite the tough stance it took rammed into a broken down truck MADRID: Spain’s anti-austerity party up of Podemos and its smaller rival when the Socialists failed to form a in southern Spain, police said. Podemos and its allies could leapfrog Izquierda Unida—would receive 23.7- left-wing government after the last The bus carrying 55 people, the Socialists in this month’s repeat 25.6 percent. election. collided with the truck at around general election to become the coun- The Socialists have long the voice The party, formed just over two 3am (0100 GMT) near the town of try’s main opposition, three polls of Spain’s left, but the cause has been years ago, has adopted a more con- Montoro in Cordoba province, a showed yesterday. losing support since the 2011 election ciliatory tone as the repeat polls loom, local police spokesman said. The surveys published in El that swept the Popular Party to power. dangling the possibility of forming a The driver and another Span- Pais, El Mundo and El Espanol dai- The December election saw the government with the Socialists. iard were killed while four others lies showed acting Prime Minister Socialists capture 22 percent of the Podemos, led by pony-tailed uni- were seriously injured. Another 42 Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Pop- vote, just ahead of Podemos, which versity professor Pablo Iglesias, has passengers suffered light injuries. ular Party coming first, with 27.7-31 got 20.7 percent. Podemos, a close ally also been rocked by a swathe of res- The majority of passen- percent of the vote, way short of a of Greece’s ruling Syriza party, in May ignations and demotions of top figures gers were foreigners, including parliamentary majority. formed an alliance with Izquierda amid reports of divisions at the top of 31 Moroccans, two Singapore- That result would be comparable Unida, a coalition led by the coun- the party over strategy. Artur Mas (centre), leader of Democratic Convergence of Catalonia, ans and one national each from to the 28.7 percent which the party try’s communist party, to run together “In a surprising way, Podemos has Mauritania, Ecuador, the United obtained in an inconclusive Decem- in the June 26 elections. not lost votes despite its internal cri- attends a meeting presenting candidature for Spanish government States, Romania, the Ivory Coast ber 20 general election that resulted Centrist party Ciudadanos sis,” centre-right newspaper El Mundo next to Catalunya President Carles Puigdemont (left) and candidate and Colombia. in a hung parliament. would be fourth with 14-16.6 percent wrote in an editorial. Miquel Calcada (right) in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. AMERICAS MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 17 Peruvians vote in tight election, weigh Fujimori legacy

broaden her appeal beyond loyal- promised to deliver tractors and por- ists to her father, Alberto Fujimori, trayed her rival as out of touch with Keiko Fujimori spent who is serving a 25-year sentence struggling Peruvians. the last five years for graft and human rights abuses. Many in rural provinces have fond She kicked his staunchest memories of her father, who built seeking to broaden defenders off her party’s con- schools and hospitals and is credited her appeal beyond gressional ticket and stepped up with ending the violent Shining Path campaigning in provinces she lost insurgency. loyalists to her father, to left-leaning Humala in 2011. Still, The younger Fujimori has Alberto Fujimori. many voters remain wary as some responded to the top voter concern, of Fujimori’s new associates become crime, with a hard-line stance that mired in fresh scandals. includes support for the death pen- “I remember what her father was alty and promises to lock up the most Reuters like, and I think she would be the dangerous criminals in five new pris- same. He controlled the media and ons she would have built high in the was extremely corrupt,” said Angela Andes. Agrela, who was voting for Kuczynski. Asked why her running mate, LIMA: Peruvians voted yesterday in a While both candidates are fiscal who journalists claim gave them a tight run-off for the presidency, choos- conservatives who would maintain a tampered recording, was not at a ing between right-wing populist Keiko free-market model in the resource- traditional election-day breakfast Fujimori, daughter of jailed former rich Andean economy, their styles and yesterday, Fujimori said she had opted president, and former World Bank approaches differ widely. for a family meal with her two daugh- economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. The election pits Fujimori fami- ters and American husband. Fujimori’s lead over Kuczynski, 77, ly’s brand of conservative populism Fujimori defends her associates melted away in recent days, evoking against Kuczynski’s elite background and says her party has been the vic- Peru’s presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular (Popular Strength) party, gestures after memories of her close defeat to outgo- and stiff technocratic style, which has tim of a smear campaign before Peru’s voting in the runoff round in Lima yesterday. ing President Ollanta Humala in 2011. curbed his appeal in poor provinces fourth democratic election since her In opinion polls by Ipsos and GfK, and working-class districts. father’s authoritarian government economic growth, and has captured Afro-Peruvian drummers. The Ipsos poll seen said a strong Kuczynski pulled slightly ahead of Fujimori, who has repeatedly collapsed in 2000. the anti-Fujimori vote despite hav- If he wins, Kuczynski would have debate performance, corruption Fujimori, though the two remained said democracy is not at risk, waged Kuczynski, a former prime min- ing endorsed her over Humala in 2011. to reckon with a solid majority of Fuji- allegations plaguing Fujimori’s inner in a statistical dead-heat . a more energetic campaign than her ister, has portrayed himself as honest “I hope democracy and unity mori’s party in Congress and a leftist circle, and the support of a former The 41-year-old Fujimori has rival, whirling out regional dances and experienced enough to make win,” he said at his breakfast in alliance that has promised not to align leftist candidate had helped Kuczyn- spent last five years seeking to in far-flung villages where she has good on promises to revive sluggish Lima, surrounded by the beat of with either of them. ski in the final days of the campaign. Brush fire veers away from Southern California enclave Mexican states elect

Agencies battling the blaze, and three of them which was held to just over 500 acres, the extent of the damage wasn’t clear, sustained injuries, John Tripp, dep- Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Los Angeles County fire Capt. Keith uty chief of the L.A. County Fire John Tripp said. Mora said. Other buildings, includ- new governors Department, said at a morning news He said it was “our number one pri- ing some at a city park, also were LOS ANGELES: Firefighters made conference. ority to get those two flanks contained,” damaged. gains yesterday against a fast-mov- Helicopters and air tankers were adding that the fire was hung up on the Fifty feet high flames erupted on AFP remained PRI strongholds even ing brush fire in the hills outside Los also brought in to make water drops. mid-slope of steep canyons, making a ridges and embers turned trees into after the party lost its 71-year grip on Angeles that has burned more than Two single-family homes direct attack difficult. Hot, dry condi- torches Saturday afternoon. The fire the presidency in 2000. Pena Nieto 500 acres and threatened homes in sustained minor damage and a com- tions a day earlier led to spot fires that flared as Southern California swel- returned the PRI to the presidential the affluent city of Calabasas, author- mercial building was destroyed in the had crews scrambling, Tripp said. tered under temperatures that hit the MEXICO CITY: Mexicans headed to palace in 2012. ities said. fire, which started when a vehicle Three homes were damaged, but mid-90s in many places. the polls yesterday to elect new gov- On the eve of the vote, a human After some 5,000 people were hit a utility pole and brought down a ernors in 12 states, with the ruling head was found on Saturday in a forced to evacuate the area on Sat- power line, authorities said. party seeking to maintain its dec- park near a school serving as a poll- urday, fire officials lifted mandatory The fire was one of several burn- ades-old grip on two regions beset ing place in Veracruz, a state plagued evacuations yesterday in Calabasas, ing in Southern California, where by drug violence. by drug cartels. a city of rugged hills and ranches 40 days of high temperatures dried out President Enrique Pena Nieto’s A note threatening the local km northwest of Los Angeles that sev- brush and produced what Tripp called Institutional Revolutionary Party mayor and his son, a leftist candi- eral celebrities call home. “extremely stressed vegetation.” (PRI) is favoured to keep governorship date running for the state legislature, The fire had burned 516 acres Earlier, authorities cautiously in northeastern state of Tamaulipas, was left next to the head in the town by sunrise and was 30 percent con- lifted some evacuation orders but days after it was rocked by kidnapping of Emiliano Zapata, a military offi- tained, the Los Angeles County Fire warned serious challenges remained of a famous football player. cial said. Department said. Weather had cooled as crews working in thick brush and But the PRI faces a tighter race “It’s an election issue. But we considerably overnight from Satur- jagged terrain protected homes and in the neighbouring eastern state of have seen other things, criminal day’s high temperatures, but could worked around the clock to stop the Veracruz, another violence-scarred groups intimidating our people,” said heat up again. progress of a brush fire that torched region it has controlled for decades Rogelio Franco, state leader of the Evacuation orders remained in the populated hills northwest of Los and where its candidate is in a vir- Democratic Revolution Party (PRD). place higher up in the hills in Topanga Angeles. tual three-way tie with his two rivals In Veracruz, PRI candidate Hec- Canyon, a rustic stretch famous for Firefighters took advantage of in opinion polls. tor Yunes Landa is deadlocked with its resident artists and musicians that cooler temperatures and calmer The PRI holds the governorship his cousin, Miguel Angel Yunes, who rolls down to the Pacific Ocean. winds as they attacked the east- Firefighters watch as the “Old Fire” burns a hillside in Calabasas, in nine of the 12 states up for grabs, is running under a conservative-PRD About 400 firefighters were ern and southern edges of the blaze, California, yesterday. two years before presidential elec- coalition, and Cuitlahuac Garcia tions in 2018. The other 20 federal Jimenez of the left-wing Morena regions are not choosing new heads party. of government. The oil-rich state has been run Police van driver “This election is a thermom- since 2010 by the unpopular Gover- Chicago releases videos of police shootings eter to see how things will turn nor Javier Duarte. to go on trial for out in 2018,” Jose Antonio Crespo, Under Duarte’s administration, a political expert at the Centre for the state has been marred by drug AFP transparency is essential to rebuild- The officer who shot him, Jason Economics Research and Teaching, violence, disappearances commit- black man’s death ing that trust,” Sharon Fairley, who Van Dyke, was not charged with first- told reporters. ted by state police and killings of heads city’s body in charge of police degree murder for more than a year Tamaulipas and Veracruz journalists. oversight, told a press conference. after the incident. AP WASHINGTON: It’s a scene that A majority of the cases included The city’s chief prosecutor Anita could have come straight out of a in the data release are labeled Alvarez filed the charges just before Hollywood action movie: a video of “firearm discharge,” meaning an the graphic video of the shooting BALTIMORE: Stakes are high in a minivan suddenly careening back- officer-involved shooting, and they was released, which itself only hap- the upcoming trial for an officer wards at high speed. It almost collides represent the totality of all open pened after a judge compelled the prosecutors say bears the most with a group of police officers, who cases by Fairley’s Independent Police city to do so. responsibility for the death of draw their guns and shoot. The whole Review Authority (IPRA). Alvarez lost her bid for re-elec- Freddie Gray, a young black man thing lasts less than 20 seconds. And But she cautioned that the mate- tion in March. whose spine was snapped in the it is very real. rials released may not convey all Some of the materials in the back of a police transport wagon. The footage was part of a trove of the facts in each case, and that her release related to other headline- The van driver, Officer Cae- videos, audio recordings and materi- agency has not made judgments on making cases from recent years. sar Goodson, faces second-degree als related to 101 active investigations the legality of officers’ actions. In the dramatic video of the murder and other charges. He will of police conduct in Chicago, just The IPRA has faced criticism for minivan shooting, one man, David also face buck-passing from fellow months after angry protests over a being too slow to act in evaluating Strong, was killed, and two others, officers who have already testified video of the 2014 fatal shooting of a police actions, including in the case LeLand Dudley and John Givens, were in two previous trials that if any- black teen by a white officer. of Laquan McDonald—the 17-year- injured. The three men were allegedly Mexico City’s mayor Miguel Angel Mancera cast his ballot during the one was responsible for ensuring “We all agree that there is a old whose killing was at the heart of fleeing the scene of a robbery before Gray’s safety, it was him. lack of trust and that increased the protests this winter. the shooting unfolded. election of 60 deputies, in Mexico City, Mexico, yesterday. The officer faces 30 years in prison if convicted of the mur- der charge. If prosecutors fail to secure a guilty verdict, it will be third straight trial in which they Storms to bring rain, floods & possible tornadoes to East haven’t gotten a favourable deci- sion: Prosecutors say Goodson was grossly negligent when he failed to buckle Gray into a seat belt and AP was expected to pick up the pace. gusts threatened to bring down trees Guthrie said the message is to be pre- Three others soldiers survived call for medical aid during Gray’s Tropical depressions have wind and branches and cause power outages. pared. “We are going to flood in parts of and have returned to duty. 45-minute ride in the back of speeds of less than 39 km per hour, Florida Governor Rick Scott Pasco County,” Guthrie said in an email. Persistent storms the past two Goodson’s transport van April 12, while tropical storms carry wind planned a briefing with state emer- Fort Hood officials have identified weeks have dumped more than a feet 2015. But with no eye witnesses TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Much speeds of between 39 63 km per gency management officials. Sand the last of nine soldiers who died in of rain in parts of Texas. The rain is and very little physical evidence, of Florida’s western coast was under hour and 117 km per hour. The storm, bags were being distributed to res- Texas floodwaters during a training expected to diminish this week and experts say the government could a tropical storm warning yesterday, expected to become Tropical Storm idents in St. Petersburg, Tampa and exercise as a 25-year-old Army spe- dry out areas of Southeast Texas, be facing an uphill battle. with the threat of heavy rains and Colin, was likely to bring dangerous nearby cities. cialist from California. where officials gave evacuation order “It would be devastating for high wind moving quickly northeast- rainfall levels, and residents were “We’re surrounded on three Army officials yesterday said to about 2,000 homes. the state to lose Goodson’s trial ward from the Gulf of Mexico. warned about possible flooding and sides by water,” said Pinellas County Spc. Yingming Sun enlisted in 2013 More than 17 million people in because there’s no question that The National Hurricane Centre hazardous driving conditions. spokesman Nick Zoller, who said the and first arrived at Fort Hood nearly Washington, DC, Baltimore, Virginia the ultimate responsibility lies with in Miami said a tropical depression The National Weather Service county distributed 3,300 sand bags, a two years ago. He and eight others Beach, Virginia, and Raleigh, North the van driver,” said Warren Alper- in the southern gulf was “expected in Mobile issued a flood warning for number he expected to go up now that who were previously identified died Carolina, are looking at an “enhanced” stein, a Baltimore attorney. to become a tropical storm” early the Shoal River near Crestview and a tropical storm warning is in effect. when fast-moving waters washed a risk of severe thunderstorms, accord- Gray died a week after he was today. The depression was moving warned of possible widespread flood- Just to the north, Pasco County two-and-half ton vehicle from a low- ing to the National Weather Service’s injured in the van. north at about 13 km per hour and ing in streams, creeks, and canals. Wind Emergency Services Director Kevin water crossing on Thursday. Storm Prediction Centre. 18 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 AMERICAS

Sanders hints Hillary scores at contested convention sweeping win against Hillary in Virgin Islands AP LOS ANGELES: With the pri- mary season near its end, a defiant percent of the vote, while Bernie Bernie Sanders declared that Dem- Sanders earned 12.2 percent. Under ocratic presidential process should The Democratic Democratic National Committee not be decided by party leaders candidate is now just rules, a candidate must win at least and elected officials, predicting 15 percent of the vote to be eligible a contested summer convention 60 delegates short to receive delegates. against rival Hillary Clinton. of the 2,383 needed It was as big a margin as Barack Speaking to reporters, Sand- Obama had in 2008, when he beat ers showed few signs of surrender, to advance to the Clinton by 90 percent to 8 percent. vowing to take his bid to the Phil- November general The Virgin Islands is one of five adelphia convention in July. He election. US territories that casts votes in urged news organisations not primaries and caucuses to decide to anoint Clinton as the pre- the nominee, even though those sumptive nominee through a residents aren’t eligible to vote in combination of pledged delegates November. While its pool of dele- and superdelegates. AP gates is small, the island chain took “It is extremely unlikely that on more importance as Clinton gets Clinton will have requisite number US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton makes a campaign stop at a restaurant in Santa Barbara, closer to clinching the nomination. of pledged delegates to claim vic- Earlier this month, former Pres- California, yesterday. tory on Tuesday night,” Sanders WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton ident Bill Clinton campaigned for said. “Now I have heard that she scored a sweeping win in the US his wife in the Virgin Islands while delegates, all four of the Virgin Islands’ Clinton now has 1,776 delegates to Columbia is the last to vote on June 14. has said it’s all going to be over Virgin Islands early yesterday, pick- Sanders opted to focus more on superdelegates are now backing Clin- Sanders’ 1,501, based on primaries and Clinton said Donald Trump on Tuesday night. I have reports ing up all seven pledged delegates neighbouring Puerto Rico, which ton. Superedelegates are party officials caucuses. When including superdele- “doesn’t really have ideas” but “makes that the media, after the New Jer- at stake as she inched tantalizingly has 60 delegates at stake in primary. who can back any candidate. gates, her lead is substantial—2,323 to bizarre rants and engages in personal sey results come in, are going to close to the Democratic nomination. “People were excited and over- “We are the only state or US terri- Sanders’ 1,547. It takes 2,383 to win. feuds and outright lies.” declare that it is all over. That sim- She is now just 60 delegates joyed when Bill Clinton came to tory where she got 100 percent of the In final stretch of the primary sea- She is likely to clinch Democratic ply is not accurate.” He said by the short of the 2,383 needed to advance visit,” said Cecil R Benjamin, who delegates,” he said, citing in part the son, six states including New Jersey and presidential nomination, and is tak- end of the primaries neither can- to the November general election. chairs the party there. He noted large voter turnout. “It was great, and California will vote tomorrow, with ing direct aim at Trump as she tries to didate would have enough pledged The party said Clinton won 84.2 that in addition to the seven pledged we are ready for national convention.” 694 delegates up for grabs. District of move past challenger Bernie Sanders. delegates to declare victory. Trump varsity probe dropped due to politics: Ex-Texas official

AP had built a solid case against the now- copy of the case file and took it home. said that the governor had played no contacted by a section of media for Bondi briefly considered joining a presumptive Republican presidential “It had to be political in my mind role in ending the case against Trump, his response. “I have done nothing multi-state suit against Trump U. nominee, but was told to drop it after because Donald Trump was treated a decision he said was made farther illegal or unethical,” said Owens, a Three days after Bondi’s spokes- Trump’s company agreed to cease differently than any other simi- down the chain of command. lawyer. “I think the information I pro- woman was quoted in local media WASHINGTON: Republican Texas operations in Texas. larly situated scam artist in the 16 “The Texas Attorney General’s vided to the press was important and reports as saying her office was inves- Attorney General Ken Paxton moved The former state regulator said years I was at the consumer protec- office investigated Trump U, and its needed to be shared with the public.” tigating, Trump’s family foundation to muzzle a former state regulator that decision was highly unusual and tion office,” said Owens, who lives in demands were met—Trump U was Paxton faces his own legal trou- made a $25,000 contribution to a who says he was ordered in 2010 to left the bilked students on their own to Houston. Owens’ boss at the time was forced out of Texas and consumers ble. He was indicted last year on political fundraising committee sup- drop a fraud investigation into Trump attempt to recover their tuition money then-Attorney General Greg Abbott, were protected,” Hirsch said. “It’s three felony fraud charges alleging porting Bondi’s re-election campaign. University for political reasons. from the celebrity businessman. who is now the state’s GOP governor. absurd to suggest any connection that he persuaded people to invest Bondi, a Republican, soon Paxton’s office issued a cease According to the documents pro- It was reported on Thursday between a case that has been closed in a North Texas tech startup while dropped her investigation, citing and desist letter to former deputy vided by Owens, his team sought to that Trump gave donations totaling and a donation to Governor Abbott failing to disclose that he hadn’t insufficient grounds to proceed. chief of Consumer Protection John sue Trump, his company and several $35,000 to Abbott’s gubernatorial three years later.” invested himself but was being paid In New York, meanwhile, Dem- Owens after he made public copies business associates to help recover campaign three years after his office Paxton issued a media release by the company in stock. Paxton has ocratic Attorney General Eric of a 14-page internal summary of the more than $2.6m students spent on closed the Trump U case. Several about the cease and desist, saying remained in office while appealing Schneiderman sued Trump over what state’s case against Donald Trump for seminars and materials, plus another Texas media outlets then reported Owens had divulged “confidential the charges. he called a “straight-up fraud.” That scamming millions from students of $2.8m in penalties and fees. Owens’ accusation that the probe was and privileged information.” Texas was not the only GOP-led case, along with several class-action his now-defunct real estate seminar. Owens said he was so surprised dropped for political reasons. Owens first learned about the state to shy away from suing Trump. lawsuits filed by former Trump stu- Owens, now retired, said his team at the order to stand down he made a Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch state’s action against him when Florida Attorney General Pam dents, is still ongoing.

History resurfaces Man charged Maduro entreats LatAm for kidnapping of Detroit boy not to isolate him

Reuters and not to submit to ... brutal pres- AP sure to isolate Venezuela,” Maduro entreated other Caribbean leaders gathered for a summit in Havana. HAVANA: Venezuelan President The summit, however, did not DETROIT: Prosecutors charged a Nicolas Maduro called upon Latin produce a strong statement of sup- man with kidnapping in the case America not to give in to “brutal port for Maduro, with the OAS of a 13-year-old Detroit boy who pressure” from the United States to limiting itself to backing the initia- was found dead in a vacant lot this isolate his government, which is bat- tive for mediated talks between his week after being abducted from a tling intensifying opposition at home government and the opposition. city street. and abroad. As Venezuela falls deeper into an Earnest Coleman, 26, was The head of the Organisation of economic crisis protests at home for charged with kidnapping and will American States (OAS), that Vene- a recall referendum against Maduro be arraigned, Wayne County Pros- zuela views as a pawn of US policy, are growing. Maduro has denounced ecutor Kim Worthy said. this week called for an emergency this as part of an undercover US- Coleman and other people meeting to discuss a possible censure backed coup against his government. allegedly kidnapped Deontae of the country for violating demo- “Venezuela will not give in, it will Ruins of Potosi, a town inundated over 30 years ago when a hydroelectric plant was built in Tachira Mitchell outside of a market, cratic norms. not kneel down, we will fight with the state in western Venezuela, pictured yesterday. Due to drought caused by El Nino climate phenomenon, Worthy said. She did not provide Meanwhile a senior Brazilian same force we have fought against the ruins of Potosi, a village nestled in the Venezuelan Andes, reemerged after more than 30 years further details. Three other peo- official said Brazil may help block coups and any type of intervention- under water. ple have been arrested, including Venezuela from taking the rotating ism these last 17 years,” he said. a 45-year-old Detroit man who is presidency of Mercosur trade group Cuban President Raul Castro waiting to be extradited from Ohio. this month, in a bid to prevent Maduro gave Maduro his “robust support” Deontae’s body was found from strengthening his power. at the summit and denounced the on Detroit’s east side, and an “I call upon the governments of “imperialist counteroffensive” autopsy found no indication that the continent to maintain solidar- against progressive governments Terrorist attacks declined in 2015: Report he was shot. Deontae disappeared ity, cooperation and understanding throughout Latin America. while riding bikes with a cousin, who told police that Deontae had Reuters coordinator for counterterrorism, place in 92 countries in 2015, they picked up money dropped by a Justin Siberell, said the drop was were heavily concentrated geograph- man who was urinating outside a due to fewer attacks in Iraq, Pakistan ically, as they have been for the past market. Surveillance video shows and Nigeria. More than 55 percent several years.” Deontae being pursued by a man, WASHINGTON: The US State of attacks attributed to terrorists Data compiled by University of who grabbed the boy by his arm Department said number of terror- last year occurred in five countries: Maryland for State Department showed and forced him into a car. ist attacks around the world declined Iraq, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan there were 11,774 terrorist attacks Police believe the man in the last year for the first time since 2012, and Nigeria, he said. worldwide during the year, in which video was 45-year-old Gregory and that such attacks were becom- Terrorist attacks and deaths more than 28,300 people died and Walker, who was arrested with a ing more decentralised and diffuse. increased in Afghanistan, Bangla- roughly 35,300 others were wounded. woman in Toledo, Ohio. Walker is Terrorist attacks fell by 13 percent desh, Egypt, the Philippines, Syria Islamic State militants posed the being held on a probation violation compared with 2014, while fatalities and Turkey, according to Siberell. greatest terrorism threat globally warrant. “Facts in the case explic- caused by terrorist activity declined “The global terrorist threat con- despite significant losses in territory itly show lives of some of Detroit’s by 14 percent, the agency said in its tinued to evolve rapidly in 2015, in Iraq and Syria last year, the report children continue to be less impor- Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro (right) attends a meeting report on global terrorism, which becoming increasingly decentral- said. The group made gains in Libya, tant than everything else? — in this tracks trends in political violence. ised and diffuse,” the report said. however, where it has about 5,000 case a few dollars dropped from a with Curacao’s Prime Minister Bernard Whiteman in Havana, Cuba The State Department’s acting “Although terrorist attacks took fighters, the report said. pocket,” Worthy said. yesterday.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 29o C Maximum: 41o C

FAJR 03.14 am ZUHR 11.32 am MAGHRIB 06.25 pm HIGH TIDE 04:45 - 18:30 Hazy to misty at places at first. SHOROOK 04.43 am ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 07.55 pm LOW TIDE 00:30 - 10:45

20 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Disconnect with Mall of umbrella www.thepeninsulaqatar.com nature raising MOST READ mental illness

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Why Walcott Should IANS 1 Step Aside For the Dortmund Star

Jeison Murillo: Why Arsenal should WASHINGTON: Mental illnesses and mood disorders are 2 sign the Inter star more common in urban areas partly due to reduced access to nature, say researchers. “There’s an enormous amount Pedestrians to get reflective of disease largely tied to our removal from the natural 3 bracelets environment,” said Peter Kahn, Professor at University of Washington. In a perspective piece published in the journal Sci- ence, the authors discussed the growing tension between TWEET OF THE DAY an arguably necessary role urban areas play in society and the numbing, even debilitating, aspects of cities that dis- connect humans from the natural world. “Kids in large cities are growing up having never seen the stars. Can you imagine that -- having never in your life walked under the vastness of the star-lit sky, and there’s that feeling of awe, restoration and imaginative spark?” Kahn said. “As we build bigger cities, we’re not aware how much and how fast we’re undermining our connection to nature, and more wild nature -- the wellspring of our existence,” he pointed out. In the article, Kahn, and co-author Terry Har- tig at Uppsala University in Sweden, pointed to research that shows the emotional and mental strain cities can have on people. “I’m willing to say there’s a naturalness we can achieve in cities, but not at the scale we’re building or at the scale we’re headed with many cities,” Kahn said. “There’s nothing natural about a megacity,” he noted. There are steps cities can take to introduce nature into the urban core, including requiring buildings to have windows that open to allow in fresh air and natural light; incorporating more rooftop gardens and urban agriculture; INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY and creating spaces within and around buildings to touch, see and smell native plants. But these remedies first require an appreciation for nature in urban centres, as well as the space, resources and collective will to make these changes. Kahn argues that it is more than just introducing nature The World into urban areas. People must be able to interact with these Staduim elements using more of their senses in order to experience Congress and physical and psychological benefits of nature, as well as to exhibition shift the collective baseline toward better understanding 2016 held at and appreciation of the natural world. For example, look- WestIn Hotel. ing at an office plant on the windowsill might be soothing, Photo by @ People walk under a passage covered with umbrellas at the Dubai Mall in the Gulf Baher_Amin but having a place to sit in the grass on a lunch break and perhaps even sink one’s feet into the soil are sensory expe- emirate of Dubai. riences that can deepen a person’s engagement with nature. Woman mauled by shark ‘bigger than boat’ in Australia Amber Heard sues

AFP added that three fishermen who tried of Fisheries said in a statement. of surfers when what is believed to help the woman and her partner The department added that it had to have been a great white shark comedian Stanhope described the shark as being longer deployed “capture gear” -- reported pounced on him, ripping off his right than their 5.3-metre (17.4-foot) boat. to be drum lines -- to “fish for the leg above the knee and snapping his SYDNEY: A woman was fatally He said the woman’s diving part- shark” after the attack, which hap- surfboard in half. mauled by a huge shark -- described ner felt “something go past him” when pened one kilometre (0.62 miles) A 4.2-metre shark caught on for defamation by witnesses as larger than their boat he was in the water. offshore. Wednesday near to where the attack -- near the western Australian city of “When he surfaced, he saw a Surf Life Saving WA tweeted ear- occurred was destroyed at sea, Perth yesterday. commotion in the water and then lier Sunday that a 4.5-metre shark although authorities could not con- The attack on the woman off the another boat arrived to pull him out of had been reportedly sighted offshore firm whether it was responsible. Reuters now being vilified,” Stanhope wrote. northern Perth suburb of Mindarie the water, and then it was noticed that from Mindarie. Deadly attacks are relatively Lawyers for Heard called Stan- comes just two days after a surfer the lady had suffered some severe and Local beaches were closed after rare, according to the International hope’s comments, detailed in the died after having his leg bitten off by fatal injuries,” Mulligan said accord- the incident. Shark Attack File, which in February complaint, “completely false and a shark along the same coastline. ing to the Australian Broadcasting The suspected attack came two reported a record 98 shark attacks LOS ANGELES: Lawyers for actress highly defamatory.” Western Australia state police Corporation. days after Ben Gerring -- a surfer worldwide last year. Amber Heard filed a defamation The lawsuit is the latest step in said the woman -- reported to be “Given the nature of the inju- who lost a leg in a mauling off Fal- However, only six were fatal, lawsuit against comedian Doug the increasingly acrimonious split a 60-year-old diver -- had “signif- ries and the location of the incident, con Beach some 115 kilometres south including one in Australia, it said. Stanhope on Friday after he wrote between Heard, 30, and Depp, 52, icant injuries that are consistent with it is likely that a large white shark of Mindarie on Tuesday -- died in Experts say attacks are increasing an article accusing her of blackmail- who had been married for 15 months. a shark attack”. greater than three metres in size is hospital. as water sports become more popular, ing and manipulating her estranged Heard filed for divorce from Police Inspector Danny Mulligan responsible,” the state’s Department The 29-year-old was with a group but stress fatalities are uncommon. husband, actor Johnny Depp. Depp in Los Angeles last month, cit- The complaint was filed in ing irreconcilable differences, and Cochise County, Arizona, against obtained a temporary restraining Stanhope and 20 unnamed individ- order against the actor. uals associated with the comedian. She said in court papers that Streaking into the sky App to help you learn stock market The lawsuit demands a jury trial Depp had been abusive to her and says that Heard would donate throughout their relationship, culmi- IANS all proceeds to a battered women’s nating in a May 21 argument during shelter in Arizona. which he hurled a cell phone at her Representatives for Stanhope face and shattered objects in her KOCHI: Aiming to invest in the stock market but unsure of how it works? and Depp did not immediately apartment. Learn from this app. Hedge Equities, one of the leading financial services respond to requests for comment. The documents included photos company based here, has launched the mobile game app ‘TORO e ORSO’ The complaint is in response to of the actress with a bruised eye that (Italian for bull and bear) after success of the earlier board game, which was a May 29 guest column by Stanhope she said she sustained in the inci- well received among the youth and prompted them to go forward with this published on entertainment trade dent. Heard later gave a statement to make simple the learning the basics of stock trading. outlet TheWrap.com and headlined to Los Angeles police in which she The app has been developed by C Shark, a company that has made a “Johnny Depp Is Being Blackmailed accused Depp of domestic violence. mark in the game development industry, with the support of Hedge School by Amber Heard - Here’s How I Depp, one of Hollywood’s of Applied Economics here. Know.” top stars and box office draws, is Alex K. Babu, Managing Director, Hedge Equities, said that using apps Stanhope, who said he was a currently touring with his band Hol- and games is the best way to teach youngsters about the basics of share trad- friend of Depp’s, wrote that Depp lywood Vampires in Europe and is ing as they pick up things easily through games. had told him that Heard was leav- scheduled to perform in Bucharest, “The android based game, launched as a single player one, has three ing him and “threatening to lie about Romania, on Monday. levels - beginner, amateur and professional. While the beginner level has him publicly in any and every possi- The actor’s 17-year-old daughter Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic (in dark blue) leads Nigel 10 rounds, amateur and professional levels have 20 and 40 rounds respec- ble duplicitous way if he didn’t agree from a previous relationship, Lily- Lamb of Great Britain (in yellow) and Yoshihide Muroya of Japan tively,” he said. to her terms.” Rose Depp, supported her father on (in silver) along Mount Fuji prior to the third stage of the Red Bull Initially, players will get a virtual amount of Rs 5,000, which can be used “Blackmail is what I would Instagram last week, posting a photo Air Race World Championship in Chiba. to invest in any one of the ten sectors - oil and gas, telecom, FMCG, automo- imagine other people might put it, captioning her father as “the sweet- bile, realty, pharma, power, IT, metal and banking. including the manner in which he is est most loving person I know.” www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 22 QE 9,570.72 +38.12 PTS PAGE | 24 DOW 17,807.06 -31.50 PTS Excess capacity FTSE100 6,209.63 +24.02 PTS Oil price plasters ‘corrosive’ for over Opec BRENT $48.90 -$0.55 China growth rifts — for now

MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 • 1 RAMADAN 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Indian Prime Minister woos Qatari investors

take advantage of this opportunity,” more than 80 percent in 2015 com- The Prime Minister said Modi. “All of you recognise the pared to 2011. potential of India. I will address the He added that the total number of identified agro- bottlenecks you have identified,” he the Qatari-Indian joint ventures operat- processing, railways added. ing in Qatar exceeded 6,500 companies, and solar energy as The Prime Minister identified while there are about 26 companies agro-processing, railways and solar with an Indian capital and ownership very promising areas energy as very promising areas for of 100 percent. The Minister praised the for Qatari investment Qatari investment. He described 800 efforts made to organise and host the million youth in India as the country’s Qatari-Indian Economic Forum in New biggest strength. “India’s 800 million Delhi last year, which saw a wide par- youth are its biggest strength. Infra- ticipation of businessmen and investors By Sachin Kumar structure expansion and up-gradation in both countries. The Peninsula and manufacturing are my other pri- The Minister extended thanks to the orities,” Modi said. Prime Minister of India for his efforts He added that projects like smart in strengthening economic, trade and DOHA: Indian Prime Minister Naren- cities, metros and urban waste investment relations between the two dra Modi yesterday invited Qatar’s management are geared towards countries, looking forwards to increas- business leaders to invest in India, upgrading quality of life of people. ing the volume of trade and facilitating saying that the country is a land of Earlier, opening the meeting, H the flow of goods and investments in opportunities. Speaking at the round E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani both countries, as well as increasing the table meeting with Qatari business- highlighted the deep-rooted historic number of flights between Qatar and men, Modi promised to address and trading relations between the two India in order to boost tourism. ‘bottlenecks’ identified by them. countries and underlined the impor- The meeting was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jasim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Minister of Economy and Com- tance of India as a strategic partner Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Commerce; Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways; Yousef Jasim Al Darwish; Sheikh Fahad merce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim of Qatar. He said that the total vol- Chairman of Qatari Businessmen bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman, Doha Bank; Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman, Lulu Group International; and other Al Thani chaired the Qatari side in ume of trade exchange between the Association, Akbar Al Baker, Group the meeting. The meeting was Indian two countries reached about QR38bn Chief Executive, Qatar Airways, Sheikh prominent businessmen in Doha yesterday. Prime Minister’s first engagement on in 2015, making India the third big- Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, the second day of his visit to Qatar. gest trade partner having 9.5 percent Chairman and MD Of Al Khaliji Com- Al Darwish, Chairman of Al Darwish Bank, Dr R Seetharaman, Group Qatar and CEOs of major companies “India is a land of opportunity. I of the total volume of foreign trade mercial Bank, Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman, United Company, Sheikh Fahad bin Chief Executive Officer of Doha Bank and banks and investment stakehold- have come to personally invite you to of trade. Indian exports to Qatar rose Lulu Group International, Yousef Jasim Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman, Doha and other prominent businessmen of ers in Qatar took part in the meeting. Al Sawari Holding signs deal with Leela Group German bonds to outperform

Bloomberg a London-based rates strategist at The Peninsula Mizuho International Plc. “The re- pricing by the market of upcoming event risks in June will support those LONDON: German government markets. Both the Spanish elections DOHA: Al Sawari Holding, a major bonds may gain next week along and the UK. EU membership referen- Qatari company with interests in hos- with the rest of the euro region’s dum vote are bearish factors for the pitality, real estate and education core debt market as investors seek periphery,” as results may increase sectors, yesterday signed a Memoran- havens before unprecedented polit- a perceived risk that the euro area dum of Understanding (MoU) and two ical events later this month. breaks up. management agreements with India- Britain’s referendum on its Euro- The yield on Germany’s 10-year based The Leela Group to develop a pean Union membership and Spain’s bund fell seven basis points, or 0.07 hotel complex. repeat elections are approaching, percentage point, to 0.07 percent in The pacts were signed on the and bonds from Germany, France the week, as of the 5 p.m. close in sidelines of India’s Prime Minister and the Netherlands have been out- London on Friday, having touched Narendra Modi’s meeting with Qatari performing their peripheral peers 0.065 percent, the lowest since April businessmen at the Sheraton Grand in the past month as analysts reck- 2015. The 0.5 percent security due Doha Resort and Convention Hotel. oned a UK vote on June 23 to leave in February 2026 rose 0.68, or 6.80 The MoU was signed by Sheikh the EU will hurt lower-rated Euro- euros per 1,000-euro ($1,133) face Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman pean nations. amount, to 104.17. of Al Sawari Holding and Vivek Nair, The price of France’s bond Italy’s yield spread over the Ger- Chairman and Managing Director, maturing in 2066 rose above its par man securities increased five basis The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. value for the first time since it was points in the week to 1.26 percent- Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (second left), Chairman of Al Faisal Holding Company, and Vivek Nair, Under the agreement, the Al issued in April. age points. Spain’s 10-year spread Chairman of The Leela Palaces Hotels Resorts, exchanging documents at the signing ceremony held at Sawari Group will purchase a six acre “Our view into next week is widened six basis points to 1.40 per- site from The Leela Group in the his- the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel yesterday, as Mohamed A Shafiek (left), Managing bullish on core European govern- centage points, the first increase in torical city of Agra to develop a hotel Director, Al Sawari Holding, and Amruda Nair, Joint Managing Director and CEO, Aiana Hotels and Resorts, ment bonds,” said Antoine Bouvet, three weeks. complex. look on. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula Al Sawari Holding also entered into a management agreement with will further enhance the economic expected to commence soon and will to expand in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer,” the Leela Group to operate a 100- and culture relations between the be completed within 36 months. said Vivek Nair, Chairman and Man- room Leela Palace Hotel on this site. two countries,” said Sheikh Faisal “These agreements are the first of aging Director, The Leela Palaces, Mitsubishi created illegal software Another management agreement was bin Qassim Al Thani, speaking at the many that we as a group plan to enter Hotels and Resorts. signed with Aiana Hotels and Resorts, press conference. into in India. We firmly believe in the “We are delighted to announce a global hotel management company “In line with our strategy to potential of the Indian market and the expansion of the Aiana portfolio Bloomnberg MMC developed the illegal pro- to operate a 150 room Aiana Hotel on acquire key assets in strategic glo- will continue to seek growth oppor- in India with the signing of a man- gramme just after the government the same plot. bal locations, the property is located tunities to create value and expand agement agreement with A Sawari stipulated a measurement method “Qatar has a long history of bilat- less than one kilometre from the Taj our portfolio in India”, said Moham- Holding to operate Aiana Agra - a 150 TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in 1991, and MMC officials in charge eral relations with India and there is Mahal and will offer unparalleled med Shafiek, Managing Director, Al room hotel in one of the most visited developed an illegal computer pro- used the program for many years. a lot of synergy between the two cul- views of the historic monument,” he Sawari Holding. leisure destinations in India.”, said gram for obtaining data to calculate This indicates that the MMC tures. We are delighted to enter into added. “The proposed Palace hotel will Amruda Nair Joint Managing Direc- fuel efficiency using a different officials have been aware that these landmark agreements with The The two new hotels will offer a combine unparalleled views of the Taj tor & Chief Executive Officer, Aiana measurement system than that using the program was illegal Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts host of signature restaurants and Mahal with a truly luxurious hospi- Hotels & Resorts. required by the government, accord- since the time the system was and Aiana Hotels and Resorts dur- lounges along with spacious banquet tality experience in Agra. We are also “With the signing of our sixth ing to sources. introduced. “This is extremely seri- ing the historic visit of Prime Minister halls and state of the art health cen- looking forward to further strength- hotel in India, we will continue to This is the latest finding in the ous. We will deal with it strictly,” a Narendra Modi to Qatar. We are con- tres and spas. Both hotels will cater ening our presence within the golden follow the cluster strategy that has ongoing scandal over the automak- senior official of the Land, Infra- fident that Al Sawari Holding’s foray to the upmarket leisure tourists and triangle by adding a Palace hotel in been successful for the AIANA brand er’s falsification of fuel efficiency structure, Transport and Tourism into the Indian hospitality industry the MICE segment. Construction is Jaipur and will continue our efforts in India,” she added. data. Ministry said. 22 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 BUSINESS

Dollar peg here Excess capacity to stay as devaluation ‘corrosive’ for bets climb: UAE China growth Bloomberg DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ currency peg is here to stay, the central bank governor said, after contracts used to bet on a deval- uation rose to the highest since The question of March. Policy makers don’t see excess capacity is pressure on the dirham and the UAE is committed to its longstand- one that literally has ing peg to the dollar, Mubarak an enormous effect Rashed Al Mansoori told reporters in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Twelve- on global markets for month forward contracts on the currency climbed to the highest things like steel and The officials of QIIB with the STP award. since March on Friday, signaling aluminum, and we’re increased speculation that the seeing distortions in exchange rate may be moved. global markets: Lew of excess capacity is one that liter- Currency fixings in the six- ally has an enormous effect on global QIIB bags STP award again nation Gulf Cooperation Council markets for things like steel and alu- have been the subject of increas- minum, and we’re seeing distortions ing speculation after the drop in in global markets because of excess oil prices over the past two year Reuters capacity.” The Peninsula Head of Local Operations from QIIB. will continue and grow, especially in slashed revenue for govern- A flood of Chinese steel into the “We are proud to receive this light of the efforts deployed by both ments highly dependent on crude United States has prompted the US award again from Citi recogni- institutions to enhance the develop- exports. Some investors are bet- Commerce Department to impose tion of the efforts deployed by our ment and services of business sector ting it may become too expensive BEIJING: China’s excess industrial anti-dumping and anti-subsidy DOHA: QIIB has again bagged the Operations team and the advanced in countries where they operate. to maintain the pegs as the GCC capacity will have a “corrosive” duties on a wide-range of Chinese STP award for the high percentage technological infrastructure used “QIIB has won this award given battles to plug fiscal shortfalls impact on its future growth and steel products, while US business of ‘Straight Through Processing’ for by the bank in line with the latest its efficiency in managing the foreign the International Monetary Fund efficiency unless it is reduced, US groups have complained about new their foreign payments, instituted by applications and internationally payments operations. says will total almost $900 billion Treasury Secretary Jack Lew (pic- Chinese regulations they say favour Citi, New York to banks with excel- benchmarked best practices in the The business records prove through 2021. tured) said yesterday, adding that it local firms. lent operational performance with global banking payments,” said Jamal the conformity with the best glo- Twelve-month forward con- was also causing distortions in glo- China, which now produces regards to foreign payments. Al Jamal. “The foreign payments bal adopted standards. We highly tracts for the dirham climbed 22.5 bal markets. more than half of the world’s steel, Jamal Al Jamal, Deputy CEO of operations in banks have gained a lot appreciate QIIB’s distinguished man- points in the five days through Fri- Lew, speaking to students in Bei- has criticised US anti-dumping QIIB received the award from Ala of focus these days. Such operations agement of the foreign payments day to 122.5, the highest level since jing, said he hoped to make progress duties targeting Chinese steelmakers Qumsieh, Head of Corporate Bank- require a high degree of accuracy, through STP, which result in a main- March 15, according to data com- on the excess capacity issue in bilat- as irrational and harmful to diplo- ing Qatar, KSA, and Bahrain during efficiency and professionalism to tained and continuously developed piled by Bloomberg. Last week, eral meetings with senior Chinese matic ties. Beijing has said it needs a ceremony held at the QIIB head- ensure direct transfer of funds and quality of service . Citi has a strong Saudi Arabia ordered banks in the officials starting today in Beijing. time to address its excess capacity quarters at the Grand Hamad Street receipt by beneficiaries without man- relationship with reputed financial kingdom to stop selling some prod- He noted that past discussions had problem. Lew said excess Chinese in Doha. ual intervention. At QIIB, we prioritise institutions like QIIB and this will ucts that allow speculators to bet eased currency tensions between the steel capacity was causing prob- The ceremony was also attended serving our clients using the best continue for the benefit of custom- against its currency peg just days world’s two largest economies. lems for steel-producing economies by Mohsin Al Mahdi, Director - Cor- technology to ensure and efficient ers with the aim of improving the after demanding information from “Excess capacity is not just a worldwide, and government subsi- respondent Banking Group from Citi high quality service,” he added. overall business environment in the lenders on the offerings, accord- domestic issue in China,” Lew said dies were at the root of the problem and Asim Mahmood, Head of Interna- The QIIB representative stressed countries we operate in,” said Ala ing to people with knowledge of at Tsinghua University. “The question by encouraging overbuilding. tional Operations and Ahmed Ballan, that the cooperation with Citibank Qumsieh. the matter. ibq wins STP award from Citibank for excellency Aramco raises most Asia oil pricing amid robust demand The Peninsula

Bloomberg Institution in Doha, said Sunday by phone. “India is showing a lot of DOHA: International Bank of Qatar strength and we’re still seeing very (ibq) has won the Citi “Straight robust demand from China.” Through Processing” (STP) award, in DUBAI: Saudi Arabia, the world’s Aramco raised pricing on most recognition of the Bank’s excellent largest crude exporter, raised pric- grades for sale to Asia, leaving only quality and accuracy in delivering ing on most oil grades for sale to Asia the Extra Light blend unchanged, commercial payments and process- and the US in July after the nation’s according to the statement. It raised ing transactions in US dollars. energy minister said demand was the premium for Super Light crude Muhannad Kamal, Deputy CEO robust. by 10 cents, to $4.05 a barrel more of ibq commented: “We are proud State-owned Saudi Arabian Oil than the benchmark. Medium crude of being granted this prestigious Co. increased its official selling price will sell at a $1 a barrel discount in award for the second year in a row for Arab Light crude by 35 cents a July, 30 cents higher than in June, in doing business with Citi. It is a barrel to 60 cents more than the according to the statement. strong acknowledgment of the effi- regional benchmark for sales to Asia, The company also increased ciency of our operations vis-à-vis it said in an e-mailed statement. The pricing for USbuyers on all grades excellent customer service on the company, known as Saudi Aramco, except Extra Light. Arab Light crude payments side and our consistency was expected to raise the premium for USbuyers increased by 20 cents over the years.” for shipments of Arab Light crude by a barrel, to 55 cents more than the This award is annually given to 40 cents a barrel to 65 cents a barrel regional benchmark, according to the best-in-class banks by their main more than the benchmark for buy- the statement. Aramco deepened The officials of International Bank of Qatar at award ceremony. US Dollar clearer to recognise their ers in Asia, according to the median discounts for all grades to buyers in success in formatting foreign cur- estimate in a Bloomberg survey of Europe, it said in the statement. rency payments. “Straight Through processing throughout the payment has once again succeeded in adopt- “This STP Award from Citi is a testi- five refiners and traders in the region For an interview with Al-Falih Processing” means that the pay- process. Accuracy in transactions is ing measures in relation to STP of mony to ibq’s operational excellence last week. on the success of OPEC’s strategy, ments sent to the bank for clearing one of the main criteria for Citi when customers’ international electronic and efficiency and showcases how Oil has rallied about 80 percent click here. Saudi Arabia pumped by its correspondents are being proc- choosing winners of the award. payment transfers that fully comply crucial STP is to the Bank’s customer since January, making ministers 10.27 million barrels a day in April, essed automatically without human Mohsin Almahdi, Director - Cor- with Citi’s rigorous correspondent service. of the Organization of Petroleum according to data compiled by involvement. The award is based respondent Banking Group at Citi banking and processing accuracy The Bank is thriving to ensure Exporting Countries confident that Bloomberg. It produced a record on ibq’s state-of-the-art in-house said: “We are pleased to award ibq criteria.” fast, accurate and reliable execution their two-year strategy of trying average of 10.2 million barrels daily payments architecture and reflects for its state-of-the-art international Abeer Al Emadi, Head of Opera- of payment instructions through con- to win market share is working. last year, it said in its annual review. the Bank’s consistently high SWIFT ‘straight-through-processing’ (STP) tions at ibq, stressed the importance tinuous investment in technology and OPEC agreed on Thursday to stick Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister standards, which facilitate automated electronic payment services. ibq of customer service in this regard: people.” to its policy of unfettered production Khalid Al-Falih said that demand with ministers united in their opti- is robust and that non-OPEC sup- mism that oil markets are improving. ply is declining. Global demand is The July pricing sets Aramco’s light expected to expand by 1.2 million crude grades at the highest levels for barrels a day this year after grow- Alfardan gives exclusive Asia since at least September 2014, ing 1.5 million barrels a day last year, before OPEC adopted its market according to OPEC’s final press state- share strategy. ment on Thursday. “This shows that they’re getting Middle Eastern producers are offers during Ramadan more bullish on demand,” Robin competing increasingly with car- Mills, chief executive officer at con- goes from Latin America, North sultant Qamar Energy in Dubai and a Africa and Russia for buyers in Asia, The Peninsula the popular BMW X Models will non-resident fellow at the Brookings its largest market. enjoy a host of benefits including a BMW service package for 5 years or 60,000kms (whichever comes DOHA: Alfardan Automobiles, the first) and a warranty up to 5 years Morocco plans flexible currency system official importer of BMW Group in or 200,000kms (whichever comes Qatar, has launched a host of new first). Additionally, a Lifestyle and and exclusive offers during the Accessories voucher will be part Reuters Holy Month of Ramadan. Aligning of the package. The BMW X Models itself along the Month of Giving for are offered with full comprehensive Automobiles is also offering its existing said: “We always look at ways to give another year, Alfardan Automobiles insurance, 24/7 Roadside assistance. and new customers the opportunity back to our loyal customers and those ABU DHABI: Morocco is aiming to introduce a flexible currency exchange has something to offer for every cus- Celebrating four decades of pro- to own the popular BMW 3 Series considering to join the Alfardan Auto- system in the early part of 2017, its central bank governor said yesterday. tomer looking to own their favourite duction in 2015, the BMW 3 Series sedan with BMW Service Inclusive 3 mobiles family. The Holy Month of “We are considering the move currently from fixed exchange rate to a BMW model. is the world’s most successful years/60,000km (whichever comes Ramadan is a great period for us to flexible exchange rate,” Abdellatif Jouahri told reporters on the sidelines of For those seeking a splen- model series in this premium seg- first) and a warranty up to 3 years/ offer exclusive deals and servicing an Arab finance ministers event. did hybrid in off-road terrain and ment, and has proved to be a popular unlimited mileage. packages in order to show our appre- Jouahri said that the country would be working with a technical mis- style, BMW Group’s X line-up has model for Qatari’s over the years. In Ihab Allam (pictured), General ciation and gratitude to those loyal to sion from the International Monetary Fund during the second half of this something to offer. Customers of line with the Holy Month, Alfardan Manager of Alfardan Automobiles, us and the BMW brand.” year as part of introducing the currency move. BUSINESS MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 23 Gulf investors hold back from UK property deals

Reuters on making an investment today decide to leave the EU,” the official If Britain votes to leave “then you through its Wren House Infrastruc- because of Brexit,” said Seth, who said. “We think that there will be a are going to see a big hit to invest- ture Management arm set up in 2013. While the precise is based in Dubai, referring to pri- negative impact on our investments ments”, said a senior Qatari banker Uncertainties about the legal and impact on Gulf vate Gulf investors in residential real in the UK because the selling (prices) who does business with sovereign and regulatory framework that would DUBAI/LONDON: Gulf Arab inves- estate. He said investors were still will go down and the banks in Eng- private investors. He said investors result from a Brexit is a worry for any tors, some of the biggest buyers of investments is researching opportunities and dis- land will face some difficulties.” were still working on deals with- large investor in Britain, said Fabio British real estate, are holding back unclear, overall flows cussing them with his company, but Asked to comment on Gulf inves- out finalising them until the picture Scacciavillani, chief economist at from new deals because they fear a not finalising deals. tor concerns, Tobias Ellwood, a British becomes clear. “They are watching Oman Investment Fund, which SWFI property price slump if Britain leaves of foreign capital While the precise impact on Gulf Foreign Office minister, said the EU to see what happens, but people are says has $6bn under management. the European Union, according to into commercial investments is unclear, overall flows referendum was a significant event continuing to work on new things as “If the region’s sovereign wealth legal and investment sources. real estate in Britain of foreign capital into commercial that had been discussed as part of they take months to get done.” funds have invested in UK assets Sovereign and private investors real estate in Britain stopped in the regular bi-lateral engagements cov- The QIA has $256bn of assets they would be rightfully concerned from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and stopped in the first three months of 2016, Bank of ering a wide variety of areas. under management globally, accord- for their long-term returns outlook,” the United Arab Emirates have been first three months England Governor Mark Carney said “But (it) has not been raised in any ing to the Sovereign Wealth Fund he said, adding most would put their prolific buyers of British assets in the in April. Business investment in the form in relation to impact on invest- Institute (SWFI). It has at least $7bn decisions on hold until after the vote. past decade, snapping up billions of of 2016, Bank of country also fell in early 2016, statis- ment opportunities, which go from directly invested in equities traded on “Brexit implies a long and poten- dollars worth of property, mostly in England Governor tics showed this week. Gulf investors strength to strength,” he told Reuters the London Stock Exchange, in which tially thorny period of adjustment as London. also have broader worries about their in Qatar’s capital Doha on May 21. it also holds a 10.3 percent stake, the UK will need to negotiate trade “Sovereign wealth funds are con- Mark Carney said in investments in other sectors and how Qatar is one of the most high- according to Thomson Reuters data. relationships.” cerned that Brexit is taking its toll on April. a possible Brexit in a June 23 EU ref- profile investors in London, owning Kuwait Investment Authority, A report published by Britain’s the property market in London,” said erendum could affect the British landmarks such as the Shard sky- which has $592bn in assets under Treasury in April predicted foreign a London-based lawyer who works economy, the sources said. scraper, Harrods department store management according to SWFI, is direct investment into the country with some of the largest Gulf funds. Gulf family businesses and pri- A YouGov poll for the Times news- and Olympic Village, as well as lux- also a major investor though its Lon- would be between 10 and 26 percent He declined to be named, citing the vate investors are heavily involved in paper showed an even split between ury hotels. It also leads a consortium don-based Kuwait Investment Office. lower after fifteen years if it left the confidential nature of his work. “The London real estate. Investors from the “Remain” and “Leave” voters on that bought the owner of the Canary In 2013 it said the fund had more than EU, compared to where it would be situation will further deteriorate if UAE accounted for more than 20 per- Wednesday. There is no suggestion Wharf financial district last year. doubled its investment in Britain over if it stayed in. there’s a Brexit vote.” cent of buy-to-let property sales in the long-term investors from the Gulf will While the Qatar Investment the previous 10 years to more than All Gulf Arab countries are con- The value of residential property UK in 2015, said Amit Seth, the Middle exit assets en masse if Britain votes Authority wealth fund has been diver- $24bn. cerned about the prospect of an “out” in upmarket areas popular among East and North Africa head of inter- out, but many are worried about sifying its portfolio away from Europe Like Qatar, Kuwait owns London vote, said a Saudi businessman who Gulf investors - including Chelsea, national residential developments at the impact on portfolios and wider towards more investments in the United landmarks such as the More One riv- meets regularly with senior Gulf offi- South Kensington and Knightsbridge London-focused real estate agency economic effects, a senior Gulf gov- States and Asia in the last couple of erside development which houses the cials. He said the British government - fell between 3.5 and 7.5 percent on Chestertons. ernment official said. years, it is still heavily invested in Brit- headquarters of the mayor, as well had been informed unofficially at sev- the year in May, according to estate “At the moment it seems clear “Of course we are worried about ain and holds stakes in Barclays, Royal as buildings in Canary Wharf. It has eral levels about the concerns. An exit agent Knight Frank. people are little bit more sceptical what will come next if the British Dutch Shell and Sainsbury’s. focused on infrastructure investments would affect investments, he added. Gulf Air’s inaugural Dhaka flight touches down Mannai Corp set to

The Peninsula acquire 51% stake

MANAMA: Gulf Air, the national in Gfi Informatique carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, celebrated the airline’s inaugural 5 weekly service to and from Dhaka, the capital of the People’s Republic The Peninsula Its largest division — Mannai ICT — of Bangladesh. is Qatar’s leadingSystems Integrator. Gulf Air flight GF248 was wel- With its highly qualified workforce comed into Hazrat Shahjalal of close to 1,000 IT professionals International Airport in Dhaka, DOHA: Mannai Corporation set to it is supporting blue-chip enter- the biggest airport in Bangladesh, acquire controlling stake (51 percent) prises, SMEs and the public sector with a water cannon salute and, in Gfi Informatique. in enhancing their IT infrastructure upon arrival, a celebratory event Gfi Informatique (Gfi), an IT con- and technological capabilities in line was held in the airport that saw glomerate, has revenues close to with Qatar’s National Vision 2030. the attendance of various digni- €900m and employs around 12,000 Holding superior accredita- taries, Gulf Air flight’s captain and IT professionals in France and other tion status with its international crew, Gulf Air’s Country Manager to countries. Gfi is a major player in technology vendors, Mannai ICT Bangladesh Hussain Ghuloom and value-added IT services and software is providing integrated end-to-end a number of local media and travel in Europe, and occupies a strategic solutions throughout the entire tech- industry representatives, alongside position in its differentiated approach nology stack. Starting from passive official Hazrat Shahjalal Interna- to global firms and niche entities. networking, to active networking, tional Airport officials. Gfi currently has 8 shared serv- over servers, storage & virtuali- Serving 7 destinations in Paki- ice centres, 4 of which is in France zation, as well as security & cloud Gulf Air representatives and Dhaka Airport officials celebrating the launch of the airline’s inaugural flight stan and 6 in India, Gulf Air’s Dhaka and the rest in Spain, Portugal, offerings these integrated IT solu- service enhances the airline’s exist- to Dhaka. Morocco and Poland. The Group has tions stretch right into the sphere ing Indian Subcontinent operations airline’s hub, Bahrain International Falcon Gold business class seats and 24 hour Worldwide Contact Centre over 40 offices in France and further of large software implementation providing strong connectivity to Airport. Gulf Air’s 5 weekly flights 120 economy class seats. on (+973) 17373737, or through any presence in 8 additional countries. projects and the development of cus- destinations across Gulf Air’s Mid- to Dhaka are operated by an Air- Flights can be booked online at Gulf Air sales offices and approved Since 2009, Gfi has successfully tomised software suites, including dle East network and beyond via the bus A320 aircraft with a total of 16 gulfair.com, by calling the airline’s travel agencies. followed a strategy designed to make mobile applications. its services and software offerings Mannai ICT has received stand out and move up the value numerous awards, including 2015 chain. Backed by a clear and proven Oracle Specialised Partner of the Year strategy, Gfi has launched a new - Applications – Global, 2015 Ora- phase in its growth, which is driven cle Specialised Partner of the Year Toyota’s New Prius by the digital revolution. Gfi plans - Applications – EMEA and HP Enter- to increase the value addition of its prise Partner of the Year - Middle East combined services/software offer- 2015 (Third Year in a Row — 2013, 2014 ing with innovation and creation of & 2015), Cisco Gold Certified Partner – wins admirers intellectual property. Gfi is also plan- 2015 & Cisco Master Security Partner ning to expand its geographical foot – 2015. It is also providing sophisti- print beyond Europe. cated GIS and GDS solutions to Qatar The Peninsula The new Prius is about far more Mannai Corporation Group on behalf of its global partners Esri than the exceptional fuel efficiency CEOand Director Alekh Grewal, and Travelport. that comes with hybrid technol- said: “This acquisition is in line with With its innovative service ogy. The ample torque also delivers Mannai Corporation’s stated objec- delivery concept and its focus DOHA: The amazing New Prius has exhilarating acceleration that belies tive of growing its business through on quality and execution Mannai finally arrived. The world is heav- the engine’s 1.8-litre displacement. diversifying its earnings interna- ICT’s ongoing success is rooted in a ily praising Toyota’s latest release, Without a doubt, the Prius represents tionally. Mannai Corporation’s IT business model that puts customer which is more advanced than any- the pinnacle of hybrid technology together in a way that is almost eerily the name Prius means “to go before,” operations in Qatar and India pro- requirements first. Mannai ICT is one could have imagined. Here in and a showcase for new, relevant smooth. The steering wheel responds and it is in the DNA of the Prius to con- vide a complementary platform conscious of the fact that its peo- the Middle East, the introduction of technologies from Toyota that raise with precision in the hands as the stantly push the limits of the human for Gfi’sexpansion into these mar- ple’s skills and commitment and its the Prius is likely to change percep- levels of driving performance, con- Prius goes exactly where you want it imagination. kets. Being a long-term shareholder, customers’ and business partners’ tions about environmentally friendly venience and comfort. to go, rounding the turns with delight- It is no surprise that the hybrid Mannai Corporation aims to accel- trust are its greatest assets. Care vehicles while adding a new look to The design of the Prius isn’t the ful handling accuracy. technology in the Prius delivers out- erate Gfi’s growth and international for these assets and all legitimate the city streets. only thing turning heads. The latest With its maiden entry into the standing environmental performance, expansion strategy.” stakeholder interests are subsumed The latest Prius model finally model was developed to represent Middle East, drivers here are sure to but the ‘Beautiful Hybrid’ develop- Mannai Corporation already has in the Mannai Way, an ethical made its Middle East debut in Feb- the first wave of Toyota New Global be pleasantly surprised and over- ment concept takes it to the next level a very strong footprint in informa- framework, which is guiding the ruary 2016, and doubtless the Architecture (TNGA)—the company’s whelmingly satisfied by the entire in terms of design and driving per- tion and communication technology. company’s business conduct. conversation will immediately turn latest auto- making innovation that driving experience. formance as well—drawing praise to the hybrid system at its heart. The makes a fresh start by putting the joy The prototype for the Prius was from around the globe. Toyota Hybrid System combines a of driving above all else. unveiled in September 2015 in Las The development team wanted to gasoline engine and electric motor Just imagine pressing the accel- Vegas. Murmurs of wonder and give the world fresh value built on cut- to create an unparalleled environ- erator and silently gaining speed amazement at its revolutionary ting-edge hybrid technology, with a Gaelectric gets financing mental performance as well as an with just the motor. Before you know new design could be heard bubbling design that speaks to the heart, fun- impressive driving experience. it, the engine and motor are working through the media crowds that gath- to-drive handling, and a socially ered to see it suspended from wires as responsible presence. A beautiful car Bloomberg it literally descended onto the stage. for a more beautiful earth—the Prius Media reports in the Middle East once again ushers us into the future. have also commented on the dra- What fresh revolution will the new LONDON: Gaelectric Holdings Plc got financing for a $107m portfolio of matic makeover of the Prius which has Prius bring? It starts with the voices of wind power plants in Northern Ireland. Financing includes 67m pounds of resulted in an edgy, emotional styl- individuals who experience the vehi- senior debt arranged by Norddeutsche Landesbank Gironzentrale, with most ing that completely overturns people’s cle for the first time. And now it’s your of it due in 18 years, Dublin, Ireland-based Gaelectric said in an e-mailed established notions. turn to join in. Go see a Prius up close, statement. It declined to disclose the lenders. Toyota’s commitment to such a test drive it, and experience its true The portfolio is expected to have a total installed capacity of 51.5 meg- memorable, cutting-edge design and value for yourself. The car that has awatts of power by the end of the year, the company said. The projects the impetus for moving forward with charmed people all over the world is include plants in Monnaboy, Cloonty, Inishative, Corby Knowe and Creg- it came from none other than the pio- sure to capture the hearts of those in ganconroe, all in Northern Ireland. Germany’s Enercon GmbH is supplying neering hybrid vehicle itself. In fact, the Middle East as well. the turbines, it said. 24 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 BUSINESS

Bag it NextEra’s pursuit Oil price plasters over of $2.6bn Hawaii deal goes Opec rifts — for now past deadline Bloomberg

This was helped by the fact that was a very good unity between Opec Opec’s Riyadh-driven strategy of members,” Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan SAN FRANCISCO: NextEra Energy Opec expressed keeping pumping oil at high levels Zanganeh said, with no signs that Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Indus- confidence that the in order to maintain market share any members would “do something tries Inc. haven’t terminated their and squeeze competitors despite low against each other to destabilise the $2.6bn merger agreement after the crisis of the past two prices appears, at last, to be working. market”. island state missed a deadline for years that saw prices With dozens of US shale oil pro- This better mood allowed Opec deciding whether to approve the ducers going bankrupt, non-Opec to finally name a new secretary gen- transaction. plunge and splits output is forecast to fall and prices eral. Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo The accord for NextEra to take emerge was now have recovered to around $50, a six- will replace long-serving Abdullah over Hawaiian Electric requires month high, having tumbled from El Badri of Libya, who soldiered on action by one of the parties to end over. over $100 in 2014 to almost $25 in in the job for years as OPEC mem- it and didn’t automatically lapse January. bers could not concur on a successor. on their June 3 target date, the At the same time, the Interna- However, the 13-nation cartel companies said in a statement AFP tional Energy Agency predicts the -- 14 from July 1 with Gabon join- Saturday. Hawaii Public Utilities stubborn global supply glut — which ing — didn’t manage to agree a Commission Chair Randy Iwase sparked the vicious price collapse new collective output ceiling, hav- said Friday that he hoped the — would “shrink dramatically” this ing scrapped its previous one at the three-member panel would issue VIENNA: Opec looks to be in a hap- year. Demand also looks healthy. This December meeting. a ruling on the deal this month. pier place with oil prices recovering, recovery is coming just in time, too, Experts said that the Saudis pro- The board is reviewing an but its inability to agree an output with years of low prices having hit posed reinstating one but that the internal staff recommendation ceiling to restrain the flow of crude investment in new wells and tech- Iranians baulked. Zanganeh said on the transaction, Iwase said in betrays lingering divisions that could nologies, creating concerns about that setting a collective Opec ceiling a telephone interview. He declined spell trouble ahead, analysts warn. possible supply problems in the “means nothing” without agreeing to comment on what action the Meeting in Vienna on Thursday, future. production quotas for members. staff proposed. Doubts are swirl- the Organisation of the Petroleum “You have to have stronger oil But for RBC’s Croft, a ceiling ing about whether the companies Exporting Countries expressed con- prices. Investment is so low now, it would be “a positive sign that down will be able to close on a trans- fidence that the crisis of the past two has been shrinking for two years. the road at some point they will be action they announced more than years that saw prices plunge and This has never happened before,” involved in more active market man- 18 months ago. The takeover has splits emerge was now over. Bill Farren-Price of Petroleum Pol- agement. Right now we have had 18 drawn intense opposition among It said that since December, icy Intelligence (PPI) said. months of essentially Opec being local officials, including Governor “crude oil prices have risen by more The meeting also saw regional adrift.” David Ige, a Democrat, who has than 80 percent, supply and demand rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran — which Jason Schenker, president of questioned NextEra’s commitment (has been) converging and oil and is ramping up output after nuclear Prestige Economics, agreed, telling to Hawaii’s goal of sourcing all of producer stock levels in the OECD sanctions were lifted this year and AFP that the lack of ceiling “throws its power from renewable sources have recently shown moderation.” adding to pressure on the price — into question their efficacy to operate by 2045. According to Helima Croft at RBC appearing to bury the hatchet, in regarding physical production levels”. NextEra and Hawaiian Electric Capital Markets, the mood at the bi- Vienna at least. Ole Hansen at Saxo Bank said agreed to June 3 as a deadline after annual gathering was a “lot more Saudi Arabia “made it very that OPEC’s “struggle to agree on which either company could walk upbeat” than the acrimonious last clear that they have no intention of much apart from (the) status quo” away from the deal. A NextEra exit meeting in December. swamping the market with oil as a means that prices could “once would trigger a payment of about Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister means of hurting Iran economically again turn towards the downside”. $95 million, Hawaiian Electric Khaled Al Falih, newly appointed through a lower oil price,” said Bjarne “With key technical levels currently executives told investors May 4. by the kingdom’s dynamic Deputy Schieldrop at SEB Markets. This sig- being tested there is a raised risk of “That deadline does not apply Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal- nalled that there is no “internal a deeper correction,” Hansen said. to us,” Iwase said. “It’s not even Women shopping for bags inside a market in Hanoi, yesterday. man, went on a “charm offensive” to dogfight,” Schieldrop said. And this in turn, could reignite divi- something in our psyche. That’s a “mend fences,” Croft said. “I believe that this time there sions within the group. deadline between the two parties and it doesn’t affect us at all.” Iwase said commission- ers were reviewing hundreds of thousands of pages of documents including briefs and transcripts of testimony. “We are still looking at Airbus presents 3D-printed mini aircraft it,” he said. Hawaiian Electric Chief Exec- utive Officer Constance Lau said AFP money. “This is a test of what’s possi- to make parts for their huge passenger parts manufacturing,” said Alain aviation—with air traffic expected on the investor call last month ble with 3D printing technology,” said jets the A350 and B787 Dreamliner. Charmeau, head of Airbus Safran to double in the next 20 years—“the that the merger agreement could Detlev Konigorski, who was in charge “The printed pieces have the Launchers. decisive issue is radical technical “continue on” beyond the June 3 of developing Thor for Airbus, speak- advantage of requiring no tools and Partially as a result of this, the innovation in a relatively short time,” deadline. NextEra has said it sup- BERLIN: Dwarfed by huge jets all ing at the International Aerospace that they can be made very quickly,” Ariane 6 may have half the price tag said Ralf Fuecks, head of the Hein- ports Hawaii’s clean energy goals around, the mini-plane Thor was Exhibition and Air Show at Berlin’s said Jens Henzler of Bavaria-based of its predecessor Ariane 5. rich Boell foundation think tank of and views the state as a testing nonetheless an eye-catcher at the southern Schoenefeld airport. Hofmann Innovation Group, which The new 3D printers can make the German Green Party. ground for a transition to solar Berlin air show this week — the “We want to see if we can speed specialises in the new technology. pieces up to 40 centimetres (15 inches) 3D printing is certain to play a and wind power and away from small Airbus marvel is the world’s up the development process by using The metal parts produced can long and is of most use in particularly major role in this, he said at a con- fossil fuels. Hawaiian Electric rose first 3D-printed aircraft. 3D printing not just for individual also be 30-50 percent lighter than complex designs. ference at the ILA event with Airbus 1.1 percent to $33.31 at the close in Windowless, weighing in at just parts but for an entire system.” in the past, and there is almost zero Charmeau said Airbus is testing president Tom Enders. New York on Friday. Juno Beach, 21kg and less than four metres (13 In Thor, the only parts that are manufacturing waste, added Henzler, how to print an injection assembly for The air travel industry is already Florida-based NextEra added 1.7 feet) long, the drone Thor—short for not printed from a substance called who is managing director for Hof- an engine that is now assembled from convinced of the benefits, according percent to $121. 80. “Test of High-tech Objectives in Real- polyamide are the electrical elements. mann industrial prototyping. 270 individual pieces. to a survey of some 102 aviation sector Hawaiian Electric, based in ity”—resembles a large, white model The little plane “flies beautifully, The sky is not the limit for the “With 3D printing, it has just three players by German high-tech feder- Honolulu, serves 95 percent of airplane. it is very stable,” said its chief engi- technology—engineers also plan to parts,” he said to reporters while ation Bitkom. the state’s population. With the Yet to the European aerospace neer Gunnar Haase, who conducted use it in space. explaining about it. Some 70 percent of respond- Hawaiian Electric deal dragging giant Airbus, the small pilotless pro- Thor’s inaugural flight last Novem- The future Ariane 6 rocket of Aside from the costs savings, 3D ents believed that by 2030 aircraft out, NextEra recently renewed its peller aircraft is a pioneer that offers ber near the northern German city European space agency ESA, set to printing also promises ecological ben- spare parts will be printed directly interest in buying the Oncor Elec- a taste of things to come—an aviation of Hamburg. blast off from 2020, is set to feature efits as lighter jets use less fuel and at airports, and 51 percent expect that tric unit of Texas-based Energy future when 3D printing technol- Airbus and its US rival Boeing many printed pieces. spew out fewer pollutants. entire planes will by then be manu- Future Holdings Corp., two people ogy promises to save time, fuel and are already using 3D printing, notably “It brings big cost reductions on To reducing carbon emissions in factured by 3D printing. familiar with the talks said May 12.

On demand Bond traders tell Fed to wait until December after job data stun

Bloomberg in a wager that policy makers won’t The report also led traders to want decisions on rates to get caught price in fewer Fed hikes for the years up in electoral politics. ahead. In two years, the effective fed “The Fed will certainly, through funds rate will probably rise to just NEW YORK: For bond traders, the speeches, try to keep July in play,” 0.83 percent, from 0.37 percent now, stalling US job market means the said Scott Buchta, head of fixed- according to Bloomberg data using Federal Reserve will probably lift income strategy at Brean Capital overnight index swaps. That implies interest rates just once this year, in LLC in New York. “They are still less than two quarter-point increases December. data-dependent, but I don’t know to the Fed’s range in that period. The nation’s employers added how likely they will be to raise rates In their latest quarterly projec- workers at the slowest pace in almost too close to the presidential election. tions, Fed officials in March cut their six years in May, government data So there is a shot we get one more forecasts for 2016 rate increases to showed Friday. The report fueled a hike this year, but it’s not quite a done two from four, after liftoff from near surge in Treasuries, driving yields on deal.” zero in December. two-year notes down the most since The probability of a quarter-point Most strategists aren’t ready to September and all but erasing bets hike in June plunged below 5 per- fully dismiss a July tightening, if cer- on a rate increase at the Fed’s June cent Friday, from 22 percent June 2, tain conditions are met. One is that 14-15 meeting. data compiled by Bloomberg show. It economic data need to signal job- Though central bankers have sig- was 30 percent a week ago, after Fed market strength. The second is that naled that the following gathering, in Chair Janet Yellen said officials will financial markets must get past the July, might also be in play, derivatives raise rates “probably in the coming U.K.’s June 23 referendum on Euro- traders are dubious of that timing as months” as they look for evidence of pean Union membership, dubbed well. The market-implied probability labor-market strength and a pickup Brexit. “July could still happen if of a July boost dropped by about half in inflation. payrolls come around next month, Friday, to below 30 percent. For the The addition of 38,000 work- positive data continues and depend- following meetings, the US presiden- ers last month, the smallest gain ing on what happens with Brexit,” Traders sorting out papayas at a market in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta. tial election starts to enter the mix. since 2010, was less than the most said Justin Lederer, an interest-rate Some traders are looking past the pessimistic forecast in a Bloomberg strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald LP, one September and November gatherings, survey. of the 23 primary dealers. BUSINESS MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 25 World’s biggest wealth fund faces dividend hit

Bloomberg proportion as other owners, mean- Analysts say a large proportion he said. Norway’s overall budget is $987 million this year, or 8.2bn kroner ing its cash payout will be reduced. of shareholders will probably opt unlikely to be affected, he said. -- potentially increasing withdraw- This possibility wasn’t This possibility wasn’t apparent for stock given the 5 percent price The collapse of oil prices since als from the wealth fund by a similar apparent in Norway’s in Norway’s revised budget published discount. 2014 has put Norway at a crossroads, amount. Christian Yggeseth, an ana- OSLO: Norway’s first-ever with- last month, with the government esti- “Everyone should take the scrip, forcing the government to make its lyst at Arctic Securities, anticipates revised budget drawal from its $860bn sovereign mating an unchanged income inflow it’s a no-brainer,” said Teodor Sveen first withdrawal from the fund some that more than 50 percent will opt for published last month, wealth may be bigger than planned. this year of 15.4bn kroner ($1.9bn). Nilsen, an analyst at Swedbank AB in two decades after it was created. the scrip. Statoil has cut investments Here’s why: The government has Less income means more pressure Oslo. “I’d be very surprised if less than The Conservative-led adminis- by 35 percent from a peak of $20bn with the government yet to account for a potential decline on Norway to increase withdrawals 70 percent of the shareholders opt for tration last year initially expected to in 2014 after oil prices sank. estimating an in payouts from Statoil ASA, of which from the wealth fund than the 84.2bn it.” A smaller Statoil dividend may withdraw less than 4bn kroner, but The company introduced the it owns 67 percent. The oil producer kroner already flagged. impact the “net transfer between the raised that forecast more than 20-fold scrip dividend in a bid to further bol- unchanged income has introduced a scrip dividend, The extent of those adjustments fund and the state budget,” Paal Bjoer- in May. ster cash flow while avoiding cutting inflow this year of allowing investors to take stock in- may be revealed by the end of the nestad, state secretary at the Finance If Swedbank’s Sveen Nilsen is payouts outright. The board intends lieu of cash. Norway has committed week as the subscription period for Ministry, said in an e-mail. The gov- right, and cash payouts are reduced to maintain the amount at 22 cents 15.4bn kroner. to keeping its stake intact and will new shares issued for the fourth- ernment will adjust the budget once it by at least 70 percent, the govern- a share for all dividends payable in have to accept shares in the same quarter dividend ends on June 10. has the details on the scrip program, ment’s income would sink by about 2016, Statoil has said. Oil sheen spotted on Columbia River after Oregon crude-train derailment

Bloomberg Megantic disaster in Quebec. Most of at 12:20pm local time on Friday, and the US crude shipped by train comes oil was released from at least one from North Dakota’s Bakken shale railcar, Union Pacific said in an region, which lacks enough pipelines e-mailed statement. Firefighters and UNITED STATES: Washington state to handle all the local output. hazardous materials experts were officials have spotted a small sheen Justin Jacobs, a spokesman for responding to the incident, accord- of oil on the Columbia River after a Union Pacific, didn’t immediately ing to the railroad. The train was Union Pacific Corp train carrying a respond to phone and e-mailed headed to the TrailStone Refinery in load of Bakken crude derailed near messages seeking comment on the Tacoma, refinery spokeswoman Mar- Mosier, Oregon, according to the current status of the derailment. The cia Nielsen said Friday in an e-mail. Associated Press. FRA’s press office couldn’t be reached Oil-train accidents have spurred Access to the site remains lim- for comment. demands by some state and local ited as the train continues to cool The incident “illustrates the need legislators to bolster emergency off following a fire that broke out for safer rail transport and better response efforts. A single weekend after Friday’s accident, the Federal preparedness for disasters such as in November 2015 saw two trains Rail Administration said yesterday these,” Representative Earl Blume- derail in Wisconsin. The first spilled in a Twitter post. No injuries were nauer, an Oregon Democrat, said about 20,000 gallons of ethanol into reported after at least 11 of the 96 in a statement posted Friday on his the Mississippi River, followed a day cars on the train came off the tracks. website. “Without change, this will later by a spill of about 1,000 gal- This file picture shows a reproduction of an old poster at the ‘Nest’, the new museum of Swiss food giant The Washington state Ecology happen again. These risks are unac- lons of North Dakota Bakken crude. Department conducted a flyover to ceptable, and we must take action The 2013 Quebec derailment killed 47 Nestle during its opening in Vevey, Western Switzerland. asses the extent of the sheen, and the to prevent them.” Blumenauer also people. The plunge in global oil prices agency has oil booms in place that wrote that “Oregon fire departments also has put pressure on the industry are capturing the crude, reported. are on record saying they don’t have because using rail for transportation The FRA had said earlier Saturday the resources to deal with oil train made sense for refiners when US- Nestle ramps up online sales that there were no reports of oil on fires.” produced crude was significantly the river from the train, which orig- According to the FRA’s tweets, cheaper than imported. inated in Eastport, Idaho, and was the quarter-mile (400-metre) evac- Even so, rail transport of crude is carrying crude from North Dakota uation at the derailment site is likely to continue for some time. The to bolster turnaround in China to Tacoma, Washington. expected to be lifted later Satur- number of railcars carrying crude oil Friday’s derailment kept alive day, and investigators are working in the US grew by more than 4,000 the scrutiny of oil-by-rail shipments with the Environmental Protection percent between 2008 and 2013, with Bloomberg discerning and they are the fastest billion francs ($7.3bn) last year, mak- following a series of high-profile Agency, the US Coast Guard and first additional increases in 2014, accord- in the world at adopting new technol- ing it the company’s second-biggest crashes dating to the deadly 2013 Lac responders. The derailment occurred ing to some estimates. ogy,” she said at an event in Beijing to market. E-commerce sales in China launch the campaign and mark the doubled, fueling the growth. Nestle SHANGHAI: Nestle SA is banking on company’s 150th anniversary. Also doesn’t break the figures out for the e-commerce sales to revive its strug- present was Alibaba Chief Executive market. Online sales were 3.9 per- gling Chinese business, as the Swiss Officer Daniel Zhang. cent of total sales worldwide in 2015. Luxurious bath food company grapples with slowing Nestle’s growth in China has Jakobi said that Nestle’s e-com- growth and new shopping trends in slowed in the past few years as the merce business in China has the world’s largest consumer market. company didn’t react quickly enough triple-digit growth rates and is on The maker of KitKat chocolates to trends like e-commerce and average already more profitable than and Yinlu peanut milk yesterday healthier eating, which led shoppers brick-and-mortar retail. began selling on Alibaba Group to shun some packaged-food offer- “Going heavily into e-commerce Holding Ltd.’s Tmall.com portal 67 ings. Its Yinlu brand, which makes is part of the strategy they need to brands it has never offered in China peanut milk and a rice porridge pursue to win back market share and aren’t available in shops, includ- called congee, has declined as con- in China,” said Patrik Lang, head of ing Nido milk powder and Damak sumers shift to premium products. equity research at Julius Baer Group chocolates. “We have to make sure that the Ltd. “They have everything they need The online experimentation is needs of the consumers today are to be successful in China but they part of an e-commerce fair com- faster addressed in this market, were behind the curve on strategy memorating the company’s 150th faster than any other market. So we and product offering.” anniversary that features deep dis- have been catching up in the last two Nestle has missed its long-term counts in more than 150 products on years,” said Reinhold Jakobi, man- sales targets for four years, increasing Tmall.com. It will run for an initial aging director of Nestle’s food and pressure on Chief Executive Officer period of six months. Nestle wants beverage business in Greater China. Paul Bulcke to find new areas of to take advantage of the digital surge “We have the benefit of stability, “ growth as he enters the home stretch that will see China’s e-commerce Martello said. “We have a stable, con- of his tenure. sales surpass the US and Europe sistent core but when we can pull off It has been seeking expansion combined by 2018, said Wan Ling (e-commerce) events like this, that’s and acquisitions in skin health and A picture taken from the roof of a swimming pool at the luxury Athens Ledra Hotel, shows a view of Martello, head of Nestle’s Asian and where the magic happens.” medical nutrition to reduce the the Acropolis of Athens. African businesses. Nestle’s sales from the greater company’s reliance on the grow- “Chinese consumers are China region rose 6 percent to 7.1 challenged packaged food industry. Investors add Brexit clauses to property deals before EU vote

Reuters precautions, seeking language in con- firms Reuters spoke to said they had to exchange contracts until July 6 Brexit clauses were from foreign and property at law firm Pinsent tracts to ensure that Brexit will not used Brexit clauses, brokered a deal and could withdraw their offer and investors who were concerned that Masons LLP, said some clauses, rather be considered a “material adverse with such a clause or had requests get their deposits back if they were an “Out” vote could weaken sterling, than giving the buyer the right to walk change” that would annul a deal. to include them in at least one deal. unhappy with the outcome of the vote, as well as reduce appetite for leasing away or renegotiate, would automat- LONDON: Commercial property Paul Firth, head of real estate at Some of the others said they had seen said Martin Lent, chief executive of commercial space in Britain. ically reduce the purchase price of a investors are writing clauses into con- law firm Irwin Mitchell LLP, said a sig- them. Prime Minister David Cameron SCM, the development manager for “When it comes to international property in the event of a Brexit vote. tracts giving buyers the right to walk nificant percent of the firm’s “bigger and other politicians supporting the the project by residential developer investors looking to build global or In one deal, the price would be low- away from real estate deals if Britain investment deals” with values rang- campaign to stay in the EU say a vote Oakmayne. European portfolios, we are either ‘on ered by 1m pounds. votes to leave the European Union this ing from 10 to 80m pounds either to leave would damage the economy In commercial property, Brexit hold’ or would use a Brexit clause,” “So they’re factoring in a valua- month, as a way to unfreeze a sec- included Brexit clauses, or purchas- and cause property prices to fall. clauses are more common in higher said Rob Wilkinson, chief executive of tion on the assets based on Brexit.” tor stalled by uncertainty over Brexit. ers had sought to negotiate that they Those campaigning to exit say any value deals where the risks are AEW Europe, which managed prop- Nick Lloyd, national head of cap- Transactions in commercial prop- be included. He said the use of such such threat is overblown and Britain greater, said Andrew Friend, director erty assets in the UK worth about 2.1 ital markets at commercial property erty fell by 40 percent in the first clauses had increased in recent weeks can prosper outside the EU. of a UK property fund at Henderson, billion euros as of March 31. broker Lambert Smith Hampton, said quarter, according to the Bank of as the referendum date draws closer. But whether overblown or not, it one of Europe’s largest investment Melanie Curtis, a real estate part- offering Brexit clauses could also be England, with many buyers and sell- “(Investors) fear that the value and is a risk some buyers seem unwilling managers. ner at law firm K&L Gates LLP, said beneficial for sellers, to secure deals ers waiting to see the outcome of the return on investment properties may to take. Guarantees are being offered “Deals that include these clauses she had worked on a deal with a while fewer transactions are taking June 23 referendum in case an exit decline and that it may not be as good not only for commercial property but tend to be at the higher lot size end of Brexit clause in a commercial prop- place, in anticipation of a potential vote hurts property prices. an investment if Britain withdraws also for homes. An invitation to a May the market and they’re more focused erty transaction worth more than 10 flood of properties returning to the In one example from a commer- from the EU,” he said. 25 launch of some floors of Two Fifty on sectors such as financial office million pounds, in which her firm market if Britain votes to remain in cial transaction seen by Reuters, a Since commercial real estate deals One, a 41-storey luxury apartment space in London, which are more acted on behalf of an overseas buyer. the EU. “Whilst they mitigate down- clause sets a deadline after the vote are usually confidential, it was not tower going up in south London’s sensitive to a Brexit type situation,” “The buyer required a Brexit side risk for buyers, they can be when the buyer would be permitted possible to determine precisely how gentrifying Elephant and Castle dis- said Friend. Brexit clauses are par- clause, as it may reassess its UK attractive to a vendor who wants to to terminate the contract if the refer- common such clauses are. trict, offered buyers a “money back ticularly in demand among overseas investment policy in the event of with- avoid the risks of marketing during endum results in a decision to leave. However, half of the 24 law firms, Brexit guarantee pledge”. Buyers investors. Two lawyers dealing with drawal from the EU.” a potential oversupply of new stock Sellers too are taking legal brokerages and commercial property attending the launch would not have property said most enquiries about James Crookes, head of real estate after the referendum,” said Lloyd. 26 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 9,570.72 0.40 % QE Total Return Index 15,484.78 0.40 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,718.07 0.10 % QE All Share Index 2,677.39 0.19 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,600.32 0.58 % QE All Share Industrials 2,977.63 0.18 % QE All Share Transportation 2,463.43 0.84 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,334.58 0.27 % QE All Share Insurance 4,072.56 0.28 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,054.72 1.39 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,336.89 0.83 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 05-06-2016 Today 02-06-2016 Previous day Index 9,570.72 9,532.60 Change 38.12 39.72 % 0.40 0.41 YTD% 8.23 8.6 Volume 4,770,844 4,819,521 Value (QAR) 160,487,302.35 222,735,210.15 Trades 1,989 3,084 Up 14 | Down 23 | Unchanged 02

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5447.802 -25.761 -0.47 5489.8 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4518.93 -10.47 -0.23 4607.69 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 17873.22 44.93 0.25 18188.8 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 20815.09 185.7 0.9 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6506.77 4.5 0.07 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 36061.56 -173.13 -0.48 36848.02 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 17234.98 166.96 0.98 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2132.82 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.2558 QR 5.3327 Euro QR 4.1040 QR 4.1870 CA$ QR 2.7892 QR 2.8527 Gulf stocks mixed as Swiss Fr QR 3.6936 QR 3.7872 Yen QR 0.0331 QR 0.0338 Aus$ QR 2.6521 QR 2.7194 Ramadan heralds Ind Re QR 0.0533 QR 0.0545 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Peso QR 0.0773 QR 0.0798 trading’s ‘empty period’ SL Re QR 0.0244 QR 0.0249 Taka QR 0.0459 QR 0.0468 Nep Re QR 0.0337 QR 0.0343 Bloomberg & Reuters the Dubai-based head of institutional trade SA Rand QR 0.2317 QR 0.2362 at Mena Corp. Financial Services LLC, one of the United Arab Emirates’ largest brokerages. GOLD AND SILVER DUBAI: Gulf stocks were mixed as trading There are “very few opportunities” in slumped in advance of the holy month of the market, he said. GOLD QR142.8288 per gramme Ramadan, when business across the region Even though Eshraq Properties Co.’s SILVER QR1.8766 per gramme slows. price was unchanged, 89 million shares Dubai’s DFM General Index advanced changed hands, more than any other Kuwait’s SE Price Index and Bahrain’s biggest contributor to the decline, losing 0.7 percent at the close and Abu Dhabi’s company across GCC stock indexes. It BB All Share Index both slipped 0.1 percent, 0.6 percent. ADX General Index climbed 1 percent. The accounted for 75 percent of volume on Abu Oman’s MSM 30 Index was little changed. Investors continue to use arbitrage Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, which tracks Dhabi’s ADX General Index, where inves- Qatari stocks added 0.4 percent with trad- transactions on the stock as a means of 200 of the largest and most liquid stocks tors traded only a third of the gauge’s 61 ing 26 percent below the average. buying dollars amid a foreign-currency Saudi central bank bans in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, members. In Saudi Arabia, Rabigh Refining and shortage in the North African country, slipped 0.3 percent and Saudi Arabia’s Tad- Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. slipped Petrochemical Co., an integrated refining pushing the ratio of the lender’s London- use of options against riyal awul All Share Index fell 1.2 percent. The 1.7 percent. The company known as Taqa company, declined 1.8 percent. It awarded traded shares to 31.75 percent of its total number of shares trading on Dubai’s index said Saeed Hamad Al Dhaheri, executive a 563 million-riyal ($150 million) clean fuel capital. The maximum allowed under the DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s central bank has told banks it was 55 percent below the 20-day average. vice president for business support, will project to KT SpA. Mobile Telecommuni- Egyptian exchange’s rules is 33 percent. is banning the use of options and other derivatives to “This is an empty period,” said Muham- be acting chief operating officer until a cations Co., the company known as Zain speculate against the riyal, in a new effort to reduce mad Shabbir, the Dubai-based head of replacement is found for Edward LaFehr, Saudi, jumped 9.4 percent, the most in HIGHLIGHTS pressure on its currency peg, a senior executive at a equities and funds at Rasmala Investment who is leaving to be closer to his family more than two months. Zain said it refi- SAUDI ARABIA: The index dropped 1.2 Saudi bank told Reuters yesterday. Bank Ltd. “There is general lack of cata- in U.S. nanced a 2.25 billion riyal commercial percent to 6,413 points. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency “wants to make lysts for the market to move. We expect Emirates NBD PJSC, the U.A.E.’s largest loan. DUBAI: The index added 0.7 percent sure that there is no snowball effect against the riyal it to remain sideways until at least early bank by assets, increased 0.5 percent. The One-year forwards for the riyal rose to 3,285 points. in the forwards markets”, the executive said, declining July,” ahead of second-quarter earnings. lender is seeking to buy Barclays Plc’s Egypt 60 points on Friday, the most in more ABU DHABI: The index climbed 1.0 per- to be named because of commercial sensitivities. “So Emerging-market stocks last week operation, according to people familiar than a week, after the kingdom was said cent to 4,296 points. now banks in the country are banned from accepting climbed to a one-month high as expec- with the plan. to order banks to stop selling some prod- QATAR: The index rose 0.4 percent to any options against the riyal.” Non-speculative trade tations for a June interest-rate increase One-year dirham forwards climbed ucts that allow speculators to bet against 9,571 points. in the riyal forwards market is not forbidden, the exec- in the U.S. receded and an inconclusive 22.5 points last week to the highest level its currency peg. Authorities are cracking EGYPT: The index fell 0.7 percent to utive added. OPEC meeting stoked a decline in oil prices. since March, signaling increased bets the down on traders as speculation mounts 7,564 points. The central bank did not respond to a telephone Ramadan, which starts this week, typi- U.A.E. may devalue its currency against the the world’s biggest oil exporter won’t be KUWAIT: The index edged down 0.1 call to its headquarters seeking comment. Its order is a cally heralds a slowdown in trading activity dollar. Governor Mubarak Rashed Al Man- able to maintain the riyal’s fix to the dollar. percent to 5,371 points. renewed attempt to prevent low oil prices, which have across the region as many Muslims fast all soori on Sunday said the country remains In Cairo, Egypt’s EGX 30 Index OMAN: The index edged down 0.02 saddled Saudi Arabia with big state budget and external day and work reduced hours. committed to the peg said and the U.A.E. retreated 0.7 percent. Commercial Inter- percent 5,819 points. deficits, from pressuring the riyal’s three-decade-old Investors are staying on the sidelines as will follow any increase in the U.S. inter- national Bank Egypt, which makes up BAHRAIN: The index edged down 0.1 peg of 3.75 to the US dollar. the holy month begins, said Hisham Khairy, est rate. almost 40 percent of the gauge, was the percent to 1,115 points. World’s most battered market is the worst place to find bargains

Bloomberg to jump back into the $6 trillion market. of state-run media. Now, she spends most of channels that don’t always show up in pub- London at BNP Paribas Investment Partners, “We do not own any A shares,” said Tony her time watching TV. Of the 320,000 yuan lic disclosures. which oversees $592bn. Hann, the London-based head of equities at ($48,860) in her brokerage account, all but Not everyone is concerned about Chi- On the low end, Industrial & Commercial Blackfriars, which oversees about $270m. The 6 percent is parked in cash. “I don’t foresee na’s valuations. While the market’s median Bank of China Ltd. trades at 5.6 times reported BEIJING: It’s going to take more than the firm’s Oriental Focus Fund has outperformed a bull market in the coming year,” Pan said. price-to-earnings ratio is an appealing met- earnings. The nation’s largest lender has world’s deepest stock-market selloff to turn 83 percent of peers this year. “The bull case Brokerage analysts are more upbeat. They ric to some analysts because it downplays dropped 16 percent over the past year amid China into a destination for international bar- seems to be that I can buy at this P/E because still see gains for Shanghai Composite com- the impact of low-priced bank stocks with concern that a surge in non-performing loans gain hunters. Even after a 40 percent tumble someone else will buy it from me at a higher panies, with share-price targets compiled by big index weightings, others prefer an aggre- will erode profitability. Leshi Internet Infor- in the Shanghai Composite Index over the P/E. The biggest risk is that investor psychol- Bloomberg signaling a 13 percent rally over gate measure that gives more influence to the mation & Technology Corp, which boosted past 12 months, valuations for China’s domes- ogy on the mainland changes.” the next 12 months. Potential catalysts for largest companies. On that basis, the Shanghai revenue by more than 90 percent in 2015 and tic A shares are three times as expensive as There’s plenty for investors to be worried gains include this month’s MSCI Inc. decision Composite trades at 16 times reported earn- was one of the darlings of last year’s bubble, every other major market worldwide. The about. After expanding at the weakest pace since on whether to include mainland shares in its ings, cheaper than the S&P 500’s multiple of 19. has a multiple of 175. median price-to-earnings ratio on the nation’s 1990 last year, China’s economy shows few signs international indexes and the anticipated start “China’s actually quite attractive,” said “Some parts of the market are cheap, but exchanges is 59, higher than that of US tech- of recovery. Earnings at Shanghai Composite of an exchange link between Hong Kong and Sam Polyak, a Boston-based money man- perhaps for a good reason,” Morris said. “The nology shares at the height of the dot-com companies have declined by 13 percent since Shenzhen. ager at Fidelity Management & Research Co, parts that you like, with the growth potential, boom in 2000. last June, while corporate defaults are spread- Bulls say the downside for share prices is whose $71m Fidelity Total Emerging Markets you’re paying for that.” One year after China’s equity bub- ing and the yuan is trading near a five-year low. limited by government intervention. China fund invests in A shares through the Shanghai- China’s dual-listed stocks offer perhaps the ble peaked, valuations have yet to fall back The gloomy outlook is a stark contrast to Securities Finance Corp, the agency armed Hong Kong exchange link. He prefers Internet clearest indicator of the persistent disconnect to earth as government intervention keeps the mood this time last year, said Pan Lizhi, a with more than $480bn to prop up the mar- and consumer staples companies, along with between valuations on domestic exchanges stock prices elevated at a time of shrinking 54-year-old retiree in China’s Hunan province. ket last summer, still owns at least $77bn of select industrial firms. and those in international markets. Mainland corporate profits. For money managers at Sil- Like many of the country’s 106 mil- mainland equities, according to exchange fil- Finding bargains in China is difficult shares fetch an average premium of 93 per- vercrest Asset Management and Blackfriars lion individual investors, Pan traded shares ings compiled by Bloomberg. The true scale of because shares with depressed valuations cent over identical equities traded across the Asset Management who predicted last year’s almost every day during the bubble, hoping government support is almost certainly even often have problems, while firms with the border in Hong Kong, with the gap reaching selloff, China’s weak economic growth and to ride a boom fueled by explosive growth bigger, with cash from CSF and other state best prospects are pricey, according to Dan- as high as 634 percent for Luoyang Glass Co., fragile investor sentiment mean it’s too early in margin debt and the official endorsement funds flowing into the market through multiple iel Morris, a senior investment strategist in a producer from Henan province. BUSINESS VIEWS MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 27

As China shops for German firms, one early China’s Silk Road example reassures ambitions face obstacles

By Caroline Copley suppliers. The German firm acts Reuters as the global distribution hub for the combined company. “There are positive impulses there,” said Frank-Christian Raf- s Beijing moves in to buy up fel, Munich-based partner in firms from Germany’s famed boutique advisory firm Melch- A“Mittlestand” of mid-sized ersRaffel, which specialises in M&A manufacturers, politicians are deals between German-speaking nervous that Chinese owners may and Asian countries. “Evidently it take their vaunted technology and is being well run by the Chinese.” move jobs abroad. With employment at the com- But one of the first prominent pany’s factories in Germany holding mid-sized German engineering steady, the workers who picketed firms to sell out to the Chinese says against the merger four years ago such fears are overblown. now say they are more fortunate When Putzmeister, a 58-year- than they might have been had a old maker of pumps for concrete, buyer arrived from elsewhere. “I was bought by its Chinese competi- think if it were an American com- tor Sany for 360 million euros($402 pany, it would be a lot worse for the million) in 2012, its workers pro- workforce,” said Joerg Loeffler, head tested outside the factory gates, of the works council at Putzmeister. fearing job losses. Nevertheless, although the Four years on, however, the merger appears to have been mostly a company’s employment in Ger- success in terms of sales and employ- many has held steady and it has ment, the company acknowledges it promised to maintain it at least may still take years to unite two very until 2020. Sales are up by nearly different corporate cultures and real- a third, the brand is still intact and ise all the benefits of linking up. established relationships with sup- Putzmeister, whose name means pliers have been left in place. “plaster master”, is an example of how With the Chinese back for more Germany’s small and medium-sized A view of the construction site of the new Kunming South Railway Station in Chenggong District of Kunming, in Yunnan province. acquisitions, the four-year-old manufacturing sector produced merger is again drawing attention, “hidden champions” that excel as this time as an example of how to world leaders in niche markets, a By Brenda Goh and Simon Webb Chinese demands and unfavourable financ- internal Communist Party rift over how sell out while safeguarding oper- path that turned Germany after Reuters ing conditions. the negotiations with China were handled. ations at home. World War Two into Europe’s pow- They have resisted Chinese demands for They said a shock decision in January by In headlines from the latest erhouse of export-led manufacturing. the rights to develop the land either side of the politburo to exclude Deputy Prime Chinese shopping spree, home The company’s colossal truck- the railway. Beijing says turning a profit on Minister Somsavat Lengsavad from the appliance maker Midea Group mounted cranes helped build the or the southwestern city of Kun- land development would make the rest of top decision-making body in part indi- made a $5-billion bid for German world’s tallest building, the Burj ming, China’s plan to extend a the project more commercially viable and cated concern at senior levels that the robot maker Kuka last month, and Khalifa in Dubai, and were sent to high-speed rail link 3,000 km allow it to make a greater upfront financial deal’s terms were too favourable for China. Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund pump millions of litres of seawater (1,875 miles) south to Singapore is commitment. Myanmar, in addition, had Somsavat had led negotiations on agreed to pay 670 million euros to cool Japan’s tsunami-wrecked already a boon: pristine express- environmental concerns and cancelled its China-related projects and had faced for semiconductor manufactur- nuclear reactor in Fukushima in Fways, a gleaming station and something of part of the project in 2014. internal criticism for being too pro-Chi- ing equipment maker Aixtron. 2011. But it was hit hard by the a real estate boom, as young buyers crowd For China, Southeast Asia’s concerns are nese. “The terms were good for Laos,” German economy minister Sig- financial crisis, when sales plum- property showrooms. “going to be the first significant hurdle as they Somsavat told Reuters. Construction was mar Gabriel signalled politicians’ meted from 1 billion euros to 440 In Laos, work has yet to start on what implement One Belt, One Road,” said Peter delayed because Laos was still “research- unease this week, saying he would million, allowing Sany to snatch should be the first overseas leg of a rail line Cai, a research fellow at Lowy Institute for ing some details” and because of local like to see a rival offer for Kuka the crown of world leader in 2009. stretching throughout Southeast Asia. The International Policy in Sydney. China’s for- opposition of land issues. from a German or European firm. One aim of the merger was country, one of the region’s poorest, could eign ministry and the Export-Import Bank of Holding the ground-breaking cere- Putzmeister executives remem- for Putzmeister to help Sany gain struggle to finance even part of the $7 bil- China did not respond to requests for comment. mony on Dec 2 also raised eyebrows in the ber similar worries. Before their a technological edge over rivals lion cost and has yet to agree financial terms In 2013, all signs pointed to fast com- leadership because the date clashed with company went up for sale, sales by improving quality at its own with China. pletion of the Laos leg. Leaders from both celebrations marking the 40th anniversary had only begun recovering from production sites. To this end, joint From Laos, the railway would enter countries agreed to speed up construction of the founding of the Laos People’s Dem- the 2009 global financial crisis. projects were set up and engineers Thailand. But Beijing’s negotiations have - China offered to loan most of the project ocratic Republic, diplomats said. The suitor, Sany, from China’s exchanged to facilitate the transfer soured there as well, in part over financ- funds. In November, construction on the With Somsavat out of the government southwestern Hunan province, had of know-how. ing, adding to a growing headache for China line’s terminus in Kunming began. “moves internally by the Laos government itself overtaken Putzmeister as the Following the takeover, the and highlighting the sort of problems Beijing The 2.1 billion yuan ($325 million) high- have been to renegotiate the terms of this global market leader for concrete companies also expressed a desire may face as it develops its economic high- speed rail station in Kunming is now months rail agreement,” a diplomat said. pumps, mostly by selling cheaper for some co-operation in the pro- ways beyond Southeast Asia and across Asia from opening. Yet, there is no action in Vien- China has offered at least $30 billion pumps to Chinese customers. It curement of parts, and raised the under its “One Belt, One Road” project. tiane despite an elaborate groundbreaking in loans and credit lines for projects. Zhao was easy to imagine the Chinese possibility that Sany could supply The ambitious plan to build land, sea and ceremony in December. Without significant Jian, transportation professor at the Bei- firm following the merger by tak- some of Putzmeister’s components. air routes reaching across the continent and help from China, Laos lacks the financial jing Jiaotong University, said China offers ing German designs and shedding But while Putzmeister has beyond was announced muscle for the project, diplomats said. concessionary loans of between 2 percent German jobs. But Putzmeister’s Ger- helped Sany purchase some parts, by President Xi Jinping It is unclear why China, which has been and 7 percent, so any country pushing for man Chief Executive Gerald Karch such as hydraulic components from in 2013 with the aim of vying with Vietnam for influence in Laos, cheaper loans was being “unrealistic”. insists that was never the plan. “The German supplier Bosch Rexroth, boosting trade by $2.5 could not offer terms acceptable to Vientiane. Still, infrastructure projects like these strategy was and is the strict pres- it has kept its purchasing strat- trillion in the next dec- Both countries are invested politically need to be subsidised, said Kamalkant ervation of brand and corporate egy and supply chain unchanged ade. As China’s economic in the scheme. China aims to increase its Agarwal, the head of commercial bank- identities at both firms,” he said in to maintain its reputation as a growth slows, Beijing is reach and influence in Southeast Asia and ing at Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank. an e-mailed response to questions. premium brand. Concerns about encouraging its compa- Laos says it wants to turn its country into one “You can build these projects if you have Since the takeover, rather than a deterioration in quality due to nies to win new markets that is land-linked, rather than landlocked. a government or Santa Claus to pay for it,” shift production to China, Sany has Putzmeister’s new owners were overseas. “There were very high-ranking dignitar- he said. “But otherwise, making these divided up the market, selling its allayed by intensive PR work with As China’s economic But across the South- ies from both sides at the signing,” said a projects profitable is a huge challenge.” own pumps in China and the Ger- customers, according to Cora east Asia border, China Western diplomat in Vientiane. “Most peo- After failing to bridge gaps on financing, man firm’s pumps in the rest of the Jungbluth, from the Bertelsmann growth slows, Beijing is facing the most com- ple believe it will cost more than $7 billion, investment and costs, Thai Prime Minister world. Putzmeister pumps still Stiftung charitable foundation, who is encouraging its plex and possibly most and Laos is struggling to even finance $2 Prayuth Chan-ocha told Chinese Premier Li come with German-engineered carried out a case study on Chinese significant obstacles billion of that.” Keqiang at a meeting in Hainan in March that parts sourced from its previous takeovers of German firms. companies to win new to its ambitions, as its The Laos government did not respond to Thailand would go it alone on financing and markets overseas. neighbours protest what a request for comment for this story. Diplo- for now build only part of the project. The Thai they say are excessive mats though say the inaction reflected an line would stop well short of the Laos border. American economy hamstrung by vanishing start-ups and innovation

By Steve Matthews especially important to growth in GDP, pro- Fed officials have lowered their estimate software,” said 34-year-old founder Kyle Por- Bloomberg ductivity and jobs,” said Mark Zandi, chief of the economy’s long-term growth rate, the ter. The company was able to raise $10 million economist at Moody’s Analytics Inc. in West pace that will keep inflation at around their in venture capital in March 2015, and its sales Chester, Pennsylvania. 2 percent goal, because of slowing productiv- tripled to $7.5 million last year, said Porter. he puzzle of slow US growth that’s Productivity growth—or a lack thereof— ity. In March, their estimate was 1.8 percent “We see nothing but growth.” bedeviled Federal Reserve Chair will take on greater importance in coming to 2.1 percent. Five years ago, they put poten- At QASymphony, “there’s tremendous Janet Yellen has some roots in a months if the labor market tightens further tial growth as high as 2.8 percent. productivity improvement,” said Dave Keil, shortfall of good ole American and growth picks up. Fed officials debated “Business and labor dynamism have chief executive of the five-year-old compu- Fairly new companies Tentrepreneurship. the issue at their last policy-making meet- fallen since the 1990s,” Congress’s Joint Eco- ter-software testing company in Atlanta that such as SalesLoft, The issue is a lack of new ventures and ing in late April, with some arguing that slow nomic Committee found in a May report. promises customers savings of as much as VIZZIA Technologies and the jobs they create. The dearth of start-ups productivity might merit faster interest-rate The “start-up deficit” accelerated after 40 percent. is an important factor behind a decade-long increases. 2000, though the exact reasons aren’t fully Yellen has repeatedly cited low produc- QASymphony are now productivity slump, say researchers at the In a January staff report, New York Fed understood. tivity as potentially hurting living standards, more in the minority, Fed, the Joint Economic Committee of Con- researchers wrote that the “startup deficit” By contrast, entrepreneurs were “a major noting the 2007-2009 recession may have gress and the National Bureau of Economic was hindering the economy’s “structural source of innovation and productivity growth hurt investment, spending on research as well depriving the economy of Research. transformation,” or shift from less productive for the economy as a whole in the 1980s and as financing of startups. Workforce skills and their growth. The number of employees at companies or failing firms to growing, better-performing 1990s,” according to Haltiwanger and co- infrastructure may also play a role, she said that have been around for less than five years ones. Employment outside of manufacturing author Steven Davis, a University of Chicago in a speech last year in Rhode Island. slumped to a record-low 9.1 percent of the would have grown faster without the drag, business professor. Around 400,000 new businesses are workforce in 2013, the latest data available, or they found. Fairly new companies such as SalesLoft, started each year, though just 45 percent sur- about half the share during the peak in 1987, “High-tech start-ups, critical for inno- VIZZIA Technologies and QASymphony are vive the first five, with the others failing or according to research by John Haltiwanger, vation and productivity growth, were rising now more in the minority, depriving the econ- being acquired, according to the Kauffman an economist with the University of Maryland before 2000 but have been sharply declining omy of their growth. Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri, which and NBER. While newer figures aren’t avail- ever since,” St. Louis Fed economists wrote in Atlanta-based SalesLoft helps clients promotes entrepreneurship. A typical firm able, ”other indicators suggest startups have an April commentary. “These negative trends manage phone calls and e-mails so they, in might now grow to around nine employ- still not recovered by 2015,” he said. might lower labor productivity and, in turn, turn, can handle more customers. “Compa- ees by its fifth year, a slower pace than prior “Gazelles—rapidly growing startups—are wages and labor force participation.” nies increase productivity and efficiency with decades. 28 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Sun-powered TV pens $5 trillion Inflation goals aren’t enough to avoid frontier for electronics makers ‘trouble’: Poloz

By Anna Hirtenstein Bloomberg By Greg Quinn models to show the implications Bloomberg for debt stock if, for example, gov- ernments chose to ramp up deficit his year’s biggest television spending. The results showed record could already be set different forms of policy stimu- before billions of viewers olicy makers should lus could drive up either private tune into August’s Summer move beyond short- sector or government debt. Olympic spectacle in Rio term budget and Canada’s top central banker Tde Janeiro. inflation targets that didn’t comment on the outlook Spurred on by the Clean Energy Pleave their economies exposed for the current 0.5 percent policy Ministerial, an international forum to longer-term debt bubbles like rate. He did say that the export of 41 governments hosted by the U.S. the ones hindering growth since recovery since the global crisis Department of Energy, companies the 2008 financial crisis, Bank has been tepid. including Samsung Electronics Co. of Canada Governor Stephen “The legacy effects of the and Sharp Corp. have been racing Poloz said. financial crisis have lingered in to design electronics for consumers Central banks with inflation many countries, and Canada’s isolated from from national power targets like Canada’s are find- export recovery has been halting grids. Their prize won’t be medals ing that the benefits gained from at best,” Poloz said. “Accordingly, but access to a $5 trillion market of 4 short-term stability can cre- monetary policy has remained billion people too poor to access tra- ate dangers in the background very easy in order to keep infla- ditional energy supplies. as government or consumer tion near its target.” The Clean Energy Ministerial on debt rises, Poloz said in a lec- The Bank of Canada sets Wednesday named a sun-powered ture Saturday at the University interest rates to keep infla- TV made in Hong Kong as the top in estimates more than 1.2 billion rural 100 companies installing thousands computers toward the end of the year. of Ottawa honoring his former tion at a 2 percent target, its class after its manufacturer, Niwa citizens—mostly in sub-Saharan of new rooftop panels around the Those machines, which can plug into professor Doug Purvis. under a five-year agreement Solar, more than doubled its energy Africa, India and developing Asia— globe every month. Their solar sys- televisions and connect to the Inter- “While experience shows with the government that’s up savings over the 2012 competition still don’t have access to a national tems typically power a few light bulbs, net via mobile phones, will run on 2 that inflation targets have for renewal by the end of the winner. Clocking in with only 9 watts electric grid. That energy-neglected a mobile phone charger and small watts of electricity and cost between improved macroeconomic per- year. Poloz said Saturday the consumption, Niwa’s 15.6 inch screen sector of world population has electronics such as radios and fans. $50 and $160, he said. formance, the experience of the renewal process has shifted needs just 2 percent of the power used increasingly been turning to off-grid Clean Energy Ministerial, founded Off-grid consumers spent about global financial crisis and its from research on how the target by early color televisions and about power as the supply of cheap photo- in 2009 to help bring “a clean energy $525 million on appliances such as aftermath demonstrates well has worked to active discussions a quarter of the juice that lights up a voltaic panels has soared in the last revolution” into homes, is encour- TVs, fans and fridges in 2015, accord- that such targets are not suf- with the Department of Finance. modern 20-inch flat panel. decade. Electronics makers are now aging companies to expand their ing to a report by Clean Energy ficient for preventing trouble,” While taking questions from “Efficiency is a must-have in moving to meet power demands of portfolios of solar-ready products. Ministerial and the Global Lighting Poloz said. the audience, Poloz also reiter- developing countries where if you those consumers looking to buy TVs “To give people more than just the and Energy Access Partnership. They Government leaders also ated his view that interest-rate don’t have a low power-consump- and other household goods for the basic services like lighting and charg- forecast the market could reach $4.7 need to coordinate more with changes have a smaller impact tion TV, you’re just not going to have first time. ing, you have two options,” Mutiso billion annually by 2020 with effi- central banks in the future to on the economy at today’s low a TV at all,” said Rose Mutiso, energy “We’ve been aware of the growth said. “You can give them more sup- ciency improvements that would make sure that the collective levels, and that fiscal policy can policy fellow at the U.S. Department of the off-grid sector, it’s a very ply by increasing the size of the solar allow consumers to buy more things mix of economic policies avoids have more of a punch. of Energy, in a phone interview. “The interesting moment,” said Henrik panels, which would come with addi- to be powered by a solar panel. a destabilising build-up of con- The Bank of Canada’s staff future of efficiency as a sector could Sundstrom, head of sustainability at tional costs. Or you can play with the Bloomberg New Energy Finance sumer or government debt, Poloz has just started updating an eco- come from this space.” Electrolux. “The cost of photovoltaic demand side, make the end-use tech- predicts that one in three energy- said. That has to be done without nomic forecast ahead of the next The group’s next target is to pro- panels and the efficiency of these nologies more efficient so they use lacking households will run on compromising the independence rate decision on July 13, where duce a refrigerator that runs on a products are coming down drasti- less power.” electricity from a solar panel by 2020. of central banks that keep infla- there will be more details on fraction of the power that current cally. Energy efficiency is one of our Niwa boosted the efficiency of That means by the time the 2020 tion in check, he added. the wildfires in Alberta that models require, a step that would key priorities.” its TVs by replacing screen lights Summer Olympics opens in Tokyo, Poloz’s lecture revisited dec- shut down 1 million barrels of have enormous social and economic Germany’s Mobisol GmbH, the with LEDs and reworking circuits, another 15 million viewers may be ades of Canada’s monetary and oil production, he said at a later benefits, she said. U.K.’s BBOXX Ltd. and San Francis- according to founder Ti El Attar, who’s able to watch the games on solar- fiscal policy choices and reran press conference. The International Energy Agency co’s Off Grid Electric are among about also planning to sell solar-powered powered TVs.

Capital I still believe that in order to achieve our Loretta Mester, monetary policy goals, a gradual upward President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank Comment pace of the funds rate is appropriate. of Cleveland.

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World Bank @WorldBank Name in the Market Econbrowser High-income countries tend to have higher TREND IN US JOB MARKET amounts of hazardous Since January 2014, waste manufacturing has accounted for less than 200,000 of the Gulf Intelligence @ 6.3 million cumulative net Non gulf_intel Farm Payroll employment gain. #Commodity hedge The already strong dollar is yet funds get $5b embrace on oil gain one more reason to refrain from further monetary tightening.

AsianDevelopmentBank @ADB_HQ Govts in devel- oping Asia must CFA Institute support large elec- tric vehicle projects to ensure #ener- gysecurit &reduce Despite being market- #airpollution capitalization weighted and seemingly diversified across UBS @UBS 500 companies, the S&P Gold has been among the best 500 behaves more like an performers this aggregated proxy for the top year. 50 companies. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 32 PAGE | 35 Loew waits on Amir picked in Hummels and Test squad for Schweinsteiger England tour

MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 • 1 RAMADAN 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Djokovic wins French Open to complete career Grand Slam

his previous three finals in Paris. The reigning world “I felt today something that I never felt before at Roland Garros, I felt the number one joins love of the crowd.” elite list with four-set Djokovic imitated former three- time champion Gustavo Kuerten by victory against Andy drawing a giant heart in the Paris clay Murray before collapsing inside it. Playing in his 20th final at the majors and sixth in succession, the Serb superstar is the first man since AFP Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Austral- ian and French Opens back-to-back. Victory also allowed Djokovic to stretch his winning record over PARIS: Novak Djokovic captured a 29-year-old Murray to 24-10 overall first French Open at the 12th time of and 8-2 in Grand Slams. asking yesterday, becoming just the Murray, the world number two third man in history to hold all four and the first British man in the final Grand Slam titles at the same time. in Paris since Bunny Austin in 1937, television interviewer for climbing loudly on his side for the first time in The world number one downed remains with two Grand Slam titles as uninvited into his player’s box over- four final appearances, broke for 2-1 old rival Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, he failed to become the first winner looking the court. in the third set which became 4-1 off 6-4 to claim a 12th career major and of the French Open since Fred Perry Djokovic then argued with umpire a sublime running, backhand, cross- join Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver, 81 years ago. Damien Dumusois for refusing to have court drop-shot. in 1962 and 1969, as the only players Before a ball was hit, spectators a point replayed at 15-0 as Murray The Serb saved four break points to simultaneously possess the French stood to applaud Muhammad Ali after served for the first set. to go to 5-1 before securing the set Open, Australian Open, US Open and an image of the boxing legend, who But the Serb was horribly out of against a weary-looking Murray who Wimbledon trophies. died Friday, appeared on the giant sorts even before that spat with his 13 had spent five hours longer on court Djokovic, 29, also put himself video screen high up on the Philippe unforced errors proving fatal. than Djokovic and played two five- halfway to the calendar Grand Slam, Chatrier court. The world number one had to setters in the opening rounds to get last achieved by Laver 47 years ago. Djokovic admitted to a pre-match shake off a break point in the opening to his first French Open final. But he did it the hard way as the TV interviewer that it was certain to game of the second set before Murray Djokovic kept his foot on Murray’s final reached a tense conclusion, be an emotional afternoon although obligingly imploded, dropping serve throat, breaking in the first game of being broken in the eighth game of he was quickly into his stride, break- to fall 2-0 behind. the fourth set as the second seed car- the fourth set as he served for the title ing Murray to love in the first game Djokovic misread the geometry on ried on a running argument with the and then squandering two champi- and shrugging off having to play five a dropshot which would have given umpire over the positioning of the onship points in the 10th before he days in the last six. him a double break in the fourth game overhead camera. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Britain’s Andy sealed victory when Murray netted The British star broke back to level but he was soon 4-1 to the good. The Serb broke to love for 5-2 and Murray during their men’s final match at the Roland Garros a backhand. before reeling off the next four games The top seed remained ruthlessly history was just moments away. How- 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris yesterday. Djokovic beat “It’s a very special moment, the for a 4-1 lead as Djokovic’s game dialled-in, broke again for 5-1 and lev- ever, there was still time for a twist old rival Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to claim a 12th career biggest of my career,” said Djokovic, quickly and unexpectedly unravelled. elled the final when Murray dumped as he cracked when serving for the major, becoming just the third man in history to hold all four one of only eight men to complete the Murray remained in charge, find- a service return into the net. title before finally sealing the triumph Grand Slam titles at the same time. INSET: Djokovic poses with career Grand Slam and who had lost ing time to loudly berate a French Djokovic, with the Paris crowd after three hours on court. the trophy after the victory. Rossi beats Marquez in Catalunya GP duel

Reuters Rossi dedicates GRAND PRIX OF CATALUNYA RESULTS

BARCELONA: Italian Valentino Rossi won win to Luis Salom MOTOGP the Grand Prix of Catalunya yesterday after a 1. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) thrilling duel with Spaniard Marc Marquez that 44:37.589, 2. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) ended with a handshake between MotoGP’s bit- AP at 2.652, 3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) ter rivals. 6.313, 4. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) Rossi’s Yamaha team mate and reigning 24.388, 5. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha champion Jorge Lorenzo lost the overall lead BARCELONA: Valentino Rossi won MotoGP’s Cat- Tech3) 29.546, 6. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/ to Honda’s Marquez after being knocked off his alunya Grand Prix yesterday, dedicating the victory Honda LCR) 36.244, 7. Andrea Dovizioso bike by Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, the man he to Luis Salom, the Moto2 rider who died in a crash (ITA/Ducati) 41.464, 8. Alvaro Bautista will replace next year, on lap 17 at Barcelona’s in practice on Friday. Circuit de Catalunya. Rossi made his way to the front after starting (ESP/Aprilia) 42.975, 9. Danilo Petrucci “It’s a great victory, one of the best of my fifth and held off a late charge by pole-sitter Marc (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 45.337, 10. Hector career,” declared 37-year-old Rossi, who started Marquez to secure his second win of the season. Barbera (ESP/Ducati Avintia) 46.669, 11. fifth and fell to seventh before fighting back to The Italian finished 2.6 seconds in front of Marquez Jack Miller (AUS/Honda Marc VDS) 49.514, take the lead on lap seven. and 6.3 seconds ahead of third place Dani Pedrosa. 12. Stefan Bradl (GER/Aprilia) 55.133 It was his second victory of the season, 88th All three riders arrived at the podium wearing in MotoGP and 114th of his grand prix career. T-shirts honoring Salom, the 24-year-old Spaniard WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS Marquez, who traded the lead with Rossi who died after colliding with a protective barrier 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 125 points, over the closing laps before the Italian made at the Barcelona track. 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 115, 3. his move stick with two to go, has 125 points to “It was one of the best victories of my career Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 103, 4. Dan- Lorenzo’s 115 and Rossi’s 103 after seven rounds. and I dedicate it to Luis Salom and to all of his fam- Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Italian rider Valentino Rossi celebrates on the podium after iel Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 82, 5. Maverick “I was struggling a lot with the front (tyre),” ily,” Rossi said. winning the Moto GP race of the Catalunya Grand Prix yesterday. Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) 72, 6. Pol Espargaro said Marquez, who ended last season as Ros- Johann Zarco of France won the Moto2 race, (ESP/Yamaha Tech3) 59, 7. Aleix Esparga- si’s arch-enemy after the pair clashed on track which was marked by a series of events to honor ro (ESP/Suzuki) 49, 8. Hector Barbera and the Italian accused him of helping compa- handshake with Rossi in the finish area ended riders ended up in the gravel. Salom. There was a minute of silence before the (ESP/Ducati Avintia) 49, 9. Andrea triot Lorenzo win the title to keep it in Spanish months of glacial relations. “He hasn’t learned his lesson from what he race started, and Salom’s bike was put on the Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 43, 10. Andrea Ian- hands. The Lorenzo incident drew a furious did earlier this season where he took out his grid near the finish line as riders from all three none (ITA/Ducati) 41, 11. Eugene Laverty “I had a few moments, in the end I was on response from Yamaha team boss Lin Jarvis, own team mate. This do-or-die suicide move categories stood by it. (IRL/Ducati Aspar) 39, 12. Bradley Smith the limit. I tried but when I saw also Lorenzo who slammed Iannone for dangerous riding on on Lorenzo is impossible...it’s not acceptable to A large photo of the rider and a pit-lane sign out the mentality changed a little bit. a weekend overshadowed by the death on Fri- do this sort of thing,” added Jarvis. with a message honoring him were placed by the (GBR/Yamaha Tech3) 29, 13. Stefan Bradl “The important thing is that we had a great day of Spanish Moto2 rider Luis Salom. Lorenzo was the early leader on a scorch- bike. (GER/Aprilia) 29, 14. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/ battle with Valentino and I think the people “I am appalled by Iannone’s move,” he said, ing afternoon but was fighting to defend fifth Members of Salom’s team wore a jersey that Aprilia) 29 enjoyed it,” added the smiling Spaniard, whose calling for the Italian to be penalised after both place when the collision happened. read “Always in our hearts.” 30 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 SPORT

Federer, Del Potro Serena not ready for final curtain to test injuries on Stuttgart grass AFP American will start as a favourite to win a STUTTGART, GERMANY: Roger seventh Wimbledon Federer and Juan Martin del Potro will test injuries as the Wimbledon and reach the magical run-up period begins today at the figure of 22 Stuttgart Open grass event. The former clay week switched Grand Slam titles surfaces a year ago in an edition won by Rafael Nadal. Though the Spaniard is out of action with a AFP wrist injury and was not entered, his absence will be more than made up by the arrival of Federer. The 34-year-old Swiss was due PARIS: Serena Williams is closing to practise Sunday on the courts in on her 35th birthday and has just laid a year ago by Wimbledon spe- suffered back-to-back Grand Slam cialists and given the unofficial final losses for the first time, but the seal of approval in 2015 after John American superstar is not ready to be McEnroe had a hit on them during dethroned any time soon. dedication ceremonies at the Weis- Williams’s latest attempt to equal senhof Club. Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 Federer wisely skipped what Grand Slam titles was thwarted on was the wettest and coldest French Saturday by Garbine Muguruza in the Open in decades to let back pain French Open final. subside, with tournament organ- Back in January, Angelique Kerber isers saying he has trained in pulled off a similar shock to snatch Switzerland and is arriving fit. the American’s Australian Open Del Potro won Stuttgart in 2008 title while in New York last Septem- -- the first of his 18 career trophies ber, Williams’s hopes of a calendar -- when it was played on clay; he Grand Slam were upended by Italian has chosen the venue for his first journeywoman Roberta Vinci in the match in five weeks since losing in semi-finals. the Madrid second round to Jack So Williams’s Grand Slam haul Spain’s Garbine Muguruza poses for photographers with her trophy one day after winning her women’s final match against Serena Williams of Sock. has stalled at 21, but she will still start US at the Roland Garros during the French Open at Place de la Concorde in Paris yesterday. RIGHT: Serena returns the ball to Muguruza during The Argentine has been deal- as favourite to win a seventh Wimble- their women’s final match of the French Tennis Open on Saturday. ing with a wrist injury, playing only don when the third major of the year 13 matches in 2016. gets underway in three weeks. before and bounced back in style. Wimbledon. Last year, when she col- for aces served at 36 and sent down “Serena was far from her best The Federer effect is expected “The only thing I can do is just In 2011, she underwent two foot lected a sixth Wimbledon, it allowed the joint fastest serve of the event at level today,” Mouratoglou told to be massive at the box office, with keep trying,” said Williams, who was surgeries and fought life-threatening her to celebrate a second “Serena 196km/h in Saturday’s final. eurosport.fr. tournament director Edwin Wein- attempting to win a fourth French blood clots on her lungs. Slam” of all four majors at the same But she had one of the lowest He has masterminded eight Slam dorfer making sure the main court Open after 2002, 2013 and 2015. Her absence from the tour saw her time. first serve percentage rates at 60% titles in her last 16 tournaments grandstand was able to accommo- “In Australia, Ann Kerber made world ranking slip to 103. She had already achieved a first and managed to convert only 30 of compared to 13 from 47 before they date an additional 1,500 seats. 16 errors in three sets, you know, In 2014, she lost in the fourth Slam sweep in 2002. 73 break points over the two weeks. hooked up after a first round loss at Philipp Kohlschreiber will be so what do you do in that situation? round at the Australian Open, second Despite her record and status Her team and even her rivals the 2012 French Open, one of two Germans along with Today Garbine played unbelievable. round at the French Open and third as one of the greatest players of all insist that the American, despite being “It will take as long as it takes, but Jan-Lennard Struff directly into “It’s definitely something I want round at Wimbledon but hit back with time, there were, however, obvious in her third decade on tour, is not fin- Serena will win a 22nd Grand Slam. the field after negotiations broke to dissect and see what I can learn the US Open. problems in a damp and chilly Paris, ished as a force in the game. “It’s not easy to break records, it down with rising youngster Alex- from that and what can I do to get In between, she won 11 WTA titles hinting that her sheer power is pos- Her French coach Patrick Mour- wasn’t easy for her to get to 18 (the ander Zverev, who won a round at better from it.” in 2013 and put together a 34-match sibly being diminished. atoglou has no doubts that she will number won by Chris Evert and Mar- Wimbledon last year on his debut. Williams has been down and out win streak between Miami and Serena finished top of the pile reach the magical figure of 22. tina Navratilova).” ‘Proud British fighter’ Amir Khan Vargas keeps title after wants success for Pakistan, too slugfest with Salido Agencies win on Saturday in front of a crowd of 7,300 at the outdoor facility in south central Los Angeles. AFP “I felt I won. It was a close mar- LOS ANGELES: A bloodied Fran- gin and a tough fight, but I feel I cisco Vargas retained his WBC belt won,” he said. on Saturday by battling to a draw Salido also brushed aside accu- ISLAMABAD: Boxer Amir Khan has with fellow Mexican Orlando Salido sations of dirty tactics. denied betraying his British upbring- in a match that could earn him a sec- “We banged heads at some point ing after being criticised for saying he ond straight fight of the year award. but those were punches,” he said of would represent Pakistan at the Rio The 31-year-old Vargas and Sal- the cuts on Vargas’ face. “That is Games, insisting he only wanted to ido went toe-to-toe in a 12-round what happens in boxing. Head-butts boost the sport in his parents’ coun- slugfest for the world super feather- are accidental, but it happens.” try of birth. weight championship at the StubHub Meanwhile, the The Florida But the Bolton-born fighter also Center stadium. Marlins appear to have been the admitted he would not be willing to Vargas improved to 24-0-1 with first to broadcast the death of box- face an accompanying two-year ban 17 knockouts as he had to go the dis- ing icon Muhammad Ali on Friday, from the World Boxing Council (WBC) tance despite suffering bad cuts over with their scoreboard tribute com- that would jeopardise his professional both eyes which he claimed were the ing several hours before the official career, making an Olympic appear- result of head butts from Salido. announcement. ance unlikely. “It was a great fight that the fans The team posted a graphic of a Speaking in Islamabad, where he liked,” Vargas said. “Unfortunately triumphant Ali towering over Sonny launched his first boxing academy on the cuts are always with the head. Liston on their giant scoreboard Saturday, Khan said he was a “proud But I never gave up. clock after the Major League Base- British fighter” who had represented “I am very happy that I won and ball game with the simple message his country at the Athens Olympics I am looking for more challenges.” “Muhammad Ali 1942-2016”. and would therefore not want to Rightly so. Vargas then added The Marlins say they were ahead deprive fellow Britons of a ticket to he needs some time to “relax” and of the curve because team president Rio De Janeiro. recuperate. David Samson was told just prior to “I’m not doing it because I’m not In November, Vargas got off the the game against the New York Mets British boxer Amir Khan (centre) poses for photographers with fans in Rawalpindi yesterday. Amir Khan happy being British. I’m a proud Brit- canvas and recovered from get- that Ali had died. ish fighter, but it’s the way people paid tribute to legendary fighter Muhammad Ali on June 4, calling him the “people’s champion” and saying ting badly cut to take the belt from “We were informed by some- took it out of context and calling me Ali’s life outside the ring had inspired him to help those in need. Japan’s Takashi Miura by ninth- one close to the family that he had a traitor -- I meant it in a way that I’d round technical knockout to win passed away,” Samson told the rather give someone else an oppor- represent Pakistan, given that it was WBC welterweight champion Danny to lead a charitable drive for Syrian the fight of the year. Miami Herald. “We wanted to get tunity instead because Pakistan has his 2004 Olympic silver for Great Brit- Garcia.“I feel great. I feel young, fresh. refugees, while his current trip to This was another battle of attri- a tribute out as soon as we possi- no boxers,” he said. ain that launched his career. I mean, the Alvarez fight, everything Pakistan has seen him raise money tion. Vargas will need time to heal as bly could.” “But, you know, at the moment The 29-year-old stands at a criti- was going fine until I got caught with and pledge wells for the residents of he had deep cuts over both eyes, but Family spokesperson Bob Gun- we are just waiting and seeing. I don’t cal juncture in his career following a the big shot and that’s boxing for you Thar, a drought-ridden southern dis- still managed to land heavy punches nell announced Ali’s death about two think I’ll be allowed to do that any- stinging loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez sometimes. One punch can change trict home to some of the country’s on Salido as the two pummelled each hours later. way because obviously, the WBC, they last month, that took his career record the fight. You can be winning the most destitute people. other right up to the final bell. Samson declined to release the won’t allow it.” to 31 wins and four losses. fight quite comfortably and I’ve seen Ali, he says, was “not just a cham- Two officials scored the bout 114- name of his source but insisted that WBC president Mauricio Khan, a two-time former wel- it happen to the best of us. pion but a people’s champion and 114 while the other had it 115-113 for they didn’t jump the gun. Sulaiman has denounced a rule terweight world champion, stepped “So, I’m gonna go back to the that’s how I want to be”. the champion Vargas. “It was not an error,” he told the change by the International Boxing up two divisions to fight his brawny drawing board and not make those His academy in Islamabad -- Vargas’s preparation for the Herald. Association (AIBA) allowing profes- middleweight opponent after he was mistakes. I know that my offence modelled after the one he founded fight was clouded by controversy Ali has been a visitor to the facil- sionals to compete in the Olympics denied a coveted matchup with Floyd was amazing in that fight. But maybe in Bolton, northwest England -- will after he tested positive in April for ity in the past, and even threw out where they would face amateurs, Mayweather, who retired last year. tighten up a few little areas.” seek out talent in a country which the banned stimulant Clenbuterol. the ceremonial first pitch when Mar- calling the move dangerous. He got off to a lightning start, but No longer the brash youngster only boasts sporadic success in Vargas claimed the substance came lins Park opened in 2012. He vowed to impose a two-year after dominating the early rounds who was known for his fast cars and cricket. from contaminated beef he ate dur- “He’s an important part of our ban on any professional fighter who was caught with a powerful over- flashy lifestyle and who regularly He said: “I really believe in the ing his training camp. organization,” Samson said. “He chose to go amateur for the Games. hand right that put him on the canvas made headlines for his speeding country, I really believe in the talent The 35-year-old former title opened our new ballpark. Amir’s announcement was also in the sixth. tickets, Khan now speaks passion- we have here, just like I did in the UK. holder Salido came into the ring “Being that he had thrown out met with consternation by some fans Looking more trim than he ately about the need to give back I believed in talent in the UK and I wearing a t-shirt with a picture of the the first pitch of this ballpark, and on social media and his former pro- appeared during the Nevada bout, to those less fortunate -- a trait he produced amateur world champions late Muhammad Ali who died Friday has a close relationship [with the moter Frank Warren, who wrote on Khan was sanguine about his loss says he learned from his idol, the late and European champions and gold at age 74 after a lengthy struggle with Marlins], we wanted to honor him boxingscene.com he was “a little dis- and insisted he was looking forward Muhammad Ali. Last year, he trav- medallists and national champions. I Parkinson’s disease. as quickly as possible. His legacy will appointed” in Khan for seeking to to his next world title shot against elled to the Greek island of Lesbos want do the same for Pakistan.” Salido thought he did enough to live forever.” SPORT MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 31 FIFA president blasts critics, says salary not decided

Reuters figures, including former president Sepp Blat- “My contract is being negotiated and He described some of Scala’s comments ter. Infantino promised a fresh start but ran this is not the place to unveil the outlines,” in the media as a “piece of theatre”, adding: into problems of his own when last month’s Infantino said in the interview, published “This is childish behaviour worthy of the play- Congress gave the FIFA Council power to in French-speaking Le Matin and German- ground. I do not want to pay more attention BERN: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (pic- appoint or dismiss members of independent speaking Sonntagszeitung. to it.” He rejected the suggestion that the FIFA tured) accused the man who masterminded bodies such as the ethics committee and the “However, once signed, I will show you Council could now influence ethics commit- reforms of soccer’s global body of “play- audit and compliance committee. with pleasure all the details and you will see tee investigations. ground” behaviour and told Swiss newspapers Domenico Scala, who as head of the that it will be less than the 2 million that the “The facts prove it and will do so in the that his salary, still to be confirmed, would audit and compliance had led the reforms media has mentioned.” future,” he said. be less than 2 million Swiss francs ($2.05m). of FIFA, quit his post hours later, saying the “My enemies want to make me look “Domenico Scala is mistaken in his Infantino, elected three months ago to committees were no longer independent greedy,” he added. analysis. haul FIFA out of the worst graft scandal in of the Council and that reforms had been “I have not stolen anything. And every- “He thinks that football can be managed its history, said his “enemies” wanted to make undermined. thing that I have earned in my life has been with the same principles as a pharmaceu- him look greedy after a newspaper leak said The Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung last thanks to me work. I was not born with a sil- tical company or pesticides’ manufacturer. he had been angered by a suggested package. month said that leaked details of FIFA Coun- ver spoon in my mouth.” This is a major error of assessment, because FIFA has been embroiled in crisis after cil meetings showed that Infantino had been Infantino said he had only learned of Sca- it underestimates the passion of football as several dozen soccer officials were indicted angered when the compensation committee, la’s resignation after returning from a FIFA well as its geopolitical dimension.” in the United States last year while its own which Scala also sat on, offered him a salary Congress in Mexico, even though the two were Scala could not immediately be reached ethics committee has banned several top of $2m Swiss francs a year. on the same flight. for comment yesterday.

Poor pitches Mourinho to deliver hurting Cup hopes, says title in ‘two years’ Aussie coach Reuters

Gaal’s successor in Sunday’s prestig- third, but Mourinho will win the title ious Soccer Aid charity match. Just again. My prediction is that it will be MELBOURNE: Substandard Defender Ricardo nine days after the official confirma- in the second year.” Australian soccer pitches are Carvalho says the tion of Mourinho’s appointment, the Meanwhile, Manchester United “cheating” local fans and could new manager will 53-year-old will be in Manchester to will swoop for Sweden striker Zla- derail the country’s World Cup give his support to UNICEF, who use tan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer as ambitions, according to Socceroos make Manchester the friendly fixture to raise money new manager Jose Mourinho’s first coach Ange Postecoglou. United a better side for children in danger. marquee signing at Old Trafford, Sky Postecoglou and his play- The former Chelsea boss had Sports reported. ers lamented the playing surface agreed to manage an ‘England’ team United’s executive vice-chairman at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on consisting of former internationals, Ed Woodward is finalising a one-year Saturday night after Australia AFP musicians, actors and other celebri- deal with the player’s representatives defeated Greece 1-0 in a friendly ties, against a Rest of the World team and the 34-year-old could join before courtesy of a late Mathew Leckie coached by Leicester chief Claudio Euro 2016, sources said. strike. LONDON: New Manchester United Ranieri and featuring a host of retired Sweden’s first Group E match The pitch, which had hosted a manager Jose Mourinho will deliver legends. But, following his move to against Ireland is on June 13. rugby league match on Wednes- the Premier League title within two United, Mourinho could instead The former Malmo, Ajax Amster- day, was cleared for play by the years, predicted defender Ricardo decide to save his first game on the dam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona match referee despite the deluge Carvalho yesterday. home bench for the Premier League and AC Milan striker, whose Paris St of rain that fell on Sydney through- “Jose will have something to club’s clash with Everton in Wayne Germain contract is about to expire, out Saturday. prove after what happened at Chel- Rooney’s testimonial on August 3. wants to add the Premier League Greece-born Postecoglou said sea,” the Portuguese international Carvalho believes Mourinho, title to a trophy cabinet that already he felt “embarrassed” about the who was coached by Mourinho at who has won the Premier League includes the Dutch, Serie A, La Liga conditions. Chelsea, Porto and Real Madrid title three times, has something to and Ligue 1 crowns. “We’ve got an international and now plays for Monaco, wrote in prove after his tricky time at Chelsea. The prolific Ibrahimovic scored team here that we’re hosting and The Sun newspaper. “I think he will “He is a great coach and now he 11 of Sweden’s 19 goals in Euro qual- we’re supposed to be the sport- make Manchester United better and is in a great club - United are one of ifying including three out of four in ing nation of the world,” he told Jose Mourinho signed as new Manchester United manager last month. in the next two years they will be the biggest in the world. a playoff win over Denmark that reporters. champions.” “I have no doubt that he can bring booked their place at the finals in “The crowd were fantastic (but) Carvalho’s comments come on trophies back to United again and France. goals in a 4-2 victory over Olympique des Princes against Nantes by breaking I felt sorry for them ... it’s just not a day when Mourinho could make that he will make them champions. The tall Swede finished his career de Marseille in the French Cup final. the club’s scoring record in a top-flight good enough. his first appearance at Old Trafford “I don’t know if it will be in the at PSG by helping the club to their Ibrahimovic had already cele- season with a double, taking his tally to “I can tell you what the Greek since being named as Louis van first year, the second year or the second successive treble with two brated his last PSG game at the Parc 38 goals, one more than Carlos Bianchi players were saying when they were coming off the pitch, and they’re too polite to say anything publicly. Austria suffer “We have world-class venues, world-class atmospheres, our sup- Ibrahimovic helps Sweden to deepen porters are second to none -- we new defensive love our sport. “But in our game and our calamity in defeat game alone, the pitch is actually an essential part of the spectacle. AFP Wales gloom ahead of Euro 2016 “If that’s not good then we’re cheating people.” Australia kick off the next VIENNA: Austria suffered another round of Asian qualifying for the defensive calamity on the way to AFP Ibrahimovic led the counter- 2018 World Cup in Russia with a a disappointing 2-0 home defeat attack, beating Ashley Williams to home game against Group B rivals by Netherlands in their final Euro the ball before laying a pass into the Iraq on September 1 and host 2016 warm-up game on Saturday. path of the on-rushing Forsberg, regional heavyweights Japan the Vincent Janssen put a young STOCKHOLM: Zlatan Ibrahimovic who placed his shot under the leg of following month. Dutch side in front after nine out-shone Gareth Bale as Sweden Vaughan and to the left of goalkeeper Postecoglou said scratchy minutes when the home defence eased to a 3-0 victory over fellow Wayne Hennessey. home pitches were hindering his mistakenly thought he was offside, European Championship qualifiers The Crystal Palace goalkeeper team’s ability to play good football, leaving him free to head in Steven Wales in Stockholm yesterday. made way for Danny Ward at half- which could have consequences Berghuis’ looping cross from six Ibrahimovic set up the opener for time and the Liverpool rookie swiftly for their hopes of reaching Russia. metres. Emil Forsberg at the Friends Arena had his defenders to thank. “Our whole World Cup qualifi- A superbly-worked goal by before Mikael Lustig and John Gui- Ward was beaten by Berg’s deli- cation could hinge on it,” said the Georginio Wijnaldum in the detti scored second-half goals. cate chip just three minutes into the 50-year-old. second period gave Austria a mis- It was a convincing display for second half but James Chester slid to “Do we not want the conditions erable send-off as they headed for Sweden ahead of Euro 2016 but Wales clear the ball off the line. to suit us? To present a pitch that their first major finals since 2008. manager Chris Coleman has plenty Davies then blocked a power- suits our style of game to get that The Austria defence was also to worry about with just one victory ful strike by Lustig but the Celtic advantage? left red-faced when David Alaba in seven games ahead of their first defender made sure with Sweden’s “I’m sure when we play in scored an embarrassing own goal appearance at a major tournament second just three minutes later. Japan they will, so we shouldn’t in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Malta since the 1958 World Cup. Lustig rose highest at a corner but have to prove we’re some sort after passing the ball back to his Bale had missed the previous Ward saved from close-range. of pedigree before we get what I goalkeeper without looking. three friendlies, none of which Wales With his side 2-0 ahead, Swe- think our nation deserves.” The Dutch had a point to prove won, since the successful qualifica- den coach Erik Hamren decided after their failure to qualify for the tion campaign but started on the Ibrahimovic had done enough and finals in France and, with the hosts substitutes bench just eight days after substituted him on the hour. wanting to land a morale-boosting winning the Champions League with Wales then suffered an injury Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mikael Lustig (right) cheer after win, there were some surprisingly Real Madrid. scare when Ashley Williams was in late and full-blooded challenges. Crystal Palace’s Jonny Williams Lustig’s 2-0 goal during the friendly soccer match against Wales at pain after seeming to fall awkwardly, Austria fielded a full-strength partnered Aaron Ramsey and made the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday. though the captain was able to play side apart from Marcel Sabitzer a lively start behind sole striker on after treatment. replacing Martin Harnik on the Burnley’s Sam Vokes, in for the early chance for Martin Olsson that he He was allowed time to strike a Bale was given little under half- right of midfield. injured Hal Robson-Kanu. blazed over the bar inside a minute. firm shot from the edge of the box and an-hour of action as a 63rd minute The home side made a bright Coleman handed Premier League Lustig followed with a similar then a free-kick after Vaughan’s foul replacement for King as Coleman also start and were lively going for- winner Andy King and Nottingham effort before Marcus Berg saw his on Forsberg, though neither were on rang the changes. ward but the early goal took the Forest’s David Vaughan a chance to shot blocked by Ashley Williams from target. However it was his break and The Real Madrid star dusted him- wind out of their sails. Austria left impress in the absence of midfield Forsberg’s pass. pass that set up the opening goal five self off after a heavy foul by Jimmy gaps at the back and had another duo Joe Allen and Joe Ledley. Ibrahimovic was finding space in minutes before half-time. Durmaz late on. From the resulting scare when Quincy Promes hit the With Bale on the bench, it was left front of Wales’ trio of centre-backs The goal followed a rare Welsh free-kick, which he took and struck post with a deflected shot from 25 to Sweden’s talisman Ibrahimovic to and steadily became a bigger influ- attack that broke down when Ramsey the wall, Sweden scored their third Ange Postecoglou metres in the 34th minute. take centre stage and he created an ence on the game. felt he was pulled back off the ball. goal. 32 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 SPORT Loew waits on Hummels and Schweinsteiger for opener

Experienced duo EURO 2016 priority for German coach ahead of seeing Schweinsteiger play his first team’s opening match football since injury in March. “It was against Ukraine on good to get the first 25-odd minutes under my belt, but I don’t honestly June 12 in Lille think I can play the 90 minutes of our first game,” admitted Schweinsteiger. “That said, I could do much before this Euro than I could two years ago AFP before the World Cup,” he added, hav- ing carried an ankle injury before Croatian players celebrate a goal during their friendly match against Brazil 2014, but went on to produce San Marino in Rijeka, Croatia, on Saturday. a commanding performance for Ger- GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Ger- many the Rio de Janeiro final. many coach Joachim Loew says his Having toyed with playing a priority is getting captain Bastian three-man defence, Loew reverted Ten-goal Croatia register Schweinsteiger and key defender Mats to the 4-2-3-1 which won Germany Hummels fit for Euro 2016, following the title in Brazil. Saturday’s 2-0 confidence-boosting He started with Cologne’s Jonas record win over San Marino friendly win over Hungary. Hector at right-back for the first- Schweinsteiger played the last 23 half, then Liverpool’s Emre Can for minutes in Gelsenkirchen after three the second, in the only defensive posi- months sidelined by a torn medial tion still to be decided before the Euro Reuters and Croatia surged into a 6-0 half- knee ligament, while Hummels is starts. This was no more than a satis- time lead at the Rujevica Stadium. out with a calf tear. factory performance from the world Midfielder Luka Modric pulled the Manchester United star Schwein- champions, who have a habit of rais- strings while captain Darijo Srna steiger admits he is unlikely to play ing their game for major tournaments. ZAGREB: Mario Mandzukic and bagged three assists with darting the full 90 minutes of Germany’s “We started well and let the ball Nikola Kalinic grabbed hat-tricks runs down the right flank. opening Group C game at Euro 2016 run for us, perhaps a bit too much,” as Croatia achieved a record win as Although San Marino were little against Ukraine in Lille on June 12 said Germany defender Boateng, an independent nation by demolish- more than a punch bag for the home before facing Poland four days later, whose superbly floated cross led to ing San Marino 10-0 in their final side and rarely got out of their own then Northern Ireland on June 21. their second goal by Mueller. Euro 2016 warm-up match in Rijeka half, the goal bonanza will boost Hummels has said he does not “After the break, we gave the ball on Saturday. Croatia’s confidence ahead of Euro expect to be fit until at least their sec- away too much, but all in all it was a Thrashing the hapless part-tim- 2016 in France that starts next week. ond game against Poland in Paris on good performance. Germany’s midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in action during the ers meant the hosts surpassed 7-0 Substitute Kalinic, who replaced June 16. “I believe we can be happy, we victories over Andorra in a Euro Mandzukic in attack at halftime, “He hasn’t got any playing rhythm UEFA EURO 2016 friendly match against Hungary at the Veltins Arena played better than in our previous 2008 qualifier and Australia in a struck three times in the second at the moment, so we’ll have to in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on Saturday. game.” friendly in 1998. period. The other goals came from see,” said Loew when asked if Sch- Hungary play Austria in their first “I want to congratulate the play- Srna, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Rakitic and weinsteiger will play in the world Group F match on June 14 in Bor- ers for their commitment. They were Marko Pjaca. champions opening game. Germany’s head coach was and Loew was grateful for the win deaux, before also facing Portugal poised and hungry to score as many “It was little more than a practice “We have to see how Hummels pleased to leave Gelsenkirchen with after an experimental side was hum- and Iceland, and their German coach goals as they could,” said coach Ante session but we took it very seriously,” gets on.” no significant injuries. bled 3-1 by Slovakia in Augsburg last Bernd Storck was pleased, despite the Cacic. said Perisic. But Loew is confident both Just as he did for the 2014 World Sunday. defeat. “The idea was to build a positive Croatia have been drawn in Sami Khedira and Jerome Boateng, Cup, Loew had to strike off winger “It was important to keep them “We had a few good attempts to atmosphere ahead of Euro 2016 and Group D alongside holders Spain, who had to be treated on the pitch Marco Reus from his final squad last down to nil, the win gives us a bit of play from the back, but of course it’s we accomplished that. I am espe- Czech Republic and Turkey. Cacic’s in Gelsenkirchen, will be fit to face Tuesday, this time with a groin injury stability and a good feeling for next very difficult against such a good cially pleased with the strikers’ form squad open their campaign against Ukraine. after torn ankle ligaments ruled the week,” added Loew. opponent,” said Storck. because it’s paramount for their con- the Turks in Paris on June 12. They “We took Sami Khedira off at the Borussia Dortmund winger out of A first-half own-goal by Hungary “It was obvious that we would be fidence to score goals.” meet the Czechs in St Etienne on start of the second half as a precau- Brazil. defender Adam Lang and a second under pressure, but we did our best The visitors held out for 20 min- June 17 and Spain in Bordeaux four tion, Boateng had a pressed nerve, This was the first time Germany from Thomas Mueller sealed the Ger- and gave a good account of our- utes before the floodgates opened days later. but was able to play on,” added Loew. had kept a clean sheet in the last year mans’ win, but the biggest boost was selves,” he added. Giroud’s double helps France sink Scotland 3-0

AFP FRIENDLY RESULTS involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena sex- After a meek 1-0 defeat to Italy last week- Olivier Giroud tape blackmail scandal. Injuries to key players end, they once again offered next to nothing In Gelsenkirchen, Germany have also disrupted their preparations but, in going forward and, after Marshall saved from a Germany 2 (Lang 39-og, Mueller 63) Hungary 0 the rain, this was a near perfect evening and stinging Coman strike, France increased their METZ, France: Olivier Giroud fired another In Rijeka, Croatia set Les Bleus up nicely for next Friday’s Euro lead on 35 minutes. riposte to his critics with a brace as Euro 2016 Croatia 10 (Pjaca 20, Mandzukic 24, 36, 38, Srna 2016 opener against Romania at the Stade de Scotland captain Darren Fletcher con- hosts France brushed aside Scotland 3-0 in 25, Perisic 40, Rakitic 50, Kalinic 59, 73, 84) San France. ceded possession to Payet inside his own half Metz on Saturday in their final friendly ahead Marino 0 Outstanding this season for English cham- and the West Ham United player surged for- of the tournament. In Vienna pions Leicester City, N’Golo Kante will hope to ward before trying his luck from range. The Arsenal centre-forward was booed start in that game after coming into the mid- Marshall could not hold the ball and Gir- by a section of the France support prior to Austria 0 Netherlands 2 (Janssen 9, Wijnal- field for the injured Lassana Diarra in the only oud turned in the rebound for his seventh goal dum 66) last Monday’s 3-2 win against Cameroon but change to the team that defeated Cameroon. in France’s last seven games. he netted in that game and his brace at the In Trnava, Slovakia Giroud again led the attack, flanked by Payet was again involved when France Stade Saint-Symphorien was a further indica- Slovakia 0 Northern Ireland 0 Kingsley Coman and Dimitri Payet, and it was scored their third four minutes later. His cor- tion that he has what it takes to lead an attack In Metz, France the Arsenal striker who got the opening goal, ner from the left was helped on by Patrice deprived of Karim Benzema. France 3 (Giroud 8, 35, Koscielny 39) Scotland 0 meeting a low Bacary Sagna cross from the Evra and Koscielny headed home for his Giroud opened the scoring in the eighth right with a fine back-flick into the net. first international goal. Antoine Griezmann minute with a cheeky back-heel and netted The home side had already come close to and Anthony Martial came on for the second again 10 minutes before the interval, with his Didier Deschamps told TF1 television. “It is scoring before that, with only a great David half and Giroud went off to great acclaim to Arsenal colleague Laurent Koscielny making always good for confidence, there were a lot Marshall save preventing Grant Hanley from make way for Andre-Pierre Gignac in the 63rd it three late in the first half before a 25,000 of good things. Now we have just a little week turning a Payet free-kick into his own goal. minute. capacity crowd in the north-eastern city. left before the opening match.” Strachan’s side are the only nation from Seconds later Paul Pogba struck the post “It was a good scenario. We had an awful France’s build-up to their Euros has been the British Isles who will not be present at with a curling free-kick from 20 yards, before lot of chances in the second half and we could overshadowed by the Benzema affair with Euro 2016 and the abject nature of their dis- Marshall rushed out to deny Gignac, who had have added a few more goals,” France coach the Real Madrid striker sidelined due to his play summed up why. been played in by Griezmann. Strachan remains upbeat after Scotland rout

AFP to Italy in Malta last weekend. However, Strachan great, and we will debrief and see what is the best was happy to see his side test themselves against way to go forward,” said Strachan, whose side are top-level opponents before the start of World Cup the only nation from the British Isles who will not qualifying in the autumn. be at Euro 2016. METZ, France: Scotland manager Gordon Stra- “It was hard for these guys against real world “Looking back, I do believe, from our perform- chan believes the chastening 3-0 friendly defeat class players, and for us to get anything, make any ances in qualifying, we know fine we are better to Euro 2016 hosts France on Saturday can prove progress, we have to be at our best and at times than some of the teams that are in it. to be a positive experience for his side. that didn’t happen,” Strachan said after the game “We have chosen to play some of the best teams Having missed out on a place at the European at the Stade Saint-Symphorien. “If there’s a bet- in the world to find out what we can do. Championship finals, Scotland’s taste of the French ter team than them then we’re in for a fantastic “Sometimes we’ve got to take a hard lesson, summer began and ended in the rain in Metz, where Euros,” he added of a slick French outfit. The back- which we have but the guys kept plugging away. they were well beaten by the tournament hosts. to-back defeats to end the season followed wins “We know we can play football, score goals, A brace by Olivier Giroud and a Laurent against both the Czech Republic and Denmark in and play attractive football and we will now try to Koscielny goal, all in the first half, separated the March, and the 59-year-old Strachan is now look- improve with the information we have got.” sides and Scotland were lucky not to lose by a far ing towards the campaign to get to Russia in 2018. Scotland begin their World Cup qualifying cam- greater margin. “We have had four friendly games and we said paign away to Malta in September and will also Scotland’s head coach Gordon Strachan looks on as he gives a press The loss, in which the away side offered next we would experiment. “We have experimented and face Lithuania, Slovakia and old enemy England to nothing in attack, followed a meek 1-0 defeat we take a lot of information from that, which is before the end of the year. conference in Amnville, eastern France, on Friday. SPORT MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 33

Messi won’t Brazil held by gutsy Ecuador bother Chile, says Bravo

AFP COPA AMERICA: GROUP B Dunga’s team shares OPENER point after losing PALO ALTO, US: Chile captain momentum in the Claudio Bravo says Lionel Messi’s himself even though he is 50 meters fitness will have no bearing on how second half as away,” the Bolivian complained, add- the Copa America champions pre- controversial line ing that “unfortunately the referee pare for Monday’s heavyweight again has made a mistake in favour showdown against Argentina in decision overshadows of the stronger team.” Santa Clara. game Brazil manager Dunga said he Bravo’s Barcelona team-mate hadn’t been close enough to judge Messi is uncertain to line up for the whether the goal should have been Argentines as he struggles back to allowed, and went on to accuse Ecua- fitness after suffering a back injury AFP dor of time-wasting. in a friendly against Honduras last “We tried to win the game from month. beginning, in many different ways. However Bravo said regardless PASADENA, US: Brazil were The goalkeeper from Ecuador from of whether Messi plays or not, it reprieved by a controversial dis- the first half started to waste time,” he will not affect Chile’s approach allowed goal as they squandered told reporters after the final whistle. to a game that is a rematch of last several chances in a 0-0 draw with The game began at an intense year’s Copa America final in San- Ecuador in their Copa America Group tempo with a flurry of chances at tiago won by the hosts. B opener on Saturday. either end in front of a disappoint- “Whether Leo does or doesn’t Despite seeing their team come ing crowd of 53,158 which filled just play, nothing is going to change close several times the Selecao trav- over half of the stadium, the venue our football,” goalkeeper Bravo elling support had to settle for a single of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup final vic- told reporters on Saturday. point as the eight-time champions tory over Italy. “Personally, I’d prefer it if he lost momentum in the second half at Both teams had been prepared plays because he brings a lot to a Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. for intense heat but southern Califor- game.” “Knowing Leo, he will want The game was overshadowed by a nia’s searing daytime temperatures to play, particularly this game, Brazil midfielder Casemiro and Ecuador midfielder Christian Noboa (right) battle for the ball possession controversial line decision in the 66th had cooled by kick-off to a merciful because it’s the first match of the minute as Brazil goalkeeper Alisson 78 degrees fahrenheit (26 degrees during their group stage match of the 2016 Copa America Centenario at Rose Bowl Stadium Pasadena, tournament. fumbled an innocuous Miller Bolanos celsius). Brazil were without several CA, on Saturday. “But we’re not going to change cross into his own net. first choice players, most notably their the way we play, we will do what The ball was judged to have gone talismanic captain Neymar, and they we’ve always done,” Bravo added. out of play before it reached the Roma were clearly missing the Barcelona Luis getting plenty of room down which was plucked comfortably out to win comfortably. “The Copa Amer- Chile defeated Argentina on keeper, sparking an angry backlash forward’s bite. the left and Willian’s pace forc- of the air by Alisson. ica is a very difficult tournament. Now penalties in last year’s Copa final, from the Ecuador squad, who said the The best chances fell at either end ing the aging Walter Ayovi to drop Ecuador were brighter in the sec- we have to think about winning the winning the title for the first time call was wrong and had cost them of the match to Liverpool midfielder increasingly deeper. Ecuador looked ond half, with Valencia holding the next game... To score a goal we have in their history. victory. Philippe Coutinho, who forced a cor- sporadically dangerous on the coun- ball up well and Swansea winger Jef- to think about being better in attack,” “We’re very hopeful about “I saw it 25 times on video just ner from close, and Paris St Germain ter, tempting Brazil’s Casemiro and ferson Montero looking dangerous, Dunga said. retaining the title, and you’re going now and the ball never went out com- winger Lucas Lima, whose glancing Elias into yellow card fouls while Gil but the game petered out to jeers at Ecuador, who entered the tour- to see a Chilean team that is very pletely – maybe 65 percent but not header narrowly missed the target. was booked for dissent. the final whistle. nament tied with Uruguay at the top aggressive,” Bravo said. Argen- completely,” said Ecuador head coach Brazil began to take control half- Their best chance before half time Dunga’s five-time World Cup of CONMEBOL’s World Cup Qualify- tina and Chile are expected to top Gustavo Quinteros. way through the first half as the pace came via a 25-yard free-kick from winners face Haiti on Wednesday in ing table, face Peru in Arizona on the Group D, with the other two teams “The linesman is so sure of dropped, with Coutinho and Filipe West Ham forward Enner Valencia, Orlando where they will be expected same night. in the group Panama and Bolivia. History-man Guerrero stars as Peru overcome Haiti in Seattle

AFP unleashed a fierce shot which can- COPA AMERICA RESULTS noned back off the foot of the upright Group A as Haiti escaped. Peru increased the In Orlando, Florida tempo in the second half and only a SEATTLE: Peru striker Paolo Guer- Costa Rica 0 Paraguay 0 fine block by Haiti goalkeeper and rero overtook Teofilo Cubillas as his Group B captain Johny Placide denied Renzo country’s top goal scorer here on Sat- Revoredo in the 59th minute. urday, scoring a diving header to sink In Seattle, Washington That chance should have served as Haiti 1-0 in their Copa America Cen- Haiti 0 Peru 1 (Guerrero 61) a warning for Haiti, but two minutes tenario clash. In Pasadena later Peru took the lead with Guer- Guerrero, a talismanic figure Brazil 0 Ecuador 0 rero’s goal when Flores found space for the Peruvians who was tourna- down the left and curled in an invit- ment top scorer in both the 2011 and ing cross for the former Bayern Munich 2015 editions of the Copa America, NFL team. The win was just about player to head home. pounced on 61 minutes to break Hai- deserved for Peru, who created the Peru looked to be cruising to three ti’s resistance. better chances but struggled to break points but had a scare in the dying The 32-year-old striker, who now down a well-organised Haiti defence. seconds when Haiti’s Kervens Belfort plays for Flamengo in Brazil, powered After a slow start, Peru could have somehow headed wide from close home a header Edison Flores’ cross as taken the lead on the stroke of half- range with the goal at his mercy. Peru opened their Group B campaign time when Guerrero headed into the Haiti face Brazil in their next game Peru’s Paolo Guerrero heads to score against Haiti during the Copa America Centenario in Seattle, with a win at Seattle’s CenturyLink path of Flores. on Wednesday while Peru take on Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks Flores burst onto the ball and South American rivals Ecuador. Washington, United States, on Saturday. Costa Rica, Paraguay play out goalless draw Furious Paraguay’s coach Diaz can’t stand the heat AFP to find much in the way of fluidity to their play. Ruiz was a threat with a flashing header but it went straight into the arms of Paraguay’s veteran AFP club games held in Florida during ORLANDO: Two-time South Amer- goalkeeper Justo Villar. the summer, including those of local ican champions Paraguay were held At the other end, Benitez won Major League Soccer team Orlando to a goalless draw by Costa Rica in possession inside the Costa Rica half City, are scheduled for the mid- sultry conditions at the Citrus Bowl and showed great pace as he burst ORLANDO: Paraguay’s Argentine evening when temperatures have on Saturday in Copa America Cen- goalwards, but his right foot shot coach Ramon Diaz slammed the dropped. tenario Group A. flashed wide of the post. decision of Copa America organ- Asked if he had ever been Costa Rica ended the game with After the break, the two sides isers to schedule Saturday’s game involved in a game played in such 10 men after defender Kendall Waston struggled to pick up their rhythm against Costa Rica during the day as conditions, Diaz, who performed was sent off in injury time for a wild again and it was not until the 71st “crazy” after a 0-0 draw played in in Argentina, Italy and Japan dur- challenge on Nelson Valdez. minute that there was a real threat intense heat. ing his playing career said: “Never. The result leaves Colombia who on goal when Paraguay defender The temperature at the 5pm local I really think the players should be beat the United States in Friday’s Gustavo Gomez had a header from a kick-off time in the Citrus Bowl was respected.” opener, alone at the top of the group Derlis Gonzalez corner well saved by around 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 The Copa America tournament with three points. Costa Rica keeper Patrick Pemberton. degrees Celsius). is the biggest international soccer Waston will be suspended for With three minutes left, Costa “It was crazy to play at the time event to be held in the United States Costa Rica’s game on Tuesday in Chi- Rica substitute Christian Bolanos we played,” Diaz told a post-game since the 1994 World Cup. cago against the United States. caused Villar problems with a low news conference.“I would have Orlando was a venue for that Striker Jorge Benitez, who plays shot from over 25 years out which liked them (the organisers) to take tournament and drew attention after his club football in Mexico for Cruz bounced awkwardly in front of the into consideration the players them- a group game between the Repub- Azul, showed some excellent foot- 38-year-old keeper who pushed it selves, they are the main part of the lic of Ireland and Mexico was played Costa Rica’s Celso Borges (right) and Paraguay’s Celso Ortiz vie for work to create space inside the box wide. show after all,” he added. at mid-day in a temperature of 105 the ball possession during their Copa America Centenario match in in the ninth and his low cross was “We struggled in the first 20 min- “I’ve been in the game a long degrees fahrenheit. Costa Rica for- Orlando, Florida, on Saturday. almost turned into his own net by utes when they really controlled the time and very few times are the play- ward Bryan Diaz agreed with his Costa Rica defender Celso Borges. game,” said Costa Rica coach Oscar ers taken into consideration. namesake. Paraguay went close again when winger, entertained the crowd with chances. Costa Rica, quarter-final- Ramirez. Argentine Diaz disagreed: “The kick-off times should be “On the pitch it felt even worse Paulo Da Silva flashed a header wide some delightful touches, clever drib- ists in the World Cup two years ago, “If I analyse the whole game, I think made with players in mind. I know than you can imagine. You have to after a well-timed run to meet a cor- bling and intelligent passing, but played a more direct style, looking we were the ones who could have there are commitments with TV and change the way you play. Normally ner from Oscar Romero. Paraguay were unable to turn their to find forwards Joel Campbell and won it. I was pleased with the way so on but the conditions took their we like to press more but we just Romero, an old-fashioned style possession and creativity into real Ruiz quickly, but they were unable the boys played.” toll,” he added. Most professional couldn’t do it,” he said. 34 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 SPORT Hammel shines as Cubs beat Arizona

BASEBALL RESULTS a sacrifice bunt. past Kansas City (30-25) and into Chicago Cubs 5 Arizona 3 Correa slapped the first pitch of first place in the American League Chicago improve his at-bat into right field as Houston Central. Milwaukee 6 Philadelphia 3 to 8-1 during their won for the 10th time in 12 games. Yankees 8, Orioles 6 Pittsburgh 8 LA Angels 7 homestand and Oakland tied the game in the top Starlin Castro and Austin Boston 6 Toronto 4 of the ninth when second baseman Romine each knocked in two runs Detroit 7 C White Sox 4 own the best record Jed Lowrie slugged his first homer as New York jumped out to an early NY Mets 6 Miami 4 of the season. It marked the second seven-run lead and then held on to in the League at straight blown save for Astros closer defeat Baltimore. Houston 6 Oakland 5 39-15 Luke Gregerson. Pirates 8, Angels 7 Cincinnati 6 Washington 3 The Athletics have dropped the Jung Ho Kang, Gregory Polanco Tampa Bay 7 Minnesota 4 first two games of the series after and Matt Joyce hit home runs as the Cleveland 7 Kansas City 1 entering with a five-game winning Pittsburgh Pirates used a five-run NY Yankees 8 Baltimore 6 streak. seventh inning to break a four-game Agencies Nationals 6, Reds 3 losing streak with an 8-7 victory St Louis 7 San Francisco 4 Chicago Cubs Adam Duvall’s three-run homer over the Los Angeles Angels. Texas 10 Seattle 4 starting pitcher in the eighth inning lifted the Cincin- Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4 LA Dodgers 4 Atlanta 0 Jason Hammel nati to the victory over Washington David Ortiz singled home two San Diego 4 Colorado 3 hits a 2 RBI single CHICAGO: Jason Hammel (7-1) Nationals on a stormy afternoon more runs and Boston ended its during the fourth allowed two runs and one hit in that saw rain delays of 20 minutes three-game skid and Toronto’s four- inning against seven innings and helped himself in the fifth inning and again 1:04 in game winning streak. run off Philadelphia’s Hector Neris as the Arizona at the plate as the Chicago Cubs beat the eighth. Rangers 10, Mariners 4 Milwaukee handed the Phillies their the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Duvall homered on a 1-1 pitch Elvis Andrus and Nomar Mozara eighth loss in nine games. Diamondbacks at a rainy afternoon at Wrigley Field. from Shawn Kelley moments after homered and Texas racked up 14 hits Rays 7, Twins 4 Wrigley Field on Hammel (7-1) showed no ill the game was resumed in the eighth to win for the sixth time in seven Tampa Bay slugged four homers Saturday. effects from a hamstring injury to snap a 3-3 tie. It was Duvall’s 16th games by knocking off Seattle. among 11 hits while positing the vic- that limited him to two innings in home run this season and third in as Mets 6, Marlins 4 tory over Minnesota. his last start as the Cubs improved many games. Michael Conforto tied the score Cardinals 7, Giants 4 to 8-1 during their homestand and Dodgers 4, Braves 0 with a single and pinch hitter Matt Stephen Piscotty and Matt own the best record in the league Clayton Kershaw pitched six Reynolds had the go-ahead RBI as Adams belted back-to-back tie- at 39-15. shutout innings as Los Angeles New York rallied in the eighth inning breaking homers to start the sixth Astros 6, Athletics 5 (12) blanked Atlanta. to beat Miami. inning and help St. Louis recover Carlos Correa lined a walk-off Indians 7, Royals 1 Tigers 7, White Sox 4 from a 4-0 deficit and post the vic- single to right field with one out in Francisco Lindor, Tyler Naquin Mike Pelfrey collected his first tory over San Francisco. the 12th inning as Houston claimed and Mike Napoli each homered as victory with Detroit in his 11th start Padres 4, Rockies 3 the victory over Oakland. Cleveland defeated Kansas City for and J.D. Martinez drove in three runs Wil Myers and Derek Norris Astros right fielder George the third straight day. as the Tigers downed the Chicago homered to lead San Diego past Colo- Springer opened the 12th with a Josh Tomlin (8-1) allowed one White Sox 7-4. rado. The two-run homer by Norris in double to right off Athletics closer run in 6 1/3 innings as the Indi- Brewers 6, Phillies 3 the second-inning gave the Padres a Ryan Madson and reached third ans won their fourth straight Domingo Santana launched an 3-2 lead. Matt Kemp’s RBI single in base when Jose Altuve followed with game. Cleveland (30-24) moved eighth-inning, tie-breaking home the third made it a two-run margin.

Donskoi’s OT dagger Curry, Irving seek shooting form helps Sharks sink Pens AFP

OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors AFP losing the first two tight contests in The Penguins like their chances superstar Stephen Curry and Cleve- Pittsburgh. Justin Braun also scored as teams winning the first two games land Cavaliers playmaker Kyrie for the Sharks while Patric Hornqvist at home in the finals have gone on to Irving will try to shake off poor and Ben Lovejoy scored for the Pen- win 33 of 36 series. Pittsburgh scored shooting performances yesterday in LOS ANGELES: Joonas Donskoi guins in the first ever Stanley Cup first for a third straight game. Love- game two of the NBA Finals. scored with 7:42 left in overtime as final game played in San Jose. joy’s wrist shot from the right boards NBA scoring champion Curry the San Jose Sharks clawed their way All it took was a little bit of home went through the legs of San Jose connected on only 4-of-15 shots for 11 back into the Stanley Cup final with a cooking for San Jose to breath life into captain Joe Pavelski and deflected points in the Warriors’ 104-89 victory 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. the series with a come-from-behind off Sharks defenseman Roman Polak in Thursday’s best-of-seven series The 24-year-old Finnish forward win in front of a crowd of 17,500 at past Jones at 5:29 of the first period. opener while Irving hit just 7-of-22 sped away from Pittsburgh checker the SAP Center arena. The Sharks answered at even from the floor but went 11-of-12 from Evgeni Malkin at the side of the net, “It was electric,” said Sharks strength when Braun took a Joe the free throw line to score a game- then spun quickly and beat goal- coach Peter DeBoer. “It was amaz- Thornton pass and threaded a rolling high 26 points. tender Martin Jones with a high shot ing to stand back there. puck through a screen to beat goalie “I’m going to continue to have an to cut the Penguins lead in the best- “You can see those fans have Matt Murray at 9:34. aggressive mindset,” Irving said. “You of-seven NHL championship series been waiting a long time.” Pittsburgh produced the first have to pick and choose your spots. to 2-1. San Jose will have an opportu- seven shots of the game and fin- It’s just being more efficient in those “I was just trying to hit the net nity to level the series when they host ished the period with a 14-6 edge spots when we’re in transition, more with the puck,” said Donskoi of his game four Monday at the Shark Tank. over San Jose. efficient on those opportunities.” sixth goal of the postseason. Game five is Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Sharks had to play without Two-time NBA Most Valuable Donskoi assisted on teammate “They are a great team but we injured left winger Tomas Hertl, who Player Curry, who hit a record 402 Joel Ward’s tieing goal halfway never give up. It was our best game so was their best player in the first two 3-pointers this season, will often be through the third period as the far and we had confidence we were games. The team declined to release guarding Irving as he tries to bounce Sharks rallied to win at home after going to win,” said Donskoi. any details about the injury. back from one of his worst showings. “I just need to play better,” Curry said. “When we’re at our competitive best as a team is usually when I’m playing a pretty good game. I don’t think I need to press to score a cer- tain amount of points, but be more decisive with the ball.” That’s the same thing Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue wants to see from Irving. “We want Kyrie to be aggressive but it has to be sharp, quick attacks,” Lue said. “But we need him to score. Kyrie is the one guy we have who can break down guys off the dribble, so it’s going to be a fine line but he has to be quicker on the attack.” Lue also told Cavaliers star LeB- ron James to pick up the offensive pace and make quicker decisions just as Irving must. “He can score with the best of them and you never want to take that aggression from him,” James said of Irving. “We know as a team when the ball is moving and has good energy behind it, we’re all in good rhythm.” Stephen Curry of the Golden State Curry got a brief lesson in Sat- Warriors shoots the ball against the urday’s practice from Jerry West, Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half in a Warriors part owner and execu- Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE tive who was a 1960s star for the Los Matt Murray (left) of the Pittsburgh Arena on Friday in Oakland, California. Angeles Lakers. Penguins makes the save on Joonas West, whose silhouette was used Donskoi of the San Jose Sharks in Game for the NBA’s logo, worked with Curry perspective and the little things he help us it’s important -- it’s ‘The Logo’ Three of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final on hand positions but downplayed sees, especially from my game -- how so you take his advice strongly.” at SAP Center on Saturday in San Jose, his effort, saying, “I’m no messenger.” to use leverage with your hands, use The two-day gap between games California. The Sharks defeated the Still, it was clear Curry was your body to create space -- that’s is a scheduling change made to bet- Penguins 3-2 in overtime. intently paying attention to every invaluable advice,” Curry said. ter ensure players are at their peak hint and idea. “When he comes around and and not too fatigued from nearly two “He has such a unique gives us a little something that might months of playoff efforts. SPORT MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 35 Amir picked in Test squad for England

a custodial sentence for the offence, “Amir is expected to get visa in the and 2006 -- will be their mainstay. The 24-year-old fast is expected to receive his British visa next couple of days and (Mohammad) Besides Younis, Azhar Ali and in the next couple of days following a Hafeez is also cleared by medical staff Hafeez are the only two who have bowler is expected special request for leniency from the so we have included him,” Inzamam played previously played Tests in Eng- to receive his Pakistan Cricket Board. told a press conference. land before. Amir along with then-Pakistan The Test squad will be led by Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail British visa in the captain Salman Butt and new-ball Misbah-ul-Haq, who took on the cap- Khan and Imran Khan will next couple of days partner Mohammad Asif, were found taincy in October 2010, a few months round out the pace attack while guilty of arranging deliberate no-balls after the spot-fixing scandal. leg spinner Yasir Shah and left- following a special in return for money during the Lord’s Opener Hafeez was selected sub- armer Zulfiqar Babar are the two request for leniency Test against England in August 2010. ject to his full recovery from a knee spinners. In addition to receiving custo- injury sustained two months ago, with The squads for five one-day inter- from Pakistan dial sentences, all three players were selectors deciding to include him after nationals and a single Twenty20 will Cricket Board banned for five years. team medics said he would regain fit- be announced later. Since returning from his suspen- ness in the next few days. The team are likely to leave for sion last September Amir has been Regular opener Ahmed Shehzad the tour on June 18 and hold a train- a regular feature in Pakistan’s one- was not selected over disciplinary ing camp in Hampshire before their AFP day and Twenty20 sides but has yet problems, leaving the opening posi- first match against Somerset starting to make his return to Tests. tions to the inexperienced left-handed on July 5 and another against Sussex His good form makes him an pair of Shan Masood, who has played from July 8. automatic choice for the team. Bar- seven Tests, and Sami Aslam, who has Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (cap- LAHORE, Pakistan: Fast bowler ring any visa problem or injury he played one. tain), Mohammad Hafeez (subject to Mohammad Amir has been named in is set to open the bowling for Paki- Aslam, 20, however, starred fitness), Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Pakistan’s Test squad to face England stan when they take the field for the against England during a Pakistan Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, in a four-match series starting next first Test on July 14 at Lord’s -- the junior team tour in 2013, when he Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfraz Ahmed, month, six years after he received same venue where he committed his hit three centuries. Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, a spot-fixing ban against the same offence six years earlier. Pakistan’s batting will also be Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Amir, Pakisdtan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been named in the Test opponents. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq tested but the experienced Younis Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, The 24-year-old, who also served said Amir would receive a visa. Khan -- who toured England in 2001 Imran Khan. squad to face England in a four-match series starting next month.

Frisby dizzy with Late bogey costs Kuchar outright Memorial lead Wallabies call-up

Reuters PGA Tour’s Memorial “It’s something that you kind of Reuters Tournament scores better get accustomed to. I came out and hit a not very good shot on 16, Washington: Leading scores after WASHINGTON: Former champion Saturday’s third round of the PGA made a nice up-and-down. A cou- Matt Kuchar surrendered the out- Tour’s Memorial Tournament at Dub- ple of really good shots on 17. MELBOURNE: Nick Frisby spent right lead with a bogey on the tricky lin, Ohio (par 72, USA unless noted): “It’s never fun to bogey 18, but four bench-ridden years of frus- par-four 18th to conclude the third 202 William McGirt 70-68-64, almost felt glad to bogey 18 at the tration behind veteran Australia round of the weather-hit Memorial Gary Woodland 68-65-69, same time.” scrumhalf Will Genia at the tournament on Saturday, setting up Matt Kuchar 66-66-70 Kuchar, who won the 2013 Queensland Reds so can hardly the prospect of a shoot-out. 203 Adam Hadwin (CAN) 70-66- Memorial tournament and has believe he now finds himself Kuchar had stormed a stroke 67, Dustin Johnson 64-71-68, recorded four top-10s in his last five poised to win his debut Wallabies clear of a tightly bunched leader- Jon Curran 68-67-68, Emil- PGA Tour starts, relished the pros- cap against England. board with a run of four birdies in iano Grillo (ARG) 67-66-70 pect of challenging for the title in Frisby was named in Michael five holes from the 11th but stumbled 204 Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 71-69- Sunday’s final round at one of his Cheika’s squad for the three- at the last after finding a bunker off 64, Zac Blair 69-67-68, Kevin favourite venues. match series and is likely to back the tee and the right rough with his Streelman 67-68-69 “I love this golf course, this is up experienced starter Nick Phipps second to card a two-under-par 70. 205 Robert Streb 68-73-64, Webb the highlight for me of the year,” he in the match-day 23 for the open- That left American Kuchar at Simpson 69-70-66, John said. “Certainly got great memories ing game in Brisbane on Saturday. 14-under 202, level at the top with Huh 69-69-67, Jason Day here. I’ve had a lot of success here ... Since Genia’s departure for compatriots William McGirt (64) and (AUS) 66-71-68, Scott Brown I’ll certainly be looking forward to French club Stade Francais after long-hitting Gary Woodland (69) after 69-67-69 tomorrow’s round of golf.” the World Cup, Frisby has made another intriguing day of fluctuating 206 J.B. Holmes 71-68-67, Hudson Journeyman McGirt, bidding for the Reds’ number nine shirt his fortunes at Muirfield Village. Swafford 66-71-69, KJ Choi his first PGA Tour victory in his 165th own and beat out Melbourne Rebel First-round leader Dustin John- (KOR) 68-69-69, Phil Mickel- career start, put himself in conten- Nic Stirzaker to be the Wallabies’ son (68) was a further shot back in son 68-69-69, Harold Varner tion with a strong finish as he birdied second scrumhalf. a tie for fourth with fellow Ameri- 68-67-71 three of the last five holes. “It’s hard to believe really,” the can Jon Curran (68), Canadian Adam 207 John Senden (AUS) 69-70-68, “My biggest thing right now is I 23-year-old told reporters in Bris- Hadwin (67) and Argentina’s Emiliano Matt Jones (AUS) 71-68-68, want to win a golf tournament,” he bane on Sunday. Grillo (70), with another eight play- Russell Henley 68-70-69, said. “Don’t really care which one it “It took me a while to sink ers no worse than three off the pace. Ryan Moore 70-67-70, Brian is. But to have a chance to win here at in last week that I was out there Among those was Australian Harman 68-70-69, Keegan Jack’s place would be extra special.” training with some of these guys world number one Jason Day, who Bradley 68-69-70, Rory McIl- Day, who clinched his third PGA I’ve watched play for years and mixed seven birdies with a bogey and roy (NIR) 71-66-70, Geoff Tour victory of the season at the Play- looked up to. a double at the last for a 68 to trail Ogilvy (AUS) 68-69-70, ers Championship last month, was “It’s been a really pleasing year by three in the prestigious PGA Tour Brendan Steele 65-67-75 also contemplating the prospect of for me, I’ve hit some good form. I’ll event hosted by Jack Nicklaus. a Memorial win. get stuck in again this week and Kuchar had mixed feelings after threat of lightning in the area. “I did close the gap on that lead a see where it takes me.” bogeying the 18th, having lost his “It’s part of the deal,” the 37-year- little bit too, so that’s a positive, and Luck has helped Frisby land Kevin Streelman hits his third shot on the 15th hole during the third round back nine momentum with just three old told reporters about the weather I’m pretty sure we’re going to have safely, with Genia omitted from the of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio holes left when play was suspended suspension. “We do it a lot during some tough conditions tomorrow,” squad as he recovers from knee on Saturday. for just over two hours due to the the year. said the Ohio-based Australian. surgery earlier in the year. A paucity of other rivals has also played a part, with capped Wallaby Nic White also leaving to play in France, rendering him inel- igible for selection as he lacks the Sparkling 62 lifts Icher to LPGA lead in LA minimum 60 caps for overseas- based players to be considered. Two of Australia’s five Super Rugby teams are using foreign AFP LPGA ShopRite Classic doesn’t serve me,” she said. “I try to players as their starting scrum- scores play shot after shot, then it’s possi- halves, with the Canberra-based Los Angeles: Leading scores on Sat- ble to become like a game to make ACT Brumbies recruiting Argentine urday after the second round of the as many birdies as possible.” Tomas Cubelli and Perth’s Western LOS ANGELES: France’s Karine Icher LPGA ShopRite Classic (par 71, USA She teed off on 10 and after four Force playing former All Black Alby tied a tournament record with a nine- unless noted): birdies in her first nine holes she Mathewson. under par 62 on Saturday to take a 130 Karine Icher (FRA) 68-62 birdied five coming in. For a nation that produced one-stroke lead after two rounds of 131 Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 67-64, While Icher is seeking her first the likes of Nick Farr-Jones and the LPGA ShopRite Classic in Gallo- Haru Nomura (JPN) 65-66 LPGA tour title, Nordqvist is chas- George Gregan, the modest stock way, New Jersey. 132 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 64-68 ing the first successful title defense of elite scrumhalves is concerning. The 62 was also a career-low 134 Mariajo Uribe (COL) 69-65, of her career. “Halfback is a specialist posi- Jacqui Concolino 68-66, round for the 37-year old Icher, who Christel Boeljon (NED) 66-68 She hasn’t won since her victory tion. The ARU (Australian Rugby had a 36-hole total of 12-under par 135 Christina Kim 69-66, Kim In- here last year, when she trailed Mor- Union) needs to ensure there is a 132. Kyung (KOR) 69-66, Gaby gan Pressel by one shot heading into development pathway at Super She was one stroke in front Lopez (MEX) 68-67, Kris Tam- the final round. Rugby level for future Wallabies of South Korea’s Choi Na-Yeon, ulis 67-68, Jodi Ewart Shadoff “I feel like I hit a lot of good shots number nines,” former Australia who carded a 64 and Japan’s Haru (ENG) 66-69, Catriona Mat- and a lot of good putts today,” Nor- flyhalf Mark Ella wrote in the Nomura, who signed for a 66. thew (SCO) 65-70, Ai Miyazato dqvist said. “Greens were pretty Australian. Defending champion Anna Nor- (JPN) 64-71 bumpy and some of my putts even “There has to be a limit on the dqvist was a stroke back on 132 after 136 Samantha Richdale (CAN) airborne. You’ve just got to stay recruitment of foreign players in 68-68, Daniela Iacobelli a 68. 68-68, Lin Xi Yu (CHN) 67-69, patient and tomorrow we are just specialist positions.” “I made a lot of second shots Danielle Kang 67-69, Steph- going to have more similar con- Frisby is unlikely to feel too close to the hole, so made some bird- anie Meadow 66-70, Yan Jing ditions. So I’m excited to go for it comfortable about having made ies easier to do,” said Icher, who had (CHN) 67-69 tomorrow.” the grade, with Genia’s pedi- nine birdies without a bogey, and 137 Celine Herbin (FRA) 70-67, Nomura, who has won twice this gree hard to overlook if he can reckoned her longest birdie putt of Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) season, said her experience winning prove his fitness in time for the the day was 10 feet. 69-68, Kim Kaufman 68-69, in San Francisco in April may stand southern hemisphere’s Rugby The world number 58 said she Cheng Ssu-Chia (TPE) 68-69, her in good stead if predicted stormy Championship which starts in Karrie Webb (AUS) 67-70, Hsu didn’t know until the final hole that Wei-Ling (TPE) 69-68 weather hits. “Maybe tomorrow very August. she had tied the single-round scoring bad weather, so like Swinging Skirts Having studied in the little Karine Icher of France watches her tee shot on the eighth hole during record for the tournament achieved on last day,” she said. “So I keep my master’s footsteps, Frisby may previously by Laura Davies, Kang Ji- “I just try to play easy and not patience. Everybody is in the same the second round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on the Bay Course at the hope to employ Genia’s wisdom Min and Jennifer Johnson. look at the scoreboard, because it conditions, so I’ll try to play.” Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey on Saturday. to keep him out of the squad. 36 MONDAY 6 JUNE 2016 Qatar’s Arakji set to make history at Rio Games

was Qatar’s national football team goalkeeper in the 1970s and ‘80s, as The swimming well as a player for iconic Qatari club sensation set to Al-Sadd. It was this early exposure to sport that laid the framework for the become the first 22 year-old swimmer. female Olympian to “It’s pretty great having a football player as a father. He gives me a lot represent Qatar twice of advice and he keeps me motivated. So that’s one of things that keeps me going and he tells me all these expe- riences that he’s had and things that The Peninsula he’s done so it’s pretty interesting to know and relate with that.” Al Rayyan, winners of the Qatar Stars League (QSL), celebrate on the Her love of swimming soon per- podium at Al Sadd Stadium. in this file photo. meated her life, with Arakji creating DOHA: With just two months to go to a school presentation on her idol, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Qatari Italian Olympic gold medallist Fred- swimmer Nada Arakji will once again erica Pellegrini, who she then had the make history as the first female ath- opportunity to meet when competing Exciting numbers at QSL lete to represent Qatar twice in the at London 2012,“being able to meet her Olympics. Arakji wrote herself into in the Olympics was honestly some- the history books at the London 2012 thing quite amazing for me”. 2015/2016 Season Games when she became one of Arakji, who was accepted into Qatar’s first-ever female Olympians. Carnegie Mellon University Qatar The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will right before she competed in London The 2015/2016 Qatar Stars League provided maximum entertainment throughout the action filled mark the first time the Olympics are 2012, and graduated this year ahead season. Here is a look at some of the key statistics that defined the domestic football season in held in South America and will see of Rio 2016, walks a fine line to find Qatar, provided by Prozone. over 10,000 athletes from 206 nations the balance between her education compete in Rio de Janeiro. The best and her swimming career. This QSL season saw an impressive 561 goals scored this term, with an average of 3.08 goals athletes from around the globe will “Balancing between swimming scored per game. Whilst 484 assists where registered over the season, all highlighting plenty of challenge themselves to the absolute and my studies is hard, but since I’m high scoring attacking play in the QSL. The honour of the biggest victory of the season was Al limit of their ability before a global TV passionate about both it’s all about audience of 4.8b people. organising your time. I think that’s Rayyan’s 9-0 win over Qatar SC. Qatar will send its biggest dele- the key thing to success.” Arakji said, gation to the Olympic Games since its adding “Nothing’s going to get in your The QSL season consisted of 182 games overall, while referee’s dished out a total of 37 red cards debut in Los Angeles 1984. Thirty six way if you love what you do.” and 788 yellow cards over the season. Former QSL champions Lekhwiya have the dubious award athletes will compete in seven sports It is Arakji’s love and passion for of receiving the most yellow cards this season, picking up 70 in total and averaging 2.6 yellow – athletics, swimming, shooting, her sport that led her to the London cards per game. handball, equestrian, table tennis and 2012 Olympic Games: judo. To support its athletes on their “The historic moment being the Overall, this season the QSL had 4,663 shots on goal which highlights plenty of attacking intent. journey in Rio, QOC has launched first Qatari female to represent my A total of 2,054 of these shots were on target, meaning the average shot accuracy was 43% the #YallaQatar campaign across its country in the Olympics was really this season. Second place El Jaish have the honour of being the most accurate shooting side in the social media channels with the aim of something big for me. Competing QSL with 48% of their shots landing on target. Central to stopping the shots were the goalkeepers showcasing Qatar’s athletes and their in the London 2012 Olympics was a of what the atmosphere will be like in out there to not be afraid and take of the QSL, who racked up 83 clean sheets over the course of the season. incredible feats. The Olympic Dreams dream come true.” she said, adding “It Rio. My goals for the Olympics Games risks. It doesn’t have to be sports. film series will profile each team and gives me such honour that I will carry are to be the best I can be and defi- Whether it’s education or sports or In terms of penalties awarded, 91 where given over the 2015/2016 QSL season. From these penal- athlete, and explore the highs, lows, with me forever and I’m just really nitely to get a personal best time. With other things,” Arakji said, adding “I ties 75 where scored, meaning an impressive conversion rate of 82%. Possession was also the motivations and dreams of Qatar’s proud and happy.” all the training I’ve done I hope that think they should be confident and name of the game over the course of the QSL season. The side that enjoyed the most average Olympians. With her university graduation I’ll be able to improve my times and do what they love.” possession per match was third placed QSL side Al Sadd who averaged 59% of the ball this season “I did basketball, netball, ballet behind her, Arakji continues her tire- for everyone to be happy.” Arakji said. Nada will compete in the 200m and swimming obviously. My favour- less training for Rio 2016, which takes Nada Arakji has high hopes freestyle and 100m butterfly at Rio while relegated QSL side Meisameer averaged 44% of the ball this term, the lowest in the league. ite one was swimming and I felt the place in the state-of-the-art Hamad that her participation in the Olym- 2016. Qatari fans can follow her most connection with that sport. Eve- Aquatic Centre, and she hopes uti- pic Games for the second time will Olympic Dreams on the Qatar Olym- Passing play and crosses played its part in creating chances for the sides of the QSL over the course rything else felt ok but it didn’t feel lize her previous experience when inspire young Qatari girls to take up pic Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and of the season. On average each QSL side completed 356 passes per match, of these passes 297 right. But when I started swimming I she competes in Rio. sports and to challenge the status quo: YouTube channels under the hashtag were successfully completed meaning a high passing success rate of 84%. Whilst in terms felt yes this is for me,” she said. “My experience in London has “I definitely hope to inspire more #YallaQatar. of crosses, 22 crosses from open play and set pieces where delivered by QSL sides per game this For Arakji, sport runs in the fam- helped. I’ve gone to the first Olym- young athletes to take up sport, espe- The Rio 2016 Olympic Games take term. 5.7 Of these crosses being deemed successful meaning a 25.9% success rate. ily – her father Mohamed Wafa Arakji pics, seen what it’s like. I have an idea cially women. I encourage all the girls place from August 5 to 21.

One of the key metrics for a side’s development is the amount of running they do over the course of a game. In the 2015/2016 season each outfield player in the QSL covered an average of 10.6km per match. Whilst each QSL side ran a total of 106.3km as a team per QSL game, suggesting high levels of fitness from the players in the league. Qatar SC’s Korean midfielder Kook Han Young Qatar handball team ready for Olympics has the honor of covering the most distance in a single game, clocking up a staggering 13.6km in his sides match against Al Rayyan.

Sprinting when it matters is also an important metric for QSL sides and their development. On aver- QNA in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Qatar will first face Croatia on Olympics came after more then three age, each player in the QSL underwent 37 sprints per QSL game. Individually, Al Sadd defender South Korea. The team also won the August 7, according to the declared years of planning and long term strat- Abdulkarim Hassan led the way preforming 102 sprints in his sides match against Al Sailiya. silver medal in the Handball World game table. The Qatari national team egy set by the board of directors of Championship in Doha in 2015, and attended local and foreign training Qatar Handball Association. DOHA: Qatar National Handball then achieved a historic 28-19 vic- camps in preparation for the Olym- He looked towards more achieve- On average players took in a sprint distance of 243m per player in QSL games this term. This Team is all set for its first historic par- tory over its Iranian counterpart in pics. The camps included several ments for the Qatari team which had means that sides averaged 2.8km overall of sprinting per QSL game. While individually, Umm Salal ticipation in the upcoming Rio 2016 the final game of the Asian qualifi- friendly matches with European accomplished huge results in the striker Munir El Hamdaoui clocked up 2.1km of sprinting in the game against Al Arabi. Olympics in Brazil. ers for the 2016 Olympic Games in teams. Locally, the team will also play championships recently. The Qatari team is looking for- Rio de Janeiro. friendly with a number of European He noted that the upcoming So from the statistics provided, it seems clear that the QSL has enjoyed another fine season of de- wards for more global achievements The draw for handball tourna- and Asian teams including Japan;s Olympics competitions will not be velopment on the pitch. QSL online’s series will continue now to look at each individual side in the as one of the best teams in the world. ments put the Qatari team in Group team on July 8 and 10. easy in light of the competing group, QSL, and how the numbers shaped their season. Over three years, Qatar National A with the teams of Tunisia, France, Supervisor of the team Adel Hilal early timing and limited number of Handball Team won the gold medal Denmark, Croatia and Argentina. Al Anzi said that qualifying to Rio players. Muhammad Ali’s funeral ‘open to everybody’

AFP three decades. Yesterday, Ali’s relatives accom- Obama said. Obama later called Ali’s widow panied his body from Scottsdale, Arizona to Lonnie to offer condolences, the White House Louisville, his hometown in the southern state said. of Kentucky. In a possible preview of Bill Clinton’s LOUISVILLE: The world is invited to the After a private family funeral on Thurs- eulogy, he and his wife Hillary, who is seek- funeral of Muhammad Ali in his hometown day, Ali’s coffin will be transported through ing the Democratic presidential nomination, on Friday where the boxing legend’s life will be the streets of Louisville on Friday, before a said Ali was “a blend of beauty and grace, celebrated with a public funeral procession and public memorial service at an arena, with speed and strength that may never be matched memorial service, a family spokesman said. former president Bill Clinton among celebri- again.” Ali, a three-time world heavyweight cham- ties expected to offer eulogies. Ali was hospitalized in the Phoenix area pion and civil rights activist who was an iconic The procession has been organized to early this week, but his condition quickly figure of the 20th century, died Friday aged 74 “allow anyone that is there from the world to deteriorated. after health problems complicated by a long say goodbye,” family spokesman Bob Gunnell Ali had been living in the Phoenix area battle with Parkinson’s disease. told reporters. with Lonnie, his fourth wife whom he mar- The official cause of death was septic Louisville lowered flags to half-staff in his ried in 1986. He was survived by nine children shock due to unspecified natural causes. honor, as fans flocked to the boxer’s modest -- seven daughters and two sons. The dazzling fighter -- whose words, often childhood home, now a museum, to pay their The fighter himself planned much of the A mural with the delivered in catchy rhymes, were as devastat- respects. memorial events, Gunnell said. image of boxing ing as his punches -- had been admitted to an President Barack Obama led tributes for The interfaith service is to be conducted legend Muhammad Arizona hospital earlier in the week. Ali, issuing an unusually personal statement at Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center in accordance Ali is seen on Political leaders, sports figures, celebrities in which he said he keeps a pair of Ali’s boxing with “Muslim tradition” and in the presence of Saturday in Louisville, and fans around the world paused to remem- gloves and a photo in his private study. an imam. Ali will be buried at Cave Hill Ceme- Kentucky. ber “The Greatest,” whose career spanned “Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. Period,” tery in Louisville, where he was born in 1942.