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Opec may hold formal Rashidov and meeting if members Romarinho earn 2-1 agree on oil output win for El Jaish

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 • 17 DHUL HIJJA 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6924 2 Riyals thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar New academic year Emir meets President of Panama starts on a high note

Independent schools reported acquainted with the rules and reg- around 70 percent attendance on ulations. A teacher at the Al Maha The Minister of the first day, while it was higher in Academy, an international school Education and Higher most private schools. located in Ain Khaled said, children The ministry as part of its new were so excited on the first day and Education H E Dr disciplinary rules, has issued a some came even before the teachers Mohammed Abdul strong warning to students against arrived. The school offered refresh- Wahid Al Hammadi abstaining from classes in the fol- ments to parents who accompanied lowing days. their kids. visited a number of “Preparation for the new aca- Sana Salman, a mother of two Independent schools demic year was based on studies daughters studying at American conducted on past years’ experiences School Doha said, “Attendance was as Qatar started the and we focused on administrative, full on the first day. Different activi- new academic year organisational an academic aspects, ties took place at the school to cheer with the aim of improving quality up children and gear up for a new yesterday. and academic achievements. We start. The students were enthusias- have managed to fill all teachers’ tic attending the school after a long vacancies (in Independent schools) summer break.” with qualified hands and benefit- Nargis Raza, principal of Paki- By Amna Pervaiz Rao & ted from local talents,” said Fouzia Al stan Education Centre (PEC) said: Lojayn Motaz Eissa Khater, director of Education Insti- “There was heavy traffic at Abu The Peninsula tute at the Ministry. Hamor in the morning since many Life was hectic in a girls’ Inde- schools are located in the same Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, at the pendent school in the airport area place. Attendance was over 50 per- premises of Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, yesterday. They discussed bilateral DOHA: Qatar started the new aca- when The Peninsula visited its cent. It wasn’t full, because many relations and means to develop them, especially in the investments field in addition to a host of demic year yesterday, with the premises early morning yesterday. families have not yet returned from international issues. The meeting was attended by the members of the official delegation accompanying Independent and private schools Parents were busy collecting the vacation. The staff was geared the Emir. resuming classes after the long sum- text books for their kids and making up for a fresh start and the chil- mer break and the city going back to arrangements for transport in school dren were in high spirits in their its usual hustle and bustle. buses. Some were a bit annoyed as classrooms.” As the city witnessed heavy traf- it took time to get things organised, The Next Generation School fic during peak hours yesterday, the being the first day. (TNG) CEO Shagufta Bakali said: “ Deputy PM calls Ministry of Education and Higher “The first week will put too much We were delighted to see the happy HIA welcomes 17.6 million Education has instructed schools to pressure on the parents’ pockets, faces of children. Attendance was for NAM’s strong take special care about the safety of in terms of school expenditure,” fairly good. Heavy traffic made some children in school buses. A circular lamented a Qatari parent. students come late and the school passengers in first half was sent to Independent schools in “We are trying to create the saf- buses also arrived late. We sched- stance on Syria this regard. est environment for students by uled the school time with a gap of The Minister of Education and keeping all facilities intact,” the 10 minutes as we knew that many The Peninsula world’s major cargo hubs. MARGARITA ISLAND, VENE- Higher Education H E Dr Moham- supervisor of the school told this children won’t make it on time on HIA’s top routes with regard ZUELA: Deputy Prime Minister and med Abdul Wahid Al Hammadi daily. She said in the first week, there the first day.” to passenger numbers during the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs visited a number of Independ- will be a lot of emphasis on stu- first half of this year were Dubai, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mah- ent schools yesterday. Some dents discipline to get the students → See also page 5 DOHA: Hamad International Air- London, Bangkok, Bahrain and moud said that the magnitude of port (HIA) has set a new record, Colombo, generating collectively the humanitarian disaster in Syria welcoming 17.6 million passengers 20.3% of the airport’s traffic. and the serious consequences of during the first half of this year. The UAE topped all countries in the continuing crisis on the security The airport registered a growth terms of total passenger numbers and stability of the region and the of more than 20% compared to the followed by India, Saudi Arabia, world require Non-Aligned Move- same period last year which wit- USA and United Kingdom. Region- ment’s (NAM) strong positions in nessed 14.6 million passengers. ally, the Far East achieved a 33.6% support of international efforts to HIA also saw a significant share of passenger movements, reach a political solution accord- increase in aircraft operations from followed by the Middle East with ing to the Geneva-1 communique. January to June with a total of 118,069 22% and Europe with 21.6% dur- The Deputy Prime Minister movements, which represents a 17% ing the same period. was addressing the 17th Non- increase in aircraft take-offs and Commenting on the airport’s Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit landings at the airport, compared to figures, Eng Badr Mohammed Al in Margarita Island, Venezuela, the same period last year. Meer, Chief Operating Officer at yesterday. This growth is attributed to the HIA, said: “The first six months of continuous expansion of Qatar Air- this year have been the busiest for → Full report on page 2 ways with eight new destinations our airport to date, achieving record added in the first half of the year passenger and aircraft movement namely, Adelaide, Atlanta, Bir- traffic. We expect HIA to continue QNB among mingham, Boston, Los Angeles, demonstrating a healthy and steady Marrakech, Ras Al Khaimah and growth in passenger numbers for Yerevan as well as new flights by the rest of the year, supporting world’s 50 Philippine Airlines, Atlas Global Air- Qatar’s vision for HIA to be leader lines and Himalaya Airlines. among global aviation hubs.” safest banks Cargo tonnage continued to HIA is the hub for its home base grow strongly by 20.3% total- carrier Qatar Airways, which now ing 817,792 tonnes during the flies to more than 150 destinations The Peninsula Students waiting for books during the reopening day at Al Ahnaf bin Qais Independent Preparatory School same period, further strength- worldwide, making Doha a global yesterday. ening HIA’s position as one of the hub for business and leisure travel. DOHA: QNB Group, a leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, has retained its position at the top of the list of the Pakistan Embassy steps up efforts to repatriate illegal residents World’s 50 Safest Banks, according to the latest update published by Global Finance Magazine in 2016. By Irfan Bukhari extension in the passport so that such requirements for illegal residents to of Pakistan Youth Society, replied: “We Since 2013, the Group The Peninsula people can travel to Pakistan. But on avail of the amnesty. “We are trying do not have any such figures.” New timing for retained this ranking, which is this extension they can only travel to our best to spread the message and A Pakistani worker told The Penin- amnesty seekers based on the evaluation of long- Pakistan, the home country and no convince illegal Pakistani residents to sula that most of the illegal residents term credit ratings provided by where else. Some cases have appeared avail the offer without procrastination,” from Pakistan and other countries Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and DOHA: The Pakistan Embassy in col- in the last three weeks for the emer- said Tahir Chaudhry, Secretary-Gen- as well were living in Industrial Area DOHA: The Ministry of Interior has Fitch, and the total assets of the laboration with community leaders gency extension in passport since this eral, Pakistan Welfare Forum. neighbourhood. “I have met some extended the working hours of its 500 largest banks worldwide. It has stepped up efforts to reap max- amnesty was introduced but yet we “In the first place, no one should illegal residents there who work on Search and Follow Up Department is notable that The Banker mag- imum results from the ongoing have not observed any visible influx,” stay here illegally. We give this lower wages. But as far as I know and for amnesty seekers for two hours azine has recently ranked QNB amnesty for illegal residents in Qatar. he said, adding that the embassy was message to all people coming from according to my interactions with to serve more cases. The new tim- among the world’s top 100 banks Talking to The Peninsula, Rizwan playing its due role to convince illegal Pakistan. But in case anyone is resid- such illegal residents, they are set to ing is from 12 (noon) to 8 pm on in 2016. QNB was ranked among Manzoor, Welfare Counselor at Paki- residents through community lead- ing here illegally, he should avail of avail the opportunity to avoid future all working days from Sunday to the top banks based on a number stan Embassy said that so far he had ers to avail the amnesty to avoid future the amnesty scheme,” Tahir added. consequences,” he said. “We are also Thursday, the Ministry tweeted yes- of factors, including its Basel Com- not witnessed any influx of cases legal consequences. When asked about the rough tracing people who are living here terday. The three-month amnesty pliance Level, performance, loans demanding temporary extension in A travel document issued by number of Pakistani expats living ille- illegally and convincing them to avail took effect on September 1 and will to assets ratio, and soundness. their long-expired passports. the embassy in case a valid pass- gally in Qatar, Tahir Chaudhry, who the scheme,” said Janan Bangesh, end on December 1. “We usually give a 45-day port is not available is one of the has also been the founding president another community leader. → Continued on page 3 02 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 HOME

Emir condoles with Saudi King Qatar urges NAM to act tough on crises QNA

appreciates the Non-Aligned Move- DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Deputy Prime ment’s support for the Palestinian bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent cause, under the continuing Israeli a cable of condolences to the Cus- Minister urged occupation and denial of Palestin- todian of the Two Holy Mosques the international ian people’s rights. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al He highlighted Qatar’s support Saud of Saudi Arabia on the death community to protect for international efforts to achieve a of Princess Nouf bint Bader bin the Syrian people just and comprehensive peace based Abdulaziz Al Saud. and bring all those on international legitimacy resolu- Deputy Emir H H Sheikh tions and the Arab peace initiative, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and responsible for war The Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister and Interior crimes in Syria to Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin also reiterated Qatar’s firm position in Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also justice. support of the Palestinian cause and sent cables of condolences to Cus- the Palestinian people, on the basis of todian of the Two Holy Mosques a two-state solution to put an end to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Israeli occupation of all Arab territories Saud of Saudi Arabia on the death QNA and stop settlement activities. of Princess Nouf bint Bader bin Referring to the Yemeni crisis, Al Abdulaziz Al Saud. Mahmoud emphasised that Qatar is MARGARITA ISLAND, VENEZUELA: committed to working within the Emir greets The continuing humanitarian crisis framework of the GCC and the inter- in Syria and its serious consequences national community to reach a final Chile President on the security and stability of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud and solution to the crisis based on a Yem- region require a strong position from Qatar’s delegation at the NAM meeting in Margarita Island, Venezuela. eni national consensus and based on DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim the Non-Aligned Movement in sup- the Gulf initiative and the outcomes bin Hamad Al Thani sent yester- port of international efforts to reach end the crisis and bring a political It’s of particular concern the out- war crimes and crimes against of the National Dialogue Conference day a cable of congratulations a political solution according to the solution that enhances security and comes announced at the end of last humanity in Syria to justice. and in implementation of Security to the President of the Repub- Geneva-1 communiqué, said Deputy stability in the region. August by the joint investigation The Deputy Prime Minister Council Resolution 2216 and related lic of Chile Michelle Bachelet on Prime Minister and Minister of State Al Mahmoud pointed out that between the Organization for the emphasised that the pursuit of the resolutions. Qatar will continue its the anniversary of her country’s for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin the continued crisis of Syria repre- Prohibition of Chemical Weapons movement since its inception to humanitarian support to Yemen in Independence Day. Abdullah Al Mahmoud. sents an international failure and has and the UN mechanism established achieve a world of equality, justice cooperation with the United Nations Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Addressing the 17th Non-Aligned made the majority of Syrians depend pursuant to Security Council Reso- and stability is fully compatible with and national, regional and interna- Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Movement (NAM) Summit in Mar- on humanitarian assistance because of lution 2235 (2015) which confirmed the policy of Qatar and its efforts at tional relief organisations. the Prime Minister and Interior garita Island, Venezuela, he said the systematic policy of besieging civil- that the Syrian regime and ISIS group the international level. Qatar will The Deputy Prime Minister Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin the State of Qatar is at the forefront ians and depriving them of basic needs. used chemical weapons in Syria, he continue its efforts as an active stressed that Qatar has been keen to Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also of countries providing humanitar- The Syrian regime used all types of pointed out. member in the movement to fulfill cooperate and work with partners in sent yesterday cables of congratu- ian assistance to Syrian people, and weapons that killed nearly half a mil- He urged the international com- its responsibilities and obligations the NAM to promote security and sta- lations to President of the Republic will continue supporting without any lion innocent civilians and displaced munity to protect the Syrian people to the just causes of the non-aligned bility in the world and support efforts of Chile Michelle Bachelet. hesitation and make every effort to millions inside and outside Syria. and bring all those responsible for movement. Al Mahmoud said Qatar to combat terrorism. Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Glittering finale to Eid celebrations 2015 model recalled

By Raynald C Rivera The Peninsula The Peninsula campaign comes within the frame- work of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects DOHA: The week-long “Eid Celebra- DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and repairs. tions in Qatar” organised by Qatar and Commerce, in collaboration The Ministry said that it will Tourism Authority (QTA) nationwide with Nasser Bin Khaled Automo- coordinate with the dealer to follow concluded on a high note yesterday. biles, dealer of Mercedes Benz up on the maintenance and repair Thousands of visitors thronged vehicles in Qatar, has announced works and will communicate with 18 venues across the country where the recall of Mercedes-Benz SLK customers to ensure that the neces- dozens of family-oriented shows and Class 2015 model because of a sary repairs are carried out. activities were held, cementing the potential defect in the internal The Ministry has urged all cus- country’s reputation as a preferred requirements of the driver’s wir- tomers to report any violations to family destination in the Gulf dur- ing harness regarding power supply. its Consumer Protection and Anti- ing Eid holidays. Eid Al Adha festival The Ministry said the recall Commercial Fraud Department. is one of the highlights of the many events held by QTA annually to act as a catalyst to propel domestic and regional tourism. “Festivals are an important part of DFI to screen ‘Nosferatu’ Qatar’s strategy to build a rich calen- dar of events that drive footfall to the Eid Al Adha festival is one of the highlights of the many events held by QTA annually to act as a catalyst to country’s venues and attract visitors QNA from all over the world. The event propel domestic and regional tourism. year-round. Following on the success- is organised by the DFI in collab- ful run of festivals we have delivered oration with Qatar Philharmonic this year in partnership with the pri- entertainment sectors in support of the Chipmunks (Ezdan Mall), Pirates Centre were also main attractions Orchestra, the British Embassy in vate sector, we are looking forward to QTA’s efforts to diversify the coun- from the Caribbean (Lagoona Mall) during their run. The children’s DOHA: The Doha Film Institute will Doha and the British Council. exploring new additions to the annual try’s tourism offering. and Sinbad the Sailor (Hyatt Plaza). shows held at The Pearl Qatar and screen at the Katara Opera House Highlights of the series also events calendar,” Mashal Shahbik, Among the major players at this Parades and shows which rotated the concerts featuring popular Arab on Thursday German director F W include the Patrick Doyle: A Sym- QTA’s Director of Tourism Events and year’s Eid Al Adha festival were the around the participating malls singers at the Abdualziz bin Nasser Murnau’s expressionist horror film phony of Films, a concert of great Festivals, said yesterday. malls which hosted diverse shows including African Drummers, Kids Theatre in Souq Waqif were also Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror compositions from Doyle’s career; Shahbik underscored the close which attracted a big number of res- Magician, Funny Ball Performer, Cir- were a big draw. with live accompaniment by the as well as a master class with Doyle. cooperation between QTA and var- idents and tourists. cus Spectacle, Circus Bear and Clown Other venues which hosted Eid Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. ‘A Symphony of Films’ will be held ious sectors in turning the festival Yesterday, the six participat- and Qatari Traditional Dance also festival events and activities included This comes within as series of from September 22 to 26 at the Katara into a big success. ing malls brought down the curtain attracted huge audiences. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani performances under the theme Drama Theatre and the Katara Opera “Eid Celebrations in Qatar are on their exclusive shows including Katara’s 50-minute spectacular Museum, Al Samariyah Equestrian of ‘A Symphony of Films’ to cele- House. ‘Nosferatu’ is a 1922 German made possible thanks to the exten- Tarzan (City Centre Doha), Beauty “Sinbad the Sailor” as well as “Fafa Centre, Aqua Park, Aspire Zone, Souq brate some of the works of great Expressionist horror film, directed by sive collaboration and backing of our & The Beast (Dar Al Salam) Flying Saves the Forest” live children’s show Waqif, Dahl Al Hamam Park and Al film composers who have collabo- F W Murnau, starring Max Schreck as partners in the retail, hospitality and Superkids (Al Khor Mall), Alvin and at the Qatar National Convention Dossari Zoo & Game Reserve. rated with remarkable filmmakers the vampire Count Orlok.

Back to school joy

Students on the first day of the new academic year at Al Ahnaf bin Qais Independent Preparatory School yesterday. RIGHT: Birla Public School students return to school after long summer holidays. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula HOME MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 03

Health Minister HMC expands meets Canadian foreign minister maternity care to QNA

MONTREAL: Minister of Public Health, HE Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al more hospitals Kuwari, met with Canada’s Minis- ter of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Stephane Dion, on the sidelines of the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the “The only hospital to see a Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuber- reduction in patient numbers and culosis and Malaria in Montreal, HMC has placed activity is Women’s Hospital. This Quebec. particular emphasis is as a result of the growth of the Talks during the meeting dealt maternity services in HMC’s General with bilateral relations and topics on expanding its Hospitals in Al Wakra, Dukhan and being discussed during the confer- care services outside Al Khor. By focusing on expanding ence in addition to a number of issues Doha. maternity services at these hospi- of common interest, especially in the tals outside Doha, HMC has given health sector. patients greater choice as to where Dr. Al Kuwari also met with a The Minister of Public Health, HE Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to access their care and at the same number of senior officials from the Hon. Stephane Dion, in Montreal, Quebec. By Fazeena Saleem time reduce pressure on the busy McGill University For Cancer and Women’s Hospital,” said Dr Al the Children’s Hospital in Canada in Yusuf Kafoud. College of Physicians and Surgeons Aspects of cooperation in various The Peninsula Maslamani. the presence of Qatar’s Ambassador She also met separately with and Chairman of the Certificates health areas were discussed during In recent years, HMC has placed to Canada, HE Fahad Mohammed the Executive Director of the Royal Attesting Authority . the meetings. particular emphasis on expanding DOHA: Hamad Medical Corpo- its care services, and in particular ration (HMC)’s maternity services maternity services, outside Doha Most valuable in Al Wakra, Dukhan and Al Khor through its three general hospitals Q-Post issues back-to-school stamps hospitals have reduced the burden in Dukhan, Al Wakra and Al Khor. brand in Mideast on Women’s Hospital, said a sen- Prior to the opening of Al Khor ior official. Hospital in 2006, Women’s Hospital Qatar Post has The growth and expansion was HMC’s sole provider of mater- → Continued from page 1 of maternity services to regional nity services. Yet with the Cuban issued new stamps hospitals has provided expectant and Al Wakra hospitals opening on the occasion of QNB has also maintained its mothers with greater options for in 2012, there are now far greater the beginning of rank as the most valuable bank their care, Dr Yousuf Al Maslamani, options available for parents to the new academic brand in the Middle East and Medical Director at Hamad General decide where to deliver their babies. year. The stamps are Africa region, according to the Hospital told The Peninsula. Expectant mothers have benefitted based on selected, Brand Finance report issued by With around 90 percent of sec- from this greater choice, with many outstanding works the same magazine. It has gained ondary and acute services in Qatar, choosing to deliver their babies at of students. Q-Post this rank based on the Bank’s solid the increasing population over the one of HMC’s general hospitals. also congregated performance and expansion. years has meant that hospitals care Women’s Hospital deliveries students and The Group also recently for a growing number of patients decreased from 18,000 in 2013 to parents on the acquired a 99.81 percent control- each year. 16,000 in 2014 due to an increase occasion of Back-to- ling share in Turkish Finansbank, The strategy to provide expect- in deliveries at HMC’s regional School. The Minister the fifth largest privately owned ant mothers with more choices to hospitals. of Education and universal bank in Turkey by total receive care has led to 25 percent Al Wakra Hospital, with 3,673 Higher Education assets, customer deposits and loans. of all babies born across the HMC births, recorded a 77 percent QNB Group is also amongst the H E Dr. Mohammed network being delivered at regional increase on 2013, 1,197 babies were highest rated regional banks with Abdul Wahed Ali hospitals. In 2014, one-quarter of born at Al Khor Hospital in 2014, a credit ratings of Standard & Poor’s all babies born across the HMC seven percent increase on the pre- Al Hammadi has (A+), Moody’s (Aa3), Fitch (AA-), and network were delivered at hospi- vious year and births at The Cuban tweeted about the Capital Intelligence (AA-). The Bank tals other than Women’s Hospital, a Hospital increased by 88 percent new stamps. has also been the recipient of many figure that has continued to increase over the same period, with 256 awards from leading international in recent years. births throughout 2014. specialised financial publications. 04 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 HOME Kahramaa: LED bulbs can save power by up to 80%

will contribute to saving the state’s largest amount of natural light, the energy as a whole where the light- statement said. Customers urged to ing consumes 10-15 percent of the Turning off all lights after leav- stop using Tungsten total energy consumption in a build- ing the room and unused rooms will ing,” Kahramaa said in a statement also reduce electricity consumption. lamps as LED bulbs yesterday. The proper design of lights in the are environment- LED bulbs also produce less rooms and buildings by specialists friendly, more heat with no harmful carbon emis- to ensure energy efficient usage is sions compared to regular bulbs also important. comfortable for (Tungsten). The frugal lighting in mod- Beneficiaries receiving sacrificial meat at a RAF distribution centre in Kashmir. eyes, better for Thus, LED bulb is environment- ern buildings is 8 watts per square friendly, more comfortable for eyes metre, said the statement. family’s health and and better for family’s health. Tarsheed law No. 20 of 2015 Over 367,000 get RAF sacrificial meat in 42 countries provide better energy Kahramaa, through the National stipulated that keeping the build- Programme for Conservation and ing’s external lightings on between efficiency. Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) and in 7am and 4.30pm is against the law The Peninsula Asians and five Europeans countries. Gambia, Kenya, Mali and Togo. collaboration with the Ministry of and could be punished with a fine Local partners slaughtered sac- Syria topped the Asian countries Municipality and Environment and of QR10,000. rificial animals and distributed meat benefiting from the gesture. The Peninsula other entities concerned, issued a It also stressed the importance to most deserving people as per the Meat was distributed across regulation banning the import of of installing lighting timers in all DOHA: Sheikh Thani Bin Abdul- list of needy people prepared for the Syria and to Syrian refugees in Jor- Tungsten bulbs 75 and 100 watts buildings to control external lighting lah Foundation for Humanitarian purpose. dan, Lebanon and Turkey. Iraqi in 2015. according to the adopted conditions Services (RAF) has provided meat The project aimed at bringing refugees, flood-hit Filipinos, dis- DOHA: Qatar General Electricity The actual application of the of Kahramaa. of sacrificial animals worth over smiles to Muslims on the occasion placed and poor people in Myanmar and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) ban started this May after giving Through Tarsheed, Kahramaa QR7m to hundreds of thousands of and priorities were given to places and Yemen also received the meat. has urged customers to replace a chance to the suppliers to rectify has developed standards, specifi- poor people in 42 countries across facing political unrest and natural Poor Muslims of India, Pakistan, Tungsten lamps with LED bulbs, their situation. cations and continuous upgrades the world. disasters. Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, saying it can save electricity up to Customers could also reduce for lighting and plumbing devices More than 367,000 people, The beneficiary African coun- the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, 80 percent. energy consumption through and equipment. It also studies and including widows and orphans, ben- tries included Ethiopia, Sudan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal “By using LED bulbs, you will other simple steps such as avail- makes surveys periodically to efitted from the initiative during Eid Somalia, Malawi, Morocco, Senegal, also benefitted. The European get better energy efficiency from ing of sunlight during the day as develop requirements and techni- Al-Adha. The initiative was launched Niger, Burundi, Benin, Chad, Mauri- countries included Bosnia and 10- to 18-folds than incandescent much as possible, especially those cal standards for devices, tools and in collaboration with dozens of local tania, Tanzania, Tunisia, Comoros, Herzegovina, Ukraine, Macedonia, ones. Thus, you will consume less who have walls painted with light equipment to keep in pace with partners of RAF in 21 Africans, 16 Djibouti, Malawi, Ivory Coast, Albania, and the UK. electricity by up to 80 percent which colours which let them avail of the modern techniques used in the field. HEC Paris in Qatar to hold Master Class Qatar gains popularity in French travel market

The Peninsula give participants a taste of how the pro- The Peninsula gramme can enhance their careers. The next intake starts in Novem- ber with a limited number of places DOHA: HEC Paris in Qatar will hold a remaining. DOHA: Awareness about Qatar in Master Class for individuals considering Prof. Simonovich will conduct a short the French travel market is growing joining its highly acclaimed Specialised exercise applied to participants’ own with an increase in the number of Master in Strategic Business Unit Man- organisational context that will allow French tour operators that feature agement. them to deepen their understanding of Qatar since Qatar Tourism Author- The master class will be led by Pro- strategies and help communicate about ity (QTA) opened a representative fessor Daniel Simonovich tomorrow at the important topic of strategy in a highly office in Paris. HEC Paris’ Doha campus. effective way. “We have had great success in Titled ‘Strategic Thinking for Compet- Prof. Simonovich serves as the aca- boosting the number of French tour itive Advantage’ the class will take place demic director of the International operators featuring Qatar to front at Tornado Tower and will provide par- Institute for Strategic Leadership and line travel trade and consumers, ticipants with a conceptual framework teaches strategy and information sys- from just 14 in 2014 to more than for positioning their business strategi- tems at HEC Paris. 25 today,” said Rashed Al Qurese, cally and deriving initiatives that will He will also host an Alumni Breakfast. Chief Marketing and Promotions set it apart. Participants can register for the Master Officer, QTA. This class, conducted in an interactive Class by contacting the HEC Paris Admis- Al Qurese was speaking at format similar to those used through- sions Office by email on info@hec-q. ‘Qatar Day’ — an event to introduce out the Specialised Master Degree, will qf.org.qa or telephone +974 4454 0161. key French travel professionals, tour operators and travel media to Qatar’s tourist offerings. “We have additionally gener- FROM LEFT: Jonathan Harding from Qatar Airways; Sheikh Meshaal bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s ated great interest in our ‘Tawash’ Ambassador to France; Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing and Promotions Officer, QTA; and Eric online destination training pro- Didier from Qatar Airways, at the event. gramme among travel agents. “This has enhanced our des- sales personnel by providing them with neces- generate consumer visitation to Qatar,” said Al Qurese. tination awareness among key sary knowledge and enthusiasm to confidently “While awareness about Qatar in the French mar- ket is growing, thanks to the country’s association with Paris Saint Germain and Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triom- phe, much of QTA’s work in France goes on behind the scenes, strengthening relations with the French travel trade through trade engagement, destination train- ing workshops, familiarisation trips and tour operator campaigns,” he added. Qatar saw a nine percent increase in the number of French visitors last year compared to 2014. With a growing international presence, QTA’s representative offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Singapore, Riy- adh, Istanbul and New York support QTA’s promotion efforts. Qatar’s Ambassador to France Meshaal bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar Airways executives, travel profession- als, tour operators and travel media attended the event.

Vodafone backs global goals for sustainable development

The Peninsula

DOHA: Vodafone will help raise awareness about the global goals for sustainable development which include 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Sum- mit on September 25 last year. During ‘Global Goals Week’ from September 17 to 24 , Vodafone will help raise awareness about the goals through its global network and reach millions of consumers. In Qatar, Vodafone will support the awareness cam- paign with social media communications, SMS to its customer base and by giving free mobile data access to the global goals website (www.globalgoals.org) and YouTube during the week. “Vodafone’s purpose is to connect everybody to live a better today and build a better tomorrow and we are proud to be a delivery partner of the global goals,” said Ian Gray, CEO, Vodafone Qatar. HOME MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 05

Scientists and QU College of Ministry calls for researchers Education holds attend BRC orientation for 12 security & safety faculty members training course The Peninsula in school buses The Peninsula DOHA: Qatar University College of Education held an orientation smoke, according to the circdular. DOHA: The Biomedical Research event for 12 new faculty members Drivers are required to make Center (BRC) at Qatar University who were provided with necessary Circular issued sure that the bus is empty of stu- (QU) organised and hosted a train- information about the college’s to operators dents at the beginning and end of ing course to engage scientists and Dr. Hadi Yassine, Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases, Biomedical programmes and services. school day, the circular added. researchers to share their knowledge Research Center, giving a presentation to the participants. Dr. Hissa Sadiq, a former dean and directors of School directors and opera- and experience in basic and applied (2004-2016), was honoured for Independent schools tors are urged to train students in biomedical research. her significant contribution to the and KGs. safe use of buses, explain security The event themed ‘Principles of Mansoori and Maria Khalid Smatti; curve analysis; primary cell culture college’s achievements in terms of and safety instructions, identify Mammalian Cell Culture Training and QU College of Medicine Profes- and cells transformation tech- academic accreditations and pro- gathering points within the school Course’ was attended by 12 faculty sor, Dr Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa. They niques; and stem cell culture and grammes. Associate deans, faculty for each bus using sign board members, students and research- spoke on ‘Introduction to the animal applications. members and staff of the college and ensure students safety while ers from QU and other institutions mammalian cell culture lab’; ‘Dem- BRC Director and QU College of were present. DOHA: In a circular to operators boarding and getting out of buses, such as Hamad Medical Corpora- onstration on aseptic techniques’; Health Sciences Dean, Dr. Asmaa Al Dean Dr. Ahmed Al Emadi and directors of Independent the circular said. tion (HMC) and Qatar Biomedical ‘Preparation of media and other Thani, said the event brought focus welcomed the new faculty mem- schools and KGs, the Ministry of Each bus supervisor must Research Institute (QBRI). reagents’; ‘Principles of cell culture on the centre’s commitment to raiser bers and wished them a successful Education and Higher Education have a list of the students need to It included presentations by techniques’; ‘Types of cell cultures the local health system standard and professional journey at QU. yesterday urged students and staff be transported by the bus, iden- BRC Assistant Professors of Infec- and applications’; and ‘Demonstra- increase community awareness about “The college is well-positioned to adhere to security and safety tify a seat for each student and tious Diseases, Dr. Hadi Yassine; tion on chicken embryo and chicken specific medical issues relevant to to play a major role in fulfilling guidance when they use school check absence every time, said and Assistant Professors of Meta- embryo fibroblast culture’. Qatar. “It also highlighted QU’s mis- the needs of society by providing buses. the circular. bolic Diseases, Dr. Huseyin Cagatay Theoretical classes and hands- sion to align research with the needs students with high-quality pro- The safety and security cir- School must provide students Yalcin; Research Professor and on sessions covered topics such as of society and national aspirations grammes and multidisciplinary cular indicated guardians of KG with cards, including bus plate Project Manager Dr. Hany Elsayed types, principles and applications of towards fulfilling the goals of the knowledge while combining her- students to get special entry cards number, location, name of super- Mady; Research Assistants Layla Al cell cultures; cell growth and growth National Health Strategy,” she added. itage, civilisation, cultural identity, to the school for drivers author- visor, driver and contact number, and social change. Our faculty have ised by the parents to transport the circular said. a responsibility to contribute to their children in private cars. Students are also required the college’s scholarly endeavours Parents are urged to indicate to respect rules and regulations, aligned with QU’s mission to pro- in written form who is going to keep their bus hygienic and pre- Five shops caught selling expired food duce a generation of professionals transport their kids and provide serve properties. and leaders who can drive the coun- copy of his/her QID card to the KG In case of fighting, supervisor try’s development and progress. as no child will be allowed to leave is not allowed to ask any student By Sidi Mohamed Most of the recorded violations took the land back after two years, the KG without authorised com- to leave the bus but maintain secu- The Peninsula were found in restaurants, including he said. panion, said the circular. rity and stability until they arrive workers not wearing gloves and huge Both abattoirs are in residential Indian mission consular Buses must have first aid box at their destination. quantity of food not cooked properly, areas and the space is very small and stop directly in front of the The circular warned against among others. compared to the number of animals section timings student’s house, or bus supervi- harassment of student verbally or DOHA: Al Rayyan Municipality With regard to abattoirs during being slaughtered daily, so they need sor need to accompany the student by deeds. inspectors caught five shops sell- Eid, the source said although they to meet health and technical stand- DOHA: The timings of the consu- to his/her house if the bus cannot In another circular, the min- ing expired food and fruits found lacked facilities, they provided their ards and requirements. lar section of the Indian Embassy access the house for any reason istry asked school operators and unfit for human consumption and services to people. Meanwhile, the Health Mon- from Wednesday will be from 9am and then make sure that he/she directors to send SMS messages destroyed them, a source at the To improve the condition of the itoring Section of Al Wakrah to 12:15pm. Applications will be has entered home. to parents informing them about municipality has said. two abattoirs in Al Rayyan, the gov- Municipality destroyed 500kg of fish received from 4pm to 5.15pm and Bus drivers are not allowed school timing to keep attendance The municipality intensified ernment had earlier granted Widam found unfit for human consumption documents delivered after render- to stop while students on board record starting from the second inspection visits during Eid Al-Adha land for new abattoirs but it delayed during the Eid days. Of this, 350kg ing consular service, an official whether to fill oil or buy things or day of the opening of the school. days. construction and the government was destroyed in one day. statement said yesterday. Ministry clarifies on reports over tainted Egyptian frozen strawberries

By Sanaullah Ataullah Egypt,” the ministry said in a state- properly before eating it. The min- The Peninsula ment posted on its official website istry urged the citizens to take the yesterday. information from official sources. The link of the report was also It has also confirmed that it did not shared with Twitter and Face- receive any information or warning DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health book account of the Ministry at from The International Food Safety said yesterday that is following up https://www.moph.gov.qa/news-ar/ Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and reports about contamination of Egyp- moph-statement-on-egy-strawberry- the Incident and Emergency Centre tian frozen strawberries following ar?backArt=326. (IEC) regarding some other products demands of people through social The Ministry has taken precau- being mentioned by social media, media to ban the product in Qatar. tionary measures in collaboration said the report. It said it is baseless “The Ministry of Public Health is with the authorities concerned in and urged the people to not lend an following up with the international tightening control at border-check- ear to such rumours. Commentators organizations concerned regarding posts of the country to avoid the entry on social networking sites referred the results of investigation into the of any contaminated products posing to a number of agricultural produce case in which a number of people a risk to the consumers. of Egypt and claimed that they were in US were diagnosed with hepa- The Ministry called the citizens banned by the international food titis after taking juices made of the to follow healthy life style in tak- organizations after they were found frozen strawberries imported from ing fruits and vegetables and wash unfit for human consumption. Q-Chem to fund wheelchair lifts for people with special needs

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar Chemical Company Ltd. (Q-Chem), a leader in petro- chemical production, recently pioneered in supporting charity projects in Qatar that will allevi- ate suffering of many people in the country. Q-Chem’s initiative comes after signing an agreement with Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Spe- cial Needs (QSRSN) to finance the purchase of wheelchair lifts. Officials signing the agreement. The agreement was signed by Saeed Rashid Al Kaabi, Chief Q-Chem’s strategic objectives to but also strengthens social bonds Administration Officer, Q-Chem; extend a helping hand to charity which is the essence of our cultural and Amir Al Mulla, Executive Direc- organisations such as QSRSN. foundation,” he added. tor , QSRSN. “We are honoured to part- Shaikh Thani bin Abdul- Specialised lifts will be ner with the society to serve our lah Al Thani, Chairman, QSRSN, mounted on vehicles to ease the communities. expressed gratitude and apprecia- movement of people with disa- “Q-Chem’s move is part of the tion to Q-Chem and its cooperation bilities and enable them to move corporate social responsibility con- with QSRSN to sponsor noble wheelchairs inside and outside cept and our commitment towards causes. without much extra help from good citizenship. He said the targeted people will others. “Helping people with disabili- enormously benefit from the dona- Saad Rashid Al Muhannadi, ties not only assist this category of tion which will help also improve CEO, Q-Chem, said: “It’s part of society in meeting their aspirations, their health conditions. 06 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 MIDDLE EAST

Two policemen US strikes on Syrian army martyred in Saudi

RIYADH: Unidentified gunmen killed two Saudi policemen in the threaten truce plan: Russia mainly Shia eastern city of Dam- mam late on Saturday, the interior ministry said, describing it as a Al Zor airport as saying at least 90 must be salvaged “at all costs.” “terrorist attack”. Syrian soldiers had been killed. “We must not forget that it is first The two officers were patrol- Russia’s Foreign Russia’s Foreign Ministry said of all the (Syrian) regime, and it is ling in a police car when they Ministry said tension in a strongly worded statement that always the regime, which has jeop- came under fire at around 11:30 was rising in and the United States’ position on the ardized the US-Russian ceasefire,” pm, a ministry spokesman told the incident was “unconstructive and said Ayrault in New York. official Saudi Press Agency. near the Syrian city inarticulate”. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said They were both pronounced of Aleppo as militants “The actions of coalition pilots - that tension was rising in and near dead on arrival in hospital. were preparing for if they, as we hope, were not taken on the Syrian city of Aleppo as militants The spokesman did not spec- an order from Washington - are on were preparing for large-scale mili- ify who it held responsible for the large-scale military the boundary between criminal neg- tary actions against the Syrian army, shooting but there have been pre- actions against the ligence and connivance with Islamic Interfax news agency reported. vious attacks on police in mainly Syrian army. State terrorists,” the ministry said. Russia’s military also accused the Shia areas of the oil-rich east of “We strongly urge Washing- United States of failing to deliver on the kingdom this year. ton to exert the needed pressure on its promise to help disengage terror- In January four police were the illegal armed groups under its ists from Syrian opposition units, the killed in attacks. patronage to implement the ceasefire agency said. Reuters plan unconditionally. Otherwise the The US military said the coalition Syrians sit and look at the rubble following an air strike on the regime- implementation of the entire package stopped the attacks against what it controlled neighbourhood of Karm Al Jabal, yesterday. Police arrest 20 of the US-Russian accords reached had believed to be Islamic State posi- in Geneva on September 9 may be tions in northeast Syria after Russia Arab Israelis MOSCOW/BEIRUT: Moscow stepped jeopardized.” informed it that Syrian military per- United Nations, Samantha Power, Geneva said. “The U.N. convoys are up its war of words with Washing- Russia has repeatedly called on sonnel and vehicles may have been said Zakharova should be embar- highly politicised.” ton yesterday, saying air strikes by a the United States to push units of hit. rassed by that claim. Russia’s UN Russia’s Defence Ministry said JERUSALEM: Israeli police have US-led coalition on the Syrian army moderate Syrian opposition to sep- Washington further unnerved representative Vitaly Churkin said conditions in Syria were deterio- detained 20 Arab Israelis belong- threatened the implementation of a arate from Islamic State and other Moscow when its envoy to the United Russia had no “specific evidence” of rating, as fighting escalated in parts ing to the Balad political party US-Russian ceasefire plan for Syria “terrorist groups”. Nations abruptly left her seat as the the US colluding with Islamic State of the country where the ceasefire, after an investigation into their and bordered on connivance with The Foreign Ministry said Sat- Russian representative took the militants. which is set to expire late on Sunday, finances. Islamic State. urday’s incident was a result of floor to condemn the air strikes at The diplomatic row is likely to should apply. A police statement said they The Russian Defence Ministry Washington’s “stubborn refusal” to an emergency US Security Council further complicate the delivery of Heavy clashes continued on detained officials, activists, law- said on Saturday that US jets had cooperate with Moscow in fighting meeting. humanitarian aid to Syria, includ- Sunday east of Damascus in the yers and accountants during killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers in Islamic State, the Nusra Front - now “We are reaching a really terrify- ing its largest pre-war city of Aleppo rebel-held Jobar suburb between morning raids. the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor renamed Jabhat Fatah al Sham - and ing conclusion for the whole world: where the situation remains espe- rebels and Syrian government It said the party was suspected in four air strikes by two F-16s and “other terrorist groups”. That the White House is defend- cially tense and Monday’s fragile troops and allied forces, the Syrian of hiding the domestic and foreign two A-10s coming from the direc- French Foreign Minister Jean- ing Islamic State. Now there can be truce has been repeatedly violated. Observatory for Human Rights and origins of millions of shekels in tion of Iraq. Marc Ayrault on Sunday blamed no doubts about that,” Russian For- The UN said aid trucks that had a witness said. Sunday is the first day donations which had financed The Syrian Observatory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s eign Ministry spokeswoman Maria been expected to move to Aleppo of the new school year. Residents liv- the party’s activities. Human Rights, a Britain-based mon- regime for undermining the cease- Zakharova said in comments aired on Sunday morning were once ing near Jobar and the wider Eastern In a statement published on itoring group with contacts across fire deal brokered by Russia and the by state TV. again being delayed. “It’s a tough Ghouta suburbs said they were afraid the Arab48 website, Balad denied Syria, cited a military source at Deir United States, and said the agreement The US ambassador to the moment,” one top aid official in of the mortars and fighting. the allegations, calling the arrests a “dangerous escalation” against their party. Balad is part of the Arab Joint- List in Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and has three seats held Libyan loyalist bid to retake key oil ports fails by Basel Ghattas, Jamal Zahalka and Haneen Zoabi.

AFP But it has struggled to impose recognised parliament based in the Al Hassi, a spokesman for the loy- were trying to extinguish a blaze at its authority amid opposition from east which supports Haftar’s forces alist oil guards, said: “We attacked Al-Sidra, where another storage tank Obama to meet a rival administration based in Lib- and has refused to give the GNA its Al Sidra and Ras Lanuf, and Haftar’s already damaged in January fight- ya’s remote east. vote of confidence. forces are trying to hit us with their ing was set alight during yesterday’s Netanyahu BENGHAZI, LIBYA: A counter- Oil is Libya’s key asset, and reve- Early yesterday, pro-GNA forces warplanes.” clashes. attack by fighters loyal to Libya’s nue from crude exports is vital if the launched an offensive aimed at The counter-attack is a new Libya, with Africa’s largest oil UN-backed unity government aimed GNA is to rebuild an economy and retaking Al-Sidra and Ras Lanuf, blow to the unity government and reserves estimated at 48 billion bar- WASHINGTON: President Barack at retaking key eastern oil ports was infrastructure ravaged by violence but after several hours of fighting NOC efforts to resume exports. “We rels, has exported only a few tankers Obama will meet with Israeli repelled yesterday by forces from a since the 2011 uprising that killed Haftar’s forces said they launched a ask the combatants to avoid tak- of crude in recent months. Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- rival administration. veteran dictator Muammar Gaddafi. counter-attack and repelled the loy- ing actions that could damage our The GNA, created last year as a yahu next week in New York on The operation came as three Last week, forces led by contro- alists. “We repelled the attack and we vital national infrastructure,” NOC UN-brokered power-sharing govern- the sidelines of the UN General members of forces loyal to the versial military strongman Khalifa are chasing them in the region,” said chairman Mustafa Sanalla said in a ment, still needs a vote of confidence Assembly, the White House said. Tripoli-based Government of Haftar seized Ras Lanuf, Al Sidra, Muftah al-Muqarief, who heads oil statement. from the rival parliament based in Obama and Israel’s prime National Accord were killed further Zuwaytina and Brega in the so-called guards loyal to Haftar, adding that “Our national recovery depends the east. Haftar, who sees himself as minister will have a bilateral west in a resumed offensive against “oil crescent” along the coast. “some” assailants had been captured. on these ports being open and our oil Libya’s saviour after driving jihadists meeting Wednesday, with dis- Islamic State group holdouts in Sirte. They later handed the ports over There was no independent con- flowing freely.” out of most of second city Benghazi, cussion topics likely to include The GNA is the centrepiece of UN to the National Oil Corporation, firmation from the oil crescent region The NOC said Maltese-flagged is the most powerful backer of the the need for a two-state solution efforts to restore stability in Libya which said on Thursday that crude of the fighting and the situation on tanker the Seadelta, which was rival administration in the east. to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and forge a central authority capa- exports would resume “immediately” the ground. due to load crude oil at Ras Lanuf Days after the ports fell under his “in the face of deeply troubling ble of tackling the twin scourges of from Zuwaytina and Ras Lanuf. A Haftar spokesman, Mohamad for Italy, had to be “withdrawn to a control, the east-based parliament trends on the ground,” White IS and rampant people trafficking The NOC says it is loyal to the Ibset, said earlier that guards loyal safe distance offshore” because of promoted him to field marshal from House spokesman Josh Earnest across the Mediterranean to Europe. GNA, but also to the internationally to the GNA had attacked. And Ali the fighting. Meanwhile, firefighters his previous rank of general. said in a statement.

Iran must stand strong against Somali general dead in US on regional conflicts: Khamenei suicide car bomb attack

AFP AFP

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader MOGADISHU: A top Somalia said the Islamic republic must general known for fighting the stand strong against Washing- jihadist Shabaab group, was killed ton on the region’s conflicts, in yesterday when a suicide bomber an address to commanders of the rammed an explosives-packed car elite Republican Guards force. into his vehicle, officials and wit- “The Americans insist we nesses said. negotiate with them on regional General Mohamed Roble issues, especially on Syria, Iraq, Jimale Gobale was killed along Lebanon and Yemen,” Ayatol- with four of his security guards lah Ali Khamenei said in the in the attack in the capital Mogad- speech published on his offi- ishu that was claimed by the Al cial website. Qaeda linked Shabaab. “What is their main goal for “There was a heavy blast requesting these talks? They have caused by a car loaded with no aim but to prevent the pres- explosives,” said security official ence in the region of the Islamic Abdiaziz Mohamed. Republic of Iran, the main fac- “Several members of the mil- Somali soldiers inspect the scene of a suicide car bomb attack by tor of America’s failures,” said itary were killed in the incident, Khamenei. including a senior commander.” Al Shabaab in capital Mogadishu, yesterday. Major generals Mohammad Ali Witnesses said Gobale›s vehi- Jafari, the Revolutionary Guards cle was travelling on the road Somalia’s President Hassan militants in several neighbour- chief, and Qassem Suleimani, head when another vehicle rammed Sheikh Mohamud sent his con- hoods of the capital until they of its foreign operations wing, the it, causing a massive blast. dolences to the general’s family, were forced out in 2011. Quds Force, were among hun- The attack took place after the his spokesman said. Since then, they have contin- dreds of members who attended convoy had left the military hospi- The attack was claimed in ued their attacks on government, the speech. tal and was heading towards the a statement broadcast on the military, civilian and foreign tar- Khamenei, whose country has defence ministry. Shabaab›s Andalus radio and gets in a bid to overthrow the not had diplomatic relations with “The blast was very huge, I quoted by a pro-Shabaab website. internationally-backed govern- Washington since 1980, stressed saw smoke and fire overshadow- Gobale was the commander of ment. The group is expected to that military power and intimida- ing the whole area,” witness Abdi the army›s Third Brigade. He had try and violently disrupt elec- tion were the most effective means Hassan said, saying he understood fought the Shabaab since 2007, tions which are to be held later to keep foreign threats at bay. that Gobale had died in the attack. leading a brigade that battled its this month and in October. ASIA / AFRICA MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 07 Choppers circumvent helipad protesters on Okinawa

Anatolia The helipads are being built in pads for Osprey vertical takeoff and current visit to Washington. the present anti-base governor, Take- what the Americans call the Northern landing aircraft. The Osprey has a The Northern Training Area dem- shi Onaga. Large CH47 heavy Training Area, a remote and sparsely bad reputation on Okinawa as it is onstrations have been overshadowed On Friday, a high court ruled that lift helicopters were populated corner of the island’s north. thought to be prone to accidents. by the much more intensive cam- Onaga’s legal challenge to prevent TOKYO: In a rare move, Japan’s The more than 7,000 hectares of forest A US helicopter, in fact, did crash paign to halt the building of a new construction operations to relocate ministry of defence has author- brought in from the cover make it useful for Marine Corps near an elementary school near the Marine Corps air station at Henoko the base was itself illegal. ised the use of army helicopters to mainland to airlift jungle warfare training. village of Takae in 1999, although on the southern coast of Okinawa. The helipad demonstrations come break a summer-long impasse and In July, the US forces announced there were no civilian injuries. None- In 1995, Japan and the US agreed at a time when tensions on the island circumvent activists trying to shut trucks and other with great fanfare that they were theless, it set loose a long-running on a formula to reduce the American are running high, stemming from the down work on American helipads heavy equipment returning more then half of the pre- series of anti-pad demonstrations. presence on the island. A key element murder of a young woman in May, on Okinawa. serve to Japanese civilian use. It was In July, 500 riot policemen had was to relocate the existing Marine allegedly by an American civilian Large CH47 heavy lift helicopters this week, as most of said to be the largest such transfer on to be imported from the mainland air base at Futenma, now completely contractor and former Marine. were brought in from the mainland to the access roads into Okinawa since the Occupation. to face off with around 100 protest- surrounded by civilians in the town In June, some 65,000 people airlift trucks and other heavy equip- the construction site However, the US insisted that the ers. Others have maintained barriers of Ginowan. demonstrated against the bases in ment this week, as most of the access Japanese build six helicopter land- on some of the access roads, necessi- The Henoko base has been the Naha, the Okinawan capital. The roads into the construction site have have been blocked by ing pads on the part of the training tating that construction supplies be focus of intensive disputes between island hosts around 30,000 US mil- been blocked by protesters. protesters. grounds that the Americans continue brought in with helicopters. Okinawa and the government of itary personnel, or more than half of The use of the heavy lift choppers to use. Two were built until construc- It is thought that the new minis- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the total number of American serv- was necessary “to carry out con- tion stalled due to local opposition. ter of defence, Tomomi Inada, may among Okinawans themselves. icemen in Japan. Successive Japanese struction work safely and smoothly”, to use Japanese equipment to con- The opposition is built on local have ordered that work accelerate The previous governor had governments have defended the large according to a statement from the struct facilities for the United States concerns about noise and reports in order to demonstrate that Tokyo agreed to permit landfill to begin US presence as necessary for the ministry’s Okinawa bureau. It is rare forces. that the Marines wanted to use the is fulfilling its obligations during her but was defeated for re-election by defence of Japan.

Buhari under fire over Police deny using bullets plagiarism in anti-Mugabe protests

AFP AFP openly agitating for violence”. NERA on Saturday said about LAGOS: Nigerian President 100 activists were arrested while Muhammadu Buhari has come others were heavily assaulted by law under fire from critics after admit- HARARE: Zimbabwe police yester- the enforcement agents. ting part of his recent “Change day denied using bullets to disperse Campaigners said they would Begins With Me” speech was copied protests against President Robert challenge the protest ban through from US President Barack Obama’s Mugabe (pictured) at the week- the courts, which had overturned 2008 victory speech. end, as activists called for electoral a similar order earlier this month. Buhari announced the social reforms ahead of general elections Mugabe has vowed a crackdown initiative earlier this month urg- in 2018. on dissent and blasted judges for ing Nigerians to stop bribing and “For the record no firearm or “reckless” rulings allowing previ- littering in a programme that live bullets were used in the per- ous demonstrations. continues his “war against indis- ceived protests throughout the But in the second city of Bula- cipline” launched while serving as country,” police spokesman Paul wayo, close to a thousand protesters military ruler in the 1980’s. Nyathi said in a statement. staged a peaceful march on Satur- “We must resist the temptation “As police we reiterate that any- day after a high court ruling gave to fall back on the same partisan- one who claims that them permission to ship, pettiness and immaturity live bullets were take to the streets. that have poisoned our country fired at protest- Police stood by with for so long,” Buhari said at a cer- ers should come armoured vehicles Jacob Zuma (left), President of the Republic of South Africa, shakes’ UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emony held in the nation’s capital forward with and water can- of Abuja. evidence.” nons. “All we are at United Nations Headquarters, in New York, yesterday. The presidency was forced to A coalition of demanding is that issue a statement late Friday night opposition parties we want a free, fair acknowledging that the line was under the ban- and credible elec- Corruption watchdog interviews finance lifted from Obama. ner of the National tion,” MDC deputy “It was observed that the sim- Electoral Reform president Thoko- ilarities between a paragraph in Agenda (NERA) zani Khupe told ministers in Zuma and Gupta inquiry President Obama’s 2008 vic- had planned the crowd. “We are tory speech...are too close to be country-wide dem- drawing a line in the passed as coincidence,” presi- onstrations on Saturday demanding sand and we are saying never again dential spokesman Garba Shehu reform ahead of the 2018 election, will we allow an election to be held Reuters “Partly the reason we subpoe- saying only the president appointed said in a statement, adding that an when 92-year-old Mugabe plans to where elections will be rigged.” naed them is because they shouldn’t ministers, in line with the constitution. “overzealous” speech writer will stand again. A month-long protest Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party won be seen as sell-outs but as law abid- The Guptas have denied influencing face “appropriate sanction”. ban and a massive police deploy- the last general elections in 2013, ing citizens who are complying with Zuma, saying they were pawns in a Critics questioned whether ment, in Harare, however, saw the which were marred by electoral JOHANNESBURG: South Afri- the lawful order from an author- political plot against the president. Buhari was reading his speeches event fizzle out before it started. fraud. Opposition to the ageing ca’s anti-corruption watchdog ised institution,” Madonsela told the The Guptas, who moved to South before delivering them, and wor- But activists charged the police leader’s 36-year rule has grown in has interviewed Finance Minis- paper, without elaborating. Africa from India after apartheid fell ried that the flub was tarnishing with intimidation, firing against recent months with a surge of pub- ter Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Presidency spokesman Bongani in 1994, run businesses ranging from Nigeria’s image abroad as inter- small groups demonstrating in the lic demonstrations, triggered by an Mcebisi Jonas as part of an investi- Ngqulunga confirmed to the paper uranium and coal mining to media national leaders prepare to meet suburbs of the capital and arresting economic crisis that has left banks gation into whether President Jacob that Zuma had received the let- and information technology. in New York this week for the UN close to 100 protesters, a number the short of cash and the government Zuma was influenced by the wealthy ter from Madonsela and that it was Madonsela, whose term as public General Assembly. police disputed. struggling to pay its workers. Gupta family in making government “being processed.” Madonsela said in protector ends in October, previously “The president and his aides “Only 21 people were arrested Mugabe has often used brutal appointments, the Sunday Times June she would investigate “specifi- received public support in South just have to do better,” opposi- by the Zimbabwe Republic Police force to silence his opponents and newspaper reported. cally whether or not the government Africa for taking Zuma to task over tion party member Adeyanju Deji throughout the country... for engag- warned the protestors last week The paper said Public Protec- of South Africa and specifically the the spending of 240m rand ($16.94m) said in a Twitter post. “We plead ing in acts of disorderly conduct of they were “playing a dangerous tor Thuli Madonsela had written to president unlawfully allowed the of state money on upgrading his pri- guys, stop embarrassing our great blocking the smooth flow of traffic game”. Zuma informing him of her investi- Gupta family to choose ministers vate home. nation.” This isn’t the first time and intimidating the general pub- Unemployment is about 90 per- gation into whether he breached the and other occupants of high office.” She was vindicated in March that Buhari’s team has borrowed lic to side with them and partake cent in Zimbabwe, which has been executive code of conduct. The scandal surrounding the when the Constitutional Court, the from American campaigns. in illegal activities,” said the police in the grips of a cash shortage wors- Madonsela has already inter- Gupta family took a dramatic turn country’s highest court, said Zuma Another one of the pres- statement. ened by a severe regional drought. viewed Gordhan, his predecessor earlier this year after Jonas said the had breached the constitution by ident’s lines has been “make Nyathi said the arrested activ- NERA has promised more dem- Nhlanhla Nene and deputy finance Guptas had offered him his boss’s ignoring her recommendation that Nigeria great again” a copy of ists included members of the main onstrations in the coming weeks minister Jonas and will interview at job, an allegation that led to calls he repay some money that was spent “make America great again”, the opposition Movement for Demo- until the government gives in to least 20 other top officials and mem- for Zuma to resign. on non-security upgrades. Zuma slogan used by US presidential cratic Change (MDC) “who were their demands. bers of Zuma’s cabinet, the paper said. Zuma has denied Jonas’ claims, handed back some of the funds. candidate Donald Trump and before him by Ronald Reagan. Typhoon Meranti toll rises to 28 13 dead in Thai river

BEIJING: The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit China in boat collision nearly 70 years has reached 28, state news said yesterday, days after the storm Meranti crashed AFP banks of the river. “There are 13 con- into the country’s coastline. firmed dead and 33 injured so far,” Heavy rains and winds up to said Udomsak Khaonoona, disaster 170km per hour whipped east- prevention chief for the city which is ern Fujian province late last week, BANGKOK: At least 13 people were 80km north of Bangkok. flooding streets and knocking killed yesterday when a boat crowded “The boat tried to avoid another power lines. The Xinhua news with passengers sank on Thailand’s vessel and crashed into the concrete agency described the storm as the Chao Phraya river after hitting a column of a bridge,” he said and added world’s strongest typhoon this year. bridge, an emergency response offi- that the passengers were local. Around Fifteen remain missing, Xin- cial said. 100 passengers were believed to be on hua said, adding that Xiamen The accident happened near the board the vessel, with four currently city’s transportation and power ancient city of Ayutthaya, a popular unaccounted for, Udomsak said. supply continued to be “spotty”. tourist attraction, although no for- Despite its wealth compared to More than 10,000 workers eigners were believed to be among the regional neighbours and huge tour- were clearing up debris from dead. Video footage posted by Kha- ism sector, accidents are common on the storm which uprooted more osod TV showed desperate scenes as Thailand’s public transport network. than 3,000 trees and destroyed rescue workers scrambled to reach Safety regulations are often weakly roads and walls, it said. Flood- the stricken two-floor vessel, its lower enforced. The country has one of the ing also destroyed an 871-year-old deck submerged under water. world’s worst road traffic death rates, bridge that was protected heritage Rescuers threw ropes to help and crashes of speedboats operating site in Yongchun county, Xinhua people swim to land as others gave between the popular southern tour- People stand near a boat which capsized on the Chao Phraya river in the tourist city of Ayutthaya yesterday. reported on Friday. CPR to unconscious victims on the ist islands are also common. 08 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 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 Stabilising oil market Qatar a forward looking nation

pec Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo’s statement yesterday that an extraordinary meeting with dynamism and ambition of the organisation could be convened if talks at an informal meeting in Algiers this month reach a consensus has revived hopes of stabilising the oil money and lead to higher stand- and according to the World Bank market.O Opec has found itself helpless as oil prices kept crashing, ards of living. Trade is in the clear the UK was the highest ranked but this helplessness was due to a lack of determination and interests of our people; and it is major economy for ease of For the UK, Qatar is consensus among members on addressing the crisis, and also due the job of governments to ensure doing business. In 2015-16, the that trade opportunities flow. So UK attracted a record number an important part to the new market realities caused by a huge jump in the quantum that is why I am visiting Qatar of inward investment projects, of oil flowing into the market from the non-Opec producers, thus today. generating the second high- of that journey; and restricting the potential for manoeuvring by the Opec members. For the UK, the Gulf is a est number of jobs ever. I was I am delighted that The forthcoming Opec meeting is important because the major trading partner. In 2015, delighted that just last month GSK the government market is looking for desperate solutions. On Friday, the price of UK exports stood at over £20bn announced that it would expand Brent, the global benchmark, fell to a one-month low of around – that’s more than China and its UK manufacturing sites to the and business here twice as much as exports from tune of £275m. The Gulf States $45 a barrel, and finished down for the third time in four weeks. in Qatar share that By Dr Liam Fox India. We see increasing busi- are a critical investment part- As always, the rising supply has been the villain. According to ness with the Gulf as an essential ner for us. Institutional investors vision. The major reports, some producers are likely to part of our international strategy from Gulf Co-Operation Council UK/Qatar trade increase output, especially Libya and which includes future new Free countries in particular have led Nigeria which have been hit by political have come to know the Gulf Trade Agreements, and Qatar the way. Qatar holds over £30bn and investment The turmoil. well over the course of my will continue be an important worth of investment (includ- conference which forthcoming Optimism is not high about the career. My previous role as partner for the UK. In 2015 UK ing Canary Wharf, the Shard, the British Defence Minister exports to Qatar totalled £2.6bn, the HSBC building and Harrods) we will hold in Opec meeting prospects of a deal very soon, but there meant I was a regular visi- up 16% on 2014 while Qatar’s in the UK alone. Qatari Diar are the UK early in is a realization among all Opec and non- Itor to the region. Yet every time I exports to the UK doubled to leading prominent regeneration is important 2017 will be an Opec members that the current situation visit I can’t help but be impressed £2.7 bn. Some of the UK’s largest projects such as the Olympic Park because the is not sustainable. by the sheer ambition, creativity companies like Shell have been Village and Chelsea Barracks. important moment market is It’s commendable that Opec has and potential on show. As I visit major investors in the region All of this is helping to power in delivering this become realistic about its expectations Qatar in my new role as Secretary for a number of years; and I am the continued growth of the UK looking for of State for International Trade I delighted that Shell is the largest economy while delivering healthy shared ambition. because days of high oil prices are over. desperate am struck by the dynamism and foreign investor in Qatar, with its investment returns for Qatar in Barkindo says the group is not seeking ambition I see – a forward-look- world-leading gas to liquids plant. a stable political, legal and eco- solutions. a definite price range for oil but stability ing country working towards an Many British companies are also nomic environment they know. by the level of change afoot, I for the market. Wild fluctuations in exciting national vision and pre- very active in Qatar’s exciting I know that the UK’s recent would like to reassure you that for prices and reckless production don’t paring to host the World Cup in infrastructure projects, in partic- decision to leave the EU has led the moment, nothing changes. We help anyone and market discipline is 2022. ular architectural firms, design, some to question the economic are still members of the EU. And what producers need. Qatar, like the UK has a proud project management and engi- prospects for the UK and its while members of the Union, the trading history. It is in our blood. neering consultancy. The UK is potential for trade. I want to bring UK will continue to – as it always The current market is bad not only for producers, but for The Arabian Gulf has always been also very well-represented in the a clear message to the Gulf, ‘the has done – push for further eco- the global economy as a whole. There was hope in consuming an extremely important trad- financial and professional serv- UK is open for business and we nomic liberalisation across the countries that low prices would benefit the common man, but that ing route for goods travelling ices industry with many leading now have a huge opportunity to EU. Some may say that a vote is proving to be a dream as some governments have increased from Asia to the Mediterranean British legal firms, banks and position ourselves at the centre to leave the EU was akin to the taxes on petrol and diesel, reaping an unexpected windfall, and and onto Europe. But it isn’t just accountancy and advisory firms of an increasingly interconnected UK turning its back to free trade keeping the prices astronomically high when compared with the goods that have been traded, the well-established here. And of world. and towards isolationism. That routes brought with them philos- course, UK automotive, luxury The UK has always been a couldn’t be further from the truth. international prices. And that’s true of India too, which is one ophy, religion and art – spreading goods, retail and brands are all confident and outward-look- We want the EU to succeed – we of the biggest consumers of petroleum products in the world. cultural as well as economic pros- also present in Qatar’s shops and ing nation: always refusing to just don’t want to be governed by And the rock-bottom prices are hitting both Opec and non- perity. History has shown that malls. But I want to see more. I be constrained by our size or it. As we leave, we intend to do Opec producers equally hard, though, unfortunately, the duty of open, trading economies gener- want the best of British business island status. The national pride so in a way that ensures minimal stabilizing the market has fallen on the Opec, while the rest have ate wealth, create jobs, increase and industry to be here in Qatar. I felt after coming second in the disruption for our European part- been behaving recklessly with unrestricted output, wrecking consumer choice and value for want our companies, our experts, Rio Olympics reinforces what ners with whom we will continue Opec’s efforts to bring some sanity to the market. our officials to play a leading role can be achieved by a deter- to have strong economic, polit- in supporting delivery of Qatar’s mined population of less than ical and security bonds. We are Algeria’s Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa last week said 2030 National Vision and in 65m. I often think that the era not leaving Europe - in the era that there was a consensus among producers about pushing for a delivery of a successful World of modern globalisation could of globalisation we need to be price around $50 to $60 a barrel. That’s a modest and achievable The Gulf is a major Cup here in Qatar 2022. have been written with the UK open to trading with any mar- target to start with. I want the government to be in mind. We have a system of ket which is functionally similar trading partner. In quicker at identifying big-ticket law, including commercial law to our own even if it is not geo- 2015, UK exports exporting opportunities in high that is admired across the whole graphically proximate – we are growth markets; we have already world and underpins confidence re-joining the rest of the world. stood at over £20bn prioritised 31 across the Gulf, in investments in Britain. We have For the UK, Qatar is an impor- – that’s more than including Qatar. This not only a skilled workforce, low levels of tant part of that journey; and I Quote of the day covers traditional industries such industrial disruption, low reg- am delighted that the govern- China and twice as as oil and gas, defence and infra- ulation, low taxation, we speak ment and business here in Qatar much as exports structure, but emerging areas like English and we are in the right share that vision. The major UK/ We can say with certainty from India. We see life sciences and creative. And time zone for global trading. Qatar trade and investment con- that the party has won. UK Export Finance – the gov- These strong economic funda- ference which we will hold in the increasing business ernment’s export credit agency mentals have meant the British UK early in 2017 will be an impor- The situation is not easy, with the Gulf as an – will continue to be on hand to economy has proven resilient tant moment in delivering this people feel that, and they ensure that no export to Qatar both before and after the refer- shared ambition. I am sure that it want and hope that the essential part of our fails because of lack of finance endum – despite the doomsday will be a huge success, strengthen political situation should be international strategy or insurance, and will continue predictions. I know that many significantly our economic and its great work in reducing barri- here in the Gulf have already trade links, and demonstrate to stable. which includes future ers to trade. made clear their strong faith in the world that -as the people of new Free Trade Selling our goods and serv- the UK economy and their con- Qatar know - the UK is open for Vladimir Putin ices to the region is of course only tinued interest in increasing their business like never before. Russian President Agreements. half the story. The UK is one of investments in the UK. the most open economies for And for any businesses and The writer is the British Secretary inward investment in the world investors here who are concerned of State for International Trade

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 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 09 UN Refugee Summit: Time for action, not words

By Aurelie Ponthieu

oday, the United Nations General Assembly will bring together Member States for the first-ever Summit on Ref- ugees and Migrants. While Tan already released draft declaration enshrining the outcomes promises a more coordinated, more humane, more responsive approach to people on the move, the declaration’s lofty aims are contradicted by the actual practices of many of the States who will participate in New York but enact the polar opposite. Instead of respecting the rights of which they seek refuge. Take the stretch with American backing, grants legal pro- the Serbian border with Hungary, for A household survey conducted by MSF individuals and upholding pre-existing of waste land along the Jordan-Syria bor- tection to less than one percent of these instance,where one in three of our in August 2016 indicated that despite obligations, far too many governments, der known as “the berm,” where some people, sending most of them back to patients report being assaulted, often the dreary living conditions, most peo- are adopting ever more restrictive and 75,000 Syrians—four out of five of them danger in their home countries instead. by state authorities. Will UN leaders ple would strongly prefer to remain in damaging approaches that seem designed women and children—languish in inhu- MSF teams in Mexico report that 68 per- provide these people with better and Dadaab rather than return to Somalia. to further harm already vulnerable men, mane conditions just a few kilometres cent of patients have been assaulted safer alternatives? Or will they continue While keeping hundreds of thousands women, and children and to keep them removed from a war zone. while in transit. One third of the women erecting new walls and ever crueller of refugees in limbo in Dadaab entirely as far from sight as possible. MSF mobile teams that had been car- had been sexually abused. Will ratifying forms of deterrence? dependent on aid is hardly a solution, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ing for people on the berm in the weeks states address this situation? Six months on from the cynical forcing them back to Somalia is both teams see the destructive consequences before the border closed in June treated Globally, many people on the move EU-Turkey deal, all signs indicate that inhumane and against the principle of of this on a daily basis, as we deliver more than 200 malnourished children suffer violence—in many cases, coming deterrence will continue to be the focus non refoulement. Will the UN Summit emergency medical care in many of the and 500 pregnant women, including a top the violence that caused them to of most states as they attempt to manage accept that their only alternatives are to countries people are fleeing, along the those with high risk pregnancies need- flee home in the first place. Since launch- the global displacement crisis. Signed by live in an inadequate camp or to be sent routes they travel, and in countries in ing close management. These people are ing search and rescue operations in the all 28 member European Union Member back to an active conflict zone? Or make unable to cross a closed border, unable Mediterranean Sea, where more than States in order to block asylum seekers concrete change? to return home because of the cata- 3,200 people have died in 2016 alone, from European shores, the deal is hailed These are far from the only exam- strophic war in their country and unable MSF teams have pulled more than 35,000 as a success despite the fact that nearly ples we could cite and just some of the at present to access basic services to help people—and increasing numbers of unac- 60,000 men, women and children, most questions we ask of the world leaders them survive. So what will become of companied minors—from the sea. MSF of whom are fleeing wars in Syria, Iraq attending the summit. Given this tumul- them following the UN Summit on Ref- medical teams on board rescue boats and Afghanistan, are stuck in Greece, on tuous state of affairs in which human life Instead of respecting the rights ugee and Migrants? How will they fit into continue to treat and bear witness to the prison islands that they cannot leave or and dignity is fast trampled underfoot, this new blue print? consequences of physical and psycholog- in isolated and under resourced camps we should be encouraged by the lan- of individuals and upholding pre- Elsewhere, our teams see refugees ical violence inflicted on those travelling in the mainland. Faced with uncertain guage emerging from the UN Summit. existing obligations, far too many and migrants denied any form of safe through Libya. futures, arbitrary detention and inade- But unless numerous governments plan passage, moving across perilous routes Patients describe brutal encoun- quate conditions the physical and mental to radically alter their response and pol- governments, are adopting ever and sometimes dying in the process. In ters with smugglers, border guards, health of many is deteriorating as the icies on refugees and migrants, this UN more restrictive and damaging the Americas for example, an estimated and other predators. They have been days go slowly by. gathering will yield little more than feel- 300,000 people from El Salvador, Hon- detained, beaten with rifles, whipped In May, citing the EU-Turkey deal, good rhetoric and empty promises. It will approaches that seem designed to duras, and Guatemala head north every with hoses, robbed, held for ransom, or Kenya announced the upcoming clo- ensure only the continued suffering of further harm already vulnerable men, year to escape poverty, rapacious crim- sexually assaulted. We estimate nine sure of the world’s largest refugee camp, millions. women, and children and to keep inal gangs, and violence as fierce as any out of ten of those we have rescued Dadaab, in north western Kenya where war zone. have endured some form of violence. 350,000 Somalis driven from conflict, The writer is the Humanitarian Advisor them as far from sight as possible. They hope to gain asylum in Mexico Refugees and migrants also face vio- draught and privation have been liv- on Displacement at Médecins sans Fron- or move onwards to the US but Mexico, lence on other European borders—on ing in a limbo for years, even decades. tières (MSF). Zambia’s violent and razor-close election is mired in controversy

By Elizabeth Sperber and Matt most trusted election monitoring Numerous international organ- elections had been.” Ong’ondi and Ben Chege Ngumi, to Herman group - is unable to comprehensively izations send observer missions to In 2014, amid increasing political audit this important slice of the elec- The Washington Post verify the fairness of the election. As Zambia. Yet, according to Judith and economic instability, Zambia’s toral process. we explain below, this is because the Kelly, numerous international four major faith-based organizations Although there is no direct evi- government divided access to differ- observers may do more harm than established the Christian Churches dence of manipulation of the rolls, ent segments of the electoral process good. In their research, Emily Beau- Monitoring Group (CCMG). In major- the refusal to grant trusted domestic n Tuesday, Edgar Lungu, to different international and domes- lieu and Susan Hyde also find that ity-Christian Zambia, a plurality of observers access to the rolls rein- incumbent president of tic observers, notably the United although more and more govern- Zambians belong either to mainline forces many Zambians’ skepticism of OZambia, was sworn in for a Nations Development Program ments are hosting international Protestant or Catholic denomina- UNDP’s international observer mis- second term, even though the oppo- (UNDP) and CCMG. observers, incumbents simultane- tions, and a growing number identify sions. As founding member of CCMG, sition party is contesting the election The incumbent won by a margin ously manipulate elections using as evangelical. CCMG member organ- Eugene Kabilika, noted that prior to results in Zambia’s courts. of only 13,021 votes, in a country of less easily observable tactics (e.g., izations reflect this composition, the elections, some Zambians distrust August’s elections in Zambia were more than 15 million. excluding rival candidates, advance and include umbrella associations UNDP because: “They don’t seem to the hardest-fought in a generation. The main players in last month’s manipulation of voter registries, or for mainline Protestants, Catholics challenge government in their short- Opposition supporters clashed vio- elections were the incumbent pres- constraints on free media). and evangelicals, as well as the Jes- comings. The opposition would trust lently with incumbent party cadres ident, Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Darren Kew, Lisa Laasko and uit Center for Theological Reflection. CCMG [more than UNDP], but at the and police, which led to an unprece- Front, and Hakainde Hichilema, of Cyril Obi argue that, in Africa, CCMG is funded by the U.S. moment I don’t think there is anyone dented temporary ban on campaign the United Party for National Devel- international observers from other and British development agencies, . . . [who] would trust that the regis- rallies in Lusaka during July. Incum- opment. Four days after the elections, African countries have failed to USAID and DFID, and receives tech- ter is authentic.” bents controversially limited free Zambia’s Electoral Commission remain nonpartisan in the face of nical assistance from the National Although there is no direct evi- media before the elections, and announced that President Lungu won strong diplomatic interests, and Democratic Institute, a U.S. non- dence of fraud, the governments’ In Africa, international opposition supporters feared that with 50.35 percent of the vote, com- Brian Klaas finds that international governmental organization that refusal to grant CCMG unfettered the government would manipulate pared to Hichilema’s 47.63 percent. observers are significantly less likely promotes government accountabil- access to the entire electoral proc- observers from other the ballots. In this context, Zambia Only 13,021 votes stood between to call African elections “unfree and ity and citizen participation. CCMG ess reinforces popular skepticism of African countries needed - and still needs - trusted Lungu and a runoff election. For unfair” than elections elsewhere, was prepared to monitor voter regis- international observer missions in have failed to remain election monitors to safeguard the many, this suggested fraud. even when governments use the tration, audit the voter registries, and Zambia, especially the UNDP. electoral process. Over the last month, Hichilema same manipulations. undertake parallel vote tabulation It also suggests that in numerous nonpartisan in For this, most Zambians look to contested the election in Zambian Disillusioned with the state of (PVT) on election day. In PVT meth- developing countries where post- the face of strong a longstanding coalition of Catholic, courts. Among other things, he election monitoring in Zambia, odology, election monitors transmit Cold War transitions to multiparty diplomatic interests, mainline Protestant and older evan- alleged that the PF collaborated with numerous civic leaders have advo- vote counts directly from a repre- politics have yielded “quasi-demo- gelical churches. In a country that the state’s nonpartisan electoral com- cated for domestic monitoring. The sentative sample of polling stations cratic” or hybrid regimes, incumbent and Brian Klaas finds is more than 80 percent Christian, mission to add foreigners or deceased Rev. Suzanne Matale, general secre- to an independent data center, which political parties can selectively that international these institutions are more widely individuals to the voter registries - tary of Zambia’s mainline protestant uses this data to predict national engage international and domestic observers are trusted and have deeper commu- the lists of registered voters allowed Council of Churches of Zambia, for election results. Election observers observer missions, and potentially nity roots than secular international to cast ballots - in order to ensure a instance, explained to us that while then compare PVT estimates with play these groups off of one another significantly less observer missions. As Zambia’s slim margin of victory for the ruling domestic observers can monitor official results to confirm that vote at the expense of democratic likely to call African attempt to democratise stalled in party. Ideally, Zambians would now “registration, the campaigns, [and] counts were not manipulated. accountability and public trust in elections “unfree and recent years, and disillusion with turn to trusted, nonpartisan election everything all the way until after the But as noted above, the Electoral government. international observers mounted, this observers to evaluate the fairness of elections, the UN [UNDP observer Commission refused to let CCMG The future of democratization in unfair” than elections coalition of churches formalised its the election, including the voter reg- mission] will come two days before examine the voter registration rolls. the region will depend, in part, on the elsewhere, even when domestic election monitoring effort istries. They cannot. the elections and they will concen- Instead, the electoral commission ability of international and domestic governments use the in 2014 by establishing the Christian International election observers trate on the long, quiet lines that day, contracted with the United Nations monitoring organizations to estab- Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG). can, in some circumstances, do more and they will make huge decisions Development Program (UNDP) to lish unbreakable - and reputable same manipulations. Today, however, CCMG - Zambia’s harm than good. about how fair and how credible the send two Kenyan consultants, Dismas - alliances.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 10 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES Norwegian tells of terror and torture in captivity

Sekkingstad said as he was received according to the government. by a government envoy in the town Sekkingstad told of Indanan on the forested island RANSOM MYSTERY of Jolo. Escorted by a small contingent reporters he endured Sekkingstad told reporters he of Jolo police yesterday, Misuari “psychological endured “psychological pressure”, handed him and the Indonesians pressure”, with with the Abu Sayyaf threatening sev- over to Dureza at a meeting guarded eral times to behead him. by hundreds of Misuari’s fighters the Abu Sayyaf Sekkingstad, then aged 56, was from the Moro National Liberation threatening several abducted in September 2015 from Front. the high-end Philippine tourist resort Sekkingstad and Dureza then times to behead him. which he managed and was taken to flew to the southern city of Davao Jolo by the Abu Sayyaf. to meet Philippine President Rod- Two Canadian resort guests cap- rigo Duterte. At a press forum with tured with him, John Ridsdel and Duterte later, a now-clean shaven AFP Robert Hall, were later beheaded by Sekkingstad thanked the president the group after a ransom demand of and all those who helped obtain his about 300 million pesos ($6.5 mil- freedom. It was unclear if any ran- lion) was not met. som was paid and, if so, by whom. Three Indonesian nationals and Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad (right) stand next to Moro National INDANAN, PHILIPPINES: A Nor- Sekkingstad said that during the A spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf wegian former hostage yesterday separate killings in April and June, was quoted in a local newspaper yes- Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari and other members of the rebel group in Jolo yesterday. described his psychological tor- the two handcuffed Canadians were terday as saying the group received ture as he heard his friends being escorted out of sight, “but still close 30m pesos (about $625,000) for the beheaded by militants during a enough that you could hear their Norwegian. year-long captivity in the south- cries when it happened.” Norwegian foreign affairs com- Indonesia thanks Manila after ern Philippines. “It was devastating,” the visibly munications chief Frode Andersen A heavily bearded and gaunt shaken Norwegian said. Sekkingstad said that “the Norwegian government Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was said he also survived numerous mil- does not pay ransom in this case or released on Saturday by the feared itary attacks on his captors and even any other case”. three fishermen are freed Abu Sayyaf group, also said he nar- saved as a souvenir a bullet that went And Duterte’s spokesman Mar- rowly survived military attacks through his backpack. tin Andanar also said in Manila that against his captors, with a bullet The Abu Sayyaf handed the “the (Philippine) government main- Anatolia abducted off eastern Malaysia in mid- to the no ransom payment method”. piercing his backpack. Norwegian over to another Mus- tains the no-ransom policy”. “Now, if July — attended a press conference The Philippines’ presidential “Basically, I’ve been treated like lim rebel leader Nur Misuari, whose there is a third party like family that alongside Ryacudu and the Philip- palace has also insisted that the gov- a slave, carrying their stuff around, group assisted in the release and paid, we do not know anything about pines’ Western Mindanao Command ernment is unwavering in its refusal time to time abused,” a frail-looking at whose camp he spent the night, that,” he told reporters. ZAMBOANGA CITY/TUBAN: Indone- chief, Lieut Gen Mayoralgo dela Cruz. to give in to the militant group’s sia’s defence minister thanked Manila One of the crew told reporters demands, despite reports claiming and the Moro National Liberation through an interpreter that life in ransoms were paid. Front (MNLF) rebel group yesterday the captivity of the Abu Sayyaf in the “I would like to reiterate that the after Abu Sayyaf militants released jungles of Sulu had been very diffi- government maintains the no-ran- three Indonesians and a Norwegian cult and “more like death”. “So we are som policy. Now, if a third party or in the Philippines’ Muslim south. requesting the Philippine government the family gives ransom, we do not “We know the Armed Forces of to keep its operation going on and as know,” Presidential Communications the Philippines deployed around much as possible to crush this Abu Secretary Martin Andanar told local 10,000 troops [recently] and cur- Sayyaf group,” he said. radio station dzRB. rently there are 20,000 in the “I feel so relieved that I am free Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf [southern] region to crush the Abu from that very remote place and I — armed with mostly impro- Sayyaf terrorist group,” Ryamizard can now return to being [healthy] vised explosive devices, mortars Ryacudu told reporters at a military because I was thinking that I have and automatic rifles — has car- camp during a visit to southern Zam- been beheaded,” he added, express- ried out bombings, kidnappings, boanga City. ing gratitude to the Philippines’ assassinations and extortion in a self- After the four hostages were freed government and armed forces as determined fight for an independent over the weekend following negoti- well as the MNLF. Dela Cruz con- province in the Philippines. ations facilitated by MNLF — which firmed that 18 hostages remain in It is one of two militant groups in is engaged in a peace process with Abu Sayyaf captivity, among them the south to have pledged allegiance the Philippines government — the “a Dutch, five Malaysians, six Indo- to Daesh, prompting fears during the men were hosted by the rebel group’s nesians and some locals”. stalling of a peace process between fugitive founder, Nur Misuari, in the He refused to confirm whether the government and the Moro Islamic island province of Sulu before being the group also held another three Liberation Front (MILF) that it could transported to Davao City. They were Malaysians who were reported to make inroads in a region torn by dec- accompanied by Presidential Peace have been kidnapped off Malaysia, ades of armed conflict. Adviser Jesus Dureza. and said, “we’re still monitoring if the In 2013, Misuari’s MNLF faction The three Indonesian fishermen kidnappers are really from the group laid siege to the majority-Chris- were transported to Zamboanga City, because those fishermen were taken tian city of Zamboanga to protest a where Minister Ryacudu was visiting from the waters of Sabah.” peace process by the MILF, which during negotiations, and underwent The Indonesian minister denied Misuari claims leaves Muslims in Freed Norwegian former hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad (centre) speaks flanked by Philippines President medical examinations and debrief- reports that a 10m peso ($209,000) the country’s south shortchanged Rodrigo Duterte (right), peace adviser Jesus dureza (left) and Norwegian ambassador to the Philippines Erik ing at a military camp. ransom was paid for the release of in comparison to an earlier MNLF Forner, during a courtesy call in Davao City yesterday, a day after Sekkingstad was released by his captors. The fishermen — who were the fishermen, stressing “we stick peace deal.

20 dead in Central Duterte needs six more months for his war on drugs Africa attacks

Reuters More than 3,500 people - or and abroad of extrajudicial killings. “We would need time to put The new list includes more Reuters about 47 per day - have been killed New York-based Human Rights everything in order. Give me a lit- elected government officials such in the past 10 weeks in connection Watch (HRW) last week said the UN tle extension, maybe of another six as village chiefs or “barangay cap- with the illegal drugs trade, nearly should look into the drugs war and months,” he said. tains”, Duterte said. He did not say BANGUI: Militia fighters in the MANILA: Philippine President Rod- two thirds by unknown assailants be allowed to interview witnesses. Early this month Duterte said when the names would be made pub- Central African Republic have rigo Duterte said yesterday that he and the rest in legitimate police oper- The biggest problem is posed by the “plenty will be killed until the last lic but that they had been “verified”. killed at least 20 people and needed six more months for his war ations, according to local police. distribution and use of locally made pusher is out of the streets.” He also said he supported calls wounded several more in attacks on drugs, saying he only realised how Though popular at home, Duterte’s methamphetamine, known as ‘shabu’. But yesterday he said “even if to postpone the barangay elections, in the centre of the country, a bad the country’s narcotics prob- sometimes violent anti-drug rhetoric “I did not realise how severe and I wanted to, I cannot kill them all to be held in October, because drug police source said yesterday. lem was after taking office over two and the thousands of killings have how serious the problem of drug because the last report would be money could be used to ensure vic- “At least 20 people were killed months ago. alarmed rights groups and sparked the menace in this republic was until I this thick,” referring to a new, not tory of those who connive with drug and several others wounded in Duterte, a former crime-busting concern of the United States, a former became president,” Duterte said in yet published list of mostly public dealers. attacks launched on Friday by mayor of the southern city of Davao, colonial power and close ally, and the a media briefing in Davao. officials linked to illegal drug trade. “From the looks of it, it’s the gov- elements of the ex-Seleka” in the won the presidency in May promis- United Nations. He said there were “hundreds of In two previous lists, Duterte ernment already doing the operation central Kaga Bandoro region, the ing to suppress crime and wipe out Duterte has dismissed criticism thousands of people already in the identified military and police offi- (of illegal drugs). They (the foreign source said. “Ex-Seleka” is the drugs and drug dealers in three to of his war on drugs, including allega- drug business” now, some of them cials, lawmakers and judges with critics) just don’t realize it because term used for remnants of the six months. tions made by rights groups at home working in government. alleged connections to the drug trade. it’s not their country,” he said. supposedly disbanded alliance of mainly-Muslim armed groups which seized power in CAR in late 2013 before being chased from the capital the following year. India visit fruitful: Prachanda Kim visits fruit farm The police source said the attacks claimed 19 lives in several villages in the Kaga Bandoro region and several more in the regional IANS “Dynamics of our relations with India and China capital of the same name. “The are different, so our ties with India would not cre- heavily armed assailants burned ate distance with China,” he said at a time when his dozens of houses that they looted government is being seen as having a “Delhi tilt”. in these villages,” the police source KATHMANDU: Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal “Characteristics of our relations with India and said. Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who returned home after a four- China are different. Relations with one side will not MONUSCO, the UN mission day visit to India yesterday, said his visit to the affect the other side,” he said when asked about Nepal’s in CAR, said the attacks followed neighbouring country was successful and fruitful. ties with China. Prachanda said Nepal has maintained clashes between ex-Seleka and Speaking to reporters at Tribhuvan International balanced and nuanced relations with both neighbours. their longtime foes in militias col- Airport in Kathmandu upon arrival from India, he “The aim of my visit was to create an environ- lectively known as anti-Balaka. said the visit has created mutual trust and confi- ment for sub-regional cooperation which India is MONUSCO said it had sent troop dence in bilateral ties. also pursuing,” he said. Asserting that India has put reinforcements to Kaga Bandoro “Our ties and partnership with India will not the overall issues of Nepal in priority and has given and the village of Ndomete, which A picture released by North Korean news agency, KCNA, yesterday shows affect our bilateral ties with China,” said the Prime special attention to mutual interests and concerns, was particularly affected by the Minister asserting that his visit has taken Nepal- Prachanda said works related to common interests North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visiting the Kosan combined fruit farm. violence, “to prevent any deteri- India ties to new heights. and welfare would be carried out together. oration of the situation”. PAKISTAN MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 11

Access to 15 years’ data Wood market on fire of offshore accounts soon

said, adding: “The domestic law Pakistan and many Pakistani will be amended to comply with the nationals operating abroad were Pakistan for the convention.” found involved in dodging the tax last many years is Pakistan on September 14 signed authorities. Multilateral Convention on Mutual “The convention provides facing difficulties in Administrative Assistance in Tax complete solution to detect such eva- obtaining records Matters at OECD Headquarters in sions,” the official said. from Swiss banks Paris and becomes the 104th juris- The official also added that the diction to join the convention. convention is not only a tool for regarding accounts The official said that the conven- fighting tax evasion, but it could maintained by tion would help the FBR exchange also be used for other purposes such information in three ways, which as fighting corruption and money Pakistanis. The included exchange of information laundering. officials said that on request, spontaneous exchange Another significance of the and automatic exchange. treaty is that the FBR official can go Switzerland is also The treaty would be enforced abroad and examine tax records of trying to sign the after ratification and it would take a person, the official said. about a year, which is a normal prac- However, tax experts said treaty. tice, the official said. Pakistani authorities are not fully A cell had already been estab- prepared to comply with the treaty. Firefighters busy extinguishing a fire which broke out at a wood market in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. lished at the FBR Headquarters “It is not a multilateral conven- for exchange of information. It tion in its true spirit, as member Internews will coordinate with the local tax countries are governed by their bodies for accessing information domestic laws,” DrIkramulHaq, from signatory countries, the offi- advocate Supreme Court, said. cial added. He said that the availability of Deceased student tops intermediate exam KARACHI: The Federal Board of Pakistan for the last many information would depend upon Revenue (FBR) of Pakistan will years is facing difficulties in the domestic banking laws of each now be able to obtain the data of obtaining records from Swiss member country. Internews Multan board results showed the whole family. Sadly, death came offshore bank accounts of Paki- banks regarding accounts main- “We have a poor record of get- that Rauf had obtained 1,013 marks earlier to Waqas than success,” he stani nationals for the last 15 years tained by Pakistanis. ting information from banks. Even in the general science group and added. under the international tax treaty The officials said that Switzer- after insertion of section 165A, the clinched first position in the board He said Waqas was a hardwork- that it signed with the Organiza- land is also trying to sign the treaty. FBR has failed to obtain informa- ISLAMABAD: A gifted student who examinations. ing and brave student, who did not tion for Economic Cooperation and “In case Switzerland becomes signa- tion from banks,” he added. was diagnosed with a brain aneu- Rauf’s parents were invited at the let his disease come in the way of Development (OECD), officials said tory of the treaty, it will help the FBR DrIkram questioned that if the rysm a month after he sat appeared prize distribution ceremony at Multan his studies. yesterday. access information directly from the FBR cannot get information from for Intermediate papers has posthu- Arts Council yesterday. Waqas’s father “His disease was diagnosed one “The signatories of OECD con- Swiss banks,” the official added. local banks, how will it exchange mously secured top distinction in the Haji Niaz a retired army man could month after the exam. During the vention on tax matters are obliged to The basic purpose of the con- information with the foreign banks? examinations held by Multan Board not control his emotions when he exam, he used to complain about the provide last 15 years data of trans- vention is to combat offshore tax “How in the presence of laws of Intermediate and Secondary Edu- was called on the stage to receive the symptoms of brain hemorrhage like actions,” a senior official said on the evasion through mutual adminis- such as Protection of Economic cation in Punjab province this year. medal and certificate of his late son. headache, weakness in the body and condition of anonymity. trative assistance with other parties Reforms Act 1992 and Section 111 Unfortunately, Waqas Rauf, a Niaz said his son had made him numbness,” he said. At present, under domestic laws, to the convention. (4) of the Income Tax Ordinance resident of Vehari district, will not proud even after his death but they “Even with his ailing health, he taxpayers’ data of last 10 years The official said that many 2001, any crackdown will be pos- be able to celebrate his success. Rauf could no longer celebrate his success. used to study the whole night,” he could be examined, the official foreign companies operating in sible within Pakistan?” He asked. died of brain hemorrhage on July 11. “This is a very tough time for added. College principal’s post not attractive in NW Pakistan

Internews Rs 10, 000 after he or she is posted as He said the government colleges professors. “A principal is responsible for a college’s principal,” a teacher of the had many competent academicians, “The principal has a major role everything happening in the college. Government Post-Graduate Degree who had the talents to improve edu- to play in a college. Like a captain He is the administrative, financial Revised voters’ list College Peshawar said. cational standard there but they of a sports team, he or she is to take and academic head of the college,” to be displayed PESHAWAR: Becoming principals of He said college teachers were didn’t take up the stressful yet low- care of all academic and administra- he said. government colleges is not an attrac- entitled to 40 per cent ‘concession’ in paid job of principal. tive matters of the college, so the post The principal said the higher edu- tomorrow tive option for most senior teachers income tax on salary but there’s no “Under such circumstances, the should be made attractive for poten- cation department had proposed the in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province such entitlement for college principals. teachers with plans to misuse college tial candidates,” he said. Rs25,000 allowance and an official of Pakistan as their responsibili- “It is a wrong policy of the govern- funds secure the posts of principals,” Yousafzai said the Rs600 allow- vehicle for college principals after the ISLAMABAD: The Election ties increase manifold but salary ment that a professor’s responsibilities he said. ance for principals was just a peanut PTI formed the government in the Commission of Pakistan decreases if they do so. increases but salary decreases after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Colleges and that ironically, it hadn’t been province three years ago, but the pro- (ECP) has announced the For that reason, many professors becoming principal,” he said. Teachers Association president revised for decades. posal was brushed under the carpet. revised voters’ lists will be and associate professors are showing The teacher said after a reduction Nasrullah Yousafzai said that the A college principal said there was He said under unfavourable displayed at 1,000 cen- reluctance to assume the top admin- of Rs10, 000 in salary, a principal got government should announce hand- no financial reward for principals circumstances, professors were tres and offices of the istrative position in colleges. only Rs600 as allowance from the some incentives for college principals though they had to face accountabil- unwilling to head colleges by and district election commis- “A professor’s salary is reduced by higher education department. to attract competent and honest ity for ‘audit paras’ after retirement. large. sioners tomorrow. The ECP said yes- terday the list would be placed on its website and also be shared with Tribute to Quetta victims Three soldiers dead in media. ambush in Peshawar Islamabad to have first state Reuters The two groups also claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb- guest house ing at a hospital in Quetta that killed 74 people last month. ISLAMABAD: The Capital PESHAWAR: Three Pakistani sol- Pakistan’s military said on Sep- Development Authority diers were killed in an ambush in tember 1 it had arrested more than (CDA) of Islamabad will the northwestern city of Pesha- 300 IS militants and sympathisers, set up first state guest war yesterday, militants said, in an thwarting the ultra-hardline group’s house in the city which attack for which both Islamic State attempts to expand there. will accommodate visiting (IS) and a Pakistani Taliban faction But concern has been grow- heads of state and other claimed responsibility. ing that IS — which controls parts foreign dignitaries. Militants said they ambushed of Iraq and Syria and is known for An official of CDA’s an unmarked vehicle ferrying sol- especially brutal treatment of reli- Planning Wing, who diers yesterday morning near the gious minorities — might replicate helped prepare the initial congested Daudzai area of Pesha- their model in Pakistan, especially summary of the project, war. Military sources confirmed the after the IS loyalists seized small said the civic author- attack but said the killed men were pieces of territory in Afghanistan. ity had proposed three army employees and not soldiers. On Friday, Pakistani authorities sites of 25 acres each for The Pakistan army often uses said they arrested four IS mili- construction of the state Civil society activists light candles for the victims of the August 8, 2016 suicide bombing at the Civil unmarked vehicles for transporta- tants plotting attacks in the city of guest house. Hospital, in Quetta, yesterday. A devastating suicide bombing at a Quetta hospital killed at least 73 tion of soldiers and other employees Lahore. The four men had 1.6 kg of people, many of them senior lawyers. in volatile areas around Peshawar to explosives as well as fuses and det- avoid being identified and attacked. onators, officials said. Toll in bombing “They were travelling in a civil Most IS recruits in the region van when an armed men opened are believed to be Pakistani or rises to 36 fire at them,” said a security official. Afghan defectors from other Islam- “Three of them died on the spot.” ist movements. PESHAWAR: The death Hindu marriage bill on parliament’s agenda again Pakistan’s military this month Pakistan is home to several mil- toll from a Taliban sui- declared that it had foiled IS’s itant groups including the Afghan cide bomb attack on a attempts to establish operations in and Pakistani Taliban, al Qaeda and mosque in northwest Internews The Hindu Marriage Bill, 2016, which The draft law was originally the country. But the group’s Amaq the Haqqani network, giving Islamic tribal Pakistan has risen had been pending with the panel moved by two minority lawmakers news agency said IS was behind the State both a rich pool of potential to 36, including eight since March last year. — Ramesh Lal of the PPP and Asiya ambush, also claimed by Jamaat- recruits but also fierce competition. children, officials said The landmark piece of legisla- Nasir of the JUI-F. The draft bill was ur-Ahrar, an offshoot of the Islamist Islamic State last year declared yesterday. ISLAMABAD: The government of tion will address key issues of Hindu later supported by the ruling Paki- militant Pakistani Taliban group. Afghanistan and Pakistan as the The Friday attack tar- Pakistan is expected to table Hindu community, including matters relating stan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, which carried state of “Khorasan”, part of its self- geted a mosque in the Marriage Bill, 2016 at the next ses- to registration of marriages, divorce Kamran Michael said: “It will be out the Easter Sunday bombing in declared global caliphate, and Mohmand tribal district sion of parliament later this month. and forced conversions, Human a historic day and the credit goes to Lahore in which 70 people were appointed longtime militant Hafiz bordering Afghanistan On August 17, the National Rights Minister Kamran Michael said. (both the) opposition and ruling par- killed, at one time swore fealty to Saeed Khan as its regional leader. where the army has been Assembly’s standing committee on Michael is likely to table the bill at next ties which are on the same page on IS’s Middle East leadership, but later A US drone strike killed Khan fighting Taliban militants. law and justice tabled its report on session of parliament. the draft (bill),” said the lawmaker. switched back to the Taliban. last month in eastern Afghanistan. 12 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 INDIA 17 soldiers dead in Kashmir attack

not mince words. “I am deeply dis- Some 13 or 14 soldiers, accord- appointed with Pakistan’s continued ing to Gen Ranbir Singh, were burnt Over two dozen and direct support to terrorism. Paki- to death. Many other received severe soldiers were injured stan is a terrorist state and it should burn injuries. Three of the militants, be identified and isolated as such,” meanwhile, took positions inside the in the audacious Rajnath Singh tweeted. barracks and kept firing indiscrimi- pre-dawn attack, Jaitley added: “It is clear our nately. Para-commandos who were neighbour is using terror to create airdropped stormed the barracks and which Home Minister menace in our country. Our diplo- killed the three. The fourth militant Rajnath Singh and macy would work in the direction of was killed outside. isolating Pakistan internationally.” The number of troops inside the Finance Minister Arun Islamabad rejected the allega- camp was not known but a source Jaitley blamed on tions. “India immediately puts blame estimated there must have been Pakistan and called on Pakistan without doing any inves- about 200. Most of the infantry bat- tigation. We reject this,” Foreign talion is deployed on the LoC. for its isolation. Office spokesperson Nafees Zaka- The Northern Command said: A soldier runs through an army brigade headquarters during a gunbattle between army and rebels near ria told a western news agency. “The base had a large strength of the Line of Control in Uri yesterday. The Director General Military troops of units turning over after Operations (DGMO), Lt. Gen. Ranbir their tour of duty who were stationed IANS Singh, said in Delhi that some articles in tents/temporary shelters which recovered from the slain terrorists caught fire and resulted in heavy cas- had “Pakistan markings”. ualties. We salute the sacrifices of 17 Opposition flays government “All four killed were foreign soldiers who were martyred.” URI/NEW DELHI: Four heav- terrorists. Initial reports indicate Most of the dead soldiers were ily-armed terrorists said to be that the slain terrorists belong to from the Bihar Regiment. Two sol- “foreigners” sneaked into an army Jaish-e-Mohammed.” diers of the Dogra Regiment also for ‘security lapse’ in Uri camp near the LoC with Pakistan in The DGMO said four AK-47 died. The attack came amid an Jammu and Kashmir yesterday in the rifles and four under barrel grenade ongoing civilian unrest in the Kash- worst attack on a military base in the launchers along with a “large number mir Valley that has left nearly 90 state in a decade that left 17 soldiers of other war like stores” were recov- persons dead in the last two and a IANS described the terror strike as a “cow- Communist Party of India (Marx- dead and many injured, officials said. ered from the slain terrorists. half months. ardly attack as a deplorable affront ist) also condemned the killing of 17 Over two dozen soldiers were Uri is near the Line of Control Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minis- on our national conscience”. She Indian army personnel and main- injured in the audacious pre-dawn (LoC), which divides Jammu and ter Mehbooba Mufti said the “attack hoped that “the perpetrators of tained that Pakistan “must stop attack, which Home Minister Rajnath Kashmir between India and Paki- was aimed at triggering fresh vio- NEW DELHI/PATNA: Several oppo- this dastardly act as also the forces aiding and abetting the extremist Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jait- stan. The camp attacked on Sunday lence in Kashmir and creating a sition leaders yesterday sought to behind them will be severely dealt forces”. ley blamed on Pakistan and called is close to the headquarters of the war-like situation in the region. blame the Narendra Modi govern- with and brought to book”. “Despite the deployment of a for its isolation. Some of wounded army’s 12 Brigade. According to mil- “The heightened tension in the ment for the terror attack on an army In a tweet, former Home Minister large number of security personnel, soldiers were in critical condition in itary sources, the terrorists entered wake of the Uri attack is set to fur- camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir P. Chidambaram said: “Government the government has failed to stop the Srinagar, about 70km away. the camp from the rear after cutting ther vitiate the atmosphere in and and attributed the assault to “lapses” must mobilise all resources, man- continuing infiltration of militants,” All the four Jaish-e-Mohammed the barbed wire fencing -- without around Jammu and Kashmir amid in stalling the infiltration of militants. power and material, to strengthen the party said in a statement. (JeM) fidayeen or suicide attackers, the sentries getting alerted. increasing India-Pakistan hostility,” Congress leader and former border defence to prevent infiltra- The CPI-M, which began its two- who stealthily entered the camp near The gunmen then resorted to she warned. Defence Minister A K Antony said tion of terrorists.” day Central Committee meet on Uri town at 5.30am after cutting the indiscriminate gunfire from AK-47 In a sign that yesterday’s attack the attack that left 17 soldiers dead Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Sunday in New Delhi, maintained barbed wires, were killed in fighting rifles after quickly spreading in dif- would further worsen the India- was “a serious security lapse”. Lalu Prasad went on to take a dig at that “for a longstanding solution that raged for some two-and-a-half ferent directions inside the camp in Pakistan relations, Jitendra Singh, Antony told media persons Prime Minister Narendra Modi and of the Kashmir problem, political hours, military officials said. a mountainous terrain of Uri. the Minister of State in the Prime here that the Kashmir issue was said: “Soldiers are dying due to the dialogue with all stakeholders as Prime Minister Narendra Modi They reportedly hurled 17 gre- Minister’s Office, said: “Describing “drifting and reaching dangerous failure and negligence of Modi; where advocated by the all-Party delega- strongly condemned the “cowardly nades in just three minutes on the it as an ‘act of cowardice’ will not suf- propositions”. is his 56-inch chest now.” tion should be initiated without any terror attack” and assured “that those tents where soldiers were asleep. This fice, not countering it is also an act of “This incident comes close on the He said Jammu and Kashmir is an further delay”. behind this despicable attack will not caused a massive fire as the flames cowardice.” heels of what happened in Pathankot. integral part of India but the situation In a tweet, Congress Vice Presi- go unpunished”. also engulfed fuel tanks where some Defence Minister Manohar Par- At both these places, the militants there is going out of control, thanks dent Rahul Gandhi “condemned” the Modi refrained from saying who soldiers were refilling diesel in bar- rikar and Army Chief General Dalbir managed to enter military camps and to “only big talk and no action” on militant attack and said: “My heart- was to blame for the bloodbath but rels. Huge columns of black smoke Singh flew to Srinagar. They met top this is a huge security lapse,” he said. the ground. felt condolences to the families of the Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley did billowed from the camp into the sky. civil and security officials. Congress President Sonia Gandhi The Central Committee of the bravehearts martyred in the attack.”

Kejriwal asks Delhi Boosting relations Incidence of indirect taxes won’t to declare war on mosquitoes go up under GST: Meghwal IANS MCC Chamber of Commerce and IANS Industry. He assured manufacturers that the indirect taxes would not NEW DELHI: Citing how Delhi KOLKATA: The government would be going up after the implementa- came together to implement the not allow increase of incidence of tion of GST. “There will be standard odd-even scheme, Chief Minister indirect taxes on manufactur- rate of GST and we are planning to Arvind Kejriwal yesterday asked ing products under the Goods and bring slab-based rates. There will people in the capital to jointly Services Tax (GST) regime, Union be exemptions also,” he said. declare a war on mosquitoes. Minister of State for Finance and Meghwal said that slab-based Looking fatigued and speak- Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meg- rates are necessary to protect man- ing with visible pain, Kejriwal said hwal said yesterday. ufacturing sectors belonging to low in a video message that he told He also said that with the stand- tax brackets. “Some sectors like Health Minister Satyendar Jain to ard rate of GST, there would also be Bikaner papad where tax is just one buy as many fogging machines as slab-based rates for different man- per cent...how will these industries were needed in the next two or ufacturing products for a transition survive if a single standard rate (of three days. period before moving gradually about 18 percent or 17 percent) is He said it was time for the towards the single tax rate regime. applied,” he said. Delhi government, the central “Under the GST regime, the Slab-based rates and the stand- government and the BJP-control- indirect tax rate on services will ard rate will be decided by the GST led municipal corporations to join rise but for manufacturing sec- Council, he said. hands to take on the mosquitoes to tor, we will not allow indirect Meghwal said at present, liquor check the spread of chikungunya tax rate to go up from the present and petroleum products are not and dengue. level because we want progress of under the GST ambit, but the gov- Kejriwal, discharged earlier programmes like Make in India, ernment will review this position yesterday after a throat surgery Digital India, Stand Up India. after a year. Product-based and in Bengaluru, said almost every Vice-President Hamid Ansari greets Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro before the opening ceremony We will try keeping the rates at location-based exemptions will family in Delhi had been hit by at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela. par,” said Meghwal on the side- be examined by the GST council, chikungunya. Decrying the “poli- lines of an event organised by he added. tics” over who was responsible for the mosquito menace, he said he had told Jain to “start a war-like campaign against mosquitoes for one-and-a-half months”. Highway across nations: Delhi okays $1.04bn connectivity project He said every second day there should be fogging in every street and every locality in the IANS Bank (ADB), officials said , adding connectivity to succeed. This project “This apart, two highways are a 110km-road in the Impal-Moreh capital to get rid of the mosqui- that the road project will cover West is entirely different and new — and going to come up in Manipur — 115km stretch of Manipur are also being toes. Mosquitoes, he underlined, Bengal and Manipur on the Indian about to be rolled out,” Nandan said. Ukhrul-Tolloi-Tadubi ($230m) and a planned under the broader BBIN road “do not differentiate between the side, as of now. The project includes, among 138km split, four-lane road between the initiative. The Manila-based bank has Congress and BJP people”. NEW DELHI: India has approved an “The mandate is for complet- others, an upgrade of the 122km Sil- Kohima-Kedima Kring-Imphal section agreed to fund up to 50 percent of this The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ambitious $1.04bn project for con- ing the project within the next two iguri-Mirik-Darjeeling ($15m) and of National Highway-39 ($280m),” said project as well, officials said. Clear- leader said everyone should join structing and upgrading 558km of years,” a senior official said. “The the widening of the 60km National A D James, Deputy Secretary at the Min- ances are awaited from Nepal. the campaign against mosquitoes roads to link it with Bangladesh, primary idea behind the Bangladesh- Highway-35 (Kolkata-Bangaon) on istry of Road Transport and Highways. “This bridge will connect Kakar- like during “the India-Pakistan Bhutan and Nepal and ease the Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) road the border with Bangladesh ($130m). “These two roads are to be executed by bhitta in Nepal with Panitanki in cricket match when all Indians movement of passengers and cargo, initiative is to improve ground con- It also includes a new 123km road the National Highway Infrastructure West Bengal. Once we receive the unite”. as part of the larger effort to increase nectivity in the region,” said Leena to connect with Diamond harbour, on Development Corp. They are currently in necessary approvals, we would like He said there was enough intra-regional trade by 60 percent. Nandan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of the outskirts of Kolkata, at a cost of the DPR (detailed project report) stage,” to bid for the projects as early as pos- facility in the Delhi government The new project has been given Road Transport and Highways. $250m. All these are in West Bengal James said. Officials are also looking at sible, say by November-end,” said hospitals to tackle dengue and an official nod by India’s Department “We have taken up five high- and will be entrusted to the state’s the possibility of shorter routes. Anand Kumar, Managing Director, chikungunya but the problem of of Economic Affairs with 50 percent way stretches in the country, which Public Works Department for exe- Apart from the works under the National Highways and Infrastruc- mosquitoes remained. funding from the Asian Development are very important for such a cution, officials said. $1bn project, a 600 metre bridge and ture Development Corp. EUROPE MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 13 Putin’s party dominates Russian parliament vote

after the vote. five years ago and grew into the big- “The situation is tough and dif- gest challenge to Putin since he took The ballot for the ficult but the people still voted for charge in 2000. 450-seat State United Russia.” Since then the Kremlin has State pollster VTsIOM put the rul- cracked down on the right to protest Duma appeared to ing United Russia on 44.5 percent of while making a show of stamping out have been smooth the vote, ahead of the ultra-national- electoral manipulation. ist Liberal Democratic Party on 15.3 The former scandal-tainted elec- sailing for authorities percent, the Communists on 14.9 and tion chief was removed in favour of a desperate to avoid A Just Russia on 8.1. human rights advocate who allowed a repeat of mass Those four parties—which made more genuine opposition candidates up the last parliament and all back to take part. protests last time the Kremlin—were the only ones Despite authorities pledging to round and could to clear the five percent threshold crack down on vote-rigging, observ- needed to claim a share of the one- ers around the country made claims now pave the way half of seats up for grabs. of violations including “cruise-vot- for Putin to glide The other half of the deputies are ing”—where people are bussed to vote being elected on a constituency basis at multiple polling stations—and bal- to a fourth term as after a change to the election law. So lot stuffing. Electoral Commission president at elections far United Russia has won 66 out the chief Ella Pamfilova admitted there set for 2018. 76 single candidate seats that have had been problems in certain regions been counted so far, the electoral but officials said the number of vio- commission said. lations was way down on last time. The overall tally for United Rus- For the first time since Moscow sia could be down slightly on the seized the Black Sea peninsula of Cri- AFP 49 percent they claimed in 2011 but mea in 2014, residents there voted Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said for Russia’s parliament, in a poll that party would still end up with an slammed by Ukraine as illegal. Russian President Vladimir Putin casts his ballot at a polling station in Moscow, yesterday. “absolute majority” in the Duma. MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin’s There was no final turnout fig- ruling United Russia party yesterday ure but just a few hours ahead of the cruised to an easy victory at parlia- polls closing less than 40 percent of mentary elections, exit polls showed, voters had cast their ballots. Crimea holds polls to elect deputies despite the longest economic crisis of “It is not the biggest we have seen his 16-year rule. compared to previous election cam- AFP In the regional capital Sim- Kremlin as they look to cement their complained about daily life in the The ballot for the 450-seat State paigns but it is high,” Putin said. feropol, mainly elderly residents own grip over the region. city where the economy has been Duma appeared to have been smooth Yesterday’s election follows a flocked to busy polling stations. But even some of those who hit hard by punishing Western sailing for authorities desperate to tumultuous few years that have seen “I went to vote, and all my rel- welcomed Moscow’s annexation of sanctions. avoid a repeat of mass protests last Russia seize the Crimea peninsula SIMFEROPOL: Crimea went to the atives and neighbours are going,” Crimea said they felt let down by “I’m not happy with prices in time round and could now pave the from Ukraine, plunge into its worst polls yesterday to elect deputies said pensioner Valentina. “We are those who subsequently took control. the city and the bureaucracy,” said way for Putin to glide to a fourth term standoff with the West since the Cold to Russia’s parliament for the first for Russia.” She said she cast her “Look what they’ve done to Vladimir, a retired nuclear phys- as president at elections set for 2018. War and start a military campaign time since the region was annexed ballot for Crimean leader Sergei Crimea—food is dearer than in Mos- icist, adding that he had voted But indications of a low turnout in Syria. by Moscow—stirring pride in some, Aksyonov because he is backed by cow,” said pensioner Ivan, calling Communist. appeared to show that many Rus- But the Kremlin exerts almost but pushing others to protest. Russian President Vladimir Putin. the new leaders “bandits”. “Medi- But elsewhere in Simferopol, sians may be turned off by a system complete control over the media and A total of 1,164 polling stations “If Putin likes him, then we all cines are like gold and pensions and polling stations in areas with more in which the Kremlin wields near- public discourse, and this year’s elec- opened across the region, accord- like him. We are for Putin.” wages aren’t enough even for food.” minority Crimean Tatars were emp- total power and could raise questions tion campaign was dubbed the dullest ing to its electoral commission, The new elite that has taken In the port city of Sevastopol— tier. Tatars have largely opposed over legitimacy. in recent memory. two-and-a-half years after the stra- over the peninsula since Russian the home of Russia’s Black Sea Russia’s takeover, with commu- “We can announce already with Looming large was the spectre of tegic Black Sea peninsula was seized rule has called for a high turnout fleet—while some backed the rul- nity leaders calling for a boycott of certainty that the party secured a mass protests over vote rigging that from Ukraine by the Kremlin. in polls to confirm loyalty to the ing United Russia party, many the polls. good result, that it won,” Putin said followed the last legislative polls

Enjoying the ride Chirac hospitalised with lung infection

AFP Chirac has reportedly suffered from a degenerative neurological disorder in recent years, leading prosecutors to spare him the embar- PARIS: French former president rassment of having to appear in Jacques Chirac 83, was hospital- court during his 2011 corruption ised yesterday with a lung infection, trial. the second time in a year the frail He was handed a two-year sus- elder statesman has received hos- pended prison term for colluding in Swiss populist pital care. the creation of 28 fake jobs for party Chirac, who led France from workers when he served as mayor Blocher escapes 1995 to 2007, was “hospitalised this of Paris mayor. morning at Pitie-Salpetriere (hospi- Benefiting from a popularity tal in Paris) to be treated for a lung that extended beyond the right— attack in infection,” his son-in-law Frederic he flirted with communism in his Salat-Baroux told reporters, add- youth—Chirac also served two Zurich: Media ing he would remain there “in the stints as prime minister in 1974-76 coming days.” and 1988-90 and was Paris mayor AFP The popular ex-president had from 1977-1995. just returned from a visit to Morocco His influence is still felt in French with his wife Bernadette, Salat- politics, with one of his former prime GENEVA: The longtime strong- Baroux added. ministers and political heirs, Alain man of Switzerland’s populist A girl sitting behind the railway engineer enjoys a ride on a steam-powered mini train making its way Rumours were swirling about Juppe, the current favourite to win right Christoph Blocher (pictured past a street cafe in Oberursel near Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, yesterday. his condition but a source close next year’s presidential election. above) was attacked by an elderly to the family told AFP he was Polls make Juppe the favourite man carrying a knife after a polit- conscious. to win the conservative nomination, ical debate in Zurich, but escaped The centre-right Chirac, who ahead of former president Nicolas unharmed, a newspaper reported served two terms as head of state, is Sarkozy. yesterday. probably best remembered interna- Both rivals tweeted Sunday their The 75-year-old, who is con- Ballen catching up in Austria’s presidential race tionally for his opposition to the US concern and best wishes for Chirac’s sidered the architect of the Swiss military intervention in Iraq in 2003. prompt recovery. People’s Party (SVP)’s soaring A small stroke while in office in “I am thinking affectionately of popularity, was leaving a polit- Reuters lup poll ahead of December’s repeat lost — due to irregularities in the 2005 weakened him, and he is now Jacques Chirac. I hope with all my ical roundtable discussion at election for the Austrian presidency. counting of postal ballots. rarely seen in public. heart he overcomes his illness and a Zurich hotel Saturday after- The anti-migrant Freedom Par- A series of attacks in Europe and In December 2015, he spent two gets well soon,” Juppe tweeted. noon when an unidentified man ty’s candidate Norbert Hofer has Britain’s decision to leave the EU weeks in hospital, suffering from Sarkozy also took to Twit- accosted him, the SonntagsBlick VIENNA: Independent candidate been seen in the lead since Austria’s have made security concerns and what his family described as fatigue. ter, saying: “I am thinking at the weekly reported. Alexander Van der Bellen is catching highest court annulled the result of a the debate about Austria’s role in In recent weeks, his entourage moment of Jacques #Chirac. I hope Blocher, who was walking up against his far-right rival in a Gal- May run-off - which Hofer narrowly the bloc dominant campaign themes. said his health had improved. he recovers as quickly as possible.” down one of the hotel’s corridors with his wife after a debate on Switzerland’s relationship with the EU, told the paper the man had asked him if he remembered him One in four French Muslims ‘revolt’ against secular laws: Study before swinging a punch at him. The Swiss ATS news agency said police gave the attacker’s age AFP But 60 percent considered girls them the work of French extremists. which made up 46 percent of the asserting themselves on the margins as 81. Security guards tackled the should be allowed to wear head- It was carried out between April total, did not reject Islam but demon- of French society,” the report found, man and pushed him up against a scarf in school, 12 years after it and 13 and May 23, before this summer’s strated their religious feeling mainly noting that most people in that group wall, at which point a knife he was other religious symbols were ban- furore over the banning by sev- by eating halal meat. approved of the burqa and of polyg- carrying fell to the ground, Son- PARIS: Around one in four French ished from the classroom, the survey eral towns of the full-body burkini The second group (25 percent) amy, which is permitted by Islam. ntagsBlick reported. Zurich police Muslims, mostly young people, sup- published in Le Journal du Dimanche swimsuit, which has made Islam a was “proudly Muslim” and wanted a Around half of under-25s fell into arrested the man, it said. port an ultra-conservative form of weekly showed. hot-button topic eight months before greater role for religion in the work- this category, compared to around The attacker appeared “diso- Islam, including the wearing of the And around one in four — 24 per- the next presidential election. place but opposed the burqa and 20 percent of over-40s, revealing riented”, said Blocher, who stood full-face veil, but the vast majority cent—supported the wearing of the Institut Montaigne’s report polygamy. a generational gap between mod- down earlier this year as vice- accept France’s strict secular laws, burqa and niqab, the full-face veils grouped French Muslims into three Most “problematic”, according to erates and younger hardliners, the president of SVP, Switzerland’s a study showed yesterday. that were banned in public places in categories: “completely secular”, the report, was the third group which report found. largest party. The Ifop survey carried out for 2010. devout but accepting restrictions on was composed of “mostly young, Two issues—the right to wear the The politician is widely cred- a major study of French Muslims by The survey of 1,029 people aims religion in the public domain, and a low-skilled people with low levels headscarf and access to halal food— ited with bankrolling the party Institut Montaigne, showed major- to inform government’s plans to over- more reactionary group that uses of participation in the labour mar- emerged as enjoying support among and transforming it from a rural ity of people who identify as Muslim haul French Muslim bodies in wake Islam for the purposes of “revolt”. ket” living on the outskirts of cities. all Muslims, whether practising or group into a powerful political accept curbs on religion in public. of several jihadist attacks, most of Those in the secular category, “Islam is for them a way of not. machine anchored to hard right. 14 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 EUROPE Merkel’s party routed in Berlin elections 1 dead and 17 percent—its worst post-war result in the city, before or after the 1989 fall hurt in Spain The anti-Islam of the Berlin Wall—likely spelling Alternative for the end of its term as junior coali- explosion tion partner to the Social Democrats Germany party won (SPD), who won around 22 percent. over 12 percent, The election in the chronically BARCELONA: One person indebted city-state of 3.5 million died and 17 people were according to public people was dominated by local issues injured in an explosion at broadcasters’ including poor public services, crum- a block of flats in a Span- bling school buildings, late trains and ish seaside resort near projections, in the a housing shortage, as well as how to Barcelona early Sunday, capital. cope with the migrant influx. rescuers said. Berlin’s SPD Mayor Michael Muel- It was not immediately ler had dramatically warned before clear what caused the the polls that a strong AfD result blast which took place in AFP would be “seen throughout the world the residential building in as a sign of the resurgence of the right Premia de Mar, a resort and of Nazis in Germany”. town some 25 km north The vote marked another mile- of Barcelona. BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela stone for the upstart AfD, which has Local media showed Merkel’s party suffered a bruising campaigned on a xenophobic plat- images of a fire burning loss in Berlin state elections yester- form, similar to France’s National in a seven-storey building, day while the right-wing populist Front or far-right populists in Aus- saying the structure had AfD gained fresh support, capital- tria and the Netherlands. been evacuated while ising on anger over her open-door “From zero to double-digits, investigators tried to refugee policy. that’s a first for Berlin,” cheered the determine what caused The anti-Islam Alternative for AfD’s top Berlin candidate, Georg the blast. Germany party won over 12 percent, Pazderski, predicting that the elec- according to public broadcasters’ torate would next year kick out Top candidate of Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Mayor of Berlin Michael Mueller, his wife Claudia and Two charged in projections, in the capital which Merkel’s national right-left grand daughter Nina wait to cast their votes at the polling station in Berlin, yesterday. has long prided itself on being a hip, coalition. diverse and multicultural city. Merkel’s CDU has a national Belgium with The strong AfD result, thanks to majority—but in Berlin it has served Such a “red-red-green” coalition, “The more fearful within her to change its top candidate, Merkel. support especially in the vast tower as junior coalition partner to Muel- its members hope, could one day be party might be increasingly scared “To ask this question one year terrorist offences block districts in Berlin’s former ler’s SPD, traditionally the strongest replicated at the national level. of losing power in 2017,” he told the before federal elections would be sui- communist east, meant it has now party in the city. Merkel meanwhile—after suffer- Handelsblatt business daily. cidal, especially in the CDU there is no BRUSSELS: A man and a won opposition seats in 10 of Ger- Mueller has rejected a new coali- ing a stinging loss to the AfD in another Another analyst, Kai Arzheimer credible successor,” he said. With little woman detained on Fri- many’s 16 states, a year ahead of tion with the CDU and was seen likely regional poll two weeks ago—will face of Mainz University, also predicted industry and an above-national aver- day have been charged national elections. to team up with the ecologist Greens further pressure “to explain her politi- tensions would rise between the CDU age jobless rate of 10 percent, Europe’s with terrorist offences, Merkel’s centre-right Christian and the far-left Die Linke party, each cal strategy”, said Gero Neugebauer of and its Bavarian sister party the CSU, techno party capital is known for its although the woman has Democratic Union (CDU) won just 18 of whom scored around 16 percent. Berlin’s Free University. but he stressed the CDU was unlikely shambolic city administration. been freed under condi- tions, federal prosecutors said yesterday. Police searched three houses across the coun- try, including one in Car-free zone Ruling UK lawmakers Brussels, part of an ongo- ing investigation into what prosecutors said was a terrorist group. back group pushing The two were charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist for ‘hard Brexit’ group. The judge over- seeing the case said the man was suspected of Reuters lobbying organisations, pushing for having given weapons either a ‘soft Brexit’ that sees Britain training. Prosecutors said keeping its close ties with the EU or there was no evidence that backing a tougher version. the activities involved plan- LONDON: Senior members of Brit- Open Britain, which was formed ning a concrete attack. ain’s ruling Conservative Party are by those who campaigned for Britain supporting a new group to lobby for to remain in the bloc, said leaving the a so-called ‘hard Brexit’ and per- EU with no trade deal was “biggest Four bodies suade Prime Minister Theresa May threat our economy faces”. to leave the European Union’s lucra- “Working people will hope found in house tive single market, media reported Number 10 rejects this approach yesterday. and instead seeks membership of near Madrid The new group, called Leave the single market, which is vital means Leave, will press for Britain for jobs and growth,” Conserva- MADRID: The bodies of to break all ties with the EU , with tive lawmaker and supporter of two adults and two chil- leader property investor Richard Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in dren were discovered, Tice saying only that would fulfil a statement. hacked into pieces in a the wishes of Britons, who voted for May, who was appointed house outside Madrid on People ride their bicycles in the city centre, which has been transformed into a car-free zone for the Brexit at a June referendum. prime minister shortly after the Sunday, police and the day as part of “Mobility Week”, in Brussels, yesterday. Quoted by the Sunday Telegraph referendum which forced the local mayor said. newspaper, Tice said “no deal is bet- resignation of her predecessor The child victims were ter than a bad deal” — or that Britain David Cameron, is increasingly aged “around four and should pull out of the single market expected to trigger the divorce one”, a police spokes- even if no alternative trade deal had procedure, or Article 50, early woman said, adding that been struck with the EU. It said he next year after saying she needed the gruesome discovery had the backing of a former justice until the end of this year to form was made at a house just Le Pen vows to free France from EU yoke minister, Dominic Raab, and other a negotiating stance. outside the village of Pioz, leading Conservatives. With the opposition Labour around 60km northeast Since Britain voted to leave the Party in turmoil, the Conservative of the Spanish capital. All AFP and other candidates battle it out for EU on June 23 this year, groups Party’s divisions over Europe are four victims were mem- their parties’ nominations. that campaigned on either side of coming to the fore as May gives lit- bers of the same family. Le Pen said French voters were the referendum have morphed into tle away. never given a say on the “biggest FRÉJUS, FRANCE: French far-right change in a century in the nation: the National Front leader Marine Le Pen opening up to mass immigration”. (pictured) yesterday vowed to give Immigration, she said, had her country back control over its “swept aside the benefits of secu- Aerial display laws, currency and borders if elected larism, women’s liberation and the president next year on an anti-EU, Republican pact”, bringing in “people anti-immigration platform. with beliefs, customs and practises Addressing around 3,000 party that are not ours”. faithful in the town of Frejus on the Her speech was regularly inter- Cote d’Azur, Le Pen aimed to set the rupted by her supporters chanting tone for her campaign, declaring in On est chez nous (“This is our land”) her speech: “The time of the nation and waving French flags. state has come again.” But she devoted relatively lit- The FN leader, who has pledged tle time to the FN’s stock themes of to hold a referendum on France’s her victory in the final duel. Islam and national identity, focus- future in the EU if elected and bring In Frejus, Le Pen sought to sani- ing instead on sovereignty. back the French franc, said she was tise her image, continuing a process Accusing foreign masters in closely watching developments in Brit- of “de-demonisation” that has paid Brussels, Berlin and Washington of ain since it voted to leave the bloc. off handsomely at the ballot box calling the tune in France, she called “We too are keen on winning since she took over the FN leader- for greater protectionism and “eco- back our freedom.... We want a free ship from her ex-paratrooper father nomic patriotism” to restore World France that is the master of its own Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2011. War II hero General de Gaulle’s laws and currency and the guardian “I am the candidate of the peo- vision of a “free France”. of its borders.” ple and I want to talk to you about Analysts say Le Pen’s more inclu- Polls consistently show Le Pen France, because that is what unites sive approach is aimed at taking the among the top two candidates in the us,” the 48-year-old politician said fear factor out of a National Front two-stage presidential elections to in a speech that avoided any refer- presidency. take place in April and May. ence to the FN which is seen as more They have attributed her relative But while the polls show her eas- taboo than its leader. silence on the jihadist attacks of this ily winning a place in the run-off She also avoided any attacks summer—contrasting with Sarkozy’s they also show the French rallying on her rivals, preferring to remain glut of hardline declarations on Vince Reffet of team Jetman Dubai performs during the Athens Flying Week aviation event over the around her as-yet-unknown con- above the fray as her arch-nemesis, national identity and security—to Tanagra air base in northern Athens, Greece, yesterday. servative opponent in order to block former president Nicolas Sarkozy, her attempt to appear “presidential”. AMERICAS MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 1517 Terrorism link in NY blast that injured 29 probed

Mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded for the blast an act of terrorism, saying any witnesses to provide tips and investigators had yet to determine if The explosion on promised a security presence that there was a political motivation. a commercial and would be “bigger than ever” for “It was intentional. It was a vio- the United Nations General Assem- lent act. It was a certainly a criminal residential street bly bringing together world leaders act. It was a bombing. That’s what in New York City’s in Manhattan for six days starting we know,” said de Blasio, flanked by Chelsea district on tomorrow. high-ranking officials of the FBI and FBI investigators will examine the city police and fire departments. Saturday night sent remnants of the bomb plus an unex- “It could have been something a deafening roar and ploded device found four blocks away personally motivated. We don’t know as well as a pipe bomb that exploded yet,” de Blasio said. a powerful shock about 130 km away in New Jersey The mayor and the governor wave through several on Saturday to see if they were con- both promised New Yorkers would nected, officials said. not be cowed and that apart from blocks. Police recovered video from the street closures life would con- both scenes in Manhattan including tinue as normal. New Yorkers who images of the explosion itself, New endured the September 11 attacks in Reuters York Police Commissioner James 2001 and the devastating Hurricane O’Neill said. Sandy in 2012 said they were gener- New York police, the FBI and the ally unperturbed. US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire- A sweep of neighbourhood fol- NEW YORK: Investigators yesterday arms and Explosives converged on lowing the blast turned up another sifted through blast remnants, exam- the site for their first daylight view device four blocks away consisting of ined video and scoured the scene of of the site of the explosion, cordoning a pressure cooker with wires attached an explosion that wounded 29 people it off and placing dozens of evidence to it and connected to a cell phone. in Manhattan, attempting to establish markers on the ground. Police closed Pressure cooker bombs were if there were any links to interna- several surrounding blocks to traffic. used in the 2013 Boston Marathon tional terrorism. “We are in the middle of a very bombing that killed three people and The explosion on a commercial complex post-blast investigation,” wounded more than 260. Police, firefighters and emergency workers gather at the scene of an explosion in Manhattan, in New York City. and residential street in New York O’Neill said. The New Jersey explosion came City’s Chelsea district on Saturday Although no international group from a pipe bomb, officials said. A US them to the New Jersey blast, said a positioning, and relative ineffective- said, but city officials said the police night sent a deafening roar and a had claimed responsibility, New York official familiar with information cir- source. “Almost anybody could have ness of these does not suggest that a bomb squad still had possession of powerful shock wave through several state Governor Andrew Cuomo said culating inside the government said fabricated these bombs and used cell- more sophisticated group played any the unexploded device as of midday blocks, wounding people with shrap- detonating a bomb in New York City the motive remained unknown and phones as timed detonators,” said role in this.” yesterday. nel and flying glass. All 29 victims “is obviously an act of terrorism.” insufficient evidence had been gath- another US official familiar with The FBI would examine all three The blast hit around 8 pm (0030 were released from hospital, officials But the mayor yesterday resisted ered to link the two New York bombs. the inquiry. “There are instructions devices at its special crime labora- GMT Sunday) on 23rd Street, a block said yesterday. when reporters pressed him to call There was no evidence to connect all over the internet, and the crudity, tory in Quantico, Virginia, Cuomo lacking any obvious political targets.

Leaders to focus on refugee crisis IS says Minnesota mall stabbing carried out by ‘soldier’ and Syria at UN Reuters he assaulted them at the Crossroads early stages and it was not known if of St. Cloud, “clearly prevented addi- at a time of heightened concern in Center mall in St. Cloud on Satur- the man had discussed his plan of tional injuries and loss of life” by the United States about the threat of AP day, city’s Police Chief William Blair attack with others. shooting the man. violence in public places. Anderson told reporters. Authorities had said earlier there Amaq, the news agency affiliated In St. Cloud, the attacker entered WASHINGTON: A man who stabbed Authorities declined to iden- were eight stabbing victims. One with the Middle Eastern extremist the mall in the evening as it was UNITED NATIONS: World lead- nine people at a mall in central Min- tify the suspect, who was killed by injured person transported himself group IS, issued a statement yesterday busy with shoppers, Anderson said. ers meeting at the United Nations nesota before he was shot dead is a an off-duty policeman, because the to a hospital and was not initially saying, “The executor of the stabbing He attacked his victims at several starting today will be trying to “soldier of the Islamic State,” the investigation is underway. counted, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis attacks in Minnesota yesterday was a sites in the shopping center, which make progress on two intrac- militant group’s news agency said The Federal Bureau of Inves- said at the news conference. soldier of the Islamic State and carried remained closed yesterday as police table problems at the top of the yesterday, as the FBI investigated the tigation considers the episode a Three victims remained hospi- out the operation in response to calls to were investigating. The victims global agenda — the biggest ref- attack as a potential act of terrorism. “potential act of terrorism,” Richard talised as of yesterday but none had target the citizens of countries belong- were male and female, Kleis said, ugee crisis since World War II The man, who was wearing a Thornton, FBI special agent in charge life-threatening injuries, Kleis said. ing to the crusader coalition.” and ranged in age from mid-50s to and the Syrian conflict now in its private security uniform, made refer- of the agency’s Minneapolis division, Kleis said Jason Falconer, the off- The knife attack in St. Cloud, a a 15-year-old female. Police officials sixth year that has claimed over ences to Allah and asked at least one said at a news conference yesterday. duty officer from the Avon Police community about 100 km north- said they were still interviewing wit- 300,000 lives. person if they were Muslim before He said the investigation is in its Department, a jurisdiction outside west of Minneapolis-St. Paul, came nesses hours after the attack. Against a backdrop of rising ethnic and religious tension, fighting elsewhere in the Mide- ast and Africa, extremist attacks Colombia peace across the world and a warming Trump bashes Hillary as too soft on immigrants planet, there are plenty of other issues for the 135 heads of state deal has FARC’s and government and more than AFP But he also made the surprising 50 ministers expected to attend charge—refuted by fact-checkers— ‘total support’: to try to tackle. that it was Clinton who originated “It’s no secret there’s a lot the “birther” theories about Obama. Leader of fear out there,” US Ambas- HOUSTON: Donald Trump took his Speaking before a sympathetic sador Samantha Power told campaign to Texas early yesterday, audience that included people who reporters, citing the uncertain- bashing Hillary Clinton’s immigra- said their friends or family members AFP ties sparked by Britain’s vote to tion policies as too lax, in a state still had been killed by undocumented leave the European Union, the up for grabs on Election Day. immigrants, Trump continued his threat posed by the Islamic State With polls showing a tightening sharp attacks on Clinton. EL DIAMANTE, COLOMBIE: The extremist group, and attacks in race just over seven weeks before the The immigration issue has been leader of Colombia’s FARC rebels many parts of the world by IS November 8 election, the Republi- central to Trump’s campaign since he said yesterday a historic peace and others. can candidate turned up the vitriol, said last summer that many Mexican accord with the government has But Syria, where a tense saying that as president, his Dem- immigrants were drug smugglers. He received the guerrillas’ “total sup- cease-fire brokered by Moscow ocratic rival would virtually end made it clear he is not about to give port” at a conference where they and Washington went into effect border enforcement and place the up on the attack line, even at risk of will vote on the deal. last Monday, remains at the top country “in grave peril.” offending many Hispanic voters. “We’re feeling very strong of the agenda at the UN General Trump was speaking a day after Trump asserted that Clinton would backing for all the work we’ve Assembly’s annual ministerial a much-hyped televised event in “implement amnesty by executive done,” said Rodrigo Londono, bet- meeting. which, after years of questioning order, violating our constitution and ter known by his nom de guerre, The UN Security Council held whether Barack Obama was an putting the entire nation in grave peril.” Timoleon “Timochenko” Jimenez, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves the Trump a closed emergency meeting on American citizen, he finally declared Clinton has called for a softening on the second day of a week-long Saturday night at Russia’s request International Hotel after giving a speech during a campaign in that the president “was born in the of immigration practices, saying she meeting that leaders hope will be to discuss the airstrike. Washington. United States, period.” would deport only violent criminals. the Marxist rebels’ last wartime conference. After 52 years at war with the Colombian government, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Venezuela’s crisis keeps NAM Summit turnout low Colombia (FARC) will wrap up the conference with a vote on the peace deal concluded on August 24. AP widespread food shortages and tri- remarkable because leaders are If they ratify it, as they are ple digit inflation. making their way to and from New expected to do, they will then But the scarce attendance after York, a five-hour flight away, for relaunch themselves as a politi- months of shuttle diplomacy handing the annual United Nations General cal party. PORLAMAR, VENEZUELA: Cri- out invitations is likely to embolden Assembly. Secretary General Ban Ki- “The FARC are for peace. sis-hit Venezuela’s economic and Maduro’s opponents, who are push- moon, who attended the last summit The FARC are thinking about political problems are keeping world ing for a referendum to remove him of the largest political group com- converting ourselves into a polit- leaders away from a meeting of the from office before his term ends in prised of U.N. member nations, sent ical movement,” said Londono, Non-Aligned Movement that was 2019. They say the low turnout is a a video message. dressed in a white polo shirt supposed to hit its full stride on Sat- sign of Maduro’s increasing isolation. Maduro addressed the Non- stamped with the image of leftist urday. Of those leaders present, more Aligned gathering in a speech that revolutionary icon Che Guevara. Only 12 heads of state have than half are Maduro’s close ideo- laid out an 11-point agenda Vene- The statements amounted arrived for the two days of meetings logical allies and recipients of oil zuela will promote as the group’s to an implicit denial of rumors taking place on the Caribbean island subsidies in Latin America and Car- temporary president, including U.N. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (centre) attends the 17th Non- that dissident factions within the of Margarita, including the leaders of ibbean. The first leader to arrive reform, support for Palestinians and Aligned (NAM) Summit in Porlamar, Venezuela, yesterday. FARC, which has an estimated Iran, Cuba and Zimbabwe. More than was Zimbabwe’s 92-year-old Pres- a call for Puerto Rico’s independence. 7,500 fighters, may not sign on to 30 world leaders attended the last ident Robert Mugabe, who was slow He spoke defiantly about Venezue- oligarchy.” Venezuela’s Oil Minis- summit, with the opposition trying the peace process. summit of the Cold War-era group, descending from his aircraft on la’s problems, blaming them on the ter Eulogio Del Pino also said he’s to use the media attention focused on The guerrillas’ chief peace held in Iran in 2012. Thursday but showed no hesitation country’s foreign enemies. trying to build consensus around the gathering to embarrass Maduro. negotiator, Ivan Marquez, said President Nicolas Maduro had addressing delegates Saturday with “Venezuela is facing a global a fair price for oil to help econo- In one high-profile incident caught the conference was an “extraor- touted the Non-Aligned Movement’s a stinging criticism of foreign mili- attack, which is against all of Latin mies like his own that have been on cell phone videos two weeks dinary success.” Some 500 FARC 17th summit as an opportunity to tary intervention in conflicts in the America and Caribbean,” he said. “An battered by the collapse in crude ago, Maduro appeared to have been commanders and representatives increase international solidarity Middle East and northern Africa by a attack that aims to impose a political, in recent years. chased away by a group of angry, pot- of the rank and file are meeting in for his socialist government as the country or countries he did not name. economic and cultural reorganiza- Tensions have been running high banging protesters after his caravan the group’s traditional stronghold oil-dependent economy reels from The low turnout was even more tion of our countries with the old on Margarita in the run-up to the stopped in a poor neighbourhood. in Caguan, in southeast Colombia.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 30o C Maximum: 39o C

FAJR 04.04 am ZUHR 11.28 am MAGHRIB 05.36 pm HIGH TIDE 06:30 - 18:30 Expected strong wind and low horizontal visibility at plac- SHOROOK 05.21 am ASR 02.55 pm ISHA 07.06 pm LOW TIDE 00:15 - 12:30 es. Hazy to misty at places at first becomes hot daytime with slight dust to blowing dust and some clouds at times.

16 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Study: Walks may On voyage determine www.thepeninsulaqatar.com one’s aggression MOST READ IANS

Turkish man held for attacking LONDON: The way people walk can give 1 woman wearing shorts significant insights into their levels of aggression, a study has found. Indian PM Modi condemns The study revealed that the exagger- 2 Kashmir attack, 17 soldiers dead ated movement of both the upper and lower body indicated aggression. Iran supports any move to “When walking, the body naturally 3 stabilise oil market -Rouhani rotates a little, as an individual steps for- ward with their left foot, the left side of the pelvis will move forward with the leg, the left shoulder will move back and the TWEET OF THE DAY right shoulder forward to maintain bal- ance. An aggressive walk is one where this rotation is exaggerated,” said lead researcher Liam Satchell from the Uni- The ‘Genting Dream’, the latest cruise ship of the Meyer-Werft shipyard, starts its transfer travel over versity of Portsmouth in Britian. People are generally aware that there the river Ems to the North Sea in Papenburg, northwestern Germany, yesterday. is a relationship between swagger and psychology. However, the research pro- vides empirical evidence to confirm that personality is indeed manifested in the way we walk, the researchers said. Further, identifying the potential China police use drones to monitor traffic relationship between an individual’s biological motion and their intention to engage in aggression could be used to help IANS Chengdu and Zigong, and the other police can take efficient measures prevent crime, Satchell noted. connecting Chengdu with Mianyang, to direct traffic flow. “If CCTV observers could be trained according to the provincial public With a flight radius of 15km, the to recognise the aggressive walk dem- security department. drones can fly for up to one hour at onstrated in this research, their ability BEIJING: Two drones were being More than 90 traffic incidents a time, and can complete a 30 km to recognise impending crimes could be used to help monitor traffic flow were caught on drone camera, Xin- round trip in 40 minutes. The drones’ improved further,” he said. For the study, and violators on highways in Chi- hua news agency reported. The activity was broadcasted live through the team assessed the personalities of 29 na’s Sichuan province, authorities drones can recognise licence plates the provincial traffic police’s official participants, before using motion capture said yesterday. from 100 metres away. social media account Weibo. The traf- technology to record them walking on a The drones flew over two high- The pictures and videos can fic police will now use drones more treadmill at their natural speed. ways, one connecting the cities of be sent back to ground staff so the regularly, the department added. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 18 QE 10,572.45 +38.35 PTS PAGE | 19 DOW 18,108.83 -103.65 PTS LafargeHolcim to Norway likely to withdraw from FTSE100 6,710.28 -20.02 PTS keep key rates several countries BRENT $43.19 -$0.88 unchanged

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 • 17 DHUL HIJJA 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar’s equity valuations remain on higher side

region shows that the Gulf Cooper- growth outlook to be supported by of concerns over down- side risks to ation Council (GCC) region has been massive infrastructure development banking sector earnings. Earnings Better performance by far the worst performing globally. projects in preparation for the FIFA growth slowed materially to 1 per- ahead for Gulf However, this year has seen earnings World Cup 2022. However, we believe cent YoY in Q2 2016 (compared to 18 equities with more stabilising and improving — encour- this expenditure will strain Qatar’s percent YoY at peak in Q2 2014) as agingly, it has been driven in large finances as its revenue stream faces slower loan growth and higher provi- positive outlook on part by a recovery in revenues, Credit the risk of being under pressure for sioning took their toll, though this has oil prices as well as Suisse noted yesterday. some time to come,” the analysts said. thus far been offset by wider margins. The Qatari market has enjoyed a Despite this marked improve- “We have yet to see non-perform- earnings forecasts strong rally over the past 1–2 months, ment, the downside risks to GCC ing loans increase. However, this stabilising. as FTSE changed its index construc- earnings still remain. One key area is likely to be a trend we expect to tion rules resulting in a larger weight of uncertainty is the potential for emerge from Q2 2016 results onward. for key Qatari names in the index. further subsidy reform, which could Moreover, earnings downgrades in Since then, the one-off impact has weigh on both corporate profitabil- the banking sector have materially By Satish Kanady worn off and the market has consoli- ity and consumer spending. lagged the broader market,” they The Peninsula dated. However, its valuation remains Visibility on this is limited, but said. on the higher side while downgrades given the scale of announcements Another encouraging trend is that to earnings forecasts have lagged made thus far (particularly in Saudi Gulf equities have broken out of the other GCC countries by quite a mar- Arabia), Credit Suisse believes the downtrend that began when oil prices DOHA: With more positive outlook gin. In addition, the dividend yields scope for a major announcement is peaked in mid-2014. on oil prices, technicals improving, which have historically been a key less likely in the near term. The next “This is not yet an outright pos- and earnings forecasts stabilis- attraction for investors is the lowest key re- form is the implementation itive trigger, but it is an important ing, better performance are ahead in the GCC. Longer term, Credit Suisse “With a substantial increase in believe LNG prices should remain of VAT, which is currently targeted milestone nevertheless and sug- for Gulf equities. A quick glance at analysts continue to have concerns LNG production facilities coming on depressed for the foreseeable future. for 2018. gests that the worst is most likely the year-to-date performance by about the outlook for LNG prices. stream in the US and Australia, we For now, we expect Qatar’s strong There is a relatively higher level behind us.”

Opec may hold formal meeting if Qatar second in members agree WB’s GCC Logistics on oil output Performance Index

By Sachin Kumar containers per year. The Peninsula Hamad Port is now receiv- ing general and ‘roll-on/roll-off’ commercial cargo which includes vehicles, livestock and heavy equip- DOHA: Qatar has secured second ment. The first phase of the Doha The super-jumbo A380 lands at Sydney Airport. place in the GCC region in the World Metro project is expected to be com- Bank’s Logistics Performance Index plete in the fourth quarter of 2019, (LPI) that ranks 160 countries. Glo- while completion of the Lusail Tram bally, Qatar is on 30th place in the is set for 2020. By 2030, all the three Bloomberg Qatar Airways’ A380 aircraft index that reflects a robust and effi- networks — Doha Metro, Lusail Tram cient logistic infrastructure such as and the long-distance rail, which will airport, ports, roads, warehousing link Qatar with the GCC Rail network and other logistic related services. — are expected to be complete. The ALGIERS: Opec may convene makes Australian debut in Sydney With LPI score of 3.60, Qatar is report ranks countries on a number an extraordinary meeting if the ahead of comparatively advanced of dimensions of supply chain per- group’s ministers reach a con- economies such as Portugal and formance, including infrastructure, sensus on oil markets at an The Peninsula respond in kind, with the introduc- Director and Chief Executive Officer New Zealand. Germany is in the top quality of service, shipment reliabil- informal gathering in Algiers later tion of the A380 service to Sydney, Kerrie Mather said. of the ranking as the best perform- ity, and border clearance efficiency. this month, Secretary General offering 517 seats per flight. “Qatar “Qatar Airways’ Doha-Sydney ing country with an LPI score of 4.23, The index analyses countries Mohammed Barkindo (pictured) Airways brings travellers from Aus- service already generates an esti- and Syria as the lowest, with a score across six components: efficiency said, according to Algeria’s offi- DOHA: Sydney has become Qatar tralia to more destinations in Europe, mated 3,000 jobs and contributes of 1.60. The UAE is in the top among of customs and border manage- cial news agency. Airways’ first destination in Australia the Middle East and Africa than any more than $240m to the economy the GCC countries with 13th rank ment clearance, quality of trade Barkindo said he is “optimis- to be served by the super-jumbo other airline serving Australia today. per year, plus it provides passengers while Oman is on 48th and Saudi and transport infrastructure, ease tic” about the informal session in A380 aircraft, just six months after Australia is one of the main hubs of with more choice and connectivity. Arabia on 52nd rank. of arranging competitively priced Algiers to be held on September it joined the carrier’s global network. the business world in Asia Pacific, Sydney Airport estimates that Qatar The bi-annual report, ‘Connect- shipments, competence and qual- 27 on the sidelines of a confer- Following the route’s inaugu- with many passengers flying world- Airways’ A380 will deliver an incre- ing to Compete 2016: Trade Logistics ity of logistics services, ability to ence of the International Energy ration with the Boeing 777-300 on wide for business and leisure.” mental $78m in inbound visitor in the Global Economy’, which ranks track and trace consignments, and Forum, Algeria Press Service March 1, 2016, Qatar Airways has The 517-seat capacity is spread expenditure annually to Australia, countries on their trade logistics per- the frequency with which shipments reported Sunday. He made his seen a steady growth in demand across twin decks in a tri-class con- supporting the federal government’s formance, is based on survey data reach consignees within scheduled comments after meeting with for its service on the route. The figuration of eight seats in First Class, target of doubling overnight visitor from more than 1,200 logistics pro- or expected delivery times. Algeria’s Energy Minister Nourre- 517-seater A380 aircraft increases 48 seats in Business Class and 461 expenditure by 2020.” fessionals. Qatar has taken major Logistics performance both in dine Boutarfa. Qatar Airways’ current daily capac- in Economy Class, featuring world- The A380 aircraft will feature a steps to further improve its infra- international trade and domestically The September 27 gathering ity by 44 per cent on this route to class amenities and first rate services luxurious and exclusive First Class structure such as road and train is central to the economic growth will be a “meeting of consulta- meet the growing travel and trade that set it apart from other aircraft. Cabin with ultra-wide seats, which network and ports which will help and competitiveness of countries, tion and not of decision-making,” demand. Passengers travelling from Sydney automatically recline into a flat bed, it to increase its ranking the index and the logistics sector is now rec- unlike Opec’s meeting in Oran, Qatar Airways Group Chief Exec- to London and Paris can enjoy the two-passenger table extension din- in coming years. Efficient logis- ognised as one of the core pillars of Algeria, in 2008, when it agreed utive Akbar Al Baker, said: “From the Qatar Airways A380 experience ing, sleeper suits, flight slippers and tics connects firms to domestic and economic development. to cut production, Barkindo said moment we inaugurated service to throughout their journey to these amenities from Giorgio Armani. Pas- international markets through reli- Policy makers not only in the the previous day. Almost two Sydney earlier this year, we have two European destinations. sengers travelling in Qatar Airways’ able supply chain networks. best performing countries, but also years after the Opec set a strategy been welcomed with open arms. “We’re thrilled that Qatar Air- award-winning Business Class can Hamad Port was officially in emerging economies, increas- to eliminate the global oil glut by Customers flying to and from Sydney ways has upgauged to an A380 also enjoy private aisle access with opened for early partial operations ingly see the need to implement pressuring rivals with lower prices, appreciate our global route network within six months of the airline’s the 1-2-1 seat configuration and a on December 24, 2015. The port coherent and consistent policies to markets continue to struggle with and our efficient flight schedules, launch in Sydney, which is testament suite of connectivity options includ- will be fully operational by the end foster seamless and sustainable sup- excess supply and crude remains which save them hours of time on the to their early success and strong ing on-board Wi-Fi, keeping them of 2016 when Container Terminal ply chain operations as an engine of capped below $50 a barrel. average itinerary. We are pleased to loads,” Sydney Airport Managing fully connected to while up in the air. 1 will offer a capacity of 2 million growth. 18 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 BUSINESS

Market rebound Investcorp acquires US since Brexit may not reflect office tower for $223.5m real risks: BIS

stable, long-term investment in one This acquisition is consistent The building 901 Fifth of the most dynamic gateway mar- with Investcorp’s new initiative of AFP kets in the western United States. acquiring top-quality, well-occu- Avenue is a 540,589- In the past year, we have exceeded pied, cash-flowing properties in key sqft, multi-tenanted $400m in gross asset values with gateway markets in the US and rep- this strategy and this acquisition resents the second acquisition under ZURICH: Financial markets office building further exemplifies our strategy this strategy. In February, Investcorp recovered far more rapidly than located in Seattle’s of identifying alternative invest- acquired 733 Tenth Street, a Class A expected following Britain’s central business ment opportunities that we believe office building in Washington, DC, vote to leave the EU, the Bank of can deliver superior returns for for approximately $180m. International Settlements said district. Investcorp. 901 Fifth Avenue is a yesterday, warning that the rally “What we liked about this prop- 540,589-square foot, multi-tenanted might be ignoring significant risks erty is that it is easily accessible via office building located in Seattle’s ahead. the region’s primary freeways and central business district. The prop- During the two days of trad- The Peninsula public transportation options, and erty is 90 percent occupied by a ing following the so-called Brexit is within walking distance to high- diverse roster of 46 tenants, involved vote on June 23, most major stock end restaurants, retail outlets, hotels, in a broad spectrum of businesses, indexes shed more than five per- cultural attractions and Seattle’s including technology, legal services cent, while the broadest London DOHA: Investcorp, a leading pro- court houses, which we believe fuels and professional services. Seattle is stock exchange index plunged 15 vider and manager of alternative significant demand for office space one of the most attractive markets for percent, and the British pound investment products, announced from legal, professional services and real estate investments in the US, and lost 10 percent of its value against that its US-based real estate arm technology firms.” has one of the lowest vacancy and other major currencies. has purchased a 41-storey, Class A Investcorp purchased the prop- highest projected rent growth rates. But despite the initial dra- office building in Seattle, Washing- erty with its joint venture partner, The region has an annual employ- matic reaction, markets appear ton known as 901 Fifth Avenue, for SchnitzerWest, an experienced real ment growth rate of 2.8 percent to have rapidly overcome the approximately $223.5m (QR815.77m). estate investment, development, and compared to the national rate of 1.9, shock, largely due to central banks Babak Sultani, Real Estate Spe- management firm with a current and strong growth has been pro- whose willingness to intervene 901 Fifth Avenue is a 540,589-square foot, multi-tenanted office cialist at Investcorp, said: “We portfolio of 5.3m square feet in the jected for the region over the next had a calming influence, said the believe 901 Fifth Avenue offers a Seattle metropolitan area. five years. building located in Seattle’s central business district. Basel-based BIS, considered the central bank for central banks. “The speed of the recovery took many by surprise, given the political and economic uncer- Takata to shortlist bidders for airbag maker next month tainty that the vote had triggered,” Claudio Borio, the head of the BIS monetary and economic department, told journalists in a Bloomberg to as many as 15 deaths worldwide. with a partner, said one of the people. teleconference. “It may take time from now on Almost 70 million Takata airbag BIS pointed out that global given the need to reach agreement inflators are scheduled for replace- growth was “showing moderate with various stakeholders,” said ment between now and 2019, the but persistent signs of strengthen- TOKYO: Takata Corp, the embattled Shintaro Niimura, a credit analyst largest and most complex auto- ing”, while “investors’ risk appetite Japanese air-bag supplier that’s put at Nomura Securities Co. “The Japa- safety recall in US history. On Friday, seemed to return.” “Volatility itself up for sale after triggering the nese carmakers, foreign carmakers, General Motors Co asked US safety in financial markets subsided, auto industry’s biggest safety recall, all have different interests.” regulators to delay by a year the commodity prices edged higher, aims to shortlist two to three candi- Some of the bidders are consid- mandatory recall of almost 1 mil- corporate credit spreads nar- dates by October, according to people ering the possibility of some form of lion vehicles with airbags made by rowed, stock markets rallied and familiar with the process. bankruptcy proceedings for Takata Takata, saying the designated mod- portfolio flows to emerging mar- Bidders for Tokyo-based Takata to mitigate the liabilities, said the els have not been shown to carry the ket economies resumed,” it said. have been asked to submit their people. A person with knowledge same risk as others linked to deaths But Borio said that dissonance proposals by early next week. Suit- of the restructuring process said and injuries. in some markets indicated all ors include Carlyle Group LP, which in May that Takata would seek to Takata has a market value of might not be as rosy as it seemed. is working with Chinese-owned avoid bankruptcy and instead look $334m and the stock has plunged Bond yields had continued to air-bag manufacturer Key Safety for buyers that could take a control- 87 percent since January 2014. The decline, he said, while yield curves Systems; Daicel Corp, a Japanese ling stake and carry the company company faces billions in potential had flattened — “typically a tell- maker of air-bag inflators that’s through its crisis. Takata is working recall costs should automakers not tale sign of a low growth outlook.” jointly bidding with Bain Capital; and with Lazard Ltd. Representatives at agree to forgive the debts. In fact, the overall stock of KKR & Co. The sale will be closely Takata, Lazard, Carlyle, Bain Capi- Daicel already supplies replace- sovereign debt was providing scrutinised by the world’s larg- A file picture of a technician holding a recalled Takata airbag inflator tal and KKR declined to comment. ment air-bag inflators to Takata and record negative yields of well est automakers, which are likely to after he removed it from a Honda Pilot at the AutoNation Honda Daicel said it couldn’t immediately has existing relationships with Toyota above $10 trillion in the weeks spend the next several years recall- dealership service department in Miami, Florida. comment. Calls to Key Safety Sys- Motor Corp, Honda and Nissan Motor following the Brexit vote, he said. ing air-bag inflators that can rupture tem outside of regular business hours Co Key Safety Systems, based in Ster- BIS also noted concern over and shoot deadly shards at vehicle weren’t answered. ling Heights, Michigan, was acquired the capacity of banks to make occupants. February that’s been negotiating Honda Motor Co, on the costs related While KKR plans to make a bid this year by China’s Ningbo Joyson profits in an era of persistent low Takata set up a committee in with its car-making customers, led by to replacing the defective parts linked on its own, it hasn’t ruled out working Electronic Corp. and negative interest rates. MasterCard unveils LafargeHolcim to withdraw from several countries new mobile app Reuters generates 80 percent of its operational would not be better to invest elsewhere earnings before taxes, depreciation and the proceeds coming from a sale.” amortisation in 25 countries, the paper The company has already exceeded The Peninsula all of the offers available with quoted Hess as saying. its 2016 goal of making divestments the dedicated MasterCard Buy ZURICH: LafargeHolcim is consider- He said there was “much poten- worth 3.5bn francs and said in August 1 Get 1 mobile application and ing withdrawing from several markets tial for improvement” in another 25 it had extended the program to 5bn the link to download it instantly. as part of its efforts to make last year’s countries. francs by the end of next year. DOHA: MasterCard, a leading Mastercard cardholders can also mega-merger a success, Chairman “Either we succeed in strengthen- In addition to the 250 jobs which technology company in the glo- explore a wide array of offers Beat Hess (pictured) told weekly Son- ing these operations through targeted are shed as part of a reorganisation bal payments industry, launched with top-tier merchants, such ntagszeitung. investments or we have to see whether of global functions the group will cut its mobile application for card as Cleartrip, Careem, Reebonz “We will be present in less coun- other owners could do better,” the more jobs in its country organisations products, Mastercard For You. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, tries for sure,” Hess was quoted as chairman said. and it could close more plants, the Available for free on both amongst others, with only a few saying. The sale of operations in sev- For the remaining 40 countries paper quoted the chairman as saying. Apple and Android devices, quick taps on the mobile itself. eral countries was an option, he said. the Switzerland-based firm operates “In big markets, where both Mastercard For You is a one- World Elite cardholders The world’s largest cement group, in, the question was how to reach the Lafarge and Holcim were present, stop shop for all premium additionally have fingertip created by a merger between Franc- target to earn its capital costs in the we still have to adjust structures,” the products. It is a feature-rich access to all of the privileges of es’s Lafarge and Switzerland’s Holcim, foreseeable future and “whether it chairman said. application that enables card- which they can make use any- holders in the Middle East and time with the premium World Africa, to explore and enjoy all Elite Concierge, including mak- of the privileges that come with ing and managing travel plans, Titanium, Platinum, World and assistance with registering for Domasco launches app ‘Volvo Qatar’ World Elite Mastercard credit the premium memberships and debit cards. available on the card, and much The application’s intuitive more. functionality, enables Master- “A major component of our The Peninsula also find the nearest sales and after Reinforcing Volvo’s customer focus, Card cardholders to discover business proposition is mak- sales locations on the Qatar map and the embedded After Sales Feedback and stay up-to-date on all of ing technology and innovation get directions to the location in any of mechanism offers customers the the eligible travel, lifestyle and work for consumers in a way the navigation apps on their phones. opportunity to give their feedback safety benefits and offers that that opens channels to more DOHA: Doha Marketing Services Simultaneously, they can request for related to Volvo’s after sales services. they can avail. The applica- effective and meaningful inter- Company (Domasco), the authorised more information or schedule a test Faisal Sharif, Managing Direc- tion also provides cardholders actions. Mastercard For You is distributor of Volvo products in Qatar, drive at their convenience. tor at Domasco, said: “As technology with specific call-to-action designed to achieve that with has launched a new smartphone app Keeping customers in touch with advances, so do Domasco’s ways of prompts to ease and simplify features that introduce a new ‘Volvo Qatar’ for its customers to serve the Scandinavian brand locally and giving service to our valued customers. the redemption process. level of practicality, ease and better. globally, the app provides latest Volvo The Volvo Qatar app is an innovative Key features include the convenience when using Mas- The mobile app, an intelligent and news from across the world. Users can platform designed to best suit our cus- Lounge Locator that allows terCard products. The services advanced information platform, comes also view Volvo Qatar’s Facebook and tomers’ digital based lifestyles.” users to look up the nearest complement everything that with a multitude of features that com- Twitter feeds and easily engage with Andrew Parrot, Head of Sales lounge(s) in any given airport Mastercard stands for – from plement the lifestyle and preferences of this content. The Volvo Qatar app is & Marketing for Volvo, added: “It’s along with the location, open- simplifying the experience of today’s connected customers. The app designed to improve customer experi- all about creating channels that are ing hours, facilities and more; making purchases for con- is available for free download on both ence and enable its valuable customers intuitive, easy to use and create cus- insurance service that includes sumers to complete peace of Apple’s iOS and Android-based users. communicate with Volvo effectively. tomer benefits. Our customers can quick access to digital claim mind and security,” said Amnah Users can easily browse through With just a few taps, users can book now seamlessly connect with their forms during travel emergen- Ajmal, Head of Products, Mas- up-to-date information with pictures a service appointment or connect favorite brand with just a few taps on cies; as well as an overview of tercard Middle East & Africa. of the latest Volvo car models. They can directly to Volvo’s toll free number. their smartphones.” BUSINESS MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 19

Daimler should Greek central bank denies rift with govt make e-car parts to protect jobs: AFP Nikolopoulou, who is a public Governor is about relations executive, in a separate probe into an allegedly irregular Labour head to deliver the promotion campaign at Greece’s ATHENS: Greece’s Central Bank results of a probe state watchdog Keelpno. Governor denied that the leftist Nikolopoulou later issued a Reuters government of Alexis Tsipras was into loans given statement claiming that the “real seeking to squeeze him out as he out by Attica Bank, target” of the raid was to put pres- probes the loans of a politically sure on her husband. Tsipras’ Syriza sensitive bank. a state-controlled party has repeatedly attacked FRANKFURT: Daimler should “There is no plan to defenes- lender considered Stournaras, a respected econo- avert possible job losses result- trate me,” Yannis Stournaras told mist who was finance minister ing from the expected substitution reporters after a meeting with close to Tsipras’ under the previous conservative of conventional cars by elec- Tsipras. administration. administration. tronic vehicles in coming years Relations with the government Government daily Avgi on Fri- by making components for elec- “had never soured,” he insisted. day said Stournaras was “cornered tric engines, the carmaker’s top Stournaras is about to deliver and lashing out” after the raid on labour representative said. the results of a probe into loans watchdog SSM, which he oversaw, his wife’s office. On Thursday, German carmakers are given out by Attica Bank, a state- covered Attica bank loans “over the Bank of Greece had rejected investing heavily in electric vehi- controlled lender considered close quite a large period of time.” nominations put forward by the cles (EVs), spurred by advances to Tsipras’ administration. The meeting came two days government for Attica Bank’s gov- in battery technology and amid Stournaras said the probe by after investigators raided the erning board. A compromise was a growing backlash against the the Bank of Greece and European office of Stournaras’ wife Lina reportedly reached a day later. Governor of Bank of Greece Yannis Stournaras (centre) in Athens. environmental impact of diesel fumes. The maker of Mercedes- Benz luxury cars plans to launch at least six, and possibly as many Chevron to as nine, electric car models as part of its push to compete with Tesla narrow bids for Norway likely to keep key rates unchanged and Audi. Electric engines require fewer workers to build than those $3bn Asian needed for more complex com- Bloomberg record government spending from estimate. Figures for Oslo showed a bustion motors, and to counteract geothermal sale the nation’s $890bn wealth fund. year-on-year jump of 16.3 percent in the reduction in labour Daimler Here are some of the variables August. Those are worrying figures should produce more EV parts that policy makers will looking at: for the central bank, which has an itself, works council chief Michael OSLO: Norway’s central bank is Unlike other places, Norway has expressed so-called leaning-against- Brecht said. “The number of staff Bloomberg predicted to leave its key policy rate inflation. Price growth has beaten the-wind policy. you need to build a combustion unchanged at a record low as the central bank estimates since the pre- And the future is looking brighter. engine is roughly tenfold com- economy of western Europe’s big- vious monetary report in June and An index used by the central bank pared to the number of staff for gest oil producer fights off the biggest is holding way above the 2.5 per- to measure the outlook of Norwe- an electric engine,” said Brecht, HONG KONG: China General slump in crude prices in a generation. cent target. While the bank expects gian businesses over the next six who is a vice chairman of Daim- Nuclear Power Corp, the country’s The central bank will keep its key inflation to abate as the effects of a months rose to a two-year high in ler’s supervisory board. biggest nuclear power operator, policy rate at 0.50 percent at a meet- weaker krone filter out, it will likely August, suggesting there’s plenty Daimler is employing 284,000 has been invited to make a sec- ing on Thursday, according to 15 of 22 have to raise its inflation forecast. of confidence about the economy’s people. Similar to other listed ond-round bid for Chevron Corp.’s economist surveyed by Bloomberg. Unemployment has been lit- performance. But the strengthening German companies, half of its Asian geothermal energy assets, Seven predict a cut to 0.25 percent. tle changed in 2016, holding at an krone will likely keep policy makers supervisory board is made up of which could fetch $3bn, accord- The bank will likely keep an eas- enviable rate of 3.1 percent in August, from becoming too hawkish. Econ- labor representatives who col- ing to people with knowledge of ing bias to avoid the krone from likely lift its rate path “a bit” without according to registered figures. But omists at DNB and Nordea say that lectively have power to block the matter. strengthening too much, accord- excluding the possibility that there the oil regions have been hit hard and the central bank will keep an easing company decisions. Brecht said Jakarta-based PT Medco ing to DNB ASA and Nordea Bank. could be another rate cut, he said. about 40,000 workers have lost their bias and signal a probability of a rate Daimler’s works council had Power Indonesia is consider- The currency has risen 5 percent on Norges Bank Governor Oey- jobs following the sharp downturn in cut during first half of 2017. agreed with top management to ing joining a separate shortlisted trade-weighted basis this year. stein Olsen (pictured) looks set to the country’s oil sector since 2014. “By retaining a certain downside examine the possible effects of consortium that includes Japa- “The way the economy looks avoid the fate of colleagues from House prices are rising at a faster risk in the interest rate forecast, the electric mobility on employment nese trading house Marubeni Corp now, there is no obvious need for Stockholm to Tokyo, who have pace than forecast by the central central bank will prevent an exces- at all of the group’s sites, expand- and Philippine energy producer a rate cut,” said Harald Magnus been forced to cut rates below zero bank. In the third quarter, the aver- sive appreciation of the krone,” said ing research conducted in 2012 Aboitiz Power Corp, said the peo- Andreassen, chief economist at and unleash asset purchase pro- age national increase was more Erik Bruce, chief analyst at Nordea that was confined to an engine- ple, who asked not to be identified Swedbank in Oslo. The bank will grammes. He’s helped, of course, by than 1.5 percentage points above its Markets in Oslo. making facility. because the information is private. Citigroup Inc, Chevron’s adviser on the sale, will call for second- round bids later this month. Chevron, the largest US oil NBAD postpones Middle producer after Exxon Mobil Corp, has slashed jobs, canceled drilling projects and sought assets sales to counter a slump in energy prices. East’s first green bond The San Ramon, California- based company is aiming to sell its main Asian geothermal hold- ings, which generate energy from Reuters to be worth upwards of $500m. the earth’s heat, in Indonesia and “Investor appetite was low and the pricing the Philippines. was not attractive,” a banker familiar with the Chevron’s Indonesia Salak matter said. “It is being re-evaluated,” he added. field, one of the world’s largest ABU DHABI: National Bank of Abu Dhabi has A spokesman for NBAD declined to geothermal operations, supplies postponed the region’s first ever green bond comment. a power plant that has 377 mega- after investors considered the pricing unat- A separate banker said investors were watts of total capacity, according tractive, banking sources said. unsure how to price the bond given that NBAD to its website. It also has a 40 Green bonds have become an increas- is in the midst of a merger with fellow Abu percent stake in Philippine Geo- ingly popular source of borrowing for banks Dhabi lender First Gulf Bank. thermal Production Co. in emerging markets, including in India and The tie-up, which was recommended by “Medco Group is considering China in view of the growing demand for funds the boards of the two lenders in July, will create partnering with a Japanese com- for renewable projects. one of the largest banks by assets in the Middle pany and a Philippine company,” The United Arab Emirates-based lender East and Africa. It is expected to be completed Medco Power President Director launched investor roadshows in late August to in the first quarter of 2017. A woman uses ATM of National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Fazil Alfitri said. He declined to market the benchmark-sized bond, the first “The market has been tested, it (the bond) name the potential partners. green bond ever from a Middle Eastern bor- may be re-launched after the merger,” the sec- Representatives for Marubeni, rower, with the proceeds due to be used to ond source said. prominence in the oil-rich Gulf countries as In July, Bank of China sold a $3bn multi- Aboitiz and Citigroup declined to invest in renewable energy projects. The planned green bond would have bol- they seek to bolster their energy production and currency green bond, while India’s Axis Bank comment. Benchmark size is traditionally understood stered renewables, a sector that is gaining retain hydrocarbons to sell for export. sold a $500m, five-year green bond in May.

Florida man sues Samsung sells shares in four tech firms to raise cash Samsung for

AFP by efficiently managing the The firm did not elaborate Note 7 explosion investments made in the past on the timing or the value of in line with changes in busi- the sales. Yonhap news agency ness environments,” Samsung estimated the value to be SEOUL: Samsung Electron- said. about 1 trillion won ($890m), Reuters ics said yesterday it had sold The news of the sales came including 600bn won from the shares it held in four tech- as the firm is mired in a major sale of the ASML shares. nology companies including recall of its flagship smart- Samsung and its sister NEW YORK: Samsung Electronics US chipmaker Rambus and phone over a series of battery firms have in recent years Co was sued on Friday by a Florida Japan’s Sharp to free up money explosions. divested from non-core oper- man who said he suffered severe and focus on its main business. The global recall of the ations as the parent Samsung burns after his Galaxy Note 7 The South Korean tech Galaxy Note 7 smartphone Group sought to streamline smartphone exploded in his front giant also sold shares in Dutch raised alarm among air car- business amid a generational pants pocket. semiconductor equipment riers and aviation safety power transfer in the found- The lawsuit by Jonathan maker ASLM and US hard authorities worldwide that ing Lee family. Strobel may be the first in the drive maker Seagate, it said banned the device on flights. The group’s current chair- United States by a Samsung phone in a statement. Samsung sold off half of man Lee Kun-Hee has been user against the South Korean Samsung — the world’s top a 3-percent stake it held in bedridden since suffering a company over a battery defect smartphone maker which also ASML, and its entire stakes heart attack in 2014 with his linked to the Note 7. It was filed manufactures memory chips, in the other three companies son, J.Y. Lee, widely believed one day after Samsung recalled TVs and home appliances — for “efficient management of to take over. about 1 million Note 7s sold in has for years bought shares assets,” it said. The junior Lee, currently the US. Samsung has received 92 in other tech firms in sem- It had held a 4.5-percent the vice chairman of Samsung reports of batteries overheating iconductor or display panel stake in Rambus, 0.7 percent Electronics, was nominated in the US, including 26 reports of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone wireless charging coil (left) is shown during a industries. “It was aimed at of Sharp and a 4.2-percent last week by the firm’s board burns and 55 reports of property iFixit’s teardown yesterday. focusing on our core business stake in Seagate. as a new board member. damage, US safety regulators said. 20 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,572.45 0.36 % QE Total Return Index 17,105.52 0.36 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,978.41 0.23 % QE All Share Index 2,915.21 0.29 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,875.36 0.31 % QE All Share Industrials 3,179.23 0.83 % QE All Share Transportation 2,514.34 0.22 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,552.19 0.89 % QE All Share Insurance 4,639.33 0.99 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,229.1 2.74 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,350.48 0.45 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 18-09-2016 Today 08-09-2016 Previous day Index 10,572.45 10,534.10 Change 38.35 100.80 % 0.36 0.95 YTD% 1.37 1.00 Volume 13,665,350 9,631,025 Value (QAR) 695,721,007.04 434,492,539.05 Trades 6,201 6,918 Up 13 | Down 25 | Unchanged 01

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5484.551 -36.591 -0.66 5691.8 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4541.48 -16.18 -0.36 4607.69 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 18526.14 -11.98 -0.06 18668.4 15450.6 Hang Seng Inde/D 23919.34 177.53 0.75 23830.75 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6289.11 9.78 0.16 6791.68 5286.65 Karachi 100 In/D 40136.93 52.06 0.13 40213.89 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16958.77 -53.67 -0.32 18951.12 14864.01 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2193.81 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 4.8323 QR 4.9013 Euro QR 4.0895 QR 4.1471 CA$ QR 2.8024 QR 2.8578 Swiss Fr QR 3.7455 QR 3.7976 Oil industry comeback revives North Dakota Yen QR 0.0355 QR 0.0362 Aus$ QR 2.7858 QR 2.8417 Ind Re QR 0.0544 QR 0.0554 really tanked,” said Cindy San- Pak Re QR 0.0346 QR 0.0353 ford, who heads the agency’s Peso QR 0.0770 QR 0.0785 Companies are once Williston branch. “Now what’s SL Re QR 0.0248 QR 0.0254 again competing for happening is those companies are bringing people back.” Taka QR 0.0460 QR 0.0470 workers. A recent North Dakota is now seeing Nep Re QR 0.0341 QR 0.0347 job fair had 56 hints of a recovery from the bust. SA Rand QR 0.2596 QR 0.2648 As crude prices have rebounded companies planning to the $40 range after a stun- to fill 300 positions. ning crash, there are signs that GOLD AND SILVER the industry is slowly regaining its footing. But the recovery has GOLD QR158.2105 per gramme been uneven, a distinct case of SILVER QR2.3379 per gramme AFP the haves and the have-nots, as skilled laborers see their pros- pects improving, while the less desirable workforce feels little WILLISTON: In the chilly air optimism. before dawn, a handful of men The Command Center offices IDBI Bank to select and women huddle in front of a are just across from the train small, one-storey building on the tracks that used to ferry coal, arrangers for outskirts of Williston. livestock and grains, but now They are waiting for Central shoulder trains loaded with crude Command, a temporary work from the vast oil and gas depos- $896m share sale agency, to open. its that lie deep underfoot, known Workers in this oil town in as the Bakken and Three Forks the US state of North Dakota, just formations. When hydraulic A sign advertising employment for oil well work crew is seen in Williston, North Dakota. Bloomberg an hour from the Canada bor- fracturing, or fracking, and hor- der, once had their pick of jobs. izontal drilling techniques made Many are now looking for any those deposits easier to reach, a barrel to below $30, forcing expect it to stabilise next year. were pouring money into the work they can find. “They don’t Williston became the epicenter many drillers to shut down their Meanwhile, the number of active Bakken before.” MUMBAI: IDBI Bank Ltd, the state-backed Indian have very many jobs for us right of North Dakota’s oil production. operations and lay off tens of oil rigs is rising again and they The city of Williston is antic- lender, picked arrangers including Citigroup Inc, Credit now,” said Heather Scallion, who The industry turned the thousands. Booming Williston have become more efficient and ipating that Bakken will power Suisse Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG to manage traveled some 1,300 miles (2,100 sparsely populated state into a went bust. productive, according to the US the local economy for decades to a share sale of about Rs60bn ($896m), people with km) from Arkansas, thinking buzzing hub of investment and From his truck, Monty Energy Information Adminis- come, budgeting $1bn on roads, knowledge of the matter said. there was still low-skilled work hiring starting in 2010, while the Besler points to so-called “man tration. “The industry is going to bridges, and a new airport. The Mumbai-based bank also chose HSBC Hold- here. “Hurting for money, hon- rest of the US economy was still camps,” make-shift mobile hous- resume a very modest, but pos- Companies are once again ings Plc, JPMorgan Chase & Co, SBI Capital Markets estly,” she explained. stuck in low gear. At the height of ing developments once buzzing itive, growth in supply in 2017,” competing for workers. A recent Ltd and IDBI Capital Market Services Ltd. The deal is Nearby, a ragged man in his the boom in 2014, Sanford said with out-of-town workers. They said Raoul LeBlanc, a US energy job fair had 56 companies plan- expected to include an institutional share sale and a 30s slept on a couch. Scallion that they could be so desperate now sit empty. “We’ve lost a lot analyst at IHS. ning to fill 300 positions. separate offering of preferential securities, people with was fairly certain he was home- to recruit workers they just had of companies,” said Besler, an He cautioned that even This is all cold comfort at the knowledge of the matter said earlier Friday. The pref- less, because he slept on the to make sure candidates were oil industry consultant, whose though jobs are starting to return, Command Center, where few of erential shares could be sold to a large investor who same spot every day, wearing the alive. “We’d laugh and we’d say, license plate reads “Fracn8r” - salaries are generally lower than those jobs are expected to reach may also take over management of the bank, accord- same clothes. Just minutes from ‘Breathe into the mirror. Oh, it as in “frackenator,” a nickname in boom times. “We may never get low-skilled workers any time ing to those people. this temporary work site, at the didn’t fog up. Try again,’” said given to him by colleagues. Besler back to the levels of employment soon. Kyle Tennessen, the cent- IDBI Bank’s fundraising could help bolster its state-run employment agency Job Sanford. In those heady days, has seen boom and bust cycles that we had,” LeBlanc said. er’s manager, is certain he will balance sheet and rein in bad debts that totaled 7.47 Service North Dakota, it is a far low-skilled workers could easily before. “We’ll have a winnowing, But Besler believes the indus- continue to have more people lin- percent of loans at the end of June, according to a pres- different world. There is a short- earn $18 an hour. Williston dou- and in the process the stronger try can rise again. If prices can be ing up for work every morning entation on its website. IDBI had a capital adequacy age of workers for highly skilled bled in size in about four years, to companies will survive,” he said. sustained in the $50-60 per bar- than the number of jobs he can ratio of 11.80 percent, compared with 13.2 percent for positions in drilling and oil pump roughly 30,000 people. He has reason for such optimism. rel range, Besler said, “that starts offer them. “There’s going to be the country’s banking system as of March, according maintenance, among others. Then, the price of oil plum- While oil production still to bring the outside money back another boom. When is the giant to the Reserve Bank of India. “There were layoffs when oil meted, from highs above $100 continues to decline, analysts in, the investment groups that question mark,” Tennessen said. S&P downgrades Nigeria into junk but outlook changed to stable

Bloomberg contraction in oil production, a restrictive The bonds have returned 14 percent this year, recession since 1991, according to the posed by falling oil prices on the government’s foreign exchange policy and delayed fiscal compared with the average of 16 percent for International Monetary Fund. While Pres- ability to pay back the debt, Solanke said. stimulus,” S&P said Friday in an e-mailed Sub-Saharan African sovereign dollar debt, ident Muhammadu Buhari’s government Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa’s second statement after markets closed. While gov- according to Bloomberg indexes. announced a record budget for 2016 to stim- largest crude producer, has seen govern- LAGOS: S&P Global Ratings downgraded ernment debt remains low, “servicing costs “The deterioration of the Nigerian credit ulate the economy, it is struggling to finance ment revenue squeezed by the fall in global Nigeria further into junk territory just as Afri- as a percentage of general government reve- has been going on for years,” Jan Dehn, head infrastructure projects, as well as pay civil oil prices to roughly half their levels from ca’s most populous nation prepares to issue its nues are high and rising,” the company said. of research at Ashmore Group Plc., which servants’ salaries. 2014. In addition, attacks claimed by mili- first Eurobond since 2013, amid low oil prices The rating cut comes as Nigeria prepares manages about $53bn of emerging mar- “An economy in recession and with a tants in the oil-producing Niger River delta and severe shortages of foreign exchange. to issue a dollar bond before the end of the ket assets, said by phone from London. The devaluation means something is wrong,” region have pushed monthly crude exports S&P lowered Nigeria’s rating one level to year. The Debt Management Office asked country needs to show progress opening its Babajide Solanke, an analyst at Lagos-based to the lowest in 27 years in May. B, five levels below investment grade and in banks wanting to manage a $1bn deal to markets and letting its currency, the naira, FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd, said by phone from S&P expects Nigeria’s economy to con- line with Kyrgyzstan and Angola. The out- place bids by Sept. 19. Yields on the nation’s trade freely, he said. the commercial hub. “The downgrade is jus- tract 1 percent this year before returning to look was changed from negative to stable. $500m of securities due in July 2023 have The downgrade is the latest blow to tified” and will make Nigeria’s foreign and growth. Real gross domestic product is likely “Nigeria’s economy has weakened fallen almost 280 basis points to 6.63 percent the economy, which shrank in the last two domestic bonds less attractive, he said. to expand 2 percent in 2017 and 4 percent the more than we expected owing to a marked since peaking at 9.4 percent on January 18. quarters and is headed for its first full-year Investors will be concerned about the risk following year, it said in the statement. MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 21 Nadal relishes Spain’s return to World Group

For us, it was very Spain’s Rafael Nadal important after two celebrates a point during years being away his doubles match with team-mate Feliciano Lopez from the World against India’s Leander Group, says the Paes and Saketh Myneni at the Davis Cup World Group 14-time Grand Slam play-offs against India in singles champion New Delhi on Saturday.

Japan Women’s Open tennis singles winner Christina McHale of the Reuters US (right) poses while holding her trophy beside runner-up Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic during the awarding ceremony in Tokyo, yesterday.

NEW DELHI: Two years after Spain’s stunning fall from grace in Davis Cup tennis, Rafa Nadal has hailed his McHale wins Japan Open nation’s return to the World Group after victory in the play-off against India. AFP “I don’t even want to put my tro- Nadal combined with Feliciano phy down -- I just want to hold it all Lopez in the doubles to overhaul the time,” McHale said during the Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni in trophy presentation, according to four sets and complete a 3-0 victory TOKYO: American seventh-seeded the WTA website. in New Delhi on Saturday, ending Christina McHale came from behind “I’ve been coming to this tour- Spain’s exile after an acrimonious to beat Katerina Siniakova in a rain- nament for a few years now and I period. wavering, Spain were turfed out of at pains to repair relations with slam champion and former Davis disrupted final and win the Japan really love it here. Thanks to all the “For us, it was very important the World Group in 2014 after being her players and managed to bring Cup winner. Women’s Open title yesterday. fans and everyone here for sticking after two years being away from the upset by lowly Brazil in a playoff, a strong team to India to get the “It’s been quite a while now since McHale scored a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 through all the rain delays -- we’ve World Group,” said the 14-time Grand sparking then-captain Carlos Moya’s job done. Former Davis Cup power we’ve had an opportunity to play in a victory over the unseeded Czech at had a few, especially today!” Slam singles champion. resignation. Australia also has ambitions of final and I know from experience I’d Ariake Tennis Forest Park. McHale’s only previous WTA “It’s important for us to come Moya’s replacement Gala Leon returning to its glory days and will love these boys to have that experi- The 24-year-old American had final was at Acapulco in 2014. back to where we think we have to was sacked within a year after a keep their place in the World Group ence of going out there and playing reached the final with a narrow vic- The unseeded Siniakova again be.” players’ revolt and Spanish tennis after defeating Slovakia 3-0 in for Australia.” tory over Jana Cepelova of Slovakia missed a shot at the crown after los- The tournament’s dominant was further embarrassed as the team Sydney. Led by talented but tempes- Belgium, Canada and Japan also on Saturday. ing in the final in Bastad, Sweden, power of the modern era, Spain crashed out to an understrength Rus- tuous 21-year-old Nick Kyrgios, the booked their places in the World McHale was trailing when Sun- in July. won five titles from 2000-11 before sia in the Europe/Africa Zone Group 28-times champions have a player Group next year. Champions Eng- day’s match was suspended due to “I’m here in the final for the sec- decline set in following their tight I last year under new captain Con- to build a team around and captain land, trailing 2-1, continue their rain in the second set. ond time and unfortunately it was loss in the 2012 championship chita Martinez. Lleyton Hewitt said he expected big Davis Cup semi-final against Argen- When it resumed, she charged really tough for me, so I’m a little decider to Czech Republic. Former Wimbledon champion things in 2017. tina later on Sunday, with Croatia back to triumph over Siniakova sad. But Christina played really well, With Nadal battling injury and Martinez, who also captains the “We expect that we can go aiming to wrap up the other semi- after a battle lasting two hours and so congratulations to her,” she was his top team mates’ commitment women’s Fed Cup team, has been deep,” said the two-time grand final against France. 48 minutes. quoted as saying. Iranian Paralympic cyclist dies in race accident: Official

AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: An Iranian Para- lympic cyclist died on Saturday after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Rio Games, an official said. Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his inju- ries despite an attempt to take him to the hospital for treatment, offi- cials said. “He unfortunately passed away,” International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence said. Racing 92’s New Zealander centre Casey Laulala (centre) is congratulated by his team-mate Brice Dulin Golbarnezhad’s accident occurred (left) after he scored a try during the French Top 14 rugby union match against RC Toulon at the Yves du during the more than two-hour C4-5 Manoir Stadium in Colombes on Saturday. road race for athletes with varying Players of team Iran observe a minute of silence for Iranian cyclist disabilities but still able to bicycle. He was in the first section of a Bahman Golbarnezhad in Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. mountainous descent when he fell. Laulala leads Racing to Toulon win “The athlete received treatment soon after arrival.” President Has- also told the news during a meeting at the scene and was in the process san Rouhani in a tweet in Farsi said at the Athletes’ Village. of being taken to the athlete hospital “the demise of our dear cyclist Bah- The cyclist, who wore a prosthe- when he suffered a cardiac arrest,” man Golbarnezhad immersed us all sis on his left leg, took up the sport AFP Halfpenny reduced the deficit the IPC said in a statement. in deep sorrow. Rest in peace.” in 2002 and competed at the Lon- RUGBY with his second penalty and was also “The ambulance then diverted Paralympic officials said Gol- don 2012 Paralympics. on hand to convert Pelissie’s opening to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospi- barnezhad’s family in Iran had been “This is truly heart-breaking try for Toulon after a smart Trinh- tal in Barra where he passed away informed and the Iranian team was news,” IPC president Philip Cra- PARIS: Ex-All Black Casey Laulala Duc barge and offload. ven said. “The Paralympic Family scored a brace of tries to cap a stun- penalties before the visitors’ Fran- Wenceslas Lauret bagged Rac- is united in grief at this horrendous ning individual performance and cois Trinh-Duc nailed a 25-metre ing’s bonus point when he sliced tragedy, which casts a shadow over help guide defending Top 14 cham- drop-goal. through Guilhem Guirado and Trinh- what have been great Paralympic pions Racing 92 to a comprehensive Imhoff showed all his classy fin- Duc to go over for the Parisians’ Games here in Rio.” 41-30 victory over arch-rivals Tou- ishing skills when he skipped past fourth try early in the second period. Brazil’s top official for the Rio lon. Aidon Davis down the right flank Laulala, who made his All Black Olympics and Paralympics, Carlos In a thrilling display of attacking and swerved past Halfpenny for a debut in 2004 alongside Carter, Nuzman, called it “very sad news rugby, Racing notched up six tries, great try that Carter converted. notched up his brace after a perfect for sport and for the Paralympic including an impressive hat-trick by The Argentinian flyer crossed offload from the playmaker, the cen- movement. Our hearts and prayers Argentinian winger Juan Imhoff, to for his second soon after, a scram- tre dancing acrobatically around a are with Bahman’s family, his team- three from Toulon, who were 20-16 bling Toulon defence missing the stranded Halfpenny. mates and all the people of Iran.” down at half-time. injured Ma’a Nonu unable to snuff Laulala was then on hand with The Iranian flag was lowered “We didn’t come here to con- out the attack from an attacking an inch-perfect pass to play Imhoff to half-mast in the Paralympic Vil- cede 40 points, but we’ve shipped line-out that featured two fantas- in for his hat-trick. lage, while the Paralympic flag 40, so Racing are the better team tic offloads from two-time capped Toulon grabbed a late penalty was to be at half-mast during Sun- today,” said Toulon President Mourad All Black centre Laulala and Carter. try with home prop Cedate Gomes day’s sitting volleyball gold-medal Boudjallel. Racing sought to keep the ball alive Sa yellow-carded, centre Anthony Bahman Golbarnezhad competing in the Men’s Road Race C4-5 match between Iran and Bosnia and Toulon’s Wales full-back Leigh at all costs and a third try followed Belleau having the final word for Herzegovina. during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday. Halfpenny and Racing’s All Black when Laulala was played in past the the visitors when he touched down A minute of silence will be held playmaker Dan Carter traded early stretched defence. a Trinh-Duc grubber. during the closing ceremony. 22 MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 SPORT Rosberg on top after Singapore thriller

Singapore Grand Prix Re- German wins night sults race to regain overall 1 Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG) lead as Hamilton 308.828km in 1hr 55min 48.950sec 2 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) at finishes in third place 0.488 3 Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes-AMG) at 8.038 Reuters 4 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) at 10.219 5 Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 27.694 SINGAPORE: Germany’s Nico Ros- 6 Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at berg celebrated his 200th Formula 1:11.197 One race by retaking the champion- 7 Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren- ship lead from Mercedes team mate Honda) at 1:29.198 Lewis Hamilton after a pole to flag 8 Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) at win in Singapore yesterday. 1:51.062 After a chaotic start that brought out a safety car on the opening lap, 9 Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) at Rosberg stayed clear of Red Bull’s 1:51.557 late-charging Daniel Ricciardo at 10 Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Renault) at the floodlit Marina Bay Street Circuit. 1:59.952 Triple world champion Hamilton 11 Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Haas) at 1 lap completed the podium in third place. 12 Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) at 1 lap “The whole car was on the edge, 13 Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber) at 1 lap it always is here in Singapore, so it’s very satisfying to finish like that,” 14 Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) at 1 Rosberg told reporters. lap The German’s third victory in a 15 Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) at 1 lap row, and 22nd of his career, lifted 16 Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Manor) at 1 lap Rosberg on to 273 points, eight clear 17 Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) at 1 of Hamilton, with six rounds remain- lap ing and Australia’s Ricciardo a distant third on 179 in the title race. 18 Esteban Ocon (FRA/Manor) at 2 laps Rosberg’s win was his eighth of Retirements: the season and first in Singapore, a Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas): pre-race grand prix that has only been won by Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India): 1st lap world champions until now. The German had started two Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams): 36th lap points behind Hamilton and, despite Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Honda): leading comfortably halfway though 43th lap the race, crossed the line just 0.488 Nico Rosberg (centre) celebrates victory at the Singapore Grand Prix in Marina Bay, Singapore, yesterday. seconds ahead of Ricciardo after having to complete the last 28 laps with Hamilton in third and Raikkonen on the same soft tyres. one up on me with the pitstop at the behind the leading duo, the Briton “The brakes were way overheat- Verstappen and Fernando Alonso in behind him after Verstappen suffered Red Bull opted for a bold tyre end, we knew it was going to be tight losing third place to the Finn after a ing so I had to slow down Once I a McLaren. a woeful start to slip back to eighth strategy to put pressure on Rosberg but we got there so I’m very happy,” mistake on lap 34 but reclaiming the did my second or third stop we man- The safety car was deployed from fourth on the grid. late on and Ricciardo was eating into added Rosberg, who opened a position with a timely pit stop to hold aged to sort it out.” immediately after the start when The race restarted and Rosberg the advantage at roughly three sec- 43-point lead on Hamilton at the start on to the finish. Last year’s race winner Sebastian Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India, would have been startled to see a onds a lap in the closing stages but of the season before falling behind “This weekend has been a tricky Vettel drove brilliantly from last on eighth on the grid, suffered a heavy marshal at the end of the start-finish ran out of road before the chequered when the Briton won six of seven one for me but I’m just happy to get the starting grid to claim fifth place in crash after making contact with Car- straight picking up debris, the man flag. races. Hamilton had his own private on the podium and get some points the other Ferrari, the German com- los Sainz’s Toro Rosso. Rosberg got just managing to get off the circuit “Of course Daniel tried to pull battle with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen for the team,” Hamilton said. ing home ahead of Red Bull’s Max away cleanly to lead from Ricciardo, before the Mercedes reached him. Argentina down Britain, face Croatia in Davis Cup final

AFP Britain’s hopes of retaining the tro- retirement, decided not to play in the moment came in the fifth game as phy they won for the first time in 79 match after featuring in the doubles Mayer broke the Evans serve before years with a win over Belgium last on Saturday due to concerns for his serving to take the set 6-4. GLASGOW: Tearful Leonardo Mayer year. health following a punishing summer Earlier in the day Murray had fired Argentina into the Davis Cup It also justified captain Daniel schedule Evans, who has two decisive offered Britain hope with a com- final yesterday after his victory over Orsanic’s decision to rest 27-year- rubbers amongst his four Davis Cup prehensive defeat of Pella. Dan Evans handed his side a 3-2 vic- old del Potro. singles wins, gave the home crowd Marin Cilic sent Croatia into the tory over holders Great Britain. The hopes of the holders had something to cheer early on as he Davis Cup final with a 6-3 6-2 7-5 The 29-year-old, a late replace- been on Evans, picked ahead of Kyle claimed an early break of serve on victory against Richard Gasquet yes- ment for Juan Martin del Potro, Edmund who lost his singles rubber his way to winning the first set. terday that gave the hosts a 3-2 win secured Argentina’s place in their on Friday, after Andy Murray hauled However, the British player had over France The world number first final since 2011 with a 4-6, 6-3, Britain level in the tie with a straight no answer to the Mayer serve in the 11 relied on his big serve and his 6-2, 6-4 win to clinch the best-of- sets victory over Guido Pella in the second set as he landed 17 of 18 of his booming forehand to down Gasquet, five tie. first reverse singles yesterday. first serves with the Argentine also who had given France the first point Argentina, who have been final- The world number ones hadn’t twice breaking Evans to secure the by beating Borna Coric on Friday. ists four times in the past 10 years, defeated Argentina in 88 years but set 6-3 Mayer, who in June last year Cilic levelled the tie on Friday will attempt to win their first Davis their hopes of ending that run were was ranked 21 in the world, showed when he saw off Lucas Pouille and Cup when they travel to Croatia from boosted before Evans took to the his experience in the third set as he he paired up with Ivan Dodig to give November 25-27. court following the news that he immediately broke in the first game Croatia the lead with their win in the Croatia, the 2005 champions, would be facing Mayer instead of Evans’s hopes were then dashed doubles against Pierre-Hugues Her- Croatia’s Marin Cilic reacts after winning against France’s Richard booked their berth in the final with Del Potro. as the Argentine repeated the feat in bert and Nicolas Mahut on Saturday. Gasquet during the Davis Cup World Group semifinal singles match at a 3-2 win over France in Zadar. However, Del Potro, still feeling the fifth to canter to a 6-2 victory. Pouille beat Marin Draganja 6-4 “Kresimir Cosic” hall in Zadar, yesterday Croatia registered a 3-2 win Mayer’s victory, his 11th in 14 his way back after a series of wrist The 26-year-old put up a greater 6-4 in the final match with nothing over France in Zadar to qualify for the final Davis Cup singles rubbers, ends injuries pushed him to the brink of fight in the fourth set but the crucial at stake. Nice move to second place Shetty wins U-14 badminton event in Kuwait after Montpellier point

AFP on loan from Dynamo Kiev while crowned a solid performance with snapping up Italian striker Mario a tap-in on 85 minutes after the Balotelli. ‘keeper fumbled the ball. The former Liverpool, Man City Coming back off a three months MONTPELLIER, FRANCE: Newly- and AC Milan striker sat out this injury lay off Belhanda was looking recruited playmaker Younes encounter having played twice forwards to hosting Monaco. Belhanda grabbed a point for Nice in four days, but will be back for “It won’t be decisive because the in a 1-1 draw at Montpellier with Wednesday’s top of the table clash season has just started, but its a kind a determined late strike yester- with pacesetters Monaco, who have of derby and its going to be a great day meaning his side climb above 13 points to Nice’s 11 and PSG’s 10. match,” he said Favre praised Bel- champions Paris Saint Germain into Nice can thank a fine perform- handa’s goal saying his side deserved second place in Ligue 1. ance from 22-year-old goalkeeper the draw and was happy with a sin- Having come fourth last season, Yoan Cardinale for several fine saves gle point given their heavy schedule.. Neha Shetty of Qatar, winner in the girls Under-14 category at 3rd IBA-KBF GCC invitational tournament Nice lost their coach Claude Puel to that kept them in the game until his “Coming back into the game with Southampton while Hatem Ben Arfa left back Malang Sarr gave away a such a good goal shows the our great receiving her trophy in Kuwait recently. Shetty defeated Mona Tamer 21-13, 21-11 in the final. She moved on to PSG. penalty on 67 minutes, duly con- team spirit The draw was a went to complete a double. In the girls under-14 doubles, Shetty partnering Niyati Pradeep of Indian But with highly-regarded Swiss verted by Ryad Boudebouz. fair result.” badminton Association Kuwait defeated Nivedhitha Karan and Hanah Marium Philip. Shetty is coached coach Lucien Favre now in charge, Then Belhanda, one of the stars “Until Christmas we’ll be heav- by Manoj Sahibjan of Qatar Badminton Association for the past two years. The Indian Badminton Nice are unbeaten in Ligue 1 so of Montpellier’s staggering Ligue ily rotating players due to the Europa Association-Kuwait in association with Kuwait Badminton Federation (KBF) organised the tournament. far and have brought in Belhanda 1 title winning charge of 2012, League SPORT MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 23

Werder EPL: More woe for Mourinho as Bremen sack coach Watford stun Man United 3-1 Skripnik

marked the start of the Mourinho Mourinho is on the era has been completely erased. AFP After losing to City, Feyenoord in verge of repeating the Europa League and now Wat- his predecessor Van ford over the last week, the size of the BERLIN: Werder Bremen’s Viktor task facing Mourinho as he rebuilds Skripnik yesterday became the Gaal shameful record United has been laid bare. first Bundesliga coach sacked of four consecutive “I feel the first moment we had this season after a fourth straight a defeat, a difficult situation, some defeat marked the club’s worst defeats of the boys are having a bit of dif- ever start. ficulty coping with the negativity,” After nearly two years in Mourinho said. charge, mostly battling to avoid They looked out of sync from the relegation, the 46-year-old was AFP moment United goalkeeper David de axed in the wake of Saturday’s 4-1 Gea collided with Chris Smalling as German league defeat at Borussia they made a hash of dealing with Moenchengladbach when Bremen Sebastian Prodl’s towering cross. leaked three goals in the opening WATFORD: Watford piled on the When de Gea dropped the ball 21 minutes. His assistant coaches, misery for the ‘special one’ Jose straight to Odion Ighalo a goal Florian Kohfeldt and ex-Germany Mourinho as Manchester United seemed certain, but the Watford international Torsten Frings, have crashed to a third successive defeat striker fired hurriedly wide of the also left the club. in an embarrassing 3-1 loss at Vicar- unguarded net from the edge of the The Gladbach defeat leaves age Road yesterday. penalty area. Bremen bottom of the German Mourinho’s side were rocked by It was a shocking miss, but even league table with zero points Etienne Capoue’s first half opener that escape couldn’t shake United and 12 goals conceded after just and, although Marcus Rashford from their lethargy and de Gea had to three league games. This is the equalised after the break, United throw himself to his left to claw away worst start for Werder Bremen capitulated in the closing stages. a goalbound header from Deeney in history. Juan Camilo Zuniga restored moments later. Under-23 coach Alexander Watford’s lead with seven minutes Paul Pogba has struggled to live Nouri will stand-in as first team Watford's midfielders Josh Holebas (left) and Etienne Capoue (right) vie with Manchester United's midfielder left before Troy Deeney’s penalty up his world record fee since join- coach until a successor is found condemned Mourinho to a third con- ing United and, amid another tepid Paul Pogba (centre) during the English Premier League match at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, London for Skripnik, a former Ukranian secutive defeat for the first time since display, the France midfielder gave a on Sunday. international who helped Werder he was in charge at Porto in 2002. sudden glimpse of his ability when he to a league and cup double as a It was the first time United had quickly shifted the ball to set himself a fatal mistake in the 34th minute of That ignominious exit encapsu- scored with his first touch less than player in 2004. lost three in a row since the unla- for a curling 25-yard strike that left the game. lated a forgettable half for United, but a minute after coming on. Roberto The decision to relieve Skrip- mented Louis van Gaal presided over Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes Dwelling too long on the ball they equalised with a rare incisive Pereyra was unchecked when he nik of his duties came on the bus four successive defeats in December rooted to the spot as it cannoned off deep inside his own half, Martial was attack in the 62nd minute. raced onto Nordin Amrabat’s pass ride home from Gladbach. last year. the crossbar. caught in possession by Miguel Britos Rashford played a one-two into the United penalty area and Skripnik said his goodbyes Adding to the indignity for But Watford’s relentlessly phys- and, with United’s defence com- with Ibrahimovic and broke into he cut the ball back to Colombia to Bremen’s staff on Sunday and United, it was their first loss in 30 ical approach was wearing United pletely exposed, Janmaat had time the penalty area, where he showed defender Zuniga, who lashed a fine was said to have taken the deci- years against Watford, who ended a down and Anthony Martial needed and space to pick out the unmarked his predatory instincts by sweep- strike past de Gea to leave Mourinho sion “with disappointment, but run of 11 successive defeats against several minutes treatment after being Capoue, who drilled a clinical finish ing home from close-range after ashen-faced. professionalism”. the Manchester giants. pole-axed by a clash of heads with past de Gea. the Swede’s cross deflected into his There was even worse to come Monday’s recovery session United are already lagging six Daryl Janmaat. As Watford celebrated, Mourinho path off Valon Behrami. for Mourinho in stoppage-time when will be taken by the club’s fitness points behind Premier League lead- Martial eventually got to his feet questioned whether Martial had been But United never looked con- Marouane Fellaini tripped Zuniga in coaches and from Tuesday, Nouri ers Manchester City and the feelgood but the France international still fouled and the winger lay flat on the vincing and they crumbled at the the area and Deeney stepped up to will prepare the team for Wednes- factor following the three wins that appeared groggy when he was made turf before being substituted. back in the 83rd minute as Zuniga smash home the spot-kick. day’s visit of Mainz. Townsend stars as Palace down Falcao’s header fires Monaco top of Ligue 1

AFP Champions League in midweek. field” by disgruntled fans. Adding to Falcao’s career has hit the buff- their problems, the home team also Stoke, Austin leads ‘Saints’ to win ers since quitting Atletico Madrid missed the chance to go second, suf- saw him endure unsuccessful injury- fering a 1-0 defeat as a Karl Otoko PARIS: A towering Radamel Falcao blighted loan stints at Manchester Kembi strike in the 38th minute gave Agencies header helped send Monaco top in United and Chelsea. Angers a narrow win. France on Saturday as a 3-0 home But on Saturday, the 30-year- The second and third bottom win over Rennes saw them leapfrog old Colombian leapt high at the back sides Nancy and Nantes drew 1-1, but Paris Saint Germain. post and powered in a header in the rock bottom Lorient celebrated their LONDON: Andros Townsend scored The win means Leonardo 42nd minute to score his first goal first points of the season after Ben- one goal and made another as Crys- Jardim’s Monaco have 13 points from for Monaco since August 2014 -- 755 jamin Moukandjo slammed home a tal Palace inflicted a crushing 4-1 five games ahead of PSG on ten. This days ago. penalty on 76 minutes to seal a 1-0 defeat upon winless Stoke City in was Monaco’s seventh consecutive Meanwhile, Bordeaux’s fun- win over Lille. the Premier League yesterday. win and follows a slick 2-1 triumph gus-infected pitch at their new Lorient remain 20th, a point Townsend set up the opening over Tottenham at Wembley in the stadium was described as a “potato behind five clubs on four points. goal for James Tomkins at Selhurst Park and completed the scoring with his first Palace goal after Scott Dann and James McArthur had also got on the score-sheet. Guardiola composed about flying start It gave Alan Pardew’s side con- secutive league wins for the first time since last December and saw the south London club climb to AFP successive league win by Kevin de - an outstanding player. He makes eighth place in the table. Bruyne, who scored the opening everything. Mark Hughes’s Stoke, who goal from a free-kick and then had a “Without the ball he is the first replied through Marko Arnautovic, hand in each of the next three goals. fighter and with the ball he’s clear. were left bottom of the pile after MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola is Apart from Barcelona’s Lionel He sees absolutely everything. He registering four successive league refusing to get carried away by Man- Messi, Guardiola believes De Bru- decides what you have to do at the Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend in action with Stoke City's Joe Allen defeats for the first time since Feb- chester City’s outstanding start to the yne deserves to be rated as among right moment every time. ruary 2012. during their Premier League match at the Selhurst Park in England. season and insists maintaining it will the world’s best players. “Every time he makes the right With eight minutes gone, not be easy. “Maybe Messi can sit alone at decision. That’s why he is a player at Townsend floated a free-kick the damage had been done. On the of Swansea. The last game of the City’s 4-0 demolition of Bourne- the table. But that table aside, Kevin another level. I am lucky and we are towards the far post and Tomkins other match that was played in the round Harry Kane found the net mouth took them five points clear at can stay there,” said Guardiola, who lucky to have him.” crept in behind Jonathan Walters same timing southampton defeated for the second time in two Premier the top of the Premier League with enjoyed many memorable moments “We will take care of him and I to toe the ball past Shay Given from Swansea after the inform striker League games as Tottenham Hotspur a seventh successive victory in all with Messi at Barcelona. hope he will enjoy it with us to play close range. Charlie Austin scored his third goal beat Sunderland 1-0 on Sunday, But competitions making it the club’s “I think he’s a special player his amazing football.” Once renowned for the rigour in four days to deliver Southamp- he had to be taken from the touch- best ever start to a season. But Guar- with which they defended set-pieces, ton’s first Premier League win of the line on a stretcher after turning his diola believes there is still room for Stoke conceded another goal from a season under manager Claude Puel. ankle in the latter stages of the game. improvement in a team he has reju- dead-ball situation just three min- After four league games without With Eric Dier and Mousa Dem- venated since arriving from Bayern utes later. a victory, the ‘Saints’ were seeking bele also succumbing to injury, it was Munich earlier this summer. Jason Puncheon drove a right- to avoid their worst start to a sea- a bittersweet afternoon for winning “Numbers are numbers. One sided corner towards the penalty son since 2000-01 and got the break manager Mauricio Pochettino. record will be for another person to spot and Dann got above Ryan Shaw- on 63 minutes when Austin chested beat,” said Guardiola. “In our world cross to sent a header bulleting into down a deflected cross and fired an ENGLISH PREMIER with social media it’s better to stay the bottom-left corner. unstoppable shot into the top-right back and don’t read and don’t listen After Dann and Wilfried Zaha corner. LEAGUE RESULTS too much.” had seen efforts blocked at close Southampton dominated the Chelsea 1 - 2 Liverpool Guardiola said that the season range, McArthur added a third goal game and Shane Long, Nathan Red- Everton 3 -1 Middlesbrough had barely got underway and he had in the 72nd minute, beating Given mond and Cedric all missed good Hull 1-4 Arsenal had enough warning prior to arriv- with the aid of a deflection off Geoff chances to give them an earlier lead. Leicester 3 - 0 Burnley ing at how tough a title it is to win. Cameron. Austin, who had scored twice “We are in September. It’s noth- Townsend saved the best for last, against Sparta Prague in the Europa Manchester City 4 -0 Bournemouth ing. We have played absolutely drifting infield from the left, beat- League on Thursday, could have West Brom 4 - 2 West Ham nothing,” said the 45-year-old Span- ing Joe Allen with a neat chop and grabbed a second after good work Crystal Palace 4 - 1 Stoke iard. “I have heard from a long time then bending a low shot into the bot- by the influential Dusan Tadic but Southampton 1 - 0 Swansea ago that the Premier League is the Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is congratualted by manager Pep tom-right corner. Arnautovic curled his shot was well-saved by Lukasz Tottenham 1-0 Sunderland toughest ever so I’m not going to in a goal for Stoke from the edge of Fabianski. The win moved South- accept now it’s so easy.” Guardiola as he is substituted in their game against Bournemouth in the box in injury time, but by then ampton up to 14th place, one ahead Watford 3 -1 Manchester United City were inspired to their fifth the English Premier League on Saturday. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 Nadal relishes Rosberg on top Spain’s return to after Singapore World Group thriller

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2016 • 17 DHUL HIJJA 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar coach predicts fierce battles at UCI Road Worlds

The Peninsula

DOHA: Qatar coach and former international Tareq Esmaili believes that fans will enjoy excep- tional competitions when the world’s best road cyclists descend on Qatar for the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 next month. Qatar’s national coach is a busy man these days; when not overseeing every aspect of his team’s training sessions in Europe, he avidly fol- lows cycling action around the world. This year has been an unforgettable season of racing so far, and the former Qatar international felt that four nations could vie for the most number of podium finishes in Doha. “I think it’ll be a straight fight between Bel- gium, France, Great Britain and the USA for the title of overall UCI World Champions,” he said. He believes that the pinnacle competitions Katinka Hosszu of Hungary competes in the women’s 100 backstroke event during the of Doha 2016, the men’s and women’s Elite Road FINA airweave Swimming World Cup 2015 in Doha, in this November 2015 file photo. Races, will be fiercely contested and difficult to predict. “According to me, Slovakian Peter Sagan, Briton Mark Cavendish and Belgian Greg van Aver- maet are the top three riders heading to Doha. As for favourites among women, I’ll need to look more carefully at the line-ups as there’re several FINA World Cup returns to Doha of them,” he said. Qatar is expected to field three cyclists — Ahmed Elbourdainy (elite men’s race), Farhan will once again host the world once more with our hospitality. record in Rio. These Olympic Games. World record holder in Farzi and Jassim Al Jabri (junior individual time class event. The Qatar Swimming Associa- champions are sure to make the 200m breaststroke Rikke trial) — at the races at home. World’s best to hit The two-day event will see tion strives to ensure that each this year’s edition a sight to see. Møller Pedersen from Denmark Reflecting on his young team, the coach is the pool at Hamad newly-crowned Olympic cham- edition of the FINA Swimming Chad Le Clos recorded is also expected to compete as proud of his charges’ progress, and believes they Aquatic Centre on pions take to the waters in Doha, World Cup improves upon the amazing performances at well as 100m breaststroke world will learn from competing amongst the world’s following their successes at the one before it and this year our Hamad Aquatic Centre in 2014 record holder Alia Atkinson best on home soil. October 8 and 9 Rio 2016 Olympic Games. approach is no different.” and 2015. from Jamaica and former world “One should understand we’re still only devel- Swimming fans young and Fans are in for a special At the FINA Swimming record holder Roland Schoeman oping as a cycling nation and it’s impossible for us old alike can expect to see treat as FINA Swimming World World Cup in August 2014, he from South Africa. to compete against the big boys. My wards will try breath taking performances, Cup winners and reigning FINA took home gold in the 50m and Tickets are available through their best to do well, but we shouldn’t put undue The Peninsula shattered world records and Swimmers of the Year, Chad Le 100m butterfly, his signature Q-tickets.com and prices are set expectations on them,” he said. intense competitions over the Clos (RSA) and Katinka Hosszú events, as well as the 100m free- at 20 QAR per person per ses- The UCI Road World Championships Doha two days of swimming action. (HUN) will once again compete style. Katinka also has a storied sion, given this year’s stellar line 2016 are the climax of the road cycling season, and Khaleel Al Jabir, President in Doha. Le Clos battled hard in history in the FINA Swimming up of athletes, be sure to book will see 12 individual titles of UCI World Champion DOHA: The finest swimmers of Qatar Swimming Associa- the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and World Cup, and broke two world your ticket well ahead of time. awarded to men and women in the Elite, Under- from around the world will hit tion and Chairman of the Local took home two silver medals in records and a championship The full line-up for the 23 and Junior road races and time trials, as well the pool when the FINA air- Organising Committee com- the 200m freestyle and 100m record in the 2014 edition alone. upcoming FINA airweave Swim- as two titles for the men’s and women’s team time weave Swimming World Cup mented: “We will continue to butterfly – a result he will def- Other swimming stars that ming World Cup – Doha is yet trials. 2016 begins at the Hamad build on the massive momen- initely be looking to build on in will head to Doha for the meet to be revealed and more details The Men’s Elite Road Race is the final compe- Aquatic Centre in Doha on Octo- tum that we have accrued over Doha. are Australians Brittany Elmslie are available at www.qatar- tition of Doha 2016, and will be held on October ber 8. the years. Qatar is once again Hosszú won an incredible and Madeline Groves who took swimming.com, @SWC_Doha 16. The Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial will be After an incredible 2015 more than ready to host the three gold medals and one sil- home the gold medal in a stun- on Twitter and FINA airweave held five days earlier, with both events finishing season that saw world records world’s greatest swimmers in ver medal as we all as set a new ning 4x100m freestyle relay Swimming World Cup Doha on at the iconic Pearl-Qatar. tumble across the board, Qatar its facilities and welcome them world record and an Olympic final in the Rio 2016 Olympic Facebook. QSL: Rashidov and Romarinho earn 2-1 win for El Jaish Romarinho extends

The Peninsula Al Wakrah stopper Hassan Idriss. Sabri Lamouchi’s side looked dan- El Jaish looked confident on the gerous in the final third and struck El Jaish stay ball with Brazilian attacker Romar- the woodwork for the second time inho, fresh from signing a new three in the match. On the 57th minute DOHA: El Jaish registered a 2-1 vic- year deal with the side looking good Romainho’s effort from inside the The Peninsula tory over a spirited Al Wakrah side leading the Jaish attacking line. box left Wakrah keeper Hassan in their opening encounter of the Al Wakrah where reduced to Idriss scrambling. Al Wakrah even- new Qatar Stars League season at long shots for the majority of the tually found their way back into the DOHA: El Jaish have extended Lekhwiya Stadium last evening. first half with a speculative effort tie with playmaker Mouhcine Mou- the contract of Brazilian attacker Goals from Sardor Rashidov and from Moroccan playmaker Mouh- touali pulling the strings in attack. Romarinho for a further three Romarinho from the penalty spot cine Moutouali which ballooned His powerful run and shot brought seasons. where enough for the soldiers who well over the crossbar. The first out a good save from Jaish stopper The announcement was made had to endure a nervy final fifteen half ended with El Jaish going into Khalifa Ababacar. via the club’s official website over minutes after Al Wakrah striker the break with a slender 1-0 lead. On the 73rd minute Wakrah’s the weekend. Pablo Olivera pulled a goal back Jaish started the second half striker Pablo Olivera curled in a The extension will be a major for his side. with real intensity and could shot to give his side a lifeline in boost for Sabri Lamouchi’s squad Sabri Lamouchi’s team enjoyed have doubled their lead just three the match with just 15 minutes to in the new Qatar Stars League the majority of the ball through- minutes after the restart. Sardor go. Team mate Mouhcine Mout- season. out the tie and looked sharp going Rashidov’s powerful shot crashed ouali held the ball up well and laid Romarinho has been a key forward. against the underside of the cross the ball off for Olivera, his effort player for the soldiers since he Jaish broke the deadlock on the bar. Jaish were awarded a penalty found the back of the net for the joined the side from Brazilian 24th minute when a cross from Ali on the 49th minute after QSL debu- Blue Waves, a perfect debut for the outfit Corinthans in September Sanad fell to the feet of Uzbekistan tant Seidou Keita was pushed down Uruguayan hit man. 2014. El Jaish’s Brazilian attacker Romarinho (centre) vies for the ball against Al international Sardor Rashidov. in the box by Ahmed Kahil. Romar- Wakrah probed for an equalizer El Jaish will face Al Arabi in Jaish’s number ten had time to con- inho stepped up and calmly stroked and could have had one had Pablo Wakrah’s skipper Mohmad Saad Al Sulaity looks on during their opening their next QSL encounter at the trol the ball before unleashing an the ball into the bottom right hand Olivera kept his shot down in the encounter of the new Qatar Stars League season at Lekhwiya Stadium Grand Hamad Stadium on Sep- unstoppable half volley strike past side to give Jaish a two goal lead. final minutes of the tie. yesterday evening. Picture by Baher Amin / The Peninsula tember 22.