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QQCBCB policies ‘ensured Al Attiyah chasingg ample liquidity’ Bin Sulayem’s in the market record in Jordan

TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 • 19 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6778 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Real ‘touch’ Turkish Premier E-link project arrives tomorrow makes customs The Peninsula DOHA: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is scheduled to arrive in Qatar tomorrow on a clearance faster two-day visit. Davutoglu is expected to meet Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin transactions and exchange of data Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minis- between GAC and QPM. Ultimately ter and Interior Minister H E Sheikh The project linked this will enhance the efficiency of Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa with Al Nadeeb has customs clearance and speed up the Al Thani and other senior officials movement of goods. during his visit. helped reduce the Mohamed Ahmed Al Moha- “The visit of Davutoglu time for customs nadi, Operations and Risk Analysis aims at strengthening relations clearance by 70% . Manager at the General Authority between Ankara and Doha in of Customs told reporters yester- various sectors, especially econ- day that Al Nadeeb has a number omy and investments,” said Qatari of advantages which are focused Ambassador to Turkey, Salem bin on effectiveness and efficiency Mubarak Al Shafi. By Sidi Mohamed and accurate follow up of the “Issues of common concern The Peninsula procedures. like security and politics will be “This integration is unprec- Palestinian physical education teachers take part in a training session organised by the Real Madrid discussed during the visit. The dis- edented because it will enable Foundation at a school in the Qalandia refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. cussions will also focus on regional exchange of information and data and international issues, notably DOHA: Customs clearance at ports of between the two systems with the humanitarian crisis in Syria,” entry in Qatar has been made faster accuracy and achieve completion of he added. Aid being provided by with the introduction of an electronic transaction of all shipments within a charity organisations in Qatar link between General Authority of short time,” said Al Mohanadi. to support Turkey to host Syr- Customs (GAC) and the Qatar Ports “The e-link between GAC and CRA issues 48 notices for violations ian refugees, supply of foods and Management and integration between QPM since its implementation has medicines and other basic needs the single-window customs clearance saved more than 70 percent of the to refugee camps set up at boarder system, Al Nadeeb, and the QPM. time of processing the clearance and The Peninsula communication equipment without entails the non-compliant shops to areas will also be discussed during The e-link project has helped we are expecting this to increase fur- valid licences. regularize their licence or to obtain the visit of Davutoglu, said Al Shafi. reduce the time for customs clearance ther,” he added. GAC has developed The CRA manages Qatar’s radio the right licence if they do not have Talks will also focus on boost- by 70 percent and a further reduction Al Nadeeb by linking it by a number spectrum, and conducts routine one. If the appropriate licences have ing the Qatar-Turkish Supreme is expected when it is fully imple- of ministries and institutions that are DOHA: The Communications Reg- inspections to ensure compliance not been obtained, CRA is empow- Strategic Committee and fol- mented, officials disclosed yesterday. related to imports, and provide tech- ulatory Authority (CRA) has issued a with the Telecommunications Law. ered to take legal action against the low up on implementation of the The electronic link is expected nical support. total of 48 notices for violations of the The most common violations defaulters, said a statement yesterday. pacts that were inked between the be instrumental in integration of Telecommunications Law, for selling involved shops selling mobile phones two countries in a meeting held in the procedures and development of → Continued on page 6 mobile phones and radio and tele- without a valid licence. The notice → Continued on page 6 Doha in December. Saudi announces sweeping reforms

Agencies Saudi Arabia will introduce a “green to end Riyadh’s dependence on crude rev- Aramco and other assets, and we fixed card” system within five years to allow enue by 2020. “We have developed a case the problems of the current assets expatriates to have more rights in order of oil addiction in Saudi Arabia,” Prince that the public investment fund owns, to improve its investment climate, Mohammed said in a televised interview both in terms of companies and other RIYADH: The powerful young prince Deputy Crown Prince said. The plans with Al Arabiya news channel, adding projects,” he said. The part privatisa- overseeing Saudi Arabia’s economy announced by the Prince also included that Riyadh needed to cut its dependence tion of Aramco was also central to the unveiled ambitious plans yesterday changes that would alter the social on revenue from crude. plans, and Prince Mohammed said it aimed at ending the kingdom’s “addic- structure of the kingdom by pushing At the centre of the “Vision 2030” would be transformed into an energy tion” to oil and transforming it into a for women to have a bigger economic reforms is the restructuring of its Pub- company that he valued at more than global investment power. role and by offering an improved sta- lic Investment Fund (PIF), which Prince $2trillion, and that up to 5 percent of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed tus to resident expatriates. Mohammed said would become a hub it would be listed on the stock market. Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister bin Salman said Riyadh would raise the Speaking in a television interview, for Saudi investment abroad, partly by “We will not rest until our nation is a capital of its public investment fund to he said planned sweeping reforms, of raising money through selling shares leader in providing opportunities for Mohammed bin Salman talking to media in Riyadh, yesterday. SR7trillion ($2 trillion) from SR600bn which the proposed green card is one, in Aramco. all through education and training, and ($160bn) and would sell up to five per- will be implemented even if oil prices “We restructured the fund. We high quality services such as employ- entertainment,” Prince wrote in an 84-page booklet outlining the plan. cent of shares in state oil giant Aramco. rise back above $70 a barrel and pledged included new assets in the fund, ment initiatives, health, housing and If it works, Saudi Arabia “can live without oil by 2020”.

Travel & Tourism Popular architect praises QNL’s multifunctional roles PAGE | 7 MAIN SPONSORS PAGE | 8

Qatar Airways Doha Bus doubles flights launches from New York City night tour EMENT TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2 By Raynald C Rivera Metropolitan Libraries (MetLib) Con- adding QNL’s function has evolved from event area and a restaurant as well as libraries can contribute to unleash a visitors to Qatar up 11% in first quarter The Peninsula ference currently underway at the catering exclusively to students of var- people mover, book sorter system and children’s potential, he said the QNL Qatar National Convention Centre. ious universities to the whole nation at compact shelving. has a children’s library as another “This library particularly is large. “It started as a university library Speaking on how libraries lev- important feature. “There’s a space considered an amphitheatre of specifically addressing the different erage digital and technological dedicated for children, among oth- DOHA: The highly anticipated Qatar knowledge that surrounds you the universities here as a connecting tool, advancement, he said while QNL is ers, but the library itself has been National Library (QNL) is more than moment you enter. I’m very confi- but now it has acquired an additional technologically advanced, he is happy designed in such a way that it tries just a place where books are stored dent it will not be shelves that will task-to open up itself to a nation as a it emphasizes the importance of the to increase and satisfy the curiosity Today’s edition but a vital space for knowledge, dominate your impression but it will national library,” he explained. past with the presence of Islamic and of children in many ways,” he said. according to world-renowned archi- be knowledge,” the Harvard Univer- The 42,000sqm library which can Arabic collection. Koolhaas said QNL will be a includes a 12-page tect Rem Koolhaas, designer of the sity professor told the attendees. hold 1.3mn books teems with special The vast collection will be located library open to different book users special supplement on iconic building. Like in his past projects, immers- features rarely found in libraries any- in the Heritage Library which is sit- and it has been designed to express Koolhaas was speaking at a panel ing into the country’s culture and where in the world. With the evolving uated below the building and uses that invitation through its different Qatar tourism. discussion on “The role of libraries history was a vital part of the proc- function of the library, QNL incorpo- dense shelving system and state of entrances leading to the past, present in unleashing potential” at the 48th ess of designing the library, he said, rates special features such as a special the art digital technology. On how and future.

HOME TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 03

EAA-run foundation opens vocational centre in Mauritania

The Peninsula Mauritania for the opening of the of Children and Family Development, facility and signing a memorandum and other officials. of understanding. Al Sulaiti said, “It is an honour The establishment of the centre to attend the opening of the facility, DOHA: The Qatari-Mauritanian is part of the foundation’s efforts to which will make a qualitative leap Social Development Foundation, help alleviate poverty and mitigate its in Mauritania’s vocational educa- managed by the Education Above negative impact in Mauritania. tion and create a positive sustainable All Foundation (EAA), launched one The foundation was created in impact on society. The initiatives its key projects — Al Imtiaz (excel- December 2004 by the Ministry of undertaken by the foundation are lence) Vocational Centre. Economic Affairs and Development aimed at taking a holistic approach The centre will create vocational in Mauritania and the office of H H to advance Mauritanian communities HMC officials and representatives of sponsors of the honouring ceremony pose for a group photo. education opportunities across sev- Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. by focusing on health and wellbeing eral sectors for about 200 students In the intervening years, the and creating a skilled workforce.” in the first year. foundation launched projects to EAA’s ongoing projects include It consists of 35 classrooms and help address poverty in Mauritania, the building of a hospital, con- an amphitheatre equipped with an impacting thousands of people and struction of five vocational training 189,449 blood donors air conditioning system and loud- significantly improving the literacy centres, a literacy programme and speakers, and an IT station. rate among women. funding of income-generating It gives young people who missed EAA representatives took part in projects. out on secondary education the the inauguration of the centre and The hospital, opened in February chance to receive vocational train- signed the MoU under which the 2007, provides healthcare services registered until February ing in vital fields such as electrical Ministry of National Education will to the population of the Boutilimit engineering, renewable energy, IT manage the centre. district and nearby areas. It offers and corporate, bank and insurance The ceremony was attended by treatment for free to victims of traf- management. the Qatari Ambassador to Mauritania; fic accidents and dispatches teams honoured at HMC’s Blood Donors efforts to support the centre by the An EAA delegation led by the Minister of Employment, Voca- to serve hard-to-reach populations Recognition Ceremony on June 14, wider community. “We are organising CEO Fahad Al Sulaiti, travelled to tional Training and ICT; the Minister in neighbouring villages. About 250 donors coinciding with the annual World the event to honour voluntary blood will be honoured Blood Donor Day. The event will be donors, and recognise initiatives organised together with the Ministry undertaken by individuals and insti- at HMC’s Blood of Public Health. tutions. This has involved campaigns Donors Recognition The theme for this year is ‘Blood and interactive programmes which Ceremony on June 14, Links Us All’ and the event will rec- helped our Blood Bank to maintain its ognise donors and organisations stocks of blood and blood products.” coinciding with World that have supported blood donation She said the centre is taking the Blood Donor Day. efforts in the community. lead in the voluntary donation of Ali Abdulla Al Khater, Chief blood for the sixth consecutive year Communications Officer, Corporate recording 100 percent blood suffi- Communications Department, HMC, ciency and maintaining the highest The Peninsula said, “Blood donation is a noble act rate in the region. and it is important for our society “This accomplishment is added to to be aware of its importance as a the vital role of HMC’s Department of means of saving the lives of sick and Medical Laboratory and Pathology, DOHA: More than 189,000 blood injured patients in need of blood and based on the national strategy of the donors have registered with Hamad blood products.” Ministry of Public Health and HMC’s Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Blood The centre has collaborated with strategy to improve blood transfusion Donor Centre until this February. the department to celebrate World services in Qatar.” The total number of registered Blood Donor Day by jointly organis- Social and Sports Activities donors of blood and blood products ing activities through organisations, Support Fund and Qatar National since January 2002 until this Febru- schools and youth centres within the Bank will be platinum sponsors and ary-end was 189,449 and the total Qatari community. Alfardan Group of Companies and number of blood units drawn during Sadiqa Al Mahmoudi, Medical Qatar Gas Company gold sponsors the period was 144,805, according to Director at the centre, said blood and Qatar Petrochemical Company a senior official. donation is ingrained in our culture (Qapco) silver sponsor for the hon- About 250 donors will be and the event is the culmination of ouring ceremony. Officials during the launch of the centre, which will train youngsters. 04 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 HOME

Lexus LX 470 Qatar Rail workers get traffic and safety tips 2002-2006 models recalled Department, QR, said: “Due to the success of the initiative, we are pleased to be once again col- Over 400 workers take laborating with the ministry to hold the second part in the second phase of phase of the programme for workers, who are The Peninsula the cornerstone of everything we do. the programme, launched “We are committed to ensuring that all those in cooperation with the working on our projects have the right knowl- Ministry of Interior. edge and support to safeguard themselves, their DOHA: The Ministry of Economy colleagues, the wider public and the overall and Commerce, in collaboration success of our projects, as well as help them with Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros acclimatise with the Qatari society. Company, dealer of Lexus vehicles, The Peninsula “The programme, along with the recent has announced the recall of Lexus launch of the Green Line Training Centre, LX 470 models of 2002-2006 over reflects the importance Qatar Rail places the airbag control unit programing. on health and safety and we look forward to The ministry said the recall is DOHA: Qatar Rail has partnered with the Min- Participants attending one of the lectures as part of the traffic, safety and security announcing more initiatives.” part of its efforts to protect con- istry of Interior on a traffic, safety and security awareness programme. Highlights of this year’s programme included sumers and ensure that dealers awareness programme for workers involved in lectures by representatives of the ministry’s follow up on vehicle defects and delivering its landmark projects. seven departments, including Traffic; Civil repairs. The initiative was launched last June introduce the Qatar Community Policing arm. The programmes were offered at Qatar Rail Defence; Public Relations; Drug Enforcement; It urged customers to report for senior foreign employees, engineers and The programme was re-run for workers last sites in coordination with its contractors, who Public Guards; Criminal Evidence and Informa- any violations to its Consumer technicians. October with other specially tailored events in were tasked with setting up meeting rooms tion; and Community Policing, on issues such Protection and Anti-Commer- The ministry’s Public Relations Department languages including English, Hindi, Urdu and on work sites and workers’ accommodations. as traffic safety, how to prevent road accidents cial Fraud Department through prepared awareness programmes for them to others. The programme has completed its sec- The final event was held at the accommoda- and the dangers of not driving safely; causes of Call Centre: 16001; email: info@ make their move from their home countries less ond phase which featured awareness events for tion of Red Line workers. The programmes were fires and how to prevent them; effects of drug mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @MEC_Qatar; challenging by briefing them on Qatari customs workers, bus drivers who transfer them to sites attended by over 400 workers. abuse on individuals and society in addition to Instagram: MEC_Qatar; and the and laws, including traffic safety, drug and alco- and security guards who work at the sites and Engineer Hassan Ahmed Al Hamed Al Mar- lectures on Qatari culture, heritage, and tradi- ministry’s mobile app for Android hol control, Internet law and cybercrimes and workers’ residence. wani, Executive Director, Technical Interface tions and an introduction to community policing. and IOS: MEC_Qatar Children create healthy lifestyle posters

The Peninsula created around 400 health-related for their learning, understand pos- Bandar Saeed Al Qahtani, 15, from posters. itive health behaviours and spread Salah Eddeen Al Ayoubi Independent Faculty and experts from WCM-Q knowledge among peers. Preparatory School for Boys, said the and the Ministry of Health have Nesreen Al Rifai, Chief Commu- school produced posters on smoking, selected top 10 posters from the nications Officer, WCM-Q, said the obesity and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. DOHA: Hundreds of children have nine schools. Of these, the top three standard of posters and the range of The students used marketing been inspired to research healthy life- schools were Salah Eddeen Al Ayoubi subjects were excellent. techniques to ensure their posters styles and spread the word among Independent Preparatory School for “All these young people have stood out and were read by their friends through the Sahtak Awalan Boys (first); Al Shahaniya Preparatory excelled themselves. The creativity classmates. Bandar’s science teacher, Poster Competition. Secondary School for Boys (second); and thirst for knowledge are amaz- Abduljawad Ahmed, said the compe- The annual competition is part and Osama Bin Zaid Independent ing and I would like to congratulate tition has been a great teaching tool. of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s School for Boys (third). The chil- each of them along with their teach- Other poster topics included (WCM-Q) Sahtak Awalan: Your Health dren who created the best 10 posters ers. These are the future leaders of road safety, physical exercise, sug- First campaign. received a bicycle each. Qatar and now have a deep under- ary drinks, traffic accidents, nutrition This year 33 schools from across The contest aimed at encouraging standing of how to keep their mind and vitamin D. Qatar and hundreds of children young people to take responsibility and body fit and healthy,” she said. Faleh Zayed and Mohammed Shaban, both 14, of Al Shahaniya Boys School researched road acci- dents for their poster. Grade 8 student Ghada Ehab, 13, of Hammad International Development School, created a poster on hidden sugar in food and drink. She said, “Now a lot of people have obesity and diabetes so people have to take care of their health by watching the amount of sugar they eat. “Sugar is hidden in things like ketchup, fruit juices, biscuits and Ibrahim Hany, a student of Salah Eddeen Al Ayoubi Independent lots of other things. You have to always check the label to know Preparatory School for Boys, with his winning poster and a bicycle how much sugar there is.” he received as a prize. School students learn about human rights

National Human Rights Committee officials with the students.

The Peninsula mittee (NHRC) received at its office rights in Qatar and the panel’s aims, students from Salahaddin Al Ayyubi strategy, mandates, legal status and Middle School. role in the protection of human rights. Jaber Al Huwail, Director, Legal NHRC is one of the national DOHA: As part of its effort to raise Affairs Department, NHRC, briefed human right institutions known for its awareness about human rights, them on the committee and national excellent performance and has won Qatar National Human Right Com- institutions concerned with human global certificates of appreciations.

Saudi folkloric group wows fans at Katara

The Peninsula

DOHA: Al Jawaharah Saudi folk- loric group has concluded its two-night performance at Katara Esplanade as part of the Cultural Diversity Festival. Al Jawaharah group performs as part of Cultural Diversity Festival. The festival is organised by Cultural Village Foundation- Katara and the Unesco office in The group also entertained the Mezmar (flute). A Turkish folkloric Doha. The 19-member group per- audience with the folkloric shows of band will perform on Friday and Sat- formed Al Ardha. Al Bkheitim Semsmia, Al Ezawi; and urday at Katara Esplanade. HOME TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 05

Yemen withdraws in Qatar’s favour National process to tackle child abuse soon for Unesco post Sidra Medical and Research Centre measures by putting in place work- a qualified team of child care spe- (Sidra) as well as medical services and flows and systems to coordinate all cialists will diagnose the child and The coordinated healthcare institutions. child protection services. Most impor- conduct medical checks. QNA procedure will apply The issue was discussed at a tantly, it is also about educating the They will also ensure that the recent three-day workshop organized community that the problem of abuse child and their family are directed to to Hamad Medical by HMC and Sidra which also dealt is present and that we all need to work the right authorities so that the case Corporation, Sidra with protection of children against together to take action and protect our is handled in the most humane and PARIS: GCC and Yemen ambas- Medical and Research abuse and violence in homes and children,” he added. sensitive manner, without impacting sadors to Unesco yesterday within the community. It was titled: The workshop included discus- on their rights or privacy. welcomed Yemen’s decision to Centre as well as “Protect us Young, We will Protect sions about putting in place a national Besides HMC, Sidra and the par- withdraw its candidate Dr Ahmed medical services and You Old”. process to address all kinds of child ticipating bodies included Primary Al Sayed in favour of Qatar’s candi- Dr Khalid Mohamed Al Ansari, abuse (physical, sexual, and psycho- Health Care Corporation, Minis- date H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz healthcare institutions Director, Paediatric Emergency logical abuse and child neglect) and try of Administrative Development, Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser at the in the country. Services, HMC, and Division Chief of the various government and support Labour and Social Affairs, Mental Emiri Diwan, for Unesco director- Emergency Medicine, Sidra, said, “As services required to handle cases. Health Friends Association (WEYAK), general’s post. healthcare providers, we have a very There were sessions that reviewed Human Rights Department, Police In a statement, the envoys said important role to play in developing child abuse incidences in the country Department and Medical Service Yemen’s initiative is out of its desire The Peninsula and expanding the framework to pre- Dr Khalid Mohamed Al Ansari, and how to improve services offered Department (Forensic) at the Ministry to have one Arab candidate for vent and eliminate child abuse and Director, Paediatric Emergency in the case of abuse. of Interior, Supreme Judiciary Council, the post to consolidate votes. The neglect. This workshop is the begin- Services, HMC, and Division Chief HMC staff across Paediatric Community Policing, National Human ambassadors thanked Yemen for ning of a long term collaboration of Emergency Medicine, Sidra, Emergency Centres in Qatar have Rights Committee (NHRC), Family its keenness to promote Arab unity. DOHA: Efforts are under way to between stakeholders from various speaking at the workshop. been trained on how to spot child Prosecution, Ministry of Education It said Dr Al Kawari has develop a coordinated national pro- organizations involved in dealing with abuse cases. and Higher Education, Qatar Foun- become the candidate of all GCC cedure for handling of child abuse issues of child abuse in the country.” If there is concern about a child dation for the Protection of Women members and called on the rest of cases in Qatar. “ We don’t want to wait until it being abused, parents or guardi- and Children, Social Rehabilitation Arab countries to follow suit. The national process will apply to is too late – that is once the child We would like to act even before it ans are advised to bring them to the Centre, Qatar Petroleum and Al Ahli Dr Al Kawari praised Al Sayed Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), is abused or complains of abuse. happens and also take preventive Paediatric Emergency Centre where Hospital. for his expertise and keenness to consolidate GCC and Arab votes. DFI to conduct RAF tops Foreign Tracking Services animation course 2015 List of donations for Syrians DOHA: Doha Film Institute (DFI) will conduct the first session of the intermediate level Toon Boom Cer- tified Training Course with Qatar By Sanaullah Ataullah for the Middle East and Central Asia. humanitarian aid like foods, med- Animation Centre in English from The Peninsula “RAF executed many projects icines and shelters. May 14 to 26. pertaining to relief, health, edu- Our achievement motivates us Toon Boom software helps art- cational and housing worth about to do more for our Syrian brothers ists worldwide to tell their stories QR400m for Syrian people internally at their tough time. We are com- in any style of animation, and effi- DOHA: Sheikh Thani Bin Abdul- displaced and those sheltering in mitted to keep continue in our ciently publish them from the big lah Foundation for Humanitarian neighbouring countries and Europe efforts to ease their suffering , said screen to mobile, DFI said. Services (RAF) topped the list of For- during past five years” said Al Al Qahtani. Animation industry veteran eign Tracking Services (FTS) 2015 in Qahtani. “RAF has set up a role model Stacey Eberschlag will introduce terms of donation provided by non- RAF received overwhelming for humanitarian organizations participants to the concepts of governmental organisations (NGOs) response from the philanthropists in worldwide in delivering human- Dr Ayed bin Dabssan Al Qahtani, Chairman, Board of Trustees, and Harmony and Storyboard Pro. The to Syrian people battling for survival Qatar for the charity projects offered itarian aid and charity works course is open to Qatari citizens due to unrest in their country. to them for finance, he added. specially in the fields of health, General Director, RAF, holding talks with Rashid Khalikov, UN Assistant who possess general drawing, ani- FTS is an organization for track- RAF has a fruitful partnership education and sheltering,” said Secretary-General for Humanitarian Partnerships for the Middle East mation and storyboarding skills. ing global humanitarian aid flow on with United Nations Office for the Khalikov. and Central Asia, at the RAF headquarters. They should be capable of using the basis of information provided Coordination of Humanitarian a pen tablet. A detailed course by donors and appealing organiza- Affairs (OCHA) for the implemen- breakdown will be shared with tions. The organization is running tation of humanitarian projects those candidates who are selected a website as a platform to post the especially those related to send aid for the course. Copies of the soft- details in a spreadsheet showing the in Syria and Yemen, he added. ware programmes are provided to donations pledged and made by the OCHA set up at UN in response participants. A certification exam states or charity organizations for to complex emergencies and natu- will be held and certification pro- people affected by unrest or natu- ral disasters in all over the world. vided. It is mandatory to complete ral disasters. Before implementing any project all sessions of the course through “The figure given by FTS shows for Syrian people, RAF conducts a the year in order to get the certi- that RAF ranked first among the field survey in collaboration with fication at the end of the course. NGOs provided humanitarian aid OCHA to know actual need at The course is spread over three to Syrian people in 2015,” said ground. sessions of 12 days. The total train- Dr Ayed bin Dabssan Al Qahtani, Then local partners are being ing per session is 49 hours. Each Chairman, Board of Trustees, and involved to disburse the urgent aid session will be held from Satur- General Director, RAF, in a meet- and construct the projects. day through Thursday from 4pm to ing with Rashid Khalikov, United The move aims to reach every 8.30pm. On Saturdays the session Nations Assistant Secretary-Gen- governorate of Syrian where will be held from 10am to 6pm. eral for Humanitarian Partnerships the people are in need of urgent QDF customers to enjoy six-month UnionPay discount at HIA

The Peninsula

DOHA: Customers of Qatar Duty Free (QDF) and UnionPay International will enjoy a 10 per cent discount when they shop at the travel retailer’s outlets within Hamad International Airport (HIA) from now until Octo- ber 15. Passengers holding UnionPay International cards will be entitled to the discount across QDF’s award- winning selection of designer labels, fashion, and gourmet foods, which, set out over 40,000sqm, provide one the world’s best duty free shopping emporiums. A Chinese-language QDF employee leading passengers around HIA. QDF’s hub, HIA, was recently announced as the world’s fifth ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ at the 2016 brands and professional customer “UPI and QDF have a strong rela- Skytrax World Airport Awards. The service is important, and that is why tionship and this new campaign is wide selection of luxury and afforda- we endeavour to offer bespoke pro- building on the success of previous ble brands in Qatar Airways’ in-flight motions and guided shopping tours promotions for customers at HIA. duty free programmes were com- that appeal to their desire for the lat- “We believe that the benefit of mended, together with competitive est trends.” this discount at QDF will offer Union- prices and outstanding customer At QDF, Chinese language- Pay cardholders better travelling service levels. dedicated staff, who converse in experiences in Qatar.” Luis Gasset, Senior Vice-Presi- Mandarin, Cantonese and other Chi- The promotion will benefit pas- dent, QDF, said: “QDF is delighted to nese dialects, are available to lead sengers travelling through Hamad partner with UnionPay International passengers around HIA showcasing International Airport to and from to offer our customers this benefit. their favourite brands and products. many destinations including Beijing, We are always looking for opportu- Wang Han, General Manager, Shanghai and Guangzhou. nities to reward our customers and UnionPay International Middle As China has become the world’s to offer them a memorable shopping East, said: “UnionPay International largest source for global tourism, experience at QDF. not only delivers convenient and safe UnionPay cardholders from China “We know that for our Chinese payment services, but is also devoted are able to enjoy convenient and travellers having access to an exten- to optimising the card-using experi- privileged payment experiences at sive range of competively priced ences of our global customers. the airport. 06 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 HOME

QA to announce Clearance agents to 2015 financial benefit from Al Nadeeb results in June Continued from page 1 for Specifications and Standardi- sation. “We also have an electronic QNA Clearance agents will benefit link with Saudi Customs through from Al Nadeeb and the integration Abu Samra border post exchanging of information because agents will information with them, and soon be able to follow on their goods and will include other government bod- DUBAI: Qatar Airways Group the containers according to specific ies which are related to QAC,” said Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker regulations and disciplines. Al Mohanadi. said yesterday that the airline This integration comes in Director of Doha Port manage- will announce its annual results line with Qatar’s commitment to ment Abdul Aziz Al Yafei said, due to for 2015 in June. Ashghal and HBKU officials at the event. Kyoto Convention on customs data the economic boom in Qatar, import This will be the first time ever exchange, and implementation of and export traffic through Doha port that the company reports its finan- this system is going to be in the form has seen a major growth. Movement cial results. of exchanging files and letters online, of containers increased by 69 per- Al Baker said he expected the and updating customs data related to cent, while the trading on general company to grow its operations by Ashghal and HBKU sign deal import and export, helping to make commodities increased by 380 per- 26 percent and 30 percent in 2016 follow up on containers beginning cent , in addition to the increase in and 2017 respectively. from loading to sea transportation cars, goods and heavy equipment by The growth will be a result of until it comes to the port and finally 106 percent, over the five past years. increasing the fleet by 26 planes support through education to the Dr Hasnah, said that the collabo- to the trucks. The E-link project will be and five new destinations start- The memorandum of national government and to public ration will pave the way for a broader The e-link has already been set expanded to the Hamad Port and Al ing April of next year. institutions of Qatar by helping build and more comprehensive collabora- up with the Ministry of Interior, Min- Ruwais port, in collaboration with On the latest developments of understanding will and develop their human resources. tion. He also noted that the University istry of Public Health, Ministry of GAC and private and public sectors Al Maha Airways, a subsidiary of facilitate training The agreement was signed Eng. will be among the main sources Environment, and General Authority working in this field, he added. Qatar Airways that is set to oper- Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi, President for training and development pro- ate in Saudi Arabia, Al Baker said and development of the Public Works Authority, and Dr grammes needed by Ashghal. that the company is still work- programmes. Ahmad Hasnah, President of HBKU. Looking to the future, we plan to ing on finishing the registration Al Mawlawi said that Ashghal is pursue initiatives together that are requirements. always keen to enhance collabora- founded on the shared goals and He stressed on the impor- tion, cooperation, and partnership purposes expressed in the agree- tance of the Saudi market to Qatar The Peninsula with the education sector through ment according to Dr Hasnah and Airways. implementing initiatives and schol- Al Mawlawi. On the truth of a deal between arship programmers, providing work The MoU signing ceremony Qatar Airways and Italian carrier opportunities for students of local was attended by Saif Ali Al Kaabi, Meridiana, Al Baker said that they DOHA: The Public Works Authority universities, in addition to imple- Manager of the Human Resources are still negotiating a deal under (Ashghal) signed a Memorandum of menting educational projects. Department at Ashghal, and from which the former would takeo- Understanding (MoU) with Hamad “There is a continuous collab- HBKU Eng. Soud Al Tamimi, Vice- ver the latter. He said QA could Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) oration and cooperation between President – Operations, Maryam pull out of the deal if they don’t recently to facilitate training and Ashghal and the education sector Hamad Al Mannai, Vice-President FROM LEFT: Salman Mohammed Kaldari, Executive Director, Qatar reach an agreement. The airline development programmes. in Qatar. This agreement will repre- – Student Affairs, and Rodolphe Digital Government; Mohamed Ahmed Al Mohanadi, Manager, has a number of conditions to go The agreement comes within the sent strategic collaboration and joint Abou-Ghaba, Executive Director – through with the deal, including framework of Ashghal’s strategic plan efforts to put a comprehensive and HBKU Executive Education Center, Operations and Risk Analysis, General Authority of Customs; and decreasing the number of work- to meet its needs for targeted devel- intensive training and development along with a number of manag- Abdul Al Yafei, Director, Doha Port Management, at the press ers and amending the company’s opment and training programmers, plans that meet the needs of the Pub- ers and officials from Ashghal and conference at customs headquarters yesterday. strategy to suit QA. and HBKU’s commitment to provide lic Works Authority,” he added. HBKU. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula

Import and sale of radio equipment require permission from CRA Ooredoo and PSG host football academies

The Peninsula Continued from page 1 selling such equipment without a license, please contact us at our hotline 103 and we Under the Law, the import and sale will conduct an inspection immediately,” of radio and telecommunication equip- said Faisal Al Shuaibi, CRA’s spokesperson. DOHA: Ooredoo and Paris Saint- ment requires an authorization from CRA’s inspection team visited a total of Germain (PSG) are conducting the CRA. Approvals are necessary to ensure 135 sites over a five-day period, targeting third annual ‘PSG Academy brought the equipment meets certain safety and popular locations for sale of communi- to you by Ooredoo’ coaching, reach- technical standards. cation equipment including malls, souqs, ing out to more and more countries. Radio and telecommunication equip- commercial areas, as well as neighbour- Started in 2014, the initiative aims ment includes, but is not limited to, mobile hood grocery stores. at encouraging young people to get phones, wireless local area networks In addition to routine inspections, involved in sport, offering training (WLAN), and short range devices (SRD). citizens can request a CRA inspection if and development opportunities for “CRA’s Spectrum Management Depart- they suspect the unauthorised sale or use aspiring footballers. ment has a dedicated team to conduct of radio and telecommunication equip- Over the past six months, ses- regular inspections of businesses involved ment at any location in Qatar. To request sions have taken place with Ooredoo in telecommunication dealings. We take an inspection, or to apply for an import Kuwait, Ooredoo Qatar, Ooredoo strong actions against those found sell- authorization, type approval and cus- Tunisia, Ooredoo Oman and Oore- ing illegal equipment or selling equipment toms clearance certificate, contact CRA doo Indosat in Indonesia. Another without a valid license issued by CRA. If by e-mail at [email protected], academy will take place in the Mal- you know of a company or individual or by calling CRA’s hotline number: 103. dives shortly. The first leg of the programme was organised in Kuwait in Decem- ber 2015 and Qatar in February 2016, PSG players with participants during one of the events. providing training for hundreds of boys and girls in both countries. The next stage was organised at of French Ligue 1 leader’s expert Thirty coaches took part, learn- Indonesia. During the free the Oman Club in Al Khuwair, Oman, coaches. Over 200 young Tunisian ing training and development skills sessions for selected chil- in March. The clinic provided Omani footballers, selected from training that will enable them to teach young dren and schools from footballers with the chance to hone clubs and schools programmes, par- players. across the country, PSG’s skills and find out what it takes to ticipated in the next phase in Sousse, This month, the programme top coaches taught skills to be a champion under the guidance Tunisia, at the Etoile de Sahel club. arrived in Jakarta and Palembang, over 200 children. Each session closed with the traditional cer- emony that sees every participant receive an official certificate from the academy and has the chance to take photos with their coaches. Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, Group CEO, Oore- doo, said: “Our partnership with PSG continues to pro- mote sportsmanship and healthy living in conjunc- tion with the Ooredoo brand among thousands of young players. “These camps teach discipline and the rules of the game and show young footballers that Ooredoo supports them and hopes to help them achieve their football dreams and aspirations.” The programme offers education and motivation for young football play- ers and helps them in key areas, including match preparation and effective training methods. Young footballers learn key skills such as tactical and defensive playing, stamina training and the rules of football. HOME TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 07 Vodafone wins Best Culture QA holds emergency response drill Transformation Award

The Peninsula part of Vodafone Group Plc., one of the world’s largest telecommunica- Qatar Airways’ senior tions providers. executives lead more “Therefore it is essential that we DOHA: Vodafone Qatar has been bring to the local market nothing than 200 staff in the recognised with the Best Culture short of the best practices espe- exercise to ensure Transformation Award at the 5th cially when it comes to customer Annual Customer Experience Man- experience.” the airline is always agement (CEM) in Telecoms Middle The award comes on the back prepared to handle an East in Dubai. of Vodafone Next Best Action pro- emergency situation The award recognises CEM gramme, which is designed to tie excellence in the telecoms industry commercial goals to the company’s in a timely and based on achievements and innova- customer experience strategy. The effective manner. tion shown by customer experience programme is truly an omnichan- and marketing professionals who nel via which the customer receives are making the biggest difference consistent unmatched experience to the customers that they serve. The regardless of the channel used. The The Peninsula Award is a benchmark against the biggest transformation was seen in programmes and technology that are Vodafone’s the Call Centre which driving tangible CEM improvements handles over 75 percent of inbound Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group, takes part in the exercise. and efficiency savings. service traffic. DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) con- The award was given to the Ahmed Nour, Head, Sales Trans- ducted a planned emergency exercise organisation that has implemented formation, Vodafone, spoke about in April to rehearse its emergency A global emergency scenario was Qatar Airways Group, led the exercise: tailored to comply with local regula- cross-department strategies and predictive journeys to deliver solid management programme and devised by the airline’s Group Safety “QA has built a culture and workforce tions and specific airport emergency initiatives to drive cultural change returns and best in class customer response functions. and Security department including that is committed to safety, with good requirements. towards a customer-centric mindset. experiences. Jonathan Donovan, The annual exercise is part of QA’s pre-defined challenges that were practice at the core of everything we “Regularly and thoroughly exer- Vodafone Qatar was an exemplar. Head of Digital, highlighted the commitment to ensure its staff are injected throughout the exercise. The do across the airline. cising our emergency responses is an Mohamed Al Sadah, Chief Oper- company’s award-winning pro- prepared to handle an emergency use of satellite communications tools, “We have a comprehensive emer- opportunity for QA to perform and ating Officer, Vodafone Qatar, said: gramme, Next Best Action, and how situation in a timely and effective and emergency communications gency management programme in enhance its day-to-day preparatory “We’re proud to be recognised with it applies to the company’s digital manner. platforms together with simulated tel- place and diligently work with our activities, strengthen critical pro- this coveted industry award. We’re care channels. The emergency exercise activated evision news broadcasts and social employees to ensure we consistently fessional skills and to incorporate and deployed a number of the airline’s media reports of the emergency were achieve and maintain our high stand- lessons learned from across the avi- key crisis elements, including the QA created and viewed by staff in the ards, and that the comfort, safety ation industry.” Group Emergency Control Centre, Inte- Group Emergency Control Centre, to and security of passengers and staff Al Baker led the emergency exer- Al Mana Group invites fans to grated Operations Centre, Deployed give the activity an additional aspect remains a priority. At the station cise to ensure the airline is always Response Group, Special Assistance of realism and immediacy. level, each QA destination has a Local prepared to handle an emergency situ- test-drive car at Qatar Racing Club Team and Media Enquiry Centre. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Emergency Response Plan, which is ation in a timely and effective manner.

The Peninsula midnight. Activities include profes- sional track test drives; drag racing; Katara and Arab Media Forum sign cultural exchange deal drifting; and a 4x4 off road thrill-ride experience. DOHA: For the First time in Doha, Prizes will be given to partici- QNA exchange and cultural, scientific, social and media It was signed by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Al Mana Group is inviting car lov- pants and car offers shared with the activities. Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara, and Madi Khamis, ers to Qatar Racing Club to celebrate audience, who will also be treated to The agreement seeks to exchange information Secretary-General of the forum. ‘A Car Test Drive and Extreme Per- entertaining shows, music and food and expertise to facilitate researchers’ tasks and Khamis said the forum is keen to conclude such formance Day’. and beverages. Children will be able DOHA: The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) provide opportunities for representatives from both agreements as they have a positive impact on Arab The audience will be able to to enjoy at a special kid’s zone. The yesterday signed a cultural exchange agreement sides to use their cultural and scientific facilities societies through the exchange of expertise, skills enjoy a day of thrilling family activi- day is for the family to enjoy and get with the Arab Media Forum to enhance rela- and exchange and publish books, periodicals and and promotion of cultural aspects between vari- ties and fun on Friday from 3pm until a chance to test drive cars. tions and cooperation in the areas of knowledge research for both parties on a regular basis ous countries. Ooredoo tv launches three Fox Networks Group channels

The Peninsula can enjoy these channels at no extra as the company continues to invest charge as part of their Ooredoo tv in providing world-class entertain- Essentials package subscription. ment for its customer base. Fox Family Movies HD has been Mozaic TV customers who want DOHA: Ooredoo has announced the designed to feature some of the great- to upgrade to Ooredoo tv can visit launch of three new channels from est and beloved family films that are any Ooredoo retail shop, order and the Fox Networks Group on Ooredoo safe for kids and fun for the family. collect a free Ooredoo tv play device. tv service, offering action, family and Fox Action Movies HD showcases Ooredoo tv offers features such alternative content to Qatar’s viewers. some of the biggest, most popular as 4K resolution, time shift, Android Fox Family Movies HD; Fox Action and most iconic action features from apps, parental control, thousands Movies HD; and FX HD are availa- around the world, and FX HD breaks of hours of on-demand content and ble via Ooredoo tv and Mozaic TV in new ground with high-quality drama much more at no extra cost. Qatar and offer users more interna- series, edgy movies and unconven- Ooredoo tv is available via Oore- tional content. tional series, packaged and presented doo Shops, Starlink, TechnoBlue and With this, Ooredoo has further in a sharp style. Jumbo outlets. The service has no strengthened partnership with the This is the latest in a line of chan- upfront charges, no equipment costs Group and Ooredoo tv customers nel announcements for Ooredoo tv, and no ongoing contracts. Revamped Wellcare Pharmacy opens with blood donation campaign

The Peninsula

DOHA: Wellcare Pharmacies, in partnership with the Blood Donation Unit at Hamad Medical Corpora- tion, conducted a blood donation campaign. Hundreds of Wellcare Pharmacy Group staff donated blood to increase stocks at HMC Blood Bank and awareness about the importance of blood donation. The campaign was held in the vicinity of Wellcare Pharmacy 24 Officials open the Wellcare Pharmacy on the Airport Road. hours on Airport Road from dusk to dawn. Vehicles from Blood Donation Unit and volunteers from the Group practice as envisioned by the Emir international markets were present. helped participants donate blood. and all possible avenues of upgrade The pharmacy has customer and Refreshments were provided for all are being used to meet world-class patient friendly structured consoles; involved. standards set by the Ministry of Pub- and areas for counselling as per the In a statement, Ashraf K P, Man- lic Health. futuristic vision of community aging Director of the Group, said such The pharmacy is one of its kind in pharmacy practice in Qatar. Spe- events would continue and commit- Doha. It was reopened by Dr Bridget cial areas for addressing the needs ment to society would be fortified Javed, Associate Professor, Clinical of the elderly, mother and baby care, with stronger social activities. Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qatar nutraceuticals, cosmetics, surgicals He said all business and social University; Dr Norman Wong, Lead and orthopaedic support, have also activities of the Group would live up Instructor, Pharmacy Department, been provided. to its tagline: ‘The care you can trust’. CNA-Q; and Mohamed Ali, In-charge, A new branch of Wellcare Phar- Mukhtar, Chairman of the Group, Blood Donation Campaign, HMC. macy was also opened in Ansar said the Group is making strides to Leaders from pharmaceuticals and Gallery on Industrial Area Road by meet the high standards of healthcare healthcare industry from Qatar and Fathi, General Manager of the gallery. 08 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 MIDDLE EAST

South Sudan Over 800 Qaeda rebel general fighters killed in returns to Juba AFP

Yemen: Coalition JUBA: South Sudan’s top rebel mil- itary commander Simon Gatwech Dual returned to Juba on Monday the Hadi-led government will serve in a key step forward in a floun- to “aid humanitarian relief efforts in dering peace process, calling for A joint military these cities and alleviate the suffer- an end to war. operation was ing of the Yemeni people”. “We are one South Sudan,” carried out against It further asserted that the states rebel chief of staff Dual shouted, participating in the coalition would waving a walking stick in the air Al Qaeda, with the “continue to pursue terrorist groups in all as he marched off the plane after participation of the cities of Yemen with a view to deny- landing in the capital, followed by ing them safe haven until the region’s over one hundred rebel troops. the Yemeni army security and stability are restored”. The return raises hopes it will and Saudi and One local Yemeni official, who pave the way for the much delayed insisted on anonymity due to restric- return of rebel chief Riek Machar, UAE Special Forces tions on speaking to the media, who is hoped to forge a unity gov- Damage is seen at a site hit by coalition air strikes on the Al Qaeda-held port of Shahr city in Yemen, that recaptured Al said in earlier statements to Ana- ernment to help end over two years dolu Agency that the Yemeni army yesterday. of an intense civil war marked by Mukalla port city. — backed by air cover provided by atrocities. the Saudi-led coalition — had man- Dual was welcomed by top aged on Sunday evening “to secure government army commanders, all districts of Al Mukalla and rout surrounded by heavily armed Anatolia the Al Qaeda fighters who have held UN envoy welcomes security troops from both the government the city for the past year”. and rebels. Tensions were high, According to the same source, but officers from rival sides gave the Yemeni army, supported by local each other the traditional Suda- RIYADH: Leaders of a Saudi-led residents, “has drawn up commit- ‘progress’ in Yemen talks nese embrace, tapping each others’ coalition that supports the govern- tees tasked with protecting public shoulders in a loose hug. ment of Yemeni President Abd Rabuh property and government buildings “We are here to implement Mansur Hadi said yesterday that in anticipation of acts of sabotage by the peace agreement,” Dual said, more than 800 Al Qaeda “elements” Qaeda sleeper cells”. AFP encouraged by these “positive devel- al-Mikhlafi, who heads the gov- referring to a repeatedly broken had been killed in army operations Al Qaeda militants captured Al opments” and proposed to the heads ernment delegation, described the August 2015 deal. He flew back on carried out in southern Yemen. Mukalla in April of last year, lead- of the delegations a “general frame- negotiations as “impotent” and a specially chartered plane from “A joint military operation was ing to the withdrawal of the Yemeni work” for the talks to be discussed accused the rebels of avoiding dis- neighbouring Ethiopia, where the carried out against Al Qaeda on Sun- security forces from the area. KUWAIT CITY: The UN special in the coming days, without giving cussion of key issues. force has been sitting a week wait- day, with the participation of the Since then, Al Qaeda has man- envoy overseeing peace talks in details. Since the delayed talks began Mikhlafi said on Facebook that ing to travel amid furious arguments Yemeni army and elements of the aged the city’s affairs and has Kuwait between Yemen’s warring on Thursday, the two delegations the rebel delegation had backed between the government and rebel Saudi and UAE Special Forces,” the remained in control of its strategic parties yesterday welcomed “tangi- have been unable to reach a com- down several times on proposals leaders over the number of troops coalition said in a statement carried installations, including its seaport, ble progress” to end hostilities in the mon understanding on how to firm they had made. and the weapons they could carry. by the official Saudi Press Agency. presidential palace, military bar- war-torn country. up a ceasefire that went into effect The rebels have insisted that no Machar is due to forge a unity Sunday’s operation, the state- racks and security headquarters. “Reports indicate real improve- on April 11. ceasefire can be established without government with his arch-rival, ment added, came within the context The group has also been man- ment in the situation which reflects The delegations have agreed to an end to coalition air strikes. President Salva Kiir, returning to of “joint international efforts aimed aging the city’s civil institutions, the parties’ commitment to the cessa- appoint two officials, one from each The coalition has said it reserves the post of vice-president he was at defeating terrorist groups in including those responsible for pub- tion of hostilities,” Ismail Ould Cheikh side, to make recommendations on the right to respond to rebel viola- sacked from months before the Yemen and helping Yemen’s legit- lic health, education and electricity Ahmed said in a statement at the end how to sustain the ceasefire, the UN tions of the ceasefire, with air strikes violence began. Both sides remain imate government reestablish distribution. of the fifth day of negotiations. envoy said. The government delega- if necessary. Both sides also disagree deeply suspicious, and fighting control over cities that have fallen Hadhramaut represents Yem- His remarks come a day after he tion has insisted that the truce should on other key issues. continues with multiple militia to Al Qaeda”. The statement went en’s largest province, accounting spoke of “significant differences” include confidence-building meas- The government wants the dis- forces unleashed who now pay on to note that the “most important” for roughly one-third of the coun- between the Iran-backed Yemeni ures such as opening safe passage to cussions to start with the issue of a no heed to either Kiir or Machar. city to have fallen under the mili- try’s total territory. It is divided rebels and the government delegation besieged areas and releasing prisoners. Huthi withdrawal from areas they Dual was welcomed by the tant group’s influence was that of Al administratively and militarily who began negotiating on Thursday. The Iran-backed Huthis are have overrun, including the capi- commander of the presidential Mukalla (capital of Yemen’s coastal into two regions: the Hadhramaut Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that a demanding an immediate halt to air tal Sanaa, and their surrender of all guards, General Marial Chanuong. Hadhramaut province), which for the coast, which has been controlled by ceasefire coordination committee strikes and sorties that a Saudi-led heavy weaponry. Both men have been sanc- last year has been considered an “Al Al Qaeda for the past year, and the and local committees were “exert- coalition has carried out since March But the rebels want the political tioned by both the UN and United Qaeda stronghold”. province’s valley and desert regions, ing extraordinary efforts to ensure last year in support of President Abe- process and the establishment of a States for their role in the more According to the coalition, the which have remained under the con- the safety and security of Yemenis”. drabbo Mansour Hadi. national unity government to come than two-year war in which tens wide-ranging campaign to support trol of the Yemeni army. The UN envoy said he was Foreign Minister Abdulmalek first, sources close to the talks said. of thousands have been killed.

Saudi society will decide if women Artillery fire hits Iraq can drive: Prince town despite truce

AFP AFP the commander of the Badr militia, announced at a press conference on Sunday afternoon that a ceasefire deal had been reached. RIYADH: Saudi society, not the KIRKUK, IRAQ: Artillery fire killed But a witness in the town said government, will determine a civilian yesterday despite a cease- gunfire and periodic explosions whether women will be allowed fire in a flashpoint northern Iraqi could still be heard. to drive cars, Deputy Crown Prince town that has been hit by deadly Prime Minister Haider Al Mohammed bin Salman said yes- fighting between Kurdish and Turk- Abadi ordered the Joint Operations terday. men forces, officials said. Command to take “all necessary He was speaking to reporters Fighting broke out at the week- measures” to end the clashes, a state- after the unveiling of a vast plan, end in Tuz Khurmatu between the ment from his office said. known as Saudi Vision 2030, to autonomous Kurdish region’s pesh- And he urged the leaders of the transform the oil-dependent merga forces and Turkmen members forces involved to “focus efforts economy. of the Hashed al-Shaabi militia against the common terrorist enemy Mohammed was asked umbrella organisation for the sec- represented by the Daesh gangs”, whether one of the plan’s goals, to ond time in six months. the statement said, using an Arabic increase women’s participation in “Clashes were renewed spo- acronym for the Islamic State jihad- the workforce from 22 percent to radically in Tuz, but it was not like ist group. 30 percent, could lead to their right yesterday,” said Mohammed Koja, Both the peshmerga and the to drive. the deputy governor of Salaheddin Turkmen fighters are battling IS, “So far the society is not per- province where the town is located. which overran large areas north and Firefighters try to extinguish a fire after a suicide bomber blew himself up near a market place at Al suaded — and it has negative Koja said that mortar rounds and west of Baghdad in 2014. influence — but we stress that rocket fire had killed one person and But Kurdish forces and the Jadeed district of Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday. At least 7 people were killed and 31 injured during the attack. it is up to the Saudi society,” he wounded four. Hashed al-Shaabi are vying for influ- said, adding that change cannot A police colonel confirmed the ence in some areas, a contest that be forced. toll but it was unclear which side has led to violence in Tuz Khurmatu. bombing attack in Iraq’s capital the suicide bomber detonated himself about it. Baghdad has been the Saudi Arabia has one of the killed the civilian. The latest fighting came after Baghdad left seven people dead and near a movie theater in Iraq’s Shia- scene of numerous suicide bomb world’s toughest restrictions on The initial clashes between Turk- unrest in Tuz Khurmatu last Novem- 31 injured yesterday. populated Baghdad al Jadidah region. and terror attacks due to a lack of women and is the only country men and Kurdish forces began at ber that began as a dispute at a According to security sources No group has claimed respon- security. Iraqi officials claim the where they cannot get behind the around midnight Saturday and con- checkpoint escalated into clashes speaking anonymously since they are sibility for the attack, as the terror attacks were carried out by wheel. tinued into Sunday. Hadi Al Ameri, inside the town. Meanwhile, a suicide not authorized to talk with the media, government is yet to issue a statement the Daesh terror group. Iran threatens US with legal action over frozen funds ruling

AFP attacks. On Thursday, Tehran said will lodge a complaint with the ICJ for survivors and relatives of those killed cited Zarif as saying in English and void and in gross violation of the the US Supreme Court’s decision reparation,” Foreign Minister Moham- in attacks blamed on the Islamic that if such a ruling were applied, International Law,” he said. to deduct $2bn from its frozen mad Javad Zarif said. republic. it would be “misappropriation” of The US court’s decision comes assets to compensate Ameri- He was speaking at a joint news These included the 1983 bomb- Iranian funds. at a time of hopes for better ties TEHRAN: Iran threatened Monday to can victims of “terror” attacks conference with visiting Macedonian ing of a US Marine barracks in Beirut “We have announced since the between longtime foes Tehran and take legal action in the International amounted to theft. counterpart Nicolas Poposki. and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing beginning that Iranian government Washington, following a nuclear Court of Justice against the United “We hold the US administration The US Supreme Court ruled in Saudi Arabia. The decision affects does not recognise the US extra-ter- agreement last year between Iran, States if $2bn in frozen funds are responsible for preservation of Iranian on Wednesday that Iran must hand more than 1,000 Americans. ritorial law and consider the US court the United States and five other “diverted” to compensate victims of funds and if they are plundered, we over nearly $2bn in frozen assets to The official Irna news agency ruling to blockade Iranian funds null major powers. MIDDLE EAST TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 09 Police suppress anti-Sisi protests in Egypt

deployed across the Egyptian capital below and pelted them with water. ahead of the planned demonstra- Later, plainclothes policemen were Egyptian security tions over the islands, a thorny issue seen kicking and slapping protesters forces fired tear which has already sparked the largest they arrested. “Giving up our land is the gas and arrested protests since Al Sisi assumed power final straw,” said one protester, 16-year- nearly two years ago. old Youssef Al Agouza. scores of people to Following the arrest of dozens “He (Al Sisi) has crossed all lines.” disperse protests of activists and journalists in recent The military said in a video released days, riot police backed by armoured late on Sunday that troops were against President vehicles yesterday took up positions deployed to protect “vital and impor- Abdel Fattah Al Sisi in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicenter tant installations” and deal with of Egypt’s 2011 uprising, They also anyone who tries to “harm the peo- over his government’s deployed on the ring road, downtown ple’s interests or attempt to ruin their decision to surrender and at a square where hundreds of happiness” on Sinai Liberation Day, a Islamist protesters were killed when national holiday marking the comple- control over two security forces broke up their sit-in tion of Israel’s withdrawal from the strategic Red Sea in August 2013. peninsula in 1982. islands to Saudi Many of the protest organisers’ Egyptian warplanes roared over gathering points were sealed off by Cairo to mark yesterday’s anniversary, Arabia. police, including the doctors’ and but the military kept a low profile on journalists’ unions in central Cairo. the ground except for areas near mili- Pedestrians near the Press Syndicate tary headquarters and the presidential were stopped by police, who asked palace. AP for IDs and about their destination The Interior Ministry said police before turning many of them away. were out in force to protect “peaceful” Minivans loaded with plainclothes citizens who wish to celebrate. Several policemen were also deployed in the dozen people waving Egyptian flags CAIRO: Police fired tear gas and bird- likely flashpoints. celebrated with music and dancing shot yesterday to disperse hundreds The sheer number of police- in the upscale district of Mohandis- Egyptian protesters demonstrate in Cairo yesterday against the handing over of two Red Sea islands to of demonstrators calling on President men on the streets and fear of arrest een. Several hundred Sisi supporters Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to step down over prevented protesters from gathering, Saudi Arabia. also gathered outside the seldom-used his government’s decision to surren- forcing them to trickle out from des- Abdeen presidential palace to cele- der control over two strategic Red Sea ignated gathering points to assemble However, a group of some 500 echoed across the square, along with fled and later regrouped in smaller brate the liberation of Sinai. islands to Saudi Arabia. elsewhere. Fearing another round of protesters led by prominent activists “bread, freedom, the islands are Egyp- groups at nearby streets. Sisi on Sunday urged citizens to The violence in Mesaha square in unrest after years of turmoil, many city managed to gather at the mostly res- tian.” Police in full riot gear arrived 10 From their apartments’ balco- defend the state and its institutions Cairo’s Dokki district took place as residents and shopkeepers were hostile idential Mesaha square. Their chants minutes later and immediately fired nies, the square’s pro-Sisi residents from the “forces of evil,” an appar- thousands of police and soldiers were toward the protesters yesterday. of “leave, leave” directed at Al Sisi, tear gas and birdshot. The protesters shouted “traitors” at the protesters ent reference to the planned protests.

Israel charges 7 over ‘price tag’ Syrian oppn welcomes Obama’s move to send troops attacks on Reuters & AP deploy 250 more troops to fight the a relative quiet in a Damascus suburb 27 cease-fire, engineered by the US already been removed. Al Manar TV, Palestinians Daesh in Syria is a good step. We must that is home to one of the holiest Shi- and Russia, took hold. The cease-fire run by Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant rid our country of this scourge. But ite shrines here. doesn’t include the Islamic State group group, said eight people were killed Syria will not be free of terrorism until At least 20 people were killed and its rival Al Qaeda branch in Syria, in the blast. The Shia militants have AFP GENEVA: The main Syrian opposi- we see the end of the Assad regime’s in the shelling on Aleppo, pro-gov- the Nusra Front. a heavy presence in the suburb. The tion welcomed US President Barack reign of terror. We need help in free- ernment media and activist-run The Islamic State group claimed Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Obama’s announcement yesterday ing our country from Assad as well as monitoring groups said; while eight responsibility for the suicide bombing. an activist-run monitoring group, that his administation will deploy from the Daesh.” died when a suicide bomber deto- The Aamaq news agency, linked to the gave the same toll. Syrian state TV JERUSALEM: Israeli prosecutors 250 more troops in Syria to help local Meanwhile, violence in Syria con- nated his explosive-packed vehicle at extremist group, said fighters deto- said seven people were killed and yesterday charged seven young militia fight Islamic State (IS) mili- tinued for the fourth straight day to a military checkpoint in the Damas- nated an explosives-packed vehicle 20 wounded. Jews in connection with a wave tants. Salem Al Meslet, spokesman chip away at what remains from a cus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab. at a gathering of government troops Allies of the embattled Damas- of so-called “price tag” attacks of the High Negotiations Committee, cease-fire that has effectively col- In the past week, nearly 150 peo- in the suburb of Sayyida Zeinab. cus government have mobilised Shia targeting Palestinians and Arab one of only a few HNC representatives lapsed, leaving at least 28 people ple have been killed in northern Syria The Syrian pro-government Al- fighters from Iran, Iraq and Leba- Israelis and their property, the jus- still in Geneva for informal talks with dead Monday in reciprocal shell- and near Damascus, marking a major Ikhbariya TV station showed footage non to fight on the side of President tice ministry said. the UN Special Envoy on Syria, said in ings between government forces escalation that has seen a fragile truce of a slight depression on a road near a Bashar Assad’s forces on the grounds The seven, including a soldier a statement referring to IS or Daesh: and opposition in the country’s larg- take a downward spiral to levels of checkpoint where the bomb was said of defending the shrine and preserv- and two minors, allegedly carried “President Obama’s decision to est city while a bomb blast disrupted violence unseen since the February to have gone off. The wreckage had ing the country’s religious plurality. out a series of attacks between 2009 and 2013 and in the second half of 2015. They included torching an inhabited Palestinian home and Israel holding Palestinian beating a Palestinian man with sticks, a ministry statement said. Four of the suspects live in scribes as terror suspects the ultra-Orthodox settlement of Nahliel northwest of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, another is from the Maaleh Efraim settle- AFP was imperative to quickly visit Omar ment and the other two are from Nazzal,” Musa Al Sher, general sec- Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. retariat member, said. “The actions targeted inno- The ICRC is the only interna- cent people and their property, JERUSALEM: Israel’s Shin Bet secu- tional organisation allowed to visit solely because of their religious rity service yesterday accused a Palestinians held by the Israeli or national identity,” the ministry Palestinian journalist arrested at authorities. statement read. “The perpetra- the weekend of belonging to a “ter- Nazzal’s wife said she did not tors strove to sow fear and panic ror group” after colleagues called know where he is being held. among the Palestinian residents of for international support for his “I have no idea of his fate since (the West Bank), while at the same release. he told me by phone Saturday he was time to convey messages to the Omar Nazzal, a member of the arrested by Israel,” she said. Israeli public and security forces.” general secretariat of the Palestin- The Palestine Today offices in The seven were being charged ian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), was Ramallah were raided in March by with membership of an illegal detained by Israeli officials on Sat- soldiers after Israel accused it of association, being in possession urday at the border between the incitement. of and carrying arms and ammu- occupied West Bank and Jordan. The Palestinian information nition, damaging and attempting He was seeking to travel to a ministry on Sunday again accused Mohammad Al Amari (third left), state minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), attends a to damage property, racially moti- meeting of the European Federa- Israel of targeting Palestinian jour- vated vandalism, arson and other handover signing gathering at the Libyan Foreign Ministry in Tripoli, yesterday. tion of Journalists in Bosnia. nalists, sating that several local felonies. Police announced their The Shin Bet service said in radio stations had also been raided arrest last week, describing the cell response to a query that he had in recent months. as “extremist and violent”. been recently appointed a director In March, the International The two minors allegedly of Palestine Today, a TV channel it Federation of Journalists said threw petrol bombs at a Pales- New Libyan government declared illegal in February, and it was “very concerned” by a tinian home in Mazraa Al Qibliya was active in the Popular Front for wave of arrests of Palestinian village last November as family the Liberation of Palestine — a left- journalists. members slept, and in Decem- ist political party Israel accuses of Meanwhile, groups of Israeli set- ber threw a tear gas grenade at takes over foreign ministry terrorism. tlers broke into the courtyards of Al another Palestinian home over- “Omar has for years been Aqsa Mosque from Mugrabi Gate, night in the village of Beitillou. known to be a Popular Front activ- tightly guarded by Israeli police. In both cases anti-Arab slo- ist: he was arrested now because of In Hebron, Israeli occupation gans were scrawled on the walls AFP government has also taken con- deal in December, met for the first his involvement in current Popular forces on Monday raided several of the houses. trol of the transport, social affairs, time on Friday. Front activities,” Shin Bet said in a houses and arrested a Palestinian Their actions were allegedly in environment, and youth and sports The GNA has still not been written reply. civilian. revenge for attacks against Jews ministries. endorsed by a vote of confidence It said he was not detained According to security sources in and were described as “price tag” TRIPOLI: Libya’s new unity govern- The international community from the internationally recognised because of his journalism but over Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, attacks by the justice ministry, a ment yesterday took control of the sees the GNA as the best hope for parliament now sitting in Tobruk in “his involvement in terror group the Israeli occupation forces, rein- euphemism for Jewish nation- foreign affairs ministry headquar- oil-rich Libya, which has been roiled the country’s far east. activities”. forced with military vehicles, alist-motivated hate crimes that ters in Tripoli as it seeks to assert its by turmoil since the 2011 ouster and However, on Thursday 102 MPs The PJS called on Sunday for the stormed Tahta village and raided generally target Palestinian or authority over the violence-plagued killing of longtime ruler Muammar of the Tobruk parliament — a major- International Committee of the Red the house of Ahmed Mustafa Awad, Arab Israeli property. country. Gaddafi. ity — expressed confidence in the Cross (ICRC) to intervene in Nazzal’s the father of the martyr Ibrahim, Yesterday’s indictments were Mohammad Al Amari, a min- “The ministries of religious new government despite the lack of case. searched it and seized some con- a stark reminder of the July 2015 ister of state in the Government of endowment, planning, education a formal vote. Libya’s warring rivals Union officials met an ICRC rep- tents and money. arson attack in the West Bank vil- National Accord, signed the docu- and labour will be transferred (to the have come under intense interna- resentative on Sunday in Ramallah The forces then withdrew into lage of Duma where an 18-month ments passing control of the complex GNA) this week,” Amari said. tional pressure to rally behind the in the occupied West Bank, as jour- Kami Tzur settlement south of Beit old baby was killed when his in the north of the capital to the new Libya’s State Council, the most unity government at a time when the nalists held a sit-in protest over the Ommar and raided Dhaheria vil- family home was firebombed by government, a journalist said. senior consultative body created country is grappling with a growing arrest. lage, and searched several houses Jewish extremists. Since last Monday, the unity under a UN-brokered power-sharing jihadist threat. “We explained to the ICRC that it there. 10 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected] German Chancellor Angela Merkel with US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and French President Francois Hollande before their meeting in Schloss Herrenhausen in Hanover, Germany, yesterday.

EDITORIAL Scuttling peace process Israel’s silent war against ussia is going one step ahead in its intervention in Syria. Moscow and Damascus yesterday signed an agreement worth €850m to restore infrastructure in the war-torn country. The journalists in Palestine agreement is an expression of confidence about Rthe future of President Bashar Al Assad, who received ample military, financial and logical support from Vladimir Putin Palestinian children under the whose sole raison d’être is to serve which changed the course of the war. Assad’s forces, who age of 18 are being held in Israeli the occupation. jails, making up 42 per cent of the There are at least Immediately after the disap- were losing heavily to the opposition and the Islamic State, total number of detainees. The suc- 20 journalists, pearance of their colleague Omar were able to recapture some of the lost territories after the cess of the international Boycott, Nazzal, the Syndicate of Palestinian Russian intervention and were able to give a tough and spirited Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) including one Journalists wrote to the Interna- fight. Syrian troops have been largely able to hold on to their movement — of which Israel is so woman, and media tional Red Cross to intervene and gains despite temporary setbacks. These gains on the ground frightened — has been due largely students who determine his whereabouts; the emboldened the Syrian government to make unreasonable to the collaboration of citizen jour- union also asked the IRC to secure nalists and media networks in are being held in his release. This case will be a lit- demands at the UN-sponsored peace negotiations. Any the occupied territories. Therein Israeli jails in the mus test of the competence of the discussion on the fate of Assad or his removal from power was probably lies the reason for Isra- organisation. It can treat Israel as treated as a redline – quite a ridiculous By Dr Daud Abdullah el’s anti-media campaign. legal limbo known an exception or it can adopt a strong and unfortunate demand considering Since the start of the Quds Inti- as administrative posture against what is clearly a that the Syrian revolution was started fada in October last year, Israeli detention. pattern of unacceptable behaviour Time is to remove Assad and install democracy forces have arrested dozens of jour- that falls well below acceptable in the country. nalists. While some have been kept international standards. running out in detention others have been put Of course, the Red Cross is not for the Syrian “The Russian side were receptive mar Nazzal was on his under house arrest. There are at the only body which must do, and to the idea of restoring infrastructure, way to attend the Gen- least 20 journalists, including one be seen to do, what is right. The opposition accordingly a number of deals were eral Meeting of the woman, and media students who European Federation of Journalists, in their fight signed,” Syrian Prime Minister Wael Al European Federation are being held in Israeli jails in the proof that Israel’s much vaunted which will be convening the confer- Oof Journalists in Bosnia when he legal limbo known as administra- claim that it is the only democracy ence which Nazzal was supposed against Assad. Halaki was quoted as saying by Russia’s RIA news agency. The aid could just be was detained by Israeli soldiers tive detention; they have not been in the Middle East is pure fantasy. to attend, should also send a clear on Saturday as he tried to cross charged with any crime or gone The RSF 2016 index ranked Tuni- message to the Israeli government. a beginning. More than the amount, it’s from the occupied West Bank into through any trial and yet their sia and Lebanon, at 96th and 98th Furthermore, journalists and the symbolism of the deal that matters Jordan. He is the latest victim of a imprisonment can be extended respectively, ahead of Israel. media institutions in the Middle as it sends out a strong message to the international community growing list of Palestinian journal- indefinitely. Israel’s systematic assault on East and around the world cam- that the Syrian government is now thinking of rebuilding the ists who have been arrested and Apart from the threat of deten- journalists and media institutions paigned successfully a couple of country, in a certain readiness to put the war behind it. It’s also a detained arbitrarily by the occupa- tion, journalists in Palestine today in Palestine is evidently part of a years ago for the release of Al- powerful message to the opposition and their backers – that the tion forces. It confirms more than must also undergo frequent broader campaign to disman- Jazeera’s Peter Greste, Mohamed time is running out, and unless the opposition garners strength, anything else the lengths to which searches of their offices. The con- tle the structures of Palestinian Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed Israel is prepared to go in order fiscation of computers, cameras society. The Palestinian Author- in Egypt. They must now take up their defeat wouldn’t be far away. to silence Palestinian voices and and other equipment by Israel is ity has always maintained that it the cause of their colleagues in At the same time, the fate of the UN-sponsored talks remains destroy media freedoms. now routine, as is the summary is building a state from the debris Palestine who are hounded by a uncertain. They are more likely to fail as both sides are unwilling At the time of writing, the closure of media institutions under of occupation. This now seems to military occupation that is hell-bent to climb down from their positions and a compromise formula whereabouts of Nazzal remains the pretext of “spreading incite- be even more illusory than ever on eradicating the last vestiges of is nowhere in sight. A Syrian government delegation said it has unknown, although some reports ment”. These include Felesteen Al before. One by one, civic institu- free speech and media freedoms proposed amendments to the peace proposal made by the UN claim that he was taken to the Etz- Yawm TV station in Ramallah, as tions have come under attack. If it’s in Palestine. Israel’s silent war on ion interrogation centre. What we well as two other local stations in not the charitable and volunteer journalists in Palestine must be Special Envoy and would hold talks with him again today. Those know for certain is that he is being Hebron and Jenin. sector it is education and culture. exposed for the whole world to see. amendments are unlikely to lead to any major concessions from held by the Israelis, which was con- If ever such evidence was Now it is the turn of the media. The the government side. firmed by his wife after she received needed, the widespread harass- only institutions that have survived In another development, President Barack Obama said the a phone call from him to this effect. ment of journalists in the occupied and will continue to do so are the The writer is the Director of Mid- US would send up to 250 more special forces and other military Nazzal is a member of the gen- Palestinian territories is damning security and intelligence agencies dle East Monitor (Memo). personnel to Syria to help rebels fight Islamic State jihadists. eral secretariat of the Syndicate of When an entire country is a battlefield, 250 troops are unlikely Palestinian Journalists. His arrest and the arrest of too many others to make a major impact. What the Syrian opposition and its before him must now be a source of Arab allies expect from Obama is a more coherent, calculated great concern for Reporters With- and powerful strategy which can lead to the overthrow of Assad. out Borders (RSF), which only last But Obama has stubbornly resisted any bigger involvement. week released its 2016 index on press freedom and ranked Israel 101 (out of 180 countries) for the second year running. This raises some questions, for if all countries are judged by the same criteria then Israel should Quote of the day have been ranked closer to Egypt and Syria at the bottom of the Through the Nato mission table; the Israeli assault on press in the Aegean Sea, the US freedom in Palestine is consistent with a wider malaise affecting the has shown its willingness entire region. Almost everywhere, to take part in combating according to RSF, work conditions illegal immigration here. for journalists and media institu- tions are becoming increasingly dangerous. In Palestine this has become strikingly so where the Israeli occupation authorities are Angela Merkel determined to isolate the Palestin- German Chancellor ian media from the outside world. Surely journalists in Palestine A file photo shows Palestinian journalist fleeing from tear gas shot by Israeli soldiers at the border should be free to report that 1,631 with Gaza.

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 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 11 Why is America so bad at promoting democracy in other countries?

By Stephen M Walt The Washington Post

f you’re a dedicated Wilsonian, the past quarter-century must have been pretty discouraging. Convinced liberal democracy was the only viable polit- Iical formula for a globalizing world, the last three US administrations embraced Wilsonian ideals and made democracy promotion a key element of US foreign pol- icy. For Bill Clinton, it was the “National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement.” For George W Bush, it was the “Freedom Agenda” set forth in his sec- ond inaugural address and echoed by top officials like Condoleezza Rice. Barack Obama has been a less fervent Wilsonian than his predecessors, but he appointed plenty of ardent liberal internationalists to his administration, declaring, “There is no right more fundamental than the ability to choose your leaders.” And he has openly backed democratic transitions in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and several other countries. Unfortunately, a soon-to-be-published collection edited by Larry Diamond and Mark Plattner suggests that these (and other) efforts at democracy promotion have not fared well. Success stories like the recent end to military rule in Myan- mar are balanced by the more numerous US soldiers patrolling in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. and visible failures in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq, the obvious backsliding in Turkey, Hungary, Russia, Poland, and elsewhere, to kill vast numbers of their own citizens a highly contentious - even violent - proc- transition and especially when the country and the democratic dysfunctions in the through famines or ill-planned acts of social ess. To believe the US military could export in question has little or no prior experience In short, the United European Union and in the United States engineering, mostly because corrective democracy quickly and cheaply required with it and contains deep social divisions. States will do a better itself. As Diamond points out in his own information is more readily accessible and a degree of hubris that is still breathtak- So if promoting democracy is desir- contribution to the book, nearly a quarter officials can be held accountable. Democ- ing to recall. able, but force is not the right tool, what job of promoting of the world’s democracies have eroded or racies are as likely to start and fight wars Second, using force to spread democ- is? Let me suggest two broad approaches. democracy in other relapsed in the past 30 years. as any other type of state, but there’s some racy almost always triggers violent The first is diplomacy. When there is a You might think a realist like me (highly contested) evidence that they tend resistance. Nationalism and other forms genuine, significant, and committed indig- countries if it first does wouldn’t give a damn about a state’s regime- not to fight each other. On balance, there- of local identity remain powerful features enous movement in favour of democracy a better job of living type or domestic institutions and care even fore, I think it would be better for most of today’s world, and most people dislike - as was the case in Eastern Europe dur- up to its ideals here at less about the goal of promoting democracy. human beings if the number of democ- following orders from well-armed foreign ing the “velvet revolutions” or in Myanmar But you’d be wrong. Realists recognize that racies in the world increased. occupiers. Moreover, groups that have lost today - powerful outsiders can use subtler home. regime-type and internal arrangements The question is, however: How should power, wealth, or status in the course of forms of influence to encourage gradual matter (indeed, Kenneth Waltz wrote a we try to bring that goal about? a democratic transition (such as Sunnis transitions. The United States has done whole book comparing different demo- At the risk of stating the obvious, we do in post-Saddam Iraq) will inevitably be this successfully on a number of occasions cratic orders); they just believe relative know what doesn’t work, and we have a tempted to take up arms in opposition, (e.g., South Korea, the Philippines, etc.) by power and the need for security are usually pretty good idea why. What doesn’t work is and neighbouring states whose interests being both persistent and patient and using more important and that systemic pres- military intervention (aka “foreign-imposed are adversely affected by a transition may nonmilitary tools such as economic sanc- other societies find America’s professed sures often lead dissimilar regimes to act regime change”). The idea that the United try to stop or reverse it. Such developments tions. In these cases, the pro-democracy ideals less appealing than they once were. in strikingly similar ways. States could march in, depose the despot- are the last thing a struggling democracy movement had been building for many Add in Guantánamo, targeted killings, Abu Even so, there are good reasons for in-chief and his henchmen, write a new needs, of course, because violence tends years and enjoyed broad social support Ghraib, overzealous NSA surveillance, and realists (and others) to favour democracy constitution, hold a few elections, and pro- to empower leaders who are good at it, by the time it gained power. Relying on the reluctance to hold powerful people while remaining mindful of the dangers duce a stable democracy - presto! - was instead of those who are skilled at build- diplomacy may not be as exciting as the accountable for their misdeeds, and you associated with democratic transitions. always delusional, but an awful lot of smart ing effective institutions, striking deals “shock and awe” of a military invasion, end up with a pretty tarnished brand. Stable democracies have better long-term people bought this idea despite the abun- across factional lines, promoting tolerance, but it’s a lot less expensive and a lot more In short, the United States will do a bet- economic growth records (on average) and dant evidence against it. and building more robust and productive likely to succeed. ter job of promoting democracy in other do much better in terms of protecting basic Using military force to spread democ- economies. The second thing we could do is set a countries if it first does a better job of living human rights. While not immune to var- racy fails for several obvious reasons. First, To make matters worse, foreign occu- better example. America’s democratic ide- up to its ideals here at home. The necessary ious follies, democracies are less likely successful liberal orders depend on a lot piers rarely know enough to pick the right als are more likely to be emulated by others reforms are not going to be easy - and I more than a written constitution or elec- local people to put in charge, and even gen- if the United States is widely regarded as have no magic formula for achieving them tions: They usually require an effective legal erous and well-intentioned efforts to aid a just, prosperous, vibrant, and tolerant - but reforming the United States should system, a broad commitment to pluralism, the new government tend to fuel corruption society, instead of one where inequality be just a tad easier than trying to create a a decent level of income and education, and distort local politics in unpredictable is rampant, leading politicians are loud- robust democracy in Afghanistan, Yemen, and widespread confidence that political ways. Creating democracy in a foreign coun- mouthed xenophobes, the prison population or any of the other places where we’ve been There’s no quick, cheap, or military- groups which lose out in a particular elec- try is a vast social engineering project, and is the world’s largest, and airports and other flailing for a decade or more. based way to bring peace to places tion have a decent chance of doing better expecting outside powers to do it effectively public infrastructure are visibly decaying, Building a better America would also in the future and thus an incentive to keep is like asking someone to build a nuclear yet no one seems able to do much about permit more Americans to lead prosper- like Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iraq. It’s working within the system. Because a lot power plant, without any blueprints, on it. When millions of qualified citizens are ous, proud, secure, and bountiful lives. time we changed our approach, and of social elements need to line up properly an active earthquake zone. In either case, excluded from voting, or when a handful of Maybe I’m dreaming, but might doing more we can start at home. for this arrangement to work and endure, expect a rapid meltdown. The bottom line billionaires and other moneyed interests to improve the lives of Americans here creating reasonably effective democracies is that there is no quick, cheap, or reliable exert a disproportionate and toxic effect at home also be the best way to enhance took centuries in the West, and it was often way for outsiders to engineer a democratic on US politics, it is hardly surprising that democracy’s prospects abroad? Europe intolerant towards Muslim politicians

By Murat Unlu resisting the pressure. Anadolu Agency he had been “slan- of extremism, [the media] has tried to “A PKK supporters’ group in the Anatolia Muslim politicians in Sweden and dered” over alleged links to Daesh. show me as a racist, radical Islam- Swedish media, composed of anti-Turk- Germany are being put under pressure Mehmet Kaplan quit after media ist,” he said. ish and anti-Muslim journalists, are due to their relationships with non- attacks. Kaplan, who is of Turkish- Fellow Green Party member, Yasri conducting an unbelievable campaign Many see Smear campaigns targeting Mus- governmental organizations while in origin, said his work involved attending Shamsudin Khan, is another Muslim to to eliminate young and promising Turk- lim politicians across Europe, Netherlands and Belgium some face events organized by non-governmental quit politics after he was condemned ish and Muslim-origin politicians,” he Islamophobic Swhich have seen many forced attack for their refusal to accept Arme- organizations (NGO). “I can’t question for not shaking a female journalist’s claimed. campaign targeting to quit, highlight an attitude of intol- nian claims of genocide. who comes and who does not come hand. Khan said he did not shake her In Germany, Nebahat Guclu, a erance toward Muslims. In the UK, the Conservative Par- to these gatherings,” he said, adding hand because of his beliefs but instead member of the Hamburg state par- European Muslim With the rise of racism on the con- ty’s candidate for London mayor, Zac that all the organizations were legal placed his hand on his chest in greeting. liament, said party leaders in the leaders as sign of tinent, Muslim politicians are being Goldsmith, has accusing his opponent in Sweden. Yasin Ipek, a member of Sigtuna country accepted politicians from attacked in countries such as Belgium Sadiq Khan of links to extremists. “Despite me and my party having city council, was forced to resign after immigrant communities as a way of increasing hostility. and the Netherlands, forcing many to The Swedish housing minister, always fought against racism, Islam- attending in an iftar dinner organized securing votes but excluded them from give up politics, although some are who was forced to quit last week, told ophobia, anti-Semitism and any kind by an NGO. decision-making.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Severed head Beating the heat Jakarta to set up of foreigner ‘crisis centre’ after abductions

JAKARTA: Indonesia will set up a crisis centre, found in Jolo headed by President Joko Widodo, to handle secu- rity situations involving its Abu Sayyaf militants, who have citizens overseas, a senior been implicated in past kidnappings, minister said yesterday, Two men on a beheadings and bombings. “This is following recent abduc- motorcycle left the such a barbaric act by these people tions of Indonesian sailors and one would be tempted to think in Philippine waters. head, which was that they should also meet the same The centre will include placed in a plastic fate,” Amin said by telephone. senior ministers and mil- Philippine forces were mov- itary and police chiefs bag, along a street ing to rescue the abductees, also and will be designed to in Jolo town in Sulu including a Filipino woman who respond quickly to situ- was kidnapped with them, as the A tourist swimming in the sea in Nagsasa cove, Zambales province, northern Manila, Philippines, ations that could have a province and then Abu Sayyaf’s deadline for the ransom yesterday. The Philippine temperature will continue to rise in the coming weeks that may cause heat- “strategic impact”, chief fled: Official payment lapsed, the military said. related illness such as exhaustion, cramps and stroke, a report said. security minister Luhut The militants reportedly Pandjaitan told reporters. demanded $6.5m for each of the “We hope this will be foreigners, a reduction from their (operational) as soon as AP earlier demands. The hostages were possible,” he said. believed to have been taken to Jolo Island in Sulu, a jungled province where the militants are thought Communist rebels release police Germany vows MANILA: The decapitated head of to be holding a number of cap- a Caucasian male was recovered tives, including 14 Indonesian and to work with yesterday night in the southern four Malaysian crewmen who were Philippines and DNA tests will be abducted at gunpoint from three tug- captives in southern Mindanao South Korea conducted to determine whether it boats starting last month. belongs to one of three Western hos- “Maximum efforts are being SEOUL: The head of Ger- tages who had been threatened with exerted ... to effect the rescue,” the Anatolia captured April 16 while responding also made more meaningful by the many’s upper house of beheading by ransom-seeking Mus- military and police said in a joint to an attack launched by NPA rebels brave and sustained militant actions parliament vowed yes- lim extremists, police said. statement, without divulging details on an army-supervised militia unit. of the masses in the region and in terday that his country Two men on a motorcycle left the of the rescue operation, which In a statement, Rubi del Mundo, Mindanao,” it added will cooperate with South head, which was placed in a plas- was ordered by President Benigno ZAMBOANGA CITY: Philippines’ NDF spokesperson, said it has issued Peace talks between the NDF and Korea to help end North tic bag, along a street in Jolo town Aquino III. communist rebels yesterday released release orders for the prisoners. the government – which have been Korea’s provocations, in Sulu province and then fled, Jolo About 400 Abu Sayyaf militants five police officers captured dur- “The entire revolutionary move- on-and-off for 27 years -- collapsed including its nuclear pro- police chief Supt. Junpikar Sitin said. were involved in the kidnappings, ing an attack on a militia outpost in ment in Southern Mindanao and the in early 2013 due to rebel demands gram, the presidential Abu Sayyaf militants had threat- it said. In militant videos posted southern Mindanao. whole of the Philippines congratu- that detained comrades be freed. office Cheong Wa Dae ened to behead one of three men online, Canadians John Ridsdel and The release of the captives -- late the 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion In Dec. 2014, the insurgency said. — two Canadians and a Norwegian Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sek- including a police station chief in their safe custody of the five POWs observed a Christmas/New Year Stanislaw Tillich, pres- — they kidnapped last September kingstad and Filipino Marites Flor -- coincided with the 43rd founding in the face of the so-called rescue truce, which was repeated in January ident of the Bundesrat from a marina on southern Samal were shown sitting in a clearing with anniversary of the National Demo- operations of AFP [Armed Forces of 2015 during Pope Francis’ visit to the and the governor of the Island if a large ransom was not paid heavily armed militants standing cratic Front (NDF), the political wing the Philippines] troops in Paquibato, country. Since March 1969, the NPA German state of Saxony, by 3pm yesterday. Military officials behind them. In some of the vid- of the Communist Party of the Phil- Davao City.” Paquibato district is a has been waging one of Asia’s long- made the pledge dur- said the Canadian and Norwegian eos, a militant aimed a long knife ippines (CPP). On Sunday, the New suburb of Davao City in the Philip- est running insurgencies, mainly in ing his talks with South embassies were notified of the dis- on Ridsdel’s neck. Two black flags People’s Army (NPA), CPP’s armed pines’ south. the poorest regions of the Philippines. Korean President Park covery and the steps that will be hung in the backdrop of lush foliage. wing, sent email video clips to media The NDF claimed the NPA had According to government figures, the Geun-hye. The meeting taken to identify the victim. The abductions highlight the outlets in which the five police offic- 11 other POWs in custody around conflict has claimed around 40,000 came two days after N Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin con- long-running security problems ers said that they were safe and being Mindanao. “The celebration of 43rd lives, including more than 3,000 in Korea’s fire. demned the beheading, blaming hounding the southern Philippines. treated well. The freed lawmen were founding anniversary of the NDF is the last eight years alone.

China making the world worried: Beijing plans outpost Japanese FM on Scarborough Shoal Reuters this year: Report

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minis- ter Fumio Kishida, speaking ahead AFP & agencies the Philippines over the South China of a visit to Beijing, said yesterday Sea. It also follows an announcement China was making the world “wor- by the US and the Philippines that ried” with its military buildup and they would launch joint naval patrols maritime expansion in the East BEIJING: China will start construc- in the sea. and South China Seas. tion this year on a South China Sea The construction plans were Ties between China and Japan, islet within the Philippines’ claimed likely to be accelerated in light of the world’s second- and third-larg- exclusive economic zone as it seeks the upcoming ruling from the Per- est economies, have long been to project its power in the disputed manent Court of Arbitration at The plagued by a territorial dispute, waters, Hong Kong media reported Hague, the newspaper cited the regional rivalry and the legacy of yesterday. source as saying. “China should Japan’s World War Two aggression. China will establish an outpost regain the initiative to do so because Philippine presidential candidates (from left) Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Senator Miriam Santiago, China and Japan dispute sover- on Scarborough Shoal, 230km off Washington is trying to contain Bei- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, and former interior secretary Mar Roxas waving to eignty over a group of uninhabited the Philippine coast, the South China jing by establishing a permanent crowds after participating in a presidential debate at Phinma University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City, East China Sea islets, while in the Morning Post newspaper cited an military presence in the region,” the north of Manila. South China Sea, Beijing is build- unnamed source close to the Peo- source said. ing islands on reefs to bolster its ple’s Liberation Army as saying. Washington has sailed ships claims. Beijing claims nearly all the close to islands claimed by Beijing, China has rattled nerves with strategically vital sea, despite accusing China of militarising the Philippines presidential candidates its military and construction activ- completing claims from several South China Sea and deploying mis- ities on the islands in the South Southeast Asian neighbours, and in siles in the area. China Sea, including building run- recent months has developed con- Hua said the recent patrol flights ways, though Beijing says most of tested reefs into artificial islands, in the area by the Philippines and firm against China’s sea intrusion what it is building is for civilian some topped with airstrips. the US were “deserving of suspicion”, purposes, like lighthouses. Manila claims Scarborough urging “some countries” active in “Candidly speaking, a rapid Shoal but says China took effec- the region to exercise restraint and and opaque increase in (China’s) tive control of it in 2012, stationing “make cooperative efforts with Anatolia presidential race voiced their sup- countries that support their own. Poe military spending and unilateral patrol vessels in the area and shoo- China”. Beijing admits building mili- port of a fisherman who asked what added that if she is elected President, attempts to change the status quo ing away Filipino fishermen, after a tary-capable airstrips and deploying assistance they could offer to peo- she will ensure additional equipment in the East and South China Seas two-month stand-off with the Phil- unspecified weapons on some of the ple like him amid harassment he and help for the coast guard, as well under the aim of building a strong ippine Navy. islands, but insists US patrols have ZAMBOANGA CITY: With little more claims his profession experience in as for fishermen and their families. maritime state are having not only The SCMP cited the source as ramped up tensions. than two weeks to go before voters the waters during the third and last She compared Filipinos to schoolchil- people in Japan, but countries in saying construction at the outpost As well as China, the Philip- head to the polls for the May 9 pres- leg of presidential debates. dren being bullied. the Asia-Pacific region and the would allow Beijing to “further per- pines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei idential election, candidates have Poe, daughter of local movie “I will increase the number of international community worried fect” its air coverage across the South and Taiwan have claims to parts of stood firm against China’s alleged action hero Fernando Poe Jr., said coast guards and give handheld greatly,” Kishida said in a speech China Sea, suggesting it plans to the sea, which are home to some of intrusion in Philippine waters but that the country should strengthen radios to fishermen so they can ask to business leaders. build an airstrip. the world’s most important ship- agreed to seek diplomatic means in its coast guard to protect the rights of for help from the authorities,” she China claims almost the At a regular press briefing, for- ping lanes and believed to sit atop solving the maritime dispute. its fishermen. “The West Philippine vowed. Elsewhere, both Santiago entire South China Sea, believed eign ministry spokeswoman Hua vast oil reserves. Poe, daughter of On Sunday, Senator Grace Poe, Sea is not a personal aquarium of and Roxas agreed that diplomacy to have huge deposits of oil and Chunying said she was not aware local movie action hero Fernando Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the Chinese. It’s ours and we should is the key, but the former was also gas. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philip- of the report but the area was Chi- Poe Jr., said that the country should and former Interior Secretary Manuel persuade our allies. If they are true interested in going on the offensive.“If pines, Taiwan and Vietnam also na’s “inherent territory”. strengthen its coast guard to protect “Mar” Roxas II all noted that the friends, they should help us and we they are in our waters and take our have claims to parts of the waters, Beijing will “adopt the neces- the rights of its fishermen. international community supports should not give that up,” the inde- fish, I will call the coast guard, I will through which about $5 trillion in sary measures to resolutely protect “The West Philippine Sea is not the Philippines in an arbitration case pendent candidate added. bomb those,” she said in Tagalog. “We trade is shipped every year. China’s sovereignty and legitimate a personal aquarium of the Chinese. it has lodged in The Hague over a ter- Asked by a fisherman how she will talk with them then tell them we Kishida plans to visit China as rights and interests”, she said. The It’s ours and we should persuade our ritorial dispute in the South China plans to help amid the harassment have world public opinion behind us. early as Japan’s “Golden Week” report comes ahead of an inter- allies. If they are true friends, they Sea/West Philippines Sea. they say they experience in the dis- The world believes the water is ours. extended holiday, which starts on national tribunal ruling, expected should help us and we should not The four contenders for the puted waters, the senator cited other That’s why, they should bully us.” Friday. within months, on a case brought by give that up.” ASIA / AFRICA TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 13 China mulls tighter control of foreign charities

AFP and concerns from foreign govern- to be approved. Xinhua indicated judge a threat to national security, not specified whether that included years have accused such organisa- ments that it gave wide-ranging that the law’s third draft preserved and would be empowered to “invite local staff. The Global Times newspa- tions of undermining national security discretionary powers to police amid features which previously triggered for talks” the heads of foreign NGOs per, which is close to the ruling party, and trying to foment “colour revolu- a domestic crackdown on civil society. concerns, including a requirement in China, it said. cited a Chinese NGO official as say- tion” against the ruling party. BEIJING: Chinese legislators are con- A draft of the bill -- covering for- that NGOs “partner” with a Chinese It added police could add any ing the law’s “engagement” of police China in January arrested and sidering a new draft of a controversial eign charities, business associations government-controlled agency and foreign NGO they judged to promote was unlikely to change as the measure deported a Swedish human rights law requiring foreign non-profit and academic institutions in China report activities to authorities. “subversion of state power” or “sepa- had been drafted with “national secu- activist who had trained Chinese law- organisations to report activities to -- has been submitted to a legislative It said government partners of ratism” to a “not welcome list” which rity” in mind. At least 1,000 foreign yers, and foreign NGO staff working government agencies while curtailing session being held this week, the offi- foreign NGOs would be required to would ban them from the country. NGOs are thought to operate in China, on legal issues report an increasingly the recruitment of supporters, state cial Xinhua news agency said. report any “temporary activities” to Overseas NGOs would also be for- including development charities such restricted environment. President Xi media said yesterday. The rubber-stamp National Peo- authorities at least 15 days in advance, bidden from recruiting “members” in as Save the Children, advocacy groups Jinping has in recent years overseen The law on overseas non-gov- ple’s Congress is controlled by the without giving further details. mainland China, Xinhua said, bar- such as Greenpeace, chambers of a crackdown on civil society, with ernmental organisations (NGOs) was ruling Communist Party and if the Chinese police would have the ring special permission from the commerce and university centres. scores of lawyers, academics and delayed after an outcry from charities measure is put to a vote it is certain right to cancel any activities they State Council, China’s cabinet. It was China’s state-run media in recent activists detained and dozens jailed. Teen held for Flying grapple WHO: 6 nations in Africa could plotting Anzac be malaria-free GENEVA: Six countries in Africa, the continent Day attack where malaria is most widespread, could be free of the disease by 2020, April 25, is a major annual holiday in according to a WHO Australia and New Zealand mark- report published Mon- Court documents ing the first major battle involving day to mark World Malaria show that police troops from both countries during Day. World War One at Gallipoli in Turkey. One of the goals of accuse the boy of Despite the campaign’s failure the World Health Organ- attempting to obtain against Ottoman Turkish forces, with ization’s 2016-2030 the loss of more than 11,000 ANZAC programme against a gun. lives, it has come to be viewed as malaria is to wipe out a formative moment of national the disease in at least 10 identity in both Australia and New countries by the end of Zealand, and is now a day of remem- this decade. Reuters brance for military dead from both “WHO estimates that nations in all subsequent conflicts. 21 countries are in a posi- Dawn services and military tion to achieve this goal, parades were held around Aus- including six countries in SYDNEY: Australian police have tralia and New Zealand, with the the African Region,” said arrested and charged a teenager largest drawing tens of thousands the Geneva-based organi- with planning a terror attack yester- of people in Sydney and Melbourne. Members of the Kyrgyz special forces unit demonstrate their skills during a training exercise in sation said in a statement. day’s commemorations of the ANZAC At Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Austral- It was also added that the landings at Gallipoli during World ian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Bishkek, yesterday. burden of the disease is War One, which attracted thousands joined more than 5,000 people at a heaviest in these coun- of people in Sydney. beachside dawn ceremony. tries. These countries are The 16-year-old boy was “We choose to stand as one in a Algeria, Botswana, Cape arrested near his Sydney home moment of silent contemplation, in Verde, Comoros, South on Sunday and appeared before a tribute to those who fought and died Africa and Swaziland. children’s court yesterday. Court so that we could live in freedom,” documents show that police accuse Turnbull said later at a ceremony at Nepal marks quake anniversary the boy of attempting to obtain a the Australian War Memorial in the Poachers kill gun, Australian Associated Press capital, Canberra. reported. Several teenagers have been AFP complex came exactly a year after pavilions once used for royal cere- three rangers The case was adjourned until arrested in Australia in recent years the quake struck, although the main monies that crumbled in the quake. tomorrow, AAP said, and the boy and charged with terrorism offences, commemorations for the dead were “They are treasures given to us in Congo cannot be named because of his age. including five young men who police held Sunday, the anniversary by the by our ancestors... it is our respon- The terrorism offence carries a max- alleged were planning an attack at KATHMANDU: Nepal’s prime minis- Nepali calendar. One of the Buddhist sibility to hand them down to the DAKAR: Elephant poach- imum penalty of life imprisonment. last year’s centenary ANZAC day cel- ter joined Buddhist monks at a prayer temples at the spectacular hilltop next generation the way they were ers killed three rangers in New South Wales state Police ebrations in Melbourne. ceremony yesterday to mark the start complex, a Unesco world heritage handed down to us,” said Bhesh Democratic Republic of Commissioner Andrew Scipione said Police said those planning of rebuilding of five ancient monu- site, was completely destroyed by Narayan Dahal, director general of Congo’s Garamba wildlife police believed the boy was acting the attack last year clearly took ments destroyed in an earthquake the 7.8-magnitude quake. the government’s Department of park and wounded two alone. “We have taken swift action inspiration from the Islamic State that killed thousands and devastated Rebuilding work began yesterday Archaeology.“We will begin recon- other people including the to ensure community safety on the movement, also known as the the country’s rich cultural heritage. on that and four other monuments, struction of other monuments as well, Swedish park manager, eve of a sacred day on the Australian Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or The ceremony at the seventh- including a temple in the historic work has been slow but now it will environmental officials calendar,” said Scipione. ANZAC Day, ISIS. century Swayambhunath Temple town of Bhaktapur and two wooden pick up pace,” Dahal said. said. One of the rang- ers was found dead near the site of the Satur- day attack, said African Parks, which manages the ICC to investigate violence in Burundi Bangladesh blogger UNESCO world heritage site. US forces in the area evacuated the others, Reuters The office of the UN human of killings, disappearances, imprison- but two of them died of rights high commissioner estimates ment, torture and rape. “All these acts gets death threat their injuries a day later at at least 430 people have been killed appear to fall within the jurisdiction a military base in neigh- there since last April, when President of the ICC,” she said. “...At least 3,400 bouring Central African AMSTERDAM: The international Pierre Nkurunziza launched a bid for people have been arrested and over Republic, the organisa- war crimes court will investigate a third term in office and then won a 230,000 Burundians forced to seek AFP Sarker, who heads a network tion added. The survivors outbreaks of violence in Burundi disputed election in July. refuge in neighbouring countries.” of Bangladesh bloggers and online were in a stable condition. that have killed hundreds and forced Announcing a preliminary exam- Western powers and regional states activists, said “influential ruling hundreds of thousands to flee abroad ination by the International Criminal fear Burundi could slide back into the party leaders have been openly since a political crisis erupted a year Court, its prosecutor Fatou Bensouda ethnically charged conflict that char- DHAKA: Bangladesh’s best-known threatening me” although it was 30 students ago. said on Monday she had seen reports acterised its 1993-2005 civil war. blogger said yesterday he has the first time he had received an become the latest secular activist anonymous phone call. Dhaka Met- dead in Burundi threatened with murder, a warning ropolitan Police spokesman Maruf which he suspected was linked to Hossain Sorder said the threat would road crash his recent scathing criticism of the only be investigated if Sarker filed Can he bring change? government. a formal complaint. But the blog- NAIROBI: Nearly 30 On Saturday an English professor ger said he did not plan to approach schoolchildren and their was hacked to death by suspected police because it would be “no use”. supervisors were killed Islamist militants, the latest in a Sarker, who has nearly one mil- and scores more injured in series of murders of secular blog- lion friends on his Facebook page, a road accident in eastern gers and liberal activists since last led the 2013 protests against Islam- Burundi overnight, a local year that has left Bangladesh reeling. ist leaders accused of war crimes, official said yesterday. Blogger Imran Sarker, who led prompting authorities to fast-track About 130 students major protests by secular activists their trials. from Kigugu secondary in 2013 against Islamist leaders, said The protests against Islamists school in Rutana prov- he had received a phone call on Sun- accused of atrocities during Bang- ince were on their way day warning that he would be killed ladesh’s 1971 battle for independence home from a visit to cen- “very soon”. were staged with the tacit support tral Burundi when the But Sarker claimed the threat of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s truck they were travel- was probably connected to his oppo- party. But this month Sarker joined ling in flipped over, local sition to the government’s alleged rights groups in criticising the arrest administrator Revocate crackdown on dissent, rather than of an elderly pro-opposition editor Nibigira said. “The (Roman the offence he caused to Islamic over an alleged plot to kidnap and Catholic) father superior extremists. “A male voice called me murder Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed. of Musongati parish and a Sunday evening and said I will be Sarker called for an end to “dirty nun who was accompany- murdered very soon. He hung up political tactics to crack down on Artist Chin Chih Yang after his performance ‘Kill Me or Change’ with 30,000 cans falling and burying ing them died on the spot, as soon as I asked him where they dissent”, prompting a furious reac- with 13 children,” she said. the artist underneath a mountain of garbage at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei, yesterday. would kill me,” the 33-year-old told tion from Wazed who branded the said. blogger an “opportunist and a liar”. 14 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 PAKISTAN

Ghani calls on Falling in line Mother seeks Pakistan to pardon for son on death row ISLAMABAD: The mother of a paraplegic inmate battle Taliban on death row in Pakistan yesterday urged the coun- try’s president to pardon her son. There are “no good Nusrat Perveen said that President Mamnoon or bad terrorists, Hussain had ordered they are just authorities to halt the execution of her son terrorists,” and Abdul Basit in January, that “Pakistan must hours before he was to be hanged; that stay of understand that and execution order has now act against them: expired. After meeting Basit Ashraf Ghani at a prison in the city of Faisalabad, Perveen told The Associated Press that AP her son had lost a lot of operations against insurgents.” weight and looked skel- Dawa Khan Menapal, deputy etal. “I wept and cried spokesman to the president, said that on seeing him in frag- Detained Taliban militants are seen in line in Jowzjan, Afghanistan, yesterday. Security forces have KABUL: Afghanistan’s president there has been no contact with the ile health,” she said. “My yesterday called on Pakistan to Afghan government regarding the arrested a top Taliban military leader, Qari Salim, along with 12 other militants. son is like a dead man battle the Taliban rather than try to peace talks from the Pakistani side. already, do they want to bring them into peace talks. Ashraf “We have made our decision and hang a dead man?” Basit, Ghani (pictured) made the remarks the decision was announced by the 43, has been paralyzed during an address to parliament a president today,” he said. “Now it is from the waist down since week after a Taliban assault on the Pakistan’s turn to fulfill their prom- contracting meningitis in Afghan capital, Kabul, killed 64 peo- ise according the decision of the four prison in 2010 and uses a ple and wounded another 340. nations meetings.” Al Qaeda financier held in Karachi wheelchair. He has been Afghan officials have long Islamabad has denied past alle- on death row since 2009, accused Pakistan of turning a blind gations that it aids the Taliban and convicted of murdering eye to the Taliban, the leadership of says its influence over the group has AP official said. He said he didn’t have ordered by Baldev Kumar, a rival Sikh a man. Jail officials said which is widely believed to be based been overstated. any evidence so far that the suspect politician, who paid assassins around they were initiating a new in the Pakistani cities of Quetta and Pakistan has been waging a mili- was linked to the US reporter Dan- $10,000 to carry out the shooting. process to obtain a death Peshawar, near the border. tary offensive against militants in the iel Pearl’s 2002 killing. Azad Khan, police chief in the warrant to execute Basit. Ghani said there are “no good North Waziristan tribal region since ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities Much of Al Qaeda’s senior lead- district where the killing took place, Pakistan’s Supreme or bad terrorists, they are just ter- 2014, But critics have long accused have arrested an Al Qaeda financier ership fled to Pakistan following the announced the arrests yesterday Court last year said Basit’s rorists,” and that “Pakistan must it of fighting its own insurgents who has been on a UN sanctions list 2001 US-led invasion of neighboring and paraded the suspects, including execution must comply understand that and act against while covertly supporting groups since 2012, police said yesterday. Afghanistan. Also yesterday, police Kumar, before reporters — who were with the country’s prison them.” Afghanistan, Pakistan, that attack neighboring Afghani- Abdur Rehman Sindhi was said that a Sikh lawmaker gunned not allowed to interview the detain- rules governing execu- China and the United States have stan and India. In a surprise twist detained during a raid by intelli- down last week was killed by a ees. The Taliban and other extremist tion procedures. However been trying to revive peace talks three relatively senior Taliban rep- gence agencies in the southern port political rival from the minority com- groups have targeted Sikhs and other those rules contain no between Kabul and the Taliban in resentatives living in self-imposed city of Karachi last week, said police munity, who was arrested along with religious minorities in the past. provisions for the hanging recent months, but have made lit- exile in the Middle Eastern state of officer Muqaddas Haider. He said a five other suspects. The Pakistani Elsewhere in Pakistan on Mon- of prisoners in wheel- tle progress. Qatar arrived in Pakistan for meet- joint team of police and intelligence Taliban had claimed responsibility day, gunmen shot and killed a female chairs. Activists expressed “We don’t expect Pakistan to ings at least initially with Pakistani agents was questioning the suspect for the killing of Sardar Suran Singh, doctor and her husband, a retired air concerns that authorities bring the Taliban to the negotiat- intelligence officials, according to on what role he might have played in who was gunned down while heading force officer, in the northwestern city were gearing up to exe- ing table,” Ghani said. “What we two diplomats, neither of whom militant attacks in Pakistan in recent home on Friday night in northwestern of Peshawar, said police official Zeb cute Basit. want is for Pakistan, based on the wanted to be identified by name or years. Sindhi appeared before a court Pakistan. Singh had served as a pro- Khan. Their seven-year-old son sur- four nations’ agreement, to keep nationality because they feared the which allowed the police to interro- vincial adviser for minority affairs. vived, he said. No one has claimed its promises and launch military revelation would anger Pakistan. gate him for two weeks, the police But police said the killing was responsibility for the attack. 23 dead after eating poisoned Panama leaks probe: Govt sweet in Punjab Six held over Sikh leader’s killing PAKISTAN: At least 23 people have died and unlikely to consult oppn dozens of others fell ill in Reuters central Pakistan after eat- ing sweets which police suspect were tainted with Internews is comprehensive and no ambiguity pesticides, officials said PESHAWAR: Police in northwestern is left in it,” the sources said, add- yesterday. Pakistan yesterday arrested six peo- ing that if the PTI or any other party Umar Hayat, a resi- ple accused of gunning down a Sikh finds any wrong in the TORs, they dent of the Karor Lal Esan political figure, attributing the kill- ISLAMABAD: The Nawaz Sharif could write to the government with area in Punjab province, ing to rivalry rather than a Taliban government has no plan to talk to specific propos. bought the baked con- attack, as the militants had claimed. the opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e- However, they said government fectionery on April 17 to Gunmen shot and killed Soran Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan on the has no intention to talk directly to distribute among friends Singh, a prominent leader of Paki- question of negotiating terms of ref- the PTI on the subject. The sources and family after the birth stan’s tiny Sikh religious minority erence (ToRs) with regard the inquiry said that the commission so con- of his grandson. and a lawmaker from cricket legend commission on Panama Leaks. stituted could engage any forensic But their celebrations Imran Khan’s opposition Pakistan The ToRs enumerated in the audit company and it will have free turned out to be short- Tehreek-e-Insaf party, outside his letter written by the federal law hand as far as the expenditures are lived when ten people home in the town of Buner on Friday. secretary to the chief justice of Paki- concerned. died on the same day. “We arrested six people, stan have covered all aspects of the The sources reminded that it “The death toll from including a member of the Sikh matter and demands made by the would be premature to offer any consumption of the Pakistani policemen escort suspects allegedly involved in the killing community, Buldev Singh,” Azad opposition leaders. further comment about the subject sweets has now risen to Khan, a senior police official, told Sikh politician Sardar Soran Singh as they leave after a press conference Official sources here say that the as long the chief justice doesn’t give 23, and 52 people are reporters in Peshawar, capital of in Peshawar, yesterday. ToRs have been choreographed with his mind on it. He will be available still being treated at vari- the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. care and consultations with eminent on or after May 1, the sources said. ous hospitals,” local police “During initial investigations, constitutional experts and lawyers Minister for Finance Senator official Munir Ahmed said. Buldev Singh and other people Singh was a senior member of Khan’s to kill Soran Singh,” the police official of the country. Ishaq Dar, who is troubleshooter of acknowledged their involvement party and an adviser to the provin- added. The Taliban claimed responsi- “It is entirely different to what the federal administration on vari- in the murder of Soran Singh.” cial chief minister on minority affairs. bility soon after the shooting, saying was the probe commission for ous counts, indicated the other day Ramadan The killing followed a dispute “Soran Singh reportedly refused they would continue attacks until elections constituted in the after- that he has no contact with the PTI over the distribution of party tickets a party ticket to Buldev Singh, which their strict interpretation of Islamic math of the sit-in of 2014. The with regard to the ToRs or any other package of in local elections, Khan said. Soran enraged him and he hired assassins law was enforced across Pakistan. letter written by the law secretary relevant matter. cheap groceries ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has directed the Ministry of Industries and Produc- Alarm over acute shortage of vital medicines tion to prepare a Special Ramadan Package of cheap groceries and sub- Internews of tuberculosis (TB), cough and cold, (Ethambutal and Pyrazinamide) are long but also painful.” A fixed-dose shortage is also pending with the mit it to the Economic thyroid diseases and neurological hard to find in the market. Treatment combination (a four-drug formula- human rights cell of the Supreme Coordination Council disorders. The inexpensive folic acid of complicated TB cases couldn’t be tion) for treating TB was available in Court which was recently informed (ECC) within 10 days. medicine is also no longer available done without these two first line life- the market but it couldn’t be used in by the Drug Regulatory Authority In this regard, a let- KARACHI: The Pakistani federal in the market. The shortage of vari- saving drugs,” said DrJavaid A. complicated cases, he pointed out. of Pakistan (DRAP) and some phar- ter has been sent to the government is yet to respond to ous medicines, according to sources, Khan, a professor of medicine and DrJavaid was of the opinion that maceutical companies that there is secretary industries and the repeated alarm raised by rel- is directly linked to the failure of the consultant physician at the Aga Khan the government should provide sub- no shortage of anti-TB drugs in the production. The minister evant quarters over the persistent federal government to resolve pricing University Hospital (AKUH). sidy to companies manufacturing country. said keeping in line with acute shortage of medicines - some issues with drug manufacturers that Tuberculosis, he said, was a essential drugs so that they did not “This is not true. The cell asked for the present government’s of which are lifesaving - prevailing has lingered for many years. serious public health issue and the lose money by making a drug at a low my comments on the stance of DRAP/ past practice, the relief across the country for the past many “The problem (shortage of anti- present situation could lead to cause price. “Besides, the ministry of health companies and I have submitted my package would be given months. TB medicines) has been going on for multi-drug resistant-TB. “Irregu- should also see the price of a partic- response along with letters from to the general public According to these sources, six months but a crisis-like situation lar use of medicines is a major risk ular medicine in regional countries major hospitals confirming that the through the Utility Stores these medicines include those has occurred in the past two months. factor for multi-drug resistant TB and then set a price locally.” country faces serious shortage of anti- Corporation (USC). required to treat complicated cases Two major anti-TB drugs whose treatment is not only costly, The matter of anti-TB drug TB drugs” DrJavaid said. INDIA TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 15

India and Pakistan Row over Uttarakhand disrupts Parliament foreign secretaries meet for talks in The Congress members cre- The leader of the Congress party of gurdwaras in Punjab, Chandigarh, but it could not be done as the house ated almost identical scenes in both in the house, Mallikarjun Kharge, had Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. was not in order. Deputy Chairman New Delhi today We are witnessing houses over the issue as they raised even given notice of adjournment of Introduced in the Rajya Sabha P J Kurien tried to pacify the agitat- attempts from the slogans against the central govern- Question Hour to discuss the issue. by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on ing members but they ignored his ruling party to hinder ment and Prime Minister Narendra Aam Aadmi Party’s Bhang- March 15, the bill was passed by the pleas and went on shouting slogans NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s Foreign Modi for imposing President’s rule in want Mann had also given notice of upper house on the next day. against the Modi government. Kurien, Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaud- the functioning of Uttarakhand. adjournment on the issue of farmers’ The Rajya Sabha was disrupted realising the mood of the opposition, hry will hold talks with his Indian parliament. The Minutes before parliament met on suicides in Punjab and the drought sit- thrice before being adjourned for the adjourned the house for the day. counterpart S Jaishankar here the first day of the second half of the uation in Maharashtra. day without it being able to conduct Azad blamed the central govern- today, on the margins a global con- government provokes budget session, Prime Minister Modi The Lok Sabha, however, was able any business. ment for creating an “atmosphere” ference on Afghanistan. It will be the opposition and expressed the hope that parliament to pass the Sikh Gurdwara (Amend- The Congress members raised the just before the parliament session the first meeting between the two would be able to transact business ment) Bill, 2016, with the house Uttarakhand issue vociferously, say- that would lead to disruptions. after the January Pathankot terror induces disruptions: smoothly during the session. unanimously adopting the meas- ing “Modi teri tanashahi nahi chalegi” “We as the opposition want the attack derailed the India-Pakistan Ghulam Nabi Azad. “In the last session also, we trans- ure — but only after a heated debate (Prime Minister Narendra Modi your house to function and legislation bilateral dialogue. acted important business. Most of involving members of the Shiromani dictatorship will not be tolerated). passed. But in the recent past, we A Pakistan High Commission them were on financial issues. The Akali Dal, the Congress and the AAP. It had already witnessed three have seen how an atmosphere was spokesperson here confirmed satisfaction about it reflected on the According to the amending bill, adjournments before it met at 3pm, created to stall the proceedings of the Chaudhry’s day-long trip for the IANS face of our members. I hope similarly every Sikh above the age of 21 and but the Congress members assembled house. For the first time in the history Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process business will be transacted smoothly registered as a voter will be entitled in front of the chair soon after and of Indian politics, President’s Rule was meeting. this time as well. We hope all (parties) to vote in Sikh Gurdwara Parband- started raising the issue once again. imposed in Uttarakhand without fol- The Pakistan delegation will will cooperate in making the session hak Committee (SGPC) and various Minister of State for Parliamen- lowing any rules and regulation. We “also hold bilateral meetings with NEW DELHI: Imposition of Presi- a success,” Modi told reporters in the gurdwara management committee tary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demand a discussion on this,” said other leading delegations attend- dent’s rule in Uttarakhand dominated Parliament House premises. elections. tried to defuse the tension urging Azad. ing the meeting”. both the houses of parliament yes- The Congress members did However, no person who trims or them that there were a number of “We are witnessing attempts While the spokesperson was terday with the Congress raising the exactly the opposite as they trooped shaves his beard or hair will be enti- important bills that were to be passed, from the ruling party to hinder silent about talks between Chaud- matter in the Lok Sabha and creat- near the speaker’s podium in the Lok tled to vote in these elections. hence the house be allowed to work. the functioning of parliament. The hry and Jaishankar, an informed ing ruckus in Rajya Sabha, where no Sabha shouting slogans like “Stop The bill, in this manner, seeks to On this, Leader of the Opposi- central government provokes the source said that the the two foreign meaningful business could be con- killing democracy” and “Murder of amend the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, tion Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the opposition and induces disruptions,” secretaries were likely to meet. ducted amid uproar. democracy will not be accepted”. which regulates the administration Congress too wants to pass the bills he added. Chaudhry “will have bilateral meetings with other delegations, including Jaishankar”, the source said. The meeting will be the first Waiting to choose the right leader contact between the two coun- President to visit PNG tries at the foreign secretary level after the January 2 attack on the IAF base at Pathankot killed seven Indian security personnel. India and New Zealand blamed Pakistan-based Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) for the attack. The meeting comes after IANS Mukherjee will also address a busi- the two sides recently declared ness event and an Indian community that they were in contact to hold event. “He will deliver a speech at a meeting of their foreign sec- the Papua New Guinea University,” retaries, who will draw up the NEW DELHI: As part of India’s Mazumdar said. modalities for holding a Compre- growing engagements with Pacific Papua New Guinea is the largest hensive Bilateral Dialogue. island nations, President Pranab of the Pacific island countries with a The development comes after Mukherjee will go on state visits to populaion of eight million. Pakistan High Commissioner Papua New Guinea (PNG) and New It is rich in oil and gas and India’s Abdul Basit created a flutter when Zealand from April 28 to May 2. Petronet has a memorandum of he said here that the peace talks This will be the first presiden- understanding (MoU) with Petromin between Islamabad and New Delhi tial visit from India to both these of that country. The country is also have been “suspended”. countries and also the first high- rich in minerals like nickel, cobalt The Afghanistan conference in level visit from India to Papua New and gold. Delhi follows the 5th Heart of Asia Guinea, Jaideep Mazumdar, joint “Papua New Guinea is looking Ministerial Conference in Islama- secretary (South) in the ministry of towards India for many of its devel- bad on December 9, 2015. external affairs, said at a pre-depar- opment needs such as in the health External Affairs Minister ture media briefing here on Monday. sector, capacity building in infor- Sushma Swaraj had visited Islam- Mukherjee will be accompanied mation technology, agriculture and abad to attend the conference that by an official delegation that will infrastructure development,” Mazum- People wait to cast their vote at a polling station during the fifth phase of assembly elections at Halisahar adopted the Islamabad declaration include Minister of State for Agricul- dar said, adding that a line of credit Village, West Bengal, yesterday. for enhanced regional coopera- ture and Farmers’ Welfare Sanjeev was being finalised for infrastructure tion to countering security threats. Balyan and a multi-party delegation projects to be executed by India. of members of parliament. Papua New Guinea is also home Stating that the President was to around 2,500 Indians, includ- eagerly looking forward to his visit ing teachers, doctors and other to Papua New Guinea and New professionals. Muslims accused in Malegaon case discharged Zealand, Venu Rajamony, press Agreements between India and secretary to the President, said that Papua New Guinea under negotia- Mukherjee saw the Pacific region tion are in the areas of agriculture, IANS Of the nine accused, Shabbir charge-sheeted for the September 8, linked to the banned SIMI, applied for as a natural extension of India’s IT, infrastructure financing and Ahmed Masiullah died in an acci- 2006, blasts near a Muslim cemetery bail and were subsequently freed on immediate neighbourhood, which health, according to the joint dent a few months back, he said. All and a mosque during afternoon prayers November 16, 2011. is southeast Asia. secretary. of them had spent a minimum five on Shab-e-Baraat holy day, when spe- At the previous hearing on April “And with our Look East pol- Mukherjee’s visit to New Zea- MUMBAI: A special court here yes- years in jail after they were arrested. cial prayers are held for the dead. 12, National Investigation Agency icy having evolved into an Act East land comes after then prime minister terday discharged all nine Muslim The eight Muslim youths dis- The bombs which were planted (NIA) lawyer Prakash Shetty informed policy, the Pacific region has gained Rajiv Gandhi’s visit in 1986. youths charge-sheeted in the 2006 charged by the Special MCOCA on two bicycles parked there trig- the special judge that the court should in even greater salients in both our During his visit, Mukherjee will Malegaon serial blasts case, a defence Court judge were — Noor-ul Huda gered loud explosions that were take a decision on the discharge plea. strategic thinking as well as our eco- hold meetings with Governor Gen- lawyer said. They included one who Samsudha, Raees Ahmed Rajabali followed by a stampede which The NIA, which had taken over nomic engagement,” he stated. eral Jerry Mateparae, Prime Minister died recently. Mansuri, Salman Farsi Abdul Latif left 37 dead and over 100 injured. the investigation from the Mahar- According to Mazumdar, in John Key and Leader of Opposition “The Special MCOCA Court’s ver- Aimi, Farogh Iqbal Ahmed Magdumi, The organisations suspected to be ashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Papua New Guinea Mukherjee will Andrew Little. dict came this (Monday) afternoon on Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam, Asif behind the blasts and were probed Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), hold meetings with Prime Minister The President will address the discharge application filed by all Bashir Khan, M Zahid Abdul Majid included Lashkar-e-Taiba, Students submitted that it had found no evi- Peter O’Neill and other leaders. a gathering of top New Zealand the nine accused in that case. They Ansari and Abrar Ahmed Ghulam Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and dence to link the nine accused with Apart from the meeting lead- businessmen as well as an Indian have been discharged,” advocate Sha- Ahmed. Jaish-e-Mohammed. All the accused, the blasts, paving the way for their ers of the Pacific island nation, community at an event. hid Nadeem Ansari said. They were arrested and later including some who were allegedly discharge yesterday.

University fines Cooling off MP wants ban on ‘running Kanhaiya and suspends three commentaries’ by judges

NEW DELHI: The JNU yesterday IANS have been given separate powers, but fined student leader Kanhaiya in recent days we have seen judges Kumar Rs10,000 over a contro- making running commentaries during versial event on Kashmir in the the hearing. Later this becomes law.” campus and rusticated students NEW DELHI: A Bharatiya Janata “They say as per Article 141 this Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattach- Party member yesterday demanded is law of the land. There should be arya and Mujeeb Gatto. in the Lok Sabha a ban on comments prohibition on this. What should be According to a university order, by judges while hearing a case. the limit of these running commen- Khalid and Bhatacharya will lose a BJP member and chief whip of taries must be decided, and that too semester of their academic session the party Arjun Ram Meghwal raised through parliament,” he said. while Gatto has been suspended the issue in the Lok Sabha during Meghwal also questioned the pow- for two semesters. zero hour. ers of the judiciary, saying lawmaking The action comes after a “It’s not good for democracy is the prime work of parliament. “Judi- probe panel set up by the Jawa- to make running commentaries ciary people say these days that they harlal Nehru University found against the people sitting in top make the laws. The country is going in them guilty of “misconduct” and constitutional posts by judges dur- the wrong direction. This is not good “indiscipline”. ing hearing of the cases. It should be for democracy,” he said. Khalid, Bhattacharya and stopped and parliament should make More than a dozen members Gatto were found guilty of staging provisions for it,” Meghwal said. associated themselves with this a protest demonstration under Some of the opposition members demand. The Uttarakhand High the pretext of holding a poetry protested, but Meghwal said: “I am Court, while hearing the case over reading of “A Country Without not doing politics over it and no one imposition of President’s Rule in the a Post Office”, the chief proctor should do politics over the issue.” state, had made very strong com- said. He said: “Constitution has made ments, saying that the country’s Boys cool off under a water fountain on a hot summer evening in New Delhi yesterday. Khalid was also fined provision for separation of powers. President was not a king who could Rs20,000, the order said. Legislative, executive and judiciary be infallible. 16 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 EUROPE / UK

UK lawmakers Betting odds demand to see official who wrote move towards Brexit blueprint UK staying in EU Reuters LONDON: British lawmakers insisted yesterday that a civil weekend with ‘Remain’ now backed servant who wrote a prize-win- into 1/3,” said James Midmer, a ning essay on how Britain could The EU issue has spokesman for Betfair. leave the European Union should split the ruling “The market could eclipse Bet- address a committee in parlia- fair’s record for traded volume for a ment. Conservative Party, single political market; £3.5m ($5m) Parliament’s Treasury Com- with Prime Minister has been matched in the last week mittee has repeatedly summoned David Cameron alone,” he said. Iain Mansfield, an official at the The probability of a “Remain”, business ministry, but he and the leading the campaign or “In”, vote implied by the odds was government have turned down to stay in. at its highest level since September the request, citing rules that say 2015, Betfair data showed. civil servants should be politically The pound traded near a six- neutral. week high against the euro, with Mansfield won €100,000 traders saying Obama’s intervention ($112,660) in 2014 from the Insti- Reuters was helping sentiment as it under- tute for Economic Affairs, a lined the weight of argument from free-market think tank, for a global and financial leaders in favour paper on Brexit that he wrote in a LONDON: Bookmakers’ odds have of the “Remain” camp. personal capacity. He said at the shifted sharply towards Britain vot- The EU issue has split the rul- time he had no personal view on High Commissioner for New Zealand Lockwood Smith (left) and High Commissioner for Australia Alexander ing to remain in the European Union ing Conservative Party, with Prime the question. in a referendum in June, a move in Minister David Cameron leading the Downer lay wreathes during a service of commemoration and thanksgiving to mark Anzac Day in “The views of Mansfield mat- sentiment also reflected by the campaign to stay in while six of his Westminster Abbey in London, yesterday. ter. He has offered one of the few pound rising yesterday to a near six- cabinet ministers and a large pro- detailed assessments of the impact week high against the euro. portion of his party’s lawmakers are of ‘Brexit’ on the UK economy,” Both moves followed a direct openly campaigning for Brexit. the committee’s chair, Andrew intervention by US President Barack The “Leave” campaign fought Tyrie, wrote in a letter to Brit- Obama in favour of Britain staying back yesterday, with figurehead Dawn services mark Anzac Day ain’s top civil servant published in, but those advocating leaving Boris Johnson, the outgoing Con- yesterday. sought to undermine his arguments servative mayor of London seen as The House of Commons has and warned the “In” camp not to cel- a potential successor to Cameron, Reuters arrival of the Australian and New who served and died during the Jap- the power to force civil servants to ebrate too early. saying Obama had “bullied” British Zealand Army Corps on a narrow anese occupation in the early 1940s, appear before committees whether Obama said Britain would find voters and that his warning on trade Gallipoli beach, soldiers from both Australian and New Zealand nation- or not ministers agree. Guidelines itself “in the back of the queue” for was “ridiculous”. countries marched to the beat of als gathered at a memorial service in say this would be “a very excep- a trade deal with the United States In an opinion column in the LONDON: With dawn services and drums at a dawn service at Anzac the western Kanchanaburi Province. tional action”. if it voted to quit the EU on June 23, Daily Telegraph newspaper, John- military parades, tens of thousands Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula. Earlier in the day, former Austral- Mansfield’s blueprint said a and said it would be safer, more son accused the “Remain” camp of of people gathered in different coun- Australian Minister for Veterans ian prisoners of war had returned to post-Brexit Britain should aim to prosperous and more influential if “crowing too soon”. tries yesterday to commemorate the Affairs Dan Tehan and New Zealand the Hellfire Pass memorial for a dawn strike trade deals with its former it stayed in. Another prominent “Leave” cam- Anzac landings on the shores of Gal- Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee service to remember those forced to EU partners and around the world, Following his intervention, paigner, Justice Secretary Michael lipoli during World War One. paid their respects by laying wreaths. worked in harsh conditions to build offer tax breaks to avoid a hit to which was more forceful than had Gove, wrote in the Times newspaper Anzac Day, on April 25, marks Thousands of people attended the Thai-Burma railway track dur- investment and provide its own been expected, the implied prob- that the next wave of EU expansion, the first major battle involving troops dawn services in Wellington and ing World War Two. subsidies to farmers. ability of a vote to remain in the which could include Turkey and from Australia and New Zealand in Auckland while in Sydney Australian The Hellfire Pass holds part of the He said his plan could give 28-nation bloc rose to 74 percent, Albania, would create a migration Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915. military personnel past and present infamous railway track. a small boost to Britain’s eco- a jump of more than 10 percentage “free-for-all”. While the campaign against the marched by flag-waving crowds. In France, a dawn service was nomic output over the long term. points compared with a week ago, But Home Secretary Theresa Ottoman Turks was ultimately unsuc- In London, Britain’s Prince Harry held at Viller-Bretonneux to mark That contrasted with the view of according to odds from bookmaker May, the interior minister who cessful, the day has since become a laid a wreath on behalf of Queen Eliz- those who lost their lives on the West- finance minister George Osborne Betfair. is in the “Remain” camp, said major annual holiday in Australia abeth at the Cenotaph war memorial ern Front during World War One. who said last week that the econ- “’Remain’ was already a strong “nobody should think leaving the and New Zealand and one of remem- after attending a commemorative The Gallipoli battle was one of the omy could be more than 6 percent favourite before Barack Obama’s EU is a silver bullet that is suddenly brance for both countries’ troops who dawn service. bloodiest of the war, claiming more smaller by 2030 if it left the Euro- visit, but his comments sparked going to solve all our immigration have served and died in war. In Thailand, where Anzac Day than 130,000 lives, 87,000 of them pean Union than if it decided to another wave of trading over the problems”. Marking 101 years since the is observed to also remember those from the Ottoman side. stay in.

Donors pledge cash to keep WHO warns of Chernobyl safe increased Zika risk AFP

AFP and all the mosquito types capable KIEV: Global donors yesterday of transmitting it. pledged additional money to help Recent scientific consensus is Ukraine keep Chernobyl safe for that Zika causes microcephaly, a generations after causing the PARIS: The UN’s health agency form of severe brain damage in new- world’s worst nuclear power dis- warned yesterday of the potential for borns, and adult-onset neurological aster 30 years ago. a “marked increase” in Zika infec- problems such as Guillain-Barre The €87.5m ($99m) commit- tions, and the spread of the virus to Syndrome, which can cause paral- ment toward the construction of new parts of the world, even as the ysis and death. a new spent nuclear waste stor- outbreak declines in Brazil. “It’s not what we know but what age facility comes on the eve of Largely contained to Latin we don’t know that is concerning,” the former Soviet republic’s com- America and the Caribbean, Zika’s infectious diseases professor David memoration of an accident whose range is likely to expand as summer Heymann of the London School of death toll remains in dispute to this arrives in the northern hemisphere Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told day. — and with it virus-transmitting AFP on the conference sidelines. Ukraine will still need to find mosquitoes. “We can’t make recommenda- an additional €15m for the under- “As seasonal temperatures tions (for prevention) if we don’t ground site to be able to start safely Children, who permanently live at the territory contaminated with radionuclides after the Chernobyl begin to rise in Europe, two spe- understand the full potential of a storing the hazardous material in nuclear power plant accident, sit in a class while they are in a children’s rehabilitation and health centre cies of Aedes mosquito which we virus or bacteria.” metal caskets by the end of the on the outskirts of Minsk, Belarus, yesterday. know transmit the virus will begin Kieny described Zika as a “global year. to circulate,” World Health Organ- emergency” and a “growing threat”. ization assistant director general There is no vaccine or treatment Marie-Paule Kieny told a Zika sci- for the virus, which in most people ence conference in Paris. causes only mild symptoms -- a rash, “The mosquito knows no joint pain or fever. Spanish king in final bid to break political gridlock borders.” The most urgent priority, Kieny Add to that the risk of Zika- said, was for new tools for quickly infected men passing the virus on to diagnosing Zika -- particularly in women via sex, and the world “could pregnant women whose babies risk AFP told a party meeting Sunday in the Barring a last-minute surprise, Socialists, who came in second. see a marked increase in the number severe disability. southern city of Cordoba. the king is expected to call the polls Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez of people with Zika and related com- Developers in the United States, Parties have tried in vain to agree after his talks with Rajoy, whose con- then struck a deal on a government plications,” Kieny said. France, Brazil, India and Austria are on a coalition government since the servative Popular Party (PP) came in with centrist upstart Ciudadanos At the same time, with cooler working on 23 vaccine-development MADRID: Spain’s King Felipe VI met elections resulted in a hung par- first place in the election but lost its -- but this did not give both par- temperatures in the tropics and projects, Kieny said. political leaders yesterday in a last liament divided among four main majority in parliament. ties enough seats to get a majority in subtropics, the outbreak in hard- But it could take years, and the bid to get them to form a coalition groupings — none of them with The election left Spain in parliament for the necessary vote of est-hit Brazil was “clearly on the feasibility of an “emergency-use” government — and avoid calling the enough seats to govern alone -- as uncharted waters as the country confidence. decline,” she added, without pro- vaccine was being examined. country’s second general election in voters fed up with austerity, unem- has never had a coalition govern- So Sanchez tried to reach an viding numbers. Until then, the first line of six months. ployment and corruption flocked to ment since it returned to democracy agreement with new far-left party About 600 disease experts from defence remains mosquito control The monarch will wrap up the upstarts. following the death of long-time dic- Podemos, whose 65 parliamentary 43 nations are in the French capital and bite prevention, the experts said, talks — his third round since an A new government must be in tator Francisco Franco in 1975. seats would have got it through, but to pore over scant but increasingly and advising women in endemic inconclusive December 20 election place by May 2, or the king must Rajoy turned down a demand by failed. worrisome data about Zika. regions to put off pregnancy. — today by meeting acting Prime dissolve parliament and call a new the king to form a government due Ciudadanos, which came in Despite a flurry of research, Duane Gubler of the Duke- Minister Mariano Rajoy, who said election for June 26. to a lack of support from other par- fourth place, rejects many of the pol- very little is known about the virus NUS Medical School in Singapore, over the weekend he was ready for That would leave Spain, the ties who shunned the PP because of icies proposed by Podemos as being — how long it can hide out in the said Zika “surprised” the world, new polls. eurozone’s fourth largest economy, its links to corruption scandals and too radically left while Podemos, human body, the degree of risk of just as Ebola before it, despite both “I am in shape and eager and without a fully functioning govern- its harsh austerity measures. which came in third, sees Ciudadanos sexual transmission, the full list of viruses having been known about willing once again to do battle,” Rajoy ment for at least two more months. The king then turned to the as too right-wing. diseases and disorders it may cause, for decades. EUROPE TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 17

Burglary at Dutch Obama pleads flat of journalist briefly held for European in Turkey unity amid crisis AFP THE HAGUE: A Dutch journal- ist who was briefly detained by Turkish police after tweeting Hanover, drawing applause from about Turkish President Recep his audience. Obama said worries Tayyip Erdogan, said yesterday her US President over Russia’s annexation of Crimea Amsterdam apartment had been mentions European and slow economic growth, partic- broken into, denouncing what she ularly in southern Europe, had led called “intimidation.” integration on visit to to questions about integration on “So there was a burglary in my Germany trade fair. the continent and sparked destruc- Amsterdam home. I m impressed. tive politics that stoked fears about intimidated. o wait... I M NOT,” immigrants and people with differ- Ebru Umar wrote on her Twitter ent religions. account in English. Reuters An influx of migrants fleeing In another Tweet, she said the the civil war in Syria has height- break-in was “no coincidence.” ened tensions within the bloc and Umar, a well-known atheist put pressure on German Chancel- and feminist journalist of Turkish HANOVER: US President Barack lor Angela Merkel, the preeminent origin, said she was hauled out of Obama yesterday said the United leader in Europe, whose initial open bed and arrested late Saturday States needed a strong, united door policy hurt her domestic polit- at her home in Kusadasi, a resort Europe to maintain international ical standing. town in western Turkey. order, and he urged European Obama’s rare two-day trip to the She was released on Sunday German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) tests a Virtual Reality goggle next to US President Barack Obama allies to increase defence spending trade fair was seen as a sign of sup- after top Dutch officials voiced to address Islamic State and other port for a leader with whom he has at the booth of ifm electronic (automation engineering) at the Hannover Messe industrial technology trade concerns at her arrest, but is not security threats. forged close ties ahead of German fair in Hanover, Germany, yesterday. allowed to leave the country and Wrapping up a trip to Germany elections next year. must report to police twice a week. that has focused on boosting trade It also allowed him to put his Police had questioned her for ties, Obama pleaded with Europe- support for Merkel and Cameron about 16 hours over two Tweets ans to look past the multiple crises in the wider context of Europe’s she had sent in which she sharply facing their nations and maintain role in the world. “This is a defining Merkel blushes as Obama praises criticised Erdogan. But Umar told the unity that had brought peace to moment, and what happens on this the daily Metro, a Dutch newspa- their continent. continent has consequences for peo- per which she writes for, that her His comments came after an ple around the globe,” Obama said AFP “What’s happening with respect as “hypocritical given the American Amsterdam apartment was bur- earlier trip to London, where the yesterday. “If a unified, peaceful, lib- to her position on refugees here, in role in this drama”. gled overnight, saying the door American president urged Britain eral, pluralistic, free-market Europe Europe, she’s on the right side of his- It noted that while 137,000 peo- “was forced open, and my old to stay in the 28-nation European begins to doubt itself, begins to ques- HANOVER: US President Barack tory on this,” he said. ple had received refugee status computer was taken”. Union, boosting efforts by Prime tion the progress that’s been made Obama hailed Chancellor Angela “She is giving a voice to the in Germany last year, the United She took to Twitter yesterday Minister David Cameron to avoid a over the last several decades, then Merkel on a visit to Germany as being kinds of principles that bring peo- States — whose population is four to voice her thanks to everyone for so-called “Brexit” that opponents we can’t expect the progress that is on the “right side of history” with her ple together rather than divide them.” times greater than Germany’s — had their support during her detention. warn could trigger damaging polit- just now taking hold in many places welcoming refugee policy, but critics While the reticent Merkel blushed accepted around 70,000. Although the officers were "a bit ical and economic consequences. around the world will continue.” yesterday slammed his praise as hol- at the glowing praise, German offi- Obama heaped accolades on harsh" at first, Umar said she had “I’ve come here today to the Obama has spoken out against low lip service. cials and commentators charged that Merkel again yesterday in a speech on been “treated very well.” heart of Europe to say that the United similar trends in the United States. Speaking in the northern city of Obama’s administration had done transatlantic relations, saying she had Foreign Minister Bert Koenders States and the entire world needs a He makes no secret of his disdain for Hanover, Obama said the embattled little to help her as Europe struggles “eloquently reminded us that we can't said Sunday he was “relieved” she strong and prosperous and demo- Republican presidential front-runner Merkel had “demonstrated real polit- with its biggest migrant crisis since turn our backs on human beings.” had been released, but slammed cratic and united Europe,” Obama Donald Trump, who has proposed ical and moral leadership” in letting World War II. But the United States has only her arrest, saying he had contacted said during a visit to a trade fair building a wall on the US border with in more than 1.1 million people flee- Influential news weekly Der pledged to take in 10,000 Syrians his Turkish counterpart Mevlut in the northern Germany city of Mexico. ing war and misery. Spiegel slammed Obama's comments this year. Cavusoglu to voice his “regret.”

Balkans police arrest 22 Commuters defy fear as bombed Brussels station reopens smugglers AFP sadness, so I quickly moved on,” said The metro and airport bombs Vanessa Salembier, an employee at killed a total of 32 people and and seize arms the European Commission, the EU wounded 300 in the worst ever executive arm which is located a few terror attacks to hit the heart of B R U S S E L S : The Brussels metro sta- hundred metres away. Europe. Reuters tion hit by a suicide attack last month “Unfortunately I have to pass Families of the victims were that killed 16 people reopened yes- through here every morning and allowed special access to the station terday amid tight security, with a evening,” she added. on Saturday to mourn the victims, SARAJEVO: Police from six West- memorial board for passengers to Along the platform, two soldiers before the official reopening to ern Balkan countries have arrested write messages for the victims. stood guard with automatic rifles, commuters. 22 people and seized large quan- Bomber Khalid El-Bakraoui blew part of the beefed-up security at the “I read everything on the wall tities of weapons and drugs in a himself up at Maalbeek metro station station. and what struck me the most was coordinated operation against near the EU headquarters at 0711 GMT A huge white-board installed for a message that said ‘Love wins’, an international smuggling ring, on March 22, an hour after two other the occasion allowed passengers to because that’s what I also believe,” Interpol said yesterday. Islamic State suicide attackers tar- scribble notes and offer condolences said Tomaso Comazzi, an European The Balkans region is a noto- geted Brussels airport. for those killed on March 22. Union intern. rious route for smugglers of Passengers returning to Maal- “Let’s cherish the life that sur- “It’s a bit weird. We can’t think weapons and drugs to west- beek where the bomb caused scenes rounds us,” said a note signed Patricia. about it, life goes on,” said Patrick, ern Europe, local and European of devastation with a train torn open Nursing student Solene Leroy 52, one of the first commuters at police say. like a sardine can and bleeding vic- came especially yesterday. Maalbeek station, who would not Some of the guns used in last tims staggering out of a smoke-filled “I left a flower and wrote a few give his last name due to the sen- Workers clean a security camera on a platform after Maalbeek metro November’s attacks in Paris were tunnel — said it was eerie to be back. words ... to say that no matter what, sitivity around the events that took produced there, according to an station reopened yesterday in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. “It gives you chills, a feeling of Brussels is the winner,” she said. place there. arms manufacturer. The police operation, code- named “Balkan Trigger”, took place between April 17 and April 19 in Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Poo woes hit reckless Antarctica comes to France Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia at the request of Interpol and was supported by Europol and Frontex, the European Union’s law enforce- dog owners in Madrid ment and border agencies, said Branislav Pavlovic, the head of Interpol’s branch in Bosnia. AFP campaigns” and the distribution “The goal of the action was to of millions of free bags to collect prevent and uncover criminal acts dog poo. related to illegal trade of firearms MADRID: Dog owners in the “The municipality has pre- and explosives, as well as other Spanish capital who do not pick pared a shock plan against these acts of organised crime,” Pavlovic up their pet’s mess could be me infractions which will start to told a news conference in the Bos- made to work as street cleaners be deployed shortly in two dis- nian capital Sarajevo. under a “shock plan” against dog tricts,” it added. Several Spanish Police seized large quantities poo unveiled yesterday by Madrid cities have come up with creative of guns, hand grenades, explosives, city hall. ways to crack down on dog drop- ammunition, cash, gold, vehicles Municipal police will test the pings in recent years. Last year and drugs, most of it in Bosnia, scheme in the two city districts the northeastern city of Tarrag- Pavlovic said. where the biggest concentra- ona announced it would use DNA He did not give the nationality tion of dog droppings have analysis of dog droppings to track of those arrested or say where the been found, city hall said in a down owners who fail to clean up arms had originated from. statement. after them. Bosnia’s security agencies have Dog owners who do not clean During a brief period in 2013 stepped up cooperation with their up after their pets will be fined the town of Brunete near Madrid neighbours in their fight against up to ¤1,500 ($1,700) or they will delivered dog poo back to the organised crime. have the option to perform street homes of pet owners who left it The director of the United cleaning duties for a few days as behind, in boxes marked “Lost States Central Intelligence Agency, a substitute, it added. Property”. Volunteers would People visit the exhibition “Antarctica” in the Confluences Museum in Lyon, central-eastern France, yesterday. John Brennan, visited the Balkan Madrid city hall said “there strike up conversations with French director Luc Jacquet and two nature photographers, Laurent Ballesta, who worked under water and nation last week to discuss anti- is still excrement in the streets, unsuspecting, offending pet own- under the ice, and Vincent Munier, who photographed on land and ice, explored Antarctica during a 45-day terrorism measures in a bid to parks and other places” despite ers after their pooch had done its long expedition to capture the polar continent’s land and marine biodiversity through their own eyes. forge cooperation. “repeated public awareness business. 18 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 AMERICAS

Out of disaster zone Dad of missing $6m settlement Florida teen to in Tamir Rice share phone data AP

FORT LAUDERDALE: The father of a Flor- shooting lawsuit ida teen who went missing at sea while on a fishing trip with a friend said yesterday he will share whatever information is found on his son’s recovered cellphone with the other boy’s fam- civil rights lawsuit filed by Brown’s ily and law enforcement. Closure reached in family. Garner’s family received a Blu Stephanos issued a statement to the Palm $5.9m in a settlement with New York Beach Post saying that the phone belonging to death of 12-year City last year. In the Rice family law- his son Austin Stephanos has salt water dam- boy killed by suit, Samaria Rice had alleged that age, so he doubts information can be retrieved, police failed to immediately pro- “but I am not giving up hope.” white officer. vide first aid for her son and caused He said he would share any information intentional infliction of emotional received with law enforcement and the family distress in how they treated her and of Perry Cohen. The 14-year-olds went missing AP her daughter after the shooting. last July when their boat capsized off the Flor- The officers had asked a judge ida coast during a severe storm. Their bodies to dismiss the lawsuit. Loehmann’s were never recovered, but a Norwegian cargo CLEVELAND: The city yesterday attorney has said he bears a heavy ship spotted their 19-foot boat near Bermuda reached a $6m settlement in a law- burden and must live with what last month and recovered it. Onboard were the suit over the death of Tamir Rice, happened. phone and some fishing gear. a 12-year-old black boy shot by a Tamir’s estate has been assigned The statement came one day after Cohen’s white police officer while playing $5.5m of the settlement. A Cuyahoga parents filed for a restraining order, asking a with a pellet gun outside a recrea- County probate judge will decide judge to ban the Florida Fish and Wildlife Con- tion centre. how the amount will be divided. servation Commission from giving the phone to An order filed in US District Samaria Rice, Tamir’s mother, will the Stephanos family before it can be examined Court in Cleveland said the city will receive $250,000. Claims against by law enforcement. The FWC is the lead agency pay out $3m this year and $3m the Tamir’s estate account for the handling the investigation and has the phone. next. There was no admission of remaining $250,000. Tamir’s father, That hearing is pending, said Guy Rubin, the wrongdoing in the settlement. Leonard Warner, was dismissed in Perry family’s attorney. Family attorney Subodh Chan- February as a party to the lawsuit. He said his clients have had no formal com- dra called the settlement historic but Chandra said the Rice family munication with the Stephanos family about added: “The resolution is nothing remains in mourning over Tamir’s the phone, so “I am not sure what their inten- to celebrate because a 12-year-old death. tions are.” child needlessly lost his life.” “The state criminal justice proc- FWC spokesman Rob Klepper issued a state- The wrongful death suit filed by ess cheated them out of true justice,” ment yesterday saying that since this is not a Colombian victims of the April 16 earthquake in Ecuador arrive at the Alfonso Bonilla Aragon his family and estate against the city Chandra said. criminal investigation the agency would turn airport, in Palmira, Colombia, yesterday. and officers and dispatchers who A sombre Cleveland Mayor Frank over the phone and other items to the respec- were involved alleged police acted Jackson said at a news conference tive families. recklessly when they confronted the yesterday afternoon that “there is boy on November 22, 2014. no price you can put on the life of Video of the encounter shows a a 12-year-old child.” He added that cruiser skidding to a stop and rookie the shooting “should not have hap- patrolman Timothy Loehmann firing pened,” but didn’t elaborate. ‘Kids should have been allowed to sing anthem’ within two seconds of opening the Jackson said a use-of-force car door. Tamir wasn’t given first aid committee is examining the cir- until about four minutes later, when cumstances of the shooting to AP working with our security staff sing. But the second guard said, “You performance at the school yesterday. an FBI agent trained as a paramedic determine if Loehmann and his to ensure that this does not hap- just can’t do this, you’ve got to stop Brown said her students learned arrived. The boy died the next day. training officer, Frank Garmback, pen again with future student now,” according to Brown. “So we from the experience. “We turned it Tamir’s death has fuelled the should be disciplined. NEW YORK: Officials at the Sept 11 performances.” very reverently and quietly stopped into a teaching moment and taught Black Lives Matter movement that The officers had responded to a memorial in New York said yester- Some 50 students from Waynes- what we were doing and complied them that even if you don’t agree with firmly took root in 2014 after Michael 911 call in which a man waiting for a day that one of their security guards ville Middle School in western North with his request and quietly exited it, or understand it, you must respect Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and bus outside Cudell Recreation Center shouldn’t have stopped a North Caro- Carolina were at the 9/11 memorial the park.” authority,” she said. Eric Garner in New York City died reported that a man was waving a lina middle school choir from singing last Wednesday and had just started Video posted by an adult on the Putnam echoed the sentiment. at the hands of police. Grand juries gun and pointing it at people. The the national anthem on the memo- singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” school field trip sparked outrage “The lesson learned here is always declined to indict officers in those man told the call taker that the per- rial plaza. when a guard told them to stop. and led to an invitation for the stu- to respect authority,” the principal two deaths and in the shooting of son holding the gun was likely a “The guard did not respond Teacher Martha Brown said yes- dents to sing the anthem live on Fox said in a telephone interview. “And Tamir. juvenile and the weapon probably appropriately,” said the spokes- terday that a different security guard News. Brown and principal Trevor I’m so proud of our kids for conduct- A trial is pending for a federal wasn’t real. woman, Kaylee Skaar. “We are had given the OK for her students to Putnam joined the students for their ing themselves the way they did.”

US journalist Neruda reburied says he was Sanders vows to denied entry continue campaign into Turkey AP convention.” Both Democrats spent the day before the Connecticut, Del- AP aware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and HARTFORD: Bernie Sanders’ cam- Rhode Island contests campaigning paign chief is vowing his candidate on the East Coast. ISTANBUL: A Turkey-based will stay in the Democratic race until Clinton looked beyond her American journalist says he was the summer convention even as Hil- rivalry with Sanders and went after denied re-entry at Istanbul Ataturk lary Clinton looks to lock down her Republican front-runner Donald Airport yesterday and is returning commanding position for the party’s Trump as a man out of touch on to the United States. nomination with a strong perform- wages, climate change, national David Lepeska is one of several ance in a five-state round of contests security and the lives of everyday foreign journalists who have been today. people. recently detained, denied entry Clinton has the chance of a clean “Come out of those towers or expelled from Turkey as the sweep or at least multiple victories named after yourself and actually government cracks down on crit- today that would probably fore- talk and listen to people,” Clinton ical media and dissenting voices close Sanders’ already narrow path told a Delaware crowd, as if talking — raising concerns in a country to the nomination. But the Vermont to him. “Don’t just fly that big jet in once seen as a model of Muslim senator’s campaign manager, Jeff and land it and go make a big speech democracy and which aspires to Weaver, said the millions of dollars and insult everybody you can think EU membership. flowing to Sanders and the boister- of and then go back in on that big “I’ve been given no reason ous rallies show that his “supporters jet and go back to your country club for the entry ban, or confirma- will stand with us all the way to the house in Florida or your penthouse tion that this status is lasting or end.” Asked whether he expects in New York.” permanent,” Lepeska, who has a contested national Democratic She was addressing more than written for Foreign Affairs and Al convention, Weaver told report- 900 people in a Wilmington theater. Jazeera America, told The Asso- The family of Chilean poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda surround his coffin at the congress ers in Connecticut, “Absolutely, At a Hartford rally with more ciated Press. 100 percent.” Weaver said: “This than 1,800 people, Sanders drew headquarters in Santiago, Chile, before the reburial of his remains, yesterday. Lepeska arrived in Turkey is a powerful movement he’s built distinctions with Clinton on the min- from Italy on Sunday evening after and we’re going to take it to the imum wage. a family vacation. On arrival, he was informed that there was an entry ban on his visa and that he would need to wait for clear- ance from Ankara to re-enter the country. After nearly 20 hours of Green activists unfurl banner on iconic NYC Pepsi sign waiting, Lepeska said, he decided such clearance “probably wasn’t forthcoming” and booked a flight Reuters sign that is one of the most recog- and being responsible for large-scale for human rights.” In recent years, multibillion dollar brand. It has both to Chicago as he is a native of the nisable features of the New York deforestation. large swathes of tropical forests have the power and the resources to tackle area. On his Instagram account, he waterfront. The red neon billboard PepsiCo did not immediately been cut down particularly in South- the palm oil crisis head on,” said Gin- wrote, “This is not the last I will see NEW YORK: Environmental activ- was designated an official city land- respond to requests for comment east Asia to make way for commercial ger Cassady, a spokeswoman for the of you, Turkey.” ists attempted to shame multinational mark earlier this month. by phone and email. On its website, palm oil plantations amid growing Rainforest Action Network. There was no immediate com- PepsiCo yesterday by draping its Activists from the Rainforest the company says it is committed to demand, according to the World Wild- PepsiCo sells products to over 200 ment from Turkey’s Interior or iconic New York City billboard with a Action Network said the stunt was purchase palm oil certified by the life Fund. The activists said PepsiCo countries and territories, according to Foreign Ministries on his situation. banner in protest at its use of palm oil. intended to pressure PepsiCo into “Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil should play a larger part in encour- the company’s website. It owns a slew The US Consulate in Istan- A huge white banner reading “Cut ridding its supply chain of palm oil by 2020” and is committed to “doing aging responsible behaviour by the of global brands including Gatorade, bul declined to comment on Conflict Palm Oil” hung for about an from plantations where employ- business the right way and to real- palm oil industry. Lipton and the classic cola beverage the case. hour from a celebrated Pepsi-Cola ers are accused of abusing workers ising zero deforestation and respect “Pepsi is a globally influential, Pepsi. AMERICAS TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 1917 Cruz and Kasich join hands against Trump

“Not only would Trump get blown vote for him in only the first round out by (Hillary) Clinton or (Bernie) of balloting in the party’s nominating GOP bid to thwart Sanders, but having him as our convention in July, will desert him on abrasive frontrunner nominee would set the party back a subsequent rounds. generation.” Cruz in particular has been to keep July party Kasich’s campaign said the maneuvering in state party conven- convention open. aim was to open the Republican tions to have individuals named to nominating convention in July in delegate slots who, though bound Cleveland so that a unifying figure to Trump in the first round, would other than Trump can emerge as the be sympathetic to Cruz in subse- AFP candidate. quent rounds of balloting when they Kasich insists he is the only one are free to vote for whoever they who could beat Clinton in the general choose. election in November, but he played “Wow,” Trump responded on WASHINGTON: Republican presi- down the deal with Cruz as merely an Twitter. “Lyin’ Ted and Kasich are dential candidates Ted Cruz and John effort to husband campaign resources. going to collude in order to keep me Kasich launched into a team effort “I’ve never told them not to vote from getting the Republican nomina- yesterday to deny Donald Trump the for me,” he said at a diner in Phila- tion. DESPERATION!” party’s nomination, a late-in-the- delphia. “They ought to vote for me.” His opponents, he said in a state- game bid the billionaire frontrunner “What’s the big deal?” he told ment, “are mathematically dead and dismissed as an act of “desperation.” reporters as he ate breakfast at a Phil- totally desperate. Their donors & spe- With Trump poised to extend his adelphia diner. “I’m not campaigning cial interest groups are not happy with lead in primaries today in five north- in Indiana, and he’s not campaigning them. Sad!” Party heavyweights, eastern states, the Texas senator and in those other states. That’s all.” alarmed by the prospect of a Trump Ohio governor agreed late Sunday to “I don’t have, you know, like nomination, have long pressed for a what amounted to a non-aggression ‘Daddy Warbucks’ behind me giv- united effort around a single candi- pact in later primaries. ing me all this money. I have to be date against him. Kasich will forego vigorous cam- careful about my resources. But fur- But Cruz is almost as unpopu- paigning in Indiana, and Cruz will thermore, the reason why I’m in this lar with the party’s establishment return the favour in New Mexico and race, is I’m the only one that beats Hil- as Trump, and Kasich has refused to Oregon to try to deprive Trump of vic- lary Clinton.” bow out even though he has won just tories in those states. Trump retorted: “Kasich just a single primary, his home state of The deal would give Cruz a announced that he wants the people Ohio. Trump has pointed to the bid chance to consolidate support in Indi- of Indiana to vote for him. Typical pol- to stop him as evidence that the pri- ana, a winner-take-all state where itician — can’t make a deal work.” mary system is “totally rigged” and US Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz (left) and John Kasich during the Republican National a Trump loss would make it much The pact means both candidates that American politics is a “phony, Committee Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Miami’s Bank United Center, in Miami, Florida. harder for him to win the nomina- now believe their only hope of win- phony business.” tion outright. ning lies in keeping the 69-year-old In an election year that has high- The bruising battle is already were “terrible role models” and did — Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, “Having Donald Trump at the top Trump from gaining the 1,237 dele- lighted voter disaffection with politics straining the party and its supporters. not see how he could support them, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. of the ticket in November would be a gates needed to clinch the nomination as usual, a nomination fight at the Billionaire Charles Koch, a mega- adding it was “possible” Clinton would On the Democratic side, Clin- sure disaster for Republicans,” Cruz’s outright. convention would almost surely be funder for conservative causes, said in be a better president. ton also is expected to prevail over campaign manager Jeff Roe said in a If he falls short, Trump runs the damaging to the party’s prospects in an interview Sunday with ABC’s “This Meanwhile, Trump is favoured to her rival Vermont Senator Bernie statement. risk his delegates, who are bound to November. Week” the Republican candidates win in the five states that vote today Sanders. Attack on Mexico looks to recast US image as Trump lumbers ahead police sows Reuters “It’s vital to improve Mexico’s image Mexican officials say US politicians panic in and protect our people, but that’s not and officials urged it to keep a low profile enough to change the hateful trend that to avoid aggravating tensions, and played MEXICO CITY: At first, Mexico’s govern- Trump and other xenophobes before him down the real estate magnate’s chances. tourist hub ment did its best to ignore Donald Trump. have stirred up,” said Gabriela Cuevas, an “The Republicans told us, ‘We’ll deal Then it likened him to Adolf Hitler. Now it opposition lawmaker who chairs the Sen- with Trump’,” one senior Mexican govern- has appointed a new ambassador to come ate’s foreign relations committee. ment official said, speaking on condition up with a better plan. “They don’t understand the extent of of anonymity. AFP Fed up with the front-runner for the the damage Trump has done,” she said, When Mexico eventually did respond, Republican presidential nomination labe- urging the government to be more aggres- President Enrique Pena Nieto compared ling Mexico as a cradle of drug-runners, sive in mobilising powerful US interests the brash billionaire’ s campaign to the ACAPULCO: Gunmen launched job poachers and rapists, the government against Trump’s attacks. rise of Hitler and Benito Mussolini. two nearly simultaneous attacks is sending in respected diplomat Carlos Claiming Mexico is “killing” the United Mexican officials wince with embar- against federal police installa- Sada to lead a fightback. States on trade, Trump has threatened to rassment when reminded of the comment, tions in Acapulco’s tourist district, Mexico’s new ambassador in Wash- disrupt bilateral commerce worth some arguing it was tactless and went too far. sowing panic as people fled inside ington, Sada acknowledges his country $500bn a year, and promises to deport As Trump railed against Mexico, the restaurants and stores in Mexico’s has neglected its image across the border millions of undocumented migrants from government should have made a con- crime-plagued resort, authorities and aims to fix that with PR and media Mexico and Central America. certed effort to remind key players in the said yesterday. campaigns, and by lobbying prominent US To finance a border wall to keep United States that the two nations’ eco- A suspect was killed and an companies, lawmakers and civic leaders. migrants out, he has controversially nomic interests are closely intertwined, officer wounded in the gunfights, “We need to do a more thorough job proposed blocking billions of dollars in diplomats and business leaders say. which erupted late Sunday outside so that people understand what (Mexico) remittances sent home by Mexicans in the But over a dozen serving and former a hotel housing officers and a fed- contributes,” he said after he was sworn United States. senior Mexican officials and lawmakers eral police building. in at Mexico’s Senate on Thursday. The measures would pose a seri- consulted by Reuters said it did not. The city remained on edge yes- Sada’s strategy includes underscoring ous threat to Mexico’s economy, but for “They haven’t so far, but I do see the terday as several shops closed and Mexico’s importance to the US economy, months Mexico’s government disregarded intention to do it again,” said Jaime Serra, schools urged parents to keep their although it centres on defending the rights Trump, hoping his candidacy would fiz- a former trade minister who headed Mex- children home, while the streets of Mexican citizens in the United States zle out. ico’s negotiation of the North American were unusually quiet. and promoting Mexican culture. “It’s the ostrich policy: head in the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the The first attack erupted at the That focus has fed doubts over sand,” said Agustin Barrios Gomez, the United States and Canada in the early A supporter plays with a Donald Trump doll before the Alba Suites Hotel, where federal whether the government is trying hard head of Fundacion Imagen Mexico, a 1990s. police officers have been staying Republican candidate appeared at a rally in a hangar at enough to win over its most important group dedicated to promoting Mexico’s Trump has not been the only one to since they were sent as reinforce- Rider Jet Center yesterday. audience: image abroad. criticise Mexico. ments months ago. “Without uttering a word, the individuals started an assault with firearms against federal agents, who repelled the attack, forcing “Me and Mrs Jones” AyyayayayayayayyyyAwaiting his fate (the suspects) to flee the area in several vehicles,” the police said in a statement. singer Billy Paul dies A suspect died in that attack while an officer had minor wounds to his left leg and was out of dan- ger, the statement said. Reuters He began his singing career The other attack happened at age 11 and attended local music “almost at the same time” when schools in Philadelphia, the website gunmen opened fire against a said. When he was 16, he played at a building serving as the federal NEW YORK: Grammy-winning local club on the same bill as Char- police’s base in Acapulco. American soul singer Billy Paul, lie Parker, who died later that year. The assailants fled after police known for his 1972 No 1 single “Me Paul’s growing popularity led to counter-attacked. and Mrs Jones,” has died at the age concerts with Dinah Washington, The gunmen left behind a vehi- of 81 after suffering from pancre- Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Sammy cle containing documents that atic cancer, according to his wife Davis Jr and Roberta Flack, the web- will be included in investigations and website. site said. against the port’s criminal groups, He died on Sunday at his home He changed his name in the early the statement said. in Blackwood, New Jersey, where he 1960s from Paul Williams to Billy During the gunfights, peo- lived for 35 years. Paul to avoid confusion with other ple took cover in restaurants and “He will be deeply missed for- musicians, his wife said. shopping centers. Soldiers and ever,” Blanche Williams, Paul’s wife Paul was drafted and served in local police closed off part of the of 50 years, told Reuters yesterday. the US Army in 1957 with Elvis Pres- seaside Costera Aleman avenue for “He had a long career of 65 years, ley, Bing Crosby’s son Gary Crosby several hours. and he touched the lives of his fans and other musicians, the website Acapulco has become one of and friends all over the world.” said. Paul and Crosby started a jazz Mexico’s most dangerous cities as Paul, born and raised in north band together and asked Presley to various drug gangs fight turf wars Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was join them, but he said he wanted to in the area. among those connected with the take a break from music and work Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani witnessed last evening the arrival of Fath Al Kheir The hearing of Guatemalan former President Otto Perez Molina in court in Guatemala City yesterday. Some 325 people have been unique Philadelphia soul sound as a jeep driver, according to Paul’s 2 at Katara Cultural village beach. The event was also attended by H H Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad Al Molina and former Vice President Roxana Baldetti are accused of collecting millions in bribes to award murdered this year in the city of and credited with socially conscious website. Thani, Representative of the Emir. Pic: Qassim/The Peninsula → See also page 26 nearly one million people, accord- 1960s era civil rights music, his web- In addition to singing, Paul also a contract to build a port terminal. ing to official figures. site said. boxed in the Army, the website said.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 25o C Maximum: 36o C

FAJR 03.41 am ZUHR 11.32 am MAGHRIB 06.04 pm HIGH TIDE 06:30 - 20:00 Hazy to misty at places. SHOROOK 05.02 am ASR 03.01 pm ISHA 07.34 pm LOW TIDE 02:00 - 12:30

20 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Detergent packets Birds of a feather flock together www.thepeninsulaqatar.com pose poisoning risk to kids

MOST READ Reuters

Saudi Arabia to introduce expat ‘green 1 card’ within five years OHIO: Compared to other types of laundry Qatar on right track towards organisation of and dishwasher detergent, laundry deter- 2 2022 World Cup: UN official gent in packets is involved in more serious exposures for young kids, according to a Saudi Cabinet approves vast new study. 3 economic reform plan “Parents and child caregivers need to consider whether the minor potential con- venience of laundry detergent packets is worth the poisoning risk to children,” said TWEET OF THE DAY senior author Dr Gary A Smith, director of the Centre for Injury Research and Pol- icy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “Children exposed to laundry deter- Spanish actress Cristina Castano (second left) and humorist Jose Mota (second right) with filmmakers gent packets were significantly more likely to be admitted to a health care facility or Santiago Segura (left) and Alex de la Iglesia (right) during the presentation of the Spanish-language have a serious medical outcome than those version of the film 'Angry Birds' in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. All four of them have dubbed the film for exposed to other types of detergent,” Smith it's screening in Spain. said. Coma, fluid in the lungs, stopped breathing and death only happened in cases involving laundry detergent pack- ets, he said. His team analyzed data from the National Poison Data System on more than 62,000 children under age six who Sudan palace-museum recalls royal past were exposed to laundry and dishwasher detergents in 2013 and 2014. More than half the exposures involved packets. AFP Darfur region descended into bloody their subjects and raising revenue Exposures increased from 2013 to conflict in 2003 with millions of peo- via an elaborate feudal system. 2014, increasing more for both types of ple forced to flee their homes, leaving Hailing from the Fur ethnic group packets than for other detergents. Most the museum as one of the few traces (Darfur means "domain of the Fur" INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY exposed kids were younger than three. SUDAN: Tucked between palm trees of a rich past. in Arabic), Dinar's reign came to More than 80 percent of kids had and verdant lawns in the centre of "The museum is a source of pride an end in 1916 when he backed the swallowed the detergent. Hospitalization Darfur's El Fasher, the palace of the for all the tribes of Darfur," said Ottoman Empire at the height of the and serious medical outcomes were most restive Sudanese region's last sultan Eslam Abaker, an El Fasher resident First World War. Sudan's British and common for laundry detergent packets. has become a rare focus of pride, 100 relaxing on the lawn in front of the Egyptian rulers sent troops to crush Of the 117 cases that required inserting years after his death. palace. his rebellion, chancing on his camp a breathing tube into the child’s windpipe, Silver swords, antique rifles, Cases display the silver coins in November that year and shoot- 104 involved laundry detergent packets. richly coloured robes and even the minted as the region's own currency, ing him dead in the ensuing melee, Young man There were two deaths, both involv- throne from which autocrat Sultan Ali intricately decorated broadswords before absorbing Darfur into Sudan. distributes free ing laundry detergent packets, as reported Dinar ruled Darfur's vast expanses belonging to the sultan's lieutenants "The museum was established in 1976 water to passersby in Pediatrics. Parents should store laun- between 1891 and 1916 line the walls and Dinar's gold-painted throne. at the suggestion of Darfur Gover- in Al Wukair. Photo dry detergent packets up, away, and out of the palace museum. Dinar was the last of the Keira nor Al-Tayeb Murdi to commemorate by @basitqu of sight, close containers immediately Marginalised and underdevel- dynasty of sultans to rule the region the sultan and protect his heritage," after use. oped since Dinar's fall, the western as absolute monarchs, controlling its director Abdelrahman Sadig said. The Jungle Book ‘Game of Thrones’ remains king of box office returns for season six

AP AFP title, "The Red Woman," indicated that the Red Priestess Melisandre, played by Carice van Houten, would LOS ANGELES: "The Jungle Book" have a hand in bringing Snow back remained king of the box office in LOS ANGELES: Hit fantasy TV to life after he was stabbed by his its second weekend in theaters, show "Game of Thrones" returned mutinous underlings. beating new opener "The Hunts- for its season six premiere on Sun- Instead, the title was a reference man: Winter's War" by around day appearing to answer to one of to a big reveal in the final moments $40m, according to comScore the most hotly-debated questions of the episode. "Almost that time!" estimates. in modern television history: "Is Jon tweeted Houston Texans offensive Disney's live-action/CG Snow dead?" tackle and "Thrones" fans Duane spectacle is proving to be a true As well as revealing the fate of Brown as the episode was about to all-audience success story. With a the brooding Lord Commander of begin, before adding around an hour PG-rating and solid word of mouth, the Night's Watch -- which we will later: "What. The. Hell?" it fell only 41 percent in weekend not spoil for fans who have not yet "Game of Thrones" tells the story Libyan women take part in a seaside yoga session at a secluded beach in the Libyan capital Tripoli. two, earning $60.8m and bumping caught up -- the writers hit viewers of noble families vying for control of its domestic total to $191.5m in just with a huge curve ball that had them the Iron Throne, all the while keep- 10 days in theaters. rushing to social media to voice their ing one eye on the "White Walkers" The spectacular and somewhat shock. On Twitter #GameOfThrones leading hordes of the undead toward unexpected hold of "The Jungle was the top trending hashtag world- an invasion from the North. With Book" overshadowed the debut Tripoli women lean towards yoga wide for several hours before and more than 20 million viewers per of "The Huntsman: Winter's War," after the HBO premier at 9:00pm episode, the show's return had been which, despite its high-wattage on the US east coast. Fans specu- touted as the biggest TV drama event cast of Chris Hemsworth, Charl- AFP Libya has since been thrown into "After Zumba courses, Arabic and lated whether the season opener's since JR Ewing. ize Theron, Emily Blunt and Jessica disarray, with warring armed groups Indian dance classes, and fitness pro- Chastain, had a somewhat lacklus- and rival political factions vying for grammes, we decided to start yoga ter $20.1m bow. control and the Islamic State group on the beach." The movie cost $115m to pro- TRIPOLI: Mats rolled tightly under establishing a bastion in the oil-rich Eyes narrowed in concentra- duce and is a follow-up to the 2012 their arms, a group of women walk North African country. tion, the students -- hair covered fairy tale fantasy "Snow White to a secluded Tripoli beach for a sea- Thousands of Libyans have fled with headscarves, sun hats or base- and the Huntsman," this time side yoga session to escape tensions the unrest but for those left behind, ball caps -- closely mimic the poses focused on Hemsworth's charac- in conflict-stricken Libya. daily life has been significantly cur- held by Abir. ter. The first film was budgeted at Under the watch of a solitary tailed and frequent clashes in the Four women sit on nearby rocks, $170m, earned $56.2m in its debut police car, each Thursday the 25 capital mean it is often too danger- observing and commenting on the and went on to gross $396.6m aspiring yogis begin limbering up, ous to exercise outside. class. A few metres away, the luxu- worldwide. their bright gym attire outlined And with a conservative Muslim rious villas of the Ragata compound There are a number of fac- against the crumbling concrete society implicitly imposing restric- once used by Libya’s expatriate oil tors that may have contributed security compound that forms the tions on how one should dress and worker community sit abandoned, to the uninspiring performance backdrop to their open-air studio. behave, Libyan women are especially some vandalised, like those of Kad- of the sequel, one of which is the "Yoga releases the pressure we short of viable pastimes. hafi’s sons. absence of original star Kristen live under. Here I can escape reality," Abir Ben Yushah, who operates For many Libyan women who Stewart, comScore senior ana- one participant, Mawadda, tells AFP an exercise studio at her family- enjoy Italian fashion and like listen- lyst Paul Dergarabedian noted. before the afternoon class. Tripoli owned gym, struck upon the idea ing to music, practicing yoga was "Snow White and the Huntsman" residents have endured near-con- of yoga classes after talking to other nothing new. The novelty, however, Jan Burda, employee of Mackevision, working on the Collosus launched in June 2012 — right in stant unrest since a NATO-backed women. "We understood that women was to do it on a beach in broad day- between the releases of the final uprising toppled longtime dictator need hobbies and a change after the light without upsetting conservative of Rhodes for the movie 'Game of Thrones' in the company's two "Twilight" films. Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. war," she said. members of the society. headquarters in Stuttgart. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 22 QE 10,184.51 -78.05 PTS PAGE | 23 DOW 17,935.50 -68.25 PTS QCRI seeks 80 Al Rayan acts as FTSE100 6,260.92 -49.52 PTS international sole listing advisor patent rights BRENT $44.53 -$0.58 for QFB

TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 • 19 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

QCB policies ‘ensured ample liquidity’ in the market

Ritz Carlton here. for security and also launched the first He added that QCB has organ- Organised under the auspices of regional centre for clearing of Chines sied many consultation activities, QCB is working for QCB, experts in the two-day forum currency renminbi . The central gov- conducted workshops and training further developing are discussing monetary policy strate- ernor said that in order to ensure programmes for them. The central gies adopted by various central banks financial stability and help financial bank set up Qatar Business incuba- the infrastructure in the aftermath of global financial sector to play its role in economic tion centre in 2014 which has become of Qatar’s financial crisis and the role of development development, QCB is implementing one of the largest centre in MENA sector. finance institutions in improving Basel -III standards for financial reg- region. Two batches of entrepreneurs the effectiveness of monetary trans- ulations, in addition to implementing have graduated from the cetnre and mission channels. ADFIMI stands for collective cautious policies. it has incubated 33 local companies Association of National Development He added that the role of QCB in and trained more than 100 entrepre- By Sachin Kumar Finance Institutions (DFIs). supporting economic development is neurs in 2014. The Peninsula Delivering inaugural speech, H driven by Qatar National Vision 2030. “During the response to the eco- E Sheikh Abdullah said QCB’s mon- QCB in collaboration with the regu- nomic and financial crisis of 2008, etary policy has remained coherent lating authorities at Qatar Financial central banks played a major role and has managed liquidity in a way Centre and Qatar Financial Mar- alongside governments. Collectively DOHA: At a time when the global that ensured sufficient funds for the kets Authority has set a strategic central bank policies, since the outbreak financial system is staring at a liquid- market. We review the financial plan 2013-2016 for economic devel- of the crisis have made a crucial contri- ity shortage, Qatar Central Bank’s regulations and policies with aim of opment. The plan is based on major bution to restoring financial stability,” (QCB) prudent steps have ensured enhancing financial stability. We are goals such as improvement of reg- said M Emin Ozcan, Chariman, ADFIMI. that there is enough liquidity in the working on the development of the ulatory standards, strengthening “In 2016, nine years after the eruption QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani speaking at the banking system. QCB is working for infrastructure of the financial sector monitoring system, strengthening of the crisis, the central banking com- ADFIMI Development Forum yesterday. further developing the infrastructure along with payment and settlement market infrastructure, protection of munity still faces many difficulties and of the country’s financial sector, said system, he said. consumers and investors and build- challenges as it seeks possible exit strat- QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah The central bank has established ing human capital. Enterprises (SMEs) is one of the lead- wide range of products and services to egies form their current policy stances bin Saoud Al Thani yesterday, speak- Qatar Centre for Credit Information Governor said Qatar’s experi- ing and ideal in the region. QCB has set them and has provided several options and struggles with possible medium- ing at ADFIMI Development Forum at and Qatar central deposit company ence in supporting Small and Medium up incubator facility for SMEs, provides to meet their funding needs. term impacts,” he added. UDC records QR271m net profit in Q1 Commercial Bank posts QR274m net profit The Peninsula to dining outlets in Qanat Quartier, later in 2016,” he stated. Al Othman further highlighted the completion of Abraj Quartier’s iconic The Peninsula create a modern, state-of-the-art DOHA: United Development Com- towers at The Pearl’s entrance by end banking centre for the people of Al pany (UDC), a leading Qatari of the second quarter of 2016. Wakrah, offering customers Retail, shareholding company and master “Abraj Quartier realises our stra- Corporate and, Sadara Privileged developer of The Pearl-Qatar, yester- tegic vision to make The Pearl-Qatar DOHA: The Commercial Bank Banking services at the branch. The day announced a net profit of QR271m a fully functional city and thus has (Q.S.C.) delivered a net profit of Bank continued its strategy to adopt for the first quarter of 2016 (Q1 2016). been designed to fulfill the market QR274m for Q1 2016 compared to innovative technologies to contin- Net profit attributable to owners of demand for more commercial office QR462m recorded in Q1 2015. The ually improve business capabilities the company stood at QR259m. spaces in the wider West Bay area, bank’s net profit increased by 177 that benefit customers by installing “Sustainable performance was the country’s primary business dis- percent in Q1, 2016 from QR93m a new, state-of-the-art banknote maintained over the past three trict,” he said. posted in Q4 2015. processing machine – another ‘first months. The Company is ambitious Established in 1999, UDC was The total assets of the bank rose of its kind’ for any bank in Qatar. for growth in different segments, listed on the Qatar Exchange in June 6.2 percent to QR123.3bn from a year During Q1, 2016, Commercial and most notably The Pearl-Qatar UDC Chairman Turki Mohamed Al Khater and President & CEO Ibrahim 2003. Companies under its umbrella ago. Customer loans and advances Bank signed an MoU with a Mexi- where our continued focus on project Jassim Al Othman include United Fashion Company, rose by 5 percent to QR75.5bn as can development bank providing a delivery of premium residential and Hospitality Development Company, compared to Q1, 2015. framework for future collaboration commercial units enables the Com- alike,” he added. percent. This reflects the company’s Ronautica Middle East, Madinain- Announcing the financial results for projects in Qatar involving Mex- pany to be well-positioned to be in Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, ability to achieve revenue and main- ova, United Technology Solutions and of the bank and its subsidiaries, ican enterprises, or for projects in the real estate development sec- UDC President and Chief Execu- tain stable operating performance. The Pearl Owners Corporation among Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Jabor Mexico involving Qatari enterprises. tor,” said Turki Mohamed Al Khater, tive Officer said the results of first “During the first quarter, we have many others. UDC’s target areas of Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of The bank continued actively Chairman, UDC. “With the coun- quarter of 2016 reflect steady per- witnessed a steady rise in the resi- interest include: infrastructure and Directors of Commercial Bank, said: supporting the Qatar National Vision try’s economy on its way to recovery formance. The company focused on dential and retail occupancy rates in utilities, real estate, hydrocarbon and “Despite the current economic con- 2030 agenda during the first quar- in 2016 and UDC’s proven ability to maintaining sustainable revenue from The Pearl-Qatar and we believe this energy, urban development, environ- ditions, Commercial Bank continues ter of the year. Qatari nationals withstand different types of contin- its core operations. The revenue for progressive trend will continue as the mental-related businesses, hospitality to benefit and support sustainable aged 16 to 19 completed the Bank’s gencies, The Pearl-Qatar continues to the first quarter of 2016 increased by Island prepares to welcome a wider and leisure, fashion, information growth of the economy of Qatar as annual Youth Leadership Accelera- be a safe and lucrative investment for 15 percent than prior period, and the selection of retail shops in the vibrant technology, business and facility it diversifies under the guidance of tion Programme in partnership with individual and institutional investors gross profit witnessed a growth of 13 district of Medina Centrale in addition management services. our wise leader, Emir H H Sheikh HEC Paris, a programme designed to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Growth develop human capital in line with prospects for the economy remain the National Vision 2030. strong, as the government maintains Hussain Alfardan, Commercial its public infrastructure investment, Bank’s Vice Chairman and Manag- Gulf International Services revenue at QR775m supported by government borrow- ing Director, said,: “ Our business ing and significant fiscal reserves.” in Qatar has shown improvement On the bank’s key achievements compared to the previous quar- The Peninsula compared to the profit of QR 355.7m and earnings company on February 12, 2008 by Resolution during Q1, 2016, he said the bank ter, as we target the opportunities per share of QR 1.91 in Q1, 2015. This year-on-year Number 42 of 2008 of the State of Qatar’s Min- completed in February a QR2bn trans- of an increasingly diversified econ- decrease was primarily driven by reduced reve- istry of Economy and Commerce. The authorised action in Additional Tier 1 Perpetual omy. Although economic conditions nues across all segments following the softening share capital is QR 2bn with the issued share capi- Capital Notes to strengthen capital remain challenging, we continue to DOHA: Gulf International Services (GIS), the larg- of rates and reduced level of activities. tal consisting of 185.8 million ordinary shares and adequacy ratios and support fund- see opportunity in the short and est services group in Qatar, with interests in a broad Recognizing the surrounding difficult trading 1 special share. ing future growth across its domestic long-term for Commercial Bank.” cross-section of industries, recorded a revenue of conditions, the group has already embarked on sev- Through the group companies, Gulf Inter- bank, subsidiaries and associates. Net operating income was lower QR775m for the first quarter of 2016 (Q1, 16), down eral measures to improve its profitability including national Services QSC operates in four distinct Commercial Bank also added to by 2.5 percent at QR929m for the from QR1.2bn recorded during the same period last further rationalizing the costs together with opti- segments - insurance and reinsurance, drilling, its nationwide network by opening a Quarter ended 31 March 2016 as year. The reduction was driven by a combination mizing the utilisation of operating assets and the helicopter transportation and catering services. new branch in the strategic location compared to the achieved in same of factors including softening of rates and reduced supply chain. Qatar Petroleum, the largest shareholder, of Al Wakrah, a location connect- period in 2015. ABank delivered level of activities across all group segments due to “We believe that these measures will help the provides all of the head office functions for Gulf ing the city of Doha and Messaied net operating income of QR98m for the current market conditions and the challenges group overcome the current difficulties encoun- International Services QSC. The operations of the – one of the oldest oil and gas cen- the Quarter. The Bank’s net provi- faced with the plunge in global oil prices, GIS stated. tered and to move forward when the trading subsidiaries remain independently managed by tres in Qatar. The newly revamped sions for loans and advances were Net profit for the period ended March 31, 2016 conditions recover”, GIS said. their respective Boards of Directors and senior building is located on Al Wakrah’s QR 259.1m for the quarter ended 31 was QR 78.9m with earnings per share of QR 0.42, GIS was incorporated as a Qatari joint stock management teams. main street and has been rebuilt to March 2016, up 52 percent. 22 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

QCRI seeks 80 international patent rights; 15 already granted

The national research institute, within six years of its inception, has successfully bagged over a dozen patent rights.

By Mohammad Shoeb Shell’s GTL fuel carrier. The Peninsula New EU specifications promise DOHA: Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has filed over 80 appli- cations seeking international patents under the ‘Patent bright future for Qatar GTL fuel Cooperation Treaty’ (PCT) for its innovative and cutting- Dr Ahmed Elmagarmid, Executive Director of QCRI, edge technologies, a top official of the QCRI said yesterday. speaking at a seminar yesterday. The national research institute, within six years of its Pic: A Basit / The Peninsula inception, has successfully bagged over a dozen patent THe Peninsula example, manufacturers may now and non-toxic. Shell GTL Fuel also rights for intellectual properties developed in different Dr Elmagarmid, a former professor of Pennsylvania consider adding EN15940 to a list of helps reduce local emissions of nitro- fields, including Data Analytics, Arabic Language Tech- State University, is an expert in Database system. Before approved fuels in their equipment gen oxides and particulate matter. It nologies and Social Computing. taking the responsibility as founder executive director user manuals. This will also bring is commercially available to cus- “We have been granted some 15 patents for the US of QCRI, he founded two successful organisations with DOHA: The European Committee for quality and safety assurances to cus- tomers in Europe, primarily in The and European Union for the applications filed under PCT. funding from the Lilly Endowment and the State of Indi- Standardisation (CEN) announced tomers,” said Michael Flynn, General Netherlands, Germany, United King- It has been our focus area since the inception. QCRI has ana: the Indiana Center for Database Systems (ICDS) and that the EN15940 standard for par- Manager for Gas-to-Liquid Products dom, Denmark and France. also been successful in obtaining licenses for commer- the Cyber Center (CC). He was appointed corporate Chief affinic diesel fuels, such as Shell at Shell. “Shell believes GTL Fuel will Paraffinic fuels do not fully meet cializing many of its innovative technologies,” Dr Ahmed Scientist for Hewlett-Packard (HP) during HP’s acquisi- Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) Fuel, was rat- play an increasingly important role in the EN590 specification because they Elmagarmid, Executive Director of QCRI told The Penin- tion of Compaq. ified last week. Shell was involved the fuel mix for heavy duty transport, have slightly lower density. However, sula on the sidelines of seminar organised by Hamad bin Elmagarmid stressed that QCRI supports the mis- in the nine year consultation proc- be it road or marine, and machinery, paraffinic fuels now offer signif- Khalifa University (HBKU) in collaboration with QCRI sion to build Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity ess having first proposed the creation especially in regions where govern- icantly improved and favourable and Qatar Chamber (QC) . by focusing on large-scale computing challenges that of a specification in 2007, before the ments are keen to improve local air fuel properties. They compensate for He added: “In addition to the above technological address national priorities for growth and development as largest GTL facility, Pearl GTL, came emissions immediately. This new their low density with higher energy advancements in various fields, we have been able to well as to become a global leader of computing research on stream in Qatar. European Standard opens more doors content and cetane number, and the manage and build a very strong team of local and foreign in identified areas that will bring positive impact to the EN15940 will now create a for the use of cleaner burning Shell higher consistency of the fuel mol- minds who have been developing ‘know-how’, technol- lives of people. standardised platform for markets GTL Fuel today,” added Michael. ecules mean they combust more ogies and linking it to Qatar’s needs.” Some of the QCRI’s research programmes include , to develop around paraffinic fuels. Shell GTL Fuel is part of the uniformly in diesel engines com- He said that the objective of organising this one-day Data Analytics, Distributed System, Computational Sci- These 100% finished fuels can be emerging paraffinic fuel market, pared with conventional refinery seminar was to introduce the works of QCRI and its major ence and Engineering, Social Computing, and Cyber used as drop-in fuels and have the offering a cleaner-burning alterna- diesel, resulting in lower emissions. achievements to the Chamber and its members. Security, with special focus on threat analysis and miti- potential to improve local air quality tive fuel produced at Pearl GTL in Shell has conducted several field The QCRI is looking to join hands with some private gation, cyber intelligence, and developing technological without the need for engine modi- Ras Laffan, Qatar, a partnership with trials on Shell GTL Fuel in major cit- companies to commercialse the innovative technologies solutions to address cyber problems affecting Qatar’s crit- fications or changes in existing fuel Qatar Petroleum. This world-scale ies around the world over the past developed by the institute. In the past it had established ical infrastructures in key industrial sectors. infrastructure. plant produces 140,000 barrels per decade, covering over 1 million kil- partnerships with many prominent organizations, such as “Currently we are working on three major issues “This is a significant milestone day of GTL products including Shell ometres. Key market segments for Al Jazeera Media Network, Computer Science and Artifi- which include: Industrial Control System, Cyber intelli- for our Shell GTL Fuel business. GTL Fuel. Shell GTL Fuel can be used Shell GTL Fuel include city utility cial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) of MIT, among others. gence and Intrusion and Malware,” Elmagarmid added. EN15940 will now become the fuel as a drop-in fuel in diesel engines vehicles and public transport, inland Present at the event were distinguished guests from “Before any cyber attacks there are a lot of jitters on standard that is referred to when without the need for engine modifi- and seagoing marine vessels, con- HBKU and QCRI, and prominent business leaders, Internet such as social media. By analysing all this manufacturers and legislators cations, new infrastructure or vehicle struction machinery and vehicles, including Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Tawar Al Kuwari, information, we can predict any cyber threat before stipulate conditions specifically con- investment. It is virtually sulphur-and power generation equipment, avia- Vice-Chairman of QC. they come.” cerning use of paraffinic fuels. For aromatics free, readily biodegradable tion ground fleets and rail.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2016 QAR ‘000s AS AT 31 MARCH 2016 QAR ‘000s Independent auditors’ report on review of Three months ended condensed consolidated interim financial

31 March 16 31 March 15 31 March 16 31 March 15 31 Dec 15 statements to the Board of Directors of The Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Audited Commercial Bank (Q.S.C.) Interest income 1,146,220 1,044,821 Interest expense (521,911) (419,282) ASSETS Introduction Net interest income 624,309 625,539 Cash and balances with central banks 6,782,328 7,067,287 5,423,592 Due from banks 17,479,403 15,337,680 15,830,943 We have reviewed the accompanying 31 March 2016 condensed Fee and commission income 267,951 293,269 Loans and advances to customers 75,513,698 71,944,228 76,601,549 consolidated interim financial statements of The Commercial Bank Fee and commission expense (68,142) (65,597) Investment securities 13,500,695 12,497,538 15,854,241 (Q.S.C.) (“the Bank”) and its subsidiaries (together “the Group”), which Net fee and commission income 199,809 227,672 Investment in associates and joint arrangement 4,449,104 4,426,737 4,423,172 comprises: Property and equipment 1,368,632 1,294,826 1,345,381 Net foreign exchange gain 23,543 38,030 v WKHFRQGHQVHGFRQVROLGDWHGVWDWHPHQWRIoQDQFLDOSRVLWLRQDVDW Intangible assests 651,725 750,313 638,379 March 2016; Income from investment securities 44,325 30,175 Other assets 3,566,889 2,803,718 3,303,797 Other income 37,218 30,815 TOTAL ASSETS 123,312,474 116,122,327 123,421,054 v WKHFRQGHQVHGFRQVROLGDWHGLQFRPHVWDWHPHQWIRUWKHWKUHH Net operating income 929,204 952,231 months ended 31 March 2016; LIABILITIES v WKHFRQGHQVHGFRQVROLGDWHGVWDWHPHQWRIFRPSUHKHQVLYHLQFRPH Staff costs (228,096) (211,553) Due to banks 8,364,826 14,753,572 12,456,035 for the three months ended 31 March 2016; Depreciation (35,383) (38,449) Customer deposits 72,130,466 61,747,380 69,787,654 v WKHFRQGHQVHGFRQVROLGDWHGVWDWHPHQWRIFKDQJHVLQHTXLW\IRUWKH Amortization of intangible assets (13,431) (13,085) Debt securities 7,958,562 9,264,531 8,449,337 three months ended 31 March 2016; Impairment loss on investment securities (20,264) (6,115) Other borrowings 12,195,487 9,766,859 12,074,417 Net impairment loss on loans and advances to customers (259,141) (170,191) v WKHFRQGHQVHGFRQVROLGDWHGVWDWHPHQWRIFDVKpRZVIRUWKHWKUHH Other liabilities 3,931,690 3,665,396 3,354,931 months ended 31 March 2016; and Other expenses (144,065) (137,444) TOTAL LIABILITIES 104,581,031 99,197,738 106,122,374 Profit before share of results of associates and joint arrangement 228,824 375,394 v QRWHVWRWKHFRQGHQVHGFRQVROLGDWHGLQWHULPoQDQFLDOVWDWHPHQWV Share of results of associates and joint arrangement 30,008 99,460 EQUITY The Board of Directors of the Bank are responsible for the preparation Share capital 3,266,292 3,266,292 3,266,292 and presentation of these condensed consolidated interim financial Profit before tax 258,832 474,854 statements in accordance with IAS 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’ Income tax credit/(expense) 15,336 (12,309) Legal reserve 8,826,120 8,820,294 8,820,294 Profit for the period 274,168 462,545 General reserve 26,500 26,500 26,500 and applicable provisions of the Qatar Central Bank regulations. Risk reserve 1,787,308 1,748,625 1,787,308 Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on this condensed Attributable to: Fair value reserve 4,868 138,237 (70,305) consolidated interim financial statements based on our review. Equity holders of the Bank 288,115 452,366 Foreign currency translation reserve (750,073) (606,203) (804,995) Non-controlling interests (13,947) 10,179 Other reserves 1,169,895 1,083,781 1,139,887 Scope of Review Profit for the period 274,168 462,545 Other equity (657,337) (675,418) (651,052) We conducted our review in accordance with the International Standard Retained earnings 511,919 546,047 1,239,526 on Review Engagements 2410, “Review of Interim Financial Information Earnings per share TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE BANK 14,185,492 14,348,155 14,753,455 Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity”. A review of Basic/diluted earnings per share (QAR) 0.76 1.29 Non-controlling interests 545,951 576,434 545,225 interim financial statements consists of making inquiries, primarily of Instruments eligible for additional capital 4,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying TOTAL EQUITY 18,731,443 16,924,589 17,298,680 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 123,312,474 116,122,327 123,421,054 analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2016 QAR ‘000s in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and consequently does not enable us to obtain Three months ended The condensed consolidated interim financial statements was approved by the Board of Directors on 25 April 2016 and was signed 31 March 16 31 March 15 on its behalf by: assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that Reviewed Reviewed might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit Profit for the period 274,168 462,545 opinion. Other comprehensive income for the period: Conclusion Items that are, or may subsequently be, reclassified to profit or loss: Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operation 69,595 (281,036) Sheikh Abdulla Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani Mr. Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan Mr. Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi us to believe that the accompanying 31 March 2016 condensed Share of other comprehensive income of investment in associates and joint arrangement (4,076) (5,781) Chairman Vice Chairman & Managing Director Chief Executive Officer consolidated interim financial statements are not prepared, in all Net movement in fair value of available-for-sale investments: material respects, in accordance with IAS 34, ‘Interim Financial - Change in fair value 100,993 62,941 Reporting’ and applicable provisions of the Qatar Central Bank - Amount transferred to profit and loss (21,744) (10,918) Other comprehensive income for the period 144,768 (234,794) regulations. Total comprehensive income for the period 418,936 227,751 Attributable to: 25 April 2016 Gopal Balasubramaniam Equity holders of the bank 418,210 303,536 Doha KPMG Non-controlling interests 726 (75,785) State of Qatar Qatar Auditors Registry Number 251 Total comprehensive income for the period 418,936 227,751 BUSINESS TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 23 Al Rayan acts as sole listing advisor for QFB

The transaction demonstrates Al Rayan Investment’s leading position in the Qatari market and also its strong execution capabilities. Qatar National Bank officials receiving the awards in Dubai.

The Peninsula Ziad Makkawi (left) and Haithem Katerji QNB wins 2 prestigious awards also our strong execution capabil- Banking and Financial Services ities, tenacity and professionalism Sector on the QSE with a share trad- DOHA: Al Rayan Investment LLC, for successfully completing strate- ing symbol “QFBQ” as announced from Asian Banker Magazine a Doha based Shari’ah compliant gically important transactions for our by the QSE. investment firm, and a wholly-owned clients. We remain committed to ful- The guiding trading price for subsidiary of Masraf Al Rayan, has filling our clients’ investment banking the first day of trading will be QR acted as the “Sole Listing Advisor” for needs as their “trusted advisor”, by 15.0 per share with a price fluctua- The Peninsula networking opportunities. According worldwide by providing them with Qatar First Bank (QFB) on its debut adopting a partnering approach and tion limit of 30 percent up or down, to The Asian Banker, QNB received full support wherever they are. This listing on the Qatar Exchange (QE). leveraging our knowledge of the local which will be permitted only for the the highly competitive award after is accomplished through the constant QFB, a leading Shari’ah com- regulatory requirements”. first day of listing; however, on the successfully undergoing all the strin- improvement of products and serv- pliant bank based in Qatar, offers Ziad Makkawi, QFB’s Chief Exec- second day and thereafter a price DOHA: QNB has received two pres- gent valuation for the International ices, the achievement of harmonious investment opportunities and inno- utive Officer, said: “Our listing on the fluctuation limit of 10% up or down tigious awards: “Best Business Model Excellence in Retail Financial Serv- integration across all its branches and vative financial solutions with local, QSE was always a top priority, and we will apply as is the case for all other Execution in the Middle East” and ices Programme. representative offices worldwide, and regional and international reach. are proud to deliver on this promise to listed companies. “Best Network Integration in the QNB’s winning of the awards is by offering top of the line e-banking The listing on the domestic our shareholders who have supported Katerji added: “We believe Middle East” from the Asian Banker a true testament to the excellence services to fulfill all their needs and bourse is a landmark transaction, us all these years and to the Qatar QFB’s listing will pave the way for Magazine. The awards were received of the Group’s services and busi- requirements and allow them to carry which marks several significant mile- market in general. The listing repre- other listings on the QSE, including during The Asian Banker’s Middle ness model across its international out their banking operations on the go stones including the first new listing sents another significant milestone in Al Rayan Qatar Exchange Traded East & Africa Regional Awards Dinner network, given that the programme anywhere in the world. As a leading on the QE in 2016, the first Qatar the Bank’s quest to grow, expand its Fund (Al Rayan ETF), the first & Ceremony, held recently in Dubai. is considered the most prestigious, provider of strategic intelligence on Financial Center licensed entity to offerings and provide a ‘Signature of exchange Traded fund in Qatar, The awards ceremony was held comprehensive and anticipated the financial services industry, be listed on the QE; the first private Excellence’ to its clients”. which is expected to be launched in conjunction with The Middle East awards programme that recognises The Asian Banker facilitates sector entity to be listed on the QE Makkawi added: “Al Rayan in the coming months. & Africa Heads of Retail Annual Dia- excellence amongst the world’s awards programs known for their in six years, and the first bank to be Investment worked closely with us Al Rayan ETF is expected to fur- logue, part of Middle East & Africa leading retail financial institutions rigour, impartiality and transpar- listed on the QSE in nine years. to understand our strategic require- ther contribute to the development of International Banking Conven- as well as the undisputed perform- ency. QNB is a previous recipient of Commenting on the listing, ments and goals as well as our the local capital market by improving tion. The dialogue and convention ance benchmark of the best retail these distinguished awards, gaining Haithem Katerji, Chief Investment shareholders objectives and managed market depth and liquidity”. Katerji are considered important financial banks in an increasingly fierce such recognitions as “Best Transac- Officer of Al Rayan Investment, said: the transaction through an intense also commended the dedication and events in the global retail banking marketplace. tion Bank in the Middle East & Africa”, “This transaction demonstrates not process to ensure seamless execu- support provided by various regu- agenda, where regional and glo- QNB always strives to provide “Best Direct Bank”, “Best Cash Man- only Al Rayan Investment’s leading tion within a short period of time.” latory authorities for facilitating the bal elite retail bankers can come smooth, seamless international agement Bank in Qatar”, and “Best position in the Qatari market, but QFB will be listed under the listing process. together and enjoy unprecedented banking operations to all its clients Trade Finance Bank in Qatar”. Minister to open Cityscape ACTS completes surveys for Doha Metro Qatar 2016 today The Peninsula structures alignment, in addition to its ACTS has been involved in geotechnical investigations and geo- some of the most important infra- The Peninsula with insights on a number of wide physical survey (for cavity mapping) structure projects around the Gulf ranging topics, including ‘Interna- assignments. region, providing a range of quality tional Property Investment’ as well DOHA: Advanced Construction Tech- Khaled Awad, (pictured) control services including inspec- as ‘Real Estate Valuation and Trans- nology Services (ACTS), a consulting Chairman of ACTS, said, “Today’s tion and supervision, monitoring DOHA: The fifth edition of ‘Cit- actions Trends in the GCC Region’, organisation in the field of construc- construction projects call for spe- of mass concrete, testing and eval- yscape Qatar 2016’, the world’s and will place a particular focus on tion materials and geotechnical cialisation and the adoption of uation of various materials as well leading real estate event portfolio for Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, the UK and engineering, said it has completed game-changing technologies to as audit for asphalt and concrete emerging markets, will be opened US real estate sectors. geotechnical investigations and geo- ensure the delivery of the highest production facilities. ACTS was today at Doha Exhibition and Con- There is a long list of exhibitors physical surveys on five construction quality work. ACTS’ unique special- commissioned to do quality con- vention Center (DECC). from local companies, including the packages of the metro lines being isation in surface and underground trol work on mega-projects such as The event is being held under the event’s Platinum Sponsor Just Real executed in Doha. rail projects positioned us well for King Abdulaziz International Airport patronage of the Prime Minister and Estate (JRE), who will also be launch- In line with the terms of the this multi-project challenge. We are and the Kingdom Tower, the world’s Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdul- ing at this year’s event and will be investigation contracts, ACTS worked pleased with our strong resources in first kilometre-high skyscraper cur- lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. joined by Al Bandary Real Estate (Al on the Red Line South Elevated and rail geo-engineering which perfectly rently under construction in Jeddah, The three-day event, where Bandary), United Development Com- At-Grade with FCC Construction, S.A. complement our vast experience in Saudi Arabia. The company was also latest real estate developments in pany (UDC), Ezdan Holding Group - Yüksel Insaat, A.S. - Archirodon concrete technology, quality control awarded one of the subcontract pack- Qatar and wider region is being (Ezdan), Gold Bay Real Estate and Construction (Overseas) Company, ACTS deployed 16 drilling rigs, and testing for such projects. It is this ages to carry out geotechnical and showcased, will be officially inaugu- John Taylor. Ahmed Zakaria, Exhi- S A - Petroserv Limited Joint Ven- state-of-the art field testing equip- portfolio of knowledge-based capa- geophysical works on Riyadh Metro rated (today at 4pm) by the Minister bition Director, speaking on behalf ture, whilst carrying out geotechnical ment, and six geophysical teams bilities and vertical specialisation Lines 1 and 2 in support of the BACS of Economy and Commerce, H E of Cityscape Qatar, said: “At City- investigations and engineering serv- comprised of expert geophysicists. that is enabling us to keep pace with (Saudi Arabian Bechtel, Almabani Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani. scape Qatar we remain committed ices along with the related testing The work package included pumping the demands of modern infrastruc- General Contractors and Consolidated Running in parallel to Cityscape to supporting and actively promot- works on another four of the main tests and necessary in-situ tests at the ture projects in the GCC, including the Contractors Company and Siemens Qatar 2016, the only international ing the real estate sector in Qatar. I metro construction packages. stations and along the tunnel/elevated Doha Metro.” Aktiengesellschaft) Consortium. real estate development and invest- would like to take this opportunity ment event in Qatar, will be two key to extend our gratitude and appreci- content-rich events, including the ation to both HE Abdullah bin Nasser Cityscape Qatar Market Overview bin Khalifa Al Thani and HE Sheikh Creditors with which will feature an industry led Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani and for Restructuring bonds panel discussion that will examine their support in this year’s edition of $1.2bn of Cuban the role of real estate in achieving Cityscape Qatar.” Qatar’s long term goals. There will be a number of key debt begin talks Cityscape Qatar Talks, a series of projects on display during Cityscape, free-to-attend seminars for indus- with the exhibition placing a greater try professionals and those members emphasis on residential properties, Reuters of the wider public who are inter- in order to meet Qatar’s growing ested in learning the secrets of population and provide appropri- profitable real estate investment ate housing solutions for companies and understanding how to build a and residents in Qatar. LONDON: A creditor group quality international property port- Al Bandary will be exhibiting formed to negotiate with Cuba folio will also take place during the Jumanah 2 located at Porto Arabia, over defaulted debt has already exhibition. It will provide attendees The Pearl-Qatar (TPQ). started talks with Havana, its newly appointed coordinator said, warning of a need to speed up the process. The ad hoc committee holds Quilter Cheviot eyes profit obligations representing $1.2bn worth of Cuban debt and includes three funds - Stancroft Trust, Ade- DUBAI: Quilter Cheviot expects its Dubai office to turn a profit within two lante Exotic Debt Fund and CRFI to three years after opening its first base outside the United Kingdom and Ltd - according to Rodrigo Oli- Ireland in the Gulf emirate, the chief executive of the investment manager vares-Caminal, a law professor at said yesrerday. London’s Queen Mary University. The firm, bought by Old Mutual in late-2014, is aiming to diversify its Their holdings amount to about business with the representative office and exploit a gap in the Middle East- 40 percent of Cuba’s private-sec- ern market for bespoke investing. tor debt, plus interest, according The logo of Brazil’s largest fixed-line telecoms group Oi is seen inside a shop in Sao Paulo. Oi SA “This is the first opportunity to expand internationally but the to Olivares-Caminal, a sovereign- yesterday formally started talks to restructure $14.3bn of bonds, pitting some of the world’s biggest principles are similar to opening an office in the UK, in that I would debt restructuring expert who was expect it to become profitable within a two-to-three-year period,” investors against each other as Brazil’s most-indebted phone carrier fights for its survival. appointed to the committee earlier David Loudon said. this month. 24 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS Renault unveils new Koleos Iraq’s southern oil exports hit record Renault expands top-end line-up with an SUV destined for high so far in April international markets.

Reuters Heavy crude cargoes. “They finally managed to catch up on the delays,” The Peninsula the industry source said. “I don’t believe anyone is really doing any- LONDON: Oil exports from southern thing about that,” the source added Iraq have reached a record monthly of the effort to freeze output. DOHA: Renault expands top-end rate so far in April as Opec’s second- The south pumps most of line-up with an SUV destined for largest producer resumes the supply Iraq’s oil. Iraq also exports smaller international markets as it is reveal- growth that has added downward amounts of crude from the north by ing the new Koleos at the 2016 Beijing pressure on prices. pipeline to Turkey. International Automobile Exhibition. Baghdad had given verbal sup- Northern shipments of crude Renault said the new Koleos The new Koleos on display. port to an initiative by Opec and from fields in the semi-autono- delivers all that is expected of a outside producers to freeze out- mous Kurdistan region have risen to D-segment SUV: powerful, muscu- put. But they failed to reach a deal 420,000 b/d so far in April, accord- lar exterior lines, peerless four-wheel and equipment shared with other Renault’s high-end range that now Latin American countries, and China at an April 17 meeting, and rising ing to loading data, from 327,000 drive technology, real all-terrain high-end Renault models, like the includes a large saloon car (Talisman) then Russia and Europe at the begin- exports from Iraq as well as other b/d in March. The shipments have ability thanks to ground clearance R-LINK 2 multimedia tablet. and a brand new D-SUV. ning of 2017. nations including Russia underline fallen from January’s level of about of 213mm and hallmarks Renault’s The new Koleos delivers a blend Conceived and meticulously For Renault, the new Koleos the challenges to any further attempt 600,000 b/d due to pipeline sabo- know how. The new Koleos also boast of robust SUV cues and the refine- thought through to meet the demands comes at a time when SUVs are at curbing supply. tage and a decision by the central of a refined, comfortable interior with ment and features associated with of exacting customers on every conti- enjoying strong growth in many Iraq’s southern exports in the government in Baghdad to suspend seats including technology and design large saloon cars. In addition to a nent, the new Koleos is destined for a markets, and for many consumers, first 24 days of April averaged 3.43 pumping Kirkuk crude into the line. amongst the very best in its category. package that positions the new Koleos global audience, with sales beginning this will be their first opportunity to million barrels per day (b/d), accord- Given the drop in northern It has a class-leading cabin space, as the reference of its class in terms of in the second half of 2016 in Aus- experience Renault in their segment ing to an industry source and loading exports from January’s level, total including 289mm of rear knee room comfort and refinement, it completes tralia, Turkey, the Gulf states, some of choice. data tracked. Iraqi exports this month of 3.85 mil- If sustained, that would exceed lion b/d are short of a record high. the record of 3.37 million b/d reached Iraq was the fastest source of in November. supply growth in the Opec last year The increase is in line with fig- and boosted production by more Singapore’s ures given earlier in April by an Iraqi than 500,000 b/d, despite spend- Airbus delivers its first official. According to oil trading ing cuts by companies working at consumer sources, it partly reflects an eas- the southern fields and conflict with ing of delays in the loading of Basra militants. made-in-the-USA aircraft prices fall

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s con- AFP sumer prices fell for the 17th consecutive month in March, the longest period of decline on record, NEW YORK: European aerospace official data showed yesterday, hit giant Airbus delivered its first made- by low fuel costs and as the city- in-the-USA aircraft yesterday to mark state’s economy stutters. a new stage in its battle for the home Prices sank 1.0 percent last market of rival Boeing. month, down 0.2 percentage Airbus handed over an A321 pas- points from February, the central senger jet assembled in its Mobile, bank and trade ministry said in a Alabama, plant to US carrier Jet- joint statement. The drop comes Blue, three years after beginning as the weak oil market makes construction of the facility and just petrol cheaper, in turn lower- seven months after it was inaugurated. ing transport costs. The longest “Going from breaking ground on this The fuselage of an Airbus A321 at the Airbus’ first US manufacturing period of falling consumer prices Gulf Air to launch direct facility three years ago to handing facility in Mobile, Alabama. was between September 1975 and over the first Alabama-produced A321 December 1976. The central bank today is an amazing accomplishment,” this month announced a shock flights to Dhaka from May 30 said Airbus chief operating officer America over the next 20 years. About workers in the final assembly of the loosening of monetary policy to John Leahy in a statement. four years ago, Airbus had a 20 per- aircraft, to help reduce production kickstart the economy, as it fore- With nine other aircraft in its sin- cent share of the US market, against costs and make them more price cast a slower growth outlook this The Peninsula gle-aisle A320 family currently being 80 percent for Boeing. Since announc- competitive. year and analysts warned of a pos- built at the plant, Airbus aims to get ing the Mobile plant in 2012, its market Alabama has one of the lowest sible recession. production up to four aircraft deliv- share has doubled to 40 percent. minimum wages in the United States Official data last week showed DOHA: Gulf Air yesterday announced its planned return to Dhaka, Bangla- eries per month by the end of 2017. Another important aim is greater — $7.25 per hour — and employment that the city’s crucial exports fell desh from May 30. The airline will soon launch direct flights between Bahrain The facility is the France-based access to the huge US defence budget. benefits are about 30 percent less at their fastest pace in three years and the Bangladeshi capital operating five weekly flights to and from Dhaka company’s fourth around the world. Airbus’s identity as a foreign maker expensive than in Europe. in March because of falling ship- with a proposed schedule that will provide travellers with seamless con- It also produces aircraft in Hamburg, helped undermine its fight in 2011 In addition, by producing in the ments to major markets Europe nectivity via the airline’s efficient Bahrain International Airport hub, to key Germany; Toulouse, France; and Tian- against Boeing for a $30bn Pentagon United States, Airbus will reduce risks and China. DBS senior econo- GCC and European destinations. jin, China. The plant was built on the contract for aerial refuelling tankers. tied to the shifting US-euro exchange mist Irvin Seah also warned that Commenting on news of the re-launch Ahmed Janahi, Gulf Air A/Chief site of a World War II bomber sup- The US accounts for about 35 per- rate. Another potential advantage the economy will continue to Commercial Officer, said: “We are pleased to re-connect Dhaka with Bahrain port base in Mobile, with the goal of cent of global defence spending. But could be that if Airbus wants to export slow in coming months because – boosting the significant commercial opportunity that exists for business- beating back some of Boeing’s native- last year Airbus ranked just 84th on US-made jets, it might gain access to of excess housing stock, as well as men from both Bahrain and the Bangladeshi capital while facilitating the son advantages in the huge US market. the Pentagon’s list of top contractors, the cheap credit support of the US an increase in the number of cer- movement of Bangladeshi nationals. This is a promising development in The company is focused on the esti- according to BGA-Aeroweb. Export-Import Bank, long an impor- tificates of entitlement — a licence 2016 as we respond to strong passenger demand coupled with promising mated 5,000 new passenger planes The company expects the new tant source of advantage for Boeing, to own a vehicle — issued, which economic signs in Bangladesh. We feel it is just the right time for us to return expected to be ordered in North plant, which will employ 1,000 the bank’s largest customer. would drive costs down. and anticipate this new route will be a success for our passenger operations.” Porsche develops mid-engine sport coupe as new entry-level model

The Peninsula engines in the 718 Cayman prom- Accounting for the vehicle’s ises driving fun and agility even at enhanced performance capabilities, low revs. The two-litre engine of the stronger brake systems are now in use base model achieves a torque of up to with 330-mm brake discs in the front DOHA: Porsche AG is extending its 380 Nm (+ 90 Nm), available between and 299-mm discs at the rear. The 718 mid-engine series with the 718 Cay- 1,950 rpm and 4,500 rpm. The 2.5- Cayman now features the brake sys- man. Similar to the 911 range, the litre engine of the 718 Cayman S tem that was previously used in the redeveloped sports coupe is now features a turbocharger with variable S-version. The 718 Cayman S, on the priced below the convertible road- turbine geometry (VTG), a technology other hand, now uses the four-piston ster and therefore represents the new previously reserved for the 911 Turbo callipers of the 911 Carrera, combined entry-level model for the brand. derivatives. It delivers up to 420 Nm with six-millimetre thicker brake The 718 Cayman features the (+ 50 Nm) to the crankshaft at engine discs. same new four-cylinder flat engines speeds between 1,900 and 4,500 rpm. The design of the new 718 Cayman with turbocharging which can also be When equipped with Porsche has been as comprehensively rede- found in the 718 Boxster. As a result, Doppelkupplung (PDK) and Sport veloped as its technology. The taut coupe and roadster have an identical Chrono Package, the 718 Cayman proportions, prominent air intakes engine output. The entry-level ver- sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 at the front and sides and low side sion produces 300 hp (221 kW) from seconds; the Cayman S manages this profile underscore its enhanced driv- two litres of displacement, while the discipline in 4.2 seconds. The top ing dynamics. The sharper profile of S-model delivers 350 hp (257 kW) with speed of the 718 Cayman is 275 km/h, the nose gives the front end a wider a displacement of 2.5 litres. This rep- while the S-version can reach up to The new 718 Cayman cars on display. and more masculine appearance. resents an increase of 25 hp (18 kW) 285 km/h. This impression is reinforced by the over both predecessors, with an NEDC New chassis tuning for greater rigidity and wheel tracking have been inch wider – result in an increased be operated via the switch on the ultra-slim front lights above the air fuel consumption of 8.1 to 5.7 litres precision and more lateral stability improved in the completely retuned lateral forces and therefore greater steering wheel, allowing four driv- intakes, incorporating parking lights per 100 km. In terms of their driving dynam- chassis; springs and stabilisers have cornering stability. ing modes to be selected. Available on and indicators. The new 718 Cayman and 718 ics, the new 718 Cayman models been designed to be firmer and the Driving dynamics options, such demand, the Porsche Active Suspen- The new front end also features Cayman S are available for order now. follow the tradition of the classic tuning of the shock absorbers has as the Sport Chrono Package and sion Management (PASM) lowers the larger air intakes and newly designed The market launch begins on Septem- 718. Thanks to their unrivalled agil- been revised. Steering has been con- Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), ride height by ten millimetres. Addi- bi-xenon headlights with integrated ber 24, 2016. The basic retail prices in ity, the historic mid-engine sports cars figured to be ten per cent more direct, allow the sporty character of the tionally, the S-model can be equipped LED daytime running lights. LED Qatar for 718 Cayman is QR208,000 won numerous races in the 1950s and enhancing agility and driving fun. In 718 Cayman to be further custom- with PASM sport suspension for the headlights with four-point daytime and for 718 Cayman S is QR235,100. 1960s, such as the Targa Florio and Le combination with the redeveloped ised. As in the other Porsche sports first time, resulting in a 20-mm lower running lights are available as a new The tremendous torque of the new Mans. In the new 718 Cayman, lateral tyres, the rear wheels – now half an cars, the Sport Chrono Package can ride height. option. BUSINESS TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 25 China expected to see $538bn capital exodus: IIF

Reuters a fresh wave of outflows. The IIF cited progress Chinese calculation, developed by the IMF, the Chinese firms, the firms themselves “A sharp drop in the renminbi authorities had made in easing wor- cushion between actual reserves and paying back their debt or international Roughly $35bn was would likely spark a renewed sell-off ries about the yuan’s direction. They what could be required, has dropped investors reducing holdings of yuan pulled out in March, of global risk assets and trigger a flight have emphasised there is more focus to 15 percent from 50 percent just deposits. LONDON: Global investors are of portfolio capital from emerging on its value against a basket of cur- under two years ago. Over the medium term, though, expected to pull $538bn out of China’s bringing the total markets,” the IIF said in a new report. rencies, rather than just the US dollar. “From this perspective, continued China should benefit from structural slowing economy in 2016, the Institute outflow since the “Moreover, a sharp deprecia- One “important unknown”, how- large capital outflows could lower the factors, the IIF said. of International Finance (IIF) esti- tion of the renminbi could lead to a ever, is the threshold of currency country’s official reserves to a level The IMF’s decision late last year to mated yesterday, although the pace start of the year to round of competitive devaluation in reserves below which Chinese author- that is regarded as inadequate without include the yuan in its quasi-currency of outflows has dropped. around $175bn. other emerging markets, particularly ities would start to worry. a serious tightening of capital con- ‘SDR’ basket should help inflows, That number would be down a in those with close trade linkages to They might then either allow the trols,” the IIF said. while they could be “substantial” if fifth from the $674bn pulled out last China.” yuan to fall again or markedly tighten China accounted for almost 30 major stock and bond index provid- year, the industry association said, For now, though, outflows are capital controls. percent of total foreign capital inflows ers add China’s domestic securities to but could accelerate again if fears influence emerging markets more slowing. Roughly $35bn was pulled Headline reserves have already to emerging markets between 2000 their benchmark indices. re-emerge of a “disorderly” drop in generally, partly because of its sheer out in March, bringing the total since fallen from $4 trillion in June 2014 and the end of 2014, a total of around MSCI is set to decide on whether the yuan, or the renminbi, as the cur- size and partly because sustained the start of the year to around $175bn, to around $3.2 trillion in February $3.6 trillion. Since then, however, out- to include Chinese A-shares in its rency is also known. outflows can trigger more exchange well below the pace seen in the sec- 2016. That is still high compared with flows have taken hold, driven mainly 23-country benchmark EM index in Capital exodus from China can rate volatility, which could then feed ond half of 2015. most countries. But using another by foreign banks cutting credit to June. UK retailer BHS collapses with 11,000 jobs at risk New US home sales drop on

AFP “The directors therefore have no to changing tastes and the intensifica- sharp decline alternative but to put the group into tion of competition (from rival stores) administration to protect it for all on the high street”. LONDON: British department store creditors.” “Fifteen years ago... BHS attracted in the West owner BHS called in outside help Owner Dominic Chappell, whose some 13.4 percent of all clothing shop- yesterday to help prevent closure consortium Retail Acquisitions pur- pers through its (British) doors. and avert the loss of 11,000 jobs in chased BHS last year from retail “Although not all of these visitors WASHINGTON: New US single- the biggest retail failure since Wool- entrepreneur Philip Green for just would use BHS as their main store, family home sales unexpectedly worths went bust in 2008. one pound, said no-one was to blame. many would buy one or two products fell in March, but the decline was The 88-year-old chain has failed The current situation “was a com- — helping BHS attain a respectable concentrated in the West region, to keep pace with traditional rivals bination of bad trading and not being 2.3-percent share of the clothing suggesting that the housing mar- such as Marks & Spencer selling able to raise enough money from the market. Saunders added that last ket continued to steadily improve. clothing and homeware in stores property portfolio”, he added. year, BHS pulled in only 8.2 percent The Commerce Department and online, resulting in a significant BHS has debts totalling more than of all clothing shoppers, handing it said on Monday new home sales loss of market share. “The group will £1.3bn ($1.9bn), including £571m pen- a 1.4-percent share of the clothing decreased 1.5 percent to a sea- continue to trade as usual whilst the sion fund deficit that proved a major market. sonally adjusted annual rate of administrators seek to sell it as a stumbling block in rescue talks. Sophie McCarthy, an analyst at 511,000 units. February’s sales going concern,” administrators Duff “The retailer’s woes are nothing Verdict Retail, said: “BHS is an exem- pace was revised up to 519,000 & Phelps said in a statement. new, with legendary retail entrepre- plar model of what happens when units from the previously reported BHS has also suffered from the neur Sir Philip Green deciding to cut a retailer fails to take risks and try 512,000 units. booming popularity of British dis- his losses last year in a deal that saw something new.” “Verdict research New home sales are volatile count clothing retailer Primark and him offload the business to Retail shows the post-austerity consumer month-to-month because they Spanish-owned brand Zara, and from Acquisitions for a token £1,” said ana- are more cautious with their money, are drawn from a small sample. the rapid expansion of supermarket lyst David Cheetham at broker XTB. even as economic pressures have While sales have now declined for giants like Tesco and WalMart-owned “The problems essentially stem begun to ease,” she said. three straight months, this likely Asda into fashion. from a failure to embrace change in Starting in 1928 with a chain in does not signal a slowdown in the BHS, which also sells food, has a dynamic trading environment that London, BHS has grown to stand at housing market given a buoyant been undergoing restructuring but has seen more nimble players such as 164 stores and 74 franchise operations labour market. has been unsuccessful in negotiations Primark and Zara overtake them in across 18 countries including Russia “Through some of the short- to find a buyer, while property sales recent years.” and the former Soviet Union and the lived ups and downs in the data, it have not materialised as expected, Neil Saunders, head of retail con- Gulf states. Julie Palmer, partner at still appears that new home sales Duff & Phelps added. “Consequently, sultancy Conlumino, added that the insolvency firm Begbies Traynor, said are trending higher over time,” as a result of a lower than expected announcement ends “a long period it looked “increasingly unlikely that said Daniel Silver, an economist cash balance, the group is very of decline which has seen the chain any buyer will be brave enough to sal- at JPMorgan in New York. Pedestrians walk past the entrance to a BHS store on Oxford Street in unlikely to meet all contractual pay- fall out of favour with British shop- vage the business in anything like its Economists had forecast new central London yesterday. ments,” the administrators said. pers thanks to its failure to respond current form”. home sales, which account for about 8.7 percent of the housing market, rising to a 520,000 unit- rate in March. New home sales surged 18.5 percent in the Mid- USA Today publisher Gannett west and climbed 5.0 percent in the populous South. But sales plunged 23.6 percent in the West, reversing February’s makes unsolicited bid for Tribune 21.7 percent jump, and were flat in the Northeast. US financial markets were little moved by the data, with Reuters advisers to review the proposal and “Gannett seems to be taking this investors on the sidelines ahead of its “numerous contingencies.” as an opportunity to strike quickly,” the Federal Reserve’s policy meet- Chicago-based Tribune Publishing he said, adding that Tribune Publish- ing today and tomorrow. has been shaking up its top manage- ing would be a compelling acquisition The US central bank is NEW YORK: Gannett Co Inc, pub- ment, replacing its chief executive at Gannett’s offer of $12.25 per share. expected to kept its short-term lisher of USA Today, said it offered to in February and said a month later Peter Lewis of Towle & Co, the interest rates unchanged, but its buy Tribune Publishing Co in a deal that it would replace its chief finan- seventh-largest shareholder in Trib- statement accompanying the rate valued at about $815m, including cial officer. une, said however that the offer price decision will be scrutinised for debt, but the owner of the Los Ange- The company also dismissed audi- was well below the investment firm’s clues on the near-term outlook les Times and Chicago Tribune refused tor PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in sell target, which was in the “high for monetary policy. The Gannett Co Inc headquarters in Tysons Corner, Virginia, yesterday. to begin “constructive” talks. March after identifying material teens”. The PHLX housing index .HGX “We therefore are prepared to weaknesses in internal controls over The offer represents a premium was down 0.78 percent as shares consider all alternatives to complete its financial reporting. “Tribune in of about 63 percent to Tribune Pub- in the nation’s largest homebuilder, this transaction,” Gannett Chief Exec- some degree has been in disarray with lishing’s Friday closing price $7.52. $11.78 in early trading on Monday. of debt as well as other liabilities. D.R. Horton Inc, dropped 1.25 per- utive Robert Dickey said in a letter to the recent management changes and Tribune’s Publishing’s shares closed Gannett’s shares, which have gained The offer also comes at a time cent and Lennar Corp slipped 0.61 Tribune Publishing’s board yesterday. the company has been slow to imple- at $6.86 on April 11. 16 percent over the same period, were when the print industry is grappling percent. Tribune Publishing, however, said ment its digital strategy,” said Michael Tribune Publishing’s shares, which up 0.4 percent at $15.84. with falling sales and circulation as A report last week showed a 5.1 in a statement that it had told Gannett Kupinski, an analyst at Noble Finan- have lost half of their value in the last Gannett’s proposal, made on April more people get their news from dig- percent surge in sales of previously it would engage financial and legal cial Capital Markets. nine months, were up 57 percent at 12, includes the assumption of $390m ital media. owned homes in March.

Arabian Travel Market begins New Turkish central bank chief seen slashing inflation forecast

Reuters accommodative policy to come. “We expect a 50 basis point downward revision in the inflation forecast,” said Is Portfolio economist ISTANBUL: Turkey’s new central Nilufer Sezgin, adding the revision bank chief is expected to lower its was expected to be driven by lower year-end inflation forecast at his first food price inflation. news conference today, which will be The central bank has consistently watched for hints on possible further missed its inflation target of 5 per- interest rate cuts, economists said. cent over the last five years and at its Murat Cetinkaya (pictured) is last quarterly report in January, the seen lowering the bank’s forecast year-end forecast was revised up to for inflation at the end of 2016 to 7 7.5 percent from 6.5 percent. percent from 7.5 percent when he But inflation, which topped 9.5 announces the bank’s quarterly infla- bank last Tuesday. A day later, the percent earlier this year, cooled to a A visitor inspects Mercedes-Benz section at Arabian Travel Market fair, which began in Dubai yesterday. tion report, according to economists bank trimmed the top end of its inter- seven-month low just under 7.5 per- contacted. est rate corridor by 50 basis points, cent in March, helped by a slowdown Cetinkaya took over at the central in what some saw as a sign of more in volatile food prices. 26 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,184.51 0.76 % QE Total Return Index 16,477.85 0.76 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,959 1.73 % QE All Share Index 2,839.87 0.95 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,737 0.55 % QE All Share Industrials 3,123.47 1.87 % QE All Share Transportation 2,552.44 0.77 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,581.13 1.00 % QE All Share Insurance 4,357.95 0.07 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,147.14 0.17 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,502.66 1.98 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 25-04-2016 Today 24-04-2016 Previous day Index 10,184.51 10,262.56 Change 78.05 133.69 % 0.76 1.29 YTD% 2.35 1.6 Volume 9,823,062 9,838,789 Value (QAR) 359,231,705.28 282,862,796.73 Trades 5,615 4,388 Up 08 | Down 32 | Unchanged 02

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5299.243 -37.148 -0.7 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4545.53 -24.13 -0.53 4607.69 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 18003.75 21.23 0.12 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 21304.44 -162.6 -0.76 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6159.4 36.08 0.59 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 33684.56 -54.98 -0.16 34154.7 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 17439.3 -133.19 -0.76 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.2457 QR 5.3186 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 4.0736 QR 4.1310 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.8479 QR 2.9040 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.7136 QR 3.7653 Yen QR 0..0325 QR 0.0331 A C C-A/D 1429.8 13.55 12881 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.1 -0.1 20411 Kabra Extr-B/D 93.75 -1.45 1655 Timexgroup-T/D 36.1 4.75 731069 Aus$ QR 2.7862 QR 2.8410 Aarti Drugs-B/D 470.3 -0.35 1842 Escorts-A/D 166.3 -1.25 106926 Kajaria Cer-A/D 1037 3.3 2993 Tinplate-B/D 73.1 -0.3 31786 Ind Re QR 0.0542 QR 0.0553 Aban Offs-A/D 187 -0.1 293157 Eveready Indu-/D 256 -9.15 15296 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 340.5 1.8 39588 Ucal Fuel-B/D 108.8 -1.7 8758 Aegis Logis-B/D 112.55 3.7 185510 F D C-B/D 179.25 -6.25 5004 Kalpat Power-B/D 217.35 4.45 37823 Ucal Fuel-B/D 108.8 -1.7 8758 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Alembic-B/D 38.7 -1.05 54839 Federal Bank-A/D 48.15 0.7 857112 Kalyani Stel-T/D 173.8 0.7 22662 Ultramarine-B/D 120.3 -1.7 8511 Peso QR 0.0769 QR 0.0785 Alkyl Amines-B/D 307 -11 6228 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5 -0.04 20937 Kanoria Chem-B/D 65.3 -1.3 16773 Unitech P -A/D 4.97 -0.09 7215889 SL Re QR 0.0246 QR 0.0253 Alok Indus-A/D 4.67 -0.02 1201924 Finolex-A/D 359.5 -6.4 7768 Kg Denim-B/D 81.9 -1.55 9240 Univcable-B/D 83.1 3.1 6991 Taka QR 0.0460 QR 0.0470 Apollo Tyre-A/D 161.6 -1.25 215221 Forbes-B/D 1290 -22.75 7799 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 56.75 -1.2 2367 Uppergsugar-T/D 121.1 -4.7 5108 Nep Re QR 0.0339 QR 0.0345 Asahi I Glass-/D 160.3 -1 4842 Gail-A/D 360.7 -5.55 51930 Kinetic Eng-B/D 85 1.55 1457 LONDON Ashok Leyland-/D 105.95 0.65 957277 Galada Power-B/D 14.5 -1.89 2346 Kopran-B/D 53.5 -1.4 66957 SA Rand QR 0.2489 QR 0.2539 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.1 -0.27 119015 Gammon India-T/D 12.29 -0.13 41789 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 376.1 -7.1 1050 Bannari Aman-B/D 1765 14.75 5159 Garden P -B/D 24 -0.5 7484 Lloyd Metal-B/D 29.4 2.1 13220 3I Group/D 477.2 0.3 307545 GOLD AND SILVER Bata India-A/D 558.75 0.5 23062 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1129.3 -32.3 15265 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 4.92 0.03 21777 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3120 -11 282213 Bayer Crop-A/D 3659.9 -41.05 27167 Goodricke-B/D 189.7 -0.3 41683 Lupin-A/D 1541.8 -16.35 31163 Barclays/D 172.75 1.25 26724086 GOLD QR144.7712 per gramme Beml Ltd-A/D 916.9 -19.95 68763 Goodyear I -B/D 507.4 -4.3 4976 Lyka Labs-T/D 83.2 0.25 39054 Bp/D 359.9 -8.4 10452674 SILVER QR1.9823 per gramme Bh Electronic-/D 1168 0 15391 Hcl Infosys-B/D 45.1 -0.6 520332 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 301 7.5 4363 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4171.5 38.5 944785 Bhansali Eng-T/D 19.25 -0.05 23936 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 18.25 -0.35 701478 Mah.Seamless-B/D 213 1.8 28843 Bt Group/D 429.695 -5.3 6294383 Bharat Bijle-B/D 970.25 22.5 7132 Himat Seide-B/D 216.2 8.1 86363 Mangalam Cem-B/D 265.2 -0.7 5929 Centrica/D 231.4 -0.8 2581422 Bharatgears-B/D 78.4 0.8 4750 Hind Motors-T/D 5.13 -0.11 54011 Maral Overs-B/D 28.3 0.9 1624 Gkn/D 292.3 -0.1 1704350 Bhartiya Int-B/D 474.5 14.5 5914 Hind Org Chem-/D 16.2 0.15 11791 Mastek-B/D 140.6 -5.4 26653 Hsbc Holdings/D 458.35 -8.15 9742631 Bhel-A/D 125.75 -1.95 618180 Hind Unilever-/D 890 5.7 43171 Max Financial-/D 368.5 -2.3 6841 Kingfisher/D 364.9 0.5 1885286 Qatar index drops Bom.Burmah-B/D 396 -5.1 3292 Hind.Petrol-A/D 859.95 7.65 38554 Mrpl-A/D 70.05 1.2 210396 Land Secs Grou/D 1089 15 654096 Bombay Dyeing-/D 49.9 0.05 198311 Hindalco-A/D 98.3 -2.65 853811 Nahar Spg.-B/D 101.85 0.55 12709 Legal & Genera/D 244 -0.6 4292571 Camph.& All-B/D 587.5 0.4 1364 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1111.6 -19.8 49728 Nation Alum -A/D 44.2 0.1 187170 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 67.56 -0.44 42957069 78.05 points and Canfin Homes-B/D 1222.5 5.75 3157 I F C I-A/D 25.65 -0.6 1504345 Navneet Edu-B/D 89.15 0.5 27575 Marks & Sp./D 430 2 1381976 Caprihans-Xc/D 95.25 0.1 4766 Idbi-A/D 71.1 -1.4 411115 Nepc India-T/D 1.52 0.01 2308 Next/D 5130 -30 358393 Castrol India-/D 395.45 2.25 93899 Ifb Agro-B/D 409 -10 5359 Nrb Bearings-B/D 129.9 -0.2 1800 Pearson/D 815 -12.5 612314 rest of Gulf weak Century Enka-B/D 195.6 1.5 20568 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 366.95 -11.9 3429 O N G C-A/D 212.15 -4 537408 Prudential/D 1413.5 -26.5 1144572 Century Text-A/D 621.95 -3.95 93404 India Cement-A/D 89 -0.25 263312 Oil Country-B/D 29.7 0.95 28877 Rank Group/D 242.8 2.8 24483 Chambal Fert-B/D 60.1 1.05 141865 India Glycol-B/D 87.5 0.35 2550 Orchid Pharm-B/D 42.35 -2.25 220423 Rentokil Initi/D 179.8 1.2 391203 QNA/Reuters Chowgule St-T/D 18.25 -0.95 3447 Indian Hotel-A/D 105 -0.05 14865 Oudh Sugar-B/D 75.65 -2 38025 Rolls Royce Pl/D 677.4704 -6.5 686940 Cimmco-B/D 73 -0.15 1950 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1035.5 -4.9 4631 Punjab Chem.-B/D 162.9 -1 1571 Rsa Insrance G/D 464.9 -3.4 178221 Cipla-A/D 525.9 -5.6 75082 Indusind-A/D 982.4 2.65 37185 Radico Khait-B/D 91.4 -1.25 16812 Sainsbury(J)/D 287.7 -4.7 1312615 City Union Bk-/D 95.35 0.75 14563 J.B.Chemical-B/D 248.9 3.85 5090 Rallis India-A/D 193.65 -0.2 35561 Schroders/D 2556 -13 85704 DOHA: Qatar Exchange index dropped 78.05 points, or Colgate-A/D 842.65 -7.4 8145 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 79.75 -4 3520 Rallis India-A/D 193.65 -0.2 35561 Severn Trent/D 2160 3 64802 0.76 percent yesterday when the bourse closed trading Container Cor-/D 1335.5 -21.45 2597 Jagson Phar-B/D 35.5 -1.05 16735 Reliance Indus/D 425.4 -4.8 58474 Smith&Nephew/D 1134 11 616807 at 10,184.51 points. Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 412.1 14.7 3821 Jamnaauto-B/D 140.4 -3.1 33443 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.55 -1 206646 Smiths Group/D 1142 -10 258592 The daily turnover increased to QR359.23m with a Dhampur Sugar-/D 86.5 -0.75 59383 Jbf Indu-B/D 208.5 -0.55 7487 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 516.6 3.15 1959 Standrd Chart /D 533.5 -22.7 4364984 volume of 9,823,062 shares from 5,615 deals compared Dr. Reddy-A/D 3119.6 -16.45 17193 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.32 0.01 21421 Salora Inter-B/D 49 -1.5 1681 Tate & Lyle/D 596 1 429302 with QR282.86m with a volume of 9,838,789 shares from E I H-B/D 105.55 -0.85 28293 Jct Ltd-B/D 4.38 0.02 288261 Saur.Cem-B/D 65.5 -1 37911 Tesco/D 184.95 -1.65 6066626 4,388 deals on E.I.D Parry-A/D 232 1.8 52377 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 7.61 -0.22 19202 Tanfac Indust-/D 30 0.8 2370 Unilever/D 3176.5 -14.5 1057304 Sunday. Eicher Motor-A/D19939.45 -225.2 1398 Jik Indust-B/D 0.84 -0.04 1000099 Tanfac Indust-/D 30 0.8 2370 United Util Gr/D 915.5 -0.5 305654 Barring Electrosteel-B/D 18.8 -0.2 45976 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 85.2 0.7 257946 Thirumalai-B/D 210 1.7 5493 Vodafone Group/D 225.65 -2.4 13718683 insurance Saudi Arabia’s stock index, all market recovered Emco-B/D 28.05 0 67039 Jmc Projects-T/D 223.8 -2.7 80911 Til Ltd.-T/D 333.7 -28.1 18824 Whitbread/D 3895 8 152158 other indices closed the day from early losses and in the red. jumped 2.5% as the Elsewhere kingdom announced in the region, Global stocks stumble ahead of Fed & BoJ meetings Saudi Arabia’s an economic stock market recovered overhaul for the oil- from early dependent nation. in the United States and Japan stands on another rate hike. a Brexit vote in June. since last December. US Treasury losses and this week. European and Asian “Central banks are still the The Munich-based Ifo eco- yields also squeezed lower in Euro- jumped 2.5 Wall Street was also equities both sank as 3.2 and 1.2 name of the game,” said Nordea’s nomic institute said its business pean trade. percent yes- lower as a drop in percent falls for miners and oil chief strategist for developed mar- climate index, which surveys In Asia overnight, Chinese terday to close firms pushed the FTSEurofirst 300 kets, Jan von Gerich. “There is a around 7,000 firms, edged down shares had continued a recent at 6,868 points as the kingdom announced an economic oil prices, lacklustre down for a third straight day and chance that the Fed could sur- to 106.6 in April compared to a fore- poor run as the blue-chip CSI300 overhaul for the oil-dependent nation. quarterly earnings Tokyo gave back a fifth of the 4 prise with a bit of hawkishness on cast of a rise to 107.0. That was still index and Shanghai Composite Banking stocks led the market up as the reform plan percent it made last week. Wednesday. The dollar hasn’t really well above the survey’s long-term Index slipped 0.5 and 0.6 percent was announced, since investors think privatisation exer- and an impending Wall Street was also lower as a strengthened and the S&P 500 is average, but also its fourth fall in respectively. cises will benefit institutions with large investment Fed meeting drop in oil prices, lacklustre quar- back near its all-time high, so they five months. Japan’s Nikkei ended down 0.8 banking operations. terly earnings and an impending could certainly test the market.” “The mood in the German econ- percent as the yen pulled off its Samba Financial Group, lead underwriter of the weighed on investor Federal Reserve meeting weighed The dollar index was trading omy is good but not euphoric,” Ifo lows. MSCI’s benchmark 23-coun- recent initial public offer of Middle East Healthcare, sentiment. on investor sentiment. 0.3 percent lower on the day at economist Klaus Wohlrabe said, try emerging market index dropped rocketed 9.3 percent and National Commercial Bank Signs that a three-month rally 94.862. Against the euro, it dipped citing concerns about weakening roughly the same in its second con- added 8.2 percent. in stocks and commodities markets to $1.1256, at the weaker end of a exports — traditionally Germany’s secutive session of falls. The Dubai index shed 0.7 percent to 3,557 points. was cooling, a US Federal Reserve 10-cent range it has held for a year, main growth driver — linked to a Among commodities, oil prices Builders Arabtec and Drake & Scull, which have not Reuters rate decision tomorrow and a Bank while the yen rose to 111.16 after a slowdown in the United States and slipped after notching their third yet reported quarterly earnings, fell 1.7 and 2.1 percent of Japan policy update on Thurs- walloping at the end of last week. China. The jittery mood sent inves- straight week of gains following respectively. day meant there was little incentive Sterling, meanwhile, had hit tors back into government bonds, a pick-up up in market sentiment The Abu Dhabi index added 0.3 percent to 4,633 points. for traders to be bold. its highest in over a month after a having largely shunned them for the and signs a persistent global sup- The Kuwait index fell 0.3 percent to 5,359 points. The LONDON: World stocks, the dol- Talk has been that Japan could UK media blitz from US President last couple of weeks. Bund yields ply glut may be easing. Oman index rose 0.6 percent to 5,926 points. The Bah- lar and oil all fell modestly as push deeper into negative interest Barack Obama calling for Britain fell a fraction but remained above Brent fell roughly 1 percent to rain index declined 0.2 percent to 1,117 points. Egypt’s investors locked in recent gains rate territory, while there is intense to stay in the European Union saw 0.2 percent having ended on Fri- $44.65 a barrel, while US crude market was closed for a public holiday. before central bank meetings interest on where the Fed currently bookmakers lengthen the odds on day with their biggest weekly rise shed 1.2 percent to $43.20. BUSINESS TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 27

Taking on Tesla: Novartis could refuel M&A China’s Yueting aims to outmuscle Musk machine with $14bn sale

By Norihiko Shirouzu to be “double the performance at and Paul Lienert half the price.” Reuters Beyond LeEco, Chinese tech heavyweights including Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent and Xiaomi have funded more than half a dozen EV omorrow’s cars will be start-ups, such as NextEV and CH- all-electric, self-driving, Auto. It’s widely expected China’s Tconnected to high-speed bus, taxi and courier firms will communications networks ... and be encouraged to go electric. “We free. define our car in a whole new way And probably Chinese. ... instead of copying Apple and That, at least, is the vision of Tesla,” LeEco co-founder and vice Jia Yueting, a billionaire entrepre- chairman Hank Liu said. “Our neur and one of a new breed of products are not upgraded from Chinese who see their technol- those that already exist. They are ogy expertise re-engineering the revolutionary ... products that automobile industry, and usurp- never existed before.” ing Tesla Motors, a US pioneer in While the entry barrier has premium electric vehicle making. been lowered as electric cars are, “Tesla’s a great company and mechanically, relatively simpler has taken the global car indus- to produce, skeptics query how try to the EV era,” Jia said in an China’s start-ups will fund and interview at the Beijing head- make tens of thousands of indus- quarters of his Le Holdings Co, or try-changing EVs — from design LeEco. “But we’re not just building through to procuring the 10,000 a car. We consider the car a smart or so parts and systems needed mobile device on four wheels, for the finished product. essentially no different to a cell- Daimler said Hubertus Troska, phone or tablet. head of its Greater China business, “We hope to surpass Tesla and was invited to LeEco last month lead the industry leapfrogging to a to get to know the company and new age,” said Jia, wearing a black its business model. T-shirt and jeans. “I told Mr Troska we’re going A wave of EV start-ups has to redefine the car,” Liu said. “EVs The logo of Swiss drugmaker Novartis is seen at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. emerged in China after the gov- for us are just another screen. We ernment opened up the auto see cars in the future as an exten- industry to deep-pocketed tech- sion of the Internet, another entry nology firms to drive a switch point for us to sell web-based con- to cleaner electric as an even- tent and services.” tual alternative to gasoline cars. Jia has also had to overcome Sceptics wonder just how start- questions on his funding. In the By Ben Hirschler and Joshua Franklin banks about how it could be done. But noth- ups like LeEco will deliver on their past three years, there was spec- Reuters ing is imminent,” one source said. grand visions. As a sign of intent, ulation he had disappeared and He added a so-called order book proc- 43-year-old Jia last week unveiled had his passport confiscated ess with selected investors would probably Novartis needed to the LeSEE electric concept super- because of his ties to a brother of ovartis is discussing options with be the “cleanest” process for divesting the revitalise its healthcare car, a rival to Tesla’s Model S. The Ling Jihua, a high-ranking Com- banks for selling its near $14bn stake, which is worth some Swiss francs “smart, connected and self-driv- munist Party official who was (£9.7bn) stake in rival Roche, 13.4bn (£9.4bn). business following ing” car will be displayed at this arrested last year and is under potentially providing cash for The second source said Novartis had recent difficulties, week’s Beijing autoshow. investigation for graft. new deals, though a sale is not shown increased interest in planning for which could explain the “People questioned our idea, a Jia says he did not go miss- Nimminent, according to two people famil- such a sale in recent weeks. small IT company building a car ing, but was in a California hotel iar with the situation. Novartis, which describes its one-third decision to look at the to compete with the BMWs and researching Tesla and recruiting Novartis built up its one-third stake stake in Roche’s voting stock as a financial Teslas of the world, and laughed a team to develop EV technolo- in Roche’s voting stock between 2001 and investment with a strategic component, Roche investment as at us. It wasn’t easy, but here we gies. “It was a difficult time for me 2003 under former chairman and CEO Dan- declined to comment. Roche also declined a way to raise cash to are,” Jia told Reuters. because we faced a lot of exter- iel Vasella, as a basis for a possible merger to comment. acquire new products LeEco hopes to start produc- nal rumors and internal turmoil,” that never happened. Industry analysts said Novartis needed ing a version of the LeSEE in a few he said, noting LeEco was then Ever since Vasel- to revitalise its healthcare business following and pushing ahead years at a plant being built near expanding beyond its streaming, la’s departure in 2013 recent difficulties, which could explain the with a sale now could Las Vegas by U.S. strategic part- mobile and TV businesses. “(If) there has been specu- decision to look at the Roche investment as ner Faraday Future, in which Jia any of those ventures failed, we lation Novartis would a way to raise cash to acquire new products. make sense for current has invested. Those cars would could have gone belly up,’ he said. sell its holding, equiva- “Novartis is in a time of need, having Novartis CEO Joe be sold in the United States and To help fund LeEco’s EV push, lent to around 6 percent had setbacks with both Alcon and Entresto, China. Further ahead, the plan is Jia’s sister sold her stake in the of all Roche shares, end- and investor sentiment is languishing,” said Jimenez. to produce electric cars in China, company and lent the money to ing a years-long standoff Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson, who sees too, probably through a partner- him interest-free. He also sold between the two Swiss acquisitions in the biotech or ophthalmol- ship with BAIC Motor. part of his own stake. Novartis built up its rivals. ogy fields as “distinctly possible”. The web-connected electric Growing up in a rural Shanxi one-third stake in Pushing ahead In the past, Jimenez has discussed the Analysts have suggested in the past cars will have a “disruptive” pric- town, Jia worked briefly as a com- with a sale now could idea of selling the Roche stake but, in an that one option for unwinding the hold- ing model similar to phones and puter technician at a tax office Roche’s voting stock make sense for current interview with Reuters three years ago, he ing would be for Roche to buy the Novartis TV sets LeEco markets in China, before setting out on his own, between 2001 and Novartis Chief Execu- said he would want a premium price, reflect- stake as part of a share repurchase Jia says. His company, often called selling computer accessories, and tive Joe Jimenez, who ing the difficulty of recreating such a large programme. China’s Netflix, will sell movies, running restaurants and private 2003 under former is under pressure to position in the open market. Roche, however, has shown little TV shows, music and other con- schools. Acting on a tip from a rel- chairman and CEO improve growth after That premium demand, however, seems interest in this idea and has traditionally tent and services to drivers of its ative, he began selling batteries to disappointments with to have fallen by the wayside, since Novartis viewed share buybacks as a low priority. cars. That’s why he says “one day power cellphone tower antennas - Daniel Vasella, as a the company’s eyecare is now investigating having banks collect Roche bearer, or voting, shares slipped our cars will be free.” Nearer- just as China Telecom pushed into basis for a possible unit Alcon and new heart purchase offers within a predefined price 0.8 percent yesterday while its most term, the disruption is more likely the rural hinterlands. merger that never drug Entresto. range from selected investors. widely traded equity was off 1 percent by “Sooner or later the The idea of Novartis selling the stake in 0915 GMT. Novartis stock was flat. happened. stake will be sold and this way was first reported by the weekly Members of the Hoffmann-Oeri family Novartis is talking to Sonntagszeitung newspaper. still hold a majority of Roche’s voting stock. Britain’s top banks set for grim first-quarter earnings

By Lawrence White and Most analysts expect earnings to fall at given the global economic outlook and reg- according to analysts’ estimates, up slightly Andrew MacAskill the big five banks, with Barclays, HSBC and ulatory problems. from the same period in 2015. Reuters Standard Chartered thought most likely to The major US banks have this month set By contrast, the measure was on average suffer the biggest hits because of their large the tone for a dismal quarter, with Goldman 3.5 percent across the British banking sec- investment banking operations. Sachs last week joining peers in reporting tor in 2009, according to an analysis by Cass The turmoil in global equities and com- plunging profits as market volatility hit Business School published last year. ritain’s top banks are set for one of modities markets this year made it harder its bond trading and investment banking “You are going to have relatively disap- their worst first-quarter earnings for investment banks to make money in tra- businesses. pointing earnings across the board,” said Ian seasons since the financial cri- ditional business lines such as trading and Gordon, analyst at Investec Securities in Lon- sis, adding to their struggle to win advisory. BREXIT don. “I don’t have a rosy-glowed view of a Bover investors against a backdrop of mis- Barclays warned investors this month near-term turnaround.” conduct charges, a weak economic outlook that its first-quarter investment banking Many British banks are struggling to Adding to investor uncertainty, this is the and uncertainty over Brexit. earnings were likely to fall. boost profits with interest rates at a record first set of results where the government’s Most analysts expect Despite shoring up their capital bases “Expectations for Q1 results are rock bot- low. 8 percent surcharge on banks’ profits will and paying out strong dividends, the five tom,” Bernstein analysts said of big British A key measure of their earning power apply after rules changed at the start of the earnings to fall at the big biggest banks — HSBC, Barclays, Standard banks, and posed the question: “Will this be is the net interest margin, the difference year, largely replacing an earlier levy based five banks, with Barclays, Chartered, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal a one-off ugly set of results or is it setting up between the interest they get from borrowers on balance sheet assets. Bank of Scotland — have collectively seen the table for a very bleak 2016?” and what they pay savers, and this is gener- British bank stocks are also being HSBC and Standard their shares fall about 11 percent this year Standard Chartered will be the first UK ally narrower when rates are low. depressed by political uncertainty, with Chartered thought most against a 1.5 percent rise in the FTSE 100. lender to report results, today, two months Lloyds, which reports earnings on Thurs- some investors steering clear of the sector The costs of laying off staff, compen- after announcing its first annual loss in day, is expected to see its first-quarter net ahead of the June 23 vote on Britain’s mem- likely to suffer the biggest sating customers missold loan payment 26 years after slashing jobs and selling interest margin contract to 2.6 percent from bership of the EU. hits because of their protection insurance and stockpiling cash unwanted businesses in a bid to cut costs. 2.7 percent in the same period a year ear- “Whilst UK banks are keeping relatively large investment banking to settle outstanding lawsuits and regulatory Such restructuring exercises by other lier, according to the average of analysts’ quiet on the EU referendum debate in their investigations are all expected to compound top UK banks like HSBC and Barclays have forecasts. annual reports, uncertainty over the out- operations. the hit to quarterly profits from record-low helped to control costs but left analysts RBS, which reports on Friday, will also come is weighing heavily on them,” said Tim interest rates. uncertain as to where growth will come from report net interest margin of 2.6 percent Howarth, banking partner at KPMG. 28 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Global carmakers see rising Hedge funds bet on crops rally as competition in China weather gets nastier

By Benjamin Carlson AFP By Lydia Mulvany risk premium into the market, Bloomberg it’s been beaten down so much,” said Chris Narayanan, the head of agricultural research at Soci- lobal carmakers gath- ete Generale SA in New York. “If ered in Beijing yesterday ith drought in Bra- the weather gets worse in Brazil to show off their wares zil and flooding in and you have hot, dry weather as competition intensi- Argentina threat- in the US, you could see another fies and growth slows in ening crops, the massive rally.” Gthe world’s biggest auto market, with Wweather is getting nasty enough Combined positions across SUVs and new energy vehicles the for hedge funds to take notice. 11 agricultural products rose to focus of attention. Money managers more than 368,088 futures and options in the The show, which alternates doubled their wagers on a rally for week ended April 19, according between the capital and commer- agriculture prices, pushing their to US Commodity Futures Trad- cial hub Shanghai, came after auto holdings to the biggest since July, ing Commission data published sales in China grew just 4.7 percent after betting on declines just last three days later. That compares last year, down from 6.9 percent in month. The investors are now the with 177,770 a week earlier. 2014, according to data from indus- most bullish on soybeans since The Bloomberg Agriculture try group the China Association of May 2014 and trimmed the bets Subindex climbed 1.5 percent last Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). on declines for corn for the fifth week, after reaching the highest Sales still totalled 24.6 million time in six weeks. since July. in 2015, making it a crucial market The Bloomberg Agriculture The recent price gains have for foreign manufacturers as well as Subindex of eight farm products stoked speculation that futures domestic brands. “It is slowing down,” is heading for its best April rally may be bottoming after reach- Ford China chairman and CEO John since 2010. ing multi-year lows this month. Lawler told reporters. “The mar- Dryness is such a problem Market participation expanded People look at a Ford Mustang on display at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing yesterday. Global carmakers ket is really acting more and more for the corn harvest in Brazil, the amid the rebound, with surging gathered in Beijing to show off their wares as competition intensifies and growth slows in China. like a mature market rather than an third-largest exporter, that the trading volumes and rising open emerging market. “It is part of a more government suspended import interest. competitive environment.” in China and has long been seen by the way up” including his own brand, tariffs for six months, signal- The Buenos Aires Grain More than 70 exhibits by auto- consumers as a marque to aspire to, he said. ing it may have to import the Exchange cut its forecast for makers from around the world but it too is feeling the pressure. “For The middle of the market he Sales totalled grain. Excessive rains in Argen- Argentina’s soybean crop by stretched across the vast exhibition sure, our competitors are trying to added, was “probably the position 24.6 million in tina, the third-largest soybean 6.7 percent to 56 million metric centre, with crowds gawking at dis- grab market shares from us and some you would like not to be in”. grower, prompted the nation’s tonnes, after parts of the coun- plays of concept cars from Chevrolet are successful,” said Joachim Wedler, Innovative growth areas such as 2015, making two biggest exchanges and the try received six times the normal and Faraday Future and lining up to president of Audi China. “This is busi- autonomous cars and electric vehi- China a crucial agriculture ministry to cut out- amount of rain in April. The coun- slide behind the wheel of a Tesla. ness, we have to struggle and fight.” cles will also find that “competition looks for the crop. Adding to the try is the biggest exporter of Perhaps the most attention-grab- Pricing was “getting tougher, this is going to be very tough”, said Carlos market for foreign positive outlook for prices is Chi- soybean meal and vegetable oil. bing exhibit was homegrown startup is obvious”, he said. Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan, add- manufacturers as na’s stabilising economy and a In Brazil, some states have Qiantu, which plans to launch its Competition has become partic- ing that smart vehicles also face “a lot weaker US dollar that boosts the gone a month without rainfall, K50 — a carbon fibre and alumin- ularly intense in mid-priced vehicles, of problems with cybersecurity that well as domestic appeal of supplies from Ameri- which may bring woes to the ium-bodied luxury electric sports while the premium and low-cost seg- we need to solve” before coming to brands and can farmers. safrinha, or second corn crop, car — next year. Models in short ments have seen growth, said Hakan market. China’s GDP growth slowed competition has “Now that we’ve started that’s approaching pollination flight attendant-style skirts — but Samuelsson, president of Volvo. to 6.9 percent last year, its lowest for planting, we’re thinking about and grain-filling stages, Brett not bikinis which are banned this “It’s the ones in between which a quarter of a century. become particularly how the growing season will pan Wong, an analyst at Piper Jaf- year — stood with frozen smiles as are the most severely hit, because But sales of sports utility vehi- intense in out, and we’re putting some more fray & Co, said in a report. passers-by took photos with their the Chinese cars are getting better, cles (SUVs) and electric and hybrid phones. German manufacturer with very low pricing, and then peo- cars have boomed, far outperform- mid-priced vehicles. Audi has an enviable brand position ple have an appetite for premium all ing other types of autos.

Tesla’s a great company and has taken the global car Capital industry to the EV era. But we’re not just building a Jia Yueting, co-founder and car. We consider the car a smart mobile device on four head of Le Holdings Co Ltd, Comment wheels, essentially no different to a cellphone or tablet. also known as LeEco.

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Statoil & EON World Bank MENA @ Name in the Market to invest WorldBankMENA Barron’s €1.2bn in Baltic #Saudi Arabia’s cur- GLOBAL LNG SUPPLY PROJECTION rent account balance wind turbines to expected to improve but remain in deficit at Only 38% of money managers 2.8% of GDP in 2016 bullish or very bullish about the AFP prospects for stocks in coming Fitch Ratings@ months, down from 55% in last FitchRatings fall’s survey and 45% last spring nergy giants Statoil of Norway and Spain Fundamen- EON of Germany said yesterday tals Index Dips as New they would invest more than €1.2bn Credit and SME Per- E ($1.3bn) in a Baltic Sea wind farm, one of formance Scores Drop Europe’s biggest offshore wind projects. The Arkona wind farm, located off Bloomberg @business northeastern Germany, will provide renewable energy for up to 400,000 DealB%k households in Germany with its capacity of 385 megawatts. Built and operated by Saudi Arabia expects EON, it will be fully operational in 2019 value of Aramco oil and will consist of 60 wind turbines of firm to exceed $2 tril- It is shaping up to be another six MW each, installed at water depths of lion as it prepares IPO between 23 and 37 metres. The project will grim year for the nation’s biggest enable Statoil to increase its wind farm banks. They were hit hard by a energy capacity by around 50 percent, IIF @IIF bad environment for trading and while EON will become “the first company to operate wind farms in both the German deal-making. North Sea and the Baltic Sea.” #Turkey: Large external Germany, which has decided to phase financing needs war- out nuclear energy, is home to Europe’s rant cautious policies to build confidence biggest wind park, with 45 gigawatts, ahead of Spain (23 GW), Britain (13.6 GW) and France (10.4 GW). www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 32 PAGE | 34 Nadal equals Vilas Joshua to face cclaylay record with ninth Breazeale in first Barcelona triumph title defence

TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 • 19 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Clinical El Jaish book place in Qatar Cup final

up for Al Sadd and could have gone into the first half break in Sabri Lamouchi’s the lead. side to clash Young wingback Musab Keder found himself twice in with reigning threating positions in the Jaish champions penalty box. Had the young- Lekhwiya in April ster had more composure he wouldn’t have fluffed his lines 29 final when it mattered. The tie went in at the first half honors even 1-1. In the sec- ond half Jaish came out with The Peninsula plenty of conviction and took the lead after fantastic build up between Hamdullah and Romarinho. DOHA: El Jaish survived a late The Moroccan striker traded The Qatar Cup promotional tour delegation pose for a photograph scare by Al Sadd 3-2 yesterday passes with his team-mate, to reach the final of the prestig- and put through a fine through with the Qatar Cup at Abdullah Abdulghani and Brothers Co., the ious Qatar Cup Tournament in ball. Romarinho had time and home of Toyota in Qatar. which they will meet Lekhwiya. space to slot into the bottom After leading 3-1 at one right hand corner to give Jaish stage, El Jaish were troubled by a 2-1 lead. the losing side in the final few Qatar Cup champions Qatar Cup tour minutes of the game but Sabri Lekhiwya upheld their impres- Lamouchi’s made sure that they sive record in the competition meet Lekhwiya in the April 29 with a deserved 3-1 win over final at the same venue. QSL champions Al Rayyan on visits Toyota An own goal from Bag- Sunday evening to reach the dad Bounjah, a fine strike from final. Romarinho and a penalty from Following their impres- The Peninsula community relations official of the Abderrazak Hamdallah was sive victory over Al Rayyan, QSL. enough for them, despite Al Sadd Lekhwiya striker Mohammed The Qatar Cup trophy was grabbing two goals back thorugh Muntari after his sides impres- greeted by a host of officials of the Hassan Haydoos and Morteza sive 3-1 victory over Al Rayyan DOHA: The Qatar Cup promotional management and employees who Pouraliganji to set up a grand- in the Qatar cup semifinals to tour visited Abdullah Abdulghani were eager to pose for photographs stand finish. get his thoughts on the game. and Brothers Co.m the home of Toy- with the cup. El Jaish’s Brazillian striker Romario Ricardo da Al Sadd looked the better Muntari grabbed one of the ota in Qatar and one of the official Speaking on the success of the Silva vies for the ball with Al Sadd’s Morteza side in the early exchanges and goals in the win, and had plenty sponsors of the 2016 Qatar Cup. event, Nasser Al Kuwari said: “We Mohammadjan during their Qatar Cup semi-final could of taken an early lead, had to say about his side. The visiting delegation included would like to thank everyone at Toy- at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday. El Jaish booked marauding wing-back Abdelka- “I feel great not for my goal, Meshaal Al Emadi, Head of corpo- ota Qatar for their help in this event their spot in the Qatar Cup Final with a thrilling rim Hassan’s shot not drawn a but for the team. We came into rate sponsorships at the Qatar Stars today. The promotional tour is a cru- 3-2 victory over Al Sadd. good save from Jaish keeper this game with a good mentality, League (QSL), Qatar Cup Tour rep- cial way of showing off the Qatar Khalifah Ababacar. we didn’t do well in the league resentatives Abdulaziz al Maliki, Cup to everyone in Qatar.” Despite Sadd’s dominance, it and we were playing the cham- the official of the activities of the The Qatar Cup final will be held was El Jaish who took the lead in pions (Al Rayyan) we just had community and Nasser Al Kuwari, on the April 29, at Al Sadd stadium. fortuitous circumstances on the one objective to get to the Qatar 32nd minute. Cup final,” he said. Speed Marine sponsors Qatar Cup A Sardor Rashidov cor- Muntari’s goal and Lekhwi- ner was scrappily bundled into ya’s second on the night the net by Sadd striker Bagdad effectively ended the contest The Peninsula “We are delighted to have Speed Marine as Bounjah, much to the anguish of for Al Rayyan who stormed a sponsor for the Qatar Cup 2016, we hope the Algerian striker. the to the QSL title this season. this is the start of a long relationship with Sadd sprung back into life Speaking about his celebration, the company.” and wasted no time and two Muntari was clear that revenge DOHA: Speed Marine came forward as a “Also present at the signing was Chair- minutes later restored parity. was on Lekhwiya’s mind. sponsor for the Qatar Cup 2016 competition. man of Speed Marine Sheikh Jassim bin Qatar national team cap- “Before the game we faced The company which specializes in Nasser Al Thani who was delighted with tain Hassan Haydoos fine right much criticism, especially when quadbikes, and Jet Ski’s signed the spon- the agreement”, he added. wing run and cross-come shot we lost 5-0 to Al Rayyan. The sorship deal with the Qatar Stars League “This deal is of great importance for us was tipped in by Khalifa Abacar, team was pumped to get a big Some of the members of the Qatar Cup promotional tour delegation (QSL) on Sunday evening. as a company, as we want to support foot- to give Sadd a deserved equal- result, and we delivered. That Speaking at the signing ceremony Hani ball in Qatar and the Qatar Cup is an ideal izer based on the balance of play. was shown in my celebration,” pose for a photograph with the Qatar Cup and the 2015 Toyota Prius Ballan, CEO of the Qatar Stars League said; way to do this.” The final ten minutes opened he added. at Abdullah Abdulghani and Brothers Co., the home of Toyota in Qatar.

GCC Junior Women’s Handball Tournament 2016

Action from the inaugural GCC Junior Women’s Handball Tournament 2016 at Women Sport Committee Hall at Aspire Dome yesterday. Qatar Women Sport Committee hosts the event in collaboration with QOC and Qatar Handball Association. The week-long event brings together three GCC countries, including hosts Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. RIGHT: Spectators support Qatar during yesterday’s game. Pictures by: Mohammed Al Obaidly 30 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Hillsborough jury to deliver verdicts today

AFP “So it will be tomorrow that I will ask you formally to return your find- ings in relation to the general and individual questionnaires.” LONDON: Jurors at the inquests into On April 6, the jury retired to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at the consider 14 key questions set out by 1989 Hillsborough stadium disas- Goldring, covering such topics as ter will deliver their verdicts today, police planning, stadium safety and, it was announced. significantly, whether the fans had Coroner John Goldring on Mon- been unlawfully killed, after hear- Juventus players celebrating their 1-0 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match against US Palermo at Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy in day told the jury of six women and ing more than two years of evidence. this April 17 file photo. Juventus won the fifth straight Serie A title after Napoli’s 1-0 defeat at Roma yesterday. three men that he did not require a The jury has been sitting since unanimous verdict on the one out- March 2014 at a purpose-built court- standing question they had still to room in Warrington, northwest agree on -- whether the Liverpool England, 15 miles (25 kilometres) supporters were unlawfully killed outside Liverpool. Juventus win fifth successive -- and would accept a majority 7-2 It is the longest-running inquest or 8-1 decision. in English legal history. The jury continued to consider Britain’s worst sports stadium the issue before returning to tell tragedy occurred on April 15, 1989 Goldring that at least seven of them during an FA Cup semi-final between had reached agreement on this point. Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Serie A title after Napoli loss Their decisions are now set to Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough be announced from 11:00am (1000 stadium in northern England. GMT) today. Seeking to alleviate a crush that Goldring explained the choice of had developed outside the ground Nainggolan’s goal time by telling the jury: “It is so that at the Leppings Lane End shortly those families who could not be here before kick-off, the police match secures win for AS all the time can come. commander opened an exit gate. Roma as Juventus bag title without kicking a ball On-fire Bale relishing Reuters return to England

ROME: Juventus won Serie A for the fifth season in a row without kicking AFP for the Santiago Bernabeu. a ball yesterday after Napoli, the only “I always loved playing in the team that could have caught them, Premier League, I still watch it and were sunk 1-0 by a late Radja Naing- it will be great to go back,” said Bale. golan goal at AS Roma. MADRID: In the midst of his best Madrid’s history in the competi- Juventus, who have led the table form since joining Real Madrid, tion and star power make them the since beating Napoli 1-0 in Febru- Gareth Bale is desperate to end Man- bookies’ favourites to reach a 14th ary, were left with an unassailable chester City’s Champions League European Cup final with City reach- 12-point lead with three games each dream in the first leg of their semi- ing the last four for the first time in left to play as they clinched a record final today. their history. 32nd league title. Without the injured Cristiano However, with City owner The match, played at a half-empty AS Roma’s Radja Nainggolan (right) scores the 1-0 lead during their Italian Serie A soccer match against Ronaldo, Bale led Madrid back from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Stadio Olimpico on a sunny bank hol- SSC Napoli at the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy yesterday. a 2-0 deficit with a double in a hard- Nahyan having spent an estimated iday afternoon, was an anti-climatic fought 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano on £800 million ($1.2 billion) on transfer end to a season which had at one Saturday to keep Real just a point fees in the past decade, Bale refused stage promised to be one of the most highest-scoring sides was threaten- Napoli, whose top-scorer Gonzalo sliding in to take the ball off Marek adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona to accept City are underdogs. exciting Italian title races for years. ing to peter out into a tame goalless Higuain returned after a three-match Hamsik’s foot just before an almost and Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo is expected to be fit and During the first half of the sea- draw until Nainggolan slotted the ball ban, carved out the better chances certain score. Bale was lauded as “phenome- will receive a hostile reception at the son, the lead had changed almost home in the 89th minute following and Jose Callejon had a first-half Instead, Nainggolan slotted the nal” by coach Zinedine Zidane with Etihad Stadium after winning three weekly with AS Roma, Napoli, Inter a move started with a delicate pass goal ruled out by a hairline offside ball past Pepe Reina after Mohamed his performances in recent months Premier League titles and a Cham- Milan and Fiorentina all taking turns from Roma substitute Francesco Totti. decision. Higuain, who has scored Salah managed to find the Belgian living up to the world record price pions League during six years at at the top. The 39-year-old Roma stalwart, 30 goals this season, nearly gave despite being surrounded by Napoli tag that Madrid paid Tottenham Hot- Manchester United. But, as their rivals faltered, Juven- in his 24th season at the club and no Napoli a first-half lead with a delight- defenders. spur for his services three years ago. However, Karim Benzema is a tus, who beat Fiorentina 2-1 on longer able to command a place in ful piece of control only to see his shot Napoli, who would qualify However, the two-time Premier serious doubt after limping off with a Sunday, put together an astonishing the starting lineup, has made a recent saved by Wojciech Szczesny. directly for the Champions League League Players’ Player of the Year’s knee injury before half-time at Rayo. run in which they took 73 of a pos- habit of coming on in the last few A Napoli goal looked imminent group stage if they finish second, are admiration for the English game City’s 28-goal Argentine striker sible 75 points to snare the title with minutes and having a major impact in the second half as Dries Mertens now only two points clear of Roma, remains and he is keen to make an Sergio Aguero will also be facing a games to spare. on games. curled a shot agonisingly wide and who are in third place, good for a impact in his first match on English familiar foe having spent five years The clash of Serie A’s two Roma had more possession but Antonio Ruediger saved Roma by berth in the final qualifying round. soil since swapping White Hart Lane with Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo, Benzema Kompany rallies Man City for game of their lives in Madrid squad for AFP to play against those players as many times as we can and try and beat those teams. today’s City clash “That’s what’s going to MANCHESTER: Manchester make history for this club.” City’s players face the game of He added: “You get to the their lives in today’s Champi- semi-finals, there’s nothing AFP ons League semi-final first leg bad for you anymore. You just CHAMPIONS LEAGUE against Real Madrid, captain want to play. SEMI-FINAL TODAY Vincent Kompany said yes- “For every single player in terday. the team, if you’re not hungry MADRID: Real Madrid stars While City have reached tomorrow, then you’ll never be Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were both included in this stage of the competi- hungry in football.” coach Zinedine Zidane’s squad for their Champions League tion for the first time, having City’s fans have been semi-final, first leg at Manchester City on Tuesday despite broken new ground by over- accused of showing a degree fitness doubts. coming Paris Saint-Germain of indifference towards the Three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo missed Sat- in the quarter-finals, 10-time Champions League, with the urday’s 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano with a minor thigh injury, champions Madrid are mak- second leg of the quarter-final but is expected to start on his return to Manchester, where ing a record 27th semi-final win over PSG the only home he spent six years with Manchester United between 2003 appearance. game that has been a sell-out and 2009. Manuel Pellegrini’s side in this season’s competition. Benzema is a bigger doubt after limping off with a knee will therefore start as under- But with Cristiano Ron- injury before half-time at Rayo. dogs at the Etihad Stadium, but aldo and co expected to attract Right-back Dani Carvajal also returns after two games Kompany knows that he and another bumper crowd to the out as Zidane has called-up all 23 available players for the his team-mates will not want Etihad, Kompany directly trip to the Etihad. for motivation. encouraged the club’s fans to Gareth Bale was Real’s hero as he scored twice to turn “We have great players in create a crackling atmosphere. around a 2-0 deficit at Rayo. the team of course and when Asked what role City’s sup- And the Welshman -- who returns to England for the we talk about the maturity of porters could play, he replied: first time since leaving Tottenham Hotspur three years ago the club at this level, the play- “The biggest. Because we play -- believes home advantage in the second leg gives Madrid ers are all players who can play against one of the greatest Manchester City’s Vincent the edge to reach a 14th European Cup final. at that level,” he told reporters clubs of all time and our sup- Kompany (left), Gael Clichy “I think that the most important thing is to score away at the City Football Academy port will be able to make the (centre) and Fabian Delph from home,” he told the club’s website. in Manchester. difference. (right) warm-up during “At the Santiago Bernabeu we are very strong and obvi- “To play against those top “I have never seen a Man- a team training session ously we’ll have a lot of chances. players, that’s what you want. chester City team not turn up in Manchester yesterday. “Playing the second leg at home is important There’s not a day in my life when the fans are up for it. It’s Manchester City will play psychologically.” where I’m thinking these occa- an appeal to them that they Real Madrid in a UEFA “If we get a good result in the Etihad Stadium, back at the sions are stressful or difficult. have to be as loud as they’ve Champions League semi- Bernabeu our fans are always going to help us.” “I want this for myself and ever been. Otherwise, what’s “A win is always a good result, but as long as we don’t lose at this level, all players want the point in buying your ticket final, first leg match today. there, we’ll be very confident at the Bernabeu.” this for themselves. You have to come in?” SPORT TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 31 City need leap of faith against Real Madrid

CHAMPIONS Rooney hopes to English giants host LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL Real Madrid in their emulate Scholes in FIXTURES first European Semifinal, first leg Manchester United semi-final for 45 Today Manchester City (England) vs midfield role years Real Madrid (Spain) (1845) Tomorrow Atletico Madrid (Spain) vs Bayern Reuters Munich (Germany) (1845) Reuters First, however, City’s defence must LONDON: Manchester United find a way of keeping Cristiano Ron- captain Wayne Rooney hopes aldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema to emulate the successful tran- LONDON: Until this season Man- quiet at their Etihad Stadium so as to sition of former club team mate chester City’s progression in the arrive at their opponents’ Santiago Paul Scholes from an attack- Champions League could be meas- Bernabeu fortress with something oriented player to a creative ured in baby steps but today they can tangible to hang on to. midfielder. make a huge leap forward when they Ronaldo has scored 47 times With younger and faster tal- host Real Madrid in their first Euro- this season, including 16 in just ents coming through, including pean semi-final for 45 years. 10 Champions League appear- the likes of strike duo Anthony The Abu Dhabi-backed English ances, but Pellegrini says he knows Martial and Marcus Rashford, club have already broken new ground how to stop the Portuguese goal Rooney has acknowledged he this season, moving past the last 16 machine. may have to drop deeper into stage that proved their limit for the “I knew all about him from (my Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany (left), Bacary Sagna (centre) and Kevin De Bruyne (centre right) lead midfield from his preferred cen- past two seasons having failed even to team) playing (against) Manchester a group of player during a training session held at the Manchester City Training Academy in Manchester, tre forward position. survive the group stage prior to that. United when I was at Villarreal,” Pel- Britain, yesterday. Manchester City faces Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League semi-final match today. Manager Louis van Gaal In seeing off Paris St Germain, legrini said. deployed the 30-year-old Eng- who have similar financial muscle, “We played them four times in the land captain in a midfield role to in the quarter-finals they delivered a Champions League and each time it La Liga games in a row and even Aguero, who recently reached damage before finishing the job next good affect in the FA Cup semi- powerful statement of intent to reach was 0-0, so defensively we must have when they suffered a hiccup in a 2-0 the 100-goal milestone in the Pre- week. final victory over Everton on their first semi-final since a European been doing something right.” defeat by Wolfsburg in the Champions mier League, never finished on the “I think that the most important Saturday and Rooney was con- Cup Winners’ Cup defeat by Chelsea While City’s recent form has League quarter-final they responded winning side against Real while he thing is to score away from home, said fident he had the ability to cope in 1971. been on the rise, if a little late to stop with a 3-0 home victory. was at Atletico Madrid and he will Bale, who scored twice as Real came with the change. They also kept alive the intrigu- the Premier League’s fairytale title The Wolfsburg loss gives City be itching to put the record straight back to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in La “I’ve known for a few years. ing possibility of a Milan final against hunters Leicester City, Real have cause for optimism, though, and against the 10-times European Liga at the weekend. I have played there a few times Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, been almost unstoppable of late as with their Argentina striker Ser- champions. “At the Santiago Bernabeu we are throughout my career and I can whose manager Pep Guardiola will they try and chase down Barcelona gio Aguero and Belgium midfielder Wales forward Bale has, how- very strong and, obviously, we’ll have play that position. I have played take over the Manchester City hot in La Liga. Kevin De Bruyne finishing the sea- ever, warned City that Real, who are a lot of chances. As long as we don’t and watched Paul Scholes play that seat from former Real Madrid man- Since the beginning of March Zin- son with a flourish, Real’s defence appearing in their 27th European Cup lose there, we’ll be very confident at role for years,” Rooney told British ager Manuel Pellegrini next season. edine Zidane’s side have won nine will be given a testing examination. semi-final, will seek to inflict some the Bernabeu.” media after the 2-1 win.

Champions League ENGLISH PREMIER spotlight beckons Lewandowski wants to give farewell gift to Pep LEAGUE FIXTURES (All times in GMT) again for Hart April 30 Everton vs AFC AFP before coaching Manchester City next time we’ve had together at Bayern,” Atletico’s back four which has con- Bournemouth (1400) season. Lewandowski told uefa.com. ceded only 16 goals in the Spanish AFP Bayern are bidding to win the “I hope it happens. League this season. Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace (1400) treble and will be confirmed as the “Everyone chooses their own “They have the best defence in BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski says first team to win a fourth consecu- path, their own direction - and every- the Spanish Liga,” said Lewandowski, Stoke City vs Sunderland (1400) LONDON: If Manchester City he wants Bayern Munich to sign off tive German league title if they beat one knows that when one door closes, who famously scored four goals in the Watford vs Aston Villa (1400) are to outwit Real Madrid in the Pep Guardiola’s three years as head Borussia Moenchengladbach at home another opens. 2013 Champions League semi-final West Bromwich Albion vs West Champions League semi-finals, coach with the Champions League on Saturday. “But we want to win every single win over Real Madrid for ex-club Ham United (1400) goalkeeper Joe Hart may need to trophy, ahead of Wednesday’s semi- They also face Bundesliga rivals match until the end of our time with Borussia Dortmund. Arsenal vs Norwich City (1630) produce another of his bravura final, first-leg, at Atletico Madrid. Borussia Dortmund in the German Guardiola. “As a striker, it’s a challenge to May 1 displays in the competition. Bayern face Diego Simeone’s Cup final in Berlin on May 21. “We want to be celebrating until face a side that concede so few, but The 29-year-old England Atletico at Madrid’s Estadio Vicente Bayern have exited the Champi- the end.” I’m happy to be playing against them. Swansea City vs Liverpool (1100) international was decisive in Calderon stadium, with the return leg ons League in the semi-finals in the Having won the Champions “We know it will be tough, I hope Manchester United vs City’s quarter-final victory over at the Allianz Arena on May 3, in their last two seasons under Guardiola’s League twice with Barcelona, in 2009 we prepare well for it, don’t make Leicester City (1305) Paris Saint-Germain, repelling a bid to reach the Champions League stewardship. and 2011, Guardiola hopes to sign off mistakes and show we want to play Southampton vs Manchester City (1530) Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty in the final on May 28. “It would be amazing if we could with Bayern by bringing the trophy in the final. May 2 first leg and keeping a clean sheet Should Bayern reach the final bid farewell to Pep Guardiola by win- to Munich. “I am hoping for two great per- Chelsea vs in the second as City reached the in Milan, it could be Guardiola’s last ning the Champions League - it would Having scored 38 goals this sea- formances from us, to confirm our Tottenham Hotspur (1900) last four for the first time. game in charge of the Bavarian giants be the icing on the cake after all the son, Lewandowski is relishing facing ambitions to go as far as possible.” As one of only three players to have known life before the club’s Emirati takeover in 2008 -- Pablo Zabaleta and captain Vincent Kompany being the others -- he is particularly sensitive to the effect Buffon salutes Juve’s ‘crazy, incredible’ season that European success can have on City’s international standing. “You’ve got to do well in Europe to get that label (of a big AFP the pan, and although defeat to title- European club),” says Hart, whose chasing Roma didn’t set alarm bells side host Madrid in the first leg of ringing, doubts would soon creep in. their semi-final today. Chievo held Juventus to a 1-1 draw “It’s a really difficult tourna- MILAN: It took some time to splutter in their third match, prompting a now ment, but we’ve got to believe we to life but Juventus’s “crazy, incred- well-used refrain from Allegri that his can win it. Otherwise there’s no ible” rollercoaster ride towards a “new squad would need time to gel”. point in turning up.” record-equalling fifth consecutive In Allegri’s defence, Juventus Following successive group- Serie A title was the “best” of the lot, underwent big changes last summer. phase exits and then two said goalkeeping legend Gianluigi The influential Andrea Pirlo consecutive last-16 eliminations Buffon. moved to New York City FC, fellow at Barcelona’s hands, Hart is a A hard-fought 2-1 win at Fioren- midfielder Arturo Vidal signed for member of a core group of City tina on Sunday allowed Juventus to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich players -- along with Kompany, stretch their lead over closest rivals and Argentine striker Carlos Tevez Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Napoli to 12 points. returned home to sign for Boca Aguero -- who have led the club And when Napoli were stunned Juniors. into new European territory this by Radja Nainggolan’s 89th-minute Croatian striker Mario Mandzu- season. In doing so, the strapping goal that gave Roma a 1-0 win at the kic and Argentine wonderkid Paulo blond shot-stopper has advanced Stadio Olimpico on Monday, the Turin Dybala were Juve’s new strikers, his cause to be regarded alongside giants succeeded in their bid to emu- and with Spaniard Alvaro Morata Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and late their feat from 1935. in his second season in Turin Allegri Juventus veteran Gianluigi Buffon “The title this year is the best appeared, on paper, to have the mak- as one of the greats of modern (of the last five) yet,” Buffon said on ings of a great side. goalkeeping. For despite two Pre- Sunday after producing a last-gasp But the summer departures made mier League titles, one FA Cup and penalty stop on Nikola Kalinic to take a bigger impact than expected and the two League Cups with City, as well the champions’ unbeaten run to 25 champions, despite an Italian Super- Juventus’ goalkeeper Gian Luigi Buffon saves the penalty kick of Fiorentina’s forward Nikola Kalinic (left) as 57 caps for England, there is not games and spark jubilant scenes in Cup victory over Napoli, struggled for yet wide consensus that his name Florence. rhythm. during the Italian Serie A match at Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, yesterday. belongs in such exalted company. “Because this season was really It took until their visit to Genoa A City regular since 2007, crazy. It was incredible.” four matches into the campaign for barring a season on loan at Bir- Barely eight months ago, the the champions to grab their first win Dreams of winning a first scu- record of 974 minutes unbeaten dur- October for Juve’s season to really mingham City in 2009-10, when pundits pondered the end of Juve’s -- and weeks later, that did appear a detto since 1990 and 2001 began ing Juve’s ongoing 25-match unbeaten transform. A 4-3 defeat to Sas- Shay Given was in favour at the four-year reign. flash in the pan. to take shape for Napoli and Roma run. suolo, after his AC Milan side had Etihad Stadium, Hart has had to From the highs of last season -- The following week Juve suf- respectively. Morata, Dybala, from the spot, been leading 3-0, cost Allegri his job fend off accusations of arrogance when coach Massimiliano Allegri fered the ignominy of being held to a But Juve slowly began to click and Sami Khedira hit one goal in January 2014. This time, his Juve in the past.Memorably, Andrea oversaw a first league and Cup dou- 1-1 draw at home by league new boys -- although Buffon admits the cham- apiece in a 3-1 home defeat of side are still unbeaten since losing Pirlo’s explanation for his bra- ble in 20 years and a first Champions Frosinone. pions had to go back to basics. Bologna, the win followed by an to the Tuscans and are champions zen chipped spot-kick past Hart League final appearance in 12 years -- When Napoli maintained their “Only our collective efforts encouraging away draw at an ambi- with three games to spare. in Italy’s Euro 2012 quarter-final the Turin giants would quickly come sterling early season form with a 2-1 allowed us to keep on winning, but tious Inter Milan. On Sunday, Allegri tweeted: “Serie penalty shootout win over England crashing back to earth. over the struggling Turin giants a first we had to be humble and get It was followed by a 2-0 home A isn’t the final of the 100 metres, but was that the grandstanding City Fans hoped a home defeat to Udi- week later, it left Juve with only one our hands dirty,” said the ‘keeper, win over Atalanta, but it took a a marathon. You need patience to find man “had to get off his high horse”. nese on the opening day was a flash in win from their opening six games. who would go on to set a new Serie A shock 1-0 defeat at Sassuolo in late the right rhythm.” 32 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Blackout leaves Indian sprinters’ Olympic dreams in limbo

AFP scenes, with organisers having to use instead have to try again at another of 11.32 seconds. “It’s disappointing But an official at the Athletics began. “It happened all a sudden just hand-held clocks to record the times event later this week. Amiya Kumar because I know I had run a quick Federation of India, which organised before the start of the meet. We didn’t after electronically powered digital Mallick was timed running the 100 time. But it will not count for any- the event, said stadium administra- even get the back up, so it was very timers and wind gauges packed up. metres in 10.09 seconds, which not thing because the electronic timing tors had blamed the blackout on a disappointing,” said Joshua.. NEW DELHI: Two leading Indian Four new national records were only shattered the national record was not working,” Mallick was quoted transformer fire. “But let’s not play the blame sprinters’ Olympics hopes were up clocked at the event in New Delhi’s by 0.21 seconds but was also quicker as saying by the Indian Express. “There were generators there but game. I don’t think anybody would in the air yesterday after a power Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, while than the Olympic qualification mark The stadium, which was built for still they said there is no back up,” do this on purpose. It has happened cut during a qualifying event meant two athletes ran below the qualify- of 10.16 seconds. the 1982 Asian Games and was the the official, speaking on condition of for the first time in 30 odd years, so their apparently record-breaking ing time for the Rio games beginning Srabani Nandaware won the main venue for the 2010 Common- anonymity, said. I hope it’s just a one-time incident,” performances could not be officially in August. women’s 100 metres in 11.23 seconds, wealth Games, is managed by the Sunny Joshua, President of the he added. classified. But their joy was short-lived apparently breaking the 16-year-old Sports Authority of India which was Delhi Athletics Association which The athletes will have another The outage during Sunday’s when it was confirmed their times national record of 11.38 seconds and not immediately available for com- co-hosted the event, said the outage shot at booking a Rio berth during Indian Grand Prix led to farcical would not be ratified and they would faster than the Rio qualification time ments on Monday. happened just as the competition the Federation Cup later this month.

Kerber learns Melbourne Nadal equals Vilas clay record lessons ahead of Paris

with ninth Barcelona triumph AFP This is the attitude I’ll take to Paris,” said Kerber. The German says she does not want to put herself under any pres- BERLIN: Angelique Kerber says sure by making any predictions for Spaniard downs she has learnt the lessons from her the French Open having lost in the Australian Open triumph as she pre- third round last year. defending champion pares for the French Open at Roland “I don’t want to become results- Nishikori in final Garros next month. orientated, because I know that can The world number three go wrong,” she said. to secure 49th defended her title at Stuttgart’s WTA Having become Germany’s first clay-court title clay-court indoor tournament with a Grand Slam winner since Steffi Graf straight sets win over qualifier Laura won Roland Garros in 1999, Kerber Siegemund in Sunday’s final. said she initially struggled to man- It was her first title since Jan- age her time as she was bombarded AFP uary when she claimed her first with requests for interviews and Grand Slam win by beating Serena appearances. Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the Aus- “I think I now know what to tralian Open final. expect off the court -- and how to BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal equalled The 28-year-old struggled after manage it. It’ll only be more in the Argentine legend Guillermo Vilas’s winning in Melbourne, crashing out future, not less,” she said. record of 49 clay-court titles with his early at both the WTA tournaments Kerber said she was taken aback ninth Barcelona Open after overcom- in Doha and Indian Wells, before los- by how “everyone wanted a piece of ing defending champion Kei Nishikori ing in the semi-finals at both Miami, Angie” after her win down under and 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday. on hard court, and Charleston, on has learnt to switch off whenever she Fresh from winning the Monte clay. Victory in Stuttgart has boosted has the opportunity. Carlo Masters last week, Nadal has her confidence and she is relishing “I will always take my little bit of now won his opening 10 matches her forthcoming clay-court tourna- head space, which I need for myself,” of the European clay-court season ments in Madrid (from April 30) and said Kerber. ahead of his quest to land a record Rome (from May 9) as she prepares “I am still the person who I was 10th French Open in June. for Roland Garros. and that is the most important thing Nishikori was left to rue a series “I know I can play well on clay. for me.” of missed break-point opportunities as the Japanese’s 14-match winning streak in Barcelona came to an end. “I think I served well which was very important. The fact I had a good percentage of first serves allowed me to play better,” said Nadal after the match. “In the second set I let a lot of opportunities go, but I am very happy to have resisted mentally and happy to win.” Nishikori had made the most Rafael Nadal (right) of Spain and Kei Nishikori of Japan pose with their trophies at the Barcelona Open in of shock Nadal defeats to claim the title in the past two years, but despite Barcelona, on Sunday. some stiff resistence in just over two hours on court he slipped to a ninth defeat in 10 matches against the the final. Nishikori started brightly, game from Nishikori handed Nadal another twist as an inspired Nishiko- 14-time Grand Slam champion. but produced an error-strewn game the break he needed to seal the set ri’s range of depth and well-timed “It’s been a great three years, even to hand Nadal the early break for 3-1 6-4. drop shots saw him break back to though I lost today,” said Nishikori. in the first set. Nishikori did manage to break at level at 4-4. “I feel very comfortable here, The World number six bat- the first opportunity in the second Nadal missed out on his first every year I feel very excited, so I tled back with a number of searing set, but this time Nadal responded match point at 5-4, but didn’t have hope I can come back next year,” he forehands to level at 3-3, but Nadal with his best tennis of the match to to wait long as Nishikori offered up Angelique Kerber of Germany celebrates a point against Laura added. crucially dug himself out a huge hole surge to within two games of vic- two more in his next service game Neither of the top two seeds had at 0-40 to move ahead 4-3 in his next tory at 4-1. and sealed his own fate when a fore- Siegemund of Germany during their final match for the WTA tennis even dropped a set on their route to service game. And another wayward Yet, a topsy-turvy final had hand found the net. tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, on Sunday. Hamilton can re-use Froome aims for third Romandie win failed power unit AFP is only 1,350-metres above sea-level. A 15km time- trial follows on Friday before the crucial stage on Reuters Saturday that includes two ascents of the first cat- egory Col de la Croix climb, the second time being LAUSANNE: After stretching his legs at Liege- up to the finish. Bastogne-Liege on Sunday, Team Sky leader Chris Although this race comes two-and-a-half LONDON: Formula One world Froome (pictured) will be aiming for a third Tour months before the Tour, it has in the recent past champion Lewis Hamilton (pic- de Romandie title this week. provided a good gauge as to the form of Grand Bou- tured) will be able to re-use the Froome is one of three former winners at this cle hopefuls. power unit whose failure sent him year’s event, which begins today and ends on Australian Cadel Evans in 2011, Bradley Wiggins to the back of the starting grid at the Sunday. the next year and his British compatriot Froome in last race in China, Mercedes said For many contenders Romandie is an early pre- 2013 all won in Romandie before adding Tour glory. yesterday. units a season, with grid penalties paratory race ahead of July’s Tour de France and Last year Froome seemed set to win Romandie The sport’s dominant team said incurred if they have to use more defending Tour champion Froome will be joined for the third year in a row but produced an unchar- in a statement that a thorough inves- than their allocation. by last year’s Tour runner-up Nairo Quintana with acteristically poor final stage time-trial before tigation had been carried out at the Triple champion Hamilton top French hopes Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bar- settling for third overall, 35sec behind Zakarin. factory last week with the energy started at the back of the grid in det also taking part. Although he was far from flying in Liege -- he recovery system stripped down. Shanghai on April 17 after experi- Also on the start line will be surprise defend- finished 112th more than 10 minutes behind his “The issue is suspected to be encing a loss of power during the ing champion Ilnur Zakarin, who finished a strong Sky team-mate and winner Wout Poels -- he was associated with the insulation. first phase of qualifying. fifth in Liege on Sunday, and 2010 winner Simon in good shape earlier in the year when winning the The turbocharger will be replaced Mercedes then replaced the Spilak of Slovenia. Herald Sun Tour in Australia in February. in addition to the oil pumps, after engine in his car for the race and he The 70th edition of Romandie starts with a Colombian Quintana was running well in March debris was found in the oil system,” finished seventh. 3.95km prologue in Chaux-de-Fonds that will when he won the Tour of Catalonia but was only the statement said. The Briton is 36 points behind unlikely provide any major time gaps between the third earlier this month behind Spain’s Alberto Con- “With the repairs completed, championship-leading team mate main contenders but will do enough to create an snow creating dangerous conditions while Sunday’s tador and another Colombian Sergio Henao in the this Power Unit will remain in the Nico Rosberg, winner of all three early general classification. Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic course was Basque Country. driver pool and travel to Sochi (for races so far this season, ahead of Thereafter, the cold and possible snow could be altered after the race had begun in order to avoid Pinot has also enjoyed success this year, in last this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix) Sunday’s fourth round in Russia. a factor during the early days of racing. treacherous road surfaces caused by snowfall. month’s Criterium International, while also man- as a spare.” Hamilton has won the two previ- Already last month, stages had to be cancelled The stage most at risk, perhaps, will be Thurs- aging top five finishes in the Algarve, the Basque Drivers are limited to five power ous Russian Grands Prix. at both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico due to day’s first summit finish at Morgins, although that Country and Tirreno-Adriatico. SPORT TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 33 Cavs edge Pistons to complete sweep

NBA RESULTS like us,” Jackson said. Cleveland took an 81-78 lead into the fourth quarter Western Conference Irving stars with 31 after Irving hit a shot from half-court points in 100-98 In Memphis just before the buzzer sounded to end victory San Antonio 116 Memphis 95 the third. He then scored the first (San Antonio win series 4-0) five points of the fourth to give the In Houston Cavaliers an 86-78 lead with 11:15 Golden State 121 Houston 94 remaining. Agencies (Golden State leads series 3-1) Detroit answered with a 7-0 run Eastern Conference to cut its deficit to 86-85 with 8:35 left, but Cleveland took a 95-86 lead with In Boston 4:54 remaining on a deep 3-pointer Boston 104 Atlanta 95 by JR Smith. A 3-pointer from Tobias NEW YORK: Kyrie Irving is off to a (Series tied 2-2) Harris and a Marcus Morris basket great start in his effort to make up for In Detroit pulled Detroit back within 95-91 with lost time in the play-offs. Cleveland 100 Detroit 98 3:44 remaining. Following a basket by A year after missing five games in (Cleveland wins series 4-0) James, Jackson scored with 2:31 left to the NBA Finals and two in the Eastern bring Detroit within 97-93. Conference finals with a knee injury Ultimately though, the Cavaliers and leaving people wondering what the entire game, but the Cavaliers had drew on the fact their roster had sig- might have been, the Cavaliers guard too much firepower and experience nificantly more playoff experience capped off a brilliant beginning to this in the fourth to be denied. than Detroit’s did. year’s play-offs on Sunday, scoring 31 After Detroit cut a nine-point “We said this would be a great points to help Cleveland earn a 100- Cleveland lead to 97-96 with 1:08 experience for our guys, and it really 98 win over the Detroit Pistons in remaining on a 3-pointer by Kentav- has been the past five or six weeks of Game 4 of a first-round Eastern Con- ious Caldwell-Pope, Irving buried a the season fighting to get in,” Pistons ference play-off series. 3-pointer from the wing with 42.6 coach Stan Van Gundy said. The Cavaliers completed a sweep seconds left to put the Cavaliers up “We have played in a lot of pres- of the best-of-seven series and by four. sure basketball games. We do have to advanced to the Eastern Confer- Pistons guard Reggie Jackson get better, there’s no question.” ence semi-finals, where they await shaved the Cleveland lead to 100-98 James had 22 points and 11 Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (right) dribbles the ball against Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson the winner of the series between the on a dunk with 32.8 seconds remain- rebounds, and Smith scored 15. For- Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics that ing, and then Detroit had a chance to ward Kevin Love contributed 11 points (centre) during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA play-offs at the Palace of is tied at two games apiece. tie or win after rebounding an Irv- and 13 rebounds, and reserve guard Auburn Hills in Miami on Sunday. Irving clearly is hungry and ing miss with under 10 seconds Matthew Dellavedova also had 11 healthy at the moment, as he aver- remaining. points for Cleveland, which will now lot. We just kept pushing and mov- and Jackson finished with 13 points because opponents would send him aged 27.5 points in the series and Proceeding down the court prepare for a long layoff waiting for ing forward.” and 12 assists. to the line on purpose. outscored teammate LeBron James, without a timeout, Jackson couldn’t Atlanta or Boston. Morris scored 24 points and Har- One of the youngest teams in the Drummond got defensive at the who averaged over 22 points a game convert a contested 3-point shot from “We are able to get hit and keep ris had 23 points and 13 rebounds to NBA, the Pistons face an offseason postgame press conference when in the series. the top of the key as time expired. moving forward,” Cavaliers coach lead Detroit, which was saw its first question of what to do with Drum- asked about how much he needs to “This postseason is what we have Jackson, who was guarded by Irv- Tyronn Lue said. “We have been harp- playoff appearance since 2009 end mond, who is a restricted free agent. work on his free-throw shooting over been preparing for,” Irving said. ing, pleaded with the officials for a ing on that all season. Not to drop our quickly at the hand of the top-seeded He led the league in rebounding the offseason. “It’s been a pretty good postseason foul, but to no avail. “I just think the head and not to have bad body lan- Cleveland Cavaliers. but shot 35.5 percent from the free- “What do you think?” Drummond so far.” Just as in Games 1 and 3 in the refs need to have some type of sys- guage when the other team makes Detroit centre Andre Drummond throw line and often had to be taken said to the reporter. “It’s obvious, isn’t series, Detroit hung with Cleveland for tem with fines and suspensions, just runs. In this series, we got down a compiled 17 points and 11 rebounds, out of games in the fourth quarter it? Next question.” Islanders move on with Panthers win

Agencies Penguins -- with the latter series con- said of Tavares. Luongo made 15 saves cluding May 14, 1993 -- that spring during a first overtime in which the STANLEY CUP PLAY-OFFS: to emerge from the Patrick Division Islanders had plenty of chances to ISLANDERS WIN SERIES before falling to the eventual Stanley score the game-winner. NEW YORK: It took the New York Cup champion Montreal Canadiens in “It just felt the longer that game Islanders just shy of 23 years -- 8,381 the Wales Conference finals. went on, the worse it was going to be longtime owner Charles Wang cedes days, to be exact -- to finally win a “It’s been a long time coming, for us, because I thought we were out- ownership to Jon Ledecky and Scott postseason series. They would like honestly,” Islanders right winger Cal playing them,” Islanders right winger Malkin. to wait only a couple weeks to win Clutterbuck said. “It’s just good to be Kyle Okposo said. “For us to get by that first round, another one. the team that kind of allows people Okposo helped end the game in it’s a proud moment for him - seeing Islanders captain John Tavares to enjoy the moment, to get over that the second overtime. As he skated him after the game and seeing how cemented his status in franchise lore hump.” down the right side of the ice, Okposo excited he was,” Islanders head coach on Sunday, scoring in the final minute Clutterbuck said he and his team- said he heard Tavares call for the Jack Capuano said. “It’s a good feel- of regulation to force overtime and mates would revel in the moment as puck. Okposo passed to Tavares, ing for these guys.” then scoring in the second overtime well -- for a little while, at least. whose shot was deflected by Luongo. Greiss, who played all six games to give New York a 2-1 win in Game “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” But Luongo came out far to the after entering this season with just 6 of the Eastern Conference quarter- Clutterbuck said. “We’re trying to win right of the net to make the save. one playoff appearance, made 41 finals at Barclays Center. the Stanley Cup.” Tavares picked up the loose puck, saves. The Islanders’ third overtime For 59 minutes, it appeared as if skated around the back of the net Luongo made 49 saves for the win – and second double-overtime the series would go to a decisive sev- and tucked it into the open left corner. Panthers, who now inherit the Island- win in as many games -- gave them enth game Tuesday night in Florida. “Once he picked it up behind ers’ mantle as the longest-suffering a 4-2 series win. New York will face Panthers center Jonathan Huberdeau the net, I think I raised my hands,” team in the NHL. Florida, which won the Tampa Bay Lightning in the con- scored with 62 seconds left in the first Okposo said. “I kind of saw the whole the Atlantic Division this season, has ference semifinals later this week. period and goalie Roberto Luongo play happening. It was pretty cool to not won a postseason series since it “We want to enjoy tonight, but stopped the first 30 shots he faced. have a front row seat to that.” reached the Stanley Cup in 1996. we want to keep this thing going,” With Islanders goalie Thomas The goal set off a deafening cele- The Panthers lost despite trail- Tavares said. Greiss pulled for the extra attacker, bration at Barclays Center, where the ing for just 45:54 of the 439 minutes “We’ve got a special group. We Matt Martin and Nikolay Kulemin Islanders moved this season following and 12 seconds the series lasted. They believe we can do something special.” fired shots that were turned back by 43 years at Nassau Coliseum. didn’t trail in Games 3 and 6 until The postseason series win is Luongo. But he was sprawled face “Euphoria -- you can’t even really allowing the game-winning goals in the first for the Islanders since 1993 down on the ice as the puck skittered process it,” Tavares said. “It was obvi- overtime. -- so long ago the NHL had just 24 to his right and Tavares swooped in ously amazing to look around and see “I thought we were in control of New York Islanders centre John Tavares in action against the Florida teams and still went by traditional and put it home with 52.3 seconds left. all the orange and blue (towels wav- the series most nights,” Gallant said. I Panthers during the second period in game six of the first round hockey names for its divisions and “He’s a star player in this league ing). Just incredible.” thought we were the better team most of the 2016 Stanley Cup Play-offs at Barclays Center. The Islanders conferences. The Islanders beat the and he comes up big when he has to,” The long-awaited series win nights. The hockey gods weren’t with defeated the Panthers 2-1 to win the series four games to two. Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant comes in the final year before us. MLB: White outclass Texas Rangers

Agencies defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-3. BASEBALL RESULTS and now heads back to Wrigley Field The Blue Jays (10-10) took the Tampa Bay 8 NY Yankees 1 off to their best start since 1969. final two games of the three-game Mets 3, Braves 2 Toronto 6 Oakland 3 series after dropping the opener and Jacob deGrom made a winning NEW YORK: Catcher Dioner Navarro gave the Athletics (10-9) their first Cleveland 6 Detroit 3 return to the mound as the New York homered and had a sacrifice fly as losses on the road this season. Chicago Cubs 9 Cincinnati 0 Mets edged the Atlanta Braves 3-2. the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rays 8, Yankees 1 Washington 6 Minnesota 5 DeGrom (2-0) worked into the Rangers 4-1 and completed a three- Steven Souza Jr. homered twice, NY Mets 3 Atlanta 2 sixth inning and the Mets won for game sweep. Drew Smyly pitched seven innings the seventh straight time in Atlanta. Milwaukee 8 Philadelphia 5 Chicago starter Mat Latos contin- and the Tampa Bay Rays hit five He had not pitched since April 8. ued his impressive pitching streak. home runs an 8-1 rout of the New C White Sox 4 Texas 1 He missed one start because of a lat Latos allowed a run and a season- York Yankees. Kansas City 6 Baltimore 1 strain and another after his newborn high seven hits in six innings. He gave Corey Dickerson, Steve Pearce Seattle 9 La Angels 4 son had health issues. up six combined hits in his previous and Logan Forsythe also homered for Indians 6, Tigers 3 Miami 5 San Francisco 4 Chicago White Sox catcher Dioner Navarro (right) is greeted by Chicago three starts. Latos is 4-0 after he went Tampa Bay as the team hit five home Jose Ramirez scored two runs and LA Dodgers 12 Colorado 10 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA with three teams runs in a game for the first time since knocked in two more, and the Cleve- White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing after hitting a solo home run last season. June 29, 2014, at Baltimore. Pittsburgh 12 Arizona 10 land Indians overcame the injury loss against the Texas Rangers during the third inning of their MLB game at Blue Jays 6, Athletics 3 Cubs 9, Reds 0 St Louis 8 San Diego 5 of starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to US Cellular Field in Chicago on Monday. Ezequiel Carrera and Jose Anthony Rizzo homered twice Boston 7 Houston 5 win 6-3 and complete a three-game Bautista hit home runs, Drew and Jason Hammel allowed only three sweep of the Detroit Tigers. raced over to cover first base, in the his day cut short by injury. Shane Hutchison pitched into the sixth hits in seven innings as the Chicago 9-0. Chicago (14-5) scored a com- Carrasco suffered a left hamstring match. Greene (1-2) departed in the fourth with inning and the Toronto Blue Jays Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds bined 38 runs in the four-game series injury during the third inning as he Detroit’s starting pitcher also had a blister on his middle finger. 34 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 SPORT Joshua to face Breazeale in first title defence

football quarterback in the NFL. IBF HEAVYWEIGHT But the 6ft 7in American has won The Briton to TITLE all 17 off his professional fights so far. take on unbeaten This month saw Joshua become title fight but, according to Joshua, world champion after a quick stop- American in June 25 his camp have been studying Brea- page win over defending champion IBF title clash zeale closely in the hope he might Charles Martin in London. be an opponent. His success sparked calls for a “My coaches have watched ‘Battle of Britain’ unification bout Breazeale for a long time and they with compatriot Tyson Fury. AFP knew he was going to be a player The World Boxing Association in the division and now we get the and World Boxing Organisation chance to go war on June 25,” said heavyweight champion, Fury beat Joshua. Wladimir Klitschko on points in LONDON: Britain’s Anthony Joshua “It’s sure to be explosive, both Germany in November and will will make the first defence of his of us like to let our hands go and face the Ukrainian again in Man- International Boxing Federation score knockouts, we are both chester on July 9. world heavyweight title against undefeated and both have Olympic It was Fury’s decision to seek unbeaten American Dominic Brea- pedigree,” the 26-year-old added. a re-match with Klitschko that zeale in June, it was announced “I am looking to get past Brea- prompted the IBF to strip him of Monday. zeale in style and continue moving their version of the title. Breazeale, 30, will return to towards the unification fight eve- Other potential opponents London, where he competed at rybody is waiting for.” being lined up for Joshua include the 2012 Olympics -- a tourna- Breazeale lost 19-8 to Rus- Britain’s former world heavy- ment where Joshua won a gold sia’s Magomed Omarov in the first weight champion David Haye and Dominic medal -- for the June 25 clash at round at London 2012 having come the United States’ Deontay Wilder, IBF heavyweight world champion Breazeale the O2 Arena. to boxing relatively late after trying the reigning World Boxing Council Anthony Joshua It will be the American’s first to forge a career as an American title-holder.

GOLF WORLD Lee wins Shenzhen International RANKINGS 1. (1) Jason Day (Australia) 12.28 AFP 2. (2) Jordan Spieth (US) 11.44 3. (3) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 8.99 4. (4) Bubba Watson (US) 8.15 BEIJING: South Korea’s Lee Soo-Min 5. (5) Rickie Fowler (US) 7.65 won the rain-delayed Shenzhen Inter- 6. (6) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 7.60 national yesterday, claiming his first 7. (7) Adam Scott (Australia) 6.99 European Tour title with a two-shot 8. (8) Dustin Johnson (US) 6.71 victory over Dutchman Joost Luiten and South Africa’s Brandon Stone. 9. (9) Danny Willett (Britain) 6.34 More than nine hours of play were 10. (10) Justin Rose (Britain) 5.82 lost to rain and electrical storms during 11. (11) Branden Grace (South Africa) the tournament in the southern Chi- 5.51 nese city, and Lee was among three joint leaders when play resumed early 12. (13) Patrick Reed (US) 5.31 yesterday, with another trio just one 13. (12) Louis Oosthuizen shot behind. (South Africa) 4.98 But the 22-year-old went into the 14. (14) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) outright lead with a birdie on the 16th 4.61 and when he followed with an eagle three on the par-five 17th, it meant his 15. (15) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.28 final-hole bogey was immaterial as he 16. (16) Brandt Snedeker (US) 4.23 finished on 16 under par. 17. (17) Zach Johnson (US) 4.05 The win came in only his sixth start on the European Tour, and was 18. (18) Brooks Koepka (US) 3.93 a contrast to the Maybank Champi- 19. (21) J.B. Holmes (US) 3.84 Charley Hoffman poses with the Valero Texas Open trophy after the final onship Malaysia, where he began the 20. (20) Charl Schwartzel round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio AT&T Oaks Course on final round with a three-shot lead but (South Africa) 3.79 Sunday in San Antonio, Texas. made two double-bogeys in his last three holes to slip to a share of sec- 21. (19) Phil Mickelson (US) 3.78 ond place. 22. (22) Kevin Kisner (US) 3.64 The other overnight joint leaders, 23. (24) Paul Casey (Britain) 3.55 France’s Alexander Levy and Lee Slat- 24. (23) Jim Furyk (US) 3.54 Hoffman birdies final tery of England, both slipped back in the final holes to finish tied for fourth 25. (25) Kevin Na (US) 3.26 with Australian Scott Hend. 26. (26) Jimmy Walker (US) 3.23 Two-time US Masters champion 27. (27) Matt Kuchar (US) 3.20 hole for dramatic Bubba Watson, who is ranked fourth 28. (28) Bill Haas (US) 3.16 in the world, finished in joint eighth SoominSoomiin LLeLeee off SSouthoouthh KKoreaoorea pplaysllayss a sshothhot dduduringriinng tthehhe fifinalnal roroundounnd place on 10-under par after a closing of the Shenzhen International golf tournament at Genzon 29. (30) Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) six-under 66, while Spanish veteran Golf Club in Shenzhen, southern China’s Guangdong province 3.16 Texas Open win Miguel Angel Jimenez took a share of yesterday. 30. (29) Russell Knox (Britain) 3.15 13th place another two shots back.

AFP He birdied the 11th and 14th to arrive at TPC San Antonio’s par-five 18th with a one-shot lead over Reed. He was in a greenside bunker with McIlroy set for French Open return LOS ANGELES: Charley Hoffman laid his second shot, his third leaving him a the ghost of some recent near-misses nine-footer, which he stepped up and on Sunday, sinking a clutch birdie putt poured into the center of the cup after at the final hole to win the Texas Open Reed -- who had chipped from the edge AFP to prepare for The Open at Troon. in San Antonio. of the green to a foot -- had made his “In a perfect world I would be able The American notched his fourth US birdie to join him at 11-under. to win the 100th Open de France and PGA Tour title -- and his first since the “I said to myself ‘Let’s finish this then keep the winning run going to The 2014 OHL Classic at Mayakoba -- card- here. Let’s not play anymore,’” Hoff- PARIS: Rory McIlroy (pictured) is to play Open.” ing a three-under par 69 for a 12-under man said. in the French Open at the end of June as McIlroy has twice previously played par total of 276. Reed, who barely missed birdie putts part of his preparations for the British in the French Open, missing the cut dur- “This last month has been hard, at 16 and 17, finished alone in second Open, organisers announced yesterday. ing his first full season as a professional being in contention every Sunday and after his 69 for 277. The 26-year-old from Northern Ire- in 2008 before going close to winning not closing the door,” said an emotional “I thought they were in,” Reed said. land believes that the tough challenge the title in 2010. Hoffman, who rolled in a nine-foot “I put the pressure as much as I could on of playing at Le Golf National near Ver- He fired a brilliant final round 66 birdie putt at the final hole after play- Charley. It shows he was ready to win a sailles - the host venue for the 2018 to miss out on a three-man play-off by ing partner Patrick Reed had birdied the golf tournament, and I had way too many Ryder Cup - will help him get ready a single stroke and finish fourth, with last to pull level atop the leaderboard. mistakes to close one out.” for the third major of the year, at Royal Miguel Angel Jiménez lifting the trophy. “It’s nice to make that putt, that’s for Chad Collins was third after a 69 Troon in western Scotland. McIlroy came up short in his bid to sure,” added Hoffman, who was one off for 278. “I feel that playing in the 100th Open complete a career Grand Slam of major the lead after three rounds at the RBC Barnes, seeking his first PGA Tour de France at Le Golf National will be titles at the Masters earlier this month Heritage last week but faded to a share title, had five bogeys and three birdies the best way to get ready for The Open, when he finished in a tie for 10th behind of 14th. in a two-over 74 that dropped him into which is just two weeks after the French winner Danny Willett. Headed into this week, Hoffman a share of fourth place on 279. Open,” the four-time major winner said. The tournament, which has a 3.5mil- ranked 200th in final-round scoring He was tied with Kevin Chappell, “Le Golf National might not be a pure lion euros prize fund, is the oldest average and had not posted a score on Ryan Palmer, Billy Horschel and Mar- links course, but it is traditionally firm national Open on continental Europe, the last day better than 73 in his last six tin Piller -- the husband of LPGA player and fast and can throw up some tricky having been played since 1906, only final rounds. Gerina Piller.Piller briefly took the lead conditions during the French Open. missing 1915-19 and 1940-45 during But with overnight leader Ricky after a birdie at the 12th, but he slid back “It’s a great test of golf and I think wartime. The defending champion from Barnes fading, Hoffman seized his with a double-bogey from a tough lie in playing there, as well as staying in June 30-July 3 will be Austria’s Bernd chance this time. a bunker at the par-three 13th. Europe, will offer the best conditions Wiesberger. SPORT TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 35 South Africa 2023 rugby Neymar to lead Brazil’s Operation Olympic World Cup bid in jeopardy Medals at Rio Games

AFP the Copa campaign goes well. Bra- Sports Minister zil’s women have also never won an Olympic or world title and led by the of South Africa legendary Marta, now 30 and in banned its national RIO DE JANEIRO: Football super- probably her last bid for glory, hope star Neymar will lead Brazil’s charge this is their turn. cricket and rugby for gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Brazil suffered a blow when federations from Olympics as the country seeks to for- Cesar Cielo, the country’s only Olym- get its political and economic blues. pic swimming gold winner, failed to hosting or bidding The country of 200 million qualify for Rio. for international people faces a nervous 100-day The 29-year-old, who took the tournaments for at countdown to the start of the Games 50-meter freestyle at the 2008 where it is counting on winning Beijing Games, was beaten in his least a year about 30 medals. That would put favorite contest by Italo Manzine it in the top 10 sporting powers for Duarte and Bruno Fratus. the first Olympics to be held in South Fratus is considered a real con- America. tender for the Rio Games along AFP The Olympic torch set off Thurs- with Felipe Franca in the 100m day from Athens on a circuitous tour breaststroke. through Greece, eventually wind- Etiene Medeiros -- Brazil’s best ing through scores of Brazilian cities women’s swimmer of all time, who before arriving at Rio’s Maracana set a 50m backstroke world record JOHANNESBURG: South Africa Stadium for the August 5 opening at the 2014 world championships in sports minister Fikile Mbalula yes- ceremony. Doha -- should also be watched. terday barred the national rugby Brazil won a record 17 medals And the country does have sports union from bidding for international at the 2012 London Olympics. The where -- barring more catastrophes events because they failed to meet same year, the government launched -- it knows it can count on success. racial transformation targets. Operation Brazil Medals, putting Robert Scheidt, who has two If he keeps his word -- something about one billion reals into train- golds, two silvers and a bronze from Athletes exit the water during the ITU Elite Women’s Olympic distance World Triathlon series race in Cape he has regularly not done in the past ing facilities for potential Olympic laser class yachting at five Olympic -- it would dash South African hopes Town, South Africa, yesterday. winners. Games, “will be our biggest chance of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup. “In the past three years, Bra- of a medal,” according to Marco South Africa, France, Ireland and zil has taken first place in 15 world Aurelio, president of the Brazilian Italy have officially bid to follow 2019 immediate effect,” Mbalula said. be moving faster. “But our sport has South Africa coach Heyneke events, which is part of our plan,” Yachting Federation. hosts Japan as organisers of the quad- “I will review this decision when undergone a major overhaul in how Meyer chose a team comprising 12 Marcus Vinicius Freire, executive Martin Grael and Kahena Kunze rennial rugby union showpiece. considering the results of the 2016- we do business and how we meas- whites and three blacks for major director of sport for the Brazilian won the 2014 world championships Mbalula said in a statement he 2017 transformation barometer.” ure ourselves in the past two or three matches during the 2015 Rugby World Olympic Committee, said. in the 49er FX class and are also part was barring the national rugby, Athletics, cricket and netball years and we have definitely made Cup, where they finished third. Brazil, the most successful foot- of Brazil’s plan. cricket, athletics and netball bod- are not in line to host international great progress. The national rugby body and the ball nation, has never won the men’s In beach volleyball, Larissa ies from bidding for international events. “Transformation is a key strate- government have agreed that the 2019 Olympic soccer gold. They lost to Franca, the most successful wom- events because racial goals had not South African Rugby chief execu- gic imperative for SA Rugby to remain Rugby World Cup team should be at Mexico in the 2012 final. en’s player of all time, has come out been met. tive Jurie Roux said the organisation competitive and to survive in the least 50 percent black. But it has negotiated a deal with of retirement to team up with Talita “I have resolved to revoke the planned to meet Mbalula regarding sporting landscape in our country.” Allister Coetzee, a black who Barcelona so that Neymar will play Antunes to bid for Rio gold. privilege of Athletics South Africa, the 2023 World Cup bid. A string of provincial and national successfully transformed the West- in the Olympics but be rested for Alison Ceruti, who won silver Cricket South Africa, Netball South “The bidding process is due to rugby coaches have ignored gov- ern Stormers with nearly half the the Copa America Centennial in the in London, is a hot contender in Africa and South African Rugby to start next month but will not con- ernment pleas to field teams more Super Rugby team non-white in some United States in June. the men’s contest on the legendary host and bid for major and mega clude until next year by which time SA representative of a country whose games, was named national coach The country has still not got over Copacabana Beach with his new international tournaments in South Rugby hopes to have the right to host population is 91 percent black. this month. Last year, Mbalula said its disastrous 7-1 defeat by Germany partner Bruno Schmidt. Africa as a consequence of the afore- reinstated,” Roux said in a statement. Blacks were banned from repre- he wanted a 60 percent black Spring- in the 2014 World Cup semi-final in Two time world champion mentioned federations not meeting “There is no question that we senting the national team during the boks team with immediate effect, but Rio. National coach Dunga will only Isaquias Queiroz is a favorite in the their own transformation targets with have more work to do and we could apartheid era. this did not materialise. be in charge of the Olympic side if sprint canoe contests.

Gillespie denies Mumbai Indians down Kings XI by 25 runs Australia approach

IANS SCOREBOARD AFP MUMBAI INDIANS M Vohra c Buttler b Bumrah 7 R G Sharma c Naik b S Sharma 0 S E Marsh c Rayudu b Southee 45 LONDON: Yorkshire coach Jason MOHALI: Mumbai Indians defeated P A Patel c Marsh b Johnson 81 G J Maxwell b Bumrah 56 Gillespie insisted yesterday he Kings XI Punjab by 25 runs to bag was committed to the reigning A T Rayudu c Vohra b Patel 65 D A Miller (not out) 30 their third victory in the Indian Pre- English county champions after mier League (IPL) at the Punjab J C Buttler b Sharma 24 N S Naik b Bumrah 1 being linked with a role as Aus- Cricket Association Stadium here K A Pollard c S Sharma b M Sharma 10 A R Patel b McClenaghan 0 tralia’s bowling coach. yesterday. H H Pandya c Miller b M Sharma 4 M G Johnson b McClenaghan 1 The former Australia fast

Mumbai rode on strong batting K H Pandya (not out) 0 M M Sharma (not out) 0 bowler has forged a fine reputa- performances by Parthiv Patel (81) tion as a coach during four years Extras (LB-1, W-3, NB-1) 5 Extras (LB-2, W-2, NB-1) 5 and Ambati Rayudu (65) to post 189/6 in charge of Yorkshire, helping the in 20 overs. Total (for 6 wkts in 20 overs) 189 Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) 164 Headingley club return to the First The duo added 136 runs between Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-137, 3-174, 4-180, Did not bat: P Sahu, Sandeep Sharma. Division and then overseeing their them for the second wicket to lay the 5-189, 6-189. Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-32, 3-121, 4-139, back-to-back County Champion- foundation for a big total. Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-0-20-1 (1w); M 5-141, 6-149, 7-151. ship titles that have left the White In reply, Punjab were lifted by an G Johnson 4-0-43-1 (1nb); A R Patel 4-0-41-1; Bowling: T G Southee 4-0-28-2; M J McClena- Rose bidding for three in a row this 89-run third wicket stand between M M Sharma 4-0-38-3 (2w); G J Maxwell 1-0- ghan 4-0-32-2 (1nb, 2w); J J Bumrah 4-0-26- season. Shaun Marsh (48) and Glenn Max- 11-0; P Sahu 3-0-35-0. 3; K H Pandya 2-0-20-0; Harbhajan Singh Last year saw Gillespie touted well (56). But at the end, the combined as a candidate to replace England KINGS XI PUNJAB 4-0-31-0; K A Pollard 2-0-25-0. brilliance of Mumbai pace trio coach Peter Moores before the job -- Jasprit Bumrah (3/26), Mitchell M Vijay c Buttler b Southee 19 Player-of-the-Match: PA Patel (MI). went to compatriot Trevor Bayliss. McClanaghan (3/32) and Tim Southee Australia coach Darren (2/28) -- ensured that Punjab fall Lehmann, who played cricket short by 25 runs, scoring 164/7. struggling sides, Punjab captain wicketkeeper. That was the only alongside Gillespie for South It was Mumbai’s second win in David Miller won the toss and asked piece of celebration the Punjab Australia and Australia, said last last five matches that takes them to Mumbai to bat. players and their home crowd could week in a radio interview that his the fifth spot in the points table, while Mumbai had a shaky start as indulge in for a considerable period old team-mate would “certainly Mumbai Indians players celebrate the dismissal of Kings XI Punjab Punjab succumbed to their hat-trick skipper Rohit Sharma lasted all of time as Patel and Rayudu pro- be at forefront with other bowl- of losses and remained at the bottom. of two balls before edging a San- ceeded to hit the bowlers to all parts batsman Shaun Marsh during the IPL T20 match at the Punjab Cricket ing coaches” when they looked In a match between two deep Sharma inswinger to the of the ground. Association Stadium in Mohali yesterday. to appoint a successor to Craig McDermott, who stepped down in March. But the 41-year-old Gillespie, who took 259 wickets in 71 Tests, ICC reprimands West Indies over T20 final celebrations said Monday he had no immedi- ate plans to leave Yorkshire, telling the county’s website: “I haven’t had any contact, so there’s nothing to AFP Prior to lifting the trophy, West Dubai headquarters congratulated the had detracted from the success of its unique spirit and this involves report to be honest. Indies captain Darren Sammy gave WICB on an “unprecedented treble” what was otherwise a magnificent being gracious in victory as well as “If anything changes, I’ll an emotional interview on the Eden that saw the West Indies also win the tournament and final,” the ICC state- defeat and respectful at all times let you know. At this point, it’s Gardens outfield where he thanked Women’s World Twenty20 final and ment read. to the game, one’s opponents, the just focusing on my role here,” LONDON: The International Cricket Keith Mitchell, the Prime Minister the boys Under-19 World Cup in Bang- ICC chairman Shasjank Manohar sponsors and the fans,” said Indian added Gillespie, who has also Council has criticised the actions of Grenada and a key member of ladesh in February. also appeared to single out Marlon administrator Manohar. Meanwhile coached the Adelaide Strikers and comments of several West the CARICOM heads of government But the ICC said it had given Samuels for criticism. It appeared the ICC announced leading non-Test in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash Indies players following their World umbrella body, but accused the WICB “very serious consideration” to that, in a continuation of an already- nations Afghanistan and Ireland were League. Twenty20 final win over England in of “disrespecting” the team. bringing Code of Conduct charges established feud, Samuels -- who was to receive $500,000 each from the “There is still a lot to do at Kolkata earlier this month. “He (Mitchell) sent a very inspir- against several West Indies players at the non-striker’s end -- taunted Ben ICC as part of a “short-term” one-day Yorkshire and I solely want to con- There had been reports prior to ing message for the team this morning for “inappropriate” and “disrespect- Stokes after the England all-rounder international fund. The ICC said the centrate on helping this team win the tournament that the team were and I’m yet to hear from our own ful” comments that “brought the event was hit for four successive sixes by cash boost was designed to help the cricket matches. on the verge of withdrawing from the cricket board,” said Sammy. “That’s into disrepute”. Carlos Brathwaite that saw the West two countries schedule more bilateral “You don’t rule out opportuni- event as part of a long-running pay very disappointing.” “The board acknowledged an Indies to a stunning win in the last series and so support their respective ties in the future. It’s whether you and contract dispute with the West The ICC, in a statement issued apology by the WICB but was disap- over of the match. bids to gain direct entry to the 2019 feel like you can make a difference Indies Cricket Board. yesterday after a board meeting at its pointed to note that such behaviour “The sport of cricket is proud of 50-over World Cup in England. in any job that comes available. 36 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016

Asia Rugby level 1 referee course in Doha a success

The Peninsula players. The course consisted of to understand the fundamentals of informational classroom learning rugby from the referee’s point of view. with a short quiz and a hands on Often players will question the ref- practical session where they all took eree’s decision without taking into DOHA: Qatar Rugby Federation turns at officiating with the whistle. account the steps the referee took to (QRF) and Aspire officials together If these boys are serious and want to make such a decision. This course with Camels 1 & 2 players attended pursue the refereeing path then they certainly gives it from the referee’s the World Rugby level 1 Officiating must be complete the level 2 referee- point of view. I think the boys will Course. ing course and be active in that role” view rugby differently after today”. The itinerary started at the Cop- Jalajel said. Aspire representative Subait Al thorne Hotel and concluded 7 hours QRF General Secretary Ali Al Hasawi said “As you know Aspire later in the open space of the old Air- Malki who was one of the officials is a great partner for all federa- port Grounds. in attendance said “It is important to tions in Qatar. As partners and Rugby Development Consultant foster our local boys and keep them co-hosts it is imperative that we Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah is chasing Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s record 12 wins in Jordan. and course coordinator Gaith Jala- in the game once they decide playing too know what rugby is all about jel said: “A few months back the QRF is no longer for them. We are focusing and how it is played. It is one thing made a special request to Asia Rugby on educating Qatari players in differ- watching rugby and another thing seeking a referee’s level 1 course for ent roles such as coaching, refereeing officiating”. their local a Arabic speaking play- and management. Hopefully, this way The course was definitely inform- ers. Asia Rugby agreed viewing the they will never leave the sport and ative it provided us with game Al Attiyah chasing request as encouraging and a step in help in the recruitment of younger knowledge, management, and plan- the right direction”. Qatari players”. ning, technical aspects and was then “Fourteen participants attended “The good thing about this offici- given the chance to put this knowl- Bin Sulayem record the course including officials and ating course is that it allows players edge into practice at the local park”.

regional champion Bin Sulayem. winning sequence: the Qatari Al Attiyah has dominated the recorded his first Jordan win in Reigning FIA regional scene over the past 14 years, 2003 and has won the past four Middle East rally and he recently passed Bin Sulayem’s events. Bin Sulayem’s wins came record of 60 regional championship from 1984-2002. champion will start wins. He is not showing signs of eas- But the most popular win for as overwhelming ing up yet either, having recently local rally fans came in 2004 when favourite for his 10th declared he would like to reach 100 countryman Amjad Farrah recorded wins. a dramatic last stage victory to Jordan Rally victory Al Attiyah and Bin Sulayem are remain the only Jordanian ever to in fine company when it comes to have won the event. the Jordan Rally honours’ list. While Of course you can’t talk about both are streets ahead when it comes past winners without looking at The Peninsula to the number of victories, there is those three memorable FIA World no doubting the calibre of drivers Rally Championships that were held who have also stood on the win- in Jordan in 2008, 2010 and 2011. ners’ podium. Mikko Hirvonen picked up the During the 1980s, big names like first Jordan WRC title, followed by AMMAN, JORDAN: Qatar’s Nasser Michel Saleh (Lebanon) and Saeed the great Sébastien Loeb and, finally, Saleh Al Attiyah has another of Al Hajri (Qatar) recorded five wins Sébastien Ogier. Organisers Jordan motor sporting legend Mohammed between them with Bin Sulayem’s Motorsport hope that this list will be Bin Sulayem’s records in his sights first coming in 1984, while the fol- added to in years to come should the when he heads the line-up of driv- lowing decade saw wins for Saudi WRC decided to return to the region. ers for the Jordan Rally from May 5-7. Arabia’s Abdullah Al Bakhashab, as The Jordan Rally gets under- The Qatari Skoda driver and well as Qataris, Abbas Al Musawi and way with a special spectator event reigning FIA Middle East rally cham- Sheikh Hamad bin Eid Al Thani. in Abdali on May 5 from 2pm. This pion will start as overwhelming Since then, the likes of Khaled will be followed by two days of exhil- favourite for his 10th Jordan Rally Al-Qassimi (UAE), Rashid Al-Ketbi arating action in the Dead Sea and Qatar Rugby Federation and Aspire officials together with Camels 1 and 2 players, who attended the victory, which would bring him (UAE) and Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Saudi Jordan Valley areas culminating with to within two of fellow multiple Arabia) have disrupted Al-Attiyah’s a finish on the evening of May 7. World Rugby level 1 Officiating Course in Doha.

Mathiesen and Evergrande top in Hrinda top in China League Qatar Junior after Asian flop Cup at DGC AFP

The Peninsula SHANGHAI: Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Guangzhou Evergrande put their AFC Champions League frustra- tions behind them with a 4-0 win DOHA: Mikkel Mathiesen and over Tianjin Teda to go top of the Laila Hrinda topped in the men’s Chinese Super League. and women’s section of the Qatar Evergrande’s Asian title Junior Open 2016 organised by defence ended at the group stage Qatar Golf Association (QGA). last week, their earliest exit from In the Men’s Division, Math- the continental competition, iesen topped followed byJakub prompting a scathing response Hrinda. from Chinese media. Engineer Mohammed Ibrahim Many commentators have Al Mohannadi, QGA Board Mem- pointed to the departure of pro- ber and Deputy General Secretary lific Brazilian striker Elkeson, who crowned the winners. is now scoring freely for Ever- grande’s rivals Shanghai SIPG, as Qatar Junior a key reason for their Asian flop. But Scolari, whose side are Open 2016 chasing their sixth successive Men’s Division domestic crown, blamed the dis- tractions of last year’s Club World Best Gross: The podium winners at the Qatar Junior Open 2016 pose for a picture with Engineer Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, Qatar Golf Association Cup in Japan, where Evergrande 1st Mikkel Mathiesen 70 grs Board Member and Deputy General Secretary at the Doha Golf Club in Doha yesterday. finished fourth. 2nd Jakub Hrinda 71 grs Best Nett: 1st Linus Byberg 72 net 2nd Harvey Liversidge 74 net countback FA Cup final likely to define Van Gaal’s United tenure: Pardew 3rd Abdulrahman Al Dehaimi 74 net countback Ladies Division Reuters football’s most successful manager League titles and four more FA Cups “I remember Sir Alex’s career forward to seeing him in the final.” Best Nett: Alex Ferguson in 1990, Crystal Palace during a trophy-laden career. hinged on that game and maybe Van Pardew’s men booked their place Laila Hrinda 71 net boss Alan Pardew has said. Van Gaal’s position has come Gaal’s career will hinge on this,” said in the final after beating Watford 2-1 Juniors Academy Palace meet United at Wembley under increasing scrutiny during an Pardew, who played for Palace in the on Sunday, with Connor Wickham’s LONDON: Louis van Gaal’s future at next month in a repeat of the 1990 erratic United campaign and the FA 1990 final, which United won after goal proving the winner after Hor- Result: Manchester United will likely depend final. Winning that trophy reportedly Cup represents the last chance for his a replay. net striker Troy Deeney cancelled 1st Dylan Maisey 20 pts on the outcome of the FA Cup final helped keep Ferguson at United then. side to win any silverware this term. “I like the guy (Van Gaal). He’s had out Yannick Bolasie’s opener for the 2nd Amira Yasser 17 pts next month just like it did for English The Scot went on to win 13 Premier some terrible, terrible press and I look Eagles.