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SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 • 14 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6685 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Deadly blizzard hits US Qatari delegation Law on water attends Davos meet and power The Peninsula DOHA: A high-level Qatari delega- tion, led by Minister of Finance H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi, attended the three- day World Economic Forum (WEF) waste in force annual meeting in Davos. The delegation also included H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al- Thani, Minister of Economy and To reach the consumers, literally Commerce, and Sheikh Abdullah a poster war has been waged in shop- bin Mohamed bin Saud Al Thani, The penalty for ping complexes and pamphlets have Chief Executive Officer of Qatar wasting water been distributed in large numbers. Investment Authority. Social media have been effectively The Qatari delegation held through a hose used to drive the message home to a number of bilateral meetings or pressure pipe people in the country that water and with high-level representatives of electricity are the most precious util- governments and leading interna- can reach up to ities so they must be rationally used. tional corporations. The Minister of QR20,000 in a first- Qatar is one of the largest consum- Finance also took part in a meeting, time violation, while ers of water and electricity although which gathered participating min- it has scarce natural water sources isters of finance and central bank wasting electricity and depends almost solely on desal- governors. The meeting was hosted can make one cough inated sea water. by Prof Klaus Schwab, founder and Talking about the law which has A worker cleans a snow-covered street in Times Square in New York yesterday. A deadly blizzard with executive chairman of the World up QR10,000 as fine been just implemented, the fines are bone-chilling winds and potentially record-breaking snowfall slammed the eastern US as officials Economic Forum, and it discussed to be doubled if a violation is repeated warning the worst is yet to come. →See also page 19 the foremost economic and finan- in three years. Reconciliations are cial trends expected in 2016. possible by paying to Kahramaa half The Peninsula the fine before charges are brought against a violator in a court of law for legal action. Electricity will be considered DOHA: Utility distributor Kahramaa as being wasted if bulbs, tubes or Return visa applications via Metrash 2 has begun implementing a law which any other such devices fitted out- prescribes deterring fines for wast- side a building are found switched ing electricity and water. on between 7am and 4.30pm. The Peninsula and Expatriates Affairs at the ministry to visit a MoI services centre to get holder lose or damage his/her pass- The penalty for wasting water The law is part of a National Pro- on January 17. They can be accessed the visas of their wives and children port before entering Qatar. In such through a hose or pressure pipe can gram for Conservation and Energy through Metrash2 mobile application renewed, if they had stayed out of Qatar cases, the sponsor or employer can reach up to QR20,000 in a first-time Efficiency, the drive is known in Ara- and MoI web portal, the ministry said for more than six months. The return update the passport details online by violation, while wasting electricity bic as ‘Tarsheed’. ‘Tarsheed’ means DOHA: Expatriates seeking a “return on its Twitter account. visas normally had a validity of two adding the new passport number and can make one cough up QR10,000 ‘To Guide’ but here the term is being visa” for people under personal spon- The return visa will be issued for weeks, which has now been extended expiry date, the ministry explained. as fine. used to refer to conservation of the sorship who have stayed out of the those who have a valid residence per- to one month. This service carries a In the case of expatriates holding The law is being put into force precious utilities and their rational country for more than six months can mit (RP). It will have one month validity, fee of QR500 per person. two visas — one existing and another by Kahramaa (Qatar General Elec- use. As part of the above programme, now apply online or through Metrash which means the visa holder can enter Passport details of a foreigner new— it is now possible to close one tricity and Water Corporation) after water waste is to be cut by 35 percent, 2, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said the country in one month after issu- can now be modified online if the visa and open the other online using an intensive awareness campaign. while the wastage of electricity is to yesterday. ance of the return visa, explained the person holds a valid entry visa to Metrash2 or MoI e-services, after pay- Awareness drives have been be curtailed by 20 percent. This is among the three new ministry. Qatar and his passport was lost or ing the service charges. It is no more launched in government offices, online services launched by the Gen- This will simplify the procedures damaged. required to visit a services centre for mosques, schools as well as for homes. →Continued on page 7 eral Directorate of Borders, Passports for many expatriates who earlier had There are cases in which a visa this purpose, said the ministry.

Israeli guard shoots dead UK-based union offers help on labour rights Palestinian girl By Fazeena Saleem visit here told The Peninsula that the “We can assist the government to that we can talk to them about how the companies in Doha. However, the del- The Peninsula union is looking to support the local enforce those (labour) laws and to make trade unions can help them achiev- egation did not meet Qatari officials. Reuters authorities in bringing to book the com- sure that they are monitored, and any ing vision 2030. We can assist making “The visit was arranged by the BWI. panies which violate the labour law. abuses of workers are brought to their that they achieve the vision, without We went through the Qatari officials, they An eight-member delegation from (officials’) attention. And we can raise exploiting workers,” he added. know that we are here and we were able DOHA: A UK-based trade union Unite, British and Ireland’s largest the standards,” said McCluskey. The delegation has met with to have access to a number of sites, and JERUSALEM: A 13-year-old Pal- expressed its interest in helping the union, Building and Wood Workers “We have met with the British construction and hospitality sector talk to many construction workers and estinian girl was shot dead by an Qatari government to monitor labour International (BWI) together with UK’s ambassador, and we want him to try employees working for different com- hospitality workers,” said McCluskey. Israeli security guard she tried to rights. Len McCluskey, General Secre- Labour Party MPs Naz Shah and Ian to open up a channel of communica- panies and visited several labour camps. stab at a settlement in the Israeli- tary of Unite, who was on an official Lavery were in Doha on a four-day visit. tion with the Qatari government, so The visits also included some UK based →Continued on page 7 occupied West Bank yesterday. It was the latest fatality in an almost four-month-long surge of violence that has raised concern of wider escalation, a decade after the Burning oil tanks in Libya last Palestinian uprising subsided, Saudis and Indians top on and it followed two stabbings this week inside settlements carried out by Palestinian teenagers, accord- ing to Israeli authorities. list of visitors to Qatar Holding a knife, she ran towards the security guard at the entrance to Anatot settlement and he opened The Peninsula on the list of the countries from where fairly fire at her, Police spokeswoman large numbers of tourists arrived here in 2015. Luba Samri said. Her father arrived Egypt sent 92,036 visitors, while Kuwait, at the scene shortly after the inci- 91,843 and Pakistan, 86,670. These were the top dent and was arrested, she added. DOHA: Tourist arrivals in the country totalled 10 nationalities who had visited Qatar in 2015. Eight seconds of security cam- 2.93 million last year, more than a third of whom From the GCC region alone, the arrivals era footage published on Israeli were visitors from the neighbouring Saudi Ara- totalled more than a third (over 1.3 million), Channel Two News’s website bia and India. Asia (735,841), Europe (437,122), Other Arabs showed the armed guard running Some 855,555 Saudi citizens paid a visit here (274,530), the Americas (145,555) and other through the settlement gate and a last year while Indians were the second largest Africa (36,364). young woman running after him group of tourists numbering 375,910. The total number of tourist arrivals in 2015 with an object, possibly a knife, in Tourists from the UK (numbering 135,645) was 3.7 percent up over the previous year, while her hand. The family of the teen- were the third largest group on nationality- the average annual growth between 2010 and ager, Ruqayya Abu Eid, confirmed wise, followed by Bahrain (132,913). 2015 was 11.5 percent. her death. Her mother, Reeda Abu Figures released by the Qatar Tourism Among the GCC nationals who visited Qatar, Eid, said there had been no trouble Authority (QTA), yesterday showed the UAE, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman and Kuwait trailed before her daughter left the fam- Smoke rises from burning oil storage tanks in the port of Ras Lanuf, Libya, yesterday Oman and the US trailing with 117,575, 102,332 Saudi Arabia. ily home, a tent in the Palestinian after an attack by Islamic State militants. and 93,174 visitors, respectively. village Anata. Egypt, Kuwait and Pakistan also figured →Continued on page 7

HOME SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 03

New cold spell likely from tomorrow

The Peninsula venturing into the sea, especially in the windy degrees and the minimum between 13 and 17 conditions. degrees. In Doha, night temperature will be In its forecast for today the bureau said 16 degrees and day temperature 26 degrees. foggy conditions will continue at places early Inland, the wind direction will be south- DOHA: Qatar is expected to be morning, affecting visibility which could be westerly to southeasterly, with the speed affected by a fresh cold spell 1km or less in the affected areas. The tem- being five to 15 knots. No warning has been from tomorrow night until perature will be moderate during the day issued for offshore weather. The wind direc- January 30. but the night will be cold. The maximum tion in the seas will be southeasterly, and Night temperatures would temperature could be between 23 and 26 speed from six to 16 knots. likely dip to 10 degrees Cel- sius in southern and open areas and between 12 and 14 degrees in other parts. Day temperatures are forecast to vary between 18 and 21 degrees during the period — four to five degrees less than its annual mean. “There will be a noticeable drop in tempera- ture from tomorrow night until the end of the period (Satur- day, January 30),” the weather bureau warned yesterday in a special bulletin. High winds from the colder regions of Europe resulting from an extension of Siberian high pressure, will make the chill stinging. Northwesterly winds will move at 20 to 30 knots inland, and offshore 25 to 35 knots, reaching 45 knots at times. “During the period, Qatar will be affected by an extension of the Siberian high pressure system accompanied by fresh to strong northwest- erly wind,” said the bureau. Due to the high winds off- shore, the sea will be rough with waves rising in the deep seas from nine to 13 feet. Scattered clouds will be hanging over the horizon because of a low pressure forming in the upper levels of atmosphere, especially between Wednesday and Fri- day and may cause light rains in some parts of the country. High winds may kick up dust at places inland affect- ing visibility, which could be less than 2km in the affected, open areas. The bureau has asked sea-goers, including cruises, to use caution while 04 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 HOME QRCS extends surgical intervention in Taiz Ministers visit Supported by Qatar military college Development Fund, the project was and deliver launched several lectures months ago to help Doha: Foreign Minister Yemeni hospitals H E Dr Khalid bin treat the injured in Mohamed Al Attiyah yes- terday visited Joaan Bin the recent clashes Jassim Joint Command and Staff College in Al Wakrah and gave a lec- ture to student officers The Peninsula participating in a course on joint command and staff, under the theme ‘Strengthening or Weak- DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society ening Political Position of (QRCS) has signed an agreement with the State.’ He dealt with Al Thawra Public Hospital in Taiz in the need for coordination Yemen to extend urgent surgical inter- between the political and vention to this month-end. military sides to reach the With funding from Qatar Devel- best results and achieve opment Fund (QDF), the project was political goals and bene- launched several months ago to help fits of any state. Yemeni hospitals treat the injured in Minister of Energy and the recent clashes. Industry H E Dr Moham- During the first phase, which lasted Medical supplies provided by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) reach Al Thawra Public Hospital in Taiz, Yemen. med bin Saleh Al Sada more than three months, the hospi- also visited the college tal received and treated 12,734 cases. and gave a lecture on Following the success of the emer- consumables, oxygen and fuel for Taiz virtue of an agreement with QRCS, shell debris in his body. He was moved to organisation from Qatar that has spon- ‘The Most Important Chal- gency centre, which is the largest in hospitals at a cost of $177,777 (QR we established a surgical emergency Al Thawra Surgical Emergency Centre, sored the treatment for you and all lenges Facing Energy, Taiz, QRCS extended the contract with 646,728). Discussions continue to find centre to receive cases 24/7. where he underwent two operations. those patients.” Oil and Gas Industry the hospital until the end of this month. permanent alternatives to secure oxy- “So far, we have received more When Hisham’s case improved, he Hisham smiled and said, “Yes father, Security.’ A plan was set for the second gen in the city. Latest statistics from than 12,000 cases, performed over was moved to the orthopaedics depart- yes mother. It is Qatar of benevolence!” The lecture dealt with phase, which involves the provision humanitarian organisations work- 800 surgeries, and taken care of more ment for monitoring. A few days later, Hisham was back the history of oil and gas of medications for chronic disease over ing there show that 1,698 people have than 3,300 dressing cases.” All the time, his parents were hap- home with a healthy body, optimistic and energy industry in three months at a cost of $645,000 been killed and 16,280 injured in Taiz. Patients included Hisham M Has- pily praying for QRCS. spirit and willingness to help vulnerable the Middle East, Gulf Arab (QR2,346,420). The urgent interven- Dr Ahmed Abdullah Anaam, Chair- san, 19, living in Al Shamasi District of Hisham wondered, “What is women, children and elderly people states and Qatar along tion also involves medicines, medical man, Al Thawra Hospital, said, “By Taiz. While going home, he had mortar QRCS?” They said, “It is a humanitarian in the city. with energy security, the oil and gas industry in the region and the world and challenges it faces. It also touched on how to meet challenges of piracy and QSTP hosts second Demo Day for ‘Accelerator Programme’ e-security and Qatar’s initiatives in the field of energy, oil and gas secu- The Peninsula gap between research and commercial- Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s Ergonomic T-Shirt; MaktApp; and Braille policies and the ability to take calcu- rity and future directions isation and facilitate the transformation ‘Challenge 22’initiative, nine partici- Touch. lated risks. Cooperation of educational for the diversification of of inspiring ideas into feasible products pants underwent robust training under Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing establishments, scientific laboratories its energy sources. that address market demands. the supervision of business and tech- Director, QSTP, said, “Transform- and industrial enterprises on an ongoing DOHA: Qatar’s primary incubator for Providing entrepreneurs in Qatar nology experts. ing technological and scientific ideas basis is highly valuable in supporting technology development, Qatar Science with comprehensive training that helps Offering innovative solutions to into marketing products is a long proc- outstanding thinkers and creators in our Indian embassy and Technology Park (QSTP), hosted the them turn an idea into a prototype, the trending business needs, such as media ess, and the ‘Accelerator Programme’ communities such as the ones hosted second Demo Day for its flagship three- ‘Accelerator Programme’ is part of QF’s technology, personal life, health and is designed to walk the long path of by this Demo Day.” to mark 67th month long ‘Accelerator Programme’. approach to research and development. fitness, education and entertainment, product development alongside young Several innovative entrepreneurial QSTP is part of Qatar Foundation In collaboration with key partners, the Demo Day featured nine innova- innovators. This stems from our belief ideas were presented, including ‘Tweet Republic Day Research and Development (QF R&D). including Qatar Computing Research tive projects — V3V; Tweet Mogaz; that establishing change in our econo- Mogaz’, a news portal that generates The initiative aimed to bridge the Institute (QCRI) and the Supreme Aingel; Gamified Self; Metis; EcoGym; mies requires hard work, progressive news from social media posts of indi- DOHA: A flag hoisting cer- vidual users. It aims to report unique emony will be held at the news stories in real-time, measure pub- Indian embassy on Tues- lic opinion and open new dimensions day at 8am to mark the around the utilisation of social media. country’s 67th Republic The ‘Accelerator Programme’ is Day. Ambassador Sanjiv an intensive three-month initiative to Arora will host the Indian provide aspiring entrepreneurs with national flag and read training and mentorship to help them the Address of President take their ideas to the market. It com- Pranab Mukherjee to the bines funding and mentoring, setting nation. Students of Indian out three objectives or outcomes for schools will participate in those accepted into the programme: the programme. All Indi- Create a conceptual prototype; ver- ans are invited to attend ify commercial viability; and access the event. Participants at the event. potential investors. Exclusive mobile package for QNB First members

DOHA: QNB, the leading financial institution in the Middle East and North Africa, in collaboration with Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading communications company, announced the launch of a mobile package dedicated to QNB First members at a monthly fee of QR350. The QNB First Ooredoo Plan provides a premium and an unmatched experience that includes unlimited local calls and SMS, 60GB of local data, five hours of international calling, five hours of roaming incoming minutes, 100 roaming minutes and 1GB of roaming data, in addition to one free premium Al Maha Air- port Service per year. To avail the offer, which runs from today until April 24, QNB First members can show a valid QNB First Credit or Debit Card at any Ooredoo store at major malls across Qatar. The initiative highlights QNB’s commitment to provide its premium banking members with the best products and lifestyle priv- ileges across its network of operations to meet the daily requirements of this unique base of customers. Ooredoo, one of QNB’s strong and long-term part- ners, continues to provide services that enhance the bank’s customer experience, thanks to its state-of- the-art Supernet network and innovative services as the country’s pioneer communications organisation. HOME SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 05 RAF helps 1,000 Qatari youth to get married

“AFAF”, 140 youth were selected to The programme aimed to facil- ‘AFAF’ initiative tie the knot. itate Qatari youth to get married. The beneficiaries were pro- Experts are being approached finances weddings vided with financial support and to educate the beneficiaries about and achieves the encouraged to attend mandatory pre- how to lead a happy and stable mar- marriage counselling to help them ried life. target in seven years have a stable marriage and curb the A week-long awareness pro- rising divorce rate in the country. gramme will be held for the youth Registration for the last and final selected for the wedding programme. edition of the programme was held Experts will deliver lectures on The Peninsula between October 25 and Decem- psychological, health and religious ber 24, 2015. and other issues. The requirements for registra- AFAF is one of the successful initi- tion were that the couple had to be atives launched by RAF in the country, DOHA: In the past seven years, Sheikh Qataris and had to get married within said Ahmad bin Mohammad Al Bu Officials at the concluding event. Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for six months. Aynain, Head of the project. Humanitarian Services (RAF) has An additional condition was that This is a national programme in financed the wedding of 1,000 Qatari the man was getting married for the which Qatari youth are targeted as The seventh addition of the com- In past six editions, 860 youth and lead a prosperous social life with youth, achieving its target. first time. beneficiaries as they are key ele- munity marriage programme will were supported to get married. ] mutual understanding and contrib- For the seventh year in a row and The man’s salary certificate for ments of the community, he added. achieve the goal set by RAF at the Efforts were made to ensure that ute to the development of the Qatari as part of the concluding phase of its the past six months supported by a The community develops with launch ceremony seven years ago, the initiative was successful by ena- community in its various aspects, community marriage initiative, called bank statement was also required. the youth, he added. said Al Bu Aynain. bling Qatari youth to make a family said Al Bu Aynain. Oil ‘prices are related more to political decisions’

By Mohamed Osman interests, and not based on demand The Peninsula or supply. Oil prices can rise any time if it serves the political interests of a super- power concerned. The situation today DOHA: Oil prices are related more to is quite similar to the one witnessed Dr Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Chairman, TAG-ORG, addressing a press conference at Crowne Plaza Doha yesterday. Pic: Kammutty / The Peninsula political decisions rather than supply in the mid-eighties (1985-86) when and demand. the then Soviet Union was engaged How could the price of such a stra- in a war in Afghanistan and oil prices tegic commodity come down five times dropped to $10 a barrel. satisfactory price levels. within a short time despite increas- Today, Russia is involved in an These countries must take deci- ing world population and growing ongoing war in Syria and oil prices sions that treat oil as an addition demands? wonders Dr Talal Abu Ghaz- will recover when the powers con- material and not the sole basic source aleh, Chairman, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh cerned agree to settle the dispute about of income. The development process Organisation (TAG-ORG). Syria, said Abu Ghazaleh. should continue without oil and it is Oil experts think that oil prices “I’m not pessimistic about the an opportunity to reconsider the sit- depend on supply and demand “but I do decline in the oil prices, because oil uation beyond the oil revenues, said not agree with this viewpoint because is a strategic commodity which can be Abu Ghazaleh. oil is a strategic commodity which is produced at any time in the future and Abu Ghazaleh was among 10 Arab not included in international conven- its industrial value is much higher than personalities who were honoured in tions which are part of World Trade its use as fuel,” argued Abu Ghazaleh. a special ceremony in Cairo recently, Organisation (WTO) treaties,” Abu- Although the drop in oil prices by Chinese President Xi Jinping dur- Ghazaleh argues. causes short-term harms and con- ing his visit to Egypt, for their role in He told a press conference here fusion in countries heavily dependent enhancing Sino-Arab relations. yesterday that oil was not part of any on oil revenues, such as the GCC states, The Chinese initiative was consid- world trade negotiation but as a stra- the underground commodity will stay ered the first of its kind. The TAG-ORG tegic matter left for countries to take a there and be used at any time in the is the largest global group of profes- suitable decision according to political long- or short-term and may rule at sional service firms. Woqod opens petrol station in Sawda Natheel on Salwa Road

The Peninsula station was opened by Engineer Ibra- market. “It also reflects our goal to him Jaham Al Kuwari. ensure that high quality products and The petrol station is spread over services are available to our custom- an area of about 10,000 square metres ers at their convenience across the DOHA: In line with its commitment and has six lanes that will serve the country,” he added. to meet the fuel and energy needs of neighbourhoods of Sawda Natheel. This is the first new opening com- Qatar and as part of the company’s It will offer round-the-clock serv- pleted by Woqod this year. ongoing expansion plans to grow its ices, including Sidra convenience store, The petrol station is equipped with network of service stations locally, Kenar shops, auto wash and repair high-speed dispenser for diesel for Qatar Fuel (Woqod) has opened its and sale of LPG cylinders. heavy vehicles. 32nd service station — in Sawda Nath- Speaking on the occasion, Al Seventeen petrol station are under eel area on Salwa Road. Kuwari said: “The new opening reflects construction and six in tendering and Under the patronage of Sheikh our ambitious plans to expand our net- design stages. Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, work and accessibility within Qatar to Most of these projects are expected Chairman, Woqod, the new petrol meet the growing needs of the local to be operational this year. 06 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 HOME

CMC members HBKU professor awarded research grant visit HMC

research into the behaviour of a pro- Dr Omar El Agnaf tein that was found to accumulate in The Peninsula a specific part of the brain in people will use samples and with the disease. data from Parkinson’s Detailed analysis of the PPMI sam- DOHA: Hamad Medical Corpora- ples being carried out at HBKU will tion (HMC) is constantly exerting Progression Markers look at the presence of the protein in efforts to increase access to health- Initiative, sponsored cerebrospinal fluid as a marker to not care services and has implemented only confirm diagnosis of the disease, initiatives to meet the increasing by the New York- but also track its progression and help demand for high-quality health- based Michael J in the search for more effective treat- care services in Qatar, according ments for the disease. to Chief Communications Officer Fox Foundation for Around five million people are Ali Al Khater. Parkinson’s Research believed to be living with the disease This came as he met Central worldwide, with no proven cure. Municipal Council (CMC) members A neurodegenerative disorder of Engineer Jassim bin Abdullah Al the central nervous system, the disease Malki and Mubarak bin Furaish The Peninsula affects the body’s motor system and Mubarak Salem. The councillors causes the death of dopamine-gener- discuss healthcare-related issues ating cells in a region of the mid-brain. and provided feedback and recom- It is most common in adults over 60 mendations in terms of increasing DOHA: Important research into Par- and symptoms include tremor, rigidity, access to patient care services. kinson’s disease being led by Dr Omar slowness, and dementia and depres- “We have been implementing El Agnaf, Professor of Life Science at sion in more advanced stages. initiatives as part of our commit- Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Dr El Agnaf is considered a pioneer ment to provide the safest, most a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in the field of the disease and related effective and compassionate care. has been awarded a research grant disorders, with his discoveries known The last few months have witnessed from the New York-based Michael J Fox for providing incredible insight into the a significant increase in patients Foundation for Parkinson’s Research molecular pathogenesis of the disease. seeking care at HMC and efforts (MJFF). Shortly after completing his PhD Dr Omar El Agnaf (right), Professor of Life Science, HBKU, working in his laboratory. are dedicated to ensuring that each Dr El Agnaf will use biological sam- in biochemistry at Queen’s University patient has prompt access to the ples and data from the Parkinson’s in Belfast, he was awarded a research care they need,” Al Khater said. He Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), fellowship from the UK-based Parkin- “At the culmination of our research, “As therapies that may slow or HBKU, said: “One of HBKU’s main said HMC’s world-class healthcare an MJFF-sponsored study that collects son’s Disease Society. we plan to publish a report, which will stop Parkinson’s progression move objectives is to produce globally services have been recognised by specimens from Parkinson’s patients Moving to the Gulf in 2004, Dr El be accessible to the Parkinson’s dis- closer to clinic, so grows the urgent recognised research impacting the many international organisations. and control volunteers to learn more Agnaf continued research and joined ease research community and the need for measures of disease for early development of the region. Nasser Al Naimi, Deputy Chief about the disease. HBKU in 2014. public at large.” diagnosis and faster testing of poten- “Research projects such as Dr El Quality Officer, HMC, and Co-Direc- The HBKU study, carried out within Dr El Agnaf said: “As scientists who Founded by actor Michael J Fox, tial treatments,” said Dr Katie Kopil, Agnaf’s place Qatar and HBKU on the tor, Hamad Healthcare Quality purpose-built laboratories at the uni- have been working on Parkinson’s for MJFF has been noted by the New York Senior Associate Director, Research map as an institution dedicated to con- Institute, highlighted HMC’s role versity in Qatar, will use spinal fluid many years, my team is honoured to Times as “the most credible voice on Programmes, MJFF. ducting cutting-edge research, offering in the region in the provision of samples from about 400 PPMI par- receive the grant from MJFF and is Parkinson’s research in the world”. “Dr El Agnaf’s research shows scholars access to leading scientists and high-quality healthcare services, ticipants newly diagnosed with the very excited to be allowed access to The foundation is dedicated to find- promise towards the goal of a biologi- incredible facilities and laboratories. as demonstrated by the Academic disease and 200 control volunteers. PPMI’s precious samples. ing a cure for the disease through an cal marker of Parkinson’s disease and “I congratulate Dr El Agnaf and his Health System initiative which Funding for the one-year project “All members of our research team aggressively funded research agenda we hope his analysis of PPMI samples team on receiving this recognition from integrates research, education will support extensive investigation are based in Qatar and all lab work and the development of improved ther- will lead to greater insights.” an international foundation and look and clinical practice to improve that will build on Dr El Agnaf’s previous will be conducted locally. apies for those living with the disease. Dr Khaled Ben Letaief, Provost, forward to following their progress.” patient care.

Lulu Mercedes-Benz car winners More features on Ooredoo Money App

The Peninsula Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and easy-to-remember PIN, ensuring secu- the Philippines and Nepal. rity from the very first use. To ensure that customers get the best The upgrade to Mobile Money is the lat- value for money, Ooredoo has also intro- est enhancement to the service, which is DOHA: Ooredoo’s popular Mobile Money duced the ‘Exchange Rate Estimate’ and ‘Send becoming the most popular cashless pay- App ‘Ooredoo Money’ has undergone a mas- Amount Estimate’ feature on the app, allow- ment method in Qatar. sive upgrade this week, enabling customers ing users to see the fee and exchange rates, Customers can register for Mobile Money to now create and change their secure mPin, as well as the amount needed to be sent for free with a valid Qatar ID at any Oore- use the Ooredoo Exchange to transfer money against a particular expected amount in doo shop, by dialling *140#, or downloading to any bank account and estimate exchange local currency before transferring money the free Ooredoo Money App on their mobile rates and amount sent via the application. internationally. and following simple on-screen registration With the money app, which was launched For users in Qatar, pre-registered QNB instructions. late last year, customers can check their Mobile Payment customers can now send Once registered, customers can cash in finance, transfer money instantly around transactions through the app easier and money for free in their mobile wallet using any the world through MoneyGram, and complete faster than before, enabling fund transfers of over 200 Ooredoo self-service machines daily tasks such as purchasing Hala top-ups into any mobile money wallet directly from available throughout Qatar. (with 10 percent extra credit), data recharges their QNB account. Deposits can also be made through Oore- (with 25 percent extra bonus), Ooredoo Pass- To access this feature, the Money App doo shops or direct transfer from any QNB Moosa Sooppy and Ronalyn Sangalang Soniega, winners of Lulu Mercedes-Benz port services and pay Ooredoo bills. needs to be accessed from the mobile number account through QNB Mobile Payment service. Car Promotion held at Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa City Branch, receive symbolic keys Thanks to the upgrades, Mobile Money registered for the QNB Mobile Payment service. For more information, customers can ask of their cars from Shaijan M O, Regional Director, Lulu Hypermarket Group, in the customers can now also use the Ooredoo Ooredoo has also enhanced the app to about Mobile Money in an Ooredoo shop or presence of other officials. Exchange via the app, enabling them to enable first-time users to efficiently gener- visit the Mobile Money section on the Ooredoo send money directly to bank accounts in ate the mPIN and change it to their personal website athttp://www.ooredoo.qa/en/omm# Regency Travel & Tours unveils online travel agency www.myholidays.com

The Peninsula Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to create an empowered Qatari private sector; a stimulating business DOHA: In keeping with the legacy environment that encourages privately- of travel innovation and latest prod- owned Qatari businesses to think and go uct and service offerings, Regency global. The development of the website, Travel & Tours (RTT), a fully owned designed on a par with global stand- subsidiary of Regency Group Holding, ards, compliments the core objectives launched an online travel agency — of Qatar National Vision 2030, whose www.myholidays.com on January 17. one of the pillars is to propel the country It aims to address the evolving forward to achieve sustainable eco- needs of travellers and render Regen- nomic development. cy’s award-winning service quality RTT CEO Tareq Abdullatif Taha and product range on it. said, “Venturing into the online travel The website is the fruit of research market was the next logical step for us. and development; integration of the The idea of translating our success as best services and solutions and quality brick and mortar model into the world resource and technology deployment, wide web, amalgamating our access and is the culmination of the vision and to special rates with the high qual- direction of Regency Group President ity customer service we are known Ibrahim Hassan Al Asmakh. for, and offering a quality travel plat- The group set up Discovery Soft- form is what inspired us to build the ware Technology firm last year to website for today’s tech-savvy and dis- develop the website that combines cerning travellers; a platform that will the best-in-tech features and a user- serve diverse travel needs by offering a friendly layout. wide range of products and top-notch Regency Group Vice-President and service.” Regency Travel and Tours CEO Tareq Abdullatif Taha, General Manager N M Shafiq (fourth left), Head of Leisure and MICE, Farouq iddiquiS (third the driving force behind the project, Taha said, “A team of IT profession- left), Group Director of Information Technology, Engineer Hicham Hamze (fifth left), Chief Technology Officer, Myholidays, Tarun Chawla (fourth Hassan Al Asmakh, said, “The devel- als was lead by Discovery Software right), and Head eCommerce, Myholidays, Jacob Mathew (third right), with other RTT officials during the launch of the website ata function at opment of the website was our first & Technology and supported by RTT Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel in Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula large-scale venture into the software experts, which paved the way for a and technology sector. “We had to learn record development time of eight and grow as a group to bring the website months with minimal rework, but customers in a quick and effective buy air tickets and hotel rooms with Attention was paid to the data securely, guaranteeing peace of mind to the market. Our aim is to establish plenty of hard work and dedication.” manner, a ‘share’ button that noti- a single click. security aspect to ensure secure to customers. it as a regional and global brand and The website has been built using fies the price of air tickets and hotel It also lists flight route maps, ratings and fraud-proof transactions. The In a limited time offer to its cus- strive to develop it to meet the growing latest technologies. Its unique features rooms to customers via SMS, email and and reviews of hotels, which enables advanced fraud detection system tomers, the website is passing a flat demands of the online travel market.” include the built-in customer rela- social media channels, and ‘Express customers to take an informed deci- and a highly secure payment gateway 10 percent discount on air tickets and The launch aligns with the vision of tionship management tool to serve Booking’ that enables customers to sion while booking their travel. ensure that payments are processed hotel room/s booked together. HOME / GULF SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 07 FM attends GCC meeting with Kerry in Riyadh

citing as an example Iran’s “support Syria Support Group for terrorist groups like Hezbollah” in Lebanon. of 20 nations and Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neigh- organisations will bours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face meet “very shortly” of what they see as Iran’s “interfer- to help push peace in ence” in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and the country elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scal- QNA and Agencies ing back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to calm con- cerns among his Gulf allies about the RIYADH: Foreign Minister H E Dr Kha- overtures to Iran, whose relations with lid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yesterday Saudi Arabia have worsened this month. participated in the GCC foreign minis- Saudi Arabia and some of its allies ters’ joint meeting with US Secretary cut diplomatic ties with Iran after pro- of State John Kerry. testers there burned Saudi embassy in The meeting took place at King Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad city. Salman Air Base in Riyadh. Violence broke out after the king- They discussed cooperation dom executed dissident Saudi Shia cleric between the GCC and the US in light Nimr Al Nimr, a driving force behind of the strategic partnership between anti-government protests. them and the outcomes of similar joint Nimr was one of four Shias put to meetings last year. death on January 2 alongside 43 Sun- The meeting also reviewed latest nis. All were convicted of “terrorism”. regional developments and interna- Al Jubeir told reporters that he did tional efforts to counter terrorism. not see a “coming together” of the US Kerry, on a visit to Saudi Arabia, and Iran. “Overall I think the US is very sought to reassure Gulf allies con- aware of the danger of Iran’s mischief cerned about a perceived warming and nefarious activities... I don’t believe US Secretary of State John Kerry (fourth left) with GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani (right) and the GCC foreign ministers in Riyadh. of ties between Washington and Iran. the US is under any illusion as to what He also announced that the Syria type of government Iran is,” he added, Support Group of 20 nations and organ- while Kerry appeared defensive and Two Holy Mosque King Salman bin “We are confident that with good to end the nearly five-year war in Syria Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposite isations will meet “very shortly” to help less at ease than usual. Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia initiative in the next day or so those that has cost more than 260,000 lives sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. push peace in the war-ravaged coun- A senior State Department offi- and son, Deputy Crown Prince and talks can get going,” Kerry said. and displaced millions. A Saudi-led military coalition since try after the first round of Syria talks cial earlier told journalists that the Defence Minister Prince Mohammed Kerry and his Russian counterpart It includes Saudi Arabia, the US March has been supporting local forces “because we want to keep the proc- US understands Saudi anger over the bin Salman. Sergei Lavrov also discussed by tele- and other countries who say President and the internationally recognised gov- ess moving”. embassy attack but that “lessening He also held talks with Riad Hijab, phone the makeup of the opposition Bashar Al Assad can have no role in ernment of Yemen against Iran-backed Kerry spoke after meeting his Saudi tensions is an important objective”. Riyadh-based general coordinator of team. “Particular attention was given Syria’s future, and Assad’s allies Iran Houthi Shia rebels. “We have made it counterpart Adel Al Jubeir and the other Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Syria’s largest opposition coalition. to the need to form a genuinely rep- and Moscow. clear that we stand with our friends GCC foreign ministers. Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said vio- UN-brokered peace talks are tar- resentative opposition delegation,” a Kerry spoke of the “urgency” of in Saudi Arabia” on Yemen and the “The US remains concerned about lence against the Saudi embassy was geted for tomorrow in Geneva but there Russian foreign ministry statement said. ending the conflict but said there are threat from violent Sunni extremism, some of the activities Iran is engaged in wrong, and against Islam. is disagreement, including from Mos- The Syria Support Group has “obstacles” to finding a political set- said Kerry, who travels today to Laos other countries,” Kerry told reporters, Kerry later met Custodian of the cow, over opposition representation. devised a plan for a political transition tlement. “We know it’s tough,” he said. in Southeast Asia. Falconry contest and concluding ceremony on January 31

The Peninsula

DOHA: The Falcon Festival organiz- ing committee said yesterday that the Al Mazain falconry competition has been postponed and the concluding ceremony will take place on January 31. It was originally scheduled for Jan- uary 30. Hudadud Tahaddi competition for 18th group was held yesterday and for 19th group will take place today. The committee approved a pro- posal by some participants to reduce the distance for Hudadud Tahaddi competition from 100 meters to 80 meters, said Ali Sultan Al Hamidi, Head of Hudadud Tahaddi contest in a statement. The committee has set up a box to receive proposals and complaints from the participants and it is ready to make the necessary changes based on the proposals, he added. Officials with some of the young participants. “I am participating for the first time in this falcon festival and I choose Hudadud Tahadi because it is a participant of this festival. My fal- Competitions of baby falcons are falconry to preserve this hobby of strong contest and popular among the con won twice consecutively,” said also part of the festival. our forefathers, said Saleh Moham- youths,” said a participant, Abdullah another participant, Abdullah Ali Al It aims to educate children (aged mad Al Kuwari, Head of Al Mazain bin Khalid Al Kaabi. “I am a regular Mansuri. six to seven years) about basics of and Baby Falcon committee. Len McCluskey, General Secretary, UNITE, British and Ireland’s largest union, speaking to The Peninsula. Pic: Qassim / The Peninsula Kahramaa cuts power and water waste GCC slams Al Continued from page 1 countries, which exploit workers Jazeera team’s during recruitment. Speaking about their observa- “The Building Workers Inter- Continued from page 1 using the above-said pipes will con- which has been tasked with enforcing abduction tions, he said: “…..The whole question national will also try to tackle the stitute violation of the ‘Tarsheed’ law the law. Some Kahramaa staff have about multinational companies is the errant agencies in Bangladesh, India, By last November, Kahramaa suc- (No 20 of 2015 which was passed after been armed with judicial powers so RIYADH: GCC Secretary-General Dr sub contractors. They give work to Pakistan and the Philippines, where ceeded in curbing 14 percent electricity amending some provisions of Law No they can initiate direct action in case Abdullatif Al Zayani yesterday con- smaller companies and they are abus- these agencies take big amounts of waste while water waste was cut by 26 of 2008). The law has been made they sight or notice any violation. Car- demned the kidnapping of a news ing the workers.” money from individuals, in order to 16 percent. Washing vehicles using effective after being published in the wash facilities have been exempted team of Al Jazeera news network The BWI representatives of the help them get jobs with all kinds of hose or pressure pipes in the open or official gazette as was legally required. from this law but for them special rules reporting from Taiz in Yemen. delegation will work to deal with promises that are not met, when the cleaning up the outside of a building Kahramaa has an energy con- and regulations have been put in place He said the kidnapping was in the manpower agencies in home workers get here,” McCluskey added. or a building itself with gushing water servation and efficiency department which they must follow. contrast to international laws, which guarantees freedom of speech and said it aimed to prevent media out- lets from revealing the truth behind Qatar ‘shows resilience as a burgeoning tourist destination’ the siege enforced on the city. QC projects for Continued from page 1 QR206 for one and two-stars. Qatar welcomed 72 percent more Countries, including Oceana (minus added to the total in 2015, which The average for hotel apartments visitors in 2015 than it did in 2010, rep- six percent). showed 30 percent growth. Five-star Syria refugees The average hotel occupancy rate was QR471 — for deluxe apartments resenting an annual growth rate of GCC nationals comprised 44 per- accommodation segment remains the last year was 71 percent, with the total (QR536) and for standard apartments 11.5 percent over the past five years. cent of the total arrivals in 2015, while largest with 8,900 rooms across 39 ISTANBUL: Qatar Charity (QC) has number of hotel rooms being a huge (QR331). Visits by GCC nationals increased India accounted for 13 percent, Britons, properties and despite a substantial allocated more than QR18m ($5m) to 20,713. Of them, 98 hotels had 18,795 The QTA said in a statement that by 16 percent in 2015 over 2014. Other 4.6 percent, Americans, 3.1 percent, increase in supply, overall occupancy support and fund projects to serve rooms while 21 hotel apartments had its report for 2015 shows that despite groups also showed increase. The Egyptians, 3.1 percent, and Pakista- rates were high. the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and 1,918 rooms. Some 20 new hotel estab- global developments which have growth in respect of European vis- nis, three percent. As Qatar prepares for major events displaced persons in areas adjacent lishments opened their doors to guests adversely affected travel patterns, Qatar itors was four percent and from the More Chinese visitors came to Qatar such as FIFA 2022 World Cup, room to the Syrian border with Lebanon. last year. has shown resilience as a burgeon- Americas, one percent, in a year. last year, with their growth being 15 supply is set to more than double with The announcement came dur- The average room rate per day was ing tourist destination, with growing The data show drop in the number percent. French visitors increased in 56 hotels and 13 hotel apartment build- ing the fourth annual conference on QR763 for five-star hotels, QR342 for arrival figures and steady hotel occu- of arrivals from Other Arab Countries number by nine percent. ings planned for the next five years, the situation of Syrian refugees in four-star, QR318 for three-star and pancy rates. (down 14 percent) and Other Asian Some 5,000 hotel rooms were the QTA statement said. Lebanon, which ended here today. 08 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Russian raids kill 33 civilians in eastern Syria

The week-long IS offensive on the provincial capital has left nearly US special forces 500 people dead and sparked fears building air base in of mass killings among the 200,000 people still living there. Syria’s northeast IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in 2014 across swathes of Syria and Iraq, imposing its ultra- conservative interpretation of Islamic AFP law there. In Syria, it is under fire by the gov- ernment and Damascus’ long-time ally Russia, as well as a US-led coali- BEIRUT: Suspected Russian raids tion also battling the jihadists in Iraq. killed 33 civilians in war-ravaged To bolster their fight against the eastern Syria yesterday, amid reports group, US special forces deployed in US forces are building up an air base Syria are building up an air base in the to bolster their fight against jihadists northeast, sources told AFP yesterday. further north. Meanwhile, senior diplomats ‘US strengthening airfield’ scrambled to resolve the key question A Syrian military source said of who will represent Syria’s opposi- nearly 100 “American experts” and A vendor sells vegetables along a street in Idlib city, Syria, yesterday. tion at crucial talks next week aimed Syrian Kurdish militia were nearly at ending the nearly-five year war. done outfitting Rmeilan airfield in In eastern Syria, the 33 civilians Hasakeh province. were killed in air strikes suspected “The air base will be used for hel- taken control” of any airfield in Syria. Syria’s conflict first erupted with days to discuss a political transition on Wednesday, Russia’s foreign minis- to have been carried out by Russian icopters and cargo planes. Its strip is “There has been no change to the anti-government protests in 2011 but for their country. try said in a statement, with both men warplanes on a jihadist-held village. now 2,700 metres long and is ready size of mission of the US presence in has since morphed into a bloody, com- But the controversial question of backing efforts to get them started The Syrian Observatory for to be used by planes that will trans- Syria,” said US Central Command plicated war that has killed more than who will represent the fractious oppo- “next week”. Human Rights said nine children and port equipment and ammunition,” spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder. 260,000 people. sition has slowed the momentum of “Particular attention was given to two women were among the dead in the source added. “That being said, US forces in Syria Previous diplomatic efforts to end the build-up to the negotiations. the need to form a genuinely repre- Khasham, which is controlled by the A security source in northeast are consistently looking at ways to the hostilities have faltered, but world Yesterday, US Secretary of state sentative opposition delegation,” the Islamic State group. Syria said “American special forces increase efficiency for logistics and powers are putting their weight behind John Kerry spoke with his Russian statement said. The village is in Syria’s oil-rich and advisers are using the Rmeilan personnel recovery support,” he said. a new round of talks set to begin next counterpart Sergei Lavrov to dis- Kerry was in Saudi Arabia Yes- Deir Ezzor province, where IS has airport as a base, from where hel- In October, Washington author- week. cuss the makeup of the opposition terday for talks with his counterpart sought to advance in recent days icopters are taking off towards the ised the deployment to Syria of up to Representatives from Syria’s delegation. Adel Al Jubeir, as well as Riad Hijab, despite a barrage of Russian and Syr- fronts”. 50 special operations troops to advise government and opposition are set Kerry called Lavrov to discuss the Riyadh-based general coordinator of ian government air strikes. The Pentagon said the US had “not local forces battling IS. to convene in Geneva in the coming talks following a face-to-face meeting Syria’s largest opposition coalition.

Turkey arrests six As Xi visits, Iran and China vow to strengthen ties AFP were hit by US and EU sanctions over China, along with the United States, for people Tehran’s nuclear programme. Britain, France, Germany and Russia, Trade between the two countries was among the countries that agreed smuggling was worth $52bn in 2014. They did with Iran in July to curtail its nuclear TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan not elaborate on their goal of devel- activities in exchange for ending inter- Rowhani yesterday hailed a “new chap- oping relations worth $600bn over national sanctions. AFP ter” in relations with China after talks the next decade. Xi was accompanied by three dep- with President Xi Jinping, who is touring According to Iranian media, more uty premiers, six ministers and a large the region to boost Beijing’s economic than a third of Iran’s foreign trade is business delegation. ISTANBUL: A court in Turkey’s influence. with China. Late yesterday, he met supreme western region of Izmir placed The Asian giant aims to build eco- The two presidents issued a joint leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who under arrest six people on charges nomic ties worth up to $600bn within statement outlining a long-term “com- said Tehran “would never forget” Bei- of trafficking migrants seeking to the next 10 years, Rowhani announced. prehensive strategic partnership”. jing’s cooperation during the years of cross the Aegean to the European The two leaders oversaw the sign- The two countries agreed to international sanctions against Iran. Union, including a sergeant in the ing of 17 agreements in areas including enhance cooperation including in “The Islamic Republic of Iran has Turkish gendarmerie, reports said politics, the economy, security and fossil and renewable energy, trans- always sought relations with reliable yesterday. cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy. portation, railways, ports, industry, and independent states like China,” The member of the gendarmerie, “With the Chinese president’s visit commerce and services, said the state- Khamenei’s website quoted him as a branch of the army responsible to Tehran and our agreements, a new ment published by Mehr news agency. saying. for domestic security, is suspected chapter has begun in Tehran-Beijing That is why the agreement on long- of turning blind eye to the traffick- relations,” Rowhani said in a televised ‘Constructive role’ term strategic relations is “very wise ing of migrants and also tipping off speech, flanked by Xi. In the statement, Iran welcomed and prompt”, and must be “seriously smugglers about planned operations It is the first visit to Iran by a Chi- China’s commercial “belt” and the “21st followed up” until it becomes opera- against them, the CNN-Turk chan- nese president in 14 years, state news Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (right) shakes hands century Silk Seaway” projects, pledg- tional, he said. nel and Dogan news agency said. agency IRNA said, and comes just days with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Iranian President Hassan Rowhani ing to help the initiative. “Westerners have never been able In exchange for his help, the ser- after sanctions against Tehran were looks on in Tehran, yesterday. China has committed to “invest and to gain the trust of the Iranian nation,” geant, named only as RA, received lifted under a historic nuclear deal with finance upstream and downstream he added. Xi was quoted as saying that bribes of $100 per migrant or $3,000 world powers. continue regional and international Road”, touted as a revival of ancient energy projects in Iran”, it said. “the economies of Iran and China com- for a boatload of migrants, the “Iran is China’s major partner in cooperation,” Xi added. Silk Road trade routes. China “acknowledges Iran’s con- plete one another”. reports said. the Middle East and the two countries Beijing has long taken a back seat China, the world’s second-largest structive role in the fight against Countries on the Silk Road route He and five other people-smug- have chosen to boost bilateral rela- to other diplomatic players in the Mid- economy, also relies heavily on energy terrorism and maintaining peace and can “protect their interests against the gling suspects were remanded in tions,” IRNA quoted Xi as saying. dle East, but analysts say the region is imports from the Middle East. stability in the region”, it added, while American pattern of disrupting the custody Friday by the court in the “China and Iran are two impor- crucial to Xi’s signature foreign pol- Beijing is Tehran’s top customer supporting Tehran’s increased regional regional economic balance by boost- Seferihisar district ahead of trial. tant developing countries that must icy initiative known as “One Belt One for oil exports, which in recent years and international role. ing cooperation,” Xi added. The gendarme has been charged with taking bribes and abuse of office. Also remanded in custody was CO, the suspected leader of UN seeks regular aid the smuggler’s gang. Reports said that the gendarme was caught red- handed while eating with CO and access to Yemen city being handed money. Turkey has since 2015 become a hub for migrants from Syria, Afghan- istan, Eritrea and other troubled AFP parties on the ground to ensure sus- states seeking to make the some- tained, unfettered and unconditional times perilous crossing across SANA’A: The United Nations Human- access.” the Aegean Sea to EU member itarian Coordinator for Yemen called Shia Houthi rebels and allied Greece. yesterday for regular humanitarian fighters loyal to former president For this, many enlist the help access to parts of the battleground Ali Abdullah Saleh have laid siege of people smugglers who are paid city of Taiz that are besieged by Iran- to Yemen’s third city for months. thousands of dollars per head to backed rebels. The insurgents overran the capital supply the boats and organise the Jamie McGoldrick said he saw Sana’a unopposed in September 2014 crossings. some food, cooking gas and other and expanded their control across Ankara reached an agreement commodities being brought into the several regions. with the EU in November to stem the city where pro-government forces are Loyalists backed by a Saudi-led flow of refugees heading to Europe, holed up. “I appeal to authorities and coalition have recaptured Aden and in return for financial assistance of groups to work with the United Nations four other southern provinces since ¤3bn ($3.2bn) in cash. to establish a mechanism that will July, as well as most of Marib prov- But the onset of winter and allow regular and sustained access ince, east of the capital. rougher sea conditions do not appear of these goods and more into the city,” McGoldrick said basic services to have deterred the migrants, with he said in a statement. are scarce in Taiz, while hospitals boats still arriving on the Greek He said access to three dis- are short of medical supplies. islands daily and European Union tricts of the southwestern city had “Everywhere I went I saw the officials expressing disappointment United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick (centre), speaks during a press been difficult for months and the trauma the conflict is causing to the over the continued flow. conference in the Yemeni capital Sana’a yesterday. UN is seeking “mechanisms with women, men and children,” he said. MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 09 Tunisia PM calls for patience after unrest

university graduates. Emergency cabinet In a televised address on Friday, President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed meeting as night understanding for the frustration curfew in country vented in impoverished regions of central Tunisia. remains indefinite But he also warned against “ill-intentioned hands” exploit- ing the legitimate grievances of demonstrators. AFP Calm returned to Kasserine AFP after a day of clashes, but in the nearby town of Sidi Bouzid — the cradle of the revolution — teenagers torched TUNIS: Tunisian Prime Minister Habib tyres, AFP journalists said. Essid pleaded yesterday for people to “Security-wise, it has started to be “patient” after a wave of protests stabilise,” interior ministry spokes- against poverty and unemployment man Walid Louguini told AFP. in the worst social unrest since the Nevertheless authorities said the 2011 revolution. 8pm to 5am curfew would stay. He spoke after chairing an emer- There have been 261 arrests over gency cabinet meeting as authorities the unrest and 84 for curfew violations said a nighttime nationwide curfew on Friday, the interior ministry said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (third right), accompanied by his wife Emine (second right), daughter Sumeyye (right), and US Vice- would be indefinite. The measure was imposed on Fri- ‘Honest leaders’ needed President Joe Biden (second left), accompanied by his wife Jill (left) and granddaughter Naomi (third left), pose for a pictureer aft a meeting day after the spread of unrest from Analyst Selim Kharrat called in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. the central town of Kasserine, where the unrest “the most serious social an unemployed man died of electro- crisis since 2011”, and expressed dis- cution during a protest, to the rest of appointment at the cabinet’s failure the country. to announce solutions to resolve the PKK is a terrorist group, says US vice-president Anger at the January 16 death of situation. Ridha Yahyaoui after he climbed a The government “missed the power pole also hit the capital where opportunity to give a positive sig- shops were burnt and looted in one nal”, he said. AFP He also spoke of the possibility of are aware of that... it is a terror group Turkey for taking “very important suburb. The government “could have taken a “military operation” in Syria should plain and simple and what they con- steps to improve the security of its It was the worst social unrest inexpensive measures” to battle cor- peace talks fail, but the White House tinue to do is absolutely outrageous,” border” from IS militants who until since the revolution five years ago ruption but has “a limited margin for later made clear he was only referring Biden said. recently controlled much of the fron- that ousted longtime dictator Zine manoeuvre”, Kharrat said. ISTANBUL: US Vice-President Joe to current coalition military opera- “We do agree with you that in terms tier region in Syria. El Abidine Ben Ali. “The demonstrations are demand- Biden yesterday condemned the tions against IS. of their actions Daesh (IS), PKK and (Al Biden said Turkey and the United Tunisia “is in danger despite the ing not only jobs but also honest Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a The PKK, listed as a terror group by Qaeda’s Syria affiliate) Al Nusra... are States were coordinating ever more positive things which we have accom- leaders,” he added. “terror group plain and simple” and a Washington and the European Union, simply terrorist groups,” said Biden. precisely on what is a “shared mission plished, particularly the transition The human rights and civil soci- threat to Turkey like the Islamic State has killed dozens of members of the Davutoglu emphasised Ankara saw on the extermination of IS”. towards democracy”, said Essid, urg- ety minister, Kamel Jendoubi, said group, while hailing Ankara’s coop- Turkish security forces in attacks since no difference between those groups “We do believe our plans together ing people to “understand that there he expected that Essid would soon eration in the fight against jihadists. a truce collapsed in July. and the extreme-left DHKP-C. “We have gotten more contoured and more are difficulties”. announce measures concerning After talks with Turkish Prime Turkey however has expressed were pleased to have seen in the talks coordinated,” he said. “Solutions exist but some patience youths, jobs and “taking charge of Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul, concern that Washington was seek- our approach is shared,” he said. “We are increasingly making and optimism are needed,” said Essid. difficult cases”. He did not elaborate. Biden pleased his hosts with a ring- ing to woo the PKK as an ally in the He also reaffirmed Turkey’s oppo- progress and that progress will be sped The premier, who met the defence Yesterday’s cabinet session comes ing denunciation of the “outrageous” anti-IS fight and vehemently opposed sition to the YPG, which he accused of up as a result of our meeting today.” and interior ministers before the cab- after Essid earlier this month replaced attacks by the PKK, which the Turk- any move to delist it as a terror group. carrying out ethnic cleansing in north- He said the two sides also dis- inet session, did not announce any his foreign and interior ministers in ish military is seeking to cripple in a Ankara is also concerned about the ern Syria and being “part of the PKK cussed bolstering support for Sunni firm measures to tackle unemploy- the first reshuffle since Essebsi took relentless but controversial campaign. extent of US cooperation in Syria with and receiving open support from the Arab groups inside Syria to cut off any ment and corruption which have office in late 2014. He praised much closer coopera- the People’s Protection Units (YPG), PKK.” remaining access that IS has to the plagued the country. The unrest echoed the public anger tion in the battle against Islamic State which Turkey sees as a branch of the Biden later held over two-and- border region. On Friday he said he had “no that erupted after the death of young between Washington and Ankara, PKK. a-half hours of talks with President “That is a priority for both our magic wand” to solve unemploy- fruit seller Mohammed Bouazizi in which had been accused in the past The IS group “is not the only exis- Recep Tayyip Erdogan but no state- nations so we can prevent new fight- ment which is more than 15 percent December 2011 in protest at unem- of turning a blind eye to the jihadist tential threat to the people of Turkey, ment was made after the discussions. ers and equipment from reaching IS nationwide and 32 percent among ployment and police harassment. extremists. the PKK is equally a threat and we The US vice-president praised fighters,” he added.

Eritrea President Rainbow over mosque dismisses food South Sudan govt crisis fears despite drought formation delayed

AFP that have split the poverty-stricken AFP country along ethnic lines.

UN lists horrific abuses NAIROBI: Eritrean President Isaias NAIROBI: Warring rivals in South Despite the August agreement, Afwerki yesterday dismissed fears Sudan missed a key deadline yes- fighting continues, with the conflict the Horn of Africa nation faces a food terday to forge a unity government, now involving multiple militia forces crisis, despite sweeping drought with rebels rejecting President Salva who pay little heed to paper peace across the wider region leaving mil- Kiir’s creation of new regional states deals and are driven by local agen- lions in need of aid. as fighting continues. das or revenge attacks. Floods and failed rains caused The rivals were supposed to form Heavy fighting was reported this by the El Nino weather phenome- a government by January 22, but week in the southwestern Western non have sparked a dramatic rise rebels say Kiir’s near tripling of the Equatoria region, including street in the number of people going hun- number of regional states in Decem- battles in the state capital of Yam- gry in east Africa. ber undermines a fundamental pillar bio on Thursday, close to the border But authoritarian and isolated of an August power-sharing deal to with Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea has long rejected UN food end two years of civil war. aid workers said. The clashes were aid in favour of a policy of self reli- Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang between soldiers and a local militia ance, and Isaias said he was not criticised “anti-peace hardliners known as the Arrow Boys, report- worried. within the government” and said edly aligned with Machar’s rebels. “In view of the harvest shortfall they would base negotiations on United Nations rights monitors that has affected the whole Horn the old system of 10 states and not this week added more details to a of Africa region, President Isaias the current 28. long list of horrific abuses in the more stated that the country will not face Garang however said rebels are than two-year war. any crisis in spite of reduced agri- “fully committed to peace and shall The report detailed “gross vio- cultural output,” the information not entertain a return to war.” lations” of human rights including ministry said, after he was inter- Key international backers — “gang-rape, slavery and forced abor- viewed by state-run media. the so-called Troika, made up of tion”, in a joint report by the UN Isaias praised the government’s key donors Britain, Norway and peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, “judicious policy and approaches United States, as well as the Euro- and the UN High Commissioner for of bolstering its strategic food pean Union — this week said the talks Human Rights (OHCHR). reserves.” were “deadlocked”. Earlier this week, the United In November, the UN warned Amid mounting frustration, they Nations said over 200,000 South that Eritrea was among the coun- cut payment of hotel bills for rebel Sudanese civilians are sheltering tries at risk, like all the other nations delegates in Juba. inside peacekeepers’ camps from in the wider region. During previous peace talks civil war, a bleak barometer of ongo- “The current El Nino pattern, mostly held in Ethiopia, delegates ing conflict. To add to its woes, South being the strongest ever recorded, have run up vast hotel and bar bills Sudan’s economy is in ruins. has caused severe drought in the as they agreed — and then swiftly Its government budget depends Horn of Africa nation, resulting in broke — a string of ceasefire deals. almost entirely on oil revenues, but it is crop reduction by 50 to 90 percent; Civil war began in December 2013 currently effectively paying to export A rainbow above the minarets of Bahaa El-Din Al-Hariri mosque in the port city of Sidon in southern even failure in some regions,” the when Kiir accused his former deputy its oil, due to falling world prices com- United Nations said earlier this Lebanon, yesterday. Riek Machar of planning a coup, set- bined with a fixed fee for the use of month. ting off a cycle of retaliatory killings export pipelines to neighbour Sudan. 10 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL

Syria strategy It’s Russia’s turn to learn that

S Vice-President Joe Biden has said that Washington stealth warplanes are hard to do and Turkey are prepared for a military solution against the Islamic State in Syria if peace talks – set to begin Uon Monday in Geneva between the government and the Radar-evading warplanes require and other sensors. These include than a year old — suffered a cata- opposition groups - fail. His statement about Washington’s The world might careful design work, extensive rounded or angular shaping that strophic engine fire while taxiing willingness for a more active role in Syria assumes significance in view of testing and exotic materials for can scatter radar waves, plus spe- on the ground. The damage was so never know who’s reports that the talks are heading into a tough terrain, and can collapse their construction — all features cial materials that absorb radar bad that Sukhoi had to halt pro- right unless Russia that can double or triple their cost instead of deflecting it. duction of the sixth prototype and once they start. A dispute is still raging over who will comprise the compared to conventional, non- Stealth plane design is a bal- use its parts to rebuild the burned opposition delegation at the talks, which threatens to delay the start of and the United stealthy planes. ancing act. The aircraft must be plane. The Indian air force, which the talks. States go to war Even with their high cost, able to avoid detection while also is considering buying a version of Barack Obama has faced flak over his inaction and indecisiveness against each air forces all over the world are flying fast and far enough, and car- the T-50, complained of “short- over Syria, with the president going back on his previous promises. For scrambling to acquire stealth air- rying a big enough payload, to make falls … in terms of performance example, Obama said that the use of chemical weapons by Bashar Al other — a proof craft because their ability to avoid them militarily useful. In the 40 and other technical features detection can, in theory, offer a big years it has been working on stealth Events overtook the T-50’s slow Assad would be a redline, but even when it was proved that Assad crossed of concept no one advantage in air-to-air combat and technology, the United States has and costly development. With many that redline by using the deadly weapon against his own people, Obama actually welcomes during bombing runs. But a compet- never stopped struggling with this foreign governments imposing baulked at taking punitive action. That inaction has been costly and ing theory of aerial warfare argues balance. The B-2 is hard to detect sanctions in the wake of Russia’s disastrous. Assad remains in power and continues to mercilessly kill that stealth is overrated — and it’s and flies well, but at more than $2bn 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Cri- and maim his own people triggering a refugee crisis that has thrown the By David Axe better to buy greater numbers of each, it proved too expensive for mea, and oil prices plummeting European Union into paroxysms of Reuters cheaper, non-stealthy planes. Mos- mass purchase. The US Air Force amid a global supply glut, in 2015 fear. Where Obama hesitated, Russian cow’s troubles in developing the T-50 managed to buy 21 of the bat-shaped Russia entered a recession that saw have compelled it to adhere to the planes from manufacturer North- its economy shrink 3 percent in one President Vladimir Putin found an competing philosophy. rop Grumman. Lockheed Martin year. Perhaps not surprisingly, in opportunity, resulting in the dispatch fter confronting seri- Russia arrived late to the designed the F-35 to be affordable, March 2015, Deputy Defence Min- of his troops to Syria which has ous technical and stealth-warplane party. The US but that compelled the company to ister Yuri Borisov announced that A stitch in time significantly bolstered Assad’s position. economic difficulties, Air Force fielded its first radar- cut back on the fighter’s stealth fea- Russia would reduce its order. The by the Obama All these factors have turned the Syrian Russia has dramati- evading warplane — the F-117 tures. In any event, developmental Kremlin said it would buy just a crisis into a complicated cesspool. cally cut back its air attack jet — in 1983. It added the difficulties have driven up the F-35’s dozen T-50s by 2020, instead of administration on Aforce programme to field its first B-2 stealth bomber to its inventory cost to more than $100m a plane — the 60 it originally planned. Assad is unwilling to relinquish to Syria could have radar-evading “stealth” fighter jet. in 1997 and then the F-22 stealth hardly cheap. By then the United States power, the IS continues to wreak havoc By delaying large-scale acquisi- fighter in 2005. The Marine Corps, Neither the Russian govern- should have more than 500 stealth averted the current and the opposition is in disarray. tion of the Sukhoi T-50 fighter, the meanwhile, was the first US mili- ment nor Sukhoi, the company that planes in frontline service. China chaos. Washington is now grappling with a Kremlin is tacitly acknowledg- tary branch to introduce the latest makes the T-50, have said how finished the first production-stand- Syria that has spun out of control and a ing a truth that the US military F-35 stealth fighter, in July 2015. much the twin-engine, single- ard J-20 in December 2015 and is military action will not be easy, if at all learned decades ago — and that The Air Force anticipates declaring seat supersonic fighter has cost expected to acquire dozens more Obama can bring himself round to that China might also learn in coming its own F-35s operational in 2016. to develop or how much it might in the next few years — though it’s years: developing stealth fighters The F-117 retired in 2008, but cost to buy once the design is com- unclear how much the J-20 costs bold move. A stitch in time would have is hard. the Pentagon still possesses hun- plete. And that’s assuming the T-50 and how happy Beijing is with its saved nine. But fortunately for the Rus- dreds of stealth planes and plans actually works. There are signs performance. There is huge uncertainty about the future of the peace talks. For sian air force, and unfortunately to acquire hundreds more in com- that it doesn’t — at least not very Whether the stealth jet’s advan- example, armed rebel groups said yesterday that they would hold for Washington and its allied air ing years via large-scale purchases well. In six years, the six T-50 pro- tage is worth its disadvantages is a Assad and Russia responsible for any failure of the talks even before arms that are Russia’s chief rivals, of F-35s and the new Long-Range totypes have completed just 700 philosophical question for military negotiations were due to start. There are no signs of thaw in the Moscow has a backup plan. Instead Strike Bomber, a successor to the test flights, according to a recent planners. The Pentagon decided of counting on a new stealth jet to B-2. Its economy and military crip- article in Combat Aircraft maga- in favour of stealth planes, even stubbornness of parties involved. The Syrian opposition has ruled outfit its fighter squadrons, the Rus- pled by the Soviet Union’s 1991 zine by Piotr Butowski, an expert cancelling upgrades to older F-15s out even indirect talks unless Damascus took steps including a halt to sian government is buying heavily collapse, Russia didn’t begin seri- in Russian military aviation. By and F-16s to free up more money Russian air strikes. And Russia is no mood to leave Syria. upgraded versions of older planes ous work on the T-50 until 2002. comparison, Lockheed and the for more F-35s. In Russia, circum- It’s time for Washington to get serious about Syria. No peace is — an approach the Pentagon has The first prototype took off on its US Air Force built eight F-22 test stances largely settled the issue, possible without throwing out Assad, and this needs a coordinated and dismissed as wasteful. It could, inaugural flight in January 2010, planes and flew them 3,500 times forcing the Kremlin to bet on classic coherent strategy. The US, Europe and the Arab countries need to form however, help Russia maintain its a year before China’s first stealth between 1997 and 2005. It looks fighters over their stealth coun- a strong coalition to end the Syrian civil war and pave the way for the aerial edge. The T-50, like practi- prototype — the J-20 — made its like the T-50s aren’t even relia- terparts. The world might never cally all stealth aircraft before it, debut. All the US, Russian and ble enough to undergo intensive know who’s right unless Russia installation of an opposition government. Washington must lead in this has proved expensive to develop, Chinese stealth aircraft possess testing. That was dramatically and the United States go to war mission. Whether Obama will take up such a huge responsibility at the although exactly how expensive special features for minimiz- apparent on June 10, 2014, when against each other — a proof of end of his term is the question that everybody would ask. remains a closely guarded secret. ing their detectability on radar the fifth T-50 prototype — then less concept no one actually welcomes.

Quote of the day Debate establishment is ‘terrified’ of Trump

Washington Post these candidates. I don’t think it’s entirely unrea- candidate at a Georgia rally in late November. The United States remains sonable” for the group to disqualify National “How about I tell CNN that I’m not gonna do the concerned about some of Review from participating. next debate? . . . I won’t do the debate unless That said, the episode did provide Lowry with they pay me $5m, all of which money goes to the activities that Iran is ational Review Editor Rich Lowry and a “window” into the forces that orchestrate the the Wounded Warriors or to vets.” engaged in other countries his colleagues had a feeling that their Republican Party’s primary debates. And he sug- Trump later announced that he would par- Npackage of editorials under the ban- gests there’s a great deal at stake. “They’re all ticipate in the debate. The fear to which Lowry ner “Against Trump” would cost them their terrified of Donald Trump and worried that he alluded has some grounding, too. Trump is right partnership with CNN, Telemundo and Salem won’t show up or threaten not to show up,” said about his ability to draw ratings, as a prom- Communications for a pivotal late-February Lowry in a chat with the Erik Wemple Blog. inent cable newser has conceded. A boycott GOP debate in Houston. It did: Late last night, Plenty of evidence backs him up. Remem- by Trump would mean millions less in reve- the Republican National Committee notified ber when Trump, last fall, made some noise nue for CNN and a black eye for the RNC. Had National Review Publisher Jack Fowler that about boycotting a CNN debate unless the net- National Review been allowed to proceed with John Kerry it was out of the mix. “Small price to pay for work did what he demanded? As reported by co-hosting the debate, Lowry says the publica- speaking the truth about The Donald,” wrote USA Today, Trump boasted that his presence tion would have been represented by someone US Secretary of State Fowler in a posting on the turn of events. had helped CNN’s September 16 debate in Cal- who was both “tough and fair.” It won’t have the There’ll be no outrage from Lowry about the ifornia. “CNN had 23 million people. It was the opportunity to prove as much. “But again, we RNC’s call. “We basically declared war on one of biggest show in the history of CNN,” said the expected this to happen,” says Lowry.

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 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 11 It’s not a ‘millennia-long’ conflict, Mr Obama

whether it is Iran with its sectarian polices and expansionist desires, or the Arab revo- lutions which erupted five years ago seeking a better world, the analysis made by Obama was absolutely wrong. In his previous speeches and interviews, Obama described the current conflict as “sectarian” and the questions that often arise is: ‘Is this the reason for his reluctancy to interfere and hence to leave the region to heat to boiling point and then destroy itself? Is this is the argument that made him ignore the bombing and other vio- lations of human rights that have taken place on daily basis in Syria, which have reached their peak in the besieging of civilians until they were dying of starva- By Jamal Khashoggi tion, not only in Madaya but in 24 Syrian towns and villages, and the same thing in Ta’ez, in Yemen? Obama also did not com- ply with his commitments when Bashar resident Obama did not speak Al Asaad used chemical weapons against much about the Middle East in his his people violating human rights and recent speech directed at his peo- international laws. ple, because he has not achieved Such a statement was not expected from Pmuch to be proud of except the nuclear deal a man like Obama who is an intellectual and with Iran. He is marketing the deal as glo- knows very well the history of the region. bal peace project while it in fact it is a war Sectarianism cannot excuse him of his com- project in our region. mitments, unless he wants to find another Among the few things he said, was a justification for his reluctance. serious sentence we need to think about It is clear that the crisis in the Middle and that we could even build our policies East will not end with his term, and what upon. We must know whether it was per- we are seeing today are the beginnings. US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) walks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir to attend a Gulf Cooperation sonal opinion or a policy being adopted by History will tell us that because of his hes- Council meeting at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh yesterday. the US. When Obama elaborated the serious itations all this loss and destruction took transformation taking place in this region, place. He did not interfere to stop blood- he described that as “rooted in conflicts shed like the former president Bill Clinton is happening is proxy war between Saudi and are only used against Syrians in Homs, that date back millennia”. who interfered in Bosnia. Not only that but Arabia and Iran. It is an erroneous con- Madaya and other places. What make this serious is that Obama he hindered interventions and he let the cept, and Riyadh must refuse temptations It is a conflict that started when the world is not a university professor but a president situation deteriorate and get more com- by some enthusiasts to get it to agree to ignored popular mobilisation forces in Iraq, of superpower who is responsible for many plicated through the direct involvement of lead the Sunnis. If this happens, it will be which used force against civilians in Ram- of the crises in the Middle East. It is a sen- Iran, Hezbollah and Russia in the conflict. the first step towards dragging Saudi Ara- adi and Diyala and various other places tence that misrepresents the reality of the Obama kept repeating the line that “Bashar bia into a sectarian mud bath that is what in Iraq, with the support of US warplanes, ongoing conflicts, by summing it up as a sec- Al Assad has lost legitimacy”, but did not act Iran wants. We are above a single sect as considering all Sunnis in Iraq as members tarian concept, which actually only exists against him. If Saudi Arabia had not decided we are one Ummah. of ISIS. It is a conflict that began when the in the minds of Shia and Sunni extremists. to intervene in Yemen, the situation there The Kingdom believes in states’ sover- US hesitated about information provided The fact is that the conflict is about would have become like Syria. Perhaps this eignties, rejects interfering in other’s affairs, by Saudi saying that Iran sent weapons to freedom, about Arab peoples looking for opinion became like a fact to Mr. Obama and does not export revolutions or support any Yemen and Nigeria. better world than the former or the exist- he wants to tell us that “this is your sectarian party- let alone armed militias. It is a base- As someone who begins every day with ing world of dictatorship. conflict dating back 1,000 years and so you less claim that says: Saudi Arabia supports an intelligence briefing, I know this is a dan- Immediately after he finished his speech, should solve it by yourselves”. Sunni extremists, simply because they are gerous time. However, that is not because many Western commentators and specialists If this is the situation then there is a involved in sectarian wars like Iran. Sau- of the diminished strength of America or in Middle East affairs criticised the state- need for diplomatic and intellectual moves dis believe this is against the future and some looming superpower. In today’s world, ment he made. They emphasised that the to disprove and dismantle its basis before Sunni extremists are considered criminals we are threatened less by evil empires and conflict does not date back for millennia but it becomes a policy for the US. in Saudi Arabia and are arrested upon their more by failing states. The Middle East is it is contemporary and has recently started. Once it become a policy then it will be arrival and brought to court. going through a transformation that will Obama kept Regardless of who started the conflict, similar to allowing the spread of Iranian This is the case in Saudi Arabia, but in play out for a generation. sectarian policies from the Middle Ages, Iran the Shia extremists are received as At least from our side it is not a conflict repeating the line and the Saudis having to resist expan- heroes when they come back home. When that dates back for millennia. In the Middle that “Bashar Al sionism, conspiracy and assassination Sunni extremists die nobody cares about East, as in the rest of the Islamic Ummah Regardless of who started practices. Iran only support parties that them, but for Shias they are martyrs cel- extending from Indonesia to Morocco, peo- Assad has lost the conflict, whether it is Iran are in allegiance with its sectarian poli- ebrated in the media and commemorated ple are looking forward to better future, by legitimacy”, but cies regardless of whether the parties are in mosques. It is not a millennia long con- moving steadily towards democracy and did not act against with its sectarian polices and tyrants like Bashar Al Assad or Ali Saleh flict, but it is a conflict that started when modernity, and are refusing to mortgage expansionist desires, or the of Yemen or a sectarian armed groups the Western states ignored the arming and their future into the hands of the Iranian him. If Saudi Arabia like Hezbollah or Ansar Allah, in Leba- training of Hezbollah, so long as the weap- Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists,or the had not decided to Arab revolutions which erupted non and Yemen respectively. ons were not used against Israel. ‘Caliphate’ of Da’esh. Yes, Saudi Arabia is the power leading The US did not object or condemn the intervene in Yemen, five years ago seeking a better the region against Iran but it is not doing weapon shipments from Tehran to Damas- the situation there world, the analysis made by this for sectarian purposes, and Obama will cus throughout the last five years. They Jamal Khashoggi is a Saudi Arabian not find any Saudi official saying that his were aware of their arrival and contents, journalist, columnist, author and the would have become Obama was absolutely wrong. country is leading Sunnis in the region or but it is not a problem for them as long as General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of like Syria. agreeing with the claim saying that what the arms are not directed towards Israel Al Arab News Channel. Five challenges facing Burkina Faso’s new president

By Arsene Brice Bado an effective security force for the entire Compaoré to power also assassinated is under 30. Burkinabe youth, mostly optimism. First, Kaboré enjoys political The Washington Post country. Not only will the new govern- President Thomas Sankara on October students, fearlessly took to the streets legitimacy both at home and abroad. ment be focusing on this reform, but 15th, 1987. Journalist Norbert Zongo was and forced Compaoré’s resignation. The He won elections proclaimed free and so will foreign donors such as France assassinated on December 13th, 1998, new administration will have to find fair by the international community and the US, which has stationed Spe- presumably by Compaoré’s regime. ways to quell discontent and at the same and he did so in the first round with t the end of 2015, Burkina Faso cial Forces against terrorism in the Human rights and civil society organi- time provide incentives to the youth for more than 53 percent of the votes. He inaugurated its new President R Sahel region in Burkina Faso. zations expect the new administration participating actively as proponents for is more likely to enjoy international AM Christian Kaboré. That ended But the fight against terrorism is to continue the prosecution launched advocating new policies and establish- support both for development and the transition to democracy that was only one of the critical challenges facing by the Transitional Government. But ing democracy in Burkina Faso. the fight against terrorism in which begun in November 2014, when after the new administration, which many since these crimes are presumed to the country has been driven in by the popular uprisings forced President Blaise Burkinabé expect to bring substantial have been committed by Compaoré’s 5. The new administration recent attacks. Compaoré to resign. The country’s cit- change in Burkina Faso. regime, his supporters perceive the will have to rebuild relations with Second, Kaboré has emerged from izens have high expectations for the prosecution as revenge, which could neighbours, especially with allies of nearly 25 years in Compaoré’s regime new administration. But it faces serious 2. The November 2015 elections further exacerbate tensions within former president Compaoré in Togo as a conciliatory figure in politics in We cannot be domestic and international challenges. did not substantially change the polit- the already fragile Burkinabé society. and Côte d’Ivoire. Togo’s president Burkina Faso. He played a decisive role sure that Kaboré ical landscape. The new administration has to Faure Gnassingbé was Compaoré’s in helping the Compaoré regime nego- 1. Security is urgently important Kaboré owes his election, in part, to find ways to achieve both justice and close friend, and offered asylum to tiate compromises with the political will deliver on his after the January 15 terrorist attacks. the fact that he had become the fierc- reconciliation. Fatou Diendéré, wife of General Gil- opposition and the business community. political agenda. Just a week ago, Al Qaeda attacked est opponent of Compaoré. But it will bert Diendéré, who led the foiled Third, Kaboré’s platform is a the Splendid Hotel and the Cappucino not be easy to break with the practices 4. Kaboré’s administration September 2015 coup. The interna- kind of “New Deal” program struc- However, the Café in Ouagadougou, the nation’s cap- of Compaoré’s 27-year semi-author- inherits a country with high levels tional arrest warrant issued against tured around five pillars: institutional same citizens who ital. These attacks are unprecedented itarian regime. For all that time, the of poverty and a large population of Fatou Diendéré is a source of ten- reforms, including the drafting of a forced president - and since there were no such attacks bureaucracy has suffered from nep- disenchanted youth. A 2009 house- sion between Togo and Burkina Faso. new constitution; a new development during the long reign of ousted Presi- otism and lack of accountability. Even hold survey estimated 47 percent of Compaoré - who found refuge in model based on strengthening human Compaoré to resign dent Blaise Compaoré, the new regime politicians who position themselves Burkinabe live in poverty. In 2014, Côte d’Ivoire - also faces an interna- capital; promotion of information and will likely continue is now under pressure to prove it can today as actors of change -- including UNDP ranked the country 181 out tional arrest warrant. Furthermore, a communication technologies; strength- guarantee security and order. Kaboré and influential members of his of 187 on the Human Development phone-leak scandal involving Burkina ening private entrepreneurship and to pressure the In December, the Transitional Gov- political party, the People’s Movement Index. Access to clean water, school- Faso’s former Foreign Minister Djibril reducing unemployment; and reduc- new administration ernment began to reform the army for Progress (MPP) -- were prominent ing, primary health care, and food Bassolé and Côte d’Ivoire’s parlia- tion of socioeconomic inequalities. and security forces after the failed members of Compaoré’s regime. Will self-sufficiency, for instance, remain mentary president, Guillaume Soro, We cannot be sure that Kaboré to increase access coup perpetrated by the elite presi- we see a U-turn in their behavior? major concerns for most Burkinabe. implicates Côte d’Ivoire in the Sep- will deliver on his political agenda. to basic needs dential guard (RSP) in September. The The former Compaoré regime’s fail- tember coup. The international arrest However, the same citizens who forced RSP was suspected of operating as the 3. The new administration is ure to deliver basic public goods was warrant issued against Soro has become president Compaoré to resign will likely and improve private army for Compaoré. The al- saddled with prosecuting crimes a major source of discontent, espe- a serious and open point of contention continue to pressure the new admin- governance. Qaida attacks therefore underscore the perpetrated during Compaoré’s reign. cially among the youth. More than 65 between Burkina and Côte d’Ivoire. istration to increase access to basic urgency of transforming the army into The military coup that brought percent of Burkina Faso’s population And yet there are three reasons for needs and improve governance.

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 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES Japan’s imperial couple to visit Philippines

in public before the president of the toward the exit, screaming. A Phil- Philippines, who was attending as a ippine national of German ancestry, The trip is aimed state guest, was the first acknowledg- Krohn, now 87, had been caught in the at fostering mutual ment of the great war damage sustained crossfire of the American invasion of goodwill and in that country. Japanese-held Manila in February 1945. Shinichi Miura, 92, from Yurihonjo, He escaped, leaving behind the cries friendship. However, Akita Prefecture, is a veteran of the for help of casualties struggling in the the two nations share Battle of Luzon, where he served with throes of death. An estimated 100,000 the 17th Infantry Regiment. Miura is civilians lost their lives in that battle. a combined loss of grateful for the Emperor and Empress’ Krohn himself was wounded by more than 1.6 million tribute to the war dead, following sim- a shell fragment that became lodged ilar sentiments they conveyed in visits in his head. “I was angry that I’d been lives as a result of the to Saipan and Palau. Despite wishing dragged into the Pacific War,” he said. Second World War. to honor his fallen comrades, Miura So he will never forget that day, Krohn is unable to travel to the location of contributed to the building of a memo- The Imperial couple their passing. rial for the civilians who lost their lives will therefore be In a moment suffused with the ear- in Manila. paying homage to the splitting sound of explosions, Miura felt Fifty years later, it was unveiled his body lift up as he watched a mor- in February 1995, with an inscription war victims of both tar fragment pierce the stomach of the that the memorial is dedicated to all countries for the first squad leader next to him. It was late innocent victims of war, their bodies April 1945. Miura had been part of the consumed by fire or crushed to dust time general offensive in southwest Luzon beneath rubble. against the American troops that had Ricardo Jose, a professor of history begun landing in January. at the University of the Philippines, said The squad leader soon took his last Japan’s official development assist- Washington Post breath, but in the face of heavy fire, ance and yen loans after the war played Miura was forced to hastily bury him an important part in the development nearby and retreat. of the Philippines, and that relations Miura’s unit hid in the jungle, but with Japan improved by focusing on TOKYO: Japan’s Emperor and Empress he lost many of his fellow soldiers the economy. are scheduled to visit the Philippines to the machine gun fire that rained A 1962 visit by the Imperial cou- Former Filipina comfort women, who were forced to serve for the Japanese Army as slaves during World from January 26 to 30, ahead of cel- down from the sky and to malaria. ple, at that time the crown prince ebrations in July marking 60 years The unit also had to fend off attacks and crown princess, is also cited as War II, during a press conference in Quezon city, east of Manila, on Friday. The ‘comfort women’ continue to of diplomatic relations between that from guerrilla forces, and had been a turning point in improving bilat- push for an official apology from the Japan government plus financial compensation ahead of the upcoming nation and Japan. ordered to kill civilians who helped eral relations. It showed Filipinos the visit to the Philippines by Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko on January 26-30. The trip is aimed at fostering mutual the guerrillas. new face of Japan, brimming with goodwill and friendship. However, the Miura could not bring himself to youth and vitality. couple - who have always tried to Japanese had overwhelmed it by June Many died from death and starva- two nations share a combined loss of carry out those orders after pictur- Japan is now the Philippines’ largest keep the memories of World War II 1942, but the Allied forces struck back tion. Japan’s casualties came to a total more than 1.6 million lives as a result ing the face of his beloved 1-year-old trading partner. Over 1,500 Japanese from fading - can be an opportunity to defeat them in the Battle of Leyte of 518,000, its greatest loss of life in of the Second World War. The Imperial daughter, but he was pardoned by the companies have a presence in the to demonstrate the mature relation- Gulf in October 1944. The Japanese foreign territory. couple will therefore be paying hom- squad leader, who was his direct supe- country, and an estimated 200,000 ship between the two countries. then withdrew from the islands, begin- Many Filipinos were also caught age to the war victims of both countries rior. “I left many of my fellow soldiers Filipinos live in Japan, making them Jose said his grandfather perished ning with Luzon. in the conflict, totaling about 1.11 for the first time. behind in the Philippines, and dragged its third-largest foreign community. A in the war and stressed the impor- Japanese soldiers also had to con- million deaths, according to a joint “We Japanese must remember these many civilians into the fight. With these 2011 survey by the BBC reported that tance of remembering that there are tend with guerrilla forces armed by estimate by the US and Philippine events long into the future with a pro- visits by the Emperor and Empress, 84 percent of Filipinos view Japan still people out there who hold firm the Americans. In the Senshi Sosho, governments. found sense of remorse,” the Emperor I’m hoping for closure for my sense positively, a proportion second only to the idea that “We can forgive, but a military history of the Pacific War, After the signing of the San Fran- remarked at an official banquet for Phil- of guilt,” he said. to Indonesia, making the Philippines must not forget.” the commander of a corps operating cisco Peace Treaty, the reparations ippine President Benigno Aquino at the A bomb dropped by American one of the most pro-Japanese nations Shortly after the war broke out in in southwest Luzon was reported as treaty with the Philippines came Imperial Palace in June last year, the forces exploded near a Manila hospital in the world. December 1941, the Imperial Japanese saying: “Any civilian assisting guerrilla into force in July 23, 1956, marking 70th anniversary of the end of the war. where Edgar Krohn was taking shelter. Jose said the upcoming memorial Army invaded the Philippines, at that forces must be treated as a guerrilla the beginning of diplomatic relations The Emperor’s statement, delivered The people hiding inside stampeded services and state visit by the Imperial time colonized by the Americans. The fighter and exterminated.” between the two countries.

Vanuatu polls Miss Universe in Manila Australia seeks regional set to deliver a shake-up terrorism cooperation

Reuters with regional governments. AFP “If we can make those relation- ships stronger then we should seek to do so because this menace is going to WELLINGTON: The Vanuatu polit- BANGKOK: , Australia is seeking be with us for some time and the more ical landscape appeared to be in for regional cooperation to fight the we can do to collaborate, to address a shake-up, reports said yesterday “menace” of violent extremism that it, the safer our people will be.” , following a snap election called will be with the region for some time, Jakarta’s gun and bomb attack was after more than a quarter of MPs the country’s justice minister said claimed by Islamic State (IS), the rad- were jailed in a corruption scandal. yesterday. ical group’s first assault on Indonesia. Unofficial results from Friday’s A deadly January 14 attack in Keenan said Australia has updated vote indicated a number of long- Jakarta that killed eight people and its travel warning for Indonesia but serving politicians, including former an August bombing in Bangkok that has not changed the threat level which justice minister Robert Bohn and ripped through a popular shrine kill- remains to “exercise a high degree former parliamentary speaker Philip ing 20 people, most of them foreign of caution”. Boedoro, were set to lose their seats, tourists, have injected new urgency Jakarta has said it is working to according to news media reports. for regional counter-terrorism efforts. stem the flow of Southeast Asian mil- The official results may not be “The region is subject to the same itants travelling to and from Syria available until early next week after threats as the globe is and that is there and Iraq but police say the nation’s all ballots from outlying islands have is a malignant organisation that has porous border makes it easy for peo- been taken to the capital Port Vila established itself in the Middle East, ple to be smuggled into Indonesia. for counting, Vanuatu Daily Post ISIL, and they continue to export terror “We don’t want to change the open journalist Jonas Cullwick said. around the globe,” Australian Justice nature of our society. We like the fact Writing in the Post, Cullwick Minister Michael Keenan told Reuters that this is a very busy region with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (centre) waves as she arrives at Manila International said newcomers “make up most in Bangkok during a visit with his Thai people passing through,” said Keenan. of the provisional results” he had Airport yesterday. Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe last month in a drama-filled show after the counterparts to discuss security issues. “That’s why intelligence is very received. Fourteen MPs from the pageant’s host, comedian Steve Harvey, misread his cue card and initially announced Miss Colombia Keenan, who is also Counter- important, sharing information about 52-seat parliament, including the as the winner before apologising and saying Wurtzbach had won. Terrorism Minister, said Australia people who might be of concern,” deputy prime minister, were jailed stood ready to share its expertise he said. last year in a corruption scandal which put the international spot- light on the integrity of Vanuatu lawmakers. The political breakdown in Port Vila follows a period of instability US student detained for ‘hotel incident’ in North Korea with four changes of prime ministers in the past four years. The election won praise from a Commonwealth Reuters it might go unnoticed,” Guttridge told Reuters. We had no indication that anything untoward boarded the plane and told Guttridge that Warm- Observer Group for being conducted Guttridge and colleagues at Young Pioneer had happened until the airport,” Guttridge said. bier had been “taken to hospital”. in a “peaceful and orderly environ- Tours declined to share further details of exactly When Warmbier’s group reached the airport, Soon after, a North Korean contact passed ment” but was criticised for using what had taken place, citing the safety of their he appeared to have been purposefully delayed on a message concerning Warmbier’s detention an electoral roll that had not been SEOUL: Otto Warmbier, the American university client. Warmbier had been staying at the Yang- at immigration, Troy Collings, director of Young to Young Pioneer Tours founder Gareth Johnson, updated for more than six months. student being held by North Korea, was detained gakdo International Hotel when the incident that Pioneer Tours, told Reuters. who was in Pyongyang with a separate group It excluded the names of people before boarding his flight to China over an unspec- led to his arrest occurred. The Yanggakdo is a As the tourists checked-in at the gleaming, due to catch a train to the Chinese border. who had reached the voting age of ified incident that had taken place earlier in the towering structure on an island in the middle recently-renovated terminal, Warmbier was taken “I stayed back when I heard Otto had been 18 since then but retained the names trip at his hotel, his travel company told Reu- of the Taedong river, which cuts through cen- aside by two airport officials and escorted into a detained,” Johnson said. “It was an automatic of those who had died. ters yesterday. tral Pyongyang. small immigration room behind a wooden door response. I wanted to try and work out what the The election “followed wide North Korea’s official KCNA news agency China-based Young Pioneer Tours is a North to one side of the check-in area. situation was and it was my hope that I would scale destruction from Tropical said on Friday that Warmbier “was caught com- Korea travel specialist that describes itself on its “He was not dragged away and he wasn’t yelled at least be able to speak with him.” Cyclone Pam as well as a challeng- mitting a hostile act against the state”, which it website as “an adventure tour operator that pro- at,” Guttridge said. As Guttridge waited for Warm- Johnson said his company was in contact ing political environment in 2015”, said was “tolerated and manipulated by the US vides ‘budget tours to destinations your mother bier to come out of the room, she instructed the with Warmbier’s family. Staff at the tour oper- group chairman Hubert Ingraham, a government”. would rather you stayed away from’”. rest of her tour group to board the North Korean ator said as far as they knew Warmbier had not former prime minister of the Baha- Charlotte Guttridge, a tour leader at Young During his five-day New Year’s tour of North Air Koryo flight bound for Beijing. been in possession of any religious or political mas, said in his interim report. Pioneer Tours and the only outside witness to Korea, staff at Young Pioneer Tours said Warm- “When it became clear that he wasn’t coming, literature. Foreign visitors have been detained More than 260 candidates from Warmbier’s detention, said the 21-year-old Uni- bier had acted normally, and was keen to see daily I had to board the flight before it departed,” said in the past for attempting to distribute religious 36 parties took part in the elections versity of Virginia student was not with other life in one of the world’s most isolated countries, Guttridge, who still had colleagues in Pyongyang literature in the country. The US and Canadian on Friday with many of the parties tourists when the events that appear to have which is visited by around 6,000 Western tour- with another group of tourists. “I was the last to governments advise against travel there. formed in the wake of the scandal. prompted his arrest occurred. ists a year. Ten other US citizens were on the tour. board the flight.” The US State Department said it was aware of None of the parties were contest- “What happened, happened at the hotel and “Throughout the trip, Otto behaved as a typ- As the Russian-made Tupolev airliner pre- reports that a US citizen had been detained but ing more than 26 seats. my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope ical tourist - taking pictures, enjoying himself. pared to leave the terminal, an airport official gave no further details, citing privacy concerns. ASIA / AFRICA SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 13 UN envoys meet AU leaders for Burundi crisis talks

The meeting, in the AU headquar- as I think we would have liked”. The meeting, in the ters in Ethiopia, comes a day after the “There is a ‘cri de coeur’ from many, UN envoys met with President Pierre many people in Burundi for outside AU headquarters in Nkurunziza in Burundi, where they help and for urgent, urgent mediation Ethiopia, comes a day appealed for him to take urgent action to get a solution,” Power added. to stop the violence sparked by his More than 400 people have died after the UN envoys re-election. since then and at least 230,000 have met with President UN council envoys have pushed fled the country, but Burundi’s gov- for the government to hold talks with ernment insists there is no need for Pierre Nkurunziza in the opposition and agree to the pres- foreign troops and has branded AU Burundi, where they ence of international troops—such as a peacekeepers an “invasion force”. appealed for him to proposed 5,000-strong African Union Nkurunziza took a hard line dur- force—to restore stability. ing the meeting at his hilltop residence take urgent action AU Peace and Security Council chief in Gitega, some two hours outside of to stop the violence Smail Chergui said yesterday it was Bujumbura, where he rejected calls for crucial the international community inclusive dialogue, renewed mediation sparked by his “remain united on Burundi”, which has efforts and an international interven- re-election been gripped by violence since April. tion force. Chergui said there was a “strong con- “I can guarantee that there will US Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, and Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza (centre) vergence of views” between AU and UN not be a genocide in Burundi,” Nku- envoys on the “urgent need for inclusive runziza said, adding that Burundi is speak to the press in Gitega, Burundi. The UN Security Council met with Nkurunziza to discuss how to quell AFP political dialogue” to resolve the crisis. “99 percent secure”. worsening political violence in the tiny African state. Street protests, a failed coup and Nkurunziza’s refusal to compro- now a simmering rebellion began when mise has raised the prospect of tougher Burundi in less than a year, amid fears presidents appealed to the council envoys to “stop this bloodletting that is Nkurunziza announced his intention to measures ahead to stop almost nightly of the risk of renewed civil war. ambassadors to take action and pleaded making our young people disappear”. ADDIS ABABA: UN Security Council run for a controversial third term, which outbreaks of violence. Burundi is still recovering from its for an AU force to be sent. “We really Bagaza warned that without ambassadors and African Union lead- he went on to win in July elections. The proposed force is expected ethnically-charged 13-year civil war need that force,” said Domitien Nday- urgent international action, Burundi ers met yesterday for crisis talks on United States Ambassador Saman- to be a key element of talks at an AU between majority Hutus and minor- izeye, who led the landlocked nation could “become another Rwanda”, Burundi, after the government refused tha Power, speaking after meeting summit in Ethiopia on January 30-31. ity Tutsis, which cost an estimated from 2003-2005. referring to the neighbouring coun- a proposed AU force to stem violence Nkurunziza late on Friday, said the It was the second time the UN 300,000 lives. Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, in power try’s 1994 genocide. UN envoys wrap in the troubled country. envoys “didn’t achieve as much, frankly, ambassadors have travelled to the On Thursday, two former Burundian from 1976 to 1987, urged the council up their visit later.

Japan accepts 27 refugees New Ebola case responding to treatment in Sierra Leone last year and AFP outbreak. Dafai said the latest sufferer, contact with the latest sufferer. infectious as people are dying or in the But officials warned that a recur- who the World Health Organisation Dafai said a vaccination program bodies of those who have died from a rence remained possible and stressed rejects 99% told AFP on Thursday had been Jalloh’s for known contacts and overseen by virus which emerged in 2013 in south- the importance of a quick, effective “primary caregiver,” was in quaran- chief medical officer Brima Kargbo ern Guinea. response to potential new cases. FREETOWN: A second new case of tine in the northern city of Magburaka was progressing satisfactorily,” but “We never envisaged that the virus “Even though the cases occurred AFP Ebola in Sierra Leone since west Africa when she tested positive and was trans- urged anybody who may have been will return so soon just we were about to many miles away from the capital, we celebrated the apparent end of the epi- ferred to the capital. exposed to the virus to come forward. settle down after 18 months of enslave- still cannot say we are safe because demic last week is responding well to After visiting the woman, Dafai “At the moment, we still don’t know ment,” said 25-year-old taxi driver of the mode of human transmission,” TOKYO: Japan accepted only 27 treatment, an official said yesterday. indicated that “121 contacts have been the source of infection in the first index Osman Sesay. A week ago, the WHO said Ibrahim Jallo, a timber merchant. refugees last year and rejected The patient, the 38-year-old aunt of identified to have been exposed to the case involving Marie Jalloh,” Dafai said. had announced transmission of the Traders say they fear the effect the almost all applications, officials 22-year-old Marie Jalloh, who died of index case and 47 of them have been WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic virus that killed 11,315 people and trig- latest cases may have on the economy. said yesterday, as rights groups the disease on January 12, is “respond- classified as high risk contacts” and told AFP on Thursday that 150 of Jal- gered a global health alert had ended, Many pharmaceuticals firms said urged the government to allow ing well to treatment” in a Freetown so were under observation. loh’s contacts had been identified, “of with Liberia the last country to get there has been a big run on dwindling more people in. clinic, a ministry of health disease con- Given the potential for further which 42 are high risk.” the all-clear. stocks of hand sanitizer gels which The country has long been nerv- trol official, Doctor Foday Dafai, said. infection he added “it is therefore very Local people expressed concern Sierra Leone was declared free of manufacturers say kills 99.99 percent ous about an influx of refugees into The official added authorities had important that we quickly locate and over the potential further spread of Ebola transmission on November 7 of germs and which were widely used its homogeneous society and has yet to determine the origin of the new isolate” anyone who may have had a tropical virus which is at its most last year and Guinea on December 29. in the first ebola outbreak. tightly restricted the number it accepts. Of the thousands seek- ing refugee status, five were Syrian, only three of which were accepted— a far cry from the massive influx of Cold snap hits China Syrians into Europe from the war- torn Middle East nation last year. The justice ministry said it received a record 7,586 refugee AFP The NMC said temperatures would applications in 2015, meaning more not peak above the freezing mark in than 99 percent of requests were most parts of the country, with the rejected. exception of a few spots in the south, Other accepted applicants BEIJING: Much of China shivered and state-run CCTV television urged included six from Afghanistan, three yesterday as a teeth-chattering cold people to stay inside to avoid the frigid Ethiopians and three Sri Lankans. snap broke decades-old records and weather. The ministry said number of snow fell in some parts for the first More than 100 flights were can- refugees accepted last year was a time in years, cancelling flights and celled and nearly 200 delayed in the jump from 11 in 2014 and six in 2013. forcing many indoors. southeast metropolis of Chongqing The Japan Association for Ref- An orange alert was issued across as snow blanketed the city for the ugees said despite the progress the country as forecasts predicted first time in 20 years, airport author- in recent years, more applicants eye-watering lows of -41 Celsius in ities told AFP. should be accepted. “We hope that some parts, the National Meteoro- Snow dumped down in several (Japan) will hold discussions with logical Center (NMC) said. other regions where the white stuff UNHCR and NGOs and swiftly con- Orange is the second most severe is scarcely seen, according to CCTV sider measures to certify refugees cold weather warning on China’s citing weather officials. in line with international stand- four-tier scale, and forecasters said Bright sunshine bathed the capital ards,” the association said. 30-year records were on course to Beijing where skies were clear blue, Human rights activists, lawyers be shattered in several parts of the but the bright conditions brought lit- and migrant communities in Japan country over the weekend, with tle respite as thermometers dipped have complained for years about two-thirds of the country facing to -17 C in the morning. In the moun- harsh treatment by immigration temperatures below -12 C. tainous areas on the outskirts of the officials and about conditions at The north braced for the worst, city, temperatures plummeted to an detention centres. The UN refugee with the temperatures predicted to eye-watering -29.8 C. agency says Japan is home to 2,419 plummet to -41 C in Genhe in Inner Even the normally tropical refugees, compared to its Group of Mongolia. Neighbouring Mohe in Hei- beaches on the southern island of A farmer clears ice next to his greenhouses in Linan, east China’s Zhejiang province yesterday. Much of China Seven ally the United States with longjiang province didn’t fare much Hainan were not spared, with tem- 267,222 and Turkey, which has 1.8 shivered as a teeth-chattering cold snap broke decades-old records and snow fell in some parts for the first better with the mercury expected to peratures clocking in at a cool 13 C, million refugees. time in years, cancelling flights and forcing many indoors. dip to -39 C. according to state-run CRI radio. Thousands return to Nigerian town after Boko Haram ouster

AFP “More are coming in everyday,” he added. fire while the rest have been washed away by The Nigerian refugees and their belong- then as a”ghost town”. Boko Haram fighters seized Gamboru in vio- the rains,” he added. ings were screened at the Cameroonian side A key source of the locals’ livelihood, the lence-wracked Borno state in August 2014, “Everything was looted and the streets are of the bridge by soldiers using sniffer dogs to market, has also been destroyed. It formerly forcing thousands to flee across the border to barely recognisable.” detect explosives before they were allowed attracted traders from neighbouring Chad and KANO, NIGERIA: Thousands of Nigerian ref- the town of Fotokol on the other bank of the Gamboru has been repeatedly targeted in cross back into Nigeria where officials were Cameroon. “Our main problem is food and how ugees, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon in river in northern Cameroon. the Boko Haram insurrection which has cost ready to welcome them and provided them to rebuild our homes,” Wanzan said. 2014 to escape Boko Haram militants, have Chadian forces reclaimed Gamboru in the lives of 17,000 people in Nigeria and made with the necessary papers for their return. The returned residents have been living on returned to the liberated northeastern town February last year, after intense fighting that over 2.5 million homeless since 2009. Returning residents scoured their empty the food they brought from Fotokol and des- of Gamboru only to find their homes and their left hundreds of insurgents dead, as part of Although Boko Haram were forced out homes in the vain hope of finding any personal perately hope to receive aid from the Nigerian livelihoods destroyed, residents and officials a regional military coalition put together to of Gamboru 11 months ago, the refugees say effects neglected by Boko Haram. government before supplies run out, Mari said. said on Friday. crush the Islamist group which has become a there are only now beginning to feel confi- “Nobody found anything in their homes The National Emergency Management Over the past three days more than 15,000 threat to regional security. dent enough to return because the Nigerian which have been looted and burnt,” said returnee Agency (NEMA) plans to send aid to Gamboru Nigerians have crossed the 300-metre (yard) “We found a looted and burnt out town army has sent a large contingent to the town. Ibrahim Wanzan. in coming days. river bridge that forms the border with Cam- which is shadow of its former self,” said Abacha The return of the refugees is being coor- The destruction that they found came as “We are aware of the return of thousands eroon, following calls by military and local Mari, one of those who returned to Gamboru dinated by Cameroonian soldiers and local no surprise. Some of the refugees had already of Gamboru residents from Cameroon and we leaders for residents to return, an official in on Wednesday. “More than nine-tenths of the officials in Gamboru, the returning residents visited Gamboru under the protection of Chad- are working to send relief items to them in the Gamboru said. buildings in the town have been damaged by said. ian soldiers in February 2015 and described it next few days,” a NEMA official said. 14 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 PAKISTAN 5 arrested in connection with university attack

150 people, mostly children. between Afghanistan and Pakistan “The five facilitators have been which would prevent militants from Military spokesman arrested and the another one, whom carrying out cross-border terrorism Lieutenant General I will call terrorist-A is still at large,” which have undermined peace efforts Asim Bajwa said the military spokesman Lieutenant Gen- in the region. eral Asim Bajwa told a televised press Pakistani officials say the Paki- gunmen were trained conference in Peshawar yesterday. stan Taliban chief known as Mullah in Afghanistan and According to the officer, “terrorist- Fazlullah has been orchestrating A” arranged transportation for the four raids on Pakistan from Afghani- the assault was gunmen who travelled from Torkhum stan, where he fled several years controlled by a town, which borders Afghanistan. The ago after a Pakistani army offen- suspects also secured accommoda- sive against his stronghold in the Pakistani Taliban tion for the assailants and provided Swat Valley. militant from a them with a rickshaw that they used Afghan officials see Pakistan’s sug- on the day of the attack. gestion that Afghans are supporting location inside They also helped purchase their cross-border attacks as an attempt to Afghanistan weapons in the country’s tribal belt and distract attention from what they say relied on women close to the accused is Pakistan’s long history of support- to help smuggle guns. ing Afghanistan’s Taliban movement “Women wearing traditional veils and other insurgent factions. Agencies do not usually undergo a routine body “The attackers were prepared in search at the checkpoints,” said Bajwa. Afghanistan,” Bajwa said. “We have Four of the five men arrested in Pakistan yesterday for facilitating four Taliban militants in the attack on Bacha The four gunmen who attacked the come to the conclusion that terror- Khan University on Wednesday. university were trained in Afghanistan ism cannot be fought when there are ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security agen- and the assault was controlled by a accomplices and facilitators.” “Adil is a labourer and just a few through to finally scale the walls of Plan cracking down on extremism. cies have arrested five men accused of Pakistani Taliban militant from a loca- Providing details of the planning days ago he did some masonry work the campus and carry out the assault. Security improved in 2015 —but helping organise Wednesday’s attack tion inside Afghanistan, Bajwa said. of the attack, he said the gunmen used in the university, and made a map of On Friday, the Taliban faction behind critics have repeatedly warned the on a university in the country’s trou- Bajwa said the attack was master- public transportation from the Afghan the university which he shared with the the massacre at Bacha Khan univer- government is not taking long-term bled northwest that killed 21 people, minded by Umar Mansoor, a Pakistani border to reach Mardan city, about 30 militants,” said the military spokesman. sity posted a video message vowing steps to tackle the underlying causes the military announced yesterday. Taliban militant based in Afghani- kilometres from Charsadda, where “Adil is the one who helped the to target schools throughout the coun- of extremism. The assault on Bacha Khan uni- stan who is also held responsible for they were received by four Pakistani attackers carry out reconnaissance try, calling them “nurseries” for people Pakistan has killed and arrested versity campus in Charsadda by four the December 2014 massacre of 134 men, now in army custody. of the area around the university.” who challenge Allah’s law. hundreds of suspected militants under armed assailants was later claimed children in the city of Peshawar - the “After entering Mardan, the terror- Another accomplice, identified as The military intensified an ongoing a major crackdown launched after the by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban deadliest militant attack in Pakistan’s ists were received by Adil and Riaz,” Noorullah, bought an auto-rickshaw and offensive against extremists in Paki- December 2014 school attack, which and bore a chilling resemblance to a history. Bajwa said, identifying two of the sus- transported the attackers from Mardan stan’s tribal areas after attack on the is seen as having hardened Pakistan’s December 2014 massacre at a school The army’s claims once more high- pected accomplices who he said put up to the sugarcane fields next to Bacha Peshawar school in 2014. The govern- resolve to fight militants along its bor- in Peshawar that killed more than light the need for improved relations the militants in two houses in Mardan. Khan University, which they crossed ment also launched a National Action der with Afghanistan. Opposition seeks minister’s resignation over attack Indo-Pak nuclear race

Internews sity (BKU) that left 21 people dead. attitude,” Shah said. is made a reason for his victimisa- can jeopardise strategic Talking to reporters at his chamber He said everyone was condemn- tion, why PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali in the parliament building yesterday, ing the BKU incident, but the interior Zardari has escaped abroad on the pre- Shah pointed the finger at the National minister had not even expressed his text of illness,” he said, adding that the stability: US report ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposi- Action Plan meant to curb terrorism sorrow over it. opposition leader should mind his own tion in Pakistan’s National Assembly, and held the interior minister respon- On the other hand, Talal Chaud- business and avoid levelling baseless Khursheed Ahmed Shah, has called sible for the BKU attack. hry, a leader of the ruling PML-N, came allegations against Chaudhry Nisar. for the removal of Interior Minis- He urged Prime Minister Nawaz out in support of the interior minister, “The interior minister is an hon- increases the risk of a nuclear con- ter Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for not Sharif to replace Chaudhry Nisar. saying Chaudhry Nisar had not been est man and has never been accused flict in the region. The report claims condemning Wednesday’s terrorist “Fingers are being raised at Nawaz well these days. of any sort of financial corruption,” Authors of the report that Pakistan has approximately 110- attack on the Bacha Khan Univer- Sharif because of the interior minister’s “If the bad health of Chaudhry Nisar the PML-N leader added. acknowledge that 130 nuclear warheads. . “Islamabad’s expansion of its this nuclear race nuclear arsenal, development of increases the risk of new types of nuclear weapons, and Arrest warrant a nuclear conflict in adoption of a doctrine called ‘full Fun at its peak spectrum deterrence’ have led some issued against the region observers to express concern about an increased risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India,” the ex-auditor general report warns. Internews It acknowledges that since 2004, Islamabad has taken a number of Internews steps to improve its nuclear security and to prevent further proliferation ISLAMABAD: Continued Indian and of nuclear-related technologies and Pakistani nuclear weapons devel- materials. ISLAMABAD: A court has issued opment could jeopardise strategic “A number of important initia- non-bailable arrest warrant against stability between the two countries, tives, such as strengthened export former auditor general of Pakistan warns a congressional report sent control laws, improved personnel (AGP) Akhtar Buland Rana for con- to US lawmakers this week. security, and international nuclear cealing his Canadian citizenship The Congressional Research security cooperation programmes, in official documents.The Federal Service (CRS), which prepared the have improved Pakistan’s nuclear Investigation Agency (FIA) was report, notes that Pakistan’s nuclear security,” the report notes. issued the warrant to arrest the arsenal is “designed to dissuade But CRS warns that ‘instability’ suspect by a district and sessions India from taking military action in Pakistan has “called the extent court yesterday. against the country”. But it continues and durability of these reforms into Earlier, Senior Civil Judge Abdul to increase its production facili- question.” Ghafoor Kakar heard an application ties, “deploying additional nuclear It repeats an old fear, often echoed of the FIA, alleging the former AGP weapons, and new types of deliv- in Washington, “a radical takeover of had “wrongfully and with malafide ery vehicles”. the Pakistani government or diver- intentions” concealed his Canadian The report notes that India also sion of material or technology by citizenship while filling and sign- “continues to expand its nuclear arse- personnel within Pakistan’s nuclear ing his declaration forms. nal” but since the report is about complex”. In the same paragraph, FIA Anti-Corruption Circle’s Pakistan, it focuses on the Paki- the report also notes that both the Inspector Afzal Niazi requested the stani nuclear programme. US and Pakistani officials “continue Children ride on a swing in a slum area of Peshawar yesterday. court to issue non-bailable warrants However, authors of the report to express confidence in controls as the suspect had been nominated acknowledge that this nuclear race over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons”. in an FIR and was deliberately avoid- ing arrest in the case. The suspect has allegedly gone into hiding. According to the FIR, Rana obtained five Pakistani passports Coastline remains a victim of abject apathy in Pakistan while still holding a Canadian passport. Niazi stated the pass- port’s deputy director (policy) had Internews limit was also extended from the exist- mammals, are found in Pakistan’s waters. National Shipping Corporation, which a comprehensive National Marine Dis- confirmed that Rana had “never ing 200 to 350 nautical miles. There are over 30,000 fishermen in is the national flag carrier, has only aster Contingency Plan (NMDCP) was declared his other nationality”. Rana Lack of awareness about the impor- Pakistan, with another 700,000 peo- nine vessels, of which four are oil tank- prepared to deal with all marine dis- obtained the first passport from tance of maritime, however, meant that ple associated with the trade. Many ers. As a result, the country pays more asters, including oil spills, search and the regional office in Islamabad in ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s maritime barely anyone noticed this significant use trawlers and small nets to catch than $4.5bn to foreign freight carri- rescue, and salvage operations. The 1998. The second was issued from zone is approximately 30 percent of development achieved through tedious fish, a practice considered harmful for ers every year. In fact, having only execution of NMDCP was ordered by Toronto, Canada, in 2002. Two more its land mass —a region bigger than diplomatic efforts. Let alone exploit- marine life. The developed coastal four oil tankers of its own puts Paki- the chairman of the Pakistan Marine official machine-readable pass- Punjab. Yet, the resource-rich marine ing subsoil resources, Pakistan has areas of Karachi and Port Qasim are stan in a vulnerable position, one an Disaster Management Board, which ports (MRP) were issued in 2005 sector remains a victim of abject apathy. also failed to explore the full poten- facing an even graver threat. The sea enemy state can easily exploit in the is headed by the Chief of Naval Staff. and 2011, respectively. Last year in March, 50,000 square tial of seafood exports. there is being used a dumping ground event of a conflict. Pakistan has had Strategically, the location of Pakistan’s Then in 2012 he was issued a kilometres of continental shelf was added An official study claims Paki- for sewage and solid waste, resulting a shipyard since 1954. The shipping marine belt is important for trade and diplomatic passport. The passport to the country’s existing 240,000 square stan’s coastal area produces more than in heavy pollution at Karachi Harbour, industry, however, has remained in oil supply routes from the Persian Gulf. directorate general website states kilometres after its claim was accepted 625,000 tonnes of fish, out of which Gharo and Phitti Creek. disarray. Fortunately, the government It is also close to the Red Sea. that official passports are issued by the United Nation’s Commission on only 131,000 tonnes is exported. If fully The sea is Pakistan’s lifeline for seems to be stirring from its slumber This geographical advantage pro- only to Pakistani nationals who are the Limits of Continental Shelf. materialised, the exports can fetch an trade. More than 90 per cent of the and is now in the process of reviving it. vides an opportunity for Pakistan to senators, members of parliament, As a result, Pakistan gained exclusive additional $2bn. country’s trade with other countries After the catastrophic oil spill in dominate the crucial stretch of the provincial ministers, judges of high rights over the seabed and subsoil resources Moreover, according to WWF-P, along with all its oil imports are routed Karachi by the MV Tasman Spirit in 2003, coastal belt and vital routes across the courts and the Supreme Court, and spread over 290,000 square kilometres approximately 1,000 species of fish through the sea. need was felt for formulation of a compre- Arabian Sea. The lack of a holistic pol- government officers going abroad in the Indian Ocean. The country’s sea and 12 species of cetacean, or marine There is, however, a snag. Pakistan hensive anti-pollution plan. Subsequently, icy, however, is hampering progress. INDIA SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 15

PM declassifies Woman power first 100 files on Netaji

Bengal chief minister says revolutionary should be declared Leader of the Nation

IANS Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Naren- by the decision, calling it a “great day dra Modi yesterday declassified the for the entire nation”. first set of 100 files on Netaji Subhas Modi also met family members Chandra Bose, who raised an army to of Netaji, including Professor Chi- fight the British and whose death in tra Ghosh, Chandra Bose and Surya an air crash continues to be a mys- Kumar Bose. Modi, in a meeting with tery even after seven decades. members of Netaji’s family in Delhi Modi released digital copies of on October 14, 2015, had announced 100 files at the National Archives of that the federal government would India following the government’s deci- declassify the files in a phased manner. sion to declassify files on the freedom Accordingly, the first lot of 33 fighter. The files were released on the files was declassified by the PMO and birth anniversary of Bose, who was handed over to the National Archives The Indian Army’s women contingent march during the full dress rehearsal for the upcoming Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New more popularly addressed with the of India on December 4, 2015. Delhi yesterday. India celebrates Republic Day on January 26. honorific Netaji. “Subsequently, the Ministries of Modi also launched a webportal Home Affairs, and External Affairs too https://netajipapers.gov.in to release initiated the process of declassifica- the digital version of the 100 files. tion of files relating to Netaji Subhas “As a first step, the National Chandra Bose in their respective col- Archives of India is placing 100 files lection which were then transferred relating to Netaji in public domain to the National Archives of India,” the Nine more Islamic State suspects arrested after preliminary conservation treat- statement added. ment and digitisation,” a statement West Bengal Chief Minister released by the Prime Minister’s Office Mamata Banerjee demanded that (PMO) said. Netaji should be declared “Leader of IANS in the latest development, the agency Abu Anas, 24, Hyderabad, Asif Ali alias sympathisers were planning bomb It added that the remaining files the Nation”. Netaji, one of the leading arrested nine more suspected IS mem- Arman Saani, 21, Suhail Ahmed, 23, attacks in several cities on Republic will be placed in the public domain lights of the Indian freedom strug- bers, taking the total number of those Muhammed Abdul Ahad, 46, Ben- Day (January 26). after their conservation treatment gle, set up the Indian National Army arrested to 14. galuru, Mohammad Hussain Khan, The raids were conducted in Ben- and digitisation. (INA) during World War II to take on NEW DELHI: Nine more suspected “On the basis of information 36, Mumbai, and Imran Khan Pathan galuru, Tumkur and Mangalore in “The Government of India has the British Indian Army. members of the Islamic State (IS) ter- revealed in the interrogation of five from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Karnataka, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and written to the concerned foreign Once a close associate of Mahatma ror outfit have been arrested by the accused people, another nine accused The NIA said the arrested people Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Incrimi- governments to declassify all files Gandhi, Bose’s reported death in a National Investigation Agency (NIA) people have been arrested from var- will be produced before the concerned nating documents, mobiles, laptops or papers related to Netaji. The gov- plane crash in Formosa, now Tai- in cooperation with state police forces ious locations in different cities,” said courts for obtaining transit remand and unaccounted cash and material ernment is committed to pursue this wan, in 1945 has remained a mystery. across India to take to 14 those in cus- an NIA official. and further interrogation and inves- used in making bombs were seized matter with them,” the statement said. The National Archives received tody, a NIA official said yesterday. The arrested men are Sayed tigation will continue, said the official. during the raids. Huge quantities of Bose’s family members, some 990 declassified files, pertaining to The raids, which have continued Mujahid, 33, resident of Karnataka, Informed sources said all the arms and ammunition were seized of whom where present during the the INA, from the Defence Ministry since Thursday evening, were con- Mohammad Aleem, 20, Lucknow, raids at 12 locations in six cities were from the rented house of two of the declassification, were overwhelmed in 1997. ducted at 12 locations in six cities and Mohammed Obedullah Khan, 33, and conducted on tip-offs that the IS suspects in Bengaluru. Tharoor: Modi’s Chandigarh on alert as silence on communal Hollande and Modi arrive tension baffling IANS in Sector 10. Both places will be vis- ited by the leaders. IANS Chandigarh’s Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal told the media CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh was here that the French president will JAIPUR: The silence of Prime Min- put under maximum security cover arrive first in Chandigarh from Paris. ister Narendra Modi on key issues yesterday ahead of the arrival of Modi will arrive an hour later and of communal tension and violence French President Francois Hollande will meet and welcome the French is baffling for a leader who is hailed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi president at Chandigarh’s famous as a great communicator, Congress today afternoon. Rock Garden. leader Shashi Tharoor said yester- Security around the Hotel Taj, After the business summit at the day. where the French president will stay hotel, Modi will leave for New Delhi “The prime minister’s silence during his five-hour stop in the city, first while the French president will is baffling for one termed a great was at its maximum with scores of depart around 6pm, official sources communicator. He takes frequently armed commandos and policemen said. to the microphone, television and swarming the place. The French president is coming Twitter on various matters. Even Hollande, along with Modi, will to India to be the chief guest at the before (BJP leader) Navjot Singh meet and address CEOs of French Republic Day parade at New Delhi’s Sidhu’s operation, he is wishing and Indian companies at a business Rajpath on January 26. him well, but on key issues there summit to be held here today. Both leaders will meet at the Rock is no communication,” he said at a Security bunkers have been put Garden, created by city resident Nek press conference at the Jaipur Lit- up around the hotel complex with Chand entirely from waste material, erature Festival. commandos with automatic weapons. and will spend about 15 minutes there. “Soon after he became prime The same security has been pro- They will then go to the Capitol minister, a Muslim techie was vided at the Rock Garden and Capitol Complex nearby, which was designed Posters displaying portraits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande in lynched in Pune, there have been Complex in Sector 1 and the Gov- by Chandigarh’s founder-architect, several other incidents but Modi Chandigarh yesterday. ernment Museum and Art Gallery Frenchman Le Corbusier, in the 1950s. was silent. Even in this incident (suspended Dalit research schol- ar’s suicide in Hyderabad), it took him a week to respond. I believe his grief was genuine but it was Geologists find dinosaur JD-U legislator suspended for misbehaving delayed,” he said. On the suicide of Rohith Vem- hip bones in Gujarat ula, Tharoor said that in an ideal IANS The incident has given a bad name to in an FIR registered at Patna railway world, there will be no caste, but the party,” state JD-U president Vash- station, complained that Alam, his it cannot be denied that there is AFP Chauhan said. “We have found three sisht Narain Singh told the media here. bodyguard and another aide misbe- caste consciousness in India, and portions of hip bones of (a) dinosaur,” Alam is alleged to have misbehaved haved with them aboard the train, an education is not exempt. Chauhan, a geologist from Gujarat’s PATNA: Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal- with a couple aboard the Delhi-Guwa- official said, adding they passed vul- He said he has, in the recent AHMEDABAD: A geologist said yes- Kutch University and a member of the United (JD-U) yesterday suspended hati Rajdhani Express. gar comments about the couple who past, received several messages terday his team has discovered what excavation team, told AFP. its legislator for allegedly misbehaving Earlier, Nitish Kumar hinted at boarded the train from Delhi. from Dalit students and teachers it believes are dinosaur fossils in the “We have been working on this site with a couple inside a running train, action against Alam for his conduct Patna rail superintendent of police about the discrimination they face, western Indian state of Gujarat that since (the) last 10 days or so,” he said. saying his conduct brought “bad image with the couple. “Nobody is above the P N Mishra said a four-member team and even if they all may not be true, could be millions of years old. Chauhan said carbon-dating tests to the party”. law,” the chief minister said. sent from Patna to register a formal it is clear there is a perception of The team, of 10 mainly Ger- would need to be carried out to try to “Top leadership of the party, RJD chief Lalu Prasad had also complaint returned from Delhi after discrimination. man and Indian archaeologists and determine the age of the bones, while including president Sharad Yadav and favoured action against Alam. The recording the statement of the vic- He refused to answer a query researchers, dug up the fossils dur- more examinations were needed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met here Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is a part of tim and other witnesses. Mishra said about the investigations into the ing excavations in Gujarat’s marshy identify the type. Gujarat is some- and decided to suspend Sarfaraj Alam the ruling alliance in the state. Alam was ordered to appear before death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. coastal district of Kutch, Gaurav times dubbed India’s Jurassic Park. for his behaviour and bad conduct. Inderpal Singh Bedi and his wife, the investigation official. 16 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 EUROPE

Paris attacker European police centre to help curb terrorism had no link to

AFP in neighbouring Belgium have given thrown into question the intelligence- passports that were not theirs. Their Islamist network the 28-country project new impetus. sharing capabilities of EU police forces. true identity remains unknown. It will provide police “We will be working to improve Wainwright said the attacks had The Europol chief said national intelligence sharing and to maximise already acted as a catalyst. police forces needed to have better AFP DAVOS: A new European counter-ter- around Europe with our capability to track terrorist financ- “In the context of what happened access to a database compiled by its rorism centre opening this month will the platform to share ing,” Wainwright said. after the attacks in Paris, France and international counterpart, Interpol, of improve information-sharing among information and to The centre at Europol’s headquar- Belgium have established an extremely stolen and fake documents. BERLIN: A man who tried to attack national police forces whose perform- ters in the Hague will also monitor the close working relationship involving “There are many criminal actors a police station in Paris this month ance is under scrutiny after the jihadist crack down on the way in which Islamic State (IS) and Europol,” he said. that have become more active, more had no links to Islamist networks, attacks in Paris in November, the direc- terrorist groups, said other extremist groups “are abusing the “What I have seen over the last sophisticated and also the quality of German authorities said after car- tor of Europol has said. Internet and social media, in particular few years but particularly in the last the faked documents they are provid- rying out new raids in a refugee “It establishes for the first time in Rob Wainwright of for their propaganda and recruitment year, in the face of the worst terrorist ing (has improved), and they responded shelter where he lived. Europe a dedicated operation cen- Britain purposes,” he added. attacks we have seen in Europe for over to the opportunities that the migra- Investigations “over the past tre,” Britain’s Rob Wainwright said in French investigators believe the a decade, is intensified cooperation.” tion crisis in 2015 gave us,” he said. two weeks have brought no indi- an interview at the World Economic attacks that killed 130 in Paris were Wainwright said he was deeply con- “So we need to make sure that our cations of any Islamist network” Forum in Davos, Switzerland. groups that are active.” planned by a Belgian national, Abdelh- cerned about the “significant growth” border guard officials are alive to that connected to the man, said Uwe “It will provide French and Belgian Although the creation of the centre amid Abaaoud, who was widely thought in the faking of ID documents for use threat, that they are better trained, of Jacob, police chief of North Rhine- police services and their counterparts was announced seven months before to have been in Syria fighting with IS by extremists. Investigators believe at course, and to make sure that there is Westphalia state. around Europe with the platform they the Paris attacks, the coordinated forces. The apparent ease in which least two of the Paris suicide bomb- access to the right databases, including The attacker, identified as Tarek need to share information more quickly shootings and suicide bombings in the Abaaoud slipped back into Europe ers entered Europe through Greece, the dedicated database that Interpol Belgacem by Tunisian authorities, and to crack down on the terrorist French capital by a team mainly based and moved around the continent has posing as migrants and using Syrian has on lost and stolen documents.” was shot dead by French police as he attempted his assault on Janu- ary 7 —the one-year anniversary of the jihadist attack on satirical Thousands protest weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Frost-covered trees Three days after the botched against Poland’s attack, German police raided an apartment at a shelter for asylum seekers in Recklinghausen, in the surveillance law west of the country, where the man lived. Officers found an imitation handgun that can fire flares and tear Reuters gas, called “gas pistols” in Germany, and a mobile phone containing pic- tures “typical of the Islamic State WARSAW: Thousands of Poles organisation” as well as photos of marched through Warsaw yester- Osama bin Laden. day to protests against their new But the images appeared to conservative government’s plan to have been downloaded from the increase its surveillance powers, Internet. which critics say will undermine The man had used at least privacy rights. 20 identities and given different The Law and Justice (PiS) party countries as his nationality in his moves to take more control of the dealings with European authori- judiciary and the media have divided ties, Jacob said. He was registered Poland and raised alarm bells, which as a Georgian in Sweden, and as an has started investigating charges Iraqi in France, the investigators that Warsaw is undermining dem- said. However, using fingerprinting, ocratic principles. Waving Polish German investigators have finally and European Union flags, the pro- managed to pull together details testers demanded that the Law and about the man under one identity. Justice party withdraw its planned “We know therefore that he changes to the surveillance law. is a known offender who had “You’re supposed to listen, not flouted laws on weapons owner- listen in,” read one of the banners. ship, drugs, as well as for inflicting The new bill expands the govern- bodily harm,” said Jacob. ment’s access to digital data and Police gunned down Belgacem loosens the legal framework of using as he tried to attack the police surveillance in law enforcement. station in northern Paris armed The ruling party, which scored a with a meat cleaver and wearing a landmark election victory in Octo- fake suicide vest, shouting “Allahu ber, says it has to swiftly amend the Akbar” (God is great), according to bill to implement the constitutional Paris prosecutors. court’s ruling. It also cites a broad Police said they found a hand- democratic mandate to overhaul written note on his body in which the country. he pledged allegiance to the jihad- But critics say the government is ist Islamic State group. emulating Hungary’s Prime Minis- His father, Taoufik Belgacem, ter Viktor Orban in trying to impose on Wednesday filed a complaint Trees covered with frost near Hajduszovat, 225kms east of Budapest, Hungary, after overnight snowfall, yesterday. its political agenda by undermining alleging his son was murdered democratic checks and balances. by police. “Our privacy, intimacy is under threat, we can be followed, watched over both in our homes, and online,” Mateusz Kijowski, one of the organisers, told the protest- ers. No estimates of the exact size Austria gives Greece fresh Schengen warning of the demonstration were imme- diately available. Polish Prime Minister Beata AFP Financial Times alleging several Euro- external borders then one must openly “The patience of many Europeans perspective,” Lagarde said at the World Szydlo told EU lawmakers this pean ministers and senior EU officials discuss Greece’s temporary exclusion has reached its limit ... We have talked Economic Forum in Davos. Asked if it week that her government had believe threatening suspension from from the Schengen zone,” Mikl-Leit- a lot, now we must act. It is about pro- endangered Schengen, she said: “Yes, not breached European or Polish Schengen could persuade Greece to ner said in an interview with German tecting stability, order and security in I think so.” laws after it made changes to the top BERLIN: Greece faced fresh pressure protect its borders more effectively. daily Die Welt. “It is a myth that the Europe,” she insisted. Cash-strapped Greece has for constitutional court and put pub- yesterday on its handling of the migrant Junior interior minister for migra- Greco-Turkish border cannot be con- International Monetary Fund chief months come in for criticism from its lic media under its direct control. crisis after Austrian Interior Minister tion Yiannis Mouzalas said the report trolled,” Mikl-Leitner insisted. Christine Lagarde added her voice to EU partners on its attempts to manage The probe could eventually lead Johanna Mikl-Leitner warned that Ath- contained “falsehoods and distortions” “When a Schengen signatory does Schengen concerns when she said the the largest flow of migrants in dec- to the suspension of Poland’s vot- ens faced “temporary exclusion” from but Mikl-Leitner said temporary exclu- not permanently fulfil its obligations refugee crisis had pushed Europe to a ades as hundreds of thousands flee ing rights in the 8-nation bloc if the the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone. sion was a real possibility. and only hesitatingly accepts aid then “make or break” point. war and repression. Commission decides that Warsaw In midweek, Greece’s top migra- “If the Athens government does we should not rule out that possibil- “The refugee crisis is a bit of a Many of the migrants have reached has not observed the rule of law. tion official slammed a report in the not finally do more to secure the (EU’s) ity,” she added. make or break, from my personal Greek islands from nearby Turkey.

Merkel pressured on all fronts as The journey continues ally takes swipe over migrants

Reuters war and poverty in Syria, Afghani- comment, which was also reported stan and elsewhere. by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zei- But Merkel, in her third term in tung yesterday. office, has resisted domestic pressure Seehofer, whose state of Bavaria BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela for border closures and a refugee cap. is the point of entry into Germany for Merkel looked ever more isolated over With three closely watched most refugees, is under intense pres- her open-door policy on refugees yes- regional elections looming in March, sure from local municipalities to press terday as it emerged that the leader of Merkel is facing the toughest spell of the federal government to stem the her party’s Bavarian allies suggested her chancellorship over her handling flow of arrivals and has been a thorn this week she had become impervious of the refugee crisis. in Merkel’s side on the issue. to other people’s views on the issue. In the last week, polls have shown Germany’s next federal election “Chancellors in an advanced stage sliding support for her conservative will be held in the autumn of 2017. of their office only believe in them- bloc, 44 members of which wrote to Merkel has not yet said whether she selves,” Horst Seehofer, leader of the her urging a change of course, and will seek a fourth term, although some Christian Social Union (CSU), told a respected President Joachim Gauck media have started to speculate about party meeting during a discussion of said there was nothing immoral about her future. Merkel’s refugee policy. limiting the refugee influx. After Germany attracted 1.1 mil- Germany attracted 1.1 million asy- Austria announced such a limit on lion asylum seekers last year, Merkel’s lum seekers last year, leading to calls Wednesday —a move Merkel described transport minister - a CSU member - from across the political spectrum for as “not helpful”. has urged her to prepare to close the Refugees and migrants disembark from the passenger ferry Blue Star arriving from the islands of a change in its handling of the flood of Participants at the CSU’s closed- country’s borders to stem the influx. Lesbos and Chios at the port of Piraeus in Athens, yesterday. refugees coming to Europe to escape door meeting confirmed Seehofer’s She has resisted such calls. EUROPE SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 17 UK PM urges Maldives political change Rajoy forces new round of talks to counter criticised by the international Mr Nasheed that the UK would con- David Cameron after communtiy. tinue to raise concerns about the meeting former The 48-year-old ex-leader left the erosion of democracy and wider left-wing alliance Maldives on Monday after resolving a situation in the Maldives.” Maldives President last-minute legal dispute with the gov- Nasheed became the first democrat- Mohamed Nasheed ernment over his 30-day release for ically-elected president of the Maldives spinal cord surgery in Britain. in 2008 and served for four years before deadline for a prime ministerial inves- appealed to release Cameron and Nasheed agreed that he was toppled in what he called a coup The unexpected titure vote to take place, but once a all political prisoners while his release was “a positive step, backed by the military and police. He candidate seeks the confidence of more needed to be done... if real change was sentenced to 13 years in jail on ter- move came in parliament a two-month deadline is to be delivered,” a Downing Street rorism charges relating to the arrest of response to an for the formation of a government spokesman said. an alleged corrupt judge in 2012, when comes into effect. AFP The former British protectorate he was still in power. announcement that A failure to reach a deal within in the Indian Ocean is one of the 53 The United Nations has said his trial the Socialists and this limit would lead to a new national Commonwealth members. was seriously flawed and he should election, potentially in May or later. “Looking ahead to the Common- be released and compensated for Podemos would seek Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez LONDON: British Prime Minister David wealth Ministerial Action Group visit wrongful detention. But the Maldives’ a deal to form a said earlier his party still rejected a Cameron (pictured) urged the Mal- to the Maldives next month, the prime hardline President Abdulla Yameen German-style right or left ‘grand coa- dives to open up its politics and release minister and Mr Nasheed agreed this has refused to accept the UN ruling left-wing coalition lition’ under Rajoy and would instead all remaining political prisoners after was an opportunity for all Common- and has been resisting international in Spain try to form a “progressive” govern- meeting former President Mohamed wealth members to send a consistently pressure to release Nasheed. ment with Podemos and other leftist Nasheed yesterday. London, accompanied by his wife Laila strong message on the need for the Yameen is a half-brother of Mau- groups, including the former com- Nasheed, who has been in prison Ali Abdulla and his British lawyer Amal Maldivian government to engage in moon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled for munists of Izquierda Unida. in the Maldives but was granted spe- Clooney. open political dialogue and free all 30 years until his defeat by Nasheed Reuters Such a combination remains cial leave for urgent surgery, visited Nasheed’s conviction last March remaining political prisoners swiftly. in the country’s first multi-party elec- uncertain but, after five days of talks Cameron’s Downing Street office in on terror-related charges has been “Finally, the prime minister told tions eight years ago. between the King and political lead- ers, it still appears a better bet than MADRID: Spain’s acting prime minis- Rajoy’s proposal. ter, Mariano Rajoy, deferred a decision “We made an serious offer for a on whether to seek a confidence vote government and Rajoy has taken a A new day to form a government, forcing a new step back. Change is possible. I hope round of talks on resolving the coun- the socialists will rise to the chal- try’s political deadlock. lenge,” Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias The unexpected move came in said on his twitter feed in reaction to response to an announcement ear- Rajoy’s decision. lier in the day that the Socialists and The Socialists, Podemos and anti-austerity party Podemos would, Izquierda Unida have a combined after meeting King Felipe, seek a deal 161 seats. That puts their coalition to form a left-wing coalition. some way short of a majority in Discussions on the next gov- the 350-seat legislature, meaning ernment with all groups with they would also need backing from parliamentary representation would regional parties from the Basque resume on Wednesday, the palace Country and Catalonia to form a said in a statement. stable administration. Spain’s political landscape was A major sticking point so far has fragmented as never before in national been Podemos’s promise to allow elections on December 20, leading to an independence referendum to go an unbroken two-month stalemate. ahead in Catalonia, which the Social- Rajoy, whose conservative Peo- ist leader rejects. ple’s Party came first in the ballot, On Friday, however, the two par- albeit well short of a majority, had ties softened their respective stances said until now he would take the first on that issue and insisted they rather shot at trying to win a majority. But wanted to focus on economic and most parties have already said they social questions, with Iglesias stopping would reject a second administra- short of calling again for a plebiscite. tion under his leadership. The PP and the Socialists, who “I am still candidate but I can’t have alternated in power over the present myself now because I don’t last 40 years, came first and second have the support that is needed,” he in December’s election with greatly told a news conference late on Fri- reduced support while Podemos and day after meeting with the king. “I a second newcomer party, centrist am not giving up anything.” Ciudadanos, attracted significant He did not say if he would leave support underpinned by a new gen- the floor to the socialists or sim- eration of voters disillusioned with ply seek more time to secure his the old elite. A ‘clamour’ of Rooks take flight from the trees as the sun rises near Boston, Lincolnshire in eastern England, yesterday. own alliance. A majority of Spanish voters The Spanish constitution sets no oppose holding another election.

New Year assaults in 12 German Finland begins wolf hunt as greens express anger

states: Report AFP see wolf numbers cut. total wolf population to between 120 even claim their children are in danger, “We wish to gain experience (to Hunters were given permission to and 135 animals in 2013, but numbers though there have been no reported see) if this could be one solution to the take out 24 wolves last year, though have since rebounded to around 250, attacks on people in modern times. AFP conflict around wolves,” Sauli Harko- only 17 were killed. That was the first similar to 2007 levels. Local residents in Perho claim there HELSINKI: Finland yesterday began a nen, a director tasked with hunting time culls had been authorised since “The cull reduces the population but are still between 10 to 20 wolves in the controversial wolf cull that gives hunt- administration at the Finnish Wild- 2007, after the European Commission the wolf is a prolific species... Wolves area —a figure they deem too high. BERLIN: German police have found ers the right to kill around one fifth of life Agency, told reporters. accused Finland of breaching EU pro- have spread out to new and even some- But environmentalists worry that that the wave of assaults and robber- the endangered animals, in a decision Quotas have been issued for spe- tection rules on the endangered species. what populous areas,” Harkonen said. the cull may destroy the genetic diver- ies on New Year’s eve did not only that has angered environmentalists. cific regions, and the month-long cull The conflict peaked in 2013 when a Some Finns house a deep-rooted sity of the wolves. happen in Cologne but that simi- Authorities hope the trial cull of 46 will be carried out by licensed hunters. group of angry locals in the rural west- aversion and fear of the animal, dat- “All protectionists have been lar incidents also took place in 12 of Finland’s estimated 250 grey wolves Harkonen said the first wolf, a male, ern municipality of Perho took the law ing back to the 19th century, when shocked by the high quotas... The of Germany’s regional states, local will curb illegal poaching, which some was killed in the country’s east yes- into their own hands and killed three tales of wolves eating children were population should be at least twice media reported yesterday. rural landowners have resorted to in terday. Finland launched the first part wolves. Twelve men were prosecuted rife and rewards were paid to anyone as big for it to be genetically healthy,” Hundreds of women have recent years after seeing wolves roam- of a two-year trial in 2015 in a bid to and eventually found guilty. who killed a wolf. Rural residents reg- said Mari Nyyssola-Kiisla, head of reported they were robbed by ing their property, sometimes killing address the deep rift between animal Poachers throughout the country’s ularly express concern for the safety the wolf action group of the Finnish mainly North African suspects dogs and livestock. rights activists and those who want to vast and remote forests reduced the of their dogs and livestock while some Nature League. outside Cologne’s main train sta- tion where crowds had gathered to ring in the New Year. Similar assaults, however, also took place that night in 12 of Ger- Irish PM rules out independent Ice on river many’s 16 regional states, according to the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the NDR and WDR television MPs for next coalition stations, citing a report by German judicial police (BKA). However, the BKA had no immediate comment. . Reuters the large bloc of independent depu- “The phenomenon of violence, in ties expected to be elected. part linked with robberies, is much “There is no discussion taking greater than we previously thought,” place between Fine Gael and any the newspaper said on its website, DUBLIN: Ireland’s senior coalition independents,” Kenny told report- adding that the regional states were party has not held discussions with ers at his party’s annual conference. affected to different degrees. any independent candidates about “I’ve set my stall very clearly, The most affected state was forming a government should the cur- the proposition to the people will North Rhine-Westphalia, which rent coalition fall short of a majority be to re-elect the Fine Gael/Labour includes the city of Cologne, where at forthcoming elections, Prime Min- government.” 1,000 complaints have been filed, ister Enda Kenny said yesterday. Finance Minister Michael Noo- followed by Hamburg with 200. While Kenny’s Fine Gael party holds nan said earlier yesterday that there In other states the number of a big lead in opinion polls ahead of elec- wasn’t a “hope in the world” of Fine reported incidents was lower: Hesse tions, which are expected to be held Gael winning an overall majority, (31 complaints); Bavaria (27), Baden- next month, its junior partner Labour is meaning the party needs Labour’s Wurtlemberg (25), Bremen (11) and struggling and the parties are currently popularity to pick up if they are to Berlin (6). One case was reported in a few percentage points away from re- return as a two-party administration. Lower-Saxony, Brandeburg, Saxony, election. With no obvious alternative Ireland has been run by coali- Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. coalition, Kenny could lead a minority tion governments since late 1980s, Like Cologne the target of the government if the government parties occasionally successfully relying on Ice floes on the river Elbe in Dresden, Germany, yesterday. assaults were women in almost all fall short or they could reach an agree- deals with independent candidates cases. ment to form a majority with some of to secure a majority in parliament. 18 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS Bloomberg may launch independent bid: Report

and in recent years has spent millions usual in the US capital. The result from on national campaigns to tighten U.S. the Iowa caucus on February 1 may well Bloomberg has gun laws and reform immigration. certify what many Americans have advised friends and One anonymous Bloomberg adviser known for months: Political outsid- told the Times that the former mayor ers have landed like an earthquake. associates that he believes voters want “a non-ideologi- They have disrupted the traditional would be willing to cal, bipartisan, results-oriented vision” paths to power and heaped tremendous spend at least $1bn that has not been offered in the 2016 pressure on establishment candidates election cycle by either political party. like Democratic frontrunner Hillary of his own money A well-financed presidential run Clinton and Republican hopeful Jeb on a campaign for by Bloomberg would likely disrupt the Bush. Populist Trump and ultra-con- dynamics of the election, but the bil- servative Cruz are topping the broad the November 2016 lionaire would face significant hurdles Republican field, taking their bat- election in a race that has been in full swing tle down to the wire in Iowa, where for nearly a year. a victory would provide a massive psy- Though no third-party candidate chological boost heading into the next has ever claimed the White House, sev- votes, in New Hampshire on Febru- eral previous bids have affected the ary 9 and then in South Carolina on Reuters & AFP overall makeup of the race. In 1992 February 20. Texas businessman Ross Perot ran as At least so far, they are leaving tra- an independent, a decision that some ditional party candidates like Bush, believe helped Democrat Bill Clinton New Jersey Governor Chris Christie NEW YORK: Michael Bloomberg, the defeat incumbent Republican George and Ohio Governor John Kasich — all billionaire former mayor of New York H. W. Bush. of whom tout their substantial expe- City, has told his aides to draw up plans Part of Bloomberg’s motivation to rience — floundering in their wake. for an independent campaign for the enter the race stems from a frustration If anger is the dominant theme of US presidency, the New York Times with Clinton’s campaign, the Times 2016, no one has tapped into it better reported yesterday. reported. Clinton has been dogged than Trump. His attacks on Presi- Bloomberg has advised friends and by questions about her honesty amid dent Barack Obama’s foreign policy, associates that he would be willing to an ongoing investigation into her use opposition to immigration and savage spend at least $1bn of his own money of a private email server as secretary take-downs of his Republican rivals— on a campaign for the November 2016 of state. he called Bush, the son and brother of election, the Times said, citing sources Sanders, Clinton’s chief rival, has two presidents, a “sad sack” on Thurs- briefed on the former mayor’s thinking. recently surged in polling in key early day — have riled up supporters. Bloomberg, 73, has given himself an voting states Iowa and New Hamp- While his call for a ban on Muslims early March deadline for entering the shire. That development has made entering the United States caused a glo- race, the Times reported, after commis- Bloomberg increasingly worried about bal firestorm, it did not dent his standing sioning a poll in December to see how a general election between Sanders, a atop the polls. Whether Trump can con- he would fare against Donald Trump self-described socialist, and Trump or vert voter frustration into success in and Hillary Clinton, the Republican Cruz, both of whom have staked out Iowa, where voters must brave winter and Democratic frontrunners. far-right positions on issues like immi- weather and participate in a cumber- No independent has ever won a US gration. Representatives for Bloomberg some voting process, is his real test. presidential election. But Bloomberg, could not immediately be reached for “It’s easy for somebody to say, who has close Wall Street ties and lib- comment. ‘I’m really angry and I like Trump eral social views, sees an opening for Meanwhile, after months of a because he speaks for me,’ and it’s his candidacy if Republicans nominate tumultuous campaign featuring outsid- another thing to actually go out Mon- Trump or Texas Senator Ted Cruz and ers who have upended the US political day night and spend two hours to the Democrats nominate Vermont Sen- system, voters will finally have their express that support,” University of ator Bernie Sanders, the Times said. say in Iowa — the first test of the 2016 Iowa political science professor Cary Bloomberg, who has long privately presidential race. Covington said. flirted with the idea of mounting a Trump, Sanders and Ted Cruz’s In the latest bit of campaign trail presidential run, served as mayor of extraordinary performance in the disruption, conservative icon and 2008 New York City from 2002 to 2013. He polls and on the campaign trail has vice presidential pick Sarah Palin switched his party affiliation from stunned the chattering class and ener- injected herself once again into the Republican to independent in 2007 gised voters infuriated by business as political realm. Four dead in worst Canada school shooting in a decade

Reuters He also said police told him that the gunman said Joe Lemaigre, a family friend who lives on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that violence in 2014, double the national rate of first shot two of his siblings at home and then the outskirts of La Loche. “I know the family. he heard multiple shots fired at the school, 243 incidents per 100,000 people, accord- made his way to the school. Officials have not Their mother worked in Fort McMurray and which has about 900 students. ing to a Statistics Canada report on Thursday. given a motivation for the shooting or named his grandfather went to Meadow Lake to do “I ran outside the school,” Desjarlais said. Extra doctors and nurses were sent to treat WINNIPEG: The gunman suspected of kill- the suspect or victims. some shopping. That’s when he shot them.” “There was lots of screaming, there was about patients in Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health ing four people and injuring several others Mass shootings are rare in Canada, which The shooting occurred in the high school six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe Authority’s 16-bed hospital, said spokesman in Canada’s worst school violence in a dec- has stricter gun laws than the United States. and a second location, Canadian police said, there was more shots by the time I did get out.” Dale West. He declined to say how many peo- ade first shot his two brothers at home before In the country’s worst school shooting, 14 col- adding they took the suspect into custody out- A cellphone video taken by one resident and ple had been injured. opening fire at the remote community high lege students were killed at Montreal’s Ecole side the school and seized a gun. broadcast by the CBC showed students walking “It’s really sad in La Loche today, very school, a family friend and the town’s acting Polytechnique in 1989. A shooting in 1992 at Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation away from the school across the snow-covered depressing,” said Tenisha Lemaigre, who lives mayor said on Friday. Concordia University in Montreal killed four. of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which rep- ground and emergency personnel moving in. in the town of less than 3,000 people and said Police said a suspect was arrested after the A family friend said the teenaged suspect resents more than 70 of the province’s Indian “Obviously this is every parent’s worst she knew many students. shooting in La Loche, Saskatchewan, an impov- shot his two younger brothers before going bands, said a few students were in surgery nightmare,” said Prime Minister Justin Tru- Unemployment runs above 20 percent in erished community about 600km north of the to the school and shooting a teacher and an Friday evening in Saskatoon, the province’s deau, who initially reported five people were the area but three-quarters of working-age city of Saskatoon. The town’s acting mayor, assistant. largest city. killed. He was in Davos, Switzerland, for the people are classified as retired or not looking Kevin Janvier, told the Associated Press that “After he shot his two brothers, he walked “Everyone is still in shock and disbelief,” annual World Economic Forum. for work, according to 2011 government fig- his 23-year-old daughter Marie, a teacher, was back to school and he shot ... a teacher and a Cameron said. “It’s a very, very horribly tragic Among Canada’s provinces, Saskatchewan ures. Residents say the real unemployment shot to death. girl. They’re both dead. Four of them died,” event.” La Loche student Noel Desjarlais told had the highest rate of police-reported family rate is above 50 percent.

California protest EPA official resigns over Flint crisis

Reuters after determining that their response to elevate any issues that appear to be to the crisis had been “inadequate to a substantial threat to public health, protect human health.” or that “other authorities appear to Under the direction of a state- be unable to address.” WASHINGTON/CHICAGO: The head appointed emergency manager, Flint, “Our strength can become a weak- of the Midwest region of the US Environ- a working class mostly African-Amer- ness if we interpret our responsibility mental Protection Agency offered her ican city of 100,000 north of Detroit, as ending with simple technical com- resignation over the water contamina- switched water supplies to the Flint pliance,” McCarthy said in a memo to tion crisis in Flint, Michigan, the agency River in 2014, to save money. The river all EPA staff. The EPA’s inspector gen- said, as it issued an emergency order to is known locally as a dumping ground. eral agreed to evaluate the Midwest resolve the growing problem. The more corrosive river water, office’s public water system supervi- Susan Hedman, the second offi- which was not treated, caused more sion program and its implementation cial to resign since the crisis unfolded, lead to leach from the city’s aging water of its state oversight. had played down a memo by an EPA pipes than the Detroit water the city Representative Jason Chaffetz, employee that said tests had shown had tapped previously. chairman of the House Oversight and high levels of lead in the city’s water, Complaints about the water began Government Reform Committee, said telling Flint and Michigan administra- within a month of the change, but offi- “The EPA is rife with incompetence tors it was only a draft report. cials did not take steps to remedy the and Region 5 is no exception. Misman- Hedman’s resignation will take situation until October 2015 after tests agement has plagued the region for effect on February 1, the EPA said. showed elevated levels of lead in some far too long and Ms. Hedman’s resig- Before the agency’s announcement tap water in the city and in some children. nation is way overdue.” on Hedman, the White House said Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage White House spokesman Josh Ear- President Barack Obama will ensure brains and cause other health problems. nest, noting that the Justice Department officials will be held accountable if The city switched back to Detroit was investigating the contamination Gurbux Singh joins other Porter Ranch residents to protest outside a meeting of the Air Quality any wrongdoing is found. water in mid October, but the con- of Flint’s water supply, told reporters Management Board (AQMD) over the continuing gas leak that started in October and which has forced The EPA issued an emergency tamination continued. The Flint crisis that Obama will make sure that EPA thousands of residents to flee from the Los Angeles suburb of Porter Ranch, California yesterday. order requiring Michigan and the pushed EPA Administrator Gina McCa- officials are held responsible for any city of Flint to take immediate steps rthy on Thursday to issue a new policy errors that may be uncovered. AMERICAS SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 1917

Haiti in limbo as election Blizzard pounds New York postponed amid unrest

Nearly 4,300 US AFP flights were cancelled, including virtually PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti was all travel into New once again plunged into political York City airports. limbo yesterday after plans to hold an imminent presidential run-off New York Governor were abandoned in the face of an Andrew Cuomo opposition boycott and fierce street protests. declared a state of As angry crowds flooded into emergency the streets of the capital, the chair- man of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Pierre-Louis Opont, said today’s planned vote had been Reuters pushed back because of “obvious security concerns.” No new date has been set. Opont complained that CEP per- NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: A sonnel had been attacked and that winter storm yesterday whipped up several polling stations had been record-setting tides higher than dur- burned overnight. ing Superstorm Sandy, causing major After his announcement, there flooding in New Jersey and Delaware were scenes of panic outside CEP after dumping nearly two feet (60 cm) headquarters as police violently of snow on the suburbs of Washing- dispersed a crowd. An AFP reporter ton, D.C. heard gunfire within a hundred The heaviest snow engulfed New yards of the presidential palace York yesterday and was not expected to in downtown Port-au-Prince. stop until today, when up to 30 inches At least one protester was shot may have piled up in the nation’s larg- and wounded and shop windows est city, said New York Mayor Bill de were smashed in the busy Petion- Blasio. The mayor said the storm had ville commercial district near the strengthened beyond earlier expec- electoral agency headquarters. tations in terms of accumulations and The poorest country in the intensity. Americas had been due to go to the New York City buses operated by the polls to elect a successor to President A worker cleans snow off the platform at the Metro North Train station in Greenwich, Connecticut, yesterday. Metropolitan Transportation Author- Michel Martelly and seek a way out ity were due to be suspended at noon of a deep crisis that now threatens as the storm bore down on the city. stay off the streets. That includes peo- said NWS meteorologist Patrick O’Hara. each high tide through Sunday morn- of snow in the nation’s capital was set to leave a political vacuum. New Jersey Transit, earlier yester- ple who are attempting to drive, but it A high tide of 8.98 feet was ing, but at present it was too early to in 1922 and the deepest recent snow- Opposition activists feared the day, suspended all bus, rail and light rail also includes people who are walking,” recorded at 7:51am yesterday at Cape draw any comparisons with Sandy. fall was 17.8 inches in 2010. vote would be rigged in favor of service. Earlier the Washington Metro- said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser. May — slightly higher than the record At least eight people were killed in Many stores were left with bare Martelly’s hand-picked successor, politan Area Transit Authority, which However, some residents said they of 8.9 feet previously set by Sandy on car crashes due to icy roads in North shelves as residents stocked up on food, Jovenel Moise, and their champion includes the country’s second-busiest just couldn’t resist seeing famous mon- October 29, 2012. A high tide of 9.27 Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and water and wine, preparing to spend Jude Celestin is boycotting the poll. subway system, took the rare step of uments frosted with snow. feet was recorded at Lewes, higher Virginia, and a ninth person died of the weekend indoors. Martelly was initially scheduled suspending operations through today. “We haven’t made snow angels yet, than the 9.2 high tide recorded in a heart attack while shoveling snow The governors of New York, New to broadcast a national address on Nearly 4,300 US flights were can- but we’re looking forward to doing March 1962. in Maryland. Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the crisis but later canceled it, leav- celled, including virtually all travel that in front of the White House,” said “All the factors that affect the tides, The Pennsylvania National Guard Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, ing the government’s position on into New York City airports, accord- Robert Bella Hernandez, 38. “We’re it’s all happening at once,” O’Hara said. was called in to help stranded motor- Delaware, West Virginia, Tennessee, the CEP’s decision unclear. ing to the FlightAware.com tracking just going to walk around, see some Even so, there were no reports of ists along I-78 in the western part of Kentucky, and the mayor of Wash- Opont said that, having con- website and transportation officials. snow covered DC landmarks. And then evacuations along the New Jersey Shore, the state, local media reported. ington, declared states of emergency. cluded it was impossible to hold a New York Governor Andrew Cuomo when it’s unsafe, maybe go back in for where thousands of residents had to The worst appeared to be over for Officials warned people not to drive. vote today, he was waiting for “the declared a state of emergency on Sat- a minute.” abandon their homes during the dev- Washington, although moderate snow The storm developed along the Gulf response of the executive” before urday, the 11th state to do so in order High winds battered the region, astating 2012 superstorm. was expected to keep falling until late Coast, dropping snow over Arkansas, deciding how to proceed. to get a handle on highways made reaching 70 miles per hour in Wal- The barrier islands in Atlantic yesterday, with the deepest accumula- Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday. On For his part, Celestin welcomed impassable by the drifting snow and lops Island, Virginia, late on Friday, County were experiencing significant tion of 23 inches recorded in Poolesville, the East Coast, warm, moist air from the postponement as “a victory for to shore up coastal areas where the and whipping up the tides, said mete- tidal flooding, said Linda Gilmore, the Maryland, north of the nation’s capi- the Atlantic Ocean collided with cold democracy, not only for me because blizzard conditions raised the dan- orologist Greg Gallina of the National county’s public information officer, tal. Snowfall measured 13 inches near air to form the massive winter system, I was not the only one opposed to ger of flooding. Weather Service. affecting Atlantic City and at least four the White House and 3.5 inches near meteorologists said. this ‘selection’.” White-out conditions prompted Tides higher than those caused other towns. While the county typi- the National Mall on Saturday morn- The storm was forecast to move off- Angry crowds had already officials to urge residents to stay inside by Superstorm Sandy caused major cally sees flooding during nor’easter ing, the NWS reported. shore in southern New England early gathered in Port-au-Prince, burn- and allow snow plows to clear roads. flooding along the Jersey Shore and storms, the current situation more “Records are getting close - we’re next week. Philadelphia and New York ing cars, clashing with police and “Our message, and we need the Delaware coast and set records in Cape dangerous than usual. Gilmore said getting into the top five storms,” Gall- were expected to get up to 18 inches of threatening to disrupt any attempt public to listen, is to stay home and to May, New Jersey, and Lewes, Delaware, the risk would grow more severe with ina said. The record high of 28 inches snow before the storm abated. to allow voting to go ahead. $11m lawsuit filed over Birth defects in LatAm spark Zika virus panic eviction from aeroplane AFP

AFP But after boarding, a stewardess demanded in a hostile manner that SAO PAULO: Alarm over thousands of all four men exit the plane without birth defects blamed on the mosquito- questioning why, the lawsuit alleged. borne Zika virus spread on Friday, as NEW YORK: Three New York Mus- “WH was dramatically woken the United States expanded a travel lims and a Sikh have filed an $11m up by a stewardess who hurriedly warning for pregnant women. federal lawsuit demanding a jury trial demanded he exit the aircraft. Having With the sting of a mosquito bite and for being kicked off a flight home from been asleep, W.H. thought there was a fever, many pregnant women may not Canada because of their appearance. an emergency and that all passengers know that they caught the Zika virus The US citizens of South Asian were exiting,” the court document said. — until it strikes their unborn child. and Arab descent are suing Ameri- “Passengers surrounding Alam Now authorities in some Latin can Airlines and its regional partner and Anand made bigoted and racist American countries are warning Republic Airlines, claiming they comments and held their children women to avoid getting pregnant for suffered discrimination, financial and belongings close to their per- fear of the virus. Babies across the injury, humiliation, mental pain son as if something was going to region, and at least one in the United and suffering. The student and three happen,” it added. An airline offi- States, have been born with abnormally professionals of Bengali, Syrian and cial informed them the captain and smaller heads — a condition doctors Punjabi descent, all in their 20s, say crew “felt uneasy and uncomforta- call microcephaly, which can cause they were ordered to disembark Amer- ble with their presence on the flight” brain damage. ican Airlines flight 44718 from Toronto and refused to take off unless they The scare has struck hardest in to New York on December 8 simply were ejected from the plane. Brazil, which hosts the summer Olym- because of their looks. “Plaintiffs inquired whether it was pic Games in August. It is one of 22 The 18-page lawsuit accuses the due to their physical appearance being territories that the United States has defendants of “malicious,” “wanton” that they are dark skinned and had warned pregnant women not to visit and “callous” behavior that “showed beards. The agent stared in response because of the Zika risk. A Health Ministry employee fumigates a home against the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the spread reckless disregard” for the men’s civil and stated that their appearance ‘did “I am very afraid,” said Jacinta Silva rights when the four friends were not help’,” the lawsuit said. Goes, a 39-year-old cleaning lady in of the Zika virus in Soyapango, 6km east of San Salvador, on Friday. returning from birthday celebra- The men were permitted to board Sao Paulo who is expecting her third tions in Canada. the next flight to New York, but were child. “For the moment, I am not using El Salvador, French Guiana, Guate- “The link between the Zika and the infected woman to her baby through Faimul Alam, 25, manages his not permitted to sit in business class. mosquito repellent because the doctor mala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, microcephaly... is still being investigated,” the placenta. father’s construction business, Shan The lawsuit seeks $1m compensation has not told me to. He has not spoken Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname Lindmeier said, but acknowledged that Across Latin America, citizens and Anand, 25, works as a personal banker each from American Airlines, Repub- to me about Zika,” she said. and Venezuela. Zika “seems the strongest candidate.” officials have responded to the scare. and creates software applications and lic Airlines, Envoy Air and American The US Centers for Disease Control The World Health Organisation He said there were “about 20 The price of mosquito repellent has W.H, 23, is a pharmacy student who Eagle, and $5m in punitive damages and Prevention on Friday extended the (WHO) this week noted a surge in cases countries in the Americas which are risen in Brazil, where Health Minis- owns his own clothing line. — totalling $11m, a member of staff list of territories on its no-go list for of microcephaly in Brazil, the country reporting Zika cases, and about 10 ter Marcelo Castro said that a “war” The fourth petitioner, who was at the Aboushi Law Firm said. pregnant women. It added Barbados, most affected by the current epidemic. in Africa, Asia and the Pacific,” but against the Aedes aegypti type, which identified as MK, 29, also manages The Council on American-Islamic Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint WHO spokesman Christian Lind- the biggest outbreaks were in Brazil, carries dengue, chicungunya and Zika, his father’s construction company. Relations, the largest Muslim civil Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa. meier said Friday there were 3,893 Colombia and elsewhere in Latin Amer- was failing. Ecuador, Colombia and The friends were getting the same liberties group in the United States, Last week, the agency urged preg- suspected microcephaly cases in Bra- ica. Scientists from Brazil’s Fiocruz El Salvador have advised couples to flight home, on which WH and MK says the country has seen an unprec- nant women and women considering zil, which included 49 deaths. Before Institute and Parana Catholic Univer- avoid pregnancy for the time being. each paid $70 to upgrade to busi- edented spike in anti-Muslim hate becoming pregnant to postpone vis- last year there were about 160 cases sity published a study of a case that A medical school in Honduras issued ness class. crime in recent months. its to Puerto Rico, Brazil, Colombia, of microcephaly in Brazil on average. showed the virus had passed from an the same advice.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 16o C Maximum: 26o C

FAJR 05.00 am ZUHR 11.46 am MAGHRIB 05.14 pm HIGH TIDE 05:30 - 16:45 Misty to foggy at first becomes moderate tem- SHOROOK 06.20 am ASR 02.51 pm ISHA 06.44 pm LOW TIDE 12:30 - 22:20 perature daytime with some scattered clouds and relatively cold by night.

20 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

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The ceiling of the Toledo metro station in the Italian city of Naples.

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY Oscars academy to double minority members

AFP taking “historic action” to double the a unanimous vote by the Academy’s announcing that they too would stay An Iranian number of women and minority mem- board of governors on Thursday, away from the ceremony on Febru- student of a bers by 2020 and launch a global effort following days of criticism that for a ary 28. climbing school to “recruit qualified new members who second year in a row, all 20 actors nom- On Friday, British actress Char- uses ice-axes to LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion represent greater diversity.” inated for Oscars were white. lotte Rampling — nominated for best scale a frozen Picture Arts and Sciences has prom- “These new measures regard- Acclaimed director Spike Lee, who actress for “45 Years” — waded into waterfall on Fri- ised sweeping reforms designed to help ing governance and voting will have won an Oscar last year honouring his the row by saying Lee had been “rac- day in the village diversify its membership in the face an immediate impact and begin the lifetime achievements, wrote an open ist to whites” in his criticism. of Meygoon. of a major controversy over the sec- process of significantly changing our letter to the Academy decrying the “You can never know for sure, but AFP / ATTA ond straight year of all-white Oscar membership composition,” said Acad- “lily white” nominations. maybe black actors did not deserve to KENARE acting nominations. emy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Mega-star Will Smith and his wife be in the final selection,” Rampling told The Academy’s board said it was The changes were approved in Jada Pinkett Smith followed Lee in Europe 1 radio, speaking in French.

Auschwitz survivor Sundance film fest on dance hugs virtual reality stage at 90 AFP months. “It takes you back to your eight-year-old self in a lot of ways,” AFP said the filmmaker. PARK CITY: A real-life homicide, a “Usually people leave with it being woman who wakes up after being fro- a memory, they experience it like going BUDAPEST: “It’s never too late,” zen for 30 years and a close encounter on a hike, or skiing.” smiles Eva Fahidi, a Hungarian Hol- with a whale — these are some of the ocaust survivor who, at the age of virtual reality films creating a buzz Covering eyes and ears 90, is currently starring in a sold- at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. One unusual virtual reality set-up out duet production with a much The line-up of no less than 30 at Sundance — “In the Eyes of the Ani- younger dancer. immersive experiences — show- mal” — allows viewers equipped with “First I felt only my limits, what cased in the festival’s New Frontier a globe-shaped headset decorated I can’t do,” the handsome white- programme — reflects an increasing with moss and plants to experience haired Fahidi told AFP during a willingness by filmmakers to exper- a forest landscape through the eyes rehearsal in a Budapest studio. iment with technology that offers a of different animals, including a frog “Then slowly, as I learned to new form of story-telling. and a dragonfly. warm up, it was wonderful how “It’s pretty amazing,” said John The visuals create the illusion of my old body wanted to do something Cooper, director of the Sundance soaring high above the trees or hov- again,” she added, after gracefully festival. ering along the forest floor. completing a stretch on the floor. “We’re still at a nascent stage — “By covering your eyes and your Her show, called “Sea Laven- five minutes long, that kind of stuff ears and simulating reality, you can der or The Euphoria of Being”, has — but you can really see how it’s going take someone out of their body and played to full houses eight times in to grow in people’s imaginations. put them in someone else’s body, and Budapest’s prestigious Vigszinhaz “I can see coming home and say- see the world from a different sen- Theatre since its October launch. ing I just need 10 minutes of VR before sory perspective,” said Barnaby Steel, It now premieres in Berlin on anybody talks to me.” of the London-based design studio January 24, three days before a UN- Among the standout shorts, which Marshmallow Laser Feast that cre- designated Holocaust memorial run about five minutes on average, ated the experience. day marking the 1945 liberation is “Defrost,” which follows a woman “So what does the world look like of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the larg- who suffered a massive stroke and form a bat’s perspective or a different est of the Nazi death camps. wakes up after being frozen for nearly insect?” he added. “We’re interested in The 100-minute long perform- 30 years. what is reality like beyond our senses.” ance, which incorporates both dance The viewer, equipped with a head- But while everyone agrees that and speech, looks at how an elderly set, experiences the film from the virtual reality technology is gaining woman with a traumatic past and woman’s perspective as she reunites traction as more and more people a younger person communicate. with her much older family. and companies explore the medium, Director Reka Szabo told AFP “Waves of Grace” follows Ebola developers say it will take some time she got the idea for the show last survivor Decontee Davis as she helps before it is ready for consumers or year when she heard Fahidi speak others in Liberia affected by the dis- becomes part of the movie experience. at a presentation of her memoir. ease, while “theBlu: Encounter” offers The hardware — which typically “She talks about her life and a close encounter with a whale. consists of goggles that can be bulky the Holocaust in a way that makes “Virtual reality immerses you and uncomfortable to wear — will you feel like she is not a victim but into a really different experience need to evolve and become more a human being trying to deal with you’ve never really had before,” said accessible, they say. her past, to be able to live a full life,” Jake Rowell, the director of “theBlu: Another challenge will be to make View of the Egyptian Theatre during Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, United States, yesterday. said Szabo. Encounter,” which was made in three it appealing to older audiences. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 • 14 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

QBA to explore investment opportunities in Mexico

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto The Mexican President invited the stated. He was addressing a high-profile members of the QBA to visit Mexico to QBA hosts Mexican event hosted by Qatari Businessmen discuss investment projects on ground, delegation Association (QBA) in his honour. highlighting the economic reforms The meeting was attended by Min- pursued by his government in order ister of Energy and Industry H E Dr to encourage foreign investment and Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, Claudia improve the business climate in Mexico. The Peninsula Ruiz Massieu, the Secretary of Foreign Sheikh Faisal said the visit of the Affairs, Mexico, Ildefonso Guajardo Vil- Mexican President will help strengthen larreal Minister of Economy, Mexico bilateral relations between the two and Francisco Niembro, Ambassa- countries. In the evening, Sheikh Faisal DOHA: The bilateral trade relations dor of Mexico to Qatar. Sheikh Faisal hosted a dinner at his private museum. between Qatar and Mexico will be bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA Chairman, Dr Sheikh Khalid said QBA is ready further strengthened going forward. Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, to explore the investment opportunities Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, Mexico really wants to see its prod- QBA Second Deputy Chairman, and in Mexico and stimulate the economic QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA Second Deputy Chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani ucts more in Qatar’s vibrant market, QBA members attended the event. relations. Al Thani and other dignitaries at the event hosted by QBA. 22 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

Apple’s electric ‘Mexico can be Qatar’s car project head to quit company

partner in diversification’ NEW YORK: Apple Inc’s Steve Zadesky, who has been overseeing the company’s electric car project for the last two years, has said he (Mexico) are challenged to continue to involved in the negotiation of the is leaving the company, the Wall Qatari investors can do the development and transforma- North American Free Trade Agree- Street Journal reported, citing peo- tion. We can complement each other,” ment (NAFTA) among the United States, ple familiar with the matter. explore opportunities said Juan Gallardo, Chairman and Chief Canada and Mexico, and free trade Zadesky, who previously worked in food and Executive Officer of holding company, agreements between Mexico and Israel with the iPod and iPhone teams, is Organizacion Cultiba SAB de CV and and the European Union. leaving for personal reasons not agriculture sectors member of industry associations in Qatari investors can explore oppor- related to his performance. Mexico while talking on the sidelines tunities in food and agriculture sectors. It was not clear when the 16-year of Qatar-Mexican Business Forum held “Food is important sector (to explore veteran would leave Apple, the Jour- last week here. opportunities). Mexico is the food bas- nal said. As of Friday afternoon his By Sachin Kumar Gallardo was part of Mexican del- ket of the region having advantages in profile on LinkedIn still listed him The Peninsula egation headed by President of Mexico terms of different weather conditions. as working at Apple. Apple declined Enrique Pena Nieto. We should be exploring how to do that to comment. Gallardo said that both countries (food production) together, how we Apple has never acknowl- can share their expertise to grow not just sell mango, but actually pro- edged it is looking into building an DOHA: Mexico can be an important together. “We both are committed to duce them together and package them electric car, but the company has partner of Qatar in its efforts to diversify very large infrastructure programmes. together,” he said. “The big challenge recruited dozens of auto experts, economy. Both countries can explore The experience in construction, is to make sure that we actually exe- Juan Gallardo addressing the Qatar – Mexico Business Forum in Doha. many from car makers like Ford opportunities in food and agriculture, experience in developing, financing, cute what we are saying. Follow up is Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula or Mercedes-Benz. infrastructure, tourism and other sec- constructing, developing these kind important,” he added. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook tors, according to an eminent Mexican of large projects is extremely valua- Gallardo stressed that both coun- The country is planning to open expansion of the transmission network went to BMW’s headquarters in 2014, businessman. ble and we can exchange lot of views tries can work together to address the public bidding for hydrocarbons explo- with the installation of an additional and senior Apple executives toured “Qatar has a challenge to diver- on how to better do it and not just bid- issue of food security in the region. ration and production. Other projects 60 gigawatts for power generation, the carmaker’s Leipzig factory to sify. Certainly, we can be part of that ding for projects,” he said. Mexico has also big plans in the field include the $30bn expansion plan for and the $116bn modernisation of its learn how it manufactures the i3 diversification and its Vision 2030. We Gallardo has been extensively of energy sector. Mexico’s natural gas requirements, national electricity system. electric car, sources said. Markets overreact to weak global economic data, says QNB report

The Peninsula nomic commentary’ noted yesterday. the US, Europe and Japan by 0.2-0.3 over 2 percent at the end of Novem- is only expected to have grownby 0.5 splurging. However, recent weakness So far this year, global stock mar- percentage points. This begs the ques- ber to 0.5 percent in the most recent percent to 1.5 percent in Q4 2015, com- in retail sales in the US, the Eurozone kets fell around 11 percent. The losses tion, why have equity markets fallen Bloomberg survey. It is both US industry pared with market expectations of over and China suggest that households are were concentrated in China (down 16 so widely and so sharply? and consumers that have been under- 2 percent two months ago. mostly saving recent windfalls, the DOHA: The slowdown in global GDP percent), but emerging markets, Europe, There is some evidence that glo- performing. The latest data release As a result, much hope for global research note said. growth in Q4, 2015 is concerning. How- Japan and the US all faced declines of bal economic activity softened at the for industrial production and retail growth this year is pinned on the con- “A critical factor supporting growth ever, the scale of the selloff in global 9 percent to 13 percent. These losses end of last year. Overall, world real sales for December showed contrac- sumer. A number of forces should be this year could be looser monetary equity markets seems to point to a rela- came despite expectations that the GDP growth in 2015 is now likely to tions of 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent supporting consumption. Lower oil policy from global central banks. The tively high risk of recession in developed spillovers from events in China will come in below 3 percent, down from respectively. prices should have freed up income continued rout in global oil and other markets and a hard landing in China. be limited. Goldman Sachs estimates 3.1 percent a few months ago. Some In fact, industrial production for spending. In the US, the focus of commodity markets means that infla- The selloff appears overdone, given that that a hard landing in China combined of the largest recent downward revi- appears to be going through a global global consumption, a strong labour tion is likely to remain low this year. the current outlook for global activity is with a sizeable renminbi depreciation sions to real GDP growth have been in slump, leading to significant downward market, a recovery in the housing sector This will create room for central banks not as grim as the reaction of financial and tighter Chinese financial condi- the US. Estimates for Q4 2015 real GDP revisions to GDP growth in the world’s and strong consumer confidence sur- to ease monetary policy, supporting markets suggests, QNB’s weekly ‘eco- tions would only lower GDP growth in growth have been revised down from big manufacturing nations. Germany veys, suggest that consumers should be growth.” Volkswagen’s new Tiguan to make Mideast entry at Qatar Motor Show

The Peninsula

DOHA:The all-new Tiguan will make its Middle East debut at this year’s Qatar Motor Show at the Doha Exhibition and Conference Center (DECC), run- ning from January 28 to February 1. The new Tiguan features innova- tive technology, upgraded off-road capabilities and a new striking design, allowing drivers of the new model the freedom to navigate the urban jungle with confidence. Immediately exuding a powerful presence, the new Tiguan is noticeably streamlined, sharper and The new Tiguan on display. even more precise in design, exhibiting a new design language by Volkswagen. Yann Lassade, Managing Direc- Tiguan to date — which is perfectly SUV first launched in 2007 which tor, Volkswagen Qatar, said: “Qatar designed to meet modern day driver has to date, sold over 2.6 million units is embracing new developments with demands with a bold new design and worldwide. the newly launched DECC, making it innovative technological features.” Also on debut at the Qatar Motor an ideal backdrop for the arrival of The new model is the second gen- Show will be the Beetle Cabriolet, new the new Tiguan — our most innovative eration of the Tiguan — a compact Passat and the GTI Club sport.

Pearl Brand AC product launch

Al Moayyed Air Conditioning Managing Director M T Mathews and Awal Gulf Manufacturing Co Senior General Manager Akram Hassoun and other dignitaries at the product launch and technical seminar of Pearl Brand Air Conditioning Equipment event in Doha. More than 80 delegates attended the event including consultants, clients and contractors. BUSINESS SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 23 QDB aid programmes benefit more than 550 SMEs

through QDB’s various programme till a raw material facility. The long-term varies, however it will not exceed 12 today…And I believe it’s a good accom- financing covers a part of total cost months with a grace period of between Combined value plishment. But I am also aware that of the project, including constructing 2 and 6 months.Annual interest rates of various funding it’s not a huge achievement . So we business premises and purchasing the stand at between 3 percent and 5 are aiming for bigger,” Abdulaziz bin main production equipment. percent. schemes touches Nasser Al Khalifa (pictured), CEO of Financing terms for repayment vary While Al Dhameen programme does QR850m QDB told The Peninsula on the sidelines according to the nature of the project. not provide direct finance to SMEs, but of an event at the Bank’s headquarters. Repayment could reach a maximum rather offers the business owner facil- Al Khalifa added: “Since the launch of 15 years with a 3 year grace period ities to receive the required finance of our portfolio programme, it has which is calculated based on the cash for their project from a partner bank, By Mohammad Shoeb picked up very well. Under the pro- flow of the project. Annual interest through issuance of guarantees in favour The Peninsula gramme, we have recently signed an rates stand at between 3 percent and of the bank, under which it guarantees agreement with the fifth bank that is 5 percent for industrial sector applica- a portion of the finance (85 percent of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB). While under tions and annual interest rates stand the finance value) not exceeding QR15m. Al Dhameen programme we have part- at between 2.5 percent and 4 percent For startups or companies less than 3 DOHA: Over 550 local Small and nered with 14 banks.” for education, healthcare and tour- years old that are 51 percent Qatari- Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), QDB offers three different loan and growth of SMEs in core economic Under the direct lending scheme, ism sector applications, respectively. owned are eligible for guarantees of including startups, have benefited schemes, Direct lending, Al Dhameen realms. He said that under the ‘Direct products are designed to make the Raw material facility is provided up to 85 percent of the loan amount, from the various funding schemes of and Housing Loans. Through its Direct loans scheme, financial assistance, both journey of a business easier, faster, under short-term loan that cover up to which is limited to QR15m. Qatar Development Bank (QDB), with Lending and Al Dhameen programme, traditional and Sharia’h-compliant, is more efficient and more profitable. 100 percent of the cost of raw materi- Al Dhameen loans can be either in the combined value of aids reaching QDB provides financial aids to the offered through project financing facil- The products aim at supporting Qatari als. It is a revolving credit facility which the form of project financing for man- at QR850m ($233m), a top official of private sector startups and existing ities for long-term and raw material companies with projects in manufac- helps ensure the continuity of the pro- ufacturing sector, where the maximum the State-backed financial institution companies at highly competitive interest facilities for short-term. Al Dhameen’s turing, healthcare, tourism, education, duction process, and can be used as tenor is 8 years including a 2 year grace said recently. rates and easy terms and conditions that indirect loan programme guarantees agriculture, fisheries and farming sec- capital to cover inventories and receiv- period. Financing for services will have “We have provided financial assist- include lengthy and comfortable repay- loans to private sector companies tors, existing or start-up companies ables. Due to the short-term nature a maximum tenor of 5 years, includ- ance of about QR850m to local firms ment periods to help the development through the14 partner banks. are qualified for a project financing or of these loans the repayment period ing one year grace period. Alfardan confirms JLR line-up for Qatar Motor Show

The Peninsula Jaguar XF brings an unrivalled blend unique design finishes, precision leather General Manager for Alfardan of design, luxury, technology and effi- detailing and new features, this vehicle Premier Motors, Rabih Ataya, added: ciency to the business car segment. The boasts a distinctive and subtly differ- “We continue to see both the Jaguar car’s dynamic design is formed around ent character both inside and out. This and Land Rover brands keep pace and DOHA: Jaguar Land Rover Mena and Jaguar’s aluminium-intensive archi- highly sophisticated vehicle showcases surpass customers’ expectations in its exclusive retailer partner in Qatar, tecture and combines the outstanding British design at its best while deliv- Qatar and are proud to partner with Alfardan Premier Motors Co, have con- proportions, surfaces and lines which ering an unmatched combination of the company once again to showcase firmed their participation in the sixth define all Jaguar cars, with a longer all-terrain performance, luxury and their exciting line ups at the 2016 Qatar edition of the Qatar Motor Show run- wheelbase, more interior space and design. Motor Show.” ning from January 28 to February 1. exceptionally low aerodynamic drag. Bruce Robertson, Managing Direc- “Jaguar Land Rover’s loyal cus- The five-day event will take place Land Rover’s Range Rover Auto- tor of Jaguar Land Rover Mena, said: tomer base is growing in Qatar and at the Doha Exhibition and Conven- biography LWB will also be one of the “The Qatar Motor Show remains one this event is another perfect oppor- tion Centre (DECC). main attractions on stand this year, of the key platforms of this region for tunity for us to engage with motoring Alfardan Premier Motors will be displaying the All-New Jaguar XF at Alfardan Premier Motors will be showcasing the pinnacle of the Range the big players in the automotive indus- enthusiasts. I am confident that this displaying the All-New Jaguar XF on Rover model line-up. try to celebrate their exciting products. year’s line-up will wow crowds.” the Qatar Motor Show. stand giving motoring fans a glimpse at The Range Rover Autobiography Our presence at this motor show year Visitors to the Jaguar Land Rover the dynamic, coupé-like, aluminium- LWB denotes the ultimate combina- after year is another evidence of our stand will also get a closer look at Jag- Jaguar XE which is setting the stand- will be displaying the refreshed Range intensive, lightweight saloon vehicle, tion of Land Rover design and luxury, commitment to the region, and we look uar’s exciting 2016 line up including ard for driving dynamics in the midsize Rover Evoque, the highly capable Land said a statement yesterday. setting new standards in the premium forward to witnessing our brands con- the Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé, the Jaguar XJ segment. Rover LR4 and the world’s most ver- Underpinned by class-leading driv- SUV market. Delivering higher levels tinue to grow and deliver outstanding luxury sedan and the newly introduced Introducing its enhanced 2016 line satile and capable premium compact ing dynamics and refinement, the new of luxury and supreme comfort with experiences for our customers here.” award-winning aluminium-intensive up at the Qatar Motor Show, Land Rover SUV, the new Discovery Sport. 24 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS GE to exit ‘too big to fail’ Currency traders renew risk demand status by closing deals The advances come Bloomberg of finance-asset sales last year as it worked to unload the bulk of the GE as investors are Capital lending unit. again allocating GE fell 1.5 percent at 3:24pm in NEW YORK: General Electric Co New York, the second- biggest decline capital to riskier is targeting a March application to on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. assets that promise exit “too big to fail” status, after the Deals for the remaining US assets higher yields amid manufacturer wraps up a pair of key to be sold are in progress, Bornstein US deals. said. “Some of them are close to sign- growing signs that GE is poised to close the sale of ing deals, some are in the midst of last year’s wave of $30bn in commercial lending assets negotiations,” he said. and unload a Utah bank charter, GE GE unveiled the finance overhaul central bank easing Chief Financial Officer Jeff Bornstein in April, pledging to unload $200bn isn’t finished said in a telephone interview. The of assets while retaining only the company then plans to ask the Federal lending businesses that support the Reserve to exit the ranks of systemi- company’s manufacturing operations. cally important financial institutions, Investors had soured on GE Capital, a label that brings added -- and costly which was so large it endangered the Bloomberg -- regulatory scrutiny. GE hopes to parent company during the finan- begin the process before the quar- cial crisis. ter ends, he said. The company reached an agree- “Those are the two big mile- ment in October to sell $30bn of NEW YORK: Risk is back in vogue for stones that we feel like we need to North America lending businesses foreign-exchange traders after Euro- get over before we formally send in to Wells Fargo & Co, Bornstein said pean Central Bank President Mario the request,” Bornstein said after GE the transaction for US assets should Draghi’s hint of further monetary stim- reported fourth-quarter sales short close in early March. A separate deal ulus helped fuel a rally by currencies of analysts’ estimates. The steps will with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that from commodity-exporting nations. get GE’s “US presence to the point includes the Utah charter will close The Canadian dollar is gained for where de-designation makes enor- “shortly,” he said. the first week in a month, while the mous sense.” GE expects $3bn to $4bn of asset Australian dollar and South African Shedding the tag is a crucial step sales in its manufacturing units this rand strengthened. in Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey year, the company said Friday. GE The advances come as investors Immelt’s sweeping plan to back GE probably won’t sell anything larger are again allocating capital to riskier out of the banking industry and renew than the home-appliances business it assets that promise higher yields amid People walk near a board showing currency exchange rates of the US dollar and euro against the rouble its focus on making oilfield equip- agreed to divest last week in a $5.4bn growing signs that last year’s wave in Moscow on Thursday. ment, locomotives and jet engines. The deal with China’s Qingdao Haier Co, of central-bank easing isn’t finished. company closed more than $100bn Bornstein said. The euro slumped a third day ver- Canadian dollar traded at C$1.4119 per Bloomberg in Davos, Switzerland that present or lower levels for an extended sus the dollar after Draghi said policy dollar as of 5pm in New York, adding policy makers in the nation are pre- period of time.” The Bank of Japan, makers may consider adding to their 2.9 percent from a week earlier for pared to expand bond purchases if which meets next week, has room to stimulus policy when they next meet its first gain since the period ending necessary. That -- combined with oil’s ease further should underlying infla- in March. December 25. biggest two-day advance in more than tion suffer, Kuroda said. The US Federal “The market is in a bit of a sugar rush Australia’s currency advanced seven years -- supported the curren- Reserve gathers to discuss its mone- and the high- yielding risk assets are more than 2 percent from a week ear- cies of crude producers. tary policy on Tuesday and Wednesday. outperforming,” said Peter Dragicev- lier, while the rand added 1.9 percent Oil prices rose for a second day, “The Canadian dollar and Norwe- ich, a foreign-exchange strategist at and the Norwegian krone gained 1.1 advancing from near a 12- year low, gian krone are up, helped by firmer Commonwealth Bank of Australia in percent. and a Bloomberg gauge of commod- oil prices,” Nick Bennenbroek, head London. The European shared currency ity prices advanced. US stocks rallied of currency strategy at Wells Fargo & “It seems to just be in reaction to slumped 0.7 percent Friday to $1.0796, with equities in Europe and Asia as the Co in New York, said in a note. “Should the dovishness of the ECB yesterday,” while the yen lost 0.9 percent to 118.78 central-bank comments calmed mar- the more constructive market mood he said, adding that he expects the per dollar. kets after several weeks of volatility. persist we would anticipate further rally to fade as volatility surround- Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Draghi said Thursday that he near-term gains in the risk-sensitive ing China is likely to continue. The Kuroda said during an interview with expects interest rates to “remain at commodity and emerging currencies.”

Energy pipeline Cheniere to seek $2.6bn to refinance LNG import plant operators back Bloomberg SA as adviser and Mitsubishi UFJ Finan- US oil rebound cial Group Inc. as the lead arranger, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because they’re not NEW YORK: Cheniere Energy Inc is authorised to discuss the deal. Bloomberg seeking to borrow about $2.6bn to “It’s a sensitive issue, but Sabine’s refinance its under used Sabine Pass contracts are with investment grade liquefied natural gas import facility and A quality paper, so they have high- a pipeline, according to four people quality sales and purchase agreements NEW YORK: US energy pipeline familiar with the deal. providing the cash flow to support the owners from Energy Transfer Equity Cheniere, which is better known debt,” Ted Michael, a Genscape Inc. LNG LP to Western Gas Equity Partners because it’s on track to export the analyst, said in a telephone interview. LP rallied on Friday as oil surged first cargo of US shale gas this year, “I imagine the market is concerned at above $30 a barrel for the first time owes about $2.1bn on the import facil- the moment, but for the debt markets, in five days. ity in Louisiana, with $1.67bn due in I assume it is within the parameters Energy Transfer gained by a November, according to a company they can bear.” record 34 percent to close at $9.63 in presentation Thursday. The financing would replace all New York, erasing declines earlier Thanks to the US shale boom, existing debt on the Creole Trail Pipe- in the week. Williams Cos jumped the $1.6bn Sabine Pass import termi- line and the LNG import terminal, and 23 percent, and Western Gas was nal was redundant the moment it came add some new debt. Spokesmen for up 15 percent. online in 2009. US gas production is Houston-based Cheniere, Mitsubi- One of the LNG storage tanks constructed by Cheniere Energy Inc in Texas. The rally was part of a larger expected to climb in 2016 for the 11th shi UFJ and Societe Generale didn’t reversal for energy stocks that were straight year, and futures that soared immediately respond to requests for contract 1bn cubic feet of import capac- Earlier this month, the company cargo onto a tanker as part of its star- hammered by a slide in oil prices at to more than $13 per million British comment. ity and began making annual payments said the first LNG cargo would be tup testing. The company needs final the beginning of the week. On Fri- thermal units in mid-2008 plunged Cheniere receives minimal totaling $250 million when the ter- delayed by as much as two months federal approval to begin commercial day, US crude futures capped their in December to a 16-year low of $1.68. quantities of imported LNG, mainly minal came online under 20- year because of faulty wiring. It now plans operations. biggest two- day advance in more The plant has never operated at maintenance shipments to keep the agreements. to ship its first LNG cargo from Sabine Cheniere plans to build at least six than seven years after investors full capacity, and soon after it began plant running, according to govern- The refinancing effort comes as Pass in late February or March, miss- processing plants, known as trains, to retreated from record bearish bets. operations the company started plan- ment data compiled by Bloomberg New Cheniere has hit a snag in its effort ing its previous estimate of the third produce LNG at Sabine Pass by late Western Gas also raised its quar- ning an adjacent export facility. Energy Finance. to become the first exporter of LNG week of January. 2018, allowing the terminal to supply terly payout by 5.9 percent to 40 Cheniere has hired Societe Generale Total SA and Chevron Corp. each from the lower 48 states. The plant will load a commissioning more than 3.5 billion cubic feet a day. cents a unit. Morgan Stanley leads bank bond sales in weakest start

Bloomberg Kakuda, a bank credit research ana- subordinated notes at 2.625 percentage lyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “But points above benchmark securities. unfortunately the beginning of this Recent weakness in financial mar- year has gotten off to a very volatile kets has caused some big banks to hold NEW YORK: Corporate bond sales in start. Uncharacteristically, you’ve had off on issuing senior debt, according the US from financial institutions are this Friday be very busy because it’s an to Pri de Silva, a US banking analyst on track for their weakest January since opening and we’ve had some stability.” at CreditSights Inc. JPMorgan Chase 2012, despite more than $10bn in deals After a week of turmoil in finan- & Co., the bank that issued the most on Friday from Morgan Stanley, Wells cial markets, a global rally in equities debt in January 2015, had already sold Fargo & Co and Royal Bank of Canada. and surging oil prices have somewhat bonds by this time last year, Bloomb- Morgan Stanley, which this week eased investors’ concerns and encour- erg data show. reported profit and revenue that aged issuers to take advantage of any “For banks, January is the peak time exceeded analysts’ estimates, sold signs of strength. to issue debt, but because of market $5.5bn of bonds in a three-part offering The largest part of Morgan Stanley’s conditions we haven’t seen that come that is the biggest deal from a financial sale was $3bn in 3.875 percent notes to fruition this year,” de Silva said. institution so far this month, accord- due 2026 that yield 1.85 percentage “The volatility in the markets is ing to data compiled by Bloomberg. points more than government debt, causing banks to take a step back from In addition, Wells Fargo issued $3.5bn Bloomberg data show. Wells Fargo’s issuing debt. in debt, while Royal Bank of Canada deal included a $1.5bn two-year note ” If the tone of the market remains raised $1.5bn. that yields 0.8 percentage point more stable, banks like JPMorgan and Gold- “Banks really like to come out than similar-maturity Treasuries. Royal man Sachs Group Inc. may issue debt A file photo taken on October 18 2013 showing a view of the Morgan Stanley offices in New York. en masse in January,” said Arnold Bank of Canada issued $1.5bn of 10-year as well, according to Kakuda. BUSINESS SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 25 Oil rebound may take 3 more years Oil rises in biggest rally in seven years Oil prices will improve when production eases and amid volatility surge there’s less push by producers seeking to Bloomberg a barrel on the London-based ICE maximise cash flow Futures Europe exchange. by bringing more The price of oil will probably rise to $50 a barrel this year and $70 a supply on stream, LONDON: Oil rallied, capping the barrel in 2017, though investors should thus removing a biggest two-day advance in more expect heightened volatility along market imbalance, than seven years after a slump to a the way, Andurand said Friday in an 12-year low prompted some inves- interview on Bloomberg TV. tors to buy back record bearish bets. Oil may be the “trade of the year” if Front-month futures jumped 21 it can weather the surge in the Middle percent after the February contract East producer’s shipments, accord- Bloomberg expired on Wednesday at $26.55 a bar- ing to Citigroup Inc. “There will be rel, the lowest settlement since 2003. an initial wave of supply from Iran, Speculators this month amassed the but once that’s done, it will be flat biggest-ever short position in US crude and I think that’s when you start see- DAVOS: Oil prices won’t return to amid concern that turmoil in China’s ing opportunities for oil to turn,” Ivan more normal levels for two or three markets would curb fuel demand at Szpakowski, an analyst at Citigroup years, and those expecting a speedy a time when fresh exports from Iran in Hong Kong, said Friday. “Part of rebound from this month’s 12-year exacerbate a global glut. the reason oil is the trade of the year lows are being unrealistic, Bank of Pierre Andurand, the founder of is because it’s going to have such a Montreal Chief Executive Officer Wil- the $615 million Andurand Capital broad effect, it’s going to take a lot liam Downe said. Management who correctly predicted of asset classes up with it.” “It’s unrealistic to believe it’s the slump in oil prices, said the com- Citigroup is among forecasters going to snap back,” Downe said in an modity will end the year higher. predicting a gain in the second half, interview Friday in Davos, Switzerland. “Oil is going to rally into the projecting an average Brent price of $41 “Prices will normalize and then start spring,” said James Cordier, founder a barrel in the third quarter and $52 in to move up.” of Optionsellers.com in Tampa, Flor- the last three months. This compares World leaders and CEOs of some of ida. “It’s a short-covering rally, but with a mean of about $47 for the fourth the biggest companies have gathered we do think it has legs to continue.” quarter, according to 12 estimates this this week for the annual meeting of Oil barrels kept at a refinery for transportation to various places. Oil is down about 13 percent this year compiled by Bloomberg. The Chi- the World Economic Forum in Davos, year as turbulence in global markets cago Board Options Exchange Crude where issues including the global focused on the national-resources oil will continue, he said. “Worrying go from a manufacturing/export to adds to concern over brimming US Oil Volatility Index, a gauge of antic- markets rout, China and plunging oil sector and lived for 10 years in Houston. that global demand is going to fall is a consumption-driven economy is stockpiles and the prospect of addi- ipated volatility in US crude prices, prices have dominated discussions. “We saw a contraction in the probably not realistic because global what the world has been calling out tional Iranian barrels. Markets could jumped to 67.93 on Wednesday, the Oil prices have fallen by nearly a third Alberta economy and Texas economy of demand has increased by 1.6 million for,” Downe said. “drown in oversupply,” sending prices highest level since March 2009. The in the past 12 months, and on Jan. 20 about the same magnitude, movement barrels in the last year,” Downe said. “I think China is doing what they even lower, according to the Inter- index fell to 61.86 Friday. sunk below $27 a barrel before rallying. in the unemployment rate of what I “So the rhetoric needs to line up with should be doing, and they need to stick national Energy Agency. The energy Crude stockpiles at Cushing, For a road map on how the current think will be about the same magnitude the facts.” to the five-year plan, which is a pretty industry is facing “very sharp shocks” Oklahoma, the delivery point for oil rout will affect North America’s and a level of distress about the decline Oil markets this year will mirror good road map, and not deviate from as it struggles to deal with a “flood WTI and the biggest US oil-storage economy, one needs to look back 30 in price,” he said. much of what’s been happening the it, and recognize that the uncertainty of oil,” BP Plc Chief Executive Officer hub, increased for an 11th week to a years, said Downe, 63, who oversees “But within two to three years, there past two to three months, though is creating volatility.” Bob Dudley said at the World Eco- record 64.2 million barrels, the EIA Canada’s fourth-largest lender by was a tremendous rationalization. perhaps with not as much volatility The Asian nation is maturing nomic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. said in a report Thursday. Nationwide assets. Prices gradually moved back up. The seen in the first three weeks of January, in its view on how to develop a West Texas Intermediate for March supplies were more than 100 million The downturn in 1986 is the only industry was way more efficient and he said. more dynamic economy to create delivery gained $2.66, or 9 percent, barrels above the five-year average really useful example for trying to chart companies that had reordered their Separately, Downe discussed opportunity for urban dwellers, he said. to $32.19 a barrel on the New York at the end of 2015. the impacts from today’s slump, he said. production were more profitable.” the “very significant transition” “I think it’s been a bit of a miracle Mercantile Exchange. The 21 percent “The cold spell in Europe and The North American benchmark Oil prices will improve when taking place in China, a country his that they’ve been able to do as well as gain in two days is the most since the US along with a few producers West Texas Intermediate price sunk production eases and there’s less push Toronto-based bank has operated they have,” Downe said. “So I’m not Sept. 2008. The volume of all futures announcing lower production targets to a low of $9.75 a barrel on April 1, by producers seeking to maximize in since the beginning of the 19th pessimistic at all. If you don’t take the traded was 36 percent above the 100- for the year ahead, provides a bit more 1986, more than two-thirds less than cash flow by bringing more supply century. China should continue its long view in terms of the transition day average. fundamental support,” said Richard the preceding November. Downe spent on stream, thus removing a market economic transformation despite the in national economies, you’ll just go Brent for March settlement Mallinson, an analyst at consultants the early part of his career at the bank imbalance, Downe said. Demand for volatility, Downe said. w“The push to crazy.” climbed $2.93, or 10 percent, to $32.18 Energy Aspects Ltd in London. Gold falls for second day US energy traders go bearish on El Nino

Bloomberg back bets on when the Federal Reserve Bloomberg and central states will push temper- will next raise interest rates. atures above seasonal norms in the Higher rates would damp gold’s Midwest and the East Coast on Feb. appeal because the metal doesn’t pay 1 through Feb. 5, said MDA Weather LONDON: Gold futures fell for a sec- interest. Bullion dropped “because the NEW YORK: US natural gas bears Services. ond straight day as a rally in global US dollar is appreciating and stock boosted their position for the first time “They are really looking for this equities and a rebound in crude oil markets and oil prices are gaining in four weeks as forecasts signaled El Nino trend that had been locked in cut demand for a haven. significantly, which points to at least that El Nino’s warm grip will take hold during November and December, lead- US stocks tracked gains in Asia and temporarily higher risk appetite,” Com- of the East Coast again next month, ing to very dry conditions, to return,” Europe as an index of world equities merzbank AG analysts including Daniel curbing demand for the heating fuel. said Teri Viswanath, director of com- headed for its biggest advance since Briesemann wrote in a note. Money managers raised their net- modities strategy at BNP Paribas SA June 2012. The dollar rose against Gold futures for February delivery short position in gas contracts by 24 in New York. “For the market to sus- the euro after European Central slipped 0.2 percent to settle at $1,096.30 percent to 23,386 futures equivalent in tain a rally, you have to see a continued Bank President Mario Draghi indi- an ounce at 1:53 p.m. on the Comex in the week ended January 19, according outlook for very cold weather for the cated that policy makers may bolster New York, paring this week’s gain to to Commodity Futures Trading Com- nation through February. We are just economic support as soon as March. 0.5 percent. Prices are up 3.4 percent mission data. Bearish bets rose by 1 not seeing that.” Gas futures fell 16.6 Oil headed for its biggest two-day this month. percent while long wagers slipped 0.4 cents, or 7.4 percent, to $2.091 per mil- increase since 2008. “We could still see gold move higher” percent. lion British thermal units on the New Gold is this month’s best-per- following the recent equity rout and Traders became more bearish as York Mercantile Exchange in the period forming metal on the Bloomberg shift in US rate expectations, Matthew forecast models showed that a surge covered by the CFTC report. Prices Commodity Index, as concern over Turner, an analyst at Macquarie Group of cold air, followed by a blizzard this gained ground as the National Weather China’s slowdown and a crash in oil Ltd. in London, said by telephone. The weekend in the East, will give way to Service issued blizzard warnings for prices to a 12-year low drove demand Fed’s Jan. 27 meeting and jobs data will milder weather. A wave of higher tem- parts of the East Coast, which helped A natural gas flare on an oil well pad burns outside Watford City in for haven assets. Traders have pushed remain crucial for gold, he said. peratures moving across the western push prices up to $2.139 on Friday. North Dakota on Thursday. Caribbean’s fastest-growing economy sells $1bn in global bond

Bloomberg while affirming its B+ rating. Standard and Mexico last week. Guatemala is & Poor’s has a BB- rating on the coun- expected to test the euro bond mar- try, three steps below investment grade. ket early this year with a $500 million That puts the $64bn economy in the debt sale. Gross domestic product in SANTO DOMINGO: The fastest- same category as Serbia, whose dollar the Dominican Republic, which shares growing economy in the Caribbean bonds maturing in 2021 yielded about the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, returned to the international bond 4.76 percent on Friday, and Cyprus, climbed 7 percent in the fourth quar- market on Friday, following a nine- which received an emergency res- ter from a year earlier. month drought, with a $1bn sale of cue package in 2013 and has been The country of 10.5 million, an 10-year notes. posting a faster-than-expected eco- exporter of gold, sugar and cigars, was The Dominican Republic sold the nomic recovery. the most-visited country in the Car- debt yielding 6.875 percent, the Finance “The Dominican Republic’s fun- ibbean last year, with the 5.6 tourists Ministry said in a statement. damentals are still solid, and I expect spending $6.2 billion, according to The institution, which is author- the bonds to outperform most of its the central bank. “Investors valued ised to raise about $2.5bn in local and Latin American peers for at least the excellent economic performance international bonds this year under the next 18-24 months,” said Luis that the country has had in the last the 2016 budget, said it closed the sale A. Veras, senior financial adviser at 12 months, being the Latin Ameri- after receiving $2.8bn in orders. Deut- Santo Domingo-based Collega Cap- can economy with the best growth sche Bank AG and JPMorgan Chase & ital Management. and one of the lowest rates of infla- Co arranged it. The Dominican Republic became tion,” the Finance Ministry statement The bond sale comes just a month the third Latin American country to said. Virginia Bello, director of infor- Men carry containers filled with gasoline in the bay of Rio Caribe, a town near Caribbean islands, in the after Fitch Ratings revised its long- test the international markets this mation in the ministry’s Department eastern state of Sucre. term outlook to positive from stable, year, following bond sales by Chile of Public Credit. 26 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Google to pay $185m in UK tax settlement

after an investigation showed the firm to explain how they had settled on the Google has been employed hundreds of salespeople in figure of £130m, which he described Britain despite saying it did not con- as relatively insignificant. under pressure duct sales in the country, a key plank “It looks to me ... that this is rela- over its practice of in its tax arrangements. tively trivial in comparison with what Google said late on Friday the should have been made, in fact one channelling most £130m would settle a probe by the analysis has put the rate down to about profits from European British tax authority, which had chal- 3 percent, which I think is derisory,” lenged the company’s low tax returns he told BBC Radio yesterday. “This clients through for the years since 2005. It said it had looks like another sweetheart deal.” Ireland to Bermuda, also agreed a basis on which tax in the Prem Sikka, professor of account- future would be calculated. “The way ing at Essex University, agreed. where it pays no tax multinational companies are taxed has He said that for a company that on them been debated for many years and the enjoyed UK turnover of around £24bn international tax system is changing over the period and margins of 30 per- as a result. This settlement reflects cent, the settlement represented an that shift,” a Google spokesman said effective tax rate in the low single dig- Reuters in a statement. its for Google. The deal comes as governments “This is a lousy number and we around the world seek to clamp down need to know more,” he said. Richard on multinational companies shifting Murphy, a tax expert who has advised LONDON: Google has agreed to pay profits overseas to reduce their tax bills. the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on £130m ($185m) in back taxes to Britain, EU competition authorities have economic policy, said the deal was “a prompting criticism from opposition investigated arrangements used by disaster” and that, based on the turn- lawmakers and campaigners who Amazon and a unit of Fiat in Luxem- over and margins Google enjoyed, said the “derisory” figure smacked bourg, Apple in Ireland and Starbucks “They should have been paying of a “sweetheart deal”. in the Netherlands, and may start new £200m a year.” Google, now part of Alphabet Inc, probes. British Finance Minister George Between 2005 and 2013, Google has been under pressure in recent years Osborne welcomed the deal, saying on had UK turnover of £17bn and its main over its practice of channelling most Twitter it reflected new rules that he UK unit reported a tax charge of £52m, profits from European clients through had introduced, but others were less filings showed. In 2014, it had UK rev- Ireland to Bermuda, where it pays no impressed. John McDonnell, finance enues of around £4bn, according to its An employee of Google dons a Google Virtual Reality headset during an opening event in Paris. The four-day tax on them. In 2013, the company spokesman for the opposition Labour annual report, but has not yet pub- event started on Thursday will enable visitors to experience a virtual ascent of Mont Blanc using technology faced a UK parliamentary inquiry party, said the tax authorities needed lished its UK tax charge. released by the company.

Hong Kong’s economic China slowdown jitters very normal: Lagarde AFP record on financial markets ever, it’s will guide the global crisis lender for growth to slow simple,” said French banker Tidjane the next five years. Thiam, the CEO of Credit Suisse. The biggest powers governing the “The market is very worried about Washington-based Fund, including down this year DAVOS: IMF chief Christine Lagarde China of course. They fear we will fall Britain Germany and France, all gave yesterday said the slowdown in China into a global recession,” he said. their support to Lagarde this week. would not bring catastrophe for the glo- British Finance Minister George In her first term, she was deeply HONG KONG: Hong Kong is bal economy and that the jolts hitting Osborne, who also faced questions involved in the decision to add the expected to grow at a slower pace financial markets were “very normal”. about Britain potentially voting to leave Chinese yuan to the IMF’s basket of this year than in 2015 as the city’s Lagarde spoke on the last day of the the European Union, said China had reserve currencies, a highly symbolic economy is constrained by diffi- World Economic Forum in the Swiss overshadowed proceedings at Davos. move appreciated by Beijing. culties in its exports sector and ski resort of Davos where news this “The world has not been very good Her plans to run again nonethe- lower spending by visiting tourists, week of decreasing growth in China, over previous centuries at accommo- less face a potential hurdle: she could according to the city’s top financial the world’s second biggest economy, dating rising powers and it has often stand trial in France over her role in services official. spooked attendees from the global led to unhappy outcomes,” Osborne a banking scandal that predates her “Growth rate will be worse than financial elite. said bleakly. arrival at the IMF. last year,” KC Chan, Hong Kong’s But Lagarde told a panel: “We are “I think it is massively in our interest In December, judges placed her secretary for financial services and not seeing a hard landing... We are see- that we bring China into the multilat- under formal investigation in the long- IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde gestures during a session of the treasury, said in an interview ing an evolution, a big transition which eral institutions of the world,” he said. running affair of former Adidas boss with Commercial Radio Hong Kong is going to be bumpy. “We have to get the World Economic Forum annual meeting yesterday in Davos. Lagarde herself was also an issue Bernard Tapie, who received a large yesterday. used to it and it’s a very normal and at Davos, as she quietly campaigned state payout for his dispute with a state “Our currency is expensive and proper way to actually move towards 6.9 percent in 2015, the slowest rate since January 1, also affected by low to win backing for a second mandate bank during her time as finance min- economies in surrounding markets a more sustainable and a more quality in a quarter century. oil prices as a supply glut destabilises as IMF managing director. ister. Lagarde has said she will fight are starting to slow, so it’s clear that growth we all hope,” she said. Worries of a weak Chinese economy fragile energy-producing countries. With her term coming to an end in the trial order, and the IMF executive downward pressure on the econ- The Chinese government had already sown fears across global “What on earth is going on is sim- July, the IMF formally began accept- board at the time reiterated its confi- omy is huge.” announced that its economy grew by markets with share prices plummeting ply the worst start of any year on the ing nominations on Thursday for who dence in her. Hong Kong’s GDP is estimated by economists to have grown 2.3 percent in 2015, the most sluggish since 2008 amid rising concerns about China’s slowdown and insta- bility in global markets. China to end new-energy vehicles subsidies after 2020 The city’s currency spiked on Friday as prospect of more stimu- lus from Japan and Europe ignited Bloomberg The government will cut 2017-2018 subsi- past five years, according to Gao Feng Advisory facilities. China, which aims to have five million a global stocks rebound and curbed dies by 20 percent from those granted in 2016, Co, which estimates the government will pro- new-energy vehicles in use by 2020, reported bets its peg to the greenback will end. and 2019-2020 subsidies will be 40 percent less vide another 63bn yuan by 2020. sales of 331,092 units of such vehicles last year. Hong Kong releases its 2015 GDP than this year, Lou said. Buyers of electric cars at present get as much Still, the more than fourfold growth in demand figures on February 24. The gov- HONG KONG: China plans to gradually reduce President Xi Jinping has designated the devel- as 55,000 yuan in central government subsi- from a year earlier has benefited automakers ernment will announce its growth the amount of subsidies for new-energy vehicles opment of electric vehicles as a strategic initiative dies, depending on the vehicle’s range with a such as BYD Co, Zoyte Auto and BAIC Motor Corp, forecast for 2016 on the same day, and will stop providing financial assistance after in a bid to upgrade the auto industry, curb pol- single charge. Local governments often match which have led in sales of electric cars. Financial Secretary John Tsang said. 2020, according to Finance Minister Lou Jiwei. lution and cut dependence on imported oil. The those incentives. BYD, backed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire An increasing proportion of Chinese automobile companies are overly government is stepping up its support after signs In addition, users of new-energy vehicles Hathaway Inc, would have turned a loss in 2014 Hong Kong’s businesses expect the reliant on government subsidies and the gov- the combination of research grants, consumer including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric and this year if not for the subsidies for electric current quarter to be more difficult ernment will instead hasten the establishment subsidies and infrastructure investments is yield- cars are exempt from registration and usage vehicles from the central government, accord- than in the final three months of of a points-based system similar to that used in ing results as new-energy vehicle sales surged restrictions. ing to Barclays Plc. 2015, according to a survey by the California to encourage production and use of more than fourfold last year. Despite these incentives, electric-car sales Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd said in Novem- Census and Statistics Department new-energy vehicles, the minister said at a con- China invested about 37bn yuan ($5.6bn) have lagged behind government targets amid ber it would target new-energy vehicles to make released on Friday, with those in ference in Beijing yesterday. into the new-energy vehicle segment over the concerns about the lack of access to charging up 90 percent of sales by 2020. retail, import and export trading, and wholesale the most pessimistic. The International Monetary Fund said in a January 20 statement that risks to Hong Kong’s economy ABB, UBS chiefs say red tape have limited impact given fiscal and financial buffers that are in place, and it forecast the city’s GDP to grow by 2.5 percent in 2016. threatens Switzerland’s success Meeting the IMF’s projection would be a “big challenge,” Chan said in yesterday’s interview. Bloomberg participating in a panel discussion CEO of Nestle SA, also has complained Delays by lawmakers in the of perceived threats to Switzerland’s about changes in Switzerland’s corpo- Legislative Council in approving model of economic liberalism and direct rate law giving shareholders a binding government infrastructure projects democracy. Swiss Economy Minister vote on compensation for directors would make it difficult to meet the ZURICH: Excessive regulation is stifling Johann Schneider-Ammann, also a pan- and top managers. IMF estimate, he said. business and undermining Switzer- elist, said Switzerland has a record of Ermotti, who heads Switzerland’s LegCo has so far approved one land’s ability to compete in the global liberal market regulation favoring jobs biggest bank, said regulations must be project, worth HK$100m ($12.8m), economy, according to the chief exec- and investment. “We do create frame- “meaningful” and “useful.” “We have out of 72 totalling HK$67.5bn, Chan utives of two flagship companies. work conditions which are excellent,” too much bureaucracy,” he said. “More said. “Entrepreneurs need oxygen to said Schneider-Amman, who is the and more laws are being created.” “In the past, when the economy breathe and we need to make sure we country’s president in 2016 Swiss banks lost a lobbying cam- was weak, the government very don’t make life difficult for them,” Ulrich While Switzerland routinely ranks paign last year to stop the government much relied much on public works Spiesshofer, head of the power-grid among the world’s richest and most from adopting some of the world’s projects to stimulate the economy,” maker ABB Ltd, Switzerland’s big- competitive nations — it has topped toughest capital requirements for Chan said at a media session after gest industrial firm, said at the World the World Economic Forum’s compet- banks. While Ermotti has said he sup- the radio interview. Economic Forum in Davos. “ABB has itiveness ranking for seven years —, ports the new rules, he’s also stressed “If the projects aren’t approved, self-regulation — I don’t need corpo- some high- profile business leaders that the new leverage ratio, a meas- Lino Guzzella (right) President and Professor of ETH Zurich and Sergio many construction workers and rate regulation on top of that.” say new laws, including restrictions ure of debt levels, will hit the bank’s professionals may have no job to Ermotti, CEO of Switzerland’s biggest bank UBS, at the World Economic Spiesshofer and his counterpart at on immigration and executive pay, are returns, ultimately hurting its ability do. This is serious,” he said. Forum in Davos yesterday. UBS Group AG, Sergio Ermotti, were threatening that position. Paul Bulcke, to contribute to the wider economy. BUSINESS VIEWS SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 27

Brazil’s central bank India roars back to Davos U-turn isn’t new as it didn’t work before to claim global position

By Paula Sambo rate decision on March 2, tumbled and Josue Leonel 0.26 percentage point to 14.26 per- Bloomberg cent on Thursday. They are down 0.44 percentage point this week. To be fair, the economy is fac- ing some pretty severe headwinds he surprise interest-rate deci- that could, with the benefit of hind- sion in Brazil past week has sight, someday prove policy makers Tmany traders crying out: Been were being prudent rather than there, done that. And it didn’t work. capricious. Brazil’s economy is fore- The central bank’s move to cast to shrink 2.8 percent this year hold the rate steady at 14.25 per- after an estimated 3.7 percent con- cent in the face of surging consumer traction in 2015. And the outlook prices — just 10 days after its Pres- for growth in China, Brazil’s big- ident Alexandre Tombini vowed to gest trading partner, is weighing on do what’s needed to bring the rate economies and markets globally. back to target — startled econo- But the problem that many mists, most of whom had forecast investors cited — and what the a hike. That caused the market’s market was ultimately reacting inflation expectations to jump to to — was the lack of clarity over the highest in at least three years. what the central bank’s priority For long-time Brazil watch- is: growth or inflation. ers, it evoked a similar move in Just two weeks ago, Tombini August 2011 that many point to sent an open letter to the finance as the genesis of today’s unwieldy minister reiterating his commitment consumer prices. Back then, as the to battle rising consumer prices. government embarked on a drive “The central bank will adopt the to control above-target inflation measures needed to meet the tar- through regulated prices, the top get” by the end of 2017, Tombini monetary authority surprised inves- wrote. But on Tuesday, in an unu- tors with an unexpected cut. It was sual statement from the central FROM LEFT: IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, British Finance Minister George Osborn, Indian Finance Minister Arun the start of a 13-month easing cycle bank just as the monetary council’s that would eventually see the rate two-day policy meeting was getting Jaitley and Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda at the WEF annual meeting yesterday. lowered to a record 7.25 percent. started, Tombini sent a conflicting “Starting in 2011, the easing cycle signal when he said an Interna- went beyond what the economy tional Monetary Fund forecast for could take,” said Leonardo Mon- a deeper recession would influ- By Sujata Rao with emerging market investors who are bet- oli, a partner at Jive Asset Gestao de ence the group’s decision. Reuters ting that growth will accelerate further. What’s Recursos in Sao Paulo. “From that Holding the rate steady “flies more, direct bricks-and-mortar foreign invest- point on, the government started in the face of the hawkish inflation ment flows into India jumped 75 percent over managing the country on a day- report and Tombini’s open letter 2015, according to a report from UNCTAD. to-day basis, instead of thinking explaining to the finance minis- olourful lions adorn a salon on Davos regulars feel India may actually more structurally or about the future. ter why the central bank massively the main street of Davos, invit- have something to crow about. A PwC sur- There were several specific meas- exceeded the top of the inflation ing visiting business leaders to vey of more than 1,400 global CEOs found India has finally taken ures that created problems that were target band,” John Welch, a strat- “Make in India”. Optimism about the India to be the rare bright spot among big on the mantle of the then solved by creating even more egist at CIBC World Markets, said world’s fastest growing economy economies, with rising confidence in short- problems. That’s how we got here.” from Toronto. “The decision will Ccontrasts with the economic gloom facing term sales growth. “I think they are doing it world’s fastest growing Markets weren’t happy then, further delay the convergence of other emerging markets and Prime Minis- (Davos) more quietly this time, I think that’s big economy; its equities and they’re not happy now. The inflation back to the central bank’s ter Narendra Modi’s mantra encapsulates good. Let China take all the heat and just real, already the big loser of 2015 target and maintain price dynam- a renewed confidence among Indian busi- keep your head down,” said Martin Gilbert and bonds are favourites among the world’s top currencies, ics in a dangerous territory.” ness and political leaders at the 2016 World CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management, who with emerging market tumbled 1.4 percent on Thursday Key to investors’ concern is that Economic Forum. counts India as one of his favourite markets. as it approached its record low. It the sudden change in Tombini’s This year’s Davos push is led by Finance But India has plenty to worry about. Key investors who are echoed a similar plunge the day tone smacks of political interfer- Minister Arun Jaitley and the 140-plus strong reforms on land and tax remain elusive. Lat- betting that growth will after the August 2011 decision. The ence, said Paulo Vieira da Cunha, India contingent at Davos is confident the est data, showing a 15 percent year-on-year accelerate further two-year break-even rate, a meas- the chief economist at Ice Canyon turnaround this time is for real, driven by decline in exports, is proof enough that India ure of bond traders’ expectations in New York and a former interna- efforts at reform and falling oil import costs. cannot escape the fallout of a global slow- for inflation through 2018, rose 0.3 tional-relations director at Brazil’s “India will be a shining star, the I in the down stemming from China percentage point to 10.66 percent. central bank. “There were reasons BRICs constellation is giv- Neeraj Kanwar, vice-chairman of Apollo After the rate decision, Goldman to keep rates where they were, as ing hope to the rest of the Tyres, should be rejoicing in falling costs of Sachs Group Inc joined Barclays long as the central bank’s commu- world that we won’t fall in rubber and energy. Instead, he is fretting Plc in warning that a new round nications explicitly framed the fiscal the same trap that most about the weakening yuan and the possibility of easing might not be so far off, a root of the deterioration in expec- of the world is in, that of of more competitive currency devaluations little choice but to gravitate towards India move that for the orthodox econ- tations,” he said from New York. slow growth,” Indian tel- in China and the rest of Asia. Chinese tyres with its 7 percent growth and billion-plus omist may seem unthinkable as Adding to investor concern is ecommunications tycoon account for a third of the Indian market, he eager consumers. annual inflation nears 11 percent. that the easing cycle that started in Sunil Bharti Mittal told a said on the sidelines of the WEF, up from “There is increased opportunity in India, It’s already more than twice the 2011 didn’t work, said Jive’s Mon- panel at the WEF, 15-20 percent a year ago. Meanwhile India’s while (reform) progress has been slow we are 4.5 percent mid-point of the cen- oli. Economic growth slowed to 1.9 Indeed, the other tyre industry is running at 60 percent capac- seeing progress and that’s the key,” KPMG tral bank’s target range. percent the following year from 3.9 A PwC survey of more BRIC emerging econo- ity, Kanwar said, adding: “The writing is on Chairman John Veihmeyer said at the Glo- “I wouldn’t be surprised if the percent in 2011. “The difference than 1,400 global mies are wrestling with the wall for Make in India.” bal Markets Forum, adding that India was central bank starts talking about between today and that time was problems. The first two Apollo will start producing tyres at its new the consultancy’s fastest-growing market. cutting the Selic rate,” Alberto the financial health of the country,” CEOs found India to are in a second year of plant in Hungary from 2017, for easier access And John Chambers, executive chairman Ramos, Goldman Sachs senior he said. “We are in a much worse be the rare bright spot recession, while this week to Western European markets but Kanwar of IT giant Cisco Systems reckons India, with economist, said from New York. economic situation now, in stag- China posted its weakest said an investment process that took a few its software industry, is well placed to cap- Swap rates on contracts matur- flation and under fiscal dominance. among big economies, growth in 25 years. weeks in Hungary could have consumed up italise on increasingly digitalised business. ing April, which incorporate Without fixing the fiscal problem, with rising confidence India has finally to 18 months in India. “We all got excited about India before, traders’ expectations for the next this won’t work.” taken on the mantle of the Critics would note India ranked 130th but the market didn’t develop as we hoped,” in short-term sales world’s fastest growing in the World Bank’s latest survey on ease of Chambers said. “Cisco doubled down in India growth big economy; its equities doing business. But in today’s bleak emerg- two years ago and we will double down and bonds are favourites ing markets, Western businesses may have again..We cannot miss this opportunity.” AmEx chief dismantles his laboratory serving not-so-wealthy

By Elizabeth Dexheimer Bruyette & Woods. “If there are projects that Inc. co-founder Steve Case for $300 million. the financial crisis. The share price has tum- Bloomberg weren’t paying the dividends they expected He renamed it Serve and used the underlying bled 28 percent in the past year. them to, and they don’t anticipate a signifi- technology to build out a line of reloadable Chenault is reshuffling managers and mak- cant payoff in the future, it’s best for them to prepaid cards that function as a digital alter- ing organizational changes in other parts of just move on.” native to a checking account. Chenault, 64, the company as well, including the consumer n 34 years at American Express Co, Ken AmEx is pulling back from some of enter- pulled out the stops to move the company business, to help reinforce earnings threat- Chenault has helped reinvent the credit-card prise growth’s projects, while standing by key beyond its legions of wealthy cardholders. He ened by the pending loss of Costco. He’s also Icompany more than once. But his latest products, such as the prepaid debit cards, poured millions of dollars into development, creating a new consumer- lending business. push into new frontiers is faltering behind the according to the company. “Within the enter- recruiting rising stars from Silicon Valley to Chenault, who joined AmEx in 1981 and scenes. The lender is dismantling its enterprise prise growth business, there are some things build new products. He housed the operation became CEO in 2001, emphasized the impor- growth division, created to develop additional that worked and some things that didn’t,” said in the separate tech-friendly Tribeca office, tance of innovating and broadening AmEx’s sources of revenue, lure new customers and Leah Gerstner, a company spokeswoman. where employees were free to dress casually. hunt for customers at a financial technology help fend off Silicon Valley startups. “We’ve scaled back our experimental work AmEx rolled out edgy promotions and spon- conference in Las Vegas just over a year ago, Several top executives have left in recent and are focusing on our prepaid and alterna- sored a 40-minute documentary overseen where he discussed Serve’s role in the com- months, including Neal Sample, its leader, and tive payments business.” by Academy Award-winning director Davis pany’s future growth. “What I want people The lender is dismantling the unit plans to cut about 170 jobs in New York The move may assuage analysts and inves- Guggenheim that profiled struggling fami- to think about our company is that we are a its enterprise growth and Florida. The company cancelled a prod- tors critical of the push to go down-market. lies shunned by banks. Tyler Perry narrated. company that is about reinvention,” he said. uct launch in Mexico, scaled back research On Wednesday, AmEx was the third-best At the beginning of last year, reloadable Meanwhile, American Express Co fell the division, created to efforts, folded parts of the business into other performer in the 88-company Standard and prepaid cards remained a profitless expense most in almost seven years after fourth-quar- develop additional divisions and is closing its office on the edge Poor’s 500 Financials Index, gaining 0.6 per- for AmEx. Payments research firm Mercator ter profit declined 38 percent, driven by a drop of Manhattan’s Tribeca neighbourhood. The cent while the benchmark slid 2.5 percent in Advisory Group estimates that the company in revenue and higher expenses. AmEx tum- sources of revenue, lure unit’s centerpiece, debit cards for people una- a broader market rout. has climbed no higher than sixth place among bled 12 percent to close at $55.06 in New York, new customers and help ble to open bank accounts, remains. Enterprise growth was created in 2010 after prepaid-card issuers. That’s made the invest- the biggest one-day drop since April 2009 fend off Silicon Valley “What is critical to the growth potential of Chenault, AmEx’s chairman and chief executive ment in future products harder to justify as and the worst performance in the Dow Jones American Express going forward is that they officer, made one of the biggest acquisitions in AmEx struggles to overcome the loss of its Industrial Average, which gained 1.3 percent. startups continue to do well with their core customer the company’s 166-year history, buying pay- biggest retail partner, Costco Wholesale Corp, Shares of the lender have fallen 21 percent base,” said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at Keefe, ments startup Revolution Money from AOL and tries to end its steepest stock slump since this year, after declining 25 percent in 2015. 28 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

Low drilling spells doom sight for UK’s North Sea revival After Kravis’

Bloomberg golden age,

he pace of drilling in the buyouts go wild North Sea, the center of UK oil production for the -- an annual management fee past 40 years, has sunk to Bloomberg equal to 1.5 percent to 2 percent a record as crashing energy of the funds they raise. They also Tprices force explorers to abandon costly keep 20 percent of any profits projects. NEW YORK: Henry Kravis when a company they acquired Just 63 percent of oil and gas rigs in called it private equity’s golden is later sold. the UK North Sea were being used as age. From 2005 to 2007, buy- The firms typically want to, of January 19, according to data pro- out firms paid fat prices to buy at least, double investors’ money vider RigLogix. That’s the lowest since about 20 supersized companies, within three to five years. But the Houston-based company started from Hilton Worldwide Holdings a decade ago, a buying frenzy tracking their operation in 2000. In Inc. to Hertz Global Holdings Inc. stoked by low borrowing costs the Norwegian North Sea, the 71 per- Now, a decade later, the saw firms pay sometimes twice as cent rate is also the worst on record. results of that debt-fueled spree much for companies as dictated Producers in the region, home of can be tabulated -- and it’s hardly by traditional sales and cash flow the Brent benchmark, boosted output golden. The mega-deals produced multiples. That behavior almost the past two years as projects approved mostly mediocre returns, falling guaranteed so-so returns, buy- in the era of $100 oil came on stream. well short of the profits that lev- out executives now say. Yet crude’s subsequent plunge has gas production and dominates its off- Fees for the most advanced floating eraged buyout shops typically Private equity firms led 19 forced many to shelve growth plans shore industry, has in the past 1 1/2 rigs have fallen to about $250,000 a seek, according to separate com- purchases worth more than $10bn as they reduce spending and staff. BP years scrapped the equivalent of four day from as much as $650,000 in 2013, pilations by Bloomberg and asset from 2005 to 2007, according to Plc intends to eliminate 600 North years of drilling by one rig, accord- Oslo- based Pareto Securities AS said manager Hamilton Lane Advi- data compiled by Bloomberg. As Sea positions over the next two years, ing to data compiled from company last month. Transocean said Decem- sors. In more than half the deals of December 31, the deals earned adding to more than 90,000 jobs the filings. Before long there’ll be a rig ber. 1 it will drill four wells off Norway -- each valued at more than $10 the firms a median profit of 40 industry has cut in the area since the “graveyard” in the North Sea, Nor- for a day rate of about $180,000, the billion -- the firms would have percent above their investment start of 2014. dea Markets said in November. The lowest recorded tariff in the Nordic been better off if they had put cost -- well below their goals. “In the UK North Sea, you’re look- 30 exploration wells planned off Nor- country since oil began to tumble in their investors’ money into a stock The results also pale when ing anywhere between $15 and $45 a way this year compare with 56 in 2015, mid-2014. index fund. compared with the 70 percent barrel for operating costs,” according the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Other oil-producing regions aren’t The slump in rig Have the Masters of the Uni- median return yielded by all pri- to Kate Sloan, a Macquarie Group Ltd. said January 14. immune to the rout. Southeast Asia verse learned a lesson? They vate equity transactions during analyst who said many older fields are Statoil has lost more than 20 and the Gulf of Mexico have also seen use is likely to curb say they have. Caution is now a that period, the Hamilton Lane at the top end of that range since they percent of its value in the past year. drilling slow, according to Rigzone.com production that’s watchword and less is more. TPG study shows. That group includes need specialized drilling to prolong Norwegian driller Seadrill Ltd. tum- Inc., the owner of RigLogix. The Mid- Capital has sworn off buyouts as thousands of smaller deals. their lives. “I wouldn’t expect any- bled 79 percent. Transocean Ltd., which dle East has been less affected because been rising for two large as $30 billion, people with On an annualized basis, the one to be doing that kind of work so also drills in the North Sea, declined national oil companies there tend to years after a long knowledge of its thinking said, largest deals generated a median that takes quite a few of the rigs out 40 percent in New York. prioritize production over prices, while other shops will consider 4 percent return, according to of the market.” The slump in rig use is likely to curb said Terry Childs, a senior analyst at period of decline. enormous deals only if the price the Hamilton Lane study. The Drilling off Norway also has been production that’s been rising for two Rigzone. Crude output is right. But so far none has led a S&P’s 500 Index, by comparison, expensive historically. A 2012 govern- years after a long period of decline. Yet the pain for North Sea drill- climbed to an $10 billion or bigger transaction returned 7.3 percent a year from ment-commissioned report showed Crude output climbed to an average ers is particularly acute. In Norway, since the financial crisis. the start of 2006 through 2015. drilling costs there were the highest 2.5 million barrels a day in 2014 and more than 27,000 job cuts have been average 2.5 million “The big deals were done “This crop of deals dragged in the world, as much as 45 percent 2.6 million in 2015, according to the announced in the oil industry since barrels a day in more out of ego than economic down private equity returns,” said higher than in the UK. While compa- International Energy Agency. The IEA the beginning of 2014, according to sense,” said David Fann, chief Joe Baratta, global head of private nies operating off Norway can claim forecasts volumes will drop back to an DNB Markets. Over the same period 2014 and 2.6 million executive officer of TorreyCove equity at Blackstone Group LP. a portion of their costs back from the average 2.5 million this year. in Britain, industry group Oil & Gas in 2015, according Capital Partners, which advises “The entire industry has become state, they’ve still put projects on hold. Dwindling North Sea produc- UK puts the losses at 65,000. pension plans that invest in buyout more disciplined.” Brent crude dropped as much as tion is likely to result in higher U.K. “Further job losses in the North to the International funds. “People paid steep prices The private equity shops justi- 72 percent since June 2014 to a 12-year oil imports as the decline in supply Sea are likely as companies find it Energy Agency. and put on too much debt.” fied the high prices at the time by low under $30 a barrel as global sup- outpaces weakening demand, accord- increasingly tough to manage the Representatives for Kravis’s saying big and established com- ply swamped demand. It surged 10 ing to Johannes Gross, an analyst at pain of prolonged low oil prices, high The IEA forecasts KKR & Co. and TPG declined to panies could weather a possible percent Friday to $32.18 a barrel on researcher JBC Energy GmbH. Norway costs, and declining reserves,” said volumes will drop comment. downturn. But the post-2008 the London-based ICE Futures Europe will remain a net exporter, he said. Rhidoy Rashid, an analyst at Energy back to an average Private equity firms make meltdown dashed that convic- exchange. The contraction in active rigs is Aspects Ltd. “The outlook is particu- money by charging investors -- tion periling companies big and Statoil ASA, which operates more reflected in shrinking fees for their larly bleak once the project backlog 2.5 million this year pensions and other institutions small. than 70 percent of Norway’s oil and use, known as day rates. runs its course.”

At this stage, we don’t think the current market Capital situation has been affecting corporate behavior unduly. But the market is the market, market could Haruhiko Kuroda, Comment affect the real economy-so we carefully watch Governor, Bank of Japan

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk Flynas in talks with Moody’s Ratings News @ Private Equity Beat Boeing and Airbus MoodysRatings Loan leverage in US NAME IN THE MARKET: EXPENSIVE HOUSING conduit CMBS likely to Bloomberg have experienced delays in rise further over next Blackstone and other such obtaining their permits. Fly- few quarters nas currently has an all-Airbus firms, which traditionally DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s low- fleet of 26 jets. focused on debt-fueled cost carrier Flynas is talking “We’re talking to Airbus, World Bank Energy @ to Airbus Group SE, Boe- Boeing and Bombardier about buyouts, are moving ing Co. and Bombardier Inc. purchasing or leasing depend- WBG_Energy into corners of finance about a potential order for 100 ing on which is the best deal new aircraft, after the car- for us,” Byrne said. Public-private capital is from which banks have rier posted a profit in 2015 “If we were to change from important for financing withdrawn since 2008 crisis for the first time in its history. Airbus to Boeing or Bombar- new #cleanenergy tech The airline is considering dier, that will be a big move 60 new planes in the next five for us but its not as dramatic years with an option for 40 as it sounds.” Jim Yong Kim @ more, Flynas Chief Executive The leases on Flynas’ 26 DealB%k Paul Byrne said in an inter- aircraft will end within six JimKim_WBG view yesterday in Bahrain. It’s years and it will require addi- considering the Airbus A320 tional aircraft for replacement No society or econ- Neos, Boeing 737 Maxs and and growth. omy can achieve its full Bombardier CS300 aircraft On top of that, it will need potential if it does not The market for initial public and expects to decide on the more aircraft to cope with #EmpowerWomen offerings has been all but order this year. demand for pilgrimages to the Saudi Arabia, with a pop- country’s holy sites, increasing dead since late last year. ulation of 30 million people, frequencies to some destina- World Economic Don’t expect that freeze to is removing restrictions in tions and catering to Saudi’s Forum@wef its travel market. It’s in the large domestic travel market, lift anytime soon process of licensing two new he said. No, the #robots are not operators, Saudi Gulf Air and “No one really knows the about to rise up and Al Maha Airways, which is bottom of the Saudi market destroy us all owned by Qatar Airways. yet. There’s room for compe- The two new operators tition and expansion,” he said. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 34 PAGE | 36 AAzarenka thriving Coe pledges to oon the Grand Slam rebuild trust in pressure athletics

SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 • 14 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Qatar coach says ‘team spirit’ did it for the AFC U23 hosts

The Peninsula FOOTBALL: AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP DOHA: For Qatar coach Felix Sanchez, the hard fought quarter-finals win against North Korea on Friday night days rest compared to their semi-final was the result of ‘team spirit’. opponents (Korea Republic or Jordan). Hosts Qatar beat North Korea 2-1 “It is hard to play against them,” in extra time to reach the semifinals Sanchez continued referring to the of the AFC U-23 Championship. strength of the North Koreans. For the hosts, it was a case of mov- “They are physically the best team ing a step closer to 2016 Olympic Games in the tournament and it is difficult qualification after Akram Afif (4, pen- to play against them,” Sanchez said. alty) and Ali Asad (92) scored for the “I think the team performed quite home team. well as this style of game is not easy to The top three sides at the Jan 12-30 play. I think we had moments when it event will seal a berth each at the foot- was not easy and we knew this, espe- ball competition at the 2016 Olympic cially in the first half, but we got better Games to be held in Rio de Janiero in the second half,” Just as Qatar fans were about to “We are in the semi-finals and each start their celebrations on Friday night, game will be very difficult as everyone North Korea’s captain So Kyung-jin wants to get to the final and qualify curled in a David Beckham-like free for the Olympics.” kick to force the extra time. North Korea had qualified for However, in the extra time, Asad the quarter-finals as runners-up in Al Arabi Soyebo Temi Narcellius (left) in challenged by El Jaish’s chipped in a volley from inside the Group B, but Yun Jong-su’s side agonis- Korean box to produce the match- ingly fell short of remaining on course Kouraty Jouard during the Qatar Basketball Federation League at Al winning goal at Jassim Bin Hamad for only a second appearance at the Gharafa Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. Stadium. Olympic Games after heroically being Pictures by: Kammutty/The Peninsula “The players are very satisfied to denied by Qatar goalkeeper Muhan- qualify for the semi-finals because nad Naim twice in the second period we knew it was difficult to reach it. of extra-time. They are tired and happy,” Sanchez “It was a tough match. Both teams El Jaish down Al Arabi, Al said after seeing Qatar maintain their played well, but the only thing was 100% tournament record with a fourth that the players did not live up to the consecutive win. supporters’ expectations,” said DPR Sadd register easy win “I think the team is proud of Korea coach Yun. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez gives instructions from the sidelines during what they did. It was not easy when “We also conceded a goal in the the AFC U23 Championship quarter-final match against DPR Korea at it was 1-0 and you concede a goal in first half because we were not organ- Al Sadd Stadium on Friday. Qatar won 2-1. stoppage-time. ised well in defence. The players played The Peninsula figures. Yousuf managed 13 points “The team showed great team spirit up to my exceptions. to go along with his 4 assists at Al and I think we really deserve what we “Qatar is the host team and have bunch since late 2014 when he guided competition previously - once at the Gharafa Indoor Hall. have achieved against a very power- many advantages, but I can’t say who his team to AFC U-19 Championship Los Angeles edition in 1984 and then DOHA: Riding on Macklin Vernon Abilmona Fadi Hani (9) and Ngom ful team who are difficult to beat,” the will be the champions. As you have crown in Myanmar. That win allowed the Barcelona edition in 1992. Leon’s brilliant performance, El Jaish Babcar Marone (8) also chipped in former Barcelona youth coach said. seen today, the matches still need Qatar a berth at the FIFA 2015 Under- “Every game is different. We are yesterday crushed Al Arabi 84-71 in with useful contributions. And despite being forced to play 120 to be played and no one can expect 20 World Cup in New Zealand where preparing for the final stage now. Our their Qatar National League game. For Al Arabi, Soyebo Temi Narcel- minutes against a physically demand- anything.” Sanchez was coach. Qatar have final target is 2016 Olympic Games,” Leon scored 31 points besides lius waged a lone battle of conviction, ing DPR Korea, Qatar will enjoy an extra Sanchez has been with the current twice reached the Olympic Games Sanchez said. managing 9 assists as El Jaish battled producing 23 points and 7 assists. from a tight first quarter to seal their O’Brien Todd Edward also win rather convincingly in the end. reached double figures with a tally Monroe Jr II Sammy produced of 15 points and 2 assists. Abu-Faisal a high-scoring tally of 20 points as Fahad Abdulla managed a tally of 13 El Jaish celebrated a well-deserving points. Hamed Ibnomer Moutasim South Korea book semi-final spot win. Sammy had 4 assists. has 7 points to go with his 6 assists. Mohmmed Yousuf was the third In the second match, Al Sadd regis- El Jaish player to reach the double tered an easy 90-64 win over Al Khor.

The Peninsula AFC U23 Championship Semi-Final Fixtures DOHA: Korea Republic survived January 26 a turbulent second-half to hand a Japan vs Iraq at Abdullah Bin Khalifa gallant Jordan side a 1-0 defeat in Stadium, 4.30pm the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Championship yesterday and set up Qatar vs Korea Republic at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, 7.30pm a semi-final meeting with tourna- ment hosts Qatar. Moon Chang-jin scored the only way towards taking the pressure off goal of the game midway through the the Jordanian defence, but it was not first half as Shin Tae-yong’s side kept long before the Koreans were back in alive their nation’s hopes of appear- command, with Kwon Chang-hoon ing at a record eighth consecutive beating two defenders before hitting Olympic Games. a shot from outside the area that did But the Jordanians will leave the little to trouble Noureddin Ateyah. tournament with their heads held high Jordan had, only minutes earlier, after a battling performance in the missed a golden opportunity when second half by Jamal Ahmad’s side Baha Faisal failed to capitalise on a that warranted a better result than mix-up in the Korean defence, miss- a defeat in regular time. hitting his attempt into an empty goal Jordan dominated the latter stages, after goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun was but it had been the Koreans who were left stranded. By the 23rd minute, the in the ascendancy from the first whis- Koreans had taken the lead their early tle as Shin’s team sought to establish pressure warranted. The Jordanian themselves early in the match. defence was unconvincing in dealing Lee Seul-chan saw his effort from with Kwon Chang-hoon’s low curl- just outside the area deflected wide ing cross from the left, allowing Ryu with only six minutes on the clock, Seung-woo to lay the ball off to Moon and a minute later he set up Kwon Chang-jin, who calmly slotted the Chang-hoon for a header that the ball into the bottom corner. Mahmoud Almardi (left) of Jordan and Song Juhun of DPR Korea vie for Suwon Bluewings man miss-timed In the last quarter-final, Iraq Al Sadd’s Kone Mohamed Deba (right) and Al Khor’s Hadzibegovic ball possession during their AFC U23 quarter-final match played at the to send wide. edged UAE 3-1 in extra time to set up Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC in Doha yesterday. DPR Korea Ahmad Hisham’s speculative a semi-final clash with Japan. Both the Alen in action during the Qatar Basketball Federation League at Al won 1-0. Picture by: Salim M/The Peninsula effort from long range went some semi-finals will be held on January 26. Gharafa Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. 30 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Garcia targets challenge match hat-trick with juniors at Qatar Masters

The Peninsula charismatic Qush, part of the Span- “The Challenge Match on Monday has Grace, 2013 winner Chris Wood and iard’s victorious side for the past two become an integral part of the Com- four of his victorious EurAsia Cup team- years, 2015 winner Ahmed Al Mut- mercial Bank Qatar Masters week and mates, Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee and tawah (15), Laila Al Abdulla (14) and a big focus of the Qatar Golf Associa- Kiradech Aphibarnrat, and US Ama- DOHA: Sergio Garcia and 17-year- six-handicapper Arnav Jain (15), who tion’s development programme. teur champion Bryson DeChambeau. old Qatari Sami Qush will both seek played with Justin Rose last year and “Each year several of our lead- Fans can also watch Jin Cheng, a third straight victory in the Com- Henrik Stenson in 2014. ing junior talents spend time playing China’s top amateur, make his Doha mercial Bank Qatar Masters Challenge Els, who won his most recent with and learning from some of the debut less than three months before Match at Doha Golf Club tomorrow. Major title at the 2012 Open Champi- world’s top pros, who kindly give up he competes in the Masters Tourna- Four-time Major winner Ernie onship, will lead three-handicappers their time to pass on their experience ment at Augusta National. Els and 2010 Open Champion Louis Laila Hrinda (17), Abdulla Abedeen (17), and knowledge.” Tickets are available now at a range Oosthuizen will also captain groups Fahad Mir (14) and Ali Al Mesaifri (15). “I know it’s a major highlight for of outlets including Virgin Megastores of talented teenagers in the fun-filled Oosthuizen, 33, will benefit from all the youngsters who take part and I (Online and in-store in Doha), Ticket team event. teaming up with four teenagers who want to thank all the pros for provid- Master, Time Out Tickets, Q Tickets, The Challenge Match has been played in last year’s event. Abdulrah- ing such a special experience.” Doha Golf Club and more (full list shortened from nine holes to five, but man Al Naimi (16) – part of Garcia’s team Els (2005) and Garcia (2014) are below). the size of the teams has continued to in 2014 – Abdulrahman Al Dehaimi former winners of the Commercial Tickets are priced as follows, start- expand, with a total of 12 Qatari jun- (14) and Nada Mir (16) all played with Bank Qatar Masters, while Oosthui- ing at QAR150. Entry is free for children iors across the three teams, up from Stenson last year, while Abdulrahman zen, playing in Doha for the first time under 14 years of age and each ticket nine last year and six in the inaugu- Al Thani was in Rose’s side. since 2013, was a runner-up in 2009. purchased entitles the holder to one ral edition in 2014. Hassan Al Nuaimi, President Other stars in this year’s field free round trip journey to and from the The winners of 2015 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Challenge Match. Team Garcia includes the of the Qatar Golf Association, said: include defending champion Branden Doha Golf Club by event partner UBER. Captain Cook leads fightback as England hold firm

SCOREBOARD Rabada sends two CRICKET: ENGLAND VS back to the pavilion SOUTH AFRICA South Africa (I innings): Bowling: Anderson 30-6-91-1 (1w); Broad while visitors trail by S Cook b Woakes 115 28-4-91-2 (2w); Ali 25-5-104-2; Woakes 22- D Elgar c Taylor b Ali 20 3-91-1 (1w); Stokes 27-3-86-4. 337 runs England (I innings): 56 for the second wicket before he fell H Amla b Stokes 109 victim to a ball from Rabada which A de Villiers c Root b Broad 0 A Cook (batting) 67 shot through low and trapped him J Duminy lbw Ali 16 A Hales c Piedt b Rabada 15 leg before wicket for 19. T Bavuma c Bairstow b Broad 35 N Compton lbw Rabada 19

AFP Joe Root joined Cook and the pair Q de Kock (not out) 129 J Root (batting) 31 took England through to the close in K Rabada lbw Anderson 0 Extras (B-1, LB-4, W-1) 6 an unbeaten partnership of 60. Root was on 31 not out. The left-handed De K Abbott lbw Stokes 16 Total (for 2 wkts) 138 C E N T U R I O N : England captain Kock made 129 not out off 128 balls D Piedt c Bairstow b Stokes 19 To bat: J Taylor, B Stokes, J Bairstow, M Ali, C Alastair Cook made his first half- as he and the South African tailend- M Morkel lbw Stokes 0 Woakes, S Broad, J Anderson. century of the series to keep his team ers frustrated the England bowlers Extras (LB-12, W-4) 16 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-78. in contention on the second day on a hot, humid day. Total (all out) 475 Bowling: Abbott 11-5-17-0; Rabada 12-2-55- of the fourth and final Test against Kyle Abbott helped De Kock add South Africa at SuperSport Park 50 for the eighth wicket and Piedt Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-237, 3-238, 4-271, 2 (1w); Piedt 10-1-23-0; Morkel 11-2-29-0; El- yesterday. shared a ninth wicket stand of 82 5-273, 6-335, 7-336, 8-386, 9-468. gar 2-0-9-0. England were 138 for two at the with the South African wicketkeeper. close of play after Quinton de Kock’s De Kock was the third centurion English captain maiden Test century took South Africa in the innings and joined debutant the blemishes it was an impressive for the addition of only seven runs Alastair Cook to a first innings total of 475. Stephen Cook in making his first Test innings by De Kock, who hit 17 fours to the overnight total of 329 for five. sweeps the ball Cook, who had scored only 103 hundred. England once again paid the and two sixes. He was particularly Stuart Broad had Temba Bavuma during the fourth runs in six innings in the first three price for dropped catches. After both severe on Ali, hitting 45 runs off the caught behind for 35 in the fourth over Test against South Tests, batted solidly to finish unbeaten Cook and Hashim Amla were dropped 28 balls he faced from the off-spin- of the day, ending a sixth wicket part- Africa at Centurion on 67. England lost Alex Hales early, on the way to centuries on the first day, ner, including both his sixes and six nership of 62 with De Kock. In the next yesterday. when he sliced a drive against Kagiso De Kock was put down by Ben Stokes fours. It was a disappointing effort over James Anderson trapped Kagiso Rabada to Dane Piedt at point after at gully off James Anderson when he by England who would have hoped Rabada leg before wicket without making 15. was on 28, having added only three to wrap up the innings quickly after scoring. Stokes was England’s most Nick Compton helped Cook add runs to his overnight score. Despite taking two wickets early in the day successful bowler, taking four for 86.

Lallana settles Liverpool thriller while Austin sinks United Messi rescues

AFP Barcelona

AFP

LONDON: Adam Lallana plundered a 95th-minute winner as Liverpool edged MADRID: Lionel Messi scored a spectacular win- Norwich City 5-4 in a dizzying Pre- ner as Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga with mier League encounter yesterday, while a hard-fought 2-1 win at Malaga yesterday. Manchester United crashed 1-0 against The European champions were handed the per- Southampton. fect start when Munir El Haddadi tapped home the Jamie Vardy ended a seven-game scor- opener after just 64 seconds, but were far from their ing drought as Leicester City beat Stoke best and Malaga deservedly levelled through Juanpi City 3-0 to move three points clear at the either minutes before the break. top of the table above Arsenal, who host Messi had been struggling with a slight ham- Chelsea today. string strain in the past week, but the five-time Charlie Austin marked his debut with World Player of the Year made the difference once an 87th-minute winner as Southampton more as he volleyed home his 20th goal of the sea- silenced Old Trafford, but the game of the son to move Barca a point clear of Atletico Madrid day was at Carrow Road, where Liverpool in top spot. and Norwich played out a Premier League classic. After Roberto Firmino had put Liver- pool ahead from James Milner’s pass in the 18th minute, Norwich hit back with a PSG too good Dieumerci Mbokani back-heel, a goal by debutant Steven Naismith and a Wes Hoolahan penalty. for Angers But goals from captain Jordan Hend- Southampton’s striker Charlie Austin (second from left) heads the ball to score the opening goal during their English erson and Firmino brought Liverpool level Reuters and although Milner’s 75th-minute strike Premier League football match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester yesterday. was cancelled out by Sebastien Bassong’s drive in the 91st minute, Lallana had the PARIS: Angel Di Maria struck twice as runaway final word. FOOTBALL: ENGLISH PREMIER added a third goal from long range in stop- City can trim the gap to a point if they win Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain crushed Angers United were booed off after £4 million LEAGUE page time for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, at West Ham United later yesterday. New- 5-1 at the Parc des Princes yesterday. ($5.7 million, 5.2 million euros) striker Aus- who are now two points below local rivals castle United remain in the bottom three Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas and Gregory van der tin gave Southampton victory by converting Arsenal. after losing 2-1 at Watford, who prevailed Wiel were also on target while Pierrick Capelle replied James Ward-Prowse’s right-wing free-kick coming from behind to beat London rivals Danny Drinkwater’s deflected 42nd- through goals from Odion Ighalo and Craig for Angers who are fourth in the table. Unbeaten with a header. Crystal Palace 3-1 thanks to a stunning Dele minute strike put Leicester 1-0 up at home to Cathcart, with Jamaal Lascelles reducing PSG, gunning for a fourth consecutive title, have In a further blow to manager Louis Alli goal. Palace took a 30th-minute lead Stoke and the midfielder later set up Vardy the arrears. 60 points from 22 games and lead second-placed van Gaal, right-back Matteo Darmian was when Jan Vertonghen turned Wilfried Zaha’s to round Jack Butland and roll in his first Sunderland are also still in the relega- Monaco by 24 points ahead of the principality team’s forced off after a second-half collision with cross into his own net. goal in eight appearances. tion places, but they inched closer to safety home match against Toulouse today. Shane Long, exacerbating United’s defen- But Harry Kane equalised in the 63rd Leonardo Ulloa sealed victory in the after Patrick van Aanholt cancelled out Benik Angers are on 34 points, behind Stade Rennes on sive injury crisis. minute by heading in Nacer Chadli’s cross 87th minute, poking in a pass from Riyad Afobe’s headed opener in a 1-1 home draw goal difference after the side from Brittany gave new United remain fifth, but are now five before Alli struck in the 84th minute, flicking Mahrez. The division’s top scorer, Vardy with Bournemouth. coach Rolland Courbis a 1-0 victory over Gazelec points below Tottenham Hotspur, who the ball over a defender’s head and volley- now has 16 league goals to his name and his Elsewhere, bottom club Aston Villa drew Ajaccio in his first game in charge on Friday. strengthened their grip on fourth place by ing home from the edge of the box. Chadli side have a three-point lead, but Manchester 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion. SPORT SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 31

Windies’ Chanderpaul

Manish Pandey goes for a big hit during the fifth ODI between India ends 22-year and Australia in Sydney yesterday. international career

AFP CRICKET: WEST INDIES’ BATSMAN RETIRES

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Bar- buda: Veteran West Indies’ batsman against Australia in June last year Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the sev- after making just 92 runs in the enth highest Test match run maker three Tests against England. in history, announced his inter- In his last 10 Test innings, he national retirement on Friday, 22 reached 50 just once. years after his debut. Chanderpaul posted a top score The 41-year-old former captain of 150 in his 268 ODIs, finishing from Guyana ends his Test career with an average of 41.60 with his on 11,867 runs, just 86 short of the last 50-over match coming in the West Indies all-time record held 2011 World Cup quarter-final loss by Brian Lara. to Pakistan in Dhaka. Chanderpaul, a gritty and stub- He made 8,778 one-day inter- born left-hander, made his debut national runs with 11 centuries. against England in March 1994, in Chanderpaul also played 22 Guyana, hitting a half-century as times for the West Indies in the the West Indies won by an innings Twenty20 format, but his last out- and 44 runs. ing was in 2010. His final Test was also against “The West Indies Cricket Board England last May in Barbados where (WICB) acknowledges the invalu- the West Indies won by five wickets able contribution Shiv has made to level a three-Test series against to the game globally and we wish Alastair Cook’s side. him all the best,” said WICB Pres- Chanderpaul’s highest score ident Dave Cameron. in his 164 Tests was 203 not out Despite his international retire- - he achieved that figure twice, ment, Shiv Chanderpaul has still against Bangladesh in Mirpur in been featuring for his regional Pandey’s debut ODI century 2012 and South Africa in Georget- team. own in 2005 and he finished with Last week, he was part of the an average of 51.37. Guyana side that lost in the semi- He hit a total of 30 Test cen- finals of the domestic 50-over turies and 66 fifties. tournament to Trinidad. Possibly, his finest moment Such was his determined nature saves India from whitewash came in 2003 when he made 104 at the crease that Australian spin as the West Indies successfully bowling legend Shane Warne once chased a world-record 418 for famously described him as “a bloke SCOREBOARD victory in the final Test against you needed to crowbar away from India record their CRICKET: INDIA VS Australia in Antigua. the crease.” AUSTRALIA - 5TH ODI But the writing was on the wall In 2008, Chanderpaul was AUSTRALIA INDIA fourth highest run for Chanderpaul when he was named as one of the five Cricket- chase to down A Finch lbw I Sharma 6 R Sharma c Wade b Hastings 99 dropped for the two-Test series ers of the Year by Wisden. D Warner c Jadeja b I Sharma 122 S Dhawan c S Marsh b Hastings 78 Aussies in thriller short of his third century in the series S Smith c R Sharma b Bumrah 28 V Kohli c Wade b Hastings 8 Shivnarine as they raised 123 runs in 18.2 overs. G Bailey c I Sharma b R Dhawan 6 M Pandey (not out) 104 Chanderpaul John Hastings dismissed Dhawan S Marsh (run out-Yadav) 7 M S Dhoni c Warner b M Marsh 34 and Virat Kohli (eight) in quick succes- Reuters sions to halt India’s progress and Rohit M Marsh (not out) 102 G Singh (not out) 0 left leaving India needing exactly 100 M Wade c Dhoni b Yadav 36 Extras (LB-3, W-5) 8

runs from 91 balls to win the contest. J Faulkner b Bumrah 1 Total (for 4 wkts in 49.4 overs) 331 With the required run-rate sky- J Hastings (not out) 2 Fall of wickets: 1-123, 2-134, 3-231, 4-325. SYDNEY: Manish Pandey struck his rocketing and skipper Mahendra Singh Extras (B-4, LB-7, W-8, NB-1) 20 Did not bat: R Jadeja, R Dhawan, J Bumrah, U maiden one-day century in a high- Dhoni (34) struggling to time the ball scoring thriller to secure India a at the other end, Pandey’s crisp hit- Total (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) 330 Yadav, I Sharma. pride-salvaging six-wicket victory ting left India needing 13 runs off the Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-64, 3-78, 4-117, 5-235, Bowling: Hastings 10-1-61-3 (2w); Boland 6-320, 7-323. against Australia in the fifth and final last over from Marsh. 10-0-58-0; Marsh 9.4-0-77-1 (2w); Faulkner ODI in Sydney yesterday. Marsh began with a wide and had Did not bat: S Boland, N Lyon. 10-0-54-0; Lyon 8-0-58-0 (1w); Smith 2-0- Staring at a series whitewash after his next hit out of the ground by Dhoni Bowling: I Sharma 10-0-60-2 (1nb); Yadav four defeats, India rode Pandey’s scin- but the Indian captain fell immediately 8-0-82-1 (1w); Bumrah 10-0-40-2; R Dhawan 20-0. tillating 104 off 81 balls to chase down to inject fresh drama in the contest. 10-0-74-1 (4w); R Jadeja 10-0-46-0 (1w); G Man-of-the-Match: Manish Pandey (IND) a 331-run victory target with two balls Pandey, however, was unfazed and Singh 2-0-17-0. Man-of-the-Series: Rohit Sharma (IND). to spare. Centuries from David Warner he hit the next ball for a boundary to (122) and Mitchell Marsh (102) helped first complete his century and then Australia post 330-7 but Pandey’s knock scurried for two for the winning run. runs short of a century in Wednes- Bumrah made an impressive debut, in his only fourth one-dayer clinched Earlier, Warner struck his fifth ODI day’s fourth ODI at Canberra but there the right-arm paceman with an unor- the contest for India. century and Mitchell Marsh notched up was no such heartbreak this time as thodox bowling action sending down India needed a strong start from his first to set up yet another runfest in the southpaw brought up his run-a- 10 tidy overs to claim 2-40 with some their openers to stay on course to chase a series that has provided 3,159 runs. ball century. tight death bowling. down such a big total and the visitors India’s much-maligned bowlers The 27-year-old opener was even- Pandey was adjudged man-of- got just that from Shikhar Dhawan (78) did well to reduce Australia to 117-4 tually dismissed for 122, that included the-match, while team mate Rohit and Rohit Sharma (99). in the 22nd over before Warner and thee sixes and nine boundaries, but won the man-of-the-series award Dhawan posted his third successive Marsh combined to add 118 runs in Marsh carried on to remain not out for the 441 runs he amassed in 50-plus score and Rohit fell agonisingly 17.3 overs. Warner had fallen seven on 102 off 84 balls For India, Jasprit five matches.

Malaysian shooter misses Porte wins stage, Gerrans closes in on Tour Down Under title out on Rio AFP STAGE FIVE RESULTS Games CYCLING: TOUR DOWN UNDER ADELAIDE: Richie Porte powered his 1. Richie Porte (AUS/BMC Racing) 3hr 34min 16sec Agencies way to win the fifth stage of the Tour 2. Sergio Henao (COL/Sky) +6sec Down Under on Willunga Hill yesterday “This is the toughest stage of the race 3. Michael Woods (CAN/Cannondale) +9 as fellow Australian Simon Gerrans con- and it’s generally where the GC (gen- 4. Diego Ulissi (ITA/Lampre-Merida) +17 solidated his hold on first place overall. eral classification) is decided,” Gerrans, 5. Rafael Valls (ESP/Lotto-Soudal) KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian With one day left in the season- who will be aiming for a record fourth 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP/Movistar) shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi, who opening UCI World Tour race, Orica Tour Down Under win, said of yester- 7. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/AG2R La Mondiale) competed at the London Olympics GreenEdge rider Gerrans leads Porte day’s stage. 8. Simon Gerrans (AUS/Orica GreenEDGE) while over seven months pregnant, (BMC Racing) by nine seconds with Porte conceded his chances of out- 9. Jarlinson Pantano (COL/IAM) has missed out on a place at the Rio Colombia’s Sergio Henao (Sky) a fur- sprinting Gerrans were remote at best. 10. Patrick Bevin (NZL/Cannondale) de Janeiro Games later this year as ther two seconds back in third. Yesterday’s stage started in the wine she is expecting her second child. The fifth stage of the Tour Down growing town of McLaren Vale and took CLASSIFICATION AFTER The 33-year-old was due to take Under, with two ascents of Willunga in three circuits of Aldinga Beach before STAGE FIVE part in the Asian Olympics Qualify- Hill, invariably produces the most excit- the ascents of Willunga Hill. ing Championships in New Delhi on ing racing of the week and generally Four riders, Dutchmen Lars Boom 1. Simon Gerrans (Australia / Orica) 17:16:31” Tuesday - her last chance to book a decides the overall winner. and Pim Ligthart, South Africa’s Rein- 2. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) +9” spot in Brazil - but was told not to It was no different yesterday as Porte ardt Janse van Rensburg and Portugal’s travel to India by her doctor with made his move with one kilometre of Nelson Oliveira broke away and at one 3. Sergio Henao (Colombia / Team Sky) +11” her baby expected in a month, the the second climb remaining, breaking stage led by six minutes. 4. Jay McCarthy (Australia / Tinkoff) +20” Malaysian Star reported yesterday. away from the peloton and holding off a But as the first climb up Willunga 5. Michael Woods (Canada / Cannondale) Suryani, the 2010 Common- desperate Henao and Canadian Michael Hill approached their lead had been 6. Ruben Fernandez (Spain / Movistar) +28” wealth Games gold medallist and a Woods (Cannondale) to win in front of whittled down to two-and-a-half min- 7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) 8. Rafael Valls (Spain / Lotto) +36” navy logistics officer, became one thousands of fans. utes and they were finally caught on the Australian cyclist Richie 9. Steve Morabito (Switzerland / FDJ) +49” of the stories of the 2012 London Gerrans trailed in 17 seconds behind approach to the second climb. Porte winning the fifth Olympics when she came 34th in the the winner but his overnight advantage With one kilometre to go on the 10. Patrick Bevin (New Zealand / Cannon- stage of the Tour Down 10 metre air rifle while so heavily of 36 seconds over Porte was enough to ascent Porte attacked. Henao went dale)+50” Under on Willunga Hill pregnant. In doing so, she became ensure he takes the ochre leader’s jersey with him but with 300 metres remaining the first Malaysian shooter to com- into Sunday’s final stage, a 90-kilometre Porte kicked again and the Colombian yesterday. pete at an Olympics. circuit through the streets of Adelaide. couldn’t respond. 32 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Late birdies boost McIlroy in Abu Dhabi

GOLF: ABU DHABI ABU DHABI SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP Late eagle helps ROUND SCORES Irishman to finish the weather-interrupted He made the two-foot eagle putt to 134 Andy Sullivan (ENG) 67-67 sign for a two-under 70 and eight-under 136 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66-70, Bry- second round just total to sit two adrift of Sullivan (67). son DeChambeau (USA) 64-72 two shots behind I said, let’s finish 3-3 and I was 137 Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) leader Sullivan able to. I knew 18 was a chance and 70-67, Joost Luiten (NED) 17 playing downwind, I would have 69-68, Robert Rock (ENG) a wedge in there,” said McIlroy, who 70-67, Byeong-hun An (KOR) switched to a five-wood from a driver 69-68, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) for the pivotal shot on 18. 68-69, David Howell (ENG) Reuters “I felt it was downwind and if I 68-69, Henrik Stenson (SWE) had let the driver get a little bit right 65-72 at all I had a chance of going into 138 Peter Hanson (SWE) 69-69, the water. Rickie Fowler (USA) 70-68, ABU DHABI: McIlroy grazed the pin “I couldn’t hole from outside two Martin Kaymer (GER) 69-69, from nearly 270 yards on the final hole feet so I thought I’d hit a couple of Richard Bland (ENG) 67-71 of his fog-delayed second round at the shots within two feet on the last two Abu Dhabi Championship yesterday, holes. It glossed over a pretty aver- 139 Richie Ramsay (SCO) 73-66, Bra- before settling for a tap in eagle and age round.” dley Dredge (WAL) 72-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-67, David a place in the leading threesome for McIlroy and his playing partners Horsey (ENG) 71-68, Ian Poul- the afternoon’s third round. - US Masters champion Jordan Spieth ter (ENG) 70-69, Trevor Fisher Such a scenario seemed improb- and world number six Rickie Fowler Jr (RSA) 69-70, Matthew Fitz- able 20 minutes earlier when the - were among 60 golfers resuming patrick (ENG) 68-71, Fabrizio four-times major winner was one- their second round after fog delayed Zannotti (PAR) 70-69, Matthew over after 16 holes, five strokes behind Friday’s start and meant they couldn’t Baldwin (ENG) 69-70, Wade clubhouse leader Andy Sullivan, and finish that day. Jordan Spieth (left) of the US, compatriot Rickie Fowler (centre) and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy during Ormsby (AUS) 69-70 facing his first birdie-less round since Yesterday’s start was also held May’s Irish Open. back because of poor visibility. The the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club yesterday. 140 Johan Carlsson (SWE) 69-71, Then the Northern Irishman made 26-year-old McIlroy, though, had a Niclas Fasth (SWE) 68-72, Branden Grace (RSA) 66-74, a birdie three on 17 after hitting the title challenger in clear view. greens. The game feels good, good on eight-under - will tee off again at The third round began at 1.35 pm, Brett Rumford (AUS) 73-67, Mar- pin from distance before a 268-yard “I’m hitting the ball well tee to enough to win this week.” 3.35 p.m (1135 GMT). so few players are likely to complete 18 cel Siem (GER) 72-68, James fairway wood on the par-five 18th green,” he said. “I feel there were a McIlroy, England’s Sullivan and Seven players including world holes before dusk falls around 6 pm. Morrison (ENG) 72-68, Roope almost landed him a career-first couple of misreads rather than actu- US amateur Bryson DeChambeau - number five Henrik Stenson will resume Spieth (73) is three-under, Fowler Kakko (FIN) 72-68 albatross. ally anything that was wrong on the whose second-round 72 also put him on seven-under. (68) is six-under. Dufner grabs halfway lead at La Quinta

AFP a group sharing third on 132. He was CAREERBUILDER CHAL- GOLF: CAREERBUILDER joined by overnight co-leader Anirban CHALLENGE Lahiri of India, who shot 68, Cana- LENGE SCORES LOS ANGELES: Jason Dufner, seek- da’s Adam Hadwin (66), Jason Gore ing a first US PGA Tour title since his (64) and Andrew Loupe (66). 129 Jason Dufner 64-65 major triumph at the 2013 PGA Cham- of the next three and parred the last Five-time major champion Phil 130 Jamie Lovemark 65-65 pionship, fired a seven-under par 65 four to equal the best score of the week Mickelson headlined a group sharing on Friday to take a one-shot lead in on that course. eighth on 133 after a 65 on the Nick- 132 Adam Hadwin (CAN) 66-66, Jason Gore 68-64, Andrew Loupe 66-66, the CareerBuilder Challenge. “It’s a difficult golf course,” Dufner laus Tournament Course. Anirban Lahiri (IND) 64-68, Bill Haas Dufner had eight birdies in his said. “There’s a little bit of room to play He was joined at 11-under by 66-66 round on the TPC Stadium Course at off the tee, but if you get off the path a Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, Michael PGA West in La Quinta, in the south- little bit, you can get into some trou- Thompson, Brian Harman, Brendan 133 Angel Cabrera (ARG) 67-66, Phil ern California desert, the toughest of ble. ... It’s definitely the most difficult Steele, Ryan Palmer and John Huh Mickelson 68-65, Michael Thomp- three par-72 layouts in use over the first of the courses we have played here.” -- who carded an eight-under 64 on son 66-67, Brian Harman 67-66, three days of the $5.8m tournament. Lovemark teed off on 10 and the Tournament Course. Mickelson, Brendan Steele 68-65, Ryan Palmer His 36-hole total of 15-under par enjoyed a round highlighted by an teeing it up for the first time since Sep- 67-66, John Huh 69-64 129 put him one stroke in front of Jamie eagle at the par-four first, where he tember, said he’s still not 100 percent 134 Francesco Molinari (ITA) 67-67, Matt Lovemark, who carded a seven-under holed a shot from 105 yards out. confident in his game. Kuchar 67-67, Jerry Kelly 64-70, 65 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course “Got a little tired coming down the But he still thought he had a shot Colt Knost 65-69 for 130. Dufner got off to a blazing stretch,” admitted Lovemark, who also at adding a third title to the ones he 135 Charles Howell 68-67, Ben Crane start on the Stadium Course, back in had six birdie and a bogey.”There’s captured here in 2002 and 2004. 66-69, Webb Simpson 70-65, Jeff the tournament rotation for the first some long rounds out here.” “I’m probably a week away, if I’m Jason Dufner plays his tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round Overton 64-71, Rod Pampling (AUS) time since 1987, with six birdies in the Defending champion Bill Haas, a being honest,” Mickelson said. “But I’ve of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the Stadium course at PGA West in La 69-66 first nine holes. two-time winner of the event, carded also won with a lot less game than I Quinta, California on Friday. After a bogey at 10 he birdied two a second straight 66 and was among have right now.” AFC U23 Championship mascot Horse Show ‘Najim’ spends busy time in Doha

The Peninsula

DOHA: With just one week remain- ing in the AFC U23 Championship, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) yesterday continued promoting the hugely popular event by taking the official mascot ‘Najim’ across schools and other institutions across the country. Action from the Qatar National Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse The 16-team event, which began Show at Katara yesterday. on January 12, will end on January 30. The promotional activities include LOC members visiting schools, uni- versities and reaching out to various communities in Qatar. The official mascot ‘Najim’ has accompanied the LOC delega- tion to various schools, offices and major tourist attraction sports in the country. Najim has also visited the four event The AFC U-23 Championship mascot ‘Najim’, is seen along with school students in Doha. The Local Organising venues namely Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Grand Hamad Stadium, Jas- Committee (LOC) yesterday continued promoting the hugely popular event by taking the official mascot sim Bin Hamad Stadium and Qatar ‘Najim’ across schools and other institutions across the country. Sports Club Stadium. Taking pictures with ‘Najim’ has to finish among the top three at the Najim so far has visited the follow- school Doha & Qatar University, Aspire emerged as the most popular of all three-week event. ing places in Qatar are Khalifa Primary park & Villagio Mall, Qatar Olympic activities, LOC officials said. Other stopovers include Montazah School, Al Noor School , Althukheera team training Aspire zone, Shafal- A little over 10 days ago, LOC del- Independent School for Boys, Qatar Primary School, Al Manar Primary lah Centre, Al Hekma international egation visited Al Noor Institute for University, Sudanese Wisdom Inter- School , Alandalus Primary School, School, Corniche & Katara, Opening the Blind where once again “Najim” national School and the International Landmark Mall, Dhreima & Global Ceremony of AFC U23, Newton Inter- was the centre of attention with those School of Choueifat. Academy, Soud bin Abdulrahman national school & Pearling school, BEIN present at the gathering. Hosts Qatar are one of 16 teams fea- Primary School, Mashuq Al Haq Bang- sport & Katara, AFC U23 media Centre LOC members gave details on the turing at the event and have qualified ladeshi School, Al Montazah primary for Qatar vs Iran Match and Museum event and why teams will be looking for the semi-finals along with Japan. school, Sudanese school, Philippine Islamic Art Park. SPORT SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 33

Cespedes to Warriors welcome Kerr with win stay with NY Mets: Reports

Jordan continues Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (centre) is fouled Agencies by Indiana Pacers forward Lavoy Allen (left) in the second supreme form to help quarter of their NBA game in Oakland, on Friday. LA Clippers rout New NEW YORK: The New York Mets have reached an agreement on a new York Knicks contract with slugger Yoenis Ces- pedes, according to multiple reports including Major League Baseball’s website on Friday. The new deal is reported to be AFP a three-year contract worth $75m and will have an opt out clause after the first season. Cespedes was a coveted free LOS ANGELES: The Golden State War- agent after a career year that saw riors welcomed head coach Steve Kerr him hit .291 with 35 home runs and back to the bench for the first time this 105 RBIs. season with a 122-110 NBA victory over The 30-year-old outfielder the Indiana Pacers on Friday. started the year with the Detroit Kerr, who had been sidelined by Tigers before being traded to the complications from pre-season back Mets in July. surgery, slipped seamlessly back into He helped New York reach the place, his return overshadowed by the World Series, where they lost to the stunning dismissal of head coach David Kansas City Royals. Blatt by the Cleveland Cavaliers -- the Meanwhile, Texas Rangers team Kerr and the Warriors beat in the pitcher Yu Darvish denies any NBA Finals last season. involvement with gambling despite The Cavs sent shockwaves through his brother’s arrest in Japan for oper- the league when the sent Blatt pack- ating an illegal gambling ring on ing, despite owning a 30-11 record that US and Japanese baseball games. puts them atop the Eastern Confer- Darvish, a 29-year-old right- ence standings. hander, is under investigation by “It’s a tough business when you go Major League Baseball after the 30-11 and you get fired (after) you get Japan Times reported Sho Darvish’s to the Finals the year before,” Kerr said. arrest in October after a year-long “It’s crazy.” The Cavaliers promoted investigation. associate coach Tyronn Lue to head Police said Sho Darvish accepted coach, with general manager David problem for the Warriors, who thrived sure that glorious performance was torrid shooting for the Los Ange- 1,850 wagers valued at about $85 Griffin saying that despite their record, under interim coach Luke Walton as NBA ROUND-UP only a fond memory for Bryant and les Clippers making all seven of his each, with no indication any of the the team was “regressing”. Kerr recovered from the after effects the Los Angeles Lakers. shots -- all dunks -- in a 116-88 rout games involved were those of the “There’s a lack of spirit and con- of a spinal fluid leak, which left him The Spurs dominated the Lakers of the New York Knicks at Madison Rangers. nectedness that I just couldn’t accept,” with debilitating headaches. Walton, obviously. 108-95, rolling to their 13th straight Square Garden. Yu Darvish denied any involve- Griffin said. That’s certainly not a Friday’s victory took their record to “We adjusted and held the fort down victory. Jordan scored 20 points to help the ment with gambling or his brother’s 40-4. It was their 20th straight win on while Coach Kerr was out, but just his Argentine veteran Manu Ginobili Clippers hand the Knicks their most activities. their home floor in Oakland this sea- presence, his voice, mannerisms on scored a season-high 20 points and lopsided defeat of the season. “I am not and have never been NBA RESULTS son -- and their 38th straight at home the bench, pre-game, all that stuff was Kawhi Leonard added 18 for the Spurs, He did see his league-leading streak involved with gambling activities,” Charlotte 120 Orlando 116 in a streak dating back to last year. like it’s supposed to be.” who improved to 38-6. of double-doubles end at 11 games as Darvish said. Boston 110 Chicago 101 “I’ve been waiting for this for a very Forward Draymond Green added 22 The Lakers paid homage during he finished with eight rebounds. “While I understand that Major long time,” said Kerr, who received points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors, the game to Bryant’s 2006 outburst Jordan also got his eighth technical League Baseball must conduct an Utah 108 Brooklyn 86 a warm ovation from fans at Oracle who remained ahead of the 38-6 San against the Raptors -- the second- foul of the season after tangling with investigation, I am certain that they LA Clippers 116 NY Knicks 88 Arena. Stephen Curry, who produced Antonio Spurs in the fight for the best highest scoring performance in NBA Knicks starting center Robin Lopez, will find that I had no involvement Toronto 101 Miami 81 a triple-double of 39 points, 12 assists record in the league, with the West- history behind the 100-point game of who was ejected from the game. in this matter whatsoever. I will not Houston 102 Milwaukee 98 and 10 rebounds, said having Kerr back ern Conference powerhouses due to Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. Jordan had come to teammate Chris comment on this matter again, out Oklahoma City 109 Dallas 106 on the bench “just felt like normal”. face off tomorrow. But 10 years on Bryant managed Paul’s defense after Lopez smacked of respect for Major League Base- “We had a great year last year with On the 10th anniversary of Kobe just five points on 2-of-9 shooting with the Clippers point guard in the mouth. ball’s investigation, and I am focused Golden State 122 Indiana 110 him running the ship,” Curry said. Bryant’s epic 81-point game against six assists in 27 minutes. “Chris is the smallest dude on the on preparing for the upcoming sea- San Antonio 108 LA Lakers 95 “It was a little different with Coach Toronto, the San Antonio Spurs made DeAndre Jordan continued his floor,” Jordan said. son,” he added. Miller’s brace sinks Hurricanes

Agencies points (three goals, five assists) and NHL ROUND-UP 10 penalty minutes in 40 games this season. The Sabres also recalled for- ward Cal O’Reilly from the Rochester NEW YORK: J T Miller scored twice 71st career shutout, breaking a tie for Americans of the American Hockey in the second period as the New York 11th place in NHL history. league. O’Reilly, 29, appeared in two Rangers defeated the Carolina Hur- Islanders 5, Senators 2 games with the Sabres in December. ricanes 4-1 at PNC Arena. The New York Islanders scored The Edmonton Oilers placed Defencemen Ryan McDonagh and three unanswered goals in the third defenceman Brandon Davidson on Keith Yandle also scored for the Rang- period to defeat the Ottawa Senators injured reserve. Davidson, 24, exited ers (26-16-5), who have won three of 5-2 at Canadian Tire Centre. Thursday night’s 3-2 loss to the Dal- their last four games. Travis Hamonic broke a 2-2 tie las Stars with an undisclosed injury. Red Wings 3, Sabres 0 before John Tavares and Kyle Okposo He has recorded five points (two Dylan Larkin scored with 7:59 provided some padding as the Island- goals, three assists) and 18 penalty remaining and goalie Petr Mrazek ers (25-16-6) won for the third time minutes in 34 games in the ongo- made 19 saves to lead the Detroit Red in four games. ing season. The Oilers also recalled Wings to a 3-0 win over the Buffalo Avalanche 2, Blues 1 (shootout) defenseman Griffin Reinhart from the Sabres. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Rein- Henrik Zetterberg scored twice had 33 saves through overtime and hart, 21, has appeared in 14 games for the Red Wings (24-15-8), who had stopped three more in the shootout, with Bakersfield this season, register- lost two in a row. It was Mrazek’s third and the Colorado Avalanche rallied ing five points (one goal, four assists) shutout of the season and the eighth to beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1. and 12 penalty minutes. of his career. Nathan MacKinnon had the tying Panthers 4, Blackhawks 0 goal in the final minute of regulation New York Rangers forward J T The Florida Panthers broke a four- and Gabriel Landeskog had the only NHL RESULTS Miller (centre) scores a second game losing streak by defeating the score in the shootout. Detroit 3 Buffalo 0 period goal against Carolina Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 at the BB&T Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres NY Rangers 4 Carolina 1 Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack Center. placed centre Zemgus Girgensons on NY Islanders 5 Ottawa 2 (right) during their NHL game Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo injured reserve Friday with an upper- Florida 4 Chicago 0 at PNC Arena on Friday. earned the win, beating Chicago body injury. backup Scott Darling. It was Luongo’s Girgensons, 22, has recorded eight Colorado 2 St Louis 1 Super Bowl spot on the line as New England visit Denver Broncos

Reuters Hall of Famers will clash on the Amer- trophy just once in three Super Bowls. yards for the fifth straight season and teams. These are two organisations ican gridiron and since the matchup NFL: AFC PREVIEW When it comes to individual acco- led the NFL in touchdown tosses with that know better than most what it was set the focus has not strayed from lades Brady cannot match Manning’s 36. Manning in comparison has had takes to get to the Super Bowl, the the quarterbacking giants. resume but with a win Sunday will a forgettable campaign, missing six Patriots looking to make a record ninth NEW YORK: A spot in Super Bowl Both Brady, 38, and Manning, a For all his greatness Manning has be chasing a fifth Super Bowl ring games with a plantar fascia injury trip to the championship game while 50 will be on the line when the New creaking 39-year-old, may be on the not always been able to produce his to go along with three Super Bowl that has raised questions about his the Broncos are bidding for a record- England Patriots visit the Denver Bron- downward slope of brilliant careers best when the spotlight is brightest MVP awards. playing future. tying eighth. cos today, but the stage will belong but the rivalry, hyped to the extreme, while Brady seems to have been born Playing with a chip on his shoul- The rivalry has taken on the aura of Julian Edelman returned last week to Tom Brady-Peyton Manning XVII. still holds an undeniable allure. for the big stage. der after last season’s “Deflategate” a heavyweight title fight, even though for the play-off game against Kansas For a decade NFL fans have The numbers alone are spell- Manning owns the records for scandal over the use of under-inflated the two men are never in the ring at City after sitting out two months with debated who is better, Brady or Man- binding. Brady holds a considerable passing yards and touchdowns and footballs tarnished the Patriots’ Super the same time and have both made a foot injury and caught 10 passes ning, and today’s outcome is not likely 11-5 advantage in their head-to-head a trophy case packed with a five NFL Bowl celebrations, Brady has per- it clear it is the Patriots against the for 100 yards, while tight end Rob end that discussion. The AFC confer- meetings but in the postseason they most valuable player awards but is an formed like a man with something Broncos, not Manning v Brady. Gronkowski, who has scored in his ence championship will mark the 17th, are 2-2 with Manning coming out on underwhelming 12-13 in postseason to prove. Almost lost in the Manning-Brady last four play-off games, remains a and perhaps final, time the two future top in the last two meetings. play and hoisted the Vince Lombardi Brady threw for more than 4,000 hoopla are two Super Bowl calibre frightening force. 34 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Djokovic eyes quarters berth on return to Rod Laver Arena

World No.1 to meet Lleyton Hewitt (right) and Sam Groth, both of Australia, celebrate Simon today as during their men’s doubles match against Henri Kontinen of Finland Federer takes on and John Peers of Australia at the Australian Open yesterday. Belgian Goffin Vika’s ‘Dab’ and Novak’s Reuters dates with destiny Vika does the ‘Dab’ MELBOURNE: Defending champion Victoria Azarenka is an admirer of street fashions so it’s no surprise she’s cele- Novak Djokovic returns to Rod Laver brating her wins by doing the ‘Dab’, the dance move which is fast infiltrating the Arena for clash against Gilles Simon world of sports. The Belarusian, who formerly dated musician Redfoo, stops with today as he looks to seal his place in her face buried in one arm and the other pointing out to the side, in a move that’s the quarter-finals of the Australian been seen in American football and the English Premier League. “I ain’t stopping... Open for the ninth year in a row. if I’m winning, I’m doing it,” said the two-time champion, who has been barely The Serbian world number one, troubled heading into the fourth round. Streetwise Azarenka has also released farmed out to Margaret Court Arena for a video which is intended to announce her return to form, showing her spraying his third round victory over Andreas graffiti and riding a motorbike and set to a thumping soundtrack. Seppi, has yet to lose a set in the tour- Production error nament but might find that record Novak Djokovic’s recorded tribute to Lleyton Hewitt was left out of his official retire- under threat against the indefatiga- ment montage because of a “production error”, Tennis Australia has explained, ble Frenchman. adding that it had apologised to the Serbian world number one’s team. “Due to a In a high quality opening session production error unfortunately the wrong video was shown on the night. Novak’s on the main stadium court, the five- message was recorded on a different day to the other players so there were a times champion’s fourth round match couple of versions made,” Australia’s tennis body said, according to the Herald follows that of his counterpart in the Sun. “The full version, which included Novak, went up online last night and we’ve women’s draw, Serena Williams. apologised to Novak’s team.” The absence of Djokovic from the tributes video Williams, who already has six -- which featured Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios -- Melbourne Park titles in her trophy sparked speculation of a possible rift between the Serb and Hewitt, who retired cabinet, has been similarly untrou- on Thursday after defeat by David Ferrer. bled in reaching the last 16 and can be Dates with destiny Gilles Simon of France celebrates his win against Federico Delbonis of Argentina after their third round expected to easily deal with 21-year- Djokovic has also revealed one of the reasons he’s among the fittest men on tour old number 58 Margarita Gasparyan. match at the Australian Open on Thursday. RIGHT: Novak Djokovic of Serbia bites on a racquet during play -- dates. The super-fit Serb chews on the sweet fruit during matches to give him Gasparyan’s rather more successful against Andreas Seppi of Italy during their third round match on Thursday. Both will clash today for a place energy without sugar highs and lows. Gluten-free Djokovic was known for fra- compatriot Maria Sharapova, the 2008 in the quarter-finals. gility early in his career but now he’s one of the toughest competitors around. “I champion, opens the day on Rod Laver do really pay a lot of attention to nutrition. More than that, it’s my passion and Arena with an intriguing intergener- to the court when he meets Belgian last year’s French Open is on Hisense it’s my hobby,” he said. “Dates are something that I’ve been consuming on the ational battle against Swiss teenager TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN David Goffin in the final match of Arena. court for a while now. But, you know, people get to see what we eat and drink on Belinda Bencic. Parochial concerns OPEN PREVIEW the day. Women’s fourth seed Agnieszka the court and think that that’s giving us the hydration or the energy, sustained mean Australia’s Daria Garvrilova takes Sixth seed Tomas Berdych takes Radwanska also plays on Hisense as energy, throughout the match. But it’s actually what you do before that is even the spotlight in the evening primetime on Roberto Bautista Agut out on Mar- she faces Anna-Lena Friedsam, who more important: the way you hydrate yourself, prepare yourself, what you eat slot in Melbourne Park’s biggest arena garet Court Arena, while seventh seed upset US Open runner-up Roberta the hours before, how much you sleep and all these things.” for her contest against 10th seed Carla Four-times champion Roger Fed- Kei Nishikori’s attempt to avenge his Vinci in round three, for a place in Suarez Navarro. erer restores some Grand Slam pedigree five-set loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the last eight. In-form Azarenka thriving on the Grand Slam pressure

AFP After a torrid two years battling using her nerves to her advantage. up the match when Osaka sent a dou- injuries, the 14th seed is back on a roll “Don’t tell me nobody as an ath- ble-handed backhand wide. and is a clear threat to world number lete isn’t nervous before the match,” Azarenka was just warming up and one and defending champion Serena she said she began turning on the style with MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka Williams, who she could meet in the “It’s just what you do for the nerves. some blistering forehands and effective said yesterday she is thriving on the final. Do you use them for your advantage and net work to break again in the fourth pressure at the Australian Open, chan- “I’m pretty happy with the way I’m hype you up and use that adrenaline game and again in the seventh. nelling her energy to good effect as she playing. I just want to still keep improv- to your power, or use it to close in and Osaka, who was born in the city swept into the fourth-round. ing from match to match, because it’s not to do anything?” The combination of the same name but moved to New The former world number one was only getting harder from here,” she said, was too much for Japan’s 18-year-old York as a young child, could only watch in ominous touch as she thrashed Japa- revealing she hit the practice court Osaka, who has a Haitian father and and learn from a player peaking at the nese qualifier Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-1 in immediately after the match. has lived most of her life in the United right time as Azarenka wrapped up 56 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to make “I wanted to work on couple of States, and barely speaks Japanese. the set with a drive volley. Azarenka it eight consecutive last-16 appear- things. So looking for progression, She turned heads after coolly remained in control in the second set ances at Melbourne Park. it’s definitely part of my mindset after working her way past 18th seed Elina and she broke the Japanese teen’s first It opens up a path to the quarter- any match.” Svitolina in the second round, but the service game and held before Osaka finals for the Belarusian, with Spanish Azarenka said part of her intensity learning curve was too steep for the finally won another game, earning third seed Garbine Muguruza no longer and focus on court came from thriv- world number 127 against the accom- generous applause from the crowd. Victoria Azarenka of a concern after she was shocked by ing on big-match pressure, a trait that plished Azarenka. However it was one-way traffic Belarus celebrates Czech veteran Barbora Strycova in should serve her well the deeper she Against the odds, Osaka broke to from there as Azarenka raced to an after defeating Naomi straight sets. goes in the tournament. love in the first game, causing gasps easy win in less than an hour. Osaka of Japan in their Azarenka, 27, has been in top early- “I love it, I embrace it. Pressure for from the crowd who had only just wit- Nicknamed “Vika” and renowned third round match at season form, winning the Brisbane me, I think it’s part of where I came nessed Muguruza’s upset by Strycova. in the past for fiery on-court outbursts, the Australian Open International and racing through her from. I always had pressure,” said the But it was a minor hiccup for the Azarenka won the tournament in 2012 yesterday. opening three matches in Melbourne 27-year-old, who grew up in Minsk, Belarusian who, grunting at full vol- and defended the following year at for the loss of just five games. adding that she had also worked on ume, quickly recovered and evened what is her most successful Grand Slam.

‘Aussie’ Konta wins over crowds Shocking Serena’s ‘threat’

Reuters other nations, particularly those who end up representing arch-rival Brit- ain, is difficult for sports-obsessed Australia to swallow. MELBOURNE: Johanna Konta (pic- Konta has been compared by local tured) spurned the country of her media to Laura Robson, who was born birth to play tennis for Britain but the in Melbourne but ended up winning a Sydney-born 24-year-old has enjoyed mixed doubles silver medal for Team huge support from the Melbourne Park GB at the London Games. crowds during her run to the Austral- Australia, however, has also ian Open fourth round. embraced foreign-born tennis play- After upsetting Venus Williams ers, with Muscovite Daria Gavrilova in her opening round match, Konta switching nationality from Russia only said she had no intentions of switch- weeks ago -- just in time to help her ing allegiance back to Australia but know if that’s a British contingent here adopted nation win the Hopman Cup there was no cold shoulder from the or if that’s from my Australian roots,” and also make a run to the fourth round crowd at Hisense Arena yesterday. Konta told reporters. at Melbourne Park. Konta demolished 66th-ranked “I’m just very grateful for all the Other players with more tenuous Czech Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-2, people that do come out. Whether they links have been ‘adopted’, includ- making her the first British woman are supporting me or the player I’m ing Belgian four-times grand slam to reach the last 16 in Australia since playing against, it’s always good to champion Kim Clijsters, who was affec- Barbora Strycova of Czech Republic in action against Gabine Muguruza of Spain during their third Jo Durie in 1987. have a lot of people around. It brings tionately known as ‘Aussie Kim’ due round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. The un-seeded Czech shocked Muguruza, “I have been amazed with how good energy.” to her relationship with local cham- one of the few women capable of ‘threatening’ champion Serena Williams. Strycova won 6-3, 6-2. much support I’ve gotten, but I don’t The loss of locally born athletes to pion Lleyton Hewitt. SPORT SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 35

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS Men’s Singles Third Round Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) Gael Monfils (FRA x23) bt Stephane Robert (FRA) 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 Milos Raonic (CAN x13) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB x21) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x4) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) David Ferrer (ESP x8) bt Steve John- son (USA x31) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 John Isner (USA x10) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP x18) 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4 Andy Murray (GBR) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 Women’s Singles Third Round Angelique Kerber (GER x7) bt Madi- son Brengle (USA) 6-1, 6-3 Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball to Annika Beck (GER) bt Laura Siegem- Joao Sousa of Portugal during their third und (GER) 6-0, 6-4 round match at the Australian Open Grand Victoria Azarenka (BLR x14) bt Naomi Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Osaka (JPN) 6-1, 6-1 yesterday. Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Garbine Muguruza (ESP x3) 6-3, 6-2 Johanna Konta (GBR) bt Denisa Aller- tova (CZE) 6-2, 6-2 Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x21) bt Karo- lina Pliskova (CZE x9) 6-3, 6-2 Madison Keys (USA x15) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB x20) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Varvara Lep- chenko (USA) 6-1, 6-3

ORDER OF PLAY ROD LAVER ARENA Collapse of Murray’s father-in-law 5-Maria Sharapovsa (Russia) vs 1 2 - B e l i n d a B e n c i c ( S w i t z e r l a n d ) 1-Serena Williams (U.S.) vs Margarita Gasparyan (Russia) 1-Novsak Djokovsic (Serbia) vs 14-Gilles Simon (France) FROM 0800 GMT sours Briton’s day at Aussie Open 10-Carla Suarez Navsarro (Spain) vs Daria Gavsrilovsa (Australia) 3-Roger Federer (Switzerland) vs 15-Davsid Goffin (Belgium) MARGARET COURT ARENA Ivanovic’s coach Sears Not before 0530 GMT 24-Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) vs taken to hospital as 6-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) third seed Muguruza HISENSE ARENA crashes out of the 9-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) vs 7-Kei tournament Nishikori (Japan) NOT BEFORE 0600 GMT 4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) vs Anna-Lena Friedsam (Germany) Reuters QUOTES OF THE DAY “Clearly not my best, for sure. I think MELBOURNE: The Australian Open today is a very bad day at the office.” tennis championships were rocked - Third seed Garbine Muguruza late yesterday when Andy Murray’s who was knocked out in the third father-in-law Nigel Sears collapsed round by Czech Barbora Strycova. during a match at Rod Laver Arena, “It’s not the first time that mistake overshadowing the world number two’s has been made. It’s all good. I’m defi- advance to the fourth round. nitely playing for Great Britain.” Sears, the coach of former French - Sydney-born Johanna Konta, who Open champion Ana Ivanovic, collapsed now plays for Britain, when told a while watching the Serb’s third-round Google search shows an Austral- clash against Madison Keys, prompting ian flag next to her name. medical staff to rush to the 58-year- Nigel Sears, coach of Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, is carried away on a stretcher after he collapsed during Ivanovic’s third round match against Madison “The ref was telling me he couldn’t old’s aid. hear it. I could blatantly hear it. So Adding to the surreal atmosphere Keys of the US causing play to be suspended, at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Australia, yesterday. RIGHT: Ivanovic gestures on the bench after her match was suspended following a medical emergency with Sears. unless tennis, you can start playing at Melbourne Park, Briton Murray was tennis when there’s music in the back- oblivious to the unfolding drama as he ground, that’s a new rule. They need battled Portugal’s Joao Sousa in the to add it to the rule book.” neighbouring Margaret Court Arena. . “Obviously it was a tough match,” also suspended after a spectator fell Wawrinka notched his 400th career - Combustible Australian Nick Kyr- Play was suspended for an hour Ivanovic said in a statement after declin- down the stairs at the same show court TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN win with a triumph over Czech Lukas WRAP-UP gios who complained about being at Rod Laver Arena, as Sears received ing post-match media commitments. on Thursday. Murray also skipped the Rosol 6-2 6-3 7-6(3). distracted by music in the crowd treatment before being fitted with “I really wanted to win and have post-match media conference and the The Swiss fourth seed has been during his third round loss. breathing apparatus and carried from a chance to come back... Obviously a Scot’s only comment was confined to battling a cold at Melbourne Park “Last few days I couldn’t really talk, the stadium on a stretcher. little bit disappointed.” his match. “It was tricky. I didn’t feel Melbourne Park. The 2014 champion but his game was in rude health as maybe too many cigars. I don’t really He was taken to hospital for further Murray, whose wife Kim Sears is great,” he said in a statement. “It was Stan Wawrinka also reached the last he smashed 18 aces and 45 winners need my voice -- if I can talk, I talk treatment and was being examined by due to give birth to their first child next good to get through that one.” 16, staying on track for a blockbuster in the late afternoon sunshine at Rod too much shit.” a cardiologist, organisers said. month, completed a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 The medical emergency overshad- semi-final against Murray. Laver Arena. - Stan Wawrinka excuses himself A teary-eyed Ivanovic was eventu- win over 32nd seed Sousa and was led owed the action on day six which saw Muguruza, rated one of the few “As long as I’m feeling good on the from an on-court interview. ally led back to centre court to continue straight from the court by an official Spanish third seed Garbine Mugu- women capable of threatening cham- court, that’s the most important thing,” her match against Keys and although rather than conduct the usual courtside ruza dumped out of the tournament pion Serena Williams, slumped out at a raspy-voiced Wawrinka said. “I am good from behind.” the Serb fought hard she fell 4-6, 6-4, interview. In an unnerving coincidence, and Victoria Azarenka given a huge the hands of unseeded Czech Barbora The 30-year-old Swiss must next - An unfortunate double entendre 6-4. Ivanovic’s second round match was boost in her bid to win a third title at Strycova, her 6-3, 6-2 loss punching weather the serving storm of dark horse from Russian-born Australian Daria Gavrilova, who is increasingly pop- a hole in the draw. With Romanian Milos Raonic, who despatched Cana- ular with home fans. world number two Simona Halep sent da’s Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 at the packing in the opening round, seventh Margaret Court Arena. seed Angelique Kerber remains the A quarter-finalist last year, 13th OPEN AT A GLANCE top woman in the draw’s lower half. seed Raonic dedicated his win to vic- Switzerland’s - Ana Ivanovic’s coach Nigel Sears, But the path to a dream final against tims of a school shooting in the remote Stan Wawrinka the father-in-law of Andy Murray, Williams seems laid out for 14th seed Canadian town of La Loche, where in medical emergency mid-match hits a shot Azarenka. A succession of injuries over four people were killed and a number on Rod Laver Arena during his third the past two years and a bout of depres- injured on Friday. - Murray, playing on an adjacent round match sion have slowed the Belarussian, who “Stuff like this doesn’t happen much against Czech court, overcomes Portugal’s Joao clinched back-to-back titles at Mel- back home,” he told reporters. Sousa in four sets to reach the Republic’s bourne Park in 2012-13. “I’m sure not just in that small com- fourth round Lukas Rosol at But her 6-1, 6-1 humiliation of munity but throughout Canada it was the Australian Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka was a lot of people that were sort of heart- - An emotional Milos Raonic dedi- Open her eighth win in succession and fur- broken over it.” cates his win to the victims of a high yesterday. ther evidence the sleeping giant has With a number of high seeds falling school shooting in Canada which awakened. by the wayside, doors opened for lesser left four dead “I had a lot of changes and emo- lights to shine. Among them, Australia- - Victoria Azarenka continues her tions from last year that I still didn’t born Johanna Konta defeated Czech relentless march towards a third know how to handle,” the 26-year- Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-2 to become Australian Open title old told reporters. the first British woman into the last 16 - Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka beats “It changed my life... Starting to be at Melbourne Park in nearly 30 years. Czech Lukas Rosol to set up Raonic happy and organised and disciplined Zhang Shuai, the last Chinese player showdown off the court, it changed my life on the left in the singles tournament, con- court, definitely.” tinued her fairytale run to reach the - Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai beats Following Roger Federer’s 300th fourth round, having never previously Varvara Lepchenko to extend her victory in Grand Slams on day five been past the first round of a Grand fairytale tournament into the fourth round and Maria Sharapova’s 600th on tour, Slam in 14 attempts. SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2016 36

Coe pledges to rebuild IAAF to seek means to upgrade trust in athletics

Diamond League, says Coe The Peninsula

DOHA: IAAF President Lord Sebastian Qatar Athletics Coe (pictured) expressed his deter- mination to eradicate corruption and Federation President to work closely with all responsible Al Hamad optimistic institutions in the fight against doping at a joint press conference with Asian that 2016 Doha Athletics Association (AAA) and Qatar Diamond League will Athletics Federation (QAF) President be a hit Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, in clear athletics of all past wrongdoing: Doha. Almost one month before the “Lord Sebastian Coe courageously 7th Asian Indoor Athletics Champion- and tirelessly represents the sport ships, which will take place in Doha, in the best possible way, fighting to Coe visited the capital of Qatar. secure the future of athletics. He The Peninsula “I came to Doha to meet with QAF has already started implementing a officials upon the ongoing prepa- transparent way of governance. He rations for the IAAF 2019 World faces a challenge no other President DOHA : Qatar will host yet another Championships. I will have the chance in the history of athletics has ever been successful Diamond League season to visit the facilities and discuss about against before. He shows unbeliev- premiere next May, Asian and Qatar the planning for the 2019, an event able determination and will power Athletics Federation President Major which I strongly believe is going to defend against all threats as well General Dahlan Al Hamad pledged at to raise the reputation of the sport as to cut ties once and for all with all a joint press conference with IAAF regionally”, commented Lord Coe in those who spoiled the sport’s repu- and Diamond League President Lord his introduction speech. tation for their own profit. Sebastian Coe. Speaking about the recent scan- “My vision is to engage more Almost 100 days before this year’s dals which have troubled IAAF, the young people to the sport. The aver- first Diamond League and one month President said that the investigations age age of those following athletics before the 7th Asian Indoor Athlet- show that previously there was a fail- nowadays is 55! This is not sustain- ics Championships, which will both IAAF and Diamond League President Lord Sebastian Coe and Asian and Qatar Athletics Federation President ure in the governance of Athletics - this able. We want the youth to come and take place in Doha Lord Coe visited Major General Dahlan Al Hamad during a press conference in Doha. is why he has launched a 10-point watch our stars. We need to establish the capital of Qatar in his first offi- plan for rebuilding the trustwith the younger audiences in the Middle East cial appearance as the new Diamond Championships and a couple of months Mutaz’s example showcases that even Committee Dahlan Al Hamad said the recommendation of the international which is an economic powerhouse, League Chairman. later the first ever Diamond League smaller nations can show results when recent agreement between QAF and anti-doping committees and their a growing market.” Al Hamad also Lord Coe said that the whole meeting. Both events were concluded they invest.” the Qatar Olympic Committee admin- reports, which are going to be included spoke about QAF’s short-term and Diamond League project needs to be with unparallel success and earned Lord Coe, a former Olympic win- istration for mutual actions towards when appropriate. long-term commitments, starting reviewed along with all stakeholders, praise from IAAF officials and vari- ner and world record holder, claims not only the forthcoming meeting in “From the moment that we were from the forthcoming Asian Indoor especially the 14 host cities, the co- ous major international media.” that coaching, “the heart of the sport”, May, but also the 2019 IAAF World confronted by the police investigation Championships: organisers and IAAF’s closest partners. Meanwhile, there will be local fla- is an extremely important factor, and Championships: into these allegations, I made it very, “Quite a few challenges lie ahead “We need to attract more audience, vour at the Diamond league with Mutaz that world class educated coaches are “The Doha Diamond League is very clear to everybody within my for QAF, starting from the 7th Asian to take the popularity of the event to Barshim in action. essential for all countries who seek to rated by IAAF and global media as organisation and within the council Indoor Championships which is due to the next level,” added Lord Coe. After missing the 2015 edition of produce international athletes. a one of the best in the series, but we that we would be fully cooperative. take place in Doha between February On behalf of the Doha Diamond the Doha Diamond League, due to the Speaking about the potential of Asia know that there is always room for “On the criminal investigation 19 and 21. The Organising Commit- League, President Al Hamad stated: absence of high jump from the schedule, to play a significant role in the future, improvement and our aim is to work particularly, I have made it very clear tee has done a tremendous job thus “It is a great honour for us to have local and international star Barshim is Lord Coe expressed his desire to see even harder in order to remain at the that the sport needs to understand far, to ensure that the Championships the IAAF President in Qatar and launch expected to return on home turf this the world’s largest continent advance: top. In this direction and with our the full nature of these allegations, will meet the highest international the 2016 Diamond League season from season, in a year that Diamond League “IAAF needs to actively demonstrate minds set on the 2019 World Cham- to bring this to a head as quickly as standards and criteria.” Doha, almost 100 days before the collides with the Olympic Games. that we are a global sport with 209 mem- pionships, we have joined forces with possible. “And I do encourage every “For QAF, the Asian Indoor Cham- opening competition of the top-tier Lord Coe insists that this not only bers. I want to see more nations getting the newly elected Qatar Olympic country, every federation to cooperate pionships is only a stop en route to athletics circuit, which traditionally won’t affect competition, but, on the athletes to the finals. Asia is a large con- Committee administration. as fully as they can with the French our ultimate cause, which is the 2019 begins from Doha. contrary the Diamond League series tinent and we need to be very clear to “I am certain that with team effort investigation that is taking place,” World Championships. But first of all “QAF is annually being tested and could very well work as the means to define Asia. We need to make sure our and our expertise we will inaugurate said Lord Coe who learnt earlier in we have to deal with the challenge of kept “warm” with the hosting of the raise interest ahead of the Olympics. development programme is appropri- the close collaboration with QOC with the day that Senegal ruled out extra- the IAAF Diamond League, which is Diamond League every May. This “People could have the chance ate to the specific needs of a continent a successful and memorable Diamond diting Papa Massata Diack to France. rated by IAAF and global media as a top-tier competition helped Qatar to see the potential Olympic stars, which encompasses well over 40 mem- League great opening here in Doha on In his welcome speech, the QAF one of the best in the series, but we sensationally established as a major like Mutaz Barshim, who is the face ber federations.” May 6 and that this partnership will President Al Hamad praised Lord Coe know that there is always room for athletics hub back in 2010, when of Qatar in athletics, a homegrown QAF President and Chairman of be culminated in 2019 with the IAAF for his attitude amid crisis and for improvement and our aim is to work Doha staged the IAAF World Indoor talent brought up in Aspire Academy. the Doha Diamond League Organising World Championships.” showing extreme determination to even harder.” Nouman sparkles with the ball as Qatar beat Saudi Arabia

The Peninsula Hammad scored 17 off 18 balls and Asian Town Cricket Stadium, whereas Kashif chipped in with 16 along with Manzoor Ahmad, Gen- off 21 deliveries. eral Secretary of Qatar Cricket DOHA: Nouman grabbed four wick- In reply, Qatar raced to their tar- Association (QCA), the hosts of ets to set up Qatar’s five-wicket win get with eight balls to spare. the Friendly Cup. over Saudi Arabia in their T20 clash at Awaid smashed 38 off 26 balls Ahmed thanked Thousand Rent a Asian Town Cricket Stadium yesterday. while Khurram hit 36 off 24 deliveries. Car, Holiday Villa and Shehzan Res- Nouman was well supported by Kamran (22 off 17) and Rizlan (21 off taurant for their support during the Omran who also picked up four wick- 16) also produced useful contributions. event for the two teams. ets as the home team easily chased Saudi Arabia’s Mazher and Afzal Ahmed also thanked the organ- down the required target off 154 in picked up two wickets each. ising committee of the three-match 18.4 overs in bright and sunny play- Qatar’s Nouman was declared the series, saying more events have been ing conditions. Man-of-the-Match. lined up by QCA. Earlier, Saudi Arabia made first Yesterday’s game was the third of “The 22 players who were named use of the wicket and put up a total the series. Saudi Arabia won the first for the series will get to play more of 153 for the loss of eights wickets on two games on Thursday and Friday. of such games in the near future,” a benign pitch. During the presentation cere- Ahmed said. Afaq was the star batsman for the mony, the trophies were distributed “Our target is to reach the ICC Qatar cricket team players and officials celebrate after their win over Saudi Arabia in the Twenty20 match at visitors smashing 66 off just 39 balls by Mohammad Mahdi Al Ahbabi, League, a stepping stone to possible with four sixes and five fours. Chairman of Al Ajayan Projects berth at ICC World Cup,” he said. the Asian Town Cricket Stadium yesterday. Pictures by A Basit/The Peninsula

Mohammad Mahdi Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Al Ajayan Projects and Asian Town Cricket Stadium, along with Manzoor Ahmad, General Secretary of Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) presenting the trophy to Qatar captain at Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha yesterday. Right: Action from the T20 match between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.