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SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 • 6 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6677 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar beat Iran Emir to start Two DFI-funded Russia visit films nominated tomorrow DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will start a three- day official visit to Russia tomorrow at the invitation of Russian Presi- for Oscars dent Vladimir Putin, reports QNA. The Emir will hold talks with the Russian President on Monday. Talks will deal with means of enhanc- after Theeb was nominated at the ing bilateral relations in addition to British Academy of Film and Tele- regional and international issues, Jordanian film Theeb vision Arts (BAFTA) awards in two particularly latest developments is the only entry categories including Best Film Not in in the Middle East. the English Language and Outstand- on the list from the ing Debut by British Writer, Director Two Palestinians Middle East or Producer. Since its release at international shot dead in Gaza film festivals in August 2014, Theeb has been screened in 25 countries and won 18 awards. Most recently, GAZA CITY: Two Palestinians were The Peninsula the film had a commercial release Qatar’s Ahmed Alaa (left) celebrates after scoring a goal against Iran during their AFC U23 clash at shot dead by Israeli forces during in the US and garnered more than Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha yesterday. Qatar defeated rivals 2-1 to claim second successive protests along the border with Gaza $136,000 in ticket sales within five victory in the tournament. → See also page 23 yesterday, the Palestinian enclave’s weeks. health ministry said. DOHA: Two films produced by Doha It was also released in 12 coun- Film Institute (DFI) have made it to tries in the Arab region and Europe the Oscars nominations list. Theeb and is set to have a limited re-release and Mustang are part of the nomi- in several Arab countries, coincid- nations in the Best Foreign Language ing with the Oscars race. Teen starves to death in besieged Syrian town Film category. Set in the Arabian Desert of Jordanian film “Theeb” and French 1916, the film follows Theeb, a young film “Mustang” were on Thursday Bedouin boy, and his brother Hussein announced as being among the five as they leave the safety of their tribe AFP basement” where two young men next to Ali began frantically whisper- “What you really feel is the mag- nominees in the category alongside to venture on a treacherous journey shared a bed, Unicef’s top Syria rep- ing, “Did he die? Did he die?” nitude of the hunger. Everybody you “Son of Saul” (Hungary), “Embrace at the dawn of the Great Revolt. resentative, Hanaa Singer, told AFP. She said Ali’s family, sitting nearby, ask says they have been surviving on the Serpent” (Colombia) and “A War” Mustang, which was directed by Singer said the two boys’ bodies appeared so exhausted “that they can’t soup with water, spices, eating leaves (Denmark). Turkish-French filmmaker Deniz BEIRUT: “He’s gone,” the doctor “were skeleton-like”. even mourn anymore. They were cry- and grass,” Singer said. Directed by Jordanian filmmaker Gamze Ergüven, was a recipient of said quietly, announcing the death A Unicef doctor approached one ing silently but helplessly.” “The convoys do not help in situ- Naji Abu Nowar, Theeb was selected the Fall 2014 DFI grants programme. of 16-year-old Ali of starvation in the of the teenagers who looked particu- Ali became the latest person to die ations like this,” she said, calling for for a post-production grant by the It was screened as part of the Direc- basement of a makeshift clinic in the larly weak and noticed his pulse had of malnutrition in Madaya, which is an end to sieges across the war-rav- DFI through its MENA Grants Pro- tors’ Fortnight at last year’s Cannes besieged Syrian town of Madaya. stopped. under a crippling government siege. aged country. gramme in 2013. Film Festival. The film is set in a tiny Ali’s death late yesterday was “She checked him out, there was More than two dozen people in “The children are begging for a The critically-acclaimed film is village in northern Turkey and tells witnessed by representatives of the no pulse, so she started resuscitating. the rebel-held town have reportedly piece of bread. Some of the children the only one from the Middle East to the story of five young sisters born UN children’s agency, Unicef, as they One, two, three times, then she looked starved to death since early December. come and apologise to you, after ask- make it as a finalist among submis- in a family obsessed with virtue and assessed the health situation of res- at me and said, ‘He’s gone.’ And she Aid agencies entered Madaya with ing several times and you tell them you sions from 81 countries. their spectacular attempt to break idents of the famine-stricken town. closed his eyes,” Singer said by phone a convoy yesterday to deliver desper- don’t have any,” Singer said. The nomination for the DFI- free after being innocently embroiled “They took us down to the make- from Syria. ately-needed humanitarian aid, in a “They say, ‘sorry auntie,’ just for funded films comes only a few days in a scandal. shift hospital and we went to the According to Singer, the young man second such operation this week. a piece of bread.” UN chief unveils Attack on army base in Somalia kills 63 Kenyan soldiers plan to fight violent Bloomberg capital, Mogadishu. The attack is the in a bid to contain the situation, and Somalia has deployed about 22,000 lost at least 1,100 troops since 2009, biggest assault on an African Union the number of casualties on both sides peacekeepers to help Somali gov- the Nairobi-based East African news- base since a raid on an installation at is still being calculated, he said. ernment forces stabilise the country, paper reported in September. extremism Janaale in southern Somalia on Sep- Al Shabaab has waged an insur- which hasn’t had a functioning central In yesterday’s raid, Abu Musab said MOGADISHU: Al Qaeda-backed tember 1. gency in Somalia since 2006 to impose administration since civil war erupted the militants detonated a vehicle laden Islamist insurgents claimed to have The African Union Mission in Soma- its version of Islamic law. It’s used the a quarter of a century ago. Kenyan with explosives at the fence of the base AFP killed 63 Kenyan soldiers in an attack lia “can confirm that there was an attack country as a staging ground to carry forces form part of the Amisom contin- in El Adde and fired rocket-propelled on an African Union military base in on our troops in El Adde” and more out attacks in Kenya, East Africa’s larg- gent, along with troops from Ethiopia, grenades at the troops inside. Equip- southwestern Somalia and captured details will be released later, it said est economy, and Uganda. Burundi, Uganda and Djibouti. ment and ammunition were seized the town of El-Adde near the border yesterday on its Twitter account. Kenya While the militant group has lost in the raid. UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary- with Kenya. Defence Forces spokesman David territory since being driven out of Troop Losses The battle lasted for about three General Ban Ki-moon yesterday Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Musab, a Obonyo said the militants attacked a Mogadishu in 2011 by government and In the attack on Janaale, the group hours as Kenya Defence Forces troops appealed for a shift from “heavy- spokesman for the military wing of Somali National Army camp close to African Union forces, it continues to claimed to have killed 80 African Union tried to repel the attack, before the base handed” responses to the rise of Al Shabaab, made the claim on Radio a Kenya Defence Forces camp at 4am stage deadly gun and bomb attacks, soldiers. Amisom said at the time it was overrun, Mohamed Isaq, a resi- extremists like the Islamic State Andalus, a pro-militant station that yesterday. The KDF has “increased its including in the capital. was verifying the number of casual- dent of El Adde, said by phone from group as he launched an action broadcasts via the Internet in the military operations” against Al Shabaab The African Union Mission in ties. The mission is estimated to have the town. plan to prevent violent extremism. Ban asked all countries to come up with national plans and outline steps that go beyond the narrow scope of military and secu- Jakarta Starbucks attack Two Saudi teachers rity responses to the threat from IS and other violent groups. “Many years of experience have freed by Yemen rebels proven that short-sighted policies, failed leadership, heavy-handed approaches, a single-minded focus AFP Yemeni capital Sana’a, SPA said. only on security measures and an The teachers were on their way utter disregard for human rights to work in the Comoros, on a flight have often made things worse,” which transited Sana’a, when air Ban told the UN General Assembly. RIYADH: Two Saudi Arabian religious service was suspended at the start “We all lose by responding to teachers have arrived home after their of a Saudi-led bombing campaign ruthless terror with mindless policy release from more than nine months’ against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels — policies that turn people against detention by Houthi rebels in Yemen, on March 26, SPA said. each other, alienate already mar- official media reported yesterday. The teachers were staying at the ginalised groups, and play into the Abdulrahman Al Sharari and United Nations mission in a local hotel hands of the enemy,” he said. Salem Al Ghamdi landed in Riyadh but Houthis arrived and detained them “We need cool heads and com- on Thursday evening from Djibouti, until they were freed and handed over mon sense,” he added. the Saudi Press Agency said. to Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Thursday, Several countries have taken Smoke rises as a bomb explodes outside a Starbucks outlet in Jakarta, Indonesia, in this still image They were accompanied by the SPA added. In Sana’a, Ould Cheikh tough measures against convicted taken from amateur video shot on Thursday. Police launched raids across the country yesterday in kingdom’s ambassador to Yemen Ahmed met Houthi officials and jihadists, imposing harsh jail sen- and UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh others from the General People’s the wake of deadly coordinated attacks in Jakarta. → See also page 5 tences and stripping them of their Ahmed who on Thursday finished Congress, the party of former pres- citizenship. a five-day mission to the rebel-held ident Ali Abdullah Saleh. 02 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 HOME Move to ban entry of harmful agriculture pests

Department at the Ministry. “The decision is issued as part Violators in Qatar of moves made by the GCC states to face fine of up to help preserve their natural and agri- QR50,000 in line cultural resources,” said Al Khulaifi. The GCC countries plan to hold with GCC decision several meetings to develop a law and regulations related to quaran- tine, Al Sharq reports. In keeping with regulations of The Peninsula quarantine in GCC states, an inspec- tor has the right to stop a container or a vehicle suspected of carrying destructive pests. DOHA: The Ministry of Environment, In this case, the inspector would which boasts an Agricultural Affairs not need any permission from the Pub- Department, is gearing up to enforce lic Prosecution or any other authority. a GCC decision that seeks to curb the He can check a consignment and con- entry of destructive agricultural pests fiscate it, if needed. into member countries. He can seize any plant, vegetable/s, Fog blankets a tree-lined avenue on a cold morning in Al Wakrah yesterday. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula The collective decision of the GCC soil or any other material that might states specifies a hefty fine of up to be affected or is suspected of being QR50,000 on the entry of destruc- affected by pests. tive agricultural pests and its spread The inspector will register a vio- in the country. lation against the owner of the seized Foggy weather, lower temperatures forecast “The Ministry will implement a or confiscated consignment and an GCC decision that imposes fines of official report will also be furnished $2,700 to $13,000 (some QR50,000) to the authority concerned within The Peninsula to four to eight kilometre. south of Doha, and Messaieed, further in the country, while Al Ruwais and on the violators of some provisions a time specified by the regulations. Mercury will drop to 10 degrees southwards. Dukhan will witness 20 degrees Celsius of the quarantine law, especially the The inspector, with the permis- Celsius in many parts of the country Night temperature in all these each. In Abu Samra, the day tempera- Article that bans the entry of destruc- sion of the authority concerned, can at night bringing in the chill. The night places has been forecast to be 10 ture will be 21 degrees Celsius. tive agricultural pests,” said Yusuf Al issue an order to destroy the seized DOHA: Many parts of the country were will, thus, be cold, said the weather degrees Celsius. In Doha, it will be 23 degrees Cel- Khulaifi, Head of Agricultural Affairs consignment. engulfed in a thick layer of fog early bureau in its routine forecast for today. Doha might witness the coldest sius during the day, while in Al Khor yesterday, with the Met Office fore- With northwesterly wind mov- night of this winter season so far as it will be 24 degrees. casting foggy weather this morning ing from the colder regions of Europe, mercury may drop to 13 degrees Cel- In Meassieed and Al Wakra, the as well and said the night will be cold. the cold weather could be a bit sting- sius tonight like last night. mercury level has been forecast to Visibility will be severely affected ing at night. The wind speed in the Al Ruwais in the north which has a be 23 degrees Celsius during the day. German official meets Qatar envoy in the foggy areas this morning, as beginning will be five knots and may relatively pleasant weather even dur- The Met Office said there will be a result. It will be reduced to a kilo- catch momentum later, reaching up ing the sizzling summer months, will high winds offshore. BERLIN: German Federal For- They reviewed bilateral relations metre or even less at places early in to 15 knots at places. This could be have the highest nightly temperature Northwesterly winds may initially eign Office State Secretary Stephan in light of the Munich Security Con- the morning. true particularly of places like Abu tonight, at 15 degrees Celsius, followed move at between eight and 18 knots Steinlein met Qatar’s Ambassador to ference, which will be held between The weather will, though, improve Samra, on Qatar-Saudi Arabia border, by Dukhan (14 degrees Celsius). at places offshore and may gradually Germany, Abdulrahman bin Moham- February 14 and 16. They also dis- as the day progresses and the sun Al Khor, in the north of the country, The maximum temperature will gain in velocity to 24 knots at places med Al Khulaifi, reports QNA. cussed issues of common interest. shines. Visibility will then improve and in Al Wakra, which is some 10km vary between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius at times, particularly at night.

Vintage beauty Qatar weighs Artist splashes life setting up intellectual in Qatar on canvas property centre The Peninsula “It is a manifestation of a range of emotions and scenes that we might see The Peninsula every day without feeling it. Beauty lies everywhere around,” said Al Kuwari, DOHA: Qatari artist Ali bin Dasmal as he thanked Katara for the oppor- Al Kuwari has captured on canvas tunity to showcase his latest works. DOHA: The Department of Intellec- ordinary scenes commonly over- Katara and Souq Waqif, the two tual Property Rights Protection at looked by people amid their busy most popular tourist destinations in the Ministry of Economy and Com- life in “Record Exhibition”, his first the city, have been highlighted in the merce is studying, in collaboration solo show in Katara that opened in retrospective. Katara General Man- with World Intellectual Property Building 22 on Thursday. ager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti Organization (WIPO), a proposal The 25 paintings depict the excep- inaugurated the two-week-long expo to set up a centre for innovation tional beauty of sights of Qatari life in the presence of other Qatari artists. and technology here. that otherwise remains unnoticed “Katara attaches great importance The proposed centre will pro- as people go about their daily rou- to hosting ingenious Qatari artists and vide services to research scholars tines. Through this exhibition, the presenting their artistic experience. and inventors regarding intellec- artist wants to invite the public to Ali Al Kuwari has an extra ordinary art tual property rights. The centre will enjoy the beautiful scenes every- involvement which deserves appre- categorise and set up an archive where and also shows some tourist ciation and encouragement”, said for intellectual property rights and spots in the country. Dr Al Sulaiti. Cars and a motorbike on display at the 3rd Annual GCC Bikes and Classic Cars Show at Katara yesterday. prepare an international database. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula The Department issued 164 cer- tificates of copyright and registered 43 violations in this regard. The Department filed 17 cases related to copyright. Some 28 applications were submitted to obtain patent Workshop on high incidence of chronic diseases rights. The Department receives requests for registration and protec- tion of intellectual property rights The Peninsula of Medicine (QU-CMED). Obesity, Type Torben Jrgensen discussed ‘Prevention and issues certificates of protection. 2 diabetes and cardiovascular dis- of Chronic Diseases: Possibilities and Some 730 requests were eases were discussed. Challenges’ while Aalborg University received for registering local DOHA: Methods to prevent high Professor of Public Health at the Public Health and Epidemiology Group trademarks, while 7,006 requests Qatari artist Ali bin Dasmal Al Kuwari (second left) explains to Katara incidence of chronic diseases were universities of Copenhagen and Aal- adjunct Professor Dr Charlotte Glümer were received to register foreign discussed at workshops recently borg and Director of the Research looked at challenges of the welfare trademarks and 8,717 requests for General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (centre) one of his organised and hosted by QU College Centre for Prevention and Health Dr and healthcare sector in Denmark. inspection. paintings at the opening of “Record Exhibition” at Katara. Exhibition on crafts and applied Sherborne Qatar appoints new Senior School headmaster arts of Georgia opens tomorrow The Peninsula University of Cardiff. He gained his of the Senior School. He led the set- teaching qualification (in Economics ting up of a school based very closely The Peninsula and Business Studies) at the Univer- on the ethos and education standards sity of London’s Institute of Education. of the historic British school which DOHA: Sherborne Qatar has appointed He taught at Boston Grammar School counts the Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim Stephen Spicer (pictured) as the new in England before moving to the Brit- bin Hamad Al Thani, among its former DOHA: “Georgian Living Heritage” exhibition featuring traditional and con- headmaster of the Senior School. Spicer ish School in Bahrain where he rose pupils. temporary craftsmanship and applied arts from Georgia will open tomorrow succeeds Michael Weston, who retires to become Deputy Head of the Sen- Weston said: “The success story at Katara Building 19. in July this year after 30 years with ior School. Spicer is currently serving of Sherborne Qatar and its pupils is The exhibition is being organised by the Georgian Arts and Culture Center, the Sherborne School community, a as the headmaster of the Secondary a remarkable one; and one in which Tbilisi, in cooperation with the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara and the press statement issued by Sherborne School at the Academia BritánicaCus- every individual has played an impor- Georgian Embassy. Inspired by a language form developed over centuries, Qatar said. catleca in El Salvador. tant part. I shall miss friends, colleagues the exhibits show Georgian creativity and Georgia’s manifold cultural and Spicer holds a first class degree The retiring Weston set up and and pupils. Doha will have a special artistic relations at the crossroads of Europe, Middle East and Asia. in Business Administration from the oversaw the development and growth place in my memory.” MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 03 Medics race to save starving Syrians in Madaya

both “in urgent need of evacuation,” Madaya’s 40,000 Unicef said. There are an estimated 20,000 inhabitants have children living in Madaya, accord- been living under a ing to Unicef. At least 22 children under five crippling siege by pro- showed signs of moderate to severe government forces malnutrition, it said. The UN agency said Madaya’s doc- that has made even tors were “emotionally distressed and bread and water mentally drained, working round the clock with very limited resources”. scarce for months “It is simply unacceptable that this is happening in the 21st century,” it said, adding that 14 other besieged and star- AFP vation-hit areas existed across Syria. A convoy of 44 aid trucks loaded with food and medicine on Thursday entered Madaya, where the UN says BEIRUT: Aid workers scrambled hardships are the worst seen in Syr- yesterday to help a hunger-stricken ia’s nearly five-year war. Syrian town where dozens of people UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon succumbed to starvation, as Western warned that any forces using starva- powers sought UN action on lifting tion as a tactic of war in Syria would blockades. be guilty of war crimes. The plight of Madaya and other “Let me be clear: the use of star- besieged areas has prompted the UN vation as a weapon of war is a war Security Council to call an emergency crime,” Ban told reporters. meeting, amid warnings that the use “All sides — including the Syrian of starvation as a weapon constitutes government which has the primary a war crime. responsibility to protect Syrians — are A mobile clinic with medics on committing this and other atrocious board was dispatched to Madaya yes- acts prohibited under international terday to treat people suffering from humanitarian law,” he said. malnutrition, the World Health Organ- “All trucks finally reach #Madaya UN vehicles accompanying several trucks loaded with food, medicine, blankets and other materials head to the besieged town of Madaya, some isation said, a day after a second aid #Fuaa #Kafraya. Our teams now talk to 24km southwest of Damascus, Syria. convoy reached the town. people to better understand the situa- Madaya’s 40,000 inhabitants have tion,” the ICRC’s Syria account tweeted. been living under a crippling siege by Thursday’s delivery to Madaya fol- women and children who are suffer- emergency meeting of the Security government-held villages in north- six-month truce deal that foresaw an pro-government forces that has made lows one on Monday that was the first ing the most, especially from severe Council to push demands for an end west Syria, have been under siege by end to hostilities in exchange for aid even bread and water scarce for months. humanitarian assistance received by malnourishment... This cannot go on,” to sieges. rebel groups for months. deliveries. The UN said the next deliv- More than two dozen people have the town in nearly four months. Gasser said. French Ambassador Francois Delat- On Thursday, about 17 trucks deliv- ery would take place tomorrow. reportedly died of starvation since early In a statement, the ICRC’s top official Syrian authorities have repeatedly tre said the meeting “will draw the ered aid to Fuaa and Kafraya’s residents, More than 260,000 people have December. in Syria, Marianne Gasser, said Madaya’s denied that starvation is taking place world’s attention to the humanitarian including 6,000 children. died in Syria’s conflict, which began A 17-year-old boy in a “life-threat- suffering was “heartbreaking”. in Madaya. With mounting inter- tragedy that is unfolding in Madaya Those two villages, along with in March 2011 with anti-government ening condition,” and a pregnant “People are desperate. Food is in national pressure, France, Britain and in other towns in Syria.” Madaya and the nearby rebel-con- protests but has evolved into a multi- woman who will give birth soon, are extremely short supply. It is the elderly, and the United States called for an Fuaa and Kafraya, two trolled town Zabadani, are part of a sided civil war.

Russia begins Behind frontline, Iraq town torn as anti-IS forces clash ‘humanitarian

AFP Turkmen homes on the edge of the Kurdish district. walls in the children’s room and hallway, a ref- murder of a surgeon.A joint committee organ- operations’ in As he sat on a plastic chair in the darkness erence to the Kurds’ three-province region that ised exchanges of detained residents but nobody of his gutted home, his eyes drifted into a sor- has expanded its territorial control during the was prosecuted for the violence. Syria: Ministry rowful haze. conflict with IS. A report released on Wednesday by Human TUZ KHURMATU, Iraq: When a wave of deadly “It was one of the first to be torched. I have Tuz Khurmatu, about 180 kilometres (110 Rights Watch said civilians were targeted on the ethnic violence swept through the northern Iraqi lost everything,” Majid said. miles) north of Baghdad, is a major crossroads basis of their ethnicity. MOSCOW: Russia said yesterday it town of Tuz Khurmatu, Ahmed Hassan Majid’s In the bridal parlour he ran from a small in Iraq — a gateway to Kurdistan to the north, “They have been carrying out killings, abduc- had launched “humanitarian oper- house was on the wrong side of an invisible line. office attached to his house, a wedding dress IS-held territory to the west, Iran to the east and tions, and widespread property destruction with ations” in Syria where it is carrying The Kurdish-Turkmen violence ignited by survived the destruction. Shiite Arab areas of Iraq to the south. complete impunity,” said Joe Stork, HRW’s Mid- out a bombing campaign against a checkpoint dispute in November has since But Tuz Khurmatu is a divorcing town— The word “Kurdish” has been spray-painted dle East director. the Islamic State group, claiming faded, but divisions between the communities neighbourhood minority residents who were on the iron doors of hundreds of shops to pre- The town of about 100,000 inhabitants is peaceful life was slowly returning are sharper than ever. not forced out by fire and threats have sponta- vent them from being burned down. now run by two rival forces, the Kurdish pesh- to the war-torn country. They fight the same jihadist enemy but in neously moved back across the ethnic divide. “Is this what it’s come to?” said one shop- merga forces on the one hand, and the Hashed “The inhabitants are gradually areas where their frontlines meet, the autono- In some cases, Kurdish and Turkmen families owner, speaking on condition of anonymity for Al Shaabi paramilitary force to which most of coming back to Syrian cities and mous Kurdish region and the Baghdad-backed that were both on the “wrong side” of town traded fear of reprisals. the Turkmen Shiites have entrusted their fate. peaceful life is returning,” General Shia paramilitary forces are vying for influence, homes to save having to find a new place to live. According to sources on both sides, around Many of the Turkmen community’s hubs lie in Sergei Rudskoi, a senior Russian a contest that sometimes descends into violence. Nihan Bahaeddin’s home in the same area 110 homes and at least 200 shops were torched or contested areas of Iraq where the Kurds’ expanded General Staff official, told reporters. After clambering over his charred belong- was occupied by Kurdish forces at the height of damaged during the flare-up last month, about ambit and the Hashed Al Shaabi’s ever-growing “In this context, the implemen- ings to reach the roof of his house, which was the November tensions but was not burned down. two thirds of them Turkmen-owned. influence meet. Turkmen leaders recently voiced tation of humanitarian operations torched during the unrest, Majid pointed to a The 35-year-old biotechnology professor Shallal Abdul Baban, the Kurdish official outrage over the Kurdish authorities’ digging of will be a new line of work for the cinderblock wall that went up recently, dead- was already displaced once in June 2014 when responsible for the area, said at least 10 Turk- a trench along their frontlines with IS. Russian armed forces in Syria,” he ending a street to mark an ethnic border. the Islamic State jihadist group took over the men and eight Kurds were killed in the violence. The Kurds insist it is only meant to protect said in televised comments. “On this side, Kurds. Over here, it’s Turkmen,” city of Mosul where she was teaching. The ethnic tinderbox town has seen sev- from car bombs, but the Turkmen say it is a polit- “Currently most of the aid is said the 36-year-old father of two. “It’s dangerous but we had no other choice eral flare-ups over the years, but a dispute at a ical move dividing Iraq. being sent to the city of Deir Ezzor Majid is a Turkmen Shia, but the house he than to come back. The Kurdish soldiers made a checkpoint on November 12 was the spark that In Tuz Khurmatu, even those Turkmen resi- which has been besieged by ISIL spent a quarter of a million dollars on before mess but we have no other place to live,” she said. ignited Kurdish-Turkmen violence that culmi- dents who are on the right side of the wall could terrorists for a long time,” Rudskoi moving in earlier this year was one of the first “Tuz is part of Kurdistan” was scribbled on nated in a firefight inside the hospital and the end up on the wrong side of the trench. said, using another term for IS. He said Syria’s Il-76 military transport planes had airdropped 22 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Deir Ezzor using Russian equipment. Palestinians mourn Iraq forces in Basra “It will be distributed by local authorities,” Rudskoi added. “Our work in this direction will to disarm fighters continue,” he said. “In the future we will give to the Syrian people all possible assist- ance when it comes to liberating Reuters from the frontlines with those mili- the country from extremists and tants in the north and west to the south. rebuilding peaceful life.” “This security operation tar- Russia has decided to launch gets areas north of Basra that have its own humanitarian operations BASRA: Iraq has sent an armoured an abundance of tribal clashes and in Syria because most of the aid army division and a police strike force will also include neighbourhoods has so far gone to rebel-control- into the southern oil city of Basra to inside Basra city in the future,” said led areas, often ending up in the disarm residents amid intensified Jabar Al Saadi, head of the security hands of “extremists,” Rudskoi feuding among rival Shia Muslim committee at the Basra provincial said. tribes, local officials and security council. “Attempts have repeatedly been sources said yesterday. Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi seen to supply arms and ammu- Forces had been deployed earlier held his weekly cabinet meeting on nition and evacuate wounded to restore calm to rural areas running Wednesday in Basra where he called fighters under cover of humani- north of the city towards West Qurna on security forces to “strike with an tarian convoys,” he added. and Majnoon oil fields on Wednesday, iron fist (against) the gangs that tamper Moscow launched a bombing but a local official reassured foreign with Basra’s security”. campaign against IS and other “ter- companies their assets were secure. With tanks and heavy machine rorists” on September 30, saying it “The oil companies and oil sites and guns, the security forces entered over- needed to target jihadists before the roads leading to them are com- night the northern Basra district of they crossed into Russia. pletely safe. There are no concerns in Al Hussein, a flashpoint for tribal The West has criticised Russia’s this regard,” said Sabah Al Bazouni, fighting also known as Al Hayaniya, foray into the multi-front conflict, head of Basra’s provincial council. Saadi said. Backed by army helicop- accusing Moscow of targeting not The tribal fighting and military ters, they began raiding homes and only the IS group but also moderate response are a sign of the growing seizing weapons, he added. rebels fighting the regime. problems that could face foreign oil Security forces arrested around In August, Russia and Syria companies, even though they oper- 30 people on criminal charges and signed an agreement giving Moscow Palestinian women react during the funeral of Haytham Yassin in the village of Assira Al Shamaliya near ate far from areas of conflict with seized machine guns, mortars, rocket- the right to retain an open-ended Islamic State. propelled grenades, assault rifles and military presence in the war-torn Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, yesterday. The Palestinian was shot dead by the Israeli army. The disputes have forced Baghdad large ammunition caches, the secu- country, Moscow revealed on to divert critical security resources rity sources said. Thursday. 04 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST

Turkey detains Tribute to blast victims academics over pro-Kurdish plea

academics from 90 Turkish uni- Police had early versities for engaging in “terrorist propaganda” and “inciting hatred yesterday launched and enmity” by signing the petition. an operation to detain Entitled “We won’t be a party to this crime”, the petition urged 21 Turkish academics Ankara to halt “its deliberate mas- as part of an sacres and deportation of Kurdish investigation accusing and other peoples in the region.” Turkey is waging an all-out them of disseminating offensive against the Kurdistan “terror propaganda”. Workers’ Party (PKK), with military operations backed by curfews aimed at flushing out rebels from several southeastern urban centres. AFP But Kurdish activists say doz- ens of civilians have died as a result of excessive force and the operations have become the subject of huge con- ISTANBUL: Turkish police yester- troversy in Turkish society. day detained over a dozen academics Erdogan yesterday launched his who signed a petition criticising the strongest attack yet on the signato- military crackdown in the Kurdish- ries, accusing them of supporting dominated southeast that angered the Kurdish rebels and thus being President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, trig- a “party” to the crimes of the PKK. gering new alarm about freedom of “Those standing by the perpe- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (centre) places carnations as he visits the site of Tuesday’s suicide bomb attack at Sultanahmet expression in the country. trators of the massacres are a party Square in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. In a rare rebuke to Washing- to the crime,” he told reporters after ton’s Nato ally, the US ambassador Friday prayers in Istanbul. to Turkey expressed concern over the “Our people must understand who effect of the investigations against is who — having a PhD title doesn’t the academics on a healthy politi- necessarily make you an intellectual. cal debate over the violence in the These are people in the dark. They EU plans Turkey aid as refugees renew focus southeast. are cruel and despicable.” Western concern over freedom Critics have denounced the move of expression in Turkey is already as the latest attempt by Erdogan to sti- running high due to the detention fle dissent, with pro-Kurdish People’s By Ian Wishart methods to bring this aid to Turkey,” contingent on Turkish authorities suc- against women at public New Year’s since November 26 of two prominent Democratic Party (HDP) condemn- Bloomberg French Finance Minister Michel Sapin cessfully persuading them to stay there Eve celebrations in Cologne. More than journalists of the opposition daily ing “the steps taken by the Turkish said as the meeting got under way in — something EU officials insist has not 20 of the suspects are asylum seek- Cumhuriyet. government that are plunging Tur- Brusselsyesterday. yet been achieved. “We need more funds ers, the Interior Ministry said. Police had early yesterday key into a deep darkness.” At its peak last year more than for the stabilisation of the region beyond With the unprecedented refugee launched an operation to detain “These operations... which are BRUSSELS: The European Union still 7,000 refugees a day crossed the Medi- the three billion,” German Finance Min- influx continuing to challenge the EU’s 21 Turkish academics as part of an only be seen in undemocratic regimes hasn’t found the ¤3bn ($3.3bn) of aid terranean into the EU, with most headed ister Wolfgang Schaeuble said as his political consensus, governments are at investigation accusing them of dis- are very dangerous and unaccepta- it pledged to Turkey in November. Yet north through Europe, leaving gov- euro-area finance counterparts met odds over whether the money already seminating “terror propaganda” by ble,” the main opposition Republican governments are already talking about ernments from Rome to Stockholm in Brussels on Thursday. agreed for Turkey should come from signing a petition denouncing military People’s Party (CHP) added in a topping it up. grappling with sudden and unprec- “Europe has to do more and Ger- the central EU pot or from national operations against Kurdish rebels. statement. With no letup in the thousands of edented pressure on their health and many is ready for that,” in a “coalition budgets. Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Police have so far detained 14 US ambassador to Ankara John refugees crossing from Turkey into welfare systems. of the willing” if need be, he said. Reit- Dijsselbloem told reporters yesterday academics and lecturers from the Bass expressed concern over the the EU and Tuesday’s Istanbul terror European Commission President erating that sentiment yesterday, he that Italy still hadn’t lifted its objec- University of Kocaeli, near Istanbul, in “pressure having a chilling effect attack bringing chaos in the region Jean-Claude Juncker warned that fail- said the failure to handle the refu- tions to the aid money. an early morning raid on their homes, on legitimate political discourse further into focus, the bloc’s finance ure to solve the refugee problem will gee crisis could result in a failure of “Italy fully supports Turkey in han- Dogan news agency said. across Turkish society regarding the ministers used their first meeting of the put continental free trade and the Europe’s passport-free travel system. dling the pressing numbers of refugees, Operations to detain the remain- sources and solutions to the ongo- year to question whether their Medi- euro at risk. The suspected suicide bombing in and it’s important that all resources ing seven suspects are in progress, it ing violence.” terranean neighbour needs even more While the influx has slowed to Istanbul, which left 10 German tour- be put to this effort,” Italian Finance added. Police also searched the homes “In democratic societies it is money to remedy a crisis that’s frac- 1,700 a day this month, there are still ists dead, has renewed pressure on Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said. “What of three academics in northwestern imperative that citizens have the turing European politics. 1.9 million refugees and asylum-seek- Angela Merkel’s government in par- needs to be clarified is to explore bet- Bolu province, Dogan said. opportunity to express their view, “We have to look at all the solutions, ers in Turkey, according to the United ticular. She has already faced criticism ter ways of budgeting before asking Prosecutors on Thursday launched even controversial or unpopular ones,” at all the means, including the amounts Nations. The EU’s aid package, agreed for her response to the refugee crisis. for national contributions and shared a vast investigation into over 1,200 he added in a statement. but especially the implementation by the bloc’s 28 leaders in November, is The country is reeling from violence resources.”

US discloses More IS attacks likely as group suffers setbacks: US General civilian

AFP Iraq and Syria,” Austin said at a news confer- blowing up hundreds of trucks used to ferry terrorist acts don’t necessarily mean ISIL is get- casualties ence in Florida. illicit crude oil around Syria, and this week ting stronger,” he added. “Going forward, we can expect to see him bombed a financial facility in the Iraqi city of “ISIL by its nature is a terrorist organization in IS fight WASHINGTON: Islamic State jihadists will likely rely increasingly on acts of terrorism such as we Mosul that US officials said held millions of and by conducting these attacks, he is attempting increase the tempo of attacks around the world saw this week in Baghdad and in Turkey, and dollars in cash. to produce an image of invincibility in the wake as they come under increased pressure in Iraq most recently in Jakarta,” he added. Austin, who has headed CENTCOM since of setbacks. So overall, we are making progress.” WASHINGTON: The US military and Syria, a top US general warned. The IS group, which swept through vast rgions March 2013 and will shortly be stepping down, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said he will said on Friday eight civilians likely General Lloyd Austin, who currently heads of Iraq and Syria in 2014 and 2015 and captured said the IS group is upping its overseas actions recommend that President Barack Obama nom- were killed and three wounded in the military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) a string of cities, has seen recent setbacks across to distract from such losses. inate General Joseph Votel to replace Austin. air strikes against Islamic State tar- overseeing Middle East operations, made the its self-proclaimed caliphate, including the loss “ISIL wants to draw attention away from the Votel currently heads the Special Opera- gets in Iraq and Syria between April argument that recent IS-claimed attacks like of the key Iraqi city of Ramadi to US-supported growing number of setbacks” that it is experi- tions Command. His nomination would reflect 12 and July 4 last year. the ones this week in Istanbul and Jakarta are local forces. encing,” Austin said, using an alternative name the increased role special operations troops are It was only the third time since in fact evidence the group is faltering. A US-led coalition has also been hammer- for the IS group. carrying out in the region as elite US comman- the start of the US-led air campaign “ISIL has assumed a defensive posture in ing the group’s oil infrastructure, including by “It is important to understand that these dos launch raids against IS jihadists. against Islamic State in 2014 that the US military’s Central Commander has disclosed civilian casualties fol- lowing its internal investigations. It has previously reported a Expo of repatriated pieces Turkey bombards IS total of six civilian deaths in its air campaign. US military data shows there in Syria and Iraq have been 9,627 US-led coalition air strikes as of January 13, with 6,393 in Iraq and 3,234 in Syria. Bloomberg Troops fired almost 500 salvoes, “We continue to review addi- he said, a day after complaining tional claims of civilian casualties that “some countries” were block- and will provide additional informa- ISTANBUL: Turkish troops killed as ing Turkish air operations against tion in the future,” Central Command many as 200 Islamic State fighters Islamic State. said in a statement. in the past two days in an artillery Turkey stopped carrying out air The latest eight civilian deaths onslaught launched in retaliation missions along with the US-led coali- occurred during five separate air for this week’s suicide bombing in tion fighting the militant group to avoid strikes, including one on July 4 near Istanbul, Prime Minister Ahmet Dav- confrontation with Russian warplanes al Raqqa, Islamic State’s de facto utoglu said. that have been flying over Syria since capital in Syria. “From now on, every threat Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet The US military said it was against Turkey and its guests will in November. targeting a “high-value individ- elicit a response and be punished “They should either destroy ual” when a car and a motorcycle many times over,” Davutoglu said Islamic State themselves or let us do entered the target area after the in a televised address on Thursday. it, but no one should think of opening weapon was released. Three uni- The government ordered the space to Islamic State by punishing dentified civilians were likely attack from positions along the civilians and rebels there,” he said on killed, it said. Visitors look at boat decor (centre) displayed at the temporary exhibition for repatriated objects at the border with Syria and Iraq and the Wednesday. According to intelligence Strikes against Islamic State Egyptian Museum, at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. About 100 repatriated archaeological pieces are military’s base in northern Iraq after reports, the Syrian government has tactical units killed three civil- displayed in the exhibition after they were restored from France, US, Germany, the UK and Denmark determining Islamic State carried helped to move Islamic State militants ians on June 11 near Soluk, Syria, during 2014 and 2015. out the bombing on Tuesday that to border areas by buses in recent and another two on April 12 near killed 10 German tourists, he said. days, he added. al Huwayjah, Iraq. ASIA / PHILIPPINES SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 05 Binay in pole to be Philippines’ next president

Pollster Social Weather Stations said Binay had regained a clear lead with 31 percent preferring him in its January 8-10 nationwide survey

President Benigno Aquino, a popu- lar leader, has anointed fellow Liberal AFP Party stalwart Mar Roxas as his pre- ferred successor. With an error of margin of plus or MANILA: Philippine Vice-Presi- minus three percentage points, Sen- dent Jejomar Binay (pictured) has ator Grace Poe (24 percent), Roxas (21 overcome a barrage of graft allega- percent), and anti-crime advocate tions to re-emerge as front-runner Rodrigo Duterte (20 percent) are in to become the nation’s next leader, a statistical deadlock. according to an independent poll The 1,200 voters polled were not released yesterday. asked to explain their preference, Leo Women hold placards during a vigil outside the damaged Starbucks coffee shop in central Jakarta yesterday. The 73-year-old had long been Laroza, survey data library director the favourite but his poll numbers for Social Weather, said. tanked last year when allegations Casiple said some support for emerged that he and his son, both Poe and Duterte eroded due to dis- Indonesia kills one militant after attack former mayors of the Makati finan- qualification cases filed against cial district, had taken huge kickbacks them. However, he said many Fil- in the construction of a city-owned ipino voters have yet to make up car park building. their minds months before the May Reuters island of Bali, a draw for tourists from “We need to strengthen our involvement of poorly trained local Pollster Social Weather Sta- 9 election. Australia and other Asian countries. response and preventive measures, militants whose weapons were crude. tions said the vice-president had The official Commission on Elec- “It’s clear that the (Jakarta attack- including legislation to prevent them ... An Indonesian and a man of dual regained a clear lead with 31 per- tions ruled last month that Poe, an ers) didn’t set this up themselves. For and we hope our counterparts in other Canadian-Algerian nationality were cent preferring him in its January orphan of unknown parentage who JAKARTA: Indonesian police killed this, we are searching for the networks countries can work together because killed along with the attackers. Twenty- 8-10 nationwide survey. was adopted and raised by the Philip- one suspected militant and arrested and who was involved in this action,” it is not home-grown terrorism, it is four people were wounded, including “Some people are cynical, rea- pines’ most famous movie stars, was two more in raids across the coun- said Anton Charliyan, national police part of the ISIS network,” Tito Karna- an Austrian, a German and a Dutchman. soning out that all politicians are not a Filipino at birth and could not try yesterday, a day after an attack spokesman. vian said, using an acronym for the Islamic State said in its claim of corrupt anyway,” political analyst run for president. by Islamic State suicide bombers and Security forces killed one sus- Syria-based group. responsibility that “a group of soldiers Ramon Casiple, from Manila-based The case is on appeal at the gunmen in the heart of the Southeast pected militant in a gun battle in Central In response to the Jakarta attacks, of the caliphate in Indonesia targeted think tank the Institute for Political Supreme Court, which provisionally Asian nation’s capital. Sulawesi, while two others were arrested Philippine President Benigno Aquino a gathering from the crusader alliance and Electoral Reform, said. stopped the government dropping Just seven people were killed in in the city of Cirebon in West Java. The ordered security forces to strengthen that fights the Islamic State in Jakarta”. Binay, who leads the main oppo- her name from the ballot. Thursday’s late-morning siege near a three were believed to be Islamic State defences of “soft” targets. Malaysia Police confirmed that Islamic State sition alliance, denies the corruption Duterte, mayor of a southern city busy shopping district, despite multiple supporters, but not directly connected placed the country on its highest alert. was responsible and named an Indo- allegations against him and members where hundreds of petty criminals blasts and a gunfight, and five of the to the Jakarta attack, police said. Experts agree that there is a grow- nesian militant, Bahrun Naim, as the of his family. His spokesmen did not have been killed by masked anti-crime dead were the attackers themselves. Returning to the area outside Jakar- ing threat from radicalised Muslims mastermind. They believe Naim leads reply requests for comment on the vigilantes, registered as a candidate Police chiefs across the country ta’s oldest department store, Sarinah, inspired by Islamic State, some of whom a militant network known as Katibah latest survey results. after the October 16, 2015 deadline were on high alert, some embassies where Thursday’s attack unfolded, the may have fought with the group in Syria. Nusantara and is pulling strings from In the Philippines, presidents can to replace another candidate who in Jakarta were closed for the day and city’s police chief said the rise of Islamic However, they said the low Raqqa, Islamic State’s de facto capi- only serve a single six-year term. backed out. security was stepped up on the resort State was a cause for serious concern. death toll on Thursday pointed to the tal in Syria.

Sri Lanka PM 14 dead in bus crash in Japan vows greater Trial begins for ousted political power Thai premier Yingluck for Tamils

AFP establishment to sponsor two coups AFP and use their proxies in the courts to remove three Shinawatra-alligned prime ministers. BANGKOK: Ousted Thai premier Fearful of a political comeback, COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s prime min- Yingluck Shinawatra went on trial the junta has tried to tangle Yingluck ister yesterday promised greater yesterday over a costly rice subsidy in legal rulings. political power to the island’s Tamil policy that could see her jailed for She was banned by the military- minority under a new constitution a decade, as the ruling junta seeks appointed legislature from politics for aimed at preventing a return to eth- to ward off a political comeback by five years and is barred from trav- nic war and healing the wounds her family. elling overseas without permission. of the past. Yingluck, Thailand’s first female Yet Yingluck is still a galvanising Speaking in Jaffna, Ranil Wick- premier, was booted from office by a force among Shinawatra supporters remesinghe marked the festival of court days before army chief Prayut and remains in Thailand—unlike her Pongal with a pledge to devolve Chan-O-Cha seized power in May older brother Thaksin, a billionaire power and demilitarise a former 2014. She faces charges of negligence former premier who lives in self-exile war zone . “We are ready to devolve over a multi-billion-dollar rice sub- to avoid jail in the kingdom. power (to minority Tamils) and pro- sidy scheme which paid farmers up to Analysts say the junta is walking tect democracy,” Wickremesinghe twice the market rate for their crop. a fine line with Yingluck’s trial. “The said in a televised ceremony. Critics say the scheme cynically junta must think carefully of not pro- The premier also promised to tapped state coffers to prop the Shina- voking supporters of Yingluck in the A view of a crashed bus in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, yesterday. Fourteen tourists “take action” against both state watra’s political base, incubated red camp,” Pavin Chachavalpong- forces and Tamil rebels accused were dead and 27 injured after the bus carrying 39 passengers and two drivers veered off the road, corruption and resulted in massive pun, a Thai politics expert at Kyoto of war crimes in the final stages of breaking through the guard rail, authorities said. rice stockpiles. University in Japan, said, referring to the island’s 37-year-old separatist But Yingluck remains popular the “Red Shirt” Shinawatra loyalists. war, in line with pledges to the UN and was greeted by dozens of sup- “The trial will serve to pin Yingluck Human Rights Council last year. porters at court, some in red shirts, down — not to be set free but not to “Who has violated (humanitar- carrying roses and shouting “We Love be punished at the same time,” he ian law), it could the security forces Yingluck”. They gathered in defiance said, predicting she will be used as a or the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Thousands cheer Nepal bullfighting spectacle of a ban on political meetings by a “bargaining chip” against her family. Tamil Eelam),” he said. junta which has cracked down hard Junta leader Prayut has vowed to “The Constitutional Assem- on Shinawatra loyalists. end Thailand’s long history of expen- bly will discuss with all, including AFP at the dusty village of Taruka, 35km destroyed in the quake, but when I Yingluck told supporters she was sive rural subsidies. (Tamil-dominated) provincial coun- northwest of the capital Kathmandu, come here I am able to forget my prob- “confident” of being vindicated by the But his administration has been cils to have a new constitution,” to watch 14 pairs of bulls butt heads, lems for a little while,” Adhikari said. court. Yingluck has denied any wrong- accused of double standards after the Wickremesinghe said. “We will with the winner of each bout taking Crowds packed the makeshift doing, saying the rice subsidy aimed government this week agreed to buy do that in a transparent manner.” TARUKA: Thousands of Nepalis home Rs2,000 ($20) in prize money. arena, sitting on surrounding hill- to help poor farmers after decades of 100,000 tonnes of rubber at above He also promised to do more gathered at an open ground in the The festival, whose popularity sides and applauding every time the neglect by Bangkok’s wealthy elite. market prices after farmers railed at to help families of victims resolve Himalayan foothills yesterday to watch dates back to the 19th Century, attracts bulls made contact, each attempting Rice farming communities in the plunging prices. the issue of dozens of Tamils who a bullfighting festival that heralds the many repeat visitors, who cherish the to dominate the other. country’s poor but populous north and Rubber farmers, mainly in the have been imprisoned for years end of winter, according to the Hindu traditional entertainment. Unlike European bullfighting, northeast are loyal to the Shinatwara kingdom’s royalist south, played a without charge. Other measures calendar. “I always enjoy watching this festi- bloodshed is a rare sight as local tradi- family, who they laud for recognising key role in the street protests against announced include recruiting hun- Unlike its Spanish counterpart, val — it takes me back to my childhood,” tion dictates that the bout ends once an their changing economic and social Yingluck that led to the coup. dreds of Tamils to the police and bullfighting in Nepal requires no mat- said 72-year-old Chiranjibi Adhikari, animal tires of fighting. Nevertheless, aspirations. Their votes have helped Yingluck’s trial is scheduled to military to reduce the mistrust adors as the bulls — usually buffalo who lost his home in April’s massive animal rights activists have attacked Shinawatra parties win every Thai last until late 2016, with the first between Jaffna residents and the — fight each other in a competition to earthquake that killed nearly 8,900 the festival, arguing that it causes inju- election since 2001. prosecution witness taking the stand security establishment, and further mark the Maghe Sankranti festival. people. “When I see the bulls, it brings ries including broken bones, and have That electoral success stirred yesterday. She has been ordered to support for families of war victims. Around 5,000 people turned up a smile to my face. Everything was sought to have it banned. the Bangkok-centric royalist attend each hearing. 06 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA Taiwan gears up for presidential election

major issue, with the public blaming unprecedented rapprochement under the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) for fail- current KMT president Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan has been self- ing to improve livelihoods. which culminated in a summit between ruling since it split Huge crowds were anticipated at Ma and Chinese President Xi Jinping from China after a Yesterday’s rallies for the two main in November. candidates, Tsai Ing-wen of the Bei- “The mainland must be the lead- civil war in 1949, but jing-wary main opposition Democratic ing side in cross-strait ties and stand Beijing still sees it as Progressive Party (DPP) -- who is the up to any ‘Taiwan pro-independence’ frontrunner for the leadership -- and temptation,” said the editorial ear- part of its territory to KMT’s Eric Chu. lier this week. The KMT is trying to be reunited, by force “I believe that the DPP and I can sell itself as the party of stability in stand together with Taiwan people a last-ditch attempt to rally support. if necessary to let Taiwan rise again,” said Tsai, “The United States, China and speaking to supporters in central Tai- the world are hoping for cross-strait chung City. peace and regional stability. My elec- “It is a critical vote as it concerns tion will give everyone faith and feel AFP where Taiwan is heading in the next rest assured about Taiwan,” said KMT stage and the direction of Taiwan’s candidate Chu, speaking to supporters development,” she said, adding that in Taipei yesterday. The United States the DPP would “maintain the status is Taiwan’s major ally and has pledged TAIPEI: Tens of thousands were quo” with China. Taiwan has been to help defend the island. Tsai’s final expected at climactic rallies in Taiwan self-ruling since it split from China rally will take place outside the pres- yesterday as presidential candidates after a civil war in 1949, but Beijing idential office in Taipei, while Chu made their last bid for votes in an elec- still sees it as part of its territory to be will finish in New Taipei City, where tion likely to usher in its first female reunited, by force if necessary. he is mayor. leader at this weekend’s polls. The DPP is traditionally pro-inde- The third presidential candidate, Momentum is gathering across pendence, flying in the face of Beijing’s veteran conservative James Soong, Taiwan ahead of today’s pivotal elec- desire to reunify Taiwan with the main- who is trailing behind Tsai and Chu, is tion, in which voters are expected to land. In a pragmatic move, Tsai has touring central Taiwan before a rally turn their backs on eight years of rap- toned down the party’s message in in Taipei yesteray night. prochement with China, as scepticism campaigning, but her opponents say Lawmaker hopefuls are also giving over closer ties grows. China ties will inevitably deteriorate a last campaign push before parlia- Party supporters campaign for their candidates holding national flags and a placard in New Taipei yesterday. The flagging economy is also a if she takes power. It comes after an mentary elections. Kim is very afraid to be China supports UN action against North Korea

Reuters not elaborate on what that response killed: Expert should be. Despite differences over the issue of new Security Council resolu- tions, the international community AFP BEIJING: China said yesterday that must take a “clear and consistent” it supported “necessary” action direction and return to six-party talks, against North Korea by the UN Secu- Wang said. rity Council to preserve the authority “It is not to provoke confrontation, ATHENS: North Korea’s leader Kim of the United Nations in the face of but rather to firmly advance denu- Jong-Un is afraid of sharing the fate Pyongyang’s latest nuclear weapon clearisation goals,” he added. “It is of slain dictators Saddam Hussein, test this month. not bring chaos to the peninsula, but Moamer Kadhafi and Al-Qaeda’s The North’s nuclear test angered to seek a plan for lasting stability.” Osama bin Laden, and is working both China and the United States and Last week, North Korea said it had on a nuclear deterrent for this pur- again raised questions about what tested a powerful hydrogen bomb but pose, a former Japanese defence can be done to stop its development the United States and various experts minister said yesterday. of nuclear weapons. doubt that, as the blast was roughly “Kim is very afraid to be killed The country is already under a the same size as that from its previ- like (Iraq’s) Saddam Hussein, (Lib- wide array of international sanctions, ous test, of an atomic bomb, in 2013. ya’s) Moamer Kadhafi or Osama and diplomats have said UN Security South Korea warned the North bin Laden,” Satoshi Morimoto, who Council members were expected to that the United States and its allies is now a national security expert, discuss the possibility of adding to were working on sanctions to inflict told a conference in Athens. those. China’s Foreign Minister Wang “bone-numbing pain” for the test, and “So as long as they maintain Yi said the nuclear test violated UN urged China to do its part to rein in nuclear capability they think they resolutions and ran counter to goals its isolated neighbour. can survive,” said Morimoto, a for denuclearisation on the Korean The World Economic Forum with- professor at Tokyo’s Takushoku peninsula. drew its invitation for North Korea’s University who served as defence “China supports the UN Secu- foreign minister to attend its annual minister in 2012. rity Council in taking the necessary Davos meeting because of the nuclear North Korea says it tested a response to this. We believe the United test, a move Pyongyang said was miniaturised hydrogen bomb on Nations’ authority must be preserved, “based on unjust political motiva- January 6 -- a claim largely dis- and the nuclear non-proliferation tion” driven by the United States. missed by experts who argue the Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (left), shakes hands with South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister system must be safeguarded,” the It was to have been the coun- yield was far too low for a full- Lim Sung-nam (centre), as US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on prior to their meeting ministry cited Wang as saying, in try’s first participation in the event fledged thermonuclear device. at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo yesterday. a statement on its web site. He did in 18 years.

UN report documents gang rapes WHO confirms and mass graves in Burundi Chinese President to embark one more on Mideast trip from Tuesday Ebola death Reuters African states fear Burundi’s crisis, which has so far largely followed political allegiances, could spi- FREETOWN: The World Health ral into a renewed ethnic conflict, Reuters Feng, professor at Peking Universi- politics at Chinese University of Hong Organization confirmed yesterday GENEVA: The United Nations has doc- potentially spilling over into Rwanda ty’s School of International Studies, Kong, said. a new death from Ebola in Sierra umented cases of Burundi’s security and Democratic Republic of Congo. told AFP. “So stability in the Middle Beijing was trying to project power Leone just a day after west Africa forces gang-raping women during Burundi’s 12-year civil war, in which East is what China would most like to and influence in the Middle East, see- celebrated the end of the outbreak. searches of opposition supporters’ some 300,000 people were killed BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jin- see.” As China’s economy has grown, ing an opening in the troubled region A 22-year-old female student houses and heard witness testimony and which ended in 2005, pitted an ping will visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt its dependence on imported oil and as US policy “hasn’t been very suc- was taken ill near the Guinean of mass graves, UN human rights chief army led by the Tutsi minority against and Iran next week, Beijing’s for- natural gas has increased, making cessful under (US President Barack) border on Thursday last week and Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said yesterday. rebel groups of the Hutu majority. eign ministry said yesterday, as the the Middle East a crucial part of Bei- Obama”, he said. China was present- died on Tuesday, according to local Burundi has suffered a worsen- Nkurunziza is a former leader of a world’s second-largest economy seeks jing’s strategy as it seeks to expand its ing itself as “a mediator with no strings health officials. ing wave of violence since President Hutu rebel group. greater diplomatic heft in a crucial influence through Xi’s signature for- attached”, added Lam, in contrast to “We can confirm the Ebola case Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek Burundi has the same ethnic mix and tense region. eign policy initiative, known as “One Washington, which has “vested inter- in Sierra Leone,” the WHO said in a third term his opponents say is ille- as Rwanda, which witnessed a mgen- Spokesman Lu Kang said in a Belt One Road”. ests in that part of the world going a statement from Geneva. gal. At least 439 people have been ocide in 1994 - about 85 percent Hutus statement that Xi would visit the three The massive investment scheme back four, five decades”. Augustine Junisa, the chief local killed in the violence and 200,000 and 15 percent Tutsis. Middle Eastern countries over five aims to increase China’s footprint from This week a Chinese diplomat medical officer, told reporters the have fled the country. Zeid said the The United Nations is analysing days from Tuesday. The trip, Xi’s first central Asia to Europe through the use urged “calm and restraint” between woman became ill while on holiday United Nations had documented 13 satellite images to investigate witness to the region as president, comes amid of loans to build infrastructure and Saudi Arabia and Iran, but Xi’s trip in the village of Bamoi Luma and cases of sexual violence with a pattern reports of at least nine mass graves in mounting tensions over the war in Syria transport networks. Touted as a revival was most probably organised before was taken by relatives to hospital. of security forces allegedly enter- and around the capital Bujumbura, and after protesters ransacked and of ancient Silk Road trade routes, the the discord erupted between Riyadh The official said the woman ing the victims’ houses, separating including one in a military camp, burned the Saudi Embassy in Tehran initiative underscores China’s ambi- and Tehran, Zhu said. “died at home” but did not say why the women and raping or gang-rap- containing more than 100 bodies in over the execution of a Shia cleric. tion to wield geopolitical power to China also has its worries about she had been released from the ing them. total, all of them reportedly killed China depends on the Middle East match its economic might. “Xi Jin- radicalisation of the Muslim Uighur hospital in Magburaka, the capital During the searches, police, army on December 11, 2015, Zeid’s state- for its oil supplies but has long taken a ping is very committed to projecting live in China. Chinawanted to develop of the northern Tonkolili district. and Imbonerakure militia forces ment said. One of the sexually abused back seat in the region’s diplomatic and China’s image overseas, to boosting deeper defence and anti China says “The swab test on the victim also arrested many young men who women testified that her abuser told other disputes, only recently begin- China’s international footprint to a some Uighurs have travelled to Syria after her death was done three times were later tortured, killed or taken her she was paying the price for being ning to expand its role, especially in level which is commensurate with and Iraq to fight with militant groups and all proved positive,” Langoba to unknown destinations, Zeid said a Tutsi. Another witness said Tutsis the Syrian crisis. “China is the biggest its fast-growing economic and mili- there. In November, Islamic State said Kelly of Sierra Leone’s office of in a statement. Western powers and were being systematically killed. importer of Middle Eastern oil,” Zhu tary power,”Willy Lam, professor of it had killed a Chinese citizen. national security said. PAKISTAN SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 07 Sharif vows to crack down on honour killings

documentary short category of the Acad- anti-honour crime bill passed that has The Pakistan Prime emy Awards on Thursday. lapsed in parliament!” she said in another Hundreds of women are murdered by tweet. Minister expressed their relatives in Pakistan each year on “There is no Honor in Honor Killing- the government’s the grounds of defending family “honour”. It is not part of our religion or culture- It Their male murderers are then “par- is a stain on our society,” she said. commitment to rid doned” by relatives under the country’s Chinoy was feted across Pakistan in Pakistan of this controversial Islamic blood money 2012 when she won the country’s first laws that allow murderers to escape Oscar for “Saving Face”, a 40-minute evil by bringing punishment. documentary that exposed the horrors in appropriate A statement from the prime minis- endured by women who survive devas- ter’s office offered Chinoy, who made tating acid attacks. legislation history in 2012 when she won Pakistan’s It focuses on two women, Zakia first Oscar for the another documentary, and Rukhsana, as they fight to rebuild Sharif’s congratulations. their lives after being attacked by their AFP “Honour killings, the theme of the husbands, and British Pakistani plastic film, afflict several segments of Paki- surgeon Mohammad Jawad who tries to stani society,” it quoted Sharif as saying. help repair their shattered faces. He “expressed the government’s com- Acid attacks, which disfigure and ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz mitment to rid Pakistan of this evil by often blind their overwhelmingly female Sharif (pictured) vowed Pakistan would bringing in appropriate legislation”, the victims, have long been used to settle per- eradicate “evil” honour killings as he statement continued, adding that Chi- sonal or family scores in Pakistan, with congratulated director Sharmeen Obaid- noy’s “insights” could prove helpful. hundreds of cases reported each year. Chinoy on her Oscar nomination for a Chinoy said on Twitter that she was The attacks along with honour killings harrowing documentary on the practice. “delighted” that Sharif had made the fit a wider pattern of eroding women’s “A Girl in the River: The Price of For- commitment. rights, where women are frequently A file photo of director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy with Oscar award at a press conference in Karachi. giveness”, which follows the story of a “Next step is to push all the politi- treated as second-class citizens and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated her, on her second Oscar nomination for a harrowing rare survivor, was nominated in the cians to call a joint session and get the there is no law against domestic violence. documentary on honour killings. Clerics block ‘un-Islamic’ child marriage bill Schools linked to India attack suspects raided AFP the ruling Pakistan Muslim League non-binding, and it has drawn wide- scholars believe it is not in accord- (Nawaz), had moved to amend exist- spread criticism in the past for other ance with Islamic teachings. ing child marriage legislation in the rulings —including in 2013. They say there is no specific age AFP spokesman said one of the schools, lower house but was forced to with- “Marvi wanted deletion of the limit for marriage in Sharia as an in a village in Punjab’s Sialkot district, ISLAMABAD: Pakistani lawmakers draw her bid after it was rejected by word ‘simple’ punishment for those individual can marry when he or she was suspected of ties including finan- have withdrawn a proposal to impose a parliamentary committee on reli- involved in arranging child marriages reaches puberty and puberty cannot cial links to the banned organisation. harsher penalties on those who arrange gious affairs, a source familiar with to ‘rigorous’ or ‘two-year’ punish- be defined by age. LAHORE: Pakistani police have The January 2 assault on the child marriages after it was scuttled by the development told reporters. ment in the actual legislation,” the Rights activists strongly criti- raided and shut down two religious Pathankot air base came just days a religious body who branded it “blas- A representative from the Council parliamentary source, who did not cised the rejection of bill. “It is a schools linked to an Islamist group after Prime Minister Narendra Modi phemous” and against Islam, sources of Islamic Ideology (CII) had dubbed want to be identified due to the sen- pity that the committee came under believed to be behind a fatal attack on became the first Indian leader to visit said yesterday. the amendment to the Child Marriage sitivity of the matter, told reporters. the pressure of the council’s unjust an Indian air base earlier this month, Pakistan in 11 years, in a diplomatic The proposal, which would also Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2014 as “Marvi also wanted the age for ruling,” leading rights activist I.A. officials said. outreach that had raised hopes of a have raised the legal age of marriages “anti-Islamic” and “blasphemous” girls’ marriage to be raised from 16 Rehman said. Punjab provincial law minister softening in relations between the for females from 16 to 18, called for during the committee meeting, the years to 18 years, which does not in Branding the decision “absurd”, Rana Sanaullah told reporters that nuclear-armed rivals. “rigorous” punishment up to two years source said. any way violate the teachings of Islam,” he warned the council was paving a madrassa affiliated with Jaish-e- The attack was a rare instance in prison for those who organise child The CII was formed in 1962 to the source said. the way for its own disbandment Mohammad was raided and sealed of the targeting of an Indian military marriages, still common in some parts advise parliament on the compati- The original law stipulates the and calling its stance a setback to off on Thursday, while a second one installation outside disputed Kashmir. of Pakistan. bility of laws with Sharia. age of marriage at 16 for women and efforts to safeguard human rights had already been shut down at the India says the assault, which left Marvi Memon, a member of Its recommendations are 18 for men but Pakistani religious in Pakistan. weekend. seven soldiers dead, was carried out “Islamic literature was also by the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed, recovered from these madrassas, which is based in Pakistan and was investigations are on going,” he said, set up to fight Indian rule in Kashmir. adding that a dozen suspects had been Pakistan banned the group in Innocence reflected Boy cuts off detained and are being questioned 2002, the year after it was blamed by the police. for an attack on the Indian parlia- A spokesman for the coun- ment that took the two neighbours hand after ter-terrorism department in to the brink of war. Punjab confirmed both the raids It arrested the group’s leader in mistake and detentions. the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, In a brief media statement, the but he was later released.

AFP

LAHORE: A 15-year-old Pakistani boy cut off his own hand believing he had committed blasphemy, only to be celebrated by his parents and neighbours for the act, police said yesterday. Local police chief Nausher Ahmed described how an imam told a gathering at a village mosque that those who love the Prophet Moham- mad always say their prayers, then asked who among the crowd had stopped praying. Mohammad Anwar, 15, raised his hand by mistake after appar- ently mishearing the question. The crowd swiftly accused him of blasphemy so he went to his house and cut off the hand he had raised, put it on a plate, and presented it to the cleric, the police chief said. The incident took place at a vil- A child plays cricket near his temporary shelter in an Internally Displaced Person camp in Kabul, A seminary run by banned organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad was Afghanistan, yesterday. lage in Hujra Shah Muqeem district, 125 kms south of Lahore. sealed by Pakistani authorities, in Mundeyki Goraya village of Sialkot. Hunters stalk Siberian geese flying to Rawal Lake near Islamabad

Internews Around 500 birds have come to we hunt them with double barrel guns.” “Even police from the federal cap- party introduced himself as a police is how they travel the same migra- Rawal Lake this year, but the trend The wildlife team at the Capital ital are involved in hunting, so one can official working in the city. They tion route each year. may not continue, thanks to the hunt- Development Authority (CDA), which imagine how difficult it is to take action showed us a licence for hunting, but it “They can fly up to 800 kilometres ers that have followed. is responsible for preventing illegal against hunters,” he said. was for Malakand Agency. We recovered in one go. We try our best to ensure that ISLAMABAD: Siberian geese Arsalan Ahmed, a hunter, said hunting, claims it has been unable to Wildlife officer Mehmood Chaudhry guns, dummy geese and other things the birds are not hunted because oth- (Murghabi) have come to Pakistani about the various hunting methods do so because influential figures are also expressed helplessness, saying he and deposited them in the Secretar- erwise the birds will not come back to capital Islamabad after a gap of one used by enthusiasts. “Hunting takes involved in the activity. and his team had faced many prob- iat police station and issued a receipt.” the capital or to Rawal Dam,” he said. season, bringing with them a renewed place at sunrise or at sunset. Some peo- A CDA official said most hunters lems during the last month because “However, later the police offi- Awan said that he has received interest in hunting. ple use sound machines to recreate have influential contacts, making it they had raided hunters. cial filed a complaint against all the many threats from hunters. Accord- The birds migrate south at the start bird sounds to get the birds’ attention impossible to take action against them. “Wildlife watcher Mohammad CDA team members, alleging that we ing to Chaudhry, a hunting licence is of winter and come to Pakistan before and encourage them to land near the “Whenever we raid hunters they Rasheed Awan informed me that some robbed him, after which an inquiry only issued after weapons permit is returning to Siberia in March. How- lake,” he said. just give us the phone to talk to politi- people were hunting geese on the rear was launched,” Chaudhry said. He issued, and the licence is only valid ever, many birds are unable to make “We use dummy geese to get the cians or influential personalities, and side of Rawal Dam. I rushed there with said the team was declared innocent for a certain period in a certain area. the second half of their journey due to birds’ attention. We tie dummy geese in the end action can’t be taken. We my team and took all their goods and on January 11. He said the licence is only for hunt- vigorous hunting along their migra- with ropes and leave them in the water. just have to leave them with a warning weapons into custody,” he said. Chaudhry said geese have an ing wild boars, and is only valid for tion route. A number of geese come near them, and that they shouldn’t do it again,” he said. “One of the members of the hunting excellent navigation system, which hunting in Shakarparian for one month. 08 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 INDIA

Delhi ends odd-even trial Army Day celebrations as air quality remains poor

with his colleagues and taking the petition website Change.org on Fri- Air quality levels metro every second day. day found yesterday that 4.5 times Autorickshaw driver Tej Bahadur more people supported an extension remained “unhealthy” Patel, meanwhile, said the reduction in of the scheme than were against. A yesterday, the final traffic at least meant he was breathing 2014 WHO survey of more than 1,600 less car fumes as he plied the roads. cities ranked Delhi as the most pol- day of the two-week “Less cars means less traffic luted, partly because of the 8.5 million experiment. Delhi jams, which in turn means we inhale vehicles on its roads, with 1,400 more less pollution,” the 38-year-old told added every day. commuters were AFP, calling for the restrictions to be India’s Supreme Court has backed nonetheless positive imposed on a regular basis. the scheme, dismissing a slew of legal In a city where road rules are rou- challenges, and even top judges said about the scheme tinely flouted, most drivers appeared to they were carpooling. “People are be obeying the restrictions and many dying due to pollution and you are said they viewed the scheme positively. challenging it for publicity,” justices More than 9,000 violators were, AK Sikri and R Banumathi said in a however, dealt fines of 2,000 rupees ruling Thursday. AFP ($30), a large sum for most Delhiites. Foreign diplomats, motorbike rid- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejri- ers and women travelling alone or with wal congratulated the city of some 17 children under 12 were also exempt, million for complying with the strict although many chose to abide by the NEW DELHI: New Delhi yesterday rules, and urged residents to continue scheme voluntarily. The city’s filthy air wrapped up a trial of draconian driv- driving only on alternate days, telling claims up to 30,000 lives each year, ing restrictions that has taken around a news conference it was “a matter of according to the Delhi-based Centre a million cars off the roads and seen our lives and our city”. His transport for Science and Environment.But the even judges and diplomats carpool, minister said the trial resulted in a auto industry argued that cars have Army Dare devil team performs motorcycle stunts during a function celebrating the Indian Army Day but made little obvious difference to 20-25 percent drop in air pollution. been unfairly targeted when polluting in New Delhi, yesterday. air quality in the world’s most pol- Figures from the US embassy in industries were mainly to blame, and luted capital. Delhi showed PM2.5 levels were lower says just three percent of the city’s pol- Air quality levels remained than on the first day of the trial, but lution is from cars, with heavy industry “unhealthy” yesterday, the final day air quality was still “very unhealthy” and other vehicles accounting for more. of the two-week experiment in allow- on Friday morning, with PM2.5 levels A report by India’s top technology ing private cars on the roads only on at 156 -- six times the World Health institute also found that fly-ash from Rajnath and Parrikar discuss Pathankot strike alternate days. Organization (WHO) safe limit. coal-based tandoor ovens, burning of Delhi commuters were nonetheless PM2.5 refers to microscopic parti- solid waste and road dust were among positive about the scheme, which the cles that penetrate deep into the lungs the main culprits. The city’s air usu- government may adopt on a more per- and are particularly harmful to health. ally worsens in winter as cooler air IANS done by the intelligence agencies in held on the means to further strengthen manent basis, although mostly because The Delhi government introduced traps pollutants and people light fires giving advance warning of the attack the prevention, detection and foiling it freed up traffic on the city’s usually the scheme after a court ordered to stay warm. The Delhi government in effectively meeting the challenge of such dastardly attacks. It was felt clogged roads. authorities to act on pollution levels will meet on Monday to discuss the and minimising the possible dam- that the many strengths displayed by “The traffic situation in Delhi has that sometimes reach more than 10 success of the scheme. Chief Minister NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister age, an official statement later said. all the agencies concerned, especially really improved. Earlier, it used to take times the WHO’s safe limits. Arvind Kejriwal saying it succeeded Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister The two ministers also appreci- in terms of their synergized response me nearly one hour to commute to work It is part of a wider anti-pollution in more ways than one. He urged Manohar Parrikar yesterday took stock ated the bravery shown by the security need not only to be commended, but and back (home), but now the time drive that will also include shutting Delhiites to continue it voluntarily of the January 2 Pathankot terror strike forces in the incident and paid homage also further built upon,” the statement has cut to half. It’s such a relief,” said some coal-fired power plants and vac- “if you can”.Many took to commut- at a meeting, discussing the “take- to those who sacrificed their lives dur- said. The ministers also stressed the Rohit Srivastava, a 32-year-old bank uuming roads to reduce dust. A survey ing by Delhi Metro and found they aways” from the incident. ing the entire operation of clearing the need to upgrade both intelligence and executive who had been carpooling of nearly 18,000 Delhiites by global could save money. The ministers appreciated the work Pathankot airbase. “Discussions were preventive abilities.

V K Singh to look after Pongal celebrations issues of Indians in Gulf Kerala HC IANS workers and there are frequent com- plaints of labour-related issues. admits govt Sushma Swaraj’s statement comes after the ministry of overseas Indian petition in NEW DELHI: Minister of State for affairs (MOIA) that used to look after External Affairs V K Singh will from issues of Indians overseas was merged Lavalin case now onwards look after all issues with the ministry of external affairs related to Indians in the Gulf, Exter- earlier this month. nal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj “As minister for external affairs Kochi: The Kerala High stated. and overseas Indian affairs, I real- Court yesterdayadmit- “All matters relating to Indian ised that substantial work of MOIA is ted a revision petition filed nationals in Gulf countries will now be done through our missions abroad,” by the state government looked after by my colleague @Gen_ Sushma Swaraj stated on January 7. in the SNC Lavalin case, VKSingh,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted. “The prime minister has kindly in which CPI-M politburo Following this, when an Indian accepted my proposal. So the MOIA member Pinarayi Vijayan national from Saudi Arabia tweeted will now be part of the ministry was earlier exonerated by that he was stuck after working for 24 of external affairs,” the minister a special court. months in a human resource company announced. The Central Bureau of in Riyadh, Sushma Swaraj advised The MOIA, dedicated to the Investigation had named him to give the name and address multitude of Indian nationals set- Vijayan as an accused in of his recruitment agent (RA) to V.K. tled abroad, was established in May the case, charging that an Singh. “RA must secure your return 2004 as the ministry of non-resi- agreement entered into in or face arrest,” the external affairs dent Indians’ affairs. Later, it was 1997 with Canadian com- minister tweeted. renamed the Ministry of Overseas pany Lavalin when Vijayan There are nearly five million expa- Indian Affairs in September 2004. This was the power minis- triate Indians in the Gulf Cooperation year, the Pravassi Bharatiya Divas, ter led to a loss of Rs266 Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, that used to be the flagship event of crore to the exchequer. Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Ara- the erstwhile MOIA, was organised However, a CBI special bia and the United Arab Emirates. by the ministry of external affairs Devotees prepare rice dishes as part of the Pongal celebrations at a slum in Mumbai yesterday. court exonerated Vijayan A majority of them work as blue collar on January 9. in 2013. The Kerala gov- ernment moved the high court, which has now fixed 11 dead in hearing for mid-February. Punjab party merges with Congress Sunanda’s death road accident unnatural: Bassi IANS potential allies, saying that merger of badly lost its position. Manpreet Badal, a blueprint to turn around Punjab”. the PPP had been concluded. who fought the 2014 Lok Sabha election “We felt Congress is a bigger, bet- JAMMU: Eleven people were killed “We are very happy. Manpreet as a Congress candidate from Bathinda ter, more experienced platform. Our New Delhi: The current and 20 injured yesterday in a road NEW DELHI: Manpreet Singh Badal, Badal has merged his party with us... against Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the wife effort will be to form a Congress gov- observation of the final accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s an estranged nephew of Punjab Chief Hope we will be able to forge a strong of his first cousin and Deputy Chief ernment,” he said. viscera report of Suna- Udhampur district, police said. Minister Parkash Singh Badal, yes- alliance for the election,” he said, add- Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, and lost The PPP earlier formed an alli- nda Pushkar gives a clear The accident took place at Ram- terday merged his People’s Party of ing Manpreet Badal underplays his narrowly, said that merger talks had ance with the Left and other smaller impression that she died nagar, 65 km from Udhampur town, Punjab with the Congress to unitedly position but he has a pan-Punjab been in the works for some months. parties under the banner of ‘Sanjha an unnatural death, Delhi when the driver lost control over the take on SAD-BJP in the assembly polls image and his party was present in He said he met Congress vice pres- Morcha’ just before the January 2012 Police Commissioner B S bus going to Basantgarh, Deputy in the state early next year. all districts. ident Rahul Gandhi thrice and his assembly elections in Punjab but none Bassi said yesterday. Inspector General of Police Surinder The merger was announced at Manpreet Badal said his party emphasis was “on agenda of Punjab”. of them won any seat. “The current investi- Gupta told reporters. The bus fell the Congress headquarters here in was merging with the Congress “How will you turnover Punjab, However, the PPP garnered a six gation of the final viscera into a deep gorge. presence of Punjab Congress chief unconditionally. that was the agenda. We submitted a percent vote share, playing a spoilsport report submitted to the Two injured persons have sus- Amarinder Singh and party leaders Noting that he had been the young- 11-point memorandum and the Con- for the Congress that ended up with 46 Delhi Police states that tained critical injuries”, the official Shakeel Ahmed, Ambika Soni and Par- est legislator and youngest finance gress accepted it and said it was its own seats as against 56 of the Shiromani Sunanda Pushkar did not said.The Jammu and Kashmir gov- tap Singh Bajwa. minister in Punjab, he said he had agenda also,” said Manpreet Badal. Akali Dal and 12 of the Bharatiya Janata die a natural death... that ernment has announced an ex-gratia Amarinder Singh said that the Con- parted ways with the Shiromani Akali “We felt Congress will be good, right Party. Three seats in the 117-member is for certain. It was an relief of Rs.1 lakh each to the next of gress had lost the last two assembly Dal-led government in 2010 following and only platform. We were treated assembly were won by Independents. unnatural death,” Bassi kin of the deceased and Rs.25,000 polls by very slender margin of votes differences with its leadership and had with a lot of respect. They won our The Congress and the PPP had sub- told reporters. to those critically injured and Rs. and the party was working towards floated a new party in 2011. hearts,” he added. Asked why his party sequently announced an alliance in The Delhi Police is 10,000 for those who did not suf- alliances He identified the Left par- He said that Punjab was once the did not join hands with the Aam Aadmi March 2014 for elections to the 13 Lok reviewing the final viscera fer any major injury in the accident. ties and the Bahujan Samaj Party as leading states of the country but had Party, he said that “they do not have Sabha seats in the state. report of Pushkar. EUROPE SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 09

Independence Drug trafficking network dismantled of Catalonia not now: Leader

acknowledge in an interview with Catalan station TV3 that this was Although the unrealistic. separatist coalition “Do we have sufficient strength to declare independence for Catalonia has the most seats with this parliament? Still no,” Puig- in the regional demont told TV3 on Thursday night, in his first interview since taking office. parliament, opinion The results of a September polls show that a regional election gave him a mandate majority of the 7.5 to push forward with the independ- ence campaign, he said. But the million people in present situation was a period of Catalonia, which has “post-autonomy and pre-independ- ence” transition. its own language Although the separatist coalition and culture, say they has the most seats in the regional parliament, opinion polls show that want to remain part a majority of the 7.5 million people of Spain in Catalonia, which has its own lan- guage and culture, say they want to remain part of Spain but with greater autonomy on issues such as tax. Reuters Before a Catalan republic could be declared, Catalans must endorse a new constitution in a referendum, Puigdemont said. He also appeared A French police officer standing near some of the cannabis, arms, ammunitions and bank notes seized by the Marseille police in eon of MADRID: Catalonia’s new secession- to be flexible over the 18-month time housing projects. Police dismantled a drug trafficking network in Marseille yesterday, arrested three people and seized 66kg ofannabis, c ist leader, Carles Puigdemont, said his frame, saying the process must first €67,000 in cash and a thousand cartridges, including 600 with a caliber used in Kalashnikov machine guns. regional government will not make a be legally secure. The developments unilateral declaration of independ- in Catalonia take place in a fraught ence from Spain, acknowledging that national political scene in which Spain sufficient public support for a break is without a government following with Madrid was still lacking. an inconclusive election last month. Puigdemont took office as The conservative People’s Party Juncker tells Renzi not to bash EU too much regional president on Tuesday as head won most seats but lost its outright of the nationalist coalition Junts pel Si majority in parliament. Unless a coa- (Together for Yes), ending months of lition can be formed, the country is Reuters Minister, whom I respect a lot, is wrong in December, Renzi’s government is of some member states. Italy benefits in-fighting among separatist factions. likely to go to the polls again. to criticise the Commission at each said to be blocking an EU plan to set from all the flexibility that has been The move gave renewed vigour to The PP, the Socialists and the street corner,” Commission President up a €3bn fund to help Turkey stem introduced,” Juncker said. the push for the northeastern region, centrist Cuiadadanos all oppose a Jean-Claude Juncker told a news con- the worst inflow in decades of asy- The Commission will take a for- Spain’s wealthiest, to secede. The cam- referendum in Catalonia, although BRUSSELS: Italy is wrong to bash the ference in Brussels, hinting at possible lum seekers into Europe. mal decision on the Italian budget paign is fiercely opposed by the main the left-wing Podemos supports the European Commission, the head of domestic reasons for the criticism. Italy is also in talks with the Com- in spring. To calm relations, Juncker national political parties. idea of allowing it. the EU executive said yesterday, in an In recent weeks, 40-year-old Renzi mission on whether it can be granted will go to Italy at the end of Febru- Separatist leaders have previously Puigdemont caused a stir when attempt to quell Prime Minister Mat- has openly attacked Europe and Ger- more fiscal leeway in its 2016 budget. ary, in what will be his first visit to spoken of an 18-month time-frame he took office in a ceremony on teo Renzi’s increasing criticism of EU many for policies that he sees as biased Rome wants to have more flexibility the country as president of the Euro- and a unilateral declaration of Tuesday without swearing alle- policies on migration, banking and towards Berlin. in applying EU fiscal rules. pean Union Commission. independence. giance to the Spanish king or the the budget. After criticising German Chan- “We have introduced a dose of “I keep my bitterness, which is big, But Puigdemont appeared to constitution. “I think that the Italian Prime cellor Angela Merkel at an EU summit increased flexibility against the will in my pocket,” Juncker said. French identify Most Germans fear another Paris refugees more attacker from AFP in December. Seven people in 10 fear DNA samples the influx will lead to more crime, compared to 62 percent in October. And a growing minority, now at BERLIN: Most Germans now doubt 42 percent from 33 percent in Octo- Reuters their country’s ability to cope with a ber, say they fear their cultural values record migrant influx, and fear ref- are under threat. ugees more, after the December 31 A separate survey by the group mass assaults on women in Cologne, DeutschlandTrend for the state TV PARIS : French investigators have opinion polls released yesterday show. ARD found that 51 percent of Ger- confirmed that Belgian-Moroccan A survey by public broadcaster man adults said they do not believe Chakib Akrouh, who blew himself up ZDF found that 60 percent of respond- Merkel’s repeated claim —“we will when trapped by police on Novem- ents believe Germany cannot cope manage” —that Germany can absorb ber 18, was the third member of the with the large numbers of new arriv- the inflow. three-man unit that killed dozens of als, which reached 1.1 million in 2015. In October, 48 percent of respond- cafe-goers during a multipronged The Cologne attacks clearly had ents said they had this view. The poll Islamist attack on Paris days earlier. an impact, the broadcaster said, as also found that 48 percent of those The confirmation by a French only 46 percent of people surveyed surveyed said they were afraid of ref- judiciary official comes two months in December felt that way. ugees, while 50 percent said they did after the Islamic State-claimed The poll of 1,203 people over Janu- not have this view. That question was assault of November 13, in which ary 12 to 14 also found that a majority not asked in October. The survey The Biotrial laboratory building in Rennes, where a clinical trial of an oral medication left one person nine men, split into three groups, (56 percent) are now dissatisfied with covered 1,000 people who were brain-dead and five hospitalised. attacked a sports stadium, a string of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s interviewed by phone on Janu- cafes and a concert hall, killing 130. refugee policies, up from 49 percent ary 12 and 13. The judiary official, who spoke French drug trial leaves one on condition of anonymity, said the third member of the team that conducted the gun attacks on cafes and restaurants was 25-year-old Snow cover brain-dead and five serious Akrouh, identified via DNA sam- ples from body parts recovered at the flat where he triggered a sui- cide vest during a police raid. Reuters markets an approved cannabis-derived unheard of. The last drug trial dis- In that siege in St Denis, on the treatment for spasticity caused by mul- aster in Europe occurred in 2006, northern outskirts of Paris, police tiple sclerosis, said it was not involved when six healthy volunteers given an killed two others —the suspected in the trial. experimental drug in London ended ringleader of the attacks, another PARIS: One person has been left brain- “This test was carried out at a pri- up in intensive care. One of them was Belgian-Moroccan named Abdel- dead and five others are in a serious vate facility specialised in carrying described as looking like “the ele- hamid Abaaoud and his cousin, a condition after taking part in a clinical out clinical trials,” the ministry said phant man” after his head ballooned. woman named Hasna Aitboulahcen. trial in western France of an experi- in a statement. Another lost his fingertips and toes. The most deadly of the Novem- mental medicine from an unnamed The brain dead individual was In the initial so-called Phase I stage ber 13 attacks was at the Bataclan drug company, the French health min- admitted to hospital in Rennes on of clinical testing, a drug is given to rock venue where all three attackers istry said yesterday. Monday. Other patients went in on healthy volunteers to see how it is han- died after killing 90 concert-goers. The ministry did not say what the Wednesday and Thursday. dled by the body and what is the right A third group of three suicide medicine was intended to be used All trials on the drug have now dose to give to patients. bombers blew themselves up outside for, but one person familiar with the been suspended and all volunteers “Undertaking Phase 1 studies is the Stade de France sports stadium. situation said the drug was a canna- who have taken part in the trial are highly specialist work,” said Daniel The identity of two of those three bis-based painkiller. being called back. Hawcutt, a lecturer in clinical phar- remains unclear. An arrest war- The ministry said the six volun- A spokeswoman for the European macology at Britain’s University of rant has also been issued for Salah teers in Rennes, Brittany, had been Medicines Agency in London said it Liverpool. Abdeslam, who travelled to Paris in good health until taking the oral did not have full details of the case but Medicines then go into larger Phase from Belgium, possibly to blow him- Snow covers the roofs of a former barracks town of the Belgian medication, which was developed by that it was monitoring the situation. II and Phase III trials to assess their self up in another attack but instead army, Wollseifen, in the middle of the Eifel ranges National Park “a European laboratory”. Cases of early-stage clinical tri- effectiveness and safety before they fled back to Belgium and subse- in Germany, yesterday. Britain’s GW Pharma, which als going badly wrong are rare but not are finally approved for sale. quently vanished. 10 SATURDAY 16 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 Jakarta blast High School rifle teams stay

ho thought the Islamic State (IS) would target Indonesia? course as gun debate rages on This country with the world’s largest Muslim population, peaceful and moderate, non-interfering and non- controversial, had generally been able to steer clear of shooting is not political — it’s an Division I programs; this year’s for a mishap. Guns are stored in terrorist networks. Nor was the country a recruiting enduring outlet for competition team has a few NCAA prospects, hard cases, unloaded and in safety Wground for extremist groups for a number of reasons. But the deadly Amid challenges and individualism that attracts including Carroll; Nicholas Kanel- mode; an arrow on the case indi- coordinated attacks in Jakarta on Thursday that left five attackers and both practical and students uninterested or unable lis, who plans to attend a service cates the barrel’s direction, so that to play for traditional high school academy; and Zach Eisenberg, a when it’s opened, the rifle is pointed two other people dead, claimed by the IS, has shattered this sense of of perception, athletic teams. lacrosse player-turned marksman toward the range. security. Facing heat in its heartlands – Syria and Iraq – the Islamic State is the niche sport The story of how Carroll who is considering North Caro- “This rifle becomes simply a desperately struggling to keep itself relevant. The targeting of a country like became involved is a familiar one lina State. device, like a tennis racket or a Indonesia is a sign of this desperation. The fact that the attack happened in has changed to among competitive high school “It takes a lot of concentra- lacrosse stick,” Hardy said. “An broad daylight on a busy street lined with shopping malls, top hotels, and account for financial shooters. Through middle school tion and patience,” Eisenberg instrument to punch a piece of foreign embassies shows terrorists wanted to create maximum shock and she had tried other activities - bal- said. “Really it’s a sport for any- paper with a 10.” and political let, karate, even baseball - but one. As long as you have eyes, you Never under Hardy’s watch has terror. pressures. But as wasn’t drawn to any of them. can shoot.” a Robinson student used the rifle The attack shows that the IS terrorists have infiltrated the country and Still, she wanted to be involved (NC State has three Robinson as a weapon, nor has anyone been established a network, even if small, which was confirmed by the national the national gun in something. And after attend- alumni, freshman Claire Spina, struck by a bullet, he said. That police chief Badrodin Haiti. “The planners, financiers, and supporters debate continues, ing an interest meeting in ninth sophomore Caitlyn Ford and jun- trend holds nationally, too. The that provide (explosive) materials, assemble the bombs, facilitate local high school grade, she realised that something ior Lucas Kozeniesky. They will CMP reported the injury rate for was riflery. be joined next season by Sarah air rifle marksmanship is about accommodations and vehicles etc... of course this is the work of a team that riflery participation could be big or small. This obviously was Carroll didn’t look like a Hickey, a Northwood senior from 0.0017 per athletic exposure per remains as robust as shooter. Not then as a rookie Silver Spring who competes with year. Amid all the issues surround- not conducted by five men, this takes freshman and not even now as a the Antietam Junior Rifle Club.) ing gun control, competitive youth teamwork,” he said. The authorities it was 20 years ago Division I recruit, dressed head As successful as Robinson riflery is “a nonissue,” said Ladd Indonesia must are suspecting the role of what is called to toe in rifle gear. riflery has been, it doesn’t get Everitt, director of communica- crush terrorism Katibah Nusantara, a faction of the “She’s built like a stick,” said the same attention as other var- tions with the Coalition to Stop with an iron hand ruthless Islamic State group which is By Eric Goldwein Bob Hardy, a longtime coach at sity teams. That the school even Gun Violence. made up primarily of Malay-speaking The Washington Post Robinson, “and the first time she had a team came as a surprise to The PHSRL teams used to com- came to air rifle practice at IZAAK Victoria Carroll. pete with the more powerful .22 as the Islamic Indonesians and Malaysians. State spreads Walton I said, ‘That ain’t gonna “We had no idea that it even caliber small-bore rifles and still do This is Indonesia’s worst terror work.’ “ existed to be honest with you,” in some cases. But because small its tentacles into incident in seven years. Two of the ayley Carroll was in Hardy was wrong. Carroll was she said. bores require larger ranges - with more regions victims were a Canadian and an standing position, a natural, and when it became But she’s grateful it did, she said. ventilation systems to reduce lead Indonesian man. Two dozen other one eye closed and apparent she would stick with Competing with Robinson and hav- exposure - the PHSRL has become people were wounded -- three the other focused the sport, her parents bit the bul- ing the responsibility of handling a an air rifle league. foreigners, six police officers and the on the target 33 let; they bought an air rifle, then a rifle helped Hayley become more The transition began in 1999 - Hfeet ahead. With the air rifle bal- small-bore rifle and all the other organized and more independent; a few months after the Columbine rest Indonesian civilians. anced by her left hand and pressing clothing, equipment and accesso- she turned over a new leaf aca- High School massacre - when York- The government of President Joko Widodo must launch a crackdown against her cheek, she moved her ries required to shoot competitively. demically, Victoria said. town’s indoor range, which served on terrorists and crush their networks. Past governments have proven their index finger over the trigger. Her mother, Victoria Carroll, said “She found something she was Arlington schools for three dec- ability to do this. Indonesia suffered several large bomb attacks by Islamic When she pulled it, there they have paid about $7,500. That passionate about, and it changed ades, was closed for a combination radicals between 2000 and 2009, but a subsequent security crackdown was no whiplash. No smoke and doesn’t include travel expenses, of her life in many ways,” Victoria of political and logistical reasons. weakened the extremist networks, and there had been no major attacks no blast. The sound more closely which Carroll has accumulated said. School board members said they resembled a pen click than a gun- plenty through her various national That’s a sentiment shared by felt it was inappropriate to have since 2009. Jakarta needs to coordinate with other governments in the shot, and to the untrained eye, it competitions. Carroll, who shoots twice a week guns on school grounds and that region, especially Malaysia. With the terrorists looking for a new haven and wasn’t clear where or whether the Robinson is one of the 2,000- with her team and several more the space from the range could be more recruits, poor countries might look easy targets. pellet pierced the paper. plus high school teams (including times on her own. She doesn’t plan used for additional classrooms. The IS has been busy spreading its networks. The group already has But it didn’t take the binoculars JROTC programmes) enrolled in on breaking that habit any time soon. Other Virginia schools prac- affiliates in Libya and Nigeria, and has targeted a host of other countries provided by the onlooking coach the Civilian Marksmanship Pro- She has her sights set on a few Divi- ticed and competed with small-ore like Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan. Under growing pressure in Iraq to know that she hit the bull’s-eye. gram, according to the CMP sion I schools, including Nebraska. rifles at Fort Belvoir, but the base and Syria from the US-led bombing campaign, the extremists are now Carroll, all 5 feet 2 of her, is almost website. While JROTC teams exist At Robinson she gets weird stopped permitting high school always on target. And on the occa- all over the DC area, there are only questions from classmates, such practices after the September 11 spreading its tentacles into more regions. sions she did miss during a late a handful of high school club and as the time someone asked whether attacks because of increased secu- Jakarta must crush the terrorists with an iron hand. The IS is posing a December winter break practise varsity teams. she shot animals and clay pigeons. rity concerns, according to Hardy. huge threat to the security of the world, especially the Islamic countries. at the indoor air rifle range at the Other Fairfax County PHSRL But she embraces the rifle repu- As small-bore ranges became Arlington Fairfax Chapter of the members include W T Woodson, tation. The sport has shaped her less accessible, schools were run- IZAAK Walton League, it wasn’t Lake Braddock, West Potomac identity and become an integral ning out of places to shoot, and the by much. and West Springfield. Arlington part of her high school life. league started to crumble; only Carroll, a senior at Robinson County, which allocates stipends “It’s almost like an extension three teams competed regularly Quote of the day Secondary School in Fairfax, Vir- for coaches, has three varsity teams of my arm,” Carroll said. during the 2004-05 winter var- ginia, is an atypical athlete in an in the PHSRL: Washington-Lee, The Potomac High School Rifle sity season. atypical co-ed varsity sport. With Yorktown and a newly launched League has been around for as And so the PHSRL adapted, 40-plus members, Robinson is the team at Wakefield. They practice long as Hardy, 81, can remember. expanding to include air rifle com- Our people must understand largest and most successful of the together and share coaching staffs Schools come in and out, partic- petitions. That made the sport more who is who — having a PhD 11 teams competing in the Potomac and equipment. Equipment and ipation waxes and wanes, rules accessible; air rifles can be shot High School Rifle League (PHSRL). practice fees are paid for by the have been adjusted and even anywhere, even in a garage, where title doesn’t necessarily make Though considered a varsity team, teams, according to Jennifer Har- the name has changed; it used ventilation systems and backstops you an intellectual. These are Robinson functions as a club. It ris, director of communications for to be the Northern Virginia High aren’t needed. In June, the Arling- doesn’t receive money from the Arlington Public Schools. School League. But the sport and ton Fairfax Chapter launched a people in the dark. They are school. Its coaching staff consists of St John’s (DC) and Landon the friendly, competitive culture state of the art range - the Bucky cruel and despicable. volunteers and equipment is paid (Bethesda, Maryland) have their have for the most part remained Sills Air Rifle/Air Pistol Facility - for by parents. own indoor ranges and are the the same, Hardy said. which is home to Robinson and the Amid challenges both practical PHSRL’s lone private school teams, Since joining Robinson’s coach- other surrounding schools. and of perception, the niche sport while the Mavericks consist of ing staff in 1981, Hardy said there There are still .22 small-bore has changed to account for finan- shooters from high schools with- haven’t been any safety issues. Sev- competitions; some teams prac- Recep Tayyip Erdogan cial and political pressures. But as out rifle programs. eral coaches are on hand during tice at the NRA Range in Fairfax, the national gun debate continues, Robinson has dominated the each practice, rarely turning their and the competitive shooters will Turkish President local high school riflery partici- league, winning PHSRL region titles eyes away from the 25-lane range. train there on their own as they pation remains as robust as it was in 19 of the past 26 years. The team Multiple precautions are taken prepare for individual competi- 20 years ago. For these athletes, regularly sends its top shooters to to ensure there’s no opportunity tions and NCAA riflery.

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By Laryssa Chomiak through different lenses. The Washington Post Many highlight Tunisia as a success story. Its first election cycle opened the political system to an Ennahda-led coalition of par- ties, which drafted a celebrated democratic t was only half a decade ago that Tunisia constitution. The second election marked dramatically ruptured with its dic- the first defeat of an incumbent Islamist tatorial past. The self-immolation of government but also saw its first success- a young produce seller in the coun- ful transition of power. The state’s progress try’s impoverished interior brought has been internationally celebrated with Ito the fore decades of simmering dissent, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize and its place culminating in the surprise departure of among the Forbes top-10 list of start-up Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who had ruled for friendly countries. 23 consecutive years. Memories of a mas- Other observers have focused on sive, nation-wide revolutionary movement negative developments, including the assas- — images of state violence against pro- sination of two leftist politicians, ongoing testers, of young Tunisians passionately attacks against security forces, the hor- ripping down an omnipresent public cult rific acts committed against tourists at of personality, of emotional cries calling for the Bardo Museum in Tunis and a beach the departure of the dictator, of thousands resort in Sousse, the subsequent govern- pouring into the streets of Tunis on Jan. 14, ment crackdown, including arbitrary arrests, 2011 — stir emotions to this day. and increasing fears of the criminalisation As Tunisia celebrates its fifth anniver- of public expression and protest. Moreo- sary of the revolution, nostalgia for the ver, Nidaa Tounes, the ruling party that euphoria of those moments are coupled won the 2014 legislative elections, is col- with currents of discontent and frustra- lapsing under the weight of infighting, with tion. Such complex and ambiguous feelings massive defection among its deputies and about the revolution and its aftermath are members of its political bureau. important markers for where Tunisia stands While both optimists and pessimists have today. Yet discordant sentiments should not good reasons for their outlook, analysts’ overshadow the courage and aspirations extensive focus on political achievements of this radically transformative moment indicative of liberal democratic consolida- in Tunisia’s history. tion, or the linking of devastating events to a “reversal of democracy,” have not only painted a limited and minimalist picture of where Tunisia stands today but have also influenced public opinion. Juxtaposing moments of success with trends of failure, Today, Tunisia is celebrating first and has resulted in an emphasis of an epistemol- Moslem (centre), a 27-year-old who was wounded while protesting during Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, shouts slogans foremost a rupture from dictatorship ogy of absence — the idea that something fundamental is missing in Tunisia, which during a march to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the revolution, in Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis, Tunisia. and the dreams and aspiration that needs rapid reform, particularly along eco- have flourished with that political nomic and security lines, to continue on its meaning of revolution and a democratic the former regime’s security apparatus. opening. While the last five years democratic track. Most devastatingly, the polity. It is the revolution that has made At the museum, former political prisoners reform-focused emphasis based on absence such discourse possible. lead guided tours, recounting their stories have been marked by exemplary and inadequacy, has contributed to popular Today, Tunisia is celebrating first and of persecution, imprisonment and torture. political achievements, Tunisians sentiments of frustration with the post-rev- foremost a rupture from dictatorship and the Screened across Tunisia the evening before olutionary governments and potentially dreams and aspiration that have flourished the anniversary, Leyla Bouzid’s film, “A peine continue to grapple with the legacy dangerous calls to bring the old order back. with that political opening. While the last j’ouvre les yeux” (I Can Hardly Open My of the old regime and the still-open Warnings of an unstable political tran- five years have been marked by exemplary Eyes), tells the story of young musicians sition have reinforced these sentiments and political achievements, Tunisians continue pushing the boundaries of the permissi- wounds that it created. have called into question the revolutionary to grapple with the legacy of the old regime ble through lyrics and poetry just months movement, its aspirations, dreams, cour- and the still-open wounds that it created. In before the revolution. Endeavours like these age, and most importantly, the fundamental the fall, a proposed economic reconcilia- continuously remind Tunisians of the open Today’s Tunisia is a far cry from that achievements of Tunisians in the last five tion bill to grant amnesty to former regime wounds still to be healed that transcend The fifth anniversary of late 2010. Public expressions of citizen years. More profoundly, such doubts might figures stirred public debate and gave rise the high politics of parties, commissions demands and new political actors have explain the tacit acceptance by some of the to a movement called Manich Msameh (I and elections. of the Tunisian transformed a previously tightly control- return of former Ben Ali regime elements will not forgive). Such public reactions indi- The 2011 revolution fundamentally revolution provides led political space and represent a radical into politics, the economy and public life. cate that, despite important institutional changed the rules of the political game in rupture from country’s dictatorial past. The fifth anniversary of the Tunisian advances toward transitional justice via law Tunisia, and while it remains a source of a moment to reflect Jan. 14, 2011 shook an entire system with revolution provides a moment to reflect and and the establishment of a Truth Commis- contention and conflict, this achievement and rethink the ideals that reverberated across the region, rethink the political trajectory of how a rev- sion, the political and economic abuses of is irreversible. As painful testimonies and fundamentally changing the rules of the olution is institutionalised and to separate Tunisia’s dictatorial past continue to loom artistic representations remind us, today, political trajectory political game in Tunisia and beyond. It is the very real euphoria of a revolutionary in the near memory. Not all Tunisians are unlike in 2010, Tunisians can publicly debate of how a revolution this moment that Tunisians are celebrat- movement from various forms of discon- willing to sacrifice consensual stability for and disagree on their new political order. ing and commemorating today. tent with post-revolutionary governance. social peace and public forgiveness. Tunisia is celebrating the anniversary of is institutionalised Tunisia’s 2010-2011 revolutionary move- The most notable achievement of Tuni- Such sentiments have been perhaps most the end of silence: the irreversible effects and to separate the ment was a volcanic reaction to decades of sia’s January 14, 2011 revolution — one that successfully addressed through artistic pro- of a revolution that has opened space for very real euphoria heavy political and social repression against astonishingly seems to have been forgotten duction that confronts citizens with a painful the outpouring of ideas, political ideolo- dissenters, human-rights activists and work- — is the space for political critique, assem- past. Films, such as “Sira’a” (Conflict) recount gies, criticisms of policy and politicians, of a revolutionary ers, who developed a collective yearning for bly and speech that the revolution carved the political persecution, imprisonment and commentary and free speech. Public polit- movement from a just and inclusive political and economic and has protected. In only five years, pub- torture of Islamists, trade unionists and ical space has changed radically from a order. However, progress toward imple- lic debate in Tunisia has been marked by leftists. “Yalan bou el fosfate” (Cursed is the controlled and repressive dictatorship to various forms of menting the “just order” imagined during contentious and open discussions about Phospate) shows the 2008 rebellion in the a significantly more open pitch on which a discontent with the dark Ben Ali years has been jarred by previously taboo topics, including religion mineral-rich Gafsa region. Meanwhile, the battle of ideas can be loudly debated. Rather spectacular fits and starts. The interna- and political orders, rule of law, stability film “Dicta Shot” and the National Museum than foretelling any democratic demise, the post-revolutionary tional spotlight remains fixed on Tunisia, vs reform, national consensus and political of the State Security System, opened Novem- ongoing struggle between Tunisia’s past and governance. though the country’s process is often viewed compromise, artistic expression, and the ber 2015, lend insight into the workings of future embodies the spirit of its revolution. Can Trump actually be the Republican nominee?

By Dan Balz months: a confusing mash-up among down-ballot candidates in the fall. of New York are out of touch with those that it is playing out separately in Iowa The Washington Post a relative handful of candidates look- That battle features Senator Marco of the rest of the country. Cruz scored and New Hampshire. In Iowa, Trump ing to pick up the pieces of a possible Rubio of Florida, New Jersey Gover- points on the first, while Trump effec- and Cruz are the clear leaders. A few Trump breakdown. nor Chris Christie, Ohio Governor John tively countered the second with a paean weeks ago, Cruz held a double-digit Almost everything about Thurs- Kasich and former Florida governor Jeb to New York’s collective response to the lead in a Des Moines Register-Bloomb- ighteen days before the Iowa cau- day’s debate here in South Carolina Bush. Normally, the establishment is attacks of September 11, 2001. erg Politics poll. This week, that same cuses, the Republican nomination underscored the current state of the in the driver’s seat in nomination bat- Because there is no dominant figure poll showed his lead over Trump down Econtest has come down to two big campaign. It featured a series of sharp tles. This time, those candidates have among the tightly bunched establish- to three percentage points. questions: Can Donald Trump actually exchanges between Trump and Sena- found themselves on the defensive and ment candidates, they are all firing at Given polls that show Trump well The GOP race is become the party’s 2016 presidential tor Ted Cruz of Texas and efforts by the struggling to adapt to a Trump-dom- one another. Bush and his well-funded ahead in New Hampshire, the outcome now commonly nominee, and if he falters, who can other candidates to break through by inated environment. super PAC have been the most aggres- in Iowa has huge implications. A Trump emerge to seize the crown? showing they could be tougher on Pres- But nothing is quite as clean as all sive of late, but Christie, Rubio and victory in Iowa would send seismic defined as a pair of What was unthinkable a few ident Obama than any of their rivals. that. Trump occupies space largely Kasich are using what resources they shocks through the party. No Repub- contests. The first months ago no longer is. Trump’s dura- The GOP race is now commonly defined by his unique candidacy. He have - whether through advertising lican in the modern era has won both bility in national polls and his standing defined as a pair of contests. The first is not a pure conservative in any sense and direct mail or TV and print inter- the Iowa caucuses and the New Hamp- features Trump in the early states have forced GOP features Trump and Cruz fighting to of the word. Although his and Cruz’s views - to launch their own assaults. shire primary. Trump would be in a and Cruz fighting leaders - and all his rivals - to confront emerge as the leading candidate in support overlap, Trump is in a lane of Thursday’s debate, however, position to do so. to emerge as the the possibility that the New York bil- what is either defined as the anger lane, his own. It remains to be seen whether highlighted the current plight of the A Cruz victory in Iowa, however, lionaire and reality TV star could end the populist conservative lane or the his support is wide, deep and loyal or establishment candidates. Overshad- would rattle the establishment almost leading candidate up leading the party into the fall cam- outsider lane. In their own ways, both shallow and fickle in the face of any owed by the exchanges of Trump and as much as a Trump victory, if not more. in what is either paign against the Democrats. Trump and Cruz embody the vibrant signs of weakness. Cruz, they struggled to stand out in Unique among the elected and former Trump is anything but a typical anti-establishment anger of the grass Attacks are now flying in all direc- the crowd. Christie and Rubio traded elected officials in the race, Cruz cam- defined as the anger front-runner. In fact, he is the most roots. tions, as the debate demonstrated. Cruz harsh words at one point, and Bush paigned from the start with an eye lane, the populist unconventional and atypical front- The other contest is the battle and Trump, who spent most of last year sought several times to undermine toward tapping anti-Washington senti- runner for as long as anyone can among more mainstream conserv- playing nice to each other, traded blows Trump. All tried to use their time to ment among party conservatives. Party conservative lane or remember. And unless and until he atives, representatives in one form over whether Cruz, born in Canada to attack Obama. But no one seemed to leaders fear that Cruz as the nominee the outsider lane. actually wins primaries and caucuses, or another of a nervous party estab- an American mother, is eligible to be gain much ground against the others. could bring about a landslide loss in the race will remain what it has been for lishment worried about protecting president and over whether the values The other reality of the campaign is November.

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 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS

Tennessee Republican debate: Trump and Cruz drop gloves couple claims winning ticket Trump and Cruz, who lead the polls in Iowa for jackpot — which on February

1 will become the first Reuters state in the country to vote for the nominee — at times seemed to WASHINGTON: A Tennessee couple ignore the rest of the came forward yesterday with what they said was one of the three win- field as they traded ning tickets for this week’s record blows $1.6bn US Powerball lottery jack- pot, appearing with their lawyer on NBC’s Today programme. Lisa and John Robinson of Mun- ford, Tennessee, now must present AFP the ticket to Tennessee lottery offi- cials for verification in order to claim their one-third share of the largest lottery prize ever offered in North NORTH CHARLESTON: With the first America. They planned to do that vote of America’s 2016 election two immediately after their appear- weeks away, Republican presidential ance in the show’s New York studio. frontrunners Donald Trump and Ted The Robinsons said they had Cruz dispensed with months of nice- reached out to NBC on the advice ties and locked horns in a primetime of their lawyer, Joe Townsend. Republican presidential candidates (from left) Sen Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Sen Ted Cruz participating in the Fox BusinessNetwork debate late on Thursday. “The American public wants to After months of chaotic cam- Republican presidential debate at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Centre in North Charleston, South Carolina. hear from them,” Townsend said. paigning that saw a dozen long-shot Although the couple wants to return candidates vie for attention, the debate Donald said he had his lawyers look The controversial celebrity has long State of the Union address on Tues- Center came down, I saw something to their private lives afterward, “they in South Carolina brought the race to at this from every which way and there led in national polls and his campaign day, calling on Republicans to ignore that no place on Earth could have han- want to ... let the public know that become the Republican presidential was no issue there,” said Cruz. “Now shows no signs of collapsing before the “angriest voices” in their party. dled more beautifully.” they’re the winners.” nominee into sharper focus. since September, the constitution hasn’t Iowa becomes the first state to vote Trump described Haley as a “friend,” Cruz, who has run as an ultra- John Robinson said that although Trump and Cruz, who lead the changed. But the poll numbers have,” in a long nominating process. Trump but the criticism brought into the open patriotic anti-elitist, was also forced to he did not feel well, he bought the polls in Iowa — which on February 1 he added. “Donald is dismayed that has ridden a wave of populist anger a struggle between a rebellious rank- address a potentially damaging charge ticket at Naifeh’s Food Mart in the will become the first state in the coun- his poll numbers are falling in Iowa.” with Washington, frustration over the and-file drawn to Trump’s outsider that he borrowed money from Wall Memphis suburb of Munford at his try to vote for the nominee — at times He went on to point out that Trump, nation’s patchy economic recovery, and populism and the party’s conserva- Street banks while running for the wife’s request on Wednesday night, seemed to ignore the rest of the field whose mother was born in Scotland, fear about a growing terrorism threat. tive establishment. Senate without properly reporting it. just hours before the drawing. Ten- as they traded blows. was disqualifying himself. After months of tip-toeing around In a clear play for votes in conserv- He admitted to making an error of nessee lottery officials confirmed The duo went back-and-forth over Trump shot back: “As you know, the frontrunner, the party establish- ative Iowa, Cruz rounded on Trump, paperwork, and tried to deflect criti- on Thursday that Naifeh’s had sold conservative values and Trump’s alle- Ted, in the last three polls I’m beating ment appears to be mustering its forces, accusing him of having “New York val- cism by accusing the New York Times a winning ticket. gation that Cruz, a hardline Texas you. So you shouldn’t misrepresent how believing his inflammatory message is ues” — pro-abortion, pro-gay rights — who revealed the non-disclosure — Robinson said he and his wife Senator born in Canada, might be well you’re doing with the polls.” “You more dangerous than the risk of him and pro media. “Not a lot of conserva- of conducting a “hit job”. Trump and were excited about their winnings legally blocked from becoming pres- have a big lawsuit over your head.” launching an independent run. tives come out of Manhattan,” he joked. Cruz were joined on stage by Senator but were “a little scared” about their ident. Cruz accused the controversial The debate among seven Repub- South Carolina’s own Governor Trump described the comment as Marco Rubio; retired neurosurgeon Ben future. “Now I’ll be nervous because mogul of manufacturing a crisis to lican candidates came as unease Nikki Haley fired the opening salvo “very insulting” and defended New Carson; New Jersey Governor Chris everybody knows,” he said. retain his lead. grows within the Republican party against Trump during her rebut- Yorkers for how well they bounced Christie; Ohio Governor John Kasich Lisa Robinson said they had not “Back in September, my friend over Trump’s frontrunner status. tal to President Barack Obama’s back after 9/11. “When the World Trade and former Florida governor Jeb Bush. had time to think about what they would do with their winnings but that she planned to return on Mon- day to her job at a dermatologist’s office. “We were up all night,” she told Venezuela president faces NBC. “We didn’t get enough sleep.” Holders of the Wednesday night rivals in congress crisis drawings’ two other winning tickets, which were sold in California and Florida, have not yet come forward. AFP Venezuela’s reliance on oil exports. Under lottery rules, a winner Venezuela has the world’s big- has up to a year to present a ticket. gest known oil reserves but the big All three states with winners have CARACAS: Venezuela’s President fall in crude prices over the past year laws requiring their names to be Nicolas Maduro comes face to face and a half has slashed its revenues. released publicly, according to the today with hostile lawmakers threat- The opposition gave some ground Powerball website. ening to oust him, at a key point in in the power struggle on Wednesday. It the political crisis rocking the oil- bowed to pressure from the Supreme Exotic birds linked rich nation. Court, which Maduro’s rivals say is The Socialist leader is expected controlled by his allies. Three oppo- to Guzman seized to go before the state legislature for sition lawmakers agreed to quit while the first time since his centre-right the court investigates them over gov- opponents took control of it to deliver ernment allegations of electoral fraud. AFP an annual state of the nation address. “Sometimes truces are needed,” His opponents vowed to devise Ramos said in a television interview. a way of ousting the mustachioed “You have to sacrifice a part to save MEXICO CITY: Mexican authori- former bus driver as president this the whole.” ties have clipped Joaquin “El Chapo” year. He secured a Supreme Court The court responded to that by Guzman’s wings again, seizing exotic injunction limiting their legislative lifting an injunction that had declared birds such as peacocks, black swans powers to do so. the assembly’s motions would be null and cockatoos from a ranch linked The institutional arm-wrestle and void if the three banned depu- to the captured drug lord. threatened to paralyse the National ties took part. The animals were found at a ranch Assembly legislature this week, until The departure of the three that was raided by the authorities in British astronaut Tim Peake poses in his spacesuit aboard the International Space Station recently. last-minute compromises set the stage deprives the opposition MUD coali- November as part of investigations for Maduro to deliver his annual pres- tion of a two-thirds majority. into the Sinaloa drug cartel and the idential report at 2130 GMT. That so-called “supermajority” then-fugitive, an official at the attor- “We will receive him calmly and would have allowed the opposition ney general’s office said. ‘Exhilarated’ British astronaut respectfully,” said the new speaker of to launch constitutional measures to The environmental prosecu- the assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, a cut short Maduro’s mandate, which tor’s office said that it confiscated leading opponent of Maduro. expires in 2019. five green peafowls, three blue starts first spacewalk Leaders have been wary of fanning Ramos said on Wednesday that peafowls, three mute swans, three tensions during the past two weeks the MUD still aimed to do that, though black swans, two white peacocks, of political maneuvering, mindful of its majority is cut to three-fifths for two blue-and-yellow macaws, two deadly street clashes in 2014. There the time being. salmon-crested cockatoos and one AFP weigh 200 pounds (90kg) on Earth, Peake said he had spent months on was speculation that Maduro may use “The crisis cannot be over- helmeted guineafowl. to the far end of the space station’s Earth training for the mission, includ- the address to announce his prom- come with this government,” he The birds were handed to a zoo’s truss, about 200 feet from the exit. ing virtual-reality sessions to prepare ised emergency plan for the economy. said, branding Maduro’s policies of wildlife conservation unit in Culi- The replacement voltage regulator “for the worst-case scenario of becom- The plan is expected to propose social spending financed by oil “a acan, capital of the northwestern MIAMI: Astronaut Tim Peake yester- unit is nicknamed “Dusty,” because ing detached from the space station.” new forms of production to reduce failed model”. state of Sinaloa. day became the first Briton to walk in it arrived on the space station back Each step of the six-and-a-half space, undertaking a tricky mission in in 1999, said Nasa commentator Rob hour spacewalk was “meticulously the dark to replace an electrical unit. Navias. Kopra, 52, making his third planned,” he added. Peake and US colleague Tim Kopra career spacewalk, toted the tools “But I guess nothing can prepare switched their spacesuits to battery needed to remove the old unit and for the feeling of being outside of a Brazilian model dies after cosmetic procedure power at 1248 GMT, marking the offi- replace it with the new one. spacecraft in the vacuum of space.” cial start of the floating manoeuvre The team’s work was precisely As the first British person to reach for Peake, who is also the first British timed to coincide with a nighttime the ISS — following the first British cit- AFP a “ticking time bomb” because she was taking an ana- astronaut to fly to the orbiting Inter- pass of the space station to avoid sparks izen in space, Helen Sharman, who bolic steroid designed for horses and was a chain smoker. national Space Station. from any residual electrical current in flew to the Russian Mir space station “She lied, she denied it. She didn’t mention her use of this As Peake climbed out of the space the solar-powered equipment. in 1991 — Peake has drawn plenty of veterinary medication. She had a ticking time bomb in her station, American astronaut Scott Kelly The ISS circles the Earth every 90 attention from his compatriots. RIO DE JANEIRO: A Brazilian model who was a finalist body and I didn’t know it,” said Moraes. Despite not having positioned a camera from inside so that minutes, spending 31 of those min- Among them was the Beatles leg- in a national beauty contest died of a heart attack hours a cosmetic surgery licence, he said, “in the past two years the British flag on the arm of Peake’s utes on each pass in the dark. The first end Paul McCartney, who offered a after undergoing a cosmetic procedure to remove wrin- I’ve performed this procedure on 2,000 women and there’s spacesuit was visible to viewers watch- portion of the nighttime job began at message of “good luck” on Twitter. kles, the pageant said yesterday. never been a problem, it has only made them more beautiful”. ing live on Nasa television. “Great to 1437 GMT and was finished about 20 “We’re all watching, no pressure! Raquel dos Santos, 28, died on Monday in a suburb of The procedure involves injecting the patient with one see the Union flag out there,” said Kelly. minutes later. Next, the astronauts Wishing you a happy stroll outdoors Rio de Janeiro after receiving an acid injection in her face milliliter of hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally “It’s great to be wearing it,” answered will route cable and install a vent in a in the universe,” McCartney wrote. from a doctor who did not specialise in cosmetic surgery. occurs in the human body and plays a role in skin repair. Peake. “It’s a privilege.” cramped space that spacewalk officer The ISS is expected to remain Her husband said that shortly after the procedure, she Dos Santos, who had two children aged seven and 13, The 43-year-old Peake’s first job Paul Dum described this week as a in operation until 2024. Yesterday’s complained of an accelerated heart rate and shortness was the contestant for Mato Grosso state in the 2015 Muse was to haul a bulky component called “challenging work site.” spacewalk was designed to restore of breath, said a statement from the Muse of Brazil pag- of Brazil pageant. Organizers said they were “deeply sad- a sequential shunt unit, contained in In a blog post on Thursday, Peake full power to the station, and was the eant, in which Dos Santos competed as a finalist last year. dened” by her death. “Her dream was interrupted. She was a white bag as big as a suitcase. said he felt “exhilarated” but had “no 192nd for support, maintenance and The doctor, Wagner Moraes, denied responsibility for excited about everything and happy to reach the pageant He carried the unit, which would time to dwell on these emotions.” construction of the research lab. her death, telling newspaper O Globo that Dos Santos was final. Like us, all the contestants are in shock,” it said. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 14QE 9,185.12 -220.26 PTS PAGE | 15 India’s Rajan DOW 15,936.92 -442.13 PTS Russian Premier Dmitry focuses on FTSE100 5,804.10 -114.13 PTS Medvedev: Budget faces micro reform BRENT $29.54 -$1.66 risk from oil fall

SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 • 6 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Oil slides, deepening gloom in stocks as bonds celebrate

Bloomberg world. Norway sees a crisis in its on the side-lines as they wait to see Futures on the Standard & Poor’s industry, energy firms are laying those results.” 500 Index slid 1 .5 percent, after the off workers and currency markets West Texas Intermediate crude index gained 1.7 percent on Thursday. . WELLINGTON/LONDON: Stocks fell from commodity- producing coun- fell as much as 5.8 percent, before The MSCI Emerging Markets around the world and bonds jumped tries are in turmoil. trading 5.5 percent lower at $29.49 a Index fell 1.5 percent on Friday and as a 5 percent slump in crude oil sent The slump is also denting the out- barrel at 7:31 a.m. in New York. Brent 3.7 percent this week. markets reeling after Chinese shares look for inflation around the world, fell 4.8 percent to $29.54 a barrel. Government bonds advanced tumbled into a bear market. causing traders to curb bets on how far International sanctions on Iran across Europe as investors sought Oil is sliding for a third week the Federal Reserve will raise inter- may be lifted Monday, allowing for a the safety of fixed-income securities. on signs Iranian exports may add est rates this year. A bond-market boost in oil shipments from the fifth- The yield on German 10- year to a global supply glut. Commodity gauge of expectations for UK infla- biggest member of the Opec. Iran is bunds, the region’s benchmark bonds, producers led losses in Europe and tion dropped to the lowest since 2009. trying to regain lost market share declined three basis points to 0.54 currencies including the Canadian “One of the main drags on the and doesn’t intend to pressure prices percent. In the UK, the two-year gilt and Australian dollars slid. market today is that oil may close at with an export increase once sanc- yield dropped as low as 0.45 percent, Bonds gained as the outlook for the lowest in 12 years and in Europe tions are removed, officials from its the least since May. inflation soured while a measure of it raises the concern about deflation,” petroleum ministry and national oil US Treasuries gained as trad- credit risk for investment-grade com- said John Plassard, senior equity- company said this month. ers pulled back expectations for the panies in Europe climbed for an eighth sales trader at Mirabaud Securities Gold, up 0.5 percent yesterday at number of Fed interest-rate increases day. The Shanghai Composite Index LLP in Geneva. $1,083.28 an ounce, is headed for its this year. Data shows they expect wiped out gains from an unprece- “European equities will con- worst week since November after fail- the effective fed funds rate will rise dented state-rescue campaign. tinue to be under pressure as we go ing to overcome resistance watched to 0.7 percent in a year’s time com- A share prices board shows movements on the Tokyo Stock Crude’s drop to a 12-year low through earnings in the last quar- by traders who study charts near its pared with policy maker estimates Exchange in Tokyo yesterday. At the close, the Nikkei was down is sending shock waves around the ter as investors will probably stay 100-day average. for four. 0.54 percent, or 93.84 points, to 17,147.11, its lowest finish since late September.

Prioritising policy VW’s market share falls to 24.8%

Bloomberg test cheating came to light in Sep- marque, posted a 5.7 percent increase tember. Volkswagen’s plan to either in the region. reprogram vehicles’ software or install Volkswagen group sales in Decem- a component to meet standards won ber gained 4.4 percent from a year European Union clearance in Decem- earlier, lagging behind the European FRANKFURT: Volkswagen AG’s mar- ber. Regulators in the US, where the market, which expanded 16 percent to ket share in Europe fell for the first issue first emerged and where the EU 1.16 million vehicles. The biggest man- time since 2007 as the German car- approval doesn’t apply, rejected pro- ufacturers posting the steepest growth maker’s emissions-rigging scandal posed recall terms this week. last month included Renault SA, with a deterred buyers in the final months “Volkswagen customers are so far 28 percent surge, Ford Motor Co. with of last year. taking a wait-and-see attitude” as the a 24 percent jump and PSA Peugeot Volkswagen accounted for 24.8 carmaker works to resolve the emis- Citroen with a 21 percent increase. percent of new cars sold in the region sions scandal, said Carlos da Silva, a Of the top 10 car sellers in Europe, in 2015 compared with 25.5 percent Paris-based analyst at forecaster IHS Daimler’s registrations rose the most in 2014, the Brussels-based Euro- Automotive. in 2015, with an 18 percent jump pro- pean Automobile Manufacturers’ The shares fell 0.5 percent to pelled by a 72 percent surge at the Association, or ACEA, said yesterday. 115.40 euros at 9:12 a.m. in Frank- Smart city-car brand and a 13 per- Industrywide registrations jumped furt. Volkswagen has lost nearly 16 cent gain at Mercedes. 9.2 percent to a six-year high of 14.2 billion euros ($17.4 bn) in market value Groupwide demand increased 16 million vehicles, outpacing the Ger- since the scandal broke. percent at Nissan Motor Co., 12 percent man group’s 6.2 percent gain. European sales last year at the at BMW and 14 percent at Fiat Chrysler, The carmaker, Europe’s biggest, namesake VW brand rose 6.5 per- whose Jeep brand more than doubled French Finance Minister Michel Sapin (left), Czech Republic Finance Minister Andrej Babis (centre) has lost ground to competitors includ- cent, while the company’s premium sales. The ACEA compiles statistics and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble attend an ECOFIN finance ministers meeting at the ing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and Audi division, which slipped to third from the EU’s 28 countries, exclud- European Council in Brussels, yesterday luxury manufacturers BMW AG and in global luxury-car deliveries behind ing Malta, plus Switzerland, Norway Daimler AG since the diesel-emissions BMW and Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz and Iceland. More than half of US LNG is destined for Europe, says WoodMac

Bloomberg its first tanker from the Sabine Pass an e-mailed research note. European absorb cargoes that aren’t needed in plant in Louisiana, marking the start net imports of LNG increased 14 per- Asia. South Korea’s Kogas, a buyer of of a wave of export projects result- cent to 37 million tons, according to US LNG, agreed with EDF Trading Ltd. ing from the nation’s shale-gas boom. the report. to jointly market LNG. Cheniere Energy LONDON: Europe is set to be the key Atlantic basin producers are focusing US LNG in Europe will be compet- Inc., which is developing the Sabine destination for liquefied natural gas on Europe as the premium consumers itive after gas prices at the benchmark Pass and Corpus Christi LNG plants in supplies from the US after prices fell such as Japan used to pay has mostly Henry Hubin Louisiana fell amid the US, also has deals with EDF Trad- in Asia, the world’s biggest consumer disappeared amid waning demand warmer weather, according to Bloomb- ing and Engie to bring LNG to French of the fuel, according to Wood Mac- and more supply from Australia and erg New Energy Finance, which last or other European terminals. kenzie Ltd. Papua New Guinea. month estimated the delivery price About 60.5 million tons a year of US The US is forecast to ship about 55 “A significant amount of LNG will at about $5 per million British ther- LNG is under construction and slated percent of its total LNG production, or end up in Europe,” Munton said by mal units. to start up through 2019, UBS AG said 32 million metric tons a year, to Europe phone on Wednesday. “The spread The UK front-month contract set- in a research note Wednesday. by 2020, according to Alex Munton, between European and Asian prices tled at $4.60 on the ICE Futures Europe “The real supply build will start the Houston-based principal analyst disappeared and based on the prox- exchange on Thursday. to kick in, from the US particularly, for Americas LNG at Wood Macken- imity to the Gulf Coast, Europe will For Europe, US LNG will diver- from 2018, and in Australia as well,” zie. That’s because Europe is so close, become a more attractive market.” sify its sources as the region is now Wood Mackenzie’s Munton said. “You has ample import capacity and liquid Flows from nations surrounding dependent on Russia for about a third still have got a lot of trains that will markets, and now has prices nearer the Atlantic Ocean to areas around of its supply, while domestic produc- make up as much as 77 percent of the International Energy Agency’s World be ramping up through the remain- to those in Asia. the Pacific fell 16 percent to 82 million tion is declining. European Union’s demand, up from Energy Outlook 2015. ing years of this decade.” The US will this quarter dispatch tons in 2015, Wood Mackenzie said in By 2025, net gas imports will 63 percent in 2013, according to the Europe’s liquid trading hubs can 14 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Fund managers cautious before Taiwan election

The possibility of a rush in fund redemp- expanding the biotechnology industry. Election is coming tions amid the political uncertainty is For that reason, Yang is adding biotech prompting Yang to cut his holdings in stocks to his portfolio. The outlook for at a critical time for the Franklin Templeton SinoAm Con- electronics companies is less favorable the island’s stock ventional Industry Fund to about 84 amid concern about slowing demand percent of his portfolio, lower than the for Apple Inc.’s products, he said. market, which has long-term average of about 88 per- Taiwanese stocks have fallen this fallen more than 7 cent, he said in an interview. year on concern the island’s economy percent this year as Tsai Ing-wen,chairwoman of the will slow further amid financial turmoil Democratic Progressive Party, is mak- in China, its biggest trading partner, foreigners pulled ing her second attempt to become the and tepid demand for smartphones. $1.5bn from local island’s first female leader as she runs China’s Shanghai Composite Index against Eric Chu, leader of the ruling is the world’s worst-performing global equities, the most of Kuomintang, amid local dissatisfaction stocks measure this year with a 17 per- any Asian market over slow growth and stagnant wages. cent loss, while the yuan has fallen 5.8 While the DPP’s charter officially percent in Shanghai since a surprise supports independence from China, devaluation on August 11, even as the an idea opposed to the Communist central bank burnt through $321bn of its Party, Tsai pledges to maintain rela- foreign-exchange reserves supporting Bloomberg tions with Taiwan’s long-time rival. the currency over the last five months. “If the DPP gets elected, it won’t Blackfriars Asset’s Tony Hann lead to complete halt in cross-strait expects the DPP to prevail in the interaction, though it may be differ- elections and says a stocks recovery HONG KONG: Top-performing Tai- ent in terms of how much the both will depend on how the new leader- wan fund manager Vincent Yang has sides are linked and how soon we are ship manages its relations with China reduced his stock holdings before this opened up,” said Yang, whose fund has and whether there will be recovery weekend’s historic presidential poll, beaten 98 percent of its peers in the in demand for technology products. while Blackfriars Asset Management past year, according to data compiled He is neutral on Taiwanese equities. Ltd and Manulife Asset Management by Bloomberg. Expectations that Apple’s iPhone Motorists drive past campaign banner of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Ltd are refraining from buying the The DPP is vying for a majority in sales are faring worse than anticipated Tsai Ing-wen, on the eve of 2016 presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan. island’s equities. the 113-seat Legislative Yuan, leav- have depressed its shares along with Today’s election is coming at a crit- ing the KMT and its allies shut out of its main rivals and suppliers, includ- ical time for the island’s stock market, power for the first time since Chiang ing Samsung Electronics Co and Hon global smartphone market is run- Tony Hann, who helps oversee about chief investment officer of Asia ex- which has fallen more than 7 percent Kai-shek led them across the Taiwan Hai Precision Industry Co. ning out of steam as markets mature $270m as head of equities at Blackfri- Japan equities at Manulife Asset, says this year as foreigners pulled $1.5bn Strait during the the Chinese civil war. Samsung this month reported and China’s economy decelerates. “We ars Asset in London. “Taiwan will be the outlook for China’s economy and from local equities, the most of any Tsai has promised a government fourth- quarter earnings below ana- have seen some marked downgrades more of a second-half story this year.” the yuan is the most important factor Asian market tracked by Bloomberg. focused on reining in housing costs and lysts’ estimates, the latest sign the in the outlook for Apple sales,” said Ronald Chan, the Hong Kong-based affecting Taiwan’s stocks. Samsung to return to Qualcomm chips India’s Rajan focuses

Bloomberg on micro reforms

Bloomberg SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Co has decided to return to using Qualcomm Inc’s most powerful chips in its new high-end smartphones, a year after MUMBAI: Indian central bank Gov- turning away from the US company’s ernor Raghuram Rajan (pictured) is products and triggering a slump in its back to his first love in the twilight earnings and stock price. of his current term. Samsung, the biggest maker of After stabilising the rupee, set- smartphones, is planning to use Qual- ting an inflation target and securing comm’s Snapdragon 820 application a deal with the Modi administration processor chip in some versions of to set up a monetary-policy com- the next Galaxy S, people with direct mittee, the ex-finance professor with knowledge of the matter said. a doctoral thesis in banking is now The South Korean company, which focusing on micro reforms. will show off the latest models next Among his objectives: making the creation of 11 so-called payment month, will continue to use its own rate cuts shared more quickly with banks and 10 small finance banks. processor in about half of that line, with customers, extending banking serv- India’s lenders have been notori- phones for China and the US mostly ices to remote villages and creating ously slow to match the central bank’s using Snapdragon, the people said. new sources of funding for compa- rate reductions. One way to prod them They asked not to be identified nies. The wrinkle is that with little of is to move toward a benchmark set by because the companies haven’t offi- the work yet completed, Rajan may the market—which is far more nim- cially announced their decision. For need to win a two-year extension ble—than one set by banks themselves. Qualcomm, winning back at least some A South Korean worker cleans outside a Samsung Galaxy store in Seoul. from Prime Minister Narendra Modi Come April 1, Indian lenders will of Samsung’s high- end business is a when his term is due in September have to change the way they calculate vindication of the performance of its said this week that Samsung’s foundry to pick Qualcomm to secure its proc- smartphone market share. Samsung to complete his agenda. a key interest rate to help ensure the parts after the company’s 810 proc- business received orders from Qual- essor chip capacity.”Samsung pared posted fourth- quarter profit last week “He has started a lot of things and Reserve Bank of India’s rate cuts are essor wasn’t chosen for the current comm to make the 820 using advanced earlier gains in Seoul and closed lit- that fell short of analysts’ estimates. they are all a work in progress, par- passed on more quickly to customers. Galaxy lineup. techniques that allow chips to draw tle changed at 1,132,000 won in Seoul, Samsung’s decision to use more ticularly in banking,” said Prasanna All rupee loans will be priced based The San Diego-based chipmaker less power and perform better. compared with the benchmark Kos- Qualcomm parts underscores a com- Ananthasubramanian, chief econ- on banks’ latest cost of funds, which needs more orders from Samsung, The 14-nanometer process is pi’s 1.1 percent decline. plicated relationship between the two omist at ICICI Securities Primary take into account market changes, which accounts for almost a quarter the same one being used to manu- Application processors are the main and highlights the interdependence Dealership in Mumbai. “If you want rather than the average costs that of the smartphone market, to turn facture Samsung’s own Exynos 8 semiconductor component in smart- of companies in various parts of the to see them to completion, he has to help protect lending margins. around sales that have slumped an processor.“Samsung may have wanted phones, running everything from the smartphone supply chain. stick around.” To reduce the clout of India’s pow- average of 16 percent during the last to exclusively use its own Exynos chips operating system to games and the While Samsung’s phone unit has Rajan’s initiatives span regula- erful banks, Rajan is working to open two quarters. for S7 smartphones, but it also had to camera. Samsung, also the world’s sec- been one of Qualcomm’s biggest tory tweaks to sweeping measures new sources of funding for companies. The decision to at least partially think about its foundry business,” said ond-largest maker of chips, has been customers, part of its chip business that could change the landscape of The ceiling on foreign investment in return to Qualcomm may help Sam- Song Myung Sup, a Seoul-based ana- increasing its reliance on the semi- competes directly with Qualcomm Indian banking. After allowing two rupee bonds will be raised in phases sung’s unit that manufactures chips for lyst at HI Investment & Securities Co. conductor unit for earnings growth for orders from that phone business new lenders to start operations in to 5 percent of outstanding debt by other companies. The two companies “Samsung didn’t have much choice but as Apple Inc and Xiaomi Corp gain with its own designs. 2014, Rajan late last year pioneered March 2018.

Luxury on wheels American Energy Partners signs joint venture with Argentina’s YPF

Bloomberg area known as Cerro Arena; American American Energy, formed by Energy will invest $60m in the block. McClendon after he was forced out McClendon’s arrival may spur of Chesapeake by a shareholder revolt more foreign investment in a shale in 2013, will become YPF’s fourth- BUENOS AIRES: Aubrey McClen- region that has already attracted inter- largest shale partner in Vaca Muerta don’s American Energy Partners LP national giants such as Exxon Mobil after Chevron, Dow Chemical Corp. and YPF SA, Argentina’s largest com- Corporation and Chevron Corporation. and Petroliam Nasional Bhd. pany, have signed a joint venture to During his quarter century at the Chevron was first to join YPF to develop shale gas from the country’s helm of Chesapeake Energy Corpo- tap the world’s fourth-largest shale Vaca Muerta formation. ration, the 56-year-old McClendon oil reservoir in southwestern Argen- The companies will invest more embraced drilling and fracking inno- tina, with the two companies pledging than $447m during an initial three- vations that unleashed the shale to invest about $15bn over 35 years. year phase to develop a pilot project in revolution ignored by the world’s big- “The execution of the projects will a 200 square-kilometre (123 square- gest energy producers, building the begin once definitive agreements have mile) area called Bajada de Anelo in company into what was for a time the been signed and certain conditions Neuquen,the Buenos Aires-based largest US source of gas. precedent have been met,” accord- company said. This area is home to “We’re adding a partner that will ing to a YPF regulatory filing. the world’s second-largest shale-gas bring high level expertise to develop McClendon said in the statement deposit. gas and oil shale and we believe our that he hopes to apply technical skills Japan’s car accessory company Garson displays the demo car Luxury Crystal Benz, the Mercedes-Benz The companies will also join learning curve will be boosted,” YPF for drilling and cost structures from SL600 with Swarovski crystals on the whole body, at Tokyo Auto Salon 2016 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. Pluspetrol SA and Gas y Petroleo del Chief Executive Officer Miguel Galuc- his experience with shale in the US Neuquen SA in developing a smaller cio said in an e-mailed statement. to help develop Vaca Muerta. BUSINESS SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 15

Pimco favours Crude dive deepens on supply concerns inflation bonds countering fed

by more than 4.5 percent at $29.67 caution on prices The oil price collapse per barrel at 1219 GMT, after posting their first significant gains for 2016 has hammered in the previous session. The contract Bloomberg currencies from hit $29.39, their lowest since Novem- ber 2003. commodity-producing The March Brent contract was nations and spooked down $1.15 at $29.73 a barrel. It hit a SINGAPORE: Pacific Investment session low of $29.43, its lowest since Management Co is recommend- financial markets as February 2004. The February Brent ing Treasury Inflation Protected investors worry about contract, which expired on Thursday, Securities even as tumbling oil costs closed higher for the first time this prompt Federal Reserve officials to the health of the year at $31.03 per barrel. voice concern prices are stagnating. global economy Yesterday, the average price for a An inflation rate that’s stuck basket of OPEC crudes fell to $25 per near zero combined with crude at a barrel, even before unrestrained Ira- 12-year low are driving speculation nian exports hit the market. “The key the Fed will delay raising interest theme for 2016 will be real fundamental rates. The odds the Fed will follow Reuters adjustments that can rebalance mar- its December increase with at least kets to create the birth of a new bull one more in 2016 have fallen to 78 market, which we still see happening percent from 93 percent on January in late 2016,” Goldman said in a report. 1, futures contracts show. LONDON: Brent crude futures plunged Others were more concerned about “One of the surprises in 2016 more than 4 percent to fresh 12-year the impact of new exports from Iran. will be stability in inflation and in lows yesterday as the market braced While experts warned that not all oil prices,” said Mihir Worah, one of for increased Iranian oil exports, with sanctions may be lifted immediately the three managers of the $89.9bn the lifting of international sanctions once the agreement on its nuclear Pimco Total Return Fund, which possible within days. programme came into effect, any addi- Stacked rigs along with other idled oil drilling equipment at a depot in Dickinson, North Dakota, US. is managed from the company’s Brent and US crude oil were on tional oil would add to a glut that has office in Newport Beach, Califor- track to close lower for a third consec- pushed prices into a deep slump since BNP Paribas yesterday cut their 2016 nations and spooked financial markets production. Even before sanctions nia. “As inflation stabilises and as utive week, down roughly 20 percent mid-2014. forecasts for oil prices; the former as investors worry about the health are lifted, Iran’s oil exports were on inflation expectations stabilise, we from their 2016 highs. “In the very short term, another revised its year-end expectation for of the global economy. target to hit a nine-month high in think the Fed could hike more than The International Atomic Energy price drop cannot be excluded in par- Brent to $50 per barrel, down from $63, Nigerian stocks were set to post January, with 1.10 million barrels a what the market is pricing,” he said Agency (IAEA) could issue its report on ticular after sanctions against Iran are while the latter, citing economic risks, their biggest weekly drop in a year day of crude, excluding condensate, in an interview Wednesday. Iran’s compliance with an agreement being lifted,” Commerzbank analyst said it now expected Brent to average yesterday, while Russian energy min- to load. Tehran is expected to target Fed Bank of St Louis Pres- to curb its nuclear programme after a Carsten Fritsch told Reuters Global Oil at $37 per barrel in 2016, $17 lower ister Alexander Novak said that the India, Asia’s fastest-growing major oil ident James Bullard, one of the meeting yesterday in Vienna, poten- Forum. “That means a drop towards than an earlier forecast. The oil price critical oil price level for domestic market, as well as its old partners in most vocal policy makers in recent tially triggering the lifting of Western $25 is quite possible, but not much collapse has already hammered cur- oil producers was $5-$15 per bar- Europe with increased exports once months arguing to raise interest sanctions. US crude futures were down lower than that.” Commerzbank and rencies from commodity-producing rel, which amounted to the cost of sanctions are lifted. rates, sounded a more cautious note Thursday by saying the lat- est tumble in oil prices may delay the return of inflation to the cen- Indian rupee set tral bank’s 2 percent target. Russia’s budget faces substantial risks from oil fall “With renewed declines in for biggest weekly crude oil prices in recent weeks, the associated decline in mar- ket-based inflation expectations drop since August Bloomberg measures is becoming worrisome,” Bullard said in a speech Thursday. Fed Presidents Charles Evans and MUMBAI: India’s rupee headed Eric Rosengren have also voiced for the biggest weekly drop in five MOSCOW: Russia’s budget is facing concern this week that inflation is months and stocks plunged as dete- substantial risks from any further oil- too low. Bullard and Rosengren both riorating risk appetite spurred price decline as crude is trading at a vote on monetary policy this year. outflows from the nation’s equities. 12- year low, Prime Minister Dmitry Treasuries were little changed The S&P BSE Sensex index of Medvedev said yesterday. yesterday, with the benchmark shares was poised for a second five- “The dramatic movement of oil 10-year note yield at 2.09 percent day decline, joining a worldwide prices that we have seen in the past as of 2:46 pm in Tokyo, according to selloff on concern a slowdown in weeks, especially in the last few days, Bloomberg Bond Trader data. The China will curtail global growth. creates rather serious risks for the price of the 2.25 percent security due India’s government has said the budget,” Medvedev said at a govern- in November 2025 was 101 14/32. fiscal outlook for the year start- ment meeting near Moscow. “A further Low inflation is a global prob- ing in April looks “challenging” after decline in oil prices can’t be ruled out.” lem, said Stephen King, senior cutting its gross domestic product The Russian government, which economic adviser at HSBC Hold- forecast for the 12 months to March. approved its 2016 budget based on oil ings Plc. “We have lots and lots of Government bonds fell before yes- at $50 a barrel, now faces a desper- deflationary pressures,” he said in terday’s debt auction. ate need to raise additional revenue an interview in Singapore. “We’ve The rupee declined 1.2 percent and cut costs as crude trades near $30 got central banks that have been for the week, the most since August amid a global glut. desperately trying to push inflation 21, to 67.4215 a dollar as of 10:53 am With oil and natural gas contrib- higher. But inflation almost every- in Mumbai, according to prices from uting almost half of budget revenue, where is too low. There’s very little local banks compiled by Bloomb- the Finance Ministry is calling for Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (centre) chairs a meeting on economic issues at the Gorki state insurance against the possibility of erg. It earlier dropped to 67.44, the spending cuts equivalent to about another recession.” residence outside Moscow, Russia. lowest level since September 2013, 500bn rubles ($6.4bn). The country The outlook for inflation to stay and has depreciated 1.9 percent this may burn through its $50bn Reserve supply glut. The ruble weakened 21 a barrel is unlikely, Russian Energy as Russia carries out a bombing cam- low has sent TIPS down 2.9 percent year. “It’s primarily the risk-off envi- Fund - which dropped 16 percent percent against the US dollar in the Minister Alexander Novak told RBC paign in Syria, its first military foray during the past year, while conven- ronment, leading to a correction in last month- as early as this year if no past three months, the third- worst television, according to the ministry’s outside the former Soviet republics in tional Treasuries were little changed, equities and resulting in weaker measures are taken, Finance Minister performer among 24 emerging-mar- Twitter account yesterday. three decades. based on Bank of America Corp currencies,” said Ashish Vaidya, Anton Siluanov said Wednesday. Oil ket currencies tracked by Bloomberg. The spending cuts exclude the mil- The government in October rolled Merrill Lynch data. Pimco’s Worah Mumbai-based head of foreign- is sliding for a third week on antici- While crude may fall to any level in itary and social services. Competing back plans to reduce the defense pro- said his view is that inflation will exchange trading at DBS Bank Ltd. pation of Iran exports adding to the the short term, a drop to below $20 priorities are pulling at the government gram for this year. pick up. Gazprom reports loss in third quarter US bears move to Russia’s biggest company as oil falls Bloomberg

Bloomberg from the Russian market, as there is a lot of uncertainty on oil,” Kirill MOSCOW: Gazprom PJSC, the world’s Yankovskiy, director of equity sales biggest natural gas producer, reported at Otkritie Capital International Ltd in a loss in the third quart er as commod- NEW YORK: Plunging energy prices London, said by phone on Thursday. ity prices slumped and a drop in the that have pushed Russia’s economy The Market Vectors Russia ETF, Russian ruble resulted in a revalua- into recession also are luring US short- the biggest exchange-traded fund tion of foreign-currency debt. sellers back to Gazprom PJSC. tracking in the country’s stocks, has The Moscow-based energy giant The number of bearish bets on declined 8.9 percent this year. About swung to a net loss of 2bn rubles the natural-gas producer’s Ameri- 40 percent of the funds assets are ($26.1m) compared with profit of can depositary receipts has risen to invested in energy companies. 105.7bn rubles a year earlier, Gazprom the highest since October. The New Pressure on Gazprom has been said in a statement yesterday. That was York-traded stock has slumped 7.6 exacerbated as Cheniere Energy Inc. better than the 17.6bn-ruble average percent this year, following a 15 per- is about to start exporting liquefied estimate from 10 analysts surveyed cent plunge in 2015. natural gas from its Sabine Pass ter- by Bloomberg News. Revenue rose Prices for Russia’s natural-gas minal in Louisiana. Houston-based to 1.29 trillion rubles from 1.13 tril- exports are linked to oil, which has Chenerie Energy would be the first lion rubles a year earlier. tumbled 17 percent in 2015 and is trad- US company to export US shale gas. Russia’s falling currency has been ing below $32 a barrel, less than a “This rising supply while China supporting Gazprom’s ruble-denom- third of its five-year average price. (the main demand growth driver) is inated revenue, helping offset export Short interest in American deposi- slowing down and turning down LNG prices that fell to the lowest in more tary receipts of Gazprom, the country’s tankers suggests pressure on prices than a decade. Most of the compa- People in front of the Gazprom company building in Moscow. biggest company, climbed to about 3.2 should increase,” Ildar Davletshin, an ny’s costs are in rubles while most of million shares, or 0.1 percent of stock analyst at Moscow-based investment the profit it gets abroad, with majority a record in ruble terms. The company oil price that was $55 to $60 a barrel, have continued to slide this year as outstanding in January, up from 0.02 bank Renaissance Capital, said by of gas-export contracts linked to oil. had to revalue its foreign currency- so the “key question is what happens crude trades close to 12-year lows. The percent in late December, according e-mail. Brent crude futures yester- While Gazprom’s revenue from denominated loans and borrowings with Gazprom’s profitability at $30,” state-controlled company had positive to data compiled by Bloomberg and day plunged more than 4 percent to gas supplies to Europe, its key mar- after the ruble weakened 16 percent Renaissance Capital analyst Ildar Dav- free cash flow of 29.4bn rubles in the Markit Ltd. 12-year lows on oversupply concerns ket, dropped more than 25 percent last against the dollar in the third quarter. letshin wrote in a note ahead of the third quarter, after a negative result “This year so far has been marked as as market braced for increased year to about $38 billion, sales may hit The third-quarter results reflect an report. Russia’s gas prices in Europe in the previous three-month period. by the exodus of foreign investors Iranian oil exports, 16 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS VIEWS

Forget gold, go to Caught in $30 oil, Russia palladium, says agonises over bond bills forecasters

By Eddie van der Walt Glyn Stevens of INTL FCS- Bloomberg tone Ltd. in London was the best platinum and palladium picker in the LBMA’s survey. He declined to comment when con- nvestors may not want to get tacted by Bloomberg. The LBMA, too used to this month’s sur- which oversees the London bul- prise rally in gold. lion market, will disclose the 2016 Some of the most-accu- forecasts by its survey partici- Irate precious metals forecasters pants later this month. say the gains won’t last and instead Gold bears are outnumbering expect palladium to advance, even bulls. Money managers are holding though it’s off to the worst start near the biggest net-short position in decades. in US futures since at least 2006, After dropping for three US Commodity Futures Trading straight years, gold has advanced Commission data show. more than any other metal in Jan- Speculators have cut their net- uary. Bullion’s appeal as a haven long position in palladium by 42 got a boost from political tension percent since October. in the Middle East and Asia and The metal tumbled 29 percent global market turmoil. last year, the most since 2008, At the same time, industrial as South African mineproduc- commodities have tumbled. Pal- tion rebounded and on concern ladium, a metal used mostly for that China’s slowdown will cut catalytic converters in cars, fell demand. The country accounts 12 percent in January. for more than a fifth of global pal- “The gold market is benefiting ladium consumption. from geopolitical news and Chi- With so many investors nese stock-market uncertainty, already bailing on palladium, and these factors are unlikely there may be less room for more to last,” said Bernard Dahdahat declines, ABN Amro Bank NV Natixis SA, who made the most- said in a January 12 report. Con- A fuel tanker truck drives past a pump jack at an oil field in Russia. accurate call on gold last year in a cerns about China’s economy are survey of 31 analysts by the Lon- overdone, the country’s imports don Bullion Market Association, should pick up and global growth an industry regulator. “Palladium will improve, it said. looks far more appealing based The state-backed China By Vladimir Kuznetsov in December to $50 bn, officials face the less- on its fundamentals. It is going Association of Automobile Manu- Bloomberg appealing option of boosting debt to avoid to rally on increased Chinese car facturers said Tuesday that vehicle burning through the remaining coffers. demand.” deliveries should gain about 6 “For Russia it’s still expensive,” Siluanov Higher US interest rates and percent this year, after growth said. “We are cognizant that even while Russia a stronger dollar this year will slowed in 2015 to 4.7 percent, a il at $30 a barrel is rapidly deplet- has relatively low leverage, if we increase the Russian government return the pressure on gold, while three-year low. ing rainy-day funds Russia uses debt, this will lead to bigger interest payments, accelerating demand for cars in Most of the cars sold in China to finance its deficit, and that and hence to smaller non-interest spending. bonds in rubles have China, the world’s largest mar- are fueled by gasoline, which could mean more visits to the That’s why we don’t want to increase the bor- lost 6.2 percent in dollar ket, will give a jolt to palladium, requires catalytic converters using bond market at a time it least rowings drastically.” terms so far this year, according to Dahdah, who was primarily palladium to cut harm- Owants. Crude, Russia’s biggest export earner, awarded a 1-ounce gold ingot by ful emissions. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on dropped 4.7 percent to a 12-year low of $29.56 the worst performance the LBMA for a forecast that was Reduced supply of the metal Wednesday, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov a barrel at 1 pm in London on concern that among developing- within $1 of the average price in also may support prices, Hoch- said he’s loathe to saddle the economy with turmoil in China’s markets will curb energy 2015. He expects gold to aver- reiter said. The world’s largest debt at current yields to plug a budget shortfall. demand. Even at the 2016 budget assump- nation peers this year age $970 an ounce in 2016, down miners, including Anglo Amer- Money managers at Raiffeisen Asset Man- tion of oil at an average $50 per barrel, the after Nigeria. Still the about 11 percent from now, while ican Platinum Ltd. and Lonmin agement and PineBridge Investments say it’s shortfall will be 2.36 trillion rubles ($30.9bn), palladium will surge 24 percent Plc, have already cut or pledged a route the government may not be able to about 3 percent of gross domestic product. government’s first two on average to $610 an ounce. to reduce production. Palladium avoid even with five-year yields at 10.77per- The Finance Ministry is targeting 300 bn auctions of the year He isn’t alone. Rene Hoch- is typically mined alongside cent, the highest borrowing costs for Russia rubles in net borrowing this year compared raised 17.3bn rubles of reiter of Noah Capital Markets platinum. since Oct. 6 amid a selloff in riskier assets as with 80 billion rubles in 2015. (Pty) Ltd., whose silver forecast An improving global econ- commodity prices fall and concern deepens “At the moment they’re relying on spending bonds at par, 97 percent last year was the most- accurate omy would be better for palladium over China’s slowdown. cuts and the Reserve Fund, which is leaking of the targeted amount tracked by the LBMA, said gold because industrial applica- “They need to try and fast,” said John Bates, a senior vice president will average $1,050 and palla- tions account for the majority of borrow as much as possi- at PineBridge Investments in London, which dium $500 this year, compared demand, compared with about ble to plug the fiscal gap,” has about $80bn in assets under manage- with $493.63 now. 10 percent for gold. said Konstantin Artemov, ment. “They may be forced to revise the budget Gold climbed 3.1 percent this While bullion remains sen- money manager at Raif- assumptions on oil in order to address this month to $1,093.80 in London, sitive to movements in financial feisen Asset Management as well as further debt issuance, although touching a two-month high on markets, it will be dominated by in Moscow. “The Reserve conditions are clearly challenging.” Jan. 8. Demand for a store of value the outlook for US interest rates, Fund will be exhausted Russian government bonds in rubles have rose as a rout in Chinese stocks Vyanne Lai, an economist at Crude, Russia’s biggest this year or next.” lost 6.2 percent in dollar terms so far this spread around the world, North National Australia Bank Ltd. in In Siluanov’s arsenal year, the worst performance among devel- lowered to 8.5 percent by the end of the year Korea tested a nuclear bomb and Melbourne, said this week. export earner dropped for tackling the budget oping-nation peers this year after Nigeria, from 11 percent. tension flared between Saudi Ara- “We’ll see a slow, steady 4.7 percent to a shortfall, bonds are usu- according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Raising money in the bond market to bia and Iran. increase of rates in the US, and 12-year low of $29.56 ally option B. The main Still, the government’s first two auctions bridge a budget gap is feasible if the govern- Palladium, more like an indus- that’s going to cap any potential source of cash is the of the year raised 17.3 bn rubles of bonds ment is prepared to pay yields high enough to trial metal because it’s mainly run up in gold,” Hochreiter said by a barrel on concern Reserve Fund, one of two at par, 97 percent of the targeted amount. lure investors, said Raiffeisen Asset’s Artemov. used in vehicles to curb harmful phone from Johannesburg. “Bar- that turmoil in China’s sovereign wealth funds Monetary policy easing will help the finance “It’s not that simple, but there is a solu- emissions, is having the worst start ring a crisis, gold’s going to drift markets will curb accumulated when the ministry sell bonds, said Leonid Ignatyev, tion,” Artemov said. “Offer a good price, and to a January since at least 1993. lower from where it is.” economy was awash in fixed-income analyst at BCS Financial Group. you sell.” energy demand. export revenue. After The median estimate of 24 economists sur- --With assistance from Ryan Chilcote, that plunged 16 percent veyed by Bloomberg is for the key rate to be Olga Tanas and Anna Andrianova. The new strategy in the auto industry: Cars nobody will buy

By Kyle Stock hasn’t come from low-slung, pricey machines, eye candy in Detroit. Lexus. He was surprised that the vehicle was Bloomberg but rather from pickup trucks, entry-level There’s a similar shift going on in the going to find its way to an assembly line, rather sports cars such as the Ford Mustang, and world of sports cars. In recent years, Mer- than being just a concept car to excite the SUVs of all shapes and sizes. cedes dialed its SUV production up to 11; crowds. Would it make money? So how does a self-respecting car exec- Porsche crafted the Macan, a pint-size SUV “That depends on how you divide the he fancy-car selfie is a social media utive explain the carbon-fiber cornucopia that quickly became the brand’s top seller costs,” Mosquet explained. “I think this one staple. And there will be a steady delivered to the auto show this week? Well, in many markets; and Lexus added a sim- is for the branding. It’s a halo car.” stream of them starting today, when it’s not that they’re tone-deaf. They know the ilar model in the all-new NX. What also helps make the business case the masses pour into the annual North sales trends better than anyone. It’s just that One can find all those vehicles on the (at least a little bit) is China, where drivers— TAmerican International Auto Show in Detroit. they’re running out of stuff to make. stands in Detroit’s Cobo Center. But the prime and the driven—still love big, distinguished But it will be difficult to picture people actually While car sales recovered after the recent real estate—the spotlit, spinning podiums— sedans and stupid-expensive sports cars. buying many of this year’s crop of fancy cars. recession, product planners went for the easy will be filled with sportier options: the all-new Product planners looking to get the OK on a This is de rigueur at a vehicle convention money. They started making and overhaul- Mercedes SLC roadster, a souped-up version billion-dollar sports-car project, keep one Mercedes dialed its where regular people with regular paychecks ing the vehicles that would move the needle of Porsche’s 911, a sinuous Lexus that looks figure at the ready: 9 percent. intersect with six-figure speed machines. But fastest. like an angry spaceship, and the Buick Avista, Klaus Zellmer, Porsche’s chief executive SUV production up to the disconnect between the cars and the com- Lincoln greenlighted a midsize crossover, a slinky streak of blue. officer for North America, said he expects 11; Porsche crafted the merce is more pronounced at this year’s show, the MKC, which parked squarely in the hot- A lot of these cars won’t sell enough to jus- the Chinese economy to continue grow- because the newest vehicles aren’t really the test segment of the business. Hyundai made tify their creation. It takes somewhere around ing at more than 5 percent a year, despite Macan, a pint-size SUV kind of rides people are lusting after these over its Sonata sedan, its second-best seller. $1bn to develop a vehicle from pencil to final recent signals that the wheels might be that quickly became days. They’re also quite expensive. Acura designed an all-new sedan for first- product, so it’s helpful to amortize that cost coming off. the brand’s top seller Of the 20 or so models unveiled in Detroit time luxury buyers, the TLX. Meanwhile, Volvo over as many units as possible. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was also san- this week, four were large, luxury sedans—a spent lavishly to design a Swedish knockout But car executives have a bigger problem guine about China as he pitched a new sedan in many markets; and class of vehicles whose US sales dropped 15 of an SUV, the XC90. than unit economics to worry about: With a from Infiniti, his company’s luxury brand. Lexus added a similar percent in 2015. Also prominent were pre- Now all those brands are rolling out crush of buyers, they just need to get noticed. “When you look at the fundamentals, there mium sports cars, a segment that saw almost swanky sedans. The Lincoln Continental, Xavier Mosquet, senior partner in Bos- is nothing wrong with the development of the model in the all-new NX one-third of its buyers disappear last year. the Genesis G90, the Acura Precision, and the ton Consulting Group’s auto unit, raised his Chinese economy,” he said in an interview. The growth in the auto industry of late Volvo S90 are some of the most saccharine eyebrows as he walked up to the sporty red CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 17

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77711129 www.helplinegroups.com BREAK TIME SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 19 EASY SUDOKU CROSSWORD

12345678 91011121314 INSIDEMAN MAFIA

15 16 NEWMEXICO ATALL CHASTENED SELLS 17 18 HITORMISS CASIO 19 20 21 SOPS MAME T

22 23 24 GOTOI T DEAR TEE INERT COTTAGERS 25 26 LEAR ALLAH HEAP

27 28 29 30 31 DARYLHALL POTTY ANG OOPS F I SHES 32 33 DARBY GENT 34 35 LOSES SKELETONS INSET ANTINOVEL 36 37 ALEVE COMPUWARE 38 39 40 41 42 43 RYDER SWEETNLOW Yesterday’s answer 44 45 46 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 47 48 49 DOWN 24 Four-bagger Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 Lecture, say 25 Derby folks 50 51 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every 2 Northern hemisphere? 26 Members of la famille column and every 3x3 box contains all the 52 53 3 Capital of Iraq’s 27 Dog washers? digits 1 to 9. Nineveh province 28 Marian’s occupation in 4 The Eagles of the “The Music Man” ACROSS 34 Shaped like Skittles N.C.A.A. 29 Kosher 1 One waiting to go off 35 Modern composer’s 5 TV character whose 9 Items in a robotics kit constructions 30 See 22-Across middle name is JoJo 15 Citizen Kane’s affliction 36 “Les ___ Cloches” (Edith 31 Ultimately prevail 6 As a rule HYPER SUDOKU 16 “Begone,” to Shakespeare Piaf hit) 33 Some sports figures 17 Losers 37 Contacts, modern-style 7 Sliding door locales 35 Music on Radio Disney 38 Experience catharsis, in a 18 Sunday hangover remedy 8 Sting, e.g. 37 1989 Broadway way 19 Hoopster’s playmaking 9 Home to the so-called monodrama 39 Impudent ability “happy people” 39 Subject of the 40 San ___ 21 Synchronization problem 10 ___ Andrews, co-host biography “All His 44 Neighbor of Norma 22 With 30-Down, object of of “Dancing With the Jazz” a hunt 45 It’s blown up at a Stars” carnival 40 Give up 23 1978 Olivier Award 11 DVD-___ winner 47 They’re over two feet 41 Altercation 12 Feature of Berlioz’s 24 Minstrel’s offering 49 Stopgap for 42 Lotus position, for one symphony “Harold en an energy shortage 43 Traditional birthplace 25 Majors, e.g. Italie” 26 Loaded things? 50 Match parts of Buddhism 13 Available for purchase 27 Glaring 51 Beverage in a pear- 45 Performer at 1963’s shaped bottle, ironically 14 Theater designs 31 Sloppy kiss March on Washington 52 Something you close 32 Spots for roughnecks 20 “___ Magic,” Doris Day 46 ___ teeth your eyes for hit 33 Trinket 53 Notation on an envelope 48 “___ had it!”

Yesterday’s answer How to play Hyper Sudoku: A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like a normal Sudoku. BABY BLUES BABY

How to play Kakuro: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can NOVO be of any size. It has rows and columns, and SHOWING AT KAKURO dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like The Hateful Eight (2D/Comedy) 10:00, 10:30am, 1:45, 3:20, 5:00, VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 8:15, 8:45 & 11:30pm in a crossword, some of the dark cells will TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 contain numbers. Some cells will contain two Ride Along 2 (2D/Comedy) 10:20am, 12:30, 1:15, 3:00, 5:10, 6:35, 7:20, 9:30, 11:40 & 11:55pm numbers. The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) However, in a crossword the numbers 10:00am, 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:00, 9:20&11:55pm reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers Point Break (2D/Action) 10:10am, 2:30, 7:00 & 11:20pm are all you get! They denote the total of the Extraction (2D/Thriller) 12:30, 5:00 & 9:30pm digits in the row or column referenced by the Daddy’s Home (2D/Comedy) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, number. 6:00, 10:00 & 11:55pm Within each The Peanuts Movie (2D/Animation) 10:00, 11:50am, 1:40 & 3:30pm collection of cells - Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Action) 2D 5:20, 8:00 & 10:40pm called a run - any of the 3D IMAX 10:00am, 12:45, , 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, Dragon Nest: Warriors Dawn (2D/Animation) each number may only 10:10am, 12:00noon, 1:50 & 3:40pm be used once. Suffragette (2D/Drama) 5:10, 7:25, 9:40 & 11:55pm The Revenant (2D/Adventure) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:40pm MALL Yesterday’s answer Soggade Chinni Nayana (2D/Telugu) 2:00pm Suffragette (2D/Drama) 4:30pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate The Hateful Eight (2D/Action) 8:30 & 10:30pm The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) 6:30 & 9:15pm Ride Along 2 (2D/Action) 6:00 & 11:30pm The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 2:30pm Dragon Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D/Animation) 4:15pm ALL IN THE MIND Charlie (2D/Malayalam) 8:00pm Can you find the hidden words? They may Nannaku Prematho (2D/Telugu) 1:15pm be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or Chalk “N” Duster (2D/Hindi) 4:15pm backwards. The Revenant (2D/Adventure) 6:30pm Tharai Thappatai (2D/Tamil) 11:15pm ASIAN TOWN

Charlie (Malayalam) 1:00, 2:45, 5:15, 6:15 & 8:00pm Charlie (Malayalam) 9:00, 10:45, 11:45, 1:00 & 01:30am Dictator (Telugu) 5:15pm Soggade Chinni Nayana(2D/Telugu) 12:30, 3:00 & 8:00pm Thaarai Thappattai (Tamil) 12:30, 3:00, 10:30pm & 01:00am

Hoy en la Historia LANDMARK Tharai Thappatai (2D/Tamil) 2:15pm January 16, 2015 Ride Along 2 (2D/Action) 4:30 & 9:00pm Beagle 2, which vanished while Charlie (2D/Malayalam) 6:30pm trying to land on Mars in 2003, was Soggade Chinni Nayana (2D/Telugu) 11:00pm found intact. Some solar panels Dragon Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D/Animation) 2:30pm had failed to deploy, preventing it The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 4:15pm from making contact with Earth The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) 6:00 & 8:00pm The Hateful Eight (2D/Action) 7:30 & 10:00pm 1547: Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Nannaku Prematho (2D/Telugu) 2:30pm Terrible, was formally crowned as the Suffragette (2D/Drama) 5:30pm first Tsar of all the Russias The Revenant (2D/Adventure) 10:30pm 1872: The Orient Express steamed into Istanbul, becoming the first train ROYAL PLAZA to connect Turkey with Europe ADAPTATION, AUTHOR, AUTOBIOGRAPHY, Dragon Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:15pm BIOGRAPHY, BOOK, CHRONICLE, COMPOSITION, 1968: Czech student Jan Palach Ride Along 2 (2D/Action) 6:00 & 9:00pm DIARY, DISSERTATION, DOCUMENT, DRAFT, EDITORIAL, burned himself to death in protest at the The Hateful Eight (2D/Action) 8:00 & 10:45pm EPIC, EPISTLE, ESSAY, ISSUE, JOURNAL, LEDGER, Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia The 5th Wave (2D/Adventure) 5:00, 7:00 & 11:00pm LETTER, LIMERICK, LITERATURE, MANUSCRIPT, MEMO, 1979: The Shah of Iran was forced The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 3:00pm MEMOIRS, NOTATION, NOTE, NOVEL, PAPER, PLAY, into exile following a revolution that The Revenant (2D/Adventure) 8:30 & 11:00pm POEM, PROSE, PUBLICATION, RECORD, SCRIPT, ushered in an Islamic republic Wazir (2D/Hindi) 2:15pm SCRIPTURE, SONNET, TEXT, THESIS, TOME, TREATISE, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 4:15pm VERSE, VOLUME, WRITER, WRITINGS. Picture: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS Suffragette (2D/Drama) 6:30pm 20 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Raptors down Orlando Magic Two thrones at stake in in overtime heavyweight spectacle Agencies LONDON: Point guard Kyle Lowry scored 24 points as the Toronto Rap- tors posted a 106-103 overtime Wilder meets Szpilka victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday at the O2 Arena in London. while Martin fights Backup point guard Cory Joseph Vijay Singh against Glazkov to scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and shooting guard defend unbeaten DeMar DeRozan added 13 points streaks today and 11 rebounds for the Raptors. Singh seizes The victory was the fourth straight for Toronto. share of early Bulls 115, 76ers 111 (overtime) Jimmy Butler scored a career- Boxer Vyacheslav Glazkov (left), of Ukraine, talks AFP high 53 points and E’Twaun Moore with Charles Martin in the corner of the ring after Sony Open lead had seven of his 14 in overtime as a workout on Tuesday in New York. Glazkov is the Chicago Bulls rallied for a 115-111 AFP scheduled to fight Charles Martin of the US for the victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. NEW YORK: Undefeated American IBF world heavyweight title today. Butler, 15-for-30 from the floor Deontay Wilder defends his share of and 21-for-25 from the foul line, LOS ANGELES: Fiji’s former world the world heavyweight boxing throne added 10 rebounds and six assists number one Vijay Singh fired a today while two more unbeatens seek for the Bulls, who rested Pau Gasol bogey-free seven-under par 63 another crown and rival champion and were without Derrick Rose. on Thursday to seize a share of the Tyson Fury watches at ringside. Grizzlies 103, Pistons 101 early first-round lead at the US PGA The path to an undisputed heavy- Mario Chalmers scored a Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii. weight champion, something not seen game-high 25 points with eight The 52-year-old veteran, seek- since Britain’s Lennox Lewis in 2000, assists and hit the game-winning ing his first US PGA Tour title since takes shape in New York when Wilder basket as the Memphis Grizzlies the 2008 Deutsche Bank Cham- (35-0 with 34 knockouts) faces Poland’s defeated the Detroit Pistons 103- pionship, had seven birdies on Artur Szpilka (20-1 with 15 knockouts) 101 at FedExForum. the par-70 Waialae Country Club and US southpaw Charles Martin (22-0 Down 101-96 after Detroit course to share the clubhouse lead with one drawn and 20 knockouts) rookie forward Stanley Johnson hit in the year’s first full-field event meets Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Glazkov his fifth three-pointer of the night with Americans Ricky Barnes and (21-0 with 13 knockouts). with 3:07 to play, Chalmers scored Morgan Hoffmann. “There are four great heavyweights the Grizzlies’ last seven points for Singh teed off on the 10th and that I’m excited to see,” Lewis said. the victory. closed his round with back-to-back “The heavyweight division is wide His game-winning shot came birdies at eight and nine - missing a open right now. Now it’s time for the when he picked up a loose ball and nine-foot eagle putt at his final hole. guys who were standing by the way- fired off-balance with 00.8 left on “I was feeling good about my side to show they want to be the next the clock. body, my swing, my mind,” Singh undisputed champion.” Spurs 99, Cavaliers 95 told the Golf Channel. “I scrambled Wilder makes the third defense Tony Parker scored 24 points very well. Early on, I didn’t hit too of his World Boxing Council crown and Kawhi Leonard poured in 20 many fairways but I got it around while Glazkov and Martin meet for points, 16 after halftime, as the San the greens, chipped in once and my the International Boxing Federation Antonio Spurs shrugged off a slow putter was working really well.” title that Britain’s Fury dropped after start to defeat the Cleveland Cav- Deontay Wilder (left) and Artur Szpilka pose for a picture at Four World Trade Center on Wednesday in Although he hasn’t found the defeating Wladimir Klitschko for his aliers 99-95. winner’s circle in some time, Singh share of the throne. New York City. Eighteen of Parker’s points said he doesn’t feel it’s out of reach. Fury holds the World Boxing Asso- came in the first half, when just “I feel like I can come out and ciation title and will fight a lucrative about every other San Antonio win any tournament if I play well,” rematch with Klitschko rather than WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT true stardom will come. Once I unify York to American Bryant Jennings, player struggled. The second half he said. “It has been the same way having kept the IBF crown to fight its BOXING TITLE the division, I think it will be a dra- would become Poland’s first heavy- belonged to Leonard, the league’s for the last five, six years. mandatory opponent, Glazkov. matic change.” weight champion. reigning defensive player of the South Korean Kim Si-Woo The year could see today’s win- Wilder, whose lone trip to the “He can say whatever he wants. You year, who held Cavaliers forward carded a 64 and was one stroke ners meet in a few months as Fury and Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and distance came in his title-winning have to prove it in the ring,” Szpilka said. LeBron James to seven points after in front of a group of players that Klitschko figure to do, and the winners Mike Tyson. unanimous 12-round decision over Glazkov, 31, has won seven fights in a halftime. included England’s former world of those bouts meet in an undisputed “Lennox was one of those guys that Bermane Stiverne last January, says row and never been knocked down. He number one Luke Donald on 65 showdown late in 2016. set the standard. He’s a hard act to fol- he is not overlooking Szpilka, but adds, sees the crown as far more than Fury’s NBA RESULTS with the afternoon starters still Wilder hopes to become the first low. But I love a challenge,” Wilder said. “I’m very confident about what I’m reject castoffs and has his own title Toronto 106 Orlando 103 on the course. American heavyweight with an undis- “Once you have that strong Ameri- going to do Saturday.” sweep dream. Martin, 29, has stopped Chicago 115 Philadelphia 111 American Jimmy Walker, seek- puted reign since Riddick Bowe in 1992 can heavyweight to unify the division, Szpilka, a 26-year-old southpaw his past 12 foes and won 16 in a row ing a third straight title at Waialae, and join a list that includes legends to hold all the titles, that’s when I feel whose lone loss came in 2014 at New since a 2013 draw. Memphis 103 Detroit 101 was among those with later tee San Antonio 99 Cleveland 95 times. Sacramento 103 Utah 101 Golden State 116 LA Lakers 98 Europe seizes lead in EurAsia US anti-doping chief wants Russians banned from Rio NBA-League AFP late to guarantee that dope cheats programme are clean.” considering Cup opener ATHLETICS: DOPING who had benefited from the program Tygart’s comments came as a would be clean in time for August’s second WADA report released in regular season games in Rio de Janeiro. Munich on Thursday claimed cor- AFP NEW YORK: The head of the United Tygart said Russia had taken no “They’re still attacking the brave ruption was “embedded” at track game in Paris States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) meaningful steps to put its house in and courageous whistle-blowers,” and field’s global governing body, believes Russian track and field ath- order after being accused of running Tygart was quoted by the Times as the International Association of Ath- Reuters letes should be barred from competing a state-sponsored doping program saying. letics Federations (IAAF). K U A L A L U M P U R : The European in the Olympics, saying there was not in a bombshell World Anti-Doping “We’re a few months before the The IAAF suspended Russian ath- Team has drawn first blood seizing enough time to rebuild the country’s Agency (WADA) report last year. Games and it’s too late, even if they letes from all competition in the wake LONDON: The National Basketball a three-point lead on the opening tarnished drug-testing regime, the Tygart accused Russian hold all of those who are responsible of last year’s WADA report but left Association is considering play- day of the EurAsia Cup in Kuala New York Times reported Thursday. authorities of continuing to target accountable. It’s too late to assure that the door open for a possible return ing a regular season game in Paris Lumpur yesterday. USADA chief executive Travis whistleblowers and said it was too those in the state-supported doping in time for Rio. after receiving a proposal from Ans- Darren Clarke’s Europe team chutz Entertainment Group (AEG), won three of the six matches, the Commissioner Adam Silver said on Jeev Milka Singh led Asian Team took Thursday. one, while the other was halved, giv- Germany seek emergency IAAF meeting AEG, which has ownership ing 4.5 to 1.5 European Team points stake in the NBA’s Los Angeles advantage on the Glenmarie Golf Lakers among many other sports and Country Club course. Reuters said on Thursday that the former head membership meeting,” said German of the first part of his report, which teams, operates the AccorHotels Singh, who competed two years of world athletics, Lamine Diack, ran athletics chief Clemens Prokop in a led to athletics superpower Russia Arena in Paris. ago in the inaugural EurAsia Cup, a clique that covered up organised statement yesterday. being banned from competition for “Right before this press con- admitted he was like a headless doping and blackmailed athletes while The damning report delivered by state-sponsored doping. ference I met with the executives chicken endeavouring to keep MUNICH: Germany’s athletics chief senior officials looked the other way. former WADA President Dick Pound But Thursday’s report said the of AEG Europe and they proposed abreast of all six matches. has called for an extraordinary meet- “The allegations of corruption added to the rapidly growing scandal IAAF’s governing council “could not that we look at playing a regular England’s Ian Poulter and Aus- ing of the IAAF after the second part against the leadership of the IAAF involving organised doping and its have been unaware of the extent of season game in Paris,” Silver told trian Bernd Wiesberger secured of a World Anti-Doping Agency report are so damning, and have shaken concealment that has thrown world doping in athletics and the non- reporters during a trip to London. the first point winning the open- heaped more pressure on the sport’s the credibility of the world federa- athletics into turmoil. enforcement of applicable anti-doping “France has also been a fantas- ing Fourball encounter in defeating scandal-hit governing body. tion to such an extent, that a sign of Pound had already rocked the rules”, piling more pressure on the tic basketball market and Paris in reigning Asian Tour number one WADA’s independent commission awakening must be an extraordinary sport in November with the release governing body. particular and it is also a city our Anirban Lahiri of India and Korean teams enjoy visiting so it is certainly Wang Jeung-Hun 4 and 3. Poulter something we will be looking at set the tone for the match at the closely.” very first hole in sinking a 20-foot UK Athletics says London has ‘nothing to hide’ London’s O2 arena, which is also birdie putt. operated by AEG, hosted its sixth Europe then gained a second annual regular season NBA game point and with England’s Ross Fisher AFP 2017 WORLD ATHLETICS 2009, amid allegations the global said: “All I know is that London’s bid on Thursday. So far other European and Swede Kristoffer Broberg hand- CHAMPIONSHIPS governing body was involved in wide- was completely by the book and cities have only hosted preseason ing out the biggest defeat of the day, spread corruption and the covering through the front door in a classi- games. Silver said the NBA, how- a 6 and 4 drubbing of Thailand’s up of several doping cases. cally British way. ever, currently has no plans for Prayad Marksaeng and Korean Kim LONDON: British athletics’ senior Police in France and the Inter- The world championship bids We would be delighted to spend European expansion. Kyung-Tae. administrator has insisted London national Association of Athletics under investigation include 2017, any amount of time going through “We are not actively taking steps Thirteen-time Asian Tour win- has “nothing to hide” over its suc- Federations (IAAF) itself are inves- where London defeated Qatari cap- our processes with the investiga- to bring a franchise to Europe or ner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand cessful bid to stage the 2017 World tigating the bidding procedures used ital Doha in the final vote. tors if that helps root out any expand into Europe. It is something and 2015 European Tour ‘Rookie of Championships. in seven world championships since UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner miscreants.” we have looked at over the years. the Year’ An Byeong-Hun combined It just doesn’t feel like the time is to secure the only Asian victory. right,” said Silver. SPORT SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 21

Australian Open: ‘Perfect’ Djokovic poised to resume global domination

Reuters ending Djokovic’s bid for a fourth con- I think that will motivate him to go trouble Djokovic and should make a secutive title before going on to claim all the way.” Tellingly, his rivals talk deep run on the hard courts if in form. Novak Djokovic the trophy for himself. more about Djokovic failing to reach His compatriot Federer remains Some suggested Wawrinka’s of Serbia top form than the standard of their an inspiration to tour veterans and his MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic spent breakthrough heralded the end of the smiles during a own performance when asked how appearances in last year’s Wimbledon 2015 relentlessly trampling on the hopes dominance of the ‘Big Four’, the annual practice session to get the better of the Serb. and US Open finals were testament to and dreams of would-be challengers parcelling of Grand Slams between ahead of the “Maybe he has a drop-off, it’s very the 17-times Grand Slam champion’s and the world number one again looms Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal Australian Open difficult to maintain that level for such a endurance. But unlocking the secret as the reality check to their new season and Andy Murray. in Melbourne long period,” said second-seeded Briton to winning three sets against poten- ambitions when the Australian Open And while Wawrinka denied Djoko- yesterday. Murray, who was beaten by Djokovic tial semi-final opponent Djokovic on gets under way on Monday. vic a calendar Grand Slam with victory three times in the final including last 34-year-old legs may prove beyond The defending champion will start in last season’s French Open final, the year’s decider. even the Swiss master. as raging favourite for a sixth title at Serb has all but carved up the men’s Scarred by four fruitless trips to Unlucky to find himself in the same the year’s first grand slam, continuing game for himself. the final, two-time grand slam cham- quarter of the draw as Wawrinka, the domination of men’s tennis that Fatherhood has not slowed Djok- pion Murray will hope for ‘fifth time 14-times Grand Slam Nadal looms as saw the Serb win 11 titles last year and ovic’s pursuit of silverware and at the lucky’ if he reaches the final. a dark horse, arriving in Melbourne the three of the four majors. age of 28, the best may be yet to come. The Scot enjoys a kind draw, with fittest he has been in years and stinging Beating the red-hot world number His straight sets demolition of Nadal eighth seed David Ferrer the highest- from a season without a major trophy. one is a task anywhere. Stopping him at in this month’s Qatar Open final was ranked in his quarter, and at least boasts Local fans will also farewell former his Melbourne Park fortress is becom- praised as “perfection” by the Span- the physical fitness to go toe-to-toe world number one Lleyton Hewitt, the ing virtually impossible. iard and Djokovic admitted seeing the is already being tipped for the calen- he wins all four,” seven-time Grand with the Serb. Blessed with one of the two-time Grand Slam champion sign- Stan Wawrinka managed it in a ball “as a watermelon”. dar slam. Slam champion Mats Wilander told game’s most potent backhands, fourth ing off with a record 20th appearance classic quarter-final in 2014, the Swiss 2016 is just 15 days old but Djokovic “Yeah, if he wins the Australian, ESPN. “He just missed (last) year, and seed Wawrinka also has weapons to in the men’s draw.

Bangladesh ease past Australia down India in record chase Zimbabwe SCOREBOARD AFP Sharma’s ton in vain INDIA again as hosts achieve R Sharma (run out) 124 309-run target at S Dhawan c Wade b Paris 6 KHULNA: Bangladesh batsman V Kohli (run out) 59 Sabbir Rahman was the top scorer Gabba to take 2-0 for his team with 46 runs as the A Rahane c Smith b Faulkner 89 hosts overcome Zimbabwe by four lead against India M S Dhoni c Maxwell b Boland 11 wickets in the first Twenty20 inter- M Pandey c Paris b Faulkner 6 national in Khulna yesterday. R Jadeja (run out) 5 Set a decent target after Zim- AFP R Ashwin c Boland b Hastings 1 babwe were restricted to 163-7, U Yadav (not out) 0 Bangladesh comfortably reached 166-6 with eight balls in hand to take Extras (W-7) 7 1-0 lead in the four-match series. BRISBANE: Australia set a new record Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) 308 Zimbabwe made regular break- run chase at the Gabba in Brisbane Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-134, 3-255, 4-276, throughs but could not stop the run yesterday as they cruised to a seven 5-298, 6-302, 7-306, 8-308. flow as Tamim Iqbal (29), Mushfiqur wickets victory over India in the sec- Bowling: Paris 8-0-40-1 (1w); Richardson Rahim (26) and Shakib Al Hasan ond One Day International. 8-1-61-0 (1w); Hastings 8-0-46-1 (2w); (20 not out) all made decent con- After Indian captain Mahendra Boland 10-0-64-1 (3w); Maxwell 6-0-33-0; tributions to Bangladesh’s victory. Singh Dhoni won the toss and chose Faulkner 10-0-64-2. Sabbir faced 36 balls and hit to bat, the visitors finished their 50 overs AUSTRALIA four boundaries and a six, taking at 308-8, thanks largely to a second A Finch c Rahane b Jadeja 71 advantage of a dropped catch by successive century from opener Rohit Vusi Sibanda off Sean Williams Sharma (124), following his 171 not out S Marsh c Kohli b I Sharma 71 when he was on 36. in the first ODI in Perth on Tuesday. S Smith b Yadav 46 Earlier, Hamilton Masakadza But the total always looked too G Bailey (not out) 76 and Sibanda put on a record 101-run small to defend on a flat Gabba wicket G Maxwell (not out) 26 opening partnership for Zimba- and once Australia’s openers Aaron Australia’s Shaun Marsh sweeps during the second ODI against India in Brisbane yesterday. Extras (LB-7, W-11 NB-1) 19 bwe after skipper Elton Chigumbura Finch and Shaun Marsh put on a 145- won the toss and opted to bat first run stand, the result never looked in Total (for 3 wkts in 49 overs) 309 at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium doubt. “We’ve got guys that have played “On a wicket like this and with this Fall of wickets: 1-145, 2-166, 3-244. in Khulna. Finch and Marsh both scored 71 together as a team for some time now. CRICKET: INDIA IN outfield, they don’t get any reverse Bowling: Sran 9-1-51-0 (1w, 1nb); I. Sharma Masakadza hit 79 off 53 balls, while captain Steve Smith (46) and “Chasing 300 is never easy but we AUSTRALIA swing as such, so you have to hit the 10-0-60-1 (8w); Yadav 10-0-74-1 (2w); Jade-

equalling his own national record George Bailey (76 not out) continued back ourselves, and we’re doing it at deck hard and you have to consist- ja 9-0-50-1; Ashwin 10-0-60-0; Kohli 1-0-7-0. for the highest individual innings, their good form as they guided Aus- the moment.” India looked to be well in ently hit areas,” he said. while Sibanda struck 46 off 39. tralia towards the victory total. the game as the two Australian open- Finch raced to 71 then tried to smash “The moment you make an error Bangladesh did well to restrict India had some hope when Smith ers started slowly, struggling with their left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja over the batsmen take advantage.” Zimbabwe in the final few overs, was bowled by Umesh Yadav going timing and placement. mid-off only to be caught brilliantly in Earlier Sharma’s golden run contin- pressure on the home side. “We tried despite Masakadza and Sibanda for an ugly heave with the score on The Indian bowling was far tighter the deep by a diving Ajinkya Rahane. ued with a chanceless century against our best to score, but at the end of the breaking the team record, set by 244, but Bailey and Maxwell put on 65 than it had been in Perth and the Marsh, who was dropped three the hosts. He enjoyed big partnerships of day it’s execution and I feel in the last Sikandar Raza and Chamu Chib- runs from only 49 balls to see Australia required run rate began to creep up. times in his innings, fell soon after 125 with Kohli (59) and 121 with Rahane 10 overs they bowled well,” he said. habha’s 100-run partnership against home with six balls to spare. But after the first drinks break the when Ishant Sharma squared him (89) as the Indians punished a below- “It’s always a difficult one because Afghanistan in October. It was the second big run chase of Australians began to attack at every up and he got a leading edge to Virat par Australian attack. when you keep losing wickets it become The second match of the series the series and came three days after opportunity. Kohli at cover. Although the score was the biggest more and more difficult for new bats- will be held at the same ground Australia chased down 309 to win in Finch said later that after India had But Smith and Bailey calmly went by an international team in ODIs at the men to come and in and straight away tomorrow. Perth. bowled well in the first 17 overs he and about their work and batted India out Gabba, the Indians looked headed for a play the big shot, especially when the “We’ve always got confidence we Marsh had to try and pick up the pace. of the game. much bigger total until they lost a clat- bowlers are executing their plans.” can chase down any total,” Finch said. Finch brought up his 50 in the 21st Dhoni conceded his pace bowlers ter of wickets in the final few overs. The two teams move to Melbourne SCOREBOARD “Compared to our bowling line up over and Marsh in the 22nd as the two were struggling with the Australian Dhoni said India had tried to pick where India must win tomorrow to our batting is quite experienced. openers began to accelerate. conditions. up the pace in the last 10 overs to put keep the series alive. ZIMBABWE V Sibanda c Tamim b Shakib 46 H Masakadza (run out) 79 M Waller (run out) 14 Pakistan outwit NZ on Amir’s return SCOREBOARD S Raza c Mahmudullah b Al-Amin 6 PAKISTAN M Guptill (run out) 2 E Chigumbura b Mustafizur 3 M Hafeez c Astle b Milne 61 K Williamson c Mohd Hafeez b Riaz 70 L Jongwe b Mustafizur 0 A Shehzad c Elliott b Milne 16 C Munro b Riaz 56 AFP S Williams b Al-Amin 2 S Maqsood c Ronchi b Santner 0 C Anderson c&b Imad Wasim 0 P Moor (not out) 7 S Malik c Elliott b Santner 20 G Elliott b S Afridi 3 Extras (LB-3, W-3) 6 U Akmal c Munro b Milne 24 L Ronchi c A Shehzad b S Afridi 0 Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) 163 WELLINGTON: Pakistan outsmarted S Afridi c Williamson b Boult 23 M Santner c S Afridi b Umar Gul 0 Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-127, 3-150, New Zealand by stifling their feared I Wasim c Boult b Henry 18 T Astle b Ulmar Gul 1 4-153, 5-153, 6-155, 7-163. batting barrage to win the opening

Twenty20 by 16 runs at Eden Park in S Ahmed c Williamson b Milne 2 M Henry c S Afridi b Mohd Amir 10 Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-37-0; Al-Amin 4-0-24-2; Shakib 4-0-45-1 (w2); Mustafi- Auckland yesterday. W Riaz (not out) 3 A Milne (not out) 2

zur 4-0-18-2; Mahmudullah 2-0-20-0; One-time bad boy Mohammad U Gul (not out) 1 T Boult c S Afridi b Wahab Riaz 0 Sabbir 2-0-16-0. Amir may have been the centre of atten- Extras (W-3) 3 Extras (B-1, LB-7, W-3) 11 BANGLADESH tion in his comeback game, but it was Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) 171 Total (all out in 20 overs) 155 Tamim Iqbal c Sibanda b Cremer 29 Shahid Afridi’s astute captaincy and the miserly bowling by Imad Wasim Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-52, 3-78, 4-110, 5-146, Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-89, 3-90, 4-107, 5-107, Soumya Sarkar (run out) 7 that made the difference. 6-147, 7-167, 8-168. 6-108, 7-138, 8-152, 9-152, 10-155. Sabbir Rahman c Waller b Cremer 46 With no warm up game to accli- Bowling: Henry 4-1-32-1 (w2); Boult 4-0-42- Bowling: Mohammad Amir 4-0-31-1 (w2); Shuvagata Hom b Williams 6 matise, Pakistan were rather run shy 1 (w1); Milne 4-0-37-4; Anderson 1-0-18-0; Imad Wasim 4-0-18-1; Umar Gul 4-0-38-2; at the top and tail of their innings but M Rahim c Raza b W Masakadza 26 Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Santner 4-0-14-2; Astle 3-0-28-0. Shahid Afridi 4-1-26-2 (w1); Wahab Riaz 4-0- still managed 171-8. Shakib Al Hasan (not out) 20 Luke Ronchi (not in picture) during their first T20 in Auckland yesterday. NEW ZEALAND 34-3. But apart from a quickfire 46 off 27 Mahmudullah b Jongwe 7 by Colin Munro, and a stubborn 70 by Nurul Hasan (not out) 7 Kane Williamson, New Zealand had Extras (B-4, LB-2, W-12) 18 no answer to the Pakistan attack and for 19 runs. Afridi CRICKET: PAKISTAN IN the final over to fin- in recent weeks, but only faced three able to dictate the pace of the game Total (for 6 wkts in 18.4 overs) 166 were all out on the last ball of their bowled a two- NEW ZEALAND ish with three for 34, balls before he was run out for two. and his 70 coming off 60 deliveries. Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-58, 3-74, 4-118, innings for 155. wicket maiden to and Amir marked New Zealand had quickly lost Mohammad Hafeez set up the Paki- 5-125, 6-137. When Munro was at the crease New finish with two for his return to inter- patience with the tight Pakistan field stan innings with 61 off 47 but the real Zealand raced to 89-1 in 10 overs, a 26 to go with three national cricket after settings and accurate bowling and damage for Pakistan came in a brief Bowling: W Masakadza 4-0-25-1; B Vi- slightly better run rate than Pakistan catches while Imad Wasim took one a five-year ban for spot-fixing with one Williamson’s eagerness for a quick cameo by man-of-the-match Afridi in tori 3-0-24-0 (w6); S Raza 1-0-12-0; Jongwe 3.4-0-45-1 (w6); Cremer 4-0-32- managed at the same stage. for 18 off his four overs with nine of for 31. New Zealand pin a lot of their single in the second over cost Guptill which he belted 23 off eight deliveries. 2; Williams 3-0-22-1. But his dismissal started a dra- those runs coming in one over. scoring hopes on opener Martin Guptill, his wicket. Williamson batted through The second match in the three- matic collapse in which five wickets fell Wahab Riaz took two wickets in who bludgeoned the Sri Lanka attack until the final over but without being match series is in Hamilton tomorrow. 22 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Qatar’s Al Attiyah wins Dakar Rally stage

RALLY: LEGENDARY AL ATTIYAH Defending champion OVERCOMES LOEB finishes six minutes clear of Loeb for his Peterhansel was keeping his feet firmly second stage victory on Argentinian soil. “It’s never done: if you have ten minutes, two minutes or one hour and AFP you have a big technical problem then you’re stopped and it’s finished for the overall victory,” said the 50-year-old who opened his Dakar account on two SAN JUAN: Last year’s winner Nasser wheels in 1988. Al Attiyah won Thursday’s Dakar Rally He added: “It’s never over. I’ve had 11th stage, held in searing heat which some good experiences like that, but made the going extra tough for the also some bad experiences”. motorbike competitors. The bikes stage was stopped Mini driver Al Attiyah picked up because of the heat at the 243km mark his second stage victory of this year’s Mini driver Nasser Al Attiyah (left) of Qatar talks to Peugeot driver Carlos with Antoine Meo of France declared Dakar, completing the drive from La Sainz of France before the start of the 10th stage of the Dakar Rally the winner. Australian Toby Price (KTM) Rioja to San Juan almost six minutes 2016 near Fiambala, Argentina, on Wednesday. came in second - he holds a 35min clear of Sebastien Loeb. 23sec advantage in the overall stand- Nine-time world rally champion ings from Slovakia’s Stefan Svitko. and Dakar debutant Loeb crossed the French Dakar legend Stephane Peter- top of the overall standings, 51min55sec “On the last probably fifty to eighty line in unorthodox fashion, his Peu- hansel kept the wheels on his bid for a ahead of Al Attiyah with South Afri- kilometres it was starting to heat up geot being towed by team-mate Cyril 12th title, finishing fourth behind the can Giniel De Villers 1hr 17min 24sec really bad again,” he recounted. Mini’s driver Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatarand co-driver Mathieu Baumel of Despres after it had packed up a hand- wheel of his Peugeot at 8min 05sec. off the pace in third. “I can’t smell victory yet, not yet. France compete during the Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally 2016 between ful of kilometres from the finish. The rally’s all-time most successful Despite his commanding posi- I won’t smell victory until I cross the La Rioja and San Juan, Argentina, on Thursday. Mikko Hirvonen was third while competitor maintained his lead at the tion with only two stages remaining finishing line on the last day.”

Qatar 2022: ‘Super’ fans assemble in Doha Children’s Endurance Ride

The Peninsula visited Aspire Academy and had many great experiences. Even though there are still six years until the World Cup, Chinese fans should try to come here DOHA: Michael Zeman has been play- and witness what I have seen over the ing football since he was a 3-year-old, past three days.” when he aspired to be like legendary Another fan, Muath bin saad bin Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller. Askar Al Askar, came from Saudi Arabia The enthusiasm for football he has to witness the Bayern Munich training shown has not changed one bit since sessions first-hand and have a spe- then, and for the past few days he has cially arranged autograph session had almost more ‘selfie’ requests than with the team. a football star. He said: “Bayern Munich are hugely This week, Michael was one of popular in Saudi Arabia. Being here to A group picture of little riders with Rashid Jehani AL Maliki at the five ‘super’ fans invited to Doha by see all these stars up-close is a valua- end of Children’s Endurance Ride held in the outskirts of Doha the Supreme Committee for Deliv- ble opportunity for me. This is nothing yesterday. Picture courtesy: Juhaim ery & Legacy (SC) in conjunction with ‘Super’ fans pose for a photo during their visit to Qatar to follow their new for Qatar, which organises major Qatar Tourism Authority to get a taste passion. sport events annually.” for the experience that fans visiting “As football fans in the Gulf region in 2022 can expect. and throughout the Middle East, we’re “In the 1970’s I saw Gerd Mueller Museums, Aspire Zone, Souq Waqif or visit Qatar,” said Thorsten, who trav- eagerly awaiting the 2022 World Cup Man City out to close gap playing as a child, and since then I’ve a shopping mall, they were greeted by els to many Bayern Munich matches tournament in Qatar,” he added. been a Bayern fan. It was a fairytale hundreds of residents who wanted to every year but had never been to Doha. The fifth fan came from India. Vijay which came true to be here in Doha,” get their photos taken with the colour- “The friendliness of how we were Bharadwaj said a dream had come Zeman told www.sc.qa. ful German fans. Zeman was always received, the amount of photos we true in his visit to Qatar against goal-shy Palace “The stadium infrastructure is there with a smile and a friendly shake were able to take with Qataris, it is “This is the closest we have ever fantastic, the weather was nice and of the hand, and said that the warmth simply outstanding and I travel back been to the World Cup. It is a very the people are really friendly and we of their reception in Qatar had been home with a great amount of positive friendly environment, people should AFP EPL FIXTURES were always asked for photos. So it’s astonishing. impressions.” check out the sports infrastructure Today really nice, it’s been a fantastic jour- “The only difference to Europe is Yi Zhang, another fan who came and the museums,” he said. Tottenham vs Sunderland (1245); AFC ney. I can say to the world; come back that Arabic people come and give you from China, posted his experiences The five fans also had the chance Bournemouth vs Norwich City (1500) in six years for Qatar 2022. The new a hug and hold your arm. European from the three-day visit on Chinese to witness the AFC U23 tournament MANCHESTER: It is a signal of Man- Chelsea vs Everton (1500); Man City stadiums and the underground sta- people don’t know how to do this, so social media, reaching over 1.3 mil- kicking off and saw Qatar beat China chester City’s inconsistency that they vs Crystal Palace (1500); Newcastle tions, as well as the way they plan to it’s a nice way of doing things here.” lion views. 3-1 at Lekhwiya Stadium. have not managed to string together vs West Ham (1500); Southampton vs use solar energy really impressed me Fellow Bayern Munich fan Thorsten “It was a great and surprising expe- After many more photo requests two successive Premier League vic- West Bromwich (1500); Aston Vsilla the most in Doha.” was equally surprised by the welcome rience in Qatar for me. To be at Bayern from fans, the German duo ended their tories since mid-October. vs Leicester City (1730) Wherever Zeman and his fellow that the German fans received in Doha. training is fantastic, and then to see so stay in Doha with a live TV appear- Yet it is a sign of the division’s Tomorrow Bayern Munich fan Thorsten Ger- “I was really speechless when I many museums, and what is the lat- ance, claiming they will be sure to unpredictably this season that despite Liverpool vs Manchester United lach went, whether it was Msheireb found out about this opportunity to est on stadium construction. We also come back in 2022. this, Manuel Pellegrini’s side remain (1405) just three points off the top as they go into today’s home match against Stoke City vs Arsenal (1615) Crystal Palace. Monday SCOREBOARD Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at home Swansea vs Watford (2000) Centurion Root, Stokes transform to mid-table Everton has not proved South Africa (I innings): as costly as it might have done, with D Elgar c Bairstow b Ali 46 leaders Arsenal also dropping points Otamendi, though Bacary Sagna could S van Zyl c Bairstow b Stokes 21 in a 3-3 draw at Liverpool on the same move across from full-back if required. night. Pellegrini has indicated that he will H Amla c Bairstow b Finn 40 third Test against South Africa In addition, City kept a second suc- make some changes for the Palace A de Villiers c Bairstow b Stokes 36 cessive clean sheet, suggesting that match, which kicks off less than 66 F du Plessis c Hales b Finn 16 their defence is finding some sem- hours after Wednesday’s game fin- T Bavuma (run out sub - Woakes) 23 AFP CRICKET: ENGLAND IN quartet of bowlers, all of whom blance of stability in the continued ished, giving little time for his players D Vilas c Ali b Broad 26 SOUTH AFRICA exceeded 140kmh. Rabada had an absence of injured captain Vincent to recover. outstanding first spell with the new Kompany. Kompany is likely to be Playmaker David Silva is likely C Morris c Bairstow b Broad 28 ball of one for seven off six overs. He out for another month as his club try to be given a more significant role, K Rabada c Bairstow b Anderson 24 JOHANNESBURG: Joe Root hit a finished the day with two for 44. to get to the root of the calf trouble having been rested altogether for last H Viljoen (not out) 20 thrilling century for England as he Morkel, fending a bouncer off his Stuart Broad, James Anderson and that has restricted him to just three Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup win at Norwich M Morkel c Cook b Stokes 12 and Ben Stokes transformed the third glove for a single. Stokes took a wicket apiece as South league starts since City won 1-0 at City before being given a 16-minute Extras (B-9, LB-9, NB-2, W-1) 21 Test against South Africa at the Wan- But in the next over Stokes pulled Africa added 46 runs to their over- Palace on September 12. run-out as a substitute in the mid- Total (all out) 313 derers Stadium yesterday. a short ball from Rabada for six. He night total of 267 for seven. With fellow centre-back Eliaquim week round. For Pellegrini, whose England were 238 for five when reached his fifty off 46 balls and his Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow took Mangala recovering from a hamstring team go into today’s game lying third, Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-117, 3-127, 4-161, the threat of lightning brought an early innings lasted 54 deliveries before he six catches and missed a chance to problem, Pellegrini may continue with the priority is to regain the league

5-185, 6-212, 7-225, 8-281, 9-281. close on the second day, 75 runs behind offered a caught and bowled chance equal the world record of seven when Martin Demichelis alongside Nicolas leadership. Bowling: Anderson 25.2-5-60-1; Broad South Africa’s first innings total of 313. to Morkel off a leading edge. he dropped last batsman Morkel. 22-5-82-2 (1w); Finn 18-4-50-2 (2nb); Ali Root was on 106 not out, his ninth Root continued to bat aggressively All of the South African batsmen 16-4-50-1; Stokes 18.1-1-53-3. Test century. and reached his century off 126 balls reached double figures - the 13th England (I innings): A fifth-wicket partnership of 111 when he punched Chris Morris through instance in Tests. It was the lowest A Cook c Vilas b Viljoen 18 in 78 minutes off 97 balls with Stokes the covers for his 16th four. total in which it had been achieved. A Hales c De Villiers b Rabada 1 (58) swung the match dramatically in England got off to a bad start when Anderson was ordered out of the England’s favour after a four-pronged Kagiso Rabada had Alex Hales caught bowling attack for running on the pro- N Compton c Elgar b Rabada 26 South African pace attack had reduced at second slip for one. It got worse hibited area of the pitch after two J Root (batting) 106 the tourists to 91 for four. when Hardus Viljoen took a wicket official warnings. Stokes took over J Taylor c Bavuma b Morkel 7 Root and Stokes counter-attacked, with his first ball in Test cricket, having from Anderson and with his first ball B Stokes c&b Morkel 58 posting a fifty partnership off only 35 England captain Alastair Cook caught of the day had Morkel caught at first J Bairstow (batting) 4 balls in a match where the average down the leg side by wicketkeeper slip by Cook. scoring rate had hovered at around Dane Vilas for 18. “He takes pressure off you at the Extras (B-1, LB-11, NB-2, W-4) 18 three an over on a pitch offering help Nick Compton survived a chance other end when he comes in and plays Total (for 5 wkts) 238 to the fast bowlers. to AB de Villiers at second slip on six that aggressively,” Root told reporters Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-22, 3-74, 4-91, Root reached the first half-cen- and went on to add 52 for the third in reference to his partner’s 54-ball 5-202. tury of the match off 77 balls with wicket with Root before edging Rab- knock. “When you see someone scor- Everton’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (left) vies for the ball Bowling: Morris 13-1-62-0; Rabada 14.4- nine fours. ada to Dean Elgar at second slip for 26. ing like that at the other end, putting 5-44-2 (2w); Morkel 14-0-63-2; Viljoen Stokes, who hit a dazzling 258 in James Taylor was caught at short the bowlers under pressure, it brings possession with Manchester City’s Brazilian midfielder Fernando 11-0-57-1 (2nb). the drawn second Test in Cape Town, leg off Morkel for seven. it out in your own game as well. He Reges during their English Premier League match at the Etihad got a hostile welcome from Morne Rabada, 20, was the best of a scored at over a run a ball today.” Stadium in Manchester on Wednesday. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 20 PAGE | 21 Singh secures Pakistan overcomee sshareh of early lead New Zealand in at Sony Open first Twenty20

SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 • 6 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Gutsy Qatar beat Iran 2-1 in crunch tie

Five minutes before the inter- Alaa and Hassan val, Asad went close to doubling score a goal each Qatar’s advantage, only for Akh- bari to palm his shot from the as Qatar take tightest of angles away to safety command of while with seconds remaining in the half, Arsalan Motahhari Group A headed Iran’s first chance of the game over the bar. Motahhari carried Iran’s prin- cipal threat and, five minutes into The Peninsula the second half, the Naft Tehran forward forced Muhannad Naim into action, firing off his effort from a tight angle that the goal- DOHA: Qatar moved a step closer keeper pushed out of harm’s way. to the knockout rounds of the AFC Qatar, though, always looked U23 Championship yesterday with the more likely to score and, in an impressive 2-1 win over Iran the 55th minute, Afif caught the at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Iranian defence on their heels that sees them take command as his pace continued to cause of Group A. problems, only for Mohammad Ahmed Alaa and Abdelkarim Khakpour’s team to concede a Qatar players Hassan claimed a goal in each half corner. celebrate after their to secure all three points for Felix From the resultant set piece, 2-1 win over Iran Sanchez’s side and leave Iran – though, Qatar doubled their in their AFC U23 who missed a penalty through lead when Hassan expertly lost Championship match Roozbeh Cheshmi – needing to his marker before side footing played at the Jassim win their final group game against Ahmad Moein’s centre into the China on Monday. bottom corner. Bin Hamad Stadium Ali Karimi scored on the Motahhari continued to push yesterday. stroke of full-time for Iran, but forward for Iran, twice going close it was not enough to deny the with headers before being brought Qataris a deserved victory. down in the area by Ahmed Yasser, Ali Asad was, as expected, who gave Malaysian referee Mohd included in the starting line-up Amirul no option but to point to after shining when he was intro- the spot. duced from the bench in Qatar’s Iran captain Cheshmi, how- opening 3-1 win over the Chinese ever, saw his attempt from 12 yards and he impressed once again in saved by Naim, with the goal- an enthralling midfield battle the keeper diving to his right to push Qataris eventually won. the ball to safety. The home side claimed their Substitute Milad Kamandani rewards for their increasing dom- sent his rising shot from the edge of inance in the 34th minute when the area just over the Qatari cross- Akram Afif’s quick feet allowed bar with eight minutes remaining him to clip his pass behind the Ira- before Karimi finally found the nian defence and into the path of back of the net in the 90th minute Alaa (pictured), who slipped his when he raced in and slotted the Qatari fans were in for a treat at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. RIGHT: Qatar’s forward Ahmed shot between Mohammadreza ball past Naim but it was too lit- Akhbari’s legs to score. tle too late for Iran. Alaa (left) vying for the ball with Iranian defender Roozbeh Cheshim. Syria keep quarter-finals hopes alive with win

The Peninsula the penalty spot on the stroke of half- and we were lucky because the China Kharbin both had chances to level the Al Baher was on hand to follow up from Today’s Fixtures time after China goalkeeper Du Jia had goalkeeper had a red card and it make scores. close range to seal the win. At Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha been sent-off, the striker completed the match easier for us. Muayad Al Khouli then struck the “For the first half I think we played Thailand vs Japan at 4.30pm. the comeback at the start of the sec- “But we have to now forget this underside of the crossbar as Syria’s very good, but when the opponent tried DPR Korea vs Saudi Arabia at 7.30pm DOHA: Omar Kharbin celebrated his ond half before Mahmood Al Baher match again and look to the future.” resurgence continued. to attack we did not know what to do, 22nd birthday in style with goals either sealed the win as Syria bounced back China started brightly as Zhang And on the stroke of half-time Syria but we tried to defend, said China coach side of half-time as Syria kept alive from their opening 2-0 defeat by Iran. Yuning and Liao created early drew level as Kharbin converted from Fu Bo. Top Goal-Scorers So Far their AFC U23 Championship quar- “I am very happy today because opportunities. the penalty spot after China goalkeeper “But after our player got the red Abdelkarim Hassan (Qatar) 3 ter-finals hopes with a 3-1 comeback we have to win today and we won,” China were rewarded after 21 min- Du had been sent-off for upending Al card we did not give up, but we strug- win over 10-man China at Abdullah said Syria coach Muhanad Al Fakeer. utes as Liao lifted a free-kick from 30 Baher. gled and it stretched our defence. Liao Lisheng (China) 2 Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday. “I think we played a good match. yards up and over the wall and into Kharbin then completed the turna- “Although the scoreline is the same Omar Kharbin (Syria) 2 Liao Lisheng had given China the We tried to press on China, but in the the back of the net in a virtual car- round nine minutes into the second half for the two matches, it is totally dif- Ahmed Alaa (Qatar) 2 lead with a first half free-kick just as first 20 minutes we bring the last match bon copy of his goal against Qatar at with a dipping strike from the edge of ferent. In today’s match we lost our Moon Chang-Jin (Korea Republic) 2 he had done in Tuesday’s opening 3-1 with us to the field and I see my play- the same venue earlier in the week. the area that clipped the underside of goalkeeper and after he was sent-off Baha Faisal (Jordan) 2 defeat by Qatar. ers fearing they would lose. But after The goal, through, spurred Syria the crossbar on its way across the line. it put a lot of strain on the defence,” But after Kharbin converted from 20 minutes we used the sides very well into life and Mahmoud Al Mawas and And with seven minutes remaining, Bo said. North Korea positive ahead of today’s Saudi Arabia game

The Peninsula And despite being backed by a I feel sorry for them because they fast, we must learn from the mistakes Wednesday’s draw with Saudi Arabia. side win against DPR Korea and he now highly enthusiastic set of locally based shouted a lot.” we made and I think we can do much “Our actual goal for the game has his sights firmly fixed on qualifying supporters, DPR Korea were unable to “So in the next game we have to do better than we showed,” he said. against Saudi Arabia was three points, for the Olympic Games in Brazil later DOHA: DPR Korea will head into their find a response to add more pressure more so we can repay them for their “Against DPR Korea we have to do but gaining one point is not so bad and this year, which is on offer for the top Group B meeting with Saudi Arabia on the meeting with Saudi Arabia, who support and the fans and the play- better and play differently than we did we would like to give this point to our three finishers in Doha. today at Grand Hamad Stadium in were held to a 1-1 draw by Thailand ers have to come together in the next against Thailand, for sure. fans who have always been supporting “There were a lot of things we had an upbeat frame of mind according on Wednesday. match.” “How will the team deal with dis- us,” said former national team striker to think about to get to this point, but to coach Yun Jong-su, despite losing “Our players aren’t depressed even Saudi Arabia coach Adrie Koster appointment? They will have to go and Kiatisuk. now that we have been able to win, their opening AFC U23 Championship though we lost because we still have was highly critical of his team’s per- be better, it’s as simple as that, and that “Our next improvement is how we we have increased our level of con- clash with Japan. the second game,” said Yun. formance in the draw with Thailand is what we will do in the next game.” will approach the goal and how we fidence to be able to progress to the Japan netted the only goal of the “It’s important that the players do after conceding the equaliser with just Meanwhile, Kiatisuk Senamuang’s will get more goal scoring opportu- next round.” Group B opener after just five minutes their best and we have to do more prep- six minutes remaining, and will expect Thailand will take on Japan in the other nities and get more points.” “Our goal is to get to the final stage on Wednesday as defender Naomichi aration before we play in the next game. more from his side today. game in Group B earlier today at Grand Japan coach Makoto Teguramori of the Rio Olympic Games and we want Ueda turned home from a corner. “We had a lot of supporters and “We must forget that game very Hamed Stadium looking to build on was in upbeat fashion after seeing his to do our best to get there,” he said.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 13o C Maximum: 23o C

FAJR 05.01 am ZUHR 11.44 am MAGHRIB 05.08 pm HIGH TIDE 09:15 - 22:45 Strong wind and high seas by night and partly SHOROOK 06.21 am ASR 02.45 pm ISHA 06.38 pm LOW TIDE 02:15 - 16:30 cloudy.

24 SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Astronomers Butterfly on cheek spot brightest www.thepeninsulaqatar.com supernova yet in MOST READ distant galaxy

Petrol prices to go up Reuters 1 from midnight

Qatar condemns Jakarta blasts as CAPE CANAVERAL: Astronomers 2 seven die have found a distant supernova, or exploded star, 20 times brighter than UN praises Qatar’s human the Milky Way galaxy, according to 3 rights success research published on Thursday. The massive supernova is about 3.8 billion light-years away in a gal- axy roughly three times the size of TWEET OF THE DAY the Milky Way, scientists wrote in a report in this week’s issue of the journal Science. A light-year is the distance that light travels in one year, moving at 300,000km per second. The cosmic blast was first spotted on June 14, 2015, in an automated Entomologist Anna Platoni wears a hat made of tropical flowers made by florist Emma Reynolds with search for supernovas conducted by a global network of small telescopes. a Blue Morpho butterfly on her cheek to mark the opening of Butterflies in the Glasshouse at RHS “It didn’t look like any of the other Garden Wisley, south of London, yesterday. 200 or so supernovae we had dis- covered at that point,” astronomer Subo Dong, with the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University in China, wrote. Dong and colleagues do not know Celine Dion’s husband Rene Angelil dies what triggered the blast, which is more than twice as bright as any previously discovered supernova. AFP from a previous marriage. Angelil’s They plan to use the Hubble Space home city of Montreal announced that Telescope later this year to get a flags would be flown at half mast in better look at the supernova’s host his honor, as mayor Denis Coderre galaxy for clues. MONTREAL: Celine Dion’s husband paid tribute to “a monument of the If the supernova, known as Rene Angelil, who discovered the entertainment world.” ASASSN-151h, is at the centre of its Canadian pop diva and long man- Born in Quebec to Lebanese-Syr- galaxy it could have been triggered aged her career, died late on Thursday ian immigrants, Angelil started out by a massive black hole. Black holes aged 73, after a struggle with cancer. in music dabbling in yeye — French are objects so dense with matter that Dion announced his passing in a 60s music — before trying his hand not even photons of light can escape Twitter message, saying: “Rene Ange- at comedy, and finally settling on a INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY their gravitational pull. Massive black lil passed away this morning at his career in music management. holes are believed to exist at the cent- home in Las Vegas after a long and As a talent agent, he signed one of ers of most, if not all, large galaxies, courageous battle against cancer.” the biggest names in Quebec music, A bike on dis- including the Milky Way. A spokesman for the singer, Marc Ginette Reno, but the arrangement play at the Another theory is that the Olivier, said more information would ended abruptly in 1981, leaving Ange- Annual 3rd supernova was spawned by a be given in the coming days, but for lil destitute and desperate. Just then, GCC Bikes and A December 17, 2002 file picture Classic Cars magnetar, a rare, rapidly rotat- now the family wished to be left to another opportunity arose. ing neutron star with an extremely mourn in private. At age 12, Dion had recorded a shows Rene Angelil and wife, Celine Show held at Dion, at Sainte-Justine Children’s Katara. powerful magnetic field, according News of Angelil’s death triggered demo tape with her mother and sent to Ohio State University astrono- an outpouring of sympathy from Dion’s it to Angelil. He was so struck by her Hospital in Montreal, Canada. Pic: Abdul mer Todd Thompson. “Like many fans, with the singer’s name trending voice that he signed her to an exclusive Basit mysteries in astronomy, it may take on Twitter worldwide. management contract — mortgaging voice in the world,” he would recall years, if not decades, of observa- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his house to finance her debut album. in interviews. The businessman set tional and theoretical efforts to tweeted his condolences to Dion and to “I’d never heard anything like out to make Dion the biggest singer unravel it,” Dong said. Angelil’s six children, including three it. For me, it was the most beautiful in the world. Colossal dinosaur cast on display in NY Outrage as black actors absent from Oscars lineup AFP bones there as well.” In total, 223 fossil bones from six of the creatures were discovered at AFP to win an Oscar when the original the site, all young adults who died at Rocky came out in 1976. NEW YORK: A cast and fossils from a different times from a few years to “Classic #OscarsSoWhite tho that brand new species of titanosaur, one centuries apart. Creed, with a black main character of the largest dinosaurs ever discov- The species lived in the forests LOS ANGELES: The glaring absence and director, only gets award nods for ered, went on display on Thursday in of modern-day Patagonia 100 to 95 of black actors or directors among this the white characters,” one tweet read. New York for the first time. million years ago, during the Late Cre- year’s Oscar nominees has triggered Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the President It comes from a species so newly taceous period. Experts say that young an outpouring of criticism, setting of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts discovered that its scientific name herding animals can become isolated social media abuzz as the list was and Sciences, who is black and who has not yet been formally released, from their group and die of stress and unveiled on Thursday. has pushed for more diversity in the say the paleontologists who made the hunger, often near water resources. No sooner had the nominations Academy’s ranks since her election in extraordinary find in 2014, in Argen- One femur found at the site is been announced at a ceremony 2013, acknowledged that more action tina’s Patagonia region. among five original fossils on tem- in Beverly Hills than the hashtag was needed on that front. The remains of the giant herbivore, porary view with the titanosaur model #OscarsSoWhite began trending on “We have been actively bringing which would have lived 100 million in New York, before they go back to Twitter, as was the case last year. in more diversity into our member- years ago, were excavated in the desert the museum in Argentina. “There was more diversity in the ship... actions need to be taken to make near La Flecha, 216km west of Trelew, Experts say it is one of the largest 1936 Berlin Olympics,” tweeted one sure the industry as a whole is more by the Argentinian team. dinosaurs ever discovered. The giant user, named Richard Hine, along- inclusive,” she said. The colossal exhibit unveiled at cast took a firm in Canada more than side a picture of African-American But Tim Gray, awards editor for the American Museum of Natural His- six months to make, based on 84 fos- athletes at the games. “The unbeara- industry magazine Variety, said crit- tory is 122 feet (37.2 metres) long. It is sil bones that were excavated from ble whiteness of being,” was another ics should perhaps look more towards so enormous that its head and neck the site in 2014. catchphrase repeated on Twitter. the studios in denouncing the lack of extend out of the room into a lobby The real fossils would have been ThinkProgress, a liberal blog, diversity in Hollywood. near the elevators. far too heavy to mount, so the life-size echoed the sentiment of many who “The Academy people don’t vote The animal was a young adult of model is made up of 3D prints made were surprised that black actors and by race or gender but it’s the studios unknown sex, that would have weighed of fiberglass of the bones. filmmakers were shut out of the race. that need to fix this by better reflect- 70 tonnes or as much as 10 African With its neck elevated, the titano- “Hollywood sure loves sequels: for ing the population,” Gray said. elephants, the museum said. saur would have been tall enough to the second year in a row, zero actors Some 6,000 members of the Acad- Paleontologist Diego Pol, who peer into the window of a five-story of color get Oscar nominations,” it said emy, all of them who work in the film helped lead the excavations, said building, the museum said. in an article on its website. industry, voted for the films, actors that the discovery was a “once in a “It is the first time we have a fairly Among the actors who had been and directors that will be vying for lifetime” moment. “It’s very exciting complete skeleton of the giant titano- expected to be nominated were Idris an Oscar on February 28. when you’re uncovering sediment that saurus,” Pol said. Before, experts had Elba, who earned rave reviews for his Comedian Chris Rock, who is buried an animal 100 million years just a few bones. “So we couldn’t under- role as an African warlord in Beasts of black, is hosting the star-studded ago and you’re the first person taking stand completely how these animals No Nation, Will Smith for the sports ceremony and many are predicting The Titanosaur, the largest dinosaur ever displayed at the American this femur out and bringing it for the were moving around, how fast they drama Concussion, and Michael B that he will have a “field day” poking first time back to the surface,” he said. were growing, all sorts of questions Museum of Natural History, is unveiled at a news conference in New Jordan for the Rocky sequel Creed. fun at the all-white lineup of actors A rancher initially tipped off the that relate to trying to understand these York on Thursday. The dinosaur was discovered in 2014, in Argentina’s The director of the critically- nominated. Museum of Paleontology Egidio Fer- fantastic animals,” Pol said. Patagonia region. acclaimed Straight Outta Compton, The Academy had already come in uglio that he spotted something, but it His team worked 18 months on a biopic about the rap group N W A for heavy criticism for a lack of diver- was only when Pol’s team began dig- seven different expeditions to get all They even had to build a road in discoveries, particularly in relatively was also snubbed. Some were out- sity at last year’s Oscars at which all the ging that they realized they were onto the fossils from the excavation site to the remote region to allow trucks and unexplored parts of Patagonia and raged that Sylvester Stallone — widely acting slots went to white performers. something big. their museum in Argentina. machinery to transport all the bones Central Asia. seen as a sentimental favourite — was Tom Nunan, an academy-award “It’s a rather unique feeling and Each bone was protected in plas- back to the museum, he added. The story of the dramatic discov- nominated for best supporting actor producer and lecturer at the UCLA it’s really exciting. So that was a great ter during transportation, and getting Mark Norell, chair of paleontology ery and the new animal has been made for Creed instead of Jordan. School of Theatre Film and Televi- moment. The big surprise came a few a plaster jacket for the femur alone at the American Museum of Natural into a BBC documentary, to be broad- Stallone in the movie reprises his sion, said change would only come weeks after very hard work when we took a week with five people working History, said titanosaurus lived on cast in Britain on January 24 and in the iconic role of boxer Rocky Balboa, for once the Academy expanded its mem- realized there were so many other eight hours a day, Pol told reporters. every continent, and predicted more United States on PBS on February 17. which he was nominated but failed bership to include more minorities.