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Entrepreneurship in Our players Economic Development responded well: Forum opens Al Rayyan coach

TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 • 28 Jumada I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6729 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Emir praises relations with Turkmenistan Qatar: Protect The Peninsula Palestinians DOHA/ASHGABAT: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during his first-ever visit to Turkmenistan yester- day met with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and discussed bilateral ties and means to develop at any cost them in different spheres, particu- larly energy, economy, investments and sports. available within the international law Turkmenistan President welcomed All mechanisms and international humanitarian law the Emir at the presidential complex available within the should be deployed to protect the Pal- in Ashgabat, saying that the past years estinian people and their heritage in have seen distinct and fruitful between international law Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque. the two countries in political, eco- should be deployed to He was heading a Qatari dele- nomic and commercial spheres. The protect Palestinians gation to an extraordinary Summit visit marks 20 years of establishing of the OIC in Jakarta, Indonesia, diplomatic relations between the two and their heritage in on Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif countries. Several agreements were Jerusalem and Al Aqsa (Jerusalem), reports Qatar News signed during the visit Mosque, Qatar urged Agency (QNA). Al Mahmoud hailed In a joint statement with the Pres- the president, the government and ident of Turkmenistan following the OIC. the people of Indonesia for the warm session of talks, the Emir expressed his reception and concern shown by confidence that his visit will enhance President Joko Widodo for the cause bilateral relations, while underlining of Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif. the importance attached by both sides The Peninsula He referred to the special meet- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow to promote relations. ing held last April in Jakarta, for OIC The talks also dealt with a range at the Presidential complex in Ashgabat, yesterday. representatives during the 60th of issues of common concern, particu- anniversary of the Asian-African larly the current challenges and crises two countries while for Turkmeni- joint projects. Yesterday’s talks, the enjoy ample natural resources, DOHA: The Deputy Prime Minis- Conference, which was held to dis- facing the world and how to deal with stan it will be headed by its foreign Emir said, dealt with cooperation in stressing the importance of mutual ter and Minister of State for Cabinet cuss a host of issues, foremost among them. minister. culture, arts and sport and how the cooperation to make use of expertise Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al which was the issue of Palestine and The Emir pointed out that For- The Turkmenistan President said joint committee and working teams and investment in this regard. Mahmoud yesterday urged the Organ- Al Quds Al Sharif. eign Minister was mandated to head that the joint committee will follow will coordinate in different fields. ization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) the joint committee between the up on the approved decisions and The Emir said that both countries → Continued on page 2 States that all means and mechanisms → Continued on page 2 Condolences New online system conveyed to Turabi’s family to connect Qatar’s QNA diplomatic missions

KHARTOUM: H E Sheikh Joaan The Peninsula missions are supported by a world- bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday class communication and connectivity conveyed the condolences of solution. As Qatar’s profile continues to the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin grow on the world stage, we are imple- Hamad Al Thani and Father Emir DOHA: The Ministry of Foreign menting cutting-edge infrastructure H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Affairs (MOFA) signed an agreement to ensure that all our teams can stay Thani to the sons and family mem- with Ooredoo yesterday to connect in-touch and receive and share infor- bers of the late Sudanese leader Dr its diplomatic missions worldwide mation, updates and advice from their Hassan Al Turabi, who died on Sat- through a safe online system. different territories.” urday. Sheikh Joaan paid a short As per the agreement, Ooredoo Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Execu- visit to Khartoum and met fam- will build the MOFA Global Network tive Officer (CEO), Ooredoo Qatar, ily members of Turabi, an Islamic (MGN), an initiative to connect more said: “This agreement marks the scholar and the leader of the Pop- than 100 Qatari diplomatic mis- next step for Ooredoo in becoming a Protesters shout slogans during an anti-regime demonstration in the rebel-controlled side of the Syrian ular Congress Party. sions around the world with their truly global service provider. We are headquarters in Doha. MOFA staff building a cutting-edge connectivity city of Aleppo, yesterday. → See also page 6 in those offices will have access to solution which will provide fast, reli- IP telephony and video conferenc- able and secure communications for ing, in addition to WAN acceleration our Ministry representatives over- Syria oppn agrees to attend talks for better application performance, seas. We are proud to be making this Oil prices ensuring that no matter how remote distinct contribution to Qatar’s inter- and underdeveloped the area they national diplomatic efforts, which operate in is, they remain connected. are recognised and respected around AFP in fighting. The truce between Pres- transition that collapsed last month hit $40 Saif Al Kuwari, Director Depart- the world.” In the next three years, ident Bashar Al Assad’s regime and in Geneva. The opposition, repre- ment of Information Systems & Ooredoo will work with leading tele- non-jihadist rebels, brokered by Rus- sented by the Riyadh-based High AFP Technology at the Ministry of Foreign communications providers to deliver sia and the United States, has defied Negotiations Committee, had held off Affairs, said: “The MOFA Global Net- the international network connec- BEIRUT: Syria’s opposition yester- expectations and led to the first sig- on committing to the talks but yester- work is a landmark initiative from tivity that will link the different day agreed to attend a new round nificant decline in violence in Syria’s day said the 10-day-old “cessation of the Government of the State of Qatar, missions with Qatar. of UN-sponsored peace talks in nearly five-year civil war. hostilities” was making a difference. LONDON: Oil prices rallied fur- being led by the Ministry of Foreign Geneva from March 14 after a land- The United Nations is hoping it ther yesterday, boosted by strong Affairs, to ensure that our diplomatic → Continued on page 5 mark ceasefire led to a dramatic drop can now restart talks on a political → See also page 6 US jobs growth and as a cut in the country’s crude drilling activities sparked hopes of an easing supply glut, analysts said. Brent North Sea crude for May Reckless driving on the rise on Qatar roads: Survey delivery surged $1.73 to $40.45 a barrel compared with Friday’s close. Brent earlier yesterdayMon- day hit a near three-month high at The Peninsula government to build new roads, has improved over the last six months. (linked to the main causes of acci- 77 percent more abrupt lane changing. $40.68 a barrel and WTI reached a bridges and access roads. Seventy- Twenty two percent believe they have dents, injuries and fatalities), and fines This cycle of the survey was two-month peak at $37.68. six percent of respondents reported a become less dangerous. and accidents. conducted by YouGov last month Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar longer daily commute to work, while Fifty-six percent of respondents The perception trends were meas- in partnership with RoadSafety- and Venezuela last month agreed DOHA: A majority of motorists in only 21% feel the daily commute has say they enjoy driving on Qatar’s ured for the last six respective months UAE, who did the first cycle back to freeze output if other producers Qatar say that they experience a become faster, shows the survey roads less than six months ago, com- based on a sample of 127 residents in April 2015 for UAE. QIC Insured followed suit. Emirati Oil Minister longer commute to work and have entitled Road Safety Monitor com- pared to 30 percent who enjoy it more interviewed online. Coming to driving Road Safety Monitor is an initiative Suhail Mazrouei on Monday said that seen more speeding vehicles on the missioned by QIC Insured. now. The study is the first of a planned behavior, 76 percent of respondents say from Qatar Insurance Company that current market prices were already roads in the last six months, shows Sixty-two percent of respondents felt ongoing study to quantify perception they have seen more speeding vehicles generates data and increases pub- forcing most producers to freeze oil an online survey. the roads have become more dangerous trends of motorists about: infrastruc- on the roads in the last 6 months, 76 lic awareness on the causes of poor output levels, insisting it made “no Most respondents, how- over the last six months against 61 per- ture, the overall driving enjoyment, percent perceive more tailgating, 86 driving to encourage a safety-first sense” to pump more crude. ever, applauded the efforts of the cent who said that road infrastructure commute time, driving behavior percent more distracted driving and motoring culture. 02 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 HOME Emir’s visit opens new era of ties with Turkmenistan

by inviting the President of Turkmen- in his and his delegation’s honour by istan to visit Qatar. President Berdimuhamedow. The Emir arrives President of Turkmenistan said Several ministers, senior Turk- in Azerbaijan after that the talks opened new chapter of menistan officials and ambassadors wrapping up a two- cooperation between both countries attended. and their peoples. Later, the Emir left for Azerbai- day state visit to He also hailed Qatar’s unlimited jan wrapping up a two-day state visit. Turkmenistan. support for his country in interna- The Emir was seen off upon tional forums, lauding the 20 years departure at Saparmurat Turk- diplomatic relations between the two menbashi International Airport by Continued from page 1 countries. The agreements signed Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Min- during the meeting will promote ister and Foreign Minister Rashid trade exchange and help in finding Meredov, the Qatari ambassador to The Emir congratulated the economy and investment opportuni- Turkmenistan Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Turkman president on his country’s ties through the Qatar- Turkmenistan Suwaidi, a number of Turkmenistani hosting of Asian Indoor and Martial joint committee, along with the avail- officials and the Qatari embassy staff. Arts Games 2017. able opportunities in culture, science, The Emir sent a cable to Presi- He added that the two sides education and sport. dent Berdimuhamedow in which he discussed Qatar’s experience in The Emir visited the Olympic City, expressed thanks and appreciation organizing mega sport events along which will host the 2017 Asian Games for the hospitality and honouring with programs initiated by Qatar for in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat. accorded to him and his accompa- community health and combating During the visit, the Emir examined nying delegation during the visit. global epidemics, welcoming coop- a replica of the city and listened to a The Emir arrived in Baku yes- eration with Turkmenistan to benefit briefing on its facilities such as stadi- terday evening on an official visit to from Qatar experience in organizing ums and sporting halls. He watched Azerbaijan. Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games an exhibition of Turkmen products. He was welcomed at Heydar Ali- 2017. The Emir and President Berdimu- yev International Airport by First The Emir hailed the great progress hamedow visited the presidential Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbai- attained by Turkmenistan in differ- equestrian complex and witnessed jan Yaqub Eyyubov, Deputy Foreign ent sectors, expressing readiness for a Turkmen horses’ show. Members of Minister Khalaf Khalafov, Qatari boosting cooperation between the the official delegation accompanying Ambassador to Azerbaijan Sayar bin two sides in economy and energy and the Emir were present. Abdulrahman Al Mauda, and Azerba- in increasing trade exchange. The Emir attended a dinner ban- ijan’s Ambassador to Qatar Tofig Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani plants a tree during his visit to Turkmenistan. The Emir concluded his statement quet hosted at Oguz Khan Complex Abdullayev and Qatari embassy staff. Palestinian ‘cause facing challenges’ Works of over 35

Continued from page 1 Qatari artists at

Al Mahmoud also thanked OIC Secretary-General Iyad Amin Madani ‘Metro Art’ expo for the efforts he made to make prep- arations for this summit and for leading the works of the OIC general secretariat, wishing him and all the The Peninsula throughout the world use art to secretariat officials success. make the customer experience Al Mahmoud said convening the more interesting and to celebrate summit in Jakarta gives it the spe- the role of the system in the city, ciality of place as it is held in the DOHA: Works of more than 35 and we believe that this is some- largest Islamic country in terms Qatari artists are featured at the thing that we can achieve to its full of Muslim populations, in addi- “Metro Art” exhibition launched by potential here in Qatar. tion to being an important place Qatar Rail at Katara Building No. 13. “Metro Art is part of our com- for mustering Islamic support for The exhibition, which is open to mitment to deliver more than just the Palestinian cause, particularly the public until April 2, uses Qatari a transportation system but rather under the difficult conditions the art to bring Doha Metro to life. a statement of our country and its Holy Al Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla Presented in partnership with people. (direction to which Muslims turned Qatar Fine Arts Society (QFAS), “As well as shining a light on tal- in prayer), and the third holiest Mus- Metro Art exhibition has among its ented Qatari artists, we are using lim place, is passing through. highlights an interpretation of the this exhibition to reach out to the He said the convening of the future stations of the Doha Metro local community, and particularly summit sends a clear message Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al as seen through the eyes of four the next generation to inspire them about the Islamic nations’ firm and Mahmoud attends an extraordinary Summit of the OIC on Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif (Jerusalem), in artists. about the integrated railway project incessant commitment to the collec- Jakarta, Indonesia. Metro Art also includes other that is set to change people’s lives tive responsibility to champion the events and activities for the entire in Qatar forever.” cause of and protect the Holy Al Aqsa of land, settlement, expulsion of the resolutions and humanitarian Hamad Al Thani and his wishes of family, including spectacular laser In response to a recent directive Mosque. population, and building of a racial considerations. health and happiness to Indone- light shows, live graffiti art and 3D issued by Emir H H Sheikh Tamim The Palestinian cause is facing segregation wall, reveal the serious- He said the summit and the fol- sian President and further progress painting and live entertainment. bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani increasing challenges and successive ness of the current situation not only lowing ones aim to unite all energies and prosperity for the people of There will also be children’s work- that all paintings to be used in the developments necessitating further on the Palestinian people but on the and resources in order to enhance the Indonesia. shops every weekend for ages four Doha Metro should be designed by work and cooperation and that puts whole Islamic nation. organization’s work at international For his part, the Indonesian to 12 which focus on fun, Metro Qatari artists, Qatar Rail intends to on our organization, which is sec- Qatar is doing what it must platforms and come up with a united President entrusted Al Mahmoud themed art activities, including use initiatives like Metro Art and ond in after the United Nations, a through the Qatari-Palestinian Com- stance in support of Palestinians in to convey his greetings to the Emir, sand painting, clay modelling, Lego the power of art and creativity to huge responsibility to support the mittee for the Support of Jerusalem restoring their legitimate rights and wishing him good health and hap- building, as well as storytelling and educate, engage and inspire the Palestinian people to overcome the and Jerusalemites in order to pre- building their independent state with piness and further progress and puzzle solving. people of Qatar about this land- crises through which they are pass- serve Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem as its capital, noting that prosperity to the government and Organised school trips will also mark project. ing through. rebuilding Gaza and the Palestinian OIC was first established in 1969 to people of Qatar. be hosted in addition to receptions Metro Art is part of a month The repercussions of the Israeli reconciliation, which, he said, Qatar defend Jerusalem. Talks dealt with bilateral rela- for business communities in which dedicated to arts, creativity and occupation of the Palestinian terri- hopes will result in Palestinian unity. QNA reports that Indonesian tions between the two countries and they will learn about the Doha performance that was launched tories have been increasing day by He added that Qatar is follow- President Joko Widodo met Al Mah- means of developing them in vari- Metro project, the major milestones by Qatar Rail on February 29 with day on the State of Palestine and the ing with great concern the brutal moud on the sidelines of the summit ous fields in addition to topics on the that have already been achieved as “Qatar Rail Theatre Festival”, a Palestinian people, Al Mahmoud Israeli attacks and condemns the on Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif. agenda of the 5th Extraordinary OIC well as future plans. three-day theatrical festival which said, noting that developments in Israeli practices in terms of contin- At the beginning of the meeting, summit. Qatari Ambassador to Indo- Engineer Abdulla Abdulaziz featured productions done by local the occupied Palestinian territories, uing settlement and disrespecting Al Mahmoud conveyed the greet- nesia Mohamed bin Khater Ibrahim T. Al Subaie, Managing Director, students based on their perceptions the killing, destruction, confiscation the international decisions and ings of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Al Khater attended the meeting. Qatar Rail, said, “Metro systems of the landmark project. Soul Riders donates QR86,871 to QC for mosque project in Bangladesh

The Peninsula first time for the team to work with its work and worldwide projects QC and would not be the last. reflect that clearly. It implements The team is working on expand- projects through its field offices and ing partnership with QC to serve and international, regional and local DOHA: The popular bike group, help develop the Qatari community partners, the group said. Because of Soul Riders in Qatar, has donated in particular, and humanitarian work the need for religious awareness, the QR86,871 to Qatar Charity (QC) to in general. “Soul Riders are willing to mosque project is being implemented. build a mosque with all facilities in pay field visits in coordination with Drilling a well is also necessary to Bangladesh. QC to shed more light on the impor- limit the spread of diseases result- Khaled Al Hammadi, Founder, tance of relieving others and offering ing from polluted water. Soul Riders, presented a cheque on humanitarian aid,” he added. Soul Riders want to contribute behalf of the team to Nayef Al Rumihi, After receiving the donation, Al to increasing the number of people Head, Board of Directors, QC. The Rumihi presented Al Hammad with who go to pray at mosques and raise mosque will be built on an area of the QC’s shield as an appreciation awareness about Islamic regulations 120sqm where a well will be drilled for their efforts, hard work to help in Bangladesh. They also hope to help to provide drinking water through a the needy and attempts to introduce protect poor people from polluted hand pump. humanitarian and charity work water and offer them clean water. Al Hammad said, “The donation through their events. QC’s office in Bangladesh will is the outcome of the third charity Soul Riders presented QC with supervise the project and the drilling exhibition for motorcycles and clas- a certificate of appreciation for its of the well. The project is expected to sical cars recently organised by the innovative role in charity work. be completed within a year from the Qatar Charity officials with members of Soul Riders Qatar at the event. team in Qatar. He said it was not the QC is the true face of Qatar and date of implementation. HOME TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 03

Deputy Emir Premier receives message from India presides over Arc’16 keynote QU Board of Trustees meet speakers are QNA announced

DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, also Chairman, Board of Trustees, The Annual Research Qatar University (QU), presided Conference of Qatar over the third meeting of the board Foundation Research for the academic year 2015-2016 at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. and Development The meeting discussed topics Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday will be held on March on the agenda and adopted the calendar for academic years 2016- received Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora who presented a written message from Indian Prime Minister 22 and 23 at Qatar 2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Narendra Modi on relations between both countries and means of enhancing them. The Premier also National Convention The board also amended some of separately met Bangladesh Ambassador Ashod Ahmed and discussed cooperation between both the policies related to admissions countries and means of developing it and topics of mutual interest. Centre. to the university and the summer vacation. It also agreed to appoint Dr Mariam Ali Sultan Al Ali Al Maa- The Peninsula Dr Hassan Al Derham, President, deed as head of scientific research Qatar University, is one of the and postgraduate studies. Nasa research scientist Essam Heggy opening keynote panellists.

DOHA: Qatar Foundation Research PHCC walkathon to attend Empower Youth Conference and Development (QF R&D) has for Society’ will be moderated by announced the keynote speakers Dr Maher Hakim, Associate Profes- in call for bowel for its Annual Research Conference sor of Entrepreneurship, Carnegie 2016 (ARC’16), which will be held on Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q). cancer screening March 22 and 23 at Qatar National Dr Hakim said, “It is an hon- Convention Centre (QNCC). our to be moderating the keynote Aimed to highlight the impor- panel discussion. The expert panel The Peninsula tance of strategic investment in will address commercialisation of research and innovation for Qatar’s research and innovation, instilling long-term welfare, ARC’16 will bring an entrepreneurial spirit in Qatar’s together thought leaders, scientists researchers and scientists and DOHA: A walkathon is being and researchers from Qatar and the encouragement of small and organised by the Primary Health around the world to discuss trend- medium enterprises These topics are Care Corporation (PHCC) to fur- ing industry developments. central to Qatar’s mission to enhance ther drum up its call for men and Discussions will address the its technology innovation and prod- women aged 50 and above with country’s research grand challenges. uct development capacity. no symptoms to undergo bowel The opening keynote panel- “I believe that the wealth of cancer screening. lists include Dr Hassan Al Derham, expertise each of the panellists FROM LEFT: Ali Atiq Al Abdullah, Executive Director, Local Development, Qatar Charity; Abdullah Al ‘Do the FIT’ walkathon will President, Qatar University; Dr Elias has in his respective field will offer be held on Saturday between Bakri, Community Development Manager, Reach Out To Asia; and Abdulrahman Al Ajail, Senior Business Zerhouni, President, Global R&D, insights and make discussions inter- Pic: Baher / The Peninsula 9am and 1pm at Katara Cultural Development Manager, QNCC, at the press conference. Sanofi, France, and former direc- esting and rewarding.” Village. tor, National Institutes of Health, Several panel discussions will It is one of the activities lined US; Suresh Sachi, Deputy Manag- be held to enable local, regional up by PHCC this month as part of By Raynald C Rivera theme “Innovation in Youth Social and independence. We can better ing Director, Agency for Science, and international delegates to dis- the worldwide commemoration of The Peninsula Entrepreneurship.” accomplish these objectives with Technology and Research (A* Star), cuss critical research challenges, Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. “Social entrepreneurship has the support of organisations such as Singapore; and Christopher Coburn, including Qatar’s water and cyber Open to the general public, gained momentum across the region the Qatar Charity, QFC, and QNCC, Vice-President, Innovation, Part- security, solar and renewable energy the walk is expected to attract in recent years due to the emergence whose belief in the importance ners HealthCare, US. The keynote solutions, healthcare, and social hundreds of participants from DOHA: Nasa research scientist of an increasing number of startups of investing in future generations panel discussion ‘Strategic Invest- challenges and opportunities fac- all ages and various sectors who Essam Heggy is one of the distin- and successful projects that are both aligns with ROTA’s mission to sup- ment in Research and Innovation ing Qatar and the region. wish to involve themselves in guished figures who will attend the socially responsible and financially port communities through education raising awareness about bowel eight annual Empower Youth Con- sustainable. This emerging concept and training,” said Al Bakri. cancer and life-saving bene- ference which will be inaugurated by of social entrepreneurship will be the Ali Atiq Al Abdulla, Qatar fits of bowel cancer screening to H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad focus of discussions at the Empower Charity’s Director of Community their families, loved ones, friends, bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of 2016 conference in line with the sus- Development Centre, said: “We are New crackdown soon as 1,043 neighbours, colleagues and the Reach Out To Asia (ROTA). tainable development objectives pleased to be one of the sponsors of community. The Egyptian-born space scien- outlined by the United Nations in Empower 2016, and we look forward abandoned vehicles removed Prior to joining the walk, a tist will join International Inspiration 2015,” explained Al Bakri. to being part of the conference by registration process will be con- CEO Jehangir Malik at the event along Among the trainers and speak- conducting several workshops. The ducted on site. As a fun event, with a group of Arab youth entrepre- ers from Qatar are Hussain Habib Al conference aligns with Qatar Chari- The Peninsula will be towed to the dumping yards. participants will be given a neurs including Soukaina Rachidi, Sayed, Salah Al Yafey and Abdallah ty’s mission to invest in Qatar’s youth Marzook Mubarak Al Mesaifri, number for a chance to win one Lujain Al Ubaid and Firas Aljarrah. Albuainain. In addition, more than and support their development. In from the committee, said that all of 10 prizes to be raffled off at the This was announced at a press con- 15 experts from the regional office of volunteering and servicing the Qatari the equipment needed to remove end of the event. ference yesterday by Abdullah Al the United Nations Development Pro- community, we are working together DOHA: The authorities have abandoned vehicles have been Blue shirts will be given away Bakri, ROTA Community Develop- gram as well as experts from Qatar to achieve Qatar’s vision.” removed 1,043 abandoned vehi- deployed in the field. to the first 100 people who will ment Manager. Development Bank, Bedaya Center “Our collaboration with ROTA cles from the Industrial Area and Vehicles found abandoned arrive at the venue. Blue brace- The Minister of Economy and and Qatar Debate will conduct the for Empower 2016, is rooted in com- are about to launch a fresh nation- will be towed to dumping ground lets, ribbons and scarves will also Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin workshops. mon values and a joint commitment wide drive to tow such vehicles in Mesaimeer and Nashaf, he said. be distributed to all participants. Jassim Al Thani and ROTA Execu- Qatar Charity is ROTA’s human- in providing today’s youths with the from public places. Another member of the com- When caught at an early tive Director Essa Al Mannai will itarian partner for the conference needed tools to become responsi- The Committee for Removal mittee, Mohamed Faraj Al Kubaisi, stage, studies made by the Colon also be attending the opening of the while Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is ble global citizens and future young of Abandoned Vehicles has urged has urged companies and garages Cancer Alliance indicate a 90 conference. the brand partner and Qatar National leaders, ” Said Abdulrahman Al Ajail, people who have left their vehi- and others to remove aban- percent survival rate from the To be held from March 17 to 19 Convention Centre (QNCC) the hos- Senior Business Development Man- cles abandoned in public places doned vehicles parked near their disease. at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University pitality partner. ager, QNCC. The conference has to remove them or face the music. premises, according to a press (HBKU) Student Centre, the confer- “Youth Social Entrepreneurship attracted more than 1,400 applicants The Committee said an aban- release. ence will feature 48 workshops as aims to bolster skills development from over 60 countries, of which doned vehicle removal drive is Abandoned vehicles include Mercedes-Benz well as panel discussions, seminars, and education amongst young talents 450 successful participants will be being launched across the coun- heavy vehicles and machineries and keynote speeches focusing on the to motivate them to achieve success selected to attend the event. try and vehicles found abandoned as well. S Class, S Coupe models recalled More scattered rains DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automo- forecast until biles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz S and S Coupe tomorrow night models of 2014 and 2015 to replace the front brake pads. The ministry said the recall campaign is part of its efforts to The Peninsula be fog from Thursday night until Fri- protect consumers and ensure day morning. car dealers follow up on vehicle The weather system affecting defects and repairs. the country is expected to reactivate The ministry said it will coor- DOHA: Rains lashed parts of the between noon today and tomorrow dinate with the dealer to follow up country, including Doha, yesterday, night. on maintenance and repairs and with the Met Office forecasting simi- Fresh to moderate northwesterly communicate with customers to lar weather conditions from early this to northeasterly wind may move at ensure necessary repairs are car- afternoon until tomorrow night. speeds of 18 to 25 knots particularly ried out. There are chances of scattered during rains with thunder. It urged customers to report rains between noon today and tomor- However, a ridge of high pres- any violations to its Consumer row night and the showers may be sure would likely affect the country Protection and Anti-Commer- accompanied by thunder at times in on Thursday causing stable weather cial Fraud Department through some areas. conditions. It was business as usual in Doha even as heavy to moderate rains lashed parts of the city early yesterday. hotline: 16001; email: info@mec. In a special bulletin yesterday the There would be a noticeable Pic: Salim / The Peninsula gov.qa; Twitter: @MEC_Qatar; weather bureau, however, said the increase in surface relative humidity Instagram: MEC_Qatar; and the weather will stabilise from Thursday. at night on Thursday and this would offshore for today and said rains may vary today between 23 and 26 degrees Rain emergency teams mean- ministry’s mobile app for Android But humidity will be high later on cause fog until Friday morning. lash with thunder at times. C during the day while nightly tem- while removed rainwater logged in and IOS: MEC_Qatar. Thursday due to which there would The bureau issued warning for Day temperatures would likely peratures between 18 and 20 degrees. some low-lying areas. 04 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 HOME

Embassy to create bonds between Qatari and French women Qatar Executive’s G650ER on show

The Peninsula the project. The private jet “In France and Qatar we have remarkable women in all fields. I am charter division of honoured to contribute to creating Qatar Airways to take DOHA: On the occasion of Inter- strong and lasting bonds between national Women’s Day today, the Qatari and French women. Our part in Abu Dhabi Air French embassy will launch the first people have a lot to learn from each Expo from today. edition of a programme to create other,” said Chevallier. bonds between Qatari and French Al Mudahka said “I am honoured women. to be part of this noble initiative. Under the Patronage of Aysha Al We at QBIC support female entre- The Peninsula Mudahka, CEO, Qatar Business Incu- preneurs and strive to provide bator Centre (QBIC), the programme them with a comfortable envi- will encourage Qatari Women to ronment to help them realise their develop professional initiatives in dreams of having their own start- DOHA: Qatar Executive, the private all sectors of activity. up businesses. jet charter division of award-winning It will be announced by French “We’ve incubated some very suc- Qatar Airways, will exhibit its com- Ambassador Eric Chevallier today in cessful start-ups, founded and run mitment to the vibrant Middle East the presence of Al Mudahka. by Qatari women. These businesses business aviation market, at the Abu This September the embassy will include S’ishira, Namoona, HZ, and Dhabi Air Expo this week. launch a call for projects. It will be Faroula. The three-day event opens today The interior of Qatar Executive will participate with an exclusive, dedicated chalet, with its brand new opened to all Qatari women, active “The embassy has been a great at Al Bateen Executive Airport — the Gulfstream G650ER. or students. A committee of French supporter of women in Qatar, and first dedicated business jet airport in and Qatari women based in Doha the programme represents only one the Middle East and North Africa. will revise and select three winners of the many milestone initiatives Qatar Executive will participate The luxurious aircraft promises features a classic-contemporary electronic devices to control audio, that will be announced on March 8 they regularly provide for the women with an exclusive, dedicated cha- to draw a great deal of attention from style, combining understated lux- video, lighting, temperature, window next year. The laureates will partner of our community and we look for- let, with its brand new Gulfstream trade visitors and VIPs, who will be ury and timeless elegance through a shades and other cabin functions. with a French woman and develop ward to being part of this journey.” G650ER on static display, giving able to tour the business jet, which natural colour palette ranging from The interior cabin has 16 pan- visitors the opportunity to see the lux- features a two-cabin configuration earthy tones of the walnut brown oramic windows, the largest in urious interior of the world’s fastest and seats up to 13 passengers. Seats wooden veneers to the china-white business aviation, perfectly posi- ultra-long range business jet, which is convert into fully flat beds so that leather seating and finest woollen tioned so that every passenger has highly sought-after among the global seven guests can comfortably sleep Loro Piana fabrics with soft brown their own window. Fire at unoccupied building travelling elite due to its phenomenal on board. fishbone patterns. Further stand-out features of the range capabilities, industry leading Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Every detail has been taken care Gulfstream G650 are the fact that it cabin technology and unparalleled Executive, QA, said: “Qatar Execu- of, down to the fine bone china table- has the lowest equivalent cabin alti- passenger comforts. tive demands nothing less than the ware by the German manufacturer tude of any business jet and the cabin The G650ER aircraft can easily best for its discerning clientele and Dibbern, crystal glassware by the air is fully replenished every two fly non-stop from the Middle East to the G650ER, as the technologically world-renowned glass manufacturer minutes. North America or from destinations most advanced business jet availa- Schott Zwiesel, and fine silver flat- The G650ER can travel 7,500 in Asia to Africa — further, faster than ble in the market, enables us to offer ware by the French label Christofle, nm/13,890km at Mach 0.85 and 6,400 any other jet of its kind — and is per- a superior product to our valued ensuring a sophisticated atmosphere, nm/11,853km at Mach 0.90 — so cus- fectly suited for those whose travel customers. where customers can effortlessly feel tomers can travel at 90 percent of the needs include flights halfway around “Since we welcomed our Gulf- at home. speed of sound. It complements Qatar the globe. stream G650ER into our dynamic The cabin is comfortable and con- Executive’s long-range fleet of eight Having been first presented at private fleet, we have received an tains the most advanced technology, modern Bombardier aircraft, includ- Bahrain Airshow in January, and to outstanding market response, as the including satellite communications, ing three Challenger 605s, four Global the travelling elite at Singapore Air- aircraft meets all requirements of high-speed Internet, wireless local 5000s, a Global XRS, and a 40-seat show last month, G650ER will now VIPs and world leaders in terms of area network and Gulfstream’s Cabin Airbus A319 All-Premium Class air- make its first public appearance in range, flexibility and performance.” Management System, which allows craft, all available for worldwide the UAE. The G650ER’s cabin interior passengers to use their personal charter.

Lecture on evolution of US culture in Middle East tomorrow

The Peninsula community are invited to attend the music, video games and TV shows Building on a decade of fieldwork lecture at 3pm in Room CMU 3069 are received, understood and in Cairo, Casablanca and Tehran, in the Carnegie Mellon University transformed. Edwards maps new routes of cultural building. Edward challenges those who exchange that are innovative, accel- DOHA: Brian Edwards, Northwestern In his book, Edwards exam- talk about a world in which Amer- erated and full of diversions. University Professor and Founding ines the emergence of new forms of ican culture is merely replicated or Shaped by the digital revolution, Director of its Programme in Middle culture in circulation and their geo- appropriated and focuses on crea- these paths are entwined with the East and North African Studies, will political implications. When Henry tive moments of uptake, in which growing fragility of American “soft” speak at Northwestern University in Luce announced in 1941 that we were Arabs and Iranians make something power. They indicate an era after the Qatar (NU-Q) tomorrow on his new living in the “American century,” he unexpected. American century, in which popular book After the American Century: The believed that the international pop- He argues that these products American products and phenom- Ends of US Culture in the Middle East. ularity of American culture made the do more than extend the reach of ena — such as comic books, teen The book investigates the herit- world favourable to US interests. the original. romances and social networking sites age of the US culture in the Middle In the digital 21st century, They reflect a world in which cul- — are stripped of their associations East and how it’s evolved in the digital the American century has been ture endlessly circulates and gathers with the US and recast in very dif- age. The public and Qatar Foundation superseded, as American movies, new meanings. ferent forms. Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan holds Qumra masterclass An unoccupied building in Ammar Bin Yasir Street in the Old Airport Area caught fire at around 3pm yesterday. Firefighters from Civil Defence rushed to the site and put out the blaze. No The Peninsula causalities were reported. Police launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula

DOHA: Acclaimed Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan delivered a mas- terclass as part of the second edition of Qumra. Ceylan’s interaction with the Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co gears Qumra audience came after a packed-house Modern Master up for 6th national Dream Car Contest Screening of his Cannes Jury Grand Prix winner, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, a straightforward tale that The Peninsula talented children in Qatar to visit rises to be a complex reflection of life. Japan. It left audiences with unanswered Siddhi Prasad, a student of questions but Ceylan prefers not to DPS Indian School, won the Silver answer them. “I have my answers but DOHA: Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Medal in last year’s contest. His art- I prefer to hide them,” he said. Co, the sole agent for Toyota vehi- work was named ‘Toyota Geometry “Cinema becomes deeper when cles, is organising the 6th national Car’, designed on the dream and the there is well-controlled ambiguity. I Dream Car Contest to develop chil- principle — all kids should be edu- believe that the audiences should find dren’s creative abilities and motivate cated whether privileged or not and the answers and create the answers them to express talent in drawing access to all places to provide edu- themselves. I am not a teacher, am their dream cars. cation, uniform, books, bags, papers not sure of anything, and I am trying It was an attempt by Abdullah to every kids at all parts of the world to learn things.” Abdulghani & Bros. (Toyota) to dis- personally. But that candid talk hides a sharp Producer Zeynep Ozbatur Atakan, Palme d’Or-winning Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Doha Film cover the hidden potential and unveil To offer an opportunity for chil- and decisive mind, as Ceylan doesn’t Institute Artistic Adviser Elia Suleiman after the second Qumra Master Class at Museum of Islamic Art on their imagination for future cars. dren to participate in the contest, the hesitate to declare: “I don’t do genres. day three of Qumra, the second edition of the industry event by DFI dedicated to the development of Since 2004, Toyota Dream Car company collaborated with over 70 Today, there is pressure on directors emerging filmmakers. Art Contest has been conducted as schools and students will draw their to make films on minorities. I don’t part of Toyota Motor Corporation dream cars at their schools. feel that requirement. To me, directors Japan’s social contribution initia- The winner will be determined must make films that are reflections elaborately for his films, said Ceylan. on your style. That is not planned. If it until that time. tives. It gives children throughout through social media polls in collab- about life, and stories they feel are “Today, I am more spontaneous. I like I want, I can make the same kind of “We wrote it in about six months. the world the opportunity to develop oration with judges. Last year, 800 important to them.” the nice surprises that come at the films all over, but that does not moti- It was a challenging film with a lot of an interest in cars and helps them students took part and this year, with Also a photographer, Ceylan was last minute.” vate me.” philosophical, heavy dialogue and I feel the joy and importance of hav- the attempt to widen the chance for challenged by the possibility that cin- The Palme d’Or-winning film- On the challenge of making his was really afraid of that. ing a dream. more students from various schools ema offered to provide “deep and maker said he does not hold on Palme d’Or-winning film Winter “But I need something to be afraid The contest invites children to participate and provide them with complex reflections of life. It brought to fixed ideas about any aspect of Sleep, Ceylan said: “The starting point for each film. That is the motivation to share ideas about the future of the opportunity to showcase crea- out a sense of astonishment in me. filmmaking. “I like to be surprised for the film was a story by Chekov. for me. If you are afraid of something, mobility by drawing their dream tive abilities, the company aims to Video cameras made the real more because that is how life is. You change I had it in my mind for 15 years but you work harder. “If there is no dan- cars which may enable one of the attract more contestants. surreal”. Earlier, he used to prepare as a person over time, and it reflects never felt confident enough to make ger, you are lazy,” he added. HOME TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 05 More villas being built than apartment buildings

The Peninsula for villas were issued in Al Rayyan For example, a single permit might (55), followed by Al Daayen (47). Doha be issued for more than one villa or ranked third with 28 permits, fol- for a whole residential complex, said DOHA: New residential building per- lowed by Al Wakrah and Umm Salal the development planning ministry. mits issued by the civic authorities (26 permits for villas each). Al Rayyan Municipality includes last month point to a trend whereby In Al Khor 15 permits for villas Al Sheehaniya municipal jurisdiction more villas are being built than were issued in the month while in as well, said the ministry. apartment buildings. Official figures Al Shamal, only one. Of the 29 per- As for the number of non-resi- released yesterday show that out of mits issued for apartment buildings, dential buildings is concerned, of a 343 new building permits issued in a massive majority (22) were in Doha. total of 48 permits issued in Febru- February in different municipal juris- In Al Rayyan, no apartment ary, a little less than half (21) were dictions, 198 were for villas. building project sought permit while for workshops and factories, while 15 That constituted a considerable two projects each in Al Wakra, Al were for commercial buildings. 67 percent of all the new residential Daayen and Al Khor got the permit. Six permits were issued for building permits issued by the Minis- In Umm Salal, one apartment build- mosques and four for public build- try of Municipality and Environment ing project was given the permit. ings, reflect the development last month. Some 19 percent (or 57) Of all the building permits issued planning ministry data. of the new building permits were last month, 56 percent (343) were for Al Rayyan Municipality topped for houses of nationals for which new projects, while 41 percent (249) in terms of the number of permits the state gives away long-term loans. were for making additions to homes. issued, accounting for 32 percent Only 10 percent (or 29) of the Just three percent (18 permits) were (194) of the total. Doha Municipality permits issued were for apartment issued for fencing in residences and came in second with a share of 25 buildings, data released by the Min- residential complexes. percent (156), followed by Al Daayen istry of Development Planning and The Ministry clarified that the (24 percent, or 85 permits), Al Wakra Statistics show. number of permits issued does not (12 percent, or 73 permits), and Umm The maximum number of permits mean number of units or buildings. Salal (seven percent, or 44 permits).

Anto Kolankanny (left), Managing Director, AJ Entertainment; and Christon Thomas, Managing Director, Proposed solution to use capacity on global networks CAC Events, addressing the press conference. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula Continued from page 1 Animal Park to open in West Bay on Thursday Deploying cutting-edge applications and River- bed WAN optimisation solutions, with backend systems deployed over an Ooredoo-managed WAN network, the By Sidi Mohamed Tourism Authority. Muscat which witnessed 1.2 million core connectivity solution in Qatar will use the speed and The Peninsula “The concept of the park is to footfalls in 31 days,” he said. power of the Ooredoo Supernet to ensure that all mis- entertain and educate children Tickets cost QR15 for children sions benefit from world-class communication services. because every animal in the park and QR25 for adults while babies The proposed solution will be built using capacity will get a banner containing all will have free entry. on international networks, incorporating geographical DOHA: An Animal Park featuring 15 details in Arabic and English,” said There is also a kids’ arena which diversity and resilience. animals, including animatronic dino- Christon Thomas, Managing Direc- features entertainment and rides Ooredoo is Qatar’s leading communications company, saurs, mammoth and King Kong, will tor, CAC Events. priced costing QR10 per ride for two delivering mobile, fixed, broadband Internet and corpo- open on Thursday besides the Qatar He said the park was inspired by to five minutes. rate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers Waleed Al Sayed (left), CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, with Sport Club in West Bay. characters from films and created The park will be open daily from and businesses. As a community-focused company, Oore- officials from the Foreign Ministry during the With the gigantic animals moving after the success of the Dinosaur Vil- Thursday until April 2 from 4pm to doo is guided by its vision of enriching people’s lives and and creating sounds, the edutain- lage in Muscat last year. The Dinosaur 11pm and on Saturday from 10am signing of an agreement to Build Global Connectivity its belief that it can stimulate human growth by lever- ment park is brought to Doha by Village is in Salalah in Oman and will to 11pm. After Doha, it will travel to Solution to connect all Qatari missions. aging communications to help people achieve their full CAC Events, in collaboration with AJ come to Doha soon, he added. “We Bahrain, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon and Pic: Abdul / The Peninsula potential. Entertainment company and Qatar brought 15 animatronic dinosaurs to the UAE. 06 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 MIDDLE EAST

Syria regime to Sheikh Joaan condoles with Turabi’s family attend peace talks from Mar 14

and non-jihadist rebels is part of Relief material the biggest diplomatic effort yet to resolve Syria’s conflict, which has reaches town near killed more than 270,000 peo- Damascus. ple and forced millions from their homes. Russia and the United States are on opposing sides of the conflict — Moscow backs Assad and Wash- AFP ington supports the opposition — but have made a concerted push for the truce and further peace efforts to succeed. BEIRUT: Syria’s regime said yester- Observers say the partial truce, day it would attend renewed peace which does not apply to the Islamic talks in Geneva starting March 14, State group or the Al Qaeda-affil- but the opposition was still consid- iated Al Nusra Front, has largely ering whether to go despite a major held despite widespread scepticism lull in fighting. before it took effect. The United Nations is hoping to The Syrian Observatory for restart peace talks that collapsed last Human Rights, a Britain-based mon- month, building on a ceasefire that itor, said Sunday had been Syria’s has led to the first significant decline “calmest day” since the ceasefire in violence in Syria’s nearly five-year began. civil war. Observatory chief Rami Abdel UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mis- Rahman said that the average H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday conveyed the condolences of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Father tura has said he hopes talks can number of civilian deaths a day begin from Thursday, but officials had fallen by 90 percent since the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to family members of Sudanese opposition leader Dr Hassan Al Turabi in Khartoum yesterday. have indicated it could take several truce came into force, with an 80 Turabi died on Saturday. days of preparations before they can percent decline among soldiers and start. rebel forces. A source close to the Syrian Aid deliveries have also regime delegation said it would improved, with the UN delivering attend the new round of talks start- supplies yesterday to a key rebel ing from March 14. bastion east of Damascus, the third But the opposition has sent distribution since the truce began 12 killed in air strike on Idlib market mixed signals on whether it will on February 27. take part. World Food Programme spokes- The head of the Riyadh-based man Hussam Al Saleh said that 22 Reuters militants as an excuse to fight on. Both sides have accused each weapons are being supplied daily to High Negotiations Committee, Riad trucks would distribute food, flour The death toll from the air strike other of violations of the cessation rebels from Turkey, along with Saudi Hijab, yesterday refused to commit and medical supplies to the towns of on a market selling diesel in rebel- of hostilities agreement — the first Arabia, one of the major foreign spon- to the talks. Hammuriya, Jisreen and Beit Sawa held Idlib province was likely to rise, of its kind towards ending a war that sors of the rebellion against Assad. “The HNC will assess the situa- in Eastern Ghouta. BEIRUT/GENEVA: A Syrian or Rus- the Syrian Observatory for Human has killed more than 250,000 peo- Russia’s Defence Ministry said tion in the coming days and we will Residents have taken advan- sian air strike reportedly killed a Rights said, adding that it did not ple and created refugee crises in the yesterday eight ceasefire violations take the appropriate decision,” he tage of the ceasefire to stage daily dozen people at a market in north- know whether the Syrian government Middle East and Europe. had been registered in Syria over the told reporters. protests. western Syria yesterday, straining or its Russian ally was responsible. The agreement has been followed past 24 hours. Speaking in a conference call In Aleppo city, dozens of men a cessation of hostilities agreement The Nusra Front and the Islamist by more aid deliveries to opposi- The Syrian army has said very from Riyadh, Hijab said a small del- demonstrated, carrying the three- meant to pave the way for peace talks. Jund Al Aqsa attacked government tion-held areas blockaded by the little about operations in western egation from the HNC would travel starred tricolour of the uprising In a further upsurge in violence, forces near the village of Al Ais in government, though the opposition areas of Syria covered by the agree- to Geneva “in the next two days” to and banners reading: “The world’s Al Qaeda’s Nusra Front and other the southern Aleppo countryside says the quantities fall far short of ment, though it has said operations meet the international task force silence is louder than the barrel Islamist insurgents not included in yesterday and gained some ground the needs. against Nusra continue. In addition to monitoring the truce. bombs of death.” the US-Russian agreement attacked in subsequent clashes, the Britain- Rebels have said government the Nusra Front, the agreement also Hijab’s statements appeared to But an anti-regime protest in government forces in a neighbour- based Observatory said. forces, their war effort buoyed by five excludes the Islamic State group. be a step back from earlier com- northwest Idlib city ended abruptly ing province, a monitoring group said. Yet the pace of the five-year-long months of Russian air strikes, appear The town struck in yesterday’s air ments by HNC spokesman Riad after Al Nusra fighters threatened to The Nusra Front is widely war has slowed considerably since to be mobilising forces. Rebels say strike is close to an air base which Naasan Agha, who said the oppo- shoot demonstrators. deployed across western Syria in the cessation of hostilities agreement there have been numerous govern- Nusra Front and other groups cap- sition delegation would arrive on Local activist Ibrahim Al Idlibi close proximity to groups that agreed took hold on February 27, raising dip- ment attacks on their positions during tured last September. Friday to take part in talks. said Al Nusra arrested several pho- to cease fire, many of which say they lomats’ hopes for launching peace the cessation, notably in northwest- Government forces also shelled The truce between Presi- tographers, but that residents were believe the government and its Rus- talks between the government and ern Syria near the border with Turkey. the rebel-held town of Jisr Al Shugh- dent Bashar Al Assad’s regime planning a fresh protest soon. sian allies can use the presence of the opposition. Russia has meanwhile said our in Idlib province.

Egypt proposes Life jacket trade Mubarak’s Over 150 militants die in foreign minister as League head US air strike in Somalia

AFP Reuters “There has to be intelligence on the ground for this to happen. Our intelligence had helped,” Omer said. CAIRO: The Arab League said yes- The Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab terday Egypt has presented Ahmed WASHINGTON: The United States was pushed out of Mogadishu by Abul Gheit, ex-president Hosni has carried out an air strike in Soma- African Union peacekeeping forces Mubarak’s last foreign minister, lia, killing more than 150 fighters with in 2011 but has remained a potent as its candidate to head the pan- the Al Qaeda-linked Islamist group Al antagonist in Somalia, launching fre- Arab body after its present chief Shabaab, following US intelligence quent attacks in its bid to overthrow declined a second term. on preparations for a large-scale the Western-backed government. In February, the secretary militant attack, the Pentagon said The group, whose name means general of the Arab League, Nabil yesterday. “The Youth,” seeks to impose its strict Al Arabi, 80, announced that he The weekend strike using both version of Shariah law in Somalia, would not seek a second term after manned and unmanned drone air- where it frequently unleashes attacks his current one ends in July. craft targeted Al Shabaab’s “Raso” targeting security and government “The Arab League has been training camp, a facility about 120 targets, as well as hotels and restau- officially notified by Egypt that miles north of the capital Mogadishu, rants in the capital. its candidate for the post of sec- the Pentagon said. Al Shabaab was also behind retary general is foreign minister The US military said it had been deadly attacks in Kenya and Uganda, Ahmed Abul Gheit,” said Ahmed monitoring the camp for several which both contribute troops to an Ben Helli, the deputy chief of the weeks before the strike and had gath- African Union peacekeeping force Cairo-based League. ered intelligence, including about an in Somalia. He told reporters that only imminent threat posed by those in Omer said the US drone strike Egypt so far had presented its the camp. was a major blow to Al Shabaab. candidate to head the Arab dip- “We know they were going to be “It’s a big victory for fighting ter- lomatic body. departing the camp and that they rorism,” Omer said. “Instead of Al Traditionally, the secretary posed an imminent threat to US and Shabaab attacking civilians, it was general of Arab League has held to Amisom, African Union mission in a military target was hit and there the post for two terms, and Cairo Somalia forces, that are in Somalia,” was a high success rate.” has always insisted that it be held said Pentagon spokesman Captain Davis said as many as 200 fight- by an Egyptian diplomat. Jeff Davis. ers were believed to be training at the Arab League foreign ministers Davis declined to disclose any Raso camp at the time of the strike will hold a meeting on Thursday specific information the United and expressed confidence there were to discuss the candidacy of Abul States might have about the group’s no civilian casualties. Gheit, 74. intended target. “Their removal will degrade Al Abul Gheit was the last for- Al Shabaab could not be reached Shabaab’s ability to meet the group’s eign minister of Mubarak, who for comment. objectives in Somalia, which include was overthrown in a popular Somalia’s Foreign Minister recruiting new members, establish- 18-day uprising in early 2011. Life jackets are displayed for sale at a clothing shop on a main street in the Aegean port city of Abdusalam Omer said the Somali ing bases and planning attacks on US After Mubarak’s ouster, the diplo- Izmir, western Turkey, yesterday. intelligence agency had provided and Amisom forces there,” Davis said. mat had stayed away from politics information about the camp to the No US forces on the ground par- and devoted his time to writing. US in the runup to the attack. ticipated in the strike. MIDDLE EAST TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 07 Over 50 killed in Tunisia jihadist attack

of the region. President Beji Caid They had stopped residents, checked their IDs apparently to seek Essebsi vows to out members of the security forces, “exterminate and announced their brief takeover of the town as “liberators”. the rats.” “I was about to open my shop, at 5:30 (am), when I heard gunshots coming from not far from here,” said a grocer near Ben Guerdane hospi- AFP tal, asking not to be named. He went to find out what was happening at the hospital, where he saw two jihadists drive off with an BEN GUERDANE, TUNISIA: Tuni- ambulance, an account confirmed sian forces repelled a jihadist assault by a medic. yesterday on a town near the Lib- Other jihadists pointed a gun yan border, killing 35 assailants in at him, told him to kneel down and what authorities said was a thwarted asked for his identity papers, which effort to establish an Islamic emirate. in Tunisia show your profession. Among a total of more than “I told him I didn’t have my ID on 50 dead, 11 members of the secu- me. His comrade said: ‘Kill him.’ But Tunisian special forces take position during clashes with militants in the southern town of Ben Guerdane, yesterday. rity forces and seven civilians were instead he shouted out: ‘We are Al killed in the fighting in Ben Guer- Imara Al Islamiya (the Islamic emir- dane that President Beji Caid Essebsi ate). We’ve come to liberate you.’” condemned as an “unprecedented” The assailants, apparently work- border. The government said that an Residents were being urged to stay had been slipping across since a US air militants killed, and that the strike jihadist attack. ing from a hit list, assassinated an army barracks and police and National indoors even before the 7pm (1800 strike on an IS training camp in Libya probably averted a mass shooting or It prompted authorities to close anti-terrorist brigade official at his Guard posts in Ben Guerdane came GMT) start of the nighttime curfew. on February 18 killed dozens of Tuni- similar attack in Tunisia. the frontier and order a nighttime home, according to friends. under attack in coordinated pre-dawn As well as closing border crossings sian militants. According to a UN working group curfew. “They knew him! They knew assaults. with Libya, authorities also closed the Deadly attacks by IS on foreign on the use of mercenaries, more than Prime Minister Habib Essid, him!” insisted the man’s uncle, The defence ministry said at main road north to the rest of Tunisia, holidaymakers last year, which dealt 5,000 Tunisians have travelled abroad using an Arabic acronym for the Mustapha Abdelkebir, a civil soci- least 35 jihadists, six members of the the correspondent said. a devastating blow to Tunisia’s tour- to join jihadist groups, many of them Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, said ety activist, as he shed tears of grief. National Guard, two policemen, a cus- Authorities said ground and air ism industry, are believed to have been in Libya. the aim of the operation had been It was the second deadly clash in toms official and a soldier died in the patrols along the border would be planned from Libya. Western governments have to set up a “Daesh emirate” in Ben the border area in less than a week fighting, the Defence Ministry said. reinforced. Tunisia has built a 200-kilo- been increasingly alarmed by the Guerdane, but the army and inter- as Tunisia battles to prevent the large Seven civilians were also killed. Essid, who is to hold a press con- metre barrier that stretches about growing IS presence in Libya just 300 nal security forces had thwarted the number of its nationals who have Seven militants were captured, the ference today, ordered the defence half the length of its border with kilometres across the Mediterranean attackers. joined IS in Libya from returning to Defence Ministry said. and interior ministers to Ben Guer- Libya in an attempt to stop militants from Europe, and have made For his part, Essebsi, in an earlier carry out attacks at home. Hospital official Abdelkrim Cha- dane to oversee operations against infiltrating. contingency plans for intensified statement broadcast on state tele- The jihadists have taken advan- froud said a 12-year-old boy was the jihadists. February’s US strike on the IS military action. vision, said the assault was “maybe tage of a power vacuum since the among the dead civilians. Last Wednesday, troops killed five training camp outside Sabratha Rival administrations which aimed at controlling” the border Nato-backed overthrow of longtime A correspondent reported that militants in a firefight outside the town targeted the suspected mastermind of have vied for power since mid-2014 region with Libya, and he vowed to dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 schools and offices in Ben Guerdane in which a civilian was also killed and two of last year’s attacks, Noureddine in Libya are being urged to sign up “exterminate these rats”. to set up bases in several areas of were closed and troops were posted a commander wounded. Chouchane. to a UN-brokered national unity Residents of the border town said Libya, including the Sabratha area on rooftops across town as helicop- Troops have been on alert in the Washington has said Chouchane government to facilitate the fight the assailants appeared to be natives between Tripoli and the Tunisian ters hovered overhead. border area following reports militants was likely among the dozens of against the jihadists. Three Iraqi fighters die trying to defuse bombs in Ramadi

AFP they were attempting to defuse, Anbar prov- “We have lost more than 35 members of last year, but the city was completely retaken coalition, Brett McGurk, said on Saturday dur- ince governor Sohaib Al Rawi said. the security forces and sons of the tribes (tribal only last month. ing a visit to Baghdad. He said the danger posed by unexploded fighters) this year,” Hamid Al Dulaimi said. Laying thousands of bombs and booby- “We’re very focused now on the counter- BAGHDAD: Three Iraqi fighters died yes- bombs and booby-traps remained an obstacle “As of yesterday, we had a toll of 15 deaths trapping buildings was the backbone of IS’ IED (improvised explosive device) mission,” terday trying to defuse bombs left behind by to the return of Ramadi’s residents. in our ranks alone,” said Omar Khamis Al defence of the city last year. he said. the jihadists in Ramadi, as the toll taken by The local government “understands the Dulaimi, a senior leader in the tribal fighters Explosive ordnance disposal training has The officials in Anbar could not provide a the huge mine-clearing effort there contin- pressing need for IDPs (internally displaced working alongside federal forces. been a main focus for the US-led coalition. figure for civilians killed by unexploded bombs ued to rise. persons) to return home, but we will not allow Ramadi was declared liberated when Iraqi “The destruction is enormous, people are in Ramadi over the past few weeks. The victims were three local tribal fighters a chaotic return resulting in more casualties,” forces wrested the main government com- still being killed by IEDs and mines that have The city was virtually emptied of its pop- killed by the explosion of improvised devices he said on social media. pound back from the Islamic State group late been left by Daesh (IS),” the US envoy to the ulation by the time the fighting culminated.

Rose on palm OIC wants ban on products from Israeli settlements

AFP

JAKARTA: A global Muslim body called yesterday for a ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and pledged full support for the “inalienable rights” of the Palestinians. The call came at the end of an Organisa- tion of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Mus- lim-majority country, which brought together representatives from 57 states. An OIC resolution urged “member states and the wider international community to ban products produced in or by illegal Israeli settlements from their markets”. However, the move was not binding on member states. Settlements refer to Jewish communities built in areas occupied by Israel since 1967. Such settlements are illegal under interna- tional law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts, with those in the West Bank and East Jerusalem built on land which Pal- estinians see as part of their future state. The issue of goods imported from set- tlements has caused tensions with Israel in the past. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- yahu in November suspended diplomatic Candles being produced for Palm Sunday celebrations, in Salhiya town, southern contacts with the European Union about the Lebanon, yesterday. Middle East peace process — which has been stalled for almost two years. 08 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 ASIA

Indonesia to mark Japan police set eclipse with tribal up unit to stop rituals and prayers AFP

JAKARTA: A total solar eclipse will yakuza ‘war’ sweep across the vast Indonesian archipelago this week, witnessed by hordes of sky gazers and marked by headquarters to “intensify” their parties, colourful tribal rituals and response, Jiji Press reported. Muslim prayers. The split in Japan’s An agency spokesman could not From jungle-clad Sumatra in the biggest organised immediately confirm the report, west to the spice-fringed Maluku though it came as officers are inves- Islands in the east, people will flock crime, or yakuza, tigating a spike in suspected violence tomorrow to watch the eclipse travel organisation has involving the groups. in a broad arc across the world’s big- Two bullets were found on Sun- gest archipelago nation. prompted police day inside an office loyal to the About 10,000 foreign visitors warnings of a recently formed renegade group in and 100,000 Indonesian tourists are possible repeat of the city of Mito northeast of Tokyo, expected to view the spectacle, and a police spokesman said yesterday. special events have been organised a 1980s gangland Three bullet holes were also visible across the country, from a festival fea- bloodbath. on a wall, but no one was injured. turing live bands to dragon boat races. The incident came after police Hotels in the best viewing spots arrested a 40-year-old gangster filled up weeks ago — in one city offi- on suspicion that a truck he drove cials have had to find extra space for careened into another parked in tourists on boats. But some of Indone- AFP front of the office on Saturday. sia’s tribespeople — up to 70 million of “We suspect the two cases are the country’s 250 million inhabitants part of the recent conflicts” between are indigenous peoples — are fear- the Yamaguchi-gumi and the splin- ful of the phenomenon. Members of TOKYO: Japanese police yes- ter group, a spokesman for Mito the Dayak tribe in one part of Borneo terday set up a special unit to police said. “We are strengthening island will be performing a ritual to oversee efforts to stem what they security and closely monitoring fur- ensure it does not last too long. are describing as a full-fledged ther developments,” he said. The total eclipse will sweep across “war” between rival organised crime A dozen similar cases allegedly 12 of Indonesia’s 34 provinces, which groups, media reported. involving the internecine strife have stretches about 5,000km from east Officers have made a series of been reported since late February. In to west, before heading across the raids and arrests since late last year Toyama, a prefecture on Japan’s north- Pacific Ocean. Partial eclipses will after a split in the country’s biggest western coast, a member belonging to be visible in northern Australia and crime syndicate fuelled fears of the the splinter group was arrested last parts of Southeast Asia. worst gang conflict in decades. week on suspicion of injuring a rival The moon will begin moving The Yamaguchi-gumi gang Yamaguchi-gumi gangster. across the sun on Indonesia’s main based in the western city of Kobe has “Residents are very worried,” western island of Sumatra at around been rocked by internal strife since Kenichi Tanaka, a local police offi- 6:20am (2320 GMT today), before the late last year following the defection cial told Japan’s national broadcaster eclipse sweeps across Sulawesi and of several top leaders who formed a NHK, after 10 police vehicles cruised Borneo, then moves over the Malukus rival splinter group. around an elementary school near a and heads out into the ocean. The split in Japan’s biggest gang office with which the suspect is A four-member team from Nasa is organised crime, or yakuza, organi- affiliated. “We are remaining dog- heading to Maba, a small town in the sation has prompted police warnings gedly vigilant to protect them.” Maluku Islands where the total eclipse of a possible repeat of a 1980s gang- Similar to the Mafia in Italy will occur for around three minutes, land bloodbath. and Chinese triads, Japan’s yakuza one of the longest times it can be seen. Yesterday, the National Police engage in everything from gam- The last total solar eclipse occurred Agency declared that the two groups bling, drugs and prostitution to on March 20, 2015, only visible from were in a state of “war against each loan sharking, protection rackets the Faroe Islands and Norway’s Arc- other” and established a special and white-collar crime. tic Svalbard archipelago. Taiwan defence Australian behind ‘xenophobia’ site to plead guilty to sedition minister ‘sorry’ over illegal AFP her plea while her husband’s trial will both, on each sedition charge. it an offence to promote hostility “were wildly successful to profit from resume on Friday. They face one month in jail and between different races or classes the ill-will and hostility that they were Yang and Takagi each face seven up to Sg$1,500 in fines, or both, in the multiracial city-state, which is peddling” due to the popularity of search claims sedition charges for articles pub- for withholding information from mainly ethnic Chinese. their website. SINGAPORE: An Australian woman lished between October 2013 and police. State prosecutors yester- About 40 percent of the labour- Last September Filipino nurse Ello AFP accused of fanning hatred of for- February 2015 on the socio-political day said that the couple “brazenly starved island’s 5.5 million people are Ed Mundsel Bello, 29, was jailed for eigners in Singapore on her website website “The Real Singapore”, which played up racism and xenophobia” foreigners. four months for sedition after insult- said yesterday that she would plead they were forced by regulators to shut on the site. Charge sheets said articles ing Singaporeans online and calling TAIPEI: Taiwan’s defence min- guilty to sedition, an offence punish- down last year. “They even resorted to outright deemed to be seditious derided on his countrymen to take over the ister apologised yesterday after able by jail. They were also charged with and blatant fabrication in order to Chinese nationals and other guest city-state. claims that military police illegally Ai Takagi, 23, told a district court withholding documents on the web- attract Internet users to their website workers in Singapore, while one post In 2009 a local Christian couple, searched a private home sparked of her intention at the opening of what site’s advertising revenues from — all with the objective of increasing on the website “falsely asserted” that Ong Kian Cheong and Dorothy Chan, an outcry in the now-democratic was to be a joint trial with her Sin- police. If found guilty, Yang and Tak- their advertising revenue,” the pros- a Filipino family instigated a fracas at were jailed for eight weeks each for island, which spent decades under gaporean husband Yang Kaiheng, 27. agi could be jailed up to three years ecutors said. a Hindu festival in February. distributing and possessing anti-Mus- martial law. She will return to court today to enter and fined up to Sg$5,000 ($3,620), or Singapore’s sedition laws make Prosecutors said Takagi and Yang lim and anti-Catholic publications. Military police late last month found a man surnamed Wei try- ing to sell online three government documents dating back to 1960-70 which they believed were classi- Vietnam pollution Study finds China CO2 emissions fied documents. Posing as buyers, the military police contacted Wei. The officers, who had no search warrant, said they went to Wei’s may have peaked in 2014 home and “obtained” the docu- ments with his consent. Wei said he handed over the Reuters “If emissions do grow above that it would cap total energy con- documents after the military 2014 levels ... that growth trajectory sumption at 5 billion tonnes of police threatened to prosecute him is likely to be relatively flat, and a standard coal by 2020, amounting to for concealing them and for leak- peak would still be highly likely by an increase of 16.3 percent from 2015. ing state secrets. The case came to BEIJING: China’s carbon emissions, 2025,” the authors said. It also said that it would cut car- light after Wei’s daughter told the by far the world’s highest, may have Xie Zhenhua, China’s senior cli- bon intensity — or the amount of story on one of the island’s most peaked in 2014, according to a study mate change envoy, said at a press CO2 emissions per unit of economic popular social media websites over published yesterday, potentially conference on Monday that the coun- growth — by 18 percent over the the weekend. putting Beijing under pressure to try’s emissions had not peaked in 2016-2020 period. The 2030 peak “I apologise to all coun- toughen its climate pledges. 2014 and were still growing. pledge was made in a joint decla- trypeople for the uneasiness China has promised to bring While total energy consumption ration with the United States in late and disturbance caused by the greenhouse gas emissions to a peak rose 0.9 percent to 4.3 billion tonnes 2014. China also agreed it would event,” minister Kao Kuang-chi by “around 2030” as part of its com- of standard coal in 2015, coal con- make its best efforts to peak earlier. told parliament. Military abuses mitments to a global pact to combat sumption fell 2.2 percent on a year One of the main bones of con- are especially sensitive in Taiwan, global warming, signed in Paris last earlier, according to Reuters calcu- tention during the Paris climate talks which was under martial law from year. Evidence that the country has lations based on official data. was a regular five-year “stocktaking” 1949 until partial democratisation peaked much earlier could lead to Chinese carbon experts said process that would compel countries in 1987. concerns that its existing targets are any fall in emissions in 2015 would to adjust their targets in light of new Yang Chia-liang, spokesman too easy. be mainly due to a slowdown in Chi- economic or technological circum- for the main opposition Demo- The study, by the Grantham na’s economy, and it was unlikely that stances, with China arguing that any cratic Progressive Party (DPP), Research Institute on Climate Change emissions had peaked so early. such adjustments must be voluntary. accused military police of abuse and the Environment and the ESRC “I would like to believe that the US climate change envoy, Todd of power and infringing a citizen’s Centre for Climate Change Econom- peak will be around 2030, and if Stern, said in Beijing last week that human rights. ics and Policy at the London School of stricter policies for carbon reduction China could come under pressure to Civilian prosecutors are inves- Economics, said that the 2030 peak and some reforms in the way local draw up tougher targets if it became tigating the case. was a very conservative estimate. leaders are evaluated on GDP growth, clear that the existing goals were too The military says the docu- “It is quite possible that emis- the peak will come in 2025,” said Xi easy. “It will be up to the Chinese gov- People ride past smoke created by burning waste materials in ments were related to Chinese sions will fall modestly from now Fengming, a carbon researcher with ernment whether they increase their communist spies and confessions Hanoi, Vietnam, yesterday. Reports said air pollution rate in Hanoi on, implying that 2014 was the peak,” the China Academy of Sciences. “But I target but there will obviously be a lot they made after they turned them- had recently recorded a hazardous level, which increases the risk said the report, noting that recent do not think China has reached peak of international opinion looking for- selves to Taiwan’s government in of many diseases and endangers public health. data already showed that China’s emissions in 2014,” he said. ward to additional measures - whether the 1960s and 1970s. emissions fell in 2015. The government said on Saturday it is China or anyone else,” he said. ASIA / PHILIPPINES TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 09 North Korea fumes as South and US hold war games

Pyongyang warns of nuclear strikes as tension peaks on Korean peninsula.

AFP

SEOUL: South Korea and the United States kicked off their largest-ever joint military drills yesterday, prompt- ing fresh warnings from North Korea of “indiscriminate” nuclear strikes against Seoul and the US mainland. The annual exercises always raise tensions on the divided Korean penin- sula and the situation is particularly volatile this year, given the North’s recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch and its fury over tough UN sanctions imposed in response. Participation in the joint drills — known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle — has been bumped up this year to involve 300,000 South Korean and 15,000 US troops, as well as strategic South Korean army soldiers set up a camouflage net over a tank during military exercises near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, yesterday. US naval vessels and air force assets. RIGHT: An F-16 figher jet lands at an American air base, some 70km south of Seoul. In a statement issued hours before the exercises began, North Korea’s powerful National Defence Com- standby, in response to the sanctions Command of the Korean People’s ‘Flames and ashes’ provocation, our military will respond ballistic missile test. mission said it was prepared for an resolution adopted last week by the Army and ratified by Kim Jong-Un. “If we push the buttons to anni- sternly and mercilessly,” ministry A UN Security Council resolution “all-out” military counter-offensive. UN Security Council. The plans would come into opera- hilate the enemies even right now, spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told adopted last week laid out the tough- “As the joint military exercises to Pyongyang has issued similar, dire tion in the event of “even the slightest all bases of provocations will be reporters. est sanctions imposed on Pyongyang be staged by the enemies are regarded warnings of nuclear attack in the past, military action” by the North’s ene- reduced to seas in flames and ashes Pyongyang has long condemned to date over its nuclear weapons as the most undisguised nuclear war usually during periods of elevated mies, it said. in a moment,” the statement added. the Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exer- programme. drills aimed to infringe upon the sov- military tensions. “The indiscriminate nuclear Despite a pair of successful long- cises, which stretch over nearly two It breaks new ground by tar- ereignty of (North Korea), its military While the North is known to have strike... will clearly show those keen range rocket launches, most experts months, as provocative rehearsals for geting specific sectors key to the counteraction will be more pre-emp- a small stockpile of nuclear warheads, on aggression and war, the military believe North Korea is years away invasion, while Seoul and Washing- North Korean economy and seek- tive and offensive nuclear strike to experts are divided about its ability mettle of (North Korea),” said the from developing a genuine inter- ton insist they are purely defensive ing to undermine the North’s use of, cope with them,” it said. to mount them on a working missile statement carried by the North’s offi- continental ballistic missile (ICBM) in nature. and access to, international trans- delivery system. cial KCNA news agency. capable of reaching the US mainland. The size of this year’s drills was port systems. The Philippines has Weapons on ‘standby’ The National Defence Commission Targets would include operational In Seoul, the Defence Ministry ramped up as a show of strength in the already seized a North Korean cargo The threat came just days after said plans for what it called a “pre- theatres on the Korean peninsula, but cautioned the North against acting face of the North’s fourth nuclear test ship which was among 31 listed by the leader Kim Jong-Un ordered the coun- emptive nuclear strike of justice” also bases on the US mainland and out its bellicose rhetoric. on January 6 and February’s rocket resolution as banned from interna- try’s nuclear arsenal to be placed on had been drawn up by the Supreme in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. “If North Korea launches a launch, which was seen as a disguised tional ports. Filipino boxer Japanese submarine and two warships to visit Philippines Pacquiao says Reuters for Japan to show its presence,” the World War Two so China was on “high “Informally, we know a Japanese to build the capacity of nations in the TV bout cover person with knowledge of the plan alert” for Japan’s military moves there. submarine is visiting Subic in April,” region to improve their surveillance said yesterday. He asked not to be “The cooperation of relevant said the Philippine spokesman, Brig- of Chinese forces. Japan’s Minister of identified because he was not author- countries should benefit regional sta- adier-General Restituto Padilla. Defence Gen Nakatani is due to travel not a low blow TOKYO: A Japanese submarine will ised to talk to the media. bility and should not be directed at to the Philippines in April to discuss visit the Philippines for the first time A Japanese Ministry of Defence third parties or harm another coun- JAPANESE MINISTER TO VISIT cooperation. in 15 years, along with two warships spokesman declined to comment on try’s sovereignty or security interests,” Rich in natural resources, the Japan has already offered to sup- Reuters that will then sail on to Vietnam, in a any submarine visit but said the navy he told a daily news briefing in Beijing. South China Sea is also a major thor- ply the Philippines with aircraft that show of support for nations opposed normally conducted training voyages Of the countries bordering the oughfare for global trade worth up to will help bolster patrols over the dis- to Beijing’s ambitions in the South in March and April. South China Sea, the Philippines $5bn a year, much of it coming to and puted sea. Japan wants to give the MANILA: Former world boxing China Sea, a person familiar with “But we are still in the planning and Vietnam are most opposed to from Japanese ports. Philippines a handful of Beechcraft champion Manny Pacquiao said the matter said. stage so are unable to provide details,” China expanding its influence in the The United States, which has TC-90 King Air training planes that yesterday TV coverage of his WBO The Japanese submarine, which he said. region by building bases on reclaimed asked China to halt reclamation work could be fitted with basic surface and welterweight bout with American is used for training, and the destroy- The visits were first reported by islands. that could destabilise the region, has air surveillance radar. Timothy Bradley would not vio- ers will arrive in the Philippines in Japanese media, including the Sankei The Philippine military had not irritated China by conducting naval The Philippines has also asked late Philippine election laws or give April. The escort vessels will later newspaper, on Sunday. received any official notification of patrols close to the man-made the United States to hold joint naval him an undue advantage in his bid sail to Vietnam’s strategic Cam Ranh Asked about the visits, Chinese a visit by a Japanese submarine, a outcrops in what are known as free- patrols. for a seat on the Senate. Bay base on the South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong military spokesman said, though a dom-of-navigation operations. Japan and Vietnam agreed in In a five-page letter to the elec- source said. Lei said Japan occupied the Spratly visit to the Subic Bay naval base was Rather than confronting China in November to hold their first joint tion commission, Pacquiao, 37, “It sends a message. It is important Islands in the South China Sea during expected. such a direct way, Japan instead wants naval exercise. said that as a candidate for the May elections, he was allowed TV and radio air time for political adver- tisements and that his fight will not consume all of the allotted time. Religious festival Internet users lament The commission tomorrow said it may bar broadcasts of Pac- quiao’s bid to win back the world welterweight title next month from China’s ‘forest of steel’ reigning WBO welterweight cham- pion Bradley because it could give him an unfair advantage in the AFP there are few that really have any- elections. “There is obviously no thing to do with you.” case of undue advantage or undue Another user said she was exposure for Pacquiao as the same BEIJING: China’s Internet users yes- haunted by fears of a solitary rights and privileges are extended terday lamented the callousness of existence. by law to all said candidates,” Pac- the country’s teeming cities follow- “I’m so afraid of becoming a quiao said through his lawyers. ing the discovery of a woman’s body woman so disliked, living alone and The bout will take a maximum a month after she was trapped in a with no one showing any interest in of 36 minutes for a 12-round fight, malfunctioning lift. me,” she wrote. or less if the fight does not go the The 43-year-old, reportedly suf- Those responsible for the inci- distance. Under the law, all candi- fering from mental illness but living dent have been detained by police, dates are given up to 120-minute alone, was stuck in the lift in the reports said, without specifying TV and 180-minute radio adver- northern city of Xian in late January whether they were the maintenance tisements per station. when maintenance workers shut off crew or others involved. Pacquiao’s description of the the power without properly check- China is prone to accidents queer as “worse than animals” last ing if anyone was inside at the time, as regulations and standards are month drew criticism on social Chinese media said previously. often flouted and enforcement is media at home and abroad, and Her body was only found 30 days lax, sometimes due to corruption. cost him an endorsement deal later as the crew left for the annual Last July a woman was killed with Nike, the world’s largest Lunar New Year holiday and did not after she plunged through floor- sportswear maker. The election return until March 1. ing over an escalator in a Chinese commission is expected to make Chinese web users were shocked department store. a ruling on the broadcasts soon. by the accident, deploring the indif- Media yesterday blasted wide- On May 9, more than 54 mil- ference of relationships in modern spread negligence in China’s lift lion people in the Philippines will society. maintenance industry and prop- vote for a president, vice-president, “I thought such things would erty management companies. A 300 lawmakers and thousands of only take place in the wild,” one user commentary carried by news portal local government posts. posted on China’s Twitter-like Weibo. jxnews.com.cn urged the govern- Pacquiao, who has also “But actually the crowded cities ment to strengthen supervision “to courted controversy with com- are nothing but just a forest of steel ensure such tragedies do not hap- ments on queer marriage, is Sri Lankan Tamil devotees light oil lamps during the annual Maha Shivratri festival at Shivam Kovil in — we are surrounded by so many pen again”. It also criticised the running for one of 12 vacant seats Colombo, yesterday. people and have so many ‘good victim’s family for allegedly leav- in the Senate. friends’ in (online) chat groups but ing her alone. 10 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 OPINION

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 Helping Turkey The debate we need on Libya urope is still struggling to find some ways to mitigate president will have a chance to get national army. Had Obama not pre- its refugee crisis – mitigate because finding a right - whether he or she likes it Unlike a lot of maturely withdrawn all US forces, comprehensive solution, which should be its actual or not. As the Pentagon brass have the Islamic State might never have Eobjective, is something remote in the prevailing been warning with rising alarm, what may pass for gained a foothold. situation due to the enormity of the crisis. What the the Islamic State is methodically campaign debate, Some in the Obama admin- continent is facing is not a crisis, but a catastrophe which shows building a base in the country. It istration seem to have taken the this would be an no signs of abating. could become the new Islamic State Libya failure as a lesson in the futil- One of the countries whose cooperation is crucial in this headquarters if Iraq and Syria are argument worth ity of all US ventures in the Middle overrun, and it could serve as an having. Libya is not East. We tried occupying Iraq and regard is Turkey. As a neighbour to Syria, Turkey has borne the easy launching pad for attacks Afghanistan, goes the logic; we brunt of the crisis and the government in Ankara has performed on Western capitals. Another US only a story of US adopted a light footprint in Libya; its role well within its resources and capabilities. The European By Jackson Diehl plunge into Libya is a matter of failure but also a we stayed out of Syria altogether. Union has recognised this seminal role of Turkey and both have The Washington Post when and how - not if. In every case the result was a dis- been coordinating with each other for an effective solution to the Fortunately, news organisations problem that the aster. Maybe the Middle East is just crisis. The talks being held between both sides is a continuation have done some thorough report- next president will too hard. f Donald Trump and Hillary ing of what went wrong the first That, of course, is the Trum- of this coordination. Clinton really are our choices time. The New York Times pub- have a chance to pian view. If there is an alternative, Turkey has now increased its demands for carrying out in the presidential election lished a recent series, and another get right — whether it will come, oddly, from Clinton, its responsibilities in the refugee crisis. The country’s prime this fall, we’ll witness an ugly account appeared in The Post last whose push for the Libyan interven- minister made a new proposal at a summit in Brussels yesterday Idebate about the great wall of Mex- year. Poring over them, what’s strik- he or she likes it or tion was in keeping with a broader under which it wants an extra three billion euros in aid in return ico, emails, Trump University and, ing is the degree to which President not. inclination to assert US power more for its urgent cooperation and is seeking a refugee swap under here and there, maybe trade or tor- Obama, who ran against the war in frequently and with more muscle which the 28-nation EU would resettle one Syrian refugee from ture. But we also could hear a lot Iraq, nevertheless repeated most than Obama has. about a small North African coun- of George W Bush’s Iraq mistakes She argued for a greater US Turkey in exchange for every Syrian refugee that Turkey takes try of 6 million people, Libya - and in Libya. in Washington. commitment to Libyan security back from the overstretched Greek islands. Other demands are we should. First was the failure to do any Last but not least was the US after Gaddafi’s downfall, and for that the bloc should bring forward visa-free travel for Turks and Trump will point to Libya as planning for “the day after” the decision to focus on political bench- military support of Syrian rebels, speed up the country’s long-stalled EU prime evidence of Clinton’s incom- dictator’s fall, a lapse that later marks while ignoring the mounting only to be overruled by the White membership bid. petence. He’ll claim she pushed for prompted a rare admission of error security problems. While militias House. She appears to understand There will be intense negotiations US intervention in the 2011 revo- from Obama himself. He said the looted weapons from Gaddafi’s that the serial US failing in the Mid- lution against dictator Moammar United States and its Nato allies stockpiles and forced interim dle East was not that it tried but that between the two sides on the new Ankara is Gaddafi and the result was a disas- “underestimated the need to come authorities to put their gunmen on it did not try hard enough. Wash- demanding conditions set by Turkey. The EU is ter: chaos, civil war, a new base for in full force” after the war - just official payrolls, American diplo- ington failed to plan, minimised finding the Turkish demands very the Islamic State and the slaying of like Bush did in Baghdad. mats worked on plans for quick resources at crucial moments and more help tough, but at the same time realises a US ambassador. Gaddafi, Trump Then there was the overreliance elections. “It was the same mistake pulled out too quickly. from the that it has no option but to ensure the now says, should have been left in on smooth, English-speaking, exiled you made in Iraq,” French ambas- Clinton’s answer to a congres- European full cooperation of Ankara. One reason place. Clinton might well respond politicians who assured Washing- sador to the United States Gérard sional committee grilling her on Turkey could be ratcheting up its that Nato’s air operation prevented ton that they could take over Libya Araud told the Times. Libya last year contains the seeds of Union to stem genocide on a Syrian scale - and and quickly build a new order. Clin- Of course, Obama did not a doctrine. “America must lead in a demands could be that the EU has been that Trump strongly supported the ton, according to the Times, was deploy hundreds of thousands dangerous world,” she said. “When the flow of slow in meeting conditions agreed in operation at the time. charmed by Mahmoud Jibril, the of troops, as Bush did. But that America is absent . . . extremism migrants to the past. For example, President Recep Unlike a lot of what may pass US-educated head of an opposition may explain the main difference takes root, aggressors seek to fill the Europe. Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the for campaign debate, this would be council; like Iraq’s Ahmed Chal- between Iraq and Libya. In Iraq, vacuum and security everywhere European Union for a four-month delay an argument worth having. Libya abi, who wooed the Bushes, Jibril jihadist forces were all but wiped is threatened.” That would make a in disbursing a promised three billion is not only a story of US failure proved to have far less influence out by the US military, which also good answer when the campaign but also a problem that the next in his native country than he did trained and equipped a substantial debate turns to Libya. euro fund for refugees agreed under a November deal. “It’s been four months. They are yet to deliver,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara, as Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held summit talks on the migrant crisis with EU leaders. “Mr prime minister is currently in Missing Malaysian jet holds a counterintuitive lesson Brussels. I hope he will return with the money,” said Erdogan. The refugee crisis is set to worsen as warm weather ago, presumably killing all 239 peo- that the additional requirements lines of authority and well-inten- intensifies fighting in conflict-ridden countries and swells the ple aboard -- is by any definition under consideration could in some tioned mistakes. number of people fleeing the war in Syria, Afghanistan and It may be that unprecedented. And despite some cases create new risks, cause mis- Following the Sept. 11 attacks, Iraq. Several European countries are furious and are blocking the safest thing tantalizing hints, its fate remains communication and impose an a consensus emerged that cockpit refugees. utterly mysterious. As such, it makes “unrealistic operational burden.” doors should be reinforced and fit- While a deal with Turkey will definitely help in containing the to do in response a poor basis for dramatic changes Not to mention the expense. All ted with elaborate locks. This was crisis, the EU also needs to forge a common and humane policy. to Malaysia Flight in public policy. Modern planes are this to address a surpassingly rare an eminently sensible idea. Then, so safe that adding yet more rules phenomenon. last year, a pilot named Andreas Greece also must be given help to solve the problems it is facing. 370 is something and requirements in response to In the age of the drone, why Lubitz boarded Germanwings that almost defies an incomprehensible tragedy could not eliminate human pilots alto- Flight 9525. When his captain very well make things worse. gether? Even overlooking the cost left the cockpit, Lubitz locked human intuition: Consider proposals to mandate and complexity involved, the alarm- the door, took the controls and nothing at all. tamper-proof transponders. That ing rate at which military drones guided the plane into the French sounds prudent: Someone aboard -- to say nothing of their civilian Alps, killing himself and 149 others. Flight 370 evidently switched off counterparts -- crash in much In the background, his panicked Quote of the day its communications systems, tak- less demanding environments colleagues could be heard smash- ing it off the grid. But pilots may should give pause. The reality is ing against the reinforced door, Bloomberg have perfectly valid reasons for that, despite high-profile catas- again and again, in a futile attempt We have to squeeze the turning a transponder off, such as trophes, pilots solve many more to stop him. recovering from a malfunction or problems in-flight than they’ve It took decades of research, heart of Daesh in Iraq preventing overheating. American ever caused. regulation and scientific advances and Syria so they can’t odern aviation may be the regulators acknowledged as much Some new technology may, in to make airplanes as safe as they continue to pump the safest complex system ever last year when they argued that the fact, be helpful in preventing future are now. Things can always be Mdevised. Each day, 100,000 risks of tamper-proofing cockpit disasters. Aerospace companies are improved. But it’s important to poison in the region and flights take off and land with pro- equipment outweigh the benefits. working on gear that could wrest accept that risk can never be com- the rest of the world. saic regularity. Accidents are so Likewise, the United Nations control from a pilot in times of dis- pletely eliminated from flight, and rare that, almost by definition, they wants to track aircraft more fre- tress. The US military is working on that more complexity often means mean something unprecedented quently and in greater detail. robot co-pilots. These are promising more ways for things to go wrong. Joe Biden has happened. Again, this sounds like a no- endeavors, worthy of more study It may be that the safest thing to US Vice-President The unexplained disappearance brainer. Yet planes are already and investment. Yet they, too, risk do in response to Malaysia Flight of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 -- thoroughly tracked. And a group unintended consequences, includ- 370 is something that almost defies which occurred almost two years studying the idea for the U.N. found ing malicious hacking, conflicting human intuition: nothing at all.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Opinion page should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief.

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truth from Malaysia Airlines; there’s more hope than before.” Malaysia Airlines, The Boeing 777 aircraft, with 239 Boeing and Rolls people — including 153 Chinese cit- Royce named in izens — on board, vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on litigation. March 8, 2014, and authorities said it went down in the southern Indian Ocean. Even while suing for the wrong- AFP ful deaths of their loved ones, many Chinese next of kin consistently express beliefs that the passengers are still alive, perhaps being held at BEIJING: Relatives of a dozen Chi- an unknown location — even though nese passengers aboard missing a piece of the plane washed up on flight MH370 filed suits against the Indian Ocean island of Reunion Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Rolls and other potential debris was found Royce and others yesterday, a day in Mozambique. before the second anniversary of its Under international agreements, disappearance and a legal deadline families have two years to sue over to do so. air accidents. Lawyer Zhang Qihuai, Women look at a mural of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 two years after it disappeared, in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Packed into a small office at the whose Lanpeng firm represents the Beijing Rail Transportation Court, group filing suit yesterday, said many which has been designated to han- were “deeply conflicted” over the dle MH370 cases, they held manila decision to go to court. yuan ($1.5 million to $10.8 million) have begun filing suit on behalf of rel- completed, expected in July. landed somewhere and that my child folders with litigation papers in their “They think that after you’ve per family, he said. Verdicts might not atives, seeking undisclosed damages. The relatives hope that court scru- is safe, living on this earth.” hands. accepted compensation, the come for two years, he added. Malaysia Airlines and Boeing tiny will help reveal answers about She would never believe her fam- Several wiped away tears, company can deny any further “Originally, many didn’t intend to representatives in China declined to what befell the plane, even while some ily had died until their bodies were turning to borrow tissues from responsibility and wash its hands sue and instead wanted to continue comment on the lawsuits. Rolls Royce express misgivings over negotiating found, she said. neighbours, before depositing their of the incident, and that the public waiting. But there’s a time limit, so did not immediately comment. compensation. “You can scream your excuses documents with court officials. will naturally forget about the whole they have no other choice — losing the A vast Australian-led search of “The date March 8 is like a knife until the heavens and the earth Gao Xianying, 65, who lost her thing,” explained Zhang. right to sue would be terribly painful.” 120,000 square kilometres of the that has stabbed us once again,” said come down, for a thousand years daughter, son-in-law and three- The total compensation His clients have declined settle- southern Indian Ocean seabed has so Gao. or ten thousand, but without con- year-old granddaughter on the flight, requested from Malaysia Airlines, ment offers of 2.52m yuan per victim, far failed to locate the wreckage, and “I chose to prosecute in order to crete evidence I won’t believe it or said: “Successfully filing the case is Boeing, engine manufacturer Rolls he said. authorities plan to end the operation have my child safely returned to me. accept it. I want the truth! Where is the next step in finding my family. Royce and insurance companies Several US, Malaysian, Australian — projected to cost up to $130m — if I’m convinced that the plane didn’t the plane? Where are the passen- We’re a step closer to demanding the ranged between 10 and 70 million and Chinese law firms have said they no new leads emerge by the time it is crash into the Indian Ocean, that it gers?” she asked. Nigeria’s former Widodo meets Bashir at OIC meet Beijing reaffirms fishing air force chief in court over AFP rights in disputed waters corruption Reuters fishermen, because they have been JAKARTA: Indonesia’s leader yes- living and surviving on fishing for terday held talks with Sudanese the past thousand years, have been AFP President Omar Hassan Al Bashir, proof of our rights and interests,” Luo who has been indicted for war crimes BEIJING: China’s fishermen operat- said, in response to a question. by the International Criminal Court, ing in the South China Sea give proof Authorities in Hainan encourage ABUJA: A Nigerian court yesterday with Jakarta defending having invited of the country’s maritime rights and fishermen to sail to disputed areas, charged a former chief of defence him to a summit of Muslim countries. interests, a government official said and the government subsidises them staff with a string of corruption Bashir met President Joko yesterday, referring to ships on the in making trips to distant waters. charges, in the latest case involv- Widodo and the Indonesian foreign frontlines of China’s push to assert In recent years, the fishermen ing a high-ranking official. minister briefly on the sidelines of an its claims in disputed waters. have ventured deeper into waters Retired air chief marshal Alex Organisation of Islamic Cooperation China has come under fire from near Southeast Asia in search of new Badeh was arrested last month (OIC) summit in Jakarta. the United States and its allies in fishing grounds as stocks thin out and questioned about the alleged Bashir regularly travels to Sudan’s recent months over its land recla- close to home. Experts say privately diversion of 3.97bn naira ($19.7m) neighbours but goes on long-distance mation activities in the South China owned fishing boats and commer- from the Nigeria Air Force in 2013. trips less frequently. Sea’s disputed Spratly archipelago. cial trawlers are on the frontlines of The 59-year-old, who at the The International Criminal Court Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (left) welcomes Sudan’s President Beijing claims almost all of the China’s increasingly assertive push time was chief of air staff, was for- (ICC) indicted him over war crimes Omar Hassan Al Bashir to the 5th Extraordinary Organization of Islamic South China Sea, through which $5 to protect what it sees as its sover- mally arraigned with 10 counts of and crimes against humanity in 2009 Cooperation (OIC) Summit, in Jakarta, yesterday. trillion in ship-borne trade passes eign maritime territory in the region. fraud, criminal breach of trust and and on genocide charges in 2010, all annually, but Brunei, Malaysia, the “We encourage fishermen to money laundering at a federal high relating to the conflict in Sudan’s we treat all OIC members as state and African leaders, but cancelled at Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam go out, and support them because court in Abuja yesterday. Darfur region. guests,” he said. “We can’t just choose the last minute. have overlapping claims. they need to fish to live,” Luo added, One of the charges states that Members of the Hague-based ICC who we want to invite, and who we He visited China in September, Luo Baoming, the Communist saying the government gave them he removed 1.4bn naira from the are obliged to arrest Bashir. Indonesia don’t want to.” where President Xi Jinping welcomed Party boss of the southern island financial subsidies as well as fuel. air force accounts to purchase a is not a signatory to the ICC. When asked about the war him as an “old friend of the Chinese province of Hainan, made the com- Staffers at a briefing by a gov- mansion in the upmarket Maitama Indonesian foreign minis- crimes accusations levelled at Bashir, people”. ments during the annual session of ernment delegation from Hainan district of the capital. try spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir Nasir responded: “We are not a mem- The Darfur conflict erupted in China’s parliament, the National handed out buttons featuring islands Judge Okon Abang remanded insisted that Indonesia was obliged ber of the ICC so we are in no position 2003 when ethnic insurgents rebelled People’s Congress (NPC). and reefs China claims in the tense Badeh in custody until a bail appli- to invite all leaders of OIC nations to to make the same accusations.” against the Arab-dominated Khar- “If it can be said that that we region, marked with their Chinese cation on Thursday. the summit, including Bashir. Bashir was due to visit Indone- toum government, complaining of want to safeguard China’s rights names, and attempted to photograph Former president Goodluck “OIC state leaders can come, and sia last year for a conference of Asian marginalisation. and interest in the South China Sea, foreign journalists wearing the pins. Jonathan appointed Badeh chief of defence staff in January 2014 at a time of growing dissatisfaction at the military’s handling of Boko Haram’s insurgency. Lanka official sacked for Poach and perish Badeh vowed a swift end to the conflict, which began in 2009, but his time in office saw the Islamist militants run riot in three north- shooing away couples east states, seizing swathes of territory. The military appeared in dis- array, with troops complaining AFP security guards were driving away about a lack of weapons and even unmarried couples. bullets to fight the better armed He said he spoke with Prime rebels, leading some soldiers to Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who refuse to deploy. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s government ordered the sacking of the director Former national security has sacked a senior security official in charge of security. advisor Sambo Dasuki is cur- after guards chased away couples “What happened was their boss rently facing a separate trial over from a monument in Colombo for got fired,” de Silva said. his alleged diversion of billions of holding hands, a minister in the “The guards will be sent some- dollars for weapons procurement conservative Buddhist country said where else and hopefully warned not using bogus defence contracts. yesterday. to repeat their arrogant behaviour.” Badeh’s time in charge also The move came after a couple The couple who filmed the saw Boko Haram’s abduction of posted video of the guards on social guards said they were told that only more than 200 schoolgirls from media and is a marked change from married couples with children were the town of Chibok in April 2014, the former government, under which allowed to sit at the monument, built which caused worldwide anger police would routinely round up to mark independence from Britain and criticism of the government young lovers for kissing in public. in 1948. response. In May that year he dis- Deputy foreign minister Harsha Sri Lanka’s largely conservative Staff of Mozambican anti-poaching authorities demonstrate their skills to journalists at the Limpopo closed the military knew where de Silva said he intervened after Buddhist society looks down on pub- the 219 girls were but that a res- visiting the Independence Square lic displays of affection even among National Park, Gaza Province, Mozambique, yesterday. cue mission was dangerous. monument on Sunday and finding married couples. 12 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 PAKISTAN Militants kill 17 to ‘avenge’ Qadri’s death

official confirmed the new death The Pakistani toll and said that most of the dead have been buried. Taliban’s School teacher Murid Khan, who Jamat-ul-Ahrar was in the complex for a land dis- pute hearing, said he was getting faction claimed documents photocopied when he responsibility for heard gunshots. “I looked back and there was a huge explosion,” he said, the attack, saying it adding the blast threw him over the avenged the hanging photocopier. “I heard screams and saw black clouds of smoke, then I fell of Mumtaz Qadri. unconscious” after being hit by two pieces of shrapnel, he said. The Pakistani Taliban’s Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction claimed Reuters responsibility for the attack, saying it avenged the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri — feted as a hero by con- Pakistani soldiers inspect the site of a suicide bombing in Shabqadar, yesterday. servative Muslims after he gunned PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber down the Punjab governor, Salman killed 17 people and injured 31 in Taseer, for his opposition to blas- northwest Pakistan yesterday, in an phemy law. Yesterday’s blast also attack which the Taliban described targeted the court complex because Lawyers’ group behind spike in blasphemy cases as revenge for the hanging of a man Pakistan’s judiciary was strengthen- convicted of the 2011 killing a poli- ing “un-Islamic laws”, Ehsanullah tician who had called for reform of Ehsan, a spokesman for the Taliban, Reuters insulting Islam or the Prophet Muham- and activists say accusations can be criminal blasphemy cases, and said blasphemy laws. said. Authorities said six women, mad (Peace Be Upon Him) is charged, used by complainants to settle per- his group had grown to 700 lawyers The bomber, whom police said two children and two policemen tried and executed. sonal scores and intimidate liberal in Punjab, where the majority of blas- was aged around 20 and had up were among the dead. “Whoever does this (blasphemy), journalists, lawyers and politicians. phemy cases are heard. to 6kg of explosives strapped to Senior regional police official ISLAMABAD: A little-known alliance the punishment is only death. There At the same time, authorities are No one in Pakistan has been exe- his chest, attacked as lawyers and Saeed Wazir praised the bravery of of hundreds of lawyers in Pakistan is is no alternative,” Chaudhry told sup- seeking to reduce room for abuse by cuted for blasphemy so far, but jails litigants were arriving at a court officers who “sacrificed their lives”. behind the rise in prosecutions for porters crammed into his small office insisting senior police officers are are filling up with those sentenced to complex during the morning rush There were around 300 people blasphemy, a crime punishable by behind the towering red-brick High involved in cases and ruling that death, and there have been sporadic hour in the town of Shabqadar. in the complex at the time, another death that goes to the heart of an ide- Court building in Lahore. criticising the law does not constitute assassinations of the accused and peo- Senior government official Tariq police official said. ological clash between reformers and The campaign could complicate blasphemy itself. ple involved in their defence. Hassan said the death toll rose to 17 Local bar association president religious conservatives. the government’s tentative efforts to Since Khatm-e-Nubuwwat was At least 65 people, including law- late yesterday as four more of those Shair Qadir said they had requested The group offers free legal advice reform blasphemy legislation, a tough founded 15 years ago, the number yers, defendants and judges, have been injured succumbed to their inju- security after receiving threats of an to complainants and has packed task in a country where support for the of criminal blasphemy cases filed in murdered over blasphemy allegations ries in hospital. Officials earlier attack, but no action was taken in courtrooms with representatives, a law is widespread. Punjab, the group’s home base, had since 1990, according to figures from a said that 13 people had been killed what he termed a police failure. tactic critics say is designed to help it Chaudhry was the defence lawyer tripled to 336 by 2014, according to Centre for Research and Security Stud- and 23 wounded after the bomber Shabqadar is near the Moh- gain convictions. for Mumtaz Qadri, executed for gun- police figures. ies report and local media. blew himself up inside the com- mand tribal district, one of seven The stated mission of the Khatm- ning down Punjab governor in 2011 It fell to 210 in 2015 as stricter pro- Reema Omer, legal adviser at the plex. “Condition of four to five more semi-autonomous regions border- e-Nubuwwat Lawyers’ Forum and its over his criticism of the blasphemy vincial rules were applied, but critics International Commission of Jurists, an injured was critical and doctors are ing Afghanistan where militants leader Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry is law. said the number was still too high. advocacy group of lawyers and judges, struggling to save their lives,” Hasan from Al-Qaeda and the Taliban had uncompromising: to use its expertise Even discussing blasphemy is a Chaudhry said he had person- said the rise in blasphemy cases was said. Fayaz Khan, a senior police established bases in the past. and influence to ensure that anyone challenge in Pakistan, and officials ally been involved in more than 50 deepening fears of speaking out. Calls for more women Pakistani to head UN in National Assembly committee

Internews It said adequate representation on science of women in legislatures would send the message in spite of dis- Internews LAHORE: The Human Rights Com- crimination in society, they were mission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised not marginalised when it came to concern on poor representation of the legislations. KARACHI: The United Nations has women in parliament and urged the It, however, said women’s pres- appointed Prof Dr Attaur Rahman government and all political parties ence in key parliamentary positions as Chairman of the UN committee to address the issue. falls well below the low percentage on Science, Technology and Inno- A press statement issued by of their representation. vation. HRCP, as part of its media campaign Among the parliamentary secre- Prof Rahman, former federal ahead of International Women’s taries, there are three women and 17 minister for science and technol- Afghan refugee boy Mahdi Rabani (second left) with his parents and his brother, in the arrival hall of Day (March 8) today, said the ratio men. Of the 32 standing committees ogy, will chair the first meeting of Hanover-Langenhagen Airport in Hanover, Germany, yesterday. Mahdi went missing at the start of 2015 of women’s representation in the of the National Assembly, not a sin- the committee in Bangkok. during a crossing to Greece. An aid-worker with the German RedCross tracked down the 10-year-old boy national and provincial legislatures gle one is head by a woman. The UN Economic Social Com- in Switzerland, where he had arrived with another Afghan family. was somewhat better than in the judi- In the Senate, two women mission for Asia and Pacific will ciary and governance, but added that headed standing committees, com- also hold its meeting in Bangkok it was largely owing to reservation. pared to 28 committees where men the same day. A senior official In the 342-strong National are the chairpersons. of the International Centre for Growing number of Afghan Assembly, there are only 70 women “Whereas thousands upon thou- Chemical and Biological Sciences, lawmakers. Out of these, only nine sands of men had contested elections University of Karachi, said that the have become MNAs (Member of on the general seats in the 2013 elec- committee would discuss ways and migrants in Europe returning National Assembly) after contesting tions, only 135 women contested means to promote science, tech- election on a general seat. All the rest election on general seats. Out of nology and innovation among the have been nominated on reserved these 61 women contested election member states. He said knowledge AFP nightmarish and Europeans kept seekers poured into Europe in 2015 seats. In the 100-member Senate, on party tickets,” it said. The onus is transforming the landscape of humiliating us all the time. Many of — twice as many as the previous there are currently only 19 women is on the political parties to explain many countries who are investing them say refugees will destroy the year—fleeing war and poverty in lawmakers, the commission noted. why they have not played a greater in higher education and promotion culture of their country,” he said, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and else- HRCP said the women law- role in ensuring gender parity in of innovation through applications KABUL: After risking death on the after returning to Kabul. where in the Middle East and North makers’ contribution in terms of parliament. It urged the govern- of science and technology. migrant trail and two months in A chartered plane last month Africa. Only a fraction of those legislative output was proportion- ment to fulfil Pakistan’s obligations Prf Rahman obtained his PhD “nightmarish” refugee centres in brought 135 disillusioned Afghan ref- Afghans—around 1,000 in total— ately far greater than their numerical to remove the barriers to women’s in organic chemistry from Cam- Germany, Mohammed Asif bought a ugees back from Germany, in what have requested to leave Germany and strength in parliament. participation in the public sphere. bridge University in 1968. one-way ticket back to Afghanistan, is likely to be the first of many such return home, according to the IOM. relinquishing his lifelong dream of flights organised by Kabul, Berlin Afghan officials are keen to asylum in Europe. and the International Organization reassure the returnees that they Afghans are the second-largest for Migration (IOM). have a future in the country, even China team to review airport site migrant group—behind Syrians— Smuggling networks are flourish- though pessimism abounds about arriving in Europe, where authorities ing, making money from desperate the deteriorating war and a slump- are struggling to cope with the con- migrants undertaking dangerous ing economy. tinent’s worst refugee crisis since journeys on well-trodden Mediter- Those who returned on the Internews In February last year, Gwadar arrange a seafront of around 21km World War II. A small but growing ranean trails via Iran, Turkey and chartered plane were greeted at the port was handed over to the Chinese which is assigned to the port operator number, like 26-year-old Asif, are Greece. But many realise, rather airport with signs saying: “Welcome Overseas Port Holding Company to (China) for port development on Build now returning to their country torn belatedly, that most smugglers sell home. Afghanistan needs you.” GWADAR: A delegation from the make it operational. Operate and Transfer basis under a by war and gripped by economic them a pack of lies about lucrative Abdul Ghafoor, 24, said he paid Chinese Overseas Port Holding The agreement on the 40-year 40-year concession. malaise, as overcrowded refugee jobs and a cosy life in Europe. a smuggler $7,500 to take him to Company is expected to arrive in lease on the project includes con- He says that so far “the port centres, a lack of jobs and the rise “The most dangerous part of my Europe, a sum well beyond his Pakistan along the Arabian Sea today struction of an international airport consists of 706 metres long multi- of anti-immigrant fervour in Europe long journey to Europe was from Iran means, but after three miserable to visit the site of the new interna- and a four-lane road on the main purpose terminal and a service berth leave them disillusioned. to Turkey,” Asif recalled. months near the central German tional airport in Gwadar. arterial road of Gwadar. About with a roll-on / roll-off facility.” Sim- “I thought Europe would offer me “There was an overweight Afghan city of Frankfurt, he longed for home. The delegation will inspect the 700metres of construction work on ply put, only “0.7 per cent of work a comfortable life, but I found only boy in our group who was struggling “The refugee camps were unin- site to begin work, according to the the 50km seafront Gwadar port has on the port has been done since its hostility and pain,” said Asif, who to walk through the mountains. The habitable, the toilets were filthy and Director General of the Gwadar been done, according to the Chair- inception in 2006”. has a graduate degree in economics smuggler was cruel—he gave him a every meal comprised of just jam and Development Authority, Dr Sajjad man of the Gwadar Port Authority Despite having an excellent line- and left for Germany with a people- kick and he went tumbling down the butter,” said Ghafoor, who is down- Hussain Baloch. The construction (GPA), Dostain Khan Jamaldini. up of plans for the port on paper, the smuggler last year. slopes. We never found his body.” beat about employment prospects of the airport would be “completed Of the 50km seafront mas- infrastructural work on ground is “The refugee camps were Figures show 1.25 million asylum following his return. by the end of this year”, he added. ter plan area, GPA has been able to less visible. INDIA TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 13

Farmers see Modi’s budget Honour for Indian Army regiment as all promise, no delivery

subsidy to the agriculture budget that have taken out more loans or sold was previously borne by the finance cattle to tide themselves over. Growing discontent ministry. All but one said they will not sup- in rural India bodes “We have received nothing from port Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party the government. We don’t even (BJP) in next year’s poll in Uttar ill for Modi as he tries recover our costs,” said Singh, whose Pradesh, India’s most populous state, to bounce back from 21 acre plot is big by Indian standards. home to 200 million people. a heavy defeat in a Two failed monsoons, and sudden In 2014, the party swept Uttar unseasonal rains, have caused wide- Pradesh, winning 71 of 80 seats state election last spread crop damage across northern to claim the strongest parliamen- year in Bihar and India. Debt-laden farmers like Singh tary mandate in three decades. The say low state purchase prices and a budget play seemed designed to build a support base lack of compensation for crop losses improve its standing in rural areas, to keep power in the are worsening their plight. traditionally a weak spot for the BJP. Singh lost $4,500 over the past “For the first time the agricul- 2019 general election. two years because of severe dam- ture sector has figured prominently age to his wheat and sugarcane crops in budget, and for the first time we’ve in the Ghaziabad district of Uttar seen such a sharp rise in allocation Pradesh, 50km east of New Delhi. for farmers’ welfare,” Farm Minis- Reuters It has left him with debts of more ter Radha Mohan Singh told a news $10,000, and despair has driven him conference. to think of selling his land. But Jai Kisan Andolan, a peasants’ “We have so much land but we rights movement, and 35 farm- KHANJARPUR: Farmer Ram Pal still struggle to survive ... there is ing unions counter that the budget Singh voted for Narendra Modi’s only sadness in farming,” said Singh, offered them no debt relief, and promise of “better days” in India’s 60, who does not want his grandchil- failed to hike either government farm 2014 general election, but he won’t dren to work in the fields. purchase prices or crop-loss com- be backing the prime minister again Last month, farmers went on the pensation rates. even after last week’s budget prom- rampage in neighbouring Haryana “Most of what the budget speech ised more aid to the countryside. state to protest a lack of economic projects as big favours to the farm- Growing discontent in rural India, opportunity. Thirty people died and ing community is actually ‘business home to two-thirds of the country’s saboteurs cut metropolitan Delhi’s as usual’ with a sleight of hand,” the 1.3 billion people, bodes ill for Modi main water supply. groups said in a statement after the as he tries to bounce back from a “The budget may give you an budget. In addition, the main effort heavy defeat in a state election last illusion the government has tried to to expand irrigation — adding just 2 year in Bihar and build a support address the problems faced by farm- percent of net cultivated area of 141 base to keep power in the 2019 gen- ers,” said independent food and trade million hectares — is seen as piece- eral election. policy analyst Devinder Sharma. He meal. And a new crop insurance In an eyecatching announce- called instead for a package of “imme- scheme is expected to get off to a ment, the budget doubled spending diate assistance” to stop a spate of slow start. Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh (second right) presents the President’s Standard to the 18 on agriculture and farmers’ welfare suicides by farmers from spreading. “The government does not have a to $5.3bn in support of his promise Modi last year promised higher firm plan to address the rural crisis. Cavalry, a frontline Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army, on behalf of the President of India, at that their incomes would double by compensation for crop losses, but They will have to pay a big political Amritsar Military Station yesterday. The honour was bestowed for its 174 years of meritorious and 2022. Yet critics say most of the extra more than a dozen farmers inter- price for this,” said Satish Misra, a polit- distinguished service to the nation. The President’s Standard is a source of pride and is looked upon spending is in fact an accounting viewed by Reuters on a field trip said ical analyst at the Observer Research with high respect by any regiment. entry that shifts the cost of an interest they had received no relief. Many Foundation in New Delhi. Reform Over 40% of women confined to domestic work: Report or perish: Reuters United States, World Bank data shows. marginalised groups especially - leaving them out of the formal work- against. Lower-caste Dalit women Jaitley to Domestic work is not consid- vulnerable to exploitative labour force and unable to contribute to the face threats of violence, eviction and ered as productive and is neglected arrangements, forcing them to pro- economy, consultancy firm McKinsey withholding of wages if they try to in policy, leaving the women at a vide cheap labour,” wrote the authors said in a report last year. give up the practice. states MUMBAI: Women are among the severe disadvantage, said the report led by social worker Harsh Mander. If that work were to be valued and Recent campaigns including most excluded groups in India, with by the Centre for Equity Studies in “With women in conditions akin compensated in the same way as paid #SelfiewithDaughter and Prime Min- IANS almost 43 percent of working-age New Delhi. to bondage, factors such as confine- work, it would contribute $300bn a ister Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti padhao, women confined to domestic work, Besides cooking, cleaning and ment of workers engaged in this work year to India’s economic output, it beti bachao’ (educate your daugh- while many who do work outside caring for children and elderly family in homes or hostels, and the media- said. Indian women are also denied ter, save your daughter) have helped the home face exploitation and low members, Indian women also perform tion of the employment relationship equal access to services including increase awareness of women’s rights. GURGAON: Advocating the need pay, according to the India Exclusion unpaid work in family businesses through the male head of the house- education, health care, housing and But India must get more girls into for states to compete with each Report. and low-paid labour in factories and hold — for instance, in brick kilns and public transport. Single women and secondary and university education, other in attracting investments, Despite rising levels of literacy, the enterprises in the so-called informal quarries — further serve to render so-called Devadasis are among the expand skills training and provide union Finance Minister Arun Jait- proportion of working-age women sector, where they are discriminated women invisible.” most vulnerable, the 2015 Exclusion greater access to financial services, ley yesterday said that states need in India’s formal labour force is only against and paid less than men. Women in India do almost 10 times Report said. Women in hazardous while also dispelling deep-rooted to “reform or perish” in the era of about 27 percent, compared with “Social status and poverty inter- as much unpaid work as men - a much occupations such as construction and patriarchal attitudes, the McKinsey competitive federalism. almost 60 percent in Britain and the sect to make women from historically higher ratio than the global average mining are routinely discriminated report had said. India has become a competi- tive federalism, with states vying with each other to attract invest- ment, he said while inaugurating the two-day ‘Happening Hary- Religious festival Double blow to business ana Global Investors’ Summit in this Haryana city, adjoining the national capital. tycoon Vijay Mallya “Reform or perish could not be more true than it is today. It is about states competing with each IANS sought by the applicant banks stands other to attract investment. attached,” the order said. “Those who don’t reform... The tribunal also directed all people in those states are at a dis- defendants to furnish details of the advantage and those who are in a MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: In a double agreement on or before the next date position to offer more favourable blow to beleaguered business tycoon of hearing on March 28. economic, business and political Vijay Mallya yesterday, the Enforce- It also ordered issuing notice environment to investors cer- ment Directorate (ED) in Mumbai on the bank’s application to Diageo tainly are going to benefit,” Jaitley lodged a money laundering case and office in London through registered pointed out. the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in post. A consortium of 17 state-run Noting that a growing number Bengaluru barred British giant Dia- and private banks led by SBI filed of Indian states were holding geo from paying him anything till a the application on February 26, a investor summits, he warned case against him was disposed off. day after Diageo signed the deal them that an environment of pol- The tribunal barred Diageo plc with Mallya for resigning as chair- icy paralysis was bound to put off from paying Rs5.04bn ($75m) as a man and not competing with it in potential investors. severance package to Mallya who the spirits business worldwide for The investors’ summit quit the chairmanship of its Indian the next five years for $40m this started under the shadow of the company, United Spirits Ltd last year and the balance ($35m) over Devotees light earthen lamps during the Maha Shivaratri festival in Hyderabad yesterday. The festival recent Jat agitation for reserva- month, till the pending case against the next four years. tion which saw Haryana being is marked by fasting and offering prayers in a night-long vigil. the liquor baron before it is decided. According to the SBI counsel, paralysed by violence, leav- “The presiding officer of DRT (R Mallya’s now defunct Kingfisher ing 30 people dead and losses Benkanahalli) ordered temporary Airline owes the consortium a to property pegged at over attachment of the severance pack- whopping Rs10,000 crore, including Rs20,000crore. Referring to the age amount and directed Diageo not compound interest over the remain- violent protests, Jaitley said: “The to pay it till our case is finally heard ing combined loans of Rs7,800 crore dark clouds are over.” Nine arrested in Chhattisgarh attack and disposed of,” counsel for State borrowed between 2004-12 before Host state Haryana, which has Bank of India (SBI) told media per- it was grounded and shut down seen big industrial investment in AFP injured when a group of about 50 church had been involved in convert- sons in Bengaluru. subsequently. the past over three decades, signed men barged into the church in the ing local people to Christianity, and Reading out the one-page order, In another major blow for 38 MoUs with different compa- central state of Chhattisgarh during six more yesterday. Benkanahalli said Mallya shall Mallya, the ED registered a money- nies, involving an investment of Sunday mass. “Nine people have been Witness Shiv Kumar described not temporarily draw the $75m laundering case against him. “We Rs1,28,740 crore. RAIPUR: Police yesterday said they arrested so far,” district police chief how the men stormed into the church mentioned in the interlocutory appli- have filed a case against Mallya Haryana Chief Minister have arrested nine people over an Badri Narayan Meena said. with their faces covered, shouting cation till the case’s disposal. on Monday. The case is specifi- Manohar Lal Khattar promised attack on a church that wounded “The investigation is on and more slogans and terrifying worshippers. “Diageo plc and United Spirits cally based on the case registered entrepreneurs and potential inves- some worshippers and raised fresh arrests can’t be ruled out.” Three The men smashed chairs and Ltd shall not disburse the amount by the CBI against him and others tors all out support by the fears among the country’s Christian of the men were arrested shortly musical instruments, leading to scuf- ($75m) to Mallya or his nominees or in (October) 2015,” Assistant Director government and assured ease of minority. after the attack, which appears to fles with worshippers who tried to agents till the disposal of the bank’s (Enforcement Directorate) A K Rawal doing business. Children were among those have been triggered by rumours the stop them. original application (OA). Amount as said in New Delhi. 14 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 INDIA

Left Front comes On alert out with first list of candidates

which would ensure there was no split in anti-Trinamool Congress votes. LF chairman Biman “If the Congress has faith in Bose ruled out any the LF slogan of ‘Trinamool hotao, Bangla bachao (Remove Trinamool, joint campaign with save Bengal), and BJP hotao, desh the Congress in the bachao’ (Remove BJP, save coun- Bengal assembly try), it will be with us. We are trying to work out an understanding with elections. the Congress, and neither a front, nor alliance,” Bose said. The LF chairman said: “LF will campaign from LF platform, and IANS Congress from its platform. There will be no platform sharing on the campaign trail”. However, in the event of vio- KOLKATA: West Bengal’s main lence during the poll campaign, the opposition Left Front (LF) yes- LF, its associates and the Congress terday released its first list of 116 will rush to the spot without carry- Rickshaws drive past Delhi police security barricade at India Gate in New Delhi yesterday. The national capital was on high alert following candidates, that included former ing the respective party flags. intelligence that militants could have crossed over from Pakistan. The militants were plotting a major strike on shopping malls, markets Asian Games gold medallist runner Bose mocked posters and graffiti or military installations, and police were directed to enhance security arrangements. Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, and said talks linking the LF spearhead Communist were on “at a fast pace” for an under- Party of India-Marxist poll symbol standing with the Congress, for the sickle-hammer-star with the Con- upcoming state assembly polls. gress’ symbol hand. “This is not our However, LF chairman Biman stand. sickle-hammer is sickle-ham- Bose ruled out any joint campaign mer. Hand is hand.” JNU row: News channels may face action with the Congress. “Discussion were Sikdar, a former CPI-M MP, on at a fast pace. We already have would be in fray from Ranaghat IANS action against three news channels Communist Party of India-Marx- a front. Now we are forging a new North seat in Nadia district, while that showed the alleged doctored vid- ist (CPI-M), general secretary Sitaram front. Earlier we had parties like the State CPI-M secretary Surjya Kant eos of the February 9 incident at the Yechury and Janata Dal-United Nationalist Congress Party and the Mishra would contest from his old Jawaharlal Nehru University where leader K C Tyagi met Delhi Chief Min- Aden attack Rashtriya Janata Dal with us. Now constituency of Narayangarh of NEW DELHI: The Delhi government “anti-India” slogans were raised. ister Arvind Kejriwal over the issue. survivor reaches the Janata Dal-United will be part West Midnapore district. A signifi- is likely to take legal action against The move comes after a magis- The DM’s report said that seven of the expanded Left front. Some cant feature of the list was that 68 of three news channels that allegedly trate report submitted to the Delhi videos related to JNU incident were Abu Dhabi other parties are also keen to join,” the candidates were fresh faces. The ran doctored videos of the JNU con- government said that “no direct link” sent to Truth Labs, Hyderabad, of said Bose. list included 16 women, and 25 from troversy, sources said yesterday. has been found between JNU Students which three were found to be doc- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Regarding the Congress, he said the religious minorities. The state is According to the government Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and tored. “In those doctored versions, The Mother Superior, the LF was trying to work out an slated to hold the seven-phase polls sources, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) the anti-India sloganeering on at the video has been edited and voices of the old age home understanding with the Congress, from April 4 to May 5. government is contemplating legal February 9 campus event. added,” the report said. in Aden, which was attacked last week, has been flown out to Abu Dhabi, said Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Germany to help make Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Kochi smart cities Chandy. He said that Sis- ter Sally has been flown out from the troubled IANS ministry of environment, nature residential housing, water supply and Bhubaneswar, Kochi and Coimbat- Chatterjee, secretary in the housing place and from there, she conservation, building and nuclear waste water management. “This has ore. These are among the first cities of and urban poverty alleviation minis- is proceeding to Jordan, safety, Gunther Adler, said at a media been taken up by the Indian govern- the 100 smart cities chosen,” he said. try. He also met representatives of the where the congregation briefing. “Here the German build- ment by launching 100 smart cities Adler, who is on a two-day visit Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). to which she belongs has NEW DELHI: Germany will partner ing ministry also supports German programme which we are ready to to India, made the announcement German Ambassador to India Mar- establishments. He said India in turning Bhubaneswar, Coim- companies that want to cooperate support,” Adler said. at the second meeting of the Indo- tin Ney said his country was an ideal that this came through batore and Kochi into smart cities, it intensively with Indian partners in He said the Indian govern- German Working Group on Urban partner in India’s endeavour to cre- with the support of was announced yesterday. order to assist Indian cities in imple- ment last year invited Germany Development,a new forum initiated ate smarter cities. “We are very strong External Affairs Ministry “Germany wants to support the menting their plan,” he said. to be a partner in its Smart Cit- in 2015. Adler also met Madhusu- at smart planning for urban centres. which directed its Dji- ambitious Smart Cities programme of He said urbanisation went hand ies programme. “Cooperation has dan Prasad, secretary in the urban We have developed the technologies bouti embassy to help India,” State Secretary in the German in hand with the requirement of been announced in the cities of development ministry and Nandita to make life in cities easier,” he said. Sister Sally. Sally headed the old age home run by the Mother Teresa’s Mis- sionaries of Charity. Kashmir protest BJP govt muzzling Women activists voice of poor: Rahul stopped from reaching shrine

IANS and (JNU student leader) Kan- PUNE/NASHIK: Mahar- haiya Kumar is being threatened. ashtra Police last Wherever the poor, Dalits, farm- evening detained over ers, small-time traders are asking 100 women activists NEW DELHI: Congress vice pres- for their rights, the National Dem- planning to storm the ident Rahul Gandhi yesterday ocratic Alliance government is sanctum sanctorum of accused the Narendra Modi gov- crushing their voice,” the Congress the renowned Trimbake- ernment of muzzling the voice of leader added. shwar Temple in Nashik the poor, tribals and the underpriv- “These poor people are the real district, one of the 12 ileged. strength of the country. They are, Jyotirlingas in the coun- “Tribals from Bastar and other in fact, driving it. If anyone breaks try. Around 200 women areas of Chhattisgarh came to see law, action must be taken against activists of the Bhumata me. They told me they are being him, but threatening the poor and Ranragini Brigade led oppressed and their voice muzzled repressing their voice will not do any by its president Trupti by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led good to anyone,” the Congress vice Desai had left Pune and government,” Gandhi told reporters president said. were joined by another after meeting a delegation of trib- “Modi ji made a personal attack 100 women en route als and Congress legislators from on me in parliament. Everyday, to Nashik, but all were Police detained Kashmir lawmaker, Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh, along with some of his supporters, Bastar area of Chhattisgarh at his his partymen also make personal stopped around 100km yesterday, Sheikh was protesting against the arrest of three youth from Langate area of north Kashmir residence. attacks on me. I don’t care but please away at Shingote village who he alleged were framed and held at Kot Bilwal Jail in Jammu under the Public Safety Act (PSA). “You suppressed Rohith Vem- don’t attack the poor and the under- near in Nashik. ula in Hyderabad; here, our students privileged,” he added. Pharma crusader takes drug regulators to court

Reuters employer, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Thakur’s fresh case, a Pub- a commission to examine faulty drug Thakur says the responses he failed to conduct proper safety and lic Interest Litigation (PIL) suit, is approvals. The head of the CDSCO, obtained show CDSCO and the health quality tests on drugs and lied to reg- listed on the Supreme Court website GN Singh, said: “We welcome whistle- ministry have still not adequately ulators about its procedures. for hearing on Friday. It alleges that blowers, we have got great respect, investigated and prosecuted those NEW DELHI: One of India’s best- He made his name, and almost responses provided to him by govern- but their intentions should be genuine, breaches, despite saying they would. known whistleblowers, who exposed $48mn as a whistle-blower award ment show how lax regulation can should be nationalistic... I don’t have “An overwhelming number of dangerous practices in the generic from the United States, when US reg- lead to potentially harmful medicines any comment on this guy.” non-standard-quality drugs are not drug industry in 2013, is taking the ulators fined Ranbaxy $500mn for being sold in India without approvals. The other named parties did not prosecuted in criminal cases, since country’s drugs regulators to court, violating federal drug safety laws and The suit, which names as respondents respond to requests for comment. state drug controllers only impose accusing them of failing to enforce making false statements to the Food the health ministry, the Drugs Con- Thakur spent much of 2015 work- minor administrative penalties on the rules on drug safety in the $15bn and Drug Administration (FDA). sultative Committee and the Central ing with lawyers to file more than 100 offenders,” Thakur says in the lawsuit, industry. Ranbaxy said the fine marked the Drugs Standard Control Organization public information requests on how citing government data. Three years ago, Dinesh Thakur resolution of past issues and it con- (CDSCO), would not result in penalties state and central drug authorities had The health ministry and CDSCO (pictured) exposed how India’s then tinued to make safe, effective and but sets as objectives the creation of a responded to cases where rules had did not respond to requests for com- largest drug-maker and his former quality medicines. framework for the recall of drugs and been broken. ment on its penalty policy. EUROPE / UK TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 15 Brexit fallout: UK business chief steps down

Reuters national security and economic sta- his personal views on the referen- Longworth had been forced to step bility would be at risk if it votes to dum were “likely to create confusion aside for what he said was a “a pas- British Chambers of leave the 28-nation EU, though his regarding the BCC’s neutral stance”. sionate optimistic view” on Britain’s Commerce director ruling Conservative Party is deeply Cameron’s office rejected media future prospects outside the EU. LONDON: The head of a prominent general, John split. reports which cited people close to Conservative lawmaker and British business lobbying group has “It is highly irresponsible of the Longworth as saying that it had pres- former defence secretary Liam Fox, quit his post after speaking in favour Longworth accused government of the country to be ped- sured the BCC to remove him from who is also campaigning for ‘Out’, said of Britain’s exit from the European Prime Minister David dling hyperbole,” Longworth told the his position. it was inappropriate to use “the appa- Union and has accused Prime Min- Daily Telegraph newspaper in an “No pressure was applied,” Cam- ratus of the state” to put pressure on ister David Cameron of trying to scare Cameron of trying interview published yesterday. eron’s spokeswoman said. those expressing their personal views. voters into supporting continued EU to scare voters into “If the government keeps ped- The BCC’s Senior also said “no The BCC represents thousands membership. dling the line that it will be a disaster external factors” had been involved. of British businesses and its own British Chambers of Com- supporting continued if we leave, which it actually won’t be, “No politician or interest group research indicates a majority of them merce (BCC) director general, John EU membership. they are going to put the country in had any influence on the BCC board favour Britain remaining in the EU. Longworth (pictured), resigned a position where it will be damaged decision to suspend Mr Longworth. Prominent British companies late on Sunday after he breached if we do.” His subsequent resignation was such as BP and GlaxoSmithKline have the group’s neutral stance on the Longworth’s comments mark the issue has split senior members of agreed mutually between Mr Long- cautioned that Britain’s $2.9 trillion in-out referendum to be held on economic future outside the bloc. the latest spat in what is becoming Cameron’s cabinet, pitting him against worth and the BCC,” she said. economy could face years of uncer- June 23 by saying that the EU was After his resignation was an increasingly divisive battle over popular London Mayor Boris Johnson. Johnson, the ‘Out’ campaign’s tain negotitations if voters chose to incapable of meaningful reform announced, Longworth criticised Britain’s future in the EU. Polls show Announcing Longworth’s resigna- most high-profile backer, said on leave the EU. “Out” campaigners say and Britain could have a bright Cameron, who argues that Britain’s public opinion is finely balanced and tion, BCC President Nora Senior said Sunday it was “scandalous” that such warnings are overblown.

Ukraine urges US and Fun time with family EU to press Russia release of jailed pilot

AFP sparked concern among Western governments and leading human rights figures. The Belarussian writer Svetlana KIEV: Ukrainian President Petro Alexievich and two other Nobel Poroshenko called on Washington Prize winners in literature—Austria’s and Brussels yesterday to step up Elfriede Jelinek and the Lithuanian- pressure on Moscow to secure the American Tomas Venclova—told release of a hunger-striking Ukrain- European leaders that Savchenko’s ian pilot from a Russian jail. life and the bloc’s credibility were Three Nobel Prize laureates were at stake. also among thousands of people who “Our ability to save her life will signed a petition urging European test the effectiveness of international leaders “to take emergency meas- diplomacy and our commitment to ures” to seek the return home of European values,” said an open let- 34-year-old Nadiya Savchenko. ter posted online Sunday and signed The helicopter pilot is standing by more than 5,000 people by early trial for alleged involvement in the Monday. death of two Russian journalists in Savchenko was “kidnapped and war-scarred eastern Ukraine in 2014. imprisoned for more than 20 months She faces up to 23 years in prison in the Russian Federation,” the let- if convicted in a trial that has drawn ter said. global attention and been attended “The Russian authorities have Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose with their children Princess Charlotte and Prince George by Western monitors concerned made a mockery of civil rights, during their skiing break in the French Alps. about Russia’s allegedly deteriorat- international law, and their own ing human rights record. Constitution. They show disdain for Savchenko denies all charges and the international community and the has refused all food and drink since Minsk Protocol” that aims to bring an her hearing was adjourned Thurs- end to the 23-month war. day before she was given a chance US State Department spokesman IS looking for spectacular attacks: Police Dissident Irish to make a final statement. John Kirby stressed on Thursday that Poroshenko wrote on Facebook Savchenko “needs to be released”. that “Ukraine has sent a letter to EU “She’s been detained for no Reuters “What we are now seeing in About 800 British citizens are group claims nations and the United States with the good reason, and we want to see her recent months ... is the broadening thought to have travelled to Syria, request to intensify their pressure on released and sent home where she of that threat, more plans to attack many to join IS, since the outbreak Belfast bomb Russia aimed at securing our Nadi- belongs,” Toner said. Western lifestyle ... going from that of civil war. ya’s release.” Prosecutors argue that LONDON: Islamic State (IS) fighters narrow focus on police and military Rowley said recent arrests Her case is seen by many Ukrain- Savchenko helped Ukrainian forces want to carry out “enormous and and symbols of the state to something showed that IS was adopting a dif- attack ians as a symbol of resistance against locate and direct mortar fire at two spectacular” attacks against Britain much broader,” Rowley told reporters. ferent methodology in trying to get what Kiev’s pro-Western leaders Russian state television journalists and the Western lifestyle in general, “You see a terrorist group that has fighters into northern Europe who view as Russia’s aggression in the in the separatist region of Lugansk. Britain’s most senior anti-terrorism big ambitions for enormous and spec- had weapons and paramilitary Reuters eastern industrial heartland of the She denies any involvement and officer said yesterday. tacular attacks, not just the types that training. former Soviet state. says she was kidnapped and smug- London Metropolitan Police we’ve seen foiled to date.” “Terrorist groups have always Hundreds of demonstrators gled into Russia. Her supporters fear Assistant Commissioner Mark Row- British security chiefs have pre- wanted to do the grand and the more BELFAST: An Irish militant group rallied Sunday outside Moscow’s dip- her refusal to drink may damage her ley said the threat from the group viously warned that the biggest spectacular attack because it gets opposed to Northern Ireland’s 1998 lomatic mission in Kiev to demand health or even kill her before her next which has taken over large parts of threat posed by the group was the more impact,” he said. peace deal claimed responsibil- her repatriation to Ukraine. The pro- hearing on Wednesday. Syria and Iraq was evolving, and radicalisation of young Britons over He said British police had made ity for the attempted murder of a tests saw the Russian embassy pelted Savchenko’s Russian attorney that it was keen to repeat elsewhere the internet and the danger posed more counter-terrorism arrests prison officer in a bomb attack on with eggs and stones and the win- said his client was suffering from “an incidents such as last year’s Paris by those who joined the fighting in in 2015 than in any previous year Friday, in a statement to the BBC dows of at least one diplomatic car accelerated heart beat, swelling legs shootings and suicide attacks that Syria and Iraq to return home to including a marked number of that warned of more attacks. smashed. Savchenko’s fate has also and jumps in temperature.” killed 130 people. carry out attacks. women and those aged under 20. The prison officer was seri- ously injured by a bomb which exploded under his van in Belfast. Police said there was a “severe” threat to security forces as the Battersea facelift Spain’s king gives political centenary approaches of the 1916 anti-British Easter Rising. The attack was claimed by parties time to end divisions a group known as the new IRA, one of a number of small militant groups opposed to a 1998 peace Reuters with newcomer Ciudadanos. deal that largely ended three Although businesses and inves- decades of violence in Northern tors have so far remained calm about Ireland between Protestants, who the deadlock, a new election would want to remain under British rule, MADRID: Spain’s King Felipe decided raise the risk that Spain’s uneven eco- and Catholics favouring unifica- yesterday not to open a new round of nomic recovery might be impaired by tion with Ireland. one-to-one talks with party leaders to lost months of political leadership. The group said it targeted the give them more time to reach a coa- The king’s office said in a state- 52-year-old father of two because lition deal, although so far they are ment he would postpone formal he was responsible for the train- unwilling to bridge their divisions as talks with leaders, which he has ing of prison officers who work in a potential new election looms. held twice since a December elec- a wing of the top security Maghab- After Socialist leader Pedro tion when Spaniards deserted the erry Prison in Co Antrim where Sanchez failed to win enough sup- two traditional parties to vote for there is a dispute between dissi- port on Friday, parties have until May newcomers. dent inmates and the authorities. 2 to reach a parliamentary majority But with the clock ticking there Three men and a woman were and form a government or the lower are few signs that parties are will- arrested for questioning on the house will be dissolved and a new ing to move from their entrenched attempted murder. The new IRA election will be called. positions in the negotiations that group, an amalgamation in 2012 of Sanchez won the support of have often boiled over into vitri- a number of dissident republican only 131 members of the 350-strong olic attacks. Rajoy, in Brussels for EU groups opposed to a ceasefire by parliament, with the opposition of talks on refugees, said a new election the Provisional Irish Republican acting Prime Minister Mariano would be “ridiculous,” and repeated Army, which was responsible for A train passes recently completed residential buildings at Battersea in London, yesterday. Battersea Rajoy’s conservative People’s Party that Sanchez should join the PP in a more than half of the 3,600 deaths power station and the area surrounding it is undergoing extensive re-development (PP), anti-austerity Podemos and five coalition of centre left and centre right, in the Northern Ireland conflict in smaller parties scuppering his pact which the Socialist leader has rejected. the three decades to 1998. 16 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 EUROPE Turkey offers help to stem migrant influx

intercepted in its territorial waters, and to crack down harder on peo- Prime Minister Ahmet ple smugglers, they said. Davutoglu said An emergency EU-Turkey sum- mit, originally planned to last half Ankara was willing to a day, was extended to give Davu- take back all toglu a chance to present “new ideas” non-Syrian migrants going beyond Ankara’s commitments so far. denied asylum in The 28 EU leaders would Europe as well as all deliberate on his proposals in the European Council President Donald Tusk (left) talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) during an EU leaders summit with Turkey on afternoon and meet him again to migrants crisis in Brussels, yesterday. those intercepted in discuss them over dinner, an EU its territorial waters. official said. “They (Turkey) are offering more EU,” Davutoglu said on arrival for the unease that the offer of increased five hours talking with Davutoglu until endorsement by the summit of bor- and demanding more,” he said after summit. “Turkey is ready to be a mem- cooperation coincided with a crack- 2:45 a.m. to try to nail down commit- der closures by Austria and Greece’s the first working session. A spokes- ber of the EU as well. Today I hope this down on media freedom that runs ments to halt the migrant flow after Balkan neighbours. Reuters man for Davutoglu confirmed summit will not just focus on irregular counter to cherished European values. more than one million people - mostly Merkel, who faces a possible politi- that there were new proposals but migration but also the Turkish acces- With tens of thousands of migrants Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans - entered cal backlash in three regional elections declined to discuss the substance. sion process to the EU.” stranded in Greece by closing borders, Europe last year, most ending up in on Sunday against her welcome for the Diplomats said that at a pre- Among his demands, diplomats the summit may formally declare Germany. refugees, insisted on the emergency BRUSSELS: Turkey offered the Euro- paratory meeting with German said, was to grant Turks visa-free closed the Balkan route from Greece “It’s going to be a proper Turkish summit to show voters the EU is act- pean Union greater help yesterday to Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch travel in the EU from June instead of to Germany, although diplomats said bazaar - first we will throw our hands ing to resolve the crisis. stem a flood of migrants into Europe Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sun- waiting for a planned October review Greek and German officials were fight- up in the air expressing shock about Her finance minister, Wolfgang but demanded more money, faster day night, Davutoglu demanded of preparatory measures. One EU dip- ing to soften the wording. Turkey’s demands. Then we’ll offer to Schaeuble, said on Sunday Berlin had accession talks and quicker visa-free more than the €3bn ($3.29bn) ear- lomat said Berlin and some allies were Leaders will pledge help to Athens meet a tiny, tiny, tiny part of what they major doubts about whether Turkey travel for its citizens in exchange, marked so far to support Syrian open to bringing forward the date if cope with the backlog and seek assur- want. And then we’ll see how the bar- should become a member of the EU. diplomats said. refugees in Turkey. One source said Ankara met all the requirements ances that Turkey, with NATO naval gaining goes from there,” said one EU Before the meeting, EU officials Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Ankara was seeking €20b. including changing its visa policy for back-up in the Aegean, will stop peo- diplomat. told Davutoglu of their concerns about said Ankara was willing to take back “I am sure these challenges will Islamic states and introducing biomet- ple smugglers putting migrants to sea. There were also continued divi- human rights after the Turkish gov- all non-Syrian migrants denied asy- be solved through our cooperation ric passports. Merkel and Rutte, whose country sions among EU leaders, with ernment seized control of a critical lum in Europe as well as all those and Turkey is ready to work with the EU leaders voiced concern and holds the rotating EU presidency, spent Merkel resisting a push for a public newspaper, top-selling daily Zaman.

New refugee camp opens as ‘Jungle’ demolition resumes Slovakia’s PM tasked to form AFP with limited protection from the cold. Careme, who fought a battle with The authorities began a second in France, fearing doing so would coalition govt The new camp, featuring some the authorities. “I’ve overcome a fail- week of demolition at the region’s end their dreams of reaching Britain. 200 heated wooden cabins and ure of the state,” he said, adding that largest refugee camp, nicknamed the Unlike these alternatives, the proper toilets and showers, has been he could no longer stand the sight of “Jungle”, in nearby Calais yesterday. new camp at Grande-Synthe will not AFP CALAIS: France opened its first inter- built by Doctors Without Borders around 75 children living in the orig- Thousands of migrants have been restrict the movement of migrants and national-standard refugee camp in (MSF) with the support of the local inal camp. living in the Jungle and other smaller refugees, MSF said. the teeth of official opposition yester- town hall, despite opposition from The move has frustrated the gov- camps along the northern coast, des- In Calais, a group of children tried day while demolition continued at the the French government. ernment which has been trying to perate to reach Britain where many to offer white roses to the line of riot BRATISLAVA: Slovakia’s pres- nearby Calais “Jungle” camp. The €3.1m ($3.4m) migrant move refugees away from the north- have family or community ties and police holding back migrants and ident said yesterday he will ask Three families of Iraqi Kurds were accommodation is thought to be the ern coast and into centres where their see better hopes of gaining employ- volunteers as workers resumed the leftist Prime Minister Robert the first to arrive at the new camp in first in France to meet international movement is more controlled. ment or education. dismantling of makeshift shelters in Fico, who won weekend elec- Grande-Synthe near Dunkirk on the standards, and MSF said they hoped Government’s representative Most have turned down offers the Calais camp. tions but lost his parliamentary northern French coast. soon to have 375 cabins, catering for Jean-Francois Cordet, said last month: from the French government Nine Iranians who last week majority, to try to form a coali- They came from another site 2,500 people. “The government’s policy is not to to move into heated contain- stitched their mouths shut in protest tion government. where around 1,000 people have “It’s a great day for human sol- reconstitute a camp at Grande-Syn- ers alongside the Jungle, or into at the demolition, said they were car- “I have decided, after the been living in miserable conditions idarity,” said local mayor Damien the, but to make it go away.” accommodation centres elsewhere rying out a hunger strike. first round of talks, to entrust the chairman of the Smer party, which won the most votes in the elections, with the for- mation of a government and Germany’s populist Back to work a majority coalition, which would back such a govern- ment,” President Andrej Kiska announced. AfD party surges Results from Saturday’s elections showed Fico’s Smer- Social Democrats (Smer-SD) in local polls party had won 49 seats, down sharply from its comforta- ble 83-seat majority in the 150-member parliament. previous elections. The liberal Freedom and The AfD has so far made its big- Solidarity SaS came second The Alternative gest gains in formerly communist with 21 seats, followed by the for Germany (AfD) eastern states that still lag western conservative OLANO-NOVA Germany in jobs and prosperity. which took 19 seats. became the third- The result was “very alarming”, But two far-right nation- biggest party in the vice-chairwoman of the SPD’s alist groups made spectacular national parliamentary group, Eva gains, giving them a potential Hesse, with support Hoegl, told ARD public television. role in determining the stability reaching 13.2 Manfred Pentz, CDU’s general and lifespan of the future gov- secretary in Hesse, acknowledged ernment. The Slovak National percent. that voters were seeking to punish Party (SNS) made it back into Merkel and her party over her lib- parliament after a four-year eral refugee policies. absence with 15 seats, while AFP “The protest is coming at the LS-Nase Slovensko led by Mar- expense of established parties and ian Kotleba secured 14 seats to benefitting the AfD,” he said. Men work in vineyards of Lavaux after an overnight snowfall in Puidoux near Vevey, Switzerland, enter the assembly for the first Merkel herself had harsh words yesterday. time. BERLIN: Germany’s right-wing pop- for the AfD, which she described in ulist AfD party, which has railed an interview with Bild am Sonntag as against a record migrant influx, a “party that does not bring society made strong gains in local polls in together and offers no appropri- the western state of Hesse, results ate solutions to problems, but only showed yesterday, ahead of key state stokes prejudices and divisions”. World’s last wild horse returns to Russian steppes elections this weekend. Misgiving is growing over Mer- The Alternative for Germany kel’s refusal to put a cap on the (AfD) became the third-biggest party number of refugees entering the AFP the south of France are now spending “They are quite happy,” she this is a wild animal and it has to be in Hesse, with support reaching 13.2 country. The populist party has their first winter in Russia’s flagship said, despite the harsh climate in the in its natural habitat.” percent, according to initial results. been quick to capitalise on the reintroduction project for the species. region, with extreme snowfall which Despite its hardiness and monu- The eurosceptic party, which mood. Eventually scientists hope to have in January trapped several drivers on mental efforts by conservationists to sparked a storm in January by sug- In some localities where the MOSCOW: If the world’s only sur- 100 of the endangered animals on a highway, leading to a man’s death. save the endangered species, there is gesting police may have to shoot at AfD did not field candidates, vot- viving wild horses had a say in the the site in the Orenburg Reserves, a The animals actually enjoy roll- “still a long way before the Przewal- migrants at the borders, was erod- ers even turned to the neo-Nazi matter, they might opt for a cosy sta- cluster of six strictly protected nature ing around in the snow, scratching ski’s horse can be considered saved ing support for Chancellor Angela NPD, which is currently fighting at ble and fresh daily oats, scientists areas along the Kazakhstan border. their backs on the crusty surface, from extinction,” said Frederic Joly Merkel’s ruling Christian Democratic the constitutional court a bid by the studying them joke. The area spanning more than she said. “They are not afraid of of the Association for the Przewalski’s Union (CDU) and junior partner upper house of parliament to have it But the path out of oblivion for the 16,500 hectares is “the largest unbro- wind, snow, cold .. If the Przewalski’s horse (TAKH) in France, which pro- Social Democratic Party (SPD). banned. The far-right party polled species known as Przewalski’s horse ken, strictly protected plot of virgin horse has enough food, it is practi- vided animals for the Orenburg project. Support for the CDU fell 5.5 per- around 14 percent in Buedingen, a —which only two decades ago was steppe in Russia,” safeguarded, iron- cally invincible.” Native to China, the stocky, tan- cent to 28.2 percent, although it still town of 21,000 inhabitants which extinct in the wild—lies in getting on ically, by the fact that it belonged to Yet, she quipped: “If you ask them, coloured horse with a spiky mane came in as the strongest party, just has one of the biggest asylum shel- a plane to China, Mongolia and, most the military for decades, said Przew- they will tell you: we want a warm once inhabited the Eurasian steppe ahead of the SPD which polled 28 ters in Hesse. State-wide, the party recently, the Russian steppes. alski’s horse expert Tatjana Zharkikh, stable, daily oats, fresh grass and extending through Mongolia, Kaza- percent, down 3.5 percent from the obtained 0.3 percent of the vote. Six animals born at a reserve in who heads the reintroduction project. maybe strawberries and cream. But khstan, Russia and Ukraine. AMERICAS TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 17 Republicans face tough choice against Trump

pledged to eliminate the tax-collect- ing Internal Revenue Service and Many mainstream four Cabinet agencies. Republicans are But he angered many Republican colleagues when he led an unsuc- reluctant, however, cessful effort to repeal President to rally behind Ted Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act that shut down the government Cruz, who won for 16 days in 2013. nominating contests Republican pollster Neil New- in Kansas and Maine. house said Cruz had not yet shown an ability to appeal beyond the most conservative voters. “The way things are going, I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely Reuters that Senator Cruz becomes the focal point for Republicans who want to stop Trump,” said Newhouse, who Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton looks at the menu during a campaign stop at a restaurant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, yesterday. was lead pollster for 2012 Republican WASHINGTON: Republicans des- presidential nominee Mitt Romney. perate to stop Donald Trump from Kim Reem, a member of the capturing the party’s presiden- executive committee of the National tial nomination may have to unite Federation of Republican Women, Hillary repels verbal attacks from Sanders behind Ted Cruz, a polarising fig- said three factions were emerg- ure who has made many enemies ing among Republicans: those within the party. supporting Trump, those backing AFP Nine months after launching received 3.6 million votes, which is a economically devastated by the clo- Cruz, 45, a US senator from Cruz, and supporters of the party her presidential campaign, Clinton good number,” Clinton said, remarking sure of General Motors factories, were Texas, won nominating contests establishment. None are inclined to appears close to securing her party’s on the mogul’s shock electoral success. exposed to lead for more than a year in Kansas and Maine on Satur- compromise, she said. nomination, despite a spirited and But, she added: “There is only one before the tap water contamination day, bolstering his argument that “I don’t see a path to making eve- FLINT: With the Democratic presi- stronger-than-expected challenge candidate in either party who has was uncovered by citizen activists. he is the leading alternative to rybody happy,” she said. dential nomination in sight, Hillary from Sanders, a self-described Dem- more votes than him, and that’s me.” “The governor should resign or Trump, the blunt-spoken billion- Former US Senator Trent Lott Clinton sought to repel sharp attacks ocratic Socialist. In a chaotic election year that has be recalled and we should support aire businessman. of Mississippi said he would have a from party rival Bernie Sanders, while Sanders has won a string of state- seen outsiders tap voter unease, Clin- the efforts of citizens attempting to Many mainstream Republicans hard time supporting a Cruz nom- training some fire on Republican wide nominating primaries over the ton will not be taking anything for achieve that,” Clinton said, adding are reluctant, however, to rally ination. “He’d have to change his frontrunner Donald Trump. weekend, including in Nebraska and granted, not least Sanders. that federal funds should be released behind Cruz, whom they see as too tactics and his conduct an awful “Donald Trump’s bigotry, his bul- Kansas on Saturday, and won Sunday’s Ideological differences between to help Flint residents. conservative for the general elec- lot,” he said. lying, his bluster are not going to wear party vote in Maine. the two candidates were thrown into Sanders said he had been “shat- torate in the November 8 election Cruz has feuded with party lead- well on the American people,” Clinton But thanks to Clinton’s victories sharp contrast in the debate, held in tered” by visiting the city and meeting to succeed Democratic President ership, including Republican Senate said in a sometimes testy debate with and strong second place showings, a town where lead-tainted water has citizens. Barack Obama. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sanders sponsored by CNN in Flint, she maintains a two-to-one lead in poisoned thousands of children. “It was beyond belief that children Cruz has run as an outsider bent and has often accused fellow Repub- Michigan. the number of nominating delegates. Clinton and Sanders both criticized in Flint in the year 2016, are being poi- on shaking up the Republican estab- licans of selling out conservative “I will do whatever I can as the After three months of voting, a Michigan’s Republican governor Rick soned. That is clearly not what this lishment in Washington. A favourite principles. Although he has been in Democratic nominee to run a cam- general election between Democrat Snyder, who they said should resign or country should be about.” of evangelicals, he has called for the the Senate for four years, Cruz has paign you’ll be proud of,” she said. “I Clinton and Republican Trump seems be recalled from his post for neglect- Sanders said that Snyder “should United States to “carpet bomb” the not won a single endorsement from don’t intend to get in to the gutter with increasingly likely. ing Flint. understand that his dereliction of duty Islamic State militant group and has any other senator. whoever they nominate.” “As of last night Donald Trump had More than 8,000 children in Flint, was irresponsible. He should resign.” Obama defends efforts to rein in Wall Street regulation Mexican president says Reuters down effectively on banks and trad- not true,” Obama said. what he called the “shadow bank- make sure Wall Street is “less incen- ing firms after the financial crisis of He said regulators appear set by ing system.” “One of our projects is tivized to take big reckless risks that won’t pay for 2007-2009. the end of the year to have achieved to ensure that we are covering some could end up harming our financial “I want to emphasise this because most of the goals he set out for the of those potential gaps,” he said. “We sector,” he said. proposed wall WASHINGTON: US President Barack it is popular in media and the politi- financial system in 2008, when he may need at some point help from Obama said the Congress has Obama yesterday defended his efforts cal discourse, both on the left and the first took office, although he noted Congress to do that.” tried to weaken regulations estab- to rein in Wall Street, telling Ameri- right, to suggest that the crisis hap- there was still work to do on rules Regulators also need to complete lished after the financial crisis and Reuters cans that his administration cracked pened and nothing changed. That is for hedge funds and asset managers rules on executive compensation to “starve” regulators with budget cuts.

MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s president has said his country will not pay WTC partially opened Lula’s friend mulls for Donald Trump’s proposed wall along the US-Mexico border, and likened his “strident tone” to the ascent of dictators like Adolf Hit- plea bargain deal ler and Benito Mussolini. President Enrique Pena Nieto’s comments, published in yester- Reuters prosecutors and accepted by a judge. day’s Excelsior newspaper, were The strategy has been widely among the most critical public used in the corruption investigation comments yet by a foreign leader at state-run oil producer Petroleo of the New York billionaire. BRASILIA: A friend of Brazil’s Brasileiro SA that threatens to top- Trump , front-runner to win former President Luiz Inacio Lula da ple President Dilma Rousseff and has the presidential nomination for the Silva arrested in November for alleg- deepened a historic recession. November 8 election, has sparked edly taking out a fraudulent loan to Prosecutors expect Bumlai to outrage in Mexico with his cam- the Workers’ Party is negotiating give details about the loan under paign vow to build a wall along a plea bargain deal with prosecu- investigation. They suspect the the southern US.border to keep out tors, newspaper Valor Economico engineering branch of the Grupo illegal immigrants and drugs, and reported yesterday. Schahin, Schahin Engenharia, was to make Mexico pay for it. Jose Carlos Bumlai, a power- awarded a contract to operate a Asked by Excelsior whether ful rancher who also controlled a drillship for Petrobras in exchange there was a “scenario” under sugar mill, has discussed a potential for the bank canceling Bumlai’s loan which Mexico would pay if Trump collaboration with Brazilian inves- repayments. won the presidency, Pena Nieto tigators over the past two weeks, Valor said prosecutors are look- was clear. “There is no scenario,” Valor said. He has remained in cus- ing for evidence linking two country he said. “I have to say that I regret tody since November 25. estates in Atibaia worth 1.5m reais (the plan), and of course, I can’t Commuters walk through the Oculus of the partially opened World Trade Centre Transportation Hub Under Brazilian law, plea bar- to Bumlai and the former president. agree with this American politi- after nearly 12 years of construction, yesterday. gain deals are strictly confidential Lula was briefly detained for ques- cian’s position.” until the testimonies are collected by tioning on Friday. Trump, who has also aroused concern among many in his own party with his proposals, has accused Mexico of sending rapists and drug runners across the bor- Brazilian President Rousseff fights for political life der and vowed to increase fees on some Mexican visas and all border crossing cards to help make Mex- ico pay for the wall. AFP Court is considering possible cam- embezzlement and kickbacks scheme Petrus, at the Brasilia-based con- But analysts believe the turnout Pena Nieto attacked the “pop- paign funding irregularities that could at state oil company Petrobras. sultancy Barral M Jorge Associates, will be dwarfed by opposition rallies ulism” of the Trump campaign, end up annulling her 2014 reelection. And the extraordinary scene of said both Lula and Rousseff have their across the country this Sunday—and which he said sought to put for- Even Rousseff’s dismal popular- a powerful ex-president being taken backs up against the wall—and if nec- that huge crowds could push hesi- ward “very easy, simple solutions RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian Presi- ity ratings were creeping up. away by police, backed up by offic- essary will go down swinging. tant congressional deputies over the to problems that are obviously not dent Dilma Rousseff will fight for her But on Friday, analyst Gabriel ers in camouflage with rifles, brought “The Workers’ Party will play a edge in backing the push to impeach that easy to solve.” political life in Congress, the courts Petrus says “an atomic bomb” was all the simmering tensions to a boil. winner-take-all strategy—everything Rousseff. “And there have been episodes and streets this week, but her path thrown at her leftist Workers’ Party Now, after the relative lull, both or nothing,” Petrus said. “I think both David Fleischer, a political science in human history, unfortunately, to survival is getting ever narrower, with the brief detention of Rousseff’s the opposition and pro-Rousseff sides are preparing for that battle.” professor, said that prosecutors are where these expressions of this analysts say. mentor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. camps are promising to take to the The Workers’ Party will try to “closing the circle” around Lula, who strident rhetoric have only led to Rousseff faces impeachment Lula, as he is universally known, streets, while opposition parties in show its muscle with a series of dem- denies having taken corrupt money very ominous situations in the proceedings over alleged fiscal mis- is accused of taking bribes from com- Congress are licking their lips over a onstrations and building up to a major and denounced the police operation history of humanity,” the Mexi- management, while the Supreme panies involved in the gargantuan revitalised impeachment push. showing on February 18th. against him on Friday as “a show.” can president added. 18 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 AMERICAS Obama orders flags at half-staff for Nancy Reagan

Alzheimer’s.” As a “mark of respect” Obama and his wife for the former B-movie actress, Obama ordered that flags be flown at Michelle praised her half-staff at federal building, military “proud example” in posts, US naval vessels and diplomatic missions until sunset of the day she a statement, saying is buried. she redefined the Nancy Reagan’s death sparked an outpouring of condolences from role of first lady. around the globe for the former US first lady. Michael Reagan, the adopted son AFP of former President Ronald Reagan said, “I am saddened by the passing of my stepmother Nancy Reagan... She is once again with the man she loved. WASHINGTON: US President Barack God Bless... “Nancy is where she has Obama ordered flags lowered to half- always wanted to be with her Ron- staff yesterday at the White House nie... Now she is at peace.” and all federal buildings in honour “Mrs Reagan was fiercely loyal of late former first lady Nancy Rea- to her beloved husband, and that gan even as tributes poured in for devotion was matched only by her the late former first lady of US from devotion to our country. Her influence around the world. on the White House was complete and Reagan, who died Sunday at age lasting,” said former president George 94, will be buried alongside her hus- W Bush. band former president Ronald Reagan Actor and former California gov- today at his presidential library over- ernor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, looking Simi Valley, California. “Nancy Reagan was one of my heroes. A fierce protector of her husband She served as first lady with unbeliev- and his political legacy, Reagan had able power, class and grace and left The flag is lowered to half staff at the White House in Washington to honour the life of former US first lady Nancy Reagan, yesterday. outsized influence during her White her mark on the world. She’s with her House years from 1981 to 1989. Ronnie now, but those of us she left couldn’t have written any better.” extraordinary woman: a gracious first missed,” said Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s Actress Joan Collins twitted “My Obama and his wife Michelle behind will miss her dearly.” In his condolence message Don- lady, proud mother and devoted wife rival for the Democratic nomination. friend Nancy Reagan died aged 94. praised her “proud example” in a “Nancy Reagan was an exam- ald Trump said, “Nancy Reagan, the to President Reagan—her Ronnie. Former US president Jimmy Carter The end of an era, #Love the 80s.” statement, saying she redefined the ple to us all of graciousness, loyalty wife of a truly great president, was an “Her strength of character was said, “Rosalynn and I are saddened by Talk show legend Larry King in role of first lady. and dignity in good times and bad. amazing woman. She will be missed!” legendary, particularly when tested the passing of former First Lady Nancy a twitter message said “#NancyRea- Reagan, the 40th US president, She was an exemplary first lady, and a Marco Rubio, another candidate by the attempted assassination of the Reagan. She will always be admired for gan was some kind of gal! Warm & suffered from Alzheimer’s disease generous friend,” said Senator of Ari- vying to be the GOP’s presidential nom- president, and throughout his battle her strength of conviction and her life- wonderful. Always had her husband’s after leaving the White House and zona John McCain. inee said, “Today our nation mourns the with Alzheimer’s.” long devotion to her husband.” best interest. We’ll miss you.” went into a long decline, cared for by “I will always be grateful for loss of Nancy Reagan, a true example “Nancy Reagan was an exemplary “I remember Nancy as a noble “Sad to hear Nancy Reagan his wife until his death in 2004. her and her husband’s many kind- of integrity and grace. My prayers are first lady. Even after her time in the woman who supported president Rea- passed away. She stood up for us in The Obamas highlighted Nancy nesses to my family. And I will with the entire Reagan family.” White House, she was an outspoken gan and stood by his side. She will be 1984 when we were banned from Reagan’s advocacy “on behalf of always remember her as a dear White House hopeful Hillary advocate for stem-cell research to find remembered as a great friend of the playing July 4 DC Show. Ended up millions of families going through friend and patriot and as one half Clinton and her husband, former pres- a cure for Alzheimer’s. Nancy Reagan State of Israel,” said Israeli Prime Min- being great,” said Beach Boy Brian the depleting, aching reality of of a love story that Hollywood ident Bill Clinton said “Nancy was an had a good heart, and she will be dearly ister Benjamin Netanyahu. Wilson. Jimmy Carter no Supreme Court affirms ruling in Apple e-books case longer needs cancer treatment AFP by a New York federal judge. the decision. accusing Apple of working with five price of most bestsellers at $12.99 or Apple had tentatively agreed to The US Department of Justice top publishers in 2009-2010 to set $14.99, but Apple won a provision that pay out $450m to compensate con- meanwhile welcomed the ruling. the prices of electronic books in an allowed it to match the prices of Ama- WASHINGTON: Cancer treatment sumers harmed by the price-fixing, “Apple’s liability for knowingly Apple-led effort to break rival Ama- zon or any other retailer. for 91-year-old former US presi- WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court while at the same time pursuing conspiring with book publishers to zon’s dominance of the market. Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook dent Jimmy Carter has been so yesterday upheld a ruling that Apple its appeal. raise the prices of e-books is settled Prior to Apple’s entry into had said ahead of the trial that the successful that he says he is going was part of a price-fixing conspiracy In July 2013, US District Judge once and for all,” said Assistant Attor- e-books, the publishers—all of whom California firm would not settle, to stop receiving it. for electronic books, clearing the way Denise Cote ruled that Apple was ney General Bill Baer of the Justice reached separate settlements in the claiming it had done nothing wrong The Nobel peace laureate for a $450 million settlement to be paid. liable for conspiring with five book Department’s antitrust division. case—complained about Amazon’s but was merely pursuing normal busi- had been undergoing radiation The top court declined without publishers to fix e-book prices. “And consumers will be made $9.99 price for most titles. ness practices. The trial focused on and other treatment after doctors comment to hear an appeal from Apple did not immediately whole.” The case stems from a com- Apple and the publishers agreed a six-week period in late 2009 and found four melanoma spots on his Apple, which lets stand a 2013 ruling respond to a request for comment on plaint filed on behalf of consumers, on contracts that let publishers set the early 2010. brain. In December, he announced that he was cancer free. The treatment “has worked very well for me,” Carter said at Maranatha Baptist Church in his UN agency toughens real-time Jamaicans hope to ease hometown of Plains in the south- ern state of Georgia. “I had an MRI for two hours tracking for planes after MH370 grip of violence by ending and 10 minutes and the doctors determined that I didn’t need any more treatment, so I’m not going to have any more treatments,” he Reuters to carry tracking devices that can emerging technologies, ICAO said. gender stereotypes said with a smile. transmit their location at least once The changes will take effect The 39th US president said he a minute in cases of distress. Plane between now and 2021. Last year will have regular tests and would operators will have to ensure their Malaysia called for real-time aircraft Reuters young woman confronts her mother, start treatment again if any can- MONTREAL: The UN’s aviation flight recorder data is recoverable, tracking a priority for the aviation who does not want to talk about her cer is detected. The Democrat won agency yesterday announced new while the duration of cockpit voice industry following the loss of MH370. daughter’s physical abuse by a cousin. plaudits when he discussed his ill- requirements for the real-time recordings is being extended to 25 “These new provisions will “For many in Jamaica, to be a ness in August, sounding serene tracking of civilian aircraft in dis- hours, ICAO said in a news release. ensure that in the case of an accident KINGSTON: Don’t have feelings. Be man means to be dominant, tough, and in high spirits, smiling often tress, following the disappearance of The requirements for the one- the location of the site will be known a man and fight! Such are the mes- never back down. And for women, and joking with reporters. The Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 two minute tracking and flight recorder immediately, and that investigators sages drilled into Jamaican boys at they need to know their place, melanoma was discovered after he years ago. data are performance-based, will be able to access the aircraft’s an early age that have helped push watching their looks and serving had a tumor removed from his liver. The International Civil Aviation meaning individual airlines and flight recorder data promptly and the island nation’s murder rate up their men,” says the narrator in one Carter was president from 1977 Organisation’s governing coun- plane-makers can choose best option reliably,” said ICAO Council Presi- 20 percent last year to a five-year campaign video. to 1981. cil approved proposals for planes for them, from among existing and dent Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. high, according to a campaign try- Randy McLaren, a musician, ing to stem the violence by fighting poet and actor who heads up Arti- gender stereotypes. culet Edutainment, a company that The campaign, the Next GEN- helped craft some of the campaign Data of casualties DERation Initiative, aims to reach materials, said the aim was to help Theatre festival and teach young people living in young people open up. the nation that is gripped by violent That is particularly true for boys on counter-terror crime that has frustrated its eco- and young men who feel like they nomic development. need to bottle up their feelings or act strikes to be out Nearly everyone charged with out, he said. “They need safe places violent crime in Jamaica is male, one where they can talk and address WASHINGTON: The United States in five women have experienced vio- these things without being ridiculed will in coming weeks publicly lence by a partner and one in three or feeling like less of a man. All the release an assessment of combat- children has witnessed severe acts of gains that we have had in terms of ant and non-combatant casualties brutality, the campaign says. empowering our young females from US strikes outside areas of Hoping to dispel gender stere- would amount to nothing, almost,” active hostilities since 2009, Pres- otypes that propel and perpetuate he said. From a very young age, ident Barack Obama’s assistant for violence, the partnership of the gov- McLaren said, boys learn to “man homeland security and counter- ernment, international organisations up,” get physical and fight. terrorism said yesterday. and community groups has assem- Many Jamaican boys take those Lisa Monaco made the bled resources with such items as messages which can prove to be fatal announcement in an address at educational videos and role-play when they make the fateful decision the Council on Foreign Relations scripts for common scenarios. to prove their worth by joining a in Washington, adding that the The materials were released this gang. Gang-related activities are pri- data would be released annually year to be integrated into the cur- mary motive for three-quarters of all in future. riculum of the nation’s secondary the murders in Jamaica, according “We know that not only is schools, while an accompanying to Next GENDERation. The machismo greater transparency the right public education campaign uses that fuels gang violence also feeds a thing to do, it is the best way to social media, with some 4,500 fol- scourge of violence against women. maintain the legitimacy of our lowers on Facebook. Ideas that women should be sub- counter-terrorism effort and One role-play script for students servient, that a woman who suffers Spanish theatre company La Fura dels Baus performs a play titled Aphrodite and the Judgment of the broad support of our allies,” depicts two brothers arguing about domestic abuse deserves it is to be Paris at the opening ceremony of XV Iberoamerican Theatre Festival in Bogota, Colombia, yesterday. Monaco said. joining a gang, while in another, a blamed are prevalent.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 19o C Maximum: 26o C

FAJR 04.36 am ZUHR 11.45 am MAGHRIB 05.41 pm HIGH TIDE 04:30 - 16:30 Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance of scattered SHOROOK 05.52 am ASR 03.07 pm ISHA 07.11 pm LOW TIDE 11:15 - 22:15 rain maybe thundery at times.

20 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST It’s Baraka — Gaza’s super hero www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

MOST READ Reuters

Cloudy to scattered rain 1 predicted for Qatar GAZA: A modern-day Samson is per- forming feats of physical strength in Overs and out - five likely World Gaza. “Go Samson go!” yelled a crowd 2 T20 swansongs in the Palestinian enclave cheering on Mohammad Baraka as the 20-year-old Real Madrid seek European used a rope around his chest to pull a 3 tonic to terrible season 15-tonne petrol tanker. Baraka prefers to be called “Gaza’s Jason” after his favourite movie star, British action film hero Jason Statham. TWEET OF THE DAY perhaps because he lacks the ‘Samson’s’ long hair, has been putting on displays in his hometown of Deir Al Balah for the past two years, earning a reputation as the strongest man in the Gaza Strip. “I was confident there was power inside me and I started to develop it,” said the body-builder and hotel man- agement student. Traffic came to a halt in Deir Al Balah during the weekend performance as motorists and children on their way Palestinian Mohammad Baraka, 20, nicknamed by people as Gaza Samson, pulls a fuel tanker by to school stopped to watch Baraka tow a rope as he exercises in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip, yesterday. BELOW: Baraka has a the yellow fuel truck. As an encore, he wooden pole placed over his stomach during the exercise. dragged a water tanker by his teeth for about 50 metres. Baraka also wowed his audience by lying on his back and hav- ing knives dropped on his bare stomach from a height of one metre (three feet). Some friends used hammers to shatter bricks placed on his chest. INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY “At the beginning, some people believed in him, others had their doubts — but everyone was amazed,” said his father, Kamal, a philosophy teacher. “Mohammad’s power is hidden inside him, it has nothing to do with muscles and training.” The Biblical Samson was an Isra- elite warrior who, the Old Testament Rainy morning in says, toppled a Philistine temple in Gaza, Qatar. killing himself and a crowd that had demanded their captured and blinded Photo: Kammutty VP enemy be brought from prison to enter- tain them.

Celebrities urge leaders to put Email inventor Starving animals up girls at heart of anti-poverty drive Tomlinson dies at 74 for sale at AFP Reuters Gaza zoo

WASHINGTON: Ray Tomlinson (pic- AFP LONDON: Chat show queen Oprah tured), the US programmer credited Winfrey (pictured), actress Meryl with inventing email in the 1970s and Streep and singer Elton John called choosing the "@" symbol for the mes- for world leaders to put girls at the saging system, died at the age of 74, GAZA: A Gaza zoo owner is heart of anti-poverty efforts as a new his employer said yesterday. putting the last of his starving index revealed Niger was the tough- Tomlinson invented direct elec- animals up for sale. est country to be a girl. tronic messages in 1971. Before his Mohammad Oweida once In an open letter, published on the invention, users could only write hosted family and school out- eve of International Women’s Day, messages to others on a limited ings at his zoo in Khan Younis a host of prominent figures urged network. in the southern part of the Pal- leaders to improve girls’ and wom- "A true technology pioneer, Ray estinian territory. But war and en’s access to education, justice and was the man who brought us email economic hardship intervened technology and help them fight HIV in the early days of networked com- network that is considered the Inter- to turn the venture into what is and malnutrition. AIDS in our lifetime, and we need to girls are denied an education and 155 puters," his employer, the defense net's precursor. He was the first to use now a sad collection of 15 ema- They said it was “an outrage” that raise our voices now to make sure it countries still have laws that discrim- contractor and electronics giant the @ symbol in this way, to distin- ciated animals that he can no girls make up three-quarters of all happens.” inate against women. Raytheon, said in a statement. guish a user from its host. longer afford to feed. new HIV infections among adoles- Singer Angelique Kidjo said Afri- But ONE said investments tar- "His work changed the way the At the time personal computers “I have to sell them in order cents in Africa and that 40 percent of ca’s future lay in its young women. geted towards girls and women paid world communicates and yet, for all were virtually unknown, and the to save them,” said Oweida, women on the continent suffer from “If they are educated, they will dividends by lifting everyone out of his accomplishments, he remained use of personal email — now a key- 24, sitting near the cage of a anaemia which results in a fifth of educate their communities. If they poverty more quickly. humble, kind and generous with his stone of electronic communications tiger who had not eaten for maternal deaths. are healthy, they will ensure others It said 2016 presented two big time and talents, he will be missed — would not be adopted at a mass four days. In all, he said, some “Nowhere on earth do women grow up healthy. If they are empow- opportunities for leaders to turn by one and all." scale until the 1990s. 200 animals, many of them have as many opportunities as men,” ered, they will change the world.” into action the commitments they A company spokesman said Tom- Tomlinson, a graduate of the smuggled across the tightly the letter added. ONE said being born a girl in a made on gender inequality when linson died on Saturday, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and controlled Egyptian border in “While the debate around this poor country amounted to a “dou- they adopted the new UN Sustain- cause of death was not yet confirmed. the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- tunnels, have starved to death truth rages everywhere, girls and ble whammy”. able Development Goals last year. Tributes poured in from the nology, detailed his creation on his in the zoo since a seven-week women living in extreme poverty “In too many countries being These are the Nutrition for online world. blog in an attempt to prevent legend war between Israel and Pal- - those often hit hardest by the injus- born poor and female means a life Growth Summit hosted by Rio in "Thank you, Ray Tomlinson, from overtaking the facts. estinian militants in 2014 tice of gender inequality - have been sentence of inequality, oppres- August and the replenishment of for inventing email and putting the "The first message was sent prevented him getting enough left out of the conversation. This must sion and poverty - and in too many the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB @ sign on the map. #RIP," Google's between two machines that were lit- food for them. change. The fight for gender equity cases also a death sentence,” it said and Malaria, which is aiming to raise Gmail team tweeted. erally side by side" connected only Oweida stuffed 15 of the is global.” in a report entitled Poverty is Sexist. $13bn. Vint Cerf, considered one of through ARPANET, Tomlinson wrote. animals he lost, including a The 80 plus signatories include In Niger a woman has a one in 20 ONE policy director Eloise Todd the fathers of the Internet who was "I sent a number of test messages lion, a tiger and a chimpan- boxer Muhammad Ali, actors Robert chance in her lifetime of dying while said investing in nutrition and health once a manager of the US Defense to myself from one machine to the zee, and put them on display Redford and Colin Farrell, actresses giving birth. was vital in the fight against extreme Advanced Research Projects Agency other. The test messages were entirely for children to pet. But the vis- Charlize Theron and Patricia In an index compiled by ONE of poverty. (DARPA), lamented the "very sad forgettable and I have, therefore, for- itors now stay away. Arquette, Facebook CEO Sheryl Sand- the 20 hardest countries to be a girl, “Until leaders tackle the injus- news" of Tomlinson's passing. gotten them. "Most likely the first He said he was negoti- berg and U2 singer Bono, co-founder Niger is followed by Somalia, Mali, tices that pervade the lives of girls When Tomlinson invented the message was QWERTYUIOP or some- ating to sell the hungry tiger of anti-poverty charity ONE which Central African Republic, Yemen, and women and invest in fighting "user@host" standard for email thing similar," he added, referring to for around $23,000 to a Gaza published the letter. Elton John said Democratic Republic of Congo, poverty, half of the world’s resources addresses, it was applied at DARPA's the first row of letters on the tradi- resident who used to raise lion the number of young girls affected by Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Chad will remain untapped, and social and ARPANET, a US government computer tional English-language keyboard. cubs. Other animals on offer HIV was “heartbreaking”. and Comoros. Globally, half a bil- economic progress for everyone will included an ostrich, a turtle “We have the chance to stop HIV/ lion women cannot read, 62 million be constrained,” she added. and a pelican. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 22 QE 10,368.65 +232.08 PTS PAGE | 23 Barwa Bank DOW 17,042.93 +36.16 PTS IHG to look at appoints Nasser FTSE100 6,182.40 -17.03 PTS more boutique- Rashid as GCOO BRENT $40.80 +$2.08 style hotel deals

TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 • 28 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Minister calls for promoting entrepreneurship

The forum and since its inception in knowledge and insights from some of 2014 played an important role in shed- the foremost experts on the subject. Minister of ding the light on all those priorities Present were Dr Hassan Rashid Economy opens including educating entrepreneurship Al Derham, President of Qatar Uni- and creating a competitive environ- versity; Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, CEO of Entrepreneurship ment for it to succeed as well as the QDB; Michiel Kool, Managing Director in Economic relation between entrepreneurship and Chairman of Qatar Shell Compa- Development Forum. and knowledge-based economy spe- nies; and Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing cially through social media.” Director of Qatar Science and Tech- Sheikh Ahmed added: “The organ- nology Park (QSTP). isation of this forum for the third Dr Hassan said: “The increase of consecutive year is an evidence of economic competition at all levels has The Peninsula its success and it comes at a time made entrepreneurship and all asso- where the world is facing a fall in oil ciated developments one of the most prices. That is why and now more important fundamentals of success than ever the Gulf countries need to and progress. And in order to achieve DOHA: Minister of Economy and diversify their economic platform the economic diversification, it is Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jas- and boost the private sector’s role to essential to give special importance to Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani (centre) with Qatar Shell sim Al Thani has stressed the need for become the main engine for economic entrepreneurship in the community, supporting the growth and develop- development.” and to support and embrace related Companies Managing Director and Chairman Michiel Kool (left), QDB CEO Abdulaziz Al Khalifa (second left), ment of a vibrant private sector for a Held under the patronage of initiatives to achieve success and to Qatar University President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham (second right) and QSTP Managing Director Hamad sustainable development. Prime Minister and Interior Minister promote its development. It is also Al Kuwari at the third Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Forum yesterday. Pic: Kammutty/The Peninsula Opening the third Entrepreneur- H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin essential to encourage a whole gen- ship in Economic Development Forum Khalifa Al Thani, the third edition of eration of entrepreneurs to skip the Al Khalifa said: “QDB continu- in building a strong, prosperous and Al Kuwari praised the importance yesterday, the Minister said: “It is very the event opened yesterday. stage of oil based economy. And this ously seeks to support the SME sector competitive private sector. In this con- of the Forum which is happening dur- important to educate entrepreneur- The two-day event, organised by task lies on the educational system to help achieve Qatar’s National Vision text QDB is committed to put efforts ing a time where the importance of ship to the new generations and to Qatar University and Qatar Devel- starting from schools to universities 2030 and to achieve the goal of eco- in providing adequate support and the private sector and entrepreneur- support and encourage entrepreneurs opment Bank (QDB), was highlighted through technical institutes and insti- nomic diversification, especially since assistance to all Qatari SMEs and ship in the Gulf and Arab economies as well as the emerging companies. by thought-provoking exchanges of tutions of training and education.” the success of SMEs is a cornerstone entrepreneurs.” is increasing.

UAE says oil price Qatar races ahead of Gulf stocks on higher oil price forcing producers

By Satish Kanady 8.92 percent. Petrochemical produc- the price will anchor at $50. Capital, a leading Dubai-based alter- a 3 percent rise while Egypt treaded to freeze output The Peninsula ers MPHC and Industries Qatar rose Vodafone Qatar was the most native asset management and advisory water. Given that this is the first con- 2.51 and 2.23 percent, respectively. active in terms of volume with 3 firm, told The Peninsula. Supported by certed effort by buyers to re-establish Real estate stock Barwa rose 4.19 per- million traded shares, while Gulf favourable triggers such as oil prices their grip on the market after a very ABU DHABI: The United Arab cent, while Ezdan gained 3.34 percent. International led the value with QR heading towards $40 and global mar- long time, market observers are will- Emirates’ energy minister said yes- DOHA: Qatari stocks extended gains Vodafone Qatar was up 7.9 percent 103m. “The Qatari markets need more kets rallying, regional markets had ing to see how long they can sustain it. terday that current, low oil prices for the fourth straight session yester- to QR12.15. liquidity in the upcoming period to enough ammunition to show that the “For now, the greater picture has are forcing many producers to day as the benchmark index jumped Brent crude, the key benchmark be able to break above the levels of positive movement witnessed in Feb- not changed, oil prices remain low, freeze output but that a correc- 2.29 percent or 232.08 points to finish for the Middle East’s oil exporters, hit 10,400 points and 10,500 points,” ruary may not be a onetime fluke. regional governments continue to tion in prices would take time. at 10,368.65 on higher oil prices. Qatar a high for the year above $40 a barrel Mubasher reported quoting analysts. The regional average weekly gain cope with reduced earnings and the Opec leader Saudi Arabia and raced ahead of other GCC stocks yes- yesterday after data showed a smaller- After closing February on a strong of 2 percent was led by Dubai and Abu global economic picture remains non-Opec producer Russia, the terday as they lost their Sunday steam. than-expected build in US crude note, the first week of March saw buy- Dhabi both each rising 4 percent while uncertain. But despite these circum- world’s two largest oil exporters, Oil sensitive stocks and real stockpiles. Brent was last up $1.87 at ers doubling down and momentum Saudi supplanted Qatar as the recent stances, buyers are becoming more agreed last month to freeze output estates were particularly strong. $40.59, while US crude rose $1.58 to continuing this current upswing across sidekick to UAE and also went up 4 optimistic, demonstrating a willing- at January levels to prop up prices Gulf International Services surged $37.50. Oil cartel Opec expects that the GCC market, analysts at Al Masah percent. Qatar wasn’t far behind with ness to stand and fight”, analysts said. if other nations agreed to join the first global oil pact in 15 years. “I believe that the current oil prices are forcing everyone to freeze so I think it is happen- Qatar & Sweden to tie up for entrepreneurship development ing as we speak. It doesn’t make any sense for anyone to increase production at the current prices,” Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei By Mohammad Shoeb the world. Some of the Swedish inno- University, the biggest varsity in Scan- told reporters. The Peninsula vations include refrigerator, tetra pack, dinavia, will be visiting Qatar next “The majority of the world, ATM, Skype, Bluetooth among others,” week (Monday) as part of its ongoing 99.8 percent, maybe 99.9 per- Ewa added. “Through this partnership partnership development. cent, are not going to increase proposal, which is currently on the The members of the delegation production. To the contrary many DOHA: Qatar and Sweden is set to table, we are going to offer Qatar an is expected to meet top government producing assets are losing now at establish a strategic partnership to education for national administrators, officials, including the Ministry of the current oil prices... We are see- offer Qatar tailor-made solutions for for people from government, universi- Economy and Commerce, Qatar Uni- ing a reduction and we will see a innovation and entrepreneurship ties and the private sector.” versity and QCB and expected to sign reduction in those fields,” he said. development. This will help Qatar in She also noted that despite global agreements for bilateral cooperation. “This is all good news towards transforming its energy-rich econ- economic recession and dwindling oil It will be the follow up visit after balancing the market. We just need omy into a knowledge-based society. prices Qatar is still a very rich coun- the Swedish Minister for Higher Edu- to be patient. It’s not happening in “Qatar and Sweden can do a lot try, but it needs to encourage the cation and Research Helene Hellmark weeks or months. Correcting to a together to help Qatar achieve its youth towards entrepreneurship. “I Knutsson who concluded his three- sustainable price will take time. objective of diversifying the economy. believe the smart young Qataris will day official visit to Qatar recently. I’m still optimistic that before We are going to establish a partner- take the advantage of the digital (ICT) She and her accompanying delega- the end of year we will see a ship to offer tailor-made solutions Ewa Polano, Ambassador of Sweden, at the 3rd Entrepreneurship in revolution and the massive support tion discussed cooperation with Qatar correction.” to promote innovation and entre- Economic Development Forum yesterday. Pic: Kammutty/The Peninsula offered by the government and its in higher education and research. Yet the freeze accord has so far preneurship in Qatar”, the Swedish visionary leadership.” Knutsson was accompanied by a failed to have a dramatic impact Ambassador to Qatar, Ewa Polano, She said that Qatar has already delegation of 21 high-level represent- on crude prices, partly because told The Peninsula yesterday. sidelines of the 3rd Entrepreneurship development stories will work as a taken a lot positive steps and doing atives from Swedish top universities Opec’s third-largest producer Iran “The national innovation system in Economic Development Forum that great role model in the paradigm things in the right direction, however, such as Karolinska Institute, Lund plans to steeply raise production that we are going to develop will have kicked off yesterday at Sheraton Doha shift that Qatar is witnessing as part Sweden can offer more in the field of University, Royal Institute of Tech- after the lifting of international all that it takes to have a ‘triple-helix’ Resort and Convention Hotel. of efforts to diversifying its economy. education, healthcare, sports, medical nology (KTH), Chalmers University, sanctions on the Islamic Repub- approach between the government, The Swedish envoy high- “We are small nation but we have a tourism and others for mutual bene- and presidents of several national lic in January. local universities and the private sec- lighted that hundred years of lot of Swedish companies such as Ikea fits. The ambassador also announced agencies for higher education and Mazrouei declined to comment tor,” she added while speaking on the Sweden’s successful entrepreneurship and many others that are active around that a delegation from Sweden’s Lund research. on Iran’s production plans. 22 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS Doha Bank revising strategic plans

ute cash dividends of QR3 per share the financial position with a view to The AGM also approved the deals to the shareholders. “We are currently achieving the highest level of effective conducted with the related companies Revision will in the process of revising the bank’s operational performance,” he added. that are submitted to the assembly incorporate some three-year strategic plan 2016-2018,” The Chairman said that by the and appointed Ernst & Young to audit said Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin end of year 2015, the bank achieved Doha Bank’s accounts for the year amendments with Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of Doha extraordinary growth rates in all 2016. “We also improved bank’s Cor- regards to activities Bank while addressing shareholders financial indicators. The total assets porate Governance system whereby of overseas branches of the bank. rose by 10.3 percent reaching to we approved the Corporate Govern- The revision will incorporate QR83.3bn, total portfolio of loans and ance Policy Manual in addition to the and offices. some amendments to the bank’s busi- advances rose by 14.5 percent, total policies and procedures manual on ness strategy especially with regards customers’ deposits rose by 14.8 per- the roles, responsibilities and terms to the activities of overseas branches cent and the total shareholders’ equity of reference of the Board of Directors and representative offices across the reached to QR13.2bn. (BOD), the BOD committees, and the By Sachin Kumar world. “The future plan of the bank “We also achieved a growth rate Executive Management committees Doha Bank Chairman Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani The Peninsula includes implementation of an effec- of 1 percent in net profit whereas in addition to code of ethics,” he said. (left) and Managing Director Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad Al tive Risk Management strategy both at the net profit achieved by the end of “This only complements our Thani at the AGM yesterday. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula local and international fronts, recruit- the year was QR1,374m compared efforts to enhance the internal ing Qatari nationals, enhancing the to QR1,359m in 2014. These robust controls in the bank, promote the con- he added. capital instruments for the second DOHA: Doha Bank is revising its levels of staff performance by recruit- results were reflected in strong per- cepts of transparency and disclosure, In June 2015, Doha Bank time amounting to QR2bn qualifying three-year strategic plans, said its ing highly experienced and qualified formance ratios particularly the improve shareholders relations and enhanced its Tier 1 capital base and as additional Tier 1 capital for Doha Chairman yesterday. The Ordinary human resources, improving bank- return on average shareholders’ protect the rights of stakeholders. Our Capital Adequacy Ratio, strength- Bank in Qatar as per the terms and General Assembly of the share- ing services delivery channels, equity and the return on average report on Corporate Governance for ened its lending capacity and requirements of Qatar Central Bank. holders in its meeting held at Doha upgrading the level of Corporate Gov- assets which were 16.1 percent and the year 2015 has been made available improved its competitive edge and The first QR2bn issuance of sim- Bank’s main tower endorsed the ernance in the bank, diversifying its 1.73 percent respectively,” said Sheikh to you that reflects Corporate Govern- prospects for achieving its strategic ilar instruments was carried out at board’s recommendation to distrib- income sources and strengthening Fahad. ance standards followed by the bank,” goals through the issuance of Tier 1 the end of 2013.

Fischer warns that US inflation could Barwa Bank appoints Nasser Qatar’s spending cuts be accelerating Rashid Al Humaidi as Group COO modest compared to

WASHINGTON: Inflation is showing signs it could accelerate The Peninsula and has a proven track record of other GCC countries in the United States, a top Fed- outstanding achievements in a slew eral Reserve policymaker said in of leading institutions and compa- comments that back the view that nies in Qatar that operate in various the central bank will hike interest DOHA: Barwa Bank, Qatar’s sectors including telecom, real estate The Peninsula investment and capital flows fall rates again this year. Shari’ah-compliant services provider, development, oil & gas as well as back. Although recession should “We may well at present be has announced the appointment of some national steering committees. be avoided, growth across the GCC seeing the first stirrings of an Nasser Rashid Al Humaidi (pictured) He worked as the Executive Direc- will be just 2.1% - it’s lowest since the increase in the inflation rate,” as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer tor for Operations & Support at Qatar DOHA: Qatar’s spending cutbacks financial crisis,” said Tom Rogers, Fed Vice-Chairman Stanley (GCOO). Development Bank over the past will be modest compared to other ICAEW Economic Adviser and Econ- Fischer said yesterday in prepared Al-Humaidi, who will be directly three years. GCC countries. The country’s greater omist at Oxford Economics. remarks, adding that faster infla- reporting to the Acting GCEO of On his part, Al Humaidi said: diversification of revenues, large With the exception of the UAE, tion was “something that we would Barwa Bank Group Khalid Yousef “Barwa Bank has been able to prove policy buffers and immovable infra- true economic diversification like to happen.” Al Subeai, will be developing an its worth as a major player among structure requirements associated away from a heavy dependence Many investors have doubted integrated structural framework prestigious institutions in the bank- with the 2022 World Cup will mean on oil exports is yet to be achieved. the Fed’s view signaled in Decem- to enhance operational efficiency, ing and financial sector at the local government spending cutbacks will Although non-oil growth aver- ber that it could hike this year, boost productivity and stream- and regional level. I am proud to be be modest. aged an impressive 7.2 percent per although recent signs of strength line processes and procedures by joining this rapidly evolving and Weaker oil prices present a year from 2003-2014, much of this in the US labour market and a employing the latest financial sec- a proven track record in leading insti- growing organization, which is con- serious challenge to the growth growth was fuelled by oil-financed modest increase in inflation have tor technologies. tutions and companies in Qatar, and stantly seeking, with every effort, outlook for the GCC region, which government spending on infrastruc- boosted bets for a rate increase in Commenting on Al Humai- we are confident of Al Humaidi’s con- to consolidate a new trend in the was already facing economic con- ture, key development projects, September. di’s appointment, Khalid Yousef tribution in upgrading our banking Shari’ah-compliant banking sector, cerns. However, serious fiscal reform public sector salaries, benefits and In a speech before an eco- Al-Subeai, Acting GCEO of Barwa operations and information technol- and I’m looking forward to work- should see the region avoid reces- subsidies. With government spend- nomics conference, Fischer said Bank Group, said: “I am pleased to ogy as we look to the future.” ing together with the leadership of sion, a new ICAEW report noted. ing now set to be cut back, these America is currently “in the vicin- announce that Nasser Rashid Al- Al Humaidi is backed up by the group and all of its employees The report is produced by Oxford growth drivers will fade. ity of full employment” and tight Humaidi is joining Barwa Bank more than 19 years of experience to explore new horizons and ways Economics, ICAEW’s partner and In recent months, GCC gov- labor markets have a history of Group as its Chief Operating Officer. in the operations management and to provide the best services to the economic forecaster. ernments have given serious stoking faster price increases. Nasser has extensive experience and information technology sectors, bank’s clients.” Commissioned by ICAEW, the consideration to fiscal consolida- report, a quarterly review of the tion. The Saudi Government has GCC+5 (Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and announced a year-on-year decline in Lebanon), ICAEW takes a look at the planned spending for the first time in fallout from the accelerated decline 14 years, while Oman has announced in oil prices in recent months, as well a 16 percnet cut in spending for 2016 Eurozone seeks to end Greece bailout row as the potentially transformational and a rise in corporation tax. All GCC impact of the lifting of sanctions on governments have also committed the Iranian economy. to establishing a region-wide Value AFP “Oil prices are set to remain Added Tax (VAT) over the medium lower until at least 2017, due to the term to lift non-oil revenues and continuation of current Organisation most have already started on cutting of Petrol Exporting Countries (OPEC) energy subsidies. Overall, govern- BRUSSELS: Eurozone finance min- policy and increasing concerns over ment spending in the GCC region is isters met yesterday to defuse a bitter growth in China and other emerging expected to decline by 8 percent this rift between top EU and International markets. Opec’s policy of keeping oil year and rise more slowly in future Monetary Fund officials over how production high in order to maintain years. strictly to hold Greece to the ambi- market share and squeeze higher- Another threat to stability and tious reform commitments made as cost producers out of the market, growth in the GCC has emerged part of its bailout. coupled by existing high stock lev- from pressure on long-standing The eurozone 19 ministers are els and modest demand growth will currency pegs against the US dol- meeting in Brussels just as EU lead- see Brent crude average $32 per bar- lar. For example, markets expect an ers and Turkey hold talks next door rel this year and remain below $70 unprecedented 10 percnet depre- to discuss the refugee crisis, in which for the rest of this decade. Economic ciation of the Saudi riyal over the Greece is also a sensitive focal point. data from China suggests increasing next year. Countries like Oman and Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the head of problems with overcapacity, fur- Bahrain are particularly vulnerable the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ther undermining expectations for due to low financial reserves. While ministers, warned against Greece resource demand growth. de-pegging would generate greater driving a wedge between the Euro- “Sustained low oil prices will government revenues by lifting the peans and the IMF over the scale of erode existing buffers like subsi- dollar oil revenues in local currency the required reforms. dies in oil-rich Gulf countries more terms, it would also impose heavy “Let me make quite clear that we rapidly, threaten to undermine long- costs, including rising inflation, a need credible, sustainable pension standing currency pegs and slow loss of policy credibility and addi- reforms and the budget needs to be economic growth further as trade, tional volatility in oil revenues. on track,” said Dijsselbloem, who is also Dutch finance minister. “That is not something that only concerns the IMF, it is something that concerns all the institutions and the Eurogroup,” he said. JP Morgan cuts equities portfolio to The conflict pits the Washing- ton-based International Monetary underweight for first time since 2007 Fund against the European admin- Dutch Finance Minister and President of Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem (centre) speaks with an assistant istrators of the bailout programme: (left) and Irish Minister of Finance Michael Noonan during Eurogroup meeting at the headquarters in these include the EU’s rescue fund Brussels yesterday to defuse a bitter rift between top EU and IMF officials. MILAN: JP Morgan Cazenove has reduced the weight of stocks in its the European Stability Mechanism, balanced portfolio to “underweight” for the first time since 2007, saying the European Central Bank and the Commissioner, as he arrived for the improved performance of Greece’s encourages debt relief for Athens, a the recent market rebound was set to peter out. JP Morgan Cazenove European Commission. talks, referring to the organistaions economy. The International Mone- measure that most eurozone coun- became a wholly-owned part of JP Morgan in 2010, having originally The institutions are clashing over that oversee Greece’s bailout. tary Fund has yet to officially sign tries are loath to accept, especially operated as a joint venture between JP Morgan and the UK invest- their assessment of the current state Greek Prime Minister Alexis onto the third bailout of Greece and powerful Germany. ment bank Cazenove. of the Greek economy, with the Inter- Tsipras on Sunday accused the IMF of is making its participation conditional This opposition however puts “We think that one should start to re-enter the shorts,” JP Morgan national Monetary Fund worried that employing “stalling tactics” and “arbi- on the fact that no ground is yielded Berlin in an uncomfortable position strategist Mislav Matejka said in a research note, pointing out that estimates drawn up by the EU and trary” estimates to delay a reforms on the reforms needed by Athens, as German Chancellor Angela Mer- from a technical standpoint equities were now closer to overbought, Greece do not add up. review crucial to unlock further bail- especially on pensions. kel needs Greece’ support to ease the rather than in oversold territory. JP Morgan said its decision followed “The institutions have to show out cash. But the negotiations with the refugee crisis, with tens of thousands gains seen in equities since mid-February and suggested clients use that they share the same point The leftist Prime Minister said the Christine Lagarde-led institution of asylum seekers near the Greek any bounce caused by the ECB to cut their exposure. of view,” said Pierre Moscovici, global lender was bent on unfair cuts are complicated by the fact the borders hoping to make their way to the European Economic Affairs that failed to take into account the International Monetary Fund also Germany. BUSINESS TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 23 India ushers in second wave of reforms: QNB

significant gains for the following two 2013, lagging behind Sri Lanka, Nepal, increased capital spending to boost decades, QNB noted in its ‘economic Bhutan and Pakistan. The persistent India’s ailing infrastructure, eased India becomes commentary’ on India yesterday. inflation problem, a result of supply restrictions to foreign direct invest- one of the growth India implemented a broad set of bottlenecks, was further exacer- ments, promoted further financial reforms in 1991 in response to a severe bated by government policies aimed inclusion and have taken measures engines for the global balance of payments crisis. The crisis at increasing rural wages and easy to introduce a uniform goods and economy as the left India with foreign reserves barely monetary policy. services tax. country has potential sufficient to finance oil imports for India lost competitiveness and the Rajan adopted a coherent and two weeks. In response, the govern- current account balance deteriorated explicit monetary policy framework to grow by 8-10%. ment devalued the currency, reduced from a surplus of 2.3 percent of GDP based on inflation targeting and took regulation, dismantled bureaucratic in 2003 to a deficit of 4.8 percent in steps to increase competition in the control over licensing, opened up the 2012. The weaknesses were exposed banking system. The reform drive economy to foreign investments and in the taper tantrum of 2013, when currently underway has not only sta- The Peninsula cut trade tariffs. the tapering of US quantitative eas- bilised the Indian economy, but made The results were startling. India’s ing was announced, leading to capital it one of the rare bright spots among annual real GDP growth rose from an flight from emerging markets (EMs). EMs, with annual growth reach- average of 4.1 percent in the four dec- India was among the so-called Fragile ing 7.3 percent in the last quarter of DOHA: India’s central government ades prior to 1991 to 6.8 percent in the Five of the worst hit countries. It was 2015. But more is needed to increase budget for the fiscal year 2016-17 subsequent two decades. This made in desperate need of a new wave of labour market flexibility, address land showed that the administration’s India one of the growth engines for reforms to address its vulnerabilities acquisition laws which have inhib- intent to continue its fiscal consoli- the global economy. and kick-start growth. ited investment, and tackle bad assets dation path. However, two decades after the The election of Narendra Modi and low capitalisation in the bank- The government is targeting a 1991 reforms, the Indian economy to the prime minister’s office in ing system. Modi’s reform agenda has reduction of the deficit from 3.9 per- was crippled by supply bottlenecks May 2014, and the appointment of been more gradual and piecemeal cent of GDP in 2015-16 to 3.5 percent in the form of weak transport infra- Raghuram Rajan as the governor of compared to 1991. But if successfully in 2016-17. The budget comes 25 structure and power shortages. India’s the central bank in September 2013 implemented, they could make India years after the sweeping economic ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of have helped initiate a new wave of one of the fastest growing countries in reforms of 1991, which revolutionised Doing Business Index deteriorated reforms in India. Modi’s govern- the world, with potential GDP growth the Indian economy and generated from 120 out of 189 in 2007 to 140 in ment has reduced energy subsidies, around 8-10 percent.

Commercial Bank RasGas delivers 500th LNG cargo to Taiwan’s CPC raises QR2bn of ATier 1 capital The Peninsula Purchase Agreement (SPA) between CPC in 2005. Last year, we extended CPC Corporation, Taiwan and Ras Laf- the partnership to joint corporate fan Liquefied Natural Gas Company social responsibility (CSR) activities The Peninsula Ltd (II). In 2011, Ras Laffan Liquefied with CPC through the ‘Energising Edu- DOHA: RasGas Company Limited Natural Gas Company Limited (3) cation’ initiative. We look forward to (RasGas) reaffirmed its reputation and (CPC) signed a second long term continuing to grow our relationship for operational reliability, as it con- supply of LNG from RasGas which with CPC and the people of Taiwan DOHA:,The Commercial Bank tinues to provide its customers with increased the annual long term sales even further,” said Khalid Sultan R Al has raised QR 2bn in Additional compelling, competitive and tangible to over five million tonnes per year to Kuwari, Chief Marketing and Shipping Tier 1 Perpetual Capital Notes to advantages in an evolving LNG mar- CPC and Taiwan. In addition, RasGas Officer, RasGas. strengthen the bank’s capital ade- ket. RasGas marked a milestone with has delivered 72 cargoes, approxi- The ‘Energising Education’ initi- quacy ratios and support funding its delivery of the 500th long term LNG mately 4.4 million tonnes of LNG to ative benefitted nine local schools in future growth across the Com- cargo to their long term customer CPC CPC on spot basis since 2007 to date. Taichung, bringing tangible benefits to mercial Bank, its subsidiaries and Corporation, Taiwan. “As a long term LNG supplier to hundreds of students in the local com- associates. The 500th LNG cargo was loaded CPC, RasGas is pleased to achieve this munity by providing improvements The transaction was aboard CPC`s Taitar (TaiwanQatar) No. major milestone with our long-stand- and upgrades to educational resources successfully completed on 28 Feb- 4 vessel at Ras Laffan port on March ing partners. We have come a long way and facilitates better learning oppor- ruary 2016, the bank announced CPC Taiwan’s Taitar (TaiwanQatar) No. 4 vessel. 5, 2016, under the long term Sales and since signing our first ever SPA with tunities for students. yesterday. IHG to look at more boutique-style hotel deals Total and Eni bet on

Reuters probably be interested in doing fur- interested in the quality of its port- new finds as rivals ther smaller deals, similar to its folio, not quantity. “We could grow $430m purchase of boutique brand faster, but we won’t compromise Kimpton, agreed at the end of 2014. quality,” he said. “It’s not about a dash BERLIN: Intercontinental Hotels “For us, we’re quite likely to look for growth.” cut costs after oil fall Group is interested in smaller deals at other deals like a Kimpton-type Shares in IHG and rival Accor, to expand its portfolio, but won’t be deal, which is small. We can add which have performed strongly over growing for the sake of it, its chief value quickly, rather than just add- recent weeks, dropped on Mon- executive said yesterday. ing a business because we want to be day after Citi downgraded the two Reuters was boosted last year when it made Consolidation in the hotel bigger,” he said. companies, citing a slowing global the bumper Zohr gas discovery off- industry heated up late last year, IHG runs over 5,000 hotels under economy. shore Egypt, the biggest ever in the with Marriott announcing plans to brands such as Crowne Plaza, Hol- Solomons said he remained bull- Mediterranean and its fifth large oil purchase Starwood and France’s iday Inn and InterContinental and ish on China in the medium to long LONDON: As oil firms slash billions and gas find in just three years, giv- AccorHotels agreeing a deal for FRHI, Solomons pointed to industry data term and said hotel companies would of dollars of investment to survive ing it the best track record in reserve the owner of luxury hotels such as showing that IHG has 5 percent of continue to grow because travel the market crash, France’s Total and replacement among majors. London’s Savoy. the world’s hotel rooms and 15 per- demand was growing. Italy’s Eni are making some of the With oil prices down around 70 “We are very big, one of the cent of the development pipeline for it but as a public company that’s the Attacks and disasters were some- smallest cuts, gambling in the hope percent since mid-2014, the temp- biggest in the world even after con- new hotel investments. world you live in.” thing the industry was used to dealing of big-ticket discoveries that will tation to cuts exploration costs is solidation. So we have sufficient He said IHG was not worried Analysts have said IHG lags rivals with, although Paris was still suffer- reward them when prices recover. strong. But the nature of the energy scale,” Richard Solomons (pictured) about becoming a takeover target in terms of net room growth because ing from lower demand following Both approaches carry risks. business means companies must said on the sidelines of the IHIF hotel itself. “If somebody comes along and it removes more rooms from across attacks there last year. “Business is Intensive exploration programmes constantly add new resources as investment fair in Berlin. wants to make a bid, the board will its brands in comparison with rivals. performing well, Europe has been mean higher costs and lower profits producing assets gradually run out Solomons said IHG would look at it. We’re certainly not seeking Solomons said IHG was more very strong,” he said. in the short term, with no guaran- of oil and gas. “In a downturn, explo- tee of finding new fields. But firms ration is about securing access to that scale back too far may damage opportunities and high quality acre- future growth prospects, forcing age at very low cost,” said Stephane Retaj receives them to splash out on acquisitions. Foucaud, managing director of insti- Wood Mackenzie analysts expect tutional research at advisory firm this year’s exploration spending to First Energy. ‘Booking.com’ fall to just half of a peak of $95bn Those with tighter pockets will reached in 2014. Against that back- have to rely on adding new resources delegation ground, Total’s 21 percent cut is through acquisitions further down among the smallest. the line, a more expensive option. The French company, which “Many (oil majors) consider that The Peninsula pursued a “high risk-high reward” buying smaller companies would strategy under late chief execu- now be an investment with a higher tive Christophe de Margerie, will return than if the majors were doing still spend $1.5bn on exploration the frontier exploration themselves,” DOHA: Mostafa Abu El Soud, Gen- this year, including off Myanmar, said Eric Oudenot, a partner special- eral Manager of Retaj Al Rayyan Argentina and Nigeria. “Our new ising in oil and gas at The Boston Hotel, received a delegation of offi- exploration manager will be able Consulting Group. cials from Booking.com, including to explore most of the prospects he Europe’s biggest oil major, Shell, its senior account manager Haitham wanted to,” Total Chief Financial has led the way through its $53bn Al Nimri and account manager Officer, Patrick de la Chevardiere, acquisition of BG Group, a gas pro- Ahmed Sultan. The visit coincides told journalists last month. “We’re ducer with exposure to attractive with Retaj Al Rayyan winning the giving him a certain budget which deepwater licenses offshore Brazil “Booking.com Guest Review Award leaves him sufficient flexibility to that will help increase Shell’s proven of Excellence for 2015”. explore what he wants to explore.” reserves by 25 percent. Abu El Soud expressed his Eni has not published separate Its own investment cuts have pleasure in winning over the exploration budget numbers for 2016 already made an impact on the coveted award for the fourth but said it will keep seeking new business. Its reserve replacement consecutive year. The award is con- resources in mature areas where it ratio (RRR), a metric used to reflect sidered to be one of the best in the can use existing infrastructure and new reserves added relative to the industry , he said. know-how to lower costs. amount produced, was negative in Retaj Hotels & Hospitality CEO The Italian group became the first 2015 for the first time in around 12 Dr Kamel Senhadji congratulated big oil firm last year to cut its dividend years. By comparison, Eni’s RRR was the Retaj staff and the management in order to navigate the market down- 148 percent in 2015, not including the Retaj Al Rayyan Hotel officials with officials from Booking.com. for the achievement. turn. Its bet on finding new resources impact of the Zohr discovery.

26 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,368.65 2.29 % QE Total Return Index 16,433.68 2.29 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,874.22 2.71 % QE All Share Index 2,800.11 2.11 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,784.08 1.39 % QE All Share Industrials 3,112.33 2.48 % QE All Share Transportation 2,449.97 1.01 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,397.35 3.24 % QE All Share Insurance 4,390.97 4.01 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,085.41 3.14 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,259.98 0.77 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 07-03-2016 Today 03-03-2016 Previous day Index 10,368.65 10,136.57 Change 232.08 122.14 % 2.29 1.22 YTD% 0.58 2.81 Volume 23,298,599 15,624,479 Value (QAR) 652,834,754.96 468,424,828.49 Trades 9,120 6,081 Up 33 | Down 02 | Unchanged 02

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5204.675 53.622 1.04 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4413.94 -42.68 -0.96 4586.11 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 17006.77 62.87 0.37 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 20159.72 -16.98 -0.08 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6313 -50.84 -0.8 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 33022.6 580.86 1.79 33304.4 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16911.32 -103.46 -0.61 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 1999.99 6.59 0.33 2134.72 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.1212 QR 5.1938 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 3.9632 QR 4.0194 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2..7033 QR 2.7568 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.6196 QR 3.6729 Yen QR 0.0318 QR 0.0324 A C C-A/D 1239.3 -14.7 10858 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.09 0.12 50148 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 130.1 3.1 7649 Timexgroup-T/D 30.2 0.95 30650 Aus$ QR 2.6739 QR 2.7276 Aarti Drugs-B/D 492.15 7.4 2522 Escorts-A/D 138.05 3.15 204200 Kalpat Power-B/D 181 -1.25 6974 Tinplate-B/D 65.2 -0.6 35126 Ind Re QR 0.0538 QR 0.0548 Aban Offs-A/D 177.7 1.05 481996 Eveready Indu-/D 231.55 0.7 10416 Kalyani Stel-T/D 151.8 -0.1 43275 Ucal Fuel-B/D 98.7 1.15 8101 Aegis Logis-B/D 99.9 -2.15 55291 F D C-B/D 190.2 3.35 33997 Kanoria Chem-B/D 56.6 -1.1 9636 Ultramarine-B/D 112.8 -2 3659 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Alembic-B/D 37.35 0.6 76699 Federal Bank-A/D 49.9 0.45 277849 Kg Denim-B/D 51.25 -0.95 33209 Unitech P -A/D 4.83 0.22 9728699 Peso QR 0.0769 QR 0.0784 Alok Indus-A/D 4.17 0.06 1345886 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.9 -0.09 14261 Kinetic Eng-B/D 79.55 -0.6 4192 Univcable-B/D 71.15 -2.3 1610 SL Re QR 0.0249 QR 0.0255 Apollo Tyre-A/D 170.35 4.4 268942 Finolex-A/D 339.95 0.45 13976 Kopran-B/D 53.55 4.8 371216 Uppergsugar-T/D 69 7.5 18695 Taka QR 0.0459 QR 0.0470 Asahi I Glass-/D 153.2 2.15 4156 Gail-A/D 340 -2.1 116883 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 33.6 0.7 1630 Ashok Leyland-/D 93.4 -0.5 1686056 Galada Power-B/D 12.1 -1.56 3820 Lloyd Metal-B/D 18.5 0.7 608337 LONDON Nep Re QR 0.0337 QR 0.0343 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.96 0.55 606320 Gammon India-T/D 14.88 0.21 62165 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 5.01 -0.54 276154 SA Rand QR 0.2346 QR 0.2393 Banaras Bead-B/D 41.55 1.25 3800 Gangotri Tex-T/D 1.2 0.01 1000 Lupin-A/D 1780.2 -6.75 49746 3I Group/D 442.4 -2.7 245585 Bata India-A/D 488.8 -3.85 37581 Garden P -B/D 23.15 -0.35 8040 Lyka Labs-T/D 76.05 6.15 229536 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3373 32 108986 Bayer Crop-A/D 3556.4 147.35 2551 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1165.05 13.25 47941 Mah.Seamless-B/D 136.1 -3.8 4057 Barclays/D 169.65 -4.65 16074308 GOLD AND SILVER Beml Ltd-A/D 1050.9 6.45 22272 Goodricke-B/D 171.3 3.4 8481 Mangalam Cem-B/D 187 -1 4685 Bp/D 360.2 -7.75 12223344 GOLD QR149.3836 per gramme Bh Electronic-/D 1100.5 24.2 47197 Goodyear I -B/D 485.5 6.6 2991 Maral Overs-B/D 25.1 0.6 4621 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4079 34.5 910835 Bhansali Eng-T/D 18.8 1.05 151181 Hcl Infosys-B/D 38.7 0.35 758844 Mastek-B/D 123.6 0.5 47545 Bt Group/D 464.1236 -5.9 5987082 SILVER QR1.8450 per gramme Bharat Bijle-B/D 759 34 12539 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 17.7 -0.3 2234024 Max Financial-/D 321.7 0.4 1996 Centrica/D 222.6 -1.6 4778069 Bharatgears-B/D 63.5 0.7 3390 Himat Seide-B/D 179.75 3.85 79360 Mrpl-A/D 60.6 0.2 321063 Gkn/D 286.8 -6.7 1330057 Bhartiya Int-B/D 465.1 -13 11049 Hind Motors-T/D 5.25 0.03 76452 Nahar Spg.-B/D 93.05 5.6 88253 Hsbc Holdings/D 445.2 -8.35 9636942 Bhel-A/D 107.25 4.15 1926443 Hind Org Chem-/D 14.21 0.51 32080 Nation Alum -A/D 37.45 0.9 321318 Kingfisher/D 337 -5.4 4385802 Bom.Burmah-B/D 371.55 17.25 18394 Hind Unilever-/D 848.6 0.25 108160 Navneet Edu-B/D 82.45 1.6 5039 Land Secs Grou/D 1050 -10 454483 Oil prices likely to Bombay Dyeing-/D 44.45 0 188670 Hind.Petrol-A/D 753 22.45 71161 Nepc India-T/D 1.72 0.08 2150 Legal & Genera/D 238 -1.5 2541297 Camph.& All-B/D 444.5 -16 1980 Hindalco-A/D 79.35 0.05 2025417 Neuland Lab-B/D 575.75 10.25 3205 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 72.6228 -0.64 30540919 recover to around Canfin Homes-B/D 1015 -2.5 1781 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1128.5 4.9 67632 O N G C-A/D 201 3.45 1166182 Marks & Sp./D 418.1 -5.9 966449 Caprihans-Xc/D 80 -1.45 4546 I F C I-A/D 23.35 0.15 925006 Oil Country-B/D 25.15 0 4468 Next/D 6560 -60 100261 Castrol India-/D 365.35 -3.1 88737 Idbi-A/D 68.15 2.75 1945177 Onward Tech-B/D 71.7 0.6 5065 Pearson/D 864 -7.5 702771 $70 by 2020 Century Enka-B/D 161.6 0.1 5345 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 321 22.55 3661 Orchid Pharm-B/D 39.35 2.2 337108 Prudential/D 1329.2481 -17.5 1441013 Century Text-A/D 466.75 -2.7 100900 India Cement-A/D 75.5 1.3 296468 Orient Hotel-T/D 21.6 0.5 2004 Rank Group/D 245.305 -0.9 68398 By John Kemp Chambal Fert-B/D 55.15 -0.85 33857 India Glycol-B/D 75.45 0.9 13299 Orient.Carb.-T/D 416 16.8 9499 Rentokil Initi/D 164 -0.8 716307 Reuters Chowgule St-T/D 15.8 0.05 10012 Indian Card-B/D 200.2 -6 1447 Orient.Carb.-T/D 416 16.8 9499 Rolls Royce Pl/D 709 -13.5 3277040 Cimmco-B/D 70.05 -0.2 8018 Indian Hotel-A/D 100 -0.2 347543 Oudh Sugar-B/D 44.5 4.5 69443 Rsa Insrance G/D 444.9 -3.8 593808 Cipla-A/D 539.1 10.9 303755 Indo-Tcount-T/D 936.4 -3.3 18344 Patspin India-/D 8.17 0.23 2265 Sainsbury(J)/D 268.3 1.1 1000347 IL prices are expected to rise gradually over City Union Bk-/D 88.6 -0.25 13808 Indusind-A/D 914.4 20.25 116263 Punjab Chem.-B/D 135 -1.4 1831 Schroders/D 2573 -51 140045 the next five years but will remain well below Colgate-A/D 846.5 10.7 31447 J.B.Chemical-B/D 265.65 1.55 14901 Radico Khait-B/D 101.5 -0.75 20615 Severn Trent/D 2108.2907 4 55869 the pre-crash level, according to a survey of Container Cor-/D 1236 42.15 273348 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 63.5 1.9 3421 Rallis India-A/D 152.35 0.65 31883 Smith&Nephew/D 1141 -8 470312 professionals who follow the oil industry. Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 331.2 -1.4 2738 Jagson Phar-B/D 38.3 0.7 20902 Rallis India-A/D 152.35 0.65 31883 Smiths Group/D 1044 -16 220720 OBrent prices are expected to climb from an average of Dcm Shram Ind-/D 95.9 3.85 15195 Jamnaauto-B/D 135.5 0.9 94556 Reliance Indus/D 424.2 20.1 566001 Standrd Chart /D 469.85 -16.25 5457755 $40 per barrel in 2016 to between $65 and $70 per bar- Dhampur Sugar-/D 67.45 10.95 372200 Jbf Indu-B/D 187.05 11.5 79952 Ruchi Soya-B/D 25 0.1 22682 Tate & Lyle/D 579.2669 3.5 178923 rel by the end of the decade. Dr. Reddy-A/D 3243.75 55.4 57652 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.37 0.01 81185 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 512 11.4 5285 Tesco/D 189.2 -1.55 4817096 The price expectations are based on an email survey E I H-B/D 104 -1.65 13719 Jct Ltd-B/D 5.74 0.52 910631 Saur.Cem-B/D 45.8 -0.4 50693 Unilever/D 3103.5 -6 547256 sent to more than 2,500 energy professionals working E.I.D Parry-A/D 190.1 5.7 113080 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 8.2 0.22 39939 Savita Oil-B/D 484 6.5 1244 United Util Gr/D 914.5 2 197699 in oil and gas, banking, hedge funds, research, profes- Eicher Motor-A/D 19300 -23.25 1775 Jik Indust-T/D 0.93 0.04 9750 Tanfac Indust-/D 28 0.55 3634 Vodafone Group/D 217.734 -3.55 12983227 sional services, trading and specialist media earlier this Eimco Elecon-T/D 315 0 1012 Jindal Drill-B/D 125 -1.2 1580 Tanfac Indust-/D 28 0.55 3634 Whitbread/D 3738.71 -64 197397 month. More than 800 responded. The full tabulation Electrosteel-B/D 18.75 -0.45 127127 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 82.2 0.4 194471 Thirumalai-B/D 157.8 3.8 4017 of responses as well as summary statistics are availa- Emco-B/D 27.25 2.7 98618 Kabra Extr-B/D 83 0.4 1730 Til Ltd.-T/D 341.9 -0.8 2370 ble for download. The results are more bullish than the futures strip, where Brent is currently trading around $50 per barrel on average in 2020. In the survey, there is a high degree of consensus about prices for the rest of 2016. Most forecasts for 2016 are tightly clustered between $35 and $45 per barrel. Nearly all lie US stocks pare losses while commodities rally between $30 and $50. Brent prices have averaged just $33 per barrel so far in 2016, so most respondents expect prices to be slightly firmer in the remainder of the year. Bloomberg in global equities stalled yesterday days. The index has jumped more $63.74 a dry tonne, data on Metal point, to 0.89 percent. The But in the latter years covered by the survey there as investors await this week’s ECB than 8.5 percent from a February Bulletin Ltd’s website show. Cop- extra yield benchmark 10-year is far less consensus about what will happen, reflecting meeting, where Mario Draghi, the 11 low, though it remains down per sank for the first time in a Treasuries offer over comparable- uncertainty about how far and how fast prices might central bank’s president, is widely almost 3 percent for the year. week, losing 0.4 percent. maturity German debt widened recover from the crash. The central forecast rises pro- NEW YORK: US stocks erased a expected to deliver a package of The Bloomberg Commod- The euro fell for the first time to the most since January as data gressively by $5 to $10 per year between 2017 and 2020, decline, while commodities ral- easing measures to revive euro- ity Index headed for a sixth day in four days as investors braced indicate a strengthening US econ- but the range of expectations also becomes successively lied on speculation China stimulus area growth and inflation. of gains. Brent crude climbed 2.6 for the ECB’s policy decision. omy in contrast with tepid growth more dispersed. will boost demand for resources Meanwhile, commodities are percent to $39.73 a barrel, after Nearly three-quarters of the abroad. France’s bonds were the Most respondents expect prices to rise to around $65 from iron ore to copper. Brent gaining after China’s lowered their briefly reaching $40.11. West economists in a Bloomberg sur- biggest gainers in euro-area debt to $70 per barrel by 2020. But as many as a quarter think crude topped $40 a barrel for the goal for economic expansion. The Texas Intermediate climbed 3.1 vey predict the central bank will markets, with the 10-year yield prices will remain stuck below $55, while another 25 first time since December. nation’s leaders said they are percent to $37.03. Speculators expand monthly quantitative eas- declining four basis points to 0.62 percent think they will have risen to more than $80 by The Standard & Poor’s 500 planning a record- high budget reduced their short positions ing, and all but one see the deposit percent. then. One way to measure the increase in uncertainty traded near a two-month high deficit as they seek to stoke the by the most in 10 months in the rate being cut further below zero. The MSCI Emerging Market is to look at the standard deviation of survey responses after its longest rally since Octo- world’s second- largest economy. week ended March 1, Commod- The shared currency weakened Index rose for a seventh day, its over longer time horizons. ber, while travel stocks and banks “Expectations surrounding the ity Futures Trading Commission 0.4 percent to 124.70 yen, while longest winning streak since April. The standard deviation of responses grows from led the Stoxx Europe 600 Index ECB are going to be at play this data showed. falling to $1.0979. Benchmark equity gauges in Russia less than $8 for 2016 to $20 by the end of the decade, lower. Oil advanced as US drill- week,” said Eric Wiegand, senior Iron ore soared the most ever A gauge of 20 emerging cur- and Dubai added at least 1.1 percent. suggesting uncertainty about prices at the end of the ers cut the number of active rigs portfolio manager at the Private as Chinese support measures rencies declined for a first time in China’s foreign-exchange reserves decade is almost twice as great as in the near term. to the least in more than six years. Client Reserve of US Bank in New boosted the outlook for steel and six days. Argentina’s peso and the fell at a slower pace last month as For 2016, 90 percent of forecasts lie in a $20 range Investors are watching pros- York. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1 spurred speculation that some Hungarian forint led losses in cur- the nation’s financial markets sta- from $30 to $50 per barrel, but by the end of the decade pects for additional central bank percent at 11:23am in New York, investors who’d bet against the rencies with drops of at least 0.8 bilised. The world’s largest currency the comparable range is $60 wide from $40 to $100 per stimulus closely after volatility halting a four-day rally that had market had been caught out. Ore percent versus the dollar. Treas- hoard dropped by $28.6bn to $3.2 barrel. Only 7 percent of respondents expect Brent prices roiled financial markets at the start pushed the gauge above its aver- with 62 percent content delivered ury two-year yields climbed three trillion in February, the People’s to climb back to $100 or more by the end of the decade. of the year. The three-week rally age price for the past 50 and 100 to Qingdao jumped 19 percent to basis points, or 0.03 percentage Bank of China said. BUSINESS VIEWS TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 27

Hopes for recovery LSE-DB merger would signal on EM currency bonds after losses end to exchange mega deals

By Sujata Rao There may also be support Reuters from steadier commodity prices, Trigo Paz argues, noting exporting nations have shown willingness to act to prevent further crude FTER three years of price falls. negative returns in If dollar risks are indeed neu- emerging market cur- tralised, investor focus should turn rencies and local bonds, again to emerging market yields. and at least as many That’s especially so because around Afalse dawns, some investors are $6 trillion worth of global bonds punting again on a turning point - carry negative yields and inter- this time hopeful of a downturn in est rates in a swathe of developed the dominant US dollar. countries are below zero. Dollar-based investors suf- Average yield premia offered fered an average 15 percent losses by emerging local bonds over US, last year on bonds denominated eurozone and Japanese govern- in currencies such as Turkish ment debt is around 5.4, 7.2 and lira and Mexican peso, and sec- 7.1 percentage points, according tor funds tracked by the EPFR to Salman Ahmed, chief global Global consultancy witnessed strategist at Lombard Odier, who $12.6bn in capital outflows - the is advising investors to reconsider third straight year of losses. emerging markets. The premium But some say that even if the paid in 2012 was much lower at outlook for emerging economies 4.5, 4.7 and 5.3 percentage points A sign is pictured on a wall outside the entrance to the London Stock Exchange in central London. is precarious, local-currency respectively, he estimates. bonds are now attractive. Already Finally, steadier currencies this year, emerging currency debt should allow some central banks has returned 4 percent in dollar to cut interest rates - Indonesia, terms, comparable to German and India and South Korea are among By Huw Jones defined.” Regulators would be unlikely to Until the slowdown in China’s econ- US government bonds but well those likely to soon ease policy. Reuters allow the CME and ICE to merge, for instance, omy, Asia was seen as a promised land above most other mainstream Russian 10-year yields have fallen given a combined group would have a near- for western exchanges wanting to tap asset classes. 100 bps in the past month as oil unassailable position in US securities trading. the region’s growth and realise a dream BlackRock, the world’s largest prices stabilised. It is also unlikely that ICE would be of becoming truly global platforms. asset manager, predicts domes- But the emerging world still F THE merger between London Stock allowed to buy a combined LSE-Deutsche However national political barriers tically issued debt will deliver faces formidable challenges. Exchange (LSE) and Deutsche Boerse Boerse group as this would create an effec- make foreign takeovers in Asia more dif- double-digit returns in 2016, as Recent business activity data (DB) goes ahead, it could be the final tive monopoly of listed derivatives trading in ficult than elsewhere, BTA Consulting’s external headwinds start to ease. showed recovery remains elusive mega-deal in the industry as further Europe, say analysts. It would also be hard Taylor said. In 2011 Australia banned an And the main gale has been a for most economies; exports and combinations of such scale are likely to envisage the Chinese government allow- attempt by the Singapore Exchange to buy worldwide revaluation of the domestic demand are sluggish to hit antitrust buffers. ing a foreign exchange take over Hong Kong the Australian Stock Exchange to avoid a US dollar of more than 25 per- and the population’s hardships IThe two companies will seek to overcome Exchanges & Clearing, they said. foreign country having too much sway in cent against major developed are hampering governments from the kind of regulatory concerns that scup- If the LSE deal goes ahead, any big its financial centre. country currencies, with gains implementing vital reforms. pered Deutsche Boerse’s attempt to merge exchange looking to expand might instead Analysts say Asian exchanges are against many emerging curren- There are also question marks with NYSE Euronext four years ago, a deal have to look to hoovering up smaller peers. more likely to snap up western peers cies amounting to as much as over China, which many fear will blocked because it would have created a near- “There is no one else left to buy up. It would rather than the other way round. The 30-60 percent. be forced to devalue its yuan, in monopoly on exchange-traded derivatives be a range of mega exchanges buying a cou- Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing bought For investors in emerging cur- turn dragging down other emerg- in Europe. ple of selective, medium-sized exchanges,” the London Metal Exchange in 2012, while rency bonds, that meant heavy ing currencies. So despite the They could argue there is less overlap said Brian Taylor of BTA Consulting, which Singapore’s SGX exchange is among the losses in dollar terms wiped out lure of 7 percent yields, Steve between certain business lines in any one advises exchanges. suitors for London’s Baltic Exchange. gains on yield. This year, as reces- Ellis, portfolio manager at Fidel- region, namely Europe, say industry experts; In Europe, smaller exchanges themselves “I don’t think any country in Asia is sion fears raged in January and ity International, still prefers for example while Deutsche Boerse has a big such as Euronext and BME would be forced ready to open up to foreign ownership,” early February and US interest emerging dollar bonds, citing European derivatives trading operation, LSE to respond to the increased competition from TABB Group’s Daniels said. The pro- rate rises fell off the horizon, the high currency volatility on the is largely absent from that business. a combined LSE-Deutsche Boerse to avoid posed London-Frankfurt merger has not dollar backed off and forecasters local debt sector. If the deal is cleared it would create a “Big being squeezed out, said Christian Voigt, sen- yet been formally put to regulators, but a started to rethink. “We’ve had times before when Four” of trading powerhouses that outstrip ior regulatory adviser in London at Fidessa, major area of competition concern could Like most investors, Black- we thought it was a good time to rivals in terms of market value and global which builds trading systems. be derivatives clearing, as LSE’s LCH. Rock’s head of emerging fixed go into emerging local currency, reach - ICE and CME in the United States, LSE- “All those medium-sized exchange groups Clearnet and Deutsche Boerse’s Eurex income, Sergio Trigo Paz, spent we thought there were green DB in Europe and Asia’s Hong Kong Exchanges ... will be forced to find an answer,” he said. Clearing are already the dominant play- three years sheltering in the relative shoots but they were false dawns,” and Clearing. Each would have such large “If you are stuck in such a position, you either ers in Europe. safety of emerging market bonds Ellis said. “You need to see the global operations in shares and derivatives have to start to grow or focus on a niche or Industry experts said the British com- denominated in hard currencies growth backdrop improving, that trading, as well as indices and clearing, that specialty areas so that you can differentiate pany could spin off the French half of its such as the dollar or the euro, but will give you the green light.” any argument that busi- yourself.” A source close to France-based clearing house in a bid to assuage regula- he recently turned bullish on local What’s more, with the US ness lines do not overlap Euronext, which was split from NYSE in 2014, tors. LSE and Deutsche Boerse declined to debt for the first time in three years. industrial sector showing signs of could not prevail again, said continuing with its strategy of maintain- comment. A core reform from the global “We expect double-digit a bounceback and labour markets say industry officials and ing its independence was no longer tenable, financial crisis is forcing large chunks of returns so...we are very over- increasingly tight, Fed hikes have analysts. even if the LSE-Deutsche Boerse merger did the world’s $550 trillion derivatives mar- weight. The more things go our returned to the agenda and the dol- “The very big players not go ahead. ket to pass through a clearing house to way, the more we shall add (to lar may yet have sting in the tail. are already starting to be A London-Frankfurt merger could also complete the trade even if one side of the positions),” Trigo Paz said. Pre- BNP Paribas Investment Part- in danger of running into pose problems for US exchange Nasdaq. It transaction goes bust. dicting a dollar pullback, he ners said that despite its bearish If the LSE deal goes antitrust anywhere they would risk falling further and further behind The lucrative service becomes man- added: “If you talk of a one-third view on the developing world’s go,” said Patrick Young, a a Big Four as it does not have the same glo- datory for interest rate swaps in the (dollar) retracement, we talk of 7 prospects, it has decided none- ahead, any big consultant to exchanges bal reach or a strong presence in derivatives European Union from June, and ICE and percent. So in emerging local debt theless to close its underweight exchange looking since the days of the first trading and clearing - among the industry’s CME have both opened clearing houses in you get to clip your coupon of 7 position on emerging local debt, LSE-Deutsche Boerse tie highest-growth and margin businesses. the region in the past five years. While the percent, plus another 7 percent on telling clients it had become to expand might up proposal back in 2000. “I do think that (LSE-DB) would be pretty LSE and Deutsche Boerse say their merger EM currencies if you get a dollar “increasingly uncomfortable instead have to look to “We are coming to the much the last of the mega mergers and poses would be Brexit-proof, Britain leaving the depreciation of 7 percent across standing against” such cheap point where the great an interesting question for Nasdaq. Do they EU could force other exchanges with Euro- the board.” currencies. hoovering up smaller exchanges merger game need to do a deal, what is their focus?” said pean headquarters in London — such as peers. is coming to an end, the Rich Daniels, senior analyst at TABB Group BATS Chi-X, ICE and CME — to review great powers have been in New York. Nasdaq declined to comment. where they should be based. Germany’s economic engine throttles back over ‘what if’ uncertainties

By Michael Nienaber and Paul Carrel never happen, or those already placed that exporters are forced to follow suit. expectations of future business fell for the Reuters get cancelled. Larger German corporations This in turn threatens to drag German first time since October 2014 below zero, — such as Daimler, BASF and ThyssenKrupp growth below the government’s 1.7 percent the long-term average since 1991. And yet — can afford to look beyond such near-term forecast for this year, despite a largely buoy- the firms still rated their current business as uncertainties and are pressing ahead with ant domestic economy. exceptionally positive. ERVOUSNESS among buyers of investment plans. Stephan Gais, CEO of Mittelstand firm “This ... shows that the mood is so far German goods around the world — However, Mittelstand firms with more Mahr, which makes high-end measuring affected mainly by the many disturbing often over problems that have yet to modest financial resources make up roughly tools used in the auto and chemicals sectors, news reports and the concerns and fears they materialise — is forcing some of the 98 percent of German export companies and cited tensions between the West and Russia create, and not by actual economic trends,” Nnation’s small- and mid-sized manufacturers they are being held back by a fall in business over the Ukraine conflict, the refugee crisis, KfW bank analyst Klaus Borger said. Smaller to postpone investments, and threatening to confidence caused by the political risks plus the British referendum in June on whether to ‘micro-cap’ companies listed on the stock stunt economic growth. this year’s dive on stock, energy and com- leave the EU, and general anxiety about terror market are also cautious. Of those that have These largely family- These largely family-owned companies modity markets. attacks as risks to his business. “If any of these reported outlooks this year, 10 gave fore- of the “Mittelstand”, the backbone of German “We’re worried that we are talking our- geopolitical issues escalates, then things will casts above analysts’ estimates, 32 in line owned companies of industry, definitely face trouble this year in selves into a crisis,” said Josef Minster, CEO of get difficult,” said Gais, who is seeing delays with expectations, and 15 below. the “Mittelstand”, the major export markets, such as an economic the Schlemmer Group, a Bavarian-based auto- in investment decisions by domestic as well By contrast, companies in the blue-chip slowdown in China and recession in Russia motive supplier specialised in cable protection as foreign customers in Mahr’s biggest mar- DAX index able to take a longer view are backbone of German and Brazil. But much of the anxiety among systems. “I see a clear risk here that panic reac- kets: Germany, the United States and China. investing in new technologies and markets industry, definitely face customers is of a ‘what if’ nature: what if tur- tions on financial markets could spill over and According to a survey by the Ifo economic they believe will grow in due course. Daim- trouble this year in major moil on financial markets spreads to the real hurt the real economy,” said Minster, naming institute, sentiment among German manu- ler, for example, is investing 500 million euros economy, what if the West gets into a seri- China, Russia and Brazil as the weak spots for facturers plunged last month by its largest ($550 million) in a battery factory in Germany export markets, such as ous confrontation with Russia, what if Britain his firm’s growth prospects. amount since the bankruptcy of Lehman for electric cars. Overall, however, investment an economic slowdown leaves the European Union? The common feeling in the Mittelstand Brothers in 2008, a major event in the glo- is weak. Gross investments by German firms None of these things may happen, but the is that the business environment is stronger bal financial crisis. fell 0.5 percent in 2015, the Federal Statistics in China and recession in risk is that the fear sets off a self-fulfilling than sentiment, but this may not last. A breakdown for Mittelstand firms, the Office reported. This meant the economy had Russia and Brazil. downward spiral, feeding through to the Mit- The concern is that when foreign cus- KfW-ifo SME Barometer, highlights the confi- to rely largely on strong private and state con- telstand in the form of expected orders that tomers postpone investment decisions, the dence problem. A sub-index measuring their sumption to grow 1.7 percent. 28 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Questions still cloud future Hedge funds turn strongly bullish on of Malaysia Airlines crude oil prices

By Siva Govindasamy and Reuters the contango in the Brent contract Praveen Menon is much narrower than in WTI. Reuters In a contango market, it costs money to maintain a long futures EDGE funds have and options position by roll- switched from a very ing expiring contracts forward WO years after twin air bearish view on crude (whereas someone with a short crashes that left its brand oil prices at the end of position will be paid for rolling in tatters, Malaysia Air- Hlast year to a much more bullish their position). lines is still a company one, especially for Brent. Such With the contango in Brent in limbo. The loss of two funds and other money manag- much narrower than in WTI, it TBoeing 777s just months apart in 2014 ers had amassed a combined net costs less to maintain a long posi- triggered a much needed state bailout long position in the three main tion, while waiting for spot prices for the already loss-making carrier. contracts on NYMEX and ICE to rise is lower than executing the It cut a third of its staff, grounded its amounting to 445 million bar- same strategy in WTI. Boeing 777-200s and scrapped its less rels of crude by March 1. But while the biggest long profitable long-haul routes. The combined net long posi- positions are still in Brent, the As a result of those efforts — and tion in West Texas Intermediate largest change in positions last low oil prices — the group says it (WTI) and Brent futures and week was in the WTI contracts, will reach its target to turn a profit options was boosted by more than where hedge funds slashed their in 2018, the same year its German 61 million barrels last week to short positions. boss, turnaround guru Christoph the highest level in nine months. Combined short positions in Mueller, ends a three-year contract. The combined net long posi- NYMEX and ICE WTI were cut by Men watch Malaysia Airlines aircraft at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia. But some analysts and executives tion has risen by more than 200 a massive 38 million barrels, 15 question a bet on a narrow, regional million barrels since the start of percent, in a single week, from 249 business model they say could leave the year, according to data from million barrels to 211 million. US it struggling to compete with regional with 239 people on board. In July “Khazanah must push Christoph has signed a codeshare agreement the U.S. Commodity Futures Trad- crude prices have corresponded rivals. They say Mueller and his team 2014, Flight MH17 was shot down by and his team to do something about with Gulf carrier Emirates to give its ing Commission and ICE Futures closely with the accumulation are not paying enough attention to a surface-to-air missile over Ukraine, this if they want to secure the air- passengers access to points in Europe Europe. and liquidation of hedge fund the airline’s long-term strategy, in killing all 298 on board. line’s future beyond his three-year and Africa through Dubai. Hedge funds have much larger short positions in WTI since the the face of intense competition from In December 2014, Malaysian contract,” said one. The executive was That, argue some executives and bullish positions in Brent than start of 2015. southeast Asian rivals like Singapore state-owned sovereign wealth fund not authorized to speak to the press. analysts, may leave it sitting uncom- WTI. They hold a net long posi- As expected, the liquidation Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Air Khazanah took the airline private A second executive also called fortably between full service rivals tion of 342 million barrels in Brent of hedge fund short positions was Asia particularly if the airline contin- as part of a 6bn ringgit ($1.47bn) for greater ambition, arguing against and local budget competitors like compared with 102 million bar- associated with a big rise in WTI ues to haemorrhage pilots, engineers restructuring plan. Mueller, 54, “too much short termism” in the AirAsia and AirAsia X. As a smaller rels in WTI. Hedge funds added 16 prices, from under $32 per bar- and mid-rank managers. was brought in as the airline’s CEO overhaul plan. On Friday, the airline full-service airline without a large million barrels to their long posi- rel to almost $34.50. Prices have “Apart from shedding jobs, cut- in May 2015 on the strength of his announced that its latest cost cuts network, it won’t be able to compete tions in Brent over the week to continued rising strongly and are ting its fleet size and renegotiating experience turning around Ireland’s included renegotiating contracts effectively with other full service hub March 1 while cutting the small now over $36.50 per barrel, which vendor contracts, it would appear Aer Lingus, Belgium’s Sabena, and with leasing companies, reducing carriers in the region, they say. number of remaining short posi- strongly suggests liquidation of nobody envisions what the airline Germany’s Lufthansa. the number of suppliers, and imple- But it will also have to compete tions by almost 6 million barrels. hedge fund short positions has might look like in 10 years’ time,” said Some of the operational changes menting a new IT system. with Malaysian budget carriers Air- The preference for holding continued since March 1. Shukor Yusof, founder of Malaysia- Mueller has implemented are start- The cuts so far have included a Asia and AirAsia X, which have a bullish positions in Brent reflects The big price rise marks the based consultancy Endau Analytics. ing to show results: On Friday, the dramatic shrinking of the airline’s net- similar point-to-point network, lingering concerns about the third time since the start of 2015 Malaysia Airlines was strug- company released data showing rev- work: over the last year, it has cancelled lower cost base and can offer cheaper availability of storage space for that there has been a large short- gling with a high cost base and low enue per available seat kilometre, an all non-stop flights to Europe except ticket prices. A planned rebranding surplus oil in the United States. covering rally as hedge funds yields even before 2014, but its trou- industry measure of efficiency, up 10 those to London and ended several low- has been put on hold. The company, It is also much cheaper to hold amass and then exit from large bles deepened after March that year, percent from the previous quarter. yield Asia Pacific services. It is instead explain some executives and ana- bullish positions in Brent because short positions in NYMEX WTI. when flight MH370 disappeared en But that may not be enough, sen- concentrating on short- and medium- lysts, wants to be profitable before it route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing ior executives warn. haul flights to Asia and Australia. It relaunches the brand.

China’s economy absolutely will not have a hard Capital landing, the so called predictions are bound to fall Xu Shaoshi, Chairman of the through. There is no justification to the argument that National Development and Comment China’s economy is weighing down the global economy Reform Commission China

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk British factories pull Argaam Plus @ Wealth Adviser out of slump: EEF ArgaamPlus Reuters manufacturing, construction #Saudi #Fund for NAME IN THE MARKET: SHALE PRODUCTION and services sectors pointed to a Development lends As securities firms weigh slowdown in quarterly economic #Alkhorayef SAR 100 mln for exports the impact of the Labor growth to 0.3 percent from 0.5 LONDON: A slump at British percent in late 2015. Department’s coming factories has bottomed out but The Bank of England has said Moody’s InvestorsSvc @ fiduciary-duty rule, many are a group representing the sec- it is prepared to cut interest rates tor also said it was cutting its or expand its bond-buying pro- MoodysInvSvc focusing on the language that growth forecasts for 2016 and gramme if needed to offset a hit Moody’s tally of least- would allow them to continue warned of the potential drag to British growth. The EEF cut creditworthy US to charge commissions when from the country’s European its forecast for manufacturing companies ticks closer Union referendum. growth in 2016 to 0.6 percent from to 2009 record working with retirement EEF said its latest quarterly a previous forecast of 0.8 per- savers. The problem is that balances of new orders and out- cent. It also said overall economic put improved after sinking to a growth would be 1.9 percent. the provision is unrealistic. Standard & Poor’s @ six-year low in late 2015 although The group said the approach they remained in negative terri- of Britain’s EU membership ref- standardpoors tory. It also said factories expected erendum could add to caution a further pickup in the coming among factory managers. Brit- #Defaults by a #Rus- DealB%k three months. ain’s factories struggled through sian #bank and a #US “The slide is bottoming out, much of last year with a slow- #oil & #gas company bring global tally to 22 but manufacturing is still in down in the global economy and issuers in 2016 negative territory and faces a firms with links to the oil indus- Abuse of interest rates and precarious climb back up amidst try have also felt the hit of the the failure to address the a storm of real uncertainty,” EEF plunge in oil prices. World Bank Energy @ chief economist Lee Hopley said. Consumer spending has WBG_Energy problem is one of the most The survey offered a sign helped drive the economy since expensive scandals to hit that a slowdown in the econ- it began a sustained recovery #Offgrid solar to reach omy might be not as bad as in 2013 and a separate survey 99M households in Wall Street since the financial some other measures have sug- showed households increased Africa & Asia by 2020, crisis. gested. Last week, purchasing their spending last month, albeit projects managing indexes for Britain’s more slowly than in January. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 30 PAGE | 32 Bale set to India start as reinforce Real favourities for against Roma World T20

TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 • 28 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

The podium winners at the Qatar Junior Open squash championship pose for a picture with officials of Qatar Squash Federation at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. The tournament was held in five categories. Salem wins Qatar Junior Open U15 title

Egyptian overcomes Yu Heng of Singapore Qatar’s Al Tamimi claims in 22 minutes to finish on top maiden title in Atlanta The Peninsula The Peninsula Al Tamimi made the break- through in the opening game before DOHA: Ammar Yasser Salem of a resilient Hanson powered to vic- Egypt came up with a clinical dis- ATLANTA: World No.61 Abdulla tory in the second game. play to clinch the U15 title at the Qatar Mohammed Al Tamimi (pictured) Hanson then went ahead in Junior Open squash championship lifted his first ever PSA World Tour the third by the narrowest of mar- at the Khalifa International Tennis title after a gargantuan five-game gins but the encounter was to have and Squash Complex here yesterday. battle with second seed Chris Han- another massive momentum swing Salem took 22 minutes to regis- Ammar Yasser Salem of Egypt and Matthew Wong Yu Heng of son in the final of the Life Time when Al Tamimi levelled things up ter a 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 win over Matthew Singapore in action in the U15 final of the Qatar Junior Open squash Atlanta Open here yesterday. with an 11-9 triumph in game four. Wong Yu Heng of Singapore. championship at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex Top seed Al Tamimi scythed With the match heading into In the semi-finals, Salem in Doha yesterday. through the field in the open- the latter exchanges, both players defeated Qatar’s Waleed Zaman ing stages of the event and only traded a number of high-octane 11-1, 11-6, 11-8 to book a place in the dropped one game, against semi- mouth-watering final encounter points as the title hung in the final, whileYu Heng got the better of Asad Ullah Khan of Pakistan followed by Arnav Tevatia of India. final opponent Clinton Leeuw, with Al Tamimi. balance. Naveed Rehman of Pakistan 11-8, defeated Mohamed Tarek Ouda of From today, Qatar Squash Federation en-route to the final, according to Both players engaged in some It was Al Tamimi, the Qatari 12-10,11-7. Qatar 11-7, 11-8, 11-2 to win the U13 (QSF) will host the Doha Junior Open, a report on the psaworldtour.com exciting, long-winded rallies from No.1, who managed to rise above On Sunday, Israr Ahmad of Paki- title while in the U17, Alireza Shameli the second back-to back tournament. website. the outset as they each looked to Hanson to claim the victory cour- stan won the U19 title defeating Sajad of Iran defeated Chan Chi Ho of Hong The event is held in five age Hanson, meanwhile, eased move their opponent off the ’T’ and tesy of an 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 Zareian Jahromi of Iran in an excit- Kong 11-9, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9 to finish on groups of U11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 at Kha- by Diego Gobbi, Daniel Polesh- take advantage of the space at the victory and break his PSA World ing five-game thriller which lasted top. In the U13, Muhammad Huza- lifa International Tennis and Squash chuk and Eric Galvez to set up a front of the court. Tour title duck. for one hour. ifa Ibrahim of Pakistan came first Complex. QSL: Al Gharafa, Al Sadd share spoils in one-all draw

The Peninsula Al Rayyan have already clinched In Round 21 Arabi opened the back to winning ways in this clash. Sardor Rashidov in this game. The substituted due to injury. Al Khor’s the title after their 20th win in the 14 scoring early against Al Kharitiyat Al Arabi have bad memories of this dynamic trio has collectively contrib- timely win pushed them to 9th in the team league played on a double leg through Paulinho, however Gian- match from the first half of the sea- uted to 82% of El Jaish goals so far in QSL standings. DOHA: Al Sadd and Al Gharafa basis. franco Zola’s side conceded in the son, comprehensively losing 4-0 to the league. It promises to be an inter- Head coach Fernandez expressed shared the spoils in an one-all draw Meanwhile Round 22 matches will second half to give relegation threat- Jaish back in November. Gianfranco esting tactical battle when Al Arabi his sadness for the injury of the Bra- in the Round 21 match of the Qatar begin on Thursday. ened Kharitiyat a valuable share of Zola’s side will be looking for revenge meet El Jaish on Friday at Lekhwiya zilian player who is a key player for Stars League (QSL). The match of the week will see the points. going into the match. Stadium. the side. Both goals came in the first half. top 4 chasing Al Arabi take on sec- Whilst for El Jaish they conceded Al Arabi will be looking to Qatari Meanwhile, QSL side Al Khor are Julio Cesar will now undergo Mashaal Qassim gave Al Sadd the lead ond place El Jaish in what promises a 60th minute penalty to bottom side midfielder Boualem Khoukhi to shut set to be without the services of their medical tests in Aspetar on Mon- and four minutes later Vadimir Weiss to be a clash of two of the QSL’s best Meisameer. out El Jaish in this tie. Whilst for El Brazilian striker Julio Cesar due to day to confirm the duration of his equalised for Al Gharafa. footballing sides. Despite letting the Flames back Jaish they could be set for their high- a hamstring pull he suffered during absence, with some early indications Al Sadd after yesterday’s draw are Both sides head into the match into the tie, El Jaish where unable to est league finish in the QSL. his sides 3-1 victory over Qatar SC on suggesting he could be out for up to in fourth place with 36 points while at Lekhwiya stadium after suffering find a winner with the tie ending in Sabri Lamouchi will be looking Sunday evening. two weeks, meaning that the Brazil- Al Gharafa are in eight place with 27 frustrating draws against sides in the a 1-1 draw. to the attacking talent of Romar- Cesar scored his team’s first ian striker could sit out QSL games points. bottom half in the QSL table. So both sides will be eager to get inho, Abderrazak Hamdallah and goal against QSC before he was against Lekhwiya and Meisameer. 30 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 SPORT

Champions League last 16, second leg fixtures Bale set to reinforce Real Madrid in Paris: Champions League last 16, second leg fixtures this week (all kick-offs 1945 GMT unless stated): Today At Wofsburg, Germany Champions League tie against Roma VfL Wolfsburg (GER) vs Gent (BEL) Wolfsburg lead 3-2 from first leg At Madrid Real Madrid (ESP) vs Roma (ITA) squad. Madrid’s forlorn challenge for Madrid lead 2-0 from first leg the Spanish title owes much to defeats Spaniards need to Tomorrow to rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid book their place in at the Bernabeu. At St Petersburg, Russia (1700 GMT) quarter-finals to Yet, they have won 15 and drawn Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) vs Ben- keep alive a hugely one of their other 16 home games, fica (ITA) scoring 69 goals in the process. Benfica lead 1-0 from first leg Trailing Barca by 12 points with disappointing season At London just 10 Liga games to play and having been turfed out of the Copa del Rey Chelsea (ENG) vs after just one game for fielding an Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) Agencies ineligible player, Madrid’s sole focus PSG lead 2-1 from first leg has turned to winning an 11th Euro- March 15 pean Cup. At Madrid And not without reason. On the MADRID: Gareth Bale looks set last seven times Madrid were crowned Atletico Madrid (ESP) vs PSV Eind- hoven (NED) to reinforce Real Madrid against kings of Europe they failed to win the AS Roma in the second leg of their league domestically. First leg 0-0 Champions League last-16 tie at the “We are still in the Champions At Manchester, England Bernabeu today (1945GMT) after a League. It is a competition we aspire Manchester City (ENG) vs Dynamo promising return from injury at the to win and it is not a coincidence that Kiev (UKR) weekend. Real Madrid is the team that have won Man City lead 3-1 from first leg Real should also have Toni Kroos, the most European Cups,” said Cris- March 16 Luka Modric and Marcelo back after tiano Ronaldo. they missed Saturday’s 7-1 rout of Celta “Nothing is lost and we are going At Barcelona, Spain Vigo when Cristiano Ronaldo scored to continue working to achieve great Barcelona (ESP) vs Arsenal (ENG) four goals. things at the end of the season.” Barcelona lead 2-0 from first leg Bale, who has scored an average Whether Madrid can achieve great At Munich, Germany of nearly a goal a match in La Liga things in the Champions League come Bayern Munich (GER) vs this season, should help Real keep the Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale (right), team-mates Casemiro (left) and Keylor Navas take part in a training session Milan on May 28 will depend much on Juventus (ITA) Roma defence busy as the Italian side at Real Madrid Sport City in Madrid on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against AS Roma. Ronaldo and could play a major role try to come back from a 2-0 deficit in in the three-time World Player of the First leg 2-2 the first leg in Rome two weeks ago. Year’s future at the club. The Welsh forward tore a calf Ronaldo’s outburst that Real muscle against Sporting Gijon on Jan- realmadrid.com): “I’m really happy only major trophy they can still real- Real Madrid will be seeking a “would be top” of the league if his Wolfsburg uary 17 and had a setback during his after several difficult weeks. It’s great istically win this season. place in their quarter-finals to keep teammates matched his standards recovery last month. to win this way, come back, play and Roma also boosted their confi- alive a hugely disappointing season. didn’t sit well in the Madrid dressing However, Bale had scored 11 goals score.” dence for the task in Madrid with a A place in the last eight for a sixth room or in the stands. confident in eight matches in La Liga prior to that Kroos missed Saturday’s game 4-1 home win over Fiorentina in a key consecutive season is well within the Indeed, the Portuguese was even injury and showed he could comfort- through illness, while Marcelo (mus- clash for third place in Serie A on Fri- reach of Zidane’s men with a comfort- jeered by sections of the Real support of success ably pick up where he left off. cle fatigue) and Modric (ankle) have day, including two goals from their able 2-0 first-leg lead to rely on. before firing four goals in 28 minutes He struck 14 minutes after com- been out for two league matches. quick winger Mohamed Salah, who Yet, Madrid will have memo- during Saturday’s 7-1 thrashing of Celta against ing on as a substitute on Saturday and Striker Karim Benzema remains played on loan at Fiore last season. ries of this stage of the competition Vigo. At 31, Real are also well aware now has a tally of 14 goals in his 16 doubtful with a thigh muscle prob- But coach Luciano Spaletti has 12 months ago when Schalke had the this summer may be their last chance league matches. lem and teenager Borja Mayoral could injury worries. He did not include 10-time champions clinging on in the to recoup the near 100 million euros Gent “Bale looked good, he was happy again stand in for him. central defender Antonio Rudiger in final stages as the Germans won 4-3 they paid Manchester United for his to play after so long,” Zidane said. Zidane will want his most experi- a 21-man squad for the trip, while at the Bernabeu. services seven years ago. “We’ll see... for the match against enced players, though, to ensure Real holding midfielder Radja Nainggolan Real’s home form this season has Ronaldo’s four-goal haul against Reuters Roma but I think he’s ready.” stay in the hunt for an “Undecima” is doubtful with a groin problem and shown in equal measure the talent and Celta took his tally to 39 in 35 games Bale told the club website (www. (11th) European Cup as they target the Daniele De Rossi is still unavailable. frailties prevalent in their star-studded this season. BERLIN: VfL Wolfsburg are con- fident their recent good form can carry them past Gent today and into the Champions League quar- ter-finals for the first time. Stakes high as Chelsea and PSG clash again The Wolves, who won the first leg 3-2 in Belgium after leading 3-0 and conceding two late goals, are fuelled up on confidence fol- AFP secure another French title as early lowing a 2-1 victory over in-form as next weekend, so they risk hav- Borussia Moenchengladbach on ing a rather anti-climactic finish to Saturday. PARIS: Chelsea and Paris Saint- the season if they are eliminated from It was their second league win Germain meet at Stamford Bridge Europe. in five days and moved them back tomorrow with both sides’ sea- That means there is huge pressure into seventh place in the table. sons riding on the outcome of their on Laurent Blanc’s team, as Brazilian “When you win against such a Champions League last 16, second leg defender Maxwell admitted. top team like Gladbach then you showdown. “Chelsea is on the minds of eve- are allowed to be confident,” said PSG head to London with a 2-1 ryone. It is a very important match. Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus lead from the first leg in Paris last Everyone is waiting for it -- the Allofs. “We are back in the game.” month thanks to a late Edinson Cav- media, the club, the players too,” he Wolfsburg, last season’s run- ani winner, but the tie is finely poised, told French media after Saturday’s ners-up and German Cup winners, with John Obi Mikel’s away goal giv- match. seem to have recovered from their ing Chelsea plenty of reason to believe PSG have doubts over the fitness slump earlier in the campaign in they can progress. of influential midfield duo Blaise time for the biggest European Away goals have decided the Matuidi and Marco Verratti but hope game in the club’s history. meetings of the sides in each of the at least one of the two will make the “We know that the tie is not last two seasons, with a 2-2 draw at game. finished yet,” Allofs said. “But if Stamford Bridge taking PSG through “At this time of the season it is dif- we play like we did against Glad- at the same stage last season after ficult to have everyone fully fit. We bach then we will advance into the Chelsea had come out on top in the all have little knocks here and there. next round.” 2014 quarter-finals. We hope to have a full squad,” added Julian Draxler, who scored The stakes are extremely high Maxwell. Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts during the French L1 match against against both Gent and Gladbach, for this latest clash of the clubs, with Meanwhile, Chelsea could be Montpellier (MHSC) , at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on Saturday. limped off on Saturday midway Chelsea looking to Europe for joy without skipper John Terry but Hid- through the second half but is while they continue to struggle in dink insisted that Diego Costa should expected to be fit for Tuesday. the Premier League. be fine despite sitting out the Stoke fresh from demolishing Celta Vigo 7-1 must be wary of a team who have won Zenit St Petersburg entertain Benfica Max Kruse, who also scored They have lost just once in 16 draw.Real Madrid’s campaign is also in La Liga at the weekend and hope seven straight Serie A games. in Russia tomorrow, with the Portu- in both those games, picked up games since the sacking of Jose Mour- now riding on success in Europe after to welcome Toni Kroos, Luka Modric In Germany, Wolfsburg will hope guese side holding a 1-0 lead from the a knock but will be ready to face inho in December, but that loss came they slipped 12 points behind leaders and Gareth Bale back into their start- to make sure of a place in the quar- first leg. Benfica are fresh from beat- Gent, said coach Dieter Hecking. at the Parc des Princes three weeks Barcelona in La Liga, although Zine- ing line-up. ter-finals for the first time when they ing Lisbon rivals Sporting 1-0 away at “Games like the one on Tues- ago and Chelsea are coming off a 1-1 dine Zidane’s team are well placed to “He was happy to play again after entertain Gent today defending a 3-2 the weekend and beat the Russians at day should heal every wound,” draw at home to Stoke City that surely progress to the quarter-finals as they such a long time. I think he will be first-leg lead. this stage in 2012, but Zenit’s Portu- Hecking said. ended their hopes of a top-four finish host Roma at the Santiago Bernabeu. ready to start. We will see over the “We can make history and reach guese coach Andre Villas-Boas hopes Gent slipped two points behind in the Premier League. The Spanish giants won 2-0 in next couple of days,” said Zidane of the quarter-finals for the first time,” his team can turn the tie around. Belgian league leaders Club Bruges Meanwhile, PSG had their minds the first leg in Italy and so appear Bale, who came off the bench to score Wolfsburg’s Julian Draxler told Bun- “We are confident that we can after a 1-1 draw with second-bottom elsewhere during a 0-0 home draw poised to end a run of eight consec- against Celta after six weeks out. desliga.com. “We’ll approach the score the necessary goals. The quar- OH Leuven on Friday. Gent failed to with Montpellier at the weekend. utive defeats to Serie A opposition in Roma travel without Daniele De game as we would any other: we want ter-finals of the Champions League find a winner despite their oppo- They are 23 points clear of two-legged European ties. Rossi and German defender Antonio to win it.” is our dream. It will be a major event nents having their goalkeeper sent Monaco at the top of Ligue 1 and could They also come into the game Ruediger, who are injured, but Madrid The other game this midweek sees for Russian football,” Villas-Boas said. off. Coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck is still sweating over the fitness of striker Laurent Depoitre, who missed Friday’s match and Saturday training with a bad back and strained abdomen. EPL: Ranieri backs over-achieving Foxes to stay calm Serbian centre back Stefan Mitrovic, whose foot injury has kept him out for two weeks, is also a doubt. Yet even if they are depleted, the Belgians believe Reuters the Premier League table. Leicester’s Ranieri said the team’s self-belief the Italian told the club’s website Leicester’s spirit would stand them they have a chance in Germany. closest rivals, second-placed Tot- stemmed from the fact that they had (www.lcfc.com). “The target was in good stead during the title run in “When we were 0-3 down tenham Hotspur and third-placed already achieved their main target safety and it’s important to remind and that the Foxes would continue (against Wolfsburg), everyone LONDON: Manager Claudio Rani- Arsenal, drew 2-2 at White Hart of avoiding relegation and that they people who Leicester were. The first to fight hard for a first Premier thought this away tie would be just eri is confident that nerves will not Lane on Saturday and the Foxes would not flag in their remaining target was to save the team. League title. a city outing for us,” goalkeeper derail Leicester City’s season, after capitalised with an assured dis- fixtures. “Our fans continue to dream “We know very well it’s a strange Matz Sels said when asked if he watching his team defeat Watford play to go five points clear with nine “We’re not nervous. Our job is and we continue to work... it’s a chance that we have, but we want to was optimistic about the return 1-0 to stretch their lead at the top of games left. done. Our job was to save the team,” good combination.” Ranieri said fight,” he added. leg. SPORT TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 31

Goetze goes from World Cup hero LA Galaxy romp to big win in MLS to zero in 2016

In Oregon, champions the Port- victory at the Chicago Fire. World land Timbers defeated the Columbus Cup-winning former France inter- AFP Patrick Vieira begins Crew 2-1 in a rematch of last season’s national Vieira is hoping to inspire managerial reign at MLS Cup final. a transformation in New York’s for- New York City FC on a Portland midfielder Diego tunes after a disappointing inaugural BERLIN: Mario Goetze made Valeri and Nigerian forward season that saw them fail to reach German football history by scor- winning note in MLS Fanendo Adi scored the goals for the playoffs. ing the winning goal in the World the champions. Vieira was relieved to have Cup final, but now the Brazil 2014 Crew’s goal came via a secured the first three points of his hero can not get a game at Bay- spectacular bicycle kick from Fede- tenure after a late Chicago fightback, ern Munich. AFP reico Higuain, the 31-year-old elder which saw a tense finale after David A groin injury has restricted brother of Argentina and Napoli star Accam’s 72nd-minute penalty cut Goetze to just seven league Gonzalo Higuain. City’s lead to 4-3. appearances this season, but a Portland head coach Caleb Por- “I think it was a really good team month after making a full return LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Galaxy ter was delighted with a victory he performance,” said Vieira. to training, he has been kept on launched their new Major League believed has laid down a marker for “I strongly believe we are not at the bench for all of Bayern’s last Soccer season with a 4-1 victory the season. “We showed today that our best at the moment because it five games. over DC United on Sunday inspired we picked up right where we left was the first game of the league. We He is yet to play a single minute by two of the star-studded outfit’s off, that last year wasn’t an anom- will get better and stronger.” in 2016. lesser lights. aly,” Porter said. New York, missing the injured Goetze’s goal from the bench at The Galaxy, whose starting line- Orlando City produced the open- Frank Lampard, had opened the Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium up featured former Premier League ing day’s most remarkable result with scoring after just 10 minutes, with gave Germany a 1-0 extra-time stalwarts Steven Gerrard, Ash- an injury time fightback to snatch a midfielder Thomas McNamara curl- win over Argentina, but for the ley Cole, Nigel de Jong and Robbie 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake in ing a superb right foot shot into the 23-year-old, winning the World Keane, had looked in danger of suf- front of 60,147 fans at a sun-baked top corner to make it 1-0. Cup has been a golden highlight fering a shock loss after United took Citrus Bowl. Romanian international Razvan in three bleak seasons since join- the lead through Lamar Neagle on Salt Lake looked to be heading Cocis equalized for Chicago in the ing Bayern from rivals Borussia five minutes. for victory after Joao Plata struck 19th minute, springing the New York Dortmund in 2013. But the five-time MLS Cup cham- a 26th-minute penalty and a deft offside trap with ease before coolly Just 25 of Goetze’s 66 league pions staged a second half rally and 66th-minute finish to put the vis- finishing past City goalkeeper Josh appearances in three seasons at drew level through unheralded itors 2-0 up. But Canadian striker Saunders. City responded swiftly, Bayern have been over the 90 defender Daniel Steres in the 54th Cyle Larin gave Orlando a flicker of however, with goals from Tony Taylor minutes. minute after a corner from Mike hope after pulling a goal back in the and United States youth international The attacking midfielder Magee. Magee then put Galaxy ahead, fourth minute of time added on and Khiry Shelton putting the visitors 3-1 endured another 90 minutes on deftly steering home an angled lob then moments later Adrian Winter ahead. the bench at Dortmund’s Signal from close range on 64 minutes to bundled home the ball after latch- Nigerian midfielder Kennedy Iduna Park last Saturday in Bay- make it 2-1. ing onto a speculative goal-kick to Igboananike clawed a goal back ern’s goalless draw at his former Magee then won a penalty con- make it 2-2. for Chicago after the break but US club in a top of the table clash. verted by skipper Robbie Keane in Elsewhere on Sunday, Patrick international Mix Diskerud’s sweetly Dortmund’s CEO Hans- Ashley Cole (left) of Los Angeles Galaxy heads the ball clear from the 83rd minute before heading home Vieira’s managerial reign got off to struck 63rd minute volley restored Joachim Watzke says he feels “a his second of the match four minutes a winning start as New York City FC City’s two-goal cushion before Luciano Acosta of DC United during the first half of their MLS match at bit sorry” to see Goetze become later to complete the scoring. opened their campaign with a 4-3 Accam’s late penalty for Fire. StubHub Center in Carson, California on Sunday. a feature on Bayern’s bench, but Munich coach Pep Guardiola sim- ply insists he can not find a place for Germany’s World Cup hero. English FA Cup Fixtures “I have seven strikers and not Today (All times in GMT) Confidence back for Arsenal ahead of Hull trip everyone can play. This is some- Hull City(II) vs Arsenal (1900) times hard for me,” said Guardiola 6th Round when asked why he keeps leaving March 11 Goetze out. Reading(II) vs Crystal Palace (1955) AFP And the prospect of becoming Arsenal centre-back Per Merte- 10 changes for the first meeting last Robert Lewandowski, Tho- 6th Round the first team to win the FA Cup for a sacker echoed Ramsey’s views, albeit month and the former Manchester mas Mueller, Douglas Coman, March 12 third successive season since the 19th in more sarcastic fashion. United captain is set to follow suit in Kingsley Coman, Arjen Robben Everton vs Chelsea (1730) KINGSTON UPON HULL, United century will provide an additional “We have to take care of the replay. The 55-year-old, a three- and Franck Ribery are clearly all Kingdom: Aaron Ramsey says that incentive to overcome Champion- ourselves,” said the Germany time FA Cup winner as a player in ahead of Goezte in Guardiola’s 6th Round Arsenal will resume their FA Cup ship promotion hopefuls Hull in the international. the 1990s with United, is keen not pecking order. March 13 defence at Hull City today with con- fifth-round replay. “For a team with low confidence to jeopardise the club’s attempt to Thiago Alcantara, Guardiola’s Winner7 vs Watford (1230) fidence restored following Saturday’s Welsh midfielder Ramsey, the and no belief, we played pretty well. clinch an immediate return to the favourite in the attacking mid- Manchester United vs West Ham United (1600) 2-2 draw with north London rivals scorer of his side’s opening goal at We just concentrate on ourselves and Premier League following last sea- field position, also spent the entire Tottenham Hotspur. White Hart Lane with a clever back- that’s the only way to compete and son’s relegation. Dortmund match on the bench as Scottish Premiership Arsene Wenger’s side had come in heel, said: “I think we needed a win games.” Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, man Guardiola played Arturo Vidal Today for heavy criticism after back-to-back performance like that after the cou- The optimism generated by the of the match at the Emirates Stadium, and Mueller behind his top-scorer Partick Thistle vs Aberdeen (1945) defeats had seen them fall away in the ple of defeats that we’ve had. performance against Tottenham will centre-backs Harry Maguire and Alex Lewandowski, who has bagged 23 Tomorrow Premier League title race, prompting “We needed to come here and get help Arsenal’s cause, but they remain Bruce, on-loan United midfielder Nick goals this season.Goetze’s con- St. Johnstone vs Inverness Caledo- Alexis Sanchez to claim that some of something and we managed to do that without a win in their last five games Powell, Scotland international Shaun tract runs until June 2017 and nian Thistle (1945) his team-mates lacked the hunger to with 10 men. in all competitions -- a run that began Maloney, Egyptian midfielder Ahmed with Guardiola set to depart for March 11 be champions. “I think we needed a result at with the scoreless draw with Hull in Elmohamady and teenage defender Manchester City at the end of the Motherwell vs Dundee United (1945) But the way the Gunners recov- Spurs. We would have liked to have the first meeting between the two Josh Tymon are all expected to come season, the midfielder has been March 12 ered after falling behind to claim a won the game, but it was important teams. Coquelin will be suspended for in. Hull are currently third in the urged to seek out his replacement Partick Thistle v Celtic (1230) point at Spurs, despite being reduced just to get a result. the trip to the KC Stadium and goal- Championship, three points off an Carlo Ancelotti to find out what his Aberdeen v Kilmarnock (1500) to 10 men following the dismissal of “We’ve had two defeats, so keeper Petr Cech and centre-back automatic promotion place after suf- future in Munich holds. Dundee v Hearts (1500) Francis Coquelin, offered signs that we’re happy to come away with a Laurent Koscielny will both again fering a first defeat in six games in “He needs to seek contact with Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Hamil- they have the resolve to end the sea- point in the end, considering the be missing through injury. losing 1-0 at Birmingham City in their Ancelotti and clarify his future,” ton Academical (1500) son on a high. circumstances.” Hull manager Steve Bruce made most recent game last week. ex-Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told Sky. “He (Goetze) has little chance. Pep has decided that he wants to rely on other players.” Injured Draxler in Guardiola insists the oppo- site is true. He says he is simply avoiding rushing Goetze back from race to face Gent injury with Bayern still chasing sil- verware in the Champions League, German Cup and Bundesliga. “My opinion of him is high. He AFP German Cup holders’ Bundesliga is a super player, very professional, wins over Hanover 96 and Borussia who thinks of football 24-hours a Moenchengladbach last week. day,” said Bayern’s coach. BERLIN: Wolfsburg are waiting on Having netted the opener in “We have three months left to the fitness of goal-scoring Germany Saturday’s 2-1 win over Gladbach, play and we need all our players. midfielder Julian Draxler for today’s Draxler picked up a knee ligament Mario was, and is, very important.” Champions League last 16, second- injury. “It should be ok by Tues- With just over three months to leg clash at home to Gent. day,” said the 22-year-old, who has go before the European champion- Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking (left) and goalkeeper Koen Casteels attend a press conference Draxler netted twice in Wolfs- made 16 appearances for Germany ships in France, Goetze remains on the eve of the second-leg round of 16 UEFA Champions league match against KAA Gent at the burg’s 3-2 win in Belgium in the and was part of the 2014 World Cup- part of the Euro 2016 plans for Volkswagen arena in Wolfsburg yesterday. first leg and scored in both of the winning squad. Germany coach Joachim Loew. Russia shrugs off blame over alleged anti-doping criteria breaches

AFP individual violation is impossible,” the (WADA) independent commission been identified continuing to work suddenly of a heart attack in Febru- statement said. alleged widespread corruption and with athletes in an isolated Rus- ary aged just 52. “If people are guilty then they will doping in the country’s athletics. sian province, while another named Footage is also shown which is MOSCOW: Russia’s sports minister be punished in accordance with the The International Association trainer is still distributing doping believed to be of a senior coach, who yesterday shrugged off blame over rules.” of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and substances. is currently suspended because of allegations in a German documen- Meanwhile, Russia’s athletics fed- WADA outlined a strict reinstatement The ARD/WDR team claim to have doping allegations, as he continues tary that the country is still violating eration said it had ordered an internal criteria, including severing ties with proof Russian athletes were told when to coach a group of athletes in the strict anti-doping criteria as it strug- probe to “analyse all the episodes Russian athletics officials, officers they would be drugs tested. far-flung province of Gubkin, cen- gles to overturn a ban before the Rio shown in the film and thoroughly or staff with any past involvement There is an audio conversation, tral Russia. Olympics. investigate every case”. in doping. which is claimed to be between And the film-makers claim to “The imposition of sanctions on “We will not allow individual But a 30-minute documentary Anna Antselovich, the new head have evidence of a conversation with specific people and checking on their people to cast a shadow over Rus- by German broadcaster ARD/WDR of Russia’s anti-doping agency another Russian coach, who can pro- application is the job of the relevant sian athletics,” the federation said in screened on Sunday, gives new evi- (RUSADA), and an athlete, who is vide doping substances for a price. anti-doping agencies, not the state,” a statement. dence of Russian athletes and coaches being warned when a drugs test An IAAF spokesman said the the minister, Vitaly Mutko (pictured), Russian athletes face an uphill violating the strict IAAF and WADA would take place. body’s inspection team, chaired said in a statement. battle to be allowed to compete at regulations. Antselovich replaced ex-RUSADA by Norwegian doping expert Rune “To talk about the responsibil- the Rio Olympics from August 5-21 According to the German doc- boss Nikita Kamayev, who resigned Anderson, will be looking into the ity of the state in the case of every after a World Anti-Doping Agency umentary, a suspended coach has last year over the allegations and died evidence provided. 32 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 SPORT

WORLD T20 SQUADS FIRST ROUND Group A India start as favourites BANGLADESH Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed. IRELAND William Porterfield (captain), Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Andrew McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Stuart Poynter, Boyd to clinch title at home Rankin, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young. NETHERLANDS Peter Borren (captain), Wesley Barresi, Ahsan Malik, Mudassar Bukhari, Ben Cooper, Tom Cooper, Vivian Kingma, Stephan Myburgh, Max O’Dowd, Michael Rippon, Pieter Sri Lanka to defend Seelaar, Logan Van Beek, Timm Van Der Gugten, Roelof Van Der Merwe, Paul van World T20 title but Meekeren. South Africa and OMAN Sultan Ahmed (captain), Aamir Kaleem, Sufiyan Mehmood, Zeeshan Maqsood, Amir Australia appear as Ali, Jatinder Singh, Rajeshkumar Ranpura, Ajay Lalcheta, Zeeshan Siddiqui, Munis real threats for the Ansari, Mehran Khan, Vaibhav Wategaonkar, Khawar Ali, Adnan Ilyas, Bilal Khan. in-form hosts Group B AFGHANISTAN Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Karim Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Shapoor Zadran, AFP Usman Ghani. HONG KONG Tanwir Afzal (captain), Aizaz Khan, Anshy Rath, Jamie Atkinson, Babar Hayat, Ryan Campbell, Christopher Carter, Mark Chapman, Haseeb Amjad, Nadeem Ahmed, NEW DELHI: Hosts India are favour- Nizakat Khan, Kinchit Shah, Tanveer Ahmed, Waqas Barkat, Waqas Khan . ites to clinch the sixth edition of the World Twenty20 in what could be SCOTLAND a fairytale ending to the glittering Preston Mommsen (captain), Kyle Coetzer, Richie Berrington, Matthew Cross, Josh career of captain Mahendra Singh Davey, Con de Lange, Alasdair Evans, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Dhoni. Gavin Main, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Mark Watt. India, ranked number one in the ZIMBABWE world, will seek to become the first Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, side to win the International Cricket Tendai Chisoro, Wellington Masakadza, Peter Moor, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Council (ICC) title on home soil when Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, the 16-team tournament gets under Sean Williams, Donald Tiripano. way on today. SUPER 10 They are also gunning to become Group 1 the tournament’s only two-time win- Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) holds the champion trophy after winning the Asia Cup ENGLAND ners, with South Africa, Australia and the mercurial West Indies shaping as T20 final against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday. India Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, leading threats. who won the match by eight wickets will start as favourites to clinch the World Twenty20 title at home. Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Australia, the top-ranked Test Topley, James Vince, David Willey. side, are desperate to win their first SOUTH AFRICA World Twenty20 crown, while Paki- In-form batsman Virat Kohli and board over fees to play in the tourna- Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de stan’s Mohammad Amir (pictured deadly off-spinner Ravichandran PRELIMENARY ROUND ment. Experienced batsman Darren Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Chris Morris, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, right) will play his first ICC tourna- Ashwin are expected to be the key STARTS TODAY Bravo, all-rounder Kieron Pollard Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese. ment since returning from a five-year men for India, who are hosting the and off-spinner Sunil Narine are all SRI LANKA spot-fixing ban. championship for the first time. out but it would be unwise to write Lasith Malinga (captain) Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, India come into the tournament The home side start their cam- following a T20 series whitewash off the third-ranked Windies, espe- Niroshan Dickwella, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara on the back of an eight-wicket win paign against New Zealand on March against England. cially when they boast the big-hitting Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Dasun over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup final, 15 before playing arch-rivals Paki- The Proteas have never won the Chris Gayle. Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Jeffrey Vandersay. and have several key batsmen and stan in Dharamsala four days later World Twenty20 but anything less The preliminary round starts WEST INDIES bowlers in form. in a hotly awaited clash. than the final will be considered today, with Afghanistan and Bang- Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne “We are on track for the World Pakistan endured a disastrous a failure for the Faf du Plessis-led ladesh favourites to join the big eight Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, T20,” a confident Dhoni said after Asia Cup, thanks largely to some side, who boast top run-scorers AB teams in the Super 10 group stage. Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor. *15th squad member Sunday’s victory. atrocious batting, and any hopes they De Villiers and Hashim Amla and leg- In today’s opening matches, Hong to replace Lendl Simmons (back injury) still to be named. India’s hot streak of 10 wins from have of making an impression will spinner Imran Tahir. Kong take on Zimbabwe and Afghan- Group 2 their last 11 T20 internationals, cou- rely on the performances of the con- Defending champions Sri Lanka istan play Scotland. pled with their vast and boisterous troversial Amir. are a shadow of AUSTRALIA home support means Dhoni’s men The 23-year-old fast bowler the side that won Steven Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James will be tough to beat. was banned and jailed for deliber- in Bangladesh two Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell “I think India will win. Their play- ately sending down no-balls in a Test years ago and have Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, Adam Zampa. ers know the pitches and they’re match against England in 2010. struggled to come INDIA playing good cricket against the best But he has been in good touch to terms with the Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar teams in the world at present,” said since re-entering the international void left by legends Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Pawan West Indies legend Brian Lara. fold earlier this year, and lit up the Kumar Sangakkara Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, India also have added incentive to Asia Cup with a devastating 3-18 spell and Mahela Yuvraj Singh. lift the trophy on April 3 at Eden Gar- in Pakistan’s loss to India. Jayawardene. NEW ZEALAND dens in Kolkata because of the fact “The way he bowled... it didn’t The West Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, that the tournament may mark Dho- look as if he was making a come- Indies’ tilt at a Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, ni’s swansong. back after five long years. It was a second title have Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. Dhoni, who led India to the inau- treat to watch,” said former Pakistan been hit by injury gural title in 2007, has struggled with captain and now Afghanistan coach withdrawals and PAKISTAN the bat of late and turns 35 this sum- Inzamam-ul-Haq. a bitter pay dis- Shahid Afridi (captain), Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Khalid Latif, Khurram Manzoor, mer. A second World Twenty20 crown Second-ranked South Africa are pute with squad Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz, would be a fitting end to the wicket- hoping to spoil India’s party and come members arguing Mohammad Sami, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Wahab keeper’s career. into the tournament full of confidence with the country’s Riaz.

WORLD TWENTY20 Pakistan security team PAST CHAMPIONS ICC probes Hong Kong team, visits India; Shehzad back 2014 - SRI LANKA Sri Lanka defeated India by six confident of clean World T20 wickets to lift the 2014 title in Mirpur, Bangladesh, to atone for their defeat AFP in Bangladesh, where Pakistan lost in the previous two finals and to India and the hosts. provide the perfect T20 international Reuters new targets, Richardson said. “We are “We have included Shehzad in farewell for Kumar Sangakkara and now finding that the corruptors are the 15-man squad for the World Mahela Jayawardene. now focused on associate members, KARACHI: Pakistan yesterday sent a Twenty20 as the decision to include 2012 - WEST INDIES women’s teams etc etc. So we got to team to assess security for the World Manzoor backfired, for which I NEW DELHI: Cricket’s world gov- make sure the players from all the Twenty20 starting in India this week take the whole responsibility,” said West Indies stunned Australia in erning body (ICC) said yesterday that teams are very well educated, under- as selectors recalled opener Ahmed Rasheed. the semi-finals and then broke the its anti-corruption unit was probing stand their responsibilities and would Shehzad for the tournament after the Shehzad, 25, was initially hearts of Sri Lanka in a low-scoring the Hong Kong team but ruled out not get involved.” side flopped during the Asia Cup. dropped from the World Twenty20 final. Despite scoring only a modest any match-fixing angle to its inves- “Unfortunately, this is the world 137, the Windies restricted the hosts Pakistan has voiced repeated squad announced last month after tigation. we are living. There are corrupt peo- to 101 in reply before Chris Gayle concern about security for the he managed just 65 runs in his last A day after ICC anti-corruption ple all over the world, trying their led his team-mates in a celebratory tournament, and participation five Twenty20 matches. ‘Gangnam Style’ dance. unit head Ronnie Flanagan revealed best to get hold of players.” could depend on the delegation’s Manzoor scored just 11 runs in the case in Mumbai, the ruling body’s Cricket has been plagued by a assessment. three matches of the Asia Cup, at 2010 - ENGLAND chief executive Dave Richardson number of corruption issues and a The South Asian adversaries which Pakistan beat only Sri Lanka Player of the tournament Kevin (pictured) provided more details. 2010 spot-fixing scandal resulted have not played a bilateral series for and minnows the United Arab Pietersen inspired England to their “In recent times you would have in bans and jail terms for Pakistan more than three years due to diplo- Emirates. first ICC trophy in perfect fashion, read in the media that a particu- fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and matic tensions. Rasheed said Shehzad batted defeating arch-rivals Australia in the lar player was suspended from his Mohammad Amir, and former Test A senior Pakistan Cricket Board well in the last phase of the Pakistan West Indies. country and the investigations relate from players reporting various captain Salman Butt. South African official confirmed the delegation had Super League, staged in the United to the same team,” Richardson told approaches that corrupt people make Richardson, however, is confident departed and was likely to return Arab Emirates last month. 2009 - PAKISTAN reporters. to them.” that the sixth World Twenty20, which today. “We dropped Shehzad because A Younis Khan-led Pakistan blew The governing body announced Hong Kong play the first match starts today, will not be affected by it. Pakistan’s Interior Minister of poor form in New Zealand but Sri Lanka away in a one-sided final in January that Hong Kong all- of the World Twenty20 today against “I’m very confident that we’ll Chowdhry Nisar Ali Khan said on he did well in the PSL and we need at Lord’s to secure their second ICC rounder Irfan Ahmed had been Zimbabwe in first-round Group B have a clean tournament,” he said. Saturday the team would only travel experience in the World Twenty20,” world title. suspended and charged with fail- which also includes Afghanistan and “I know that our anti-corruption to India if the security assessment said Rasheed of the event, the first 2007 - INDIA ing to disclose an approach from an Scotland. unit has been working hand-in-hand was positive. If cleared, they are set round of which starts in India today. individual. The pool winners will go into with the law enforcement agencies to fly tomorrow. Pakistan are scheduled to play India won a thrilling inaugural “We should not speculate that it Super 10 Group 1 with England, South and the police in India to make sure In the meantime, Chief selec- their first match against a qualifier final against Pakistan by five runs involves or there’s any match-fixing Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. that any information is shared,” he tor Haroon Rasheed announced team in Kolkata on March 16. when Misbah-ul-Haq failed to make or anything going on with particular The ICC has done stellar work said. the decision to recall Shehzad, say- They are due to meet India in a the runs needed in the final over, players or a particular teams,” Rich- to shield players from full member “I’m very confident that the ing the inclusion of opener Khurram high-profile match in Dharamsala inspiring their previously sceptical ardson said. nations against such approaches but matches will be played in the cor- Manzoor “backfired” at the Asia Cup on March 19. fanbase to embrace the T20 format. “Often we get our intelligence “corrupt” individuals were finding rect spirit.” SPORT TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 33

FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH AT THE Teams switch to slam-bang WORLD T20 CHRIS GAYLE (West Indies) The explosive batsman is one of cricket’s biggest personalities, but never far from controversy. The Jamaican was fined US$7,000 after he asked an Australian interviewer mode as World T20 begins reporter out on live TV at the Big Bash. Gayle was unabashed, telling critics to kiss his “Black Rass” on social their death bowling issues and are a media. On the field he smashed 50 Placid Indian pitches good bet for a second crown. off just 12 balls for the Melbourne Darren Sammy will attempt to Renegades in January to equal the offer plenty of bring a second title to West Indies but fastest half-century in T20 history. boundaries for batters the ever-smiling all-rounder will have VIRAT KOHLI (India) and nightmare for to inspire a team who just weeks ago India vice-captain and talisman were planning to boycott the tourna- Kohli is in red-hot form and will bowlers in 35-match ment over a contractual dispute. be key to the chances of the host tournament The 2012 champions averted the nation when their campaign begins crisis but Sammy is likely to miss against New Zealand on March 15. The spinner Sunil Narine’s guile and 27-year-old’s aggressive batting and all-rounder Kieron Pollard’s power- self-assurance bailed India out more hitting down the order. Sri Lanka will than once during the recent Asia Reuters be defending Champions in India but Cup, exemplified by his poise in the skipper Lasith Malinga must mar- shal a team in transition since the face of a torrid spell from Pakistan’s retirements of stalwarts Kumar San- Mohammad Amir and an unbeaten 41 NEW DELHI: Batsmen will be gakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. to see his side to victory in the final encouraged to satisfy contemporary Australia’s spectacular lack of success against Bangladesh. cricket’s seemingly insatiable lust for is one of the most intriguing points in MOHAMMAD AMIR (Pakistan) boundaries and bowlers reduced to the short history of the tournament, The pace bowler returns for his first mere cannon fodder when the sixth which has seen three Asian champi- ICC event following a five-year ban World Twenty20 gets underway in ons in the five editions. for spot-fixing upon the back of India today. The reigning 50-over world impressive performances on tour With 35 matches spread over 27 champions have responded by putting in New Zealand and the recently- days, starting with eight “minnows” test and one-day captain Steven concluded Asian Cup. Tall and battling it out for two spots in the Smith in charge of a squad boasting intimidating, the 23-year-old Amir Super 10 round, the tournament looks an explosive lineup that also includes was considered one of the best young set to illustrate once again just how David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and fast bowling prospects in the world skewed the 20-overs game is against James Faulkner. before his fall from grace but his bowlers. England will look to the experi- Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza takes part in a training session on the eve of the opening day of There is more chance of discov- ence of skipper Eoin Morgan, who was composure could be severely tested World T20 tournament at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur yesterday. RIGHT: Hong Kong ering life on Mars than in the docile part of Paul Collingwood’s victorious by hostile Indian crowds. Indian tracks, which will be rolled captain Tanvir Afzal (left) takes part in a training session in Nagpur yesterday. 2010 team and has been playing in the AB DE VILLIERS (South Africa) out for a tournament that concludes Indian Premier League. Nicknamed “Superman”, a destructive with the April 3 final at Kolkata’s Eden Olympics and Commonwealth Games. the United States”. The format has Few teams can match the flair batsmen in all formats who is adored Gardens. Like rugby sevens before it, there EDEN GARDENS TO HOST long proved a smash hit in cricket’s that a mercurial Pakistan team under in India for his power batting in the FINAL ON APRIL 3 While cricket purists may look seems little doubt that cricket’s best traditional heartlands, spawning Shahid Afridi brings to the table and IPL. Holds the records for the fastest on it with disdain, there is a growing hope of being given a place at such franchise-based leagues across the the 2009 champions have also been 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 acceptance that the format is the only international multi-sport events is to cricketing globe. boosted by paceman Mohammad (64 balls) in the 50-over format. way the game can expand beyond its push the shorter form of the game. India were the last major team to Amir’s return after a five-year spot- In Johannesburg in February he current stagnation in former British That Twenty20 has the potential matches in the United States. embrace the format but went on to fixing ban. smashed the fastest T20 50 by colonies. to break new ground was evident in The ICC, who have had little suc- win the inaugural World Twenty20 Fellow contenders South Africa a South African, off just 21 balls, The International Cricket Coun- November when “All-Stars” games cess selling the game in the land of in 2007. and New Zealand will have to over- and went on to make a match and cil (ICC) last month received a status featuring retired greats such as Shane baseball, lauded the All-Stars series, They top the current rankings and come a tendency to flop on the big series-winning 71 off 29 balls against report on its ongoing dialogue over Warne and Sachin Tendulkar drew an convinced it would “help cricket recent series wins over Australia and stage if they are to take home the the game’s possible inclusion at aggregate crowd of 83,900 to three to reach its significant potential in Sri Lanka suggest they have sorted out trophy. England. Police ‘satisfied’ with Eden’s security

IANS A view of Kolkata’s Eden Gardens which will host the World T20 final KOLKATA: The top brass of the city police inspected the Eden Gardens ground yesterday and were ‘satisfied’ with the security arrangements put in place for the World Twenty20 cricket tourna- ment. Led by city police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, the officers inspected the ground, two dressing rooms, the entry gates for the teams and the gal- leries for nearly 30 minutes. “For now we are satisfied with the arrange- WORLD T20 FIXTURES ments that have been done,” Deputy Commissioner headquarters Suprotim Sarkar briefed the media Date Match Venue Time (IST) later. March 8 Hong Kong vs Zimbabwe Nagpur 3pm Asked if Pakistan’s practice game against the March 8 Afghanistan vs Scotland Nagpur 7.30pm Bengal team, scheduled to be held on March 12, March 9 Bangladesh vs Netherlands Dharamsala 3pm would have special security arrangements, Sarkar March 9 Ireland vs Oman Dharamsala 7.30pm said: “We have not been told to take extra caution either from the CAB or the BCCI (Board Of Control March 10 Scotland vs Zimbabwe Nagpur 3pm For Cricket In India) for the match on 12th.” March 10 Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Nagpur 7.30pm Eden Gardens will hold four matches of the March 11 Oman vs Netherlands Dharamsala 3pm tournament including the final. March 11 Bangladesh vs Ireland Dharamsala 7.30pm March 12 Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Nagpur 3pm March 12 Hong Kong vs Scotland Nagpur 7.30pm March 13 Ireland vs Netherlands Dharamsala 3pm March 13 Bangladesh vs Oman Dharamsala 7.30pm India not certain to reach semis: Gambhir March 15 India vs New Zealand Nagpur 7.30pm March 16 Pakistan vs A1 Kolkata 3pm March 16 England vs West Indies Mumbai 7.30pm IANS because in this format, there is very by winning the Asia Cup, thrash- March 17 Sri Lanka vs B1 Kolkata 7.30pm little scope to recover once you make ing hosts Bangladesh in the final on March 18 Australia vs New Zealand Dharamsala 3pm a mistake. It all depends on which Sunday. March 18 England vs South Africa Mumbai 7.30pm team plays better on that day, controls Gambhir pointed out that the March 19 India vs Pakistan Dharamsala 7.30pm NEW DELHI: India are among the their nerves better. Of the five teams Indian team is a settled unit at the favourites to win the upcoming World in the group, only two will reach the moment having won 10 of their last March 20 South Africa vs B1 Mumbai 3pm Twenty championship at home, but semis,” Gambhir said. 12 T20 games and lauded the coach- March 20 Sri Lanka vs West Indies Bengaluru 7.30pm former India opener Gautam Gambhir “We have not played against New ing staff for playing two spinners in March 21 Australia vs A1 Bengaluru 7.30pm (pictured) cautioned that the hosts Zealand for a long time. Australia are every match despite the fact that the March 22 New Zealand vs Pakistan Mohali 7.30pm will have to be at their best in order always tough to play against. They conditions were more favourable for March 22 England vs B1 Delhi 3pm to clinch the title. can defeat any team in any condi- the fast bowlers. At the WorldT20 which starts tions on any given day. We have to “It is always good if your confi- March 23 India vs A1 Bengaluru 7.30pm today, India are placed in a difficult play well even to reach the top four,” dence is high ahead of a tournament. March 25 Australia vs Pakistan Mohali 3pm group along with Australia, New Zea- he added. If you are winning, you thinking is conditions were not too favourable for March 25 South Africa vs West Indies Nagpur 7.30pm land and arch-rivals Pakistan. The 34-year-old however, dis- clearer and you can execute your spin bowling. It was a correct decision March 26 A1 vs New Zealand Kolkata 3pm Gambhir, who was speaking at a missed the notion that the Indians plans better,” he said. because when you return to India for March 26 England vs Sri Lanka Delhi 7.30pm conclave organised by news channel will be under more pressure than the The way the team are playing the World T20, you have no option but Aaj Tak yesterday, asserted that New other teams since they are the hosts. lately, they are looking settled. We did to depend on your spinners,” he said. March 27 B1 vs West Indies Nagpur 3pm Zealand and South Africa can create a “The other teams will face the not have to make too many changes in “So if we play the same spin com- March 27 India vs Australia Mohali 7.30pm sensation at the tournament although same kind of pressure as India. It is the team lately and its good because bination which played the last 10-12 March 28 South Africa vs Sri Lanka Delhi 7.30pm the critics are not paying too much not that we will face more pressure this same XI will play in the World matches at the World T20, we will March 30 TBD vs TBD Delhi 7pm attention to the Kiwis at the moment. since we are the hosts,” the talented T20,” the Delhi lad added. “The team have better chances of success.” March 31 TBD vs TBD Mumbai 7pm “The T20 format is very difficult left-hander asserted. management has done a good job by Gambhir also felt that it will be to predict. I cannot say for certain The Indian team got a major boost persisting with two spinners in all the crucial for India to have Yuvraj Singh April 3 TBD vs TBD Kolkata 7pm that India will reach the semi-finals ahead of their World T20 campaign matches at the Asia Cup although the in good form. 34 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 SPORT

Zhong’s gold underlines Chinese threat in Rio

Reuters

LONDON: A few days after breaking his hand in rage when China were denied gold on a technicality, coach Benoit Vetu was raising it in triumph after Zhong Tianshi became the first Chinese rider to be crowned world sprint champion on Sunday. Zhong powered to victory in an all-Chinese final against Lin Junhong at the London velodrome on what could be a landmark afternoon for the sport’s speed queens. The 25-year-old had impres- sively disposed of twice world Britain’s Mark Cavendish (right) handslings Britain’s champion Kristina Vogel in the semi- Bradley Wiggins in the Men’s Madison final during finals, while Lin had beaten veteran the 2016 Track Cycling World Championships at the Olympic champion Anna Meares of Lee Valley VeloPark in London on Sunday. Australia. Frenchman Vetu was able to sit back and enjoy the final, know- ing one of his team were about to make history. “I feel very proud of them,” he said. “This is perfect. Five months before the Olympics to have two in the final is great for the confidence, Britain back on top as Wiggins it could not be much better. “In the past they perhaps got nervous about taking on the legends, like Meares, but this shows that they Zhong Tianshi of China competes now have the mental strength to go with their other qualities.” in the women’s Sprint final at the and Cavendish blaze to gold 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Former world medallist Vetu was hired by the Chinese specifi- Championships in London, cally to win the team sprint in Rio. Britain. fifth gold medal. It was the icing on WORLD TRACK CYCLING twice world champion Kristina Vogel That was why he was so enraged by Britain gear up for the cake for the host nation who, after CHAMPIONSHIP of Germany in the semi-final when what happened in the team sprint WORLD TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP a wobbly start to the championships, her team mate also sprung a surprise, final in London last week, when RESULTS strong Olympic ended with nine medals and crucial outpacing Australia’s Olympic cham- reigning world champions Gong Jin- challenge in Rio with momentum ahead of this year’s Rio in Manchester. Earlier, Laura Trott pion Anna Meares. jie and Zhong were relegated to silver M E N five gold medals Olympics. did not put a wheel out of place as For sheer sporting theatre though because of an illegal change after 50km Madison A year ago in Paris they returned she claimed her second gold medal the best was to come. beating Russia in the final. 1. Great Britain +1 lap 21pts without a single rainbow jersey to of the week with a dominant vic- A partisan home crowd pro- After hearing the judges’ deci- 2. France + 1 lap 14pts show for their efforts. tory in the omnium having already duced an ear-splitting din as the sion, Vetu slammed his hand against 3. Spain +1 lap 12pts Britain’s first Tour de France won the scratch race. British duo, working like clockwork a hoarding and broke a bone. Reuters champion Wiggins, 35, has returned Trott, who won Olympic gold in with Spain, gained back the lap they On Sunday his plaster cast was KEIRIN to his track roots for a golden swan- the multi-discipline event on the had lost early to France, Switzerland signed by Zhong, who he says is a 1. Joachim Eilers (GER) 10.067secs song by the Copacabana this year, same London boards four years and Colombia. Cavendish even had sprinter “like no other I have seen”. 2. Ed Dawkins (NZL) and how he revelled in the fast and ago, was a model of consistency to pick himself off the boards after “I’ve never really come across a 3. Azizulhansi Awang (MAS) LONDON: Bradley Wiggins and furious action always guaranteed on throughout two gruelling days and a late crash, but by that time Wig- rider like her, the strength and power Mark Cavendish provided a rip-roar- the boards. He was disappointed to maintained her stranglehold during gins had the race under control and, and now she is not afraid to win. She WOMEN ing climax to the world track cycling miss out on gold in the team pursuit the concluding points race. with points already in the bag, it was has just beaten one of the legends of SPRINT championships with a stunning Mad- earlier in the week, while 26-times American twice omnium world a matter of ticking off the laps. the sport.” 1. Tianshi Zhong (CHN) ison victory that rocked London’s Tour stage winner Cavendish’s hopes champion Sarah Hammer, second to Cavendish will now have to sweat While Vetu said the structures 2. Lin Junhong (CHN) velodrome to its rafters on Sunday. of making the British track team this Trott at London 2012, was third after on a place on the plane to Rio, where were perhaps not yet in place to 3. Kristina Vogel (GER) The two British cycling greats, summer are still in the balance after losing a thrilling battle for silver with he hopes to win a long-overdue make China a force across all the OMNIUM who briefly fell out when they flopped omnium disappointment. France’s Laurie Berthon. Olympic medal, after missing his tar- disciplines, as far as sprinting goes, 1. Laura Trott (GBR) 201pts as favourites for the 200-lap event at But what a show they provided as China claimed a first world indi- get of an omnium medal on Saturday. they are now a big threat. 2. Laurie Berthon (FRA) 183pts the 2008 Beijing Games, came from they hunted down the leading teams vidual sprint champion when Zhong Ten nations won golds with Ger- Had it not been for a judges’ 3. Sarah Hammer (USA) 182pts nowhere to carve their way to vic- in relentless fashion to win gold, Tianshi beat compatriot Lin Junhong many second in the medals table and decision they would have been cel- tory and give the hosts a table-topping eight years after they did the same in the women’s final. Zhong had upset Australia third. ebrating two golds from London. Chinaese women Scott overcomes closing-hole drama to claim title Scott up to 6th eliminate the in rankings AFP Reuters off the pace making two dou- Japanese from Adam Scott of Australia plays his tee ble bogeys in the first five Rio soccer holes. shot at the par 4, 14th hole during PARIS: Adam Scott’s thrilling The red-hot Australian, the final round of the 2016 World Golf victory in the World Golf Cham- MIAMI: Adam Scott went however, responded with a Championship Cadillac Championship on pionships Cadillac Championship back-to-back, winning for run of six birdies in the next the Blue Monster Course at the Trump has moved him up to number six the second successful week nine holes. National Doral Resort on Sunday in Doral, in the latest world golf rankings Reuters by overcoming some clos- “Everything fell the right Florida. released yesterday. ing-hole drama to claim the way for me today, especially The Australian became the WGC-Cadillac Championship on 18 for that ball to stay up,” first back-to-back winner on the in breezy Miami on Sunday. said Scott. PGA Tour since Billy Horschel in OSAKA: Japanese women’s soccer The 35-year-old Aus- Besides increasing his 2014 after also winning the Honda team, the former world champions, tralian managed to get PGA Tour haul to 13 career Classic. have failed to qualify for the Rio up-and-down for par after wins, Scott also has a sec- Rory McIlroy held a four-shot Olympics despite still having two his approach shot nestled ond-place finish in his lead early in the final round at matches left to play in the Asian inches away from the left- past three events and will Doral but struggled to finish two qualifiers. side pond at the finishing move to world number six back, although the Northern Irish- China eliminated them with hole of the difficult Blue yesterday. man does retake second spot in the their 1-0 win over South Korea Monster course at Trump “You have to push your- rankings from Jason Day, while yesterday. Their win meant Japan, National Doral Resort. self so hard to beat the class closing the gap on number one who have one point, cannot catch His three-under-par 69 of players that is out here Jordan Spieth. up with their Asian rivals on 10 left Scott with a 12-under right now,” Scott said. “So I The other big mover in the top points or Australia on nine points total of 276 and a one-shot can’t believe I won back-to- 20 is Englishman Danny Willett, with two matches left against Viet- win over double Masters back weeks. To win a world the 28-year-old moving to the nam and North Korea. winner Bubba Watson, who championship event is huge. brink of the top 10 after a run of “Nadeshiko” Japan won the carded a final-round 68. I’m going to push hard the three top-three WGC finishes in 2011 Women’s World Cup, finished “I was so lucky for it to next few weeks.” the last year. runner-up at the 2012 Sum- stay up inside the hazard Watson finished second Phil Mickelson has ended a mer Games while also reaching line,” Scott told NBC Sports. for the third time at Doral, long spell out of the top 20, the the final at last year’s World Cup “When you get lucky, you but any disappointment five-time major champion finish- against the United States. Prime better get up and down.” might be mitigated by the fact ing fifth in Florida despite being Minister Shinzo Abe hailed them as At the 18th, Scott hit his that his runner-up showings the oldest player in the field, and role models for the country. tee shot in the right rough, in 2012 and 2014 were fol- rising to 17th. But two defeats and a draw in seven feet behind a palm tree lowed by wins at the Masters. their first three matches meant that was in his direct line to World number three WORLD TOP 20 RANKINGS (as of March 7) the team were ousted even before the green. Scott missed the McIlroy, who briefly chatted 1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 11.35 average points their kickoff against Vietnam later green left, but was fortunate with Republican presidential 2. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 9.87 (+1) yesterday. when his ball stayed out of candidate and Doral owner 3. Jason Day (AUS) 9.64 “I feel really bad for the fans, the water, just inside the haz- Donald Trump on the prac- 4. Bubba Watson (USA) 9.02 but as long as there is still a pos- ard line. tice range before the final 5. Rickie Fowler (USA) 8.18 sibility, I want us all to fight in “I had to aim because the round, failed to get on track. 6. Adam Scott (AUS) 7.48 (+3) the last two games,” Kyodo News tree was in my line to go to He made three bogeys 7. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 7.19 (-1) quoted Japan coach Norio Sasaki the green,” he said. “I thought before his first birdie at the 8. Justin Rose (ENG) 6.22 (-1) as saying before the Chinese result. the wind was strong enough short par-4 16th. A 74 left the 9. Dustin Johnson (USA) 5.99 (-1) “We can’t let our heads drop so it would cut, but it just Northern Irishman in a tie for and want to make an effort in the didn’t cut at all.” third with Englishman Danny 10. Patrick Reed (USA) 4.90 next two games. The most impor- Scott, who won the Willett, who shot a 69. 11. Danny Willett (ENG) 4.72 (+4) tant thing is to reset mentally.” Honda Classic last Sunday, American Phil Mickelson 12. Branden Grace (RSA) 4.70 (-1) Only the top two from the six- began the final round three bogeyed the final hole to fin- 13. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 4.68 (-1) team group in Asia qualify for the shots behind leader Rory ish alone in fifth on 279 after 14. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 4.53 (-1) Rio Games. McIlroy and fell six strokes a 70. 15. Jim Furyk (USA) 4.37 (-1) SPORT TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016 35

No question about Kobe Bryant’s Lakers Johnson’s future

Agencies NFL ROUND UP

defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis, INDIANAPOLIS: Wide receiver according to multiple reports. Finan- shock mighty Warriors Andre Johnson said there is “no cial terms were not disclosed. question” he will play in 2016. Ellis was a third-round pick by Speculation about Johnson’s the New York Jets in 2011 and played 18 points, six rebounds and four future arose with the 35-year-old in 47 games for the franchise. He assists, but shot just one-of-10 coming off a disappointing sea- signed with the New York Giants The largest upset from beyond the arc for the War- son with the Indianapolis Colts in last offseason but did not appear in in NBA history riors, who saw their seven-game which he caught just 41 passes for any games and hooked on with the ends seven-game win streak snapped. 503 yards and four touchdowns. The Vikings in October, going on to play- Curry’s backcourt partner Klay team informed Johnson that he won’t ing nine games as a reserve. winning streak of Thompson scored 15 points, but be back with them next season. Former Dallas Cowboys run- Warriors missed all eight of his three-point The 13-year veteran spent his ning back Joseph Randle has been attempts and shot seven-for-20 first 12 seasons with the Houston arrested for the sixth time in the past overall. Texans and has caught 1,053 career 17 months. Golden State played without passes for 14,100 yards and 68 Randle, 24, was arrested and AFP forward Andre Iguodala, who had touchdowns. booked into the Sedgwick County an injured left hamstring. Linebacker James Laurinaitis Jail in Kansas at 1:44 a.m. Sunday for James Harden tallied a game- was scheduled to meet with the failure to appear in court. He is being high 40 points as the Houston Atlanta Falcons yesterday and Today, held on $150,000 bail. LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Rockets ended a couple of signifi- according to a report by ESPN. Randle posted bail last week Lakers posted one of the biggest cant streaks with a 113-107 victory Laurinaitis was released by the after being charged with three upsets of the NBA season on Sun- over the host Toronto Raptors. Los Angeles Rams last month, and counts of aggravated battery, one day with an unlikely 112-95 victory The Rockets not only snapped has also visited with the New Orle- count of drug possession (marijuana) over the reigning league champion the Raptors’ 12-game home win- ans Saints in advance of the opening and one count of criminal damage Golden State Warriors. ning streak but they won in of free agency on tomorrow. to property after he was arrested in Pre-game hype on Sunday was Toronto for the first time in nine Paul Worrilow led the Falcons Wichita, Kan., on February 21. all about Kobe Bryant’s final con- games. with 95 tackles from his middle line- The Cowboys released Randle test against the Warriors, but the Harden had 20 of his 40 backer position last season, but is a in early November reportedly due crowd of 19,000 at Staples Centre points in the fourth quarter as the pending restricted free agent. in part to his involvement in sports arena got more than they wished Rockets erased an 85-77, third- The Minnesota Vikings have gambling. Randle has denied the for with a rare win by the cellar- quarter deficit to avoid a second agreed to a one-year deal with allegation. dwelling Lakers. consecutive loss overall. “This helps out our team’s Corey Brewer came off the growth,” Bryant said. “The learn- bench to score 23 points and ing curve comes from trusting our Dwight Howard added 21 points defence. and 11 rebounds. Toronto was McKirahan to miss the “We paid attention to detail led by 21 points from Luis Scola. very well. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points season due to injury “For the young guys, I think and seven assists while Kyle it’s extremely important to see the Lowry had 17 points and nine results of it. When you pay atten- assists Agencies MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL tion to little details, good things D J Augustin hit two free ROUNDUP happen.” throws with nine-tenths of a sec- Jordan Clarkson scored 25 ond left in overtime to lift the points and D’Angelo Russell tal- Denver Nuggets to a 116-114 vic- ATLANTA: Atlanta Braves left- player to be permanently suspended lied 21 as the Lakers handed the tory over the Dallas Mavericks. handed relief pitcher Andrew for failing three tests for perform- Warriors only their sixth loss of the Augustin scored eight of his 12 McKirahan will likely be out for the ance-enhancing substances, claims season against 55 triumphs. points in the extra period. Kenneth entire season after another elbow Major League Baseball was out to get The Warriors are chasing the Faried had 25 points and a sea- injury. him. all-time best season in NBA his- son-high 20 rebounds, and Will McKirahan was diagnosed with New York Yankees closer tory, the 72-10 campaign of the Barton scored 20 for the Nuggets, a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Aroldis Chapman of Cuba is in the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96. To match who rallied from four down in team made the announcement Sat- process of becoming an American the mark, Golden State must now the last 10 seconds of regulation urday before an exhibition game citizen. win 17 of the final 21 games this to force overtime. against the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to the New York Post, season. Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki McKirahan was injured last the process for seeking US citizen- Based on the winning percent- scored 30 points and Deron Wil- Wednesday early in his spring ship began last year for Chapman, age difference of .727 between the liams had 17 for the Mavericks, training debut against the Balti- who will start the season after teams before Sunday’s game, the who lost their second straight more Orioles. He is getting a second the completion of a 30-game result is the largest upset in NBA game. opinion from Dr. James Andrews. suspension handed to him by com- history. McKirahan also had Tommy John missioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday Bryant, who has been ham- NBA RESULTS surgery in 2012. for violating Major League Base- pered by injuries of late, had 12 McKirahan missed half of last ball’s domestic violence policy. points on four-of-14 shooting in season due to a performance- Chapman admitted Wednesday Oklahoma City 104 Milwaukee 96 24 minutes of court time. enhancing drugs ban. He did appear that he exercised “bad judgment” It marked the 37-year-old LA Lakers 112 Golden State 95 in 27 games with a 5.93 ERA. for using a handgun in an alleged Bryant’s first game back at Sta- Phoenix 109 Memphis 100 New York Mets relief pitcher domestic violence incident involv- ples Centre arena since February Denver 116 Dallas 14 (OT) Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against Draymond Jenrry Mejia, who became the first ing his girlfriend on October 30. 2. He missed three of the last four Detroit 123 Portland 103 Green of the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at Staples Centre in Los regular season games with a sore Miami 103 Philadelphia 98 Angeles, California. LA Lakers posted one of the biggest upsets of the shoulder. Houston 113 Toronto 107 NBA season with a 112-95 win against the reigning league champions. Stephen Curry finished with Mejia claims MLB conspiracy over his life doping ban Extended break pays off as Blues win AFP

Agencies

NEW YORK: New York Mets pitcher Jenry Mejia (pictured), the first MINNESOTA: A little extra rest player issued a lifetime doping ban seemed to boost the St. Louis Blues on by Major League Baseball, told the Sunday. Playing for the first time after New York Times he was the victim an extended break, the Blues were full of a conspiracy. of energy and devoid of rust, building The 26-year-old Dominican an early lead and beating the Minne- right-hander told the newspaper sota Wild 4-2. that Major League Baseball officials Jori Lehtera, Ryan Reaves and were out to get him in a witch hunt Patrik Berglund scored goals and and faulted players’ union officials goalie Jake Allen had 30 saves, as the for not finding grounds to appeal his Blues won their third in a row and unprecedented punishment. kept pace with the Chicago Black- Last month, Mejia tested positive hawks in the race for the Central for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid -- Division crown. The Blues (38-20- his third positive test for a banned “No one at MLB or representing 9) currently trail hicago by two performance-enhancing substance MLB has met with Mejia regarding points, and host the Blackhawks on in less than one year, which under any of these drug violations,” he said Wednesday. league rules brings a permanent ban. Mejia said he doesn’t have any Robby Fabbri scored into an But Mejia, speaking through an regrets about his decisions. empty net with 91 seconds remain- interpreter to the newspaper, said he “I wouldn’t change a thing,” Mejia ing for the Blues. was only guilty of the first violation. said. “If the situation was meant to Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 1 Mejia said the second positive test happen, then it was meant to hap- Patrick Kane scored 21 seconds wasn’t accurate and, after its results pen. If God wanted it that way, it’s into the first period, and the Chicago were announced, MLB officials pres- going to happen. All you have to do is Blackhawks pulled away for a 4-1 win Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond (left) makes a save in front of Dallas Stars left wing Antoine sured him to share information admit your guilt when you are guilty. over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Roussel (third left) in the third period of their NHL game at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Stars defeated about his doping connections. And stay positive when you’re not.” Penguins 6, Devils 1 the Senators 2-1. “I felt there was a conspiracy The life ban also prohibits Mejia Evgeni Malkin scored his 26th against me,” Mejia said. “I feel that from playing in pro baseball leagues and 27th goals as the Pittsburgh Antoine Roussel scored with 2:14 to a wild 6-4 win over the New York no less entertaining. On a day when they were trying to find something to in other countries, including Japan, Penguins easily dispatched the New left in the third period to lift the Dal- Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Mad- the NHL announced the Jets will host bring me down in my career.” South Korea and Mexico. Jersey Devils 6-1 at Prudential Cen- las Stars to a 2-1 victory over the ison Square Garden. the Heritage Classic outdoor game Mejia told the Times that MLB Doping test policy rules allow tre on Sunday. Ottawa Senators on Sunday at Cana- Oilers 2, Jets 1 against the Oilers on October 23 officials said if he appealed the Mejia to apply for reinstatement in The win pushed the Penguins into dian Tire Centre. The game between the Winnipeg at Investors Group Field, the home results of the second test, “they will one year to commissioner Rob Man- the first wild-card spot in the East Islanders 6, Rangers 4 Jets and Edmonton Oilers on Sunday of the Canadian Football League’s find a way to find a third positive.” fred but he must sit out a minimum and five points ahead of the ninth- Cal Clutterbuck scored the did not have the dozen or so goals Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Con- Pat Courtney, a spokesman of two seasons before he could be place Philadelphia Flyers. tiebreaking goal with 1:28 left in reg- that contests between the two teams nor McDavid-lead Oilers defeated for Major League Baseball, denied reinstated to pitch in Major League Stars 2, Senators 1 ulation to lead the New York Islanders regularly had in the 1980s, but it was the Jets 2-1. Majia’s claim. Baseball. 36 TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2016

The experienced Kyrgios hits back at Tomic Uruguayan coach promises more Our players responded in Davis Cup row success for Al Rayyan Reuters Kyrgios responded on Twitter, well: Al Rayyan coach suggesting he would be fit for the tournament. The Peninsula MELBOURNE: Nick Kyrgios has “Heat of the moment, not gonna hit back at Bernard Tomic after his take it personally. Indian wells compatriot accused him of feigning a week away, plenty of time,” he illness to skip Australia’s Davis Cup posted. DOHA: Al Rayyan coach Fossati yes- match against the United States at “Just don’t expect me to have terday applauded the performance the weekend. your back anytime soon.” of his Qatar Stars League (QSL) title In comments to team captain The world number 27 also winning side, saying the ‘players Lleyton Hewitt, picked up by court- posted, but later deleted, a Tweet responded well’ to his plans. side microphones on Sunday, Tomic mocking Tomic for holding the On Saturday, Al Rayyan beat Al said Kyrgios had “faked” injuries record for the quickest defeat in the Wakrah 5-0 to claim their 20th win twice to avoid Davis Cup ties. history of the ATP Tour, a 28-minute of the season. The win at Jassim Bin Kyrgios withdrew from the loss to Jarkko Nieminen in Miami in Hamad Stadium was sufficient for Al World Group tie with a virus days 2014. Rayyan to nail their 8th QSL title. before the opening singles on Fri- Tomic’s tirade undermined In the on-going season, Al Rayy- day, leaving 77th-ranked Sam Groth the harmony that Hewitt has been an’s only defeat has come against Al to battle world number 11 John Isner at pains to foster after in-fighting Sadd when the two sides clashed on at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in overshadowed Australia’s run to the December 10. Melbourne. semi-finals last year. After publicly It has been a remarkable jour- Groth was beaten easily by criticising top Australian tennis offi- ney for Al Rayyan who were demoted Isner and the big-serving Amer- cials at Wimbledon last year, Tomic to the second division at the end of ican returned on Sunday to beat was kicked off the team for the sec- 2013-14 season. Tomic 6-4 6-4 5-7 7-6(4) and book ond time in his career. Al Rayyan won the second divi- the United States a berth in the Davis Kyrgios was also omitted for sion title the following season and got Cup quarter-finals for the first time the semi-final against Britain the promotion to QSL. in three years. after directing a lewd comment Since September last year, it has Kyrgios also missed Australia’s at twice grand slam champion been Al Rayyan all the way with just first round tie against Czech Repub- Stan Wawrinka during a match in one blip against Al Sadd almost three lic last year with a back injury but Canada. months ago. returned to the court at Indian Wells Hewitt, who replaced Kyrgios “It is easy to say that I changed the two weeks later. in the team at Kooyong and lost the style of football at Al Rayyan when Tomic noted in his post-match doubles with John Peers on Saturday, I took over at the beginning of this news conference on Sunday that defended the player’s withdrawal. season,” Fossati said in an interview. Kyrgios was on the entry list for this “Nick came down here and gave “But that would be unfair to the year’s Indian Wells tournament and everything he had to try to be availa- previous coach and the team, who said he would “lose respect” for the ble and there’s no doubt he was sick,” had a good run in the second divi- 20-year-old if he played. Hewitt said. sion in the second half of last season,” Fossati told www.sc.qa. “All I have done is tried to impart my ideas and philosophy of football British player and the players have to take all the Heather Watson credit because they have responded poses with the well. The same goes with Al Sadd trophy after when I coached them to the AFC Al Rayyan coach, former Champions League in 2011,” Fossati Uruguayan player Jorge Daniel beating Belgian said. Fossati Lurachi gestures after Kirsten Flipkens The experienced Uruguayan his side won the Qatar Stars in the final of guided Al Sadd to the AFC Champi- League last Saturday. the Monterrey ons League title in 2011. Open on “It would have been crazy to set Sunday. a target at the beginning of the sea- son to be 18 points ahead at the top of 2011. The 63-year-old tactician, how- ahead of the third round of qualifiers the standings after 20 rounds,” Fos- “Right now the target is to hope- ever, added with a smile that talking for Russia 2018. I remember when I sati said fully defend the league successfully about a strong national team for 2022 was the national coach we got Aus- “Initially the target was to bring next season. Asia is not on the radar,” can be a bit premature. tralia, Japan, Uzbekistan in the draw back the smiles to the fans and to Fossati said “I am convinced that Qatar can for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers,” improve our standards game by game. Fossati believes the football rev- go far in 2018 qualification. The team Fossati said. Then we revised it to a top four fin- olution he is heralding at Al Rayyan must be positive in the third round “Many people asked me if it was ish. It was only three rounds ago that will also help build a strong national of qualification – they must believe time to quit my job, but I said I will we upgraded to winning the league,” team ahead of the 2022 FIFA World that they are better than most teams. continue and we will compete on he said. Cup Qatar. I agree that Japan and South Korea even terms.” Fossati promised to Al Rayyan “Interest in Qatar football is are a step ahead but Qatar are on “Now, Qatar’s standards have shot fans that his side will keep working growing. There is a big positive dif- the same level as Australia, Iran, up while those of these teams have Britain’s Watson rallies to hard to win more trophies. ference now from the time I managed Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE,” dropped – yes I will include Asian “We just need to continue playing Al Sadd. Stakeholders of Qatar foot- he said. champions Australia in that list,” he win WTA Monterrey crown good football and keep the winning ball must have one target before 2022 Daniel Carreno’s Qatar boys have said. mentality for the remaining part of – a strong national team,” Fossati secured qualification to the third Fossati believes that the national the season. Winning by a historic explained. round after topping Group C in the team’s standards will continue rising AFP ranked 84th in the world, took her margin is the icing on the cake. Now “This is possible only with strong second round Asian qualifiers. till the country hosts the showpiece first victory in three meetings with we need to focus on the Qatar Cup clubs. It is a feasible target as most They will host Hong Kong on event in 2022. the 73rd-rated Belgian, having lost and Emir Cup. And regaining the Qatar national team players play in March 24 and travel to China on “I am confident Qatar will have in the second round at Indian Wells league next season,” Fossati said. the Qatar league. The level of the March 29 to complete their assign- a good national team by 2022 and MEXICO CITY: Britain’s Heather in 2011 and round one at Washing- Fossati said he is not focus- Qatar Stars League is improving sea- ments – the results of these matches also that it will be the best ever World Watson rallied to defeat Belgium’s ton in 2014. ing yet on his new club replicating son by season and Inshallah I can having no bearing to their position in Cup ever because of factors such as Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 Sun- Watson fired seven aces, six of the triumph he achieved in the AFC continue helping in my own humble the group standings. logistics, football facilities and organ- day to win the WTA Monterrey Open them in dropping the opening set, Champions League with Al Sadd in way,” he said. “Qatar must believe in themselves isational skills.” final for her third career crown. before fighting back to win after one Watson’s prior WTA singles titles hour and 57 minutes. came in 2012 at Osaka and last year Flipkens, 30, lost a chance for her at Hobart. second career WTA crown, the first The 25-year-old Englishwoman, having come in 2012 at Quebec City.

Svitolina makes rankings progress with Malaysia win

AFP WTA TOP 20: 1. Serena Williams (USA) 2. Angelique Kerber (GER) PARIS: Ukrainian Elina Svitolina jumped up five places in the WTA rank- 3. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) ings released yesterday after taking her 4. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) fourth career title by beating Eugenie 5. Simona Halep (ROM) Bouchard in Kaula Lumpur. 6. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) The 21-year-old, coached by former 7. Maria Sharapova (RUS) world number one Justine Henin, is now at a career-high number 14 in the 8. Belinda Bencic (SUI) world. 9. Petra Kvitova (CZE) Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 10. Roberta Vinci (ITA) drops from 14th to out of the world’s 11. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) top 20 after not defending her title in 12. Venus Williams (USA) Monterrey. 13. Lucie Safarova (CZE) Britain’s Heather Watson claimed her third WTA title in Mexico, her 14. Elina Svitolina (UKR) efforts after a difficult start to the 15. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) season enough to move up 31 places 16. Sara Errani (ITA) to 53rd. 17. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) Serena Williams has not played 18. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) since her shock defeat in the Austral- ian Open final to Angelique Kerber, 19. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) The Qatar Stars League Shield is seen on top as Al Rayyan players, team officials and supporters celebrate after they beat Al Wakrah 5-0 to but remains well clear in the world 20. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) claim their 20th win of the season at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium last Saturday. rankings.