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TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 • 2 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6673 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Emir receives Kuwaiti Deputy PM Danish Girl Petrol stations banned in Qatar warned against The Peninsula DOHA: The Ministry of Culture Arts and Heritage has banned the screening of British film Danish Girl in cinemas in Qatar. inflated bills The move comes in response to demands made by a number of citi- zens on social networking sites who felt that the film contravenes with stations in the country. The errant the Qatari culture and traditions. petrol stations have been taken to “We would like to inform you The most common task, said the ministry. that we have contacted the con- and serious violation All petrol stations have, thus, been cerned administration and the asked through a circular to keep an screening of the Danish film is now involves some petrol eye on their staffers and ensure that banned from cinemas,” the min- station staffers they do not manipulate prices. istry wrote on its Twitter account. Sometimes petrol station employ- “We thank you for your vigilance,” inflating bills handed ees issue incomplete bills to motorists, it added. to customers after mentioning only the price of fuel with- The Danish Girl, directed by out specifying the quantity sold based Tom Hooper is a fictitious love refuelling their on the figures on the meter of the story loosely inspired by the lives of vehicles. fuel pump. Danish painters Lili Elbe and Gerda Ministry inspectors have also dis- Wegener. Lili and Gerda’s marriage covered that at many petrol stations and work evolve as they navigate the staffers, taking advantage of the Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a The Peninsula huge rush, cheat customers, especially Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of transgender pioneer. Cinemas in women and the elderly and charge Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. Sheikh Sabah, who is Doha started screening the film on more than the actual sums. leading a delegation to the fourth session of the Qatari-Kuwaiti Supreme Joint Cooperation Committee Thursday which has been called off. The ministry has, in its circular to in Doha, conveyed Kuwaiti Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah’s greetings to Emir. DOHA: The consumer rights watchdog petrol stations, asked them to abide has mounted vigil on petrol stations by the law (No. 8 of 2008 regarding across the country after catching consumer protection) and issue bills Oil at new 12-year irregularities like price manipula- (sales invoices issued to customers) tions by some and has asked petrol to include their name and address QU department to be converted low under $32 station owners to closely monitor their with date. employees’ actions. Also to be mentioned on the The most common and serious bill are the type of commodity and AFP violation involves some petrol station units sold, price (or fee, if it is a into College of Health Sciences staffers inflating bills handed to cus- service), delivery date, and signa- tomers after refuelling their vehicles. ture or seal of the supplier, among Investigations have revealed other things. LONDON: World oil prices gushed collusion between the errant petrol If a bill is found manipulated The Peninsula programmes, collaboration with QU five degree programmes — three BSc below $32 yesterday for the first station staffers and the customers stricter penalties will be imposed colleges of medicine and pharmacy in biomedical sciences; human nutri- time in 12 years, as the market was involved. on the outlets as per the provisions and external healthcare institutions, tion; and public health, and two MSc in consumed once again by the global Inflated bills are issued in order of the above-said law. and new appointments. The appli- biomedical sciences; and public health. supply glut and Chinese demand to help a customer collect from his Depending on the severity of DOHA: The Department of Health cation process for the college begins Dr Al Thani said the new college fears. US benchmark West Texas employer the difference between the an offence or if an offence is being Sciences (DHS) at Qatar University in September and courses will start will offer a BSc programme in rehabil- Intermediate for February slumped actual amount paid to refuel his vehi- repeated, a petrol station’s services College of Arts and Sciences (QU- soon after. The department has 346 itation treatments (physical therapy, to $31.31 per barrel, which was last cle and the inflated bill amount. could be temporarily suspended and CAS) will be converted into College female students on its rolls. occupational therapy and speech ther- witnessed on December 23, 2003. The Ministry of Economy and its name could be published in local of Health Sciences this year. It will be The college will seek to enroll apy), an MSc programme in clinical European benchmark Brent North Commerce, which has a consumer newspapers and notices could be QU’s ninth college. up to 150 students in its first aca- dietetics, and a PhD programme in Sea crude for February delivery protection cell, said yesterday its pasted on its premises. QU’s Board of Regents in its recent demic year, including male students, biomedical sciences. tipped to $31.48 a barrel in late inspectors have caught 11 cases of meeting approved plans for the new said Dr Asma Al Thani, Head of the afternoon deals, a low last seen price manipulation at eight petrol →Continued on page 6 college, student enrolment, new department. The department offers →Continued on page 6 on April 7, 2004.

48 killed in Feathered guest Indian rupee Russian air strike in Iraq attacks depreciated AFP 48% in 5 years Syria kills 12 children

BAGHDAD: Gunmen detonated suicide vests inside a shopping com- plex in Baghdad yesterday and a By Sachin Kumar AFP east since shortly after fighting began car bomb exploded nearby in an The Peninsula there in mid-2012. attack claimed by Islamic State Government forces regularly carry that killed at least 21 people and out air raids on the east, while rebels wounded 40 others. Two bombs BEIRUT: At least 12 children and three fire rockets into the west. later went off in the eastern town DOHA: Indian rupee depreciated adults were killed in a Russian air The situation is largely reversed of Muqdadiya, killing at least 20 about 5 percent or 87 paise against strike that hit a school in Syria’s Aleppo in the countryside surrounding the people and wounding another 50, Qatari riyal last year which was the province yesterday, a monitor said. city, with rebels controlling much of security and medical sources said. highest fall since 2013. The Syrian Observatory for the area west of Aleppo, and the gov- Another blast in a southeastern The currency, which has seen Human Rights said the three adults ernment present to the east. Baghdad suburb killed seven more. a consistent depreciation over the included a teacher, and that the strike Russia, a staunch ally of President past few years, has lost a massive in the town of Anjara also injured at Bashar Al Assad’s regime, began air →See also page 7 48 percent or around six rupees least 20 people, all of them children strikes in support of the central gov- in the last five years. It was trad- and teachers. ernment in late September. ing at 12.27 per riyal at the start of The monitor said there had been It says it is targeting the Islamic Music legend January 2011 and was yesterday heavy air strikes and clashes between State group and other “terrorists,” but trading at around 18.23 per riyal government and rebel forces since a third of those killed in its strikes David Bowie dies in local market. Sunday in the northern province, have been civilians, according to the After seeing a relatively stable which is controlled by a mixture of Observatory. LONDON: British music legend David year in 2014, the rupee again wit- moderate and Islamist rebels. The monitor said in late Decem- Bowie has died at the age of 69 after nessed volatility last year. Indian Photos distributed by media ber that Russian air strikes had killed a secret battle with cancer, unleash- rupee began year at 17.31 per riyal at activists in Aleppo province showed more than 2,300 people since they ing a cascade of tributes for one of the start of January 2015 and closed a classroom full of rubble with the began on September 30, among them the most influential and innovative at 18.18 per riyal on December 31. wooden tops of desks blown off their 792 civilians. artists of his time.Bowie’s death in Indian currency was comparatively metal frames. Moscow has slammed as “absurd” New York was a shock to the world stable a year before as it had lost The Britain-based Observatory allegations that its strikes have killed with the announcement coming just just 1 percent in 2014. A depreciating also reported that three children were civilians. More than 260,000 people three days after he released his 25th currency benefits Indian expatri- killed by rebel rocket fire on a gov- have been killed in Syria since the studio album “Blackstar”, on his 69th A feathered visitor to the Doha Corniche, seemingly from the ates because they get additional ernment-held district in Aleppo city. conflict began in March 2011 with birthday on Friday. cormorant family, captured by our photographer last morning. income because of decline. Control of the city has been anti-government protests. Salim M/The Peninsula divided between government forces →See also page 20 →Continued on page 4 in the west and rebel fighters in the →See also page 8 02 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 HOME Cultural Diversity Festival opens at Katara Esplanade

to feature at the five-month festival of performing arts is a beautiful way presented by Unesco Doha Office and to bridge gaps and differences, fur- Bayanihan, the Cultural Village Foundation - Katara. ther strengthen ties and build new National Dance The troupe has lived up to its name acquaintances,” Philippine Ambassa- which literally means “patriotism or dor Wilfredo C Santos told the opening Company of the love of country”, taking the audience ceremony. Philippines, gives a on a journey through the history of He said ‘Bayanihan’ could refer to the Philippines via music and dances “a spirit of communal unity and coop- stunning performance from different eras of Philippine his- eration to achieve a common goal” and tory and geographical regions of the “patriotism or love of country” dis- 7,107-island nation. played by the group in its performances. From the pre-colonial Mindanao “Cultural diversity is at the core of By Raynald C Rivera to the Spanish-era Manila, the dances what Unesco is doing and I think it is The Peninsula provided a glimpse of the country’s also at the core of the human being. history told through the world-class Knowing each other helps us live bet- performance of the group established ter and in harmony. We hope that the 60 years ago. The troupe encapsu- festival will show the diversity of the DOHA: Bayanihan, the National Dance lated in an hour-long show popular community living in Qatar and how Company of the Philippines, delivered folk dances such as Singkil, Maglala- they can live together well,” said Anna a stunning performance of a melange tik, Tinikling and Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Paolini, Director, Unesco Office in Doha of folk dances to a rapturous applause to name a few. The audience was mes- and Representative to Gulf countries as it raised the curtain at the Cultural merised by the impressive performance, and Yemen. The company will stage Diversity Festival at Katara Esplanade colourful costumes and music played another performance at 7.30pm tonight. last night. using native percussion and stringed The biggest and longest festival Bayanihan, the National Dance Company of the Philippines, performs at the festival. Pic: Kammutty VP The oldest and most acclaimed instruments. Castanets, bamboo sticks, of its kind hosted by Katara, the fes- dance company of the Philippines, the coconut shells and wooden sandals tival runs until May 25 and will see includes international and national Diversity Programme to increase cul- perform on January 18 and 19, followed troupe was the first among the cultural enhanced the dance suites. performances by 20 troupes from var- workshops and is a vital part of Unesco’s tural awareness and understanding. by the Nairobi National Dance Ensem- performing groups from 20 countries “Sharing our cultures in the form ious countries and continents. It also Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural India’s World Cultural Forum will ble from Kenya on February 1 and 2. Doha Municipality held 31,000 campaigns to control insects and rodents in 2015

By Mohamed Osman The insect and rodent fighting unit for tackling rodents in Doha. environment protection. There are workshop for inspectors of public parks The Peninsula at the municipality processed 16,530 Al Muhannadi was speaking at technical specifications set by the min- to acquire judicial power after passing applications for pest control and 1,180 the 16th media programme, ‘Meet- istry for selection of insecticides, mainly a written test at the end of the course. Subaru Impreza for rodent control and visited 30,151 ing with official’ which is the first this imported from Western Europe, US, Inspectors’ role is to enforce the pro- homes, said Al Muhannadi. year, organised by the Public Rela- Canada, Australia and Japan. visions of Law No. 32/1995 protecting 2004-2007 DOHA: The Doha Municipality last The unit also processed 98 appli- tions Department of the ministry and He explained that one of the specifi- public parks and prohibits felling trees year conducted 31,000 campaigns to cations for fighting snakes and 16 for attended by Salman Al Marri, from cations is that insecticide must be used or damaging plants or burning them models recalled control insects and rodents in its juris- fighting scorpions. The number of the department, and officials from the in the country of origin and accred- or removing their leaves. diction, according to a senior official. applications by the military, police and media section. ited by an international organisation The law also prohibits setting fire The municipality processed over civil defence camps seeking insecti- Al Muhannadi said the pest con- and specialised entities such as HSE in public parks or in the surrounding Doha: The Ministry of 31,000 applications for controlling cide services totalled 893. trol unit conducts regular campaigns in the US. The technical committees areas and throwing any kind of waste, Economy and Commerce, insects and rodents in government During the summer months, the in insect-breeding areas and regularly also choose every year one type of especially industrial and construction in collaboration with Man- institutions and homes, said Abdul- unit receives an average of 200 appli- visits Suq Waqif. The number of visits insecticide to diversify quality and pre- waste. It specifies punishment of not nai Trading Co. WLL, lah Al Muhannadi, Head, Cleaning cations a day and in winter some 40, to the market reached 3,655 last year. vent insects from acquiring immunity, less than three months’ jail term, fine dealer of Subaru vehi- Section. Campaigns covered public Al Muhannadi stressed. It has 15 vehi- He said the ministry uses the best he added. not less than QR2,000 and not more cles, has announced the institutions, schools, homes, military, cles with high quality equipment for quality of insecticides and best equip- On Sunday, the Department of Pub- than QR20,000 or either for violat- recall of Subaru Impreza police and civil defence camps. spreading insecticides and 17 pick-ups ment for the safety of the users and lic Parks launched a week-long training ing the law. models of 2004-2007 because of a defect in the front passenger air bag unit. The ministry said the QR56.3bn property deals recall is within the frame- work of its ongoing efforts to protect con- conducted last year sumers and ensure that dealers follow up on and repair vehicles’ defects. The Peninsula Sheikh Jassem bin Thamer Al Thani. The ministry said it “The coming years will augur well will coordinate with the for the sector as the state budget has dealer to follow up on allocated a huge portion of expendi- maintenance and repairs DOHA: The value of real estate trans- tures for infrastructure development and communicate with actions were all-time high and reached projects,” said businessman Mansor customers to ensure QR56.3bn last year, up 5.6 percent Al Mansur. repairs are carried out. over the previous year. The projects are related to the It urged customers to The value of the deals in 2014 was development of roads, drainage and report any violations to its QR53.3bn, the growth being 26 percent other services and will encourage the Consumer Protection and over 2013 compared to QR44.7bn. The launch of more real estate infrastruc- Anti-Commercial Fraud yearly figures are based on weekly ture projects in new areas, he added. Department. reports on transactions issued by the The declining prices of petroleum Real Estate Registry at the Ministry products have not affected the real of Justice. estate sector directly. Demand for Qatar-Sudan Experts and businessmen said the real estate continues to grow amid real estate sector remains as vibrant an increasing influx of expatriate ties reviewed as ever and unaffected by the falling workers and economic development, oil prices and is expected to witness said Al Mansuri. The huge sales of Khartoum: Sudan’s Min- more growth in future, Al Sharq real estate reflect the power of the ister of Labour and reports. “Qatar’s real estate sector national economy and participation Administrative Reform has recorded the highest growth in the of the private sector in the develop- Dr. Ahmed Babiker Nahar region and more growth is expected ment process. The sector is keeping met Qatari Ambassador in the future amid preparations for pace with development plans, said Rashid bin Abdulrah- the 2022 FIFA World Cup for which businessman Hasan Al Hakim and man Al Nuaimi and ways thousands of residential units, many witnessed growth in the past years — of enhancing bilateral hotels and related facilities are to be whether sale of plots of land for new relations. built,” said expert and businessman projects or ready-for-use properties. Amlak and Doha Bus unveil new route through Education City

The Peninsula The tour will weave through Edu- world- renowned institutions, interna- cation City’s hop-on, hop-off points tional research and cultural centres,” every two hours, offering an oppor- said Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, CEO, Amlak. tunity to experience landmarks like “By promoting this important DOHA: Amlak and Doha Bus have the Arab Museum of Modern Art and Doha destination, we are advocat- introduced a new route that goes the Qatar Foundation Student Centre ing the vital role the institution as a through Education City beginning along the way. whole plays in the development and this month. Visitors will also be able to enjoy preservation of Qatar’s knowledge- The new route will enable more a relaxing break from their touring based economy.” tourists to explore Education City activities at Doha’s first farm-to- On the new route, Khalid Al grounds, the Mathaf: Arab Museum table restaurant, Chef’s Garden, at the Suwaidi, CEO, Doha Bus, said: “We of Modern Art, Qatar National Library, exclusive Marwan Club on Al Shaqab have been in operation since 2012, Qatar National Convention Centre grounds. and our aim is to showcase the best (QNCC) and Al Shaqab to name just Chef’s Garden has partnered with of what Qatar has to offer. a few. local farms to bring locally grown and “Education City to us is more than The bus will stop at QNCC every organic products to the consumer a landmark, it is an international hour and at Education City every 1.30 whenever possible. destination. minutes — from 9am until 2.30pm “Our collaboration with Doha Bus “Partnering with Amlak to make with the last trip at 5pm. opens new doors for Doha tourists this destination more accessible to the Doha Bus is designed to provide and residents to experience Education masses will offer a new perspective a flexible way for tourists and resi- City as not only a local destination but of our city to visitors and residents of dents to discover Doha. also an international hub that houses Qatar,” Al Suwaidi added. HOME TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 03 QC spent QR118m on aid in 26 countries last year

Humanitarian assistance pro- QC is waiting to hand over a sec- vided to Myanmar reached QR3.5m ond housing project comprising fully More than 2.7 million last year. furnished 700 units in Izaz, Hawran people benefit in Iraq and Central Africa shared and Idlib. QR2m each. The units, financed by the people Africa and Asia Humanitarian assistance was also from Qatar, will accommodate about provided to several other countries, 700 families displaced inside Syria. including Sudan, Indonesia, Egypt, QC delivered 500 housing units at Somalia, Nepal, Djibouti, Ghana, Al Zatari refugee camps seven months The Peninsula Comoros, Lebanon, Kenya, Thailand, ago. After completion of the second India, Senegal, Nigeria, Jordan, Malawi, housing project, the units will total Ethiopia and Mauritania. 1,200. Priority was given to Syrian people, QC plans to increase housing units Dr Khaled Ben Letaief, Provost, HBKU, and Dr Walid Alali, Coordinator, MPH Programme within HBKU’s DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) spent more who were provided with food, medi- to 3,000 to protect the maximum College of Public Health, with other officials during the launch of the Master of Public Health programme than QR118m to provide humanitarian cines, clothes and shelters to reduce number of families from shivering cold yesterday. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula aid to more than 2.7 million people in their suffering, especially children, and provide them with a safe shelter. 26 countries in Africa and Asia last year. women and elderly people. A housing unit spread over an area Some 70 percent of QR83m was Some 40 ambulance vehicles of 22.5 square metres costs QR15,000 sent for relief for Syrian people, fol- equipped with medical equipment without furnishing. HBKU unveils PG course in public health lowed by Yemen (QR12.3m). and doctors were deployed for the Each unit comprise two rooms, a Charity works worth QR5.8m were treatment of wounded and sick people. kitchen and a bathroom. Furnishing executed in Palestine while Pakistan Mobile clinics were also mobilised costs QR2,000, including household By Fazeena Saleem students to conduct research that will health — epidemiology; environmen- received QR5.5m for the same. for checkup and treatment. items, kitchen wares and bed sets. The Peninsula have positive real-world impact. The tal health; biostatistics; health policy new programme will play a vital role in and management; and social sciences training individuals to become highly in public health. Students will be given accomplished leaders in the field,” opportunity to intern within local and DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- said Dr Letaief. international organisations, includ- versity (HBKU) of Qatar Foundation Classes for the first batch of stu- ing hospitals and NGOs, where public yesterday launched the first academic dents start this Fall, with applications health is a priority. programme of its College of Public now being accepted. The course will “The programme is structured to Health to help create Qatar’s future be taught in English and can be studied provide participants with a profound leaders in the field. full time or part time. Applicants must understanding of the multi-layered The Master of Public Health (MPH) have a bachelor’s degree from a recog- nature of public health challenges in programme was launched by Dr Kha- nised institution. In addition to health the 21st century, with local community led Ben Letaief, Provost, during an professions of medicine, nursing, den- outreach a requisite component. Stu- event at the Marwan Club within Edu- tistry, pharmacy, and optometry, the dents will be tasked with translating cation City. programme may attract students of what they learn into concrete meth- The programme aims to equip social sciences, engineering, biologi- ods to build, or improve, the public graduates with skills needed to pro- cal sciences, environmental sciences, health programmes of neighbour- mote health within societies, prevent education and journalism. hoods, community organisations, ill health and the spread of diseases, They must have an excellent under- or the government in Qatar,” said Dr Dr Letaief said. graduate academic record with at least Walid Alali, Coordinator of the pro- Key local and international health one course in biology and one in maths gramme, College of Public Health. services providers, especially the or statistics. Applicants are required to “As we recognise that career and Supreme Council of Health, is incorpo- take the IELTS or TOEFL exam to dem- leadership development support is rated in implementing the programme. onstrate their proficiency in English. essential, MPH students will also be “Many of HBKU’s multidiscipli- They can submit their applications via given access to internship opportu- nary programmes place emphasis http://www.hbku.edu.qa/MPH nities and projects with organisations on exploring the most pressing chal- The comprehensive degree will working in the field locally and glo- Qatar Charity officials distribute humanitarian aid to some of the beneficiaries. lenges facing society and encouraging focus on the five core elements of public bally,” he said. 04 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 HOME Students express their links to 2022 through art

which will reflect Al Rayyan Club’s long-stand- ing history and help emerging artists develop Saudi artist Sadek Wasil their artistic talents. leads workshop at schools The students saw the workshop as an oppor- tunity to display their talent, express their love in Al Rayyan, organised by for football and link their skills and knowledge the SEC and the Supreme to the 2022 event. “The programme aims to promote students’ Committee for Delivery & awareness about the 2022 World Cup instal- Legacy lations,” said Khalid Al Jumaily, Community Engagement Manager, SC. “We want students to participate in the organisation of the event. We seek to moti- The Peninsula vate them to express, through art, how their cities and culture are linked to the 2022 World Cup,” he added. Ali Salem Al Mirri, a participating student, DOHA: In cooperation with the Supreme Edu- said: “There’s a strong link between students cation Council, the Supreme Committee for and the state. Delivery & Legacy (SC) organised art work- “We must realise that we, the 2022 genera- shops as part of the Schools Arts Programme. tion, are at the centre of attention. The workshop The programme targets intermediate and provides us with an opportunity to express secondary schools in the vicinity of stadiums our passion for football and enthusiasm about which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. hosting the tournament.” The students learnt to use art to express Pakistani student Abdul Malek Ghulam their passion for football and how their cit- stressed: “I learnt about the designs of the stadi- ies and culture are linked to the tournament. ums of the 2022 World Cup and I was impressed The first workshop was organised for schools by the presentation.” in Al Rayyan Municipality areas, including Salah Ali Al Abbud, an arts teacher at Ali Bin Jas- Al Din Independent Preparatory School for Boys, sem Bin Mohammad Independent Secondary Rafidah Independent Preparatory School for School for Boys, said such workshops are good Girls, and Ali Bin Jassem Bin Mohammad Inde- for students because they take them out of pendent Secondary School for Boys. their school environment and engage them It was managed by Saudi artist Sadek Wasil, in activities which develop their talents and whom the SC has selected to implement a recy- serve their community. cled art project. “In addition to developing cognitive and Materials from the deconstructed Al Rayyan artistic knowledge, the workshops strengthen Stadium will be recycled to create art works patriotic spirit,” he added. Students taking part in the workshop. Indians ‘expect further fall in rupee’ 100-mile runner charity champion Finn Froud Continued from page 1 donates gifts to young cancer patients at HGH Currency depreciation is a result of international factors, say experts. Indian cur- rency started its journey last year on a weaker note due to expectations of rise in interest rates in the US. Encouraged by signs of recovery in the US economy, Federal Reserve hiked its interest rates last month. It led to strengthening of the dollar during 2015 and The Peninsula depreciation in major currencies across the globe. “Last year was the year of strengthening for US currency. It gained strength against all the major currencies. Fall in gold and crude oil prices also supported the dollar,” said Zuber Abdul Rahman, Operations Manager, Al Zaman Exchange. “Apart from rate hike DOHA: Child cancer patients in the Pae- by Federal Reserve, devaluation in Chinese currency played a crucial role in weakening diatric Oncology Ward at Hamad General the rupee and other currencies,” he added. China, the world’s second-largest econ- Hospital (HGH), of Hamad Medical Cor- omy after the US, devalued its currency last August (and last week this year) to boost its poration (HMC), have received toys and exports and expand the economy. The country is grappling with a softening economy activity items donated from an unlikely and wild swings in the stock market. Fall in the value of rupee affected remittances by source. Indian expatriates from Qatar. Exchange house witnessed increase in remittances to Nine-year-old Finn Froud, who began India after every round of depreciation. a charity campaign by running 100 miles “The remittances flow is positively linked to depreciation in currencies. Many cus- in 100 days after finding out his 11-year-old tomers are educated and are holding money and waiting for further depreciation in the cousin had been diagnosed with leukae- rupee to maximise their returns. A huge chunk of customers believe that the rupee is mia, has donated gifts bought with the expected to fall further during the year,” said a senior official of a currency exchange. money he raised during his drive. With his parents, Finn presented age- appropriate gift packs to 21 inpatients aged between 18 months to 13 years in HGH with various forms of cancer. They visited each of the children in their rooms, delivering boxes of toys and activ- ity packs during a fun-filled afternoon. Ali Abdulla Al Khater, Chief Commu- nications Officer, HMC, said the donation was a generous gesture and the children were delighted to receive their gifts. children at a time when they are strug- Finn Froud and his family with toy packages, “Finn has brought some brightness to gling with serious illnesses. accompanied by Hamad General Hospital officials, at the Paediatric Oncology Ward.

“This fundraising effort and donations should be praised as a fine altruistic gesture by a very thoughtful boy and the gifts which have been gratefully received by these young patients and their families,” Al Khater added. Finn had planned to raise around QR1,600 to buy toys for the cancer ward, but eventually raised QR78,000 worth of donations over the past six months through Compassionate Crowd funding, a free online fundrais- ing service. Virgin Megastore offered Finn a 15 percent discount on purchases made at its Doha store, according to Finn’s mother Ann-Marie Froud. She said support had been very positive. “The response to the campaign has been fantastic, and it was great to see locals running with Finn during some of the Doha legs. “We had 500 people running with us for the final leg of the 100 miles,” said Ann-Marie.

Qatar to host GCC education meet

QNA

DOHA: Qatar will host the 16th meeting of the heads of the GCC higher education certificates equation committees from January 13 to 14. It will discuss ways to develop a common mechanism for aca- demic accreditation and certification equation in the GCC states, pilot objectives and standards for the assessment of academic qualifications and the procedures followed by higher education authorities for the fight against fake certificates, among others. HOME TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 05 HMC expert highlights Eid Charity implements QR454m uterine fibroid treatments development projects last year

commonly used surgical procedures for removal of uterine fibroids and Weill Cornell Medicine new drug therapies developed to man- – Qatar hosts its age the condition without the need for surgery. latest Grand Rounds Uterine fibroids are common non- cancerous tumours that form on the wall of the uterus. It is believed 70 to 80 percent of The Peninsula women will have uterine fibroids at some point in their lives though most will not notice them because they often cause no symptoms. DOHA: The latest treatment options “For those women who experi- for uterine fibroids were discussed ence symptoms, these can include at the latest Grand Rounds of Weill heavy or painful periods and pain in Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q) the abdomen or lower back. by one of most senior obstetrician- In rare cases, uterine fibroids can gynaecologists. affect pregnancy or cause infertility. Dr David Barlow, Director, “Finding effective treatments for Dr David Barlow, Director, Women’s Services, Hamad Medical uterine fibroids is important because Women’s Services, HMC, and Corporation (HMC), and Chair, Depart- they affect a large number of women Chair, Department of Obstetrics ment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and can be extremely painful and dis- and Gynaecology at Women’s Women’s Hospital, discussed the most tressing and can negatively affect Hospital, speaking at the event.

Eid Charity officials at the press conference. fertility, which is very distressing. Surgical procedures and new drug therapies have proven to be effective QNA He told a press conference that the while orphans and families benefiting and there have been promising new association achieved success in foreign from them totalled more than 44,000. developments recently,” Dr Barlow projects worth more than QR394m Al Suwaidi said the association told physicians, researchers, students and local cultural, social and advo- built 469 mosques and 359 homes for and healthcare professionals attend- DOHA: Eid Bin Mohammad Al Thani cacy projects worth QR60m. people in need and implemented 2,852 ing the event. Charitable Association yesterday said Ali bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Direc- water projects. The Grand Rounds, developed the charity implemented relief and tor-General of the association, said the Ali bin Khaled Al Hajri, Executive by WCM-Q’s Division of Continuing development projects at a cost of charity attaches great importance to Director, Foreign Projects, highlighted Professional Development, provides a QR454m in 59 countries around the its local humanitarian, cultural and details of the foreign projects. platform for speakers to engage with world last year. social projects and humanitarian Several directors of departments healthcare professionals to dissemi- The association carried out 5,722 efforts in conflict and disaster areas and centres linked to the association nate knowledge of latest developments projects. Relief aid topped the list of across the world. spoke about the most important social, in medical technology, research and the projects, with over QR118m, the Al Suwaidi stressed continued cultural and media projects imple- A section of the participants. best practice. majority of which was directed towards growth of the association due to peo- mented locally. A total of 2,049 people Syrian refugees. ple’s response to humanitarian calls from different nationalities embraced The charity’s Board of Directors and crises in many countries. Islam following propagation of the Chairman Sheikh Eid bin Moham- He said humanitarian activities religion. mad Al Thani offered his tribute to have been expanded to include another They also highlighted support of Teyseer Petrol Station in Al Wukair closed the country’s wise leadership for sup- 59 countries and the association’s rev- the wise leadership in Qatar for char- port and said it helped foster Qatar’s enue reached QR460m. ity and humanitarian work and Qatari presence on the development, human- He said 2.8 million people in 26 benefactors’ response to humanitar- The Peninsula itarian and relief arenas. countries benefited from relief projects ian campaigns and initiatives.

DOHA: Teyseer Petrol Station in Al Wukair has shuttered. It is the third petrol station to close in the past one month. The reason for the closure was not known. A popular and the only petrol station in Al Wukair, it was always crowded as many residential com- pounds are in the area. The closure is putting pressure on the newly opened Woqod petrol sta- tion in Al Wakrah, where long queues could be seen during peak hours. Airport Petrol Station on Doha-Al Wakrah Road was closed down in the Teyseer Service Centre closed down in Al Wukair. It is the third petrol first week on January and prior to that, station closed within a month. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula Falcon Petrol Station on D-Ring Road, near Al Emadi Hospital, closed shop. Woqod opened its eighth service the Abu Samra border. in the near future to take the total to station for 2015 in Al Mas’habiya near It plans to open more such facilities 100 by 2020.

Ooredoo Data Centre: A big help for companies. Ooredoo Data Centre saw high demand for Managed Storage and Back-Up Services in 2015

The Peninsula developed to meet the new capacity, Services to Qatar, working with lead- building upon and using Ooredoo’s ing technology companies to offer a expertise and a strong range of net- host of innovative solutions. work and data centre assets. With Managed Storage services, DOHA: Ooredoo’s Managed Stor- Yousuf Al Kubaisi, COO, Ooredoo companies benefit from flexible con- age and Back-Up services have had Qatar, said: “In 2015, we launched our sumption models and cost structures, a successful past year, with a host of first fully Ooredoo-operated managed flexible pricing and service perform- upgrades and service launches due services, including Managed Storage ance tiers. to response from companies looking and Backup services fully integrated Companies also benefit from to manage the ever-expanding vol- with our Disaster Recovery capabilities. centralised data storage for building ume of customer and business data. “We invested heavily to make sure private clouds, constant monitoring In 2006, Ooredoo launched the our data centres continue to be among and automated backup and restore services, which provides periodic the most advanced in the world. Oore- features, all integrated with the Oore- backups to ensure data longevity. doo empowers some of Qatar’s biggest doo Data Centre’s disaster recovery In 2012, the company made the enterprises to remotely manage their capabilities to protect the continuity switch to its first wholly-owned Man- data, and we have been successful in of customer data. aged Storage service, which enables extending the same level of service to For details about solutions availa- customers to store, archive and man- Qatar’s small and medium businesses. ble, business customers can arrange a age their companies’ data within the The trend will continue this year.” meeting with their account manager Qatar Data Centre infrastructure. Ooredoo has been a pioneer or ring the Ooredoo Data Centre sup- Since then new services have been in introducing the latest Managed port team on 44404750. 06 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 HOME

QU nod to organisational structure QRCS inaugurates ‘Household of new college, dean’s appointment Garden’ project in Syria Continued from page 1 The BSc and MSc programmes will be developed in cooperation with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and the PhD programme will benefit from collaboration with QU colleges of medicine and pharmacy and other leaders in the healthcare sec- tor in Qatar. The board also approved the college’s organisational structure, The project, with budget and the appointment of the dean. $503,000 funding QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham said, “Over the last three dec- ades, QU established a wide range of quality health sciences programmes from UNDP, aims to such as biomedical sciences, human nutrition, and public health. These were ensure food security developed over the years through dialogue with our partners in the labour market to whom we supply competent graduates who can meet demand for for the Syrian people well-qualified healthcare personnel. “The organisation also enhanced its students’ research capacities, pro- viding them with skills to seek sustainable solutions for challenges facing the healthcare sector in Qatar.” The Peninsula He said the establishment of the College of Health Sciences will add value to QU’s achievements as it contributes to implementing with the colleges of medicine and pharmacy an integrated academic and research strategy and awareness and community outreach activities. DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society It also contributes to fulfilling local needs for skilled health and medi- (QRCS) has launched the ‘Household cal professionals through implementation of new academic programmes. Garden’ project to enhance food secu- Dr Al Thani said, “The establishment of the new College of Health Sciences rity in the beleaguered parts of Rif will contribute to advancing QU’s health programmes and fulfilling Qatar’s Dimashq in Syria, with $503,000 needs for high-qualified healthcare providers and well-trained practitioner funding from the United Nations Devel- in line with the country’s ambitions towards a knowledge-based economy.” opment Programme. The project involves growing fruit- ful plants on roofs, in balconies and Errant petrol stations could face action spaces and around entrances of homes to provide the crops needed for the neighbourhoods to help reduce food Small gardens being developed outside homes in Rif Dimashq. Continued from page 1 prices. Specialists were sent to the tar- get areas to guide the community on how to perform agricultural work. planned to last one year, but extended the needs of each area. The project season, the project aims to support Errant petrol stations can also be referred for legal action if owners are About 2,000 families comprising for three months. Agriculture is done is conducted in cooperation with the the Syrians with bread, a staple food, by found to collude with the perpetrators, the ministry has warned. 14,000 people are expected to bene- in two seasons: Winter crops and sum- executive partner in Eastern Ghouta, securing wheat for bakeries in north- Issuing incomplete bills is so much serious a crime under the consumer fit from the project, each cultivating mer crops, including tomato, eggplant, Ghiras Al Nahda, a Syrian charity in ern Homs countryside to help provide protection law that the perpetrators can face a jail term of up to two years or an area of about 50 square metres as molokhia, okra, zucchini, parsley and Turkey. bread for many host and internally dis- a fine of 3,000 to a million riyals, said the ministry. People can report vio- household garden. The project was probably mushroom, depending on Expanded to nearly $1.2m next placed persons at low prices. lations, if any, on he ministry’s hotline 16001 or email at [email protected]

Council reviews draft law to make petroleum Lulu Mercedes-Benz mega draw products’ smuggling a punishable offence

The Peninsula Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported in June 2014 to study the problem and yesterday that the panel discussed the suggest ways to combat it. draft law yesterday. Early last February, the commit- Despite the fact that the prices of tee gave recommendations to fight DOHA: A draft law making petroleum petroleum products, including diesel diesel smuggling. products’ smuggling a punishable produced locally, have been revised One of them was to enact a law offence is with the Advisory Coun- upwards twice in the past few years, making the smuggling of fuels illegal cil for review. the fuel, especially diesel, remains and punishable by law. The council’s Legal and Legisla- highly subsidised by the state. A draft law was prepared and tive Committee is studying the draft Diesel is sold to motorists and local after the Cabinet gave its preliminary law and making an extensive report companies (mostly for use to fire gen- approval, it was sent to the council for for the council for discussion. erators and in factories) at QR1.5 a litre. review, as is the established norm. After the debate, the council is As smuggling of the fuel by some With its recommendations, the expected to give recommendations shady elements remains a problem, draft will be sent back by the coun- on the draft addressed to the Cabinet. the government set up a committee cil to the Cabinet as per procedures.

The mega draw of Lulu Mercedes-Benz Car Promotion for two E-200 cars was held yesterday at Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa City, under the supervision of Abdulla Kannu, Inspector from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Lulu Hypermarket Group officials and members of the public were present. Indian Moossa Sooppy and Filipino Ronalyn Soniega won the cars.

Council focuses on services to villages

QNA

DOHA: The Advisory Council’s Services and Public Utilities Commit- tee yesterday met under its Rapporteur Saqr Fahd Al Mereikhi. The committee contin- ued its study, based on a request from council mem- ber Hamed Ali Al Ahbabi, on improving services to vil- lages across Qatar. Minister of Municipal- ity and Urban Planning H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani attended the meeting and offered his ministry’s opinion on the suggestion and responded to queries from council members. The committee agreed to resume its study at a later date. The Legal and Legis- lative Affairs Committee also held a meeting of the 44th regular session of the council. The committee elected Nasser Serayea Al Kaabi as its Rapporteur. HOME / GULF / MIDDLE EAST TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 07

At least 48 Pristine valley killed in Iraq attacks

death toll in three months. Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Gen- Gunmen detonate eral Saad Maan blamed “this terrorist suicide vests in group after they suffered heavy losses by the security forces”, without nam- Baghdad mall ing Islamic State. Seven people, including two policemen, were killed in the car bomb blast near the Jawaher mall Reuters in the predominately Shia district of Baghdad Jadida, police and medical sources said. Five more people were shot dead by the gunmen storming BAGHDAD: Gunmen detonated sui- the mall, and six others were killed cide vests inside a shopping complex when those same assailants detonated in Baghdad yesterday and a car bomb their explosive vests, the sources said. exploded nearby in an attack claimed Police regained control of the by Islamic State that killed at least mall, in the east of the city, and a Snow covers a mountain in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon yesterday. 18 people and wounded 40 others. senior security official told state Two bombs later went off in the television there were no hostages, eastern town of Muqdadiya, killing at rejecting reports that there had been least 20 people and wounding another people held. 50, security and medical sources said. “The security forces are at the Another blast in a southeastern Bagh- scene and managed to recover the Iraqi Turkmen leaders alarmed by Kurdish trench dad suburb killed seven more. wounded. The situation is under con- Islamic State militants control- trol,” Maan added. ling swathes of Iraq’s north and west As well as the violence meted out claimed responsibility for the mall by Islamic State, Iraq is also gripped AFP said the Kurdistan Regional Govern- as suspicious,” Arshad Al Salehi, the of their hubs are in disputed areas, attacks, which it said had targeted a by a sectarian conflict mostly between ment (KRG) was digging the trench head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, said. which are just beyond the KRG bor- gathering of “rejectionist heathens”, Shias and Sunnis that has been exac- roughly following conflict lines between “It starts in Rabia... and ends in ders but claimed by the Kurds. its derogatory term for Shia Muslims. erbated by the rise of the militant the Islamic State group and Kurdish Khanaqin,” he said. The Kurdish peshmerga took over The Iraqi govenrment last month group. BAGHDAD: Iraqi Turkmen leaders yes- forces across northern Iraq. Rabia is a northwestern town on many of those areas on the back of claimed victory against the hardline At least seven people were killed terday accused the country’s Kurds of Kurdish officials insisted the trench the Syrian border and Khanaqin lies the June 2014 IS offensive that saw the Sunni militants in the western city when a suicide bomber driving a car exploiting the war on jihadists to dig was not a political act but rather a purely 400 kilometres to the southeast, near Iraqi federal security forces collapse of Ramadi and have slowly pushed attacked a commercial street in a a trench that would strengthen their defensive measure aimed at prevent- the Iranian border. completely. Salehi said he wanted Iraqi them back in other areas. southeastern Baghdad suburb yester- grip on expanded territory. ing attacks by IS suicide car bombers. The Turkmens are one of Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi to clar- Yesterday’s attacks left the biggest day, police and medical sources said. Officials from the Turkmen minority “We see this move to dig a trench largest ethnic minorities and many ify his position on the trench.

SEC to officially launch child Guantanamo detainee Saudi intelligence compound care centre sent to Saudi Arabia attacked with firebombs

The Peninsula Reuters wall of a building compound. Most His arrest in July 2012, during AFP and the Pentagon is trying to find of the firebombs were seen explod- which he was shot in the leg, prompted countries to take them as it struggles ing on the ground inside, setting a protests in which three people died. DOHA: The Supreme Educa- to honour President Barack Obama’s nearby tree on fire. Nimr’s execution angered Shias tion Council (SEC) will tomorrow 2009 order to close the prison. DUBAI: Masked men threw firebombs The authenticity of the footage across the Middle East. After protest- officially launch Bidayaat Early WASHINGTON: A Guantanamo Bay Many are from Yemen and can- at an intelligence service compound in could not immediately be confirmed. ers stormed the Saudi Embassy in Childhood Center as the first inmate has been repatriated to Saudi not go back, given its collapse into the city of Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia, It was not initially clear who was Tehran and the Saudi consulate in government-supported facility Arabia, the Pentagon announced yes- civil war. activists said yesterday, in an apparent behind the attack. But the record- Mashhad, the country cut diplomatic providing education and care to terday, bringing the remote military US Defence Secretary Ashton reprisal for the execution of a prom- ing contained a footnote indicating relations with Iran. children under four years, Qatar prison’s remaining population down Carter in December signed off on 17 inent Shia cleric earlier this month. that it was carried out by Shia youth Shia activists in eastern Saudi Ara- News Agency reported yesterday. to 103. of the 44 to be transferred as soon as A Saudi Interior Ministry spokes- seeking to avenge the execution of bia sought to distance themselves from The centre will be launched Muhammed Abd Al Rahman Awn this month, and three were released man said “there was a failed terrorist Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, a vocal critic the Qatif attack, saying it could dis- under the patronage of H E Dr Al Shamrani had spent 14 years in last week: two to Ghana and one to attempt to burn the building with Mol- of the government. credit peaceful protests that had been Mohammed bin Abdul Wahid Al Guantanamo, where he was held Kuwait. otov cocktails” and that one of the Nimr was among 47 prisoners put taking place in the area since Nimr’s Hammadi, Minister of Education without trial and was suspected of Officials say additional releases assailants was captured. to death on January 2, most of them execution. Last Tuesday, four armed and Higher Education and SEC Sec- being an Al Qaeda member who “pos- are expected soon. Video footage posted on social convicted Sunni militants. A Saudi men set a bus carrying workers in retary General. sibly” worked as Osama bin Laden’s Even if all 44 are released, the media and dated January 9 showed court convicted him in May 2014 of Saudi Arabia’s oil-producing Eastern Established in 2014, the centre bodyguard, according to his leaked remaining inmates are expected to several masked young men moving sedition, rioting, protesting and rob- Province on fire. State oil company caters to children aged six months prisoner file. stay in indefinite detention. under cover of darkness and lobbing bery in Qatif district, home to many Saudi Aramco said none of its employ- to three and half years. It functions Al Shamrani, 40, will partici- Al Shamrani had on previous firebombs over the protective outer of the kingdom’s minority Shias. ees had been injured. under the academic supervision pate in Saudi Arabia’s reintegration occasions been deemed a potential of SEC. and rehabilitation programme, ongoing threat to the United States. The centre provides a good edu- which includes support from fam- “If released without rehabilita- cational environment, helps children ily members. tion, close supervision, and means learn through games and entertain- “The United States is grateful to to successfully reintegrate into his ment and imparts quality education the government of the Kingdom of society as a law-abiding citizen, it through qualified teachers. Saudi Arabia for its willingness to is assessed detainee would imme- support ongoing US efforts to close diately seek out prior associates and the Guantanamo Bay detention facil- reengage in hostilities and extrem- ity,” the Pentagon said in a statement. ist support activities at home and Pentagon spokesman Commander abroad,” his October 2008 prisoner Twenty boats Gary Ross said Al Shamrani had file states. In July last year, his lawyer arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier yes- Martha Rayner told a military hear- added to coastal terday. Of the 103 remaining inmates, ing that Al Shamrani’s family had security fleet 44 have been approved for transfer, pledged to give him broad support. The Peninsula Israeli forces raid top

DOHA: The Coasts and Borders Palestinian university Security Department (CBSD) at the Ministry of Interior has added 20 AFP new boats to its fleet and these boats are equipped with triple engines. The fleet expansion aims at JERUSALEM: The Israeli army raided a top Palestinian university in the increasing the efficiency of the occupied West Bank overnight, seizing computer equipment and caus- department. ing damage, the university said yesterday. “The new boats are part of plans “A large number of soldiers came about 2:30am (0030 GMT), blowing of the department to upgrade its open the locks, breaking into three buildings and stopping the univer- equipment and boats in a bid to sity guards from approaching,” Ghassan Khatib, vice president of Birzeit discharge its duty perfectly,” said University, told AFP. Commodore Ali Ahmad Al Badid, The army seized computers, speakers and other electronic equip- Head of the CBSD, on the sidelines ment used by the student council, he added. Located in Ramallah, the of a ceremony held to inaugurate university is the best-known in the West Bank, the Palestinian territory the new boats. occupied by Israel since 1967. The university published photos showing The new boats are being pressed rooms ransacked, including those reserved for the student council, on into service for special mission its Facebook page. under the operation unit. More The contents of cupboards were littered across the floor, with com- boats are expected to be added to puters whose hard drives had been extracted strewn on the ground. the fleet. 08 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST

16,000 Syrian Aid arrives in starving Syrian town refugees stranded at the deliveries on Thursday. Convoy reaches The deliveries come after an out- pouring of international concern and Jordan border Madaya, Fuaa condemnation over the dire condi- and Kafraya amid tions in Madaya, where some 42,000 people have been living under a govern- AFP starvation deaths ment siege. An AFP correspondent who reached Madaya with the aid convoy said the town’s streets were deserted, with only a service station open. A pair AMMAN: The number of Syrian AFP of elderly women were seen sitting refugees stuck on the border with on suitcases waiting to be evacuated. Jordan has climbed from 12,000 to People said they resorted to nearly 16,000 since December, the extreme measures to survive. kingdom’s government spokesman MADAYA: The first trucks carrying “For 15 days we have been eating said yesterday. desperately needed aid entered the only soup,” said Hiba Abdel Rahman, Mohamed Momani, who is also besieged Syrian town of Madaya yes- 17. “I saw a young man killing cats and Jordan’s information minister, said terday, where more than two dozen presenting the meat to members of his “around 16,000 Syrians are located people are reported to have starved family as rabbit.” in camps situated a few hundred to death. “Some people went through gar- metres from the Jordanian side (of The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said bage bins, others ate grass. We sought the border) in no-man’s land.” two trucks loaded with food and blan- food from the fighters but they refused The United Nations said in kets entered the rebel-held town in to give it to us.” December that 12,000 Syrians the late afternoon, at around the same Since December 1, some 28 peo- were stranded on the border and time a military source said that three ple had died of starvation in Madaya, urged Jordan to take them in, but others entered the government-con- according to Doctors Without Borders, Momani at the time dismissed the trolled towns of Fuaa and Kafraya. a Paris-based charity known by its report as exaggerated. A convoy of aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) waits on the outskirts of the “The operation has started. It is French acronym MSF. Residents have Yesterday, he said in written likely to last a few days. This is a very described desperate scenes, saying they besieged rebel-held Syrian town of Madaya yesterday. remarks that the refugees were positive development,” said Marianne have been reduced to eating weeds and receiving humanitarian assistance Gasser, the head of the International paying exorbitant prices for what little from Jordan as well as the UN and Committee of the Red Cross delega- food could be smuggled through the in September for an end to hostilities able to airdrop some supplies into critical starvation patients needing aid organisations. tion to Syria. blockade. Fifty trucks bearing the Red in those areas in exchange for human- Fuaa and Kafraya, which are home urgent hospitalisation,” said MSF. “The Syrians in these camps are “But it must not be just a one-off Crescent symbol were on their way to itarian assistance. to around 20,000 people, but rebel It said that “200 more malnour- being provided with their needs of distribution. To relieve the suffering Madaya and 21 heading to Fuaa and A first aid delivery went ahead in forces are not able to do the same for ished patients could become critical supplies, tents and medications,” he of these tens of thousands of people, Kafraya, the ICRC said. October and in December some 450 Madaya. Over the weekend, MSF said and in need of hospitalisation within said, adding that there were also there has to be regular access to these The trucks were carrying food, fighters and civilians were evacuated 23 people had died of starvation since a week if aid doesn’t arrive”. clinics inside the compounds. areas,” she said in a statement. water, infant formula, blankets and from Zabadani, Fuaa and Kafraya. December 1 at one of the facilities it Another 13 people who tried to Jordan says it is hosting 1.4 mil- The Red Crescent, ICRC and the medication for acute and chronic ill- But aid had not reached Madaya supports in Madaya. escape in search of food have been lion Syrian refugees who have fled United Nations and its World Food Pro- nesses, as well as surgical supplies. in nearly three months, and residents On Sunday it reported five addi- killed when they stepped on land- the now nearly five-year war across gramme have been trying to get supplies The three towns, along with rebel- and rights groups have raised the alarm tional deaths, including that of a mines laid by regime forces or were the border, while the UN refugee to Madaya since President Bashar Al held Zabadani near Madaya, were part about deteriorating conditions. nine-year-old boy. “MSF-supported shot by snipers, according to the Syr- agency UNHCR puts the number Assad’s regime gave permission for of a landmark six-month deal reached Government forces have been medics in the besieged town have 10 ian Observatory for Human Rights. at 600,000. During the first two years of the Syrian conflict, 45 crossing points were open along the 378-kilome- tre frontier. EU asks Turkey to limit There are now only two open, with the UNHCR saying they are located in rocky desert areas, devoid of water, shade or vegetation. flow of refugees Jordan has imposed strict screening of refugees at the bor- der, saying the security measures are important to guarantee the safety AFP Under pressure from voters at home, EU lead- of the country and the refugees. ers want to reduce the numbers coming to the “Jordan’s security is the first European Union after over one million migrants priority for the kingdom, never- reached Europe in 2015. theless our borders remain open,” ANKARA: The number of migrants crossing the Yet there has so far been no sign of a sig- said Momani. Aegean Sea from Turkey to EU member Greece nificant reduction in the numbers of migrants He said the 1.4 million Syrian is still “way too high” despite a November deal from Syria, Afghanistan and other troubled states refugees present in Jordan repre- with Ankara aiming to limit the flow, the EU’s undertaking the perilous crossing in rubber boats sent 20 percent of the country’s total first vice president said yesterday. from Turkey’s western coast to Greece. population. “The numbers are still way too high in Greece, In the latest tragedy, Turkish authorities last Jordan receives “up to 5,000 ref- between 2,000-3,000 people (arriving) every week found the bodies of at least 36 migrants, ugees per day at times. This has been day. We cannot be satisfied at this stage,” Frans including several children, washed up on beaches mostly done at Jordan’s expense,” Timmermans told reporters after talks with Tur- and floating off its western coast after their boats he added. key’s EU Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkir in Ankara. sank. “I believe we need to speed up our work to get The country has repeatedly said Under an action plan agreed in November, some of the projects in place,” said Timmermans. that the influx of refugees is a bur- EU leaders pledged ¤3bn ($3.2bn) in aid for the “I also said to the minister that we need... to den that has strained its already European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans (left) and Turkish Foreign more than 2.2 million Syrian refugees shelter- be very explicit on what elements of the action poor resources in water and elec- Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the eighth annual ambassadors conference in Ankara, ing in Turkey, in exchange for Ankara acting to plan have already been implemented and where tricity and urged more help from Turkey, yesterday. reduce the flow. we still need work.” the international community. Turkey TV show under probe over propaganda

AFP Turkish society over the military operation, which is seen by sup- porters as a patriotic duty but by opponents as a crime. Pro-Kurd- ISTANBUL: Turkish prosecutors ish activists strongly defended the yesterday opened a criminal probe woman, coining a trending Twitter into a popular television talk show Turkish hashtag #Ayseogretmen- on suspicion it broadcast “terror- yalnizdegildir meaning “Ayse the ist propaganda” when a caller from teacher you are not alone.” southeast Turkey raised alarm over The leader of the pro-Kurdish the human cost of the relentless mil- Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) itary crackdown on Kurdish rebels. Selahattin Demirtas strongly backed Istanbul prosecutors said in a the producers and the caller, say- statement they would examine the ing all she had done was to “give a recording of the Friday night edi- message of peace”. tion of the Beyaz Show on Kanal D And then he said the “mecha- and would also investigate the pro- nisms of the state get set into motion, gramme’s producer and presenter. the programme makers get lynched The controversy has erupted and this women is pursued.” as the military presses on with its The show’s star anchorman campaign against the outlawed Beyazit Ozturk appeared taken Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) aback by the intensity of Ayse in the Kurdish-majority south- Riot police shoot water cannons at pro-Kurdish protesters in Van, Celik’s comments during the live east, which the government says Turkey, yesterday. show, nodding in agreement as some is aimed at flushing out militants in the audience applauded while but activists claim has killed doz- others whistled. He then repeat- ens of civilians. not remain silent,” she said. Turkish media reports said edly thanked her and praised her The female caller, who said she Pro-government Twitter users Diyarbakir prosecutors had also contribution. was a teacher named Ayse Celik expressed outrage over the com- opened an investigation into the Speaking to Kanal D’s main from the Kurdish-dominated city of ments on the channel which is “supposed teacher AC” on suspicion news show, Ozturk, a fixture on Diyarbakir, urged people to speak owned by the Dogan Group, one of making “terrorist propaganda” Turkish television for the last two out against what she said was the of Turkey’s biggest conglomerates for the PKK. decades, apologised and strove to killing of “unborn babies, children with substantial media interests The Education Ministry said make clear his Turkish patriotism. and mothers.” also including the Hurriyet daily there were only three teachers “For years my attitude has been “Are you aware of what is hap- and CNN-Turk channel. working in Diyarbakir named Ayse clear. I am committed to the home- pening in the east of Turkey?” she Kanal D subsequently issued a — a very common name in Turkey land, the people and the flag. This asked. statement saying it “always stood — and none of them appeared to be was how I was brought up... I’m the “People are fighting hunger with the state against terrorism” the person who had called the show. son of a policeman. I’m sorry.” and thirst, in particular the chil- and was “deeply saddened” by the The controversy has high- “My biggest mistake was that I dren. Please be sensitive and do “provocation”. lighted the deep polarisation in lost concentration,” he added. ASIA / PHILIPPINES TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 09

Philippines to urge US Coming of Age Day celebration to continue patrols

Vietnam and the Philippines territorial defence in their talks with opposed the Chinese flights. “They US Secretary of State John Kerry and The Philippine can declare it officially or we may Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, Jose foreign and defence witness a de facto ADIZ,” Jose said said. The high-level foreign and defence chiefs will discuss by telephone. “There’s a need, there- meeting was first held in 2012 and is fore, to take actions showing that we being resumed this year as the treaty with their American won’t recognize any such imposition.” allies mark 70 years of diplomatic ties. counterparts ways to In 2013, China declared such an In a related development, Beijing aviation security buffer zone over the said yesterday that it did not need to address new security East China Sea, where Beijing and notify Vietnam about flights to a dis- concerns arising from Tokyo have been contesting owner- puted reef in the South China Sea, after ship of a chain of uninhabited islands. Hanoi complained to a UN aviation China’s completion The US and its allies led by Japan pro- body about the controversial trips. of artificial islands in tested the action and announced they Vietnam accused Beijing of threat- would not recognize the Chinese ening regional safety by conducting the disputed South defence zone. “unannounced” flights through its air- China Sea In the South China Sea, Beijing space to a newly built runway on the shooed away US and Philippine planes Fiery Cross reef, which is claimed by even while it was building the islands both countries. from previously submerged reefs and China’s foreign ministry said it had AP & AFP atolls in the Spratly Islands, indicat- not been required to notify Vietnam, as ing its intention to control access to the flights were “state aviation activ- the region, Philippine diplomats said. ities”. The trips “are not bound by the The US sent a guided-missile Convention on International Civil Avi- MANILA: The Philippine foreign and destroyer close to one of the Chi- ation and relevant regulations of the defence chiefs will discuss with their nese-built islands, called Subi Reef, ICAO, are within sovereign states’ inde- American counterparts ways to address in October in one of its boldest chal- pendent hands to operate,” spokesman new security concerns arising from lenges yet to Beijing’s territorial claims, Hong Lei told a regular briefing, refer- China’s completion of artificial islands sparking warnings from China. US ring to the UN body. in the disputed South China Sea, an officials vowed to continue maneu- Hong added that in any case China’s official said yesterday. vers to protect freedom of navigation aviation administration had notified Department of Foreign Affairs and overflight. Vietnamese authorities of the flight, spokesman Charles Jose said the Phil- China has said it built the islands but “received no response”. Vietnam ippines will ask the United States to primarily to foster safe civilian sea this year logged at least 46 incidents of continue patrols to ensure freedom travel and fishing but added they may Chinese planes flying without warn- of navigation in the area, a strategic also be used militarily. ing through airspace monitored by air passageway for many commercial and Analysts say the new islands will traffic control in the southern metrop- military ships, during today’s talks in give Beijing a much stronger security olis Ho Chi Minh City, according to Washington. grip over a vast stretch of the South authorities cited by local media. The possibility of joint patrols by China Sea farthest from the Chinese State media also reported that the US and its Asian security allies may mainland, in an area where Vietnam, Vietnam sent a protest letter about also be discussed, he said. the Philippines, Taiwan and Malay- the flights to Beijing, as well as the Recent Chinese flights to test a run- sia have stationed forces on islands United Nations’ International Civil way on one of the seven man-made and reefs which China also claims. Aviation Organization (ICAO). Japanese women wearing kimonos ride a roller coaster during their Coming of Age Day celebration islands, Fiery Cross, have raised con- Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Beijing began work in 2014 on a ceremony at an amusement park in Tokyo yesterday. According to a government announcement, cerns that Beijing may plan to impose del Rosario and Defence Secretary 3,000-metre runway on Fiery Cross more than 1.2 million men and women who were born in 1995 marked the coming of age this year, an air defence identification zone over Voltaire Gazmin also plan to discuss reef in the disputed Spratly island the South China Sea, officially or oth- further US help in strengthening the group, around 1,000km from Chi- a decrease of approximately 50,000 from last year. erwise, Jose said. Philippine military’s capability for na’s island province of Hainan.

Bangkok airport apologises for Congress proposes Philippine retail Giant golden statue snake found on luggage cart bond to fund military modernisation of Mao demolished

Reuters set aside to acquire new warships, like suspended oil and gas activities in AP frigates and corvettes, for deployment the Reed Bank area. AP the statue may have lacked approval to the West Philippine Sea (South China Ty said Congress has passed a from cultural management author- Sea),” Ty told reporters. revised military modernisation law, ities, though it also cited an official BANGKOK: Bangkok’s main inter- MANILA: Congress yesterday asked “We have to invest in new warships allocating 75bn pesos for a five-year as saying that did not appear to be national airport has issued an the Philippine government to study a to secure the potential huge oil and gas period until 2017. Since coming to office BEIJING: A Chinese village has the reason. Local officials could not apology after a snake was found proposal to issue a 150bn peso ($3.2bn) deposits in the West Philippine Sea, in 2010, Aquino has spent about 50bn abruptly demolished a statue of com- be reached for comment yesterday, on a luggage cart in the arrival hall retail bond to fund a long-term military which are the key to our energy inde- pesos on military equipment. munist China’s founder, Mao Zedong, and some agencies’ publicly listed and startled passengers. modernisation plan to secure its stra- pendence.” National Treasurer Roberto This year, Congress appropriated after images of the structure covered telephone numbers appeared to be Suvarnabhumi (pronounced tegic reserves in the South China Sea. Tan said he had not been advised about 25bn pesos to acquire two frigates, in gold paint and looming 120 feet disconnected. “Suwanapoom”) International Air- Arnel Ty, deputy minority leader the submission, saying “I still have to three anti-submarine helicopters, six high over farmland attracted heated Since his death in 1976, Mao has port, built on land previously known at the lower house of Congress, said familiarise myself with the proposal”. close air support planes and muni- discussion on social media. been both revered as a founding as “Cobra Swamp,” said it would like Congress will ask the Treasury to Last month, President Benigno tions for the South Korean-made FA-50 Although the official reason for the father and blamed for political tur- to “apologize for the incident that consider a bond issue to enable Fil- Aquino vowed to leave behind a light fighter planes. The military has demolition is unknown, with even a moil and disastrous economic policies frightened passengers” on Sunday. ipinos to save and at the same time stronger and more capable military an ambitious 15-year modernisation high-level Communist Party newspa- that claimed millions of lives. Succes- Passengers spotted the snake help secure the Philippines’ maritime to face maritime challenges in the plan to spend about 998bn pesos to per struggling to explain the episode, sors including Deng Xiaoping, China’s coiled around the base of the trol- borders against China’s rapid expan- contested Spratly Islands when he acquire submarines, advanced missile the rise and fall of the Mao monu- paramount leader during the 1980s, ley after a female traveller had sion in the South China Sea. leaves office on June 30, announcing systems, and surveillance aircraft to ment in central China’s rural Henan openly rebuked the cult of personal- loaded bags onto it and was pre- “The bulk of the additional funds an 83.9bn peso five-year spending plan put the country on par with its South- province highlights the political sen- ity that had been built around Mao paring to leave the arrival hall, raised from the bond offering may be extending to 2017. Last year, Manila east Asian neighbours. sitivities in the country surrounding a and warned cadres about the risk of Thai media reported. “After being historical figure alternatively revered overly concentrated influence. alerted, security officers captured and criticised by both the public and Even as China’s current president, the snake right away and no pas- the government. Xi Jinping, consolidates power to a sengers were injured,” Airports of The project, reportedly financed degree that has drawn comparisons Thailand said and described the Bullfight in Banda Aceh by entrepreneurs, cost $460,000 and to Mao, he warned in a 2013 speech reptile as “a small baby snake” but was near completion last week when against “worshipping” revolutionary did not identify the species. it was nixed by local officials after leaders without pointing out their mis- Snake expert Thanaphong images of the statue elicited mixed takes. Still, Mao, known as the “Great Tawan at a Bangkok snake farm reactions on Chinese social media, Helmsman,” has kept a firm grip on run by the Thai Red Cross Soci- and the story was picked up by domes- the imagination for a large swath of ety said the snake appeared to be a tic and international media. the population, particularly the dis- non-venomous variety called Dry- The People’s Daily, the official satisfied, rural poor, drawing notice ocalamus davisonii — commonly Communist Party newspaper, said of central authorities. known as Blanford’s bridle snake — based on a picture taken at the airport and published by Thai media. The statement sought to “reas- sure that clear and strict measures Australian bushfire contained have been imposed to prevent all poisonous animals from slipping into the airport’s buildings” and said it AFP contain this fire,” Western Austral- was believed “the baby snake man- ia’s Emergency Services Minister Joe aged to slip into the airport because Francis told national radio. it was very small.” “It’s not totally under control yet Meanwhile, in Phuket, a Chinese PERTH: Cooler temperatures and but we are very optimistic about the tourist was bitten on the nose by a easing winds yesterday helped fire- next 24 hours as well.” python while leaning in to kiss it on fighters contain a bushfire that killed Alert levels have been downgraded the head while visiting a snake show two people and razed 143 proper- from emergency to watch and act for over the weekend, The Bangkok ties, with clean-up efforts getting towns in the area including Waroona, Post newspaper reported Monday. underway. Hamel and Yarloop, a historic mill A video of the incident was The inferno, sparked by lightning community some 110km south of widely shared on social media, six days ago, burnt through 175,000 Perth. The fire, one of the worst to hit showing the snake striking at the acres in Western Australia state, the region in recent years, destroyed woman’s face as a loud scream is leaving a trail of destruction. “The 143 properties, including 128 homes Two men controlling their bulls during a bullfight in Banda Aceh. Bull fighting is a traditional sport in heard. Thai media reported that weather conditions are great today in Yarloop which was virtually flat- the woman received eight stitches Aceh province that is held after harvest. and they were in the last 24 hours tened, the state’s Department of Fire and then flew home. so we have been able to essentially and Emergency Services said. 10 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Peace initiative The Catch-22 of nationalism

nother initiative to bring peace to Afghanistan has just and peace talks been launched. Unlike several previous attempts started locally, which sputtered and stopped mainly due to the difficulty in making Taliban agree to anything, the latest On the surface, nothing is more right-wing Likud Party, under- security wasn’t seriously harmed A Everybody knows move carries more heft because some key players are predictable than the suspension of stood that doves from the Labor by the attack, perpetrated by lightly involved. As the situation in Afghanistan worsens with an increase in that the point impending peace talks between tra- Party opposition wouldn’t be able armed terrorists against a defended fighting with Taliban, a peace initiative has become all the more urgent ditional enemies after a terrorist to criticise him. military base. Its sole purpose was of the attack is attack intended to produce exactly To some extent, the same to interfere with the peace talks. and imperative because any delay or failure in weakening Taliban or to derail peace. that suspension. We all know the nationalist credentials helped But that fact, even if widely bringing them to the negotiating table could result in reversing the gains script, which has been used by Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian pres- understood, doesn’t matter to a made by the US-led Nato forces in the country. So why don’t extremists all over the world, from ident, meet Begin halfway. Sadat constituency that votes based on Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US met in the the public and Ireland to Israel to India. had recently helped his country national pride. It’s no less insult- Pakistani capital Islamabad yesterday to restart efforts to end nearly politicians alike But this latest instance raises recover its pride and military credi- ing, embarrassing and infuriating fifteen years of bloodshed in Afghanistan. The primary objective of the an interesting question about the bility in the October War that began to be attacked by terrorists if their simply discount pattern: Why does the terrorists’ with the Egyptian surprise attack intent is nakedly to oppose peace. talks is to convince Taliban to come to the talks and give up violence, a the effect of the technique work? After all, eve- on Yom Kippur 1973. He there- In fact, such an attack underscores really tough objective. The Taliban have been gaining in strength and rybody knows that the point of fore calculated he could afford nationalists’ feeling that “the other confidence since the exit of Nato troops and this ‘progress’ makes it very attacks, rather than the attack is to derail peace. So to take the risk of making peace, side” doesn’t really want peace at onerous for Kabul and its allies to bring the insurgents to the negotiating giving in to their why don’t the public and politi- although the gamble arguably cost all, and will use negotiations sim- table. Pakistani prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has irredentist logic? cians alike simply discount the him his life. ply as another tool of power. said preconditions are not attached effect of the attacks, rather than The catch is that the same So what, if anything, can be to the start of the negotiation process, giving in to their irredentist logic? nationalist credentials that let a done to avoid the nationalist Catch- In this case, at least, the answer right-of-center leader like Modi 22? The only long-term answer which is a wise strategy. Getting has to do with what you might call attempt peace talks also require would be for nationalist politicians Taliban to the table itself is a difficult By Noah Feldman the Catch-22 of nationalism. him to respond when his country to educate their constituents to task and setting preconditions would Bloomberg Modi is a right-of-center is attacked by terrorists. Nothing see the terrorist attacks as a sign Another initiative make the talks a non-starter. Hindu nationalist. His creden- undercuts national pride like a of their opponents’ weakness. It’s time for Afghan President tials as a nationalist are exactly feeling of vulnerability. Modi’s Pakistani terrorists clearly fear to restart peace Ashraf Ghani and his allies to what allowed him to visit and voters chose him in part because the consequences to themselves n Christmas, embrace Sharif in the first place. they expect him to protect them and their country of peace talks talks with the come up with a credible strategy hopes for high- His predecessor, left-of-center — and to project power in the face with India. If nationalist Indian Afghan Taliban has on Taliban. The insurgent group level peace talks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, of attack or insult. voters understood that, perhaps just been launched is showing no signs of weakening, between India would’ve loved to have serious To make matters worse, the they would allow their leaders to while Afghan forces have come under and Pakistan peace talks with Pakistan. But, defence against the attack seems go on negotiating. unmanageable pressure. In recent wereO higher than they’d been among other factors, he was pre- to have been bungled. Reports sug- The only problem with this months, the Taliban have captured in years. Indian Prime Minister vented by Modi and his party, which gest that Indian authorities were informational solution is that it territory in the southern province Narendra Modi made a surprise criticised him from the right as informed of the impending attack assumes nationalists really want visit to his Pakistani counter- too weak to negotiate effectively on the Pathankot air base, by an peace in the first place. Sometimes of Helmand, and briefly seized the part, Nawaz Sharif, and the two with Pakistan. Indian superintendent of police they do; the durable peace between northern city of Kunduz. There were shared a very public and sym- Modi in contrast could count who’d been abducted and then Israel and Egypt is a good exam- several suicide attacks in the capita and the Taliban are fighting with bolic hug. Now, just two weeks on the fact that Singh’s Congress freed by the terrorists. ple. But often nationalists fear and a renewed tenacity all over the country. The death of Taliban founder later, the optimism is mostly Party and the others now in oppo- Yet notwithstanding the notice, loath their historic enemies, and Mullah Mohammad Omar had created some hope after it threw the gone. After terrorists from Paki- sition wouldn’t be able to criticise the Indian military lost men to are prepared to abandon their own group into disarray, but the splinter groups continued their attacks. stan attacked an Indian air him from the left for reaching out the terrorists. And it took several leaders if they go too far down the base, killing seven Indian secu- to Sharif. To this extent, nation- days to track down and kill all the road to peace. When that happens, The participants in the latest initiative are sincere in their efforts, rity personnel, Modi told Sharif alist credentials are a blessing for terrorists. The embarrassment of they deserve the unending war but it’s a tough and treacherous road ahead. The splinter Taliban group that talks wouldn’t go forward peacemaking leader. the weak response further fueled that results. headed by Mullah Mohammad Rasool Akhund has dismissed any talks unless Pakistan took action Consider the classic case of Modi’s need to show strength in under the mediation of the United States or China or of Pakistan, though against the terrorists. It seems Menachem Begin, the Israeli prime response — by delaying or sus- The writer is a professor of the main group is likely to respond positively. “We have a very clear-cut altogether likely the talks won’t minister who made peace with pending the peace talks. constitutional and international stance about peace talks: all the foreign occupying forces would need to happen at all. Egypt. Begin, who founded the To be clear, India’s national law at Harvard. be withdrawn,” Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi, Rasool’s deputy, said. There is no alternative to defeating Taliban in Afghanistan. If the talks fail, the major powers will have to come with a strategy that will see the end of this terrorist group. Another setback for antibiotics

The Washington Post antibiotics. Without these drugs, some diseases percent of them and estimated that the dissem- can become untreatable. ination happened a decade ago. In Germany, Quote of the day In November and December, researchers in researchers looked at 577 isolates since 2009 China and Denmark reported discovering evi- and found evidence of MCR-1 in three swine he remarkable advances in genomics have dence of resistance to the antibiotic colistin. A and one human. I hope that no politician and no provided an ever-more-startling view of relatively old antibiotic with toxic side effects, “Our data suggest that the advent of untreata- Tlife’s basic mechanics. Just in recent days, colistin has been used for human health in the ble infections has already arrived,” they declared, member, no person that has scientists sleuthing through huge databases United States - when other antibiotics don’t because every bacteria resistant to colistin was institutional responsibility, uses this unearthed a worrisome discovery: A mobile work, colistin is sometimes deployed as a last also resistant to more modern antibiotics. There (Cologne) event in an instrumental gene that can help bacteria resist antibiotics resort - and it has been used on farm animals were similar reports from scientists checking way and mixes it with other... affairs. has spread to many more countries than previ- overseas. The resistance mechanism to colis- data from animals and people in Japan, Viet- ously realised. The good news is that technology tin was carried on a plasmid, a kind of bus for nam, Switzerland, Belgium and elsewhere. There are good people and bad is pulling back the curtain. The bad news is genetic material, given the designation MCR-1 This kind of forensic examination is rev- people, no matter what nationality, that the problem of antibiotic resistance has that can be transferred from one bacterium elatory but not the last word. The agriculture what background they have... opened a new front. to another. industry has long defended giving antibiotics Ever since humans developed antibiotics in Only weeks after the reports from China to healthy animals to help them grow larger earnest more than half a century ago, bacteria and Denmark, a slew of new MCR-1 sightings and faster, saying that the practice does not have been finding ways to resist the drugs. For appeared in the journal the Lancet Infectious contribute to resistance to antibiotics impor- several decades it was possible to stay ahead Diseases. tant to human health. But the latest findings Federica Mogherini of this trend by finding new antibiotics. But In France, scientists looked at 517 isolates suggest humans and other animals are not European Union foreign policy chief then the pace of innovation slowed, and bac- from veal calves taken from 2005 to 2014 on 94 so easily separated when it comes to antibi- teria evolved methods to resist more and more widely distant farms. They found MCR-1 on 21 otic resistance.

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timing but they do not completely deny its existence. A question then begs itself: How does such bloody extremism originate and spread, while formal and pseudo-formal religious and political powers in our region claim that they are moderate and believe in tolerance and coexistence? A fact which we cannot deny is that Da’esh followers are mostly a product of our region, are graduates of our schools, were worshippers in our mosques, recipients of our media and our different public platforms. They are or were readers of our books, and listeners to By Dr Saad bin Teflah Al Ajmi our preachers, living among us but now allegiant to their leaders. Da’esh did not come from another planet, nor was it a product of the hy are we surprised about the Western schools, even if some of them emergence of Da’esh (ISIS)? hold foreign passports, but their bloody, Why do we see its bloody intellectual mobilisations were preached appearance and fanatic out by our clerics, our educational Wbehaviour as odd and digusting? curricula and our religious sermons and Social media are full of pictures and political speeches. videos reflecting their horrible and ugly Our geographical curriculum taught practices. These horrifying practices are them ancient illusive religious maps just a part of the succession of bloody which disregard the modern state incidents that have happened during systems and undermine its geographical Iraq’s modern and ancient history, borders and realistic policies. So, why which is part of the history of this region. were we surprised about the removal of A man with a gun and ISIS flag. Although, Da’esh intentionally publicly the borders by Da’esh? disseminates its atrocities, the crimes The history books in our schools’ committed by the regime of former curricula narrate illusions, teach Iraqi prime minister Al Maliki, which students forged historical facts, and suffices for a Da’esh follower to blow religion with politics. It is clear evidence Daesh tried to obliterate, are to some fabricated epic after epic of myths. himself up among infidels or any “kafir” that we will remain in a vicious circle extent similar to crimes committed by They learn the history of imaginary groups, thus supposedly shortening the and be left behind in the march of human Saddam Hussein, and actions of former stories as solid facts which are not to wait and taking him immediately to civilisation. Da’esh is a declaration rulers of Iraq do not differ much from be investigated, questioned or doubted. Paradise. As long as we are teaching our the situations in prisons run by Arab Doubt is the number one premise in So, why are we surprised when they children a confusing mixture of of our bankruptcy regimes. understanding history through an treat followers of other faiths in bad metaphysics and natural sciences, as states, politicians, Da’esh practices are based on its epistemological approach. way, deport them or force them to pay we will yield generations after interpretation of the Islamic teachings, History is full of copied and tribute (Jizyah)? A case in point is that generations of schizophrenics, who intellectuals, and its adherence to this interpretation pasted narratives with some changes clerics and politicians, who condemn prefer isolationism while admiring the clerics, media and and brainwashing of its followers were in content and ways of recounting, what Da’esh did to Christians in Mosul, advancement and great achievements not accidental. All Islamic religious and depending on the narrator, emotions and denounce it because of its timing and of other nations. In brief, we are educational system. It political powers, with no exception, dramatisation of the story to influence manner, but do not denounce it in Da’esh because we made it, taught and is the death certificate denounce its practices and its timing but the readers and listeners. principle as unIslamic. mobilised it then we stood puzzled and to all efforts exerted at the same time none of them denies The aim has been to collect Da’esh is a declaration of our surprised over its practices. Da’esh is our that these practices are based on Fatwas information in minds as facts with no bankruptcy as states, politicians, own handiwork. to establish modern and religious views that exist in books room for hesitation, critique, analysis or intellectuals, clerics, media and civil states which mix of heritage and Islamic teachings, albeit questioning. It is presented in a utopist educational system. It is the death “extreme” ones. They may not agree style- glorifying the past and then not certificate to all efforts exerted to The writer is an academic and media religion with politics with its extreme implementations and its caring about the future. A Fatwa on air establish modern civil states which mix expert. Social media exposes moral bankruptcy of Assad and allies

caused by the lack of food and drink. movements. In the Syrian case, social Syrians started via social media net- a pittance in order to buy their safety. Scores of people have resorted to salt media has certainly proven instrumen- works but soon turned viral. Global As of last week, the Syrian regime and water and the few and far between tal in exposing the regime’s atrocities support initiatives were then launched in keeps denying its responsibility for this edible leaves of trees to stay alive! since the beginning of the war. The world Europe, US and various Arab and Asian humanitarian disaster. However social The speedy development of social would not have been able to witness countries. The campaigns revealed the media networks have proven these deni- media networksduring the last decadehas in details the crimes against human- ugliness of the war in Syria but also the als erroneous. Witnesses on the ground opened up new avenuesfor marginal- ity that the regime apparatuses have moral and ethical bankruptcy of the testify to the systematic siege that the ised groups,especially in conflict zones. been inflicting on civilians if it was not Syrian regime’s power structure and regime and its allies are placing on their The new forms of online campaigning for citizen journalists. its associates. towns and villages, supported by the air for instance, which have been attributed One may also refer to the dimen- Overall, the reverberation of the cover of the Russian army. various terms such as “Cyberactiv- sion proposed by Manuel Castells, who appalling reality has shocked the world Beyond the argument about why ism,” “Internet Activism,” “Electronic anticipated that the rise of social media and uncovered the utter ugliness of what Hezbollah is interfering in the Syrian ter- Advocacy,” “Electronic Resistance,” or networks will contribute to a change in Sunni civilians in Syria have been going ritory, what is taking place in Madaya will “Electronic Intifadah” (in the Pales- power relations within society. The fact through,crimes perpetrated by a brutal remain yet another stain on the image tinian context) constitute facets of this that human rights or political/apoliti- regime and its allies. Instead of shield- of the Bashar regime and the foreign By Dr Noureddine Miladi development. cal activists have tens of thousands of ing civilians,the militia reportedly offers militia aiding him. There is no pride in All of these emergent terminolo- members as friends or followers on their (or blackmails)Madaya residents into starving people to death in order to sub- gies have signified the potential of the Twitter and Facebook pages has meant selling their land for very cheap prices due them.It is rather a cowardly act to internet platforms for the circulation that such individuals have become poten- in exchange for food. bring to slow death old people, women choing the catastrophic state of of information, organizing public rela- tial competitors to media organisations According to Samir Ali, a member of and children. Neither there is any pride affairs of the Syrian people in tions campaigns, connecting members, in spreading news content. The cur- the local council,civilians weregiven the when the militia supporters recently EMadaya (outskirts of Damascus), calling for action and organizing protest rent campaign to report on the besieged mafia like option of selling their land for launched a social media campaign on on January 6, a Syrian girl decided to Twitter titled in Arabic which reads ‘In write her will instead of writing a story solidarity with the siege of Madaya’. about life and her future aspirations. In spite of all adversity, the Madyan She drew a picture of herself in a tomb people have shown a robust and coura- and penned the following: ‘Please, my geous will in challenging their oppressors. mother, keep remembering me. Remem- Bashar Al Assad who accused his people ber my endless laughter. My sister, say four years ago of moral failure because to my friends that I died while I was they dared rise against him, is now him- The Madayan hungry. My brother, please don’t be sad- self displaying extreme moral failure dened because of my death. Remember for starving his own people to death. people have when you and I used to cry out because However, beyond this tragic chap- shown a robust of hunger, Oh Angel of death take my ter in the history of the current war in and courageous soul so that I can eat in Paradise, as Syria, the UN should enforce a long term I am extremely hungry. Not to worry solution that saves tens of thousands of will in challenging everyone I will eat for you in Paradise civilians from further displacement or their oppressors. as much as I can’. (Translated from a even demise. One hundred days of Rus- report in Arabic by AlArabi TV) sian bombardment have resulted in total Bashar Al Assad, Early last week social media net- destruction of whole quarters in various who accused his works, as well satellite TV cameras, towns and villages. Most of the casual- unveiled the terrible reality in Madaya ties are civilians, and the key target has people four years and other besieged towns in Idlib prov- been the Syrian opposition instead of ago of moral ince. Over 40 000 civilians have been ISIS; something which raises interest- reportedly besieged by the Hezbollah ing questions about the real motive of failure because militia and the Syrian regime, with no the Russian military intervention as well they dared rise food or medical supplies getting through as the capacity of the U.N. to stop this against him, is now for months. The only humanitarian sup- war-mongering from further destroy- port residents of the town received was ing what is left of Syria and its people. himself displaying back in October 2015. extreme moral Ironically it was reported that among the parcels were expiring biscuits. So far The writer is Professor of Media and failure 43 people died of hunger, and hundreds Communication. He can be reached were admitted to hospitals for dizziness Syrians wait for the arrival of an aid convoy in the besieged town of Madaya. via e-mail: [email protected]

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA South Korea and US mull strategic deployment

international community to impose military alliance, there are nearly harsh sanctions on Pyongyang and 30,000 US troops permanently The South has taken resuming high-decibel propaganda stationed in South Korea, which is an uncompromising broadcasts into North Korea. also protected by the US “nuclear In a show of strength on Sunday, umbrella”. stance in the wake a B-52 Stratofortress —flanked by South Korean President Park of wednesday’s South Korean F-15 fighter jets and Geun-Hye will make a televised test, urging the US F-16 planes -- flew over Osan Air address to the nation on Wednesday, Base, some 70km south of the inter- followed by a rare news conference, international Korean border. her office said. The South’s special community to impose The US military said the fly-by envoy on North Korea will meet in was a demonstration of the “iron- Seoul with his US and Japanese coun- harsh sanctions on clad” commitment to its military terparts the same day. Pyongyang alliance with South Korea, and a North Korea says last week’s test direct response to the North’s fourth was of a miniaturised hydrogen bomb nuclear test. -- a claim largely dismissed by experts “South Korea and the US are in who argue the yield was far too low for AFP close consultation about additional a full-fledged thermonuclear device. deployment of other strategic assets State media published a photo yes- on the Korean Peninsula,” Defence terday of leader Kim Jong-Un posing Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok formally with hundreds of scientists, A US B-52 strategic bomber flying over South Korea with fighter jets from the two countries, in a show of SEOUL: South Korea said yesterday told a regular press briefing in Seoul. workers and officials who took part force following North Korea’s nuclear test, yesterday. that further US “strategic assets” might US and South Korean media in the underground detonation. be deployed to the Korean peninsula, reports have speculated that the Kim urged them to ensure “unin- following a flyover by a US B-52 bomber nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS terrupted advance and innovation As well as resuming the propaganda “The aim is to minimise the presence in the zone could be vulnerable if North- in response to North Korea’ nuclear test. Ronald Reagan -- currently based in for bolstering the nuclear deterrent,” broadcasts, which one top North Korean Kaesong, while not hampering actual South tensions continue to escalate. The Seoul also announced new restric- Japan -- as well as B-2 stealth bombers said an official. official has warned could bring the production activities,” a ministry offi- defence ministry spokesman in Seoul tions on the movement of its citizens and F-22 stealth fighter jets are among The test has been widely con- peninsula to the “brink of war”, Seoul cial said. The Kaesong industrial estate also said Monday that North Korea had to the jointly-run Kaesong industrial the deployments being considered. demned and the UN Security Council is has taken measures to restrict move- opened in 2004 and currently hosts deployed more troops to frontline bor- park, just a few kilometres over the Asked about Sunday’s flyover, Chi- discussing a new resolution that would ments to the Kaesong industrial park. more than 120 South Korean compa- der units. “There has been an increase border inside North Korea. na’s foreign ministry yesterday urged tighten sanctions already imposed The unification ministry announced nies which employ some 53,000 North in troops along the border following The South has taken an uncom- all sides “to exercise restraint” to avoid on the North after its three previ- that the number of South Koreans Korean workers. North Korea’s fourth nuclear test,” Kim promising stance in the wake jeopardising stability on the Korean ous nuclear tests and banned missile allowed to stay overnight in Kaesong The move is apparently motivated said. “But there are no immediate signs of Wednesday’s test, urging the peninsula. Under the US-South Korea launches. was being reduced from 800 to 650. by fears that South Koreans staying in of any imminent provocation.” Klarsfeld fears the Pistorius appeals to overturn murder conviction worst for Burundi AFP due to time already spent in jail and the principle of “dolus eventualis” -- in a rage and, during his dramatic trial, the fact that he is a first-time offender. awareness of the likely outcome of an sobbed and occasionally vomited in “We have lodged an application for action -- which has been at the crux the dock as details of his lover’s death leave to appeal to the Constitutional of the long-running case. were examined in excruciating detail. AFP country whose population has already JOHANNESBURG: Paralympic cham- Court,” Andrew Fawcett, a lawyer on Pistorius was last seen in public Some legal experts have dismissed suffered civil wars, in order to pri- pion Oscar Pistorius yesterday made Pistorius’s legal team, said. at his bail hearing on December 8 in his chances of success at the Constitu- marily launch an anguished appeal a last-ditch attempt with South Afri- Pistorius was released from jail in Pretoria High Court, after which he tional Court. “He is wasting his time. It NAIROBI: German Nazi hunter Beate for respect of human life.” ca’s top court to overturn his murder October to live under house arrest at was fitted with an electronic moni- is certainly not a constitutional mat- Klarsfeld said yesterday she fears “the Klarsfeld appealed to the coun- conviction for shooting dead his girl- his uncle’s property in Pretoria after toring tag. ter,” Tyrone Maseko, a Johannesburg worst” for Burundi if “massacres” try’s young people “to make the choice friend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. serving one year of his five-year prison Under his bail conditions, he is attorney said. “If he ever succeeds, linked to the political crisis in the for peace and dialogue so that there He has been on bail awaiting a new sentence for culpable homicide -- the allowed to leave his uncle’s house at then I will know there is no justice in strife-torn African country continue. is no repeat of the horrors of the past sentence since December, when judges equivalent of manslaughter. set times with official permission, and this country.” “The political crisis that Burundi that Burundi has already suffered,” found him guilty of murder, overturn- But Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) not travel further than 20 kilometres Pistorius shot Steenkamp at the is going through could degenerate she said in the statement, issued in ing his earlier conviction on the lesser judges last month described his testi- (12 miles). peak of his fame, and has since lost into a humanitarian catastrophe,” French and received in Nairobi. charge of culpable homicide. mony at his trial in 2014 as “untruthful” “The application has been served his glittering sports career, lucra- Klarsfeld, who is a special envoy for Klarsfeld called for a resumption The double-amputee killed and delivered a damning indictment on the director of public prosecu- tive contracts and status as a global the UN cultural body UNESCO, said of peace talks “to allow reconcilia- Steenkamp, a model and law gradu- of the original verdict. tions,” Fawcett said. “They will now role model for the disabled. Her fam- in a statement as she arrived in the tion, national unity and to put an end ate, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, Legal papers filed at the Constitu- indicate when they will be opposing ily welcomed his murder conviction Burundian capital Bujumbura. as soon as possible to blind killings, saying he mistook her for an intruder tional Court on yesterday by Pistorius’s the application and what the grounds and has described his Constitutional “The massacres that have been targeted assassinations, coups and the when he shot four times through the lawyers contended that the SCA had of opposition will be. “Then we wait Court appeal as a “delaying tactic” to perpetrated in 2015 portend the multiplication of crimes of an ethnic door of his bedroom toilet. “acted unlawfully and unconstitution- for the Constitutional Court to make keep him out of jail. “The Steenkamps worst,” she said. Her schedule has character.” Klarsfeld tracked down a Under the new conviction for mur- ally” by rejecting factual findings of a ruling on whether or not they will have faith in the justice system and the not been announced, but she had number of Nazi war criminals with der, Pistorius, 29, faces a minimum the original verdict. They also accused hear the appeal.” law must take its course,” their fam- said she would travel to “Burundi, a her French lawyer husband Serge. 15-year jail term that may be reduced the SCA of making “errors of law” over Pistorius denied killing Steenkamp ily lawyer Tania Koen said.

Students trickle Severe drought back to Kenya CAR presidential university after candidate demands the massacre

KENYA: Students trickled back yes- vote recount terday for classes at a university in northeastern Kenya where at least 148 people were killed by Islamist AFP show former government heads gunmen last April. Georges Dologuele and Faustin Security was tight but only Archange Touadera poised to face around 20 students resumed LIBREVILLE: A top candidate in off for presidential office in the sec- classes at Garissa university, which presidential elections in the Central ond round on January 31 after leading had some 800 students before the African Republic, Martin Ziguele, the field of 30 candidates. massacre. wants a manual recount of first- But Ziguele argued that the The high-profile assault on Gar- round votes because of alleged jumbled release of results made it issa University College on April 2, irregularities, his party said yes- “impossible for each candidate to 2015 was the deadliest yet in Kenya terday. verify that all votes in their favour, by the Somali-led, Al-Qaeda-linked Ziguele, a former prime minister constituency by constituency, poll- Shebab group. Nearly all the vic- A dead cow in the dried mud of the empty water supply dam in the rural farming town of Senekal in who came fourth out of 30 hope- ing station by polling station, have tims were students. South Africa, yesterday. fuls in the December 30 vote, plans been fully taken into account.” “I am very happy for the reo- to go to the Constitutional Court to The MLPC questioned “a sharp pening...we went for our first lesson “demand a manual recount of the and unjustified fall in the number and we are really back to the uni- voting slips”, according to the Move- of voters” between partial results versity as normal,” said Shamza ment for the Liberation of the Central issued on January 6 and the full pro- Abdi, a student. African People (MLPC). visional figure released the next day. “There are some memories of a Uganda media intimidated ahead of polls The party accused the National Around 230,000 votes went lot of our friends we lost here, but Authority for Elections (ANE) of “uncounted and thus were not attrib- despite what happened, life must go breaching the electoral code as it uted to candidates,” the statement on. We just pray for our friends,” she released figures “each day mud- said. Last week, a score of presiden- added. The gunmen had lined up AFP and there are fears violence could mar Museveni, in power since 1986, will face dling up different (administrative tial candidates denounced alleged non-Muslim students for execution the campaign, with all sides are accus- his stiffest opposition from Kizza Besi- districts) with varying rates of vote fraud in the election and called for in what President Uhuru Kenyatta ing each other of arming militias to gye, a three-time loser for the Forum counting, rendering any checks and a halt to the process, but 18 of them described at the time as a “barbaric press their claims to power. for Democratic Change (FDC), and follow-up impossible.” went on jointly to back Touadera, medieval slaughter”. KAMPALA: Government intimidation “Journalists have been suspended Amama Mbabazi, a former prime min- Nearly two million people were an outsider they called “the only University principal Ahmed of journalists and activists in Uganda under government pressure, and radio ister and ruling party stalwart now eligible to vote in the election seen real political alternative.” Osman Warfa said security had is having a “chilling effect” on free stations threatened for hosting oppo- running for the new Go-Forward party. as the way out of more than two “Manipulation and the confis- been tightened with a new police speech ahead of elections next month, sition members as guests or when “Fair elections require a level play- years of sectarian bloodshed that cation of the people’s expression of post built within the compound and Human Rights Watch said yesterday. panellists expressed views critical of ing field in which all candidates can has forced about one in 10 of the sovereignty have in the past always a perimeter fence planned. The Seven opposition candidates are vying the ruling party,” the US-based rights freely campaign and voters can make nation’s 4.9 million people to flee been the main factors in instabil- four gunmen who carried out the to end President Yoweri Museveni’s group said in report released Mon- informed decisions,” HRW’s Maria Bur- their homes. ity and regression,” said the MLPC, massacre were all killed. 30-year rule in the February 18 poll day, “Keep the People Uninformed.” nett said. Provisional first-round results which won general elections in 1993. PAKISTAN TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 13 Pakistan hosts four-way talks for Afghan peace

direct dialogue between the Afghan Some analysts hope government and the Islamist group, whose bloody insurgency shows no the added presence signs of abating more than 14 years of China and the after they were ousted from power by a US-led coalition. United States may Pakistan was among three coun- help overcome tries that recognised the Taliban’s 1996-2001 regime and it is widely seen mistrust between as wielding influence over them today. Kabul and Islamabad Aziz cautioned against “unrealis- tic targets and deadlines” and hinted it was unlikely major breakthroughs would be announced soon. “Keeping in view the sensitive AFP nature of the group’s work, it should be our endeavour to keep the work of this group out of media glare, as much as possible,” he said. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yesterday Shuja Nawaz, director of the Atlan- opened four-country talks aimed at tic Council’s South Asia Center, said luring the Afghan Taliban back to nego- the discussions gave “cautious hope” tiating table with the Kabul government, that peace negotiations can soon begin even as the insurgents wage an unprec- again in earnest. edented winter campaign of violence. A first round of dialogue with the The talks in Islamabad, announced Taliban themselves was held in July in December, come as the Taliban’s but collapsed after the group belat- insurgency intensifies, particularly in edly confirmed their leader Mullah the country’s south, testing the capacity Omar was dead. of Afghanistan’s overstretched mili- The news sparked infighting tary and placing pressure on Pakistan between senior Taliban leaders and the to rein in its one-time proxies. group’s new chief Mullah Akhtar Man- Some analysts hope the added pres- sour, which in turn led to the creation ence of China and the United States of a new faction headed by Mohamed may help overcome mistrust between Rasool in November. Kabul and Islamabad, though it remains Mansour himself was shot and unclear when the Taliban themselves wounded near the Pakistani city of will return to the negotiating table. Quetta in December, apparently by one They are not part of this week’s talks. of his own men, according to sources Delegates from Pakistan, Afghanistan, US and China at the first ever round of four-way peace talks meeting in Islamabad, yesterday. “The primary objective of the with the group. reconciliation process is to create con- A senior Taliban source from ditions to bring the Taliban groups to Mansour’s faction told reporters that meeting in future but we will also see weight. But he cautioned: “The Taliban But despite the internal rifts and seized large swathes of the key opium- the negotiation table and offer them Pakistan had been in touch with Taliban which other Afghan group or a Tali- have not yet showed their willingness the onset of winter, when the Tali- rich district of Sangin in the southern incentives that can persuade them to leaders, but the group was waiting to ban splinter group will be invited for to talk. They said their first priority is ban traditionally break off fighting, province of Helmand, their traditional move away from using violence,” said see whether their rivals from Rasool’s these proposed peace talks,” he said. to end their differences. In my opinion the insurgents are still staging bra- stronghold. Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s top foreign affairs faction were also likely to attend the Rahimullah Yousufzai, an expert on the splinter Rasool group will come zen attacks. Observers say the intensifying fight- official, as he opened the talks. future talks. the group, termed the talks an “impor- but the presence of Mansour’s group In September they briefly seized ing highlights a push by the militants The so-called “roadmap” talks “As far as I know, the Taliban lead- tant development”, adding the presence is very important, so let us wait to see the northern provincial capital of Kun- to gain greater concessions during any are meant to lay the groundwork for ership is willing to attend any such of the US and China provided an extra how they react.” duz, and in recent weeks they have future direct talks. Female motorists pushing boundaries Another PTI group to

AFP contest intra-party polls

Internews coordinator of the alliance while Dr LAHORE: On the crowded roads of Muhammad Khan Madni was tipped the teeming eastern Pakistani city of as its prospective candidate for PTI Lahore, Tayyaba Tariq zips through LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Punjab president in the intra-party the rowdy traffic on her brand new senior leader advocate Hamid Khan elections. The Alliance’s sympathisers’ motorcycle. In jeans and a bright jacket, has announced that the “PTI Workers meeting discussed national politi- with a white helmet clasped over her Alliance” will contest the upcom- cal situation and intra-party affairs hair, the 22-year-old student is part of ing intra-party election against the and lauded chairman Imran Khan’s a new wave of female drivers in Paki- already two groups led by Chaudhry decision to hold intra-party elections. stan who are pushing the boundaries Sarwar and Ejaz Chaudhry. The Alliance constituted commit- set for them by men. With the announcement of the tees for the launch of a membership The idea of women straddling new group, it seems that the PTI is campaign from Friday. motorcycles, clambering into the cabs getting divided into different factions Hamid Khan said the Alliance of Pakistan’s iconic heavy trucks, or —everyone claiming that they are would also woo different groups driving rickshaws for money is still the real representatives of the party within the party to join hands so that taboo in the deeply conservative Mus- and its ideology, says a senior party youth and real workers are respected lim country of some 200 million, where organiser. and brought forth to contest elections. gender discrimination is routine. The PTI Workers Alliance passed a He said the Alliance would bring There has been a slew of recent resolution and demanded that party’s forth honest leadership including, campaigns by women for greater access Election Commission and chairman women, youth, labourers and work- to public spaces to which they are often Imran Khan should ensure that irreg- ers, who would bring about a positive denied, such as roadside eateries — ularities and rigging, as identified change in the country. and the roads themselves. by Justice (Rtd) Wajihuddin in par- Coordinator Amin Zaki said the The importance of the issue is Shamim Akhter driving a truck loaded with bricks in Islamabad. (Below) Housewife Hina Kazmi rides a ty’s first intra-party polls, should not Alliance would be representing the underscored by the fact that three motorcycle on a street in Lahore. be committed this time. He said the majority workers in the party. quarters of Pakistani women do not election of corrupt leadership due Dr Madni, who has been PTI’s participate in the labour market, mainly trapped by necessity in a tiny vehicle to rigging and irregularities in the Punjab youth president, said the alli- due to a lack of safe transportation, with a male driver, getting from A to first intra-party polls led the party ance was the group of true workers according to a study by the Interna- B can often be a hassle. to face defeats. of party chairman Imran Khan and tional Labour Organisation. For Zar Aslam, the solution was The PTI Workers Alliance was had gone through a massive strug- “If girls learn to ride a motorcy- obvious: women-only rickshaws, launched at a consultative meeting gle on the PTI platform. cle, they can move freely, come and go driven by women for women, empow- of the PTI leaders and senior workers He said the Alliance would win the independently,” says Tariq, who rides ering both passengers and enterprising from some 33 districts across Punjab. intra-party elections and then strug- 25 kms to the border with India and women who need a source of income. Hamid Khan announced that gle to push Imran Khan to become back every day for her job as a cus- Aslam launched her Pink Rick- party leader Amin Zaki would be prime minister of Pakistan. toms officer on her motorbike, a far shaws scheme in 2014 beginning with more affordable mode of transporta- just five rickshaws, and paraded them tion than a car. through the streets of Lahore in Octo- Sajjad Mehdi, a traffic police official ber last year. in Lahore, said he had trained nearly “What we are doing is we are trying KP province fails to enrol 150 women to ride a motorbike recently. to help women become entrepreneurs “But there are many women who and operators and owners of their own learned to ride a bike on their own,” rickshaws,” she said. “Anyone over 18 16,000 children in schools he added. The government of Pun- and under 102 can drive this rickshaw jab province has also realised the from any class, from any background,” importance of getting women on to said actress Nadia Jameel, an ambas- motorcycles, launching an awareness sador for the scheme. “Some women Internews Foundation, which executes the campaign in November titled “Women will come out and drive because they live with me, he lives with his second usually falls below average for a worker scheme, selected 30,000 out-of- on Wheels” that highlighted gender- have to. They need the money.” wife and I have to bear the expenses in Islamabad. schoolchildren during a survey. . A based violence and street harassment. Money was also the driving force of my family alone,” she says. “It doesn’t meet (all of) my expenses voucher scheme was applicable to The campaign saw 150 women, who behind Shamim Akhter’s decision to She learned to drive a car first then but —one can’t sit idle,” she said. “If PESHAWAR: More than 16,000 those children, whose parents couldn’t had completed a police-run motor- become one of the first female driv- heavy vehicles and passed a test for we need 10,000 rupees and get 7,000 out-of-schoolchildren, who were afford expenses of their education in bike training programme, ride through ers of Pakistan’s famous heavy trucks, the newly launched metro bus serv- rupees, it’s better than having nothing.” selected for getting education in private schools. the streets of Lahore on Sunday in a chaotically decorated from top to bot- ice in the capital —but was denied a Learning to drive will hopefully private schools at the government’s Last year, sources said, EEF rally attended by diplomats and human tom in merry “truck art”. job by the government because it was give many women an economic boost expense in northwestern province selected 30,000 out-of-school chil- rights lawyers, as it was revealed that Abandoned by her husband after not the policy to have female drivers. but it will still take time for social atti- of Pakistan, couldn’t be enrolled for dren through a firm in six districts 1,000 subsidised pink scooters would the birth of their five children, Akhter So, she contacted a local trucking tudes to change. . various reasons, according to sources. including Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, be given to working women and stu- struggled in odd jobs for years to feed company. “I get 1,000 rupees (US$10) “Many times boys follow us (on their They said that provincial govern- Kohat, Mansehra, Mardan and Swat. dents under the scheme. her family before she clambered into for a longer trip outside Islamabad,” bikes),” Tariq the motorcyclist admits. ment allocated Rs500m for supporting Of them, it could only enroll 14,000 Tariq may be able to avoid men the cab of a truck to make history. she said, cleaning one of the cabs as “They think that a girl can’t ride out-of-schoolchildren to get education children. Earlierthe education depart- harassing her by nipping through traf- Now the 53-year-old works night she worked. and will be frightened... But I have a in private schools under Iqra Faroghe ment convinced the parents to enrol fic, but women using Lahore’s many and day to transport bricks in the cap- The amount of trips she gets varies, message for boys. They should not con- Taleem Voucher Scheme. their children in private schools at rickshaws are often not so fortunate: ital Islamabad. “My husband doesn’t she says, and her income each month sider girls inferior.” The Elementary Education government’s expenses. 14 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 INDIA

BJP fact-finding team Colourful kite threads turned back from Malda

30kms away. residents of the area. The team was Ahluwalia, the sole Bharatiya “It has been distorted and misin- stopped at the Malda Janata Party Lok Sabha member from formed about what actually happened Bengal, Said that the team’s only pur- there. It was a struggle between the railway station soon pose was to ascertain the truth and BSF and the locals and the state is not after they alighted restore the confidence of the people. involved in any way in this matter.” “We told the Malda district admin- “The scuffle was between BSF and from the Gaur istration that we have come to ascertain the locals and that (the incident) is not Express at Malda the truth, we have not come to insti- within the party, state government gate or incite anyone. We wanted to or state police. We just managed the station and forced restore the confidence of the people,” situation,” she told reporters on the to board a train for he said at Malda station. sidelines of the Bengal Global Busi- Police told the MPs that prohibi- ness Summit on January 9. While the Kolkata by the district tory orders under Section 144 of the Centre has sought a report from the administration Code of Criminal Procedure had been Banerjee administration. clamped at Kaliachak. “Police told us he BJP yesterday said that the that our presence will lead to problems, Malda violence in West Bengal was and the situation would deteriorate,” a “planned action and not a communal IANS said Ahluwalia. reaction”, after a three-member party The MPs spent three hours at the delegation was stopped from visiting station, before they were “forced to Kaliachak by the district authorities board” the Shatabdi Express. Yadav in the eastern state. KOLKATA: A three—member BJP par- termed the act “condemnable”. The BJP said its leaders will meet liamentary team sent by the party on According to reports, protesting Union Home Minister and seek inves- a ‘fact finding mission’ to northern against remarks allegedly made to tigation by an appropriate agency into West Bengal’s violence—hit Kalia- “hurt religious sentiments” in Uttar the violence in Kaliachak on January chak was stopped at the Malda railway Pradesh, a large number of people 3. “An incident happens on Decem- station and forced to board a train on January 3 went on a rampage in ber 1 and the reaction happens on for Kolkata yesterday by the district Kaliachak, torching vehicles including January 3. If there was a communal administration. The three MPs — Bhu- those belonging to the Border Security reaction, it has to be spontaneous. pendra Yadav, Ram Vilas Vedanti and Force (BSF) and also attacked a police Therefore, it was not a communal S S Ahluwalia— were detained soon station. Chief Minister Mamata Ban- reaction, but a planned action. A BJP after they alighted from the Gaur erjee has asserted that the violence leader said Malda has become a hub Express at Malda station yesterday was not the result of communal strife for drug trade as authorities over- A boy rolls the kite thread on a thread wheel for sale in Amritsar, yesterday. morning on way to Kaliachak, about but a fight between BSF personnel and looked opium cultivation. Court refuses to interfere Kerala seeks MEA’s help for nurses in odd-even scheme IANS Transaction on IANS a pilot project to ascertain the reduc- tion, if any, in the pollution levels, we e-governance are of the view that the interference THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The by this court is not warranted.” Kerala government has sought an services doubled NEW DELHI: The odd-even scheme The bench, however, asked the immediate intervention of the Min- is a policy decision and was intro- Delhi government to consider the istry of External Affairs (MEA) to relax in 2015: Minister duced based on the opinion of experts, issues raised in over 12 different norms for Indian nurses who wish to the Delhi High Court said yesterday petitions against the scheme before work in the Middle East. while refusing to interfere with the coming out with similar restriction Speaking to reporters here yes- New Delhi: Communica- Aam Aadmi Party government’s pet in future. terday, State Minister for Diaspora K tions and IT Minister Ravi project to curb air pollution. The bench had earlier asked the C Joseph (pictured) said that unless Shankar Prasad yesterday A division bench of Chief Justice government to consider limiting the the MEA steps in by relaxing norms, said that the electronic G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said scheme to a week instead of planned thousands of Indian nurses waiting transaction in India it will not “interfere unless the pol- 15 days and whether the data col- to go to the Middle—East in pursuit regarding e-governance icy is unconstitutional or contrary to lected till date was enough to gauge of a prosperous career will face ruin. related services almost the statutory provisions”. the effectiveness of the policy. “Since May last year, the MEA has doubled in 2015. The bench held that the pilot The city government had defended directed all employers in the Middle “According to the project was for a limited 15—day the scheme, saying there is “a definite East, to first contact the Indian embas- till now it was just 217 nurses who got for a ride when it comes to recruit- government website period. positive effect” of the scheme on the sies in the Middle East if they have to new jobs in Saudi Arabia, 502 went to ment for other trades to the Middle electronic transaction “We are of the view the interfer- air pollution. The government had recruit Indian nurses. “Since then it the UAE and 150 to Oman. East,” he added. aggregation and analysis ence by this court is not warranted,” claimed that vehicular pollution had has become mandatory for all nurses Employers there are just not will- Appreciating the MEA’s support layer (eTaal), 3.53 billion it said. “The law is well settled that fallen since January 1 when the scheme to get emigration clearance before ing to go through these new stringent in evacuation of Kerala nurses from transaction took place on matters affecting policy this court was launched. However, the petition- proceeding for jobs. Consequent to recruitment process,” said Joseph.T Iraq and Libya in the recent past, in 2014, which almost will not interfere unless the policy is ers contended that Central Pollution these stringent norms, nurses from Sri hey brought this to the attention of Joseph said: doubled in 2015 to 6.95 unconstitutional or contrary to the Control Board data doesn’t show any Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Philippines External Affairs Minister Sushma, “It would be in the best interest of billion. This shows Indians statutory provisions or arbitrary or decrease in air pollution level. are cashing in on these opportunities who promised to urgently intervene all to have the OIA (Overseas Indian drive for technology,” the irrational or in abuse of power since The court, hearing 12 PILs chal- and our (Indian) nurses have lost out to resolve the issue. Affairs) ministry restored because minister said. the policy decision are taken based lenging the government decision to very badly,” said Joseph. “We have suggested to the MEA it will be practically impossible to He was addressing on expert knowledge of person con- allow even-and odd-numbered vehi- He said that under the new rules, that while there should be a mecha- approach MEA for issues relating to the i-bharat 2016 sem- cerned and courts are normally not cles to ply on alternate dates January nurses’ recruitment to the Middle East nism to prevent unfair practises, the the diaspora all the time.” inar organised by the equipped to question the correctness 1-15, also asked why diesel cabs were can be handled by only three agencies employers should be allowed to make “We wish that at least a Minis- Federation of Indian of a policy decision,” the order said. still plying on the roads despite a ban. in the country -- two are Kerala-based direct contact with the three agencies ter of State is posted to handle the Chamber of Commerce It added: “Keeping in view that Air pollution caused by vehicu- organisations and one comes under the that have been given permission to OIA, so there is a contact point for and Industry (FICCI). restrictions under the notification lar traffic declined by 50 percent, the Tamil Nadu government. “Before these recruit nurses,” said Joseph. us,” Joseph added. eTaal is a web por- dated December 28, 2015 only for a Delhi government said on Sunday and restrictions came, on an average every “Also we have asked for stringent In the meantime a number of tal for dissemination of limited period of 15 days and is stated it justified the scheme implemented month around 1,000 nurses used to action to be taken against those fly-by- nurses have gone back to India and e-transactions statistics that the scheme has been enforced as by the government. get jobs in the Middle East. After May, night recruiters here, who take people many are reluctant to come to job. of national and state level e-governance projects including mission mode projects. Vigorous exercise Protest walk against Jail term for US death threat to Shripal ship crew

IANS two prominent rationalists, Naren- Chennai: A Tuticorin court dra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare yesterday awarded five- had been shot dead while on a morn- year jail terms to 10 crew ing walk. and 25 security guards PUNE: A group of people, including However, under fire from several aboard an American ship youth, went for a symbolic morning quarters, Punalekar denied the pur- MV Seaman Guard Ohio walk here yesterday to protest the ported threat and said it was purely to that was seized by author- death threats to eminent litterateur improve “the writer’s (Sabnis) mental ities in Indian waters in Shripal Sabnis for his recent remarks and physical health”. Followng Punal- 2013. on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ekar’s comments, Pune Police has “All 35 people arrested “It was a token half-km long march provided two armed police guards from aboard the American and we want to convey the message to Sabnis and family. ship have been sentenced to the Sanatan Sanstha that we are Sabnis, an elected president of to five- year imprisonment not scared of their threats,” convener the four-day 89th All India Marathi and asked to pay fine of NGO Lokayat and Socialist Party Literary Conference starting here of Rs.3,000 each. Eight of India national executive commit- from January 15, reiterated that he people charged with sup- tee member Neeraj Jain said. was “ready for discussions on anything plying diesel for the ship The morning walk from Mahatma that anybody finds objectionable”. “Let were acquitted,” additional Gandhi statue near the railway station them come and talk it over. I am not public prosecutor K Siva- to Ambedkar statue near the Col- afraid of such threats. I am ready to kumar said. lectorate was intended to serve as a take bullets,” said Sabnis. The author The Coast Guard reply to Sanatan Sanstha lawyer Sanjiv of 29 books. Sabnis has been facing said the crew included Punalekar’s advice to Sabnis, asking intimidation since the past few days eight Indians and two Army soldiers doing exercise at the School of Artillery in Devlali in Nasik, yesterday. to “go for morning walks” Many con- for his utterances against Prime Min- Ukrainians. strued it as a ‘threat’ since in the past, ister Narendra Modi. INDIA TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 15

Reference on India taken Means of livelihood off from Bihar’s website

Kumar’s office here said that he had beginning June 26, 1975. He was put The Congress, directed the concerned authori- in the Tihar Jail, located near Delhi, ties to remove the reference as the where notorious criminals are jailed,” which is part of issue threatened to blow up into a said a reference in the Bihar history the ruling Grand controversy. section on the website. Earlier, Bihar Congress president It said: “Thus, in free India, this Alliance in Bihar, Ashok Choudhary and other lead- septuagenarian, who had fought for has expressed its ers said that the party was proud of India’s freedom alongside Indira Gan- Indira Gandhi and would take up the dhi’s father Jawaharlal Nehru, received strong displeasure issue with Nitish Kumar. “It is not only a treatment that was worse than what over this and said wrong but condemnable. We will take the British had meted out to Gandhiji up this issue with the Bihar govern- in Champaran in 1917, for his speak- it is not only wrong ment,” Congress spokesperson Sarbat ing out against oppression.” but condemnable Jahan Fatima said on Monday. The Congress is part of the rul- Another Congress leader Prem ing Grand Alliance in Bihar, apart Chand Mishra said it was a serious from Janata Dal-United and Rash- issue. Choudhary, who is also the state triya Janata Dal. The party won 27 IANS education minister, said it was highly seats in the 243-member assembly objectionable if anything of the sort in the 2015 elections. reported was mentioned on the gov- The Congress, which is part of ernment website. the ruling Grand Alliance in Bihar, PATNA: A reference to former prime “It was he (Jayaprakash Narayan) has expressed its strong displeasure minister Indira Gandhi’s rule as “worse who steadfastly and staunchly opposed over the state government’s website than British rule in India” on the the autocratic rule of Indira Gandhi and describing former prime minister Bihar government’s official website her younger son Sanjay Gandhi. Fear- Indira Gandhi’s rule as worse than Brit- was removed yesterday after strong ing people’s reaction to his opposition, ish rule in India. “It is not only wrong objections from the state Congress. Indira Gandhi had him arrested on the but condemnable,” Congress spokes- A man casts his net to catch fish in the Dal Lake in Srinagar, yesterday. Officials in Chief Minister Nitish eve of declaring National Emergency person Sarbat Jahan Fatima said. Housewife heads Shani Temple Trust, creates history

IANS than five centuries that this welcome for us to change the traditions,” Sur- stone idol that represents the deity. Eve- women created a ruckus along with development has taken place. Another puriya added. rybody must only offer prayers from some 400-500 other women, but left woman, Shalini Lande, has also been Endorsing the view, Shetye below the platform, Surpuriya said. without going up to the temple,” Sur- SP to face appointed to the board of 11 trustees said, “The entire village has already Referring to an incident of Novem- puriya said. AHMEDNAGAR: A history of sorts was managing the temple, at its statutory expressed its clear opinion that women ber 29, 2015, when a young woman Shani Shingnapur is globally known polygraph created when Anita Shetye, a house- meeting last week,” he said. should not be allowed in the open- unknowingly went up the temple steps as the only village where houses do not wife, was unanimously appointed the Shetye, 40, will have a five-year air temple”. and offered prayers, he said that she have doors and locks. Even a national- first ever woman chairperson of the term along with other 11 trustees. As The unique open temple has no admitted it as a genuine mistake and ised UCO Bank’s branch in the village test over IAF famous Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust, mandated, all the trustees are residents walls or a roof. A self-emerged (svayam- later apologised. does not have locks on its doors. Belief an official said yesterday. of Shingnapur village in Ahmednagar bhu) five-foot tall black stone stands The unknown woman’s action was has it that thieves cannot steal or burgle base attack However, the age-old tradition of district and born within the Shing- on a platform and is worshipped as hailed as “revolutionary and ground- in the village protected by Lord Shani, not allowing women devotees to wor- napur gram panchayat area, which Shanidev. The temple platform stands breaking” and welcomed by several and misfortune and divine punishment ship at the temple dedicated to Lord has a population of around 1,500. in the centre of the small village, also social and political groups. would befall anyone who attempts this. New Delhi: The National Shani - the personification of planet “It is an ancient tradition that known as Sonai. Later, the temple’s chief priest and Although the temple itself has a Investigation Agency Saturn - will continue, temple trustee women are barred from climbing up However, barring the temple others carried out a ‘purification’ cer- much older history, the present form (NIA) will conduct a pol- Prafull N. Surpuriya said. “This is the the temple steps to pour oil and offer priests, everybody is forbade from emony at the temple. of management of its activities is over ygraph test on Salwinder first time in the temple’s history of more prayers to Shanidev... there’s no reason climbing the nine steps up to the actual “On December 28 last year, four five centuries old, Surpuriya said. Singh, the superintend- ent of police in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, an offi- cial said. The test would be Roadside exercises India will supply 100MW done in connection with his suspected role in help- ing the terrorists who attacked an Indian Air power to Bangladesh Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot town. “Singh will face a series of ques- IANS Nasrul Hamid and officials. tions in his polygraph “During the meeting, the Bang- test,” an NIA official, on ladesh prime minister was very keen condition of anonymity. to get more power from India as the The official said the AGARTALA: India’s NTPC Vidyut country needs 8,000 MW of electric- NIA wanted to conduct Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN) and the ity to meet its energy crisis. the polygraph test to Bangladesh Power Development “The Tripura government is also ascertain his statements Board (BPDB), both state-run com- ready to provide more power to Bang- Police. Six terrorists and panies, will soon sign an agreement ladesh if the central government has seven security personnel to supply 100 MW of electricity to no objection,” Dey added. were killed in the attack Bangladesh, Tripura’s Power Minis- The Power Grid Corporation of on the Pathankot air base, ter Manik Dey said yesterday. India Ltd. (PGCIL) and the Power according to officials “Transmission lines are ready to Generation Company of Bangladesh supply 100 MW of power to Bangla- (PGCB), both government-run com- desh at any moment. However, the panies, set up the 47-km transmission Ghulam Ali plans supply would start after an agreement lines on their sides for electricity sup- between NVVN and BPDB,” Dey told ply from the Palatana power plant Mumbai visit on reporters after returning from Bang- in Tripura. ladesh capital Dhaka. “Earlier, the supply of 100 MW of January 29 “In Dhaka, several meetings were power to Bangladesh was supposed held to finalise the power tariff. It was to start from December 16, 2015 to decided that the electricity would be keep in mind the Vijay Diwas cele- Mumbai: All eyes are on supplied to Bangladesh at a price of bration. But the transmission lines the Shiv Sena as Pakistani Rs.5.5 per unit.” were not ready and the plan could ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali Dey -- accompanied by officials not materialise,” the minister said. plans to attend a musical of the external affairs ministry, power During his June 6-7 Dhaka visit, event in Mumbai on Janu- ministry, Central Electricity Author- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dis- ary 29. ity, and NVVN -- went to Dhaka on cussed power supply from Tripura He is expected in the Friday and held a series of meetings with his Bangladeshi counterpart city for the music launch Men stretch during their routine exercises on a road divider on a foggy morning in Agartala, yesterday. there with Prime Minister Sheikh Sheikh Hasina. There are plans to of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ movie in Hasina, Minister of State for Power enhance supply to Bangladesh. which he has sung a patri- otic number, moviemaker Suhaib Ilyasi said here on Sunday. This would be Ghu- Temple can’t bar women’s entry in Sabarimala: SC lam Ali’s first event in the city after his proposed con- certs in Mumbai and Pune, IANS “temple can’t prohibit entry except on thought out process and a system,” women who have attained puberty, is Sabarimala temple thantri, defended scheduled for October 9 the basis of religion. Unless you have Kalidasan Namboodiripad, a tantric accessible only on foot from Pamba. the bar on women. “A decision on what and 10, were cancelled in a constitutional right, you can’t pro- priest in Kerala said. Till a few years back, it was open should be told to the court has to be the wake of threats and hibit the entry”. “The fulcrum of the Sabarimala only for two months -- from mid- taken only after discussions with all protests by the Shiv Sena. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court yes- The next hearing has been pilgrimage revolves around a 41-day November to mid-January. Now it is concerned as faith is of prime impor- The Shiv Sena is terday ruled that no temple can bar scheduled for February 8. The rul- penance. Keeping that in mind, the kept open for five days every month. tance,” he said. opposed to all forms of cul- the entry of women devotees except ing immediately divided the faithful question of women being able to do It draws millions of devotees, mainly Kerala Devasom Minister and Con- tural and sporting links with on the basis of religion. into two camps -- those who want to that cannot happen because it is not from southern India. Former Devasom gress leader V.S. Sivakumar said that Pakistan until it stops kill- Judges Dipak Misra, Pinaki Chan- retain the present system and those possible and practical,” he added. minister and CPI-M legislator G. Sud- the government would look into all ing Indian soldiers in border dra Ghose and N.V. Ramana said this who want that women of all age groups Situated on the mountain ranges hakaran said women should be allowed aspects before returning to the Supreme skirmishes. Ilyasi, mean- while hearing a petition by the Indian should be allowed entry into the Sabar- of the Western Ghats at 914 metres entry into the Sabarimala temple. He Court. With the two-month temple while, expressed hope Young Lawyers Association challeng- imala temple. above sea level, the Sabarimala temple recalled that the Left government had season on, even devotees seemed to that the event would pass ing the Sabrimala Ayyappa Temple’s “Even though god does not differ- is four kilometres uphill from Pamba said so to the Supreme Court in 2008. be split. “What’s wrong if women come smoothly, though it is yet custom of prohibiting the entry of entiate between man and woman, as river in Pathanamthitta district, around “Where men can enter, women to pray here? There can be family pil- not clear if Ghulam Ali will women between the age of 10 and far as Sabarimala temple and its tra- 100 km from Thiruvananthapuram. also should and can enter,” Sudhaka- grimages,” said a male pilgrim at the also perform. 50 years. The court observed that a ditions are concerned, it has a well The temple, which bars the entry of ran said. But Kantereru Rajiveru, the foothills of the temple. 16 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 EUROPE

Princess Cristina Difficult path and husband on corruption trial

to press charges against her, but under Spanish law, private entities can also Cristina is the first file criminal complaints —and that Spanish royal to face is just what anti-graft campaigners “Manos Limpias” —or “Clean Hands” criminal charges since —did. Cristina’s lawyers cited Span- the monarchy was ish jurisprudence which allows an accused to escape trial if the victim reinstated following of a crime does not back the charges the 1975 death of —and in this case the alleged victim is the state. dictator General But Virginia Lopez Negrete, the Francisco Franco lawyer representing “Manos Limpias”, rejected the argument. “All citizens are equal before the law and as a result anachronistic doc- AFP trines cannot be applied” that would “privilege” the princess, she said. Journalists from around the world have flocked to cover the trial, which PALMA: Spain’s Princess Cristina and was moved from a courthouse to a Cars drive on a snowy road in Bartazek village, near Olsztyn, Masuria region, Poland, yesterday. Most Polish cities are affected by the her husband went on trial yesterday public administration school on the snowfalls and freezing rain. under intense global media scrutiny outskirts of Palma to accomodate in a landmark corruption case that large number of reporters and lawyers. has outraged the country and sullied It comes as Spain seethes over the monarchy’s reputation. repeated corruption scandals that Cristina, a 50-year-old mother-of- have exposed politicians, trade unions, Germany says no four with a master’s degree from New bankers and footballers, eroding Poland downplays tensions York University, is the first Spanish Spaniards’ faith in their institutions to sanctions royal to face criminal charges since and elites after a major economic cri- the monarchy was reinstated follow- sis and a government austerity drive. with Germany over comments ing the 1975 death of dictator General “We have never had as much cor- against Poland Francisco Franco. ruption in Spain’s democratic history,” The princess and her husband, said 45-year-old unemployed masseur former Olympic handball medallist Francisco Solana, one of a handful AFP democracy is not doing as poorly as Parliament President Martin Schulz, a Reuters Inaki Urdangarin, arrived together at of protesters who gathered outside they might think,” he added. German Social Democrat, compared a makeshift courtroom in Palma on the courtroom. “No judge will dare Nikel echoed the Polish minister, the political situation in Poland to a the Mediterranean island of Mallorca send Princess Cristina to jail. I think describing their talks as “construc- “coup”, prompting Prime Minister Beata BERLIN: The German govern- as photographers snapped pictures justice is not equal for all, it favours WARSAW: Poland yesterday sought tive” and Polish-German relations as Szydlo to demand apology. ment said yesterday that it was and a police helicopter flew overhead. the rich,” added Solana. to downplay tension with EU and Nato a “treasure we wish to safeguard so Schulz went further Sunday, tell- not considering imposing sanctions Following courtroom rules, they The case is centred on business partner Germany over comments by they can flourish”. ing a leading German daily that the against Poland for its crackdown had to sit apart as judges read out dealings by the Noos Institute, a char- German politicians that Warsaw ear- Relations between Berlin and PiS’s moves constitute a “dangerous on the media and judiciary, after the alleged crimes committed by the itable organisation based in Palma lier slammed as “anti-Polish”. Warsaw have been strained since the ‘putinization’ of European politics”, a senior ally of Chancellor Angela total of 18 suspects in the case, which which Urdangarin founded and Polish Foreign Minister Witold conservative Law and Justice party drawing a comparison to the hardline Merkel suggested Europe should alleges that Urdangarin embezzled chaired from 2004 to 2006. Waszczykowski took the rare measure (PiS) returned to power in Poland in governing style of Russian strongman, consider such a step. “No,” govern- public funds through a foundation The 47-year-old and his former of summoning the German ambassador October after eight years in opposition. President Vladimir Putin. ment spokesman Steffen Seibert he once chaired. Cristina has been business partner Diego Torres are sus- after several German and other Euro- Tens of thousands of Poles have The eurosceptic PiS has also said responded when asked whether charged with tax evasion while her pected of embezzling €6.2m ($6.7m) in pean politicians criticised recent media since taken to the streets to protest it will financially support EU efforts sanctions were being considered. husband is accused of the more serious public funds paid by two regional gov- and justice reforms by Poland’s new swift moves by the PiS to enact leg- to tackle the refugee crisis, but has The parliamentary leader of crimes of embezzlement, influence ernments to the organisation to stage right-wing government as an erosion islation giving it control over Poland’s made it clear Poland would not take Merkel’s party, Volker Kauder, said: peddling, document falsification, sporting and other types of events. of liberties. “We don’t have tense rela- top court and its public broadcasters. in migrants. The stance has put it on a “If it is determined that European money laundering, forgery, breach Urdangarin is accused of using his tions with Germany,” Waszczykowski On Sunday, Polish foreign min- collision course with Germany, which values are being violated, then (EU) of official duty and tax fraud. royal connections to secure inflated told reporters following talks in War- istry spokesman Artur Dmochowski took in 1.1 million asylum-seekers last member states must have the cour- Almost immediately after the trial contracts without competing bids and saw with Germany’s ambassador, Rolf refused to say what German com- year -- the largest group among them age to impose sanctions”. opened, Cristina’s lawyers called for siphoning off some of the money into Nikel, yesterday. “A visit by German ments Warsaw interpreted as being coming from Syria -- and has called Seibert said Germany wanted the case against her to be thrown out. Aizoon, a firm he jointly ran with his politicians to Poland would be the best “anti-Polish” and which politician had on all EU members to accept their to preserve and deepen its rela- Prosecutors have always refused wife Cristina to fund a lavish lifestyle. solution, so they can see that Polish uttered them. But last month, European fair share. tionship with Poland. Pope Francis urges Europe to keep welcoming migrants Refugee workers urge

AFP wave of migration seemed to be under- principles such as equality before the terrorism,” the pontiff added. Germany to learn mining the foundations of Europe’s law and for values inherent in human The migration crisis —Europe’s “humanistic spirit”. nature,” he said. “The massive number worst since World War II —has caused He urged European leaders not of arrivals in Europe appear to be deep rifts between EU member states from past mistakes VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis yes- to lose “the values and principles of overburdening the system of recep- and left the bloc’s Schengen system of terday urged European governments humanity ... however much they may tion painstakingly built on the ashes open borders on the brink of collapse. to keep welcoming migrants while prove, in some moments of history, a of the World War II.” And the shock generated by events acknowledging security and other con- burden difficult to bear.” He said the sheer size of the influx in Cologne at New Year has piled pres- AFP crime. The drug mafias and criminal cerns over the recent mass influx of Francis said Europe was struggling was causing “inevitable problems” and sure on Chancellor Angela Merkel over gangs are just waiting to recruit them.” people mainly from the Middle East, to cope with the unprecedented wave raising concerns about “changes in her liberal stance towards refugees. Such fears have flared in Germany, Asia and Africa. of refugees, which saw over a million the cultural and social structures” of Pope Francis said EU governments COLOGNE: Chancellor Angela Mer- especially since New Year’s Eve in Addressing ambassadors to the people arrive on the continent’s shores host countries. could welcome people fleeing con- kel’s mantra on Germany’s record Cologne when hundreds of women Holy See in the aftermath of the New in the course of 2015. “Equally significant are fears flict, repression and hunger whilst migrant influx has been “we can do have said they were harassed and Year’s Eve mass assaults in Germany’s “Many migrants from Asia and about security, further exacerbated also ensuring the security of their it”, which Cologne refugee worker robbed in a 1,000-strong crowd of Cologne, the pontiff said the present Africa see in Europe a beacon for by the growing threat of international own citizens. Behshid Najafi heartily agrees with — men described as being of Arab and but would add a qualifying “if”. North African appearance. With 23 years of experience in The unprecedented scenes outside helping migrant women navigate the city’s iconic Gothic cathedral have bureaucracy and find language courses, raised deep-seated fears in Germany Ukraine soldier Learning legal lessons social welfare and jobs, Najafi says of more crime and racial tensions to Germany, in its crash course on globali- come. Political leaders have said for killed in clashes sation, must learn from the mistakes the past decade that immigration was of the past. a key part of German society, long “We can do it, as Mrs Merkel has after this was self-evident to Europe’s AFP said - If. If we get affordable housing, former colonial powers, or the United legal certainty for refugees, education, States and Australia. jobs training, German courses —those Merkel has at times told her waver- KIEV: A Ukrainian soldier was are just the main points,” she said. ing nation that the global export power killed in clashes between pro-Rus- No-one, including Merkel, has must accept more aspects of globali- sian rebels and government forces pretended that taking in 1.1 million asy- sation than a huge trade surplus. in the war-torn east, Kiev said yes- lum-seekers last year alone would be Such realisations are welcome, terday, a day after four others died easy. But Najafi warned that Germany but have been a long time coming, in an uptick of violence. must learn lessons from decades past said Najafi, who runs Cologne’s Agisra “Over the last day, as a result of when waves of migrants were recruited Information and Counselling Centre hostilities one Ukrainian soldier was for labour but largely excluded from for Female Migrants and Refugees. killed and another injured”, military mainstream society, trapped in immi- She said when post-war Germany spokesman Andriy Lysenko told jour- grant ‘ghettos’ battling prejudice and first invited Turkish and other “guest nalists. The incident occurred during red tape. workers” to fuel its economic miracle the shelling of Zaitseve village near Iranian-born Najafi, 59, praised years, “Germany thought they’ll come, Gorlivka, 55 km northeast of rebels’ the new goodwill toward refugees but work for a few years, and go home de facto capital Donetsk, he said. cautioned that after the initial rush to again. “The migrants worked in facto- His death came after officials house and feed them, the hard and ries during the day and lived in ghettos said two soldiers and two rebel crucial work was only just beginning. at night.” A Cologne Turkish commu- fighters were killed in fighting on “Otherwise they will be pushed to nity leader, Hakan Aydin, agreed and Sunday in the first casualties of the the margins of society,” she warned. said “nothing changed for 20 years. Of year. Meanwhile, separatist author- “We will not manage it if they just course that caused problems. ities accused the Ukrainian army stay in sports halls, without work, with- When the recruitment programme Migrants aged between 16 and 21 years, from different countries, attend a lesson on basics in law by of breaching the truce 14 times , out a future, without language skills. stopped in 1979, many single work- and said violence was increasing Bavarian Justice Minister Winfried Bausback (not in picture) at a trade school in Ansbach, Germany, “Seventy percent of them are men. I ers wanted to stay and brought over around the territory they control. yesterday. fear within a year many could turn to their families. EUROPE TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 17

After Ebola, two other tropical diseases pose threats

Reuters infection called meliodosis, which is to public health officials. “It’s definitely becoming an issue, Sierra Leone, where more than 11,000 culture and identification to make an resistant to a wide range of antibiot- It is carried by the Aedes aegypti but there is so little research that we people were killed, according to data accurate diagnosis,” said Direk Lim- ics, to be given a higher priority by mosquito, which thrives in tropical cli- just don’t know the size of the poten- from the World Health Organisation. mathurotsakul, a microbiologist and international health organisations and mates and can also carry other diseases tial threat,” she said. “We need to galvanise the research assistant professor at Thailand’s Mahidol LONDON: A little-known bacterial policy makers. such as yellow fever, dengue fever and She urged the international community now and move as quickly University, who co-led the study. disease may be killing as many peo- At the same time, scientists at Brit- chikungunya. Thousands of people research community to act now to as we can from doing observational “It especially affects the rural poor ple worldwide as measles, scientists ain’s Oxford University warned that a in Brazil have been infected by Zika. learn more about the virus, about work (on Zika) to carrying out proper in the tropics, who often do not have said yesterday, while a mosquito-borne virus known as Zika, which is carried While the virus is not thought to how it is spread, and about how sci- scientific research,” Lang said. access to microbiology labs, which virus known as Zika is also raising by mosquitoes and has caused a major kill, health authorities there last year entists might develop a treatment or In the Nature study on melioido- means that it has been greatly under- global alarm. outbreak in Brazil, has “the potential linked it to a surge in babies born with vaccine against it. sis, scientists said the bacteria that estimated as an important public health The spread of Ebola in West Africa of rapid spread to new areas”. microcephaly, restricted head growth “We need to learn from what hap- causes it, Burkholderia pseudomallei, problem across the world,” he added. last year shows how poorly-understood Zika was first detected in Africa that seriously limits a child’s mental pened with Ebola,” Lang said, referring is commonly found in soils in South- The researchers estimate there are diseases can emerge and grow rapidly in the 1940s and was unknown in the and physical abilities. to the devastating epidemic of that viral east Asia and Northern Australia, but 165,000 melioidosis cases a year in while researchers race to design and Americas until last year, but has now Trudie Lang, professor of Global fever that swept through three coun- can be spread to non-endemic areas people, of which 89,000 will be fatal. conduct the scientific studies needed been confirmed in Brazil, Panama, Ven- Health Research at Oxford University, tries in West Africa last year and caused via imports of infected animals. These tolls are similar to those caused to combat them. ezuela, El Salvador, Mexico, Suriname, said Zika —for which there are cur- more than 28,600 cases globally. “Melioidosis is a great mimicker by measles - a viral infection that can Researchers in the journal Nature the Dominican Republic, Colombia, rently no known treatments —was a The vast majority of Ebola cases of other diseases and you need a good be prevented with a vaccine - and far Microbiology called for a bacterial Guatemala and Paraguay, according cause for concern. and deaths were in Guinea, Liberia and microbiology laboratory for bacterial greater than dengue fever.

Call to boost intel Nature’s own canvas sharing to fight ‘Terrorism 2.0’

and becomes more resilient,” Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders told In the wake of the the opening of the talks. November 13 Paris “We are not dealing with the stere- otypical terrorist we see in the movies. attacks allegedly The type that can be defeated by a masterminded by one-man army like Bruce Willis in ‘Die Hard’.” a Belgian-born The talks come after months of extremist, Belgian deadly attacks staged by the Islamic State jihadist group, which has cap- Foreign Minister tured a swathe of territory in Iraq Didier Reynders and Syria attracting a thousands of admitted more must foreign fighters to its ranks. Speaking to journalists, France’s be done European Affairs Minister Harlem Desir said coordination was crucial. “Today the whole international community needs to work together AFP to fight against terrorism,” he said. “There also has to be a huge coordination in intelligence mat- ters, judicial and police cooperation.” THE HAGUE: Ministers demanded Countries are often wary of shar- greater intelligence sharing to stop ing hard-won intelligence with other extremist groups slipping across nations with which they may not have borders to carry out attacks, urging such good relations. Ice-covered Moskva River with the Kremlin towers seen in the background in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. concrete commitments at talks yes- But Koenders insisted the key was terday to stem dangerous intel lapses. “mutual trust” adding the conference In the wake of the November aimed to identify precise ways nations 13 Paris attacks allegedly master- and organisations like Europol and minded by a Belgian-born extremist, Interpol could help each other. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Rey- “Do we trust each other enough to Italy’s 5-Star nders admitted more must be done. share information, and are we willing Danish right-wing party threatens “Intelligence services must get to work together?” he asked. used to not only collecting infor- “This means sharing information Movement runs mation, but to sharing it,” he told and data” as well as threat analyses, to bring down government journalists on the sidelines of talks on he said. There was little point in the into trouble how to thwart terror groups, attended Netherlands freezing assets of sus- by more than 50 countries. pected extremists, if they could just go Reuters supporting parties are all right of in 25 years, and ahead of a series of “We are doing it more and more across the border into another Euro- centre to varying degrees, the DF dif- major negotiations including proposed Reuters among European services, but there pean country and withdraw cash, he fers on economic policies and wants reforms of pensions, property taxes is still work to be done,” he acknowl- argued. Harlem, speaking to report- increased spending and no tax cuts. and housing benefits. edged at the conference hosted by ers, said countries also needed to share COPENHAGEN: A small right-wing Finance Minister Claus Hjort Fred- The Liberal Party is the third-larg- The Netherlands. lists of foreign fighters, saying there party threatened yesterday to bring eriksen said yesterday the government est party in parliament after the Social ROME: Italy’s anti-establishment While there was a lot of bilateral must be a “very strong commitment down Danish Prime Minister Lars needed to address the challenge of Democrats, who came out top during 5-Star Movement has told a party cooperation, Reynders said it was (by) each EU member state to transmit Lokke Rasmussen’s government if it housing asylum seekers before it would the June election but whose centre- member to resign as mayor of a not happening “in a very structured all the intelligence information that’s postpones planned tax cuts in order be able to start talks on the tax cuts. left bloc did not gain a majority. district of Naples after a police fashion between very many states.” relevant in the fight against terrorism.” to pay for an increase in asylum seek- LA Chairman Anders Samuelsen DF came second in the election but investigation indicated that local Held as part of the Global Counter Calling for greater insight into the ers in Denmark. responded if the government did not refused to join a coalition government mafia had supported her election. Terrorism Forum and the Global Coa- dark corners of the Internet, Koenders Rasmussen’s Liberal Party, which begin talks on tax reform in the spring, due to differences over social spending. The affair is an embarrassment lition to Counter ISIL, an alternative also highlighted how extremists had holds just 34 of 179 seats in parliament, as scheduled in its programme to which Analysts question whether LA to the country’s second-biggest acronym for the Islamic State group, used PlayStation and apps such as Tel- needs the support of small Liberal all supporting parties had agreed, then would bring down the government party, which has built its success the talks were taking place nearly egram to organise the Paris attacks. Alliance (LA) as well as the populist he could not guarantee the govern- as it would risk an election that could on a squeaky clean image that set two months after the Paris attacks And he warned that the scores Danish People’s Party (DF), the sec- ment’s survival come summer. produce a new government led by the it apart from the repeated corrup- which killed 130 people. of people flocking to join IS were not ond largest faction in the house, and DF has said it cannot see where the Social Democrats, in power until last tion scandals which have tarnished And they come as The Nether- really “foreign fighters.” the Conservative Party. money for the cuts on the highest and summer. Polls show the Social Demo- the traditional parties. lands begins its six-month rotating “I think the uncomfortable truth The threat demonstrates the pre- lowest income tax payers could come crats are the most popular party with Rosa Capuozzo, the mayor of presidency of the European Union. is that they are not foreign at all. They carious situation of the 7-month old from. The threat from LA comes at a under 25 percent support, with DF Quarto, a suburb of Naples, is not “What we face today is terrorism may be foreigners in the countries government. time when the voter support for Ras- at under 20 percent and Liberals at under criminal investigation and 2.0. Like a virus, it adapts to survive where they are going. While the Liberals and their mussen’s party is at the lowest level 18 percent. has said she did nothing wrong. She said, however, that she was “con- sidering” the call from the 5-Star leadership to step down as mayor. Although Quarto has just 40,000 Toiling hard for migrants’ shelter 1 drowns and 5 missing inhabitants, the controversy could have national implications ahead of mayoral elections this spring in from migrant boat Italy’s largest cities including Rome, Milan and Naples. Prime Minister Matteo Ren- Reuters went missing, the coastguard said. zi’s Democratic Party (PD) has The smugglers who had accom- accused 5-Star of hypocrisy in panied the migrants in the wooden its attacks on malfeasance in other vessel from Greece then escaped on parties, hoping to stop a 5-Star BARI: The body of a drowned woman a second boat, the official said. rise in the polls. was recovered and as many as five The 37 survivors are all Somalis The furore built up since other migrants were missing after and include 35 women and two males, December, when wiretaps from an people smugglers threw them into one of them a 10-year-old boy who anti-mafia investigation suggested the sea off the coast of southern Italy was among five people hospitalised a 5-Star councillor in Quarto was yesterday, a coastguard official said. for hypothermia, the coastguard said. linked to Naples’ notorious mafia, Thirty-seven Somali migrants who Last year nearly 3,800 migrants known as the Camorra. were aboard the boat either made it died in attempts to enter the Euro- 5-Star had already expelled to shore safely or were scooped out pean Union by sea. More than one the councillor, but the investiga- of the water alive by rescuers, the million people made the sea jour- tion also suggested he may have Members of the association ‘La vie active’ work next to shipping container converted into homes coastguard said. The body of a woman ney successfully. tried to blackmail Capuozzo into in Calais, northern France, yesterday. More than 1,000 migrants will swap squalor for new beds in in her 30s was recovered from the Italy and Greece are among the giving businessmen associated with shipping containers that will become a permanent migrant camp. rocks along the coast and a search frontline countries in Europe’s worst the Camorra a contract to manage was under way for five others who migrant crisis since World War II. a local sports stadium. 18 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS Trump ups attacks on Ted Cruz’s eligibility to run

his Canadian birth since his mother was run for president,” Trump said of Cruz, a US citizen, repeated on Saturday that who renounced his Canadian citizen- Trump called on “the laws and facts are quite straight- ship in 2014. Cruz to get a court forward”. The Constitution says only Trump again called on Cruz to get a a “natural born citizen” may be pres- court judgement about his ballot status judgement about his ident. Legal scholars generally agree — advice Cruz has rejected — before ballot status — advice the description covers foreign-born suggesting the issue would cost Cruz Cruz has rejected — children of US parents. the nomination. “I don’t want to win this “I understand that a lot of can- way,” he said. “I want to win fair and before suggesting the didates in the field are dismayed. square.” Up until now, Cruz has been issue would cost Cruz They’re dismayed because they’re see- careful not to take on Trump directly. ing conservatives uniting behind our But he appeared to offer a counter- the nomination campaign,” Cruz told reporters before punch on Friday, when he suggested the 28th and final campaign stop of a that Trump wasn’t devoting the time six-day swing through Iowa. “As that and energy to wooing Iowa voters that happens you’re seeing candidates try- history shows is needed to win. AP ing to throw whatever rocks they can. “There is an Iowa way of campaign- That’s fine, that’s their prerogative. I ing and deciding caucuses,” Cruz told like Donald Trump, I respect Donald supporters packed into a basement of a Trump, he’s welcome to toss whatever pizza restaurant in Decorah. “I believe WAVERLY, IOWA: Donald Trump attacks he wants.” the only way to compete and win in the taunted fellow Republican presidential The comments were the latest sign state of Iowa is to come and spend the candidate Ted Cruz over his eligibility that the delicate detente between the time asking the voters for their sup- to be president, offering the following Texas senator and the billionaire busi- port. Looking them in the eye.” response to Cruz’s instance that he’s nessman on display last year has been “You come here, you have the a natural born citizen: “You’re not.” shattered as Cruz has jumped ahead of humility to stand before the men and “You can’t have a person running Trump in polls in Iowa, which holds its women of this state and answer your for office, even though Ted is very glib leadoff caucuses on February 1. questions,” he said in a Charles City cof- and he goes out and he says, ‘Oh, well, Trump late last year began efforts fee shop when the question came up I’m a natural born citizen.’ The point to undermine Cruz, questioning the again. With Trump in Iowa for the first Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs autographs after speaking at a rally in Reno, Nevada. is, you’re not,” Trump said during a senator’s religion and accusing him time in the new year, Iowans were also rally in Clear Lake, Iowa. at recent events of stealing his idea seeing a sharp contrast between the “I mean, you’ve got to get a declar- to build a wall along the US-Mexico he’s not beating Cruz in Iowa polls to a apparent shift on ethanol subsidies, the The rhetoric intensified later in the grinding Iowa campaign of Cruz and the atory judgement, you have to have the border. The intensity escalated this packed, 665-person capacity audito- influence of wealthy campaign donors day, when a Trump delivered a second, splashy mega-rallies that have become courts come up with a ruling or you past week when Trump questioned rium, with many more voters crowded and renewed questions about the Texas saltier speech at a rally in Clear Lake. as much Trump’s brand as his gilded have a candidate who just cannot run whether the Canadian-born Cruz was into an overflow room. senator’s Canadian birth. “You cannot put someone there, hotels. While Trump’s style marks a because the other side will immedi- eligible to be president. “The polls are essentially tied. I “He’s got to straighten out his prob- folks, that’s going to go in and he’s going break from tradition, his campaign ately bring suit and you’ve got that On Saturday, Trump lashed out at don’t get it,” Trump said in the first of lem,” Trump said just two minutes into to be immediately sued by the Dem- says he’s able to reach far more poten- cloud on your head.” Cruz, who has Cruz on multiple fronts at a rally in several references to Cruz. his address. “You can’t have that prob- ocrats because they’re saying he was tial voters than candidates at smaller long maintained there is no issue with Ottumwa, expressing bafflement that The billionaire also attacked Cruz’s lem and go and be the nominee.” born in Canada, he’s not allowed to events can do. Obama taking speech to ‘cord cutters’

Reuters The White House has seen viewers channels, said Jason Goldman, the for the annual televised speech drop White House chief digital officer. from a high of 52 million for Obama’s “On Tuesday, get cozy with your first address to Congress in 2009 to last favourite Internet-connected device,” WASHINGTON: US President Barack year’s 31.7 million, the lowest Nielsen said Goldman, a former tech indus- Obama’s State of the Union address ratings in 15 years. try executive at Twitter and Google, today will be more available to “cord The White House has provided who joined Obama’s team last year. cutters,” a nod to the changing televi- a flood of social media content to “So, for those who’ve cut the cord sion viewing habits of Americans, the go along with the State of the Union from cable and network TV: Whether White House said on Sunday. speech for several years, recognizing you use a smart TV, web browser, Cable and satellite providers have that many Americans were posting on mobile device, or tablet, there’s a way been grappling with the changing pref- Twitter and Facebook as they watched for you to watch the president’s speech erences of viewers, who like to watch the address. as it happens and on-demand,” he said. on mobile devices and on their own This year, for the first time, the Starting tomorrow, Amazon will schedules — a growing number of address will be available to stream on- also make the speech available across whom have canceled subscriptions demand on Amazon Video, as well as all devices until the end of the week, in favour of Internet-based services. the White House website and YouTube Goldman said in a statement.

Killer drug fugitives recaptured in Ringling Bros circus to Argentina: Police cease elephant acts People against the California Teachers Union rally in front of the US Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, yesterday. AFP Reuters Greatest Show on Earth”. Many local governments also have added regu- Conservative US top court justices BUENOS AIRES: Argentine police lations making it harder for the circus yesterday recaptured two killers to tour with the animals. from a drug gang who escaped NEW YORK: The elephant acts that Calls by activists for the animals from prison, an official said after have been part of Ringling Bros and to be phased out more quickly did not sceptical over union fees also arresting their leader, in a case Barnum & Bailey Circus shows for factor into the company’s decision, linked to political dirty tricks. more than a century will end in Payne said. “Absolutely not,” he said. One member of the band who May, earlier than their previously “We were able to accommodate the Reuters non-members are “compelled rid- workers who do not want representa- escaped from jail two weeks ago announced retirement, the circus’ remaining 11 elephants sooner than ers” if they disagree with the union’s tion as long as the money is not spent was captured on Saturday and his parent company said yesterday. we anticipated.” The company said stances on various issues. on political activities. two accomplices were seized yester- Last March, Feld Entertainment it is committed to saving the endan- WASHINGTON: Conservative US Non-members can already opt out A ruling in favour of the non-union day, in a case that has embarrassed said the 13 Asian elephants used in its gered species through breeding and Supreme Court justices yesterday of paying the union’s political activi- teachers would be a blow to organ- President Mauricio Macri. traveling shows would be phased out medical research. expressed support for a conserva- ties. But several of the justices hinted ized labor because unionised teachers Macri himself mistakenly said by 2018. The company accelerated the Fewer than 40,000 Asian ele- tive challenge to fees that public-sector at the difficulties of separating out and other civil servants in states with- that all the fugitives were recap- retirement plan after concluding its phants remain in the wild. About 250 unions collect from non-members to political issues in a way that would not out right-to-work laws comprise its tured on Saturday, but it turned out 200-acre Centre for Elephant Conser- are in captivity in the United States, pay for collective bargaining in a case infringe upon the free speech rights main power base. only one, Martin Lanatta, 41, was vation in central Florida had enough 26 of which were born in the past 20 involving California teachers that could of non-members who disagree with The 10 teachers assert that Califor- detained that day. His government barn space, water and waste disposal years at Ringling facilities. erode the power of organised labour. the union. nia law violates non-union workers’ had to retract the claim hours later. capacity to hold the 11 elephants still on The Ringling herd at the conser- Chief Justice John Roberts and Jus- US conservatives have long sought free-speech rights under the US However, the deputy governor of tour, spokesman Stephen Payne said. vation centre in Polk City, Florida, tice Anthony Kennedy, two key votes to curb the influence of public sector Constitution’s First Amendment by the central Santa Fe province Car- The circus has been targeted by will total 42 once the traveling ele- on the nine-member court, both indi- unions representing employees like requiring them to pay the “agency los Fascendini said police had also animal welfare groups who accused phant shows cease. “We will all miss cated they could side with the three police, firefighters and teachers that fees” toward collective bargaining captured Martin Lanatta’s brother it of mistreating the elephants, a key the elephants,” Payne said. “We don’t other conservative justices in deliv- often support the Democratic Party activities. Cristian, 31, and the third convict, symbol of the spectacle billed as “The have many 9,000-pound clowns.” ering a major blow to public sector and liberal causes. The case before the The teachers union noted that Victor Schillaci, 33. “The other two unions by overturning a 1977 Supreme justices was spearheaded by a con- state law requires the union to fugitives have now been detained” Court precedent. servative group called the Center for represent all workers during col- near the town of Cayasta, Fascendini The case could undercut organ- Individual Rights. lective bargaining, the process in said on the radio. ised labour’s influence by allowing Twenty-five US states already have which unions negotiate contracts The government issued an public sector workers who are not what is known as “right-to-work” laws with employers on behalf of employ- international call on December union members but are forced under that prohibit workers from being forced ees, regardless of whether they are 31 to catch the three, sparking a state law to pay “agency fees” equiv- to pay fees to a union. members. dramatic chase that was covered alent to union dues to stop providing The dispute pits 10 non-union The non-union teachers appealed live on television. Officials alleged this money. This would reduce the teachers and the Christian Educators to the Supreme Court after the 9th the convicts’ escape from jail was income and political clout of public Association International against the US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in an inside job and linked to politi- sector unions. California Teachers Association, an favor of the union in November 2014. cal dirty tricks. Both Roberts and Kennedy influential union with 325,000 mem- Among public sector workers, 35.7 They were serving life sentences appeared unsympathetic to the Cali- bers. The lead plaintiff is Rebecca percent belong to unions, compared for a drug-related triple killing. fornia Teachers Association’s argument Friedrichs, an elementary school to 6.6 percent in the private sector, Martin Lanatta sparked a scan- that non-members would become teacher in Anaheim who quit the according to the US Bureau of Labour dal during campaigning for last “free-riders” if not required to pay union in 2012. Statistics. Roughly three-quarters of month’s election, in which Macri the fees to fund collective bargaining Those teachers are asking the jus- the estimated 7.2 million public sector beat the ally of his left-wing pred- activities because they would bene- tices to overturn a 1977 Supreme Court union members are in states without ecessor Cristina Kirchner. A file picture of elephants Bonnie (left) and Kelly Ann standing next fit from collective bargaining without ruling in the case Abood v. Detroit “right-to-work” laws. Lanatta alleged in a television having to pay for it. Board of Education that allowed pub- A ruling in the case is due by the interview that a senior ally of Kirch- to each other before a Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus Kennedy said that currently lic sector unions to collect fees from end of June. ner was involved in drug crimes. performance in Washington, DC. AMERICAS TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 1917 Extraditing Guzman to US could take a year: Mexico

the Supreme Court. Saturday published the interview that Guzman is now back at the Alti- Guzman gave to the actors in an undis- Guzman’s lawyer, plano maximum-security prison, some closed jungle clearing in Mexico. Despite Juan Pablo Badillo, 90km west of Mexico City. Penn’s cloak-and-dagger efforts to keep The drug lord was previously the gathering secret, another Mexican has vowed to launch arrested in February 2014 but it only official said that authorities found out a ‘tough’ legal battle took him 17 months to escape from about the meeting, which eventually that could reach the the penitentiary after his henchmen helped them track down the Sinaloa dug a 1.5km tunnel to set him free. drug cartel chief. Supreme Court A dozen prison officials have Guzman was recaptured on Friday been arrested over the escape. Offi- in the seaside city of Los Mochis, in his cials defended the decision to put him native northwestern state of Sinaloa, back in the same prison, saying secu- in a military operation that left five AFP rity was beefed up, including with the suspects dead. installation of metal rods under the Attorney General Arely Gomez said floor. Guzman escaped through a hole on Friday that Guzman had met with in his cell’s shower floor. unnamed actors and producers to dis- MEXICO CITY: Extraditing Joaquin “El A small tank was stationed outside cuss making a biopic about himself, Chapo” Guzman to the United States the prison. Guzman’s escape humil- and that it was part of a “new line of A woman reads La Jornada newspaper in Mexico City which shows a picture of drug lord Joaquin Guzman could take a year or more, Mexican iated Pena Nieto, who had vowed to investigation”. authorities said yesterday, while the keep him behind bars and put him on Some legal experts, however, doubt shaking hands with US actor Sean Penn (left). slippery drug lord waits in the prison trial in Mexico even though the drug that Penn could face charges in the he previously escaped from. lord had already fled from another United States or Mexico. The extradition bid marks a prison in 2001. “I seriously doubt that charges will reversal from President Enrique Pena While Guzman could face US be brought against them even though Sean Penn’s exploits greeted with scorn Nieto’s refusal to send Guzman across justice, Mexican authorities want to Sean Penn took extraordinary steps the border prior to his July escape from question US actor Sean Penn over his to prevent authorities from using his a maximum-security prison. clandestine meeting with the then- phone to track the whereabouts of AFP healthy plate of criticism on the star’s Abrams said the interview will not After Guzman was recaptured on fugitive in October. Chapo,” said Mike Vigil, a former sen- acting career. likely put Penn in any legal jeopardy Friday, authorities launched the extra- A Mexican federal official said that ior official at the US Drug Enforcement “Look, I think Sean Penn is not as it “doesn’t violate any law.” dition process on Sunday, based on two the attorney general’s office also wants Administration. someone I spend a lot of time think- Journalists, meanwhile, spared no US petitions on a clutch of charges, to speak with Mexican actress Kate del Rolling Stone posted a picture WASHINGTON: Actor Sean Penn took ing about. I didn’t even know he was effort in criticising Penn and his article including drug trafficking and homi- Castillo, who brokered the meeting. dated October 2 showing the Oscar- on a heap of US criticism, one day after still around,” Rubio said. on everything from its ethical merits to cide. “I could say as an estimate that it “That is correct, of course, it’s to winning actor shaking hands with the Rolling Stone magazine published his “If one of these American actors writing style. The Internet was abuzz could be at least a year,” Jose Manuel determine responsibilities,” the offi- mustachioed drug cartel leader. Penn account of a clandestine meeting with who have benefited from the greatness with mockery of some of Penn’s more Merino, the international affairs offi- cial said, declining to provide more wrote that they had a seven-hour sit- Mexican drug baron Joaquin “El Chapo” of this country, who have made money outlandish moments, including when cial at the attorney general’s office, details, including a possible date for down, followed by phone and video Guzman. from our free enterprise system, want to he disclosed that he had let “a minor told Radio Formula. an interview with the stars. interviews. On the American right, where go fawn all over a criminal and a drug traveller’s flatulence” and experienced But Merino warned that the proc- White House Chief of Staff Denis “I supply more heroin, metham- Republican presidential hopefuls are trafficker in their interviews they have nothing but chivalry from Guzman who ess could last as a long as four to six McDonough told CNN that Penn’s phetamine, cocaine and marijuana battling it out, Penn’s exploits were a constitutional right to do it. I find it “pretends not to notice.” years depending how hard Guzman’s meeting with Guzman “poses a lot than anybody else in the world,” Guz- greeted with scorn. US Senator Marco grotesque,” he continued. The New York Post tabloid summed lawyers fight his extradition through of interesting questions for him and man said. “I have a fleet of submarines, Rubio, one of the Republicans running On the left, even the most circum- up the situation by reposting a now injunctions. Guzman’s lawyer, Juan others involved in this so-called inter- airplanes, trucks and boats.” The White for his party’s nomination for the White spect of phrasing pegged Penn’s exploits famous photo of Guzman and Penn Pablo Badillo, has vowed to launch a view. We’ll see what happens”. House said Guzman’s boast about his House, said Penn’s efforts were out- as begging “a lot of interesting ques- shaking hands, with the sentence “El “tough” legal battle that could reach US rock magazine Rolling Stone on trafficking exploits “is maddening”. landish, but not before dishing out a tions”. Leading media lawyer Floyd Chapo, meet El Jerko,” underneath. Oregon stand-off enters second week Fever builds for record $1.4bn US jackpot AP

AFP Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59pm (0359 GMT), selects five white balls BURNS: The occupation of national from a drum containing 69 balls, and wildlife area by a small, armed one red one from a drum with 26. group upset over federal land poli- NEW YORK: Americans raced to The cash payment for a single cies stretched into its second week buy lottery tickets yesterday in the jackpot winner tomorrow would rise to as the mother of the group’s leader hope of snagging the largest jack- $806m before taxes, according to the asked supporters to send supplies — pot in US history, a staggering $1.4bn Powerball site. Tonya Smith, 45, who is everything from warm blankets to after back-to-back draws failed to studying for her high school diploma coffee creamer. net an overall winner. after dropping out as a teenager to The group that seized the Malheur Saturday’s winning numbers in raise her siblings, is dreaming big. National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon’s the Powerball were 32-16-19-57-34 “It’s enormous, it’s unprecedented. high desert country on January 2 and 13, but while 25 people matched Wow. It’s huge, it’s huge. It makes a planned no media briefings. It was the first five numbers — winning $1m player that doesn’t play, play,” the quiet at the entrance to the refuge. — no one claimed the $950m jack- Brooklynite said. She’s splashing $10 The leader of the occupation, pot, rolling it over to $1.4bn. on tickets for tomorrow’s draw and Ammon Bundy, has repeatedly rejected In Midtown Manhattan, Shailesh says she is urging all her friends and calls to leave buildings at the refuge Patel, 40, has done a roaring trade family to take part. “I’m just hoping despite pleas from the county sheriff, in ticket sales and expects a deluge and praying like everybody else,” she from many local residents and from of extra customers before the next says. She wants to donate part of her Oregon’s governor, among others. He draw tomorrow night. winnings to charity, take care of her has said the group will leave when “People spend money like $10, family and travel the world — Aus- there is a plan to transfer control of $20, some people $50. It depends,” tralia, Hawaii, Miami, Barbados and federal land to locals. he said as customers bustle in and Dubai are on her bucket list. So far, the authorities have not out of his bodega to sign up for their She’s scared of flying but jokes moved in to remove Bundy’s group. lucky numbers — few content with that winning the jackpot might help Ammon Bundy is the son of rancher buying just one ticket. The excite- overcome her phobia. “I’m willing to Occupier Jon Ritzheimer helps supporters Joe Rigney (left) and his wife Amanda Rigney unload firewood Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a ment drove Patel to splurge $10 on be more adventurous,” she laughs. 2014 Nevada standoff with the gov- at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon. the Powerball last week and he says Frankie Melendez, who works for a ernment over grazing rights. he’ll play again this week. copying and scan center in Manhattan, On Saturday, Ammon Bundy’s the group on Saturday, despite requests state representative whose district Western states, including 53 percent “I need to buy a little house, I’d says he started buying Powerball tick- mother, Carol Bundy, sent an email from local officials that he not do so. includes the wildlife refuge, told of Oregon. While ranchers and oth- spend a little on my family,” he says. ets when the jackpot passed $500m to supporters asking them to send her Dallas Heard, a Republican from Heard not to come because it would ers object to what they say are unfair The Multi-State Lottery Associa- last week. “It’s crazy,” he says. “I’ll son’s group supplies from a list of more Roseburg, talked with the group, The be “inappropriate.” rules, environmentalists say mining, tion that organises the game sought probably get a card, which is $10.” than 80 items, including sleeping bags, Oregonian reported. Heard’s legis- The standoff is the latest flare up logging and ranching have run rough- to drive up sales by releasing statis- He also plans to take care of his wool socks, cigarettes, toiletries, food, lative district is in western Oregon, of tensions over federal management shod for decades on public land and tics on the most common Powerball family — his six brothers and sisters coffee and “French Vanilla Creamer.” outside the area where the standoff is of Western lands. The federal govern- left a legacy of pollution for taxpay- numbers, the most overdue numbers — and his grandmother and grand- An Oregon state legislator met with occurring. Cliff Bentz, the Republican ment manages most of the land in many ers to clean up. and those drawn the least. father who are still alive. Powerball The three most overdue numbers? is played in 44 states, the District of One, three and 35, the lottery tweeted. Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Court delays trial of officer in Freddie Gray death The draw, which takes place each Virgin Islands.

Reuters trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court for the death Porter’s trial on involuntary manslaughter and of Gray, who died of a broken neck in April after other charges ended in hung jury in December. Pros- being transported in a police van. ecutors want him as a witness against Goodson and A spokeswoman for Maryland’s court system said last week Judge Barry Williams ordered Porter to BALTIMORE: A Maryland appeals court yesterday motions would have to be filed in Goodson’s case testify since he had been offered immunity from delayed the murder trial of a Baltimore police officer and oral arguments held before the appeals court prosecution for what he might say on the stand. in the death of black detainee Freddie Gray until it could rule on whether Porter will testify. There is The Court of Special Appeals agreed on Friday can decide on whether a key witness should testify. no time frame for a decision, she said. to a motion by Porter’s lawyers to temporarily halt Caesar Goodson Jr’s trial was to have begun Goodson faces the most serious charge, second- William’s order. Porter has said he will invoke his yesterday in a case that fueled a nationwide debate degree depraved heart murder, and jury selection constitutional right against self-incrimination if over race and policing in the United States. had been scheduled to start on Monday. called to testify. His retrial is scheduled for June. The ruling by the Court of Special Appeals in Goodson, 46, was the driver of the police trans- Goodson, who is black, faces up to 30 years in Annapolis delayed the trial until it can decide whether port van where Gray, who was arrested after fleeing prison if convicted of the murder charge. In Mary- another William Porter, the Baltimore police officer police, suffered a broken neck. He died a week later. land, depraved heart murder is a killing done while whose own trial in the Gray case ended in a hung Baltimore, a majority black city of 620,000 peo- acting with extreme disregard for human life. A programmable electronic billboard displays the jackpot amount jury in December, could be compelled to testify ple, exploded in protests and arson after Gray’s death. He also is accused of manslaughter, three against Goodson and another officer. The unrest followed other police killings of black counts of assault, misconduct in office and reck- of $1.3bn and growing for the multi-state Powerball lottery jackpot, They are among a total of six officers facing men in New York and Ferguson, Missouri. less endangerment. in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, yesterday.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 16o C Maximum: 23o C

FAJR 05.01 am ZUHR 11.42 am MAGHRIB 05.05 pm HIGH TIDE 05:30 - 16:15 Partly cloudy with chance of scattered rain at SHOROOK 06.21 am ASR 02.43 pm ISHA 06.35 pm LOW TIDE 12:45 - 22:30 places at first, relatively cold by night.

20 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Music legend David Bowie passes away www.thepeninsulaqatar.com AFP MOST READ LONDON: British music legend David Bowie has Qatar Airways launches Travel Festival died at the age of 69 after a secret battle with can- 1 cer, drawing an outpouring of tributes for one of the most influential and innovative artistes of his time. Katara and Unesco launch Cultural A notoriously private person, Bowie’s death 2 Diversity Festival came as a shock for the world just days after he had released his 25th studio album “Blackstar” on Teyseer Fuel Station in Al Wukair closed; his 69th birthday on Friday. 3 third in recent times “David Bowie died peacefully today (Sunday) sur- rounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer,” said a statement posted on his official social media accounts yesterday. TWEET OF THE DAY The death brings the curtain down on an extraor- dinary musical innovator and style icon, with a career dating back to his first major hit “Space Odd- ity” in 1969, about an astronaut called Major Tom who became lost in orbit. Tributes poured in from the world of music, show business and politics for the singer-songwriter, producer and actor hailed as a visionary and mas- ter of reinvention. The Rolling Stones hailed Bowie as an “extraor- dinary artist”. Collaborator Iggy Pop called his friendship “the light of my life” while Madonna commented: “Unique. Genius. Game Changer.” Bowie spanned styles ranging from glam rock, Flowers and candles next to a portrait of David Bowie outside the apartment house yesterday New Romantic, rock and dance music to alterna- tive rock, jungle, soul and hard rock, underpinned in the Schoeneberg district of Berlin in Germany where he lived from 1976 to 78. by an astonishing array of stage personas from the ambiguous Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke. Fans left flowers and messages at a mural of David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947. estimated 140 million records worldwide, with his Bowie’s face painted with a lightning bolt in Brix- Although Bowie left school with just one qual- biggest-selling album “Let’s Dance” selling 7,000,000 ton, the district of south London where he was born ification, an “O-level” in art, he went on to sell an copies. Mexican actress stars in drama on El Chapo INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY AFP until she directed tweets at Guzman had been misunderstood, insisting that After Guzman’s second capture in in February 2012. her messages were “totally ironic, sar- February 2014, the same lawyer found In one tweet, written while Guz- casm.” The dark-haired actress said her again and the actress and drug lord man was on the lam a decade after Guzman never responded and that began to correspond in handwritten MEXICO CITY: Known as a drug cartel his first prison break, del Castillo said she did not know him. letters and text messages, the Oscar- A winter “queen” in a telenovela, Mexican actress she “believes more in Chapo Guzman But in his bombshell article for Roll- winning actor said. While in prison, migratory Kate del Castillo is now starring in a than the governments that hide the ing Stone on Saturday, Penn wrote that Guzman wanted a film made about bird off the real-life drama as the go-between for truth from me even though it might a lawyer for Guzman contacted her his life “but would entrust its telling Corniche. Sean Penn and crime kingpin Joaquin be painful.” after reading her statement on Twitter. only to Kate,” Penn wrote. “El Chapo” Guzman. She also pleads with Guzman to “He said El Senor wanted to send After Guzman’s second capture in Picture The 43-year-old actress, who get out of the drug business. her flowers in gratitude. She nervously February 2014, the same lawyer found by: Salim starred in the 2011 show “La Reina In an interview with Televisa that offered her address, but with the gypsy her again and the actress and drug lord Matramkot del Sur” (“The Queen of the South”), same year, the daughter of famous tel- movements of an actress, the flowers began to correspond in handwritten had a relatively scandal-free career enova actor Eric del Castillo said she did not find her,” Penn wrote. letters and text messages. The Revenant and The Martian win big at Golden Globes

AFP held in Beverly Hills, which is seen as a good indicator of which movies and actors will fight for Oscars glory. Winslet won for best supporting actress LOS ANGELES: Epic survival thriller “The Reve- in a film for her role in the biopic “Steve Jobs”, nant” and space blockbuster “The Martian” won and Stallone won for best supporting actor in big at the Golden Globes on Sunday, boosting “Creed,” in which he reprised his iconic role their chances for Oscars glory next month. of boxer Rocky Balboa. “The Revenant” — the story of 19th century “Spotlight,” an early Globes favourite about fur trapper Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiC- journalists from The Boston Globe who uncov- aprio — won three top awards at the star-studded ered sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, went gala, for best drama, best actor (DiCaprio) and home empty-handed despite three nominations. best director (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu). Also snubbed was “The Big Short,” based on “The Martian,” the tale of an astronaut a book about the financial crisis of 2007-2008. stranded alone on Mars, won two top prizes — best comedy film and best actor in a com- Sharp humour edy for actor Matt Damon. Hosting the glittering gala considered Hol- The two films — split in separate catego- lywood’s biggest party of the year was British ries by Globes organisers, meaning they were comedian Ricky Gervais, who dished out his not competing against each other — are now in trademark raunchy humour, targeting Cait- prime position as Hollywood’s annual awards lyn Jenner, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, among season heats up ahead of the Oscars on Feb- many others. ruary 28. “Shut up, you disgusting, pill-popping “I cannot say how surprised I am and how deviant scum!” he said by way of greeting the proud I am to have survived this movie,” Inar- glittering crowd at the event organised by the ritu said, referring to the harsh conditions in Hollywood Foreign Press Association. which the movie was filmed, mainly in Can- He also poked fun at Bill Cosby, saying ada and Argentina. he would rather spend an evening in a hotel Inarritu’s movie “Birdman” won four Oscars room with Gibson — the target of his hosting last year including for best picture and best gags in the past — than with the disgraced director, and many critics believe the Mexi- US comedian accused of assault by some 50 Director Alejandro G Inarritu accepts the award after “The Revenant” won Best Motion Picture, Drama, at the 73rd Golden Globe can director could emerge triumphant again women. this year. In the United States, the event was broad- Awards in Beverly Hills, California late on Sunday. Also seen is best actor award winner Leonardo DiCaprio (left). DiCaprio, who got a standing ovation from cast with a delay of a few seconds to bleep his Hollywood peers at the first major awards out Gervais’s dirtiest jokes — and other on- show of the year, said he wanted to share the air obscenities — for a primetime audience. Holocaust drama “Son of Saul” was the win- category, Taraji P Henson won the Golden personify the emotions of a girl named Riley award with indigenous communities around Other films that vied for the best drama ner. Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes also Globe for her role in “Empire,” which looks at as her parents move from the Midwestern state the world. prize — and should figure in the Oscars honours television shows. the struggle inside the family behind a major of Minnesota to California. “It is time that we recognise your history conversation — were 1950s queer romance “Mr Robot,” about a computer programmer hip-hop label. “When I was in junior high, literally my and that we protect your indigenous lands from “Carol,” harrowing kidnap tale “Room,” and and vigilante hacker, took home the prize for The awards are decided by the Hollywood goal was to make it through the day with no corporate interests and from people that are the summer action blockbuster “Mad Max: best drama series. Amazon’s comedy “Mozart Foreign Press Association, made up of some 90 one noticing me,” said Docter, himself a Min- out there to exploit them,” said DiCaprio. Fury Road.” In The Jungle” took the prize for best com- entertainment editors and writers from 55 coun- nesota native. Critics believe the 41-year-old actor may Brie Larson won the Globe for best actress edy series. tries who report on the industry year-round. “Obviously, something went horribly wrong finally win his first Oscar for the movie. He in a drama for her portrayal of a young mother Jon Hamm won his second Golden Globe “Inside Out,” a journey into a girl’s head as tonight,” he told the star-studded Hollywood went all out for the role, even eating raw bison held captive with her child in “Room,” besting for best actor in a drama for his portrayal of her parents move, won the Golden Globe for crowd. liver for a scene. “Carol” co-stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney womanising advertising executive Don Draper best animated film in the latest triumph for “But the point is — we felt like growing up A-listers Kate Winslet and Sylvester Stallone Mara. in “Mad Men,” whose finale aired last year. director Pete Docter. was really hard, and that’s a worthy subject also took home acting prizes at the ceremony In the best foreign movie category, Hungarian And for best actress in the TV drama The Pixar movie uses five characters to to make a movie about,” he said. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 22 QE 9,671.86 -2.04 PTS PAGE | 25 EU shuts down DOW 16,345.78 -0.67 PTS Electrolux CEO Belgium tax breaks FTSE100 5,871.83 -40.61 PTS to leave after for multinationals BRENT $32.73 -$0.82 collapse of GE deal

TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 • 2 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Aramco share Qatari companies forecast listing will take to grow in fourth quarter time: Chairman RIYADH: Any share listing of state- owned Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude producer, will take Lower urea and time, the company’s chairman told The Wall Street Journal in an inter- commodity chemical view published yesterday. Khalid Al Falih also said the prices are expected Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim potential sale of shares could include to impact earnings Al Thani at the workshop yesterday. listing at least part of Aramco’s crude extraction operations. “There is no plan that is concrete at this stage By Satish Kanady to do the listing. There are studies The Peninsula ongoing. Serious consideration,” Minister launches Falih told The Journal. His comments came after Ara- mco said on Friday it “has been SME workshop DOHA: The earnings of Qatari compa- studying various options to allow nies are forecasted to grow by 4 percent broad public participation in its year-on-year for the fourth quarter of equity”. 2015 (Q4, 15), according to a consensus The move would be part of eco- QNA This was achieved by providing estimate by Investment Bank SICO. nomic reforms by the kingdom investment solutions to busi- In a research note sent to The coping with a collapse in global nesspeople, entrepreneurs and Peninsula yesterday, SICO analysts oil prices. investors. One of the important said Ooredoo is expected to report a Falih said that Saudi Aramco DOHA: Minister of Economy and projects was launching a logistics net income of QR523m for Q4, 15, com- is considering listing “the main Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed area in the south of Qatar, which pared with QR55m reported for the Saudi’s petrochemicals aggregate vs a net gain of Dh9.9m a year ear- company, and obviously the main bin Jassim Al Thani inaugurated is considered the biggest projects same period in 2014. SICO which covers earnings are expected to decline 26 lier. In terms of Banks, ADCB’s profit company, will include upstream,” a workshop yesterday, organised implemented in the country. 17 top companies of Qatar projected a percent YoY due to lower product prices is expected to rise by 14 percent YoY or the exploration and production by the ministry at the University of The ministry also offered smart combined profit of $2.07bn for Q4,15. across the board and plant shutdowns. due to healthy net interest income led sectors. Qatar in the field of financing Small electronic services to investors to QNB’s profits are projected to SABIC’s bottom line is forecasted to by lending book growth. Aramco manages crude reserves and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). facilitate the red tape procedures. increase by 12 percent. Profits of decline by 4 percent YoY and Tasnee is Meanwhile, a GCC market per- that exceed 261 billion barrels. The Minister said that organ- Such services included issuing and Industries Qatar (IQ) is estimated at expected to report a net loss of SR165m formance report for the year 2015 The company might also list ising the workshop reflects the renewing commercial registra- QR1.12bn. Lower urea and commodity vs a net gain of SR161m a year earlier released by the Global Investment refining and petrochemical units, commitment to economic diversi- tions. The Minister noted that all chemical prices are expected to impact led by weak titanium dioxide and com- House (GIH) said trading activities The Journal said. fication, the goal of Qatar National these efforts have already yielded IQ’s earnings. Qatar Electricity and modity chemical prices. Saudi banks fell due to negative sentiments over “Many of these assets are also Vision 2030. The State of Qatar some tangible results. Water’s profit is expected to increase are estimated to report a one percent the region. with other joint venture partners so realised early the dangers of rely- The private sector has already by 7 percent to QR384m. Qatar Navi- YoY increase in earnings. The sharp fall in oil prices weighed we have to go through the process ing on oil as a sole source of income become a main partner in growth. gation fourth quarter profit is expected UAE companies are expected to on investor sentiments most of the time. of reviewing the legal agreements as it was easily affected by foreign GDP growth for 2015 was regis- to touch QR238m. SICO’s GCC con- weigh down as Telecoms and Real Qatari bourse’s benchmark index between us and our partners,” said factors. This was proven right by tered at 6.1 percent, which is much sensus estimates indicates 5 percent estate companies wipe out aggregate experienced pressure from external Falih, who is also health minister. the recent declines in the prices of higher than the World GDP growth year-on-year rise in the fourth quarter Banks’ profit growth. Etisalat’s net factors such as the downgrade of the “It will take time.” oil and natural gas, he said. of 2.8 percent. The non-oil sector profits. Saudi companies’ earnings are income is expected to contract by 11 global growth forecast by the IMF. Any listing would primarily Part of the state of Qatar’s has grown from representing 42 estimated to increase 9 percent year- percent YoY as international opera- However, by the end of the month, occur on the Saudi exchange, “but I efforts according to the Minister percent in 2005 to 50 percent in on-year due to lower losses from Mobily. tions continue to pressure profits. In strong buying from foreign investors would not exclude at this stage inter- was bolstering the private sector. 2014, he added. UAE is expected to report 1 percent the real estate sector, Deyaar’s is pro- offset selling pressure from local insti- national listings given the potential decline in the fourth quarter profits. jected to report a net loss of Dh28.9m tutional and retail investors. size,” Falih told The Journal. Over 40 new models to be on display at Qatar Motor Show

By Mohammad Shoeb and outdoor experiences, including bank sponsor and Marriott Marquis The Peninsula an interactive fan zone for all ages City Center Doha as the official hotel. to enjoy. It is expected to attract over The new home of the Qatar Motor 50,000 motor enthusiasts. Show, the state-of-the-art DECC, offers Automotive enthusiasts will be more space for exhibitors and brands DOHA: Over 40 brand new cars, some able to revel in the latest auto and per- in the heart of West Bay. for them first time in the world, and formance trends showcased by leading Visitors can enjoy convenient onsite others for the first time in the region, international carmakers, exhibiting the parking, close proximity to 5-star will be showcased at this year’s Qatar top sports, luxury and mid-range auto- hotels, and more easily accessibil- Motor Show which is slated to be kicked motive models and branded lifestyle ity by foot for the local community off on January 28 at Doha Exhibition goods. During the show the city will and wider regional and international and Convention Centre (DECC). also witness a parade of unique and tourists. The five-day expo (January 28- exciting cars that will travel around “Just as the very concept of motor- February 1), organised by Qatar Tourism West Bay, from the latest industry inno- ing is evolving, we too are expanding Authority (QTA), ELAN Events and Fira vations to classic cars. our horizons at a new venue in the Barcelona, will be offering motor-lov- Hamad Al Abdan, Director of Exhi- core of the Business District (West Bay) ers and visitors a journey to ‘Explore bitions, at QTA, said;“We are delighted resulting an increase in our indoor exhi- the World of Motion’. to begin the year with one of the most bition space by 13 percent and included The show, for the sixth year in a anticipated shows in the nation’s events a range of interactive outdoor activi- row, will be held under the patronage calendar. As the business events indus- ties. This year’s edition will be bigger of Prime Minister and Interior Min- try has evolved over the years, we have and better than ever before. Moreover, ister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser worked with our partners in the private we have grown the amount of exhib- bin Khalifa Al Thani. sector to create dynamic and interac- iting brands by 18 percent compared The show is entering a colourful, tive offerings for our visitors. And now to 2015. During the five-day show, it exciting new phase with a venue in the we can confidently say that Qatar is the will take you to explore the world of heart of the city, more space, additional most distinguished and well-equipped Motion, not only inside the venue, but activities and a fresh brand. Speaking venue for an annual industry and con- all around the City that will become FROM LEFT: Miquel Serrano of Fira Barcelona, Roger Abi Haider of Elan Events and Abdullah Abdulaziz Alsada at a press conference, organisers con- sumer event of this calibre.” a stage for parades of the best sports, firmed the show would offer this year a Key partners at this year’s event luxury and classic cars,” said Roger from Commercial Bank at the Qatar Motor Show 2016 press conference yesterday. Pic: Qassim/The Peninsula balance between an indoor showroom include Commercial Bank as official Abi Haidar, General Manager at Elan. 22 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

Propertyfinder S&P affirms Ooredoo’s ‘A-’ rating Group valued at $200m following The Peninsula adequate. At the same time, our reas- performance will not be markedly A significant reduction in the Qatari new investment Ooredoo now has sessment of the company’s competitive weaker than its base-case projections state’s shareholding in Ooredoo and a significant cash position as strong rather than satisfac- and that the Standard & Poor’s-adjusted consequent review of our assessment of DOHA: Standard & Poor’s Ratings tory reflects our expectation of more debt-to-EBITDA ratio for the company the company as a government-related Services yesterday affirmed its ‘A-‘ balances and a stable profitability in the future.” will remain lower than 3x. entity could also lead to a downgrade The Peninsula long-term corporate credit rating on comfortable debt “A further important driver of both It assumes that Ooredoo will focus of up to three notches, although we Ooredoo QSC. reassessments is our expectation that on organic growth across its portfolio do not see this as likely at this stage. The outlook remains stable. maturity profile Ooredoo will make no major acquisition of assets and avoid sizable acquisitions “We could raise the ratings on DOHA: PropertyfinderGroup has At the same time, the ratings agency outlays in the coming 24 months,” the that would significantly increase its Ooredoo if the company reduced its raised $20m in growth capital from corrected an error on its short-term rating agency said. “We estimate that adjusted debt. S&P might lower the Standard & Poor’s-adjusted leverage the Sweden-listed investment com- corporate credit rating on Ooredoo by Ooredoo’s ratio of liquidity sources to ratings on Ooredoo, if its Standard to about 2x or it generated consistent pany, Vostok New Ventures Ltd, a lowering the rating to ‘A-2’ from ‘A-1’. rating agency said. liquidity uses will comfortably exceed & Poor’s-adjusted leverage (debt to and strong positive free cash flow. An transaction that values Property- “In accordance with our criteria, we “Ooredoo now has significant cash 1.5x and 1.0x for next 12 months and 24 EBITDA) ratio were to exceed 3x, due upgrade would also be conditional finderGroup at $200m. should have lowered the rating on Feb- balances and a comfortable debt matu- months, respectively,” it said. for example to underperformance, upon stabilisation of operating condi- The funding represents one ruary 3, 2014, when we lowered the rity profile, leading us to revise our The stable outlook reflects S&P’s financial policy decisions, or large tions in key markets, including Iraq”, of the largest investments in the long-term rating to ‘A-‘ from ‘A’,” the liquidity assessment to strong, from expectation that the group’s operating debt-funded acquisitions. the ratings agency noted. region’s emerging technology sector. The Group will continue to develop its innovative proprietary technol- ogy as well as bring in additional creative talent and intensify its marketing efforts to improve the EU shuts down Belgium tax offering to consumers, real estate agents and developers. Over the past ten years, Proper- tyfinderGroup has quickly become the leading real estate classified breaks for multinationals website in the UAE, Qatar, Bah- rain and Lebanon and is growing in popularity in Saudi Arabia, Egypt AFP and Morocco. Each month, over one million users visit the websites, gen- erating over 300,000 leads for agents and developers. BRUSSELS: The EU yesterday closed a Michael Lahyani, Chief Exec- major tax break that Belgium offered utive Officer and Founder of to multinationals, reportedly includ- PropertyfinderGroup, said:“The ing AB InBev and British American investment is an important next Tobacco, and ordered the companies step in the development of Prop- to return €700m ($762m) in unpaid ertyfinder and we are proud that a Mercedes head Dieter Zetsche introduces the Mercedes Edition 130 taxes. specialist investor such as Vostok convertable at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo In the latest Brussels crackdown on is supporting our growth strategy. Center in Detroit, Michigan, yesterday. tax avoidance, it ruled that the benefit The investment demonstrates the to some 35 multinational companies strength of our technology, bran- was illegal and breached the European dand the scale of our market Union’s rules on state aid to companies. presence in the Mena region.” Mercedes has recovered It comes in the wake of the “Lux- Lahyani added: “Our strategic leaks” scandal, which revealed details vision is to become the number one of tax breaks given to dozens of major online real estate destination in the from VW diesel hit: Chief firms in Luxembourg when current Mena region. In the next 12 months, European Commission head Jean- we will be using this new capital to Claude Juncker was prime minister. build and strengthen our sales and “The European Commission has marketing teams on the ground in AFP which launched the company’s new concluded that selective tax advan- each of our key markets.” luxury E-Class sedan, emphasising tages granted by Belgium under its Vostok New Ventures Ltd, the new line’s intelligent capacities. ‘excess profit’ tax scheme are illegal which is listed on the Nasdaq The E-Class includes a new diesel under EU state aid rules,” Competition Stockholm Exchange, is an invest- DETROIT: Mercedes-Benz has recov- offering with “unheard of efficiency Commissioner Margrethe Vestager ment company focused on online ered from an initial hit to the image of and at the same time being cleanest told a news conference. marketplaces and businesses its diesel vehicles due to the Volkswa- diesel we have ever seen,” Zetsche said. “Belgium has given a select number with strong network effects. gen emissions-cheating scandal, Before the car was unveiled, Zet- of multinationals substantial tax Vostok New Ventures is also European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager addresses Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche sche took a not-so-subtle dig at his advantages that break EU state aid an investor in ‘BlaBlaCar’ and a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels yesterday. said yesterday. German rival. Without mentioning rules. It distorts competition on the ‘Avito’, both companies now val- “For some time the entire indus- VW, Zetsche thanked Santa Claus merits by putting smaller compet- ued at over $1bn. try was affected” by the VW scandal,” after “he left a lot of candy in our itors who are not multinational on Per Brilioth, Managing Direc- Zetsche, who is also head of Mercedes- stockings,” unlike “some Germany an unequal footing,” Vestager said. The European Union has say the EU has been unfairly target- tor, Vostok New Ventures, said: Benz Cars, said on the sidelines of the carmakers.” She did not name the compa- also launched investigations into ing US companies. But Vestager said “Michael and his team have built Detroit auto show. “But there’s clear Later he confirmed that the nies but reports said targets included other countries’ tax deals: US tech that in the Belgium case, 500 of the a tremendous business and brand differentiation and we feel the full remark was a reference to VW, say- Stella Artois brewer AB InBev which is giant Apple’s deals with Ireland, cof- 700 million euros in avoided taxes since launching Propertyfind- confidence with our customer base ing, “it’s obvious the last year was undergoing an $121bn buyout of rival fee-shop chain Starbucks with The were owed by European companies. erGroup ten years ago, making and our stakeholders again.” not so nice for everybody.” SABMiller. Netherlands and McDonald’s with Belgium’s system, dubbed “Only in them the number one real estate Soon after the VW scandal broke, Zetsche said that he still thinks Seeing AB InBev use the tie-up Luxembourg. Belgium”, allows companies to reduce classified website in the UAE and Zetsche realised he needed to explain diesel will remain a “niche” technol- as an opportunity to leave Belgium In October the Commission decided tax by registering “excess profits” that other regional countries. We are to stakeholders “what we do and what ogy in the United States, much as it for lighter taxes elsewhere has been that Luxembourg and the Netherlands allegedly result from the advantage of fully committed to supporting we don’t do,” he said. “On that basis was before the VW scandal. Diesel a major concern in Brussels. have granted unfair tax advantages to being part of a multinational group. the business to maintain and today, there is no difference anymore has accounted for about three per- Belgian Finance Minister Johan Van Fiat and Starbucks, respectively, and Vestager insisted those tax breaks continue to grow its regional in the trust people have in our brand cent of overall US market share, with Overtveldt said he had expected the ordered the firms to repay some taxes. should be available for stand-alone leadership in the years to come.” versus before the scandal.” some lines of sedans reaching 10 per- decision and therefore suspended the EU rules say some tax breaks companies or Belgian groups, reject- Following the investment, Zetsche’s comments came less cent and some sport utility vehicles tax break to new companies as soon offered to big companies breach the ing Belgium’s claims that the system the senior team at Property- than a week after Mercedes reported hitting 20 percent. as the EU probe began in February. bloc’s rules on state aid, as they amount avoids “double taxation” in two or finderGroup will retain full record annual US sales for 2015, a “I don’t think it will disappear,” he “At this point we do not exclude to a government subsidy that is aimed more countries. management control and major- sharp contrast with fellow German said. “After some bump in the road, any option. This also applies to the at attracting multinationals to do busi- Fair taxation activists said the deci- ity ownership of the Group, which rival VW. The mood was much more we will maintain this kind of share, possibility of an appeal against the ness in certain countries. sion, like the other EU moves after employs over 150 people across upbeat at the lavish Mercedes party but not grow it,” he said. decision,” the minister said. The deals are not illegal and critics Luxleaks, was too cautious. six offices.

Shire to buy Baxalta for Kia Telluride concept set for global premiere $32bn in cash and stock

Bloomberg EvaluatePharma. The combined com- effective tax rate of 16 percent to 17 pany would generate more than $20bn percent by 2017, Shire said. in sales by 2020. The value of the offer represents a With Baxalta, Shire gains a domi- premium of about 38 percent to Bax- LONDON: Shire Plc won over Bax- nant position in providing treatments alta’s share price on August 3, the day alta Inc. by adding cash to sweeten a for hemophilia, a bleeding disorder before the announcement of Shire’s takeover bid worth about $32bn and that affects only about 20,000 peo- initial offer. Baxalta holders will own become the world’s biggest maker of ple in the US Baxalta’s drug Advate, about 34 percent of the enlarged com- so-called orphan drugs for rare dis- for hemophilia A, can cost $200,000 pany. The transaction is expected to eases. to $500,000 a year and is well reim- close mid-2016. Shire expects to save The price includes 0.1482 of Shire’s bursed by insurers. That would add more than $500m in annual costs fol- American depositary receipts and $18 to Shire’s collection of rare-disease lowing the transaction, which is likely in cash for each Baxalta share held, the drugs, which includes Cinryze for to add to non- GAAP earnings starting companies said in a joint statement. an inflammatory disease. Cinryze is in 2017, the companies said. Baxalta had rebuffed an unsolicited among Shire’s best-sellers and one of Shire and its tax adviser deter- Kia Motors will unveil the new Telluride at the $30bn all-stock bid that valued the the most expensive medicines in the mined that a deal with $18 of cash per 2016 North American International Auto Show. Deerfield, Illinois-based company at world, costing as much as $630,000 Baxalta share will maintain the tax- The boldly designed car pushes the boundaries $45.23 a share in July. Shire shares rose a year. free status of the Baxalta spinoff from of technology and luxury with a unique in-cabin 2.9 percent to 4,401 pence in London. Baxalta will benefit from a lower Baxter, according to the statement. health-and-wellness technology. The concept The planned acquisition boosts tax rate by being taken over by Shire, The Baxalta deal is Shire’s latest highlights Kia’s first use of 3D-printed components, Dublin-based Shire’s position in the which has a Dublin legal address focus on companies with treatments for which add a distinct, modern design element to market for rare-disease treatments, despite keeping many operations rare diseases, including the November the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel. which will grow by more than 60 elsewhere. The US drugmaker had purchase of Dyax Inc for $5.9bn and percent over the next five years to projected a tax rate of 23 percent in the $5bn acquisition of NPS Pharma- $176bn, according to market researcher 2016. A combination would yield an ceuticals Inc in February 2015. BUSINESS TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 23 Turkey sees Nakilat delivers new Qatari-built vessel faster economic The Peninsula

DOHA: After a successful perform- ance during sea trials, Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) has delivered growth ahead one new Qatari-built support vessel to Qatar. The new vessel Abu Hadee- dah is based on the standard Damen Stan tender 2606 design. in 2015. Simsek, a former finance Abdullah Al Sulaiti, Nakilat Man- minister, forecast that geopolitical aging Director, said: “As a Qatari ship Investment, risks in the region would lessen, along building company, we are honoured productivity boost with a recovery in its main trading in celebrating the successful delivery expected to partner, the European Union, while of Abu Hadeedah. Nakilat and its joint he expected financial market vola- ventures continues to play a substantial support growth tility to ease this year. role in the marine industry. This project The new vessel Abu Hadeedah. “Fiscal discipline, increasing is a reflection of hard work incorpo- growth potential, reducing infla- rated with vision that has worked well tion and the current account deficit on all levels: a build for a local client to carry four crew and more of eight during support operations. Withal, the the largest in the world, comprising Reuters are in the forefront of the medium- at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Ship- personnel, cargo of 15 tonnes and has vessel has all-round visibility for pas- of 63 LNG vessels. term programme,” he said. yard, based on a proven design.” a maximum speed of 21.5 knots with sengers, a powerful air conditioning Nakilat also manages and oper- High inflation has become a grow- “With this partnership, we will an additional crane on deck for logis- system, and is equipped with an extra ates four large LPG carriers. Nakilat ing concern for the Turkish economy, provide solutions and services in the tics purposes. freezer and refrigerator capacity on operates the ship repair and construc- ANKARA: Turkey’s economic growth with annual consumer prices up 8.81 maritime industry and we will be able The vessel’s main purpose is to board. The design has been optimised tion facilities at Erhama Bin Jaber is expected to accelerate this year and percent in December, sharply above to offer competitive products for this support day to day operations. Abu to achieve the highest performance Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan next as it increases investments and the government’s target of 5 percent. business that will in turn contribute Hadeedah is the 27th successfully and durability. Industrial City via two strategic joint productivity, but inflation will not Simsek vowed “very serious to the achievements of Qatar National delivered vessel by NDSQ. Nakilat is a Qatari LNG trans- ventures: N-KOM and NDSQ. Nakilat fall to a 5 percent target until at least efforts” to reduce inflation, focusing vision 2030,” he said. The layout provides passengers port company providing an essential also offers a full range of marine sup- 2018, Deputy Prime Minister Meh- on structural measures, and forecast The 26 metres long boat, with a and crew with great comfort during transportation link in the Qatar’s LNG port services to vessels operating in met Simsek said yesterday. inflation would fall to 7.5 percent this beam of 6 metres, has the capacity passage and ensures maximum safety supply chain. Its LNG shipping fleet is Qatari waters Turkey’s economic growth has year, 6 percent in 2017 and 5 per- slowed in recent years, with the out- cent in 2018. look clouded by political uncertainty Turkey’s current account deficit, generated by a cycle of elections, a one of its major economic challenges, weakening lira and persistent concern would drop to 3.9 percent as a propor- about the central bank’s independ- tion of GDP this year, then 3.7 percent Uber enters app partnership with TransLoc ence. However, output grew by a in 2017 and 3.5 percent in 2018, down surprisingly strong 4 percent year- from 4.4 percent last year, Simsek said. on-year in the third quarter and Data yesterday showed a current Reuters with Uber rides and walking, TransLoc officials media site FiveThirtyEight showed that completing Simsek, appointed economy czar account deficit of $2.1bn in November, said. The idea is to offer Uber as a way for passen- 85 percent of trips on public transit and 15 percent after a November election, forecast slightly above expectations. gers to get from home to a transit stop, and from with Uber roughly equaled the cost of car ownership. that structural reforms would help Simsek also said he expected less transit stops to their destinations. Uber and Lyft have both made progress in sustain the momentum in the years pressure on emerging market curren- SAN FRANCISCO: Transportation technology com- Public transit agencies lose many potential rid- befriending public transit agencies. Uber has ahead. cies this year compared to 2015, and pany TransLoc announced yesterday a partnership ers because they lack options getting to or from the partnerships in Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and “The goal is to achieve strong and that gradual interest rate hikes by the with Uber, marking a significant advancement in bus or train stop, TransLoc said. Minneapolis. sustainable growth and prosperity, US Federal Reserve would have only the ride-hailing company’s effort to ally itself with “Such partnerships will enhance the attractive- Lyft also has a partnership with Dallas, and improving the investment environ- limited effect on Turkey. public transit agencies. ness of public transportation,” Michael Melaniphy, recently launched the “Friends with Transit” cam- ment and promoting technology The lira weakened as far as 3.0450 TransLoc, which builds technology products for president and chief executive of the American Pub- paign to demonstrate the number of passengers Lyft production,” he told a news confer- against the dollar overnight, edging public transit passengers and agencies, will integrate lic Transportation Association, the company said brings to and from transit stations. ence to announce the government’s close to a September record low of Uber into the TransLoc Rider app, a smartphone in a statement. Emily Castor, director of transportation policy medium-term economic programme. 3.0750. application that provides real-time bus tracking Uber and ride-hailing competitor Lyft have been at Lyft, said in an interview the company had “a The three-year policy roadmap, It crept back to 3.0225 by 1100 and route planning. working to find allies among public transit agencies, pipeline of dozens of public transit agencies” that revised each year, showed growth GMT. The main share index rose 0.88 San Francisco-based Uber’s app allows pas- recognising that if they are to be truly cheaper than are discussing partnerships with the ride service. was expected to reach 4.5 percent percent and the 10-year benchmark sengers to order on-demand rides from their car ownership as each company has touted it is, they They include the Massachusetts Bay Transportation this year and 5 percent in 2017 and bond yield rose to 11.33 percent from smartphones. The integration will allow passen- must be used in combination with public transit. Authority, which is talking to Lyft about improving 2018, up from an expected 4 percent 11.12 percent on Friday. gers to plan trips that combine public transportation A transportation study by the statistical analysis its paratransit services.

Lecture on energy efficiency of desalination China chemical giant to buy Germany’s KraussMaffei

Bloomberg with Guoxin International Investment supplies machines that process and Corp. and Henry Cai’s AGIC Capital in produce plastics and rubber, with the deal, which is expected to be com- customers in industries ranging from pleted during the first half of the year. automotive to consumer goods and BEIJING: China National Chemical The purchase adds to ChemChina’s pharmaceuticals. It has about 4,500 Corp agreed to buy German machin- emergence as one of the country’s most employees globally, of which 2,800 ery maker KraussMaffei Group from ambitious deal-makers after buying are based in Germany. The brand is Canada’s largest buyout firm in a deal or investing in assets in Italy, France, also used by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann valued at about $1bn to help the Chinese Norway, the UK and Singapore in the GmbH & Co. KG, the maker of mili- state-controlled company upgrade past few years, including tiremaker tary vehicles formed in 1999 when its expertise in manufacturing plas- Pirelli & C SpA. More recently, the com- KraussMaffei sold its defense oper- tics and rubber. pany offered to buy Syngenta AG at ations to Wegmann. China’s biggest chemicals company a price that could value the world’s ChemChina said after the deal, Chi- Dr Menachem Elimelech, Director of the Environmental Engineering Programme and the Roberto will make the transaction at an enter- largest producer of pesticides at about na’s biggest acquisition in Germany, Goizueta Professor of Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Yale University, delivering a lecture prise value of €925m ($1bn) from Onex 43.7bn francs ($44bn), a person famil- the company will retain KraussMaf- at Texax A&M University at Qatar yesterday. He discussed energy efficiency of desalination and the Corp and its affiliates, according to a iar with the matter has said. fei’s management and employees, with possible reductions in energy demand by desalination technologies. Pic: Kammutty/The Peninsula statement yesterday. ChemChina, as KraussMaffei, which generated the headquarters remaining in Munich the company is known, will team up revenue of about €1.1bn in 2014, and operations staying in Europe. Samsung has room to rise 40% even with profit miss

Bloomberg Huawei Technologies Co and Xiaomi Apple, which garners most of the indus- would not focus on the mobile-phone Corp., last week posted fourth- quarter try’s profits, ended on Thursday below business,” said Yoo Eui Hyung, an ana- profit that missed analysts’ estimates $100 for the first time in over a year lyst at Dongbu Securities. “Memory as smartphone demand waned. Yet after investment brokerages from UBS chips or displays could show better SEOUL: At least 10 analysts reaf- the profit was the company’s second AG to Morgan Stanley lowered fore- performance than market estimates.” firmed their “buy” recommendations straight, prompting analysts at bro- casts on iPhone shipments. Longer term, the company has sig- on Samsung Electronics Co after its kerages including Daishin Securities Samsung didn’t break out the per- naled a potential shift in its smartphone fourth- quarter earnings miss, estimat- and Hyundai Securities to reiterate formance of individual divisions when strategy. Vice Chairman Lee Jae Yong, ing that the world’s largest smartphone buy ratings. it reported earnings on January 8. That heir- apparent to South Korea’s biggest maker could climb more than 40 per- “Samsung’s smartphone mar- will come during fully audited earn- conglomerate, last year replaced the cent in the coming year. ket share loss may slow down as they ings later this month. head of the mobile-device business as After three consecutive years of restructured their lineup with more However, semiconductors were part of an annual management over- declines, shares of the South Korean competitive low- to mid-end models,” again expected to have contributed haul, suggesting a renewed focus on company could rise during the coming said Dohoon Lee, an analyst with CIMB the most to profit, while smartphones software innovations. The new leader, 12 months to 1.62 million won — the Securities Korea. “The valuation of the lagged in terms of growth. Koh Dong Jin, worked on Samsung’s average target price of 38 analysts stock is still cheap, so it’s unlikely to fall The results came days after Co- new payments service and its Knox surveyed by Bloomberg. That’s partly much further from the current level.” Chief Executive Officer Kwon Oh security software. contingent on Samsung’s abilities to tap To be sure, Korean analysts have Quantum Dot SUHD TVs are displayed at the Samsung booth at the 2016 Hyun warned of escalating competi- The company is slowing its mar- its twin cash-cows of memory chips traditionally been bullish on the CES trade show in Las Vegas. The Quantum Dot technology creates a tion and urged employees to find ways ket-share losses through popular and displays, and avoid the temptation country’s biggest corporation. While brighter picture and a wider range of colour than conventional LED TVs. to safeguard the company’s leads in mid-priced phones such as the “A” to claw back market share in a glo- Samsung is valued at about 8 times smartphones, TVs and memory chips series, CIMB’s Lee said. Yet apart from bally depressed smartphone market. last year’s earnings, lagging Apple’s now that software and platforms are beefing up services such as payments, The consumer-electronics giant, 10.5, it surpasses the 6.7 average of exposed to the smartphone market, its phone shipments were headed for their eclipsing hardware. Samsung lost more Samsung will need to wow consumers which is steadily losing ground to Apple industry peers. largest source of revenue, as a vendor second straight annual decline as mar- than $8bn in market value last year. with revolutionary advancements to Inc. and mid-market Chinese brands And the company remains heavily and supplier of components. Samsung’s kets mature and China’s economy slows. “If they know what reality is, they revive its brand, analysts said. 24 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

Flipkart Treasuries halt rally as names new Executive China’s turmoil fades Chairman

Bloomberg later this week of $34bn of 10- and 30-year securities. The extra yield, or Bloomberg Futures traders see spread, that investors get for holding a 41 percent chance 30-year bonds instead of two-year EDINBURGH: Treasuries declined, notes reached the most since Decem- MUMBAI: After an eight-year with 10-year note yields rising from that policy makers ber 23. The Treasury plans to auction stint heading India’s biggest online the lowest in more than two months, will lift the benchmark $24bn of three-year debt today. The retailer, Sachin Bansal is becom- as investors’ concern eased that Chi- steepening of the yield curve may ing executive chairman of Flipkart na’s tumbling stocks and the resulting rate by their March also be a signal that investors expect Bloomberg Bond Trader data. The 2.25 the 200,000 projected by a Bloomb- and handing over the CEO’s job to tumult in emerging markets will have meeting, with odds on faster economic growth to accelerate percent security due November 2025 fell erg survey of analysts. Gains in bond co- founder Binny Bansal. a lasting effect on the US economic inflation. “When we see weakness in 10/32, or $3.13 per $1,000 face amount, prices were fueled by China’s efforts to Binny will take responsibility for outlook. a move by the April Chinese markets initially it has a big to 100 7/8. The yield dropped 19 basis push the yuan lower, which sent stocks all business areas including delivery Yields on 30-year bonds increased gathering increasing impact globally, and then an absence points during the previous seven trading down around the world. operator Ekart and apparel retailer the most in almost two weeks. A Janu- to 48 percent of really bad news” limits the impact days and reached 2.11 percent earlier on The country’s central bank kept the Myntra, while Sachin will mentor ary 8 report showed that US employers on other markets, said Jan Von Gerich, Monday, the lowest since October 29. currency’s daily fixing stable Monday senior executives and seek new added more jobs in December than chief strategist at Nordea Bank AB in The 30-year bond yield climbed for a second day. “If the Fed continues investment opportunities, the com- analysts predicted, highlighting the Helsinki. “I expect moderately higher three basis points to 2.94 percent, set to believe jobs are a critical element as pany said on its blog yesterday. Binny resilience of the world’s largest econ- yields. The Fed remains on course to for the biggest increase since Dece- opposed to aggregate demand and glo- will continue overseeing the logis- omy and strengthening the case for benchmark rate by their March meet- hike in March and that hasn’t been mebr 29. Trading of Treasuries started bal growth, bonds have a sad period tics and delivery operations until a the Federal Reserve to keep raising ing, with odds on a move by the April fully priced in.” US 10-year note yields in London after being closed in Japan ahead of them,” Bill Gross, the lead successor is appointed, according US interest rates. gathering increasing to 48 percent. rose three basis points, or 0.03 per- for a holiday. Last week’s Labor Depart- manager of the $1.3bn Janus Global to the statement. The two Bansals Futures traders see a 41 percent Longer-dated bonds trailed behind centage point, to 2.15 percent as of ment report showed the US economy Unconstrained Bond Fund, said in an aren’t related. chance that policy makers will lift the those due in two years before sales 6:57am New York time, according to added 292,000 jobs in December, versus interview January 8. Sachin, who started Flipkart as a bookseller with Binny eight years ago after they both worked as engi- neers at Amazon.com Inc, will also represent the company in external Macron opens online sales company office forums and continue as chairman Yen falls from its of Flipkart’s board. Flipkart has grown to become India’s biggest seller of everything from apparel to smartphones online, August peak level according to Goldman Sachs in a report last May. At its most recent funding round, the Bangalore-based Inter- Bloomberg Krpata, a London-based foreign- net retailer was valued at more than exchange strategist at ING Groep $15bn according to Bank of America NV. “The yen is modestly weaker Merrill Lynch, and counts New York’s LONDON: The yen fell from its against the dollar, in line with the Tiger Global Management LLC and strongest level since August as Chi- trend this year that whenever the South Africa’s Naspers Ltd among na’s central bank kept the yuan’s daily yuan was weakening, the yen was its biggest investors. fixing stable, damping demand for doing well, and vice versa.” The management change comes safer assets that built up in the new The yen weakened 0.4 percent as Flipkart, Amazon and SoftBank year during the Asian country’s mar- to 117.74 per dollar at 12:12pm Lon- Group Corp-backed Snapdeal.com ket turmoil. don time, after appreciating for the are locked in a three- way battle for Japan’s currency climbed the previous five days. It touched 116.70 dominance in a market projected to most since 2013 versus the dollar earlier, the strongest since August 24. be worth $220bn by 2025. last week as an eight-day run of The euro fell 0.2 percent to $1.0899. The three companies have reductions to the yuan’s reference The 19-nation shared currency rose resorted to spending heavily on rate through January 7 roiled stocks 0.1 percent to 128.30 yen. advertising and discounting in their and commodities around the world. Japan’s currency gains in times fight to win customers. The euro also declined against the of market tumult, as the investors Binny Bansal had said in October The CEO of online retail company ‘Vente-privee.com’ Jacques-Antoine Granjon (right) stands next dollar yesterday while Australia and who took advantage of low rates to the company expects to be profitable to French Economy and Industry Minister Emmanuel Macron, yesterday, at Matignon in Saint-Denis Canada’s currencies advanced. The borrow yen and invest the proceeds in as soon as two years and could during the inauguration of the new headquarters of the French online sales company. yuan’s appreciation “is the key thing in higher-yielding assets end those file for an initial public offering in the markets are watching,” said Petr trades. the next two to five years. Sanctions ‘severely’ Rouble falls to 76 against dollar harming Russia: Putin AFP But the continued slump in oil prices, with Brent crude trading below $33 yesterday, and worries over the MOSCOW: The Moscow stock state of China’s economy pummeled AFP Ukrainian forces which has claimed exchange yesterday dropped by more Russia’s markets and currency as trad- more than 9,000 lives since April than four percent as Russia’s energy- ing began again following a break for 2014. dependent economy reels from low oil the Orthodox Christmas last week. BERLIN: President Vladimir Putin In late December, the EU extended prices and fluctuations on the Asian Analysts warned that if the price acknowledged yesterday in an inter- its sanctions by six months, argu- market. of oil continues to fall then that could view with German daily Bild that ing that the Minsk peace agreement The dollar-denominated RTS mean even more trouble for Russia’s Western economic sanctions over signed by Moscow has not been fully index had dropped by 4.16 percent economy just as officials were claim- the Ukraine crisis are affecting Russia. implemented. as of 0725 GMT, while Russia’s bat- ing that it was edging out of recession. “Concerning our possibilities on Putin said, however, that “the tered rouble fell to 76 against the dollar “If oil prices keep dropping, the the international financial markets, biggest harm is currently caused by and over 83 against the euro for the rouble could have to continue to adjust the sanctions are severely harming the decline of the prices for energy,” first time since the currency slump itself,” analysts from the VTB Capi- Russia,” he said in a long interview, according to an English-language of December 2014. tal said. calling the EU sanctions “a theatre transcript published by Bild online. Russia’s economy and the rou- The World Bank has said that the of the absurd”. “We suffer dangerous revenue ble have been battered since 2014 by full-year downturn for 2015 could Moscow has been hit by US and losses in our export of oil and gas, the slide in oil prices and Western have reached 4.3 percent, given the European sanctions over the conflict which we can partly compensate sanctions over Moscow’s role in the low oil price, and that Russia is likely A woman walks past a board listing foreign currency rates against the between pro-Russian separatists and for elsewhere,” he said. Ukraine crisis. to remain in recession for all of 2016. Russian rouble in Moscow yesterday. Wall Street faces profit recession as earnings season begins

Reuters is despite the benefit of lower gasoline recent quarters, FactSet data showed. people are still deleveraging from prior prices for consumers. Macy’s this week cut its earn- to 2008,” said Robert Pavlik, chief mar- Consumer discretionary stocks rose ings outlook for the second time and ket strategist at Boston Private Wealth 8.4 percent last year, thanks in large blamed a fall in sales on unusually in New York. “The consumer is still NEW YORK: Wall Street’s fourth-quar- measure to Netflix and Amazon.com, warm weather that kept consumers being weighed down.” ter earnings season that gets under way the year’s best S&P performers. from buying coats. It also cited the strong Overall, S&P 500 earnings are next week could confirm something While consumer discretionary dollar. Companies that have warned forecast to have dropped 4.2 percent many investors may not want to hear: fourth-quarter profits are forecast to also include L Brands, GameStop, Star- in the fourth quarter. That would be the US economy may be doing well but be up 8.4 percent, that is below the bucks, Target and AutoNation. their second-straight quarterly decline, corporate profits are in a recession. 13.6-percent growth that was forecast Specialty retailers have given the Thomson Reuters data showed, which An earnings recession - two quar- only three months ago, according to most negative guidance, while 17 com- would meet the common definition of a ters of declining profits -would be led Thomson Reuters data. panies in the sector have cited the strong profit recession. Revenues are expected by the usual suspects, energy and mate- Twenty-five companies in this sec- US dollar as a reason behind the low- to be slightly less bad - with only a 3.2 rials companies. But its severity may tor so far have warned and none gave ered outlooks, FactSet said. percent decline expected, since profits depend on consumer discretionary positive guidance, the highest number As earnings forecasts come down, can be lifted by stock buybacks, cost companies, which have been warn- of negative forecasts since at least 2006, some strategists say the expected boost cuts and other maneuvers. ing about profits at an unusual pace. according to FactSet. In a typical fourth to consumer spending from lower When final reports are tallied, S&P Consumer discretionary companies, quarter, only two-thirds of earnings energy prices may have been over- 500 companies are expected to show which led S&P 500 gains in 2015 and pre-announcements in this group are blown. Consumers still have debts to zero profit growth for all of 2015. Profit have had the second-highest average negative. By comparison, overall 85 S&P pay down. growth of 7.5 percent is forecast for profit growth rate of any sector over 500 companies guided below analysts’ “The thing behind the consumer 2016, but that estimate has also fallen the last five years, are more pessimistic estimates for the quarter and 26 issued not spending despite what looks like since October 1, when it stood at 10.3 A sign hangs in front of US flags outside of the New York Stock Exchange. than usual going into the quarter. That positive guidance, roughly in line with tailwinds from lower energy price (s), percent. BUSINESS TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 25 World stocks diverge as China fears rumble

to manage the world’s second-biggest with dealers rattled after trade was economy,” said ETX Capital trader David suspended twice in four days in China. Investors extended Papier. In Europe, markets switched Shanghai ended the week about 10 per- losses from last frequently between gains and losses. At cent lower in echoes of a sell-off that about 1145 GMT, London’s benchmark fuelled global turmoil in the summer. week, which was one FTSE 100 index was up 0.2 percent A series of cuts in the Chinese cur- of the worst starts to compared with Friday’s close. rency’s value to a five-year low against In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX the dollar added to the sense of nerv- a year on record for 30 won 0.8 percent and the Paris CAC ousness as Beijing stood accused of global equities with 40 climbed 0.5 percent. The euro fell bungling its handling of the markets. to $1.0895. Official data Saturday On Friday the central People’s Bank dealers rattled after showed Chinese consumer prices of China sought to soothe nerves by trade was suspended picked up slightly in December but pledging “prudent” monetary policy twice in China inflation remained about half the gov- and work to ensure “reasonably abun- ernment’s target. dant liquidity” in the banking system Prices paid at the factory gate, a this year. guide to future inflation, also sank for “Chinese equities have had a tough a 46th consecutive month. The figures start to the year. This has flowed around AFP are the latest highlighting weakness the globe, kneecapping equities, where in China, which is expected to have valuations were already deemed to be grown in 2015 at its slowest rate in a stretched,” said Mark Smith, a senior quarter of a century. economist in Auckland at ANZ Bank LONDON: European stock markets Yesterday, Shanghai closed down New Zealand. eked out gains in volatile trade yester- 5.3 percent, while Hong Kong gave up “A weaker inflation outlook and day after another tumble across Asia 2.8 percent. Sydney and Seoul slipped heightened market volatility has also that saw Shanghai plunge more than 1.2 percent while Singapore was 2.0 swung the pendulum back to more A big screen displays information on the stock index at the Raffles Place financial district in Singapore. five percent on stubborn worries about percent off. Tokyo was closed for a policy support,” Smith added. China’s economic slowdown. public holiday. Oil prices continued their slump, “Asian shares sank to their low- Investors extended losses from last with both main global contracts drop- user—further fuelled a decline sparked outlook pushed up the price of gold, metal, which is up more than three est in over four years on Monday as week, which was one of the worst starts ping on Monday. The slowdown in by a worldwide glut, weak demand and which is considered a safe investment percent so far this year, bought $1,105 doubts mounted about Beijing’s ability to a year on record for global equities China—the world’s biggest energy a strong dollar. Worries about the global in times of uncertainty. The precious an ounce yesterday..

Dubai airport Aston Martin looks at Electrolux CEO McLoughlin to traffic grows Macedonia for new plant leave after collapse of GE deal 8.1% in November

Reuters confirmed that Macedonia was in DUBAI: Dubai International the running. Bloomberg Airport, the world’s busiest by inter- “We have made a good offer,” national traffic, experienced an 8.1 he said, without elaborating.Aston percent increase in passenger num- LONDON: British luxury carmaker Martin, whose owners include Italian bers in November, its operator said Aston Martin, which is deciding where private equity group Investindustrial STOCKHOLM: Electrolux AB said yesterday. to build a new plant to expand its prod- and Kuwaiti group Tejara Capital, is Chief Executive Officer Keith McLough- Traffic rose to 6.01 million pas- uct range and return to profitability, is due to make a decision in the next lin (pictured) will step down in favour sengers from 5.57 million a year considering a site in Macedonia, two few weeks. of Jonas Samuelson after the Swedish earlier, taking the total so far in 2015 sources familiar with the matter said. The firm declined to comment manufacturer abandoned a $3.3bn deal to 70.96 million, up 10.9 percent. The The firm, which began with a when contacted by Reuters. The auto- to buy General Electric Co’s household largest increase in passengers came list of 19 possible locations several maker, famous for making the DB5 goods business following a 15- month from the Indian subcontinent from months ago then narrowed the list sports car driven by James Bond, is pursuit. where new flights were launched, down to two British sites, one in the aiming to quadruple its total produc- McLoughlin cited family reasons while the most significant growth US state of Alabama and a Middle tion volume to around 15,000 cars for his decision to retire and move back was driven by Eastern Europe and Eastern location, a source told Reu- by the turn of the decade and will to the US, where he will continue to North America, the latter where ters in December. build its new crossover DBX model work for Electrolux on a consultancy Emirates added new destinations. But in the last few weeks the at the new plant. basis, the Stockholm-based company Air freight volumes rose 3.8 per- former Yugoslav republic has made an It already builds a range of cars said in a statementon yesterday. cent in the month to 218,323 tonnes. improved offer to the carmaker, which at its existing plant at Gaydon in cen- Samuelson, who heads the com- Some cargo operations have moved has previously said that any poten- tral England but has seen its volumes pany’s major appliance operations in to Al Maktoum International - Dubai tial financial support is an important plunge since the 2007/8 financial cri- Europe, the Middle East and Africa, deal was first announced in Septem- financial officer, according to the World Central (DWC). factor in making its choice, accord- sis, recording its fourth consecutive will continue to focus the maker of ber 2014 and a trial was under way statement. Dubai Airports Chief Execu- ing to the sources. loss in a row in 2014. fridges, ovens and dishwashers on in Washington when the two com- A process is underway to appoint a tive Paul Griffiths said the airport “Macedonia is a recent and late Aston has said previously that it product development and cost con- panies announced December 7 they new president of the North American had an average monthly traffic of contender having been previously see advantages in locating the new trols, he said on a conference call for were abandoning the plan. major appliances unit that McLoughlin nearly 6.5 million passengers. “We ruled out,” one of the sources said. plant in its home market but Mace- reporters and analysts. “This work Chairman Ronnie Leten said the has led since April last year, Samuel- are sure the seasonal peaks that we “They came back with a stronger bid.” donia is one of several countries to will never be finished,” Samuelson Stockholm-based company will pursue son said, and candidates have already experienced in December will help The source also said there was have sought to attract carmakers in said. “We’ll continue to improve cost, organic growth and consider smaller been identified. The company’s shares round off the year with an impres- not enough clarity in the Middle East- recent years with the offer of generous quality and flexibility.” acquisitions if it identifies appropri- weakened 0.9 percent to 193.50 kronor sive annual figure,” he said. Dubai ern option being considered and that subsidies. The Balkan country’s big- Electrolux pursued the GE deal to ate targets. Samuelson will elaborate as of 11:45 a.m. in Stockholm, valu- International overtook London’s another candidate, the site in Sutton gest success was getting British firm gain scale in the US market and had on the company’s strategy at a cap- ing the business at 59.9 billion kronor Heathrow to become the world’s Coldfield, central England, “was a Johnson Matthey to open an emission decided to go to court to fight the US ital markets day scheduled for Feb. ($7bn). busiest airport in 2014. leading contender but has dropped control catalyst plant east of the cap- Justice Department’s claims that the 24, the chairman said. After the collapse of the GE deal, a few balls of late.” ital Skopje in 2009. Setting up of new combined company and rival Whirl- Samuelson, who joined Electrolux Electrolux unveiled a plan to cut costs A senior government official in car plant will improve Macedonia’s pool Corp would be overly dominant in 2008, has also held the roles of head and jobs at its small-appliance unit, Skopje, who declined to be named, image among investors. in the US cooking- appliance area. The of global operations and group chief which it said was unrelated. Indian rupee falls to three week low Sainsbury’s manages to achieve sales growth last quarter against Dollar

MUMBAI: India’s rupee fell toward Reuters low last month as investors fretted over a three-week low as concern about the pace of progress under Chief Execu- China’s deepening economic slow- tive Dave Lewis. Its Christmas outcome down quelled demand for riskier will partly reflect the heavy use of dis- assets. Emerging-market stocks LONDON: Supermarket chain Sains- count vouchers in the same period last and currencies slumped after data bury’s is expected to be the best of a year, making performance compari- over the weekend showed con- bad bunch when Britain’s biggest food sons difficult. sumer inflation in China stayed retailers announce Christmas trad- Tesco’s like-for-like UK sales fell 1 at about half the government’s ing numbers against the backdrop of percent in the second quarter. For Mor- target while producer prices fell a margin-sapping price war among risons, analysts’ consensus forecast is a for a 46th month. rivals battling for market share. 2 percent fall in like-for-like sales over Overseas funds sold $281.5m Sainsbury’s, which revealed last the nine weeks to January 3. That would more Indian shares than they week that it made a bid approach for represent an improvement on a third- bought last week through Jan- Argos owner Home Retail in Novem- quarter decline of 2.6 percent despite uary 7, the biggest withdrawals ber, has shown greater resilience to the having sold its convenience store busi- in five weeks, data compiled by rise of German discounters Aldi and ness in September. Bloomberg show. Local stocks and Lidl than main rivals Tesco, Morrisons Morrisons is scheduled to publish bonds dropped yesterday. “Risk and Wal-Mart’s Asda. its trading update on Tuesday, when sentiment isn’t good,” said Hari Yet all of the so-called big four Kantar also releases industry data. Chandramgethen, head of for- have had sales, profits and asset val- Sainsbury’s is due to report on Wednes- eign-exchange trading at South ues dented by their efforts to stem the day and market leader Tesco presents Indian Bank Ltd. loss of shoppers to the discounters and numbers on Thursday.Asda, which is “Worries over China have by the impact of commodity-led defla- likely to be the big Christmas loser if caused investors to pull out of tion that shows little sign of abating. recent sales trends continue, is not due to emerging markets,” he added. Industry data from Kantar World- report until it publishes fourth-quarter The rupee weakened 0.3 per- A woman shops at a Sainsbury’s store in London. panel published in December showed sales on February 18. The company has cent to close at 66.8125 a dollar in that Sainsbury’s was the only mem- focused more on maintaining profita- Mumbai, according to prices from ber of the quartet to achieve total sales improve product availability and cus- to January 9, its financial third quar- for Sainsbury’s, 16.2 percent for Asda bility rather than chasing sales, though local banks compiled by Bloomb- growth and a gain in market share over tomer service have also found favour ter, according to the consensus from and 11 percent for Morrisons. it said on Sunday that it will spend an erg. It declined to 66.92 earlier, the three months to December 6. with consumers, as did the Christmas 10 analysts’ forecasts compiled by the Analysts forecast a 2 percent to 3 additional £500m ($728m) on price near a three-week low of 66.9625 Analysts forecast continued rel- advertising campaign featuring Mog company. That would still represent percent fall in Tesco’s like-for-like UK cuts. In recent years the discounters reached on January 7. The cur- ative outperformance into the key the cat. an eighth straight quarter of decline. sales over its third quarter to Nov. 28 have lost a little market share at Christ- rency has depreciated 1 percent festive weeks, with Sainsbury’s ben- Sainsbury’s is expected to report For all its recent woes, Tesco remains and a drop of between 1 percent and 3 mas, compared with the periods before in January. The yield on sover- efiting from shoppers trading up to more that sales at stores open for more than far and away the market leader with a percent over the six weeks to January 9. and after Christmas, because of their eign notes due May 2025 rose to premium products. Moves to cut prices, a year fell 0.7 percent in the 15 weeks 28 percent share, against 16.7 percent Tesco’s share price hit an 18-year more limited product range. 7.75 percent. 26 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 9,671.86 0.02 % QE Total Return Index 15,033.52 0.02 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,551.39 0.10 % QE All Share Index 2,580.87 0.01 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,592.24 0.56 % QE All Share Industrials 2,954.65 0.57 % QE All Share Transportation 2,342.57 0.40 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,127.13 0.74 % QE All Share Insurance 3,891.7 2.19 % QE All Share Telecoms 958 0.37 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 5,524.92 0.73 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 11-01-2016 Today 10-01-2016 Previous day Index 9,671.86 9,673.90 Change 2.04 93.32 % 0.02 0.96 YTD% 7.26 7.24 Volume 5,549,094 3,552,735 Value (QAR) 246,229,714.33 123,303,545.16 Trades 3,779 2,898 Up 17 | Down 22 | Unchanged 02

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 4990.691 -58.718 -1.16 5379.6 5000.4 Cac 40 Index/D 4351.43 17.67 0.41 4586.11 4323.55 Dj Indu Average 16346.45 -167.65 -1.02 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 19888.5 -565.21 -2.76 21794.84 20323.97 Iseq Overall/D 6532.79 -33.66 -0.51 6791.68 6483.58 Karachi 100 In/D 32320.05 -214.8 -0.66 33304.4 32476.63 Nikkei 225 Index 17697.96 -69.38 -0.39 18951.12 17767.34 S&P 500 Index/D 1922.03 -21.06 -1.08 2134.72 1867.01

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.2725 QR 5.3465 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 3.9444 QR 3.9999 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.5579 QR 2.6084 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.6334 QR 3.6847 Yen QR 0.0307 QR 0.0313 A B G Infra-Xc/D 153 4.6 2299 Essar Oil-T/D 260.1 0.05 22528 Kalpat Power-B/D 242.55 -9.55 8439 Tanfac Indust-/D 38.4 -1.3 2600 Aus$ QR 2.5299 QR 2.5808 A C C-A/D 1293.05 -1.3 7584 Eveready Indu-/D 306 -0.1 12691 Kalyani Stel-T/D 177 -1.7 71816 Tanfac Indust-/D 38.4 -1.3 2600 Ind Re QR 0.0540 QR 0.0551 Aarti Drugs-B/D 560 -4.95 1540 F D C-B/D 213.45 -8.85 11538 Kanoria Chem-B/D 71.5 -2.8 20376 Thirumalai-B/D 206.8 -1.7 16880 Aban Offs-A/D 212.9 -1.95 351420 Federal Bank-A/D 52.4 -0.2 424515 Kg Denim-B/D 55.85 -1.55 13876 Timexgroup-T/D 34.35 -0.95 27489 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Aegis Logis-B/D 101.85 -1.9 23830 Ferro Alloys-B/D 7.34 0.14 82849 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 81.75 -3.05 6606 Tinplate-B/D 71.05 1 38147 Peso QR 0.0765 QR 0.0780 Alembic-B/D 48.05 0.25 186761 Fgp Ltd-B/D 3.71 0.17 2181 Kinetic Eng-B/D 119 2.1 6475 Ucal Fuel-B/D 130.2 -0.8 18937 SL Re QR 0.0251 QR 0.0256 Alkyl Amines-B/D 352.4 3.9 1097 Finolex-A/D 300 -1.1 3712 Kopran-B/D 71.55 -1.05 135331 Ucal Fuel-B/D 130.2 -0.8 18937 Alok Indus-A/D 6.25 -0.03 890758 Gail-A/D 368.9 -4.25 97116 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 421.5 -5.6 2126 Ultramarine-B/D 119 -3.3 4095 Taka QR 0.0460 QR 0.0470 Apollo Tyre-A/D 147.95 -1.8 169867 Galada Power-B/D 17.9 -0.05 1906 Lgb Broth-B/D 492 0 2101 Unitech P -A/D 6.64 -0.08 5931364 Nep Re QR 0.0339 QR 0.0346 Asahi I Glass-/D 164.9 -1.05 1971 Gammon India-T/D 19.15 -0.55 101805 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.41 0.16 28144 Univcable-T/D 93 2.6 10259 SA Rand QR 0.2181 QR 0.2224 Ashok Leyland-/D 92.4 1.5 986135 Gangotri Tex-T/D 2.38 0.11 11265 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 8.5 0.35 147136 Uppergsugar-T/D 82.45 -0.65 20464 Ballarpur In-B/D 19.15 -0.65 404616 Garden P -B/D 29.45 0.15 19984 Lumax Ind-B/D 460 8.4 2174 Banaras Bead-B/D 46.5 -0.65 1373 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1390.55 -12.05 59609 Lupin-A/D 1702.3 -10.4 31578 LONDON GOLD AND SILVER Bata India-A/D 482 -7.6 19412 Goodricke-B/D 201 0.6 19498 Lyka Labs-T/D 114.5 0.3 76612 Beml Ltd-A/D 1223.85 6.5 27064 Goodyear I -B/D 536.75 4.75 2347 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 337.2 -5.4 5615 3I Group/D 447.2 -1.8 298832 GOLD QR129.5175 per gram Bh Electronic-/D 1328.1 30.4 25055 Hcl Infosys-B/D 58.35 0.2 750757 Mah.Seamless-B/D 161.5 -4 1210 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3047 14 203483 Bhansali Eng-T/D 24.65 0.3 196939 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 23.95 1.3 7725898 Mangalam Cem-B/D 192 -1.2 2256 Barclays/D 201.07 0.95 14049318 SILVER QR1.6448 per gram Bharat Bijle-B/D 875 -0.75 13622 Himat Seide-B/D 233.6 0.45 144798 Maral Overs-B/D 36.45 0.25 10726 Bg Group/D 929.2 -10.8 3758241 Bhartiya Int-B/D 523.75 4 14037 Hind Motors-T/D 7.55 -0.05 133239 Mastek-B/D 181.6 -3.3 21327 Bp/D 332.25 3.55 10928437 Bhel-A/D 149.75 -3.95 419505 Hind Org Chem-/D 18.75 -0.3 39936 Max India L-A/D 477.5 -11.95 22674 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3637.5 6.5 498600 Bhuwalka Stl-X/D 7.45 -0.39 1400 Hind Unilever-/D 812.45 0.65 63652 Mrpl-A/D 67.9 1.3 131970 Bt Group/D 465.35 -0.3 3877772 Bom.Burmah-B/D 465.75 -6 7347 Hind.Petrol-A/D 875.5 -11.4 66518 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 39.95 -0.45 4001 Centrica/D 207.2 -0.6 2992224 Wall Street wobbles Bombay Dyeing-/D 62.25 -0.05 163215 Hindalco-A/D 77.85 0.95 2079498 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 39.95 -0.45 4001 Gkn/D 279.4 1 1257827 Camph.& All-B/D 571.5 -5.5 5867 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1162.75 -12.45 57620 Nahar Spg.-B/D 124 -0.5 23501 Hsbc Holdings/D 501 2.1 8240822 as health stocks Canfin Homes-B/D 1040.6 -3.05 5804 I F C I-A/D 27.15 -0.15 727987 Nation Alum -A/D 39.4 2.05 697611 Imperial Tobac/D 3489 -19.5 305709 Caprihans-Xc/D 105.8 0.15 56670 Idbi-A/D 76.6 -1.5 658128 Navneet Edu-B/D 91.5 -1.05 5044 Kingfisher/D 329.6 -1.5 1095761 Castrol India-/D 437.2 0.3 15631 Ifb Agro-B/D 480.1 0.4 1934 Nepc India-T/D 2.68 0.12 27075 Land Secs Grou/D 1132 14 774074 and oil prices drop Century Enka-B/D 192.6 -3.3 7095 India Cement-A/D 99.5 -0.35 832761 Neuland Lab-B/D 807 23.5 8175 Legal & Genera/D 246.4 0.4 4814783 Century Text-A/D 573.45 5.05 99608 India Glycol-B/D 97.4 -1.3 7202 Nrb Bearings-B/D 141.5 0.9 11171 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 69.0598 0.17 43455688 Chambal Fert-B/D 64.45 0.05 25755 Indian Card-B/D 302.9 -0.8 3939 O N G C-A/D 226.35 -2.9 246458 Marks & Sp./D 425 -5.7 1875948 Reuters Chowgule St-T/D 21.75 -0.05 1289 Indian Hotel-A/D 122.6 3.75 163336 Oil Country-B/D 30.4 -0.2 2426 Next/D 6770 -55 183184 Cimmco-B/D 76.3 -0.65 9117 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1084.6 -6.35 8218 Onward Tech-B/D 103.5 -0.3 5989 Pearson/D 696 6.5 357163 Cipla-A/D 610.25 -12.2 104974 Indusind-A/D 937.6 -9.65 56150 Orchid Pharm-B/D 60.35 -0.8 627694 Prudential/D 1370.5 -5.5 1300478 City Union Bk-/D 86.8 -2.8 22528 J.B.Chemical-B/D 277.9 5.6 18766 Orient Hotel-T/D 27 0.15 25329 Rentokil Initi/D 154.1 -0.5 500216 Colgate-A/D 907 -19.8 88692 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 70.1 2.2 4754 Orient.Carb.-T/D 599 11.25 5955 Rolls Royce Pl/D 561.335 2 1579127 NEW YORK: Wall Street struggled for gains in volatile Container Cor-/D 1279.9 5.2 15125 Jagson Phar-B/D 55.8 -0.25 37912 Orient.Carb.-T/D 599 11.25 5955 Rsa Insrance G/D 408.2 0.2 653029 trading yesterday, weighed down by healthcare stocks Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 432.6 -8.4 3283 Jamnaauto-B/D 152.2 9.4 619160 Oudh Sugar-B/D 45 3.5 209308 Sainsbury(J)/D 243.7 1.8 2966326 and oil prices hitting fresh 12-year lows, ahead of the Dcm Financia-T/D 1.44 0.06 13600 Jbf Indu-B/D 225.35 6.9 64892 Patspin India-/D 11.9 -0.47 5046 Schroders/D 2664 -17 121867 start of corporate earnings season. Dcm Shram Ind-/D 106 1.3 12709 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.44 -0.01 40261 Punjab Chem.-B/D 176.2 -1.3 1411 Severn Trent/D 2130.72 -8 123602 The S&P energy Dhampur Sugar-/D 77.9 1.7 537410 Jct Ltd-B/D 9.37 -0.05 1060637 Radico Khait-B/D 121.75 4.75 599383 Smith&Nephew/D 1141 -14 599030 sector down 2.23 per- Dr. Reddy-A/D 2942.5 -68.1 58263 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 12.52 -0.56 75435 Rallis India-A/D 166.3 -2.85 16558 Smiths Group/D 898 1.5 242766 cent, and materials US stocks opened E I H-B/D 124.8 0.25 27350 Jik Indust-T/D 0.89 0.04 2151 Rallis India-A/D 166.3 -2.85 16558 Standrd Chart /D 512.7 7.1 1821558 sector, off 1.6 per- E.I.D Parry-A/D 201.15 -1.05 194761 Jindal Drill-B/D 133 2 2184 Reliance Indus/D 459 -5.25 276853 Tate & Lyle/D 575.5 -9 338265 cent, faced the brunt higher, coming Eicher Motor-A/D 17221 -1.85 2416 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 105.4 -0.5 433172 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.8 -0.1 133685 Tesco/D 147.2 0.3 6502934 of a near 6 percent off their worst- Electrosteel-B/D 26 0.7 822933 Jmc Projects-T/D 238.1 44.43 4924 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 514.9 -3.6 7676 Unilever/D 2766 -12.5 404684 slide in oil prices. Emco-B/D 33.3 0.3 76542 Kabra Extr-B/D 102.7 -1.3 1485 Salora Inter-B/D 57.65 0.55 33537 United Util Gr/D 935.5 1.5 383668 The health sec- ever start to a Escorts Fin-B/D 5.68 -0.01 947567 Kajaria Cer-A/D 969.7 -13.7 50965 Saur.Cem-B/D 69.65 -1.25 92127 Vodafone Group/D 222.25 -0.8 15745003 tor was down 1.38 year on mounting Escorts-A/D 158.85 -3.85 96349 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 150.8 -0.9 2169 Sterling Tool-/D 490.25 -14 1686 Whitbread/D 4180 60 423576 percent, dragged investor concerns down by Celgene and McKesson. The about declining utilities sector’s 0.65 oil prices and a percent gain led the Oil dips to 12-year low as hedge funds head for exit four advancing S&P China-led growth sectors. slowdown US stocks opened higher, coming off Bloomberg a rout in global equities and US a 15 cent premium to WTI. 5 percent, Morgan Stanley analysts their worst-ever start stockpiles remained more than Speculators’ net-long positions including Adam Longson said in to a year on mount- The hedge funds 120 million barrels above the in WTI declined by 23,863 contracts a research note. Bank of Amer- ing investor concerns NEW YORK: Crude declined to a are saying that this five-year average. Saudi Arabian to 76,934 futures and options, the ica Corp cut its average 2016 Brent about declining oil 12-year low, confirming the view of Oil Co, the world’s biggest crude lowest since July 2010, CFTC data forecast to $46 a barrel from $50. prices and a China-led slowdown in global growth. hedge funds that cut bullish price isn’t a good time to exporter, confirmed on Friday it show. Longs, or bets that prices will “There are no technicals holding up Even strong December US nonfarm payrolls data bets to the lowest since 2010. try and find a was studying options for a share rise, dropped 2.5 percent to the low- the price so we’re looking at a falling on Friday failed to boost investor optimism. “None of us Futures dropped as much as bottom in the oil sale, including listing “a bundle” est since July, while shorts climbed knife,” said Jason Schenker, pres- know what the future is, but given this moment, where 4.7 percent in New York, adding of refining subsidiaries. 11 percent. “The hedge funds are ident of Prestige Economics LLC we’ve gotten very conflicting data, it makes investors to last week’s 10 percent decrease. market WTI for February delivery fell saying that this isn’t a good time in Austin, Texas. “Concern about nervous,” said Kim Forrest, senior equity research ana- Speculators’ net-long position in $1.48, or 4.5 percent, to $31.68 a to try and find a bottom in the oil global economic sentiment and lyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. West Texas Intermediate declined barrel at 11:25 am on the New York market,” said Bob Yawger, director dollar strength are continuing to “I think the final coup de grâce is the Federal Reserve 24 percent in the week to January Mercantile Exchange. The contract of the futures division at Mizuho weigh on the market.” and its tightening phase has made them even more 5, US Commodity Futures Trading touched $31.61, the lowest intraday Securities USA in New York Saudi Arabian Oil, known as nervous.” Commission data show. Producer price since December 2003. Total Crude also fell as the US dollar Aramco, is studying whether to At 12:43 p.m. ET (1743 GMT), the Dow Jones indus- prices in China fell for a record 46th president of Strategic Energy volume traded was 21 percent above climbed, diminishing the appeal of list “an appropriate percentage” trial average was down 16.43 points, or 0.1 percent, at month, bolstering concern about the & Economic Research in Win- the 100-day average. Prices lost 30 commodities denominated in the of shares of the parent or a bundle 16,330.02. world’s second-biggest economy. chester, Massachusetts. “I’m not percent last year. Brent for Febru- currency. The Bloomberg Com- of “downstream” units, accord- The S&P 500 was down 6.85 points, or 0.36 percent, A rapid appreciation of the US dol- convinced that Brent is likely to ary settlement decreased $1.72, or modity Index, a gauge of 22 raw ing to a statement. The findings at 1,915.18 and the Nasdaq Composite index was down lar may send Brent oil to as low as go to $20 because of the stronger 5.2 percent, to $31.83 a barrel on the materials slumped to the lowest of the review will be presented 29.17 points, or 0.63 percent, at 4,614.46. $20 a barrel, Morgan Stanley said. dollar but it’s certainly a realistic London-based ICE Futures Europe level since 1999. to the board of directors, which Exxon and Chevron were both off nearly 2 percent “We want to see a sign that possibility.” exchange. It touched $31.92, the Oil is particularly leveraged to will make recommendations to on weak oil prices. China has hit bottom and haven’t Oil slumped last week as vol- least since April 2004. The Euro- the dollar and may fall between 10 the company’s Supreme Council, Exxon was the biggest drag on the S&P. gotten it yet,” said Michael Lynch, atility in Chinese markets fuelled pean benchmark crude traded at to 25 percent if the currency gains Aramco said. BUSINESS VIEWS TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 27

Stock futures shake Piles of corn, soy spur off China woes as treasuries drop bearish crop outlook

By Eddie van der Walt and seven days and reached 2.11 percent Sofia Horta e Costa earlier, the lowest since October 29. Germany’s 10-year bund yield Bloomberg was little changed at 0.52 percent. The Markit iTraxx Europe Index of credit-default swaps on invest- ment-grade companies was little S stocks futures advanced changed after closing at a three- after the worst week for month-high of 85 basis points on equities since 2011 and Friday. The non- investment grade government bonds fell Markit iTraxx Europe Crossover Uwith the yen as investors looked Index declined 2 basis points to past another drop in Asian mar- 348 basis points. kets that sent Chinese shares to The yen fell after climbing every the lowest since September. day last week. Standard and Poor’s 500 Index “There was a lot of people rush- futures and the Stoxx Europe 600 ing around putting new positions Index climbed, while Treasuries on last week, so maybe the initial halted a seven-day advance. The reaction has been done,” said Jane Shanghai Composite Index tumbled Foley, a foreign-exchange strate- more than 5 percent amid con- gist at Rabobank International in cern over China’s growth outlook, London. “The yen is still very firm South Africa’s rand fell to a record compared to where it was and euro- low, oil extended its slide from an dollar will find it hard to push much 11-year low and copperdeclined. lower when there is still this risk Equities are showing signs of aversion. We’ve got another vol- stabilizing after volatility in Chi- atile year ahead.” na’s markets pushed indexes lower The yen touched 116.70 ear- around the world in the first week lier, the strongest since August 24, of 2016. Nobel Prize-winning econ- before reversing its gains. The euro omist Joseph Stiglitz said the nation fell 0.2 percent to $1.09. isn’t facing a “cataclysmic” slow- South Africa’s rand plunged as down and the turmoil was more much as 9 percent, the most since about badly designed stock-mar- October 2008, before trading down ket circuit breakers. 1.9 percent. South Korea’s won fell “The market reaction to what’s 1 percent to the weakest since 2010. been happening in China has been Russia’s ruble slid 0.7 percent. By Megan Durisin and Jeff Wilson well farmers were able to put away those hugely overdone,” said Peter Dixon, China’s yuan snapped a three- Bloomberg bushels and wait for a recovery in prices that Commerzbank AG’s global equities day loss after the central bank kept has failed to come.” economist in London. “The uncer- its reference rate little changed, bol- Hedge funds held a combined net-short tainty hasn’t dissipated -- it only stering speculation that last week’s position of 337,678 futures and options in takes one or two things to go wrong bout of weaker fixings has halted for iles of unwanted grain on farms corn, soybeans and wheat as of January 5, and we’re back to where we started now. The onshore currency gained near Doug Schmitz’s storage bins 19 percent more than the previous week and -- but investors are finally look- 0.3 percent and the yuan traded in in southern Minnesota are a stark more than twice what it was a month ago, Domestic stockpiles ing at things with a clearer head.” Hong Kong advanced 1.1 percent. reminder of just how bearish the according to Commodity Futures Trading have been swelling as S&P 500 futures for March The yuan’s interbank rates outlook is for US crop prices. Commission data released three days later. US exports falter, fueled gained 0.7 percent as of 8:26 a.m. surged in Hong Kong as sus- PAfter record yields during the harvest a The bearish holdings were twice the short in New York, having climbed as pected central bank intervention few months ago, growers in the area still have hedges held by commercialend-users, sig- by a strong dollar and much as 0.9 percent. Treasury to prop up the offshore exchange 80 percent of their corn crop left to sell and naling farmers may be withholding crops rising production by 10-year note yields increased 4 rate last week tightened supply of 70 percent of soybeans, said Schmitz, who that elevators would normally have already basis points to 2.16 percent. The the Chinese currency. The over- operates four grain elevators and markets to bought and hedged. All three commodities other suppliers. Schmitz yen fell 0.5 percent to 117.84 per night Hong Kong Interbank Offered processors and exporters. Normally, half the posted a third straight year of losses on the said he has yet to load a dollar, after earlier weakening Rate jumped 939 basis points to supply would be unloaded by now, he said. Chicago Board of Trade in 2015. single rail car this season 0.6 percent. 13.4 percent, the highest since the While Schmitz Grain Inc. is under contract to Domestic stockpiles have been swelling European stocks extended fixings began in June 2013. collect 2 million bushels from local farmers, as US exports falter, fueled by a strong dol- with corn or soyabeans gains, with the Stoxx Europe 600 The MSCI Emerging Markets the outlook is so dim that most of that inven- lar and rising production by other suppliers. destined for West Coast Index adding 0.7 percent. Miners Index retreated 1.8 percent to the tory hasn’t been priced yet, he said. Money Schmitz said he has yet to load a single rail and automakers led the advance. lowest since July 2009 as all 10 managers are holding car this season with corn or soybeans des- export terminals. Spain’s Banco Santander SA industries declined. their most-bearish bets tined for West Coast export terminals. A year advanced 2.6 percent, pacing gains The gauge has fallen 8.5 percent on grain prices since earlier, he shipped 1 million bushels. among the region’s lenders, after in January, extending last year’s 17 the government started The US Department of Agriculture fore- Exane BNP Paribas recommended percent slump that was the worst tracking the data in 2006. casts wheat exports in the current season will investors buy the shares. since 2011, on concern China’s slow- It’s easy to see why. Stock- be the lowest in four decades. Corn and soy- Alcoa Inc., which unofficially down will hurt demand for goods piles of corn and soybeans beans sold for delivery by Aug. 31 are down kicks off the fourth-quarter earn- by countries from South Korea to in the U.S., the world’s a combined 17 percent as of December 31, ings season, will report results after South Africa and Brazil that count Hedge funds held a largest grower, prob- surpassing the USDA’s estimates for a 6.6 there will be some forced sales of grain Monday’s market close. Analysts the world’s second-biggest econ- ably were the biggest percent annual decline. At the same time, this spring, when farmers need cash to forecast profits at S&P 500 compa- omy among their major trading combined net-short ever on December 1, and corn shipments from Brazil were the highest plant crops.” nies fell for a third straight quarter. destinations. position of 337,678 wheat inventories were ever in each of the past four months. Argen- The USDA will issue its World Agricul- Last year, one of the best ways for The Shanghai Composite the highest in five years, tina’s exports have become more profitable tural Supply and Demand Estimates report investors to have made money in Index fell 5.3 percent, extending futures and options in according to a Bloomberg after new president Mauricio Macri elimi- tomorrow in Washington. The government US stocks was to acquire them just last week’s 10 percent loss and corn, soyabeans and survey of analysts. The nated most crop taxes and lifted four years probably will reduce its estimates of Bra- before earnings season began. the Hang Seng China Enterprises wheat as of January 5, government will issue its of currency controls. zil’s corn and soybean output as well as Treasuries 10-year note yields Index of mainland companies estimate Tuesday. “It is a nearly unprecedented retention the forecast of Argentina’s corn produc- rose from the lowest level in more listed in Hong Kong sank 3.9 per- 19 percent more than “It’s the slowest sales of crop inventory this year,” said Roger Fray, tion, according to the average estimate of than two months. The yield dropped cent to the lowest close since the previous week and pace in the 25 years I’ve executive vice president for Ralston, Iowa- analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Parts of 19 basis points during the previous October 2011. been in the grain busi- based West Central Cooperative, which can Brazil were hurt by lack of rain in Decem- more than twice what ness,” said Schmitz, who’s store about 78 million bushels of grain. “The ber. Daily showers in northern crop areas it was a month ago based in Currie, Minne- producer has shoved corn and soybeans into will aid late growth through the next two sota. “It’s amazing how places he has never used. It is very possible weeks, Commodity Weather Group said. Wall Street cost cuts bring best year-end profit

By Dakin Campbell and Now, banks are under pressure to find new of America Corp. said in September 2011 that Morgan Stanley. Operating units also have Elizabeth Dexheimer sources of savings at a time when prospects it planned to cut 30,000 workers and con- been asked to slim down, with management Bloomberg for revenue growth remain uncertain. solidate 63 data centers inherited through teams taking their scalpels to institutional “Cost-cutting has enabled the banks to acquisitions. businesses and consumer operations alike. essentially combat what has been a pretty The following year, Wells Fargo & Co. set Banks have trimmed branch networks as sluggish revenue environment,” said Shan- an efficiency-ratio target in a range of 55 per- clients move to mobile phones, while more n their quest for higher profits, the big- non Stemm, an analyst in St. Louis at Edward cent to 59 percent, and in March 2013, less trading goes digital, reducing the reliance gest US banks have seized on the one Jones. “A lot of the benefit from cost-cutting than six months after getting the top job at Cit- on human beings. thing they can reliably control: cutting has already been felt.” igroup Inc., CEO Michael Corbat established Since the end of 2010, Bank of America costs. The nation’s six largest lenders Fourth-quarter revenue will rise 2 per- a 2015 target of about 55 percent. has cut the most, reducing total expenses by Iwill spend $61.8 billion on items including cent for the group from the prior year to $97.9 Analysts project Citigroup will meet the 34 percent, according to data compiled by employee compensation, marketing and real bn, while expenses will fall 14 percent, ana- target, and Wells Fargo has told investors that Bloomberg. Citigroup lowered costs by 17 Operating units have estate in the fourth quarter, the lowest total lysts estimate. it expects to be within its range. Bank of Amer- percent, while Goldman Sachs’s are down been asked to slim down, for a quarter since the final three months Emerging from the financial crisis, firms ica cut headcount by about 75,000 employees 14 percent. 2008, according to analysts’ estimates. That’s had swollen costs they needed to work down. over the four years through September. That’s got analysts projecting net income with management teams helping companies deliver more revenue to They were paying temporary workers to serv- One bright spot for the industry has been of $3.29bn for Bank of America and $3.55 taking their scalpels to the bottom line, which at a projected $19.9bn ice soured mortgages and writing checks to lower litigation costs as old cases are set- bn for Citigroup. Wells Fargo will lead the for the group would be the most for the final settle government investigations into the sale tled and fewer new ones are filed. The legal group, with $5.36 billion in profit, followed institutional businesses quarter of a year since 2006. of bonds backed by the home loans. More tab for the five largest US banks excluding by JPMorgan with $4.75bn, according to and consumer operations Investors get a first glimpse when JPMor- recently, banks have paid billions of dollars Wells Fargo, which doesn’t disclose the costs estimates. gan Chase & Co. reports January. 14. Analysts in fines to end allegations of rigging in mar- in earnings announcements, amounted to The expected fourth-quarter results cap alike. Banks have expect the depth of cuts in the fourth quar- kets such as foreign exchange. more than $33bn in 2014, according to fig- a year marked by a surge in dealmaking, a trimmed branch networks ter to highlight the firms’ success in trimming Lenders announced cost-cutting programs ures compiled by Bloomberg. strengthening US economy and the first rate as clients move to mobile bloated operations by firing workers, settling with catchy names and set targets for effi- Through the first three quarters of 2015, hike in almost a decade. Mergers and acqui- legal disputes and centralizing back-office ciency ratios, a measure of how much it costs the tally was less than $7bn. The group sitions reached more than $4.2 trillion in phones functions to preserve returns in the face of to produce one dollar of revenue. As part of includes JPMorgan, Bank of America, Cit- transactions last year, a record, data com- low interest rates that have sapped income. an initiative dubbed Project New BAC, Bank igroup, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and piled by Bloomberg show. 28 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

Sotheby’s acquires art sight specialist to bolster sales Hedge funds greet 2016 by curbing Bloomberg bullish oil bets

otheby’s, the auctioneer of art and collectibles, Bloomberg richest 400 people lost almost acquired private advisory $194bn, according to the Bloomb- firm Art Agency Partners erg Billionaires Index. Concern for as much as $85 million oney man- deepened over the ruling Com- in a bid to add muscle to agers began munist Party’s ability to manage Sits struggling contemporary art sales. the new year an economic slowdown. China Art Agency Partners’ founders Amy by reducing probably consumed 11.3 million Cappellazzo and Allan Schwartzman wagers on ris- barrels of oil a day last year, 12 will become co-chairmen of a new ing oil prices to percent of the global total, accord- fine art division that will initially Mthe lowest level in more than five ing to the International Energy focus on Impressionist, modern and years. Agency. contemporary works, Sotheby’s said Oil tumbled in the first days of Saudi Arabia was the biggest yesterday in a statement. They will be 2016 as a global glut outweighed oil producer in the Organization responsible for private sales and the an increase in tension between of Petroleum Exporting Countries development of the advisory business Saudi Arabia and Iran. The decline last month, while Iran was the within Sotheby’s, the New York-based accelerated as turmoil in Chi- fifth-largest, according to data company said. na’s markets bolstered concern compiled by Bloomberg. Saudi The purchase may help Sothe- and investment banking, will lead and might make Sotheby’s more inter- that an economic slowdown in Aramco, as Saudi Arabia’s state- by’s close the gap with UK auction Sotheby’s global deal-making efforts. esting to a financial or strategic buyer the world’s biggest commodity- owned oil monopoly is known, house Christie’s in modern, postwar Chinn replaces Mitchell Zuckerman, one day, David Schick, an analyst at consuming nation is worsening. confirmed January 8 it is study- and contemporary art, the market’s a Sotheby’s veteran of 37 years who Stifel Financial Corp., wrote in a report “The start of this year has ing options for a share sale. most lucrative segments. Chief Execu- took the buyout and will become a Monday. been one of the worst of all time “The fundamentals haven’t tive Officer Tad Smith, who took over consultant. Over time, the new team at Sothe- for multiple asset classes,” said changed but sentiment has,” at the helm of the New York-based Sotheby’s acquisition comes a by’s will oversee other 20th and 21st Bob Yawger, director of the futures said Sarah Emerson, managing company on March 31, has made sev- month after it poached Marc Porter, century categories of American, division at Mizuho Securities USA director of ESAI Energy Inc., a eral top-level hires while cutting jobs chairman of Christie’s Americas. Por- Latin American and modern British in New York. The rout is likely to consulting company in Wake- elsewhere through buyouts to reverse ter will also become a chairman in the art, Sotheby’s said. The heads of the extend into this week, he said. field, Massachusetts. “Worry a 50 percent drop in the company’s new division with a focus on global departments comprising the new divi- The acquisition Speculators’ net-long posi- about China has led to greater shares since March. Shares are up business development once his non- sion will report to Cappellazzo and tion in West Texas Intermediate pessimism about the demand 2.1 percent to $22.12 at 10:12 am in compete agreement ends, Sotheby’s Schwartzman. will bolster areas crude fell 24 percent in the week picture.” New York. said. Cappellazzo, Schwartzman and Several people who recently left of business that ended January 5, data from the Speculators’ net-long posi- The acquisition will bolster areas Chinn start immediately. Christie’s postwar and contemporary US Commodity Futures Trading tions in WTI fell by 23,863 of business that are “imperative for Sotheby’s will pay $50 million in art department are joining Sotheby’s are imperative for Commission show. Longs dropped contracts to 76,934 futures and Sotheby’s growth,” Smith said in the cash for business, which has a staff because they were employees at Art Sotheby’s growth. to a five-month low as shorts rose. options, the lowest since July statement. of 15; as much as $35 million will be Agency Partners. They include Ed Tang, The principals WTI fell 5 percent to $35.97 a 2010. Longs, or bets that prices “The principals maintain deep paid during the next five years, tied a Hong Kong native who worked in barrel in the report week on the will rise, dropped 2.5 percent to relationships with top collectors to profit goals, the company said in New York, and Joe Dunning, who spent maintain deep New York Mercantile Exchange. the lowest since July, while shorts around the world, and are unsurpassed a filing Monday. Sotheby’s board of the past four years in London. relationships with Prices dropped as much as 2.8 climbed 11 percent. at executing the complicated finan- directors voted unanimously for the Cappellazzo was at Christie’s for percent on Monday and traded Speculators took the opposite cial transactions that are integral to acquisition, Dennis Weibling, Sothe- 13 years, at one point sharing role of top collectors at $32.47 at 9:59 am. view with Brent crude, the North today’s art market.” by’s interim CFO, said during a call co-head of postwar and contempo- around the Crude stockpiles at Cushing, Sea grade used as a benchmark With Art Agency Partners, Sothe- with investors yesterday. rary art with Brett Gorvy, one of the Oklahoma, the delivery point for around the world. Money manag- by’s gains new talent and business “I went after them,” Smith said in company’s key rainmakers. She then world, and are WTI, rose to a record in the week ers increased net-long positions streams at the high end of the art mar- a separate telephone interview. “They worked in private sales under Por- unsurpassed at ended January 1, US Energy infor- in Brent by 21,380 contracts to ket, including an investment fund. The run a great business. It’s highly profit- ter. While at Art Agency Partners, she mation Administration data show. 185,052, the highest level since firm was founded two years ago by able.” Sotheby’s has trailed Christie’s bought Piet Mondrian’s painting for executing the Swelling supply sent WTI down Nov.ember10. Cappellazzo, a former deputy chair- in postwar and contemporary art for record $50.6 million in May on behalf complicated 30 percent in 2015. In other markets, net bearish man of Christie’s, and Schwartzman, several years. In November’s semi- of a client. financial A selloff in China’s stock mar- wagers on US ultra low sulfur die- an adviser known for helping wealthy annual bellwether auctions in New “I used to walk around Christie’s ket spread around the world last sel decreased 11 percent to 31,298 individuals build museum-quality York, Sotheby’s sold $414.5 million of saying ‘We have to stop being an auc- transactions that week, sending commodities and contracts. Diesel futures slid 0.4 collections. postwar and contemporary art com- tion business and start being an art are integral to equity markets lower. The world’s percent in the period. The firm’s third partner, Adam pared with Christie’s $555.1 million in business,”’ Cappellazzo said in a sep- Chinn, an art market newcomer the category. arate interview. “Now we are going today’s art market. whose background includes law It’s a “relatively small” transaction to do that.”

Capital China slowdown is gradual, not cataclysmic. If China doesn’t have enough demand side measures, there Joseph Stiglitz Comment could be a deeper downturn.

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Zurich close to naming Greco Market Talk CEO, says SonntagsZeitung Financial Times@ MoneyBeat FinancialTimes NAME IN THE MARKET: GLOBAL SOVEREIGN Bloomberg a person with knowledge of the @fastFT: RMB-based discussions told Bloomberg. A Hong Kong interbank As US stocks plunged, spokesman for Generali declined lending rate hits record ZURICH: Zurich Insurance to comment. high money managers reassured Group AG will appoint Mario Martin Senn stepped down themselves by recalling Greco, the head of its Italian rival as Zurich CEO on December 1 Assicurazioni Generali SpA, as amid a management and busi- World Bank Energy@ that the most severe bear chief executive officer, Swiss ness overhaul after falling WBG Energy markets occur during newspaper SonntagsZeitung profit in the general insurance reported, without saying how unit prompted the company to EU’s new climate recessions. Few economists it got the information. drop a high- profile bid for RSA targets aim to up predict recession right now While Greco, an insurance- Insurance Group Plc. Zurich #renewableenergy industry veteran, hasn’t yet been announced job cuts and plans share to 37% formally chosen and his appoint- to exit some businesses at the ment needs the approval of non-life insurance unit, which IMF@IMFNews Zurich’s board, the CEO of Italy’s posted a $183 million operat- FT Alphaville biggest insurer is the only name ing loss in the third quarter. on the final shortlist, Sonntag- Sylvia Gaeumann, a spokes- Lagarde: Heartened by sZeitung said, citing an insider. woman for the insurer in Zurich, CEMAC’s commitment The Swiss insurer will make the refused to comment, saying the to reform in face of oil- appointment no later than its company doesn’t discuss mar- price shock. You’ll remember that annual media conference, the ket rumors or speculation. persistent capital outflows newspaper said. The confer- Before becoming the head ence will be held on February. of Generali, Greco was the chief from a slowing, debt World Bank@WorldBank 11, according to Zurich’s website. of Zurich’s general insurance burdened China are a thing. “At the end, three names unit from 2010 to 2012 and was were shortlisted: Mario Greco, CEO of the global life business Simultaneous growth You’ll also remember that FX Mario Greco and Mario Greco,” between 2008 and 2010. slowdown in #emergin- reserve depletion is a thing the person told the newspaper. Zurich shares rose as much geconomies a concern, Negotiations to renew as 2.9 percent and were up 2 headwinds may persist Greco’s contract for a second percent at 246.4 francs as of term at Generali are continuing, 12:04 pm. www.thepeninsulaqatar.comom PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 Murray’s hopes Spieth dipsips 30 rest on Djokovic’s under parar drop-off to win

TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 • 2 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Enrique Coach Messi retains world football crown of the Year ZURICH: Spain’s Luis Enrique won the Coach of the Year Award at the 2015 BALLON D’OR AWARDS Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich yes- The Barcelona and terday. Enrique led Barcelona to a treble Argentine forward reclaims of Champions League, La Liga and the FIFA Ballon d’Or Award without them none of this would have been Spanish Cup trophies last season. for the fifth time possible.” English-born Jill Ellis, coach of United States World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, the American team that won last who scored a hat-trick in the final against Japan, year’s World Cup in Canada, took was named women’s player of the year. the women’s award. Ronaldo ended last season trophyless with Agencies Real Madrid although he helped Portugal qual- ify for Euro 2016. Neymar won a treble alongside Messi at FIFA-FIFPro World XI Barcelona but had less happy time with Bra- ZURICH : Lionel Messi reclaimed the FIFA Bal- zil, receiving a four-match international ban GOALKEEPER: Manuel Neuer (Germa- lon d’Or award for the World Player of the Year after he was sent off during the Copa America. yesterday, after watching his great rival Cris- The ceremony, at the Zurich Kongresshaus ny, Bayern Munich) tiano Ronaldo walk off with the prize for the theatre, was held against the backdrop of FIFA DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Brazil, Barce- previous two years. going through the worst corruption crisis since lona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Ma- The Barcelona and Argentina forward fin- it was founded in 1904. drid), Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint- ished ahead of Ronaldo and Brazil forward The sport is facing criminal investigations in Germain), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid) Neymar as he scooped the award for the fifth both Switzerland and the United States, where MIDFIELDERS: Paul Pogba (France, Ju- time overall, having previously won it four years some leading FIFA officials are among 41 individ- FC Barcelona and Argentine forward ventus), Luka Modric (Croatia, Real in a row from 2009 to 2012. uals and sports entities who have been indicted Lionel Messi waves holding his Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barce- Messi helped Barcelona win a Spanish League, on corruption charges. trophy after receiving the 2015 lona) Cup and Champions League treble plus the Club Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, nor- FIFA Ballon d’Or award for Player FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portu- World Cup and also led Argentina to the Copa mally a central figure at the ceremony, was not of the Year during the 2015 FIFA gal, Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argen- America final, where they lost to Argentina. involved after being banned for eight years by Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the tina, Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil, Barce- “It’s incredible, much more than anything I the Ethics Committee in December. Kongresshaus in Zurich last night. lona) dreamed of as a kid,” said Messi as he received Blatter was replaced by acting president Issa the award. “I want to thank my team-mates, Hayatou who played a low-key role. 30 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

ATP WORLD TOP 20 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 16,790 2. Andy Murray (GBR) 8,945 Murray’s hopes rest on Djokovic’s 3. Roger Federer (SUI) 8,165 4. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 6,865 5. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5,230 6. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4,560 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,235 (+1) drop-off at Australian Open 8. David Ferrer (ESP) 4,055 (-1) 9. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 2,850 10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2,635 11. John Isner (USA) 2,495 The world number 12. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 2,475 two British admits 13. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2,405 the ExxonMobil Open 14. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2,270 champion is favourite 15. Gilles Simon (FRA) 2,145 to win the crown 16. David Goffin (BEL) 1,835 17. Bernard Tomic (AUS) 1,720 (+1) Down Under 18. Benoît Paire (FRA) 1,703 (+1) 19. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 1,690 (-2) 20. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 1,645

Reuters HOBART INTERNATIONAL MELBOURNE: Finally clinching an RESULTS elusive Australian Open crown is Andy Murray’s number one goal for the new Mona Barthel (GER x9) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) year but the Briton concedes that his 6-4, 6-4. hopes of success at Melbourne Park may rest on champion Novak Djok- Nao Hibino (JPN) bt Pauline Parmentier ovic having an off-day. (FRA) 7-6 (7/1), 6-1. World number one Djokovic holds Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Jarmila Wolfe (AUS) three of the four grand slam crowns 6-7 (6/8) 7-6 (10/8) 6-4. after a dominant 2015 and started the new season with a bang last week, Kiki Bertens (NED) bt Madison Brengle (USA thrashing Rafael Nadal in straight sets Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the Golden Falcon Trophy after winning x5) 6-0, 1-1 (retired - illness). to win the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2016 last Saturday. Annika Beck (GER) bt Kurumi Nara (JPN) An awed Nadal described Djoko- 6-4, 6-3. vic’s performance in the Qatar final as “perfection” and the highlights reel TENNIS: ROAD TO Wimbledon and US Open finals, was Kimberly Birrell (AUS) bt Danka Kovinic has been sober viewing for the Serb’s AUSTRALIAN OPEN also impressed by Djokovic’s oblitera- (MNE) 6-4, 6-3. top rivals warming up in Australia. tion of 14-times grand slam champion Having lost to Djokovic in last year’s Nadal in Doha. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x3) bt Johanna final at Melbourne Park and in the “You just have to keep trying to “To some extent it’s surprising for Konta (GBR) 7-6 (8/6), 7-5. 2011 and 2013 title-deciders, world learn, watch his matches, try and see sure,” the 34-year-old told reporters Veronica Cepede (PAR) bt Laura Pous (ESP) number two Murray was under few if there’s any weaknesses there that after losing the Brisbane International 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. illusions as to the scale of the task. you can capitalise on. final to Milos Raonic on Sunday. “My number one goal is to try “Maybe he has a drop-off, it’s very “Maybe not so much because Johanna Larsson (SWE) bt Barbora Zahla- Andy Murray of Britain hits a return to Alexander Zverev of Germany and win here,” Murray, who also lost difficult to maintain that level for such he’s been on a roll for a while now. vova Strycova (CZE x6) 6-4, 6-4. during the men’s singles match between Great Britain and Germany in a fourth Melbourne Park final to Roger a long period. That’s all you can do.” Of course, he is the favourite for the Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) bt Bethanie Mat- session 11 on day 6 of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament at the Perth Federer in 2010, told reporters in Mel- World number three Federer, Australian Open. Plus he’s played well tek-Sands (USA) 6-2, 6-1. Arena, in Perth, Australia in this January 08, 2016 file photo. bourne yesterday. who lost to Djokovic in last year’s there historically.” Bouchard comeback gathers steam

AFP

HOBART: Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard swept into the sec- ond round of the Hobart International with a straight sets demolition of American Bethanie Mattek-Sands yesterday. The former world number 5 now ranked 47 took just 57 minutes to dispose of one-time tournament finalist Mattek-Sands 6-2, 6-1. Bouchard, 21, who reached the semi-finals of the 2014 Australian and French Opens before playing in the final Angelique Kerber of Germany at Wimbledon in the same year, suffered a big setback at hits a return against Elina the US Open last September. Svitolina of Ukraine during She sustained a head injury after slipping in the locker their women’s singles room and was forced to pull out of her fourth-round match first round match at the at Flushing Meadows with a concussion, which also forced Sydney International tennis her to withdrew from an event in Wuhan, China later tournament in Sydney that month. yesterday. “I was feeling pretty solid out there,” Bouchard said after her latest win. “The foundation of my game is to be really aggressive, but I also want to have that balance with consistency and I think I did a good job of that today.” Bouchard lost just 14 points on serve in her first win in Kerber survives ‘extreme three attempts against the more experienced American. “It was nice to get a win against her finally,” Bou- chard said. “She’s a great player and I was really aware that when she came to the net she is really solid, so I was Canadian Eugenie Bouchard heat’ test in Sydney just always trying to pass her.”

AFP Halep (Achilles), Garbine Muguruza seed Andreas Seppi eliminated Denis (foot) and Maria Sharapova (forearm). Istomin of Uzbekistan in three sets, “I had a lot of matches last week, but Seppi’s compatriot Simone Bolelli Aussie Kyrgios in the spotlight but that was actually also my plan went out to American qualifier Alex- SYDNEY: Germany’s Angelique Ker- to come to Australia, to have a lot of ander Sarkissian 6-2, 7-6 (7/5). ber overcame the loss of the first set matches, and also to play a few more In the evening match, Tommy on a day of extreme heat in Sydney as matches here,” Kerber said. Robredo was too strong for Austral- AFP including an infamous on-court spat and practise a bit more. “I feel like she maintained her build-up to next “I don’t know how far I can get. I’m ia’s John Millman 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. with Stan Wawrinka which sparked I play my best tennis on big stages.” week’s Australian Open yesterday. healthy. I have no pain anywhere. I will stinging criticism from fellow players. “If I’m serving well and playing The fourth seed, one of the few just try to recover and see how I feel SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL MELBOURNE: The pre-Australian It led to the ATP handing him the right game style, I think I’ve got members of the women’s world top 10 tomorrow. But my body feels good.” RESULTS Open spotlight will be fixed firmly on a 28-day suspended sentence that a good chance.” not to be hit by injury in the lead-up Kerber struggled with the intense volatile Nick Kyrgios with the exuber- remains in effect until late Febru- Today’s opening programme will to the year’s first Grand Slam, came heat early in her match, dropping the Women’s singles ant young Aussie heading the field at ary. It will be imposed if he gets in feature half of the field on court with from a set down to oust Ukraine’s Elina opening set without winning a game, 8-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) bt Mirjana Lucic- the Kooyong Classic starting today. trouble on court again, something he the remainder to play tomorrow. As in Svitolina 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in Sydney Inter- but she battled on. With temperatures Baroni (Croatia) 7-6(6) 1-6, 6-4. Days after leading Australia to managed to avoid in Perth. the past, winners progress while los- national’s first round. hitting 37 Celsius (99 Farenheit) the Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) bt Magdalena Ryba- only its second title at the Hopman The powerful Kyrgios, who won ers complete relegation play. Kerber, who lost to Victoria WTA’s extreme heat policy came into rikova (Slovakia) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Cup mixed-teams event in Perth, the all four of his singles rubbers at the Today, Frenchman Gilles Simon Azarenka in Saturday’s Brisbane force, allowing Kerber and Svitolina Samantha Stosur (Australia) bt Roberta Vinci 20-year-old has become a hot topic Hopman Cup and helped team-mate brings a 2-2 record into an opening International final, is looking for more to take a 10-minute break before the in the Grand Slam run-up due to his Daria Gavrilova to the first Aussie vic- match with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez as (Italy) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. matches to hone her form leading into third and deciding set. heroics on court - and his new-look tory in the event for 16 years, will take the pair meet for the first time since the Australian Open in Melbourne. Australia’s Samantha Stosur fought Sara Errani (Italy) bt 7-Carla Suarez Navarro good behaviour. to the court on Wednesday when he 2014. While defending champion Petra back from a set and a service break (Spain) 6-3, 6-3. Kyrgios, who had frequent brushes faces Belgian David Goffin. Australian Open wildcard Omar Kvitova and second seed Agnieszka down to overcome defeat Italy’s Rob- Sabine Lisicki (Germany) bt Polona Hercog (Slov- with officialdom last season, is the “My game can always get better. Jasika faces South Korea’s Hyeon Chung Radwanska pulled out of the Sydney erta Vinci 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in two hours enia) 6-4, 6-3. top drawcard in an expanded 12-man There’s always things I need to improve and Nicolas Almagro and Paul Henri event citing injuries, Kerber powered 30 minutes. Among other first-round 4-Angelique Kerber (Germany) bt Elina Svitolina field at Kooyong Club in Melbourne, on. You can never be too ready, I feel, Mathieu hold another Spain-French on to get in some valuable match winners yesterday were Italy’s world (Ukraine) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. former home of the Australian Open for a Grand Slam,” Kyrgios said as he clash. Tomorrow’s line-up includes practice. Kvitova and Radwanska’s number 19 Sara Errani, over Spanish Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) bt Lara Ar- and venue for an upcoming first-round prepared for the business end of the former Australian Open finalist Marcos withdrawals came after injury prob- seventh seed Carla Suarez 6-3, 6-3, Davis Cup tie again the United States Australian tennis summer. Baghdatis taking on Spanish young- ruabarrena Vecino (Spain) 6-1 ,7-6(1). lems at other Australian tournaments and German Sabine Lisicki, who eased in March. “I’m nervous, I’m excited. I don’t ster Pablo Carenno Busta, while Alex for the world’s top-ranked stars includ- past Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-4, 6-3. Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) bt Lucie Hradecka The richly-talented youngster really know how much or how little Zverev plays Kyle Edmund in addi- ing Serena Williams (knee), Simona In the men’s draw, Italian fifth (Czech Republic) 6-2, 6-1. is coming off a contentious 2015, to do. I’m just going to get out there tion to the showcase Kyrgios match. SPORT TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 31

Emotional Stone claims Spieth dips 30 under par debut title at SA Open AFP on the tenth to make it five bogeys in six holes. Bezuidenhout moved into a share of second as he made a birdie on the to continue winning JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s same hole after a brilliant approach. Brandon Stone claimed an emotional Stone and Bezuidenhout then both first European Tour title on home soil dropped shots on the 11th to briefly in the SA Open yesterday. hand Brooks a two-shot cushion but 18th green. “Felt comfortable the Five shots clear of the chasing Stone crumpled into tears after a bogey from the leader on the tenth TOURNAMENT OF whole week.” pack overnight, the Texan briefly holing out on the 18th green follow- kept things tight at the top. The world number CHAMPIONS “I felt like it was just a short had his lead trimmed to three as a ing a tense conclusion to the Tour’s Stone was really battling and a one matches Woods three-week break over the holi- red-hot Reed reeled off four bird- second oldest event. birdie on the 12th had him back in six-under-par 67 to clinch his sev- days and then just try and continue ies on the front nine. The 22-year-old had established a share before a stunning approach for wins before enth career title on the PGA Tour, exactly what we were doing last Though Spieth bogeyed the par- a two-shot third-round lead, then to the next gave him a chance to get turning 23 matching Tiger Woods in achiev- year.” three eighth after missing the green moved five shots clear before going his nose back in front. ing that total before the age of 23. “It worked this week and all off the tee to the right, he rebounded two behind in the space of seven holes, Playing partner Bezuidenhout The 22-year-old Spieth out- parts of the game were firing.” with birdies at the ninth and 10th, eventually finishing at 14-under to made a birdie to briefly make it a classed the elite, winners-only Defending champion Reed cut where he drained a 15-footer to beat Christiaan Bezuidenhout by three-way tie but when Stone fol- Reuters field of 32 at Kapalua as he mixed Spieth’s lead to three shots after regain a five-stroke cushion. two shots. lowed him in, he was back ahead on seven birdies with a lone bogey to making a sizzling start to the final He picked up further shots at the England’s Daniel Brooks, who his own. post a 30-under total of 262. round but he ran out of steam after 15th and the par-four 16th, where had briefly taken the lead, finished The South African pair both had He became only the second the turn on the way to a 69 and had he hit a superb approach to within a shot further back in third after a eagle putts on the 15th but had to set- HAWAII: Jordan Spieth under- player to finish a 72-hole event to settle for a distant second place. three feet of the flag, to storm seven bogey at the last. tle for birdies and Brooks moved back lined his status as world number on the PGA Tour at 30-under par Brandt Snedeker birdied two of ahead before ending his round in Regarded as a major prospect in level with Bezuidenhout as he followed one by cruising to an eight-shot or better, emulating South Afri- the last four holes for a 67 to tie for style with another birdie at the last. South Africa, Stone became the young- their lead with a gain on the 13th. victory at the Hyundai Tournament can Ernie Els who won the 2003 third with fellow American Brooks Asked how he felt after match- est winner of the event since 1997. Stone’s rollercoaster of a round of Champions in Hawaii yesterday Tournament of Champions with a Koepka (71) at 21-under. ing 14-times major winner Woods Weather and storms had led to continued as he went from six bogeys after repelling an early challenge 31-under aggregate. However, Spieth commanded with a seventh PGA Tour victory delays on the first three days at the in seven holes from the fifth to four by fellow American Patrick Reed. “I’m very satisfied,” Masters and the spotlight at Kapalua in cham- before the age of 23, Spieth replied: City of Ekurhuleni course with Brooks birdies in five from the 12th with a gain On a breezy day at the Kapalua US Open champion Spieth told Golf pion fashion as he eased to his sixth “I don’t think there’s any reason to and Stone going out early Sunday to on the 16th moving him two ahead. Resort on the island of Maui, the Channel after being congratulated victory on the PGA Tour in his last compare. I think it’s awfully early finish their third rounds with a share A good two-putt on the par-three imperious Spieth signed off with a by his family on the edge of the 21 starts. (in his career). of the lead, Stone eventually enjoy- 17th then brought a fist-pumping cele- ing a two-shot 54-hole lead. bration of relief from Stone and when As fortunes changed like the Bezuidenhout failed to follow him in, Golf-World Rankings weather Brooks got back into a share his chance was gone. of the lead on the eighth when he The rookie was in tears on the 1. (1) Jordan Spieth (US) 12.14 narrowly missed an eagle putt and 18th green as he watched Bezuiden- 2. (2) Jason Day (Australia) 10.74 tapped in to get to 12-under, and the hout claim a birdie and then rolled in 3. (3) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 10.31 lead was his own moments later as his own par putt. It was then only a 4. (4) Bubba Watson (US) 7.62 Stone missed a slippery downhill putt matter of waiting for Brooks to finish. 5. (6) Rickie Fowler (US) 7.12 6. (5) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 7.11 7. (7) Justin Rose (Britain) 6.80 8. (8) Dustin Johnson (US) 6.06 Donald admits he nearly 9. (9) Jim Furyk (US) 5.37 10. (10) Patrick Reed (US) 5.15 11. (11) Adam Scott (Australia) 4.49 quit playing golf 12. (13) Zach Johnson (US) 4.34 13. (12) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.27 14. (16) Brooks Koepka (US) 4.21 Agencies That, combined with taking a 15. (14) Branden Grace (South Africa) 4.18 month off from golf, celebrating his 16. (17) Kevin Kisner (US) 4.02 birthday, hanging with good friend 17. (15) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 3.88 LONDON:After four winless years Michael Jordan, and then reuniting 18. (18) Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 3.84 (sans a victory at the Japan Tour’s with former coach Pat Goss, indicates 19. (19) Danny Willett (Britain) 3.73 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament), English that Donald is serious about getting 20. (20) Matt Kuchar (US) 3.53 golfer Luke Donald seriously contem- his game back on track in 2016. 21. (21) Shane Lowry (Ireland) 3.43 plated quitting. He told the Sunday As the new year turns, Donald is 22. (22) Paul Casey (Britain) 3.37 Telegraph: “My confidence had taken ranked 78th in the world. With his 23. (23) Kevin Na (US) 3.36 a big knock and I asked myself if I renewed focus, his goals are to chip 24. (24) J B Holmes (US) 3.27 wanted to keep doing this. away at his ranking, both literally 25. (26) Jimmy Walker (US) 3.24 “I wasn’t enjoying it, finding it so and figuratively. 26. (25) Marc Leishman (Australia) 3.24 very hard and could not see much Despite his long slump on the golf Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the fourth tee 27. (27) Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 3.14 light at the end of the tunnel. But then course, it appears the Englishman’s during the final round of the Hyundai Tournament 28. (28) Martin Kaymer (Germany) 3.09 I told myself not to be a baby, to grow life is really good. up and realise how lucky I was that He and his wife, Diane, along with of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua 29. (29) An Byeong-Hun (South Korea) 3.06 I was still playing golf for a living.” their three daughters, have more than Golf Club on Sunday in Lahaina, Hawaii. 30. (30) Russell Knox (Britain) 3.02 Donald’s first piece of his solution enough money in the bank, travel puzzle was to turn to psychologist quite often and show lots of person- Michael Gervais. ality on social media. UK Athletics wants world Michalak keeps champions Toulon on course records wiped out AFP RUGBY: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP AFP PARIS: Frederic Michalak scored a CLEANING WORLD SPORT penalty four minutes from time to keep champions Toulon in the hunt for the as they won 24-23 at Oyonnax. Paddy LONDON: Britain’s athletics feder- European Champions Cup knock-out Jackson kicked a penalty three minutes ation yesterday called for all world rounds on Sunday. from time to complete a remarkable records to be reset because of drugs and the British federation wants action The France international came off turnaround after Ulster went into the and corruption scandals that have taken by then. the bench to give Toulon a 12-9 vic- break trailing 23-0. tainted the sport. The British 14-point manifesto tory over dogged Bath, who deserved With Munster eliminated on Sat- UK athletics also said in “A Mani- makes: “A call to the IAAF to inves- more from a game they lit up with some urday after a 27-7 defeat at Stade festo for Clean Athletics” that serious tigate the implications of drawing ambitious and at times scintillating Francais, who played the entire second drug cheats should face a lifetime ban. a line under all pre-existing sport running rugby. half with 14 men but still dominated, “The integrity of athletics was records - for example, by adjusting George Ford kicked two drop goals Ulster were the only Irish province still challenged as never before in 2015. event rules - and commencing a new for the visitors but they came up short able to progress to the quarter-finals Clean athletes and sports fans the set of records based on performances and a second straight Pool 5 defeat -- Leinster were eliminated a month world over have been let down. Trust in the new Clean Athletics era.” leaves them with little chance of mak- ago when losing to Toulon. in the sport is at its lowest point for It also says WADA should further ing the last eight. But it looked bleak for the Irish decades,” said UK Athletics chair- tighten rules on permitted therapeu- Toulon are now just two points when Ulster turned around at the break man Ed Warner. tic drug use and that athletes found behind group leaders Wasps, who in France with a large deficit. “Greater transparency, tougher guilty of “serious” doping should face must still come to the south of France. Oyonnax, who had already been sanctions, longer bans - and even a minimum eight year ban up to a life- The first half was far more enter- eliminated themselves having lost all resetting the clock on world records time exclusion. The federation said it taining than the scoreline suggested their previous matches, played without for a new era - we should be open to would seek to enforce a lifetime ban after Eric Escande scored a pair of pen- fear and scored a try through Jeremie do whatever it takes to restore cred- for serious cases no matter what is alties in response to Ford knocking Maurouard after just seven minutes. ibility in the sport.” done internationally. over one and adding a drop goal in Nicky Robinson kicked the con- The International Association of UK Athletics also called for a what had been an enjoyable match. version and three penalties before Athletics Federations (IAAF) has been public register of all tests and for all Ford knocked over another drop Uwanakaro Tawalo picked up a loose hit by doping scandals and Russia has athletes at world championships to goal early in the second period as an pass from deep inside his own 22 and been suspended from international have a valid biological passport and adventurous Bath side frequently broke clear to score a second try, also competition. Top officials have in turn have been tested in the previous 12 attacked from deep. converted, on the stroke of half-time. taken bribes to cover up doping failures. months. The body said the IAAF and Toulon started to get their own But Ulster showed great heart in the Ulster’s Irish centre Luke Marshall (left) fends off a tackle of Oyonnaxs Former IAAF president Lam- WADA should consider publicising a running game into gear and Escande second period, in which they almost ine Diack faces criminal charges in register of “missed tests.” levelled matters for a third time. never let the hosts out of their own half. Tongan centre Alaska Taufa during the European Rugby Champions Cup France and his son was among three UK Athletics also said that spon- But after resisting a long period Rory Scholes got them on the board rugby union match against Oyonnax at the Charles-Mathon Stadium people banned for life last week for sors should not support athletes found of Bath pressure, during which time just three minutes in before tries from in Oyonnax, central eastern France on Sunday. doping corruption. With Kenya also guilty of serious doping offences. Ford narrowly knocked another drop Craig Gilroy and Kyle McCall, all con- at the centre of doping allegations, a So far the IAAF has pledged to dou- goal wide, Toulon steam-rollered up verted by Jackson, made it a two-point new report by the World Anti-Dop- ble its anti-doping budget, establish the other end and won the decisive game with 12 minutes left. Ulster probably still need to get a young flanker Sekou Macalou partic- ing Agency on Thursday is expected a separate integrity unit for athletics penalty. Oyonnax, playing in their first ever result away to Saracens in their final ularly impressive. to cause a new storm for the IAAF. before this year’s Olympics in Rio de Ulster produced a stirring second European Champions Cup campaign, match in order to make the last eight, The French champions are just four The world athletics champion- Janeiro and double the international half fightback to keep Irish interest couldn’t hold out and Jackson had the though. On Saturday, Stade produced a points behind Pool 4 leaders Leicester, ships will be held in London next year testing pool of athletes to 1,000. alive in the European Champions Cup final word. stunning display to rout Munster with who have yet to play in Paris. 32 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Kazakhs to chose Barca, Espanyol seek to calm waters new national football coach via Internet poll FOOTBALL: KING’S CUP Barca coach Enrique PREVIEW and counterpart AFP Galca of Espanyol the region’s separatist ambitions and will meet today in Espanyol fiercely loyal to the central ALMATY, Kazakhstan: Kaza- an attempt to ease government in Madrid. khstan’s football federation is The Catalan parliament swore in giving fans the chance to help select tensions a new separatist leader on Sunday, a new coach for the national team via putting the pro-independence move- an Internet vote, it was announced ment’s commitment to break with Spain yesterday. over the next 18 months back on track. Football lovers will first be able Reuters Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and to cast ballots in an online poll to counterpart Constantin Galca of Espan- decide if the next national manager yol will meet and hold a photo session should be foreign or Kazakh, federa- today in an attempt to ease tensions. tion supremo Yerlan Kozhagapanov MADRID: Barcelona and Espanyol “I want football to be the only pro- said. have fought out a couple of brutal der- tagonist as that is what the spectator If more than 50,000 people bies in recent weeks and the bitter city deserves,” Luis Enrique told a news participate then the result will be rivals are seeking to calm the waters conference after Saturday’s 4-0 La considered valid and the federa- ahead of tomorrow’s King’s Cup last- Liga win at home to Granada. tion will then hold a second round 16 second leg. “I am open to speaking to Galca of voting to decide between four Espanyol held visiting Barca to a to try to lighten the mood if neces- candidates. 0-0 draw in La Liga on January 2 before sary,” added the former Barca and “We decided to give our fans the Cup holders thumped them 4-1 in Spain midfielder. the chance to express their will, Argentina and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi signs autographs on the red carpet as he arrives for the last week’s first leg at the Nou Camp. Espanyol president Joan Collet to exert an impact on this strate- Both games were littered with fouls urged fans not to get carried away, 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich yesterday. gic decision,” Kozhagapanov told and yellow cards, Espanyol had two warning them that the club faced local media. players sent off in the Cup clash, with sanctions if insults were heard dur- “Football cannot develop with- Barca forward Luis Suarez banned for ing the game. are level at 1-1 after last week’s first tomorrow. Villarreal need to overturn Mirandes and Deportivo La Coruna out the involvement of the fans in two matches following a fracas in the “We are clear in our minds that the leg, with the return at the Calderon a 3-2 deficit when they host Athletic tied at 1-1. the game. If they exercise their tunnel after the final whistle. tie is very tough for us but we have to in the Spanish capital on Thursday. Bilbao tomorrow, while Gary Nev- Third-tier Cadiz, who went through right to influence this decision it The rivalry between the clubs has ease the tension,” Collet said. Sevilla have a 2-0 lead from the ille’s Valencia lead Granada 4-0 before after Real Madrid were expelled for will definitely be for the benefit of sharpened over Catalonia’s continu- The last 16 of this year’s competi- first leg at Real Betis, who sacked their Thursday’s return in Andalusia. fielding an ineligible player, look cer- our squad.” ing campaign for independence from tion features two other derbies. coach Pepe Mel on Sunday, before they Two non-La Liga sides have tain to be eliminated after losing 3-0 The national team hot-seat in Spain, with Barca seen as a symbol of Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano meet at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium survived, with second-division at home to Celta Vigo. the energy-rich state is currently vacant after the contract of the pre- vious manager, Yury Krasnozhan of Russia, expired last month. “We do not only talk about the Blanc wary full openness of our federation, we EPL: Feast and famine as Arsenal are doing our best to put it into prac- of Lyon tice,” Kozhagapanov said. “But if the number of voters does focus in not reach the target it will also be an important sign for the federa- League Cup face ravaged Manchester United tion. In this case we will take the decision on our own.” Kazakhstan -- which has a pop- ulation of some 17.5 million -- has AFP AFP FOOTBALL: ENGLISH to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham FIXTURES never qualified for any major tour- PREMIER LEAGUE Hotspur, just three days after a 2-2 Today naments either in Asia or in Europe draw between the teams there in the Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace, Bourne- since joining UEFA in 2002. PARIS: Runaway league leaders FA Cup. Leicester were a minute from mouth vs West Ham United, Five foreign coaches and eight Paris Saint Germain take on Lyon LONDON: Two teams coping very victory when Harry Kane equalised Newcastle United vs local managers have led the national in the pick of the French League differently with English football’s respond in the way we did (against Sun- from the penalty spot for Spurs, but Manchester United squad since the country gained inde- Cup quarter-finals in midweek with high-intensity mid-season fixture derland) and I’m sure we will be fine. having made seven changes to his line- Tomorrow pendence from the Soviet Union coach Laurent Blanc warning of a programme meet tomorrow when Pre- “The team was up to the chal- up, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion, in 1991. highly focussed opponent. mier League leaders Arsenal resume lenge. We didn’t rush the games and was satisfied with the outcome. Liverpool vs Arsenal (2000 GMT), With a clean sweep of domes- their pursuit of the title at injury-rav- we knew we had to be patient. It is “I was very pleased with our per- Manchester City vs Everton, South- FRENCH LEAGUE CUP tic trophies last season Paris Saint aged Liverpool. nice to get the three goals and that is formance because eight players without ampton vs Watford, Stoke City vs FIXTURES Germain top League 1 by a mas- While Arsenal could afford to confidence for the team as we had a play -- some play sometimes, in the Norwich City, Swansea City vs Sunder- Today’s matches sive twenty points, so can afford make five changes as they breezed difficult week ahead.” League Cup -- and now they play in land, Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester to focus on the League Cup them- past Sunderland in the FA Cup on Klopp can only envy the riches at the FA Cup, and I think they deserve City (2000 GMT) Bordeaux vs Lorient (2000) selves, which they have won in the Saturday, Liverpool manager Jurgen Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger’s a positive result,” he said. Playing Tomorrow last two seasons. Klopp’s decision to field a youthful disposal as he contemplates an injury “Two-two is a positive result. Well and, in the end, we won and we are Toulouse vs Marseille (1600), Guin- Saint-Etienne handed PSG starting XI at fourth-tier Exeter City list that currently features 11 senior done!” now ready for the next game.” gamp vs Lille (1745), Paris Saint their last defeat in this tournament, on Friday almost backfired as his side players. Seven of those -- including Spurs start the week in fourth United’s cross-town rivals Manches- Germain vs Lyon (2000) overcoming the Parisians 5-3 on scraped a 2-2 draw. First-team reg- playmaker Philippe Coutinho, striker place, but Manchester United can go ter City had a far more straightforward penalties in the 2012-13 quarter- ulars like Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey Daniel Sturridge and centre-backs draw level on points with Mauricio third-round assignment, easing to a 3-0 SPANISH KING’S CUP finals, but PSG saw off the Greens and Per Mertesacker will come back Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel -- have Pochettino’s men if they win at strug- win at Norwich City.Seeking to bridge LAST 16 FIXTURES 1-0 in the last round. into the Arsenal team at Anfield and hamstring problems, but Klopp has gling Newcastle United in Tuesday’s the three-point gap between themselves Today matches “You have to work hard in Jan- right-back Hector Bellerin believes dismissed suggestions that his hard- stand-out fixture. United required a and Arsenal, Manuel Pellegrini’s side uary, the weather conditions may such strength in depth bodes well for running playing style is to blame. stoppage-time Wayne Rooney pen- resume hostilities with Everton, who Celta Vigo vs Cadiz(III) (1930) not be great,” coach Blanc warned the months ahead. Assessing the situation after the alty to see off third-division Sheffield beat them 2-1 last week in the first leg Villarreal vs Athletic Club (1930) after their latest outing, a 2-0 league “The legs are fine and we have draw at Exeter, he said: “The main United in the FA Cup on Saturday, but of their League Cup semi-final. Las Palmas vs Eibar (2000) win over Bastia. shown that we have very good play- problems we have is because our cen- midfielder Marouane Fellaini believes “It’s very important to be focused Espanyol vs Barcelona (2000) “There are heavy legs in January ers on the bench also and the rotation tre-halves are injured in this moment. there was no shame in being made to game by game. We’ve played in the but we have big goals for February, helps us get good results,” said the “We had five centre-halves at the toil by well-drilled opposition. FA Cup and now we must return to Last 16, second leg March, April and May,” said Blanc, Spaniard, who set up goals for Ram- beginning of the season and at this “It was difficult against a team like the Premier League,” said Pellegrini. January 14 whose side are also targeting the sey and Olivier Giroud in the 3-1 success moment no centre-halves. That’s the that who come to defend,” the Belgium “We have to play two games at Granada CF vs Valencia (1900) Champions League and face Chel- against Sunderland. situation, but next week it could be international told MUTV. home and it’s very important that we Atletico Madrid vs sea in the last-16. “We have a lot of games and they different.” Leicester City, two points “We tried to create chances and try to reduce the gap that we have with Lyon are fourth and inaugurated are all hard games, but we have to behind Arsenal in second place, return we kept the ball well. We had patience Arsenal.” Rayo Vallecano (1930) their new 59,000-seater stadium with a 4-1 victory over bottom side Troyes on Saturday, snapping a six- game winless run in the league. Lyon’s stand-in coach Bruno Genesio applauded the style of play Yahoo Sports and Bayern launch global partnership and said the players were as keen as he was to deliver results. Blanc is tipped to rotate his team and rest 1 top scorer Zlatan Ibrahi- Agencies movic and instead play mercurial Javier Pastore alongside Edinson Cavani, whose late goal was enough NEW YORK CITY: Bayern Munich to beat Saint Etienne in the last round has announced a new partnership of the League Cup. with Yahoo Sports in an agree- Bordeaux are undefeated in ment that will see the media giant their last five league outings and promote the German club’s con- thrashed Monaco 3-0 in the last tent in key markets such as Asia, round as they travel to Lorient on US, Latin America and central Tuesday night in search of the first Europe. semi-final spot. Marseille travel to The partnership will include the relegation threatened Toulouse and syndication of FC Bayern’s editorial an away tie may suit their coach and video content for programming Michel who had to sit through chants in English, Spanish and German, of “Bielsa! Bielsa!” at the weekend as across Yahoo Sports, bringing soccer his injury depleted outfit drew 0-0 fans around the world an exciting at home to Guingamp. But Michel has behind-the-scenes look into the overseen 11 straight games without world of FC Bayern Munich. defeat and while Marseille may be Dr. Gunther Picker, Head of Edi- mid-table they are also in the run- torial EMEA, Yahoo, said: “Soccer ning for the French Cup too. is a huge focus for Yahoo. With FC Second bottom outfit Guingamp Bayern Munich, we were able to get take on resurgent Lille, who are one of the most internationally- on a roll and undefeated in their renowned sports teams on board, last five league games since Fred- and through this partnership, we Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola kicks a ball during a training session in Doha yesterday. eric Antonetti took over from Herve are able to expand our premium Renard as coach. content offering.” Right: Bayern Munich players share a lighter moment during a training session in Doha. SPORT TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 33 Bale makes fresh start at Real Madrid

Bale was given a standing ovation Real Madrid’s new coach Zinedine Zidane greets after taking his tally to 10 goals in his I had a very good his striker Gareth Bale as he leaves the pitch in last seven games on Saturday, but, a match against Deportivo Coruna at Santiago unlike many of his superstar team- relationship with Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, in this January 9, mates, admitted he had been sad to 2016, file photo. Rafa and it was a big see Benitez go. disappointment to “I had a very good relationship with Rafa, obviously it was a big dis- see him go, says Real appointment to see him go,” said the Madrid star Bale Welshman. “But things like this happen in foot- ball, you’re professional and you get on with it and carry on.” AFP Instead, Bale is now under the tute- lage of one of his boyhood heroes, who encouraged him to first fall in love with Madrid during the club’s Galactico era, MADRID: Despite netting a hat-trick culminating in Zidane’s sensational in French legend Zinedine Zidane’s first volley to win the 2002 Champions game in charge, Gareth Bale admit- League final. ted he’s had to shrug off personal “As a player he was incredible,” disappointment at Rafael Benitez’s added Bale. They were all superstars unceremonious sacking as Real Madrid and I just loved watching Real Madrid, coach. it was a great team to watch. Bale stole the show with his sec- “You try and emulate people like ond treble in four games in a 5-0 rout that. He’s a legend not just at the club, of Deportivo la Coruna as Zidane was but for football. given a hero’s welcome on his return to “We had a chat when he first came the Santiago Bernabeu limelight where in, and I think no matter what I’ll always he played for the final five years of his give 100 percent on a football pitch and playing career. that’s what I did (against Deportivo).” The optimism that engulfed the Benitez’s sacking sparked a new Bernabeu following Zidane’s promo- wave of rumours that Bale could be tion from coach of Madrid’s feeder convinced to return to the Premier without closing the door on a return “I’m happy at the moment. Obvi- the La Liga title hunt as victory over why Madrid can’t do the same this year. team Castilla to the top job was in stark League, where he was Player of the to England. ously you can never predict what Deportivo moved them back to within “I think this time last year we were contrast to the poisonous atmosphere Year twice in three years for Totten- “I don’t feel I need to make a happens in the future, but I’m enjoy- two points of Barcelona -- albeit hav- clear and we hadn’t lost in 22 games,” during Benitez’s unhappy seven- ham Hotspur before making his dream statement to anyone, I know what ing my football at the moment so I’ll ing played a game more. he said. “We know what can happen in month spell in charge when he and move to Madrid. I’m capable of and I just want to keep keep going.” And having seen the Catalans reel the league, we know we have to keep many players, including Bale, felt the Yet, he insisted his immediate future enjoying my football and when I do Despite a mid-season change of in Real over the spring in 2015 on their fighting all the way and we’ll keep doing fans’ wrath. remains in the Spanish capital, although that I play my best. coach, Madrid remain very much in way to a treble, Bale sees no reason that until the last whistle.”

Juventus’ Paul Pogba celebrates at the end of Fallen FIFA chief Blatter a Serie A match against Sampdoria at Marassi to appeal 8-year ban stadium, Genoa, Italy.

AFP tribunal in sports. At the time of the verdict, both men angrily vowed to fight the bans, which started immediately. The tribunal decision promises PARIS: Fallen FIFA chief Sepp Blat- to end 79-year-old Blatter’s four dec- ter (pictured) will appeal against his ades with FIFA in disgrace. eight-year ban, his lawyer said yester- It also dealt a devastating blow to day, joining fellow suspended official Platini’s hopes of taking over as head Michel Platini in a fight to clear his of FIFA in an election set for Febru- name. ary 26. “We will appeal it, of course,” Blat- The UEFA president pulled out of ter’s US-based attorney Richard Cullen the race earlier this week, saying the confirmed in an email. ban has made it impossible for him The confirmation came after to put together a campaign to take on FIFA’s ethics tribunal on Saturday the sport’s most powerful job. revealed it had provided Blatter and He told French sports newspaper UEFA president Platini with the rea- L’Equipe that he no longer had “the Klopp warns sons for imposing the ban, clearing time nor the means to go to the vot- the way for both men to appeal. ers, to meet people, to fight against Young Ruben must Guardiola over A lawyer for Platini, who has also the other candidates. been banned for eight years, had ear- “In withdrawing, I am dedicating English fixture lier confirmed an appeal would be behind the ban. “We’ll read them, ana- myself to my defence.” work hard: Hiddink launched. lyse them and launch an appeal on FIFA has since last May be rocked list and weather In December, FIFA’s ethics tribu- Monday,” D’Ales said. to its core by a cascade of corruption nal ruled both men had abused their The tribunal did not provide fur- charges and arrests that culminated REUTERS positions over a 2m Swiss francs ($2m, ther details of the reasoning behind with the implication of the two long AFP € 1.8m) payment made to Platini in its decision. considered world football’s most pow- 2011 for work carried out between Instead it stressed it had now “ful- erful men. LONDON: Liverpool manager 1999 and 2002. filled its commitment to provide the The US justice department has LONDON: Guus Hiddink has challenged Ruben Loftus-Cheek to put in the Juergen Klopp has warned Bay- Blatter, who has headed FIFA since grounds for the respective decisions charged 39 individuals and two com- hard work required to fulfil his potential after the teenager scored his first ern Munich coach Pep Guardiola 1998, was also fined 50,000 Swiss to Mr Blatter and Mr Platini within the panies over graft within world football Chelsea goal in their 2-0 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe. about the Premier League’s packed francs while Platini, a FIFA vice-pres- first half of January 2016.” going back decades, in a sweeping Loftus-Cheek gave a glimpse of his talent when he came off the bench fixture list, and the weather, if he ident, was fined 80,000 Swiss francs. “After receiving the grounds for prosecution that has sparked an to sweep home Cesar Azpilicueta’s pass with a composed finish in the 68th goes ahead with his plan to join an The court insisted there was “no the decisions, both officials may lodge unprecedented crisis at FIFA. minute at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. English club. legal basis” for the payment that Blat- an appeal with the FIFA Appeal Com- A total of nine FIFA officials were The 19-year-old finished off third tier Scunthorpe after Diego Costa had Guardiola has been strongly ter authorised for Platini in 2011. mittee,” the statement said. arrested during two raids at the five- given Chelsea an early lead in the third round tie, but coach Hiddink claims linked with a move to Manches- Platini’s lawyer Thibaud d’Ales If that appeal is rejected, the two star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, on May the gifted midfielder still has a lot of work to do before he could be consid- ter City since the former Barcelona said Saturday that his 60-year-old men can appeal further to the Court of 27 and December 3, by Swiss police ered a finished article. manager confirmed that he was client had indeed received the reasons Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest acting on US warrants. London-born Loftus-Cheek has been regarded as the jewel in Chelsea’s leaving Bayern at the end of the academy crown for some while, but previous boss Jose Mourinho was crit- season and was keen to work in ical of his attitude and rarely used him. England. After pumping millions into overhauling the youth system of a club that The German team are enjoy- hasn’t produced a star of their own since John Terry, Blues owner Roman ing the Bundesliga winter break Wenger extols heavy schedule Abramovich is desperate for more homegrown players to emerge. and have not played a competitive Abramovich celebrated in unusually exuberant fashion when Loftus- game since December 19. Cheek scored, but Hiddink made a point of highlighting both the youngster’s Liverpool will have played nine potential and areas where improvement is needed. games during that period by the for helping Arsenal rhythm “Ruben came in and he had a beautiful goal, not just in the execution time the German champions resume but the way he prepared himself, and that was good to see,” Hiddink told their league campaign on Jan. 22. reporters yesterday. “That’s the thing, it’s the number “It’s important he also has a hard-working role. If you play number 10 of games, football, football, foot- REUTERS After winning seven of their last Wenger also suggested he could it’s a role where you can maybe get away without so much hard work, but ball. With a perfect pre-season you eight games in all competitions, the rotate his squad for the midweek Pre- that’s not what we want. are prepared for a long, long jour- Frenchman said the hectic schedule mier League trip to Liverpool and again “I start knowing these youngsters now. I can see the possibilities they ney,” Klopp told reporters. LONDON: Manager Arsene Wenger had given the league leaders a per- for Stoke City on Sunday. have and what they have to work on also.” Klopp, who has had to cope with believes Arsenal’s heavy schedule has fect platform to build on in the second “When you are on a roll and have Asked if he felt pressured by Abramovich to introduce more young- a number of injuries to key players helped the side maintain a rich vein of half of the campaign. no injuries, everyone is in the same sters into the first-team, Hiddink insisted he is free to pick who he likes, but recently, is confident Guardiola will form that continued with a 3-1 victory “You have a rhythm (when you direction and it is easier to keep eve- the Dutchman did concede Chelsea were right to expect more from such a be able to deal with the workload over Sunderland in an FA Cup third have a lot of games). You try to check ryone on board. heavy investment. and enjoy the experience of living round tie on Saturday. who needs a breather and who needs “Everyone in the next competition “It is normal when you have the academy with a lot of investment you in England. The packed fixture list in Eng- a rest and you do it,” Wenger told the thinks they have to play, and that is a must develop players in the Premier League,” he said. “What I can say about here is land over the Christmas and New club’s website (www.arsenal.com). positive,” Wenger said. “If you see three or four of these players coming into the team that is very positive, great country, great Year period has come under fire from “It is easier to keep the squad “There is fatigue and injuries at what you want. people, the food is much better several Premier League managers, focused and motivated when you the end of the season but you can’t “It is not said (by Abramovich) but that is the consequence of the acad- than everybody said,” Klopp joked including Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp have many games. say we are not a big club and that we emy; you have to use them, under the conditions that they learn. yesterday. and Sunderland’s Sam Allardyce, but “It has both a positive and nega- can’t go for the big competitions, that “Our position in the league gives a few options for putting young play- “OK, the weather is not great Wenger holds a different view. tive impact.” is important.” ers in the team.” -- like everyone said!,” 34 TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Major blow for Proteas as injured ICC World T20 trophy reaches Pakistan Steyn ruled out of Wanderers Test

Reuters Domingo, however, believes the 32-year-old paceman will recover. “I don’t think it’s the end of Dale Steyn,” he said. “All players will expe- JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Dale rience some sort of niggles. He is a Steyn (pictured) has been ruled out of great athlete. He is as fit as they come,” this week’s third Test against England he said. in a major blow to South Africa’s bid South Africa had been hoping to get back into the four-match series. Steyn, the world’s top-ranked Test The shoulder injury which bowler, would return to spearhead restricted his bowling in the first Test a four-man seam attack in the high and forced him out the second has altitude conditions of Johannesburg not healed in time for the third game as they seek to preserve their posi- starting at the Wanderers in Johan- tion at the top of the Test rankings. nesburg on Thursday, South Africa “We haven’t had him since the coach Russell Domingo said yesterday. first Test in India and that has been A spasm meant Steyn was able showed no muscle damage but he has disappointing,” Domingo told a news to bowl only 22 balls in the second returned to doctors this week to try conference. innings of the first Test in Durban that to diagnose the problem. South Africa are also without Pakistan One Day cricket captain Azhar Ali (top centre right) stands alongside the ICC 2016 World England won by 241 runs. The sore shoulder followed a groin another key paceman in Vernon Phi- Twenty20 trophy as he poses for a photograph with students from the Army Public School (APS), The second Test at Newlands was injury that kept him out of three of lander, who tore ankle ligaments in yesterday in Peshawar. The International Cricket Council (ICC) 2016 World Twenty20 trophy reached drawn last week. four Tests against India in November India and did not recover as quickly Pakistan for a two-day tour. Scans on Steyn’s injury initially and raises questions about his future. as the team’s management had hoped.

NZ call up Astle Big Bash League for Pakistan Australia, India to blood new among most T20 series watched top-10 Reuters boys as ODI series kicks off IANS AUCKLAND: L e g - s p i n n i n g a l l - MELBOURNE: Australia’s rounder Todd Astle is in line for national Twenty20 cricket com- a limited overs debut after being CRICKET: INDIA’S TOUR TO petition has rocketed into the named in New Zealand’s 13-man Aussies select rookie AUSTRALIA top-10 most watched sporting squad for a World Twenty20 warm- leagues for 2015-16, with an aver- up series against Pakistan. pacers Paris and age of 28,279 fans attending the Astle, who played one test for Boland in playing matches this season. New Zealand three years ago, big runs and to put his name up there.” The Big Bash League (BBL), replaces leg-spinner Ish Sodhi from team as Dhoni M e a n w h i l e , In d i a w i l l t e s t o u t which is in its fifth year, has the squad that swept Sri Lanka in promises to test fresh several uncapped players in the lim- drawn record crowds around their two-match series. ited- overs series in Australia, captain the country, with more than The 29-year-old earns his spot players Mahendra Singh Dhoni said yesterday. 80,000 spectators attending after some solid all-round per- Injuries to fast bowlers Moham- a Melbourne derby last week, formances for Canterbury in New med Shami and Mohit Sharma have reports Xinhua. Zealand’s domestic 50-over com- taken sting out of the Indian attack and BBL now sits ninth on the list petition but both he and Sodhi may Agencies they will be without Suresh Raina’s all- of highest attended sports, edging still be retained for the World T20 round energy after the limited-overs out Japan’s Nippon Professional in India, with coach Mike Hesson specialist was dropped from the side. Baseball which averages 28,279 keen to take three spinners to the PERTH: Australian pacemen Joel India are likely to blood Bar- attendees, and the ranking is just subcontinent. Paris and Scott Boland will make inder Sran, Gurkeerat Singh and below Spain’s football league La “With the spin-friendly condi- their international debuts but Shaun Rishi Dhawan in the series and Dhoni Liga, which draws an average tions we’re likely to play in during Marsh will miss out when the one-day acknowledged he will have to be patient attendance of 28,498. the ICC World Twenty20 in India, it’s series opener against India starts in with the uncapped trio. Australian rules football important we have all of our bases Perth today. “As far as newcomers are con- also appears in the top 10, with covered and Todd is certainly an Western Australia’s Paris and Victo- cerned, we’d definitely feature them the Australian Football League option for us,” Hesson said. ria’s Boland get their chance following in the tournament because we want to drawing an average crowd of “He’ll get an opportunity to play the retirement of Mitchell Johnson and see where they stand,” Dhoni said ahead 33,428 per game. at some point against Pakistan, in injury to Mitchell Starc. Joel Paris will make his international debut at his home ground. of the first match of the five-game series The average Big Bash attend- what will be a tough series.” Australia captain Steve Smith said against the world champions today. ance is expected to keep rising, New Zealand host Pakistan in Paris’s left-arm swing in his home The 2011 World Cup-winning cap- with tournament organisers the opener of the series at Eden Park conditions swayed the selectors in he can hurry up the Indian batters a “We’ve got a few options, all of our tain, who quit Tests in late 2014, believes expecting a crowd of more than on Friday, followed by matches in his favour. bit.” Smith said he would decide who fast bowlers in this game can perform the supply of talented young players 40,000 people to watch a Syd- Hamilton and Wellington. “Traditionally we like to play a left- takes the important final overs of the a role at the death,” Smith said. who can immediately adapt to inter- ney derby which takes place at Left-arm spinning all-rounder armer here who can use the breeze Indian innings on the day. Marsh, who has scored 218 runs national cricket is at an end. the Sydney Cricket Ground this Mitch Santner is the other slow and move the ball so hopefully he’ll in five matches for the Perth Scorch- “Right from the late 1980s, we got week. bowler in the Kane Williamson- be able to do that for us tomorrow,” FIXTURES ers in the BBL at 72.67, could not force cricketers who were ready to play inter- The news comes on the back captained squad. Tom Latham has Smith told reporters yesterday. his way back into the Australian team national cricket,” Dhoni said. “Once of a recent announcement by 1st ODI: been added to the squad for the first “He’s been very impressive in the Australia vs India at Perth on with George Bailey filling the batting they made their debut, they were there Cricket Australia, which detailed Jan 12 match to replace resting batsman (one-day) Matador Cup in the last cou- spot left by the retirement of former for 10-15 years. I think that trend is a jump in prize money for this Ross Taylor, who will return for the ple of years and in the T20 Big Bash 2nd ODI: Australia vs India at Bris- captain Michael Clarke. changing slowly.” year’s tournament, a clear sign second and third games. this year. We look forward to seeing bane on Jan 15 “It’s very difficult but Shaun’s been India will feel Shami’s absence BBL is proving popular with the The World T20 starts in India how he goes. 3rd ODI: Australia vs India at Mel- exceptional,” Smith said. most, the 25-year-old returning from punters. in March. “It’s a good opportunity for him bourne on Jan 17 Marsh has been unlucky this sea- a lengthy injury layoff only to land BBL manager Anthony Ever- and some other young quicks around 4th ODI: Australia vs India at Canberra son after scoring his highest Test score in Australia and be ruled out for the ard in a statement said yesterday NZ SQUAD the country. So it’s an exciting time for on Jan 20 of 182 in the first Test against the West series with a hamstring injury. that the figure was “flattering” Joel to make his debut at the WACA.” 5th ODI: Australia vs India at Sydney Indies in Hobart, only to make way for “Shami has been very good for us. but it was positive to see Aus- Kane Williamson (capt), Corey Ander- Boland gets the nod after being on Jan 23 the return from injury of Usman Kha- If you see (last year’s) World Cup also, tralians embracing the start-up son, Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Grant on the fringes of the Australian Test 1st T20I: Australia vs India, Adelaide waja in the second Melbourne Test. he was someone who bowled really league. Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, team this season. “His death bowling Oval on Jan 26 “He hasn’t whinged once, he’s taken well for us, someone who can bowl The league was still in awe has been very impressive,” said Smith it on the chin and he’s been great around with the new ball, in the middle over of the 80,000-strong crowd that Tom Latham (first game only), Mitch- 2nd T20: Australia vs India, Mel- of Boland’s efforts with the Melbourne the group,” Smith said. “He’s been really and also at the death,” Dhoni said. poured through the Melbourne ell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Colin bourne Cricket Ground on Jan 29 Munro, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Stars in the BBL. “I think he hits a yorker impressive and hopefully every time India play five one-dayers and Cricket Ground’s gates last week, 3rd T20I Ross Taylor (second and third games) as well as anyone at the moment. He’s : Australia vs India, Sydney Cricket he goes back (to state cricket) he can three Twenty20 Internationals on he said. got a bit of pace to him so hopefully Ground on Jan 31 continue to dominate, keep scoring their tour of Australia. Shahzad hits fourth highest T20 score in Zimbabwe rout

AFP Southampton in 2013 while New Zea- “It is our fourth series win against T20: AFGHANISTAN VS land’s Brendon McCullum is second them,” said Afghanistan skipper Asghar ZIMBABWE IN SHARJAH on the all-time list thanks to his 123 Stanikzai. against Bangladesh in Pallekele in 2012. “Phenomenal performance by the SHARJAH: Afghanistan’s Mohammad “This is my favourite ground, Shar- guys in the series. In next ten years, I Shahzad smashed the fourth highest two weeks ago. Zimbabwe were even- jah, and I like batting here,” Shahzad can say Afghanistan will beat any side.” score in Twenty20 international his- tually all out for 134 on Sunday with told cricinfo.com. Both sides now head to Bangla- tory on Sunday when he made 118 in 11 balls to spare as Afghanistan swept “There is no plan. I want to hit every desh -- Afghanistan for the Asian Cup his side’s 81-run rout of Zimbabwe. the two-game series having won the ball out of the boundary. I have got used qualifiers in February while Zimba- The 27-year-old opener carried his first match by just five runs on Friday. to Zimbabwe’s bowlers. I talked with bwe tackle the hosts in a four-game bat having already hit Afghanistan’s They had earlier claimed the ODI the captain and we thought 150 would T20 series next week. first ever century in the format, reach- series 3-2 to follow their victory against be enough.” Zimbabwe were always ing his hundred off 52 balls with eight the same opponents in Africa in October. struggling in their reply, collapsing to BRIEF SCORES fours and eight sixes. Shahzad’s unbeaten 118 was one 34-5 at one stage before Hamilton Masa- Afghanistan 215-6 in 20 overs (Moham- By the end of the blitz, the opener short of South Africa’s Faf du Plessis’s kadza bludgeoned 63 off 44 balls with mad Shahzad 118 not out) vs Zimbabwe had hit 10 boundaries and faced 67 119 against the West Indies in Johan- five sixes as he and Peter Moor put on 134 all out in 18.1 overs (Hamilton Masa- balls in total to continue his impres- nesburg in January last year. 77 for the sixth wicket. kadza 63, Peter Moor 35) sive form in the Gulf having already The highest ever score in T20 inter- But once the big-hitting Masakadza Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad celebrates his century against Result: Afghanistan won by 81 runs made 131 not out in the second one- nationals is Australia’s Aaron Finch’s was clean bowled by Rashid Khan in Zimbabwe during their Twenty20 International in Sharjah on Sunday. day international against Zimbabwe mammoth 156 against England in the 16th over, the Africans lost all hope. Series: Afghanistan 2-0. SPORT TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 35 Veteran Nowitzki stars in win for Mavericks

work overtime to stretch their win- The 37-year-old NBA ROUND-UP ning streak to nine games with a 114-111 victory over the short-handed New scores 29 points in Orleans Pelicans. close victory over Nowitzki. “One of the things we want Point guard Chris Paul scored 25 to try to do is take some of the burden points with 11 assists and five rebounds Timberwolves off of him, but there’s nights like tonight for the Clippers, one of seven Los Ange- where it’s unavoidable.” les players to score in double figures. Dallas forward Chandler Par- The Pelicans were without top scor- AFP sons added 14 points and centre Zaza ing forward Anthony Davis, who was Pachulia scored 13, but it was Nowitzki’s still nursing a sore back two days after scoring touch that made the difference. diving into the stands after a ball. He hit four of seven three-point But they held a 106-105 lead with LOS ANGELES: Dallas forward Dirk attempts, while the rest of the Mavs 2:42 left in overtime before Wesley Nowitzki, the 37-year-old and with were a combined two of 13 from beyond Johnson and Paul made back-to-back more than 1,300 NBA games under his the arc. three-pointers to give Los Angeles a belt, is still the Mavericks’ go-to guy. Nowitzki finished the game 12-for- five-point lead. Luc Mbah a Moute and The German veteran scored a 22 from the floor and pulled down seven Johnson then made three of six free game-high 29 points on Sunday as the rebounds in 31 minutes. throws to help the Clippers secure Mavericks edged the Minnesota Tim- It was his fourth straight 20-point the win. berwolves 93-87 in Minneapolis, taking effort and his 13th such game this sea- Although he was pleased with the up the slack on a night when many of son. “The guys kept coming to me,” victory, Paul reiterated that the Clip- his team-mates struggled offensively. Nowitzki said. “Defensively, it was a pers aren’t themselves without Blake “He’s a guy that’s prepared himself good effort tonight. We didn’t have a Griffin, still sidelined by a torn quad- for greatness virtually every night,” lot of guys who were shooting the ball riceps tendon. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of especially well, but I thought defen- “We want to continue to try to keep sively we kept battling.” winning games and build our team as NBA RESULTS Second-year guard Andrew Wig- much as possible, but this is not our LA Clippers 114 New Orleans 111 gins led the Timberwolves with 21 team without (number) 32,” Paul said. points. LeBron James scored 12 of his 37 Dallas 93 Minnesota 87 Dallas led by six at halftime and points in a 14-0 fourth-quarter run to Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (right) backs up to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves Cleveland 95 Philadelphia 85 closed out the third quarter with an lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 95-85 forward Nemanja Bjelica in the second half of their NBA game at Target Center in Minneapolis. Memphis 101 Boston 98 18-4 scoring run. victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Houston 107 Indiana 103 The Timberwolves trimmed the James added nine assists and NY Knicks 100 Milwaukee 88 deficit to 85-82 late in the fourth seven rebounds for the Cavs, who on the road and their sixth straight back with three-pointers from Patrick lead. Houston then forced a miss from quarter, but Nowitzki converted a improved their Eastern Conference over the league-worst 76ers -- who Beverly, Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer the Pacers’ Monta Ellis, and Ariza fol- Denver 95 Charlotte 92 three-point play with 1:30 remain- leading record to 26-9 with their sev- fell to 4-36. to beat the Indiana Pacers 107-103. lowed up with a breakaway dunk to Portland 115 Oklahoma City 110 ing, and Dallas held on. enth straight victory. The Houston Rockets gave up the Brewer’s three-pointer with 40.9 seal the win, which pulled the Rock- Utah 86 LA Lakers 74 The Los Angeles Clippers had to Cleveland won their fifth straight first six points of overtime, but battled seconds left gave the Rockets a 105-103 ets to 19-19 for the season. Ovechkin reaches 500-goal milestone as Caps crush Sens

Agencies we wanted to be out there and cele- NHL ROUND-UP brate with him.” Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy and Brett Hull are the four NEW YORK: Alex Ovechkin became “It’s obviously a tough one to swal- players to reach the milestone in fewer Lionel Hollins the fifth-fastest player to record his low,” said Senators goalie Andrew games than Ovechkin. 500th NHL goal and added another for Hammond, who allowed seven goals His first goal gave the Capitals good measure as the 30-year-old led on 36 shots. a 5-1 lead after two periods and he the Washington Capitals to a 7-1 rout “It’s one of those nights where you stepped into the spotlight again mid- Nets fire head over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. figure out pretty early you’re not at way through the third period, beating “It’s nice to be in that spot,” your best, but you’ve got to find a way Hammond with a mad dash to the net Ovechkin told reporters after play- to keep your team in it and I wasn’t at the 9:46 mark. His second goal of coach Hollins, ing in his 801st NHL game. able to do that tonight.” the night gave him the NHL lead with “It’s a history moment. I wave and It has been quite a first half of the 26 goals, one more than Dallas Stars reassign GM blew a kiss to my dad and my mom. season for Ovechkin, who in November forward Jamie Benn. My dad quit is his job and spend all became the NHL’s leading Russian- Meanwhile, the Florida Pan- his time with me. Basically he was my born goal scorer. Last week, Ovechkin thers directed only 14 shots on goal Reuters personal coach when I was a little kid was named captain of the Metropolitan but Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huber- and for him it was a special moment. Division for the NHL All-Star Game. deau were still able to find the net in “It’s a pretty special moment for Ovechkin’s milestone goal came on a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers NEW YORK: The struggling Brook- them.” Forwards Justin Williams, TJ the power play, where he positioned on Sunday. It was the Panthers 12th lyn Nets fired head coach Lionel Oshie, Zach Sill and Tom Wilson, and himself in the left circle. He cradled a straight win -- marking the first time Hollins on Sunday and reassigned defenseman Dmitry Orlov also scored long pass from team mate Jason Chi- a team has won a dozen games in a General Manager Billy King within goals for the Capitals, who improved mera and snapped a hard shot past row since the Boston Bruins did it dur- the organisation, the National Bas- to an NHL best 32-7-3. The Capitals Hammond for his team-high 25th goal ing the 2013-14 season. ketball Association team said. are now 13-1-1 in their last 15 games. of the season. The Nets, who are second to The Senators’ only offense came “My job is to put the puck in and NHL RESULTS last in the Eastern Conference this from forward Mike Hoffman, who I tried to do my best,” Ovechkin said. Buffalo 4 Winnipeg 2 season with a 10-27 record, said netted his team-high 20th goal of the The Capitals hopped over the bench Washington 7 Ottawa 1 assistant coach Tony Brown would season in early in the second period. to embrace Ovechkin, who waved to Chicago 6 Colorado 3 serve as interim head coach until a Fighting for the final wild card spot the fans. “No disrespect to the Senators full-time replacement was found. Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals acknowledges the fans and New Jersey 2 Minnesota 1 in the Eastern Conference standings, when we all jumped on the ice there,” “After careful consideration, celebrates his 500th career NHL goal in the second period against the Ottawa has lost five of its last six and Oshie said. “But we couldn’t contain Detroit 2 Anaheim 1 I’ve concluded that it’s time for a Ottawa Senators at the Verizon Center on Sunday in Washington, DC. eight of its last 10. ourselves. ‘O’ didn’t know about it but Florida 2 Edmonton 1 fresh start and a new vision for the direction of the team,” Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a state- ment on Sunday. “By making this decision now, it enables our organization to use Packers, Seattle Seahawks advance in play-offs the rest of the season to diligently evaluate candidates with proven track records. “It’s clear from our current state AFP on both sides; it was one of those all- of affairs that we need new lead- NFL WILD CARD PLAY-OFFS day jobs.” ership. With the right basketball Added Seahawks cornerback Rich- management and coach in place, ard Sherman: “The football gods were we are going to create a winning WASHINGTON:A dramatic missed “I can tell you this: It’s my fault. with us today.” culture ... and give Brooklyn a team field goal saw the Seattle Seahawks I don’t care if you give me a water- In Washington, the Redskins’ that it can be proud of and enjoy edge past the Minnesota Vikings as melon (to kick), I should be able to put unlikely run to the postseason came watching.” the Green Pay Packers demolished the that through,” Walsh said afterwards. to an abrupt end as Aaron Rodgers and The Nets are on a four-game Washington Redskins on a pulsating “I’m the only one who didn’t do my job Green Bay rediscovered their best form losing streak and have lost nine in day of NFL wild card action play-offs there. That’s on me.” to clinch a convincing 35-18 victory. a row at their home venue, the Bar- on Sunday. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was Redskins quarterback Kirk Cous- clays Center, where attendance has The story of the day came in Min- in no mood to sugarcoat the miss for ins was sacked six times as the Packers been steadily dropping. neapolis, where Vikings kicker Blair Walsh. “It’s a chip shot, he’s gotta make roared back from 11-0 down to over- They had advanced to the posts- Walsh fluffed an easy 27-yard field it,” Zimmer said, insisting that his team power the home side at FedExField. eason for three straight years since goal attempt with 26 seconds left on had done enough for victory. Rodgers made 21 of 36 for 210 yards relocating from New Jersey for their the clock to allow Seattle to cling on “I’ve probably never been more and two touchdowns while the Packers 2012-13 campaign but this season for a nail-biting 10-9 victory. proud of a football team than I am of also made yardage on their running they have been struggling. Walsh’s miss was the final act of this team,” he said. game. Hollins was appointed head an icy afternoon in Minnesota, where The Seahawks, runners-up in “We just needed a game like this coach in July 2014 and went on to sub-zero temperatures before kick- last season’s Super Bowl and cham- to get our mojo back and get our con- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (right) is able to throw compile a 48-71 record, while King off made the game the third coldest pions two years ago, now advance to fidence going,” said Rodgers, who the ball away before being tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end had been general manager of the match in NFL history. a meeting with the National Confer- had been under close scrutiny dur- Everson Griffen in the second half of the NFC Wild Card play-off game club since 2010. The mercury plunged minus six ence number one seeded Carolina ing his team’s regular-season offensive in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday. “I want to thank Billy for his degrees Fahrenheit (minus 21 Celsius) Panthers next week. struggles. hard work in the development of the before the game. The coldest match Seattle coach Pete Carroll paid Green Bay head coach Mike McCa- Nets,” Prokhorov said of the King, ever recorded was the 1967 “Ice Bowl” tribute to his team’s never-say-die rthy said the display should end who had orchestrated high-profile between the Dallas Cowboys and the approach. “This was really a survival discussion of the Packers’ offensive the regular season anymore,” he said. touchdowns as the Packers booked moves that brought Deron Williams, Green Bay Packers, where the temper- game for both teams,” Carroll said. weaknesses. “When you get in the Running backs Eddie Lacy a visit to Phoenix next Saturday to face Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce and Kevin ature was minus 13 at kickoff. “It was an amazing defensive effort playoffs you don’t have to talk about and James Starks both crossed for the Arizona Cardinals. Garnett to Brooklyn. TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2016 36

AFC U23: Hosts ‘Al Anabi’ target Rio Games berth

By Rizwan Rehmat Football: AFC U23 season, Qatar Stars League (QSL) teams The Peninsula Championship in Doha were specially instructed to include at least one U-23 player in their squad for all games. DOHA: Qatar coach Felix Sanchez “We’re always focused on the task (pictured) yesterday said his team will on hand. Of course, a few of the players be playing at the AFC U23 Champion- might go on to make it to the World Cup ship to target a berth at the football team in ’22, but it is six years away,” competition in the 2016 Olympic said Qatar Football Association Sec- Games. retary General Mansoor Al Ansari. The home team opens the Group A “We’re thinking more about campaign with a game against China doing well in the Asian competition today. and booking a berth at the Rio Olym- The game against China will be pics,” Al Ansari, who is also the CEO From left: Muhammad Alfakeer, coach of Syria, Mohammad Khakpour of Iran, Felix Sanchez of Qatar and followed by a clash against neighbour- of the Qatar Local Organising Com- Fu Bo of China shake hands at the end of the AFC U23 Group A press conference in Doha yesterday. The ing Iran on January 15 with the last mittee of the tournament, added in Championship kicks off today. Picture by: Salim/The Peninsula match against Syria on January 18. an earlier report. “Our final target is the 2016 Qatar team has trained and played Olympic Games,” Sanchez said at a Spain and Turkey besides playing numer- pre-match press conference where ous friendlies late last month and at the coaches from China, Iran and Syria start of the first week this year. were also in attendance. National team goalkeeper Yousof Confident Qatar take “Our expectations are: we need Hassan said: “Even our last game to go step by step,” the Spaniard said. exit from the event in the first round. against a Belgian side (last week) “Every game will be different. We will Sanchez admitted his players will feel went well. We got our tactics right. look at our first stage matches and the pressure. We are playing with team spirit. The then knockout,” the former Barce- “It’s a big event with huge pres- coaching staff has been working really lona youth coach said. sure. You learn when you play against hard. This is a young side with a lot on China in opener The top three sides at the 16-team such teams. We have to compete and of potential.” event will seal a berth at the Olym- learn. I hope they enjoy the competi- Hassan added: “We have doing our pic Games to be held in Rio de Janiero tion,” Sanchez said. best in training and during friendly this year in August. “We began our preparations six games. We can’t wait for the first match QATAR’S GROUP A FIXTURES chest. Sanchez guided his group of young months ago,” Sanchez coach of Al to begin on January 12. We are in the All groups are tough. Group A: Qatar, Syria, IR Iran, China Pr, “The players are ready for the men to the AFC U-19 Championship Anabi team said.. tournament to play well and chase our championship,” said Fu, as China’s title with a win over North Korea in “Fitness-wise the players have dream. It won’t be easy but we will The first game is very January 12: Qatar vs China (Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha) seek to qualify for the Olympics for the final in October 2014. improved and remember some of keep working hard like we have been important. We will the first time since hosting the Games That victory allowed Qatar a ticket the players also play in professional doing for the last 12 months. All of this January 15: play against a quality Qatar vs Iran (Jassim Bin in Beijing in 2008. to the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in leagues overseas,” he said. requires a team effort and that’s what Hamad Stadium, Doha) “We think Qatar are a very strong New Zealand where they made the At the beginning of the football how we intend to play - as a team.” side and we will aim January 18: Qatar vs Syria (Jassim Bin team but we will prepare well for this to play good football Hamad Stadium, Doha) game and hopefully we can get a good and be successful, Teams taking part in the result. Our players do feel some pres- championship: Qatar, Syria, Iran, sure but our coaches will try to relieve AFC stars of the says Qatar U23 coach China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, DPR that pressure as we get prepared for Korea, Thailand, Iraq, Korea Republic, the game because it’s really important. Felix Sanchez Uzbekistan, Yemen, Jordan, Australia, Qatar second match is against Iran future take centre the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam on Friday and on the same day China will play Syria. The last group games stage in Doha Two teams from each of the four are set for January 18 with Iran meet- By Armstrong Vas groups will qualify for the quarter- ing China and Qatar playing Syria. The Peninsula final stage of the championship. In today’s other match, Iran face The Peninsula “All the 23 players on the list are Syria in Group A, with former Geylang fine in terms of fitness and we are con- United defender Mohammad Khakpour fident that we are ready. We started hoping to steer the Iranians to their first DOHA: Asia’s future football stars DOHA: Confident Qatar take on Asian to work six months ago and all the Olympic appearance since 1976. will look to clinch their place at the power house China as they begin their players have arrived in good shape,” “We are ready, our players are Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de quest for one of Asia’s three berths at added the Qatar trainer. working so hard and we are not here Janeiro when the AFC U23 Champi- the Rio Games here today at the AFC Sanchez said Qatar’s will take it to just qualify for the Olympics but onship begins in Doha today. U23 Championship. match by match. to win the tournament and be the A total of 16 teams will be bat- Coach Felix Sanchez side, is one “We need to go step by step. Every champions.” tling for the three places available for of the sixteen teams competing in the game will be different. Our first tar- Meanwhile, strife-torn Syria which Asian sides in Rio and today Shaikh championship and is placed in Group get will be the group stage (qualifying be aiming to forget some of their off Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the A along with Syria and Iran. for the quarter-finals) and then the the field worries and bring cheers to AFC President, urged football fans “We’ve been working hard. We’ve knockout. The final target is Games their supporters back home. to catch a glimpse of Asian foot- had training camps in Qatar and over- qualification.” Coach Muhannad Al Fakeer is con- ball’s exciting future. seas. We look forward to our first The Qatar coach said the pressure fident his team can make a strong start The AFC President said: “There match,” said the Spaniard, who guided to perform was there but urged his against the Iranian side. is no doubt that Asia has some out- the hosts to the AFC Under-19 title in wards to enjoy the match situations. “We know this is a first match in standing young football talent - that Myanmar in 2014. “ It is a big event for young players. this competition and we know it’s has already been obvious at the FIFA Responding to a question Sanchez Some are pros. The AFC U23 is a big important and we know many things Under-20 and FIFA Under-17 tour- said it will be a touch and go situation event, the pressure is there when you about the Iran team,” said Al Fakeer. naments where Asian teams have in all the four groups and emphasized play against such teams. We have to “Iran will be very different to what performed creditably. it was important to begin well. compete and learn. I hope they enjoy we saw two months ago here in Qatar,” “Now the AFC U23 Champion- “All groups are tough. The first the competition. We will help the play- he added. ship offers a chance to see stars in game is very important. We will play ers if they feel pressure. We need to “We know the Iran team have a the making - the players who will against a very good quality side and perform well to go to the next round. good team, good fitness, very strong be pushing for places in the FIFA we will aim to play good football and We are a team and every player has a players, speed. It will be a very tough World Cup 2018 and the Asian Cup be successful. role. On today’s opponent the Qatar match, but we believe it will be the 2019, as well as this summer’s Olym- “All the four teams (in Group A) trainer said the Chinese side is a ‘very passport to qualify for the next stage. pic Games. are here to qualify, so it will be tough organised’ side. We wish to get a good result against “With the second FIFA World Chinese team players taking part in a training session in Doha on the for all, the pressure will be there in Sanchez counterpart Fu Bo mean- them.” The championship ends on Cup in Asia on the horizon, as Qatar every game. while is playing his cards close to his January 30. eve of their AFC U23 match against Qatar. is hosting the tournament in 2022, tournaments like the AFC U23 are vital. They highlight what Asia can offer on the international stage and help boost development and grass- roots on the continent. QOC encourage entire nation to get behind U23 team “In London in 2012 Asian teams performed above expectation, with Korea Republic and Japan finish- The Peninsula whole nation to get behind the team as top three teams qualifying. In order to Committee said: “2016 is an incredibly ing third and fourth in the men’s they compete to qualify for Rio 2016. allow teams from around the world to exciting year for the Qatar Olympic competition and Japan’s women “We are already very proud of the compete equally, members of Olym- Committee and we are working hard being runners-up in their event. DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Committee team and I hope that everyone will join pic teams must be under 23 years old, to provide full support to our athletes I am sure that Asia will be strong (QOC) has extended their best wishes us by sharing our pride, celebrating with the exception of three over-23 on their journeys to Rio 2016. again in Rio.” to the U23 football team ahead of their our passion for sport and uniting in players allowed per squad. Qatar last “The Olympic Games are the The tournament kicks off today participation in the AFC U23 Champi- support of the team on their journey.” qualified for the Olympic football tour- pinnacle of every athlete’s career with the hosts Qatar taking on China, onships, which begins in Doha today. The AFC U23 Championships will nament in 1992 when they achieved and simply qualifying is the cul- while in the other group A fixture The competition also provides an take place in Doha from today to Jan- their best result to date of reaching the mination of many years of hard Syria take on IR Iran. The winners opportunity for a Qatari football team uary 30 and involves 16 teams from quarterfinals. The U23 team’s biggest work, dedication and commitment,” of the equivalent event in 2014, Iraq, to qualify for the Olympic Games for the AFC’s Member Associations. success in history was claiming the he added. begin their defence against Yemen the first time in 24 years. Qatar is in Group A and will play gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games. “Our athletes are true role mod- tomorrow. Speaking on behalf of the QOC, China in its first match today at 7.30pm Several of Qatar’s current U23 els for our nation and we hope that Among the players taking part President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, squad were members of the historic they will inspire a new generation is Dostonbek Kharmdamov of Bin Khalifa Al Thani, said: “On behalf before playing Iran on January 15 and team that won the 2014 AFC U19 Cham- of sporting heroes to follow in their Uzbekistan who was recently named of the whole Qatar Olympic Commit- Syria on January 18 . The top two teams pionships. These include Ahmed Moein, footsteps. We wish the U23 team well the AFC Youth Player of the Year 2015 tee I would like to wish all the best to from each group will progress to the the tournament’s MVP and AFC Young in the AFC Championships and also at the glittering awards ceremony our U23 football team in the upcom- quarter-finals, which take place on Player of the Year in 2014, and Akram pass our congratulations to the Local in Delhi last November. Uzbekistan ing AFC Championships. January 22 and 23. Afif, scorer of four goals in the tour- Organising Committee and everyone begin their campaign against Korea “This is a very talented young team It is the first time that the AFC nament, including the winner in the involved in the organisation of this Republic also tomorrow. and we look forward to following their U23 Championship will also serve final against DPR Korea. prestigious tournament. We have no The top three sides will qual- Najim, the mascot of the AFC progress throughout the tournament. as a qualifier for the Olympic Games, Speaking ahead of this year’s doubt that Qatar will once again raise ify for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 is a milestone year for Olympic which take place in Rio de Janeiro from Olympic Games, Dr Thani Al Kuwari, the bar and the Championships will de Janeiro, with the final on Janu- U23 championship. sport in Qatar and we encourage the August 5 to 21, with the tournament’s Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic be a huge success.” ary 30 in Doha.