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Vodafone Qatar Felix and Schippers rated as premium to face off in operator Doha 100m

THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 • 29 Jumada II 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6759 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

PSG score against Manchester City Emir congratulates Law on trade Vietnam President

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yester- day a cable of congratulations to import being President Tran Dai Quang, who has been elected President of Vietnam. The Emir wished him success and the Vietnamese people progress amended and prosperity, reports QNA. Kidnapped Qatari Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al and Asian freed Thani. Details of the deliberations Cabinet takes steps of the meeting were given in a to issue draft law to statement by Deputy Prime Minister in Iraq: Ministry and Minister of State for Cabinet amend Business of Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah DOHA: The Foreign Ministry yes- Commercial Agents. bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, Qatar News terday announced the release of a Agency said. Qatari citizen and his Asian com- According to the amended law, panion who are part of a group of however, the Minister of Economy people from Qatar kidnapped in The Peninsula and Commerce could impose Iraq while on a hunting trip last conditions and controls relating to December. A statement issued the principle of reciprocity if traders by the ministry yesterday said DOHA: A law which was put in import goods for which there are Adrien Rabiot celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal for PSG against Manchester that efforts are ongoing to secure force in 2002 regulating the busi- authorised local distributors. City in UEFA Champions League Quarter Final First Leg at Parc des Princes, in Paris yesterday. release of the other 26 people kid- ness of commercial agents is being The authorised agent (of goods napped. The ministry expressed amended and expected to be imple- and services) could get back to hope that the efforts would become mented soon. the Principal to get commission in successful. Once in effect, the legislation accordance with the terms of their The Foreign Ministry said that would give the right to traders who mutual agreement if the goods being Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad are registered in the Commercial imported by a third party are for Al Thani has instructed to exert Register to import goods directly trading purposes. Economy Ministry to monitor outlets every effort to secure the release even if those goods have an author- The agent would, however, have of the kidnapped Qatari citizens. ised local agent. no right to claim commission on At its weekly meeting yesterday, goods that are imported for personal the State Cabinet took the “necessary use or for re-export. By Sidi Mohamed Inspectors from the Ministry of to the effect has already been passed US may open one steps” to issue this draft law which The draft law defines a The Peninsula Economy and Commerce are being and practical steps are being taken amends some provisions of Law No. commercial agent as the one trained to carry out checks at the to help implement it. more base in Iraq 8 of 2002 regulating the Business of who commits him-self, under a facilities to ensure compliance with “However, right now the onus of Commercial Agents. distribution contract, to promote health, safety and commercial rules. conducting checks in beauty salons WASHINGTON: The US military The Cabinet was briefed on the and distribute goods and services DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and As soon as the inspection teams for women and men, laundries and could open another base to sup- recommendations of the Advisory for industrial or commercial Commerce would soon take charge are ready to carry out their duties massage centres, among other facil- port Iraqi security forces as they Council about the draft law, reports establishments provided that he is from the Ministry of Municipality and efficiently, the economy ministry will ities, are on us at the Ministry of look towards isolating the city of QNA. the sole distributor of those goods Environment as the monitoring and take over the responsibility from the Municipality and Environment,” said Mosul, a senior US military official The Cabinet meeting was or services. inspecting authority for outlets like civic ministry. Majdi Borhan Zaidan. said yesterday. presided over by Prime Minister beauty salons, laundries and mas- A senior municipal official told and Interior Minister H E Sheikh → Continued on page 2 sage centres. The Peninsula yesterday that a law → Continued on page 2 → See also page 9 02 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 HOME

Greetings sent to Deputy PM meets US special envoy Vietnam President Cabinet approves draft

The Peninsula & QNA decision on changes

DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh to tax appeal panel Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a cable of congratu- lations to Vietnam’s President Tran Continued from page 1 Dai Quang on his election as Pres- provisions of Decision No. 36 of 2014 ident of the Socialist Republic of establishing the single-window Cus- Vietnam, wishing him success and The Cabinet could, upon rec- toms Clearance System’s National the friendly Vietnamese people ommendations of the Minister of Committee. further progress and prosperity. Economy and Commerce, exempt This panel, set up at the Gen- Prime Minister and Interior some goods from the scope of eral Authority of Customs under its Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin the amended law. A competent deputy president and with mem- Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a directorate may also allow the estab- bership of representatives from similar cable to the President. lishment of workshops for repair, etc, concerned entities, is in charge of by non-agents of some goods that specialisations including the con- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid have authorised local agents. Rules tribution to facilitating the process Qatar Charity inks Al Mahmoud yesterday met Donald E Booth, US special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, and his regarding this will be issued by the of trade exchange between the State delegation. They discussed the latest developments in Darfur peace process and efforts exerted Minister. and world countries by simplify- financing deal to promote peace based on Doha Document. Booth praised Qatar’s role and continued efforts to The Cabinet also approved its ing procedures and non-customs consolidate peace and stability in Darfur and advance the development and reconstruction process. draft decision amending some pro- restrictions on outlets, and confin- visions of Decision No. 17 of 2011 on ing import and export operations DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) and nominating the chairman and mem- to a single-window to enable all Jordanian Hashemite Fund for bers of the tax appeal committee concerned parties to complete pro- Human Development yesterday and the organisation of its work and cedures through the system. The signed a cooperation and financ- determining its rewards. Cabinet took measures to endorse ing agreement for projects being 17 food outlets closed down The committee, at the Ministry two memorandums of understand- implemented by the fund in vari- of Finance under the presidency of ing in the fields of health; and radio ous regions of Jordan. one of the judges of Court of Appeals and television between Qatar and The agreement was signed by and with memberships of represent- Pakistan; and approved a draft Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO, in past three months: Official atives from concerned entities, is to agreement between Qatar and QC, and Farah Daghestani, Exec- decide on appeals filed by taxpayers. Organisation of the Islamic Coop- utive Director of the Fund, in the The meeting approved a Cab- eration on the headquarters of the Continued from page 1 presence of Princess Basma bint items and, if stored unsafely, can On average, three-four outlets inet draft decision to amend some OIC’s humanitarian funds. Talal and Qatari Ambassador to cause immense harm to consumers. are shut down a month and closure Jordan Bandar bin Mohammed Al “A few months ago, we closed a Storage of fresh vegetables is decisions are taken by the director Attiyah. beauty salon for women in our area mostly safe and can be dangerous of the municipality. Princess Basma hailed for 10 days for mixing some creams, only when some chemical pollution “In an urgent case, we commu- Forum to focus on role of civil society Qatar’s humanitarian work in following a complaint by a woman has taken place, said the official. nicate with the director and send a the Arab and Muslim world and who said its application caused About violations, he said food report backed by a photograph to in sustainable development said it is a cause for pride for all. harm,” said Zaidan, Head, Health hygiene is the main factor as at least take quick decision,” said Zaidan. Qatar represented in QC offers Control Section, Al Rayyan Munic- 90 percent of violations found at “For example, if there are huge today a new example of char- ipality. “We also fined the parlour.” eateries are related to food handlers. insects or rodents in an outlet or QNA Programme (UNDP), UN Economic ity work, an act which expresses Inspecting and monitoring all Workers lack awareness as eater- sanitary conditions are bad, we stop and Social Commission for Western superhumanity of our Qatari eateries and food outlets, includ- ies mostly replace them with new the outlet from operating and send a Asia (ESCWA), UN Population Fund brothers, she added. ing supermarkets, will continue to ones every six-seven months. report to the director. (UNPF), Arab League and the GCC. The agreement aims to fund be the responsibility of the Ministry Not using gloves, preparing food “Normally, it takes two or three DOHA: Qatar Foundation for Social The foundation said in a state- projects to help reduce poverty of Municipality and Environment, he in unhygienic conditions, and stor- days to close an errant outlet as Action will organise the first Arab ment that the conference will pockets, programmes in Al Qadis- added. ing food in places not clean are some we have to prepare a report for the Regional Conference on ‘The Role provide a platform to generate iyah in Tafilah Governorate in the In an interview with The Penin- of the common violations registered. director, and slap fines for the viola- of Civil Society in the Arab Region debate on the level of the Arab region south and Al Mushreefa in Khalid- sula yesterday, he said the first thing “In the past three months, we tion, which range from QR7,500 to in Implementing 2030 Agenda for on the role of civil society in imple- iya district of Mafraq Governorate they check in an eatery or supermar- have closed down 17 food outlets, QR15,000. The former is for viola- Sustainable Development’ on April mentation of the 2030 Agenda for in the northeast and support activ- ket is how they have stored milk including about nine in February. Last tions such as storing or using expired 20-21. Sustainable Development and moni- ities carried out by QC through a and its products, fresh meat and fish year, 34 outlets were closed down, food and the latter for breaching rules It will be held in partnership toring progress in achieving its goals programme of the Fund. because these are very sensitive mostly restaurants. related to specification standards.” with United Nations Development and objectives. HOME THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 03

QF wins top prize in 50 kids with Down Syndrome receiving care two categories of and clinical psychology services according MEED Project Awards to the children’s needs, he added. Child Development Centre Children with Down Syndrome can and Rehabilitation of lead a normal life if given the right oppor- tunities, necessary support and appropriate The Peninsula HMC marks World Down healthcare. Syndrome Day with The centre is supervised by selected phy- sicians who regularly check the children’s activities for children. heart, hearing, eyesight and thyroid function. DOHA: Qatar Foundation for Education, Science It is also working with parents to iden- and Community Development (QF) has been tify the children’s areas of strength and their officially recognised for two of its high-cali- talents to help them socialise and integrate bre superstructures by the 2016 MEED Quality The Peninsula well into society. Awards for project design and development. The centre organised an event featuring Among seven other Qatari project winners, activities such as educational games, a doll QF was awarded ‘Residential Project of the Year’ making workshop, facial colouring, photog- for its male and female student housing, while DOHA: The Early Intervention Programme raphy, henna drawing and balloons arts to ‘Building Project of the Year’ was clinched by at Rumailah Hospital is supporting about 50 mark World Down Syndrome Day. the new QF headquarters. children with Down Syndrome and is being The event demonstrated HMC’s keenness Participants were evaluated by a judging followed in accordance with international to enhance communication between health- panel which assessed entries on excellence in standards of care. care providers and patients and their families design, construction and engineering, accom- The family-centred programme provides and bring joy and happiness to the children. plishments in sustainability and contributions a comprehensive multi-disciplinary thera- It was organised for the sixth consecutive to the local economy. peutic service to children from 0-3 years and year by the Department of Child Develop- Children with Down Syndrome taking part in one of the activities under the guidance Engineer Jassim Telefat, Executive Director, includes physiotherapy, occupational ther- ment Centre and Rehabilitation at Rumailah of an expert. Capital Projects, QF, said: “We are honoured to apy and speech and language therapy, said Hospital and sponsored by Ooredoo in col- once again be recognised by the annual MEED Dr Mahmoud Obeidah, Director, Child Devel- laboration with the Physiotherapy, Special Quality Awards. opment Centre and Rehabilitation, Hamad Education Centre, the Department of Occu- a Comprehensive Environment for Today’s so they have a sense of belonging among “QF’s repeated inclusion demonstrates our Medical Corporation (HMC). pational Therapy and the Roah Centre. Children and Tomorrow’s Adults’. their peers and know that they have equal commitment to achieve excellence in innovation The programme is supported by other The theme of the event was ‘My “We organised the event to bring joy and opportunities in the community,” said Dr and sustainability and dedication to continuous services, including special education, nursing Friends and My Community - Benefits of happiness to children with Down Syndrome Obeidah. growth and development to successfully serve the needs of Qatar. “We believe in the importance of inspir- ing infrastructure in the process of unlocking human potential, which helps foster an engaged QF R&D and CERN sign deal society.” Last year, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS), a college of Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- sity (HBKU) and member of QF, won the ‘MEED The Peninsula researchers and students from Texas A&M Quality Project of the Year’ and the ‘UrbaCon University at Qatar (TAMUQ) and Qatar Univer- Trading & Contracting Social Infrastructure sity (QU) are participating in CERN’s research Project of the Year’ awards. programmes. CERN is the world’s largest lab- The Energy Management System (Solar DOHA: Qatar Foundation Research and Devel- oratory for particle physics, detector and Micro Grid Project), developed by QF in coop- opment (QF R&D) has signed an international accelerator technologies. It is also home to eration with Green Gulf Inc., was recognised as cooperation agreement with the European the biggest particle accelerator in the world. a national winner under the ‘Ramboll Sustain- Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Around 80 countries from across the globe par- able Project of the Year’ category. Geneva, Switzerland. ticipate in CERN’s research initiatives, where MEED, an organisation which recognises the The agreement provides a framework out- students and teachers are trained through finest projects in the GCC, will host a ceremony lining long-term collaborations and future capacity building programmes. for award winners on May 25 at its Construc- opportunities between engineers and techni- Globally, participation in CERN’s research, tion Leadership Summit in Dubai. cians from Qatar in research projects at CERN. training and technology transfer has been a The awards aim to raise GCC project stand- Research areas include high-energy phys- generator of new ideas and technologies. ards through benchmarking best practices in The Qatari delegation, including representatives from Qatar Foundation Research ics, which will make significant contributions to The partnership supports QF R&D’s vision project planning and delivery, with participants and Development (QF R&D), Texas A&M University at Qatar and Qatar University, fundamental research and future technologies. of positioning Qatar as a leading centre of competing against projects, developers, design- with members of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) during Through support provided by Qatar research and development excellence and ers and contractors from the region. the signing of the international cooperation agreement in Geneva. National Research Fund (QNRF), a group of innovation. 04 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 HOME Diabetes tests without appointments for a week

“Qatar pays special attention to diabetes particularly because 17 percent of adults in All HMC hospitals, health the country are diabetic. centres and some private “Diabetes was the No. 4 top cause of deaths hospitals will screen for in Qatar in the last decade. For that reason, we have launched National Diabetes Strategy the disease for a week 2016-2022 to create a developed vision for dia- from tomorrow to mark betic healthcare and define a way of improving health and wellness in the country in order to World Health Day. reduce the numbers of people who suffer from the disease,” Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari said. The Ministry of Public Health represented By Fazeena Saleem by the Public Health Department, in collab- The Peninsula oration with stakeholders, will mark World Health Day with activities across the coun- try during the next week. There will be special diabetes awareness Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani (third left) with Dr Saleh bin Ali Al Marri (fourth right) and other officials during the press DOHA: Diabetes screening at all hospitals programmes which will continue for a year. conference at Ministry of Health yesterday. Pic: Abdul / The Peninsula and health centres in the country will be done “Today, we are celebrating World Health without prior appointments for a week from Day under the theme ‘Eat Healthy Be Active’ tomorrow to mark World Health Day. with joint efforts of all relevant organisa- HMC will set two tents in Wakra Waqif Diabetes screening will also be done with- Health Day activities. Mobile clinics and temporary tents will be tions, institutions and authorities to achieve Souq and Al Khor Park tomorrow to screen out prior appointments at selected private In 2014, the global prevalence of diabe- set up at different places for screening, offi- the National Diabetes Strategy goal ‘Prevent- for diabetes for free. In collaboration with hospitals. tes was estimated at 9 percent among adults cials said yesterday. ing Diabetes Together’ through an integrated Al Wakra Sports Club, HMC will also assign Qatar Diabetes Association will assign a above 18. The prevalence of diabetes in the World Health Day is commemorated today plan in which everyone participate,” Dr Salih a trainer to give guidance on how to do exer- mobile clinic and a team of healthcare pro- Eastern Mediterranean region is estimated at and World Health Organisation (WHO) has Ali Al Marri from the ministry told a press con- cises in the public area of Wakra Souq Waqif. fessionals at Aspire Park today. The Youth 13.7 percent among adults above 18. chosen ‘Beat Diabetes,’ as the theme to raise ference yesterday. Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) Challenge Diabetes Camp 2016 will be held In Qatar, the 17 percent prevalence of dia- awareness and combat the disease. Diabetes screening in all hospitals of will conduct diabetes screening at health cen- between from April 9 to 13. betics among the adult population is expected Qatar, together with countries from across Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will be tres without prior appointments. Action on Diabetes, in collaboration with to be doubled by 2045 unless appropriate the world, is highlighting the most significant held without prior appointments during World Health promotion and awareness lectures Maersk Qatar Petroleum, will assign a mobile action to limit the spread of the disease is in issues related to diabetes. Health Day activities. on diabetes will be held at selected schools. clinic in Katara tomorrow as part of World place. Ministry approves amended Scattered rains likely until rules to raise height of buildings in Jawaan Street tomorrow as unstable weather continues By Mohmmed Osman the ministry said yesterday. The Peninsula To ensure coordination and effective implementa- The Peninsula during rains with thunder, leading tion of the policy fixing the to a drop in visibility. height of floors, the min- The office said this is the sea- DOHA: The Ministry of istry said its technical Al Sadd Area son of ‘Sarayat’ as known locally Municipality and Envi- departments will study Jawaan St DOHA: There are chances of scat- and is usually associated with sud- ronment has endorsed applications seeking to tered rains this morning and then den weather changes that require amended rules to increase increase the height of the tonight until tomorrow, the Met constant follow-up. the height of buildings in buildings. Office has said. The office urged people to Jawaan Street in Al Sadd. The ministry has Rains are expected amid a avoid sea activities and follow its The Department of allowed extensions or brief spell of unstable weather official website and social media Urban Planning at the majlises of houses directly the office had forecast would begin accounts for weather updates. ministry disclosed that overlooking some popu- from last Tuesday. In its routine forecast for today, Al Sadd Intersection the amended planning lar commercial streets to Al Sadd St Unstable weather is expected the office reiterated that scattered rules and terms will allow be modified and licensed to continue due to the extension of rains could lash parts of the coun- owners of plots in the for commercial purposes. a low pressure system, the office try this morning and could be northern part of the street The amended rules said in a special bulletin yesterday. accompanied by strong winds at to increase the height of announced last week allow Skies will gradually become places. their buildings to Ground houses in seven streets, partly cloudy to cloudy during The warning for offshore today + 3 instead of current including Madinat Khal- Emiri St the period between yesterday is strong winds and high seas due Ground + 2. According to ifa, Rawdat Al Khail in west Jawaan st afternoon and this morning, with to thunder at first. the amended rules, the and east of Nuaija, Furosia chances of scattered rains accom- Day temperatures would be buildings will be used for Street in Al Murra, Al Wajba panied by thunder at times. There moderate and may range from 28 administrative activities, Street in New Rayyan, are fresh chances of scattered degrees C (Messaieed, Al Wak- said the ministry. Umm Salal Street in Umm Nasser bin Selmien Al rains again from tonight until rah, Al Khor and Al Ruwais) to 34 The move aims to boost Salal, Umm Qarn Street in Suwaidi Intersection tomorrow, the office said. degrees (in Abu Samra). business activities and is in Umm Qarn and Semaisima Moderate to fresh easterly In Doha, the day tempera- response to demands from Street in Semaisima to use to southeasterly winds will pre- ture forecast is 30 degrees while citizens and businesses for part of the buildings for vail during the period and might nightly temperature would likely a flexible planning policy, commercial purposes. become strong at times, especially be 22 degrees. Ooredoo launches Health Month for staff

The Peninsula

DOHA: Ooredoo has launched its annual Health Month of activities for employees as it celebrates International World Health Day today. Health Month is part of the com- pany’s social responsibility strategy to encourage a healthy lifestyle for all of Qatar. Activities for employees include the distribution of healthy snacks, free check-ups for weight, body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar, dental, medical, eyes and more. Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Direc- tor, Community & Public Relations, Ooredoo, said: “Encouraging people to live healthier lifestyles is a key part of Ooredoo’s corporate social respon- sibility strategy and we extend the approach to our employees with our Health Month. “Along with healthy food and Some of the employees of the company undergo medical tests.

medical check-ups, we aim to educate Federation, 415 million people have dia- our employees on the benefits of better betes, including over 35.4 million in the diet and fitness.” Middle East and North Africa region. Ooredoo will also encourage cus- In Qatar, there were an estimated tomers to educate themselves through its 239,100 cases last year. social media pages on World Health Day. Ooredoo sponsors and supports World Health Day is a health aware- events and programmes to promote ness day celebrated every year on April healthy living, education and community 7 under the sponsorship of World Health in Qatar, including building and operat- Organisation. ing Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Centre to This year, WHO has dedicated the support kidney patients and Ooredoo day to highlighting the epidemic rapidly Cancer Awareness Centre. increasing in many countries – diabetes. For details on Ooredoo’s CSR initia- According to International Diabetes tives, visit www.ooredoo.qa. HOME THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 05 Automated system for Philippine polls

and transmitting of results to the Phil- chosen to have automated election ippines faster. system due to the big number of reg- For the first time, the “The advantage is that we will be istered voters. Philippine embassy able to count the results faster and to There are nearly 40,000 regis- transmit it same time, unlike before tered overseas Filipino voters in Qatar will adopt the when we had to bring home the bal- which, Ambassador Santos said, is a system for Overseas lots to the Commission on Elections significant number. Absentee Voting (Comelec), which takes time. Now He urged the community mem- there will be a satellite setup here bers to take part in the polls. “In the (OAV) in the national for us to transmit the election returns past elections we had only at most 20 elections that start on the same day,” Philippine Ambassa- percent turnout which is not a good dor Wilfredo C Santos said yesterday. turnout. Comelec wants us to have 80 Officials at the agreement signing ceremony. Saturday. Doha is one of only 30 out of percent turnout. Whether that’s pos- 85 foreign service posts around the sible or not depends on our Filipino world which will adopt the automated nationals. So make your vote count, Philippine Ambassador Wilfredo election system in the upcoming it’s part of your civic duties as a citi- C Santos with the machine. By Raynald C Rivera elections. zen and it’s time for you to make your Academic Bridge Programme The Peninsula Ambassador Santos was speak- presence felt in the elections.” He must not vote beyond the required ing at a mock elections held at the During the election, the embassy number for each position otherwise embassy in which 40 community will be open every day to receive vot- the ballot will be invalid, said San- signs partnership with members participated to test the four ers, from 8am to 5pm from Sunday to tos. “I would like to encourage our DOHA: For the first time, the Phil- vote-counting machines (VCMs) to be Thursday and from 9am to 6pm on Filipino overseas voters to cast their ippine embassy will adopt the used in the month-long OAV. “This Friday and Saturday. Overseas Absen- votes to take part in shaping the City University London automated election system for the is part of modernizing the system tee Voting ends at exactly 12 noon on future of our country. I am confident Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) in the and using these machines will make May 9. To cast his vote, a registered that our people will heed the call for national elections that start on Sat- it easier for us to conduct the elec- voter must present either his pass- them to come out and vote for this The Peninsula new partnership, saying: “We are urday, which will make the counting tions,” he explained, adding Doha was port or his Qatar ID for verification. very important election.” delighted to partner with ABP in Doha and look forward to welcom- ing ABP graduates to our degree DOHA: The Academic Bridge Pro- courses here in London. Their pres- gramme (ABP), a member of Qatar ence at our university globalises the Foundation for Education, Science academic environment and campus QR1.07bn property deals in a week and Community Development (QF), life for all our students.” and City University London (CUL) The ABP has agreements with have established a new partnership, over 20 international universities to By Sanullah Ataullah transactions in the above week by deals worth QR622.6m. The top deal included a building measuring 414 giving ABP graduates the opportu- facilitate the admission of ABP grad- The Peninsula around three folds, or by 280 percent. in Al Daayen Municipality struck at sqm in Umm Guwailinia which was nity to continue studies in London. uates to university. Approximately 40 The Ezdan report said the real QR600m gained from the sale of a sold for QR10.2m at the rate of 24,600 The agreement enables ABP per cent of those graduates attend estate transaction value was a mere plot of land at Al Sakhama measur- per sqm. A multi-use building in Al students who have successfully universities overseas, a majority of QR282m in the previous week. ing 129,601 sqm at the rate of QR4,630 Sadd measuring 351 sqm fetched its achieved a set level of attainment which are in the United Kingdom. Dr DOHA: After a brief lull witnessed The number of deals also jumped per sqm. owner QR6.2m at the rate of QR17,700 to study in London. The first eligible Bryan K Lewallen, Director of ABP, recently, the demand for real estate remarkably from 43 to 112 during the Another big deal in Al Daayen per sqm. A deal was also struck in ABP graduate could enrol at CUL as said: “Our new partnership with has begun showing a surge as evi- period of study. Municipality involved a plot of land Fereej Al Aseeri in which a house was early as September 2016 and annu- City University London is a won- denced from transaction figures Plots of land dominated the trans- that was sold in Umm Qarn area for sold at QR3m at the rate of QR4,983 ally thereafter. derful, new opportunity for students released by a top local real estate actions and contributed 85.5 percent QR5.8m at the rate of QR2,852 per per sqm. The five schools of CUL-Cass who graduate from the Academic player. to the total, while the remaining 17.5 sqm. The plot measured 2,040 sqm. Al Rayan Municipality ranked Business School, School of Arts & Bridge Programme. CUL is a world Ezdan said in a report citing fig- percent deals involved ready-to- Doha Municipality ranked sec- third with a share of 10.6 percent Social Sciences, School of Health class university with an excellent ures from the Real Estate Registry at occupy buildings. The report said it ond in terms of value of transactions, in total transactions, with 22 deals Sciences, School of Mathematics, reputation. the Ministry of Justice that property expected more growth in real estate contributing 16.4 percent to the total. worth QR114.4m up, 147 percent last Computer Science & Engineering, “ABP graduates, who meet the deals totalled QR1.07bn in the week transactions in the coming weeks as The transaction value increased 27.2 week compared to the previous week. and The City Law School - have over university’s requirements will be from March 27 to 31. investors and developers planned to percent to QR176.2m from QR138m. A The top deal in Al Rayan Munic- 18,000 currently enrolled students, able to enter directly into Year One A huge plot of land covering an execute new projects. total of 36 deals were struck in Doha ipality was that of a commercial representing 150 countries. of their degree Programmes. City area of 129,601sqm was sold at a Al Daayen Municipality wit- Municipality last week compared to building measuring 1,546 sqm in Al Professor Stanton Newman, University London has put together whopping QR600m in Al Sakhama nessed the highest number of deals only 13 in the previous week, up 177 Aziziya. The building was sold for Pro Vice Chancellor (Interna- an array of programmes from which area of Al Daayen Municipality in term of value, acquired 58 percent percent. QR33m at the rate of QR21,300 per tional) of CUL, commented on the our students may choose.” which swell the value of real estate of total transaction by signing eight Top deals in Doha Municipality sqm. 06 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 HOME Yateem Optician joins QU forum backs up football practices Ooredoo’s Nojoom International Science loyalty programme And Football Association workshops and conference The Peninsula points and we are constantly included practical sessions, working to reward them through theoretical lectures, applied our partner collaborations. We are thrilled to bring Yateem as our seminars, clinics and research DOHA: Ooredoo has announced first opticians to our incredible list outputs. that its multi award-winning loyalty of partners.” programme, Nojoom, has added its The addition to the growing list first optometrists, Yateem Optician, of Nojoom partners expands the to its earn and redeem list as the range of reward service options The Peninsula company continues to expand its available, giving members choices range of partners this year. to shop around and find the best With this partnership, which is deals for their Nojoom points. Delegates attending the event. Nojoom’s first healthcare partner, Members will earn one Nojoom DOHA: The Sport Science Programme at Qatar members will be able to earn and point for every QR1 spent at Yat- University College of Arts and Sciences held the redeem Nojoom points at Yateem eem Optician, Yateem Vision and closing ceremony of the 2016 edition of Interna- complex lecture theatre passing by the virtual real- football by bringing together experts, practitioners, Optician, Yateem Vision and Occhi- Occhiali branches. They can choose tional Science And Football Association (ISAFA) ity lab in QU up to Aspire Academy, the delegates scientists, managers, stakeholders, representatives ali shops in Qatar. to redeem their points towards their workshops and conference held at QU. and attendees learnt something new and had joy and students to inspire them to be the next gener- Yateem Optician offers expe- purchase at Yateem Optician, Yat- The full-week event included practical work- discovering the venues and networking. ation of coaches and/or experts. rienced optometrists, ophthalmic eem Vision and Occhiali branches shops, theoretical lectures, applied seminars, The 2016 edition of ISAFA gathered for the “There is no progress without science; football lenses and international eyewear from voucher denominations clinics and two full days of research outputs. first time all major sport and science institutions is only one of these sports where scientists’ input brands in 10 branches, including at starting at QR50. Every Oore- It aimed to back up football practices by in Qatar as one family to deliver its content — QU, has been lacking for many years. It is about time City Centre, in Al Rayyan, Al Khor doo customer with a Qatar ID can cutting-edge applied sciences. Field experts repre- Aspire Academy, Aspetar, Anti- Doping Lab Qatar coaches and scientists sat around the same table Mall, Lagoona Mall and more. enrol into Nojoom, and redemptions senting schools from Qatar, Brazil, France, Poland, and Qatar Olympic Academy (QOC). It was for the and learnt from each other’s experiences and solved Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, can be made following Nojoom’s Portugal, Tunisia and Uruguay shared knowledge first time that ISAFA was organised in an Arabic some of the key issues related to performance. Director, Community and Pub- redemption channels by logging with world-renowned scientists from Qatar, Bra- country. “I would like to express my gratitude to our lic Relations, Ooredoo Qatar, said: into their account at www.ooredoo. zil, France, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, the Dr Monèm Jemni, Chair, ISAFA, and Professorial partners and sponsors and those who made the “Our members often ask for new qa/nojoom or by downloading the UK, the US and other countries. Chair in Sport Science Programme, QOC, said: “The event happen, including our volunteer students,” ways to earn and spend Nojoom Ooredoo App. From the football stadium to the research week was a blessing showcasing the backstage of he added.

Aspire Academy wins QU to complete organisational CIS accreditation changes by June

The Peninsula The Peninsula Bravo said: “Aspire is the seventh educational institution in Qatar to obtain a CIS accreditation. I would like to thank our staff, teachers DOHA: Qatar University DOHA: Aspire Academy celebrated and students who have been part of (QU) has released details attaining an accreditation from Coun- this five-year journey to obtain this of an organisational cil of International Schools (CIS). The accreditation. transformation process award follows a five-year application “Through their continual efforts, to improve efficiency and process and is the latest in several we have attained a clear standard strengthen capabilities in accreditations obtained by the acad- of international excellence and we administrative functions. emy. should all be proud of this achieve- It follows an announce- The ceremony was attended ment. It’s yet another step towards ment of a new vision by Tariq Al Naama, Vice-Presi- realising the academy’s vision to be statement and organ- dent, Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF); recognised as the world’s leading isational structure last Mohammad Khalifa Al Suwaidi, sports academy in the development month. The transforma- Acting CEO, AZF; Abdulla Al Naimi, of youth athletes by 2020.” Officials with the accreditation certificate. tion process will focus on Director-General, Aspire Logis- Bayliss said: “Aspire has done an administrative functions tics; Ivan Bravo, Director-General of excellent job in developing the quality and will be completed in the academy; Dr Ahmed Al Emadi, of education and focusing on meet- them with opportunities to pursue that the education provided to their at the very highest international June. Chairman, Advisory Council at the ing the needs of its student-athletes. studies further at universities around sons meets the highest international standards.” Dr Hassan Rashid Al academy; heads of departments, “It has also demonstrated it is the world if they wish.” standards. In 2007, the academy was Derham, President, QU, teachers, staff, students and families. committed to continuous improve- Al Jabir said: “The process of “The accreditation confirms awarded membership of European said: “As Qatar’s national Christine Bayliss, School Support ment. The team is dedicated to obtaining the accreditation supports the quality and excellence of all we Foundation for Quality Management university, we have a & Evaluation Officer, CIS, presented developing the academy as a centre our efforts to provide the best pos- provide in terms of our curriculum, (EFMQ), one of the leading qual- responsibility to become the certificate to Bravo; Jassim Al of international excellence. sible education to our students. This policies, departments, focus on stu- ity management institutions in the more efficient while Jabir, School Principal; and Badr Al “Students have the opportunity is a crucial part of the academy’s dent care, dormitories and facilities, world. As a result, the academy has sharpening our focus on Hay, Director, Education and Stu- to be part of a school where stand- appeal in attracting sporting talent academic support and guidance. now secured the ‘Committed to Excel- education, research and dent Care. ards are very high and which provides and providing confidence to parents “It is clear that we are operating lence’ accreditation. student services. These are key elements of our new vision and will be the drivers of QU’s success in the future. QRCS provides medical The transformation will result in bespoke care and health education development plans for administrative employees, for expatriate workers quicker decision-mak- ing and higher quality service across the univer- sity,” he added. QU’s new The Peninsula The purpose of these sessions was to vision was endorsed by raise the health awareness among the Board of Regents and the beneficiaries, change their com- a timeframe for strategic mon wrong practices, and reduce and organisational trans- Mohamed Althaf (centre), Director, Lulu Group International, with officials from Quality Austria Gulf and DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society their morbidity rates, thus helping formation was announced the Group at the event. (QRCS) is providing medical care increase safety and productivity, in March. and health education for expatriate which will ultimately reflect pos- workers in Qatar to improve their itively on the Qatari economy at personal hygiene and health con- large. A team of four doctors and six Chevrolet Lulu Barwa City wins ISO 22000 Food ditions. nurses conducted the multilingual models recalled QRCS organized four informative course in Arabic, English, Hindu, and sessions for 400 workers of Galfar Al Urdu languages. Misnad Engineering and Contract- There were contests among the DOHA: The Ministry of Safety and HACCP certifications ing company. trainees to make sure they fully Economy and Commerce, Held at the company’s work- understood the content of the course. in collaboration with Jai- sites in Doha, Al Shahaniya, and Al The winners received 150 hygiene dah Automotive, dealer DOHA: After Lulu Hypermarket, Al Administration and Customer Service for being the first retail establishment Wukair, the sessions involved theo- kits and 250 T-shirts. At the end of of Chevrolet vehicles, has Khor Branch that was certified in Manager; and Shaijan M O, Regional in Qatar to achieve ISO 22000 and retical and practical training in how the course, QRCS team and Galfar Al announced the recall of 2015, now Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa Director, Lulu Hypermarket Group; HACCP certifications. to observe personal hygiene stand- Misnad agreed to continue the pro- Chevrolet Malibu models City, has achieved ISO 22000 Food Shanavas P M, Regional Manager; “Certification to ISO 22000 ards and prevent health problems, gram to cover the company’s 4,000 of 1997-2005 due to the Safety Management Systems and Keith Smith, Retail Operations Man- standard provides high level of particularly communicable diseases. workers. possibility of the ignition HACCP Standards certifications. ager; and other officials from Lulu confidence among individual and key moving from operat- With this, Lulu Hypermarket Hypermarket Group. The assessment institutional customers of Lulu ing to idle while driving. Trading Company WLL has become and certification of Lulu Hypermar- Hypermarket and is an effective sys- The ministry urged the first hypermarket chain in Qatar ket was done by Quality Austria. tem to ensure compliance with civic customers to report any to get ISO 22000 and HACCP (Hazard Althaf said, “Gaining ISO 22000 regulations and achieve continual violations to its Con- Analysis and Critical Control Points). and HACCP certifications demon- improvement in food safety. This sumer Protection and The certificates were handed strate our commitment to production high level of the organisation is proof Anti-Commercial Fraud over to Mohamed Althaf, Director, and distribution of safe food prod- from Quality Austria as an accredited Department through hot- Lulu Group International, in a cer- ucts. The certifications confirm our certification body. We are authorised line: 16001; email: info@ emony at Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa efforts to provide safe products to by the government to check compa- mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @ City Branch on Sunday by Sunil our consumers in Qatar and other nies if they comply with international MEC_Qatar; Instagram: Zachariah, General Manager, Qual- regions.” standards like ISO22000& HACCP. MEC_Qatar; and the ity Austria Gulf, in the presence of Zachariah said, “On behalf of Your high performance and certifi- ministry’s mobile app other officials from Quality Austria Quality Austria, I congratulate the cation is not only valid for your local for Android and IOS: Gulf — Prabath D’silva, Technical top management, food safety team area, but is recognised worldwide as MEC_Qatar Some of the beneficiary workers. Manager; and Aion Gregor Tubanza, and employees of Lulu Hypermarket this is an international standard.” HOME THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 07

Fingerprinting of workers in Silatech to help Morocco’s small entrepreneurs their countries employment, together with Attawfiq Al Naimi also highlighted the proposed Microfinance Foundation, one of the great role of Qatar Development Deal signed with largest microfinance institutions in Fund in supporting Silatech programs Attawfiq Microfinance the Maghreb region, collaborated in across the Arab world. The Peninsula 2012 to launch the innovative “Bod- The $96m programme “Bodour Foundation (Attawfiq) our” youth loan program. II” will be backed by loan capital and to launch ‘Bodour II’ The new strategic partnership guarantee funds from both Attawfiq is built on the success of the initial and Silatech. DOHA: At its weekly meeting yes- to provide innovative partnership between the two organ- Mohamed Allouch, Director Gen- terday, the Cabinet discussed a financial and non- izations, which has supported over eral of the Attawfiq Microfinance proposal of the Ministry of Interior financial services. 29,000 youth micro-enterprises Foundation, said: “We have the to take fingerprints and biometric and resulted in the creation of over same ambition as Silatech in terms data of Qatar-bound foreign work- 46,000 jobs. Bodour II will further of youth socioeconomic development. ers in their home countries at the enable employment and job crea- We therefore wish in this regard to service centres of companies Qatar The Peninsula tion in Morocco by offering 90,000 capitalize on the success of the first would designate. youth entrepreneurs startup and busi- phase of our partnership ‘Bodour’ Mandatory medical checks ness expansion loans over a period of and extend our collaboration with of foreign workers are also to be five years. our partner, whose strong expertise conducted by these centres, Qatar DOHA: Silatech and Attawfiq Micro- Mohammed Al-Naimi, CEO of and youth focus we intent to combine News Agency (QNA) reports. finance Foundation (Attawfiq) have Silatech said: “Today, we celebrate with the experience of our institution signed a collaboration agreement the success of our partnership with in providing financing and support to reinforce their partnership by Attawfiq Microfinance by planning mechanisms, in order in fine to offer 113 violations launching ‘Bodour II’, which will for more success that will positively youth aged 18-30 an innovative and last month provide innovative financial and impact the development of the local comprehensive range of products spe- non-financial services to thou- economy in Morocco; it is also another cially developed for them.” Officials at the deal signing ceremony. sands of young micro entrepreneurs step in our journey towards our vision The technical assistance to be DOHA: In crackdowns on outlets in Morocco. in having an Arab world in which provided by Silatech as part of this last month, inspectors from the Silatech, established as a response young people are able to work and innovative program will include enterprise support to youth and link- towards marketing and launching Ministry of Economy and Com- to the challenge of unemployment in are engaged in the economic devel- training for Attawfiq credit officers in ages to youth serving organizations, the “youth startup” and “youth busi- merce caught outlets that breached the region through enterprise and opment of their societies”. 120 branches of the Attawfiq network, product development, assistance ness expansion” loans. consumer protection law. At least 113 violations detected the month over with several of them pertaining to not display of retail price tag on products. Some RAF distributes services were also singled out by the ministry in which the prices were not mentioned. Violations of price display provision totaled 27. 1,700 food baskets In as many as 21 cases outlets were caught for increasing the prices of products and services without in North Sumatra approval from the ministry. Third largest number of breaches (14) related to keeping expired prod- ucts for sale. The Peninsula Indonesia was chosen to be pro- In at least five cases the min- vided humanitarian aid because istry said yesterday, the outlets millions of people there are facing charged customers more than they hardships due to poverty. prices they displayed in respect of DOHA: Sheikh Thani Bin Abdul- The country is going through the products. Disruptions of prod- lah Foundation for Humanitarian severe financial crises. ucts in some outlets were not in Services (RAF) has distributed 1,700 Purchasing power of the peo- Arabic, in violation of the con- baskets of foodstuff to the needy in ple has deteriorated amidst Food baskets to be distributed to beneficiaries. sumer protection law No. 8 of Medan, the capital city of Indonesia’s soaring inflation and lack of job 2008, the ministry said. North Sumatra province. opportunities. More than 10,000 people ben- RAF launched several devel- efited from the largesse of RAF. opment projects including surface Olive seized The distribution was made in col- water wells, orphan houses, mosques laboration with a local partner of and centres for reciting the Holy DOHA : Inspectors from Al Rayyan RAF in Indonesia, Al Risala Charity Quran. Municipality recently seized a Organization. RAF urged potential donors to large quantity of olive from dif- The organization conducted a extend a helping hand to support ferent shops after some residue survey to shortlist the most deserv- its charity projects being imple- was detected in the glass bottles. ing people as potential beneficiaries. mented in Qatar as well as overseas. Samples collected from different The baskets included basic food Donors can approach in person the supermarkets have been sent for items like rice, edible oil, sugar, salt, collection centers of RAF which laboratory tests, a source at the milk powder, eggs, baby food and are located all over the country or municipality said. The results from vegetables. make donation through their bank the Central Food Laboratory are A basket was enough for a fam- accounts or they can call on hotline expected in 10 days. ily of five to six for at least a month. 55341818. 300 students attend ‘The RSAT Olympiad’

The Peninsula ROTA, said: “We are grateful for the world. The SAT is an important pre- contribution made by RSAT Olympiad requisite for most US colleges, in to Reach Out To Asia. Contributions addition to a student’s high school such as these are crucial to suc- record, extracurricular involvement, DOHA: For the first time in Qatar, cessfully accomplishing ROTA’s personal statements, and letters of more than 300 students from around initiatives, which include striving to recommendation. 20 high schools participated recently provide quality basic education to “The U.S. Embassy is pleased to in ‘The RSAT Olympiad’ for the newly children and youth in underdevel- be a part of this initiative designed to redesigned SAT (RSAT) exams. oped countries.” expose more students to the RSAT,” The Olympiad was organized by Top-scoring students in the noted U.S. Ambassador to the State ScorePlus - The Princeton Review Olympiad were given the opportu- of Qatar, Dana Shell Smith. “The SAT in association with Reach Out To nity to attend ROTA’s recent Empower is a key factor when considering an Asia (ROTA) and the US embassy in Youth Conference. American university education, and Qatar. Tests were held at the Leba- Twenty-five top scoring students it was rewarding to help students get nese School, Al Khor International were also awarded scholarships to a step ahead by trying out the exam School, Doha College, DeBakey High enroll in any Score Plus course. during Discover America Week Qatar School, and at the ScorePlus centre The scholarships were worth up to 2016.” in Al Waab. Each student who par- QR5,700 per student, and, in total, The top-scoring student of the ticipated made a donation to ROTA, more than QR86,000 was awarded. Olympiad was Khalifa Bshesh of a charity that strives to make edu- The RSAT Olympiad was organ- DeBakey High School, who earned cation available to children across ized in conjunction with the U.S. a score of 1,410 out of a possible Asia. As a result, a total of QR10,000 Embassy’s ‘Discover America Week 1,600. Other high scorers included was donated to Palestinian refugees Qatar 2016’. Aishwariya Balaji and Nikil Selvam in Lebanon. Each year, Qatar sends hundreds of DPS-MIS. Maryam Al Beshri, Director, Mar- of students to the United States, or “We are extremely impressed keting, Events, and Fundraising, to American universities around the with the results,” said ScorePlus High School Territory Manager Christina Norris. “The students have reported that they feel more informed about the RSAT, and they have a sense of how to prepare.” ScorePlus Regional Manager Pradeep Singhal agreed. “We are very happy to receive such a posi- tive response from high schools and students in Qatar,” he said. “The ScorePlus team is proud to conduct the first simulated new SAT test in Doha, and to provide real-time feedback in order to help reduce the anxiety of 300-plus students. The event reaffirms our quality growth in education in Qatar, along with making a positive contribution towards society with a contribution Students taking part in the event. to ROTA.” 08 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 MIDDLE EAST Syrian army and allies launch attack near Aleppo

Front shot down a Syrian warplane military momentum in Assad’s favour, on Tuesday and captured its pilot. reversing last summer’s gains by Intense air strikes Nusra Front, which along with insurgents including Western-backed near spot where Islamic State is not part of the cease- rebels and helping government forces fire, last week attacked and captured to drive Islamic State out of the Nusra Front shot a town in the area, killing dozens of ancient city of Palmyra. down regime Syrian soldiers and their allies, among The recapture of Palmyra and its them 11 members of the Lebanese Shia military airport, in the central Syr- warplane. group Hezbollah. ian desert, opened up the road further A statement from the Syrian army east to the Islamic State bastions of and its allies said they were target- Deir Al Zor province and Raqqa. Any ing armed groups in areas south of offensive on Deir Al Zor or Raqqa, Reuters Aleppo, supported by “heavy and con- however, would probably need sig- centrated air strikes”, the website of nificantly more firepower than the the Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar Palmyra assault. reported. A rebel said the government BEIRUT: The Syrian army and its The statement said the attack was attack south of Aleppo was the allies launched a major attack on a response to insurgent violations of heaviest in that area since the truce insurgents south of Aleppo, described the cessation of hostilities agreement. agreement came into effect. Hany as the fiercest government assault in “This fire will continue until all the Al Khaled of the Sham Revolution- the area since an agreement to ease militants surrender”, it said. ary Brigades group, an affiliate of the the fighting came into effect in Feb- Each side accuses the other of Levant Front, said his group had taken ruary. seeking to wreck the cessation of hos- part in repelling the attack, and Shia Fighting south of Aleppo in recent tilities agreement that has slowed the militias fighting with the government days has put further strain on the war across many of the major front- had suffered heavy losses. already widely violated ceasefire lines of western Syria but not stopped The Syrian Observatory for deal brokered by the United States it entirely. Though Nusra is not part of Human Rights, a British-based and Russia with the aim of launching the deal, its fighters are deployed near organisation that tracks the war, a diplomatic process towards ending rebel groups that are. said air strikes, artillery and rockets the five-year-long war. Syria’s crisis erupted five years were being used in an attack aimed The indirect talks organised by ago with protests against Assad at recovering Telat Al Eis, the town US Ambassador to Jordan Alice Wells (second left), distributes gifts to children of Syrian refugee Ahmad Al the United Nations are struggling with which were put down with force. It seized in the Nusra Front-led assault. Aboud, who will be resettled in the United States as part of a refugee admissions programme, at the Queen no sign of compromise over the main descended into a civil war which has The statement reported by Al Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, yesterday. issue dividing the sides: the future of killed more than 250,000, drawn in Manar accused insurgents of breach- President Bashar Al Assad. A second global military powers and helped ing the truce “in execution of foreign round of talks is due to begin on Mon- Islamic State establish its self- orders”. Opposition official Asaad Al ceasefire that are happening from in last week’s Nusra attack, sources and Iraq and Russian air power. day in Geneva. declared caliphate. Nearly five million Zoubi, meanwhile, said the truce was day to day,” the US Pentagon said in familiar with the details said. Hezbol- Russia last month withdrew some Rebels described intense air refugees have been driven abroad. “in danger of ending” due to govern- a press briefing yesterday. lah’s support has been crucial to Assad of its warplanes from Syria, where it strikes in the southern Aleppo area Russia’s six-month-old inter- ment violations. In addition to the 11 Hezbollah in the conflict, together with backing has been bombing in support of Assad where the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra vention in Syria has helped to swing “There are still hiccups in the fighters killed, 43 Syrian soldiers died from Shia militias mobilised from Iran since September 30.

IS nets up to $200m from Turkey launches inquiry into leak of 50 million citizens’ data artefacts: Reuters hackers. The 1.5 gigabyte compressed Erdogan! He is destroying your coun- forensics expert at auditing and Population Governance Central Data- file contains the national identity try beyond recognition.” consultancy firm PwC, confirmed to base in or around 2009 and later Russia number, date of birth and full address An official at Ankara’s chief pros- Reuters the file contained ID numbers illegally sold on to firms that dealt in for 49.6 million Turks, according to ecutor’s office said yesterday it was and personally identifiable informa- asset foreclosures. ISTANBUL: Turkey is investigat- the website, or around two thirds of investigating the breach, but declined tion of at least 46 million citizens. In December, Turkish Inter- Reuters ing how hackers have posted online the population. to give further details. Transport and Communication net servers suffered one of the most the identity data of some 50 million The website said it included the ID The number of Turkish citizens Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tues- intense cyberattacks seen in the Turks, including what they said were information of President Recep Tayyip affected was roughly the same size as day the breach appeared to date back country, raising fears Ankara may UNITED NATIONS: Islamic details about the president and prime Erdogan, Prime Minister Ahmet Dav- the entire electorate, Justice Minister to at least 2010. It is not clear when have been a target of political hackers. State militants in Syria and Iraq minister, after what is believed to be utoglu and former president Abdullah Bekir Bozdag told reporters. the file was first uploaded, although The December hacking involved a are netting between $150m and the biggest data breach seen in the Gul and taunted the president. “How and from where this was reports of it surfaced in local media flood of disruptive traffic, known as a $200m per year from illicit trade country. “Who would have imagined that leaked needs to be looked into,” he this week. He said the data was from DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) in plundered antiquities, Russia’s While no group has taken credit backward ideologies, cronyism and said. “I believe the necessary inves- electoral records that the state shares attack, where computers target spe- ambassador to the United Nations for uploading the data to a website rising religious extremism in Turkey tigations — both administrative and with political parties before elections. cific Internet sites, resulting in web said in a letter released yesterday. called the Turkish Citizenship Data- would lead to a crumbling and vul- judicial — have been launched and However, Besikci, the computer speeds plummeting. Under Erdogan, “Around 100,000 cultural base, the comments posted suggest nerable technical infrastructure?” the whatever is necessary will be done.” expert, said he believed the data was Turkey has a taken a tough stance on objects of global importance, Turkey may be a target of political website says. “Do something about Tuncay Besikci, a computer taken from the government’s official social media sites. including 4,500 archaeological sites, nine of which are included in the World Heritage List of ... Unesco, are under the control of the Islamic State ... in Syria and Unicycle wonder Would-be PKK female Iraq,” Ambassador Vitaly Churkin wrote in a letter to the UN Secu- rity Council. “The profit derived by the suicide bomber arrested Islamists from the illicit trade in antiquities and archaeological treasures is estimated at US $150- AFP suggestion she had explosives on her 200m per year,” he said. when detained. The smuggling of artifacts, She was placed under arrest by Churkin wrote, is organised by ANKARA: Turkey has arrested a a criminal court in Ankara ahead of Islamic State’s antiquities divi- female militant affiliated to the a trial whose date has yet to be set. sion in the group’s equivalent of outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party It said that the woman had been a ministry for natural resources. (PKK) suspected of planning to carry treated for one-and-a-half months Only those who have a permit with out a suicide attack, a report said for liver problems in the southeast- a stamp from this division are per- yesterday. ern city of Diyarbakir before heading mitted to excavate, remove and The arrest of the woman in the for Ankara. Over 40,000 people have transport antiquities. capital Ankara — identified as RI, 21 been killed since the PKK took up Some details of the group’s war — comes after the city was this year arms in 1984 demanding a homeland spoils department were previously rocked by two suicide car bombings for Turkey’s biggest minority. Since revealed, which reviewed some of claimed by Kurdish militants that then, the group has pared back its the documents seized by US Spe- left dozens dead. She was detained demands to focus on cultural rights cial Operations Forces in a May by police during a regular traffic and a measure of autonomy. 2015 raid in Syria. inspection at one of the entrances Over 350 members of the Turk- But many details in Churkin’s to the city in the Golbasi district, the ish security forces have been killed letter appeared new. Dogan news agency reported. in bomb and gun attacks by the PKK The envoy from Russia, which The woman had been the sub- since a ceasefire collapsed last sum- has repeatedly accused Turkey ject of a nationwide search after mer last summer. of supporting Islamic State by digitally-stored data was found A radical PKK splinter group, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and participants watch as Turkish professional motorcycle purchasing oil from the group, on a Kurdish militant killed in the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), said plundered antiquities were racer performs on a unicycle during the press tour of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey 2016 at southeastern Mardin region that claimed responsibility for two sui- largely smuggled through Turk- the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, yesterday. identified her as a potential suicide cide car bombings in Ankara on ish territory. attacker, Dogan said. There was no February 17 and March 13. “The main centre for the smug- gling of cultural heritage items is the Turkish city of Gaziantep, where the stolen goods are sold at illegal auctions and then through At least 100,000 displaced in Darfur fighting: UN a network of antique shops and at the local market,” Churkin wrote. Turkish officials were not immediately available for com- AFP for peacekeeping operations, told the it difficult to be precise in assessing villages in Darfur and were growing “For the first time in 13 years, pri- ment on the Russian allegations. Security Council. the number of displaced in the recent their crops. mary school students sat for general Russian-Turkish relations have About 103,000 people have sought fighting, he said. “Preparations are underway for examinations. Levies ceased to be been strained ever since Tur- UNITED NATIONS: At least 100,000 refuge at four camps set up by the Jebel Marra sits at the heart of the return of 100,000 IDPs (internally paid to hooligans,” he said. key shot down a Russian plane people have been driven from their joint UN-African Union UNAMID mis- the Darfur region and is a strong- displaced persons) to their villages “Show me in which way this can near the Syrian border last homes in an upsurge of fighting since sion in Darfur, he said. hold of the rebel Sudan Liberation in the east and west of Darfur,” the clash with UN objectives.” November. January in Sudan’s Darfur region, the Ladsous quoted humanitar- Army commanded by Abdulwahid ambassador told the council. The UN peacekeeping chief called Churkin said jewellery, UN’s peacekeeping chief said yester- ian agencies as saying that at least Nur (SLA-AW). Khartoum’s envoy insisted that on the government and the rebels to coins and other looted items are day. 138,000 people had been on the run Sudan’s Ambassador Omar Dahab the Sudanese army was respond- immediately halt fighting in Jebel brought to the Turkish cities of “Clashes and aerial bombings are since mid-January. Fadl disputed the reports of large- ing to attacks from the SLA-AW and Marra and begin peace talks to end Izmir, Mersin and Antalya, where currently continuing” in the rebel Restrictions imposed by the scale movements of civilians, saying had managed to restore security to the conflict. British Ambassador Mat- criminal groups produce fake doc- stronghold of Jebel Marra, Herve Sudanese government to aid agen- “large numbers” of displaced peo- the region, with roads now open to thew Rycroft expressed concern over uments on their origin. Ladsous, the under-secretary general cies and to the UNAMID mission made ple had managed to return to their civilians. the continued violence in Jebel Marra. MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 09

Two martyred Blow to Libya in Saudi from govt after rival Yemen shelling AFP

RIYADH: Shelling from Yemen has changes stance killed two people in a Saudi town, the civil defence agency said, in a rare breach of a calm in the bor- der area agreed with Iran-backed rebels early last month. until the about-face had appeared “Shelling from Yemeni terri- Tripoli-based militia to be cementing its control over the tory on Samtah left two people country’s finances and institutions. dead and wounded a child,” the government refuses Ghweil’s administration seized agency said on Twitter late on to cede power. control of Tripoli in mid-2014 with Tuesday. the support of powerful militia Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab groups, forcing a government backed coalition that has been bombing by Libya’s internationally recognised the Houthi Shia rebels for more AFP parliament to flee to the country’s than a year, in support of Yemen’s far east. internationally recognised Presi- An attempt by his authority dent Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi. to hold on to power in the capital Saudi Foreign Minister Adel TRIPOLI: Efforts by Libya’s UN- could spark fresh unrest in a country Al Jubeir said on Monday that a backed unity government to assert already struggling to emerge from rebel delegation was holding talks Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in its control over the capital were five years of violence since the 2011 in Riyadh, ahead of a planned thrown into chaos yesterday as the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Libya, Martin Kobler, (third right) arrives at a press conference in the Tripoli Municipality building in Algeria UN-brokered ceasefire next week- head of a rival Tripoli-based author- Sarraj’s Government of National Square in the Libyan capital Tripoli. end which is to be followed by ity backed away from ceding power. Accord was created under a power- peace negotiations in Kuwait on Contradicting an earlier sharing deal agreed by rival April 18. announcement that his so-called lawmakers in December. The Saudi-led coalition National Salvation Government He arrived in Tripoli under announced on March 9 that after was ready to step aside, Tripoli’s escort by sea last week, established Key elements of the agreement negotiations though tribal media- unrecognised prime minister Kha- his headquarters at a naval base tors, it had agreed to an exchange lifa Ghweil urged his ministers not and had been moving to shore up of prisoners and a “state of calm” to stand down. his authority. AFP Declaration adopted following the parliament based in Libya’s east, along the border to enable the He threatened to prosecute The international community 2011 ouster and killing of Muammar which has yet to take place. If the delivery of desperately needed anyone working with the new has pleaded with Libya’s warring Gaddafi must be amended and a for- new constitution is not finalised dur- aid. government. sides to stand behind the unity gov- TRIPOLI: Libya’s UN-backed unity mal constitution adopted. ing that term, the GNA’s mandate will Dozens of people have been “Given the requirements of pub- ernment, which is seen as vital to government was shoring up its Here are key elements of the be automatically renewed for an addi- killed on the Saudi side of the bor- lic interest... you are requested to tackling a jihadist expansion and authority in Tripoli yesterday on the agreement: tional year. der since the coalition launched continue your mission in accord- rampant people smuggling in the basis of a power-sharing agreement its intervention in March last ance with the law,” Ghweil said in North African state. signed in December in the Moroccan Executive Authority Legislative Authority year after the rebels and their a statement. But it has not yet been endorsed resort of Skhirat. The Government of National The agreement stipulates that “the allies overran much of the The reason for the U-turn was by the administration based in the The Libyan Political Agreement, Accord (GNA) led by Sarraj, a busi- legislative authority of the state, dur- country, prompting Hadi to flee not immediately clear but could far east, which has long claimed signed by some representatives of Lib- nessman from Tripoli, will be ing the transitional period, shall be into exile. suggest a split within the Tripoli international legitimacy because ya’s rival parliaments, established a headquartered in the capital although undertaken by the House of Repre- In Yemen, around 6,300 peo- authority. it was appointed by the parliament Government of National Accord (GNA) “it can perform its functions from any sentatives, which was elected in June ple have been killed, more than There was no immediate reac- elected in the last polls in 2014. headed by prime minister-designate other city,” the agreement states. 2014.” This is the internationally rec- half of them civilians, most of tion from the UN-sponsored The Tripoli authority’s Fayez Al Sarraj. The GNA will have a one-year ognised parliament now based in the whom have died in coalition air administration of prime minister- reversal will be seen as a major The accord also states that mandate, which will officially begin eastern city of Tobruk which must strikes, according to the United designate Fayez Al Sarraj, which setback. the transitional Constitutional once it is endorsed by the recognised endorse the GNA. Nations.

Two Turks All that remains Hezbollah channel arrested for beating up dropped from Nilesat

AFP out on the media,” Farhat said. Syrian boys Asked about the decision to cut Al-Manar’s transmission, a senior AFP BEIRUT: A leading Arab satellite Nilesat official said channels “must operator cut transmission of Hez- abide by not airing any violent or bollah’s television channel Al-Manar racist content, or provoking sectar- ISTANBUL: Turkey has detained yesterday amid rising tensions ian strife.” two shopkeepers accused of sav- between the Lebanese Shia group’s “No other channels have vio- agely beating two teenage Syrian backer Iran and Saudi Arabia. lated the contract,” he told AFP, in refugees with clubs after spotting In a statement distributed to response to a question on whether them stealing bread in the south of journalists, Hezbollah “sharply con- any other Lebanese channels would the country, reports said yesterday. demned” the move. be affected. Security camera footage, Officials at both Al-Manar and The cut came ahead of an which caused outrage on social Cairo-based Nilesat confirmed the expected visit this week by Saudi media, showed two men racing transmission had been cut over King Salman to Egypt, which oper- out of their shops in the Hatay accusations the channel violated its ates the Nilesat satellite. region of southern Turkey as the contract by airing programmes pro- Hezbollah said the decision was two teens took several loaves of moting sectarian divisions. part of “the attack against the Resist- flatbread from a display case. “This is a political decision, not ance (Hezbollah) and all its branches The video, published by the an industry decision. Al-Manar has by some Arab organisations”. Hurriyet newspaper on its web- nothing to do with sectarian strife,” “We in Hezbollah condemn this site, shows the pair brandishing the channel’s general manager Ibra- unjust decision against Al-Manar clubs and pummelling both the him Farhat told AFP, calling the and we demand that the responsi- boys, who sink to their knees as A member of an Egyptian Civil Protection rescue team searches through the debris of a building that move “unjust and arbitrary”. ble officials at Nilesat immediately they are forced against a wall by collapsed near the Talaat Harb Technical Industrial School For Girls in Cairo, yesterday. “This is part of the political prob- rescind this decision,” the group said the intensity of the blows. lem in the region, that they’re taking in a statement. The boys are then made to put the bread back in the display case under the weight of more blows. One sprawls on the pavement in agony while one of the shopkeep- Iraq puts northern offensive against IS on hold ers then kicks the other boy. Onlookers are seen inter- vening, as police and emergency services arrive. Reuters offensive against the insurgents, Jubbouri said “These (Iraqi army) forces aren’t from that The two Syrians, aged 16 and in a statement, dismissing what he described as area necessarily, so they’re learning the area,” 18, were hospitalised but released efforts to disparage the army. “We do not want Depreo told reporters in Baghdad. the same day. to use all our units to hold territory,” he said. The coalition, led by the United States, has Meanwhile, the two small ERBIL/BAGHDAD: An Iraqi army offensive The initial target of the latest offensive was trained thousands of Iraqi police and soldiers business owners, named as M T touted as the first phase of a campaign to recap- Qayara — an Islamic State hub on the western in preparation for the operation to retake Mosul and V Z, were detained on sus- ture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic bank of the Tigris river — but Iraqi forces have — by far the largest city in Islamic State’s self- picion of “causing intentional State has been paused until more forces arrive so far failed to recapture the hilltop village of proclaimed caliphate. injury”, the state-run Anatolia to hold ground, the commander in charge said Nasr on the eastern side. Depreo said the fighting was only one part news agency said. yesterday. In the statement, Jubbouri said the militants of the challenge. “There’s going to be a lot of Hurriyet said the two boys Almost three weeks into the operation, Iraqi had dug a network of tunnels beneath Nasr and fighting but there’s also going to be a lot of logis- were also sent to court and faced forces have retaken just three villages from prepared suicide bombers and a fleet of vehicles tical infrastructure that needs to follow and be being charged with theft. Islamic State in the Makhmour area, which is rigged with explosives, some of which con- established.” Turkey is hosting over 2.7 mil- set to be a key staging ground for a future assault tain weaponised chlorine, a chemical weapon Shia militias and Kurdish peshmerga have lion refugees from the conflict in on Mosul, around 60km further north. Islamic State has used before in northern Iraq. played a major role in the fight against the ultra- neighbouring Syria. Only a quarter The faltering start has cast renewed doubt US Army Major Jon-Paul Depreo, operations hardline Sunni militants elsewhere in Iraq, but of a million live in refugee camps, on the capabilities of the Iraqi army, which par- officer for the international coalition fighting with Mosul the plan is for the army to take the with the rest living in Turkish tially collapsed when Islamic State militants took Islamic State in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, lead to avoid inflaming ethnic and sectarian towns and cities. around a third of the country in 2014. said at the weekend the insurgents were deter- sensitivities in the mainly Sunni Arab city. Flames emerge from a pipeline at Rumaila The incident took place on Major General Najm Abdullah Al Jubbouri, mined not to lose Nasr because of its strategic The army won its first major victory over the oilfield in Iraq’s Basra yesterday. April 1 in Antakya, the main city who is in charge of the offensive, said that Iraqi position on high ground. insurgents last December in Ramadi and aims of the Hatay region just north forces were now waiting for the arrival of federal Depreo also said difficult terrain meant it to retake Mosul this year, but Iraqi officials pri- of the Syrian border which is police units and additional local tribal fighters was not possible to deploy a large number of vately question whether that is possible. operation” for the bigger battle ahead, adding: home to a large concentration of to hold territory after it is retaken. forces there against the militants, who are more “It’s a tough fight,” Depreo said of the offen- “We have a lot of work to do before we take con- refugees. That would free up his forces to go on the familiar with the area. sive in Makhmour, describing it as a “shaping trol of Mosul again.” 10 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Trump’s troubles

rump is witnessing severe turbulence in his journey to the White House. The weather has turned so hostile he could be forced to reroute his campaign and shed Tsome of the highly hateful and toxic baggage he has carried on. But he has to take all the blame for the current plight, having ignored dire predictions from people with nous about the dangers of pursing a path paved with nothing but outright bigotry, xenophobia, misogyny and anything one would be scared of associating with a presidential hopeful in the United States. Iran: A Friend or Foe? Texas Senator Ted Cruz snatched a solid victory in the Wisconsin primary, making it harder for frontrunner Trump to clinch the Republican nomination outright. Cruz captured ran sent an envoy to Kuwait that followed suit. The United Arab combatants of the revolutionary most of Wisconsin’s 42 Republican delegates, which raises the a couple of weeks ago ask- Emirates downgraded its diplo- guards to Syria as “advisors”. In so ing the Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh matic representation in Tehran, doing, it is inflaming the already prospect of a contested convention in July when Republican Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to and Qatar and Kuwait called in catastrophic conflict in Syria and delegates meet to choose the party nominee for the November Imediate between the two sides their ambassadors for consulta- sabotaging endeavours of a real presidential election. It has been a bumpy ride for Trump for a of the Arabian Gulf; Iran and the tion. It is important to note that truce negotiated by the UN envoy few weeks and the Wisconsin defeat deals another huge blow. He GCC countries. The Iranian intent Egypt, the largest Arab country, Stephan De Mistura. was forced to backtrack last week after saying women who had was leaked through local press, but cut its diplomatic relations with The Supreme leader of Iran, abortions should face punishment if the procedure is outlawed, was articulately revealed by the Iran in 1980, and the situation still Ayatollah Khamenei, reiterated and he supported his campaign manager after he was charged Bahraini foreign minister, Sheikh remains the same today. the stance of Iran as a revolution Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifah in Iran’s policies of interfer- not a state. In response to Rafsan- with assault for allegedly grabbing a reporter. He lies wounded By Dr Saad bin Tiflah an interview on Al Arabiya news ence and belligerence remain the jani’s call for negotiations rather after tripping on his own pile of outrageous errors. Al-AlAjmi channel. same. There were spills of calm than missiles as a means of solv- The Wisconsin results have given a heavy dose of oxygen Iran’s mission to reconcile with between the two sides of the Gulf ing Iran’s problems, Khamenei to Trump’s opponents inside the its Arab neighbouring states is met during Khatemi’s presidency, but said: “those who say the future is Republican party who have been with scepticism and doubt on the the Iranian strategic objectives- in negotiations, not in missiles, are showing signs of exhaustion trying to Arabic side of the Gulf. The rea- of ambitious regional hegemony either ignorant or traitors”. That sons are numerous: Iran continues and dominance, are still continuing says it all! find ways to stop him on his tracks. It Trump can’t interfering in Arab affairs in Iraq with earnest, since its revolution When asked once by a jour- will be interesting to watch how the and Syria militarily and Leba- in 1979. nalist whether he considers Iran a probably win Republican maverick will recoup. He non and Yemen through its proxy Iranian officials are known friendly country or an enemy, a vet- if he stops is a victim of his own petards. Trump armies of Hezbollah and Ansarul- to be the most humble and elo- eran Arab Gulf diplomat answered being Trump can’t probably win if he stops being lah respectively. It is interfering in quent speakers who preach about that “Iran is not and can never be an Trump and he can’t probably win if he Iranian officials Bahraini matters, and calls for the Islamic solidarity and brethren, enemy”. “Nevertheless”, he added, and he can’t continues to be Trump. annexation of the Kingdom con- and co-existence amongst all Mus- “surely in Iran, there are foes for are known to be tinue echoing from Tehran every lim nations, especially when the us and for regional stability, peace probably But he is doing damage-control. the most humble now and then. Iran’s fiery language officials are not speaking to their and co-existence. The problem is He is trying to woo estranged female win if he and eloquent of exporting its “Islamic” revolu- domestic audience. Yet, Iran must that they insist on clinging to their continues voters by using his wife, Melania, on the tion to the rest of the world is still realize that they cannot merely animosity and harassment, think- campaign trail, though it may be too speakers who the theme of its political discourse. sweet talk their way back into ing that they will stay in power to remain late. His support among voters at an preach about Iran has not decided whether regional acceptance and must forever”. Trump. abysmal low. it is a “revolution or a state” as put match words with deeds. As the For Iran’s envoys to the Ara- Islamic solidarity by the Foreign Minister of Saudi Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia bian Gulf to rectify its reputation On the Democratic side, Bernie and brethren, Arabia, Adel Al Jubeir. Last Janu- Adel Al Jubeir said put it: “Iran must and position in relation to the Sanders is becoming a formidable foe ary, Iranian intelligence (ittilaa’aat) change its behaviour”. other Arab and Muslim coun- to the establishment favourite Hillary and co-existence and “revolutionaries” of both the So much for behavioural tries, after its reckless behaviour Clinton. Sanders clinched his sixth amongst all Pasij and the Paasdaraan staged change! This week, and just a in the region, “it need to practice straight win with a resounding victory in Wisconsin and as he Muslim nations, demonstrations attacking and few days before the optimisti- what it preaches”. This message himself declared, his candidacy now has the momentum to carry ransacking the Saudi embassy cally anticipated Yemeni peace was communicated to the “wise’ his campaign all the way to the party’s convention in July. In especially when in Tehran, thus violating inter- talks in Kuwait, the American navy in Tehran by some Gulf officials to national law and yielded world announced the seizure of an Ira- the Iranian envoy. Will they act recent months, Clinton has been focusing her attention on Trump the officials are condemnation. nian vessel in the Arabian Sea, accordingly? Or, rather, can they? as the primary rival, having established herself in the lead not speaking to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia loaded with weapons bound to position, but that confidence has now ruptured. their domestic severed its relations with Tehran the Houthis in Yemen! The shipment Trump can still come back. A new poll shows him with a and cut all kinds of cooperation is meant to strengthen its cronies’ The writer is a former Minister significant lead in the New York Republican primary, indicating audience. with it. Bahrain, Sudan, and Dji- resolve, the Houthis. Last Monday, of Information in Kuwait and a Professor at Kuwait University he may take ‘nearly all’ the state’s delegates. bouti were among other countries Iran said it will send more special But this is a presidential race that has stumped Americans and the rest of the world. Trump’s bad border idea gets even worse

Bloomberg countries each year far outstrip foreign aid impracticalities of carrying it out. From a Quote of the day and investment and provide direct assistance purely economic perspective -- surely one to those who need it most. And when people that Trump can appreciate -- it makes no sense. mazingly, Donald Trump has taken a send money back home, they may make their Rather than threatening to block remit- Issues surrounding bad idea and made it worse. His plan families more willing to stay there. tances, the US should be advancing efforts to Ukraine remain among Ato get Mexico to pay for a wall along the Just last year, Congress appropriated some ensure that they provide productive capital border -- by effectively requisitioning the earn- $750 million dollars to El Salvador, Guatemala for businesses, jobs and infrastructure. Initi- the important issues ings of Mexicans working in the US-- would and Honduras precisely to address the vio- atives to encourage remittance recipients to for the international undermine not only his goal of reducing illegal lence and poverty that have sent so many of deposit the money in banks, for example, would immigration, but also a powerful and efficient their citizens fleeing northward. But even that help, as would spurring competition to reduce community. We plan to force for good in the world. generous investment amounted to only one- transaction fees or encouraging the creation thoroughly discuss it at Trump is certainly correct that cutting off fifteenth of what those countries received in of “diaspora bonds” that channel savings into the G7 summit. US remittances would hurt Mexico. In 2015, the remittances last year. In Mexico, many of the national development. $25 billion that Mexicans working in the U.S. 6 million households that receive remittances That kind of effort would help the USboth sent across the border accounted for roughly rely on them for half their income. directly and indirectly, bolstering partners and Shinzo Abe 2 percent of its gross domestic product. Never mind the impact of Trump’s plan on winning more buyers for USproducts. For it to Japanese Prime Minister Overall, the roughly half-trillion dollars U.S. relations with its neighbor, or the numer- be successful requires building more bridges, of remittances that migrants send to poor ous legal obstacles at home, or the staggering not walls.

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 11 A new kind of battlefield awaits US military

By Chad Serena and Colin Clarke collateral damage have led the US military to and limit its capacity for effectively Reuters call off certain tactical strikes, which in turn targeting and tracking the activities of have limited the scope and effectiveness of hostile sub-state actors. The relative ease the overall military operation. In an effort to associated with surreptitiously constructing prevent or deter ground incursions, IS also and emplacing IEDs and the continued he nearly five-year civil war in has likely booby trapped and ringed the city proliferation of unmanned aerial systems — Syria has exposed some of the dif- with improvised explosive devices. Now, including smaller, commercially available ficulties that military forces have imagine a city similar to Raqqa that is 40 drones — for counter-surveillance purposes conducting intelligence, surveil- times larger, much more densely populated will provide an added layer of complexity Tlance and reconnaissance against terrorists and fiercely loyal to the violent non-state to an already complicated problem set. and insurgents in crowded urban envi- actors conducting operations there. The To counter violent non-state actors ronments. These challenges, while not challenges associated with successfully operating in the future in megacities, the US insurmountable, will continue to plague countering such a foe in a city of this size military will have to be able to effectively even the most advanced military forces, are difficult to overstate. piece together a comprehensive and including the United States, as migration governance, some of these urban redoubts War), successfully countering their activities Undoubtedly, military overmatch actionable intelligence picture, and under out of rural areas and into cities contin- will likely be characterised by areas of requires a significant application of time — especially in respect to intelligence, enormously challenging circumstances. ues unabated. lawlessness and sizable “no-go zones,” and military resources. surveillance and reconnaissance This will require, at a minimum, an For the foreseeable future, deterring making them ripe targets for violent An ongoing example of how violent non- capabilities — is a concern for irregular ability to persistently monitor, collect and countering near-peer adversaries non-state actor recruitment and funding state actors might operate in megacities can forces and one of the reasons why they and interpret — in near real-time — the such as Russia and China will undoubt- activities. In such areas, these actors will be seen in Islamic State-controlled territory choose to operate in densely populated millions of bits of data associated with edly remain at the forefront of American be able to create and/or take advantage of in Iraq and Syria, where the terror group urban environments. These capabilities cellphone communications, social media grand strategy. But in addition to meeting black markets, shadow governance, illicit maintains disparate and lucrative income are a crucial element of urban operations: postings, financial transactions and the the challenges associated with traditional economies and dark networks to generate sources, including bakeries, oil refineries, They enable modern militaries to see the operational movements of these actors. and well-known state-based threats, the revenue and recruit new members over and utilities and simultaneously recruits battlespace, track adversary movements The challenges associated with doing so US military will be expected to combat an long periods. new members not only from within areas and, ultimately, conduct air and ground — exposed in Grozny, Sadr City and now array of violent non-state actors — a blan- As has been demonstrated in places they control, but also from throughout the operations to their fullest effect, while Raqqa — will likely require the US military ket term that includes well-established like Russia’s Grozny and Iraq’s Sadr City, world. reducing the likelihood of friendly and to increase the number of intelligence groups like Islamic State, al Qaeda and countering violent non-state actors in dense Consider the case of Raqqa, the civilian casualties. platforms it employs and to develop the transnational criminal gang MS-13 but urban environments can prove enormously IS-stronghold and the group’s current But the sheer volume of people, vehicles the ability to manage and interpret in also countless other and less well-known difficult even for highly capable military center of gravity. Raqqa is not a megacity and buildings present complicates the a timely fashion the unending stream militias, insurgent groups and terrorist forces. Grozny’s population is in the hundreds since it has only about 250,000 residents. equation, causing these challenges to grow of data. Failure to do so will exacerbate organisations. of thousands and Sadr City’s is around 3.5 But because members of IS live alongside not only in magnitude but also in kind. the difficulties associated with operating Countering violent non-state actors million. When illicit actors become firmly and operate among Raqqa’s population, The electronic and cyber fog formed by in megacities, prolong conflicts therein, will almost assuredly force the US military entrenched in an urban environment and military forces operating in Syria have had the pervasive use of cheap and encrypted and create circumstances where hostile to engage in operations in or on the edge garner widespread support from among difficulty reconnoitering, targeting and mobile communications devices has the groups can exploit physical and virtual of densely populated “megacities,” urban the population (like they were in Grozny striking the group from the air. Even when potential to overwhelm the US military’s sanctuaries largely unobserved by US areas that seep into one another and have in the 1990s and Sadr City during the Iraq targeted successfully, concerns over causing optical-electrical surveillance platforms forces. more than 10 million inhabitants. This is problematic. Military missions even in relatively small built-up areas are inherently complex endeavors. Buildings and masses of people can provide cover and concealment to hostile actors and their operations. These features can also reduce the effectiveness of the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms the military needs to successfully conduct operations. The larger and more complex the city, the more pronounced these challenges become. Popular conceptions of megacities are drawn from the futuristic and dystopian stories often presented in science fiction. The urban sprawl and enormous concentration of people was depicted in the 1995 film “Judge Dredd,” where a megacity is the locus of crime and armed gangs, and a host of social ills run rampant. While a single metropolis extending from Boston to Washington, D.C., or from San Francisco to San Diego might seem far- fetched, megacities do exist and are only expected to become more common. In 2015, 27 regions worldwide fit the definition of megacity but projections by the National Intelligence Council suggest that over the next decade and a half, urban growth will result in more than a dozen more, with many of them in Africa and Asia. Because of the sheer size of megacities and the challenges associated with their

Military missions even in relatively small built-up areas are inherently complex endeavors. Buildings and masses of people can provide cover and concealment to hostile actors and their operations. These features can also reduce the effectiveness of the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms the military needs to successfully conduct operations. Urban warfare is often among the most hard-fought. A view of the Syrian town of Douma in the eastern Ghouta region following air strikes on December 13, 2015. No ceasefire, no consequences

Bloomberg from continuing offensives against stra- stripped them of vital medical sup- the government gained when it was the biggest quote-unquote violator.” tegic territory held by rebel forces that plies, including surgical equipment supported by Russian bombing, were But as for consequences, he conceded: joined the truce. It also has not opened and antibiotics. led by the al-Qaeda offshoot Jabhat “That has not happened.” he cease-fire in Syria has now corridors for humanitarian aid into Meanwhile, the bombing continues. al-Nusra, which is not a party to the As throughout the Syrian conflict, nominally lasted more than five those areas, which are occupied by Last Thursday, a government airstrike truce, but some elements of the West- the Obama administration lacks the Tweeks, at least in the sense that hundreds of thousands of people. hit the Damascus suburb of Deir al- ern-backed Free Syrian Army joined leverage to force compliance by the its death has not been declared by its Much of the regime’s military activ- Asafir,killing 33 people, including at in. Commanders also said they were regime because of its refusal to take The Syrian Network international sponsors. It arguably has ity has been aimed at the suburbs of least a dozen children, according to responding to the regime’s violations. steps such as creating a no-fly zone for Human Rights saved hundreds of lives: The Syrian Net- Damascus, including an area known as the Syrian Observatory for Human With the truce threatening to break or providing more military support work for Human Rights counted 623 Eastern Ghouta. According to reports by Rights. Last weekend, a government down entirely, a task force set up by to rebel forces. It can only hope that counted 623 civilian civilian deaths in the month of March, the United Nations and Human Rights plane bombed a hospital in the rebel- Russia and the United States to mon- sheer jawboning by Secretary of State deaths in the month compared with previous monthly tolls Watch, the government has continued held town of Azaz, near the border itor violations looks virtually useless. John F. Kerry with his Russian and well above 1,000. to block aid to at least six areas in the with Turkey. With no enforcement mechanism, there Iranian counterparts will persuade of March, compared It’s important to point out, how- region, populated by 250,000 people, By the end of last week, anti- has been no response to the attacks them to bring Assad into line. Kerry with previous ever, what the accord brokered by the since the cessation of hostilities began Assad forces had launched their own or to the blockage of aid. On Monday, will have to talk fast: At the rate events Obama administration with Russia on Feb. 27. Even where humanitarian offensives south of the city of Aleppo, State Department spokesman Mark are moving, what’s left of the cease- monthly tolls well has not accomplished. So far, it has not convoys have gotten through, aid work- and in an area north of Latakia. The Toner said that “what we have seen is fire doesn’t appear likely to last much above 1,000. stopped the regime of Bashar Assad ers say Syrian government forces have attacks, aimed at retaking ground that that the Assad regime continues to be longer.

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 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES China opens Pleased as punch China begins graft probe lighthouse into mayor BEIJING: Chinese author- ities have begun a graft probe into the mayor of the major northern Chi- in Subi Reef nese city of Jinan, the ruling Communist Party announced yesterday, China, which called it “extremely the latest senior official irresponsible”. caught up in a sweeping China’s transport Subi Reef is an artificial island corruption crackdown. ministry held built up by China on dredged up sand Yang Luyu was over the past year or so. being investigated for a “completion Before China turned it into an “suspected serious dis- ceremony”, island, Subi was submerged at high ciplinary violations”, a tide. Under the UN Convention on euphemism commonly marking the start the Law of the Sea, 12-nautical-mile used for corruption, the of operations of limits cannot be set around man- ruling Communist Par- the 55-metre high made islands built on previously ty’s Central Commission submerged reefs. for Discipline Inspection lighthouse on China says much of its con- said in a statement. Yang, Fans of Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines flash one of his political banners upon Pacquiao’s arrival Subi Reef, where struction in the South China Sea is 59, was appointed Jinan designed to fulfil its international at the MGM Grand Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, yesterday. Pacquiao and Bradley will mayor in 2012, according construction began obligations in terms of maritime face off in their bout on April 10. to his official resume. The in October. safety, search and rescue and sci- city is the provincial capi- entific research. tal of Shandong province. Asked about the lighthouse, For- eign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang Reuters said China was dedicated to pro- Two killed in viding public services in the South China Sea to ensure safety and free- Philippine lender RCBC’s two Thai shooting dom of navigation, which would be BEIJING: China has begun oper- helpful for commercial users of the THAILAND: Two state ating a lighthouse on one of its waters. employees were killed artificial islands in the South China Xinhua said the lighthouse, biggest shareholders raise stakes in a drive-by shooting Sea near where a US warship sailed which emits a white light at night, yesterday in the king- last year to challenge China’s terri- “can provide efficient navigation dom’s conflict-hit deep torial claims. services such as positioning refer- Reuters shareholder Pan Malayan Manage- confident of the bank. They used south, police said, as China claims most of the energy- ence, route guidance and navigation ment and Investment Corp last week their cash to buy out investors that rebel violence under- rich waters of the South China Sea, safety information to ships, which bought 8.8 million shares at 30 pesos wanted to exit,” said Augusto Cosio, cuts government claims of through which about $5 trillion in can improve navigation manage- apiece, raising its stake to 42.31 per- president at fund manager First Metro progress towards ending ship-borne trade passes every year. ment and emergency response”. MANILA: Rizal Commercial Banking cent from 41.68 percent. Taiwan’s Asset Management. a 12-year insurgency. But neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the The South China Sea is an Corp’s (RCBC) two biggest sharehold- Cathay Life Insurance, a subsidiary A spokesman at Cathay Finan- More than 6,500 peo- Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam important maritime area and major ders have bought an extra $9.48m of Cathay Financial Holding Co Ltd, cial told Reuters it was “confident ple have died -- the also have claims. fishing ground, it added. worth of stock, taking their combined bought 5.8 million shares also at 30 in (RCBC’s) chairman and man- majority civilians -- since China’s transport ministry held a “However, high traffic den- stakes to 65.02 percent, the Philip- pesos apiece, taking its stake to 22.71 agement team.” “The Philippines’ 2004 in fighting between “completion ceremony”, marking the sity, complex navigation condition, pine lender said in a stock exchange percent from 22.3 percent. market is booming. It is only one of its publicity-shy Malay Muslim start of operations of the 55-metre severe shortage in aids and response filing yesterday. The price of RCBC shares fell to branches that is being investigated,” rebels and Thai security high lighthouse on Subi Reef, where forces have combined to threaten RCBC is at the centre of a Sen- as low as 28.75 pesos last month after the spokesman said. forces who blanket the construction began in October, navigation safety and hindered ate investigation into a cyber heist the bank was placed under investi- Unidentified hackers allegedly area. state news agency Xinhua said late economic and social development in which $81 million stolen from the gation. The stock fell as much as 3.8 stole the money in early February and Thailand annexed the on Tuesday. The US guided missile in the region.” China has lighthouse Bangladesh Bank’s account at the US percent to 30.70 yesterday morning channelled it to casinos and gambling culturally distinct zone destroyer USLassen sailed within 12 projects on two other reefs in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York trade, versus a 0.6 percent decline in agents in the Philippines via a Manila bordering Malaysia over a nautical miles of Subi Reef in Octo- area - Cuarteron Reef and Johnson was allegedly deposited at RCBC. the broader market. branch of RCBC. RCBC launched its century ago. ber, drawing an angry rebuke from South Reef. In the filing, RCBC said top “The principals are very own investigation. Kin of Taiwan’s Japan’s only working nuclear President-elect in Panama Papers reactors can stay online

Reuters AFP The Miyazaki branch of the Fukuoka High Court on the southern island of Kyushu ruled Wednesday TAIPEI: An older brother of Tai- that the No 1 and No 2 reactors at wan President-Elect Tsai Ing-wen TOKYO: Japan’s only two working the Sendai power plant should be was named in the so-called Pan- nuclear reactors can remain online allowed to stay online, Rei Fujim- ama Papers as setting up an after a court rejected an appeal by oto, spokesman for operator Kyushu offshore company in 2008, his residents who said safety rules fol- Electric Power Co, confirmed. lawyer said yesterday, stressing lowing the 2011 Fukushima disaster Residents argued that Kyushu that he had done nothing illegal. were inadequate, the operator con- Electric has underestimated the But the news prompted firmed yesterday. scale of potential earthquakes and criticism from Tsai’s political The court ruling was a victory volcanic eruptions that could hit opponents who called for a full for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who the region and claimed government explanation. plans to bring back atomic energy, safety standards were inadequate. The leaked documents from five years after a series of melt- They plan to appeal the case in a Panamanian law firm that spe- downs at the Fukushima plant. The the Supreme Court, Japan’s Jiji Press cialises in setting up offshore catastrophe led to the closure of all reported. The Fukushima meltdowns companies have shone a light on nuclear reactors in the resource- were sparked by a magnitude 9.0 the finances of politicians and poor country, forcing it to turn to earthquake-generated tsunami on Myanmar President Htin Kyaw (centre) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left), public figures around the world, expensive fossil fuels. March 11, 2011. while Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (right) looks at the president’s house in Naypyitaw, causing public outrage over how yesterday. Wang Yi is on a two-day visit to Myanmar. the powerful are able to hide money and avoid tax. Taiwan President-Elect Tsai Ing-wen’s brother, Tsai Ying-yang, Counterfeit foot print set up the offshore firm, Koppie Suu Kyi gets special adviser role Limited, in 2008 at the recommen- dation of a foreign private banking adviser on personal investments, AFP diplomacy since her National League In a dramatic lower house ses- his lawyer, Lien Yuan-lung, told for Democracy officially took power sion on Tuesday, unelected military Reuters, declining to elaborate. last week. MPs -- who make up a quarter of the “He lost 30 percent of the The bill outlining her advisory legislature because the constitution investment in the first year, so he YANGON: Myanmar’s president yes- role, which mentions the Nobel laure- reserves seats for them -- stood up to closed the contract with the bank terday signed a bill giving Aung San ate by name, enables Suu Kyi to wield register a protest that their suggested immediately...,” Lien said by phone. Suu Kyi a new role of being a state influence over parliament as well as amendments were being ignored. “He was not involved in money adviser, shoring up her influence in the cabinet in a position officially The bill was then sent straight to laundering, hiding the Tsai fam- across all branches of government called “state counsellor”. the president without a vote in the ily’s wealth overseas, evading tax despite vehement opposition from It was signed into law by Presi- combined legislature because no or anything illegal.” the still-powerful military. dent Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi’s longtime clauses had been altered. The president-elect’s Dem- Suu Kyi is determined to rule the aide and effective proxy, following One army MP, Brigadier General ocratic Progressive Party (DPP) former junta-run nation regardless of debates in both houses of parliament Maung Maung, complained to report- declined to comment. But the an army-scripted constitution that that have seen protests by the army’s ers after Tuesday’s session that the opposition Nationalist Party called bars her from becoming president, as legislative representatives. passage of the bill was “democratic for an explanation. “According to she strives to meet the aspirations of “The president has signed the bullying by majority”. practice and research from the millions of voters who gave her pro- state counsellor bill today,” presi- Impoverished Myanmar has seen past, there are three purposes democracy party a landslide election dent office deputy director-general dramatic changes since 2011 as the to set up companies in Panama: A man throws counterfeit slippers onto a pile of footwear, part victory last November. Zaw Htay told AFP. military released its stranglehold to evade tax, to invest overseas, She is already foreign minister He declined to give further on power after decades of repres- especially in China, and to avoid of more than $200m worth of counterfeit goods confiscated by and met her Chinese counterpart for details on the legislation, which sped sive rule that saw Suu Kyi and many supervision (by the Taiwan gov- police and customs officials, before they are destroyed in Cabuyao, talks on Tuesday, prioritising Beijing through both houses of parliament of her colleagues imprisoned or held ernment),” lawmaker William Laguna, Philippines, yesterday. in her first foray into international thanks to the NLD’s huge majority. under house arrest. Tseng told a news briefing. ASIA / AFRICA THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 13 North Korea has large-calibre rocket system: South

Washington Post defense minister, said that North numerous improvements in its missile Seoul. The remarks were confirmed pronouncements is notable. South Korea’s recent test-firings of 300mm and rocket program in recent months, as correct by a government spokes- Korea is holding general elections We believe that North rockets suggested that it had almost saying that it had road-mobile mul- woman. The Rodong missile could next week, and such warnings could Korea has the ability completed the development of its mul- tiple rocket launchers, which it could fire a one-ton warhead as much as help President Park Geun-hye’s con- TOKYO: North Korea has developed tiple launch rocket system. deploy quickly and without detec- 1,250 miles, the official said, putting servative ruling party in the polls. It a large-calibre multiple launch rocket to mount a nuclear “Under this assessment, I think tion, and that it had tested a solid-fuel all of South Korea and most of Japan currently controls more than half the system and could use it to strike South warhead on a Rodong. North Korea will deploy the 300-mm rocket engine, another major advance. within range. seats in the National Assembly. Korea as soon as this year, the South’s MLRS as early as the end of this year,” Its claims have not been independ- North Korea’s state media last But in another sign that the inter- defence minister said yesterday. Whether they will Han told local reporters. The rockets, ently verified, but Pyongyang is month released photos of Kim with national community is cracking This comes a day after South fire it like that is a which are much cheaper than mis- known to be working on its delivery what it said was a miniaturized down on North Korea over its recent Korean officials said they believed siles, are thought to have a range of systems. Separately, the South Korean nuclear warhead, but this has not provocations, that the North was now able to mount political decision: about 125 miles. government said that it believed North been verified either. China this week announced it a nuclear warhead on a medium- Official Greater Seoul, with a population Korea had made significant progress Pyongyang has proved it is devel- would ban imports of coal, iron ore, range missile, and after China sharply of almost 26m people, is just 35 miles towards its goal of miniaturizing a oping both nuclear weapons and the gold, rare earths and several other curtailed trade with its dependent from the demilitarised zone that sep- nuclear warhead so it can be mounted means to deliver them, but it has not minerals from North Korea if they neighbor. arates North and South Korea. North on a medium-range Rodong missile. yet been shown that it can put the two were related to its nuclear or missile Tensions have been running high Current joint US-South Korean Korea recently threatened to “scorch” “We believe they have the abil- together. However, many scientists programs. in the region since North Korea con- military exercises and a looming South Korea’s president’s offices with ity to mount a nuclear warhead on and American military officials say Several North Korean mining ducted its fourth nuclear test at the Workers’ Party Congress in North its “powerful large-caliber multiple- a Rodong. Whether they will fire it it is just a matter of time until North companies have been accused of beginning of January then followed it Korea both have added fuel to the fire. rocket-launching systems.” like that is a political decision,” an Korea masters this technology. channelling funds directly to weap- up with a long-range missile launch. Han Min-koo, South Korea’s Pyongyang has boasted of unnamed official told reporters in Still, the timing of Seoul’s ons programme.

Illegal mining hits Students facing trial in Myanmar gorilla population Local govt polls on August 3 in Reuters now key to the survival of the sub- South Africa species - Kahuzi-Biega National Park, near the Rwandan border, the JOHANNESBURG: South JOHANNESBURG: The world’s larg- adjacent Punia Gorilla Reserve, and Africa will hold local gov- est gorilla sub-species has seen its the Usala Forest, which is remote but ernment elections on population fall 77 percent over the unprotected. August 3, President Jacob past two decades, a trend linked to Estimates of the animal’s num- Zuma said yesterday, a illegal mining for coltan, a key min- bers were based on widespread field day after he survived an eral used in the production of cell surveys of ground nests and other impeachment motion in phones and electronics, a new report signs as well as data collected from parliament for ignoring has found. rangers and local communities. the constitution. Grauer’s gorilla, the planet’s big- The reports authors say the Zuma’s African gest primate which can weigh up to sub-species status should now be National Congress (ANC) 180kg, is found in the eastern Dem- labeled as “critically endangered”, is expected to face pres- ocratic Republic of Congo, where the highest risk category assigned sure at the polls in the minerals have been plundered for by the International Union for Con- aftermath of the scan- A group of Myanmar students released on bail wait inside the court room in Tharrawady town. They decades under the smokescreen of servation of Nature, which means a dal, which has dented his are facing a variety of charges including unlawful assembly and rioting over education reform protests conflict and instability. wild animal faces a very high risk of image and stirred political violently broken up by baton-wielding police in the central town of Letpadan in March 2015. A report this week by the Wild- extinction. To reverse the decline of uncertainty that investors life Conservation Society (WCS) and Grauer’s gorilla, the report says mili- fear may hasten a down- Fauna & Flora International found tia groups operating in the lawless grade by ratings agencies. that its numbers had fallen to 3,800 region must be disarmed. from an estimated 17,000 in 1995. It also calls for activists and con- “One of the primary causes sumers to: “Lobby cellphone/tablet/ Jet with six of the decline in Grauer’s gorilla computer companies and others to Patrice Talon sworn in Benin president numbers has been the expansion in ensure that source minerals from missing in Japan artisanal mining for coltan and other this region are purchased from min- minerals. ing sites that do not hunt bushmeat Reuters The West African country is occurrence and polls are often TOKYO: An Air Force jet Most of these artisanal mining and are conflict free.” seen as a bastion of democracy marred by violence. with six people on board sites are remote, which means that There have been a lot of efforts and stability in a troubled region “My mandate will be a mandate was missing in south- the miners often turn to local wild- to reduce the amount of “conflict” where military coups are a regular of rupture, transition and reforms,” west Japan yesterday, life for food,” the organisations said or “blood” minerals coming from COTONOU: Businessman Patrice said Talon, adding that he would public broadcaster NHK in a statement. the region, including a provision in Talon (pictured) was sworn in as strive to combat corruption, improve reported. Artisanal mining often involves the 2010 Dodd-Frank act obliging Benin’s president before a large the economy and fight terrorism. The U-125 aircraft left the illegal extraction of minerals by US-listed companies to ensure their crowd yesterday, saying he would “I will make diplomacy an a base in Kagoshima pre- hand or other makeshift methods. supply chain was free from tainted foster economic development and instrument of cooperation for devel- fecture on the island of “Although protected by law, Congolese minerals, specifically fight corruption and terrorism dur- opment,” he told a crowd estimated Kyushu in the early after- gorillas are highly prized as bush- gold, coltan, tin and tungsten. ing what he pledged would be his by organizers at 20,000 at the cere- noon, NHK said, citing meat due to their large size and Gorillas are threatened through- only term in office. mony in the capital Porto-Novo. the defence ministry and because they are easily tracked and out their range in Africa’s tropical Benin’s leader can serve two Benin already contributes to a other sources. Contact killed as they move in groups on the forests and are among humanity’s terms but Talon has said he will step multinational task force fighting Boko with the plane was lost ground in their small home ranges,” closest living relatives, along with down after five years to avoid “com- Haram, a militant group that is based when it was 11km north of the groups said in the statement. the other great apes, chimpanzees, placency” and seek to limit future in the northeast of the country’s giant the base, NHK said. The report says three areas are bonobos and orangutans. presidents to a single term. neighbour Nigeria. Battered Fiji braces for yet another cyclone

AFP It was preceded by heavy rains police would enforce the curfew. Fiji not come at a worse time for children that left one man confirmed dead and Airways cancelled most international and families in Fiji”. a teenage girl missing in flash flood- flights and schools were closed. The “These are the same families that ing that also blocked major highways. cyclone, packing gusts of 170km per were directly affected by Cyclone FIJI: Authorities in Fiji ordered peo- The latest emergency comes with hour, is expected to brush the south Winston just over a month ago,” Suva- ple to stay inside as a tropical cyclone the nation of 900,000 still reeling coast of Vita Levu early today. based spokeswoman Alice Clements bore down on the Pacific tourist des- from super cyclone Winston in Feb- The path and intensity of such said. “Far too many are sheltering tination yesterday, taking no chances ruary, which left 44 dead, 60,000 storms are hard to predict -- Winston under tarpaulins, pieces of salvaged after a recent monster storm killed 44 homeless and crippled infrastructure. appeared to be weakening offshore corrugated iron, in tents or again in people. Tropical Cyclone Zena rap- “To preserve safety and public at one point before roaring back as a evacuation centres.” idly developed from a low pressure order prior to the arrival of Trop- category five cyclone with 325 kilo- The Red Cross said volunteers trough to an intense category three ical Cyclone Zena, all members of metres an hour winds. were ready to distribute water puri- storm that was approaching the main the public are to remain indoors and While Zena is not expected to fication tablets, jerry cans, and island Vita Levu, the Fiji Meteorolog- secure their properties until further match that ferocity, the UN children’s tarpaulins but had to wait for the A gorilla is seen at Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Congo. ical Service said. notice,” the government said, adding organisation UNICEF said it “could weather to clear. Millions drinking arsenic-laced water in Bangladesh: HRW

AFP the problem which kills an estimated Richard Pearshouse said. “The rea- “It means the situation is almost as Bangladeshis would die unless the The government says it has 43,000 Bangladeshis every year, sons why this huge tragedy has bad as 15 years ago,” said Pearshouse. government and international donors installed around 210,000 deep tube mostly in poor rural areas. The prob- remained so pervasive are due to poor The UN’s World Health Organiza- act to mitigate contamination. wells over the past 12 years to miti- lem dates back to the 1970s, when the governance.” tion has called Bangladesh’s arsenic Doctors say arsenic-laced water gate the crisis and is testing the water DHAKA: Some 20 million poor Bang- Bangladesh government drilled mil- Bangladesh has been building crisis “the largest mass poisoning of may also cause miscarriages, low from millions of shallow wells for con- ladeshis are still drinking water lions of shallow tube wells to provide deep tube wells to source water from a population in history”. birth weights and poor cognitive tamination. There was no immediate contaminated with arsenic, two dec- villagers with clean water -- not real- beneath the arsenic-tainted soil. Chronic exposure to arsenic is development in children. response from the government to the ades after the potentially deadly toxin ising that the soil was heavily laced But HRW said there was no proper linked to cancers of the liver, kidney, “It’s a slow poison. You’ll be latest report. was discovered in the supply, Human with naturally occurring arsenic. government oversight of the scheme, bladder and skin as well as heart dis- affected with a host of life-threatening But an official who asked not to be Rights Watch said yesterday. “Bangladesh isn’t taking basic, with politicians earmarking the new ease, but HRW said many victims in diseases before you can even realise,” named told AFP that individual law- A new report from the rights obvious steps to get arsenic out of wells for their own supporters rather Bangladesh had no access to health said Tariqul Islam, a University of Chi- makers decided where 50 percent of group said Bangladesh had failed to the drinking water of millions of than putting them in the worst- care. cago researcher who has worked with the state-funded tube wells should take the basic steps needed to tackle its rural poor,” HRW researcher affected areas. It warned that millions of thousands of affected people. be built. 14 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 PAKISTAN 17 prisoners in Sharif’s wife demands return of funds

Internews for her these are (at least) unethical. says in another tweet. Perturbed at says she married Shahbaz Sharif 14 And she equals unethical to the mentioning of her name as ben- years ago but they (in-laws) “never India awaiting “soul selling” which she terms, in her eficiary of the offshore companies met me for reasons qualified for another tweet, a crime worse than being a member of the Sharif family, them”. ISLAMABAD: Following the Panama illegal (acts). she says had she been that rich she Seeking proof from the media of Leaks, TehminaDurrani, wife of Paki- She advises her in-laws (the house would have donated all to the poor her offshore wealth, she claims that stani province Punjab’s Chief Minister of Sharifs) to clear their name of the people of her country. she did not even inherit from her repatriation Shahbaz Sharif, has demanded return corruption allegations by returning She was embarrassed to be mother recalling that her parents of the offshore wealth to the nation all this foreign wealth. equated with the “maha” rich (dirty had disowned her in 1991 for writing even if the companies are legal. “[The] only way to clear Sharif rich) league in the poverty-stricken My Feudal Lord, her autobiography Abdul Majid was confirmed in 2006. In one of her tweets, she says that name is to keep [the] minimum, sim- nation. Laughing off a news channel encompassing the ordeals she faced Besides, the list said the national offshore companies, foreign proper- plify life drastically, return all foreign report making her part of a big- in her first marriage with former Pun- Pakistan’s mission at status of prisoners Waseem Noor ties and accounts may be legal but and local wealth to the nation,” she happy-offshore-family, MsDurrani jab governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar. New Delhi requested son of Noor Muhammad, Muham- mad Abdullah son of Muhammad to take up the matter Zareen, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal with the Indian govt son of Muhammad Yousuf, Ghulam Farid son of Muhammad Shafi, Abdul Push for health for an early release Majid son of Muhammad Qasim, Tas- of the prisoners as neemAzeem son of RaeedAzeem, well as all those who Sikandar-e-Azam Sani, Khalid Meh- mood son of Muhammad Ayub and Search on for had completed their Abdul Matin son of Haji Muhammad sentences. Yaqub was confirmed by the interior 23 missing in ministry in 2010. The foreign ministry letter landslide to the Pakistan mission in New Delhi said these Pakistani prison- PESHAWAR: Pakistani Internews ers had reportedly completed their rescuers were struggling sentences. yesterday to reach 23 Yesterday, a bench headed by people buried by a land- Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah directed slide in the north after KARACHI: Litigation over the fate the ministry of foreign affairs to sub- heavy rains on the week- of 189 Pakistani prisoners reportedly mit its comments on the list by April end that authorities said languishing in Indian penitentiaries 26, the next date of hearing. have killed at least 92. took a new turn yesterday when a The rights activist in his peti- National diaster man- human rights activist submitted in tion had stated that he was shocked agement authorities said the Sindh High Court a list of 17 pris- to see the Pakistan government more than 1,200 houses oners waiting for their repatriation, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s have been damaged since some of them well over 10 years. silence and ignorance on painful April 2, with roads across Earlier, during the previous reports relating to 189 Pakistani the mountainous north hearing, the foreign ministry had prisoners having gone missing blocked. disputed the claims of the chairman from Indian prisons, so he decided Communications have of Ansar Barney Trust International to file this constitutional petition in Pakistani men lift weights a day ahead of World Health Day, in Peshawar, yesterday. World Health been knocked out across regarding 189 Pakistani prisoners the high court. The foreign ministry Day is celebrated today each year to mark the World Health Organisation’s founding in 1948 and to much of the region, mak- having gone missing from Indian had in its reply denied the claims of draw worldwide attention to the importance of good health. ing it difficult to tell how jails. The petitioner placed on record the petitioner. It was also stated that many people are still a letter of the foreign ministry to the whenever an arrest was brought to stranded, amid fears the Pakistan High Commission in New the ministry’s notice, a request to the toll could still rise. Delhi containing the list of 17 Paki- Indian authorities was made for con- stani prisoners with the dates of sular access to collect information confirmation of their national sta- about the detainee and establish his 35 militants tus by the interior ministry. or her Pakistani citizenship. NAB to probe sale of embassy According to the letter, Pakistan’s The reply stated that the ante- killed in mission at New Delhi was requested cedents, thus collected, were then to take up the matter with the Indian examined by the interior ministry for Afghanistan government for an early release of confirmation of the national status. buildings in Jakarta and Tokyo the Pakistani prisoners as well as “Once the national status of Kabul: At least 30 mili- all those who had completed their a prisoner is confirmed, a formal tants were killed in two sentences. request is made to the Indian side separate operations con- The list showed that the national for early repatriation of the detainee Internews executive board meeting (EBM) against officers of the same ministry ducted by the Afghan status of prisoners Nasir Mahmood concerned”, it added. chaired by NAB Chairman Qamar and other persons for alleged cor- National Security Forces son of Sakhi Muhammad, Muham- The report, however, further said Zaman Chaudhry on Wednesday. ruption in the sale of the Pakistani pounded militants in mad Rafiq son of Muhammad Nawaz that such a request was not enter- According to the bureau, the EBM embassy building in Tokyo, Japan. southern Uruzgan prov- Sial and Nazir Ahmed son of Haji Lal tained till the Indian authorities ISLAMABAD: The National Account- authorised two separate investiga- The meeting also decided to file ince in coordination with Khan was confirmed by the interior initiate legal proceedings against ability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan has tions against officials of the Ministry a reference against Syed SohailA- the Afghan Air Force. ministry in 2005, while the national the detainees. decided to initiate investigations of Foreign Affairs and others for ltaf, the former secretary of Khyber The Ministry of status of prisoners Muhammad It said that Pakistan’s High Com- against officials of the Ministry of corruption, corrupt practices and Pakhtunkhwa’s health department, Defence (MoD) said the Yousuf Khawaja son of Muham- mission in New Delhi provided legal Foreign Affairs for alleged misap- misappropriation in the sale of the and others for corrupt practices and militants were targeted mad Ayub, Muhammad Usama son assistance to undertrial detainees. propriation in the sale of buildings buildings of the Pakistani embassy in misuse of authority/ The EBM also in Dehrawood district of of Muhammad Shafi Attar, Abdul Besides, the foreign ministry of Pakistani embassies in Jakarta Jakarta, causing losses worth millions authorised an investigation against Uruzgan by the Afghan Malik son of Muhammad Ajmal and requested the court to dismiss the and Tokyo. of rupees to the national exchequer. officials of the Sindh Information and security force. Muhammad Saeed Sabir son of Hafiz petition in view of its submissions. The decision was taken in an Another inquiry was authorised Archives Department. According to an oper- ational update by Ministry of Defense (MoD), at least 17 militants were also wounded during the raids. At least 5 militants Pakistan hangs three amid criticism over surging executions were killed in separate operations conducted in Ghazni and Farah prov- AFP Imran and Muhammad Luqman, constitution amended to allow mil- recorded state executions in the world those hanged since the government inces, MoD said, adding convicted over the murder of a man itary courts to try those accused of -- a shameful position no one should fully restored the death penalty in that 6 others were also in Islamabad in 1996; and Raheel carrying out attacks. aspire to,” Champa Patel, director of March 2015 had no links to terrorism, wounded, Afghan Khaama Ahmed, who gunned down a man in The number of known executions Amnesty’s South Asia office, told AFP. said Sarah Belal, director of the Jus- Press (KP) reported. MULTAN: Pakistan hanged three 1994. worldwide rose more than 50 percent Pakistan executed 326 people last tice Project Pakistan which advocates convicted murderers yesterday, the Pakistan unveiled a sweeping last year to at least 1,634, the highest year, Patel said. the abolition of hanging and repre- same day Amnesty International criti- plan to curb militancy after Taliban figure recorded since 1989. “Most of those executed were not sents death row convicts. Govt to set up cised it for becoming the world’s third attackers gunned down more than Amnesty International said in a convicted of terror-related offences, She said weaknesses in the judi- most prolific executioner after China 150 people, most of them children, report Wednesday -- with the surge and there is evidence that at least cial system and a lack of fair trials LPG plants in and Iran. at an army-run school in Peshawar largely fuelled by Iran, Pakistan and two and possibly more of them were raised the possibility that many sent Chaudhry Arshad Saeed Arain, a in December 2014. Saudi Arabia. juveniles when they committed their to the gallows were innocent, under- hilly areas senior prisons official, said the exe- A six-year moratorium on the “Over the past year, Pakistan has alleged crimes.” age at the time of their crimes or cuted men were brothers Muhammad death penalty was lifted and the vaulted to the number three spot for The overwhelming majority of mentally ill. ISLAMABAD: The gov- ernment of Pakistan has planned to set up 30 liq- uefied petroleum gas (LPG) air-mix plants with Afghanistan still dogged the assistance of gas utili- ties in Murree, Gilgit, other hilly areas in the north and Azad Jammu and by political instability Kashmir (AJK) where the laying of natural gas dis- tribution network is not Anatolia election’s first round, in which eight considered economically candidates competed, no single con- feasible, officials say. tender secured enough votes to win In an effort to push outright, so a second round of voting ahead with the plan, the KABUL: Two years has passed since was held. board of directors of Afghanistan’s last presidential elec- The second round saw Ashraf Sui Northern Gas Pipe- tion, but political instability remains Ghani -- the current president -- face lines Limited (SNGPL) ongoing, say analysts. off against Abdullah Abdullah amid had already accorded Afghanistan’s national unity gov- widespread claims of electoral fraud. approval for installing ernment, which was established via US Since the elections, however, the 20 LPG air-mix plants in mediation, has failed to resolve chronic country -- which has already suffered these areas in a meet- political disputes. years of war -- has continued to strug- ing held on June 12, 2014. Analysts warn that the ongoing gle with rampant instability. These areas have a size- instability could lead to the current Political analyst Nasrullah Stan- able number of domestic government’s downfall. ikza told Anadolu Agency that unless and commercial consum- After the fall of the Taliban regime, a number of chronic political issues ers who are burning wood Afghan security forces stand near heavy weapons and varied ammunitions, captured during operations Afghanistan’s first presidential polls were resolved, the instability would to meet their cooking. against Taliban militants in Kandahar, yesterday. were held on April 5, 2014. In the likely continue. INDIA THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 15

Punjab issues Tension at NIT alert over brews challenge terrorists CHANDIGARH: Security agen- cies have issued a terror alert on the alleged movement of three sus- pected Pakistani terrorists from for Mehbooba Jammu and Kashmir towards Delhi. Punjab Police sources say the three terrorists, along with their handler from Jammu and The team’s visit to the cam- Kashmir, had crossed the Banihal pus, where central paramilitary tunnel in the neighbouring state Hundreds of non- troopers were deployed on Tuesday late on Tuesday night. Kashmiri students night, comes after hundreds of non- The terrorists, as per the alert, Kashmiri students accused Jammu were moving in a grey-coloured accused Jammu and and Kashmir Police of kicking and Maruti Swift car, a senior Punjab Kashmir Police of punching them when they wanted Police officer said here. to march out on roads shouting pro- The Punjab Police has warned kicking and punching India slogans. that the suspected terrorists could them when they The protesting students told the have entered Punjab, which shares wanted to march out visiting team that they would con- its northern border with Jammu tinue boycotting their classes and and Kashmir. Security and intelli- on roads shouting demanded that the college be shifted gence agencies in Delhi claimed the pro-India slogans from Srinagar to some “safer place terrorists could target Delhi, Mum- outside the valley”. bai or Goa. Punjab has witnessed The trouble in the college, situated two major terror attacks in the past near the famous Hazratbal shrine of nine months. Suspected Pakistani Kashmir, started after India’s loss to terrorists attacked the Pathankot IANS the West Indies in the T20 cricket Indian Air Force base on Janu- Members of Central Reserve Police Force stand guard near the main gate of the National Institute of World Cup semi-final played last ary 2 and killed seven security Technology in Srinagar yesterday. week in Mumbai. Traditionally, it has personnel. always been sporting clashes between On July 27 last year, three SRINAGAR: A three-member team India and Pakistan that have stoked “Pakistan murdabad”. Local students “We have given a list of some “We have also talked to parents so suspected Pakistani terror- of central government officials vis- tension in the valley. also gathered and raised pro-freedom faculty members of the college who that students can sit for exams in a ists attacked Dinanagar town in ited the volatile campus of a Kashmir According to witnesses in the and anti-India slogans. stoke communal and anti-national secure atmosphere.” Gurdaspur district leaving seven college yesterday after days of bitter campus, local students had been Sensing trouble, the campus man- passions in the campus and asked the Shiv Sena leaders lashed out at the people dead. tension between local and non-local cheering for the West Indies while agement suspended classes till April 4. (central) team that these members of state government for “its inability to students there presented the first the non-locals were supporting Team But on Tuesday, a group of 500 non- the teaching staff should be asked to protect those who display the national major challenge for the newly- India. As Andre Russel of the West local students took out a procession resign,” said Sanjeev Sharma, a rep- flag and chant slogans in praise of the Court rejects plea installed coalition government in the Indies hit the winning runs, crack- inside the campus, carrying the tricol- resentative of the non-local students. country”, a view shared by the Jammu state headed by Chief Minister Meh- ers were burst in the vicinity, if not our and shouting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. Amid apprehensions of the stu- Bar Association. for adjournment booba Mufti. within the campus, to celebrate the Police at the campus gates pre- dents that there will be an “unfair The challenge to restore the The three-member team, headed victory of the Caribbeans. vented the students from marching treatment” with them during their peaceful academic atmosphere in the by Sanjeev Sharma, a director in the This pitched non-locals stu- out. The protesting students alleged exams beginning April 11, union HRD college is a first for Mehbooba, who on DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand union Human Resources Devel- dents, whose number is around 1,500, they were beaten up and police per- Minister Smriti Irani said in Surat that Monday took over as the first woman High Court yesterday rejected opment ministry, met officials of against locals in the college. A day sonnel even entered the campus and the team will stay in the campus till chief minister of the state. The issue the central government’s request Srinagar’s National Institute of after the cricket match, non-Kash- thrashed some of their handicapped the exams get over. has larger consequences for the rul- to adjourn the hearing in former Technology (NIT) and the protesting miri students held demonstrations colleagues. Police accused the protes- Irani said the government has ing combine as the BJP has strongly chief minister Harish Rawat’s non-local students who have been shouting slogans like “Bharat Mata tors of indulging in stone pelting, an also made arrangements after “some come out in support of those shout- appeal challenging the Centre’s boycotting classes for two days. Ki Jai”, “Hindustan zindabad” and allegation they denied. students said they want to go home”. ing pro-India slogans. recommendation for imposition of President’s Rule in the state. The hearing will continue on Thursday. A bench of Chief Justice Jus- tice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bisht cancelled the request of two Three Mumbai triple blast accused given life in jail additional solicitor generals of the Centre contending that the matter should be postponed as Rawat had IANS Three convicts were given two by the investigators continue to be contended that Nachan, along with — though far between and in differ- prepared an absolutely new case. years jail term by Special POTA Judge absconders in the case. a Pakistani, Faisal Khan - linked to ent parts of Mumbai — were clubbed The bench said: “We are not P R Deshmukh. They are Mohammed Linked by a common conspiracy, terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba — car- together by the court as they were going to stay it. If you wish to file Anwar Ali, Mohammed Kamil and the three blasts occurred near McDon- ried out the blasts along with others. linked by a common conspiracy angle. a reply then do so by the day or MUMBAI: A Mumbai Special Court Noor Mohammed. ald’s eatery in Mumbai Central Terminus Of the 25 accused listed by police, The police had charged all the tomorrow (Thursday).” yesterday awarded life sentence to All the 10 accused were found on December 6, 2002, in a Vile Parle a majority were nabbed in 2003, five accused with murder, attempt to mur- The bench assured the legal three of the accused for the 2002- guilty and convicted by the Spe- market on January 27, 2003 and in a died during the trial and five are still der, causing grievous hurt, waging war officers that it will not consider 03 triple bombings here that claimed cial Court on March 29, followed by crowded ladies First Class compart- absconding. Nachan has been sen- against the nation, criminal conspir- the plea for adjournment till the 12 lives. arguments between special public ment of a suburban train near Mulund tenced for his role of arranging acy besides several charges under the Centre filed its reply. However, it The three are the prime accused prosecutor Rohini Salian and defence on March 13, 2003, killing a total of 12 the required manpower, arms and Indian Penal Code, Railways Act, Arms clarified that the hearing will con- Muzammil Ansari and his associates lawyers on the quantum of sentenc- people and injuring 139 others. ammunition while Wahid Ansari and Act, Explosive Substances Act and POTA. tinue on Thursday. Farhan Khot and Wahid Ansari. ing which ended on Tuesday. In the first blast (December 6, two some absconders have been punished Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema- Congress leader and senior Four others were given 10 years That day, Special Judge Deshmukh people died and over 50 were injured. for manufacturing the bombs. e-Hind (JUeM) Maharashtra, which advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, jail term including Saquib Nachan, acquitted three people — Haroon In the second (January 27) one person Muzammil Ansari and another provided legal aid to the accused, appearing for the ousted Rawat, the general secretary of the outlawed Lohar, Nadeem Paloba and Adnan was killed and 30 others were injured, absconder-accused have been con- expressed happiness that the capi- opposed the Centre’s bid to get the Students Islamic Movement of India Mulla — for lack of sufficient evidence while in the third blast (March 13) nine victed and sentenced for executing tal punishment was spared but said matter adjourned on the ground of (SIMI), Ateef Nasir Mulla, Ghulam against them. were killed and over 70 injured. the terror plot by planting bombs at it would challenge the verdict in the filing its response on the issue of Kotla and Hasib Zubeir Mulla. Another five accused named During the trial, the prosecution the targeted locations. The three cases Bombay High Court. appropriation bill.

Odd-Even: Women, Fiery smash cars with school India to exchange tax students exempt info with G20 nations NEW DELHI: Women motorists and cars ferrying school stu- dents in uniform will be exempt NEW DELHI: India is set to information on accounts, interest during the second phase of the exchange tax evasion information payments and beneficial owner- odd-even traffic scheme start- with all G20 countries by 2017-18, ship being shared between countries. ing on April 15, it was announced as a step to address cases like those India was a part of the Early yesterday. coming out of “Panama Papers” in Adoptor Group of this automatic Delhi’s Transport Minister which over 500 Indians are said to information exchange framework. Gopal Rai said security concerns have invested in foreign accounts, It joined the global efforts during an were the main reason behind the sources in the finance ministry Organisation for Economic Coop- government’s decision to exempt said. eration and Development (OECD) women from the fortnight-long “By 2017-18, India will have meeting in October 2014. scheme. automatic exchange of information The first exchange of informa- “As per people’s wishes, the (AEIO) with all the G20 countries. As tion on new off-shore accounts chief minister has decided that many as 96 countries, including the opened in 2016 and at the end of women will remain exempt in UK, Germany and France, already 2015 will take place in 2017, as the second phase of the odd-even have a consensus on AEIO and more agreed upon by the Early Adop- scheme. Security is the main rea- A student demonstrates martial arts skills during a sports event at a college in Amritsar, Punjab, countries will join this gradually,” a tor Group. The global standard of son behind this decision,“ Rai told yesterday. government official said. automatic exchange of informa- the media. The recently revealed cases like tion was developed by the OECD Vehicles carrying school “Panama papers” would not have in July 2014. children in uniform will also be occurred, had India had an accord Finance Minister Arun Jait- exempt. on the common reporting standard ley said on Monday adventurism in “During the first phase of the (CRS) under automatic exchange of avoiding taxes will prove costly. odd-even scheme (January 1-15), Kamla Advani dies of heart attack information with other countries, the ”This is a stern reminder to all schools were closed. This time they official said. of us that with the G20 initiatives, are open. We don’t want children to Common reporting standard FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compli- suffer at all. So the vehicles carry- IANS following a heart attack, doctors at “Deeply pained and saddened falls under AEIO, which allows for ance Act) and bilateral transactions ing school children in uniform will AIIMS said. by Kamla Advani-ji’s demise. She countries to exchange foreign invest- in place with effect from 2017, the also be exempt from the odd-even “I fondly recall many visits of always inspired and motivated ment details of its citizens, to check world is going to be a far more trans- restrictions,“ Rai said. Kamla Advani to Rashtrapati Bha- karyakartas and was L K Advani- tax evasion and stashing of unac- parent institution,” he told industry According to the odd-even NEW DELHI: President Pranab van accompanying Advani-ji and her ji’s pillar of strength. I recall my counted wealth in tax havens. captains. formula, vehicles with odd regis- Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra endearing presence. Kamla Advani many interactions with Kamla The information exchange ”The world is becoming one tration numbers will be allowed Modi and many prominent leaders was soft, cultured and left a lasting Advani-ji. My thoughts are with agreement will enable the govern- where adventurism, like in the past, to ply on odd dates and those with have condoled the death of veteran impression on whomsoever she met,” the Advani family in this hour of ment to clamp down on tax evasion is going to be increasingly a risky even registration numbers on even BJP leader L K Advani’s wife Kamla. Mukherjee posted on his official Twit- grief. May her soul rest in peace,” as off-shore accounts of citizens proposition,” Jaitley said at the CII dates. Kamla Advani died yesterday ter account. tweeted Modi. will be curtailed substantially with Annual Session. 16 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 EUROPE / UK English junior doctors stage fourth strike

More than 5,000 procedures emergency care. The strike action and operations in the state-run involves recently-qualified doctors, More than 5,000 National Health Service (NHS) have mostly in their twenties and thirties, procedures and been postponed as a result of the who are working towards becoming 48-hour action, which began at either consultants or community- operations in the 0700 GMT. based general practitioners. state-run National The Department of Health con- The government has said it would demned the strike as “irresponsible impose new terms in August to force Health Service have and disproportionate”, noting that an end to nearly three years of nego- been postponed almost 25,000 operations have now tiations intended to provide a more due to the 48-hour been cancelled due to walk-outs consistent level of care throughout since January. the week. agitation. Johann Malawana, chairman of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Master Tailor Kathryn Sargent poses outside her Bespoke Tailoring shop at Savile Row in central London, the junior doctors committee at the centre-right government has prom- British Medical Association (BMA) ised to create a “seven-day NHS”, yesterday. union, said it “deeply regrets” the where weekend care is similar to that AFP disruption but had “no choice”. delivered between Monday and Fri- A new contract imposed by the day. Officials say the new contract First female master tailor opens own shop government “would be bad for the will increase doctors’ basic pay and delivery of patient care in the long limit working long days and nights, LONDON: Junior doctors in English term”, he said, urging ministers to but the BMA disputes this and has Reuters “When I was younger, I think “enchanted” at her first visit. She hospitals went on strike again yester- return to the negotiating table. launched a legal challenge. people were quite surprised that I became an apprentice in 1996 and day, withdrawing all but emergency If no agreement is reached, the Opinion polls have shown the wanted to do this and it’s still a talk- the first female head cutter in 2009 care in their fourth walk-out in a bit- BMA intends to stage a full strike on majority of the public back the doc- ing point but everyone has welcomed at Gieves & Hawkes. “That was quite ter dispute with the government over April 26 and 27, when junior doc- tors, while the Patient Association LONDON: Kathryn Sargent made me with open arms in Savile row,” she a momentous achievement and then working conditions. tors will refuse to provide even advocacy group also offered its tacit history yesterday by becoming the told reporters. I thought what next?” support for the latest strike. first female master tailor to open And a talking point it is. The store She started her own business in “Doctors have a very real concern her own shop in London’s prestig- opening was being widely covered by 2012 and soon moved to an atelier that the imposed terms will stretch ious Savile Row. British media with Sargent and her where she made bespoke garments the existing resource too thinly and After being trained at Royal tailor assistant asked to cut fabric, draw for men and women. The new store will threaten the quality of patient Gieves & Hawkes for 15 years, where with chalk and take measurements will also target both sexes, making it care,” said Katherine Murphy, chief she also broke ground by becoming for television crews. one of the few on Savile Row to cater executive of the association. the first female head cutter, her jour- Originally from Leeds, Sargent for women. In that vein, she was also The dispute comes as the NHS, ney came full circle when she opened said her well-dressed father was a launching her own unisex “Sargent which provides taxpayer-funded the doors to her own store on the source of inspiration and that she got Harris” tweed. healthcare free at the point of use, iconic street, which has traditionally her creative genes from her mother, Bespoke two-piece suits at faces serious financial challenges. been dominated by men in its near a keen knitter. her store start from 4,200 pounds Although the service was pro- 200-year association with tailoring. “I have always been inspired by ($6,000) and can cost 10,000 pounds tected from government-wide “It feels just wonderful to be back men in suits. My father was a very if made from very exclusive and rare spending cuts, experts warn funding in Savile Row and to actually have my smart gentleman always wearing cloths, she said. has failed to keep up with increased name across and above one of the nice blazers and jackets and suits, Her breakthroughs are reflec- demand and treatment costs. shops here,” said the softly spoken I never saw him in casual clothes. I tive of a wider trend in the tailoring “The NHS is working close to 41-year old, wearing her own creation. think that had an impact,” she said. industry, she said, adding that a its limits and patient care will suf- She said she learned from some It was her love for formal mens- majority of newly qualified tailors to fer unless more resources are found,” great people, all men, who were wear and the process involved in have graduated from the Savile Row Campaigners and junior doctors demonstrating outside the King’s Fund health charity warned last happy to pass down their skills to making it that drew the fashion stu- apprenticeship scheme last year were Department of Health, in London, yesterday. month. an energetic generation of tailors. dent to Savile Row, where she was women. Panama Papers reveal London as centre of ‘spider’s web’

AFP links to the City of London, UK law were linked to Mossack Fonseca. firms, UK accountancy firms and to The files appeared to show that ‘Cameron and kin won’t benefit in future’ UK banks,” he said, calling London the United Arab Emirates President Belgium PM hits the centre of a “spider’s web”. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan LONDON: As-well as shining a LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron, his wife and their “They’re all agents of the City owned London properties worth back at foreign spotlight on the secret financial children will not benefit in future from any offshore funds or trusts, a of London—that is where the whole more than £1.2 billion and that Mar- critics on security arrangements of the rich and pow- spokesman said yesterday as the British leader faced more questions exercise is controlled from,” Richard iam Safdar, daughter of Pakistani erful, the so-called Panama Papers over family tax affairs. After having at first described it as a private matter, Murphy, professor at London’s City prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was have laid London’s role as vital organ Cameron’s office said that he and his family did not benefit from any such University, said of the offshore havens. the beneficial owner of two offshore BRUSSELS: Belgium’s of the world’s tax-haven network. funds at present. Cameron also said he did not own any shares or have any The files showed that Britain companies that owned flats on the Prime Minister Charles The files leaked from Panama law offshore funds. But his failure to say whether he or his family would ben- had the third highest number of exclusive Park Lane. Michel acknowledged firm Mossack Fonseca exposed Brit- efit in future only intensified media speculation, with the story splashed Mossack Fonseca’s middlemen oper- The revelations undermined failures in security over ain’s link to thousands of firms based across many newspaper front pages yesterday. ating within its borders, with 32,682 promises by British Prime Minis- the attacks but forcefully in tax havens and how secret money advisers. ter David Cameron to clear up the rejected foreign criticism. is invested in British assets, particu- Although not illegal in themselves, murky world of offshore finance and He dismissed sug- larly London property. shell companies can be used for ille- its proceeds. gestions that Belgium Critics accuse British authorities “London is the epicentre of so companies used the country’s terri- gal activities such as laundering the “Every few years London pretends was a “failed state” or it of turning a blind eye to the inflow of much of the sleaze that happens in tories abroad—relics of the days of proceeds of criminal activities or to to ‘clean up its act’,” wrote columnist should reverse political suspect money and of being too close the world,” Nicholas Shaxson, author empire—to “farm out the seedier conceal misappropriated or politi- Simon Jenkins in the capital’s Evening decentralisation which to the financial sector to clamp down of the book “Treasure Islands”, which stuff”, often under the guise of shell cally-inconvenient wealth. Standard newspaper. “Most world cit- some say let the militants on the use of its overseas territories as examines the role of offshore banks companies with anonymous owners. Around 310,000 tax haven com- ies are ruthless against foreigners who evade detection due to havens, with the British Virgin Islands and tax havens, said. “Tax evasion and stuff like that panies own an estimated £170 billion arrive with suitcases of cash to buy poor coordination among alone hosting 110,000 of the Mossack He said that Britain itself was rel- will be done in the external parts of (210 billion euros, $240 billion) of property or other businesses. Not police forces.Michel said Fonseca’s clients. atively transparent and clean, but that the network. Usually there will be British real estate, 10 percent of which London,” he added. failure to find prime sur- viving suspect in the Paris attacks for four months before he was caught in Brussels was far from the Windsor Castle gets tourist revamp Two polls give Britain’s embarrassment some have suggested. AFP ‘In’ campaign slender lead Crisis worsens as

Poland minister LONDON: Windsor Castle, a home Reuters carried out between April 1 and April of Queen Elizabeth II and one of 3, had the “In” campaign on 44 per- warns judges Britain’s most popular tourist attrac- cent, down a point compared to its tions, is to get an extensive facelift to LONDON: Support for Britain stay- last poll using the same method- Warsaw: A battle improve facilities for visitors. ing in the European Union has fallen ology, and “Out” unchanged on 43 between Poland’s right- Tourist areas at the medie- slightly but still maintains the nar- percent with 13 percent undecided. wing government and the val castle west of London will be rowest of leads over those wanting to Meanwhile a TNS poll found EU member’s top court redeveloped at an expected cost leave the 28-member bloc, accord- overwhelming support for staying escalated yesterday, amid of £27 million ($38m, €33m), said ing to two opinion polls yesterday. in the EU among voters in Scotland, a four-month-long con- the Royal Collection, which looks The ICM and YouGov online sur- although many remained unsure of stitutional crisis that after the British monarchy’s art, veys both gave “In” a one percentage how they would vote. observers allege has put in a statement issued yesterday. point lead over “Out.” Britons vote The survey of 1,004 people found democracy at risk. A further £10m will be similarly on June 23 to decide on Britain’s EU 51 percent wanted to remain in the Justice Minister Zbig- spent at the Palace of Holyrood- membership. bloc and 19 percent favouring an exit niew Ziobro warned house in Edinburgh, the sovereign’s “Neither side has managed to with 29 percent saying they did not constitutional court Chief official residence in Scotland. stir up enough interest to break the know. The Scottish National Party A file picture of Windsor Castle. Justice Andrzej Rzeplin- “People have been visiting impasse during a lull in media atten- (SNP) and other senior British poli- ski and other judges on Windsor Castle and the Palace tion,” Will Dahlgreen from YouGov ticians have said that if Britain voted its bench against “operat- of Holyroodhouse for centuries added Windsor, the oldest and largest 2018, during which time the castle will said, adding that the latest scores are to leave the EU but Scots strongly ing outside constitutional and now more than 1.5 million occupied castle in the world, dates back remain open to visitors. The original within one point of their average so for. backed staying in, that could trig- framework”. do so every year,” said Jonathan to the late 11th century. It survived an entrance hall will be reinstated and The YouGov poll of 3,754 vot- ger another referendum on Scottish Rzeplinski revealed Marsden, director of the Royal extensive fire in 1992 and was repaired there will be greater public access to ers, carried out between March independence. Scots voted 55 to 45 that a letter he received Collection Trust. at a cost of £36.5m. the ground floor state apartments. 29 and April 4, found 39 percent percent against independence in from Ziobro also “threat- “We will interpret the palaces The queen often spends the The work will be funded by the backed remaining in the EU with 2014 but since then support for the ened punitive measures and collections in new ways, open weekend there and it is said to be her Royal Collection Trust charity, which 38 percent wanting to leave and 23 pro-EU SNP has risen and it won against disobedient up new spaces to the public and favourite official residence. generates its income from admissions percent either undecided or saying almost all the seats assigned to judges”. we’re going to create two purpose- The work will start next year and to royal residences and from its sou- they would not vote. Scotland in the parliament at West- built learning centres,” Marsden should be completed by the end of venir shops. ICM’s survey of 2,000 people, minster in the 2015 national election. EUROPE THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 17

Migrant flow EU proposes to Greek islands drops

stronger Reuters

ATHENS/DIKILI, TURKEY: A deal between the European Union and asylum rules Turkey appeared to show tentative signs of slowing the flow of migrants to the Greek islands yesterday, but many were still trying to cross the threaten the EU’s Schengen system of sea and the route remained far from passport-free travel. sealed off. The proposal drew A first option presented by the Three days after the EU-Turkey swift criticism from European Commission would add deal came into force, new arrivals a “corrective fairness mechanism” on the Greek islands from Turkey the Czech Republic, that would relocate asylum seekers dropped to 68 in the 24 hours to yes- highlighting deep from frontline states to elsewhere terday morning from 225 the previous in the bloc — a method now being day, data from the Greek migration divisions within the employed on an ad hoc basis. ministry showed. EU. A second is to create a new sys- The numbers fluctuate daily and tem that would ignore where people it was unclear if the decline was a arrived in the EU and send them direct result of the accord, under Reuters around the bloc according to a “per- Migrants and refugees stage a protest at a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village which migrants and refugees who use manent distribution key”. of Idomeni, Greece, yesterday. irregular sea crossings in the Aegean “In both cases, asylum-seekers to get into Greece are being sent back will be automatically redistributed The European Commission said other governments not wishing to see Europe directly from crisis zones as to Turkey. BRUSSELS: The European Union’s between member states,” the bloc’s it wanted to come up with legal pro- any change in a system under which an alternative to the dangerous routes. “We had a very low influx from executive yesterday proposed Migration Commissioner Dimitris posals by the summer after EU states they now take in very few refugees. Turkey and Germany said an EU the other side of the Aegean ... which strengthening the bloc’s common Avramopoulos told a news con- and institutions have given their Different asylum rules in EU states deal with Ankara to stem the flow of we consider positive,” said Greek gov- asylum rules in response to the cha- ference. “We need a fair share of views on the options. have encouraged chaotic flows of refu- migrants to Greece was showing signs ernment spokesman George Kyritsis. otic arrival of more than a million responsibility and more solidarity Germany, which took in a million gees within the EU as they moved from of success, although many were still Since the deal was implemented migrants and refugees last year that ingrained in our system.” people last year who mostly arrived frontline countries to Germany, Swe- trying to cross the Aegean Sea. on Monday, 202 people, the majority has strained EU cohesion. Czech Interior Minister Milan initially in Greece, wants to stick to den and other states whose laws, or EU states agreed a common posi- from Pakistan, have been returned The proposal drew swift crit- Chovanec responded on Twitter: the main principle of first point of economic prosperity, offer them the tion on creating a joint European from Greece. Greek and Turkish offi- icism from the Czech Republic, “The proposal for reform of the entry but have a permanent relocation most beneficial conditions. Border and Coast Guard that would cials say more could be sent back this highlighting deep divisions within European migration policy is based scheme in place for asylum-seekers. The Commission floated an idea help police the bloc’s external borders week. But despite the returns, and the EU about how to amend what is again on implementing compulsory Italy has pushed for the abolition of to introduce legal punishment for and will start talks on the proposal tighter security along Turkey’s coast, known as the Dublin rules, under quotas. We have repeatedly said NO the first-country rule. irregular movements by non-Euro- with the European Parliament. Brus- migrants were still trying to make the which people must claim asylum in to that.” Britain, which will vote in a refer- peans between countries in the bloc sels hopes to launch the border agency crossing. the first EU state they enter. Longer term, the Commission endum in June on whether to quit the and proposed a stronger mandate for in the second half of the year. Turkish authorities detained sev- That system has left frontline also proposed a more centralised bloc, does not take part in most EU the European Asylum Support Office. The Commission also rolled eral groups at sea shortly after dawn, states Greece and Italy unable and asylum process within EU institu- asylum policies. In another plan likely to draw out other technical proposals to including about 40 Iraqis, some of unwilling to offer asylum to all arriv- tions, rather than basing it on national The Commission’s proposals mixed response, the Commission said strengthen the EU’s external borders in whom set sail in a small dinghy from a als and seen many migrants trek laws, though this is unlikely to find appear to rule out maintaining the the bloc needed a long-term reset- an attempt to tackle both the migrant cove 20km south of the town of Dikili, north, prompting border closures that much support among member states. status quo, despite Prague and some tlement scheme to bring people into influx and security threats. a witness said.

New Prague zoo inhabitant 3 arrested in Spain over bomb hoax Dutch vote on key that forced plane back to airport EU-Kiev treaty

Reuters “I hope that later, both in the AFP United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, other countries will follow.” Whatever voters’ motivation, a MADRID: Spanish police said they AMSTERDAM: Dutch voters cast clear vote against the treaty in the have arrested three people on sus- ballots in a referendum yesterday run-up to Britain’s June 23 referen- picion of making a bomb hoax that on the European Union’s treaty with dum on whether to quit the EU could caused a plane to return to Madrid Ukraine, providing a gauge of anti- escalate into a domestic or even a airport escorted by an air force EU sentiment weeks before Britain Europe-wide political crisis. fighter jet. puts its membership of the bloc on Dutch leaders say voting against Spanish airport operator AENA the line. the treaty would also hand a sym- on December 14 ordered a Brazil- Launched by eurosceptic groups, bolic victory to Russian President ian TAM airlines plane with 315 the referendum — whose result is not Vladimir Putin. Pro-Russian sepa- passengers and 16 crew members binding on the government—is the first ratists in Ukraine are widely accused on board back to Madrid 90 min- since a 2015 law made it possible to of bringing down an airliner in 2014 utes into its flight to Sao Paulo, force through plebiscites by gathering with the loss of almost 200 Dutch lives. after getting call from a man 300,000 signatures on the Internet. It is unclear if anti-Russian sen- claiming a bomb was on board, While the scope of a ballot timent will sway voters nearly two police said in a statement. expected to deliver a “No” vote is lim- years on, but increasing resentment A new born baby Asiatic elephant explores its enclosure at Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, yesterday. The man, who spoke Spanish ited to a treaty to bring Ukraine and among the Dutch at the conse- The birth of the baby is both, the first bred and birth at the zoo, in its 82 year history. The Indian with an Arabic accent, mentioned the EU closer, Prime Minister Mark quences of the EU’s open-border elephant toddler weights 104 kg. the flight and then could be heard Rutte acknowledged that some viewed policies has propelled Wilders—who saying “Today people will die” and it as a proxy for a broader debate on opposes Muslim immigration—to the “Allahu Akbar”, the statement added. the way the bloc is being run. top of public opinion polls. The passengers were evac- “It’s not about accession to the The ballot also taps in to a uated from the plane and police European Union, as some of the more deep-seated anti-establish- searched the aircraft, finding no ‘against’ voters are saying,” he told ment sentiment highlighted by a Ukrainian pilot starts hunger strike bomb. journalists after casting his vote. “It’s resounding rejection in 2005 of a A police probe determined not about collective defence, it is not European Union constitution, also that the call was made from a about new money, it’s not about free in a referendum. AFP Twitter that Savchenko had started A Russian court last month public pay phone in a town in movement of employees.” The “No” camp is also forecast a “dry” hunger strike—refusing found the 34-year-old pilot guilty of Cuenca in central Spain and With one pollster saying turn- to win yesterday’s vote, with the first both food and water—on Wednes- involvement in the fatal shelling of officers detained two men and out for the ballot looked likely to exit polls expected immediately after day morning, after posting a letter two Russian state television report- a woman who they believe are drop below the minimum valid- polling stations close. MOSCOW: Ukrainian military pilot from her demanding her “immedi- ers in east Ukraine and sentenced her responsible for the call. ity threshold, populist eurosceptic Pollsters had expected turn- Nadiya Savchenko, convicted over ate return” to her homeland. to 22 years in prison. The three had ties to a Bra- leader Geert Wilders urged voters out to be low, however, hovering the killing of two Russian journalists, “She is not drinking,” Feigin con- Savchenko has maintained her zilian woman on board the plane to send a message to Europe by say- around the 30 percent minimum began a hunger strike without water firmed to journalists yesterday. innocence but refused to appeal who had been denied entry into ing “No”. needed for a valid result, with yesterday to demand her return to Experts say a human can survive the verdict, saying she did not rec- Spain due to a Swiss court order, “I think many Dutchmen are fed many questioning the value of Ukraine, her lawyer said. several weeks without food but only ognise the authority of the Russian the police statement said without up with more European Union and expressing an opinion about a Lawyer Mark Feigin wrote on a few days without water. legal system. giving further details. this treaty with Ukraine that is... not document that has already provi- in the interests of the Dutch people,” sionally gone into effect with the he told journalists. approval of the other 27 EU states. Karadzic slams ‘monstrous’ war crimes guilty verdict

AFP He urged the court to free him 1995 Srebrenica massacre and nine compromising this tribunal in any to prepare for his appeal against last other charges including extermina- way whatsoever,” Karadzic told a month’s judgement, revealing he had tion, deportations and hostage-taking special hearing which he had called packed his bags ahead of the March in a verdict issued more than two to discuss his “mental health” issues. THE HAGUE: Former Bosnian Ser- 24 verdict at the International Crim- decades after he was first indicted. Almost 8,000 Muslim men and bian leader Radovan Karadzic inal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia “Instead of the only right decision boys were murdered and their bod- yesterday slammed as “monstrous” expecting to be released. of acquittal and allowing me to leave ies dumped in mass graves in July a guilty verdict handed down by a UN But UN war crimes judges ruled (for) home, I had already packed in 1995 at Srebrenica in eastern Bos- war crimes tribunal in his first court that Karadzic, the most high-profile the detention unit ... We now have a nia, when Bosnian Serb forces appearance since being sentenced to figure convicted over the wars that judgement, it’s monstrous, just like brushed aside lightly armed UN 40 years in jail. tore Yugoslavia apart, bore criminal the indictment itself is monstrous,” Dutch peacekeepers protecting a Addressing a special hearing at responsibility for murder and perse- Karadzic said. UN safe area. the court in The Hague, Karadzic cution during the 1992-95 Bosnian “For eight years I have par- The slaughter, judged by two again proclaimed his innocence of conflict. ticipated in the proceedings in international courts as genocide, was Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte casts his vote for the consultative all charges, including genocide, aris- Judge O-Gon Kwon pronounced an exemplary manner to make the worst bloodshed on European soil referendum on the association between Ukraine and the European ing from the 1990s Balkans wars. Karadzic guilty of genocide for the sure that I would not contribute to since World War II. Union, in the Hague, the Netherlands, yesterday. 18 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 AMERICAS Cruz deals Trump a blow in Wisconsin primary

controversial comments about abor- “It’s not impossible for Trump to tion, Nato and nuclear weapons. still get there, but the likelihood is Senator Bernie Cruz captured most of Wiscon- that Trump will be a few dozen del- Sanders beat sin’s 42 Republican delegates, making egates short of a majority,” he added, frontrunner Hillary it far less likely that Trump will win meaning the likelihood of a contested the 1,237 delegates necessary to convention has increased substan- Clinton in the secure the nomination outright. tially. Tuesday’s results cement Cruz’s Midwestern state, This raises the prospect of a con- status as the leading anti-Trump tested convention in July when the candidate, with Ohio Governor John bolstering his claim delegates meet to choose the party Kasich far behind. to be a viable nominee for the November presiden- Cruz used his victory speech to tial election. turn the spotlight on a possible face- alternative. “Tonight is a turning point. It off with Clinton. “Hillary, get ready. is a rallying cry,” Cruz told cheer- Here we come,” he said. ing supporters in Milwaukee after Cruz also predicted he could he received a hug from Wisconsin earn the 1,237 delegates needed to AFP Governor Scott Walker, one of several win the nomination. That goal will be former 2016 presidential candidates extremely difficult to reach: experts Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz greets supporters at the American Serb Hall Banquet Centre after to have endorsed him. have projected Cruz would need to “It is a call from the hard-working win 90 percent or more of remaining the polls closed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. WASHINGTON: Texas Senator Ted men and women of Wisconsin to the delegates to reach the magic number. Cruz commanded new momen- people of America. We have a choice, With 98 percent of votes counted, tum yesterday in the race for the a real choice.” Cruz, was ahead with 48.3 percent of Trump and Hillary now look to NY White House with a solid Wiscon- Trump made no public appear- the vote, compared to 35 percent for sin primary win, making it harder for ance after the results were Trump. Kasich was a distant third at frontrunner Donald Trump to clinch announced. His campaign released 14 percent. the Republican nomination outright. a statement that criticised Cruz as, On the Democratic side, Vermont AFP Usually at no loss for words, the to 1,237 wins the nomination. Upstart senator Bernie Sanders among other things, “worse than a Senator Sanders led with 56.4 percent real estate mogul left it to his campaign “It’s not impossible for Trump to also beat frontrunner Hillary Clinton puppet — he is a Trojan horse, being to 43.3 percent over Clinton. to blame his poor showing in Wiscon- still get there, but the likelihood is in the Midwestern state, bolstering used by the party bosses attempting “This campaign is giving energy sin on an anti-Trump movement that it that Trump will be a few dozen dele- his claim to be a viable alternative to steal the nomination from. Trump.” and enthusiasm to millions of Amer- WASHINGTON: Donald Trump and said spent “countless millions on false gates short of a majority,” said veteran standard-bearer to the former sec- Cruz and the anti-Trump move- icans,” Sanders told supporters in Hillary Clinton looked yesterday to advertising” to stop him. election analyst Larry Sabato of the retary of state and first lady. ment had eyed Wisconsin as a Wyoming. Sanders said his momen- bounce back from unsettling presi- Trump’s loss followed a bru- University of Virginia. Sanders has now won six of the firewall against the real estate tum gives him an “excellent chance” dential primary losses in Wisconsin, tal week on the campaign trail, in Clinton also emerged from Wis- last seven Democratic nominat- tycoon’s march to become the GOP to win California, Oregon and other setting their sights on the next White which he alienated women by say- consin with her formidable delegate ing contests against Clinton. But the flag bearer. states. “We have a path toward vic- House contests on friendlier ground— ing those who have abortions should lead intact -- 1,778 to 1,097 for Sanders. Wisconsin results were almost cer- Analysts said Tuesday’s vote tory, a path toward the White House,” their home state of New York. be punished—and then retracting the To win the Democratic nomination, tainly more damaging for Trump. could alter the trajectory of the he declared. Trump’s defeat, in particular, statement. 2,383 delegates are needed. The billionaire stormed to the fore Republican race. “Trump needs every But Clinton, who is aiming to makes his ascent to the Republican But Trump remains the undis- And the White House race now last year with a brash anti-establish- delegate to get to 1,237, and tonight become the nation’s first female com- nomination steeper, raising likelihood puted Republican frontrunner with turns to friendlier territory for both ment message. was a significant setback,” veteran mander in chief, has the delegate math of a contested convention in July that 743 delegates to 510 for Cruz and 145 Trump and Clinton—New York and But he has suffered setbacks election analyst Larry Sabato of the in her favor and can look forward to the could throw party’s nod to someone for Kasich after Tuesday night, accord- Pennsylvania, the next states on the in recent weeks with a string of University of Virginia said. upcoming races with some confidence. more to the liking of the establishment. ing to a CNN estimate. The first to get primary calendar.

US arrests 21 for Protest againt lay-offs Anti-Fujimori protests visa fraud in fake university sting in Peru ahead of polls

Reuters Protesters also criticised the AFP country’s electoral board for clear- ing Fujimori of allegations that she broke a law against vote-buying NEW YORK: The United States LIMA: Tens of thousands of Peru- while disqualifying two leading arrested 21 suspects on suspi- vians marched against presidential rivals. “National Jury of Elections, cion of visa fraud conspiracy for front-runner Keiko Fujimori on the National Shame!” one sign read. allowing more than 1,000 foreign anniversary of her authoritarian Fujimori canceled her public students, primarily from China and father’s most infamous power grab appearances and told her support- India to extend their stay in Amer- —forcing her to suspend campaign ers to suspend campaign activities ica illegally, prosecutors said. events ahead of Sunday’s elections. ahead of the rallies, which were Federal agents set up a fake Protesters chanted “Never scheduled in cities across Peru. university to ensnare the suspects again!” and said a vote for centre- Her political party called for in an operation that spotlights right Fujimori would be a vote for tolerance on Twitter and posted pic- growing concern about visa fraud ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who tures of campaign offices in different at a time when illegal immigration is now serving a 25-year sentence for towns covered in banners that read has become a major issue in the US human rights abuses and corruption “No More Violence.” presidential campaign. committed during his 1990-2000 The protest in Lima was peace- The recruiters, brokers and government. ful. Smaller rallies outside of the employers were charged with con- At least 30,000 took part in the capital have ended with clashes and spiracy to commit visa fraud and Thousands of Argentinian workers in Buenos Aires gathered outside the Labour Ministry yesterday protest in Lima — a sign of the stiff opponents have pelted eggs at Fuji- conspiracy to harbour aliens for to protest against the mass public sector layoffs by the government as well as rocketing inflation in opposition to Fujimori that could mori during campaign events. profit, which each carry a maxi- the country. make her vulnerable to defeat in a The demonstration was the big- mum sentence of five and 10 years run-off. gest political protest in Lima since in prison, respectively. Fujimori is expected to win the massive rallies against Alberto Fuji- Homeland Security inves- biggest share of votes on April 10 but mori in 2000 as he tried start a third tigators set up the so-called not the simple majority needed to term following elections widely con- University of Northern New Jer- win outright. sidered fraudulent. sey in September 2013 to crack Many demonstrators derided Fujimori had set out early in her down on visa fraud from foreign- Destroying IS top priority: Obama Fujimori’s recent promise to never campaign this year to distance her- ers who fraudulently maintain repeat her father’s “self coup” on self from her father after narrowly their non-immigrant status on April 5, 1992, when he ordered the losing her first presidential bid to false pretenses. AFP White House.“We are going to squeeze them having headquarters in Raqqa military to shutter Congress and President Ollanta Humala in 2011. They staffed offices in Cran- them and we will defeat them.” and in Mosul,” he said. intervened in the courts. But 45 percent of Peruvians say ford, New Jersey with undercover “As we’ve seen from Turkey to Obama spoke next to Defence Fujimori had previously they will definitely not vote for her agents posing as administrators, but Belgium, IS still has ability to launch Secretary Ash Carter, General Joe defended the move as needed to - higher than her two closest rivals, there were no teachers, no curricu- WASHINGTON: US President serious terrorist attacks,” he added, Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs enact economic reforms. leftist lawmaker Veronika Mendoza lum and no classes, prosecutors said. Barack Obama said that destroying using another term for the IS group. of Staff, and combatant commanders. “I don’t believe her at all,” said and investor-favorite Pedro Pablo They reeled in suspects by pretend- the Islamic State (IS) group remains Coalition forces must maintain Carter proposed changes to the Rodolfo Lazo, a 19-year-old uni- Kuczynski, according to the most ing to have the authority to grant the his “top priority” at a time when pressure on the insurgents using military that would streamline its versity student who had painted recent Ipsos poll. certificate that allows foreigners to the jihadist group continues to lose diplomacy and intelligence as well various forces of some 1.3 million “I’m young but I’m not stupid” on Humala cannot seek a new term get a legitimate student visa. The ground in Iraq and Syria. as military operations, coordinating soldiers and boost their ability to his T-shirt. because of constitutional limits. defendants then enrolled their for- “We continue to take on their lead- operations between various branches respond quickly by reviewing the eign clients to fraudulently maintain ership, their financial networks, their of government, he said. current “top heavy” structure set out their student visa status in exchange infrastructure,” Obama said at a meet- “We can no longer tolerate the in the 30-year-old Goldwater-Nichols for kickbacks, prosecutors said. ing with senior military officials in the kinds of positioning that is enabled by Act, which critics say is outdated. Rousseff faces key call in impeachment drive

AFP and will now hear lawmaker Jovair Vice President Michel Temer. corruption scandal have pushed the Arantes present his recommendation Rousseff meanwhile announced government to the brink of collapse. on whether Congress should vote to she would postpone a looming This mess was exacerbated last week open an impeachment trial. He is reshuffle of her cabinet until after when Temer’s powerful PMDB party BRASÍLIA: Brazilian President Dilma expected to make his recommenda- the lower house of congress votes on broke away from its coalition with Rousseff’s battle to cling to power tion to the commission. the impeachment proposal. Rousseff. enters a crucial phase as lawmakers Brazil’s political crisis rumbled The crisis has brought the govern- Abandoned by her main part- will hear a motion on whether there on Tuesday when a Supreme Court ment close to collapse, as it battles a ner, Rousseff is now racing to secure are grounds to impeach her. judge ordered a new impeachment deep recession in the country due to enough votes in Congress to block the Protesters portraying corruption perform during a march against A congressional committee has committee be set up to consider alle- host the Olympics in August. lower house from sending her to face Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori in Lima, Peru. wrapped up its preliminary sessions gations against another top official, A long recession and huge impeachment in the Senate. AMERICAS THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 1917 Panama mounts fierce defence of vital financial sector

AFP Panama,” the state secretary for com- from the Panama Papers were seeking for seven percent of Panama’s gross not deemed to be doing enough to the good guy and then the bad guy. munication, Manuel Dominguez, said. to “distort the facts and tarnish the rep- domestic product, and attracts big fight money laundering after intro- This cannot go on,” French Finance The government has also written utation of the country,” Hincapie wrote. multinationals to the small country. ducing a number of reforms putting Minister Michel Sapin said. PANAMA CITY: Panama mounted a a harshly worded letter to the head of Panama also has warned it could But the hack obtaining 11.5 million some curbs on anonymous owner- Faced with the possibility of a fierce defence of its crucial financial the OECD, Angel Gurria, attacking a retaliate against France if it makes documents from Mossack Fonseca, ship of companies. hard blow to its economy, Panama services sector yesterday, trying to statement he made describing Pan- good on a promise to put the coun- the law firm at the center of the scan- But the Organisation for Eco- is also promising to cooperate with head off a feared international clamp- ama as “the last major holdout that try back on France’s blacklist of “tax dal, has exposed the workings of nomic Cooperation and Development any judicial investigation that emerges down on its offshore business in the continues to allow funds to be hidden havens”—a status that would cause offshore companies and the deliber- (OECD) insists Panama falls well short from the hack, and has said it will wake of the “Panama Papers” leak. offshore from tax and law enforce- transactions in Panama to be viewed ately obscured lines of ownership that in implementing international stand- look at further reforms to its finan- Diplomats accredited to the small ment authorities.” as likely tax-dodging gambits. hide who really benefits from them. ards for the automatic sharing of tax cial sector. Central American nation were called Those accusations were false, The aim of the pushback is to pro- Exposure of the secret files has information. France urged the OECD The country “may analyse” what to the foreign ministry to hear officials “unfair and discriminatory,” Deputy tect Panama’s discreet nexus of law dealt a blow to Panama’s efforts to shed to follow its lead by putting it on a glo- legislatives changes are needed “to argue that it was unfair to single out Foreign Minister Luis Miguel Hinca- firms and banks from a concerted a reputation as a hub for shady deals. bal list of “uncooperative countries.” protect this platform and make sure Panama in the scandal. pie wrote in the letter. . international move to curtail business Early this year, the nation man- “Unfortunately Panama has a bit it not used for shady purposes,” Hin- They heard “what is the truth about Gurria and others relying on reports with it. The financial sector accounts aged to get off a “gray list” of countries of a tendency to make u-turns, to play capie said. Top law firm From Wikileaks to Snowden to Panama Papers says ‘hacked by AFP PARIS: The “Panama Papers” are the latest and biggest revelation of state and economic secrets since the secret-spilling website WikiLeaks servers abroad’ began using the Internet to break new ground in social activism. Here is a recap: Q Wikileaks Founded in 2006 and launched The company has a year later by Australian ex-hacker lodged a criminal Julian Assange, WikiLeaks begins releasing secrets such as operat- complaint with ing procedures at the US prison in Panamanian Guantanamo Bay, and the contents of US politician Sarah Palin’s personal prosecutors over the e-mails. In April 2010, the video of breach. a US helicopter strike in Baghdad that killed two Reuters staff and others puts WikiLeaks back in the headlines. AFP It follows up in the summer A general view shows a building where the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca has an office in with two massive releases of tens Shanghai. companies to hold their wealth. of thousands of internal US military “We don’t understand. The world documents relating to the wars in PANAMA CITY: One of the found- is already accepting that privacy is Afghanistan and Iraq, detailing cases Security Agency (NSA), contacts Brit- allies as it emerges that Washing- Gunnlaugsson. ers of the law firm at the centre of not a human right,” he said. of abuse, torture and civilian deaths. ish newspaper The Guardian, which ton has spied on German Chancellor The papers were examined by the explosive “Panama Papers” rev- The hack has badly shaken American soldier Bradley Man- reveals in June 2013 the existence of Angela Merkel, Brazilian President more than 100 media organisations elations on off-shore holdings told Panama’s financial services sector, ning—a transsexual now known as a secret US court order forcing US Dilma Rousseff and the government combing through 11.5 million doc- reporters his company was hacked which relied on discretion to do its Chelsea Manning - is arrested after telephone company Verizon to pro- of Mexico, among others. uments from the Panamanian law by servers abroad. business. being identified as the source of the vide the NSA with daily information President Barack Obama prom- firm Mossack Fonseca, specialists Ramon Fonseca (pictured) With high-profile politicians, leaks. She is serving a 35 year jail on its customers’ calls over a four- ises more transparency, and the US in the creation of offshore business said the firm Mossack Fonseca had sports stars, celebrities and a few sentence for breaches of the Espi- month period. Congress reforms laws on electronic entities. lodged a criminal complaint with criminals revealed to have used onage Act. On June 6, the Washington Post surveillance. The ICIJ has already published Panamanian prosecutors over the Mossack Fonseca to set up offshore In November 2010, WikiLe- and The Guardian report that the Q Panama Papers Offshore Leaks on thousands of peo- breach. He added that in all the entities, scrutiny on the small Cen- aks releases of 250,000 diplomatic NSA and FBI have access to servers The “Panama Papers” have ple who hold foreign accounts for reporting so far “nobody is talking of tral American nation has suddenly cables from US embassies around of major Internet companies such as sought to shed light on a global net- tax purposes, LuxLeaks on agree- the hack, and that is the only crime ramped up. the world which deeply embarrass Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google and Face- work of tax avoidance and were ments between Luxembourg and that has been committed.” But the law firm and the gov- Washington. book to monitor the web traffic of compiled by the International Con- multinational companies to limit In a telephone message, , Fon- ernment have stressed that offshore The same month, a Swedish people outside the United States. sortium of Investigative Journalists tax exposure, and SwissLeaks on a seca said: “We have lodged a companies are not, in themselves, prosecutor issues an international Chinese mobile phone companies (ICIJ). scheme that allegedly helped clients complaint. We have a technical illegal, and that Mossack Fonseca arrest warrant for Assange on are also said to have been hacked. The huge operation, the biggest of banking giant HSBC’s Swiss divi- report that we were hacked by serv- was not responsible for what its cli- charges of rape, and after exhaust- US authorities charge Snow- worldwide to date, has revealed sion evade taxes on accounts worth ers abroad.” ents used them for. ing his legal options, Assange enters den, who has acknowledged being assets held in tax havens by 140 $119 billion. He did not specify from which The government, which has the Ecuadorian embassy in London the source of the leak, with espio- political leaders and high-profile ICIJ is run by Australian jour- country the hack was carried out. recently seen through reforms to on June 19, 2012 and asks for politi- nage and the theft of state secrets personalities, including a close con- nalist Gerard Ryle, is based in Fonseca also rued the fact that get the country taken off an inter- cal asylum. He is still there. and seek his arrest in Hong Kong. fidant of Russian President Vladimir Washington, and includes 190 jour- reporting on the 11.5 million docu- national list of states seen as Q Snowden and the NSA He slips away however and flies to Putin, relatives of Chinese Presi- nalist from more than 65 countries. ments taken from Mossack Fonseca’s money-laundering hubs, is mount- Edward Snowden, an intelligence Moscow. He is still living in Russia. dent Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President It probes cross-border corrup- computer system focused on the ing a fierce defense of the financial contractor with access to classified The NSA revelations stun the Petro Poroshenko and Icelandic tion, organised crime syndicates and high-profile clients who had used sector, which contributes seven per- information from the US National world, straining US relations with Prime Minister Sigmundur David tax evasion, among other issues. the law firm to set up offshore cent of gross domestic product.

WalkingAyyayayayayayayyyy in the snow Colombia rebels West Virginia’s ‘king of say paramilitary attacks slow coal’ jailed for a year

peace deal Reuters Blankenship had been accused of conspiring to falsify dust samples and violating federal securities laws Reuters by lying about company safety prac- CHARLESTON.: Former Massey tices. But the jury that convicted him Energy Chief Executive Don Blank- of the misdemeanor found him not HAVANA: Colombia’s Marxist enship was sentenced to a year in guilty of making false statements FARC rebels said an increase in prison and fined $250,000 yesterday and of securities fraud. The jury had violence by paramilitary groups for his role in a 2010 West Virginia deliberated more than two weeks made it harder to reach a final coal mine explosion that killed 29 and had twice told Berger it was peace accord with the government workers. deadlocked. as the two sides met for a round Blankenship, known as West Relatives of those killed and pros- of negotiations in Cuba yesterday. Virginia’s “king of coal” for his rags- ecutors had hailed the decision as The FARC and the govern- to-riches background and tough sending a message on mine safety in ment reconvened after a two-week approach to business, was given the coal-rich West Virginia. Berger said Pedestrians walk through the snow on Boston Common during a spring snowstorm in Boston, break, having made progress in maximum sentence for the misde- Blankenship would have a 10-day Massachusetts, yesterday. more than three years of talks in meanor conviction by US District period before he must surrender. Havana but missing a self-imposed Judge Irene Berger. He also was US Senator Joe Manchin, a March deadline over the issue of sentenced to a year of supervised Democrat who was West Vir- how to disarm the rebels. probation after release. ginia governor when the disaster The rebels fear for their safety Blankenship, who headed took place, said it had caused the once an accord is signed, saying Massey from 2000 to 2010, was state to put the safety of workers Teen sentenced to 2 years in terrorism case a show of force by a uniformed convicted in December of conspir- ahead of production and com- criminal gang made up of former ing to violate safety standards at the pany profits. paramilitary fighters was aimed Upper Big Branch mine, site of the “No sentence is severe enough Reuters found guilty by a youth court in reported his own son to police in at disrupting the peace process. blast. He was acquitted on felony and no amount of time in jail time December of committing an offense October 2014 after discovering a bag The gang, known as the charges related to accident. will heal the hearts of the families for the benefit or at the direction of hidden behind their home contain- Urabenos, forced schools and busi- “I want to express sorrow to the who have been forever devastated, MONTREAL: A 16-year-old boy, the a terrorist group and attempting to ing a mask, knife and cash. nesses to close in a large swathe of families for what happened and I and I pray that this sentence brings youngest to stand trial for terrorism leave Canada to participate in ter- In addition to the sentence of two Colombia for two days last week, hope that what I have to say can help them some closure,” he said in a offences in Canada, was sentenced to rorist activities. The boy admitted to years in custody and supervision, the killing five people. them find peace,” Blankenship, 66, statement. two years in custody yesterday after robbing a convenience store in 2014 teenager was given 12 months of pro- “With paramilitary groups, said before sentencing. The death toll at Upper Big being found guilty of trying to join when he was 15, but had pleaded bation. The sentence is to be served with crime and attacks, with terror He thanked his supporters Branch, about 40 miles (65 km) a jihadist group in Syria, the pros- not guilty to trying to use the stolen consecutively with the sentence he and threats peace cannot mate- and called those who died “great south of Charleston, was the high- ecutor said. money to travel to Syria. is already serving for related crimi- rialize,” Revolutionary Armed coal miners.” Blankenship’s law- est in a US mine accident since 91 The teen, who cannot be iden- The boy’s father, who immigrated nal offences, the Public Prosecution Forces of Colombia (FARC) com- yers said they would appeal the miners were killed in a 1972 fire at tified because he is a minor, was from Algeria with his family in 2003, Service of Canada said in a statement. mander Pablo Catatumbo said. sentence. an Idaho silver mine.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 22o C Maximum: 30o C

FAJR 04.02 am ZUHR 11.36 am MAGHRIB 05.55 pm HIGH TIDE 04:30 - 17:15 Expected strong wind and high seas due to SHOROOK 05.20 am ASR 03.05 pm ISHA 07.25 pm LOW TIDE 11:00 - 23:15 thunder activity at first. Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance of scattered rain, thundery at first.

20 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Breakfast high in Tuning it up protein linked to www.thepeninsulaqatar.com weight loss: Study

MOST READ QNA

Syrian army and allies launch attack 1 south of Aleppo TEL AVIV: A new study has found that a Ukraine president Poroshenko denies offshore large breakfast containing whey protein 2 vehicle was set up to minimise taxes could help aid weight loss and prevent Type 2 diabetes. Azerbaijan says Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire Researchers recommend that eating 3 broken 115 times in 24 hours: RIA a large breakfast containing whey pro- tein, followed by a medium-sized lunch and small dinner could be best for peo- ple looking to lose a few pounds. TWEET OF THE DAY In a study of 48 overweight people, whey protein helped participants feel fuller for longer and reduced blood sugar spikes too. However, the benefits of high protein content at breakfast also depend on the A vendor tunes an Epiphone Allen Woody signature model bass guitar at the Music Fair in Frankfurt, protein source and quality. Dairy products such as milk, cheese and Greek yogurt are Germany, yesterday. Exhibitors from all over the world present their portfolio at the fair until April 10. the best sources of whey protein. WhatsApp extends encryption to protect messages

AP the globe. The popular service owned other devices. Encryption has become against hackers and identity thieves, by Facebook began applying "end-to- a hotly debated subject, with some US as well as "rogue" governments that end" encryption to standard messages authorities warning that criminals and spy on their own citizens. WhatsApp's SAN FRANCISCO: WhatsApp says it's sent on Android smartphones in 2014. violent extremists can use it to hide use of encryption has already caused now using a powerful form of encryp- After gradually expanding to other their tracks. friction in Brazil, where authorities tion to protect the security of photos, formats, WhatsApp confirmed Tuesday WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, recently arrested and then released a videos, group chats and voice calls in that its encryption now works with all who grew up in the Soviet Union, says Facebook Inc. executive after the com- addition to the text messages sent by forms of communication on its app for he believes consumers should have pany said it was unable to unscramble its more than a billion users around Android phones, Apple's iPhones and easy-to-use encryption as protection a user's encrypted messages. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 24 QE 10,031.02 +22.25 PTS PAGE | 25 DOW 17,702.97 +99.65 PTS Qatar to see Commercial Bank FTSE100 6,161.63 +70.40 PTS increase in M&A and plans to raise IPO listings: KPMG BRENT $37.70 +$1.81 funds by Q3-end

THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 • 29 Jumada II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Oil futures rise Qatargas-2 and KPC on hopes for output freeze sign LNG supply deal Reuters

The Peninsula Commenting on the agreement, LONDON: Crude oil futures rose Qatargas Chief Executive Officer yesterday as hopes for an agree- Half a million tonnes Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani said: ment among exporters to freeze of Liquefied Natural “The signing of this agreement with output underpinned the market, DOHA: Qatar Liquefied Gas Company KPC is another significant step in although persistent global over- Limited-2 (Qatargas 2) and Kuwait Gas to Kuwait over demonstrating Qatargas’ capability supply and Iran’s plans to boost Petroleum Corporation (KPC) have to reliably and efficiently lead the production put a cap on gains. executed an agreement to supply half the next four years supply of LNG to the Middle East- Oil futures recovered from one- a million tonnes of Liquefied Natu- will be delivered ern emerging energy markets. This month lows to end the previous ral Gas (LNG) to Kuwait over the next deal demonstrates the eagerness to session up after Kuwait said there four years. onboard Q-Flex LNG strengthen and expand our rela- were “positive indications an The LNG will be sourced Vessels, chartered tionship, and Qatargas’ readiness agreement will be reached” on from Qatargas 2, a joint venture to meet KPC’s future demand for output during a producer meeting between Qatar Petroleum, Exx- LNG.” scheduled for April 17 in Qatar. by Qatargas, An LNG tanker. onMobil and Total which started Kuwait’s LNG delivery sea- US crude futures rose more production in 2009, and will be to KPC’s Mina son typically would start from than a dollar, or 3 percent, before delivered onboard Q-Flex LNG Al Ahmadi LNG March and extend to November of commissioning cargo to Jordan in meeting the world’s demand for safe, paring gains to trade 80 cents up Vessels, chartered by Qatargas, to each year, to meet Kuwait’s grow- May 2015. reliable and clean energy. at $36.69 per barrel at 1300 GMT. KPC’s Mina Al Ahmadi LNG receiv- receiving terminal ing demand for power during peak Qatargas which pioneered the Through its operational excel- International benchmark Brent ing terminal in Kuwait. summer months. Qatargas has been Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) indus- lence Qatargas is adding value to futures rose 65 cents to trade at Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatargas in Kuwait. supplying Kuwait with the major- try in Qatar is currently the largest its production chain creating new $38.52 a barrel. Chairman of the Board, said: “The ity of its LNG requirements for the producer of LNG in the world with markets and contributing to the “Oil (futures) gained some agreement consolidates the position past five years through both direct an annual production capacity of 42 local community. In addition to the momentum. The comment by of Qatargas as the LNG partner in the positive and mutually beneficial sales to KPC and through third million tonnes per annum (MTPA) LNG facilities, Qatargas operates the the Kuwait Opec governor pro- the GCC region and the Middle East, trade relations between the Qatari parties who have made deals with from its world-class facilities in Jetty Boil-Off Gas facility, the Laffan vided some support to prices,” and enhances its established global and Kuwaiti energy sectors, and both Qatargas and KPC. As for other Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. Refinery, one of the largest conden- ANZ bank said, but warned that position.” enhances the position of Qatar as a Middle Eastern markets, Qatargas Since first production in 1996, Qatar- sate refineries in the world, and the investors would likely remain Al Kaabi added that “the con- safe and reliable supplier of clean has been supplying LNG to Dubai gas has successfully delivered cargos Ras Laffan Terminal on behalf of all cautious ahead of the April 17 clusion of this agreement cements energy to all corners of the world.” since 2008 and has delivered a to 28 countries and is committed to participants. meeting. QNB posts Q1 profit Top Qatari show jumper is at QR2.9bn; assets QFC’s brand ambassador grow by 9.7%

By Mohammad Shoeb The Peninsula The Peninsula regard to provisioning continued “We are happy to exclusively with the coverage ratio reaching premiere our advertising 120 percent in March. DOHA: The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) has campaign and we are QNB Group increased customer unveiled its 2016 television campaign (TVC) and DOHA: QNB Group, the largest funding by 10.1 percent to QR403bn introduced QFC’s new brand ambassador, Qatari particularly proud to have lender in the Middle East and Africa, ($110.7bn). This led to the Group’s professional show jumper Maryam Mubarak Al Maryam as our 2016 brand has posted a net profit of QR2.9bn loan to deposit ratio reaching 99.7 Ali, on Tuesday “under the moonlight” in a unique ($787m) for the first three months of percent. Total equity increased by setting. ambassador,” says Yousef 2016, marking a 7.1 percent increase 11.1 percent from March 2015 to The premiere of this advertising was attended Abdulla Fakhroo, Chief compared to last year. reach QR60bn ($16.6bn) as at 31 by specially invited guests, including members of The Group maintained an effi- March 2016. Earnings per Share QFC entities, including QFC Regulatory Author- Marketing and Corporate ciency ratio (cost to income ratio) of reached QR3.4 ($0.9), compared to ity, Qatar International Dispute and Resolution Communications Officer at 22.7 percent, which is considered one QR3.2 in March 2015. Centre and Qatar Finance and Business Academy, of the best ratios among financial Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and by the local business community. QFC Authority. institutions in the region, a state- calculated as per the QCB and Basel Commenting on the new campaign Yousuf ment said. III requirements stood at 15.8 per Mohamed Al Jaida, QFC Authority CEO, said: “Today Total assets increased by 9.7 cent as at 31 March 2016, higher than more than ever, our role is crucial in attracting Maryam Al Ali, professional Show Jumper, per cent from March 2015 to reach the regulatory minimum require- businesses to set up in Qatar and at the QFC, on her horse running through the course when during Qatar Financial Centre’s Brand QR550bn ($151.1bn), the highest ever ments of the Qatar Central Bank and and we must use every tool to do so. We are the camera moves to show Mubarak Al Ali, her Ambassadors Campaign launch at Sheraton achieved by the Group. This was Basel Committee. The Group is keen very proud of our 2016 TVCs and to have Mar- father and former professional footballer – the Garden on Tuesday. driven by a growth rate of 16.4 per to maintain a strong capitalization in yam on board. With the unconditional support of support behind her success and determination Pic: Kammutty VP/The Peninsula cent in loans and advances to reach order to support the future strategic her father, this young woman continues to pro- and the role model behind the scenes. QR402bn ($110.4bn). plans. QNB Group has maintained its mote Qatar’s image internationally, while being Commenting on the launch, Maryam said: in 2005, the QFC is an onshore centre which The growth of the Group assets position as one of the strongest rated an inspiration to many across the region.” “I’m very happy to be working with the QFC and has become an integral part of Qatar’s econ- and liabilities has been affected by financial institutions in the region. Announcing the partnership, Yousef Abdulla to be given this opportunity to share the secret omy and rapid growth story. It is fulfilling its the sharp devaluation in Egyptian This is because of QNB Group’s strong Fakhroo, Chief Marketing and Corporate Com- behind my success and motivation, my father. mandate to help build a world-class financial pound, in which total assets and financial position, high quality of its munications Officer at QFC Authority, said: “We He is the reason I continue to challenge my lim- and business environment in Qatar, providing customer deposits were negatively assets and its leading position in the are happy to exclusively premiere our adver- its and aspire for success.” a platform for domestic, regional and interna- impacted by QR7bn ($1.8bn) and financial sector. tising campaign to our community and we are The second TVC also premiered at the event tional growth. QR5bn ($1.4bn) respectively. Based on the Group’s continuous particularly proud to have Maryam as our 2016 features Charles Duke, Capsule Communicator The QFC Authority is the commercial and The Group was able to main- strong performance and its expand- brand ambassador. Her unique relationship with (CAPCOM) at NASA, who served as astronaut strategic arm of the QFC. It is responsible for tain the ratio of non-performing ing international presence, QNB her father who has encouraged, supported and Buzz Aldrin’s support through the first man developing and ensuring compliance with the loans to gross loans at 1.4 per cent, maintained its position as the most mentored her to become among the first Qatari landing on the moon in July 1969, ensuring he QFC regulations and rules comprising the QFC’s a level considered one of the lowest valuable bank brand in the Mid- women to compete internationally underlines completed his historic journey to and from the legal and tax environments and it helps firms to amongst banks in the Middle East dle East and Africa. This continues the QFC’s belief that great success comes from Moon safely. quickly establish a physical presence in Qatar and Africa, reflecting the high qual- to recognize QNB’s position as the great support.” In the TVC, Maryam is featured Established by the Government of Qatar and the region. ity of the Group’s loan book and the leading financial institution across effective management of credit risk. the Middle east and Africa and the The Group’s conservative policy in value inherent in the QNB brand.

24 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS Qatar to see increase in M&A and IPO listings: KPMG

The Peninsula are a number of socio-economic owners to explore alternative ways the global share prices affecting some The expected launch reasons that are likely to have con- to raise capital including, mergers, markets. tributed to the increase in deals. aligning with a strategic partner and In line with these global shifts, of the SME index Over the past few years, we have initial public offerings (IPOs). Qatar is seeing an increasing pace DOHA: The appetite for mergers in Qatar Exchange, seen recession hitting some coun- There are various factors in Qatar, of demand for due diligence serv- and acquisitions (M&A) will increase tries, unexpected fluctuations in which are likely to be supporting the ices, with clients looking to the firm both globally and regionally. Simi- accompanied with commodity prices and the huge need growth in deals. The expected launch to identify any potential issues prior lar trend is seeing in Qatar as well, QDB’s ongoing for businesses to keep up with ever- of the SME index in Qatar Exchange, to investing in, merging with or pur- a KPMG report says. developing technology. These factors accompanied with QDB’s ongoing chasing a business. Globally, the appetite for M&As support for SMEs and have seen an increasing number of support for SMEs and family busi- Kotry added: “M&As are a crit- and the capacity for businesses family businesses businesses folding and unable to nesses to grow their organisations, ical tool for achieving growth, and to enter into and fund deals will to grow their adapt to new market conditions. with a view to listing is certainly bol- the increase in due diligence requests increase during FY16 by 4 percent With high GDP and effective gov- stering this sector. from clients in Qatar is a positive sign and 13 percent, respectively as com- organisations with ernment planning, Qatar has been Similarly, the government is that the country’s businesses are not pared to FY15. The positive outlook a view to listing, is relatively well protected from this.” supporting the private sector with only planning more deals and invest- is mirrored across the Middle East, Current economic conditions have diversification, helping many busi- ments but are taking a long-term view with an expected increase in M&As bolstering this sector. resulted in greater complexities for nesses identify and undertake new to these. Accumulated, exaggerated of 3 percent and the capacity to fund businesses who need to access fund- commercial opportunities, both business valuations can lead to seri- deals increasing by 18 percent. In ing. Banks need to meet increasingly locally and overseas. Deals being ous implications in tough economic Qatar, KPMG is seeing similar trends developed market investments into the Middle East and North Africa up restrictive regulations like Basel III made with businesses out of the coun- times. So having a clear, accurate – with increases in the number of emerging markets hit a 10-year low, significantly. and do not want to risk high non-per- try are also on the rise as Qatar based understanding of business with which M&As. but deals among emerging market Hady Kotry (pictured), expert in forming loan ratios. It is therefore businesses are realizing the long-term you intend to merge, acquire or invest Looking at cross border deals, show strong growth with deals in M&As at KPMG in Qatar said: “There becoming necessary for business benefits of the current decreases in in is vital.” Ooredoo Tunisia Computer and Electronic Products Vodafone Qatar rated launches 4G services Manufacturers’ Forum in May as premium operator

The Peninsula the important role of electronic man- While electronic products The Peninsula The Peninsula ufacturing in developing modern manufacturing is still relatively societies. This industry has indeed new in GCC countries, they have become a pillar for future devel- achieved remarkable successes in DOHA: Gulf Organisation for Indus- opment plans, since it has been this field, notably in the areas of DOHA: Vodafone Qatar has been DOHA: Ooredoo Tunisia has suc- trial Consulting (GOIC), under the integrated within all economic manufacturing and assembling of rated as a Premium Operator for cessfully launched 4G services this patronage of Minister of Transport sectors and based on its strategic computers, magnetic disks, com- their roaming services by the GSMA week, as the Ooredoo Group con- and Communications H E Jassim prospect, economic feasibility and munication devices and equipment Association. tinues to transform the digital bin Saif Al Sulaiti, will hold the GCC political influences. and measuring, testing and control The GSMA Association repre- experience by offering super-fast Computer and Electronic Products Al Ageel added: “Scientific equipment etc. sents the interests of mobile operators 4G services across its footprint. Manufacturers’ Forum in May 2016 research, innovation and develop- Electronic products are char- worldwide, uniting nearly 800 oper- With the launch of 4G in Tuni- in Doha. ment lay the foundations of the shift acterised by the wide range of uses ators with more than 250 companies sia, Ooredoo companies now offer The Forum aims at shedding light towards knowledge-based indus- in modern day lifestyles, to include: in the broader mobile ecosystem, able to give our customers the wid- 4G services in five markets: Qatar, on the current status and compo- tries, hence the need to increase electronics, computers, commu- including handset and device makers, est roaming footprint and the widest Kuwait, Oman, Indonesia and nents of the computer and electronic spending, which requires a GCC nication devices and equipment, software companies, equipment pro- 4G coverage.” Tunisia, making it one of the lead- products manufacturing industry, industrial development strategy and software, semiconductors and meas- viders and Internet companies, as well When customers roam with ing 4G companies in the region. boosting spending in this sector and a national system capable of manag- uring and control equipment etc. as organisations in adjacent industry Vodafone Qatar they can use their Ooredoo’s customers can enjoy transitioning to electronic industries ing and organising scientific research In addition to that, this industry sectors. Every year the Association phone for calls and data all around a better, faster mobile experience throughout the GCC. through a national strategy of science relies mainly on scientific knowl- launches a compliance scorecard to the world with 607 Roaming part- on 4G, as well as a range of inno- The minister said: “Qatar is keen and technology.” edge guaranteeing a high added rate operators’ compliancy with lat- ners all over the world with 4G vative new products and services. to stimulate joint Gulf ventures at all In light of the important and value. Moreover, it faces a number est roaming standards and Vodafone roaming available in 43 destinations Faster file transfers, high definition levels by encouraging and support- promising role of knowledge-based of obstacles hindering its expansion Qatar received the highest score rat- most frequented by people in Qatar. images and speedier downloads ing various initiatives and projects industries in developing the GCC in the Gulf such as: the difficulty to ing this year. This is the widest roaming footprint are all made possible through the between GCC countries in different industrial sector and their valuable establish an independent industry Mohamed Al Sadah (pictured), not only in Qatar but the GCC. 4G upgrade, which will also help fields, including the electronic prod- contribution to economic diversifi- and the difficulty to transfer tech- Chief Operating Officer, Vodafone Customers can rest assured customers using 3G, by increas- ucts manufacturing industry.” cation, GOIC, in collaboration with nology, especially that this field Qatar commented, “We are delighted that they will be covered in the air ing capacity with LTE technology. He expressed hope to see the Gulf the Ministry of Transport and Com- requires a high level of technologi- by GSMA’s recognition of our premier with Vodafone’s roaming services Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al transformed into the beating heart munications in Qatar, decided to cal progress supported by advanced roaming standard. At Vodafone, we on more than 20 international air- Thani, Group Chief Executive of computer and electronic products organise this forum to discuss vari- scientific research. know how important it is for cus- lines. In fact, with the ocean covering Officer, Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo manufacturing, and wished that the ous topics and issues to boost these Nevertheless, there are prospects tomers to have high quality roaming 70 percent of the planet, when cus- continues to pursue our strategy of forum would come up with recom- vital industries. The forum will also to develop these industries in GCC services allowing them to confi- tomers sail with Vodafone they will network evolution and leadership mendations capable of enriching this tackle problems and challenges that countries where capital is available dently connect abroad. Vodafone be able to call, SMS and send mails in order to deliver cutting-edge industry and overcoming difficulties GCC countries face, suggest solu- and where it is possible to provide globally maintains a leading roam- with Vodafone Maritime roaming data and digital services across it faces in the region. tions and put together a number of skilful national cadre with proper ing position and thanks to being part services. Vodafone’s Passport pack our footprint. With the launch Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al Ageel, recommendations to overcome the training and research and develop- of Vodafone Group Plc, the world’s supports roaming in 45 countries for of 4G in Tunisia, we can expand GOIC Secretary General reiterated problems in this region. ment centres. largest network, we here in Qatar are QR100 a week. our portfolio of smart services for Tunisian customers and deliver an enhanced mobile experience for all. We offer our congratula- tions to our team in Tunisia, who Saudi Aramco and Merger deal cancelled have achieved this technological breakthrough in rapid time and delivered to a high quality.” Sabic study plan for To support the 4G launch, Ooredoo Tunisia is releasing new, innovative bundles for customers that include data allowance, free call joint oil refinery minutes, video-on-demand serv- ices with Starz Play and MyCloud online storage services. Customers Bloomberg by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth can enjoy 3G and 4G bundles at the fund, the Public Investment Fund, the same great price and choose from prince said. prepaid and postpaid options. “Having Aramco and Sabic Ooredoo Tunisia is also RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Oil Co. working together is needed since launching a range of value-added and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. both companies will report to the services for customers, including are studying a plan to build a joint Public Investment Fund and this Mobifind, which helps customers refinery that would produce chem- eventually will create more natu- find their phone in case of loss or ical products directly from crude oil, ral synergies between them,” John theft, and Mazika, an entertain- according to two people with knowl- Sfakianakis, the director of eco- ment app with the largest Arabic edge of the talks. nomic research at Gulf Research music catalogue. The company The world’s largest crude Center in Riyadh, said by phone. has also enhanced its Mobile exporter known as Saudi Aramco and Saudi Aramco and Sabic had been Academy service, which provides Sabic, the second biggest petrochem- working separately on projects to pro- unlimited access to an incredible ical maker in the world, are planning duce chemicals straight from crude range of online courses. to build the refinery in Yanbu on the oil without the need to have sep- Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, said the arate refineries, the people said. A view of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Factory on the outskirts of Cork, southern Ireland. Top US drugmaker people, who asked not to be identified Aramco has delayed plans to build Pfizer and Irish rival Allergan are charting independent futures after scrapping a record $160bn deal because the talks are confidential. an oil refinery with a petrochemi- torpedoed by new Treasury Department rules meant to block American companies from moving their Egypt’s GASC Saudi Aramco declined to comment cal complex in Yanbu with a planned corporate addresses overseas — on paper — to avoid US taxes. while Sabic didn’t respond to a request capacity of 400,000 barrels a day as it cancels tender for comment. awaits progress on studies for the joint “This move is long overdue given refinery with Sabic, they said. to buy rice that both companies are operating Aramco’s chief executive officer, and competing in the same mar- Amin Nasser, confirmed at a con- kets,” said Mohamed Ramady, a ference in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, ICD launches $300m five-year sukuk Reuters London-based energy analyst, on March 30 that the company is said by phone. “Sabic and Aramco testing the new technology to pro- cooperation will ensure that both duce chemicals from crude oil. companies will avoid duplication Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi had Reuters investors, having initially been ear- points over midswaps guide range ABU DHABI: Egypt’s state grain of projects in this period of Saudi announced in 2013 that the minis- marked to price as early as Tuesday given on the previous day, accord- buyer, the General Authority for economic rationalisation and cost try was working with Sabic for the and sized as a benchmark offering— ing to the document from arrangers. Supply Commodities (GASC), said effectiveness.” construction of an oil-to-chemical traditionally understood to mean Noor Bank and Warba Bank have yesterday it had cancelled a tender In an interview in Riyadh last refinery in Yanbu. DUBAI: Islamic Corporation for the upwards of $500m. been added to the 10-strong group to buy rice as the offers presented week, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince The Saudi government is pushing Development of the Private Sector ICD, a unit of Islamic Develop- of banks arranging the transaction: did not comply with its terms. Mohammed bin Salman said a con- the two state-controlled companies (ICD) has launched a $300m five-year ment Bank, has “retained a portion of Bank ABC, Boubyan Bank, CIMB, “The offers were not compliant flict between Aramco and Sabic to collaborate on the Yanbu refinery sukuk that should price later, a doc- the transaction”, the document said Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, to shipment dates or specifications had been resolved in the past few project and to undertake more joint ument from lead managers showed. without elaborating. First Gulf Bank, HSBC, Mizuho, for the rice,” Mamdouh Abdel Fat- months. Both independent compa- projects, said the two people with The transaction seems to have The issuer has also set pricing Societe Generale and Standard tah, vice-chairman of GASC, said. nies will have a majority ownership knowledge of the talks. struggled to gain traction with at the wide end of the 125-130 basis Chartered. BUSINESS THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 25 Commercial Bank Qatari bourse outperforms its peers plans to raise in March; market cap grows by 15.6%

By Satish Kanady funds by Q3-end The Peninsula

DOHA: GCC markets would prove Commercial Bank attractive investment avenues in the long run as trading multiples have will open branches in been lowered significantly. In terms West Bay, Boulevard of valuation, the GCC markets one- and Lusail in coming year forward PE ratio stands at 7–12x, lower than that for emerging mar- months, says CEO kets. Thus, GCC markets are still more Abdulla Saleh Al attractive than peers, a market per- formance report released by Global Raisi. Research noted yesterday. The regional markets recorded a weak performance in 2015 due to By Sachin Kumar a significant dip in oil prices. This The Peninsula Bay, Boulevard and Lusail in coming year, in January, the market trend months. He added that the bank has continued due to concern over oil not tightened rules for retail lending oversupply following the lifting of DOHA: Commercial Bank is plan- for customers. sanctions on Iran. ning to raise funds from the market The chief executive officer said In February, Opec giants Saudi by the end of third quarter this year. that the bank is not facing in liquidity Arabia and Russia decided to main- “We are thinking about raising shortage and is in comfortable posi- tain oil production at the January funds and will see how can we do it tions in terms of liquidity. levels, which partially boosted mar- at the moment. Probably, this will “Liquidity all over the world is ket sentiment. Markets recovered in come at the end of, may be, third tightening but luckily Qatar is least March; however, a series of rating An Egyptian counting US dollar notes in Cairo. The Central Bank of Egypt (CEB) said the net international quarter,” said Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi affected market due to the wise lead- downgrades and reviews from major reserves stood at $16.5bn at the end of March. (pictured), CEO, Commercial Bank, ership of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim credit rating agencies invoked nega- talking to reporters on the side lines bin Hamad Al Thani,” said Al Raisi. tivity and raised questions regarding these measures would not be able to (197bn or 24 percent). The Kuwaiti, by a rise in oil prices and strong mac- of branch opening yesterday. Slowdown in global economy the region’s economic stability in the support the budget deficits entirely. Omani, and Bahraini exchanges roeconomic fundamentals. This was Commercial Bank yesterday has led to tightening of liquidity in the near term. Hence, the agencies are concerned contributed $115bn, or 14 percent, evident from the “AA/A-1+” rating officially reopened its Al Wakrah financial system. Central banks in the In February and March, both about the region’s economic outlook. to the market capitalisation. with a “stable” outlook affirmed by Avenue branch to provide banking developing world have divested some Moody’s and S&P cut the ratings The market capitalisation of the QE was the key gainer during Standard and Poor’s to Qatar’s long- services for the Al Wakrah commu- of their foreign exchange reserves in of some GCC nations and kept the GCC bourses increased 2.4 percent the month (4.9 percent), followed and short-term sovereign bonds. nity. The bank has plans to further an attempt to prop up the value of their others in review for a downgrade. month-on-month (MoM) to $820bn by Dubai (3.6 percent), Saudi (2.1 The country has invited both Opec expand its presence across Qatar by domestic currencies amid the carnage Furthermore, the agencies cut the in March from $801bn in February. percent), Oman (1.3 percent), Abu and non-Opec members to a meet- opening three new branches in com- in commodity prices. This develop- ratings of a few banks. Notably, most The Saudi bourse contributed the Dhabi(0.9 percent) and Kuwait (0.4 ing scheduled on April 17 in Doha to ing months. ment, in theory, puts upward pressure of the GCC countries are estimating most in the overall market capi- percent). discuss stabilization in the oil mar- “We are reviewing the existing on US Treasury yields as central bank- a budget deficit in 2016 and have talization of the region ($381bn or The Qatari bourse’s movement ket. Investors anticipate a positive branch network and possibly will ers sell the debt, effectively tightening undertaken various measures to curb 46.5 percent), followed by the Qatari was broadly in line with oil prices outcome, especially after a series of have to add few more,” said Al Raisi. global liquidity and weighing on risk the expected deficit due to a poten- index ($128bn or 15.6 percent), and throughout the month. Investors’ risk meetings in February yielded com- The bank will open branches in West assets. tial drop in oil revenues. However, Abu Dhabi and Dubai markets appetites remained strong, supported mitments from oil producers. Commercial Bank opens revamped Al Wakrah Avenue branch

The Peninsula historical association with Al Wakrah, Banking services. Commercial Bank serving the local Qatari community has a second branch in Al Wakrah, sit- and businesses here for many years,” uated on Souk Street, and together the said Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, speaking two branches are strategically located DOHA: Commercial Bank, Qatar’s at the opening ceremony. “Investing in by connecting the city of Doha and first private bank, yesterday offi- our Al Wakrah Avenue branch dem- Messaied, one of the oldest oil and gas cially reopened its Al Wakrah Avenue onstrates our commitment to both centres in Qatar. branch to provide banking services for maintaining these valued long-term The new branch is in line with Com- the Al Wakrah community. customer relationships and investing mercial Bank’s vision of making banking Commercial Bank officials for- across the whole of Qatar to serve new convenient and easy for customers mally inaugurated the new branch customers in areas of development through the bank’s extensive branch during an opening ceremony and growth,” he added. network and digital banking chan- attended by the Bank’s Chairman Originally open since 1992, the nels. Our thirty full-service branches Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Jabor Al new branch is located on Al Wak- are supported by over 154 ATMs, plus Thani, Managing Director, Hussain rah’s main street and has been Internet Banking and Mobile Banking Alfardan and CEO, Abdulla Saleh Al rebuilt to create a modern, state- services. Customers are assisted by Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Jabor Al Thani (third left), Chairman of Commercial Bank, and Hussain Alfardan Raisi, along with other senior digni- of-the-art banking centre for the courteous, efficient, professional and taries and executives from the Bank. people of Al Wakrah, offering retail, knowledgeable advisors to ensure (second left), Managing Director, cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the revamped branch at Al “Commercial Bank has a long corporate and Sadara Privileged high-class services. Wakrah Avenue.

Nokia to cut thousands of Huawei P9 debuts with dual camera lens jobs following Alcatel deal

AP photography system co-engineered by the two companies, the P9 brings together best-in-class hardware and software, from optical lenses, to sen- Reuters Shares in Nokia rose 0.9 percent sors, to image processing algorithms, empowering following Wednesday’s announce- LONDON: At an exclusive launch event at London’s users to capture the highest-quality images. ment, but the latest job cuts caused Battersea Evolution, Huawei Consumer Business Key to the P9’s superlative imaging capabili- consternation in Finland after Group unveiled the much anticipated Huawei P9 ties is a dual-camera design that fully unleashes HELSINKI: Telecom network Nokia said it will cut only 400 jobs and P9 Plus. Created in collaboration with Leica, the power of Leica’s optical lenses, renowned for equipment maker Nokia is plan- in France while creating 500 posts the dual-lens P9 sets a new standard in smartphone precision and attention to detail, and subject to the ning to cut thousands of jobs in research and development in the photography. industry’s most stringent quality screening require- worldwide, including 1,400 in country, in line with a pledge to the The Huawei P9 is the first smartphone co-engi- ments. The RGB camera on the P9 specializes in Germany and 1,300 in its native French government during the Alca- neered with the global iconic brand, Leica Camera capturing color, while the monochrome camera Finland, as part of a cost-cutting tel negotiations. AG. The P9’s dual-lens camera takes smartphone is outstanding at acquiring picture detail. The two programme following its acquisi- Nokia declined to give a total photography to the next level, allowing people to rear cameras of the P9 work in tandem to enable tion of Alcatel-Lucent. figure for global job losses but said capture both vivid colors and striking black and users to create images of superior detail, depth and Finland’s biggest company has it was starting talks with employee white images. Huawei’s new B3 Talkband weara- color. The P9 truly excels in low-light conditions, cut thousands of Finnish jobs over representatives in about 30 coun- ble wristband also made its global debut. as the dual-camera design guarantees more light the past decade as its once-domi- tries. The company employs about A groundbreaking moment for event guests and detail can be captured. nant phone business was eclipsed 104,000 worldwide, with around included a first look at an exclusive trailer of the Each picture taken by the P9 carries the unique by the rise of smartphone rivals. 6,850 in Finland, 4,800 in Germany new Huawei P9 TV commercial starring Henry emotional resonance and timelessness that are the The phone business was eventually and 4,200 in France. Cavill and Scarlett Johansson, Global Product hallmarks of Leica, as users may choose between sold to Microsoft, which has contin- “This (1,300) is a terrible figure; Ambassadors for the Huawei P9 series. Show- three film modes: Standard, Vivid Colors and ued cutting jobs in the recession-hit we have a rather difficult employ- casing the connection between two global stars Smooth Colors, depending on their personal pref- country. ment situation in the sector to begin in Shanghai and Hollywood, the trailer symbol- Huawei P9 and P9 Plus erences. With meticulous calibration of the P9’s Now focused on telecoms with,” said Pertti Porokari, chairman izes the partnership between Huawei and Leica camera parameters, each film mode faithfully network gear, Nokia is look- of the Union of Professional Engi- and the intersection of color and black and white. in the world of imaging for more than 100 years,” renders the authentic color and style of Leica. By ing to reduce operational costs by neers in Finland. Cavill was joined at the P9 launch by iconic photog- said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business selecting the monochrome mode, P9 users can ¤900m ($1.03bn) by 2018 after its “Seems that Finnish workers raphers Mary McCartney and David Guttenfelder Group. “Consumers around the world use their use their devices as a true monochrome camera recent ¤15.6bn ($17.7bn) all-share have lost this match (against the from National Geographic as well as BBC Global smartphones to take billions of pictures each year, to capture powerful and evocative black and white deal for Franco-American rival French).” News CEO Jim Egan, Condé Nast Chairman and making photography critical to user experience. images of superior quality. Deploying Huawei’s Alcatel-Lucent. Finland’s economy minister Olli Chief Executive Jonathan Newhouse, Vogue China P9 users can now capture images with unmatched Hybrid Focus technology, the P9 captures images The acquisition is intended to Rehn said: “The news on Nokia’s new Publisher Anita Chang and Huawei UK Board Mem- clarity, richness and authenticity, with a master- with superior speed, accuracy and stability. The P9 help Nokia to compete with Swe- plans is very regrettable ... we expect bers Sir Andrew Cahn and Dame Helen Alexander. fully designed and powerful smartphone that looks supports camera focusing based on three meth- den’s Ericsson and China’s Huawei Nokia to bear social responsibility “Huawei is excited to give P9 users the best and feels incredible.” odologies – laser, depth calculation and contrast in a market where limited growth and partly take care of training of smartphone photography experience by leverag- Integrating the design values and engineering – and automatically selects the one that yields the and tough competition are pressur- those whose employment will be ing the unrivalled capabilities of Leica, the leader excellence of Huawei and Leica in a smartphone best result in any given environment. ing prices. terminated.” 26 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,008.77 2.20 % QE Total Return Index 16,129.04 2.20 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,904.73 2.31 % QE All Share Index 2,790.33 1.86 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,710.67 1.52 % QE All Share Industrials 3,090.3 2.61 % QE All Share Transportation 2,500.51 0.44 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,399.87 3.35 % QE All Share Insurance 4,489.28 0.86 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,171.27 1.12 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,429.92 2.04 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 06-04-2016 Today 05-04-2016 Previous day Index 10,031.02 10,008.77 Change 22.25 225.59 % 0.22 2.20 YTD% 3.82 4.03 Volume 7,843,947 10,277,105 Value (QAR) 349,579,667.94 372,203,226.39 Trades 5,222 6,184 Up 25 | Down 11 | Unchanged 03

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5024.565 24.158 0.48 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4259.87 9.59 0.23 4586.11 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 17603.32 -133.68 -0.75 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 20206.67 29.67 0.15 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6227.49 4.97 0.08 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 33946.37 179.88 0.53 33951.41 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 15715.36 -17.46 -0.11 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.0923 QR 5.1637 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 4.1069 QR 4.1651 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.7398 QR 2.7938 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.7661 QR 3.8197 Yen QR 0.0327 QR 0.0333 A C C-A/D 1427.75 37.35 23464 F D C-B/D 183.45 -2.5 2663 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 65 0.55 2583 Tinplate-B/D 68 1.5 23130 Aus$ QR 2.7209 QR2.7747 Aarti Drugs-B/D 454 -4.5 2328 Federal Bank-A/D 44 0.25 165765 Kinetic Eng-B/D 78 0.9 9014 Ucal Fuel-B/D 101.7 0.8 4885 Ind Re QR 0.0542 QR 0.0552 Aban Offs-A/D 174.15 1.8 172700 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.8 0.16 14923 Kopran-B/D 51.85 -0.1 62547 Ucal Fuel-B/D 101.7 0.8 4885 Aegis Logis-B/D 97.1 0.65 17783 Fgp Ltd-Xd/D 2.49 0.11 2848 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 32.75 1.05 1434 Ultramarine-B/D 115.6 1.5 16167 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Alembic-B/D 36 0 41724 Finolex-A/D 362 2.55 9097 Lgb Broth-B/D 474.8 13.5 1051 Unitech P -A/D 5.04 0.09 9902732 Peso QR 0.0780 QR 0.0796 Alok Indus-A/D 4.84 0.34 1576010 Gail-A/D 341.15 0.85 55619 Lloyd Metal-B/D 25 0.5 42884 Univcable-B/D 75 2.5 9014 SL Re QR 0.0249 QR 0.0255 Apollo Tyre-A/D 172.65 7.1 227700 Gammon India-T/D 12.94 0.07 89084 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 4.93 0.05 16354 Uppergsugar-T/D 134 0.1 35639 Taka QR 0.0459 QR 0.0470 Asahi I Glass-/D 157.9 5.2 4933 Garden P -B/D 22.75 0.5 7050 Lupin-A/D 1485.55 22.5 90481 Ashok Leyland-/D 107.75 -1.05 951423 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1174 29.2 7154 Lyka Labs-T/D 83.6 4.5 84656 Nep Re QR 0.0339 QR 0.0346 LONDON Ballarpur In-B/D 15.24 0.05 326098 Goodricke-B/D 180.9 2 71787 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 278 12.4 3918 SA Rand QR 0.2369 QR 0.2416 Bata India-A/D 513 1.6 28895 Goodyear I -B/D 486.9 -10.7 5917 Mah.Seamless-B/D 198.4 16.2 30876 Beml Ltd-A/D 941.8 -31.2 51400 Hcl Infosys-B/D 47 1.5 874565 Mangalam Cem-B/D 239.7 13.6 29475 3I Group/D 453.2 4.4 312348 Bh Electronic-/D 1171.3 -9.05 13342 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 19.2 0.05 2547950 Maral Overs-B/D 26.3 -0.65 1354 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3406 7 104202 GOLD AND SILVER Bhansali Eng-T/D 19.4 0.9 80675 Himat Seide-B/D 190.55 1.5 29914 Mastek-B/D 147.4 5.2 122821 Barclays/D 149.65 3.05 29316784 GOLD QR143.8323 per gramme Bharat Bijle-B/D 948 64 37887 Hind Motors-T/D 5.24 0.09 89545 Max Financial-/D 345.1 4.3 3809 Bp/D 337.65 0.2 11414249 Bharatgears-B/D 68.4 0.9 1946 Hind Org Chem-/D 16.1 0.15 35345 Mrpl-A/D 68.85 2.55 109968 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4111 -7 733801 SILVER QR1.7668 per gramme Bhel-A/D 114 1.2 885892 Hind Unilever-/D 871.6 3.35 51288 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 25 0 2601 Bt Group/D 439.05 3.8 5403477 Bom.Burmah-B/D 384 0.15 7032 Hind.Petrol-A/D 817.15 19.25 139745 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 25 0 2601 Centrica/D 225.9184 2.4 4013660 Bombay Dyeing-/D 48.65 1.8 260221 Hindalco-A/D 88.95 4.05 1672072 Nahar Spg.-B/D 98.7 0.5 16482 Gkn/D 279.5 -0.1 3381321 Camph.& All-B/D 587.8 73.9 34712 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1101.1 -2.3 273691 Nation Alum -A/D 38.25 0.1 74653 Hsbc Holdings/D 417.375 -0.1 14006887 Canfin Homes-B/D 1170 17.8 1745 I F C I-A/D 23.95 -0.2 409503 Navneet Edu-B/D 84.3 1.7 12008 Kingfisher/D 374.4 0.9 1607429 Dollar hits 17-month Caprihans-Xc/D 84 3.05 5318 Idbi-A/D 67.45 -0.65 458098 Nepc India-T/D 1.48 -0.03 16135 Land Secs Grou/D 1110 9 696230 Castrol India-/D 376.6 1.35 19838 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 325.85 4.95 1845 Nrb Bearings-B/D 127.2 -0.1 1373 Legal & Genera/D 230.68 1.6 5223539 low against yen Century Enka-B/D 187 10.3 52013 India Cement-A/D 89.4 5.3 516734 O N G C-A/D 205.8 0.25 347429 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 67.87 0.95 50064172 Century Text-A/D 580.1 49.8 487669 India Glycol-B/D 86.6 1.6 22972 Onward Tech-B/D 70.5 2.1 6893 Marks & Sp./D 410.5 1.7 1364052 Reuters Chambal Fert-B/D 56.8 0.4 35772 Indian Hotel-A/D 102.25 2.95 64436 Orchid Pharm-B/D 39.2 1.35 71267 Next/D 5360.573 115 464540 Chola Invest-A/D 740 3.8 11671 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1013.4 24.85 3735 Orient Hotel-T/D 21.6 0.8 4850 Pearson/D 858.5 -4 1085080 Chowgule St-T/D 15.86 0.73 3883 Indusind-A/D 955.3 4.85 28587 Orient.Carb.-T/D 515 14 1424 Prudential/D 1278.5 10.5 2027831 NEW YORK: The dollar hit a fresh 17-month low against Cimmco-B/D 71.65 1.05 2436 J.B.Chemical-B/D 247.3 0.6 5401 Orient.Carb.-T/D 515 14 1424 Rank Group/D 248.5 0.1 30477 the yen yesterday, while a climb in oil prices helped glo- Cipla-A/D 506 2 119744 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 83.9 2.25 12818 Oudh Sugar-B/D 87.45 5.5 254521 Rentokil Initi/D 180.12 0.2 454088 bal equity markets advance modestly ahead of minutes City Union Bk-/D 97.15 0.85 25384 Jagson Phar-B/D 34.3 0 5072 Patspin India-/D 8.69 0.42 3886 Rolls Royce Pl/D 655.0772 3.5 797160 from the most recent meeting of the US Federal Reserve. Colgate-A/D 829.2 -3.25 10821 Jamnaauto-B/D 146.8 4.5 107434 Punjab Chem.-B/D 166.9 13.2 8525 Rsa Insrance G/D 471.6 2.5 953017 Stocks on Wall Street and in Europe moved slightly Container Cor-/D 1267.5 15.05 7011 Jbf Indu-B/D 203.6 1 53518 Radico Khait-B/D 93.95 -1.7 10325 Sainsbury(J)/D 278.1 -0.2 2177827 higher, buoyed by gains in the energy and healthcare Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 414.8 11.3 9273 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.33 0.01 10000 Rallis India-A/D 172.85 2 312924 Schroders/D 2583 17 68095 sectors. The healthcare sector continued to garner atten- Dcm Shram Ind-/D 140.1 -1.5 26626 Jct Ltd-B/D 5 0.3 2674458 Rallis India-A/D 172.85 2 312924 Severn Trent/D 2181 29 108038 tion in the wake of the decision by Pfizer and Allergan Dhampur Sugar-/D 97.7 5.35 302316 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 8.8 1.46 308752 Reliance Indus/D 429.5 5.3 72598 Smith&Nephew/D 1164 6 347831 to scrap their $160bn merger deal. The healthcare sec- Dr. Reddy-A/D 2999.95 3.95 21257 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 83.9 0.9 182913 Ruchi Soya-B/D 30.6 0.7 43584 Smiths Group/D 1054 2 322660 tors, were the top performing groups in both the United E I H-B/D 105.2 -0.45 20341 Jmc Projects-T/D 222 2.9 3405 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 498.65 -0.85 2277 Standrd Chart /D 430.45 -2.25 3812591 States and Europe. E.I.D Parry-A/D 222.55 11.35 283867 Kabra Extr-B/D 88 0.35 2200 Salora Inter-B/D 45 2.9 5209 Tate & Lyle/D 589.3636 6 181277 Investors’ attention was firmly on the release of the Eicher Motor-A/D 19105.05 358.45 3073 Kajaria Cer-A/D 940 0.35 1560 Saur.Cem-B/D 63.5 3.2 76187 Tesco/D 190.5 2.85 4785907 minutes from last month’s US Federal Reserve mone- Electrosteel-B/D 19.05 0.4 41974 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 220 3.8 37885 Tanfac Indust-/D 26.55 -0.4 1684 Unilever/D 3223.5 34.5 657825 tary policy meeting and any new clues on how many Emco-B/D 26.75 0.95 24663 Kalpat Power-B/D 205.8 -0.25 5035 Tanfac Indust-/D 26.55 -0.4 1684 United Util Gr/D 923 17 578467 interest rate hikes might be expected this year, follow- Escorts Fin-B/D 4.15 0.09 25875 Kalyani Stel-T/D 172.7 4.4 55471 Thirumalai-B/D 211.7 22.2 61993 Vodafone Group/D 217.65 1.5 17065309 ing some mixed signals from some of the Fed’s officials. Escorts-A/D 150.65 8.3 475412 Kanoria Chem-B/D 61.6 3.5 41223 Til Ltd.-T/D 407 10.8 6196 Whitbread/D 3806 -39 190087 The Dow Jones industrial average rose 62.19 Eveready Indu-/D 233 9.4 8101 Kg Denim-B/D 87.5 8.8 188954 Timexgroup-T/D 29.6 0.15 8473 points, or 0.35 percent, to 17,665.51, the S&P 500 gained 11.59 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,056.76 and the Nasdaq Composite added 42.44 points, or 0.88 percent, to 4,886.37. MSCI’s index of world shares, rose 0.6 percent. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 share index rose 0.8 percent after suffering its biggest drop in nearly a month Gulf stock markets little changed on Tuesday. Though the dollar was able to rebound somewhat against the yen, it was still limping after comments Reuters research director at Cairo-based on Tuesday saying that despite key meeting of top oil producers might continue until first-quarter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that coun- Naeem brokerage. challenges facing the sector in Doha before rebalancing their corporate earnings were released. tries should avoid trying to weaken currencies with Riyadh’s index edged up 0.2 - sluggish loan growth and pres- portfolios,” said Sebastien Henin, Abu Dhabi’s index edged down “arbitrary intervention.” percent as the petrochemical sec- sure on deposits, especially from head of asset management at The 0.2 percent. Abu Dhabi Commer- The dollar was down 0.25 percent against the yen DUBAI: Egypt’s stock market tor recovered from the previous an outflow of state funds and the National Investor. cial Bank dropped 2.8 percent to at 110.03 yen after hitting 109.83, its lowest level since tumbled yesterday as local inves- day’s losses and rose 1.0 per- increasing cost of money - banks Shuaa Capital, which is 48.4 6.32 dirhams, after falling by the October 2014. The dollar index, which measures the tors booked profits made after the cent after oil prices rebounded. under its coverage, including percent owned by a Dubai state- same percentage on Tuesday. Its greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was March 14 devaluation of the cur- Advanced Petrochemical rose Samba Group and Saudi Brit- linked entity, jumped 4.6 percent. mean target price among analysts last up 0.01 percent at 94.640. rency. Gulf markets were little 3.0 percent, adding to a 1.0 per- ish Bank , were still rated “buys”. It has soared nearly 50 percent polled by Thomson Reuters is 7.95 But as for much of the last year, oil was the main changed as the region’s first-quar- cent gain on Tuesday when it “Overall, we believe loan demand since mid-March in heavy trade, dirhams, with nine out of the 15 driver of most of the market moves. Crude prices ter earnings season began. announced a 62.9 percent jump remains strong but banks may be partly because of speculation analysts rating the stock a “buy”. extended their rebound. US crude oil inventories unex- The Egyptian index sank 2.6 in first-quarter profit. hesitant to increase exposure to that a strategic investor might be Etisalat rebounded 0.8 per- pectedly fell from record highs last week as refineries percent to 7,460 points, retreat- The telecommunications sec- small and medium-sized corpo- building a stake. cent and Abu Dhabi National continued to hike output and imports fell while gaug- ing from technical resistance on tor was another top gainer, with rates,” added the note. But Dubai’s index failed to hold Energy Co (Taqa) rose 1.9 per- ing the possibility of an output freeze by producers. the October peak of 7,716 points. Zain KSA and Etihad Etisalat Investors in the region gen- onto early gains as investors sold cent. Taqa is now up over 10 Russian sources said Russia believed $45-$50 per Trading volume rose as Egyptian (Mobily) up 1.1 and 3.0 percent erally are cautious before off some large-cap stocks and it percent since last week when barrel was an acceptable price for the oil market to re- investors were net sellers, bourse respectively. Two blue-chip lend- first-quarter earnings and an ended 0.6 percent lower. Emaar the company reported a narrower balance and said there were now discussions on how data showed. ers, National Commercial Bank oil producers’ meeting in Doha Properties dropped 0.8 percent. fourth-quarter loss. long to freeze production and how to monitor it. “The market today witnessed and Riyad Bank, dropped 0.8 and on April 17, which will discuss a “The rally from this year’s lows In Qatar, the benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 3.9 percent to $39.34 a correction after the strong price 2.2 percent as both shares went proposed output freeze to prop up is over - for now - in the big-cap edged up 0.2 percent in the low- per barrel, off a one-month low of $37.27 hit on Tues- rally and volume surges seen ex-dividend. Other banks were crude prices. stocks, and speculators are target- est volume since January 4. Gulf day, while US crude futures surged 4.5 percent to $37.51 after the currency devaluation mixed. “Fund managers and long- ing small and mid-cap companies,” International Services , the oil rig a barrel, the biggest rise since March 17. on March 14,” said Allen Sandeep, Riyad Capital published a note term investors are eyeing the said Henin, adding that the trend provider, added 1.2 percent. BUSINESS VIEWS THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 27

Samsung stakes China forex losses jump 13-fold India turf with as investors brace for more revamped phones

By Himank Sharma have been doing quite well in and Se Young Lee emerging countries, especially in Reuters India,” said Tarun Pathak, an ana- lyst for Counterpoint Technology, noting that budget-tier products have driven volumes for the South AMSUNG Electronics Co Korean firm in recent quarters. Ltd is regaining smart- Such efforts, and better-than- phone share in India anticipated sales for its flagship with a revamped line-up Galaxy S7 devices, are expected packed with special fea- to lift Samsung’s earnings. Some Stures including a safety mode for analysts now expect Samsung’s motorcyclists, as rival Apple Inc January-March profit to top 6 tril- readies a renewed push into the lion won ($5.2bn), compared with world’s fastest-growing market. the Thomson Reuters StarMine Long the leader in price-con- SmartEstimate of 5.6 trillion scious India, the South Korean giant won derived from a survey of 22 had been losing ground to local analysts. Though Samsung will rivals such as Micromax and Lava, offer no details beyond estimated as well as Chinese brands. But Sam- January-March revenue and oper- sung’s Indian market share rose to ating profit when it gives guidance 30 percent as of February this year, on Thursday, analysts expect its from 28.6 percent in the fourth mobile division to have been its quarter of 2015 and 27.4 percent in top earner for the first time in the final quarter of 2014, research seven quarters. firm Counterpoint says. Since mid-2014, Samsung The company credits strong has been overhauling its product sales for its mid-tier products, design, particularly in the mid- particularly its new Galaxy J to-low tier segments, phasing out series phones. “Differentiated old and unpopular models and Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen in a counting machine at a branch of a commercial bank in Beijing. offerings are driving the trend launching new devices includ- in the mid-to-low-end segment,” ing the A, E and J series. said Manu Sharma, vice president The newer devices incor- of product marketing for Samsung porate parts and features By Lianting Tu the company’s credit ratios and debt servic- risk by redeeming $2.24bn of overseas India Electronics. traditionally found only in high- and Molly Wei ing ability.” The airline sector was hurt most notes before maturity this year, up from For example, Samsung end phones, such as metal frames Bloomberg with a combined foreign-exchange loss of $925.8m a year earlier, Bloomberg-com- recently introduced its “S bike” and organic light-emitting diode 17.9bn yuan for 2015, compared with 951.7m piled data show. Six of the eight companies mode, a feature targeted at India’s (OLED) screens. As well as giving yuan a year earlier, Bloomberg-compiled that called bonds were builders, which legions of motorbike riders that, the phones a premium feel, that data show. The big three state-owned air- had binged on dollar notes amid cheaper when activated, notifies callers also enables Samsung to increase HE impact of August’s yuan deval- lines — China Southern Airlines Co, China rates offshore and restrictive rules on local that the phone’s owner is riding the number components common uation has shown up in Chinese Eastern Airlines Corp, Air China Ltd — suf- issuance. and cannot answer. Other draws across its products, cutting costs publicly traded companies’ annual fered the equivalent of $2.5bn in FX losses. The amount of foreign-currency debt for buyers include models with and enabling more aggressive results — and investors are bracing China Southern Airlines had the big- hedged by Chinese companies has risen to features for using less data or pricing, analysts said. for more pain. Some 980 listed Chi- gest FX loss among all companies of 5.7bn about 50 percent of their total debt now, up keeping the phone alive for longer Dongbu Securities analyst nese companies reported combined yuan in 2015. An official in investor rela- from around 15 percent before the August when charging is not possible. Yoo Eui-hyung said such efforts Tforeign-exchange losses of 48.7bn yuan ($7.5bn) tions department at the airline, who asked devaluation, according to Sue Trinh, Royal Researcher GfK says the J2, J5 could boost mobile division mar- for last year, almost 13 times the amount in not to be identified, said Tuesday the car- Bank of Canada’s head of Asia FX strategy. and J7 account for nearly 20 per- gins by 1 or 2 percentage points, 2014, Bloomberg-compiled data show. Prof- rier plans to cut the proportion of its dollar China Oilfield Services Ltd plans to cent of the Indian mobile market although savings were likely to its at those firms slumped 11 percent last year debt to 50 percent of the total by year end raise 10bn yuan to pay back dollar bonds by value. Production cost savings be offset by price cuts. “Samsung to 789.2bn yuan. State-owned oil refiner from 61 percent currently by refinancing with that account for 95 percent of debt, chief are also enabling Samsung to sell is trying to hold its ground,” he China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, or Sinopec, onshore yuan bonds. Two calls to the inves- financial officer Li Feilong said at a press higher-quality phones for less, ana- said. Still, Samsung is expected to reported 3.9bn yuan in net FX losses, increas- tor relations department of Sinopec went conference in Hong Kong on March 30. Air lysts said. Samsung’s surge in the No. remain under pressure from Chi- ing from 179m yuan in 2014. unanswered. China plans to cut US currency debt to 60 2 smartphone market behind China nese competitors growing more The yuan’s 4.5 percent tumble last year, China’s real estate companies, Asia’s big- percent of its total by year-end from 73.5 comes as arch-rival Apple struggles aggressive overseas as growth the largest since 1994, swelled financing gest dollar high-yield borrowers, were the percent at the end of 2015, Lv Lingfei, dep- to gain a footing with its expensive at home slows. “Samsung has costs for Chinese companies, the biggest dol- second most-hit with combined foreign- uty general manager of finance, said at a phones, holding market share of regrouped itself but will have to lar borrowers in Asia. More depreciation in exchange losses of 11.9bn yuan, up from briefing in Hong Kong on March 31. just 2 percent in the fourth quarter be constantly on its toes,” IDC January triggered a global stock rout and 1.4bn yuan in 2014. Evergrande Real Estate Chinese companies have become of 2015. The US firm’s renewed efforts analyst Kiranjeet Kaur said. contributed to a 31 percent first-quarter drop Group Ltd said on March 29 that its FX loss increasingly aware of exchange-rate risk to import and sell used iPhones, In addition to trying to secure in Chinese dollar bond from borrowings was 2.84bn yuan in 2015, and started to consider hedging dollar lia- meanwhile, are facing opposition permission to sell used, or refur- sales. While the renminbi or 27 percent of its net income, up from 47m bilities about a year ago, said Raymond from local vendors. bished, phones in India, Apple is has rallied against the US yuan in 2014. Agile Property Holdings Ltd, Yeung, a Hong Kong-based senior econo- Samsung’s gains also under- betting its new 4-inch iPhone SE dollar for two months, it based in the southern province of Guang- mist at Australia & New Zealand Banking score how the world’s No. 1 can help it gain new customers in is still weakening against dong, recorded FX losses from borrowings Group Ltd. “However, it was not until the smartphone maker, with just the country. a basket of currencies. and convertible bonds of 1.13bn yuan in 2015, sharp depreciation last August that they under a fifth of the global market The cheapest iPhone SE will “Continued yuan compared with 83m yuan in 2014, accord- paid serious attention to the issue.” as of the end of 2015, is finding its sell at Rs39,000 ($587), before depreciation will def- ing to its March 23 earnings. The yuan has dropped about 4.1 percent footing after a long slide. Though discounts or promotions, com- initely impact Chinese “Agile will continue to cut FX exposure against the dollar since the August depreci- still squeezed by Apple in the pre- pared with 8,350 rupees for the companies’ bottom line,” by part repaying offshore debts and using ation. Among the worst-hit industries were mium segment and by Chinese Galaxy J2 or Rs14,249 ($215) for The yuan’s 4.5 percent said Raymond Chia, the onshore financing for local projects,” said energy and mining, with foreign-exchange rivals such as Huawei Technol- the J7, according to the compa- Singapore-based head Maggie Chui, an outside consultant for the losses of 5.5bn yuan and 3.9bn yuan in 2015, ogies Co Ltd at the lower end, nies’ Indian online stores. tumble last year, the of credit research for company at IPR Ogilvy & Mather. “Fur- respectively, the data show. analysts say Samsung is righting Despite the price gap, Apple’s largest since 1994, Asia excluding Japan at thermore, the company has done some FX “Chinese companies have been under itself by launching more attractive emerging market-focused phone Schroder Investment hedging deals in 2016.” downward economic pressure, which is products and shaving production could pose a threat to Samsung, swelled financing costs Management Ltd, which Jimmy Fong, investor relations official exacerbated by FX losses,” said Cheng Shi, costs to compete better on price. some analysts say, particularly if for Chinese companies, manages about $446.5bn. at Evergrande, said the builder will consider co-head of research at ICBC International “Samsung mid-level smart- it wins approval to import refur- “In some cases, the impact issuing more onshore bonds to lower costs Research Ltd. “There are high chances for phones, especially the J series, bished iPhones. the biggest dollar is severe. Although one and will consider early dollar debt redemp- the yuan to depreciate this year with ris- borrowers in Asia. can argue FX impact is tion if costs are attractive. ing volatility. Companies should be more non-cash, it does impact Chinese firms have cut foreign-exchange aware of FX risk.” Burning wood is metal maker’s plan to revive UK steel industry

By Rachel Morison wants government help to convert the coal- There have been challenges. Days after group UK Steel. In the first quarter, scrap Bloomberg fired generator to run on wood pellets and acquiring the power plant, the government prices fell to their lowest in at least five years, is investing in a venture to use the tides in cut some of the funding for biomass projects according to The Steel Index data. Swansea Bay to make electricity. that Gupta was counting on to help finance Gupta said his family companies, with a “If UK energy costs were competitive, we his conversion of the coal generator. combined annual revenue of $6.7bn, have also ANJEEV Gupta is convinced there’s could make steel all day long,” Gupta said in Now, he’s hoping to win some subsidies invested an “eight-figure sum” in the world’s still a profitable life ahead for Brit- his office at the Uskmouth power plant with being awarded later this year, competing first tidal-lagoon project, which would pro- ain’s nearly bankrupt steel industry, its 121-metre smokestack built in 1959. “When with other renewable producers for £730m duce electricity from the river. He declined to and he’s planning to use wood pel- we make steel, it will be from recycled mate- ($1.04bn) of funding. Gupta declined to provide details. The 1 billion-pound plant in Slets and sea tides to save it. After earning a rial so it will be viable. We expect we will provide an estimate for the power-plant con- Swansea Bay is awaiting a government review fortune processing steel and making metal grow and employ more people, not cut jobs.” version. If the government aid doesn’t come on the cost of the technology. parts in Asia and Europe, the 44-year-old Gupta, Liberty’s chairman, says reviving through, Gupta says he’ll try to use recycled After once producing about 40 percent Gupta is steering his Liberty House Group the Welsh mill would allow him to supply as waste as fuel, including from sewage treat- of the world’s steel, the UK only has two pri- into a UK industry on the edge of collapse. A much as 20 percent of UK steel demand. And ment plants. mary plants left — Port Talbot and a plant global glut of Chinese imports and high costs he’s already considering expanding. Liberty is “We didn’t buy this station to run coal,” he at Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire. Tata is have forced mills to close across the country. in talks to acquire some mills from Tata Steel said. He needs the cheaper electricity to oper- planning to sell its UK operations after years After once producing His plan involves rewriting the economics of Ltd, which would also be converted to make ate an arc furnace he plans to install at the of losses, raising concern that the plants will the business by acquiring distressed assets, steel from recycled scrap rather than iron ore. mill. The forge will enable Liberty to make its be forced to close and make the UK the first about 40 percent of the using scrap metal instead of iron ore, and get- Gupta was born in India into a family of own steel by melting some of the 9.5 million member of the Group of Seven economies world’s steel, the UK only ting some government help. industrialists. He got his start in business selling tonnes of scrap the UK produces every year, without blast furnaces. China is now the The key is cheaper electricity to run fur- bicycles in Turkey before moving to England to he said. The mill currently processes steel world leader, making about half of the world’s has two primary plants naces in a country where rates are twice the study economics at Cambridge University. He that’s being turned into hot-rolled coil for 1.67bn tonnes of steel. left — Port Talbot and a European average. In 2013, Liberty acquired began trading commodities from his student parts used in Jaguar cars to Boeing Co. planes. “We started the plant at exactly the a shuttered mill in Newport, Wales, and then accommodation and created Liberty House in Gupta’s plan to melt recycled steel in Brit- worst time in the industry,” Gupta said. “If plant at Scunthorpe in bought an aging power plant nearby better 1992, naming it after the Statue of Liberty in ain “makes sense,” though prices probably we can survive and make money now, then North Lincolnshire. known as a recurring locale for the long- New York Harbor. Today, he and his family live will remain volatile, said Dominic King, head we are in a good position for when the mar- running Dr. Who television show. Gupta near the power station and steel mill in Wales. of policy and representation at industry lobby ket improves.” 28 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Thailand’s retailers get hip to Beware a looming torrent of defaults $50bn govt stimulus hopes in Emerging Markets

By Christopher Langner 346 eight years ago. Based on By Khettiya Jittapong and Bloomberg those numbers, the delinquency Manunphattr Dhanananphorn rate stands at only 3.7 percent Reuters (though the S&P figures don’t capture the entire universe of NVESTORS worried by a defaults). potential second wave of A study by Moody’s published N a downtown Bangkok mall, defaults in the US should in February 2009 showed that the ripped jeans and mirror sun- be even more concerned default rate among high-yield glasses aimed at fast-fashion Iabout emerging markets. emerging-markets issues could teens show how Thai retail- Moody’s Investors Service reach as high as 22 percent in the ers are getting ready for the says default rates currently stand five years following severe banking next big thing - a government at about 4 percent and could soar and sovereign crises. So far, most Istimulus package they’re betting will to as high as 14.9 percent by the countries in the asset class have revive sales after years of stagnation. end of the year under the most suffered currency and liquidity The goods are on sale in US brand pessimistic scenario, Bloomberg crises but have skirted the more Aeropostale Inc’s first Thai store, News reports today. Its best-case severe sovereign and banking kind. recently opened in a joint venture projection is a 5.05 percent rate. Number of EM defaults in with Robinson Department Store. The Edward Altman, New York 2015: 26 country’s third-biggest retailer plans University professor and crea- A further cause for concern: 15 of the shops this year, even if Aero- tor of the widely used Z-Score Fitch Ratings said in January that postale’s allure has faded back home. method for predicting bankrupt- 24 percent of companies in seven Thai luxury malls, department cies, has also forecast rising US of the biggest emerging markets stores and hypermarkets are all defaults this year, saying in Jan- have raised money offshore. That opening new outlets. Amid record uary that recession could follow increases their vulnerability to Customers try on glasses at a shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand. tourism numbers, the military gov- even with a rate of less than 10 weakening currencies, an issue ernment is readying long-term percent, given the increase in debt that’s dogging Chinese issuers. stimulus spending that retailers see In a recent visit to the Aeropostale one response, Central Group, a retail Record household debt built up under since the financial crisis. Fitch also said that the share of topping $50bn to support a fragile store in a mall in the popular tourist to real estate conglomerate, plans to the free-spending government the Altman, a specialist in credit banks and sovereign ratings on recovery from 2014, when months district Ratchadaphisek, 30-year-old invest 6.5bn baht ($183m) this year to junta toppled in May 2014 remains a markets, hasn’t been able to create negative outlook is at the high- of street protests and a coup brought pharmacist Nawarat Kreukheunpetch expand its high-end Central Embassy constraint. “We don’t expect to see successful default rate statistics for est since 2009. Southeast Asia’s second-biggest bagged a pair of sandals and a t-shirt mall in Bangkok. Foreign retailers are a strong (short-term) pickup given emerging markets due to a lack of The rating company’s anal- economy to a standstill. bearing Aeropostale’s New York also showing growing interest: Japanese low-income earners have not fully historical data, he told an audience ysis of Brazil, India, Indonesia, “The economy is recovering branding. Each item cost about $14. department store operator Takash- recovered,” Chatrchai said. at Hong Kong University last year. Mexico, Russia, South Africa and slowly,” Robinson’s Chief Financial “I like the design and the prices imaya Co will open its first store in Any delay in infrastructure However, it was safe to assume Turkey shows that private-sector Officer, Dissatat Wisetvara, told Reu- are reasonable,” she said, “and the Thailand at a new mixed-use luxury spending would also be a risk to a that they would normally exceed debt rose to an estimated 77 per- ters in an interview, targeting more shop also offers promotion discounts, project called Icon Siam in 2017. recovery that remains tentative: The those of developed markets such cent of GDP at the end of 2014, up than $5m in sales from the Aeropostale which makes it easier for me to buy.” Retailers in the north, Bangkok central bank on March 23 cut its 2016 as the US, he concluded. from 46 percent in 2005. stores this year. “We hope the stimulus Before the stimulus package kicks and Thailand’s islands are seeing growth forecast to 3.1 percent from If that’s the case, there’s Corporate defaults increased measures will help spur the economy in, prospects for growth in a sector the benefit of the rising numbers of 3.5 percent. But that would still mean trouble on the way. According to a record in Brazil last year. and purchasing demand and start hav- worth $90 billion in annual sales tourists. Hypermarket operator Big acceleration from 2015’s 2.8 percent to Standard & Poor’s, emerging China has also seen delinquencies ing an impact from June.” have been pegged at 3 percent this C Supercenter Pcl has said it will growth, and the government meas- markets recorded their highest climb exponentially, with at least Announced in March, with more year by the Thai Retailers Association expand its chain and also add 78 ures, including new tax rebates, number of defaults for 11 years in 12 companies missing payments infrastructure spending due by June, (TRA), the same as in 2015. Still, retail- smaller-sized outlets in urban loca- should act as a intermediary spur to 2015, a tally of 26. The Bank of on bonds in the past two years. the stimulus comes amid signs that ers hope the growth rate will tick up tions, while CP All aims to open 700 boost consumer spending. America Merrill Lynch High Yield If history is any guide, there’s a consumers are ready to respond towards the average of 7-8 percent new franchised 7-Eleven convenience Citigroup economists said the tax Emerging Markets Corporate Plus lot more to come. Another wave quickly. For instance, same-store per year in the past decade. stores this year. “The worst is over for rebates could boost economic growth index currently comprises 696 of defaults in the US will trigger sales picked up in the fourth quar- Thailand is expecting a record 32 retail,” Chatrchai Tuongratanaphan, by 0.1 percent, stoking spending by bonds, a number that’s risen from a tsunami in emerging markets. ter after the junta moved to cut some million tourists this year - good news director of the TRA said. consumers before investment in taxes to spur end-of-year spending. for the country’s luxury retailers. In But it won’t be plain sailing. infrastructure materialises.

More strategists are now being more optimistic on EM, Tai Hui, Hong Kong- Capital which I think in the long run is correct. But further US rate based chief Asia market increases, a stronger dollar and more declines in oil, 2016 strategist at JPMorgan Comment is going to be a pretty turbulent year for Emerging Markets. Asset Management

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Supply-side reforms

Marmore MENA @ Name in the Market can help beat marmoremena CFO Journal sluggish growth: IMF #Kuwait - Inflation BANKING FUNDAMENTALS retreats to 3.1 pct in The first-quarter hasn’t WASHINGTON: The International Mone- February. been a very good start tary Fund offered a solution to persistently sluggish economic growth yesterday that to the year for debt included proposals to deregulate product Argaam Plus @ markets.Companies markets and adopt policies to boost labour ArgaamPlus issued $725 billion of market participation. But the analysis in the IMF’s annual debt in the first three World Economic Outlook acknowledged Value of off-plan arguments from sceptics of such “sup- #projects in #Saudi- months of the year. ply side” reforms that deregulation can Arabia hits SAR 34 bln: ministry cause near-term falls in wages and price deflation and so need to be accompa- AHEAD OF THE TAPE nied by fiscal stimulus aimed at boosting near-term. The IMF said new research Fitch Ratings @ shows that structural changes to labour FitchRatings makets and some more heavily regulated business sectors could help lift potential #China Hard Landing The Federal Reserve almost output over the medium term while also Unlikely But Reform certainly won’t raise short- helping to strengthen consumer confi- Scepticism Rising dence in the near term. term interest rates at its It recommended deregulation of the policy meeting later this retail and professional services sectors month. And traders are and network-based sectors such as air, Oxford Econ Policy @ rail and road transportation, electric- OxrepJournal betting a June rate increase ity and gas distribution, telecoms and postal services, particularly in the euro Fixed exchange rates is unlikely. Some even think zone and Japan. facilitate in the good the Fed will stay put for the But the Fund said it is important times but intensify problems in bad rest of the year. to pair supply side reforms with fiscal stimulus measures to boost near term demand and cushion negative shocks. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32 SuSuareza double McIlroy searches lifts Barca for final piece of to victory grand slam puzzle

THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 • 29 Jumada II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Felix and Schippers to face off in Doha

Qatari speedstar Femi Reigning World Champion in the 200 Ogunode targets metres and the European record holder home win in 200m for women’s 200 metres, (21.63 seconds), as world’s best vie Dafne Schippers. for honours at IAAF Diamond League meet

The Peninsula Home favourite Femi Ogonude will be under the spotlight in DOHA: Reigning Olympic champion the men’s 200 Allyson Felix and world champion metres event as Dafne Schippers will meet in a scin- the Asian record tillating 100m clash at the Doha 2016 holder targets meeting on May 6, in what promises to be among the most anticipated a solid early head-to-head battles at the opening season start on competition of the 14-meeting IAAF home turf. Diamond League series. Few athletes are as familiar with Doha’s inviting early season conditions as Felix who will be chasing her 12th victory on the Qatar Sports Club track, and her fourth ever 100m. “It’s always great to be back in Doha and start my international season there,” said Felix, whose 11 vic- tories in the Qatari capital also include three in the 200m and five straight in the 400m from 2007 to 2011. In 2012 she won the short dash in 10.92, still the meeting record, as a prelude to her Olympic 200m triumph in London. In 2015 the 30-year-old Felix added the world 400m title to her long list of achievements, an impor- tant stepping stone to her Olympic 200m/400m double aspirations later this summer. “It will be a great early season test three months before the Olympic Games. The conditions in Doha are always just about ideal, and the com- Four-time Olympic gold medallist and petition very strong.” nine-time world champion Allyson Felix . The test will indeed be a tough one for the three-time 200m world cham- pion, 2012 IAAF Athlete of the Year and three-time Diamond Race win- 2013 world championships. back-to-back Olympic 200m titles in champion and world record holder Garfield, who were fifth and eight at championships, are also in the field. ner who’ll take on Schippers, the rising Schippers was victorious in the 2004 and 2008 and a bronze medal who underwent a kidney transplant last year’s world championships, And in the men’s 200m, the spot- sprint star who won the world 200m pair’s last meeting, beating Felix in at the 2015 world championships. surgery just four days after taking respectively are other notable entrants. light will fall on home favourite Femi title last summer in Beijing with a ster- the Diamond League final in Brussels The Doha Diamond League also bronze at last year’s world champion- The women’s 400m hurdles field is Ogonude who’ll be targeting a solid ling 21.63 run, a performance which last September 22.12 to 22.22. announces a stellar field in the men’s ships. His 13.04 performance in Beijing led by two-time reigning world cham- early season start on home turf. elevated the 23-year-old Dutchwoman I am really looking forward to 110m hurdles, which includes Jamai- was the fastest since his stunning 12.80 pion Zuzana Hejnova. The 29-year-old “I really want to give local fans all the way up to the No. 3 position running against Allyson, one of the can Omar McLeod who’ll be looking to world record at the Brussels Diamond Czech, who also struck Olympic bronze a Diamond League win for Qatar at all-time in what was just her second best sprinters of all-time. As always, extend the momentum that propelled League, despite running with just 20 in London, will be targeting the 54.27 home,” said Ogunode, who finished season as a full-time sprint specialist. though, the entire field will be very him to world indoor gold in Portland percent kidney function. meeting record set by Ionela Tirlea- seventh in the event at the world “I have heard so many great strong.” last month to his 2016 outdoor debut. David Oliver of the US will return Manolache in 1999. championships last year in the finest things about Doha, about the com- The field will also include Tori “As a fan of the sport I am always looking for a fourth Doha victory. The In an intriguing match-up, she’ll be season of his career. The 24-year-old petition and about the fast track,” Bowie, the reigning US champion amazed by the sprints and hurdles field 33-year-old former world champion facing Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain who clocked 9.91 in the 100m in June and said Schippers, who also raced to and 2015 world bronze medallist assembled in Doha, I am excited to be set the current meeting record of 12.95 raced to world indoor gold over 400m capped his campaign with a 19.97 vic- world championships silver last year over the distance; Murielle Ahouré a part of the 2016 constellation and in 2008. last month. Adekoya won this event in tory in Brussels, both Asian records. in the 100m clocking a personal best of Cote D’Ivoire, who raced to look forward to the event.” McLeod McLeod’s teammate Hansle Doha two years ago. Cassandra Tate of Panama’s Alonso Edward, the 10.81. Her transformation to inter- 100m and 200m silver at the 2013 will bring a 12.97 career best to the Parchment (12.94), the runner-up at the US, last year’s world bronze med- Diamond Race winner in the event in national sprint star has been nearly world championships; and Jamai- start line. last year’s world championships and allist, Jamaica’s Olympic and world 2014 and 2015 is also in the field, along as swift, coming just two years she can Veronica Campbell-Brown, The field will also include Aries 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, and finalist Kaliese Spencer and Dane Sara with Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade, who won bronze in the heptathlon at the whose long list of accolades include Merritt of the US, the reigning Olympic Frenchmen Dimitri Bascou and Darien Petersen, fourth at last year’s world won in Doha in 2014.

HORROWSPORTS / MVPINDEX LeBron tops Power 100 list for third straight year POWER 100

(Top 20) 16: Andy Murray (Tennis) Reuters an NBA title last year, shot into the top 25, including one and two. the 100 spots taken by NFL and combined by a drop-off in NFL 1: LeBron James (NBA) 17: Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR) second place from 45th. So you have the opportunity to NBA players. players considering quarterbacks 2: Stephen Curry (NBA) 18: Roger Federer (Tennis) World number one tennis rise to the top of the list if you are Boxers and mixed martial had occupied five of the top 11 3: Novak Djokovic (Tennis) 19: Maria Sharapova (Tennis) players Novak Djokovic and a star basketball player.” arts fighters are included in the spots in last year’s list. NEW YORK: LeBron James and Serena Williams and former The concept for the list list while soccer players are omit- Tiger Woods, once a fixture 4: Serena Williams (Tennis) 20: Rafael Nadal (Tennis) Stephen Curry grabbed the top NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin was created in 2009. MVPin- ted as Horrow said it is impossible in the top 10, failed to make the 5: Kevin Durant (NBA) spots on the Horrow Sports/ Durant of the Oklahoma City dex joined last year to provide to get a fair on-field ranking for list after falling steadily from sec- 6: Patrick Kane (NHL) (Selected) MVPindex Power 100 as the NBA Thunder rounded out the top five. a social media component. On- them because of overlapping ond place two years ago to 76th 7: Antonio Brown (NFL) 25: Jordan Spieth (Golf) dominated the rankings released “Steph Curry made the big- field results comprise 50 percent international federations and last year. Los Angeles Lakers great 8: Cam Newton (NFL) 36: Angelique Kerber (Tennis) on Tuesday with 24 players on gest jump on and off the court of of athletes power ranking while national teams. Kobe Bryant, who will retire at the 9: Rory McIlroy (Golf) 43: Stan Wawrinka (Tennis) the list that evaluates an athlete’s any athlete we’ve seen, frankly the other half is based on off- Former world number one end of the current NBA season, 10: James Harden (NBA) 45: Agnieszka Radwanska (Tennis) brand and marketability. in any statistical analysis,” said field attributes: primarily social golfer Rory McIlroy and James also slid further down the list as 11: Russell Wilson (NFL) 50: Petra Kvitova (Tennis) It marked the third consec- Rick Horrow, owner of Horrow media presence (including reach, Harden of the NBA’s Houston he dropped to 84th place com- 12: Tom Brady (NFL) 84: Kobe Bryant (NBA) utive year that James, who plays Sports Ventures. engagement, and conversation). Rockets closed out the top 10. pared to 36th place last year. 13: DeMarcus Cousins (NBA) 87: Ryan Lochte (Swimming) for the Cleveland Cavaliers, “When you look at the count, The list focuses on long- The most noticeable trend For the complete list visit 14: Kevin Harvick (NASCAR) 97: Jason Day (Golf) topped the list while Curry, who 24 of the 100 (athletes) are bas- established sports and the U S on the latest list was a strong http://horrowsports.ventures/ 15: Anthony Davis (NBA) 99: Venus Williams (Tennis) led the Golden State Warriors to ketball players and seven are in market specifically with 44 of move by the NBA into the top 10 power-100/ 30 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 SPORT Qatar SC beat Al Arabi as Al Rayyan edge out Al Wakrah in Emir Cup

The Peninsula

DOHA: Jefferson Consteveous and team-mate White Malcolm Anthony yesterday waded into Al Arabi defence with purpose to power Qatar SC to a 86-79 vic- tory on second game-day of the Emir Cup. Consteveous scored 26 points while Anthony impressed with a tally of 25 to lift Qatar SC at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall. Consteveous enjoyed his splen- Action from the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Qatar Open at the Qatar Beach Volleyball Academy did performance with 6 assists courts at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday. PICTURES BY: MOHAMED FARAJ while Anthony managed a cou- ple of assists. Al Muftah Abdulrahman Ibra- him also chipped in with a useful contribution, producing 11 points. Abdalla Ahmed Mahmood (9) Qatar book spot in and Yousif Ahmad (8) were the other main scorers for Qatar SC . For Al Arabi, Soyebo Temi Nar- cellius clearly savoured one of his better performances, producing a tally of 32 points and 12 assists. knockout phase Seck Oumar also reached double figures, scoring 19 points. Al-Nasr Khalid Masoud scored 14 points. In the second game of the day, Home duo of Julio Al Rayyan beat Al Wakrah 89-83. For Al Rayyan, Ngombo Tan- and Ahmed squeeze guy Alban lead the way with 23 through to advance points. Alban was one of three play- at the FIVB Beach ers to hit the 20-mark. Volleyball World Tour Hill Lawrence scored 21 points Qatar Open while Raffa Anthony Joseph man- aged a tally of 20. Abdulla Malek Salem (14) and Musa Yasseen Ismail (11) also played well. The Peninsula For Al Wakrah, Abouo Charles scored 27 points while Ndour Mame Souleye scored 17. Watson Boney Harold (15) and Action from the Emir Cup match between Qatar SC and Al Arabi at Al DOHA: Julio Cesar Do Nascimento Jr Mujkic Emir (11) also reached dou- and Ahmed Tijan squeezed through ble figures. Abdulla Mohammed Gharafa Stadium yesterday. BOTTOM: An Al Wakrah player all poised for the next phase of the FIVB Beach Seleem scored 8 points. to score a point against Al Rayyan. Volleyball World Tour Qatar Open on the strength of the sole win in pool play on Tuesday night. The Qatari pair lost two of the three matches but managed to book a place in the knockout stage of the championship on the back of the sole win in Pool C on Tuesday night over Chaim Schalk and Ben Saxton of Canada. However the second Qatari pair were not so lucky. The home hopefuls Jefferson San- Qatar’s Julio Cesar Do Nascimento Jr (left) in action during his Pool tos and Cherif Younousse, winners of C match at the Qatar Beach Volleyball Academy courts at Al Gharafa the opening FIVB World Tour tour- Sports Club yesterday. nament of the year on Kish Island, bowed out, coming out worst on a at Rio Games. The Austrian pair are tournament especially as it our 12th three-way tie to finish bottom of looking in the type of form that could tournament so we have fulfilled the their pool. allow them to challenge for a place criteria for the qualification process.” Meanwhile, top seeds Jacob Gibb on the podium, the day-night tourna- Doppler and Horst played at the Lon- and Casey Patterson of USA scraped ment in Doha is also allowing them don 2012 Olympic Games after they through to the single elimination the chance to prepare for the condi- qualified through the FIVB Conti- bracket and second-seeded Clem- tions in Rio. nental Cup. ens Doppler and Alexander Horst of “We are really happy because we They also played at the Bei- Austria topped their pool undefeated. came here to prepare for the Olym- jing 2008 Olympic Games, Doppler But third-seeded Schalk and pics,” Doppler said. alongside Peter Gartmayer and Horst Saxton of Canada crashed out of the “Here (Qatar) there are night ses- with Florian Gosch. tournament after suffering three sion games under the lights and deep The single-elimination rounds straight defeats. sand and that is important because continue while the quarter-finals Doppler and Horst topped their you don’t have so many occasions in will be played in the evening session. pool with three wins from three to the season when you have night ses- The semi-finals and medal make sure they are as prepared as sion games. matches and awarding ceremony will they can be in their pursuit of a place “For us it is a very important conclude the event on Friday evening.

Al Arabi down Al Ahli in QVA League Third Dimension tops at QREC

Action from the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) League match between Al Arabi Club and Al Ahli The jockey, trainer, owner and other members of the winning horse, Third Dimension, pose for a club at Al Arabi Indoor Hall yesterday. Al Arabi won 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-19). RIGHT: Action from the picture at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) yesterday. Jockey Harry Bentley guided Third El Jaish and Al Rayyan match yesterday. Dimension to victory in the Mesaimeer Cup. SPORT THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 31 Suarez double lifts Barca to victory

“Obviously a sending off in the Champions League Atletico Madrid left to first half will affect the game, even more when it’s a great player,” said Results rue Torres’ first-half Suarez. Paris: Champions League quarter-final, red card as Simeone’s “Everyone knows his quality, but first leg results on Tuesday: side loses the first leg he made two strong fouls. It was a At Barcelona, Spain pity, I would have liked to come back Barcelona 2 (Suarez 63, 74) Atletico of Champions League against 11.” Madrid 1 (Torres 25) quarter-final 2-1 However, Atletico were incensed At Munich, Germany as Suarez twice escaped punishment Bayern Munich 1 (Vidal 2) Benfica 0 for a kick out at Juanfran and an off- the-ball incident with Filipe Luis. minutes to see red. Atletico retained a AFP “There were more than two inci- threat at the start of the second half as dents involving Suarez,” said Atletico Carrasco’s dangerous low cross whis- boss Diego Simeone. tled across the Barca goal. “I can’t say what I think, but I am Barca’s superstar front three of not angry with Fernando for sure.” Messi, Suarez and Neymar then came BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid were Luis went even further by imply- to life as the hosts camped Atletico left to rue Fernando Torres’ first- ing UEFA are scared to see Barcelona inside their own half for the final 40 half red card as Luis Suarez’s double not reach the final. minutes. Messi’s acrobatic overhead handed Barcelona a 2-1 lead on Tues- “I don’t know what Barca players kick flew inches wide of the target day heading into the second leg of have to do to get sent off just like us,” before Neymar curled against the bar. their Champions League quarter- Luis told Spanish TV station MEGA. Jan Oblak was then forced into his final. “You can tell there is fear that first saves of the night from Neymar’s Torres got Atletico off to the per- Barca will be eliminated.” close range header and Messi’s drive fect start as he slotted home Koke’s Barca had been beaten for the first from distance.Atletico’s resistence through ball for a vital away goal on time in 39 games stretching back six lasted just over an hour until Neymar 25 minutes, but saw two quickfire yel- months by Real Madrid on Saturday drilled Dani Alves’s cross goalwards low cards to leave his side a man short and were again far from their best and Suarez was on hand to bundle for over an hour. as Atletico looked comfortable until FC Barcelona’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez celebrates scoring a goal to give Barcelona the 2-1 lead during home his 44th goal of the season. A second-half onslaught from Torres was given his marching orders the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Atletico Madrid, at Camp Nou Stadium in And his 45th followed 12 min- Barca ensued and Suarez turned 10 minutes before half-time. Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday. utes later as he powered in another the game on its head as he bundled Lionel Messi was looking for his Alves cross to keep Barca on course home to equalise, before powering in 500th career goal for club and coun- to become the first side to ever retain a header for the winner 16 minutes try, but was unusually wayward as he goal by naming Yannick Carrasco which Torres latched onto before prevented the French international’s the Champions League. from time. pulled a shot beyond the front post alongside Torres and top-scorer Anto- rifling home his 11th goal in 17 games low effort from drifting in at the far However, Atletico bravely lim- The sides meet once more to and then miscued wildly on the vol- ine Griezmann in attack. against Barca.Griezmann was des- post. Yet Barca were handed a life- ited the damage in the final stages decide who will progress to the semi- ley from Jordi Alba’s dangerous cross. And the Argentine was rewarded perately close to doubling the visitors’ line by two moments of madness from to maintain their hopes of repeating finals at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Atletico boss Diego Simeone had when Koke’s through ball exploited lead moments later when only a bril- Torres as he lunged in late on Neymar their feat of dumping Barca out at the on April 13. been brave in his search for an away a huge gap in the Barca defence liant save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen and then Sergio Busquets within six quarter-final stage two years ago.

Barca protected, Vidal gives Bayern slender fumes Torres lead against Benfica after red card AFP

AFP But it took less then two min- has scored 30 goals in the Portuguese utes for Bayern to break the Benfica league, for the return leg after a 58th- BARCELONA: Fernando Torres defence. minute foul on Vidal. raged that Atletico Madrid are Franck Ribery crossed from the In a bid to shut Benfica’s attack- not treated equally to Barcelona MUNICH, Germany: Arturo Vidal left and Juan Bernat, untroubled by ing game down, Bayern coach Pep by referees after his early red card gave Bayern Munich a slender 1-0 the Benfica defenders, found Vidal Guardiola switched Joshua Kimmich turned their Champions League lead for their Champions League in space to nod comfortably past for Spain international Javi Martinez quarter-final, first leg around on quarter-final return leg at Benfica Ederson. with an hour gone. Tuesday. next week, after hitting the winner Benfica failed to cope with Bayern started to live Torres had put Atletico in front just 109 seconds into Tuesday’s first Vidal’s late runs from midfield as he dangerously. at the Camp Nou before seeing leg. again got on the end of a cross with There was pandemonium in the two quick-fire yellow cards to Bayern produced an off-key dis- half-time approaching, but the ball Bavarians’ penalty area on 65 min- leave the visitors a man light for play at Munich’s Allianz Arena and bounced harmlessly onto the roof of utes when only desperate defending over an hour. Luis Suarez finally their fifth straight appearance in the the net. denied Jonas, who got off three converted Barca’s relentless sec- Champions League semi-finals is far Having scored Bayern’s winner shots. ond-half pressure into a 2-1 lead from assured. with a spectacular bicycle kick last With 20 minutes to go, both as he struck twice in 12 minutes. Rui Vitoria’s Benfica can take Saturday against Eintracht Frankfurt, coaches threw on game changers as However, Atletico were plenty of heart before the second leg Franck Ribery tried the trick again, Guardiola introduced fleet-footed enraged as unlike Torres, Suarez at the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday but without the same success. France winger Kingsley Coman, then escaped punishment for a kick out April 13, after subjecting Bayern to Vidal took a painful blow for the Mario Goetze for the final five. at Juanfran and an off-the-ball a frustrating second half in Munich. Bayern team just before the break Vitoria brought on Mexico for- incident with Filipe Luis. However, the Portuguese league when he blocked a shot from Ben- ward Raul Jimenez for Kostas “They shouldn’t have been leaders will be without top-scorer fica captain Nicolas Gaitan with his Mitroglou. cards. If it had been the other way Jonas after the 32-year-old picked nether regions. Bayern have only themselves to around then they wouldn’t have up a second-half booking, his third But as the game wore on, Ben- blame for not doubling their tally in been given,” Torres told Spanish of the tournament. fica’s back four began to back up the dying stages. radio station Cadena Cope. In the build-up, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola’s compliment by frustrat- Lewandowski got in behind the “With 11 (men) we would have Guardiola had described Benfica as ing Bayern’s attack, especially Robert defence and drew Ederson, but his won without any doubt.” Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich (right) and Arturo Vidal (centre) in action having “perhaps the best back four” Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller. pass to an unmarked Philipp Lahm However, Torres qualified his in Europe, after leaking just 19 goals Vitoria’s men will be without was too long, just a minute from the against Benfica’s Jonas during the UEFA Champions League quarter final earlier comments by accepting in the Portuguese league this season. their Brazilian hot-shot Jonas, who whistle. first leg match at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Tuesday. responsibility for his side’s defeat. “I take responsibility for our defeat, but now more than ever let’s go to The Calderon for a come- back,” the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker tweeted. Rangers return to elite after four-year exile Torres also claimed UEFA have their priorities wrong after making both sides play in their away kits to avoid a colour clash. Agencies season, savoured the moment but 106-18. Rangers’ climb was halted last that remain in the top six on goal dif- created some space for a shot from “UEFA worry about making said it was important not to let stand- season when they finished third in the ference ahead of Partick Thistle, who the edge of the box that he fired over us change shirts, but they didn’t ards slip with other huge games on Championship and lost in the playoffs, claimed a 1-0 win over bottom club the bar. appoint a referee that is up to the the horizon. but there was no faltering this season. Dundee United at Firhill. Returning goalkeeper Bain then level of the Champions League GLASGOW: Rangers ended a Rangers play Peterhead in the Tuesday’s win was their 25th in Celtic manager Ronny Deila said came to the rescue for Dundee as quarter-finals.” four-year exile from the Scottish Pre- final of the Challenge Cup, a competi- 32 league matches and moved them it had been a frustrating night for his he stood up well to deny a chance Luis went even further by miership when they beat Dumbarton tion for clubs outside the top flight, on on to 79 points, 17 clear of second- side, who were held to a second suc- for former Dundee striker Leigh implying UEFA are scared of Bar- 1-0 with a second-half goal by James Sunday before facing Old Firm rivals placed Falkirk but, more importantly, cessive goalless draw against Dundee. Griffiths. celona not reaching the final. Tavernier to clinch the Championship Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals 22 points clear of third-placed Hiber- “We had a clean sheet and that A poor clearance from the Celtic “I don’t know what Barca play- title and automatic promotion at Ibrox a week later. nian, who were the only team that was a positive thing. Offensively, we defence then allowed Nick Ross to ers have to do to get sent off just Stadium on Tuesday. “We sat down as a group, staff could have caught them. should have created a little bit more,” fire in a volley for Dundee that Craig like us,” Luis told Spanish TV sta- The victory means they will be and players, and said, ‘Let’s smash Meanwhile, Celtic increased their Deila said. Gordon did well to block, before Loy tion MEGA. back among the elite next season the Championship,” Warburton told lead at the top of the Scottish Pre- “We had our chances and we tested the Hoops keeper with a low “You can tell there is fear that after being demoted to the lowest, the club’s official website (www.rang- miership to five points despite being should have been more effective when strike. Barca will be eliminated.” fourth-tier of the Scottish League ers.co.uk). held to a goalless draw by Dundee at we had them.” Bitton and Gary Mackay-Steven Atletico’s players’ choice of for financial irregularities in 2012 “That was the aim. We wanted Dens Park on Tuesday. At Dens Park, Australian inter- both had efforts go narrowly wide, words could prove costly should which left the Glasgow club 134 mil- to win it and win it convincingly to The Hoops, who were looking to national Tom Rogic failed to recover before the woodwork saved Dundee UEFA feel the need to impose lion pounds ($190.24 million) in debt. give us momentum going into sea- open up a seven-point gap over Aber- from a head knock suffered in the from going behind when Johansen’s bans on those that have launched The club was liquidated and son 2016/17. deen with six games remaining, saw weekend win over Hearts, with Nir deflected shot looped off the post attacks on German referee Felix reformed since when Rangers, who “As a club, first target achieved, a shot from Stefan Johansen hit the Bitton replacing him in midfield. before being scrambled to safety. Brych. have won a world record 54 domes- we won the Championship. But its post on the brink of half-time before Dundee also made one change as At Firhill, a second half Kris Doo- Coach Diego Simeone was tic league titles, have climbed back to essential for the club that we don’t the woodwork denied Dundee’s Rory goalkeeper Scott Bain returned fol- lan strike secured a narrow win for more measured in his criticism the top flight with three promotions in stop moving forward.” Loy in the second half. lowing his one-match ban. Partick Thistle over Dundee United, and was happy to escape Catalo- four years, including claiming the one Rangers went unbeaten dur- Celtic’s Mikel Lustig and Charlie Celtic winger Patrick Roberts, who languish five points behind nia with the tie still in the balance. automatic place this season. ing their one season in the third tier, Mulgrew both had headers cleared off who grabbed a double in the win over Kilmarnock with just six games “There were more than two Manager Mark Warburton, who winning 33 and drawing three of their the line as the Glasgow giants couldn’t the Jambos, had the first chance of the remaining as they battle to avoid incidents involving Suarez,” said took over before the start of the 36 league games with a goal tally of find a winner against a Dundee side match when his clever back-heel flick relegation. Atletico boss Diego Simeone. 32 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Jason Day Defending Masters Rory McIlroy Rose reckons champion Jordan Spieth he has the right stuff to win Masters Rickie Fowler Reuters Fowler ready

AUGUSTA: Here’s a quick quiz question. Without doing an Inter- for ‘perfect net search, who finished second at the 2015 Masters? While Jordan Spieth was storm’ to making history by matching the Masters record score on his way to a four-stroke victory for his strike maiden major, Justin Rose quietly picked up second-place crumbs AFP with Phil Mickelson. If you call $880,000 crumbs. Rose has returned to Augusta AUGUSTA: Rickie Fowler National in solid though unspec- figures four top-five major fin- tacular form, but said you can ishes in 2014 plus a victory at throw out the form book. He has the 2015 Players Champion- not come to finish second again. ship signal he’s ready for the “I feel all of my backroom next step in golf -- winning a work has been fantastic and my major title. preparation has been coming The 27-year-old American, along nicely,” the 35-year-old Eng- considered among the best lishman told reporters on Tuesday. players who have not won Rose loves Augusta, but he a major, takes a huge confi- has not quite conquered it despite dence boost from his success making the cut in all 10 of his in the past two seasons into appearances. Thursday’s opening round of “You begin to develop that the 80th Masters. relationship with the course, the “Last year was definitely venue, the feel, the tournament, a step in the right direction and it’s somewhere I feel very, very for me, after good finishes in Day, Spieth, McIlroy line-up 2014 in the majors,” Fowler comfortable,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good rounds said. here. Last year I was able to put “I feel like the perfect four together in a row. I take a lot storm, combine 2014 and of confidence from that. 2015 together, equals win- “If you get beaten by a better ning a major, that’s the way I guy on the week, you tip your cap for Masters showdown look at it.” but I know what I was able to do Fowler, known as much last year tells me I’ve got what it for flashy fashions as his takes to win the tournament.” right moment and American Spie- kind of motivating each other, and need to become a Masters champion,” shotmaking, produced a land- Even without a green jacket, th’s record-tying wire-to-wire win Rickie as well. McIlroy said. “But I think each and mark 2014 campaign, sharing the 2013 U.S. Open champion at A total of 89 from last year still resonates in the “Adam Scott and Bubba Watson every year that passes that I don’t, it fifth at the Masters, sec- least has one major title under his champion golfers Georgia pines. are doing a fantastic job. It’s just really will become increasingly more diffi- ond at the US and British belt, which he believes eases the Add Aussie Adam Scott, twice fun to see how the health of the game cult, so there’s no time like the present Opens and third at the PGA pressure because it spares him tee off in quest of a winner last month, plus fourth- is right now and how competitive it is. to get it done.” Championship. from a certain line of questioning. the green jacket ranked Bubba Watson, a two-time “I want the best playing against Spieth will try to become the first Only three other players “It is very difficult to face ques- Masters champion, 2015 Players win- the best and fighting it out,” Day said. back-to-back Masters winner since have achieved top-five fin- tions all the time about being the at 80th Masters ner Rickie Fowler and five-time major “If I end up not wearing the green Tiger Woods in 2002. Woods is skip- ishes in all four majors in the best player not to win a major,” Championships at winner Phil Mickelson and the stage jacket at the end of Sunday but have ping this year’s event because he has same year -- Tiger Woods, Rose said. is set for a showdown on golf’s most a fantastic competitive match against not fully recovered from back sur- Jack Nicklaus and reigning US “There’s enough pressure try- Augusta acclaimed course. the best players in the world, that’s gery last year. Open and Masters champion ing to win these without trying to “I would enjoy a Spieth McIlroy what I’m there for.” “Going to try and just use last year Jordan Spieth last year. justify your great play and your Fowler Scott Watson Mickelson Sun- McIlroy is on hand to capture as momentum,” Spieth said. “We’ve But among that fabulous billing in the game.” day,” Day said. “That would be a lot a fifth major title and complete a already done it, so it’s not like I’m foursome, Fowler was the only AFP of fun.” career Grand Slam at age 26, join- chasing my first major. one who failed to win a major Day has won six of his past 13 ing Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben “It’s also going to be a lot of fun title in the run. events, including his first major title Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sara- walking these fairways, reliving those So he responded last year at last year’s PGA Championship, to zen in having won all four majors at memories with the crowds and the with a comeback win at the AUGUSTA: Top-ranked Jason Day, overtake Spieth as world number one. least once. roars, the echos.” Players, took the European defending champion Jordan Spi- “I feel comfortable with where “It’s definitely a motivation to Spieth happily passes off the Tour’s Scottish Open in July and eth, career Grand Slam seeker Rory I’m at, walking around the grounds, be able to put your name along- favourite role. added the US PGA Deutsche McIlroy and a host of elite rivals number one in the world, it’s a good side those five guys,” McIlroy said. “Isn’t Jason the favourite?” Spieth Bank Championship last Sep- have sparked an exceptional level of feeling,” Day said. “But I know I can’t “I haven’t been in a situation where asked. “He can be the favourite. I’ll tember and a European Tour excitement for the 80th Masters. take it for granted, because things can I’ve felt the pressure of it, really, go ahead and we’ll just do our thing.” title earlier this year at Abu A field of 89 will tee off this morn- change pretty quickly.” because I didn’t have a real chance Scott, bolstered by long-time Dhabi, one of five top-10 show- ing at Augusta National in quest of Day is trying to become only the to win last year.” Woods caddie Steve Williams, will ings he has produced this year. the green jacket awarded a Masters fifth player to win the PGA one year McIlroy dismisses the notion of hunt for his second Masters crown Fowler said winning champion, but only one will slide their and the Masters the next to join Phil added tension impacting his game, after a breakthrough 2013 triumph. titles has brought him more arms inside the sleeves come Sunday. Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jack Nick- saying, “Pressure is for tires.” But he I’ve got three tough days to put confidence than his major Australia’s Day comes off tri- laus and Sam Snead. knows it will increase every year he myself in a position to win a Masters,” near-misses. umphs at Bay Hill and the WGC “It’s really tough with how eve- does not add a green jacket to his tro- Scott said. “Everything in the lead up “Winning for sure,” Fowler Match Play. Northern Ireland’s McIl- ryone is playing,” Day said. “Jordan phy list. has gone well. It’s up to me to exe- said. “Obviously contending Justin Rose of England. roy has found his form at just the and Rory are young guys, so we’re all “I feel like I’ve got everything I cute it now.” in majors and being up there in 2014 helped me have the confidence that I did when I was in contention and had the chances last year. “Without having those McIlroy searches for final piece of grand slam puzzle final days in the majors, I wouldn’t have had the success I did last year, so I feel like it’s Reuters Gene Sarazen. admitted McIlroy, who led by one kind of been all a little bit of Rory McIlroy of Northern The only men apart from stroke with nine holes to play in a process, but definitely more McIlroy in the field this week with 2011, before snap-hooking his Ireland in action during a confidence has come from three legs of the grand slam are drive out-of-bounds at the 10th practice round prior to the winning.” AUGUSTA: Rory McIlroy will do Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson. hole for a triple bogey. start of the 2016 Masters Instead of trying to achieve jigsaw puzzles to kill the time “It’s definitely a motivation, to “I’ve got a great game for Tournament at Augusta a major win, Fowler now before the opening round at the be able to put your name along- here. I hit it high. I can land the National Golf Club on Tuesday. believes he will achieve it. Masters today, but finding the side those five guys,” said McIlroy. ball soft. I’ve got decent touch “Whenever I have the final piece to a career grand slam “I guess I haven’t been in a situa- around the greens. chance to be in contention, is upper-most on the Northern tion where I’ve felt the pressure of “You would think that this it’s something that I, maybe Irishman’s mind. it, really, because I haven’t. was a golf course that I can def- before, wasn’t quite prepared “I have many different ways “I didn’t have a real chance initely win on, I know that. I just for, didn’t have the exact belief to pass my time,” world number to win the golf tournament last haven’t quite been able to get or confidence. It was more like three McIlroy joked on Tuesday, year.” myself over the hurdle.” a feeling of trying to go get it as he pondered teeing off in the Despite possessing a game McIlroy had the eyes of the done. Now I believe I can go final threesome in the opening considered ideally suited for golf world on him last year as he do it and I want to go do it.” round at 2.01PM ET. Augusta National, McIlroy has attempted to complete the grand For all his success, Fowler “We are working on another never been able to produce his slam, but this year is sharing the is relatively under the radar jigsaw puzzle and we brought best golf at the year’s first major, spotlight with others. this week compared to the Monopoly to the house that we’re at least not for 72 holes. “There was probably a lit- attention paid to the four renting, so there’s a lot of really He did not have a top-10 tle bit more exposed in terms of ranked ahead of him in the fun stuff going on.” finish in his first five starts at eyeballs on me and media cov- world -- top man Jason Day, There will be no games today. Augusta, before finishing equal erage (last year),” said McIlroy. “I number two Jordan Spieth, , however, when McIlroy will eighth in 2014 and fourth last play my best golf when I’m more third-rated Rory McIlroy and launch his bid to complete the year. relaxed, when I’m having fun out number four Bubba Watson. rarest of golf feats. The 26-year-old admitted there and I’m not overdoing it, not “I’m fine with sneak- Just five men have a complete surprise that a U.S. Open would over thinking it. ing around,” Fowler said. “My set of four modern majors and be his first major success in 2011, “I think there’s a balance. You game is better than it was at if McIlroy can slip into a Green followed by the 2012 and 2015 can obviously relax too much, but the start of the year. I didn’t Jacket on Sunday he will add his PGA Championships, and 2015 then the flip side, you can con- feel like I had my best to start name to that celebrated list that British Open. sume yourself with it, which I the year, but I was able to includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nick- “This is one I wish I caught don’t think is a good idea, either.” minimize my mistakes and get laus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and earlier I guess, I had a chance,” the most out of it.” SPORT THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 33

What they Mickelson believes in are saying at Champion Spieth the Masters his new swing method

 PHIL MICKELSON - Reuters hopefully kids will start to play golf asked if he would miss injured and swing the club with less of a vio- Tiger Woods this year feels pressure lent body movement and be able to -- Well, it’s not like we play golf for a lifetime.” shared a house together, so I AUGUSTA: As he prepared for his Mickelson’s new outlook derives don’t notice it that way. 24th start, three-times Masters from work with his new swing champion Phil Mickelson wished the coach, Andrew Getson, who replaced RORY McILROY - on injured Tiger Woods well, but also Butch Harmon last November. His how he would spend his time only from himself delivered a message for those such new instructor believes in the “swing until he goes out last in the as his former nemesis who have been the clubhead” method taught by the first round hindered by golf injuries. late Ernest Jones. -- I have many different As Woods rehabilitates after Although Mickelson has not won ways to pass my time. We world number two told report- is now clicking nicely into place. major back surgery that has kept since the 2013 British Open, he has are working on another jig- ers on Tuesday while preparing “I’ve had a fantastic cou- him out of action since last August, been pleased with his three top-five saw puzzle and we brought The second for today’s first round at Augusta ple days thus far preparing Mickelson is still going strong, rel- finishes in eight PGA Tour events this Monopoly to the house that youngest National. and my game feels great,” said atively injury-free at the age of 45. year. we’re renting, so there’s a lot “The only way it affects my the 22-year-old Texan. “Going He has a free-flowing if decep- He sees no reason why he cannot of really fun stuff going on. Masters winner, golf is if I’m on the course and in to try and just use last year as tively powerful swing, and is also become the second oldest winner in the defending a tournament round, and I feel momentum. one of the greatest short-game expo- Masters history. He is little more than TOM WATSON - on why like I’m giving strokes away and, “We know we’re capable of nents of his generation, if not ever. two months shy of his 46th birthday, he is calling time on his Mas- champion and therefore, I make an aggressive playing this place,” added Spieth, “A lot of the young guys con- while Jack Nicklaus, who was two ters career world number two play that’s unnecessary. who consistently brackets himself tinue to get hurt as they create this months past his 46th birthday when -- The reality of it that hope for repeat “I feel like I have such a with his caddie, Michael Greller, violent connected movement, and I he won the 1986 Masters, is the old- I really can’t play the golf knowledge of this golf course that to emphasise the team approach. don’t believe that that’s the proper est champion. course anymore. I didn’t want performance I’m always playing to a certain “We have proven it to ourselves way to swing the golf club,” Mickel- “I don’t feel old at all. I feel to take up another spot and spot, maybe away from pins, that the last two years.” son told reporters on Tuesday. great. I guess maybe you hang shoot scores and just not even even if I want to make that kind of Spieth tied for second on his “I think you want to use leverage around these young guys as much sniff making the cut. move, I won’t ... so hopefully this Masters debut in 2014 before and kind of quiet your body down so as I have been, you just feel young,” Reuters week we kick it off similar to last clinching his first major title at the arc and clubhead can swing and said Mickelson, who played his BRYSON DECHAMBEAU year.” Augusta National the following accelerate. Tuesday practice round with Dus- - asked if golf is a science or Twelve months ago, a 21-year- year when he became the tour- “The better I play and the more tin Johnson, 31, Keegan Bradley, an art becase of his unique old Spieth stunned the golf world nament’s second youngest winner successful I am at an older age, 29, and 22-year-old amateur Bry- one-length golf clubs: AUGUSTA: While the expectations as he completed a wire-to-wire after Woods. that message will get through and son DeChambeau. -- It’s a mesh of the two. of his fans soared sky-high after victory by four shots at Augusta “My game actually feels bet- If you can beautifully mesh Jordan Spieth’s sensational 2015 National, matching Tiger Woods’ ter right now than I think it did last the art and science of it to campaign, the American feels tournament record low of year on Tuesday, so that’s good,” enhance your game, there’s much greater pressure from him- 18-under 270 for 72 holes. said Spieth. no downside to it. self as he prepares for his Masters Remarkably mature as a “And we’ve already done it, so title defence this week. golfer and blessed with a bril- it’s not like I’m chasing my first Penpics of top contenders at JASON DAY - asked Spieth triumphed five times liant putting touch, he followed major. We have two major cham- if he would prefer to be on the PGA Tour last season, that breakthrough just two months pionships now, so we feel like 2016 Masters Tournament up against a big name for including two major titles, and later by winning the U S Open at there’s an advantage, if we can the win on Sunday or an will tee off in the year’s opening Chambers Bay before ending the get into contention against those JORDAN SPIETH (USA) World ranking - 8 unknown: major knowing he has all the tools season as the PGA Tour’s Player who are searching for their first. Age - 22 Best Masters - Tied for 6th in 2015 -- I enjoy and thrive required to add another Green of the Year. “Sure, I’m putting pressure on off that competitive- Jacket to his burgeoning trophy Spieth clinched his seventh myself to contend this year, just World ranking - 2 Major titles - 0 ness. I would enjoy a cabinet. career title on the U S circuit like last year, and I feel like I’m in Best Masters - Winner in 2015 %Considered one of the best current play- Spieth-McIlroy-Fowler-Scott- “I’ve done a better job and at the Hyundai Tournament form, as well. It’s also going to be a Major titles - 2 (2015 Masters and US Open) ers not to have won a major title, Johnson has Watson-Mickelson Sunday. kind of gotten over external of Champions in January and lot of fun walking these fairways, come close in the US and British Opens as well That would be a lot of fun. pressure ... it’s more the internal though he has produced mixed reliving those memories with the %Took the golfing world by storm last year as the PGA Championship, but has failed so far stuff that is trickier for me,” the form since then, he feels his game crowds and the roars, the echoes.” when he won the Masters and US Open and to really get to grips with Augusta National. A JACK NICKLAUS - came close to making it three majors in a row tie for sixth last year showed progression asked what keeps him going at the British Open. Was world top ranked from though and many believe his time will come. at 76: late September until last week. Has been -- I said years ago, when slightly off with his swing in the last few weeks. ADAM SCOTT (AUS) I stopped playing golf, that Aiming to be the first player to successfully Age - 35 most people work all their life defend at Augusta since Tiger Woods in 2002. to play golf, or work all their World ranking - 7 life and retire to play golf. I JASON DAY (AUS) Best Masters - Winner in 2013 said I played golf all my life to Age - 28 retire to work. Major titles - 1 (2013 Masters) World ranking - 1 %Scott was a popular winner at Augusta in Best Masters - Tied for 2nd in 2011 2013 when he became the first Australian to Major titles - 1 (2015 PGA Championship) don a winner’s green jacket. Was world PAST MASTERS WINNERS % Back-to-back wins at Bay Hill and the number one for 11 weeks in 2014 but struggled (USA) unless otherwise stated) World Match Play have propelled Day back to for his best form last year. Making the enforced 2015: Jordan Spieth the top of the world rankings and confirmed switch back to a traditional putter this year, Scott has rebounded with back-to-back wins 2014: Bubba Watson him as the form player. Has come close twice before at Augusta only for his putting to let him on the US PGA Tour. 2013: Adam Scott (AUS) down. Will be hoping that the back pain he felt HENRIK STENSON (SWE) 2012: Bubba Watson in the Match Play does not flare up again. Age - 39 2011: Charl Schwartzel (RSA) RORY McIlroy (NIR) 2010: Phil Mickelson World ranking - 6 Age - 26 2009: Angel Cabrera (ARG) Best Masters - Tied for 14th in 2014 World ranking - 3 2008: Trevor Immelman (RSA) Major Titles - 0 Best Masters - 4th in 2015 2007: Zach Johnson % The big Swede is without a win since Major titles - 4 (2011 US Open, 2012 and 2014 2006: Phil Mickelson November, 2014, but he is a model of consist- PGA Championhip, 2014 British Open 2005: Tiger Woods ency with three op 10 finishes in six tourna- % 2004: Phil Mickelson Yet to fire on all cylinders this year and ments played so far this year. Has come close in without a tournament win but says that his the three other major championships, but has 2003: Mike Weir (CAN) game is coming together nicely for his eighth yet to shine at Augusta where his previous best 2002: Tiger Woods tilt at Masters glory. Led by four going into the was a tie for 14th in 2014. 2001: Tiger Woods final round in 2011 only to fall apart on the back RICKIE FOWLER (USA) 2000: Vijay Singh (FIJ) nine. Seeking to become just the sixth player to Age - 27 1999: Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) win all four major titles and the first to do so since Tiger Woods. 1998: Mark O’Meara World ranking - 5 1997: Tiger Woods Jordan Spieth of the United States hits a tee shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2016 BUBBA WATSON (USA) Best Masters - Tied for 5th in 2014 1996: Nick Faldo (ENG) Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Tuesday in Augusta, Georgia. Age - 37 Major titles - 0 World ranking - 4 -- Won three times on tour last year, but failed Best Masters - Winner in 2012 and 2014 to nab that elusive first major as Jordan Spieth Major titles - 2 (2012 and 2014 Masters) took over as top American. Has been in good form to date this year with five top 10 finishes % Tiger unable to return but Nicklaus sees more A recognised Masters specialist, Watson and his last two Masters have seen him tie for has won twice at Augusta National, but flopped 5th in 2014 and tie for 12th last year. each time he tried to defend. Has been in fine form of late winning the Northern Trust Open PHIL MICKELSON (USA) AFP as I can,” Woods said in a Tuesday own potential to return last Decem- for his ‘1980’ and his ‘1986.’ I think and taking second place behind Adam Scott in Age - 45 posting on his website. ber, saying, “Pretty much everything he’ll show up for that a little bit.” the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Says that World ranking - 18 “Despite not playing in the tour- beyond this will be gravy. For my 20 Woods has not won a major title playing at Augusta gives him “good vibes.” nament, I really wanted to attend this years out here I think I’ve achieved a since the 2008 US Open. His 69 Best Masters - Winner in 2004, 2006 and JUSTIN ROSE (ENG) AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods arrived at year’s Champions Dinner. There are a lot, and if that’s all it entails, then I’ve career PGA titles are three shy of Sam 2010 Age - 35 Augusta National on Tuesday, but only lot of close, long-time friends in that had a pretty good run. But I’m hop- Snead’s all-time record. Major titles - 5 (2004, 2006 and 2010 Mas- for the Masters Champions Dinner, room.” ing that’s not it.” Nicklaus and Gary Player will hit World ranking - 9 ters), 2005 PGA Championship, 2013 British while Jack Nicklaus warned Woods Among those is Nicklaus, the Nicklaus, who won two major the ceremonial tee shots to open the Open) would someday mount a late-career 18-time major champion whose record titles at age 40 in 1980 and became Masters on Thursday without Arnold Best Masters - Tied for 2nd in 2015 comeback to rival his own. total has been a target for Woods, a the oldest Masters champion in 1986 Palmer, their fellow honorary starter, Major titles - 1 (2013 US Open) % His game suits Augusta National like a The golf legends gathered with 14-time major winner, since boyhood. at age 46, said that was Woods just who said he would join them at the %The Englishman has played consistently glove, hence his three wins in the tournament. fellow Masters winners for their Nicklaus spoke before the dinner downplaying expectations. first tee but not be swinging a club. well in the last five years in the Masters culmi- Well into the veteran stage of his career now annual meal with Woods relegated and said Woods, who turned 40 last “That’s probably an easier answer “We’ll miss Arnold as far as hitting nating in a tie for second last year behind Spi- and without a win since his triumph at the to a visitor role, unable to play six December, will not only return but be than, ‘I’m going to get back out there the golf ball,” Nicklaus said. “I have a eth. Without a win since the Hong Kong Open 2013 British Open, but took second place at months after the second of two back a champion again. next week,’ and really doing it,” Nick- sneaking suspicion, if Arnold wants Pebble Beach this year and fifth in the WGC- operations. “I don’t think he’s done,” Nick- laus said. “He’s probably tired of to, he will be welcome to hit a ball. in late October, but posted top 10 finishes at Pebble Beach and Bay Hill. Cadillac. No-one will dare write off his chances “I’m doing better and making laus said. “I think Tiger’s going to win saying that. If he says the other, then Whether he will or not, I don’t know. and a win would put him equal second-best in progress, but unfortunately, still not more tournaments.” all of sudden everybody writes him We’ll miss him on the first tee, but Gary DUSTIN JOHNSON (USA) Masters history alongside Tiger Woods and physically ready to play. I look for- While Woods has sounded more off for a while. and I will try to do the best we can Age - 31 Arnold Palmer. ward to being out there again as soon optimistic lately, he cast doubt on his “And then he’s going to show up without him.” 34 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Rosberg’s Fed Cup: Pliskova to lead Czechs ‘contract in Panama CHARLESTON World No.18 will Papers’ captain reigning RESULTS AFP champions against Women’s Singles Second Round Angelique Kerber (GER x1) bt Lara Arru- Switzerland later this abarrena (ESP) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3) BERLIN: Formula One world month Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) bt Kristina championship leader Nico Ros- Mladenovic (FRA x11) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 berg’s contract with the Mercedes (15/13) team has shown up in the Panama First Round Papers, leaked documents which reveal offshore financial dealings, AGENCIES Kristina Kucova (SVK) bt Madison Bren- gle (USA) 7-5, 6-2 German broadcaster ARD reported on Monday. Louisa Chirico (USA) bt Naomi Osaka Revelations in leaked data (JPN) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 from Panama law firm Mossack PRAGUE: World number 18 Karolina Darya Kasatkina (RUS x14) bt Zheng Fonseca detailing how the world’s Pliskova will lead reigning champions Saisai(CHN) 6-2, 6-1 wealthy including politicians and the Czech Republic in their Fed Cup Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Lesley Kerkhove sports superstars used its law- semi-final tie against Switzerland in (NED) 6-1, 6-2 yers to set up offshore companies Lucerne on April 16 and 17, team cap- Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Evgeniya is sending shock waves around the tain Petr Pala said yesterday. Rodina (RUS) 6-1, 6-1 world. The Czechs have also called up Samantha Stosur (AUS x10) bt Aleksan- And according to ARD, the 33rd-ranked Barbora Strycova, Den- dra Krunic (SRB) 6-4, 6-4 contract between Germany’s 2014 isa Allertova (60) and Lucie Hradecka, Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) bt Kurumi Nara and 2015 world champion runner- who is 83rd in the singles rankings (JPN) 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 up Rosberg with Mercedes was and 9th for doubles. “made with a company called Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) bt Teliana They will miss out-of-form world Ambitious Group Limited”, based Pereira (BRA) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 number seven Petra Kvitova and 15th- in the British Virgin Islands in the ranked Lucie Safarova, who led the Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic poses with her trophy after winning the final match of the WTA Monica Puig (PUR) bt Lucie Hradecka Caribbean. team to Fed Cup wins in four of the Generali Ladies tournament in Linz, Austria, in this October 2014 file photo. (CZE) 6-3, 6-2 The company “officially last five editions. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN x17) bt Alexan- belongs to two other companies “We have the best players of dra Dulgheru (ROM) 6-3, 6-4 headquartered in Jersey (the Chan- this season and options for both the late last year as she grapples with the first Fed Cup final since 1998 when World Group play-off against the nel Islands)... and administered by singles and the doubles,” Pala told impact of a bacterial infection from they relied on Martina Hingis, who is United States, officials said yesterday. MARRAKECH the law firm Mossack Fonseca”, reporters. last September. still in the team as the current world The 22-year-old is in the team the German TV channel said in “We can make our choices The Czechs beat Romania 3-2 in number one for doubles. along with Samantha Stosur, Casey OPEN its report. according to the results,” he added. the first round in February as Plisk- The Swiss have also called up Dellacqua and Arina Rodionova to Second Round The address of the “front com- Kvitova, the Wimbledon cham- ova won both her singles – including 10th-ranked Belinda Bencic, along- play on April 16-17 for the right to Albert Montanes (ESP) bt Daniel Gimeno- pany” in the Virgin Islands is “the pion in 2011 and 2014, sacked her a win over Simona Halep – and added side Timea Bacsinszky (17) and rejoin the competition’s elite World Traver (ESP) 6-4, 6-4 same as that under which hun- coach David Kotyza in January and the decisive point in the doubles rub- Viktorija Golubic (137). Group. The clash is the 14th Fed Cup First Round dreds of other companies are has been struggling so far this season. ber paired with Strycova. Meanwhile, Russian-born Daria meeting between the nations, with registered in the Mossack Fon- Safarova has been falling down Switzerland, who beat Germany Gavrilova will make her Fed Cup the US ahead 8-5. It will be their first Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x7) bt Evgeny seca files”, ARD revealed in the Donskoy (RUS) 6-2, 6-3 the rankings after making the top ten 3-2 in the first round, are eyeing their debut for Australia this month in a encounter since 1985. same report. “It is (however) not clear that the money passed through this company,” ARD pointed out, not- Australia to make ing that there were no elements in the documents indicating that rare Test tour to Aussie women get bumper pay rise Daimler AG (owner of Mercedes) or Rosberg did anything illegal with this arrangement. SL this summer “Neither Mercedes nor Rosberg Reuters able to earn a retainer of $65,000 a wanted to explain why the driver AFP year for representing their country was hired via the Caribbean,” ARD and $15,000 from Women’s Big Bash added. SYDNEY: Australia’s elite women League teams which, when combined Rosberg, winner of the season’s SYDNEY: Australia yesterday cricketers will be able to earn in with match and tour fees, would take first two Grand Prix in Australia announced their first Test tour of excess of A$100,000 ($75,590) a year their earnings into six figures. and Bahrain, has been with Mer- Sri Lanka in five years, with the for the first time in the 2016-17 sea- Cricket Australia said its cedes since 2010 and said through world’s number one team embark- son after Cricket Australia announced spending on elite women’s cricket his lawyer that the case fell within ing on a two-month series from significant pay increases for top play- would increase from A$2.36m to his private affairs. July. ers yesterday. A$4.23mand the players could also Disgraced FIFA officials, sus- The increases for the players expect improved accommodation as pended UEFA chief Michel Platini SCHEDULE who make up the world number one well as less training in the week to and Barcelona superstar Lionel Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka ranked Southern Stars team are part enable them to work or study. Messi were amongst the names July 26-30: 1st Test, Kandy of a strategy to make cricket “the The Southern Stars lost to West found on Sunday in the leaked August 4-8: 2nd Test, Galle sport of choice for women in Aus- Indies in the World Twenty20 final documents. August 13-17: 3rd Test, Colombo tralia”, CA Chief Executive James last weekend but remain top of the Messi denied on Monday that Sutherland said in a statement. world rankings ahead of England. he was involved in tax evasion August 21: 1st ODI, Colombo “Cricket is a sport for all Aus- The earning potential of the while negating the reports. August 24: 2nd ODI, Colombo tralians and Cricket Australia will Cricket Australia announces huge increase in salary for women women players still lags a long way ARD also claim that Argen- August 28: 3rd ODI, Dambulla continue to invest heavily in the wom- cricketers. behind their male counterparts, how- tine footballer Gabriel Heinze, a August 31: 4th ODI, Dambulla en’s game in the coming years,” he ever, with all-rounder Shane Watson former defender with Real Madrid, September 4: 5th ODI, Kandy, added. taking home A$4.5 million in 2014 Manchester United and Paris “Of the more than 1.2 million of them are women and girls. “That playing the game from backyard to from salary and endorsements, Saint-Germain, also appears for September 6: 1st T20, Kandy people of all ages currently playing number continues to grow rapidly and baggy green.” according to Australian magazine the image rights management September 9: 2nd T20, Colombo cricket in Australia almost a quarter we will continue to support females Top women players will now be BRW. issues. Watch out, Lewis! Japan speed queen guns for F1

AFP your average petrol-head, even in racing overalls. But neither gave an inch as they jostled with the men at Fuji. FUJI SPEEDWAY, Japan: Move over, Lewis “I don’t want to lose to the guys,” grinned Hamilton: an 18-year-old speed queen from Koyama, who used to clean racing cars just Japan who is ruffling feathers in the male- to be able to pick up tips. dominated world of motor sport wants to take “They are there to be beaten. But obviously on the big boys in Formula One. it’s important to get results.” Once teased by fellow drivers and fans, Japan has produced nine Formula One Miki Koyama (pictured) has silenced her drivers to date, the most successful Kamui critics by securing a full-time drive for the Kobayashi, who raced for Toyota, Sauber and new Formula Four season, which kicks off its Caterham from 2009-14. Japan Championship series in Okayama this Koyama and Imahashi are part of an weekend. exclusive club of female Japanese racers “I love speed,” Koyama said in an inter- including Formula Three driver Ai Miura, Kumi view during testing at Fuji Speedway. a snow-covered Mount Fuji. “That’s the best Sato, who competed in last year’s 24-hour race “There’s no sport like it. I got hooked on the bit, it’s awesome! at Nurburgring and Keiko Ihara, who finished thrill of it when I was little and I knew there “I was given a hard time when I first on the podium at the 2002 Macau Grand Prix. was nothing else I wanted to do. started but I’ve always thought gender was Italian Lella Lombardi was the last woman “My dream is to be a Formula One racer,” irrelevant. If I get results, people will just stop to race in Formula One, in 1976, though women In this picture taken on March 23, 2016, Japanese Formula Four driver Miki Koyama she added, sitting in the cockpit of her car as noticing I’m a girl. I hate being called a girl.” have driven in other major motor racing cham- (front) drives her machine during a practice session at the Fuji Speedway in Oyama, mechanics tinkered with the engine. Koyama lines up alongside 21-year-old pionships, notably in the United States. Shizuoka Prefecture. “I think it’s good to have big dreams. I’ll Ayaka Imahashi for the Minami Aoyama team. “I do think about the dangers,” said Ima- keep fighting until I get there.” “My parents were against me racing at first hashi, insisting nevertheless that the odd brush Koyama, who began in karting as a five- because they said it was too dangerous,” said with disaster was not enough to dampen the year-old after dabbling with tennis and karate, Imahashi. adrenalin rush she gets from racing. You’re well protected and you don’t get shaken develop the strength in our legs for braking made her Formula Four debut last season with “But they agreed to come and watch me “When you’re cornering at more than about too much.” and our arms for steering under stress for 30 a handful of top-30 finishes. race last year and finally gave me their bless- 100kph and you spin and hit a wall yes, it’s Imahashi and Koyama agree the physical minutes,” said Imahashi, who follows a pun- “People ask me if it isn’t dangerous but I’ve ing. My mum was crying as she watched, she dangerous, but I can’t get enough of the buzz battering their bodies take is the most chal- ishing daily gym routine. done nothing but race cars since I was little,” was so worried. She was just glad I finished you get. lenging aspect of the sport. “Hopefully if more women drivers actu- said Koyama after roaring down the home in one piece.” “I’ve crashed in practice,” she added with “Physically women are built differently ally begin to compete, people’s attitudes will straight at 230kph against the backdrop of Neither Koyama nor Imahashi look like a sheepish grin. “But it didn’t hurt that much. to men so we have to train twice as hard to change,” said Imahashi. SPORT THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 35 Bolt to launch 2016 campaign on May 14 Rehm running out of time for Rio Olympics AFP

Reuters advantage over an athlete not using such aid.’ KINGSTON: Jamaican sprint king In order to present his case to the Usain Bolt will run his first 100m of IAAF, Rehm, who beat able-bodied the 2016 season next month when BERLIN: Amputee long jumper athletes with a jump of 8.10 metres he races in the Cayman Invitational Markus Rehm is running out of time at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix Meet, it was announced on Tuesday. to make the Rio de Janeiro Olym- in February, has asked for the cri- The 29-year-old six-time Olym- pics in August as the world athletics teria for this regulation but still not pic gold medallist, who is building body has not yet set the criteria for received a reply. towards the defence of his titles in ruling if he can compete with his “The IAAF is reviewing the Jamaica’s Usain Bolt makes Rio de Janeiro in August, will run at prosthetic leg. testing that was conducted by our his signature pose after the Truman Bodden Sports Complex Nicknamed “Blade Jumper”, the German Member Federation DLV on May 14 in Grand Cayman. winning the men’s 100m at 2012 Paralympics gold medallist and on Markus Rehm last year,” an IAAF “I am pleased to announce that I the IAAF Diamond League 2014 German long jump champion spokesperson said. will be competing in the 100m at the meeting in London in this hopes to become the second athlete “Upon review of those test Cayman International T&F meeting 2013 file photo. with a carbon fibre running blade to results, the IAAF will consider what on May 14,” Bolt said in a statement. compete in the Olympics after South criteria is required to be met ... in this Bolt, the world record holder over Africa’s Oscar Pistorius in 2012. particular case,” the official said 100m and 200m, has not raced since But a new rule by the Inter- without providing a specific date. last August’s World Championships in national Association of Athletics Rehm, who could not be reached Beijing, where he was victorious in Federations (IAAF) requires amputee immediately for a comment, has the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. competitors to prove their prosthe- already complained that the case “It will be my first international sis gives them no added advantage was dragging on, putting his chances competition in 2016 and my second over other athletes. of Olympic participation at risk. time to run in Cayman,” Bolt added. Competition Rule 144.3(d) bans But as things stand now, the “I always enjoy competing in the Car- ‘the use of any mechanical aid, 27-year-old, who lost his lower right ibbean and look forward to meeting gold medallist Allyson Felix and 2011 she races at the meeting as she builds and three bronze medals competing unless the athlete can establish on leg in a boating accident as a teen- my fans in Cayman.” world 100m champion Carmelita towards the Olympics and a likely internationally for United States. The the balance of probabilities that the ager, will not be picked for Germany. The meet will also feature world Jeter. crack at a 200m and 400m double. race will be her first major event of use of such an aid would not pro- The Rio Olympics begin on 400m champion and Olympic 200m Felix is yet to decide which event Felix has won 21 gold, seven silver 2016. vide him with an overall competitive August 5.

NHL RESULTS NY Islanders 4 Washington 3 Carolina 2 Boston 1 Timberwolves stun Warriors Buffalo 3 New Jersey 1 NY Rangers 3 Tampa Bay 2 Florida 4 Montreal 1 Pittsburgh 5 Ottawa 3 second home defeat in the space of Nashville 4 Colorado 3 Golden State’s record three games after last Friday’s loss NBA ROUND-UP to Boston. San Jose 3 Minnesota 0 bid falters after upset Elsewhere on Tuesday, LeBron Chicago 6 Arizona 2 defeat as James fires James scored 17 points as the Cleve- Los Angeles 5 Calgary 4 land Cavaliers edged closer to locking said. “Whenever you’re mentioned Winnipeg 2 Anaheim 1 Cavaliers to win up home advantage for the play-offs in the same sentence as Magic, it’s with a 109-80 rout of the Milwaukee always great. That’s something you Bucks. never take for granted.” James had a relatively quiet night, Westbrook bagged his latest tri- AFP with his points haul matched by Kevin ple-double after assisting Andre Hickey stars as Love and surpassed by J.R. Smith, who Roberson’s dunk during the third finished with 21. quarter. The victory saw Oklahoma Islanders seal It was Cleveland’s fourth straight City improve to 54-24 and guaranteed victory and left them with a record of them the third seeding in the West- OAKLAND: The Golden State War- 56-22 at the top of the Eastern Con- ern Conference. play-off berth riors’ bid to surpass Chicago’s Bulls ference with four games left. Although the Los Angeles Clip- regular season record suffered a set- The only team capable of catching pers could reach 54 wins, the Thunder Agencies back on Tuesday as they crashed to a them at the top of the standings are would still hold the third seed because shock overtime defeat to the Minne- the Toronto Raptors, who are 51-25 of their superior head-to-head record sota Timberwolves. with five left to play. this season. NEW YORK: Thomas Hickey The Warriors, chasing the leg- In Denver, Russell Westbrook The Thunder’s win came after scored with 2:47 left in overtime, endary 1995-1996 Bulls team’s mark banked his 17th triple double of the Enes Kanter scored 18 points and 11 Christopher Gibson made 29 saves of 72 victories, slumped to a 124-117 season as the Oklahoma City Thunder rebounds while Dion Waiters and in his first NHL start and the New reverse against the Timberwolves, thumped the Nuggets 124-102. Serge Ibaka scored 18 apiece. Okla- York Islanders clinched a play- who have the third worst record in Westbrook weighed in with 13 homa City led by as many as 33 at off berth with a 4-3 win over the the Western Conference. points, 12 assists and 14 rebounds as one point, with the Nuggets barely Washington Capitals on Tuesday The Warriors’ defeat means he became the first player since Magic in contention. night. they must now win all four of their Johnson in 1988-89 to make 17 triple Gary Harris topscored for the New York rallied from a 3-1 remaining games – which include two doubles in a season. Nuggets with 17 points. Emmanuel deficit in the third period to force meetings with the second-ranked San “It’s a great honour,” Westbrook Mudiay and D.J. Augustin had 15 each overtime. Antonio Spurs – to get to 73 victories. as Denver fell to 32-47. Alex Ovechkin scored twice for The Warriors (69-9) had looked to Thunder coach Billy Donovan Washington, which has lost three be cruising to a straightforward win NBA RESULTS however believed his side could have of its last four games, and TJ Oshie after accelerating into a 17-point lead played better. added a goal and two assists. in the second half. Philadelphia 107 New Orleans 93 “We didn’t start the game all that In other match, Blake Wheeler But Minnesota rallied superbly Toronto 96 Charlotte 90 well,” Donovan said. “Maybe the alti- scored his 24th goal in overtime as and a 35-point haul from Shabazz Atlanta 103 Phoenix 90 tude had something to do with it but the Winnipeg Jets rallied for a 2-1 Muhammad -- the best of his career Memphis 108 Chicago 92 we started to get our legs underneath win over the Anaheim Ducks on – and 32 points from Andrew Wig- us as the game went on.” Tuesday night in front of 16,743 at Cleveland 109 Milwaukee 80 gins inspired a fightback which left Westbrook also saw room the Honda Center. the Golden State home crowd in Miami 107 Detroit 89 for improvement on his own Marko Dano added his fifth stunned silence. Oklahoma City 124 Denver 102 performance. goal and goalie Michael Hutchin- Warriors talisman Stephen Curry San Antonio 88 Utah 86 “Turnovers in the first half were son stopped 27 shots for the Jets struggled to find his range all night, my fault,” Westbrook said. “I was (33-39-8), who earned their sec- Karl-Anthony Towns (left) of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots over Portland 115 Sacramento 107 finishing with 21 points but making Minnesota 124 Golden State 117 throwing the ball away too much. I ond consecutive victory. Shaun Livingston of the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in only four of 14 three point attempts made a conscious effort on the second In another match Penguins Oakland, California on Tuesday. as Golden State tumbled to their LA Clippers 103 LA Lakers 81 half to not turn the ball over.” overcame Senators 5-3. Red Sox overcome Indians as Cubs rout LA Angels

Agencies BASEBALL RESULTS single over six innings as the Los Segura had three as the D-backs Houston 5 NY Yankees 3 Angeles Dodgers blanked the San (1-1) overcame a four-run deficit Diego Padres 3-0 Tuesday night. by scoring the final nine runs, with Boston 6 Cleveland 2 Through two games in the sea- Segura’s two-run triple capping a NEW YORK: David Price struck out NY Mets 2 Kansas City 0 son-opening series, the Padres have three-run sixth inning. 10 in six innings, and Mookie Betts Pittsburgh 6 St Louis 5 yet to score a run. Astros 5, Yankees 3 and David Ortiz each belted two-run Detroit 8 Miami 7 The Dodgers pitching staff has Jose Altuve scored the tiebreak- homers to lead Boston over Cleve- Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 2 yield just six hits. ing run on a throwing error by land in an opening day game. Kazmir, in his first game as Dellin Betances with one out in the Seattle 10 Texas 2 Price allowed two runs, while a National Leaguer, delivered an eighth inning, and Dallas Keuchel Cleveland’s Corey Kluber gave up San Francisco 2 Milwaukee 1 encore to Clayton Kershaw’s stel- pitched seven solid innings as the four runs in five-plus innings. Arizona 11 Colorado 6 lar performance in a 15-0 win on Houston Astros opened the season Cubs 6, Angels 1 Chicago Cubs 6 LA Angels 1 Monday. with a 5-3 victory over the New York Jon Lester followed teammate C White Sox 5 Oakland 4 Diamondbacks 11, Rockies 6 Yankees on Tuesday. Jake Arrieta’s brilliant performance Paul Goldschmidt and Jean Carlos Correa drove in the first LA Dodgers 3 San Diego 0 one night earlier with one of his Segura tripled and homered and two runs for the Astros with an RBI own, pitching seven strong innings Goldschmidt finished a six-run forceout in the fourth and a home to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-1 seven innings himself, holding the seventh inning with a two-out, run off Masahiro Tanaka in the win over the Los Angeles Angels on Angels to one run on four hits. Lester three-run triple in the Arizona Dia- sixth. Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. struck out four and did not walk a mondbacks’ 11-6 victory over the Luis Valbuena added insurance Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz hits a two-run home run against Arrieta blanked the Angels on batter. Colorado Rockies at Chase Field with a two-run single off Betances two hits through seven innings on Dodgers 3, Padres 0 on Tuesday. (0-1) as the Astros won their fourth the Cleveland Indians during the ninth inning of their MLB game at Progressive Monday, and Lester responded with Scott Kazmir allowed an infield Goldschmidt had four RBIs and consecutive season opener. Field in Cleveland on Tuesday. 36 THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2016 Superb Adel maintains lead in UAE

56min 49sec, but Saeidan had been in ABU DHABI DESERT Qatari driver produces CHALLENGE impressive form and won the stage in a time of 4hr 37min 55sec to reduce the solid performance Qatari’s outright advantage to 13min to finish second on 50sec. they reached the stage finish with a Frenchman Joseph Rosso hit trou- penultimate day niggling sensor issue that was mak- ble and lost his third place. ing their car run low on power. Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Al Feraihi Khneisser eventually completed and Omani navigator Abdulhaleem Al The Peninsula the stage in an unofficial time of 5hr Busaidi began the day in 15th overall 57min 51sec and holds a distant third in their T1 Nissan Patrol and produced in T2 behind Saeidan. another solid finish to climb to 13th. Khneisser is running with sup- Emirati Matar Al Mansoori began ABU DHABI: Qatar’s Adel Hussein port from Nissan Middle East and Al the day in 16th overall in another Nis- Abdullah will take a T2 category lead Masaood Automobiles. The special san Patrol, although he has delayed in of 13min 50sec into the final stage of ran entirely on sand for 257.87km the dunes. Teams complete the Abu the 2016 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and finished at Hameem. Khneisser’s Dhabi Desert Challenge with a fifth after finishing second to Saudi Arabia’s sensor issue cost him valuable min- selective section of 234.01km today Yasir Saeidan on the fourth selective utes. “Yesterday, like today, was the morning that precedes the ceremo- section through the Rub Al-Khali yes- Desert Challenge. It was a tough day,” nial finish at the Yas Marina Circuit in terday. said Khneisser. Abu Dhabi in the afternoon. According to details available here “I was maybe a little over-excited from Abu Dhabi, the Nissan Patrol trying to pass people yesterday. I driver and his Egyptian navigator jumped and landed into a deep ditch POSITIONS Hakam Mohamed Rabeia produced a landed on the front end and got stuck 1. Adel Hussein Abdullah (QAT)/Hakam solid performance in punishing heat for 45 minutes.” “A bad day today. After Mohamed Rabeia (EGY) Nissan Patrol 21hr and tricky sandy conditions to record 10km, I had no power. I did half the 14min 22sec a valuable stage result and climbed to stage and the other half I cut through 2. Yasir Saeidan (SAU)/Sébastien Delau- 16th overall. from PC2 to PC3, otherwise we would nay (FRA) Toyota Land Cruiser 21hr 28min Emil Khneisser, the Abu Dhabi- not have made it. It was a very tough 12sec based Lebanese Nissan Patrol Y62 area and we had no power at all. The driver, and his Russian navigator Alexei problem is some silly sensor. Now we 3. Emil Khneisser (LEB)/Alexsei Kuzmich (RUS) Nissan Patrol Y62 23hr 11min 00sec Kuzmich began the day fourth in T2 are just planning to finish the race.” and were running well before they fol- Adel started the fourth stage with 4. Mohammed Al-Harqan (QAT)/Arif lowed an incorrect route and missed a T2 advantage of 30min 02sec and Yousef Mohammed (ARE) Nissan Patrol Qatar’s Adel Hussein Abdullah in action on the penultimate day of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge yesterday. a series of way points to ensure that reached the finish in a time of 4hr 24hr 58min QSL, ICSS up hawk-eye vigil as season nears end Al Kharaitiyat’s Amann

The Peninsula domestic season. Last year, towards to attend QSL matches in order to the top 4 teams who will be in the eyes wins in final games the end of the 2014/2015 season the ensure the integrity of the beauti- Qatar Cup competition this season. QSL and ICSS met to reiterate their ful game. With the top four positions in the strong commitment to the integrity These representatives will league still to be finalized and the The Peninsula match with no fear, we had a good DOHA: The Qatar Stars League (QSL) and security of professional football closely work with QSL officials final relegation spots still threaten- result with Al Khor and this should has reaffirmed its stance on match in Qatar. before, during and after the matches. ing a number of clubs, there is sure continue on Saturday evening. fixing, urging all stakeholders to This full cooperation and The 2015/16 season is coming to be extra pressure in the final few Amann went onto say: “The next remain vigilant for any suspicious coordination between the both to an end with only two rounds of fixtures. DOHA: Al Kharaitiyat’s team man- games are like two cup finals for us, activities with the final games of the organisations ensures full transpar- action still to be played which will For this reason the QSL, ICSS and ager Turki Amann has issued a but our destiny is in our hands. We season, with its partner the ICSS. ency and integrity by the QSL and its also witness the determination of the its partners have activated all their rallying call for his relegation threat- know that two victories mean that This is not the first time that partners are keen to provide to all other relegating team to accompany resources to ensure that matches are ened side ahead of the final two we are safe, that is the focus of eve- the QSL and the ICSS have part- the competing teams. Mesaimeer to the Qatar Gas League carefully monitored in order to avoid games of the QSL season. ryone at the club right now.” nered up to focus on unsporting Additionally QSL and ICSS will next season. match fixing or any other surrepti- In an exclusive interview with Amann concluded his brief inter- behaviour for the final games of the be sending ICSS representatives Further to that, the shape of tious behaviour. QSL online, Turki reveals he has full view with an update on the fitness faith in the side to beat the drop. of the squad going into the must-win “I feel that Kharaitiyat will get Wakrah game. the results they need in the final two “Right now the squad is fit and games of the season. “ ready for Saturday’s game. Abdulaziz Looking forward to round 25 and Al Ansari will be back, despite suf- Rugby Sevens Al Kharaitiyat will be taking on Al fering a jaw injury last time out.” Wakrah, and Amann stressed the Al Kharaitiyat will take on Al League final on readiness of his side. Wakrah on Saturday at Al Khor Saturday “We will go onto the Al Wakrah Stadium.

The Peninsula

DOHA: After eight weeks of thrilling action, which saw seven teams battling every Saturday at the Aspire Zone Warm-up, the Rugby Sevens League will cul- minate with the final on Saturday. . Each team played a staggering 14 matches including two byes dur- ing the Qatar Rugby Federation’s (QRF) organised league which debuted on February 6. Overall, 84 matches were played in the build up to the finals Al Kharaitiyat will take on Al Wakrah in their penultimate QSL match with Camels 1 emerging top of the Al Rayyan’s Ahmed Alaa (centre) predicts tough fight with Al Sadd on Sunday. competition ladder with 56 stand- on Saturday. ing points after maintaining an undefeated run throughout the contest. This result has automat- Al Sadd clash will be tough: Alaa ically qualified them for the Cup Rehema, Abdurahman finals. Addressing a press conference, QRF president Yousef al-Kuwari back for Al Wakrah The Peninsula weeks,” he said. “The manager said that the federation was QSL: QATAR CLASICO has changed players to give them a impressed with the success of the chance, whilst resting some key play- maiden edition of the league. ers that is what has been happening “It has been a wonderful expe- The Peninsula victory over former QSL champi- DOHA: Qatar’s U-23 star Ahmed Alaa at the moment,” he added. rience so far and I appreciate ons Lekhwiya. has predicted a tough battle when would be tough to predict a winner Commenting on his own per- the commitments of everybody Meanwhile, Al Sailiya welcomed his Qatar Stars League (QSL) side Al for the game. formance, Alaa said: “I will always including the QOC, the sponsors DOHA: Al Wakrah have welcomed back Cameroonian midfielder Raoul Rayyan will clash with Al Sadd in the “It’s hard to expect in games give my best for the side, even if I am led by Aspire and Woqod,” he back duo Ali Rehema and Abdurah- Loé to training. highly anticipated Qatar Clasico next like this. They are big derby games, playing on the pitch or on the bench. added. man Mohammed back to training The former Osasuna man sat out Sunday. expect plenty of surprises,” he said I will let the training staff asses how The Saturday’s fixtures will ahead of their bottom of the table of his sides 3-2 defeat to Al Sadd in In an interview with the QSL before adding Al Rayyan were aim- I am getting on.” start with the quarter-finals clash against Al Kharitiyat. round 24 after picking up a one game online, Alla said both the teams ing for win only. Alaa while saying Al Rayyan’s between Hurricanes and Al Khor, The club confirmed that the duo suspension. would be aiming for victory in the “Revenge is not on Al Rayyan’s next target is to win the Qatar Cup, while Camels 2 will lock horns have returned to training on Tuesday In other team news, Al Sailiya big match. mind as we faced defeat against Al thanked fans for their tremendous with Lions. evening, and will be assessed by the has turned their attentions to their “It’s going to be a tough game, Sadd earlier. We are just looking at support throughout the season. The winners of these matches medical team ahead of the Saturday upcoming round 25 clash against Al as all Qatari Clasicos are. Al Rayyan each game individually. Both sides “I would like to thank them for will meet each other in a playoff evening match at Al Khor stadium. Khor. may have already won the title, want to win.” supporting the team over this season, and for a chance to challenge the In other team news, the team The Peregrines trained with but every game against Al Sadd is Alaa refused two accept that Al They played a major part in winning Camels 1 for the Cup. trained for the game which is seen a fully strength squad on Tuesday a major challenge. This game will Rayyan’s performance declined after the QSL title, we hope they can con- The losers will be relegated to as a must win for Kharitiyat, who are evening under the watchful eye of be the same,” said the experienced they lifted the title last month. tinue to support us and push on for the Plate finals while CNA-Q and fighting for survival in the QSL. head coach Sami Trabelsi. footballer. “I don’t think we have dipped off more titles this season,” said the Al the Blue Falcons have booked Al Wakrah effectively assured Al Sailiya currently sit in eighth The Qatari youngster said it in terms of performances in recent Rayyan player. themselves in the Bowls final. survival last week with a 2-0 place in the QSL standings.