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QIIB set to Qatar’s issue QR1bn Al Attiyah extends sukuk Sealine lead

WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 • 13 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6772 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Premier meets Boeing Vice-Chairman Emir to attend Ashghal projects GCC-US summit

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will head to win green Saudi Arabia today to take part, along with other GCC leaders, in a summit with US President Barack certification Obama tomorrow in Riyadh. Emir holds phone of over 500,000 square metres, will be evaluated by GSAS on the Projects awarded level of performance equivalent to talks with Putin three-star Global three-star. Sustainability The projects include 43 schools DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim and kindergartens, 19 health centres Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday met bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday held Assessment System and hospitals and 27 mosques either Raymond L Conner, Vice-Chairman, the Boeing Company, and President and CEO, Boeing Commercial telephone talks with Russian Pres- certification in design completed or are in different stages Airplanes. Talks dealt with issues of common concern. ident Vladimir Putin on bilateral of design and construction. relations and regional and inter- and construction “Design professionals of differ- national issues of mutual concern. by Doha-based ent engineering disciplines have joined efforts to develop estab- Gulf Organisation lishments that can achieve a mix for Research and of environmental, economic, and Development Group. social objectives. The process aims Al Kawari proposes global ‘Culture of Peace’ Day to achieve high performance schools that are fundamentally different from conventional practice,” Ash- ghal said yesterday. By Mohammed Osman Organisation (ALECSO) under the and this is one of the reasons that The Peninsula “Recent studies indicate that the The Peninsula patronage of Tunisian Prime Minis- made me to stand for the post of its interior design and general envi- ter Habib Essid. Director-General.” ronment of a building affect the “From here, where the Arab He stressed that Unesco was cre- educational level of performance of Spring spark started, I repeat the ated to respond to the firm belief of DOHA: The Public Works Authority students and can effectively contrib- DOHA: H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz suggestion I made at the Avignon Bor- intellectuals that humanity’s moral (Ashghal) has won a major rec- ute to raising the level of productivity Al Kawari, (pictured) Cultural deaux Forum on March 31 to dedicate and intellectual solidarity and knowl- ognition for its efforts to develop and efficiency for employees of fac- Adviser to the Emiri Diwan and a day to ‘Culture of Peace’,” said Dr edge are the bases to establish a sustainable and environment- ulty and administrators alike,” it Qatar’s candidate for the Unesco Al Kawari. lasting peace and develop human friendly designs for schools, health added. Director-General’s post, has proposed “My visit to Tunisia came after societies of different cultures and centres and other public institu- Similarly, interior design and to devote an international day to ‘Cul- South Africa, the land of tolerance, civilisations. tions. quality of the environment in health ture of Peace’. reconciliation, co-existence and the The role of thoughts and Ashghal projects have been facilities contribute effectively to the Addressing an international sym- homeland of Nelson Mandela,” he knowledge in peace-making and awarded the three-star Global level of comfort and health improve- posium in Suosse city in Tunisia on added. development of societies were the Sustainability Assessment System ments of patients and raise the Monday, Dr Al Kawari said Tunisia is The forum is important in view of issues intellectuals were engaged (GSAS) certification in design and productivity and efficiency of medi- becoming a model for modernity and the significant changes Arab coun- with in the 20th century and which construction by the Doha-based cal staff and other employees. civil state respecting human rights tries are witnessing, Dr Al Kawari led to the establishment of Unesco. Gulf Organisation for Research and GORD continues to review and a developing democracy while said, adding that Arab intellec- “After 70 years, we are in a sim- Development Group (GORD). and audit Ashghal project graph- facing the challenge of terrorism. tuals are required to think about ilar situation and using culture as a The GSAS system is based on the ics and designs and visit project The symposium on ‘Promoting these developments, study the sit- should top discussions, because a tool for building peace has became application of sustainability crite- sites to ensure that the principles Values of Peace and Dialogue’ was uation, and find out their potential similar situation in the post-world more significant. Our battle today ria and the requirements of green and standards of sustainability are organised by Islamic Educational, impact on Arab societies and their war era led to the establishment of is not in a military filed, but a battle construction for educational and implemented according to the GSAS Scientific and Cultural Organization development. the Unesco, Dr Al Kawari said. with brains in the field of culture,” Dr healthcare facilities. system. (ISESCO), with the Tunisian Minis- Under such circumstances, the “I believe that Unesco has a great Al Kawari added. About 100 projects being imple- try of Education and Arab League issue of peace and how to enhance role to play in the process of peace- mented by Ashghal, with a total area → Continued on page 3 Educational, Cultural and Scientific peace and stability in the Arab world making more than any time before, → Continued on page 2

Turkey warns EU Up in smoke on visa row Clinical records to go after migrant deal online at Al Sadd AFP PEC from Sunday

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned The Peninsula to go to primary healthcare centres the European Union yesterday it for simple complaints (on Sunday) needs Turkey more than Ankara to avoid congestion at Al Sadd PEC,” needs the bloc, as tensions grew HMC said in a statement yesterday. over promises for visa liberalisa- DOHA: Patients’ clinical records “During this time of transi- tion in a crucial deal on stemming at Al Sadd Paediatric Emergency tion and changes, we ask visitors, the flow of migrants to Europe. Centre (PEC) are going digital with patients and families for their utmost Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet implementation of the unique Clin- cooperation with the medical staff at Davutoglu had earlier bluntly ical Information System (CIS) from Al Sadd PEC. This will be very sup- told the EU that Ankara would no Sunday. PEC is expecting delays in portive and enable patient flow to longer abide by the March migrant the transition phase and has advised be managed effectively,” it added. accord if Brussels fails to imple- visitors to avoid visiting the centre on Staff will need to gather more ment the pledge to grant Turks Sunday for non-urgent cases. information from patients to regis- visa-free travel by June. Smoke rises after a war-craft belonging to the Syrian Army bombed the residential areas in the Arbin Appointments may also take ter them in the new system and this The issues are coming to a town of Eastern Ghouta region in Damascus, yesterday. longer time during the transition may mean that appointments take a head as Chancellor Angela Mer- period as staff and patients need to little longer than usual. kel and top EU officials prepare adjust to the new system. Therefore, the public has been to travel on Saturday to the Turk- The existing paper clinical asked to avoid visiting the PEC for ish city of Gaziantep close to the records will be replaced by digital non-urgent cases. Syrian border to discuss imple- ones, with full implementation of Dr Khalid Al Ansari, Medical mentation of the migrant deal. US seeks defence cooperation with Gulf states CIS. Implementation of CIS is part Director, Paediatrics Emergency “The European Union needs of a planned roll-out across Hamad Centres, HMC, said, “My team and Turkey more than Turkey needs Medical Corporation (HMC) and I are excited about implementa- the European Union,” Erdogan AFP yesterday. He arrived in the Saudi countered” in that way. Rather, “spe- Primary Healthcare Corporation tion of the CIS system, which will said to cheers in a televised speech capital yesterday and will meet his cial operations forces and maritime (PHCC). Once CIS implementation standardise processes and provide to municipal leaders in Ankara, Gulf counterparts today. interdiction” are needed, he said. is complete, patient records will be the best and safest patient care that denouncing as “provocative” the He is also expected to join Presi- The US is proposing to help train stored and accessed electronically we aspire for and are always work- European Parliament report. RIYADH: The US is seeking greater dent Barack Obama at a summit with Gulf special forces and develop their across both organisations. ing to achieve.” The roll-out of CIS at He lashed out at the report for special forces and naval cooperation the GCC leaders. naval capacity to prevent Iran from “We anticipate delays during the PEC follows its successful imple- not praising Turkey’s hosting of with the Gulf states to counter Iran’s Over the past 15 years, the US has supplying weapons to Shia groups implementation of the electronic mentation in seven HMC hospitals. some 2.7 million refugees from the “destabilising activities” in the region, sold combat aircraft to Gulf states, but it supports in the region, the offi- application system. war in neighbouring Syria. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said Carter said Iran’s activities “won’t be cial said. “We ask patients and families → Continued on page 2 02 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 HOME

Emir receives Dialogue and culture key to peace: Al Kawari Boeing official

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Continued from page 1 world. Education is the way to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani empower women and ensure their met Raymond L Conner, Dialogue and culture are the effective participation in society Vice-Chairman, the Boe- foundation stones to establish building, Dr Al Kawari said. ing Company, and President peace, Dr Al Kawari said, adding “No doubt that all of you share and CEO, Boeing Commercial the world is facing a cultural war with me the pain we feel due to Airplanes, at Al Bahr Palace rather than a military one, and what the Arab heritages are fac- yesterday. real peace should be built inside ing today, including destruction human minds through planting and looting under the forces of common human values before darkness. thinking about economic and “But we are optimistic that Online registration political agreements between gov- our world not only drives people ernments, because peace is based to war, but also make them think for Haj from today on the intellectual and moral soli- about peace and set up its basis,” darity of mankind. he added. DOHA: The Ministry of Awqaf “If we want to fight terror- The GCC Higher Education and Islamic Affairs will today ism, our battle field then is culture Ministers, meanwhile, supported start online registration for Haj which is the cornerstone of global Qatar’s bid for the Unesco Direc- this year. Citizens and expatriates peace. In the past, educated people tor-General’s post. can apply from today until May 10 and intellectuals were the victims This came as the ministers of through the website (www.hajj.gov. of terror and today they are facing higher education and scientific qa available) in Arabic and English similar challenges,” he added. research held their 18th meeting languages. He said education is the right at the GCC General-Secretariat in Ali Sultan Al Meseifri, Director, of every person and no society can Riyadh. Haj and Umrah Affairs Depart- take the burden of human devel- Minister of Education and ment, said online registration is opment with half of its people Higher Education H E Dr Moham- expected to be smooth and fast. remaining illiterate. med Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi The electronic selection proc- Gender equality is a condition headed Qatar’s delegation. ess will start immediately after for development, especially in edu- The ministers affirmed their the registration is complete. He H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser to the Emiri Diwan and Qatar’s candidate for the cation, as females are the most support to Qatar’s nomination of advised people intending to per- disadvantaged group in today’s Dr Al Kawari for the post. Unesco Director-General’s post, speaking at an international symposium in Suosse city in Tunisia. form Haj to register early and within the specific time. Peo- ple can choose the tour operator without any intervention from the department, he added. Expatriate 1,539 fake vehicle spare parts seized applicants are required to be res- idents of Qatar for at least three years and should not have per- The Peninsula material losses to consumers, said a description of goods and their con- formed Haj in the past five years. statement yesterday. tents and refrain from posting any The department has sent a circular The inspection campaigns misleading or false statements. to all tour operators keen to organ- were part of the ministry’s efforts Penalties for violations of law ise Haj trips this year to apply for DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and to monitor markets and commer- number (8) of 2008 range between licence. The department has set Commerce has seized 1,539 counter- cial activities in a bid to offset price administrative closures and a mini- up a hotline (132) for Haj-related feit spare parts from garages in the manipulation and expose violations mum fine of 3000 riyals and up to 1 information and queries. Industrial Area. pertaining to counterfeit goods and million riyals. The products were seized during non-conformance with standard The Ministry stated that it is a recent inspection campaign con- specifications, it added. determined to protect consumer CIS roll-out a success’ ducted by the ministry. Counterfeit spare parts involves a rights and will intensify its inspec- Continued from page 1 Counterfeit spare parts pose great violation of article (7) of law number tion campaigns to crack down risks to consumer safety because (8) of 2008. The law stipulates that on all violations of the consumer The roll-out of CIS at the PEC they affect the performance of vehi- suppliers of goods must clearly protection law. The Ministry said also follows successful imple- cles, leading to potential moral and display on product labels a clear it will refer violators of laws and mentation in some PECs, dialysis An inspector from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce checking centres, Bone and Joint Centre and a spare part during a campaign. many primary health centres. The importance of an elec- ministerial decrees to the com- report about the violations if they tronic medical records system petent authorities, who will take come cross to the Consumer Pro- was set out in the National Health appropriate action against perpe- tection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Strategy for Qatar, launched in trators in order to protect the rights department and send complaints 2011. HMC and PHCC launched of consumers. and suggestions through Call Center: the programme in 2012, which is The Ministry of Economy and 16001 or Email: [email protected] or one of the most ambitious for the Commerce urges all consumers to Twitter MEC_QATAR. organisations’ future. ‘Rishtey Asia’ channel on Ooredoo tv

The Peninsula its fast-developing Ooredoo tv service. easy-to-use box. Ooredoo tv, which was launched Thanks to this update, Oore- earlier this year and will replace Oore- doo tv viewers can now enjoy a DOHA: Ooredoo has yesterday doo’s Mozaic TV, combines apps, brand new channel from India launched ‘Rishtey Asia’ channel on on-demand and live television in one with ‘Rishtey Asia’, a variety entertainment channel showcas- ing content from genres including fiction, non-fiction and the best of Bollywood movies. The new channel, which is tar- geted for Bollywood lovers, will bring international programming and up-to-date Bollywood con- tent to Qatar. The channel showcases the best of content from India, Paki- stan and Turkey, along with blockbuster films like Brothers, Gabbar and Gangster. Customers can also enjoy the award winning Turkish pro- gramme ‘PabandIshq’- a dramatic love story, and Rakkt – a non- fiction show which talks about ancient India. Rishtey Asia’s primetime offerings have been customised to every market’s viewing needs. Ooredoo tv viewers can enjoy Rishtey Asia via channel number 812. Mozaic TV subscribers can watch Rishtey Asia on channel number 254. Existing Mozaic TV customers who want to upgrade to Ooredoo tv can visit any Ooredoo retail shop, order and collect a free Ooredoo tv play device today. Ooredoo tv offers features such as 4K resolution, time shift, android apps, parental control, thousands of hours of on demand content and much more at no extra cost. Ooredoo tv is available now via Ooredoo Shops, Starlink, Tech- noBlue and Jumbo outlets. The service has no upfront charges, no equipment costs and no ongoing contracts. Visit ooredoo.qa/portal/OoredooQ- atar/ooredoo-tv_2 for more information. HOME WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 03

Tarsheed helps cut power Spanish envoy visits The Peninsula and water consumption

since its launch until 2015, also consumption of water and electricity Per capita power and reducing carbon dioxide emissions and intensifying the culture of con- and consumption of gases. servation of vital resources in Qatar. water consumption Under the patronage of Emir H H In addition, Kahramaa also aims drops by 14 percent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, through its multi-fold strategies and Qatar General Electricity & Water programmes to reach all segments and 17 percent, Corporation (Kahramaa) is going to of society to create awareness about respectively, and mark the fourth annual celebration conserving the precious resources. about QR800m saved of Tarsheed on Sunday at Sheraton During the event, individuals and Doha. corporate who have been selected since Kahramaa The celebration will be held under various categories for their launched the under the theme ‘Tomorrow starts entries for competitions organised Today’ in partnership with Aamal and by Kahramaa’s Conservation and initiative in 2015. Doha Cables. Energy Efficiency Department will Prime Minister and Interior Min- be honoured. ister H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser It motivates society to work bin Khalifa Al Thani will attend the together, contributing to the goals The Peninsula event, along with Minister of Energy and ambitions of Qatar National and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Vision 2030. Saleh Al Sada, Kahramaa President The main target of Tarsheed is to Engineer Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, reduce per capita water and electric- DOHA: The ongoing National Pro- President of Kahramaa and other ity consumption by 35 percent and 20 Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief, The Peninsula, received Spanish Ambassador to Qatar, Ignacio gramme for Conservation and dignitaries. percent, respectively, by 2017. Energy Efficiency — Tarsheed — has Kahramaa is expected to Through the programme, Kah- Escober, at his office and briefed him on the evolution of the newspaper. Ambassador Escobar praised achieved success in reducing per cap- announce during the event its ramaa also aims at becoming a role the progress the newspaper has witnessed and expressed willingness to bolster cooperation with ita electricity and water consumption further strategies, projects and model in the field of conservation and the newspaper, especially as Qatar is home to a community of about 4,500 Spaniards and over 100 by 14 percent and 17 percent, respec- achieved targets for the ongoing pro- environmental sustainability, among companies. The Peninsula / Kammutty tively, and saving about QR800m gramme, which aims at rationalising others. Sustainable projects help reduce power usage

Continued from page 1 to reflect away heat. Water consump- of this achievement and it takes real tion is rationalised through efficient commitment to the global sustaina- Educational facilities are water saving fixtures, economic dual bility assessment system standards to designed to reduce energy con- flush toilets, landscape design with achieve three-star certificate in the sumption by 25 percent compared native/adaptive plants species with design and construction. This would to existing schools through the use low water demand for irrigation and lead us to build public, educational of high insulation materials for roof using drip irrigation strategy. and health buildings that would and façade, recesses and shading to The awarding announcement was be leading examples of sustaina- reduce heat gains, selection of effi- made yesterday in the presence of ble buildings locally and globally in cient building systems and designing Engineer Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi, accordance with the global criteria lighting layout and levels according President, Ashghal, Lahdan Sager Al for evaluating sustainability. to best practices for energy saving. Mohanadi, Director, Buildings Affairs, Al Horr said, “The achieve- Environmental impact from land and Dr Yousef Mohammed Al Horr, ment will support Qatar National is mitigated by providing shaded can- GORD’s Founding Chairman and Vision 2030 and shape our vision of opies for cooling car parking areas number of Ashghal, and GORD’s sen- a healthy and sustainable environ- and reducing heat island effect by ior officials. ment for the citizens and residents Officials from Ashghal and Gulf Organisation for Research and Development Group with the certification. using light coloured paints for walls Al Mawlawi said: “We are proud of Qatar.” 04 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 HOME Vodafone to introduce QA marks new Boston service Smart Data Rate today Nikka Costa, Strings and En Vogue perform at inaugural The Peninsula comparison to the standard data rate of celebration at Boston Park 99 dirhams/MB. Vodafone said, “With Smart Data Rate Plaza Hotel. customers can use as much data as they DOHA: Starting today, Vodafone will want without the worry of running a huge introduce Smart Data Rate, a smarter bill or thinking about subscribing and way to pay for data usage consumed out- unsubscribing to monthly internet extras. The Peninsula side customers’ Prepaid and Postpaid data As part of one of the world’s largest allowance. telecommunications companies, Voda- A Vodafone Postpaid customer with fone Group Plc, we are able to bring to the service will automatically get 200MB Qatar the most innovative products and DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) celebrated the for only QR20 once they have finished services that puts our customers firmly launch of daily, non-stop service to Boston with their plan or Internet pack data allowance. in control of their spending allowing them an illustrious gala event, hosted at the Boston Once their first 200MB is used the cus- to be confidently connected. The serv- Park Plaza Hotel. tomer simply gets another 200MB bundle ice is being used by customers in many In attendance were many of the city’s digni- for QR20. The extra data is valid until the Vodafone countries proving to be a great taries and business leaders. Guests experienced end of a customer’s billing cycle. This serv- success and we are confident that cus- a red carpet rose-wall welcome, and the Emcee Mohammed Jaham Al Kuwari (left), Qatari Ambassador to the US, with Akbar Al Baker, ice means that smart spending Vodafone tomers in Qatar will also find the service for the evening was television red carpet host Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group; Thomas Glynn, CEO, Massport; and a guest at customers can keep using data all month highly beneficial.” and fashion designer Giuliana Rancic, followed Qatar Airways’ Boston Gala. and save up to 90 percent in comparison to Subscribing to Smart Data Rate is free by stunning musical performances by Nikka the standard data rate of 99 dirhams/MB. and there are no monthly charges. To get Costa and Strings and En Vogue. “The gala was On Vodafone Prepaid, the service gives the service, existing customers need to a memorable evening for QA and for the city of the Year’ by Skytrax. to Los Angeles on 1 January and added a sec- customers 150MB valid until midnight of choose <> from the USSD Menu by dialling Boston,” said QA Group Chief Executive Akbar “We are pleased to be operating to Boston ond flight to New York City route on 1 April. The that day for only QR3. Once a prepaid *100# Alternatively Postpaid customers Al Baker. “With every new destination we serve, with our state-of-the-art Airbus A350, and con- airline will also commence service to Atlanta customer has used their first 150MB they could just dial *110*111# while Prepaid cus- we seek to become a part of that community nect travellers from this great city to a global on 1 June 2016. will get another 150MB and be charged tomers can dial *200*111#. and Boston welcomed us with open arms.” network,” continued Al Baker. Gala guests experienced the airline’s another QR3. New customers can activate the serv- He stressed the importance of aviation, both “QA’s new service from Boston will form the renowned hospitality and refined signature Customers will only be charged if ice upon sign-up in store. The service will as a catalyst and facilitator for global trade, foundations for new business and social ties service, including award-winning cuisine offer- they use data on a particular day. Once send notifications about usage so custom- commerce and vital cultural exchange. around the world. I look forward to our long ing and personal service from its cabin crew. the service is activated for a prepaid cus- ers always stay in complete control of their Following the airline’s global brand cam- and prosperous relationship.” At the end of the evening, the airline held their tomer they can use any other Vodafone spending. Smart Data Rate is not available paign “Going Places Together”, he thanked the Launched on 16 March, the new route traditional gala raffle. Prepaid Internet Pack. When that pack on Red Qatari, Red XL, Red VIP and Lon- city of Boston for inviting QA into their com- between Boston’s Logan International Air- Two lucky winners were awarded two is consumed their Smart Data Rate will don Edition as these plans already include munity and invited guests to experience the port and Doha’s Hamad International Airport round-trip business class tickets to their des- automatically apply. Smart spending a preferential out of bundle rate. For details renowned services of the reigning three-time represents the airlines’ ninth US destination. tination of choice, anywhere on the airline’s prepaid customers can save up to 98% in on the service, visit www.vodafone.qa. winner of the prestigious accolade, ‘Airline of The airline also recently commenced service route map of over 150 global destinations.

Splash names promotion winner Pakistan’s federal minister arriving today

The Peninsula Mughal, CEO and Partner, Dania Union. In 2014, he led negotia- Group. tions to obtain reciprocal market Khan joined the ruling PML (N) access for Pakistan and to normal- DOHA: Khurram Dastgir Khan, in 1997. Before being elevated to the ise trade with India. His diplomacy Pakistan’s Federal Minister for position of federal minister in 2014, led to the start of Pakistan’s nego- Commerce, is arriving on a official he served as minister of state at the tiations for free trade agreements visit to Qatar today. ministries of commerce; and tex- with Turkey and Thailand. Under Khan, also Deputy Secretary tile industry and privatisation. At the him, the Ministry of Commerce has of Information, Pakistan Muslim Ministry of Commerce, he revital- revamped national trade defence League, will address a community ised Pakistan’s trade diplomacy and laws, obtained approval for Paki- Khurram Dastgir Khan, gathering at Sapphire Plaza Hotel spearheaded a successful campaign stan’s accession to TIR Convention at 7.30pm. He is coming to Doha at to obtain GSP+ trade preferences and concluded institutional reforms Pakistan’s Federal Minister the invitation of Shahzad Ahmad for Pakistan from the European in the ministry and its departments. for Commerce

CINECO 3 at Al Khor Mall

Splash celebrated its 23rd birthday with a one-month grand promotion inaugurated offering a chance to win 1kg of gold. Customers making purchases worth QR100 and above were eligible to enter the draw. Mia Gracia Petate was The Peninsula named the winner of the grand prize on April 4 and was felicitated by Santosh Pai, COO, Landmark Group, Saikat Mishra, General Manager, Landmark Group; and other Splash dignitaries on April 10 at Splash, Centrepoint at Al Asmakh Mall. DOHA: The fast growing city of Al Khor will have more excitement with the open- ing of a brand new CINECO 3, a flagship cinema of Qatar Bahrain International Cin- ema (QBIC) at Al Khor Mall. Following its soft opening on March 24 with a worldwide premier of Batman Khalil Amin, Chief Operating Officer for Qatar, Qatar Bahrain International Cinema (QBIC); and M O Shaijan, Regional Director for Qatar, Lulu Group International, inaugurate the CINECO 3 at Al Khor Mall, in the presence of other officials from both sides, yesterday. Pic: Salim M /The Peninsula

Vs Superman, the residents requirements of every of Al Khor will never have visitor. Mohamed Althaf, to rush to Doha to catch a Director, Lulu Group Inter- premiere of their favourite national, said “Al Khor movie. Khalil Amin, Chief Mall has served over 25 Operating Officer, QBIC, million shoppers and visi- said: “Qatar is an impor- tors since its opening three tant market for us. This and a half years ago. grand launch is part of “With the multiplex QBIC’s strategy of expand- opening, the visitor flow ing its presence across the is going to improve. Con- country. With Al Khor Mall sidering such high loyalty Cinema, QBIC is the largest and patronage from cus- cinema company in Qatar tomers and majority of with 30 screens at three the families, the mall has locations in Qatar. We also added new retail will continue our expan- concepts to enhance the sion strategy in Qatar and shopping atmosphere. The announce the opening of mall has all key elements another 13 screens very required to make it a des- soon” tination centre — ranging All cinemas of CINECO from fashion outlets, F&B, 3 are equipped with sil- family entertainment cen- ver screen for 2D and 3D tre, others services, ample movies with 4K digital parking and ease of access, projection systems. among others” With CINCEO, the The mall takes shop- mall has reached its ping in Al Khor to a whole pinnacle in offering enter- new level and is fast tainment and a happy becoming a centre of con- time for the entire family venience for the residents together with more than of Al Khor City and visi- 100 tenants and a large tors from Doha and other food court catering to the neighbouring cities. HOME WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 05

Imagine Cup 2016 student technology contest on Monday

The Peninsula contests held in over 100 countries. technology to create more value in the Microsoft also witnessed the tre- It is a global student technology world. We are honoured and thank- mendous support from its partners programme that encourages students ful for H E Jassim bin Saif Ahmed Al in Qatar such as Digital Incubation to innovate through building applica- Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Center of the Ministry of Transport DOHA: The Imagine Cup 2016 Qatar tions integrated with latest technology Communications for hosting this and Communications, Qatar Char- National Finals will be held on Mon- tools, that help form more sustaina- year’s Imagine Cup under his patron- ity, Injaz Qatar, Qatar Computing day at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski ble communities. age,” said Naim Yazbeck, General and Research Institute (QCRI), Qatar Hotel at the Pearl-Qatar. This year’s competition includes Manager of Microsoft Qatar. Business Incubation Center (QBIC), Hosted by Microsoft Qatar, the categories in World Citizenship, Inno- “Imagine Cup is a platform that World Innovation Summit in Educa- event will be held under the patron- vation and Gaming. Students and endorses and creates an opportunity tion (WISE), Silatech, Mada Assistive age of Minister of Transport and participants from across Qatar will for young minds to unleash their cre- Technology Center, LINKdotNET Communications H E Jassim bin identify challenges affecting their ative skills to develop applications Qatar, and Ooredoo who have pro- Saif Al Sulaiti and will see the par- communities and build projects that necessary for building prosperous vided coaching and mentoring to Professor Min Keun Chung (left), President, NRF, South Korea; and ticipation of six teams from Qatar can help resolve those issues. Rev- and sustainable communities and student teams through their Imag- University, Carnegie Mellon Uni- olutionary software provided by we truly value the support from our ine Cup journey, and promoted the Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie, Executive Director, QNRF, signing the MoU. versity in Qatar and Texas A&M Microsoft will enable participants to sponsors Ebla Computer Consul- Imagine Cup platform among their University in Qatar. innovate and create applications that tancy, Information & Communication communities and networks. Imagine Cup is known to be the can alter technology in the future. Technology W.L.L. (ICT) and Qatar The national winners will rep- world’s largest student technology “At Microsoft, we firmly believe Datamation Systems (QDS), who resent Qatar in the third Annual QNRF signs agreement with competition, spanning a duration that knowledge and creativity can share our vision and passion to ena- Pan-Arab Semi-Finals to be held in of one year with local and online be combined with the latest cloud bling youth in the State of Qatar.” Cairo on May 27. South Korea Foundation

The Peninsula developing a cooperative agreement with a well-established research QU students attend Nasmou training entity like the National Research Foundation of Korea. We are glad DOHA: Qatar National Research to further our relationships with Fund (QNRF) has entered into the Republic of Korea in order to an agreement with the National strengthen our portfolio of interna- Experts provide skills training Research Foundation of Korea tional collaboration. I am confident (NRF), to cover the entire spectrum that this MoU will open doors for as part of the programme, set of academic research, including important mutual benefits for our up in collaboration with Oxy joint research and seminars and organisations in the near future.” researcher exchange. “This meeting is an excellent Qatar and Silatech. A memorandum of understand- opportunity to initiate a fruitful ing (MoU) was signed between the and constructive collaboration with two entities during the Qatar Foun- Qatar. We are very excited to start dation Annual Research Conference a long term relationship, working The Peninsula 2016 (ARC’16). together on joint programmes and The MoU will establish a frame- activities, and exchanging ideas,” work that enables QNRF and NRF in said Professor Chung. South Korea to collaborate on pro- Alongside representatives from DOHA: A group of students from the colleges of grammes and activities that are of QNRF, a large delegation from Qatar Engineering (CENG) and Business and Economics Students attending one of the workshops. common interest, exchanging ideas attended the meeting, including (CBE) at Qatar University (QU) recently under- and experiences. This comes as part officials from Qatar Foundation went skills training during the third edition of the of preparations for both parties to Research and Development (QF Nasmou programme, an initiative set up in col- ultimately become the nation’s future leaders. practice’; ‘Leading Change – Working as an effec- enter into a cooperation agreement R&D), Qatar Science and Technol- laboration with Occidental Petroleum Qatar (Oxy They were provided with insights on leadership tive team’; and ‘What Next? – Developing a Personal in the near future. ogy Park (QSTP), Qatar University, Qatar) and Silatech. and important issues such as emotional and cultural Action Plan’ Fifteen senior executives and experts Professor Min Keun Chung, Pres- and the Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- The programme, followed the success of the two intelligence, teamwork, how to face challenges, as from partner organisations and related industries ident, NRF; and Dr Abdul Sattar Al sity research institutes. previous editions offered in 2015 which engaged well as overcoming cultural boundaries and suc- participated in the workshops and shared the Taie, Executive Director, QNRF, Attendees from the Republic of CENG male and female students consecutively. ceeding in a multicultural environment. challenges they faced in their careers, and their highlighted the importance of such Korea included the NRF President, During four days, four students benefitted from Workshop themes included ‘Setting the Scene – successes as leaders. An internship opportunity will collaboration to address areas of a delegation from NRF Korea, the training workshops and other forums to equip them Understanding the type of leader we are and want be offered to selected students at Oxy Qatar to fur- common interest. Korea Institute for Advancement of with necessary skills, competencies and mindset to be’; ‘Introducing the Challenge – Using the Chal- ther develop their skills and apply the knowledge Dr Al Taie said, “This is a very Technology (KIAT), and Korea Inter- to ease their transition into the workplace and lenge as a way to put your leadership skills into and techniques to real-life experiences. important step on the way to net and Security Agency (KISA). 06 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 MIDDLE EAST

Turkey kills 32 Syria opposition IS fighters in Iraq after chiefs ‘leaving’ attack on tank talks in Geneva AFP ISTANBUL: The Turkish army violation of the truce. “It is a dan- killed 32 suspected fighters from gerous escalation of an already the Islamic State group in northern In some of the fragile situation, showing con- Iraq yesterday following an attack deadliest violence tempt for the whole international on one of its tanks, Turkish media community at a time when there reported. since a ceasefire took is supposed to be a cessation of Turkish troops destroyed a effect in February, hostilities,” said HNC spokesman building used by IS, killing 10 Salem Al Meslet. The raid was jihadists, and then killed another a suspected regime “Assad’s response” to the HNC’s 22 who tried to flee the scene, the bombing raid hit a decision to suspend its formal partic- Anatolia news agency said. The ipation in negotiations. “Our decision agency said the incident occurred Supporters of prominent Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr chant slogans during a sit-in at Tahrir Square market in the city of to postpone our participation in the after militants fired an anti-tank Maaret Al Numan, Geneva talks was taken to highlight in Baghdad yesterday. missile at one of its tanks near the killing 37 civilians, a the cynicism of the regime in pre- Bashiqa military camp not far from tending to negotiate while escalating the city of Mosul, which has been monitor said. the violence... The world must not an IS stronghold since 2014. ignore this challenge,” said Meslet. Iraq Speaker suspends House Dogan news agency said the The troubled talks failed to get off tank crew was unhurt and that the ground this week despite hopes they had fired back in response, AFP brought on by the ceasefire. The par- shelling the building from which tial truce, brokered by the United sessions ‘until further notice’ the fire came and causing it to col- States and Russia, led to a dramatic lapse, killing 10 jihadists. drop in violence across Syria but a They also fired at a group of BEIRUT: Suspected government air recent surge in fighting, especially AFP meaning there are now two claim- line-ups presented by Prime Minister people fleeing the scene in seven strikes killed at least 44 civilians at around second city Aleppo, has raised ants to the speakership. Juburi insists Haider al-Abadi, but shifted to calls cars and four motorcycles, kill- markets in northwestern Syria yes- fears of its total collapse. the vote to sack him and his depu- for Juburi to go. Abadi has sought to ing 22 of them, the agency said. terday, as opposition chiefs said they The opposition announced that ties was invalid because the session replace the cabinet of party-affili- Last month, a Turkish soldier were leaving peace talks in Geneva it was putting its participation on BAGHDAD: Embattled Iraqi par- lacked the necessary quorum, but his ated ministers with a government of was killed and another wounded because of such attacks. hold to protest escalating violence liament Speaker Salim Al Juburi opponents are seeking to move ahead technocrats, but has faced significant when missiles fired by IS fight- In some of the deadliest violence and restrictions on humanitarian yesterday announced the suspension with selecting replacements. opposition from powerful political ers hit another military base in since a ceasefire took effect in Feb- access in Syria. HNC coordinator of parliament sessions “until further “I announce the suspension of parties that rely on control of minis- northern Iraq during clashes with ruary, a suspected regime bombing Riyad Hijab told journalists yester- notice” after a week of turmoil dur- sessions... of the Iraqi parliament tries for patronage and funds. local Kurdish forces. Bashiqa raid hit a market in the city of Maaret day that he and other delegates were ing which lawmakers brawled and until further notice,” Juburi said. But President Fuad Masum proposed camp has been targeted several Al Numan, killing at least 37 civil- beginning to leave Geneva. sought to sack him. Janabi has called for a session to be a plan to end the parliamentary times by IS jihadists. ians, a monitor said. “I will be travelling today along The political crisis comes as held on Thursday, so MPs may still leadership crisis, but the session he In December, Turkey said it Footage showed bloodied bodies with some of my colleagues from Iraq battles the Islamic State jihad- meet without Juburi’s leadership. called for failed to resolve differences had sent hundreds of troops to scattered among twisted metal stalls the HNC. Some people left yester- ist group, which overran large areas Juburi’s decision was taken to among lawmakers. Bashiqa to protect Turkish mili- in a street strewn with fruit and vege- day and today and they will keep in 2014, and contends with a seri- “preserve the reputation of parlia- Under Masum’s plan parliament tary personnel involved in training tables. Another strike on a fish market leaving gradually until Friday,” Hijab ous economic crisis caused by low ment” and prevent it from being “a was to convene for an “extraordi- Iraqi fighters, sparking a diplo- in the nearby town of Kafranbel killed said. “We will not accept negotia- oil prices and years of mismanage- place for conflict”, he said. nary session” to vote on whether or matic row with Baghdad. seven civilians, said the Syrian tions while our people are still ment and corruption. Both the United There has been plenty of conflict not to remove Juburi and his two dep- At the time, a senior Turkish Observatory for Human Rights, a Brit- suffering,” he said. “It is not suitable, States and the United Nations have in parliament over the past week: uties. The proposal was accepted by official said up to 300 soldiers ain-based monitoring group. neither morally nor on the humani- warned that the crisis could distract lawmakers held an overnight sit-in Juburi but rejected by his opponents and 20 tanks were deployed there, The main opposition High tarian side, to be part of negotiations from efforts to combat IS. and threw punches in the chamber, on the grounds that it would return to although an unspecified number Negotiations Committee con- when Syrians are dying daily from Some MPs voted last week to as well as seeking to sack Juburi. the issue of whether or not he should were pulled back following US demned the strike at Maaret Al sieges, hunger, bombings, poisonous remove Juburi and elected Adnan Al The turmoil began with disa- stay in office, which they insist has pressure to end the row with Numan as a “massacre” and clear gases and barrel bombs.” Janabi as his interim replacement, greement over proposed cabinet already been resolved. Baghdad. South Sudan rebel’s homecoming fails again Ringleader in the burning

AFP Speaking to reporters staking out to bring “machine guns and laser- Machar and President Salva Kiir. alive of Palestinian teen Juba’s airport since early Monday, guided missiles” as well as additional Both sides continue to insist they rebel spokesmen William Ezekiel said troops in contravention of the peace are committed to peace while offering yesterday that unspecified “issues agreement. little evidence to back their claims. ruled sane: Court JUBA: For the second day in a row relating to logistics” were to blame Makuei said Machar had now The conflict characterised by extreme South Sudan’s rebel leader failed to for the latest delay. He was unable to “called off his arrival indefinitely”. brutality and human rights violations make his much-anticipated return to say when Machar might now arrive. “I will only believe it when I see him has killed tens of thousands, forced the capital, Juba, after more than two “He is going to come. But when?” at Juba airport,” he said. millions from their homes and split JERUSALEM: An Israeli court ruled time of the chilling attack in which years of war. Riek Machar, a former Ezekiel said. It was unclear whether Machar’s homecoming and sub- the country along old ethnic fissures. yesterday that a Jewish man found to they snatched Abu Khdeir, 16, from rebel leader turned deputy president the question was rhetorical. “We will sequent swearing-in as vice president Machar is believed to be either in be the ringleader of the beating and an east Jerusalem street and then who was fired, became a rebel leader update you,” he added. are seen as important steps towards his tribal stronghold of Pagak in the burning alive of a Palestinian teen- killed him. again and has now fought his way However, South Sudan’s infor- implementing a floundering August east of the country or in Gambella, ager in 2014 was sane and convicted His murder was seen as revenge back to the vice presidency, failed to mation minister Michael Makuei 2015 peace deal that has so far failed Ethiopia, where there is an airstrip him for the attack. for the killing of Israeli teenagers appear in Juba as expected on Mon- said the government had blocked to end the country’s civil war, sparked large enough to land a plane to carry Israeli settler Yosef Haim Ben- Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal day or Tuesday. Machar’s flight because he wanted by a wrangling for power between him and his entourage to Juba. David, 31, was found in November Yifrach, who were abducted from a to have led the assault, but his law- hitchhiking stop near the flashpoint yers had submitted last-minute West Bank city of Hebron. documents saying he suffered from Israeli authorities said the sus- mental illness. pects had decided to kill an Arab and Mosul will eventually be Yesterday’s ruling cleared the equipped themselves with cables, way for him to be sentenced, with his petrol and other materials before conviction having been put on hold randomly choosing Abu Khdeir. retaken from IS: Obama while the court decided on his san- “Today’s decision has come late, but ity plea in the closely watched case. it is correct,” Mohannad Jbara, a law- WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said he expects A sentencing hearing has been yer for Abu Khdeir’s family, said. Iraq’s second city Mosul to be retaken from the Islamic State set for May 3. The family of the “The crime occurred a year and group “eventually”. Obama’s comments in an interview with CBS teenager, Mohammed Abu Khdeir, nine months ago, so this decision has News on Monday came on the same day that Defence Secretary welcomed the decision but said they taken a long time, but we have suc- Ashton Carter said Washington would send Apache attack heli- hoped judges followed through with ceeded in convincing the court that copters and more troops to Iraq. “As we see the Iraqis willing to a life sentence for Ben-David, who he was faking.” fight and gaining ground, let’s make sure that we’re providing appeared in court yesterday with a Abu Khdeir was kidnapped them more support,” Obama said. “We’re not doing the fight- thick beard and wearing a yarmulke. from Israeli-annexed east Jeru- ing ourselves, but when we provide training, when we provide At the hearing Abu Khdeir’s salem on July 2, 2014 and beaten, special forces who are backing them up, when we are gaining mother wore a heart-shaped pen- with his burned body found hours intelligence — working with the coalitions that we have — what dant with an image of her son later in a forest in the western part we’ve seen is that we can continually tighten the noose,” he added. wearing a baseball cap inside, and of the city. “My expectation is that by the end of the year, we will have cre- his father said the decision “should A forensic report showed smoke ated the conditions whereby Mosul will eventually fall.” Mosul, have been made a long time ago”. in his lungs, indicating he was in northern Iraq, was overrun during a jihadist offensive in June “We knew that he wasn’t mad,” alive when set alight. The case has 2014 and has become an IS stronghold. Hussein Abu Khdeir said. “It was all threatened to further raise tensions a big lie to get off from the crime following a wave of violence that which he carried out. Even if they erupted in October that has killed Policeman kills Egypt vendor sentence him for life, this will never 201 Palestinians and 28 Israelis. bring Mohammed back again. Our Most of the Palestinians killed hearts are wounded from what were carrying out knife, gun or over price of cup of tea happened.” car-ramming attacks, according The court ruling found that Ben- to Israeli authorities. Israeli forces CAIRO: An Egyptian policeman shot and killed a Cairo street vendor David “was not psychotic, fully have however been accused of using yesterday after an argument over the cost of a cup of tea, the inte- understood the facts, was respon- excessive force in some cases, which rior ministry said. A security official said the officer involved was sible for his actions, had no difficulty they firmly deny. arrested after dozens of bystanders protested at the scene of the in understanding reality and had the The violence had steadily shooting in an eastern suburb of the capital, chanting: “The police capacity to prevent the crime”. declined in recent weeks, but on are thugs.” “During a police patrol a dispute broke out between the In February, a court sentenced Monday a bomb blast ripped through officer and the seller over the price,” the ministry said. “The police- his two young Israeli accomplices a bus in Jerusalem and sparked a man opened fire, killing the vendor and wounding two passers-by.” to life and 21 years in prison for the fire, wounding at least 21 people. A court this month sentenced a policeman to life in prison for shoot- killing, which was part of a spiral of If confirmed as a Palestinian ing dead a taxi driver over a fare dispute. President Abdel Fattah Al violence in the run-up to the 2014 bombing, it would mark a sharp Sisi had said he would ask parliament to amend the law to toughen Gaza war. escalation ahead of Jewish Passover sanctions for police abuses after the February killing. The two were minors at the celebrations beginning Friday night. MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 07 UN urges start Turkey denies entry to German journalist Reuters border. Chancellor Angela Merkel said “I am committed of course to ensure profession, saying: “... am journalist. A she was working to ensure he is set free. that the journalist’s ability to work is problem?” A Turkish official confirmed Volker Schwenck, who works for reinstated fast,” Merkel said during a German journalist had been detained public broadcaster ARD, announced a news conference with Palestinian and would soon be deported from Tur- of delayed BERLIN: Turkish officials at Istanbul his detention on Twitter and posted a President Mahmoud Abbas. “And we key. The journalist had deliberately airport detained and denied entry yes- picture of an entry ban letter given to are following this and it is naturally attempted to contravene a blacklist by terday to a German public television him by authorities with the headline a source of some concern.” entering the country, the official said, journalist who arrived from Cairo and in Turkish and English: “Inadmissi- In his tweet, Schwenck sug- without giving more details about the talks in Yemen planned to travel to the Turkey-Syria ble Passenger Notification Report.” gested he was detained because of his blacklisting.

reported in other areas, including Artist brightens Nahm northeast of Sanaa and in Five soldiers loyal to the southwestern province of Taez. President Abdrabuh At the United Nations, Secre- up Gaza streets tary General Ban Ki-moon urged Mansur Hadi and the Gulf-backed government and the eight rebel fighters Shia Houthi rebels and their allies to engage with his envoy “so that talks with calligraphy were killed in the can start without further delay”. clashes yesterday. Pro-Hadi chief-of-staff General Mohammed Ali Al Maqdishi slammed Reuters with which Hamas fought a the rebels for “not respecting” the war in 2014 that shattered ceasefire which he said his forces were much of coastal Gaza. But he AFP committed to. “The truce is still hold- says his work is not meant to ing based on orders from our political GAZA: With a thick black convey any political message, leadership,” said Maqdishi. marker pen in hand, Palestin- or to make money. In Kuwait, representatives of the ian graffiti artist Belal Khaled “It is not commercial for MARIB: Clashes between Yemeni five permanent members of the UN carefully draws an intricate me, it is art. I want to spread loyalist forces and rebels have killed Security Council sent a message to Arabic calligraphic design on art everywhere I can get to. 13 fighters, military sources said yes- the rebels saying they “understand a silver Skoda. The art work Soon I will introduce it to the terday, as the UN chief urged warring their fears” and urging them to decorates the sides of the car, work of fashion and design of parties to begin delayed peace talks. “quickly join” the talks, according running along the windows dresses,” Khaled said. UN-brokered peace talks, to a Western diplomat. and down its doors, the latest Khaled, who also works which were set to open in Kuwait The rebels, meanwhile, accused in the 24-year-old’s mission as a photographer and sculp- on Monday, were delayed after the loyalist forces of launching attacks to turn everyday objects into tor, began creating his art insurgents failed to show up over and dispatching reinforcements to things of beauty. pieces about a decade ago alleged Saudi violations of a cease- several provinces, in a statement on From cars, handbags, street before turning his drawings to fire that took effect on April 11. their sabanews.net website. walls as well as human bod- objects as well as human bod- Fighting erupted late on Mon- They also said warplanes ies, Khaled is leaving his prints ies. “Arabic script is strong and day in Marib province, east of the belonging to the Saudi-led coalition, almost everywhere in the Gaza I wanted to connect it to phys- rebel-held Yemeni capital Sana’a, which has intervened militarily in Strip. “Some of the works you ical strength. I drew on chests with warring parties trading blame support of loyalists since March last don’t necessarily need to under- and backs of body-builders. for the ceasefire breaches. year, flew sorties over several areas stand (what they mean), such “Some people saw what I Five soldiers loyal to Presi- of Yemen despite the ceasefire. as a specific sentence,” he said. drew on body builders’ skin as dent Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi and In a statement on Facebook, “But it carries and adds a certain tattoos and having a tattoo is eight rebel fighters were killed in rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdul- beauty to the letters.” forbidden in Islam. This is not the clashes which continued inter- salam said “we affirm our continued In his eclectic choice of a tattoo, it is temporary writ- mittently through yesterday, the commitment to dialogue... and this is objects and backgrounds, his ing and can be washed away.” pro-government military sources why our demand from the first day calligraphic graffiti is bright- Khaled’s work is prov- said. They said the fighting erupted was for talks to be held in an atmos- ening up the densely populated, ing especially popular with when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels phere of calm, peace, and stability.” impoverished Palestinian retailers, namely those sell- and their allies tried to capture posi- “But unfortunately, since April enclave of 1.95 million people. ing women’s accessories such tions held by loyalist troops. The toll 11, the aggression hadn’t stopped He also takes photos of as handbags. He is now look- could not be independently con- and the air strikes have continued both daily life and vestiges of ing to branch out by decorating firmed. Sporadic fighting was also on several areas,” he said. the long conflict with Israel, women’s clothes. 08 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES

China baulks Aftershocks hit at US query on military flight to Japan as death disputed island Reuters

BEIJING: China’s Defence Ministry toll rises to 45 yesterday rejected queries by the US military as to why China had used a military aircraft to evacuate Kumamoto had died Monday from sick workers from a new airport on the condition. At least 23 people have an island China has built in the dis- American military developed symptoms, Kyodo News puted South China Sea. airlifts help deliver service said. Saiseikai Kumamoto CNN quoted Pentagon spokes- Hospital said yesterday it had diag- man Captain Jeff Davis as saying it water, bread, ready- nosed 10 cases, including two people was unclear why China had used to-eat food and other in critical condition. a military aircraft rather than a The area around Kumamoto civilian one in the landing on Fiery emergency supplies. was hit by two quakes just 28 hours Cross Reef. apart late Thursday and early Satur- China’s Defence Ministry said day, triggering landslides that have in a statement its military’s tradi- blocked roads. The Fire and Disas- tion was to help those in need as AP ter Management Agency said nearly part of its commitment to “whole- 1,200 houses had been destroyed. heartedly serve the people”. Nine people died in the first, Police officers search for missing victims in the village of Minamiaso, Kumamoto prefecture, yesterday. “In sharp contrast, the US side MINAMIASO: Japan’s southern magnitude 6.4 earthquake, and is expressing doubts about whether quake-hit area was rattled by a at least 36 died in the second one, it’s a military or civilian aircraft at strong aftershock yesterday and which registered 7.3. About 1,100 a time when somebody’s life is in searchers found a woman’s body have been injured. Shelters struggle to aid quake victims danger,” it said. buried under landslide rubble, The hardest-hit towns were “We cannot but ask: if a US cit- raising the death toll from the twin Mashiki, where 20 residents died, izen suddenly took ill on US soil, earthquakes to 45. and Minamiaso, a remote mountain The Washington Post about disaster preparedness. of residential buildings. would the US military look on with More than 100,000 evacuees, area where 11 died and the death toll “How can onigiri rice balls In addition to serious traffic jams folded arms?” some sleeping in their cars and oth- was creeping higher as soldiers and [the prefecture] received today be on arterial roads from downtown China has indisputable sov- ers in gymnasiums or community emergency workers use backhoes delivered to evacuees on the same Kumamoto, the effects of the earth- ereignty over the Spratly Islands centres, were bracing for another and shovels to search for missing KUMAMOTO, Japan: Evacuation day? Distribution of commodities quake were also felt on residential and the United States has no right chilly night. people. shelters in Kumamoto Prefecture, has become a difficult problem,” roads in Mashiki. to comment on China’s build- Many people are afraid to stay Temperatures around established after the first in a series Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima said The number of evacuees in ing works and defensive facilities in their homes as aftershocks con- Kumamoto city were forecast to fall of earthquakes struck on April 14, are to reporters Monday after visiting a Mashiki increased nearly five-fold there, the ministry said. tinued to shake the area on the to 8 degrees Celsius overnight. facing an increasingly serious short- public health and welfare center, cur- from Friday to Monday, reaching a Chinese activity in disputed southern island of Kyushu, including The earthquake damage and loss age of commodities. Though relief rently being used as an evacuation figure of 9,100. Stockpiles of drink- waters of the South China Sea, a 5.5-magnitude temblor yesterday of power and water is reverberating goods are being distributed to the shelter, in the town of Mashiki in the ing water, rice and other supplies including the construction of afternoon. beyond Kyushu as Toyoto Motor Cor- prefecture from across the country, prefecture. He frankly acknowledged completely ran out Friday, and some islands by dredging up sand onto Authorities were advising people poration and other manufacturers disrupted traffic networks, confusion the delays in transporting supplies. evacuation shelters in the town failed reefs and shoals in the Spratly staying in cars and shelters to move have suspended production. and shortages of manpower in local Thursday night’s tremor, which to receive fresh goods. archipelago, has alarmed rival about to avoid developing deep- Several soldiers carried a wom- governments have prevented them registered a maximum 7 on the Jap- An 80-year-old man who evacu- claimants, in particular the Phil- vein thrombosis, or blood clots that an’s body down yesterday morning from being adequately distributed to anese seismic intensity scale of 7, and ated with his wife after his house was ippines and Vietnam, as well as the develop after being immobile for a as dozens of workers dug through people affected by the earthquakes. the “mainshock” that occurred early completely destroyed said, “I have to United States. The US has repeat- long time. Japanese media reported where a mudslide slammed into The situation has shed light on what Saturday caused extensive damage stand in line for more than two hours edly criticised the construction of that a 51-year-old woman from buildings in Saturday’s quake. were overly optimistic assumptions to the town, including the collapse to receive supplies each time. the islands.

China’s Xi tells party officials to HK leader testifies in make better use ‘glass-throwing’ case of Internet

Reuters AFP political divisions in the semi-auton- omous city, with some young campaigners pushing for self-deter- mination or outright independence BEIJING: Chinese President Xi HONG KONG: Unpopular Hong from China as fears grow that Bei- Jinping yesterday called on Com- Kong leader Leung Chun-ying gave jing is tightening its grip. munist Party officials to use the evidence yesterday in an assault case Rival groups clashed inside the Internet to better understand citi- against a legislator who threw a glass Eastern Magistrates’ courtroom zens and address their grievances, at him in parliament, the first time a before the hearing and during the said state media, as an economic sitting chief executive has testified breaks, with anti-Leung groups downturn sparks popular frustra- in court. shouting: “Down with the Chi- tion. An initially calm Leung became nese Communist Party,” eliciting The party should be patient increasingly exasperated as he the response: “May the CCP live for with Internet users, resolve dif- was cross-examined for hours by 10,000 years!” ficulties and correct erroneous pro-democracy and anti-China A small scuffle broke out when opinions in a timely manner, said lawmaker Raymond Wong, who one pro-Leung demonstrator shoved Xi, according to Xinhua. is accused of common assault and a supporter from the Wong camp, The government is embrac- was representing himself in a court- with the Leung group calling their ing the Internet as a key space in room packed with supporters from rivals “yellow dogs”. which to shape public discourse, both sides. In court Leung described the an increasingly pressing issue as Wong has pleaded not guilty incident in July 2014, saying paper discontent spreads amongst the to the charge and questioned the had been thrown at him while he growing number of people hit by validity of allowing Leung’s tes- was at the podium in the legislature. the economic slowdown. timony, calling him “a liar and “Then I heard glass breaking More broadly, the ruling Com- untrustworthy”. behind me,” said Leung. “It sounded munist Party sees technology as The court ruled however that close and forceful.” crucial for bolstering its economy, Leung could be admitted as a Adding that he was “startled”, he Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (centre) leaves the court where he gave evidence in an assault case against which grew at an annual rate of witness. said he “made sure whether or not I 6.7 percent in the first quarter, its pro-democracy and anti-China lawmaker Raymond Wong (not seen), in Hong Kong yesterday. It comes as he battles widening was injured”. weakest pace since early 2009. In an effort to shape public opinion online, Xi’s government has implemented an unprec- edented tightening of internet Philippines’ Ferdinand Marcos Junior defiant on father’s legacy controls and sought to codify the policy within the law, a campaign that critics say ignores human rights and is a burden for business. AFP of benefit to the people.” to their decisions. Officials say Internet restric- Marcos was a fresh-faced provincial gov- “I think a great deal of it was made up tions are needed to ensure security ernor in his father’s dictatorship when millions because none of it has been verified,” he told in the face of rising threats such as took to the streets in a famous 1986 “People AFP when asked whether they stole billions. terrorism and foreign ideology that MANILA: On the verge of securing his family’s Power” uprising that forced the family to give “These huge numbers that we hear about, could destabilise China. biggest victory since their humiliating downfall up two decades of power and flee into US exile. we don’t really know where they come from and Premier Li Keqiang, propa- three decades ago, Philippine dictator Ferdinand The Marcos family and its business allies are how they were made up.” ganda chief Liu Yunshan, central Marcos’ (pictured) son talks confidently about accused of plundering billions of dollars during Marcos did concede there were abuses under bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan, his political ambitions and his father’s legacy. the patriarch’s rule, while the regime’s security his father’s regime, but insisted they were no Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Execu- In an exclusive interview with AFP ahead of forces allegedly killed and tortured thousands of worse than those committed by the democrat- tive Chairman Jack Ma and Huawei May 9 elections, with surveys showing he could critics. However, after Marcos Snr died in exile ically elected governments that followed. Technologies Co Ltd Chairman Ren win the vice presidency, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr in Hawaii in 1989, his controversial wife, Imelda, “I acknowledge that there were,” Marcos said Zhengfei attended the meeting, conceded there were “widespread human rights and their children were allowed to return to the when asked about human rights abuses under Xinhua said. abuses” during his father’s rule. Philippines, and they slowly began rebuilding his father’s rule. Also taking part were top offi- But the 58-year-old insisted the Marcos a power base. “(But) there are widespread human rights cials from the People’s Liberation name remained one of his strongest assets, as Part of their strategy was to portray the Mar- abuses in any administration and that is a prob- Army and state security appara- he stuck to a no-apology mantra that has been cos years as a golden age of peace, security and lem that we as a country have to face.” tus, according to the news agency. a key part of his family’s remarkable political infrastructure-building for the nation. Memories of the Marcos years have domi- Internet regulators should wel- resurrection. They also consistently denied any major nated this election campaign. come and learn from constructive “I think one of the things that is happening wrongdoing, fending off dozens of legal chal- In the Philippines, the president and vice criticism online, whether it’s tar- now is I am a beneficiary of the good work that lenges and probes aimed at retrieving the president are elected separately. geted at the party and government was done in my father’s time,” Marcos said on fortune allegedly stolen from state coffers. Marcos’ bid for the vice presidency has sto- led the “People Power” revolution and suc- or individual leaders, Xi said, topics Monday night at his campaign headquarters in Marcos, who rarely gives interviews, len many headlines away from the race for the ceeded Marcos as president, has repeatedly which are usually considered off- the Philippine capital. deflected questions about mass theft by his top post — which in itself is a fascinating four- urged Filipinos in recent months to never for- limits by China’s censors. “There were so many different things that parents, saying he believed accusations against way tussle. get the dictatorship’s horrors and stamp out the were initiated at that time that to this day are them were exaggerated but that he was not privy President Benigno Aquino, whose mother Marcos comeback. ASIA / AFRICA WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 09

Probe finds South Korea Secure link covered up mass abuse

Today, nobody has been held tried to bury what happened. How accountable for the hundreds of do you fight that?” Choi asked. “Look Former inmates of deaths, rapes and beatings on the at me now. I am wailing, desperate Brothers Home want grounds of Brothers, the largest of to tell our story. Please listen to us.” dozens of facilities for those consid- Police officers, assisted by new investigation. ered undesirable, according to an shop owners, rounded up children, Associated Press investigation. The panhandlers, small-time street mer- AP found that abuse at Brothers, pre- chants, the disabled and dissidents. viously almost unknown, was much They ended up as prisoners at 36 AP more vicious and widespread than nationwide facilities, and numbered had been realised, based on hundreds 16,000 by 1986, according to govern- of exclusive documents and dozens of ment documents obtained by AP. interviews with officials and former Nearly 4,000 were at Brothers. BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA: Three dec- inmates, most of whom had not spo- Once an orphanage, Brothers Home ades ago, a policeman tortured Choi ken before publicly. at its peak had more than 20 facto- Seung-woo over a piece of bread he Secrecy around Brothers persists ries behind its well-guarded walls found in the boy’s schoolbag. because of a cover-up at the high- in the southern port city of Busan, After being stripped and hav- est levels, the AP found. Two early churning out goods made by mostly Vehicles queue on the causeway connecting Singapore to Malaysia yesterday. Singapore will implement ing a cigarette lighter repeatedly attempts to investigate were sup- unpaid inmates. a bio-identification system called BioScreen at all checkpoints for visitors entering the country from sparked near his organs, the 14-year- pressed by senior officials who went Some 90 percent of those today. The BioScreen system will require visitors to scan their thumbprints on passing through old falsely confessed to stealing the on to thrive in high-profile jobs; one shouldn’t have been there because immigration. bread. Two men with clubs came remains a senior adviser to the cur- they didn’t meet the government’s and dragged him off to the Brothers rent ruling party. definition of “vagrant,” former Home, a mountainside institution Products made using slave labour prosecutor Kim Yong Won told where some of the worst human at Brothers were sent to Europe, the AP, based on Brothers’ records rights atrocities in modern South Japan and possibly beyond, and the and interviews compiled in 1987 Korean history took place. family that owned Brothers con- before government officials ended Nigeria state calls for international aid Even now, Choi weeps as he tinued to run welfare facilities and his investigation. A former inmate, speaks of what happened there. schools until just two years ago. Lee Chae-sik, said he watched the A guard in Choi’s dormitory vio- The few former inmates speak- man he worked for, chief enforcer AFP destruction in the state at $5.9bn. But Shettima said those who have lated him that night in 1982, and the ing out want a new investigation. The Kim Kwang-seok, lead near-daily, The World Bank has set aside fled the violence were still affected, next, and the next. So began five government is blocking an opposi- often fatal beatings at a “corrections $800m to support rebuilding, as even as Nigeria’s military regains hellish years of slave labour and tion lawmaker’s push to revisit the room.” Lee said he also saw records ABUJA: A northeast Nigerian state, well as other programmes such as control of captured territory and near-daily assaults, years in which case, contending that the evidence that sometimes listed as many as five the worst hit in the country by the de-mining and waste management, reduces the rebels’ ability to mount Choi saw men and women beaten to is too old. Ahn Jeong-tae, an official daily deaths. The AP tried repeatedly Boko Haram insurgency, needs Shettima told a conference on recon- attacks. death, their bodies carted away like from Seoul’s Ministry of the Interior, to track Kim down but could not. greater international assistance for struction in Abuja. Some 2 million of the estimated garbage. said Brothers’ victims should have Amid the violence was a mas- rebuilding as it faces funding issues “But... $800m is a drop in the 2.6 million displaced have remained Choi was one of thousands — the submitted their case years ago to a sive money-making operation partly and a food crisis, its governor said ocean in a state that has lost almost in Nigeria. Most are in living in host homeless, the drunk, the unlucky, but temporary truth-finding commis- based on slave labour. Eleven of the yesterday. $6bn as a result of the insurgency,” communities, with about 10 percent mostly children and the disabled — sion. “We can’t make separate laws factories, ostensibly meant to train Borno state governor Kashim he added. in specially designated camps. who were forced into facilities for for every incident,” Ahn said. inmates for future jobs, saw a profit Shettima said “we need the whole “We need far more support from Many of the camps are located so-called vagrants in the 1970s and The official silence means that by the end of 1986, according to world to rally round us” to help our international partners to be able in and around the Borno state cap- ‘80s. The roundup came as the rul- even as South Korea prepares for Busan city government documents peace-building, rehabilitation and to complete the rebuilding of our ital, Maiduguri, with others across ing dictators prepared to bid for and its second Olympics, in 2018, thou- obtained exclusively by the AP. reconstruction after nearly seven communities.” the state to cater for those who have host the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which sands of traumatised former inmates The documents show that Broth- years of violence. “Monumental infrastructure and returned to their home towns. they saw as international validation have still received no compensa- ers should have paid the current A report for the World Bank economic losses” have hit homes, The governor said there was a of South Korea’s arrival as a modern tion, let alone public recognition or equivalent of $1.7m to more than has said some 20,000 people from schools, government buildings, water “crisis of feeding” and that 1,800 country. So they ordered police and an apology. 1,000 inmates for their dawn-to- Borno have been killed in the Islam- sources, power and telecommunica- 50kg bags of rice were required every local officials to “purify” the streets. “The government has consistently dusk work. ist insurgency and put the cost of the tions networks, he added. day for some 381,000 IDPs. US envoy’s N Korea on path to develop ICBM: US general Maldives orders motorcade jailed Nasheed kills child in AFP to return from UK

Cameroon WASHINGTON: Unless it is stopped, North AFP Korea will eventually acquire intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, the four-star gen- AFP eral selected to lead US forces in South Korea COLOMBO: The Maldives yesterday cancelled told lawmakers yesterday. the prison leave granted to jailed former pres- Speaking at his nomination hearing before ident Mohamed Nasheed to undergo medical WASHINGTON: A diplomatic the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen- treatment in London and said it expected him to convoy in Cameroon carrying eral Vincent Brooks warned that North Korean return “expediently”. the visiting US ambassador to the leader Kim Jong-un was determined to build The 48-year-old former leader was jailed last United Nations accidentally struck rockets that could one day reach as far as the year on controversial terrorism charges, but was and killed a young boy on Monday. United States. allowed to travel to Britain in January for treat- Samantha Power is in Cam- “It’s very clear through the parades that ment after he fell ill in jail. eroon with officials from USAID, they’ve done, what systems they have and some The government initially extended Nasheed’s the Pentagon and the UN as part of the attempted launches that ... over time, I prison leave to allow him to undergo surgery, of Washington’s effort to support believe we’re going to see them acquire these but revoked the extension almost immediately, local authorities in their fight capabilities if they’re not stopped,” Brooks said. although it has not given him a deadline to return. against the extremist group Boko Senator John McCain, who chairs the com- “The former president was given an extension Haram. mittee, asked Brooks how concerned he was to undergo surgery. As his lawyers have confirmed “As we, the United Nations, about the “immaturity and unpredictability of that there is no surgery scheduled, the extension and Cameroonian officials drove the rotund ruler in Pyongyang.” was cancelled,” it said in a statement. to Mokoko this morning, a vehi- “I’m very concerned about the direction “The government expects he will return cle in the convoy that we were a he’s going, and it’s evident that he’s not yet expediently.” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (second left) visiting the newly built Mindulle Notebook part of struck a young boy,” Power deterred from his pursuit,” Brooks responded. Nasheed became the first democratically told a news conference in Maroua, “If confirmed, I intend to be a close partner Factory. elected president of the Maldives in 2008 and northern Cameroon. with the Republic of Korea to make sure they’re Currently, about 28,500 US troops are sta- is like watching someone ride a bike and fall- served for four years before he was toppled in what “Although he received imme- ready.” tioned in South Korea, and the two forces have ing off of it, but eventually they could become he called a coup backed by the military and police. diate medical care from an The US military has kept a huge contin- very close military ties and continually con- a BMX champion,” he said. He was jailed on terrorism charges relating to ambulance in our convoy, he gent of troops in South Korea since the end of duct joint training. The Pentagon is confident it has adequate the arrest of an allegedly corrupt judge in 2012, died shortly thereafter,” she said, the Korean War in 1953. Brooks also voiced concern about North missile defences to protect against a threat when he was still in power. according to a transcript provided The two Koreas technically remain at war, Korea’s pursuit of building submarine- from North Korea, but officials have watched The Maldives has suffered prolonged political by the State Department. because the conflict ended in an armistice launched ballistic missiles. with increasing alarm as Kim pushes forward unrest in recent years, seriously denting its repu- Power said she later visited instead of a peace treaty. “While they have not been successful, this with his nuclear tests and missile programme. tation as an upmarket tourist destination. the boy’s family with UN, US and Cameroonian officials “to offer our profound condolences and to express our grief and heartbreak over what the family is going Cancer fears rise in Uganda as machine conks out through.” US officials were not able to say whether their government will pay compensation to the AFP will get recovery,” Naturinda said. “It has never been built. the row over the delay, but for many case, all are missing — we have a boy’s family. Power told report- has pained me because I have not yet As a result, the lifeline sits, cancer patients a year may be too problem.” ers the international community produced any children. Even I have unused. long. Patients are now being advised to would help Cameroon fight Boko KAMPALA: Bronia Naturinda was lost lots of weight, bleeding every The breakdown of the current Accusations are flying that the go to neighbouring Kenya for radio- Haram, but it was important to diagnosed with cervical cancer last time.” machine has given fresh urgency to problem is symptomatic of a wider therapy, a journey too expensive for have a strategy in place to provide year and, with help from a char- The radiotherapy machine was efforts to get the new one operational, crisis in the health system. many. security, development and human ity, travelled 300km to Kampala for a lifeline when China donated it 21 but it will take time. Winnie Watera, an economist at Yesterday, Nairobi’s Aga Khan rights to vulnerable populations in treatment using Uganda’s only radi- years ago: since then it has provided “If they can even work 24 hours, the Parliament Watch civil society University Hospital offered free liberated territory. otherapy machine. around 30,000 life-saving treatments within six months, we should have the organisation says there are many rea- treatment for 400 Ugandan cancer “I just want to underscore that The 28-year-old’s chance of sur- a year and given patients relief from bunker ready,” said Jackson Orem, sons why the machine was allowed to patients. America’s support for this effort is vival were good until, after waiting unbearable pain. who heads Uganda’s Cancer Institute fall into disrepair. “Our values as an institution dic- one that cuts across all areas. We for more than three weeks, she was It had already broken down sev- at the main Mulago Hospital. “There is the question of money, tate nothing less,” chief executive cannot defeat Boko Haram only told to go home because the machine eral times before its final collapse “So that means for the next half of there is a question of management, Shawn Bolouki said in a statement. using military force,” she said. she was counting on had broken down this month and, although the govern- the year we should be installing the there is a question of planning,” she “While we can only treat a small frac- Boko Haram is a guerrilla beyond repair. ment paid ¤325,000 ($368,000) for a equipment and testing it, so by one said. “When all these come together, tion of those requiring care... we will movement that emerged out of “I felt pain because I thought that replacement three years ago, the bun- year, it should be up and running.” it makes things work, but if one com- do all we can to help, and we encour- previous Islamist insurgencies. if it works, we are going to be okay, we ker needed to house the new machine The government has tried to ease ponent is missing — of which, in this age others to follow our lead.” 10 WEDNESDAY 20 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 MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected] United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the opening of the new complex of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, The Netherlands, yesterday.

EDITORIAL Impeachment crisis Does premature Paris climate

he impeachment movement against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has plunged the country into a crisis. deal risk a painful birth? Rousseff has called the move a conspiracy against her, a sexist drive because she is a woman, and a bid to sabotage democracy, while her opponents argue that they are just others - signing the agreement is UN climate change secretariat, only is imminent,” he said. Tfollowing the law and Rousseff is getting what she deserves. (The one thing but ratifying it another. countries that have formally joined Many people think that will sexist remark is interesting because Rousseff is Brazil’s first female The Paris accord will enter into the agreement could make deci- come sooner rather than later, espe- president) Even if both sides are right, or wrong, the current slugfest force when at least 55 countries sions affecting it. cially with China and the United representing at least 55 percent of But those that have not could States - which account for around doesn’t do the country any good. It has only stoked hatred and global emissions ratify or formally participate as observers, which may 38 percent of global emissions - intolerance in a country that remains polarized over the issue. join it in another way. allow them to make interventions having signalled they will adopt it. Rousseff is accused of violating a law limiting government But while major emitters, nota- and submit proposals on draft texts. That makes the Paris deal dif- spending and the lower house of the National Congress voted bly China and the United States, Another option would be to ferent from the current emissions against her on Sunday. The case now moves to the Senate where the have said they will pursue steps convene the first session of the reduction treaty, the Kyoto Protocol, opposition is expected to win and a trial would start that could last to adopt the agreement as early parties to the agreement, and then which applied only to developed By Megan Rowling as possible, domestic politics may suspend it. That would give more countries. six months. If the opposition plan works, Rousseff would become the Reuters make that a challenge. countries time to ratify, while dis- It took more than seven years first Brazilian leader to be impeached in more than 20 years. There In some countries, including the cussions on rules and guidelines to come into force in 2005 after are two curious aspects to the case. First, United States, leaders are expected for the new agreement proceeded Russia used ratification as a bar- though she may have violated the law to use their executive authority to under a working group. gaining chip to gain EU support Brazilian to overspend during her 2014 reelection accede to the Paris deal. But in oth- Experts with the World for Moscow’s membership of the President campaign, Rousseff has not been accused hen ministers and ers, it will have to be discussed in Resources Institute (WRI) told World Trade Organisation. in the far more serious case of corruption climate change parliament or congress and, in some journalists the European Union This time around, the political Dilma negotiators from cases, will require new legislation, is unlikely to be in the first wave leverage to be gained from delaying Rousseff linked to the state oil firm Petrobras, the world’s poorest Abeysinghe noted. of ratifiers because it will require may be minimal. TWN later clari- which has seen criminal cases slapped on Wcountries gathered in Kinshasa “For some of our countries, sen- all 28 member states to go through fied its controversial advice, saying is facing dozens of lawmakers and businessmen. recently, they were dismayed at sitising the parliaments and the their own processes first before states should not feel obliged to sign impeachment Secondly, those who have accused the a proposal from the Third World parliamentarians itself is a big chal- approving the deal as a bloc - a the Paris deal right now if they are and the president of violation are themselves Network (TWN) urging them not lenge. The concern our countries process that could take some time. not yet ready to put into practice not very clean and several of them face to rush into signing the new Paris have is that it will take time for “It is hard to imagine a situa- the climate action promises made climate agreement at a UN cere- them to ratify,” she said. tion in which other parties to the as their contribution to it. country faces allegations of wrongdoing. For example, mony this week. If the agreement comes into Paris agreement would not very TWN also urged wealthy prolonged Vice President Michel Temer, who would TWN, a Malaysia-based policy force before they can join it, they much want the EU to be part of nations to deliver on things they recession assume the presidency, has been accused group, had suggested developing are worried they may be excluded the decision-making for the crit- have promised to do before 2020, and domestic of the same offence as the president, and countries wait a little, to make sure from making crucial decisions, she ical rules under the agreement, when the Paris agreement had been the lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha, richer nations follow through on added. so I think a way forward will be expected to start, such as boosting conflict if the who is second in the presidential line existing pledges of funding and The LDC group is talking to the found to include them,” said David climate finance to $100 billion per crisis is not of succession, is charged with receiving technical help for them shift to Inter-Parliamentary Union about Waskow, WRI’s international cli- year. Other experts agree. greener growth, and adapt to more how to raise awareness of the cli- mate director. Rich governments “have to resolved. millions in bribes and stashing them extreme weather and rising seas. mate change agreement among Given that all countries have a make some effort to show that even in Swiss banks. According to a report The ministers and officials members of parliament in devel- vested interest in influencing how if the Paris Agreement comes into by Congresso em Foco, a prominent representing the group of 48 least oping countries, which could help mechanisms for transparency and force early, they are not going to watchdog in Brasilia, more than half the lawmakers who decided her developed countries (LDCs) instead expedite ratification, Abeysinghe compliance with the agreement forget about their pre-2020 com- fate on Sunday are under probe for corruption, fraud and electoral issued a statement urging all coun- said. The question of what hap- will work, among other issues, they mitments”, said IIED’s Abeysinghe. malpractices. All this doesn’t nullify the case against Rousseff, but tries to participate in the signing pens if the Paris Agreement takes will likely want to join it as soon Amid all the fanfare around ceremony in New York on Friday. effect early - with bets ranging from as they can, said Michael Dobson, the signing ceremony this week, many Brazilians and the international community would want a fair They called on them to ratify this year to 2018 - before the bulk a former advisor to the Marshall it is worth remembering that pre- implementation of the law and equal treatment to all citizens. the Paris Agreement “at the ear- of countries ratify it is troubling Islands at UN climate talks. mature entry into force could yet The crisis is set to worsen in the coming weeks as both sides gird liest possible date”, in an effort to experts beyond the developing “There is going to be an incen- bring political and technical birth for a fight, further exacerbating the many problems the country is ensure implementation “as soon world. tive for countries to ratify once it pains for some. facing. The economy is in a shambles and is going through its worst possible”. recession in decades, the health sector is struggling to cope with the Achala Abeysinghe, a legal outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus and the 2016 Rio Olympic expert on climate change nego- tiations with the UK-based Games, which Brazil is hosting, is around the corner. All these require International Institute for Envi- the collective efforts of all parties and the government. ronment and Development (IIED), Perhaps holding a new election would be a better way forward, said the 37 or so countries at the leaving Brazilians to decide the future course of action. Kinshasa meeting all indicated they would head to New York. With around 155 countries now expected to ink the agree- ment this week - and a handful of them, mainly small island states, well on the way to ratification - Quote of the day there is optimism that the climate deal will come into force earlier Ankara would no longer than envisaged. abide by the March The agreement was negotiated under the understanding it would migrant accord if Brussels take effect from 2020. This date fails to implement the was removed from the final text, pledge to grant Turks visa- apparently to create room for the free travel by June. deal to come into effect earlier. “Early entry into force is a pos- itive sign, but there are also some concerns that need to be addressed,” Ahmet Davutoglu said Abeysinghe, who advises the Turkish Prime Minister chair of the LDC group at UN cli- mate talks. Environmentalists hold a banner which reads, ‘Standing and Determined for the Climate” at a For poorer countries - as for protestAccording demonstration to lawyers withnear the the Eiffelbecomes Tower clear in thatParis, entry France, into force in this December 12, 2015. file picture.

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 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 11 Japan’s unique quake scale

By Gearoid Reidy Bloomberg

n April 15, the day after the first in a series of damaging earth- quakes struck a rural part of southern Japan, all of the nation’s Omajor newspapers carried the same head- line: “Shindo 7 in Kumamoto.” No further explanation was needed. When Japan’s earthquake-battered populace feel the ground shake under their feet, they turn on their TVs and open their Twitter feeds to check not the magnitude of the temblor but rather the shindo, or shaking intensity. On every TV channel, digital overlays report the region hit and a series of digits rippling away from the epicenter: one area might register a shindo 3, defined on the scale as “felt by most people in that zone;” another with level 4 (“most people are startled”). The first magnitude estimates typically come later. A shindo 7 -- the max- imum level -- is a panic-inducing event recorded only four times under the cur- rent measuring system. On each of those occasions people were killed. While the shindo scale may seem baf- fling to outsiders, by communicating the strength of the earthquake felt in a spe- cific area, it offers a far more immediate indication of the potential for damage than magnitude does. Magnitude, which is the value of the energy released at the source of an earthquake, can be a poor indicator of the impact on the surface: a quake of a large magnitude striking deep Rescue workers spread out a blue sheet to cover the body of a victim during a rescue operation at the site of a landslide triggered by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake, underground will do far less damage than where eight people are reported still missing, in Minamiaso, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, yesterday. a smaller one hitting at a shallow depth. “Earthquake waves are attenuated as they propagate,” said Robert Geller, a pro- right underneath a populated area.” As from zero to seven, with levels five and “impossible to remain standing.” People Japan’s early-warning alert system. When fessor and seismologist at the University of magnitude is inferred rather than directly six confusingly sub-divided into “upper” may be “thrown through the air,” wooden an earthquake of a certain size is detected, Tokyo. “They don’t attenuate much when measured, he says, there are discrepan- and “lower” strengths. The March 11, 2011 buildings may fall down, and even rein- warnings are issued to iPhones, TV screens the quake is only a few kilometers deep, cies between the magnitude assigned by earthquake that triggered a tsunami and forced concrete walls may collapse. and factory lines to automatically halt different agencies -- the 1995 Kobe quake the Fukushima nuclear disaster was felt Until 1996, shindo was mostly meas- trains and give people time to prepare that killed more than 6,000 people was across almost all of Japan, but the shindo ured by JMA staff stationed around the before the more damaging S-waves strike. a magnitude 6.9 according to the United readings varied depending on the dis- country who for more than a century The warning system has become a States Geological Survey, but a magnitude tance from the epicenter, ranging from reported how strong they felt the shak- source of pride in Japan, hailed in gov- 7.3 according to the Japan Meteorologi- seven in a part of Miyagi prefecture and ing and then surveyed the extent of the ernment pamphlets as a unique example When Japan’s earthquake-battered cal Agency (JMA). The magnitude scale is upper five in parts of Tokyo to a barely damage left behind, according to docu- of national ingenuity. “It’s useful but not populace feel the ground shake logarithmic, meaning that’s a difference perceptible 1 in Kyushu. There have been mentation on the JMA website. perfect,” said Geller of the University of under their feet, they turn on their in energy release of almost four times. only four occasions when a shindo was Now a network of seismographs Tokyo, “because it gives warnings that Unlike magnitude, shindo is a rela- recorded as level 7, data from the Japan spans the country, measuring the initial let them stop trains for distant quakes TVs and open their Twitter feeds tive, arbitrary measure of the intensity of Meteorological Agency going back to 1923 P-waves when an earthquake strikes. JMA but not for quakes right under the track.” to check not the magnitude of the the Earth’s shaking in a specific location. show -- 2011, the Kobe quake in 1995, the computers collate the data and almost In 2013 the agency was forced to The shindo right above the epicenter will 2004 Chuetsu earthquake that killed 46 instantaneously issue estimates of the apologise after mistakenly warning of temblor but rather the shindo, or typically be the strongest, with the level and derailed a bullet train, and now in potential size and likely location of the an impending magnitude 7.8 quake in shaking intensity. falling in areas further away. Kumamoto. quake. the central Kansai region that never Shindo is a 10-point scale that runs At shindo 7, the JMA says, it is This network is crucial to informing materialised. China’s future may be sleepier than you think

far less dramatic. Rather than curing debt trap. As companies desperately of its leaders. Unfortunately, on that cozy ties between government and its economic woes and cementing its deleveraged, the government had little front, the Chinese regime also seems corporate elites. position as an economic superpower, or choice but to step up its own spending to be repeating Japan’s mistakes. The same reluctance is obvious suffering a devastating collapse, China and borrowing to fend off economic One is hubris. By the end of the today in Beijing, where Communist looks set to spend the next decade in collapse. The government failed to 1980s, Japanese officials, and many leaders say they intend to let market genteel decline, much as Japan has execute market-oriented reforms that analysts, were convinced that Japan had forces “play a decisive role in resource That relatively since the 1990s. could have boosted growth and eased come up with a new, hybrid economic allocation,” but in practice have If that outcome seems implausible the transition out of the debt trap. model superior to traditional free- intervened in the equity and foreign low per-capita for an economy of China’s size and Of course, in other respects China market capitalism. This proved not to be exchange markets to prevent prices income means dynamism, consider the similarities. resembles a much earlier and more so. Foreign diplomats and businessmen from falling. The reluctance to reform China probably By 1990, Japan, too, had enjoyed a vibrant Japan. Demographically, it consistently say that today’s Chinese the state sector reflects a fear of letting By Arthur Kroeber nearly four-decade run as the world’s lines up more with the Japan of 1980, leaders are similarly self-righteous, markets, rather than the Party, decide has plenty of Bloomberg fastest growing economy, thanks to a with six people of working age for each deaf to criticism and convinced of who gets to control important assets. “catch-up” growth growth model fuelled by investment person over 65. Developmentally, it the virtues of their model of state-led China is still fundamentally an and exports. It also ranked second in looks like the Japan of the early 1970s, development. Public discussion of the economy with a lot of dynamic potential. left, as it continues the world in GDP and total trade. Its with a per-capita GDP barely a fifth debts weighing down state companies Vigorous policy in the next few years to move people he debate over how China’s companies were moving rapidly up the that of the US is muted. Ambitious plans to introduce could arrest the rise of leverage and economy might evolve over the technology ladder and seemed poised to That relatively low per-capita private shareholders into the state sector enable growth to stabilize at around from subsistence Tnext decade generally breaks supplant their US and European rivals. income means China probably has have diminished into a timid reshuffling 5 percent by 2020. farming into the down into two opposing cases. Bulls The financial market was opening; plenty of “catch-up” growth left, as among existing players. History teaches The crucial steps would be to shut more productive are confident that Chinese leaders Tokyo was anointed the next major it continues to move people from that when the captain and his mates down or privatise the least productive will make the hard reforms needed centre of global finance. The national subsistence farming into the more start congratulating themselves on state-owned enterprises (cutting the modern economy. to clean up local government debt, saving rate was high and public finances productive modern economy. Its the superior design of their ship while state sector roughly in half), open up Its relatively young reform state companies, open more were prudently managed: Japan had relatively young population structure ignoring obvious icebergs, it’s time to protected service sectors to private markets to private-sector competition the lowest sovereign debt of any OECD also gives it more room to manoeuvre haul out the lifeboats. and foreign competition, and liberalize population structure and liberalize the financial sector. country. than Japan, which by 1990 was already Another fatal mistake is timidity. the financial system so that it reliably also gives it more This should enable China to achieve At the same time, problems lurked well into its aging problem. (China’s date The obvious solutions to both countries’ channels credit to the most productive another 10-15 years of rapid growth. under the surface. Corporate debt had with demographic destiny is rapidly problems all involve a scaling back of firms. The problem, from the Party room to manoeuvre Bears are equally convinced that the piled up, largely because of skyrocketing approaching, though: By 2040, it’ll have state control. Japan could probably have elite’s point of view, is that these reforms than Japan, which government will fail to enact any real land and equity prices in the late 1980s. only two workers for every retiree, the achieved higher growth in the 1990s would require that the regime surrender reforms, provoking either a drastic Then, after the land and stock-market same as Japan today.) if it had deregulated services, opened much of its ability to direct economic by 1990 was plunge in economic growth or an bubbles popped in 1990, asset prices Whether China can avoid a Japan- up the financial sector and permitted activity. China may yet be able to avoid already well into its outright financial crisis. fell by three-quarters over the next few like slide from world-beater to also-ran much more foreign investment. It chose the Japan trap, but only if its rulers aging problem. In fact, the likeliest scenario is years. Corporate Japan got caught in a will ultimately depend on the courage not to do so, for fear of upsetting the learn to lighten up.

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 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 PAKISTAN 30 dead and hundreds hurt in Taliban bombing

“One of the suicide attackers blew main spy agency. Sediqqi conceded up an explosives-laden truck in a pub- that one of the attackers managed The brazen assault lic parking lot next to a government to breach the compound, a govern- near the defence building,” Kabul police chief Abdul ment office responsible for providing Rahman Rahimi told reporters. security to government VIPs, but ministry marks the “The second attacker engaged said he was gunned down after a first major Taliban security forces in a gunbattle before firefight. being gunned down.” “This attack shows the devasta- attack in the Afghan Interior ministry spokesman tion caused by the use of explosive capital since the Sediq Sediqqi said 30 people, includ- devices in urban areas and once more ing women and children, were killed demonstrates complete disregard insurgents announced in the attack and warned that the for the lives of Afghan civilians,” the the start of this year’s toll could rise further. He added that United Nations Assistance Mission in fighting season. more than 320 were wounded, with Afghanistan said. many of them battling for their lives “The use of explosives in popu- in hospital. lated areas, in circumstances almost The pitched firefight appeared certain to cause immense suffer- to die down several hours after the ing to civilians, may amount to war AFP powerful explosion, but some security crimes.” officials expressed concern that other The Taliban on Tuesday last bombers may still be on the loose. week announced the start of their “I saw wounded people lying spring offensive even as the govern- KABUL: At least 30 people were killed on the road and screaming help- ment tries to bring them back to the and hundreds wounded when a Tali- lessly,” said Sadiqullah, who runs negotiating table to end the drawn- ban truck bomb tore through central a tea stall near the building which out conflict. Kabul and a fierce firefight broke out was attacked. The insurgents warned they yesterday, a week after the insurgents “It was devastating. We are fed would “employ large-scale attacks launched their annual spring offen- up with such attacks. How long must on enemy positions across the coun- sive. ordinary civilians suffer like this?” try” during the offensive dubbed Afghan policemen keep guard at the site of the Taliban attack in front of Afghan defence ministry in Kabul, The Taliban claimed responsibil- The interior ministry said hun- Operation Omari in honour of the ity for the attack in a densely crowded dreds of kilograms of explosives were movement’s late founder Mullah yesterday. neighbourhood, which sent clouds of used in the bombing, the deadliest so Omar, whose death was announced acrid smoke billowing into the sky and far this year in the Afghan capital. last year. from the city on Friday. The annual forces’ capacity to hold their own. in the insurgents’ ranks. rattled windows several kilometres The scene of the attack was lit- The Taliban began the fighting spring offensive normally marks the Nato estimates that a staggering 5,500 A four-country group compris- away. tered with upturned cars, many of season last week by targeting the start of the “fighting season”, though troops were killed last year. ing Afghanistan, the United States, The brazen assault near the them mangled and charred. northern city of Kunduz, which they this past winter the lull was shorter Peace talks which began last China and Pakistan has been hold- defence ministry marks the first major Taliban spokesman Zabihullah briefly captured last year in a stun- and rebels continued to battle govern- summer were abruptly halted after ing meetings since January aimed Taliban attack in the Afghan capital Mujahid claimed their fighters had ning setback for Afghan forces. ment forces, albeit with less intensity. it was revealed that Mullah Omar at jump-starting negotiations, since the insurgents announced the managed to enter the offices of the But officials said Afghan secu- The Taliban’s resurgence has had been dead for two years, a dis- though their efforts have so far start of this year’s fighting season. National Directorate of Security, the rity forces drove Taliban fighters back raised serious questions about Afghan closure which sparked infighting been in vain.

Suicide blast Top Pakistani tax authority to probe Panama leaks kills one, injures 18 in Pakistan Internews blind eye to these disclosures,” said governments to protect the vested the whole world is focusing on how The businessmen featured in a senior FBR source adding that in interest of the elite and rich, most of to improve their taxation system, the the record range from hotel tycoon the near future, notices will also whom evade taxes. Board has no option but to take up the Sadruddin Hashwani to real estate Anatolia be issued to all the concerned who Being under the strict control of matter and initiate action. czar Malik Riaz Hussain’s son, from ISLAMABAD: After sessions of in- did not disclose their foreign wealth, the government, the FBR has been The names of key Pakistanis so the Hussain Dawood family to the house deliberations, the Federal i.e., offshore companies in their tax facing pressures to let influential tax far found in the secret files range Abdullah family of Sapphire Tex- Board of Revenue, Pakistan’s top tax- returns. evaders go scot free. from those of Prime Minister Nawaz tiles, Gul Muhammad Tabba of KARACHI: A suicide bomber ation authority, has decided to inquire Despite being tightly controlled by According to an FBR source, Sharif’s three children to brother- Lucky Textiles as well as Shahid yesterday blew himself up inside into the Panama leaks disclosures as the government, this decision of the inquiring into the Panama leaks in-law of Chief Minister Shahbaz Nazir of Masood Textiles and from a government building in north- per the tax laws of the country. FBR’s top management is believed to disclosures will be a challenge. Sharif; from Benazir Bhutto to Javed Zulfiqar Ali Lakhani to Zulfiqar western Pakistan, killing one FBR sources here confirm that be a good sign, encouraging the tax External pressures, it is said, are Pasha, from Senator Rehman Malik Paracha. person and injuring another 18, following detailed deliberations, it culture in the country. Some in the expected to haunt the FBR but the to Senator Osman Saifullah’s family, Members from the bar and the local police officials said. has been decided to go through the FBR fear that the initiation of such an source said that this issue can’t be and from Waseem Gulzar (a rela- bench were also spotted in the The bomber struck a tax income tax returns of those Paki- action by the Board could annoy the ignored either. tive of the influential Chaudhries documents including one serving department building in the stani nationals/taxpayers who are government. The source said that internation- of Gujrat) to Zain Sukhera, who was judge of the Lahore High Court. Mardan district some 40km reported to have offshore compa- The FBR is the leading tax author- ally the Panama leaks issue is more co-accused with former prime min- However, the list does not include from Peshawar, regional cap- nies as per the disclosures made by ity of the country but it has not of a tax matter than any other form ister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s son in the the name of any general - serving ital of the violence-hit Khyber the Panama leaks. “We can’t turn a been given autonomy by successive of corruption. It is said that while Haj scandal. or retired. Pakhtunkhawa (KP) province (which lies on the border with Afghanistan), municipal police chief Faisal Shahzad told reporters. Eyewitnesses told police that PTI may defer siege of Karachi street vendors the bomber, apparently acting alone, walked into the build- ing and blew himself up near a family house of Sharifs small crowd of people. The blast occurred only hours after a much larger suicide attack rocked Internews in their respective areas to increase Afghan capital Kabul, killing at pressure on the government. Two least 28 people and injuring hun- other options are also under dreds of others. consideration. Last year, at least 26 people LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf “If the party fails to stage pro- were killed — and scores oth- (PTI) of Imran Khan may defer its test outside Parliament House ers injured — in a similar suicide proposed sit-in outside the resi- because of the ban on public meet- attack that targeted Mardan’s data- dence of the ruling family of Sharifs ing at D-Chowk, it may stage a sit-in base registration office. According in Raiwind near Lahore because of either outside the Punjab Assembly to Interior Ministry figures, suicide problems within the party, inside or the Punjab Chief Minister House,” attacks in Pakistan have declined sources here say. he said. by some 70 percent since 2014, fol- A party official source said on However, he said Imran Khan lowing a wide-ranging military the condition of anonymity that would announce future strategy on operation against the Tehrik-e- as Chairman Imran Khan had dis- April 24 founding day gathering at Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group. solved the party organisation for the F-9 Park. intra-party elections, the organisa- On Monday, the party chair- tional setup did not exist to mobilise man while chairing a meeting of Two jailed for public for the sit-in. local legislators at his Bani Gala res- Besides, there is a division idence avoided discussing the sit-in life over abuse within the party over the protest. and focused on organising April 24 “In Punjab, senior party lead- event at Fatima Jinnah Park, sources scandal ers Chaudhry Sarwar and Aleem say. Vehicles move past watermelons, displayed for sale from a cart, along a street at a neighbourhood Khan are not supporting the sit- While quoting Imran Khan, the in Karachi, Pakistan, yesterday. in,” he said. sources said the chairman insisted AFP On the other hand, he said, on making April 24 gathering the 27-member committee successful. headed by Mehmood Qureshi When contacted, PTI spokes- to get support of the opposition man Naeemul Haq said the Monday LAHORE: Two people convicted could not convince the political meeting was restricted to discussing Pakistan Navy gets two landing craft in a massive abuse scandal were parties for the sit-in. arrangements for April 24 found- handed life sentences, officials He said the party lacked funds ing day gathering at Fatima Jinnah said, after a law passed in March for public mobilization campaign for Park and did not take up the Rai- criminalised child sexual abuse in the protest. wind sit-in. Internews indigenous shipbuilding project of Admiral Hassan Shah in his address the country for the first time. The senior PTI leader said even “Qureshi was tasked to draw Karachi Shipyard. He said that induc- of welcome said that his organisation Pakistan was rocked by the in Lahore, the host city of the event, support for the party to stage sit-in tion of the LCMs would contribute had built similar six landing craft for huge child abuse and extor- there is a rift among party work- outside Raiwind and he will brief to enhancing the PN’s capability of Pakistan Navy in 1976. As compared tion scandal in August last year, ers which was evident during the Imran on April 19 about his meet- KARACHI: Two Landing Craft-Mecha- transporting men and materials. to the previous ones, the new LCMs dubbed by authorities as the larg- National Assembly electoral con- ings with the opposition parties,” nised (LCM) constructed by the Karachi He acknowledged that the Karachi were distinct because of their design est in country’s history, allegedly stituency NA-122 by-election. he said. Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS Shipyard had successfully delivered and additional equipment. involving hundreds of victims in “Some workers even did not sup- He said that final decision of and EW) were handed over to the various vessels of high quality to the Karachi Shipyard had been Punjab province. port the party candidate,” he said, sit-in would be made in the light of Pakistan Navy, official sources here PN within the contractual timeline. entrusted with the responsibility “Two convicts in the Kasur adding that Imran will take the final Qureshi led committee report. say. Rear Admiral Imdad Jafri, the Admiral Jafri said that Karachi of construction of four submarines, child abuse case have been handed decision with regard to postpone- However, he said that it was commander logistics of Pakistan Shipyard was a rare example of a adding that the project would elevate life imprisonment and a fine of ment of the sit-in. clear that the party would raise Navy, was chief guest at the cere- public sector organisation which had the KS and EW among the elite club 300,000 rupees ($2,860) each by The likelihood is that the PTI the Panama leaks issue at all pub- mony held at the Karachi Shipyard. been revitalised completely due to of few shipyards in the world where an anti terrorism court of Lahore,” chairman will ask the part leaders lic forums including the parliament He expressed satisfaction over efficient management and workforce. construction of both submarines and Sheikh Saeed Ahmed, the chief at district level to launch agitation and streets. the successful completion of the KS and EW managing director Rear ships were undertaken. prosecutor of Punjab said. INDIA WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 13

Shiv Sena Modi invokes Vajpayee over Kashmir attacks PM over unrest the health and sports facilities urged Prime Minister’s visit youth of the state to “dream to do across country something, and not to become some- comes as parts of the one” and take active part in sports. Kashmir Valley have “I will not wish that more people IANS should be admitted to this hospital. been under siege. But it would be my prayer that more people go to the sports complex to MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena, a BJP ensure they stay away from the hos- ally, yesterday attacked Prime pital,” he said. Minister Narendra Modi over the IANS The nearly Rs3bn hospital has “smouldering unrest” in different some 20 streams of medicine and parts of India which, it warned, surgery, including cardiology, cardio- could turn into a “raging inferno”. thoracic surgery, neurology, neuro The Sena compared the JAMMU: Prime Minister Narendra surgery, nephrology, according to present situation in the country to Modi yesterday reached out to youth the shrine board. It is fully equipped Mumbai’s stink zone, the Deonar of Jammu and Kashmir and invoked with state-of-the-art diagnostic and garbage dump yard - which, it said, his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee treatment equipment. appeared cool from the outside but and the late chief minister Mufti The prime minister distributed was a smouldering cauldron inside Mohammed Sayeed for “peace and free OPD treatment and cashless that erupted into flames regularly. development” in the state still reel- health insurance cards to residents “Modi is roaming all over the ing under a fresh bout of violence that of four villages who have donated world with the torch of peace, but saw five people dead in alleged shoot- land for the hospital. his own home state Gujarat is in ings by security forces. The sports complex, built on flames over the Patel reservation Addressing a public meeting 19,0000 square feet area, can accom- issue,” the party said in a hard- in a town near here, Modi remem- modate 10,000 spectators. hitting editorial in its mouthpiece bered former Bharatiya Janata Party This was Modi’s maiden visit Saamana. (BJP) prime minister Atal Bihari Vaj- to the state after Mehbooba Mufti “On the one hand, the payee, saying nobody was perhaps as became the first woman chief min- Bharatiya Janata Party joins “emotionally attached to Jammu and ister following three months of the hands to form a government with Kashmir as Vajpayee”. central rule when the Peoples Dem- secessionist forces in Jammu and “His slogan of ‘insaaniyat’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) chats with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during ocratic Party (PDP) dragged its feet on Kashmir, on the other a person (humanity), ‘jumhooriyat’ (democ- a public rally at Katra near Jammu, yesterday. continuing its alliance with the BJP. like Hardik Patel is being tried for racy) and ‘Kashmiriyat’ (composite Modi praised Mehbooba who sedition for allegedly insulting the Kashmir culture) is and shall con- needed “quick paced” and “all inclu- Hindu-populated Jammu region. and paramilitary forces. also addressed the rally, focussing tricolour,” it said. tinue to be our guiding spirit for sive” development as was the late The prime minister’s visit to the Modi was silent about the trou- on security and development. It pointed out that people were development and peace in Jammu chief minister’s dream. state comes as parts of the Kashmir ble that began after a rumour about “With such commitment to peace being killed daily in the name of and Kashmir,” said Modi, after inau- “We remember Mufti Sahab. He Valley have been under siege since molestation of a girl by an Indian and progress as she has, I am sure peace in Jammu and Kashmir, that gurating a sports complex and a spent years in public life. He had such five people were killed in deadly Army soldier in Handwara. The girl, development in Jammu and Kashmir Maoists were indulging in regu- super-specialty hospital set up by the a long political career and vision. clashes between protestors and however, dismissed the allegation and has become undeniable,” Modi said. lar bloodbath in Chhattisgarh, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board One thing was always on his mind: security forces. Tension continues to the army also refuted it. But the vio- Earlier, the prime minister situation was “virtually out of con- at Kakryal near Katra — the town at To narrow down physical and psy- simmer under the surface of a relative lence still spread. Among the dead addressed the fifth convocation of trol” in Gujarat while in most other the base of the famed hill temple. chological distances between Jammu calm in several north Kashmir towns was a budding 19-year-old sports Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University parts of the country police were Modi also remembered Sayeed, and the valley,” Modi said, referring to and villages amid a strict curfew — enthusiast, who had aspired to play and wished the passing out students implementing peace at gunpoint. who died in a Delhi hospital in Jan- the gulf between the Muslim-domi- which was partially lifted yesterday cricket for India’s national team. “all the best, specially to the girls who It said that while the BJP had uary, and said people of the state nated Kashmir Valley and the largely — and heavy deployment of police Modi in his address after opening won laurels here”. threatened to behead people who don’t chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, it had joined forces in Jammu and Kashmir to form a government Three burnt with the very same people who don’t chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. to death over Kirpal’s body reaches India; family cries foul “Not a sign of good governance at all.” human sacrifice Accusing the BJP of dou- IANS as poisoning. I can say with 100 percent accuracy blespeak, the Sena said it had no rumours that the wound marks which are inflicted during qualms speaking to “elements” in life, they cannot be removed. The cause of death Jammu and Kashmir but in Gujarat has not been established yet,” the doctor added. its arrogance prevented it from AFP AMRITSAR: The body of Indian prisoner Kirpal After being handed over to the Border Security negotiating with their own peo- Singh, who died under suspicious circumstances Force at the Attari-Wagah joint check post, Kir- ple (Patels). in a Lahore jail last week, arrived in India yester- pal’s body was immediately taken for post-mortem “Hardik Patel challenged the NEW DELHI: Three members of day. His family members alleged that his body bore examination in Amritsar after which it was taken state government on Patel reserva- an Indian family burnt to death injury marks and foul play led to his death, but doc- to Gurdaspur district for cremation in his native tion issue, but since he threatened after a mob locked them in their tors who conducted an autopsy denied this. village. His family members alleged that he was the authorities, they responded by house and set it on fire following Alleging foul play in his death, Kirpal’s fam- murdered either by fellow prisoners or prison offi- slapping a sedition case against rumours of their involvement in ily members said the body bore injury and blood cials in Pakistan. him… How justified was this,” the human sacrifices, police said yes- marks. Close relatives and residents from Kirpal Singh’s Sena asked. terday. Contrary to the claims, the medical board which village were present at Attari, 30 km from here, The entire youth of Gujarat Ten men have been arrested conducted the post-mortem examination here after when the body was brought back to India. who once supported Modi had over the incident on Sunday in his body was brought back to India yesterday, said The body, in a coffin, was carried by porters on come out in support of Hardik underdeveloped Jharkhand state there were no external or internal injury marks Jagir Kaur (second left), sister of Kirpal Singh, the Indian side even as family members showered Patel, the Sena said, warning that when hundreds of villagers armed on the body. cries near his coffin as his body is brought for flowers on the coffin. the sparks of Gujarat must not with sticks and other sharp weap- Ashok Sharma, head of the three-member post mortem in Amritsar, yesterday. Close family members were allowed to see the spread elsewhere in the country. ons targeted the family, an officer medical board, however, told the media after the body to identify Kirpal Singh’s mortal remains. “A youth like Hardik Patel said. post-mortem examination that the cause of death on the body and the head. Pakistani authorities have attributed his death challenges the Gujarat govern- “There was a rumour that they has not been established yet. “When we opened the body, we found that to heart attack, but his family has alleged he was ment, one Kanhaiya Kumar is also had kidnapped children for sac- The doctor said some organs from his body some of the organs were missing because when murdered in prison. throwing challenges… But this is rifice, which was followed by an were missing, as an autopsy has already been done post-mortem is done, some organs are taken to “He has been murdered by the Pakistanis under the time to remain cool, think with attack,” Kartik S, police chief of (in Pakistan). test to find out whether there is any disease or not,” a conspiracy. He was the sole witness to the mur- a peaceful mind.” Lohardaga district where the inci- “In the post-mortem examination, it was found Sharma said. der of Sarabjit Singh in the Lahore prison. We want The Sena warned that the BJP’s dent happened, said. that there was no external or internal injury on the “... rest of the organs which were present, we a thorough inquiry and post-mortem to know the arrogance could fan the smoul- Five other family members body. Post-mortem of this body has already been took out portions of those organs and we sent truth of his death,” Kirpal’s nephew told the media dering flames and this must not were rescued from the burning done (in Pakistan) because stitches were present them for testing (to know) about diseases as well outside the hospital mortuary. be allowed to happen. house in Lohardaga, 75 kilome- tres from the eastern state’s capital Ranchi. Kartik said the head of the family, Gowardhan Bhagat, had Workers’ protest turns been accused by locals of being a sorcerer. According to local media violent in Bengaluru reports, Bhagat had been jailed many years ago, allegedly for beheading someone, fuelling fears IANS provident fund (PF) before attain- of his involvement in ritual killings. ing the age of 58 years, especially the “We don’t have any evidence amount contributed by the employer that he kidnapped children for BENGALURU: Police last night with government interest. sacrifice now,” Kartik said, adding issued prohibitory orders banning “We have taken about 120 peo- that police were investigating if the assembly of more than 10 people ple into custody for indulging in attack was orchestrated because of across Bengaluru for three days arson and violence, attacking our a personal grudge against Bhagat. from today after protests by gar- personnel deployed for protection Some 2,097 people, mostly ment workers turned violent. of agitators and damaging pub- women, were killed in India “The prohibitory order banning lic property, including state-run between 2000 to 2012 after being assembly of more than 10 peo- buses and our vehicles,” Magherikh branded witches, according to the ple in an area will come into force said. National Crime Records Bureau. from midnight in the entire city According to police estimates, Some states including to maintain peace and to prevent a record 100,000 workforce from Jharkhand have introduced special any untoward incident,” city police other factories and firms across the laws to try to curb crimes against commissioner N S Megharikh told city assembled at Bommanahalli people accused of witchcraft. reporters here. industrial area in the south and There are also occasional The decision to impose the ban Peenya industrial area in the north reports of human sacrifices in was taken at a high-level meeting of to demonstrate against the provident rural and remote areas. top police officials, including Direc- fund withdrawal norms. On Monday Delhi police res- tor General of Police Om Prakash, by “In all, 95 buses were damaged, cued a kidnapped four-month-old state Home Minister G Parameshwra of which 11 were fully burnt. While girl and arrested three men includ- to restore normalcy in the aftermath about 40 people were injured, 65 ing the infant’s uncle who had of violence and arson that rocked the policemen were injured in mob allegedly sold her to a sorcerer for city’s southern and northern suburbs attacks on them when tear gas shells sacrifice. A suspected occultist last since Monday. were lobbed, and they were caned year beheaded a five-year-old boy Thousands of garment work- and chased away for blocking roads,” in a ritual sacrifice in northeastern ers, mostly women, staged protests Megharikh added. India before being lynched. Policemen stand next to a damaged vehicle after a protest by garment workers in Bengaluru yesterday. against curbs on withdrawal of 14 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 INDIA

Northeastern festival LDF manifesto Govt trying to promises resurgent Kerala curb trafficking IANS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition Left Democratic Front of women yesterday released its manifesto for the Kerala assembly elections, promising 2.5 million new jobs, a specific solutions come into being.” new department for traditional According to the National Crime industries, and a bank for special Minister for Women Records Bureau, there were 5,466 treatment for those who return and Children cases of human trafficking reg- from the Middle East. istered in 2014, an increase of 90 Releasing the manifesto, LDF Maneka Gandhi says percent over the past five years. convenor Vaikom Viswan said the northeastern states Activists say this is a gross grouping was aiming for a “new under-estimation of the scale of the resurgent Kerala” which would be a key source area for problem, as much of the illicit organ- “truly secular and corruption free”. trafficking. ised crime is underground. Kerala goes to the polls on May They claim thousands of peo- 16 to elect the 140 members to the ple — largely poor, rural women state legislative assembly. and children — are lured to India’s “There are 35 policies and Reuters towns and cities each year by traf- 600 suggestions in our manifesto fickers who promise good jobs but which promises a new Kerala and sell them into domestic work or vice it includes creation of 2.5 million trade or to industries such as textile jobs in IT, tourism and the service NEW DELHI: India is working to workshops. Villagers take part in the age-old, traditional ‘Gohain Uliuwa Mela’ festival in Mayong village, in the sectors,” Viswan said. find ways to curb the widespread In many cases, they are not paid Morigaon district of Assam state, yesterday. The LDF also promised sup- trafficking of women and children or are held in debt bondage. Some port to new start-ups. in the country, including those from go missing, and their families can- neighbouring Nepal, Bangladesh not trace them. and Pakistan, said Maneka Gan- Gandhi said India’s remote dhi, India’s minister for women and northeastern states, which include children. Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal New provident fund rules withdrawn after uproar South Asia, with India at its Pradesh and Nagaland, were a key centre, is the fastest-growing and source area for trafficking and called second-largest region for human for the appointment of a special trafficking in the world, after East female police officer in each village IANS in less than five hours. chairman, assured that they will move in abeyance was taken follow- Asia, according to the United Nations to keep a check on crimes against Dattatreya said the employees, take a decision for the betterment of ing representations received from Office for Drugs and Crime. women and children. whenever they want, can withdraw employees and to make the system trade unions and workers. Speaking at a conference on “There is an enormous amount employer’s contribution of 12 percent. foolproof. The BMS yesterday said they will child adoption in India’s northeast- of trafficking of children going on HYDERABAD: Under fire from The minister said the Central He had said as a result of this continue to protest till all restrictions ern state of Meghalaya, Gandhi told from the northeast. We find them in political opponents and bowing to Board of Trustees (CBT) of Employees’ decision, the earlier scheme for with- on PF withdrawal were removed. delegates that the government was Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and many going pressure from trade unions, including Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) drawal of PF will continue till July The government decision came in in the process of putting in place a to Malaysia and Thailand. It is not from RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Maz- will meet to ratify this decision. 31 and Employees’ Provident Fund wake of protests by garment workers series of policies to prevent human fair,” she said. door Sangh (BMS), the government He had earlier told reporters in Organisation (EPFO) subscribers can in Bengaluru to press for removal of trafficking. “The job of special women police yesterday withdrew its new rules of New Delhi that the final decision on file for full and final settlement. such curbs. “We have discussed this issue in is to be vigilant in the village and provident fund withdrawal. withdrawal of employer’s contribu- Dattatreya clarified that the noti- Meanwhile, trade union leaders the cabinet. We had called a meet- see that children do not go missing, Within hours after announcing tion to the provident fund corpus until fication restricted withdrawal of only said that they are of the view that ing with these countries last month women are not beaten by husbands, the decision to withhold the rules the employee attains the age of 58 3.67 percent of the employer’s share the curbs on withdrawal are unnec- in which all NGOs working on this girls are sent to school.” till July 31, Labour Minister Bandaru years will be taken only after July 31. out of his total contribution of 12 per- essary as the quantum involved is and others in Nepal, Pakistan and A comprehensive new anti-traf- Dattatreya declared that the proposed He said the notification will cent, until after retirement, but during just 3.67 percent of the employer’s Bangladesh came,” she said on ficking law is also being drafted, say move has been rolled back. not be implemented from May 1 as an earlier review it was also decided contribution. Monday. government officials. This will not “We are cancelling the notifica- announced earlier and he would hold to allow an employee to withdraw Workers of a garment factory took “We will have another meeting only unify several existing laws, but tion issued on February 10. The old talks with all stakeholders and call a even this amount for four purposes to the streets and blocked traffic on next week in India. We are telling also raise penalties for offenders and system will continue,” he told a press meeting of the CBT, which will take - treatment, purchase of house, mar- the busy Mysuru-Bengaluru high- each other what we can do. This provide victims with rehabilitation conference in Hyderabad yesterday a final decision. riage and education of children. way and set many vehicles ablaze month, we are going to see that and compensation. night — his second there in the issue The minister, who is CBT He said the decision to keep the yesterday. New Delhi says Ailing Buddhadeb hits it won’t try to reclaim crown the streets for campaign jewel from UK IANS long-time foes. But with the poll caravan now moving on to the doorsteps of the city, Bhat- tacharjee agreed to join the public campaign. AP KOLKATA: With the red flag fluttering along- He seemed more aged, with all grey hair, side the Congress tricolour, an ailing former but seemed spurred on by the huge turnout, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhatta- as he chatted with the party’s young candi- NEW DELHI: India’s government charjee yesterday hit the campaign trail leading date from Kasba, Shataroop Ghosh, and Sujon has told the Supreme Court that a huge road show in support of CPI-M candi- Chakraborty, a state secretariat member and it won’t request the return of the dates through the city’s southern outskirts. contestant from Jadavpur. 106-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond, Attired in his trademark kurta and dhoti, Another young nominee, Students’ Feder- which is now part of the British Bhattacharjee rode an open jeep flanked by ation of India leader Madhuja Sen Roy, in the crown jewels. party candidates from Tollygunge, Jadavpur fray from Tollygunge, seemed somewhat awed In a surprise statement, India’s and Kasba constituencies, as thousands of Left by Bhattacharjee’s presence. solicitor general told the court on Front and Congress workers and supporters The rally, that started off from the base of Monday that Britain shouldn’t have enthusiastically joined in. the Dhakuria Bridge at 5.15pm with several to give the diamond back. Ran- They sang, shouted slogans parodying the thousand participants, swelled in size as Left jit Kumar said the diamond had Trinamool Congress and exuding confidence supporters joined in large numbers on the way. been given freely to the British in of the Left and democratic forces forming the At various points, even common people the mid-19th century by the family next government. were seen walking a few steps with the rallyists. of Punjab’s Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Bhattacharjee, a patient of chronic obstruc- People peered through windows, crowded and had been “neither stolen nor tive pulmonary disease, had kept away from balconies of multi-storeyed apartments and forcibly taken by British rulers.” the heat and dust of the campaign so far fol- other houses, with the large posse of media- The court was hearing a peti- lowing his doctors’ advice not to undertake long persons adding to the cacophony in their frantic tion filed by a rights group asking travel, despite requests from all party district bid to capture every footage and still frame of it to order the government to seek units to lead the election campaign. the 72-year-old leader. the return of the diamond. However, party sources said he was spend- With people also lining along both sides The two-judge bench said it ing long hours at the party headquarters in of the route and even jostling for a glimpse of did not want to issue a ruling that Alimuddin Street, supervising the nitty grit- Bhattacharjee, who has restricted his public might jeopardise a future attempt ties of the campaign, coining the slogans, and appearances and allowed a new generation to bring back the diamond or other playing a major role in deciding venues of elec- of leaders to hog the limelight since losing the treasures that once belonged to tion meetings and the state level speakers. polls from Jadavpur in 2011, the former chief India. It told the government to Now an invitee to the Communist Party of minister repeatedly waved to the large crowd take six weeks to reconsider its India-Marxist’s policy-making body politburo, that gathered on both sides of the road, and position before the court decides Bhattacharjee is also regarded as one of the acknowledged their greetings and salutations. whether to dismiss the petition. architects of the Left Front-Congress tie-up, There were continuous chants of “Inquilab The diamond is on display in and was largely instrumental from behind the Zindabad” and “Comrade Buddhadeb Bhatta- Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists during an election campaign ahead of Assembly the Tower of London, set in front of wings in ensuring the central committee nod charjee lal salaam”, as Marxist cadres in red the Queen Mother’s crown. elections in Kolkata, yesterday. for the poll understanding between the two caps tried to keep a semblance of discipline. For many Indians, the loss of the Koh-i-Noor is symbolic of India’s subjugation under Brit- ish colonial rule, and its return is viewed as partial compensation for Reservations in jobs and education will continue: Minister centuries of economic exploitation. The Koh-i-Noor, which means “Mountain of Light,” was discov- IANS government were “baseless” and the on ‘Multi-purpose development of reservation in government jobs and Ambedkar’s ideology to grow. ered in the Golconda mines in system will continue. water resources and present chal- educational institutions. She said people like Ambedkar, what is now the southern Indian “The fear that reservation (pro- lenges’ here. Bharti praised Dalit icon Bhimrao who fought against all odds and went state of Andhra Pradesh. The large, NEW DELHI: Union Minister Uma vided under the constitution) would She said as there were great Ambedkar, who campaigned against on to achieve so much, would always colourless diamond then passed Bharti yesterday said that the appre- go during our rule is baseless,” the disparities in Indian society, peo- social discrimination and played a continue to inspire generations, and between Mughal princes, Iranian hensions that reservations for the minister for water resources, river ple from the weaker section would very significant role in drafting inde- not figures like Rohith Vemula, a Dalit warriors, Afghan rulers and Pun- weaker sections of society would be development and Ganga rejuvena- always need special attention and it pendent India’s constitution, saying student of the Hyderabad University jabi Maharajas. slowly withdrawn by the BJP-led NDA tion said while addressing a seminar could be ensured only by giving them many political parties never wanted who committed suicide in January. EUROPE / UK WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 15 Gove says Brexit vote would be end of EU

that Greeks opposed to “dreadful said. He also warned that conces- austerity,” Spaniards enduring job- sions won by Cameron on access to There would be a lessness and Portuguese facing cuts welfare, which the premier claimed democratic liberation to health and welfare spending would would slow immigration to the U.K., of Europe, with join with Danes, Poles and Italians to won’t work. reject the EU. With fewer than 10 weeks to go opponents of budget “For Europe, Britain voting until the plebiscite, both sides of the cuts, austerity and to leave will be the beginning of argument are ramping up their rheto- something potentially even more ric over the merits of EU membership. regulation imposed exciting—the democratic liberation On Monday, Osborne warned that a by the EU following of a whole continent,” he said. UK Brexit would cause “permanent” success outside the bloc will “send a damage to the UK economy. Gove Britain’s lead in a message to the EU’s peoples, they will responded that a vote to leave is the so-called Brexit, said see that a different Europe is possi- “safer choice” for Britain. ble. It is possible to regain democratic “If we vote to stay we are not set- the British Justice control of your own country and cur- tling for the status quo, we are voting Secretary. rency, to trade and cooperate with to be a hostage, locked in the boot of a other EU nations without surren- car driven by others to a place and at dering sovereignty to a remote and a pace that we have no control over,” unelected bureaucracy.” Gove said. “If we vote to leave we take Gove further deepened divisions back control.” Bloomberg in the Tory party by pouring scorn on Polling is inconclusive, with arguments by Cameron and Chancel- some indicating the vote will be lor of the Exchequer George Osborne tight, and others showing a lead for that EU nations would block trade the “remain” side. An Orb poll for LONDON: Justice Secretary Michael with the UK in the event of a Brexit. the Telegraph published yesterday Gove said a British vote to leave the His adviser, Dominic Cummings, told showed 52 percent of voters plan to European Union on June 23 would reporters he had spoken to “umpteen” opt to remain, with 43 percent choos- spark a reaction among people ambassadors who said they would ing to leave. YouGov Plc’s most recent across Europe that would force the do a deal with Britain after a “Leave” polls show a much narrower margin. Justice Secretary Michael Gove delivers a speech for the Vote Leave campaign in London, yesterday. 28-nation bloc to change beyond rec- vote but weren’t allowed to say so in Cameron, who first pledged ognition. public. the referendum as a way of pla- There would be a “democratic Gove, one of Cameron’s closest cating Euro-skeptics in his party, “Over 250,000 people came to Quitting the bloc would leave the heads the opposition Labour Party’s liberation” of Europe, with oppo- political allies before the two decided is facing a widening rift. Gove and Britain from Europe last year. As long UK’s economic output between 3.8 “In for Britain” campaign, said yester- nents of budget cuts, austerity and to back different sides in the referen- Mayor of London Boris Johnson have as we are in the EU we cannot con- percent and 7.5 percent lower after day in a statement issued to the media regulation imposed by the EU fol- dum, also used the speech to belittle the support of many rank-and-file trol our borders and cannot develop 15 years, costing as much as £2,100 in London . lowing Britain’s lead in a so-called two of the main gains the prime min- lawmakers and activists for their an immigration policy which is both ($3,000) per person, the Treasury had “Michael Gove wants to wish away Brexit and overturning decades of ister cited from his negotiations with campaign, while Cameron and truly humane and in our long term said on Monday. reality, but the truth is every credible bureaucratic and undemocratic cen- other European leaders before he Osborne are leading the attempt to economic interests.” The Treasury isn’t alone in its anal- independent forecaster says Brexit will tralization, Gove said in a speech in called the vote. keep Britain in the bloc. The justice secretary further ysis, with the International Monetary hurt our economy,” Johnson said. “The London yesterday. An opt-out from the EU drive “If we do vote to stay in the EU criticised a Treasury document, pub- Fund, the London School of Economics fact is Britain is better off remaining in Gove, a close friend of Prime toward “ever closer union,” which then immigration will continue to lished on Monday, which analysed and the CBI business lobby all saying the EU and no amount of false prom- Minister David Cameron, adopted Cameron heralded as a major vic- increase by hundreds of thousands some of the options available to Brit- EU membership boosts employment ises and bluster from the ‘Leave’ camp the language of socialism to argue tory, “makes no difference,” Gove year on year,” Gove said. ain if voters choose to leave. and the economy, Alan Johnson, who can change that.”

Russia preparing Saluting the heroes Brain-dead woman aggression against Nato: gives birth in Poland Polish minister AFP told reporters, adding that the baby boy was born in January in the 26th Reuters week of pregnancy. “It was a long 55-day battle. WARSAW: A brain-dead Polish We doctors wanted the little man WARSAW: Poland’s defence min- woman was kept alive for 55 days to grow as big as possible but there ister has said Russia continued to so that she could give birth, a hos- came a day when there was a real pose a serious threat to Nato and pital official said yesterday , adding danger to his life, so we opted for that Moscow was systematically that the premature baby showed no delivery” via cesarean section. preparing for aggression against signs of serious complications. The baby weighed just one kilo- the alliance. “It’s rare to successfully main- gram at birth, but is now up to three Poland, a former Soviet satel- tain a pregnancy for so long, that it kilograms after three months of lite state, fears Russia is seeking is at such an early stage, at 17 or 18 intensive care and has just left hos- to extend its influence beyond its weeks,” said Barbara Krolak-Ole- pital showing “no complications, ” borders after Moscow annexed jnik, head of the neonatal unit at the the doctors said. Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in University Hospital in the southern “But we have to be patient and 2014 and continues to support city of Wroclaw. wait and see how he grows,” Krolak- for armed separatists in eastern The 41-year-old mother was Olejnik said, adding that the baby Ukraine. rushed to hospital by ambulance late was being bottle-fed and breathing Earlier this month, two Russian last year and deemed brain dead due on his own. warplanes flew simulated attack People lay daffodils at the monument of Ghetto Heroes during an official ceremony marking the 73rd to brain cancer. The mother’s life-support system passes near a US guided missile anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in Warsaw, Poland, yesterday. “Her whole family wanted us to was turned off hours after the birth, destroyer which had just left the try to save the child,” Krolak-Olejnik the doctors said. Polish port of Gdynia. A US offi- cial said this was one of the most aggressive interactions between the two sides in recent memory. “So far, all Russian behaviour attests to systematic preparation Russian vote monitor hit with big fine ahead of polls for aggressive action,” Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz told the Rzeczpospolita daily in an AFP Supporters and fellow rights off on a law that requires non-govern- Grigory Melkonyants of Golos said He said Golos had asked the jus- interview published yesterday. activists said the fine—equivalent to mental organisations which receive the organisation was fined following a tice ministry three times to remove it Warsaw will host a Nato heads $18,300 or €16,150—is believed to be foreign funding to register with the request from justice ministry because from a list of foreign agents but had of state summit in July, where it the largest ever imposed on a Rus- authorities as “foreign agents”. some materials posted on its website been refused every time. will push for an increased mil- MOSCOW: Russia’s independent elec- sian organisation for violating the The legislation has caused huge did not carry an appropriate tag. Oleg Orlov of Memorial, one of itary presence on the alliance’s tion watchdog Golos said it had been notorious law and comes ahead of concern among Russian NGOs that Golos representatives was not Europe’s most respected human rights eastern flank. fined a whopping 1.2 million rubles parliamentary polls in September. say the law has been designed to stig- invited to take part in a court hear- organisations, said the aim of the In 2014, Nato suspended coop- for violating controversial legislation Following unprecedented protests matise them in the eyes of everyday ing last week, Melkonyants added, authorities was to “eliminate” Golos eration with Russia over its role the forcing non-governmental organisa- against his decade-long rule, Pres- Russians, and many organisations saying that their lawyer would con- which has exposed numerous elec- conflict in Ukraine. tions to carry a “foreign agent” tag. ident Vladimir Putin in 2012 signed said they would not comply. test the decision. toral violations in the past. Palmyra arch rises again in London

AFP “If something can be rebuilt in this conflict erupted in 2011, known for fashion, then those images of things its ancient ruins, colonnaded streets being blown up and destroyed for- and 2,000-year-old temples. ever, that’s undercut,” IDA director IS seized Palmyra last year and LONDON: A replica of one of most Roger Michel said after the replica beheaded its 82-year-old former iconic monuments destroyed by was revealed in front of a crowd of antiquities chief three months later. Islamic State (IS) jihadists in ancient several hundred people. The jihadists destroyed some of Syrian city of Palmyra was unveiled in “Part of what we’re doing is to send the city’s most striking monuments London’s Trafalgar Square yesterday. the message that things that have been and used the ancient amphitheatre as The 20 feet tall scale recreation of destroyed can be replaced and that act a venue for public executions. the Triumphal Arch is made of Egyp- of destruction is not final,” he added. The remains of the Triumphal tian marble and was carved in the Palmyra, a Unesco World Heritage Arch, dating back to the era of Roman northern Italian region of Tuscany Site northeast of Damascus known as Emperor Severus in the third century, using precision digital technology the “Pearl of the Desert”, was taken are now scattered on the ground, with such as 3D modelling. back by the Russian-backed Syrian only the two columns that once sus- The project is the brainchild of army from IS fighters last month. tained the central crown still standing. the Oxford-based Institute of Digital The city was a major tour- Experts are divided on whether Replica of Palmyra’s Arch of Triumph with the National Portrait Gallery framed behind unveiled at Trafalgar Technology (IDA). . ist destination before the Syrian the ancient ruins can be restored. Square, central London, yesterday. 16 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 EUROPE

Migrant crisis Greece begins sparks rise in Austria far-right letting migrants attacks leave camps AFP VIENNA: Europe’s migration crisis led they can legitimately claim asylum. to a sharp increase in extremist and Those who had spent But yesterday, a spokesman for racist attacks in Austria last year, the SOMP agency, which is coordinat- interior ministry said yesterday. 25 days inside the ing the Greek response to the crisis Registered incidents rose by 54 holding centres and said those who had spent 25 days percent to 1,156, compared to 750 in inside the holding centres and who 2014, according to latest figures. who had filed an had filed an asylum claim would be The number of offenders reported asylum claim are “allowed to leave” the camps. to police jumped from around 560 to He said the “the vast majority” more than 910 for the same period. allowed to leave the of new arrivals had submitted an In total, some 1,690 charges were camps. asylum claim, but it was not imme- brought over far-right attacks last diately clear how many were let out year, ranging from bodily harm and yesterday. They were not permitted property damage to fanning hatred to leave the islands and must remain against foreigners. available to the authorities, he said. “There is no doubt that migrant AFP The move aims to ease pres- issue has contributed to polarisation of A refugee woman sits next to her newborn baby in the refugee camp of Idomeni near the Greek-Former sure on registration centres, such Austrian society and prompted a rise in as Moria on the island of Lesbos Yogaslav Republic of Macedonia borders. offences,” interior ministry spokesman which was visited by Pope Francis Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said. ATHENS: Authorities on the Greek on Saturday, where conditions have Brussels-Ankara agreement. Union which is straining to cope since March 20 doesn’t pick up pace,” The biggest number of offences islands began allowing migrants out been denounced by rights groups as Greece began sending back irreg- with its worst migration crisis since the spokesman told reporters. were recorded in Upper Austria state, of the detention camps where they degrading. ular migrants from the islands on World War II. Since the deal went into Some 50,000 people, many of through which hundreds of thousands are being held while their asylum With the help of around 100 April 4, with more than 320 people effect, the number of new arrivals them fleeing the war in Syria, have of migrants trekked in 2015 on their requests are processed, a migration European experts—a quarter of expelled in the first week, most of them on the Greek Islands have stabilised been stranded in Greece since the clo- way to neighbouring Germany. official said yesterday. the overall number promised by Pakistanis. at around 100 people a day—around sure of the migrant route through the Extremist organisations have seen Since an EU-Turkey deal for the EU—the Greek authorities have A new round of deportations would a tenth of the numbers arriving last Balkans in February. their ranks swell, Grundboeck said, stemming the huge influx of peo- since last week begun examining take place “when a sufficient number summer. More than 10,000 of them are with groups carrying out increasingly ple to Europe went into force on “several hundreds” of requests, of people who have not applied for Despite the reduction, the arriv- stuck in a slum-like camp at Ido- brazen attacks. March 20, around 7,500 people SOMP said. asylum or whose demands have been als would amount to “more than meni on the border with Macedonia, Last week, around 30 members have landed on the Greek islands Those who fail to make a claim, rejected have been identified,” the 3,000 a month” which would be which has seen a growing number of the far-right Identitaere movement where they have been kept in hold- or whose application for asylum spokesman said. difficult for Greece to manage “if, in of violent incidents sparked by des- stormed a Vienna stage during a play ing centres while waiting to be is rejected, face being sent back to The expulsions are aimed at eas- parallel, the European plan for redis- perate attempts to break through the performed by refugees and sprayed processed to determine whether Turkey in line with the controversial ing the pressure on the European tributing refugees who have arrived frontier. fake blood on the audience.

All that remains 5 arrested as German anti-terror police swoop on far-right cell

AFP the homes of political enemies,” the shelter in Freital in November last federal prosecutor’s office said. year, where a resident suffered cuts It said the suspects stockpiled to his face from flying glass. hundreds of fireworks from the They said the investigation would BERLIN: An elite German anti-terror Czech Republic to use in attacks. The seek to determine if the organisation unit carried out dawn raids yesterday assaults included using fireworks to was responsible for further violence. to capture five right-wing extremist blow out the windows of the kitchen Small towns in the eastern state suspects accused of attacking refu- of a refugee shelter in Freital in Sep- of Saxony such as Freital earned gee shelters and political opponents, tember 2015. nationwide notoriety last year as federal prosecutors said. “The residents of the home only groups of neo-Nazis and angry The suspects, four men and a escaped injury from the flying shards residents hurled abuse at people woman, are accused of belonging to a of the shattered glass pane because fleeing war and misery—and rocks far-right terrorist organisation called no one was in the kitchen,” the pros- at police sent to protect those seeking Freital Group, named after an east- ecutor’s office said. A second attack a safe haven. Federal police in 2015 ern town that has seen a rash of racist the following month blamed on group recorded more than 800 attacks on protests that shocked the country. involved suspects hurling fireworks refugee shelters in Germany, which “According to preliminary inves- and stones at a building housing left- let in nearly 1.1 million asylum seek- Police inspect the damage at the facade of a building in Brive, southwestern France, yesterday following tigations, the aim of the group was ist activists. No one was injured. ers last year. Most of the attacks were a fire that left two men dead and seven people with minor injuries. to carry out explosives attacks on Prosecutors said that the cell concentrated in the former commu- homes for asylum seekers as well as also attacked another refugee nist east of the country. Austrian presidential ‘Terrorist fighters’ threaten new Europe attacks: Belgium

polls to rattle centrists AFP to return not just to Belgium, but to claimed by IS jihadist group—was country’s worst ever terror attacks. Europe to carry out an attack,” Paul “carried out in an intense way... but A fourth bomber whose device Van Tigchelt, head of the government the danger has not yet gone.” did not go off, Mohamed Abrini, was Reuters being too harsh in its treatment of crisis centre, told RTBF television. Security was still tight at key sites arrested on April 8 in Brussels. asylum applicants, while right-wing BRUSSELS: Belgium yesterday said Tigchelt said Belgium would such as airports, railway stations and There have been a series of other Freedom Party (FPO) candidate Nor- more “terrorist fighters” want to maintain its terror alert at level 3, the nuclear power stations, he said, add- arrests in recent weeks as Belgian bert Hofer says it has been too soft. return to Europe from Syria to carry second highest, for a “terrorist threat ing that public areas like shopping police try to roll up a jihadist net- VIENNA: Austrian voters look set to Hofer got 24 percent support in out further attacks, after suicide to the whole country”, adding that it malls and cinemas could also ben- work linked to Brussels bombings shake the foundations of the centrist a recent poll by market researcher bombings in Brussels killed 32 people. meant that the threat was “still con- efit from more security. and the Paris attacks in November. coalition government in a presiden- OGM, while van der Bellen got 25 “There is a lot of intelligence, for sidered serious, grave and likely”. Two suicide bombers blew them- Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam is tial election on Sunday and may give percent as his lead over his rival example signs that foreign terrorist The inquiry into the March 22 selves up at Brussels airport and a awaiting extradition to France follow- yet another boost to the anti-Islam shrinks. If neither win a majority in fighters, combatants in Syria, want Brussels bombings—which were third at Maalbeek metro station in the ing his arrest in Brussels on March 18. Freedom Party as Europe’s migrant the first round on April 24, a run-off crisis rumbles on. vote will be held. The president plays a largely “Presidential elections are con- ceremonial role from offices in the sidered less important than other Moroccan man imperial Hofburg palace. But he or elections, and that’s why people use Enhancing ties she is head of state, swears in the them as a way to teach politicians chancellor, has the authority to dis- a lesson,” said Eva Zeglovits, opin- ‘linked’ to IS miss the cabinet and is commander ion researcher at the IFES institute. in chief of the military. Hofer, a 45-year-old shooting detained in Spain Members of centre-left Social fan, has called Europe’s deal on Democrats and conservative Peo- migrants with Turkey “fatal” and MADRID: Spanish police said yes- ple’s Party have filled the job since does not want neutral Austria, a terday they detained a Moroccan it was first put to a popular vote in major destination for refugees from man in the Mediterranean island 1951. The two parties have ruled the Afghanistan, to become a land of resort of Palma de Mallorca sus- nation of 8.7 million in tandem for immigration. The candidates from pected of recruiting jihadists for most of the postwar era. the centrist parties, one in their 60s the Islamic State (IS) group. But Austrians are fed up with and the other their 70s, were floun- “A probe revealed the accused political cockfighting, including dering on about 11 and 15 percent in had close contact with established bickering between Social Demo- the OGM poll. terrorists involved with Daesh who crat Chancellor Werner Faymann “Only the fear of forthcoming are currently located in Syria,” and conservative Vice-Chancellor elections and the immigration cri- they said in a statement using a Reinhold Mitterlehner, and appear to sis bind the two (centrist) parties synonym for IS. The man used be looking elsewhere for their new together,” independent political con- virtual platforms to recruit new head of state. sultant Thomas Hofer said. jihadists, “encouraging them and The migrant crisis has domi- Recent polls for parliamentary facilitating their trip to the con- nated the campaign from which two elections, due to take place in 2018, flict zone so that they could join front-runners have emerged. show the Freedom Party above 30 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi inspect the guard of honour the ranks of Daesh.” Alexander van der Bellen, a percent, while the coalition parties during a ceremony at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. Both the leaders later held talks The operation was launched as 72-year-old Greens Party veteran, would struggle to get a combined on several issues and addressed a joint press conference. part of a probe opened by Spain’s has criticised the government for majority. National Court. AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 17 Hopes for survivors dwindle in quake-hit Ecuador

In Pedernales, a devastated economic toll on the OPEC nation of town, crowds gathered behind yel- 16 million people. In many isolated Praying for miracles, low tape to watch firemen and police villages or towns struck by the quake, desperate family sift through rubble. The town’s soccer survivors struggled without water, stadium was serving as a makeshift power, or transport. Rescue opera- members beseeched relief centre and a morgue. tions continued, but the sickly, sweet rescue teams to find “Find my brother! Please!” shouted stench of death told them what they Manuel, 17, throwing his arms up to were most likely to find. their missing loved the sky in front of a store where his “There are bodies crushed in the ones. younger brother was working when wreckage and from the smell it’s obvi- the quake struck on Saturday night. ous they are dead,” said army captain When an onlooker said recover- Marco Borja in the small tourist vil- ing a body would at least give him the lage of Canoa. Reuters comfort of burying his sibling, Manuel “Today we brought out between yelled: “Don’t say that!” seven and eight bodies.” But for Manuel and hundreds of Nearly 400 rescue workers flew in other anxious Ecuadoreans with rel- from various Latin American neigh- PEDERNALES/CANOA, ECUADOR: atives missing, time was running out. bours, along with 83 specialists from E arthquake-stricken Ecuador faced As of yesterday, rescue efforts Switzerland and Spain. The United the grim reality of recovering more became more of a search for corpses, States said it would dispatch a team bodies than survivors as rescue efforts Interior Minister Jose Serrano said. The of disaster experts while Cuba was moved into a third day yesterday and death toll stood at 413, but was expected sending a team of doctors. the death toll climbed over 400 in the to rise. The quake has injured at least To finance the costs of the emer- poor South American country. 2,600 people, damaged over 1,500 gency, some $600m credit from Praying for miracles, desperate buildings, and left 18,000 people spend- multilateral lenders was activated, family members beseeched rescue ing the night in shelters. the government said. Ecuador also teams to find their missing loved ones Visiting the disaster zone on Mon- announced that it had signed off on as they dug through the debris of flat- day, a moved President Rafael Correa a credit line for $2bn from the China tened homes, hotels, and stores in the said rebuilding would cost billions Development Bank (CDB) to finance People looking for food and belongings in the rubble in Pedernales, Ecuador, yesterday. hardest-hit Pacific coastal region. of dollars and may inflict a “huge” public investment. Panama seeks global efforts to handle tax row Brazil leader Rousseff warns of instability AFP covering nearly 40 years of business that France drop Panama from a Acting in the wake of the scan- were leaked from the archives of the blacklist of tax havens. dal, finance chiefs of the Group of 20 law firm Mossack Fonseca. Such an international designation meeting in Washington supported AFP “(The)’Panama Papers’, it is not would deal a heavy blow to Panama’s proposals requiring authorities to TOKYO: Panamanian President Juan about Panama,” Varela, who arrived vital financial services sector. The share the identities of shell compa- Carlos Varela yesterday called for glo- in Japan, told an investment seminar Panamanian government recently nies’ real owners. bal efforts to tackle “Panama Papers” in Tokyo. “It’s about a global problem imposed reforms to move it towards They also backed creating a BRASÍLIA: President Dilma Rousseff scandal, insisting it is not a problem that is tax evasion and also the use of global transparency standards. blacklist of international tax havens (pictured) warned yesterday that the just for his country but the interna- the financial systems and legal sys- Varela said he plans to announce that do not cooperate with informa- impeachment process against her tional financial system as a whole. tem,” he added. a bilateral taxation scheme with tion-sharing programmes. will harm Brazil’s stability and sug- Panama is scrambling to avert Varela said his country is willing Japan under OECD standards today Varela said in an interview with gested that sexism played a part in redesignation as a tax haven that to cooperate with an Organisation for following his meeting with Prime Kyodo News agency that Panama efforts to oust its first female head assists money laundering after the Economic Cooperation and Develop- Minister Shinzo Abe. has “decided to join the common of state. disclosure of the offshore deal- ment initiative to share tax information, World’s leading economies took a reporting standards”, referring to The 68-year-old leftist leader ings of many of the world’s wealthy, saying: “We have the door open to do it step toward denying tax evaders and the measures on exchanging finan- pressed her case against what she famous and infamous. They came to in a multilateral way.” money launderers the ability to hide cial account information with tax calls a “coup” attempt, insisting that a male president.” light when millions of documents He also reiterated his demand behind anonymous shell companies. authorities set by the OECD. there was no legal basis to remove Looking tired, Rousseff struck her from office. an emotional tone when she said it “This will not bring political sta- was “lamentable” that lower house bility. Why will it not bring political deputy Jair Bolsonaro—a rightwing Ex-NYPD officer to stability? Because it breaks the foun- populist who praises the military A light moment dation of democracy,” Rousseff said dictatorship of 1964-1985—dedicated be sentenced in at a news conference with foreign his pro-impeachment vote on Sun- journalists. day to Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, Rousseff is close to losing her a colonel accused of overseeing tor- stairwell shooting job as the Senate prepares to sched- ture during the regime. ule a vote on whether to open an While Rousseff struck back at NEW YORK: A rookie police impeachment trial, expected in critics, the Senate was to open for- officer will find out whether he mid-May, after the lower house of malities by reading the 12,000 pages will be spared prison following Congress overwhelmingly approved of the impeachment papers alleg- his manslaughter conviction in the measure on Sunday. ing that her administration took accidental shooting death of an When asked whether the fact unauthorised state loans to mask unarmed man in a stairwell. that she’s Brazil’s first woman pres- government budget holes during an Peter Liang was fired from the ident influenced the impeachment election year. police force after the February jury process, Rousseff said: “I believe that The president denied committing verdict in death of Akai Gurley. it is a big component.” any crime, saying that her govern- He was patrolling inside a pub- She said she heard misogynist ment used accounting practices that lic housing project when he opened comments from a businessman sug- are common in other countries and stairwell door and fired once. Gur- gesting that a woman under pressure were used by her predecessors. ley was walking down to the lobby can be “hysterical and unbalanced.” Senators must now agree on the and was struck by the bullet that “They’re not satisfied that I’m not composition of a special impeach- had ricocheted. Brooklyn District nervous, hysterical or unbalanced,” ment committee. A vote on launching Attorney Kenneth Thompson rec- she said, recalling that she survived the trial is expected to take place by ommended probation and home torture as a member of a guerrilla May 11. confinement, but not prison time. group under the military dictator- A tally by the daily Folha de “Because his incarceration is ship in the 1970s. S.Paulo showed that 48 senators not necessary to protect the public, “There’s a level of great preju- are in favour of impeachment, more and due to unique circumstances dice against women mixed up in all than the simple majority needed in of this case, a prison sentence is Peru’s presidential candidates Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (light) and Keiko Fujimori (right) shake hands of this. Great prejudice,” she said, the 81-member chamber to start not warranted,” Thompson said. with Peru’s electoral board president Francisco Tavara during a meeting in Lima, Peru. adding that she faced “a treatment proceedings. that certainly would not be given to Cuba holds back from leadership Canada promises plan to tackle suicides changes; Castro keeps top job Reuters

ATTAWAPISKAT, ONTARIO: A Reuters first in five years, the Communist chose the top leadership included Canadian Cabinet minister visited Party said Castro had been re-elected former President Fidel Castro, 89, remote Attawapiskat, Ontario and as first secretary, with Jose Ramon who sent his vote in an envelope said the government was finalising a Machado Ventura, 85, re-elected as carried by his younger brother Raul. comprehensive plan to help the abo- HAVANA: Cuban President Raul Cas- second secretary. Fidel Castro also was seen at the riginal community plagued by suicide tro will serve a second term as head Younger blood was not elected. congress yesterday. The congress is attempts and harsh living conditions. of the Communist Party and others In a sign of the secrecy with which not due to reconvene until 2021. Cas- Indigenous and Northern Affairs in power since a 1959 revolution also the congress has been conducted, tro steps down as Cuba’s president in Minister Carolyn Bennett met Chief kept their jobs, the party said yes- the closing speeches and results of 2018 and it is not yet clear whether Bruce Shisheesh in the northern com- terday, despite a plan to open up to the country’s most important politi- he will stay on as party leader for the munity of 2,000 people. “We had a younger leaders over time. cal event were not broadcast live on full five-year term. good, frank discussion,” Bennett told Castro, 84, had proposed age lim- state television. His number two, Machado Ven- reporters. “It’s no longer going to be its and term limits for top leaders as Castro has called for sweeping tura, fought alongside Fidel Castro Band-aids and piecemeal. It’s going Canada’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett talks to children the party gathered for start of a four- changes in the management of Cuba’s and Ernesto “Che” Guevara in their to be a real plan.” Saying announce- in the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario. day congress, raising expectations Soviet-style command economy and rebellion against a US-backed gov- ments were imminent, Bennett said: septuagenarian and octogenarian wants top leaders to retire at 70. But ernment in the 1950s. “We’re almost there.” veterans would begin to step aside. he said the next five years would be There are younger faces in senior Five children tried to take their But he also made clear that such for transition and such rules would roles, including Miguel Diaz-Canel, own lives in Attawapiskat, following 11 travel to Ottawa. A new recreation would spend an extra C$8.37bn over changes would not be rushed as the not be fully applied until then. 55, who as first vice president of the suicide attempts the previous weekend. centre, programmes for children and five years to help aboriginal popula- country takes a methodical approach The Communist Party is seen as country is widely seen as Raul Cas- Bennett said she would appoint plans to reclaim the healing centre tion deal with dire living conditions, to reform. more powerful in Cuba than the gov- tro’s successor. He was re-elected to a youth delegation from the com- - are also in the works. Canada’s which include overcrowded housing At the end of the congress, the ernment. The 1,000 delegates who a senior position in the party. munity to serve as her advisers and Liberal government said in March it and unfit drinking water. 18 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 AMERICAS Hillary and Trump tipped to win as New York votes

ble-digit lead over her Brooklyn-born With both races for the White challenger, Bernie Sanders, even if House nomination so competitive, Turnout was steady nationwide surveys put them neck- it is the most consequential primary at polling stations and-neck. in decades in New York, the coun- Trump, the 69-year-old Manhat- try’s fourth largest state and one with in Manhattan and tan billionaire whose controversial a vastly diverse electorate. Brooklyn, where a campaign has appalled the Repub- Three of the candidates lay claim lican establishment, is well ahead of to calling New York home: Trump, string of Democrats his evangelical rival Ted Cruz and who has never lived anywhere else; said they had voted Ohio Governor John Kasich. Clinton, who was twice elected the The tycoon is banking on a big state’s US senator; and Sanders, who for Clinton, who home state victory in his quest to sew was raised in Brooklyn but is now a would make history if up the nomination before Republican US senator from Vermont. elected as America’s grandees can anoint another candi- In a disadvantage to Sanders, date at the party convention in July. independents are barred from partic- first woman “It was just a great honour and ipating. Only New York’s 5.8 million president. I think it’s a great honor for New Democrats and 2.7 million Republi- York,” Trump said after voting in a cans who registered by last October synagogue, reiterating his campaign are eligible to vote. slogan. “We’re going to make Amer- Turnout was steady at polling sta- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets a voter after casting her ballot at the Grafflin School ica great again.” tions in Manhattan and Brooklyn, in Chappaqua, New York, yesterday. AFP A relaxed and confident-looking where a string of Democrats said they Clinton, 68, dressed in a colour- had voted for Clinton, who would ful tunic, voted with her husband, make history if elected as America’s “But I worry that he is not going Only California has more than galvanized a youth movement with his former president Bill Clinton, in the first woman president. to be able to withstand the political the 247 Democratic delegates and 44 call for health care as a right, free col- NEW YORK: New Yorkers voted yes- leafy Chappaqua suburb they call “I think she’s got the record reality we have today, and for better or superdelegates up for grabs in New lege education and campaign finance terday in the state’s most decisive home, taking time to greet well wish- across all of the issues that matter worse, Hillary knows how to navigate.” York on Tuesday. reform—needs a win to keep alive his presidential primary in decades with ers outside. to me,” said Rachel Karpf, 30, an arts A victory in New York, which also Clinton already leads with 1,791 hopes of winning the presidency. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump “I had a great time going around producer who works in theater and selected Clinton over Barack Obama compared to 1,115 for Sanders, accord- But in stark contrast to victory par- strong favorites in the race to clinch the city in the last couple of days just lives in Brooklyn. in 2008, would quash the momentum ing to a CNN tally—putting her on ties arranged by the Clinton and Trump the Democratic and Republican nom- seeing a lot of old friends, meeting “I like Bernie Sanders, I love his generated by her self-styled demo- course to clinch the 2,383 delegates campaigns in New York, Sanders opted inations. Polls show that Hillary—the new people,” she said. “Everybody energy and his passion,” said Carlos cratic socialist rival, who has won needed to secure the party’s presiden- to spend the day in the neighbouring former secretary of state, first lady please come out and vote before 9:00 Rios, a human resources manager in seven out of the last eight state nomi- tial nomination. state of Pennsylvania, which holds its and New York senator—has a dou- pm tonight. That would be terrific.” Chelsea. nating contests. The 74-year-old Sanders—who has primary next week.

Senate okays bill US feels overwhelming frustration with Israeli govt: Biden to boost travel

Reuters deal, the United States had an obliga- Palestinian state on most of the West or Palestinians to move forward with “steady, systematic expansion” of security after tion to push Israel toward a two-state Bank and Gaza Strip, lands Israel cap- serious negotiations,” Biden said, “The Jewish settlements on occupied land solution to end the conflict between tured in a 1967 war, and an Israeli trust that is necessary to take risks wanted by the Palestinians moved Brussels attacks Israelis and Palestinians. state that absorbs some of the settle- for peace is fractured on both sides.” “Israel in the wrong direction.” WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe “We have an overwhelming ments Israel built on occupied land He said both Palestinians and “They are moving toward a Biden acknowledged “overwhelming obligation, notwithstanding our in return for mutually agreed land Israelis needed to tamp down rhet- one-state reality and that reality is Reuters frustration” with the Israeli govern- sometimes overwhelming frustra- swaps. oric that fueled violence and actions dangerous,” Biden said, warning ment and said the systemic expansion tion with the Israeli government, to Biden said his recent meetings that undermined confidence in that moving in that direction would of Jewish settlements was moving push them as hard as we can toward with Israeli Prime Minister Ben- negotiations. mean an endless cycle of conflict and WASHINGTON: The US Sen- Israel toward a dangerous “one-state what they know in their gut is the jamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Efforts by the Palestinian Author- retribution. ate yesterday overwhelmingly reality” and in the wrong direction. only ultimate solution, a two-state President Mahmoud Abbas left him ity to join the international criminal Biden condemned the bomb- approved legislation that would Addressing the J Street lobby solution, while at the same time be discouraged over the prospects for court were “only damaging moves ing of a bus and attack on another in boost domestic travel security in group in Washington, Biden said an absolute guarantor of their secu- peace at present. that take us further from the path to Jerusalem on Monday by “misguided the wake of the Brussels attacks despite disagreements with Israel rity,” Biden said. “There is at the moment no politi- peace,” he said. cowards” and offered prayers to the and authorise the programmes of over settlements or the Iran nuclear A two-state solution envisages a cal will that I observed among Israelis For Israel’s part, Biden said the injured and their families. the Federal Aviation Administra- tion through September 2017. Representatives, where law- makers have been unable to make headway on their own FAA bill Apple refused China Show of strength because of differences over a pro- vision to privatize the US air traffic control system. The bipartisan Senate request for source code measure, which sidesteps the pri- vatisation issue, contains a series of travel security provisions that Reuters protecting consumers. Senate Republicans have pro- Thomas Galati, chief of intel- moted as the most comprehensive ligence at the New York Police increase in airport security in Department, said his investigators nearly a decade. WASHINGTON: Apple has been had been unable to open 67 Apple The measures include dou- asked by Chinese authorities within devices in a six-month period from bling the number of transportation the last two years to hand over its October 2015 to March 2016. Those security teams with bomb-sniff- source code but refused to do so, the phones were implicated in 44 vio- ing dogs at domestic airports, as company’s top lawyer told US law- lent crimes. well as stronger vetting of airport makers at a hearing yesterday. Sewell, who testified on a employees and increased secu- Apple general counsel Bruce separate panel before the same rity at check-in and baggage claim Sewell made the statement in committee yesterday alongside areas. response to a line of attack from technology experts, argued that any The bill also authorises spend- law enforcement officials who have vulnerability built into its products ing for FAA operations, airport attempted to portray Apple as com- would harm “one hundred precent” improvements, aviation research plicit in handing over information of its users. and development, and requires to Chinese authorities for business The FBI retreated last month airlines to compensate passengers reasons while refusing to cooperate from its high-profile pursuit of a for lost bags and refund charges for with US requests for access to pri- court order that compelled Apple undelivered services. vate data in criminal investigations. to help the agency unlock a county- Chairman John Thune said Apple Inc and the FBI returned owned iPhone 5c tied to shooter Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles gestures as he speaks during a rally against President the legislation would “make to Washington to testify before Rizwan Farook in San Bernardino. Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. travel safe and secure and more lawmakers about their heated dis- A still secret third party helped the passenger-friendly.” agreement over law enforcement government hack into it. access to encrypted devices, high- But the US Department of Jus- lighted in the case of a locked iPhone tice redoubled its efforts last week linked to a gunman in last Decem- to use the courts to force Apple’s ber’s Islamist militant-inspired cooperation in cracking encrypted Brazil’s indigenous tribes face ‘annihilation’: Campaigners shootings in San Bernardino, iPhones by announcing plans to con- California. tinue with an appeal in an unrelated Earlier in the hearing before a New York drug case. Reuters country gripped by recession, cam- Rio de Janeiro this summer. incursions from the outside, Survival House Energy and Commerce sub- The problems posed by increas- paigners worry powerful business Brazil’s National Indian Founda- International said. committee, Captain Charles Cohen, ingly prevalent strong default interests will accelerate the displace- tion, a government body responsible In the southern Brazilian state commander in the Indiana State encryption are affecting federal and ment of indigenous groups to access for ensuring the rights of indigenous of Mato Grosso do Sul, indigenous Police, repeated the suggestion local law enforcement investigations RIO DE JANEIRO: Indigenous tribes resources on the land they have called people, did not immediately respond Guarani leaders are being targeted by that Apple has quietly cooperated across the country, Amy Hess, execu- in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, who home for centuries. to a request for comment. private militias hired by cattle ranch- with Beijing. But when pressed by tive assistant director for science and have had little or no contact with the “The indigenous peoples want to Accounting for less than one per- ers who want their land, Watson said. Representative Anna Eshoo, a Cal- technology at the FBI, told a House outside world, are facing “annihila- protect the land, but they don’t have cent of Brazil’s population of more Communities who have been ifornia Democrat, for the source of Energy and Commerce subcommittee tion” from illegal loggers, ranchers the firepower to take on the illegal than 200 million, indigenous peo- forced off their ancestral territories that claim, Cohen only cited news yesterday. Law enforcement officials and miners who want their land, a loggers or gunmen hired by ranchers,” ple are disproportionately affected often live by highways or in over- reports. “That takes my breath and Apple executives previously tes- campaign group said yesterday. Survival International campaigner by poverty and malnutrition, a UN crowded reservations, she said. away,” a visibly frustrated Eshoo tified to Congress on March 1. Brazil is home to more than 100 Fiona Watson said. official said last month. Since 2005, at least 53 Guarani said. “That is a huge allegation.” The shroud of secrecy still cloak- “uncontacted” tribes, according to “For uncontacted tribes, annihi- Watson said the situation was children have died from starvation, The growing use of strong ing the method used on the San government estimates based on sat- lation means the destruction of their especially grim for uncontacted tribes Survival International reported, default encryption on mobile devices Bernardino phone has prompted ellite imagery and interviews with land and livelihoods... the genocide such as the Kawahiva, whose num- despite the area being home to vast and communications by criminal criticism from security research- neighbouring indigenous groups, and of uncontacted people is an ongoing bers are thought to have halved to less plantations. suspects is handicapping investi- ers who said Apple and others their constitutionally enshrined land situation.” than three dozen people over the past Brazil’s constitution recognises gators’ ability to pursue them, law should be made aware of the flaw, rights are not being protected, Sur- Her organisation is pushing for 30 years. indigenous land rights, but the gov- enforcement officials told the hear- in accordance with a White House vival International said. the Brazilian government to enforce With no natural resistance to ernment is not adequately protecting ing. Apple Inc and other companies vulnerabilities review process that With Brazil’s President Dilma constitutionally protected indigenous diseases like the flu and measles, them due to a lack of political will and defend the technology as integral to favours disclosure. Rousseff facing impeachment and the land rights ahead of the Olympics in they are particularly vulnerable to resources, Watson said. AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 1917

ScriptingAyyayayayayayayyyy the future NY man charged US needs limits with bribing police as graft on covert email probe continues Reuters

NEW YORK: A Brooklyn man has searches: Gates been arrested on charges that he bribed New York City police officers to obtain gun licences, of customers about government prosecutors said in the latest fall- requests for their emails and other out from a federal corruption More collaboration documents, sometimes indefinitely. probe that includes businessmen between law The move comes as rival Apple with ties to Mayor Bill de Blasio. Inc is locked in a showdown with Alex Lichtenstein, 44, was enforcement and the US government over access to set to appear in Manhattan fed- privacy advocates an iPhone belonging to one of the eral court after prosecutors said killers in the December shooting in he collected thousands of dollars would help determine San Bernardino, California. from individuals who may not have which “legislative Gates said more collabora- qualified for licences and then framework ... strikes tion between law enforcement and bribed officers to approve their privacy advocates would help deter- applications. the perfect balance” mine which “legislative framework ... FatherAn indigenous Emir H H youngster Sheikh Hamad of the bin Nasa Khalifa ethnic Al Thani group witnessed writes on last a eveningnotebook the at arrival a school of Fath in Tacueyo, Al Kheir The deputy inspector in charge on government access strikes the perfect balance” on gov- 2department at Katara Cultural of Cauca, village Colombia, beach. Theyesterday. event wasThe also Nasa attended indigenous by peopleH H Sheikh implemented Jassem bin aHamad special Al of the department’s license divi- ernment access to private data. Thani,rehabilitation Representative programme of the aimed Emir. atPic: helping Qassim/The indigenous Peninsula youngsters who fled the→ SeeFARC also guerrilla page 26or sion and a sergeant and an officer to private data, said “I don’t think there are any abso- other armed groups, to return to their families. under his command were part of the co-founder of lutists who think the government the scheme, a criminal complaint should be able to get everything or said. Microsoft group. the government should be able to get Lichtenstein was arrested after nothing,” Gates, 60, said. he offered $6,000 per license last The man who co-founded week to another officer, who wore Microsoft in 1975 and is still held in California governor and regulators a wire as part of the investigation, Reuters reverence by the technology world prosecutors said. made waves in February when he Lichtenstein told the officer he appeared to distance himself from face legal claims in gas blowout had obtained 150 licenses through Apple in its legal fight with the FBI, another arrangement but needed WASHINGTON: Bill Gates said that but later clarified saying that head- a new connection, the complaint no one was an “absolutist” on either lines suggesting he supported the Reuters The stench of odorised gas fumes government officials of negligence said. The complaint did not name side of the digital privacy debate, but FBI’s position were inaccurate. drove thousands of residents from contributing to the blowout, said R the officers involved, but Police the co-founder of Microsoft Corp Gates also talked about work of their homes in the nearby Porter Rex Parris, whose law firm is one of Commissioner William Bratton said he supports his company’s the Bill and Melinda Gates Founda- Ranch community, many complain- several representing residents. announced he had reassigned lawsuit against the US government tion, the philanthropic organisation LOS ANGELES: Hundreds of Los ing of headaches, respiratory Filing with the claims board is three officers in connection with seeking the freedom to tell cus- he formed in 2000, which has an Angeles homeowners who live near problems, dizziness and nosebleeds. generally required under California the ongoing federal investigation. tomers when federal agencies have endowment of more than $40bn. the site of the worst US methane leak Around 1,400 people were still in law as a precursor to any lawsuit Deputy Inspector Michael sought their data. The foundation, where Gates have filed claims against state regula- temporary housing as of this week, against the state. Endall, the commanding officer “There probably are some cases works day to day, has focused atten- tors and the governor, seeking $3.5m unwilling to return due to fears of The latest claims name Governor of the licence division, was reas- where (the government) should be tion in recent months on the Zika each in damages for government fail- lingering contamination and health Jerry Brown, a Democrat, as playing signed, along with Sergeant David able to go in covertly and get infor- outbreak, which has been linked ures they blame for the gas blowout. effects, according to the neighbor- a key role in regulatory failures that Villanueva and Officer Richard mation about a company’s email,” to thousands of suspected cases of Those cases marked the first hood council. allegedly set the stage for the Aliso Ochetal. Gates said at an event in Washington. microcephaly, a rare birth defect, in batch of more than 3,000 such State, local and regional author- Canyon disaster. Union representatives for the “But the position Microsoft is Brazil and is affecting large parts of claims expected by the end of this ities, as well as dozens of residents, They say Brown has blocked state officers did not immediately com- taking in this suit is that it should Latin America and the Caribbean. week, opening a new front in litiga- have already sued Southern Califor- enforcement of federally mandated ment. Five high-ranking officers be extraordinary and it shouldn’t be The WHO declared outbreak an tion stemming from the accident at nia Gas Co, operator of Aliso Canyon. data requirements for granting injec- were previously removed from a matter of course that there is a gag international health emergency on the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage And a pending class-action suit tion-well permits - regulations that their posts as a result of the probe. order automatically put in,” he said. February 1. Gates said the foundation field, an attorney for the claimants against the Sempra Energy-owned Parris said would have prevented last Investigators are examining The lawsuit, filed last week in would be contributing funds to aid told reporters. utility could ultimately involve thou- year’s blowout had those require- whether officers received gifts federal court in Microsoft’s home in the Zika fight. Private sector and A ruptured injection well at the sands of claims. ments been met. and travel in exchange for unspec- town of Seattle, argues that the governments need to work together site spewed more than 97,000 tonnes But the 689 complaints filed The California Department of ified favors. A source familiar with government is violating the US to quickly roll out products to com- of methane into the air over four with the state Victim Compensa- Conservation, parent agency of state the matter has said the probe has Constitution by preventing Micro- bat Zika and other mosquito-borne months from Oct. 23. The leak was tion and Government Claims Board oil and gas regulators, declined to centered on two businessmen, Jona soft from notifying thousands diseases, Gates said. plugged in mid-February. are believed to be the first accusing comment. Rechnitz and Jeremy Reichberg. Guatemala leader Houston recovering from asks UN to extend mandate of yet another deadly flood anti-graft body AP Sylvester Turner, the city’s In addition to its location, AFP mayor. “There’s nothing I can Houston’s “gumbo” soft soil, say that’s going to ease your fast-growing population and HOUSTON: As more than a frustration. We certainly can’t building boom that has turned UNITED NATIONS: Guatemalan foot of rain deluged the nation’s control the weather.” empty pastures into hous- President Jimmy Morales asked fourth-largest city, inundat- “A lot of rain coming in ing developments all over the the United Nations to extend the ing homes, shutting down a very short period of time, city’s suburbs and exurbs make mandate of a UN-backed anti- major highways and leaving there’s nothing you can do,” it vulnerable to high waters, corruption body in his country for at least five people dead, Hou- he added. experts say. another two years, officials said. ston’s mayor said there was no Flash flooding and more Harris County, where Hou- Morales—on his first visit to the immediate solution. rain are possible in the com- ston and many of its suburbs United Nations’ New York head- Heavy flooding has ing days, after some areas are located, has seen a 30 per- quarters—made the request for become nearly an annual rite saw water levels approach- cent jump in population since the extension of the International of passage in the practically ing 20 inches. Scores of 2000. Its surrounding coun- Commission Against Impunity in sea-level city, where experts subdivisions flooded, schools ties have almost grown more Guatemala (CICIG) in a meeting have long warned of the poten- were closed, and power was than 10 percent since 2000, chaired by UN Secretary-General A truck carrying a car partially submerged as children play in flood waters in the Kelliwood tial for catastrophe. knocked out to thousands of according to the Greater Hou- Ban Ki-moon, a UN statement said. “I regret anyone whose residents who were urged to ston Partnership, a business Park neighbourhood of Katy, Texas. “The secretary general wel- home is flooded again,” said shelter in place. group. comed President Morales’ intention to extend the mandate of CICIG until September 2019 and looked forward to continuing cooperation in the fight against corruption and Prosecutors turn fire on New York prison’s culture of violence impunity,” the statement said. The CICIG was instrumental in bringing down Guatemala’s previ- Reuters by population, have faced crimi- exclusively to Rikers and increased its a settlement mandating reforms over- guards, are primarily responsible ous government last year. nal charges since 2012 for assault, staff from 20 to 30 members. seen by a court-appointed monitor. for smuggling contraband, citing hun- Morales’ predecessor, Otto falsifying reports and smuggling con- Bronx District Attorney Dar- A two-year investigation by dreds of visitors arrested in last year Perez, is in jail awaiting a deci- NEW YORK: The guards, authori- traband, court documents and data cel Clark, whose office prosecutes Bharara’s office found the correction for bringing illegal items into Rikers. sion on whether he will face trial ties say, wanted to send a message. from various city agencies show. most Rikers-related cases, recently department failed to discipline guards The Department of Investigation on charges of being part of a ring “Somebody’s leaving in an ambulance That is about double the rate of proposed a new prosecution bureau adequately for excessive force from has also pursued broader reforms in of officials that took bribes in tonight,” Eliseo Perez, an assistant prosecution in the prior four years, as based at the complex itself. 2011 to 2013, said Sara Shudofsky, the response to the persistent problems, exchange for letting businessmen chief for security at New York’s Rikers authorities crack down on what they The list of law enforcement offi- chief of the office’s civil division, in Peters said. In 2014, an undercover avoid paying import taxes. Island jail complex, told inmates after say is a toxic atmosphere of violence cials whose attention has turned to an interview. investigator posing as a guard gained The CICIG, working with Gua- a rash of attacks on guards, accord- and corruption. Rikers also includes Preet Bharara, In 2014, de Blasio also appointed access to Rikers six times despite car- temalan prosecutors, revealed the ing to prosecutors. “Rikers is a very troubled insti- the US Attorney in Manhattan. Joseph Ponte to head the correction rying heroin, marijuana and razor corruption ring, triggering months Then he allegedly instructed five tution,” said Mark Peters, the Next month, federal prosecu- department. Since then, it has pursued blades. Another department probe of demonstrations calling for subordinates to take prisoner Jah- commissioner of the city’s Depart- tors will put two guards on trial for internal investigations aggressively, uncovered red flags among two-thirds Perez’s ouster. mal Lightfoot into a room and kick ment of Investigation, which leads the fatal beating of an inmate. Brian with 200 cases ending in disciplinary of a class of new hires, such as prior Morales, formerly a television his teeth in, an attack that left him most Rikers-related probes. “We Coll, a correction officer, is accused of charges last year, up from 93 in 2013. felony convictions or known gang ties. comedian, was elected president in with facial fractures. are now seeing the result of sys- stomping Ronald Spear to death and The focus on guards has met stiff In response, the correction October and took office in January. The ongoing trial of nine cor- temic neglect.” Rikers houses male, enlisting two other guards to help resistance from the correction officers department has installed drug-sniff- He has vowed to curb corrup- rection officers for the alleged 2012 female and adolescent prisoners in him conceal the truth. One guard union, which claims the effort hides ing dogs at Rikers’ entrances and tion in his country and has said he assault and a subsequent cover-up is 10 separate facilities, mostly inmates has already pleaded guilty to the the true causes of Rikers’ problems. increased its “applicant investiga- views the CICIG as central to that the latest in a string of prosecutions awaiting trial. cover-up. “It is clear from the department’s tion unit” from 19 employees to 87, to struggle. targeting dozens of Rikers employees Mayor Bill de Blasio has made Bharara’s office also threw the own statistics that inmates are attack- screen potential recruits’ backgrounds The anti-corruption body has over the past four years. Rikers reform a priority since taking weight of the federal government ing correction officers and other and psychological fitness. a two-year mandate that has been More than 50 guards at the office in 2014. Peters, whom de Bla- behind a lawsuit brought on behalf of inmates at an alarming rate,” union Both Peters and Ponte say their renewed four times since it started 10,000-inmate complex, one of the sio appointed two years ago, said he adolescent inmates by the New York president, Norman Seabrook, said. departments are now working more work in 2007. three largest in the United States had devoted one investigative squad Civil Liberties Union. The case led to Seabrook also said visitors, not closely to address misconduct.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 23o C Maximum: 35o C

FAJR 03.48 am ZUHR 11.33 am MAGHRIB 06.01 pm HIGH TIDE 03:30 - 16:45 Slight dust and partly cloudy. SHOROOK 05.07 am ASR 03.02 pm ISHA 07.31 pm LOW TIDE 10:15 - 22:15

20 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST William and Kate to host Obama www.thepeninsulaqatar.com for dinner

MOST READ AP

Zaha Hadid-designed Al Wakrah 1 Stadium to be ready by 2018 LONDON: President Barack Obama has a royal dinner date. Iran-Saudi hajj talks halted Kensington Palace says Prince 2 because of visa hurdle William, his wife Kate and his brother Prince Harry will hold a Verizon a leading contender dinner for the President and First 3 to buy Yahoo Lady Michelle Obama during the US leader’s visit to Britain this week. The royals’ office said that “their Royal Highnesses are very TWEET OF THE DAY much looking forward to welcom- ing President and Mrs Obama to Kensington Palace.” William and Kate have met the Obamas several times before, with William visiting the presi- dent in the White House during a visit to the US in 2014. The Obamas are also scheduled to have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at Wind- sor Castle on Friday, the day after the Queen’s 90th birthday. The president will also hold talks with Britain's Prince Harry (left) and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, try out light sabres during a tour of the Prime Minister David Cameron Star Wars sets at Pinewood studios in Iver Heath, west of London, yesterday. during his three-day visit.

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY AC/DC singer admits being shocked!

AFP been told by doctors that he risked But Johnson said that he was on stage, interfering with his singing. total deafness if he maintained his undergoing medical treatment and US radio host Jim Breuer earlier tour with the famously high-decibel hoped eventually to return to per- said he spoke to Johnson and that NEW YORK: Veteran AC/DC singer Australian rockers. forming live. the singer felt “kicked to the curb” Brian Johnson vowed yesterday that “I am personally crushed by this “I wish to assure our fans that I by the band for so swiftly parting his music career was not over after development more than anyone could am not retiring. My doctors have told ways with him. AC/DC on Saturday New cinema his increasingly serious hearing prob- ever imagine. The emotional experi- me that I can continue to record in announced that Rose — the Guns N’ “CINECO 3” in lems led the band to replace him with ence I feel now is worse than anything studios and I intend to do that,” he Roses frontman known, like Johnson, Al Khor Mall. Axl Rose. I have ever in my life felt before,” said. for his intense voice but with a wider Photo by @ In his first public remarks since Johnson, whose distinctively pun- Johnson said that he had become range — would be its new singer for Matramkot his removal last month, the 68-year- ishing vocal style has helped define acutely aware of his hearing problems remaining tour dates in Europe and old singer confirmed that he had AC/DC since 1980, said in a statement. as he was struggling to hear guitars the United States. ‘Louis Vuitton fried chicken’ owner Elvis met Nixon and inspired a US comedy movie

fined after fashion Reuters Reuters in an interview. There are no records of what house files suit exactly happened on the day when Presley requested a meeting AFP NEW YORK: The most requested with Nixon in a bid to become an photo in the US National Archives undercover federal agent-at-large, is not the first moon landing or the and found a bond with the pres- SEOUL: A South Korean court burning twin towers after the attacks ident over a shared dislike of the has ordered a fried chicken res- of September 11, 2001. counterculture. taurant owner to pay 14.5 million It is actually a picture of Presi- Nixon had not begun his secret won ($12,500) for refusing to com- dent Richard Nixon shaking hands Oval Office recordings, so the ply with a ban on using the luxury with Elvis Presley in the Oval Office screenwriters relied largely on Louis Vuitton brand name for his in December 1970 after the meeting first-hand accounts from Presley outlet, a report said yesterday. between two pivotal figures in 20th confidant Jerry Schilling and Nixon The owner, identified only by century America. aide Bud Krogh. his surname Kim, had called his “Elvis & Nixon,” a comedy movie Shannon, whose Presley is quiet, restaurant in Seoul, “LOUIS VUI- that reimagines their unlikely White lonely and reflective, never imag- TON DAK” — a play on the word House encounter, opens in US theat- ined himself playing the “King of “tongdak” which means whole ers on Friday after premiering at Rock ‘n’ Roll.” chicken in Korean. New York’s Tribeca film festival. It “I didn’t go into it being a huge He also ran up a logo very sim- is distributed by Amazon Studios. Elvis fan. I didn’t have his records or ilar to that of the French fashion Kevin Spacey (Nixon) knows a anything,” the Kentucky-born actor house and had it printed on his thing or two about playing a pres- said. “But I am really happy I had a napkins and fried chicken take- ident after years as the scheming reason to investigate Elvis because out cartons. Frank Underwood on the TV series there is nobody else like him, not just None too pleased with Kim’s “House of Cards.” But Michael Shan- in terms of the scope of his fame but ingenuity, Louis Vuitton filed a non, who plays Presley, was just 3 in the unique construct of his life. I suit in September last year, say- years old when the singer died in think he was always trying to figure ing the use of the company’s name 1977. out ‘why me?’” to sell fried chicken was damag- “We weren’t, either of us, trying Shannon listened to interviews ing to the brand. A district court to do caricatures,” Spacey, who spent and visited the tiny apartment in President Richard Nixon shakes hands with Elvis Presley in the Oval Office in Washington, DC, in December in Seoul agreed and in October hours listening to tapes of Nixon and Memphis where Presley spent his ordered Kim to desist and threat- 1970 after the little-known meeting. watching video of the president, told teenage years. ened a 500,000 won-per-day fine for non-compliance. Kim responded by tinker- ing with the restaurant name and came up with “chaLouisvui Italy finds joy at Cannes Director’s Fortnight tondak” which he unsuccessfully argued was different enough to comply with the court ruling. AFP Sogni” (Sweet Dreams) chosen to open a juvenile detention centre, and “La and the youth,” said Director’s Fort- tale of a divorced couple who con- Louis Vuitton complained the increasingly prized sidebar com- Pazza Gioia” (Like Crazy) — about night artistic director Edouard tinue to live under the same roof for again and this week the court petition, after being snubbed in the two patients who escape a mental Waintrop. economic reasons, by Belgian direc- ordered Kim to pay the fashion PARIS: After disappointment at being Palme d’Or selection. institution. Chilean director Alejandro tor Joachim Lafosse. house 14.5 million won for the 29 left out of the main competition at The film about a boy coping with They are among 18 feature Jodorowsky, 87, will present his auto- Chilean director Pablo Larrain’s days that the amended name was Cannes next month, three Italian the death of his mother is his first to films chosen for the Director’s Fort- biographical feature “Poesia sin Fin” “Neruda”, starring Gael Garcia Ber- displayed. “Although he changed films were included in the Director’s be shown at Cannes since “Vincere” night, which often offers up some of (Endless Poetry). nal as an inspector hunting for poet the name with different spacing, Fortnight contest held alongside the (To Win) was shown in the main com- the most raved about films during Another film initially slated to Pablo Neruda, who became a wanted the two names sounded almost the prestigious cinema showcase. petition in 2009. Cannes. be included in the main competition man in Chile in the late ‘40s for his same,” the Korea Times quoted the Italian cinema great Marco Bel- The other two Italian films are “This year there is a mixture of that ended up in the Director’s Fort- communist sympathies, also got judge as saying. lochio, 76, saw his latest film “Fai Bei “Fiore” by Claudio Giovannesi, set in the veterans, Jodorowsky, Bellochio, night is “L’Economie du Couple”, a the nod. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 22 QE 10,297.39 +65.87 PTS PAGE | 23 DOW 18,053.16 +49.00 PTS Qatar First Bank Nakilat records FTSE100 6,405.35 +51.83 PTS named ‘Best Islamic QR240m Q1 Financial Institution’ BRENT $44.08 +$1.04 net profit

WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 • 13 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar Renminbi Centre handles RMB303bn worth transactions

By Satish Kanady accomplished within a short The Peninsula period of time with the Qatar RMB Centre. We work hand-in- hand with financial institutions to help them develop their DOHA: The Qatar Renminbi RMB portfolio and make trad- Centre (QRC) has handled more ing directly in RMB simpler than RMB 303bn ($47bn) worth and faster. Local investors have of transactions during the first showed a strong appetite for RMB year of its operations in Doha. financial products and remain The currency transaction centre confident in the China market celebrated its first anniversary over the long term. The QRC is Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani (second left), Chairman and Managing Director, Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani Al Thani (left), Vice yesterday. open to all local and regional Chairman, Abdul Basit Ahmed Al Shaibi (centre), CEO, Dr Yousef Ahmed Al Naama (second right) and Hesham Mustafa El Sehetry, during the The QRC is the first clear- banks to help them seize future QIIB 3rd Extraordinary General Meeting at the Diplomatic Club yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP/The Peninsula ing centre in the MENA region opportunities arising from Chi- to offer RMB clearing and settle- na’s economic opportunities”. ment services and opens the door In November 2015, the Inter- to China’s onshore RMB and for- national Monetary Fund approved eign exchange markets to local reserve-currency status for the financial institutions, fostering Chinese renminbi, paving the QIIB set to issue QR1bn Sukuk cross-border use of the currency way for broader use of the ren- in Qatar and the Arab World. minbi in trade and finance. The In one year, the QRC has QRC is instrumental in position- maintain a higher Capital Adequacy During last year’s AGM, QIIB CEO said that “disclosing any details already established itself as the ing Doha as the first and leading Ratio. shareholders had approved the about it would be premature”. third largest currency clearing RMB clearing centre in the MENA A higher capital A higher capital adequacy will not Bank’s proposal to raise up to QR3bn Commenting about the impact of facility operated by the Indus- region and to strengthen trade adequacy will not only only help the Bank’s risks absorption through Sukuk issuance to support the failure of negotiations at a recent trial & Commercial Bank of China relations between China and capacity but also promote financial the bank’s capital requirements for meeting of major oil producing coun- (ICBC). A number of banks in Qatar. Qatar is now the largest help the Bank’s risks stability and efficiency, Abdul Basit future growth and expansion. tries in Doha to freeze output, he said: Qatar already opened an account exporter of natural gas to China, absorption capacity but Ahmed Al Shaibi, Chief Executive QIIB, which currently operates “Qatar economy is very vibrant and with ICBC, which was desig- meeting around 20 percent of Officer of QIIB, said yesterday. about 17 branches across the country, dynamic, which can sustain the cur- nated as the settlement bank for Chinese energy demands. also promote financial “This issuance is to raise QIIB’s also unveiled its plan to open at least rent level of oil prices for long. So the QRC and are expanding their The bilateral trade vol- stability and efficiency, Tier 1 Capital, which will support the three more branches in the upcom- there should not be any worry. How- portfolio of products. ume between Qatar and China says Abdul Basit Bank’s equity fund and strengthen its ing shopping centres, including the ever, there are challenges but there Qatar National Bank, Com- has increased from $400m ability to finance different projects. Mall of Qatar and Doha Festival City. are a lot of opportunities as well.” mercial Bank of Qatar, Qatar (QR1.46bn) in 2004 to $10.6bn Ahmed Al Shaibi, CEO The fresh capital will help QIIB About the Bank’s overseas expan- The Bank yesterday held its Islamic Bank, International (about QR38.6bn) in 2014.. Also, of QIIB. maintain a higher Capital Adequacy sion plans, Al Shaibi said that QIIB Extraordinary General Assembly Bank of Qatar (Q.S.C) and it is forecasted that by 2020, the Ratio of about 25 percent against has set up joint a venture in Morocco at Diplomatic Club, which was pre- Saudi Hollandi Bank have RMB largest share of GCC exports will the current 17 percent,” Al Shaibi with a local partner, and expecting sided over by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin accounts open with ICBC and go to China, at around $160bn. told The Peninsula on the sidelines to obtain a licence before the end of Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chair- are able to offer an expanded While China is taking strong By Mohammad Shoeb of the Bank’s Extraordinary AGM this year to offer Shariah-compli- man of the Board of Directors. The portfolio of RMB denominated initiatives under the Silk Road The Peninsula yesterday. ant banking services to customers shareholders of the Bank approved products and transactions to Economic Belt, the QRC is set to He added: “In fact, the sharehold- in the North African country. But he all the items on the agenda, including their customers. tremendously strengthen finan- ers of the Bank ratified the decision remained tight lipped about the scale the amendment of the Bank’s Arti- Robin Wei, QRC Head of cial ties between Beijing and the DOHA: QIIB, one of Qatar’s leading to raise capital last year, but so far and the number of branches QIIB set cles of Association in accordance with RMB business, said QRC would Middle East, allowing Qatar to Islamic banks, yesterday announced we have not issued any Sukuk. By the to begin its operation in Morocco. the Commercial Companies Law No. encourage more banks to join it. fully benefit from the interna- its plans to issue Sukuk worth QR1bn end of this month we are expecting to In addition, the Bank is also 11 of 2015 and the reference model “We are proud of what we have tionalization of the RMB. ($274.6m) by the end of this month raise QR1bn through a targeted single exploring investment opportunities issued by the Ministry of Economy to raise the Bank’s Tier 1 Capital to institutional investor based in Qatar.” in other promising markets, but the and Commerce.

Oil up for first time in 5 Days Qatar tops in luxury spending among five GCC nations

Agencies By Sachin Kumar planned or the same amount while just 24 per- added the survey. In Qatar, nearly a quarter (24 The Peninsula cent cut back their spending,” he said. percent) of respondents plan to prioritise per- LONDON: Oil rose the first time in Dubai is the number one destination for resi- sonal wellness in the next 12 months with fine five days as a strike in Kuwait cut dents in Qatar when it comes to luxury shopping. dining the category to lose out. output from Opec’s fourth-biggest The survey, conducted in November, “In Qatar, personal wellness looks like will member and the tumbling dollar DOHA: Spending on luxury goods and expe- December last year, covered high income be a big gainer in 2016,” said Khoury. bolstered investor demand for riences in Qatar is highest in the GCC region. households in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar Holidays (32 percent), Fine Dining (31 per- commodities. Average spending on luxuries in Qatar is $4,000 and Kuwait. The study noted a noticeable shift cent) and Personal Wellness (17 percent) were Futures climbed as much per month per household — the highest among in general spending habits with people focus- the categories people spent the most on in terms as 4.4 percent in New York. The five countries in GCC (Saudi Arabia not included), ing on essentials. of luxury experiences. In case of spending on labour stoppage in Kuwait that said a senior official of American Express Mid- “Nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents from luxury goods, fashion (27 percent), jewelry (17 initially slashed daily output by as dle East yesterday. GCC cut back on planned spending in the last percent) and luxury F&B (food and beverages) much as 1.7 million barrels entered Average spending for GCC countries on lux- 12 months. Over three quarters of respondents at home (15 percent) are the categories people a third day. Prices extended gains uries is $2,000. (79%) said they spent more on transport, and anticipate to spend the most. as the dollar dropped to a 10-month The trend on spending on luxuries is likely to 74% paid more on rent. Budgets for socialising “American Express has been in the Middle low and equities advanced. Crude continue in 2016, according to a survey commis- were also squeezed with 42% spending less on East for over 50 years and throughout this time slipped 1.4 percent on Monday after sioned by American Express Middle East across this category, said Khoury. “The economic head- we have helped our card members manage their the world’s biggest producers failed five GCC countries. The survey on ‘Spending Mazin Khoury, CEO of American Express winds across the region are affecting many and finances through the ups and downs of economic to reach an agreement in Doha to Habits’ in the region did not cover Saudi Arabia. Middle East, during the roundtable with we have seen a significant switch in how people change. Whether they use their cards to pay for limit supplies amid a global glut. “Even with economic change looming, the are using their disposable income. Despite that, their weekly shopping or a holiday, they have media in Doha yesterday. Pic: A Basith By 1:21 p.m. EDT, Brent crude majority of residents in Qatar did not cut back we are still seeing buoyant spending on luxury confidence knowing that our organization is futures LCOc1 traded up 92 cents at their spending in 2015,” said Mazin Khoury, Chief experiences and goods,” said Khoury. behind them providing them with world class $43.83 a barrel. U.S. crude futures Executive Officer, American Express Middle East percent of the respondents from Qatar did not As with everyday spending, there is also a benefits, customer service and security,” added CLc1 rose $1.15 to $40.93 a barrel. while giving details of the survey. “Around 76 cut back spending in 2015. They spent more than change in the way people spend on luxuries, Khoury. 22 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS QFB named ‘Best Islamic Milaha wins contract extension; Financial Institution’ to export petrochemicals The Peninsula

to Islamic Finance,” said Qatar First Bank won the Ziad Makkawi, QFB’s Chief Executive Officer. DOHA: Milaha has signed a one-year prestigious award after “Our strategy focuses feeder agreement with Qatar Chemi- Global Finance had extensive on the bank’s role as a cal and Petrochemical Marketing and consultations with bankers, trusted advisor, a gate- Distribution Company (Muntajat), to way for investors who transport up to 150,000 TEUs (Twenty corporate finance executives and wish to tap into innova- Foot Equivalent Units) of petrochem- analysts throughout the world. tive, Shariah-compliant, ical exports from Qatar. financial solutions and The contract was signed during a investment opportu- ceremony attended by Sheikh Ali bin nities in local, regional Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Milaha’s The Peninsula and global markets. We Board of Directors, Abdulrahman Essa are at the beginning of Al Mannai, President and Chief Exec- a new era for our bank Ziad Makkawi, Chief utive Officer of Milaha, and members and have already started Executive Officer of QFB. of the executive management of both DOHA: Qatar First Bank (QFB), Qatar’s leading Sha- reaping the benefits of companies. riah-compliant bank, has been named in 2016’s ‘Best our ambitious strategy, as The contract, which goes into Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani (left), Chairman of Milaha’s Board of Up-and-Coming Islamic Financial Institution’ in Glo- each area of the Bank performed well, bringing growth effect from April 1, 2016 and up to Directors, and Abdulrahman Essa Al Mannai, President and CEO. bal Finance magazine’s ninth annual awards for the and generating new recurring income. This celebrated March 31, 2017 is an extension of World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions. global award is a confirmation that QFB is on the right a previous two-year feeder con- QFB won the prestigious award after Global Finance path, as it continues to identify and seize new, attrac- tract between Milaha and Muntajat. commitment, and effective commu- We are confident that our fleet will had extensive consultations with bankers, corporate finance tive opportunities, deliver excellence for both private Milaha will support Muntajat in nication have been the key to our fully satisfy the requirements of executives and analysts throughout the world. In selecting and corporate clients, build a strong brand, and provide the optimisation of vessel sizes to successful collaboration with lead- Muntajat in exporting petrochem- the world’s top Islamic Financial Institutions, Global Finance shareholders with robust returns,” Makkawi added. improve operational efficiency and ing Qatari firms for over 30 years. The icals from Qatar to the rest of the considered a wide range of quantitative factors including Winners will be honoured at an Awards Ceremony reduce the number of weekly calls extension of our feeder partnership world. In line with our promise of growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strate- conducted the morning of October 8th during the IMF/ required at the port of Mesaieed. with Muntajat is in line with our vision continuous service enhancements, gic relationships, new business development and product World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC. Milaha has also introduced fixed to establish strategic and long-term we will support optimisation with innovations, as well as informed subjective criteria such The esteemed global award comes on the heels of berthing windows in Doha, thereby partnerships with local companies to larger vessels, berthing priority in as reputation, customer satisfaction, and the opinions of QFB several milestones across all its business lines, reducing the possibility of delays at contribute towards Qatar’s economic Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, co-loading analysts and industry experts. while reporting continued profitability for the bank’s Doha Port and improving schedule growth. Our core operations around from CT7, and fixed berth windows “We are honoured to be named 2016’s ‘Best Up- seventh full year of operation, as released in March. reliability for Muntajat at Mesaieed. Qatar provide optimal flexibility in in the network to accommodate and-Coming Islamic Financial Institution’ by the “Islamic finance continues to expand rapidly—both Milaha’s Chairman Sheikh Ali bin response to any sudden changes in the timely and efficient operation in renowned, authoritative Global Finance maga- geographically and in terms of structures and prod- Jassim Al Thani said: “Milaha is proud business environment.” Mesaieed port,” added Milaha’s Pres- zine. The prized global award is a translation of ucts,” said Joseph Giarraputo, Global Finance publisher of its longstanding partnership with “Milaha will continue to serve ident and CEO Abdulrahman Essa QFB’s winning strategy and innovative approach and editorial director. Muntajat. Our strong cooperation, firm Muntajat in the best manner possible. Al Mannai. Qatargas completes region’s first AUS to become family innovative Waste Water Treatment plant business knowledge hub The Peninsula community objectives. “The purpose of establishing this The Peninsula Chair is to honor my grandfather’s legacy. He was a Sharjah business- DOHA: Dr. BjörnKjerfve, Chancel- man who founded a family business lor of American University of Sharjah back in the 1970s that is now in its DOHA: Qatargas recently completed (AUS), met with Sheikh Sultan Sooud third generation,” said Sheikh Saud the works of a Waste Water Treat- Al Qassemi, Managing Director of Majid Al Qassimi. “This is a modest ment Plant at one of its Liquefied Al Saud Company and Sheikh Saud contribution on our part to give back Natural Gas plants using Membrane Majid Al Qassimi, the Deputy Manag- to the community. AUS is a promi- Bio-Reactor (MBR) Technology. The ing Director of Al Saud Company, on nent university that is preparing facility, set up at the Qatargas 1 (QG Monday to discuss the Sheikh Saoud the next generation of leaders in the 1) plant with a capacity to treat nearly Bin Khalid Bin Khalid Al Qassimi UAE and the region. We would like to 1,300 cubic meters of waste water per Chair in Family Business, which was thank His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan day, is a first for the LNG industry in established at American University of Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme the region. Sharjah in 2016. Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah The project was designed in Through the Chair, which is the for establishing American University in response to an internally identified first of its kind in the country, AUS Sharjah, which has become a beacon gap in the QG1 process waste water aims to become a recognized fam- of education in the region,” he added. Members of multi-disciplinary team that undertook implementation of the project with senior Qatargas treatment facility in order to treat ily business knowledge hub in the During the meeting, Chancellor officials. waste water and get irrigation grade national, regional and international Kjerfve said: “At AUS, the Chair aims water that could be reused in line context. Also present at the meeting to add to the intellectual leadership with Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality clear manifestation of our commit- An innovative solution has been (FEED) and the Execution Phase Con- was Dr. Rodrigo Basco, Associate and mentoring available in the School And Environment (MoME) regulations. ment to environmental conservation introduced to set up this facility using tracts (EPC) and the start-up between Professor, School of Business Admin- of Business Administration and in the The design, procurement and and is part of the huge investments we a Membrane Bio-Reactor which uses 2011 and 2015 for installation of a istration and Chairholder, Sheikh region; establish a prominent regional construction works of the project have made in the recent past to min- a combination of bacterial bio-reac- full scale MBR at QG1. The MBR now Saoud Bin Khalid Bin Khalid Al Qas- center for family business research; were led by a multi-disciplinary team imise our environmental footprint, tor to consume and breakdown the operates at the expected design effi- simi Chair in Family Business. contribute to the research aims of at Qatargas including members of the in line with the values spelled out in pollutants. The downstream of this ciencies obtaining removal rates of The Chair’s mission is to foster AUS; and increase importance and Environmental Affairs, Engineering the Qatargas Direction Statement. I bio-reactor’s man-made membranes more than 95 per cent for key param- the university’s sustainable support visibility of AUS in the regional and and Ventures Departments that was congratulate all those who worked on are used to screen out larger parti- eters including Chemical Oxygen to family business by creating value international research market. set up in 2008. the planning, design and construction cles, bacterial-biomass and other Demand (COD) and Nitrogen com- for business families and regional Dr Basco said, “Through this ini- “This is a very important accom- phases of this project and those who compounds. pounds. These results have allowed communities through conducting tiative, we will enlarge and expand plishment for Qatargas as we have contributed to its successful opera- The pilot MBR Plant was first the treated water to be significantly research and developing teaching the aim of the university as an insti- set a precedent in the LNG industry tion,” said Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla tested for six months in 2008, fol- better than other conventional tech- activities that will strive to connect tution that plays an important role in the region to reuse waste water at Al Thani, Chief Operating Officer – lowing which Qatargas 1 embarked nologies and an indication of the family generations in order to achieve in creating future community and the Qatargas 1 plant. This project is a Engineering & Ventures, Qatargas on the Front End Engineering Design project’s success. their individual, family, business and national leaders.” Honda Civic 2016 launched

The Peninsula and affluent clientele. An even more to offer comfortable, sophisticated spacious interior and more striking and premium cabin in its class. The features than any other vehicle in its 2016 Civic’s longer wheel base and class, the 2016 Civic offers unsur- wider body results in giving its occu- DOHA: Doha Marketing Serv- passed comfort & performance pants spaciousness and premium ices Company W.L.L. (Domasco) while still remaining competitively comfort with ample headroom, leg- has announced the launch of the all priced. As the tagline boasts, Simply room, shoulder clearance and side new ‘stunning Civic’. Available now Stunning!” head clearance. Fit, finish and mate- in Qatar, the new Civic sets an all- The 2016 Civic design is sporty rial quality throughout the cabin has new standard in compact car style with its athletic stance and low wide been modernized with the premium and performance. With sleek, sporty proportions. Exterior is sleek with and sporty character of all new Civic. lines and an improved power-to- swept back bodylines, sharp aggres- High quality, soft touch materials are weight ratio, 2016 Civic is not only sive fascia and its bulging wheel applied to the instrument panel, front fun to drive, charismatic, spacious arches. door and door inserts and center arm- and stylish but also the most efficient Some standard features in all rests are padded. in its class. grades include standard LED daytime The Stunning Civic also offers In addition to a brand new engine running lights, distinctive C-shaped automatic climate control, steer- in the LXi and EXi grades, it also LED taillights, power side mirrors ing wheel mounted controls for Blue boasts of a new grade equipped with with integrated LED turn signals, Tooth Hands Free Telephone (HFT), a new turbo charged 1.5 liter DOHC cap-less fuel system and glass anten- a 5 inch touch screen audio in the Direct Injected Inline-4 cylinder nas. The RS grade features signature LXi grade and a 7 inch touchscreen Engine and will be called RS. inline LED headlights, license plate audio in EXi and RS grades and USB Commenting on the launch of the light, an aerodynamic wing trunk jacks. Some standard features in 10th generation Civic, Faisal Sharif, spoiler with high mounted LED stop all grades include 60:40 fold down Managing Director at DOMASCO said: light, LED fog lights premium black rear seats, rear seat armrest with Domasco Managing Director Faisal Sharif (right) and Head of Sales and Marketing, Greig Roffey, unveiling “With its style, power and technology, grille, twin silencers, paddle shifters cup holders, rear ventilation ducts, the 2016 Honda Civic at a launch ceremony held at the main Honda showroom in Doha, yesterday. the all-new 2016 Civic is sure to reaf- and 17” alloy wheels. sun visor extension mechanism and Pic: Qassim R/The Peninsula firm its place in the hearts of young The 2016 Civic interior is designed map light. BUSINESS WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 23 QIB hosts preview of Knight Frank Wealth Report

The Peninsula high-net-worth clients’ investments, took the stage to present the key find- making the results shared by Knight ings from the 2016 Wealth Report. He Frank extremely valuable. The Wealth addressed broader issues shaping Report is for anyone tracking trends in how UHNWIs are using their wealth, DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) wealth creation and the global prop- citing widespread concerns about hosted world-renowned property erty market.” wealth taxes, succession and inher- consultants Knight Frank to present Knight Frank offers global res- itance issues, and changing attitudes a special preview of the 2016 edition idential and commercial property towards philanthropy. He highlighted of the Wealth Report to an exclusive advisory services. The firm provides current trends among UHNWIs in lux- group of the Bank’s high-net-worth research-backed advice and trans- ury investments, such as furniture, (HNW) clients. The Wealth Report actional support to major developers art, classic cars, and jewelry. is Knight Frank’s leading research and to individual and corporate Bill discussed the market out- report that tracks the growing afflu- investors. Now in its tenth year, the look for prime London property. ent population in 98 cities across 91 Knight Frank Wealth Report doc- Knight Frank expects that London countries. uments the performance of prime will remain a destination for UHN- Organised in conjunction with property and examines how the glo- WIs looking to invest in property, QIB-UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary bal property market interacts with as global volatility drives demand of QIB headquartered in London, the wealth creation. to established, rather than develop- event featured speakers and pan- Jeremy Waters, London-based ing, markets. He also elaborated on elists from QIB, Knight Frank and partner in Knight Frank’s Global Cap- the possible impact that British pol- London-based law firm Fieldfisher. ital Markets division and a member of itics have had on London real estate. The event is part of QIB’s continu- the firm’s Middle East Board said : “We Although short-term risks have ous efforts to inform its clients of are proud to work closely with QIB polarized the local property market, the latest market news and to assist in Qatar, in London and across Inter- London continues to be a good pros- ultra-high-net-worth individuals national markets in both commercial pect for long-term investments. (UHNWIs) in diversifying their invest- and residential. Both QIB and Knight Bill moderated a panel discus- ment portfolios. Frank recognise the importance of sion during which panelists addressed “QIB and QIB-UK are pleased professional advise based on a strong issues of concern to Qatari investors to join with Knight Frank in offer- research base and we were delighted looking to buy or sell retail or com- ing an advance viewing of this year’s to present this year’s Wealth Report mercial property in London and in Wealth Report,” said D Anand, Gen- in Doha and to provide advice on the depth discuss about the latest tax reg- eral Manager of the QIB’s Personal key global markets.” ulations peered by Vivien Davies, a Banking Group. “Real estate con- Tom Bill, Head of London Resi- partner with London based law firm Participants during the Special Preview of the 2016 Wealth Report. stitutes a sizable portion of our dential Research for Knight Frank, - Fieldfisher. Nakilat records Fitch affirms Barwa Bank’s IDR at ‘A+’

The Peninsula Stable), combined with Fitch’s belief Outlook on the Qatari sovereign. and more so than that of peers. that there will be a strong willingness The VR reflects the small size The IDRs, SR and SRF are sensi- QR240m net to do so. The latter is based on a his- and franchise of Barwa, but also the tive to a change in Fitch’s assumptions tory of sovereign support. benefits of its solid ties to the Qatari around the Qatari authorities’ pro- DOHA: Fitch Ratings has affirmed The government has demon- government, as a result of the 54 per- pensity or ability to provide timely Barwa Bank Q.S.C.’s (Barwa) Long- strated strong commitment to its cent ownership stake held by various support to the banking sector. At term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at banks and key public-sector compa- government entities, which helps present Fitch considers the likelihood profit in Q1 ‘A+’ with Stable Outlook. Fitch has nies and we expect this to continue to generate business flows, in both of such change to be small. also affirmed Barwa’s Viability Rat- despite the effects of lower oil prices. financing and funding. Downside to Barwa’s VR could ing (VR) at ‘bbb-’. The government owns stakes The VR also takes into account arise from a significant weaken- Barwa’s IDRs, Support Rating (SR) in Qatari banks following capital sound asset quality and reasona- ing of liquidity if loan growth is not and Support Rating Floor (SRF) reflect injections into the banking system bly strong profitability, but also matched by an increase in liquid Fitch’s expectation of support from between 2009 and 1Q11. The sover- high lending concentrations. While assets, or from a material deteriora- Total revenue of the Qatari authorities for domestic eign’s capacity to support the banking Barwa’s capital ratios are solid tion of asset quality. QR906m has gone banks in case of need. system is sustained by its sovereign this should be viewed against the Downward pressure could also Fitch’s expectation of support wealth funds and on-going reve- bank’s concentrated balance sheet. arise from capital levels not being up by four percent from the authorities reflects Qatar’s nues, mostly from its hydrocarbon The VR takes into account tight- sufficient to support stated growth compared to same strong ability to provide support to its production. ening liquidity and a funding base plans and adequately mitigating con- banks, as indicated by its rating (AA/ The Stable Outlook reflects the that is also highly concentrated, centration and other risks. period of last year. Top oil rig The Peninsula QIC posts QR2.7bn GWP in Q1 builder seeks to diversify DOHA: Qatar Gas Transport Com- The Peninsula of Directors approved an increase pany Limited (Nakilat), the shipping in capital during the Annual General business arm of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas the international maritime industry. Meeting, which was held in February (LNG) sector, recorded QR240m Nakilat is also continually assess- 2016. Not only would the increase in net profit for the first quarter ended ing current investments in relation DOHA: Qatar Insurance Company capital strengthen the Group’s cap- AFP 31 March 2016, up 8 percent com- to profitability in order to address (QIC) yesterday announced its finan- ital adequacy ratio, but would also pared to QR223m of the same period any risk involved for the company cials for the first quarter (Q1) ended provide long term sustainable fund- in 2015. and its shareholders. March 31, 2016 and reported a dou- ing for growth. The increase in the company’s “Total company revenue of ble-digit growth (year-on-year) in its Khalifa Abdulla Turki Al Sub- SINGAPORE: The world’s largest profits reflects the strong growth QR906m has gone up by 4 per- Gross Written Premium (GWP). aey, Group President and CEO, builder of offshore oil rigs is look- of Nakilat’s operating activities in cent compared to same period of Despite global and regional mar- said: “Given the current global and ing to diversify its business while transporting liquefied natural gas last year. Given of the downturn kets experiencing a turbulent start to regional economic and invest- trying to ride out the energy mar- (LNG), and better performance of in the energy market and its cor- 2016, the Group posted an impressive ment scenario, our outlook for 2016 ket downturn, a top executive said its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) responding impact on Nakilat’s gross written premium of QR2.7bn, remains cautiously optimistic. We yesterday. vessels. business outlook, we have man- witnessing a growth of 41 percent will continue to optimise oper- “We’re looking at some non-oil Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti aged our company’s operations compared to Q1 2015. The increased ations and identify new revenue and gas related projects where we (pictured), Nakilat Managing by emphasising the importance of growth in GWP was attributed to the streams for delivering consistent are able to use our offshore tech- Director said: “We are happy with identifying efficiencies where pos- Group’s effective and strong under- global economic conditions and growth and sustainable returns to nology,” Keppel Offshore & Marine the company’s achievements. Our sible”, he said. writing capabilities. regional market volatility, the our shareholders.” chief executive Chow Yew Yuen strategy remains unchanged, and Nakilat’s commitment to safety Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Attiya Group’s net profit reflected an He added: “Beyond report- said at an industry forum. we are concentrating on maintain- is the cornerstone of its business (pictured), Deputy Chairman of increase amounting to QR329m, up ing notable underwriting results “That’ll include power projects, ing a strong portfolio, investing in activities with a strong emphasis the Board of Directors approved the by 7 percent vis a vis QR306m in Q1 in challenging market conditions, desalination. So we’ll look for more efficient technology, and throughout its joint ventures. The financial results of QIC in a Board 2015. Investment income and other QIC’s financial results demonstrate alternate projects where we’ll get delivering the best results for our company is confident in achiev- meeting held yesterday. revenues stood at QR201m. clearly the resilience of our busi- to use our technology for jack-ups, investors.” ing higher growth in all aspects of Net underwriting result in Q1 Keeping pace with the Group’s ness model – diversified not just for semis, for floaters and so on,” The company strategy involves operations, which will fulfill the 2016 was QR277m, demonstrating continued pursuit to deliver high to minimise risk but also to pursue he said, referring to different types new business opportunities by company’s ambitious future in line an increase of 12 percent on the value propositions and in response growth opportunities as and when of rigs. acquiring new vessels that serve with Qatar Vision 2030, he added. previous year. Amidst challenging to the projected growth, the Board they arise.” Chow said it was an attempt to keep Keppel profitable in the face of the weak oil market. Keppel Corp — Keppel Offshore’s parent company — Shazam announces new initiative built for advertisers announced on Monday that it has been trimming employee numbers. Staff worldwide have been reduced by 9.4 percent since AP the music industry is born out of Officer, Shazam. “This began with on social media with the hashtag Lions Festivals. “Their ‘Sound of the start of 2016, or about 2,800 the fact that its hand-raising data music identification, and has allowed #ShareaCoke. Cannes’ activation is set to be an positions. influences radio plays, music sales us to be the first to occupy invaluable Shazam for Brands will also exciting showcase of Shazam for Oil prices hit historic lows this and streaming revenue for artists. real estate on smartphones around be the official music partner of the Brands and we’re looking forward year in the face of massive over- NEW YORK: Shazam, the world’s Shazam users are passionate, active, the world. Today’s launch introduces 2016 Cannes Lions, the eight-day to putting this in front of the Cannes supply, with the US benchmark most popular app for connecting engaged and in abundance - in over new technology and content tools for consortium of creative inspiration, Lions delegation which is made up West Texas Intermediate trad- artists and fans, today announced 190 countries at home, bars, stores brands to utilize data and engagement advertising, celebration, educa- of the entire creative communica- ing at $26.05 on February 11, and the launch of Shazam for Brands. and stadiums, Shazaming where in a way defined by the very audi- tion and networking, attracting over tions ecosystem.” European benchmark Brent see- Shazam is known by consumers as brands already exist. Brands can now ences they seek.” 15,000 delegates from around 100 Shazam for Brands creates a ing $27.10 on January 20. the standard in music recognition, leverage data-driven storytelling to Earlier this month, Coca-Cola countries. At Cannes, our advertis- seamless engagement from the time They are now trading around and will now unite brands with its produce their own content. launched its “Share a Coke® and ing and business development teams consumers Shazam up to the moment $40 a barrel, well off mid-2014 lev- global audience. “We are launching Shazam for a Song” campaign, which uses the will highlight how Shazam human- they receive a result. els of more than $100 a barrel. The company is an ecosystem of Brands because we believe Shazam first-ever Shazam-enabled bottles. izes the brand experience. The new offering creates new At the same forum, a Nor- hundreds of millions of global users, is uniquely positioned to become the When consumers scan lyrics on spe- “In the year that we launch Lions specific ad units customised for wegian consultant predicted the all of them making a personal con- default platform for connecting the cially marked bottles and signage, Entertainment, we’re delighted to brands, and it will launch with a core current oversupply will continue nection to content through the app. As mobile world with the real world,” they can record a digital lip-sync have Shazam on board as a part- toolset to help advertisers engage for the next three years before the a result, Shazam’s credibility within said Greg Glenday, Chief Revenue video and share their creations ner,” said Philip Thomas, CEO, audiences. market starts to pick up again. 24 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS Oman builds economic zone in desert to escape oil trap

country’s limited financial and oil time as its neighbours. Its financial The government is reserves begin to run out. reserves are estimated in the tens of The government is spending bil- billions of dollars rather than hun- spending billions of lions of dollars to develop the area dreds, and its proven oil reserves dollars to develop around the remote fishing village of will last only 15 years at the current Duqm into a sprawling business zone, rate of production, oil company BP the area around aiming to attract companies that will estimates. the remote fishing create tens of thousands of jobs. So the government is continuing village of Duqm into In addition to the ship repair yard to spend heavily on Duqm and other, and its adjacent port, the Duqm Spe- smaller projects to move the economy a sprawling business cial Economic Zone will include an beyond crude oil. Total state invest- zone, aiming to oil refinery, a petrochemical com- ment spending rose 5.5 percent from plex, manufacturing operations and a year earlier to 2.81 billion rials ($7.3 attract companies warehousing and logistics facilities. billion) in the first 11 months of 2015, that will create tens A fish processing district will even as the government ran a budget become the focus of Oman’s fishing deficit of 4.07 billion rials, the latest of thousands of jobs. industry. A tourism area aims to bring official data shows. in hard currency from foreign visi- “Oman’s infrastructure and tors. The strategy—spend lavishly on industrial investment drive remain infrastructure, jump-start key indus- near the top of the government’s Reuters tries with state funds and lobby the agenda and key strategic projects, private sector to participate—carries such as the vast Duqm port and eco- Two vessels undergo work at a massive drydock and ship repair facility in Oman’s Duqm Special Economic substantial financial risks. nomic zone, will go ahead,” analysts Zone. But it is a key plank of economic at Eurasia Group said in a report. DUQM, OMAN: On a stretch of bar- policy in Oman, a thinly populated Five years ago, Duqm had a pop- ren coast 550km south of the capital country of just 4.4 million people that ulation of about 3,000 villagers and say. In the longer term, authorities talk through the Red Sea to Asia and region have expressed their inten- Muscat, workers at a ship repair yard lacks the deep pockets of neighbour- no commercial air links to the rest of a city of 100,000 or more. Africa, it is outside the crowded Strait tion to invest $2.15bn in Duqm, in swarm over cargo vessels from ing oil exporters such as Saudi Arabia of the world; workers coming from Financing all of this building is a of Hormuz, which is vulnerable when sectors including housing, tourism, around the world, labour that will and the United Arab Emirates. outside were housed in tents, port- challenge. The government has so far regional tensions rise. fisheries, commercial services and help to determine Oman’s fate in an “We are diversifying beyond acabins or a retired cruise ship spent $1.2 billion and will find it hard But an important part of the vision chemicals, said Hasni, the invest- era of cheap oil. hydrocarbons,” said Saleh Hamood moored at the port. Now, four-lane to come up with the billions more that is in doubt. The zone was to have been ment executive. The yard, owned by the gov- Ali Al Hasni, the executive in charge highways—still almost empty of vehi- will be needed if oil prices stay low. connected to the other Gulf Arab states In a sign of how commercial links ernment’s Oman Drydock Co and of handling investment applications cles— snake across the desert while Hasni said the zone was look- by a 2,100km railway due to be built may develop in coming years, Iranian operated by South Korea’s Daewoo at Duqm. “We have to create jobs for power and water lines have been laid ing at several options to raise money, by 2018, allowing the port to receive companies—keen to expand after Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering the people and attract foreign direct across scores of square kilometres. including a possible bond issue and imports for the entire region and the lifting of economic sanctions on Co, is far from the country’s indus- investment.” Housing complexes and commer- a loan from international banks, and transport them north by rail as far as Tehran in January—are the second trial areas in the north. Other Gulf Arab oil exporting cial buildings are rising from the had started generating fee income that Kuwait. biggest source of that investment after But it’s at the centre of the big- states have cut spending on infra- sand. An airport opened in 2014, but would help it to finance itself. Governments’ strained budg- Omani firms. gest single economic project in the structure and development projects the passenger terminal is still under A bigger challenge may be attract- ets have now delayed that project In January, an Omani sovereign history of Oman, part of efforts to in the past 18 months as low oil prices construction. ing enough private investment. indefinitely, and Omani officials say wealth fund and Iran’s biggest auto wean the country off exports of have strained their finances. The area’s population has risen to Duqm is marketing its location as they may instead focus on building a maker, Khodro, agreed to study a pro- crude oil and gas and diversify into Oman’s finances have also been about 13,000, including workers, and an advantage; situated on the Ara- domestic rail network. posal for a $200m auto plant in Duqm, downstream industries before the hit hard, but it does not have as much is set to hit 67,000 in 2020, officials bian Sea near major shipping routes Companies from around the for example. Dubai property Iran’s oil output to reach pre-sanctions level by June: Official prices fell

10% in Q1 Reuters & Bloomberg non-Opec oil exporters should join output policy. “Iran will join any effort line after halting some operations at surplus in global supply. KPC, the in the deal. towards (stabilising the market) soon the start of a labor strike now in its main national oil company, is able to Iran, which was relieved of sanc- after reaching pre-sanctions produc- third day. meet its supply commitments to cli- Reuters tions in January, is concerned at tion,” a source familiar with Iranian Production in northern Kuwait ents in spite of the walkout, Sheikh DUBAI: Iran’s crude oil production oversupply but is insisting on ramp- oil policy told Reuters after the Doha returned to a normal level and Kuwait Talal reiterated yesterday. will reach pre-sanctions levels within ing up its production to pre-sanctions meeting failed to reach a deal. Petroleum Corp. restarted units in the The “strike is on,” Kuwait National two months, a deputy oil minister was levels and reclaiming its market share Iran’s oil production was slightly country’s southeast, helping boost Petroleum Co.’s spokesman, Khaled DUBAI: Dubai residential prop- quoted as saying yesterday, a signal before it will consider freezing output. below 4 million barrels a day before overall output, the oil industry’s Al-Asousi, said in a text message, con- erty prices fell 10 percent in the the Opec member might be willing to State news agency Irna quoted sanctions were imposed on the oil spokesman, Sheikh Talal Al Khaled firming that union members were first three months of the year discuss an output freeze by the time deputy minister Rokneddin Javadi as industry in 2011 and 2012. Last week Al Sabah, said in a post on Instagram. staying off their jobs for a third day because of a strong dollar and when the exporting group meets next. saying the pre-sanctions level would Javadi said output had already sur- The work stoppage, which began in a dispute over benefits. Attempts to as buyers had less cash to spend Talks between Opec and non- be attained by the end of the Iranian passed 3.5 million barrels a day. on Sunday, had caused the Opec reach a settlement failed after talks following the oil price slump, Opec producers to freeze production month of Khordad, which falls on June Meanwhile, Kuwait’s crude output member’s output to plunge 60 percent with the union broke up at 3 a.m. industry consultants JLL said in unexpectedly broke down on Sunday 20. The Organization of the Petro- edged higher to 1.5 million barrels a to about 1.1 million barrels a day. The Tuesday, said a government offi- a report yesterday. when Saudi Arabia insisted that all leum Exporting Countries meets next day as the state oil company brought initial decline of 1.7 million barrels a cial who asked not to be identified The Dubai real estate sector Opec members, including Iran, and on June 2 in Vienna to decide on oil more production facilities back on day from March levels surpassed the because the negotiations are private. has softened since late 2014 after a three-year boom fed by an influx of cash from politically unstable Arab nations. But tougher borrowing regula- Depositors protest UK chemical industry tions and higher transaction fees helped cool the market, with sales volumes slumping last year along faces exports threat with prices. That trend has continued into 2016, JLL notes, estimat- ing apartment and house prices Bloomberg important market, he said. In the fell by 10 and 11 percent in the event of a multinational chemical first quarter year-on-year. Rents company withdrawing investment, dropped 5 percent over the same “we don’t have that level of inte- period. LONDON: UK chemical compa- gration that we used to have with On Monday, the chairman nies’ £50bn ($71bn) in annual exports ICI,” Elliott said at the lobby group’s and founder of Emaar Properties may be threatened if Britain votes London headquarters. “We’re not as , builder of the world’s tallest tower to leave the European Union as secure as we were.” and Dubai’s biggest developer, trade agreements will have to be The UK will vote on whether to revealed he was “really scared” redrawn, according to an industry remain a part of the EU in a June 23 of market conditions coming into lobby group. referendum. 2016. The basic chemicals industry The decision has divided the rul- The UAE currency is pegged lost its biggest operator following ing Conservative party, with Prime to the dollar, which has gained the 2008 sale of Imperial Chemi- Minister David Cameron campaign- significantly against various cur- cal Industries to Amsterdam-based ing to remain part of the 28-nation rencies over the past year including Akzo Nobel NV for $17bn, and is now group and former allies includ- the pound, euro and Indian and made up of mostly smaller manufac- ing Mayor of London Boris Johnson Pakistani rupees, making Dubai turers focused on exports, Chemical pushing for a so-called Brexit. property more expensive for buy- Bondholders and depositors of ex-Laiki Bank protest outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus. Industries Association Chief Execu- About 52 percent of the pop- ers from these markets and who Depositors lost their savings when the bank entered resolution in March 2013, requiring a bail-in of tive Officer Stephen Elliott said in an ulation would vote to stay if the are historically among the biggest large depositors and bond holders to recapitalise the bank. interview on Monday. referendum was held today, an Orb/ investors. Germany is the industry’s most Telegraph poll showed yesterday. Sabic seeking fertiliser and chemical buys, may sell some assets

Reuters The company is also evaluating which has a direct correlation with “This is part of our efforts to SABIC has also talked previously In terms of divestments, Benyan whether to sell some of its assets in petrochemical prices. consolidate operations, bring more about expanding its presence in the said it was looking at selling assets its Specialties plastics business, with SABIC reported a seventh-straight efficiency and reduce cost without United States and Asia and Benyan outside of the kingdom, with the Spe- a decision expected by the end of the decline in quarterly profit on Monday, impacting our liability or our qual- said this was still very much in focus, cialties business the most likely area RIYADH: Saudi Basic Industries Corp year, Yousef Abdullah al-Benyan said to 3.41 billion riyals ($909 million). ity of delivery,” Benyan said. with something expected by the end affected. (SABIC) is seeking to strengthen its in an interview on the sidelines of a A deal to sell its 50 percent hold- For fertilisers, Benyan said SABIC of the third quarter. It was still evaluating its options fertiliser business with acquisitions news conference. ing in chemical fertiliser producer Ibn wanted to strengthen both SAFCO’s “It is all about chemicals and poly- but current thinking was towards and could also announce deals for One of the world’s largest pet- Al-Bayttar to affiliate Saudi Arabia and its own business, with the latter mers, our core business products that selling assets in Asia and the United chemical and polymer businesses by rochemicals firms, SABIC has been Fertilizers Co. is currently being eval- looking for opportunities outside of we need to strengthen, but the second States: “I think by the end of this year, the end of the third quarter, its acting suffering like many in its industry uated by SAFCO and other moves are the kingdom to invest in ammonia, part is also technology,” he said when we should really know which one to chief executive said yesterday. with the impact of falling oil prices, in the pipeline. urea and specialty urea products. asked about potential purchases. let go,” Benyan said. BUSINESS WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 25 Major steel producers fail to reach deal on overcapacity

excess production and capacity in growth and away from traditional Washington pointed industries including steel ... the fun- manufacturing, while keeping damental structural problems in the employment levels high. the finger at China industry will remain and affected gov- China’s steel exports jumped 30 over the failure of the ernments - including the United States percent from a year ago to 9.98 mil- - will have no alternatives other than lion tonnes in March despite a slew talks, saying Beijing trade action to avoid harm to their of anti-dumping measures globally. needed to act on domestic industries and workers,” But blaming China for woes in the US Secretary of Commerce Penny global steel industry is simply a lazy overcapacity or face Pritzker and US Trade Representative excuse for protectionism, and such fin- possible trade action Michael Froman said in a statement. ger-pointing will be counter-productive, from other countries. Asked what steps the Chinese gov- China’s official Xinhua news agency ernment would take following the said in a commentary on Monday. unsuccessful talks, China Commerce “It’s more been their competitive Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang advantage into Asian countries which told reporters on Tuesday: “China has has really driven that rise in exports,” Reuters already done more than enough. What said Daniel Hynes, a commodity strat- more do you want us to do?” egist at ANZ Bank. “I think that will “Steel is the food of industry, the continue and will keep those export food of economic development. At levels relatively high despite the pres- BRUSSELS/BEIJING: China and other present, the major problem is that sures we’re seeing now.” major steel-producing countries failed countries that need food have a poor At a news conference following to agree measures to tackle a global appetite so it looks like there’s too Monday’s meeting, deep divisions steel crisis as the sides argued over the much food.” between China and other produc- causes of overcapacity, prompting US The OECD said global steelmaking ers were clear. Cecelia Malmstrom, Cranes are seen above piles of steel pipes to be exported at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China. criticism of Beijing’s approach and an capacity was 2.37bn tonnes in 2015, the EU’s trade commissioner, insisted angry response from Chinese officials. but declining production meant that governments should not grant subsi- A meeting of ministers and trade only 67.5 percent of that was being dies that keep unviable plants running China’s main iron and steel body industry is market-based and Chinese agreed to scrap some export subsi- officials from over 30 countries, used, down from 70.9 percent in and should subject state-controlled has previously acknowledged that steel products have good quality, low dies on a range of products including hosted by Belgium and the OECD 2014. Britain in particular has felt firms to the same rules as the pri- the flood of Chinese steel product price and good service. The complaint steel the United States said last week. on Monday, sought to tackle excess the squeeze as its largest producer vate sector. exports is damaging to the country’s on government subsidies is also crap.” But there were signs the spat was capacity, but concluded only that it Tata Steel has announced plans to China’s assistant commerce min- efforts to to gain market economy Tensions have erupted between spreading. The United Steelworkers had to be dealt with in a swift and pull out of the country, threatening ister, Zhang Ji, said China had cut 90 status from the European Union - other producers, with Japan lead- (USW) said on Monday it has filed a structural way. 15,000 jobs. Last week, more than million tonnes of capacity and had an important goal for Beijing as the ing criticism of Indian minimum case with US regulators seeking to Washington pointed the finger 40,000 German steel workers took plans to reduce it by a further 100- domestic economy slows. Li Xin- prices for imported steel at a recent stem a “flood” of aluminum imports at China over the failure of the talks, to the streets to protest against dump- 150 million tonnes. chuang, the vice secretary of general World Trade Organisation meeting the trade unions says have damaged saying Beijing needed to act on over- ing from China. “That is only 10 million tonnes less of the China Iron and Steel Associa- and Japan and South Korea coming US producers and threatened jobs. capacity or face possible trade action China, the world’s top steel pro- than the capacity in Europe,” he said, tion, rejected the U.S. criticisms. “It is under fire for exporting steel products The case is the latest move by the from other countries. ducer, has been ramping up exports although critics say it would still have a totally pointless complaint from the cheaper than they sell them at home. US aluminum industry to try and get “Unless China starts to take timely of steel in recent years, as it battles a capacity of around 1 billion tonnes, U.S. and it’s biased against China,” Li In a step by Beijing to reduce trade authorities to investigate the impact of and concrete actions to reduce its to steer its economy into services-led far in excess of its needs. told Reuters by phone. “China’s steel frictions with Washington, it has rising imports, particularly from China.

Coca-Cola strategy Alabbar buys 4% stake Housing starts in US slumped in fashion retailer YNAP more than

Reuters forecast

MILAN/DUBAI: Dubai entrepreneur Mohammed Alabbar will take a 4 per- Bloomberg cent stake in online fashion retailer Yoox Net-A-Porter (YNAP) in a move expected to push the Italian group’s growth in the high-potential Middle NEW YORK: New-home construc- Eastern market. YNAP, which was created last year from the merger of Italy’s tion in the US. slumped more than Yoox with upmarket rival Net-a-Porter, said Alabbar would buy into a €100m projected in March, reflecting a ($113m) reserved capital increase through his Alabbar Enterprises company. broad-based retreat that showed The Dubai group runs various franchise operations in the Middle East the industry lost momentum head- and Asia, including chocolate maker Hershey’s and fashion house Oscar de ing into the busiest time of year. la Renta. Alabbar is also chairman of Emaar Properties, the Dubai govern- Residential starts decreased ment-linked builder of the world’s tallest building and whose subsidiary 8.8 percent to a 1.09 million annu- Emaar Malls owns and operates Dubai Mall, which accounts for 50 percent alised rate that was the lowest of the emirate’s luxury goods spending. since October and weaker than “Alabbar’s track record in delivering exclusive luxury and retail experi- any forecast of economists sur- ences across the Middle East will provide us with invaluable insights in the veyed by Bloomberg, Commerce fast-growing regional luxury fashion market,” YNAP Chief Executive Fed- Department data showed Tuesday Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer of Coca-Cola Company Mexico, Marcos de Quinto, erico Marchetti said. in Washington. Permits, a proxy for speaks in front of a screen displaying the new image of Coca-Cola drinks, during the company’s The region accounts for a 5 percent share in global luxury consumption future construction, also dropped. upcoming strategy presentation in Mexico City, yesterday. and is seeing growing internet sales due to increasing public investments in The report, following figures e-services and telecoms infrastructure, YNAP said. on Monday that showed builder Alabbar said YNAP had a strong management and referred to the com- sentiment was little changed pany’s double-digit growth as the reason for his investment. in April, may raise questions He declined to comment on whether he could take a larger shareholding about the strength of the housing Tencent’s Pony Ma to give in YNAP. “We are building a relationship with this company, its shareholders rebound at a time manufacturing and management, and I wouldn’t mind getting involved,” he said. has barely emerged from a slump YNAP owns six multi-brand shopping websites, including Net-A-Porter. and overseas markets are cool- shares worth $2bn to charity com. In March it forecast slightly slower revenue growth for 2016 after strong ing. Homebuilding may plod along sales helped it post a 26 percent rise in pro-forma 2 core profit last year. until faster wage growth and easier New shares sold in the capital increase reserved for Alabbar have been credit conditions accelerate sales priced at 28 euros per share, a premium of 5.7 percent to YNAP’s closing and encourage construction. Reuters supporting medical, educational and a need for a more longer-term, effi- price on April 18. YNAP shares rose more than 4 percent to 27.58 euros by “There’s not a lot of upward environmental causes in China. cient and organised way to give back 0930 GMT. momentum,” Jim O’Sullivan, chief Hong Kong-listed shares in Ten- to society,” he said in a statement on “The deal is not dilutive for shareholders and it provides additional cash US economist at High Frequency SHANGHAI: The founder of China’s cent, China’s largest social network Monday. to fund the 95 million euro integration costs planned within the Net-a- Economics Ltd. in Valhalla, New Tencent Holdings Ltd, Pony Ma, said and online entertainment firm, The Tencent Foundation was Porter acquisition,” said Marco Baccaglio, an analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux. York, said before the report. “Some he plans to donate 100 million com- closed up 0.24 percent at HK$165.70 established in 2007 and cooperates The size of the fund raising is below the €200m level that had been of it is part of the ups and downs pany shares worth more than $2bn to on Monday, making the donation with other charity organisations, the approved by YNAP’s shareholders last year. The group said this was because of the monthly data.” the firm’s charity foundation. worth about $2.1bn. company said. An October survey of its financial needs were lower than initially estimated. “The luxury mar- The median forecast of 78 Ma, one of China’s richest with “After 10 years of exploration and China’s super-rich found China has ket worldwide is looking reasonably well, the Middle East is looking good economists surveyed by Bloomb- an estimated fortune of $18.8bn, participation in philanthropic activ- overtaken the United States as the overall - the demographics are healthy and I’m optimistic on the Middle erg called for a drop to 1.17 million. said the donation would go towards ities, I increasingly feel that there is country with the most billionaires. East,” Alabbar said. Estimates of 78 economists polled ranged from 1.12 million to 1.22 million. The previous month was revised up to 1.19 million from a 1.18 million pace. UAE fund says Malaysia’s 1MDB in default on $1bn deal Housing starts have see- sawed in a narrow range over the past year, signaling the residen- tial real-estate rebound from the Reuters to provide $1bn in cash as well as that it will continue to honour all of ringgit ($585.2m). Over the past four 1MDB. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minis- recession has petered out. The fig- assume payments on $3.5bn of 1MDB its outstanding commitments in the weeks, 1MDB has made debt principal ter said last week the money from ures, however, can be very volatile, debt. It also forgave an undisclosed financial markets,” the ministry said repayments of about 7.25bn ringgit, it an unspecified Saudi source was a diminishing the significance of any KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE: amount of debt that 1MDB owed to in a statement late on Monday. said. Monday’s announcements throw “genuine donation” with no obliga- one reading. An Abu Dhabi sovereign fund said IPIC, in exchange for assets which The assurance followed a state- into doubt 1MDB’s efforts to rational- tions attached. For example, the report on Monday Malaysia’s troubled state have not been named. ment by 1MDB that Abu Dhabi had ize its debt, said Christian de Guzman, The prime minister’s brother, showed there was a 90 percent fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad The Abu Dhabi fund said 1MDB agreed to assume its interest pay- a credit analyst at Moody’s Investors Nazir Razak, announced on Monday chance last month’s figure was (1MDB) was in default of its obligations and Malaysia’s finance ministry - ments on a $1.75bn on bond, but one Service in Singapore, which rates the that he was taking a voluntary leave would be within a range of a 19.9 on $1.1bn in debt and interest. which owns 1MDB - are in default on such payment, due on Monday, had $1.75bn 1MDB-linked energy bonds. of absence from his role as chairman percent decrease to a 2.3 percent The International Petroleum the terms of this agreement. not been paid because of the dispute “We’re still trying to figure out what of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, amid gain. Investment Company The development came after between the two. “1MDB wishes to it means for IPIC, because IPIC has an independent review into money “We recommend taking the (IPIC) said in a filing to the London IPIC’s denial last week that it owned a make clear that it and its group guaranteed these bonds and as far transfers into his personal account. monthly housing numbers with stock exchange, where it is listed, that British Virgin Islands company, Aabar entities will meet all of their other as we understand these (guarantees) Nazir was dragged into the scan- a huge grain of salt, but there’s it was now considering all its options Investments PJS Ltd, which received obligations under any other financing were irrevocable.” dal around political funding and going to be a little more nervous- to remedy the default. That included payments of $3.5bn from 1MDB meant arrangements and have ample liquid- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib alleged misuse of money from 1MDB ness” given the weak recent data referring the matter to the appropri- for the Abu Dhabi fund. ity to do so,” it said in a statement. Razak has been under pressure from after the Wall Street Journal reported on industrial production and retail ate dispute resolution forum, the IPIC Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance In an earlier statement, 1MDB critics at home after reports claimed last month he received $7m in funds sales, Scott Brown, chief econo- statement said. The Abu Dhabi fund (MOF) said it would honour all its said it had repaid all its bank debt that $681 million deposited into his from his elder brother, Prime Min- mist at Raymond James Financial said it was terminating last June’s commitments in financial markets. and short-term obligations, and had personal bank account just before a ister Najib Razak, before the 2013 Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, said agreement, under which it agreed “The MOF wishes to make clear a cash surplus of about 2.3 billion 2013 general election originated from elections. before the report. 26 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,297.39 0.64 % QE Total Return Index 16,660.49 0.64 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,067.51 1.32 % QE All Share Index 2,871.6 0.67 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,741.62 0.44 % QE All Share Industrials 3,148.78 0.50 % QE All Share Transportation 2,566.63 0.82 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,634.32 3.76 % QE All Share Insurance 4,499.37 1.17 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,168.53 0.67 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,737.44 1.31 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 19-04-2016 Today 18-04-2016 Previous day Index 10,297.39 10,231.52 Change 65.87 42.30 % 0.64 0.42 YTD% 1.27 1.9 Volume 15,482,713 8,628,489 Value (QAR) 476,257,525.78 285,481,782.79 Trades 6,944 4,660 Up 24 | Down 13 | Unchanged 02

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5254.659 49.723 0.96 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4559.75 52.91 1.17 4586.11 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 18004.16 106.7 0.6 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 21436.21 274.71 1.3 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6228.41 21.52 0.35 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 33729.62 -30.35 -0.09 34154.7 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16874.44 598.49 3.68 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 5.2041 QR 5.2771 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 4.1069 QR 4.1643 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.8394 QR 2.8956 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.7571 QR 3.8130 Yen QR 0.0330 QR 0.0337 A C C-A/D 1469 -0.9 11656 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.05 -0.13 19680 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 311.6 14.8 41843 Timexgroup-T/D 32.05 0.45 45893 Aus$ QR 2.8147 QR 2.8711 Aarti Drugs-B/D 468.5 4.1 2009 Escorts-A/D 171.4 3.05 303306 Kalpat Power-B/D 216.6 4.65 6142 Tinplate-B/D 70.9 -0.1 26709 Ind Re QR 0.0543 QR 0.0554 Aban Offs-A/D 182.6 -5.2 170433 Eveready Indu-/D 261 1.2 11894 Kalyani Stel-T/D 169 1.9 17645 Ucal Fuel-B/D 103.9 -1.2 11113 Ador Welding-B/D 308 6.4 2884 F D C-B/D 188.65 2 2783 Kg Denim-B/D 92 0.6 22196 Ucal Fuel-B/D 103.9 -1.2 11113 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Aegis Logis-B/D 111.25 0.7 126416 Federal Bank-A/D 45.1 0.45 159751 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 58.4 -1.6 40946 Ultramarine-B/D 120.5 0.2 6979 Peso QR 0.0783 QR 0.0799 Alembic-B/D 36.95 -0.75 52482 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5 -0.12 21180 Kinetic Eng-B/D 96.8 4.85 6713 Unitech P -A/D 5.1 0.01 3776772 SL Re QR 0.0248 QR 0.0252 Alok Indus-A/D 4.75 -0.05 803603 Finolex-A/D 379.45 10.5 38920 Kopran-B/D 51.9 -0.4 40517 Univcable-B/D 80.6 -0.2 4365 Taka QR 0.0246 QR 0.0470 Apollo Tyre-A/D 173.35 3.9 264650 Forbes-B/D 1295 18 2272 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 386.5 12.9 2418 Uppergsugar-T/D 131.9 6.7 67925 Nep Re QR 0.0340 QR 0.0347 Asahi I Glass-/D 163.1 -2.95 9623 Gail-A/D 359.45 -9.1 120709 Lgb Broth-B/D 492.9 14.7 1070 LONDON Ashok Leyland-/D 109.2 -1.1 1315210 Galada Power-B/D 14 -0.05 1010 Lloyd Metal-B/D 29.7 -2.4 81309 SA Rand QR 0.2527 QR 0.2577 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.21 0.51 484849 Gammon India-T/D 12.39 -0.4 86018 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 4.95 -0.07 20164 Bata India-A/D 551.4 7.35 29417 Garden P -B/D 23.5 0.05 2151 Lupin-A/D 1571.1 27.25 109661 3I Group/D 479.9 0.3 548356 GOLD AND SILVER Beml Ltd-A/D 952.5 11.65 44664 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1203 -22.25 7904 Lyka Labs-T/D 88.6 0.95 38741 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3400 53 371565 Bh Electronic-/D 1204 11.75 22377 Goodricke-B/D 179.8 -5.1 45282 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 281 3.4 2752 Barclays/D 168.2 0.5 17757574 GOLD QR146.0505 per gramme Bhansali Eng-T/D 19.6 -0.05 12302 Goodyear I -B/D 509.2 -11.9 2225 Mah.Seamless-B/D 203 -3.2 35955 Bp/D 356.4 0.6 14842391 SILVER QR1.9645 per gramme Bharat Bijle-B/D 963 16.25 11897 Hcl Infosys-B/D 45.9 -0.35 295300 Maha Scooter-B/D 1330 53.25 1182 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4274 -6.5 1061290 Bharatgears-B/D 76.9 3.95 6695 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 18.75 0.1 746567 Mangalam Cem-B/D 240 -0.4 4559 Bt Group/D 452 -2.9 6811580 Bhartiya Int-B/D 455 0.1 5546 Himat Seide-B/D 212.05 18.55 287597 Maral Overs-B/D 27.4 0.1 1890 Centrica/D 236.2 1.6 4444759 Bhel-A/D 132.35 -1 866346 Hind Motors-T/D 5.3 -0.03 56127 Mastek-B/D 154.4 3.7 66751 Gkn/D 292.975 6.6 2414248 Bom.Burmah-B/D 413.4 3.35 17112 Hind Org Chem-/D 15.75 -0.3 17212 Max Financial-/D 357.7 4.2 13423 Hsbc Holdings/D 454.05 5.75 12645765 Bombay Dyeing-/D 48.75 0.75 97434 Hind Unilever-/D 896.7 1.2 57294 Mrpl-A/D 67.1 0.05 100042 Kingfisher/D 363.9 5.1 4758349 Most Gulf stock Camph.& All-B/D 574 -4.2 1002 Hind.Petrol-A/D 868.5 18.65 249079 Nahar Spg.-B/D 100.85 -0.9 11434 Land Secs Grou/D 1102.8193 5 804744 Canfin Homes-B/D 1243.4 -66.35 8509 Hindalco-A/D 97.1 0.8 1027782 Nation Alum -A/D 45.2 4 1008846 Legal & Genera/D 242.9 2.7 4896842 Caprihans-Xc/D 88.5 -2.65 2364 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1127.3 14.1 389633 Navneet Edu-B/D 88.9 0.75 24206 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 68.4822 0.03 40675910 markets rise Castrol India-/D 378.95 -1.5 28771 I F C I-A/D 24.9 0.1 546522 Nepc India-T/D 1.52 -0.06 16486 Marks & Sp./D 435.5 -7 2470956 Century Enka-B/D 191.2 2.6 15431 Idbi-A/D 71.4 1.45 1098370 Neuland Lab-B/D 741.25 10.25 2115 Next/D 5431.0237 0 272145 Century Text-A/D 618.05 4.2 82517 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 386.55 20.95 9059 O N G C-A/D 207.75 -5.25 261471 Pearson/D 838.75 3 963232 Reuters Chambal Fert-B/D 59.65 -1.05 82312 India Cement-A/D 93.55 0.35 336915 Oil Country-B/D 30 4.35 161124 Prudential/D 1409.5 22 2030071 Chola Invest-A/D 793 1.6 102846 India Glycol-B/D 86.4 -3 12320 Orchid Pharm-B/D 41.2 -0.65 64966 Rank Group/D 254 1 164003 Chowgule St-T/D 18.32 0.87 6802 Indian Hotel-A/D 108 2.65 48264 Orient Hotel-T/D 23.25 0.85 4375 Rentokil Initi/D 176.9 1.5 1994608 DUBAI: Gulf stock markets rose yesterday as several Cimmco-B/D 73.15 0.05 1485 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1060.05 57.85 14099 Orient.Carb.-T/D 495 8 5334 Rolls Royce Pl/D 672 6.5 1258416 Saudi companies beat first-quarter earnings estimates Cipla-A/D 524.15 12.4 187364 Indusind-A/D 987.8 -0.4 60411 Orient.Carb.-T/D 495 8 5334 Rsa Insrance G/D 471.3 -2 445149 and oil prices held up better than feared after Sunday’s City Union Bk-/D 95 -2.25 10979 J.B.Chemical-B/D 249.25 -0.35 5177 Oudh Sugar-B/D 84.05 10.6 261578 Sainsbury(J)/D 290.2 1 1916352 Doha meeting on output freeze. Colgate-A/D 845.15 10.15 23205 Jagson Phar-B/D 36.4 0.15 12508 Patspin India-/D 8.95 0.07 2960 Schroders/D 2624 45 261581 The Saudi stock index climbed 1.7 percent as Saudi Container Cor-/D 1330.9 62.8 26140 Jamnaauto-B/D 148.3 0.5 31558 Punjab Chem.-B/D 173.9 2 2720 Severn Trent/D 2245 -14 168733 Basic Industries, the biggest petrochemical producer, Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 390.6 -19.3 2087 Jbf Indu-B/D 213.4 6.5 23538 Radico Khait-B/D 88.5 0.6 34279 Smith&Nephew/D 1199 -1 802450 gained 2.3 percent. Sabic reported a 13.2 percent drop Dcm Shram Ind-/D 134.9 11.2 9873 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.31 -0.01 3728 Rallis India-A/D 192 2.6 45576 Smiths Group/D 1109 18 292195 in net profit to SR3.41bn ($909.4m) after analysts had Dhampur Sugar-/D 92.75 5.15 243306 Jct Ltd-B/D 4.69 0.03 793794 Rallis India-A/D 192 2.6 45576 Standrd Chart /D 533.9 10.9 5403958 on average forecast SR2.84bn. Dr. Reddy-A/D 3091.5 -9.1 17291 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 8.53 0.3 87852 Reliance Indus/D 430.7 -6.4 49164 Tate & Lyle/D 604.5 8 539500 In addition, its acting chief executive said that Sabic E I H-B/D 107.1 -1.65 214211 Jik Indust-B/D 0.92 0.04 1077 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.75 0 22398 Tesco/D 180.15 -0.8 8996854 was seeking acquisitions to strengthen its fertiliser busi- E.I.D Parry-A/D 238.15 9.2 141248 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 86.45 0.9 355212 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 498.25 -5.85 3124 Unilever/D 3318.5 39.5 1320410 ness and could announce purchases in the chemicals Eicher Motor-A/D 20252.9 356.05 6001 Jmc Projects-T/D 225.1 0 5261 Saur.Cem-B/D 68.75 1.65 64058 United Util Gr/D 959 -0.5 484748 and polymers sectors by the end of the third quarter, Electrosteel-B/D 18.4 -0.15 142462 Kabra Extr-B/D 95.85 1.3 4951 Sterling Tool-/D 498.5 15.5 1734 Vodafone Group/D 231.2 2.85 20965244 while it might sell some Asian or US assets. The Saudi construction sector has also been hit hard Emco-B/D 27 -0.2 4535 Kajaria Cer-A/D 1046 49.75 24862 Thirumalai-B/D 210.5 -2.3 3822 Whitbread/D 3776 16 259594 by low oil prices, but major builder Khodari rose 1.6 percent. Its profit plunged 70.6 percent to SR4.11m but beat the estimate of EFG Hermes, which had forecast a loss of SR6.25m. Mouwasat Medical Services jumped 6.7 percent after posting a 27.2 percent rise in profit to SR71.1m, beating Global stocks push higher on oil prices an average forecast of SR60.7m. Jarir Marketing Co rose 1.8 percent even though it said it was cutting its first- quarter cash dividend to SR1.75 per share from SR2.25. Dubai’s index added 1.1 percent, helped by a 1.4 AFP percent higher, after a key survey, said analyst David Cheetham at soaring more than three per- significant headwinds from percent rise in Emaar Properties after chairman the German investor confidence brokerage XTB. cent. The Nikkei 225 was up 3.7 abroad, and market turbulence Mohammed Alabbar told reporters that its performance index calculated by the ZEW eco- “Equities looked vulnerable at percent at 16,874.44 points; in related to those headwinds, I view in the first quarter looked good because of better-than- nomic institute, posted a robust the start of the week after a failure Shanghai, the Composite was up the US economy as fundamen- expected sales and cost-cutting. The company has not LONDON: Global equities charged increase in April. That was the to agree on any tangible measures 0.3 percent at 3,042.82 points tally sound and likely to perform yet announced first-quarter earnings. higher yesterday as rising oil prices second monthly rise in a row and to quell the increasing levels of and in Hong Kong, the Hang better than the domestic econo- But Dubai Parks and Resorts fell 0.7 percent to and buoyant German investor con- it beat analysts’ forecasts. crude production amongst Opec Seng index was up 1.3 percent mies of most trading partners,” 1.38 dirhams after announcing details of a Dh1.68bn fidence brought cheer to investors, Elsewhere, the FTSE 100 hit and non-Opec members. at 21,436.21 points. he said. ($457.4m) rights issue to finance the development of analysts said. its highest level for the year so far, “However the impressive On Monday Asia ended lower Michael Pearce, of Global its Six Flags-branded theme park. The company will Shrugging off lingering dis- while Paris did the same. strength of the recovery suggests while initial sharp losses in Economics, said he saw “little the- issue shares at 1.0 dirham each. appointment over last weekend’s The FTSE 100 was up 0.8 that the worst of the pain may be Europe and New York turned oretical or empirical evidence” of Abu Dhabi rose 1.0 percent. Abu Dhabi Islamic Doha oil output talks, crude prices percent at 6,405.35 points; in behind us.” The region’s markets to gains as dealers were also the world economy nearing “stall Bank soared 9.5 percent in unusually heavy trade after continued to rise. “Stocks appear Frankfurt, the DAX 30 was up had already rebounded into modest lifted by positive comments on speed”. “Unless productivity Bloomberg reported it planned to open its shares to 25 to be taking their cue from the 2.3 percent at 10,349.59 points; gains on Monday, reversing ini- the US outlook and recent upbeat rebounds, global growth is likely percent foreign ownership. After the close, the bank positive momentum in global oil in Paris, the CAC 40 was up 1.3 tial losses. data out of China. to remain around its current pace of said it had no plans for such a change. prices, ignoring the pull from percent at 4,566.48 points, while US stocks rose slightly, despite Federal Reserve Bank of Bos- 3 percent or so in the years ahead. Qatar rose 0.6 percent as Widam Food jumped its mixed earnings reports” and the EURO STOXX 50 was up 1.5 significant first-quarter earnings ton president Eric Rosengren “While that would be disap- 10 percent daily limit after reporting a 77 percent leap “soft” data for the building of percent at 3,110.68 points. disappointments from Dow blue declared Monday the world’s pointing by the standards of recent in first-quarter net profit. new homes in the US for March, “The FTSE 100 has traded at chips Goldman Sachs and IBM. number one economy was much decades, it would not be a dis- In Egypt, the index surged 2.6 percent to 7,864 points Sheraz Mian, of Zacks Investment fresh 2016 highs... after a remark- The Dow was up 0.3 percent at healthier than financial markets aster, nor should it be taken as a in active trade, breaking above technical resistance on Research, said in a note. able turnaround in oil markets 18,056.17 points. thought and saw growth picking sign that the economy is about the October peak of 7,716 points. Exchange data showed Frankfurt led Europe’s yesterday has continued, and in Tokyo, meanwhile, led a up through this year. to stall,” he wrote in an inves- foreign investors were again net buyers. bourses, closing well over two doing so pushed stocks higher,” recovery in Asian stock markets, “While there have been tors’ note. BUSINESS WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 27

Early warning signs Steel heartland offers stark of recession flash faintly in US jobs data message to Port Talbot

imminent, in spite of a projected further slowdown in the first Rich Miller quarter. Economists at St. Louis- Bloomberg based Macroeconomic Advisers put growth from January through March at a 0.9 percent annualized rate, down from 1.4 percent in the s the economy again last three months of 2015. started off the year on Economists polled by Bloomb- a sour note, the glass- erg in April lowered their odds of half-full crowd pointed a recession in the next 12 months Ato the strength of the U.S. jobs to 15 percent, from 18 percent in market as a reason not to worry. March and 20 percent in Feb- As long as payrolls are racking ruary, according to the median up monthly gains of 200,000 calculation. or more, the economy remains And even some of Funk’s fel- in fine fettle, or so the optimists low staffing specialists are voicing would have it. confidence in the outlook. Take a peek below the head- “Generally speaking, we think line jobs data, however, and there the labour market is still fairly are signs that the labour market robust,” said Kip Wright, senior is losing some momentum. Tem- vice president of Manpower North porary-help employment, which America, part of ManpowerGroup peaked prior to the last two reces- Inc. “We’ve certainly seen certain sions, is showing signs of topping sectors that had some weaknesses, out. like manufacturing. But they’ve And a broad labour-market bottomed out to some extent and index constructed by Federal are starting to stabilize.” Reserve economists—and mon- In perhaps a sign of strength, itored by Chair Janet Yellen—has companies seem more willing fallen for three straight months, to take on permanent workers The Steelman statue stands outside the Ravenscraig regional sports facility Ravenscraig, in Scotland yesterday. the first time that’s happened rather than hiring temporary help. since 2009. “They’re gaining more confidence,” “I am a little concerned,” said Wright said. “Our full-time hiring 75-year-old Bob Funk, chief business is growing at significant By Elisabeth O’Leary Council who has helped oversee the Raven- of Chinese steel that has sparked a glo- executive officer of Express double-digit numbers.” Reuters scraig regeneration project for more than a bal steel industry crisis. Employment Professionals, which That said, some staffing- decade. Many are still angry with Margaret provides temporary workers company executives describe The loss-making Port Talbot steel works Thatcher, the Conservative prime minis- to companies. “Our industry is labour-market conditions that are which employs 4,300 people is just one of ter who battled with trade unions to push always on the front end of a reces- more reminiscent of an expan- n Craigneuk library in central Scotland, several British plants that Tata has put up through the privatisations that led to the sion,” as provisional workers are sion that is closer to its end than near a tract of land where Ravenscraig’s for sale and Prime Minister David Cameron closure of Ravenscraig. With Port Talbot’s the first to be let go on signs of its beginning. mighty steel works once stood, posters is scrambling to find investors to save jobs. fate in the balance, fellow Conservative economic weakness. They say it’s hard to find offer help with debts, unemployment In Ravenscraig, 12,000 jobs were prom- Cameron will have to tread carefully so Temporary-help employ- workers to meet the needs of their Iand relationships, or a comic who promises ised after the steel mill shut but they have as not to feed sentiment to leave Europe. ment fell in two of the past three clients and report that wages are laughter as a cure. taken so long to materialise they have already Efforts to give Ravenscraig a fresh start months and is down 1.8 percent starting to increase as a result— Once the largest hot-strip steel mill in bypassed a generation. with 200 million pounds ($284 million) of so far this year—even while total developments that typically occur western Europe, Ravenscraig closed in 1992 Clearing the 1,150 acre site, once a clang- public money over more than two decades payrolls are higher. “It’s leveling in the latter half of an expansion after years of cuts had whittled the work- ing, smoking hub with blast furnaces, gas and are clearly visible: a huge gleaming sports off,” said Funk, who co-founded as the economy begins to reach force down to 1,200 from over 7,000, as the cooling towers and coke ovens, took six years centre, a college, a friendly pub and some Oklahoma City-based Express its limits. government shifted many of Britain’s indus- alone and more work underground needs to new houses. But signs of business activity Employment Professionals in 1983. “We’re probably two-thirds of trial assets into private hands. be done before the land can be redeveloped. are almost entirely absent. “We ended up 10 percent last year. the way through the cycle” that Nearly a quarter of a century later and “They’re pulling all the stops out for In between the new buildings are roll- We’re only up about 2 to 3 percent began in June 2009, said Michael despite long-standing regeneration plans, Port Talbot. It’s too late for us,” said James ing expanses of yellow grass and scrub so far this year.” Gapen, chief US economist at Bar- Craigneuk, a town of 3,600 at the gates of McAuley, 80, a retired Ravenscraig engi- from where Dalzell, another plate rolling In the run-up to the 2001 clays Plc in New York. what was once Raven- neer. He lives opposite the site, overlooking mill, is visible. recession, provisional employ- The history of cyclical fluctu- scraig in Scotland’s a “Secure Containment Facility”, a green Ravenscraig’s history explains why the ment peaked 11 months before the ations in the US suggests that the industrial heartland, is hill where toxic residue from the plant is devolved Scottish government - which has downturn began. The lag before “odds are significantly better than one of the most deprived sealed and monitored. For the last four branded the 1992 closure “a social and the Great Recession of 2007 to 50-50 that we will have a reces- areas of the country. years, joblessness in Craigneuk has been economic disaster” - stepped in last month 2009 was 16 months. sion within the next three years,” The town provides a stuck at roughly twice the rate of North when Tata was looking to sell Dalzell and The picture is similar for the former Treasury Secretary Law- shrill warning to Port Tal- Lanarkshire, hospital admissions for alco- another plant in Clydebridge. labor market conditions index, rence Summers told a group of bot in Wales, where Tata hol-related problems are twice the regional The government brokered a deal to which is comprised of 19 indica- economists in Cambridge, Mas- Steel has put Britain’s big- rate, while psychiatric admissions are more take them off Tata’s hands and sell them tors, including temporary help. sachusetts on April 15. Once the largest gest remaining steel plant than double. to metals group Liberty House for a nom- The six-month moving average While the government has hot-strip steel mill up for sale: once the steel Amongst North Lanarkshire’s pop- inal fee, with a view to preserving jobs. of changes in the index turned reported that the labor force has in western Europe, has gone, regeneration is ulation of about 300,000, the male Liberty has not, however, made any negative nine months before the grown by more than two million long and hard. Those who unemployment rate is 10.6 percent, or twice approach to Tata to buy its share of the 2001 economic drop-off and five workers over the past six months, Ravenscraig closed recover move on. Others the rate in the United Kingdom as a whole Ravenscraig site, which it owns jointly months before the more recent Funk said he isn’t seeing that in in 1992 after years of fail to recover at all. in the year to September 2015. with Scottish Enterprise and Wilson Bow- recession. his business, with the number of cuts had whittled the “To those making Where Ravenscraig once provided den Development Agency, denting hopes it On that basis, broad-based people he has available to fill jobs decisions at Port Talbot I 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in the will be developed anytime soon. declines among its components down from last year. workforce down to would say think carefully, region, the biggest employer providing a A plan hatched at the turn of the century turned the average just barely Tom Gimbel, chief executive 1,200 from over 7,000, because the cost - eco- fifth of all jobs in the area is now the pub- to build a huge retail park at Ravenscraig has negative last month, suggesting officer of Chicago-based staff- nomic and social - to the lic health service. been scuppered by years of legal wrangling labor conditions may be plateau- ing company LaSalle Network, is as the government local community after a The debate over how best to protect with local property and retail companies, ing rather than deteriorating in seeing some people come off the shifted many of closure may be greater British jobs has implications for Cameron financial problems and Internet shopping. a way that would presage a sidelines and resume working. But Britain’s industrial than the economic cost in his bid to keep the country in the Euro- The plan is now being updated. recession. it’s more a trickle than a torrent, of keeping the plant pean Union in a June referendum. “There’s been a lot of help around here. Few forecasters are saying he said, adding, “I think it’s run- assets into private open,” says Les Steven- Some in the area believe belonging to But nobody wants to invest without subsi- that an economic downturn is ning pretty dry.” hands. son, a planning manager the EU means Britain cannot shield itself dies,” said 65-year-old former steel worker in North Lanarkshire from cheap competition, such as the glut Brian Murphy. Morgan Stanley struggling to reach return-on-equity target

By Olivia Oran and Richa Naidu would therefore take additional appropri- a 7 percent decline in quarterly profit, while those towards the end of the year and next Reuters ate actions,” Gorman said on a conference Bank of America Corp reported an 18 percent year.” Overall, Morgan Stanley’s earnings call with analysts. drop and Citigroup Inc’s earnings fell 27 per- applicable to common shareholders fell 54.4 He added that Morgan Stanley’s share- cent. The declines were attributed in part to percent to $1.06bn, or 55 cents per share, holder return was “not acceptable.” trading difficulties. Morgan Stanley’s most from a year earlier, when the bank reported organ Stanley’s trouble growing rev- Analysts were initially bullish on Morgan comparable rival, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, its most profitable quarter since the finan- enue in weak markets may cause Stanley’s results, because it beat their sub- will report results yesterday. cial crisis. Mmanagement to take further actions dued expectations by a wide margin. But as Morgan Stanley and its peers have Analysts on average had expected to achieve its financial goals, Chief Executive the call went on, Gorman and Chief Finan- increasingly focused on expenses to make earnings of 46 cents per share, according James Gorman said on Monday. cial Officer Jon Pruzan were hammered up for weak revenue. to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net revenue fell The Wall Street bank’s first-quarter with questions about how it will achieve its The bank said in January it was looking 21.3 percent to $7.79bn, missing the average profit tumbled by more than half, as trou- financial goals if market conditions do not to save up to $1 billion by 2017 through tech- estimate of $7.87bn. ble in fixed-income markets hurt its trading improve. nology and moving jobs to less expensive The bank’s adjusted revenue from fixed business and capital markets underwriting Morgan Stanley shares were down 6 cents locations. Overall, it cut expenses by 14 per- income and commodities trading slid 54.1 lagged. Sliding commodity and oil prices, at $25.69 in midday trading. The stock fell cent during the first quarter. percent in the quarter. Equities trading rev- worries about the Chinese economy and about 21 percent in the quarter - the sharp- In an interview, Pruzan said most of the enue fell 9.3 percent. The Wall Street bank’s uncertainty about U.S. interest rates scared est decline of any big US bank. cost-cutting last quarter came from “tight- Morgan Stanley has been shifting its focus first-quarter profit off traders, investors and companies hoping Stephen Biggar, an analyst at Argus ening up discretionary spending.” More cuts away from more volatile areas of trading and to issue debt or list on stock exchanges early Research, said it would be “very difficult” are on the way, but it will take time for them toward more stable and less capital-intensive tumbled by more than in the quarter. for Morgan Stanley to achieve the return- to be reflected in earnings, he said. businesses, like wealth management. half, as trouble in fixed- Morgan Stanley’s return-on-equity, a key on-equity target Gorman has set out with The bank also plans to move more back- Wealth management revenue fell 4.3 per- measure of how well it uses shareholder capi- revenue as weak as it was last quarter. office staff to low-cost locations. About 40 cent to $3.67bn during the quarter, but this income markets hurt tal to earn profits, was 6.2 percent, well below Morgan Stanley is not alone in struggling percent of Morgan Stanley’s back-office accounted for 47 percent of net revenue com- its trading business Gorman’s goal of 9 to 11 percent by the end to grow revenue in weak markets, though its employees currently sit in lower-cost loca- pared with 39 percent in the same period of of next year. profit problems are more severe than rivals tions. Pruzan said the bank would like to 2015. Investment banking revenue, which and capital markets “It must be said that if these markets that are larger and can lean on other busi- increase this to 50 to 55 percent. includes fees from mergers and income from underwriting lagged. were to continue as is, our goals would nesses to buoy results. “There are areas that are starting to take equity and debt underwriting, fell 18.4 per- be extremely difficult to achieve and we Last week, JPMorgan Chase & Co reported shape but we’ll see the actual savings from cent to $1.11bn. 28 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight China’s crowded smartphone Hedge funds bet market heads for an epic shake-out on tightening oil market David Ramli Bloomberg John Kemp shrunk from a recent low of $5.17 Reuters contango to just $2.35 contango. The shrinking contango has he startup Dakele looked pretty smart coincided with a rush of commen- when it released a phone in China four taries from oil analysts predicting years ago. The market was doubling rent futures prices are sig- the crude oil market is now well annually, and the company put brand- nalling the market expects a on the way to rebalancing. Non- name components inside a device that Brapid tightening of the sup- Opec oil production is declining Tcost a fraction of the iPhone. ply-demand balance in the second rapidly while consumption, espe- That $160 gadget went on sale just four months half of 2016. The spread between cially gasoline, continues to grow after Dakele opened its doors, and soon the com- futures prices for oil delivered in strongly, particularly in the United pany, which translates as “Big Cola,” made inroads June and July has moved into a States, India and China. against Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Corp. backwardation of 17 cents per bar- At the same time, many hedge Buzz was building for the Dakele 3 model last year, rel from a contango of almost 50 funds have established “long” posi- with online reviews calling it the best Apple Inc. cents at the end of last month. tions in the spread in anticipation clone. Contango tends to be associ- of market rebalancing by buying Then the sizzle started to fizzle. Huawei spent ated with an oversupplied market a near-dated futures contract and $300 million on marketing, Xiaomi cut prices and and high and rising stocks, while selling one further forward. Long clones of the clone appeared. Troubles with a sup- backwardation is associated with positions in the spread, rather than plier and raising money prompted Dakele to shut the opposite (“Brent contango is a simple outright long position in down last month—and it likely won’t be alone. hard to square with missing bar- the spot price, are favoured by more China’s herd of 300 phone makers may be halved rels”, Reuters, March 10). The rapid sophisticated speculators. in 12 months by competition, a sales plateau and where buyers don’t upgrade as frequently as those Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., fell 1.3 percent, tightening of the June-July spread Spread positions eliminate economic growth that’s the slowest in a quarter- for high-end Apple and Samsung Electronics Co. compared with a 0.4 percent decline for the Taiex can be put down to a series of short- much of the short-term noise and century, according to executives and analysts. phones. index. As the smaller manufacturers are being win- term output disruptions, tanker cross-market contamination which “The mobile-phone industry changed more Jack Ding has been selling phones and acces- nowed, the bigger ones are expanding their share loading delays and now the oil influences spot prices, at least in quickly and brutally than expected,” Dakele Chief sories in his shop on Beijing’s Third Ring Road for of the market. China’s top two brands—Xiaomi and workers’ strike in Kuwait, which theory. Hedge fund long posi- Executive Officer Ding Xiuhong said on his Weibo about two years. He has about 20 different mod- Huawei—owned a combined 30 percent of the mar- have combined to cut near-term tions in the timespreads are not messaging account. “As a startup, we couldn’t find els on display, predominantly local brands such as ket last year, compared with Apple and Samsung’s crude availability. easy to identify in the published more strategies and methods to break through.” Huawei, Lenovo and ZTE. Yet they’re not moving 22 percent. Beyond July, the futures price data, though they are likely to be Smartphone sales in China exploded earlier that well. “I don’t count on selling phones to make “It’s becoming a tough market even for tier-one curve remains in contango, but substantial. this decade as incomes rose, prices for chips and money,” he said. During a 20-minute stretch, only players like Huawei or Xiaomi because it’s hitting there too the market shows signs But outright hedge fund posi- displays plummeted, and carriers offered arrays one customer came in—to buy a 120-yuan ($18.50) saturation,” said CK Lu, a Taiwan-based analyst of tightening, with the contango tioning in Brent hit a record net of discounts. Shelves were flooded with hundreds memory card. China’s economy also stalled, with at Gartner Inc. “In order to face that market satu- narrowing sharply in recent weeks long position of 403 million bar- of brands—from national heavyweights Huawei, last year’s growth retreating to its slowest rate since ration, they’re expanding into the lower tiers that and months. rels on April 12, just before the Lenovo and Xiaomi to the smaller Dakele, Tecno 1990. China smartphone sales last year grew by 2 were owned by the smaller brands.” The spread between July and Doha summit. Hedge funds had Mobile and Gionee. percent—the lowest ever recorded by Canalys. In Xiaomi shipped just 181,000 smartphones in August Brent has shrunk to just amassed an overall net long posi- Shipments more than doubled in each of the 2011, that rate was 150 percent. The cumulative China in 2011. Last year, it led the market with 64.9 23 cents contango, from 84 cents tion in Brent and WTI derivatives three years ending 2012, according to researcher effect may be that about half of all Chinese ven- million shipments, according to Canalys. in early February. The spread amounting to 608 million barrels, Canalys. Xiaomi’s valuation rocketed to $45bn, and dors get swamped, said James Yan, an Beijing-based Huawei saw its shipments multiply by almost between August and September the highest since July 2014, when the phone maker started selling devices in India, analyst at Counterpoint Research. seven times to 63m units during the same period. has narrowed to less than 20 cents the oil slump began. Hedge funds the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Len- “The market will consolidate to about 150,” Yan The Shenzhen, China-based company invested $1 contango, from 75 cents in early are more bullish about the out- ovo Group Ltd. spent $2.91bn to acquire Motorola said. “Some small players will survive but many, billion in research and development for smart- February. A similar narrowing of look for oil prices than at any time Mobility to help make it “a global player.” like Dakele, will go bankrupt.” phones last year. “We’ve been seeing and predicting price spreads is evident through- since the crash started almost two In 2011, only four of the top 10 vendors in China Lenovo rose 1.6 percent in Hong Kong on Tues- consolidation in the Chinese market for some time out the rest of the year and in the years ago. Some of that bullish- were domestic. Last year, there were eight. day and ZTE fell 1.3 percent, compared with a 1.3 now,” said Joe Kelly, a spokesman. “You have to futures strip for 2017. The spread ness is likely to have spilled over Now that wave has crested. Smartphones no percent increase for the Hang Seng Index. In Seoul, be able to develop the phone to differentiate from for the whole of calendar 2017 has into the timespreads. longer are novelties in China, and most domes- Samsung fell 0.9 percent while the benchmark others. Otherwise, you’re just another ‘Me, too’ tic brands target the mid- and low-price ranges, Kospi rose 0.1 percent. Apple’s primary supplier, provider.”

At a time of slow global growth, avoiding beggar-thy- Jacob J. Lew, Capital neighbour exchange rate policies is important. Surplus US Treasury Secretary countries have a responsibility to avoid reliance on the (on worries about Comment exchange rate to support demand. Yen’s rise)

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Visa’s new Name in the Market technology MLC Digital Media @ CFO Journal MLCDigitalMedia to speed-up Digital ad spending GLOBAL EVENTS VS OIL PRICES is expected to climb checkout times 15.4% in 2016 to pass $68 billion. Are you Defaults in junk-rated AP advertising wisely? corporate bonds are on track to reach a two-year World Bank MENA @ high after Peabody Energy NEW YORK: Visa says it’s improv- WorldBankMENA Corp. and Energy XXI ing its smart chip-embedded #MENA is home to 8% cards, which have been the source of the world’s popula- Ltd. filed for bankruptcy of grumbling from businesses and tion, 5% of its GDP- & protection. customers forced to wait for trans- 48% of the world’s actions to go through. #energy #subsidies: The company said Tuesday that Quick Chip for EMV will let Argaam Plus @ customers dip and remove cards, Wealth Adviser usually in two seconds or less, ArgaamPlus without waiting for purchases to #Dubai’s #Alabbar be finalised. buys 4% stake in online Though the wait can be just #fashion retailer YNAP seconds, in today’s economy of Bank of America Corp.’s swipes and scans, the cards have been a nuisance for high traffic Merrill Lynch brokerage retailers, for example, a coffee J.P. Morgan @jpmorgan last month hired nine shop during the morning rush. The cards are more secure New $JPM insights: brokers who managed than those with magnetic strips 50.9% of managers in because the chip assigns a unique say Asia represents the more than $1.5 billion best asset-gathering in client assets. code to each transaction. That potential over the next means that if a crook acquired that 3-5 yrs code, it couldn’t be used to make another purchase. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 30 PAGE | 34 Rosberg can take Pochettino proud little comfort as ‘perfect’ Spurs from F1 history maintain charge

WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 • 13 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

2016 SEALINE CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY – POSITIONS ON SS2 Al Attiyah extends Sealine lead Cars 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 3hr 08min 36sec 2. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Mini All4 Racing 3hr 15min 48sec 3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing 3hr 31min 08sec 4. Jutta Kleinschmidt (DEU)/Philipp Beier (DEU) X-raid CBRA 3hr 39min 29sec 5. Yuriy Sazonov (KAZ)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR) Hummer H3 III 3hr 40min 57sec Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah in action 6. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor (POL) Toyota at the Sealine Rally Hilux Overdrive 3hr 45min 32sec yesterday.Inset: Bikes Charlotte Berton gets 1.Jose Cornejo (CHI) KTM 450 Rally 4hr 10min 30sec stuck in the sand on 2. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) Yamaha WR450F 4hr 13min the first of the dunes 02sec on day two. 3. Juan Carlos Salvatierra (BOL) KTM 450 Replica 4hr 22min 30sec 4. Toby Price (AUS) KTM 450 Rally 4hr 24min 12sec 5. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) Husqvarna 450 Rally 4hr 24min 34sec Quads 1. Ignacio Casale Catracchia (CHI) Yamaha Raptor 700 SE 4hr 32min 11sec 2. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 4hr 46min 29sec

first of three Mini All4 Racings inside the top Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren set the four. The pair were closely matched until the second quickest time on his factory Yamaha. Australian Price tops latter kilometres when Al-Rajhi lost time with “Definitely not easy today,” said Price, who the motorcycle overall a puncture and a navigational error. complained of a shooting back pain as he “Tomorrow we start in the dunes and we arrived in Losail. standings in the desert can push a little but, after what happened “The last 50 or so kilometres, we made a round of both the FIA and today, we can control the race and can push bit of a navigational error and got sidetracked. more,” said Al-Attiyah. “Now the others have Other than that it was a decent day. We just FIM world championships to catch us and they can make the mistake.” have to regroup and look forward to tomor- Al-Rajhi was a little deflated after losing row and try and minimise those mistakes. so much time late on: “Nasser was too much The error by Pablo, Sam and myself brings lucky today. I had a puncture and the car was the others back into the race. The way it is The Peninsula sliding at the back for around 40km. I followed situated, a couple of guys got in between me, him and I see his dust. There were some stones Sam and Pablo, so that makes it more difficult and, with a slow puncture, I stopped. After for myself. I guess Pablo made the error, Sam that, before the finish around 20km, I see all followed and I was in two minds what to do. Chilean rider Jose Cornejo, the LOSAIL: The demanding 345.89km second the bikes lost. Timo (Gottschalk) said stay left. But they were on the gas and I followed. One selective section of the Sealine Cross-Coun- We went 3km and came back 4km. It was so of those things.” surprise winner at the second stage try Rally, between Al-Khararra and Sealine, frustrating.” Van Beveren said: “It was nice today. Yes- of the Sealine Rally yesterday. belonged to Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Price had to make his way to the front terday I had some problem with the water and and the Chilean duo of Jose Cornejo and Igna- of the motorcycle stage by catching Chile’s my bike stopped. It was really difficult nav- cio Casale Catracchia yesterday. Pablo Quintanilla and Dubai-based Briton igation. We started in 11th place because of They won their respective car, motorcycle Sam Sunderland. The trio rode together for the result yesterday and it was easier for me. I and quad categories, as Al Attiyah and Casale long sections of the tricky special and Price took my time to avoid mistakes, but I did make Catracchia extended their outright leads and somehow reached the finish with a lead of 38 some. I lost maybe 10 minutes at one point, but Australian Toby Price topped the motorcycle seconds over Bolivia’s Juan Carlos Salvatierra the other riders lose more than me. I also lost overall standings in the five-day desert round in the overall standings. time at the same place as the leaders around Mini colleague Ricardo Porém was fourth and trouble early on the second stage, the Qatari of both the FIA and FIM world championships. All three front-runners got lost for a long km 308. I’m not here to win. I am here to learn Kazakh Yuriy Sazonov and Jutta Kleinschmidt became involved in a battle for the lead with time near the finish and frantic shenanigans a lot to win in the future.” rounded off the top six. Yasir Seidan. His Nissan Middle East-backed Al Attiyah and his French navigator Mat- trying to find the correct route played into Casale Catracchia extended his advan- Local driver Adel Hussein Abdullah actu- Patrol eventually claimed the outright lead thieu Baumel guided their Toyota Hilux Chilean rider Jose Cornejo’s hands perfectly tage in the quad category to 14min 19sec after ally began the stage this morning second in the and takes an advantage of 8min 46sec over the Overdrive to a second successive stage win and he tagged on the end of the group as they Poland’s Rafal Sonik endured a troubled sec- T2 category after the results were amended Saudi into day three. Michele Cinotto stopped from the front of the field and have now estab- found the correct route and managed to claim ond day in the Qatar deserts. on Monday evening and Peru’s Raul Orlandini on the west of the route with technical issues lished an overall lead of 7min 56sec over the an unlikely stage win after major delays on Vladimir Vasilyev climbed to third over- was promoted into the lead. and ceded the T3 lead to his son Pietro Cinotto Saudi Arabian Yazeed Al-Rajhi, driving the Monday. all in the car category, despite three flat tyres. But, when the Peruvian hit mechanical in another Polaris RZR 1000s. Qatar’s Ahmed, Ali and Mohsin qualify for knockout stage

The Peninsula

DOHA: Three home cueists Ali Alobaidli, Ahmed Saif and Mohsin Al-Abdulrahman qualified for the knockout stage of the Asian Snooker championship qualifying from their respective groups at the Qatar Bil- liards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) Academy here yesterday. The trio joins 33 other players who have made it to next stage of the championship including the top seeds Pankaj Advani of India and Moham- A referee preparing the table for the next match during the Asian Snooker championship in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Ahmed Saif from Qatar in med Asif of Pakistan. action during the group stage of the championship. Pictures by: Abdul Basit Others who have made it next ASIAN SNOOKER round are Arman Dinarvand, Habib CHAMPIONSHIP Sabah Mohammad Bilal, Muham- Singh Chadha, Mohammed Al Joaker, Chee Keong Chan, Alijalil Ali, Alvin 7 frames while the quarter-finals $3,500 and the runner-up $1,750. The mad Sajjad, Omar Alajlani, Chi Wai Amir Sarkhosh, Fung Kwok Wai Ali Barbero, Lim Chun Kiat, Robby Suarly. and the semi- finals will be best of losing semi-finalists will collect $500 Au, Manan Chandra, Yuttapop Pakpoj, Hussein, Ahmed Aseeri, Mohammed The players were divided into 12 9 frames. The final will be played on each. the Highest break (over 100 points) Michael Mengorio, Keen Hoo Moh, Alshamsi, Karam Fatima, Husain groups for the preliminary rounds. April 23 at 11:00 am and will be a best The organisers have also have line will pocket $500 and those with max- Sundeep Gulati, Kritsanut Lertsatta- Mahmood, Chi Chung Au, Soheil All the league matches up to of 11 frames affair. up cash awards for the highest break imum break (above 147) is set to go yathorn, Mohamed Shehab, Ishpreet Vahedi, Jefrey Roda, Sohail Shehzad, the pre-quarters stage are best of The winner of the event will get and maximum break. The player with home with $1,750. 30 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Diamond League: Tickets up for Asian Rugby Tri-Nations grabs for Doha showdown

The Peninsula areas. Many of the sport’s superstars QATAR SC TO HOST are already confirmed to take part EXTRAVAGANZA ON MAY 6 in Doha, with several Olympic and World champions signed up to cre- DOHA: Tickets for the 2016 IAAF ate a fantastic and spectacular IAAF Diamond League in Doha, the top ranging from QR50 to QR200 ensure Diamond League kick-off night. international athletics event set to there is the right ticket for everyone The long list includes: four-time be held next month are now avail- to enjoy one of the most prestigious Olympic and nine-time world cham- able at a selection of retail outlets, sports events held in the country: pion sprinter Allyson Felix from the the organisers announced yesterday. tickets for general seats and family US; Flying Dutchwoman Dafne Schip- Top athletes from around the tribune are set at QR50, pers, the 200m world champion; world will assemble in Doha for top Finish line tickets are QR100 triple jump Olympic and World gold honours in the Diamond League, while the entrance fee for the VIP medallist Christian Taylor; which will be held on May 6 at the tribune has been fixed at QR200 Kenya’s 1500m world champion Qatar Sports Club. (includes snacks & drinks, vehicle Asbel Kiprop; Ethiopia’s 3000m sen- Tickets can be purchased and access to parking). sation and winner at last year’s World collected at Virgin Megastore Land- The entrance for kids under the Championships Almaz Ayana; 110m mark, Virgin Megastore Villaggio, age of 4 is free of charge. hurdles Olympic champion and world Spinneys the Pearl and, on the day The IAAF Diamond League brings record holder Aries Merritt; as well as Action from the 2016 Asian Rugby Tri-Nations Division III Championship match between Iran and of the event, from Qatar Sports Club’s together the world’s finest track and local heroes Mutaz Barshim, Femi Lebanon at the Aspire warm-up and purpose built rugby track. Lebanon won the match 34-12. The ticket desk. field athletes to compete in an annual Ogunode and Musaeb Abdulrahman championship is being hosted by Qatar Rugby Federation with the last game to be played on April 22 . Four different price levels, series spread across four continental Balla. Formula One should leave the rules alone: Wolff Rosberg can take little Reuters comfort from F1 history LONDON: Formula One should shelve plans for major rule changes in 2017 because the sport is in an has barely started and he knows it, German F1 ‘ideal situation’ already with faster even if he is 36 points ahead of Ham- Three races is just a racing driver cars and more competitive races, ilton. “Six wins, that doesn’t count for small handful and we Nico Rosberg according to Mercedes motorsport poses on the red me because three were last year. So head Toto Wolff (pictured). have 18 to go... and carpet before the I just think about the three wins this The Austrian, whose team have my team-mate is dear Laureus World year,” said the German after another dominated since the 1.6 litre V6 turbo Sports 2016 dominant afternoon in China. hybrid power units were introduced Lewis and he’s going Awards Ceremony “But it’s early days. Three races is in 2014, said there was an argument to push like hell, says in Berlin on just a small handful and we have 18 for doing nothing after three excit- Monday. to go. It’s the longest season in F1 his- ing races this season. German driver tory and my team-mate is dear Lewis Formula One teams have until and he’s going to push like hell -- like the end of April to agree 2017 rule always. changes by majority vote and meet- “It’s been tough to beat him in ings are scheduled in the coming previous years and it’s not going to days as the sport seeks to make cars Reuters be any different this year... he’s the faster and more spectacular. Rivals have chafed at Mercedes’ benchmark.” “We always said that...the longer dominance while drivers have com- Both have only to look to 2014 to you keep the regulations stable the plained that the cars are too easy to see how the situation can change -- more the performance is going to drive. LONDON: History suggests Nico even if that season had the novelty of converge between everybody,” Wolff Declining audiences, amid a Rosberg is a solid bet for the For- double points for the final race. said after Sunday’s Chinese Grand switch away from free-to-air tele- mula One world championship after Rosberg, whose Finnish father Prix in Shanghai. vision, is another factor. his dominant start to the season, but Keke won the 1982 title with one win “This is exactly what is happen- However Mercedes’ triple cham- the German would be wise to ignore all year, led by 29 points after the Bel- ing now. Engines are converging, the pion Lewis Hamilton this month the statisticians and be very wary of gian Grand Prix in August 2014 but teams are converging, the gains we smashed the Bahrain track record Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton then reeled off five wins in are making are smaller because the which was set in 2005 during the Rosberg’s triumph in Sunday’s a row on his way to the championship. curve flattens out and the others are V10 era. Chinese Grand Prix made him the The Briton had 10 wins last year making bigger steps. Mercedes are also casting a wary seventh driver since 1950 to start and 11 in 2014 compared to Rosberg’s “There is no selling proposi- eye at Ferrari, second on Sunday a campaign with three straight six and five respectively. tion within those new regulations with Sebastian Vettel, and revived victories. “I need to win all 18 races,” in my opinion, we should just leave former champions Red Bull who fin- Adding in the three he won at the Hamilton said after China, but the it alone,” added Wolff. ished third and fourth. tail-end of 2015, Rosberg also became champion has always been better at “The racing is great and it will Wolff said rewriting the rules the fourth ever to rack up six Formula driving than doing the mathemat- become even greater if we leave the risked spreading the field out again One world championship race wins ics. With 25 points for a win and 18 regulations alone.” and making one team more dom- in a row. end of season standings every year When Italian Alberto Ascari (1953) for second place, there is everything Nico Rosberg has won all three inant while overtaking could be All those who previously achieved since he arrived at Mercedes in 2013. and Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio to play for. races for Mercedes, who have started harder. such winning streaks went on to win His 43 career Grand Prix victo- (1954, 1957) won the first three races If Rosberg were to retire at the all from pole position. “We are having an ideal situ- the title that season. ries, compared to Rosberg’s 17, puts of the season there were eight or nine next race in Russia, a Grand Prix that The champions have now won ation with great racing and three The caveat is that 2016 has a him third on the all-time list of win- rounds. only Hamilton has ever won since its a total of 35 of the last 41 races and great races in a row now,” the Mer- record 21 races and Mercedes gives ners behind Michael Schumacher and Even seven times world champion debut in 2014, the gap between them nine in a row. cedes head said. its drivers equal status – and none Alain Prost. Schumacher, Rosberg’s compatriot could suddenly become 11 points. Wolff’s view is unlikely to pre- “Are we capable of reacting of the drivers who enjoyed such hot Rosberg is the most successful who won three races in a row at the “For me, it’s a marathon not a vail, however, with other principals quickly enough and acknowledging streaks in the past had a team-mate driver never to have won a title, hav- start of the 1994, 2000 and 2004 sea- sprint. Right now I still have the best saying that approving new regula- that and reverting maybe to regu- like Hamilton. ing now overtaken Britain’s Stirling sons, only had a maximum of 18 races car, we are still the best team and we tions, which will also feature wider lations which seem to be OK now? I The Briton is a triple world cham- Moss who was overall runner-up four to contend with and just 16 in 1994. still have 18 races. I don’t see this as tyres and wings, is a formality. don’t know.” pion, who has beaten Rosberg in the times in the 1950s. In that sense, Rosberg’s season his championship.”

Aussie Rio uniforms launched Rio Games chief shrugs off power failures, political worries

Reuters an ASOIF assembly that the power decades, casting doubt on Brazil’s outages were potentially a “serious ability to complete preparations for issue” and also complained of a lack the event in time. of sufficient lighting in competition “Until today we have no involve- LAUSANNE: Rio de Janeiro’s Olym- and training halls, which he blamed ment and no problems with any of the pic chief Carlos Nuzman yesterday on funding problems. political or economical situations in brushed aside complaints over power But Nuzman, in his address to the the country,” said Nuzman. failures and other problems revealed assembly, said: “Test events are there “We are not involved in this and during a gymnastics test event and to detect problems raised by athletes the Games will run normally as they also played down concerns over a and national federations.” have until today. We don’t expect any deepening political crisis in Brazil. Nuzman also sounded a relaxed problems in delivering the Games.” The Association of Summer note about the political situation in “I have no doubt we will deliver Olympic International Federations Brazil, whose President Dilma Rous- an incredible Games but it is impor- (ASOIF) heard yesterday that a gym- seff suffered a humiliating loss in a tant to remember the situation is nastics event being held in Rio this crucial impeachment vote in the completely different today,” he said. week partly as a test run for the lower house of Congress on Sunday. Brazil was awarded the Olym- Games suffered from power failures, She is almost certain to be forced pics in 2009 when it was enjoying a problems with the timing system and from office well before the Olympic period of strong economic growth but Australian Olympic swimmer Kyle Chalmers poses for a photo by Sydney Harbour at a media launch power outages when athletes were Games open in Rio on August 5. has since fallen into its worst reces- to unveil the official uniforms to be worn by the Australian Olympic team during the 2016 Games, performing. The crisis has paralysed the gov- sion in decades. Brazil is also battling yesterday. The Rio Olympics will be held from August 5 to 21, 2016. International Gymnastics Fed- ernment as it struggles to revive the an outbreak of the Zika virus, which eration official Ron Froehlich told economy from its worst recession in is linked to birth defects in newborns. SPORT WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 31

Valverde Inzamam urges primed for patience as young Pakistan rebuild challengers Reuters AFP

A pink leather ball which is used in day-night Tests. The Proteas’ players association chief has said CHARLEROI: A host of young that South Africa are reluctant to play a day-night Test during their tour of Australia as they have no LAHORE: Former Pakistan cricket pretenders will be lining up title- experience with the pink ball, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (pictured) holder Alejandro Valverde in has called for patience as he begins their sights at the Fleche Wall- his new role as chief selector and onne today. says there is no quick fix to solving The midweek Ardennes Clas- the side’s problems. sic race lasts nearly 200km yet Pakistan rose to number two in almost always comes down to a the test rankings last year after series shoot-out on the imposing 1.3km Proteas reluctant to wins in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and long final ascent of the Mur de Huy by beating England in the United (wall of Huy). Arab Emirates in November. It’s a climb that requires riders However, they have failed to rep- to manage their effort, something licate the success in limited-overs Spanish veteran Valverde has done formats recently and started 2016 to perfection three times. with defeats in both 50-overs and He holds the record for the play day-night Test Twenty20 series in New Zealand. joint most wins at the Fleche with “It’s the start, I don’t have a four other riders, including Belgian magic wand,” Inzamam told report- great Eddy Merckx. summer and Cricket Australia New Zealand players had similar ers. “It will take time, there will be But Australian Michael Mat- announced last year that they wanted misgivings about last year’s fixture in technical things and other problems thews will be amongst a posse of South Africans not one of the fixtures to be a day-night Adelaide but were given a A$1 million too which we have to see. young pretenders looking to strip in favour as Aussies match. ($777,000) sweetener by Cricket Aus- “We have to be patient, don’t Valverde of his crown. Australia hosted New Zealand tralia to commit. expect anything soon.” Matthews, 25, finished fifth at look for a pink ball in the first day-night test in Novem- Organisers hailed the Test a suc- Pakistan won two of four Sunday’s Amstel Gold, the first of Test during the ber and while the match drew huge cess, despite Australia wrapping up matches in the Asia Cup T20 tour- the three Ardennes Classics, and crowds and big television audiences victory in three days. nament in Bangladesh before exiting upcoming tour FORMER STAR BEGINS the Orica-GreenEdge rider has players on both sides complained that Adelaide Tests are traditionally the World Twenty20 in India on the NEW JOURNEY WITH PCB been in fine form since a great the ball was hard to see at times. well supported by local fans and back of three group stage defeats. start to the season at Paris-Nice The pink ball has been developed interstate visitors but the total attend- The results prompted head coach last month. Perhaps the most com- for day-night Test cricket, replac- ance of 123,000 was a record in the Waqar Younis to resign and saw all- be to select the Pakistan squad for plete of the young challengers is Reuters ing the traditional red ball which city for a non-Ashes fixture. rounder Shahid Afridi lose the T20 a full tour of England starting July, Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, becomes too difficult for batsmen to Australia, who have also used captaincy, while the selection com- when they play four tests, five ODIs who was second to Valverde at see after dark. the pink ball in domestic Sheffield mittee was also dissolved by the and a T20 match. The team will also both the Fleche Wallonne and “Our players are not in favour Shield matches, host Pakistan in a board (PCB). play two ODIs against Ireland after Liege-Bastogne-Liege last year. MELBOURNE: South Africa are of playing the game under those three-Test series in the coming home Inzamam, 46, quit his position the tests in England. The 23-year-old was suffering reluctant to play a day-night Test conditions,” South African players’ summer, with a match at Brisbane’s as Afghanistan head coach to take He said it was important to build from mononucleosis over winter during their tour of Australia as association Chief Executive Tony Irish Gabba ground tipped to be played up his new role with Pakistan, who a pool of players and put the effort but has come back into form at they have no experience with the told The Australian newspaper. under lights. won the 50-overs World Cup in 1992 into helping them develop. just the right time, finishing sixth pink ball, the Proteas’ players asso- “The reluctance to play is a sign Cricket Australia will announce and the T20 version in 2009. “When you make changes, you at Amstel. ciation chief has said. of how much importance the South their summer schedule today and The former batting great guided face problems, but we will be back Belgian Tim Wellens, 24, who South Africa will tour Australia African players place on the series declined to comment on South Afri- Afghanistan to the Super 10 stage on track if we make a pool of play- made a daring solo attack 7km in a three-Test series in the home against Australia,” Irish added. ca’s reservations about the pink ball. of the World Twenty20, where they ers,” he added. from the end of the Amstel Gold collected a win over eventual cham- The former right-handed race before finishing 10th, and pions West Indies. His contract with batsman played 378 one-day inter- Czech Petr Vakoc, 23, winner of Afghanistan ran until the end of the nationals and 120 tests for Pakistan the Brabantse Pijl race, could also year. and also served as the team’s batting both feature, as could 24-year-old KKR’s Uthappa, Gautam Inzamam’s next assignment will consultant for a brief period in 2012. Dane Michael Valgren, second to veteran Italian Enrico Gasparotto at Amstel. Valverde will start as favourite, pave way for easy win not least due to the form he showed Bairstow revives in winning the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon last week. IANS memories of Stokes MOHALI: Robin Uthappa and Gau- tam Gambhir’s 82-run opening stand Riders union paved the way for Kolkata Knight Rid- stand with double ton ers (KKR) to grab a six-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab in an Indian calls for life Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium AFP big-hitting partner, Bairstow said: yesterday. “Exactly.” bans for tech Uthappa scored a quickfire 28-ball Both Bairstow and umpire Nigel 53, while Gambhir got to a run-a-ball Llong had to take evasive action cheating 34. For Kings XI, Axar Patel and Par- LONDON: Jonathan Bairstow was when one of Plunkett’s 18 bounda- deep Sahu bagged two wickets each. involved in another large stand with ries came whistling straight down Earlier, the Knights led by mystery a big-hitting partner on Monday as the pitch. AFP spinner Sunil Narine’s 2-22 once again he revived memories of his finest day “I think he nearly cleaned put up a brilliant performance with the in an England shirt. me up at the other end,” said the ball to restrict Kings XI Punjab to 138/8. Four months ago Bairstow and wicketkeeper-batsman. PARIS: International riders associ- Besides Narine, South African Ben Stokes, who struck a stunning “I didn’t really see too much of ation (CPA) president Gianni Bugno speedster Morne Morkel returned 2-27. double century, shared a record- the ball, and I think Nigel Llong was has called for life bans for those For Kings XI, Shaun Marsh top-scored breaking stand of 399 against South running the other way as well,” said caught with motorised bicycles. with an unbeaten 41-ball 56. Africa in Cape Town -- a partnership Bairstow, whose innings was the Bugno, a twice former world In pursuit of 139, KKR started off that included the Yorkshireman’s centrepiece of Yorkshire’s impos- champion and two time Giro on a canter with Uthappa being the maiden Test hundred. ing total of 593 for nine declared. d’Italia winner during his racing aggressor. Monday saw Bairstow in the Plunkett may be better known as career, was speaking to Italian Skipper Gambhir, meanwhile, con- runs again, this time for defending a fast bowler but the England inter- newspaper Corriere della Sera centrated on running hard between the county champions Yorkshire, with national’s hitting power with the bat Kolkata Knight Riders batsman and a day after the newspaper and wickets. the wicketkeeper-batsman posting a is no secret -- it’s just that he’ rarely captain Gautam Gambhir plays a cut French TV programme Stade 2 Uthappa managed to get to his fifty career-best 246 and sharing a part- wielded the willow to such good claimed to have detected possible but then was adjudged leg-before- during their 2016 IPL Twenty20 cricket nership of 227 with Liam Plunkett, effect. Hampshire captain James cases of technological doping dur- wicket off a Sahu leg-spinner. match against Kings XI Punjab at The who made 126, as Hampshire were Vince then did his chances of an ing the Strade Bianche and Coppi A few overs later against the run of Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in run ragged on the second day of a England Test call-up no harm with e Bartali races in March. play, Gambhir skied one in the air and Mohali yesterday. First Division fixture at Headingley. an impressive 76 not out against one Bugno called on the Interna- was brilliantly caught by Glen Max- Asked if there was a similar- of the best county attacks around as tional Cycling Union (UCI) to get well in the deep. ity in the two stands, both of which the visitors reached stumps on 141 tougher on cheats and do more to With only 29 runs left, Manish Pan- SCOREBOARD featured him batting alongside a for five. weed them out. dey (12) who was looking good, missed “The CPA is asking for the UCI a straighter one from Axar Patel which KINGS XI PUNJAB Y K Pathan 1-0-6-1 (2w); A D Russell 1-0-18-0 . to impose exemplary and severe crashed onto his citadel. He was fol- M Vijay b Chawla 26 KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS ENGLISH COUNTY SCORES sanctions such as life bans for lowed by Shakib Al Hasan (11) who M Vohra c S Al Hasan b Morkel 8 R V Uthappa lbw Sahu 53 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP (SECOND DAY OF FOUR) the riders who commit offences holed out at third man. S E Marsh (not out) 56 G ambhir c Maxwell b Sahu 34 because they throw mud all over Yusuf Pathan (12) and Suryakumar W P Saha c Uthappa b Narine 8 M K Pandey b Patel 12 the honest cycling of the major- Yadav (11) then took their side across First Division Second Division ity,” Bugno said. the line with 17 balls to spare. D A Miller c Uthappa b Pathan 6 Shakib Al Hasan c S Sharma b Patel 11 At Old Trafford: At Sophia Gardens: During its report, Stade 2 had Batting first, the hosts had a steady G J Maxwell c Chawla b Narine 4 S A Yadav (not out)11 Nottinghamshire 242 (C Read 52; N Wagner Glamorgan 348 (G Wagg 64, D Lloyd 59, C used a thermal camera to detect beginning even though they lost Manan A R Patel c S A Yadav b U T Yadav 9 Y K Pathan (not out) 12 6-66) v Lancashire 311-8 (L Livingstone 63 no, Cooke 56, W Bragg 50; C McKay 6-73) v Leices-

heat sources it claimed could point Vohra (8) early. Murali Vijay and Marsh M M Sharma c Uthappa b Morkel 1 Extras (LB-5, W-3) 8 A Davies 55) tershire 297-6 (N O’Brien 93, P Horton 67) to the use of a motor in the bicycle. then got together to stitch together a P Sahu (run out) 1 Total (for 4 wkts in 17.1 overs) 141 While there have been 26-run partnership and at the end of K J Abbott (not out) 12 Did not bat: A D Russell, P P Chawla, S P Nar- At Lord’s: At Bristol: rumours motorised bicycles have the powerplay, the Kings had put on a Middlesex 452 (S Robson 231, N Gubbins 68, J Derbyshire 444 (W Madsen 150, C Hughes 96, been used for years, the only rider decent 41/1. Extras (LB-2, W-5) 7 ine, M Morkel, U T Yadav. Simpson 52; J Patel 4-80) v Warwickshire 146- T Poynton 53; J Taylor 4-61, L Norwell 4-104) v to be caught with a motor was Vijay (26) failed to pick a Piyush Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-97, 3-110, 4-123. Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) 138 4 (I Trott 62 no, V Chopra 57) Gloucestershire 110-1 (C Dent 61 no) Belgian under-23 cyclo-cross com- Chawla googly and was cleaned up in Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-47, 3-59, 4-72, 5-94, Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 2-0-21-0; K J Ab- petitor Femke Van den Driessche. the eighth over. bott 3-0-32-0 (2w); M M Sharma 3.1-0-29-0 6-108, 7-115, 8-118. At Headingley: At Hove: Bugno called for the UCI to use Marsh (56 n.o.) stayed till the end to (1w); A R Patel 3-0-19-2; P Sahu 4-0-18-2; G J Bowling: M Morkel 4-0-27-2; U T Yadav 3-0- Yorkshire 593-9 dec (J Bairstow 246, L Plun- Sussex 360 (C Nash 119, E Joyce 61, O Robinson thermal cameras but the world ensure his team scraped through to a Maxwell 2-0-17-0. cycling governing body denied decent total. The last over from Andre 17-1; Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-28-0 (1w); S P Nar- kett 126, A Lyth 111) v Hampshire 141-5 (J Vince 51) v Essex 252-7 (T Westley 86, J Ryder 51) Player-of-the-Match: R Uthappa (KKR) those would be more effective than Russell produced 18 runs as the Kings ine 4-0-22-2 (1w); P P Chawla 3-0-18-1 (1w); 76 no) current testing methods. signed off with some momentum. 32 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 SPORT Los Angeles Kings secure thrilling win over Sharks

Reuters seconds after the opening faceoff NHL PLAY-OFFS when Joe Thornton scored his first goal of the series. Sharks left winger Tomas Hertl NEW YORK: Tanner Pearson scored benefitted from a Milan Lucic at 3:47 of overtime to give the Los The Sharks enjoyed two power turnover, and he slipped a pass to Angeles Kings a 2-1 win over the plays but failed to convert. The Kings Thornton, who moved to the slot and San Jose Sharks at SAP Center Mon- went on a late-period power play, but fired a low wrist shot that found its day night. they too managed two shots without way past Quick. Pearson’s overtime winner ena- converting. The Sharks had an opportunity bled Los Angeles to cut San Jose’s lead Quick was sharp during the mid- to score again but couldn’t hit the net in the best-of-seven Western Confer- dle session. He denied Chris Tierney on a power play. ence first-round series to 2-1. Game one-on-one after San Jose’s Nick The Kings, meanwhile, needed 4 is tomorrow in San Jose. Spaling forced a turnover and fed only 20 seconds on their first power Los Angeles snapped a streak of his teammate in front. Quick also play to tie the game. five consecutive overtime losses to stopped a Logan Couture blast and Anze Kopitar, who had a big first San Jose, while the Sharks lost only Joonas Donskoi’s follow attempt period, slammed home his first goal their second overtime game in 12 inside the final two minutes of the of the series off a cross-ice feed from tries. second period. Lucic. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick The Kings, who didn’t manage The sequence started when Los made 29 saves for the win, while their first shot of the period until Angeles defenceman Jake Muzzin Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (right) passes the ball against Houston Rockets centre Dwight Sharks goaltender Martin Jones 8:45, had a chance when Kyle Clif- put a shot on goal from the left point Howard (centre) as Warriors centre Andrew Bogut looks on during the third quarter in game one of the topped 22 shots. ford stripped Jones, who scrambled that Jones stopped, but the rebound first round of the NBA Play-offs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday. The third period was scoreless back to save what would have been squirted right to Lucic. as the Sharks outshot the Kings 8-4. an embarrassing goal. The Sharks were lucky to escape San Jose had two more power plays in The Sharks and Kings were tied a second short-handed situation fol- the period but couldn’t manage a shot 1-1 after a fast-paced first period lowing Spaling’s trip at 11:50. on either advantage, making them that saw Los Angeles get the better The Kings put four quick shots on 0-for-5 through 60 minutes. of shots (13-7) on the strength of its goal during the first 25 seconds of the Warriors march on Special teams were the story of a power play. power play, and they finished with scoreless second period. San Jose broke on top just 30 five shots in all without converting.

Haula makes in Curry’s absence the difference as Wild down Thompson shines for Golden State in Dallas Stars rout over Rockets as Agencies Raptors and Mavs fight back

NEW YORK: One game later than expected, the addition of Erik Haula to the Minnesota Wild line- AFP up was a difference-maker. Haula started the game at cen- tre and had a goal and an assist as Minnesota rallied from an early LOS ANGELES: The reigning cham- two-goal deficit to beat the Dal- pion Golden State Warriors shrugged las Stars 5-3 on Monday in Game off the injury absence of Stephen 3 of their best-of-seven first-round Curry to take a 2-0 lead in their play- playoff series. off series with the Houston Rockets Jason Pominville scored twice Mikael Granlund (left) of the Minnesota Wild controls the puck against on Monday. while Chris Porter and Mikko Cody Eakin of the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game Three Curry was left a frustrated spec- Koivu also had goals for Minne- Injured point guard Stephen Curry (centre) of the Golden State of the Western Conference quarter-finals during the 2016 NHL Stanley tator at Oakland’s Oracle Arena after sota, which had lost its previous six Cup Play-offs at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota on Monday. failing a pre-game fitness test on a Warriors supports his team from the bench in Game Two of the consecutive playoff games. sore ankle shortly before tip-off. Western Conference quarter-finals during the 2016 NBA Play-offs at Devan Dubnyk had 14 saves for However, the Warriors made light Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Monday. the Wild, who were the eighth seed of their talisman’s absence, romping in the West and now trail Dallas period. But Dallas answered with some After Dallas killed the game’s first to a 115-106 win that leaves Steve do live by,” said Thompson. Cur- saw him go seven-for-33 for 21 points 2-1 in the series. puck luck, as a shot from the blue line penalty, Porter got Minnesota on the Kerr’s record-breaking side firmly ry’s replacement, Shaun Livingston, tally. Durant’s wayward shooting Patrick Sharp scored twice in by Dallas defenseman Jason Demers board with less than a minute to play on course to advance. played a key role in a fourth quarter saw him equal the record -- held by the opening five minutes for the deflected off the hand of a Wild player, in the first period. The Rockets must now win one scoring burst, finishing with 16 points Michael Jordan -- for most missed Stars, who had won the series’ hit Sceviour in the chest and landed in Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin of their next two games at home, and six assists, earning high praise field-goal attempts in a single game. first two games in Dallas, hold- the net, pulling the Stars back within worked the puck to Haula at the blue tomorrow and on Sunday, to extend from Thompson. In Toronto, Jonas Valanciunas scored ing Minnesota to just one goal in a goal. line and Haula shot wide of the net to the series and avoid a first round exit. Warriors coach Kerr said Curry 23 points as the Raptors beat the Indi- the process. But they could not Pominville put his second goal of the right. But Porter was there and was With Curry absent, it was left to had taken the decision not to play. His ana Pacers 98-87 to level their series hold the lead on Monday despite the game into an empty net with 74 able to reach around a Goligoski and Klay Thompson to do the damage, condition would be monitored ahead at 1-1. a 20-save effort from goalie Kari seconds left, as the Wild won for the re-direct the puck. It beat Lehtonen with the guard stepping up to weigh of game three, but Kerr stressed Lehtonen. Colton Sceviour added first time since March 29. low, making it 2-1 and re-igniting the in with 34 points. Thompson added Golden State would not gamble on a late goal for the Stars, who are Dallas needed just 26 seconds to Minnesota crowd. five assists to go with his points haul their star player’s fitness. NBA RESULTS the top seed in the West. effectively take the raucous crowd out The second period was all Min- while Andre Iguodala chipped in with Elsewhere on Monday, Raymond Western Conference Haula, who had missed the of the game, at least for a time. Wild nesota, as the Wild dominated early 18 points. Draymond Green finished Felton scored 21 points as the Dallas first game of the series with a defenseman Ryan Suter’s backhand in the period and tied the game on In Oakland, California with 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight Mavericks staged a late rally to defeat lower-body injury, had a career- clearing attempt from behind the net Haula’s first of the playoffs. Pomin- assists. James Harden was the main the Oklahoma City Thunder 85-84 on Golden State 115 Houston 106 best 14 goals in the regular season, was intercepted by Stars defender Alex ville put a shot on net that Haula tipped attacking conduit for Houston, fin- Monday to level their Western Con- (Golden State lead series 2-0) and has emerged as an offensive Goligoski along the boards. past Lehtonen. Dallas made a push in ishing with 28 points and 11 assists ference play-off series. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma catalyst for Minnesota, especially He shot a waist-high puck toward the middle of the period, but couldn’t to top the Rockets scoring. The game finished dramatically, Oklahoma City 84 Dallas 85 with forwards Zach Parise and Dubnyk, and Sharp deflected it past solve Dubnyk. Thompson later paid tribute to with the Thunder just missing by a (Series tied at 1-1) Thomas Vanek missing from the the goalie for a 1-0 Stars lead on the Then the Wild took their first lead the Warriors’ ability to minimize the split second what would have been Eastern Conference lineup due to injury. game’s first shift. of the series in the final minute of the impact of Curry’s absence. a winning tip in from Steven Adams In Toronto With Minnesota leading 3-2 Sharp doubled the Dallas lead four period. The teams were skating 4-on-4 “We’ve got such great versatility, after Kevin Durant’s missed layup. after 40 minutes, Koivu gave minutes later, taking a long lead pass when Pominville capped a rush to the numbers 1 to 15. This slogan, strength Durant was left ruing a miser- Toronto 98 Indiana 87 the Wild a two-goal lead with a from Cody Eakin and blasting a low net, popping a shot past Lehtonen on (Series tied at 1-1) in numbers is something we really able shooting performance, which power-play goal early in the third shot past Dubnyk’s glove hand. the glove side. MLB: Martin guides Blue Jays home

Agencies Mets 5, Phillies 2 inning, lifting Colorado past Cincin- NHL RESULTS Noah Syndergaard pitched seven nati. Rockies right-hander Jordan Toronto 4 Boston 3 strong innings, and David Wright Lyles (1-1) allowed an unearned run NY Mets 5 Philadelphia 2 homered twice as the New York and four hits through seven innings NEW YORK: Russell Martin’s two- Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies after struggling in his first two starts. Colorado 5 Cincinnati 1 out, two run single in the eighth 5-2 Monday night. Marlins 6, Nationals 1 Miami 6 Washington 1 inning capped a four-run inning for Lucas Duda and Neil Walker hit After five consecutive home Chicago Cubs 5 St Louis 0 Toronto en route to a victory over back-to-back homers for New York, losses, Miami finally earned its first LA Angels 7 C White Sox 0 Boston. which won for the fourth time in five home victory of the season. Minnesota 7 Milwaukee 4 Martin’s decisive hit came off Red games. Duda also drove in the go- Jose Fernandez improved his Sox closer Craig Kimbrel, who entered ahead run with a sixth-inning double. career home record to 18-1, allow- Arizona 9 San Francisco 7 in relief of a shaky Koji Uehara in a 1-1 Syndergaard (2-0) allowed one ing three hits, four walks and one run game with one out in the eighth and run and five hits while striking out while striking out nine in six innings. Louis Cardinals, Lackey fired seven struck out Edwin Encarnacion, but eight and walking two. Cubs 5, Cardinals 0 shutout innings and struck out 11 allowed a bases-loaded walk to Troy Rockies 5, Reds 1 John Lackey made himself right Monday night as the Chicago Cubs Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Drew Storen (left) and catcher Russell Tulowitzki. Michael Saunders drove Trevor Story hit a go-ahead home at home in the ballpark where he busted open a pitcher’s duel in the last Martin celebrate a victory against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in the tying run on his groundout ear- run in the eighth and Ben Paulsen pitched so well last year. four innings for a 5-0 win at sold-out in Boston on Monday. lier in the inning. added a three-run blast later in the In his first start against the St. Busch Stadium. SPORT WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 33

London Pearson sees announces return to ‘world record’ golden best ticket prices for Rio Reuters AFP

LONDON: Usain Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58 seconds SYDNEY: Australian Olympic hur- time will be reflected in the price dles champion Sally Pearson said of some children’s tickets at next yesterday that she was finally back year’s IAAF World Championships in the blocks nearly a year after a in London, organisers said yester- nasty fall and had her sights set day. on Rio. Pearson, who won 100 Announcing its “world record” metres hurdles gold at London in ticket prices and the race sched- 2012, broke two bones and dislo- ule for the Olympic Stadium event cated her wrist at a Rome Diamond from August 4-13, London 2017 League meeting last June and has chiefs said children’s tickets for not raced since. some sessions will be available “Yesterday was my first session Bulgarian triple jumper Gabriela Petrova for nine pounds 58 pence. out of the blocks over the hurdles,” Others will cost 12.91, 18.29 29-year-old Pearson said. and 52.74 pounds -- reflecting “It all felt really good, I just world records set at previous world have to get faster and faster so I championships by Britons Colin can win.” Jackson (110m hurdles), Jonathan Australia’s top athlete told Edwards (triple jump) and Sally IAAF lifts Petrova suspension reporters she was “full of belief Gunnell (400m hurdles). and raring to go for Rio” in August. Jamaican Bolt’s time, which “In previous years when I start has never been lowered, was hurdling it’s a little bit rusty, a little achieved at the 2009 champion- bit shaky, but I felt really confident ships in Berlin. this time around,” said the 2011 London 2017 managing direc- after U-turn on meldonium world champion as she modelled tor Cherry Alexander said ticket Australia’s new Olympic competi- prices had been set to ensure “full tion kit in Sydney. venues with passionate crowds” WADA deemed that “the presence of for people suffering from heart prob- She expects to be compet- and that more than 250,000 tick- MELDONIUM RELATED less than one microgram of meldo- lems, helps boost blood flow and ing next month to further her ets, a third of the total, would cost The Bulgarian triple DOPING SCANDAL nium” in samples provided by athletes increases the amount of oxygen taken fightback. 35 pounds or less. jumper among before March 1 was acceptable. in by the body, allowing athletes to “So I’ll have a few unofficial “We want prices to be acces- “I can breathe with ease now,” recover faster while training. first races back and then I’ll head sible to the athletics family, all 14 athletes who 2015 European indoor championships 23-year-old Petrova, who finished The use of meldonium was wide- over to Europe and start my cam- sports fans and new spectators; had their doping in Prague, had denied any wrongdo- fourth at the world outdoor champi- spread before the ban and since being paign towards Rio,” she said. and we wanted the timetable to ing after failing an out-of-competition onships in Beijing last year, said on made illegal on Jan 1. there have been Pearson had hoped to race dur- allow as many people as possi- suspensions lifted drug test on Febuary 6, saying she had Monday. “This is the notice I’ve waited at least 172 positive samples for the ing Australia’s domestic season but ble to attend the biggest sporting stopped taking the banned substance so long for.” substance -- including former world suffered a series of minor setbacks, event since London 2012,” Alex- in September. Petrova, who was named Bulgar- number one tennis player Maria including an Achilles tendon scare. ande said. “On the basis of WADA’s notice ia’s Athlete of the Year in December, Sharapova. She went to Germany last month “I really believe we have Reuters issued on April 11, 2016 with respect pulled out of the world indoor cham- The Russian five-times grand slam to see the doctor who treats sprint achieved this and it is going to be to meldonium findings and the spe- pionships in Portland, Oregon in champion, who said she took the drug king Usain Bolt for an ongoing back an incredible summer of world cifics of your case, the provisional March and is aiming to produce her for health reasons, has been provision- problem, Hans-Wilhelm Muller- athletics.” suspension from international com- best form and win a medal at the ally suspended by the International Wohlfahrt, where she sought Organisers said more evening SOFIA: Bulgarian triple jumper petitions imposed on March 31 is lifted August 5-21 Rio Olympics. Tennis Federation and is still wait- reassurance that her body would and weekend sessions would make Gabriela Petrova had her doping with immediate effect,” the Inter- On Friday, at least 14 athletes from ing to hear the outcome of her case. hold up to an Olympic campaign. it easier for the public to attend. suspension lifted by the IAAF on national Association of Athletics Russia and Georgia had their doping One study showed 490 athletes at last She returned saying he had “Most sessions during the IAAF Monday, less than a week after the Federations (IAAF) wrote in a letter suspensions lifted following WADA’s year’s European Games in Baku had given her a clean bill of health. World Championships include a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to Petrova, seen by Reuters. ruling. Olympic silver medallist Davit taken it. Grindeks, the Latvian com- Despite her lack of racing, final and where possible, medal announced an amnesty for athletes Last Wednesday, WADA said it Modzmanashvili and European silver pany that is the main supplier of the Pearson made the Australian ceremonies have been scheduled who had tested positive for meldo- was unable to establish how quickly medallist Beka Lomtadze, both wres- drug, says the substance could pro- Olympic team after a registering together to enhance spectator nium before March 1. meldonium, outlawed since January tlers from Georgia, were among those tect athletes from cell damage but is a Games qualifying time before her experience,” a statement said. Petrova, silver medallist at the 1, cleared the human body. Hence, cleared. Meldonium, manufactured unlikely to improve their performance. tumble in Rome.

New Masters champion LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS Frenchman Van de Velde Danny Willett AWARDS backs Spieth to bounce back

AFP

CARNOUSTIE: When Jean van de Velde says he believes that Jordan Spieth will get over his Masters meltdown, the Frenchman knows what he is talking about. Needing a double-bogey six down the last hole of the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie in Scotland, Van de Velde produced a calamitous triple-bogey seven and eventually lost out to Paul Lawrie in a play-off. Jordan Spieth Jean van de Velde It was a moment that came to mind at the Masters when Spieth Masters winner blew the lead by putting two balls across the 18th fairway, and then get over it extremely quickly,” Van into the water on the 12th hole, removed his shoes and socks to de Velde said. allowing Danny Willett to storm step into the water as he contem- “And when he does, he will Willett joins past him to victory. plated whether or nor to attempt become stronger and stronger.” “Trust me, you can’t believe a shot. Van de Velde was speaking PGA Tour Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic kisses his trophy during the 2016 how fast everything is happen- In the end he elected to take by telephone from his residence Laureus World Sports Awards at Messe in Berlin, Germany on Monday. ing when that guy is you,” said a penalty drop, from where he in Hong Kong to reporters at Van de Velde. found a greenside bunker, before Carnoustie, where he will make Reuters “That’s what I love about golf. bravely hoisting his sixth shot onto his European Senior Tour debut It slaps you on the finger five min- the green and sinking a six-foot at the British Seniors Open, which utes after the biggest high you putt for a triple-bogey seven. starts on July 21. NEW YORK: New Masters cham- Djokovic and Williams could ever think of.” It left him in a three-way tie The affable Frenchman, who pion Danny Willett of England has Van de Velde stepped onto the with American Justin Leonard and turns 50 on May 29, says that he joined the PGA Tour following his final tee of the 1999 Open leading Scotland’s Lawrie, who prevailed has no qualms about returning to triumph on Sunday at Augusta by three shots and needing only after a four-hole play-off. Carnoustie 17 years on from his National in the year’s first major win Laureus honours to record a six to become the first The weekend before last -- infamous meltdown. championship, the tour announced Frenchman since 1907 to capture and on the 20th anniversary of “It did take me a few days on Monday. golf’s oldest major. Australian Greg Norman’s collapse to find my sleep again after the The 28-year-old Willett will AFP and also picking up six Masters titles. He had birdied the 18th hole in at the 1996 Masters -- Spieth felt Sunday at Carnoustie, due to the receive a five-year exemption on Williams won her third Laureus two of three prior rounds. the championship slip from his stress, the adrenaline, the rush, the U.S. tour that runs through the award for a similar feat having won Van de Velde chose a driver off fingers in similar fashion. trying to analyse it or whatever,” 2020-21 season on the strength of the Australian Open, French Open and the tee, but put his tee shot well Spieth, the defending cham- he said. his stunning three-shot victory for BERLIN: Tennis stars Novak Djokovic Wimbledon before falling short in the right of the fairway. pion, looked to be cruising to “But after that, I have never his maiden major. and Serena Williams won the Laureus semi-finals at the US Open. Rather than lay up with his victory, but a disastrous 12th hole once woken up in a cold sweat So far in the 2015-16 season, World Sports Awards at a gala in Ber- The American came out ahead of second shot, he decided to go for meant that he ended up handing and it has never given me diffi- Willett has three top-five finishes lin on Monday. Ethiopian title-holder, the middle dis- the green, only to come horri- his green jacket over to English- culty finding sleep. Ever. in five starts in U.S. tour events The 28-year-old Serb Djokovic won tance runner Genzebe Dibaba and skier bly unstuck as his ball ricocheted man Willett. “However, I know it is part of and climbed to No. 9 in the world sportsman of the year for the second suc- Anna Fenninger of Austria. off a grandstand, hit the top of a Van de Velde said he sympa- history. There were quite a few rankings. cessive year coming ahead of football’s There was also joy for New Zealand’s stone wall and cannoned back into thised with the 22-year old Texan. viewers that day, 250 to 300 mil- Willett, who has five career Lionel Messi and the sprinter Usain Bolt Rugby Union World Cup winning side the knee-high rough. “Jordan is an extraordinary lion, so it would take me a while wins on the European Tour, has after winning three Grand Slams in 2015 All Blacks, who beat Australia 34-17 in He put his third shot into player who has an extraordinary if I met all of them and answered also won this season’s Dubai at Australia, Wimbledon and the US Open the Twickenham final. the Barry Burn, which stretches head on his shoulders and he will their questions about that day.” Desert Classic. 34 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 SPORT

Statistics Tottenham thrash Stoke City add up for title-chasing Spurs to close the gap on Leicester Reuters

LONDON: If Premier League titles were decided by statistics Kane and Alli star as alone then Tottenham Hotspur would already have one hand Spurs reduce lead to on the trophy rather than play- five points to remain ing catch-up to Leicester City. Mauricio Pochettino’s side in title race lead the charts in pretty much every department apart from the all important points col- AFP umn where they trail Leicester by five with four games to play. Monday’s 4-0 demolition of Stoke City away from home saw striker Harry Kane move STOKE-ON-TRENT, UK: Star men two goals clear of Leicester’s Harry Kane and Dele Alli shared the Jamie Vardy in the race to win goals as Tottenham Hotspur brilliantly the coveted Golden Boot with beat Stoke City 4-0 on Monday to 24. close the gap on Premier League lead- As former Liverpool ers Leicester City to five points and defender Jamie Carragher said keep their title hopes very much alive. on Sky Sports, however, it is Spurs have just four more games Tottenham’s teamwork which to try and wipe out the deficit and has given them a chance of claim their first league championship reeling in Leicester. since they did the ‘Double’ in 1961. They have scored the Time may be against them but most goals (64) in the Pre- Mauricio Pochettino’s side made sure mier League and conceded they maintained their pursuit of the the fewest (25). Foxes with a fourth win in five league Spurs also lead the way in games. shots on target (234), chances Kane’s 26th goal of the season created (449) and goals from in all competitions set up a clinical set pieces (17) while they have victory, with the 22-year-old adding restricted opposing attacks another to his tally in the second half to 102 attempts on target all Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (second left) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the English Premier League in between two from England col- season, again the best in the league Alli, who took his total for the match against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England on Monday. league. campaign into double figures. Their goal difference (+39) With Leicester dropping two is 11 better than the next best, points in their dramatic 2-2 draw making his league debut two days way to another crucial victory. Again ball over Given after being released which is Manchester City’s. against West Ham on Sunday and then before his 40th birthday, saved with ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Kane was involved, this time as a cre- by Eriksen in the 67th minute. The Midfielder Dele Alli’s seven learning on Monday that top scorer his legs from Kane but with nine min- ator as his flick left Christian Eriksen 20-year-old then endured the embar- assists for Kane this season Jamie Vardy faces an increased ban utes gone was powerless to stop the with a clear run on goal which the rassment of missing an open goal as makes that route to goal the for his sending off following a charge Tottenham talisman putting his side Dane wasted with a finish that clipped he sent his angled shot against the most lethal in the division, of improper conduct from the Foot- ahead. stopping as their supporters noisily the top of the crossbar. post after rounding the Stoke keeper. ahead of the six assists Arse- ball Association, It was another special goal from told Leicester “we’re coming for you”. Alli was next to miss a chance But that proved to be Tottenham’s nal’s Mesut Ozil has supplied Tottenham had the chance to Kane, who cut in from near the left Stoke, needing eight more points for the visitors, firing over the top 10 only blemish on a potentially pivotal for Olivier Giroud and the five really pile the pressure on the table- touchline before curling a shot around to surpass the 54 they managed in minutes into the second half as Spurs night as they cut Stoke’s defence open Riyad Mahrez has set up for toppers with victory at the Britannia Given and into the far corner to go setting a new Premier League best continued to impress and pose prob- again for Kane to side-foot home the Vardy. Stadium. clear of Vardy in the race to become last season, did stem the tide for a lems with their movement and slick third after Eric Lamela had rolled the “The best thing I can say The north London side wasted the top-flight’s leading scorer with his spell and threatened themselves as passing. But those wasted chances ball into his path. about Spurs is that they are a no time in seizing the initiative in a 23rd league goal of the season and fit-again top scorer Marko Arnautovic were rendered irrelevant as Spurs It was close to exhibition stuff team,” said Carragher. breathless start which forced Stoke, fifth in his last six games. stung the palms of Hugo Lloris and snuffed out any remote chance of a from the nerveless visitors who added “Kane and Alli are super- who had previously not lost at home Tottenham, beaten away from then headed just wide. Stoke fightback with two goals in the a fourth goal eight minutes from the stars, two fantastic players, but to any of the league’s other top-five home just once since the opening Bojan Krkic also volleyed over the space of five minutes. end, Alli volleying in Eriksen’s cross, this Spurs team is a team,” he clubs this season, onto the back foot. day of the season, already looked bar but Tottenham should have been Alli continued his stellar season to ensure a thrilling title race still has added. Veteran goalkeeper Shay Given, as though they would take some 2-0 up at half-time and well on their as he made it 2-0, coolly clipping the some way to run. Carragher reckons former Southampton manager Pochettino should be praised for developing another excit- ing young side. “When you pick a man of Pochettino proud as ‘perfect’ Spurs maintain charge the match for Spurs it could be five or six players, everyone is playing well,” he said. AFP the club,” the Argentinian added. “In football all The in-form striker, 22, said: “We are not “The main person who can happen and we need to be there. If Leicester going anywhere. We scored four but could have deserves credit for that is the fail we need to be there. That’s what we are try- had six or seven. It is one of our best perform- manager, what he has cre- ing to do, put the pressure on Leicester. ances all season but that’s what we can do. ated at Spurs is absolutely STOKE-ON-TRENT: Tottenham Hotspur “The most important thing is the perform- “We are ready to put the pressure on Leices- fantastic.” manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his side ance we showed was perfect. It is a big signal ter. We think we can do it. Leicester are five Tottenham’s playmaker delivered the “perfect” message to Premier we are there waiting and fighting,” the former points ahead but we have closed the gap, that’s Christian Eriksen has also League leaders Leicester City after an emphatic Southampton manager explained. all we could do.” stepped up his game and his 4-0 win at Stoke City saw them close the gap at Tottenham have scored 13 goals and con- Stoke have now won only one of their last six sublime assists for two goals the top of the table to five points. ceded just one in racking up 13 points out of the games as their season runs out of momentum on Monday means only Ozil Leicester’s 2-2 draw at home to West Ham last possible 15. with their hopes of qualifying for next season’s has created more goals this on Sunday gave Spurs the opportunity to reduce Kane, who took his season’s tally to 27 goals, Europa League almost gone. season. the deficit with four games remaining and they posted a social media image of a pack of lions Mark Hughes, the Stoke manager, paid trib- At 12.2 km the Denmark seized it in commanding style with a fourth win closing in on their prey after Leicester had ute to Tottenham and believes they can win the international also covers in five matches thanks to two goals each from dropped two points against West Ham. title. more distance per game than the England duo of Harry Kane and Dele Alli. “It is a good thing because it shows how this “We are disappointed with what we pro- any other midfielder in the top “This is our dream. We need to believe,” group is, how our squad is,” said Pochettino. duced but Spurs were very impressive,” said flight. said Pochettino, who is attempting to lead the “We can win or not, but the desire and pas- Hughes. “They were stronger, faster and had All this has been achieved Londoners to their first English championship sion we show and how we enjoy the game is more power in the team.” by Spurs with the an average since 1961. fantastic.” “With their mentality, you wouldn’t bet age of just 24 in the starting “It is good for the competition that we are Kane opened the scoring at the Britannia against them catching Leicester,” added Hughes. XI -- the youngest in the top in behind to try and put pressure on Leicester. Stadium with his 23rd league goal of the sea- “On the night we were very much second- flight. I feel very proud. son, overtaking Leicester striker Jamie Vardy’s best. We need to pick ourselves up or it will be Alli, 20, typifies the energy “Our supporters were fantastic and they feel tally in the race for the league’s golden boot, and another difficult game against Manchester City in the Tottenham ranks. Mauricio Pochettino proud of us. I think it is an exciting moment for believes the Foxes can still be caught. on Saturday.” Aubameyang fit as Dortmund hunt Anfield cure in Berlin

AFP “Aubameyang took a hit to his to exorcise the heartache of their dra- -- there is no medicine for that,” said they trail Pep Guardiola’s Bayern in toe in training, which was very pain- matic European quarterfinal exit at Tuchel. “We are finding things out the German league and are currently ful, but it shouldn’t be an issue for Anfield. about ourselves and that’s okay. We’re seven points adrift with four games Wednesday,” assured Tuchel, Dort- “The set up is similar to how it was on the right path to dealing with it. left. Dortmund make the 500km (310 BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund’s Tho- mund’s head coach. in Liverpool: it’s a knock-out game, “Of course, after such a defeat as miles) trek to Germany’s capital hop- mas Tuchel says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is on an incredible an away match, we’ll be meeting a that, you feel bitter, but it’s not the end ing to again head west for the final in Aubameyang (pictured) will be fit goal-scoring run in the German Cup, euphoric opponent, who are full of of the world. a month’s time. for today’s German Cup semi-final having scored in each of Dortmund’s confidence from the great support of Asides from Anfield, there has also Hertha are bidding to reach the at Hertha Berlin as they look to heal last seven cup games -- including their home fans,” said Tuchel. been the off-field distraction of media final for the first time since 1993 the hurt of their Europa League exit their 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in the Tuchel admits Dortmund are still reports that, with a year left on his and with a capacity crowd of 76,233 at Liverpool. 2015 final -- dating back to the start processing last Thursday’s 4-3 defeat Dortmund contract, Germany mid- expected, their coach Pal Dardai says Aubameyang has scored 37 goals of last season. at Liverpool having thrown away a fielder Ilkay Gundogan has agreed a ‘the whole city and all the players’ are in all competitions for Dortmund this With Bayern Munich meeting 3-1 lead. five-year deal to join Manchester City up for this match. season, but limped out of Monday’s Werder Bremen in Tuesday’s other “It would be hypocritical to say for next season. Having lost last year’s “I expect a team from Hertha with training with a toe injury, sparking semi-final, Dortmund are deter- that we will have been working on cup final, Dortmund are eager to beat a lot of confidence, who will defend concerns about his fitness. mined to reach the German Cup final the Liverpool result until tomorrow Berlin to stay in the hunt for a title as high up the pitch,” said Tuchel. SPORT WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 35 FA Cup looms over United-Palace clash

vulnerable with former Chelsea, Real Troubled Marseille United are desperate Madrid and Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho reported to be lined up as dismiss Michel for a win to keep his replacement after the end of the alive their hopes of a season, has no margin for error. The Dutchman’s side have won top-four finish three of their last four league games AFP -- as well as an FA Cup quarter-final replay at West Ham. United midfielder Juan Mata has AFP no problem fighting on two fronts, MARSEILLE: Marseille yesterday with the Spaniard saying: “We want dismissed coach Michel as they to be lifting this historic trophy. In this battle relegation from the French complex season we have managed to top flight and other turmoil within MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: advance in the FA Cup and now we the club. Manchester United and Crystal Palace are very excited. Following constant specula- face a possible dress rehearsal for the “However, before Everton and tion surrounding the future of the FA Cup final when they meet in the the FA Cup we have to focus on the Spaniard, Marseille said they had Premier League at Old Trafford today. Premier League game against Crys- decided to dismiss Michel and cited The two sides have avoided each tal Palace. his conduct, “in particular over the other in the semi-final draw with “Our goal is to play in the Cham- last three weeks.” United facing Everton and Palace pions League the next season and all “Olympique de Marseille have playing Watford in the last-four ties we think about right now is to win suspended him with immediate at Wembley this coming weekend. every single game. effect,” added a club statement. Victory in the Premier League “We are in good spirits ahead of The former European cham- fixture may therefore come as a psy- these two games after the win against pions, who are up for sale, added chological bonus ahead of a potential Aston Villa. The last week was very that Michel would be replaced until Cup final reunion on May 21. positive for us and it should help the the end of the season by his assist- Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge (right) in action with Bournemouth’s Simon Francis during the Barclays Premier It’s inevitable both sides will have team to gather momentum for the last ant Franck Passi. their thoughts on the Cup, Palace hav- few games.” League at Vitality Stadium in this April 17 file picture. He will be helped by club leg- ing never done better than a place in United, who unconvincingly beat end Basile Boli, who has been the final in 1990 -- when they lost to relegated Villa 1-0 last Saturday, could after the Eagles’ trip to Manchester injury against Arsenal and is expected Football Association said yester- working as an ambassador for United -- and the Red Devils not hav- have midfielders Michael Carrick and “Our momentum is great,” said to be rested along with a number of day. The flashpoint occurred early the club and has now been named ing added to their 11 successes in the Ander Herrera back as Van Gaal bal- Palace centre-back Damien Dela- other senior players with the semi- in Sunderland’s 3-0 victory, when “sporting coordinator”. competition since 2004. ances his resources ahead of the Cup ney. “Hopefully the point at Arsenal final in mind. their defender DeAndre Yedlin was Boli scored the winning goal But United are also desperate for semi-final. puts relegation to bed, especially with “We’ve got a big week coming up shoved into the advertising hoard- for OM against AC Milan in the a league win to keep alive their hopes Palace haven’t won a league our goal difference as well. so we just need to rest up, there’s a few ings beside the dugout, sparking 1993 Champions League final, of a top-four finish and qualification match at Old Trafford since 1989 but “Now we can have a nice week in people with knocks but we’ve got to angry scenes of pushing and shov- which remains the only triumph for next season’s Champions League. can look forward to Wednesday’s fix- the run up to the FA Cup semi-final. go to Manchester United on Wednes- ing between both sides’ players and for a French club in Europe’s elite United are currently four points ture with growing confidence after Obviously we’ve got Manchester day and hopefully we can get a good coaching staff. competition. Passi and Boli’s first behind both Manchester City and a 1-1 draw at Arsenal extended their United on Wednesday but the most result,” said Dann. “It is alleged that in or around job will be to lead a demoralised Arsenal in the race for fourth spot current unbeaten run to four games. important thing for us was the league Meanwhile, Norwich City and the fourth minute of the fixture, both side into Wednesday’s French Cup with five games to go and time run- Much of the pressure that had and we could focus on everything else Sunderland have been charged clubs failed to ensure their players semi-final away to second-tier ning out. built up around the London club has after that.” with failing to control their play- and/or officials conducted themselves Sochaux. Manger Louis van Gaal, whose been lifted at exactly the right time Scott Dann, Delaney’s central ers during Saturday’s Premier in an orderly fashion,” the FA said in “The situation is perilous, we position appears to be increasingly with the semi-final looming four days defensive partner, suffered a foot League match at Carrow Road, the a statement. need to be united,” Passi, who previously stood in as caretaker in August following former coach Marcelo Bielsa’s resignation, said English Premier League at a press conference. Fixtures “We are going on a com- Martinez in search of derby relief mando mission to win tomorrow Today (Wednesday), get to the final and save the club from relegation.” West Ham United vs Watford (1845) Michel, who starred as a player AFP growing pressure on his position with Barkley against Southampton. Now they are closing in on their Liverpool vs Everton (1900) for Real Madrid and Spain, was a reference to his native Spain. But the pair could return at Liv- first piece of European silverware appointed in August with OM in “There are defining weeks for erpool, along with James McCarthy since 2005 and a return to the Cham- Manchester United vs crisis following Bielsa’s resigna- teams all the time in world football,” following the midfielder’s one-game pions League that comes with it. Crystal Palace (1900) tion in the wake of a 1-0 defeat to LIVERPOOL: Everton manager Rob- he said. “Barcelona have just had one ban. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Tomorrow Caen on the opening night of the erto Martinez will take his side on the when they were knocked out of the Seamus Coleman, however, is however, was adamant the domestic season. short journey to Anfield in dire need Champions League. out with a hamstring injury which league remained the priority. Arsenal vs However, the 53-year-old has of some Merseyside derby joy against “Of course this week is defining could also keep him out of the Cup “Sometimes rotation is for resting West Bromwich Albion (1845) been unable to transform the club’s Liverpool today. but we embrace it and look forward. semi-final. players for another tournament,” said On Saturday fortunes, and Sunday’s abject 2-1 Martinez may have guided the “I always say football isn’t about Today’s match will be the latest Klopp after he made 10 changes to his defeat at Monaco left them still Toffees into an FA Cup semi-final with managers. My job is to allow my play- instalment of the most-played fix- side for Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Bourne- Manchester City vs Stoke City (1145) just six points above the rele- Manchester United this coming Sat- ers to enjoy their football, enjoy the ture in English football, with this the mouth on Sunday following the Reds’ gation zone in Ligue 1 with four urday, as Everton seek a first major opportunity ahead of them and be as 226th derby match between the near remarkable comeback victory over AFC Bournemouth vs Chelsea (1400) games left. trophy in 21 years, but that hasn’t good as they can be. neighbours. Borussia Dortmund, the German’s Aston Villa vs Southampton (1400) They have gone 10 league stilled a growing sense of frustration “Then we’ll see where it takes us. Liverpool too will try to stop former club, in the Europa League games without a win and are on with the Spaniard’s regime among It’s defining for this season of course. themselves being distracted by last Thursday. Liverpool vs Newcastle United (1400) a club record run of 14 matches many supporters. Every team has a defining week. dreams of glory elsewhere. “But for us the most important On April 24 without a victory at their Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with “Ours is mid-April, others had it in The Reds, who are eighth in the tournament is always the Premier Stade Velodrome home since Southampton meant Everton have February when they went out of the Premier League table and do still have League, and we wanted to win this Sunderland vs Arsenal (1305) September. won just 17 out of 51 points at Good- FA Cup. But we’re in the semi-final of the incentive of looking to secure game. That’s the only reason. That’s Leicester City vs Swansea City (1515) A 0-0 draw at home to Bor- ison Park this season and a current the Cup and you’ll see the best side of qualification for European competi- why we took another formation. deaux on April 10 was played out to league position of 11th place seems a our fans and we’ll be Everton with an tion next season, are just over a week “You cannot rest for another tour- On April 25 fan protests at the team’s struggles poor return on the talent within their incredible togetherness at Wembley.” away from the first leg of their Europa nament, you can only try to find a few that featured banners depicting Tottenham Hotspur vs West Brom- squad. Everton rested top scorer Romelu League semi-final against Villarreal. more fit players. That’s what we tried wich Albion (1900) goats and the Benny Hill theme But Martinez played down talk of Lukaku and England midfielder Ross to do. tune being played from the stands. Spluttering Barca on brink of implosion in La Liga

AFP defender Gerard Pique insisted Barca is also expected to start at right-back can and will win the league if they CATALAN GIANTS NEED TO with Dani Carvajal a major injury BOUNCE BACK play like they did against Valencia on doubt. There are also huge clashes Sunday despite slipping to a 2-1 defeat at the bottom of the table with four MADRID: Barcelona must reverse an thanks to a mixture of bad luck, poor teams separated by two points in the amazing loss of form to win all five of finishing and a brilliant goalkeeping absence of Bilbao’s two top scorers battle to avoid relegation. their remaining La Liga games to be display by Diego Alves. this season in Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Two of them face each other as assured of retaining their title, start- “If there is a team capable of Williams through injury. Granada host Levante on Thursday ing with a trip to Deportivo la Coruna doing it and much more given what “We have the possibility to play an looking to open up a gap on the bot- today. they have done, it is this Barca,” said important game in Bilbao and con- tom three. The Catalan giants have taken Enrique. tinue competing in the four games Getafe go in search of their first just one point from their last four La “We don’t have any margin for left afterwards,” said Simeone when win in 14 games at Real Sociedad, Liga games and lost four of their last error, but I prefer to lose like this than quizzed on Atletico’s title chances. whilst Sporting Gijon look to take five in all competitions having pre- win playing badly,” added Pique. “It will be difficult, but we have to advantage of Sevilla’s poor recent run viously enjoyed a 39-game unbeaten “Football is like this, sometimes do what the schedule demands of us when they host the Europa League run stretching back six months. it is marvellous, sometimes it is so and that is win, win and win again.” semi-finalists at El Molinon. Only Barca’s superior head-to- cruel.” Atletico will be forced into at head record separates them from However, Pique’s absence at the least one change as captain Gabi Fixtures their Champions League conquer- heart of Barca’s defence through is suspended, but Fernando Torres (all times GMT) ers Atletico Madrid at the top of the suspension will be a huge loss for will start alongside 29-goal Antoine Tuesday table with Real Madrid lurking just a Enrique with Marc Bartra expected to Griezmann up front after scoring in Espanyol vs Celta Vigo (1800), Real point further back after a run of seven cover in the absence of Jeremy Math- four consecutive games for the first Betis vs Las Palmas (1900) straight league wins. ieu and Thomas Vermaelen. time since he was at Liverpool in Wednesday All three face tough tests today’s Atletico face a daunting trip to 2010. Real will have the advantage Deportivo la Coruna vs Barcelona action action that will go a long way Athletic Bilbao with the Basques still of knowing what Barca and Atletico (1800), Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico to settling the title with the fixture list eyeing Champions League football have done when they kick-off in the Madrid, Sporting Gijon vs Sevilla, for all three favourable in the final next season having moved to within late game at home to Villarreal. Malaga vs Rayo Vallecano, Valencia vs four games. six points of fourth-placed Villarreal Zinedine Zidane could afford the Eibar (all 1845), Real Madrid vs Villar- Barca are up first as they travel to at the weekend. luxury of resting the likes of Sergio real (2000) FC Barcelona Brazilian players Neymar Jr and Dani Alves (rear) during the Galicia in a desperate search to snap A 2-1 victory at San Mames pro- Ramos, Casemiro and Luka Modric Thursday their worst run of league defeats in pelled Atletico towards the title two for Saturday’s 5-1 rout of Getafe on team’s training session at Joan Gamper Sports city in Sant Joan Despi, Real Sociedad vs Getafe (1830), Gra- Catalonia, northeastern Spain, yesterday. FC Barcelona will face Deportivo 13 years. years ago and Diego Simeone’s men Saturday with all three expected to nada vs Levante (1900) Coach Luis Enrique and key could be further boosted by the return. The much-criticised Danilo Coruna in a Spanish Primera Division match today. 36 WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2016 Qatar’s Lekhwiya El Jaish lose but still on top positive despite United Arab Emirates to just one point. Saudi Arabia’s Al Al Ahli took the lead in the Ahli keep hopes 22nd minute when Giannis Fet- alive with 4-1 win fatzidis’ corner from the right Flores absence was glanced towards the six- as Hamedallah yard box by Mohammed Al Fatil and Sarraj netted with a scores only goal right-foot shot. The Peninsula for the QSL side Another corner from AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Greek international Fetfatz- LEKHWIYA VS BUNYODKOR idis delivered the second goal two minutes before the break TASHKENT: Coach Djamal Bel- The Peninsula when the 25-year-old’s centre madi has played down the absence home match with Bunyodkor. was met by Asiri and his header of suspended Spanish defender “We have only conceded two gave El Jaish goalkeeper Khal- Chico Flores for today’s clash with goals in this tournament and Bunyo- ifa Ababacar no chance. Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor as Qatar’s dkor has to play for victory at home, DOHA: Qatar Stars League El Jaish had carried a threat Lekhwiya seek to close in on a place but we have no such responsibil- Club El Jaish went down to of their own throughout the in the last 16 of the AFC Champions ity, maybe we will see many goals visiting Al Ahli who kept opening 45 minutes, with League at Bunyodkor Stadium in tomorrow. their hopes of a place in the Romarinho and Hamedallah Tashkent, Uzbekistan today. “Chico Flores can`t play against knockout phase of the AFC both causing problems for the Second place Lekhwiya are cur- Bunyodkor, but I think it won`t be Champions League alive with Al Ahli defence, but neither was rently three points off the pace in problem for us.” an emphatic 4-1 win at Abdul- able to make an impact on the Group B heading into the penulti- Two-time semi-finalists Bunyo- lah Bin Khalifa Stadium in scoreboard until six minutes mate round of fixtures, but Belmadi’s dkor failed to qualify for the last 16 Doha yesterday. after the restart. side will advance if a win over for the first time in eight attempts Eslam Sarraj and Muhan- That was when Hamedal- Bunyodkor is coupled with Saudi last year and Sergey Lushchan’s side nad Asiri gave Christian lah halved the deficit when he Arabia’s Al Nassr losing to table-top- will fall short again this year should Gross’ side a two-goal lead rolled the ball into an empty ping Zobahan from Iran. Al Nassr beat Zobahan. at half time before El Jaish’s net after Mohamed Methnani’s Lekhwiya crucially recorded Bunyodkor have yet to record a star striker from Morocco, earlier effort had come back off a 4-0 win over Al Nassr earlier win in Group B this year and cur- Abderrazzaq Hamedallah the post to leave the Moroccan this month to claim the potentially rently sit three points behind Al successfully reduced the defi- with the simplest of finishes. crucial head-to-head advantage, Nassr and Lekhwiya. cit six minutes into the second Hawsawi, however, put although Belmadi will be without “We have to win to keep our half. However, further goals Al Ahli two goals clear again Flores (pictured) against a Bunyod- hopes of qualifying to the next from Motaz Hawsawi and Sar- just one minute later when he kor side who are fighting to remain stage alive as only victory saves our raj ensured Al Ahli claim their directed Marquinho’s corner in the qualification picture. chance. We have to win for the fans second win in the group stage home and, in the 59th minute, “We will play against a strong tomorrow,” said Bunyodkor coach of AFC Champions League and Sarraj claimed his second of team tomorrow. It is always difficult Lushchan. carry away all three points. the game with a close-range to play with Uzbek clubs. We haven’t “We have studied our opponent Despite the defeat, Sabri finish after being put through lost in the last three matches and we well and watched several games. Lamouchi’s side was guar- on goal by Mansour Al Harbi. will try to continue this run,” said Lekhwiya is one of the favourites to anteed top spot earlier in El Jaish defender Yasir Isa Belmadi. qualify to the Round of 16. the day when Al Ain failed was sent off in the dying min- “We have finished season in “We are building a new team to defeat Nasaf, with the 1-1 utes for a second bookable the Qatar Stars League, but we now. A lot of the main players left draw ensuring El Jaish could offence when he hauled down Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz player Shojae Khalilzadeh kicks the ball as Saudi Arabia’s have two more cup competitions the team and we gave a chance to not be knocked off the summit Sarraj in the penalty area, but in Qatar which means we will play our young players. You need a mini- while also allowing Al Ahli to Asiri’s weak penalty was saved Al Hilal club player Nawaf Alabid watches on during their Asian Champions League more matches, but my team will mum two or three years to build new close the gap between them- by Ababacar and Sarraj could group C football match played at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium in Doha yesterday. have no problem to prepare for team and change everything.” selves and the club from the not convert the rebound. Tractorsazi Tabriz won 2-0.

Al-Ahli Saudi SC delegation visits Aspetar Tractorsazi on top after win against Al Hilal

Agencies the second half, with the goalkeeper AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE using his legs to save from close range, while a handling error from Sharahili Yesterday’s Results at the other end almost allowed Hatami DOHA: Cameroonian striker Nong to capitalise soon after. GROUP C netted in the 66th minute to send the In the 66th minute, Tractorsazi took $Al Hilal (KSA) 0 - 2 Tractorsazi Iranians on their way to a fourth win the lead when the Al Hilal defence was Tabriz (IRN) in five games before Farzad Hatami incapable of clearing a long ball into the $Al Jazira (UAE) 1 -3 Pakhtakor (UZB) sealed the points nine minutes from box, allowing Mohammad Iranpourian time and Amir Ghalehnoy’s side can- to head the ball into the path of Nong, GROUP D not now be surpassed at the summit who steered his own header over the $Nasaf (UZB) 1 - 1 Al Ain (UAE) with one round of matches remaining. line from inside the six-yard box. $El Jaish (QAT) 1 - 4 Al Ahli (KSA) Al Hilal, meanwhile, will have to The goal prompted an immediate wait until their final game, once more response from Al Hilal, with Salman GROUP G against Tractorsazi on Matchday Six, Al Faraj forcing Akhbari into action $Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 - 2 Suwon before confirming their place in the three minutes later, with the Iranian Samsung Bluewings FC (KOR) last 16 for the eighth season in a row. goalkeeper equal to the task of the $Shanghai Sipg (CHN) 3 - 1 Tractorsazi went into the game long-range attempt. Members of the delegation from Al-Ahli Saudi Sport Club with Aspetar officials during their visit to Melbourne Victory (AUS) with a one point advantage over Al But with nine minutes remaining, Qatar’s world-class orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, in Doha yesterday. The Al-Ahli delegation, Hilal at the start of the day, with the Tractorsazi made sure of the points GROUP H led by Chairman Musaed Al-Zuihri and Vice Chairman Abdallah bin Abdulazai Batrji, and the Club’s Iranians knowing a draw would be after Nong skipped easily past substi- $ General Supervisor, Tariq Kayya is on a business visit to the hospital to augment relations and enhance enough to seal their progress to the tute Mohammed Al Shalhoub before Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 - 2 cooperation. Dr. Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari, Acting Director General of Aspetar, welcomed the guests Round of 16. sending in a centre that Hatami crashed Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) who toured the hospital’s world-class facilities. Salman Al Faraj forced Akhbari into the roof of the goal with a power- into action in the opening moments of ful right-foot finish. Josoor Institute continues building capacity through its flagship programmes

The Peninsula partnership with Georget- He further stated: “The own University, University of programmes have on board Liverpool and Leeds Beckett delegates from leading organ- University. The programmes isations in Qatar, Oman and DOHA: Josoor Institute, a are part of Josoor Institute’s Saudi Arabia among which centre of excellence for the ongoing commitment to are the SC, Aspire Academy, sports and events industries, building sustainable sports Qatar Olympic Committee, inspired and developed by and events industries in Qatar Qatar Football Association, the Supreme Committee for and the Middle East and North Ministry of Interior, Saudi Delivery & Legacy (SC), suc- Africa (MENA) region by devel- Professional League and cessfully completed the fourth oping human capital. Oman Football Association. block of its flagship certificate Commenting on the These delegates have now and diploma programmes on progress of the programmes been with us for over a year “Major Events Management” over the past year, Mushtaq and we are able to witness and “Football and Sports Man- Al Waeli, Executive Direc- a continuous development agement”. tor (Acting) of Josoor Institute, in them as they go back The fourth block of the said: “With the completion of to their organisations and 18 months, long-term pro- the fourth block of these pro- apply the learnings from the grammes was delivered grammes, we move closer to programmes.” recently at the Qatar National realising our vision of produc- The learnings of this block Convention Centre. The certifi- ing a generation of pioneers that were focused on strategic mar- Delegates at the “Football and Sports Management” programme pose for a photograph during their visit to the Jassim Bin cate and diploma programmes will develop, grow and trans- keting and communications, consist of six blocks and are form the sports and events event production and law, and Hamad Stadium, home of the Al Sadd Football Club . During the tour, the delegates experienced first-hand the process of designed and delivered in industries in the MENA region.” venue and event management. staging football matches and learned about the different disciplines and factors involved in operating sports venues and events.