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GOIC announces MotoGP fans incentive package to meet star rider facilitate user access Marquez in Doha

THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 • 23 Jumada I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6724 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

PM attends Interior Ministers’ meet Emir gives his Emir presides condolences to Ruler of Ajman over economic DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a cable of condolences to Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Humaid bin panel meeting Rashid Al Nuaimi on the death of Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, son of the Deputy Ruler of Ajman, praying to projects via solar energy. The Allah Almighty to have mercy upon Council’s Secretary-Gen- him and grant solace and fortitude Council approves eral and Minister of Finance, to his family, reports QNA. solar power firm H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi told QNA Deputy Emir H H Sheikh later that the meeting discussed a Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani also — Seraj Energy number of topics on the agenda and sent a similar cable. Company took necessary measures. He said the agenda included Assistant Foreign following up on previous decisions of the Council and the measures Minister appointed taken in this regard as well as Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani during the The Peninsula developments related to energy and 33rd session of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council, in Tunis, yesterday. Tunisian President Beji Caid DOHA: Foreign Minister H E investment affairs. Essebsi, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrah- Al Emadi said that also on the Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other top officials are also seen. → See also page 7 man Al Thani has issued a decision agenda was a discussion on the appointing Sultan bin Saad Sultan DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin proposed solar power generation Al Muraikhi Assistant Minister for Hamad Al Thani, who is Chairman of company Seraj, and the Council Foreign Affairs, reports QNA. the Supreme Council for Economic agreed to set it up. Affairs and Investment, yesterday The agenda also included Qatar New inter-city presided over its meeting at the Petroleum’s request to endorse an Douglas Emmett and QIA Hezbollah declared a Emiri Diwan. agreement on amending the finan- This was the first meeting of cial terms of the development and buses launched terrorist organisation the Council this year, reports Qatar financial terms agreement of Bar- acquire Westwood office News Agency (QNA). zan Gas Company Limited. The Peninsula RIYADH: Gulf countries yester- Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdul- The Finance Minister said that The Peninsula chase price was approximately $777 day declared Lebanon’s Hezbollah lah bin Hamad Al Thani, who is the meeting approved the amend- per square foot. Douglas Emmett a “terrorist” group, escalating Vice-Chairman of the Council, ment agreement as well. DOHA: Mowasalat has introduced plans to retain 20pc to 30pc of the tensions with the militant organi- attended the meeting along with Meanwhile, media reports ear- new buses on inter-city routes — equity in the joint venture, with the sation that supports Syria’s regime. its members. The Council gave its lier suggested that the idea of the for long distance trips with extra DOHA: Douglas Emmett, a real remaining being held by institu- The designation is the latest step nod to form a company that would Seraj project was mooted based on facilities. estate investment trust (REIT), yes- tional partners. The joint venture taken by Gulf states against Hez- generate solar power, Qatar News the fact that producing solar power The buses in which passen- terday announced the acquisition has obtained a non-recourse $580m bollah as ties between its main Agency said. was cheaper than buying gas from gers are not allowed to stand of a 1,725,000 square feet office interest-only loan with a seven-year backer Iran and Saudi Arabia To be known as Seraj Energy the international market. have adjustable seats with arm- portfolio in a joint venture with term. The interest rate is floating at deteriorate. The GCC “decided to Company, it will be jointly owned Detailed studies to assess the rests, luggage storage facilities, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) Libor plus 1.40 percent, which has consider the militias (of Hezbol- by Qatar Petroleum (QP) and feasibility of the project have already and stop announcement and elec- for $1.34bn. The portfolio consists been fixed at 2.37 percent per annum lah) a terrorist organisation”, GCC Qatar Electricity and Water Com- been carried out and the company is tronic display. of four Class “A” office buildings for five years through an interest rate Secretary General Abdullatif Al pany (QEWC). The Council is all for in the process of being formed, said located in Westwood, a premier West swap. Zayani said. setting up electricity generation media reports. → Continued on page 6 Los Angeles submarket. The pur- → Continued on page 6 → See also page 7

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PM condoles with Ajman Ruler Sheikh Joaan CSR Person of the Year 2015

QNA By Fazeena Saleem programmes and their execution on The Peninsula the solid basis of social responsibility,” DOHA: Prime Minister and Inte- said Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham, rior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah President, QU. bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani The report has documented yesterday sent a cable of con- DOHA: H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad achievements of several organisa- dolences to Member of the UAE Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic tions in CSR. It also conducted a study Supreme Council and Ajman Committee (QOC), was honoured as on ‘CSR in Qatar and Organisational Ruler Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid ‘CSR Person of the Year 2015’ yes- Performances’ and found that average Al Nuaimi on the death of Sheikh terday. He was recognised for his spending on CSR among the surveyed Mohammed bin Nasser bin Rashid significant role in supporting corpo- companies revealed that the majority Al Nuaimi, son of the Deputy rate social responsibility (CSR) and of them spend more than QR1m annu- Ruler of Ajman, praying to Allah being a role model in inspiring the ally. The study also shows that the oil Almighty to have mercy upon him youth of Qatar. and gas sector contributes more than and grant solace and fortitude to Sheikh Joaan was honoured dur- 15 percent of overall CSR activities in his family. ing the launch of the fourth edition the country. of the National CSR Report (Leaders’ The report was prepared and pro- Visions) by Qatar University (QU). duced under the guidance of College FM gets The was held under the patronage of Business and Economics at QU of Prime Minister and Interior Min- with input from its students super- call from OIC ister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser vised by the CSR Committee. It is part bin Khalifa Al Thani. of a memorandum of understand- secretary-general Several leading companies and ing signed between QU and the CSR H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), with other officials at community representatives were also Network. the event. honoured for their CSR role. “The report is a valuable tool for DOHA: Foreign Minister H E “QU has always been guided by achieving the vision of the university Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrah- social responsibility to achieve its and its partners in line with the four The report will be distributed to techniques. The success was further National Olympic Committee; the man Al Thani yesterday received academic goals, advance its stu- pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. all Qatari embassies around the world enhanced by drawing participation Ministry of Economy and Commerce; a telephone call from Iyad Ameen dents’ knowledge and build their “It has also gained momentum through the Foreign Ministry — one of new institutions which benefitted Logistic Committee; National Secu- Madani, Secretary-General, capabilities. It continues to deliver through contributions of national of the partners of the report. from the leaders’ instructions, expe- rity Programme (Somod); Abdullah Organisation of Islamic Coopera- on its mission of serving as a bridge institutions. We are proud of the suc- “In its previous editions, the riences and vision to serve society,” Bin Hamad Al Attiyah International tion (OIC). They discussed issues between academia and society. It is cess of our collaboration with Qatar report highlighted the added value said Khalifa S Al Mohannadi, CEO, Foundation for Energy and Sustain- of common concern, particularly also keen to lead the leaders’ visions, CSR Network, primarily in develop- of social responsibility and suc- Qatar CSR. able Development; Qatar Shell; INJAZ those relating to an emergency which are voiced in this report, ing new partnerships with institutions ceeded in providing an opportunity Several leading organisations Qatar; Asthma Qatar Network; and Islamic summit to be held in the towards institutional development from the public and private sector,” for local institutions to change supported and contributed to the the UAE, Swedish, Dutch and Ger- Indonesian capital Jakarta later through careful planning of new said Dr Al Derham. their approaches and professional report, including the Foreign Ministry; man embassies. this month. Minister meets ILO delegation Cabinet nod to amend law on Qatar Scouts and Guides Association

QNA the Advisory Council. The Cabinet approved a draft and sports between Qatar and Azerba- Qatar and Singapore, and a draft MoU DOHA: Minister of Justice H E Dr The amendment requires that the legal and judicial cooperation agree- ijan, and a draft MoU for cooperation for cooperation in the field of educa- Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al Mohannadi Ministry of Education and Higher Edu- ment between Qatar and Morocco. It in the field of transport between the tion between the concerned education yesterday met an International cation oversees the association. also endorsed draft memorandums concerned ministries of both coun- ministries of both country. Labour Organisation (ILO) del- DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and The Cabinet also approved the of understanding (MoUs) for cooper- tries. The Cabinet also approved a The Cabinet reviewed a letter egation headed by Ambassador Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E licence for the Economic Zones Com- ation in the field of transport, culture, draft protocol amending some provi- by the Governor of Qatar Central Misako Kaji Talks dealt with the Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mah- pany (Manateq) to use the territories sports, tourism and education between sions of an agreement between Qatar Bank and Chairman of the Board of great progress made by Qatar in moud yesterday chaired the Cabinet’s of the industrial zone in Al Rakiya and Qatar and Turkmenistan and a draft and Azerbaijan on exemption of dip- Directors of Qatar Financial Markets the field of labour and workers’ weekly meeting at the Emiri Diwan. Al Karaana. It took steps to ratify an MoU for cooperation in the field of lomatic passports holders and private Authority regarding a proposal for fee rights. Both sides also discussed The session approved a draft law agreement between Qatar and Bosnia financial affairs between both for- travel passports of requirements for for Qatar Financial Markets Authority, legal and legislative cooperation amending some provisions of Law No. and Herzegovina on the organisation eign ministries. obtaining a visa. Qatar Stock Exchange and Qatar Cen- between Qatar and ILO and issues 18 of 1997 on Qatar Scouts and Guides of the recruitment of workers from that The session endorsed a draft MoU It also endorsed a draft MoU for tral Depository Securities, and took the of common concern. Association, and decided to refer it to country in Qatar. for cooperation in the fields of youth cooperation in the legal field between appropriate decision. HOME THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 03

11 London varsities hold expo at Katara

The Peninsula including building on the legacy of all live. the London 2012 Olympic Games by “The showcase is a demonstra- working on projects to make com- tion of the depth of creativity and munities healthier and draw on the ideas in London’s universities, which DOHA: Eleven universities from Lon- creativity of the revitalised area can assist Qatar.” don showcased new technologies and around the Olympic Park in East More than 100,000 students from opportunities for collaboration with London. over 200 countries choose to study in institutions and individuals in Qatar, Other ideas included initiatives to London each year. The British capital at an exhibition at Katara yesterday. build sustainable homes and work- is a trusted destination for students The exhibition by the London places, projects to monitor the quality and accreditations earned in the UK Universities International Partner- of food for humans and animals, and are recognised all over the world. ship (LUIP) and backed by the £2m a programme about how schools can “The relationship between stu- GREAT UK Challenge Fund, part of produce the leaders of the future. dents from Qatar and the UK is strong the UK Government’s GREAT Brit- “Collaboration between univer- and enduring. So many of Qatar’s ain Campaign, explored the role of sities in London and Qatar-based leading figures have spent time stud- knowledge and skills in the devel- institutions and individuals continues ying in the UK and I am delighted that opment of ‘smart cities’. to grow and we are keen to build on each year this figure increases. The innovative showcase fea- that relationship to forge more part- “I am sure this will continue to tures the River Thames Installation nerships in the future,” said Matthew be the case as demonstrated by the designed by Omid Kamravi, a Middle Pencharz, London’s Deputy Mayor, high level of interest in the showcase. East graduate from the Architectural Environment and Energy. “Britain is well placed through Association School of Architecture “It is the sharing of current its world-class educational insti- in the UK. thinking and research on smart cit- tutions to assist Qatar in building a Depicting the flow of the Thames ies through to the teaching of the knowledge-based economy which Dr Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, Acting Editor-in-Chief, The Peninsula, holding talks with French Ambassador in London, the installation demon- next generation of city planners is fundamental to delivering Qatar to Qatar Eric Chevallier at The Peninsula office yesterday.Pic: Baher / The Peninsula strated how London’s universities — whether town planners, civil engi- National Vision 2030. This is an are educating the next generation neers or more likely technologists important part of the partnership of city leaders, educators, plan- creating new apps and programmes between the UK and Qatar, which I ners, creatives, medics, researchers — that will continue to have profound am committed to supporting,” said French envoy visits The Peninsula and praises and builders. It explored themes, effects on today’s cities and how we Ambassador Ajay Sharma. coverage of local and international news

The Peninsula briefed the ambassador on the news- further cooperation with the news- paper’s vision, focus and views after paper, especially as Qatar is home to the relaunch at the start of this year. a 5,000-strong French community. Ambassador Chevallier said he The ambassador also toured the DOHA: Eric Chevallier, French was aware that The Peninsula was editorial section of the newspaper Ambassador to Qatar, yesterday vis- providing a wide coverage to news and met people on the news desk and ited The Peninsula offices. about his country and activities and members of the online editorial staff. He was welcomed by Dr Khalid events of the French embassy in He praised The Peninsula, its cov- bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, Acting Edi- Doha. erage of local and international news, tor in-Chief of the newspaper who He said he looked forward to and its team and facilities. QM to raise awareness about healthy lifestyle British Ambassador Ajay Sharma addressing the event. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula

The initiative, being launched in between food, healthy eating, exercise celebration of Qatar International and wellbeing. We’re delighted that Healthy Food Food Festival, has been developed leading figures such as Alain Ducasse Initiative marking under the guidance of H E Sheikha and Nasser Al Attiyah have chosen to Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khal- back our initiative. With their involve- Qatar International ifa Al Thani, Chairperson, QM, with ment and support, we hope to engage Food Festival, has support of Alain Ducasse, whose first as many people as possible in taking Middle-Eastern restaurant, IDAM, is in positive steps to eat well and lead a been developed Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). healthy lifestyle.” under the guidance To mark the festival, QM is organ- Chef Ducasse said: “I am happy of H E Sheikha Al ising promotional events, talks and to support H E Sheikha Al Mayassa’s activities to encourage a widespread initiative. I am convinced that taste Mayassa bint Hamad focus on healthy eating. MIA Café is development is a significant lever for bin Khalifa Al Thani, launching recipes developed in col- a good diet. Developing a wide and laboration with lifestyle and food varied taste palette is the key to diver- Chairperson, QM, bloggers from the local community. sifying and enjoying a healthy diet.” with support of Alain The brand new, updated menu fea- QM is organising a Healthy Food tures healthy eating options. Show, including a full afternoon of Ducasse. The initiative is an innovative pro- panel talks, a debate with a leading gramme to increase awareness among nutrition expert, a conversation with Qataris about leading a healthier life- Ducasse and a session on physical style. It seeks to highlight the link exercise with an international athlete. The Peninsula between overweight, diabetes and On March 25 from 4.30pm to 8.30pm other illnesses. It also conveys pos- QM will bring together three world- itive messages about healthy eating renowned experts to share dietary habits and demonstrates that healthy advice and promote physical exercise DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) is food can be easy and delicious too. at the festival — doctor and nutrition- launching the Healthy Food Initia- Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “The ist Valérie Espinasse, rally driving and tive to raise awareness about healthy festival provides the ideal oppor- ball trap champion Nasser Al Attiyah lifestyles and promote healthy eating. tunity to highlight the relationship and Ducasse. Martha Stewart, QA Cooking Theatre to feature at Qatar International Food Festival

DOHA: Global lifestyle personality Martha Stewart former chef at world-famous Noma Restaurant, and and Australian MasterChef Judge George Calombaris fabulous chefs from the Arabic food channel Fatafeat; are among celebrity chefs to feature at Qatar Inter- Daad Abu Jaber; Salma Soleiman and Mohamad Orfali. national Food Festival (QIFF), Qatar Airways (QA) has HIA, partner of FC Bayern Munich, has secured the announced. football club’s Head Chef Alfons Schuhbeck to partici- QA, the official co-host of the festival, is bringing pate in the Cooking Theatre and fans can look forward back its popular Cooking Theatre, a signature event to learning about the team’s food favourites. for festival-goers. This year the award-winning air- QA Senior Vice-President Marketing and Corporate line will present culinary events at Museum of Islamic Communications, Salam Al Shawa, said: “QA is invit- Art Park and Katara Cultural Village. ing visitors to take a global food journey at this year’s QA’s on board chef, the multiple award-winning festival, courtesy of the most-talented chefs, who will Vineet Bhatia, will again create inspired cuisine for inspire them with flavours that transport them to all visitors to the airline’s live stage show. Returning to corners of the world. Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Market- the festival from Canada, festival favourite and creator ing and Promotion Officer, Qatar Tourism Authority, of Qatar Duty Free’s Soprafino Restaurant at Hamad said: “Hosting celebrity chefs from around the world is International Airport, Chef Massimo Capra, will make one of the festival’s attributes, allowing visitors to wit- appearances throughout the seven-day event. ness up close skills and special ingredients that go into Four international Michelin star-rated talents com- so many popular international dishes. We would like plement the exclusive line-up: Palate-pleasing Japanese to thank our partners at QA for making these appear- chef Tagaki Kazuo; Australian chef Paul Bentley; Bang- ances possible and look forward to welcoming the kok legend Tim Butler; and celebrated pastry chef Jesus culinary stars.” Children will enjoy the presence of the Escalera. Additional talents include Francisco Ruano, much-loved Kidzmondo characters who will appear owner of one of the top five restaurants in Mexico and at festival activities throughout the week. 04 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 HOME

Members nominated for global humanitarian law panel ARC’ 16 on March 22 and 23

QNA International Human Rights Law, and Development (QF R&D) — will culture of excellence for the benefit Parallel discussions will follow, inves- which applies in time of war and ‘Investing in be held under the theme ‘Investing in of society. The conference showcases tigating key topics in energy and peace, pointing out that the com- Research and Innovating for Society’. these efforts and promotes closer environment; computing & informa- plementarity between both aims to Research and Bringing together some of the engagement among national stake- tion technology; healthcare; social DOHA: Minister of Justice H E Dr protect the lives, health and dignity Innovating for world’s brightest minds, ARC’16 pro- holders and the wider research sciences, arts and humanities; and Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al Mohan- of individuals. vides a platform to highlight the community. It is a tangible demon- innovation. ARC’16 will showcase nadi yesterday issued a decision, This year, the national com- Society’ is the theme importance of strategic investment in stration of our dedication to drive important local and international nominating members of National mittee aims to achieve the highest of Annual Research research and innovation for the ben- research and development in Qatar,” collaborations. Guest speakers from Committee for International Human- performance levels through activ- efit of Qatar’s society and address the said Dr Nabeel Al Salem, Executive Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, itarian Law. The decision stipulates ities covering most of the terms of Conference 2016, country’s national ‘Research Grand Director, Outreach and Communica- Qatar Computing Research Insti- that the committee will be chaired reference of the sub-committees a flagship event of Challenges’ on a global scale. tions, QF R&D. tute, Qatar Environment and Energy by Undersecretary of Justice Sultan being prepared by the rapporteur Qatar Foundation The annual event will take place Held under the patronage of Research Institute, Qatar National bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi. and the technical team, which will on March 22 and 23 at Qatar National H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chair- Research Fund, and Qatar Science & The committee yesterday held its be presented to members. Research and Convention Centre (QNCC). person, Qatar Foundation, the event Technology Park — all members of QF first meeting for the year at its head- The Cabinet approved last Development. The Qatar National Research will see participation of local and — will lead discussions alongside local quarters at the ministry. Brigadier October 14 the allocation of a head- Strategy provides the framework for global experts to engage in progres- and international delegates. It will also Abdullah bin Saqr Al Mohannadi, quarters for the committee at the QF R&D’s objectives and measures of sive discussions on best practices to include the announcement of success- from the Ministry of Interior was new Ministry of Justice. The panel performance by guiding decisions to address national priorities and tackle ful grant applicants under QNRF’s nominated as Vice-President of comprises Colonel Hadi Hadi Salem The Peninsula invest in research and development the four research grand challenges: flagship National Priorities Research the panel. It reviewed proposals Al Marri of the Ministry of Defence; programmes that highlight critical Water security, energy security, cyber Programme and the 8th Undergradu- for its working system and identi- Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim Al Thani national priorities. security and healthcare. ate Research Experience Programme fied the terms of reference of the from the Foreign Ministry; Fatima “Qatar’s research and develop- The opening plenary will include a competition, through which students sub-committees. Abdulaziz Bilal from the Minis- DOHA: The Annual Research Con- ment objectives are clear — invest in high-powered keynote panel discus- gain research and development expe- The president of the committee try of Justice; Saleh Ali Al Khalidi, ference 2016 (ARC’16) — the flagship human capital by encouraging con- sion entitled ‘Strategic Investment in rience under the guidance of faculty briefed the new members on the from the Ministry of Administra- event of Qatar Foundation Research tinuous innovation and fostering a Research and Innovation for Society’. members. National Committee for Interna- tive Development and Labour and tional Humanitarian Law, referring Social Affairs; Mohammed Iskandar to the Cabinet Decision No. 27 of Al Qadhi, from the Ministry of Edu- 2012 establishing the national com- cation and Higher Education; Abdul mittee. It reflects Qatar’s approach Latif Ali Al Abdullah, from the Minis- QC unveils ‘ShopAndAid.com’ Ministry recalls to resolving international conflicts try of Public Health; Mohammed bin and providing assistance to victims Khalid Al Ghanim, from the Advisory as part of its keenness in the inter- Council; Dr Talal Ahmed Abdullah KIA Soul models national humanitarian field, he said. Al Emadi, from Qatar University; The Peninsula Yazidi, CEO, Financial Resources, QC, charity work. Shoppers will not be The president made the dis- Amal Abdullatif Al Mannai, from said, “QC supports and inaugurates charged extra. “People would buy of 2014-2015 tinction between the International Qatar Foundation for Social Action; creative and innovative projects that and give charity at the same time,” Humanitarian Law, which applies and Dr Fawzi Oosidik, from Qatar serve the field of humanitarian work. he added. Buyers can purchase items Doha: The Ministry of in time of armed conflict, and the Red Crescent Society. DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) inau- It supports projects that would through ‘Shop & Aid’ website by Economy and Commerce, gurated its electronic project involve communities, their people accessing ShopAndAid.com website in collaboration with Al ‘ShopAndAid.com’ considered the and institutions, in charity and vol- through any browser from computers Attiya Motors and Trading first of its kind in the region. untary work. QC uses technology and or mobile phones, search for the prod- Co., dealer of KIA vehi- Developed and run by QC, the advancements in communication and uct you wish to purchase; compare the cles, has announced the Qatar keen to promote international project is an opportunity for the the Internet to promote and finance prices, buy and pay. After that, a share recall of KIA Soul mod- public to give charity and support relief and development programmes would be transferred for charity work. els of 2014 and 2015 as development cooperation: Envoy humanitarian projects implemented and projects which serve needy peo- ShopAndAid.com has signed part- potential noise may occur by QC around the world. Whenever ple around the world. It also does its nership agreements with the world’s while turning the steering they want to purchase items online, best to facilitate the donation process.” best stores. The deals state that every wheel. QNA objectives to one goal, promoting they could donate. No charges will Al Yazidi encouraged online shop- time someone buys anything through The ministry said the and protecting human rights, espe- be required. They could buy clothes, pers to visit ShopAndAid.com and by these stores, a share will be paid for recall is within the frame- cially if we look at development as electronic devices, or anything they from one of the most famous elec- charity work without charging the work of its efforts to a basic right and sustainable devel- desire. It aims to encourage people tronic stores such as Amazon.com. buyers. QC uses the donated money protect consumers and GENEVA: Qatar reiterated keenness opment goals as an integral part of to be involved in charitable work ShopAndAid.com gives viewers the to finance projects that cover all fields ensure dealers follow up to promote national development in the obligations stipulated by human and offers a new method through the chance to find the best prices from such as water, healthcare, social on vehicle defects and all axes while enhancing interna- rights agreements.” Internet to support relief and devel- global stores. matters, education and economic repairs. tional development cooperation. The council represents the opment programmes and projects for By selecting the product, a share empowerment to enable poor com- The ministry said it This came during a speech spearhead in efforts towards the needy groups. of the profits of the company or store munities to keep their dignity through will coordinate with the delivered by Faisal bin Abdullah Al implementation of the agenda by Mohammed bin Abdullah Al would be immediately allocated to relief and development projects. dealer to follow up on Henzab, Qatar’s Permanent Repre- supporting and urging member maintenance and repairs sentative to the United Nations Office states to fulfil their obligations in and communicate with in Geneva, before the annual high- this regard, he added. customers to ensure nec- level panel discussion on human He said Qatar has made great essary repairs are carried rights mainstreaming at the 31st strides towards the enforcement of Power to all parts of Pearl-Qatar restored out. It urged customers to session of the UN Human Rights the Millennium Development Goals report any violations to its Council. He said: “We foresee with as part of Qatar National Vision 2030 Consumer Protection and the start of the council’s second dec- and its institutional strategies, led The Peninsula “We would like to thank all residents of the Pearl- Anti-Commercial Fraud ade of action a new era coinciding by the National Development Strat- Qatar for patience, understanding and cooperation over Department through hot- with implementation of the 2030 egy (2011-2016), which made big and any inconvenience they may have faced due to the out- line: 16001; email: info@ Sustainable Development Agenda we concrete achievements, particu- age. The root cause of the incident has been identified mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @ consider an important step towards larly in the areas of education and DOHA: Power supply to all parts of the Pearl-Qatar has and rectified. Stringent measures are being put in place MEC_Qatar; Instagram: a better world in which all peoples healthcare and raising the standard been restored following an outage caused by a techni- to prevent such incidents in the future, although it was MEC_Qatar; and the and individuals are equal in their of living for individuals, placing the cal snag to cables outside the Island on Tuesday, United beyond UDC control,” said a UDC spokesperson. ministry’s mobile app right to live in dignity, development country in a leading position in the Development Company (UDC), the master developer of UDC expressed gratitude to all hotels and residency for Android and IOS: and prosperity. international human development the Pearl-Qatar, said yesterday. Supply was restored to facilities that provided accommodation and services to MEC_Qatar. “The agenda leads through its indicators. almost all areas and precincts by 8am yesterday. host the Pearl-Qatar residents. Ooredoo and MoneyGram offer chance to watch T20 World Cup in India

The Peninsula

DOHA: Ooredoo has announced that Ooredoo Mobile Money users can win an all-expense-paid trip to see the final of the sixth ICC World Twenty20 hosted by India, thanks to MoneyGram, the official money transfer part- ner of the ICC World Twenty20. The ICC World Twenty20 is one of the highlights of the cricketing season and starts on Tuesday, with 16 teams playing in seven Indian cities during the tour- nament. MoneyGram and Ooredoo Mobile Money will give customers a chance to win a fully paid round-trip to Kolkata to watch the final match live on April 3. Existing and new Ooredoo Mobile Money customers can enter by transferring money to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal or Afghanistan via Money- Gram until March 18 to be eligible to win. The prize will include an economy class return ticket, two night’s hotel accommodation, airport and venue transportation, and hospitality service by ICC’s official sponsors, MoneyGram. New customers can reg- ister for Ooredoo Mobile Money by dialling *140# and following instructions on their mobile phones USSD menu or download the free Ooredoo Money App. Once registered, customers can deposit money into their mobile account using any of the 200 Ooredoo self- service machines across Qatar. Deposits can also be made through Ooredoo shops or direct transfer from QNB accounts using the QNB Mobile Payment service. Winners of the MoneyGram ICC World Twenty20 2016 competition will be chosen through electronic draw and will need to apply independently for their visa to India. For the terms and conditions of the com- petition or details about Ooredoo’s Mobile Money, visit www.ooredoo.qa HOME THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 05

QA’s inaugural flight touches Dr Sheikh Khalid honours graduate down at Sydney Airport

The Peninsula adding flights to Perth in 2012. (NSW) capital, connecting Australia’s Al Baker said: “Touching down leading exporters to QA Cargo’s glo- here in Sydney for the first time bal network of more than 150 stations today is an important milestone for around the world. QA Cargo, the third DOHA: Qatar Airways’ (QA) inaugu- QA and for the people of Australia. largest international cargo airline, ral flight to Sydney touched down at We are delighted to be able to offer already carries 301 tonnes of freight Sydney Airport yesterday. passengers flying from Sydney the in the belly hold of its Boeing 777 pas- A delegation of VIPs from Qatar, opportunity to connect to more than senger aircraft into and out of Perth including QA Group Chief Executive 150 places on our global network via and Melbourne per week. Akbar Al Baker, were met from the our state-of-the-art airport in Doha. Sydney Airport Managing Direc- aircraft by Sydney Airport Managing We look forward to taking the people tor and Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sydney to the places they want to Kerrie Mather said: “We’re thrilled Kerrie Mather; Official Secretary to go on our modern aircraft, and giving to welcome QA to Sydney Airport. QA the Governor of New South Wales, them a taste of the Arabian hospital- is a three-time Skytrax Airline of the Colonel Michael Miller RFD; Destina- ity and comfort that earned us the Year winner and will provide pas- tion NSW Chairman, John Hartigan; aviation industry’s most prestigious sengers with more choice, a quality and Tourism Australia Managing title of Skytrax Airline of the Year product and seamless connectivity Director, John O’Sullivan. in 2015. The new route to Sydney is through Doha’s new Hamad Interna- QA now operates a Boeing 777- expected to generate an estimated tional Airport to destinations around Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al Thani honouring a graduate of the first batch of trainees who took part 300 daily from Doha to Sydney 3,000 jobs in New South Wales and the world. in the Social Psychiatry Counsellors’ Training Programme of the Mental Health Friends Association at connecting Australian passengers to contribute more than AUD$240m to “QA’s new daily service will boost the graduation ceremony yesterday . its global network of more than 150 the local economy. tourism, providing an additional destinations. QA has been serving The new service will also provide 245,000 seats per year, generating Australia since 2009 when it com- 84 tonnes of cargo capacity per week an estimated 3,000 jobs and contrib- menced flights to Melbourne, later in and out of the New South Wales uting more than AUD$240 million to the Australian economy. “It will also foster trade, provid- QA Cargo flying in 118 champion ing greater air cargo capacity and access to the Middle East. Australian exports to Doha grew by 23 percent horses for equestrian event last year, and the State of Qatar’s high demand for livestock, cereal, meat, dairy products and crops provides The Peninsula in the air for our equine guests, and we are committed to a significant opportunity for Aus- ensuring that they are handled with the utmost care by tralian exporters.” NSW Minister for our team, just as we do with everything that we trans- Trade, Tourism and Major Events, port. The team at Qatar Airways Cargo is well trained Stuart Ayres said: “I am delighted to DOHA: Qatar Airways Cargo is transporting 118 of the and works in line with IATA’s Live Animal Regulations welcome the first QA flight to Syd- world’s most admired show jumping and dressage horses to provide the most comfortable journey for the horses.” ney, which will provide a valuable from Liege, Belgium, to Doha, on board three chartered With a team of dedicated equine experts, Qatar increase in aviation capacity from Boeing 777 freighters equipped with air stables to allow Airways Cargo offers a world class facility for the trans- the Middle East and greater connec- the precious cargo to travel in maximum comfort. portation of horses. The QR Equine service includes tivity to Sydney and regional NSW, The horses, which will all take part in the international specifically designed aircraft, comprising both Airbus and particularly for travellers flying from equine event, CHI Al Shaqab, taking place in Doha from Boeing freighters, featuring controlled temperature zones, the United Kingdom and Europe via 2-5 March, will be accompanied by a dedicated team of spacious horse stalls and a team of dedicated grooms to The Qatar Airways’ flight arriving in Sydney yesterday. Doha. almost 90 vets and grooms as they undertake the jour- accompany horses, ensuring their comfort, safety and ney, alongside more than 30,000kg of equine equipment. smooth transportation. On the ground, at its state-of-art Ulrich Ogiermann, QA’s Chief Officer Cargo said: hub in Doha, Qatar Airways Cargo’s Live Animal Facil- “Qatar Airways Cargo is proud to offer its support to this ity offers an equally sophisticated environment with air world-class equestrian event. We take great pride in pro- conditioned holding stalls, a paddock and on-site veter- Ooredoo in deal to deliver better cyber security viding the highest standard of services on the ground and inary personnel.

The Peninsula Management (SIEM) as a service, access- Feras Tappuni, Managing Director, Si ing around-the-clock monitoring without company, said: “Our company works hard the need for major hardware investment. to deliver innovative projects in a simple In addition, Ooredoo and Si will also offer way, so that customers know what they DOHA: Ooredoo has signed a Managed Firewall service, deploying the are getting and receive immediate and a major security agreement very best talent and technology in the sustainable benefits. Ooredoo provides with Si, a pioneering solu- security industry to protect customers’ world-class networks supported by strong tions provider, which will networks and systems. experience in integrated ICT provision, position Ooredoo as the Yusuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief Oper- so together we will be able to deliver the leader in Managed Security ating Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said “We highest level of security and service.” Services provision across want our customers to be able to focus SIEM as a Service from Ooredoo will the region. on their core services, and have the peace offer real-time monitoring services that The partnership, which of mind of knowing that their systems are are scalable, compliant, cost effective, was completed at Mobile being protected and monitored by world- and available every minute of every day. World Congress in Barce- class security experts. This best-in-class The cloud-based service will be secured lona last week, will provide agreement with Si means that we are able across Security Operations Centres (SOCs) Ooredoo customers with an to offer incredible levels of security around in Doha. enhanced suite of online the clock, and enable customers to access The Managed Firewall service is security services, includ- these resources through an affordable, cloud-based to offer a resilient and ing 24x7 security incident scalable model.” dependable service for corporate clients. detection and response services, to keep their data and their businesses safe. Companies and organ- isations in the region have come under increas- ing pressure in recent months as the volume of attempted cyber-attacks has increased. Working with Si, Oore- doo will ensure that, even if there is a security breach, customers will receive an incident report within min- utes for serious threats so that they can react imme- diately to fix the problem. Customers will be able to benefit from Security Information and Event

Weather change from Saturday

The Peninsula

DOHA: The Meteorology Department has fore- cast a change in weather conditions from Satur- day evening until Sunday evening, with chances of scattered rains. Weather charts indicate a possibility of further rains on Tuesday night and until end of Wednesday. Temperature in Doha today is expected to range between 17 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius. 06 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 HOME

Ashghal announces traffic diversion Physiological help for Syrian kids

RAF and Hadara have prepared 10,000 school satchels containing books of short stories and pamphlets in Arabic language for kids at refugee camps.

The Peninsula

The Peninsula vice versa. The existing southbound lanes of Al Khor Road will be closed for the same DOHA: Two local charitable length. organizations have come forward FROM LEFT: Raba Abdul Hameed, Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al Abdul Ghani, Ali Yousaf Al Kuwari The diversion begins this evening for to provide physiological support and Dr Walid Al Rafai during the press conference at RAF office yesterday. Pic: Abdul / The Peninsula DOHA: The Public Works Authority ‘Ash- six months, in coordination with the traffic to Syrian children living in refu- ghal’ will implement a temporary diversion department. Traffic on the closed rounda- gee camps. on the Water-filling Station Roundabout bout will be diverted to a new temporary Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah of some global charities suggest Kuwari, Director of Public Rela- bags initiative’”, said Abdul Aziz in Al Khor City, and open a single-lane roundabout with a bigger radius that was Foundation for Humanitarian that Syrian refugee children need tion Department of RAF. bin Abdul Rahman Al Abdul Ghani. dual carriageway section on Al Khor constructed on the same location to avoid Services (RAF) and Abdullah psychosocial support as some of Children represent half of the One of them is entitled Al Road (Street No. 212) in front of Al Khor traffic congestions. Abdul Ghani Foundation for Cross- them suffer from post-traumatic refugee population affected by the Janna Ajmal (the paradise is more Sports Club for 700 metres in the direc- Ashghal will install road signs to Cultural Understanding “Hadara” stress disorder. war in their home country, they beautiful) written by a famous tion from Al Shamal Road to Corniche and advice motorists of the diversion. have readied 10,000 school satch- There is a lack of necessary are the weakest segments of soci- scribe of United Arab Emirates els containing books of short resources to address the needs of ety and most deserving people for (UAE), Mawza Al Jaberi. stories and pamphlets in Arabic a staggering number of trauma- such initiatives, said Al Kuwari. The book has been translated language. The initiative aims to tized children. He was speaking at a joint into 12 languages. The second provide psychological support to “RAF gave priority to the press conference organized by book is entitled “Tasali”. This book the children affected by the ongo- issues of children in refugee RAF and Hadara here yesterday. will not only provide knowledge to ing conflict in Syria and help them camps by providing them psy- “Hadara has published two children but it will focus on other imbibe social values. chological and educational famous books for children to be aspects like religion, behaviour Reports posted on the websites support,” said Ali bin Yousuf Al distributed as part of its ‘school and morality. Qatar to mark Arab Water Day Thai minister hails guest worker

The Peninsula of water is one of the very in demand due to population conditions in Qatar essential elements to achieve growth. The economic boom is sustainable development necessitating the adoption of One of the long-route inter-city buses. and support the economic solutions which assure achieve- The Peninsula DOHA: Qatar represented by the renaissance the country is wit- ment of sustainable development, Qatar General Electricity and nessing. Kahramaa has set plans He said Qatar is keen to Bus route 300 extended Water Corporation (Kahramaa) to develop and renovate all water diversify the use of water by will today mark the Arab Water facilities to raise productivity and encouraging parallel means to DOHA: On a two-day visit to Day under the slogan “We must meet the increasing demands, reduce consumption and utiliz- Qatar, Thailand’s Labour Minis- economize water to achieve sus- said a statement. ing all means to preserve water ter Sirchai Distakul praised the Continued from page 1 Al Shehaniya (Workers Camp) via Raw- tainable development” . Minister of Energy and resources. “This year’s celebra- standards of Labour City. dat Rashid. The extended service will be The major aim of this day is Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin tion gives more importance to ‘This is one of the best and Inter city routes in operation are Al in operation from 4am to 11pm with a to shed light on the Arab efforts Saleh Al Sada said, everyone awareness about rationaliza- most well-equipped worker Ruwais/Al Shamal, Al Thakhira, Dukhan, frequency of 30 minutes per trip. The last to rationalize water consump- knows we are living in an area tion of water usage as one of accommodation sites I have Mesaieed Industrial City, Abu Samra, service from Asian town will be at 9pm tion and conservation of drinking which faces scarcity of water the effective means to maintain visited. I am pleased with the Umm Garn village, Al Kheesa and Al Khor and return from Al Shehaniya will be at water under the current chal- resources and we are facing a water resources of the country,” standard of welfare available Community. 10.50 pm. lenges facing water resources in number of challenges including said Al Sada. Taking into account to workers here. “Labour City is The corresponding bus routes are 100, “We are receiving requests from vari- Arab countries, Kahramaa said rapid underground water deple- of the fact that “per capita Arab a clear indication that Qatar is 101, 102, 104, 104A, 109, 135, 137, 170, 172 ous sources for route changes, additional yesterday. tion, increased salinity, scarcity water consumption is considered determined to set the standard of and 102X. All the routes operate from the routes and we evaluate the requirement to Recognizing the importance of rains and steady increase one of the highest in the world”. worker welfare in this region.” central bus terminal in Al Ghanim. The ensure the demand is met with increased Labour City can accommo- new buses are also used for the route from ridership. Then the proposal is submitted date some 70,000 workers, who Hamad International Airport to West Bay to the Ministry of Transport and Com- come to the state to participate in via Corniche road/City Center mall, and munications to verify the feasibility of its construction projects, such as the corresponding route number will operating as per safety of the road con- Fresh vegetables and fruits cheaper those for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. be 777. Route 300 operating from Asian ditions and we get our approval,” said Labour City, 14km from town to Abu Nakhla is now extended to Mowasalat CEO Khalid Al Hail. Doha and covering an area of By Sanaullah Ataullah by the ministry figures. 1,100,000sqm is one of seven The Peninsula Fish prices have risen 10 percent from a year ago accommodation complexes the but the rates of the most popular fish Hamour and government is building for about a delicacy loved by Qataris, fell by eight percent. 260,000 migrants. Some vegetables that have become expensive in There are over 40,000 Thai DOHA: Fresh vegetables and fruits at the Central a year include carrot, cucumber, Saudi cauliflower, workers in Qatar, Minister for Market have become a little cheaper this year as Chinese garlic and Jordanian lettuce. The vegetables Development Planning, Labour compared to the same period of 2015, official fig- that witnessed a decline in pricing are Chinese gin- and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin ures show. ger, Qatari Khoosa, tomato and capsicum. Saad Jaffali Naimi suggesting there Price trends of fresh vegetables and fruits in the The fruits that became dearer include Egyptian should be more. third week of last month (from February 14 to 20) strawberry, Turkish lemon and Lebanese orange Naimi said: “We are extremely show that the former were four percent cheaper (Clementine) . However, American and Lebanese proud of the contribution Thai while the latter, six percent in a year. pear, Indian pomegranate, Philippines banana, nationals make to Qatar’s devel- Comparative prices of fresh vegetables and fruits Pakistani orange, and Chinese apple became opment and growth. As we move ruling at the Central Market were given for the third cheaper. Fish such as Safi, Al Rabib, Al Shari, Al towards realising Qatar’s National week of February 2015 and 2016 by the Ministry Balul, Al Khabat, Al Naisar and Al Khofar of local Vision 2030, we look forward to of Economy and Commerce in a report yesterday. variety became expensive. Hamour fish recorded a welcoming more highly-skilled But fish has become dearer now as compared to decline in prices from QR32 per kg earlier last year individuals from Thailand over the corresponding period of last year, as reflected to QR30 currently. the coming years.” Safari begins ‘Gold Rush’ mega promotion

DOHA: Safari has announced ‘Gold Rush’ mega support and enthusiasm for our previous mega promotion from today until September 13 at its promotion with 18 Toyota Camry cars. outlets across Qatar. “Over last many years of operations, we Customers who buy goods worth QR50 dur- have perfected our products and services to ing the period at any Safari outlet will get a cater to the increasing needs of customers. We raffle coupon to enter the draw for ‘Win 6 Kilo have made categories of quality products avail- Gold’ at Safari Mall. Three winners will get 1kg able and affordable for customers through our of gold every month: First winner 500grammes; ideally located outlets and are working on many second winner 300grammes and third win- more ways to serve our customers better. Our ner 200grammes, Zainulabideen K (pictured), all previous mega promotions were appreciated Director and General Manager, Safari Group, by customers and we expect the new promo- said in a statement. tion will also be accepted and supported by our The first draw will be held on April 5, sec- customers,” the statement said. ond on May 5, third on June 5, fourth on July 5, Safari has defined itself to be a trendsetter fifth on August 7 and sixth on September 14. in the retailing industry in Qatar within a short He said: “To provide exciting, value added period of operations. and customer-centric shopping experience and Its frequent special price offers and mega strengthening relationships, we have decided promotions with bumper prizes aim to ensure to launch this promotion and give away 6kg of quality products at most competitive prices gold to customers. Thanks to all Safari custom- and opportunities for customers win fabulous ers and avid shoppers who have shown great prizes. GULF / MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 07 GCC declares PM attends Arab Interior Ministers’ meeting

QNA

Hezbollah TUNIS: Prime Minister and Inte- rior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani took part in the meeting of the 33rd session of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council, which terrorist group kicked off here yesterday. The event is attended by the interior ministers of Arab countries, high-level but Saudi Arabia, the biggest power security delegations as well as repre- in the grouping, last week said it had sentatives of the United Nations, the Kuwait’s National blacklisted four companies and Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Assembly announced three Lebanese men for having Council (GCC), the Arab Maghreb Union links to Hezbollah. Zayani accused (AMU), the International Criminal Police a new law yesterday Hezbollah of committing “hostile Organization (Interpol), United Nations aimed at criminalising acts” against GCC states, includ- Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ing recruiting young men to carry and Naif Arab University for Security expressions of out “terrorist attacks, smuggling Sciences (NAUSS). weapons and explosives, stirring Participants will discuss in the support for Hezbollah up sedition and incitement to chaos session, which was opened by Tuni- on social media. and violence”. sian President Beji Caid Essebsi. Prince Individual members of the Gulf Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Cooperation Council have already Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Premier labelled Hezbollah a terrorist group. and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom There was no immediate reac- of Saudi Arabia and Honorary Chair- Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani attending the 33rd Agencies tion from Hezbollah. But a day man of the Arab Interior Ministers’ earlier, its leader Sayyed Hassan Council, Dr Nabil El Araby, Secre- session of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council, in Tunis, yesterday. Nasrallah had said Saudi Arabia had tary-General of Arab League and Dr pushed Lebanon into a new phase of Mohammed bin Ali Kuman, Secretary- The two-day session will dis- terrorism, the Arab strategy to combat for Civil Protection (Civil Defense) in DUBAI: The six-member Gulf political conflict by announcing it General of the Council, and several cuss reports carried out by member the illegal use of drugs and psycho- addition to the fifteenth annual report Cooperation Council (GCC) named was suspending an aid package to high-level officials are participating states on the Arab security strat- tropic substances, the Arab strategy to follow up implementation of the Hezbollah a terrorist organisation the Lebanese army. in the meeting. egy, the Arab strategy for combating for traffic safety, the Arab strategy Arab Convention against terrorism. yesterday, opening up the possibil- Nasrallah also stepped up criti- ity of further sanctions against the cism of Saudi Arabia, accusing it of Iran-allied group that wields influ- directing car bombings in Lebanon. ence in Lebanon and fights in Syria. Leading Sunni power Saudi The Sunni Muslim dominated Arabia and its Shia regional rival Australia softens sanctions against Iran council — representing Saudi Ara- Iran compete for influence across bia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman the region and back different fac- and Qatar — already imposed sanc- tions in divided Lebanon. Riyadh tions on the Shia group in 2013 after cut diplomatic ties with Tehran after Reuters will no longer need to seek approval Iran include restrictions on the trans- all transactions to those two countries it entered Syria’s war in support of demonstrators set fire to its embassy for transactions of more than fer of proliferation sensitive goods, should be considered as “high risk.” President Bashar Al Assad. and a consulate following the Saudi A$20,000 ($14,436) involving enti- the arms and ballistic missiles embar- Iran has always denied its nuclear In yesterday’s announcement, execution of a prominent Shia cleric. ties from Iran. goes and sanctions against some programme was aimed at obtaining GCC Secretary-General Abdul- Former Lebanese Sunni prime SYDNEY: Australia followed major While Australia has suspended some designated persons and entities. an atomic bomb. The United States latif Al Zayani said the council minister Saad Al Hariri stopped short world powers by lifting sanctions on of the sanctions imposed on Iran auton- Australia’s anti-money laundering and other countries formally lifted would now “take the necessary of publicly endorsing the Saudi deci- Iran yesterday, after confirmation omously in 2008 because of the Islamic watchdog AUSTRAC expects report- banking, steel, shipping and other measures to implement its deci- sion, but criticised Hezbollah for its from the United Nations that Tehran Republic’s nuclear programme, some ing entities to scrutinise all payments sanctions on Iran in January, giving sion ... based on anti-terrorism involvement in Syria and its alleged had taken steps required to curb its non-nuclear sanctions remain in place, that are routed via third-party coun- one of the world’s major oil produc- laws applied in the GCC and sim- involvement in Yemen which he disputed nuclear programme. the Department of Foreign Affairs and tries to Iran or North Korea, which ers access to international markets ilar international laws”. Zayani did described as “unlawful, criminal Under changes announced by the Trade (DFAT) said in a statement. is also subject to sanctions due to its that it had been virtually shut out of not specify what action might follow, and terrorist”. Australian government, businesses Sanctions still in force against nuclear programme. AUSTRAC says for the past five years. Dialogue open with Hezbollah: Hariri

Reuters & QNA

BEIRUT: Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Al Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, said yesterday he would keep domestic dialogue open with rivals Hezbollah, after the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) designated the Shia group a ter- rorist organisation. Hariri, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, told a news conference it was not up to him to agree or dis- agree with the terrorist listing, but that he wanted to continue Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Al Hariri (centre) looks on meetings with Hezbollah “to avoid sedition” in Lebanon. during the 36th presidential election session at the parliament However, Hariri also criti- building in Beirut, yesterday. cised the group for its involvement in the Syrian war and its alleged after only 72 of the 128 Members of The country has been without a involvement in Yemen as “crimi- Parliament (MP) showed up for the president since May 2014 and sys- nal, unlawful and terrorist”. elections. tematic boycotts by the deputies Meanwhile, Lebanese par- Speaker of the House, Nabih have stopped the parliament from liamentarians missed another Berri, was obliged to postpone the attaining the required quorum of opportunity to elect a president session to March 23. 86 deputies to hold elections.

Jordan foils plot to attack military targets

Reuters Militants who refused to surrender engaged in heavy exchanges of fire with special forces that also injured five policemen, the security services statement said. “They showed heavy resistance with automatic weapons and AMMAN: Jordan’s security services said yesterday they so the security forces dealt with the situation with the had thwarted a plot by sleeper cells of Islamic State mil- necessary force.” itants to blow up civilian and military targets in the King Abdullah, a key Middle East ally of Western pow- US-allied Arab kingdom. ers against Islamist militancy who has also safeguarded One of Jordan’s biggest security operations in years Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel, has been among the tracked down militants with suicide bomb belts to a hide- most vocal leaders in the region in warning of threats out in the northern city of Irbid near the Syrian border, posed by Islamic State, which has seized swathes of ter- according to a statement carried by the state news agency ritory in Syria and Iraq. Petra. The monarch, in ceremonial military attire, attended Seven militants were killed in clashes that began on the funeral of the dead police officer along with several Tuesday night and lasted until dawn and a police officer thousand people near the city of Zarqa. was also killed, it said. Security forces seized automatic Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour told lawmakers that weapons, munitions and explosives from the Islamic the security operation had fully achieved its goals, saying State cell. the targeted “terrorist group” had forged organisational “After diligent and detailed intelligence gathering the ties with Islamic State in an attempt to destabilise Jordan. intelligence department was able soon to thwart a crim- Jordan has tried and sentenced dozens of suspected inal and destructive plot linked by the terrorist Daesh militant, mostly Jordanians returning from neighbouring group aimed at destabilising national security,” the state- Syria’s civil war. Some of them were recruited by Syria’s al ment said, using the pejorative Arabic acronym for Islamic Qaeda offshoot Nusra Front or by Islamic State insurgents. State. No details were given on the targets or the plot. “We live in a neighbourhood that is full of terrorist Two security sources said dozens of special forces organizations ... All of our effort is directed towards stop- had been involved in the operation and that the mili- ping these terrorist organizations from attacking us and tants had been holed up near a Palestinian refugee camp undermining the security of our country,” government in the centre of Irbid. spokesman Mohammad Al Momani said. 08 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 GULF / MIDDLE EAST 40 agreements signed on truce in Syria: Russia

A senior official said the United States was Tea breaks and video games: working with Russia to improve access to Rebels use truce to relax besieged areas to stop the Syrian government AFP in terms of food and drink,” Muhrem from removing says. medical supplies from “We drink coffee late into the night and sometimes play PlaySta- aid convoys. ALEPPO, SYRIA: Their guns tion together,” he says, smiling. propped up on a mattress nearby, “Dawn of the Martyrs” militants Tarek Muhrem and his fellow Syr- are based in a crumbling apartment ian rebel fighters plop down on block in the Karam al-Turab neigh- Reuters their couch along Aleppo city’s front bourhood of the city. lines for an evening of football video White sheets dotted with bullet games. holes hang across the neighbourhood Instead of rifle triggers and streets to hide the remaining resi- MOSCOW/GENEVA: Russia’s defence walkie-talkies, they grasp small dents from snipers. ministry said yesterday a total of 40 glasses of coffee and sweet tea Dressed in military gear, bored agreements had been signed on a ten- between PlayStation sessions in their rebel fighters scroll through Face- tative ceasefire in Syria and talks with makeshift base in a battle-scarred book on their mobile phones and other groups were ongoing, Russian neighbourhood. chat with family on the messaging news agencies reported. Since a fragile truce came into application WhatsApp. “With the mediation of the Russian effect across parts of the country on They sit in what appears to be Federation, negotiations are continu- Saturday, rebels in Syria’s second city an ornately decorated sitting room ing with the leaders of 11 more armed say the decrease in bombing has in the middle of a bombed-out dis- groups,” RIA news agency quoted the allowed them time to recover and trict in Aleppo city. Tarek Muhrem (right), head of the “Dawn of the Martyrs” Brigade and a rebel fighter, dressed in military ministry as saying. visit their families. Abu Nura, a 38-year old com- gear play video-games as he sits in a room in his base in the middle of a bombed-out district in the A senior US official said yesterday “Things have gotten better mander in the Jabhat Shamiyah northern Syrian city of Aleppo, yesterday. that the United States was work- over the past four days, as aerial rebel group, says he decorated the ing with Russia to improve access to bombardment of Aleppo city has base himself in his spare time. besieged areas in Syria and to stop stopped,” Muhrem, 35, says. “The threat posed by the regime ever before — even if they have more Abu Fajr, a bald fighter of ammunitions warehouse in the city. the Syrian government from remov- He heads the “Dawn of the Mar- army on my front line has been free time. medium height with the Northern “The owners of these weapons ing medical supplies from aid convoys. tyrs” Brigade, which has signed on nearly halved,” he says. “Since the truce began, I spend Division, says he spends his time are now on break. This is why they Antony Blinken, deputy US Secretary to the cessation of hostilities deal “Before the ceasefire, we clashed some of my time drinking tea and reminiscing with his comrades about left their weapons at the depot,” he of State, said that major and regional brokered by the United States and with the regime and exchanged artil- chatting with my fellow fighters. The years of clashes in Aleppo. says while wiping down a sniper powers were monitoring a fragile ces- Russia. Although his fighters remain lery on a near-daily basis. But now rest of the time, I go home and spend Ahmad Jalal, meanwhile, uses rifle. Nearby in the rebel-held sation of hostilities that went into force at the ready, anticipating possible there is a lot less shelling and there time with my four children,” he says. his free afternoons to play football Ferdaws neighbourhood, rebel on Saturday to “prevent any escala- regime violations, many are tak- are no air strikes inside the city,” Abu Even pro-regime Facebook pages with the other fighters in his brigade. fighter Osama, 25, picks up small tion” but it was a “challenging process”. ing the opportunity to recover from Nura says. have posted photos of beaming gov- “I think the war will last a long bags of vegetables from the souk for “At the end of the day the best pos- wounds or take a long-awaited break Fighting has not stopped ernment soldiers, reclining on plastic time and will not end soon, but I his wife. sible thing that could happen is for from clashes. altogether. chairs and sipping glasses of tea. hope it will be over so I can go back Osama got married two months the cessation of hostilities to really “Now, I spend my time checking Abu Nura accuses the regime of “Join us for a cup, it’s still our to regular work and get married,” he ago but has yet to take his honey- take root, and to be sustained, for the up on the different forward positions violating the truce in its first hours first one!” the caption reads, above says. Many fighters have dropped off moon because of the intensity of the humanitarian assistance to flow and that I’m responsible for to make sure and says the rebels under his com- several posts accusing opposition their weapons for cleaning at local fighting around Aleppo city, partic- then for the negotiations to start that fighters have everything they need mand are even more vigilant than militants of truce violations. depots, says Oday, who manages an ularly in recent weeks. lead to a political transition,” Blinken told a news conference. The World Health Organisation said Syrian officials had “rejected” included emergency kits, trauma and convoys. This is an issue that was to ensure that going forward medical “The removal of those supplies flow to make sure that those medical medical supplies from being part burn kits and antibiotics. brought before the task force,” Blinken supplies remain in the aid convoys as is yet another unconscionable act supplies are in fact included,” Blinken of the latest convoy to the besieged “We are indeed very concerned said, referring to the International they deliver assistance.” by the regime, but this is now before said. The humanitarian task force, town of Moadamiya on Monday. WHO about reports that medical supplies Syria Support Group (ISSG). “We are Russian officials were not imme- the task force and we will look in the chaired by Jan Egeland, meets again spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said they were removed from some of the aid now working, including with Russia, diately available to comment. days ahead as assistance continues to in Geneva today.

EU releases Netanyahu seeks to expel families of Palestinian activists €252.5m in aid for Palestinians AFP spokesman for Netanyahu said on Islamist movement Hamas, is under of Netanyahu’s cabinet who is also a international law and the Geneva Twitter. an Israeli blockade that severely political rival of the prime minis- Convention.” The proposal could prove to be restricts the movement of people ter requested expelling relatives of Legal analyst Moshe Negbi said AFP a fresh source of tension ahead of a and goods. attackers to Gaza or Syria. he did not think the attorney general JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister visit by US Vice President Joe Biden It also has one of the world’s high- Netanyahu has come under heavy would agree to the proposal. Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday next week. est unemployment rates, and the UN pressure from right-wing members Expulsions of those directly BRUSSELS: The European Union he wants to expel to Gaza the fami- A wave of violence in Israel and development agency said in Septem- of his coalition over the continuing involved in attacks had occurred in released ¤252.5m ($274m) in aid to lies of Palestinian attackers who help the Palestinian territories since Octo- ber that conditions in the strip could wave of violence. the past under defence regulations support the Palestinian Authority’s in assaults as he came under increas- ber has killed 180 Palestinians as well make it uninhabitable by 2020. Sarit Michaeli, spokeswoman for dating back to British mandatory Pal- health and education programmes ing pressure over a five-month wave as 28 Israelis, an American, a Suda- The Palestinian enclave, sepa- Israeli rights group B’Tselem, said “it estine, said Negbi. and offer services to Palestinian of violence. nese and an Eritrean. rated from the occupied West Bank seems obvious that the prime minis- “I find it hard to believe that the refugees in the Middle East. Netanyahu asked the attorney Most of the Palestinians who died by Israeli territory, has remained rel- ter is under a lot of pressure from the attorney general would agree to leg- The European Commission, general to examine the possibility in the violence were killed by Israeli atively calm during the current wave right now, from politicians accusing islation which is even more draconian the executive of the 28-nation of carrying out such expulsions, his forces while carrying out knife, gun of violence. him of being soft against the wave of than the mandatory law,” he told pub- bloc, released the aid as it tries office said, while rights groups imme- or car-ramming attacks, according to Attorney General Avichai Man- attacks.” “Any form of collective pun- lic radio. Further violence occurred to help Palestinian institutions diately denounced the move. Israeli authorities. Others were shot delblit has reportedly said previously ishment is illegal and in this case the yesterday when two 18-year-old Pal- become more accountable and “Expelling family members of dead by Israeli forces during clashes that such expulsions would violate point is trying to punish the relatives estinians were killed by Israeli troops democratic to prepare them for Palestinians who aided attacks or demonstrations. both Israeli and international law. of attacks who aren’t actually accused after infiltrating a West Bank settle- running a future Palestinian state. to Gaza will lead to a significant The Gaza Strip, hit by three wars Mandelblit was said to have made of anything,” she said. ment and wounding a settler, the “Today the European Commis- decrease in terrorist attacks,” a with Israel since 2008 and run by his recommendation after a member “This is a complete breach of military said. sion has approved a 252.5 million euro assistance package for Pales- tine,” the commission said, adding it was the first part of its 2016 aid package. Saudi-led military exercise Residents return to Turkey “Through this package, the EU supports the daily lives of Pales- town as curfew lifted tinians in the fields of education and health, protecting the poorest families,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said, adding AFP checkpoints had been put up. Palestinian refugees in the region “We fled on December 14 along would be given access to essen- with our kids, only taking our clothes tial services. we wore. Nothing else,” said Hadi “But these steps are not CIZRE, TURKEY: Residents of Akyurek, a local shopkeeper. enough; Palestinian institutions Cizre in southeastern Turkey began “Our house was destroyed. Our must continue to grow stronger, returning home after authorities belongings remained under the rub- become more transparent, more partially lifted a curfew in place ble. We are left with nothing.” accountable and more dem- since December for a controversial The damage was even visible ocratic,” Mogherini said in a operation against Kurdish rebels from the entrance of Cizre, with statement. which left many homes destroyed. houses burned and shops destroyed. “Viable and inclusive institu- Horrified residents found scenes People could be seen trying to tions, based on respect for the rule of devastation and entire buildings in recover their belongings from the of law and human rights, are cru- ruins following the clashes between rubble and checking for any corpses. cial in view of the establishment the army and the Kurdistan Workers In normal times, Cizre is home to of an independent and sovereign Party (PKK) while others had their some 100,000 people. Five corpses Palestinian state.” exterior walls blown out. were pulled from the debris on The European Union has long The regional governor’s office Wednesday alone, two from base- supported a two-state solution to announced Tuesday that the cur- ments and three from a garden. the decades-old Palestinian con- few in the mainly-Kurdish town -- in Officials from the pro-Kurdish flict, with a secure Israel existing place since mid December -- would Democratic Peoples’ Party (HDP) alongside a viable Palestinian be lifted each day between 5 am and have claimed at least 167 peo- state. Saudi soldiers on armoured vehicles during the multi-national military exercise ‘North Thunder, at an 7:30pm (0300-1730 GMT). ple were killed in three basements But US-brokered peace talks undisclosed location in Saudi Arabia, yesterday. Some 350,000 military personnel and over 2,000 Thousands of residents carrying under buildings which were razed, collapsed in April 2014 and the warplanes from 20 countries are participating in the war game. their belongings formed long queues with bereaved relatives weeping at prospects of fresh dialogue have at the entrance of the town where the scene. appeared increasingly remote. ASIA / PHILIPPINES THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 09 Beijing blocks access to sea in dispute: Manila

navigation,” he said. In Beijing, For- eign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei “The Chinese are said China’s Ministry of Transport trying to choke us by had sent vessels to tow a grounded foreign ship and they had since left putting an imaginary the surrounding waters. checkpoint there. It “To guarantee safety of naviga- tion and of work conditions, China is a clear violation of urged fishing vessels near the site to our right to travel, leave,” Hong said, adding that China impeding freedom had indisputable sovereignty over the atoll. of navigation,” said The Philippines Foreign Ministry Bito-onon Jr. said Chinese coast guard vessels had been seen at the atoll two weeks ago but were not in the area on yesterday. “The Department is monitor- ing reports on the situation on the Residents use a variety of transport options as they rush to higher grounds in Padang late yesterday, after a powerful earthquake struck off Reuters ground and reiterates its call for China to exercise self-restraint from the coast of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes in MANILA: China sent several ships to the South China Sea and affect peace a disputed atoll in the South China and stability in the region,” the min- Sea, preventing Filipino fishermen istry said in a statement. 7.8 magnitude tremor hits Sumatra from accessing traditional fishing Earlier, the Philippine military grounds and raising tensions in the said it was looking into the situation volatile region, Philippine officials around Jackson Atoll, where a Chi- said yesterday. nese warship allegedly fired warning Reuters information about deaths,” said “Local governments of the city of But Kompas TV said patients at China had sent as many as seven shots at Filipino fishermen in 2011. Heronimus Guru, the agency’s dep- Padang and some other areas in west hospitals in Padang were being evac- ships to Quirino Atoll, also known as “We know there are Chinese uty head of operations. Any rescue Sumatra have said there was no tsu- uated. A TVOne reporter said Padang Jackson Atoll, in recent weeks, said ships moving around the Spratly operation will be hampered by the nami and the warning can now be residents were panicking and there Eugenio Bito-onon Jr, the mayor of area,” spokesman Brigadier-Gen- JAKARTA: A massive quake struck dark, which falls early in the tropi- revoked,” spokesman Sutopo Purwo were heavy traffic jams. nearby Pagasa Island in the Spratly eral Restituto Padilla said. “There yesterday off the Indonesian island cal archipelago. Nugroho said. Indonesia, especially Aceh, was Islands. are also ships around Second Tho- of Sumatra, a region devastated by There were no immediate reports President Joko Widodo was stay- badly hit by the Indian Ocean tsu- The Spratlys are the most con- mas Shoal, so we want to make sure the 2004 Indian Ocean quake and of damage, but the shallower a quake, ing overnight at a hotel in Medan in nami in 2004. tested archipelago in the South China if the presence is permanent.” tsunami, but initial fears of another the more dangerous it is. The US North Sumatra and was safe, palace A 9.15-magnitude quake opened Sea, a resource-rich region and crit- Second Thomas Shoal is where region-wide disaster faded as tsu- Geological Survey originally put the officials said. A Medan resident said a fault line deep beneath the ocean ical shipping lane linking North Asia the Philippine navy has been occu- nami warnings were cancelled. magnitude at 8.2, revising it down he did not feel the quake. on Dec. 26, 2004, triggering a wave to Europe, South Asia and the Mid- pying and reinforcing a rusting ship Indonesian and Australian to 7.8. Erwin, a resident of Mentawai, a as high as 17.4 meters (57 feet) that dle East. that it ran aground in 1999 to bolster authorities called off their tsunami The epicentre was 808km south- chain of islands off Sumatra, said: “I crashed ashore in more than a dozen “This is very alarming, Quirino its claims to the disputed reef. alerts within two hours of the 7.8 west of the coastal city of Padang. It am at the beach currently looking to countries to wipe some communities is on our path when we travel from A military source from Palawan magnitude tremor, though it was still was 24km deep, it said, after first see any tsunami sign with my flash- off the map in seconds. Palawan to Pagasa. It is halfway and said a surveillance plane had seen unclear if the quake had destroyed putting its depth at 10km. light. There’s nothing. A few minutes The disaster killed 126,741 people we normally stop there to rest,” Bito- four to five ships in the vicinity of any buildings or killed people in “So far there have been no reports have passed but nothing, but many in Aceh alone. onon Jr said. Jackson Atoll last week. Sumatra. of damage,” Andi Eka Sakya, head of people have already evacuated to Indonesia straddles the so-called “I feel something different. The “There are no indications China A National Search and Rescue the National Meteorological Agency, higher places.” “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a highly seis- Chinese are trying to choke us by will build structures or develop it Agency official gave an initial report said. “In Bengkulu (in southwest On Pagai, an island off the west mically active zone, where different putting an imaginary checkpoint into an island,” said the source, who of some deaths, but later withdrew Sumatra) they didn’t feel it at all.” coast of Sumatra, resident Jois Zalu- plates on the earth’s crust meet and there. It is a clear violation of our was not authorised to speak to the those comments. The National Disaster Mitigation chu said by phone that there were no create a large number of earthquakes right to travel, impeding freedom of media about the South China Sea. “Up until now, there is no Agency said a tsunami was unlikely. reports of damage or casualties there. and volcanoes.

60 families homeless in Manila fire UN imposes harsh new sanctions on N Korea Philippines over nuclear launch hunts tomb

Agencies channelled into its reckless and raider priest relentless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction,” Power told the Philippines: Authorities council after the vote, adding that said yesterday that they UNITED NATIONS: The United the cargo inspection provisions are are looking for a parish Nations Security Council yesterday “hugely significant.” priest who allegedly dam- unanimously adopted a resolution After nearly two months of bilat- aged part of a historic that dramatically expands exist- eral negotiations that at one point cemetery chapel in search ing UN sanctions on North Korea involved US President Barack Obama of treasure. in response to its January 6 nuclear and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jin- Father Nelson Silvela van- test, a measure largely negotiated by ping, China agreed to support the ished after the arrest Washington and Beijing. unusually tough measures intended of 10 men he alleg- US President Barack Obama to persuade its close ally North edly hired to dig up the hailed the adoption of UN Security Korea to abandon its atomic weap- chapel known as the Council sanctions against North ons program. ‘Camposanto’, said Mayor Korea, saying it sent a “simple mes- North Korea has been under Eduardo Servidad. A general view shows a residential area following a fire in Manila, Philippines, yesterday. The fire left sage” that Pyongyang must abandon UN sanctions since 2006 because “We consider the Cam- 60 families homeless. its weapons of mass destruction of its four nuclear tests and multiple posanto a holy place and programs. rocket launches. The sanctions came we did not expect a priest Obama said the unanimously in response to its recent nuclear test like him to do a thing like adopted sanctions sent “a firm, and February 7 rocket launch that this,” he said. united, and appropriate response Washington and its allies said used by the international community” to banned ballistic missile technology. Attack on Saudi cleric under probe a January 6 nuclear test and Febru- Pyongyang said it was a peaceful Two Tibetans set ary 7 missile launch. satellite launch. US Ambassador Samantha The list of explicitly banned themselves on fire AFP the gunman were arrested as they to a police report. A student driver’s Power said the new sanctions on luxury goods has been expanded tried to escape, police said. licence and a local government ID Pyongyang go further than any UN to include luxury watches, aquatic Beijing: Two Tibetans, “It all happened so fast. Suddenly were recovered from the man, which sanctions regime in two decades and recreational vehicles, snowmo- a monk in China and a there were gunshots,” local Muslim identified him as a 21-year-old Fili- are aimed at cutting off funds for its biles worth more than $2,000, teenager in India, set PHILIPPINES: Authorities yester- community leader Wakil Kasim, who pino, but police said they were not nuclear and other banned weapons lead crystal items and recreational themselves on fire on the day probing an assassination attempt was at the auditorium at the time of ruling out forgery. programs. sports equipment. The official North same day to protest Bei- against an influential Saudi preacher the incident, told reporters. A uniform for engineering stu- Under the sanctions, all cargo Korean news agency KCNA said on jing’s ironclad control of who was on an Islamic State hit list, The gunman “popped up from the dents in the Western Mindanao going to and from North Korea must Monday the proposed sanctions were the Himalayan region, a after the gunman was killed and two crowd, moved in close and shot the State University, where Qarni was be inspected and North Korean trade “a wanton infringement on sover- rights group and reports suspects arrested. victim” as he was boarding his car, speaking, was found hidden in his representatives in Syria, Iran and eignty and grave challenge to it.” said yesterday. Preacher Sheikh Aaidh Al Qarni said city police spokeswoman Chief backpack, but university officials Vietnam are among 16 individuals The proposal closes a gap in the Kalsang Wangdu self- and Saudi diplomat Sheikh Turki Inspector Helen Galvez, adding that could not immediately confirm the added to a UN blacklist, along with UN arms embargo on Pyongyang by immolated in front of his Assaegh were both wounded in a the gunman then walked to the other gunman was enrolled in the insti- 12 North Korean entities. banning all weapons imports and monastery in a Tibetan shooting as they left a university side of the vehicle and shot the Saudi tution. Video reports on television Previously states only had to exports. There is also an unprece- area of Sichuan province. auditorium in the southern port city diplomat. showed the remains of the gunman, inspect North Korean cargo ship- dented ban on the transfer to North The monk’s action of Zamboanga, where the cleric had Qarni was shot in the right shoul- who was wearing a hoodie, sprawled ments if they had reasonable Korea of any item that could directly was the first such pro- given an address. der, left arm and chest while Assaegh, face down on the ground beside the grounds to believe they contained contribute to the operational capa- test in China this year, and Their Filipino police escorts a religious attache at the Saudi victims’ car. Authorities have not illicit goods. bilities of its armed forces, such as brought the total number killed the lone assailant, while two embassy in Manila, was wounded in linked the incident with sympathis- “Virtually all of the DPRK’s trucks that could be modified for in the country to 144. other suspects who were seen with his right thigh and left leg, according ers of Islamic State Jihadists. (North Korea) resources are military purposes. 10 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 OPINION

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Super Trump Israeli democracy is a travesty ferocious battle for the White House between Donald the Palestinian education sector is, in national organisations. 2015. Although 79 of the destroyed fact, nothing new. During its 51-day Not satisfied with the demolition structures were funded by interna- Trump and Hillary Clinton has almost become war on the Gaza Strip in 2014, the of the Abu Al-Nawar School, the IDF tional donors, their response has not a certainty as both leapt further ahead in the Israel “Defence” Forces (IDF) com- confiscated its benches and tables, gone beyond verbal condemnation. battleground states of a marathon Super Tuesday. pletely destroyed six government according to the school director In Britain, the Conservative-led Super Tuesday is the first day in which the US and private schools, eleven kinder- Asma Sheha. While the demolition government has, despite the prime Apresidential candidates participate in a primary that includes 12 gartens and three higher education of a primary school is about as vile minister’s apparently genuine shock, states. institutions. Around 450 other edu- as it can get, taking its benches and moved to reward Israel by threaten- In the Republican race, Trump won seven states, with cation facilities – more than half tables speaks of an official mindset ing to withdraw funds from public of them kindergartens – sustained that is much worse; it is the sort of bodies which support the inter- victories stretching into the Deep South and as far north as minor, partial, major or severe dam- petty, vindictive action for which national Boycott, Divestment and Massachusetts, adding to the momentum he had built last month By Dr Daud Abdullah age; 83 UNRWA-run schools were the white-run government in Pre- Sanctions(BDS) campaign against by winning three of the first four contests. In the Democratic also damaged. toria used to be reviled. the Zionist state. It is precisely race, Clinton defeated Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in seven At the time, the justification It is exactly 10 years since the because of this kind of calculated of the 11 states, including the delegate-rich prizes of Texas, given was that the schools were Guardian’s Chris McGreal wrote his indifference and collusion by West- Georgia, Massachusetts and Virginia. he 12th annual Israeli Apart- either being used to store weap- devastating two-part appraisal of ern governments that International heid Week (IAW) has been ons or as bases from which to fire South African and Israeli apartheid. Apartheid Week has grown among As the battle heats up, attention will now focus on Trump a remarkable success, rockets at Israel. Of course, no rock- He quoted John Dugard, the former caring citizens around the world; whose march has baffled the Republican leadership as well as with more than 250 cit- ets were ever fired into Israel by UN human rights rapporteur in Pal- ordinary people are determined the American public, the former racking their brains on how Ties worldwide marking the week the Abu Al-Nawar Bedouin of Al- estine, who said that under South to make a difference by turning to thwart the demagogue’s advance. With his incendiary and of solidarity with the Palestinian Azariyeh. Nevertheless, their school African apartheid the best parts of their backs on racism and reli- obnoxious remarks on immigrants, Muslims, women and on a people. Although it doesn’t please was demolished. The only differ- the country were reserved for the gious bigotry. host of other issues, Trump was initially written off as a blip but everyone, those who criticise IAW ence is that whereas F16 bombers whites while blacks were sent to Like the Boycott, Divestment that indifference has now given way to dismay and desperation activities were brought abruptly to were deployed to destroy educa- the least habitable and desirable and Sanction campaign, Interna- their senses last week when Israel tion facilities in Gaza, bulldozers areas: “One can draw certain par- tional Apartheid Week has provided as the Republican hopeful strides steadily towards his goal. demolished a Palestinian primary were used in Al-Azariyeh. allels with respect to South Africa a platform for people from across the Trump has been so divisive and an anathema to his own school in Al-Azariyeh, east of occu- So why was the school knocked that, during the heyday of apart- political divide, of all racial back- party that his victory has left Republicans in disarray while pied Jerusalem. It is an action of the down by the Israelis? Did it pose a heid, population relocation did result grounds and faiths, including many Democrats coalesced around Clinton. kind that highlights why IAW activ- threat to Israel’s national security? in destruction of property, but not Jews, to support what is right and ism remains essential. Hardly. Palestinians believe it was on the same scale as the devasta- just in Palestine. A ferocious Some Republican stalwarts have even raised the possibility of the party Israel’s deliberate targeting of because it was located too close for tion in Gaza in particular, [or in] The destruction of the Abu Al- comfort to the illegal Ma’ale Adumim the West Bank.” Nawar School is a gross injustice and, battle for the splitting if Trump wins the nomination. settlement, which Israel wants to Having funded the Abu above all, an act of naked racism, White House “I think that’s a very real possibility. expand still further. Even the most Al-Nawar School, the French gov- the type of which could only come between There are a lot of people who just dedicated friends of Israel find the ernment rightly condemned its out of an apartheid state. Israel’s Trump and cannot see themselves supporting actions of its government revolting demolition by the occupation forces. claim that the inhabitants did not Trump,” said Christine Todd Whitman, and indefensible in this respect. Brit- A statement by the foreign minis- have a permit to build on the land Clinton ain’s Prime Minister David Cameron try deplored the demolition policy epitomises its arrogance. It is Israel a former New Jersey governor, Like the Boycott, Divestment has almost summing up the general mood. described the settlements around and called “on the Israeli authori- which is on the wrong side of the Jerusalem last week as “genuinely ties to end it.” law. Thankfully, through the efforts become a Americans and the rest of the world and Sanction campaign, International Apartheid shocking”. Unfortunately, “concern” and of initiatives such as Israeli Apart- certainty after will be watching to see whether Trump There is no doubt that the timid calls of this kind will not bring heid Week, the world has woken sticks to all his hatred, or mellow down Week has provided a sorry sight of children sitting on an end to the destructive campaign, up to what is going on in the name their Super as he moves closer to the White House. platform for people from the ground in the bitter Jerusalem which many view as a form of 21st of Israeli democracy. If you have cold, or the image of them scurrying century ethnic cleansing. Last week, any doubts about the travesty of the Tuesday But he continues to be as unpredictable across the political divide, and mysterious as ever. Several experts for shelter from the rain, brought the UN special coordinator for the latter, just ask the children of Abu victories. back memories of the bad old days Middle East peace process, Nikolay Al-Nawar School what they think. believe that the compulsions of office of all racial backgrounds and faiths, including many of South African apartheid. It is no Mladenov, told the Security Coun- will force Trump to change his positions wonder, therefore, that this year’s cil that since the beginning of 2016, if he gets elected and if that doesn’t happen, America will cease Jews, to support what is IAW was marked with 200 events at Israel has demolished, on average, to exist as we know now. right and just in Palestine. over 20 campuses in South Africa, 29 Palestinian structures per week, The writer is the Director of Middle Clinton and Trump have started sizing up each other. “I’m and endorsed by more than 85 three times the weekly average for East Monitor (Memo). going to be going after Hillary Clinton – if she is allowed to run,” Trump said, sharpening his attack. Trump wants to make America great again, while Clinton wants to make America whole again. The world will expect both of them to make The most confusing Super Tuesday ever America great and whole again because what we see today is a weakened Washington that’s not bold enough to perform the seminal role it has been playing until now, and the country By Jonathan Bernstein Republican field narrowed or if he Minnesota. He came close in Vir- in three states where it appears he remains divided more than ever before, with racism, anti- The Washington Post would have trouble increasing his ginia. He continues to do well with will fall just short. vote totals. late-deciding voters. While he fell Now, perhaps, everyone stays immigrant rhetoric and Islamophobia at their peak. Overall, his Super Tuesday behind Cruz in delegates on Tues- in, and Trump keeps winning most results were mixed and not espe- day night, he should have a clearer states. It’s even possible -- though e’re going to need some cially impressive. His apparent playing field ahead. And help is on unlikely - that they will carve up time to digest what hap- polling surge last week seems either the way. the map and each take a slice (with Wpened on Tuesday night to have dissipated or wasn’t real to He spent relatively little on these Kasich staying in and winning only on the Republican side. begin with. states, but his super-PAC has been Ohio), and we will get a contested Donald Trump won the most Ted Cruz won in Texas, his home raking in plenty of money, and will Republican convention after all, Quote of the day votes. He won the most states. He state, and in neighbouring Okla- presumably blast Trump in each with no candidate ending the pri- won the most delegates. But did he homa, and he was the spin winner coming primary. maries and caucuses with at least move closer to winning the nom- of the night, judging by what the But Rubio failed to perform his half of the delegates. As a country combating ination? That isn’t so clear. Five talking heads said on Tuesday night. biggest task of the day: Knocking More likely, one candidate will Thirty Eight’s delegate maven, David But Cruz failed to pick up any out Cruz. It’s possible John Kasich wind up winning states in the lat- terrorism for a long time Wasserman, said going in that “a other wins in what should have been will drop out, but it may be too late. ter stages of the election calendar now, every reprehensible disappointing night for Trump ... his strongest region. Some South- Kasich probably accounted for the and reap plenty of delegates. This terrorist attack that takes probably means anything less than ern states have yet to vote, and it’s difference between a decent night is what has happened before. Even 250” delegates won. It appears as easy to underestimate how many and a disappointing one for Rubio. front-runners who wind up winning place here in Nigeria if he’s going to wind up a bit over conservative voters there are out- Had Kasich dropped out after South are usually below the 50 percent deeply hurts our heart. 250. This is fewer than half the del- side of the South -- at least as a Carolina and Nevada, the Florida mark at this stage in their delegate egates up for grabs, however, so percentage of voters in Republi- senator would likely have won in count. And on the Republican side, he’s not moving closer to an over- can primaries. This was supposed Virginia, might have won in Ver- the rules make it easy for anyone Recep Tayyip Erdogan all delegate majority. to be Cruz’s big chance at winning mont (where Trump and Kasich who wins big to get a lot of dele- Turkish President I’ve been looking at Trump’s delegates, however, and he appears were running neck and neck), and gates quickly. overall vote percentages to see if to have fallen short. probably would have crossed the So that’s what will happen this he was picking up support as the Marco Rubio finally won a state, thresholds needed to gain delegates time. Right?

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

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UN warns of Selfie in Hanbok dresses dire hunger crisis in CAR

displacement of nearly one million people from their homes have dis- Three years of rupted harvests and sent food prices bloodshed and soaring in the volatile country. The WFP’s call for CAR not to be the displacement forgotten comes as the UN revealed of nearly one that overall crop production in 2015 million people from remained 54 percent below the pre- crisis average. their homes have “Some 75 percent of people in disrupted harvests CAR depend on agriculture, and with the planting season starting in and sent food prices less than two months, boosting agri- soaring in the volatile culture now is crucial to revitalising the economy and to stability in the country. country,” FAO Country Representa- tive Jean-Alexandre Scaglia said in a press release on Monday. The WFP said that families are Agencies so short of food that children receiv- A group of women wearing traditional Korean ‘Hanbok’ dresses pose for a selfie at Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul yesterday. ing school meals under the WFP’s emergency programme put part of their serving in a plastic bag to take CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: home. Families have been forced to At least half of the population or 2.5 sell their possessions, pull their chil- million people in the Central African dren out of school and even resort to Republic are facing a hunger crisis, begging. The country suffered the in a situation that has become dire, worst crisis in its history in early Great Barrier Reef faces destruction the World Food Programme said. 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka Bienvenu Djossa, WFP country fighters toppled then leader Francois director in CAR, said yesterday that Bozize. Christian militias responded Reuters The scientists said areas of the Authority said. “What happens now billions of dollars a year in tourism the number of people battling hunger by attacking the Muslim minority. Great Barrier Reef, a world herit- will be entirely dependent on local revenue. had doubled from 2015 and serious Killing and looting had almost age site, are experiencing the worst weather conditions,” said Reichelt. UNESCO’s World Heritage Com- interventions had to be implemented halved the number of cattle and bleaching in 15 years. Scientists said the Great Barrier mittee last May stopped short of to ensure the crisis did not deterio- reduced the number of sheep and SYDNEY: Parts of Australia’s Great Coral around Lizard Island off the Reef needs a break in El Nino condi- placing the Great Barrier Reef on an rate. “It is serious. The situation is goats by almost 60 percent, the UN Barrier Reef face permanent destruc- tropical city of Cairns has seen the tions within weeks if some coral areas “in danger” list, but the ruling raised worse than last year,” Djossa said a said. Damage to infrastructure and tion if the current El Nino, one of the most widespread bleaching, with 80 are to survive. long-term concerns about its future statement. insecurity had also hit fishing. strongest in two decades, does not percent of its coral bleached under The Australian Bureau of Meteor- due to climate change. “It is crucial that we continue An escalation of violence in Sep- ease this month, scientists said yes- unrelenting sunlight, Dr Anne Hog- ology’s most recent forecast calls for While the El Nino is set to ease helping the most vulnerable, who tember helped exacerbate a massive terday. gett, director, Lizard Island Research a continuation of El Nino conditions. by the middle of 2016, according need emergency food assistance to increase in food prices, the agencies The El Nino is a result of a warm- Station told Reuters. This year will be the hottest on to the BOM, the weather system - survive. This is the time when people said, with the price of beef almost ing of the ocean in the western “Bleaching is a clear signal that record and 2016 could be even hot- which brings hot, dry conditions to need the maximum help possible as double pre-crisis levels. Pacific—ideal conditions for coral living corals are under physiological ter due to the El Niño weather pattern, Australia’s east coast - is seen as fore- it is also the lean season, when peo- WFP said it had only secured bleaching, where coral expels living stress. If that stress is bad enough the World The Great Barrier Reef shadowing the likely impact of future ple struggle to have enough food to about half the $89m it needs until algae, causing it to calcify. Coral can for long enough, the corals can die,” stretches 2,000km along Australia’s climate change. “Coral is the canary eat before the next harvest.” the end of July to respond to the only survive within a narrow band of said Dr Russell Reichelt, chairman of northeast coast and is the world’s in the mine,” said Hoggett of the Three years of bloodshed and the needs of 1.4 million people in CAR. ocean temperature. the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park largest living ecosystem. It brings in looming threat from climate change.

Taiwan cycle show Tokyo court tells Google to

hide man’s criminal past Mob burns 7 to death in AFP north of Tokyo, in December upheld an earlier, temporary injunction witchcraft case against Google to delete search results about a man convicted of Malawi: A mob in south- TOKYO: A Japanese court has told child prostitution and pornogra- ern Malawi burned Internet giant Google to hide man’s phy-related offences and who was seven men to death criminal past from its search results, fined $4,400, the Yomiuri Shimbun for allegedly possess- saying he has “the right to be for- reported yesterday. ing human bones for use gotten” to rebuild his life, according Presiding judge Hisaki Koba- in witchcraft, police said to reports. yashi said that depending on the yesterday. The ruling parallels a move by nature of the crime offenders have A traditional chief the European Court of Justice, which the “right to be forgotten about said local suspicions were said in 2014 that individuals have past crimes, after passage of a cer- aroused as a result of the right to ask Google to delete per- tain period of time”, the Yomiuri the movements and tel- sonal data produced by its search reported, without naming the man ephone conversations of engine. or details of the crime. one of the seven, who Local media said it was Japan’s The Internet company has was found to have a bag first court decision that recognised appealed the case to Tokyo High containing the bones. “the right to be forgotten” in con- Court, the Yomiuri said. “He was chased and nection with Internet search results, The district court declined to arrested,” chief Tengani, A man getting a bicycle from the popular shared public rental “YouBikes” at Xindian district in New though successful bids to remove comment on reports on the closed- who only uses one name, Taipei City, Taiwan, yesterday. The International Cycle Show has started yesterday and will continue results have previously been made door session and Google did not said. “The man is said to till Saturday. citing a right to privacy. immediately respond to a request have confirmed that his The Saitama District Court, for comment. bag contained human bones and that’s when the mob began rounding up the seven and burned S African private army protects world’s largest rhino farm them, one by one.” Bird-hit Nepal

AFP use in traditional ‘medicines’. The has been outlawed since 1977. Horns Even the exact location of the worker secured its hind legs with a plane makes horn is mainly hard keratin, the same peddled on the black market are from farm -- where he spends some rope, forcing it to fall limply to the emergency landing substance found in human nails, but dead rhinos but, if trade is allowed, $170,000 (156,000 euros) a month in ground. on the black market where it is sold in demand would be fed from live ones. security costs -- is kept secret, to pro- Quickly the rhino’s eyes were cov- Kathmandu: A plane with SOUTH AFRICA: The world’s largest powdered form it is believed to cure Just like nails, cut horns will regrow. tect it from poachers ravaging game ered with a piece of mutton cloth and nine passengers on board rhino farm looks like a vast fortress cancer and other diseases. “We can supply horns from live parks elsewhere across the country. old socks used for makeshift earplugs. was forced to make an and is guarded by a private army. It can fetch as much as $60,000 rhinos, while now every single horn On the plains of South Africa’s The horns are measured and a line emergency landing at At night a helicopter fitted with per 1kg, more than gold or cocaine. that you are supplying to the demand North West province where the farm is marked precisely where it will be Kathmandu airport yes- an infrared camera circles over the Clad in khaki shorts, blue shirt and is coming from a dead rhino. Surely is located, a dozen rhinos were due for cut, making sure blood vessels are not terday, an aviation official 8,000 hectares electric-fenced ranch sandals, wealthy South African busi- that is stupid. It absolutely flummoxes dehorning. Standing at the back of a touched. said. in South Africa, and by day armed nessman and rhino farmer John Hume me,” said Hume. pick-up truck, Menard Mathe used a Then a handheld power saw cuts It was a week after two men in military fatigues are on patrol. says he has bred 600 rhino since Plans to legalise the trade are pair of binoculars to identify the ani- through the horn. The procedure is deadly crashes high- Their sole mission: to protect 2008, but his target is to breed 200 controversial, however, and are mals earmarked for dehorning. painless for the animal. “We trim lighted Nepal’s dismal air 1,200 rhinos from poachers, who each year. fiercely debated by conservationists. In front of the vehicle, veterinar- their horns for their safety and to safety record. The plane killed 1,175 of the horned beasts “The way we are going to save the Hume opened the farm in 2008 ian Michelle Otto drew her gun and deter poaching,” said Otto. Despite the was taking off for Lukla across the country last year. rhino from extinction is to breed more after selling hotels he owned. Today darted one animal with a powerful dehorning and the massive security when a bird struck its Rhinos are being slaughtered in and protect them, and that is what I he employs around 60 full-time staff- anaesthetic. cordon around the ranch, 39 rhinos right wing, No passengers record numbers to meet the insatiable am trying to do here,” said Hume. His ers plus his “army”, whose strength he A few minutes later, the gigantic have been poached there since 2008. were harmed. Birds pose demand for their horns in countries next battle is to secure the legalisation refuses to divulge on the grounds that animal began to stagger. Otto cau- Back at the farm building, the horns safety concern for airport. such as China and Vietnam, often for of international trade in horns, which it is “too sensitive.” tiously walked towards it, and another are weighed. 12 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 PAKISTAN Militants attack Indian consulate in Afghanistan

up at the consulate’s entrance and India has been a key supporter four other attackers breached the of Kabul’s post-Taliban government, Three people and compound. and analysts have often pointed to the four militants were “All four of them were killed by our threat of a “proxy war” in Afghanistan security forces,” government spokes- between India and Pakistan. killed after a suicide man Attaullah Khogyani said after the Pakistan — the historic backer of bomber blew himself two-hour assault ended. the Taliban —has long been accused “Three others — two civilians and of assisting the insurgents, espe- up at the entrance of one policeman — were killed and 19 cially with attacks on Indian targets Indian consulate in other people were left wounded.” in Afghanistan, but denies the claims. The powerful explosion sent a col- Direct peace talks are expected to Jalalabad. umn of smoke rising in the sky and start this week in Islamabad between blew out windows of nearby buildings, the Western-backed Afghan govern- as Afghan troops hauled away bod- ment and the Taliban, which has been ies from the area littered with charred waging a deadly insurgency for more AFP debris. than 14 years. The attack highlights the worsen- Delegates from Afghanistan, ing security situation in Afghanistan as China, the US and Pakistan recently Taliban insurgents step up nationwide met in Kabul for a fourth round of talks JALALABAD: Gunfire and an explo- attacks and Islamic State jihadists aimed at paving the way for the nas- sion echoed yesterday as militants make inroads in the volatile east. cent peace process. attacked India’s consulate in the east- “There is still much work to be But the Taliban have intensi- ern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing done. We now find ourselves at an fied their insurgency in an apparent three people in the latest in a string inflection point in our campaign,” out- attempt to gain leverage before the of assaults on Indian installations in going Nato commander General John planned negotiations. the country. Campbell told reporters in Kabul. Nangarhar province, of which No group has so far claimed the “(Afghan security forces) have Jalalabad is the capital, also faces an brazen attack, which coincided with a come far but they still need our help. emerging threat from loyalists of the Afghan security officials inspect the scene of an attack by suspected militants at the Indian consulate in Nato change-of-command ceremony (Their) desire to improve and their Islamic State group, which controls Jalalabad, yesterday. that saw US army general John Nichol- resilience warrants our continued territory across Syria and Iraq and is son take charge of international troops support in the critical years ahead.” making gradual inroads in Afghan- increasingly lured by the group’s first major attack by the group in an A recent UN report highlighted in Afghanistan. Yesterday’s assault was reminis- istan -- challenging the Taliban on signature brutality. In January IS Afghan city. more than 11,000 civilian casualties Indian diplomats were not hurt, cent of a 25-hour gun and bomb siege their own turf. fighters claimed responsibility for The violence tearing the country in 2015 including 3,545 deaths, a new the foreign ministry in New Delhi said, near the Indian consulate in the north- The jihadists have managed to a deadly gun and bomb siege of the apart is having a devastating impact record since 2009 when the agency after a suicide bomber blew himself ern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in January. attract disaffected Taliban fighters Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad, the on Afghan civilians. began tabulating the statistics.

Man shoots dead sisters Taliban claims responsibility for US consulate blast in suspected Reuters Federally Administered Tribal Areas Pakistani employee at the US Consu- military operations reduce the TTP’s Ambar tehsil, in the Mohmand Agency (FATA), about 170km from the capi- late in Peshawar. Shah was identified capacity, but targeted attacks against of FATA. “The US government strongly honour killing tal, Islamabad. “Jamaat-ur-Ahrar’s as the driver, having joined the con- state and civilian targets are common. condemns the attack,” Kirby said, mujahideen carried out a remote- sulate in 2009 as a security specialist. Mohmand has seen increasing adding that the United States was ISLAMABAD: A faction of the Paki- controlled bomb attack that sent Four other Pakistanis were violence in recent weeks. On Feb- offering its assistance to Pakistan in Reuters stani Taliban claimed responsibility a FATA secretariat employee and wounded in the blast, the Taliban said. ruary 18, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar gunmen investigating the incident and bring- yesterday for a roadside bombing that his driver to hell,” said a statement Pakistan’s volatile tribal areas killed nine Pakistani paramilitary sol- ing the perpetrators to justice. killed two Pakistani employees of a emailed to Reuters. have been home to an insurgency by diers in two separate attacks. Kirby said he said not know US consulate. Faisal Khan and Abid Shah were Islamist militants under the banner of State Department spokesman whether the consulate employees ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police are The Jamaat-ur-Ahrar said it killed while on a drug eradication the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) John Kirby said the incident occurred were the targets of the attack, which hunting a 29-year-old man who detonated the remote-control- mission, the US State Department since 2007. when the two Pakistani employees came during a visit to the United shot his two sisters dead in a sus- led explosive device on Tuesday in said. Khan was identified by US The tribal areas, including Moh- were travelling in a Pakistani govern- States by Pakistan’s national secu- pected honour killing, officials said the Mohmand agency of Pakistan’s authorities as the most senior mand, have seen multiple rounds of ment Anti-Narcotics Force convoy in rity adviser Sartaj Aziz. yesterday, two days after a Paki- stani filmmaker won an Oscar for a documentary on such murders. More than 500 men and women died in honour killings Migrants’ woe 16,000 underpaid staff last year, the Human Rights Com- mission of Pakistan says. Many of these crimes, carried out by rela- working for Pakistan Post tives who say their mostly female victims have brought shame on the family, are never prosecuted, Internews 60 years of age and those who have observers say. been working as extra-postmasters Police named the suspect as should be given a salary equal to the Muhammad Asif, saying he has Basic Pay Scale 11 officials,” he said. been on the run since Tuesday ISLAMABAD: Though the gov- An official of the PPOD request- night, after murdering his sisters ernment of Pakistan has fixed the ing anonymity said senior officers Fozia Bibi, 22, and Suriya Bibi, 24, minimum wage at Rs13, 000 ($125), in the department never tried to in the eastern province of Punjab. as many as 16,000 people are address the issues faced by the “Muhammad Asif killed his two working for Pakistan Post Office employees. sisters last night over their character Department (PPOD) as extra depart- “Officers who are placed in the and lifestyle, which he didn’t like,” mental staff (EDS) at the monthly Postal Services Group after the Cen- police officer Tariq Mehmood said. remuneration of as low as Rs650 to tral Superior Services (CSS) exams “Fozia was shot in her chest and Rs2,600. are considered as inferior among the Suriya was shot in her waist.” This was revealed in a writ- bureaucrats in other service groups. Police said neighbours and rel- ten reply submitted by the ministry “In return, these officers never atives had told them the deaths of communication to the National pay attention to the staff and the were honour killings, over Asif’s Assembly in reply to a question by department. In fact, they mistreat suspicions that his sisters were MNA Sahibzada Mohammad Yaqub the subordinate officials.” having affairs. of the Jamaat-i-Islami. The reply said He said the department was Police said Asif was jailed after the PPOD utilised the services of EDS spending 79pc of its funds on sala- having murdered his mother four and paid them fixed wages. ries. However, the management has or five years ago, but set free after Migrants from Pakistan arrive at the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, yesterday. Due to restrictions Extra-departmental postmas- started thinking that if it does not being pardoned by his family, but along the so-called Balkan route, a group of 150 migrants from Pakistan are going to be deported ters and sub-postmasters are paid take steps to address the issues the declined to provide details. to Turkey today. Rs2, 600 per month, branch postmen department will be closed. So some Pakistani filmmaker Rs1300, delivery agents Rs1, 060 and steps are being taken to compete Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won Rs650 are paid to the stamp vendors. with the private sector and advanced an Oscar on Sunday for a docu- It may be noted that the post technology is being used in the post mentary about honour killings, office department was established offices, he said. prompting activists to call for by the British government in the When contacted, Additional changes in laws to punish those Punjab reduces transport 18th century. It is one of the oldest Director General (admin) Pakistan who kill women deemed to have government departments. In 1947, Post Dr Naseer Ahmed Khan said disgraced their families. it started functioning as the depart- that 47,000 people had been work- Pakistani law allows criminal ment of post and telegraph. ing with the department out of cases against those charged with fares after drop in oil prices In 1962, it was separated from whom 16,000 were EDS. “EDS are a killing to be dropped if the fam- the telegraph and telephone depart- not considered as employees of the ilies of their victims forgive them, ment and made as an independent department. The British government or accept a “blood money” offer- Internews two categories of non-AC intercity The minister issued directives to attached department. introduced EDS to ensure that letters ing instead. The forgiveness option routes stage carriages and non-AC all the divisional commissioners and MNA Yaqub said that though he and money orders reached villages in the law can effectively waive a intracity stage carriage transport district coordination officers (DCOs) already knew that the staff mem- located in far-flung areas where it complainant’s right to seek the (diesel) and third non-AC intrac- to get the notification implemented bers working in the post offices was not viable to open post offices. punishment of the accused, even LAHORE: The Punjab province ity stage carrier transport (petrol),” across the province. were underpaid, he was shocked to They hired people who were in the case of attempted murder. government in Pakistan yesterday reads the notification. LTC: The Lahore Transport Com- see the documents which showed retired persons, ex-army officials Changing the law to remove announced reduction in transport The decision was made at a meet- pany (LTC) revised fares on the all that they were getting such a low or influential personalities of the the possibility of “forgiveness” fares for multiple transport catego- ing presided over by Punjab Food urban and semi-urban public trans- remuneration. areas to hand over consignments to could help cut the number of hon- ries after the decrease in fuel prices. Minister Bilal Yasin and attended by port routes, according to an LTC “That is why the matter has been the local people,” he said. our killings in Pakistan. Domestic According to a notification issued transport department officials and spokesman. referred to the standing committee “That system is still in place. We abuse, economic discrimination, by the Punjab Transport department, transport owners. According to a notification, the on communication. People have have hired people as postmasters, honour killings and acid attacks the fares for public transport vehi- During the meeting, a commit- minimum fare/first stage (0 to 4km) been working for Rs1, 200 and Rs650 sub-postmasters, branch postmen make Pakistan the world’s third cles using petrol have been reduced tee of four members, including two of non-AC intracity diesel/minibuses, per month which is nothing but an and delivery agents and by paying most dangerous country for up to 11.9pc and fares for diesel vehi- transport owners, was also consti- would be Rs9 and the maximum insult to human being. just a few thousand rupees to them, women, a 2011 Thomson Reuters cles have been reduced up to 6.6pc. tuted to formulate regular schedule will be Rs28up for up to sixth stage “They should get at least the letters and money orders are deliv- Foundation poll showed. “The fares have been reduced for of reduction in fares. (30.1km and above). minimum wage even if they are over ered in villages.” INDIA THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 13 Student charged with sedition gets interim bail

celebrations in JNU campus where hundreds of students, dominantly Jubilation in JNU as from leftist groups, celebrated, Kanhaiya Kumar set shouting slogans hailing Kanhaiya Kumar. to be released today “We are happy, we are happy,” a group of students said loudly. Lawyer Vrinda Grover said she was happy with the bail order but said the surety would be provided IANS only today when Kanhaiya Kumar is expected to walk out of Tihar Cen- tral Jail. Special Public Prosecutor NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Shailendra Babbar told journalists yesterday granted six-month interim that police would decide the next bail to JNU student leader Kanhaiya line of action after seeing the bail Kumar, arrested for sedition, but order. imposed restrictions on him. “The order cleared one thing Justice Pratibha Rani ordered that we have some evidence to the bail after asking the Jawahar- prove the charges framed against lal Nehru University Students Union Kanhaiya,” he said. (JNUSU) president to furnish a surety “If there had been no ground in of Rs10,000. our evidence, Kanhaiya would have The judge said Kanhaiya Kumar been given a proper bail instead of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and their supporters at a protest march to demand the immediate release of student Kanhaiya — arrested on February 12 on an interim bail.” charges of shouting anti-national In Kanhaiya Kumar’s hometown Kumar, in New Delhi, yesterday. slogans, a charge he has denied Begusarai in Bihar, family members — should not take part in any and supporters burst crackers and “anti-national activity” actively or hailed the court order. They also dis- The police had been claiming for which sedition charges were slapped he was beaten up on February 15 and Police have also arrested two passively. tributed sweets to residents. weeks that they had irrefutable evi- against him were found to be doc- 17 when he was taken to the Patiala other JNU students on charges of And as head of the JNUSU, “he On Monday, Delhi Police had dence of Kanhaiya Kumar raising tored after the Delhi government sent House Court. sedition for having raised supposedly will make all efforts within his opposed the bail plea, saying if Kan- anti-India slogans but failed to pro- them for forensic tests. Also on February 15, many JNU anti-national slogans at a meeting in power to control anti-national activ- haiya Kumar was released, incidents vide this to the court. Kanhaiya Kumar’s case led to a students and journalists, including the JNU campus to mark the execu- ities in the campus”, she added. of the kind he has been accused of In the meantime, at least two of bitter war between the government an IANS reporter, were thrashed by tion of parliament attack convict The bail order triggered wild would get a boost. the seven video clips on the basis of and the opposition, particularly after some lawyers. Afzal Guru.

Mulayam warns govt Rahul Gandhi goes ballistic at Modi in Lok Sabha on quotas IANS The prime minister was not in the Gandhi pulled up Modi for not House when Gandhi spoke. speaking to the mother of Dalit The Congress vice-president research scholar Rohith Vemula after IANS appeared unruffled despite the his suicide in Hyderabad — and his NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul repeated attempts to interrupt him. silence on the issue as well as the Gandhi was yesterday at his sarcas- At one stage, he looked at the BJP MPs, attacks on JNU students and journal- NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party tic best as he attacked Prime Minister smiled and said: “Bolne do bhai.” ists at a Delhi court last month. leader Mulayam Singh Yadav Narendra Modi on a host of issues Gandhi accused Modi and Finance Gandhi said he heard the entire yesterday warned the central gov- ranging from his policies on Pakistan Minister Arun Jaitley of going back speech of now jailed JNUSU president ernment of bad consequences if it and black money to the JNU row and on their election pledge and helping Kanhaiya Kumar. “Not a word was decides to reconsider the issue of the Nagaland accord. File picture of Narendra Modi, left, and Rahul Gandhi. the rich to convert their black money anti-national.” reservation as suggested by RSS Speaking amid thumping of desks into white. The Congress leader also attacked chief Mohan Bhagwat. by Congress MPs and incessant boo- “Nobody who has black money Modi for signing a peace pact with “You (government) can’t recon- ing from the treasury benches, Gandhi the Lok Sabha punctuated by witty consult).” will be jailed under Modi’s ‘Fair and the NSCN without consulting Home sider the issue of reservation as spoke both in Hindi and English to remarks. Modi, Gandhi alleged, let Looking at the BJP benches, Gan- Lovely’ scheme,” he said, sparking Minister Rajnath Singh and chief min- suggested by RSS chief. If you accuse Modi of disrespecting Indian Pakistan “out of the little cage” it had dhi said Modi did not share his Lahore laughter. “All those who have black isters of Nagaland and neighbouring reconsider, it will be a blunder,” interests by going to Lahore to meet been put in after the Mumbai terror visit of December 25 with even Exter- money can make it white under this states. Where is the accord now, Gan- Mulayam said in the Lok Sabha his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz attack of 2008 which left 166 Indians nal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj scheme.” dhi asked. “It has vanished into thin while participating in the debate Sharif without consulting even his and foreigners dead. and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Gandhi, taking part in a discus- air.” When BJP members interrupted on motion of thanks on President’s ministers. “He destroyed six years of our The remark drew loud protests from sion on the motion of thanks to the him, Gandhi hit back saying he made Address. “Pakistan directly attacked this hard work. He gifted them (Paki- BJP MPs. President’s address to parliament, was mistakes “because I am not from the He also took on the govern- country in Mumbai. They trained and stan) a status and put them out of the Gandhi went on: “The PM has referring to Jaitley’s amnesty scheme RSS”. “I don’t know everything. I lis- ment over its promises made sent killers into Mumbai. And what cage we had put them in,” Gandhi to listen to others. Listen to Rajnath on black money. ten to the people, then speak.” during the 2014 Lok Sabha does the PM do? He decides to go to said. “He disrespected the national Singhji, Sushma Swarajji, Advaniji “… Pointing out that Modi had in 2014 In contrast, he alleged, that those elections. Pakistan and have a cup of tea with flag, those who died in Mumbai, those Listen to your MPs. We don’t hate you. vowed to jail those with black money, with the RSS do not bother about oth- “Farmers, labourers, students, Nawaz Sharif, without any vision,” who died in Pathankot, the talent of Listen to your own people, listen to he said Modi had also failed to bring ers’ views. “The country is not the PM, teachers and intellectuals have Gandhi said in a 31-minute speech in our bureaucrats (whom he did not the voice of next generation.” back black money stashed abroad. the PM is not the country,” he added. been against the government. This is a serious concern. You made lots of promises during your election campaign but not even a single promise was fulfilled. You had Wet lash Court sets aside order promised two million jobs every year. You had promised to bring back black money but nothing happened,” he said. against Pachauri “The countdown of this gov- ernment has begun,” he added. Mulayam, however, showered some praise on Prime Minister IANS was to be conferred with Lifetime Narendra Modi for his efforts on Achievement Award. the international front. However, there was change in NEW DELHI: A sessions court here the date of arrival of Pachauri from Two arrested for yesterday set aside a magistrate Sharjah. Therefore, his counsel court order asking TERI executive Ashish Dikshit filed an applica- restaurant vice chairman R K Pachauri to fort- tion for giving intimation to the feit his surety bond and said one-day court regarding change of his date owner’s murder extension of Pachauri’s Sharjah trip of arrival on February 18, which was “neither deliberate nor inten- was dismissed on a next date by a tional”. magistrate. IANS Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tri- A chargesheet was filed by police pathi set aside a magisterial court in a sexual harassment case against order of February 19 and said: TERI Executive Vice-Chairman R K LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Police “Extension of one day schedule of Pachauri on Tuesday. yesterday claimed to have cracked return of revisionist (Pachauri) was Pachauri was accused of harass- the murder case of Ritz restaurant beyond his control and his act was ing a woman colleague in 2015. He owner Bobby Khanna, with the neither deliberate nor intentional, stepped down as chairperson of the arrest of two sharpshooters from therefore, learned magistrate was UN Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- Azamgarh. not justified to dismiss the applica- mate Change in February last year Senior Superintendent of the tion of revisionist on February 19 and and proceeded on leave from TERI Special Task Force (STF), Amit forfeit the surety bonds furnished where he was the director general. Pathak said the killing was exe- by revisionist at the time of his In November, the woman cuted for a sum of Rs5.7m. travel.” A magistrate court on Febru- researcher who accused him of har- The conspiracy was hatched ary 19 ordered Pachauri to fortfeit his assment quit her job at TERI, alleging by a city dentist who is now being surety bond of Rs400,000 after fail- she was treated badly. interrogated. The STF has also ing to return to India on February 18. TERI denied the charge. Security personnel use water cannons to disperse protesting Youth Congress activists as they try to stumbled upon many trails, sug- The court on February 15 granted On February 8, Pachauri was cross a police barricade in New Delhi, yesterday. gesting shady deals of the slain permission to Pachauri to go to Shar- appointed the executive vice chair- restaurant owner. jah from February 16 to 18 where he man of the organisation. 14 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 INDIA

CBI director Container cargo ticks off bank heads for scams

slow and long process” by which such loans and advances are ‘red- Big defaulters flagged’, declared NPAs, wilful getting away as defaulters and finally as fraudulent by the banks, Sinha said at the 7th small customers face conference of CBI and Indian Banks music, says Sinha Association on ‘Combating Finan- cial Crimes’. “This whole process is so time consuming that it allows such large borrowers ample time to walk away IANS with the funds. A large part of such funds move outside the country to tax havens through hawala and other unofficial channels,” Sinha said. MUMBAI: CBI Director Anil Sinha Under such circumstances, yesterday gave an earful to chiefs of coupled with “weak and diffused top banks and financial institutions accountability mechanisms in banks for the crises and scams plaguing and financial institutions”, CBI inves- the country’s banking and financial tigations are grossly hampered and sectors. “no one seems accountable”, the In a no-holds barred speech in central agency’s chief said. A man pushes a cycle rickshaw loaded with empty cooking oil containers at a roadside workshop in Kolkata, yesterday. the presence of Maharashtra Chief “The message to the public is that Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the the rich and powerful are able to Central Bureau of Investigation chief avoid consequences of cheating and said the crisis in the banking and fraud, while the ordinary citizens are financial system ‘runs deep’. promptly booked. This undermines He said there was growing the faith of people in the rule of law, anguish among the public that which has dangerous consequences Trooper who shot dead two claims harassment while banks were strict on small/ in democracy,” Sinha said. retail borrowers, the big borrowers Quoting statistics, he said the and those who committed fraud on gross NPAs of public sector banks a large scale not only escaped the shot up from Rs449.57bn in 2009 to IANS on Tuesday night. threatened an on-duty Central Indus- cases including that of murder, law but enjoyed the fruits of their Rs3000bn in 2015. He further claimed that he did trial Security Force (CISF) official attempt to murder and arms act crimes. The level of gross NPAs as per- not fire at his pregnant wife and she Balwan Bajesingh to keep his mouth against Goud, who hails from Mad- “Something is seriously wrong. centage of gross advances also went was accidentally injured by a bullet shut. hya Pradesh. While bank loan defaults can hap- up by more than double from 2 per- RATNAGIRI: A CISF trooper deployed when she got in the way. He said his Later, when his colleagues An official of RGPPL — formerly pen due to business risk and reasons cent to 4.36 percent, without taking at the Ratnagiri power plant who complaints to seniors went unheeded. brought Goud’s 30-year-old wife, known as Enron Power Project beyond the control of banks, bor- into consideration huge amounts tied gunned down two colleagues and The incident happened at the Priyanka, in an advanced stage of — said that Goud was under psychi- rowers and regulators, yet a up in accounts under restructuring. injured himself and his pregnant wife Ratnagiri Gas & Power Pvt Ltd when pregnancy, to calm him, he report- atric treatment since sometime but significant part of the defaults are Frowning upon the “delays in here, has claimed he lost his mental Goud got into a heated argument and edly got into a fierce argument with denied knowledge of his allegations wilful and fraudulent. identifying and reporting frauds” balance as he was “professionally shot two of his colleagues around din- her for almost an hour. of ‘professional harassment’ at the “What causes greater concern by banks, allowing borrowers to harassed”. ner time, an official of Guhagar Police Suddenly, Goud fired and injured workplace. is that a major part of the Non- siphon off funds before investi- Speaking to the media from hos- told IANS. his wife and also shot himself. Later, However, the official could not Productive Assets and frauds are gations are initiated, monitoring pital in Chiplun, Harishkumar Goud, The dead are assistant sub- his colleagues rushed the couple to a explain how Goud was deployed with in large-value accounts,” Sinha end-use of funds, especially in large- 36, alleged that he and some others inspector Balu G Shinde, 58, of hospital in Chiplun early yesterday. arms when he was under psychiatric asserted as top banking and finan- value accounts, or diversion for were being perpetually put on night Malangaon in Sangli district of Goud and his wife are now out of treatment and said it was the CISF’s cial institutions’ heads listened in non-sanctioned purposes, the CBI duty by their seniors and subjected to Maharashtra and P Raneesh, 29 of danger and recuperating in a private responsibility. rapt attention. chief cited two glaring cases it is harassment at work, resulting in the Kerala. hospital. Senior CISF officials rushed to the Added to this was the “unduly investigating. extreme step out of frustration late After the firing, Goud allegedly Ratnagiri police have lodged site to probe the tragedy.

Bengal election Street scribe Maharashtra lawsuit panel chief vows quick action after over Muslim heroes complaints IANS government has not been able to find a single great figure from the IANS Muslim community...It’s in national interest that students and the masses MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court should know that Indian Muslims KOLKATA: To ensure the smooth has been petitioned against a Mahar- have done service to the Mother- conduct of West Bengal assembly ashtra government order leaving out land and humanity, but somehow polls, the Election Commission (EC) Muslims from its new list of national what the people come to know is yesterday said poll day complaints leaders and heroes for celebrating the gloomy past of some misguided would be addressed immediately their anniversaries and special days. Muslims, creating a false Islamopho- and action taken report made The government circular, Ja Pu bia,” the petition said. available online. Ti-2215/279/PrKr/285/29, was issued It pointed out that the govern- “The Samadhan app will work on November 30, 2014, with a list ment has become completely blind to as a multiple mode of receiv- of 26 days when celebrations and freedom fighters like Maulana Abul ing complaints where besides in functions would be held in honour Kalam Azad, Dr Zakir Hussain, Dr writing, video clips can also be of various national leaders/heroes. A P J Abdul Kalam, Paramvir Chakra uploaded for the purpose of regis- Senior activist-journalist Sar- awardee Company Havildar Major tering a complaint,” said Additional faraz Arzu has filed the public suit, Abdul Hamid, religious leaders like Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu naming Chief Minister Devendra Khawaja Garib Nawaz, Maulana Sarkar during a media workshop. Fadnavis, Minority Affairs Minis- Shaukat Ali, Shahnawaz Khan, Sir “There are provisions to for- A typist plies his trade on the sidewalk near the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Mumbai, ter Eknath Khadse and Chairman Badruddin Tyebji, Tipu Sultan, Baha- ward a complaint immediately yesterday. Many citizens work and offer their services in the street to make a living with the skills of State Minorities Commission Amir dur Shah Zafar, Khan Abdul Gaffar to a flying squad, and complaints they have. Hussain among the respondents. Khan, Ashfaqulla Khan and many regarding votes on the polling day “It is unfortunate that the more. will be attended within 30 min- utes,” Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar said dur- ing a media workshop. “In case of poll day complaints Ad commercials try to move consumers with social messages regarding voting issues, a flying squad will be immediately dis- patched to the area concerned to take photo and video evidence and IANS a woman. Or a man. But coming to 79 percent fathers would want to get one to think of solutions to age-old “It will also encourage smaller brands act accordingly,” he said. the ones that have positive messages their daughters married to a man who problems. Set in a village in Rajas- to follow suit,” he added. Through the Samadhan, the riding on them, the latest ad of Ariel’s will help with household chores. This than where girls drop out of school Ragini Sharma, an advertising complainant will also be able to “Share the Load” campaign has gone campaign therefore takes the conver- because they have to walk miles to professional, however opined that ads track the status of complaints and NEW DELHI: Why should laundry viral on the social media, a testimony sation on social inequality within get water, the protagonist purchases such as the ones mentioned or which the action taken report will also be be a woman’s job? asks a new TV to its popularity. Sharat Verma, asso- households forward,” Verma said. sewing machines online, and then have a social message, do not neces- made available online. commercial for a detergent. Featur- ciate brand director of Fabric Care, The best ads also avoid a sermon- gets tailor-made saris for the young sarily imply that change had arrived. Conceding that the app may ing the father of a young, working P&G India, said that commercial ising tone. women with alphabets on them. This “But there is definitely a shift. I mean, be used for making false or friv- woman who gives voice to inequal- approach is a part of a bigger move- “There are 10,000 videos released way they can learn to read from each for every one ad that touches you or olous complaints, the EC official ity in homes, the video is one of the ment of making ads that are more in a day around the world. To make other’s saris while going to get water. makes you think, there will be three said there are checks and balances growing number of similar ads that purposeful and meet the needs of your presence felt in such a rush, you K V Sridhar, chief creative officer, others that, well, don’t. There’s how- to ensure that the platform is not are touching upon social issues like consumers. have to connect to the audience. We SapientNitro India, says that Indian ever no denying that movement ads misused repeatedly. gender stereotyping while marketing “According to a study by a pri- try to identify a conflict, like gender advertising has come a long way and are becoming very popular,” she said. While Samadhan will act as products, and hitting a chord among vate agency that we have supported, stereotyping or gender inequality in with people wanting to break norms Paul agrees and adds that the a citizen interface, the political audiences. two out of three children in India education, and resolve it. The brand and challenge stereotypes, the ad ad world is moving ahead from slo- parties and candidates can avail So are Indian ads coming of age as agree that washing clothes is only does well commercially because it world has started reflecting it. “A gan chanting to becoming platforms the ‘Suvidha’ single window per- far as gender sensitivity is concerned? their mother’s job. And 73 percent touches the people, and the social campaign is all about treatment and of unmet needs. “Honestly, you mission system for holding public Yes, say many, although there are still married women agree that mothers message also goes through,” Paul said. if a big brand is able to treat bold con- don’t know what will do well. With meetings, rallies, use of a helicop- those fairness ads that equate success teach household chores to only their BBDO’s ad for Visa Debit Card cepts subtly, then the message will be social media, you now get immedi- ter, making of a helipad etc. and happiness with the skin tone of daughters, not sons. But ironically, was another video that challenged disseminated in a better way,” he said. ate reaction.” EUROPE / UK THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 15 Irish PM says open to talks with rival Fianna Fail

Reuters that includes talking to the Fianna Fail and Fianna Fail have voiced opposi- principles to guide its participation in Kenny’s centre-right party,” he said. tion to both routes. a future government. Kenny described the election, in Fianna Fail lawmaker Dara Cal- Fianna Fail has said it will put Fine Gael party is which voters complained of a recov- leary told state broadcaster RTE leader Micheal Martin forward as an DUBLIN: Irish Prime Minister Enda set to fall about ery that has not trickled down to poor yesterday that a formal coalition was alternative prime minister on March Kenny (pictured) said yesterday for and rural areas, as “bruising” and said a “dreadful prospect”, saying the last 10, but it is unlikely that either Mar- the first time that he would be open to 30 seats short of none of the deputies in parliament government had presided over an tin or Kenny would garner enough talking to his party’s arch rival Fianna the 80 needed to wanted a re-run. With both parties unbalanced recovery. support to win the vote without Fail about the possible formation of a completely ruling out a coalition Fine Gael Minister Simon Cov- cooperating. new government after his previous coa- form a majority in with the third-largest party, left eney, asked about the possibility of Martin raised the prospect of a lition was voted out of office last week. parliament. wing nationalists Sinn Fein, analysts a minority government, told RTE the more protracted delay on Monday Kenny’s centre-right Fine Gael say that leaves two main options: a country did not need a government by calling for a cross-party deal on party is set to fall about 30 seats short was committed to try. formal coalition between Fine Gael “that is weak, that is not stable, that reforming parliament before any coa- of the 80 needed to form a majority stable government. “As the leader of the largest party, and Fianna Fail or a minority Fine is likely to fall at any time.” lition talks. in parliament with counting almost He told reporters that all the and as the Taoiseach (prime minister) Gael government with support from Senior Fine Gael members are due Several commentators have sug- complete, leaving its historic rival as available options of forming a gov- it’s my responsibility to work to see Fianna Fail on a vote-by-vote basis. to meet today , a week before the par- gested a new government before the the only obvious partner to form a ernment were difficult, but that he that that process is put in place, and Senior members of both Fine Gael liament resumes, to formulate a set of end of March is unlikely.

Spain’s Socialists lose Cloudy weather in London first parliament vote to form government

AFP and corruption scandals plaguing his party. So King Felipe VI then asked runner-up Sanchez, whose Socialists scored their worst result in history MADRID: Spain’s Socialist chief with just 90 seats out of 350, to Pedro Sanchez failed yesterday in attempt to form a government. his bid to form a new government To become prime minister and end weeks of political stale- Sanchez needs to win an absolute mate after both main rival parties majority in the first round of vot- voted against him in a vote of con- ing in the 350-strong lower house fidence. of parliament. He was defeated with 219 votes But the Socialists have only the against, 130 in favour and one support of new market-friendly abstention. Sanchez, whose party party Ciudadanos, which has 40 came second in an inconclusive seats — not enough to see them general election on December 20, through. New anti-austerity party will face a second vote tomorrow Podemos, which with its 65 seats in which he just needs more votes would be a valuable partner for in favour than against in order to Sanchez, immediately suspended its become prime minister. talks with the Socialists over their Earlier in the day, Sanchez deal with Ciudadanos, which it con- endured a barrage of attacks in par- siders too liberal. liament as lawmakers from the left Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and right dismissed his bid to form said his lawmakers too would be Rain clouds sweep across the city of London, Britain, yesterday. a new government. Acting Prime voting against Sanchez because the Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose con- Socialists did not appear set to lead servative Popular Party (PP) came a genuine leftist government. first in an inconclusive December “Negotiate with us, stop obeying general election but lost its absolute the oligarchs,” the pony-tailed polit- majority, mocked Sanchez’s candi- ical science professor said. dacy as “fictitious, unreal” because Iglesias recalled that during the Infighting among French Socialists Norway denies it has no chance of success. “We are 1939-75 dictatorship of General going to vote against your investiture Francisco Franco “being a Social- inhuman because what you have presented ist would lead you to jail not to the hurts Hollande’s re-election bid here is a fraud,” he said. boardrooms of big companies.” “And above all because you plan Franco banned the Socialist treatment to to eliminate what was achieved in party in 1939 and it was only legal- Reuters from the usual shoo-in for incumbents. had “left the party in tatters.” Spain throughout these past four ised again in 1977, two years after Faced with an outcry, Hollande’s Aubry’s comments had the same years which prevented this coun- his death. Sanchez appealed to leftist government has postponed its final ring as those of Syriza in Greece, killer Breivik try from needing a bailout, created lawmakers to join in alliance to oust draft of the labour reform plans by Podemos in Spain, Britain’s Jeremy jobs, improved its competitiveness the PP, arguing in the assembly that PARIS: Instead of closing ranks two weeks —but this seems unlikely Corbyn or the United States’ Bernie Reuters and caused it to grow economically.” Spain voted decisively for change in behind President Francois Hollande’s to do much to repair the damage done Sanders, though traditional parties in Spain’s economy grew 3.2 per- last year’s election. reform drive, his Socialist party is to party cohesion. France are still well entrenched in the cent in 2015, one of the fastest rates He said a Socialist-led gov- embroiled in a very public fight over Martine Aubry, a former party political landscape and hold the key OSLO: Norway said yesterday in Europe, although the unemploy- ernment would enact progressive his policies just as the battle for the head and architect of the 35-hour to who eventually runs in elections. it was not violating mass killer ment rate remains high at 20.9 measures such as a minimum wage 2017 presidential election kicks off. working week who is influential Elected in 2012 Hollande outed Anders Behring Breivik’s human percent. The December 20 elec- increase and a gender wage-gap law, Hollande’s sweeping labour among those uneasy with Hollande’s himself as a social-democrat at the rights by keeping him in isolation, tions resulted in a hung parliament and stressed that all sides would reform plans have drawn howls of pro-business switch, accused him of start of January 2014, embarking on ahead of a lawsuit he is bringing divided among four main parties— need to compromise as no single dismay from the party’s far left with betraying left-wing values and tak- a series of corporate tax cuts to boost to change the conditions of his none of which won enough seats to ideological group has enough seats youth organisations threatening to ing steps that would weaken France. investment. His four years in power detention. govern alone. for a majority. take to the streets. “The party is in danger, that’s have been dogged by inability to Breivik, who killed 77 peo- Rajoy gave up attempts to form “Why don’t we get together and Discontent is now at such a pitch for sure. It’s like a collective sui- tackle high unemployment. Despite ple in a bomb attack and shooting a government after he failed to win pass as many reforms as possible to that the already deeply unpopular cide,” former culture minister Jack some rumblings, the party, has often spree in 2011, argues his effective support from other parties, fed up solve the most urgent problems of president could well face a fight for the Lang told Le Parisien daily, accusing split by acrimonious fighting between solitary confinement makes him a with years of crisis-sparked austerity Spaniards?” he asked the assembly. party nomination rather than benefit Aubry of back-stabbing which he said various factions. victim of inhuman treatment. “There is no evidence that the plaintiff has physical or men- tal problems as a result of prison conditions,” the Office of the Attor- Removing decorations Former British chief rabbi ney General, the Norwegian state’s legal office in civil lawsuits, wrote in a document sent to the Oslo Dis- wins $1.5m Templeton Prize trict Court. The Norwegian Correctional Service denies Breivik is held in Reuters so my wife and I did a little dance solitary confinement, preferring together,” he said. “Not something the phrase “excluded from the we do that often, but it was lovely.” company of other prisoners”. There As chief rabbi of the United is no maximum time for how long LONDON: Britain’s former chief Hebrew Congregations of the Com- he can be held in such “extra high rabbi Jonathan Sacks won the 2016 monwealth, Sacks was the leading security”, a service official previ- Templeton Prize, worth 1.1m pounds spokesman for British Jews from ously told reporters. ($1.5m), for his efforts to help steer 1991 until 2013, leading what many Breivik, who has been held young people away from the mes- considered to be the revitalisation of alone since his arrest, argues sage of extremists by encouraging Britain’s Jewish community. the regime is degrading and is a religions to connect with them. The Templeton Foundation breach of the European Conven- The US-based John Temple- praised his work tackling the spread tion on Human Rights. ton Foundation said Sacks, 67, was of religious violence which he argued The hearing, scheduled for ahead of his time with his central had been sparked by Western secu- March 15-18 in the gym of Skien message of respect for all faiths and larisation that had failed to address prison where Breivik is held, has his argument that only by recognis- young people’s search for meaning, prompted renewed soul-searching ing the values of each of them could belonging and identity. in a country where many want to violence and terrorism be countered. “Today the most powerful reli- move on from the killings. The prize, awarded to an indi- gious voices are coming from the According to the Attorney Gen- vidual who has made “exceptional extremes and I think that is terri- eral’s document, Breivik has access contributions to affirming life’s spir- bly dangerous. They are speaking to three different prison cells —for itual dimension”, is one of the world’s to young idealistic kids and turning living, study and exercise — between A worker removes decorations in Red Square, with the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin seen in the richest. Sacks said he was “knocked them really into murderers and we which he can move freely. He can background in central Moscow, Russia, yesterday. sideways” to have won. can’t sit still and just let that hap- take walks in a yard and can cook “It just felt very thrilling and pen,” Sacks said. his own food and do his laundry. 16 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 EUROPE EU unveils huge Ukraine renames migrant aid street after late Lennon plan for Greece KIEV: It was only a minor tweak in the spelling but a historic change when which must be approved by member a Ukrainian village yes- states and the European Parliament. terday renamed a street, It is for the first time The EU would also work directly which honoured Soviet humanitarian cash with the UN and other aid agencies founder Lenin, after The has been used within in Europe, in another first. Beatles’ John Lennon. Greece—which insists it will Perhaps no name Europe instead of not become “Europe’s Lebanon” change is more symbolic outside the bloc. by hosting all of the migrants com- than the one made in ing to the continent—has asked for Kalyny, a village of about around €480m ($520m) to help shel- 5,000 people 19 km from ter 100,000 refugees. the European Union’s The crisis is particularly acute at eastern border. AFP the Greek border crossing of Idomeni Regional Governor where 10,000 are camping in the Gennadiy Moskal said he open after Balkan states including had made the decision Macedonia imposed tight controls. “at my own discretion” to BRUSSELS: The EU yesterday Macedonia yesterday allowed change Lenin Street to Migrants watch burning shacks in the ‘Jungle’ migrant camp, Calais, northern France, yesterday. unveiled a €700m emergency aid some 170 Syrian and Iraqi refugees Lennon Street, in honour plan for Greece and other states hit to cross, the first group since Monday of the Beatles co-founder by the migrant crisis, in what would when Macedonian police teargassed who was shot dead be the first time humanitarian cash migrants, including children, after 11,000 people still stranded on outside his New York has been used within Europe instead some tried to ram their way through apartment in 1980. of outside the bloc. the fence. The United Nations has warned Bleak scenes saw the refugees of a looming humanitarian crisis as stranded in mud-soaked fields and closed Greece-Macedonia border thousands of refugees are stuck in fighting over food distributed from German leader wintry misery at the Greece-Mace- the back of a van, as aid agencies donia border after a domino effect warned of a lack of supplies and the Reuters waterlogged fields, waiting for a crack “It is very important to secure Kohl to sue of Balkan border closures. threat of illness. in the border fence, which Macedo- humane treatment and admit these Greece is the main entry point “We have been waiting for six nian authorities opened intermittently. people, but it’s no less important that writer today for the 1.13 million migrants who days,” said Farah, a 32-year-old Syr- By midday the border had opened we protect the Macedonian citizens have landed since the start of 2015 in ian woman. “The food is not enough, IDOMENI: The number of migrants once, Greek police said, allowing 170 and police.” BERLIN: German ex-chan- the European Union, which has been everyone is lying to us and we are awaiting passage to central and people through. “There are 11,000 peo- Macedonian police fired tear gas cellor Helmut Kohl plans divided and weakened by the biggest desperate.” northern Europe swelled on Greece’s ple here and conditions are very bad,” to disperse hundreds of migrants who to sue his former ghost- wave of refugees since World War II. The effects of the migrant cri- border with Macedonia yesterday as said Antonis Rigas of charity Medicins stormed the border from Greece on writer today for at least “No time can be lost in deploy- sis continue to be felt across the the frontier remained shut, adding to a Sans Frontieres. Monday, tearing down a metal gate. €5m ($5.4m) for pub- ing all means possible to prevent EU, stirring discord between mem- humanitarian crisis and deep fissures “We worry that if it exceeds 12,000 The European Union has called lishing an unauthorised humanitarian suffering within our ber states and rising populism. The within the European Union. the situation might get out of hand,” an emergency summit with Turkey biography. own borders,” EU Humanitarian Aid United Nations said more than Aid workers said the situation at Ido- he said. on March 7, hoping for a consensus to In 2001-02, Kohl Commissioner Christos Stylianides 131,000 migrants have crossed the meni, a small border town in northern Macedonian authorities have implement an accord on the distribu- taped more than 630 said as he announced the aid plan. Mediterranean to reach Europe so Greece, could easily spin out of control defended their stance. “Our daily tion of refugees and migrants fleeing hours of interviews The funds would be allocated far this year, more than the total with no let-up in the number of refugees admittance of migrants will depend conflict and poverty in the Middle East, with journalist Heribert over three years, with €300m number for the first five months of gathering for passage into Macedonia. on how many will be accepted in EU North Africa and beyond. Many arrive Schwan for a multi-vol- ($32m) in 2016, and €200m in each 2015. Last year a total of one million Living in filth, families with countries,” Interior Minister Oliver in Greece on small, unsafe, boats from ume memoir project that of the following years under the plan, entered Europe. small children jostled for space in Spasovski, told reporters in Skopje. Turkey. was scrapped. Over a decade later, Schwan, 71, used the material to co-author the biography “Legacy: the Honouring the womenkind Italy may recall murder Kohl Protocols”, published in late 2014 -- infuriating Kohl, who last year won a court case banning fur- probe team from Egypt ther print runs.

Reuters unions and wrote critical articles Russia seeks about the government, continues to be followed closely by Italian media. 23 years jail for Milan officials yesterday, hung a ROME: Italy is considering recalling banner from city hall reading “The Ukraine pilot a legal team sent last month to Cairo Truth for Giulio Regeni”, in response to investigate the murder of an Italian to a campaign by human rights MOSCOW: Russia’s state graduate student because Egyptian group Amnesty International. Other prosecutor yesterday authorities are not cooperating, a judi- cities around the country started to demanded a 23-year cial source said yesterday. follow suit. prison sentence for Giulio Regeni, 28, disappeared Calling the legal team home Ukrainian pilot and law- in January and his tortured, bat- would be a joint decision by the maker Nadiya Savchenko tered body was found in a ditch on Rome court that is leading the Italian accused of killing two the outskirts of the Egyptian capital investigation and the government, Russian journalists in war- on February 3. the source said, because it would sig- torn Ukraine. The case has stirred outrage in nal growing frustration with Egypt After more than a year Italy and strained relations between - an important Arab ally for Italy. in detention, the aviator two countries that share major stra- A spokesman in Prime Minis- was put in the dock last Female passengers hold flowers presented to them by metro workers, prior to International Women’s tegic and economic interests, with ter Matteo Renzi’s office said he did summer in Russian town Day in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. widespread speculation in the media not know whether the investiga- of Donetsk on the border that Regeni was killed by either tors would be brought home, while with eastern Ukraine. police or security services. a spokesman for the Foreign Minis- The trial is now Egypt has denied any such sug- try did not immediately respond to drawing to a close and gestion. The case has put a spotlight a request for comment. Savchenko is expected to on alleged police brutality in Egypt, a An Egyptian forensics official has make her last address to Court rejects NPD’s objections strategic ally of the United State and told the public prosecutor’s office the court today. other Western powers. the autopsy he conducted showed The Egyptian authorities invited Regeni was interrogated for up to Reuters would include details from state-paid whether the NPD aims to damage or Italian police to join the inquiry, but seven days before he was killed. Ivory Coast informants - an argument that led to eliminate the democratic order or the judicial source said there was lit- The findings, which were denied the collapse of a previous attempt to jeopardise Germany’s existence - as tle point in keeping the team in Cairo by Egypt’s Justice Ministry, are the toxic spill victims outlaw the party in 2003. They ques- the federal states, which have initi- because they had not received any strongest indication yet that Regeni KARLSRUHE: The top judge at tioned official assurances that ties ated the court action, allege. relevant evidence to work with. was killed by security services launch Dutch suit Germany’s Constitutional Court yes- had been cut to informants among The domestic intelligence agency In particular, the investigators because they pointed to interroga- terday rejected some objections by the party’s top officials. says the party, which has only have not received Regeni’s mobile tion methods which human rights THE HAGUE: Thousands the far-right National Democratic But Court President Andreas 5,200 members, has close links to phone records and cell data that groups say are their hallmark. of Ivorian victims of a Party (NPD) to legal moves to ban it Vosskuhle, on the second day of hear- neo-Nazis and has branded it anti- would allow them to pinpoint Rege- With no sign of the furore abating deadly 2006 toxic waste as a threat to the state and ordered ings, said: “We have consulted and Semitic, racist and revisionist. The ni’s movements before his January soon, the case has caused serious fric- spill are suing Dutch that hearings go ahead. come to the view that currently there case is particularly sensitive when a 25 disappearance. tion between Egypt and Italy, though multinational oil trader Lawyers for the NPD, a fringe is nothing to stop the proceedings.” debate is raging in Germany over the The murder of Regeni, who was it looks unlikely to drive a permanent Trafigura to demand com- radical party, said that hearings The case will now centre on impact of a high influx of migrants. studying Egypt’s independent labour wedge between two countries. pensation, their lawyers announced yesterday. The class-action lawsuit before the Amsterdam district court Public support for Hungarian PM’s party drops in February: Poll is the second in the Neth- erlands from Ivory Coast’s economic capital Abid- Reuters Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s vowing to protect Hungary from an in February according to a poll by Median that recorded a drop in sup- jan who claim to have combative style has served him well influx of migrants fleeing war and Median published yesterday on web- port for Fidesz since last summer. been affected by the spill. since he swept back to power in 2010 poverty in the Middle East and Africa. site hvg.hu. Median said support for Backing among voters with a declared Law firm Beer Advocaten with a large majority and he won a By October, his government had Fidesz among all voters dropped to party preference for Fidesz dropped said summons had been BUDAPEST: Public support for Hun- second four-year term in 2014 but built a razor wire fence on the bor- 32 percent in February from 34 per- to 46 percent in February from 53 in issued on behalf of Dutch gary’s ruling Fidesz party dipped in disputed education reforms seem to der with Serbia and Croatia, which cent in January, while far right Jobbik January. group Stichting Victimes February, a poll by the Median insti- be sapping his support, Median said. shifted the route of migrants south- increased to 16 percent from 14 and “Something broke, but this does des Dechets Toxiques Cote tute said, after months of growing or Orban reversed a slide in support wards, and boosted Orban’s support the Socialists rose to 10 percent from not mean that there is a big turn- d’Ivoire (Victims of Toxic stable backing boosted by the hard- for Fidesz last summer by taking an at home. 9 percent. around,” Endre Hann, director of Waste in Ivory Coast). line handling of the migrant crisis. especially tough stance on migration, However, the support declined This is the first poll conducted by Median, told reporters. AMERICAS THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 17 Trump and Hillary score big wins

Texas, neighboring Oklahoma and Alaska, Donald Trump and bolstering his argument he had the best chance to stop the brash billionaire. Rubio, Hillary Clinton favorite of the Republican establishment, proved themselves was projected the winner in Minnesota, his first victory. undisputed Clinton’s rival Bernie Sanders, a dem- front-runners. ocratic socialist US senator from Vermont, also won his home state along with Colo- rado, Minnesota and Oklahoma and vowed to pursue the battle for the nomination in Reuters the 35 states yet to vote. He lost to Clin- ton in Massachusetts, a fifth state he had hoped to win. Super Tuesday was the biggest single WASHINGTON/ HOUSTON: Repub- day of state-by-state contests to select lican Donald Trump and Democrat party nominees for the Nov. 8 election Hillary Clinton (pictured) took big to succeed Democratic President Barack steps toward securing their parties’ Obama. presidential nominations on Tuesday avoid a potentially disastrous split were just as impressive but in many At a news conference in Florida, Trump with a series of state-by-state victo- in their ranks that could hurt them ways predictable, propelled by Afri- dismissed criticism aimed at him by estab- ries, but their rivals vowed to keep in the November 8 election. can-American voters in southern lishment Republicans. on fighting. US networks projected Trump states like Arkansas, where she and Faced with a party in turmoil over his On Super Tuesday, the 2016 cam- won seven states with victories former President Bill Clinton began ideas to build a wall between the United paign’s biggest day of nominating stretching into the deep South and their political careers. States and Mexico, deport 11 million illegal contests, Trump, 69, and Clinton, 68, as far north as Massachusetts, add- Trump’s rivals Ted Cruz, a US sen- immigrants and bar Muslims from enter- proved themselves the undisputed ing to a sense of momentum he had ator from Texas, and Marco Rubio, a ing the country, Trump declared he had front-runners. Now they are under built last month by winning three of senator from Florida, emphasised their expanded the party by drawing in disaf- pressure to show they can unify vot- the first four contests. determination to remain in the race. fected blue-collar Democrats who like his ers in their respective parties and Clinton’s victories in seven states Cruz, 45, won his home state of tough-on-trade rhetoric. Republican Party and everybody get together and unify and when we unify, there’s nobody that’s going to beat us.” The rivals of both Trump and Clinton aim to Trump a ‘monster’ spawned knock them off their pedestals in contests ahead in Michigan, Florida and Illinois. Trump waved off criticism from the Republicans, House Speaker Paul Ryan and by US Republicans: Reid Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, over his delayed disavowal of an endorse- ment by David Duke, a former leader of the Reuters Trump’s rise has alarmed many the final year of his second four- Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group. establishment Republicans, who year term. His presidency has been “I’ve disavowed,” Trump said. “I’m are both critical of his positions marked by bitter battles with Repub- going to get along with Congress, okay? and skeptical he can win the White licans over fiscal affairs, a landmark Paul Ryan, I don’t know him well, but I’m WASHINGTON: US Republicans have House. Reid, known for occasionally law to expand healthcare coverage sure I’m going to get along great with him. only themselves to blame for Don- delivering controversial statements for the uninsured, immigration, And if I don’t, he’s going to have to pay a ald Trump, a “monster” spawned by on the Senate floor, said Trump was banking reform and policies to tackle big price, okay?” Trump said in remarks their constant partisan opposition now the Republican standard-bearer, climate change. that could further inflame party tensions. to all major Obama administration but he could destroy the party. Republicans have controlled the Clinton, who still faces a well-funded initiatives, Senate Democratic leader “The reality is that Republican House of Representatives since 2011. Sanders despite having taken control of Harry Reid said yesterday. leaders are reaping what they’ve And while they took control of the the Democratic race, was eager to assail “Republicans created him sown,” Reid said, recounting seven Senate in 2015, they previously used Trump as a way of getting Democratic vot- (Trump) by spending seven years years’ worth of staunch Republican their minority status deftly to chal- ers used to the idea of her as the nominee. appealing to some of the darkest opposition to Obama’s initiatives. lenge Obama. “The stakes in this election have never forces in America,” said Reid. He Republicans had decided from Some Republicans, such as Sen- been higher and the rhetoric we’re hear- spoke on the floor of the US Senate the start of Obama’s presidency in ator Lindsey Graham, have been ing on the other side has never been lower,” a day after presidential candidate 2009 that he was an “illegitimate” outspoken in their opposition to Clinton told supporters in Miami. “Trying Trump won a string of primary con- president, said Reid, who would retire Trump as the prospective party nom- to divide America between us and them is tests and consolidated his status as at the end of this year. inee, saying the New York billionaire’ wrong, and we’re not going to let it work.” front-runner to be the Republican Democrat Obama, the first s inflammatory rhetoric will lead to Sanders thanked cheering supporters nominee in the November election. African-American president, is in defeat in the general election. in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont. Apex court divided in Pentagon invites hackers to attack its websites

AFP enhance our national security.” but suggested that the bigger the vul- Texas abortion case Called “Hack the The pilot programme is modeled nerability a hacker finds, the bigger after similar competitions con- the reward. The Pentagon announced Pentagon,” the ducted by major firms to improve the initiative while Carter visited Sil- Reuters strike it down. WASHINGTON: Ever wanted to hack programme will network and product security. The icon Valley in California yesterday. During an extended 85-minute Uncle Sam? Provided you’re American project would be a cost-effective way It is his third trip to the world’s oral argument, the liberals, led by and can pass a background check, go give cash awards to of recruiting non-malicious “white tech heartland and he has repeatedly Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, indi- right ahead, the Pentagon said yes- participants who can hat” hackers to probe Pentagon stressed the need for the Pentagon to WASHINGTON: The US Supreme cated hostility to the law. Ginsburg terday . vulnerabilities. innovate and work with tech partners. Court yesterday appeared closely questioned the need for one of the The US Department of Defence spot weaknesses on “We want to bring in great talent, Carter also announced plans to divided as it considered its first provisions at issue in the case, which is inviting vetted hackers to test its public web pages. we want to take advantage of peo- establish a “Defence Innovation Advi- major abortion case in nearly a dec- requires clinics to have costly, hos- cybersecurity under a pilot pro- ple who have the ability to help the sory Board” that will be chaired by ade, with pivotal Justice Anthony pital-grade facilities. gramme that is the first of its kind in Department of Defence and the coun- Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Kennedy giving little indication “What was the problem the the federal government. try,” the official said. Alphabet, Google’s parent company. how he would rule in a challenge to legislature was responding to?” Called “Hack the Pentagon,” the “I am always challenging our peo- He noted that if successful, the The board will give Pentagon a Texas law imposing strict regula- she asked. Justices on the court’s so-called bug bounty programme will ple to think outside the five-sided box programme could be more broadly leaders independent advice on ways tions on clinics and abortion doctors. conservative wing were more sym- give cash awards and other recog- that is the Pentagon,” Defence Secre- expanded across the federal to address “future organizational and Kennedy, who often casts the pathetic to Texas, raising questions nition to participants who can spot tary Ashton Carter said. government. cultural challenges, including the use deciding vote in close cases, at one about whether the law had closed weaknesses on the Pentagon’s pub- This “initiative will strengthen The Pentagon did not announce of technology alternatives,” Penta- point suggested sending the case down as many clinics as abortion lic web pages. our digital defences and ultimately how much money would be paid out, gon press secretary Peter Cook said. back to a lower court for further evi- providers had said. dence to be introduced on the law’s Like Kennedy, Justice Samuel impact, including an assessment of Alito faulted the lack of evidence on the ability of Texas clinics to meet reasons for specific clinic closures, Senior Facebook the demand for abortions. saying U.S. District Court Judge Lee On a mission That could mean the case might Yeakel could have been more thor- not be resolved for years. Some jus- ough in handling the case. executive freed tices also questioned the lack of At one point, Kennedy expressed evidence on why specific clinics some discomfort with a possi- SAO PAULO: A senior Facebook closed after the law was passed. ble increase in surgical abortions Inc executive was released after Abortion providers assert that the because the law placed new nearly 24 hours in a Brazilian law caused 22 of 41 clinics to close, restrictions on medically induced jail due to a disputed court but the state contests those numbers. abortions. He said that outcome order demanding data from the The state contends the law, “might not be medically wise.” company’s WhatsApp messaging passed in 2013 by the Republican- Scalia’s death means the court service for a confidential drug- controlled Texas legislature and no longer has five conservatives who trafficking investigation. signed by a Republican governor, might support more restrictive abor- An appeals court judge protects women’s health. The abor- tion regulations nationwide. overturned a lower court tion providers who have challenged Hundreds of activists on both decision to arrest Diego Dzodan, it assert that it is aimed at shutting sides of the issue gathered outside Facebook’s vice president for Latin down their clinics. the white marble courthouse on a America, court officials said. Law With the court one member short chilly, blustery day. enforcement officials withheld after the Feb. 13 death of conserva- Anti-abortion lawmakers further information about the tive Justice Antonin Scalia, it could including Republican House of nature of their request to the be split 4-4 in the case. Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan messaging service acquired by A 4-4 decision would let stand a addressed the crowd. Facebook in 2014, saying it could lower-court ruling that affirmed the The Supreme Court legalised compromise an ongoing criminal Texas law, but no nationwide legal abortion in 1973. investigation. precedent would be set on whether But abortion remains a disputed “Diego’s detention was other states could enact similar issue in the US, as it does in many an extreme, disproportionate measures. If Kennedy, a conserv- countries, and some states have measure, and we are pleased to A member of the Mexican immigrant welfare agency Grupo Beta rides an all-terrain vehicle past the ative, sides with the court’s four passed laws aiming to place a variety see the court in Sergipe issue an skeleton of a cow during a search for potential border crossers between Mexico and the US, on the liberals, the court could either send of restrictions on a woman’s ability to injunction ordering his release,” a outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, yesterday. the case back to the lower court or terminate a pregnancy. Facebook spokesperson said.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 17o C Maximum: 25o C

FAJR 04.40 am ZUHR 11.46 am MAGHRIB 05.39 pm HIGH TIDE 00:15 - 09:45 Misty to foggy at places at first becomes moder- SHOROOK 05.56 am ASR 03.07 pm ISHA 07.09 pm LOW TIDE 07:30 - 17:15 ate temperature with some clouds.

18 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 MORNING BREAK

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TWEET OF THE DAY

Russia’s Soyuz TMA-18M space capsule carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew of US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergei Volkov lands in a remote area outside the town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, yesterday. INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY ISS crew land on Earth after a year

Reception to AFP by burly Russian rescue workers at the “Scott has become the first Ameri- travelling some 230m kilometres. In showcase the landing site. can astronaut to spend a year in space, one particularly eye-catching stunt, the collaboration “The air out here feels great. I’ve no and in so doing, helped us take one bald-headed astronaut posted a short opportunities idea why you guys are so bundled up,” giant leap toward putting boots on video of himself dressed up in a gorilla for Qatar based DZHEZKAZGAN: US astronaut Scott Nasa TV reported him as saying as he Mars.” suit and floating through the ISS in pur- organisations Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail sat upright in a chair on the steppe in The pair were subjected to a battery suit of a colleague. and London Kornienko returned to Earth yesterday temperatures just below zero degrees of tests before and after their ascent “Needed a little humour to lighten counterparts after spending almost a year in space Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). towards the ISS and underwent more up a year in space,” he wrote on Twit- held at Katara in a ground-breaking experiment fore- Kelly and Kornienko returned with tests soon after landing. ter on February 23, when he posted the building 12. shadowing a potential manned mission Russia’s Sergei Volkov, who was sta- Weightlessness reduces muscle video. Pic: Baher Amin to Mars. tioned at the ISS for over five months mass and bone density and is believed One image Kelly tweeted captured The 340-day mission saw Kelly and was met upon landing by his father, to diminish eyesight by increasing cer- the economic divide between North and claim the record for the longest sin- retired cosmonaut Aleksandr Volkov. ebrospinal fluid around the optic nerve. South Korea as visible from space, with gle stay in space by a US astronaut, The “one-year crew” mission -- Kelly, 52, was also part of an experi- the South aglow with electric lights and while Kornienko is now fifth on the which began on March 27 last year ment comparing his development and the North cast in a blanket of darkness. list for lengthiest mission by a Russian -- was the longest by any astronauts changes in space with his identical twin Another impressive shot was one of Rolling Stones plans cosmonaut. aboard the ISS and seen as a vital brother -- Mark -- back on Earth. the Milky Way which Kelly described “We have landing,” Russian Mission chance to measure the effects of a pro- He will now arrive by chartered as “old, dusty, gassy and warped. But free concert in Cuba Control confirmed after the trio touched longed period in space on the human flight in Houston for a Nasa medical beautiful.” “Spaceflight is the biggest down southeast of the settlement of body. “Scott Kelly’s one-year mission examination. team sport there is, and it’s incredibly Dzhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan aboard the International Space Sta- In his year aboard the space sta- important that we all work together at around 0430 GMT. tion has helped to advance deep space tion Kelly has been an avid Internet to make what is seemingly impossi- AFP Raul Castro, the ailing Fidel’s After returning from his lengthy exploration and America’s Journey poster, capturing stunning views on ble possible,” Kelly said when handing brother, launched the reconcil- stint in space Kelly was clearly in high to Mars,” Nasa administrator Charles his Instagram page and tweeting regu- over command of the ISS to fellow Nasa iation push. spirits as he was lowered to the ground Bolden in a statement. larly to nearly a million followers while astronaut Tim Kopra on Monday. The Stones’ lead singer Mick LONDON: The Rolling Stones Jagger visited Havana in Octo- yesterday announced a free con- ber with one of his sons, fueling cert in Cuba in what is likely to speculation that a gig could be US actor George be one of the biggest shows ever imminent. Taiwan’s octogenarian bike pioneer both for the island and the rock A journalist spotted the legends. 72-year-old singer attending Kennedy dies The March 25 concert will a concert of Bamboleo, a well- on pedal power mission take place four days after a his- known band of the timba genre toric visit by US President Barack which is similar to salsa. WASHINGTON: US actor George Obama, a powerful sign that the The Rolling Stones, one of Kennedy, who won an Academy communist state is joining the the top-grossing acts in music, AFP Award for playing a hulking chain global mainstream after dec- have a strong following in Latin gang convict who pummels Paul ades of tension with Washington. America where the band is now Newman in the 1967 film “Cool The Rolling Stones will play touring, with the next show due Hand Luke” and later earned their first-ever concert in Cuba Wednesday in Porto Alegre, TAIWAN: An 82-year-old might be laughs in the “Naked Gun” com- at the open-air sports complex Brazil. an unlikely poster boy for Taiwan’s edy films, has died, media outlets Ciudad Deportiva in the capital Havana is now the final stop flourishing cycling scene, but King Liu reported on Monday. He was 91. Havana. “We have performed on the tour. The Rolling Stones (pictured) has never been afraid to go The Hollywood Reporter and in many special places during said they would also use the against convention. Variety, citing a Facebook post our long career but this show visit to distribute instruments The Taiwanese founder of the made by Kennedy’s grandson, said in Havana is going to be a land- to Cuban musicians donated by world’s biggest bicycle maker Giant the actor died on Sunday morning mark event for us, and, we hope, major makers. Manufacturing Co only got seriously in Boise, Idaho. Reuters could not for all our friends in Cuba too,” The latest tour is also ticking into the sport at the age of 73, after years independently verify the reports. the band said in a statement. off the list three other coun- out of the saddle. A versatile character actor, the Cuba has a famously rich tries where the septuagenarian And he did not do it by halves, tak- husky 6-foot-4 Kennedy also was musical heritage but revolution- rockers had not previously per- ing on a 927-kilometre ride around the known for roles in the four “Air- ary leader Fidel Castro banned formed -- Colombia, Peru and island’s rugged coastline as his first port” disaster films of the 1970s rock and roll in 1961, fearing a Uruguay. major ride. That epic journey took 15 and the popular TV series “Dallas.” degenerate influence from the The Rolling Stones may be days. Liu did the same loop again to cel- He appeared in innumerable US-born art form. one of a series of superstar acts ebrate turning 80, this time in just 12 films and TV shows and initially The island eventually to come to Cuba. An article in days. “I was an old man contemplating played a lot of villains. His brea- relaxed its ban but missed the Granma, the official newspa- retirement, but funnily enough, I instead kout role was as the prisoner full force of the “British inva- per of the ruling communist discovered a brand-new me,” Liu said increasingly attracted by Taiwan’s pris- officially named it “Cycle Route Number Dragline in “Cool Hand Luke,” sion” by bands such as The party, said that former Beatle of the first trip. “It boosted my self-con- tine landscape and remote corners, and One” at the end of last year, linking its set in the US South in 1948. His Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Paul McCartney and Irish rock- fidence, my health, and I became more cycling is fast becoming a key element paths and marking the route with signs character at first mercilessly bul- Cuban rock fans had to resort ers U2 were both interested in willing to learn new things, to take on in the island’s push to attract more for the first time. “Driving is too fast, lies Newman’s Luke, a newcomer to black-market recordings as coming, although neither act has new challenges.” international visitors. King has been walking is too slow. By riding a bike, to the chain gang, but eventually Castro railed against youth who confirmed plans. Sting is also The inspiration he felt from the part of that push -- after his first round- you can deeply immerse in Taiwan and comes to revere him. listened to “imperialist” music on interested in playing Cuba and ride which takes in rice paddies, tough the-island ride he started Giant’s travel appreciate the land,” said Liu, who fuels In one scene, he gets to clobber transistor radios. may try to come before The Roll- mountain climbs, aboriginal com- branch in 2009, one of Taiwan’s first his rides with coffee and local snacks. Newman, perhaps the world’s big- But Western musicians have ing Stones, Dominic Miller, the munities and Taiwan’s scenic Pacific dedicated cycle tour operators. Thou- With Giant pulling in $2bn a year in gest movie star at the time. Luke increasingly flocked to Cuba in Argentinian-born guitarist who east coast -- is now being experi- sands of cyclists now ride the loop sales and churning out millions of bikes is bloodied and battered by Dra- recent years, especially since has long toured with the former enced by a growing numbers of cyclists each year, either through tour opera- annually, Liu says he sees himself as a gline in a makeshift boxing match 2014 when Obama and leader Police frontman said. from around the world. Bike fans are tors or independently. The government “missionary” spreading cycle culture. but refuses to stay down.

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THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 • 23 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

GIS plans to invest Minister of Economy meets with Danish Minister QR1.9bn in 5 years

will continue to invest when the right inculcate new thinking, new way of opportunity becomes available,” said working to stay ahead of uncertain GIS is embarking Khaled bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chair- economic environment and the com- a selective capital man of the Board of Directors, GIS petition while maintaining the costs while speaking at the 8th Annual at the lowest. expenditure General Assembly Meeting held. “The group, therefore, embarked programme together “With the total capex of QR4.3bn on a number of cost improvement and since its inception in 2008 to-date, optimisation programmes those sup- with suitable business the group expects to further invest ported and will continue to support development QR1.9bn over the next five years. the group’s performance during the opportunities. These investments are expected current and future turbulent economic to generate additional revenue. I period,” said the chairman. “I can believe these investments will further assure you that together with my fel- strengthen the group’s competitive low Board of Directors, we will put our By Sachin Kumar position as the premier service pro- whole hearted effort in ensuring that The Peninsula vider in the region,” he added. GIS will continue to be the flag ship Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani with Danish Minister for The Board recommended a divi- service provider especially in oil and Business Affairs and Growth Troels Lund Poulsen yesterday in Doha. They reviewed bilateral relations dend distribution for the year ended gas field within the region and con- and aspects of mutual cooperation, particularly in the economic, commercial and investment affairs, December 31, 2015 equivalent to a tinue to add value. I am confident that and means of developing them. Trade volume between Qatar and Denmark stood at QR389m in 2015. DOHA: Gulf International Services payout of QR1 per share and repre- we together with the senior manage- (GIS) is planning to invest around senting 23.2 percent of the group’s ment of the group companies develop QR1.9bn over the next five years. net profit. sustainable long-term strategies and These investments will generate He said that financial year 2015 business development programs to additional revenue for the company. was expected to be challenging for overcome all the obstacles currently “Despite the current muted eco- a number of reasons, including the faced due to the unfavorable market GOIC announces incentive nomic environment, GIS is embarking consequences of QP’s procurement conditions,” he added. a selective capital expenditure pro- mechanism and its impact on some He said that results were sig- grammes together with suitable group companies together with nificantly impacted due to the business development opportunities. unfavourable economic environ- year-on-year reduction in profits of package to facilitate user access GIS believes that continued invest- ment driven by a significant fall in the group’s subsidiaries namely Gulf ment in operating assets are essential the crude oil prices, due to which the Drilling International and Gulf Heli- to remain competitive in business and group companies within GIS had to copters Company. The Peninsula opportunities in the Gulf. It also fea- tures several search and query options, in addition to the capacity to print reports.” DOHA: The Doha-headquartered Al Ageel said: “The IMI Plus prod- Gulf Organisation for Industrial Con- ucts, such as reports and control sulting (GOIC) decided to reduce the panels, allow users to carry out fea- subscription price of the IMI Plus Por- sibility studies using accurate and tal, making it accessible for a large updated information, identify prom- number of industrial investors, busi- ising investment opportunities in nessmen, experts, researchers and member states, determine the mar- journalists etc. ket size for a specific product, identify Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al Ageel commercial exchange between GCC (pictured), GOIC Secretary Gen- reflect the socio-economic status in countries and other countries all over eral, stated: “The new price bundle the GCC. The IMI Plus is important the globe or according to country allows users to access key up-to-date because it is the first of its kind in group classification, determine imports information. In fact, GOIC deployed the region to include four databases: and exports, net imports, design capac- huge efforts to establish and develop Gulf industries, foreign trade, socio- ities and the market size for goods in Officialsat the 8th Annual General Assembly Meeting. a comprehensive set of databases to economic indicators and investment accordance with customs tariffs.”

Mena sovereign borrowings rise sharply Mena soverign total commercial debt in 2016 by rating catogory

By Satish Kanady ratings in September 2015. be to refinance maturing long-term (2 percent) decrease in commercial The Peninsula S&P assumes that the GCC’s debt, compared with $61bn in 2015, borrowing by the 131 sovereigns we emerging fiscal deficits would be resulting in an estimated net borrow- currently rate, to reach $6.7 trillion wholly financed by drawing down on ing requirement of $81bn”, the ratings in 2016. assets. However, in the case of Saudi agency said. The US and Japan will again be DOHA: The Middle East and North- Arabia, although the sovereign did The commercial debt stock of the the most prolific borrowers this year, ern African (Mena) sovereigns are liquidate some assets, it estimates Mena sovereigns rate is expected to accounting for 58 percent of the total, expected to borrow an equivalent of that the government also borrowed reach an equivalent of $667bn by followed by China, Italy, and France. $134bn from long-term commercial $26bn dollar equivalent in 2015. the end of 2016, up by $85bn, or 15 Absolute debt levels continue to sources in 2016. All in all, it is estimated that GCC percent, from 2015. Adding in bi- increase. The total outstanding glo- This compares with borrowing of countries’ borrowing at $40bn in 2015 and multilateral debt, the total stock bal sovereign commercial debt stock $143bn in 2015, which was more than rather than the $5bn S&P projected in will reach $814bn, a year-on-year is projected to rise during 2016 by double the $68bn that the region is March 2015. increase of $116bn, or 17 percent. almost $1 trillion to reach $42 tril- expected to be borrowed in that year, “We believe a 9 percent decrease The share of noncommercial lion by the end of this year. Standard and Poor’s “Mena Sovereign in long-term commercial debt issu- official debt (bi- and multilateral) in In a breakdown by region, Asia- Debt Report 2016” noted. ance in 2016 compared with 2015 will total sovereign debt is set to rise to 22 Pacific sovereigns are expected to However, the ratings agency largely result from a decline in bor- percent of total debt as of year-end borrow $2.5 trillion, 37 percent of the noted that its updated estimate for rowing by the Egyptian government, 2016, from 20 percent in 2015. S&P total amount, mostly by Japan and, to 2015 includes an additional $30bn due to what we expect will be mod- expects that outstanding short-term a lesser extent, China and India. In in borrowing by Iraq. It has included est fiscal consolidation. commercial debt will reach $163bn contrast, borrowing by sovereigns in Iraq in the survey for the first time, About 40 percent, or $53bn, of at year-end 2016. Africa and the Middle East is negligi- having assigned it sovereign credit the sovereigns’ gross borrowing will Globally, S&P forecasts a $154bn ble by global comparison. 22 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS Ooredoo signs key cyber security deal with Si

Barcelona last week, will provide investment. In addition, Ooredoo and Ooredoo customers with an enhanced Si will also offer a Managed Firewall Partnership will suite of online security services, service, deploying the very best talent provide customers including 24x7 security incident and technology in the security indus- with an enhanced detection and response services, to try to protect customers’ networks and keep their data and their businesses systems. suite of online safe. Yusuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief security services. Companies and organisations in Operating Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, the region have come under increas- said: “We want our customers to ing pressure in recent months as the be able to focus on their core serv- volume of attempted cyber-attacks ices, and have the peace of mind has increased. Working with Si, Oore- of knowing that their systems are The Peninsula doo will ensure that, even if there is being protected and monitored a security breach, customers will by world-class security experts. receive an incident report within This best-in-class agreement with The Ooredoo and Si teams on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. minutes for serious threats so that Si means that we are able to offer DOHA: Ooredoo has signed a major they can react immediately to fix the incredible levels of security around they are getting and receive immedi- will offer real-time monitoring serv- and dependable service for cor- security agreement with Si, a pio- problem. the clock, and enable customers to ate and sustainable benefits. Ooredoo ices that are scalable, compliant, cost porate clients. Ooredoo and Si will neering solutions provider, which As part of the agreement, cus- access these resources through an provides world-class networks sup- effective, and available every minute provide the resources and expertise will position Ooredoo as the leader tomers will be able to benefit from affordable, scalable model.” ported by strong experience in of every day. The cloud-based service to constantly monitor and manage in Managed Security Services provi- Security Information and Event Man- Feras Tappuni, Managing Director, integrated ICT provision, so together will be secured across Security Oper- companies’ firewalls, blocking unau- sion across the region. agement (SIEM) as a service, accessing Si, said: “Our company works hard to we will be able to deliver the highest ations Centres (SOCs) in Doha. thorised access while at the same time The partnership, which was com- around-the-clock monitoring with- deliver innovative projects in a sim- level of security and service.” The Managed Firewall service is enabling secure and uninterrupted pleted at Mobile World Congress in out the need for major hardware ple way, so that customers know what SIEM as a Service from Ooredoo also cloud-based, to offer a resilient outward communication.

Qatar Financial ‘Qatar economy Centre launches is sustainable mobile application in long term’ The Peninsula DOHA: The Qatar Financial Cen- tre (QFC) announced the launch of its mobile phone application, The Peninsula to be 4.3 percent. Qatar’s fiscal and a free interactive tool that allows external positions to shift to deficits access to its services including from 2016. However Qatar has built a company registration, licensing large net asset position that will help and immigration. The new appli- DOHA: Qatar’s huge reserves will it weather the current lower hydro- cation features a multi-touch menu help it to withstand lower energy carbon price environment,” he said. which allows customers to learn prices. Qatar economy is sustainable “Qatar has budgeted for reve- more on how to set-up at the QFC in the long term amidst short term nues of QR156bn and expenditures and make payments for immigra- challenges, said Dr R Seetharaman, of QR202.5bn in 2016. Health, edu- tion services among others. Cleopatra Travels Managing Director Yousef Abdulla Al Sai and Himalaya Airlines Commercial General CEO of Doha Bank. He was speaking cation and infrastructure accounted “We are always looking for at the ‘Lunch Talk’ organised by The for the largest share of the 2016 Manager Raju Bahadur K C at the GSA agreement signing ceremony. new ways to enhance our clients’ Asian Ambassadors’ Group. expenditure. Major infrastruc- experience” said QFC CEO You- Dr Seetharaman spoke on the ture expenditures amounting to suf Mohamed Al Jaida. “The QFC topic “Qatar 2016 Budget and the QR50.6bn would include railways, mobile app is yet another way for Sustainability of Qatar’s Economy the new Doha port, several large Himalaya Airlines appoints us to engage with our firms, and for 2016 and Beyond”. roadways and the expansion of elec- provide them with a fast and easy “According to recent S&P report, tricity, water and sewage networks,” way to access our services at the Qatar has “significant” strength in he added. touch of a button,” he said. defending its fixed exchange parity Dr Seetharaman said “Even after Cleopatra Travels as Qatar GSA Raed Al Emadi, Chief Commer- with the dollar due to availability of seven years since the Global finan- cial Officer said: “The launch of this reserves to cover the monetary base cial crisis the sustainable growth is app is an excellent example of the and current account payments over not visible in global economy. Mon- The Peninsula class seats, to Doha from April 12 helping the airline to increase sales in best-in-class services we provide the next four years. Qatar economy is etary easing had continued since onwards. The service will operate this important market. We are hon- our licensed firms.” He added: “This sustainable in the long term amidst the global financial crisis from US, on a daily basis, departing at 20:00 oured to serve the Qatari market with app complements our QFC Client short term challenges. Qatar also has Eurozone and Japan Central Bank. pm from Kathmandu, and landing at very competitive pricing and delight- portal and covers the wide spec- AA’ long-term rating from S&P, with The Fed had commenced rate hike DOHA: Himalaya Airlines,a Nepal- 22:30pm in Doha. Similarly, the flight ful service.” trum of services we offer pre, during a stable outlook. Qatar is a resilient last December and it needs to be China joint venture airline, has will depart at 23:30pm from Doha Himalaya Airlines, a full-service and post the licensing phase.” economy,” said Dr Seetharaman. seen whether it will continue with announced the appointment of Cleo- and land in Kathmandu at 07:15am carrier established in August 2014, The mobile application builds The Asian Ambassadors’ Group so much volatility in global finan- patra Travels as its General Sales the next day. has planned to start international on QFC’s commitment to offer under the chairmanship of the cial markets this year and uneven Agents (GSA) passenger and cargo The airline has acquired a brand flights operation from April 12. The its customers time-saving serv- Ambassador of Malaysia, Dato’ US economic recovery”. for Qatar. new A320 committing high level of airline has made full preparation ices and amenities, and further Ahmad Jazri Mohd Johar organised “Qatar Banking Balance sheet The GSA will be responsible for reliability and punctuality to its pas- in terms of training flight crew and reinforces the organisation’s dedi- an inaugural ‘Lunch Talk’ on Monday. growth was more than 10 percent the airline’s sales and marketing, sengers. The flight timings have been maintenance personnel and has in cation to supporting its firms. The members of the Asian Group YTD (Year to Date) in December market development, reservations, planned with utmost passenger con- place systems, people and infrastruc- This latest step follows on pre- consist of 20 Ambassadors including and loan growth was more than 15 ticketing services representing the venience in mind. ture to start commercial flights. The vious services the QFC has made the seven ASEAN embassies in Qatar percent YTD. The real estate sector airline in Qatar. This appointment Commenting on this appoint- airline has scheduled its first desti- available to clients. In 2014, the QFC namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, lending was more than 27 percent will ensure easy access for Qatari, ment, Raju Bahadur KC, General nations at Doha and Delhi followed was the first entity in the region to Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and YTD, retail sector was close to 17 per- Nepalese citizens, and other trave- Manager – Commercial, said, “We by Lhasa Chengdu and Beijing a few make its tax guidance material Vietnam and is currently chaired by cent, contracting sector more than lers to the airline’s services. are pleased to announce the appoint- months later. available online, and in 2015 it cre- Singapore and Malaysia as the Vice 23 percent and service sector was Himalaya Airlines has sched- ment of Cleopatra Travels as GSA to Over the coming five years, the ated an online tax treaty database. Chairman. more than 6 percent,” Dr Seethar- uled its flight by A320-200, with represent Himalaya Airlines and airline aims at acquiring 15 Airbus The app is available on Apple’s “App “Qatar’s 2016 growth is expected aman added. eight business and 150 economy we look forward to their support in 320 family aircraft. Store” and Google’s “Play Store.”

Gulf Air increases Jeeves of Belgravia brings advanced fabric care solutions Saudi operations

The Peninsula Tim Grice, General Manager, Jeeves of Bel- gravia-Doha, said: “Bringing our operations to The Peninsula Doha establishes our presence in the local and regional markets where demand for garment DOHA: Jeeves of Belgravia, the prestigious care is high. We will provide requisite skills, London-based garment care company offer- equipment and facilities to extend the best DOHA: Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national ing dry cleaning and laundry service,is bringing possible services. Jeeves of Belgravia, which is carrier, is set to increase its Riyadh its advanced and modern fabric care solutions known for its close personal attention to details, service with an increase of four to Doha, Qatar to capitalise on the growing has mastered the techniques required for such additional afternoon flights per local and regional demand for world-class dry care. With our expertise, we will deliver unri- week effective today, taking the cleaning and laundry services from the afflu- valed services to our discerning clients.” airline’s weekly flights between ent market. At Jeeves of Belgravia, garments undergo Bahrain International Airport and Located on 30La Croisette, The Pearl-Qatar, a seven-step process to ensure thorough King Khalid International Airport the respected boutique provides its complimen- assessment of each item. The process includes in Riyadh from 28 to a total of 32. tary collection and delivery services as well as ‘Detailing,’ which involves careful inspection “Today, Gulf Air operates direct its finest hand valeting to the capital city’s thriv- of the garments; ‘Stain Removal,’ performed flights to five destinations within ing market. by professionals using proven traditional Saudi Arabia: Dammam, Riyadh, Through its renowned ‘Green and advanced modern techniques; ‘Clean- Madina Al Munawarah, Jeddah Earth®Cleaning’ technology, the company will ing,’ using the finest, purest and eco-friendly and Gassim. The enhanced Gulf also offer its most advanced, eco-friendly tech- solvents; ‘Hand Finishing’ to meet the client’s Air service give travellers an niques in fabric care to local clients. Jeeves of specific requirements; ‘Minor Repairs’ to check additional afternoon flight, sup- Belgravia, which serves top clientele in the fash- for loose hems, open seams, and loose or miss- plementing our existing, multiple ion industry, has held a Royal Warrant for dry ing buttons; careful garment ‘Inspection’ before daily schedule,” said Gulf Air A/ cleaning services to the Prince of Wales and his delivery; and ‘Packaging’ to protect the quality Chief Commercial Officer Ahmed Officials at the opening. family for the past 34 years. of the garments. Janahi. BUSINESS THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 23 Despite oil woes, QIF optimistic on Qatari market

average. We remain optimistic about Continuing weakness in the oil currently derived from the non- on Qatar over the medium to longer system are likely to continue in the growth prospects in the medium to price weighed on sentiment during hydrocarbon sector. This, contained term, because of its superior growth near term. However, Qatari banks are Qatari equities are long term”, Nicholas Wilson, Chair- the period as Qatar’s GDP growth with continuing population growth, prospects and an expanding non- expected to slowly overcome these trading at a market man, QIF said. expectations were revised down. The improving demographics and an hydrocarbon sector. by issuing bonds and as public sec- The Fund’s investment adviser banking sector, including financial extensive infrastructure pipeline, The recent 2016 state budget tor deposits coming back to Qatari discount to their believes that Qatari equities have services remains QIF’s largest single should see continued GDP growth. focuses on long term development banks. The fund said its investment historical average. already priced in excessive pessi- sector with a 43.2 percent exposure In the second half of 2015, the of the Qatari economy, with capital adviser reassessed valuations in the mism and relative valuations retain at the end of 2015. In December, QIF Qatar market has shown resilience spending remaining strong. Infra- banking sector and performed its attractive. The market is trading at had a total of 17 holdings, all in Qatar. compared to other GCC markets. In structure, healthcare and education own stress testing on banking mod- a discount to its historical average. On the fund’s outlook, the chair- the 18 months to December 31, 2015, sectors remain the key areas of focus els and found that despite liquidity The Peninsula The QE Index is currently trading at man said the sharp fall in oil and gas Qatar fell 9.2 percent and was the sec- with over 45 percent of the total budg- concerns, banking sector valuations a trailing twelve months P/E ratio of prices will continue to impact the ond best performer after Abu Dhabi eted expenditure earmarked for the appear attractive.” 10.79x (as on December 31, 2015) vs its Qatari economy as certain lower (down 5.4 percent). same. Qatari banking sector growth was 10-year historical average of 12.3x, a priority projects may be deferred. During this period, the price of a Further, projects worth over the fastest in the GCC region. The sec- DOHA: Despite the wide-rang- discount of 14.5 percent, thus provid- However, Qatar is the world’s largest barrel of Brent crude fell 66.8 percent. $200bn have been planned over the tor grew at a CAGR of 15.3 percent ing impact of low oil prices on GCC ing a good entry point to investors. exporter of LNG and although lower Over the 18 months, the Saudi market next 10 years with $72bn worth of from 2010-2014. economies, the London-listed Qatar The fall in oil and gas prices will prices have been negotiated. Qatar is fell 27.3 percent, Dubai 20.1 percent government projects already under- Over the period, banking asset Investment Fund (QIF) is bullish on continue to impact the Qatari econ- defending its market share. In addi- and the Oman and Kuwait markets way. Strong project spending coupled penetration in Qatar improved from Qatar. omy as certain lower priority projects tion, the diversification polices of dropped 22.9 percent and 19.5 per- with a steady rise in population should 125 percent to GDP to 132 percent. “The Qatar market sell-off looks may be deferred. However, the fund government over recent years had cent, respectively. continue fuelling growth in the non- With Qatari banking asset growth over-done with excessive pessimism expect economic growth will continue placed Qatar in a strong position rel- “Our investment adviser believes hydrocarbon sector. expected to remain faster than GDP priced in. Qatari equities are trading at over 6 percent in the coming years, ative to other Gulf countries with that the Qatar market sell-off is QIF believes that the liquid- growth, the asset penetration is likely at a market discount to their historical the highest in the GCC region. arguably over 60 percent of GDP overdone and remains optimistic ity concerns in the Qatari banking to continue to increase. Porsche Centre Doha unveils state-of-the-art service facility

The Peninsula and built to the highest specifica- Chairman and CEO of Porsche Centre tions. A total of 18 work bays, all Doha, said: “Unparalleled customer fully equipped with custom made service and an extension of the workshop benches designed and unique Porsche ownership experience DOHA: Continuing its commitment manufactured to Porsche standard, into After Sales care are at the heart to providing unrivalled customer will be utilised by 54 technicians and of our operations all over the world, service and satisfaction, Porsche service advisors who will deliver the and no less so in Qatar. Our third Centre Doha, Al Boraq Automobiles very best in After Sales care to cus- service centre in the country opens Co., opens its new service centre in tomers across Qatar. in line with the growth we have seen Qatar. Located on Street 16 in the As well as housing four Direct in the market over recent years and Industrial Area, the state-of-the-art Dialogue Bays, one of which fea- the demand we place on ourselves to facility offers direct, congestion-free tures a Test Lane, the new facility ensure our customer service keeps up access for all visitors and raises the also includes a Porsche Drivers Selec- with that growth.” bar for After Sales care as Porsche tion display section. Eight months in “Customer satisfaction and extends its heritage of automotive the making, the service centre sees engagement is of the upmost impor- excellence in Qatar. the introduction of 42 new Porsche tance to us and so is investing in our The landmark facility covers employees in Qatar, with a total of people to ensure that we continue to more than 3,600 sqm and com- 54 employees being based at the new offer the very best-in-class service, prises both technical workshop and location. reflective of the Porsche brand,” he customer service areas, designed Salman Jassem Al Darwish, added. The new Porsche Service Centre is located on Street 16 in the Industrial Area. 24 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS

Australia’s QC Chairman meets WTO Director-General economy

international trade agenda initiative expands faster in 2011 in collaboration with the Inter- Sheikh Khalifa national Chamber of Commerce Qatar than expected discusses Chamber’s (ICC) to push the stalemate of Doha Round of negotiations, QNA reported. role in WTO’s Backed by the wise leadership initiative with of the State of Qatar, the Chamber SYDNEY: Australia’s economy adopted and prioritized the outcomes strengthened last year supported Roberto Azevedo. of the WTO ministerial conference by consumer and government held in Bali in 2013. The results facil- spending, data showed, with the itate global trade agreement the spur better-than-expected figures cross border commerce and create raising expectations the resources- The Peninsula many jobs in developing countries, dependent nation is emerging out the chairman said. of a recent slump. WTO Director General Roberto Economic growth expanded by Azevedo described the ministerial 0.6 percent in October to Decem- DOHA: Qatar Chamber (QC) Chair- conference in Nairobi as “successful ber to take the annual rate of man Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim and positive”, and discussed several expansion to a surprise 3.0 per- Al-Thani met with the World Trade topics including the impact of reduced Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani and other officials with the WTO Director- cent, figures released by the Organization (WTO) Director Gen- government subsidies for goods and General Roberto Azevedo in Doha yesterday. Australian Bureau of Statistics eral Roberto Azevedo here yesterday. services for member countries. showed. The two officials discussed the In his report to the General The surprise improvement beat Chamber’s role in WTO’s initiative Council on February 24 as chair of success of the Ministerial Conference international trading system through Doha Development Agenda as a fun- market expectations of fourth- and the outcomes of the tenth min- the Trade Negotiations Commit- in Nairobi. the introduction of lower trade barri- damental objective is to improve the quarter growth of 0.4 percent for isterial meeting of the organisation tee, Azevedo urged WTO members The Doha Round is the latest ers and revised trade rules. The work trading prospects of developing coun- year-on-year growth of 2.5 per- held in Nairobi. to “deepen their dialogue with each round of trade negotiations among programme covers about 20 areas of tries. It was officially launched at the cent, and sent the Australian dollar Sheikh Khalifa reiterated other” about how to advance the work the WTO membership. Its aim is trade. WTO’s Fourth Ministerial Conference jumping almost half a cent to 72.19 that Qatar Chamber has adopted of the WTO and to build on the recent to achieve major reform of the The Round is also known as the in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001. US cents. “Today’s December quar- ter national accounts show once again that Australia continues to successfully manage the transi- Qatar committee holds tion from the largest resources investment boom in our history to broader-based growth,” Treas- talks with WTO chief urer Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra. “We are growing faster than every economy in the G7, growing The Peninsula standards and the importance of well above the OECD average. We being in line with those of Arab coun- are growing faster than the United tries, QNA reported. States and the United Kingdom. DOHA: The Qatar national committee They also discussed ways of More than twice the pace of com- for coordination on matters related to cooperation between the two sides parable resource-based economies the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in terms of holding workshops and like Canada.” met yesterday with WTO Director conferences on WTO’s systems and The healthy figures were fur- General Roberto Azevedo at Qatar regulations so as to enhance the expe- ther supported by an upwards Chamber (QC) premises. The meet- rience and knowledge of Qatari youth revision of the September quar- ing discussed coordination between working in this field on certain mat- ter growth rate from 0.9 percent the two sides in organising workshops ters handled by the organisation. to 1.1 percent, the strongest three- and forums, facilitating global trade The deputy head of the national month reading since March 2012. and removing technical obstacles. committee briefed the WHO Direc- Household spending contrib- The two sides also discussed tor-General on the activities of the uted 0.4 percentage points to the Officials with the WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo in Doha yesterday. issues related to specifications and national coordination committee. December quarter growth while public gross fixed capital forma- tion added 0.2 percentage points to GDP, the data showed. Toyota shakes The Australian economy has slowed as the country exits an China eyes 13% money supply growth unprecedented mining invest- up corporate ment boom that has helped it avoid a recession for 24 years, with the structure to focus Reuters announced by Premier Li Keqiang at parliament for approval. Flush policy adviser. jobless rate rising above a decade- the annual parliament session that credit conditions will be vital for Advisers expect the central bank high, subdued wage growth and on product lines opens on Saturday, was endorsed by the government to cut taxes and to deliver more cuts in bank reserve tepid business investment outside top party leaders at a closed-door keep up infrastructure spend- requirements in the coming months, the resources sector. BEIJING: China plans to target Central Economic Work Conference ing to compensate for the effects though there is less room to cut inter- The Reserve Bank of Aus- TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp broad-based money supply growth in December, said a number of peo- of tackling overcapacity, including est rates. The central bank is also tralia has been cutting interest announced an overhaul of its cor- of around 13 percent this year, sources ple with knowledge of the outcome unemployment. expected to pump out more cash rates since November 2011, with porate structure yesterday as the said, a signal that further monetary of the meeting. There are plans to lay off 5-6 via policy tools such as the stand- the last cut in May 2015 taking it world’s biggest-selling carmaker policy easing is likely during a pain- The sources also said the infla- million workers from “zombie enter- ing lending facility (SLF) and the to a record-low of 2.0 percent, as seeks to streamline decision- ful economic restructuring that could tion forecast for this year was set to prises” over the next two to three medium-term lending facility (MLF), it sought to boost growth in non- making and improve the way it see millions of workers losing jobs. be around 3 percent, more than dou- years as part of efforts to cut indus- they said. mining sectors. The central bank manages its production as output Top leaders have already pledged ble the actual rate in 2015. trial overcapacity and pollution, two M2 money supply expanded an kept the cash rate on hold on Tues- hits record highs. “supply-side structural reforms” to China’s top economic planner sources with ties to the country’s annual 13.3 percent in 2015, beating day. But the labour market showed Effective April, the number of tackle excess factory capacity and has said the government would tar- leadership said this week. the government’s money supply tar- signs of strengthening in late 2015, business divisions will be increased “zombie firms”, and are also expected get economic growth of 6.5-7 percent The central bank resumed its eas- get of around 12 percent, due to a raft while consumers appeared to be to nine from the present four, with to lean more on fiscal stimulus as they this year, confirming a Reuters report, ing cycle on Monday, cutting bank of easing measures. more willing to open their wallets the aim of creating a company seek to avert a hard landing for the and the sources said the money sup- reserve requirements to pump the China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, a amid a booming residential hous- “built around product-based rather world’s second-largest economy. ply and inflation forecasts are in line equivalent of around $100bn into blueprint covering 2016-20, will ing sector. than function-based organisa- “A 13 percent rise in M2 is suffi- with that target. the banking system. also be announced at the parlia- “The latter half of last year tions,” it said in a statement. cient for keeping liquidity flush in the The State Council Informa- “The target for M2 is likely to ment meeting. President Xi Jinping looks a fair bit stronger than was Three new divisions will sepa- near term, but we may see faster rises tion Office did not respond to be 13 percent this year. They need has said China needs annual average realised at that time,” JP Morgan rately focus on compact, mid-size later this year as the central bank is faxed requests for comment. The to keep appropriate liquidity con- growth of at least 6.5 percent over the senior economist Ben Jarman and commercial vehicles, along- likely to loosen policy further,” said money-supply targets are subject to ditions, credit and money supply next five years to hit a goal of dou- told AFP. “A lot of the most recent side divisions dedicated to one of the sources. last-minute revisions before being growth to meet the need for supply- bling gross domestic product and per strength comes from consumer connected cars and to research The target, which is set to be submitted to the largely rubber-stamp side reforms,” said another source, a capita income by 2020 from 2010. spending.” and engineering. The company will maintain its premium Lexus division, along with its two region-based divisions overseeing geographical markets, QDB to hold meet on govt procurement and contracting while it will also have a dedicated power trains division. Managing officer Shinya Kot- era will become senior managing The Peninsula officer and will lead the com- pany’s division which oversees China, Asia, and other regions. The remaining divisions will be led by DOHA: Qatar Development Bank (QDB) yesterday announced existing senior managing officers. the first Government Procurement and Contracting Confer- Kotera, 54, previously headed ence & Exhibition, ‘MOUSTARAYAT,’. The event will take place the company’s operations in East for three days from March 8. Asia and the Oceania region. The aim of ‘MOUSTARAYAT’ is to strengthen coopera- Toyota’s sharper focus on end tion between private and public sector companies in Qatar, in products comes after it posted glo- addition to bolstering collaborations between local SMEs and bal sales of 10.1 million vehicles in important stakeholders. 2015 and begins vehicle production Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development using its new, standardized engi- Bank, said over 20 exhibitors would attend the event opening neering platform, under which up opportunities for an estimated 400 contracts with a com- vehicles will share more common bined value of QR2bn. parts according to their size, cut- The event will also aimed at offering support for SMEs as ting production costs by as much part of the boosting the country’s ongoing economic diversi- as a fifth. Toyota’s revamped Prius, fication process. which began production in Decem- QDB supports SMEs on local and global levels, and ‘MOUS- ber in Japan, is the first model TARAYAT’ is one of the many ways we provide support to this produced under Toyota’s New sector, as we provide low risk purchasing opportunities, link- Global Architecture platform. The ing SMEs with major stakeholders and promoting competitive compact saloon will be followed by business environments, he said. a new C-HR crossover model which Through the exhibition, QDB is keen on finding new ways to FROM LEFT: Badar Shaheen Al Kuwari, Business Development Bank (QDB); Abdulaziz Zeid Al Rashid Al Taleb, Director of was unveiled at the Geneva Motor empower the country’s sustainable government procurement Show this week and which will be system, prepare SMEs to meet their goals and requirements and Government Procurement Regulations at the Ministry of Finance; Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO, QDB; and Hamad produced in Turkey. further strengthen the local market, QDB CEO added. Khamis Al Kubaisi, Executive Director of Advisory, QDB, at a press conference in Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim M/The Peninsula BUSINESS THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 25

Oil below $37 Airbus starts work on new China facility amid record

relationships in the country “second US inventories to none” in supporting the develop- At a ceremony in ment of Chinese aviation. the northern port Beijing has made building up its Reuters aerospace industry a strategic prior- of Tianjin, Airbus ity, considering it a crucial component CEO Fabrice Bregier of an advanced economy. LONDON: Oil fell further below Investing in new plants in China is $37 a barrel yesterday as US crude and Chinese officials not only a way to increase production, stockpiles rose to a new record, broke ground for but also a way to win the approval underlining the extent of a supply the completion and of the government, which controls glut and countering support from the airline industry. “Our industrial producer efforts to tackle it. delivery centre that cooperation serves a purpose, and Crude inventories rose by will produce two that purpose is to facilitate our sales... 10.4 million barrels, the US gov- to China,” said Andreas Ockel, gen- ernment’s Energy Information A330 planes per eral manager of the Tianjin assembly Administration (EIA) said in its month. facility. “It’s a give and take.” weekly report, much more than The Airbus A320 assembly plant analysts had expected. is a joint venture in which Chinese Global benchmark Brent crude stakeholders control 49 percent, and was down 45 cents at $36.36 a AFP the European firm has joint oper- barrel by 1548 GMT. On Tues- ations with partners across China day, it reached $37.25, the highest manufacturing doors, wings, and in almost two months. US crude, other parts for A320 family aircraft. also known as WTI, was down 55 TIANJIN: Europe’s largest aircraft “In China the sales are not limited cents at $33.85. manufacturer Airbus started con- purely to the commercial dimension,” “Today’s EIA data will do struction yesterday on a new facility said Eric Chen, president of Airbus very little to help oil’s recent to deliver wide-body planes in China, China. “You need also to explore bounce,” said Chris Jarvis, ana- as it faces off against bitter US rival industrial cooperation to reinforce lyst at Caprock Risk Management Boeing for market share in the world’s the relationship.” in Frederick, Maryland. “In short, Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) President Lin Zuoming speaks during a ground-breaking ceremony second-largest economy. For its part Boeing has joint ven- it’s difficult to make a bullish At a ceremony in the northern for the Airbus A330 completion and delivery centre in Tianjin, China, yesterday. tures in Boeing Tianjin Composites case. Signs that the glut in oil and port of Tianjin, Airbus CEO Fabrice and Boeing Shanghai Aviation Serv- reversal of the building trend will Bregier and Chinese officials officially in Chinese air travel. will take flyable unpainted aircraft — to roughly 50 percent today. ices as well as a manufacturing subside any time soon seems broke ground for the completion and The world’s second-largest econ- from their headquarters in Toulouse, The country is now Airbus’ larg- innovation centre. But even while distant.” delivery centre that will produce two omy is already Asia’s biggest aircraft France and add cabins, furnishings est market, accounting for nearly a it has encouraged partnerships The inventory rise was even A330 planes per month. buyer as a growing middle class takes and paint, before they are delivered quarter of the planes it delivered in with foreign firms the government larger than the 9.9 million-bar- The centre is an expansion of the to the skies in ever-increasing num- to customers. 2015. Days before the ground-break- is investing heavily in building up rel increase reported on Tuesday firm’s existing final assembly plant for bers. The country is forecast to have Boeing also plans to open a com- ing, Air China announced orders for domestic champions such as state- by industry group the American A320 single-aisle aircraft in the city. 1.7 billion air passengers by 2034, and pletion centre in China, it announced 12 wide-body aircraft for $2.9bn. “I owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of Petroleum Institute (API). The API It comes with China’s economic is poised in the next two decades to last year. The company sold 300 air- understand that our competitor is try- China (COMAC). report had weighed on prices ear- growth at its weakest in a quarter of a become the largest civil aviation mar- craft worth a record $38bn during ing to mimic” the Airbus strategy by Airbus’ Bregier acknowledged lier in the session. century and concerns over its outlook ket in the world. President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US opening a facility, CEO Bregier said the threat of future Chinese compe- Brent has risen 34 percent sending shivers through global stock The new $150m centre is the com- in 2015. The two firms have been in in Tianjin, but added: “It’s not really tition, adding that co-operation only from a 12-year low of $27.10 hit exchanges. But Bregier said that “this pany’s first such facility for wide-body a fierce battle for market share in state-of-the-art.” went so far. “We will try to make their on January 20, adding to expec- is not true for our market”, adding that aircraft outside Europe, and “marks China, where Airbus says it has gone A Boeing spokesman retorted: life as difficult as possible,” he said. tations that further declines may increased middle-class incomes and a new milestone for Airbus’ inter- from 27 percent in 2004 — before it “Partnership is defined by more “I exclude in principle to support the not be on the cards. An analyst at easing visa rules were driving a boom national footprint”, Bregier said. It opened the Tianjin final assembly line than a few buildings,” calling its development of a competitor.” the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday prices appeared to have bottomed. Crude has collapsed from more than $100 in mid-2014, pressured Petronas to cut 1,000 jobs France no longer Germany’s by excess supply and a decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to abandon its biggest trading partner traditional role of cutting produc- tion by itself to boost prices. After more than a year of fail- AFP with ¤170.1bn worth of goods and ing to agree any steps, Opec and the Netherlands with ¤167.6bn,” the outside producers have stepped statement said. In terms of exports, up diplomatic activity to fix the the US was the biggest foreign buyer supply glut. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, FRANKFURT: The United States of German-made goods in 2015, with Venezuela and non-Opec pro- overtook France to become Germa- exports amounting to ¤113.9bn last ducer Russia said on February 16 ny’s most important trading partner year. Exports to France, the country that they would freeze output. last year for the first time in 40 years, to which Germany has exported the The four countries have agreed official data showed yesterday. most every year since 1961, amounted to meet again in mid-March, Ven- The development, which had to ¤103bn. The UAE followed in third ezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del already started to become discern- place, with exports totalling ¤89.3bn. Pino said last week. The location ible in the middle of last year, was On the import side, Germany for the talks has yet to be decided, confirmed by provisional data pub- imported the most goods from Opec delegates say. lished by the federal statistics office China last year — ¤91.5bn in all. The Destatis: for the first time since 1975, Netherlands and France followed in France is no longer Germany’s big- second and third places with imports Gold prices gest trading partner. of ¤88.1bn and ¤67bn respectively, Exchange rate fluctuations and Destatis calculated. Anton Boerner, rebound the vigour of the US economy are president of the German exporters’ largely behind the change in rank- federation BGA, saw the develop- LONDON: Gold rebounded yester- ing. But the development appears ment as a “turning point, a long-term day as global shares turned lower to carry special political resonance phenomenon,” even if France would after a fall in oil prices, shrugging at a time when Europe is fighting to definitely remain “a very important off a steadier dollar following better- hold together against the backdrop partner, and politically the most than-expected US economic data. of the refugee crisis. important one” for Germany. Spot gold, lower initially, rose Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers rise behind a Petronas logo at a fuel station in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. France has always been seen as Chancellor Angela Merkel is 0.5 percent to $1,237.71 an ounce Petronas is cutting as many as 1,000 jobs as it reorganises its businesses and trims the fat to counter Germany’s primary trading part- scheduled to travel to Paris on Fri- by 1515 GMT, while US gold futures a slump in the price of crude oil. ner in the past, underlining the close day to meet with President Francois for April delivery were up 0.5 per- political and economic ties between Hollande, ahead of a crucial EU cent at $1,237.10 an ounce. Bullion Europe’s number one and number summit on refugees next week. For has rallied about 16 percent this year two economies. France, Germany remains its biggest in the face of tumbling equities and But the weakness of the euro trading partner, with 16 percent of fears of a global slowdown. against the dollar and the pick-up French exports destined for its Euro- Gold rebounded even as the in the US economy has boosted Ger- pean neighbour and 17 percent of its dollar gained 0.1 percent against Germany takes on Facebook in many’s transatlantic trade. imports coming from the other side a basket of currencies, after data “According to provisional data, of the Rhine. showed the US private employers goods worth a total ¤173.2bn ($188bn) But in the US, the economic added 214,000 jobs in February, first-ever competition probe changed hands between Germany and upturn there has led to a rise in above economists’ expectations. the US in 2015,” the federal statistics demand for German-made goods, Platinum fell 0.6 percent to office Destatis calculated. with chemical exports to the US ris- $936.20 an ounce, while silver “That meant the US was Ger- ing by 10 percent, machinery exports gained 0.7 percent to $14.93 and Reuters internet services such as Facebook, regulators in Germany, where data many’s most important trading up 12 percent, cars and car parts up palladium dropped 0.6 percent to user data are hugely important,” protection is strongly regulated, over partner in 2015, followed by France 23 percent. $512.96. Federal Cartel Office President its privacy practices. Andreas Mundt said. Co-founder and Chief Executive FRANKFURT: Germany’s cartel office The cartel office said it had con- Mark Zuckerberg visited Berlin on a is investigating Facebook for suspected siderable doubts about whether charm offensive last week. A Face- abuse of market power over breaches Facebook users had been properly book spokeswoman said: “We are Huge bailout risks failure: Greece FM of data protection laws in the first for- informed about how their data were confident that we comply with the mal probe of the social network for used, which it said could violate law and we look forward to work- violating competition rules. stringent German data protection ing with the Federal Cartel Office to AFP since. “That time is in danger of making a self-fulfilling The watchdog said it suspected laws. answer their questions.” prohecy that the Greek programme fails, for no reason that Facebook’s terms of service “There is an initial suspicion The regulator said it was inves- that I can understand either as an academic economist with its users regarding how the that Facebook’s conditions of use tigating whether Facebook abused or as a minister of finance,” Tsakalotos told MEPs. company makes use of their data are in violation of data protection its market power by failing to ade- BRUSSELS: Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos The IMF worked with the EU on two previous bail- may abuse the company’s possibly provisions,” the regulator said in a quately inform its users of the scope warned yesterday that his country’s massive bailout pro- outs for Greece since 2010 but the Washington-based dominant position in the social net- statement announcing the probe. and nature of data collection on their gramme could fail if the EU and IMF persist in delaying lender has said it will not participate in the third rescue working market. Facebook is nearly the twice Internet surfing habits. the completion of a crucial review. plan without credible reforms and an EU agreement to Facebook, the world’s big- the size of the world’s second larg- Facebook owns four of the top “We haven’t got endless time,” Tsakalotos told law- ease Athens’ debt burden. gest social network with 1.6 billion est social network, Tencent’s QQ of eight social network services globally makers at a European Parliament committee hearing in A major sticking point is the pension reforms planned monthly users, earns revenues from China. Nearly 84 percent of Face- including its core profile service, two Brussels, sharply criticising that teams from the EU and by Greece’s leftist government which the IMF has found advertising based on data it gathers book’s members are outside the separate instant messaging services, the IMF had not returned to Athens in a month. insufficient. The IMF also questions Greece’s budget esti- about its users’ social connections, United States and Canada. WhatsApp and Facebook Messen- Greece’s international creditors — the EU, European mations, a crucial piece of data that helps determine if opinions and activities in their post- The company has faced strong ger, and its picture-sharing service Central Bank and IMF — completed a first phase of the Athens has delivered on the austerity reforms promised ings. “For advertising-financed criticism from politicians and Instagram. review on February 5, but there has been little progress in its ¤86bn bailout programme. 26 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 10,014.43 0.45 % QE Total Return Index 15,863.29 0.45 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,711.55 0.90 % QE All Share Index 2,713.7 0.15 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,720.85 1.04 % QE All Share Industrials 3,014.82 0.44 % QE All Share Transportation 2,403.56 0.13 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,260.91 0.69 % QE All Share Insurance 4,245.65 4.26 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,024.51 4.31 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 6,285.99 0.57 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 02-03-2016 Today 01-03-2016 Previous day Index 10,014.43 9,969.25 Change 45.18 76.93 % 0.45 0.78 YTD% 3.98 4.41 Volume 12,751,995 13,337,279 Value (QAR) 412,597,167.24 606,299,453.29 Trades 5,681 5,196 Up 25 | Down 10 | Unchanged 04

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5083.452 93.852 1.88 5379.6 4762.1 Cac 40 Index/D 4409.6 2.76 0.06 4586.11 3892.46 Dj Indu Average 16865.08 348.58 2.11 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 20003.49 596.03 3.07 21794.84 18278.8 Iseq Overall/D 6362.36 -0.78 -0.01 6791.68 5611.89 Karachi 100 In/D 31772.9 263.79 0.84 33304.4 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16746.55 661.04 4.11 18951.12 14865.77 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1810.1

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.0658 QR 5.1380 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 3.9288 QR 3.9842 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2..6820 QR 2.7350 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.6207 QR 3.6744 Yen QR 0.0316 QR 0.0322 A C C-A/D 1242.95 12.2 13056 Eveready Indu-/D 228.5 5.8 23399 Kalyani Stel-T/D 142.5 5.1 45981 Timexgroup-T/D 30.3 1.2 34186 Aus$ QR 2.6053 QR 2.6577 Aarti Drugs-B/D 484 8.9 3429 F D C-B/D 186 3.1 2178 Kanoria Chem-B/D 55.35 2.45 13691 Tinplate-B/D 62.5 3.05 30924 Ind Re QR 0.0535 QR 0.0545 Aban Offs-A/D 164.25 2.15 317486 Federal Bank-A/D 50.3 2.65 237328 Kg Denim-B/D 51.5 2.5 30350 Ucal Fuel-B/D 98.45 5.35 82314 Ador Welding-B/D 267 10 1340 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.23 0.52 50387 Kinetic Eng-B/D 79.2 1.65 1348 Ucal Fuel-B/D 98.45 5.35 82314 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Aegis Logis-B/D 91.15 1 15099 Fgp Ltd-T/D 3.23 0 2860 Kopran-B/D 47.5 2.65 144903 Ultramarine-B/D 111.4 2.3 11672 Peso QR 0.0763 QR 0.0778 Alembic-B/D 36.2 1.15 51473 Finolex-A/D 335.2 19.7 36502 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 358.9 23.9 5049 Unitech P -A/D 4.56 0.44 14653133 SL Re QR 0.0249 QR 0.0255 Alok Indus-A/D 4.05 0.17 1564541 Gail-A/D 323.5 3.6 77505 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 31.8 1.5 1989 Uppergsugar-T/D 61.75 1.7 1953 Taka QR 0.0460 QR 0.0469 Apollo Tyre-A/D 165.2 6.5 242061 Galada Power-B/D 13.85 1.1 4846 Lloyd Metal-B/D 17.55 0.6 171296 Asahi I Glass-/D 150.75 -0.05 3819 Gammon India-T/D 14.8 0.7 43805 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 5.6 0.24 38483 LONDON Nep Re QR 0.0336 QR 0.0342 Ashok Leyland-/D 93.5 2.6 1290573 Garden P -B/D 23.2 0.35 3281 Lumax Ind-B/D 396.8 9 3063 SA Rand QR 0.2298 QR 0.2344 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.54 0.21 325670 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1159.6 -22.4 60912 Lupin-A/D 1782 21.25 95626 Banaras Bead-B/D 38.5 0.65 1710 Goodricke-B/D 167.2 4.1 24628 Lyka Labs-T/D 66.55 0.6 199956 3I Group/D 448.9 1.2 289511 Bata India-A/D 472.8 8.8 39201 Goodyear I -B/D 475.5 20.6 15803 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 229 9.3 1408 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3373 -72 181032 GOLD AND SILVER Beml Ltd-A/D 1029.95 39.95 37975 Hcl Infosys-B/D 38.2 1.2 803478 Mah.Seamless-B/D 138 1.9 1386 Barclays/D 156.249 -1.95 40227232 GOLD QR144.5670 per gramme Bh Electronic-/D 1053.45 11.45 30320 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 17.85 -0.25 1687048 Mangalam Cem-B/D 187.4 15.9 11595 Bp/D 347.95 -2.7 10374189 Bhansali Eng-T/D 17.7 0.85 65081 Himat Seide-B/D 168.4 11.3 101671 Maral Overs-B/D 24.6 1.4 33751 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3994.5 -5.5 1674348 SILVER QR1.7440 per gramme Bharat Bijle-B/D 722.5 1 6110 Hind Motors-T/D 5.07 0.06 81618 Mastek-B/D 120.8 3.9 28602 Bt Group/D 484 -12 7313432 Bharatgears-B/D 61.05 4.05 5808 Hind Org Chem-/D 13.35 0.35 15909 Max Financial-/D 330 5.1 14641 Centrica/D 209.9 -2.3 4652194 Bhartiya Int-B/D 471.9 6.2 14760 Hind Unilever-/D 847.5 22.5 164161 Mrpl-A/D 57.2 -2.45 95573 Gkn/D 283.7 1.7 1330485 Bhel-A/D 97.25 4.55 2601743 Hind.Petrol-A/D 729.15 7.4 116086 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 23.6 0.7 1544 Hsbc Holdings/D 471.3 10.35 15863443 Bom.Burmah-B/D 350 7.1 5959 Hindalco-A/D 74.8 4.6 2195421 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 23.6 0.7 1544 Kingfisher/D 344.6 2.8 1384541 Qatar Exchange Bombay Dyeing-/D 43.35 1.85 152688 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1100.25 31.5 91383 Nahar Spg.-B/D 86.5 2.95 21489 Land Secs Grou/D 1044.7 5 735654 Camph.& All-B/D 471.4 22.6 2706 I F C I-A/D 23.35 1.55 1789878 Nation Alum -A/D 33.5 0.7 569743 Legal & Genera/D 236.8 0.5 5506171 Canfin Homes-B/D1014.95 24.95 6495 Idbi-A/D 64 4.5 2899363 Navneet Edu-B/D 84.45 0.2 5929 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 72.7337 -0.36 40291019 index climbs 0.5% Caprihans-Xc/D 81 1.3 8640 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 294 -6.2 5562 Nepc India-T/D 1.61 0.07 6098 Marks & Sp./D 430.5 -0.1 1141709 Castrol India-/D 367.95 2.65 85822 India Cement-A/D 72.95 3.2 354628 Neuland Lab-B/D 557.25 2.5 7555 Next/D 6665 -70 138182 Reuters Century Enka-B/D 158.2 4.5 15936 India Glycol-B/D 71.2 2.1 6092 O N G C-A/D 195 3.5 1025698 Pearson/D 859 -11.5 1399866 Century Text-A/D 455.25 17.55 187831 Indian Card-B/D 207 4.7 4565 Oil Country-B/D 25.25 0.85 22548 Prudential/D 1324.5 17.5 2259826 Chambal Fert-B/D 55.05 1.7 44881 Indian Hotel-A/D 100.35 0.2 43381 Onward Tech-B/D 70.25 4.1 5845 Rank Group/D 246.3 -3.3 625069 DUBAI: The Saudi Arabian and Dubai stock markets Chowgule St-T/D 15.9 0 5850 Indo-Tcount-T/D 916.1 20.6 16173 Orchid Pharm-B/D 37.4 3.1 245665 Rentokil Initi/D 166.15 -1.3 629404 pulled back yesterday as they digested gains made Cimmco-B/D 72.05 -1.4 8932 Indusind-A/D 885.25 25 1810102 Orient Hotel-T/D 21.25 0.9 4360 Rolls Royce Pl/D 675.5 -7.5 1824410 over the past several days, but trading volumes were Cipla-A/D 525.15 7.65 745711 J.B.Chemical-B/D 266.65 7.35 44489 Orient.Carb.-T/D 395 -4.5 6908 Rsa Insrance G/D 446.6 2.1 1893024 active and general sentiment was positive because of City Union Bk-/D 89 2 12914 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 62.8 1.2 4755 Orient.Carb.-T/D 395 -4.5 6908 Sainsbury(J)/D 262 2.6 1350263 the recent bounce of oil prices. Colgate-A/D 830.4 6.9 26848 Jagson Phar-B/D 36.15 1.4 20570 Oudh Sugar-B/D 39.8 -0.25 7879 Schroders/D 2726 39 97841 The Saudi stock index rose as much as 0.7 percent in Container Cor-/D 1208.65 23.15 21315 Jamnaauto-B/D 133.1 5.3 171909 Pacific Indu-B/D 114 -4.8 4091 Severn Trent/D 2131 -12 127406 early trade but closed 0.2 percent lower at 6,170 points. Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 317.9 8.1 7816 Jbf Indu-B/D 176.9 -0.5 23755 Punjab Chem.-B/D 131.5 13.3 30120 Smith&Nephew/D 1171 -7 888692 The petrochemical sector fell 0.8 percent and Al Tay- Dhampur Sugar-/D 56.6 -1.65 48211 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.35 0.01 30511 Radico Khait-B/D 93.6 -3.15 57289 Smiths Group/D 1002 -3 258287 yar Travel dropped 2.6 percent. But some speculative Dr. Reddy-A/D 3014.4 -13.6 35725 Jct Ltd-B/D 4.98 0.23 126584 Rallis India-A/D 150.55 2.05 38625 Standrd Chart /D 444.2 12.25 4514616 small-caps continued rising with National Agricul- E I H-B/D 106 -1.6 4190 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 7.38 -0.26 46501 Rallis India-A/D 150.55 2.05 38625 Tate & Lyle/D 579.5 -10 181046 ture Development surging 7.6 percent. Islamic insurer E.I.D Parry-A/D 175.5 2.2 42476 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 79.95 3.3 323923 Reliance Indus/D 391.6 8.5 175750 Tesco/D 180.55 -3.4 6652559 SABB Takaful climbed 3.3 percent in unusually heavy Eicher Motor-A/D 19274.65 91.65 4078 Jmc Projects-T/D 200 5.4 3705 Ruchi Soya-B/D 24.9 0.1 49092 Unilever/D 3101.5 -47 808883 trade after as it announced the appointment of Steven Electrosteel-B/D 18.75 0.85 186730 Kabra Extr-B/D 79.5 3.25 1379 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 489 21.3 15018 United Util Gr/D 925.5 -6.5 346614 Cosgrove as chief executive, taking over from Adrian Emco-B/D 24.5 0.5 10936 Kajaria Cer-A/D 935 57.5 217713 Saur.Cem-B/D 43.55 0.75 70709 Vodafone Group/D 220.9 -1.7 13431577 Flowers, who held the post for five years. Escorts Fin-B/D 3.98 0.1 10057 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 127 3.9 7168 Tanfac Indust-/D 27 1 4470 Whitbread/D 4100 57 223883 Dubai’s index, which had climbed 1.5 percent on Escorts-A/D 132.45 0.65 120570 Kalpat Power-B/D 174.55 1.65 257476 Thirumalai-B/D 140.4 10 8389 Tuesday, dropped 1.9 percent as Arabtec, the most heav- ily traded stock, tumbled 9.1 percent to Dh1.50. Blue chip Emaar Properties failed a test of technical resistance on its December peak of Dh5.88, dropping 1.9 percent to Dh5.75. But Abu Dhabi’s index rose 0.2 Treasuries fall and stocks fluctuate after jobs data percent as Aldar Properties gained 1.2 percent. RAK Cement jumped 6.2 percent after saying it had bought back a further 950,000 of its shares on Monday. Qatar fell in early trade but closed 0.5 percent higher Bloomberg stimulus and signs economic pes- drag on the index. The Chicago added 0.7 percent. Since slumping government debt and falling cur- as Vodafone Qatar, the most heavily traded stock, surged simism that dominated the start of Board Options Exchange Index, to a 2013 low on February 11, it has rency reserves in its decision to 4 percent. Ooredoo dropped 6.4 percent. the year was overdone. the gauge of market turbulence rebounded 12 percent amid ral- reduce the outlook. Egypt’s index rose in early trade as several invest- The private payrolls report known as the VIX, fell a second lies in banks, carmakers, miners The rate on 10-year US Treas- ment banking and financial services firms attracted NEW YORK: Treasuries slid after follows data on Tuesday that day after sliding yesterday to the and energy. The US dollar climbed uries increased two basis points interest after Beltone Financial signed a share purchase a jobs report bolstered specula- signalled manufacturing was lowest level this year. 0.1 percent to $1.0853 against the to 1.85 percent, after surging nine agreement this week to buy CI Capital, the investment tion that the Federal Reserve steadying. Citigroup Inc’s US Traders have raised the odds euro, while the greenback fell 0.3 basis points on Tuesday. Gov- banking arm of Commercial International Bank. will raise interest rates this year, Economic Surprise Index, which for rate increases this year, with a percent to 113.66 yen. ernment bonds retreated in the Beltone again jumped its 10 percent limit on while US stocks fluctuated follow- measures whether data beats or 40 percent probability for a June The Aussie strengthened for UK, Germany and France, with Wednesday, bringing its gains since Feb. 9 to 230 ing a rebound in crude prices and misses estimates, is at the high- boost in borrowing costs, up from a third day, climbing 1.4 percent 10-year yields climbing at least percent. This helped to pull fresh buying into other energy shares. est level since November. In about 26 percent a week ago. versus the greenback. Australia’s five basis points. members of the sector, including EFG Hermes and The yield on the 10-year China, moves such as ruling out Chances for a December move commodity-dependent econ- The MSCI Emerging Markets Prime Holding. Treasury note rose to the highest the possibility of a one-off yuan have increased to 68 percent from omy expanded 0.6 percent in the Index climbed 2.1 percent to the in a month, while a bond-market devaluation and a new head of the 42 percent last Wednesday. fourth quarter from the previous highest since January 5, as bench- HIGHLIGHTS measure of inflation expecta- securities regulator are also help- Investors are also weighing period. Brazil’s real and Britain’s mark gauges in India, South Korea SAUDI ARABIA: The index edged down 0.2 percent tions climbed for a ninth day after ing investors win back confidence. results from Super Tuesday after pound added at least 0.8 percent. and the Philippines rose at least to 6,170 points. a private payrolls report showed The S&P 500 traded near Hillary Clinton dominated Dem- The yuan traded in Hong Kong 1.6 percent. Stocks from develop- EGYPT: The index fell 0.6 percent to 6,077 points. companies added more work- 1,977 at 1:20pm in New York, after ocratic Party primary contests, fell 0.09 percent to 6.5541 per dol- ing economies are trading at 11.7 DUBAI: The index dropped 1.9 percent to 3,226 points. ers than projected last month. the benchmark gauge on Tues- beating rival Bernie Sanders, lar. The People’s Bank of China times estimated profits, the highest ABU DHABI: The index rose 0.2 percent to 4,380 points. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index day posted its best session in a while Donald Trump boosted lowered its reference rate by 0.16 valuation so far of 2016. The Shang- QATAR: The index climbed 0.5 percent to 10,014 points. retreated 0.1 percent after the month. Energy shares and banks his chances of securing the percent. China’s credit-rating out- hai Composite Index jumped 4.3 KUWAIT: The index rose 0.5 percent to 5,262 points. benchmark’s rally yesterday. were the best-performing groups, Republican Party presidential look was lowered to negative from percent and the Hang Seng China OMAN: The index was down 0.1 percent to 5,411 points. Markets are taking cues from while retailers and raw-mate- nomination. stable at Moody’s Investors Serv- Enterprises Index in Hong Kong BAHRAIN: The index rose 0.2 percent to 1,173 points. the potential for more central-bank rial companies were the biggest The Stoxx Europe 600 Index ice, citing concerns about rising climbed 3.8 percent. BUSINESS VIEWS THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 27

Old fungus law Wall Street’s big short: holds Egypt’s wheat supplies hostage President Donald J Trump

By Eric Knecht and accepted internationally. Maha El Dahan Panic began to spread among Reuters traders after a 63,000-tonne French wheat shipment purchased by GASC was rejected by the quar- antine agency in December for GLOBAL grain glut containing trace levels of ergot. should make purchasing GASC was forced to cancel wheat cheap and easy two tenders after rattled trad- for Egypt, the world’s ers and suppliers stayed away, biggest importer, but uncertain that their shipments Atraders say one bureaucrat has would be ergot free and fearing made it anything but. the heavy cost of having a ship- Saad Moussa, the head of the ment rejected. agricultural quarantine agency, After weeks of confusion refuses to let in a single grain Minister Fayed and Supply Min- of wheat infected with ergot, a ister Khaled Hanafi tried to common fungus that can lead reassure the market in a joint to hallucinations and irrational press conference on February 7 behaviour in large quantities but that Egypt would accept all ship- at trace levels is of no harm to ments with less than 0.05 percent humans. ergot. Confusion over Egypt’s posi- The following day Moussa’s tion on ergot levels has disrupted agency rejected a shipment of wheat tenders, raising the possi- Canadian wheat, further baf- bility of a shortage of grain which fling the market. “This was a big Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts to the results of Super Tuesday primary and caucus voting during could pose a political problem for surprise. It was one day after the President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi as TV announcement of both min- a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida. the impoverished population isters...and all of a sudden the relies on highly subsidised bread. vessel is rejected. So do we have Officials at Moussa’s quar- two different decision makers in By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss emergence as a frontrunner — are one of fraudulent. With recent losses to Clinton antine authority use a 2001 the same (agriculture) ministry?” and David Randall the main reasons why he began reducing in Democratic contests in South Carolina regulation, which Reuters has the Cairo-based trader said. Reuters equity exposure in mid-January. and Nevada, he is now seen as less likely seen, stipulating zero tolerance According to documents, the Trump’s rhetoric mixes populist criticism to win the nomination. for ergot as their main guide, shipment had a far lower ergot of immigration policy, Wall Street behaviour, Trump’s plans include ideas that tradi- according to a quarantine offi- reading than 0.05 percent. The and other countries’ trade policies, while tionally come from Republican candidates, cial who declined to be named. lack of successful sales pros- DD the juggernaut that is also citing support for business-friendly such as lowering the corporate tax rate, sim- They first used the rule to reject pects to a huge buyer along with Donald J Trump to the list of efforts such as lower taxation. The lack of plifying the tax code, and as his web site puts a wheat shipment in December. record global wheat supplies has what-ifs that is worrying Wall detail from Trump about his policies and it, cutting the deficit through “eliminating Moussa has told Reuters in weighed on Benchmark global Street. A growing realisation how he would implement them is a partic- waste, fraud and abuse” and “growing the January: “Any wheat that we grain prices and curbed export that the unpredictable New ular worry for investors. economy to increase tax revenues”. inspect that has any level of ergot prospects for European Union York real estate developer is in “Trump has been light on policy sub- “I think markets will like Trump on will be rejected...it would be very producers. That should have cre- Aa position to win the Republican nomination stance so it’s very difficult for the markets the taxes issue since he favors lower rates harmful if any level of contam- ated ideal conditions for Egypt to and then battle Hillary Clinton for the White to handicap,” said Dave Lafferty, chief and a permanent change in repatriation ination reached plants in Egypt.” buy wheat at great prices. House in November’s election has caused market strategist at Natixis Global Asset rules,” said David Kotok, chairman and Moussa reports to Agricul- GASC successfully pur- some investors to sell US stocks. They fear Management. Some investors are particu- chief investment officer at Cumberland ture Minister Essam Fayed but chased 300,000 tonnes of having such a wild-card president could trig- larly concerned about Trump’s nationalist Advisors in Sarasota, Florida, which man- a spokesman for the agriculture wheat last week. But with less ger trade wars, hurt the economy and add a rhetoric, saying it is potentially destructive ages $2bn in assets. Still, financial advisers ministry said he had no knowl- than half the usual number of lot of market volatility. to a global economy that is already strug- say that Trump’s plans to do away with edge of the 2001 regulation suppliers opting to make bids “As the market rarely feasts on lack of pre- gling. If it reduces trade flows then it could the so-called carried interest tax loop- Moussa was relying on. during the tender, the uncer- dictability - Trump represents a nightmare for also hamper US and global growth and hurt hole — which gives hedge fund and private “I don’t know anything about tainty was still front and centre. investors this year,” said hedge fund manager US company profits. equity managers preferential tax treat- this topic, the last thing I have is “The risk is still incalculable,” Douglas Kass of Seabreeze Partners Man- The real estate investor proposes labeling ment on much of their income — would what was announced by the agri- said a Cairo-based trader that agement Inc, who said last week that he was China a currency manipulator and ending prompt more selling if he begins to climb culture minister and the minister sat out of the tender. All traders adding to his existing short bet on the US stock what he calls China’s illegal export subsi- in national polls against Clinton. of supply that they would accept interviewed for this story asked market in part because of Trump’s increas- dies and theft of US intellectual property. Jeffrey Gundlach, the co-founder and 0.05 percent,” spokesman Eid to remain anonymous. Wheat ingly strong position in the race. He also wants to penalise companies who CEO of bond investing and trading power- Hawash said. Officials at the Sup- traders are generally banned Trump’s statements on business and move jobs from the US to Mexico by hitting house DoubleLine Capital, said that Trump ply Ministry were not available from speaking to the media by Wall Street don’t neatly fit into one ideo- them with high tariffs if they want to export has a history of being “comfortable with for comment for this story. the companies they represent. logical worldview, but if anything, they are back to the US, as well as build a wall at the a lot of debt and leverage,” and that won’t Most Egyptian officials fol- Traders who sat out the seen as isolationist in a globally connected Mexican border to prevent the flow of ille- impede him from spending heavily. He low a different specification latest tender said they would world. He can also sud- gal immigrants. said he believes Trump’s pledge to spend issued in 2010 by the Egyptian remain on the sidelines, at denly pick on businesses In response, Trump’s spokeswoman heavily on the military makes defense Organisation for Standardisa- least for now. “(Moussa’s) def- over various issues, such Hope Hicks said that the same crowd criti- stocks a good investment play. tion and Quality allowing trace initely not changed his mind at as his call for a boycott of cising the Republican Party’s top candidate Others see such spendthrift tendencies levels of 0.05 percent, the com- all — he’s even lobbying all the Apple Inc’s products after had been responsible for causing the last more darkly. David Ader, chief government mon worldwide standard and the research centres in the country the tech giant refused to worldwide recession and economic melt- bond strategist at CRT Capital Group in one stipulated by Egypt’s grain- and now they are all convinced help the FBI unlock the down in 2007-2008. “They have zero Stamford, Connecticut, said Trump’s his- importing body, the General with the zero,” said another iPhone used by one of the credibility,” said Hicks. “Trump will restore tory raises questions about his ability to Authority for Supply Commod- trader. Hanafi said on Friday San Bernardino shooters. confidence to the global markets by ending run an organization as unwieldy and com- ities (GASC). that Egypt has enough wheat “The election this year runaway spending and borrowing, restor- plex as the government. The businessman “I am bound by the Egyp- supplies to last until the mid- Investors fear having is the height of uncer- ing trade balance and fairness, and bringing has in the past filed for Chapter 11 bank- tian specifications,” Mamdouh dle of June. But should the crisis such a wild-card tainty,” said Phil Orlando, wealth to America’s middle class.” ruptcy protection for the Trump Taj Mahal Abdel Fattah, vice-chairman of deepen, it could hurt Egypt a senior portfolio man- Investors had, for some time, been casino and Trump Plaza Hotel. GASC, told Reuters when asked President Abdel fatta Al Sisi’s president could trigger ager and chief equity concerned about the strength of Vermont Ader says the uncertainty would cause about the contradiction between credibility at a time of waning trade wars, hurt the strategist at Federated Senator Bernie Sanders’ insurgent cam- investors to flock to safe-haven U.S. Treas- the two, stressing that the 2010 popularity and with the econ- Investors in New York, paign for the Democratic nomination against uries should Trump take office. “It’s one specifications are more recent omy struggling after years of economy and add a lot which manages $351bn. former Secretary of State Clinton, given he thing to run casinos that have gone bank- than the 2001 regulation and is political turmoil. of market volatility. He said political concerns declares himself to be a democratic socialist rupt, it’s another to run a country and its — personified by Trump’s and has said Wall Street’s business model is foreign policy,” he said. Spectre of joblessness puts focus on Beijing as it sets new 5-year plan

Reuters some industries. If China follows through remained largely stable in recent years. It was grandparents faced. In the factory town of on its promises and starts to cut its indus- at 4.05 percent at the end of 2015, despite the Changping in Guangdong province, scores of trial overcapacity, workers in provinces such slowing economy. Many economists believe migrant workers were returning to work on as Shanxi, Hebei and the “rustbelt” region in the real jobless rate is far higher, but note sev- production lines after the long Lunar New Year OB destruction from a slowing Chinese the northeast are likely to bear the brunt of eral factors have been working to keep the break. “A lot of factories are closing, and it’s not economy and reform of bloated state the pain. headline figure down, including China’s one- so easy to find a job now that is stable,” said enterprises will put pressure on poli- China expects to lay off 1.8 million child policy, which has led to a steady drop in Yin Jun, a 23-year-old from Sichuan province. cymakers to come up with measures workers in the coal and steel industries, the the population of working-age adults. The government has urged migrant work- Jto create employment as Beijing finalises its government said, without giving a timeframe. Analysts also say local officials have been ers — totalling more than 200 million — and plan for China’s development over the next Beijing has said it will allocate 100bn yuan keen to claim they are still keeping people China’s large number of college graduates to five years. The release of the 13th Five-Year ($15bn) over two years to relocate workers employed, pressuring companies to refrain be self-employed. That includes starting their Plan will coincide with the start of the annual laid off in sectors including steel. from cutting staff in the name of social sta- businesses in smaller cities or rural areas. meeting of parliament on March 5 where Duan Tinglin, from the northeastern bility, even if they have to idle workers on “The employment of migrant workers, thousands of delegates will gather in Beijing. industrial powerhouse of Heilongjiang, has half-pay or deferred pay. growth is around zero which means employ- Premier Li Keqiang is expected to been coming to Beijing every winter to look Still, the government admits China’s ment didn’t increase in 2015,” said Ernan Cui, announce China’s economic goals - includ- for work. This year’s job hunt is much harder investment-fed model of growth has reached a Beijing-based analyst at Gavekal Dragon- The release of the 13th ing the government’s gross domestic product than in previous years, said the 39-year-old its boundaries, and it has put sharp reductions omics. Unlike manufacturing, the services Five-Year Plan will target for 2016 — in his yearly work report. unemployed migrant. in industrial overcapacity and high debt lev- sector has been steady job creator and fits into The world’s second-largest economy grew “To find a job that is really fit for someone els at the top of its agenda. Beijing has also Beijing’s goal of having consumption drive a coincide with the start 6.9 percent last year, the slowest in more is quite difficult,” said Duan. “Why? Because vowed to shut perennially loss-making “zom- larger share of economic growth, but work- of the annual meeting than two decades, and analysts see a further I’m just an average labourer, and in the capi- bie” firms. The tricky part is to do all that ers cannot easily move from one sector to cooling to around 6.5 percent this year. Some tal, supply exceeds demand for your average without risking massive layoffs that could another without retraining. “Most service sec- of parliament on March China watchers believe real growth is already labourers.” Chinese factories shed jobs at trigger widespread social unrest. tor jobs are in retail and catering, working in 5 where thousands of much weaker than official data suggests. the fastest rate in seven years in February Unemployment is an important issue for restaurants,” Cui said. “For those two sectors, delegates will gather in China’s central bank on Monday injected as weaker orders forced them to downsize the Communist party, whose economic pol- new job creation has been growing extremely another $100bn worth of long-term cash and cut costs, according to a private busi- icies have increased the material well-being fast in recent years.” “But we can’t tell whether Beijing. into the economy to cushion the pain from ness survey by Caixin and Markit on Tuesday. of a generation of people unaccustomed to a person who loses a job in a coal mine will expected job layoffs and bankruptcies in China says its urban jobless rate has the poverty and deprivation their parents and be able to find a job in a restaurant.” 28 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 BUSINESS

BACK TO BUSINESS sight Volkswagen flaunts supercars ECB plays down effects of negative at Geneva Motor Show rates on banks

By Andreas Cremer Reuters AFP those charges to clients. But banks and insurers regu- lar complain that the current environment of extremely low UGATTI unveiled the FRANKFURT: The European interest rates makes it difficult world’s fastest road Central Bank yesterday sought for them to offer attractive car at the Geneva auto to counter claims by eurozone yields to customers. “Let me show this week: The banks that negative interest rates underline that we are well ¤2.4m ($2.6m) Chiron are hurting their profitability. aware of this issue,” Coeure with a 1,500 horse- ECB executive board member insisted. Bpower engine that can hit 420km Benoit Coeure told a financial “We are monitoring it on a per hour. Also on display is the Lam- congress in Frankfurt that “we regular basis and we are stud- borghini Centenario, almost modest need to qualify the narrative that ying carefully the schemes by comparison with a 770 horse- banks’ challenges flow largely used in other jurisdictions to power engine, a price tag of ¤1.75m from our monetary policy”. mitigate possible adverse con- and a top speed of around 350km Coeure conceded that “the sequences for the bank lending per hour. business environment con- channel,” Coeure said. One thing the supercars have in fronting the European financial Nevertheless, many banks common is that they are both made sector today is evidently chal- had been able to more than off- by Volkswagen, the German car- lenging.” Banks’ earnings were set declining interest revenues maker facing billions of dollars of weak and with cost-cutting and with higher lending volumes, fines and years of damage limita- rationalisation ongoing since lower interest expenses, lower tion after cheating diesel emissions 2008, further cost savings were risk provisioning and capital tests in the United States. harder to achieve. gains, the ECB official argued. A Bugatti Chiron car model on display at the Geneva Motor Show. For some analysts, the extrava- Against this backdrop, “a Overall, euro area banks’ gance is misplaced at a time Europe’s concern has built up that, as aggregate net interest income largest carmaker has been forced to questioned even more in tough times”. technologies used in relatively more by 2020 from 7,182 this year, accord- central banks lower interest had actually increased last postpone its 2015 results while it tries Some analysts say selling Bugatti accessible brands such as Porsche and ing to research firm IHS Automotive. rates into negative territory, year, Coeure said. Further- to put a price on the emissions scan- or Italian supercar brand Lam- Bentley, which do contribute to the At Geneva, VW’s Bentley flaunted the impact of monetary policy more, “negative interest rates dal, and its core VW brand steps up borghini makes more sense for VW, to bottom line. an all-new extended wheelbase ver- on banks is becoming increas- are complementary to our asset cost saving plans. help it pay fines and legal costs linked Porsche is the second biggest con- sion of its flagship Mulsanne saloon, ingly adverse,” Coeure said. purchase programme, which Volkswagen (VW) has pledged to to its emissions test-rigging scandal. tributor to VW’s operating profit after especially catering to Chinese buyers As part of a long and broad has had clearly positive effects pull funding from all non-essential But to a certain extent, the deci- Audi, VW sources say technical insights with 250 millimetres (9.8 inches) of offensive to push inflation in on asset prices, credit risk and projects and Chief Executive Matth- sion has already been made. When on the durability and stability of mate- extra rear leg room and airline-style the single currency area back intermediation volumes. This ias Mueller said in October it would the diesel scandal broke, CEO Mueller rials and components gathered by extending legrests. up to levels that it considers has to be set against the direct examine the profit contribution of vowed not to sell any of VW’s brands Bugatti are used directly by Porsche Lamborghini said it would only to be healthy for economic costs from our measures to net each of its over 310 models as part and the Chiron, which had been in and Bentley. “Of course, the critics at make 40 Centenarios, which is the growth, the ECB has slashed interest margins,” he said. of the company’s belt tightening. development for years, remained on VW asked whether we need such a most powerful car in its 53-year his- its key interest rates to new Another question to be con- Bernstein Research in 2013 said the course for its launch in Switzerland. car,” Bugatti’s Chief Executive Wolf- tory, and they were all sold before the all-time lows, with one of sidered was the potential costs Chiron’s predecessor — the Veyron — A source at VW said there was gang Duerheimer said. “But it would doors to the Geneva car show opened. them, the so-called deposit for the financial sector if mon- was one of the six “most loss-making some criticism within top man- have been unwise to stop this project.” A third of the planned 500 models rate, entering negative ter- etary policy had not responded, European cars of modern times”, esti- agement as to whether the Bugatti Besides the technological spin- of the Chiron had also been snapped ritory. That means that the Coeure said. “We have seen mating the loss per car at nearly five supercar should be pushed to such offs, continued spending by the up before the supercar’s unveiling. ECB effectively charges banks from the recent sharp fall in times its original sale price of ¤1m. extremes in light of the post-diesel- super-rich in the United States, “It’s part of human nature to for parking their cash with it bank equity prices that the Hanover-based NordLB analyst gate environment, but Mueller himself China and Europe may encourage break boundaries and to reach new overnight. sector is highly sensitive to a Frank Schwope said the French brand agreed the work should continue. VW to press ahead with the super- records,” said Bugatti’s Duerheimer, So far, banks have largely weaker-than-expected eco- Bugatti, which has never been profit- The argument internally is that car extravaganza. Deliveries of cars who is also head of motorsports at steered clear of passing on nomic outlook,” he said. able since VW bought it in 1998, “is a the engineering work carried out priced at ¤250,000 or more may VW. “People are driven by their aspi- superfluous asset and its role must be by Bugatti is a testing ground for increase 12 percent to 8,014 vehicles rations, and so is Bugatti.”

I haven’t been optimistic Capital in quite a while. The big problem is the slowing Former Fed Chairman Comment down. Alan Greenspan

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk Fitch Ratings @ Private Equity Beat FitchRatings NAME IN THE MARKET: RETIREMENT India Budget Credit Positive But Uncertain- ties Remain Defense-focused private equity firm J.F. Lehman & Co. has agreed to acquire API Morgan Stanley@ Technologies in a roughly $111 MorganStanley million deal, making it the #China steel industry’s pendulum of produc- latest private equity firm to tion has swung toward find an investment opportunity reduction in capacity: in the public markets.

World Bank @WorldBank DealB%k 3/6 — Dev & human- itarian groups have long worked sepa- rately. It’s time to work together. -@JimKim_ WBG | #dev4peace Dodd-Frank’s Title II provision for the broker- Bloomberg Business @ dealers, also known business as “orderly liquidation Retirement is looking authority,” has always grim for Americans, been a bit confusing. women, and especially New Yorkers www.thepeninsulaqatar.comwww PAGEPAG | 31 PAGE | 34 Suarez sale gives Park seeks win on Liverpool return to happy £60m profit hunting ground

THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 • 23 Jumada I 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Second successive victory for El Jaish

The Peninsula FOOTBALL: AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

DOHA: El Jaish recorded their best opportunity of the first half second victory in the Group came 32 minutes into the game Stage of the AFC Champions when Omar Abdulrahman’s cor- League yesterday when Moroc- ner to the far post was headed can striker Abderrazzaq Hamed back across goal by Mohanad Allah scored one and set up the Salem to Fellipe Bastos, only for other to down Al Ain a 2-1 at the the Brazilian to send his header The winner of the feature event on day one of the CHI Al Shaqab, Kevin Staut clears a hurdle astride Elky van het Indihof Hdc yesterday. RIGHT: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium to the wrong side of the post. Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, CHI Al Shaqab (right) congratulates Staut after the presentation ceremony. Pictures by: Salim M/The Peninsula in Doha yesterday. The Group The visitors continued D fixture also saw the inaugural to push forward, with Omar champions falling to a second Abdulrahman releasing Lee consecutive loss. Myung-joo into the area, only The visiting Al Ain side were for the South Korean to shoot Staut savours sublime run with determined to take their revenge across the face of goal, with after their loss in the hands of Douglas narrowly mistiming Qatar Stars League side eight days his slide towards the ball at the ago in UAE. They dominated the far pot. opening 45 minutes, but a goal But within four minutes of ‘reliable’ mare on opening day four minutes into the second half the restart, Al Ain had been flat- from the former Guangzhou R&F tened by Hamedallah’s sucker forward and a second by Yasir punch as the Moroccan hit the Isa with 11 minutes remaining, former champions on the break, Mohammed picked up €5000 for ensured El Jaish defeated the forcing the defence to backpedal World’s best riders his remarkable routine. visiting 2003 champions again. as he ran from deep before strik- Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher Saeed Al Katheeri’s 86th ing his right foot shot across regale fans with neat also produced a flawless routine with minute header proved to be lit- Khaled Eisa and into the bot- routines on day one Colore to grab the third spot worth tle more than a consolation for tom corner. €3750. Al Ain, who are yet to pick up a Mohamed Abdulrahman’s of CHI Al Shaqab Saudi rider Abdullah Alshar- point in their 2016 continental poor finishing continued to cost batly (Wasabi, 27.70 seconds) and championship campaign. Al Ain at the other end as the Belgium’s Pieter Devos (Equipharma After the disappointment forward curled his low effort Dax van d’Abdijhoeve, 28.38 sec- of last week, it was Al Ain who just wide of the goal soon after By Rizwan Rehmat onds) completed the top five. were on top throughout the first the hour mark, while Douglas’ The Peninsula Alsharbatly won €2500 while period, dominating possession 70th minute header was straight Devos bagged €1750. and racking up chance after at goalkeeper Ababacar. Earlier in competition 2 which chance. With 11 minutes to go, El was part of the QNB Doha Tour Mohamed Abdulrahman Jaish killed off the game thanks, DOHA: Frenchman Kevin Staut series, Ali Al Khorafi guided Cheril fired over the bar in the 20th once again, to their ruthless- yesterday savoured an amazing run to a convincing winning run in the minute after Mohamed Ahmed’s ness on the counterattack as with ‘reliable mare’ Elky van het 1.45cm class. lay-off and, seven minutes later, Hamedallah turned provider, Indihof Hdc to claim victory in the Cheril clocked a time of 60.42 Mohamed Abdulrahman was playing a killer pass through to feature event on day one of the CHI seconds as Al Khorafi claimed the involved again, this time call- Isa who skipped past the Al Ain Al Shaqab. top prize of €6250 to go along with ing El Jaish goalkeeper Khalifa goalkeeper before slotting the The veteran rider guided his the sum of €2400 he picked up the H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar Olympic Committee President Ababacar into action with an ball into the unguarded net. 12-year-year-old mare to top the first competition of the day. watches riders in action during the first day of CHI Al Shaqab. effort from the tightest of angles. Al Katheeri gave Al Ain 150cm class. Saudi duo of Khaled Abdulaziz Soon after Mohamed Abdul- a glimmer of hope with four Elky van het Indihof Hdc clocked Al Eid and Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami rahman turned provider, minutes remaining when he a time of 55.85 seconds as Staut grabbed the second and third places clipping the ball into the path headed in from eight yards out, picked up the top prize of €24,000. respectively. of the onrushing Douglas, but he but it was not enough to spark Ireland’s Bertram Allen finished Al Eid, astride Valuta S, finished squandered the chance when he a late revival and El Jaish took in second place after his ride Molly in second spot. Valuta clocked a time fired high over the bar. Al Ain’s all three points. Malone clocked a time of 56.93 sec- of 60.52 seconds while Al Duhami onds. Allen won €18,400. guided Al Capone to the third place Belgium’s Gregory Wathe- in a time of 60.93 seconds. let enjoyed a neat routine with Oh Al Eid picked up €5000 while Al d’Eole, clocking a time 58.14 sec- Duhami took home €3750. onds to finish third. Wathelet won Qatar’s Hamad Nasser Al Qadi €13,800. (S I E C Lonnie, 63.77 seconds) and “When you have a win like this Frenchman Frederic David (Balo- so early at the start of a competition ussini, 63.94 seconds) completed the like this, you get a lot of motivation,” top five in the 1.45cm class. Staut said. Al Qadi won €2500 while David “I am really happy for my mare. It got €1750. Hamad bin Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, President of Qatar Equestrian was a difficult routine but she man- In competition 1, which was also aged it so well,” the Frenchman said. part of QNB Doha Tour series, Qatar’s Federation, (left) watching the action during the first day of CHI Al “I am very happy to get this win,” Saeed Naser Al Qadi kicked off the Shaqab 2016 yesterday. he added. proceedings with a near-perfect rou- “When you start like this, it tine with Jessico to claim the honours is a good thing for the rest of the in the day’s opening context. CHI AL SHAQAB: RESULTS ON DAY ONE days,” Staut said. “It gives me a Jessico clocked a time of 24.12 good rhythm for the weekend,” the seconds to top the field in the COMPETITION S01 - CSI3* TWO PHASES COMPETITION S03 - CSI5* TWO PHASES Frenchman said. 44-entry competition as Al Qadi (274.5.3) 1.30M (QNB DOHA TOUR) (274.5.3) 1.45M “I know I have a very reliable, sealed the deal with his prize money Saeed Nasser Al Qadi, Jessico, 24.12, €3000 Bertram Allen, Quarto Mail, 26.53, €6250 very competitive mare. I am happy,” of €3000. Ali Al Khorafi, Ungarin 4,25.27, €2400 Bassem Hassan Mohammed, Argelith Squid, 26.73, Staut said. Ali Al Khorafi, riding under the Saed Saad, Benshouf, 26.39, €1800 Roger Yves Bost (Sydney Une FEI banner, guided Ungarin 4 to the €5000 Salman Mohammed A S Al Emadi, Prince, 59.03 seconds) and Olivier second spot in a time of 25.27 sec- Hans-Dieter Dreher, Colore, 27.14, €3750 Lucky Lady, 27.26, €1200 Philippaerts (H&M Challenge V. onds in the 1.30cm class. Abdullah Alsharbatly, Wasabi, 27.70, €2500 Begijnakker, 59.11 seconds) and Egypt’s Saed Saad emerged a Bader Mohammed Alfard, Cover Girl G, 27.46, Pieter Devos, Equipharma Dax van d’Abdijhoeve, completed the top five in the fea- surprise podium finished after guid- €840 28.38, €1750 ture event. ing Benshouf to third spot in a time Earlier, Irish rider Allen guided of 26.39 seconds. COMPETITION S02 - CSI3* TABLE A COMPETITION S04 - CSI5* TABLE A (238.2.1A) Quarto Mail to a credible win in the Al Khorafi picked up €2400 for (238.2.1A) 1.45M (QNB DOHA TOUR) 1.50M 1.45cm class to claim the top prize his second-place finish while Saad Ali Al Khorafi, Cheril, 60.42, €6250 Kevin Staut, Elky van het Indihof Hdc, 55.85 seconds, of €6250. got richer by €1800. Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid, Valuta S, 60.52, €5000 €24,000. Quarto Mail clocked an impres- Qatar’s Salman Mohammed Al Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami, Bertram Allen, Molly Malone V, 56.93, €18,400. sive time of 26.53 seconds in the Emadi - astride Lucky Lady - and Al Capone, 60.93, €3750 Gregory Wathelet, Oh d’Eole, 58.14, €13,800. two-phased run. Saudi rider Bader Mohammed Alfard Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, Roger Yves Bost, Sydney Une Prince, 59.03, €9200 El Jaish’s striker Abderrazzaq Hamed-Allah (left) vies for the Qatar’s Rio-bound riding star completed the top-five in the first S I E C Lonnie, 63.77, €2500 Olivier Philippaerts, H&M Challenge V. Begijnakker, ball with Al Ain’s Ahmed Barman during their AFC Champion’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed pro- competition. Frédéric David, Baloussini, 63.94, €1750 59.11, €6440 duced a neat run with Argelith Squid Al Emadi picked up €1200 while League match played at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in who finished second in a time of Alfard got richer by €840. Doha yesterday. 26.73 seconds. 30 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 SPORT Rio will have pro boxers: AIBA chief

taking part. The move, though, has “Everyone will need to qual- Boxing star Manny also earned a lot of criticism as many ify, they will need to be picked by argue it would be unfair to the thou- their own federations so there are Pacquiao says he sands of amateurs who have trained things that need to happen first. wishes to feature at for the Games for years and now have They don’t get in just like that,” Wu to possibly make way for the pros. said yesterday. the Olympic Games if “Professional boxers will be at Rio. “What AIBA wants to do is open given an opportunity I don’t know how many but they will the door for professionals. Boxing is be,” AIBA boss Ching-Kuo Wu said. probably the only sport in the Olym- by the Philippines “But they will have to go through pics not represented by pros.” the same procedures as everyone else. Under Wu’s leadership, AIBA “What we have to do is just amend set up the semi-professional World the constitution of AIBA and we will Series Boxing in 2011 in which fighters do that at an extraordinary congress earned money competing for city- Reuters in June. The constitution is the only based teams. thing blocking this at the moment.” He also helped introduce wom- Boxers qualify for the Games in a en’s boxing to the Olympics in London series of regional events, many start- four years ago. LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: Pro- ing later this month. Amateur boxing has had its share fessional fighters will feature at the Wu said after the constitutional of Olympic champions who have 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics as amendment goes through, profes- gone on to become top professionals, long as a constitutional change goes sionals could book their tickets for among them Muhammad Ali, Joe Fra- through in June, the president of the Rio at the final world Olympic qual- zier, George Foreman and Vladimir international boxing federation AIBA ifying tournament in Azerbaijan in Klitschko. said yesterday. mid-June. The Rio Games will be held in Last month’s decision by AIBA to There are doubts, however, over August. Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao with Yousuf Ali Al Kazim, President, Qatar Boxing Federation, and Dr begin procedures to open the door whether professional world champi- Meanwhile, for the first time in 32 for pro boxers to compete alongside ons would want to jeopardise their years male boxers will be able trade Ching-Kuo Wu, President, AIBA, in this October 2015 file photo taken in Doha. amateurs at the Games means the careers by taking part in three-round punches without any headgear at this sport could get increased exposure contests that bear little resemblance year’s Rio Games after the Interna- a change introduced by world boxing it would be an honour to fight for the national boxing federations. Qualify- with potentially big-name fighters to paid bouts. tional Olympic Committee sanctioned federation AIBA. Philippines at this year’s Rio Olym- ing for the 2016 Rio summer games AIBA adopted the change for ama- pics, where professional fighters that begin on August 5 is already teur fighters some three years ago but could be allowed to compete for the under way, but Wu noted that there needed to bring it to the IOC Executive first time. were still opportunities for profes- Board, which noted it without objec- The eight-time world champion sionals to qualify. tion, essentially rubber-stamping the said he had been “personally invited” Spokesmen for the Philippine decision and clearing the way for Rio. to the Rio de Janeiro Games by Wu Olympic Committee had no com- The IOC said AIBA had presented Ching-Kuo, president of AIBA. ment on Pacquiao’s statement. medical research that showed concus- “It would be my honour to rep- Pacquiao has posted a 57-6-2 sions were less likely to occur without resent the country in the Olympics,” win-loss-draw record in a glittering headgear than with. Pacquiao said in a statement. “If I 21-year pro career that began in Jan- “AIBA provided medical and tech- would be asked to represent boxing, uary 1995. nical data that showed the number of why not? I would do everything for He never competed in the Olym- concussions is lower without head- my country.” pics, although he did act as the gear,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams The 37-year-old, one of the country’s flag-bearer in the 2008 said. world’s wealthiest boxers, made the games. “They have done a lot of research comments while training for what he Already an elected member of the in the last three years. The rule will said would be his last professional House of Representatives, he is run- go ahead for Rio.” fight, an April 9 Las Vegas rematch ning for a Senate seat in May elections Boxers have been wearing head- with American Timothy Bradley. -- with an eye on an eventual pres- guards since the 1984 Los Angeles Wu said Switzerland on Monday idential bid. Olympics. that AIBA would vote within three His Olympic comments came after The last Games without them months on proposals that would allow he touched off a global firestorm with were in Moscow 1980. all professional fighters to compete in controversial comments describing Women boxers, who first com- the Olympic Games, including in Rio. homosexual couples as “worse than peted at the 2012 Olympics, will Wu said proposed changes to animals”. continue wearing their protective AIBA statutes, set to be put to a vote The comments, for which he has Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan are seen during a press event at the Empire State Building in New York City. gear. at a special congress of AIBA confed- made a qualified apology, cost him Former world champion Khan will fight above welterweight for the first time in his career at a catchweight Also yesterday, in Manila, boxing erations at the end of May, could leave his long-term association with major of 155lbs, officially middleweight, to challenge Alvarez for the Mexican’s WBC title in Las Vegas on May 7. great Manny Pacquiao said yesterday Olympic eligibility in the hands of the global sponsor Nike. Young ‘fools’ behind Kenya doping woes, says Rudisha

Reuters country lacked infrastructure to monitor the thousands of runners. “A lot of education needs to be MELBOURNE: Kenya’s doping prob- done,” he said. “Like some of the lems were caused by “foolish” young countries which are not having a athletes desperate to win races and lot of infrastructure -- we don’t cash in on the sport, David Rudi- even have a lot in Kenya -- and you sha (pictured) said yesterday, but find that it’s very difficult for the the Olympic 800 metres champion anti-doping agency to control this sit- hopes his country is on the right track uation because there are thousands to restoring its reputation. and thousands of Kenyans training The 27-year-old, who lit up the out there and only a few of them are 2012 London Games with a brilliant on the WADA list. world record performance in the “You can imagine how difficult 800m final, has been distressed by (that is).” Olympic gold medal gymnast Kohei Uchimura takes part in a training session at the National Training the allegations of doping and corrup- Rudisha would not comment Center in Tokyo, Japan, in this February 26, 2016, file photo. tion that have rocked the East African directly when asked whether he was country’s athletics programme. confident his title defence would go Kenya has been hugely successful ahead but said he was hopeful Kenya in middle and long-distance running and the sport’s reputation could be Uchimura craves for team gold, for decades and remains a global these drugs.” Allegations of corrup- restored. leader on the track and in big-city tion also hit the national governing “We hope that things are in marathons, but some 40 of its ath- body, mirroring the wider scandal place,” he said of Kenya’s battle to letes have been banned for doping that plunged the International Asso- become WADA-compliant before not own record, at Olympics in the last three years. ciation of Athletics Federations into the deadline. “We are optimistic that The World Anti-Doping Agency crisis last year and triggered Rus- these things are going to be wiped out has given the country an April dead- sia’s suspension from international completely so that our sport will be line to implement new anti-doping athletics. clean and athletes can compete fairly. Reuters the feat in Munich. Winning the team risky moves often outshine the more measures or risk non-compliance, Athletics Kenya (AK) Chief Exec- So we can all celebrate that every- title at last year’s world champion- cautious Japanese approach. Uch- which could pave the way for a ban utive Isaac Mwangi was provisionally body who has worked hard deserves ships after a 37-year drought fulfilled imura agrees China is their biggest on its track and field athletes com- suspended by the IAAF last week what he gets.” TOKYO: Kohei Uchimura could one dream for Uchimura, but now he rival, followed by the United States peting at the Rio Olympics. after two local athletes accused him Rudisha’s world record of one become the first man in over 40 wants the same thing at the Olympics. and Great Britain, and said Japan had “It’s really sad, it’s really unfortu- of seeking bribes to reduce doping minute 40.91 seconds at London years to win back-to-back Olympic “I feel the individual all-around to step outside their comfort zone to nate that this is happening because bans. Three other senior AK officials broke his own mark set in 2010 and all-around titles in Rio but the Japa- isn’t something I should even think push for gold in Rio. Kenya previously has a really good were suspended in November, includ- was described at the time by British nese gymnast says his first priority is about until after the team event,” “The difficulty of Japanese rou- reputation,” reigning world champion ing former president Isaiah Kiplagat, middle-distance great Sebastian Coe, team gold, not personal glory, at the Uchimura said after a recent train- tines hasn’t been as high as China’s Rudisha said in an interview in Mel- over corruption allegations. a former 800m world record holder Summer Games. ing session in Tokyo. but we’ve emphasized perfection, bourne yesterdday. As Kenya’s preeminent track and now the embattled president of Uchimura won silver in the all- “All I can think about is how which is, I think, why the team won in “And for many years Kenya has star and a pin-up for world athlet- the IAAF, as “the performance of the around at the Beijing Olympics in much I want team gold. That’s Athens, and that’s something I think been doing well on the athletics stage, ics, Rudisha’s ineligibility to compete Games”. 2008 but was on top of the podium everything.” we need to continue,” said Uchimura, winning championships without this at Rio under a blanket ban would be Rudisha, who will open his sea- four years later in London. Japan managed to take the team who so far is the only gymnast guar- problem. A few years ago this prob- a massive blow for the sport and the son at the IAAF Melbourne World At Glasgow last year, Uchimura gold at five successive Olympics from anteed a team place for Rio. lem has been coming. Games, not to mention the runner’s Challenge on Saturday, said his Lon- won a record sixth world title and he 1960 to 1976 but had to wait until “We’ll raise our difficulty level a “But it’s really tough. Because personal aspirations. don time would be hard to beat. heads to Rio heavily tipped to become Athens in 2004 to reach the top of bit but I think it’s best if we empha- these young athletes who are desper- Rudisha told reporters that he “It’s tough, we can’t be seeing a the first winner of consecutive gold the podium again. size perfection ... ate to make money, to win races, they did not feel the doping problem was world record every day, it’s something medals in the event since 1972 when In Beijing and London, they had “We need to aim for beauty and end up being fools and getting into widespread in Kenya, but said the special,” said Rudisha, compatriot Sawano Kato pulled off played second fiddle to China, whose perfection.” SPORT THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 31

Craig Gardner (left) scores the second goal for West Brom through a free kick in their Barclays Premier League football match against Leicester City at King Power Stadium on Tuesday. Gardner pegs Leicester back, Chelsea up to 8th

going five points clear in the Premier and King replacing Daniel Amartey swept home. But five minutes into after just 39 seconds, the Brazilian only for Borini to smash home from League as West Bromwich Albion held and the injured N’Golo Kante, and fell the second half Gardner levelled wide man drilling home left-footed a seemingly impossible angle at the Gardner’s free-kick the leaders to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday. behind in the 11th minute. after Mahrez had been penalised for from outside the box to claim the fast- death. Everton ushered bottom club prevents Leicester After Salomon Rondon put West Darren Fletcher’s through-ball handball, caressing the ball over the est goal of the season to date. Aston Villa a step closer to relegation Brom ahead, Leicester hit back released Rondon and the Venezuelan wall and past a flat-footed Schmeichel Bernard Traore freed Diego Costa with a 3-1 win at Villa Park that left City going five points through Danny Drinkwater and Andy striker shrugged Robert Huth to the from around 22 yards. to lob John Ruddy and make it 2-0 in Remi Garde’s side eight points from clear as Albion hold King, only for Gardner to earn the vis- ground before steering a shot beneath Leicester piled on the pressure first-half stoppage time, with Nathan safety. itors a point by arcing a free-kick into Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Sch- in the latter stages, Shinji Okazaki Redmond reducing the arrears in the Goals from Ramiro Funes Mori, leaders to a 2-2 draw the top-left corner in the 50th minute. meichel. Drinkwater equalised on the heading against the bar and Foster 68th minute. Aaron Lennon and Romelu Lukaku Tottenham Hotspur can go above half-hour with a shot that deflected thwarting substitute Jeff Schlupp, Fabio Borini struck a stunning put Everton in control, before Rudy Leicester on goal difference if they off Jonas Olsson and looped over Vardy and Wes Morgan, but they could last-minute equaliser to earn Sunder- Gestede headed in a 79th-minute con- win at West Ham United yesterday Ben Foster and after Jamie Vardy had not find a way through. land a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal solation. Meanwhile, seventh-place AFP while Arsenal will be just three points headed against the bar, Leicester went Chelsea extended their unbeaten Palace that lifted Sam Allardyce’s side Southampton squandered an oppor- behind them if they overcome Swan- ahead in first-half stoppage time. run to 12 league games with a 2-1 win out of the relegation zone. tunity to close on the teams above sea City. Marc Albrighton’s crossfield pass at Norwich City that saw them climb After Dame N’Doye’s deflected them in a 2-0 loss at south-coast Leicester made two changes to from the left was audaciously back- from 11th place to eighth, five points shot put Sunderland ahead, Connor rivals Bournemouth, who prevailed LONDON: Craig Gardner’s sublime the team that had edged Norwich heeled into King’s path by Riyad below the European places. Wickham struck twice against his through goals in each half from Steve free-kick prevented Leicester City City at the weekend, Danny Simpson Mahrez and the Welsh midfielder Kenedy put the visitors ahead former club to put Palace in front, Cook and Benik Afobe. Atletico to join Juventus, Hiddink sets sights on Spurs in Australia overhauling United AFP

AFP at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in July. “This competition will form a NORWICH: Guus Hiddink (pic- key part of our pre-season training tured) has set Chelsea the target of MELBOURNE: Spanish giants and will be a great opportunity over-taking Manchester United by Atletico Madrid were Wednesday for me to put my players through the end of the Premier League cam- unveiled as the fourth side to play their paces ahead of the new sea- paign. in this year’s International Champi- son,” said Atletico coach Diego Winning the Champions League ons Cup in Australia, joining Italian Simeone. and the FA Cup are the top priori- champions Juventus and England’s The tournament debuted last Barcelona’s Uruguayan ties for last season’s champions, who Tottenham Hotspur. year with a total of 221,000 fans at striker Suarez moved up to eighth place in the table Melbourne Victory will also the MCG across the event week to thanks to a 2-1 win at Norwich City compete in the Australian leg of the watch Real Madrid, Manchester City on Tuesday. global pre-season club competition and AS Roma. A top four finish has long been established as the norm at Stamford Suarez sale gives Bridge in the Roman Abramov- ich era, but Hiddink knows that it “We did in the end, but we should remains a tough task to achieve have killed it off already by then. I’m Arsenal midfielder Cazorla that aim this term. United, in fifth, satisfied with the result, but I like to Liverpool £60m profit seem more catchable and are cur- be critical that we didn’t finish it off rently five points ahead, although early.” suffers injury setback that could change when they play It wasn’t the first time this season AFP important and provides us with the Watford yesterday. Fifth spot will that Chelsea have benefited from an long-term stability.” qualify the team that finishes there offside goal and Hiddink sympathised Reuters British press reports on Tues- for the Europa League, as will win- with the Canaries, who dropped into day suggested that Jurgen Klopp, ning the FA Cup. the bottom three. LONDON: Liverpool made a pre-tax Rodgers’s successor, will be given “Are they catchable?” said Hid- “I haven’t seen it yet but, if so, I profit of £60 million ($83.8 million, substantial funds to spend in the dink when asked about United. can understand people are frustrated LONDON : Injured Arsenal mid- 77.1 million euros) in 2014-15, the 2016 close-season transfer window. “Well, first of all, we’re happy. It’s in the other dressing room,” he said. fielder Santi Cazorla has suffered an club announced on Tuesday, thanks The announcement of 12 new not Chelsea standard to be happy “If that’s the case, I can under- Achilles problem in training which largely to the sale of Luis Suarez to partnerships and the opening of 180 to be out of the relegation zone, and stand their feelings.” will delay his return to first-team Barcelona. new retail outlets around the world sit back and relax a bit. Norwich manager Alex Neil was action, manager Arsene Wenger Uruguay striker Suarez left saw Liverpool’s commercial reve- “We have to set new targets now confident that the players would not has said. Liverpool for the Camp Nou in a nue increase by 12 percent to £116.3 with the ambition of Chelsea in the be affected by the current league The influential Spaniard was reported £75 million deal in July million in 2014-15. direction of Europe. table. expected to return this month after 2014, with then-manager Brendan Media revenue rose from £100.9 “We have a tight schedule - “I don’t think psychologically it undergoing surgery for a knee prob- Rodgers reinvesting the money in million to £122.6 million, due in part Stoke, PSG, Everton - and the squad will have a part,” he said. lem suffered in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw eight new signings and contracts to Champions League participation is not very, very broad, so we hope “We have Swansea on Saturday, with Norwich City in November. for several players. and runs to the FA Cup and League everyone is on board. Man City and then games against “Santi is not doing too well. He Liverpool’s profit for the pre- Cup semi-finals. “If everyone is available, we’d teams around about us. We’re capa- has some Achilles problems that vious financial year had been just Liverpool’s success in cup com- like to go as high as possible towards ble of winning those games. We hold him back,” Wenger told Brit- £900,000. petitions helped match-day revenue the European spots.” need to win games to stay in this ish media. “We continue to make solid climb by 15.9 percent to £59 million. Chelsea took the lead at Norwich league. The fact we’re in the bot- “His knee is doing well but his financial progress and reported Meanwhile, the accounts show after just 39 seconds when Kenedy tom three now has no bearing. Achilles has inflamed a little bit growth in our commercial, media that American owners Fenway scored and Diego Costa doubled We’ve been there or about all sea- and we have to put him off impact and match-day revenues, which Sports Group (FSG) wrote off a the lead in first-half stoppage time, son. We have to win games to get us (training).” continues to add strength to our £69 million loan by turning it into albeit from an offside position. out of there.” Wenger added that midfielder financial position,” said chief exec- equity. That gave them enough of a Neil was frustrated that the rele- Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla Jack Wilshere, who is yet to feature utive Ian Ayre in a statement. FSG also invested £49 million cushion to repel a spirited fight- vant linesman did not spot that Costa for the Gunners this season, would “Last year we saw a small profit in the expansion of Anfield’s Main back from Norwich, who saw Nathan was offside for the second goal. miss England’s friendlies against still not been outside yet. Running, I for the first time in seven years, Stand, which is due to re-open in Redmond pull one back. “I made them aware that he’d got Germany and Netherlands this think, starts again this week. Three which demonstrated our recent time for the start of next season. Hiddink made it clear he was it wrong at half-time,” he said. “The month as he continues his rehabili- to four weeks (until he is back),” progress. Liverpool are struggling to happy with the result but the per- guy’s made an honest call and got it tation from a broken calf bone. Wenger said. “This year the profit reported qualify for next season’s Champi- formance could have been better. wrong. It happens. Wenger said he expected the “I can understand you worry for has significantly increased, which ons League via the league and were “We have now won a few games “I won’t lambast him for that. Of 24-year-old would have plenty of the England team. I worry as well. is mainly a result of the sale of Luis knocked out of the FA Cup by West in a row, which gives satisfaction of course we’re disappointed and frus- time to prove his fitness ahead of I’m a supporter of England.” Suarez in July 2014 and that has Ham United last month. course,” he said. trated, but there we are.” the June 10-July 10 European Cham- Third-placed Arsenal can close already been reinvested into the They reached the League Cup “But I think we were a bit sloppy Norwich midfielder Alex Tettey pionships in France where England the gap on Premier League leaders playing squad. final, losing on penalties to Man- in the finishing in the first half. was taken to hospital for an X-ray have been drawn in Group B along- Leicester City to three points with “Our real financial position is chester City at Wembley on Sunday, “We had a splendid start through on a leg injury, while Robbie Brady side Russia, Wales and Slovakia. victory over relegation-threatened closer to break-even and it is the and face Manchester United in the Kenedy, a beautiful goal, but after that and Gary O’Neil were hurt when they “Jack is doing quite well but has Swansea City later yesterday. underlying revenue growth that’s Europa League last 16. we had some options to get a second. collided in the second half. 32 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 SPORT

Action from last Asian Communities Football Tournament kicks-off today year’s Asian Communities Football The Peninsula which Nepal takes on Japan at ASIAN COMMUNITIES ahead of the Emir Cup final Department’s pitches, Al Sadd Tournament. 8.30pm. FOOTBALL match. Sports Club’s main pitch, and Al Twelve Asian communities are TOURNAMENT QFA also recognises the Sadd Sports Club’s training site. participating in this year’s tourna- Asian communities’ enthusiasm Official referees from QFA’s Ref- DOHA: The 4th annual Asian ment where each team will play on May 6 and the grand final will towards attending the Emir Cup eree Committee will officiate at all Communities Football Tourna- five matches during the group be taking place on may 13, the matches and thus is constantly matches to ensure the teams abide ment (ACFT) will kick-off today at stage. same day which will see this year’s aiming to involve all Asian com- by the laws of the game. Qatar Football Association’s (QFA) A total of 37 matches will be Emir Cup semi-finals. munities who are loyal fans of the This year’s tournament fea- Football Development Depart- played during this year’s tour- Organised by the QFA, the most prestigious tournament in tures two groups. Group A includes ment, Pitch 1. nament with matches being tournament is one of the many Qatar. Lebanon, India, Jordan, China and The opening fixture will see scheduled for Thursdays and events that will run alongside The venues hosting the Thailand. Group B includes Nepal, India take on Thailand at 7pm, Fridays. this year’s Emir Cup and it will matches this year include Sri Lanka, Indonesia, South Korea, followed by the second match in The semi-finals will be played also make fans aware and exited QFA’s Football Development Philippines, Japan, and Singapore.

Menez hits brace as Real Sociedad’s defender Diego Reyes (bottom) causes an own goal during the Spanish Primera Division soccer match against Atletico Madrid at Milan end 13-year Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain on wait for Cup final Tuesday.

AFP Alessandria headed to the San Siro with a sizeable travelling sup- port but their dream of a fairytale final with Juventus was compounded MILAN: Jeremy Menez ended an from the 20th minute onwards. 11-month goal drought with a brace Menez broke the deadlock in as AC Milan booked their first Ital- clinical fashion when he collected ian Cup final in 13 years with a 5-0 a pass inside the area to beat Gian- rout of third division Alessandria on marco Vannucchi with a low angled Tuesday. strike. Milan, 6-0 winners on aggregate, Milan doubled their lead only last featured in the Cup final in 2003 four minutes later when Romagnoli when they won it for the fifth time. tapped the ball home from a corner After a comprehensive victory that had been headed towards the which included a brace from centre- back post by Rossoneri midfielder back Alessio Romagnoli and a late Juraj Kucka. goal from on-loan Liverpool striker Milan put the tie beyond reach Mario Balotelli, the Rossoneri are six minutes before half-time when now expected to meet Juventus in the Menez struck Andrea Poli’s delivery May 21 final at the Stadio Olimpico first time past Vannucchi after Keis- in Rome. uke Honda’s clever ball on the right. Holders Juventus travel to Inter Menez was replaced by Carlos Milan yesterday, three days after Bacca with 15 minutes remaining, outclassing Roberto Mancini’s men the Frenchman leaving the pitch to 2-0 in Turin to boost their Serie A an ovation. title bid, and with a comfortable 3-0 Alessandria thought they had cushion from the first leg. reduced arrears soon after but Mat- Menez emerged to become one tia De Sciglio produced a spectacular of Milan’s most valuable players clearance inches from the goal- when he joined the struggling Serie line after a shot had trickled under A giants from Paris Saint-Germain in Christian Abbiati and beyond the 2014, only to be sidelined with injury goalkeeper’s reach. at the end of last season. Two minutes later, Romagnoli The 28-year-old returned to had his second from a near carbon Atletico ease past Sociedad Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side recently copy of his first goal, the defender with a series of cameo substitute firing home at the back post from a appearances, but capitalised on his corner to leave a desperate Vannuc- first start for the Rossoneri since chi pushing the ball out of the net. April 2015 to underline his attack- Balotelli punished the visitors ing credentials in timely fashion as when he collected Honda’s ball to to reduce Barcelona’s lead they look to secure a top three fin- power down the middle and fire ish this season. through Vannucchi’s legs. game off before half-time. The opener sight of Godin having to be replaced An own goal, SPANISH LA LIGA arrived when Koke’s dangerous low by Lucas Hernandez shortly after- cross from the right caused confusion wards, with the vital return-leg of Niguez’s acrobatic between Reyes and Geronimo Rulli their Champions League last-16 tie volley and Koke’s low cross into his own net and the Mexican defender shanked with PSV Eindhoven just two weeks Griezmann’s penalty after just eight minutes. Saul Niguez’s the ball into his own net. away. Fans’ flare hits home acrobatic volley doubled Atletico’s Diego Godin should have made it Griezmann was Atletico’s hero at cause nightmare for advantage a minute into the sec- 2-0 moments later when he blasted the weekend and he won the chance ond-half before Antoine Griezmann’s over Jose Maria Gimenez’s flick-on to round off the scoring against his bench in Hanover Sociedad penalty rounded off the scoring. from Koke’s corner. former club when he was tripped Barca can restore their eight- Rulli then redeemed himself with inside the area by Antonio de la Bella AFP Tuesday’s German league point lead when they travel to Rayo smart saves from Griezmann and on the hour mark. game, but initial reports sug- Vallecano on Thursday looking to set Luciano Vietto, although in truth both The French international dusted gest no one was hurt. AFP a Spanish football record by stretch- strikers placed their shots too close himself off to send Rulli the wrong This is not the first time ing their unbeaten run to 35 games. to the keeper. way for his 21st goal of the season. BERLIN: The German FA is the use of pyrotechnics has Third-placed Real Madrid are Atletico did finally get the second Griezmann was then also with- expected to hand out hefty marred a Bundesliga match now seven points adrift of Atletico goal with the first attack of the sec- drawn with a meeting against Gary fines to both clubs after a between the north German MADRID: Atletico Madrid closed the ahead of their trip to Levante ond half as Vietto’s lofted cross picked Neville’s Valencia on Sunday in mind. flare fired from the Wolfs- neighbours recently. gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to yesterday. out Saul’s late run into the box and Sociedad began to threaten for burg’s fan block hit the In December 2014, five points with a routine 3-0 win Buoyed by coming out on top his bicycle-kick had too much power the first time in the match in the underside of the Hanover Wolfsburg fans also fired over Real Sociedad on Tuesday. against Real in the capital city derby for Rulli. final half hour as Carlos Vela fired bench on Tuesday. four flares and set off a A bright start from the hosts was on Saturday, Atletico started full of The only slight concern for just wide before Jonathas headed The firework was one smoke bomb in the away rewarded when Diego Reyes turned confidence and should have killed the Atletico boss Diego Simeone was the against the post. of several fired by visit- section of Hanover’s stadium. ing Wolfsburg fans from Both clubs were fined the away team’s block at 6,000 euros ($6,500) at the Hanover’s HDI Arena before time. Gerrard’s woe as Galaxy thrashed in CONCACAF Champions League

AFP Another Galaxy new signing, looked desperately short of match Ashley Cole -- missed the tie after practice as they prepare for the start flying back to Rome for the birth of of the new MLS season this weekend. his first child. His absence was all Earlier, another Major League LOS ANGELES: Steven Gerrard’s too evident as Santos punished some Soccer side exited when DC United hopes of leading the Los Angeles shambolic defending to take a stran- could only draw 1-1 with Queretaro Galaxy to CONCACAF Champions glehold on the tie. to go out 3-1 on aggregate. League glory came to an abrupt Martin Bravo shot Santos into the DC United’s slender hopes of end on Tuesday as Mexican sides lead after 19 minutes, hooking home overturning their 2-0 first leg def- dominated against their American a volley from the edge of the six-yard icit were dealt a devastating blow quarter-final opponents. box after Galaxy failed to deal with a after only four minutes in a sparsely Gerrard partnered new Gal- corner. Ulises Davila doubled the lead populated RFK Stadium as the Mex- axy signing Nigel De Jong in the Los four minutes later when his shot from icans took the lead. Angeles midfield as the Major League outside the area deflected off Jelle van A swinging cross into the area Soccer side traveled to Torreon in Damme and looped past Los Angeles was met by Edgar Benitez who deftly Mexico to face Santos Laguna after goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. cushioned his header into the path of grinding out a 0-0 draw in last It got worse for Los Angeles on 36 Angel Sepulveda who drilled a low week’s first leg. minutes when Cape Verde interna- shot into the bottom left hand corner. But Galaxy’s hopes of advancing tional Djaniny steered a header into The home side pulled a goal back to the semi-finals of North Ameri- the far post after more defending to on 84 minutes when German-born ca’s most prestigious continental club make it 3-0. midfielder Julian Buscher lashed in Wolfsburg fans light flares before the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hannover 96 and VfL competition were wrecked in little Bravo grabbed his second on 61 a swerving long-range effort that Wolfsburg in Hanover, Germany on Tuesday. The German FA is expected to hand out hefty fines to both over half an hour as Santos roared minutes to complete the scoring on ripped into the top corner, but it was clubs after a flare fired from the Wolfsburg’s fan block hit the underside of the Hanover bench on Tuesday. into a 3-0 lead to settle the contest. a night to forget for the visitors, who too little too late. SPORT THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 33 MotoGP fans meet star rider Marquez in Doha

The Peninsula MotoGP fan who attended the event, said: “I am thrilled to take part in this exciting evening. On behalf of my bike enthusiasts’ friends, I would like DOHA: Domasco, the exclusive dis- to thank Domasco for giving us every tributor for Honda in Qatar,organised year, the chance to meet the top Honda an exciting evening recently for bike riders.” enthusiasts and MotoGP fans in Qatar The riders are in Doha for the final to meet Marc Marquez, the star Span- round of testing before the new Qatar ish rider and senior officials from the Grand Prix season which kicks off on Honda Repsol team. March 17 at the Losail international Commenting on this event, Faisal racing circuit. Sharif, Managing Director at Domasco Doha Marketing Services Com- said: “At Domasco we pursue to create pany WLL (Domasco) is a leading enjoyable and memorable experiences multi-brand company in Qatar with for our customers and this special Spanish MotoGP rider Marc a diversified portfolio representing event that occurs annually captures Marquez speaks during an event some of the world’s most visible and that.’’ organised by Domasco in Doha award-winning brands such as Honda, During the Q&A session, fans had recently. Volvo, GAC, CMC, Mastergas, Carrier, the chance to interact with Marquez. Raymond Weil, Titan, Police, Gant and After an interesting Q&A with the many more. rider, thrilled guests lined up for auto- 2013 and went on to win again in 2014. Domasco has more than 25 graphs and he obliged and gamely Greig Roffey, Head of Sales & directly-operated showrooms and posed for photographs. Marketing for Honda said: “We are shops as well as a presence in numer- Marquez first made his mark by overjoyed with the huge turnout this ous dealer stores in Doha. becoming the youngest rider in his- evening for Honda local community. A major retail and service com- tory to win a MotoGP race. Our special guests have received a pany, Domasco is renowned for its He then shocked the sporting very warm welcome from the broad exceptional after sales services for Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez signs an autograph for a young fan during an event organised by world when he became the world’s masses of fans in Qatar.’’ all the reputed brands it represents Domasco in Doha recently. Pics: Baher Amin/The Peninsula youngest ever MotoGP champion in Expressing his happiness, a in Qatar.

Energised Steyn returns to boost Spirited Bangladesh knock South Africa

Reuters

CAPE TOWN: An “energised” Dale Pakistan out to reach final Steyn has passed his fitness tests and will play for South Africa in their three-match Twenty20 Inter- SCOREBOARD national series against Australia Hosts to meet India starting in Durban tomorrow. PAKISTAN Steyn, one of the world’s lead- in March 6 clash for K Manzoor c Rahim b Al-Amin 1 ing pacemen, has missed most of title after five-wicket Sharjeel Khan b Sunny 10 South Africa’s season with groin Mohd Hafeez lbw Mortaza 2 and shoulder problems but is ready victory over Shahid Sarfraz Ahmed (not out) 58 to face Australia in the warm-up Afridi’s side in Dhaka Umar Akmal c Shakib b Taskin 4 series for the World Twenty20. “A hungry, fit, energised Dale Shoaib Malik c Sabbir b Sunny 41 is a massive plus for us,” South Shahid Afridi c Sabbir b Al-Amin 0 Africa coach Russell Domingo told Anwar Ali c Sabbir b Al-Amin 13 reporters on Tuesday. IANS Total (for 7 wkts in 20 over) 129 “He hasn’t played for South Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-12, 3-18, 4-28, 5-98, Africa for a long period of time 6-102, 7-129. and he has come here with a great Bowling: Taskin 4-1-14-1, Al-Amin 4-0-25-3, attitude.

MIRPUR: Bangladesh produced a Sunny 4-0-35-2, Mortaza 4-0-29-1, Shakib “He is desperate to play, des- superb all-round performance to 4-0-26-0. perate to do well, he wants to win a outclass Pakistan by five wickets in BANGLADESH World Cup, he wants to be involved their Twenty20 clash to enter the final Tamim Iqbal lbw Irfan 7 in all formats of the game, so his of the Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla Soumya Sarkar b Amir 48 energy levels are right up there and National Stadium here yesterday. Sabbir Rahman b Afridi 14 that bodes really well for us.” Hosts Bangladesh will meet India Steyn has not featured in the Mushfiqur Rahim lbw Malik 12 in the final on Sunday. 20-over format for his country Pakistan’s hope of making it to the Shakib Al Hasan b Amir 8 since the last World Cup in Bang- Asia Cup final has been dashed. Mahmudullah (not out) 22 ladesh in 2014 after a self-imposed Batting first, Pakistan scored Mashrafe Mortaza (not out) 12 exile but is making a return to add 129/7 in 20 overs. Extras (LB-4, W-2, NB-2) 8 experience ahead of the next tour- In reply, Soumya Sarkar struck an Total (for 5 wkts in 19.1 overs) 131 nament in India starting on March impressive 48 as Bangladesh success- Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-46, 3-83, 4-88, 8. fully chased the target scoring 131/5 5-104. “The big thing for these type Bangladesh captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza (centre) celebrates with team-mates after the dismissal of unseen in 19.1 overs. Bowling: Amir 4-0-26-2(w1), Irfan 4-0-23-1, of players is making sure the hun- Chasing a challenging target of Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez during their Asia Cup T20 match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Sami 4-0-30-0 (nb2), Afridi 4-0-20-1, Ali 2.1- ger and passion is there. He has 130, the home side got off to a good Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. 0-25-0 (w1). definitely got that at the moment,” start with openers Tamim Iqbal (7) Domingo said. and Sarkar striking the ball quite well “His skills are always going to to stay ahead in the run chase. end to steer the home side to victory. Meanwhile, English county side first two One-Day Internationals. His be there, he is desperate to play But Mohammad Irfan brought in Earlier opting to bat, Pakistan got ASIA CUP: INDIA TO TAKE Sussex yesterday signed Bangladesh performance also helped Bangladesh for South Africa, and that is great the first breakthrough for Pakistan by off to a disappointing start, losing first ON UAE TODAY left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman earn their first-ever bilateral series news as a coach.” taking the wicket of Iqbal. three batsmen for just 18 runs within as their second overseas cricketer for win over India. South Africa start the series But Sarkar played some good five overs. 2016. “I’m very excited to get an oppor- against Australia in Durban on shots, hitting one six and five fours, Incoming batsman Sarfraz Ahmed add some crucial runs to help Paki- The pacer will feature in 50-over tunity in county cricket,” Mustafizur Friday before moving on to Johan- to help team to a comfortable posi- (58 not out) and Umar Akmal (4) stan cross the 90-run mark. and Twenty20 cricket for the club. was quoted as saying in a report. nesburg on Sunday. They complete tion. He was well accompanied by aimed to take charge of the game But Bangladesi bowlers came The 20-year-old will be following in “It has always been an ambi- the series in Cape Town on March Sabbir Rahman (14) and Mushfiqur thereof, but Akmal stay in the crease back well to take wickets of Malik and the footsteps of Shakib Al Hasan and tion of mine to play in England and 9. Rahim (12). was cut short by pacer Taskin Ahmed. skipper Shahid Afridi (0) to not allow Tamim Iqbal who have earlier played I am thankful to Sussex for this The Proteas open their World But after the dismissal of both the Pakistan were reduced to 28-4 in the Pakistan cross the 130-run mark. in county cricket. opportunity.” Twenty20 campaign against Eng- batsmen, incoming batsmen Mah- ninth over. Al Amin Hossain (3-25) and Ara- Mustafizur stormed onto the “I hope I can repay the faith they land on March 18 and will also play mudullah (22 not out) and Mashrafe But young Sarfraz and experi- fat Sunny (2-35) were the pick of the international scene last year as he have shown in me with my perform- Sri Lanka and West Indies in their Mortaza (12 not out) held on till the enced Shoaib Malik (41) held on to Bangladesh bowlers. bagged two five-wicket hauls in his ances on the field,” he added. pool.

India’s captain India aim to continue winning run Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) IANS themselves a place in Sunday’s final the strength and the composition of one who has the best chance to be shakes after the five-wicket win over the the side to be very good,” Dhoni told selected. The right-hander has been hands Lankans on Tuesday and even an reporters here. in good form in recent months and with Virat MIRPUR: India will aim to maintain unlikely defeat against the UAE will “I think most of the players will may be included in place of the off- Kohli after their all-win record when they meet not hamper them. definitely get a chance in the next colour Shikhar Dhawan. winning minnows United Arab Emirates (UAE) India captain Mahendra Singh game. Whether all the people who are The Indian-think tank may also the Asia in their final group game of the Asia Dhoni may decide to make a few sitting outside will get a chance, we’re decide to rest veteran pacer Ashish Cup match Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National changes in the line-up in order to give not sure. But we will try to make as Nehra in order to keep him fresh for against Sri Stadium here today. match practice to some of the players many changes as possible,” he added. the final. The 36-year-old Nehra has Lanka in India top the pool table with six who have not featured in the tourna- The Indian team management been in excellent form, picking up five Dhaka on points after winning all their three ment till now. may consider including the likes of wickets. Tuesday. matches so far -- against hosts Bang- “We’ll definitely make a few Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, If the Indian team management ladesh, arch-rivals Pakistan and Sri changes in the coming games. How Pawan Negi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar does decide to rest the Delhi pacer, Lanka. many we can, that’s something we in the line-up for the UAE game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar may be included The men in blue have assured will have to see. Because we still want Among the four, Rahane is the in his place. 34 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 SPORT

Djokovic, Bolt and Messi lead Laureus nominees

This combination of pictures created yesterday shows (from left) World No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic, Caribbean sprint kingUsain Bolt and football giant Leonil Messi. The trio is among the six nominees for the Laureus Awards in the category of Best Male Athlete of 2015, the foundation announced yesterday. Djokovic, who won three Grand Slam titles, Bolt, who won three gold medals at the World Athletics Championships, and Messi, who won the 2015 Ballon d’Or, are joined by Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton, American basketballer Stephen Curry and golfer Jordan Spieth. US tennis star Serena Williams, who came close to winning all four Grand Slam titles, is among the six nominees for the women’s trophy. New Zealand’s rugby team, the All Blacks, are in the running for the team award having successfully defended their crown at the 2015 Rugby World Cup hosted by England.

Tadese joins Singapore elite World Park seeks win on return wind to test Half Marathon Lydia Ko’s field to happy hunting ground chill factor Reuters AFP

LONDON: Half Marathon record South Korean golfer SINGAPORE: World number one holder Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea Lydia Ko said yesterday that it will has joined Britain’s Mo Farah and eyes to regain form take smart golf to beat the unu- Kenya’s reigning champion Geof- after injury as she sually windy conditions at this frey Kamworor in an elite field for week’s HSBC Women’s Champi- the world championships in Car- defends HSBC title in onship in Singapore. diff on March 26. Singapore this week The 18-year-old New Zea- Tadese, 34, has held the record lander has held the top ranking for of 58 minutes 23 seconds since 19 consecutive weeks and is look- March 2010. ing for a maiden win at the tricky The athlete will be chasing his Serapong course on Sentosa Island. Reuters 14th world Half Marathon champi- She is looking to turn the tables Park In-bee of South onship medal in a career haul that on world number two and defend- includes six golds. Korea in action during ing champion Park In-Bee of South The Eritrean won a total of the US Women’s Open Korea, who edged the teenager by four successive individual titles SINGAPORE: Still searching for Championship at Pine two strokes last year. between 2006 and 2009 and took consistency after suffering a back Needles Lodge & Golf Ko, known for a laid-back a fifth in 2012. injury, Park In-bee is delighted to Club in Southern Pines, demeanour which has served her Five Eritrean runners fin- be in familiar surroundings as she North Carolina, in this well in a phenomenal early career, ished in the top 10 in Copenhagen embarks on her defence of the HSBC July 2007 file photo. arrives on the back of a strong start two years ago and their team for Women’s Championship in Singapore to the season. Cardiff will include Nguse Amlo- this week. In February, she defended the som, who was fifth, and Samsom Park went bogey-free over 72 New Zealand nationals, finished Gebreyohannes, who was eighth, holes at the demanding Serapong second at the Australian Open and as well as Tadese. Course to see off Lydia Ko a year ago, tied for third at the Coates Golf Kamworor is hoping to join kickstarting a season that would add Championship in Florida. Tadese and Kenya’s Paul Tergat as four more wins, including her sixth But she cast a wary eye on only the third man to win back-to- and seventh majors, and the Korean the winds blowing over Serapong back Half Marathon titles, and is will be hoping for a repeat on Sunday. that are not showing any sign of also eyeing the Eritrean’s record on “I really love this golf course and I about of month out with the injury,” definitely helped the trip,” said the abating. Ko said it will make the the streets of the Welsh city. know I can do it. So I have good levels the 27-year-old added. GOLF: HSBC WOMEN”S South Korean. narrow course and its wide greens Kenya will also be looking to building up now... hopefully this week “I feel like I’m definitely in bet- CHAMPIONSHIP She edged out world number a lot trickier. Bedan Karoki, silver medallist can give me a lot of confidence,” Park ter shape than I was last week or a one Ko by two strokes in 2015 but “You just have to be smart at the 2015 world cross country told reporters yesterday. month ago. It’s just getting better and Park refused to single out the only here,” said Ko. championships, who is unbeaten “This tournament was a lucky better but I just don’t want to rush for pretty accurate off the tee and to the woman above her in the rankings as “It has been really windy the in four Half Marathons. charm last year, so I would like to get anything.” second shots to the green. Obviously the player to beat. “There are 80 peo- last few days. So I am imagining it Farah, the double Olympic that going this week as well. Even if Park admitted that the tropical the greens are pretty grainy here with ple in the field trying to win this week, will be the same in the next cou- 5,000 and 10,000 metres cham- I don’t end up holding the trophy, I heat of Singapore was better for her the tropical weather,” she added. so I’m not worried about just one of ple of days. pion who is expected to defend his would like to take something from back than playing in chillier climes “But last year was special. I never them,” she said. “I think that plays a huge fac- titles in Rio in August, is aiming to this tournament,” she added, while and the city-state’s tight courses had a tournament where I didn’t make “It’s more likely you’re playing tor, especially around some of the become the first British male run- explaining how frustrating her injury seemed to help keep her fully focused a bogey for 72 holes before and I had your own game. If I play my perfect holes where we’re by the water or ner to win the world Half Marathon had been. over four rounds. all my family here with me, so that game, I can win the tournament. I where there are no trees and there title since the event started back “I wish I was better prepared but “Singapore golf courses never made it even better. I always enjoy think golf is just trying to bring that is nothing blocking them,” said the in 1992. I just came back to competition after seem to be too wide, so you need to be coming here and playing good golf out of yourself.” top golfer. Season over for injured Vonn

AFP medical tests on the knee this week showed to accomplish this year: 9 World Cup victo- that the injury was worse than at first thought. ries, breaking the World Cup downhill win “Those images showed that there was not record, breaking the World Cup Super G just 1 hairline fracture, but in fact 3. And the podium record, and winning the most World PARIS: Lindsey Vonn’s hopes of winning a fractures are not hairline, but instead they Cup discipline titles--20--of any skier, male fifth World Cup overall title lay in tatters yes- are significant enough that they are not suf- or female,” she said. terday after she announced that her season is ficiently stable to permit me to safely continue “While I am confident that I’m making the over due to a knee injury sustained in a fall skiing,” Vonn said on Facbook. right decision, it still doesn’t make this decision last weekend. “Further damage to any of the fragments any easier.” Considered one of the greatest “Today I am making the difficult decision could result in a serious surgery that would skiers of all time, Vonn has won Olympic and to end my season and leave the World Cup cir- risk my future in ski racing. world titles in the speed disciplines during cuit due to an injury I suffered last Saturday,” “With the World Championships in St. the course of her career and she has taken the she wrote on her Facebook page. Moritz next year and the Winter Olympics in overall World Cup crystal globe four times, the “Because I am currently leading the Over- South Korea the following year, I cannot take last being in 2012. all World Cup standings, this is one of the that risk.” But she has been beset by knee injuries toughest decisions of my career.” Vonn’s lead in the overall World Cup since then, missing most of the 2013 and 2014 The 31-year-old American speed queen standings over closest rival Lara Gut is just 28 seasons to undergo surgery. sustained a hairline facture to her left knee points with several races still to come, mean- However, she had been back to near her when she fell while competing in a World Cup ing that the Swiss skier, barring injury, looks best this year and last month claimed her 76th super-G in Andorra. sure to overtake the American in the race for World Cup victory, taking her closer to the Lindsey Vonn of the USA in action during the Super G race of the women’s Combined She did compete at the same venue the fol- the Crystal Globe. overall record of 86 held by Sweden’s Inge- competition at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Soldeu-El Tarter, Andorra, yesterday. lowing day in a super-combined, but further “I am very proud of what I have been able mar Stenmark. SPORT THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016 35

MLB’s Rays to play Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (left) breaks away in Cuba during on a loose ball from Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap during the first Obama’s visit half of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, USA, yesterday. AFP

NEW YORK: The Tampa Bay Rays will become the first Major League Baseball team since 1999 to play in Cuba when they face the Cuban national team in an exhi- bition game during US President Barack Obama’s visit to the com- munist-ruled island. The game set for March 22 at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana was officially announced on Tuesday by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association. The last major league team to visit Cuba was the Baltimore Ori- oles, who played an exhibition against the Cuban national team on March 28, 1999. “During a time of historic change, we appreciate the con- structive role afforded by our shared passion for the game, and we look forward to experiencing Cuba’s storied baseball tradition and the passion of its many loyal fans,” Major League Commis- sioner Robert Manfred said in a statement. Obama will become the first US president to visit Cuba in almost a century when he and First Lady Michelle Obama travel there March Warriors stay perfect at home 21-22. Obama has championed engagement with Cuba, and dip- lomatic relations between the Cold War foes were restored in July of NBA RESULTS history, but also the best in the NBA last year. Golden State struggle Charlotte 126 Phoenix 92 this season. Miami centre Hassan The last American leader to Miami 129 Chicago 111 Whiteside had a career-high 26 points visit Cuba while in office was in absence of Curry to with 14 rebounds and four blocks -- all Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Baseball Portland 104 NY Knicks 85 register an 109-105 game highs. It was Whiteside’s sixth is a shared passion between the Dallas 121 Orlando 108 straight double-double, all of them off United States and Cuba, but also a overtime victory Golden State 109 Atlanta 105 the bench. source of acrimony in their dec- LA Lakers 107 Brooklyn 101 Forward Joe Johnson, playing his ades-long estrangement. first home game in Miami in his second Ongoing trade restrictions contest since signing with the Heat at mean Cuban players cannot play AFP the weekend, scored 24 points. Luol in the United States without defect- Warriors up by one and Bogut tipped Deng, a former Bulls standout, had 20 ing, and there is no mechanism for in a Green miss to make it 104-101. points, Goran Dragic had a double- their Cuban teams to be compen- The Hawks narrowed the gap to double of 17 points and 11 assists and sated by any American team that LOS ANGELES: The Golden State one point with Paul Millsap’s layup Dwyane Wade added 18 points and might eventually hire them, as Jap- Warriors struggled without NBA before Green’s off-balance shot, and seven assists for Miami, who improved anese clubs are compensated when Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry Thompson capped the scoring with to 34-26 and are in fourth place in the their stars seek a move to the US. on Tuesday, but held on to beat Atlanta a step-back jump shot with 11.4 sec- East. Cuba has won three Olym- 109-105 in overtime to stay perfect at onds left. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, pic baseball titles and 25 Baseball home this season. Thompson scored seven of his 26 back after missing three games with World Cup crowns, but its national The Warriors have won all 25 points in the extra session as the War- a hamstring injury, scored 17 points, baseball commissioner Heriberto games on their home court in Oakland, riors improved to 54-5 with their fifth but Chicago allowed more than 100 Suarez has said the game is being California, this season and 43 straight overtime win of the season. points for the 14th straight game. “lacerated” by defections -- with regular-season games at Oracle Arena “What a game,” Thompson said. The Bulls fell to 30-29 and ninth more than 100 players fleeing the dating back to last season. “No excuses, but we were down two place in the Eastern Conference -- half country last year hoping to play for But with Curry sidelined by a sore MVPs. It feels good to win -- any a game behind Detroit for the eighth foreign clubs. ankle and Andre Iguodala -- last sea- means necessary.” and final playoff spot. Meanwhile, New York Yankees son’s NBA Finals MVP -- also absent, Bogut scored 19 points on eight-of- In New York, Portland’s Damian pitcher Aroldis Chapman was hit it was a close game. nine shooting, while Green added 15 Lillard scored 30 points to lead the with a 30-day ban on Tuesday “Terrific victory,” Warriors coach points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Trail Blazers to their 10th win in 12 over a domestic violence incident Steve Kerr said. “Our guys stayed with “I thought everybody was aggres- games, by a score of 104-85 over the in which he allegedly choked his it. Every single guy who played con- sive, and that was the key,” Kerr said. Knicks. Lillard scored 24 points in a girlfriend before firing off gun- tributed. Great team effort.” Today the Warriors host Oklahoma dominant first half -- including 14 in shots into his garage. A statement Draymond Green beat the shot- City with a chance to tie the Chicago less than three minutes late in the sec- from Major League Baseball said clock with an awkward three-pointer Bulls’ record 44-game home winning ond quarter. C.J. McCollum helped the the 28-year-old closer had agreed with 40.2 seconds left in overtime to streak, set over two seasons in 1995 Trail Blazers distance themselves fur- to the suspension for violating the give the Warriors a 107-103 lead. and 1996. ther after the interval, scoring 21 of his league’s joint domestic violence, Golden State’s Australian centre The Miami Heat were on fire, con- 25 in the second half. sexual assault and child abuse Andrew Bogut had saved the ball from necting on a club record 67.5 percent Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks policy. It followed an incident going out of bounds and swatted it to of their shots in a 129-111 victory over with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but in October in which police were Miami Heat forward Amar’e Stoudemire (5) ducks the ball past Green, who leapt and released his shot. the Chicago Bulls. Anthony was visibly frustrated in a called to Chapman’s Miami-area Thompson’s three-pointer with The Heat’s shooting percentage game in which the Knicks again heard Chicago Bulls centre Pau Gasol (16) during their NBA game at home after an altercation between 2:54 remaining in overtime had put the was not only the best in franchise boos from their home fans. American Airlines Arena on Tuesday. The Heat won 129-111. the player and his girlfriend. Oilers edge Sabres, Hurricanes win

Agencies Niskanen boomed one shot from play on Tuesday, beating the Colorado the blue line that Murray fought off, NATIONAL HOCKEY Avalanche 6-3 with a trio of third LEAGUE ROUND-UP and when Niskanen received the puck period goals. Centre Charlie Coyle LOS ANGELES: Centre Connor once again, he did not miss, scoring scored twice in the final period for McDavid scored 3:48 into overtime his fourth goal of the season. Minnesota, which trailed early, then to give the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 win Hurricanes 3, Devils 1 a 40-footer past goaltender Joni Ortio got goals from right winger Nino over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday Left winger Joakim Nordstrom with 3:24 left for Boston’s first power- Niederreiter, left winger Jason Pom- night. scored with 1:29 remaining in regu- play goal in five games. inville and center Erik Haula to take It was McDavid’s second goal of lation to give the Carolina Hurricanes The Bruins were in an 0-for-13 a 3-1 lead. Colorado rallied to tie, but the game. a 3-1 victory against the New Jersey slump with the man advantage, and Coyle’s game-winner plus an empty- The game showcased the top two Devils at Prudential Center on Tues- they recorded only their fifth goal net goal -- Niederreiter also scored an picks of the 2015 draft, McDavid and day night. in 56 power plays over the past 16 empty-netter -- pulls Minnesota even Sabres centre Jack Eichel, and the Nordstrom’s ninth of the season games. with the Avalanche in the race for the finishing sequence appropriately fea- was the result of some strong work by Blues 4, Senators 3 West’s final playoff spot. tured both players. center Elias Lindholm, who snapped Patrik Berglund scored in the Predators 5, Stars 3 Capitals 3, Penguins 2 a shot from between the circles that 11th round of a shootout to give the Calle Jarnkrok, Shea Weber and Defenceman Matt Niskanen deliv- was stopped but led to a big rebound. St. Louis Blues a 4-3 win over the Mattias Ekholm scored consecutive ered a power-play goal with 6:22 Devils defenceman John Moore Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at goals in the second period, leading remaining as the Washington Cap- fanned on a clearing attempt, allow- Canadian Tire Centre. the Nashville Predators to their fifth itals rallied from a two-goal deficit ing Nordstrom to beat Schneider to Two goals in the final 2:41 of the straight win with a 5-3 victory over to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 stick side for the winner. third period by center Jean-Gabriel the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. on Tuesday. Bruins 2, Flames 1 Pageau completed a dramatic come- Craig Smith and James Neal also In a hard-fought contest, Pitts- Cashing in on a late too-many- back for the Senators, who trailed scored for the surging Predators (32- burgh centre Evgeni Malkin drew men-on-the-ice penalty on Calgary, 3-0 just past the midway point of 21-11), who improved to 7-0-3 in their a high sticking penalty with 7:15 the Boston Bruins got a power-play the game. last 10 games. left, and the Capitals immediately goal from center Patrice Bergeron Wild 6, Avalanche 3 Antoine Roussel, Jason Spezza New York Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss (1) stops a shot on net as took advantage, putting pressure and edged the Flames 2-1 on Tues- In what felt like a playoff game and Vernon Fiddler scored for the Vancouver Canucks forward Bo Horvat (53) screens during the second on Penguins rookie goalie Mat- day night. Bergeron took a pass from for both teams, the Minnesota Wild Stars (38-20-7), who suffered their period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on Tuesday. thew Murray. fellow center Ryan Spooner and sent took a big step toward post-season fourth straight loss. 36 THURSDAY 3 MARCH 2016

GCC Golf Championship 2016 at Doha Golf Club

Action from the GCC Golf Championship at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. Hosts Qatar have seven golfers taking part in the event, in which all the eight GCC nations are taking part. Qatar senior team consists of Abdulrahman Al Shahrani, Saleh Al Kaabi, Ali Al Shahrani and Ghanim Al Kuwari while the Qatar junior team is made up of Saoud Al Muhannadi, Sami Hussam and Arnev Jain. The junior event ends tomorrow while the senior event will end on Saturday.

Qatar colts set MotoGP: Aprilia unveils new bike as for long summer football training final pre-season test kicks off in Qatar The Peninsula DOHA: Qatar juniors will train in Croatia from April 21 to 28, Qatar Football Association (QFA) Riders Alvaro Bautista announced. Prior to the Croatia trip; the and Stefan Bradl to U-19 squad will take on Costa Rica represent the Italian and Ivory Coast in two friendlies, team at this year’s both matches will take place in the Spanish coastal city of Malaga. championship The trip to Croatia will be part of a long summer training series planned for Qatar juniors. Qatar, coached by Oscar Cano, Marc Marquez of Repsol last week underwent a highly suc- The Peninsula Honda Team in action cessful training in Morocco where during the third and they played two friendlies also. final 2016 MotoGP pre- Qatar will also play two DOHA: Aprilia has formally launched season test at the Losail friendlies during their trip to its all-new RS-GP during the third and International Circuit in Croatia, QFA said. final pre-season test at the Losail Doha yesterday. In May and June, Qatar juniors International Circuit, declaring its will undertake a separate train- 2016 MotoGP challenger the “most ing trip to Belgium. The camp will ambitious project” it has ever under- start on May 27 and end on June 3. taken. Qatar will play friendlies also The Italian manufacturer during their camp in Belgium. returned to MotoGP with a Gresini- After Ramadan, Qatar team run factory programme in 2015, but will launch another European its bike was largely based on the ART training camp, preferably in Swit- superbike regulations. zerland, officials said on Sunday. Alongside what it dubbed a ‘lab- The national juniors are also oratory season’, Aprilia developed its class of motorcycle racing in 2015, Aprilia Racing tradition, reinter- 2016 MOTOGP TEST IN QATAR listed to feature in four friendly maiden thoroughbred MotoGP bike, with a factory effort run by Gresini preting every concept without 1. Andrea Iannone (ITA) Ducati Team)1m 56.509s tournaments: first one to be held which turned its first laps last month Racing. compromise, and it is the most ambi- 2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Team Suzuki Ecstar 1m 56.656s from July 24 to August 4 in Spain at Aragon. Bautista raced for the manu- tious project our racing department 3. Scott Redding (GBR) Octo Pramac Yakhnich 1m 56.736s and the second one from August 5 It completed its first full test in facturer for the entire campaign, has ever undertaken. 4. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1m 56.874s to 21 in Ecuador. Qatar last week, and race riders Ste- finishing 16th overall, with Stefan “The first responses from test- 5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1m 56.927s A third event – from August fan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista will join Bradl joining him in place of Marco ing have been positive. We received 28 to September 9 – will also be 6. Pol Espargaro (ESP) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 56.935s the full field for this week’s final pre- Melandri at the halfway point. very positive feedback from both rid- put on the list of Qatar juniors, season test. “The upcoming season will be a ers specifically from a dynamics point 7. Marc Marquez (ESP) Repsol Honda Team 1m 57.015s QFA said. Aprilia, which has amassed a very important one for us,” Aprilia of view. 8. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati Team 1m 57.136s The fourth event – from Sep- number of 125cc and 250cc world racing manager Romano Albesiano “In any case, this is the beginning 9. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Team Suzuki Ecstar 1m 57.187s tember 19 to 26 – will also be on championship titles in the past dec- said. of a long path and we are well aware 10. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) LCR Honda 1m 57.315s the agenda for Cano’s boys. ade, made its return to the premier “The new bike reflects recent of the inevitable difficulties that come 11. Dani Pedrosa (ESP) Repsol Honda Team 1m 57.914s Qatar are preparing for the along with any new project.” 12. Stefan Bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini 1m 58.066s U-19 Asian Cup to be held in “I believe that, after the initial 13. Tito Rabat (ESP) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS 1m 58.136s Bahrain this year. Qatar are the finetuning phase, we’ll be able to set 14. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Aspar MotoGP Team 1m 58.689s defending champions. our sights on respectable results.” 15. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda Test Rider 1m 58.744s Bradl joined Aprilia midway through the 2015 season, replacing 16.Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aspar MotoGP Team 1m 58.864s Marco Melandri. 17. Jack Miller (AUS) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS 1m 58.935s QSL announces “The first contact with the new 18. Michele Pirro (ITA) Octo Pramac Yakhnich 1m 59.413s bike was definitely positive, despite 19. Loris Baz (FRA) Avintia Racing (Desmosedici 1m 59.419s venue change the fact that it’s still too early to take 20. Hector Barbera (ESP) Avintia Racing 2m 0.210s a position,” he said. “Now our job will be to explore the potential of the “I think that this is the greatest Meanwhile, injured Danilo The Peninsula RS-GP lap after lap. condition possible for a rider who Petrucci is the only competitor not “We really have a lot on our plate, wants to set his sights on staying out present for the third official test, fac- but we also have a wide margin for front.” tory test rider Michele Pirro taking his DOHA: Qatar Stars League (QSL) improvement. British Moto2 star Sam Lowes is place, while Aprilia is re-joining its has announced a venue change “For the first time in my career also set to play a role in developing the rivals after skipping Phillip Island in for the upcoming round 21 clash I’m working on an official team with RS-GP this year, before joining Aprilia favour of a private (Losail) test for the between Al Rayyan and Al Wak- Valentino Rossi of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP in action at Losail. the job of developing a new project. as a race rider in MotoGP in 2017. new RS-GP. rah. The match will now take place at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, the home of Al Sadd. The match will kick off at the Bottas pips Hamilton to top testing times in Barcelona same time of 18:00pm on Satur- day, March 5. Al Rayyan are currently top of the QSL league standings and only AFP time through six days of testing and the best lap posted by Mercedes team- hope for Renault ahead of their return There was also encouragement need one more point to confirm the second quickest on the supersoft mate Nico Rosberg on the soft tyres to the sport as a constructor with the for McLaren-Honda as Jenson But- their status as QSL champions for compound in 1min 23.261sec. on Tuesday. third quickest time and an impres- ton enjoyed a relatively trouble-free the first time since the 1994/1995 BARCELONA: Finland’s Valtteri Hamilton was just over three Hamilton and Rosberg combined sive 126 laps. day with 121 laps. season. Bottas recorded the fastest time for tenths of a second back on a slower for another mammoth 164-lap day Sebastian Vettel posted Ferra- However, Button’s best time on Meanwhile. Lekhwiya have Williams on day two of the second setup as he was released onto the soft with the German completing a race ri’s best time of testing so far on the soft tyres was 1.5 seconds down on been granted 24 hours rest by head pre-season test in Barcelona as double tyres for the first time after piling up simulation in the afternoon, albeit medium compound in fourth, whilst Hamilton to again show the gulf coach Djamel Belmadi ahead of world champions Mercedes enjoyed huge mileage in the W07. with only the ninth fastest lap time the Italian giants also ironed out a few the Woking-based team have to their round 21 clash against Umm another promising session. However, the Englishman’s time on the day. reliability problems from Tuesday to breach to get back to the front of Salal on Sunday evening after their Bottas posted the fifth fastest was six tenths of a second down on Kevin Magnussen provided more post 151 laps. the grid. AFC Champions League clash.